Category: English

Just after closing a massive business deal, my contractor added me to an exclusive VIP gym group on Snapchat. The chat was buzzing with activity. One guy, boasting a profile picture of his abs, sent a message: [My girl is so obsessed with getting pregnant. She takes me to this high-end oyster bar and buys me $500 stamina IV drips every single day just so I can go all night. She’s absolutely hooked.] Another replied, [That’s nothing. My girl bought me this emerald-encrusted Patek Philippe after winning a brutal bidding war at a private Sotheby’s auction last week.] A third chimed in, [I hate to brag, but my girl said a body like mine belongs in a mansion away from other women’s eyes. Boom. She bought me a $15 million Malibu beach house just like that.] I thought they were just a bunch of gym bros flexing online, so I ignored it. But then, they started posting photos. My blood ran cold. Those exact items—the watch, the mansion—were things my Oscar-winning wife had just taken from me under various excuses. She was using my money to pamper her little boy toys? And the worst part? There weren’t just one or two. There were eight of them. A useless, pretty-faced actress. I’m done with her.

The Snapchat group was still popping off. It seemed none of them realized they were sharing the same woman. I took a deep breath, saved our wedding photo, and dropped it right into the chat. The group chat went dead silent. But within seconds, someone tagged me: [@Ethan, isn’t that Seraphina Sterling, the Oscar winner and CEO of Astra Entertainment?!] [Holy shit! Yes! Rumor has it she’s not just an actress, but she actually owns Astra Entertainment!] [Bro, this is insane! I can’t believe I’m in the same gym group as Seraphina’s husband!] [We gotta meet up sometime, man! Can you get me an autographed poster?] The chat exploded with excitement, but the guys who had been bragging just a moment ago suddenly went quiet. A few minutes later, I received eight friend requests accompanied by aggressive messages. [Are you brain-dead from lifting too hard? That AI edit is so fake! Take it down right now!] [What is wrong with you?! Why did you crop my girl’s face onto your trash photo?!] [My girl is an Oscar winner! We’ve been secretly married for years! Posting this ruins her reputation! I can sue you for defamation!] [Don’t think you can seduce my wife just because you’re a fanboy! If you try to clout-chase using her name, I will ruin you!] [What kind of pathetic loser tries to pose as her husband? You picked the wrong day to mess with the real deal!] [Even your Instagram is filled with photos of my girl? You creep!] [Oh, you’re that annoying stalker she always complains about, aren’t you?] [A homewrecker like you can work out all you want, but you’ll never have her. She’ll dump you soon anyway!] My hands began to shake. Just a second ago, I was desperately hoping it was all a bizarre coincidence. But looking at the endless stream of toxic messages, the truth stared me in the face: Seraphina was cheating on me. The only reason these guys hadn’t exposed her in the group chat before was probably because Seraphina had strictly forbidden them from doing so. But Seraphina was nothing more than a talentless, pampered industry plant. Even her Oscar and her CEO title were bought with my family’s money! Without me, she’d still be handing out flyers on the streets of Hollywood. How did she dare do this to me? I gritted my teeth and declined every single friend request. Seeing that I ignored them, they took their anger back to the Snapchat group. [Seraphina has never once made her marriage public. You photshipped a wedding picture. What does that prove?] [Exactly. Who the fuck do you think you are, pretending to be Seraphina’s husband?] [The guy is desperate for clout. Rent-boys are everywhere these days, even sneaking into private gym groups!] [He probably wants to leech off Seraphina’s fame so he can sell his body for more money later!] [I can’t believe the gym admins let this shameless pig ruin the group. Aren’t you guys scared of getting a cease-and-desist letter from Astra Entertainment?] My body trembled with pure rage. This VIP gym actually belonged to one of my business partners. He knew my wife liked working out, so he had gifted me a five-year premium membership. Because Seraphina was a public figure, I had joined the chat first to check out the vibe before bringing her here. I never expected to find a whole collection of green hats waiting for me. I was about to reply when a notification popped up: *You have been kicked out of the group chat.* I looked up at the massive wedding photo hanging in our living room. It felt like a slap in the face. After firing off a few cold texts to Seraphina, I grabbed my coat and rushed straight to the hospital. Since she had so many men lined up to give her babies… Then the IVF embryos we had successfully created could go straight into the trash!

The moment I arrived at the hospital, I headed straight for the IVF department. Seraphina didn’t know about this yet, but it was better to cancel the whole thing before she found out. As I passed one of the consultation rooms, I heard my mother-in-law Victoria’s voice echoing from inside: “So his pre-pregnancy test results are out? He’s fertile, right? Please double-check everything for me.” I froze in my tracks. Peering through the gap in the door, I saw Victoria resting her hand on a young man’s shoulder, her face full of concern. I recognized him. It was Marcus, one of the guys from the Snapchat group. My blood instantly turned to ice. Not only did my mother-in-law know Seraphina was keeping men on the side, but she was actively bringing them to the clinic to run fertility tests? Before I could turn to leave, Victoria opened the door and walked out. Her face fell the moment she saw me. “What are you doing here instead of staying at home?” I looked past her at Marcus, who was still inside the room. “Who is he?” Victoria panicked for a split second before stepping in front of me to block my view. “Have you lost your mind? Are you stalking us? What do you want?” Then, she put on her usual dramatic, victimized face. “My poor Seraphina must have sinned in her past life to marry someone like you!” “We’ve been married for six years, and you’re still useless in bed! My poor daughter doesn’t even have a child because of you!” “I came all the way to the hospital to get some fertility meds for you out of the goodness of my heart, and you have the nerve to interrogate me? Unbelievable!” She grabbed my arm and tried to drag me toward the exit. “Do you have any idea how much our relatives laugh at us behind our backs? Go home! Stop embarrassing us in public!” I looked at her, feeling a sudden sting in my eyes. For the past six years, we hadn’t had any children. In the beginning, whenever Victoria made passive-aggressive comments about my fertility, Seraphina would defend me, even screaming at her mother to move out. But later, the medical reports showed that Seraphina had severe PCOS, making it incredibly difficult for her to conceive. To protect her feelings, I kept it a secret from everyone, including her mother. Yet, Seraphina found out. Every night, she would hold me tightly and cry: “It’s all my fault. It’s my bad body that’s keeping us from having a baby.” “But don’t worry, I’ll do the IVF treatments. Once I’m pregnant, I’ll retire from acting and focus on our family.” Watching her go through the painful IVF process broke my heart. But now, I realized she wasn’t just doing IVF with me. I snapped out of my thoughts and violently shook her hand off. “If you find me so embarrassing, tell Seraphina to sign the divorce papers!” She gasped. I didn’t want to waste another second arguing with her, so I turned to find the doctor to destroy my embryos. Suddenly, Marcus rushed out of the room and grabbed me by the collar. “I know you! You’re the creep who posted that fake photo in our Snapchat group!” “Unbelievable! You actually dare to show your face here!” Seeing this, Victoria quickly grabbed Marcus’s arm. “Marcus, sweetie, the doctor said you need to conserve your energy! Don’t waste your stamina on this loser! Save it for tonight…” But Marcus refused to let go, his grip tightening on my shirt. “If he hadn’t posted those photos of my girl, I wouldn’t have gotten so distracted at the gym that I almost dropped a barbell on my groin!” Hearing this, Victoria didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. “So it was you! You’re sterile, so you want to make other men sterile too? How can you be so evil!” “If my daughter can’t have a baby because of this, I will destroy you!” The sudden slap left my head spinning. But I quickly stood tall, wound back, and slapped her right back. Victoria stumbled, completely shocked. She pointed a trembling finger at me. “How dare you! You worthless piece of trash, you actually struck me!” As she reached out to claw at my face, I slapped her again, harder this time. “Why wouldn’t I?!” “You’re actively helping your daughter cheat and breed bastards with random men. I should have slapped you years ago!” “Cheat? Bastards?” Marcus let go of my collar and shoved me back. “What the hell are you talking about!” I pulled out my phone and dialed Seraphina’s number, putting it on speaker for everyone to hear. “Call Seraphina here right now, and you’ll find out exactly what I mean!” The call rang out. I tried three times, but nobody picked up. Victoria scoffed, her face twisted in mockery. “My daughter is the CEO of Astra Entertainment. She doesn’t have time for a nobody like you.” Marcus pulled her arm, looking confused. “Mom, who is this guy anyway?”

Victoria gave me a disdainful side-eye. “Just some toy my daughter keeps around for fun.” “Marcus, honey, just focus on marrying into our family. Take good care of my daughter, make sure she gets pregnant with a boy, and she’ll treat you like royalty.” Seeing that I remained silent, she stepped closer to me, whispering viciously, “Ethan, did you really think my daughter is still the same submissive girl from six years ago?” “She’s worth over a hundred million dollars now. You’re way out of her league!” “She only keeps you around out of pity!” By now, a crowd of bystanders had gathered around us, whispering. “What’s going on? Did she say her daughter is the CEO of Astra Entertainment?” “Is she talking about Seraphina Sterling?” The crowd grew excited, and several people pulled out their phones to start live-streaming on TikTok. “Wait, is this Seraphina’s secret husband? And is the other guy her side piece?” “Wow, the Oscar winner is wild!” Looking at the camera lenses pointed at us, I felt like laughing. Good. Now the other seven lovers—and my parents—would see this. Marcus finally processed what Victoria was saying. His face contorted with rage, and he grabbed my hair, slamming my head against the hospital wall. “I knew it! You’re just a delusional stalker!” “Harassing my girl for so long… have you no shame?!” The violent impact made my head spin. My left leg, which had been operated on after an accident a few weeks ago, flared with excruciating pain. I collapsed against the wall, clutching my leg. Instead of stopping him, Victoria cheered him on. “He always acts so weak and pathetic in front of Seraphina just to turn her against me.” “It’s about time you got a lesson! Let’s see if you dare to creep around her again!” I squeezed my throbbing leg, crying out to a nurse passing by: “My leg… it hurts. I think the metal plate inside just cracked…” The nurse looked alarmed and tried to rush over, but Victoria blocked her path. “Cracked?! He’s faking it!” “He can’t even get my daughter pregnant. Who cares if his leg is broken? He’s useless anyway!” When the nurse tried to bypass her, Marcus stepped in, looking menacing. “Do you know who built the new wing of this hospital? My girl donated millions for it!” “If you help him, I’ll make sure you’re fired by tonight!” The nurse looked at me sympathetically, but ultimately took a step back, too afraid to intervene. Marcus crossed his arms, looking smug. “In case you didn’t know, the wing my girl donated is called The Milton Wing!” “It’s named after me! Milton is my middle name!” “And you dare to claim you’re her husband? You’re asking for death!” Is that so? I endured the burning pain in my leg and let out a cold laugh. I was the one who donated that wing. It was named “Milton” because it was my mother’s maiden name. What did it have to do with him? I couldn’t believe Seraphina would even use my charitable donations to flatter her gym toy! But the pain in my leg was becoming unbearable. Cold sweat poured down my face, and I didn’t even have the strength to argue anymore. Victoria kicked my injured leg a couple of times, sneering. “Pathetic trash. You came to the hospital to hurt my sweet son-in-law, didn’t you?” “Lucky I caught you, or else I would have made sure you left in a body bag!” The bystanders started murmuring, pointing at me. “Trying to harm the real husband? What a toxic stalker.” “No wonder Seraphina kept her marriage a secret. She was probably trying to protect her real husband from this psycho.” “Well, the stalker’s face is all over the internet now. His life is ruined.” Right then, my phone buzzed. It was Seraphina. Her voice was panicked and breathless through the speaker: “Ethan, wait for me. I’m almost there!” She must have seen the live stream. Marcus saw the caller ID, snatched the phone from my hand, and smashed it onto the tile floor. “You still dare to call my girl!” “I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!” He grabbed my hair and began dragging me toward the main lobby. “Let’s show everyone what a disgusting homewrecker looks like!” I stumbled, losing my balance, and was dragged across the cold floor. A thick trail of blood smeared behind me. Finally, a bystander realized something was wrong and yelled, “Stop! His leg is actually bleeding! You guys are going to kill him!” Marcus glanced back but didn’t let go. “So what if his leg is broken? He’s a home-wrecking rat. He deserves to die!” Victoria hesitated, probably realizing I wasn’t faking it. As Marcus dragged me across the floor, the loss of blood made me dizzy, and I was on the verge of passing out. Just then, a frantic scream echoed through the lobby: “Stop! Stop! Don’t touch my husband!” It was Seraphina. Behind her, looking equally terrified, were my parents.

The moment Marcus saw Seraphina, he immediately let go of my hair. He wrapped his arms around her waist, looking incredibly aggrieved. “Babe, you’re finally here!” “If you had come any later, this psycho stalker would have ruined my life!” The crowd went wild, flashing their cameras. “Oh my God, it really is Seraphina Sterling!” “Wow, she’s even prettier in person!” “Who cares if she’s pretty? She’s a cheater!” Hearing the whispers, Seraphina desperately waved her hands, signaling her security guards to push the crowd back. She turned to Marcus, her voice hushed but frantic: “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” My parents pushed past her. My mother quickly took off her expensive coat and wrapped it around my bleeding leg, screaming at the front desk: “Are you people blind?! We need a doctor here right now!” Just then, two more fit men pushed through the crowd. If I remembered correctly, they were Jax and Tyler, two of her other lovers. They went berserk the moment they saw Marcus hugging Seraphina. Jax threw a punch, sending Marcus stumbling back. “You’re her husband?!” “Are you insane? How dare you claim her!” Tyler joined in, shoving Marcus. “Exactly! I’m her husband!” Victoria realized things were spinning out of control. She screamed at the bystanders to turn off their live streams. Then she pulled Jax and Tyler back, whispering urgently, “Calm down, boys! You worked so hard at the gym to build those bodies for my daughter!” “Save your energy for tonight! Don’t disappoint me!” The crowd erupted in shock. “Who are those two? What does she mean by that?!” “Is Seraphina running a whole harem?!” My parents’ faces were incredibly dark. Seraphina was so terrified she looked like she wanted to melt into the floor. She reached out, trying to touch my shoulder. “Ethan, let the doctors look at your leg first. We can talk about the rest later.” Before I could push her hand away, her lovers shoved each other to get to her side. “Seraphina, babe! I know you have a lot of pressure as an actress. I can forgive you for having fun on the side!” “As long as I’m the one you truly love!” “Get lost! She loves me! I’m her husband!” Then, several more muscular men pushed their way into the lobby. They immediately started shoving each other. “Get your hands off my wife, you shameless home-wrecking bastards!” Seraphina’s face turned paper-white. She frantically waved her hands at me. “Ethan, it’s not what it looks like. It’s all a misunderstanding.” Marcus, who had been pushed to the edge of the group, cried out to Victoria, “Mom, what is going on?!” Victoria held her head high, her voice loud and stubborn. “My daughter is a successful, talented woman! What’s wrong with her wanting to breed the most perfect child?!” “As long as you boys can pass down your perfect physical genes to her baby, you are all my sons-in-law!” “Besides, she isn’t pregnant yet. Once the baby is born, we’ll do a DNA test to see who the real father is!” The entire lobby went dead silent. Then, an even louder roar of laughter and disgust erupted. “Holy shit, she really thinks she’s a queen choosing her concubines!” “Some Oscar winner she is, having her mom manage her harem!” “Does she really think her genes are that special? This is disgusting!” The flawless, elegant public image Seraphina had spent years building shattered into pieces in a single second. She quickly grabbed her assistant, desperately trying to bribe the crowd: “Delete the videos! I’ll pay you! Delete them!” “Otherwise, my legal team will sue every single one of you for invasion of privacy!” The hospital security finally intervened, pushing the crowd out of the lobby. The lovers exchanged looks, finally understanding Victoria’s words. They all turned their eyes to me, puffing out their chests. “My sperm is definitely the most elite! I’m the best choice!” “This loser is the root of all our problems. If he hadn’t posted those photos, my girl wouldn’t be in this scandal!” “Exactly! Who cares if she has other men?!” “As long as it doesn’t ruin her career, I don’t mind sharing!” Looking at them, I felt nothing but pity. They were actually willing to share a worthless, broken woman. My father glared at Seraphina with absolute disgust. The coldness in his eyes made Seraphina drop to her knees instantly. “Mr. Vance, I swear I don’t even know these men!”

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My cousin, Sophia, is obsessed with testing my boyfriends. No matter how many times I say no, she never stops. Once she hooks them, she dumps them, then posts in our family group chat to tell everyone my guy is trash. But this time, she has no idea she’s walking straight into a trap I designed just for her. She has to walk in. There’s no other way. Sophia has been divorced for three years. She lives off a massive alimony check from her ex-husband, playing around with a new guy every week. Male models today, young studs tomorrow. But recently, she set her sights on a new target—the guy I’ve been dating for six months, Tristan Thorne. I wasn’t surprised she found out about him so quickly. Last week, my mom stopped by my apartment to pick up some things and bumped right into him. My mom, Eleanor, has a major disease: she’s utterly green-eyed. Her sister—my Aunt Sarah—constantly brags about how Sophia married rich and still has endless cash after her divorce. Naturally, my mom’s life goal is for me to marry someone even richer than Sophia’s ex-husband. The fact that I had been single for so long was practically giving her a heart attack. Tristan and I met at a bar. He caught my eye in the crowd, and it took me six months of chasing to finally make him mine. He is younger, hotter, and significantly wealthier than Sophia’s ex-husband. He was exactly what my mother had been praying for. She immediately posted on our family group chat on Snapchat: “My daughter is getting married soon!” I rolled my eyes and replied with a shrugging emoji: “It’s not that serious, guys. Don’t worry about it.” My mom instantly fired back with a photo of him: “Look at his face, look at that designer watch. You’re telling me you’re not serious?” Sophia immediately chimed in: “Wow, Chloe, where did you find such a catch? Want me to test him out for you?” I didn’t reply. But I knew that whether I liked it or not, she was going to try. This time, though, I was ready.

