Category: English

My mother was hardwired to defy. She lived to contradict, to twist every instruction into its opposite. Before my final high school exams, I’d pleaded with her, countless times, not to touch my things. She’d nodded, then turned right around and stitched a cheat sheet into the lining of my jacket. The result? I was caught, accused of cheating, and expelled on the spot. My academic record, ruined. I brought the sealed envelope of my ruined future home, begging her again, please, don’t touch it. I stepped away for a moment, and by the time I was back, she’d torn open the seal, pen in hand, “editing” its contents. I confronted her, my voice raw with fury, but my dad just smiled, calling it her “good intentions,” telling me to be more understanding. The rage, the sheer helplessness, drove me to a nervous breakdown. My doctor prescribed quiet rest. But my mother, scoffing at my “fragility,” invited a gaggle of her male friends over, turning our living room into a raucous party, claiming “exercise is the only path to health.” It was there, amidst the drunken laughter and blaring music, that their leering advances and constant harassment left me feeling utterly violated, plunging me into a severe depression. I picked up a filleting knife, desperate to reclaim my dignity, but my dad and brother blocked my path. “They’re your mom’s friends,” my brother scoffed, “you only lost your innocence.” In the ensuing struggle, the knife found its way into my heart. But then, I opened my eyes again. I swore, with every fiber of my being, that my mother’s “good intentions” would, this time, bring ruin upon them all. 01 The moment my fingers closed around that folded stack of notes hidden in my jacket lining, a jolt of electrifying certainty shot through me. My entire body trembled. I was back. I was sure of it. I had been reborn. In my last life, my mother had insisted on packing my things. “Just focus on studying, sweetie,” she’d chirped, “Mom will take care of everything else.” I’d specifically told her not to touch anything for the exams. But she’d gone and sewn that cheat sheet into my coat. During the test, it had slipped out. I was caught, branded a cheater, expelled, and became the entire school’s laughingstock. Broken and reeling, I’d limped home. I’d warned her, begged her, not to touch my academic records. But the second I stepped into the bathroom, she’d torn open the sealed envelope, pen in hand, “correcting” the contents. “I told you not to touch it!” I’d shrieked, my voice cracking. “Are you deaf?! Do you hate me so much you won’t be happy until I’m dead?!” She’d looked up, her face a picture of pure innocence. “Mom didn’t know anything, darling. I just wanted to help.” Before I could say another word, my brother, Leo, had kicked me to the floor. “Your grades were always trash anyway, you wouldn’t have passed even without cheating. And you have the nerve to blame Mom? You ungrateful wretch!” Leo was allergic to dairy, but my mom, ignoring doctor’s orders, had bought him a cream cake. It had almost put him into organ failure. She’d, of course, blamed me for buying it. From that day on, Leo had hated me, constantly spitting venom, wishing me a terrible death. My dad had chimed in too. “Your mom meant well, Lily. Girls don’t need much schooling anyway. Just get married soon.” I couldn’t comprehend twelve years of grinding hard work, gone. The sheer anger had choked me, and I’d passed out. The doctor had diagnosed a nervous breakdown, prescribing complete rest. But my mom had dismissed it as me being “delicate,” then invited her male friends over for a party. “More exercise equals more health!” she’d declared. It was there, amidst the drunken revelry, that their leering advances and constant harassment left me feeling utterly violated. My condition worsened, spiraling into deep depression. I’d picked up a filleting knife, desperate for justice, for a shred of dignity. But my dad had shielded them, wrestling with me. In the chaos, the knife had plunged into my heart. Even as I lay dying, I’d heard Leo’s words: “She only lost her dignity, but they’re Mom’s friends!” “She just had bad luck. She didn’t appreciate Mom’s hard work. She deserved to die!” In that moment, I’d been consumed by regret. I should have let my mother unleash her brand of “good intentions” on them. I shouldn’t have stopped her. This time, I’d toss the cheat sheet. I’d act oblivious. And when her “good intentions” boomeranged back, hitting them square in the face, they’d only have their own bad luck to blame. 02 It wasn’t until the third day, after I’d finished the final exam, that I truly allowed myself to breathe. Walking out of the testing center, everything felt like a dream—a nightmare, thankfully, from which I had now woken. This time, everything was different. This time, I had a chance. My mom was a born contrarian. Tell her to go east, and she’d stubbornly march west. It wasn’t that she couldn’t understand words; she simply thrived on doing the exact opposite. Everyone in our family had always indulged her. I knew what I had to do: get into a college far, far away. As far from this house as possible. I’d already discarded the cheat sheet. There shouldn’t be any more screw-ups, right? Of course, against all expectations, there was a screw-up. The day college exam results were released, I went to school to fill out my applications. Before I left, my mom suddenly asked, “Results are out? Do you need Mom’s help with your applications?” I eyed her warily. “Don’t you dare pull any more stunts, or I swear, I’m done with you!” She plastered on a syrupy sweet smile. “No, no, darling, how could Mom? Mom just wants to help my Riley ease her worries.” “No worries to ease,” I said, ignoring her, and headed straight for school. I didn’t know then that she’d turned around and called our relatives. “Your Aunt Carol’s husband, Frank, can you help Riley fill out her applications? I’ll text you her Social Security number.” “Just apply for a vocational school. A woman’s virtue is her lack of talent, and a good trade is fine.” The moment I finished submitting my applications at school, my uncle called. “What did you apply for, Riley? Way too risky! Good thing your mom had me re-submit everything.” “Don’t worry, Riley, just wait for your acceptance letters!” An alarm blared in my mind. I checked, and sure enough—my uncle hadn’t just changed my applications; he’d changed my login password too. My whole body trembled. I’d warned her, explicitly, not to interfere. Why couldn’t she just leave me alone? Why was she so determined to ruin everything? 03 When I demanded the password from Uncle Frank, he just waved me off. “They’re all top-notch technical schools, don’t you worry. Your mom looked at them too, she wouldn’t let you get screwed over.” Don’t worry? How could I possibly relax? I knew these relatives. Every single one of them was a master of messing things up. It was because of him that my cousin Sarah, who could have gone to a proper university, ended up stuck at the worst trade school, just to be with his son. The moment I saw my new applications, my hands shook with rage. My original choices, all prestigious universities, had been replaced with applications to places like “Big Rig Technical Institute.” Thankfully, it wasn’t too late. I swallowed my fury, rushing home to confront my mom. “How could you let them mess with my college applications like that?!” “Didn’t I tell you, repeatedly, not to cause any more trouble? Will you only be happy when I’m off to college?!” She lowered her gaze, trembling as she wiped away imaginary tears, putting on her patented aggrieved act. “Your Uncle Frank and Aunt Carol, they’re not outsiders. Mom was just worried you didn’t have enough experience, so I thought they could guide you.” “When has Mom ever harmed you? Mom just didn’t want you to be jealous of others with good trade skills.” I wanted to scream, to tear my hair out. Those relatives barely finished elementary school. What “experience” did they have? Why would a good university degree not be enough? Was I some kind of masochist who wanted a lesser education? But my mom, as always, argued back, sticking to her twisted logic. Everyone else’s warnings were just hot air to her. I didn’t want to waste any more breath, so I just issued a cold warning. “From now on, don’t ask about my business, don’t interfere! It’s not your place.” “You just cause trouble. Can’t you understand plain English?!” Before I could finish, Leo rushed over and kicked me to the ground. “How dare you! How do you talk to Mom like that?!” “What do you mean Mom can’t understand English? She’s just looking out for you! With your lousy grades, what good is any application? You’ll end up at a community college anyway.” My dad chimed in, echoing him: “Exactly, Riley! Did a dog eat your conscience? Your mom cares about you so much, how can you be so ungrateful?!” I hit the hallway floor hard, a searing pain shooting through me, cold sweat beading on my forehead. No one moved to help me up. They just stood there, towering over me, judging me from their moral high ground. It took me a long moment to recover, watching their mouths move in a united front of condemnation. It was almost comical. My mom was a contrarian, someone who twisted every instruction into its opposite, but she wasn’t just doing it to me. Before, I used to clean up her messes. Now, I wouldn’t. I wanted to see how they would handle the fallout. The most important thing now was to placate them. I swallowed my anger, forcing myself to apologize. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t recognize your good intentions. You were definitely doing what’s best for me.” “You’ve lived longer than I have, Mom. You know best.” My mom graciously forgave me. Our family was a picture of harmonious happiness. Everyone was satisfied. I just hoped they’d stay stuck with my contrarian mom, forever. 04 After sorting out my applications, I started streaming from my room – which doubled as my study – to earn money. I knew my mom wouldn’t give me a dime for tuition or living expenses. To avoid interruptions, I locked my door. But my mom wasn’t having it. She started banging on the door, a frantic, insistent rhythm. “Riley, want some fruit?” “No!” I shouted back. “I’m allergic!” She acted like she hadn’t heard me, continuing to pound. “You’re so lucky! Your brother left some mango from breakfast, hurry and eat it.” Ha! “Left some”? She probably meant a few stringy mango pits. Did she really think I wouldn’t know? I yelled through the door, “I won’t eat it! I’m allergic to mangoes! Are you trying to kill me?!” She whined back, “Mom barely got any of this mango, it’s all for Riley…” There was no reasoning with her. She just kept chattering outside my door, as if nothing was wrong. My dad, annoyed by her incessant noise, stomped over and kicked my door open. He stood there, glaring into my room. “Riley Evans! Are you going to die if you open this door? Your mom’s just trying to show she cares. Will it kill you to come out and eat a bite? Who are you hiding from?” Her caring for me? She’d be lucky if she didn’t kill me. The more I told my mom not to do something, the more energized she became. It was like some twisted obedience test for her. I scoffed, then opened the door. “Can you just leave me alone? I’m live-streaming. If I don’t make money, are you going to pay for my college?” “Me pay? I don’t have any money. My money is for your brother, don’t even think about it!” My dad scratched his head in frustration. “Your dad knows you’re stressed, but your mom went to all the trouble to get you fruit. And this is how you treat her? Your attitude is terrible.” “She ‘got it for me’? Don’t you dare try to guilt-trip me.” My mom, with a saccharine voice, shoved a plate of messy mango pits towards my mouth. “Riley, hurry and eat. This mango is so sweet. Mom saved it just for you, for your nutrition.” The smell of mango filled my nostrils. It felt like my great-grandmother was beckoning me from beyond the grave. “Thanks, Mom! I love mangoes.” I forced a smile, taking the plate from her. The moment the door was shut, I dumped the entire plate, mango and all, into the trash without a second thought. I wasn’t going to suffer in silence anymore. And I wouldn’t argue with her again before leaving home. Most importantly, I had to play along, to let her twisted sense of satisfaction swell. “Ugh… she’s got wings now, can’t control her!” My mom continued to grumble outside the door because I hadn’t eaten the mango in front of her. When I didn’t come out to apologize, her face instantly darkened. She grabbed the clothes drying rack from the sofa and started banging it against my door with all her might. “Riley, open the door! It’s a good day, I’m going to air out your comforter!” I pretended not to hear her, figuring she’d stop after a while. But she didn’t. She just hit the door even harder. My patience snapped. I roared, “You bang that door one more time! See if I don’t come out there and kill you!” Silence. Complete, utter silence. It always took me losing my temper for her to stop. She was truly infuriating. 05 My mom acted as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice, squatting in the living room, her eyes welling with tears. Leo, my brother, saw her and his heart ached for her. He kicked my door open, yelling, “What are you trying to prove? Spending all day doing nothing, messing around with shady stuff.” “Mom’s still worried about you, waiting on you, and this is your attitude? If you keep this up, you can just get out!” I gave a mocking smile. No need for him to kick me out. I’d be gone once college started, never to return. In my last life, after my incident, I’d been extra cautious with my mom, protecting Leo from her schemes, ensuring he passed his exams and became a civil servant. This time, I wouldn’t intervene. I owed him nothing. How would he ever know true pain if the whip never cracked on his own back? When my acceptance letter finally came, I needed to mail my official transcript to the university. To be safe, I mailed it myself that very day. My live stream ended late, so when I groggily woke up the next morning, I saw my mom tiptoeing into my room, carefully taking a document envelope from my desk. I watched her perform her little charade, then turned over and went back to sleep. I didn’t get up until noon to ask her. “Mom, where did you put the envelope from my desk?” She gave me a fawning smile. “Mom was worried those school officials would mess up your details, so I opened it and checked it for you. You won’t blame Mom, will you?” I flared up, my voice scorching. “You can’t open official documents like that! It invalidates them! How am I supposed to mail it? How am I supposed to go to college?!” “Didn’t I tell you not to touch my things?! Are you deaf?!” She looked hurt, her voice a pathetic whine. “Mom didn’t know any of that. You didn’t tell me. Mom was just worried about you, how was I supposed to know it was so important?” She was still defending herself. “I saw it just sitting on your desk, I thought it was just a package.” And then, tears began to stream down her face. She raised her hand, as if to slap herself. “It’s all Mom’s fault, it’s all Mom’s mistake. Riley, please don’t be angry.” This was her usual trick. It’s how she’d brainwashed the other two idiots in this family. 06 Sure enough, her trick worked. The moment her hand went up, my dad’s foot connected with my side, sending me sprawling to the floor. “What’s all this racket about? It’s just a stupid envelope, what’s there to fight about?” My dad had been on a losing streak with his night fishing for days, boiling with frustration, and I was the perfect outlet for his pent-up anger. “So, one stupid envelope means you can’t go to college? Sounds like you’re just not cut out for it.” “Good thing, too. I wasn’t planning on paying for your college anyway. In a couple of years, we’ll find someone for you to marry, and that’ll help your brother with his wedding expenses.” I struggled to my feet, my gaze cold as I swept over him. Even though I’d expected it, a chill still ran through me, and unbidden tears welled in my eyes. “Riley, don’t blame your dad. It’s all Mom’s fault, every single bit of it.” My mom stood beside him, wailing and crying, but her eyes held a glimmer of victorious satisfaction. My dad shot me a disgusted look, then pulled my mom protectively behind him. “Bah! You ungrateful wretch, you dare talk back to your mom? Even a dog I raise knows how to wag its tail.” With that, he snatched the envelope from the table, tore it in half, and threw the pieces at my head. The scattered papers fell to the floor. My dad spat a few thick globs of phlegm onto them. I gripped the table, watching his performance, waiting for him to finish. “Go on, spit some more,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “I got it wrong. I mailed my transcript yesterday. That one… that looks like yours, Dad. Your new job might be in trouble now.” “You absolutely can’t hold this against Mom, okay? It’s just a stupid envelope.”

