Category: English

Ethan drove to pick me up. The man, always known for his aloof and disciplined demeanor. Actually let his new secretary sit in his passenger seat. I knew then, this marriage was over. 01 That day, Ethan drove over to pick me up. When I opened the passenger side door, I froze for a second. A young, pretty girl was sitting in the passenger seat, flashing me a sweet smile. “Hi, Mrs. Hayes!” The girl greeted me very politely. But she made absolutely no move to get up and offer me the seat. I narrowed my eyes and shifted my gaze to Ethan. Ethan was looking down, taking a phone call, completely oblivious to the hidden tension on this side of the car. We had made plans today to go to an auction together. I had been looking forward to this date with him and had dressed up carefully, but I never expected someone else to be sitting in his passenger seat. “Hi, Mrs. Hayes, my name is Chloe. I’m Mr. Hayes’s new assistant.” A warm smile curved on the girl’s lips. The two shallow dimples made her look exceptionally sweet. “I heard you two were going to a private auction tonight, so I begged Mr. Hayes to bring me along to see the world. Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t interrupt you guys.” My heart instantly sank to the bottom. I knew the cold, perfect man in front of me too well. He always maintained a sense of distance. He wouldn’t easily let others step into his personal space. We got together through an arranged marriage. After much consideration, we chose each other. Outsiders joked, saying I was practically signing up to be a living widow. But after we made our relationship official. Ethan would hug me with a gentle look in his eyes. In moments of passion, the corners of his eyes would tinge red. He said: “You are my wife. Husband and wife are one entity; naturally, you are different from anyone else to me.” Today, it felt like something had changed. 02 But I wasn’t some delicate flower who would just swallow my anger. I was Audrey, who had never needed to read the room or suppress my temper for anyone. “Get out!” I kicked her out with a cold face, showing no mercy. The girl was stunned for a long moment. She probably didn’t expect that on our very first meeting, I would directly embarrass her. Perhaps because my tone was too harsh and cold. For a moment, the girl actually looked at a loss for what to do. “I-I’m sorry, Mrs. Hayes.” The girl’s voice carried a hint of a sob as she dejectedly moved to the back seat. Ethan just finished his call and looked over at us. He realized I was angry. A look of helpless indulgence washed over his face. The man leaned over and fastened my seatbelt for me. Noticing the seat position had been adjusted by someone else, I readjusted it with extreme impatience. This whole ordeal made me furious. “So annoying! Why would anyone dare to adjust my passenger seat!” The air pressure in the car dropped, and the girl was too scared to speak again. Ethan furrowed his brow slightly, suggesting to me in a calm tone. “If you’re not in a good mood today, let’s just go home.” The woman in the rearview mirror was silently shedding tears. I felt incredibly frustrated. “Chloe, right? I’m not in the mood to go anymore. Call an Uber and go home yourself. Mr. Hayes and I are going home.” The girl’s face turned pale, and she looked weakly at Ethan. The man showed no intention of helping her out of the situation. The girl got out of the car, looking devastated. 03 Ethan would never embarrass me in front of outsiders. He always knew how to control his emotions. So he suggested: go home. If there’s an issue, solve it at home. This was the unspoken understanding we had built over the years. “She’s just a college grad who just entered the workforce. Why are you getting so worked up over this?” Ethan pulled me into his arms. “It’s the first time.” Ethan didn’t understand: “What?” “In all these years, this is the first time you’ve let another woman sit in your passenger seat.” The man didn’t expect that this was what I cared about. Everyone in our circle knew how outstanding Ethan was. The number of women who liked him was innumerable. But he kept his nose clean. Surrounded by temptation, he never let a single leaf stick to him. Ethan smiled faintly and ruffled my hair. “I can’t believe I actually managed to make you jealous for once.” The man leaned down to kiss me, his nose brushing against my cheek. “She is my subordinate, nothing more. “There won’t be any other relationship between her and me.” Ethan cupped my face, staring into my eyes. He made a solemn promise to me in a deep voice. 04 A woman’s intuition is always very accurate. Even though I had only met Chloe once. My intuition told me that this girl definitely had other intentions towards Ethan. I originally thought my show of dominance at our first meeting was enough. But I never expected that the auction necklace that was supposed to be given to me would be worn around the girl’s neck the very next day. Harper, serving as Ethan’s executive assistant, sent me a photo and a screenshot of a Facebook post. In the photo, the crescent moon diamond necklace hung around Chloe’s fair neck, making her look even more delicate and pretty. The girl’s eyes were red and swollen, but a smile played on her lips. She probably went home and cried her eyes out last night. And received a gift from someone. In the screenshot, it was a post Chloe made on Facebook: [The CEO says girls need to be strong even when they feel wronged! [Wiping away my tears. Yes sir, my CEO!] Followed by a few cute emojis of a clenched fist showing determination. Along with a picture of the necklace in its box. At that moment, my blood almost froze. Although it’s hard to admit, I must confess. I was provoked by her to the point where I almost lost my composure. This feeling was terrible; it was like my cherished white silk scarf was stained with a smear of mosquito blood. This feeling was very strange to me. I even wanted to ignore the facts, jump into my yellow Ferrari, drive at 100 mph, and slap that woman twice across the face. But looking at my own hands, I felt that taking a cheap, manipulative girl so seriously was beneath me. I made a phone call to Vivian at Hermès. Vivian’s tone was filled with uncontrollable joy. She assured me over the phone. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Hayes. Even if I have to empty out all the stores in the city today, I will gather all the items and guarantee they’re all delivered to you!” And so, that very day. Before the workday even ended. Excluding Chloe, all the assistants to the executives and the girls in the general manager’s office at Hayes Group headquarters, a total of forty-six girls, received a generous gift from the CEO’s wife— A Hermès necklace worth twelve thousand dollars. Although the unit price couldn’t compare to the two-million-dollar auction necklace, the sheer quantity made up for it, effectively leveling the playing field. Harper was tactful in her execution. She required everyone to post on Facebook with the caption— [The CEO’s wife says every girl deserves the best! [Clenching my fist. Yes ma’am, my CEO’s wife!] The girls who received the gifts were naturally happy to cooperate. As assistants and general office staff. They were practically the gossip center of the entire company. Now receiving a gift from the CEO’s wife, which one of them wouldn’t happily and actively post the caption and pictures? There were even some clever ones who added a line to their captions: [The CEO’s wife really knows how to play!] The influence of these directors’ assistants might not be huge, but their ability to spread information across various departments was terrifying. Within half an hour, the whole company knew that the CEO’s wife had gifted everyone a Hermès necklace. As for the reason, the various gossip groups were already buzzing with speculation. Chloe’s face was pale; she seemed to have suffered a great insult. With red-rimmed eyes, she hid in the restroom to take off the diamond necklace. Two colleagues who came in to touch up their makeup saw her and let out two ambiguous scoffs. Chloe felt completely humiliated. She lowered her head and quickly walked out of the restroom, the mocking laughter behind her becoming even more unrestrained. Her cheeks burned as she put the necklace back into the box. She returned it to Ethan exactly as it was. 05 Ethan had just finished a video call with a partner. He saw the girl, who had obviously been crying again, holding the necklace box, looking desolate and staring at her toes. “What’s wrong?” Ethan asked, puzzled. Before Chloe could speak, her tears began to fall. She sobbed quietly, looking pitiful: “Mr. Hayes, please take this necklace back. I don’t dare keep it.” A hint of displeasure appeared on Ethan’s cold, handsome face. His intuition told him that something must have happened. But he didn’t press for details directly. He just quietly watched the person in front of him. Chloe pursed her lips, hesitating repeatedly, and finally took the initiative to speak, recounting everything that happened in the office today in full detail. “Mr. Hayes, I’m sorry for always causing you trouble. “I just made a Facebook post to encourage myself. I didn’t know why the Mrs. would find out about it.” Chloe sobbed softly. “I didn’t think the Mrs. would be so angry.” The woman looked as pitiful as a little white rabbit. “Mr. Hayes, I want to go apologize to the Mrs. I can explain everything to her clearly in person.” Ethan never had the habit of checking Facebook. His time was filled with work. But as the CEO of the group, he understood all too well these toxic habits of chasing shadows within the company. His usually stern face grew even colder. “I understand.” The man said in a deep voice. 06 That evening, Ethan brought Chloe home. The girl was meek and submissive, standing behind the man. “I asked Chloe to come over so she can clear things up face-to-face.” Ethan sighed. “Audrey, Chloe is just my secretary. “Because of what happened yesterday, as a gesture of apology, I casually gave her a gift, that’s all.” I stirred my silver spoon, finishing the bird’s nest soup the housekeeper had stewed. “Mrs. Hayes, I’m sorry.” Chloe was sincere in her attitude, bowing to me. Trembling with fear, delicate and weak. “This is the first time I’ve received such an expensive gift. I got dizzy with happiness for a moment. If I did anything to upset you, please tell me, and I will definitely change right away!” I raised an eyebrow: “Chloe, right?” The girl glanced at Ethan, seemingly trying to draw courage from him, and slowly nodded. Looking at the woman acting like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, insisting on challenging me, I only found it amusing. “I’m not your teacher, nor am I your boss. I don’t have the time to teach you how to behave or do things. “But I am Ethan Hayes’s wife. Therefore, whoever dares to act ambiguous with my husband, I will not give her a chance to turn over a new leaf.” This girl had probably never met someone as direct as me in her entire life. Her face, which was trying hard to maintain a facade, was left with nothing but frail vulnerability. “Audrey, Chloe came to apologize to you.” Ethan knew my personality and methods. Even if he didn’t approve of what I did today, he could understand my feelings. So he didn’t argue with me, just agreed to let Chloe come and apologize to me. He had already made a concession, wanting me to let go of the misunderstanding. Everyone here was smart. Even a single look was enough to convey each other’s meaning. “I understand.” I decided to give Ethan a chance. After all, he hadn’t actually cheated. “But there won’t be a next time, no matter who it is.” 07 “You didn’t have to use those methods against a girl.” Before falling asleep, Ethan brought up the topic. “You should have told me first.” I sat at the vanity doing my skincare routine, staring at the handsome man in the mirror. “You knew perfectly well I liked that necklace, yet you gave it to another woman. Shouldn’t I be angry?” I couldn’t imagine if such a perfect person got dirty, whether I would still adore him as before. Ethan unhurriedly went to the bar to pour himself a glass of ice water. “She cried all night because of your misunderstanding. “When I saw how swollen her eyes were this morning, I casually gave her the necklace as an apology.” There wasn’t a single flaw in his explanation. I scrutinized him coldly for a long time. Two million dollars, to us, was just pocket change. Giving it away casually made sense. It just depended on whether the other person was worth it. The man’s fingertips tapped against the quartz countertop. He was waiting for me to think. This was the first time we had a conflict over a third party. Our upbringing and education made us both feel a bit tired of this kind of thing. We were both people who cared about keeping up appearances. “Ethan, I love you.” Ethan’s fingertips paused. He probably didn’t expect me to say this suddenly. “Ethan, I love the pristine, flawless version of you. This is what makes you different from anyone else. “You never let women get close before because you have emotional mysophobia. You wanted a clean marriage. I wasn’t like that before, but your values influenced me. Now, our life goals are the same. “I hope your marriage never has a crossroads.” Ethan said helplessly: “I don’t.” 08 Ethan was a very clear-headed person. He knew I cared, so he wouldn’t give Chloe any more room for fantasies. Without the CEO’s elevation, Chloe, as an intern, could only start from the most basic tasks. Before, she had the opportunity to rotate at the main reception desk. Now, Harper simply didn’t schedule her for shifts. I didn’t signal anyone to ostracize her. Since Ethan knew where to draw the line, I completely trusted him. But this kind of thing didn’t require any instructions from me. There were plenty of people willing to kiss up to the powerful and step on the weak. In less than half a month, this new secretary couldn’t handle the drop in her professional standing and the psychological blow, losing a whole size in weight. The turning point occurred after an important executive meeting ended. That day, Chloe was assigned to clean the small conference room alone. The girl, wearing a skirt suit, knelt on the floor, struggling to scrape chewing gum off the carpet with a razor blade. This scene was witnessed by Ethan, who had returned to retrieve something. Noticing someone behind her, the girl hurriedly stood up in embarrassment. Ethan’s gaze was deep and coldly profound. Such a silent stare stripped Chloe of all her dignity. “Mr. Hayes.” The girl’s tears fell uncontrollably. She wasn’t acting, nor was she pretending. Ethan was originally the sun she admired but couldn’t touch. When she was marginalized, she had almost accepted her fate. Now, being seen by the man in this state. Chloe wished she could push Ethan aside and flee out the door. In just half a month, that originally cheerful and lively girl had become so fragile. This was the first time Ethan lost his temper. He came home and violently smashed the water glass I handed him onto the floor. Water splashed everywhere. “Why do you still refuse to let her go? “Audrey, I respect and love you, tolerating your insults and harm to her time and time again. “Does bullying the weak give you some kind of thrill?” I remembered that during Ethan’s time studying abroad, his younger sister in middle school committed suicide by jumping off a building due to severe school bullying. This became an indelible scar in his heart, causing him to abhor such behavior. “Audrey, I won’t let you use these methods to hurt others again, otherwise I won’t stand idly by!” I stared blankly at the emotionally out-of-control man in front of me. For the first time since our marriage, Ethan lost his reason and blew up in anger for another woman, for something I didn’t even do. This feeling was terrible. Like glass shattering. Like spilled water that can’t be gathered again. 09 Ethan promoted Chloe to his personal assistant. At the same time, he decisively fired Harper. This was the executive assistant who had fought alongside him for seven years. “You need to be clear about exactly who you are working for.” Harper was very stubborn in certain aspects. “I am working for you, Mr. Hayes. “For some matters, I will privately contact the Mrs. “But only regarding personal matters.” The man threw the shift schedule in front of Harper. “Is that so? So righteous? “Then did your professional ethics allow you to abuse your power to bully others?” Harper was speechless. She knew her deliberate mistreatment of Chloe had been discovered, and she showed fear in front of him. Ethan saw right through it. “You have no tolerance for others, you can’t distinguish right from wrong, you suppress colleagues based on personal grudges. What right do you have to hold the position of executive assistant?” Harper walked out of the office, defeated. Outside, several assistants looked sorrowful. “Harper, do you really have to leave?” Before the large tears could roll down her face, Harper quickly wiped them away. “Yeah, I’m leaving. See you all around, ladies.”

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I was pale from menstrual cramps. The moment I asked for leave, my department supervisor Lydia Rivers threw a stack of adult diapers at me. “Who are you putting on this dying act for? Are you actually dead from the pain right now?” “Put on the diapers and get back to work. Don’t use your period as an excuse to slack off.” Before I could react, she launched into another tirade. “You clearly said you were healthy and could handle the work when you joined. Are you faking this just to take advantage of the company’s menstrual leave policy?” After saying this, she took a photo of me and posted it in the company group chat. “Don’t use your period as an excuse to slack off! Everyone, please take note!” Lydia Rivers slammed a stack of adult diapers onto my desk. “Sophia, what are you standing there for? Waiting for me to change them for you?” Before I could process what was happening, she half-dragged, half-pulled me into the restroom. The overwhelming stench hit me. My stomach churned violently. The janitor had clearly cleaned the bathroom thoroughly. But the intense discomfort from my cramps made my senses unbearably sensitive. I rushed to the toilet and threw up everything. “Oh my, putting on quite a show, aren’t we?” Lydia leaned against the doorframe, waving her hand in front of her nose in disgust. “Is it really necessary? It’s just a period! What’s with the fake vomiting? Your acting skills are wasted not being a Hollywood star.” My coworkers slowly gathered around. “So dramatic. There are so many women in this company, and I’ve never heard of anyone needing time off for cramps.” “Come on! Once you’re done with your performance, hurry up and put them on. Not everyone gets Miss Rivers’ special care.” “Back when I had cramps, no supervisor personally came to check on me. You’re really blessed.” Blessed? I’d never seen someone treat harassment as a benefit. What era is this to still be pulling workplace bullying tactics? Everyone experiences pain differently to begin with. Otherwise, the company wouldn’t have humanely given women two days of menstrual leave each month. Now I was in so much pain I couldn’t straighten my back, and I just wanted one day off. What was wrong with that? I said coldly, “If this is such a blessing, do you want it?” My coworkers were about to snap back at me. Lydia stepped forward, waving her hand and deliberately raising her voice several octaves. “Alright, alright. She doesn’t know any better, but as a supervisor, I can’t be petty.” “I won’t deduct the cost of the diapers from your paycheck. Consider it my personal sponsorship.” The coworkers sitting on the outskirts of the group stood up and applauded at these words. “See that? Our supervisor Lydia is so considerate. Tell me, what company supervisor pays out of their own pocket for employees?” “Unlike some people who don’t know how good they have it!” Lydia smugly adjusted her collar, chin held high. “As long as it improves company efficiency, spending a little of my own money is nothing.” “Sophia, I won’t hold it against you for slacking off in the bathroom this time, but don’t let it happen again.” “Now go put on those diapers. Don’t delay everyone’s project progress.” Lydia blocked the bathroom door, forcing me to put on the adult diapers. The familiar cramping and nausea hit me again. I turned and threw up once more. A loud noise startled me. Lydia was holding a megaphone, shouting into the bathroom. “Sophia! You’ve been in the bathroom for three minutes! Are you done yet?” “Do you need me to come in and help you?” The entire floor went silent. Then suppressed laughter erupted. I pushed open the door and walked out. The anger I was suppressing and my physical pain made my whole body tremble. When Lydia saw me come out, she immediately grabbed at my pants. My white underwear was exposed in front of everyone. I was furious and humiliated. “If you want to talk, then talk. What gives you the right to pull at my pants?” Lydia didn’t get angry, but her eyes turned cold. “You didn’t change them? Looks like you’re determined to defy me.” She grabbed a thick stack of archived documents and slammed them down hard next to the copy machine. “Since you don’t want to wear them, stand here and make copies. Don’t talk to me again until you’ve printed all one thousand of these.” “Standing while you work will improve blood circulation and the pain will stop. You can’t possibly expect to lie down on the job, can you?”