On our very first date, I warned Tristan. “I have a drop-dead gorgeous, very sophisticated cousin named Sophia. She loves adding my boyfriends on Snapchat. If she adds you, do not accept.” Tristan smirked. “Afraid I’ll fall for her?” I gave him a sweet smile. “Afraid you’ll lose your mind and end up dead. Honestly, every single one of my exes died that way.” He pulled me into his arms and spent the next hour reassuring me. “That would never happen. You’re the only one for me, Chloe.” Thanks to my warning, when Sophia first tried to add him, Tristan ignored her. He even complained to me a few times. “Your cousin Sophia is relentless. She’s tried adding me from ten different throwaway accounts already.” I kissed his cheek to reward him. “Good boy. Keep holding the line. Don’t let her wild reputation tempt you.” He swiped to decline another request without missing a beat, then looked up at me. “My parents want to have dinner with you,” he said. “We’ve been dating for six months, and you still haven’t met them. They’re dying to meet you based on what I’ve told them.” I paused, then ruffled his hair. “Let’s wait a bit. I’m swamped with work this quarter. Once the quarterly review is over, dinner is on me.” “No way you’re paying,” he laughed. “If you just show up, my parents will be thrilled. We’ll eat at one of our family’s hotels!” Maybe because she was getting nowhere on Snapchat, Sophia grew impatient. She suddenly announced she was going to crash at my apartment for a while. I flatly refused, but my mom—who was desperate to show off the luxury condo Tristan had rented for me—eagerly gave Sophia my address. So when I got home from work, Tristan and Sophia were sitting on opposite ends of the couch, both staring at their phones. Tristan pulled me into the bedroom, looking annoyed. “I swear I didn’t talk to her. Why is she even here?” I acted nonchalant. “My mom probably gave her the address. She’s always like this. Just ignore her.” He swore to God he was innocent, but a small seed of unease was planted in my chest. I couldn’t stop thinking about how they looked sitting on the couch together. Would Tristan really break? It took me six grueling months of chasing to get him. He wouldn’t throw it all away in a single night, would he? I felt anxious. Part of it was my own insecurity, but another part was simply not knowing how long Tristan could actually hold out.

Tristan didn’t stay the night. He owned another apartment in the building next door, so he went back there. The next morning, he came over to bring me breakfast. There were seven or eight different pastries and bagels spread across the table. When Sophia saw it, she smirked triumphantly. “Did you bring all this because you knew I was here?” she purred. “Oh, I love these bagels! The line at this bakery is always insanely long. Did you wake up early just to get them?” Tristan gave her a cool glance. “Actually, I forgot you were here. I bought less than usual today. Chloe has a weak stomach in the morning, so I wanted to give her options.” Sophia let out a long, drawn-out “Oh,” but her fingers kept tapping against her freshly manicured nails. I knew that habit. It meant she was calculating. If she had only been mildly interested in Tristan before, she was determined to have him now. I squeezed Tristan’s hand, gripping it so hard that he looked at me in confusion. I quickly apologized and left the table. When I got home from work that evening, they were sitting on the couch again. Tristan stood up immediately to greet me. He whispered, “Doesn’t your cousin have a job? Why is she always here? Doesn’t she have her own place? Why is she lurking around ours every single day?” I looked at him and said, “Maybe if you just accept her friend request, she’ll leave you alone.” His face froze. After a moment, he murmured, “Actually, I just added her. She said she’d go home tomorrow if I did.” I just muttered “Oh” and walked into my bedroom. Tristan followed me in, wrapping his arms around me and asking if I was mad. “I just didn’t want her hanging around us every day,” he explained, pulling out his phone to prove his innocence. “Look, I already put her on mute. I won’t even see her messages.” I kept quiet, but my disappointment must have been obvious. Tristan spent the next hour trying to cheer me up. Even at dinner, he kept trying to make me laugh and piling food onto my plate. Sophia watched us, letting out a soft chuckle. “Aren’t you attentive, Tristan?”

Tristan ignored her and kept talking to me about a new retail chain he was launching. Sophia deliberately clattered her fork against her plate. When we both looked at her, she smiled. “Oops, sorry. That’s my area of expertise. I got a little excited.” She looked at a bewildered Tristan and said, “My ex-husband did pretty well with retail chains. He has tons of distribution channels he can share with me. For Chloe’s sake, I could totally hook you up.” She went on to describe the brand in detail. I could see the spark of interest in Tristan’s eyes. He looked at me hesitantly, then back at Sophia. “But since he’s your ex, wouldn’t that be awkward?” “What’s awkward about it?” she shrugged. “One night together, and everything gets solved. Just wait for my call.” Tristan didn’t refuse this time. I knew right then that she was officially unmuted. Sure enough, once we were back in our bedroom, he said, “Your cousin is actually really helpful and straightforward.” I looked up at him, my eyes welling with tears. He immediately pulled me close. “Hey, I was just saying. Do you really think I’d be interested in a woman who’s still sleeping with her ex-husband?”

Sophia left my apartment the next day, and Tristan didn’t come back for several days either. He claimed he was out of town scouting locations because they were opening several stores at once. A few times during our FaceTime calls, I caught a glimpse of Sophia in the background. He quickly explained, “Sophia called to check on the progress. When she heard I was in the next city, she decided to tag along. Honestly, her help saved us a ton of trouble. Even my dad praised me for this.” Like any trust-fund heir, Tristan spent his whole life trying to step out of his father’s shadow. His father and grandfather were highly respected entrepreneurs. Tristan wasn’t incompetent, but he was always eclipsed by his family’s legacy. He desperately wanted to prove himself. This expansion went incredibly fast and secured prime locations. Even his father and grandfather praised him at the family dinner. Tristan wired me $30,000, telling me to buy a designer bag for Sophia in my name. “I know she only helped me because of you,” he said. “It’s better if it comes from you. I know how to handle these boundaries.” He added, “Pick something she’ll really like. If it’s not enough, I’ll wire you more.” I pulled out my phone and dialed my cousin’s number. As soon as she picked up, I said, “Thanks for helping my boyfriend. He wanted to buy you a thirty-thousand-dollar bag. Is there a specific one you want, or should I just wire you the cash?” There was a long silence on the other end. Then, a deep, masculine voice spoke. “Chloe? Why is your boyfriend buying things for Sophia?” Oh my god. Sophia and her ex-husband’s names were right next to each other on my contact list. I had accidentally called her ex, Arthur Pendelton. Arthur, Sophia, and I had all gone to the same college. Arthur was a year ahead of us, and we used to run into each other at club activities. I had only mentioned once that I thought Arthur was incredibly attentive. The very next day, Sophia started pursuing him. They broke up and got back together several times before finally getting married right after graduation. Three years later, they divorced.

To prevent any misunderstanding with the man who was still paying my cousin’s massive alimony bills, I quickly explained. “No, no! It’s not like that. She did a huge favor for my boyfriend. But we should also thank you, Arthur. My boyfriend’s retail expansion only succeeded because of your resources.” “I thought she was finally getting her act together and starting her own business,” Arthur muttered. “Turns out she was doing it for your boyfriend. She’s certainly put more effort into him than she ever did for me.” Before I could say anything, he added, “Alright, I get it. I’ll buy the bag for her. Keep the money for yourself.” I returned the money to Tristan and told him Arthur said no. Tristan looked baffled. “Isn’t he her ex-husband? Why is he still acting so possessive?” “How else do you think my cousin affords all those designer clothes and her lifestyle?” Tristan’s expression tightened. He looked at me, then murmured, “Right.” That night, Sophia burst into my apartment. She had been drinking, her face flushed as she sat on the couch and picked a fight with me. Despite the alcohol, her mind was sharp and her logic was brutal. She tore me to shreds from head to toe, and finally pointed a finger at Tristan. “You think you can play in the big leagues?” she sneered. “Wake up, Chloe. You will never, ever live the life I live.” “Did you seriously complain to Arthur that I was stealing your boyfriend so he’d cut off my alimony? Let me tell you, I can find a replacement tomorrow. Watch me.” When Tristan heard that, a dangerous spark lit up in his eyes. I suddenly felt completely exhausted. Leaving them alone in the living room, I went back to my bedroom. After that night, Tristan started working late and traveling even more frequently. Even when I told him I was free and could finally meet his parents, he politely declined, saying the timing wasn’t right. By then, I already knew the truth. Sophia had won again.

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My wife is a gold-digger who count every single penny—but only when it comes to me. Right after we got married, she demanded we live a strict 50/50 lifestyle just so she could keep track of every cent we spent. It was ridiculous. If she took our daughter out and bought a $2 bag of chips, she would literally text me before she even got home, demanding her $1 back. But things went too far when our daughter was rushed to the ER with acute gastroenteritis. I was at the front desk, waiting to pay the deposit. When I called Chloe to split the bill, she dismissed me with a cold, uncaring text: [You were the one watching her when she got sick. Don’t ask me to pay for my half of the medical bill.] Yet, that very same night, she was throwing down $20,000 at a VIP club, all just to get a smile from a hot male host. Chloe was nickel-and-diming me over our daughter’s expenses again. This time, she wanted to split the bill for a sudden trip she took with our daughter, Ruby, to a ramen shop. The bowl of ramen cost $17. “Ruby ate most of it. She had almost the entire bowl, so let’s put $10 on her tab,” Chloe said, completely serious. “And I didn’t touch the broth at all, so I’m not paying for that $3 portion. In total, you owe me $13.” As she spoke, Chloe was tapping away on her iPad, updating her digital expense spreadsheet. It was filled with hundreds of entries tracking every single split expense over the last two years. Everything was in there—from a $2 pack of Oreos to our mortgage down payment. She called it a 50/50 split, but in reality, Chloe always found some absurd excuse to pay less than her half. To keep the peace in our home, I had always swallowed my pride and let it slide. “It’s a $17 bowl of ramen, Chloe. Do we really need to split it down to the broth?” I sent her $100 via PayPal and muttered under my breath, annoyed. “Besides, I took Ruby to the theme park last weekend and paid for everything. I didn’t ask you for a single dime.” “We’re a family. Why make it so complicated? It all goes to Ruby anyway.” Chloe always claimed she wanted a 50/50 split to keep our finances transparent and fair. But as I watched her accept my $100 payment and log only “$17 received” on her spreadsheet without giving me change, my stomach turned. This was her idea of “fair”? I wanted to use this moment to finally talk about ending this toxic 50/50 arrangement. But the moment I brought it up, Chloe lost her mind. “It’s just a hundred bucks, Luke! Why are you being so cheap? You’re a grown man!” “I keep this ledger to protect myself. I don’t want you stabbing me in the back later over money. That’s the only reason.” “If I don’t keep track of everything, I’ll be completely vulnerable.” Her stubbornness was exhausting. But what really broke my heart was what she said next. Was she seriously that convinced I would stab her in the back over money? We had been married for years, we had a child together, and she didn’t trust me even a little bit? While I was lost in my thoughts, Chloe finished scrolling through her phone and casually mentioned that her cousin was getting married next month. She told me to prepare a nice cash gift for the wedding registry, and that’s when I realized something was off. “Wait, didn’t we agree that we would handle our own families’ gift expenses? Why am I paying for your cousin’s gift?” It wasn’t even about the money. I just remembered how, a few weeks ago, my sister had a baby. When I mentioned buying a gift, Chloe immediately shut me down. Back then, she stood on her high horse, lecturing me about how we decided on a strict 50/50 lifestyle and that we had to stick to the rules. But now that it was her family, the rules suddenly changed? “But this is a family expense! Sending a good gift represents both of us!” Chloe argued. “I swear, Luke, I never realized how incredibly petty and cheap you are. You argue over every little thing!” When it came to splitting bills, Chloe always found a way to be right.

In the end, I gave in and paid for her cousin’s wedding gift. But after getting what she wanted, Chloe didn’t write it down in her spreadsheet. “Well, we didn’t split this one down the middle, so how am I supposed to log it?” she shrugged. “Don’t be so petty, Luke. Just let it go.” She shut me up by gaslighting me again. She was a master at double standards. Later that day, I vented to my buddies on WhatsApp. My close friend, Zach, who went to college with us, sent me a message. [Wait, man. I don’t remember Chloe being like this back in college. What happened to her over the years?] Zach, Chloe, and I all went to the same university. Although Chloe and I didn’t start dating until after graduation, the three of us used to hang out all the time back then. Zach knew what Chloe used to be like. “I have no idea where she picked this up. But right after we got married, she insisted on this lifestyle,” I texted back, feeling defeated. Looking back, Chloe brought up the 50/50 rule the morning after our wedding. She claimed her parents suggested it, saying it was the best way to prevent financial arguments. “You have no idea how many young couples divorce because of money, Luke,” she had said back then, looking so innocent and sweet. “My parents just want the best for us. Let’s just listen to them, okay?” Because I loved her, I agreed. At first, I thought sharing expenses was normal, so I didn’t think much of it. [Honestly, Luke, you need to have a serious talk with her. Marriage shouldn’t feel like a business transaction. How can you build a life together like this?] Zach texted back, trying to talk some sense into me. Even outsiders could see how toxic this was, yet Chloe had dragged this on for years. I texted him a quick “Yeah, I know,” but then my phone buzzed again. It was a screenshot from Chloe. It was an Amazon receipt for a brand-new $1,200 gaming laptop. [Hey, I accidentally broke your laptop, so I threw it out and ordered a new one. Remember to transfer me your half of the cost, okay?] Her casual tone made my heart drop. I ran to our home office to check. Sure enough, the laptop I had carefully placed on my desk was gone. That was a brand-new laptop I had bought just a month ago! How could she just break it, throw it away, and expect me to pay for its replacement?! And since she was the one who broke it, why on earth was she asking me to pay 50% for the new one?!

I confronted Chloe immediately. But she just dug her heels in and started shouting. “A laptop is a household expense, isn’t it? Shouldn’t a married couple share major expenses like this?” “I’m just trying to manage our family budget, Luke! Why do you always have to be so incredibly petty?!” Chloe started tearing up, playing the victim before I could even get angry. Her “I’m doing this for your own good, why can’t you see that?” act completely speechless. For a moment, I felt a suffocating anger rising in my chest. I couldn’t even find the words to argue. And before she walked away, she didn’t forget to remind me to PayPal her my “half” of the money. “Besides, the old laptop was completely broken anyway. It was useless, so I sold it to a junk recycler for a few bucks,” Chloe added casually when I asked what happened to my old device. “Where is the money from selling it?” I demanded, my voice shaking with anger. I had paid for that original laptop entirely with my own savings. Chloe hadn’t contributed a single cent to it. Since she sold it, that money belonged to me. She couldn’t expect me to pay for the new one while she pocketed the cash from my old one! Hearing this, Chloe’s face twisted in anger. “The junk guy barely gave me anything for it! I put that cash straight into our grocery budget anyway.” “Seriously, Luke? You’re a man. Do you really have to be this pathetic over a few dollars?”

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Because my face looked strikingly similar to Alex’s obsession, he strung me along as a rebound for five whole months. During that time, by a chaotic twist of fate, I ended up in bed with his older brother, Stuart. After that night, a dark, twisted dynamic began. Above the table, the melancholic Alex would gently tutor me on my homework. Below the table, Stuart’s bare leg would slowly slide up my calf, teasing me. In the living room, Alex would play a sad melody on the piano to ease his troubled heart. Right across the door, Stuart would press me against his study desk, gripping my waist, kissing me senseless. When Alex got wasted because Elena ignored him, he would hug me and pour his heart out. Standing right behind him, Stuart would look down at me, his dark eyes hooded, leaning over to steal a soft kiss from my lips. Finally… Alex realized how perfect his “rebound” was and decided to accept my 99th confession. But when he opened the balcony door, he saw Stuart. My eyes were blurry with desire, my forehead resting against Stuart’s chest. Stuart raised his hand, casually wiping a smudge of my lipstick from his own lips, and turned around. “Meet my wife, Chloe.” For the first time in his life, the perfect, polite Alex completely lost his mind and swore. “When the hell did this happen?!”

