Category: English

Julian’s idealized love, Sophia, was kidnapped while filming on location and disappeared for three whole days and nights. Two months later, she called him from a rooftop, crying, “Julian, I’m pregnant! The media is hounding me! I don’t want to live anymore!” He rushed to the rooftop and announced to all the media, “The child is mine.” Overnight, I became the laughingstock of New York’s elite social circles. That night, Julian knelt before me, his eyes red, his voice trembling, “Ava, Sophia has depression. If I don’t help her, something terrible will happen! Once she safely delivers the baby, I promise I’ll make it up to you, okay?” I loved him so desperately, so devoid of dignity, that I could only bite my lip and nod. But the next day, news spread like wildfire online. The woman in the pixelated photo was clearly me. Shaking, I found Julian. He hugged me, his face contorted in pain. “The news is unstoppable… Ava, you rarely appear in public. We’ll have to ask you to take the fall for this.” He reached out to hold me, but his next words chilled me to the bone, “Why don’t you… get an abortion first? We can always have another child later.” In that instant, my heart turned completely cold. I wiped my tears and dialed a number I hadn’t called in a long, long time. When the call connected, a man’s deep voice, laced with a dangerous amusement, said, “You finally… came to beg me?” 1 “What did you say?” My voice trembled. “Sophia’s kidnapping can’t be exposed. She just signed a major international brand endorsement. If this gets out, her career is ruined.” Julian’s tone was chillingly calm. “But you’re different. You rarely appear in public. If you admit to this, the gossip will die down quickly.” I stared hard at the man I had loved for years. “Julian, do you even hear yourself?” “Before, you asked me to claim Sophia’s child as mine, and I agreed.” “Now, you want me to take the blame for her being kidnapped, for her being violated?!” His voice was low. “Ava, I’m begging you.” “Begging me?” I laughed, but tears streamed down my face. “For her, you want me to destroy my own reputation?” “Sophia can’t handle this kind of blow. She already has depression,” he said urgently. “But you’re different. You’ve always been strong.” “So I deserve to be sacrificed?” I practically spat the words out. “It’s not a sacrifice, just a temporary measure.” He paused, his tone softening. “Ava, could you… could you get an abortion first?” My world shattered. “Julian,” my voice was hoarse, “this is your child too!!!” “I know!” His voice suddenly turned agitated. “But Sophia can’t handle any more stress right now!” My breath hitched. I laughed, tears flowing freely. “Fine, I’ll do it.” He was about to say more when his phone rang. Sobs came from the other end. “Boohoo! Julian, I had a nightmare! I’m so scared! What if they tell everyone about what happened to me?” Sophia’s frail voice whispered. Julian’s tone instantly changed, becoming gentle and soothing. “Don’t be afraid, Sophia. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He hung up and, without a moment’s hesitation, turned and left. I went to the hospital. The nurse handed me a form, her eyes filled with sympathy. “Mrs. Hayes, are you sure you want to go through with the procedure?” I looked down at the paper. Julian’s name was already signed on it. So, he had arranged everything in advance. I nodded numbly. “Yes.” The doctor adjusted his glasses, his tone neutral. “Your physical condition is unique. This abortion could lead to permanent infertility. Are you sure you want to take this risk?” I looked up sharply. “Permanent infertility?” “Yes, your uterine wall is thin. If we proceed with the abortion, it might be very difficult for you to conceive again…” My fingers trembled slightly. Julian, you knew this, and you still wanted me to abort this child! All for Sophia. I bit my lip hard, until I tasted blood. Suddenly, I felt a strange flutter in my abdomen, like a tiny butterfly gently flapping its wings. I grabbed the doctor’s wrist. “Stop! I’m not doing it!” The doctor frowned. “Mrs. Hayes, your husband specifically instructed…” “I said I’m not doing it!” I shouted, sitting up on the operating table and tearing off the surgical gown. “I’m keeping this baby!” Stepping out of the hospital, the sunlight was blinding. I opened my phone. The top trending news was: #JulianHayesAndSophiaRossSpottedAtLuxuryBabyBoutique# In the accompanying photo, my husband was carefully supporting Sophia’s lower back as she gently caressed her swollen belly. The comment section was full of praise: “Now that’s a power couple! A stunning celebrity and a New York tycoon, a perfect match!” “Sophia’s already showing. How can Julian’s wife still shamelessly cling to her position?” “Heard that woman got pregnant with someone else’s kid after disappearing for a few days. Julian’s too kind for not divorcing her on the spot!” “Who knows if she really disappeared or just snuck off to meet some other guy!” My nails dug deep into my palms, but I felt no pain. “Don’t be scared, little one,” I whispered, stroking my belly. “Mommy will protect you.” I went straight to a law firm and had divorce papers drawn up. 2 Returning to our townhouse, the front door was ajar. Pushing it open, I saw Sophia lounging on the sofa, Julian’s hand resting on her prominent belly. “Julian, the baby kicked me again!” she giggled, pressing his hand against her stomach. A tenderness I had never seen before appeared on Julian’s face. “It really is moving.” I stood in the entryway, my fists clenched. Julian saw me, and his expression changed slightly. He walked over quickly, lowering his voice. “Ava, Sophia tried to kill herself again today. The doctor said she has prenatal depression. Could you… just give us some space for now?” I sneered, “This is my home.” “She grew up with me. I can’t just abandon her,” his tone softened. “After she has the baby, I’ll find a way to send her and the child away, maybe help her build a career in Hollywood.” I said nothing more and went upstairs. In the bedroom, I could still hear their laughter. “Oh, the baby kicked me!” Sophia’s voice was sickeningly sweet. I curled up on the bed, tears soaking my pillow. Late at night, Julian tiptoed into bed and hugged me from behind. “Ava, I’m sorry,” his voice was hoarse. “We’ll have other children.” I stiffened. He still didn’t know I hadn’t aborted our child. “Ahhh—” A shrill scream suddenly came from the next room. “Don’t touch me! Get away!” “Don’t touch me! Don’t film me!” Julian shot up, not even bothering with slippers, and rushed out. All night, the hallway echoed with his gentle reassurances. Morning. Dragging my exhausted body downstairs, the aroma of frying eggs wafted from the kitchen. Julian stood at the stove. Sophia tiptoed up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her cheek against his back, smiling sweetly. Seeing me, she immediately let go, her voice timid. “Sis, my head hurts a little. Could you ask Julian to get my hat for me?” Without a word, Julian turned and went upstairs. The apology on Sophia’s face vanished instantly. She leaned closer to me, her red lips curving into a smirk. “Julian said that bastard in your belly should never have been kept.” I jerked my head up, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. She gave a disdainful smile, lowering her voice. “Know the Sterlings? The Sterling family is backing me.” She paused deliberately, enjoying my sudden change in expression. “The Sterlings just have to lift a finger, and this whole city shakes. What do you have to fight me with?” I clenched my fists tightly. The Sterlings were true old money, a dynasty that controlled a significant portion of the nation’s economy. Forget the Hayes family; even all the influential figures in New York combined were like ants before the Sterlings. Suddenly, she stumbled backward, fell to the floor, and screamed, “Ava! I know you hate me for stealing Julian! I’ll just go kill myself!” “Ava Benton!” Julian stormed down the stairs and shoved me hard. I stumbled and hit the coffee table, a sharp pain shooting through my lower back. He pulled Sophia into his arms, his eyes icy and piercing. “What did you do to her? Can you stop being so unreasonable!” “I didn’t do anything!” My voice shook. “You’d better not have!” He held Sophia tighter and walked out without looking back. “Sophia, let’s go.” I stood in the living room, my hand unconsciously drifting to my belly. 3 Julian hadn’t been home for two days. I stood in the living room, taking down our wedding photos one by one. The frames landed in the trash can with a dull thud. My phone vibrated, the screen lighting up. “Ava, I’m having someone pick something up. Can you get it for them?” In the walk-in closet, the ten-million-dollar jewelry set lay quietly in a drawer. I remembered when he’d bought it, he’d said, “This is for the most important person in my life.” I stared at the jewelry for a long time, then suddenly smiled. Expressionless, I took out the jewelry, handed it to the driver, then pulled out a set of divorce papers, my voice calm. “Wait, give me a ride. I’ll deliver it myself.” The driver hesitated but let me in the car. The car stopped outside a luxurious estate, brightly lit, with orchestral music drifting out. “Happy birthday, Miss Ross!” Waves of well wishes could be heard. I walked in, and all eyes immediately fell on me. “Isn’t that Julian Hayes’s wife? Why is she dressed like that? So tacky!” “I heard she’s desperately clinging to Julian. So shameless.” “Julian should have dumped her ages ago. Sophia’s pregnant now, why is she still hanging around?” “I heard she deliberately pushed Sophia to keep Julian. What a vicious woman…” I ignored them, walking step by step towards them. Julian saw me, his brow furrowing. “Ava, what are you doing here?” I smiled. “It’s Miss Ross’s birthday. How could I not come?” With that, I handed over the jewelry box. “What you asked for.” Sophia’s eyes lit up. She took it and deliberately opened it in front of me. “Julian, is this for me?” Julian didn’t speak, looking at me with a complicated expression. Sophia cooed, “Will you put it on for me?” He was silent for two seconds, then picked up the necklace, his fingers looping it around her neck. Sophia suddenly stood on her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and planted a heavy kiss on his cheek, looking at me provocatively. I said nothing. Suddenly, she stumbled. “Ah!” Julian darted forward to steady her, then turned to glare at me. “What are you trying to do now?” I silently handed over the file folder. “Sign it.” He was about to speak when Sophia clutched her stomach. “Ah! Julian, my stomach hurts!” Julian immediately panicked, signed his name without even looking, and then swept Sophia into his arms. “I’ll take you to the hospital!” I collected the papers and turned to leave, but someone tripped me hard. I fell heavily, my forehead hitting a metal object on the floor. Warm blood trickled down my cheek. Julian whipped around, instinctively wanting to help me up. “Julian! My stomach hurts so much! Take me to the hospital, quickly!” Sophia clung to him tightly, her voice trembling. He hesitated for a moment, then carried her away without looking back. I lay on the floor, blood blurring my vision. All around me were scornful eyes; no one offered a hand. I gritted my teeth and pushed myself up from the ground, only to find my wedding ring missing from my ring finger. It had been loose for a while; I just hadn’t noticed. Ignoring everyone’s stares, I limped out and hailed a cab. “To the hospital.” The driver was startled. “Miss, your head is bleeding!” I wiped my face, my hand covered in red, but I smiled. “It’s fine. I won’t die.” 4 As the doctor bandaged my wound, he frowned. “Mrs. Hayes, you’re still pregnant. How can you treat yourself like this?” Suddenly, a news bulletin interrupted the TV program. “Breaking News! CEO Julian Hayes’s wife faked kidnapping, confirmed affair! Allegedly went to hospital for secret abortion after getting pregnant by another man!” My vision went black. Before I could recover, the door was violently kicked open. Julian’s mother, Mrs. Hayes, rushed in and slapped me across the face. “You tramp! You’ve disgraced the Hayes family!” I stumbled back and, before I could regain my footing, was grabbed by several men in black suits and dragged into what looked like a rarely used, sweltering sunroom at the back of the estate. “Kneel!” Mrs. Hayes shrieked. I struggled, but my knees slammed onto the cold, hard tiles. Mrs. Hayes dialed a number, her voice shrill. “Julian! Look what your wife has done! The whole city is laughing at us!” On the other end, Julian was clearly flustered. “Mom, weren’t you and Dad vacationing in Australia? How did you suddenly…” “What? We can’t come back?” Mrs. Hayes sneered. “Look at the wonderful wife you married!” “You’re just too soft-hearted, letting a woman walk all over you! She cuckolded you, and you still can’t bring yourself to deal with her?” I looked up at the screen, screaming, “Julian! Say something! It was clearly you…” “Ava.” He was silent for a few seconds, his voice low and hoarse. “Just bear with it for now. I’ll make it up to you later.” The sunroom in midsummer felt like a steamer. I knelt on the scorching floor, sweat mixing with the blood from my forehead, trickling down. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, and warm liquid flowed down my inner thighs. “The baby… my baby!” I rushed to the door, pounding on it frantically. “Let me out! Save my baby!” Mrs. Hayes’s cold voice came from outside. “Didn’t you say you aborted it? What, the bastard wasn’t completely flushed out?” My nails dug into the doorframe, scratching bloody marks onto the wood. “This is Julian’s child! It’s his! It’s his!” The only answer was the sound of footsteps fading away. I lay in a pool of blood all night. At dawn, the sunroom door finally opened. A man in a black suit looked at me expressão. “Ma’am, we’ll take you to the hospital.” On the operating table, I lay with my eyes open, feeling the life within me slowly ebbing away. My phone vibrated. A message from Julian: “Ava, I’m sorry. You’ve been wronged. I’ll explain everything to Mom later.” My fingers trembled, and a single tear rolled down my cheek. The day I got the divorce certificate, I dialed a number that had been dormant for five years. When the call connected, a man’s deep voice, laced with amusement, said, “Finally decided to call me?” A week later, Sophia, heavily pregnant, made a high-profile appearance at a press conference for her new drama. She clung to Julian’s arm, smiling sweetly at the cameras. “Thank you all for your blessings. After the baby is born, I’ll be heading to Hollywood to pursue my career…” Under the blinding flashes of angoisse, I slowly walked into the venue. The previously bustling scene fell instantly silent. Julian’s face changed रंग. “Ava? What are you doing here?” I calmly walked up to him and placed the divorce certificate in his hand. His pupils contracted. He grabbed my wrist, hissing, “Ava, stop messing around! Didn’t I say I’d make it up to you after all this blows over!” Just then, the main doors burst open. A Rolls-Royce pulled up. The man who stepped out caused an uproar. “It’s James Sterling! The head of Sterling Industries!” Sophia’s eyes lit up. She quickly pushed me aside and hurried to greet him. “Uncle! What are you doing here?” I stood my ground, unmoving, until James Sterling’s gaze fell on me. He extended his hand towards me, and I naturally took his arm. Julian rushed over, his voice trembling. “Ava! Are you crazy? He’s Sophia’s uncle…” James Sterling glanced at Julian and sneered, “This piece of trash is worthy of making my daughter suffer?” The entire room buzzed with whispers. I looked at Julian and said softly, “I forgot to introduce you. This is my father.”

