Category: English

My husband told me he was a fugitive. He claimed he didn’t want to drag me down with him, so he was going to turn himself in. He told me to find a better man and move on. In my past life, my heart broke for him. I spent decades pinching pennies, living on scraps just to provide for our son and support him while he was behind bars. I waited until my hair turned white, only to see him strolling down the street, hand-in-hand with the “one who got away,” buying her vintage Hermès and Chanel like money was water. That was when I realized his “prison sentence” was nothing but a vanishing act to scrub me and our home from his life. I opened my eyes, and I was back. Back to the very day he sat me down to confess his life as a wanted man. This time, I didn’t cry. I called the police and handed over every scrap of real evidence I found in his desk. You love playing the convict so much? Fine. Let’s make it official. Let’s see how you like prison food for the rest of your life. 1. “Babe, I’m so sorry. We’ve been married all these years, and there’s something I’ve been keeping from you. I can’t live with the guilt anymore. It’s eating me alive.” Across the dinner table, Mark looked at me, his face a mask of practiced agony. My heart gave a violent skip. I looked around the room—the chipped paint on the crown molding, the smell of burnt pot roast—and realized I was back. I had been reborn into the exact moment he began his elaborate lie. Looking at his treacherous, handsome face, I felt a surge of pure nausea. Mark buried his face in his hands, his voice muffled by fake sobs. “I’m a criminal, Natalie. When I was eighteen, I was stupid. Desperate. I robbed a place… a man died because of me. He left behind a wife and a kid who had to survive on nothing. I need to atone for that blood on my hands.” He reached across the table, his fingers trembling as he gripped mine. “You’ll stand by me, won’t you? Please tell me you understand.” At the table, our son, Ben, and my mother-in-law, Diane, sat perfectly still. Not a single person looked shocked. Not a single person looked scared. I almost wanted to laugh. They all knew. The whole family was in on the joke, and I was the punchline. In my previous life, to help him “atone,” I spent every holiday groveling at the “victim’s” door, offering what little money I had—money meant for my own children’s future—to buy gifts for that family while I lived on stale bread and pickles. I didn’t find out until the day I died that the “victim” I was subsidizing was actually his high school sweetheart, and the “poor orphan” was his secret illegitimate son. The memory of their private messages—laughing about how “clueless and pathetic” I was for working myself to the bone for them—burned in my throat like acid. Diane suddenly clutched her chest, letting out a dramatic wail. “Oh, the shame! The shame! The Miller family has always been respectable! How could you do this, you foolish boy? A life on your hands? That’s it. I’m taking you to the station myself. We’re ending this tonight.” She stood up, hauling Mark by the arm as if she were dragging him to his execution. 2. Mark squeezed my hand one last time, his eyes brimming with performative depth. “I’m sorry, Natalie. It’s all on you now. Take care of Ben.” He turned to leave. My pulse hammered. I put on my best “shattered wife” face and cried out, “Mom, wait! Even if he did something wrong, he’s still your son!” I wiped a fake tear. “Let me take him. I have a friend who’s a high-profile defense attorney. Maybe we can find a way to get the charges reduced, or at least negotiate a plea.” I was lying through my teeth. I didn’t know a single lawyer. I just wanted to see them squirm. “No!” The rejection was instantaneous and synchronized. Both Mark and Diane barked the word at the same time. Diane cleared her throat, her expression shifting into a strained smile. “Natalie, honey, your back has been bothering you all day. The drive is long and stressful. We’ll handle the paperwork. Stay here with Ben.” I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. “Mom, you’re being so insistent. You’re making me think Mark is making this all up just to mess with me.” At the mention of “lying,” Ben looked down at his plate, refusing to meet my eyes. Diane’s face hardened into a scowl. “How can you say that? Your husband is trying to save his soul, and you’re accusing him of playing games? You’re just looking for an excuse to abandon him!” Mark looked wounded. “Natalie, I know raising Ben alone is a lot to ask, but why would I lie about something this horrific?” He took a deep breath, looking like a man ready to walk into a firing squad. “Natalie, after I’m gone… you should move on. Remarry. Leave Ben with my mother. I won’t have you shackled to a prisoner. I’ve already left the divorce papers on the desk.” “Daddy… don’t leave me!” Ben wailed, hugging Mark’s leg. It was a goddamn masterpiece. If I weren’t the one being fleeced, I would have given them a standing ovation. Oscar-worthy performances all around. I nodded slowly, pulling out my phone. “You’re right. It’s too much for Mom to handle. I’ll just call the police right now. They can come pick him up. It’ll save everyone a trip.” 3. Mark’s face went pale. He shot a frantic look at Diane. Diane jumped like she’d been prodded with a cattle prod. “Natalie’s right,” she stammered, pivoting wildly. “Wait—no. I mean, Natalie, you rest. I’ll take him to the victim’s house