The surrounding coworkers chimed in with approval. “This is exactly right. The rest of us are working ourselves to death here. Why should she get to slack off just because she has her period?” They went back and forth, completely forgetting that I was the one who had just been publicly humiliated. Lydia was getting a bit carried away by their praise. She turned to me with a friendly expression. “You finish copying all of these, and you can leave an hour early today. How’s that?” “I’ve already given you special treatment. I’m not mistreating you, am I?” “Show me which other female employee gets this kind of treatment when she has her period.” I looked at the mountain of documents piled up. And laughed. These files would take at least three days to copy, even working non-stop. What special treatment indeed! But right now I didn’t feel like wasting another word on her. I’d gotten too worked up earlier, and the cramping in my abdomen became even more severe. My body felt unbearably uncomfortable now, and cold sweat was pouring out. I gritted my teeth and moved to the copy machine. Mechanically repeating the motions: lift the lid, place paper, press the button. A bone-breaking ache spread through my lower back. The pain in my lower abdomen felt like knives churning, with a heavy pressure constantly pushing downward. Cold sweat soaked through my underwear, and the double vision before my eyes grew worse. Five hours later, I couldn’t hold on anymore and slid into a chair beside the copy machine. “Slacking off again?” Lydia appeared behind me like a ghost. She even reached directly into my pocket and pulled out my phone. “Looks like I can’t control you anymore. Fine! Let your mother teach you what workplace rules mean.” She grabbed my finger and unlocked my phone. Then dialed my mother’s number. The second the call connected, she put it on speaker. “Hello, is this Sophia’s mother? I’m her supervisor at work.” I tried to grab the phone back. But the moment I stood up abruptly, everything went black and I fell back into the chair. “Please educate Sophia better. She fakes being sick at work. Do you know how much work she’s delaying for us?” “Your daughter is really something—using her period as an excuse just to take advantage of the company’s leave policy?” “Does she think we won’t do anything about it?” “They say children learn from their parents. Were you this delicate when you were young too?” In her matter-of-fact tone, there was a perverse pleasure in destroying someone. She kept saying I was delaying company progress. But in reality, I hadn’t delayed any of the work I was responsible for. When I asked for leave, I had already worked overtime to complete my assigned tasks. At the end of the day, wasn’t she just jealous that my salary was a thousand dollars more than hers? If she’s so capable, she should take on assignments from headquarters too! My mother’s labored breathing came through the phone. Lydia wasn’t planning to stop. “The company has decided to fire her. We can’t afford to keep such a delicate princess.” Then came the dull thud of something heavy hitting the floor. “Mom! Mom, don’t listen to her nonsense!” I lunged forward frantically to grab the phone. But Lydia dodged nimbly. The call disconnected. “My mother has a heart condition. Didn’t you hear that she just collapsed?” “I need to go home…” I pushed past Lydia and ran toward the exit, but she blocked me firmly at the door. “Want to leave? Fine, but first sign this agreement voluntarily waiving menstrual leave.” “The two days you take off will be deducted from your pay as personal leave!” She threw several sheets of paper in my face, blocking the only way out. “I won’t sign!” I pushed past her through the pain. Then rushed into the elevator. I called for an ambulance while rushing home. Watching my mother, pale-faced, being wheeled into the emergency room, I sat on the bench with palms full of cold sweat. My phone was vibrating frantically in my pocket—all messages from Lydia. “If you’re not back at the company in five minutes, you’ll be marked as absent without leave.” “Sophia, don’t be ungrateful. Get your ass back here right now and write a self-criticism.”

I stared at those cold words and directly blocked her. Not long after, an unfamiliar number called. It was Rachel Greene, the deputy director of HR. “Sophia, due to your serious violation of company regulations and insubordination to your superior, we are formally notifying you that you have been terminated.” “Don’t even think about any compensation. The company will also pursue damages for losses caused by your absence.” I hung up directly. It wasn’t until half an hour later, when my mother was wheeled out of the emergency room, that my heart finally settled. The doctor said if we’d arrived any later, it would have been too late. The anger that had been building up for so long finally erupted. I dialed the internal hotline for the company’s senior management oversight department. I explained everything that had just happened in detail. And sent over the recordings of Lydia humiliating me, along with all the surveillance footage from above the copy machine. I thought with such solid evidence, I could at least get some justice. But what awaited me was a trap that had been set up long ago. They called me to the conference room. Sitting across from me was Rachel Greene, with Lydia standing behind her, her face unable to hide her smugness. She threw my complaint materials on the table. “You’ve got some nerve, accessing company surveillance directly?” “And these recordings—they were all made without Supervisor Rivers’ permission, weren’t they?” I was stunned. “I just wanted to keep evidence to prove I was being bullied.” Rachel gave a cold laugh. “Evidence? I think you’re trying to steal company secrets and sell them to competitors!” This accusation was too serious. I couldn’t bear it. “I didn’t!” Rachel slammed the table and stood up. “You recorded all this audio and blatantly distributed our company’s surveillance footage. If it’s not to leak information about our company’s internal operations, then what’s it for?” I fell silent for a moment. Because I knew she didn’t want to hear my explanation. She just wanted to pin the crime on me directly. Seeing me say nothing, she had HR post an announcement in the company-wide group chat. [Sophia, for stealing company trade secrets, the company has decided to terminate her employment and will never rehire her.] [The company has reported this to the police. Let this be a warning to everyone.] The group chat exploded instantly. “Oh my God, you never really know people. Sophia is actually this kind of person!” “So scary. And to think we sympathized with her.” “Exactly. I always said she looked sketchy, so disobedient. Turns out she was up to no good all along!” At this moment, my coworkers jumped out one after another to distance themselves from me. They even started rumors to curry favor with Lydia, claiming I was promiscuous and that my cramps were because I’d been sleeping around with men. So I had developed gynecological diseases. Lydia sent me a private message with a laugh. “See that? Idiot! You want to fight me? You’re still too green.” I looked at those vile words on my phone. An indescribable sense of injustice welled up inside me. Just then, the conference room door was pushed open, and two uniformed police officers walked in. “Who is Sophia? Come with us. Someone has reported you for suspected theft of trade secrets.” Lydia was overjoyed and immediately pointed in my direction. “Here, here!” She leaned in close and lowered her voice. “Going to the station looking like this saves me the diaper money after all.” My rationality snapped completely at that moment. I slapped her hard across the face. “You!” But the next second, my wrist was seized by the police officer. The officer’s face was cold. “A young woman doing this kind of thing—don’t you have any shame?” Just as I was being led away, a new message suddenly popped up in the company group chat. It was from the CEO’s secretary. “Attention all members: Mr. Lancaster is arriving at the company shortly. All department heads, please report to the main conference room.” Various smaller group chats went crazy with messages. “Mr. Lancaster?” “That legendary elusive boss of the conglomerate, Adrian Lancaster?” “What’s he doing here?” Lydia immediately perked up. “Officers, please wait a moment. Let this criminal meet our Mr. Lancaster first.” I was pushed to the front row of the conference room. Rachel stood on stage and began her commendation speech. “Everyone, look! This is the evidence!” The video had been maliciously edited, showing only the footage of me arguing with Lydia. Rachel pointed at me on the screen, her voice booming. “This Sophia not only used her period to gain sympathy, but also stole internal company footage with the intent to sell it to competitors!” “I hereby declare that Sophia is immediately terminated, and the company will pursue five million dollars in damages for reputational harm!” Applause broke out across the room, and Lydia was laughing so hard she could barely stand. Five million dollars. What a bold demand! I just wondered if Adrian Lancaster would be willing to pay that amount. Rachel scurried down from the stage. “Mr. Lancaster! Does our handling of this bad apple meet your approval…” Adrian Lancaster didn’t give them even a glance. He walked straight up to me. “I’m sorry I’m late.” Adrian took my ice-cold hand and gripped it tightly, then turned to face everyone and picked up the microphone. His gaze swept over Lydia and Rachel like a blade. “She—Sophia—is my legal wife, Adrian Lancaster’s wife.” “What you just slandered her for, what you forced her to sign an agreement to waive—those are the rights that belong to the wife of the Lancaster Group CEO!” “Menstrual leave is also written into company policy, so does this mean you’re refusing to implement it?”

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I got dumped by my online boyfriend after I finally got accepted into his college. He sent me a picture of my own sister and said: “I’ve fallen for her. I’ll make it up to you.” I laughed. “Well, she can be your main chick and I’ll be your side piece. I just can’t live without you.” He got annoyed. “Silly girl, I cheated on you and I have ED. I’m not good enough for you.” I was just about to tell him the girl in the photo was me. But then he sent me a jaw-droppingly handsome photo. “This is my roommate, the campus heartthrob. His family is rich, he’s never dated, and he’s packing 8 inches. Let me set you up with him, okay?” I swallowed hard. “Fine, but don’t you dare come crawling back to me.” He promised confidently: “Don’t worry. Whoever begs to get back together is a dog.” Later, this usually arrogant, bad-boy type was wearing a leather collar, kneeling at my feet like a dog, crying and begging: “Please, let’s get back together. Or he can be your main guy and I’ll be your side piece. I don’t have ED, I’m a machine in bed.” “Please?” 01 [Babe, let’s break up.] Honestly, this online relationship was more casual than serious for me. But getting a breakup text from Liam out of nowhere still surprised me. I called him to ask why. Liam was very upfront: “I saw a freshman today. She completely fits my aesthetic. It’s like she was custom-made for me.” “I feel like if I can’t be with her, my life will have no meaning.” “So babe, let me go. I’ll compensate you.” I laughed. “You used to say that if you couldn’t be with me, your life would have no meaning.” Liam coughed guiltily. “Guys say all kinds of bullshit when they’re chasing a girl. But this is different. I’m serious about her.” Serious after just seeing her? Yeah, right. Besides, Liam and I had been online dating for a year. He was a high-IQ straight-A student, with sharp, handsome features and slightly upturned eyes that looked like they had hooks in them. He was exactly my favorite type of arrogant bad boy. I wanted to at least taste him before we broke up. I tried to make him stay: “A lot of people say I’m super pretty too. Why don’t you look at me first before you decide?” I opened my photo gallery. “No need. I’ve seen your pictures. I know you’re pretty, but you have that mature, boss-babe vibe. I prefer cute, petite girls.” My photos gave off a boss-babe vibe? “Liam, are you sure? I’m as far from a mature boss-babe as you can get.” Liam sent a photo over. “I lied when I said I didn’t care about looks and never asked for a photo. I actually went through your old profile pictures and saw what you looked like a long time ago.” I looked at the photo he sent. It was a beautiful woman in a black leather jacket, looking incredibly cool, sitting on a motorcycle. I was just about to say that wasn’t me, but my older sister, Chloe. Then Liam sent another photo of me. “Look at my new crush.” “People say you two look a bit alike around the eyes, but your vibes are completely different.” “You’re beautiful and badass, you look cooler than me. If your voice was my type, I actually would have chased you.” “But she’s exactly what I want. Big eyes, small face, and her voice is so sweet. She totally stole my soul.” “Anyway, I’m just showing you her picture to tell you I’m serious. Don’t do anything weird with her photo.” I couldn’t believe Liam liked me this much. I burst out laughing. I decided to mess with him. “Well, she can be your main chick and I’ll be your side piece. I just can’t live without you.” Liam sighed heavily. “Silly girl, I cheated on you and I have ED. I’m not good enough for you.” Liar. He was the captain of the college basketball team, with incredible stamina and crazy long legs. When we talked on the phone, his “solo sessions” lasted at least half an hour. I was just about to tell him the second photo was actually me. When he suddenly sent over a jaw-droppingly handsome photo. “This is my roommate, Cole. The campus heartthrob. His family is rich, he’s never had a girlfriend, and he’s packing 8 inches. Let me set you up with him, okay?” The guy in the photo, Cole, had pale skin, red lips, and a high nose bridge. He was wearing a clean, crisp white button-down shirt. The fingers holding his pen were long and elegant, his nails neatly trimmed. Sitting at a sunlit desk, he looked like a piece of flawless jade. My heart literally skipped a beat. And that skipped beat made me realize something. I didn’t actually have a “favorite type” of handsome guy. I was just thirsty. Besides, I hadn’t met any guys I felt a stronger connection with right now. I might as well try talking to Cole first. But… “Will he really talk to me?” “He will. He and I are best friends. If he doesn’t talk to you, I’ll hold a knife to his neck.” I laughed. “Alright, but don’t you dare come begging for me back.” Liam promised confidently: “Don’t worry, whoever begs to get back together is a dog.” Heh. Did he really think I would beg to get back together? I used to secretly date online because my parents were super strict about my studies. Now that I got accepted into UCLA, my family was fully supportive of me dating. I couldn’t wait to date every hot guy I could find. I would never go back to an ex. “Where are you going to college? I gave your Snapchat to Cole, I’ll tell him to take you out on a date tomorrow.” Before, to surprise Liam, I only told him I was going to college in Los Angeles, but didn’t specify UCLA. But there was no point in hiding it anymore. I was just about to tell him. “Never mind, you guys can figure it out yourselves. I need to go prep for my confession to my little crush tomorrow. Bye.” Liam hung up. Immediately after, I got a friend request from Cole on Snapchat. 02 But I played hard to get and didn’t hit [Accept]. Today was move-in day, and someone took a picture of me and posted it on the campus confession page, making me a minor celebrity. The next day, during freshman orientation, a lot of people came specifically to see me. Among them was Liam. He was holding a massive bouquet of red roses and three highly sought-after Sonny Angel blind boxes, standing right in front of me. He was very direct: “Hi Maya, I’m Liam from the Computer Science department. I’m a junior. I fell in love with you at first sight. Will you be my girlfriend?” I looked up and studied Liam closely. Honestly, he was even better-looking than his photos. The outline of his abs was faintly visible under his black t-shirt, and the muscles and veins on his arms were prominent. He practically oozed sexual tension. The students watching started cheering: “Say yes! Say yes! That’s Liam, the CS god, the face of the school! Usually, it’s girls chasing him to confess!” “I can’t believe I’m seeing the CS god confess his love in my lifetime. He used to stay away from women, always looking so untouchable. I used to think he was wasting his good looks.” The Liam who talked dirty to me online had absolutely nothing to do with “untouchable.” I was amused by the comments from the crowd. Liam mistook my smile for approval. He flashed a confident, winning smile. “Sorry, I don’t want to be your girlfriend.” Liam’s smile froze on his face. The cheering crowd also went silent. The atmosphere was incredibly awkward. “Why?” Because last night you broke up with me and introduced me to your roommate. But I wasn’t going to say that. I was waiting for him to figure it out himself. When we first met in an online game, he liked my sweet voice, and I liked his handsome face. To spend more time with him, I pretended to be a bad student and constantly bugged him to tutor me. He was incredibly patient, not only teaching me but also frequently sending me money on Venmo. Total boyfriend material. But I didn’t expect him to change his mind and break up right when we were about to meet in person. Seeing as he didn’t seem too deeply invested in me, I wouldn’t label him a total jerk. “I already have someone I’m interested in.” “So you’re not dating yet? Then give me a chance to pursue you, okay? I promise I’ll treat you better than that guy.” “No thanks, I’m not interested in you.” Liam looked incredibly awkward. There were gasps of disbelief from the crowd. “But I have to have you. I’m not giving up. Just take these gifts for now.” Those Sonny Angels were really cute. But I didn’t want to get tangled up with Liam. I shook my head and refused. Liam tried to force me to take them: “If you don’t take them, I’m throwing them in the trash.” “Then throw them away.” I don’t know if Liam threw them away or not. I linked arms with my roommate, Chloe, and walked away without looking back. Chloe: “You’re so bold, rejecting Liam in front of everyone.” “It’s fine. It’s a good way to use him to warn off other guys who want to confess to me, so I don’t have guys bothering me every day.” “That’s true. I saw a lot of guys on the confession page saying they wanted to come find you.” Speaking of that, I remembered Cole. I accepted his friend request and agreed to have dinner with him. 03 At the restaurant. Cole was sitting by the window. Seeing me sit down across from him, his eyes lit up, then he looked stunned. I smiled at him: “I’m the girlfriend Liam set you up with, Babe.” “Are you wondering why I look different from my photo?” Cole hummed a “yeah,” his voice deep and pleasant. Seeing me staring straight at him, his ears suddenly turned bright red. He drank some water to hide his shyness and nervousness. I was surprised. And a bit conflicted. I didn’t expect to find such an innocent guy these days. I kind of didn’t want to date him anymore. After all, I was in it for a good time, not a serious commitment. But he was really hot. And his lips were red and soft—they looked very kissable. Sigh. I’ll let him choose for himself. “So, do you want to date me, or do you want to date the girl in the photo?” “If it’s the girl in the photo, I can introduce you.” “You.” Cole didn’t hesitate. Well, you can’t blame me then. After all, he might not be that serious about me either. Or, like Liam, he might be serious for a while and then change his mind. So whatever, let’s just enjoy the moment. “Liam said you’re 8 inches, is that true?” “I’m not talking about your shoe size.” I asked bluntly. Cole froze completely. His face turned beet red. He couldn’t speak for a good while. I frowned: “You don’t? If you don’t, then we can’t date.” Cole looked around, then whispered: “I do.” “Can I see?” “R-right now?” “No, wait until we finish eating.” Cole nodded, the blush on his face deepening. He handed me the menu. Seeing it was my first time there, he carefully recommended the restaurant’s specialties. Halfway through the meal, Liam called Cole. The volume was pretty loud, so I heard everything. Liam: “Did you meet Babe?” Cole: “Yeah.” “I didn’t lie, did I? She’s gorgeous, right?” “Yeah.” “Then treat her well, and try to spend all your free time with her. Don’t give her time to think about me. That Maya girl is harder to chase than I thought. I need to focus on figuring out how to win her over, I don’t have the energy to deal with Babe.” “Yeah.” “Thanks, man. You being my friend is a real blessing. I’ll treat you to a big dinner tomorrow.” “No need, I’m eating right now. Hanging up.” “Okay.” Cole put down his phone. I suddenly remembered something: “Do you know my name?” Cole paused for a few seconds: “No.” “My name is…” “Sorry.” Cole suddenly interrupted me. “I need to use the restroom.” Cole walked away pretty quickly after saying that. Like he really couldn’t hold it. I kept eating, and when Cole came back, I forgot to tell him my name. After leaving the restaurant, Cole proactively offered to get a hotel room. Me!! 04 Did I misjudge him? He’s actually that open-minded! Cole seemed to read my thoughts and hurriedly explained: “Don’t misunderstand, I’m not doing this to sleep with you.” “You can inspect the goods first. I didn’t lie to you. I want you to feel secure being my girlfriend.” Oh, I see. But I hadn’t seen that kind of thing before. To suddenly go look at it, it felt super awkward. “Why don’t we wait a few days? Getting a hotel room just to look at it seems like a waste of money.” “It’s only a waste if it doesn’t make you feel secure. Besides, I have plenty of money.” Cole was very insistent. I felt like he was a bit too innocent for his own good. And also incredibly eager to be accommodating. I agreed. Afterward. A blushing Cole looked at a blushing me. “I’m very traditional.” “I showed you my most important thing. If anything happens between us in the future, you can’t break up with me.” My mind was completely occupied with wondering how… Would it really feel that good to use… I didn’t catch a word Cole was saying, just mumbled an “okay.” Cole was thrilled and took me back to campus. As we neared my dorm building, I saw a couple making out in the distance. I stopped and asked Cole: “Can I kiss you?” “Yes.” Cole, ears red, cupped my face and gently kissed my lips. Then quickly pulled away. He seemed very nervous. His fingers were trembling slightly. He looked absolutely adorable. And his lips were so sweet and soft. Just a light touch like that wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy my craving. “Can you kiss me longer? Kiss me harder?” “I’ll try. This is my first time kissing someone. If I hurt you, let me know.” “Mhm.” Cole leaned down and kissed me again. It was better this time. But he didn’t use tongue. Just as I was about to pry his teeth open. Liam’s shocked voice came from behind us. “Cole! Babe?” Cole and I both froze. Cole pulled me into his arms, burying my face in his chest. His hand stroked my face, seemingly trying to hide my identity. But I didn’t have time to think about that. My thoughts were entirely consumed by the frantic pounding of his heart. If his heart raced this fast just from a kiss. Then what if… My mind was swimming in dirty thoughts. Liam walked over step by step, sounding happy: “You brought Babe to visit campus!” Ugh. It seemed Liam had no idea that I, the “scumbag,” was studying here. Cole’s voice was cool: “Why are you here?” “I came to drop something off for Maya.” “Congratulations, you guys got together so fast.” Cole gave a very faint “mhm”. Liam looked at my back and smiled: “Babe, you’ve been hiding in Cole’s arms this whole time. Are you embarrassed I caught you kissing? Aren’t you going to say hi?” I wasn’t embarrassed at all. And I did want to say hi. So I turned around with a wicked grin and flashed Liam a smile. 05 But Liam ran towards my roommate, Chloe. Leaving me with only his tall back. The autumn mosquitoes were numerous and vicious. They bit my bare calves below my skirt, making them itchy and painful. I bent down to scratch my leg. Cole asked: “Did a mosquito bite you?” “Yeah.” “Then you should go upstairs. Liam looks busy and probably won’t have time for us. I’ll tell him later.” I thought he had a point. “Alright then, see you tomorrow.” I walked towards my dorm building. I vaguely heard Cole let out a long sigh of relief. Looking back. He was already walking towards Liam. Not long after I got back to my dorm. I received a friend request from Liam on my burner WeChat account that I used to talk to classmates. The contact was shared via a business card. I guessed Chloe gave it to him. And I was right. As soon as Chloe got back to the dorm, she told me: “That Liam is really going all out to pursue you.” “To get you to accept his gifts, he bought sunscreen, whitening masks, and perfume for everyone in our dorm, plus a ton of snacks, and even bought Pepto-Bismol, saying he was afraid we’d get heatstroke during orientation.” “He was also worried you wouldn’t accept them, so he wanted me to lie and say my family sent them.” “I didn’t want to do it, but he kept begging me. I had no choice, so I gave him your WeChat. You won’t blame me, right?” I smiled: “It’s fine. It would be silly not to accept the stuff, but I haven’t accepted his friend request.” “That’s good. Honestly, Liam is handsome and generous. You’d definitely be happy with him.” “…” Liam really knows how to buy people’s loyalty. I haven’t even accepted his gifts yet, and my roommate is already speaking up for him. Liam called me. “You’re back at school?” “…Yeah.” “I just happened to run into my goddess’s roommate earlier. Next time you come, I’ll show you around properly.” Liam sounded genuine and happy. I deliberately confessed. “I actually go to UCLA.” Liam let out a scoffing laugh. “Can you stop making me laugh? With your grades, you got into UCLA?” “Or are you just blaming me for breaking up with you and trying to mess with me?” “I’m telling you, seriously, don’t do this. Cole is a thousand times better than me. You should just be with him.” I swear, whatever. Let him be a clown if he wants. Besides, speaking of Cole, I had some NSFW topics to discuss. I walked to the balcony and closed the door. “Can you teach Cole a thing or two? I feel like he’s too innocent.” “What do you mean?” “When I talk to him, he blushes. When we walk, he doesn’t even know to hold my hand. When we kiss, he wants me to make the first move, and he doesn’t even know how to use tongue.” Liam laughed: “He’s never had a girlfriend. Isn’t it normal that he doesn’t know these things? What, do you want me to find some porn for him to watch?” That would be great for me. I happily said: “Yes, yes.” Liam was silent for a moment, his voice sounding a bit disappointed: “Why does it feel like you’re not sad at all after we broke up?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “407061”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My wife Rachel had just given birth not long ago, and she was rushing off to the gym. “I ruined my body giving you a child, and you won’t even let me go to the gym?” Ignoring my attempts to stop her, Rachel slammed the door and left. I was only worried about her being weak after just giving birth. I knew Rachel was a fitness fanatic, but I couldn’t just let her do whatever she wanted right after delivery. As it happened, I had business to discuss with the gym owner, so I could drop by and check on her. Who would have thought I’d see Rachel through the window, dressed provocatively and nestled in some young man’s arms. “I’ve missed you so much these past few months.” “You just gave birth and you’re already here to see me. Does your husband know?” “So what if he knows? I told him I’m here to work out. He has no idea. Let’s keep going with our session.” The two were in an intimate position, their movements full of desire. With a cold expression, I dialed Rachel’s number. The phone rang for a long time before she answered. I stood outside the gym’s floor-to-ceiling windows, watching Rachel lean into that young trainer’s embrace, laughing happily. One of his hands wrapped around her waist, while the other roamed inappropriately over her post-pregnancy belly that hadn’t yet recovered. “Scott, I’ve missed you so much these past few months.” “Rachel, you just gave birth and you’re already here to see me. Does your husband really know?” “So what if he knows? I told him I’m here to work out. He doesn’t know I came to see you.” The two acted as if no one else existed. She wore a sports bra and tight yoga pants, practically draping her entire body over him. Yet just a month ago, she had been holding my hand in the delivery room, saying childbirth was too hard and painful. This was my eighth time calling. She finally pulled out her phone from her bag, glanced at it, and frowned impatiently. The trainer reached out to decline the call for her, but she stopped him. “Don’t. It’s him.” “Your husband?” He sneered. “Great timing. What a buzzkill.” She raised her index finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, then answered the call, her voice instantly switching to sweet and soft mode. “Hey, did you miss me?” I stared at her familiar face through the glass window, my throat tightening as I asked. “Where are you?” “At the gym, silly. I told you I had an extra session today.” As she spoke, she traced circles on Scott’s chest with her finger. “I was so into my workout, I didn’t hear the phone.” “Are you alone?” “The gym’s pretty empty today, but a female trainer is with me. Don’t worry.” She gestured toward empty air as if indicating a female trainer. Scott stifled his laughter and leaned in to kiss her earlobe. “Oh, the trainer’s calling me. I missed so much because of the pregnancy, I need to make up for it today. Gotta go. Love you!” Before I could respond, the line went dead. Then I watched as the second she hung up, she turned around, hooked her arms around Scott’s neck, and they kissed passionately. Her hands threaded through his hair, his palms slipped under her sports bra. I headed straight for the gym entrance. “Oh my! Mr. Gonzalez! We’ve been waiting for you!” The gym owner, Guillermo, rushed out to greet me, enthusiastically grabbing my hand. “For someone of your stature to visit our humble establishment—it’s truly an honor!” I had to stop in my tracks as Guillermo launched into a monologue about their business philosophy, membership growth rates, and equipment upgrade plans. But I didn’t hear a single word. My gaze remained fixed over his shoulder on those two people through the glass. Guillermo finally noticed something was wrong with my expression and followed my line of sight. His smile froze on his face. Guillermo coughed awkwardly. “Mr. Gonzalez, please excuse this. Our gym has strict policies—we absolutely prohibit inappropriate relationships between trainers and clients. Please wait a moment, I’ll handle this right away.” He strode into the gym. Even through the glass, I could hear him shouting. “What are you two doing?! Put your clothes back on!” The two jumped apart in a panic, scrambling to separate. When Guillermo got closer and saw who they were, his anger flared even more. “You two again? Didn’t I just warn you last week?” Scott sheepishly straightened his clothes while Rachel kept her head down, adjusting her bra straps. Guillermo spoke in a low voice. “Both of you better behave. There’s a big shot coming to inspect today. If you mess up this investment, you’re both fired.” Scott froze. “Big shot—is it that investor you always mention, Mr. Gonzalez?” Guillermo nodded. “Yes, he’s right outside.” Scott became excited, grabbing Rachel’s hand. “Let us meet him! This is such a rare opportunity—we want to broaden our horizons too!”