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The night before I was set to leave the country, my childhood friend, whom I’d secretly loved for years, told me to abandon my dreams and stay by his side. He promised me a beautiful future if I stayed. But when I didn’t board the plane, he just smirked and winked at his friends. “See? She really wavered for me! Five hundred bucks each, pay up, a bet’s a bet!” After collecting the money, he warmly embraced my best friend, who had come to see me off. He then mocked me, “Sophia, don’t be naive. The one I truly care about is her, not you. You didn’t actually think I’d support you chasing that impossible dream, did you?” He dropped to one knee, publicly proposing to my best friend. Seeing my pale face, he grinned cheekily and added, “You can still make it to your flight if you leave now. But I’m afraid your parents might be disappointed in you too!” What he didn’t know was that this was just my final test of him. 1 As Ryan dropped to one knee, making a promise to my best friend, Chloe, I finally understood this was yet another cruel deception, a farce. I was the one who had received Ryan’s “confession” message. Chloe was the one who had secretly, persistently, urged me to pursue “true love.” Yet now, they stood there, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes amidst the gasps of the crowd. And I, with my luggage beside me, was left standing awkwardly, feeling like a complete joke. After Ryan dramatically kissed Chloe, he turned to his friends to collect money. He grinned, “See? Sophia really hesitated for me. Witnesses and evidence are all here. Five hundred bucks each, no backing out!” “Dude, look at you! You got the girl, of course, we gotta chip in for our bro!” “Congrats to you and your future sister-in-law, wish you two all the sweetness!” After their congratulations, his friends turned to me, scoffing. “Sophia, should I commend your bravery? Or call you incredibly naive? You’re about to leave the country, and you’re still harboring fantasies about Ryan?” “Seriously! Ryan’s not the type to support your unrealistic dreams! Wake up!” “We, your buddies, genuinely bet you wouldn’t stay. And look how foolish you are, falling for it even when you’re about to go abroad. You’re hopeless!” I stood there, gripping my boarding pass so tightly it was almost crumpled. Ryan, after pocketing the cash, walked towards me, leaning in to observe my expression. He feigned concern. “So, Sophia, are you about to cry?” Then he spun around, chastising the group who had just insulted me. “Are you all heartless? You’re about to make our international student cry. Today’s her day to start a new life; how can you say such things?” I abruptly lifted my head, still hoping this was just a nightmare. But the next second, Ryan shoved a piece of paper into my hand. He smirked. “Sophia, today’s my big day. Everyone else has given me gifts, but you haven’t.” He chuckled. “But it’s okay, we’re old friends, right? You don’t have to give me money, just write a few words.” Ryan’s eyes crinkled with mirth. “Just write, ‘Wish you and Chloe happiness!’” My breath hitched. I couldn’t believe those words had come from his mouth. The people around clapped and cheered, praising his generosity. Chloe’s face was bright red with feigned embarrassment. “Who said I’d be with you? You’re so annoying!” Ryan blew her a kiss, then turned back to me, commanding, “Write it! You used to love writing, didn’t you? Write!” “Seriously, Sophia! Back in school, didn’t you always secretly write little notes to Ryan? Too shy now that there are people around?” Ryan nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, that’s right. You even practiced your handwriting every day to get my attention. Come on, quick, write that blessing for my dearest girlfriend. Consider it your wedding gift to us.” “Sophia, write!” Ryan started clapping, urging me on. His friends immediately joined in, clapping and shouting, “Write it! Write it!” An overwhelming wave of rage and humiliation washed over me. My hands trembled violently, almost dropping the paper. In school, when Ryan lost a competition, I would write him encouraging notes every day, secretly tucking them into his desk. I even diligently practiced calligraphy at home because I worried my handwriting wasn’t pretty enough. But now, these memories I cherished so deeply had become tools for him to amuse his girlfriend. I choked back a sob and shoved the paper back into Ryan’s hand. “I won’t write it.” My voice was flat. “And I don’t wish either of you happiness.” The moment I finished speaking, someone called out. “Sophia, you haven’t given up on Ryan yet, have you?” “Ryan, you better be careful! These clingy, persistent women are the worst! She’s about to go abroad and she’s still throwing herself at you. She’d probably even be your fallback!” “My fallback?” Ryan scoffed, rolling his eyes at me. “As if you’re worthy.” Their words, one after another, were like sharp blades tearing my heart apart. In the past, I would have broken down, sobbing and asking Ryan why he was doing this to me. But today, I fiercely held back the tears in my eyes. “Ryan, I’m the one going to pursue my dreams. You should bless me first. You don’t have to speak, a note will do.” Ryan and Chloe exchanged glances, then both burst into laughter. “Sophia, you wavered for me. Do you think your parents will still support you going abroad?” “Yeah, Sophia, I heard you prepared for this trip for a long time and gave up a lot. Now that you’ve caused such a big scene, your dream of going abroad must be shattered.” I forced a tight smile. “That’s none of your concern. My plans to go abroad will proceed as scheduled.” 2 I had actually sensed that Ryan was planning to trick me into giving up my dreams. This morning, he had called me. His voice was slurred, even tinged with a sob. He said, “Sophia, please don’t go abroad, okay? Don’t leave me, I can’t bear it. You know I can’t live without you.” He pleaded, “If you still care about me, don’t get on the plane. Wait for me at the airport.” He promised, “As long as you stay, I’ll be with you without hesitation! From now on, our world will only be us!” He hung up immediately. On my end of the phone, my heart was pounding. Ryan and I had been childhood friends for over a decade. I had poured out my dreams to him countless times, but he had never supported me, calling my dreams unrealistic. Was he only acting this way now because I was truly about to go abroad to pursue them? At the same time, my best friend Chloe also sent me a message. She told me, “Sophia, I know you’ve always wanted to be with Ryan.” She continued, “As long as you make up your mind, no one in this world can stop you two from being together!” Just as I was genuinely swayed, I received a voice message. In it, Ryan was chatting with his friends. Someone asked him, “Ryan, Sophia’s leaving the country today. You’re not preparing a farewell gift for her, are you?” Ryan scoffed. “Is she worth it? I’m preparing a surprise for Chloe. I’m going to propose to her and ask her to be my girlfriend!” “But Sophia is leaving today. Isn’t Chloe seeing her off at the airport?” A sly smile suddenly appeared on Ryan’s face. “Sophia’s leaving today, right? Well, I bet you guys, all I need to do is make one phone call to her, and she’ll give up going abroad.” He challenged, “Want to see a foolish girl abandon her dreams for a man?” Everyone immediately cheered, “Yeah!” Someone else added, “Hey, Ryan, those flowers you got for Chloe are really beautiful. Such a big bouquet, must have cost a fortune, huh?” Another person quickly answered, “Beautiful? They’re tulips flown in from Holland! And this coffee shop, it’s always packed. Ryan spent a fortune and pulled strings just to get the best for Chloe!” Ryan smiled faintly. “Of course. Only the best for Chloe.” I remembered Ryan had prepared a gift for me, which I hadn’t opened yet. When I opened the gift box, I found an old photo album inside. On the card, he had written, “Sophia, these are all our memories!” But when I flipped through the album, it was filled with the little notes I had once written to him. They read, “Ryan, you got this! You can do it!” and “Believe in yourself, you’re the best!” In high school, when he participated in various competitions, I used these notes to cheer him on. And he just picked out a few of them to give me as a farewell gift, while spending a fortune to fly in fresh tulips from Holland for Chloe. The voice message ended abruptly, and my heart shattered into countless pieces. The initial excitement and anticipation turned into utter despair. I repeated Ryan’s name over and over, from heartbreak to pure resentment. He knew my dreams, he knew how much I had sacrificed to go abroad, yet he still treated me like this. The memory of my childhood friend, who always stood by me, listened to my dreams, and promised to always support me, seemed to have died. Ryan, I will never like you again. 3 “Ryan, you said I didn’t give you a blessing? Here, take this.” I pulled a notebook from my bag and handed it directly to Ryan. He looked at the notebook thoughtfully. Years ago, when he lost a competition and was dejected, I gave him this notebook, filled with my encouragement and support. I had hoped then that he would pick himself up and work towards his dreams with me. But today, it was the day he pledged himself to another woman. Chloe stepped forward and took the notebook. “Thank you, Sophia. Ryan and I will be very happy.” Chloe then casually eyed me up and down, reaching out to touch my suitcase. “Sophia, your suitcase looks pretty expensive. Since you won’t be able to leave the country anyway, why don’t you just give it to me?” I was astonished by her greed and instinctively stepped back. “Chloe, you’re still carrying the bag I gave you. How can you have the nerve to ask for my suitcase?” Chloe looked at the bag on her shoulder, frowning. “You said you gave it to me. But today, I’m supposed to be the star. Besides, I already know you and your parents are at odds over you going abroad. And now you’ve backed out. Your dream of going abroad is definitely shattered.” She scoffed. “Since that’s the case, why can’t you give me the suitcase?” I retorted loudly, “Who says I can’t leave the country? I just came here temporarily. After I leave, my plans to go abroad will proceed as scheduled.” I pointed towards the airport terminal. “In a little while, I’ll be boarding there.” Chloe snorted a laugh. “Right, right. Your parents love you to death, and they can even tolerate their daughter abandoning her dreams for another man and making such a huge fool of herself.” She looked at me with immense pity. “Sophia, I know you’re hurting, but isn’t this what you chose? Stop deluding yourself and saying such ridiculous things.” She continued, her voice dripping with disdain, “Do you know how much you need to prepare to go abroad? Just the application materials alone are a huge pile! No, it’s not just about materials, you need talent too.” She boasted, “Ryan, for my sake, helped me arrange all sorts of training well in advance, which is how I got the chance to go to a better place. You’re still bragging about going abroad? Be careful you don’t bite off more than you can chew!” When she finished, her cronies behind her burst into laughter. “I think Sophia’s delusional. She’s daring to boast like that.” “Tsk, tsk, such a pathetic deluded woman. I almost feel sorry for her.” Seeing my reluctance to hand over the suitcase, Chloe turned to Ryan. “Ryan, do you think this suitcase should stay with her, or should it come to me?” Ryan didn’t even look at me. He raised an eyebrow, asserting confidently, “Does that even need asking? Of course, it’s for you, babe.” After he made his choice, Chloe immediately reached for my suitcase. She chuckled, “I know your suitcase is quite expensive, a designer brand your parents bought for you. Sophia, we’re such good friends, just let me use it, okay?” It was because we were good friends that I had allowed her to be my best friend. But I never imagined she had already been scheming with Ryan. I shouted, “Don’t touch my suitcase! I still have to go into the departure lounge to board my flight!” Chloe sneered. “Stop pretending! Board what flight? Give me the suitcase!” Seeing my fierce resistance, she turned to the people behind her. “What are you staring at? Come help me!” Those people ignored her, all looking at Ryan, waiting for his command. I, too, stared intently at him. For nothing else, but for the sake of our years of friendship, he shouldn’t treat me like this. But Ryan just gave me a dismissive glance and said indifferently, “Didn’t you hear your sister-in-law speak? Go, grab Sophia’s suitcase and let my girlfriend try it out.” In an instant, several hands reached for me, grabbing my suitcase, tugging at my backpack. I screamed, I yelled, and finally, in despair, I closed my eyes. This was the man I had loved for fifteen years. My childhood friend who always put me last. Just then, someone roared, “Stop! What are you doing?!” I was startled. That voice… it sounded so much like my estranged cousin.

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As I watered the plants on the balcony, I looked across to see my wife twisting like a doll being carelessly manipulated, on the opposite balcony. “I’ll tell him the child isn’t his and let him leave with nothing.” That evening, my wife’s family took turns, seemingly offering earnest advice, yet speaking with condescending authority. “The child’s biological father is the son of the country’s richest man, from the powerful Thorne family in the capital. If Finn is recognized by his true lineage, then his sickly uncle won’t control the family’s future. I can also become the Young Madam of the Thornes, and that benefits you too.” Finn’s face was filled with disgust: “You pauper? You’re not fit to be my dad! My real dad, with a single finger, could make your family never rise again for three generations!” My mother-in-law’s contempt was undisguised: “If Eleanor hadn’t been pregnant back then, her belly visibly growing, how would it have ever been your turn to marry her?” I silently signed the divorce papers. Then I turned and called my father, far away in the capital: “Come pick me up. I’m willing to return and take charge of the Thorne family.” 1 “Arthur, Finn isn’t your biological son.” When Eleanor Vance uttered those words, my reaction was far calmer than she had anticipated. In truth, I had suspected for a while—Finn’s birth, two months premature, his increasingly dissimilar features to mine, and the man who had suddenly moved into the villa next door a few days prior… “Finn’s father is the legitimate grandson of the Thorne family, one of the wealthiest in the capital. The Thornes have few heirs. As long as Finn is recognized by his true lineage, he can surpass his frail uncle and become the successor.” Seeing my downcast gaze and silence, Eleanor gritted her teeth and pressed on: “For Finn’s future, can we pretend to divorce? Once everything is settled, I’ll come back.” A bitter smile touched my lips. She had said so much; what meaning could my opinion possibly hold now? Yet, the thought that the son I had raised for nine years had no blood relation to me, that he would call someone else “Dad,” still sent a dull ache through my heart. “You’ll truly come back?” “Of course! I’m your wife! Once Finn becomes the Thorne heir, we’ll remarry!” She leaned in, intending to kiss me, but I subtly evaded her. “Alright, I agree to the divorce.” Eleanor’s face instantly lit up with joy: “Arthur, thank you for understanding. Finn will be so happy when he finds out! Don’t worry, he’ll still think of you as his dad!” Feeling agitated, I casually asked what was for dinner before turning into the kitchen—ten years married into the Vance family, these culinary skills were all honed for her and our son. “You eat by yourself. I’m going to tell Victor the good news.” Listening to her joyful footsteps, my heart sank deeper into gloom. The side window faced the neighboring front yard. Eleanor, like a jubilant bird, flew into Victor Sterling’s arms. They embraced, twirling, their faces alight with laughter. In all the years of our marriage, no matter how much I tried to please her, I had never seen her so genuinely happy. I had spent a decade, yet couldn’t warm her heart. But the moment the man who had once abandoned her returned, she lost herself completely. Pulling out my phone, I called Mr. Albright, our butler: “Tell my father I agree to assume the headship of the Thorne family.” Just then, with a resounding crash, the door was kicked open. Finn stood at the entrance, fuming: “Hey, Arthur, why didn’t you pick me up from school? Do you want me to walk till my legs break?” Though I had raised him for nine years, this child looked down on me, his live-in father, from the bottom of his heart. But such an unhinged outburst, this was a first. I paused, then crouched down to explain: “Dad was talking to Mom just now and forgot the time. Next time, I’ll pick you up early—” “I don’t need you to pick me up!” Finn lifted his small face, his eyes cold. “Mr. Sterling’s bodyguard already picked me up! His car is huge and fancy, and it’s even a convertible! Don’t embarrass yourself at school anymore. I want Mr. Sterling to be my dad!” With that, he threw his schoolbag down and ran towards the neighboring villa— “Finn!” My heart tightened. I instinctively moved to block him. I suspected Victor Sterling and Eleanor were likely engaged in some intimate act next door, and for the child to burst in at that moment… “Get out of the way!” Finn raised his hand, scratching my face. “Mind your own business! From now on, what happens in my family is none of your concern, you useless live-in!” Stunned, I watched the child run out the door. I wiped the bleeding scratches from my cheek with the back of my hand, then turned and went to the guest room at the end of the second-floor hallway. The window there directly faced Victor Sterling’s master bedroom. I simply wanted to give them a heads-up, based on a basic adult moral compass, that the child was coming. Even a dog in heat would, for God’s sake, restrain itself! On the curtains, those two intertwined, passionate figures moved rhythmically up and down. My heart grew numb, and my stomach churned with a sickening pain. This was Eleanor’s so-called “sham divorce”? Her “just wanting a good future for our son”? Her “still having feelings for me”? Through the window, their soft, murmuring conversation drifted to my ears. I heard Victor insidiously ask her, “How many times did you pay Arthur to raise my son for all these years?” Eleanor playfully chided, “Oh, darling, only that one time on our wedding night, right? Otherwise, how could he have believed Finn was his son?” “Just once?” Victor sounded unconvinced. Eleanor swore firmly, “Truly just once. I feel disgusted just looking at Arthur. How could I let him touch me casually?” Disgusted? She actually called me disgusting. Yet she had also said she loved me, loved the pleasure I brought her in bed, loved my gentle demeanor before and after. She said she would love me forever. Which words from this woman were true, and which were false? Just as I was about to make some noise, to warn them that Finn was already there, I heard Eleanor suddenly stammering, “But, when you become the Thorne heir, you should give Arthur some compensation. He did raise your son for so many years.” Victor snorted, “You seem pretty concerned about him. Have you fallen for him?” Before Eleanor could speak again, Finn burst up the stairs, calling for his mom. The two of them hastily threw on clothes, pulled up trousers, at least they had that much shame. I turned to leave, but accidentally knocked over a flowerpot on the guest room windowsill. “Who—” Victor yelled from across the way. I gave no response, quickly descending the stairs. 