Category: English

My name is Stella Burton. After being reborn, I rushed to the hospital immediately and asked the doctor to help me abort the boy in my belly. In my previous life, I was married to my husband Joseph Griffin for five years without having any children. Suddenly, I was found to be pregnant with twins. However, the doctor told me the fetuses were too large, and I had to reduce one, or my life would be in danger. While I was struggling with whether to have the surgery, I suddenly heard the boy’s voice from my belly. He said in his heart, “Mom, quickly get rid of my sister. She’s been absorbing my nutrients in the womb and is about to drain me to death.” “She’s not my real sister at all. She’s Freya and Dad’s child, transferred into your womb using dark magic. When she drains me to death, you’ll treat her as your own daughter, and by then, all the family assets will be theirs.” Hearing this, I immediately went to the hospital and aborted the girl, keeping the boy. But on the day I gave birth, the child in my belly struggled desperately, punching and kicking me inside, causing me to bleed to death. Before I died, I heard his thoughts again, “This stupid woman actually believed me and aborted her own daughter. Hurry up and die, don’t stand in my way of seeing Mom and Dad.” When I opened my eyes again, I saw Freya Williams sitting in front of me, suggesting I quickly undergo a fetal reduction surgery. She said, “Stella, your body is too weak. Keeping both children could be life-threatening. It’s better to undergo a fetal reduction surgery as soon as possible.” Hearing the familiar voice, I suddenly opened my eyes and saw Freya earnestly persuading me to reduce the pregnancy. I was startled, jumped up, and took several steps back before steadying myself. “Are you okay, Stella? It’s all my fault for being too blunt.” She walked around the table to help me, a flash of disdain in her eyes. I took a few deep breaths to calm down and shook my head. “It’s not your fault, it’s my problem. This fetal reduction thing is too big, I can’t make a decision right away.” She said, “I understand you, but think it over. Delaying too long isn’t good for your health. Please give me an answer soon.” Walking out of the clinic, I ran as if a ghost were chasing me. I didn’t stop until the smell of disinfectant faded. Then I found a small shop by the roadside, bought a bottle of mineral water, and drank more than half of it in one go, finally regaining my composure. At that moment, I heard the voice of the child in my belly again. “Mom, please save me. My sister is sucking me dry, taking all the nutrients. I have nothing left.” Hearing this voice, I finally confirmed that none of this was a dream but reality. I was actually reborn. In my previous life, Joseph and I were married for five years without getting pregnant. At this point, he mentioned a friend of his who was an obstetrician and had a miraculous remedy that could help with conception. It was because of this that I met Freya. After taking the remedy Freya gave me, I quickly became pregnant with twins. Our whole family was thrilled, and I trusted her even more because of it. But I never expected that a few months later, during a prenatal checkup, she told me my body was too weak to handle two babies. If I insisted on giving birth, not only would the babies not survive, but my life would also be at risk. When I heard this, I felt deeply guilty. Every child was my treasure, and I couldn’t bear to lose any of them. While I was struggling, I suddenly heard my son’s voice from inside my belly. He told me that Joseph and Freya had been having an affair for a long time, and because Freya didn’t want to go through the hardship of childbirth, she used dark magic to transfer the babies into my womb. At first, I didn’t believe it, until I hired a private detective to investigate. After seeing their hotel records, I was finally convinced. Now, forget about keeping one—I don’t want to have any of them. I just want to divorce Joseph as soon as possible. But at this moment, my son spoke from inside my belly again, saying he couldn’t bear to leave me. He also said that after I divorced Joseph, he would stay with me and not acknowledge Joseph. In the end, I still went to the hospital for surgery and kept my son, but I didn’t expect this to be the beginning of my nightmare. It wasn’t until the moment I died that I realized it was all Freya’s scheme. The boy in my belly wasn’t my son at all but a demon. What’s even more hateful is that I actually killed my own daughter with my own hands. This time, I will protect her no matter what and never let anyone harm her!

After leaving the hospital where Freya was, I called a car and asked the driver to take me to another hospital. At the hospital, the doctor conducted a thorough examination. The results were the same as Freya said: my body couldn’t handle a twin pregnancy, and I had to reduce the fetuses, leaving only one child. I barely hesitated and said, “I want the daughter, abort the boy.” I heard the boy’s voice. “Mom, don’t you love me anymore? Why do you want to abort me? Aren’t I your baby?” “Don’t abort me, the sister is the bad woman’s child! Mom, you’re mistaken!” Hearing what I said, the boy in my belly immediately reacted, kicking and punching me as if he wanted to break through my stomach. The doctor looked at me in shock. “Are you really sure you want to keep the daughter?” I lifted my shirt, revealing my restless belly, and said coldly, “Look at this boy. Since the day I conceived him, he hasn’t behaved, tormenting me all day, not treating me like his mom at all. The daughter, on the other hand, is well-behaved, quiet, and caring—she’s my little angel.” As soon as I finished speaking, the commotion in my belly instantly calmed down. That little guy didn’t dare to make a move, afraid I might abort him. He apologized to me, “Mom, I’m sorry. I love you. Please don’t abandon me. I just really want to come out and see you.” I let out a cold laugh. Is he in a hurry to meet his real mom? As for me? I’m just a temporary vessel for him. The doctor said, “Alright. As long as you’ve made up your mind, go for a check-up first.” Before the surgery, it’s necessary to confirm my physical condition. The doctor asked me to undergo a few tests first. Because I was in a hurry to have an abortion, I spent the whole day running around the hospital’s examination rooms, doing tests and collecting results. The doctor looked at the test results and said, “Your physical condition is quite good. I can schedule the surgery for the day after tomorrow.” Hearing this, my tense heart finally relaxed. Just two more days, and I can escape the tragic fate of my past life. But just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out. “What surgery?” My whole body stiffened, hair standing on end, as I turned around in disbelief. Two people were standing outside the office, Joseph and Freya. “Why are you here?” I blurted out, my heart suddenly racing. Joseph walked in with a grim face, snatched the test report from my hand, and shouted angrily, “You’re going to abort my child?” “Stella, why didn’t you come to me if you were planning surgery? Luckily, you ran into a doctor I know today, or what if something went wrong?” Freya quickly stepped forward, apologizing to the doctor with concern, “Sorry for the trouble.” Cold sweat instantly drenched my back. I pinched my thigh hard and threw myself into Joseph’s arms, crying. “It’s not that I want to abort the baby. Freya said my body couldn’t handle twins and that I had to reduce one. I just couldn’t bear it, so I wanted to consult another doctor.” “Stella, I’m doing this for your own good. How could you not trust me!” Freya stomped her foot angrily. “And I heard from the doctor that you want to abort the boy? Joseph is an only child—do you want to end their family line?” I pretended to be startled and hid in Joseph’s arms. “That’s because you said the girl absorbed double the nutrients and is stronger, while the boy is weak and would be unhealthy after birth, so it’s better to abort him now.” Joseph frowned at me. “You should have discussed this with me before making a decision. How could you come to the hospital alone for surgery? Let’s go home first.” Now that both of them are here, I can only go with them. The surgery will have to be reconsidered later.

Back at home, upon hearing about the fetal reduction, Joseph’s parents, Richard Griffin and Esther Griffin, also rushed over. Richard slammed the table and said, “The boy absolutely cannot be aborted. The Griffin family’s bloodline must be preserved.” I sat on the sofa, wiping my tears nonstop, looking fragile and helpless. “I don’t want this either. They’re all my children, and I can’t bear to lose any of them.” “But if the child born in the future has health issues or even can’t have children, the Griffin family’s bloodline still won’t be preserved.” “Let’s abort the boy now and keep the girl. After a couple of years, when my body recovers, we can have a healthy boy. Wouldn’t that be more secure?” As I spoke, I quietly raised my eyes to observe their expressions. Sure enough, upon hearing what I said, Richard and Esther both showed a thoughtful expression. “No! The boy must not be aborted,” Freya jumped in to stop. “Stella, your body is already weak. Who can guarantee you’ll conceive again after this? Don’t worry, with me here, I’ll definitely help you nurse your body back and ensure you give birth to a healthy child.” To strengthen her argument, she added, “Don’t forget, you couldn’t conceive for years back then. It was with my help that you got pregnant with twins right away.” “Exactly! Keep the boy, let Freya help you recover, and everything will be fine,” Richard said, slapping the table and making the decision for me. Everyone believed what she said, except for me. But they all forgot, I’m the one who’s pregnant. As long as I don’t want to, no one can take away my child. I suddenly looked up and asked, “No, I can’t bear to lose either of these two children. Freya, since you can help me recover, can you help me keep both?” She said, “That would be very difficult. Continuing a twin pregnancy poses a huge risk to you and could endanger your life, which wouldn’t be worth it.” I said, “It’s okay. I’m willing to trade my life for theirs, as long as both of them can be healthy.” Freya and Joseph exchanged a glance without agreeing immediately. I guess they’re out of ideas too and will discuss a plan behind my back. “If I can’t even protect my children, what’s the point of living?” With that, I suddenly stood up and made a move to rush toward the balcony. This time, no one dared to act rashly, and Freya had no choice but to reluctantly agree to help me recover. A few days later, she came to my house with a big bag of medicine, urging me to take it every day, warning that skipping even one day could be life-threatening. I took a sharp breath and nodded firmly. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely follow through.” To thank Freya, Joseph invited her to stay for dinner. After dinner, he drove her home, while I went back to my room, lay on the bed, and carefully examined the bag of medicine. At that moment, the little boy in my belly started guiding me on purpose again. “Mom, you must take your medicine properly, so my sister and I can both survive. We both really want to see you soon.” These words made me realize there was definitely something wrong with the medicine, and I absolutely couldn’t take it.

My name is Bradley Lynch. In my third year after graduation, while pretending to be a waiter at a restaurant, I happened to run into my classmates having a gathering in a private room. Seeing me in a waiter’s uniform, they burst into laughter. My former rival Nathan Warren called me a loser, pulled out fifty dollars, and told me to lick the food crumbs off his shoe. He said, “Lick my shoe clean, and this fifty-dollar tip is yours!” Even my ex-girlfriend Diana Hunter mocked, “Bradley, I never thought that after three years, you’d end up looking so pathetic. Good thing I broke up with you back then—I wouldn’t want to be a poor guy’s girlfriend.” To force me to kneel and lick the shoe, Nathan and a few classmates pinned me down and even made me bark like a dog. Diana clapped and laughed, saying, “Bradley, you really look like a dog when you kneel.” Later, the restaurant manager Kayden Fisher hurried over. Seeing me, he turned pale with fright. “Mr. Lynch, are you okay?” With blood all over my head, I pointed at everyone in the private room and said, “Today, no one is leaving this room.” ***** On the plane, my assistant suggested, “Mr. Lynch, tonight is your father’s birthday. How about surprising him by dressing up as a waiter to deliver his birthday cake?” I said, “Sure, let’s make my dad happy.” Right after getting off the plane, I went with my assistant to a popular restaurant owned by my company. With a few of my innovations, this restaurant has topped the dining charts for three consecutive years. Countless influencers and celebrities come to visit, and business is booming. As soon as I changed into the waiter’s uniform at the restaurant and was about to rehearse, I suddenly heard a commotion at the entrance. Turning around, I saw a group of young people laughing and chatting as they walked in. “This really is the city’s top restaurant, it looks so luxurious!” “Yeah, thanks to Mr. Warren treating us, we got the chance to come to such a high-end place.” “Come on, he’s not treating us, it’s clearly all for Diana.” Hearing the name “Diana,” I was momentarily stunned. That was my ex-girlfriend’s name. Then, I suddenly turned around, instinctively looking toward the crowd, and unconsciously called out her name. The crowd paused and quickly looked my way. Sure enough, standing right in the center was my ex-girlfriend, Diana. And the one called “Mr. Warren” was none other than Nathan, who used to oppose me in everything back then. I felt a bit emotional; after all, it had been three years since I last saw her. I was about to step forward to say hello when Nathan blocked Diana. “Isn’t this Bradley Lynch, the guy who was always top of the class back then? Why are you working as a waiter now?” He stared at my waiter uniform with a face full of disdain. I quietly looked at him. Back in school, Nathan always targeted me because he was jealous of my good grades and good looks. Three years after graduation, he still hasn’t changed and continues to target me everywhere. I sighed helplessly, “I’m not a waiter, this restaurant is…” Nathan interrupted me, “Why won’t you admit it? Do you also think it’s embarrassing?” He deliberately interrupted me in front of Diana, and his mocking tone made the other classmates present laugh at me as well. I didn’t expect this group to still be so childish after all this time since graduation. I took a deep breath and explained, “You misunderstood, Nathan. I’m not a waiter, I’m just wearing the uniform temporarily.” I thought I had explained clearly, but laughter erupted from the crowd. Diana’s friend Ruby Reed stepped forward, pushed me aside, and mocked, “You’re such a good actor, huh? Temporarily wearing a waiter’s uniform?” “You’re clearly just scared to admit how miserable you are now because Diana’s here, right? After all, when she dumped you back then, you begged downstairs for three days!” Hearing Ruby’s words, I instinctively looked at Diana. She glared at me with disgust, then affectionately linked arms with Nathan. She said, “Bradley, you’re not planning to cling to me again, are you?” “Stop dreaming, Nathan is my boyfriend now.”