After Guillermo went inside, I walked to the street corner and lit a cigarette. The passionate scene kept replaying in my mind. I felt dizzy. Behind me, I heard the gym door open. “Where is this big shot?” Guillermo sounded confused. “He was just out here. How did he leave so quickly?” I didn’t turn around, standing under the tree with my back to them. I heard Rachel’s voice. “Oh no, did he leave? That’s such a shame.” As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly cried out. “Ah!” The sound cut off abruptly. I heard the gym door open and close again. Scott asked, puzzled. “What’s wrong with you?” “It’s nothing! Don’t ask!” Scott laughed. “You couldn’t possibly think that guy smoking with his back to us is your husband, could you? That’s ridiculous. Didn’t you say your husband’s just a broke loser? Look at that guy’s back carefully—look at what he’s wearing. There’s no way that’s him.” I exhaled a puff of smoke, just listening to them talk. “If it really were your husband, he would’ve rushed in to catch us. Would he just stand there smoking? What kind of nerves would that take?” Rachel breathed a sigh of relief, her voice returning to normal. “You’re right. He’s probably at home taking care of the baby right now.” “Exactly.” Scott lowered his voice, but I could still hear him clearly. “Your husband probably has no idea to this day that the precious baby he’s taking care of so diligently at home is actually ours.” The two of them laughed. I crushed the cigarette in my hand. Guillermo didn’t laugh. He stood at the door looking at these two people, his eyes full of contempt. “Can you two have some shame? Her husband’s at home taking care of the baby, and you’re here messing around with someone else. Have you no conscience?” Rachel pursed her lips without responding. Guillermo shook his head. “I don’t know which poor bastard married you and is raising another man’s kid.” I turned my back to them, tossed the crushed cigarette into the trash, and drove away. Guillermo didn’t know that poor bastard was standing ten meters in front of him. “Alright, alright, get back inside. You two scared the boss away.” “So he left. Big deal.” Scott put his arm around Rachel as they walked back inside. “It’s not that important anyway.” The two chatted and laughed as they returned to the gym. Guillermo stood at the door sighing, looking around trying to find me. I didn’t give him the chance. I turned and left. When I got home, the baby was sleeping soundly in the cradle. I looked at that little face, remembering Scott’s words—that the child I was caring for at home was actually theirs. I’d been raising this couple’s bastard child for a month. Then I pulled out my phone and called my mother. “Mom.” “What’s wrong? You don’t sound good. Isn’t Rachel with you?” “No, she’s at the gym right now.” “How can she go to the gym right after giving birth? She’s not taking care of her body at all. That’s not acceptable.” I gathered my courage. “Mom, forget about that. She’s been cheating on me. I’m getting a divorce.” My mother sighed. Her voice didn’t sound too surprised. “Gonzalez, I always thought Rachel’s character was questionable. Looking back, having you hide your identity was the right call. Otherwise, if she’d come after you for money, it would be even more troublesome.” “I know. I’ve got it figured out.” “Gonzalez, how do you want to handle this?” I suddenly smiled. “Let me handle it myself. I’ll make that cheating couple pay the price. This definitely won’t end like this.”

On the way back, I called a top lawyer and explained the situation. He asked me. “Mr. Gonzalez, I understand the situation. How would you like to proceed?” “I want her to leave with nothing. Not a single penny. That’s the baseline.” “Evidence is key.” That night I contacted the best private investigation team in the city. Money wasn’t an issue—the issue was speed and accuracy. Three days later, a file folder landed on my office desk. The photos were comprehensive: intertwined figures in gym corners, kissing profiles in underground parking garages, even records of them entering and leaving hotels. Turns out they were college sweethearts who broke up after graduation and married other people. Who knew that after Rachel married me, she’d run into him again at this very gym. The investigation report stated: Scott, unmarried fitness trainer, specializing in servicing high-end female clients. Rachel contacted him on the third day after giving birth and met him for the first time on the fifth day. I laughed coldly. The baby was still nursing, and she was already in another man’s bed. Of course, the child wasn’t mine either. That evening, Rachel came home with an abnormal flush on her face, satisfaction written in the corners of her eyes and brows. I could tell at a glance—that was what she looked like after having sex with someone else. But I had no interest in exposing her yet. She used to give me a hug every time she came home. Back then, I felt sweetness in my heart. Now as she opened her arms to rush toward me, I stepped aside and casually picked up a cup from the coffee table. She froze for a moment and asked. “Gonzalez, you didn’t come to the gym looking for me today, did you?” “No.” I lowered my head to drink water, my voice calm. “Why? Is something wrong?” She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Nothing, I was just worried you missed me too much.” She headed toward the bedroom. “I’m going to nurse the baby. Oh, by the way, there’s a college reunion tomorrow. Will you come with me?” I looked up at her expectant eyes. Only one thought crossed my mind: I’ll play along. “Sure, let’s go together.” The next evening, Rachel fussed in front of the mirror for two hours. She wore a tight dress, put on elaborate makeup, and changed her jewelry several times. I leaned against the doorframe watching her, remembering how in all our years of marriage, she never dressed up when going out with me. She was always bare-faced. Turns out it wasn’t that she didn’t care about beauty—I just wasn’t worth beautifying herself for. “Let’s go.” She picked up her bag and took my arm. The reunion was at an upscale restaurant downtown. The private room was large, with a round table seating a dozen or so people. The moment I walked in, I saw the person sitting in the seat of honor—Scott. Today he was dressed up in a shirt, looking presentable as he chatted and laughed with the people next to him. When he saw us enter, his eyes swept over me, then landed on Rachel’s face with a smile. I understood instantly. Sneaking around behind people’s backs wasn’t enough—they wanted to use this reunion to humiliate me in front of everyone. Rachel let go of my arm and practically skipped over, plopping down in the empty seat next to Scott. I moved to sit beside her, but just as I took a step, Scott raised his hand to stop me. “Sorry about this, Gonzalez, but this seat’s reserved.” He deliberately put on an apologetic expression and pointed to the last seat. “You sit over there. The view’s better from that end.” The room fell silent for a moment. Someone started snickering. Rachel kept her head down, fiddling with her phone, pretending not to hear. I looked at that last seat, then at this cheating couple, and then I smiled too. “Fine, no problem. A seat’s a seat.” I walked to the last seat, sat down, and poured myself some tea. Alright then, let’s play this game.

The banquet began. Inside the private room, glasses clinked as Scott sat in the seat of honor, acting like the host, greeting everyone to eat and drink. I sat at the far end, calmly picking at my food, just watching them perform. After a few rounds of drinks, Scott finally steered the conversation to me. “Gonzalez, I never got a chance to ask—where are you working these days?” The room fell quiet. A dozen pairs of eyes turned toward me. I set down my utensils and smiled sheepishly. “Working is too generous a word. I just do odd jobs here and there. Don’t make much money. Basically unemployed.” As soon as I finished speaking, whispers filled the room. “No way? Rachel was the beauty queen of our department. How did she end up marrying an unemployed guy?” “That’s so tragic. How does Rachel even get by?” “What do you know? She and Scott were the perfect couple back then—handsome guy, beautiful girl, such a perfect match. Who knows what Rachel was thinking back then. She must have been blind.” I heard these comments but kept a humble smile on my face. Scott beamed with joy, raising his glass toward me. “Gonzalez has such a good attitude. Come on, a toast to you.” Rachel, sitting beside him, never said a single word in my defense. Not only that, but she picked up her knife and fork and attentively served food to Scott, doing it so naturally and skillfully. Scott ate with his head down, occasionally looking up at me, his eyes practically overflowing with provocation. I raised my teacup, took a sip, and continued watching them perform. After a while, Rachel suddenly stood up with a smile. “This meal’s on me. Everyone eat your fill—after all, it’s rare for all us classmates to gather like this.” Everyone cheered about how generous Rachel was. She turned to look at me, her tone matter-of-fact. “Gonzalez, go pay the bill in a bit.” I looked at her smiling face and suddenly laughed. “Sure, I’ll pay.” I stood up and headed out. As soon as I closed the door to the private room, I heard Scott’s triumphant laughter inside. “See that? I told you he’s a pathetic loser! Does whatever you tell him to!” Rachel’s voice came through, with a hint of mock reproach. “Keep your voice down. What if he hears?” Scott laughed even louder. “So what if he hears? Does he dare come in and hit me? With that pathetic look of his, even if you gave him ten times the courage!” I didn’t keep listening. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “You can start now.” The person on the other end acknowledged. I stood in the hallway and lit a cigarette. I’d barely taken a puff when screams erupted from inside the room. I pushed the door open to see the massive TV wall in the private room playing photos on a loop. Intertwined figures in gym corners, kissing profiles in underground parking garages, backs embracing as they entered hotel doors. Every single one in high definition, every single one clear enough to see both people’s faces. Rachel rushed to the TV like a madwoman, futilely trying to cover the screen with her hands. “Turn it off!” The door to the private room stood wide open. Guests from other rooms came over at the commotion. Some pulled out phones to take pictures, others excitedly shouted how exciting this was. Scott’s face had gone white. In his fury, he rushed over to grab my collar. “You did this, you pathetic loser! I’m going to kill you today!” His hand never touched me. Another hand grabbed his wrist. Guillermo appeared at the door out of nowhere, gripping Scott’s hand tightly. “Scott, behave yourself! You’re in serious trouble.” Scott was stunned. “Boss, what are you doing here?” Guillermo ignored him, turning to face me with an ingratiating expression. “Mr. Gonzalez, what a coincidence running into you here for dinner. I really had no idea you were Rachel’s husband. I apologize for any previous offenses—please don’t take it to heart. About that investment we discussed…” I didn’t respond. Behind me came Rachel’s trembling voice. “What investment? You’re that investor?” I didn’t answer Rachel’s question. I simply walked to the seat of honor, the chair that had belonged to Scott, and sat down. Guillermo immediately followed, bending over to pour me tea. “Mr. Gonzalez, have some tea. Calm down.” The entire room fell silent.