2 Eleanor returned with Finn. Before even entering the house, she eagerly shared the good news with me. “The Thornes say they’ll come in seven days to pick up their heir. You should pack Finn’s luggage.” I sat on the sofa, simply acknowledging her, then calmly said, “Perfect, sign it.” Eleanor’s joyful expression subtly faltered as she spotted the divorce papers I had laid on the table. She froze, a flicker of incredulity and hesitation in her eyes. “You prepared this so early?” I nodded, calmly stating, “Didn’t you say they’re coming in seven days? Better to be prepared.” Eleanor’s face clearly showed a hint of guilt: “Arthur, there’s no need to rush. As long as Victor acknowledges Finn…” I waved my hand. “Finn needs to return to his true lineage as a legitimate Thorne heir. If you don’t marry Victor, people will laugh at you.” “Mom! He’s right! Hurry up and divorce him, and let’s go marry Mr. Sterling!” Finn held a new remote-control race car, clearly a gift from Victor. He lifted his small face, looking at me with a mix of defiance and disdain: “Hey, Arthur, if you know what’s good for you, just let me and Mom go—” “Finn!” Eleanor snapped at him. “Don’t be so rude. Even if Mom really takes you to the Thornes, Arthur will always be your dad. You’ll just have two dads…” “I don’t want that!” Finn turned and spat at me: “Who wants such an embarrassing dad? No money, no power. Besides cooking at home, what else can you do? My dad should be a big tycoon, a grand family heir like Mr. Sterling!” With that, he made a face and ran off. Passing the old remote-control car on the floor by the door, he stomped on it, crushing it. “I don’t want this cheap junk!” With a new car, why would he cherish the one I bought him before? But he didn’t know that the limited edition toy model car I gave him was several times more expensive than the actual car Victor drove to pick him up from school today… “Arthur.” Eleanor looked at me with a hint of difficulty: “You… don’t take it to heart. Victor hasn’t seen the child in years, so he’s bound to spoil him excessively. Finn is still a child, easily misled. He… I believe he’ll still be good to you in the future.” “I know. I won’t argue with a child.” I pushed the divorce papers towards her, urging her to sign quickly. But Eleanor hesitated. She picked it up, barely glanced at it, then tossed it onto the table in frustration, turning and heading upstairs. “I’ll look at it later and decide.” I couldn’t describe the feeling in my heart. After all that had happened, was there still a reason for her not to cleanly sever ties? …Three days later, it was my birthday. Eleanor had promised to celebrate with me, but after I had prepared a table full of dishes, she suddenly excused herself to take a call, saying she had company business. “Sorry, Arthur, I have an urgent matter to handle. I’ll be back later to celebrate your birthday.” I nodded, serving myself a bowl of longevity noodles. I said it was fine, it wasn’t a big birthday, go take care of your business. Eleanor smiled, leaned in, wanting to kiss my cheek. I dodged. I said it was just green onion oil. She chuckled sweetly, “You always loved green onion oil noodles. Why didn’t you make something better for your birthday?” Turns out, she had already forgotten. A dull ache settled in my heart. As I ate my noodles alone, Victor Sterling suddenly showed up. “I’m here to pick up Finn. He said he wanted me to drive that new sports car to take him to his extracurricular class today.” “Thank you, Mr. Sterling.” I didn’t lift my head, simply calling Finn’s name upstairs. “Haha, no trouble at all. Thanks to you, Arthur, for taking care of Finn all these years. You’re the one who worked hard.” Victor’s smug and hypocritical expression utterly sickened me. “Mr. Sterling!” Finn, hearing Victor’s voice, excitedly ran downstairs. “Finn, be good on the way there, listen to Mr. Sterling—” “Mind your own business! Mr. Sterling and I are real father and son! You don’t need to worry about us!” Finn wrapped his arms around Victor’s neck, glaring fiercely at me. “Finn!” My in-laws, who were just about to leave, turned at the sound and chastised Finn: “You’re being completely out of line! How can you speak like that?” Then, my mother-in-law helplessly called out to me: “Arthur, it’s your birthday today. I ordered a cake for you. I wanted to celebrate with you, but we have a business banquet at the Grand Imperial Hotel today. Eat it yourself.” I felt a slight pang of emotion. All these years, I had diligently cared for my wife and son, and my in-laws had reciprocated, treating me quite well. It hadn’t been in vain that I had secretly supported the Vance family all these years, elevating them to a prominent new-money family in Seaside City. For example, that luxurious private room at the Grand Imperial Hotel today, if I hadn’t pulled some strings with Mr. Albright beforehand, they wouldn’t have been able to book it. After my in-laws left, I called Mr. Albright. “Mr. Albright, my in-laws are visiting today. Please look after them.” “Of course, young master. But aren’t you coming? I saw the young madam and the young master there. And the grandson, too…” In that instant, I felt as if I had plunged into an ice-cold abyss. 3 Outside the private room, I stood for a long time, my fists clenched. Father-in-law: “Why are you still calling me ‘Mr. Vance’? We’ll be family soon, call me ‘Father-in-law’.” Mother-in-law: “That’s right, son-in-law, don’t be a stranger. I’ve considered you my son-in-law for ten years.” Finn: “Daddy, hurry and greet them! Once you do, we’ll be family, and I can finally be your son.” Victor: “Yes, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, my precious son.” With that, he stole a kiss on Eleanor’s ear and called her “wife.” Eleanor’s face flushed. My heart chilled outside the door. It turned out, today was their “family recognition banquet.” I had believed that at least my in-laws approved of me. It was all a lie. They were fake, my wife was fake, my son was fake. Only my devotion, given for ten years, was real. A server came to serve dishes: “Hello, are you with this party?” The whole family turned in unison, only to see me standing at the doorway. Eleanor abruptly stood up. “Arthur? What are you doing here?” I remained unruffled, looking at each of them in turn. I questioned Eleanor: didn’t you say you were busy with company matters? I questioned Finn: didn’t you say you had an extracurricular class? I questioned my in-laws: didn’t you say you had a business banquet? The air grew thick with awkwardness. Finally, everyone dropped their pretenses. “You’re stalking me?” Eleanor was the first to attack: “Arthur, are you a pervert?!” Victor feigned mediation: “Oh, Arthur, you too. If you wanted to come, you should’ve said so earlier. Why cause such a scene and make everyone uncomfortable? Come, come, have a seat!” “I don’t want him here!” Finn, seeing me, immediately threw a fit: “You’re useless and a spoilsport! You knew everyone didn’t welcome you, that’s why they avoided you! Why are you so shameless, clinging to us? I don’t have a dad like you! Only an heir from a prominent family is fit to be my dad!” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “What are you laughing at?” Eleanor seemed exasperated. “Because it’s amusing.” I wiped my tears, pointing at Finn, and said, if you want to take Finn to his true lineage, you should at least wait until he’s actually entered the Thorne family. My mother-in-law waved her hand: “Mind your own business! If Eleanor hadn’t gotten pregnant back then, how would it have ever been your turn to be my son-in-law? The Thornes are coming to pick him up in a week. He’ll have nothing to do with you after that. Don’t even think about clinging to them, mother and son!” I nodded, turned, and left, saying nothing more. Eleanor reached out to stop me, but I ignored her, deftly stepping aside. She wanted to say something else, but I wasn’t willing to listen. Mr. Albright, who had witnessed everything, caught up to me: “Young master, do you still need me to waive the bill?” I paused: “One last time. Consider it my farewell dinner for them. No need in the future.” That evening, Eleanor returned. Seeing that I had quietly packed my bags, she seemed surprised. “Arthur, where are you going?” She pulled my hand: “I didn’t tell you to leave! Just wait for me here. In three days, when the Thornes pick up Victor and Finn, I’ll settle our son, and then I’ll come back—” “Will you really come back?” I asked her a second time. I looked into her eyes. The innocence and purity I once saw there were what I wanted to protect most in life. But now, lies had covered all those colors. Eleanor first froze, then frantically explained: “Of course! You’re not still mad about the restaurant, are you?” She tried to take my hand to persuade me: “Arthur, I admit it was wrong to hide things from you, but Victor promised that once he secured his position as the Thorne heir, he would invest a billion dollars in my father’s new project. That’s why my parents insisted on treating him to dinner at the best hotel—” “I deliberately didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d be upset.” She apologized sincerely and presented me with a “carefully chosen” gift—a tie with the gift tag still attached. It was the same brand as the haute couture tie I saw Victor wearing at the hotel today. I knew then that I should have harbored no expectations whatsoever. That morning, the Thorne family’s private jet landed outside the Vance family mansion. Eleanor took my hand, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions: “Arthur, wait for me at home. Once I settle in, I’ll come back.” “Will you really come back?” I asked her for the third time. Eleanor opened her mouth, then after a long, difficult pause, managed: “Of course.” Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Victor Sterling, with an apologetic expression, said to my in-laws: “I’m so sorry. You see, my two butlers here, they’re so clueless. Why did they park the jet right in front of your mansion?” As he spoke, he waved his hand and called out to Mr. Albright and Mr. Davies: “Hey, my villa is over here! You parked it wrong!” My father-in-law chuckled obsequiously: “No worries, no worries, we’re all family. And you two butlers, why do you two look so familiar?” Victor shook his head: “Mr. Thorne, these two are the patriarch’s most trusted personal butlers. I’ve only heard their names, never seen them in person. How could they look familiar to you?” Immediately after, both butlers stepped forward in unison, bowing respectfully: “Welcome back, Young Master.”

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Clutching the freshly acquired auction piece, I, Olivia Hayes, a top-tier global operative, was poised for extraction when my world shattered. Across the hall, at another auction, my daughter hung suspended from the dais, her limbs bound by iron chains. The colossal screen behind her blared: “Lot #17: Chloe Hayes – Exclusive Rights.” Her three childhood friends, flanked by a frail-looking girl, closed in, their faces twisted into sneering grins. “What’s wrong, Ms. Hayes? Run out of cash? Why aren’t you bidding?” “Last time, you pushed Tiffany down the stairs over some cheap necklace. Today, it’s your turn to suffer.” The crowd below erupted in jeers, someone maliciously raising the bid. “Take one piece off, I’ll add a million!” “Why not just strip her bare for inspection? What if she’s a fake, hahaha!” “Ms. Hayes, beg me! Beg me, and I’ll buy your night!” Standing on the second floor, my knuckles gleamed white. For years, I’d been on missions, my hands stained with enough blood to fill a river, yet never in my darkest nightmares did I imagine my daughter would be reduced to a commodity, priced and displayed on an auction block. Excellent. They’ve touched my family. I’ll make them understand what it means to wish for death. 1 The auction manager’s breath hitched. “Ms. Hayes, I’ll halt the auction immediately! They will apologize to you!” My gaze, colder than arctic ice, swept over the assembled faces. “Why the rush? Let them keep bidding. The higher the price, the cheaper their lives become.” Not a single one of them would escape. Below, Ethan Miller’s voice cut through the clamor, sharp and cold. “Chloe Hayes, if you apologize to Tiffany, we might just let you off the hook this time.” “Otherwise, we don’t mind letting everyone enjoy a little slideshow.” My daughter, defiant, lifted her head, tears shimmering in her eyes. Ethan watched her pale face, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. “Still clinging to that high horse, even with death staring you down? Don’t blame me for getting rough.” The moment his words died, the massive screen flickered to life. Dozens of photos flashed across the display, each showing Chloe disheveled, her eyes glazed and distant. “Whoa, who knew! Ms. Hayes has quite the figure!” “Tsk, that skin, so fair and tender, I’d die happy on it. Don’t you dare outbid me! Another million!” “Only Mr. Miller is generous enough to share such good stuff with us.” Amidst the torrent of vile words, Chloe’s eyes burned crimson. “When I get out of here, I’ll tear every single one of you apart.” Noah Davis, arm draped around the girl named Tiffany, scoffed. “Please, by the time you get out, you’ll be used goods! And then we’ll ship you off to Europe!” “You pushed Tiffany down the stairs over a necklace – why didn’t you think about a day like this?” Tiffany Vance, nestled between the three men, suddenly began to sob. “No, Noah, you’ve got it all wrong. Last time… last time she didn’t mean to push me. I… I just fell.” At her words, Zane Evans’ brow furrowed. “Chloe, Tiffany just wanted to borrow your necklace, and you shoved her down a flight of stairs.” “Now Tiffany’s forgiving you, begging for your release, and you don’t feel any remorse?” My daughter lifted her gaze, her voice raw. “That was my mother’s necklace! She didn’t deserve to wear it! And I didn’t push her, she… she just…” Before she could finish, Zane’s eyes glinted with cold malice. “Tiffany’s trying to help you, and you’re ungrateful? Don’t blame us for what happens next!” He then raised his paddle, declaring loudly: “Five million!” At his bid, the room buzzed, and other paddles rose, quickly driving the price to ten million. Tiffany dabbed at her tears, her voice a tearful whine: “Please, don’t bid anymore. Sister Chloe can barely afford it. She’s so poor now, how could she buy her own night?” “Sister, maybe you should just give up. It’s just one night with a man, it’s no big deal.” Rage surged through me, a hot torrent. My eyes were locked on Tiffany. She was draped in a designer gown, looking like a newly rich socialite, and around her neck hung the limited-edition necklace I’d given my daughter. Then I looked at Chloe. Her clothes were torn and frayed, her exposed skin chafed and bleeding. Years apart, and my daughter, Olivia Hayes’ daughter, had been so utterly humiliated? I quickly made a call, instructing my assistant to investigate everything that had transpired in my absence. As a top-tier operative, I was rarely home. For security, I’d contacted my daughter monthly via encrypted calls, but she’d always insisted she was fine, never breathing a word of this. The full story, the complete chain of events – I had to uncover it. On the auction platform, my daughter’s voice trembled beyond recognition. “We grew up together! Why are you doing this to me?” “That time you said you were celebrating Tiffany’s birthday, but you just drugged me… was that to take those photos?!” Noah didn’t even spare her a glance, instead busying himself wiping away Tiffany’s tears. “Tiffany spent a month in the hospital because of you, and you didn’t even apologize. This is what you deserve.” “If you’re willing to kneel and kowtow three times to Tiffany, and say you’re sorry, we’ll end this auction.” A chorus of jeers erupted from the crowd. “No way, Mr. Davis! We still want a taste of Ms. Hayes!” “Come on, keep bidding! We have to get her!” “I’ll raise it by two million!” “Fifteen million!” The bids came in quick succession. My daughter trembled uncontrollably, her head bowed in silence. Just as the auctioneer prepared to strike the hammer for the third time, my daughter’s head snapped up. “Twenty million!” The entire hall fell silent. 