My phone screen lit up with two Snapchat notifications. [Chloe, are you going to confess to me today too? Honestly, I’m actually looking forward to seeing you.] [Location: The Onyx Lounge] Alex and I had an agreement: if I confessed to him 99 times, we would officially start dating. He said he didn’t want to rush into a relationship. He wanted to make sure I was genuine. For the first 98 times, I took his challenge seriously. I prepared flowers, got him gifts, and publicly chased him. He just kept count, casually telling me to try harder next time. Right outside the VIP booth, I heard someone bring up the topic. “Alex, Chloe has been chasing you for five months. It’s almost the 99th time. Are you really going to say yes?” Hearing them talk about me, my hand froze on the doorknob. Deep inside the plush sofa, a guy was playing with a Rubik’s cube. It was Alex. His pale fingers flicked the toy boredly. The music outside was deafening, the crowd wild. Yet, he sat there with a cold, gloomy aura that completely isolated him from the warmth of the room. He glanced at the teasing looks from his friends, then shifted his eyes back to the amber liquid in his glass. After a clink of glasses, a drunken voice laughed. “A fake is always a fake.” “She’s just like this toy in my hand. I play with it when I’m bored. When I don’t need it, I can throw it aside.” The guys exchanged glances and burst into laughter. “Come on, we all know why Alex didn’t reject Chloe. He’s just trying to make Elena jealous.” “Am I right, Alex?” Alex’s sharp, handsome face was half-hidden in the dim light. Nobody could read him. Unlike his trust-fund friends, Alex had a clean private life. He was polite, though he carried a strange, antisocial coldness deep down. My chest tightened. I waited for his answer. Alex didn’t deny it. The tear mole under his eye, which usually made him look gentle, now seemed incredibly cold. “I never said that.” “But if Chloe confesses again, I won’t have a reason to say no.” The booth erupted into jeers again. “Poor Chloe. She’s being used as a rebound by a bad guy like you.” “Alex, if you don’t want her, let her be the appetizer. It’s not like you’re losing anything.” “Or introduce her to me… she’s totally my type.” Suddenly, Alex walked over and patted the guy’s face mockingly. He didn’t say a word, but the threat was loud and clear. Someone quickly tried to smooth things over. “Shut up, dude. She has the exact same face as Elena…” “Even if Alex doesn’t want her, she’s out of your league.” These rich kids’ conversations were always vulgar. Behind closed doors, their jokes were probably even worse. Standing outside the door, my heart didn’t even ache. After being his puppy dog for five months, I already knew he had a first love locked in his heart. No wonder his friends always looked at me with mockery and amusement. Was I sad? Not really. Honestly, I felt a tiny spark of… relief? Well, since he felt this way… Then I didn’t need to feel guilty about sleeping with his brother Stuart during our “talking stage,” right?

I waited ten minutes until they changed the topic. My phone buzzed. It was a text message—short, cold, and professional, just like the sender. [Where are you?] I sent him my location. A second later, another brief reply popped up. [Wait for me.] I pushed the door open and walked into the booth. There were two new faces inside now. It was Elena and her broke scholarship boyfriend, Liam. Alex’s dark gaze slowly retracted from them. Seeing me enter, his drunken eyes warmed up instantly. “Chloe, you’re finally here. Sit next to me.” “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?” He raised his voice intentionally so everyone in the room could hear. Especially… Elena, who was sitting across from us. His words sounded like his usual gentle self, but they carried a hint of showy affection. Alex always wore a mask of a gentle, polite gentleman, but deep down, he was emotionally distant. As expected, Elena’s gaze flicked over to me. “Alex, is this your girl?” Once she got a clear look at my face, her eyes filled with disdain. “Your taste has really gone downhill. If you can’t get the original, I guess you don’t mind a cheap knockoff.” Alex suddenly let out a low laugh. “Then tell me, Elena, what kind of girl is worthy of me?” His eyes were filled with jealousy, his jaw clenching tightly. This was the first time I saw his perfect composure shatter. He grabbed Elena’s wrist tightly. “Elena, I don’t have the patience to crawl behind you like a dog forever.” Just then, his phone rang in his pocket. He answered it with irritation. Two seconds later, his face cleared up. He turned to the group. “Put out your cigarettes. Stuart is coming.” Alex had been terrified of his half-brother since childhood. The Williams family was elite. Their parents were powerful figures in both business and politics. But Stuart was a legend. In just five years, he took a dying company and listed it on the stock market. His power was unmatched. Alex had always tried to follow Stuart’s footsteps, feeling crushed under his shadow yet deeply admiring him. On my phone, the dark gray profile picture sent a message: [I’m here.] The next second, the door opened. Everyone’s eyes locked onto Stuart. He was tall, wearing a charcoal-gray tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders. Stuart’s eyes were deep and cold. He swept his gaze across the room and finally landed directly on me. “Why are you here?” Alex asked, walking toward him. “I thought you hated loud places.” The two brothers stood side by side—one soft, one hard. Compared to Alex’s delicate, pretty-boy looks, Stuart was ruggedly handsome and mature. Just standing there, he commanded the room. “Just finished a dinner with a client. Stopped by for a drink.” Alex started introducing his friends. When it was my turn, he glanced at Elena, who was watching him with crossed arms. She seemed to be waiting to see how Alex would label me. “My classmate, Chloe.” Alex tried to read my expression, but I kept my head low. Everyone in the room assumed I was heartbroken by his distant introduction. “Chloe, this is my brother. You’ve met him before.” Alex used to invite me to the Williams mansion all the time. Back then, I was so proud because I thought I was special—he had even given me a spare key. I bit my lip and forced out a dry, “Hi.” Stuart curved his lips into a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. Hearing my raspy voice, Alex paused, frowning with concern. “Do you have a cold?” I met Stuart’s dark, unreadable gaze, quickly looked away, and nodded. Actually, I didn’t have a cold. It was just that yesterday, some dominant man had forced me to call him “Sir” on his bed all night. My voice was completely shot. Looking at the straight-faced, elegant Stuart, I sneered in my heart. What a hypocrite. He really knew how to act.

Elena let out a cold snort and suddenly pushed me right in front of Stuart. She covered her mouth, acting innocent. “Don’t you think Chloe looks exactly like me?” “Alex is so funny. Even his rebound has to look like me… Anyone would think he’s still obsessed with me.” Alex’s pursuit of Elena years ago wasn’t loud, but both families knew about it. She was bringing this up to humiliate me and make me back off. Even if she didn’t want Alex, she wouldn’t let another girl have him easily. Stuart looked at my face, then at hers. His eyelashes fluttered as his deep voice echoed in the quiet room. “They don’t look alike. Chloe has much better class.” With just one sentence, Elena’s face turned bright red with embarrassment. She stared at him in disbelief. “Stuart… are you kidding me?” He answered calmly, perfectly polite. “Just an objective observation.” Elena didn’t dare snap at Stuart, so she could only grit her teeth and stomp over to Alex to vent. “Is Stuart blind? He actually said Chloe looks better than me!” “You guys tell me! Who’s prettier?!” The guys looked between us, their voices weak. “Well, Chloe is a dance major. Her posture is really…” Elena stomped her foot in anger. “You guys are all idiots!” Under the table, I kicked Stuart’s leg. Was he trying to start a war for me?! They started playing a game of Truth or Dare with cards. Alex looked at Stuart. “It’s just some simple party games. Want to join?” Stuart kept his eyes half-closed, looking bored. Then, he leaned slightly closer to me. His hot breath brushed against my neck, his deep, raspy voice sending shivers down my spine. “What about you, Chloe? Are you playing?” He took off his glasses. His deep, dark eyes caught mine, reflecting my flushed face. Under the table, his hand grabbed mine. Stuart slowly rubbed his thumb against my palm, his skin burning hot. I tried to pull my hand away, but he gripped it tighter, refusing to let go. Suddenly, someone dropped a card and leaned down to pick it up. Fearing we’d get caught, I yanked my hand back. My heart was pounding like crazy. Stuart’s face remained completely stoic. He parted his lips slightly. “If you play, I’ll play.” Fortunately, the lights in the booth were dim, so no one saw my burning red cheeks. I blindly grabbed a glass of water to gulp down, but Stuart’s hand quickly clamped around my wrist. “That’s vodka.” He took the glass away and poured me a cup of orange juice himself. “Drink this.” “Wow, why are you so attentive to her?” Elena asked, her voice laced with jealousy. “Anyone would think you have a crush on Chloe.” Stuart smiled but didn’t answer. Alex quickly cut in. “What are you talking about? My brother has a girlfriend.” “He’s probably just looking out for Chloe because she’s shy.” “Elena, don’t talk nonsense.” Alex had easily convinced himself. Yes, Stuart was famous for being a clean, cold businessman who never got involved with women. Having feelings for Chloe? Impossible. At that moment, Stuart’s large hand suddenly rested on my thigh, smoothing down the hem of my skirt that had ridden up. I looked up and met his dark, possessive eyes. He stared at me silently, his eyes dark with desire. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly looked away. The inner side of my thighs still ached slightly, and the love bites that were starting to fade felt like they were burning up again. Alex had no idea that the “girlfriend” Stuart had was me. Soon, the game turned in Elena’s favor. She had her friends look at everyone’s cards, easily figuring out who had what. “I’m the King this round.” Her mocking eyes locked onto me, a cruel smile on her lips. “I want Number 3 to slap Number 9 ten times. Hard. Consecutive slaps… if you pause, you start over.” Elena wasn’t joking. Instantly, everyone turned to look at me, waiting for the drama. Alex had already bragged about having card Number 3. And my fingers tightly gripped my card. Number 9. Chloe.

Seeing my pale face, Elena laughed out loud. She tilted her head, her voice sweet and toxic. “Alex, she’s your guest after all. If you can’t bring yourself to do it, I can gladly do it for you.” My card had definitely been swapped by the dealer under Elena’s orders. She wanted to embarrass me to get her revenge. I looked at Alex with wide, innocent eyes. “Alex, this is a bit too much. Why do we have to resort to slapping people?” Elena slammed her glass onto the table. “Alex, your girl is such a party pooper.” “Usually, everyone plays along. What, are you trying to make me look bad?” Alex knew Elena’s temper. If she wanted to humiliate me today, she wouldn’t stop until she got her way. He looked at my hurt expression, then at the stubborn Elena. “Chloe is shy. Let’s change the dare, Elena.” Hearing Alex defend me, Elena rolled her eyes. “Fine. Just slapping is boring anyway.” She smiled like a snake. “Classmate Chloe is a dancer, right?” “Thirty-two fouetté turns should be a piece of cake for you, right? Do it on the table.” She looked around the room, enjoying everyone’s shocked faces. “But, if you lose your balance and fall… or if you can’t finish them, you lose.” “If you lose, you have to get down on your knees, bark like a dog three times, and admit that you, a cheap rebound, aren’t even worthy of dancing on stage.” “So, Chloe, do you dare to play?” Even Alex frowned at this. Everyone could tell Elena was actively destroying my dignity. I looked up, forcing a look of fear and helplessness as I looked at Alex. “Alex, this is too much. This isn’t even a game anymore.” My weakness only fueled Elena’s arrogance. She sneered, “If you can’t play, don’t come. Why act so pure?” “Alex, you have two choices. Either you drink these three glasses of neat vodka for her and we end our friendship, or… let her dance.” Alex hesitated for a few seconds. Between Elena and me, I was obviously the easier one to sacrifice. “Chloe, just dance. I believe in you.” My heart sank, but I almost wanted to laugh. “What if I can’t do it?” I asked. If I failed, would he make me kneel and bark like a dog too? Just as he reached out to pull me up, I slowly flipped my card over, a smirk flashing in my eyes. “Though I’d love to dance, I have card Number 7.” “Oh my gosh, whoever has Number 9 is so unlucky! They have to bark like a dog!” Since I wasn’t Number 9, then… Everyone’s eyes instantly shifted to the corner. The man leaning against the leather sofa finally moved. Stuart slowly threw his card onto the table. He didn’t look at Elena. Instead, he looked at me, his tone laced with a faint, dangerous amusement. “Wow, Elena, you’ve got some nerve. You want Alex to slap me ten times? Or do you want me to kneel and bark like a dog?” His voice was ice-cold, sending shivers down everyone’s spines. Did they have a death wish? Slap Stuart? Who would dare? Elena scrambled to check my card. It was indeed a 7. Her face turned deathly pale. “How? I thought…” There was no way Stuart could have swapped cards with me. It had to be the dealer’s mistake. Stuart stared at her coldly. “You thought what?” Elena didn’t dare admit she had rigged the deck. She could only vent her anger on the “innocent” dealer. “Nothing…” Stuart pushed the three glasses of vodka toward Alex. His tone was absolute. “Drink.” “And call yourself an Uber later.” Alex looked at the three full glasses of high-proof alcohol, swallowing hard. “Stuart… I…” But the moment he met Stuart’s dark, commanding eyes, the words died in his throat. Helpless, Alex closed his eyes and began to chug the alcohol. As he drank, a cold light flashed in my eyes. The moment I got my card, I felt a slight crease on the corner and secretly swapped it with Stuart when we touched hands. I had planned to leave peacefully. But now, there was no need to be nice.

Alex leaned in. “Chloe, I just didn’t want us to fight because of me. I’m sorry you had to go through that.” “Elena has always had a bad temper. If you want to be with me, you have to tolerate these things.” Taking advantage of the dim light, I rolled my eyes. Elena was still looking for a chance to target me. But this time, both Alex and Elena fell into a trap. Someone suggested a couple’s push-up game. Elena feigned annoyance at the guy who made the rule. “Oh my god~ my boyfriend is literally right here!” Even so, she didn’t try to avoid it at all. She covered her face and lay down on the floor, ready. The guy smirked. “Doing it face-to-face is boring! You should do it the other way around!” Elena squealed and stomped her foot. “Ugh, you guys are too much!” Elena put on a high-pitched, fake voice, while her broke boyfriend’s face grew darker by the second. Before Alex started, he glanced at me. I was eating fruit, occasionally clapping along. I looked completely indifferent to the fact that he was about to get physically intimate with another woman. Alex walked over to me, explaining, “Chloe, it’s just a game. If you mind, I won’t do it.” Everyone was waiting for me, the loyal puppy, to look devastated. Instead, I smiled brightly. “I don’t mind at all. Go ahead.” Alex’s eyebrows knitted together. “You’re not jealous? You’re just going to watch me touch another woman?” I replied calmly, “Didn’t you say it’s just a game?” “I can handle it.” His expression turned complicated. “Right. It’s just a game.” My reaction was too calm. Usually, a girl who liked a guy would show some emotion, right? A seed of doubt planted in Alex’s mind, but it quickly vanished. Chloe was just too obedient. Girls like her were too easy to control. He’d make it up to her later. The game started, and the two of them ended up flushed and panting. Alex’s ears were red, and Elena looked thrilled. She didn’t want to admit she was blushing, so she pushed Alex off her. “Enough! Alex, I told you to work out more. Are you trying to crush me to death?!” Alex sat up. “Elena, you’re blushing. Didn’t you say you’d never fall for me?” He looked mockingly at Elena’s boyfriend. A month ago, this would have broken my heart. But now, it just looked childish. Soon, the bad luck of the card game fell on me again. This time, the dare came from another guy. “Either drink three glasses of vodka, or grab any guy in this room and hot kiss him for three minutes. Choose.” Disgusting. I scanned the faces of the men. Alex looked annoyed. And Stuart sat there, expressionless. Everyone started chanting. “Alex, you gotta save your girl!” Alex picked up his glass but didn’t drink. “Who else would she choose besides our Alex?” Just as I took a step forward, Elena and her boyfriend started screaming at each other over the push-up game. They slammed a glass, shattering it all over the floor. Crying hysterically, Elena pointed at the guy who was about to walk out. “Leave if you dare!” He gave her a cold look and slammed the door behind him. Elena collapsed to the floor, sobbing. Alex frowned and immediately rushed to her side. A smug smile flashed across his face. “See? I told you he wasn’t right for you…” Slap! Elena swung her hand and slapped him hard across the face. The slap was so loud that even I winced at the red mark blooming on Alex’s cheek. “You’re happy to see us like this, aren’t you?!” “If we break up, it’s all your fault!” Being slapped in front of everyone made Alex snap. He grabbed her slender wrist. “How long are you going to degrade yourself for that loser?!” “Can’t you see me?!” Alex’s eyes turned bloodshot. He grabbed her neck and kissed her brutally. It was a messy, heated kiss, and Elena melted in his arms. “You bastard!” She sobbed, pushed him away, and ran out. The room fell into complete chaos. At that exact moment, a warm scent of pine enveloped me, and a large hand cradled the back of my neck. Before I could react, Stuart pulled me into the dark corner of the hallway and kissed me. When it ended, I looked around in panic. Fortunately, no one saw us. Wait, actually, I saw one petrified face. It was one of Alex’s friends. Stuart noticed his gaze. He slowly raised a finger to his lips, his eyes full of silent warning. The guy nodded frantically, watching us slip out of the lounge. Back in the booth, Alex wiped the blood from his lip. The room was dead silent. When he finally snapped out of it, he looked around for me. “Where’s Chloe?”