first to apologize. It’s the right thing to do before the sirens start.” They were desperate to keep me away. I nodded, pretending to be overcome with grief, and retreated into the bedroom. I needed time. The clock was ticking. I checked my bank app. My pre-marital savings—fifty thousand dollars—were still there. I immediately moved them to a private account he couldn’t touch. Then, I started tossing the room. One of our joint cards was missing. All our shared income, our “future” for Ben, was tied to that card. Gone. A cold dread settled in my stomach. I checked my jewelry box. My grandmother’s gold bracelet, my designer bags, my luxury watches—all replaced with high-quality fakes. The bastard. He hadn’t just planned to leave; he’d planned to strip-mine my life. He wanted me to pay “restitution” to his mistress, raise his kid, and take care of his mother while he lived it up with the loot from my own closet. I picked up the phone and dialed a private investigator I’d looked up online. “I need a full workup on a woman named Valerie Thorne,” I whispered. “And I need it fast.” I lay on the bed, my mind racing, until the bedroom door was slammed open. Diane was there, heaving, looking like she was about to faint. “She wouldn’t let him come back! That woman… she called the cops the moment we got there! They took my boy! They took Mark away!” Ben ran out of his room, sobbing. “Daddy! I want my Daddy!” I threw myself onto the floor, wailing with a theatricality that would have made Diane proud. “How can this be? Mark! How are we supposed to live without you?” Inside, I was beaming. The game was finally afoot. 4. The man had planned it all out: pretend to be “arrested” at the victim’s house so I wouldn’t go looking for him at the local precinct. “Mom,” I gasped, clutching her hand. “I have to see him. Take me to the station.” Diane backed away as if I were radioactive. “The officers said no visitors! He’s being processed. It’s high-security.” She wiped her eyes, her gaze darting toward Ben. “But Natalie, we have to think about his soul. We need to send money to that family. If they sign a waiver saying they forgive him, his sentence might be lighter.” She was laying it on thick, nodding at Ben to join in. “Mommy, please! Save Daddy!” the boy cried, clutching my skirt. I felt a chill. They were asking me to fund his honeymoon with Valerie. They thought I was the world’s biggest idiot. I nodded. “You’re right. Let me get my card.” I went back into the room. I saw the relief on Diane’s face through the crack in the door. I didn’t grab my card. I grabbed the folder of “evidence” Mark had been “keeping” in his desk—the fake documents he’d used to convince me of his crime. But tucked in the back, I found something real. I drove straight to the address of the “victim,” Valerie Thorne. When she opened the door, she looked the part of the grieving widow—sad eyes, messy hair—but she couldn’t hide the smug superiority in her gaze. “What are you doing here?” she snapped. “Haven’t you people done enough to us?” She was holding the hand of a thin, pale little girl. The performance was flawless. You’d think her world had actually ended. Diane, who had followed me, immediately dropped to her knees, sobbing at Valerie’s feet. “Valerie… please. We were wrong. I’ll do anything. Just please, find it in your heart to forgive my Mark.” She almost let the word “dear” slip out before “Mark.” It confirmed everything. Then Diane reached up and tried to pull me down to the floor with her. “Natalie, kneel! Beg her for your husband’s life!” 5. Are you kidding me? The wife apologizing to the mistress? Not in this lifetime. I wrenched my hand away. Diane lost her balance and hit the floor hard, letting out a sharp yelp of pain. I blinked, looking confused. “Mom, how did you know her name was Valerie?” Diane’s eyes went wide. She scrambled for an excuse. “I… I didn’t at first! Mark told me on the way over. He said we owed her everything. He told me to take care of Valerie.” Ben chimed in, “Yeah, Dad mentioned her before.” I looked at Ben, and my heart turned to stone. My son. He was lying to me for a new Lego set and a father who didn’t even want him. He was a little traitor in the making. I looked at the little girl standing behind Valerie. She was staring at me with wide, frightened eyes. She looked… hauntingly familiar. She looked exactly like I did in my childhood photos. A dark, terrifying suspicion began to take root in my gut. Valerie stepped forward, blocking my view of the girl. She sneered, “If you want me to drop the civil suit, I want half a million. Not a cent less. Or I’ll make sure he rots.” She slammed the door in our faces. Diane turned to me, her face contorted with desperation. “Natalie, please! Save him! I’ll be your slave for the rest of my life! He’s my only son!” She was wailing, but I knew the game. She was trying to guilt-trip me into emptying my savings. “Mom, stop it,” I said, lifting her up. “Mark is my husband. Of course I’m going to save him.” A flash of triumph crossed Diane’s face. Valerie, listening behind the door, must have felt the same. Then I pulled out the folder. “But you’re right, Mom. Mark wanted to be an honest man. I can’t let his sacrifice be in vain. These are the documents he mentioned—the evidence of his ‘crime.’ I’m going to take them to the police station right now so they have everything they need for the investigation. We shouldn’t make the detectives do extra work.” 6. I turned to walk away. Ben went white, trembling. Diane scrambled to block my path. Valerie threw the door back open, looking like a cornered animal. If I took that to the police, the “fake” robbery would become a very real investigation into their fraud. “Natalie, honey, go home and watch Ben,” Diane stammered. “I’ll take the papers. You’ve had such a long day. Here, have some water.” She handed me a plastic cup from the small table by the door. As I reached for it, I noticed a white, powdery residue at the bottom. Valerie chimed in, her voice shaking. “You know what? Maybe we don’t need the evidence. I… I’m sure it was an accident. I don’t want to be bitter.” An accident? A robbery-homicide was an “accident”? I set the water down, my voice ringing with righteous fury. “No, Valerie. I won’t let you be silenced. My husband has caused you so much pain. I know that if he were here, he’d want me to do the right thing.” I pulled out my phone and dialed 911 before they could stop me. “Hello? I’d like to report a confession. My husband, Mark Miller, just admitted to a 2003 cold case robbery and homicide. I have the evidence in my hand…” I ignored their screams. I hopped into a passing taxi. Diane and Valerie were pounding on the windows, screaming my name as the car pulled away. My phone started blowing up. “Natalie, if you go through with this, I will disown you!” Diane texted. “Natalie, let’s talk! We can figure this out! You don’t have to be so drastic! Come back!” Even Valerie was suddenly “forgiving,” pleading for me to stop. And then, a text from Mark’s “private” number: “Babe, don’t worry about the police. Just take care of Ben. I don’t want you stressed. Stay home.” The desperation was palpable. As the taxi sped toward the precinct, a single sheet of paper fell out of the folder. I picked it up. It was a DNA test. My hands shook as I read the results. The suspicion I’d felt earlier was confirmed. I looked up. We were at the station.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “405486”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was the only man at the academy. When my predecessor finished handing over his responsibilities, he left me with a single sentence that hung in the humid air of the faculty lounge like a threat. “It’s paradise, Nick. But it’s also hell.” 1 Tyler Kent didn’t look back after he said it. He just shouldered his tattered duffel bag and walked out the gate. I stood there, rooted to the spot, my mind a complete blank. To be honest, I’d been in a daze ever since I signed the contract. I was a PE major, fresh out of state college with a resume that had been rejected by every suburban high school in the tri-state area. Verity Academy was the only place that called me back. It wasn’t until I arrived that I realized Verity was an all-girls boarding school. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Why would a private girls’ academy hire a male gym teacher? Even for athletics, wouldn’t they prefer a woman? But the salary was nearly double the market rate, and they provided a private studio apartment on campus. I told myself to stop looking a gift horse in the mouth. Take the win, Nick, I thought. Just do the job. When I first arrived, the Dean of Students, Vicky Russo, told me to shadow Tyler for the afternoon. The sight of him nearly made me jump. The man wasn’t just thin; he was haunting. His cheeks were hollowed out into deep craters, his eyes were ringed with bruised-looking shadows, and his lips were a ghostly, bloodless grey. He was over six feet tall, yet he looked like a skeleton draped in a thin, translucent layer of skin. My first thought was that he was terminal. Cancer, maybe. Or a serious addiction. Tyler was icy. He gave me the technical rundown—schedules, equipment keys, locker room protocols—but nothing else. Yet, I felt his eyes on me. Every time I turned my back or reached for a clipboard, I could feel his clouded, yellowing gaze tracing the lines of my shoulders. It made my skin crawl. As he finished the handover, Tyler gave me one last, lingering look. It was a jagged cocktail of envy, resentment, and a deep, vibrating fear I couldn’t yet name. “It’s paradise,” he repeated, his voice a raspy whisper. “But it’s also hell.” Then he limped away. I watched him go, thinking he’d clearly lost his mind. When you’re that sick, I figured, your brain starts playing tricks on you. I sat down at my new desk and stretched, trying to shake off the unease. I was excited, or at least I wanted to be. I started organizing my gear in the drawers. In the very bottom one, tucked under a stack of old rosters, I found a personnel file. It was Tyler’s. I opened it, expecting to see a man in his late forties. My heart skipped a beat. Tyler Kent was twenty-four. My age. I squinted at the paper, my blood turning to ice. His start date was only one month ago. Attached to the corner of the document was his headshot from the day he was hired. The man in the photo had a broad, dazzling smile and bright eyes. He was wearing a white tank top that showcased bronzed, powerful muscles—the kind of physique you only get from years of dedicated training. He looked like an Olympian. If I hadn’t seen the shell of the man who just left, I never would have believed they were the same person. A cold tremor started in my gut and worked its way up my spine. What could happen to a man in thirty days to turn him into a ghost? What kind of “paradise” did this to people? 