2 The next moment, a roar of mocking laughter erupted from below. “Don’t pretend, lady! It’s just one night with us, you won’t lose anything, hahaha.” “Twenty million requires a financial verification, you got that kind of cash?” My gaze bore into my daughter, a knot tightening in my chest. Twenty million was a mere pittance to me, but judging by Chloe’s current state, she likely couldn’t produce that much. Sure enough, a few minutes later, the auctioneer emerged from backstage and announced the verification results. “Upon review, Ms. Chloe Hayes’ liquid assets do not meet the bidding deposit requirements.” The laughter intensified. Tiffany giggled softly. “Sister Chloe, don’t push yourself! All I wanted was your apology.” Ethan shot a contemptuous glance at the stage. “Chloe Hayes, don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you can’t pay, stop pretending.” “Before we brought you here, I checked your accounts. You only have fifty thousand left.” Zane’s face was etched with disbelief. “Fifty thousand? We spend more than fifty thousand on one dinner with Tiffany! I can’t believe you’re this broke.” “However, if you truly have no money, I can help you out.” With that, he signaled a waiter. The waiter nodded, stepping onto the stage and positioning himself opposite my daughter. Zane’s icy voice echoed through the hall. “One article of clothing equals five million. If you take off four pieces, you’ll have twenty million.” “How about it? Sounds like a good deal, doesn’t it?” As his words finished, the waiter reached out to tear at my daughter’s clothes. The instant his fingers grazed her skin, Chloe struggled violently. “No!” The crowd below went wild again. “Take it off! Hurry up and take it off!” “Nice! Mr. Evans knows how to have fun!” Chloe looked at her three childhood friends below, terror in her eyes, only to see them shedding their own jackets, scrambling to drape them over Tiffany. My heart plummeted. My daughter’s scream tore through the air, hoarse and desperate. “Get away! Don’t touch me!” But the deafening cheers from the crowd below drowned out her voice, shattering it. The sleeve of Chloe’s dress ripped, exposing a large swathe of her skin. Instantly, slimy, sickening gazes lingered on that bare flesh. The waiter, his face devoid of emotion, stated: “Ms. Hayes, it’s just four pieces of clothing. This way, you’ll have enough money.” Chloe desperately clutched her dress, her lips trembling. I was shaking with fury, about to order the auction halted. But at that moment, my daughter removed the bracelet from her wrist and raised it high. “I have money! I’m still in!” The waiter immediately stepped back. My daughter’s trembling hand offered him the bracelet. As the waiter took the bracelet backstage for verification, a wave of laughter erupted. “She’s a real pigheaded one, still trying to play rich when she’s cornered!” Tiffany covered her mouth, a soft laugh escaping. “Sister Chloe, have you lost your mind? What’s a broken bracelet worth?” Tiffany’s confidence stemmed from the fact that she’d long since stripped my daughter of all her valuables. She was certain that cheap bracelet wouldn’t fetch much. But when the waiter announced the bracelet was worth thirty million… Tiffany’s face abruptly contorted. “How is that possible?!” Even the three men beside her looked incredulous. “A worthless bracelet? How could it be worth that much?” 3 I surveyed the bracelet in the waiter’s hand, understanding dawning on me. That bracelet was my daughter’s one-month birthday gift. I’d paid two hundred million for it back then. Now, it was only fetching thirty million. The auction house owner cautiously knelt at my feet, barely daring to breathe. Below, someone with a keen eye gasped. “This… this can’t be the bracelet once worn by the British Queen, can it? The design isn’t modern, but the price is ridiculously high.” “I remember that bracelet was auctioned at Hayes & Hayes back then, wasn’t it bought by the Hayes family? How is it in this woman’s hand?” “The Hayes family?” Someone drew a sharp intake of breath. “You mean that mercenary dynasty? They operate in both legal and illicit circles, rich beyond measure.” “But the Hayes family hasn’t made a public appearance in over a decade. I never thought I’d hear their name at this auction.” The whispers from the crowd reached Tiffany’s ears. She suddenly dropped to her knees, burying her face in her hands, sobbing. “All I wanted was an apology from you, Sister! Why do you have to deliberately make things hard for me?” “Ever since Dad recognized me as his adopted daughter, you’ve always hated me, always bullied me. Sister, do you really dislike me that much?” My heart clenched. Adopted daughter? At that moment, my assistant’s call came through, relaying everything that had happened over the past few years. Turns out, Tiffany was the daughter of an escort. Her mother had hooked up with my husband, Robert Hayes. Robert then brought the escort to live in our home and even recognized her daughter as his adopted daughter. Ah, good. While I was away these past few years, Robert had been busy with such despicable affairs. Robert Hayes, Tiffany, and her mother – I wouldn’t spare a single one of them. Ethan gently lifted Tiffany into his arms. Noah soothed her, wiping away her tears. Zane clenched his jaw, furious. “Chloe Hayes, do you really want to drive Tiffany to her death?!” “Do you honestly think we don’t know how much she’s suffered since moving into your family’s home?” Noah’s face was grim, his eyes burning as if they could tear a person apart. “Chloe Hayes, we originally planned to go easy on you, but it seems unnecessary now.” He stood up and yelled to the large crowd of bidders behind him. “Anyone who bids on Chloe Hayes’ exclusive rights tonight will receive a 5% profit share on future collaborations with the Davis Group!” Ethan and Zane chimed in. “The Miller Corporation and Evans Holdings, too!” A sudden burst of excited shouts erupted from the crowd. “The three young masters are truly generous!” “I’ll offer another three million.” “Forty million!” Within seconds, the bidding had skyrocketed to fifty million. Tiffany smiled silently, her face radiating triumph. My daughter’s face grew whiter by the inch. She couldn’t possibly produce that kind of money. Once these people got their hands on her, they would undoubtedly torture her relentlessly. Convinced they would win, the bidders began to openly humiliate my daughter. “Little lady, once you’re mine, I’ll show you exactly what paradise feels like!” Someone threw a wad of cash at the waiter’s chest. “Tear off her clothes! These bills are yours!” Simultaneously, the auctioneer’s booming voice echoed through the hall. “Fifty million, going once.” “Fifty million, going twice.” Amidst his pronouncements, my daughter suddenly looked up, her eyes blazing with fierce resolve. “I’m still in. Eighty million!” The entire hall erupted in chaos. “Is she crazy?! How can she conjure up money while hanging there?!” “Hahaha, she even mortgaged her bracelet! Where would she get the money?” Tiffany, nestled in Ethan’s embrace, feigned a sigh. “Sister, don’t struggle. Where would you get eighty million…” Amidst wave after wave of mocking laughter, my daughter handed a black card to the waiter. The entire hall held its breath as the card reader beeped, processing the data. A moment later, the waiter’s voice rang out loudly. “Ms. Chloe Hayes’ account balance: two hundred million nine hundred thousand dollars. She is qualified to bid!”

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1 My parents, with their overzealous compassion, broke tradition and adopted a grimy stray dog. This dog, a snarling menace, would routinely snatch food from the other rescue animals, even biting them. But my parents, as if blind, showered it with boundless affection… Driven by desperation, I finally confined the dog to a cage. Dad saw. His hand lashed out, a brutal slap across my face. Then, a sickening kick sent me sprawling into the cage. The vicious dog lunged, its fangs tearing into my lower leg. Agony ripped through me, and I collapsed, trembling, as my blood pulsed onto the concrete. The next day, a twisted, doctored video of me ‘abusing’ the dog, edited by my own parents, exploded online. Instantly, I was a pariah, universally reviled. A throng of reporters descended, and the other dogs, spooked by the frenzied crowd, suddenly snapped. They charged at me, a snarling tide of teeth and fur! My parents simply stood by, their gazes cold, allowing the pack to tear into me. “You beast! You torment animals every day! Now they’re taking their revenge!” “Tear her apart! I’ll pretend you were never my daughter!” I died, a choked gasp of pure hatred. How could my own parents betray me so utterly, all for a dog? When my eyes next snapped open, I was back. Back to the day they adopted that stray. … “Nonsense! Look how obedient and gentle he is! How could he be dangerous? We have so many dogs here, one more won’t make a difference.” “This child, she has no compassion at all! How have we been teaching you all these years?” My parents’ voices echoed in my ears. I snapped my eyes open, frantically checking my body. A moment ago, I was a bloody mess, torn apart by a pack of dogs. Now, I was perfectly intact. Could it be… I’d been reborn? As I reeled in confusion, Mom had already led that vicious dog inside, preparing to give it a bath. In my previous life, I had been killed by a dog? Unbelievable! My parents were overflowing with kindness, always teaching me to love and care for animals. Ten years ago, after our family home was redeveloped, they insisted on selling three houses to establish this stray animal rescue. I became a popular animal blogger, boasting millions of followers. When that vicious dog first appeared, it was stinking and filthy, its eyes gleaming with a sinister malice. We worried its large size might pose a danger, but then it suddenly sat down obediently, tongue lolling, emitting a series of appeasing whines. My parents, blinded by their bleeding hearts, ignored my objections and adopted it on the spot. Later, they repeatedly spoiled it, allowing it to bully the other animals, and it often bit me. Mom not only ignored my wounds but would sharply scold me: “What are you being so dramatic about? Why doesn’t he bite us, only you?” “If you dare to touch him, I’ll break your legs!” They even maliciously edited videos of me disciplining the dog and posted them online, leading to a relentless wave of online bullying. A throng of reporters and a gawking crowd descended, blindly cursing me out. I was utterly defenseless, my reputation destroyed… The usually gentle rescue dogs, frightened by the mob, became agitated. Fearing they might hurt the people, I darted forward to block them, but the pack turned on me, attacking me en masse. I died with my last breath, unable to comprehend how my once loving parents could stand by and watch me being savagely torn apart by a pack of dogs… “Such a good boy! From now on, you’ll be Chaos.” Mom’s familiar, doting voice brought me back to reality. Watching that vicious dog wag its hindquarters, trotting beside her, made my teeth grind in frustration! Fine, let them keep it. It’s just a stupid dog. Knowing the outcome now, I wouldn’t fall twice! I’d find out what spell this brute had cast on my parents, to make them turn so heartlessly against me. 2 From the moment Chaos arrived, it became their absolute favorite. While the other dogs and cats were confined to the yard, this one was allowed indoors. Mom even cradled it to sleep at night. To keep it from snatching food, I’d deliberately give it extra portions each day. In my spare time, I’d even approach it, offer a gentle pet, and talk to it. But even so, that brute would still sneak around, terrorizing the other animals. One tiny kitten nearly died from its bites! This time, with my parents out, I took the opportunity to give it a thorough beating. It learned its place, alright. I had foolishly believed its aggression stemmed from past trauma, a lingering shadow from its time on the streets. But no. It was a rotten seed, through and through. The next day, I found a box of rat poison on the shoe rack by the door. With all the cats around, where would we have mice? And Dad had always been so adamant: never leave toxic substances where animals could get to them. Lost in a swirl of questions, I saw Mom approaching, a plate of steamed buns in her hands. A chill ran down my spine. Rat poison buns? The thought was grotesque, but in my past life, they had wanted me dead. I took the buns, feigning an appetite, and retreated to my bedroom. I hastily texted my childhood best friend, Autumn: “Check in every half-hour. If I don’t reply, call the police for me!” No sooner had I sent the message than Mom’s urgent knocking rattled my door. She demanded to know if I’d eaten. My heart leaped into my throat. I feigned innocence, calling out, “Yep! They were delicious!” After what felt like an eternity, I began to think I’d overreacted. I was about to step out. The moment I opened the door, I froze. Chaos sat squarely in front of the door, its eyes locked on me. Behind it, Mom stood, a chilling, uncanny smile playing on her lips. “You lied, darling~ Why aren’t you eating?” My scalp prickled. My gut instinct had been right! But I feigned composure. “Oh, not hungry,” I mumbled. I tried to step past, but that brute blocked my path, barking furiously, occasionally lunging towards me. Was it… challenging me to a fight? I immediately rushed back inside, grabbed a baseball bat, and held it ready. Mom’s brow furrowed at the sight. She reached out, attempting to snatch the bat from my grasp. “Put that down, you brat! Don’t you dare hurt Chaos!” I clung to the bat, unwilling to let go. As Mom and I struggled, that monstrous dog suddenly lunged. Before I could react, I was on the floor, tangled with Chaos in a desperate struggle. It clamped its jaws onto my arm, shaking its head violently. Adrenaline surged through me. I barely felt the pain, just hammered at it with desperate force! Perhaps the commotion was too great, drawing Dad to the scene. He rushed forward, seeming to intervene. “Stop! Don’t fight! Both of you, stop!” I thought he’d come to pull the dog off me, seeing my blood. Instead, he helped the dog pin me down… My hands were clamped tight, utterly helpless. “Bitch! That’s what you get for messing with Chaos!” “You little brute! You hit Chaos so hard! He’s hurt!” SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! He lashed out, striking my face as he yelled. The blows left me dazed, disoriented. Chaos took the opportunity, tearing savagely at my lower leg. Blinding pain surged, and when I looked down, I saw bone gleaming through the gushing blood! I screamed for help, but Mom just stood by, her face impassive, her gaze distant. What was happening? This time, I’d been nothing but kind to the dog in front of them. And when I disciplined it, they weren’t even home. They couldn’t possibly have known. I couldn’t fathom it. How could the parents who once loved me so fiercely, doted on me, now beat me for a dog? They used to cherish me, protecting me like a fragile treasure. The slightest discomfort, and they’d rush to my side, asking anxiously, “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” But now, this dog arrives, and I’m a “bitch”? 3 When I next opened my eyes, I was tied up, lying in the dog kennel. The wound on my lower leg, crudely wrapped in a dirty rag, was still seeping blood. I shook my head violently, forcing myself into a state of clarity. Before me were the familiar stray dogs and cats I usually cared for. They circled me curiously, and one dog even came over to lick me. It twisted my stomach to remember how, in my previous life, these very same gentle creatures had torn me to shreds. I instinctively shooed them away, keeping my distance. My hands and feet were bound, immobile, my body numb and aching. Suddenly, a cat leaped onto my chest. I looked closer. It was the same cat I had rescued two years ago. It seemed incredibly agitated, meowing frantically. It must sense I’m in danger. “Well, well, awake are we?” My parents slowly walked in, that vile creature Chaos trailing behind them. Their eyes gleamed with triumphant malice. I quickly nudged the cat, urging it to slip away. The next second, Dad pulled a butcher knife from behind his back, raising it, gesturing menacingly towards me. “Dad! Clear your head!” “Look at me! It’s me, Willow! Your daughter!” I was terrified, pleading desperately with them. Mom stood by, hands on her hips, a cold, mocking smile on her face. “That’s right, you’re our Willow.” “And we’re going to kill you.” My blood ran cold. No! Why? I couldn’t believe this was real. Terror mixed with utter bewilderment. What had this dog done to them? I meticulously replayed every detail in my mind, terrified of missing anything. But I couldn’t come up with anything! This time, everything was different. There was no reason for them to kill me. “Dad! Mom! I truly don’t understand! Why? All for a dog?” “Are you insane? Please, calm down! Look at what you’re doing!” Dad completely ignored my tearful pleas. He still held the butcher knife, a twisted smirk on his face, his eyes filled with murderous intent. “I’m perfectly clear-headed! And you’re my daughter!” I was crying so hard I could barely breathe, shaking my head in despair. “Dad! No! Don’t kill me! You’ll regret this! How can a dog bewitch you like this?” “Mom! Please, talk to Dad! Please, I beg you!” Mom, seeing Dad hesitate, stepped forward and snatched the knife from his hand. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! Why are you wasting time with her? Give it to me! I’ll do it!” With that, she strode purposefully towards me. My eyes widened, and I screamed, “AAH! AAH!” pushing backward with my feet, desperate to retreat. But she showed no sign of stopping, swinging the knife down, her eyes unblinking. I mustered all my strength, kicking out squarely at her chest. She stumbled, losing her balance, and fell heavily to the ground. Chaos, seeing this, began to bark furiously, and the other dogs in the yard, hearing it, joined in. “Woof! Woof! Woof!” In that moment, I felt like I was in hell, never having known such terror… Dad, in a frenzy, picked up the knife and lunged at me. I squeezed my eyes shut in despair, awaiting death. Suddenly, a thunderous shout echoed from a distance. “Stop!” “Mr. Miller! What are you doing?!”