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Liam’s teenage heroism was all about being the good guy. Back then, I was abused by my father, assaulted by a relative, and diagnosed with severe depression. I tried to end my life several times. Each time, Liam was the one who saved me and found me a safe place to stay. He took away my box cutters, threw out my bottles of sleeping pills, and refused to leave me alone for too long. “I’ll always be by your side,” he had told me. “From now on, let the tears fall, while you keep moving up.” When we grew up, we got together. But he remained just as much of a Good Samaritan. When his female secretary faced workplace bullying, he was the first to stand up and fight for her. When she was harassed and became too terrified to walk home in the dark, he personally drove her to and from work every day. When her apartment was broken into and she was too traumatized to sleep alone, he stayed at her place all night, sleeping on her couch to keep her company. Gradually, He stopped caring about whether there were sharp objects around me, or whether I spent my nights crying. He stopped caring if my violent father was tracking me down with a knife, demanding money. Instead, he threw a single sentence in my face. “Can’t you just be grateful for once? Chloe’s life is way worse than yours. I have to take care of her first.” But pain isn’t a competition. It shouldn’t be compared. I wasn’t ungrateful. I just wanted a heart that chose me first. That was all. Since he couldn’t give me that, it was time for me to pack up and chase what I actually deserved.

When Liam got ready to spend another night at Chloe’s place, I couldn’t take it anymore. I rushed forward, spreading my arms to block the front door. “Liam.” I looked up at him, my voice trembling. “Are you her boyfriend, or mine?” The eyes that used to look at me with nothing but warmth were now filled with cold detachment. “Elena, I’m just trying to be a white knight for someone who’s hurting. Can’t you be a little more open-minded?” I froze, listening to him continue. “A man is always a boy at heart. I’m just living out my childhood dream of being a hero. You should be supporting me.” “Elena, don’t be so selfish. I can’t be your personal savior forever.” Right. His savior complex was distributed equally to anyone in the world who needed help. Back in high school, Whenever someone was bullied, he was always the first to jump in. If someone couldn’t afford lunch, he would share his allowance with them. Even when my father beat me black and blue and left me shivering in the alley, Liam was the one who found me and gently wiped away my blood. I couldn’t go back to that abusive household. So, he took me in. We relied on each other. We healed each other. But when the rumors of my assault spread at school, people started victim-blaming me, calling me damaged goods. It was Liam who held me and whispered, “Elena, they are the ones who are wrong, not you. To me, you are an angel.” But the very thing that made me love him was now tearing me apart. I had fallen for him because he was a hero. And now, I was losing my mind because he wanted to play hero for someone else. Pulling myself back to reality, I grabbed his sleeve tightly, begging him. “Liam, please don’t go…” I stared into his eyes, desperately searching for a single shred of warmth or pity. There was nothing. He gently but firmly pried my hand off his sleeve. His words were brutally cold. “I have to. Chloe is sick. If I don’t go look after her, something terrible might happen.” Tears instantly blurred my vision. I choked out, “But I’m sick too.” “Liam, my father said he’s coming for me. I’m terrified…” Liam let out an annoyed sigh. “I told you, the security in this building is top-notch. He can’t get in.” Realizing he sounded too harsh, He softened his tone, patting my shoulder gently. “Elena, stop wrapping your whole identity around being a victim.” “Chloe took some psychology classes. She told me that the more I coddle you, the more you’ll think you’re broken. It’s time you learned to handle your own emotions.”

My heart went completely numb. I didn’t have the strength to block him anymore. Slowly, my arms fell to my sides. A smile finally broke across his face. He nodded in approval. “That’s my girl. That’s the supportive girlfriend I know.” “I’ll bring you some pastries when I get back tomorrow morning.” With that, He left without a second thought. The door clicked shut. Leaving me in the suffocating, pitch-black silence of the apartment. I felt like I was back in that dark, cold alley years ago. All the traumatic memories rushed back like a tidal wave. Anxiety crawled through my veins. Right then, There was a sudden, violent pounding on the door. Thud! Thud! Thud! I crept up and looked through the peephole. I was met with the menacing, drunken glare of a man. “Open the damn door, you little brat! Your father already sold you to me to pay off his debts! You’re going to be mine sooner or later!” “Just you wait!” The terror of past abuse suffocated me. My body went cold, and my hand instinctively flew to my phone to call Liam. But his words echoed in my head, over and over. “You need to learn to be independent. You can’t rely on me for everything.” Slowly, I lowered my phone. I bit my lip so hard it bled, refusing to make a single sound. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. As the morning light crept through the blinds, I dragged my exhausted body into the living room, trying to pour a glass of water to soothe the tightening in my chest. But the moment I looked up, I froze. There was a strange woman sitting on my couch. She wore a cute white skirt and had a bright, radiant smile. She stood up and greeted me warmly. “Hi, I’m Chloe Miller, Liam’s secretary.” So this was the Chloe he was always talking about. The one who constantly needed his protection. Before I could even process this, Liam walked out of our master bedroom, speaking in a casual, matter-of-fact tone. “Chloe is going to live with us from now on. It’s closer to the office, so her commute will be easier.” Years ago, He had brought a battered, broken version of me to this exact apartment for the exact same reason. Back then, this place was my only sanctuary. We lived together, fell into a routine, and eventually fell in love. But now, he was bringing another woman into our home using the same excuse. How was I supposed to feel okay with this? Seeing my eyes well up with tears, Liam quickly brought a pastry to my mouth, trying to feed me. “Don’t be silly, are you seriously jealous of my employee?” “Trust me, you’re the only one I love.” He raised three fingers, swearing to God. But his vow felt so cheap, so utterly meaningless. “Elena, I heard you struggle with depression,” Chloe said, putting on a show of deep concern. “But don’t worry, I studied psychology. Liam and I will help you heal.” Her eyes, however, were dripping with pure provocation. After she moved in, Everything changed. The cabinet that used to be mine, Was now stuffed with her dresses and skincare products. My antidepressants were pushed into a dusty corner, barely having any space left. To “cure” me, The two of them put all the knives back in the kitchen drawers right in front of me. They even unlocked all the safety latches on the balcony windows. “Chloe said that locking you away only makes you feel more insane.” “Elena, start living like a normal person. You can do this.” Nighttime was even worse. In the past, even a soft sigh from me would wake Liam up to comfort me. Now, when I woke up screaming from nightmares, covered in cold sweat, He didn’t even flinch. He wouldn’t even look at me. “Chloe said you need to face your fears. Running away won’t solve anything.” But after a month of this “treatment,” My condition only got worse.

Chloe stood by my hospital bed, biting her lip as she apologized. “I’m so sorry, Elena. I didn’t mean to make your condition worse. But I promise, I will cure you.” I let out a bitter, mocking laugh. “Cure me? Where is your medical license, Chloe?” She stiffened, clearly not expecting me to be so blunt. Immediately, she put on a perfect display of hurt and vulnerability. “Elena, if you hate me that much, I’ll just leave.” Liam instinctively stepped in front of Chloe, shielding her from my gaze. That protective gesture stabbed me right in the chest. “Elena, Chloe is only trying to help you. Why do you have to be so toxic?” “Why are you always so ungrateful?” He got more and more worked up. Until finally, he said the words that completely shattered my heart. “No wonder nobody likes you. No wonder your mother chose death just to get away from you!” My mother’s departure wasn’t a sudden rainstorm. It was a lifelong dampness in my soul. When my father beat me, my mother took the knife for me. Before she took her last breath, she told me, “Living is too painful. This time, I’m leaving, even if it means dying.” I had shown my deepest, bleeding scar to Liam. And now, he was using it to tear me apart in front of another woman. I thought I would cry, but when I touched my chest, it felt completely empty. Just cold, hollow air. I guess when your heart gets cold enough, it stops feeling the pain. “Liam, you’re right. So, why don’t you leave me too?” I forced a broken smile, Desperate to sever ties with him once and for all. A flash of panic crossed Liam’s face. “Elena, I didn’t mean it like that.” He tried to explain, but Chloe stopped him. “Liam, she’s too unstable right now. She won’t listen to anything you say. Let’s give her some space to calm down.” Liam hesitated, then nodded. He tucked my blanket in and walked out with Chloe. Once he walked out that door, He didn’t come back. It wasn’t until the next morning that they returned to handle my discharge papers. Looking at my pale face, Chloe smiled playfully, like she was holding a secret. “Elena, guess what Liam and I did for you yesterday.” My face remained blank. “I don’t care, and I don’t want to know.” Her smile faltered for a second, But she quickly recovered, pulling a giant plush bear from her bag. Her face was smug. “Look at this! Isn’t it cute? I know it’s your favorite.” “There was a couples’ challenge at the mall yesterday. We had to kiss for a whole hour to win this for you! Our lips were practically bleeding, but we did it!” “See? Liam and I really care about you.” In all the years I had been with Liam, We had never done anything that intimate. He had always told me, “The highest form of love is respect. I’m afraid to touch you too much because I don’t want to lose control and hurt you…” Yet, He could passionately kiss another woman for an hour just for some game. A wave of intense nausea hit my stomach. I grabbed the plush bear and threw it straight into the trash can, then gave Liam a cold stare. “I have a boundary when it comes to hygiene. I don’t want secondhand garbage.” Liam’s face flushed red with anger. “Elena! Are you cured now? Since when did you learn to be so malicious?” “Chloe and I did this just to make you happy! Why do you have to be so petty about how we got the bear?” I smiled bitterly. “But I’m not happy at all.” “Liam, let’s break up. I’m going back to pack my things.” Before Liam could even react, I had already hopped into a cab and driven away.

Returning to the apartment, I was overwhelmed with emotion. This place used to be my safe haven. But now, the storm inside was too violent, and there was no room left for me. Just as I finished packing my bags, Liam and Chloe rushed through the door. Liam cornered me against the wall, his eyes bloodshot as he begged me not to leave. “Elena, we love each other so much. Why are you doing this over a silly argument?” “If you don’t want me protecting other people, I won’t. I’ll be your hero, and yours alone.” “It’s too late tonight. Tomorrow, I promise, I’ll make Chloe move out. Okay?” Right. We used to love each other so much. A love where we would have given our lives for one another… Memories of his grand gestures flashed through my mind. Once, when I said I wanted pastries from Paris, he hired a private charter jet to fly them in overnight. On my birthday, He rented out an entire amusement park just to put on a private firework show for me. And when my father attacked me, he threw himself in front of the blade, getting stabbed twice just to get me to the hospital safely… But no matter how beautiful the past was, when it’s time to let go, you have to let go. If you keep trying to fish for a fallen sword in a flowing river, you only torture yourself. But Liam was stubborn. To calm him down, I decided to play along and agreed to stay. I would leave secretly in the morning. “Okay, I’ll give you one last chance.” Liam let out a sigh of relief, wrapping his arms around me tightly. “Get some sleep. I promise you won’t see a third person in this house tomorrow.” That night, My insomnia returned. In the dead of night, I suddenly felt a chill on my back. I opened my eyes, and my heart stopped. Standing by the window was the man I feared most in this world. My father. He had climbed up the balcony and broken into my room. He crept toward me, his eyes filled with greed. “Found you at last, you useless brat!” “Give me the money right now, or I’m selling you to that old man down the street.” The paralyzing fear of my childhood threatened to choke me. But this time, I refused to be his victim. I clenched my fists. I lunged forward and bit his wrist as hard as I could. My teeth sank deep into his flesh, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. He screamed in agony and shoved me away violently. I crashed heavily onto the floor. My arm swept across the bedside table, knocking over the burning scented candle. The flame caught the sheer curtains instantly. Within seconds, the fire climbed up the fabric, roaring into a blaze. Panicked, my father didn’t care about the money anymore. He scrambled back out the window to save his own skin. By the time the smoke seeped through the door into the hallway, Liam and Chloe finally realized something was wrong. Chloe was choked by the smoke and fainted, collapsing right into Liam’s arms. Liam looked at me, trapped in the middle of the raging fire, a look of sheer conflict on his face. “Elena, this is between you and your father! I can’t let Chloe get hurt!” “I have to get her to safety first. I’ll come back for you!” “You know fire safety! Try to get out on your own, I’ll be right back!” The thick, hot smoke stung my eyes, but I just laughed softly. Since nobody cared if I lived or died, I would save myself. Maybe Liam was right. I couldn’t wait for someone else to carry an umbrella for me. I had to walk through the rain myself. In that moment, I realized that the heart that chose me first had been beating inside my own chest all along. I stopped looking toward Liam. Instead, I turned toward the open balcony. Below the balcony was a rushing river. My only chance at survival. I wiped the tears from my face, and without a single shred of hesitation, I jumped straight into the dark water.

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Three years of marriage, and Asher Sterling has never touched me. I put on a sheer lace nightgown, faked a collarbone full of hickeys, and sent him a sleepy selfie from a “third-person” angle. “Man, she smells amazing.” “Hurry up and divorce her so I can have her.” I figured Asher would be disgusted and furious when he got this anonymous text. He would toss me out like trash. After all, I was just my sister’s substitute. I thought this would finally be the end of our marriage. But I never expected that right after receiving the text, he would fly back across the country overnight. Sienna was in Europe, celebrating her third wedding anniversary. She called to ask what I wanted for a gift. I only asked for a burner SIM card. Holding the plastic card in my hand, standing in the empty hotel room, I let out a long breath. Then, I changed into the sheer, lace nightgown I had bought specifically for this plan. Looking in the mirror, I used a small makeup tool to create realistic, bruised hickeys on my collarbone and neck. They looked dark and messy, as if someone had claimed me with wild, dominant passion. I even tore one of the thin straps of my nightgown. Finally, I smudged my lipstick slightly across my lips. I sat on the bed and messed up the pillows on the other side to make it look like someone else had been sleeping there. I closed my eyes. I set the camera on a timer, mimicking a candid photo taken by someone else. Three, two, one. In the photo, I looked like a woman who had just been thoroughly loved, sleeping deeply and defencelessly. I stared at the screen for a long time. My mind drifted to Asher’s ruthless reputation in the business world. They called him a smiling tiger. A cold-blooded corporate shark who would eat you alive without leaving bones. But to me, he was just a cold, emotionless face. Beautiful, yes. But all of his warmth and affection had belonged to my sister, Sienna. I was prepared for the worst. Even if Asher didn’t care about me at all, no man could tolerate being cheated on. He might try to ruin me. But in the end, he would be too disgusted to keep me. He would throw a divorce agreement in my face. And that was all I wanted. I just wanted a divorce. I closed my eyes and hit send. Along with the photo, I sent a casual, mocking text: “Man, she smells amazing.” “Hurry up and divorce her so I can have her.” Sent. In less than two seconds, my phone vibrated. Asher: “Who is this?” I took my time changing back into my normal clothes. I deliberately delayed my reply, enjoying the twisted thrill of keeping him waiting. Was he furious right now? Was he ready to skin this anonymous sender alive? Asher Sterling, the golden boy who had been perfect and in control his entire life, was finally having his strings pulled by someone else. And that someone was me—the girl he kept locked in his palm. After three years of silent misery, I felt a sudden spike of adrenaline. As I was pulling on a sweater, Asher sent two more messages on Snapchat. “Don’t use cheap deepfakes on me. Tell me what you want.” “I suggest you cut the crap and tell me the truth if you want to keep your hands.” I let out a soft laugh and typed back. “Mr. Sterling, if you think it’s a deepfake, why don’t you ask your wife yourself?” “The hickeys on my baby’s neck won’t fade anytime soon.” I dared to say this because I knew Asher was currently in London negotiating a massive tech merger. He couldn’t possibly get back for at least two weeks. Suddenly, my actual phone—my real number—started screaming. I jumped, my heart leaping into my throat. The caller ID flashed: *Asher.* I bit my lip, staring at the screen until the call timed out. But a second later, it lit up again. He was calling repeatedly, refusing to give up. I knew I had pushed his buttons. My heart hammered against my ribs. I felt like I was walking a tightrope over a pit of fire. I picked up the burner phone and sent another message: “Mr. Sterling, stop calling. We went at it five times. Your wife is exhausted and asleep.” The calls finally stopped. My real phone went completely silent. I typed one last message on the burner SIM: “I didn’t mean to break you guys up, man. But your wife and I are truly in love. Be a man, sign the papers, and let her go.” “Otherwise, everyone’s going to find out you’re wearing a massive green horn, and that won’t look good for your stock prices.” Asher didn’t reply after that. With trembling hands, I threw the torn lace nightgown into the hotel trash can, checked out, and took an Uber back to our villa. The housekeepers were quietly dusting the grand foyer. Everything was normal, quiet, as if nothing had happened. I washed my face and crawled into bed. But in the early morning, just as the sky was turning a pale grey, the sharp screech of tires outside woke me up. Before I could even process the sound, heavy, hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway, and my bedroom door rattled. “Chloe, open the door.” His voice was dangerously low, tightly controlled, but there was a crack of sheer panic hiding underneath. I froze, the blood rushing out of my face. It was Asher.