Hearing this, my face instantly darkened. Back in school, Diana told me more than once that she despised Nathan because he always took advantage of his family background to toy with women. He kept cheating and even forced several girls to have abortions. Such a scumbag has now suddenly turned into Diana’s boyfriend. The once innocent girl by my side has turned into what she is now. I didn’t want to say much and turned to leave. Nathan stopped me. “Don’t leave, Bradley. Aren’t you a waiter? Perfect, today I’ll assign you to serve our private room!” Before I could react, he rudely dragged me into the private room. He sat carelessly on the chair, putting his legs up on the table. He pointed at me and said, “Come on, Bradley, clean my shoes first. Let me see how good your service skills are.” The others covered their mouths, snickering, even Diana and Ruby stood together mocking me. I held back my anger and said coldly, “Nathan, if you’re here to eat, you’re welcome. But if you’re here to cause trouble, please leave immediately.” “What are you pretending for? As a waiter, what right do you have to ask me to leave? Do you think you’re the owner of the restaurant?” Nathan laughed loudly, full of mockery. Ruby immediately shrieked in agreement, “Exactly, Bradley. Nathan is giving you face by letting you clean his shoes. In my opinion, you should use your mouth to lick his shoes clean! These are limited edition leather shoes—you couldn’t afford them even if you worked your whole life!” “Yeah! You should lick them!” “Make him lick them clean!” As soon as Ruby finished speaking, a chorus of jeers erupted around. Some people even rushed over, pinned me down, and pushed my head toward Nathan’s shoes. I was completely furious. “Let go of me! I’m the owner of this restaurant. Are you crazy to treat me like this?” “Owner?” Nathan sneered, his eyes full of disdain. “Look at yourself—daring to call yourself a restaurant owner?” Then he signaled to those people, and they immediately applied more force. One of them even knelt down and pressed my head onto Nathan’s shoe. I was surrounded by them in utter embarrassment, with mocking and ridiculing faces all around me. Ruby glanced at Diana and said sarcastically, “Diana, what were you even thinking back then? How could you fall for a poor guy like Bradley?” “Good thing you dumped him after graduation, or how would you have the chance to marry someone as rich and handsome as Nathan?” As she spoke, she even winked at Nathan. Diana’s expression changed, and she immediately swayed her slim waist as she sat in Nathan’s lap, possessively saying, “What nonsense are you talking about? How could Bradley compare to Nathan?” Then, she looked down at me and said, “Bradley, it’s been three years, and I didn’t expect you to end up like this. Good thing I broke up with you back then—I wouldn’t want to be a poor guy’s girlfriend.” I was utterly shocked to hear this. So, she broke up with me not because her family was sick and needed care, but because she cheated on me with Nathan?

I stared at Diana in disbelief, my face pale. “Is what she said true?” Diana looked displeased. “So what if you know? You’re broke and miserable, of course I wouldn’t want you!” With that, she grabbed the water glass on the table and splashed it in my face. She snorted coldly. “Look at you now, all pathetic. You can’t even compare to my boyfriend!” After speaking, she turned and kissed Nathan, her face full of sweetness. Nathan grinned even more smugly and pushed Diana aside, squatting in front of me. He whispered, “See that? Money is everything. Even your goddess has to bow down to me.” “You beast!” I roared angrily, struggling to get up, but the other classmates pinned me down even tighter. Nathan stomped on my face and crushed it hard. He said, “Lick my shoes clean, and this fifty-dollar tip is yours. Otherwise, don’t even think about leaving this room!” “I am the president of Lynch Group. Who do you think you are to make me clean your shoes?” I raged, glaring at him fiercely, directly revealing my identity. I thought they would stop messing around after hearing my identity, but instead, they exchanged glances and burst into loud laughter. “You just said you were the restaurant owner, and now you’re the president of Lynch Group. Do you have delusions? How shameless can you be?” “The president of Lynch Group is worth billions. Why would he be working here as a waiter?” “Looks like that glass of water wasn’t enough to wake you up. Let me give you something stronger!” One of them had a malicious glint in his eyes, let out a cold laugh, and turned to the restroom in the private room. Seconds later, he came back holding a basin of dirty water scooped from the toilet and poured it all over me. I was instantly soaked from head to toe. They immediately burst into laughter, pointing at me as if mocking a homeless person. I couldn’t take it anymore. I used all my strength to break free from them, took out my phone, and dialed Kayden’s number. “Bring people over right now…” Before I could finish speaking, Nathan snatched my phone and smashed it underfoot. He sneered, “You still dare to call for help? Are you planning to bring a bunch of waiters to back you up?” I stared at his hateful face, my soaked body trembling uncontrollably. I wanted to lunge at him and hit him, but the others pinned me down again, forcing me to kneel on the ground. Nathan’s smile was nauseating, his greasy face full of malice. He squatted in front of me, smiling as he said, “If you want me to let you go, sure. Just bark like a dog a few times and shout, ‘Bradley is Nathan’s dog,’ and I’ll let you go. How about that?” “Spit! In your dreams!” I spat at him fiercely, my eyes filled with hatred, wishing I could tear him apart at that moment! He wiped his face and sneered at me. “Ungrateful! Today I’ll make you understand that your waiter job is worth less than my dog!” He suddenly stood up and commanded, “Do it!” Hearing that, they immediately started shoving my head into the toilet. Even more disgusting, someone actually unbuckled their belt, trying to pee on my head!

Led by Ruby, several female classmates took out their phones to record videos, and some even started live streaming on the spot. They smiled at the camera and said, “Today, we’re bringing you an exclusive live stream—taking a bath in the toilet with urine!” Viewers were drawn to the absurd and bizarre scene, and the livestream quickly attracted a huge audience. Some viewers with twisted tastes even started sending gifts like crazy, hoping to see clearer footage. The girls became even more excited and started cheering louder. “Hurry up and pour it! Show everyone this amazing scene!” “Mr. Warren, you’re amazing! Just over one meal, you helped me gain thousands of followers!” Not far away, Diana covered her nose in disgust and leaned on Nathan’s shoulder, saying, “Darling, he’s so dirty, it’s disgusting!” My head was shoved underwater, and I almost suffocated several times. I wanted to fight back, but they outnumbered me, and I couldn’t move at all. Just then, there was a sudden urgent knocking and shouting at the private room door. “Mr. Lynch? Are you in there? Open the door quickly!” Ruby impatiently shouted, “Mr. Lynch isn’t here! Get lost! We’re having a reunion and having a great time!” The people around me had already torn my clothes to further humiliate me. “Bradley is actually wearing an Armani white shirt! Where did he get this fake? The quality’s not bad.” “Wait, how does he have money for such an expensive watch? That’s a classic Patek Philippe!” “Could he really be the owner of this restaurant?” In the crowd, someone gradually sensed something was wrong and instinctively stepped back. Nathan let out a cold laugh, his eyes filled with disdain. “A fake watch scared you all like this? Pathetic!” He took off my watch, tossed it out the window without a glance, then turned around and ordered the others to continue. Just then, the door to the private room was suddenly slammed open, and Kayden burst in with security guards. Seeing this, he exclaimed in shock, “Mr. Lynch, are you okay?”

My name is Ashley Easterlin. As a recognized top student, I took the SAT twice. The first time, I got accepted into Harvard University. The second time, I got accepted into Yale University. Though I’ve consistently scored above 1500 on the SAT in every exam, both acceptance offers were revoked without exception as soon as the admissions offices saw my name. I thought it was because of background checks that both schools revoked the admissions. But my parents, Gideon Easterlin and Lydia Easterlin, are honest farm workers who live quietly and responsibly. Until my third SAT attempt, I still scored over 1500. I applied to Stanford University, thinking this time it was a sure thing. But the interviewer, who was initially excited to conduct my final interview, froze upon seeing my name and immediately decided that Stanford University couldn’t accept me. I just couldn’t figure it out—what’s wrong with my name? Why, despite my excellent grades, do all universities refuse to admit me as soon as they see my name? ***** “You are this year’s top scorer, Ashley Easterlin.” “Stanford University will not admit you. We can’t take a student like you!” The interviewer checked my application materials right in front of me and finally shook his head. My joy turned to disappointment, and a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me. I desperately wanted to know the reason and couldn’t help but ask him, “Why can’t you admit me? I clearly have the best grades!” “At least let me know the reason!” In response to my question, the interviewer just gave me a faint glance. He said, “A student like you won’t be accepted by any school!” I tried hard to figure out the meaning of this sentence. But no matter how hard I racked my brains, I couldn’t find the answer. Devastated, I collapsed to the ground, trembling and holding my head as I sobbed uncontrollably. My mind was filled with confusion. Why did I achieve nearly perfect scores three times, yet no school was willing to accept me? The first time, my SAT score was 1500, and I got into Harvard University. Just when I was eagerly waiting for the admission letter, I was informed that my acceptance had been revoked. I couldn’t believe it and immediately called the admissions office. But when they heard my name, Ashley Easterlin, they didn’t investigate further and simply said Harvard University wouldn’t admit me. The second time, my SAT score was 1540, and I got accepted into Yale University. I thought Yale University would definitely accept me. But the result was the same, I still wasn’t admitted. When I called again to inquire, they didn’t admit me after hearing my name. I couldn’t figure it out. My scores kept improving, so why wouldn’t Harvard University and Yale University admit me? I thought it was because of a background check issue, so I specifically looked into whether Gideon and Lydia had committed any crimes. But the result showed that our family has been clean for generations. Besides, Gideon and Lydia are honest farm workers who usually keep to themselves. I couldn’t find the truth and refused to accept fate, so I resolutely took the SAT for the third time and reapplied to schools. This time, I still achieved an almost perfect score. Thinking about my previous experiences, I didn’t choose to apply to the schools I had applied to before but instead applied to Stanford University. With this score, I can easily get into Stanford University. When I met the interviewer for the final interview, I confidently thought that this time I would definitely get into college. Unfortunately, the interviewer rejected me once again. When he saw my name, he was certain on the spot that Stanford University wouldn’t admit me. I still wasn’t admitted. After being rejected three times, I was utterly desperate. Gideon and Lydia, seeing me sobbing uncontrollably, also shed tears. “How could this happen?” “Ashley has such good grades, how could no university accept her?” They couldn’t believe the result either.

Lydia, with red eyes, knelt directly in front of the interviewer. She pleaded cautiously, “Please, let my daughter go to school. We’ll find a way to gather whatever amount it takes!” The interviewer ignored her. Lydia simply started kowtowing. Her forehead was bruised, and she grabbed the interviewer’s pant leg. Her voice choked, “My daughter is waiting to go to college! Her father and I have worked on the farm all our lives. Our biggest wish is to support her education so she can have a better life and not suffer like us. Please!” Gideon also knelt down. He hunched over, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and handed one to the interviewer. He said, “I may not be educated, but I know my daughter’s grades are top-notch, and she will definitely get into college. “If she doesn’t go to college, her future will be ruined. I’m begging you to help!” Gideon smokes only the cheapest cigarettes to support my education. Watching Gideon and Lydia, who had never bowed to anyone, humble themselves like this for me, my heart ached deeply. Although our family is ordinary, Gideon and Lydia had never endured such humiliation despite all their hardships. At this moment, he was kneeling and pleading for me to go to college. Unfortunately, none of this worked. The interviewer was not moved at all. He said, “Don’t do this, we will not admit Ashley.” Gideon thought his sincerity wasn’t enough and even grabbed a sleeve to shine the interviewer’s shoes. He polished the shoes while begging, even kowtowing again. Even so, the interviewer remained unmoved. “Stop pretending to be pitiful here, it’s useless. We won’t admit a student like Ashley.” The interviewer’s tone was firm. But no matter how much Gideon and Lydia pleaded, the interviewer refused to pay us any attention. After the interviewer left, Stanford University revoked my admission. I, the person involved, was completely baffled. I desperately searched for reasons within myself. What do you mean by a student like me? What exactly did I do wrong? In my memory, I never did anything wrong. Since childhood, my grades have been good, my conduct upright, and I’ve been a role model for other students. Gideon and Lydia saw me looking dazed and came over to comfort me. Gideon patted my head and said, “Ashley, it’s okay. If this school doesn’t want you, you can apply to another one. There are so many universities in the country; one will definitely accept you.” Lydia wiped away my tears and agreed, “Ashley, your grades are so good, how could you not get into college? No matter what, we’ll do our best to help you fight for it!” They’ve gone quite gray because I failed to get into college three times. After the first rejection, they willingly paid for my tutoring. They told me not to worry, they would always have my back. After the second rejection, they hired a tutor for me at a high cost. They worked multiple jobs, trying every way to earn money to support me. They have always given to me unconditionally. The reason my SAT scores kept improving was all thanks to their dedication. But the third chance our family waited for still fell through. At this moment, I feel deeply indebted to them. I looked at their aging faces and rough hands, choking up as I apologized, “Dad, Mom, I’m sorry. It’s my fault for letting you down again.” “I’m the burden, I’ve been holding you back.” They, of course, didn’t blame me and just told me not to overthink. That night, I tossed and turned in bed, replaying every detail in my mind. Stanford University has already rejected me, so I can only rely on the other schools on my application list. The first two times I applied, I was too confident about Harvard University and Yale University, so I didn’t apply to any safety schools, and they both rejected me. This time, I also applied to other universities. Although my grades are enough to easily get into Stanford University, I also applied to other lower-ranked universities. I was so afraid of being rejected by even these that I applied to the universities with the lowest requirements. I thought, if the Ivy League and top schools don’t want me, maybe regular universities will, after all, I’ve always been top of my class. Sure enough, I still found hope. When a regular university sent out admission notices, my name appeared on the provisional admission list. The school heard that the top student in the city applied to them, and the next day they sent people to my home with great fanfare to welcome me. We looked at the crowd at the door, and smiles finally appeared on our faces. The school leader warmly approached, shook Gideon’s hand, and said, “Having a top student like your daughter at our school is truly a great honor!” “You two have truly raised a wonderful child. Rest assured, once your daughter joins our school, she will be a priority, with resources tilted in her favor.” Hearing these words, Gideon and Lydia’s eyes lit up. Lydia tightly held my hand and happily said that I had finally succeeded. Gideon also straightened his back, his face full of pride. The atmosphere was harmonious and joyful. The school leader quickly took out the prepared admission letter for me and even asked us to take a group photo together. He opened the admission letter with a beaming smile. “Ashley Easterlin, upon approval, you are granted…” He was reading and suddenly paused.

