Category: English

On Friday, I went to my dad’s company to wait for him to get off work. I found an empty workstation and started playing games. The CEO’s secretary stormed over and yelled at me: “You’ve got some nerve playing games! Because of your negligence, the company missed a client email and lost twenty million dollars!” “So, how are you going to pay for this?” I shook my head, confused. “I think you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not an employee here. I’m waiting for my dad to get off work.” She sneered repeatedly and slapped me across the face. “Still pretending? Call the police! I suspect she’s a corporate spy sent by our competitors!” Tears welling up, I pulled out my phone watch and sent a message. “Dad, your secretary hit me.” Dad must have been in a meeting—he didn’t reply. Secretary Eliot put her hands on her hips and snorted coldly: “Look at all those designer brands you’re wearing. Did you get them all by selling out the company?” “Confess! How many deals have you sabotaged?” She shoved me hard, and I fell heavily to the ground. Mom taught me to be strong. I bit my lip and didn’t cry. “I didn’t do anything. Why did you push me? Pushing people is bad.” Eliot shrieked and grabbed a handful of my hair. “So rude!” It hurt so much. I struggled desperately. “Let go! You’re hurting me! I’m going to tell my dad to fire you!” Eliot mocked me brazenly: “Who does your dad think he is? Fire me? I’ll have HR fire you right now, and you’ll still have to pay the company twenty million in damages!” She dragged me all the way to the HR department without giving me a chance to explain. More and more employees gathered to watch. Someone couldn’t bear it and advised Eliot to stop. She raised her voice to announce: “Don’t be fooled by her pitiful act! Because of her negligence, the company lost a twenty-million-dollar deal. Everyone’s year-end bonus will be affected. I’m seeking justice for all of us!” Everyone’s expression changed. Sympathy turned to disgust. No one spoke up for me anymore. I kept calling out: “Dad, save me.” Eliot sneered contemptuously: “Is he your real dad, or one of those sugar daddies?” “Shameless! With that seductive face of yours, entry-level employees only make five thousand a month base salary. That Balenciaga you’re wearing—did your sugar daddy buy it for you? And you dare to flaunt that Van Cleef & Arpels in public!” Eliot yanked hard, and the necklace my mom gave me for my twelfth birthday broke. “You evil woman! Don’t touch the gift my mom gave me!” I struggled hard, and my hand hit Eliot’s calf. She kicked me twice viciously and picked up the broken necklace, stuffing it in her pocket. “Say another word and I’ll tear your mouth apart!” I trembled all over. When we reached the HR office, Eliot knocked on the door obsequiously. “Molina, I brought over the culprit who lost the company’s deal.” HR manager Molina glanced at me impatiently. “Where’s your ID badge? Which department? What’s your name?” I shouted urgently: “I’m only thirteen years old! I’m not an employee here!”

Molina looked me over suspiciously. “Eliot, what’s going on here?” Eliot immediately pulled me up. “Molina, she’s lying to you! Look how tall she is, taller than me even, and wearing all those designer brands. How could she possibly be only thirteen?” She leaned over and whispered in Molina’s ear. Molina immediately slammed the table. “You’re the one who lost the Merritt Group order! And offended Mr. Merritt?” Merritt Group? That’s my uncle’s company! The Mr. Merritt she mentioned is my cousin Kevin Merritt. But I hadn’t seen him since last month’s family gathering. I waved my hands frantically. “I didn’t! I don’t know anything about any order! I’m just here waiting for my dad to get off work!” “This woman is such a good actress! Her parents probably aren’t any better. Like parents, like child!” Eliot raised her chin, her face full of disdain. I got angry and rushed over to push Eliot. “Don’t you dare talk about my mom and dad!” Eliot and I wrestled together. Molina pulled us apart and glared at me sternly. That look was like she wanted to devour me. I shrank back. Eliot tugged at her arm coquettishly: “Fire her already! Keeping someone like this in the company will only tempt Mr. Robertson!” Robertson! She’s talking about my dad? I loudly protested: “I would never tempt Mr. Robertson, because Mr. Robertson is my dad!” Both Molina and Eliot froze. Eliot leaned in to examine me, then suddenly giggled. “Are you insane? Everyone knows Mr. Robertson is a golden bachelor in his thirties. If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. He’s not even married. How could he have a child? Even if he did, it couldn’t be someone as old as you.” “Besides, you look nothing like Mr. Robertson. If you said you were his family’s housekeeper, I’d believe that.” I retorted indignantly: “I don’t look like Dad, but I look like Mom. And Dad doesn’t go public because of Mom’s profession…” Slap! I don’t know which sentence upset Eliot, but she slapped me again. “If you keep slandering Mr. Robertson’s reputation, I’ll beat you to death!” I covered my face and sobbed. Molina pulled Eliot back. She turned and scolded me with disgust: “Stop crying. You’re not a child. Take responsibility for your mistakes! What’s your name? Which department?” I hung my head sadly. “Molina’s asking you a question! Playing deaf, are you?” Eliot came over and reached into my pockets. “Where’s your ID badge?” I was at a loss. “I don’t have an ID badge.” Molina’s frown deepened. “No ID badge? Are you a contract employee? But wait, contractors have badges too…” Eliot yanked at my pocket until she tore a big hole, finally feeling something hard. “Found it! Bitch, you said you didn’t have a badge!” She pulled it out—it was a student ID card. It clearly read: “Grade 7, Class 8, Colleen Robertson.”

Eliot threw the student ID card right in my face. “No work badge, so you’re using your sister’s student ID to slip through! Molina, according to company policy, how much is the fine for this?” Molina cleared her throat. “Five hundred dollar donation, treat it as buying bubble tea for the whole office.” Eliot held out her hand to me. “Pay up, right now!” I looked down at my pocket, cleaner than my face. “But I don’t have any cash…” “Then use your phone! Double for digital payment, one thousand!” Why was she bullying me like this? I was both angry and upset. To teach me about financial management, Mom had taken all my New Year’s money to invest it, and Dad worried that giving me too much money wouldn’t be safe. So during the school term, my weekly allowance was only a thousand. She was demanding my entire week’s allowance with one sentence. I didn’t want to give it, but she was so fierce, like the cackling old witch from cartoons. “Pay up! If you don’t, I’ll…” Eliot raised her hand. I backed away. I pulled out my phone watch. Molina held up her payment QR code. She smiled mockingly: “What brand of new sports watch is this? Spending money like water—no wonder you have to sell out the company for cash.” I was about to protest that I hadn’t. Eliot threw out a disciplinary confirmation form. “Sign it and get lost.” I couldn’t understand the content, but Mom taught me never to sign papers randomly. I silently backed away, refusing without words. Eliot twisted my arm hard. “Sign it! And sign that IOU too!” She was so rough! Why did she keep hitting people! Molina flipped open the signature page and handed me a pen. “Making you pay only one-tenth of the damages—two million is already the company showing you mercy.” I shook my head like a rattle drum. Molina pursed her lips in disgust. “Who hired this person? Why can’t she understand human speech? If you don’t sign, just wait for the court summons!” “Molina, why waste words on her?” Eliot grabbed my hand, pressed it on an ink pad, and quickly stamped fingerprints on the contract. “There, done!” A complaint suddenly sounded from outside the door. “Molina, I asked you to hire me an assistant. Why hasn’t it been arranged yet?” That person looked so familiar. Wasn’t this Uncle Johnson who’d delivered documents to our house? Our eyes met, and he blurted out: “Miss Colleen, what are you doing here?”

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On my due date, my husband Blake’s depressed ex-girlfriend Isaacson burst into the obstetrics ward. She stabbed a fruit knife into my side. But Blake crouched down first in front of Isaacson, whose arm had a scratch. A nurse said: “Dr. Blake, your wife is in critical condition. She needs surgery immediately!” Blake looked up and glanced at me, his tone calm: “Her wound didn’t hit any organs. She can hold on for now. Isaacson has a coagulation disorder. Even a minor scratch might not stop bleeding. Her situation is more urgent. Give Isaacson those two bags of blood reserved for the delivery first.” As I was being pushed away, I used all my strength to grab his white coat. He frowned and looked down at me. “Isaacson didn’t do it on purpose. She had an episode. You studied medicine too, you should sympathize with patients.” After saying that, he took out a pre-printed settlement agreement from his pocket. Holding my blood-covered hand, he pressed a fingerprint in the signature section. “The next batch of blood bags will arrive soon. Just hold on a little longer.” He carried Isaacson away. The corridor was empty. No one looked back. The baby in my belly kicked me desperately, once, then again.

“Quick! Establish bilateral venous access, pressurized infusion! Go urge the blood bank!” “The mother’s blood pressure has dropped to fifty, blood loss exceeds two thousand milliliters!” “Where are those two bags of red blood cell suspension reserved for delivery?” I floated above the operating room, watching a group of people busy around my body. Dr. Waco’s surgical gown was already soaked with my blood. I wanted to touch my belly, but my hand passed through the air. That stab from Isaacson wasn’t the scratch Blake thought it was at all. She avoided the nurses’ rounds and hid the fruit knife in her sleeve. When she stabbed it in, she leaned against my ear and said, as long as you and this child are gone, Blake will only have me left. When she pulled out the knife, she even deliberately twisted the handle. “The blood bank replied that those two bags of backup blood were signed for and taken away by Dr. Blake five minutes ago.” The circulating nurse’s voice was tearful. “Taken away? Is he insane! This is life-saving blood for a high-risk pregnant woman!” Dr. Waco’s hand veins bulged. “Dr. Blake said Miss Isaacson has a severe coagulation disorder and needs emergency blood reserves for an arm scratch.” The operating room fell silent, leaving only the sharp alarm of the monitoring equipment. I watched Dr. Waco desperately pack gauze, trying to stop the bleeding point. I wanted to tell him, don’t bother. I couldn’t wait for the next batch of blood Blake promised. The sound of the fetal heart monitor went from rapid to gradually slower, and finally drew out into a long beep. The child who had just been kicking me fell completely silent. “Fetal heartbeat lost.” “Patient in ventricular fibrillation, prepare defibrillator!” “Two hundred joules, charging, clear.” With a thud, my body bounced on the operating table and fell heavily again. The electrocardiogram struggled a few times, then flatlined. “Dr. Blake said the next batch of blood can be transferred from the city blood station in ten minutes.” The head nurse came through the door with red-rimmed eyes. Dr. Waco put down the defibrillator, his voice hoarse beyond recognition. “No need. Record time of death, eight-oh-seven p.m.” I watched the nurse take the white cloth, pull it over my head, covering my eyes that wouldn’t close in death. In the VIP ward just one wall away. Blake was holding an iodine cotton swab, wiping the scraped skin on Isaacson’s elbow. “Blake, did I kill someone?” Isaacson curled up on the hospital bed, her shoulders trembling. Blake threw the cotton swab into the medical waste bin, his tone steady. “No. She just has a superficial wound. You had a depressive episode and couldn’t control yourself. The law won’t hold you accountable.” “But she bled so much, the way she looked at me was so scary.” “That was amniotic fluid breaking, mixed with blood, just looked frightening. She studied medicine herself, she knows how to avoid vital areas.” Blake lowered his head and blew on Isaacson’s wound, which had stopped bleeding. “As for you, you know your coagulation function isn’t good, yet you still ran around. What if this scratch wouldn’t stop bleeding?” Isaacson leaned into his arms, tears rubbing against his white coat. On the hem of that white coat, there were still bloody handprints I’d clawed out in my dying moments. “I was afraid that once you had a child, you wouldn’t want me anymore. I couldn’t control myself.” “Don’t overthink it.” Blake stroked her hair. “I already had her press her fingerprint on the settlement agreement. After she gives birth and her emotions stabilize, I’ll have her come tell you in person that it’s okay.” When he spoke, it was as if he was just arranging tomorrow’s clinic hours. The emergency room door was pushed open. Dr. Waco removed his blood-soaked mask, his voice hoarse beyond recognition: “The mother and child, both gone.” And in the adjacent ward, Blake was lowering his head to blow on the shallow scratch on Isaacson’s elbow.

“Dr. Blake, the emergency record from obstetrics needs your signature for confirmation.” Nurse Priya stood at the VIP ward door holding a folder. Blake tested the water temperature and handed it to Isaacson without looking back. “Just leave it at the nurse’s station. Can’t you see Miss Isaacson can’t be left alone right now?” “But Dr. Blake, this record is very special, it’s about last night’s…” “Special how? Obstetrics has emergencies every day.” Blake interrupted her. He pulled out a tissue and wiped the water from the corner of Isaacson’s mouth. “I watched over Isaacson all night last night. I don’t have the energy to deal with other matters. Have the deputy director sign it.” Priya opened her mouth, her eyes reddening. She gripped the folder tightly, ultimately said nothing, and turned to leave. I followed behind her, watching her put my death record in a drawer. Along with the pink identification ankle band that never got put on, stuffed together into a medical record bag. The morgue was too cold. My child and I lay in the freezer, unclaimed, eyes never opened. I could only drift back to Blake’s side. Isaacson finished drinking water and timidly pulled at Blake’s sleeve. “Blake, she looked at me so fiercely last night, like she wanted to kill me.” “Is she still angry at me? Is she deliberately hiding so she doesn’t have to see you?” Blake took out his phone and looked at the empty WhatsApp chat interface, his brow slightly furrowed. Usually, as long as he left for more than two hours, my messages would come one after another. Asking when he’d come home, asking if Isaacson had another episode. But from last night until now, there had been no activity in my chat window. “She’s just stubborn. She thinks I’m biased toward you and is sulking at me.” Blake’s slender fingers tapped on the screen. I drifted over and saw clearly the message he sent me. “When you’re done throwing your tantrum, respond. Isaacson is already pitiful enough, don’t push her anymore.” “The child isn’t a tool for you to compete for attention. Do you think playing missing will make me give in?” After sending, he directly locked the screen. Isaacson watched his actions, a flash of smugness in her eyes. She bit her lip, and tears fell again. “What if she reports me to the police? I’m really so scared.” Blake pulled out a copy of the settlement agreement. “With this, she can’t pursue anything. Besides, she’s a doctor, she knows the severity.” “When she calms down, I’ll have her apologize to you. After all, she did stimulate you last night.” I looked at him calmly. Listening to him use the gentlest voice to condemn a dead person. Two nurses passing in the corridor lowered their voices to gossip. “That pregnant woman last night was so tragic, bled completely dry.” “Yes, the baby couldn’t be saved either. I heard it was a fully formed baby girl.” Blake’s hand holding the water cup paused. He suddenly remembered that today seemed to be my due date. He stood up, feeling stuffy in his chest. “I’ll go check on the obstetrics department.” He had just taken one step when Isaacson suddenly screamed, clutching her arm. “It hurts! Blake, I’m so dizzy. Am I going to bleed again?” Blake immediately turned around and sat back on the bedside, pressing her hand. The nurse said quietly, “The pregnant woman who died last night, the father registered on the child’s ankle band also seemed to be named Blake.” Blake was about to turn around when Isaacson suddenly screamed and threw herself into his arms.

When Blake returned home, the night light in the nursery was still on. Warm light fell on the brand-new baby bed, covered with sheets I had washed and dried. The hospital bag lay open on the sofa, with little clothes and diapers neatly packed inside. On the shoe cabinet, my prenatal checkup book still sat. On the dining table was a sticky note I’d made in advance listing postpartum meal plans. Blake changed his shoes and looked at the empty living room, his brow furrowing deeper. He probably expected me to be sitting on the sofa waiting for him, eyes red, questioning why he saved Isaacson first. But the house was so quiet, only the ticking of the wall clock remained. He walked to the dining table and picked up the sticky note. On the back of the note was a birth risk plan I’d written. “If I hemorrhage, please prioritize saving the child.” “If I unfortunately don’t make it off the operating table, please tell Blake not to let Isaacson near my child.” Blake sneered and crumpled the note into a ball, tossing it in the trash. “Playing these scare tactics again.” He took out his phone and dialed my number once more. The receiver only had the cold mechanical female voice prompting that the phone was off. He opened WhatsApp and forcefully tapped the screen. “You should come back now. The due date is in these few days. Don’t gamble with your body out of spite.” “I’ve already handled Isaacson’s matter. She’s just a patient. You don’t need to keep arguing with her.” “After you give birth, you can take maternity leave at home. You can keep Isaacson company and provide psychological counseling.” The message was sent, but still no reply. Blake threw his phone on the sofa and rubbed his temples. Just then, the phone rang. The caller ID showed my medical school mentor, Professor Angel, who had always treated me like a daughter. Blake answered the phone, his tone resuming polite distance. “Professor Angel, you’re looking for me.” “Blake, where are you right now?” Professor Angel’s voice trembled, suppressing anger. Blake glanced at the sticky note in the trash, naturally assuming I had gone to complain. “I’m at home. If she sent you to be a mediator, there’s no need.” “If she wants me to back down, she should come home herself. She’s about to be a mother, yet she’s still this immature.” Heavy breathing came from the other end of the phone. “Immature? Blake, do you even know what happened last night!” “Of course I know.” Blake’s tone cooled. “Isaacson had a depressive episode and accidentally scratched her. I already had Isaacson apologize. What more does she want?” “If she feels wronged, after the child is born, I’ll buy her that jewelry she’s had her eye on for a long time to compensate.” “Don’t you have a heart!” Professor Angel shouted into the phone. “Usually favoring that woman is one thing, but last night was her due date! You…” Before Professor Angel could finish, Blake’s other phone rang. It was a video call from Isaacson. Blake didn’t even look and directly hung up on Professor Angel. He answered the video. On the screen, Isaacson was crying, her face covered in tears. “Blake, come quickly! I dreamed of her!” “She was holding a knife coming for me, saying she’d kill me! I’m so scared!” Blake stood up and grabbed his car keys without hesitation. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll come right away.” As he walked through the living room, his gaze fell on a delicately packaged velvet box. It was a baby baptismal cross necklace he’d bought last week, planning to put it on the child during their future baptism. It had the nickname he’d casually chosen engraved on it: Oliver. It seemed he had originally planned to use this to placate me after I gave birth. He stuffed the box in his pocket and closed the door. When Blake rushed to the ward, Isaacson was curled in the corner of the bed, pointing at the window and screaming: “She’s here! She’s holding the baby coming for me!”