I panicked. Why was he here? To him, I was just a convenient replacement. Why would he fly back for this? The knocking came again. Three sharp raps. Pure, forced restraint. “Chloe. Open the door. Now.” I sat up, forcing my breathing to slow down. I couldn’t let him see me panic. I took a deep breath and called out in a sleepy, annoyed voice, “Asher… I’m going to the bathroom. Give me a minute to shower.” I dashed into the bathroom, turned the shower on high, and immediately leaned into the mirror to look at my neck. I had used a makeup suction cup to make those marks yesterday. To make it look real, I had gone all out. The bruises were dark purple. No amount of concealer was going to hide them. But I had to try to cover them anyway. Because a guilty wife would always try to hide her tracks. If I wanted this performance to work, I had to play the part perfectly. I wet my hair to look like I’d just stepped out of the shower, then pulled on a black turtleneck sweater that covered me up to my jawline. For the tiny bit of purple showing at the very top of my collar, I slapped a band-aid over it. I practiced a guilty, nervous expression in the mirror. Perfect. He would look at me, feel disgusted, and demand a divorce. I unlocked the door and stepped out. Asher was sitting on the living room sofa, his eyes closed, rubbing his temples. He looked exhausted. His face was pale, and dark stubble lined his jaw. He wasn’t wearing his watch, and his designer cufflinks were missing. One of his hands was white-knuckled around his phone. The other rested on the armrest, his knuckles split and bleeding. It looked like he had punched a wall. Hard. Multiple times. But he didn’t seem to notice or care about the blood. “Asher? Why are you back?” Asher opened his eyes. They were pitch black, intense, and completely focused on me. He stood up. The man who had been rushing a minute ago now walked toward me with agonizing slowness. I instinctively took a step back, but he reached out, his hand wrapping around my arm like a vice, pulling me back to him. His gaze dropped to my neck, his pupils shrinking. I forced a tight smile. “Did something happen?” He didn’t answer. He raised two fingers, hovering them just above the band-aid on my neck. It felt like he was going to rip it off, along with all my lies and our sham of a marriage. My body began to tremble. I closed my eyes, waiting for the explosion. But his touch was surprisingly light. He just let his fingers brush against the edge of the adhesive. “What is this?” he asked, his voice eerily calm. I avoided his eyes. “I… I accidentally scratched myself with a book cover yesterday.” “A book…” Asher blinked slowly. “And what were you doing last night?” His fingers slipped under the collar of my turtleneck. One tug, and he would see the dark bruises underneath. I swallowed hard. “I went out to get my hair done.” Asher’s breathing turned heavy, ragged. He stared at me, and for a second, I thought he was going to rip me apart. His grip on my collar tightened, pulling me close. I lost my balance and stumbled, my hands slamming against his broad chest to keep from falling. His other hand slipped around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. He was squeezing me so tight it hurt, as if trying to bleed off his hidden fury through his grip. I couldn’t fight his strength. My knees felt weak. Asher leaned down, his face inches from mine. “Asher, please… don’t,” I whispered, my voice shaking. I didn’t know what he was going to do, but every instinct told me I was in danger. My mind went blank. I began to plead mindlessly. For a few agonizing seconds, nothing happened. Then, he slowly let go of my collar. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his face pale and tense. Only then did I realize what I had just said. *I’m scared. Don’t touch me. Please.* “I’m hiring two bodyguards for you,” Asher announced coldly. “They will follow you everywhere you go from now on. For your safety.” Without waiting for my reply, he turned on his heel and walked out. It wasn’t until I heard his car roar down the driveway that I snapped out of it. He wasn’t going to investigate? How was this possible?!

With the bodyguards watching my every move, I barely found a chance to use my burner phone. But Asher, who was supposed to be in Europe for two weeks, wrapped up his entire trip in just five days and rushed back to LA. Once he was back, the security around the house relaxed slightly. I finally grabbed the burner phone from its hiding spot. I logged onto Snapchat and typed: “Man, you’re a sore loser. Even if she cheated, just divorce her. Why lock her up?” Asher replied almost instantly. “She didn’t cheat. I trust her. Chloe would never do something like that.” I stared at the screen, stunned. What did he mean? Sure, I hadn’t actually slept with anyone because I didn’t have the guts to go through with it. But how could Asher be so sure? He had always been so cold to me. I clenched my jaw and decided to throw more gas on the fire. “Mr. Sterling, you don’t know your wife as well as I do.” “She has three tiny moles. One on her ribcage, one near her belly button, and another one… well, you know. Every time I trace a line connecting them with my fingers, she shivers like crazy.” “But you’re her husband of three years. You must know that already, right?” The sarcasm was heavy. Because in three years, Asher had never once touched me. *CRASH!* Suddenly, a massive shatter echoed from upstairs. It came from Asher’s study. I jumped, quickly shoving the burner phone deep under my mattress. There were a few more crashing sounds. Then, I heard Asher’s heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. His voice was exhausted as he spoke to the butler. “Have someone clean up the study. I need a new laptop.” The footsteps drew closer to my room. My heart hammered against my ribs. I felt like he was coming to tear me to pieces. Terrified, I dove under the covers and pretended to be asleep. Ever since he got back, my bedroom door lock had mysteriously “broken.” The door handle turned slowly. Finding the room in pitch darkness, Asher didn’t speak. In the heavy silence, his ragged, heavy breathing was incredibly loud. It was so intense that I wondered if he could hear my own heart pounding. He walked over to the bed. I squeezed my eyes shut. He didn’t shake me awake. He didn’t wrap his hands around my neck demanding answers. He just stood by the edge of the bed. Even with my eyes closed, I could feel his intense, burning gaze fixed on my stomach, as if he were agonizing over whether to check for himself. *Don’t shake. Keep your breathing steady. Play the part.* I didn’t move. Suddenly, the mattress sank beside me. Asher slowly lay down next to me. His gaze remained hot and heavy, burning into my back. I gritted my teeth. If I wanted to get out of this marriage, I had to play dirty. I turned around, pretending to be in a deep dream, and snuggled my head directly into his chest. Asher stiffened, but the sharp, angry tension in his gaze softened slightly. “Asher… babe…” I mumbled in a sleepy voice. His body went completely rigid.

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On the day of our family island vacation, my sister, Chloe, climbed over the safety railing just to take a photo. She slipped. In her panic, she dragged me into the ocean with her. The rescue guard was about to save me first since I was closer to the shore. But Mom suddenly pulled a faded, yellowed piece of paper from her wallet and threw it toward me. “Mya, let Chloe get on the rescue boat first!” “This is our last wish!” When I was seven, I didn’t have money to buy birthday gifts for my parents. So, I hand-drew a hundred “Wish Coupons.” Each one said: [With this coupon, Mya will unconditionally grant Mom and Dad one wish.] When Chloe wanted my bedroom, they used one. When Chloe wanted to be an only child, they used another. From then on, I was only allowed to call them Mr. and Mrs. Miller, never Mom and Dad. Even the college tuition I saved from working part-time for three years was taken by them. They used the ninety-ninth coupon to pay for Chloe’s intensive dance academy. Now, this was the last one. I looked at the floating coupon on the water and suddenly stopped struggling. I slipped the only rescue rope onto Chloe and pushed her toward the rescue boat myself. Mom and Dad were too busy wrapping her in blankets and checking her for scratches. No one noticed that my leg had already cramped up. I couldn’t even hold onto the floating board anymore. As the rescue boat sped toward the pier, Mom only had time to look back and yell: “Mya, hang in there! We’ll be right back!” I watched their retreating figures and let out a self-deprecating laugh. When I was seven, I thought that if I fulfilled all one hundred wishes, my parents would love me just as much as they loved Chloe. It wasn’t until the freezing seawater filled my lungs that I finally understood. Those one hundred coupons didn’t buy me a single shred of their love. They just used up my entire life. ……

I didn’t know how much time had passed. Finally, the sound of an engine came from the distance. The rescue boat was actually coming back. My nose burned, and my numb arms suddenly found a surge of strength. “Mom! I’m here!” The figure on the boat became clearer. Mom was holding a clean, dry blanket in her arms. Looking at that blanket, I couldn’t help but smile. So, they hadn’t forgotten about me. I even told myself that once I got on the boat, I wouldn’t ask why they saved Chloe first. As long as Mom wrapped that blanket around me and gave me a hug. I would pretend nothing had ever happened. But halfway there, the rescue boat suddenly turned. Not far away, on a floating platform that had drifted from the broken pier, came a weak whimpering. It was Waffles. Waffles was Chloe’s dog. His leash was tangled in the broken railing. The platform could flip over at any second. Chloe immediately stood up on the boat, crying as she grabbed the rescue guard’s arm. “Save Waffles first! He can’t swim!” “He’s been terrified of water since he was a puppy! He’ll die if he falls in!” The guard frowned and pointed toward me. “There’s still a person over there.” “The girl who fell in with you earlier, isn’t she your sister?” Chloe froze for a second. Then, she shook her head. “She’s not my sister.” “She’s just our housekeeper.” Across the crashing waves, I stared at Mom and Dad. I waited for them to deny it. Even if they just said, *She is our daughter.* But Mom avoided my eyes. Dad just urged impatiently, “Mya knows how to swim. She has a floating board. She won’t die anytime soon.” The guard still hesitated. “Is she really not your daughter?” This time, Mom finally spoke. “No.” “She’s been with us for many years. She just helps around the house.” “Save the dog first. You can come back for her later.” Those casual words drifted through the wind and pierced my ears. I suddenly remembered when Chloe was twelve. She said her friends all envied only children. She wanted to be the only child, too. So, my parents used a Wish Coupon. From that day on, I was banned from calling them Mom and Dad. The first time I forgot and made a mistake, Mom’s face went cold. “We promised to grant Chloe’s wish,” she warned. “Who are you calling Mom?” Later, I learned to call them Thomas and Eleanor. Even when I was burning with a high fever and barely conscious, I never dared to call her Mom again. The coupon was only supposed to be valid for one year. But after that year passed, no one ever told me I could call them Mom and Dad again. Gradually, Chloe really became the only daughter in the family. And I became the one who washed clothes, cooked, and cleaned the rooms—someone who didn’t even deserve to call them parents. I never thought that years later, they would actually tell a stranger that I was just the housekeeper. The rescue boat veered right in front of me, heading toward the platform where Waffles was trapped. Survival instinct made me wave my arms frantically, trying to get them to see me. But a massive wave crashed down, burying me under the water again. By the time I struggled back to the surface, Dad had already pulled the dog onto the boat. Mom immediately opened the blanket in her arms, carefully wrapping it around Waffles’ wet body. The blanket I thought was meant for me was ultimately used to warm Chloe’s dog.

Chloe held her dog, shaking and crying. Mom and Dad comforted her on both sides. “Don’t worry, Waffles is fine.” “Mom saved both of you.” Chloe finally smiled through her tears. No one looked back at me. The guard wanted to steer back toward me, but a sudden gale warning blared over the radio. To keep the rescue boat from capsizing, he had to take the passengers and the dog back to the pier first. The sound of the engine faded away. My bleeding, cut hands could no longer hold onto anything. As the saltwater covered my chin, I stopped crying out. They say before you die, you see the happiest moments of your life. Images indeed began to flash before my eyes. Back then, Chloe hadn’t been born yet. No matter how busy Dad was, he would always show up at my preschool on time so I could be the first kid picked up. Mom’s phone wallpaper was always me. Her Instagram was filled with my pictures, every post bragging about how I was the best daughter in the world. At night, they would each hold one of my hands and say with a smile: “Mya is Mom and Dad’s most precious little girl.” When I was seven, I stayed up for nights to draw those one hundred Wish Coupons. When Mom received them, she held me close and kissed me over and over. Dad couldn’t bear to use them. He tucked them carefully into his wallet. “Our Mya is so good. How could we ever bear to ask you for anything?” The seven-year-old me could never have guessed. The people who would use these coupons to force me to give up everything, time and time again, would be them. The night Chloe was born, Dad stroked my hair and promised: “This doesn’t mean you have less love. It means you have one more sister to love you.” But every time Chloe cried, Mom’s grip on me would loosen. In the beginning, they just asked me to let Chloe have the hugs. Then it was my birthdays, my toys, and their time. Eventually, even my parents became something I had to give up. During the summer break when I was eight, they took Chloe to an island resort for the first time. I ran to the door with red eyes. “I want to go too.” Mom was putting a sun hat on Chloe. She didn’t even look up. “Your sister is fragile. Taking two kids is too exhausting.” “You stay at Grandma’s this time. We will definitely bring you next time.” I stood on the balcony, watching their car disappear at the intersection. That was the first time I was left behind. But it wasn’t the last. Every time after that, they always had an excuse to choose Chloe over me. When I was fourteen, I had acute appendicitis. I was curled up on the floor in agony. When Mom picked up the phone, she was watching Chloe’s dance competition. “This is her first time on stage. She’ll be terrified if she doesn’t see us.” “You’re fourteen now. If your stomach hurts, go to the hospital yourself. Stop trying to steal your sister’s spotlight.” I ended up fainting in front of the apartment lobby. A neighbor called the ambulance. By the time Mom and Dad arrived with Chloe and her trophy, my surgery was already over. Mom didn’t ask if I was in pain. Instead, she complained to the nurse: “Mya always exaggerates. She loves making a big deal out of nothing just to get attention.” Dad held Chloe’s medal in front of my face. “She trained for six months for this. As her sister, you should be happy for her.” I had just gotten out of surgery and could barely sit up, but I forced myself to say congratulations. Only then were they satisfied. After that, I stopped asking them for help. I went to the hospital alone when I was sick. I walked home in the rain by myself. I stopped waiting for birthday cakes. But they just said: “Mya is much stronger than Chloe. We don’t have to worry about her.” They used their neglect to teach me independence, and then used that independence as an excuse to never choose me. So, when Mom invited me on this trip two weeks ago, I was too excited to sleep. She said over the phone: “This time, the whole family will be together. Not one of us can be missing.” I took my annual leave and spent my entire bonus booking their flights. But when we got to the hotel, I found out the two-bedroom suite only had rooms for them and Chloe. I had to sleep on a rollaway bed in the living room. I couldn’t help but ask why they didn’t just book another room. Dad’s face darkened instantly. “We brought you on vacation, and you’re already complaining?” Mom sighed. “We’re here to have fun as a family. Do you have to ruin everyone’s mood over a room?” During those days, I woke up early to walk the dog, carry their bags, stand in lines, and take photos for them. When registering for the boat tour, the staff asked if I was family. Chloe laughed and said: “No, she’s just our dog sitter.” Mom and Dad stood right there. Neither of them corrected her. Chloe posted the photos I took on Instagram. [A family vacation with Waffles. Finally!] In the photo, Dad was holding Mom, and Chloe was holding the dog in the center. I wasn’t in the frame. But I still gave it a quiet like. At least this time, I got to see the same ocean with them.

Before the accident, Chloe had climbed over the warning line of the viewing deck just to take a photo. I went to pull her back. When a huge wave hit the rocks, she grabbed me tightly and dragged me down with her. But after she got to safety, they saved her first, and then her dog. Their “not one can be missing” never actually included me. As my memories faded, my spirit drifted beside them. The rescue team asked one family member to stay behind to help with the search. But Dad said impatiently: “Mya can swim. Nothing will happen to her.” Mom was convinced I was just throwing a tantrum because they saved Chloe first. “Don’t go looking for her,” Mom said. “The more we coddle her, the more she’ll use these tantrums to get her way.” I touched my empty chest. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I guess once you’re dead, you don’t feel that heart-wrenching pain anymore. That was a relief. At 1:00 AM, Mom’s phone suddenly buzzed with an alert. It was my smartwatch. After detecting a severe fall into water with no response, it had automatically sent an emergency location. She glanced at it and swiped to delete. “Her watch is still sending locations. She’s obviously fine.” “Just ignore her.” But they didn’t know. That wasn’t me calling for help. It was the watch’s automated system sending out one final distress signal after a violent impact went unanswered. The next morning, the rescue team came to the hotel, asking for a recent photo of me. Mom scrolled through her phone for a long time. There were thousands of photos of Chloe, but she couldn’t find a single one of my face. In the end, Mom had to give them my ID photo from three years ago. The officer couldn’t help but ask, “You’re her family. How do you not have a single recent photo of her?” Mom’s face stiffened. “She has an awkward personality. She doesn’t like taking photos with us.” Chloe chimed in softly, “She always thinks we favor me, so she purposely avoids the camera to make people think we exclude her.” Floating next to them, I wanted to laugh. I was already dead. And yet, even the reason why I wasn’t in any photos had to be explained away by them. The officers pulled up the surveillance footage from the viewing deck to clip a photo of me before I fell. But the video clearly showed Chloe ignoring the warning signs and climbing over the railing. When the wave hit, she was the one who grabbed my clothes and dragged me down. Chloe’s face went pale instantly. “You can’t post that!” “If people see this, they’ll say I killed her!” Mom immediately shielded Chloe in her arms. “Just use the ID photo to find her! Why do you have to ruin my daughter’s life?” Dad’s face darkened too. “Mya is just temporarily missing. Chloe still has to go to school, get a job, and get married.” “If you release this video, how is she supposed to live her life?” Just then, Waffles started coughing. Chloe screamed and hugged the dog. “Is there water in his lungs?” Mom and Dad forgot all about the missing person poster. They grabbed the dog to rush to the vet. The officer stopped them. “The person in the water hasn’t been found. At least one family member needs to stay to assist.” Dad pushed his hand away impatiently. “Searching is your job. What use is it if we stay?” “Mya can swim and she has her smartwatch. If she were in real danger, she would have contacted us by now.” At the vet, they found out Waffles had only swallowed a little water. While Chloe watched the dog get examined, she scrolled through a video posted by a local Airbnb on TikTok. [Rescued a girl who fell into the water last night. Glad she’s safe.] The video only showed the back of a woman wrapped in a blanket. Mom instantly remembered the location ping she received last night. It was right near that Airbnb. Chloe covered her mouth. “I knew she made it ashore.” “She’s fine, but she’s purposely refusing to contact us.” The worry on Dad’s face instantly turned into rage. “Just to make us feel guilty for saving Chloe first, she wasted all these rescue resources!” Mom was shaking with anger. “She’s loved playing the victim since she was a kid. Now she’s even lying to the rescue team!” Chloe leaned into Mom’s shoulder, playing the sweet sister. “She probably just wanted your attention.” “When we find her, don’t yell at her too hard. Just make her apologize to the rescue team.” They immediately drove toward the Airbnb. On the way, they planned how they would punish me. Dad wanted to make me pay for the entire rescue fee. Mom wanted me to publicly clarify that I let go of the floating board myself, so it had nothing to do with Chloe. They were certain I was hiding in a warm room, waiting for them to bow their heads and apologize. But when they reached the rocky shore on the other side of the island, the road was blocked by emergency vehicles. Several rescue workers were carrying a stretcher out from the rocks. It was covered with a white sheet. The rescue captain looked at the ID photo in his hand, then at Mom and Dad. “Are you Mya’s family?” “We just found the body of a young woman on the rocky shore on the other side of the island.” “We need you to come over and identify her.”