He stared at the admission letter, completely frozen. Two minutes later, he looked up at me, his voice trembling slightly, “Ashley Easterlin? Are you sure your name is Ashley Easterlin?” I looked at his expression, and my heart sank with a bad feeling. Just as I was about to answer, Gideon responded first. The school leader staggered upon hearing that. He suddenly raised his hand, silencing the crowd, and the room instantly fell quiet. Seeing this, Gideon and Lydia panicked a little. The two turned to look at me, but I didn’t look at them. My eyes were fixed on the school leader’s lips. The next second, he coldly said, “Sorry, our school cannot admit you. I will immediately report to the admissions office to revoke your application.” In an instant, I felt dizzy. Fortunately, Gideon and Lydia caught me in time. I looked at the school leader and asked him calmly, “Sir, please give me a clear reason.” “Your school has already admitted me, so what gives you the right to revoke it now?” My hanging hand clenched tightly, my nails digging painfully into my skin. I swore to myself that no matter what, I would uncover the truth today. Gideon and Lydia chimed in, “Exactly! You’ve already admitted our daughter, how can you just change it like that?” “Even though we haven’t had much education, you can’t do this. You must give us an explanation!” The neighbors watching nearby whispered among themselves. They all knew about my high SAT scores but no school was willing to admit me. They were indignant, suspecting if I had offended someone. Otherwise, with my grades, every school would be competing to admit me. Facing our questioning, the school leaders still said little. He would only say, “No school would be willing to admit a student like you.” I kept asking, but got nothing. As soon as the school leaders left, my family became the village’s gossip, mocked and ridiculed. “Ashley is just a money-waster, right? She tried for three years, but no school wants to admit her. It’s a total waste of money!” “You should give up on her going to college. Let her work and earn money! She’s just a girl and will get married sooner or later.” “Exactly, let her work and earn back the money spent on her all these years!” Hearing what everyone said, Gideon and Lydia were so angry they almost rushed up to fight them. Lydia grabbed a broom and started chasing people out, her voice sharp. “Get out now! Stop being an eyesore to our family!” “Our family matters are none of your business. If you dare talk nonsense again, I’ll tear your mouths apart!” Gideon said with a cold face, “Even if I have to work several jobs, I will make sure my daughter goes to college!” Seeing our family’s firm stance, those people had no choice but to leave while cursing. I looked at the returned file again, unable to figure out what was wrong with my name. Why did the schools that admitted me revoke it after seeing my name? I can’t figure it out, and I’ve pulled out quite a bit of my hair. Gideon and Lydia looked at me squatting on the ground with bloodshot eyes, feeling both heartbroken and anxious for me. Gideon smoked, helpless and frustrated. Lydia was afraid I might hurt myself and kept trying to comfort me. But at this moment, my mind is filled with failure after failure. Could it be that Gideon and Lydia worked hard for me most of their lives, only to end up with nothing? Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head—I thought of vocational colleges. I suddenly looked up. “Dad, Mom, I still have one last chance!” “One week later, the vocational college admission results will be out. Maybe I can get in.” Hearing this, Gideon and Lydia also breathed a sigh of relief. I thought to myself, vocational colleges are the most basic schools, even the lowest scorers can get in. Besides, I got the highest score—there’s no way I won’t get in, right? Our whole family pinned all our hopes on the vocational college. After all, my grades are good. As long as I get into vocational college, I can continue to improve my education later. Our family anxiously waited for a week, and finally, the admission letter arrived. We held the admission letter, hugged tightly, and cried tears of joy. Early the next morning, Gideon went to the street to buy some treats to celebrate. Lydia bought me two new outfits, saying I couldn’t look shabby when I went to college. Our family sat together, happily eating and celebrating. I said with great anticipation, “Dad, Mom, when I start working in the future, I’ll definitely buy a big house and bring you to live there so you can enjoy life!” Gideon and Lydia smiled with joy. Lydia said, “Our biggest wish is for you to be safe and sound, and not to endure hardships like us in the future.” “I believe you will achieve great things in the future.” But I never expected the principal of the vocational school to personally come to my house and ask for the admission letter. Thinking of the previous ordeal, my face turned pale instantly, and my legs went weak. I instinctively wanted to hide the admission letter on the table. But he was faster, and when he opened the admission letter, I cried. When he saw “Ashley Easterlin,” his face instantly darkened, and he took back the admission letter right in front of us. He said, “Ashley, sorry, this admission letter is void. You can’t attend our school.” I don’t understand why it’s still like this. After the principal left, I locked myself in the room, devastated. “Ashley? Ashley?” I murmured my name as if entranced. Then, I rummaged through the entire room, frantically searching for my ID card. I need to see for myself, what curse is on my name? I pulled out my ID card and saw the name on it. In that moment, I suddenly understood something!

My name is Jane Petrov. Our whole family can hear my mom Fiona Petrov’s thoughts. I found a new job with good pay and benefits. But she worried deeply, thinking, “My daughter has low education and lacks ability. How could she get a new job by selling her body?” My dad, Ivan Petrov, heard it and firmly refused to let me work. He went to the company and caused a scene, getting me fired right after I started. Furious, I decided to move out and temporarily stay at my boyfriend Nash Fowler’s place. Fiona outwardly supported but secretly tried to stop me. “What should I do? Her boyfriend has been married for years and even has kids. Is she trying to be a mistress? If she really moves in, she’ll definitely get beaten to death, and she’ll disgrace our entire family.” To stop me, my brother Alex Petrov even broke my legs with a stick and locked me at home, leaving me to fend for myself. My wounds became infected and inflamed, and I wanted to go to the hospital. Fiona sighed inwardly, “This child is so rebellious, insisting on leaving this home. Her legs aren’t even that serious. If she goes to the hospital, she’ll definitely climb the wall and escape.” Now, no one was willing to care about me, leaving me to die in pain in the room. Even until my death, I never knew who was the one that killed me. When I opened my eyes again, I realized I could hear Fiona’s inner thoughts too. “Congratulations, you can come to complete the onboarding formalities tomorrow.” On the other end of the phone, the HR’s voice was crisp and cheerful. I stared blankly at the phone screen, checking the date—I had actually been reborn. “That’s awesome! It’s so hard to get into this company. You have to treat me to a meal today to celebrate.” My good friend Anna Sanchez held my arm, her face full of excitement. She was right. This company truly offers excellent benefits. I went through five rounds of interviews and took a whole month to get the offer. But I just couldn’t feel happy now. Because in my previous life, when I shared this news with my family, before I could even celebrate, their expressions suddenly changed. They scolded me for being shameless for money and firmly refused to let me work at that company. Faced with the hard-earned opportunity, I chose to secretly report to work. But Alex actually came to the company, caused a huge scene, and took me back. I was also fired. Now that this opportunity has come back to me, I must seize it no matter what. Thinking of this, I immediately said, “I have something to do today, so I need to leave first. Please don’t tell anyone about my new job, especially my family. I want to surprise them.” Anna saw my serious expression and understood the importance of the matter, so she immediately agreed. After parting with her, I went straight home. As soon as I walked in, Alex came up and said, “Did you find a new job? How long have you been unemployed? You can’t keep relying on Mom and Dad forever.” I sneered and said, “I’ve only been unemployed for two weeks, and you can’t stand it? What about you living off Mom and Dad’s pension and playing video games at home for two years after graduating college?” After graduating from college, Alex didn’t find a job and stayed home playing games for two years. It wasn’t until last year that he joined a gaming company. He couldn’t argue with me. Just then, Fiona came over. He started complaining to her, “Mom, her words are so hurtful.” Fiona has always treated everyone fairly at home, never showing favoritism. Just when I thought this time would be no different, I heard a familiar voice.

“She’s already this age, got fired from her job, and still can’t find a new one. Might as well get married early.” I looked at the owner of the voice, Fiona, but her lips were tightly closed, and she said nothing. “My $8,000 monthly pension isn’t even enough for my son to spend. She must have savings, and she needs to bring it out.” I was startled, realizing that this voice was actually Fiona’s inner thoughts. I thought, “How can I hear her inner thoughts? And wasn’t her pension $4,000? When did it become $8,000?” All along, she kept complaining to me about being broke, saying her pension was all spent by Alex, leaving her without even grocery money. Feeling sorry for her, I transferred her several thousand dollars every month. Now it seems she was lying to me. “Jane is just resting at home for a few days, what are you talking about? Apologize to her right now,” Fiona said to Alex. Alex seemed to hear her inner thoughts too and obediently lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Jane. I’m just worried about you. What if you still can’t find a job?” Fiona comforted me, “Don’t listen to him. Even if you can’t find a job, the family will support you. I’m heading to buy groceries now. The supermarket has discounts at this time. Though I have to compete with a bunch of old folks, it’s worth it for the deals.” If it were before, hearing this would have softened my heart, and I would have transferred money to her right away. But now, I want to test her a bit more. So, I nodded. “Then hurry up, or the groceries will be gone soon.” Fiona’s inner voice sounded again, “What’s wrong with this girl today? It’s so hot, I really don’t want to go out.” I pretended not to hear and went back to my room. Now I can be sure, in my past life, it was her inner voice that spread rumors about me, causing me to lose my job and even my life. But this time, I can hear her inner voice too. At dinner, Fiona asked again if there were any new job offers contacting me. I nodded. “I just got an email, I can start work tomorrow.” Fiona said, “So soon? Didn’t you say there was no news this afternoon?” I said, “I was going to tell you, but I got interrupted.” Ivan nodded with satisfaction. “That’s good. Work hard at the new company, get along with your boss and colleagues, and don’t get fired again.” In my previous job, I was harassed by a partner during a business dinner. I angrily scolded that creepy guy on the spot, but the company demanded I apologize. I refused, so I was fired. I told them what happened, but they only cared about what I would do after losing my job, not whether I was hurt or felt wronged. Fiona’s inner voice sounded again, “Ah, what should I do? Jane has low education and lacks skills. How could she find a job so quickly? She probably used improper means.” “After all, at her last company, she was fired by the boss for fooling around.” Sure enough, the next second, Alex and Ivan’s expressions turned a bit strange. “What kind of company is that? I heard it’s really hard to find a job nowadays. You found one so quickly, are you sure you weren’t scammed?” Alex asked. I clicked my tongue impatiently. “When I didn’t have a job, you complained about me staying home all the time. Now that I found a job, you’re saying I got scammed? What exactly do you want me to do?” Ivan said, “I also think it’s not very reliable. You should reconsider and find another one.” Although he said I should reconsider, he actually meant he didn’t want me to go. Luckily, I was prepared and directly took out the materials I had ready. I said, “This is my new company’s information. See for yourselves, they even collaborate on several national-level projects. Such a great opportunity, once missed, it’s gone.” “And Dad, don’t you always talk about your friend’s kid working in a public institution? My company is way better than that.” Ivan took the materials and carefully flipped through them, his frown gradually easing. What he cares about most is his pride, and now that I’ve joined the new company, he can show off to his friends. He finally nodded. “Hmm, not bad. Do your best.” He glared at Fiona. She lowered her head, not daring to speak. I pretended not to notice, smiled, and said, “Definitely, this time I definitely won’t get fired.”