The ward curtains were drawn so tightly not a crack showed. The phone at the bedside was looping the sound of a fetal heart monitor alarm. Several torn four-dimensional ultrasound photos were scattered on the floor. Those were ones I’d waited in line alone to take at six months. Isaacson covered her ears, rolling desperately on the bed. “It’s her! She’s sending messages cursing me!” “She said she and the child won’t let me go, she wants to drag me to hell with her!” Blake strode over and held her tightly in his arms. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Just hallucinations.” “It’s not a hallucination! Look at the phone!” Isaacson trembled as she pointed to the phone on the floor. Blake picked it up. On the screen was a text from an unknown number. “You stole my husband. My child and I will haunt you even as ghosts.” Blake’s expression instantly darkened. He was too familiar with this tone. In the past, when I was pushed to the edge, I would also use this desperate tone to question him. “She’s really lost it.” Blake clenched his teeth, his eyes full of disappointment. “Using the child to scare a patient—is this her medical ethics as a doctor?” I floated in midair, watching Isaacson buried in his embrace, a cold smile appearing. Of course she knew I was already dead. When she stabbed me last night, her eyes were terrifyingly clear. She had even calmly stuffed the knife handle into my hand after pulling it out, creating the false appearance of a struggle. Now, she was using a dead person’s name to continue playing the victim in front of Blake. Blake took out his phone and called the medical affairs office. “Mr. Johnson, it’s me. About my wife’s advanced training qualification for next year, cancel it for now.” “She’s been extremely emotionally unstable during pregnancy, showing paranoid and aggressive tendencies. She’s not suitable to continue contact with patients.” “Yes, I’ll submit a psychiatric evaluation statement.” In a few words, he stripped away three years of my effort and used his professional status to label me mentally abnormal. After hanging up, he sent me an ultimatum. “Come to the hospital within ten minutes and apologize to Isaacson in person.” “Otherwise, after the child is born, I won’t let you continue being this willful. I’ll consider having you temporarily stop working and focus on taking care of the child at home.” The message was sent successfully, still no reply. Isaacson pulled at his collar, crying until she couldn’t catch her breath. “Blake, I’ll never be able to have children in this life. Why does she have to use a child to provoke me?” Blake looked at her pale face, a trace of guilt flashing in his eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet box he had originally prepared for me. With a snap it opened. A pure silver baptismal cross necklace gleamed, ‘Oliver’ glaring on it. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll always be with you from now on.” Blake took Isaacson’s hand and placed the cross necklace that belonged to my child in her palm. “This is for you. Consider it her apology to you.” Isaacson broke into a smile, gripping the cross tightly. With a bang, the ward door was kicked open violently from outside. Professor Angel stood panting in the doorway, hair disheveled, eyes red as if dripping blood. She strode forward, raised her hand, and slapped Blake hard across the face. The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the ward. Professor Angel’s voice trembled: “She and the child are both dead, and you’re still using the child’s things to placate the murderer?”

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My wife is five years older than me. Besides the age gap, she also has a much higher sex drive. On our wedding night, we made love seven times. My lips were swollen, and my voice was hoarse. Three years ago, I agreed to marry the billionaire Nicola. After the wedding, we were very much in love. I loved red wine, so she personally made wine for me. I loved watches, so she bought me 999 of them. I inevitably fell in love with her and vowed to stay with her for life. Until one day, I found thousands of photos of men on her computer. That’s when I realized she chose me only because I resembled her first love. On the day I learned the truth, I was captured by her business rival. They stepped on my face with their feet, forcing me to call her. But Nicola was setting off fireworks with her first love who had just returned to the country. The fireworks in Seattle lasted all night. Yet she hung up on me. That night, everyone in Seattle knew that the female billionaire Nicola had spent a fortune, setting off fireworks all night just to make her first love happy. But no one knew that I was tortured nearly to death, and even my right hand for painting was destroyed. Looking at the medical report in my hand, I smiled bitterly. Nicola, if you love him so much, why did you choose me? Since you can’t let him go, then I’ll make it easy for both of you. With my trembling right hand, I marked a date on the calendar. In seven days, I would leave completely, where she could never find me. Nicola didn’t come back until the next day. When she saw the injury on my face, she ran over without even taking off her coat, holding my face with concern: “Richardson, what happened?” I glanced at her and shook my head: “Nothing, I just fell accidentally.” She looked at me with heartache: “You’re a grown man, how did you fall this badly?” She didn’t seem to be faking it. She looked exactly like a wife who loved me. A woman who dominated the business world was now carefully applying medicine to my face with a first aid kit. “Be more careful when you walk from now on. It hurts me to see you injured like this.” I sneered inwardly. Was she heartbroken that I fell and got hurt, or that I injured this face that resembled his? I dodged her touch and said to her indifferently: “Let’s eat first.” But Nicola looked at me with difficulty: “Richardson, I have to work overtime at the company tonight. I won’t be able to have dinner with you.” In three years of marriage, no matter how busy she was, she had never missed having dinner with me once. It was only because I told her that when I was young, my parents divorced and my mom was busy with work, so I always ate dinner alone. After hearing this, she hugged me with heartache and promised that she would eat dinner with me every day from then on. “Richardson, I have no choice. This work is too important. You’ll understand, won’t you?” I nodded. Only then did Nicola leave satisfied. Half an hour later, I also went out. I arrived at a villa under Nicola’s name. The place was brightly lit, and I could hear laughter from outside. Through the iron railings, I saw a group of people partying downstairs in the villa. The main characters in the center were Nicola, who said she had to work overtime, and her first love, Jacobs. They were playing truth or dare, and Jacobs lost. His punishment was to kiss someone of the opposite sex present. The only person of the opposite sex present, besides Nicola, was no one else. Those people jeered: “Nicola, if you don’t let him kiss you, he’ll have to drink three glasses as punishment.” Nicola didn’t say anything, but in the next second when Jacobs looked disappointed, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Jacobs held the back of her head and deepened the kiss. The two were passionately entangled there. The jeering fell on my heart, delivering a heavy blow. Everyone had their backs to me, except for Jacobs. He saw me outside the iron railings and gave me an ambiguous smile. “Nicola, you didn’t resist my kiss. Does that prove you still love me?” Everyone present knew about Nicola and Jacobs’ relationship. When Jacobs left back then, Nicola was depressed for a long time. Everyone waited for Nicola’s answer. Nicola looked at Jacobs and nodded without hesitation: “Yes.”

Enthusiastic applause erupted around them. Jacobs excitedly hugged Nicola, and they kissed again. Hearing this expected answer, although I was prepared, I still couldn’t avoid the stabbing pain in my heart. I knew Jacobs called me here deliberately to make me see all this. He wanted me to back off. I smiled bitterly and prepared to leave, but as I turned around, my phone received another message. [They were right. Nicola married you only because you look like me. Richardson, you’re just a poor boy. I advise you to be sensible and divorce Nicola voluntarily.] [You saw what happened inside just now, right? The person Nicola loves has always been me. You’re just my substitute.] A substitute? I suppose I already knew that. Nicola didn’t come back until the next day, bringing me many gifts when she returned. “Richardson, I’m sorry. I worked too late last night. I was afraid of disturbing your rest, so I slept directly at the company. These are gifts I brought you. See if you like them.” I pulled at the corner of my mouth. Nicola’s lies came so easily. There were still suspicious red marks on her neck. I suddenly thought of the picture Jacobs sent me after I went back yesterday. The picture showed Nicola’s underwear. They slept together last night, but she was still lying to me. I suddenly really wanted to ask her. Since you don’t love me, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why did you hide it from me and secretly be with him? If she explained it clearly to me and just told me the truth, I wouldn’t have pestered her either. I didn’t look at those gifts. Only then did Nicola notice something was wrong: “Richardson, what’s wrong? Don’t worry, I’ll definitely have dinner with you next time. Please don’t be unhappy, okay?” I shook my head and got up, wanting to get some water from the table. But I forgot that my right hand had long since lost its strength. I couldn’t even hold an ordinary cup. The cup fell to the ground. Nicola ran over and grabbed my hand: “Richardson, what’s wrong with your hand?” My fingers unconsciously grasped lightly, and I said indifferently: “Nothing, from that fall last time.” Nicola pulled me with heartache, full of guilt: “It’s all my fault. I should have taken you to the hospital right away. Come on, I’ll take you now.” She pulled me toward the door, but at that moment, her phone rang. After Nicola answered the call, she looked at me with difficulty: “Richardson, can I take you to the hospital this afternoon? I have something urgent I need to deal with right away.” I suddenly felt like laughing. Nicola, you’ve once again missed the chance to know the truth. I wonder if you’ll regret it when you look back on this later?

I obediently nodded and said to her: “Okay, you go ahead.” She kissed me on the face before leaving. After Nicola left, I vigorously wiped my face. Thinking about how she used this mouth to kiss someone else’s mouth last night made me feel disgusted. Nicola didn’t come back until evening. I received another message from Jacobs. It was nothing more than him showing off how sweet he and Nicola were. Along with some mocking remarks to make me back off. I said softly: “Soon, I’ll be leaving very soon.” I saved all these messages as screenshots, and after turning off my phone, I looked at the date on the calendar. Four days left. I started packing up things in this house. I had quite a few things in this house, almost all bought by Nicola. I didn’t want to take these things with me, so I just threw them all away. The next day, I wanted to go buy a new SIM card. But as soon as I got downstairs, I saw Nicola and Jacobs. The two were like a young couple, drinking each other’s coffee. Nicola panicked for a moment when she saw me, and quickly came over to pull me: “Richardson, this is Jacobs. He just came back to the country, and I thought I’d show him around.” Jacobs looked at me provocatively and extended his hand: “Hello, Nicola often mentions you.” I didn’t extend my hand. To ease the atmosphere, Nicola said she would go buy me another cup of coffee. After she left, Jacobs said to me: “You see, she lied to you again and again just to be with me. Since I came back these past few days, we’ve had sex countless times.” “Richardson, if I were you, I’d get divorced quickly.” I suddenly found Jacobs somewhat laughable. He was clearly over thirty, yet he acted like a teenage hothead, only putting on a show in front of his partner. What was the point? Just as I was about to speak, Jacobs stood up and poured the coffee from the table onto his own head. The moment the coffee poured down, Nicola appeared. “Jacobs, what happened?” Jacobs pulled Nicola’s hand, pretending to be aggrieved: “Nicola, don’t blame Richardson. He’s young, and he probably misunderstood our relationship. It’s normal for him to throw a little tantrum.” Hearing this, Nicola looked at me with dissatisfaction: “Richardson, apologize.” She didn’t even ask me what happened before demanding I apologize. I stared at her steadily: “It wasn’t me.” “It wasn’t you? Would he deliberately frame you then? Richardson, I told you, Jacobs and I are just friends. You can’t be this rude. Apologize now!” She was certain I did it. She never believed me. Seeing my stubborn refusal to apologize, Nicola looked completely disappointed: “Richardson, how did you become like this? Let me tell you, if you don’t apologize, I won’t agree to relocate your mother’s grave!” I looked at Nicola in shock. My mom’s wish was to return to her roots. Although three years ago, with Nicola’s help, she lived two more years, in the end she still couldn’t defeat her illness. It happened suddenly, so I could only bury her in Seattle. A month ago, I proposed to Nicola that I wanted to move my mother’s ashes back to our hometown. I never expected she would use this to threaten me into apologizing. “You really want me to apologize?” Nicola hesitated a bit, but after Jacobs sighed, she said to me firmly again: “Yes, Richardson. If you do something wrong, you must apologize.” “Fine.” I looked at the smug Jacobs and said softly: “I’m sorry.” Whatever. I was leaving anyway. It was just an apology, wasn’t it? If she wanted it, I’d say it. I didn’t pay any more attention to Nicola. After buying a SIM card, I went home. Looking at the now much emptier home, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I burned all the photos of me and Nicola together, then canceled all my identity information. The day I left would also be the day I completely disappeared from Nicola’s life.

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Our dragon clan has an ancestral rule. To avoid drawing unwanted attention, no one may reveal their name or identity. Then a dragon woman gives birth to the first true dragon leader who commands the seas and rules all lands. Only then can she be honored as the most noble woman, receiving the love and adoration of all. As the first dragon woman confirmed to be pregnant, I was eager to share the good news with my husband, Kael. To help him restore the wolf clan’s prestige and finally release years of pent-up anger from being oppressed by the bear clan. But when I returned to the familiar wolf den, I saw Kael ingratiatingly presenting a crown to Yuna of the fox clan. The very crown I had been thinking about for three whole years, hoping to wear at our wedding ceremony. Kael’s gaze swept past me indifferently. “Zara, your timing is perfect. I was just about to notify you to dissolve our bond.” I quietly hid the golden dragon pearl that symbolized my pregnancy in my sleeve. My throat choked up painfully. Kael had mentioned to me many times how the fox clan was growing stronger, and that an alliance with them would surely enhance the wolf clan’s reputation. What he didn’t know was that I, whom he considered a useless deer clan partner, came from a family he could never obtain in his entire lifetime. Since he showed no consideration for our marriage, I could only steel my heart and raise the child on my own, leaving the father behind.

Seeing me standing there in a daze, Kael reminded me impatiently. “I see you have nothing urgent. Let’s go dissolve the bond now.” The woman beside him stroked the crown with satisfaction, not forgetting to turn her head and give me a provocative smile. Her eyes seemed to say she got everything I ever wanted without even trying. I didn’t follow Kael. Instead, my gaze fell on a small bundle in the corner. “My things?” Kael looked at me flatly. “Just these. Everything’s packed. Once we complete the ceremony to dissolve our bond, you can go live in that small warehouse on West Street.” “Consider it compensation. At least you won’t be homeless. That’s the last kindness I’ll show you.” That was merely the old warehouse where he used to store worn weapons. Now he spoke of it as some great favor. Yuna put down the crown. “Zara, Kael protected you for three years. Even at our parting, he’s still concerned about you. You should be grateful.” This was my second meeting with her. The first was in Kael’s military tent, where I heard they discussed military secrets for five hours. Looking at it now, all the impropriety had been traceable all along. “Did you win this?” She covered her mouth and laughed shyly. “This crown was the top prize at the Spring Hunt Banquet. I really loved it, so Kael won it for me.” I knew all about this. Half a month before the Spring Hunt Banquet, I had begged Kael no less than three times to compete for the top prize. But he only frowned and scolded me for wanting too much. I never imagined he would personally present my cherished object to another. “It was just a little effort. Your happiness is what matters most.” Kael tenderly placed the crown on Yuna’s head. The two of them looked so affectionate that to outsiders, they truly seemed like a married couple. The dragon pearl in my sleeve burned until my whole body went numb. I was so close to telling Kael we were having a child. He would no longer have to rage about his people being oppressed by the bear clan, no longer have to worry about being unable to revitalize the wolf clan. But the devastating betrayal came one day earlier. I bit my lip, picked up my luggage, and walked out first. Following behind me weren’t just Kael, but Yuna as well. In the hall, he placed his hand under mine for the last time, solemnly and ironically declaring. “I, Kael, willingly dissolve the matrimonial bond with Zara.” Two minutes later, the totems belonging to each other on our chests had completely disappeared, as if they had never existed. I couldn’t snap out of it for a long time. What churned through my mind was how he looked three years ago when he formed the bond with me. To marry me, he withstood pressure from the entire wolf clan council of elders. They said he, the heir to the wolf clan, shouldn’t choose an unknown deer clan woman who offered no help to revitalizing the clan. His father even declared that if Kael insisted, he would strip him of his qualification to inherit the clan leadership. But Kael came anyway, bringing that bond contract, eyes shining as he asked if I was willing. At that time, I didn’t know how much he had sacrificed for this. I simply believed he truly loved me. Looking back now, everything he sacrificed became the reason he could casually discard me today. Because if he could abandon something once, he could abandon it a second time. Yuna swiftly took Kael’s arm and walked toward the bonding platform, tilting her head with an excited smile. “Kael, let’s reserve a bonding appointment. After our wedding ceremony next week, we’ll come immediately to form our bond.” Kael agreed without hesitation. Over the past three years, he never once kept his promise to give me a wedding ceremony. Whenever I brought it up, he always shut me down with excuses. Busy expanding wolf clan influence. Not enough money. No need for ostentation. And so on. Now he agreed to hold a wedding for her more readily than giving me a bouquet of flowers on a holiday. I stared blankly at their intimate backs. My chest throbbed, the pain deepening with each beat.