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1 On the day of my eighteenth birthday, Willow Hawthorne, the girl who’d lived my privileged life for eighteen years, live-streamed her suicide attempt. “Sister’s right,” her voice trembled, hollow and fragile, “a life stolen like mine… it’s just sickening to be alive!” When my parents, prominent figures in the city’s underworld, found out, they went berserk, forcing me to my knees, demanding an apology. I refused, so they dragged me into a damp, venomous pit of a basement cell, where they tortured me day after day. My own brother, Dax, even invited his friends to live-stream my humiliation. “Elara, if it weren’t for you, Willow wouldn’t be this depressed, hurting herself! You should have just died out there!” I looked at my bruised and battered body, a cold dread seeping into my very bones. “Captain Hayes, it’s time to pull the plug.” My undercover mission. I wanted it to be over. … “Mr. Hawthorne, I’ve just opened a new ‘Pit.’ Care to bring Miss Elara for a little… visit?” A tremor of pure terror shook me. “Brother, please… don’t do this to me…” “Shut up,” Dax glared at me, his eyes brimming with disgust. “Who gave you, a mongrel like you, permission to call me ‘brother’?” “Elara, if it weren’t for you, Willow wouldn’t be this depressed, hurting herself! You should have just died out there!” My heart stopped. Willow had deliberately slandered me, but no one, not a single soul, believed me. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne, called Dax, urging him not to be soft. “Willow’s having nightmares every night because of that wretch. She deserves to be left for the beasts, it’s what she gets!” My eyes burned, a searing dryness, but not a single tear fell. Finally, unable to bear another word, I gritted my teeth and raised my broken, throbbing hand, rubbing it against the nearly transparent white dot hidden behind my ear. I wanted to end the undercover mission. Before I’d ever stepped foot into the Hawthorne mansion, the Silverwood City Police had found me. They’d asked for my help in gathering evidence against the Hawthorne family’s criminal enterprise. But I’d clung to the fleeting warmth of a family, however false, and hadn’t signaled Captain Hayes to close the net. Now, I understood just how laughable I’d been. Dax hung up the phone, then viciously kicked my fractured arm. I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat, but it didn’t stir a flicker of pity in his eyes. “Take her to your ‘Pit’ tonight. She can warm up the place for you!” My eyes widened in terror. “Brother… no, Mr. Hawthorne, I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to Miss Willow. Please, just let me go.” I was truly afraid. Since they’d thrown me into that lightless basement cell, I barely dared to sleep. I feared the venomous creatures that crawled in the dark. I’d endured until Dax and his cronies finally came, only to face endless cruelty. I wanted to leave this place alive. My eyes raw, I pleaded with him. “I really will apologize to Miss Willow…” Dax scoffed, a cold, mocking sound. “You’ve done this to Willow, and a flimsy ‘sorry’ is supposed to fix it? Don’t you dare dream!” He ordered his men to drag me out by a dog chain. The newly scabbed wounds on my body tore open again, bleeding. The pain was unbearable. I stumbled, accidentally smearing blood onto Dax’s pants. He immediately kicked me away. “You blind fool! Willow herself gave me these clothes!” Already drained of strength, the kick sent me sprawling, directly into unconsciousness. When I next awoke, I was in an iron cage. Dax had his men douse me with cold water to rouse me. But as the man approached, I realized it was Captain Hayes. He whispered, his voice barely audible, “Three days. We’re pulling the plug. Hold on.” I forced a nod, my body trembling uncontrollably. A sense of dread churned in my stomach. It wasn’t until they carried me out later that night that I understood where the dread had come from. 2 “Brother, those beasts look so fierce. Elara’s going to get hurt.” Willow, exquisite in her haute couture gown, spoke with feigned concern, but her eyes, when they met mine, glinted with malicious triumph. Back in the Hawthorne mansion, she’d often played this innocent charade. Before my eighteenth birthday, she’d dropped the pretense entirely, her voice a chilling whisper: “Elara, I won’t let you have your way. There’s only room for one princess in the Hawthorne family! Everything here belongs to me!” Now, Willow intentionally paraded her deep bond with Dax, a public display of their supposed sibling devotion. “Willow, you’re just too kind-hearted. That’s why she always takes advantage of you. Today, brother’s here to get revenge for you!” Dax patted her hand. Then, with a clap of his own, a two-meter-tall tiger was unleashed. A deafening roar split the air, sending me cowering into the corner of my cage, frozen in terror. Dax’s friends whistled and jeered, egging Willow on. “Elara, get up and fight it! What a useless piece of trash!” “Look, she peed herself! Hahahaha!” The tiger lunged at the iron cage. Overwhelmed by fright, I passed out. But barely two seconds later, I was doused with cold water again, jolted back to agonizing consciousness. My parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne, had arrived. They instructed Dax’s friends to unleash more beasts. “Let her learn a lesson. At eighteen, with a heart so cruel? Imagine what she’ll be like when she’s older.” By the end, my body was a canvas of purple and black, no patch of skin untouched. Willow then brought me a small tube of ointment. “Sister Elara, this will make your scars heal quickly!” Dax’s cold gaze swept over me. “Aren’t you going to thank Miss Willow?” I didn’t want to provoke them further, so I bowed my head like a dog, humbly mumbling my thanks for the condescending gift. Willow pursed her lips, a small smile playing on them, and ordered someone to apply the ointment to my wounds. But the moment the cream touched my skin, it felt like a thousand needles pricking me. The treated wounds instantly swelled and turned a fiery red. I writhed in agony, my face contorted in a silent scream. Dax, however, simply frowned and snapped, “Elara, it’s just some ointment! What are you being so dramatic for?” Willow offered her fake comfort. “Sister Elara, applying medicine to damaged skin always hurts.” The pain was so intense I couldn’t even speak. It wasn’t long before I started foaming at the mouth, convulsing, and finally, mercifully, slipped back into unconsciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. The Hawthorne family stood just outside the room, comforting a red-eyed Willow. “I really didn’t mean to, I didn’t know Sister Elara was allergic to this medicine!” “We all know Willow meant well, it’s not your fault. It’s Elara’s fault for not saying anything beforehand…” My gaze was empty, fixed on the ceiling. I’d used that ointment before, and I’d never had an allergic reaction. “I’m sorry, Sister Elara.” Willow approached my bed to apologize, but her hand purposefully pressed down on my IV needle. I instinctively recoiled, pushing her away. “Elara, what are you doing?” Dax glared, calling me an ungrateful wretch. “It’s okay, brother, I just accidentally fell.” Willow quickly covered for me. “You don’t need to make excuses for her! I saw her trying to hurt you!” Dax lunged, grabbing my hair, forcing my head down, demanding an apology. My face was ashen, the IV tubing twisted on my hand, blood flowing backward. A nurse intervened, saving me from further humiliation. Dax finally relented, but his parting words were a chilling threat: “Next time, you won’t have those hands anymore.” After they left, I finally had a moment of peace. I curled up in the hospital bed, my eyes red, trying to steel myself. Just two more days until freedom. Mrs. Hawthorne came in, lecturing me with a tone of frustrated disappointment. “Elara, you were always meant to be a Hawthorne. Why do you insist on being so hostile towards Willow?” Mr. Hawthorne joined in the admonishment. “Willow saved our lives. If you harass her again, I’ll kick you out of this family!” They say good deeds are rewarded, but why was I, who’d saved three people from the sea, still suffering like this? 3 “Miss Elara, you have multiple bone fractures. If you suffer another injury, you might not fully recover. You must rest.” The doctor’s face was grim. But the decision to rest wasn’t mine to make. I forced my battered body towards the restroom, passing through the lobby. There, I saw Dax and his cronies. “Mr. Hawthorne, those compromising photos of Elara? They could sell for hundreds of thousands!” Dax lit a cigarette, a sneer on his lips. “Look at your pitiful ambitions.” “Heh heh, boss, so… can we take a few more pictures later? Just to round it up and buy a Mercedes!” “Take as many as you want. Willow is the only sister I acknowledge.” My body trembled, my mind a blank void of horror. As I turned to flee, I was grabbed. “So this is the real Hawthorne heiress, huh? Not bad looking!” “She’s no Hawthorne! Her name is Elara!” Willow snarled, slapping me hard across the face, causing my ears to ring. “Elara, today, I’m going to finish you for good!” She lunged, reaching for a stun gun, but the kidnappers stopped her. “Hey, if you kill her now, how are we going to get the ransom?” Willow, frustrated, resorted to kicking me several times. By the time the Hawthorne family arrived, she had already transformed herself into the helpless victim. “Sister Elara is badly hurt! Save her first!” I had been given a drug beforehand, leaving me unable to speak. All I could do was stare, eyes wide, as they played out their cruel charade. The kidnapper feigned a kick to Willow’s chair, and the Hawthorne parents’ eyes instantly filled with fury. “Don’t hurt Willow! If you want to vent your anger, hit Elara instead! She’s tough, she can take it!” The kidnappers chuckled, then brought their clubs down on my already fractured arm. Tears streamed down my face from the searing pain. But the Hawthorne family only comforted Willow, completely ignoring me. “Don’t be scared, sweetheart. Mom and Dad will save you.” “Your brother has already prepared the ransom. Just a little more, Willow!” The kidnappers declared they could only save one person with the ransom. Without hesitation, the Hawthorne family chose Willow. “Elara, don’t blame us. Just blame it on fate, on us having no connection in this life.” I watched them in despair. “Mom, Dad, are we really not saving Sister Elara?” They shielded Willow, keeping her close, preventing her from seeing me endure the kidnappers’ abuse. “No, we’re not. When she dies, we’ll pick out a good burial plot for her.” “Elara can consider this repayment for all the bad things she did to Willow!” My expression was numb, my vision consumed by black. I thought I was dead. But then, the Hawthorne subordinates arrived. The kidnappers met a gruesome end, though a few managed to escape. I was rushed to the hospital once more. My only small relief was that Dax’s friends hadn’t come to torment me. One more day, and I would be free. But that very night, the Hawthorne family, disregarding my injuries, brought me back home. “Tomorrow is Willow’s birthday. She wants you to join us. Make sure you clean up nicely, don’t embarrass the Hawthorne name!” Dax’s attitude towards me had softened considerably. But I no longer cared. The next morning, I was woken early to prepare. Willow sent me a strapless evening gown. My body, a roadmap of scars, was exposed completely. The Hawthorne parents saw me and were instantly displeased. “You’re wearing this? Do you want everyone to know how badly we treat you?” My injured throat croaked out a defense. “Miss Willow sent it…” “Elara,” Dax shot me a chilling glare, “are you trying to badmouth Willow again? Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?” Willow smirked at me, a silent, triumphant taunt. “No one will believe you.” But in the very next second, her smile vanished.