No matter what you do, you need money first. Now that my job is finally settled, everything else will be easier. The next morning, afraid something might go wrong, I got up at dawn, changed clothes, and left home straight away, waiting outside the company early. I didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until I finished the onboarding process. In the following days, using “too busy with work” as an excuse, I didn’t go home for several days and took the chance to quietly rent a place, preparing to move out. This time, I didn’t alert anyone and moved little by little each day, like a hamster. During this time, Nash was also helping. In my previous life, I was confined at home with broken legs, and he couldn’t reach me. He asked around for news about me and even considered reporting to the police to find me. But I didn’t live to see him rescue me; I was already dead. I didn’t tell him about what happened in my previous life, only said that I had fallen out with my family and needed his help. I only told them I was moving out after I had almost finished moving everything. This time, I deliberately didn’t mention Nash, only said it was because home was too far from the company and commuting was inconvenient, so I rented a place near work. Fiona thought, “She doesn’t have to say it, I already know. She’s probably moving out to live with her boyfriend. So shameless.” Her boyfriend already has a wife and kids, yet she’s sunk so low as to become the other woman. Absolutely shameless. If the wife comes knocking, our family’s reputation will be completely ruined.” Ivan and Alex instantly glared at me, their eyes almost burning two holes in my face. Fiona continued in her heart, “Having a daughter who’s a mistress, what’s the point of living? I might as well be dead. It’s so humiliating!” Fiona kept badmouthing me in her heart, making up lies about me. Hearing it, I just wanted her to shut up. I really can’t understand why she’s so fixated on spreading dirty rumors about me. I even doubt if I’m really her biological child. Ivan, furious with veins bulging on his forehead, raised his hand and slapped me. He shouted angrily, “You shameless thing! Are you moving out just to mess around with men outside?” I covered my face and said incredulously, “Dad, what are you talking about? Don’t you know what kind of person I am?” “There are barely any people of the opposite sex in my WhatsApp. Who could I possibly mess around with?” I handed my phone directly to him, letting him check it freely. Fiona sneered inwardly, “I don’t even need to guess; she must have already deleted all the chat records. There’s nothing to find.” “Anyone with eyes can see the necklace on her neck. Such a big diamond, I’ve only seen it on TV. How could she afford it? It must have been given by another man.” Ivan yanked off my necklace and angrily questioned, “Did you buy this yourself? How can you be so shameless? How have I been teaching you all this time?” I retorted, “This was a gift from my boyfriend! How does accepting a gift make me shameless?” “Boyfriend? Well, you admitted it yourself! Don’t blame us for accusing you now!” Alex said eagerly. I pretended to look utterly confused and said, “What are you even talking about? You all knew I was dating someone. Dad, he even asked me to give you a fishing rod. Alex, that game console you wanted before, he gave it to you too. Have you forgotten?”

My dad loves orchids. So, when he retired, I bought him a beautiful manor perfect for his passion. But the moment he stepped inside, the security guards brutally beat him until his head bled. “Leo, you said this place was mine. They’re calling me a scammer. A trespasser.” My dad’s voice trembled through the FaceTime call. I was about to explain when another man walked into the video frame. The guards’ attitude flipped instantly. They fell over themselves fawning, muttering to each other. “The CEO’s husband is here! Get this old con artist out of here!” It hit me like a truck. My wife was having an affair. And she’d given the manor I bought for my dad to her lover. I called the research institute immediately. “I’ll publicly release all my smart chip data and research. For free.” Let’s see if Seraphina Thorne’s company can survive without me! After authorizing the data release with the institute, I drove straight to Willow Creek Manor. I had been married to Seraphina for seven years. In that time, she rose from nothing to become the formidable CEO, all thanks to my research and data support. The world saw a self-made genius. I saw the ghostwriter standing in her shadow. As I arrived at Willow Creek Manor, I saw a frail figure lying on the ground. It was my father. Beaten. Discarded. He was covered in dirt, and his eyes were bloodshot from the beating. A crowd of staff stood around my dad, watching. No one helped. They kept kicking his body. “Hasn’t the old fraud had enough? Want more?” “This estate belongs to Seraphina Thorne’s family. Who do these losers think they are?” They jeered, slapping my dad’s face. Rage boiled within me. I shoved through the crowd and rushed to him. Seeing me, my dad let out a long sigh of relief. “Leo, explain quickly. It must be a misunderstanding.” The estate manager, Gordon, scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. “Have you no shame? This property belongs to Ms. Thorne. And you two… what is this? A pathetic attempt at cosplay?” Gordon wasn’t done. He eyed my cheap beat-up car. “That junk can’t even buy a tire on her husband’s ride. And you dare pretend to be him?” Just then, the “CEO’s husband” they spoke of sauntered out of a luxury car. As he got closer, I realized it was Blake Harrison, Seraphina’s sweetheart. After Seraphina and I married, someone casually mentioned Blake’s, but I never cared. Now, Blake was brazenly claiming to be Seraphina’s husband. Blake met my gaze and walked towards me. “Blake, how dare you steal our Willow Creek Manor?” I confronted him. Blake showed no hint of guilt, just a smirk. “Well, well, isn’t it the pathetic leech trying to latch onto my wife?” “Still obsessed, huh? Chasing her all the way here?” “If you want to see my wife, you can. Get on your knees and kowtow a few times, and maybe I’ll be charitable enough to let you have a glimpse.” As if that wasn’t enough, Blake pointed at me, addressing the Willow Creek Manor staff loudly. “This gold-digger wants to score big, constantly hounding my wife. “Can you believe he’d even follow us to our love nest? What a psycho!” The surrounding staff looked at me with disgust after hearing Blake’s words. “A homewrecker, trying to break up someone else’s family, actually has the nerve to show up here?” “Ugh, what a disgrace. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, especially when the tree’s rotten. The old one’s a fraud, and the young one’s a complete bastard.” “Blake is truly exceptional, driving a luxury car and wearing designer watches. That’s a real success story.” Gordon, feeling emboldened, grabbed my dad’s collar, ready to throw him out. “I smelled the stench of these two low-lifes from a mile away. They actually dared to impersonate Seraphina Thorne’s husband? You’ve got a death wish. Today, I’m going to rip you father and son apart.” My dad’s whole body trembled with anger at their taunts. “You can’t distinguish right from wrong! My son bought Willow Creek Manor for me!” Blake spat at my dad. “You pathetic old man, there’s a limit to your daydreams.” “Seraphina bought this estate for my father. This is Seraphina’s gift to her father-in-law, got it?” I was speechless with fury. This woman, who only managed to establish her company by leveraging my research. Not only did she cheat on me, but she also let her ‘old flame’ seize my dad’s estate. This surreal world was utterly ridiculous. I pulled out my phone, found the purchase receipt for Willow Creek Manor, and showed it to everyone. “I bought Willow Creek Manor! I paid for it!” “Now! Apologize to my dad!”

Gordon burst out laughing. “Showing a doctored image and thinking the estate is yours? I could Photoshop a receipt for the White House and claim it’s mine too.” “You con artist just won’t give up, will you? You won’t believe it until I show you the proof, then you’ll finally scram, right?” A staff member, sensing Gordon’s mood, brought out Willow Creek Manor’s order information and projected it for everyone to see. The order clearly stated: Purchaser, Blake Harrison! My mind went blank. Every step of buying Willow Creek Manor was correct. The payment was deducted from my card. How could someone else’s name appear on the order now? Then I remembered that two nights ago, Seraphina, who was usually cold and distant, uncharacteristically urged me to rest early. Seeing my phone on the bedside table, Seraphina even deliberately put it away. Seraphina knew my payment password. Was she encouraging me to sleep early just to change the payment details? Damn it, that bitch! I grabbed my phone and called Seraphina. Her voice on the other end was filled with annoyed impatience. “I’m busy. Don’t call me if it’s not important. Not everyone is as idle as you, a jobless bum!” “Seraphina, who gave you the guts to give away my Dad’s estate? And why is Blake Harrison telling everyone he’s your husband?” Seraphina frantically hung up the call. I knew Seraphina was completely panicking. After all, without my technical support, Seraphina’s massive tech company was nothing but a house of cards. Blake clearly realized the consequences too; his face turned ashen with fear. I walked past Blake and headed straight for the luxury car behind him. I found the owner’s information inside, and Blake Harrison’s name was prominently displayed. That scumbag Seraphina truly spared no expense. She even gave Blake the Rolls-Royce I bought her when we got married. Blake saw my actions and instantly regained his confidence. “You pathetic loser, not content with trying to scam my estate, now you’re eyeing my car too?” I was so consumed by anger that I lost all sense of reason. I just wanted to clench my fists and punch him hard. Blake, seeing my intent, immediately ducked behind the estate’s security personnel. “Look, everyone, the gold-digger couldn’t scam his way in, so now he wants to resort to violence! Shameless!” Gordon immediately rallied all the security guards, surrounding us. “Damn it, I knew it! These two low-lifes are no good. Get these two bastards out of here before they dirty our estate.” Punches rained down on us from the security guards. I could only hold my dad close, shielding him. Just then, a screech of tires pierced the air. I looked up. Seraphina had parked her car and was frantically running towards us. I expected a tearful apology, filled with remorse. Instead, I was met with a torrent of scathing accusations. “Leo Sterling, you pathetic excuse for a man, how dare you cause trouble outside!”

Blake immediately pointed at me, reporting to Seraphina. “Seraphina, this gold-digger who’s always been harassing you is back.” “For money, he even brought the old fraud along. Shameless!” Seraphina looked at me with utter contempt. “Leo Sterling, I warned you long ago, I’m beyond your reach.” “Now you’re not just stalking me every day; you’ve brought your dad along to stalk me too. Can you not have some decency?” I looked at the woman I had spent seven years with, and a chill ran through me. For seven years, I’d turned down countless high-paying job offers. I had selflessly given Seraphina the smart chip data I had developed over many years, all because she said she wanted to become a successful entrepreneur. I thought we were building a beautiful future together, but I now realized I was just setting her and her lover up for success. My dad was utterly furious. Clutching his chest, he challenged Seraphina. “How can you say that? Leo paid for this estate himself! How can you talk such nonsense?” Seraphina sneered dismissively. “He paid for it? Does he even have money? A jobless bum!” “You pathetic old man, get out of the way!” “I bought this estate for my father-in-law. It has nothing to do with you or your pathetic son!” Her words pierced my heart like a sharp blade. I held my father, who was clutching his painful chest, and stared intently at Seraphina. “Seraphina, dare you repeat what you just said? Who is your father-in-law?” “Who is your husband?” Seraphina froze, clearly not expecting me to challenge her when I was so isolated and vulnerable. But she quickly recovered. This was her turf; what did she have to fear? Seraphina swiftly grabbed Blake’s arm, intertwining with him sweetly. “My father-in-law will only ever be Blake’s father.” “And my husband will always and only be Blake Harrison.” Seraphina’s eyes swept over me from head to toe, full of disdain. “As for you, you’re just a gold-digger, a perverted version of one who wants to scam people when he can’t get what he wants!” Blake beamed, pulling Seraphina into his embrace. After a loving gaze, they shared a kiss. “Honey, I’ve seen plenty of these gold-diggers wanting to latch onto wealthy people. Let’s head inside quickly; let’s not let this ruin our vacation!” As soon as Blake said that, the estate staff began to whisper amongst themselves. “So, he’s just a desperate gigolo wanting to climb up the ladder. Seriously messed up. Blake and Seraphina are a perfect match!” “This pretty boy looks decent enough, but who knew he had such a malicious heart? Constantly harassing a married couple and trying to scam their luxury car and estate?” Blake looked at me with utter contempt. “You bastard, hear that? Seraphina only has one husband, and she only loves me!” My dad gasped for air, clutching his heart. He exerted all his strength, blocking the estate gate, and loudly explained. “My son bought this for me! You won’t take it from us!” Blake’s face darkened. He grabbed a security guard’s baton nearby and swung it at my dad’s head! “You old bastard, if I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll think your buddy Blake is easy to mess with!” Seraphina stood with her arms crossed, watching indifferently as if it had nothing to do with her. I struggled against the security guards, desperate to reach my dad, but Seraphina’s bodyguards held me down firmly. The baton landed squarely on my dad’s head. Blood immediately gushed from his forehead. Blake still wasn’t satisfied. He yelled at the bodyguards around him, “Get me the taser gun!” With one shot, my dad’s body convulsed. “You old bastard, today Blake’s going to show you what’s what.” The taser gun was set to maximum power. After another shot, the surrounding skin was charred black. I struggled wildly, my eyes fixed on Seraphina. “Seraphina, he’s your father-in-law! You know he’s always had a weak heart!” Seven years! Even if she didn’t care about our marriage, didn’t years of companionship mean anything? Even a pet cat or dog wouldn’t be treated with such heartlessness! Seraphina showed no trace of compassion. She lifted the hem of her dress, stepping back, afraid my dad’s blood would stain her new outfit. “The old man constantly causes trouble. Let Blake beat him up, blow off some steam. Maybe then we’ll let you off the hook.” Blake’s confidence swelled after hearing Seraphina’s words. He ordered the bodyguards to tie my dad to the back of Seraphina’s luxury car and started driving onto the paved road. “So, the old man likes the estate, does he? I’ll have the bodyguards give you a tour of the estate.” With a roar of the engine, my father was dragged alongside the car, leaving a long trail of blood. Blake still wasn’t satisfied. “Can’t you go faster? Let this old geezer bleed a bit more.” Watching the blood stream from my dad, I felt my world sway. Then, the massive outdoor screen of the estate lit up with a national news bulletin. “BREAKING: Scientist Leo Sterling has just released his entire smart chip research database to the public, free of charge. Experts say the move will instantly revolutionize the field of AI.” Seraphina stared at me in disbelief. Her triumphant, arrogant expression instantly crumbled into ash.