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I was standing at the finance desk, trying to file my travel expenses, when the accountant literally shoved my paperwork back in my face. “New company policy,” she snapped. “Lodging is capped at $50 a night. Food is $10 a day. You’re way over budget!” “Linda, are you serious? I was in Manhattan,” I replied, staring at her in disbelief. “Even a flea-ridden motel in Queens costs $200. You want me to sleep under the Brooklyn Bridge for fifty bucks?” “Not my problem. Talk to the CEO. He set the rules.” I looked down at the $7,000 worth of receipts in my hand. I’d spent six months’ worth of savings and maxed out my credit cards just to keep the project moving. If they didn’t reimburse me, I wouldn’t even be able to afford rent, let alone groceries. Thinking about everything I’d done for this firm, I walked into the CEO’s office, expecting him to be reasonable. Instead, he didn’t even look up from his desk. “Policy is policy. My hands are tied.” 01 I had just closed a multi-million dollar contract for the company after months of grueling travel. Now that the work was done, they were refusing to pay the bills. Earlier that month, I’d tried to catch the accountant during a brief trip back to the office. She’d shut me down instantly. “Reimbursements are processed only during the last week of the month.” The problem? During the last week of every month, I was required to be on-site with the client for the project wrap-up. How was I supposed to be in two places at once? I had to fly back early this week just to get the paperwork in, only to be told my lodging and food were “excessive.” Linda, the accountant, sat there with a stone face. She had one mantra: “If the boss signs it, I’ll pay it.” I took the forms to the CEO, Mr. Sterling, and tried to explain. “Mr. Sterling, you can’t find a room for $50 in New York. It’s impossible.” “Did you even try?” he countered. “Or did you just go straight for the Hilton?” “I stayed at a Red Roof Inn forty minutes away for $150. That was the cheap option. Look it up online if you don’t believe me.” He sneered and pulled out his phone. After a few minutes of aggressive scrolling, he found a listing for a hostel in a dangerous part of the Bronx. A bunk bed in a room with twelve strangers for $45. “See? There’s a spot. Want me to book it for your next trip?” “That’s a hostel, sir. Twelve people in one room! I’m working late nights. How am I supposed to protect the company laptop or my own gear in a place like that?” He rolled his eyes and kept scrolling until he found a budget motel in the far reaches of New Jersey. “Look, $55. Just take the bus.” “The client is in midtown. The commute would be three hours each way.” “Then get up earlier,” he snapped. I bit my tongue to keep from cursing him out. “And the $10 food allowance? A deli sandwich in the city is fifteen bucks.” “Look, Leo,” Sterling said, leaning back. “If you weren’t traveling, wouldn’t you be paying for your own dinner anyway? Why should the company foot the bill just because you’re in a different zip code? Giving you ten bucks is a luxury. That’s a couple of McDoubles from the dollar menu. Be grateful.” I was speechless. The company expected me to take a Greyhound bus, sleep in a bunk bed, and eat off the dollar menu while I was closing seven-figure deals. Looking at his smug face, I knew he wasn’t going to budge on the rates. Fine. I’d take the hit. Based on the “official” rates, they still owed me about $5,000. I needed that cash just to survive. But I never imagined that even after I agreed to take the loss, they still wouldn’t give me the money. 02 I went back to my desk, adjusted the totals to match their ridiculous caps, and walked back to the finance window. “Alright, Linda. Just process it at the $50 cap for lodging and $10 for food.” She took the forms, glanced at them for two seconds, and tossed them back. “Can’t do it.” “Why not? I’m following the policy now!” “The receipts don’t match the requested amount.” “Of course they don’t! The receipts are for the actual prices, which are higher. I’m asking for less than what I spent. Any auditor would be fine with that.” “The IRS might be, but the boss isn’t. He requires the receipt amount to be identical to the reimbursement claim.” The blood started to boil in my veins. “Linda, I’ve been fronting the company money for a year. I’ve put five grand of my own money into this business. I’m literally letting you keep a portion of it just so I can get the rest back. Can we please just get this done?” “Talk to the boss, Leo. Get his signature, and I’ll cut the check.” I walked back into Sterling’s office. “The accountant says I need your signature because the receipt amounts are higher than the claim.” Sterling took the paper, saw that the company was “saving” over a thousand dollars, and suddenly he was all smiles. “See, Leo? This is how a big company stays afloat. It’s about the system. I’ll make an exception and sign this for you just this once. Don’t let it happen again.” He scribbled his name. He was stealing over a grand from me; of course he was happy to sign. I ran back to finance. I handed over the signed paper. Linda tossed it back again. “Can’t do it.” I felt like my head was going to explode. 03 “What now?” I hissed. “Company policy states reimbursements are capped at $500 per month. You’ll have to split this into ten separate monthly claims. Go back, re-date them, and bring them back.” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my hands from shaking. “Linda… why couldn’t you tell me all of this the first time?” “The handbook is on the company portal. If you don’t read it, that’s on you.” I looked at the wall. Sure enough, there was a tiny, faded print-out of a “memo” from last month. Who the hell checks the finance wall for updates every day? I lost it. My voice rose until the whole office could hear. “This is money I paid for the company. This is a debt the company owes me! It’s not a bonus or a salary. Why the hell am I being paid back in installments? Are you going to pay me interest?” Linda just gave me that same robotic stare. “It’s the boss’s rule. Get his signature, and I’ll pay it all.” Back to Sterling. Again. “Sir, finance says there’s a $500 monthly cap?” “That’s right. Cash flow management, Leo.” “I’ve been traveling non-stop. I have five thousand dollars in expenses. At this rate, I’ll never be fully paid back because I’m still spending money on the next trips! I’m effectively paying the company to work here!” Sterling didn’t even look up. “Leo, rules are rules. You didn’t file them on time, that’s your problem. I told you, I made one exception today. I’m not making another. Get out.” “I couldn’t file on time because I was on-site for the projects you assigned me!” “You could have mailed the receipts in.” “I did! And Linda sent them back because I didn’t ‘tape them horizontally’ to the paper! They sat in her inbox for three months!” “Then you should have taped them horizontally. It’s about attention to detail, Leo. Maybe that’s why you’re struggling.” He was gaslighting me. He had a million excuses, and every single one ended with me losing money. 04 I left his office fuming. I had no choice. I filed for the first $500. I had credit card bills due and I needed to eat. I was broke because I was subsidizing a millionaire. Finally, on my fourth trip to the window, Linda took the paperwork. “This looks correct. See? You can follow the rules when you try.” I wanted to reach through the glass and strangle her. “When do I get the money?” “It’ll be direct-deposited with your next paycheck.” Next month’s paycheck? That was three weeks away. My rent was due in three days. My bank account was already in the red. “Can I get an advance? I’m literally out of money.” “Standard procedure, Leo. We have to verify the receipts, enter them into the ledger… these things take time.” Standard procedure. The “procedure” designed to screw over the little guy. “Linda, can I at least get an advance on my salary? I can’t afford groceries.” “Get the boss’s signature.” I went back to Sterling. One last time. He actually smiled this time. “Leo, you know that advancing a salary has a financial cost to the company. That money could be sitting in our high-yield account earning interest. But, since I’m a nice guy and I don’t want you to starve… I’ll approve a $500 advance. But we have to account for the lost interest. We’ll take a 5% ‘convenience fee’ out of it. You’ll get $475.” The man knew all about “financial costs” when it was his money, but when he was sitting on five grand of my money for a year, he didn’t mention interest once. I had to take it. I bit my lip and said the hardest words I’ve ever spoken: “Thank you, sir.” “Don’t mention it. Now get back to work. Show some loyalty to the firm.” Loyalty? Oh, he was going to get exactly what he deserved. 05 The next morning, my client in NYC, Mr. Thompson, called me. “Leo, where are you? The project wrap-up meeting is this afternoon.” “Sorry, Mr. Thompson. Company policy requires me to be in the home office for reimbursement processing. I couldn’t make it back to the city. Maybe you should call my boss and ask him to send someone else?” Thompson lost it. “Reimbursement? Are you kidding me? You’re missing a milestone meeting over paperwork? We’re a week away from the final sign-off! Everyone is pulling overtime, and you’re at your home office filing receipts?” “I’m sorry, sir. I haven’t been paid back for six months. I literally don’t have the money for a bus ticket, and I have nowhere to stay.” “I’m calling your boss right now. We’ll see what’s more important—your receipts or this ten-million-dollar contract.” The second phase of Thompson’s project was worth ten million. Sterling wouldn’t dare piss him off. Three minutes later, Sterling came sprinting into my office, screaming. “The project is at the finish line! Why aren’t you on a plane to New York?” “I’d love to go, sir. But I’m broke.” “I just gave you a $500 advance!” “Actually, it was $475. And it went straight to my credit card company to avoid a late fee. I can’t afford a ticket, I can’t afford a hotel, and I certainly can’t afford to eat.” Sterling froze. Then he glared at me. “Are you trying to lose your performance bonus?” “Sir, if I go to New York, I might finish the project, but I’ll be homeless by the time the bonus check clears. I can’t even afford the subway. Maybe I should just take out a payday loan?” “Don’t be dramatic. Just borrow some money.” “You charged me 5% for a three-week advance, sir. If I take a payday loan to cover company expenses, I’ll be working for free. My salary doesn’t cover that kind of interest.” Sterling realized I wasn’t backing down. “Go to finance. Get a $1,000 advance. Go. Now.” “Is there a 5% fee? Because if there is, I can’t afford it.” Sterling choked on his words. “No fee! It’s a travel advance!” I got the signature. Sterling growled, “Don’t let this happen again, Leo. Work comes first. Don’t let a few dollars ruin a project.” A few dollars? Rich, coming from a guy who wouldn’t pay for a sandwich. But I got the cash. I went to the window, Linda processed it instantly, and the money hit my account. I went back to my office, kicked my feet up, and started playing games on my phone. I wasn’t going to New York yet. 06 An hour later, Sterling walked past and saw me still sitting there. He burst in, purple with rage. “Miller! Why are you still here? The meeting is in four hours!” “Well, the thousand dollars went to my other credit card, sir. I still can’t afford the ticket.” Sterling’s face went from purple to bright red. “You’re doing this on purpose!” “The company rules say I have to be here to file. I’m just following the system, sir. My accounts are a mess because of the delays. I’m truly helpless.” His phone rang again. It was Thompson. I could hear him screaming through the receiver from across the room. He told Sterling if I wasn’t there by the afternoon, the Phase 2 contract was going to a competitor. “Do you want this ten-million-dollar deal or not?” Thompson yelled. Sterling hung up, gritting his teeth. “Is your credit card paid off now?” “Still owe about another five grand.” “Fine! Go to finance. Get $10,000. Buy a last-minute flight. Just get there!” He paused. “Actually, forget Linda. I’ll have my assistant book your flight. Go get the cash.” He was desperate. Usually, he forced me to take the six-hour bus ride. Now, he was paying for a last-minute flight—probably $1,200—and his assistant was doing the work. I took the $10k advance. Linda looked at me like I was a bank robber. “Two days and you’ve taken twenty thousand from the company?” “Linda, the company owed me five. This is just a down payment on my loyalty. Technically, I’m still the one getting screwed.” The assistant booked the flight. Sterling even had his private driver take me to the airport. I finally got a taste of the CEO life. But I knew my time here was over. Once this project was signed, Sterling would find a way to fire me. He was only paying me now because he needed the milestone. My 5% commission on the deal—about $200,000—was as good as gone if I stayed. Luckily, I had a plan. 07 Phase 1 was a success. The client was happy. The $4 million final payment for Phase 1 hit the company’s bank account. Predictably, Sterling started the “burn” phase. He handed Phase 2 over to another manager, a corporate suck-up named Sarah, and stopped giving me new assignments. I was being sidelined. He was waiting for me to quit so he wouldn’t have to pay my commission. I didn’t wait. When the monthly pay stub came and my commission was missing, I went straight to Linda. “Where’s my $200,000 commission for the Thompson deal?” Linda didn’t even look up. “If the boss didn’t approve it, it doesn’t exist.” “He signed the contract! It was in my offer letter!” “Talk to him. If he signs a check, I’ll send it.” I felt like I was talking to an AI bot. As I turned to leave, she added, “By the way, the boss put a hold on your remaining expense reimbursements. Don’t bother asking why.” So, he was stealing my commission and the rest of my expenses. Cold. 08 I walked into Sterling’s office. “Linda says you didn’t approve my commission?” “That’s right,” he said, not even bothering to hide his smugness now that the money was in the bank. “We had an agreement. $200,000.” “Well, Leo, after auditing the project, we found it wasn’t as profitable as we hoped. Plus, you missed several ‘internal’ deadlines while you were ‘busy’ in New York. We’ve decided to cancel the commission.” “Not profitable? The client just paid four million in cash!” “Overhead, Leo. Overhead. In fact, the company barely broke even. There’s no money for bonuses. For anyone. Meeting adjourned.” He was trying to bait me. He wanted me to blow up and walk out so he could claim I abandoned my job. “Fine,” I said calmly. “I’ll wait for the audit to finish.” He looked surprised. He expected a fight. He wanted to enjoy the moment he broke me. But I didn’t give it to him. I went back to my office and went back to my games. I had everything I needed.

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Before my best friend Joel’s wedding, I gave him a box of intimate toys as a gift. He laughed and asked me, “Aren’t you worried the bride won’t be able to handle it tonight?” My girlfriend Kelly stood nearby, forcing an awkward smile. After Joel left, Kelly confessed to me: “Actually, the one marrying him today is me.” Seeing my stunned expression, she quickly explained with a smile, “Don’t worry, it’s just a fake marriage. I’ll explain everything after the ceremony.” Later, I stood in the groomsman’s position, watching the two people I loved most exchange rings. I’m letting you go, but there’s no longer a place for either of you in my world. I’d imagined countless endings for Kelly and me, but never this one. After she completed the wedding ceremony, with kiss marks still visible on her collarbone, kneeling at my feet begging for forgiveness— I suddenly remembered that year. The stubborn way she half-knelt to confess her feelings to me, refusing to get up until I agreed. Ten years. I spent ten years helping her overcome autism. In the end, she kicked me out of her life in the cruelest way possible. The door pushed open. Joel walked in. He said nothing, but I could read the victorious gleam in his eyes. “When did this start?” I asked. “Joel’s fiancée ran away, so I’m just going through the motions with him. He’d already sent out all the invitations, and his parents came all the way to Los Angeles. They couldn’t handle the shock…” So I guess my parents and I deserve to bear it instead. “Wallace, we’re best friends. Just help me out this once… Kelly and I aren’t really together.” Joel clutched at my pant leg, eyes reddening as he pleaded in a low voice, playing the role of the humble subordinate to perfection. I ignored his words and scrolled through his social media on my own. [Thank you Miss Kelly for joining me…] The attached photo showed two silhouettes embracing while bungee jumping—taken during the days I was recovering from my car accident, when she claimed to be on a business trip. Scrolling further down, I found photos of candles and red wine, along with two hands clasped together. Kelly hadn’t even bothered to remove my engagement ring first. My finger kept swiping. Countless posts pieced together a Kelly I didn’t recognize. Bubble tea, trendy restaurants, chocolate desserts—with me, she’d always frowned and said, “I don’t like those things.” But behind my back, she’d tried them all with Joel. She who was always obsessively clean and protective of her hands had even put on an apron and cooked for Joel herself. I stared at the food in those photos, feeling sick inside. Two years ago, when I had a terrible flu and couldn’t get out of bed, I’d asked her to cook for me. She’d said: “Wallace, I’m a doctor. My hands can’t go in the kitchen. Just order takeout.” Over these ten years, I’d grown accustomed to her obsessive care for her hands, her cold indifference. I’d huddled under the covers, listening to her talk on the phone in the study, her tone gentle and careful. At the time I thought the fever had made me delirious. Looking back now, I was such a fool. The shock had long faded, leaving only the hollow numbness of exposed truth. I held those social media posts up to Joel’s face. “You also said we were best friends. Is this how you repay me?” Before he could answer, I turned my head to stare at the woman before me. “Since you two are together now, I’ll step aside.”

Ignoring Kelly’s shouts, I left first. My phone kept buzzing nonstop, blending with the sound of rain outside the taxi. Like a hammer, shattering all the strength I’d struggled to maintain. Years ago, Kelly’s grandmother Sommerville had given my family a large sum of money, saving us from bankruptcy. I’d known from a very young age that I needed to repay Kelly. So during those years when she rejected me, I always put on a smile and stayed close to her: “I won’t leave. I promised Sommerville I’d always be with you.” But now, I couldn’t continue anymore. [Wallace, I’ve already explained. What more do you want?] [Stop being mad, okay? You’ve always wanted to get married—let’s go get our marriage license tomorrow.] The sourness hit faster than any other emotion, instantly moistening my eyes. Actually, Kelly’s autism had completely healed in the later years. She could see patients, perform surgeries, bury her hot breath in my neck in the middle of the night, and prepare gifts for me. Feeling like I’d finally gotten some response, I’d kept pestering her about marriage. [Let’s wait a bit longer. My family are medical professionals—I want to become Chief of Cardiac Surgery like my father.] [I’m up for promotion to Chief Physician this year. I’m swamped—where would I find time for a wedding? Let’s talk about it next year.] She’d even shaken my shoulders with a tone of disappointment: “Joel is your good friend. He’s single-mindedly focused on advanced studies and research, wanting to make achievements in medicine. Why are you only thinking about marriage?” At the time, I hadn’t thought it strange that these two people who’d never gotten along suddenly appreciated each other. I’d even stupidly told her: “Joel comes from a difficult background. Take care of him for me.” She hadn’t responded then, but privately she’d taken care of him in every possible way. In just two years, Joel not only got promoted quickly but also bought property in Los Angeles’s expensive commercial district. I’d even brought a bottle of wine and dragged Kelly over to congratulate him. So stupid. Really stupid! I scrubbed at my face desperately. Trying to wipe away the tears on my face along with the memories of all those years. Then I sent Sommerville a text message. “I’ve repaid your family’s debt. I’m breaking up with Kelly.” When I got home, Kelly was already sitting on the sofa with a diamond ring beside her. Our eyes met, and she stood up with a light sigh: “Wallace, Joel is at a critical point in his career evaluation. Let’s get our license right away—I even prepared the ring… Stop making a fuss.” Not “marry me,” but “stop making a fuss.” Even the ring in her palm was a custom design that had appeared in Joel’s photos. All I got was an afterthought. I looked at her, at that face I’d traced a thousand times over, the face I’d kept in my heart since I was eighteen. I smiled softly: “I’m not making a fuss. I won’t interfere with his career evaluation either. And I don’t want to get a marriage license with you. Please leave.” Kelly heard the first two sentences and automatically ignored the last two. She came forward and wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my back. Her voice carried a hint of laughter and certainty. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, post something on social media to explain things for Joel.” I paused slightly: “Explain what?” Her arms didn’t loosen, but her brow furrowed as if deep in thought. “Just say that Joel and I were lovers all along, and you were the third party who came between us. That way it won’t affect his reputation…” My heart trembled. I stared at her in shock. Those red lips had kissed me countless times and whispered heart-wrenching sweet nothings to me in the dead of night. But now, every word she spoke was a knife stabbing into my chest. I held back my tears and pushed her away. “What about my reputation? Don’t you care about that?” She paused, as if unaccustomed to my rejection or only just now thinking of this point. Then she laughed. “Joel’s different from you. He came from the bottom, he’s an orphan—it wasn’t easy for him to get where he is today. You’re his friend—you should consider his position more.” Should? Why should I? When he couldn’t pay his tuition and was turned away by security, I was the one who covered the balance. Senior year, when thugs from off-campus kept harassing him, I was the one who provided people and resources, protecting him at every turn. I’d often bring him home, telling everyone “This is my brother.” After graduation, when no hospital would hire him due to his weak foundation, I was the one who begged Kelly to make an exception and hire him. Joel had red-rimmed eyes that day, hugging me and crying his heart out: “Wallace, you’ve been so good to me. I’ll spend my whole life repaying you.” But I never expected his repayment would be sleeping with my woman. I exhaled the stale air from my chest, raised my head, and looked the woman straight in the eye. “Kelly! I don’t owe you, and I don’t owe Joel. Not exposing you two is already my limit. You want me to admit I’m the third party? Impossible!”