After Yuna got the appointment card, she called for Kael to quickly prepare the invitations. She raised her eyebrows at me. “Zara, don’t get any funny ideas. Our wedding will be held in the fox clan territory. If you go, you might not come back with all your limbs intact!” I shook my head mockingly. “I won’t go.” Her eyes were full of contempt. “That’s best. Besides, if you went, Kael would be the most unhappy one. You’ve been with him for three years, but you never understood how to be considerate of him.” “Do you know how much pressure he faced just to have a home with you? The council of elders advised him daily to choose another partner. His father publicly scolded him at clan banquets for his short-sightedness. Even the younger clan members privately gossiped that the heir had been bewitched by a woman.” “Every time he couldn’t bear it, he would come find me.” “I always found ways to help him shed all his fatigue. He even personally told me these were things you could never give him.” “He was so exhausted, yet you understood nothing. So if you want to blame him for being heartless, you should blame yourself for being useless.” I lowered my eyes, concealing my resentment. How could I not know about his exhaustion? I just thought what he wanted was to solve the most pressing problems. When the clan lacked food, I secretly contacted old friends to arrange the import of large quantities of grain. When foreign clans frequently invaded, I deployed my private forces to intercept the bear clan’s repeated incursions at the border. When the aging population became increasingly serious, I quietly brought in hundreds of young wolf clan descendants from exiled scattered groups to strengthen his bloodline. Every crisis was handled by me. But what he saw each time was Yuna massaging his shoulders, softly coaxing him with gentle words. While I said nothing, never asking about his worries, just silently cleaning up the problems. He’d worry all night, then wake up to find help had fallen from the sky and think it was good luck. I lowered my eyes, hiding my unwillingness. “Yes, so he chose you as his capable wife. I hope you can satisfy him.” The environment in the West Street warehouse was worse than I imagined. The only clean space was barely enough for me to lie on my side. I held the dragon pearl and couldn’t sleep all night. Before dawn the next day, I endured the pungent dust and cleaned thoroughly. While moving wooden boards, Kael’s cold voice came from behind the stone wall. “Zara, how much longer will you be busy?” When I turned to look, he was covering his nose, having stood there for who knows how long. “Do you need something?” He paused. “I seem to have left a seal here. Yuna says she can’t find it at home.” The object used to summon internal dissidents within the clan was hidden by me in layers at the bottom of the wheat barrel. “In the wheat barrel.” “Where are the training methods for messenger pigeons recorded?” “In my head.” Kael was startled, obviously thinking I had trained the messenger pigeons based on methods I’d obtained. “Then could you write down the methods? Yuna wants to learn.” I took a deep breath and helped him in the end. But there was no ink or paper in the warehouse, so I had to return to the Kael residence with him. Beside the inkstone, more than sixty letters were impossible to ignore. The first letter was a thank-you note from Kael to Yuna, full of admiration and completely inappropriate. I remembered very clearly that day Kael received news that the leopard clan was invading the border. When he arrived, there were already many casualties. The leopard clan had shouted the night before that they would seize a piece of land, but the next day they suddenly retreated in disgrace. And Yuna happened to pass by the border at that moment. Kael didn’t know it was I who secretly called people to expel the leopard clan and issue warnings, securing many days of peace at the border. In his eyes, all he saw was me. A deer with improperly grown antlers. Doing nothing but laundry and cooking every day. No help with internal stability. No help with external pacification. I didn’t explain, enduring everything silently and maintaining this persona. As soon as my pen stopped, Yuna’s crying voice suddenly came from outside. “Where’s my little shawl? The one Mother brought from the fox clan, my favorite!”

Kael rushed forward to comfort her. “Don’t worry, we’ll find it slowly.” Yuna looked around with red-rimmed eyes, then looked up and spotted me about to leave. “Zara, you haven’t finished moving your things? Did you come back to get something?” Seeing that Kael didn’t defend me at all, I said flatly. “Finished moving. Leaving now.” But Yuna suddenly seemed to remember something. “I remember Kael saying you’re good at weaving clothes. Since you’re here, it’s perfect timing. Help me weave a little shawl. I need to wear it at my wedding ceremony.” I shook my head decisively. “I won’t weave it.” Kael walked over, his tone seeming persuasive. “Zara, there’s no need to be so petty. If you help, I’ll give you that biggest pot in the house. I know you love cooking.” My heart immediately stung. I was the youngest princess of the Dragon King. Before marrying Kael, I had never touched any household chores. After marriage, to be a capable wife, I studied culinary arts and changed up dishes for him every day, making delicious meals. I never imagined that in his eyes, this became evidence that I loved cooking. I refused even more firmly. “No need. I won’t weave it.” Kael thought I was asking for more and sighed. “I know you’re upset. Yuna told me yesterday that you want to attend our wedding.” “I thought about it for a long time. If you’re willing to weave this shawl for Yuna, I’ll agree to let you come as the tailor at the wedding.” “In the future, if you want to make a living with your weaving skills, having served as Yuna’s tailor will be an impressive credential.” I narrowed my eyes. “Does Yuna come from a good family?” Kael nodded without elaborating. I felt a chill in my heart, finally seeing through Kael’s purpose. All attachment left me. “I don’t care about being a tailor.” With that, I started to leave. Just as I reached the door, I ran into Yuna’s mother entering. She was covered in jewels, her gaze arrogantly sweeping over me. “Well, isn’t this the deer clan girl?” She deliberately bumped into me sideways and snorted coldly. “Don’t step through this door again. If you upset my Yuna, I’ll beat you severely.” I didn’t want to spare her even an extra glance. Had she beaten me rarely before? That time when Kael was framed for embezzling disaster relief grain, I rushed around overnight to find evidence. For two nights straight, I didn’t return until nine. She accused me of impropriety and made me kneel for three days and nights. My knees swelled so badly I couldn’t walk, yet she never offered me even a bowl of water. The time I accidentally broke one of her teacups. In front of a courtyard full of servants, she slapped me twice and called me an ill-bred bastard. When Kael came back, she tearfully complained that I deliberately smashed her beloved possession. In the end, Kael gave me the cold shoulder for two days before the matter was settled. My lack of response made her even angrier. She pointed at my back and cursed wildly. “No manners! No wonder Kael doesn’t want you. You deserve it! Talking to you dirties my mouth!” Kael, who was cooking, heard her. He blocked my path with his body, his tone unpleasant. “We’ve already dissolved our bond. There’s no need to make things this ugly, is there?” I looked up to meet his eyes, mine full of complexity. “I’m not the unreasonable one. What right do you have to question me?” He sneered lightly. “Because you couldn’t even handle the mother-in-law relationship properly, making me caught in the middle every day. But as soon as Yuna came in, my mother couldn’t stop smiling. Can’t I see who the problem is?” I clenched my fingers, having no more strength to argue, and walked out without looking back.

After quickly leaving the Kael residence, I used the crescent-shaped reverse scale under my throat to verify again. Seeing the pale golden flowing pattern, I finally felt relieved. This was the most reliable way to confirm the dragon offspring’s existence. In three months, once the dragon fetus stabilized, I could return to my family to nurture the first true dragon leader and become the most noble dragon mother of the four seas and eight wildernesses. Before then, the only thing I needed to do was conceal it. After only two peaceful days, a messenger pigeon suddenly arrived at the warehouse window at dawn. The note bore Yuna’s handwriting: “Zara, there are some pregnancy-preserving medicines in the kitchen. Could they be yours?” My breathing tightened, fear welling up from my heart. When I wrote back, my hand trembled: “The medicine has lost its potency. You may discard it all.” After sending off the pigeon, I urgently activated a simple dragon bone transmission array to send a message to my parents Then I cautiously went to the Herb Hall to verify the fetal age. Strangely, there wasn’t a single person in the main hall. “Zara, what are you doing here?” When I turned to look at Yuna, she was closing the hall door tightly. My tone remained calm. “I caught a slight chill last night. I came to get some medicine.” “You’re really not pregnant?” I stared at her. “Since there’s no physician here right now, I’ll come back tomorrow.” Yuna suddenly grabbed my forearm, smiling without warmth. “Don’t rush off. Since you’re here, let’s verify your condition before you leave.” Before I knew it, a pregnancy-detecting mirror appeared in front of me. In an instant, a round shadow appeared in my abdomen in the mirror’s reflection. Fortunately, it was less than a month old and the beast form couldn’t be seen. “You really are pregnant!” I broke free from Yuna’s surging anger. “This has nothing to do with you. You’ve already overstepped by forcibly testing me.” Yuna closed the distance between us. “How is it not related? You’re carrying my husband’s offspring. I have the right to know whether you’ll use it to coerce my husband!” “I won’t endanger your husband or the Kael family.” “Your guarantee means nothing. As long as the child in your belly exists, you hold leverage over my husband.” Detecting the resolution in her tone, I asked. “What do you mean by that?” Her lips curved slightly upward. “Zara, in my opinion, you should abort the fetus. After that, you go your way, we’ll go ours, with no further entanglement.” “And if I refuse?” “If you refuse, I’ll tell my husband everything truthfully. Based on your understanding of him, you surely know he won’t accept the child in your belly.” The certainty in her tone stung me. I asked incredulously. “Did he say that himself?” She pulled out a wedding invitation, as if she’d prepared it long ago. Every word on it was written by Kael using his life-bound wolf hair brush. The life-bound wolf hair brush was specially made from heart’s blood mixed with neck fur burned to ash. It could only be offered once in a lifetime, only to one’s true love. “Look up.” Yuna called back my scattered consciousness, making me focus on the pregnancy mirror. There it clearly showed that in her belly was an offspring larger than the one in mine, with even the outline visible. “I’m pregnant too, about two months along.” “Kael already knows. He’s so happy he wants to tell the whole world. Every day he personally cooks meals for me, never letting anyone else touch them. “He stays by my side constantly, even accompanying me during training.” “So don’t dream about using the child to win his favor. The offspring in your belly means nothing to him but an optional bloodline. It absolutely cannot make him change his mind!” Two months ago, Kael was suppressing dissidents in the wilderness. At that time, his letters to her were full of longing. The timing didn’t match. Looking more carefully, the outline in her belly didn’t look like a wolf, but more like a dog that closely resembled a wolf. Yuna left one sentence and resolutely departed. “While I’m still being reasonable, you might want to reconsider.”

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At dawn, I treated a female patient. Sophia, 22. She had something stuck into her vagina. The girl on the hospital bed looked a bit like me. Her skin was covered with whip marks, love bites, and some dried white fluid. I sighed at how little she valued herself. But when I removed the foreign object, I froze. It was the bracelet I had bought for Ethan last year. The name on it was engraved by my own hand. The girl smiled at me. “Mrs. Parker, your husband says his life needs a little excitement.” Joanna POV Two o’clock in the morning. I treated a female patient. Sophia, 22. She had something stuck inside her. This kind of situation was quite common. The girl on the hospital bed was young and beautiful. Her skin was covered with whip marks, love bites, and other marks I couldn’t identify. She looked directly at me, without a trace of shyness or embarrassment. I sighed to myself. Young people these days really don’t value themselves. I quickly refocused and got back to removing the object. But the moment it landed in the tray, I froze. It was the bracelet I had bought for Ethan last year. It still showed his name, which I had engraved myself. I instinctively glanced at Sophia. The girl was smiling at me. My throat felt blocked by something. Professional discipline forced me to finish the procedure, and then I rushed into the bathroom to dry heave. Walking out of the operating room, I saw my husband, Ethan, who was supposed to be working overtime at the company. The man’s tall figure had lost its usual composure. His eyes were anxious, and he walked briskly past me without a sideways glance. He didn’t spare me even a single look. I stood there, hearing something inside me snap. Back in the duty room, I washed my hands for a full hour, as if punishing myself. I didn’t stop until my fingers were peeling and bleeding. Today wasn’t supposed to be my shift. A colleague who was on duty got sick and switched with me, giving me the chance to witness this scene. Ethan and I were college classmates. Ethan was famous in the finance department, the wealthy heir to Parker Group, handsome, and good-natured too. Yet he only had eyes for me. I studied medicine. The coursework was heavy, and I often stayed in the library until closing. Every night after closing, he would silently escort me back to my dorm without disturbing me. When I was bedridden with a 104-degree fever, he was the one who carried me all the way to the hospital. “Joanna, be with me.” Back then, I thought he must be the kind of person written about in novels. After all, he was so outstanding. After we got together, his family disapproved, thinking we weren’t a good match. Ethan begged his parents, and we finally got married. Three years after graduation, we married. Four years into our marriage, he treated me very well. When I came home from night shifts, there was always a light on at home, and a glass of warm milk on the table. When I had my period, he would take care of me attentively and buy me painkillers. When we made love, he was always gentle, and afterward he would ask if it hurt. Once I quietly asked him if he wanted to try something different. He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. “Joanna, I can never be too careful with you.” Four years of marriage, and we’d barely fought. Even these past two years, when Ethan took over the company and became increasingly busy, often not coming home all night, I never complained and supported him wholeheartedly. In others’ eyes, I was the enviable Mrs. Parker. At colleague gatherings, everyone said I was lucky to have a good husband who adored me. Until tonight, I too thought I was the luckiest woman in the world. My phone vibrated. An Ins friend request popped up. The profile picture was a young woman’s silhouette. I recognized Sophia immediately. I clicked accept. She didn’t say a word, just quietly sat in my friend list, waiting for me to come to her. I opened her posts. The earliest post was from two years ago. This account had many posts, but they all shared one theme: Ethan. I scrolled down. How could I not recognize that hand holding a fork? The man’s wrist still wore the watch I gave him when we got married. That sapphire necklace was from the same brand and series as the birthday gift Ethan gave me last year. Except my birthday gift was a pair of earrings, worth less than one-tenth the price of the necklace. Last month my car went in for maintenance. After my night shift, I was caught in a rainstorm. I called Ethan three times. He kept saying the company was busy and told me to catch a ride with a colleague. Yet Sophia’s post showed he was holding her at that trendy boutique hotel. Tears blurred my face. Sophia wrote in her post, “He says his marriage is too boring. He needs some color.” So to him, I was just a boring person. I sat numbly in the duty room chair all night. Just before dawn, I got off work. When I got home, the house looked just as it had when I left yesterday. Ethan hadn’t come home all night. At this moment, he was probably still holding that woman. I stood at the door for a long time, laughing bitterly. Our marriage had already rotted away. Only I still thought he loved me. I pulled out my phone and dialed my good friend’s number. My good friend Elena specialized in divorce cases. “Joanna?” “Elena, help me draft a divorce agreement.”

Joanna POV When I woke up, it was already evening. Ethan hadn’t come back all day. I instinctively dialed Ethan’s number. The phone rang for a long time before being answered. “Joanna.” Ethan’s voice was low and controlled as always. “In a meeting. I’ll be home later.” As soon as he finished speaking, a moan with a nasal quality could faintly be heard through the receiver. “Ethan, gentler please, I can’t take it anymore.” My fingertips instantly turned ice cold. Ethan’s tone showed no hint of panic. “Joanna, I have to get back to the meeting. I’ll make your favorite foie gras tonight.” He hung up the phone. I opened Sophia’s posts. The post was published ten minutes ago: “Ditched work with the boss. Best feeling ever.” The image showed a messy bed, tagged with a location. The hotel next to Ethan’s company. I closed my eyes. My chest felt like it was being pounded by a blunt instrument, over and over, making me feel suffocated and pained. At eight o’clock, Ethan came home. When he saw me in the living room, his eyes immediately lit up with a smile. “Joanna, why didn’t you turn on the lights?” He glanced at the empty dining table, walked over and kissed my forehead. “Didn’t cook today? Tired?” I nodded. Ethan immediately rolled up his sleeves and went into the kitchen. I watched him put the bracelet on his wrist, skillfully washing and cutting vegetables. The bracelet swayed back and forth until I could barely breathe. Half an hour later, Ethan finished cooking. “Joanna, try these dishes.” He placed the foie gras in front of me. “Didn’t you say you wanted foie gras? Eat more, you’ve lost weight recently.” As he spoke, he habitually replaced the glass of water in front of me with warm water. I lowered my head to eat. Every bite was difficult to swallow. When Ethan leaned over, he exposed an ambiguous red mark below his collarbone. I bit down hard on my fork, forcing myself to swallow that bite of foie gras. “Joanna, why so quiet?” Ethan noticed my silence and looked up at me. “A bit tired.” “Then rest early.” He said gently, “I’m not working overtime tonight. I’ll keep you company.” I lowered my eyes, not responding. I don’t know how I managed to finish that meal. After showering, I crawled into bed. Before long, Ethan also finished washing up and came out. He wrapped his arms around me from behind, his hand covering my waist, slowly moving upward. “Joanna.” My whole body stiffened. I saw the bracelet on his wrist again, and nausea instantly surged up my throat. “Too tired today.” I broke free from his embrace, turning my back to him. “I want to sleep early.” Ethan paused, but didn’t force me. A moment later, he sighed, pulled me closer into his arms, and whispered in my ear, “Okay, let’s sleep.” He kissed the top of my head. His breathing quickly became even. I kept my eyes open, staring at the ceiling. I don’t know how much time passed when a slight sound came from beside me. I squinted and saw Ethan quietly walking toward the balcony. The balcony door was ajar. Sounds came intermittently. “Put your hand in. Let me hear.” “Don’t stop.” A woman’s suppressed panting and fragmented moans came through the phone. “What do you call me?” “Sound sluttier.” “Look in the mirror. See clearly what you look like.” Sophia’s voice grew louder and louder, mixed with crying. I curled up under the covers, my whole body ice cold. “The bracelet?” Ethan’s tone suddenly turned cold. “You dare touch my bracelet?” “You want to end up in the ER again? Good thing my wife wasn’t on duty last night, or I’d really punish you.” “Remember your place. Don’t harass her.” I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I rushed into the bathroom and dry heaved. My stomach churned violently. I vomited until tears streamed down my face. The balcony door was pushed open. Ethan quickly walked in, his expression tense. “Joanna, what’s wrong? Where don’t you feel well?” He reached out to help me. I dodged. “Maybe ate too much at dinner.” I wiped the corner of my mouth, trying to keep my voice calm. Ethan frowned, his face full of guilt. “It’s all my fault. Was the foie gras too greasy?” He grabbed his jacket and headed out. “Wait here. I’ll go buy you some lemon water.” The place he mentioned was far from our home. He didn’t hesitate and left directly. I stood in the bathroom, looking at my pale reflection in the mirror. Ethan, if you can still cross half the city in the middle of the night just to buy me a glass of lemon water. Why can’t you keep to the most basic bottom line? You once said you despised men who cheated, said they were brainless animals. But now, you’ve become one of them.