2 I didn’t have time to dwell on it. The door creaked open, and Vicky Russo stepped in. “Come on, Nick. Your senior girls are waiting for their first session. Let’s not keep them standing around.” She reached out, her hand lingering on my forearm as she guided me toward the door. I felt a flush creep up my neck. Vicky was in her early thirties, possessing a lush, curated beauty. Her pencil skirt was tailored to perfection, hugging curves that felt almost distracting in a school setting. I wasn’t used to that kind of casual intimacy, especially not from a superior. Vicky noticed my hesitation and offered a small, knowing smirk. “We’re all adults here, Nick. No need to be so stiff.” She tilted her head, her eyes scanning my face. “If you’re blushing at me, you’re going to have a heart attack when you see the students.” I looked away, embarrassed. But she had a point. If I was going to survive in an environment surrounded by women, I needed to get my head in the game. As we walked toward the athletic complex, Vicky gave me the “Verity Pitch.” The school was a sanctuary, she said. Most of the girls were orphans or from foster systems—children of the state who had nowhere else to go. Verity was funded by the “Pure Virtue Foundation,” a massive charitable trust that covered every cent of their tuition, board, and healthcare. I felt a surge of genuine respect. In a world where everything has a price tag, a foundation dedicated to lifting girls out of poverty felt like a miracle. But then she mentioned the rules. Verity was a “closed campus.” No one left except for major holidays. If a student tried to sneak out, the punishment was “severe and non-negotiable.” The same applied to the staff. I looked up at the perimeter fence—twelve feet of chain link topped with coils of razor wire. Security cameras were tucked into every corner, and the female guards at the gate looked more like mercenaries than campus safety. “Vicky,” I asked, my voice low. “If someone actually breaks the rules… if they try to run… what kind of punishment are we talking about?” Vicky stopped walking. The air between us seemed to thicken. She looked at me, and for a split second, the polished mask slipped. Beneath the professional poise, I saw a flash of raw, jagged terror. “It’s better for everyone if you just don’t break them,” she said. The fear vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving me wondering if I’d imagined it. She pushed open the heavy double doors of the gymnasium. I stepped inside, and the world changed. 3 The gym was a cacophony of high-pitched chatter and the squeak of sneakers on hardwood. As the doors swung shut, the noise hit me like a physical wave. In the center of the court, about thirty girls were warming up. They were wearing fitted spandex shorts and tight athletic tops. Everywhere I looked, there was glowing, flawless skin and the fluid movement of young bodies. My breath hitched in my throat. Vicky clapped her hands sharply. “Line up!” The girls scrambled into a perfect formation, their eyes instantly locking onto me. “Ladies, meet your new Physical Education instructor, Mr. Nick Dawson.” Thirty voices chimed in a practiced, melodic unison that echoed off the high ceiling. “Good morning, Mr. Dawson! Welcome to Verity!” I felt the heat rise in my cheeks again. “Hi… uh, hello, everyone.” A few of the girls giggled, whispering to each other behind manicured hands. Vicky patted my shoulder, her smile unreadable. “Enjoy your first lesson, Nick.” The moment she left, the atmosphere shifted. The girls’ gazes became bolder, more predatory. I had changed into my own workout gear—a navy tank and shorts—and I could feel their eyes roaming over my arms and chest with an intensity that felt wrong. It wasn’t like being a teacher. It felt like being an exhibit. Or a piece of meat. I shook it off. Focus, Nick. First impressions are everything. I took a deep breath and stepped into the center of the circle. I led them through a series of deep stretches and rhythmic warm-ups. They were remarkably coordinated. But as I moved among them, I noticed something odd. Every single one of them had a “perfect” physique. Their skin was luminous, their muscle tone was impeccably balanced, and they moved with a strange, synchronized grace. It wasn’t just one or two girls; it was all of them. It felt statistically impossible to have a class of thirty girls who all looked like fitness models. I pushed the thought aside. We were doing a teamwork drill—the three-legged race. It was a classic for building core stability and communication. As I was handing out the Velcro straps, a girl stepped forward. “Mr. Dawson? I’m the class captain, Josie Hart.” Josie had a soft, round face and wide, innocent eyes that contrasted sharply with her athletic build. She was, by any standard, stunning. She walked right up to me and touched my arm, her voice a sugary pout. “We’ve never done this before. Would you mind showing us how it works? You know, as a demonstration?” I hesitated, then nodded. It was a good way to build rapport. “Sure, Josie. Let’s do it.” I knelt to strap my left leg to her right. As I did, Josie leaned in close—closer than she needed to. I caught a glimpse of the other girls’ faces. They weren’t cheering; they looked murderous. There was a palpable wave of jealousy and resentment directed at Josie just for being near me. I stood up, and Josie immediately clung to my arm for balance. She smelled… incredible. It wasn’t perfume. It was something deeper—a rich, intoxicating scent that made my head swim. “Ready?” I asked, my voice sounding strained. We took a few steps. I was trying to explain the mechanics of the stride, but Josie was heavy against my side. Suddenly, she tripped. She went down, pulling me with her. I landed hard, pinned directly on top of her. The scent—that strange, floral, musk-heavy aroma—exploded in my senses. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. My vision blurred. A voice in the back of my mind—dark and honey-thick—started whispering: Go ahead. Do it. Take what you want… I bit my tongue so hard I tasted copper. The sharp pain cleared the fog. I realized my hands were clamped around Josie’s waist, and my face was inches from hers. I scrambled back, my heart nearly leaping out of my chest. “I’m sorry! I—” I was terrified. This was it. First day, and I’d be fired for misconduct. If she complained, my career was over before it started. But Josie wasn’t angry. She looked… disappointed. Almost frustrated. The rest of the girls stood in eerie silence. They didn’t laugh or tease. They just watched us with those cold, hungry eyes. I somehow finished the class, moving like a robot. The moment the bell rang, I practically sprinted out of the gym. At the corridor corner, I ran into Vicky again. She leaned against the wall, watching me with a tilted head. “Class finished early, Nick?” I couldn’t meet her eyes. “Yeah. Just… getting the hang of things.” Vicky’s smile widened. It wasn’t a kind smile. “Don’t worry, Nick. You’ll have plenty of time to get close to the students. Go on, get some lunch. You’ll need your energy.” I made my way to the cafeteria, my nerves fried. As I walked through the doors, that smell hit me again. It was overpowering here, wafting from a large, steaming vat at the front of the serving line. Dozens of girls were lined up, holding out ceramic bowls for a ladle-full of a thick, amber-colored broth. I moved toward the vat, curious, but Vicky appeared out of nowhere and caught my elbow. “That’s the student menu, Nick. Staff dining is through those doors.” The faculty meal was decadent. Oysters, braised turtle, ginseng soup, and slow-roasted chicken. It was better than any five-star restaurant I’d ever been to. Vicky sat across from me, watching with eerie satisfaction as I ate every bite. “You’re done for the day, Nick,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. “Explore the grounds. Head back to your room. Just stay away from the Shadow Wing at the back of the campus. It’s off-limits to everyone except authorized personnel. Clear?” Her eyes turned cold, a silent warning. I nodded. I spent the evening wandering the empty courtyards. By 6:00 PM, the campus felt like a ghost town. Not a single student was in sight. My feet eventually led me toward the Shadow Wing—a massive, windowless concrete block. The curtains were drawn tight over every glass pane. As I drew closer, I heard it. A faint, rhythmic sound. Moaning. It sounded like dozens of women, all crying out in unison. It was the sound of a fever dream. Were the girls in there? What was happening behind those thick walls? Curiosity overrode my fear. I crept toward a ground-floor window, looking for a gap in the curtains. Suddenly, a heavy hand slammed onto my shoulder. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Two female guards stood behind me, their faces grim, their hands resting on their holstered batons. “Mr. Dawson. You were told this area is restricted.” I stammered an apology, claiming I’d gotten lost in the dark. “Don’t let it happen again,” one of them barked. I retreated to my dorm, but the adrenaline wouldn’t subside. I lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling, Josie’s scent still clinging to the back of my throat. Just as I was finally drifting off, a sharp, frantic knocking erupted at my door. “Mr. Dawson? Nick? Please… it’s Josie.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “405488”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I’ve been dating Derek, the Alpha heir of Frosthowl pack, for three years. He’s never marked me, never mentioned marriage. I know he still can’t forget his deceased former mate Vivian, which is why he takes such good care of Vivian’s sister Moira. But I always believed that with time and companionship, he would eventually fall completely in love with me. Until one day, on my way home, I was attacked by a group of Rogues. I barely escaped, beaten and severely injured. I called Derek for help, but he accused me of lying and yelled at me: “You’re my girlfriend. How could any Rogue dare attack you? Are you making up lies just to get my attention?” “I told you, I won’t mark you until Moira finds her mate!” Then I heard Moira’s voice on the other end of the line: “Derek, I’m done with my shower. Your turn.” Derek snapped “Stop putting on a show, I need to take care of Moira” and hung up. The pain nearly made me pass out. I used every ounce of strength I had left to dial emergency services. Later, the doctor said I needed to be hospitalized for serious injuries. I called him over a dozen times, but no one answered. Then I saw Moira post something on social media. [These condoms are pretty good quality.] The picture showed several used condoms. After I recovered and was discharged, since I still hadn’t met my destined mate, I agreed to the arranged marriage my parents had set up. “Yes, the sooner the wedding date, the better.”