After speaking, I turned to leave, but was frozen in place by one sentence. “Think about those photos. Do you want them to see the light of day?” I froze for a moment before turning back. Looking at Kelly’s cold, indifferent face. Suddenly I remembered her at nineteen, holding my marked body, crying until her whole body shook. Back then, her autism was severe. I chased after her three meals a day to feed her food and medicine. Annoyed, she’d slip away and hide. I chased her to a street corner and was dragged into an alley. My mouth and nose were covered, my vulnerable parts violated. I couldn’t see light or count how many people there were. When she found me, she’d completely lost it. Stubbornly apologizing, saying she’d take care of everything. Later, she gripped my hand, stared into my eyes and swore that those people had been dealt with, those photos destroyed, and that her entire life from then on would be mine. But now, for Joel’s sake, she was threatening me with my own trauma. Seeing my dazed expression, Kelly suppressed the reluctance in her eyes. She coaxed softly, as if making a promise: “Just post one statement on social media, and leave the rest to me. We’ll get our license, get married, have children—I’ll still be your wife…” “And if I refuse?” “Think about your parents. Your father has a bad heart…” Though she didn’t finish the sentence, it said everything. That night, we both fell silent. She knew I’d compromise, just like she knew that every time we fought, I’d always be the one to come crawling back. The next day when I turned on my phone, the screen was full of headlines screaming that Joel was a knowing third party, two-timing both of us. Before I could react, Kelly kicked the door open. “Wallace, Joel is your friend! How could you bear to slander him? To ruin his reputation!” Her eyes were bloodshot. Without letting me explain a single word, she dragged me to the city hospital. Getting out of the car, my knee hit the door. I cried out in pain. She didn’t pause for even a moment. Watching her urgent, retreating figure, I suddenly wanted to laugh. The hand that gripped mine was so tight, so warm, yet I felt like I was falling into an abyss. The lobby had already been set up as a press conference venue. Joel sat on the platform without speaking, shoulders hunched, eyes slightly red. Kelly felt terrible for him. She shoved me toward the reporters and rushed over to him. Countless microphones thrust toward me. [Mr. Wallace, Dr. Joel says you were molested by a pedophile in your youth, which twisted your psychology. Is that why you stormed out yesterday?] [We heard you’ve been obsessively pursuing Dr. Kelly, knowing full well she and Dr. Joel were in love, yet still trying to seduce her, attempting to become the knowing third party?] [You and Dr. Joel are friends as close as brothers. To steal his woman like this—do you have no shame at all, Mr. Wallace?] My blood felt like it had caught fire, burning all the way to my head. I stared at Kelly in shock. She’d promised never to leak a word about that incident. Why did Joel know? Before I could figure it out, the friend who’d said he’d repay me properly suddenly smiled at me. The next second, the large screen behind us suddenly lit up. It showed my pale teenage face and my body covered in bruises.

The venue exploded. My ears filled with discussion and the clicking of camera shutters. [Wallace has been completely ruined by those people. Relying on his family background to keep harassing Dr. Kelly—how disgusting.] [If he hadn’t smashed that wine bottle yesterday and ruined the wedding, Dr. Joel, who’d been in an underground relationship, probably wouldn’t have exposed this.] My throat felt like it was burning. I struggled but couldn’t speak a word. Couldn’t speak the truth. Couldn’t say that the one in an underground relationship was actually me. Kelly appeared beside me at some point, speaking lightly: “Things have come to this. Just apologize.” “Since your reputation is already ruined, at least protect Joel. I keep my promises.” I paused for a long moment before forcing out a voice: “He deliberately leaked my photos and destroyed my reputation, and you still want me to apologize?” Kelly shook her head disapprovingly: “Joel was just protecting himself. What did he do wrong?” “Besides, these things are all true. It’s not like he made them up. If you want to blame someone, blame your own bad luck.” Anger, humiliation, and an indescribable hatred churned in my chest. I could barely stand. Just as I was about to argue back, a cold voice stopped me. “Wallace, is what they’re saying true? Have you been coming between Dr. Joel and Kelly all this time?” Before finishing the sentence, Dad clutched his chest. Like someone had pulled out his bones, his expression twisted in pain as he collapsed. Mom screamed: “Benjamin!” I couldn’t care about anything else. I rushed over, but before I could get close, a slap left me dazed. My mom pointed at me with a trembling finger: “This is all your fault! If not for you, how would your father have an attack!” After cursing at me, she turned and desperately grabbed Kelly’s pant leg: “Kelly! Kelly! Please, save Benjamin!” Kelly didn’t move or speak. She just stared at me quietly. Joel deliberately added: “Forget it, Kelly. I won’t hold Wallace’s foolish actions against him. Just save Benjamin.” Kelly looked at him, her tone gentle: “No. Wallace must publicly apologize and admit he’s the third party, or else your reputation and future will be ruined. I can’t bear that.” She couldn’t bear to see his reputation tarnished but was willing to personally push me into hell. “Wallace, what are you waiting for? Wait any longer and your father will be gone.” Mom seemed suddenly awakened by those words. She grabbed my hair, trying to force me to apologize. “Say it! Are you really going to watch your father die?” Looking at Dad’s pale, bluish face, I knew I couldn’t delay any longer. I swallowed the metallic taste in my throat and forced out the words through gritted teeth: “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have destroyed someone else’s relationship.” As soon as I spoke, someone loudly objected. “You caused Dr. Joel to be cyberbullied, and you think one ‘sorry’ is enough? If you’re sincere, get on your knees and slap yourself!” The surrounding people echoed in agreement. Kelly said nothing, as if giving permission. Mom was beside herself with anxiety. Seeing me motionless, she kicked me and slapped me hard twice. “Get on your knees! Hit yourself! Your father’s life depends on you!” She hit me while wiping away tears, her voice shaking terribly. I looked at her, then at my father foaming at the mouth. Slowly I closed my eyes, raised my hand, and slapped myself again and again. My face and heart were numb. I felt no pain. Only ice-cold liquid fell at my feet, dripping. The next second, a dragon-headed cane suddenly fell from mid-air, hitting Kelly square on the head. A cold, authoritative voice suddenly rang out: “Kelly! Get out of this hospital with your lover! Get out of this family!” “From today on, Wallace is my grandson and the heir to my estate!”

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The Sterling family’s eccentric third son loved raising snakes and teasing me. Every night, he would bring a cold snake into my room. He’d let it wrap around my ankle, and even if I cried, he refused to take it away. Aside from that, I lived a charmed life, flattered and spoiled by everyone. But later, the Sterlings took in another girl to pay off a debt. Because that girl was afraid of snakes, Vance killed his beloved pet. Looking at the snake’s blood on the floor, I knew my time as his pampered canary was up. Coincidentally, the term of my debt repayment was over. So, clutching my slightly swollen, pregnant belly, I quietly fled the Sterling estate. 01 When I found out my family had gone bankrupt, I was actually thrilled. My dad had eight daughters. I was exactly the eighth. My seven older sisters had all been married off to wealthy tycoons for business alliances. They didn’t get to choose their partners; they had to obey the family’s arrangements. One married a divorced billionaire with kids; another married a sugar daddy thirty years her senior. Each of them was beautiful, but every single marriage was miserable. My dad had picked out a match for me too, and the guy combined all the worst traits of my brothers-in-law. Old, ugly, divorced, with kids. I only took one look from afar and almost threw up. I thought, if I had to marry him, I would waste away to nothing. Because looking at that face, I wouldn’t be able to eat a single bite. When he heard I refused to marry the guy, my dad had me tied up, beaten, and grounded. After all, my sisters had never fought back. He knew exactly how to handle this kind of rebellion. Just when I was on the brink of despair, my dad’s company ran into massive trouble. What made me even happier was that those wealthy brothers-in-law of mine couldn’t lift a finger to help. My dad was finally bankrupt! I joyfully thanked God and my lucky stars. I thought I had dodged a bullet and wouldn’t have to worry about a forced marriage ever again. But I underestimated how ruthless my dad could be. Since the marriage alliance fell through, he actually offered me up as collateral to pay off his debts. 02 When I was brought to the Sterling Estate, I felt like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. My dad said the Sterlings had three sons, and all I had to do was catch the eye of one of them. If none of them wanted me, he’d send me to another creditor’s house. By then, I had zero expectations for marriage. I figured, rather than being tossed around from man to man, I might as well just go to the Sterlings. As long as the Sterling men weren’t like my former fiancé—five-foot-two, two hundred pounds, and fifty-six years old—I could survive. But a prestigious family like that looked down on my dad’s cheap tactics. The Sterling patriarch righteously rejected him: “We are a respectable family. Don’t try to fool us with these crooked schemes.” So, my dad and I were unceremoniously kicked out. Standing at their gates, he was already making calls to arrange visits to the Smiths, the Joneses, the Davis family… Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air, and a man appeared in front of me. He had a razor-sharp jawline, arched brows, and messy hair falling effortlessly over his forehead. His legs, clad in black tailored pants, looked like they went on forever. The moment our eyes met, only one thought crossed my mind. This must be my reward for enduring so many ugly men. But when I took a closer look, my pupils instantly shrank. Wrapped around his arm was a silver snake. It wasn’t a toy. It was a real snake. It was as thick as a baby’s arm. Its black, beady eyes locked onto me, its tongue flicking out, tasting the air. I had been terrified of cold-blooded animals since I was a kid. My scalp went numb. Just as I was about to take a step back, I heard my dad respectfully call out to the man: “Mr. Sterling.” I knew about Vance Sterling, the third son. In a family with strict rules and tradition, he was the sole exception. Rebellious and wild since childhood, he had no hobbies other than raising snakes, and he never even had a woman by his side. Yet, his grandfather favored him deeply and had entrusted half of the family empire to him. Vance ignored my dad. He just tilted his chin at me and asked lazily: “Afraid of snakes?” I was terrified. Deathly afraid. But I fought the urge to step back, forcing a harmless, sweet smile. “Not at all.” He smirked noncommittally, suddenly raised his arm, and thrust the snake right into my face. “Then pet it.” 03 Every fiber of my being was screaming in protest. But I didn’t want to disobey Vance. Compared to those ugly old men, a young, gorgeous guy like him was already the best option I had. I gritted my teeth and cautiously reached out my hand. The silver snake poked its head out, and its cold scales unexpectedly brushed against my palm. Ice-cold and smooth. Oh my god, this is terrifying. I want to cry. But I forced a bright smile, looking at Vance and lying through my teeth: “This… this feels really nice.” As soon as the words left my mouth, the snake suddenly went crazy, opening its jaws at me as if it wanted to take a bite. My hand trembled in fear, and unable to hold back anymore, I stumbled three steps backward. My lie was exposed way too fast. I thought Vance would mock me, but he just looked at me with a half-smile. “What’s your name?” “Harper Miller.” “Want to come with me?” “Huh?” My eyes widened in shock. By the time I processed what was happening, my dad and Vance had already struck a deal. He handed me over to Vance for three years to wipe out a thirty-million-dollar debt. It was a terrible, uncalculated bargain. But to everyone’s surprise, Vance actually agreed. He nodded playfully. “Sure. Deal.” 04 That very night, I moved into Vance’s private mansion. When Vance walked in, he had just taken a shower. He wore a white silk V-neck pajama top, exposing a wide swath of his chest. Water dripped from his damp hair, trailing down his chest and disappearing into the depths of his shirt. I pursed my lips awkwardly, standing perfectly straight, pressed tightly against the wall. “Are you putting yourself in time-out?” He let out a soft scoff, casually grabbing a towel draped over his shoulder to dry his hair. “If you’re not used to sharing a bed with me, you can sleep in another room. There are sixteen bedrooms in this house; take your pick.” My eyes instantly lit up. I didn’t expect him to be so considerate. Just as I was about to nod, a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Though, the other fifteen are snake rooms. Each room has anywhere from five to twenty snakes. You might want to think about which one you prefer.” I froze in place, suddenly stuttering, “N-never mind. This… this is perfectly fine.” He locked the door, leaving just the two of us in our pajamas. Even though Vance was gorgeous and I understood what the job of a “canary” entailed, I was still terrified facing the actual reality of it. After all, my knowledge of this stuff came entirely from reading romance novels. I had zero practical experience. Vance pulled back the covers and got into bed, patting the empty space next to him. “Are you coming over by yourself, or do you need me to carry you?” I hesitated for a second, then slowly shuffled to the edge of the bed. Rumor had it the eccentric billionaire only liked snakes and never let women near him. I didn’t look like a snake, so he probably wouldn’t be interested in me. Thinking this, I slowly crawled under the covers, leaving enough space between us to fit three other people. Vance gave me a meaningful look. I don’t know if he was suddenly hot, but he suddenly lifted the hem of his shirt to fan himself. That one motion exposed eight perfectly sculpted abs. I glanced over, instantly averted my eyes, and asked carefully: “Is the AC set too high? Do you want me to turn it down?” Vance stopped talking. He stared at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if he were suddenly parched. I tried to be helpful again. “Do you want me to get you some water?” The expression on Vance’s face was complicated for a moment. Suddenly he wasn’t thirsty anymore. He reached over, flicked off the lamp, and turned his back to me to sleep. I breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he really was just like the rumors—completely uninterested in women. Keeping me around was probably just him taking pity on a girl sold by her own father. I secretly congratulated myself for meeting a good guy who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and happily prepared to drift off. Just as I was half-asleep, a body suddenly pressed against my back. His chest was burning hot, his voice hoarse, but his words were incredibly direct. “Are we doing this?” 05 I take back everything I said. Vance was not a good guy at all. He was wicked. I was too embarrassed to refuse, and he took an inch to take a mile, pushing forward relentlessly. Until I completely fell apart, half-resisting, half-yielding. And if that wasn’t enough, he was a total freak. Who brings a snake into the bedroom for that? With a twisted sense of humor, he brought the snake into the room. It flicked its tongue, its crimson tip licking my ankle, cold scales gliding across my calf. He lowered his head to bite my earlobe, his hot breath brushing against the side of my ear. The contrast of freezing cold and burning heat drove me absolutely insane. For the first year with Vance, I counted down the days, wondering how much longer until I could leave him and his creepy reptiles. By the second year, I realized that spending too much time with a freak makes you a bit of a freak too. I had actually grown addicted to the feeling. By the third year, I suddenly felt that staying with Vance was actually pretty great. He was clean. Besides me, there were no other women in his life. He gave me everything I asked for. The best of everything was delivered straight to my hands. I had massive, flawless diamonds, solid gold bars, and designer bags filling an entire walk-in closet. Everyone knew Vance valued me. They practically treated me as the future Mrs. Sterling. Even my dad bowed and scraped whenever he saw me. I was riding high, showered with praise. I also felt that Vance loved me. Every time he breathed my name, trembling, his eyes reflected nothing but me. So when the three years were up, he didn’t bring up the end of the debt, and I didn’t mention leaving. The day I found out I was unexpectedly pregnant, I was actually thrilled. I couldn’t wait to share the good news with Vance. But as luck would have it, Vance didn’t come home that night. It was the first time in three years. The next day, I found out the Sterlings had taken in a new girl to pay off a debt. 06 When I went looking for Vance, he was at the main estate. The butler told me the new girl’s name was Chloe Bennett. She was incredibly beautiful, the picture of a pure, innocent sweetheart. She was originally meant to pay off a debt to the Sterlings, but a young heir from the Hayes family had also set his sights on her. The two men ended up fighting over it, agreeing that Chloe would belong to the winner. Vance won. But as he walked toward Chloe, the snake he brought that day was feeling restless and suddenly lunged onto her. It wrapped itself around her neck, flicking its tongue, slowly slithering against her cheek. A young girl like her had never seen anything so terrifying. She burst into tears on the spot. By the time I rushed over, the snake was already dead. Its head was severed from its body, a large pool of blood spreading across the floor. I froze. Vance loved his snakes. He practically raised them like children, giving each one a name. He treasured them. He rarely let anyone touch them, and once refused a two-million-dollar offer for just one of his reptiles. After spending so much time with those cold-blooded little creatures, even I had developed a strange affection for them. I never imagined there would come a day when Vance would kill a snake. And all just to comfort a crying girl. I pursed my lips, looking up toward the estate’s grand living room. Vance was inside, leaning lazily against the window with his arms crossed, a casual smirk on his lips as he chatted idly with Chloe. Chloe looked up at him, her delicate frame fragile, her long hair blowing in the breeze. At a glance, she looked a lot like I did three years ago. I was standing right at the door. If Vance just turned his head, he would see me. But he was too focused. His gaze didn’t shift an inch. I suddenly remembered how cold Vance had been toward me over the last two months. He was incredibly fit and usually never tired of tossing me around. Three or four hours a night used to be the norm. But lately, he had become perfunctory, wrapping things up hastily after just one round. So, his boredom with me had warning signs all along. But come to think of it, with a background and status like his, how could he tie his heart to just one woman? Keeping him interested for three years was already a massive achievement. I looked down at my still-flat stomach. I had wanted to tell him we were having a baby, but now, it seemed entirely unnecessary. I didn’t stick around to watch. I hurried back to the mansion. I could break up with Vance, but the gifts he gave me were mine, and I was taking them all. I immediately contacted buyers, liquidating the gold, selling off the designer bags and jewelry. It would take about a week for my bank balance to turn into a glorious, cold, multi-million-dollar safety net. Thinking about this, I lay on the bed, feeling relieved, just wanting the week to be over. The bedroom door clicked open, and the mattress dipped. Vance familiarly pulled me into his arms. I stiffened. “Why are you back?” Shouldn’t he be with Chloe tonight? Vance propped himself up over me with one hand, unbuttoning his shirt with the other. “This is my house. Where else would I go?” Saying that, he cupped the back of my head and crashed his lips onto mine, greedily stealing the air from my lungs. Thinking about what happened at the estate, I reluctantly turned my head away, blurting out a random excuse. “No, you’re sweaty today. You’re dirty.” “Spoiled.” Vance reached out, tapped my nose, and pulled off his shirt, revealing a lean, muscular torso. “I’ll go shower.” He took two steps, then, as if remembering something, turned back and scooped me up into his arms. “Let’s shower together.” Excuse me? The bathroom was steaming hot, the sound of water echoing against the tiles. Vance’s gaze landed on me, his eyes growing dark. His kisses fell like a storm, leaving me breathless and forced to lean against him just to stay standing. But surprisingly, at the crucial moment, Vance let me go. “Be a good girl and go out first. I’ll come find you when I’m done.” I froze for a second, then realization hit me. A man’s energy is finite. Now that he had a new toy, he obviously wouldn’t waste his stamina on his old one. New is always better than the old, after all. I don’t know if it was because I was too exhausted today, but my lower abdomen suddenly started aching slightly. I pulled out my phone to check out local clinics, planning to book an appointment to get rid of the baby the moment I left town. I browsed for a long time. Vance was still in the bathroom, god knows what he was doing in there. I was dead tired and dozed off, my phone still clutched tightly in my hand, the screen unlocked. I was shaken awake by Vance. Half-asleep, I was pulled into his arms. He was staring at me with a half-smile, making me feel inexplicably guilty. “W-what are you doing?” He tilted his head, studying me. “Babe, do you have anything you want to tell me?” I was entirely lost. “No.” “Really?” His fingertips suddenly trailed down, landing on my lower stomach, slowly tracing circles. I glanced at my phone, which was now sitting on the nightstand. A terrible premonition gripped my heart. Did he see my browsing history? Did he notice something? I looked at him hesitantly. His expression was impossible to read. In that split second, my brain was already working in overdrive, trying to come up with an excuse to hide the pregnancy. “I… I just…” “Are you short on cash?” he asked suddenly. My excuse died in my throat. I stared at him blankly. “The guy who buys secondhand designer bags just called. He said you’re trying to sell off all the bags I gave you. Care to explain why you’re liquidating everything?” Oh, so it was about that. I breathed a massive sigh of relief and quickly spun a lie. “Those bags are out of season. They’re just taking up space, so I figured I might as well sell them.” Vance was very good at grasping the core issue. He immediately zeroed in on the key information: “The old bags are out of season, so you need new ones.” “I’ll have my assistant buy every new arrival this season tomorrow. You can wear whatever you like.” Just as I was about to relax, Vance casually dropped another question: “Babe, why were you glancing at your phone while talking to me? Is there some dark secret hiding in there?” “Want to show it to me?” I was terrified. I immediately looked away, wrapped my arms around his neck, nuzzled against the small mole on his nose, and made my voice as soft and sweet as possible. “What could I possibly hide from you?” The silver snake coiled around his shoulder took the opportunity to wrap its tail around my waist, pulling me tight against Vance’s abs. He hummed, satisfied. “Relax, I won’t check your phone. I have that much trust in you.” “Besides, I doubt you’d dare do anything out of line.” I nodded vigorously. Honestly, running away in secret wasn’t that out of line, was it? Just one more week, and I’d be saying goodbye to Vance forever. But I never expected the Sterling family’s intuition to be so sharp. 07 For Grandpa Sterling’s birthday, Vance had to return to the estate. Usually, these were strictly family affairs, and he never brought me along. But this year was the patriarch’s 80th, a massive banquet, and Vance wanted me to attend as his plus-one. Since it was a banquet, I needed a gown. Vance had given me plenty of dresses, but running away with a closet full of evening wear was impractical, so I had already sold them off at a discount. I only had one burgundy dress left. The waist was tiny, bought when I was at my absolute thinnest. Zipping it up was a struggle, and it made my slightly rounded stomach noticeable. I sucked in my gut, praying Vance wouldn’t notice. Everything was going fine until it was time for toasts. A group of kids ran over, playing tag, and one nearly crashed right into my stomach. I jumped back in panic, forgetting to hold my breath. Vance’s little niece ran up to me, pressed her hand against my stomach, and asked in her sweet, baby voice: “Harper, your tummy used to be flat. Why is it all round now?” Vance froze, his gaze immediately dropping to my abdomen. Sucking it back in now would be too obvious. I bent down slightly and explained to the little girl: “Because the food at the party is so yummy, I ate way too much and got stuffed.” But the kid shook her head, telling me with absolute certainty: “Nuh-uh.” “There’s a baby in your tummy.” As soon as the words fell, the surrounding area went dead silent. Everyone turned to look at us. As if afraid people wouldn’t believe her, she raised her voice: “It’s true! I’m not lying!” “The baby in her tummy is moving! It just kicked my hand!” I was panicking internally but kept a beaming smile on my face as I explained, “There’s no baby in my tummy, sweetheart.” “When you eat too much, your stomach has to digest it. Of course my tummy is moving.” The kid wanted to argue, but thankfully her mother grabbed her and pulled her away. The excuse was incredibly flimsy, but I thought I had managed to scrape by. When I turned around, I found Vance staring at me, deep in thought. “Babe, if I remember correctly, you’ve missed your period for three months now, haven’t you?” My money was ready. I was leaving tomorrow. I couldn’t let things go wrong now. I forced myself to stay calm and nodded naturally. “Yeah.” “You know my cycle has never been regular.” Afraid Vance would press further and blow my cover, I faked a burp. “Ugh, I ate way too much. I need to go for a walk and digest.” Vance couldn’t come with me; there was a line of people waiting to toast him. He had to socialize. I wandered the estate gardens alone. As I walked, I noticed a light on. It was a room on the third floor that had always been empty. Tonight, it was brightly lit. Two maids walked by carrying trays of food, gossiping. “Mr. Sterling really cares about that new Miss Bennett. He’s so worried she’ll go hungry, he had the chef make all her favorites.” “A busy man like him actually remembered she’s allergic to seafood. He specifically ordered the kitchen to leave it out.” “With a new girl in the house, does that mean Miss Miller is out of favor?” “Probably. The Bennett girl is only nineteen, a blank slate, the perfect age to mold. Miss Miller is twenty-two. Mr. Sterling has been sleeping with her for years; he’s bound to be bored by now.” I stood behind a sycamore tree. They didn’t see me as they chatted and headed toward the third floor. I sniffled, suddenly feeling incredibly hollow. Vance wasn’t even trying to hide his affection. Even the staff could see he had someone else in his heart. A voice suddenly broke the silence from behind me. “Miss Miller, since Vance has a new favorite, why don’t you come with me?”