Joanna POV Early the next morning, I got the drafted divorce agreement from Elena and went directly to Ethan’s company. After Ethan became CEO, everyone at the company recognized me as the CEO’s wife. In the past when I came, the receptionist, secretaries, and employees I encountered would all greet me warmly. But today was different. Several employees saw me from afar. Their expressions looked a bit strange. After greeting me, they quickly lowered their heads and walked away. An uneasy feeling arose in my heart. When I reached the top floor, the assistant wasn’t at her desk. The CEO’s office door was ajar. Inside came sounds of suppressed panting, mixed with a man’s low commands. “Take it in. Deeper.” My whole body trembled, as if cold water had been poured over my head. I froze in place. I hadn’t expected that Ethan would dare bring someone to the company. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open directly. Ethan sat behind his desk. His shirt collar was disheveled, and his eyes were reddened. Seeing someone enter without permission, his face first showed annoyance. When he looked up and saw it was me, his expression changed drastically. “Joanna?” His voice was somewhat tense. “Why are you here?” I scanned the room. I didn’t see Sophia. The corner of my mouth twitched. “What, I can’t come to my husband’s company?” “Of course not.” Ethan quickly composed himself, his tone resuming its usual warmth. “If you want to come, tell me in advance. I’ll have the driver pick you up.” I stared at him. He sat up straight, hands resting on the desktop, looking normal. But his expression clearly showed he was enduring something. I suppressed the churning in my stomach and the anger in my heart, placed the document on the desk as if nothing had happened, and said, “Next year’s family insurance needs renewal. Need you to sign.” Ethan took the document. Just as he lowered his head to open the first page, he suddenly groaned and his expression changed. He immediately pressed his lips together tightly. I instantly understood. Sophia was under the desk. My nails dug deep into my palms, almost piercing the skin. A wave of nausea surged up from my throat. I clenched my fists, nails digging deep into my palms, barely suppressing the urge to explode on the spot. But I didn’t. “Sign quickly. I have things to do.” I just pushed the agreement forward. Ethan bit down on his molars. The veins at his temple bulged. He didn’t dare look through it anymore. He flipped directly to the last page and quickly signed his name. I took the agreement and turned to leave. “Joanna.” Ethan called out to me. Since he couldn’t get up conveniently, he could only sit there. “Go wait in the conference room next door. Let me finish this document, and I’ll take you to lunch.” I looked back at him for two seconds. Ethan’s eyes were terribly red, yet he still forced himself to maintain a nonchalant expression. I suddenly smiled. “Okay.” In the conference room next door, I sat on the sofa. Before long, the door was gently pushed open. Sophia walked in carrying a cup of coffee. Her hair was slightly messy, her professional suit somewhat wrinkled, and water stains still remained at the corner of her mouth. Seeing me, Sophia walked straight over, a proper smile on her face. “What would you like to drink?” I looked up, my gaze calmly sizing her up, my tone flat. “And you are?” The smile on Sophia’s face froze for an instant. Soon she softly lowered her eyes. “I’m Mr. Parker’s new secretary. My name is Sophia.” Ethan walked in. He had already tidied his clothes. His suit was immaculate, his hair combed, restored to his composed appearance. Ethan glanced at Sophia with a warning look. Then he walked up to me, his expression gentle. “Joanna, I’m here.” I looked at him deeply. One second ago he had hidden his mistress under his desk, and the next second he could stand in front of me calling my name. “How come I’ve never seen this secretary of yours?” I asked jokingly. Ethan frowned, turned his head to look at Sophia, his tone turning cold. “She just started. Doesn’t know the rules. I’ll punish her.” Sophia immediately lowered her head. “It’s my fault.” I looked at her obedient appearance and sneered inwardly. I didn’t know what method he would use to punish her.

Joanna POV At noon, Ethan took me to the restaurant we frequented most. Ethan ordered several dishes I liked and carefully instructed the waiter about how well-done the steak should be and what foods I couldn’t eat. I had no appetite and didn’t eat much. Seeing I wasn’t happy, Ethan gently coaxed me to eat a few more bites. We had only eaten halfway when the private room door was gently pushed open. A server wearing a mask walked in carrying a steak. The server kept her head lowered, her cap pulled very low, but I recognized her at a glance. It was Sophia. Ethan obviously recognized her too. His expression immediately darkened. He put down his utensils and immediately scolded, “We don’t need you here. Get out.” Sophia stopped in her tracks. Her eyes instantly reddened. She responded and turned to leave. Before leaving, she couldn’t help but steal a glance in Ethan’s direction. Her aggrieved appearance looked quite pitiful. I quietly watched all this, my heart feeling like it was being cut over and over by something. Less than two minutes later, Ethan couldn’t sit still. He put down his knife and fork. “Joanna, I’m going to the restroom.” I acknowledged, watching his figure disappear around the corner. I knew he was going to find Sophia. So Sophia wasn’t just someone in his bed. She had also been arranged into his company as his secretary. So Sophia’s position in Ethan’s heart had long surpassed being just a mistress in bed. I fiercely pushed the tears back into my heart. Ethan was gone for nearly ten minutes before returning, his face showing satisfaction, the corners of his mouth faintly curved upward. After sitting down, Ethan remained absent-minded. He kept lowering his head to use his phone, a smile hanging at the corner of his mouth. Watching his expression, the familiar nausea attacked me again. I didn’t want to lose composure in front of him, so I made an excuse, saying I needed to go out and return Elena’s call. Ethan was still busy fiddling with his phone. Without looking up, he just waved his hand. “Go ahead, Joanna.” I walked into the restroom. As soon as I pushed the door open, I heard a low buzzing sound from the adjacent stall, mixed with a woman’s uncontrollable moaning. I immediately froze in place. A wave of nausea surged up. I hid in the adjacent stall and turned on my phone’s recording function. Soon, a man’s voice came from the phone on speaker in the next stall. It was a voice message from Ethan. The restroom was very quiet. I could hear everything he said clearly. “Did you come?” Ethan’s voice was low and husky. The woman in the stall didn’t dare make much sound. After a long while, she trembled and said “mm.” “Let me hear you. Don’t hold it in. I want to hear.” The buzzing sound suddenly grew louder. The woman’s panting became more rapid, broken moans escaping through her teeth. “Don’t stop. Understand? You can only stop when I tell you to.” “Ethan, I can’t anymore…” Sophia’s voice was already crying. “Please, turn it off…” “Don’t take it out. Who told you to make your own decisions?” “You know the consequences of not being able to hold it.” It continued in the stall. I staggered out of the restroom and leaned against the hallway wall, my whole body weak. So while eating just now, Ethan had been remotely controlling this. While he was talking to me gently, he was playing with another woman under the table. This was his true face. The man I had married for four years, the man who was so proper in front of me that he had to ask before even kissing me, was actually like this behind my back. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed all emotions, and returned to the private room. “Elena wants to meet me this afternoon.” I said quickly. “You don’t need to drive me later.” Ethan didn’t insist. He breathed a sigh of relief and gently instructed me, “Okay, I’ll have the driver take you.” “No need. I’ll take a cab.” He didn’t insist further, just nodded. “Be careful on the road. Message me when you arrive. Use my card if you want to buy anything.” I nodded and quickly turned to leave. Walking out of the restaurant, the sunlight hurt my eyes. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, hailed a cab, and went straight to the visa center. I had to leave. Get as far away as possible. For the rest of my life, I never wanted to see Ethan again.

Joanna POV After finishing the visa paperwork, I didn’t go to work. I called the hospital to request leave and went home. As expected, that evening Ethan sent a message saying the company had an urgent project to discuss, he wouldn’t be coming home tonight, and told me to rest early. I glanced at the message and tossed my phone aside. I didn’t care anymore. I pulled out a cardboard box and started collecting my things from around the house bit by bit. In the bottom drawer of the cupboard was a pair of couple’s mugs. Those were from our third year dating. I had seen them while shopping. I happily brought them home. Ethan glanced at them and smiled helplessly. “Joanna, you’re already working. Still playing with these childish things.” Later, I placed the pair of mugs in the most prominent position on the shelf, but Ethan never used them. I used the pink mug until now. The rim was somewhat worn. The blue one had never been used. It looked brand new. I threw both mugs into the box. On the bookshelf were our photo albums. One per year, from dating to marriage, seven albums total. I randomly opened one and happened to flip to our wedding day. Ethan rarely wore the light blue shirt I had picked out, his eyes curved in a smile. That day, he held my hand tightly and whispered in my ear, “Joanna, I’ll be good to you for a lifetime.” The album was thrown into the box. In the vanity drawer was a pair of couple’s rings. Those were bought with my first month’s salary. I picked for a long time and chose a beautiful pair of silver rings. I brought them home with such joy. Ethan really liked wearing them at first. After he took over the company, he stopped wearing his. He said it affected his signing. Later, only when I got angry would Ethan take it out and put it on to make me happy. There was also the scarf I had knitted by hand for two months. It was Ethan’s treasure. He wore it for several years. But at some point, it became something he never used again. There were also couple’s shoes, couple’s pajamas, keychains, and so on. I took them out one by one and threw them into the box one by one. I had no more tears. Being sad over these expired things wasn’t worth it. The box quickly filled up. I sat next to the box, not knowing what I was thinking. After a long time, I leaned against the box and fell asleep. Suddenly, I was awakened by a sound. Groggily lifting my head, I heard movement coming from the master bedroom. My heart tightened. I quietly walked to the master bedroom door. The door was ajar. The scene through the crack made me instantly freeze in place. Ethan was pressing Sophia onto the bed. Their clothes were scattered on the floor. “Darling.” Ethan’s voice was hoarse and low, carrying some playfulness. “You love excitement so much, you had to come play at my house.” Sophia tilted her head back, hooking her arm around his neck, smiling seductively. “Don’t you like it? She’s on night shift tonight anyway, not home.” A crisp slap sounded. Sophia cried out softly, but her face carried a smile. “You’ll change the sheets yourself later.” Ethan leaned down, biting her earlobe. “If my wife finds out, I’ll really punish you.” I thought I wouldn’t be emotionally affected by these two people anymore, but my legs felt like they were filled with lead. I hadn’t expected these two people to keep disgusting me like this. “Got it.” Sophia responded in a low voice. The bed started shaking rhythmically. Sophia’s broken panting spilled from her lips. My gaze fell on their wrists. Both wore identical watches that looked particularly glaring under the light. “I bought this especially for you. You’re not allowed to take it off.” “Okay, I won’t.” Ethan agreed without thinking. So it wasn’t that he was unwilling to use all couple’s items. Sophia’s watch overlapped with my bracelet like that, as if mocking me. I closed my eyes, turned and quietly left the house, stayed at a hotel outside for the night, and didn’t return until the next afternoon. The house had already been cleaned spotlessly. No trace of last night remained. Ethan was wearing an apron, cooking in the kitchen. Seeing me come in, he immediately came over, a gentle smile on his face. “Joanna, you’re back. You haven’t had much appetite lately, so I specially made your favorite cream mushroom soup. Try it.” I didn’t speak. My gaze fell directly on his wrist. The bracelet was still there. That watch was still there too. They were both filthy. Ethan followed my line of sight, instinctively pulling his hand back, explaining with a smile, “All company employees have this. I’m the boss. I have to set an example.” He gently pressed me down onto a dining chair, personally ladled soup for me, and arranged the utensils. I pulled at the corner of my mouth, thinking mockingly, who would have thought that the seemingly gentle Mr. Parker was actually that kind of person in private? After eating, Ethan went to the study to handle business. I also entered the study, moved out the box I had organized last night, and prepared to throw it away. Ethan heard the noise and looked up. “Joanna, what’s in there?” “Some old things I don’t need. They’re just taking up space.” Ethan nodded and didn’t ask further, lowering his head to continue reading his documents. I carried the box out and threw it into the trash. Those things that carried all my expectations and love were thrown away by my own hands. Just like my marriage with Ethan. I would never love him again.

Joanna POV The next morning, Ethan and I were eating breakfast together. My phone suddenly rang. “Miss White, your visa has been approved. You can travel at any time.” Ethan’s chopsticks immediately paused. He looked up sharply, his eyes suddenly tense. “What visa?” I calmly put away my phone, my expression unchanged. “I’m planning to take my annual leave in a few days and go out to relax.” Hearing me say tourism, Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. He put down his chopsticks, held my hand and said warmly, “Where does Joanna want to go? If the company isn’t too busy, let’s go together. We haven’t traveled together in so long.” I just smiled faintly without answering. I knew Ethan wouldn’t go. Ethan gripped my hand tightly. “Joanna, we’ll definitely be together for a lifetime, right?” I looked up at him and asked in return, “Why ask this suddenly? So insecure? Have you fallen in love with someone else?” Ethan immediately shook his head, his eyes so resolute you couldn’t find any flaws. “How could that be? You’re the one I worked so hard to marry. How could I bear to make you sad?” I stared into his eyes. “Then swear it.” Ethan froze for a moment. His Adam’s apple bobbed. After a moment, he spoke, “I swear, if I betray Joanna, let me get cancer.” I sneered inwardly. So men’s vows were this cheap. They could casually make vows, then turn around and trample all their promises underfoot. In the morning, I went to the hospital and submitted my resignation letter to the director. The director looked at the resignation letter, his brows tightly furrowed, trying to persuade me to stay. “You’re one of the hospital’s most talented doctors. In two more years you’ll be promoted. You have a great future. Don’t be impulsive.” “I’ve already made up my mind.” My tone was calm. “I’ll be leaving next week.” The director sighed. Knowing my mind was made up, he didn’t try to keep me further. Shaking his head, he signed the report. At noon, Ethan sent a message saying the company had a big project to discuss recently and he really couldn’t spare the time, so he couldn’t accompany me on the trip. He’d definitely make it up next time. He apologized and made promises, sending several voice messages. I looked at those voice messages without even the interest to open them. I directly locked the screen. I had known this would be the result all along. Just as I was about to put down my phone, Sophia, who had added me as a friend but remained silent, suddenly sent me a message. It was a medical report. Ultrasound showed: intrauterine early pregnancy, 12 weeks + 3 days gestation. I stared at that report, sneering inwardly. Over three months. So Ethan wasn’t going on the trip not because the company was busy, but because Sophia was pregnant and he had to stay here to accompany her. I tossed my phone aside and slumped in my chair. I walked home, my mind repeatedly asking myself, how did my marriage become like this? My love, my marriage, how did they fail so miserably? In the evening, Ethan’s parents called, saying they hadn’t seen us in a long time and asked us to come home for dinner. Ethan drove me back. The Parker family was very wealthy, but my parents were ordinary people. Normally, I could never have married Ethan. But after his parents accepted me, they never held it over me. They treated me quite well. At the dinner table, his mother served me food several times, asking if I’d been tired from work lately and whether I’d been eating properly. I responded politely, but my heart felt heavy as stone. Halfway through the meal, his mother finally revealed the real purpose of calling us back today. “Joanna, you and Ethan have been married for four years. You should consider having a child.” His father nodded along. “Yes, we’d like to welcome a new family member too.” Ethan had always wanted children, but I was too busy with work and in the middle of my career advancement, so we’d never tried for a baby. But in front of his parents, Ethan always took responsibility himself and never put me in a difficult position. This time was no different. Ethan spoke gently, “Joanna and I are still young. We want to focus on our careers first. There’s no rush for children.” But I suddenly put down my utensils and smiled. “Mom, Dad, soon. I used tarot cards to divine the future. Ethan will become a father this year.” At those words, his parents immediately lit up with joy. “Really? That’s wonderful!” His mother excitedly grabbed my hand. “Joanna, if you get pregnant, put work aside. Your health is more important.” Ethan suddenly looked up at me. The guilt and panic in his eyes were obvious. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back. I smiled and responded to his parents, not sparing Ethan another glance. I said Ethan would become a father, but I never said I’d be the one having the child. The baby in Sophia’s belly would call Ethan daddy too, wouldn’t it?

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Liam Bennett took the transplant liver meant for our dying daughter and gave it to his mistress, Sutton. My daughter died. My mother had a stroke from the shock and passed away too. In an instant, I lost everyone I loved. Yet he showed no remorse. He brought his mistress to see me. “Sutton’s condition was more critical. As for the child…” Liam put his arm around his mistress’s waist. “Sutton is pregnant. You’ll adopt her child later.” Sutton rubbed her belly and said with fake sympathy, “The doctor says this pregnancy is stable. Liam is thrilled. You should be happy for him too, right? After all, the Bennett family will finally have a healthy child.” This was murder of the cruelest kind. After they left, I sent a message to a mysterious email address. “I agree to cooperate.” The response came quickly. “Good. My condition is that you marry me.” Celine POV My daughter Lily had been waiting three years for a transplant liver. In the end, her father Liam Bennett gave it to his mistress, Sutton Moore. When I arrived at the children’s transplant center, the transplant confirmation had already been completed. I chased to the surgical corridor and saw Sutton being wheeled toward the operating room. Liam stood next to Director Mr. Davis, his hand pressing down on a modified transplant confirmation form. “Change it back.” I rushed over. “That’s Lily’s liver!” Liam looked up at me, his voice heavy. “I’m Lily’s father. I have the authority to sign.” Mr. Davis immediately lowered his head. “Mr. Bennett also confirmed on behalf of the investors. The hospital is executing according to the new signature.” I, the mother who had watched over Lily for three years, was blocked outside the corridor. I reached out to grab that piece of paper but was stopped by security. “Liam, she’s only five years old! She’s been waiting since she was two. She finally got her chance today!” Liam avoided my eyes. “Sutton took a car crash for me years ago. Her liver damage is a complication from that accident. She can’t wait for the next round.” I stared at him with red eyes. “And Lily can wait?” Sutton lay on the gurney, tears streaming down from the corners of her eyes. “Liam, forget it.” Her voice was soft. “Don’t make Celine hate you because of me.” She said to forget it, but her hand gripped Liam’s fingers. “I’m in so much pain.” She gasped. “I’m afraid I won’t make it.” Liam’s jaw tightened. The next second, he signed his name in the final column of the confirmation form. The operating room doors closed behind Sutton. I was held back by security outside. I watched helplessly as the surgical light came on. The pre-surgery corridor in Lily’s room was quickly dismantled. The doctor looked at the monitors and said quietly. “Her numbers are dropping too fast. Backup treatment can only buy a little time. It can’t replace the transplant.” When Lily woke up, she could barely open her eyes. “Mommy.” She asked softly. “Am I not having surgery anymore?” I held her hand, forcing a smile. “The doctors are still working on it.” Someone outside said the donor liver had been transferred. Lily heard it. She slowly turned her face. “Did Daddy give my liver to that woman?” My throat felt blocked. I could only hold her tighter. Lily’s small hand touched the back of my hand, her strength as light as paper. “Don’t blame me, Mommy. I didn’t wait long enough.” The monitor suddenly shrieked. Doctors rushed in. I was pushed to the side of the bed. The emergency light flashed on and off. Finally, the doctor removed his gloves and couldn’t meet my eyes. Lily never called me Mommy again. On the other end, news of Sutton’s successful surgery came quickly. I stood at the end of the hallway holding the death certificate, hearing an assistant ask Liam. “Mr. Bennett, about Lily… should we go check on her?” Liam was silent for a few seconds. “Don’t release the news yet.” He said. “Don’t let anyone else know.” I looked down at the name on the death certificate, tucked Lily’s small hand back under the blanket, then called my lawyer. “I want a divorce.” The lawyer paused. I looked at Lily’s pale little face and added. “I want to get back what I deserve.” After hanging up, I opened the email Luke Morrison had sent me three years ago. Back then, Luke had invited me to work on a pediatric transplant ethics project. I had stayed for Lily. Now, I replied to that email. “I agree to cooperate. Please preserve the transplant confirmation form and the surgical corridor surveillance footage.” Luke’s reply came fast. “I’ll send someone to get you. Just don’t die at their hands first.” I put my phone down beside Lily’s hospital bed. Outside, Liam’s footsteps stopped.