Mom was shocked and delighted to hear my words. She’d never approved of Derek, but she knew how deeply I loved him. If I wasn’t completely broken, I would never give up so easily. Dad was the Alpha of Shadowclaw pack and had never been optimistic about our relationship either. He spoke up. “Since you’ve decided to break up, make it clear to Derek.” “Part ways on good terms.” I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and shook my head. Just last week, while I was hospitalized. Moira posted on social media. [A spontaneous trip. This entire journey sponsored by Derek.] In the photos. Two suitcases, one black and one pink, side by side. I recognized it immediately. That black suitcase was the limited edition celebrity model I’d given Derek for his birthday this year. I called to confront him. Derek was dismissive. “Moira’s been feeling down lately. I’m just taking her out to clear her head.” “She’s Vivian’s sister. I have an obligation to take care of her.” From the other end of the phone. Moira’s voice came through at just the right moment. “Derek, can you grab me a towel?” Derek responded smoothly. Finally, as if to comfort me or justify his actions: “Clara, if it weren’t for you, Vivian wouldn’t have died. What I’m doing now is just helping you atone for your sins.” My heart felt like it had been stabbed, the pain suffocating. Even now, he still stubbornly insists that I was responsible for Vivian’s death. Then why did he even agree to date me? He’s been torturing me for three years! But all my questions died in my throat before I could voice them. I stared at the red notification on the screen. My vision blurred. Derek was afraid I’d disturb their trip, so he blocked me! His beta warrior relayed his message to me. “Tell Clara to stop making a scene. This trip is important for Moira’s mental health. She’s been emotionally unstable.” “When I get back, I’ll propose to her as promised.” But he was wrong. No one waits in the same place forever.

I thought the family I was arranged to marry into would be suspicious and doubtful about my request. I never expected. They seemed more worried I’d back out. They said if possible, next week would be best. My parents anxiously asked for my opinion. Without hesitation, I agreed. It was just short notice, and there were many things to handle. After dinner with my parents, I returned to the house where Derek and I had lived for three years. As soon as I turned the key. A figure jumped out in front of me. Blocking me at the door. “Master, if you have any requests, just tell me, I’ll definitely…” Before she could finish. Moira, dressed in a bunny girl maid outfit, recognized me. Or rather. She realized I wasn’t the person she was waiting for. I looked at the black stockings on her legs, her ultra-short skirt barely covering her private areas. She was only three years younger than me. Yet her whole body radiated a youthful vitality that seemed to endlessly mock my dullness and boring nature. “I’m sorry… Derek insisted I come over.” “If you don’t like it, I’ll leave right now.” Moira looked innocently guilty as she backed away. Turning around, she tripped over a suitcase. Almost simultaneously, a figure rushed out from behind me. Catching her protectively beneath him. After confirming Moira wasn’t hurt. Derek immediately turned on me with harsh accusations. “Clara! Can’t you be more tolerant?!” “Moira is still just a child. How could you lay a hand on her?” I watched this performance with cold eyes. “A child? A twenty-year-old child?” “Derek, what kind of child wears an outfit like that in someone else’s home?” “She clearly lacks discipline! No manners!” “Slap!” Derek raised his hand and struck me across the face. “Have you made enough of a scene? Clara, not everyone is like you, born into wealth with no worries about food or shelter!” Moira seized the opportunity to start crying. “Yes… I’m sorry, I really have no manners…” “But when I was born, my parents were already dead… no one taught me these things…” “The only person who was willing to teach me, my sister… she’s dead now too…” She buried herself in Derek’s arms, her whole body trembling with sobs. The look she gave me carried barely concealed hatred. “Moira, none of this is your fault. This has nothing to do with you…” Derek looked down at her with pity, instinctively reaching to wipe her tears. His hand froze in mid-air. As if he’d just noticed what Moira was wearing. “Why are you dressed like this…” Before he could finish, Derek’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The desire in his eyes was completely unconcealed. Moira was clearly pleased with his reaction. She lowered her head shyly. “I have to attend a party tomorrow night. This is just a performance costume.” “If you don’t like it, I’ll take it off right now!” As she spoke, Moira actually started to undress. Derek quickly stopped her. Their hands clasped together, palm to palm. I had clearly become an outsider. “Since it’s for a performance, there’s nothing wrong with it.” Derek shot me a pointed look. “Only people with dirty minds see everything as dirty!” I laughed mockingly. Watching Moira’s little schemes. I only felt that my three years of effort had been worthless. Since Vivian died, although I became his official girlfriend, for these three years, he never marked me. I thought time would fade everything. That one day, I would find my way into his heart. But reality kept slapping me in the face. One Vivian left. Another Moira arrived. Yet in his world, I was still just an accessory girlfriend. I tried to take our relationship further. I even bought the clothes my best friend recommended to please him. But he pushed me away every time. Looking at me with growing disgust. I thought I wasn’t charming enough. So I specifically took ballet lessons. But in the end, even this flexibility didn’t win Derek’s special attention. On the contrary, all these attempts to please him became “scheming” and “cheap tricks” in my boyfriend’s vocabulary. Now. Moira only needed to have a face fifty percent similar to her sister’s to easily move this supposedly ascetic man. All my efforts seemed like a joke in this moment. It turned out it wasn’t that I wasn’t good enough. I just wasn’t the person he held dear in his heart.