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Oliver Sterling suffered from severe anger management issues, and I was his anchor. Everyone around him knew that he would only stay calm and not lash out if I was there. He brought me into his elite social circle, introduced me to his parents, and told everyone I was his best friend. But he didn’t know I harbored an uncontrollable, secret crush on him. However, I also knew he was straight. So, after graduating from college, I quietly disappeared from his life. 01 I hit “decline” on Oliver’s call again. The semester had started a few days ago, and Oliver probably realized by now that I hadn’t shown up for registration. He had been calling me incessantly, but I didn’t dare answer. I knew he must be furious on the other end. After all, we had agreed to attend the same grad school—his alma mater. But I had secretly changed my application, choosing a university all the way in California instead. With his connections, it was easy for him to find out I hadn’t enrolled at his school. Sure enough, right after I declined his call, a barrage of text messages and 60-second voice memos flooded my iMessage. I tapped the very last one. Oliver’s furious, violent voice blasted through the speaker: “Leo, you actually dared to play me. You better tell me exactly where you are right now. I might just give you a chance to redeem yourself and make your death a little less painful. If you keep ignoring my calls and texts, you better pray I never find you. Because if I do, I will absolutely destroy you. Call me back immediately, do you hear me?!” Oliver had never spoken to me with that kind of tone before. My hand instinctively trembled when I heard it, and I accidentally sent a thumbs-up emoji back to him. Once I realized what I had sent, I frantically tried to unsend it, but it was too late. The very next second, Oliver replied. He sounded like he was gritting his teeth, ready to skin me alive: “Leo, you’ve got some nerve, provoking me like this. Fine, just wait and see.” … 02 I met Oliver Sterling during my sophomore year of high school. That year, my parents had made a small fortune from a business venture, so they sent me to a prestigious prep school in New York. The students there all came from powerful backgrounds, but the Sterling family sat firmly at the very top of the pyramid, untouchable. Their family’s influence was unfathomable—deep pockets, massive power, and absolutely no one dared to cross them. But within the walls of that elite school, what everyone knew best was the temper of the Sterling family’s youngest son, Oliver. He was infamous for his explosive anger and being generally terrifying to deal with. Because of his severe anger management issues, he gravitated toward anything that could burn off his excess energy. Boxing, MMA, street racing, bungee jumping—he did it all. But his favorite outlet was street fighting. Before I came along, he practically lived in dive bars, getting into a dozen fights a week. That was the exact setting where I first encountered Oliver Sterling. 03 It was a rainy day. I had been hospitalized with a severe stomach bug during our mandatory outdoor orientation trip and had only just moved into the dorms today. I was walking out of the school gates to find a place to eat nearby when I saw a man stumble out of a dive bar down the street. The man’s clothes were rumpled and covered in muddy footprints. His face was bloodied, and he fell to his knees, begging uncontrollably: “I’m sorry, I was wrong! I swear I didn’t know she was with you, Mr. Sterling.” “If I had known, I wouldn’t have touched her even if you gave me a million bucks!” Standing in front of him were seven or eight teenage boys. The one leading them had his eyes cast downward, ignoring the man entirely. He casually flipped open a wildly expensive Zippo lighter and lit a cigarette. The knuckles of his hands were stained with dried blood. His features were cold and distant. Through the haze of cigarette smoke, he looked even more aloof and ruthless. Without even glancing at the man groveling on the ground, he gave a subtle nod to the side. Two bodyguards immediately rushed forward, grabbed the man by the arms, and dragged him toward a dark alley. The man’s agonizing, blood-curdling screams echoed instantly. 04 I wasn’t standing very far away. Maybe the man was just too terrified, but I couldn’t clearly make out what he was saying at first. However, seeing a grown man pale with terror and driven to the brink of madness… I instinctively assumed it was a group of rich, spoiled brats bullying someone. Driven by a strong sense of justice, I marched right over. I stormed up to the boy leading the group and demanded righteously: “Hey, what do you think you’re doing? A whole group beating up one guy? Have you no shame?” The leader frowned and looked at me, a dark hostility rising in his eyes. Everyone around him shut their mouths. Even the man who had been wailing stopped abruptly. A deathly silence fell over the scene. Probably no one had ever spoken to Oliver Sterling like that. Their faces clearly read, “You’re dead meat.” I had no idea who Oliver Sterling was at the time. Although I could sense something was off from the look in their eyes, I didn’t care. I took a few steps forward, looking him dead in the eye, holding my head high, not backing down an inch. We were standing very close—so close I could smell the crisp scent of cedar on him, mixed with a faint trace of tobacco. The moment I stepped closer, the hostility in his eyes vanished completely. He looked up at me, slightly stunned, a flicker of confusion in his gaze. I thought my righteous anger had intimidated him. Just as I was about to tell them to let the man go… Oliver suddenly grabbed me by the collar and yanked me closer. Our faces were mere inches apart. Instinctively thinking he was going to attack me, I didn’t hesitate. I clenched my fist and swung it straight at his face. Oliver casually blocked it with two swift movements, grabbed my arm, and twisted it behind my back. Although I had never had formal training, I grew up in a rough neighborhood and frequently dealt with street thugs, so I knew how to throw a punch. But despite all the fights I’d been in, I had never been manhandled like this—completely subdued in just one move. My heart sank. This guy knew how to fight. 05 Just as I thought I was a goner. Oliver did something that left everyone’s jaws on the floor. He lowered his head slightly, leaning in close, and pressed his nose against my neck. He inhaled my scent brazenly, almost greedily. He was incredibly strong; his grip on my arm was ironclad. I struggled desperately, but he was like a solid rock, unmoving. After a long while, As if satisfied, he let go. I immediately covered my neck, turned around, and glared at him: “What the fuck, are you a pervert?!” Oliver’s friends were carefully watching his expression, terrified he might actually snap my neck. But Oliver wasn’t angry at all. He even seemed to be in a good mood as he explained the situation to me. “He spiked my girlfriend’s drink. Beating him up isn’t an overreaction, is it?” Skeptical, I turned to look at the man slumped on the ground. As if finally snapping out of his daze, the man started bowing repeatedly on the ground, muttering: “I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling, I swear I’ll never do it again. Please spare me this once.” It wasn’t until I heard that title that I realized exactly who I had messed with, and worst of all, I was the one in the wrong. I turned back stiffly, forcing an awkward, dry smile: “Just a misunderstanding. I apologize, Mr. Sterling. I was wrong.” Oliver frowned slightly, as if finding it difficult to resolve: “Well, what are we going to do about this? I really hate being misunderstood. Tell me, how should I teach you a lesson?” His tone was casual, as if he were asking what to have for dinner, but a cold sweat broke out all over my body. Sweat rolled down my forehead, only to be gently wiped away by someone. I heard someone gasp: “Doesn’t Oliver have germaphobia?” Then, a deep, magnetic voice spoke right by my ear: “Be my friend, and I’ll forgive you.” 06 Later, I somehow ended up adding Oliver on Snapchat and surprisingly became his roommate. Actually, it wasn’t really a surprise. The prep school never assigned dorms based on grades, but by social class. The high-end dorms were essentially luxury townhouses where everyone had deep political or financial backgrounds. But my background was just “new money.” It was obvious who pulled the strings. The only person capable of breaking a century-old tradition at that school was him. Being Oliver’s friend was actually pretty great. He was incredibly generous. On my birthday, he gave me a watch worth hundreds of thousands. He found out who my favorite musician was and took me to their concert over the holidays. We didn’t just get VIP seats; we even got to go backstage and take photos with them. He brought me into his social circle, introduced me to his parents, and told everyone I was his best friend. When my parents faced difficulties with their business, he stepped in to help. But deep down, I knew that to him, I was just an emotional anchor—a human mood stabilizer. His friends told me that since I started hanging around Oliver, he had stopped going to bars to pick fights. He even smoked a lot less. When I was around, he rarely lost his temper. Even when he was absolutely furious, just catching my scent would calm him down immediately. 07 It was strange. Even though I knew I was just an anchor to him, I couldn’t stop myself from falling for him. To be fair, falling for him wasn’t hard to understand. Oliver was incredibly handsome. His face looked like it had been meticulously sculpted. He had an aggressive, raw, masculine beauty. He could just throw on a simple white t-shirt and walk down the street, instantly drawing everyone’s eyes. He had a great body too—tall, broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, and with an eight-pack. Of course, it wasn’t just his looks. He was intensely charismatic. He knew everything from global history and local customs to the future prospects of various industries, and he could explain them all in simple, engaging terms. But I knew he didn’t like me. During our four years of college, he had several girlfriends. I knew exactly his type: bright, elegant, and feminine. Not skinny, plain, and definitely not male. So I kept my feelings for him buried deep down. But I also knew I could never stand by and watch Oliver get married and have kids with someone else. So, leaving was inevitable. 08 “Hey, Leo, why are you always staring at your phone lately? Are you waiting for a text from a girl you like?” my roommate Mark asked, a teasing smirk on his face. “No,” I replied flatly, shaking my head. Mark didn’t buy it. He slung an arm around my neck, applying a little pressure: “I don’t believe you. Come on, spill it. Who is it?” I couldn’t say, because there was no girl. I was waiting for a message from a specific guy. Ever since he sent me that one text, there had been absolute radio silence. It was like he vanished into thin air. Living in fear for the past few days hadn’t eased my anxiety; it had only made it worse. Just as I was lost in thought, a sudden commotion erupted near the campus gates. Many students started running in that direction. Mark, who loved drama, immediately dragged me along with the crowd. By the time we got there, a large crowd had already gathered. Mark was tall, making it easy for him to see over the crowd. He suddenly gasped: “Holy shit! Isn’t this the kind of spectacle you only see in romance novels when the billionaire CEO comes to catch his runaway bride?” I was stuck in the back and couldn’t see clearly. I asked him: “What’s going on?” Mark thought for a moment. “More than a dozen top-tier black luxury SUVs, and two men in black suits standing in front of every single one.” He frowned, as if feeling that description didn’t do justice to the scene. He waved his hand dismissively and said: “I can’t even describe it. Come on, I’ll show you.” He grabbed my shoulder and pushed toward the front. Once we reached the front, peering through a few rows of people, I spotted Oliver immediately. He was sitting in the back of a car, his face dark with intense anger and impatience. In the few short days since I last saw him, the aura around him had grown much sharper and more dangerous. He hadn’t seen me. He was turning his head to talk to the bodyguards beside him. I froze in place, involuntarily recalling his threat: You better pray I never find you. Without thinking, I ripped my arm out of Mark’s grasp and started pushing my way back through the crowd. I prayed Oliver wouldn’t look in my direction. But I forgot that finding me, let alone catching me, was child’s play for him. Right now, I didn’t have time to worry about that. However, things never go as planned. Seeing me leave, Mark immediately yelled after me at the top of his lungs: “Leo, why are you leaving?! I finally managed to push us to the front! Hey, why are you walking faster? Wait up!” The moment he yelled my name, I felt a searing gaze lock onto me. I knew Oliver had spotted me, but the crowd was too dense, and I couldn’t squeeze my way out. Moments later, the synchronized sound of approaching footsteps echoed, parting the crowd around me. I looked up at the scene before me. A dozen bodyguards surrounded me completely, trapping me in the center. From behind came that deep, hoarse voice, dripping with ice, sending shivers down my spine. “Found you, Leo.” 09 I was “escorted” into the car by Oliver’s bodyguards. The moment the car door shut, Oliver lunged at me without warning, pinning me against the backseat. Seeing this, the driver up front quietly raised the privacy partition. Oliver buried his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent greedily and urgently. I could feel his cool lips brushing against the burning skin of my neck, his breath hot against my collarbone. Feeling incredibly uncomfortable, I gave him a weak push. The next second, he grabbed my hands and pinned them above my head. He was very strong, gripping my wrists tightly, intentionally making it hurt. “Don’t move.” His tone was heavy, as if annoyed by the interruption. He reached down and gripped my waist tightly. Oliver was furious about me secretly changing my grad school application. It took a long time for the dark cloud over his face to dissipate, but he still didn’t get off me. He braced himself with one hand by my ear, lifting his upper body slightly, staring straight into my eyes. When he finally spoke, his tone wasn’t as aggressive as before, but it definitely wasn’t pleasant: “Who was that guy hugging you?” I looked at him and couldn’t help but remember our college graduation day. That day, our class hosted a farewell party, and Oliver came with me. I had originally planned to confess my feelings to Oliver that day. But just as I turned a corner in the hallway, I saw a girl blocking his path. Her face was flushed, but she still gathered the courage to speak: “Oliver, I like you. Will you be my boyfriend?” Oliver maintained his usual calm, indifferent expression. “I’m sorry, I don’t feel the same way.” Then, I heard the girl ask him: “Is it because of Leo? Ever since Leo transferred here, you haven’t dated anyone. Do you like him?” I hid behind a pillar, my fingers tightening involuntarily out of nervousness, crushing the love letter in my hand. I held my breath, straining my ears to hear his answer. But all I heard was a ruthless scoff, as if he’d just heard a joke: “Why would I like him? He’s a guy. I’m not gay.” But the first question he asked me now wasn’t an interrogation about why I changed my application. It sounded almost like he was jealous, asking about my relationship with Mark. Those hidden feelings in my heart suddenly refused to stay buried. I thought, maybe he did like me a little, but just hadn’t realized it yet. I knew it was just wishful thinking on my part, and it probably sounded ridiculous. But just the sliver of a possibility made my heart race uncontrollably. The urge to tell him how I felt peaked in that moment. I looked up at him intently, a hint of testing in my gaze: “Aren’t you going to ask why I changed schools?” His face darkened instantly: “You have the nerve to ask? Tell me why.” I looked at Oliver with burning intensity: “Because I like you. I didn’t want to watch you date someone else, so I secretly changed my application.” He stared at me for a long time, then suddenly let out a scoff: “Leo, are you a fucking idiot? Do you really think making a joke like that means I’ll forget about you lying to me?” I immediately defended myself: “I’m not joking.” He stared at me for a long time, suddenly curled his lips into a smile, released the hand propping him up by my ear, let his body weight sink heavily onto me, and said casually: “Is that so? Then prove it to me.” I asked him: “How?” He raised an eyebrow, gently tapped his long finger against his own lips, and slowly uttered two words: “Kiss me.” My brain exploded, going completely blank. I was too slow to process it, looking at him in a daze: “What did you say?” His smile widened: “Didn’t you say you like me? What, you don’t even have the guts to kiss me?” I stared at his lips, which were moving as he spoke. Only one thought echoed in my mind: he asked me to kiss him. Did that mean he liked me? “Leo, next time you should find a better…” I lifted my head and gently covered his chattering mouth with mine, staring unblinkingly at Oliver. I saw him freeze slightly, but he didn’t show the slightest hint of disgust. I closed my eyes and deepened the kiss. I gradually allowed myself to sink into it, savoring the sweet taste of him. But before I could fully enjoy it… Suddenly, I was violently shoved away. My back slammed hard against the car door, a sharp, piercing pain shooting up my spine. But what was harder to accept was that when I opened my eyes, I saw Oliver wiping his lips with a look of absolute disgust. He said, “Leo, you are disgusting.” The color drained from my face instantly. Trembling, I didn’t know what to say. He ordered the driver coldly: “Pull over.” The next second, his face dark, he roared at me: “Get the fuck out.”