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I scrolled past a trending meme online: “Eight Swiss Rolls. How many can I eat?” Seemed fun, so I casually shared it in the family group chat. A moment later, my phone buzzed incessantly. Husband: “That whole box must be twenty, thirty bucks! Why’d you buy it? Aren’t your meals filling enough?” “Seriously, such a gold-digger!” Son: “Eat, eat, eat, eat it all! Mom, how old are you? Last year you were acting like one of those trendy influencers, eating just the tips of strawberries. This year, it’s Swiss rolls.” “You really think you’re some online ‘cute little wife’!” I stopped, my hand hovering over the lottery ticket in my pocket, and turned to retrieve my marriage certificate. I slapped a ten-dollar bill on my husband’s face. “Divorce. My treat!” 1 I wasn’t born a housewife. Before marriage, I held a respectable position with a good salary. For the sake of my family, I sacrificed my career. Leo’s mother was bedridden, incontinent. Every time I changed her adult diapers, they were bursting full. The acrid stench hit me, nauseating. My son had also just been born then. Leo was in the prime of his career, coming home drunk every day. I didn’t even get my full postpartum rest. Alone, day and night, I cared for the entire family. My body was completely depleted. Now, I have a host of gynecological issues. Before we married, Leo had promised me, “Honey, I’ll work hard to earn money and support you and our son. I won’t let you suffer a bit!” His idea of “supporting” meant I got a few extra bowls of plain rice. Eating a few Swiss rolls was being a “gold-digger.” I looked at my rough, ugly hands. I truly felt I wasn’t worth it. Good thing I finally woke up. I tagged them both in the group chat. Me: “Leo, tomorrow morning at 8 AM, we’re going to the courthouse to file for divorce. Our son goes with you.” A thankless wolf cub. Just abandon it. 2 My son’s thankless behavior showed early signs. On his fifth birthday, Leo was late, as usual. Calls went unanswered, texts unreturned. My son’s eyes drooped from exhaustion, and I, feeling sorry for him, told him, “Dad’s still working overtime. Mom will celebrate with you first, and Dad will celebrate with you again when he gets back.” He suddenly exploded, smashing the cake onto me. “I hate you! It’s all because you do nothing at home that Dad works so hard!” “Why are you so lazy, not going to work, just like a pig at home!” No money meant no dignity. In my son’s eyes, my care for him, my sacrifices for the family, couldn’t compare to the occasional toy Leo brought home. He even pushed me once because I dared to touch that toy while cleaning his room. To this day, a winding, ugly scar marks my wrist. Since he loved his dad so much, I decided to let them have each other. 3 My phone rang, stopped, and rang again. My nail technician couldn’t help but ask, “Ma’am, is someone trying to reach you?” I flipped my phone to silent, waving her on. “Unimportant people.” That night, I didn’t go home. I found a five-star hotel and thoroughly enjoyed a night of luxury. At eight sharp, I arrived at the courthouse. Father and son stumbled in late, hair messy, still in their pajamas. My son, like his father’s little bodyguard, immediately began to scold me. “Mom, are you done with your nonsense? You’re divorcing Dad just over a few Swiss rolls? Are you out of your mind?!” I gave him a cold look, then slapped him hard across the face. It was my first time hitting him, so he was stunned. I slapped him again. He finally reacted, roaring with rage, raising his fist to hit me. Leo stopped him. He was always good at playing the nice guy, mediating. Every time our son did something wrong and I tried to discipline him, Leo would step in to be the hero. It’s no wonder my son and I had become so antagonistic; Leo had played a significant role in escalating things behind the scenes. Sure enough, he smiled and said, “Honey, Jay just spoke out of turn. But it’s true, divorcing me over eight Swiss rolls? It wouldn’t look good for your reputation.” More useless platitudes. I rolled my eyes, curtly saying, “Leo, cut the crap. If you’re a man, come in and get divorced with me!” I waved my hand, adorned with new nail polish and sparkling rings, and slapped a crisp ten-dollar bill on the table. “Divorce. My treat!” 4 Seeing my nails, Leo’s face changed. “Who told you to do that? How much did it cost? Go get a refund right now!” I admired my manicure. “Not expensive, just about a hundred bucks!” A hundred bucks. For a cheapskate like Leo, it must have killed him. Usually, for the two hundred dollars in monthly living expenses, he’d humiliate me endlessly before handing it over, as if I owed him. But mortgage, car payments, utilities—none of those were free. I always worked odd jobs when our son was at school to supplement the household income. Leo spat on the floor, exasperated. “I’m out there, slaving away like a dog to earn some money, and you’re constantly finding new ways to torment me! Do you even care about this family anymore?!” My son chimed in, “Mom, you can’t spend Dad’s money anymore! Dad works hard for his money; what right do you have to spend it?!” They were a united front. I crossed my arms. “I am your legal wife. As long as you don’t divorce me, I will spend your money. If you don’t give me money, I’ll sell the house and the car.” Leo’s face turned ashen, speechless. It wasn’t that he didn’t want a divorce; it was that he didn’t want to split half his assets with me. “Divorce is fine, but you haven’t worked a day since we got married, and you ask me for two thousand a month. You owe me a ten-thousand-dollar breakup fee!” When it came to shamelessness, Leo was truly in a league of his own. I certainly wouldn’t agree to that; otherwise, he’d probably demand I return the original dowry too. “If you don’t agree, we’ll see each other in court. You’ll likely lose half your net worth to me.” 5 I couldn’t just sit there and take it. A divorce lawsuit would drag on forever. Seeing him for another day would make me sick. I listed the house they were currently living in online for a low price, using Leo’s number. I also printed cards explaining how Leo was demanding ten thousand dollars from me in the divorce and distributed them in front of his company. I shouted loudly, “Step right up, folks, don’t miss out! A guide to avoiding scumbag managers!” “I can’t believe Manager Miller is like this! He looks so decent, but he’s actually a jerk.” “Manager Miller is so low. His wife gave birth to his son, and now he wants her to pay him ten thousand dollars in the divorce!” “Someone with such a terrible character is a cancer to this company. He should be fired.” The public outcry spread quickly. Wherever he went, people at the company pointed and whispered. Soon, he was called into a meeting with his direct supervisor. When the partner company learned of the matter, they demanded that the project lead be replaced. Leo, fuming, found me just as I had finished getting my hair done. I smiled, waving at him. “Husband, pay up.” Not expensive, just a little over a hundred bucks. He stood there, frozen, clearly not wanting to pay for me. I took out my car keys, saying helplessly, “I don’t have any cash, so I’ll just have to pawn the car.” Leo snatched the keys away angrily, pulled out his phone, and paid. 6 The divorce went smoother than expected. Perhaps he feared I’d cause more trouble. With the marriage certificate exchanged for divorce papers, I was officially single again. Our son willingly went with Leo, even making a face at me as they left. He was clearly happy to be rid of a mom who only spent money. Leo’s meager possessions held no interest for me. He generously suggested I leave with nothing, and he wouldn’t demand child support from me. Such a good deal, I had no reason to refuse. The first thing I did was cash in the lottery ticket. Forty million dollars. I donated ten thousand to a mountain charity, leaving over thirty million. I bought a house in the suburbs and booked a tour package. My son’s teacher called my phone. I was luxuriously sunbathing on a beach. The teacher said, “Mrs. Jones, your son had an argument with another student at school and made his nose bleed. You need to come to school and handle it.” I slowly said, “I’m very sorry, Mr. Smith. I’m no longer his mother. His current guardian is Leo Miller.”

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1 My valedictorian daughter died tragically on her way to a part-time job, while my impoverished husband threw a lavish graduation party for his comrade’s widow’s son. For eighteen years of marriage, my husband had drained our entire fortune, incurring millions in debt, all to treat his fallen comrade’s son. To pay off his debts, I worked myself to the bone, ceaselessly earning money. Even my daughter, the top student, juggled five part-time jobs. Yet, on her way to one of those jobs, she was struck by a horrific car accident. Her head was fractured, her abdomen ruptured, and she desperately needed a massive sum for medical care. “Mom,” she whispered, her last breath ragged, “I don’t want treatment. I miss Dad.” In my despair, I called Mark Carter a hundred times, but there was no answer. When I rushed to his “workplace,” I found him throwing a grand graduation banquet for someone else’s son. “Mr. Carter presents a beachfront mansion, congratulating Young Master Leo Miller on his brilliant success!” “Mr. Carter presents a luxury car, wishing Young Master Leo Miller smooth sailing and a boundless future!” “Mr. Carter presents an unlimited black card, wishing Young Master Leo Miller health and freedom from all ailments!” I watched my husband embrace Sarah Miller, his comrade’s widow, on stage. I dialed his number for the 101st time. “Our daughter… she wants to see you one last time.” “Eve, I’m busy with work right now. You and Ella be good, just wait a little longer…” Hearing Mark’s impatient hang-up, the dial tone buzzing in my ear, I slowly lowered my phone. Mark, our daughter won’t be waiting for you. And neither will I. Walking out of the banquet hall, the hospital’s death certificate arrived. My brilliant, sensible daughter, only eighteen, had left this world forever. My heart was shattered, and I wept until I fainted. My daughter, who only wanted to help ease our family’s financial burden, had been struck down, her body broken beyond recognition. And the father she longed to see in her final moments was, at that very second, celebrating a lavish graduation party for his comrade’s child. I forced myself to see Ella one last time, then sat by the river for what felt like an eternity, until a dazzling display of fireworks erupted across the night sky. Instinctively, I reached for my phone, wanting to snap a picture for Ella—she had always loved fireworks, but she was too considerate to ever ask for them. The fireworks burst across the heavens, blindingly brilliant, and then, amidst the vibrant explosions, a picture coalesced: Mark Carter, Sarah Miller, his comrade’s widow, and her son, Leo Miller. 【Congratulations, Leo, on your graduation!】 This was their true family of three. I stared, transfixed, as the image hung in the air. My phone slipped from my grasp, and the dam of suppressed emotions burst. Years ago, Mark had drained our savings and plunged us into deep debt, all to treat his comrade’s son. For this family, to pay off that debt, I had toiled day and night, my face sallow, etched with premature wrinkles. Even Ella juggled five part-time jobs, working alone as a restaurant waitress, silently enduring a broken rib from a drunk patron. Yet, the money my daughter and I had worked ourselves to death to save was barely a fraction of what Mark spent on Leo’s extravagant fireworks display. I sank to the ground, sobbing, gasping for air, and then a violent wave of nausea overwhelmed me. I retched uncontrollably. The dazzling fireworks above, once a symbol of joy, now felt like sharp blades, endlessly slicing at my heart. Late that night, I returned home. Mark’s voice drifted from our shabby rental apartment. “Mark, you’ve been pretending to be poor at home for me and Leo. If Eve ever finds out the truth, will she resent us?” Mark’s tone was indifferent, as if discussing something trivial. “No. She and Ella already have my love. A little hardship is nothing.” “Leo’s father saved my life all those years ago. I’ll never forget that debt. Now that Leo’s graduated, I’ll take good care of them, mother and son.” I stood at the doorway, the death certificate clutched in my hand, my fingers trembling violently, my nails almost digging into my flesh. 2 Mark, you honored your debt, but you used my daughter’s life to do it! I didn’t push the door open. Instead, I went to the hospital alone. Ella had always been afraid of the dark, and I couldn’t bear to leave her in that cold morgue. The next day, on the way to the crematorium, my phone was crammed with Mark’s missed calls and texts. I ignored them. Clutching Ella’s urn, I contacted relatives and friends one by one to inform them of her death. After a full day of somber arrangements, I returned to our rental apartment. Mark sat alone in a chair, his designer suit replaced with cheap clothes. Seeing me, he rushed forward, taking my hand. “Why weren’t you home last night? Your phone was off. I rushed back the moment my business trip ended, didn’t even stop to eat.” His voice was soft, laced with gentle concern. I looked at Mark, feeling only a profound absurdity. His acting was good, but the expensive women’s perfume clinging to him was jarringly out of place in our dilapidated apartment. “I spent the night with our daughter.” My voice was flat, emotionless. I turned to go to my room. Mark sensed my coldness. He wrapped his arms around my waist, whispering, “Eve, don’t be angry. I’ve been busy with work trips lately; I know I’ve neglected you and Ella. But aren’t I working so hard to give you a better life?” I stiffened, forcing my head up, fighting back the tears. Working hard? His “work” was throwing a graduation party for his comrade’s son. The scent of her perfume on him made my stomach churn. I struggled fiercely, trying to break free. But Mark wouldn’t let go. Ignoring my resistance, he carried me to the bed, pouring his sweat into the act, as if to physically prove his love for me. “Eve, I’ll make it up to you and Ella. I promise.” His words, like a knife, shredded my last defense. Tears finally poured down my face. Ella was dead. What could he possibly make up for? I pushed him away with all my strength. “Go to sleep. I’m not in the mood.” Mark, met with my resistance, inexplicably grew agitated. He got up, made a phone call, and slammed the door as he left. I lay limply on the bed, watching him go, tears streaming down my face as I stared at the leaking, peeling ceiling. A strange sense of relief washed over me. For eighteen years, for this family, for Mark, I had spun like a top, tireless. Now, it was time to stop. 3 On the day of Ella’s burial, Mark returned to the rental apartment with a bag full of clothes and toys. “Eve, get ready. Let’s go pick up Ella to watch the fireworks.” Pick up our daughter? Could we still? I ignored the hickeys on his neck, looking at the educational toy set. He must have forgotten. Ella had just turned eighteen, and she’d already finished her college entrance exams. She was too old for toys like this. “Hurry up. I haven’t seen Ella in so long. She must miss me, too.” Mark urged. A wave of bitterness washed over me. So he knew Ella missed him. “Alright, we’ll go pick up our daughter.” I handed Mark the address for Northwood Cemetery. As we neared the burial site, the somber strains of funeral music reached us. Mark complained impatiently, “Why is Ella all the way out in the suburbs? There’s a funeral going on next door. So unlucky!” I sat quietly in the passenger seat, saying nothing. I was curious to see his expression when he saw our daughter’s funeral portrait. Suddenly, my phone rang. I clearly heard Sarah Miller’s voice from the receiver: “Mark, Leo suddenly has a fever! I don’t know what to do!” “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there.” Mark immediately turned the car around at the cemetery entrance. In his haste, the wheels crushed Ella’s floral wreath. “The company just called for an urgent overtime. I have to go quickly.” Watching his car disappear, I walked alone into the funeral service, gazing at Ella’s black-and-white portrait in the funeral hall. My daughter had whispered her longing to see her father in her last moments. She never got to. I handled everything alone, tending to the relatives and friends. After the funeral, I personally lowered Ella’s urn into the grave. Images of Ella and me, leaning on each other through life, flashed through my mind. Grief consumed me in an instant. A mouthful of blood rose to my throat, and I collapsed before my daughter’s tombstone. I woke up in the hospital. Struggling to sit up, I passed the room next door and saw Mark by the bedside, carefully wiping Leo’s forehead. This was his “overtime.” Even though I knew his heart belonged to Sarah and her son, seeing this sight still squeezed my heart. When Ella was sick, she always endured it alone. So many times, I heard her call for her father in pain, but Mark never once softened. I took a deep breath, wiping away my tears. Ella was gone. I no longer had any reason to cling to this family. “Eve, what are you doing here?” Sarah called out to me. Mark paused, mid-wipe, and cleared his throat. “I just finished working overtime. I heard Leo was sick, so I stopped by.” I forced a brittle smile. At this point, was there any need to keep lying to me? “Mark, please take care of Leo. Eve and I haven’t seen each other in so long. Let’s talk~” Sarah’s voice was cloyingly sweet, her tone as natural as if she were instructing her own husband. She pulled me out of the hospital room, and the feigned tenderness on her face instantly morphed into a sneer. “I’ve realized Mark is such a good father. Look how carefully he takes care of Leo.” My fists clenched, but I said nothing. Sarah glanced at me, then casually admired her freshly manicured nails. “Mark manages all of Leo’s and my expenses. He says it’s hard for me to raise a child alone, and he even got me a spa membership.” “As for you, why have you let yourself go and become such a frumpy old hag?” For eighteen years, for this family, I’d worked 14-hour days, scrimping and saving every penny. My daughter, after school, would collect empty bottles to sell, enduring countless sneers. My heart was dead, too numb to retort. “A man’s money is where his love is. Mark stopped loving you long ago. If you’re smart, you’ll pack your bags and get out.” I listened silently, offering no defense. Because she was speaking the truth. From beginning to end, Mark’s eyes had only been on his comrade’s widow and her son. My daughter and I were nothing but a cruel joke, a footnote in his grand narrative of loyalty. Suddenly, Sarah leaned closer, lowering her voice, a smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, by the way, a few days ago, Mark bought Leo a sports car. Leo was speeding and accidentally hit and killed a student on their part-time job. I wonder whose child it was. So pitiful…” “What did you say?!” I snapped, turning sharply to face Sarah. Sarah instinctively recoiled, deliberately stumbling and falling to the ground with a loud thud. The next second, Mark rushed forward, kicking me hard in the abdomen, then carefully helped the feigning Sarah up, her shin bruised. Sarah leaned into his embrace, feigning strength. “Mark, I’m fine. Eve probably misunderstood our relationship. If she hits me once to let out her anger, it’ll be fine.” Mark shielded Sarah, his eyes cold as ice as he glared at me. “Eve Carter! Sarah already has it hard enough raising a child alone, and you keep targeting her! How can you be so vicious?!” I crumpled to the ground, a sharp, searing pain ripping through my lower abdomen. Blood gushed uncontrollably from my throat. Medical staff, hearing the commotion, rushed over to help me. “Treat Sarah’s injuries first!” Mark barked at the medical staff. “Mr. Carter, Miss Hayes is bleeding from her mouth…” “Let her suffer! She just hurt Sarah! This is her punishment!” I curled up alone in the cold hospital corridor, my forehead beaded with cold sweat, my abdomen wracked with spasms, the stabbing pain growing more and more intense. “It hurts… Help… Help me…” I struggled to call out, to beg for aid. My vision blurred, until all that remained was Mark’s indifferent gaze, and his resolute back as he walked away, carrying Sarah in his arms. I woke up the next day. “Miss Carter, you’ve overworked yourself for years, and your diet and routine have been chaotic. You have late-stage stomach cancer. You have only one month left.” I leaned weakly against the headboard, tears streaming down my face, uncontrollable. “Eve!” Mark burst through the door. Seeing my red-rimmed eyes, he patiently began to explain. “Sarah’s husband saved my life on the battlefield all those years ago. I promised to take good care of her and Leo.” “Now Leo has ranked second in the whole state in his exams. From now on, I’ll spend more time with you and Ella, okay?” I looked at Mark, my eyes hollow, devoid of expression. “Do you know Ella’s exam scores?” A flicker of surprise crossed Mark’s face. “Ella also took the exams this year? Don’t worry, even if her scores aren’t as good as Leo’s, I’ll find a way to get her into a prestigious university.” “No chance.” “No chance? What do you mean?” Mark’s expression darkened. He sensed something was wrong and was about to press further. The next moment, Sarah’s call came through. “Mark, there are so many police officers in Leo’s room! Come quickly…” Mark hesitated, but then turned to leave, adding only one more instruction. “Rest well. Once I handle Sarah’s situation, I’ll come pick you and Ella up to enjoy life.” Watching Mark’s retreating back, I shook my head bitterly. I’d long lost count of how many times Mark had abandoned me, but this time, I wouldn’t wait for him anymore. I booked the nearest flight, my thumb gently tracing Ella’s picture, a sad, knowing smile on my lips. “One month, Ella. Don’t be scared. Mom will be with you soon.” Mark arrived at Sarah’s hospital room. Two police officers were preparing to take Sarah’s son, Leo, away. “Leo Miller, you are suspected of hit-and-run resulting in death. Please come with us.” Mark immediately stepped in. “It’s just hitting someone with a car. Leo is still young and didn’t know any better. Who was the victim? I can offer financial compensation to the family.” The police officer glanced at Mark, then, after a moment of silence, spoke. “The victim was this year’s state valedictorian. Ella Carter.”