“I think I should go back to my rental apartment.” Moira pushed Derek away. She turned and started packing her suitcase. Several photos slipped out at just the right moment. Beach photos. From the background, they appeared to be taken on a Hawaiian beach. The poses were intimate, the gazes affectionate. And in Derek’s locked cabinet in his study, there was an identical photo album. Same location, same outfits, similar person. Derek used this method to repeatedly relive his past with Vivian. But I’d begged Derek for so long. Wanting him to take me to the beach just fifty kilometers away each summer, but he always made excuses. Derek snatched up the photos, treasuring them as he put them away. “It’s so late, you can’t get into your apartment anyway. Just sleep here tonight!” Moira looked at me anxiously. “Why are you looking at her! This is my home. I can let whoever I want stay here!” I looked at Derek calmly. “Yes. This is your home.” I should be the one to leave. Besides, I never planned to come back anyway. Walking past them both, I went straight to the bedroom to get my things. Derek grabbed me. “You sleep in the guest room. Moira likes watching the sunrise in the morning.” Just for some sunlight. “Fine.” Derek seemed surprised I’d be so generous. His cold expression finally softened slightly. His tone carried a rare hint of regret. “I shouldn’t have hit you.” I ignored him, pulled out my suitcase and simply packed a few clothes and important items. Moved directly to the guest room. As for everything else, I could replace it all. Out with the old, in with the new. Derek tried to follow me into the room. Only to find I’d locked the door. After knocking a few times. His voice carried some hesitation, a probing quality. “Clara, you’re not really angry, are you?” In the past, every time anything involved Moira, we’d fall into cold wars and arguments. Now seeing me so calm, not crying or making a scene, he seemed uncomfortable. My tone was mocking. “No. How could I be? She’s just Vivian’s sister, not your lover.” The air went silent for two seconds. Derek sighed with relief. “Clara, just get through this period. I promise, I will marry you.” Marriage? I couldn’t help but laugh. Derek, too bad I don’t need it anymore. “Derek!” Moira’s voice suddenly came from the bathroom. Derek rushed over anxiously. “What’s wrong? Moira? What happened?” “Moira?” No matter how Derek called, no more sounds came from inside. I looked at the semi-transparent bathroom door. Derek’s concern clouded his judgment. He hadn’t noticed the additional shadow by the door at all. After calling several times with no response. He hesitated for two seconds. Then reached out and opened the unlocked door. Almost the instant the door opened. That pale white figure threw herself directly onto Derek. Moira let out a muffled moan, her voice coquettish. “Derek, that time we had sex, didn’t you enjoy it too? Let’s do it again. Just pretend I’m Vivian.” “Stop it, you know last time I was drunk…” Derek tried to push her away, but his hand touched something soft. His whole body went rigid, at her mercy. Moira became even more brazen. Pressing herself entirely against him. “Why? Am I not as good as Vivian? Not even as good as Clara?” Derek sighed helplessly, softly comforting her. “Be good, we’ll talk about this tomorrow, okay?” I looked at the two intertwined shadows on the wall, gave a self-mocking smile, and closed the door again.

The next morning. When I got up, the house was already empty. On the dining table, Derek had specifically left macarons. Next to them was a note he’d left. [I’m taking Moira back to her apartment first.] [Wait for me to come back.] I picked up my suitcase. Threw the macarons directly into the trash. Along with the bracelet I’d worn for two years. This was the only gift Derek had ever given me. Even though it was just something someone else had casually given to Derek. I once treasured it like a precious gem. But now, these things. Had no value worth cherishing for me. When I got home, Mom joyfully took the suitcase from my hands. “We were just discussing booking the wedding venue with Leo.” I looked at the familiar home. My nose felt sour. “Is it booked?” “All set. This afternoon I’ll go with you to order your wedding dress. It’s so wonderful, you’re finally getting married.” As she spoke, Mom’s eyes reddened too. I was the only child in the family. I’d been showered with love and affection since childhood. Before meeting Derek, my entire life hadn’t encountered a single setback. Now, for a man like this, I’d let myself become wounded all over. My parents must hurt even more than I did. I raised my hand to wipe away her tears. “Why are you crying? I’m not getting married today.” The bridal shop wasn’t far from our house. Just a ten-minute walk. As we approached, Mom remembered we hadn’t bought invitations yet. I told her to go buy them first and meet me at the bridal shop. But before I even entered, I saw a familiar figure. Moira, wearing a pure white wedding dress, was blissfully leaning against Derek. The shop assistants were gushing about what a perfect match they made. Through the mirror, Derek immediately spotted me standing at the entrance. “Clara, why did you follow us here?” “Don’t misunderstand. I’m taking wedding photos with Moira just to make up for a regret.” I felt nothing inside. I walked straight into the shop. Moira saw me and looked livid. “That’s right, Derek just wants to make up for his regret with Vivian.” “It’s just wedding photos. I don’t even mind being a substitute. Surely you don’t mind either?” Several shop assistants gathered around, clearly enjoying the drama. I said expressionlessly. “Of course. Please continue.” I didn’t look at them anymore, seriously selecting styles I liked. But Derek froze. Looking at my back, he suddenly felt panicked. “Clara, why would you suddenly come here?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “378646”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