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My roommate was a sleepwalker. In the dead of night, she’d climb onto beds and slap people awake, or leave strange messes in our slippers. Once, I woke to find her brandishing a carving knife, hacking a watermelon to shreds, splattering crimson juice across the floor. She’d explained she’d dreamt of cutting a melon, only to find it wasn’t ripe. We kept our distance, gave her a wide berth. But the next night, I jolted awake from a dream. My sleepwalking roommate was standing over me, one hand clutching the knife, the other stroking my head. “This one’s finally ripe, huh?” 1 A tremor ripped through me. I screamed. “Ahhhhh!” My shriek instantly woke the other two in the dorm. Lily’s small desk lamp, on the top bunk, flickered to life, illuminating the nightmare before my eyes. Stella stood there, eyes wide but vacant, one hand still patting my head, the butchering knife in her other hand poised to strike. “Holy crap!” Ryder, from the bottom bunk, sprang into action. She was an athlete, all speed and raw power. She lunged, tackling Stella from behind, pinning her arms back. I snapped out of my terrified trance, grabbed the half-empty water bottle from my desk, and splashed its contents onto Stella’s face. She gasped, a shudder running through her. Her unfocused gaze finally sharpened. When she saw the knife in her hand, she startled, dropping it with a loud clatter to the floor. “What… what just happened?!” My face was ashen. “I was about to ask you! Do you even know what you were doing?!” Stella’s face was ghostly white. She stammered, “I… I just had a dream. I was back in the watermelon patch, trying to find a good one. And this time, I finally felt a ripe one, and I just wanted to cut it open…” All our faces went instantly bloodless. Stella’s sleepwalking had been an issue for a while. When we first discovered it at the start of freshman year, we were all a little scared. But then we realized she mostly just stood by the window, staring blankly, and since she was so friendly during the day, we gradually let our guard down. As we got closer, we’d even joke about her sleepwalking, asking her what bizarre dreams she’d had. Lately, she’d kept talking about dreams of her grandpa’s watermelon patch back on the farm. She wanted a big, sweet melon, she’d say, but they were always unripe. We’d all laughed then. But now, the laughter died in our throats. Stella’s hand stroking my head—she’d clearly treated my head as a perfectly ripe melon in her dream! My gaze dropped to the large butchering knife on the floor—the one Ryder usually used for chopping fruit. It was big. It was sharp. If I hadn’t woken in time, my head might have been split open like that watermelon. A cold sweat slicked my skin. I stood up abruptly. “I’m calling the RA. I’m switching dorms!” 2 The RA, roused in the middle of the night, was initially annoyed, but our story made her skin crawl. “Stella,” she said, her voice strained, “I’ll contact your academic advisor and your parents to see if we can get you some medical help. Until then, you’ll stay in the vacant dorm room upstairs!” Stella herself was terrified. Her eyes red-rimmed, she went to pack her things. She moved quickly and even posted a photo of her new dorm in our group chat—the picture showed the door barricaded with clutter, and she’d captioned it: [I’ve locked the door and blocked it with a bunch of stuff. I even threw out all sharp objects. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt anyone.] Seeing the message, a knot of unease formed in our stomachs. Lily couldn’t help but say, “Are we being too harsh?” Ryder immediately shot back, “Harsh? When she nearly sliced your head open, would you still think it’s harsh?!” Ryder’s name carried a hint of wildness, and her temper matched. Her words instantly extinguished any guilt I’d felt. The four of us were in different majors anyway, so after Stella moved out, we lost touch. We didn’t see her for days. Until three mornings later, just before dawn, a bloodcurdling scream ripped through the dorm building. We all shot awake. “What in God’s name is that?! So early!” Ryder grumbled, climbing out of bed, still half-asleep and irritable. Lily rubbed her eyes, fumbling for her phone. “It’s not even six yet, what the… Oh my God, no!” Her sudden scream startled me. “What is it?!” Lily almost collapsed as she scrambled down from her top bunk. “I… I saw someone in the Business School group chat say… someone died in our dorm building!” “What?!” Ryder and I’s faces drained of color. Ryder pressed, “Which room? How did they die?” Lily shivered, glancing at her phone, her face even whiter. “It’s on the floor right above us.” She looked up, her voice trembling. “Their head was split clean open. They said… it looked like a melon.” 3 The entire dorm plunged into a chilling silence. We all, without exception, thought of Stella. After a long moment, I whispered, my voice shaking… “It… it couldn’t be Stella, could it? She said she locked her door and blocked everything.” Ryder’s voice was cold. “But I’ve seen in movies that sleepwalkers can open doors, even ride bikes!” Silence descended again. Finally, Lily, her face pale, spoke up. “Alright, let’s not scare ourselves. It’s the police’s job to find the killer. Let’s not overthink it.” Ryder and I nodded silently. We got up to get ready, dropping the subject. All day, the entire campus buzzed with talk of the murder in our dorm building. The victim was a freshman girl from the English Lit Department. They said her head was split in half, and her roommates, waking up to the sight, had gone completely insane. Dozens of police cars were parked outside the girls’ dorm, and the victim’s room was sealed off. The rumors grew wilder and wilder—from a clean split to talk of a missing brain. Panic rippled through the student body. That evening, Ryder, Lily, and I were eating dinner in the dining hall when— Clunk. A tray was set down on our table. I looked up to see Stella’s bright, beaming smile. “Lily, Ryder, Chloe! Long time no see!” The three of us froze. Stella, however, seemed oblivious to our stunned reactions. She dug into her food, chattering away. “It’s such a hassle being in the Languages Department, so far from you guys. I haven’t seen you since I moved out. How have you all been?” Stella spoke with effervescent cheer, but none of us responded. Finally, I couldn’t help but cut her off. “Stella, have you had any dreams about cutting watermelons these past few days?” Stella paused, puzzled. “No, why? I’ve been dreaming about eating long strands of pasta. Why do you ask?” I was at a loss for how to answer. Just then, a conversation from the next table drifted over to us: “Hey, have you guys heard about the murder in the girls’ dorm? They say the killer had incredible strength, managed to slice the girl’s head so cleanly! Like cutting a watermelon!” Stella overheard their conversation. It clicked. Her face went white as she looked at us. “You… you think I killed that English Lit girl?” None of us spoke, but Stella began to cry. “Is that what you really think of me? I told you! My dorm has no sharp objects, I lock the door every night, and I check it in the morning. Don’t you believe me?!” Lily, unable to bear it, said, “Stella, that’s not what we meant…” But Stella didn’t want to hear it. She got up and ran off, crying. Our appetites vanished. As soon as we got back to our dorm, a girl from the room next door approached us, whispering mysteriously. “Did you hear? There’s a new development in the upstairs murder case! The police checked all the surveillance footage in our dorm hallway, but they didn’t see anyone entering or leaving the victim’s room. So now, the victim’s three roommates are the prime suspects. They’ve already been taken to the police station for questioning!” The three of us froze. If no one entered or left, the killer must be one of the victim’s roommates. This meant it likely had nothing to do with Stella. Lily’s face was filled with remorse. “Should we apologize to Stella? I mean, being wrongly accused of murder… I’d be furious too.” “Apologize for what?” Ryder retorted gruffly. “We never said it was her. We just asked about her dreams. She’s too sensitive. Apologizing would just make it more awkward.” Ryder wasn’t wrong. So, we dropped the subject, washed up, and got into bed. I drifted into a hazy sleep for what felt like ages. Then, suddenly— Thump-thump-thump. I was jolted awake by a knocking sound. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. 2 AM. A cold sweat broke out. Who would be knocking on our dorm door in the middle of the night? At the same instant, Lily’s nightlight on the top bunk flickered on. I saw Ryder on the opposite bunk also sit up. Lily’s trembling voice cut through the dimness. “Who… who is it…?” The next second, a familiar voice drifted from outside the door— “It’s me. Stella.” In the dim light, I saw Ryder’s face drain of color. I knew we all had the same thought— Was Stella sleepwalking, or was she awake? I instinctively pulled my blanket tighter, the words spilling out. “What do you want?” A brief silence from outside the door. Then, I heard a soft chuckle. “I just cut a perfectly ripe, huge watermelon. Do you guys want a slice?” 4 Silence. A suffocating silence descended on the entire dorm. In the dimness, I watched the last bit of color drain from Ryder’s face. Lily practically tumbled from her top bunk, scrambling into my arms, trembling uncontrollably. I forced myself to cling to the last threads of my sanity, to stay calm. “Don’t… don’t be scared. The police already found out, right? The murder has nothing to do with Stella. She’s probably just sleepwalking…” I wasn’t sure if I was comforting Lily or myself. “And our door is locked…” But no sooner had I spoken than Lily suddenly convulsed in my arms. I looked down at her. “What’s wrong?” Lily’s face was utterly bloodless, her voice choked with tears. “I… I just remembered. I was the last one to bed tonight. I forgot to lock the door…” My hands and feet instantly went icy cold. At the same moment, I heard Stella’s cheerful voice from outside. “Oh, you guys didn’t lock the door. I’m coming in, then!” Click. The door slowly, deliberately, swung open from the outside. 5 “Ahhhhhh!” Lily couldn’t take it. She threw herself into my arms. Ryder lunged, intending to tackle Stella, but in the next second, she froze. By then, in the dim glow of the nightlight, I saw Stella clearly as she stepped through the door. She was holding a half-cut watermelon, her eyes bright and clear, smiling at us. My taut nerves instantly slackened. Ryder reacted, smacking Stella hard. “Stella! You’re messing with us!” “Ow!” Stella rubbed her arm, wincing, but still smiling. “Well, you guys misunderstood me earlier today, so I had to scare you as punishment! Besides, I wasn’t lying. I really did bring watermelon for you to eat.” The tension in the room dissipated. Lily, now calm, walked over and took Stella’s hand. “Stella, I’m so sorry about earlier. We really didn’t mean to misunderstand you, it’s just…” “I know.” Stella smiled, cutting her off. “When I’m sleepwalking, I can’t control myself, so you worry I might do something awful.” “But don’t worry, I’ve taken so many precautions. My parents said they’d take me to see a doctor next week. I won’t hurt anyone. Alright, let’s not talk about that anymore, let’s eat this watermelon!” Stella put the melon down, a look of exasperation on her face. “You have no idea how much trouble this melon was. I didn’t dare keep a knife in my room, so I had to smash it open with my bare hands. It splattered all over me!” We finally looked down at the watermelon. It was indeed unevenly split, and Stella was covered in watermelon juice.

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1 My coworker, thinking it was a hilarious prank, slapped a parking ticket onto my car and snapped a photo, texting me that I’d been cited. Believing him, I logged onto the DMV’s online portal to check. What greeted me, instead, was a high-definition photo captured by the traffic camera system just yesterday. In the shot, Chloe’s ex-boyfriend, Liam, sat in the passenger seat, unbuckled, leaning across the console to kiss her cheek. I stared, stunned, at the bright, radiant smile on her face – a smile I’d never once seen directed at me. It was then, in that brutal flash of clarity, that I finally understood: this one-sided devotion, this fervent, lonely love, it was time to let it go. Silently, I handled the ticket. Alone, I attended her ailing grandfather’s funeral, a final, solitary send-off. I drafted the divorce papers, sealing them in an envelope, and mailed them to her company. From this day forward, I would be my own man, navigating my own path, unburdened by her shadow. … My best friend, Tyler, wasted no time. The moment he heard, he was there, a whirlwind of frantic concern. “What the hell happened with you and Chloe? Is she cheating on you?” My eyes, bloodshot and stinging, managed a pathetic, twisted smile. Ten years of chasing, of looking up to her, had only bought me a marriage of polite formality with Chloe. I’d mistaken that distant respect for happiness. Today, it was brutally shattered by a single photograph. Marrying me, Chloe had, in the end, only constrained herself. Tyler, seeing my broken state, felt a surge of frustrated anger. “I told you she wasn’t good for you, Alex! You never listened, always barreling headfirst down this path. It’s for the best, honestly. Every time I saw you pathetically chasing after her, it just made my blood boil!” “Professor Miller has an international project needing a liaison; maybe you should consider it?” I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth, managing a choked “Mmm.” It was then I realized the tears were flowing freely, uncontrollably. I frantically searched for tissues, but Tyler just sighed. “Don’t hold it in, man. Just cry.” Overwhelmed by a sudden, profound sense of injustice, I finally crumbled, sinking to the floor, my head buried in my hands, sobbing. After driving me home, Tyler left, called away by some urgent matter. I rang Professor Miller, asking about the project’s details, and quickly realized I was perfectly capable of handling it. Without a second thought, I agreed. Departure date: one week. All necessary company handovers could be completed online. Washing my face, I caught my reflection in the mirror: a haggard, bitter-looking stranger. For the first time, I felt a wave of self-loathing. As my thoughts swirled, my phone buzzed. “Alex, would you mind dropping off a black suit dress at my office? Thanks!” Chloe’s voice, as polite and distant as ever. Out of habit, I agreed. It was only after she hung up that the words sank in, chilling me. A brief moment of hesitation, but ultimately, I didn’t call back to refuse. Chloe often worked late, rarely coming home. This was as good a time as any to pick up the divorce papers. When I arrived, Liam was leaning close to Chloe, both engrossed in a computer screen. His breath brushed lightly against her face. She looked at him, her eyes soft, her lips moving in a whispered word. Then her gaze flickered to me, her expression hardening, the tender light in her eyes dissolving into cool indifference. A look of reproach settled on her face. “What took you so long?” Liam, with a placating smile, reached out to take the clothes. “Thanks for making the trip, Alex. Chloe’s a bit stressed with her team, so her tone might be sharp. Don’t mind her.” He carried himself with the air of a homeowner, as if I were the shameful intruder. Had this been five years ago, when he first returned from abroad to be Chloe’s assistant, I would have exploded, demanding answers. Now, I merely asked, my voice flat, “Have you signed the papers?” Chloe raised a delicate eyebrow, letting Liam finish adjusting her collar. “Signed what?” “Alright, Chloe, let’s go. We’re running out of time.” Liam’s voice cut in, clearly annoyed by our interaction. She gave a slight nod, tossing a curt instruction my way. “We’ll talk about this later, at home.” They walked out, one after the other. Liam, trailing behind, turned back to look at me, a triumphant, unconcealed smirk playing on his lips. I ignored him, searching his desk for the divorce papers, finding no trace of them. My hand brushed the mouse, and the computer screen lit up. What flashed across the screen was a photo of Chloe and Liam, leaning against a railing by the sea, gazes locked, filled with a profound tenderness. A closeness I’d never experienced with her. I stumbled out of the office, clutching my car keys, a broken man. Back home, I sank to the floor behind the door, tears streaming down my face once more. Letting go was harder than I’d imagined. But it was alright. One day, I would meticulously, painfully, uproot Chloe from my heart. Scrolling through videos to distract myself, a “people you might know” notification popped up. I meant to swipe past it, but my finger slipped, opening Liam’s profile. His latest video was from a funeral. The caption read: “In these tough times, glad I have you by my side.” The deceased was merely a distant uncle of Liam’s. Chloe stood beside him, presenting herself as his lover. Watching her doting, attentive presence in the video, it hit me: Chloe wasn’t always too swamped to spare a moment. Back then, at our own wedding, she’d walked out halfway, citing urgent work. How little she must have cared. Her hesitant, apologetic look, I’d mistaken for guilt. I’d even gently reassured her it was fine. Thinking back now, it was laughable. Perhaps even then, she’d already regretted it. 2 That night, Chloe, true to form, didn’t come home. Yet, the very next day, at the university’s Founders’ Day celebration, I saw her. Hand in hand with Liam, they ascended the stage to present a donation. Hearing her shamelessly introduce Liam to the host as “the most important person in my life,” I felt a sudden, bitter relief that when we married, I’d respected Chloe’s wish for a low-key ceremony and hadn’t invited a single classmate. As if sensing my presence, she turned and looked out into the audience, our eyes locking. A faint frown creased her brow, but her hand remained tightly clasped in Liam’s. I lowered my head, the bitterness a tangible weight, and turned away, walking towards the grassy expanse by Unity Lake. Soon, footsteps sounded behind me. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to the celebration? I would’ve picked you up.” No mention of holding hands, no explanation, no hint of panic at being caught. I laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. “Is there even room for me in your car anymore?” Chloe rubbed her temples, feigning exasperation. “Alex, do you have to be so aggressive? What happened to the considerate, sensible man you used to be?” Used to be? What was I like before? I was the one who saw her as a goddess, pulling me from the depths of despair. I laughed when she laughed. I worried when she worried. My entire being revolved around her. I’d lost myself, lost my purpose, all to follow in her footsteps. The truth was, if Chloe had just told me she wanted to be with Liam, I would have willingly stepped aside. This marriage, after all, had been her impulsive decision, born from a desire to spite him after their breakup. I, the silent admirer, had seen it all clearly, yet still plunged into that abyss willingly. Now that their old flame had rekindled, she should be desperate for me to leave. But this evasiveness… I couldn’t understand it. “Chloe, there you are!” Liam’s voice chimed, his polished leather shoes making soft thuds as he approached from behind her. He paused, looking at me with feigned surprise. “Alex, you’re here too?” As he spoke, he moved to stand in front of Chloe, casually adjusting her collar. “The university president wants a photo with you. Shall we go?” Chloe glanced at me, seeing no response. She gave a quick, almost worried instruction: “Wait for me, we’ll leave together later.” “Didn’t you forget about your meeting? I’m afraid Alex will have to take a taxi home,” Liam cut in, a seemingly apologetic smile on his face as he looked at me. Chloe hesitated. Then, Liam cried out, “Snake!” Chloe instantly pushed me away, scrambling to pull Liam onto the paved path, panic etched on her face. I, standing so close to the lake’s edge, was shoved straight into the water. The summer water of Unity Lake should have been warm. Instead, it was icy, seeping into my bones, a chilling cold. Through the shimmering surface, I met Chloe’s gaze—guilty and panicked. She rushed toward me, but I pulled myself onto the bank before she could reach me. “Alex, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking.” I smiled, a hollow, bitter smile. “It’s fine. I’m used to it.” Without a moment’s hesitation, I turned my back on her, my body and soul soaked, and walked away. Chloe’s hands, clenched at her sides, trembled slightly. For the first time, she felt me so close, yet impossibly distant. She wanted to chase after me, to grab me and demand answers, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave Liam. She only sent a text: “Go home first. I’ll explain later.” I let out a soft, derisive scoff. Explain what? Explain why she instinctively protected Liam? Or why she pushed me into the lake? Whatever it was, I didn’t want to hear it. I was sick of her self-serving excuses. That night, Chloe, her mind swirling with questions, came home early. Seeing the cold, empty kitchen, and me ordering takeout, a strange sense of calm settled over her. “Is this how you take care of yourself when I’m not home?” she said, her voice laced with feigned concern. “Maybe we should hire a housekeeper. All this housework, it’ll wear you out. It breaks my heart.” My hand, holding the chopsticks, paused. What a thoughtful, wonderful woman! She had always used these seemingly caring words to make me believe she’d fallen for me over time, binding me tighter and tighter to her. But a lie, no matter how convincing, is still a lie. I wiped my mouth and spoke slowly. “Let’s get a divorce.” 