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My husband Alexander Lockridge—the city’s top financier—was drugged and slept with a college student. When he sobered, he called me, panicked: “Ali, I was set up. I paid her off—she’ll never contact us again.” I believed him. Six months later, an earthquake hit during his business trip. At the hospital, I found him outside a patient’s room. The doctor said Sophia Bennett was three months pregnant. She’d dug through rubble with bloodied hands to save Alex. Alex gripped my hand, pleading: “Her family died three months ago. She came to me for help. I was drunk—I never thought…” He added quickly: “She’ll never enter our home. Your place is secure.” Suddenly, Sophia rushed out, collapsing at my feet: “Please, let my baby live!” Alex looked at me desperately: “Ali, you’re always reasonable. The child is innocent—” I laughed coldly: “Alexander, choose: divorce or she leaves.” “I won’t divorce you!” His grip tightened. “But I must take responsibility.” Later, Sophia bore twins. The Lockridges celebrated. I slid off my wedding ring and dialed a number: “I accept your offer.” A voice chuckled: “Mrs. Lockridge, a pleasure doing business.” I stood at the door of the hospital room, my fingers clenching involuntarily. Through the half-open crack, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Lockridge each holding a baby, their faces beaming with undisguised joy. Even Alexander, usually so reserved and composed in public, was now gazing at the infant in his arms with a tenderness I’d never witnessed before, a doting smile playing on his lips. How ironic. They looked, in that moment, like a perfectly harmonious family. Alex looked up and saw me, his expression freezing. “Ali, you came back…” I didn’t respond. Mrs. Lockridge cast a cold, sidelong glance in my direction, her voice like shards of ice. “So you did decide to return? Have you had enough of your ‘peaceful’ retreat in the mountains these past six months?” “It’s good that you’re back,” Mr. Lockridge interjected, attempting to smooth things over, though his eyes never left the babies in his arms. “Perfect timing for the babies’ naming ceremony. As Mrs. Lockridge, you should certainly contribute.” Mrs. Lockridge’s expression softened slightly. “The children haven’t been given their official names yet. You and Alex should think of some. Don’t worry, as long as you behave, the position of Mrs. Lockridge will always be yours.” I looked at them, numb, and nodded. “Okay.” As the elder Lockridges left, Alex’s phone rang. He glanced at me, then stepped out to take the call. Only Sophia and I remained in the room. Her complexion was radiant, and even her hair seemed to gleam with meticulous care. Clearly, the Lockridge family had spared no expense on her these past six months. “Sister,” she whispered, her voice timid. “If I’ve done anything wrong, you can hit me, scold me, whatever you want. Just… please don’t argue with Mr. Lockridge anymore. You know he only has eyes for you. You’ve been gone so long, and he’s had your room cleaned every single day.” “Sophia,” I said, my voice cold and flat. “You don’t have to keep up this act. The money he gave you back then was enough to live lavishly for lifetimes. You could have disappeared, gone far away. But you came back, claiming you needed help, and that’s how these children came to be.” I leaned closer, my gaze unwavering. “Sophia, you know exactly what game you’re playing.” Caught off guard, her face flushed, then paled. Suddenly, she snatched one of the babies and thrust it into my arms. The warm, milky scent made my entire body stiffen. But the very next second, the baby slipped from my grasp, falling heavily to the floor with a heart-wrenching scream. Amidst the piercing wails, Alex burst in, shoving me aside with a violent push. I staggered backward, watching him tenderly scoop up the crying infant. He looked at me, his eyes filled with an unsettling blend of emotions. Though he said nothing, his gaze spoke volumes. Sophia, now dissolved in tears, whimpered, “Mr. Lockridge, I only wanted Madam to hold the baby, but she…” 2 Alex’s voice was chilling. “Ali, Sophia is being discharged tomorrow. Since you can’t tolerate the children, you should move to the Westwood Estate for now…” I bit down hard on my lower lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood before I finally released it. I hadn’t brought much luggage with me to the retreat anyway; now, it was even simpler. A single suitcase held everything. I sat in the empty, echoing house, from dusk until dawn. Perhaps it was for the best. At least I wouldn’t have to witness their picture-perfect family of four, basking in their fabricated happiness. Memories surged like a tide. Alex and I, childhood sweethearts, married for eight years. We were the city’s most admired power couple. That time, he’d been drugged by a business rival, and it led to a one-night stand with a university student. The moment he came to, he called me, his voice trembling. “Ali, I was set up! I’ve already paid her to keep quiet, she’ll never appear again!” I believed him. But it wasn’t long before this woman, Sophia, reappeared. Her parents had died unexpectedly, and she’d sought out Alex, who was drunk after a business dinner. This was the second time. The first was an accident, but what about the second? Then, Alex went on a business trip to a remote country overseas and was caught in an earthquake. It was Sophia, pregnant, who supposedly dug him out of the rubble with her bare hands. A life debt, compounded by the child in her belly—Alex could no longer shake her off. He knelt before me, weeping uncontrollably. That’s when I laid down my terms. “Alexander, either we divorce.” “Or she leaves.” “I won’t divorce you!” Alex cried, his eyes red-rimmed as he seized my hands. “But I have to take responsibility for her…” He refused to divorce me, yet he also refused to let Sophia go. So, I left, retreating to St. Jude’s for a quiet period of reflection. I stayed there until Sophia gave birth, and Mr. and Mrs. Lockridge insisted I return. I pulled out my phone in the darkness, and sent the message I should have sent long ago. “Let’s divorce.” Less than ten minutes later, I heard urgent footsteps and the sound of the front door being thrown open. Alex rushed in, sweat beading on his forehead. “Ali! I won’t agree to a divorce!” I sat calmly on the sofa, letting out a soft sigh. “Just… let it go, Alex. I’m tired.” “I told you she would never come between us!” His voice trembled with desperation. Just then, his phone rang. Sophia’s tearful voice carried faintly from the receiver. “Mr. Lockridge! The baby fell and was scared, and now has a fever! The doctor says they might have to go to the ICU!” Alex’s expression shifted instantly. He looked at me, then at his phone, before finally uttering with great difficulty, “Ali, I… I have to go see them…” I watched his hurried retreat, his back disappearing in a frantic blur, and then I laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. This was my marriage, wasn’t it? Even divorce had to take a backseat to another woman and her children. 3 I curled my lips into a self-deprecating smile. “Go on, then. Your child needs you.” He left in a rush, the faint breeze stirred by his departure brushing past my cheek, as if he had never been there at all. I sat alone in the darkness, tears silently tracing paths down my face. I knew. He might never marry Sophia, but he would be called away, again and again. How much longer could I endure this life if I didn’t divorce him? An entire lifetime? A familiar, gnawing pain twisted in my stomach. I opened my phone. Sophia’s social media feed showed Alex standing vigil by the incubator, day and night. His face in the photos was gaunt, etched with a tension I had never seen directed at me. I contacted a lawyer to draft the divorce papers, then went to my company to process my resignation. The HR manager looked surprised. “Madam, does Mr. Lockridge know you’re leaving?” I offered a faint smile. “He’s a little preoccupied right now.” As I saw the flicker of pity in the HR manager’s eyes, I knew exactly what she was thinking. I returned to the Westwood Estate, a villa we had only occasionally used after our marriage. As I packed my belongings, I stumbled upon a yellowed note. “Ali, I don’t know when you’ll read this. By then, I imagine we’ll have several children. I love you so much. No matter what happens, promise you’ll never leave me.” Tears splattered onto the paper, and a sudden, excruciating pain shot through my stomach. My vision blurred, and I collapsed heavily onto the floor. When I woke again, my phone was ringing, its sound an irritating buzz. “Alice Reed! What exactly do you want?!” Alex’s furious roar erupted from the receiver. He rarely used my full name like that. “Sophia is already trying her best to be careful! How many times have I told you, she won’t affect your position! Why are you sending those malicious texts? Why are you cursing my children?!” I gave a bitter laugh. He didn’t even ask if I did it. He just condemned me. “Are you finished?” I asked calmly. He paused for a few seconds. “The baby’s naming ceremony is next Sunday. You must be there. Please, stop throwing tantrums, okay?” “Okay.” I hung up, gazing out at the night sky. On the day of the naming ceremony, I arrived bare-faced. People cast sympathetic glances my way, while in the center of the ballroom, Sophia, in a crimson gown, leaned against Alex, looking every inch the true hostess. Mrs. Lockridge urged me, “Go hold the baby.” Alex handed me one of the infants, whispering, “Ali, I won’t hold the texts against you. After today, I’ll send Sophia abroad, and both children will be registered under your name. Since you can’t have children, isn’t this a win-win?” His voice was full of pleading, and my heart clenched painfully. Years ago, during an avalanche, I was injured saving him, my uterus severely damaged. He had once defied his parents for me, vowing never to have children of his own. Now, everything had changed. Suddenly, the child in my arms began to cough violently, frothing at the mouth. “What’s wrong with the baby?!” Someone shrieked. 4 Sophia suddenly threw herself forward, her voice piercingly sharp. “Madam! If you want to kill someone, kill me, but don’t harm the baby!” Slap! Mr. Lockridge’s hand came down hard across my face. My vision swam, and I stumbled backward, crashing to the floor. My cheek stung with a fiery pain, and I tasted blood in my mouth. Alex instinctively reached out to steady me. But then the baby in his arms suddenly let out a strangled cry and vomited a large mouthful of blood. The scene instantly descended into chaos. “Mr. Lockridge!” Sophia shrieked, a desperate, guttural sound, as she lunged forward, physically forcing herself between us. “My baby is dying! Please, save our child!” Alex’s hand trembled violently. I watched the tenderness in his eyes drain away, little by little, until he slowly released my hand and turned, scooping up the bleeding child. The hospital corridor was chillingly cold. I stood there like a ghost, the divorce papers I’d prepared slipping from my pocket and fluttering to the floor. Mrs. Lockridge, sharp-eyed, bent down, picked them up, and roughly tossed them back at me. Her perfectly preserved face was twisted with disgust. “How has the Lockridge family ever wronged you all these years, hm? Alex defied us for you, and we tolerated it! Now you’re even harming the children?” Her voice rose, shrill and accusing. “Since you want a divorce so badly, then just get it! Stop dragging your feet and clinging on!” I silently picked up the scattered papers from the floor. Alex emerged from the ICU, his eyes bloodshot. “The baby is stable.” He looked at me, his gaze terrifyingly unfamiliar. “Ali, this time, you’ve truly gone too far.” My hand trembling, I held out the divorce papers. “We… we’re done.” His pupils constricted sharply. “Are you sure?” “I’m tired,” I choked back the tears. “I don’t know what else I might do…” “Fine! Very well!” He snatched the agreement, signed it furiously, and slammed the pen onto the floor. “As you wish!” Back in what used to be our marital home, Martha, our housekeeper, rushed to meet me, her face distraught. “Madam! How…?” She saw my swollen face and soaked clothes, and her voice caught in her throat. I looked around. My piano was gone, our wedding photos had disappeared, and even the cherished decorative pieces I’d collected were nowhere to be seen. Martha wrung her hands, stammering, “Miss Sophia… she often bumped into things while she was pregnant, so Mr. Lockridge had…” The door suddenly opened. Alex walked in, Sophia by his side. Sophia feigned surprise. “Madam, what are you doing here?” Her tone suggested she was the lady of the house. “Where are my things?” My voice trembled as I looked at Alex. Alex scoffed, pulling Sophia closer to his side. “You’re getting a divorce. Why do you care about these things anymore?” Sophia reached out, pretending to take my hand. “Madam, Mr. Lockridge was just worried I might get hurt while I was pregnant…” “Don’t touch me!” I snapped, violently shaking her hand away. She gasped, stumbling backward. Alex quickly caught her, his voice tight with concern. “Are you alright?” I watched their intimate exchange, then turned abruptly and walked away. Even though I heard Alex calling my name behind me, I didn’t look back. I didn’t want them to see me, tear-streaked and humiliated. Outside, the rain poured down in sheets. I walked for what felt like an eternity, until I was cornered by a few thugs in a dark alley. “Mrs. Lockridge, is it? Someone paid us to teach you a lesson.” A scarred man leered, advancing on me. “The finance titan’s wife, you’re certainly attractive. A bit small-chested, but that face is young enough!” I instinctively dialed Alex’s number. From the other end, I heard his gentle cooing voice. “Sophia, if your head hurts, just go to sleep.” “Alex! Help…” “I don’t want to talk to you right now.” The call was mercilessly cut off. When I tried again, his phone was off. Icy rainwater mixed with tears, flowing into the corners of my mouth, salty and bitter. “No one’s coming here. Be a good girl and have some fun with us!” The thug’s grubby hand reached for my collar, his rough fingers scraping across my collarbone. I squeezed my eyes shut, my nails digging deep into my palms.