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My life was cursed from the start. Broken leg at three. Deaf in one ear by five. Eye lost by eight. After my rich parents finally took me home, Chloe, the fake heiress, hissed a cruel threat. “Even if you’re back, I’m still the only Hayes daughter! Try anything, and I’ll break your other leg!” I stared, uncomprehending. Then, without a word, I detached both my prosthetic legs. My parents’ faces drained of color as they saw my empty pants legs. My brother Caleb’s expression darkened. He leaned in, his voice a low warning not to upset Chloe. I just pointed to my ear with an innocent look and shouted. “WHAT?! Someone beat me deaf in this ear! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” He staggered back, looking like he’d seen a ghost. At the gala, Chloe tried to frame me, faking a fall down the stairs. In the process, she tore my dress. Just as Caleb led my parents over to confront me, they saw my body covered in scars. The world froze. My father rushed to wrap me in his arms. “What happened?! Tell me!” Seeing their horror, Chloe scrambled to her feet, desperate to distance herself. “I didn’t do it! Don’t you dare blame me!” I nodded. No, she didn’t do it. The traffickers did. I was the only child from my village to ever escape alive. I’d made a promise to the little friends I left behind. I would make the monsters pay.

“It wasn’t me.” Chloe’s voice dissolved into a perfect, trembling sob, her eyes seeking refuge in Caleb’s. Caleb understood immediately. He moved to shield her, his voice hardening into a blade of conviction. “Mom, Dad, listen to me. Aria’s just playing the victim to frame Chloe!” “You know Chloe. She could never do something so cruel. Never.” I wrapped myself in the clothes the butler, Mr. Davies, handed me, hiding the scars that covered my body. Even though I couldn’t stop trembling, I tried to smile at them. “Mom, Dad, Caleb’s right. My injuries really have nothing to do with Chloe.” “I did all of this to myself to play the victim and frame her.” During those years with the traffickers, I’d learned to be compliant to avoid another beating, to suffer a little less. Accepting charges I didn’t commit was always better than resisting and earning a fiercer beating. But to my surprise, as soon as the words left my mouth, my parents’ faces darkened. Smash. Dad slammed the glass he was holding onto the floor. His hand trembled as he pointed accusingly from Chloe to Caleb. “Look! See what you did? Aria’s not making any sense!” Chloe and Caleb stared, their faces paling. Just then, a girl in an evening dress caught Chloe’s look and stepped out. “Who hurt her earlier is one thing,” she declared, then thrust an accusing finger toward me. “But she just kicked Chloe down the stairs! In front of everyone.” Caleb jumped on it instantly. Her left foot! I saw it too!” he shouted, backing her up. All eyes were on me again. I peeked out from behind Mom, my face etched with confusion and helplessness. Under everyone’s gaze, I timidly bent down and slowly pulled up my left pant leg. It was empty. I looked up, my eyes fearful. “Mom, Dad, even though… even though my left prosthetic leg is being serviced today…” “But since Caleb and Tiffany saw me kick Chloe down the stairs, then… then it must have been me.” As I spoke, I tugged at Chloe’s dress, trying to appease her. “I’m sorry, Chloe, it was my fault. I’ll apologize to you right now.” With that, I used my one remaining prosthetic limb to support myself, hopped to the second floor, and without a second thought, leapt over the railing. Silence descended for a moment. Then, a piercing scream erupted from the crowd. “Aria!!” Mom and Dad frantically caught me. Mr. Davies stumbled and crawled to find a doctor. Caleb and Chloe stood frozen, dumbfounded. The other guests’ expressions were like they’d collectively seen a ghost. “Doctor! Get a doctor, now!!!” Excruciating pain shot through my limbs. Amidst the shouts, the light in front of me faded, and I slowly closed my eyes.

That night, Mom and Dad reviewed the surveillance footage from every corner of the house. Chloe’s entire self-orchestrated scheme played out clearly on the screen, leaving nowhere to hide. The evidence was undeniable. Facing their questions, Chloe rubbed her red, tear-stained eyes, her voice full of grievance. “I’m so sorry.I really didn’t mean to frame her.” “I was just so scared. What if she shows up and you just replace me?” Caleb was beside her in an instant. “You heard her! Chloe’s just insecure!” “She’s lived here for over a decade. Someone suddenly comes back to take everything away from her… isn’t it normal for her to be scared?” “She didn’t mean any harm, so stop being so aggressive!” As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, his brow furrowing tightly, his voice now filled with disgust. “But Aria, I think there’s something seriously wrong with her head, isn’t there?” “Who jumps from the second floor just because someone says something?” Mom and Dad shot him a harsh glare, but they still took his words into consideration. The next day, they pulled some strings and brought in a top psychologist. To everyone’s surprise, I was incredibly cooperative with the doctor’s questions. “Aria, can you tell me how you got these scars?” I thought carefully for a moment, then answered softly. “I did them to myself.” A flicker of surprise crossed Dr. Miller’s face. He pressed on, “And why would you hurt yourself?” My answer was utterly natural. “Because that way, before someone gets angry, I’ve already punished myself. When they see I’m sorry, they might calm down and won’t hit me anymore.” I still remembered that whenever I made a mistake, as long as I punished myself before those people got angry, I’d always end up with fewer injuries, fewer beatings. Dr. Miller stared at me, looking like he wanted to say more but held back. After a long pause, he tried to guide me. “But have you ever thought that hurting yourself like this doesn’t solve the problem? It only hurts those who truly love you.” I blinked, asking curiously, “What is love?” “Is it like those traffickers from before, breaking my legs but saying it was for my own good, saying it would let me live by begging for pity and charity?” “Or is it like my parents now…?” “One second they’re hugging me, crying and swearing they’d fight for me, but the next, even after seeing Chloe framing me on the surveillance footage, they just… let it slide? Instead, they thought I was the problem and brought in a therapist for me?” I leaned closer to him, speaking each word distinctly. “Dr. Miller, I used to have many friends who loved me. We got beaten together, starved together, and we promised each other we’d escape…” “But now…” I paused, then continued, “The people who loved me… they’re all dead.” The pen in Dr. Miller’s hand froze mid-air, his face instantly turning ashen. Dr. Miller relayed every word I said, verbatim, to my parents. His final diagnosis was. I had severe psychological trauma. All my compliance, and the way I hurt myself preemptively when feeling threatened, were self-preservation mechanisms forced upon me to survive in such a terrible environment. After Dr. Miller left, Mom and Dad stayed in their room all day. Until Caleb kicked open their bedroom door.

Seeing Mom and Dad’s attention completely fixated on me, Caleb couldn’t help but let out a cold, mocking laugh. “I bet she’s just putting on an act for the doctor, trying to be pathetic and gain sympathy, all to get Chloe kicked out of this family!” “She’s disgusting, so manipulative and calculating!” Chloe, however, stepped forward and linked her arm through Mom and Dad’s, her voice soft and sweet. “Mom, Dad, Caleb’s just saying that in the heat of the moment. Please don’t take it to heart.” “I was wrong before, I promise, I’ll get along with Aria from now on.” “There’s a social event in a couple of days. We’ll definitely take Aria with us, so she can meet some new friends, and it’ll also… help us sisters bond!” Mom and Dad exchanged glances, thinking it might help me integrate into their circle sooner. After a moment of consideration, they agreed. Soon, the evening of the gala arrived. I limped into the grand hall, only to be bumped by a server coming the other way. I fell to the ground, wine spilling all over me. Chloe let out a little giggle, then quickly changed her expression. “Oh my gosh… Quick, I’ll take you to the lounge to clean up!” She grabbed my wet arm without asking, half-dragging, half-pulling me away from the crowd’s view. Halfway there, she leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with malice. “Don’t think that just because you make yourself look pathetic, acting crazy and dumb, you’ll get Mom, Dad, and Caleb’s love! Dream on!” “They still love me! Always will!” A cruel smile twisted her lips. “Wanna make a bet? If I prove it, you’ll get out of the Hayes family and never show your face again!” As soon as she finished speaking, a huge push slammed into my back! “Splash!” The icy pool water instantly swallowed me whole. Then came another, louder splash, and a piercing scream. “Caleb! Help me!!! I’m terrified of water!!!” Caleb rushed over at the sound. Without thinking, he plunged into the water, swimming frantically towards Chloe, who was thrashing around. The moment I hit the water, my body’s memory kicked in before my conscious mind, making me choose the “safest” way to cope. Stay still, cause no trouble, just wait for it to be over. I let my body be enveloped by the pool water, slowly sinking to the bottom, bubbles escaping from my mouth and nose. Caleb didn’t pull Chloe to the edge of the pool until he heard the gasps and warnings from the surrounding guests. “There’s another one in the water! The one who isn’t moving!” He whirled around, his face instantly pale. He frantically jumped back into the water, clumsily pulling me out. I lay curled on the freezing floor, spitting out mouthfuls of pool water. Caleb ignored my trembling, grabbing my wrist with a force that felt like it would crush my bones. “Apologize to Chloe! Look how terrified you’ve made her!” I clutched my eyes tightly, my body shaking even more violently. Seeing this, he let out a cold laugh, his tone even more cutting. “Now you’re scared? Now you want to cry? I’m telling you, tears won’t help!” “Don’t even try to say you didn’t push Chloe on purpose!” “Chloe is terrified of water. If you hadn’t pushed her, how could she have…” As he spoke, he forcefully pushed my head towards the ground. My head hit the floor with a heavy thud. My hand, which had been clamped over my eyes, slipped away, revealing my empty left eye socket. When I looked up, the entire room fell silent. In the profound stillness, I cautiously looked up, forced a small smile, and whispered softly, “My… my eye fell out… I was afraid of scaring everyone…” All of Caleb’s accusations and anger froze on his face. “You…” He opened his mouth, but only one word escaped. Just then, a sharp crack echoed overhead. The rope holding the crystal chandelier snapped, sending it plummeting straight down! In a flash, I saw the image of my friend, crushed by a collapsing beam while trying to save me. My body moved faster than my brain. With a strength I didn’t know I had, I slammed into Caleb, who was still stunned. Fragments of glass grazed my cheek, leaving a trail of blood. Caleb stumbled a few steps and fell to the ground. He turned back, his pupils constricted in shock. His face registered disbelief, then, after a long moment, frustration and anger. “Aria, are you insane?! I’m supposed to protect you! I don’t need you to save me!” Though his words were harsh and cutting, he scrambled to his feet with incredible speed. As he neared me, his hand hesitated, but ultimately, he swept me up into his arms, shouting at the surrounding crowd. “What are you standing around for?! Get in the pool and get her… get my sister’s eye out!” He carried me into the lounge, snatched a blanket, and wrapped me up tightly. Then he placed the freshly cleaned prosthetic eye next to me. “The, uh, the doctor’s too slow, I’ll… I’ll go find him myself!” With that, he bolted, his footsteps frantic. Darkness and the cramped space made me feel drowsy. After I don’t know how long, a pungent, choking smell filled the air. Fire.

Chloe’s voice drifted to me, faintly. “Quick! It’s our chance now. Hurry and take her away in the chaos!” “I’ll just tell Mom and Dad there was a fire, she didn’t make it out, and she burned to death!” “Mom and Dad only need one daughter! Who asked her to come back?! She can go back to wherever she came from!” “The money’s already been wired to you, double! Be quick about it, don’t leave any traces!” Several grinning faces moved closer, chillingly familiar. I didn’t struggle or cry for help. Instead, I submissively waited for them to tie my hands. The smell of sedatives spread through my nose and mouth, and I passed out. I was slapped awake. A burning pain erupted on my cheek, and my already deaf ear rang, bleeding again. In front of me were several twisted faces. The human traffickers always disguised themselves as locals, stuffing one stolen child after another into this remote village. They shoved people into dog cages, mutilated them to appear disabled, and forced them to beg on the streets for profit. A scar-faced man fiercely yanked my hair, his eyes leering. “Damn it, you little bitch, you’re hard to kill! Almost got away for good!” “Boss, I say we just make sure she’s a permanent fixture here, no more running!” The prosthetic limbs with their embedded trackers were brutally ripped off. They tore my evening gown. I knew struggling was useless, so I could only try to buy time. I looked up, my gaze calm. “You disguise yourselves as villagers, but behind our backs, you kidnap children, commit arson, murder… Aren’t you afraid of karma for all the evil you’ve done?” As soon as the words left my mouth, they burst into triumphant laughter, as if they’d heard the funniest joke. “Hah, karma?! We are the karma around here!” My lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. “One last question, then. Who got me out of the banquet hall?” Perhaps to savor my even more desperate expression, they erupted in another round of gleeful laughter. “Your sister! The Chloe from the Hayes family!” “Didn’t expect that, did you? You didn’t die with us, but you came home, and someone there was just itching for you to die!” I feigned a look of disbelief, stubbornly shaking my head, my voice trembling. “Impossible. Chloe… she would never do that to me!” They were enraged, as expected. To prove it, they pulled out the transfer records. “Open your damn eyes and look! The sender! Chloe Hayes! See it clearly?!” With that, their last shred of patience ran out, and they reached out to strike me. Just as those disgusting hands were about to touch my body. Bang. The door was violently kicked open from the outside! Along with countless police officers who stormed in with guns drawn. And my parents and Caleb, their faces filled with shock and fury. And… Chloe, her face ashen white.