Celine POV When Liam pushed the door open, I was still sitting by Lily’s bed. He didn’t look at the death certificate first, nor at Lily. He just placed a document on the bedside table. “The hospital will review everything again.” He said. “I’ll add more money to Lily’s fund.” I looked up. “Lily is dead.” His hand paused. “If Sutton had missed this chance, she would have died too.” His voice lowered. “I had to save the person in more critical danger first.” “She waited three years.” I stared at him. “You gave away the chance she waited three years for to someone else?” Liam didn’t answer. He just pushed the document forward again. The paper read “Lily Medical Fund,” with a line showing the new amount below. It was a lot of money, enough to save many children’s lives. I looked at that string of numbers and suddenly remembered the night Lily was born. Liam had waited outside the delivery room until dawn. After Lily was diagnosed, he had also kept watch in the hospital room, asking the doctors over and over if they could find a donor. Back then, every time Lily asked when Daddy was coming, I would say he was busy. Now, with the same hand, he had given away the donor liver Lily had been waiting for to someone else. The sound of a wheelchair came from the doorway. Sutton was pushed to the doorway by a nurse. Her face was as white as paper, still connected to post-surgical equipment. As soon as she saw me, tears fell. “Celine, I’m so sorry. I really didn’t think Lily would…” Before she could finish, she covered her wound and gasped lightly. Liam immediately walked over. “Who told you to come here?” Sutton shook her head, tears hanging on her face. “People online are already cursing me, saying I stole a child’s liver. I can take the abuse, but I don’t want you to be affected too.” Liam’s expression darkened immediately. Mr. Davis followed behind, saying quietly. “Mr. Bennett, the media is already asking questions. We must give them an explanation.” Sutton grabbed Liam’s sleeve. “Don’t force Celine. I can take responsibility myself.” Liam turned to look at me. “Tomorrow at the press conference, you’ll come forward to clarify.” He said. “Say that transferring the donor organ was a decision discussed among family members. Sutton didn’t steal anything. Lily’s condition deteriorated.” I looked at him. “You even want to cover up how Lily died?” Liam’s voice turned cold. “If you make a scene now, Lily’s death certificate will be held up at the hospital.” Mr. Davis immediately added. “The body is still at the hospital. If the paperwork gets stuck, the child can’t leave. Your mother is also elderly. The media attention will affect her.” I looked sharply at Liam. “You’re threatening me?” Liam looked at me. “I’m reminding you not to let Lily be gossiped about even after death.” Sutton said softly. “Liam, forget it. Celine just lost her child. It’s normal for her to hate me…” She urged him to drop it, but her hand never let go. My phone rang at that moment. The caregiver’s voice trembled with panic. “Miss Ashford, your mother found out about Lily. Her blood pressure spiked. The doctor says she can’t take any more shocks!” I gripped my phone, looking at the small body on the hospital bed, then at the people outside waiting for my agreement. I finally spoke. “I’ll cooperate.” Liam visibly relaxed and reached out to support me. I moved away. He didn’t take offense. He just told his assistant. “Give her access to the fund, and transfer some hospital shares from my name to hers.” The assistant nodded and immediately called the legal department. I looked up. “Get everything done today.” Liam thought I was finally willing to accept compensation and agreed. The lawyer arrived at the hospital quickly. Liam sat at the signing table. Legal staff handed documents to his side. I didn’t explain. I just had the lawyer place the divorce page behind the compensation documents. Sutton sat nearby, reminding him quietly. “Liam, will the Bennett Corporation have an opinion about this?” Liam frowned. “She lost Lily. She deserves these things.” I took back the signed documents and handed them to the lawyer. The lawyer said quietly. “The first step is complete.” Liam heard this and briefly looked at me. I had already turned around to tuck in the blanket corner for Lily. That evening, the hospital sent over the press conference script. One sentence stood out most sharply. “Ms. Celine Ashford approves this donor adjustment.” I crossed it out with my pen. Mr. Davis stood beside me and reminded me. “The media will be there tomorrow, and other families will be present too. Miss Ashford, don’t cause us trouble.” I didn’t answer him. I just took a photo of the signed document and sent it to Luke. Luke replied quickly. “Leave the hospital first.” The nurse knocked on the door at that moment and delivered the seating chart for tomorrow’s press conference.

Celine POV When the hospital press conference began, I sat in the center of the main platform. I used to accompany Lily to patient meetings and always sat in the audience, listening to doctors say she still had hope. Now Lily was dead, yet I was pushed in front of the cameras to personally cover up the truth about Lily’s death. Mr. Davis placed the script in front of me, his fingertip pointing to that one sentence. “Read it as written.” I looked at the words “jointly assessed by family members” on the paper, feeling like my throat was clogged with blood. The cameras were already rolling. When I spoke, my voice was terribly hoarse. “The donor transfer was a decision made after… joint assessment by the family.” Someone in the audience immediately cursed. “Are you even the child’s mother?” “Your child is gone, how much money did you take?” A reporter pressed. “Did the Bennett Corporation use its position as an investor to interfere with transplant priority?” Mr. Davis immediately grabbed the microphone. “The family has already explained this matter.” All the questions were pushed back to me. I sat under the lights, my fingers digging into my palms. I couldn’t refute them. Lily was still at the hospital, and my mom was still at home. If I revealed the truth, the media would swarm my family. My phone kept buzzing under the table. The caregiver sent a message. “Miss Ashford, your mother saw the livestream and is on her way to the hospital!” I stood up abruptly. Mr. Davis’s expression changed. “The press conference isn’t over!” Security moved to block me. I pushed away the microphone and ran out. Reporters immediately chased after me. In the hospital lobby, my mom was holding Lily’s little jacket, surrounded by people. Her face was frightfully pale, saying over and over. “My daughter would never give up on Lily. She wouldn’t…” A reporter shoved a microphone in her face. “Do you know that Celine agreed to give the donor liver to Sutton?” My mom shook her head, her voice trembling. “I need to find Liam. I need answers!” She walked toward the surgical area. Security reached out to stop her. “Family members can’t go in.” “Where’s my granddaughter? I need to see Lily!” During the struggle, my mom missed a step and fell down from the edge of the platform. I saw the little jacket fall to the ground. My mom clutched her chest, her face pale. “Mom!” The emergency room doors quickly closed. Mr. Davis was still beside me, lowering his voice. “Miss Ashford, it’s very chaotic outside right now. You should go out and calm them down, or this will be very difficult to handle.” When Liam arrived, his first question was to his assistant. “Was what just happened in the lobby caught on camera?” I looked up at him. “Lily just died. My mom is lying in there right now.” My voice shook. “And you’re asking if it was caught on camera?” Liam stiffened for a moment, then told his assistant. “Control the media first. Seal the surveillance footage. Wait for the emergency results before saying anything.” I understood. He still wanted to cover it up first. The emergency lasted over an hour. When the doctor came out, he didn’t dare look at me. “The patient was brought in too late.” I was still clutching Lily’s little jacket. Liam reached out to support me. I stepped back. “Don’t touch me. Don’t touch their things either.” Liam’s expression darkened. “Your mother’s accident wasn’t something I wanted to see.” I didn’t listen to the rest. I turned to the lawyer. “I’m requesting the hospital lobby surveillance and security orders.” The lawyer reminded me quietly. “He just had someone seal the scene records.” I looked at Liam. My phone lit up at that moment. A preview notification for Sutton’s recovery livestream pushed to my screen. In the main image, Sutton wore a hospital gown, smiling at the camera. Next to her was the Lily Medical Fund logo. The headline read: “Passing on the hope that a child didn’t get to wait for to more people.” Liam saw it too. His expression changed. “Remove the foundation.” Before the assistant could make the call, Sutton’s call came through first. Her voice was weak. “Liam, I just wanted to do something for Lily. Why does everyone have to misunderstand me?” I didn’t keep listening. I took my mother’s death certificate and a screenshot of the livestream and turned toward the lawyer.

Celine POV I didn’t leave the hospital all night. Lily and my mom were both still in the hospital’s custody. The death certificates weren’t processed, and the bodies hadn’t been transferred out. The lawyer found that the lobby surveillance had been sealed ahead of time, and security orders couldn’t be accessed either. I was about to go to the body storage area when a nurse came to notify me. “Miss Ashford, Lily’s original recovery room needs to be cleared out by the family.” That room had been personally arranged by Liam. When Lily was waiting for the donor liver, she kept asking if she could stay there after surgery. She said she wanted to put her stuffed animals by the bed and sit by the window in the sun. I went over with a small box. The door plate had already been changed. Sutton Post-Surgery Recovery Room. The room was filled with livestream equipment. The Lily Medical Fund logo hung by the bed. The children’s bed that had been prepared for Lily was removed. Posters about Sutton’s recovery livestream schedule were on the walls. Sutton sat on the bed, holding Lily’s stuffed animal in her arms. I walked over and grabbed the stuffed animal back. Sutton’s eyes immediately reddened. “Celine, I didn’t mean to. The foundation said this way everyone would know Lily left behind kindness…” “She didn’t leave this for you.” I held the stuffed animal tightly, my voice cold and hard. “Remove her name. Remove her foundation logo.” Sutton bit her lip and looked toward the doorway. Liam had just walked in. She said quietly. “Liam, it’s okay. I don’t have to do the livestream. Everyone outside is cursing me for stealing a child’s donor liver anyway. I can bear it.” Liam’s expression immediately darkened. “Celine, Sutton just had surgery. She can’t take any more stress.” I looked at him. “Lily just died, and you’re giving Sutton the hospital room Lily never got to use?” Liam kept his voice down. “The fund was always meant to save people. The livestream now can reduce some of the criticism and continue to save other children.” “Did Lily agree to this?” Liam’s patience finally ran out. “Your mother’s case is still under investigation at the hospital, and Lily’s paperwork hasn’t been completed.” He stared at me. “Making a scene here now will only make things more complicated later.” My hand tightened around the stuffed animal bit by bit. Sutton spoke softly at that moment. “Celine, if you really hate me this much, I can apologize to you on camera.” The staff all looked over. Liam followed her lead. “You owe her an apology too. She’s being cursed like this now, and it’s not entirely her fault.” I looked at him and almost laughed. “She took Lily’s donor liver. Now she’s sitting in Lily’s hospital room holding Lily’s stuffed animal, and you want me to apologize?” Liam said coldly. “This stuffed animal will be used tomorrow. It can represent Lily’s kindness.” I turned to leave immediately. But security blocked the doorway. Liam looked at me. “Livestream props can’t be taken away.” Props. He called the last thing Lily held a prop. Staff took the stuffed animal from my arms and put it back by Sutton’s bed. The Lily Medical Fund logo was hung in the most prominent position behind Sutton. I was taken to a rest room. Guards were posted at the door. An assistant brought tomorrow’s livestream schedule. The paper stated that I was to appear as Lily’s mother and personally hand the stuffed animal to Sutton. After reading it, I sent a message to the lawyer. “I need to request body transfer immediately and preserve the surveillance footage.” The lawyer quickly replied. “The hospital just submitted a family authorization involving Lily’s subsequent use for medical research. The signatory may be Liam.” I stared at the screen, my fingertips cold. Outside, staff were shouting in the hallway. “The people for the livestream rehearsal are here. Set the family representative’s position first.”

Celine POV When the recovery livestream began, I was seated next to Sutton. The camera pointed directly at the hospital bed. The Lily Medical Fund logo hung behind Sutton. Lily’s toy was placed at the head of the bed, as if this child truly wanted to leave her last possession to her. Mr. Davis stood outside the camera frame, reminding me in a low voice. “Don’t mention that Lily’s liver was given to someone else. Don’t mention the original surgery order. And don’t mention that your mother died at the hospital.” I looked at the cue cards without speaking. The host first congratulated Sutton on her successful post-surgery recovery, then guided the conversation to the Lily Medical Fund. Sutton’s eyes reddened. Facing the camera, she said softly. “That I can live is because Celine and Lily gave me the opportunity to continue saving people.” She didn’t say “steal.” She said the donor liver was something I voluntarily gave up. The camera immediately turned to me. The host asked with a smile. “Miss Ashford, as Lily’s mother, what would you like to say to everyone now?” Mr. Davis’s gaze bore down on me. Liam stood outside the camera frame, also watching me. I was silent for a few seconds before speaking. “Every dollar in the fund needs to be accounted for clearly. Lily’s name cannot be misused.” Sutton’s expression changed for a moment. She reached for the stuffed animal at the head of the bed, wanting to hold it in front of the camera. I grabbed the stuffed animal first. “That belongs to Lily.” Sutton’s tears immediately fell. “I just wanted to keep something in memory of the child. She didn’t get to wait for surgery. I wanted everyone to know that her death had value.” The livestream comments started flooding in. Some cursed me for being cold-blooded. Some said I was persecuting someone who just had surgery. Liam approached, his voice very low. “Let go. Don’t make a scene during the livestream.” I looked up at him. “This stuffed animal is what Lily brought to the hospital before surgery. Do you remember?” Liam froze briefly. The next second, he still said. “Cooperate with the livestream first.” The donation segment began. The host announced that the Lily Medical Fund would open a new recovery program, and Sutton would be the public welfare spokesperson. I interrupted directly. “The fund was originally for children waiting for transplants. Who changed the fund’s purpose?” Mr. Davis immediately had staff cut the camera. Sutton covered her wound, her face pale. “Celine, I can step down. Don’t hate me just because Lily is gone.” Liam supported her and ordered me. “Get out.” I didn’t move. I picked up the authorization statement on the table and saw that it had already changed the Lily Medical Fund into supporting funds for Sutton’s recovery public welfare project. I slammed the page on the table. “When she was alive, you stole her donor liver. Now that she’s dead, you’re taking her money to give to Sutton?” Liam’s expression was ugly. “This is for PR purposes. I’ll make up the money to you later.” “I don’t want your money.” I stared at him. “Remove Sutton’s name.” Sutton said quietly. “Liam, if we remove it now, the public will confirm that I really did steal the child’s liver.” Liam was silent for a few seconds, then handed the document to his assistant. “Proceed as originally planned.” After the livestream ended, I immediately rushed to the morgue. Staff stopped me. “Lily cannot be cremated for now.” My voice turned cold. “Why?” They handed me a research authorization form. The signatory was Liam. The authorization stated that Lily’s pathological materials would be used for pediatric liver failure research, continuing the child’s unfinished wishes. I took the document to find Liam. Sutton was still resting in the hospital room. Liam looked at the document and only frowned. “The research can help more children.” I looked at him. “When Lily was alive, you decided for her who would get the donor liver. Now that Lily is dead, you’re still deciding for her how her body is used?” Liam’s face paled at that. Sutton said softly from the bed. “If we withdraw now, the public will think Celine won’t even show that last bit of decency.” Liam held the document but didn’t withdraw the signature.