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1 The night before the art competition, Johnny Blackwood was dragged into a dark alley by a gang of thugs. When found, his hands were crushed, left ear deafened, and he’d need a catheter for life – meaning he could never paint again. His doting sister Sarah vowed revenge, while his fiancée Veronica summoned top doctors. But on the third day, wheelchair-bound Johnny overheard them at the hallway corner: “You promised they’d just make him miss the competition!” Veronica’s voice trembled. Before Johnny could process this, Sarah’s cool voice followed: “The thugs went too far, but this works. The championship must go to Leo now.” “But—” “No buts. Johnny’s always been the golden boy – he’ll live comfortably even crippled. But Leo…that adopted boy’s been walking on eggshells his whole life. This art title is all he has. Johnny’s talent was in the way.” Her voice hardened. “I won’t let anyone block Leo’s path.” “Veronica, we’re best friends, closer than sisters. Men are… expendable. I know you love Johnny, and you’re getting married soon, but didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t let your feelings for Johnny jeopardize Leo’s future?” Veronica fell silent for a long, agonizing moment, then sighed in what sounded like reluctant surrender, as if trying to convince herself. “I understand. Johnny’s in pain every day, he can’t sleep. Make sure the doctors give him the strongest painkillers.” They extinguished their cigarettes, their footsteps fading into the distance. Silence, thick and suffocating, descended around Johnny. All he could hear was the sound of his own heart exploding. So, the thugs in the alley that day weren’t an accident. It was a meticulously orchestrated slaughter. And the ones holding the knives were the two people he trusted most in the world. Johnny’s lips parted. He wanted to scream, to cry out his agony! But the torrent of grief and despair that rose to his throat emerged only as a pathetic whimper. Until today, Johnny had clung to a fragile hope, repeating to himself, “It’s okay.” Despite the most horrific ordeal, he still had his sister, his fiancée, the two women who supposedly loved him most. Yet now, they had personally confirmed it: his living hell, his shattered body, his fragmented, bleeding heart—all of it was their doing! Tears blurred his vision. He sat in his wheelchair, trembling uncontrollably, the pain so intense it threatened to rip him apart. He couldn’t comprehend how it had come to this. He had once been the Blackwood family’s brightest jewel. Sarah had raised him with tender devotion, never uttering a harsh word. Veronica had indulged his every whim, proclaiming since childhood that she’d marry no one but him. Johnny had lived like a carefree sunbeam, believing others would always shield him from life’s storms. Until he was fourteen. That year, his parents welcomed Leo, the orphaned son of a deceased friend, into their home. The skinny, timid boy, clad in a faded shirt, stood in the Blackwood living room, head bowed, murmuring, “Brother Johnny.” Young Johnny, in his innocence, had even given him his favorite toy car, utterly unaware that this “poor” Leo would become the most agonizing torment of his life. At first, it was small things. Leo shattered his mother’s antique vase, then, with tear-filled eyes, claimed Johnny had done it. Leo misplaced his competition entry form, then, with a pained expression, insisted it was an accident. And each time, Sarah would frown and say, “Johnny, don’t make a fuss.” Veronica would rub her temples and urge, “Leo didn’t mean to, Johnny, just let him have it.” Then things grew increasingly absurd. The competition he’d spent three months preparing for, its winner’s list bore Leo’s name. The final exhibition he’d tirelessly painted for, it was Leo who stood in the spotlight. He felt like a glass bottle slowly being drained of air, watching helplessly as everything that was his was systematically slipped into Leo’s pocket. The most ridiculous part was that he genuinely believed it was his fault, that he wasn’t good enough. But today, a terrifying clarity settled over him. From the very beginning, every precious thing he cherished had been personally handed to Leo by the two people he trusted most. His excellence was a flaw, his talent a sin. His very existence was merely a stepping stone for Leo. But Veronica was his fiancée! Sarah was his own sister! And Leo? He was just an adopted son! After his parents’ passing, they had become his sole refuge. Yet now, they had personally destroyed him! Johnny no longer knew why he should continue living in this world, not like this… He drifted in a daze, his trembling hands pushing the wheels of his chair. Just as he was about to make a desperate decision, to let himself and the wheelchair tumble down the stairs, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. A string of unfamiliar numbers flashed on the screen. Johnny let it ring for a long time before finally answering. “Hello?” “Mr. Blackwood.” A deep male voice answered from the other end. “We are the Nova Pharmaceutical Institute.” “…What is it?” “We’ve heard about the various… unfortunate incidents you’ve experienced,” the voice said softly. “Perhaps you’d be willing to become a test subject for us?” Johnny laughed, a hollow, broken sound that dissolved into tears. “Am I not miserable enough already?” “No. Our new drug… it can grant you a rebirth.” “…What?” “Bone regeneration, hearing restoration, even…” He paused. “It can allow you to return to a normal life, to stand in the spotlight once more.” Johnny’s heart gave a violent jolt. “Why me?” “Because,” the voice fell silent for a moment, then spoke each word distinctly, “only those who have been utterly destroyed are worthy of true resurrection.” Johnny’s body stiffened abruptly, and he finally halted the wheelchair’s movement. He stared blankly out the window, the sunlight so blinding it brought fresh tears to his eyes. A moment later, he clutched his phone tightly. “All right. I accept!” 2 The person on the other end sounded genuinely pleased, promising to pick him up soon. After agreeing, Johnny silently hung up the phone and returned to his hospital room, pretending as if he’d heard nothing out of the ordinary. The days that followed were a blur of excessive kindness from Veronica and Sarah, right up until his discharge. On the day he was leaving, Veronica knelt, carefully helping him put on his cotton socks. Her long, slender fingers meticulously avoided the injuries on his legs, her touch as gentle as if she were handling fragile porcelain. “Does it hurt?” She looked up, her deep eyes overflowing with concern. Johnny shook his head, numbly. “The discharge papers are all handled.” Sarah pushed open the door, holding a brand-new jacket. “It’s windy outside, Johnny. Bundle up.” As she leaned over to drape the jacket around him, Johnny caught a familiar citrus scent. It was the same scent from the perfume he’d given her for her eighteenth birthday. A sudden wave of nausea churned in his stomach. He bit down hard on his lower lip to keep from retching right then and there. The wheelchair rolled across the polished floor of the hospital lobby, and Johnny could feel the gazes from all directions. The catheter bag hung discreetly on the side of the chair, making a faint rustling sound with each movement. A passerby looked at it with curious eyes, and Sarah immediately shot them a cold glare. “What are you staring at?” Veronica’s warm hand covered his eyes. “Don’t be afraid.” Her voice was impossibly soft, dripping with false comfort. “We’ll protect you.” Johnny trembled, unsure if it was from fury or sorrow. If he hadn’t overheard their conversation with his own ears, how could he possibly believe that these two women, who outwardly showered him with such care, were the very demons who had shoved him into hell? “Johnny, wait here for a moment,” Veronica said, pushing his wheelchair to a shaded spot near the entrance. “We’ll go get the car.” Watching their retreating figures, Johnny suddenly turned his wheelchair. He’d rather crawl away than accept their hollow pretense of care. Just as his wheelchair rounded the hospital corner, familiar voices drifted from a secluded corner of the parking lot. “Have all the ugly rumors about Johnny been leaked?” Sarah’s voice was chillingly sharp. “Yes.” Veronica’s response was hesitant. “But Johnny’s already in such a bad state. Do we really need to fabricate these humiliating rumors about him?” “Of course, we do!” Sarah’s voice turned harsh. “Only by completely destroying his reputation in the art world can we ensure he’ll never pose a threat to Leo again!” The wheelchair slammed violently into the wall. Johnny clapped a hand over his mouth, the metallic taste of blood spreading in his mouth. They not only wanted to ruin his life, but also to tarnish his name? He spun his wheelchair frantically, desperate to escape, but instead, he collided headfirst into a throng of reporters gathered at the hospital entrance. “Mr. Blackwood! Is it true that your injuries are a result of you maintaining ambiguous relationships with multiple women?” “Can you explain your ties to those women?” “As a once distinguished artist, don’t you feel ashamed of such a dissolute lifestyle?” At that moment, a frenzied mob of fans suddenly surged forward, pushing through the crowd. They began assaulting him, shouting obscenities. “Johnny Blackwood, I was blind to ever like you! You’re absolutely disgusting!” “Johnny Blackwood, I’m going to rip your face off!” Someone started it, and soon, countless hands began tearing at his clothes, slapping his face. “No… no… don’t touch me!” Johnny shrieked in terror, pushing away the grasping, filthy hands, but it was useless. Riiip! With the sound of tearing fabric, Johnny was exposed, his ragged clothes revealing the grotesque tapestry of fresh wounds that marred his skin. A wave of profound humiliation washed over him. His breathing hitched, choking him with pain. “Ugh, how sickening! He’s even wearing a catheter!” “Oh my god, quick, take pictures and post them online! Let everyone see how filthy their new artistic male god is in private!” After a momentary silence, disgusted murmurs and sneers erupted, like a barrage of stinging slaps that made his ears ring. Johnny heard nothing more. Large tears streamed down his cheeks, the salty drops stinging his raw wounds like biting ants. “Get out! All of you, get out!” Veronica’s voice suddenly bellowed. She charged into the crowd, shielding him with her body. Sarah, her face grim and furious, roughly pushed reporters aside. They worked together so seamlessly, so convincingly, that Johnny couldn’t find a single flaw in their performance. But only he knew this entire spectacle had been meticulously orchestrated by their own hands. They wanted to crucify him on the pillar of shame, utterly ruining his reputation, making him live like a rat in a sewer, forever hidden from the light. And Leo, their cherished “prince,” would stand on the most dazzling stage, basking in the adoration and praise of the world. Clearly, they had succeeded! 3 Back at the Blackwood family manor, Leo was waiting at the entrance. He wore Johnny’s favorite pale blue hoodie, his hair styled into the very same wolf-tail cut that had once been Johnny’s signature look. “Brother!” he chirped, scampering over, his face etched with a veneer of false concern. “I’m so sorry, the competition was so hectic, I’ve only just managed to come see you.” Sarah and Veronica’s eyes immediately lit up. “How was the competition?” Leo strode into the living room, triumphantly holding aloft a gleaming gold trophy. “First place! The judges said my painting was flawless!” Johnny stared fixedly at the trophy that should have been his. A phantom pain flared in his left hand. He remembered the last time he’d stood on a competition stage, brush in hand, painting freely under the spotlight. But now, thanks to his own sister and fiancée, even standing was an impossible dream. The three of them huddled around the trophy, laughing and chatting, completely oblivious to the crippled man in the wheelchair. Johnny pushed his own chair towards the elevator. Leo immediately hurried after him, offering, “Let me help you, brother…” When they reached the third floor and stepped out of the elevator, Leo suddenly leaned close to Johnny’s ear. “Brother, you’re so disgusting, with that catheter bag. Tell me, when Sister Veronica touches you later, will she smell stale urine?” Johnny’s face went white. Before he could speak, Leo suddenly shrieked, “No, brother!” then dramatically arched his back, tumbling down the stairs. “Leo!” “What happened?!” When Sarah and Veronica rushed over, Leo was curled on the floor, sobbing. “Sister Sarah, Sister Veronica, it’s not brother’s fault… he’s just so upset… he said why should his hands and legs be ruined when I can still live normally…” “Johnny Blackwood! Are you out of your mind?!” Sarah grabbed the wheelchair’s handle, her grip so strong that the metal groaned under the strain. She leaned in close, her eyes, which had always gazed at him so tenderly, now burned with fury. “Do you have any idea what his legs mean to a dancer, Leo?” Johnny looked up at his sister, and a bitter laugh escaped him. The mirth never reached his eyes, instead making his pale face appear even more gaunt. “So, Sister knows, too,” he murmured, his fingers unconsciously tracing his numb legs. “Knows how important legs are to a dancer.” Veronica stood by, her long fingers clenched into fists. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but seeing Leo’s swollen ankle, she clamped her lips shut. “Apologize.” Sarah’s voice was as cold as ice. “Apologize to Leo, now.” The boy in the wheelchair straightened his back, just as he had done a thousand times on stage. “Why should I apologize? He fell on his own.” The air in the hallway solidified. Leo suddenly sniffled, then limped forward. “It’s okay, Sister Sarah… Brother’s just in a bad mood, I understand…” “Leo!” Sarah held him, her voice thick with concern. “You’re just too understanding.” Johnny turned his wheelchair, the metal wheels grinding a grating sound against the marble floor. He didn’t want to watch this farce any longer, nor did he want to see the triumphant gleam in Leo’s eyes. Night fell. Johnny leaned against the headboard, staring out at the stark moonlight. The bedroom door creaked open, and Veronica entered, carrying a glass of milk. “Johnny, drink some milk, it’ll help you sleep.” She placed the glass on the nightstand, her voice soft. “Come on, be a good boy, finish it all.” The moment the door closed, Johnny’s eyes turned completely cold. He picked up the milk, then unhesitatingly poured it into a potted plant. Around midnight, a rustling sound startled him from his shallow sleep. He squinted, seeing a dark silhouette standing by his bed. “Johnny?” Veronica’s voice was barely a whisper. Johnny held his breath, his body rigid as a corpse. After confirming he was unresponsive, a pair of large hands suddenly grabbed him roughly, and a burlap sack was yanked over his head! “Mmph!” He struggled instinctively but was slammed hard onto the floor. The searing pain of his spine hitting the ground made his vision swim, but he bit down on his lip, refusing to make a sound. “Sarah, aren’t we going too far?” Veronica’s voice trembled. “Johnny’s legs are already like this, and you want me to drug him, then tie him up and bring him here to support Leo?” “Feeling bad?” Sarah’s cold laugh felt like a knife twisting in Johnny’s gut. “He wasn’t gentle when he pushed Leo. Anyway, his hands and legs are numb, a few blows will serve as a lesson.” The rough burlap scratched his skin. Johnny clenched his fists, knuckles white. They were right; his legs truly felt no pain. But his heart felt as if it were being torn in two. “Do it.” Sarah commanded, her voice icy. When the first blow landed, Johnny heard a dull thud from his leg bones. The second, the third… he was tossed around like a broken rag doll, repeatedly struck. “Ugh…” A cry of pain, finally escaping his tightly clenched teeth. The thudding of the stick abruptly ceased. “Who’s there?!” Sarah’s voice shot up, piercing the silence. The next second, Johnny felt trembling hands grab the edge of the burlap sack, slowly peeling it back… 4 “Meow!” A sharp, piercing cat’s cry sliced through the night air, and Sarah’s hand, which had been peeling back the burlap sack, suddenly froze. Veronica let out a long, shaky breath. “Just a stray cat.” In the darkness, Johnny’s nails dug deep into his palms, blood oozing from between his fingers, leaving dark red stains on the sack. … Morning light spilled through the curtains, bathing the room. Johnny quietly observed the fresh bruises blooming on his legs. “What happened here?” He pointed to the jarring marks, his voice unnervingly calm. Sarah’s gaze flickered. “Perhaps… you didn’t sleep well last night, and fell out of bed?” Veronica quickly interjected, changing the subject. “Johnny, your birthday is next week. What do you want for a gift?” She knelt, gently taking his hand just as she used to. “How about I throw you the grandest birthday party?” Johnny remembered his birthdays before he turned fourteen. He’d wear a custom-made suit, Sarah would personally fasten a necklace around his neck, and Veronica would be waiting in the luxurious car gifted to him, clutching a bouquet of