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Ten years as DINKs. Then his mistress got pregnant. “I want to be dad.” He announced. I had two choices: take a $300 million settlement and divorce, or stay Mrs. Hayes and be the child’s nominal mother. He thought I’d pick the second. He knew how much I loved him. But I chose the first without blinking. I’d been reborn. In my last life, I fought Richard’s mistress my whole life. In the end, her son still seized all our assets. This time, the money’s mine. The freedom’s mine. And maybe, a young man or two will be mine as well. In my last life, I literally worked myself to death. After discovering my husband Richard’s affair, a cold, focused fury consumed me. I spent 48 sleepless hours plotting. First, I sidelined him at Hayes Corp, seized control. Then I executed reforms so brutal our share price quintupled. Richard’s mistress, Jasmine, and her son, Kevin, were crushed under my heel. They hid abroad, too terrified to return or contact Richard. Not a single Hayes family member dared to challenge me, not even Richard. I thought I’d won. Then I hit forty-five, still not pregnant. Years of grueling IVF, constant injections, and non-stop work took their toll. My body gave out. I collapsed and died on a business trip. My body hadn’t even been buried when Jasmine returned with her son. Richard, Jasmine, and Kevin wept, hugging each other as if they were the ones who’d suffered some great injustice. My ashes and photo? Casually tossed into the trash. Watching Jasmine eagerly move in and Kevin take over my company, I finally realized I’d spent my entire life building an empire for someone else. That night, I heard Jasmine and Richard sharing sweet nothings in bed. Jasmine, teary-eyed, whispered to him, “Richard, you’ve suffered so much for me these past twenty years. You secretly got a vasectomy for me, and even deliberately set Sera up to pave the way for our son! Thank you, my love, I adore you.” Richard kissed Jasmine’s forehead. “Jasmine, I love you too. You’ve been with me since you were twenty. I’d do anything for you.” No wonder no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get pregnant later on. Richard had gotten a vasectomy ages ago. I couldn’t tell if I felt regret or fury, only that my entire life had been a cruel joke. I opened my eyes again, back to the moment Richard laid it all out for me. He’d just gotten home from a business trip, still wearing the custom suit I’d ordered for him. He sat on the sofa, radiating an undeniable charm. Richard sighed. “Sera, let’s part amicably. Jasmine’s pregnant. It was… an accident, but she’s given me everything, and I can’t abandon her.” “I’m going to marry her and keep this child. I’m afraid you’ll have to make sacrifices.” “Besides the $300 million settlement for the divorce, I’ll buy back your shares at market price. This villa we live in and the cars? They’re yours. I truly owe you for all these years.” Honestly, Richard’s terms were pretty generous. If I didn’t love him, it would’ve been a total windfall. But I’d known him since I was eighteen, married him at twenty. Richard built his empire, and I helped manage the company alongside him. Later, when his parents got older and their health declined, I stepped back to care for them. I never imagined Richard would stab me in the back. And twist the knife. That betrayal fueled a hatred so fierce, I burned the rest of that life on nothing but revenge. Now, I gazed at my thirty-year-old face in the mirror. My eyes looked tired, exhausted from cooking and managing the household for my in-laws. My clothes were dated, a testament to my frugality. I reeked of “housewife.” My heart ached. I felt a pang of pity for myself. How had I let my life become this? Why hadn’t I learned to enjoy it? As I drifted, Richard repeated his demand for divorce. He sounded impatient. Just as he was about to deliver a warning, I calmly said, “Fine.” Richard froze. “What?” “I agree to the divorce,”I repeated, my voice calm. “And to you buying back my shares at market price. Let’s end this amicably.” Stunned by my decisiveness, he could only stare for a beat. “As long as you agree,” he muttered. “My lawyer will contact yours tomorrow.” Then he left in a hurry. I took a deep breath. Turning around, I saw his parents on the second floor. They’d known about Jasmine. They’d come for a show. Seeing not a tear but cold resolve, their faces tightened with awkwardness. My mother-in-law forced a thin smile, nudged her husband, and they vanished. I was left alone in the living room, savoring the reality of my rebirth.

Richard’s assistant worked fast. Within a week, Jasmine was strutting into my house as if she owned the future. In my previous life, Richard coddled her because she was young, keeping her well-protected. I rarely dealt with her. So, facing twenty-year-old Jasmine now, a strange resentment still flared. But I fought to hide it. I knew Richard was ultimately to blame. Jasmine was just the fly attracted to the rot. She was practically revered by the Hayes family. My mother-in-law, who’d given me the cold shoulder for ten years, was smiling warmly at someone for the first time. She constantly fed Jasmine fruit, stroked her belly, looking utterly delighted. I didn’t go in to make things worse. I retreated to my car and called Richard. “Have your assistant come out. I’ll sign in the car.” “Since you gave me the villa, tell your parents to move out tomorrow. I don’t like strangers in my house.” “Transfer the money to my account first. Let’s expedite the share transfer paperwork. Once that’s done, we’ll finalize the divorce.” Richard didn’t say anything for a long moment, then let out a sarcastic chuckle. “You’re certainly quick about this.” He made it sound like I was just after his money. I didn’t bite. There was no point arguing with him now. The priority was getting everything finalized ASAP. My attitude must have provoked him, or perhaps Richard just didn’t want to upset Jasmine. Either way, a month later, I received a total compensation of nearly $800 million and my divorce certificate. The second I walked out of the courthouse, I listed the villa online, ready to sell. Richard was still trailing me. When I almost stumbled, he grabbed my arm. His expression was surprisingly remorseful. “Sera, what are you… going to do now?” I was busy calculating the villa’s value and didn’t quite hear him. “Huh? What?” “What are you planning to do?” “Me?” I looked at him strangely. “I’m going to get a haircut and buy some new clothes. Divorce is like a rebirth, after all. Gotta celebrate, right?” Richard choked on his words, his face hardening. “You’re still so stubborn.” “Even though we’re not married anymore, we’ve known each other a long time, and I want to offer some advice. When we were younger, money was tight, and we carelessly decided to be DINKs, not truly understanding what that meant.” “Now that my parents are getting older and my career is successful, I’m starting to understand how important having children is.” “I know you hate your dad for cheating and your stepmother for the abuse, so you stubbornly refused to have kids.” “But Sera, life is long. If you never have your own bloodline, you’ll be lonely and regretful when you’re old.” “I just didn’t want my parents to die without seeing grandchildren, I didn’t want to be unfilial. That’s why I chose to be responsible for Jasmine. I hope you understand.” He rambled on and on, and just then, my ride arrived. I casually pulled my hand from his, got straight into the car. As the car started to pull away, I flipped him the bird. “Richard, you cheated. Don’t try to make it sound so noble.” “You can spin it any way you want, but Jasmine is still your mistress, and that child is still illegitimate. No matter what, you can’t change that fact.” “I’m thrilled about the divorce, because I don’t have to deal with you two anymore, or clean up your mess. May you and your mistress be ‘happily ever after,’ you deserve each other. And don’t ever contact me again.”

Cursing Richard felt incredibly cathartic, and the divorce didn’t affect me in the slightest. Maybe my previous life had completely drained all my love for him. Now that we were separated, it felt like excising a rotting piece of flesh. Utterly liberating. The day after the divorce was finalized, I found a high-end salon, got a perm, and dyed my hair with highlights I’d always wanted. Then I went on a shopping spree, buying dozens of outfits and completely overhauling my wardrobe. Seeing my new, younger reflection, tears finally fell. “Sera,” I whispered. “you’re actually beautiful. You’ve worked so hard all these years.” A sum with nine zeros sat quietly in my bank account. I could live off the interest in blissful idleness. There was no more need to rush. I lounged on the sofa, then wiped out Richard, his parents, his relatives, and most of his friends from my contacts. My contact list felt so much cleaner. As I scrolled, I saw Mia’s name, a friend who owned a bar. After a moment’s thought, I called her. I’d been so wrapped up in family life before, rarely keeping in touch. So, when I suddenly called, she sounded surprised. “Hey, Mrs. Hayes, what’s up? Long time no talk!” I smiled faintly. “I’m divorced. Don’t call me Mrs. Hayes. From now on, you can call me Sera, the rich lady.” “Holy shit!” Mia shrieked. “Seriously? Where are you? I’m coming to get you right now!” Her eagerness for gossip was obvious. Half an hour later, Mia had heard the whole story. She looked at me, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating. I quickly stopped her. “Hey, don’t pity me, girl. I’m loaded now.” Mia just stared. “You’ve got a point.” She wiped her face. “So, what’s next, boss?” I pondered for a moment. “Well, ever since Richard hooked up with Jasmine, it’s been two years since I’ve, you know, been intimate with anyone.” “You know a lot of people. Any clean-cut, fit, handsome guys you could hook me up with? Maybe two?”

The moment I mentioned wanting a male escort, Mia got excited. Within half a day, several profiles landed in my hands. My eyes immediately gravitated to Leo, the one with the cleanest vibe. It wasn’t just his looks; his background was surprising – a top student from A University. How could such a brilliant guy go down this path? I raised an eyebrow and told Mia to bring him to my hotel that evening. That night, in the Grand Hotel’s Presidential Suite, I met twenty-three-year-old Leo for the first time. He was tall, with eyes and brows even more striking than in his photo. His skin was lightly tanned, and his gaze held a hint of veiled resentment. With years of interviewing experience, I could tell he was a textbook good student. Dressed in a shirt and slacks, he was stiff as a board, his face flushed with shame. Too bad I wasn’t feeling charitable. I was focused on getting what I wanted. I walked over and gently lifted his chin. “You’re Leo, right?” Leo mumbled a shy “M-hm.” His youthful awkwardness delighted me. He truly was gorgeous. Clear eyes, long, curling lashes, full, red lips – a pure, captivating temptation. IMy grip on his chin tightened, forcing those deep, wary eyes to lock onto mine. “Half a million is a lot. But I like you, so I’ll pay. Whether you get all that money…well, let’s see your performance tonight.” Leo took a shaky breath. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.” His hands trembled violently, and he was flushed from his earlobes all the way down his neck. When he kissed me, he was so inexperienced he bit my lip with his teeth. I couldn’t help but let out a low laugh. So innocent. So pure. So utterly adorable. I reversed our positions, pinning him beneath me, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. “You’re lucky. It’s my first time hiring an escort. I don’t have any strange kinks.” “I’m buying a good time to clear my head. After tonight, you’ll get what you came for.” Leo let out a choked moan, his hands instinctively finding my waist… The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. Leo was still asleep. I left the card on the nightstand, kissed his cheek, then got up and left. Decisive as I was, I didn’t notice the tears streaming down his face the moment the door clicked shut.

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The day Eleanor was recognized by her birth family and returned to their lavish mansion, I was packing my bags. She saw me and frowned. “Put that down. I’m only taking Ian and Mia. You can stay in the run-down part of town for now. I’ll send you five hundred a month for living expenses, and I’ll let you see Mia.” I nodded calmly. After all, I already knew she’d only take her first love and my daughter. In my previous life, I had clung to her, desperately following her to the mansion, making a scene. I thought I’d finally have a good life, but Ian, her first love, falsely accused me of theft. Then, my own daughter pushed me from the 18th floor. Before I fell, Mia screamed at me: “I don’t want a thief for a dad!” When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn. My phone buzzed with a text from a top-secret national research agency: “Alex, congratulations on your recruitment. Please note, you are not allowed to contact anyone outside for five years after joining.” I moved out of our old house and found a hidden apartment. But that very night, my front door was kicked open. Eleanor stood in the doorway, her white suit soaked through by the rain, her face dark and stormy. Behind her stood Ian, holding an umbrella, and my daughter, Mia, whom he held by the hand. Ian spoke, his voice laced with feigned indignation, “Alex, I know you’re upset, but you can’t just steal my mother’s keepsake. It’s the only thing I have left of her!” I felt like a lightning bolt had struck me, my blood running cold. I knew. This was the exact same scenario as my previous life. Trembling, I tried to stop them, but the bodyguards were already ransacking the apartment. Soon, a bodyguard pulled a necklace from the bottom of a box. Eleanor held up the necklace, the disgust in her eyes almost enough to kill me. A chill ran through me. I understood instantly. It was Ian again! Eleanor’s voice was sharp. “Caught red-handed, Alex. We were once married, so I’m giving you a chance to confess!” Confess? I looked up, a humorless laugh escaping my lips. “I’m not guilty. Confess to what?” Eleanor’s anger flared. She shouted towards the door, “Then help him confess!” Two burly men entered, gripping me tightly on either side. One of them pressed hard on the back of my neck, forcing me to bend low before Ian. “Get on your knees and confess!” Eleanor’s icy voice came from above me. I clenched my jaw, resisting with all my might. “It wasn’t me! Eleanor, I won’t confess!” But the bodyguard’s hand was like a vise, forcing my head down, slamming it into the ground. *Thud!* My forehead hit the rough concrete floor, a sharp, burning pain erupting. Eleanor commanded, “Apologize.” “I… didn’t…” I struggled to get the words out. *Thud!* Another blow. This time, the force was greater. I felt warm blood trickling down my forehead. Mia’s tearful voice piped up, “Dad, just confess, please. I’m scared…” My daughter’s plea twisted my heart in agony. She didn’t know. Every “Dad” she uttered was a thousand cuts to my broken heart. In my previous life, when she’d tricked me onto the rooftop and pushed me off, I died never understanding why my daughter, whom I’d loved for ten years, wouldn’t believe me, but instead believed a man who wasn’t even her blood relative. Eleanor’s voice was full of scorn. “See? Even your daughter is ashamed of you.” *Thud!* The third blow. My vision blurred. Blood and sweat mixed, dripping onto the cold ground. Ian feigned concern. “Eleanor, that’s enough… Alex might just be confused for a moment…” “Confused? I say he’s stubbornly unrepentant!” The bodyguard pressed my head down again. I mustered my last ounce of strength, lifting my head to glare at Ian. “I’m innocent!” Eleanor was utterly enraged. “Still talking back! Keep going! Until he confesses!”