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The day I graduated, my parents handed me their primary debit card. “Maren, honey,” my mom said, her voice thick with that practiced fragility she wore like a shawl. “You’re out there on your own now. We can’t do much, but this is our life savings. It’s our retirement fund—our safety net. We want you to have it.” I looked at that thin piece of plastic, feeling a weight in my chest that didn’t feel like gratitude. It felt like a debt. I knew how hard they’d worked, so I made a silent vow. Every month, I’d transfer fifteen hundred dollars back to them from my salary, just to make sure they were taken care of. That lasted until my younger brother, Tyler, decided it was time for him to get married. He didn’t ask. He demanded. “Maren, Mom and Dad gave you the entire family nest egg. I’m trying to put a down payment on a house and I’ve got nothing. You owe me sixty thousand dollars. Now.” I stood in their kitchen, drying a dish, and didn’t even turn around. “I don’t have it,” I said flatly. “Not a dime.” 1 Tyler exploded. He slammed his fork onto the table, the silver clattering against the porcelain. “Do you even have a soul, Maren? There was over a hundred and fifty grand in that account! I’m asking for sixty, and you’re acting like I’m robbing you!” “Don’t be greedy, Tyler,” I replied, finally turning to face him. My dad snapped then, glaring at Tyler. “Sit down! Who do you think you’re talking to? Your sister is a single woman living in a brutal city. That money was meant to be her protection.” “Dad, you’re being ridiculous! You’re totally playing favorites!” My mom reached over and swatted Tyler’s arm, though there was no sting in it. “Hush! A man provides for his own wife. Besides, didn’t we try to help you talk to the bank about a loan?” “Nobody’s lending right now!” Tyler shouted, pacing the linoleum. “I don’t care. Maren, you have the card. Give it to me.” I let out a cold, sharp laugh. “You want money? You’ll have to cut it out of me. Go ahead, Tyler. Give it your best shot.” “You—!” Tyler lunged forward, but Mom caught him by the waist. “Stop it! She’s your sister!” “She’s a hoarder! She’s sitting on our family assets while I can’t even start a life. That money belongs to me just as much as her.” My dad slammed his fist on the table, making the water glasses jump. “That money belongs to me until the day I’m in the ground! And while I’m breathing, I’ll give it to whoever I damn well please!” Tyler shrunk back, muttering under his breath. “Fine. But at least give me fifteen. For the earnest money. The good listings don’t stay on Zillow for more than a day.” I shrugged. “Like I said. Not a dime.” “You’ve changed, Maren. You’re obsessed with money. A hundred and fifty thousand dollars… five years of interest alone should be twenty grand. You’re crying poverty? No one believes you.” I smirked. “You don’t believe me? Fine. Let’s go to the bank tomorrow. We’ll pull the full statement.” “Fine! Let’s go!” Mom suddenly looked panicked. She grabbed Tyler’s arm and then reached for my hand, her palm sweaty. “Oh, stop it, both of you. Fighting over money like this… it’s embarrassing. What would the neighbors think?” I pulled my hand away. Dad stood up and grabbed Tyler by the ear, hauling him toward the back bedroom like he was ten years old again. I could hear Tyler’s muffled protests as the door slammed. I didn’t stick around. My apartment in the city was only a forty-minute train ride away. Within the hour, I was staring at my ceiling, the silence of my own space finally wrapping around me. Then, the phone rang. Mom. “Maren, don’t be hard on him. He’s just stressed about the wedding. His fiancée, Brittany… she won’t walk down the aisle without a deed in her hand.” “Sounds like a Tyler problem,” I said. “Maybe I should just give the card back to you and Dad.” “No!” Mom’s voice spiked, nearly a shriek. She caught herself quickly. “I mean… no, honey. We gave it to you. It’s yours.” I felt a chill go down my spine. “Well, it’s a shame,” I said, my voice dripping with irony. “Uncle Pete and the rest of the family aren’t exactly flush with cash either, or I’m sure they’d lend to you.” “Money is tight everywhere,” she sighed. “I hate that you’re being put in this position.” “Don’t worry about it,” I said, my voice steady. “Actually, I can help. I’ll text you the numbers for a few private lenders and some personal loan officers I know. They can get Tyler the cash.” “Maybe you could even take out a second mortgage on your house. You’d get the sixty thousand easily.” There was a long, suffocating silence on the other end. “I… I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she finally whispered. 2 “Why not? If the family won’t help, that’s the only way. Unless… you want the card back?” “No! Goodnight, Maren!” She hung up abruptly. I didn’t hesitate. I pulled up the family group chat and dropped the contact info for three high-interest lenders. @Dad @Mom, check these out. They’re legitimate lenders for quick cash. My dad replied almost immediately: What loans? Mom said you guys were struggling to find the down payment for Tyler. These guys are fast. The chat went silent for ten minutes. Then Dad: Forget about it. Just focus on your job. Your mother and I will figure it out. Mom added: I was just venting, Maren. Don’t worry. We would never touch your money. Then Tyler entered the chat like a wrecking ball. Maren, you’re a piece of work. Mom asks for help and you send her to a loan shark? Who does that? I typed back with a smile: You’ve got a clean credit score, Tyler. You could probably pull a hundred grand on your own. Then you wouldn’t even need a down payment; you could buy in cash. Try it. Tyler’s response was a sixty-second voice note. I didn’t even play it. I knew the tone: the high-pitched vitriol of a boy who had been told ‘no’ for the first time in his life. I silenced my phone and went back to my laptop. My coworker, Ben, looked over from the next cubicle. “Everything okay? You look like you’ve been in a war zone.” “My family wants sixty thousand dollars for my brother’s house,” I said, not looking up from my spreadsheet. “Sixty? God. I know you make good money, Maren, but that’s insane. Do they think you’re a bank?” I just shrugged. I let the information sit there. I wanted the people around me to know the situation—a preemptive strike in case Tyler decided to show up at my office and make a scene. I’d worked hard for my life. I had a condo, no husband, a six-figure salary, and a reputation for being untouchable. That made me a target for people like Tyler. I knew he wouldn’t let it go. I just didn’t expect them to show up so soon. That Friday, as I walked out of the glass lobby of my office building, there they were. Mom, Dad, and Tyler. Standing by the fountain like a welcoming committee from hell. “Must be nice,” Tyler sneered the moment he saw me. “Designer suit, corner office, playing the big-shot executive while your family rots.” I nodded. “It is nice. I worked sixty hours a week for four years to get that annual bonus. It was fifteen thousand this year. And you’re not seeing a cent of it.” Tyler looked like he was about to vibrate out of his skin. Dad grabbed his shoulder. “Knock it off. We just came to see your place, Maren. Tyler, if you can’t behave, get back in the car.” Tyler fumed but stayed quiet. I led them to my condo—a spacious, sun-drenched loft with floor-to-ceiling windows. Mom’s jaw practically hit the hardwood. “Maren… this is… how much does a place like this even cost?” “With the current market? Around eight hundred thousand,” I said casually. “Between my salary and the savings I’ve built up, the mortgage is manageable.” Tyler was spiraling. “Eight hundred thousand? You’re living in a million-dollar palace and you won’t give me sixty grand? You used Mom and Dad’s retirement to buy this, didn’t you? You thief!” 3 I let out a sharp, jagged laugh. “You think so? Fine. You want the card? Take it.” I reached into my purse, pulled out the “nest egg” card, and tossed it at his chest. “Here. The PIN is your birthday. Go ahead. Go to the bank and see what’s in there. Get the full transaction history while you’re at it.” Tyler caught the card, stunned. “You’re… you’re serious?” “Dead serious.” The grin started to spread across his face, but Mom lunged forward and snatched the card out of his hand. “What is wrong with you?” she hissed at me. She tried to shove the card back into my purse. “Don’t listen to him, Maren. We just came to visit.” Tyler’s eyes went red. “Mom, stop it! You’re being so biased it’s sick! Brittany said if I don’t have a house, the wedding is off. She’s pregnant, Mom! Do you want your grandkid living in a rental? Do you want me to be a loser forever?” He actually sat down on my designer rug, looking like a broken child. Dad sighed, looking exhausted. “If we can’t afford a house, we can’t afford a house. People rent all the time.” Mom turned on Dad, then on me. “It’s because he isn’t like you, Maren. You were always the smart one, the capable one. Look at this place! Look at your life! And look at your brother…” Dad waved a hand dismissively. “Enough. Let’s not fight. Diane, go in the kitchen and start some dinner. We’re all hungry.” As Mom headed into the kitchen, I followed her to “help.” Outside in the living room, I could hear Dad trying to talk sense into a sobbing Tyler. In the kitchen, Mom leaned over the island, her voice a low, desperate whisper. “Maren, I know you’ve worked hard. But he’s your only brother. I’ve been thinking… I can scrape together ten thousand. If you could just find another fifty… maybe ask your boss for an advance? You said you got that bonus…” I looked at her. Really looked at her. I saw the desperation, but I also saw the calculation. “You want me to go into debt for him, Mom? I have a mortgage. I have bills.” “But you’re so successful! Please, Maren. For me?” I stayed silent for a heartbeat. “I’ll think about it.” Mom visibly deflated with relief. After dinner, while my parents were “napping” in the guest room, I pulled Tyler aside. I slid the debit card back into his hand. “While they’re asleep, grab their IDs from Mom’s purse. I’ll drive you to the bank right now.” “You mean it?” “Yeah. Let’s settle this.” Tyler didn’t hesitate. He was a greedy moth flying straight into a blowtorch. He swiped the IDs, and we were at the bank branch the moment it opened the next morning. He shoved the card into the ATM, his fingers trembling as he punched in his birthday. The screen flashed. Balance: $0.00. He whirled around, shouting in the quiet lobby. “Maren, you bitch! You played me! There’s nothing in here!” I feigned a gasp. “What? That’s impossible. I never touched that money. Get a printed statement, Tyler. We need to see where it went.” “You’re lying! You spent it on that condo!” He was screaming now. “The card was with you! Where else would it go?” “I didn’t take it,” I said, my voice calm and loud enough for the bank manager to look over. “Get the receipts.” He stomped over to the teller desk, demanding a printout. While the printer hummed, my phone vibrated. Mom. “Maren? Where are you? My ID is gone!” “We’re at the bank, Mom. Tyler wanted to check the balance. We’re getting the statements now.” A sharp, choked gasp came from the other end. “Who told you to do that? Stop! Stay right there, I’m coming!” I didn’t stop. I took the stapled pages from the teller and tucked them into my bag. Tyler sneered at me. “Acting’s over, Maren. Give me the papers.” “No. The money isn’t with me. If you think I stole it, call the cops.” “Fine! You think I won’t? I’m doing it!” He pulled out his phone, his face contorted with rage. “911? I want to report a theft. My sister stole a hundred and fifty thousand dollars from my parents’ retirement fund.” 4 He was howling in the middle of the lobby. Saturday morning customers were everywhere, their necks craning, their eyes wide with the kind of voyeuristic glee that only comes from watching a family fall apart in public. I just crossed my legs, leaned back on the velvet bench, and waited. A few minutes later, my parents burst through the doors, breathless and pale. They saw Tyler, then they saw me. Mom looked like she was about to faint. She grabbed Tyler’s arm. “What are you doing? Stop this madness!” Tyler’s eyes were bloodshot. “Mom, she took it! It’s all gone! Every cent of your retirement! She bought that luxury loft with your blood and sweat, and now she’s letting me rot! She’s a monster!” Mom’s hand flew out. Slap. The sound echoed through the bank. Tyler froze, his cheek blooming red. Mom’s lips trembled; she couldn’t find the words. She looked at me, and for the first time, I saw the sheer, unadulterated terror in her eyes. She knew. The crowd began to murmur. You could hear the judgment in their whispers. “Can you believe her? Stealing from her own parents like that.” “Look at that bag she’s carrying. Probably costs three grand.” “Typical. The successful child thinks they’re entitled to everything while the brother gets nothing.” I didn’t move. I just watched Tyler. Tyler, sensing the crowd was on his side, played it up. “They worked their whole lives for that money! They sacrificed everything so she could go to college, so she could have a career! And this is how she pays them back? By leaving them with nothing?” Mom grabbed his arm again, her voice a panicked hiss. “Tyler, shut up! This is family business! Let’s just go home!” “No! I want everyone to see what she is!” Dad tried to grab my arm to pull me up. “Maren, get up. We’re leaving.” I shook him off. “Why are you in such a hurry, Dad? Afraid of what the police will find?” “You’re being a brat! Your brother is emotional, but you—you should know better!” “I know exactly what’s going on,” I said. “And I’m not going anywhere.” Across the lobby, a teenager had his phone out, livestreaming the whole thing. I looked directly into his camera and gave a small, chilling smile. The comments on his screen were flying by: Toxic sister! Absolute gold-digger! Justice for the parents! One comment caught my eye. It was from a profile I recognized. A guy from my office. I know her. She’s a total ice queen. Always acting like she’s better than everyone. Figures she’s a thief. I pulled out my own phone, found the stream, and replied: I know you too, Dave. You’re the guy who asked me out, tried to make me pay for your $12 avocado toast, and then complained to HR when I said no. Keep talking. My phone buzzed. A text from my boss: Maren, what is happening? Fix this. Do not let the company’s name get dragged into a family spat. I replied: Don’t worry, sir. The truth is about to come out. Finally, two police officers walked in. Tyler ran to them like they were his saviors. “Officers! She did it! She stole the money! A hundred and fifty thousand!” The officers looked at me—the woman in the expensive suit looking perfectly composed—and then at the disheveled, screaming brother and the trembling parents. “Is this true, ma’am?” the officer asked. I stood up slowly. “No, Officer. I didn’t take a cent. But I do have the bank statements right here.” I reached into my bag and pulled out the stapled packet.