3 Chloe froze for a second. Then, a helpless smile played on her lips. “Still playing games, huh?” she said, her voice gently coaxing as she reached to touch my head. “Liam and I are history. We’re the couple now; you have to trust your wife.” She added, “I’m a little hungry. Could you make me something to eat?” It was an obvious olive branch, an invitation to return to our old routine. But I didn’t take it. “You make it yourself.” Perhaps it was the first time I’d ever refused her, and she seemed unaccustomed to it. Without intending to explain further, I turned, sidestepping her, and started towards the bedroom. She grabbed my arm, her grip firm. “Alex, are you not feeling well?” Her tone was still gentle, making me feel even more like the irrational one. At my breaking point, I lashed out. “What if I’m not? Do you honestly care, after five years of marriage?” “We’re husband and wife. If I don’t care about you, who do I care about?” “Then tell me,” I challenged, “when’s my birthday?” Chloe’s mouth opened slightly, then closed, speechless. How could she possibly know? It was like the time I’d bought a cake and put it in front of her, and she’d simply assumed I just happened to want cake! “But you know Liam’s!” Tears streamed down my face. I expected her to explode in anger or frantically try to explain her relationship with Liam. But she didn’t. She just sighed, a weary, helpless sound. “You need to cool down. I’ll be working late at the office tonight!” Always the same. Every time I wanted to confront her, she’d retreat with an excuse about “working late.” Chloe was a master of passive aggression, cloaked in a veil of polite distance. I couldn’t take it anymore. I snatched the TV remote and hurled it at her. She didn’t react fast enough; it struck her forehead, leaving a faint red mark. Her eyes slowly ignited with fury. “Alex, there’s a limit to how unreasonable you can be.” She slammed the door shut, leaving behind a profound silence and my own shattered self. In a valley with no echo, shouting further would only exhaust me more. I slid to the floor, my gaze sweeping across our wedding photo on the wall, laughing and crying all at once. I don’t know how much time passed before, in a daze, I heard my phone ring. I pressed accept, and Chloe’s furious voice blasted through the speaker. “Alex, get over here and control your friend!” Hearing Tyler’s name, I hung up and rushed frantically to The Metropolitan Bistro. The moment I stepped through the door, I saw Liam, clutching his bruised mouth, leaning weakly into Chloe’s embrace. Tyler was being restrained by waiters, his face contorted in a silent roar of frustration. I quickly rushed to his side to calm him down. Chloe didn’t spare me a glance, her face dark with anger. “Tyler, don’t think I won’t touch you just because you’re Alex’s friend. Apologize to Liam, now.” “Pfft, don’t you dare accuse me, you shameless woman!” Tyler spat back. “I did want to punch him, hard, but I never got the chance!” Chloe’s face turned ashen, then her fury erupted, aimed squarely at me. “Alex, what kind of nonsense have you been feeding her? I told you, Liam and I are just friends! Are you deaf?” She continued, “Today, neither of you are leaving until you apologize to Liam.” “Fine!” I said, my voice cutting through the tension. “But first, let’s have the restaurant manager check the surveillance footage.” Tyler’s eyes lit up. Liam, however, suddenly looked wounded. He started stalling, “Forget it, Chloe. I didn’t realize Alex misunderstood me so deeply. Maybe you should just stay away from me from now on!” With that, he dramatically stormed out, Chloe rushing after him in a panic. Before leaving, she threw one last threat over her shoulder: “Alex, if anything happens to Liam, I’m not done with you.” My nose stung, and my head bowed in silent pain. 4 Tyler scoffed, an unamused sound. “Want me to go chase him down and kick him a couple of times?” A sliver of light pierced through my gloom, and I managed a wry smile. After dinner with Tyler, I headed home. But at my doorstep, I found Chloe, utterly drunk, clinging to Liam, refusing to let go. Her mumbled words, like a child’s pouty questions, were barely audible: “Why can’t you just be more understanding?” Liam, his lips pressed together, looked faintly wronged. Seeing me appear, his expression shifted. He deliberately leaned in, giving Chloe a light, feathery kiss on the lips. His voice, soothing and soft, held a distinct edge of provocation for me: “Don’t worry, Chloe. From now on, I’ll listen to everything you say.” Watching their undignified entanglement, my old self would have ripped Chloe from his arms and cursed him for his shamelessness. But now, I simply, mechanically, pulled out my keys and opened the door, not sparing them even a sidelong glance. Liam’s mocking smirk froze, as if he couldn’t believe I hadn’t reacted. Yet, I didn’t look back. I let him carry Chloe into the living room and settle her onto the sofa. He, emboldened, continued to push my boundaries. As he finished his charade and moved to stand, he feigned a stumble, a soft cry escaping his lips, and collapsed onto Chloe. Her eyes still closed, Chloe instinctively wrapped her arms around him, a drunken mumble escaping her lips: “Stop messing around!” Liam looked up at me, as I was about to enter my room, and theatrically struggled, softly coaxing, “Chloe, don’t do this. It wouldn’t look good for Alex to see.” Hearing him, Chloe tightened her embrace. “Alex? Which Alex?” With a drunken roll, she pressed her lips firmly against Liam’s. Listening to the unbearable sounds from outside, I stood in my room, my heart bleeding, even though I’d already decided to leave. Chloe, did you two have to be so utterly desperate? Well, perhaps this just made it easier for me to cut all ties. Thirsty, I went to the kitchen for water. Moments later, Liam appeared, his clothes disheveled, his mouth swollen, a smug glint in his eyes. “Look at you, all disheveled and unkempt. No wonder I left for five years and you still couldn’t capture Chloe’s heart. If I were you, I’d be so ashamed I’d just kill myself.” “Then go ahead,” I retorted, my voice dripping with scorn. “Being the other man is far more pathetic.” His face instantly flushed with enraged humiliation. He grabbed the full glass of hot water sitting nearby and splashed it at me. I swiftly shielded my face with my hand, but most of the scalding water hit my neck. A large patch of skin turned red, stinging fiercely. Even the meekest soul has a breaking point. Blinded by fury, I lunged forward, raising my hand and landing a solid punch on his face. I was about to strike again when a drunken Chloe suddenly stumbled between us, shielding Liam, her face contorted in rage, glaring at me. I froze for a few seconds, then a sharp, stinging slap exploded across my face. The burning sensation from my neck spread to my cheek. “Alex, you disappoint me so much! Why do you keep targeting Liam? Are you even a man?” After that day, Chloe vanished. I gathered all my belongings that couldn’t be carried easily and sold them off at a secondhand market. During this time, I tried calling Chloe to discuss the divorce papers, but she only sent a cold text in return: “Liam’s in the hospital because of you. If you can’t admit your mistake and genuinely apologize, don’t contact me again.” On the day of my flight, Tyler’s eyes were red, trying hard to hold back tears. I smiled, reassuring him. I walked confidently towards a brand-new future. From this day forward, I would be my own man, navigating my own path. I would live for myself. Before turning off my phone, I sent one last message to Chloe. “The divorce papers have been mailed to your company. Please sign them as soon as possible. Thank you.”

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1 The zombie horde was a relentless wave, crashing against the Compound’s defenses. Yet, Sarah, captain of the Gifted Squad, had led her entire team to the Exchange District, all to celebrate her ex-boyfriend Liam’s birthday. Command had ordered me to bring my wife back. I refused, point blank. In my last life, when the dead swarmed our walls, I’d driven like a madman, chasing them down, fighting tooth and nail to push back the tide of horrors. But Liam, caught by the lingering infected, had been torn apart, his limbs gnawed away, leaving only a severed head. Sarah, blind to the danger, had plunged into the horde, cradling Liam’s mangled remains back to the Compound, then locked herself away for seven days and seven nights. When she emerged, it was as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t until the serum I spearheaded finally proved successful, ushering humanity into a new age, that the truth revealed itself. On the night we celebrated our victory, she drugged me, then tossed me into a writhing pile of zombies. Amidst my screams, her voice cut through the air, icy and devoid of all warmth: “You jealous monster, you deliberately lured the zombies here, sent me away, just so Liam would be unprotected, left to die a gruesome death in that horde.” “Besides, this serum? You stole his research data. Why should you be the one showered with praise?” “Die!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to the very day the zombie horde attacked. This time, she wanted to celebrate Liam’s birthday? Fine by me. Let her. … The cacophony of gunfire and screams was my awakening. I strode towards the door, pushing it open just as the Commander burst in. “Dr. Ethan, the horde’s here! Get your wife to rally the Gifted for a counterattack, fast!” I was about to speak when Mike, the logistics chief’s frantic voice cut through. “Commander, we’ve searched everywhere! All the Gifted are gone. Even the few remaining SUVs are missing!” A wave of panic rippled through most of the Compound’s residents. The Commander froze, a stunned silence falling over him. “Where are they?!” I sighed, a weary weight in my voice. “They all followed Sarah to celebrate Liam’s birthday.” “What?!” The Commander’s face contorted in disbelief. “Yesterday, we had a Compound-wide alert about the incoming horde, told the Gifted to be on high alert, and today they all went out for a birthday party?” Behind us, the few survivors left on this level overheard. Their faces twisted with raw resentment. To celebrate Liam’s birthday, they’d willingly ignored the danger pressing down on every soul in the Compound. As we spoke, the horde surged closer. Another volley of gunfire ripped through the air. People ducked, screaming, the area dissolving into chaos. The Commander stepped forward, his voice cutting through the panic. “Those with firearms, secure the main gate! Everyone else, get to the research lab’s basement. Don’t come out until you hear our all-clear!” After organizing the survivors, the Commander turned to me. “Dr. Ethan, you’re a pyro-kinetic, and you know the zombies’ weaknesses. We still have one car left at the lab. Drive it, catch up with the Gifted, and get them back here to save us!” I shook my head, a difficult truth etched on my face. “Commander, it’s not that I don’t want to go. Even if I went, Sarah and her squad wouldn’t believe a word I said.” The words hung heavy in the air, creating a suffocating silence. Ever since Liam arrived at the Compound as a researcher, Sarah’s infatuation with him had been blatant. Everyone knew we fought constantly because of Liam, that divorce papers had been drafted countless times. Just as everyone watched me, helpless, Mike, the logistics chief, stepped forward, offering a lifeline. “I’ll go! I have a gun and explosives. I can make it out there. The cure is in its final stages, Doctor, we can’t risk you!” The Commander agreed. Mike, with a desperate urgency, peeled out of the Compound through the emergency exit. The Commander organized the survivors into the basement and, taking those with weapons, joined the defense against the horde. Two hours later, Mike returned. Hopes soared, then crashed. He was alone. “Captain, what happened?” a logistics team member asked, his voice filled with dread. Mike, eyes bloodshot, crumpled to his knees. “I failed you all. I couldn’t convince the Gifted to come back! Sarah called me heartless, said I was colluding with Dr. Ethan to trick them.” “I begged them, pleaded! But they used their abilities to trap me. Said I’d get what I deserved!” He was covered in wounds, his little car a mangled wreck. God knew what he’d endured out there. Listening to his account, the survivors erupted, cursing Sarah and her squad. “What kind of Gifted Captain? She’s nothing but a faithless wretch, always wrapped around Liam, ignoring the Compound’s desperate plight!” Their indignation raged, then a thunderous crash from outside silenced them. The panicked residents didn’t know what it was. The Commander returned, his face grim, gun clutched in hand. “The Apex Zombie. It’s here. It’s directing the horde, and the main gate won’t hold much longer.” “Are we really going to die here?” A survivor’s voice broke, tears mingling with terror in their eyes. I looked at the soot-stained faces, my comm in hand. “I contacted the Alliance Military rescue team in advance, but they need time. We have to hold out!” “I’ll go find Gifted from nearby outposts. I’ll beg them for help, anything to buy us more time!” Mike’s eyes lit up. He immediately tried to rise, but after only two steps, his body swayed precariously. Everyone rushed to support him. Forcing him to sit, they saw it—not just wounds from Gifted abilities, but a massive zombie claw mark on his back. Mike managed a bitter smile. “Let me go! I’m already infected. If I can bring back help in my final hours, that’s my last value!” The logistics team turned away, unable to bear the sight. Soaked sobs broke out among the survivors. “Don’t go. I’ll do it!” I pulled a vial of pale blue liquid from my jacket. Hesitantly, I held it out to Mike. “This is the latest version of the serum. It’s been successful on animals. I don’t know if it’ll work on humans, but at this point, it’s all we’ve got.” Without waiting for anyone to object, I clambered into the rickety little car, preparing to leave. The Commander hurried over, his words urgent. “Dr. Ethan, hurry! Our ammunition will last two hours, tops!” I nodded, my jaw set. Just as I cleared the Compound’s perimeter, a vehicle sped towards me. My eyes lit up. I slammed on the brakes, waving wildly. It was Chris, captain of the Gifted squad from the next outpost over. I practically ripped the car door open, seizing his arm, my voice tight with relief. “Chris, what are you doing here?! No time to explain, get to the Compound—” He yanked his arm free, a sneer twisting his lips. “Still putting on a show, huh?” 2 I stared at him, bewildered. “What are you talking about? Didn’t you get the distress call to come rescue us?” Chris stood blocking my path, his gaze full of contempt. “You’re not trying to escape, are you?” “Early this morning, Captain Sarah found me. She told me everything, asked me to block you right here! Ethan Vance, we looked up to you! To think your ‘serum’ was just a facade, a sick joke. May you rot in hell!” I stood there, frozen, the words taking a long moment to sink in. Dying in my last life, Sarah had said similar things. She’d claimed I deliberately lured the horde to get rid of Liam, to then steal his research — the cure. My heart sank, a sudden, horrifying clarity dawning on me. Sarah had reincarnated too. That’s why Mike’s pleas had fallen on deaf ears. She’d deliberately cut off the Compound’s last lifeline. The thought of the desperate souls fighting inside overshadowed everything else. “Chris! Take your team, come back to the Compound with me! If I’m lying, you can do whatever you want to me!” “So many lives in there, I wouldn’t joke about something like this!” Chris just rolled his eyes, a derisive laugh escaping him. “Talking big now, but who knows what stunt you’re pulling? Even if the zombies did break through, Sarah and her squad would handle it easily, wouldn’t they? Don’t tell me all those Gifted couldn’t handle a few zombies?” I grabbed Chris by his collar, my voice raw with fury. “Yes! With Sarah, it’s easy! But she took everyone with her to celebrate Liam’s birthday! There are no Gifted left in the Compound! Do you know why Sarah came to you a day early?” “Because she planned for you to hold me back! She didn’t want anyone disturbing her celebration for Liam!” My face was burning red as I shrieked the words, my voice hoarse. Chris looked at me, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. “Impossible! Sarah would never abandon an entire Compound, leave her post, for personal feelings! You’re lying!” I gazed at Chris, despair washing over me. I used to trust Sarah just as blindly. We were college sweethearts, fought side by side through the apocalypse until now. In my heart, Sarah was the person I trusted most. I thought we’d face the end of the world together, but everything changed the moment Liam arrived. She’d accuse me, without rhyme or reason, of ostracizing new recruits, simply because Liam was in a bad mood. Even though Liam was the one with connections, clueless about research. She’d carve out time from her busy schedule to cook for Liam, openly favoring him in front of everyone. Even though I was her husband. A bitter ache swelled in my chest, but this wasn’t the time to dwell. I looked at Chris, only helplessness remained. If he wouldn’t help me, I’d go directly to other outposts for aid. Even a single squad would be enough for the Compound to hold on. With that thought, I scrambled back into the car, slamming the accelerator to the floor, ready to leave. But Chris, quick as a flash, maneuvered his car directly in front of mine, blocking my path. “Ethan Vance, you’re not getting away today!” Seeing Chris’s stubborn refusal, I ignored him, stomping the pedal. I’d crash right through him if I had to. Even if it killed me, I would bring back reinforcements! Chris startled, then reacted instantly, unleashing his ability to wreck my car. I screamed at him, my voice breaking. “Chris! Don’t you dare stop me from saving lives! The Compound is about to fall!” But Chris ignored my fury, steadfastly blocking my way. “I’ll go with you to the Compound! But if you’re actually lying to me—” I cut him off. “Message your team! I’m not lying!” Chris alone wasn’t enough; my Compound needed more Gifted. Chris looked at me, torn, then pulled out his comm. The next second, the distinct emergency broadcast blared. [ATTENTION! ATTENTION! Southern Outpost under severe zombie threat! All able-bodied Gifted from nearby sectors are requested to provide immediate assistance!] [All Gifted from nearby sectors are requested to provide immediate assistance!] Chris’s face drained of all color. 3 By the time Chris and I reached the Compound, it was pure pandemonium. Gunshots and screams ripped through the air, endless. Zombies roamed the labs, bits of flesh and broken bones scattered everywhere. I stared at the unrecognizable Compound, tears streaming down my face. No matter how hard I tried, I was still too late. Chris stood beside me, speechless. I watched the surging horde, my abilities flaring, pushing them back again and again. Chris snapped out of his daze, forcing himself into the fray, battling the infected. Just as my power began to wane, a zombie lunged at my side. Too slow to dodge, I enveloped myself in my pyro-kinetic shield, hoping to minimize the damage. BANG! A gunshot. The zombie’s trajectory shifted. Mike stood at the basement entrance, firing his gun, relentlessly attacking the zombies. Just then, figures of Gifted appeared outside the Compound walls. Reinforcements! My heart soared. I immediately worked with the arriving aid, pushing the zombies back. It wasn’t until the last of the dead vanished from the Compound that I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The basement door creaked open, but when I saw that only a tenth of the survivors remained, the fragile smile on my face froze. Chris stood before me, guilt etched on his features. “I’m sorry! It’s my fault!” I was about to speak when Sarah’s triumphant voice cut through the air. “Well, well, well, look at all these handsome faces! Is this all a big surprise for our Liam?” As she spoke, Liam, arm slung around Sarah’s waist, strode in, followed by a grinning squad of Gifted. Sarah looked at the Compound’s devastation, then at me, her tone dripping with mockery. “Ethan Vance, is your little act over? Doesn’t feel so good when your plans fall apart, does it?” “Alright, it’s Liam’s birthday! Don’t be an eyesore, we’re going to keep celebrating!” She grew more pleased with herself with every word, utterly oblivious to the strange looks around her. She didn’t notice the subtle shift in her own squad’s expressions. Liam, meanwhile, openly wrapped his arm around Sarah, kissing her right in front of me. When they finished, he smirked, a taunt in his eyes. “My apologies, Dr. Vance. Captain Sarah lost a dare and has to be my girlfriend for the day. You don’t mind, do you?” His smug smile lasted barely two minutes before he was drenched in a torrent of foul, murky water. The survivors, eyes red-rimmed with rage, stared at Liam as he shrieked and sputtered from the sudden dousing. Pure hatred blazed in their gazes. They grabbed anything they could, pelting him. “You dog! What are you gloating about?! Does dancing on our graves taste good?!” “Beast! Why wasn’t it you who died?!” “Get out! We don’t need protection from a pair of traitors like you!” … It wasn’t until they were completely surrounded by the enraged survivors that Sarah finally realized the zombie attack had been real.