Just then, Mia suddenly rushed forward and kicked my shoulder hard. “You’re a thief! I don’t want you as my dad anymore! Mia doesn’t like you anymore!” The kick wasn’t hard, but it froze me completely, making me forget to struggle. My own daughter, While I was being falsely accused of theft, while I was being forced to confess, she not only disbelieved me but came forward to deliver another blow. So this is what it feels like for your heart to die. Eleanor seemed startled by her daughter’s action too. She waved her hand, and the bodyguards released me. I slumped to the ground, blood continuously streaming from my forehead. She walked up to me, rain dripping from her hair. “Alex, for Mia’s sake, if you just admit your mistake and apologize to Ian, I’ll let it go.” I looked up, through my blood-blurred vision, staring intently at her, And at Ian, who stood behind her, wearing an innocent expression, and at my daughter, who looked at me with a stranger’s eyes. I smiled, blood oozing from the corner of my mouth. “I… did nothing wrong.” “And I will *never* apologize to Ian!” Those last three words, I directed at Ian, each one firm and clear. Eleanor erupted in fury. “You’re impossible! Drag him outside and make him kneel! He won’t get up until he confesses!” I was roughly dragged into the yard and thrown into the icy mud. The torrential rain poured down, washing over the wound on my forehead, a chilling, piercing pain. From behind, I heard Ian’s gently insidious voice. “Eleanor, it’s raining so hard. Maybe let Alex come inside…” And Mia’s innocent question, “Mommy, when will this thief confess?” Followed by Eleanor’s cold reply, “He brought it on himself.” A thief? Brought it on myself? The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. The voices faded, and I completely lost consciousness. The smell of disinfectant was acrid. I regained consciousness amidst a sharp pain. Above me, the hospital’s stark white ceiling. As far as my eyes could see, several expressionless bodyguards stood. They surrounded my hospital bed like immovable pillars. “Awake?” An icy voice reached me. I struggled to turn my head and saw Eleanor standing by the bed, her face so dark it looked like it could rain. She held the necklace in her hand, her eyes devoid of warmth, filled only with scrutiny and disgust. She held up the necklace. “Alex, I’m asking you one last time, where did you hide Ian’s mother’s *real* keepsake? This one is fake.” Fake? My eyes widened in shock. I understood instantly. Ian! How utterly twisted he was! He used a fake item to solidify my theft charge. Whether I confessed or not, he had a backup plan waiting for me! The real necklace was probably long hidden or disposed of. He wanted not only to ruin my reputation but also to ensure I’d never recover! I opened my mouth, my throat dry and hoarse. “I didn’t!” My heart ached as if an invisible hand was squeezing it tightly, making it impossible to breathe. Why? Why, even after being reborn, could I not escape this fate of being framed? Why must I still bear this fabricated charge? Eleanor stared at me, seemingly judging the truth of my words. Moments later, her last shred of patience snapped, replaced by deep disappointment and ruthlessness. “It seems you won’t tell the truth unless I get a little tougher with you.” She took a step back and coldly instructed the bodyguards, “A thief doesn’t deserve his hands. Since he won’t hand it over, break his fingers, one by one. He’s in the hospital anyway; he won’t die.” I violently opened my eyes, staring at her in disbelief. She was going to… break my fingers?!

No! I couldn’t let that happen! I struggled, but the bodyguards held me down firmly. I couldn’t be without my hands! The national research institute! My future! I needed these hands to operate precise instruments! Without them, everything I had would be ruined! “Eleanor! You can’t!” I screamed, hoarse. “I didn’t steal! I didn’t…” But she merely watched, impassively, as if observing a silent film that had nothing to do with her. A bodyguard stepped forward, roughly grabbed my left hand, and squeezed my index finger. “No!” *CRACK!* A crisp sound of bone shattering echoed. The agonizing pain made my vision go black; I nearly passed out. It hurt! But this pain was less than a thousandth of the agony in my heart. I looked at the woman I had poured my heart out to and loved for ten years, at her beautiful profile, Now, I only felt disgust. I hated her! I hated myself even more! Why was I so blind back then, to fall for this woman who couldn’t tell right from wrong, this cold and heartless woman! To protect her fragile pride, I had hidden my top-tier university degree, even willing to give up my career for her. Ten years of devotion, ten years of youth, all for this outcome today! I truly regretted ever loving her! *CRACK!* The second finger was broken. “Ah!” I convulsed with pain, cold sweat instantly soaking my hospital gown. Eleanor stood there, expressionless. The third. The fourth… Excruciating pain surged like a tide, wave after wave, almost consuming my consciousness. I bit down hard, absolutely refusing to admit to that fabricated charge. One, two, three… The bodyguard grabbed my right hand. My future, my dreams, shattered inch by agonizing inch before my eyes. *CRACK!* When the ninth finger was brutally snapped, I no longer had the strength to even scream. My life, too, seemed utterly broken at that moment. But my dignity was not crushed. I had not confessed to theft! Eleanor looked at my pathetic state, frowned, and her face turned pale. She suddenly turned to the doctor. “Reattach them.” With that, she almost fled in haste, without another glance back at me.

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Two months pregnant, I saw a post from Hunter, my husband, on SnapChat. The photo showed Hunter with his arm around Scarlett, his assistant, holding up a red lace bra. “My boyfriend is too passionate; he ripped my bra! Good thing he bought me a new lace one!” I silently hit the like button. Then, I systematically destroyed every single baby item we owned. The last one was burning just as Hunter’s call came in. He sounded panicked, rushing to explain: “Audrey, the company’s new lingerie design needed promotion. Scarlett and I were just acting… if you like it, I can get you one…” “No thanks,” I said, my hand instinctively caressing my still-flat belly. “Advertising, right? I get it.” After hanging up, I unearthed my long-forgotten palette. Hunter, this time, I’m truly done with you. Outside, the snow fell thick and fast. Hunter returned, and I’d already booked my abortion for two days later. Seeing I wasn’t waiting for him as usual, his face instantly soured. “Why didn’t you come to meet me?” “It’s snowing so heavily, weren’t you worried I couldn’t get back?!” He grumbled, kicking off his snow-caked shoes. Slush and mud seeped into the carpet, leaving dark stains. Normally, I’d meticulously wipe his shoes with a towel, then brew him some hot tea to ward off the cold. But now, “I just don’t feel like it!” Hunter’s expression froze. His Adam’s apple bobbed twice. “What about my coffee then?” “Forgot.” “Forgot?!” A deathly silence hung in the air. “Audrey, what’s gotten into you now?” “Is this all because of those photos?…” He moved to grab my hand, but I subtly pulled back, pretending to adjust my teacup. “New products need buzz, I told you that. I was just promoting them.” “Don’t keep using your pregnant mood swings to pressure me. I can’t handle it…” “You’re overthinking it.” I calmly cut him off, my legs, curled under the blanket, instinctively recoiling. Pellets of snow slapped against the window, reminding me of the blizzard two weeks ago. He’d worn the same frown then. “The company’s new product is launching soon. You don’t need to drag me to a prenatal check-up.” Then, he’d gently explained to Scarlett on the phone, “I notice every single one of your efforts. Don’t worry, no matter what the future holds, I’ll be there for you every step of the way.” But that day, I’d walked home alone through the raging snowstorm. Hunter pressed his fingertips to his temples, leaving a red mark. Finally, he pulled a cheaply packaged item from his briefcase. “La Perla!” “The exact same color and style!” He tossed the bra in front of me, wearing a “don’t be ungrateful” look. “Satisfied now?” I stared at the bra, nestled in the most basic plastic bag from a convenience store. The gold-foil logo was crooked, half-missing. It was starkly different from the one he’d given Scarlett. Yet, I still calmly said “Thank you,” and went back to scrolling on my phone without looking up. Hunter’s brows suddenly furrowed. He grabbed my arm. “I’ve satisfied your vanity, so why the sour face?” “Scarlett is wearing this exact line, it’s trending everywhere online right now! People are fighting to get their hands on it! And this is your attitude?” What else did he expect? “What else should I do?” “Bow down? Or just transfer the money to you?” The flowing air instantly solidified into dead silence. I didn’t want to argue anymore. I tossed the blanket aside and walked directly to the bedroom. Behind me, I heard the crash of Hunter kicking over the tea set. But I truly couldn’t think of a way to express gratitude to him. To accept a fake item as an excuse for his “promotional necessity” betrayal. Then, under the guise of “vanity,” he dismissed all my grievances and disappointment as unreasonable pregnant sensitivity. It was so incredibly pointless. I changed into clean clothes and headed for the front door. Hunter’s angry shouts followed me to the entryway. “Where are you going in this blizzard? You’re pregnant, what if something happens?” I fastened the last button of my coat, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. “So you do remember I’m pregnant, Hunter…” I slipped on my shoes. “Do you remember the last time you left me at the hospital?” “I was thinking the same thing!” “In a blizzard, and pregnant, what if something happens?!” “And what happened?” I spread my hands, then walked out the door without looking back. As the security door closed, I heard the sound of a cup shattering on the floor. But I didn’t rush back in a panic like before, to clean up the mess, or to pacify him with a forced smile. Instead, I straightened my back and stepped into the waiting taxi. The flying snow lashed against the window, and a long-forgotten lightness bloomed in my chest. Before I married Hunter, I was a well-known painter in my circle. Later, because he said “I need you,” I abandoned my cherished passion. My palette was put away, and my paint-stained brushes soaked in turpentine. But now, I could finally, uninhibitedly, chase my passion again.

The scent of turpentine hit me. The students chattered, crowding around me. The gallery owner was the first to step forward, handing me a paintbrush. “I knew it. You couldn’t stay trapped in that golden cage forever.” I took the brush and sincerely said, “Thank you!” In the three years I was married to Hunter, I truly made him my entire world. From the smallest task of managing the household to the biggest sacrifice of shielding him from life’s storms, I gave up the most vibrant passion of my life. Thankfully, I finally realized that love alone cannot be everything. After finishing my last painting, I returned home late at night. The dim light elongated Hunter’s desolate silhouette. I didn’t notice his expression, only the mess in the living room. He’d been drinking. This was the first time in three years, outside of company events, that he’d drunk alone at home. I suppressed my shock, placing my painting supplies by the door. He rushed over and grabbed me. “Where were you?” I didn’t answer, just took off my shoes. “I asked you, where were you?!” His voice unconsciously rose. He saw my paint-splattered clothes, then his face registered a sudden understanding. “Audrey, Audrey, are you serious? So intent on fighting with me that you run away, and you know oil paint is bad for the baby, you know how much I hate the smell of it, but you deliberately went to a gallery to spite me! When are you going to grow up?” I stared at his pale face, momentarily speechless. Finally, a cold scoff was all the answer I gave to his questions. “What do you mean?” He grabbed me from behind. “Is it still about that bra?” “I already explained it, it was for a new product launch. Besides, I bought you the same one. What more do you want?” Dried paint pricked uncomfortably under my fingernails. I indifferently pulled my hand free. “Yes, what more do I want?” “Are you done talking? Because I’m going to sleep.” He suddenly kicked over the shoe rack. Wooden clogs clattered against the wall. Plaster dust mixed with the turpentine scent. “Always with that deadpan face!” “You have a perfectly good life, but you insist on getting involved with those crazy artists, Audrey. What exactly does our marriage mean to you?!” His hysterical accusations were as grating as the cold wind howling outside the window. But I still said nothing. In the face of his illogical arguments, I always believed silence was my strongest weapon against his twisted logic. That night, the crisp pop of a can opening sliced through the stillness of the night. I sat on the bed, staring at my phone, listening to Hunter’s deliberately hushed voice from the living room. “When will she ever be like you?” The next day, I opened my bedroom door. Hunter was slumped over a pile of empty cans, his head drooping. A mountain of cigarette butts leaned precariously in last night’s spilled alcohol. Normally, I’d quietly clean up the mess and carefully create an escape route for both of us. Even if my heart ached with injustice, I’d use the gentlest smile and actions to paint this argument as just another ordinary part of life. But now, I walked straight past the cans and out the door. Before closing it, I heard Hunter’s low growl, “If you’re so capable, then never come back!” And that’s exactly what I intended. Since quitting my gallery job three years ago, I hadn’t picked up a brush for outdoor sketching. Now that I had the chance, I wouldn’t betray this turpentine-scented freedom. Holding Mr. Davies’s letter of recommendation, I signed up for the Perrotin Gallery exhibition, three days away. “It’s a long journey; you’ll be gone for a while. Are you really not going to discuss it with him?” Mr. Davies’s voice crackled through the phone. I traced the unfinished “Morning Mist on the Seine” on my screensaver. It was a sketch from three years ago, for my Perrotin application, a path I’d stopped walking for Hunter. But now, “No need to discuss. We’re getting divorced soon.”