As soon as the captain finished speaking, Dad’s face fell. “What do you mean, a body?” “Our girl is perfectly fine. Don’t curse her first thing in the morning.” Mom also instinctively pulled Chloe behind her. “Mya was saved by an Airbnb host last night.” “We’re on our way to pick her up right now.” The captain looked at the ID photo on his phone, then at the sleeve peeking out from under the white sheet. “The clothes on the deceased match what the missing person was wearing when she fell.” “Please, just come and confirm.” But Dad waved his hand impatiently. “Plenty of people wear the same clothes.” “Mya loves using these cheap tricks to scare us. If we go look, she’ll think she won.” Chloe, with red eyes, gently tugged Mom’s sleeve. “She must have seen the Airbnb video and is hiding on purpose.” “She’s just mad we saved Waffles and me first.” “When we find her, I’ll apologize to her, okay?” She sounded so sensible and wronged. Mom lovingly smoothed her hair. “It wasn’t your fault to begin with.” “She was the one who agreed to let you get on the boat first.” “Using a dead person just to force us to apologize… I can’t believe she would go this far.” I floated behind them, wanting so badly to remind Mom. *This time, I’m not hiding.* *And I’m not waiting for your apology.* *Under that white sheet, the person lying there quietly is me.* But they didn’t look back. Dad pressured the driver to bypass the rescue vehicles and drove straight to the Airbnb. On the way, Mom called my phone over a dozen times. With each unanswered call, her anger grew. “Mya, pick up.” “We already know where you are.” “If you come out now, we can still talk.” “If you keep this up, don’t ever think about coming back home!” Even after the last voicemail, there was still no reply. Mom sneered, throwing her phone into her purse. “When we see her, no one is allowed to comfort her first.” “She only acts this wild because she knows we’ll eventually give in.” Half an hour later, the car stopped at the Airbnb. Dad pushed the door open and demanded the host hand me over. The host looked completely bewildered. “Mya? We don’t have any guest named Mya here.” Chloe immediately pulled up the TikTok video. “It’s her.” “The woman wrapped in a blanket you rescued last night.” The host took a look and called upstairs. Soon, a strange woman came down, holding her husband’s hand. She only had a similar build to me. Her face, her voice, and her clothes had absolutely nothing to do with me. “I sprained my ankle in the shallow water last night, and my husband helped me back,” the woman explained, confused. “Did you get the wrong person?” The anger on Mom’s face slowly froze. Refusing to give up, she ran upstairs, shouting my name in every room. “Mya!” “Stop hiding! I know you’re in here!” She knocked on every single door. Still, I wasn’t there. Losing his patience, the host slammed the guest log on the table. “Since last night, we’ve only checked in this one injured guest.” “If the person you’re looking for really fell into the ocean, you should go back and help the rescue team.” Chloe’s face turned pale for a second, but she quickly bit her lip. “Mya probably heard we were coming and left early.” “She has money. She could have gone to another hotel.” Dad looked like he had finally grabbed a lifeline. “Right.” “She changed hotels on purpose to make us worry.” “This island is only so big. Let’s see how long she can hide.” Just as they were about to leave, hurried footsteps echoed outside. The rescue captain had followed them here. He was holding a clear plastic evidence bag. Inside was a waterlogged phone, a smartwatch, and a soggy piece of paper that was falling apart from the seawater. The writing on the paper had bled. But Mom instantly recognized the crooked little flower drawn in the bottom right corner. It was the mark the seven-year-old me had made on every single Wish Coupon. “We found these items near the body,” the captain said, his voice heavy. “Even if you won’t identify her, you must recognize her belongings.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “464043”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

When my coworker, Mia, asked me to make her lunch again, I refused. I looked her dead in the eye and said, “I’m busy lately. Ask someone else.” In my past life, I was too nice. I cooked for her every single day. But after a few months, her husband rushed into our office, causing a massive scene. He claimed I had killed his unborn son. And Mia stood right beside him, sobbing. “It’s all your fault! You put chili flakes in my lunch today!” “Spicy food kills the male hormones! You destroyed my baby boy! You murderer!” I tried to explain myself, but Mia wouldn’t listen. Her husband demanded a hundred thousand dollars in cash, threatening to ruin my life if I didn’t pay. The drama got me fired from the company. To make things worse, Mia dragged me on Snapchat and Twitter, posting lies about how I killed her baby. The internet went wild. Keyboard warriors doxed me and harassed me day and night. Every time I managed to find a new job, Mia and her husband would show up and make a scene. In the end, the relentless harassment drove me into a deep depression. I jumped from the roof of my apartment building. Only after my death did I learn the sickening truth. Mia had found out through an illegal gender scan that she was carrying a girl. She was terrified her misogynistic husband would divorce her. So, she framed me. She blamed me for “destroying” her boy. By doing this, she could extort a massive chunk of money from me and get me kicked out of the company, leaving her path clear for a promotion and a raise. But now, I am reborn. This time, Mia, you can eat dirt for all I care. I can’t wait to see how your “precious son” turns out.

“Come on, Chloe, don’t be so petty!” “It’s just a lunch. Why do you keep making excuses to say no?” “Besides, it’s not like I’m asking for free. I pay you five dollars every single time. Not a penny less.” Mia tossed her plastic Tupperware onto my desk, her voice dripping with irritation. Looking at her smug face, I almost laughed out loud. This was exactly how it started in my past life. Every day at noon, Mia would shove her lunchbox in my face. One day she wanted steak, the next day she wanted salmon, and the day after that she’d complain the veggies weren’t organic. Back then, I thought we were friends. I would wake up at 5:00 AM, go to the premium market to buy the freshest ingredients, and spend my entire morning cooking. I never asked her for a dime. Occasionally, she would throw a five-dollar bill on my desk and say, “Here, Chloe, five bucks. That’s more than enough for the groceries. Consider it me supporting your little hobby.” I thought she was struggling financially, so I never complained. Only later did I find out that she saved her lunch money to buy expensive cigars and whiskey for her husband. She even bragged to her mother-in-law: “That idiot at my office cooks for me every day. I get gourmet meals for basically free.” I didn’t even look up from my computer. “Then pay someone else to do it. I don’t need your five dollars.” Mia froze. Her eyes welled up with tears in an instant. “Chloe… what is wrong with you today? Did I say something to upset you?” “If you didn’t want to do it, you could have just told me. It’s not like I’m forcing you…” “I only asked because I know how clean your kitchen is. I’m just terrified of getting food poisoning from takeout. It’s bad for the baby…” Mia lowered her head, gently cradling her slightly bumped belly, looking like a fragile victim I had just publicly bullied. “You know I’m pregnant. Fast food is so greasy, and a decent healthy meal costs like thirty bucks around here. My salary is low, Chloe. I can’t afford to order door-to-door delivery every day.” “I just wanted something homemade and safe for my baby. And I always paid you the market rate!” Mia sniffled, looking at me with a deeply hurt expression. “You were always so happy to help me before. I thought of you as my best friend.” “It’s just a simple lunch. Why are you being so hostile?” “Is it… is it because of the money? Do you want more?” As soon as Mia finished her little speech, Sarah, a senior colleague sitting nearby, quickly handed her a tissue. She patted Mia’s shoulder and glared at me. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Chloe! Look how upset you made her. She’s pregnant, in case you forgot. It’s just making an extra portion of lunch. Is this really necessary?” “You’ve been doing it fine all this time. Why the sudden attitude? Refusing to help a pregnant coworker over such a small thing… what is wrong with you?” Mia wiped the corner of her eyes, sobbing softly. “It’s fine, Sarah. I’ll just go buy something. I don’t want to be a burden…” Several people in the open office turned to look at us. Someone whispered, “It’s just lunch. Why is she being so mean to a pregnant woman?” Sarah rolled her eyes. “Come on, Chloe, just help her out.” “Why don’t you do it then, Sarah?” I snapped back. Sarah choked on her words. “I… I don’t have the time!” “You eat lunch every day, don’t you? Just make an extra box. Since it’s ‘just a small thing,’ it shouldn’t be a problem for you.” Sarah shut her mouth instantly, looking away. Mia’s voice trembled. “But Chloe, you’ve always done it…” “Yeah, I did it for six months. Steak, salmon, organic greens. And you gave me five dollars. Do the math, Mia. What does five dollars buy in this city?” “Five dollars can’t even buy you a coffee, let alone my labor. If Sarah or Justin wants to take your five-dollar budget, be my guest. I won’t stop them.” Mia stood frozen, unable to utter a single word. Sarah and Justin immediately glued their eyes to their computer screens, pretending they hadn’t heard a thing. At 2:00 PM, while I was deep in my spreadsheet, the glass doors of our office were violently kicked open. Dylan, Mia’s husband, stormed in. His roaring voice echoed across the entire floor. “Chloe! Who the hell gave you permission to feed my wife spicy food? You killed my son! Do you hear me? You killed him!” Mia followed closely behind him, her eyes swollen and red from crying. “Honey… I told her not to put anything spicy in it… but she still bought it for me…” “As soon as I took a bite, my stomach started hurting so bad… Our son… is our son going to be okay…?” Dylan wrapped his arm around her, pointing a thick finger at my face. His skin was flushed a disgusting shade of purple. “You explain to me right now! My wife is five months pregnant. She hasn’t touched a single drop of spice! Why did you feed her chili?” “Our family superstition says spicy food destroys the male energy and ruins the boy baby! If my son turns into a girl or miscarries, you are going to pay for it!” I stared at Mia, my expression entirely calm. “You claim I poisoned your baby with spicy food? Great. Let’s go to the police station right now and let them investigate.”

Hearing the word “police,” Mia’s tears flowed even faster. Her voice shook with faux terror. “Chloe… how can you say that? Why would I make jokes about my own child? This is my baby, I’ve been carrying him for five months!” She clutched her stomach and took two steps back. “I’ve been praying for this boy every single day. I didn’t dare touch anything spicy. Do you know how hard these five months have been for me?” “I don’t even eat raw onions because I’m scared they’re too sharp!” “But you… you went out of your way to buy me food with chili in it! You are trying to destroy my boy!” Dylan held her tight, screaming at me. “You still have the audacity to deny it? Let me tell you something, when my mother was pregnant with me, she didn’t touch a single pepper! She didn’t even use soy sauce!” “Our family rule is strict: no spice if you want a boy. Spicy food ruins the boy! My wife worked so hard for five months, and you ruined everything!” He raised his voice, making sure the entire office could hear. “Back in my hometown, everyone knows this! Every family protects their baby boy with everything they have. Only a wicked, bitter person like you would feed a pregnant woman chili!” Sarah chimed in, her tone dripping with self-righteousness. “Chloe, this is really too much. Pregnant women have strict dietary rules. Even if you don’t believe in her family’s tradition, you should at least respect it. Giving her spicy food on purpose… that’s just malicious.” “Exactly. Mia is pregnant, it’s already so hard on her. She’s wanted a boy for so long…” “Look how hard Mia is crying. And Chloe is just standing there like nothing happened…” “This is sick. She literally ruined their baby boy and she doesn’t even care…” The whispers around the room grew louder, people gossiping and throwing dirty looks at me. Mia buried her face in Dylan’s chest, her shoulders shaking violently as she wept. “My boy… my baby boy is gone… how could you be so cruel…” I ignored the drama and looked straight at Mia. “Mia, you said I fed you spicy food and ruined your baby today. But I didn’t make or buy you any lunch today. How exactly did I do that?” Mia paused. The tears were still fresh on her cheeks, but her voice caught in her throat. “Chloe… I can’t believe that even now, you’re still trying to lie.” “Are you really going to deny it just to save your own skin?” Mia sniffled. “You want to play dumb? Fine. Let me ask you this. Around noon, didn’t you say you were going to the restroom?” “But instead, you pulled me aside in the hallway and apologized for being rude earlier.” “You said you bought me a little snack to make it up to me. Did you forget that?” The onlookers whispered instantly. “Oh my god, she actually admitted it to Mia and now she’s lying…” “Poor Mia. Her baby boy is ruined, and she’s still being gaslighted like this…” I stared at her. “I never said that. And I certainly didn’t buy you anything.” Mia immediately pulled out her phone. A few seconds later, she shoved her screen right in front of my face, her voice cracking. “Then how do you explain this digital receipt? You gave me this snack box at noon!” “It has your store membership number on it! Your phone number is right there! You handed it to me and told me not to be mad anymore!” Mia raised her phone high, showing it to the entire room. “Look, everyone! She bought it using her own rewards account! The evidence is right here!” “And she still claims she’s innocent? I’m a pregnant woman! Why would I risk my own baby’s health just to frame her?” Sarah leaned in to look. “Oh, that really is Chloe’s phone number and membership ID…” “Chloe, what do you have to say for yourself now?” Mia’s tears fell again. “Chloe… I really didn’t want to make a big deal out of this…” “You harmed my baby, and I wasn’t even going to sue you. But now you’re claiming I’m lying and making things up… How can you be so heartless?” I looked at the receipt on her screen. Yes, it was indeed my membership account and my phone number. But I had lost that physical rewards card last month, and I hadn’t gotten around to replacing it yet. I looked up at her calmly. “Mia, I lost that card last month. I haven’t used it since.” “You found a lost card, bought something with it, and now you’re claiming I was the one who bought it?” “Tell me, Mia. How are you going to prove that I was the one who actually swiped that card at the store?”

“That is enough.” Marcus, the department director, stood at the door of the conference room. His face was dark. Clearly, he had been listening for a while. He threw a cold glare at me, his voice heavy with authority. “Chloe, haven’t you caused enough trouble? The evidence is right in front of your face, and you’re still denying it. Do you think everyone in this office is stupid?” Sarah was the first to jump to his side, her voice screeching. “Marcus! Thank goodness you’re here. You have to see what she’s done!” “Everyone knows pregnant women shouldn’t eat spicy food if they are trying to protect a male pregnancy!” “Mia talks about wanting a baby boy every single day. She hasn’t touched a pepper in months. But Chloe here decided to slip chili into her snack anyway! She ruined Mia’s baby, and now she’s standing here arguing!” Justin nodded along. “Mia is always so sweet to everyone. She works overtime even while pregnant and never bothers anyone.” “She told us so many times she couldn’t eat spicy food. Chloe doing this on purpose is just pure evil.” “Exactly. Look at Mia, she’s devastated. Her dream of having a son is ruined, while Chloe just stands there like a sociopath,” someone added from the back. “Why is she still employed here? Today she poisons a baby, tomorrow she might poison our coffee!” “Fire her already. She gives me the creeps.” “Marcus, you have to stand up for Mia. We can’t let good people get bullied like this.” The accusations flew like stones, one after another. Every single one of them pretended to care about Mia, but I could see the malicious excitement in their eyes. They just loved the drama. Marcus raised his hand, silencing the room. His voice was low but firm. “Chloe, save your breath. The company has made its decision. You are suspended immediately. Once Mia’s family figures out the medical details, we will proceed with the termination and legal liabilities.” I sat at my desk, looking at their triumphant faces. In my past life, before I jumped off that building, it was the exact same scene. They surrounded me, screaming insults. Marcus condemned me without a second thought. And Mia smirked while hiding in Dylan’s arms. Back then, I cried, I begged, I screamed my innocence. But nobody listened. Now, Mia was sobbing hysterically. “Marcus… I didn’t want her to get fired… I just wanted an apology… My boy is gone, he’s going to be a girl now… How am I going to face my husband’s family…?” Dylan glared at Marcus. “Marcus, we’ve been trying to conceive for five years. This is our only baby, and my entire family is waiting for a grandson.” “My wife didn’t touch a speck of pepper for five months, and this bitch ruined my son in one afternoon.” “We don’t want to cause trouble for the company, but she has to pay. We want compensation. Otherwise, this isn’t over!” Sarah immediately chimed in. “He’s right! They tried for five years! You ruined their son, Chloe. You have to pay up!” “A boy and a girl are completely different! Their family wanted a heir!” Justin agreed, his tone matter-of-fact. “Yeah, Chloe. You ruined their family’s hope. You have to give them a settlement. It’s better than going to jail, right?” “Just pay them and get it over with.” “A five-month-old boy turned into a girl because of you… Who could accept that?” “Give them the money, Chloe. Don’t make it worse. If her husband keeps coming to the office to protest, you’ll never find a job in this city again.” Ashley, the receptionist, took a slow sip of her tea and muttered, “Chloe, if I were you, I’d just pay. Don’t make a fool of yourself.” “They struggled for years. You ruined their dreams. You think a few hundred bucks will fix this? You should pay at least thirty or forty thousand dollars.” Hearing this, Dylan instantly barked, “Forty thousand? You think my son is only worth forty thousand? We want a hundred thousand dollars! Minimum! Or I will destroy her life!” The crowd murmured in agreement. “Yeah, a hundred thousand is fair for a son.” “Just transfer the money, Chloe. Don’t let this go to court.” “You’re a young girl. You still want to get married one day, don’t you? If this gets out, your reputation will be completely ruined.”