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1 To pay off my boyfriend’s debts, my mother and I worked ourselves to the bone. But because of it, she developed lung cancer. When I rushed to the hospital with the money for her treatment, I found she had hanged herself, leaving behind only a letter: “Lila, my dear, your mother can’t go on. Take this money to pay off the debts. Julian is a good boy, he loves you, he just lost his way. After the debts are settled, live a good life together.” Clutching my mother’s ashes, I handed the thirty thousand dollars of her hard-earned money to Julian Winthorpe. Returning to the company, I unexpectedly saw him talking with several creditors. “Mr. Winthorpe, Miss July has passed all your tests. What are your next arrangements?” Julian’s childhood friend, Olivia Reed, suddenly spoke up: “Julian, darling, although Miss July can endure hardship with you, we still need to test if she can share prosperity.” Julian pursed his lips: “Next, I need to know if her feelings for me are genuine.” “After she knows my true identity, if she isn’t swayed by vanity, if she doesn’t become greedy for money, I will marry her.” I stared at my mother’s urn, tears streaming down my face. Julian Winthorpe, Mother was wrong about you. And so was I. I don’t want to marry you anymore. Leaving the Winthorpe Corporation, I sat by the roadside, clutching my mother’s urn. My mother had asked me to place her remains in a simple pickling jar. All to save five hundred dollars for Julian’s debts. On the large screen in the town square, Julian’s image appeared. The news anchor reported: “Just now, Mr. Julian Winthorpe, the CEO of Winthorpe Corporation, who mysteriously disappeared for three years, attended a gala with his fiancée, Miss Olivia Reed.” I watched Julian’s proud and confident face on the screen. Tears welled in my eyes. So, all the sweat and toil my mother and I poured into earning money to pay off his debts… was just a lie. I sat there for a long time, until dusk, when Julian called. His voice, as always, was tender: “It’s so late, why aren’t you home yet? Where are you? I’ll pick you up.” I instinctively opened my mouth, but silence was all that came out. In the past, I would have responded with a hint of resentment, complaining that he was disturbing my work again. But now, that intimate tone… I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Julian’s voice held a touch of urgency: “Lila, where are you now?” “Working.” Julian froze, seemingly just remembering that for his debts, I had been diligently working late into the night. He had also promised that once the debts were paid, he would marry me. We would settle down and build a life together, just as my mother had hoped. Tonight, he was supposed to reveal his true identity to me. “I, I have something to tell you. Actually, I’m the heir to the Winthorpe Corporation.” “I’m coming to pick you up right now…” I hung up, hailing a cab and driving away. I had no expectations left for Julian. When I finally collected myself, my tears were reflected in the car window. On my phone, Julian’s messages popped up, one after another. I didn’t look, nor did I want to. Today was supposed to be the day we started our new life. But his deception had turned my mother’s suicide into a bitter joke. Five years of arduous effort, exchanged only for a ludicrous truth. 2 Julian Winthorpe, I don’t want to marry you anymore. That night, I didn’t go home. Instead, I checked into a hotel. Julian, too, spent the entire night sending messages and making countless calls. I didn’t read them, nor did I answer. The next morning, I arrived at the office early, preparing my resignation letter. The company was a subsidiary of the Winthorpe Corporation, and I was just an ordinary accountant. Five years ago, I first met Julian when he joined the company. After we started dating, I took him to meet my mother. My mother approved of our engagement, and as we prepared for the wedding banquet, Julian told me he had incurred massive debts and had been fired from his job. To help him pay off his debts, I took on many part-time jobs. My mother’s already weathered face grew even older. Yet, I never imagined that this company… was his. I scoffed, a self-deprecating laugh. Just then, Julian walked in. I simply took out the printed resignation agreement. Julian appeared beside me, and under his gaze, I calmly signed the resignation agreement. He looked at me, his voice soft: “Finished?” “Finished.” Julian bit his lip slightly, seemingly unaware of the change in me. He cleared his throat: “Lila July, please come with me for a moment.” The moment Julian called me away, my colleagues immediately started whispering. “Oh my goodness, did you see the news? Julian Winthorpe is the CEO of Winthorpe Corporation!” “Lila is going to be the CEO’s wife, isn’t she? But her expression…” “You don’t understand, this is just a lovers’ quarrel. They’ll make up later, you know…” Everyone assumed I was the soon-to-be CEO’s wife. Little did they know, all I wanted now was to leave forever. In the office, Julian reached out, wanting to take my hand. I instinctively stepped back. “Mr. Winthorpe.” Julian frowned slightly. “Why didn’t you come home last night? Are you still angry with me?” I shook my head. “I went to see my mother.” I didn’t go back home because I didn’t want her to see my mother. If only she had received treatment, my mother would have had hope to live. But she chose to end her life, so as not to burden us. Julian seemed to notice a hint of something different in my demeanor. After a moment of silence, he spoke: “Tonight, let’s go see your aunt together.” He paused, then seemed to remember something, his eyes filled with hesitation. He slowly handed me a card. “There’s a million dollars in here. Buy your aunt some new clothes. Consider it…” I looked at the bank card but didn’t take it. What he owed us wasn’t something money could fix. Seeing my silence, a flicker of panic crossed Julian’s eyes. He was about to speak, when a ringtone interrupted his thoughts. Julian pulled out his phone, glanced at me, and after a moment’s hesitation, walked away. I knew. This was perhaps his so-called test for me. To test my sincerity, to see if I was greedy for money. But I no longer cared. Afterward, I submitted my resignation agreement. The Deputy CEO, Mr. Smith, seemed unsurprised by my sudden request to leave. “Lila, you’re leaving? Is Mr. Winthorpe arranging something else for you?” I bit my lip, finding it all so absurd. Everyone assumed I was about to become Mrs. Winthorpe, rising into the upper echelons of society. They all envied my luck. 3 Little did they know I had lost my mother forever because of him. If I had a choice, I would rather never have met Julian Winthorpe. Leaving the company, I saw Julian with his childhood friend, Olivia Reed. Catching my gaze, Julian instinctively began to explain, “This is Olivia Reed, she’s my…” Before he could finish, Olivia wrapped her arm around his. “Fiancée.” I said nothing. Then, Olivia spoke again: “Excuse me, please move aside.” A flicker of challenge danced in Olivia’s eyes. I silently took a step back, clearing the path. Julian looked at me, hesitation in his eyes, as if wanting to say something, but Olivia pulled him away. That night, I went to the monastery and enshrined my mother’s ashes in the temple. I stayed until the prayers for her passing were completed. Julian did not appear, nor did he ask for me. I didn’t care. Whether he knew of my mother’s death was irrelevant now. I believed that if my mother’s spirit in heaven knew the truth, she wouldn’t want to see him either. Five years of misjudgment ended right then. I returned home at dawn. Julian hadn’t come back, but I didn’t care. As I packed my luggage, the news broadcast on the television was about the CEO of Winthorpe Corporation attending a gala with his fiancée, Olivia Reed. I watched the perfectly matched pair, feeling little emotion. With my bags packed, I was about to leave. The sound of the door opening, and Julian appeared. The moment he saw me, Julian rushed over, seizing my hand. “Where were you last night? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I froze, then pulled my hand free from Julian’s grasp. “Last night, I was with my mother. I didn’t want to disturb her rest, so I turned off my phone.” When I mentioned my mother, Julian seemed to remember what he had said the day before, and a hint of guilt crossed his face. “I’ll arrange for the best doctors to care for your aunt.” He then pulled out a small box and pressed it into my hand. “This is what I promised to give your aunt.” I instinctively opened it; inside was a bracelet. It was the genuine counterpart to the cherished bracelet my mother had carefully kept. I froze. Julian had once held my mother’s hand, swearing earnestly and solemnly that one day he would give her a priceless original. My mother’s eyes had held a smile then; she didn’t care if the bracelet was real or not. As long as it was from Julian, from the good son-in-law she recognized, she would be happy. But I thought, that was then. I closed the box and handed it back. “If you get a chance, you can give it to her yourself.” Julian frowned slightly. Each time, I made the choice he most expected, yet my politeness now seemed unfamiliar to him. A hint of unease flickered in his heart. He grasped my hand, clenching it slightly. “Your aunt’s health…” Just then, Olivia Reed appeared, wrapping her arm around Julian’s. “Julian, darling, I want to stay in this room!” She pointed to my room. “This room is occupied,” Julian said, then immediately explained to me, “She’s a friend, and she’s staying here temporarily for work.” He then stared at me intently, seemingly expecting me to refuse. But I nodded, agreeing without hesitation: “You can have the room. I’m going to stay with my mother.” Julian paused for a moment, and Olivia, not giving me a chance to change my mind, immediately rushed into the room. 4 Only then did he notice the luggage in my hand. He pursed his lips, clutching my hand tightly, refusing to let go, his eyes deepening with guilt. Finally, urged by Olivia’s impatient calls, he spoke: “Tomorrow, I’ll go see your aunt.” I carried my luggage back to my mother’s place, intending to collect all her belongings. But looking at her room, I couldn’t help but shed more tears. Her room was large, capable of holding many things. Yet, her room was also small, small enough to only contain the tiny fragments of my life with Julian. On the wall, hung our joint photos. On the table, sat the cheap little duck dolls Julian and I had given her. In the corner, the milk I had brought her remained untouched; she hadn’t dared to drink a single bottle, saving it for Julian and me. The bracelet Julian had given her, she had carefully placed in a box, polished to a shine. Other than that, her own possessions were only countless handmade craft components, endless embroidery projects, and a small mountain of leather bags. All of this was to save money to pay off Julian’s debts. And all of it was for my future happiness. I tore the joint photos to shreds, smashing the little duck dolls. But the one photo—the one of Julian and me, holding her hands—I couldn’t bring myself to destroy. I placed it at the bottom of my suitcase. With everything packed, I returned to the company for my final handover. Upon arriving, I saw Olivia Reed sitting at my desk. My colleagues watched us, nobody speaking. Perhaps, in their eyes, this was a showdown between a childhood sweetheart and an unexpected rival, and no one caught in the middle could escape unscathed. Seeing me approach, Olivia crossed her legs and flung a check onto the desk. “Ten million dollars. For this position.” Faced with her provocation, I calmly picked up the check. “Alright, I’ll just pack up my things.” Everyone assumed I was bending for a paltry sum, sighing with pity for me. I didn’t care. I calmly packed my belongings, preparing to leave. Just then, Julian walked over, noticing me with my luggage. His expression suddenly tightened. “Where are you going?” “I…” Olivia cut in, speaking first: “I bought this position.” Julian frowned, glancing at me. I raised the check in my hand. “I’ve accepted the money. Ten million.” Hearing my words, Julian suddenly froze. He turned his head, seeing Olivia’s triumphant, expectant expression. His face suddenly turned grim, and the atmosphere solidified. Julian said nothing, as if in silent agreement. Not until my back disappeared from view, did Julian shrug off Olivia’s clinging arm. In front of everyone, he slapped her across the face, his voice cold: “Don’t you dare humiliate her. Do you understand?” After leaving the company, my phone received a text message from Julian. 【The specialists I hired have arrived. I’m sending them to your aunt’s hospital room now.】 【Tonight, we’ll go see your aunt together.】 【I’m craving your cooking.】 I smiled, a sudden, bitter taste in my mouth. Julian Winthorpe, goodbye. I gathered all my luggage and headed to the airport. Just as I was about to board the plane, Julian’s messages popped up furiously. 【Lila, the specialists went to the hospital, but your aunt isn’t there?】 【Lila, where on earth is your aunt?!】 【Mother, has she really…】

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