When I got home, Hunter stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a tailored suit. He held an Italian handcrafted comb, meticulously smoothing back the hair at his temples. The sharp, slicked-back style enhanced his handsome, chiseled features. “I have a work dinner tonight,” he said without looking up. Then, he pulled out his phone, a smile playing on his lips, and walked out the door. That smile was identical to the one in Scarlett’s latest photos. Carefree, tender, with an undeniable doting affection in his eyes and the curve of his mouth. I remembered three years ago, he’d smiled at me that exact same way. On a snowy street, he’d wrapped my trembling shoulders in a thick coat. Then he’d wound a scarf around my neck, layer after layer, and said with a smile, “See? This way, my little painter won’t freeze into a snowman.” But now, he warmed someone else’s winter with that same smile. The starlight in his eyes no longer belonged to me. I knew he was going to see Scarlett again. Ever since Scarlett appeared, he’d often come home late or left early. I felt insecure, trying every way to hold onto him. But in the end, all I got was his exasperated, “Can you stop being so annoying?” That evening, on a whim, I opened my social media. I saw a photo Scarlett had posted. Hunter stood beside her. They both held the same bottle of champagne, smiling brightly in front of a giant champagne tower. The caption read: “Wherever you are, it’s always brilliant.” Below it was Hunter’s heart emoji. “It’s never lonely with you around.” Once, I would have cried hysterically, then screamed and demanded answers like a madwoman. “Who exactly is your wife? Have you ever considered my feelings?” But now, I quietly closed my phone and slept until dawn. In the early hours, I was jolted awake by a violent slamming door. Hunter, reeking of alcohol, ripped the covers off me. “I said I had a work dinner, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t eat anything, did I?!” “Audrey, are you so heartless and uncaring now that you can’t even bother to prepare me a late-night snack? How can you be so cold?!” His chest heaved violently, catching me off guard. In the past, whenever he went out for work, no matter how late, I would painstakingly prepare a table full of snacks. Worried about his stomach, I’d even warm milk. But each time, he’d push it away with a frown, then post photos of gourmet late-night meals shared with others on social media. I rubbed my sleepy eyes, speaking as calmly as possible. “You didn’t say you were coming back to eat. You always eat out at these work dinners. I can’t exactly chase after you asking if you’ve eaten, can I? Wouldn’t that make you seem weak? Besides, Scarlett was there.” In the past, every time I questioned him, it would provoke his impatience. He hated all my texts and questions, especially when he was with Scarlett. So, upon hearing my words, his tightly furrowed brow instantly smoothed. “That’s not what I meant. Isn’t preparing a late-night snack what you *should* do? And being with Scarlett? That’s purely for the new product launch, don’t be silly.” I nodded, a knowing expression on my face. “I’m not being silly. I just want to sleep.” With that, I pulled the covers over my head, no longer paying attention to his expression as I had before. But his intense gaze lingered on me for a long time. That night, the living room light stayed on. The next day, I woke up early. After washing up, I walked straight to the entryway to change my shoes. Hunter sat at the dining table, arms crossed. I knew he was waiting for breakfast, but I didn’t give him a chance to speak. I closed the door without looking back. The wind was biting cold. I pulled my coat tighter and walked into the hospital. A cool liquid flowed into my veins. In that moment, there was no sorrow, no sadness. Only a numb calm. As they say, a broken heart isn’t a sudden storm; it’s the slow, steady drip of countless disappointments wearing away what was once burning passion. On the way back, Hunter texted. He said the new product had successfully launched, and he was throwing a party at home. He asked me, for the sake of our marriage, not to make a scene. It was the first time he’d spoken to me in such a pleading tone, and the first time his words carried an almost imperceptible tremble. The ridiculous thing was, none of it was for me. But I still agreed. Not for Hunter, not for anyone else, but to use this opportunity to bring a definitive end to this fractured relationship. It was bad timing. The moment I opened the door, I saw Scarlett sitting in *my* spot. She was holding *my* wine glass, laughing and drinking with Hunter.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “314003”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #狼人Werewolf

On our fifth wedding anniversary, I drank the hot milk Brendan handed me and slipped into a deep sleep. When I woke up, a chilling sensation ran across my scalp. In the mirror, I saw my head was shaved bald, with a childish drawing of a turtle scrawled across my forehead. Sofia, the scholarship student I’d sponsored, held the clippers, laughing hysterically. “Her head is so round, like an egg!” Brendan stood beside her, his gaze doting on Sofia. “Sofia’s practicing her hairstyling. She just used you for practice, that’s all. Your hair will grow back, don’t be so dramatic.” I touched my slick, bald head, staring at this vile couple who found amusement in humiliating me. Practice, huh? Well, when they’re living on the streets, they can practice on homeless people. Brendan’s smile froze on his face. Sofia, the student I’d sponsored for three years, was still cackling beside him. “Don’t be mad, Brendan said you’re the most generous person ever.” She shook the electric clippers in her hand, still clinging to strands of my hair. I ignored her. My gaze landed on Brendan. “Brendan, five years of marriage, and this is how you surprise me?” He scowled, his tone dripping with impatience. “Audrey, that’s enough. Seriously.” “It’s just some hair, it’ll grow back.” “She didn’t do it on purpose. She just wanted to give you a trendy new look.” “Look at you, can’t even take a joke.” Sofia chimed in, fanning the flames: “Exactly! And your skin is so fair, a shaved head really makes your features pop, honest!” She even pulled out her phone, trying to snap a picture of me. “I’ll help you post it on social media, all your friends will say you look so cool!” I stared at her, enunciating every word. “Put the phone down.” My voice was calm, but it made Sofia freeze. Brendan felt embarrassed. He grabbed my arm, pulling me roughly towards him. “What’s your problem with Sofia? She’s just a student! Why are you scaring her?!” His grip was strong, and my scalp hit the buttons on his chest, sending a jolt of pain through me. I didn’t struggle. I let him hold me. I just lifted my head and looked at him. “Brendan, the sleeping pills in that milk, the dosage wasn’t small, was it?” “How long was I out?” He flinched, his eyes darting away. “Sleeping pills? Don’t be ridiculous.” “You’ve just been really tired lately, you slept soundly.” How sweet. He could talk about drugging me so casually. I nodded, acknowledging his words. Then, right in front of them, I picked up my phone, aimed it at my bald, turtle-decorated head, and took a high-definition photo. Brendan exploded. “Audrey, what the hell are you doing?!” He lunged forward, trying to snatch my phone. I took a step back, slipping the phone into my pocket. “Don’t touch me.” “I think this look is quite memorable.” “After all, it’s your fifth-anniversary gift to me.” I turned and walked into the walk-in closet, locking the door behind me. I heard Brendan’s enraged pounding on the door and Sofia’s sweet, pleading voice from outside. “Brendan, don’t be mad. She’s probably just overthinking things.” “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have used her for practice.” I didn’t listen. From the safe, I retrieved my ID, birth certificate, property deeds, and my prenuptial agreement. My dad, fearing I’d be taken advantage of, had hired the best legal team to make everything crystal clear. My company shares, the properties under my name, and my savings before marriage had absolutely nothing to do with Brendan. Yet, the startup capital for his company? That came from me. The spacious apartment we lived in? It was under both our names, but I paid for the down payment and the renovations. I gathered my things, stuffing them into an inconspicuous backpack. Then, I changed into a new outfit and put on a hat. I opened the door. Brendan and Sofia were lounging intimately on the sofa. Seeing me emerge, Brendan immediately stood up, looking a little uneasy. “Did you come to your senses?” “Just delete the photo, apologize to Sofia, and we can forget this ever happened.” I looked at him, as if he were a complete stranger. “Apologize?” “Alright.” I walked up to Sofia. She cowered in Brendan’s arms, looking at me timidly. “I…” *Smack!* A crisp, resounding slap. I put every ounce of strength into it. Sofia’s face instantly swelled, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief. Brendan was stunned too. When he finally reacted, he shoved me away. “Audrey, what the hell is wrong with you?!” I was pushed against the wall, my back aching. But I stood firm. “That slap was for me. Thank you for showing me that the person I was sleeping next to was a piece of trash.” I didn’t look at them again, walking directly towards the door. Brendan roared behind me: “If you walk out that door, don’t ever come back!” I didn’t stop. I pulled open the door, turned around, and smiled at him. “This head with a turtle drawn on it doesn’t quite match your glittering doghouse.” “Don’t worry. I’m not just leaving; I’m going to make sure you roll out of here too.”

I booked a suite at a downtown hotel. The first thing I did was call my private lawyer. “Daniel, prepare for a divorce. I’m filing.” Daniel sounded a bit surprised on the other end, but his professionalism kept him from asking too many questions. “Understood, Ms. Lin. What materials do you need me to prepare?” “Everything. Asset division, and I want to sue Brendan for assault.” “Assault?” “Yes.” I sent him the photo I took last night. There was silence on his end for a full minute. “Ms. Lin, I understand.” “Don’t worry, I’ll handle this.” I hung up, then looked at my absurd reflection in the mirror. The turtle on my forehead was drawn with an oil-based marker. Water didn’t wash it off; it just smudged, making it look even uglier. I used makeup remover, scrubbing bit by bit. My scalp was red and raw by the time I finally got it off. Looking at my bald head, I didn’t cry. Tears were the most useless things in the world. What I wanted was for them to pay. The next morning, I went to the bank. “Hello, I’d like to freeze all my bank cards, including all supplementary cards.” After finishing my business, I had just walked out of the bank when Brendan’s call came through. “Audrey, what is this?! Why did you shut down my cards?!” “Sofia picked out a bag, and the card wouldn’t go through! Do you know how embarrassed she was?!” I chuckled softly. “Oh? Is that so?” “Well, she should be even more embarrassed now.” “Because from this moment on, if you spend one cent of my money, it has to be with my permission.” “You!” Brendan was too furious to speak. “Audrey, don’t forget, half the company is mine!” “Is it?” I said slowly. “Are you sure you want to go over the company’s accounts with me?” “The five million dollars you started your business with? That was my money. According to our prenuptial agreement, it’s a personal gift from me, and I have the right to revoke it at any time.” “The company’s cash flow and accounts, every single transaction is clear. How much money did you spend on your little mistress, how many luxury cars and watches did you buy for yourself? If we really investigate, what do you think you’ll get from the company?” On the other end of the phone, only heavy breathing remained. Brendan was speechless. All these years, he’d grown accustomed to living lavishly, accustomed to my unconditional support. He’d forgotten that everything he had was built upon my contributions. “Audrey, what exactly do you want?” “Nothing much.” “Just want you to experience what it’s like to be broke.” “You love to practice, don’t you?” “Now, it’s my turn.”

My second target was Sofia. A lowlife who claimed to be a struggling student, shamelessly spending other people’s money. The university she attended, Harvard University, a prestigious institution. I had initially decided to sponsor her because of her excellent grades. Thinking back, it was truly ironic. I went directly to the Harvard University President’s office. Without an appointment, I was stopped by the secretary outside. “Ma’am, do you have an appointment? The President doesn’t see guests without one.” I smiled at her. “Tell your President that Audrey Lin from Lin Corporation is here to report one of your students for moral misconduct, being a mistress, and defrauding scholarship funds.” “If he doesn’t see me, these details will be on the Harvard University forum and the front page of every local media outlet in the next minute.” The secretary’s face paled, and she immediately rushed into the office. Less than thirty seconds later, the door opened. A middle-aged man with a receding hairline came out, a forced smile on his face. “Oh, Ms. Lin, please come in, please come in!” I walked into the office and sat on the sofa. The President himself poured me a glass of water. “Ms. Lin, what were you just saying about…” I took a stack of documents from my bag and dropped them on the table. “President, I won’t beat around the bush.” “For three years, I’ve been individually sponsoring a student in your Foreign Language Department, Sofia Jiang.” “These are the sponsorship proofs for each year.” I pointed to the first document. “And this is her annual poverty application, stating that both her parents are unemployed and in poor health, with a younger brother in school, and the entire family relies on meager income to get by.” The President nodded: “We know Sofia, an excellent student, one of the university’s top prospects.” “Excellent student?” I chuckled. I pulled out a second stack of documents and slapped them on the table. These were what my private investigator had dug up overnight. “President, take a look. This is the ‘excellent, top prospect’ scholarship student you speak of.” “A Hermès Birkin bag, costing fifty thousand dollars. A Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace set, well over twenty thousand. And this watch, a Patek Philippe, retailing for over a hundred thousand.” “She also owns an apartment near the university, with a monthly rent of five thousand dollars.” “Excuse me, how can a family living on welfare afford all of this?” He picked up the photos, his hands trembling. “This can’t be. Is there some misunderstanding?” “Misunderstanding?” I pulled out my final trump card. A photo of Brendan and Sofia kissing in my bed, captured by my home security cameras. “President, this man is my husband. Sofia used my scholarship money to sleep with my husband, live in the apartment I bought, and then turned around to humiliate me.” “Is this how Harvard, a century-old prestigious university, educates its students? Teaching them how to break up families, how to be a shameless home-wrecker?” My voice wasn’t loud, but every word was like a hammer, striking the President’s face. Sweat beaded on his forehead. “Ms. Lin, please calm down. Please calm down. The university was completely unaware of this matter. We will absolutely handle this seriously and provide you with a satisfactory explanation!” I stood up. “I don’t want an explanation. I want results.” “Harvard University’s regulations, regarding students who defraud scholarships and engage in misconduct, I’m sure you’re more aware than I am, President.” “Expulsion, and a campus-wide announcement.” “I expect to see the announcement tomorrow. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee where these photos and documents will end up.” I put on my hat and turned to leave. Sofia, aren’t you most concerned about your reputation and future? I’d like to see what kind of future a home-wrecker expelled from a prestigious university can have.

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