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I came back from a two-month business trip to pick up my daughter from school. To my surprise, I found that my six-year-old daughter had an exquisitely styled braid. Although my husband is a painter, his hands are only good for painting, not for braiding hair. I casually asked her, “When did Daddy learn to braid your hair?” “Actually, it was Miss Whitmore from school who did it!” My daughter’s eyes darted around, and her fingers unconsciously clutched at the corner of her clothes. My smile slowly faded. Later, I asked Miss Whitmore about it. But the teacher shook her head in denial. “I didn’t braid it. Dorothy said her mom styled her hair like that. She really loves it!” When my daughter lies, her fingers unconsciously clutch at the corner of her clothes. The teacher’s response confirmed this. My feelings were complicated. After returning from a two-month business trip, the first thing my daughter said to me was a lie. I didn’t scold her or call her out on it. I gave her gifts like I did after every business trip. “Dorothy, did anything fun happen while you and Daddy were home these two months?” At first, my daughter avoided eye contact and didn’t want to talk, only focused on unwrapping her gifts. It wasn’t until I pulled out her art homework and praised her for improving so much that she said happily, “It was Jasmine who taught me how to draw!” My heart stirred. Who was Jasmine? My daughter suddenly covered her mouth and shook her head. “I didn’t say anything! Mommy didn’t hear anything!” No matter how much I asked after that, she refused to say more. I sighed and decided to ask my husband Sebastian when we got home. As soon as the car pulled up to the house, I happened to see Sebastian hurrying out of the villa. When he saw me holding our daughter’s hand, he looked surprised at first, then seemed slightly relieved. “You came back early? I was just busy and forgot to pick Dorothy up from school…” He suddenly paused mid-sentence, his eyes flickering. My gaze shifted from Sebastian to the unfamiliar figure behind him. It was a young woman with quite pleasant looks and demeanor. Some uneasy suspicions crossed my mind, but I still put on a polite smile. “And this is?” Sebastian looked at me, and after a few seconds, said flatly, “Oh, this is the art teacher I hired for Dorothy.” My face remained calm, but I felt uncomfortable inside. During my two-month business trip, I made time to call him every day. But he never mentioned hiring an art teacher for our daughter. The woman’s eyes discreetly swept over me before she smiled and stepped forward to greet me. “You must be Mrs. Reed. Hello, I’m Jasmine Whitmore.” “Jasmine! So you came to see me and Daddy today too! That’s great!” My daughter broke free from my hand and bounced over to Jasmine’s side, affectionately hugging her leg. I watched this scene with a blank expression. Sebastian perhaps sensed something and turned to Jasmine. “Jasmine, you don’t need to teach Dorothy tonight. You can head home.” Jasmine and he made eye contact, and her smile stiffened. “Alright, I won’t disturb your family reunion then.” But I smiled faintly and pulled her into the villa by the hand. “Jasmine should stay for dinner.” Sebastian froze, about to say something, but I interrupted him. “I didn’t even know Dorothy had a new art teacher. Now that we’ve happened to meet, of course I should treat Jasmine to a nice meal. Right, honey?” Sebastian’s deep eyes met mine, and after a moment he looked away. My heart gradually sank. He had indeed intentionally hidden Jasmine’s existence from me, and even Dorothy’s lying might have been taught by him.

At dinner, I pan-fried some cod for my daughter. But she shook her head in disgust. “Jasmine doesn’t like fish. She says it’s too fishy. I don’t like it anymore either!” After saying this, she jumped down from her chair and ran to sit beside Jasmine. Jasmine glanced at me, unable to hide the smile on her face. “Okay, okay, I’ll help my little princess eat.” I was somewhat angry and instinctively wanted to put the fish my daughter rejected into Sebastian’s bowl. At the same time, Jasmine suddenly cut a piece of foie gras for Sebastian. I was about to tactfully remind her that Sebastian didn’t like foie gras. But before I could speak, he had already naturally extended his bowl to receive it. I said flatly, “I thought you didn’t like foie gras?” Sebastian nodded slightly and said casually, “Mm, but it’s good to change things up occasionally.” A bitter feeling passed through my heart. Just two months ago, he and our daughter loved the pan-fried fish I made most. My eyes swept across the dishes on the table. I realized that aside from the fish I’d personally made, all the other dishes the chef prepared were completely different from usual. I looked at Jasmine, who seemed so at ease at our dinner table as if it were her own home, and my heart sank bit by bit. After seeing Jasmine off, Sebastian seemed to notice that I hadn’t had much appetite tonight, but only asked flatly, “Tired from the trip?” I forced a shallow smile. “Sort of. I wanted to come back early, so I took a flight at dawn. I am a bit tired…” Sebastian nodded perfunctorily and asked me, “When is your next business trip?” I paused, my smile fading. “Do you really want me to go on business trips?” Sebastian’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t answer the question. Instead, he turned and went to his studio. Sebastian was a painter, but he preferred oil paintings. Yet now there was a watercolor painting in the studio. Sebastian paused and explained, “Jasmine sometimes teaches Dorothy watercolor in the studio.” I lowered my eyes, my gaze falling on the two chairs placed very close together in front of the easel. Then I noticed the two signatures in the bottom right corner of the watercolor. Sebastian and Jasmine. I laughed self-deprecatingly, said nothing, and turned to go to my daughter’s room. She was already asleep, still clutching a sketchbook in her hand. The sketchbook contained her own drawings of our family of three. But the further I flipped through it, the colder my heart became. In the recent new drawings, “Mommy” had changed from having curly hair to straight hair. Jasmine had long straight hair. In my daughter’s sketchbook, the three of them painted together in the yard, went to amusement parks, went camping and picnicking—just like a real family of three. My heart felt numb and painful. At that moment, my secretary called to confirm tomorrow’s schedule. Thinking about everything that happened today, I still pushed all of tomorrow’s work to next week. The next day at breakfast, my daughter was unusually excited. I thought she already knew about my plans for today. I smiled and patted her head. “Dorothy is so happy. Do you already know Mommy is taking you to the amusement park today?” But my daughter’s eyes widened in surprise. Sebastian, who had been quietly eating breakfast, also stopped. In his eyes was not only surprise but also a hint of awkwardness. Seeing this, my smile slowly faded.

“You and Dorothy have other plans?” My daughter said loudly, “Today the school organized a trip to see an art exhibition, and Daddy is going with me!” Sebastian also nodded, averting his eyes. “You just got back yesterday. I didn’t get a chance to tell you.” “It’s fine. I’ll go with you.” My daughter unconsciously clutched at the corner of her clothes, pouting. She seemed reluctant and even secretly exchanged glances with her father. Sebastian said flatly, “You just got back from your business trip. You should rest at home. I can accompany Dorothy.” My daughter suddenly threw herself into my arms and acted cute. “Mommy, can you make us mushroom soup at home? When Daddy and I come back at noon, we can drink the soup. Mommy hasn’t made me mushroom soup in so long.” My daughter looked at me with bright, sparkling eyes, looking so pitiful. Suppressing the bad suspicions in my heart, I still agreed to my daughter’s request. At noon, I took out my phone and called Sebastian. “The soup is ready. When are you and Dorothy coming back?” “We…” On the phone, Sebastian had only said two words before suddenly stopping. Besides my daughter’s voice, there was another somewhat familiar female voice. It was Jasmine. My smile completely disappeared as I repeated coldly, “What time are you and Dorothy coming back?” Sebastian paused, seemingly walking to a quieter place. “The exhibition was postponed to this afternoon. Dorothy and I will come back tonight…” My daughter grabbed his phone. “Mommy, we’re not coming back for lunch! We’re eating out!” Before I could say anything, my daughter had already hung up. The housekeeper glanced at my expressionless face and asked cautiously, “Should I pack the soup and deliver it to them?” I took the thermos, my tone cold. “I’ll deliver it myself.” When I arrived, I found the exhibition had already ended. It hadn’t been postponed to the afternoon at all. My fingers gripping the thermos tightened until my fingertips turned white. Sebastian had lied to me again. The driver looked at my lost expression and asked carefully, “Mrs. Reed, should we go home or…” “Just drive around for a bit.” I gazed aimlessly out the car window until my eyes accidentally caught three familiar figures. I got out of the car and hurried into a restaurant. When I finally saw clearly who the three people at the table were, my steps stopped. A strange pain shot through my heart. I turned around and walked to a corner seat behind them. A few lush plants separated our seats. They didn’t notice me. “Wow, the restaurant Jasmine brought us to is so delicious! It’s way better than what the housekeeper and my mom make. I’m so tired of their cooking. I wish Jasmine could take me out to eat every day!” But Jasmine’s voice carried a deliberate sense of melancholy. “I’d also like to be with you and… Sebastian every day. But your mom is back now, so I can’t go out with you often anymore. Your mom would mind.” My daughter blurted out, “I’d rather Mommy didn’t come back! I want Jasmine to stay with us!” My heart suddenly ached. Sebastian seemed stunned too. After a long while, he said in a low voice, “Dorothy, you can’t talk about your mom like that.” “But Mommy is always away on business trips. She’s not like Jasmine, who can be with us every day. I think Jasmine is more like a mom than Mommy!” “And I heard Daddy on the phone with Grandma the other day saying something about divorce… Daddy, do you want to divorce Mommy?” My whole body shook, and my trembling hand accidentally knocked against the silverware on the table.

Sebastian seemed shocked by our daughter’s words too. Sebastian was silent for a moment before saying, “If I really divorced your mom, wouldn’t you be sad?” My daughter innocently tilted her head. “Not sad at all! I have Daddy and Jasmine with me. I’d be too happy!” My heart went numb, then needle-like pain spread throughout my body. Sebastian paused. “Forget it. Don’t bring this up again, and don’t tell your mom. Understand?” “I know! So when Mommy goes on her business trip next week, let’s go on vacation with Jasmine!” Jasmine pretended to be troubled. “Every time we travel when your mom isn’t home. If she found out, wouldn’t she be unhappy?” “If we don’t tell Mommy, she won’t know!” Hearing all this, I felt numb. I never knew how many things my beloved husband and daughter had been hiding from me. “Oh no!” While drinking soup, my daughter accidentally splashed some on Jasmine’s face. My daughter tried to help Jasmine wipe it off, but she avoided it and instead looked at Sebastian, her tone slightly shy. “Sebastian, could you help me wipe my face? I can’t see it myself.” Sebastian paused, looking at Jasmine who had moved very close, and agreed. The napkin gently wiped Jasmine’s face. Through the gaps in the leaves, I watched expressionlessly as Jasmine leaned closer and closer to Sebastian. Until she suddenly closed her eyes and planted a kiss on Sebastian’s lips. Sebastian’s wiping motion instantly stopped. Jasmine opened her eyes, her face flushed red. “Sebastian, I’m sorry. I just… couldn’t help myself.” After a while, Sebastian withdrew his hand and said flatly, “It’s fine.” Jasmine said in a way that only drew more attention, “Dorothy, what just happened between your dad and me was an accident. You…” My daughter smiled mischievously and nodded. “I understand! I definitely won’t tell Mommy!” Sebastian patted our daughter’s head. “Right, there’s no need to tell your mom about these things.” As his words fell, the last bit of hope in my heart vanished. The breath that had been stuck in my chest since last night suddenly dissipated. I sneered inwardly. Whatever else they said, I had no interest in listening anymore. As I stood up to leave, the server picked up the thermos from the table. “Ma’am, you forgot your item.” Hearing the voice, Jasmine instinctively turned her head and saw me. She froze. Sebastian noticed her reaction. “What’s wrong?” Just as he was about to follow Jasmine’s gaze and turn around, she quickly looked away and placed her hand over Sebastian’s. “Nothing. I want to try the crème brûlée. Can you feed me?” Sebastian smiled and fed her. Jasmine turned to look at me again, revealing a provocative smile. I stared at her coldly for a moment, then turned and left the restaurant. Things that aren’t cherished don’t need to be eagerly offered. Not the soup, and not my sincerity.

On the drive home, I took time to hold a cross-border video conference with several company executives. “Miss Monroe, the project that headquarters in Italy signed is very important. Many details may require your personal oversight.” “So for the next few months, you might need to travel back and forth between the two countries. Sorry for the trouble.” Most of my family’s business empire was in Italy, with only a small portion in the States. But Sebastian didn’t want to live in Italy and preferred to stay here. So I’d rather work harder traveling between both places than force Sebastian to go to Italy with me. “I’ll oversee this project throughout, and I’ll also be stationed at the Italy headquarters going forward.” The vice presidents looked surprised. “Miss Monroe, why the sudden decision to return to Italy? Are your husband and daughter moving there too?” I shook my head. “No, just me.” After the video conference ended, I contacted my lawyer. That evening, Sebastian and my daughter didn’t even come home for dinner. It wasn’t until after I showered that Sebastian came back carrying our already-sleeping daughter. I stood there, watching them coldly. Sebastian paused, also noticing my distant attitude. My daughter groggily woke up. When she opened her eyes and saw me, she instinctively said, “Mommy… hug…” I didn’t move, only saying flatly, “It’s late. Take her to her room to sleep.” With that, I turned toward the bedroom. A flash of confusion and panic crossed Sebastian’s eyes as he spoke, “Evelyn, Dorothy and I didn’t mean to miss dinner at home. We…” I raised my hand to stop him, my tone flat. “Whatever it is, let’s talk tomorrow. I’m very tired today.” I didn’t look at Sebastian’s expression. I just closed the bedroom door and locked it. As I was about to fall asleep, I heard someone gently knocking on the door. I ignored it, closed my eyes, and continued sleeping. After all, I had to get up early tomorrow. But Sebastian was up even earlier than me. As I passed the kitchen with my suitcase, I saw him making breakfast. “Evelyn, I made your favorite for breakfast…” Halfway through, his gaze moved to my suitcase. “Your business trip isn’t until next week. This is…” Meeting Sebastian’s confused gaze, I handed him the divorce agreement I’d originally planned to leave on the dining table before leaving. “You don’t have to wait until next week to travel. You can go today.”

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My foster sister Sienna became jealous. On SAT exam day, she drugged me unconscious and abandoned me on a deserted island six thousand miles away. When my boyfriend found me, I already had a child with a local fisherman. He risked his life trying to take me away, but the other fishermen beat him to death with clubs. Grief-stricken and desperate, I tried drowning myself in the sea several times. The fisherman husband saved me each time, until finally he grew impatient and pulled off his hood, revealing my boyfriend’s face. I stared at him in shock, then pointed trembling at the hood on the ground. “Didn’t you die trying to save me?” He sat down and methodically burned the hood. “I brought you here to make you give up your Ivy League recommendation spot for Sienna.” “Because I felt guilty about you, I hid it from Sienna and pretended to be a fisherman, giving you a child.” “This fake death was supposed to make you give up on leaving. I didn’t expect you to keep trying to kill yourself.” “Since you know now, I don’t need to pretend anymore. You’re on the island, she’s on the mainland.” “If you can accept it, we’ll continue like this.”

The man before me gradually merged with the boy in my memory. He’d shed his youthfulness and grown much more composed. I stared at his face, feeling dazed. I’d been on this island for seven whole years. “So you destroyed me for that mistress’s daughter.” He frowned, instinctively defending her. “What mistress’s daughter? Sienna suffered so much growing up.” “What her mother did has nothing to do with her.” “Jasmine, do you know how much it hurts Sienna every time you say that?” I didn’t know. All I knew was that Sienna destroyed my family. She was supposedly my foster sister. But really, she was my dad’s illegitimate daughter. She was even born in the same month as me. She could always play the victim. She stole money from home and framed me for it. Made my dad beat me senseless. Bribed someone during the exam to frame me for cheating. Then spread the news afterward. Made the whole grade call me “Miss Cheater.” Cornered me in the bathroom with several people and threw dirty water on me. Took photos of me soaking wet and humiliated, spreading them throughout the school. Only my boyfriend Sebastian stood up for me. I transferred schools later just to escape her. But now. She hadn’t just taken my home. She’d also conspired with Sebastian. Sent me to a deserted island and destroyed my entire life. I looked up, holding back tears. “Why?” He froze, then smiled lightly. “When you dragged me along to confront your dad’s mistress, I fell for her the moment I saw her.” “After you left, she came to find me. The little girl held back tears and called me brother. My heart melted completely.” His expression grew tender. “Later, before you transferred, she played tricks on you a few times and asked me for help.” “I couldn’t bear to disappoint her, so I didn’t refuse.” I felt thunderstruck, my pupils contracting sharply. So he’d been behind everything. Sebastian and I had grown up together. He’d always been so good to me. I’d never considered anyone else. He was my only choice. At eight, little him saved me from human traffickers and took several beatings. At fourteen, he secretly beat up all the boys who bullied me until their bones broke, getting hurt himself and not daring to go home. At sixteen, he confessed to me for the first time, promising we’d go to the same university. And at seventeen, he casually changed his heart. Became her accomplice. And pushed me into the abyss. I collapsed to the floor, enduring the wrenching pain in my heart. He crouched down and wiped my tears. “You don’t need to worry about anything staying here. Your mom died of illness last year.” “Your dad married Sienna’s mom. She has high academic achievements now, doting parents, and me. She’s living happily.” I stood up in disbelief. “What did you say! How could my mom have died? She was so young, how is that possible?!” His expression didn’t change, his voice slightly hoarse. “Your mom was good to me, Jasmine. I had no choice either.” “Cancer took her.” Seeing me frozen, he came over and gently embraced me. “Jasmine, you were my first love. You have a place in my heart.” “We have a child now. Will you be good?” His voice carried a coaxing tone. “Be obedient, and I’ll come visit you often.” “Tomorrow is my and Sienna’s wedding anniversary. She’s been begging me to take her on a romantic getaway at sea.” “Everyone on the island works for the Hayes family. They’ll help me take care of you.” I stood there like a wooden statue, not responding. My mother’s gentle smile floated before my eyes. She’d been dignified her whole life. When she found out her husband was cheating, she hadn’t even blamed Sienna. How could she possibly have died of cancer? Did Uncle know? Thinking of that man, I closed my eyes. A gust of wind swept through the window, knocking a few withered leaves from the tree by the door. I silently clenched my fists. He would never have stood by and watched Mom get bullied.