I suddenly burst out laughing. I looked directly at Sarah. “You’re right, Sarah. A girl’s reputation is very important.” “So you better remember this: if someone throws dirt on you in the future without a single shred of actual proof, and demands a hundred thousand dollars while trying to get you fired, don’t you dare complain. Just shut up and hand over your bank account. After all, as long as they cry louder than you, they must be the victim, right?” Marcus’s face turned pitch black. He turned to Ashley. “Go get HR. Right now.” Ashley nodded quickly and ran out of the room. The office fell into a tense silence, save for Mia’s soft whimpering. Dylan was still patting her back, whispering, “It’s okay, baby. The boss is on our side now.” A few minutes later, Brooke from HR walked in. She held a black folder. She looked at Marcus, then at me, her face expressionless. “Chloe, in light of the severe incident that occurred today, which has seriously damaged the company’s reputation and work environment, the management has decided to terminate your contract.” “This is your termination agreement. Review it. If you have no questions, sign it and pack your things.” She slid the folder onto my desk. The bold letters TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT stared back at me. Mia slowly raised her head from Dylan’s chest. Tears were still on her face, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward. It was a smirk of victory. She thought she had won. I picked up the folder, flipped through the pages, closed it, and set it down. “Hold on.” Everyone blinked in confusion. The smirk on Mia’s face froze. I looked at Brooke, then at Marcus. My voice was deadly quiet. “I’ll sign it. But before I do, I want Mia to answer a few simple questions in front of everyone.” Mia’s face paled slightly. “She claimed that during lunch hour, I met her in the hallway, gave her a snack, and she took a bite and realized it had chili in it.” “Fine. Mia, tell me: What exactly did I give you? Where did I give it to you? What time was it? What did the packaging look like?” “From the moment I walked into this building today, did anyone see me pull you aside?” I laid out the questions rapidly. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Mia’s lips trembled. Dylan opened his mouth to bark, but I cut him off. “Shut up. Let Mia speak.” “If she can’t answer these basic questions, nobody is making me sign this paper today.” Mia’s face flushed from pale to an ugly gray. Her fingers clutched Dylan’s shirt, trembling. Under the collective gaze of the entire office, Mia stammered. “I… I don’t remember clearly… It was… was it a pastry? Or… or… some kind of snack… You just handed it to me, you didn’t say what it was…” Her voice got smaller and smaller. “Maybe… maybe it was near the stairwell? Or the restroom…? My stomach was hurting so bad… I can’t remember the details…” Dylan nudged her arm hard, visibly panicking. She quickly added, “But it was definitely you! I… I ate it and felt the spice… Why would I lie about that…?” Looking at her pathetic attempt to fabricate a story, I cut her off. “Since you can’t seem to remember, let me help refresh your memory.” I unlocked my phone and tapped a play button. As the audio started playing, the entire room gasped in shock.

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To save Ethan Vance, I suffered severe third-degree burns over my entire body. I became a monster. But tonight, I heard him complaining to his friends. “Three years! I’ve had to look at that hideous face for three whole years! Even if I owed her my life, three years of this mental torture should be enough to pay it back, right?” “Every time I think of her scarred, bumpy face, I feel nauseous. Why wasn’t it me who got disfigured in that fire instead?” I stood in the shadows, tears streaming down my ruined face as I overheard everything. Right then, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in my head. *“Host, the three-year contract has expired. Do you wish to spend more soul energy to renew the exchange?”* “System, cancel the exchange. I want my skin back.” *“Understood. Canceling the transaction now.”* Today was my fifth anniversary with Ethan. I had been sitting alone at the dining table, waiting for him for over two hours. Ethan had sent a Snapchat earlier saying he was on his way, but then he went completely radio silent. Struggling with the constant physical discomfort of my tight, scarred skin, I wrapped my coat tightly around myself and slowly walked out the door to look for him. As soon as I stepped outside, I spotted Ethan’s figure. Before I could call out his name in excitement, I caught the sound of his voice. He was talking to his friends. Judging by their backs, they were Carter Hayes and Lucas Hunt. They were standing a bit far away, so I couldn’t hear everything clearly at first. I could only see their grim expressions. I thought something had gone wrong at Ethan’s company. But as I crept closer, the harsh reality hit me. They were talking about me. “Ethan, bro, we can’t keep Chloe waiting forever,” Carter said. Chloe? Who was Chloe? “Don’t worry,” Ethan sighed, rubbing his temples. “I’ll give her the explanation she deserves. This year. Definitely.” Carter finally flashed a grin. “Finally! I knew you’d come to your senses, Ethan. Why keep torturing yourself like this?” Ethan didn’t deny it. Carter looked immensely relieved. “Bro, we’ve watched you go from a nobody with nothing to your name to a powerful CEO. We know how hard you’ve worked,” Carter continued. “Sure, Summer stayed by your side for years, but she’s disfigured now. She’s a monster. She doesn’t belong in your world anymore!” Hearing this, my heart barely even fluttered. His friends had always looked down on me. Even when I was perfectly healthy, they had plenty of issues with me. It was no surprise they felt this way now that I was covered in horrific burn scars. But they were just his friends. Ethan was the only one whose opinion mattered to me. I foolishly thought he would defend me. But he shattered that hope instantly. Ethan lit a cigarette, taking a long drag. “It’s been three years. I’ve stared at that hideous face of hers for three long years. I’ve taken care of her, played the doting husband… I’ve more than repaid my debt to her for saving me, haven’t I?” He blew out a thick cloud of grey smoke. I stared at him from the darkness, unable to believe my own ears. I wished I had misheard him. Then, Carter spoke up again. “Exactly, Ethan! We all support you. You’ve done more than enough. You shouldn’t have to live in this self-inflicted prison.” Seeing his friends validate him, Ethan began to pour out his hidden disgust. “You guys have no idea. She doesn’t go to the hospital anymore, but whenever the weather gets hot, her bumpy, raw skin starts oozing this disgusting fluid. It makes me sick to my stomach!” “I look at that face every single night, and I wake up screaming from nightmares. It feels like I’m sleeping next to a corpse. It’s killing me!” Even Lucas, who usually stayed quiet, showed a look of pure disgust. “Man, I can’t believe you’ve endured this for so long. Just thinking about how you have to pretend to love her and kiss her makes my skin crawl.” Ethan shook his head with a bitter sigh, acting as if he were the biggest victim in the world. “Don’t even get me started. Looking back at these three years of torture, I’d rather have been the one trapped in that fire. Honestly, I don’t even know why she rushed in. If she hadn’t interfered, the firefighters probably would have rescued me anyway. Why did I have to suffer this curse?” “I swear, she just wants to cling to me like a parasite for the rest of her life!” I never, in my wildest dreams, expected Ethan to hold so much resentment toward me. I let out a silent, bitter laugh. My sacrifice, my willing plunge into a burning hell to save his life, had only earned me his deepest disgust. Three years ago, Ethan had left the stove running while he was distracted by a business call, causing a massive gas explosion in our kitchen. The fire spread with terrifying speed, trapping him inside. Our house was in a secluded suburb, and the fire department couldn’t make it in time. Seeing Ethan trapped in the blazing inferno, I was driven mad with panic. Without a second thought, I dove straight into the flames. But I was too late. A heavy cabinet had collapsed on him, and his body was already severely burned. I managed to drag him out and put out the flames eating his skin, but his body was completely ruined. Even with the best plastic surgery, he would have been a scarred monster forever. I knew how incredibly proud Ethan was. He was at the peak of his career. If he woke up to see himself disfigured, it would have broken him. He wouldn’t have survived the blow. He needed a perfect, healthy body to succeed. I vividly remember staring at the System interface three years ago. “System, transfer my healthy skin to Ethan. Take his burns and put them on me.” *“Warning, Host. Once this contract is finalized, there is no going back.”* “If he wakes up like this, he’ll go insane. He needs a perfect face. I’ll bear his pain.” …

Under my stubborn demands, I used up almost all my accumulated system energy to complete the trade. Ethan, of course, had no idea. He believed the lie that I was the one who got trapped in the fire while trying to save him. In reality, my ruined, oozing body was just bearing the consequences of his own mistake. I remained hidden in the shadows, listening to them. Ethan’s voice drifted over again. “Three years of pretending to be okay while sharing a bed with her. It’s been pure psychological torture. Now, just looking at her makes me want to throw up!” “Man, forget about her,” Carter said, slapping Ethan’s shoulder. “Let’s hit the club tonight. We’ll help you loosen up.” Ethan shook his head. “No, today is our fifth anniversary. I should go home and get it over with. Consider it my final act of charity before the end.” They chatted a bit longer, but I couldn’t listen anymore. My head spun, and my body felt like it was being pierced by a thousand hot needles. I don’t even remember how I made it back to the dining table. A long time later, Ethan finally walked through the door. He casually tossed a small gift box onto the table. Without even looking at me, he pulled out his phone and started eating. In the past, I would have complained. He was always so busy with work, and we barely spent any time together. I used to feel sorry for him, so I always begged him to put his phone away during dinner. Only now did I realize it wasn’t because he was busy. He just didn’t want to look at my face. “Who is Chloe?” I asked quietly. Ethan snapped his head up. His eyes flashed with irritation, bordering on anger. When his eyes landed on my scarred face, a look of pure disgust slipped through before he could hide it. “Why are you asking about her?” “Just curious. Is she… important to you?” He stared at me, silent for a few seconds. Then, he quickly masked his expression, offering me a perfect, practiced smile. “Of course not, honey. You’re the only one who matters to me.” “By the way, a major client just landed. I have to head back to the office right now…” “But… today is our fifth anniversary.” I was still desperately clinging to the tiny, naive hope that we could at least finish this final dinner together in peace. A proper goodbye to our five years. But Ethan’s eyes were filled with nothing but impatience. He could barely hide his annoyance. Still, he suppressed it. He leaned in, gave me a quick, shallow hug, and immediately pulled away. “I already gave you your gift, didn’t I? Be good, babe. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.” With that, he practically ran out the door. Through the window, I watched him walk to his car. The moment he thought he was out of sight, he began frantically wiping down his clothes, as if he had just touched something toxic. He even spat on the ground several times in disgust. I stared into the empty street and whispered, “System, can I take my skin back now?” *“Host, your current energy level is too low. A random quest has been unlocked. Please proceed to Club Nocturne to gather energy.”* Hearing the system’s voice after so long made me freeze, but I quickly pulled myself together. Even with my body and face wrapped tightly in a thick scarf, it took every ounce of my courage to step out of the house. At the club entrance, the bouncer gave me a weird, suspicious look, which made my chest tighten with anxiety. But at least they let me in. Inside, the lights were dim, the music was loud, and the darkness hid my scars. I finally let out a sigh of relief. I tried to find a quiet corner to hide in, but someone suddenly crashed right into me. “Are you fucking blind? Watch where you’re going!” a loud, arrogant voice barked. “You almost spilled my drink! Apologize right now!” I quickly began to apologize, but the young man refused to let it go. “A girl? Why the hell are you wrapped up like a mummy? What, are you some supermodel hiding from paparazzi, or just an ugly troll?” Before I could react, his hand shot out and violently ripped the scarf off my head, exposing my severely burned, scarred face to the crowd. I screamed, frantically covering my face with my hands, but it was too late. “Holy shit! What the fuck is that monster?!” The guy jumped back in disgust, wiping his hands on his pants as if I were contagious, and walked away swearing. I kept my face covered, trying to push through the crowd to escape, crying out that I wasn’t a monster. Suddenly, a strong hand gripped my wrist. I panicked, struggling to pull away. But a familiar voice sounded in my ear. “What the hell are you doing here?” I looked up. It was Ethan. Tears flooded my eyes. Out of sheer habit, I tried to lean into his chest for comfort, but the memory of his conversation earlier flashed through my mind, stopping me cold. His voice didn’t hold a single drop of concern. It was pure, icy interrogation. I forced myself to calm down. “I was lonely. I just wanted to get some air.” Just then, Carter appeared from the VIP section, holding a glass of champagne. He looked at me with absolute contempt. “Summer, do you have any self-awareness at all? Do you know what kind of place this is? This is an elite club! Do you think a hideous freak like you belongs here?” “Ethan has been nice enough not to dump you, but can’t you have some decency and think about his reputation? Do you have to come out here and embarrass him like this?!” Carter’s words were incredibly sharp, showing no respect for me whatsoever. “Whether I can be here isn’t up to you,” I spat back coldly. “If a dog like you can get in, why can’t I?” Carter had a notorious temper. Hearing my insult, he raised his hand to strike me, but Lucas quickly stepped in and held him back. Lucas patted Carter’s shoulder, then turned to me with a sigh. “Summer, things are different now. Coming here only makes people look at you like a freak. You’re the one getting humiliated. Carter’s words might be harsh, but he’s right.” Carter immediately chimed in. “Seriously! You smell like rot. Even my expensive cologne can’t block out the stench coming off you. Jesus!” “Ethan, you owe me a new jacket!” I heard Ethan chuckle warmly in response, agreeing to his friend’s demand. I turned my cold gaze to Ethan. “Are you really just going to stand there and let them treat me like this?”

A flash of irritation crossed Ethan’s face. “They’re just speaking the truth, Summer. Why are you being so sensitive? Just go home. Having you here really is an embarrassment.” I glanced at the system’s progress bar in my mind. I still needed one more hour to fully gather the required energy. I couldn’t leave yet. I smirked slightly and said firmly, “I’m not going home. And I don’t need your permission to stay.” Seeing how stubborn I was, they grew frustrated. I watched Carter lean close to Ethan, whispering, “Ethan, Chloe is about to arrive. We need to get rid of her.” Ethan’s face instantly darkened, and he snapped at me. “Summer! Go home! I won’t tell you again.” “No.” Ethan stared at me like a venomous snake. Suddenly, he let out a cold, cruel laugh. “Fine. Since you want to stay so badly, make sure you don’t run away…” He gave a quick nod to a few of his rich friends standing nearby. The group of guys immediately surrounded me, blocking my path. I had nowhere to run. Fear started to creep in, but I forced myself to stand my ground. I had to finish the quest. Suddenly, with a sharp *rip*, someone grabbed the collar of my coat and tore it down, exposing the thick, red burn scars covering my neck and shoulders. Another hand pushed me hard from behind. I stumbled and fell onto a nearby lounge sofa. The next second, several guys grabbed the sofa and lifted it up, carrying me toward the center stage. The club’s bright strobe lights suddenly focused entirely on me. I tried desperately to hide my face, but it was useless. They dumped me onto the center of the stage. Without my coat and scarf, my raw, scarred body was completely exposed under the blinding white spotlights. The DJ, catching on to the cruel joke, changed the track to a distorted, mocking song with the word “Monster” repeating on loop over a heavy bassline. The crowd erupted into whispers and loud jeers. Words like “ugly,” “freak,” and “alien” pelted me from all directions. I screamed in terror, trying to crawl off the stage, but the surrounding crowd blocked me, mocking my every move. Through my tear-blurred vision, I saw Ethan standing in the VIP lounge. He was smiling warmly, even clapping along with the crowd. My heart turned to ash. I tried to stand up and run, but someone deliberately tripped me. I fell face-first onto the hard floor. Carter walked up to the edge of the stage, looking down at me with a malicious smirk. “Aw, look at our big beauty, Summer! Why are you looking so pathetic tonight? Guys, aren’t we being a little too mean to her?” The crowd burst into another wave of laughter. Carter sneered, “Are you having fun yet?” I gritted my teeth, glare piercing through my tears. “You’re all monsters.” The sheer panic and stress had caused my body to break into a cold sweat. The moment the sweat touched my raw, unhealed skin, a wave of agony washed over me. I curled into a ball on the stage, completely paralyzed by the pain. Under the intense heat of the club lights, my fragile skin began to ooze yellowish fluid. The music suddenly cut off. Ethan slowly walked onto the stage. Bathed in the bright spotlight, he looked like a savior, making me lose my grip on reality for a split second. It felt just like the day we first met. Years ago, when I had tripped and fallen in the street, he had run through the crowd to pick me up, the warm sunlight framing his handsome face just like these lights did now. I instinctively reached my hand out to him. But Ethan took several steps back, pinching his nose, his face twisted in absolute disgust. He suddenly burst into a loud, mocking laugh. “Summer, did you seriously just wet yourself on stage? Or are you literally rotting? The bathroom is right over there, you know.” His voice echoed through the club’s sound system. Every single eye in the room locked onto me, filled with mockery and disgust. Carter roared with laughter. “Damn, Summer! You’re not just ugly, you have zero manners! Pooping yourself in public? That’s low!” “Ugh! That is so gross!” Ethan looked down at me, his voice dripping with icy contempt. “This is your own fault, Summer! If you’re a freak, you should have stayed locked up at home. Why did you have to come out and ruin everyone’s night? You disgust me!” I struggled to my feet, shaking violently from the physical pain, but I forced myself to stand straight. I stared into his eyes and let out a soft laugh. “Ethan Vance… Three years. You really should have been an actor.” Ethan laughed maniacally, completely shedding his gentle-husband persona. “Summer, do you have any idea how miserable I’ve been?! Every single second I spent looking at you made me want to die! It was pure torture!” “Why didn’t you just die in that fire? It would have been better for both of us!” His eyes turned cold, devoid of any past affection. “I’ve paid back everything I owe you. Let’s get a divorce.” Just then, a beautiful young girl in a tight designer dress walked onto the stage. She wrapped her arms tightly around Ethan’s arm, looking down at me with supreme arrogance. “So ugly,” she sneered. “I get that you’re bitter, but you can’t blame Ethan. Anyone would be disgusted looking at a face like yours. Why keep dragging him down?” Looking at her, I immediately realized who she was. This was Chloe Parker. They stood together, looking like a perfect couple. But then, I noticed something. I let out a loud laugh. “Wow, Ethan. Your taste really never changes, does it? You couldn’t wait to replace me, so you found a cheap knock-off who dresses exactly like I did three years ago.” And it was true. Chloe was styled exactly the way I used to dress before the fire. Chloe’s face flushed with rage. She grabbed the microphone from the stand next to her and violently threw it at me. “Shut up, you bitch! You’re just a jealous freak! You’re going to be ugly and alone for the rest of your life!” I easily dodged the microphone, keeping the mocking smirk on my face. Right then, the system’s voice echoed in my head. *“Ding! Quest complete. Energy fully gathered.”* Finally. I could leave this hellhole. I didn’t try to cover myself up this time. I held my head high and began to walk off the stage. The crowd quickly parted to make way for me, their faces filled with various expressions of disgust and shock, but I didn’t care anymore. Just as I reached the exit, a sharp voice called out from behind me. “Summer!” I didn’t stop. My mind was completely exhausted. But Chloe ran up, blocking my path. She wanted to savor my defeat. She leaned in close, whispering viciously, “I hear Ethan is leaving you with nothing. Consider this my parting gift to you…” She smiled nastily. “I hope you stay a monster forever, hiding in the dark like the rat you are!” I clenched my fists. The physical strain caused some of the blisters on my arms to pop, weeping fluid onto the floor. Behind her, Ethan yelled out to the crowd, “Look! She’s leaking again! Disgusting!” I bit my lip to keep from kicking him right in the face. *“Host, energy levels are optimal. Do you wish to cancel the skin-exchange contract and reclaim your skin?”* I turned back, locking eyes with Ethan, and gave him a chilling, serene smile. **Ethan, peeing yourself in public is so low class!**