flowers. But everything had changed since Leo arrived. The favored one at the party became Leo. “No need,” he said softly. “Of course, we will!” they both exclaimed in unison, their eyes shining with a fervor that suggested genuine concern. Veronica knelt down, taking his hand. “We’re going to throw you the grandest party.” In the following days, Sarah and Veronica were rarely home, leaving early and returning late. Even Leo was nowhere to be seen. Johnny watched their dusty, tired appearances with cold detachment. Until his birthday arrived— “Johnny, these are the clothes and accessories I’ve prepared for you.” Veronica hastily placed a delicate gift box on the bed. “I’ll go set up your special seat. Once you’re changed, we’ll leave.” After the door closed, Johnny noticed Veronica’s phone lying on the bed. The moment the screen lit up, his blood ran cold. It was a group chat, the glaring name “Little Prince and His Two Princesses.” The latest message was a photo from Leo: Sister Veronica, Sister Sarah, do my clothes look good today? Johnny’s trembling fingers scrolled upwards: a selfie of Leo at the Eiffel Tower; a photo of Sarah arm-in-arm with him, eating ice cream; a video of Veronica fastening a limited-edition watch on his wrist… So, all their “preparations” these past few days had merely been an excuse for a trip to Europe with Leo. And the formal wear in his hands now? The tag clearly read “Complimentary Gift.” Tears splattered onto the phone screen. Johnny mechanically put it back. When Veronica returned, she seemed surprised to find him still unchanged. Just as she was about to speak, he said softly, “My legs are too ugly. I don’t want to change.” “Don’t say that.” Veronica cradled his face in her hands, her expression heartbroken. “You’ll always be my little prince.” With that, she instructed the staff to help Johnny change into the formal wear and accessories, then pushed him into the car. The banquet hall glittered with opulence, yet no one spared a glance for the birthday boy in the wheelchair. Sarah remained at Leo’s side throughout, helping him cut the cake, while Veronica fussed over his hair. Johnny felt like an outsider, watching his own birthday party transform into another boy’s grand showcase. Suddenly, the ground beneath them lurched violently! “Earthquake!” The crowd instantly erupted into chaos. Johnny watched, paralyzed, as Sarah and Veronica simultaneously dashed towards Leo. His wheelchair was knocked over. As the ceiling crashed down, he heard Veronica’s distant cry: “Johnny—” Darkness swallowed everything. “Aftershocks are coming! Both young masters are trapped, who do we rescue first?” A frantic rescue worker’s voice pierced the debris. “Mr. Blackwood’s position is more dangerous, if he’s not rescued immediately, he might need an amputation!” “Then let it be,” Sarah’s voice was terrifyingly calm, “Rescue Leo first.” 5 “Are you insane?” Veronica’s voice was trembling. “Johnny is already crippled! He loves himself so much, and you want him to lose his legs? Do you want him to die?” “Veronica, I know you love Johnny, but don’t forget, five years ago, during that fire, who rescued us from the blaze? If it weren’t for Leo, risking his life to save us, you and I would be dead!” Johnny’s eyes widened in the debris. Five years ago, it had been him who had desperately dragged them out of that fire! But they had mistaken it for Leo? So… this was the reason for their favoritism towards Leo?! Finally, after much heated argument, the two women reached an agreement. “Rescue Leo first!” Johnny lay in the darkness, his eyes wide open, watching the searchlight beams of the rescue team gradually recede. Their retreating figures, cradling Leo, were so hasty they didn’t even glance back at the wreckage. When the aftershock struck, the ceiling collapsed with a thunderous roar, and his last shred of consciousness, too, was utterly extinguished. Johnny opened his eyes in agonizing pain, the glaring white fluorescent lights on the ceiling stinging them with tears. He instinctively reached for his legs— Thank goodness, they were still there. “Half an hour later, and you would have lost those legs.” The nurse said, changing his dressing. “Mr. Blackwood, you’re incredibly lucky to be alive.” Johnny stared at the pristine white ceiling, a smile stretching his lips that was more grotesque than a sob. Lucky? He wished he had died in that earthquake. The ward door was suddenly flung open, and Sarah and Veronica burst in, looking disheveled, their faces etched with a carefully crafted “concern.” “Johnny!” Sarah grabbed his hand. “It was so chaotic then, we didn’t see you…” Veronica knelt by the bed, delicately stroking his plaster-casted leg. “Johnny, I’m so sorry. Next time, I absolutely won’t let you out of my sight.” Johnny slowly withdrew his hand, his eyes hollow like stagnant water. He didn’t want to hear these clumsy lies, not a single word. “Johnny?” Veronica finally sensed something was wrong, and her voice began to tremble. “Will you say something, please?” Silence. For three whole days, Johnny remained like an exquisite puppet, neither crying nor laughing, nor speaking. Sarah finally panicked and forcibly took him for a full body check-up. “Physical indicators are basically normal,” the doctor pushed up his glasses. “I suggest a consultation with the psychology department.” After the door to the psychology clinic closed, Sarah irritably exclaimed, “Is it really that serious? To actually need a psychologist!” Veronica slammed her fist against the wall, blood seeping from her knuckles. “Small matter? He’s crippled, can no longer pursue his passion, and has to live with a catheter for life! Do you think that’s a small matter? A perfectly healthy person, driven to this by us…” She gripped Sarah’s collar, her eyes red. “Sarah Blackwood, Johnny is the man I’ve loved for half my life! That was the last time I listened to you. Even if Leo saved me, my debt to him is paid. From now on, I will never listen to you if it means hurting Johnny!” “He’s my brother!” Sarah roared. “Do you think I want to treat him like this? It’s all for Leo!” She slumped, releasing her grip. “Fine, fine. Anyway, Leo’s got his championship, and Johnny won’t stand in his way anymore. From now on, we’ll just be good to him.”

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1 On the day Julian Astor received the Global Philanthropist Award, I was given my death sentence. The doctors told me there was no more money to replace my artificial heart. On the television, the host asked Julian to make a call to the person he regretted most. Without hesitation, he dialed my number. I answered the call, listening as Julian asked, “Did you ever regret leaving me for money?” I glanced at the colossal bill for a new artificial heart. A faint, bitter laugh escaped me. “Julian, you’re so incredibly rich. Could you lend me two hundred thousand dollars?” The call snapped shut. I watched Julian on screen, his face a mask of cold indifference, as he stated, “Now, I have no regrets.” He didn’t know. Seven years ago, when his heart was failing, it was I who, without his knowledge, replaced his dying heart with my own. After the live broadcast ended, I immediately received a two-hundred-thousand dollars transfer from Julian. I froze for a moment, a wave of complex emotions washing over me. I used the money to pay my medical bills, then suddenly heard familiar voices just outside my hospital room. Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw Julian. Seven years had passed, and time seemed to have left no mark on him. The only thing that had changed was the person by his side. It wasn’t me anymore. The awards gala had just ended. He hadn’t even had time to change, yet he’d rushed to the hospital. All because his girlfriend, Ashley Hayes, was suffering from a slight stomach ache. I watched him hold her close, caressing her with an obvious, doting affection. I lowered my head, intending to pretend I hadn’t seen them, to quietly close the door. Julian yanked the door open. I jumped, my gaze snapping up to meet his. His eyes, chillingly cold, swept over my frail form. “It’s been a long time. You… you won’t even say hello?” I looked at him, my lips parting. A thousand words welled up, but they condensed into a single plea: “Julian, lend me another thirty thousand dollars.” Julian stiffened, and a flicker of anger ignited in his cold gaze. He grabbed my arm. “Seven years, and that’s all you have to say to me?!” The countless needle marks on my wrist pulsed with a dull, persistent ache. I took a deep breath, speaking softly. “Mr. Astor is so wealthy. If I don’t ask for money, I’m afraid Ms. Hayes might misunderstand.” Julian looked taken aback, his expression momentarily complex. He was about to say something when Ashley wrapped her arms around his arm, feigning innocent surprise. “Darling, is this your ex-wife?” Ashley looked at me, her voice laced with a sugary pity. “What can thirty thousand dollars even do? Julian buys me shoes that cost fifty thousand!” She smiled, a hint of mockery in her tone. “It’s a shame Ms. Chen didn’t know how to appreciate him. If you hadn’t ruthlessly abandoned Julian, how would I have ever met him?” I remained silent, my mind drifting back in time. Julian and I met in college, fell in love, and spent five years by each other’s side. Back then, he wasn’t the billionaire entrepreneur he was today. My body wasn’t as broken as it was now. Two impoverished orphans, for the first time, found the person they cared about most. We fought hard to build a small family of our own. Just as our careers were starting to take off, Julian was diagnosed with a severe heart condition. Treatment and a transplant would cost a fortune. We drained all our savings, every penny we’d put into our startup. To raise money for his medical expenses, I worked multiple odd jobs every day, eating only one meal a day, making every penny stretch. I worked myself to exhaustion, just to scrounge up meager funds for his medication. We even switched his life-saving drugs to the cheapest, low-grade generics. Still, a suitable heart remained elusive. Just as I watched Julian grow thinner and weaker day by day, on the brink of despair, his doctor found me. He told me the match was successful. The person whose heart was a perfect match for Julian’s was me. My tangled thoughts ceased. Julian leaned down, affectionately kissing Ashley’s forehead, his eyes full of unspoken tenderness. “If it weren’t for her heartlessness, how would I have met my little angel?” He turned back to Ashley. “That thirty-thousand-dollar bag you wanted? I’ll buy it for you when we get back. Next time, choose something more expensive. Your husband can afford it.” Watching them, the phantom prickle on my wrist from the IV needle seemed to pierce my very soul, choking me. I wrested my hand free from Julian’s grip, which he had never loosened. I no longer wanted to be a mere prop, a confirmation of their love story. Just as I was about to walk away, Ashley subtly extended her foot, tripping me. “Oh my, Ms. Chen, how clumsy of you!” I fell to my knees, my medical report scattering at Julian’s feet. Seeing me fall, Julian’s expression tightened. He instinctively reached out to help me. But Ashley caught his hand, gasping, “What’s this?” Julian’s gaze was drawn to the report on the floor. He picked it up, scanning it quickly. “Artificial heart replacement…” A flash of anger crossed Julian’s face. He flung the medical report at me. “Cassidy Chen, I can’t believe you’d use such a despicable trick, this kind of fraud, all for money!” 2 “You’re just like you were seven years ago, everything for money, only money in your eyes!” I rose, looking at Julian’s healthy body. A faint smile touched my lips as I silently picked up the medical report. “Mr. Astor knows I love money. Why not lend me a little more?” Ashley, feigning deep emotion, shook his muscular arm, tears welling in her eyes, but her gaze at me was filled with mockery and malice. “Darling, maybe it’s true?” Then, almost as an afterthought, “And… it was Ms. Chen leaving you that led to you getting a heart donation from a kind stranger!” She looked at me, then back at Julian. “Shouldn’t we help her?” Her words seemed to remind Julian of the ‘fact’ that I had abandoned him for money. The anger and hesitation in Julian’s eyes were instantly frozen into icy coldness. “The hearts of those kind strangers couldn’t save a heartless person like her. She doesn’t deserve it.” Julian pulled Ashley, turning away. Ashley continued to ‘plead’ for me, but the curve of her lips as she glanced back at me was so mocking, so vicious. I picked up the medical report, now covered in Ashley’s footprints. My artificial heart suddenly emitted a tremor that didn’t belong. My vision blurred, their retreating figures gradually fading. After a long moment, I wiped away the blood trickling from the corner of my mouth, staring at the words “Artificial Heart Replacement.” My fingers brushed over the scar on my chest, a mark of seven years. Julian still didn’t know. The heart beating in his chest was mine. Seven years ago, because a suitable heart couldn’t be found, Julian’s body grew weaker by the day. Artificial heart technology wasn’t mature then; theoretically, it could sustain basic life, but it carried too many hidden risks. After the match was confirmed, I replaced his heart with my own. I, in turn, received an artificial heart with a theoretical lifespan of seven years. To save money, it was the cheapest kind. Since then, my chest would often be pierced by a sharp pain. Daily coughing up blood and sudden bouts of extreme weakness became commonplace. Also, because I had no money, the surgery to replace my artificial heart with a newer model was repeatedly delayed. Now, seven years had passed. The artificial heart in my chest gave its seventh sharp jolt. I knew it was already at its limit. … After leaving the hospital, I returned to my rented apartment. The room was small, damp and cold in winter, unbearably hot in summer, but cheap. Julian and I had once lived here, dreaming of our future together within these very walls. When I learned my heart was a match for his, I pretended to be a gold-digger, presenting him with divorce papers. Julian and I had shared five years. No matter how hard or tiring things got, I never once complained, always sticking by his side. He knew how deeply I loved him; he simply couldn’t believe I would abandon him. I also knew he loved me to his core. He would never have allowed me to sacrifice my life for his if he knew the truth. To save him, I had to harden my heart, feigning that I’d had enough. Enough of living by his side, enduring endless hardship. Enough of living without hope. Enough of eating cheap medicine, one meal a day, drinking cold water when thirsty, gnawing on stale bread, making every penny stretch. I told him I’d had enough of it all. I still remember that day. The boy who was always strong, who never feared hardship or pain, cried for the first time, signing the divorce papers through his tears. I also signed the organ donation agreement. After the surgery, I bore the scorn, completely leaving Julian, and returned to the rented apartment where we’d spent five years together. Silently, I awaited the death I had, by my own hand, embraced. I just never expected to see Julian again. Now, he had soared far beyond, embodying the ideal future we had both once envisioned. But I could never go back. Watching his triumphant image on the news, a pang of bittersweet sorrow pierced me. Yet, there was also a sense of quiet contentment. My phone rang, pulling me from my reverie. It was the bank. They informed me that the previous two-hundred-thousand-dollar transfer was a mistake. They required immediate repayment, or I would face legal consequences. I hung up, a wry, bitter smile on my face. I didn’t know what to say. Julian hated me so much. He knew that I, the “money-grubber,” needed payment in installments. He would certainly accept, and watch me exhaust myself trying to repay the debt. Because of my heart condition, my body was often weak, making many jobs impossible. I could only survive on occasional odd jobs. My best friend, Chloe, knew about my health. She found me a job as a banquet server. The work was relatively light, earning fifty dollars a day. As I put on the server’s uniform, donned a mask, and began serving drinks at the banquet, 3 I saw Julian again. He wore an expensive suit, his posture tall and commanding. Ashley, in a lavish evening gown, looked graceful and enchanting. Arm in arm, they seemed like a divine couple, surrounded and adored by everyone. I only glanced at them before immediately lowering my head. Julian, engrossed, didn’t recognize me as I served him wine. Just as I was about to turn away, Ashley suddenly spoke. “What kind of server are you? Didn’t you see you spilled wine on my dress?” My steps faltered. Only then did I notice a damp spot on the hem of Ashley’s gown. I didn’t speak, merely lowered my head and used a tissue to wipe away the stain. Julian watched me, his brows furrowed, his lips pressed into a tight line. Malice spread in Ashley’s eyes. Suddenly, she kicked me in the chest. A searing pain shot through me, and I collapsed to the floor, unable to suppress a cry of agony. “Don’t touch me with your dirty hands! Security! Get her out of here!” Ashley’s face feigned anger, but the triumphant smirk on her lips was