After Sebastian came clean, he stopped wearing fisherman’s clothes. He changed into a black trench coat. Sebastian had always been good-looking. High-bridged nose, beautiful eyes like a painting. Many girls had pursued him. In the past, for every love letter he received, he’d give me ten gifts. He said: “I’ll only ever love Jasmine in this lifetime. For every time someone else shows interest, I’ll be ten times better to her.” The last time, he planted a gardenia tree for me. I stared blankly for a while. He straightened his collar, smiling at his lit phone screen. On the wallpaper was their wedding photo. The woman wore a diamond-studded wedding dress and the blue Heart of the Ocean necklace. I remembered he’d told me before. If we ended up together in the future, got married. He’d take me around the world for wedding photos. Personally put the veil on my head. Hold my hand and kiss by the sea. I’d blushed from imagining it. I used to love watching Titanic. Would cry over the beautiful love between the leads. Back then Sebastian walked by, glanced at it, and frantically helped wipe my tears. “Why do girls like these things?” “Fine, for your eighteenth birthday, I’ll get you an identical one.” He truly hadn’t forgotten that vow. Only the person standing beside him wasn’t me. I looked again at the woman’s wedding dress. Then looked down at the rough burlap I was wearing. On the island, I only had two shapeless burlap shirts. Life was very hard. The so-called husband only showed a bit of warmth when pinning me down at night. In seven years, when he said he was going fishing, he’d leave for two or three months. But I didn’t care. Because I’d never considered him a husband. To me he was just a human trafficker. Until last month, when I finally saw a familiar figure by the sea. But Sebastian hadn’t come to take me away. He even wanted me to stay here. To be kept by him for life. Pretending to be a fisherman for seven years—it must have been hard on him. My heart throbbed with wave after wave of stabbing pain. I could barely breathe. A child’s excited shouts came through the phone. “Daddy! The house you bought me, Mommy finished decorating it!” “It’s so pretty! Like a castle!” “Mommy said you’ve prepared lots of houses like this for me all over the world!” The woman laughed and pushed the child away. “Go on, go play. Your dad and I need to talk.” He looked at the phone with an indulgent smile on his face. “Baby, I’m coming back soon.” “Mm, I know. You bought the lingerie already? Miss me that much?” “Then don’t sleep tonight. Begging won’t help.” Looking back and seeing me, he froze for an instant. He quickly hung up, glanced at the child sleeping on the bed. Walked over and patted my head, his voice softening. “I have to go. Take care of the baby. She’s only two, she can’t be without her mom.” He took my hand and put a ring on my finger. “If you want a wedding ceremony, we’ll have one next month.” I silently collected the hood ashes from the floor. My voice was emotionless. “Fine.” My heart grew cold. Voices came from outside the window. “Sienna she…” The other person paused for a few seconds. Sebastian immediately strode over, asking nervously: “What happened to her? Is something wrong?!” Before he finished speaking, an arrogant female voice rang out at the door. “Honey, did you miss me?”

The woman wore a white dress with red flowers on thin straps. Her makeup was exquisite, bright and beautiful. She rushed into Sebastian’s arms. The moment she hugged him, she saw me standing behind him. My expression didn’t change. I didn’t move either. The woman’s perfume hit me head-on. She released her hands from around the man’s back. Step by step, she walked up to me. “This lady looks so familiar.” She smiled and lifted my chin, leaning in close. “Can’t hide that beauty. No wonder he’s been keeping you hidden.” The next instant. A slap landed on my face. “How was sleeping with my man, sweetheart?” Sebastian instinctively frowned, pulling her from behind. But she shook him off. “He disappears for months at a time. You’ve got some skills, don’t you?” “Hooking him so he can’t bear to leave you.” She crouched down to look at me. “I thought you were living it up with savages on a deserted island. Turns out you stole my man.” “If I hadn’t been monitoring his movements every month, I wouldn’t have known what you’ve been up to.” I raised my head and looked straight at her. “You’ll get what’s coming to you.” She acted like she’d heard the biggest joke. “You seduced my husband, and I’m the one who’ll get what’s coming?” “When I was pregnant, he still had to visit you from time to time.” “You know I’ve never been generous. Not throwing you into the sea is me being good to you.” I laughed mockingly. The next second I lunged at her and pushed. “I’m talking about you stealing my life!” “My recommendation spot!” “Stop playing dumb!” She couldn’t keep her balance and fell backward, screaming. Then landed in Sebastian’s arms. He held Sienna tightly, comforting her softly. “Are you okay, honey? Does it hurt anywhere?” He lifted his foot and kicked me hard in the stomach. Veins bulged on his forehead, his tone impatient. “Jasmine! Can you have some conscience? You’ve had it so good on this island, you didn’t have to marry a fisherman, didn’t get beaten, had food and drink, even had a child.” “How can you be so unreasonable and dare to lay hands on her?!” “Looks like I’ve been too good to you!” I clutched my stomach, curling up in pain. He carried Sienna and kicked the door open. And I lay on the floor, watching their retreating backs. Suppressing the nausea rising in my heart. In this place. Was the child some kind of blessing to me? In seven years I got pregnant three times, miscarried twice. The first time was Sebastian’s first year pretending to be a fisherman. He came back after three months at sea and forced himself on me at night. I didn’t know I was pregnant and was still diving for kelp in the sea. I ended up hemorrhaging severely, nearly died. He found an island doctor to see me, only saying: “It’s fine, you’re still young.” The second time was winter of the second year. He’d been drinking, too rough and urgent. I bled for two months. And he frowned, saying I was too delicate. The third time was three years ago. After pinning me down that time, he disappeared for half a year. When he came back, he only saw me holding the premature baby. How much I suffered. Did he ever care? I looked out the window. A group of men in black guarded the door, discussing quietly. “This is Mr. Hayes’s mistress. She’s got some nerve.” “Exactly. Got caught and still dared to lay hands on Sienna.” “Never seen Mr. Hayes treat any other woman well. What’s special about this one?” “Heard she’s a beautiful scholar.” “Can she be more of a scholar than Sienna? Besides, on this deserted island, what good is being a scholar!” “At most she’s just a beauty, good in bed, made Mr. Hayes make an exception to keep her.” The physical pain hadn’t eased. I crawled up and grabbed Sebastian’s forgotten phone. I crouched down, hands trembling as I dialed. The call connected. I grabbed onto it like a lifeline. “Uncle, my mom is dead. I’m in this place. Save me!” Without waiting for a response, I immediately hung up. Quickly navigated the phone to send my location. Then deleted all traces. Put the phone back where it was, then sat against the wall. Though I called him uncle. I’d always hoped. If only Mom had married him instead. He was a student Mom had sponsored, climbed up from the bottom. Pursued my mom his whole life. But never got to protect her. Footsteps approached outside the door. My nerves immediately tensed. The moment he stepped in. The phone I’d put back suddenly started ringing frantically.

The phone’s ringtone was my favorite love song. I felt dazed. When we were sixteen, we sat at the same desk. Phone hidden in our pockets, one earbud each. I felt him secretly hold my hand, my heart pounding. But now, I looked around. Seven years in a deserted island grass hut, youth already exhausted. Patience also exhausted. He walked over. I nervously clutched my hem. He didn’t even look, just hung up directly. “Secretary Davis, cancel all my appointments.” “Unless it’s a life-or-death emergency, don’t disturb me.” Someone outside immediately acknowledged. He crouched down, eyes bloodshot. Fingers threaded through my hair, yanking backward. Sebastian delivered a resounding slap to my face. I felt a burning pain and fell to the ground. My ears rang, a metallic taste in my throat. The physical pain was nothing compared to the humiliation. His voice contained fury. “Do you know what you’ve done?!” I raised my head, meeting his eyes. Enunciating each word clearly. “I don’t know!” He kicked and shattered a nearby clay pot. Exhaled deeply. “Go kneel and apologize to her now. For old times’ sake, I can forgive you.” “Otherwise you can join her child in death!” I struggled to grit out: “I barely used any force!” “Stop blaming everything on me!” He laughed coldly, stood up and clapped his hands. A group immediately entered and surrounded me. He stepped back two paces, looking at me coldly. “I used to remember how much I liked you, didn’t want to be harsh.” “Since you refuse to repent, maybe I really need to teach you a lesson.” Two or three bodyguards dragged me up, holding me firmly. Dragged me out the door. The beach was empty, the sun brutal. He directed people to set up a long pole. His secretary handed him a bundle of rope. I realized what was happening and began struggling violently. The abdominal pain hadn’t passed. Moments later I was out of strength. I looked up to see him approach and embrace me. What looked like a hug. Rough rope bound my hands tightly. I already felt uncomfortable. I looked up at him. “Sebastian, from childhood until now, I never wronged you.” “I don’t love you anymore. Whatever happens between you and Sienna has nothing to do with me.” “But you can’t do this to me.” He laughed coldly. “So you can do this to her?” “Jasmine, why do you always act so superior around her?” “Back then she was just a pitiful girl. Now she’s just a wife throwing a little tantrum.” “Where exactly do you think you’re better than her?” “Stop always acting like being the legitimate wife’s daughter makes you special.” “To her, you’re the third party.” After tying me up, he unhurriedly returned to the hut. The August sun on the deserted island was extremely glaring. My clothes left my arms and legs completely exposed. Soon everything went black. Severe headache, I started feeling nauseous. I had severe hypoglycemia. Sebastian knew. He used to always carry colorful candies of different flavors. Would pull one out from time to time and stuff it in my mouth. Asking with a light laugh if it was sweet. But now, thirty feet away, he was spoon-feeding Sienna sugar water. I don’t know how long passed. My skin burned from the sun. Breathing grew weaker and weaker. Before I fainted. I felt a violent wind. Then heard Sebastian’s bodyguards shouting at the sky in panic. “What is that thing?!” Sebastian’s expression changed. He strode over in big steps. Crouched down and grabbed my chin. “What’s your relationship with Vincent Shaw?”

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I’ve been able to see people’s souls since I was a child, and I could even hear them speak. Because of my special ability, my parents loathed me and favored my adoptive sister, Shanna. Later, Shanna landed herself a billionaire. But on the eve of their wedding, Shanna’s fiancé was in a car accident and became a vegetable. Shanna didn’t hesitate to cancel the marriage: “Want me to wait on a vegetable hand and foot? In my dreams! I’m not wasting my whole life on a useless person. I’d rather die than marry him!” Just then. I saw Ethan Ford’s soul. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes were full of hatred as he looked at my adoptive sister: “She’s so heartless! The doctor clearly said I’d wake up within six months.” “If someone’s willing to take care of me voluntarily, once I wake up, I’ll give her two hundred million first thing, just to piss off that bitch!” My eyes lit up, and I timidly raised my hand: “How about… I marry you?” I really wanted that two hundred million. I thought my adoptive sister Shanna would try to stop me. After all, since we were kids. Her greatest pleasure was opposing me and then enjoying watching me suffer. But unexpectedly, this time. She snorted with laughter and casually shoved me forward: “You’re just a nuisance at home anyway. Going to wait on him hand and foot is perfect for you.” “Look at you acting like you’ve never seen a man before, throwing yourself at even a vegetable. How pathetic.” I kept my head down and didn’t talk back. Being able to escape this family and earn two hundred million in the process? I couldn’t wait to succeed in my pursuit. But Ethan’s soul. Was so angry it floated behind Shanna, throwing punches at her constantly: “Shanna! You used to tell me your sister Rose was always bullying you—turns out it was all lies.” “You’re the one who’s been bullying Rose this whole time. I can’t believe I was played like a fool by you, you bitch!” His resentment was heavy. Even the surrounding air seemed to drop a few degrees. I quietly shrank my neck and walked up to Mrs. Ford on my own: “I’m the biological daughter of the family. If you don’t mind, Mrs. Ford, I’m willing to marry Ethan in my sister’s place.” Mrs. Ford’s worried expression cleared immediately. After Ethan’s accident, they publicly stated he would recover quickly. If he got jilted at this critical moment. Not only would they become a laughingstock, but people would lose confidence in the Ford family, affecting their stock price. And I had clearly become the Ford family’s lifeline. Mrs. Ford grabbed my hand excitedly: “You’re really willing?” “However, Ethan is unconscious right now and can’t get a marriage license or have a wedding with you.” “As long as you take good care of him and fulfill your duties as a wife, when he wakes up, the position of the Ford family’s daughter-in-law will be yours.” I nodded obediently: “I’m very good at taking care of people. I’ve been caring for my paralyzed grandparents since I was little.” The soul frowned and floated to my side. He looked me up and down, and a wave of cold air made my spine shiver. I pretended not to know of his existence and tried hard to sell myself. “I can cook, I can help people turn over and bathe, and I’m very patient…” My parents chimed in eagerly: “That’s right, our Rose is born to serve others.” “Having her take care of Ethan is perfect. As her parents, we approve of this marriage. You should take her with you right away.” My parents acted like they were throwing out garbage. They couldn’t wait to kick me out the door. Behind the door came Shanna’s shrill mocking laughter: “A freak and a vegetable, two half-dead wastes—a perfect match.” The soul kept shaking his head: “Shanna is too vicious… So all her previous kindness and innocence was an act.” “I must have been blind. When I wake up, I’ll give Rose two hundred million immediately, just to piss Shanna off!” Watching the soul float through the wall. I prayed silently in my heart. That two hundred million you promised—you better keep your word.

Half an hour later, I saw Ethan himself in the special care ward. He was thin, covered in tubes, relying on machines to maintain his vital signs. Mrs. Ford wiped her tears sadly: “He has a brain injury. Although the surgery was successful, he still needs time to recover.” “At the shortest, six months; at the longest, three years… We want to maintain the Ford family’s dignity, but we also want to find him a companion.” “Shanna should think about it—we can afford professional nurses, so why would we need her to do menial work?” What Mrs. Ford meant was. For a vegetative patient to wake up, they need strong emotional companionship. Ideally, someone should talk to him every day, keeping his brain actively thinking, which helps faster recovery. But Ethan’s critical condition couldn’t be shown to outsiders. And she was busy stabilizing the company. Shanna would have been the best choice. But unexpectedly, this important task ultimately fell to me. The soul stood by the hospital bed, his face ashen: “I also thought Shanna would stick by me through thick and thin, but she completely broke my heart.” “I just want to find someone reliable to read me financial news every day. Why is that so hard? I don’t know if Rose can handle it…” After listening to him ramble for a while, I understood. His body and consciousness were separated, which is why I could see his soul. When he woke up, his soul would naturally return to his body. After thinking it over. I laid out my plan: “I plan to report news to Ethan every day, then continuously play movies and music for him.” “I’ll describe the weather to him each day and try to let him smell various scents to strengthen his perception of the outside world.” “As for bathing and such… If Mrs. Ford doesn’t mind, let me do it too. That way I can become more familiar with Ethan.” Both Mrs. Ford and the soul thought I was making empty promises. They didn’t believe I could be so thorough, thoughtful, and patient. But the next day, they were impressed. When Mrs. Ford came to the ward. I had just finished shaving Ethan’s beard, making him look much more refreshed. A newly released movie was playing on TV, and I would explain scenes to him from time to time. At the same time, I was holding a tablet, regularly reading financial news aloud. Next to Ethan’s head was fruit tea I had made myself, its fragrance masking the smell of disinfectant. I had even set up my own bed in the ward. So I could stay with Ethan twenty-four hours a day. Mrs. Ford was deeply moved: “Actually, you can sleep at the Ford house at night.” I smiled and told Mrs. Ford. As long as I didn’t have to live in my original home, I was happy anywhere. “Besides, staying here strengthens my emotional connection with Ethan, which is good for waking him up.” After I spoke. I sneaked a glance at the soul. His expression had improved considerably. “Shanna’s too spoiled. Even if she came, she couldn’t take care of me properly.” “But this Rose seems quite reliable. I guess this is a blessing in disguise.” It seemed I had passed Ethan’s own evaluation. That made the next steps much easier.

I began closely monitoring the soul’s movements. Perhaps straying too far would affect the soul’s return to the body. He generally just stayed in the ward, only going out for a walk when the weather was nice. The last time he took the risk to float that far was to see Shanna. Now that his heart was dead. He had become obedient. When I took care of Ethan. The soul would ramble on beside me: “How does Rose know I love opera? Looks like she did her homework. Not bad.” “Why doesn’t she also find out that my favorite fruit is durian? Making me smell apples every day—I’m sick of it.” The next day I brought in a big durian and opened it in front of him: “Ethan, guess how many sections of fruit our durian has?” I had gotten bolder. I would manipulate Ethan’s fingers. Sometimes making a six, sometimes making an eight. The soul would protest at first: “Stop it! No one’s ever dared treat me like this in my whole life. You think I’m your toy?” Later he got used to it. He would roll his eyes while secretly smiling. Smelling the durian fragrance filling the ward. The soul’s eyes gleamed brightly, his will to survive growing stronger: “I’m craving this so much… I have to wake up quickly so I can enjoy it with Rose.” After the soul spoke. The wavy line on the heart monitor showed subtle fluctuations. I also started eating the durian with gusto: “You know, thanks to you, this is my first time eating durian.” “Back home, I could only eat rotten apples and oranges.” The soul froze. I had gotten used to looking at Ethan’s face. I opened my heart and confided in him like a friend: “Your mom thinks I’m working so hard and gave me a hundred thousand dollars. Actually, at home I had to take care of three people—Mom, Dad, and Shanna. Before, I also had to add Grandpa and Grandma.” “Now I’m here and only have to take care of you. It’s actually much easier.” The soul floated to my side, gazing at me deeply without saying a word. That day I calmly talked about many things. Like how my parents abused me, how Shanna had been bullying me all along. After pouring out all my grievances, I felt refreshed. But the soul’s eyes had turned red. “Are Rose’s parents sick? Why don’t they cherish such a good biological daughter, but instead dote on a spoiled adoptive daughter?” “When I wake up, I must teach that family a good lesson for Rose.” I was a bit touched. Though the teaching part could be skipped. As long as the two hundred million came through successfully, I’d be grateful. After that day. The soul and I became much closer. I still pretended not to know of his existence, but I fulfilled his every wish. He also stayed by my side constantly, watching everything I did. After continuing like this for four months. One day while I was manipulating Ethan’s fingers again. Ethan’s finger. Actually moved on its own! The soul was shocked: “My nerves and muscles seem to be responding to external stimuli!” “Looks like the brain nerves are recovering well. Will I be able to return to my body soon?” I joyfully notified Mrs. Ford. The good news spread quickly. Not only did a large group of experts come to consult on Ethan’s case. But Shanna also burst into the ward. She glanced disdainfully at the vegetable on the bed and roughly dragged me outside: “I heard Ethan is about to wake up?” Seeing I didn’t respond. Shanna slapped me across the face: “You really think you’ve landed the Ford family? How dare you give me attitude.” The soul was so angry he gritted his teeth. “Rose, are you stupid? Fight back! I’ve got your back!” “You won’t fight back? Then I’ll do it for you!” But the fists he threw. Aside from stirring up gusts of cold wind, had no destructive power. Shanna poked my nose and warned me: “If Ethan really wakes up, you better get lost. I’ll make Ethan believe I’ve been the one taking care of him all along.” “After all, I’m the woman Ethan loves. Even when he wakes up, he’ll only marry me!”