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### On the night of our sixth wedding anniversary, my husband, Ethan, was caught by the paparazzi on a private yacht with his first love, Melody. The news instantly went viral on Instagram. The headline read: *”Billionaire Spends Millions on a Romantic Yacht Night to Make His Muse Smile.”* In the photo, Melody wore a dazzling diamond ring, her fingers tightly locked with Ethan’s. Melody reposted the article. I calmly liked her post. But when I refreshed the page, I realized she had already blocked me. A moment later, Ethan called me. His voice was cold. “Stop stalking the people around me, Chloe. You’re scaring Melody. She’s almost in tears.” Through the receiver, I heard Melody’s sweet, dripping voice in the background. “Ethan, baby, the moonlight is so beautiful tonight.” I guess six years of devotion really couldn’t beat the return of “the one that got away.” I had lost completely. And this time, I chose to let go. … The next morning, Ethan came home reeking of alcohol. He shouted toward the upstairs bedroom, “Chloe, get down here and take my shoes.” After we got married, I had essentially become his personal maid. Taking off his coat, untying his shoes—I did it all for him. I walked downstairs, my eyes heavy with sleep. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, I stood still. I didn’t bend down. He kicked my foot lightly, his face darkening with annoyance. “What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and get my slippers.” “I’m exhausted, Chloe. Can you have some common sense?!” Listening to his usual demanding tone, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. On our anniversary, my husband was trending online for a secret yacht date with his first love. And when he finally came home, instead of explaining, he looked at me with nothing but disgust. Did he really think I would never fight back? Seeing me standing there with a cold expression, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small jewelry box, and tossed it to me. “Melody bought this for you. She was worried you’d misunderstand us. Consider it her apology gift.” I opened the box. It was a cheap, plastic brooch. I sneered. “Must have been hard for her to dig through a dollar store to find this trash.” Ethan immediately snatched it back, his eyes flashing with anger. “It’s the thought that counts! What do you know? She stayed up late to pick this out for you. Don’t be so ungrateful.” Looking at how carefully he held that cheap piece of plastic, as if it were a priceless treasure, my eyes welled up with tears of bitter laughter. In our social circle, I had a nickname: “Ethan’s loyal doormat.” I chased him for three years. We were married for six. I honestly believed my devotion had earned me his equal love. But the moment Melody came back, everything changed. I was just a clown, wagging my tail, begging for scraps of his attention. No matter when or where, as long as Melody snapped her fingers, Ethan would drop everything and run to her. At this very moment, I felt an overwhelming, bone-deep exhaustion. Seeing my attitude, Ethan snapped. “Chloe, who gave you the right to throw a tantrum at me first thing in the morning?” “Are you deaf or blind? Go make me some hangover tea!” With that, he gave me a rough push. I clutched my lower abdomen, where a dull pain was radiating, and shook my head. “Make it yourself. I’m not feeling well.” Beads of cold sweat began to form on my forehead. He stepped closer, sniffing the air, and pinched his nose in disgust. “Chloe, you’re sweating. You smell.” Ethan was a neat freak and extremely sensitive to odors. He couldn’t stand the smell of sweat on me. He even forced me to wear only the woody perfume he liked. My stomach had been hurting all night, and I had been breaking out in cold sweats. If this were before, I would have rushed upstairs to take a shower immediately. But now? I didn’t care anymore. ###

Ethan handed me his phone. “Melody said she wants to eat at Le Petit Paris tonight. I have a business dinner, so you take her. Consider it returning the favor for the gift.” “Be polite to her. And after dinner, take her to buy a designer bag. It’s called etiquette.” A ten-dollar brooch in exchange for a ten-thousand-dollar bag. What a brilliant calculation. I didn’t reach for the phone. Seeing me ignore him, Ethan dialed Melody’s number himself. Melody answered, her voice sweet and bubbly. “Ethan? Do you miss me already?” Ethan cleared his throat, his eyes fixed on me. “Chloe is taking you out for dinner tonight. Pick out a gift you like, and she’ll pay for it.” Melody paused for a second before squealing, “I knew you were the best, Ethan!” I looked at him coldly. “I told you, I’m not feeling well. I’m not going.” Ethan’s face fell. He grabbed my wrist tightly. “Don’t push your luck, Chloe. You are going tonight, whether you like it or not!” With a burst of anger, he ripped off his coat and threw it directly at my face to vent his frustration. The force of his throw was so strong that I lost my balance. I stumbled and fell hard against the sharp corner of the sofa. My right leg slammed into the wood. Instantly, blood began to gush out. Ethan looked at me as if I were acting. “Seriously? Fine, I’ll get the medical kit.” He rummaged through the drawers for what felt like forever but couldn’t even find a single roll of gauze. He grew even more annoyed. “Chloe, is this how you keep the house? You can’t even keep a damn roll of gauze in the medical kit?” He seemed to have completely forgotten that I had appendicitis surgery just a month ago. The gauze was used up during my recovery. I had explicitly asked him to buy some more when he passed by a pharmacy. Before, I would have argued with him to prove it wasn’t my fault. Now, I didn’t want to waste a single breath. My vision was swimming. I had a severe phobia of blood. Forcing myself to stand, I whispered, “Just… take me to the hospital to get it bandaged.” Ethan muttered an annoyed curse, grabbed his keys, and walked out. I dragged my leg and followed him. But right after we drove out of our neighborhood, Ethan’s phone rang. I glanced at the screen. The caller ID read: *Melody.* The next second, Ethan blocked my view with his hand and declined the call, looking at me guiltily. I turned my face toward the window, completely indifferent. He stared at me, his expression strange. “You’re not going to make a scene?” Why would I? I looked back at him. Did he expect me to scream, snatch his phone, and block her number to assert my dominance like I used to? Right now, my only priority was getting to the hospital. The phone rang again. Ethan frowned, glanced at me, and finally pressed answer. Melody’s crying voice filled the car. She claimed someone was stalking her and she was terrified. Even then, she didn’t forget to play the victim: “Ethan, please explain to Chloe so she doesn’t get mad at you because of me…” Ethan panicked. He glanced at my bleeding leg, then shouted, “Get out of the car!” I didn’t move. He literally got out, walked to my side, opened the door, and dragged me out onto the curb. “If I don’t go, Melody might die!” he yelled, slamming the door. He stepped on the gas and sped away. I sat on the cold pavement, inhaling the exhaust fumes he left behind. My heart was completely shattered. I managed to hail a Uber to the hospital. On the way, the driver looked at me through the rearview mirror with concern. “Are you okay, miss? Your leg is bleeding pretty badly. Are you alone?” The genuine concern from a stranger made my eyes sting with tears. While the nurse was bandaging my leg, I could hear the girls at the nurse’s station gossiping about Ethan and Melody trending on Instagram. Ethan’s family company was a titan in the city, so it wasn’t surprising that he was always in the spotlight. Even though I didn’t want to hear it, their whispers drifted over. “Ethan’s muse is so gorgeous!” “They look perfect together. I heard she’s a world-class pianist.” “Do you think they’ll announce a wedding soon?” As I sat there numbly, the nurse bandaging me shouted toward them, “Keep it down! If the head nurse hears you gossiping, you’ll get your pay docked.” I smiled bitterly. I had attended several charity galas with Ethan after we got married, yet I was so forgettable. Under the bright light of his “first love,” everyone had forgotten he actually had a wife. When I stepped out of the hospital, my phone buzzed with a breaking news notification. Someone had uploaded a video of Ethan physically beating a man. The internet was in an uproar. Melody had indeed been harassed, but Ethan usually cared deeply about his public image; his assistants usually handled these things. This time, he had actually lost his mind and fought the guy himself for her. I remembered during our company’s annual gala earlier this year, someone had accidentally shoved me, causing me to fall flat on the floor in front of everyone. Ethan had been holding Melody’s hand, walking toward us under the spotlight. I called out his name, but he didn’t even look at me. It was only after Melody whispered something to him that he glanced at me with utter disgust, as if remembering I was his wife. “How embarrassing,” he had muttered. Then, he walked away, leaving me to be mocked by the entire room. The next day, he casually bought me a diamond necklace as an apology. At the time, I cherished it like a treasure and was too afraid to even wear it. Only later did I find out it was just a custom piece that Melody had rejected. I limped back to our house and began packing my bags. At the same time, I called my best friend, Ashley. She was a top attorney at a major law firm in the city. “Ashley,” I said, my voice steady. “I want a divorce.” ###

I didn’t have many personal belongings in the villa, so packing didn’t take long. Ashley told me to wait at home while she brought over the divorce papers. During this time, Ethan called me several times, but I declined every single one. When Ashley arrived, I quickly signed the papers, tore up our wedding photos on the coffee table, and got ready to leave. Just then, the front door opened. Ethan walked in, looking exhausted, with a small scrape on his hand. He froze when he saw me holding my suitcase. He threw a plastic bag onto the table. “I bought you some gauze on the way back. See? You can’t even handle such a minor thing.” I looked down at the bag. It contained two rolls of gauze, and one of them had already been opened. “No need. The hospital already took care of it.” He let out a sigh of relief. “Good. I knew it was just a tiny scratch. No big deal.” My breath hitched. My hand clutched the handle of my suitcase tighter. “Right.” He knew perfectly well that I had just undergone surgery not long ago. He knew I had a fear of blood, and that my body hadn’t fully recovered. Usually, I kept quiet because I didn’t want to bother him. But if he had cared even a fraction of an inch, he would have noticed my pain. He just didn’t care. “I was a bit harsh this morning. But Melody is a young girl, she has no one else to rely on here. I was just panicking. You’re not still mad, are you?” I stared at the red swelling on his hand. “Why didn’t you stay with her longer? To soothe her traumatized soul?” He frowned, irritated. “Chloe, do you have to speak to me like that?” “The opened gauze,” I pointed at the table. “You used it on her first, didn’t you?” I tossed the bag back onto the coffee table and turned to leave. He looked slightly embarrassed and tried to explain. “…Yeah, I used a little bit. She scraped her finger. But there’s still plenty left, so I brought the rest back for you.” I nodded, not wanting to hear another word, and reached for my suitcase. Ethan’s face darkened instantly. “I came back to explain to you because I didn’t want you to misunderstand. What is this? Are you playing the childish game of running away from home again?” “Chloe, I give you an inch and you take a mile. As long as I am in this house, you are not walking out that door!” With that, he lunged forward and violently grabbed my suitcase, jerking it back. The sudden, violent force threw me completely off balance. My leg wound, which had barely been bandaged, ripped open. A sharp, burning pain shot through my body. The stitches had torn. I could feel the warm blood soaking through my pants. “Ethan, it hurts… Please, take me to the hospital. My surgical wound opened.” Cold sweat poured down my forehead, and my fingertips turned icy cold. “I barely touched you, and now you’re acting?” Ethan sneered. “Chloe, since when did you become so dramatic? Playing the victim card now?” I forced myself to breathe through the shaking of my body, trying to speak as calmly as possible. “Ethan, you know I had surgery recently. The incision never healed properly. It’s bleeding right now. I need a doctor.” Ethan froze for a second, glancing at my stomach, but then his face twisted into a mocking grin. “How shameless can you be, Chloe? How long ago was that surgery? And you’re still using it as an excuse? If you bleed today, are you going to tell me you need an amputation tomorrow?” He shoved me away with brute force. I fell hard onto the floor, my head slamming violently against the sharp edge of the cabinet. Pain exploded in my skull. Everything went black for a second. “Since you love acting so much, keep acting! Let’s see how long you can keep this up. One of these days, you’re going to push me too far, and we will get a divorce!” I slowly looked up at him through my blurred vision. “If that’s what you want… let’s divorce. I won’t contest anything. Just sign the papers, and we can end this.” He gasped, looking at me in utter disbelief. “Chloe, have you lost your mind?” I looked at him with dead eyes. “Your muse is back. I’m stepping aside to give her her spot. Isn’t that what you want?” Ethan roared in frustration, “How many times do I have to tell you? I only see her as a sister! Why can’t you just believe me?” “When are you going to stop this nonsense?!” I whispered, “For two years, every time she called you in the middle of the night, you looked so terrified of losing her. I’m not blind, Ethan. I saw it all.” “Just like today. I was bleeding, and you threw me out of the car.” “But when Melody cut her finger while cooking, you panicked for three days. You ordered her takeout every single day and begged her never to step into a kitchen again.” “And me? I had major surgery, and you never even asked how I was doing. You even expected me to do all the housework this past week.” “You never stopped to think if I had the strength to do those things, or why my wound wasn’t healing.” I lowered my gaze. “Ethan, we’re done. I’m too tired.” *Crash!* Ethan suddenly kicked my suitcase violently against my feet. “Enough!” He bent down, grabbed my wrist, and hauled me up. “Get up! Stop pretending to be tired. You said you’re bleeding, right? Fine! Let’s go to the hospital. I want to see with my own eyes how long you can keep up this pathetic act!” The violent pulling tore my wound even further. My face turned ghostly pale, and heavy drops of sweat rolled down my temples. I tried to struggle, but the blood loss and the concussion from hitting my head left me completely powerless. I could only gasp for air. I was practically dragged across the floor. Just then, Ashley burst through the front door, holding the divorce files. Seeing the horror before her, she let out a scream, rushed forward, and slammed her body into Ethan, pushing him away. She shielded me in her arms, screaming at him like a wild animal. “Ethan, you psycho! Can’t you see she’s bleeding?! You’re killing her! Does she have to die for you to finally let her go?!” Ethan stood frozen, staring at the trail of blood on the hardwood floor left behind from where he had dragged me. Panic finally flushed into his face. “No… I thought… she was lying… why…” Before darkness consumed my consciousness, I looked at him one last time. He stood there, completely helpless, surrounded by my clothes that had spilled out of the broken suitcase. Ashley grabbed the heavy leather folder containing the divorce papers and threw it directly at his face. “Sign it! You bastard, sign it!” “Chloe didn’t get a single day of rest after her surgery because of you! Her wound got infected multiple times, and I was the one who took her to the clinic while you were playing house with your little ‘sister’!” “And now you drag her like a dog and make her bleed like this? Are you even human, Ethan? If anything happens to Chloe, I will personally make sure you go to jail for murder!” The sharp edge of the folder cut Ethan’s forehead, drawing blood. The papers scattered all over the floor around him. Ethan stood there, his face completely pale, staring at my limp body, unable to make a single sound.

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