impossible to hide. Even though only my eyes were visible, in that brief moment of eye contact, Julian recognized me. His lips trembled, a flicker of concern flashed in his eyes, only to be replaced by endless mockery. He raised a hand, stopping the security guard, and then ripped off my mask. “Cassidy Chen, seeing your ex-husband, aren’t you going to say hello?” Ashley feigned a sudden realization, rushing to pull me up. “Ms. Chen, is that really you? You’re Julian’s ex-wife! How can you be working as a server here?” The grand hall seemed to hit a mute button. A deafening silence descended. All eyes fixated on me. Then, a wave of ridicule swept through the room. “I heard Mr. Astor’s ex-wife abandoned him for money when he was at his lowest, suffering from a heart condition…” “Hmph, truly, the wicked get what they deserve.” “Abandoning Mr. Astor and now reduced to being a server, she completely deserves this!” Someone splashed red wine over my head. Then, wine rained down from all directions, glasses shattering on my body one after another. Dark red wine mixed with bright red blood, pooling on the floor. Clearly, these people, eager to curry favor with Julian, wanted to vent his anger for him. Blood streamed down my forehead, across my cheeks. Yet, I felt no pain, remaining silent. Julian watched me, his eyes unequivocally cold. “Cassidy Chen, why aren’t you speaking? Is it because talking to you also costs money?” Julian sneered, and a chorus of mocking laughter echoed around him. “You’re here as a server, aren’t you, just to ask me for money? I’ll satisfy you!” He waved a hand, and someone brought over a dozen bottles of expensive red wine, opening each one. “If you drink all this wine, I’ll give you thirty thousand dollars.” Now, he flung the money onto the floor, making the wine and blood on the ground look even more crimson. Julian’s face was etched with an unyielding coldness. Everyone in the hall watched the spectacle with mocking disdain. Since the artificial heart replacement, my body had become increasingly weak. I couldn’t lift anything heavy, couldn’t run or jump, and even walking a few steps left me gasping for breath. The alcohol that normal people used to numb themselves, even a small amount, could cause my artificial heart to fail. I looked up at him, a slight smile touching my lips. Finally, I spoke. “Then, that two hundred thousand dollars… I don’t need to pay it back, do I?” Julian’s face froze, a flicker of raw fury igniting in his bone-chilling gaze. Then, a tight grinding sound came from his clenched jaw. “Fine!” At his answer, I smiled, then grabbed a bottle and began to pour the wine down my throat. The burning liquid filled my mouth, and my body instinctively gagged, almost vomiting. I forced myself to swallow, then another bottle, and another. Everyone watched, ironically, as if it were a joke. Only Julian’s face grew darker, grimmer. As I finished another bottle and reached for another, Julian finally couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed my hand. “Cassidy Chen, without money, you’ll die, won’t you?!” Looking at his bloodshot eyes, I nodded. “You’re right. Without money, I’ll die.” He threw my hand away in a fit of rage. “Fine, then drink it all! Drink until you’re satisfied!” My body felt as heavy as if bound by a massive stone. The artificial heart in my chest seemed to have stopped beating. I smiled, took a shallow breath, and reached for the wine bottle, ready to drink again. Julian, unable to bear it any longer, snatched the bottle from my hand, letting out a raw, guttural roar. “Enough!” My body gave out completely, collapsing to the floor. Fine shards of glass pricked my skin, staining the ground crimson. Hearing the commotion, my best friend Chloe rushed over, cradling me in her arms in horror, and screamed at Julian: “Cassidy gave you her heart! She’s living on an artificial heart right now, she can’t drink alcohol at all, she could die, do you hear me?!” Julian, hearing Chloe’s desperate shout, froze as if struck by lightning. The mockery and coldness instantly crumbled from his face, replaced by endless shock and terror. His eyes widened, staring intensely at me in the pool of blood. His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something, but all strength seemed to drain from him, unable to utter a single word. It felt like an eternity before he finally spoke. “Cassidy Chen, I can’t believe you’d come up with such a lie, even this, all for money!” I trembled as I stood, meeting his gaze with a cold smile. To him, I had once abandoned him for money, at his most painful and difficult moment. Now that he was successful, I, this shameless woman, would naturally abandon my dignity and spin lies for money. I met his disgusted, icy stare. Even though I no longer had my original heart, my chest inexplicably twisted with pain. “Cassidy Chen, you really went to great lengths to deceive me.” I slowly pulled away from Chloe’s support. Though my body could barely bear its own weight, I managed to stand steady on my own. I looked at Julian and smiled. “I never expected you to figure it out.” After saying that, I glanced at Chloe. Her eyes flickered with surprise, then she seemed to realize something, and her slightly parted mouth closed with difficulty. Tears streamed from her eyes, unstoppable. She didn’t understand why I still refused to tell the truth, even now. Julian scoffed. “You’re still as shameless as ever!” I simply smiled, saying nothing more. Seeing my demeanor, Julian seemed to grow even angrier. He was about to speak when Ashley suddenly grabbed his hand. “Honey, Ms. Chen must have a reason for faking being a heart donor to scam money from you. Just help her out!” Julian glanced at me, some of the anger receding from his face. He scoffed, signing a check, and tossed it at me. “Fine. Your friend says drinking will kill you? Then keep this money. Use it to buy a burial plot!” I bent down, picked up the check from the floor, and carefully smoothed it out. “Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Astor.” Seeing me stumble, almost falling, Ashley, feigning sympathy, walked over to steady me, her nails digging sharply into my flesh. “Ms. Chen, no matter how little you value your own body, you shouldn’t sell your heart!” I forcefully pulled my hand away. Ashley, in turn, pretended to be pushed, tumbling dramatically into Julian’s arms. “Ms. Chen, I just wanted to help you…” Ashley looked at me pitifully, squeezing out two tears from the corners of her eyes. Julian’s anger surged, his eyes filled with immense disappointment. He immediately called security and had Chloe and me escorted out. In the biting cold wind, Chloe’s tears finally burst forth. She looked at me heartbroken. “Why won’t you tell him, even now? If only you told him the truth, you wouldn’t have to endure all this…” I just smiled, shaking the check in my hand. “It’s all in the past now. What’s the point of saying more?” I gave a small shrug. “Look, this thirty thousand dollars, it would take me ages to earn.” Chloe looked at me, still unable to resist asking, “Is it truly worth it for you to go through all this? He humiliated you so terribly…” I fell silent. Seven years ago, when I gave Julian my heart, it was never about whether it was ‘worth it.’ It was simply because I wanted to save him. That was all. Thinking of these things, perhaps the past thoughts were too complex. I suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, my vision blurring. In my ears, I heard Chloe’s frantic shouts. When I woke again, I found myself in a hospital bed. The sterile white room hurt my eyes. Chloe sat by my bedside. Seeing me awake, she immediately grasped my hand, crying uncontrollably. “Cassidy, you… you scared me to death. How are you feeling?” I opened my mouth, my throat painfully dry. Soon, a doctor examined me. His face grave, he told me, “Ms. Chen, your body is no longer suitable for an artificial heart. If we cannot find a suitable match within three months, your life will be in danger.” I was speechless. Chloe was already weeping. Finding a suitable heart within three months was an incredibly slim chance. This almost certainly meant I only had three months left to live.

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Only when the men saw the village women and children slaughtered by raiders did they believe my warnings. Staring at the mutilated bodies, they erupted in rage. “Captain!” one shouted hoarsely. “You said Olivia was lying—that we should guard you and Sienna for her birthday! Now my son is dead! Where’s my wife?!” Miles turned deathly pale. I watched the bloodshed, tears falling. In my past life, when raiders attacked, my husband—the Island Guard Captain—took all the men to celebrate Sienna’s birthday. Pregnant, I crawled through storm drains to bring them back. But Sienna was killed by a stray raider. After hunting them down, Miles said nothing—until my childbirth. Then he brutalized me and threw me into the sea. “You,” he hissed, “lured the raiders out of jealousy. Since you wanted her fate, I’ll make sure you die like her.” When I woke again, I was back at the raid’s beginning. This time, if he wanted to protect her… let him. … Reborn, I watched the speedboats approach the shore, filled with marauders. A cold shiver ran through me, but I didn’t hesitate. I pulled the alarm. The blaring alarm sirens swiftly echoed across the entire island. But the island’s sole transport vessel, large enough to evacuate all the women and children, was gone. My closest friend stumbled towards me, her voice choked with tears. “Olivia, the raiders are attacking! Where are all the men? The ferry’s gone too. What are we going to do?!” Before I could answer, other women and children swarmed around me, their eyes, wide with helplessness and terror, fixed on me. As the only one who truly knew, I had to tell them. Miles had taken every man and every weapon, sailing the transport vessel out to international waters to celebrate Sienna’s birthday. My mother-in-law cursed wildly, enraged. “Has he gone mad?! He knows raiders could attack Havenport at any moment, and he dared to take every man?!” She spat Sienna’s name like venom. “That manipulative vixen! I always said she was no good! Always feigning weakness, luring men. And now look! Is she trying to get us all killed?!” Her breakdown triggered a switch, and the other women instantly erupted, screaming insults at Sienna for her shamelessness, for luring away their men. As they spoke, the marauders’ speedboats neared the shore, and panic intensified. I struggled to maintain control, telling everyone not to panic, to head for the shelter tunnels. Our island, isolated from the mainland, was frequently targeted by raiders. To protect ourselves, we had built a network of underground bunkers to withstand their assaults. The cramped shelter tunnels were packed with women and children, listening to the marauders’ cruel laughter echoing from above as they searched the island for women. A chilling wave of terror spread through everyone. To save everyone, the only option was to risk crawling through the storm drains that connected to the tunnels, then take a jet ski to get reinforcements. My mother-in-law grabbed my hand, her calloused hand slick with cold sweat. “Olivia, the safety of all the women and children rests on you. You must bring back help!” I managed a bitter smile, my face etched with reluctance. I told her I feared even if I went, Miles wouldn’t come back with me. At my words, a heavy silence fell over everyone. Ever since Miles rescued Sienna and brought her to the island three months ago, he had clung to her like a shadow. Under the guise of ‘caring for her,’ Miles was inseparable from her daily: fishing together, training together. Even the islanders whispered amongst themselves that he and Sienna seemed more like a couple. Yet, far from avoiding suspicion, Miles only grew more overtly intimate with her when faced with their teasing. I had argued with him countless times over this, demanding to know who his wife truly was. But he remained indifferent, instead accusing me of being petty and jealous. Our love had long since evaporated with Sienna’s arrival. Just when everyone was at a loss, Lily, my sister-in-law, stepped forward. “Let me go. I know everyone in the Island Guard, and besides, Olivia’s pregnant. If anything happened to her, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to my brother.” With that, she eagerly plunged into the storm drain, crawling through the damp, filthy pipes to the outside. We huddled in the shelter tunnels, praying in our hearts not to be discovered. But then, a sharp-eyed raider spotted the entrance to the tunnels. “There’s an iron door here! I bet the women are all hiding inside!” “I knew it! How could an island this big not have a single woman?!” “I’ve been adrift at sea for half a year, dreaming of women! This time, I’m going to have my fill!” The thought of the women hidden inside spurred the raiders to frantically smash against the iron door. Listening to the frantic, booming crashes against the door, the women’s faces went ashen. Their hearts pounded with terror, and they could only pray for the men to return quickly and save them. About half an hour later, Lily, my sister-in-law, crawled back up from the storm drain, covered in grime. Seeing her, everyone immediately cheered, believing she had brought the men back. But to their dismay, Lily only began to wipe away her tears, her face etched with distress. “I’m sorry… they wouldn’t come back with me.” My mother-in-law frantically pressed her, “Why wouldn’t they come back? Their wives and children are in here!” At this, Lily’s tears flowed even faster. She bit her lip. “My brother said I was lying. He said there’s no way raiders would suddenly attack our fishing village… He even said Olivia and I conspired to trick him, and he slapped me.” Seeing the red mark on Lily’s face, everyone began to condemn Sienna as a manipulative vixen. They also cursed Miles for dereliction of duty, for abandoning everyone’s safety for the sake of one woman! Just then, a thunderous boom echoed! The raiders had begun using explosives! The iron door to the shelter tunnel could hold for another hour at most. I comforted the women, telling them that the nearest island, Stonewater Isle, was only twenty minutes away, and I could go there for reinforcements. My mother-in-law clutched my arm, her calloused hand slick with cold sweat. “Olivia, the safety of all the women and children rests on you. You must bring back help!” I nodded, then, pushing past the nauseating stench, I crawled through the storm drain, my pregnant belly cumbersome, until I reached the surface. I mounted a spare jet ski and sped towards the nearest island, Stonewater Isle. When my jet ski hit the beach of Stonewater Isle, I found several armed men already waiting. Recognizing them, my eyes widened. It was Deputy Commander Ethan Reed of our Island Guard. Hadn’t he gone out to sea with Miles? Why was he here? I couldn’t dwell on it. I stumbled towards him, just as I was about to inform him about the raiders’ attack. He suddenly grabbed my arm, yanking me from the jet ski, his gaze filled with utter disgust. “Olivia Vance, how can there be a woman as repulsive as you in this world?!” I stared at him, bewildered, unable to comprehend his meaning. “The Captain specifically ordered me to wait for you here. He said that to stir up jealousy, you’d conspire with Lily to spread rumors on other islands about a raider attack on our village, all to sabotage Sienna’s birthday celebration.” Listening to Ethan, I began to tremble with rage. Miles’ heart was utterly ruthless! To prevent me from reaching him, he had sent men to block the very path I would take to get reinforcements! I urgently told Ethan that the marauders had already begun their assault on Havenport. I wasn’t here to spread rumors; I was here for help! If reinforcements weren’t found within the hour to repel the raiders, everyone would be lost! Perhaps seeing my unyielding expression, a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. After all, his wife, child, and mother were all still on the island. Just as Ethan was about to contact Miles on his comms, a team member leaned in and whispered, “If there really was a raider attack, how could the Captain not know?” His face held a nearly devout trust in Miles. Miles had served in the military, possessing an exceptional tactical instinct and organizational skills. He had led the islanders in repelling dozens of raider assaults. After less than a second of silence, Ethan burst into loud laughter. “Olivia, you truly are an actress. You almost had me believing you.” “I know the Captain better than anyone. He’s so responsible, the leader of the Island Guard. How could he possibly lack this level of vigilance?” His mockery twisted my heart into a bitter knot, tears stinging my eyes. Every wasted moment meant more danger for the women. Ignoring everything, I tried to rush back towards the island. But in the next second, Ethan moved faster, pressing me down. He then produced rope and bound me tightly. “As long as I’m here, you’re not going anywhere today.” Ethan’s face was grim. After ensuring I was securely tied, he tossed me directly into a speedboat. As the boat sliced through the waves, I watched Stonewater Isle, so close yet growing smaller with every passing moment, and I closed my eyes in despair.