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The day Cole Bradley won the Grand Prix championship, I found a pair of black lace underwear wedged between the leather seats of his Aston Martin. That same night, I tipped off the tabloids and kicked down the door of a five-star penthouse at the Ritz, catching the golden boy of American motorsports in bed with his newest protégée. Amidst the blinding flash of cameras and my own hysterical screaming, Cole looked utterly panicked. Yet, in the chaos, his first instinct was to pull the duvet up, using his own body to shield Madison from the lenses. “It was a momentary lapse in judgment,” he pleaded later, his voice cracking. “She means nothing to me, Nat. Nothing.” It wasn’t until the internet ripped Madison to shreds, until the cyberbullying drove her into a manic frenzy that ended with her accelerating her car straight into me—killing the child growing in my womb—that I finally gave Cole an ultimatum. Send her to prison, or sign the divorce papers. Cole had stared at my flat, empty stomach, his eyes bloodshot. The very next morning, he handed over the dashcam and telemetry data to the district attorney. The evidence of Madison’s vehicular assault was irrefutable. After that, Cole walked away from the track. He transitioned to a background role in team management, dedicating every waking hour to pulling me out of the suffocating, pitch-black well of clinical depression. Years passed. We healed, or so I thought. When I finally saw the two pink lines on a pregnancy test again, my heart swelled with a cautious, desperate hope. I wanted to surprise him. But on my way home, passing an exclusive maternity boutique on Rodeo Drive, I stopped dead in my tracks. Inside, a young woman with a pronounced baby bump was casually pointing at displays, buying out half the store. “My husband knows I’m terribly indecisive,” she giggled to the clerk, “so he just told me to put the whole collection on his card.” “You guys deliver, right? Have it sent to the gated estate in Bel-Air.” The girl turned her head, catching the afternoon sun. I froze, the breath knocked entirely from my lungs. It was Madison. The girl who was supposed to be rotting in a state penitentiary. … The blood in my veins turned to ice water. The sales associate looked at Madison with starry-eyed envy. “Your husband must love you so much.” Madison rested a manicured hand delicately on her belly, a saccharine smile playing on her lips. “He really does. He was my mentor first, actually. A genius on the track. He’s been taking care of me since day one.” She sighed, playing with a lock of her hair. “When I first joined the racing circuit, I was so green. He was terrified the older guys would take advantage of me, so he taught me everything himself. Hand-over-hand on the steering wheel. He even had a custom blush-pink Porsche wrapped just for me.” Early in our marriage, I used to go to the paddock. I would stand in the deafening roar of the pit lane, waving his team colors, my throat raw from cheering. But eventually, he started meeting me after races with a cold, distant expression. He told me to stop coming. When I asked why, he simply said, “The track is too dangerous, Nat. It’s not a place for a wife.” It wasn’t that it was too dangerous. It was just that he couldn’t be bothered to waste his energy pretending I belonged in his world. “The other day, I just coughed a little from walking too fast,” Madison continued, her voice dripping with mock exasperation. “And he completely panicked. Had his private concierge doctor come to the house for a full workup!” Half a month ago, the morning sickness had hit me so hard I couldn’t stand. Cole had initially promised to drive me to my OB-GYN appointment. But as I was grabbing my purse, his phone buzzed. He told me an urgent sponsor crisis had come up. Go ahead without me, he’d said, kissing my forehead. I’ll come pick you up after. I sat in that sterile waiting room alone. I got my blood drawn alone. I waited in the hospital corridor for six hours. The only thing that came was a Venmo notification from Cole with a quick text: Caught up in meetings. Take an Uber Black home on me. Love you. Madison looked radiant. Suddenly, her phone chimed. “Oh, my husband is pulling up. Don’t forget the delivery instructions!” I shrank back against the corner of the brick storefront, my eyes locked on the curb. A sleek, black Maybach silently rolled to a stop. When the heavy door opened and Cole stepped onto the pavement, the world around me ceased to exist. He caught Madison as she threw herself into his arms, his voice laced with an affectionate reprimand. “You’re about to be a mother, Maddie. Why are you still running around like a teenager? What if you trip and hurt the baby?” Madison pouted, looking up at him through her lashes. “Are you getting tired of me? Do you think I’m just not as good as your boring, washed-up wife?” Cole’s tone softened into something I hadn’t heard in years. Pure, unadulterated devotion. “Don’t be ridiculous. No one could ever touch your place in my heart.” A physical agony ripped through my chest, sharp and breathless. When Madison hit me with her car, I was twenty-eight weeks pregnant. I had to deliver him. He was a fully formed little boy, a tiny, perfect, lifeless weight placed on my chest before being taken away forever. For months, I woke up screaming. I dreamt of a little voice crying out in the dark, begging me to save him. The grief mutated into a severe depressive episode. I tried to end my life more than once, and every time, Cole was the one who pulled me back from the ledge. To stay by my side, he retired at the peak of his career, walking away from millions in endorsements and the only life he knew. When his fans took to Twitter, blaming me for ruining his legacy, saying I was a psycho who didn’t deserve him, Cole issued his first and only public cease-and-desist. [My wife is my entire world,] his statement had read. [Caring for her is not a burden; it is the greatest privilege of my life. Anyone who speaks ill of her will hear from my legal team.] A wave of bitter acid rose in my throat. As if sensing the sheer weight of my stare, Cole abruptly turned his head toward the alleyway. I instinctively flattened myself against the brick wall, my heart hammering against my ribs. “What are you looking at?” I heard Madison ask. “Don’t ignore me! If you don’t tell me exactly why I’m better than that old woman, I’m going to make you sleep on the couch!” Cole chuckled, a low, helpless sound as he smoothed her hair. “You’re better than her in every way.” “I should start recording you when you throw these tantrums,” he teased gently. “Show the kids one day just how childish their mother really is.” Madison’s face flushed. “You want me to ruin my body having multiple kids for you? Keep dreaming!” Every syllable was a serrated blade, sawing slowly through the last remaining tethers of my sanity. A cold California wind swept down the street, and I shivered uncontrollably. Cole immediately guided Madison toward the open car door. “You shouldn’t be out in the wind in your condition. Let’s go home.” Watching the Maybach merge into traffic, a desperate, hysterical impulse took over. I pulled out my phone and dialed his number. In the past, even if he was halfway across the world in Monaco, Cole answered my calls on the first ring. First attempt. Sent to voicemail. Second attempt. Sent to voicemail. By the third, the phone was turned off completely. I raised a trembling hand to my face, only then realizing my cheeks were entirely slick with tears. I floated back to our house like a ghost. When I pushed the heavy oak front door open, Cole was already sitting on the living room sofa, his jacket tossed over a chair. The moment he saw me, he stood up, crossing the room to pull me into his chest. His brow furrowed with familiar, practiced concern. “Nat? Are you okay? Is it the depression again?” I didn’t lean into his touch. I didn’t answer his question. I just stared straight into his dark eyes. “Do you want a child, Cole?” A microscopic flicker of unease crossed his face. “Your body… the doctors said your condition isn’t suited for pregnancy right now.” Was my body not suited for it, or did Cole just not want me to be the one carrying his child? I shoved hard against his chest, breaking his hold. Reaching into my purse, I pulled out the glossy photos I’d printed at a pharmacy kiosk on the way home—pictures I’d snapped of them outside the boutique—and slammed them onto the glass coffee table. Tears spilled over my lashes, my teeth grinding together so hard my jaw ached. “You and Madison. Don’t you think I deserve a goddamn explanation?” Cole froze. For a second, he looked at the photos, and then the warmth bled out of his face, replaced by a glacial, defensive anger. “You’re stalking me?” He scoffed, a cruel twist of his lips altering his entire demeanor. “Is this why you were blowing up my phone today?” “What exactly do you want me to explain, Natalie? Yes, I cheated. I fell for my protégé. What happened back then… the crash, it was a tragic accident. She was so young, Nat. I couldn’t just let her rot in a cell and destroy her entire future over a mistake.” “I’ve kept her set up quietly. She knows her place. She has never bothered you. You’re the one forcing this out into the open, making a mess out of nothing.” His calm, calculated blame felt like a physical blow. He was rewriting history. Rewriting the murder of my child as a “mistake.” A visceral cramp seized my stomach, and I doubled over slightly, gasping in pain. Seeing me wince, muscle memory kicked in; Cole instinctively reached out to support me. I slapped his hand away with everything I had. “Don’t touch me! Keep your filthy, hypocritical hands off me. You make me sick!” Cole’s face darkened, his jaw ticking. He opened his mouth to snap back, but his phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered it instantly, his eyes locked coldly on mine. “I’m leaving,” he said to me, pocketing the phone. “Take a pill and calm down.” He walked out with hurried, urgent strides. Driven by a morbid need to twist the knife in my own chest, I followed him in my own car. I watched from a distance as he stopped at a high-end grocer. He came out carrying a massive bouquet of imported Juliet roses and a small, delicate clamshell of organic strawberries. I remembered my first pregnancy. The morning sickness had been unrelenting, and one afternoon, I had an overwhelming, desperate craving for fresh lychees. Cole had been deep in prep for the Le Mans race, surrounded by engineers and press. He had his assistant send a massive, expensive fruit basket to the house. It was filled with exotic melons and berries, but not a single lychee. Now, I sat in my idling car and watched the man who couldn’t be bothered to leave the track for me step into a sprawling Bel-Air estate. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, I watched him carefully wash the strawberries by hand, cut off the stems, and feed them, one by one, to Madison. The dam inside me finally broke. I got out of the car, ran up the driveway, shoved open the unlocked front door, and marched straight into the kitchen. Before either of them could react, I swung my arm back and slapped Cole across the face with a sickening crack. “Natalie, have you lost your mind?!” He instantly pulled Madison behind him, shielding her just like he had in that hotel room years ago. His eyes blazed with unchecked hostility. “Take your crazy out on me! Maddie has nothing to do with this!” I stumbled backward, the floor swaying beneath my feet. I couldn’t reconcile the monster standing in front of me with the man I loved. When I first told him I was pregnant all those years ago, Cole hadn’t cared that we were in the middle of a crowded restaurant. He picked me up and spun me around, tears in his eyes. Nat! I’m gonna be a dad! Before we even knew the gender, he had cleared out a room, filling it with model cars and tiny racing helmets, bragging to the press that he was raising the next generation of motorsport royalty. And now. “What do you want, Natalie? Do you want her to pay with her life?!” Cole’s voice boomed through the kitchen, but as he took in my bloodshot eyes and trembling frame, he lowered his tone, attempting a twisted sort of negotiation. “Once Maddie’s baby is born, you can be its godmother. We can all move past this.” Staring at the man who was bargaining away my grief to protect the woman who killed our child, my heart didn’t just break—it shattered into dust. Madison peeked out from behind him, stepping forward to grab my forearm. Her perfectly manicured acrylic nails dug viciously into my skin, pinching the flesh hard enough to draw blood, even as she put on a terrified, trembling voice. “I’ve always felt so guilty about what happened back then, Natalie… I just hope, one day, you can find it in your heart to forgive me—” “Get off me!” I yanked my arm back violently. I hadn’t pushed her, but Madison threw herself backward, collapsing onto the marble floor with a theatrical shriek. “My baby…!” She clutched her swollen stomach, her face contorting in faux agony, before letting her eyes roll back as she “fainted.” Cole’s face drained of color. He turned to me, a look of pure, unadulterated hatred in his eyes. “You know exactly what the pain of losing a child feels like, and you’re trying to do the exact same thing to Maddie?!” He shoved me. Hard. He didn’t look back as he scooped Madison into his arms and sprinted toward the door. I staggered backward, my heel catching on the edge of the luxury rug. I fell hard, my tailbone slamming against the unforgiving marble. But a second later, a deep, tearing agony ripped through my lower abdomen. “Cole… wait. Help me, I’m preg—” He paused in the doorway. Those dark eyes that used to look at me like I hung the moon were now cold and dead. “The doctors were very clear, Natalie. You can hardly get pregnant.” “Don’t try to manipulate me with cheap lies. You’re draining whatever love I have left for you.” He walked out. I lay on the floor, paralyzed by the pain, until a delivery driver found me through the open door and called an ambulance. At the hospital, the ER doctor’s voice was gentle but grave. Threatened miscarriage. I squeezed my eyes shut, the tears leaking down my temples and into my mouth, tasting of salt and copper. Behind my eyelids, all I could see was Cole’s broad back as he walked away from me. My phone buzzed on the bedside table. A photo message illuminated the screen. It was Madison, her maternity blouse unbuttoned, slipping off her shoulder. And there was Cole, his head bent over her chest, his lips approaching her breast. An audio file followed. I pressed play with shaking, icy fingers. Madison’s voice drifted out, breathless and cloyingly sweet: “It’s my first time pregnant, so my body is just so sensitive… Cole couldn’t bear the thought of me hurting myself with a mechanical breast pump, so… he offered to help clear the ducts himself…” A wave of pure nausea violently hit the back of my throat. My hands trembled so hard I could barely type, but I opened the Reddit app. I bypassed the racing forums and went straight to a major pop-culture subreddit. [IndyCar Golden Boy Cole Bradley knocked up the protégé he swore he dropped. The same protégé who killed his wife’s unborn baby. He’s housing her in Bel-Air.] I attached the photo she had just sent me, along with the ones from the boutique, and hit post. Within an hour, it was trending on X and TikTok. The internet exploded, tearing Madison apart, calling her a homewrecking sociopath. But the victory was short-lived. A massive PR firm stepped in. The hashtags were scrubbed, the posts shadow-banned, and in their place, a polished, official press release from Cole’s agency took over the trending page. [My former wife, Natalie Bradley, has long suffered from severe psychiatric delusions. We legally separated some time ago. The fabricated narratives circulating online are the tragic result of her declining mental health.] I slid down the hospital wall, collapsing onto the cold floor. When he proposed, Cole had gotten down on one knee in the rain, swearing to God he would never let a tear fall from my eyes. When I lost our baby, he swore he would never touch a steering wheel again, dedicating his life to doing penance by my side. Now, he told the world I was crazy. The vows of our youth were nothing but a punchline. My phone rang. It was Cole. When I answered, his voice dripped with exhaustion and profound disappointment. “Nat. Do you have any idea how hard Maddie has worked to get her life back on track? Do you really have to destroy her?” “She’s locking herself in the bathroom, threatening to end it. She’s young and hormonal, and I’m terrified she’s going to do something irreversible.” “Take down the posts, issue a retraction, and come here to apologize to her in person.” A jagged lump formed in my throat, choking off my air. I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood, forcing the tears back. “Me? Apologize? Who the hell is going to apologize to my dead son?!” “Cole Bradley, you are bending over backward to protect a murderer! How do you sleep at night?!” The child inside me seemed to contract, as if feeling the toxic rush of my despair. Despite my best efforts to hold onto my dignity, a ragged, animalistic scream tore from my throat. It was the sound of years of suffocated grief and betrayal finally clawing its way out. My breakdown seemed to shock him. The line went silent for a long, heavy moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was hollow. “If that’s how you want to play it, fine. Don’t blame me for what happens next.” “You hurt Maddie. Actions have consequences.” He hung up. The next morning, an anonymous whistleblower post went viral across my university’s forums and local news outlets. [Tenured by Day, Escort by Night: The Truth About Professor Bradley.] The three-thousand-word expose was allegedly written by a former classmate. It claimed that to secure my coveted tenure-track position at the university, I had slept with my fifty-year-old department chair. Attached was a grainy photo from years ago. I was standing in a cramped office, and an older man’s wrinkled hand was resting inappropriately low on my waist. My brain short-circuited. I was a scholarship kid who clawed my way out of a dead-end town. I had no money, no connections. In grad school, my advisor had weaponized my vulnerability, assuming I’d be too terrified to report him, and subjected me to relentless sexual harassment. Even though I eventually fought back and he was quietly forced into early retirement for “academic misconduct,” the trauma had left deep, lasting scars. The only person in the world I had ever confided in about that was Cole. And now, Madison was on Instagram Live, crying to thousands of viewers. “Cole and I have known each other for years. He promised we’d be together. But Natalie trapped him… she spiked his drink at a party years ago and used a pregnancy to force him into a miserable marriage!” The internet turned its rabid attention toward me. [They let this whore teach college kids? Homewreckers should kill themselves!] [No wonder her baby died. Karma doing its job!] The sheer volume of the hatred was a physical weight, pressing the air from my lungs. A sharp, pulling ache radiated through my lower pelvis. Within an hour, I received an email from the Dean’s office. I was suspended, pending a full investigation. The sensation of drowning was total. I was still sitting numbly on the floor when my phone rang. It was my mother. “Natalie, what the hell is happening on the news?! Get over here right now and explain this mess to me!” Her voice was strained, breathless. She had a severe heart condition; any spike in her blood pressure was a death sentence. I dragged myself to her house. The second I walked through the door, a hand struck my cheek with blinding force. I stood there, ears ringing, holding my face. It was only then that I realized Cole was sitting calmly in her armchair. My mother was shaking violently, her face pale. “Get on your knees! Natalie, I did not work my fingers to the bone raising you just for you to become some cheap mistress destroying another woman’s home!” I opened my mouth, desperate to explain, but she cut me off. “Cole already told me everything! He told me how you’ve been blackmailing him, how you’ve been sleeping around behind his back!” I snapped my head toward Cole. He met my gaze, a faint, mocking smirk playing on his lips. Before I could form a word, my mother lunged, grabbing a handful of my hair. “Apologize! You apologize to Cole and Miss Madison right now! Or so help me God, you are no longer my daughter!” The crushing injustice of it all snapped whatever fragile thread was holding me together. I gritted my teeth against the pain in my scalp, refusing to break. “I didn’t do it! I am the victim here! Why should I apologize to the woman who ruined my life?!” “You… you want to put me in the ground, is that it?!” My mother gasped, her chest heaving. Suddenly, her eyes rolled back. She clutched her heart and collapsed onto the hardwood floor like a puppet with its strings cut. “Mom!” I threw myself toward her. Her lips were already turning a terrifying shade of blue, her breathing reduced to wet, rattling gasps. My hands shook violently as I fumbled for my phone to dial 911, but a hand shot out and snatched the device from my grip. “You can call the ambulance,” Cole said, his voice terrifyingly calm, “right after you apologize to Maddie.” I was hovering over the abyss of total madness. I screamed at him, my voice shredding my throat. “I’ll apologize! I’ll do whatever she wants! Just let me call the paramedics, please!” Cole frowned, looking slightly displeased by my volume, but he tossed the phone back onto the floor. The moment the ambulance arrived at the emergency room doors, Cole stepped in front of me, physically blocking my path to the sliding glass doors. “Kneel down and apologize to Maddie. Until you do, my private medical team won’t so much as look at your mother.” Madison had just arrived, chauffeured in one of Cole’s SUVs. Seeing me panic-stricken and covered in sweat, a flash of triumphant glee crossed her face. I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted a rush of warm blood. Swallowing my pride, my dignity, and the last remnants of my soul, I dropped to my knees on the dirty concrete in front of Madison. “I’m sorry. I am the homewrecker.” “You stop when Maddie says she forgives you,” Cole dictated, his arms crossed. I bent forward, pressing my forehead against the pavement. One time. Two times. Three times. The concrete scraped my skin raw. Blood began to trickle down my brow, blinding my vision. A high-pitched ringing filled my ears. Cole’s brow furrowed, a flicker of something like discomfort crossing his face. “Enough. Go check on your mother.” He turned to walk inside. As he did, Madison leaned down, her lips brushing my ear. Her voice was pure venom. “I showed her the deepfake videos of you sleeping with those older men before she collapsed. She really didn’t take it well, did she?” My mother couldn’t take any more stress. My fragile grip on reality disintegrated entirely. I scrambled up, practically crawling through the ER doors toward the resuscitation bay. The attending physician walked out, slowly pulling off his surgical mask. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. The patient suffered a massive cardiac event. Given the delay in getting her here… there was nothing we could do.” The world went silent. My heart didn’t just break; it ceased to exist. My body began to convulse uncontrollably. A sudden, blinding agony tore through my abdomen, twisting my insides like barbwire. I looked down to see dark, crimson blood pooling around my legs, staining the sterile linoleum. They rushed me into emergency surgery. When the doctors initiated the D&C to remove what was left of my pregnancy, the physical agony was nothing compared to the violent severing of my spirit. I felt every scrape, every pull. My soul was being hollowed out, piece by bloody piece. “Your uterus has suffered significant trauma from the fall,” the surgeon murmured later, her eyes full of pity. “Coupled with the history of your previous loss… the scarring is severe. It is highly unlikely you will ever be able to carry a child to term. I am so deeply sorry.” I stared at the ceiling tiles, entirely numb. Dead inside. I arranged my mother’s cremation alone. I dragged my hollowed-out, broken body back to the house. This house was supposed to be our forever home. When we bought it, Cole had insisted on putting the deed solely in my name, a grand romantic gesture to prove I would always have a safe harbor. Looking around at the sprawling, empty rooms, I let out a dry, rattling laugh that quickly turned into sobbing. I signed the paperwork, slipped the medical documents into a manila envelope, and paid a courier for immediate, expedited delivery to Cole’s office. Then, I turned around, flicked open Cole’s silver Zippo lighter, and tossed it into the heavy velvet drapes. I stood by the second-story window, watching the flames lick the ceiling, turning the beautiful cage he built for me into an inferno. Closing my eyes against the heat, I whispered into the smoke. Cole Bradley, if there is a next life, I pray to God I never meet you. I stepped out into the empty air. … Meanwhile, miles away in a glass-walled corner office, Cole’s assistant burst through the heavy oak doors, breathless. “Mr. Bradley! A priority courier just dropped this off—” “It’s a medical diagnostic report… and a signed divorce agreement!”

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