The soul reacted faster than I did: “As long as my brain can retain the soul’s memories, I definitely won’t marry you!” After saying this, he paused again: “But speaking of which… when I wake up, will I retain these memories? What if I forget everything?” “Can the soul’s consciousness perfectly merge with the body’s consciousness? I didn’t even consider this…” “Oh no, what if I forget and really think Shanna was the one taking care of me? What do I do then?” I rubbed my cheek, equally anxious. Who Ethan married didn’t really matter. The key issue was—if Shanna stole my credit, wouldn’t my two hundred million go down the drain? The soul quickly slapped his forehead: “I almost forgot about my mom. My mom has seen Shanna’s true nature. She won’t let me marry Shanna again.” “Right, right. As long as my mom’s around, she can prove that Rose was the one taking care of me all along.” But unexpectedly. Shanna refused to give up and immediately went to find Mrs. Ford. She brazenly declared: “You know Ethan’s personality. Once he’s set on me, he’ll definitely marry me.” “When he wakes up, you can’t force him to marry a woman he doesn’t even know, right?” “He survived this disaster. As his mother, you should fully support him, not interfere in his marriage!” Mrs. Ford was actually swayed by this argument. She consulted with me awkwardly: “Ethan doesn’t know who took care of him anyway.” “I’ll just say it was Shanna. They were in love to begin with, so it’ll be natural for them to get married and everyone will be happy.” “I’ll give you generous compensation. As long as you don’t say anything, no one will know you were the one who took care of Ethan.” Seeing me nod compliantly. The soul kept whispering in my ear: “Rose, can you have some backbone? Why are you handing over your credit to someone else?” I wanted to. But I had been submissive my whole life. With no background, no connections, no confidence—what could I fight with? The soul was frustrated: “Forget it, I can’t count on anyone. I better work hard and try to retain these memories myself!” After Shanna convinced Mrs. Ford. To be extra safe, she released news to the media early: “Under my devoted care, Ethan is finally about to wake up!” “We’ll soon get our marriage license and have our wedding. I’ll officially become Mrs. Ford very soon. Thank you all for your blessings.” Everyone outside believed. It was Shanna’s devoted companionship that created a miracle for Ethan. As more and more experts intervened, plus Ethan’s own strong will. In less than six months, Ethan’s indicators showed. His brain had completely recovered and he could wake up at any moment. And the soul was increasingly reluctant to part with me: “Rose, I hope I can remember everything from this time when I wake up.” “God bless, I don’t want to forget all the good things you’ve done for me, and I definitely don’t want to mistake Shanna for my benefactor.” I hoped for the same. But this was all beyond my control. This day when I woke up. I didn’t see the soul. I immediately realized: Ethan was about to wake up! I immediately called Mrs. Ford and the experts. Shanna also rushed over with the media. Under countless expectant gazes. The experts performed pre-awakening medical procedures. With a beep. The vegetative Ethan actually slowly opened his eyes. Everyone held their breath, not daring to disturb him easily. Ethan lifted his finger slightly, then swallowed with difficulty. He squinted at the ceiling, seemingly trying hard to remember something. At this moment. I could only pray that Ethan still retained the soul’s memories and clearly remembered who had been taking care of him. But if he had forgotten… Then I had not only wasted half a year of effort but also handed everything over to Shanna on a silver platter. Shanna couldn’t hold back and anxiously rushed to the bedside: “Ethan, you’re finally awake! I’m Shanna, the one you love most!” “For the past six months, I’ve been carefully taking care of you, waiting on you hand and foot, never leaving your side.” “You must know, you must remember, right?” Seeing Ethan’s confused expression. My heart sank. Could it be… he really forgot everything? My parents whispered mockingly in my ear: “Stop dreaming. Mrs. Ford already said, as long as Ethan doesn’t remember, Shanna will be the one who took care of him.” “Get lost now. Don’t ruin Shanna’s moment.” Seeing Ethan staring deeply at Shanna. Disappointment filled my chest. I hung my head in dejection, about to leave. The next second, Ethan suddenly spoke, asking coldly: “It was really you taking care of me?”

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My boyfriend Noah is the Alpha heir of Red Rock pack, and also my brother Daniel’s friend. Noah and I have been secretly dating for seven years, and not even Daniel knows. But one time after getting drunk, Noah ran his calloused hand through my hair and said in a joking tone, “Emma, let me find you a better man. Can you stop clinging to me from now on?” My eyelashes trembled slightly, but my expression remained calm as I quietly agreed. Only because in my previous life, I didn’t agree to his proposal and insisted on marrying him. After marriage, he ignored me and deliberately gave me the cold shoulder. Even when I hemorrhaged during a difficult childbirth, he was with his first love Sofia watching the Northern Lights in the Arctic. That’s when I realized that true feelings can change in an instant, and love cannot be forced. When I agreed, Noah froze. He clearly hadn’t expected me to answer so readily. The lights in the private room flickered. He wore a loose black T-shirt that showed off his sexy collarbone, but his eyes were clear, showing no sign of drunkenness. I sat up straight, and when I looked at him, the corner of my mouth held its usual faint smile, except the smile didn’t reach my eyes. Noah abandoned his earlier languid manner. His brows furrowed and his expression turned unusually serious. “Emma, did you hear what I just said?” I nodded. “I heard you, Noah.” In the past, if he had said something like that, I would have pretended to be angry, cut him off, and told him not to say such things. But now, my expression remained indifferent, completely unmoved, as if I’d heard something trivial. “Emma, you…” Before he could finish, Daniel, who had gone out for air, walked back in. Daniel and Noah had been friends since childhood. Because my father and Daniel’s father were Noah’s father’s Beta, we’d known each other since we were young. At this moment, when Daniel saw Noah, he broke into a playful smile. “Noah, guess who I just saw outside?” Without waiting for an answer, Daniel continued, “I saw Sofia. She seems drunk, and some guys with bad intentions were dragging her toward the back alley…” Before he finished speaking, Noah jumped up and rushed out of the private room. Soon after, there were sounds of commotion and shattering glass from outside. I sat in my seat, calmly peeling an orange from the fruit plate. Noah liked eating fruit but hated peeling it, so I always carefully peeled it and placed it in his palm. Whenever Daniel saw this, he would tease, “You’re so good to Noah. I’ve never seen you treat me this well. Don’t tell me you like him?” Several times, I almost revealed my relationship with Noah. But he would always put his arm around my shoulder and speak first. “Maybe to Emma, I’m more like a real brother than you. A sister caring for her brother—you got a problem with that?” Gradually, I understood what he meant. He didn’t want others to know about our relationship, so I stopped talking about it. Now, Daniel stood at the door watching. When he turned back and saw me still eating fruit, he raised an eyebrow and teased, “Emma, Noah’s fighting with someone. Aren’t you going to help?” I swallowed the last piece of orange in my mouth and shook my head. “That’s their business. Why would I get involved?” Hearing this, Daniel clicked his tongue but said nothing more and walked out to help. I sat in the private room for a long time, until the noise outside died down, then got up and walked out. As soon as I stepped out of the room, I immediately saw the woman Noah was holding tightly in his arms. That was his first love, and also his obsession he couldn’t let go of—Sofia. Sofia was also Noah’s fated mate. When they were dating, their love was passionate. Everyone around them thought they would end up together, but in the end, Sofia broke up with Noah. At that time, Noah got drunk and leaned sadly on my shoulder. The person I’d secretly loved for so long was so close to me. In that moment, I heard my own heartbeat drumming like thunder. And now, Sofia, who had just been rescued by Noah, was drunk and leaning softly against him like she had no bones. The corners of her eyes were red, crying like rain on pear blossoms. Not only did Noah not push her away, he held her tightly. His bright black eyes showed some anger, along with heartache he himself hadn’t noticed. Seeing this, Daniel came over and lowered his voice, raising his eyebrow. “Emma, looking at Noah’s attitude, do you think he’s going to get back together with Sofia?” His voice was neither loud nor soft, but enough for Noah to hear. Hearing this, Noah suddenly looked up. When he saw me standing not far away, a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes, barely noticeable. He explained, “I haven’t thought about getting back together with her. She’s just drunk, and I’m helping her out.” I smiled and shook my head, my gaze falling on Sofia’s pitifully vulnerable face. “Noah, I understand. Sofia seems really drunk. You should take her home first.” Noah seemed dissatisfied with how I addressed him and frowned slightly, but he didn’t refuse my suggestion. As he left with Sofia, he didn’t forget to remind Daniel, “You guys should head back early too. Don’t wander around outside.”

Watching their departing figures, a needle-like pain shot through my heart, yet I also felt it was incredibly ironic and laughable. My lifelong dream had been to marry Noah. Because I liked Noah, when I met my fated mate, I firmly rejected him. All these years, I stayed by Noah’s side. I thought that after such a long time together, I could eventually touch Noah’s heart. In my previous life, I married Noah as I wished, but I didn’t get the happiness I wanted. On my birthday, I wanted him to spend a simple birthday with me. But he said on the phone, “I’m in a meeting. Can you stop bothering me?” Then I saw photos of him and Sofia skiing in the snowy mountains on her social media. When I had an acute stomach ulcer and wanted him to go to the hospital with me for an examination. He said impatiently, “I’m not a doctor. If you’re in pain, go to the hospital. Why are you looking for me?” Then I saw him accompanying Sofia to the hospital for a minor cold. Later, when I was preparing a surprise for our wedding anniversary, I got into a car accident on the way back, which caused a miscarriage. The doctor called him urgently, wanting him to come to the hospital to sign for the surgery. But he said coldly on the other end of the phone, “Is she dead? If she’s not dead, don’t call me.” As his words fell, Sofia’s excited voice came through. “Noah, look, such beautiful Northern Lights. This trip was really worth it.” The moment the phone hung up, blood gushed from my wound. The pool of blood beneath me was shocking. Remembering the heart-wrenching pain before I died in my previous life, I almost couldn’t breathe. I covered my aching heart and smiled palely. Noah, since you think my love is a burden, I won’t love you anymore. That night, Daniel and I didn’t stay long and went home early. The next day when I woke up, I groggily reached for my phone to check the time. But Sofia’s message was right in front of my eyes. She sent me a photo of Noah sleeping on her couch and said, “Noah stayed at my place to keep me company last night.” Seeing her message, I wasn’t moved at all and just replied with “oh.” When I didn’t respond further, she wouldn’t give up. Soon she sent me another photo. This time it was a photo of breakfast. She said, “Noah made me breakfast himself. He even made cute heart-shaped fried eggs for me.” When Noah was with me, he never went into the kitchen. He said he was tired from working hard outside, and when he came home, he should enjoy himself and not treat himself poorly. So to take care of his stomach, I specially enrolled in cooking classes. As long as I was there, he could eat hot, delicious meals. But after learning what he did for Sofia, I realized how ridiculous everything I’d done was. I glanced at the message, didn’t reply, and put down my phone to continue eating breakfast. Five minutes passed, and Noah suddenly messaged me. He didn’t mention last night, but asked on his own, “The pasta you made for me last time was pretty good. Make some more for me today. I’ll wait for you at the company.” “Oh right, remember not to add salad dressing.” Seeing this message, my expression darkened. Noah didn’t have a habit of avoiding salad dressing. In fact, he especially liked it. I thought about it and replied “okay.” After sending the message, I decisively opened a food delivery app and randomly ordered a home-style meal to be delivered to his company.

In the evening, after finishing work, Daniel and I went out to eat together. We had just arrived at the restaurant we’d reserved when we saw Noah and Sofia walk in with bright smiles, arm in arm. When they saw us, Noah instinctively let go of her hand and walked toward us. Sofia’s expression changed slightly. She walked over with a smile. “What a coincidence! But we came late and there are no empty seats. You don’t mind if we share a table with you, right?” Without waiting for our answer, Noah sat down beside me on his own. Seeing this, Daniel’s eyes widened immediately. He quickly stood up to switch seats with Noah. “What’s wrong with you? Is it appropriate for me to sit with Sofia?” Noah was pushed into the seat across from me. His eyes showed some displeasure, as if he was waiting for me to say something. I avoided his gaze and handed the menu to Sofia. “Sofia, you order what you want to eat. Daniel and I already ordered.” Sofia smiled and took the menu, then looked at Noah with forced naturalness. “Noah, Emma’s cooking is really delicious. It tastes so much better than what you can buy outside.” Her words confirmed my guess. The food Noah asked me to make was for Sofia. I smiled and said nothing. Daniel responded with satisfaction mixed with playfulness. “She wanted to learn cooking for some reason a while back. She’s always been afraid of hardship and exhaustion since childhood. I thought she’d definitely give up in a few days, but she actually stuck with it.” “Now she can make anything. Her future boyfriend will be so lucky.” Noah’s eyes had been smiling, but after hearing this, the smile faded. He leisurely took a sip of tea and said indifferently, “Emma wants to date?” I looked at him with confusion. Remembering what he said in the private room that day, I nodded slightly. “I really should date. Noah, if you have anyone to recommend, please introduce them to me.” “You finally have this awareness!” Daniel was more excited than anyone. “I’ve tried to set you up several times before, but you never agreed. Now that you finally want to date, I’ll do my best to find you a good man!” After he said this, Noah’s lips tightened, and he stared at me without blinking, as if trying to read something from my face. Sofia noticed his emotional change and smiled. “Emma is so lucky to have such a good brother like Daniel to support her. I’m envious just watching. But I think Noah is pretty good. How about…” “Don’t talk nonsense. Emma is my sister.” Before Daniel could say anything, Noah frowned and interrupted her, his words carrying reproach, but his expression showed helplessness. Regarding Noah’s words, I nodded in agreement. “Right. I see Noah as a brother. Sofia, don’t make jokes like that anymore.” “And I think you and Noah are more compatible.” Noah’s face darkened instantly, his eyes tinged with anger. He laughed bitterly. “Is that so? Then I’ll introduce someone to you. Do you want to make time to meet them?” “Sure, then thank you.” I smiled brightly and agreed readily.

Over the next few days, I didn’t contact Noah, and he didn’t contact me either. Instead, Sofia came looking for me. When she came, both Daniel and I were at my place. “So, what do you want?” Faced with Daniel’s question, Sofia looked at me with feigned embarrassment. “Daniel, you know that Noah and I were each other’s first love, and I’m his fated mate. Although we’ve been on and off for several years, we still have feelings for each other.” “Breaking up with him after our fight was my fault. This time I want to confess to him and get back together. Can you help me?” If I hadn’t experienced my previous life, I would have loudly told them that Noah liked me. But precisely because I’d lived through that past life, I clearly understood that Noah had her in his heart. They were the ones truly meant for each other. “Sure, that’s easy! We’ve all seen what’s between you and Noah. He obviously hasn’t let you go. If you confess, it’ll definitely work!” Daniel gave his objective assessment. A smile appeared at the corner of Sofia’s mouth. When she looked at me, her eyes held a determined gleam. I was indifferent and didn’t take it to heart. Two days later, Daniel and Noah’s friends had planned how to set up the confession scene. They arranged for everyone to go to Moonlight Plaza to watch the New Moon Festival’s wizard performance. When we arrived at the destination, there was a large crowd. I didn’t like crowded places, so I thought I’d wait on the side. But Sofia wouldn’t let me go. As the crowd surged, she pulled me into the throng. Soon, we made it to the front row where we could clearly see the performance. As the wizard performance began, magical sparks flew everywhere. Sofia, standing close, was startled by the flying sparks and instinctively moved toward Noah. Noah saw she was genuinely frightened. A smile appeared in his eyes as he tightly held her hand. In that moment, I remembered the early days after our marriage in my previous life. At that time, I was full of hope for marriage. I personally handled all the big and small matters at home, wanting him to feel the warmth of home. But once, when he got drunk and I went to pick him up. I heard him complaining to Sofia, saying groggily, “I feel like I didn’t marry a wife, but got myself a mom. She manages everything about me. So annoying.” “You’re better. You do everything with proper boundaries and don’t make me feel suffocated.” Suddenly, perhaps because the plaza was close to the forest, a crazed tiger jumped out. The surrounding crowd screamed and scattered. This successfully pulled me back from my thoughts. But it was too late. The tiger had already run to my side. I was about to pull Daniel back when someone pushed me hard. Before I could react, I had already crossed the safety barrier. Shouts and scolding voices gathered around me. Just then, an agile figure ran through the chaotic crowd. In that moment, I felt a glimmer of hope, imagining Noah running toward me. But in the next second, he ran toward Sofia, who had also crossed the barrier, without hesitation and held her protectively in his arms. Emma, what exactly are you hoping for? I wanted to laugh but couldn’t. I only felt the irony. Fortunately, Daniel ran over in time and helped me, with my twisted ankle, slowly retreat from the area. After Noah protected Sofia, he subdued the crazed tiger. When he was dealing with the wolf council personnel who arrived, Daniel and I emerged from the crowd. Daniel said, “The confession scene is ready. Let’s go watch the excitement.” He pulled me to the plaza entrance. Noah’s friends had hung heart-shaped colored lights on the Destiny Tree at the entrance, mixed with evidence of Noah and Sofia’s past relationship. There were love letters Sofia had written, photos they’d taken together… Sofia held Noah’s favorite pink roses and passionately declared her love for him. Noah looked at the scene before him, dumbfounded. A breeze happened to blow by, stirring ripples in my calm heart. I thought the wind was bearing witness to their love. Hearing the noise around me, I also started clapping and shouting, “Say yes, say yes!” Hearing my voice, Noah looked at me with complete shock. “Emma, are you crazy? I’m your boyfriend!”

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