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The day I was trying on my wedding gown. My sister, Olivia, still bandaged from her car accident, bolted out of the hospital and burst into the bridal salon. “Sophia, you can’t marry Kevin Blackwood!” Olivia clung to my arm, her face a mask of frantic urgency. “Sophia, please believe me. I’ve been reborn. Kevin doesn’t love you at all. The one he truly loves is your best friend. He’s only marrying you to spite Clara Evans.” “Three years from now, he’ll torment you relentlessly to force a divorce, making your life a living hell. Mom, driven by worry, will fall ill and pass away from grief. Dad, trying to protect you, will be beaten into a cripple by Kevin’s bodyguards. And I… I’ll die in a car accident orchestrated by Kevin and Clara!” Olivia cried out, heedless of her surroundings, tears brimming in her eyes. My first thought was that she had lost her mind. Reborn? How could that be? And as for Kevin loving my best friend? They didn’t even know each other. My best friend and I had known each other since high school. After college, she moved abroad. She wouldn’t have returned to the country if she hadn’t heard I was getting married. In fact, her whole reason for coming back was to be my bridesmaid. We had been best friends for five years, and I’d never once heard of any interaction between her and Kevin. “Olivia, darling, did the accident hit your head? You need to go back to the hospital and rest.” I patiently coaxed her, biting back my irritation. Olivia’s grip on my hand loosened, and large tears rolled down her cheeks. “Sophia, given another chance, I won’t let you step into that hellish marriage again.” She was my sister, my own flesh and blood. Even with doubts, I needed to get a clear explanation before dismissing her. So I asked Olivia, “You say you’ve been reborn. Do you have any proof?” Olivia’s gaze darkened. She slowly said, “Sophia, at five o’clock this afternoon, a fire will break out here. Kevin will abandon you to save your best friend, Clara Evans.” My pupils abruptly constricted. I was about to speak, but Clara Evans’ sudden appearance cut me off. “Sophia!” It was Clara, my best friend. She walked over and hugged me tightly. Olivia seemed terrified of Clara. Her face instantly went ashen the moment she saw her. Noticing Olivia’s unusual reaction, I couldn’t help but ask, “Are you feeling unwell?” “Sophia, my head feels a bit dizzy. Could you please call a cab to take me back to the hospital?” Olivia interjected. I nodded. “Of course.” I pulled out my phone and called a cab for Olivia to return to the hospital. After Olivia left. Clara teased me. “Sophia, I can’t believe you’re getting married so soon! Congratulations, finding a fiancé who cherishes and loves you like Kevin does.” I replied, “What about you? All these years abroad, didn’t you find a boyfriend you liked?” Clara chuckled self-deprecatingly. “I’m all alone, a permanent singleton. I doubt anyone will ever love me…” As Clara finished speaking, I was about to offer some comfort. My fiancé, Kevin Blackwood, suddenly emerged from a corner. “Sophia, how’s the wedding dress fitting going?” As he spoke, Kevin came over to me. Dressed in a sharp suit, he exuded an air of elegant handsomeness. Kevin was born into a prominent family; his parents were the CEOs of a publicly traded corporation. He came from a privileged background but lacked the notorious womanizing habits often seen in wealthy families. Kevin and I fell in love at first sight. After we became official, he was incredibly devoted to me, showering me with affection as if he wanted to place the entire world at my feet. Everyone in our circle said Kevin had fallen head over heels for me. Kevin and I had been together for five years, and he had proposed countless times. I only finally said yes to his proposal a month ago. When I accepted, he even cried, telling me, “Sophia, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” Five years of shared life made it impossible for me to believe that the gentle, refined Kevin standing before me would, in the third year of our marriage, torment me to the point of wishing for death. Snapping back to reality, I said to Kevin, “I haven’t tried it on yet…” “Go on, try on your dress, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see you in your wedding gown.” Kevin leaned in and kissed my cheek. Today, Kevin was… exceptionally mushy. It wasn’t quite like him; it was almost as if he were deliberately trying to provoke someone. I glanced at my best friend. She stood silently, her gaze lowered. Kevin quickly scanned her, but there was no strange emotion on his face. Was I overthinking this? Just then, Clara also urged me, “Go on, try on your dress. I’m really looking forward to seeing you in your gown too.” With a soft hum, I walked into the bridal shop’s fitting room, both of them watching with anticipation. As I tried on the dress, I deliberately pulled open the curtain to glance outside. Kevin and Clara were standing in separate corners. Kevin was on the phone, while Clara sat lost in thought. They weren’t doing anything suspicious while I was trying on the dress. Maybe I really was imagining things. Closing the curtain, I slipped into the wedding gown I had carefully chosen. The gown was quite intricate to put on, taking a considerable amount of effort. Just as I finished changing and was about to emerge, I pulled back the curtain, and a thick, suffocating smoke billowed in, stinging my eyes shut. It was actually on fire? And it was exactly five o’clock. My heart turned to ice. The thick smoke blurred my vision. Kevin and Clara, who had been waiting outside for me, were nowhere to be seen. “Kevin! Clara!” I cried out, struggling to move through the smoke, dragging the heavy wedding dress as I desperately tried to find the exit. Every step I took, the smoke choked me, sending me into coughing fits. Thankfully, the next moment, I saw Kevin. “Kevin!” Before joy could even register, I heard Clara’s violent coughing. I turned, intending to help her, but someone was faster. Kevin practically slid on his knees to Clara’s side. At the same moment, a blazing timber suddenly plummeted from above, smashing down on me. The searing pain made me gasp, tears blurring my vision. “Hang in there. Don’t be afraid, I’ll get you out!” Kevin acted as if I didn’t exist, his entire focus solely on Clara. Flames licked at his back, his face flushed red from the heat, yet he still shielded Clara protectively. So, my sister had been telling the truth all along. Clara, it turned out, was Kevin’s true love. The fire continued to spread, the thick smoke stinging my eyes, blinding me. All I could do was watch through tears as Kevin carried Clara away, disappearing into the smoke. My leg was pinned under a fallen pillar, leaving me unable to move. I gazed at the doorway, filled with a desperate hope, fantasizing that Kevin, remembering our five years together, would come back for me. But even as I drifted towards unconsciousness, Kevin never reappeared. … When I woke up again, I was in a hospital room. “Sophia, you’re awake.” I opened my eyes to see Kevin’s anxious face, just as it had always been. “Sophia.” Clara also stood by my bedside, calling my name, her voice as gentle as it had been in high school. My head suddenly throbbed with intense pain. The two people I trusted most had abandoned me in a burning building. “Sophia, I can explain what happened in the fire.” Kevin said, seeing my furrowed brow. He saw my tightly furrowed brows and began to explain: “The situation in the fire was incredibly urgent. I saw your best friend was in a much worse condition. I was afraid if something truly happened to her, you’d be heartbroken too.” “So I rescued her first. But when I tried to rush back into the fire for you, the flames were already too intense. I was blocked at the entrance and couldn’t get through. Then, I passed out myself.” “I did want to save you, Sophia.” Kevin looked at me, his face a picture of sincerity. “Yes, the situation was so critical,” Clara echoed, “After Kevin set me down, he turned right back and plunged into the inferno, trying to save you.” “He truly values you more than his own life.” Clara also wore a solemn, heartfelt expression. I was almost swayed by their feigned sincerity. But the image of Kevin carrying Clara away was burned into my mind. Did they really think I was so easily deceived? “I’d like to be alone for a bit.” Using the excuse of needing rest, I sent Kevin and Clara away. “Sophia.” Olivia walked in. “Do you believe me now?” Olivia asked. I softly hummed. “You were right…” Seeing my acceptance, Olivia continued, “Sophia, I want to take you somewhere else.” Olivia brought me to Kevin’s private estate. “Why did you bring me to my own house?” I asked Olivia. This was supposed to be Kevin’s and my marital home. I had never brought Olivia here before. “We’re here.” Olivia stopped in front of a sprawling villa. I immediately recognized Kevin’s car. “Daddy!” A small boy rushed forward and hugged Kevin. Kevin lifted him high, spinning him around. “Leo, did you miss Daddy? It’s been so long, Daddy missed you terribly.” I stood rooted to the spot, utterly bewildered. Daddy? Kevin had a child? Who was the child’s mother? It couldn’t be… “Kevin, you spoil him too much. Didn’t you say you were swamped at the office today? How did you manage to come back?” The familiar voice froze me in place. It was Clara. “I postponed the meeting. Didn’t Leo say he missed Daddy? Of course, Daddy had to come and spend time with you.” Kevin lovingly pinched the little boy’s cheek. Kevin and Clara… they even had a child together? “Then Mommy and Daddy have to sleep together tonight too, okay? Leo will supervise you both.” The child’s innocent voice rang out. Kevin’s expression didn’t change at all; if anything, he smiled even wider. “Of course! We’re a family, so we’ll naturally sleep together.” Kevin’s lips curved into a smile, his gaze fixed intently on Clara. Clara’s face flushed. She feigned a playful scold. “The child’s still here! What are you saying?” Kevin pulled Clara into a fierce embrace, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “What does it matter? Aren’t I just speaking the truth? You’re my wife. What’s wrong with that?” Wife? A bitter, desolate smile twisted my lips. Clara is your wife, then what about me? Kevin had lied to me for five whole years! I trembled with rage. “Once I take everything from the Vance family, I’ll formally bring you and Leo into our home. I’ll give you everything I have.” Kevin looked at Clara, his voice dripping with affection. Everything from the Vance family? My fists clenched uncontrollably, my nails digging into my flesh until crimson blood welled and dripped. The man I had loved for five years had been using me from the very beginning. And he wanted to destroy everything I held dear. It was utterly pathetic. “Sophia, in the third year of your marriage, Clara crippled your hands. She knew what you cherished most. And after my car accident… my legs were crippled too. I became a useless invalid. I couldn’t even avenge you. I truly was useless.” Olivia said, her voice filled with bitter self-reproach. Olivia forced a wry smile. My nose stung. “It’s all my fault. I was a terrible judge of character. I brought ruin upon our family. I won’t make that mistake again, Olivia.” I hugged Olivia tightly, my eyes blazing with a fierce, burning hatred. I would make them pay. …

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He plunged from the cruise ship, ending his life—my husband, on our honeymoon, just moments after learning his first love was gone. It was then I realized he had never truly let go of Julia. Reborn into our youth, he resolutely cast my hand aside, striding purposefully towards his first love. I watched them walk away, then turned and left. From that moment on, our lives became two parallel lines, never to intersect again. Ten years later, we met again at a lavish banquet in Star Harbor City. He was now a rising star among the elite, Julia clinging intimately to his arm as they made their grand entrance. Spotting me, an unexpected guest, he couldn’t resist offering a word of caution. “Don’t cling to me, Audrey. Even if you waited another ten years, I would never love you.” I ignored him, instead pulling my son, who was sneakily devouring cake, from a secluded corner. His eyes suddenly reddened. He seized my hand, gripping it tight. “How dare you try to spite me? Didn’t you say you’d only ever love me in this life?” 1 I never imagined, not in this lifetime, that I would ever cross paths with Zack again. At a high-society banquet in Star Harbor City, he stood amidst the glittering crowd, Julia on his arm, his smile elegant and refined. Not a trace remained of the awkward youth I once knew. Those around him beamed with obsequious grins, their voices dripping with flattery. “Mr. Blackwood’s future is limitless, truly! Securing that provincial project at such a young age!” “And this must be your lovely fiancée, sir. A truly charming couple, the envy of everyone!” Julia gazed at Zack with deep affection, her voice soft and melodious. “We’re planning our wedding for the end of the year. Please, if you’re free, we’d be delighted for you to join us.” A fresh wave of congratulations washed over them. Then, someone, with perhaps a bit too much curiosity, piped up, “I heard you two have been together for ten years. Why are you only getting married now?” That question piqued my own interest. In my previous life, Zack had loved Julia so deeply that he willingly followed her to his death. And when he was reborn, he had immediately broken up with me, without a moment’s hesitation. I had assumed they would marry right after graduation. I never thought they still hadn’t tied the knot. At the question, a flicker of stiffness, almost imperceptible, crossed Zack’s face. He quickly masked it with a practiced smile. “A strong foundation takes time, you see. I wanted to build the very best life for Julia.” He looked at her, his eyes overflowing with such tender affection it threatened to spill over. In my previous life, when I was with him, I had asked him countless times when we could marry. It wasn’t until his family pressured him that he grudgingly nodded, agreeing to be with me. It was clear then, the stark difference between true love and mere obligation. I was about to turn and leave when my eye caught a small, fleeting shadow. My body instinctively followed it. *Smash!* Champagne splattered across the floor. The server, holding a tray, looked at me with an indignant glare. “Where did you sneak in from? Are you blind?!” His voice wasn’t quiet, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. When he saw my face, Zack gasped, stunned. “Audrey? What are you doing here?” I lowered my head, apologizing to the server, and explained, “I’m just here looking for someone.” Someone, curious, asked Zack, “Mr. Blackwood, do you know her?” Zack’s hand, holding the champagne flute, tightened. His gaze hardened. “Yes. Just an ex-girlfriend.” Someone nearby, with a bit too much enthusiasm, blurted out, “But you two were together for ten years! I thought you were each other’s first loves!” Julia’s smile thinned a fraction. She took Zack’s hand, her voice light and dismissive. “Oh, we were young then, just a silly little spat. Who hasn’t taken a wrong turn in their youth?” Zack didn’t speak. His gaze swept over me, then settled on the server. “Charge the damages to my tab. Let her go.” He stood there, his expression calm. Aside from that first stunned glance, he didn’t spare me a single extra look. It seemed he was determined to draw a clear line between me and his “mistake” in front of Julia. The server quickly ushered me towards the exit. “Mr. Blackwood is being gracious, cleaning up your mess. Don’t expect it again.” He glanced at my crumpled pajama top, a look of distaste on his face. “This isn’t a place for the likes of you. Just leave.” I pulled my arm free from his grasp, explaining patiently. “I’m here to find someone. Once I do, I’ll leave on my own.” The server scoffed, rolling his eyes. “I’ve seen plenty of gold-diggers like you. Do you even have the right to be at a banquet like this? If you don’t leave, I’m calling security!” “Wait.” Zack’s voice came from behind him. He looked at me, sighed, and said with a hint of resignation, “She’s here for me. Let me talk to her.” Julia stood beside him, possessively wrapping her arm around his shoulder. “Audrey, Julia and I are getting married soon. I imagine anyone with an ounce of self-respect wouldn’t come seeking out an ex at a time like this.” Zack’s face darkened slightly. He couldn’t help but try to reason with me. “Don’t cling to me, Audrey. Even if you waited another ten years, I would never love you.” He continued, “My being with you was just a mistake. Now that I finally have a chance to correct it, I hope you can put the past behind you.” Julia surveyed me from head to toe, a sneer twisting her lips. “I can understand why you’d seek out Zack, I suppose. After all, he’s a renowned entrepreneur now, and there’s no shortage of people scrambling to butter him up.” Perhaps my crumpled pajama top gave her a burst of confidence, for Julia puffed out her chest, her voice haughty. “You did go to a prestigious university, didn’t you? How have you fallen so low? If I were you, I wouldn’t dare show my face!” Zack frowned, pulling out his phone, a hint of impatience in his tone. “If you feel I wronged you when we broke up, I can offer you a settlement now.” He paused. “Is five hundred thousand enough?” His fingers moved across the screen, then abruptly froze. “You… you deleted me?” 2 I felt a pang of bewilderment. Why was he reacting so strongly? Deleting an ex after a breakup was perfectly normal, wasn’t it? Besides, I had someone at home who was incredibly possessive. If he found out I still kept an ex-boyfriend’s contact information, he’d probably throw a tantrum. “Didn’t you say you hoped I wouldn’t come looking for you after we broke up?” I asked. Zack’s face turned cold. He looked as if he wanted to say something, but held back. My voice was calm, almost detached, as I added, “And there’s no need for a settlement. I don’t need it.” One setback after another, Zack’s expression grew even darker. He said coldly, “What are you putting on an act for? If it weren’t for how pathetic you look right now, I wouldn’t even bother talking to you.” Julia, seeing his irritation, immediately offered him gentle comfort. “Oh, dear, she did go to a good school. Given how utterly miserable she looks now, why don’t we just consider it an act of charity?” Zack scoffed, “Julia, you’re always so kind. If you ask me, what’s there to bother with a woman like this? Look at her, so grimy. Just tell her to get out.” His voice was full of contempt, as if he’d forgotten that ten years ago, he was far more wretched than I was now. In my previous life, Zack’s family had vehemently opposed his relationship with Julia precisely because she was known for her questionable morals and her penchant for taking shortcuts. The first time I met Zack in college, he had just picked Julia up from an exclusive lounge, forced by his family to break up with her. During his lowest point, it was I who stayed by his side, helping him through it. He loved photography, so I used the money I’d saved for my startup to buy him tens of thousands in equipment. Through harsh winters and scorching summers, my frail frame carried dozens of pounds of gear, just hoping to see him genuinely smile. Who would have thought that Zack was the one who first confessed his feelings to me? I knew about his past with Julia, and I’d occasionally seen him staring blankly at old photos of them together. So, when he proposed, I asked him very seriously, “Have you truly let go of Julia?” He held me tight then, his voice firm. “Honestly, I never loved her. I only saw her as a very good friend. It’s you I love, Audrey. Let’s be together.” We dated for seven years. Even his own brothers couldn’t help but be surprised. “He was so infatuated with Julia, I never thought you two would last.” But what no one knew was that Zack had countless times privately refused my hints about marriage. “Audrey, I’m just not the marrying type. Isn’t it enough for us to just be together, like this, forever?” It wasn’t until Zack’s parents pressured him relentlessly that he finally agreed to marry. During our honeymoon, news of Julia’s unexpected car accident arrived. He leaped from the cruise ship, leaving behind only a suicide note. The note was filled from beginning to end with declarations of love for Julia, not a single word left for me. At the very end, he had written in blood: “Julia, in this life, I only want to love you. Now, I’m coming to find you.” My love for him, too, turned to ash at that very moment. So, when Zack wanted to break up with me after being reborn, I didn’t stop him. Because I knew it was futile. Watching them reunite, I deleted all of Zack’s contact information, believing we would never cross paths again in this lifetime. I never expected to encounter him here. I wanted to leave, but Julia wouldn’t let up. She seemed determined to humiliate me in front of everyone. “You think you’re worthy of speaking to me? Look at how you’re dressed, it’s embarrassing!” She continued, “How about this? I’ll get you a job here as a server. If you learn to serve people well, you could earn five figures a month.” Someone nearby, eager to curry favor, chimed in with a laugh, “This is a hotel in the most prestigious area of Star Harbor City! Working here would be a blessing for you. Hurry up and thank Ms. Julia!” I was surrounded, unable to leave for the moment. I said helplessly, “Thank you, but I already have a job.” I paused, then added, “As a photographer.” At the word “photographer,” Zack immediately looked at me. A complex expression flickered in his eyes, and his lips parted as if to speak. He turned his head, not looking at me directly, his tone cold. “Photography? How much money can that really make? Hobbies don’t put food on the table. Out of courtesy, since we’re all old acquaintances, I can arrange something for you.” I froze, instantly realizing he had misunderstood. 3 My love for photography wasn’t because I still harbored feelings for Zack. In fact, after reading that suicide note in my previous life, I had completely given up on him. It was just that when I was reborn, I found the money I had saved had already been used to buy photography equipment. I couldn’t sell it on second-hand platforms, so I just picked it up and started using it myself. And, surprisingly, I truly fell in love with photography. This time, it wasn’t to please anyone else; it was purely for myself. I politely declined Zack’s offer again, my tone courteous yet distant. “My hobby generates enough income for my living expenses, thank you for your concern.” Seeing my apparent ingratitude, a flicker of anger crossed Zack’s face. “You’re refusing the opportunity I’m giving you? Don’t come crying to me later!” I didn’t speak. I also didn’t tell him that my photography now earned me commissions for national publications and top international journals. The various copyright fees, when added up, were by no means less than Zack’s income. But if I told him, he’d probably just think I was boasting. After all, my rumpled pajama top certainly made me look humble. Speaking of which, it was my son’s fault. He insisted on playing in the sandbox with me, and the moment I turned my head, he’d slipped downstairs. I’d chased him out before I even had a chance to change. I was just trying to find an excuse to leave when that server from before seemed to notice something. He pointed at my clothes. “Balenciaga? Where did you pick up that outfit? You’re not one of the cleaners, are you, secretly taking things from guest rooms?” I couldn’t help but frown. “Can’t these clothes be my own?” Julia let out a mocking laugh. “Your own? Can you afford them? What wealthy person would dress so casually and wander around like you?” She made a show of pinching her nose. “So dirty, she probably put it on without even washing it first.” Zack looked at me, his brows furrowed so tightly they almost squeezed a fly to death. “Audrey, you’ve sunk to this, and you’re still being stubborn?” I didn’t want to engage with them, so I turned directly to the server. “If you truly believe I stole something, you can call the police right now.” I knew he was trying to curry favor with Julia, taking a jab at me. Sure enough, his bluster immediately deflated. He muttered under his breath, “If it weren’t for the important guests at the hotel today, and the fear of disturbing them, I would have called the police already.” Julia’s eyes lit up. She quickly interjected, “Is it Mr. Remington, the young master? I heard he’s in Star Harbor City with his family, staying at this very hotel.” Zack nodded, a hopeful glint in his eyes. “The project our company is working on… it would be incredible if we could get the Remington family’s support.” The mention of “Mr. Remington” was like water splashed into hot oil, instantly igniting a flurry of excited chatter. “Isn’t the whole point of this banquet to meet Mr. Remington? This entire building belongs to his family!” “I heard he’s only in his early twenties but already married with a child. I wonder which prominent family’s daughter he married.” As everyone discussed this, the lobby manager rushed in, sweating profusely, a team of people following him. “Ladies and gentlemen, has anyone seen a seven-year-old boy, about this tall?” The manager wiped his brow, frantically scanning the room. Someone quick-witted, seeing the commotion, immediately guessed what was happening. “Is it the young master of the Remington family? I heard he’s seven this year.” The banquet guests suddenly became eager, scattering to search for the boy. After all, finding him could be a golden opportunity to connect with the Remington family. Zack and Julia also joined the search, leaving me alone. I surveyed the chaotic lobby and walked directly to the dessert section. Sure enough, beneath the table, I found my son, his face smeared with cream. I stretched out my hand, my voice stern. “Come here.” My son jumped, clinging to the table leg, refusing to let go. “No.” I was about to pull him over when Julia suddenly appeared from nowhere, stepping in front of me, her voice indignant. “Audrey, what are you doing!” She demanded, “Even if you want to curry favor with the Remington family, you shouldn’t lay hands on a child!” Zack rushed over, his eyes filled with disappointment as he looked at me. “Audrey, I can’t believe you would do something like this for fame and fortune.” The server, seizing the opportunity, rushed to the manager, complaining. “This woman, she just burst into the banquet, and she even stole clothes from another guest!” The manager’s face immediately hardened. He called for security. “Grab this thief and take her straight to the police station! If she scares the young master, none of you will have jobs!” A hint of triumph flickered in Julia’s eyes. She bent down, putting on a benevolent smile for the young Remington boy. “Come here, sweetie, come to Auntie. Auntie will protect you.” My son completely ignored her. To everyone’s astonishment, he carefully reached out and took my hand. “Mommy, I’m sorry.”

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My five-year-old daughter is a compulsive liar. I took her shopping for school supplies, but in the middle of the street, she shrieked that I was a kidnapper, nearly getting me hauled to the police precinct for questioning. When we got home, before I could say a word, she burst into tears and launched herself into my husband’s arms, pouring out her fabricated grievances. “Daddy, Mommy wouldn’t buy me stationery, and she even hit me on the street!” I tried to explain my side to my husband, Rob, but to my shock, after listening, he exploded in a rage and slapped me across the face. “She’s only five years old! How could she possibly lie? How can you be so cruel to your own daughter!” Later, when I took our daughter to school, she knelt before me in front of all the other parents. “Mommy, please let me go to school! I don’t want to take revealing pictures for those men to see!” The teacher grabbed my phone and found it filled with inappropriate, suggestive photos of my daughter. Enraged parents shoved me into oncoming traffic, and I was instantly run over, my body flattened into a gruesome mess. Until my last breath, I couldn’t understand why the daughter I had carried for nine months would do such a thing. Then I opened my eyes, and I was back on the day I took my daughter to buy school supplies. 1 “Lily, Daddy and Mommy are going to take you to buy school supplies soon. We’ll make sure our Lily is the happiest little princess ever!” Our daughter, Lily, rejected Rob’s offer without a second thought. Instead, she came over and tugged on my sleeve. “Daddy, I want to go shopping with Mommy. All the other kids have their moms with them. Can you come shopping with me too, Mommy?” Lily had been living with my in-laws in a remote town since she was little, and she had only recently come home. With her making such a request, how could Rob refuse? “Honey, I’ll send you some extra money in a bit. Buy whatever Lily wants.” Rob said, his voice laced with indulgence. “She’s still so young. We’ve really let her down before.” Hearing those familiar words, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant, invisible hand, stealing my breath. A chilling realization washed over me: I had been reborn. In my previous life, I had listened to Rob’s words, happily taking Lily to the mall to buy school supplies. But once we were there, Lily insisted on buying a razor-sharp craft knife. I told her the knife was too dangerous. Lily promised she’d be careful, even volunteering that little kids shouldn’t touch knives. My heart swelled with relief, and worried that she didn’t feel close to me, having grown up away, I took her to play some games. But as soon as we reached the mall entrance, Lily plopped herself onto the ground. She screamed, a heart-wrenching, ear-splitting wail: “Don’t take me away! Help me! She’s a kidnapper!” The mall was packed. Hearing her desperate cries, people rushed over, forming a curious crowd. I desperately tried to explain, and finally, a few people seemed to soften, on the verge of believing me. But the next second, Lily pointed at me and shouted, “She really is a kidnapper! She’s trying to abduct me!” The furious onlookers quickly called the police. I was taken to the precinct for questioning and only released much later. I couldn’t understand why my daughter, who was so well-behaved at home, would tell such a brazen lie in public. I was furious, determined to teach her a lesson. But when I got home, before I could even open my mouth, her first action was to throw herself into Rob’s arms and accuse me. 2 “Daddy, save me! Waaah, I wanted the superhero stationery, but Mommy wouldn’t buy it, and she hit me!” “It hurts so much, it hurts!” Rob lifted Lily’s sleeve, his face instantly contorting in horror as he saw several purplish bruises on her arm. I gasped, about to ask what had happened. Rob angrily put Lily down and slapped me hard across the face. “Do you even act like a mother?! How could you hit your own child?!” I desperately tried to explain. “She’s lying! Those injuries aren’t from me!” I was about to tell Rob that Lily had lied about me being a kidnapper at the mall, getting me taken to the precinct. But he didn’t believe a word, cutting me off and launching into a furious tirade. “She’s only five years old! How could she possibly lie?! How can you be so cruel to your own daughter?!” Because of this, Rob even cut off my household allowance. My heart sank, utterly despondent, and I stopped trying to explain, instead quietly tucking away a seed of suspicion. I thought this incident was just a fluke. But then, as I was taking Lily to school, she actually knelt before me at the school gate. “Mommy, please let me go to school! I don’t want to take revealing pictures for those men to see!” I froze, stunned. Before I could react, the kindergarten teacher rushed forward, digging into my shoulder bag and pulling out a stack of photos. Written on the back of the photos were names, presumably of buyers. The teacher gasped, hugging Lily protectively as she glared at me. “How could you treat your own daughter like this? You’re an animal!” Before I could explain, the enraged parents shoved me into the middle of the road, where I was instantly run over, my body crushed beyond recognition. In my dying moments, Lily’s malicious gaze flashed before my eyes. It was a look no five-year-old girl should possess. I died without ever understanding why the daughter I had carried for nine months hated me so much. Yet, every night, when I held her to sleep, she would hug my arm, gently kiss my cheek, and whisper, “Mommy, I love you the most.” Since I had been reborn, I was determined to find out exactly what was going on. Thinking this, I glanced at Rob, who was preparing to work from home. “Honey, Lily just got back. Why don’t you drive us there?” Since he believed our child couldn’t lie, this time, I would let him witness firsthand how she manipulated the truth. Rob agreed without a second thought. At the mall, Lily hopped out of the car, and Rob stayed in the car, waiting for us. “I just got a notification. I have some work to take care of. You two go ahead and shop. You can just come back here afterward.” I nodded, taking Lily’s hand as she skipped into the stationery store. Just like in my previous life, the moment Lily saw the craft knife, she pounced on it. “Mommy, I want this one! It has a design on it! Can we buy this, please?” 3 I shook my head, squatting down to reason with Lily. “This craft knife is too sharp, darling. Mommy will go ask if they have another one just like it, but not so sharp, okay?” Lily’s gaze was pure, and for a moment, my heart softened. Soon, with the help of a sales associate, I bought an identical craft knife that wasn’t sharpened. Lily happily held her new stationery, flashing me a sweet smile. “Thank you, Mommy! You’re the best!” Perhaps, in my previous life, it was simply because I hadn’t bought her what she wanted that she acted that way? Now that I had fulfilled her wish, she would surely grow closer to me. Watching Lily behave completely normally on our way, I breathed a sigh of relief. But I never expected that as soon as we reached a crowded area, she would wrench her hand free from mine and scream. “Help! She’s a kidnapper! She’s trying to abduct me!” In that instant, my heart completely froze. I had wondered countless times in my previous life if Lily’s cry of “kidnapper” was just a fit of pique. And since she had grown up with my in-laws in the countryside, perhaps my mother-in-law had casually used the term to scare Lily into behaving, and Lily had simply remembered it and reacted that way. But now, I had already given her what she wanted, and she still… At the words “kidnapper,” everyone turned to stare. Soon, people approached, their faces wary, asking what was happening. “She’s a kidnapper! She’s trying to abduct me! Help me!” Before I could answer, Lily sat on the ground and screamed, tears streaming down her face. Lily was so young, and her crying seemed to convince many people. “How could such a small child lie? What exactly are you doing?” “Don’t even think about running! We’ve already called the police. You’ll be going to the precinct when they get here.” A few men even rushed forward, intending to hold me down. Just then, a familiar figure appeared in the crowd. My eyes lit up, and I shouted, “Rob, quick, explain to everyone!” In an instant, all eyes turned to Rob Maxwell. Earlier, while Lily was picking out stationery, I had sent Rob a message asking him to bring us some coffee. Now that Rob was here, everyone assumed he was my accomplice and swarmed him. Seeing this, Lily’s sobs suddenly quieted, a look of bewilderment on her face. Rob, seeing the situation, grew even more anxious than I was. He struggled to explain to the bewildered onlookers that we were a family. In the end, he was also taken to the precinct for questioning by the quickly arriving police. 4 Rob emerged from the precinct, his face dark with fury. The moment he entered the house, he lunged to hit Lily. “Are you out of your mind?! Why did you tell everyone out there that we were kidnappers?!” Rob’s face was livid with anger. He slapped Lily’s bottom, making her yelp and burst into tears. Watching the scene, I felt a surge of satisfaction. He used to constantly accuse me of scolding our daughter. Now that it was his turn, why couldn’t he grasp that same logic? I quickly pulled Lily into my arms, stroking her head to comfort her. “Honey, she’s just a child, playing around. Why are you getting so angry?” “What if you hurt Lily?” Rob’s hands trembled as he pointed at Lily. “Do you have any idea what kind of trouble her lies have caused? One of my most important clients was just there, and after seeing that, he’s ready to terminate our partnership. How am I supposed to explain this to my boss?!” “And you’re still protecting her right now! Who knows what else she’ll do in the future?!” So that was it. His work was affected. No wonder he was so furious when he came home today. I cut him off, uncaring. “It’s just one client. We finally got Lily back home. You shouldn’t be so harsh on her.” “And why are you speaking so harshly? She’s just a child, it’s not that serious.” With that, I hugged Lily, my eyes filled with disdain as I looked at him. “Are you just trying to blame Lily because you messed up your own work?” Didn’t he think a five-year-old child couldn’t lie? In my previous life, before I could even explain to Rob, he blamed everything on me. These were the very words he had thrown at me before, and now I returned them to him, word for word. How does it feel to be falsely accused, Rob? Rob’s eyes blazed with fury, but in the end, he simply turned and stormed off. “Just keep spoiling her then!” I stroked Lily’s head, comforting her. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Mommy will take you to school tomorrow.” Lily looked at me, her eyes wide with fear, clearly scared of me. A flicker of doubt crossed my mind. I hadn’t done anything, so why was she so terrified? Rob must have been truly infuriated by me; he didn’t return home until nightfall. After tucking Lily into bed, I began searching the house. In my previous life, when I took Lily to school, Ms. Davies had pulled those photos from my bag. The photos must have been taken beforehand, and they had to be hidden somewhere in the house now. I searched every room and finally found a metal box with a combination lock under Lily’s bed. I tried Lily’s birthday—wrong. Then I tried Rob’s birthday—and the box clicked open. Opening the box, I froze. The mystery that had plagued me for two lifetimes was finally revealed. I finally understood why my daughter had so meticulously plotted to kill me.

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