After breaking up with my werewolf boyfriend, my period was a whole month late. My best friend was convinced I was either accidentally pregnant or had completely wrecked my body from pulling all-nighters. She practically dragged me to the campus medical clinic—the one with the impossible-to-get appointments. The doctor sitting behind the desk turned out to be my ex-boyfriend, the one I’d broken up with just a month ago with some pretty harsh words. His silver-framed glasses couldn’t hide the crimson gleam in his eyes. “Lie down on the examination bed. Pull your pants down and expose your lower abdomen.” When I froze and refused to move, he got up and walked over, trying to forcibly pull down my pants. “We didn’t even finish that last night before we broke up. Whose kid are you carrying?” I never dreamed the harsh words I’d thrown at him would come back to bite me this fast, in such a humiliating way. When my best friend Lynn half-dragged me into the campus medical clinic, I was still putting up a dying struggle. My mind kept replaying that final sentence I’d shouted at Kane a month ago as I stormed out the door: “Even if an ambulance carries me into the campus hospital, I will never come looking for you, and I won’t let you see me ever again!” Well, now look at me. Not only had I ended up at the clinic, but I’d specifically made an appointment and delivered myself right to his doorstep. Lynn wouldn’t shut up in my ear: “You should be grateful! I stalked the campus message board for a whole week and traded a concert ticket for this appointment! Dr. Cullen is the youngest associate professor in the medical school—cold, reserved, and ridiculously handsome. He’s been seeing patients for two weeks, and every girl on campus has been crashing the booking system just to get a glimpse of him!” My head was completely occupied with my missing period. I didn’t take her words seriously—I just figured he was some skilled, good-looking doctor. Until I stood in front of the appointment screen and saw my assigned physician’s name printed clearly: “Kane.” My brain crashed. My blood ran cold. No. It couldn’t be this coincidental. I frantically tried to reassure myself: There are tons of guys named Kane. It’s probably just someone with the same name. It can’t actually be him. But when I pushed open the examination room door and our eyes met, my last shred of hope shattered into dust. Neat dark brown hair, a crisp white coat that emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist. If this wasn’t Kane, my ex-boyfriend of one month, who else could it be? He glanced up at me, his tone completely professional, devoid of any emotion. “Willow? What seems to be the problem?” Fine. Real fine. One month after our breakup, he could already pretend we were strangers. This level of composure was wasted on anything but acting. Even though I was the one who’d said those brutal words—words that cut to the bone— seeing him like this now still made my heart ache and feel blocked up. After all, what I’d originally said was that unless he was lying in the ER on the brink of death begging for me, he shouldn’t expect to see me again in this lifetime. Now the tables had turned. He sat steady and composed in his examination room, while I, the one who’d thrown out those harsh words, had obediently delivered myself as his patient. I’d practically slapped my own face swollen. Lynn, completely oblivious to the frozen atmosphere between Kane and me, grabbed my hand and started talking a mile a minute: “Dr. Cullen, please help her! She’s been so wrong this past month—iced coffee and iced lattes every single day, her emotions exploding at the drop of a hat, breaking out like crazy, and most importantly, her period hasn’t come for a whole month!” She leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a volume that could still be heard throughout the entire room: “We’re all worried she might be accidentally pregnant! This girl’s too stubborn—she absolutely refuses to buy a pregnancy test herself, so I had to drag her here to see you!” I watched Kane’s eyes turn ice-cold, dying of embarrassment on the spot, my toes curling inside my shoes. I wanted to vanish into thin air. Kane nodded at Lynn. He lowered his head, gripping his pen as he wrote in the medical chart. The pen tip pressed so hard it tore through a layer of paper. Beyond the routine symptom notes, he wrote an extra line: “Broke up one month ago, delayed period, suspected early pregnancy—moved on without missing a beat?” My eyes went wide. This is a medical chart, not your personal complaint journal! “Do you have a regular partner? Any intimate activity?” This was standard procedure for diagnosing menstrual irregularities. I was about to say “No, I’ve been single for a month,” but before I could even open my mouth, Lynn jumped in, patting her chest confidently: “Yes, yes! They have a great relationship! They’ve just had a little spat these past couple months, but that’s normal for couples—it definitely won’t affect anything!”

“Have you taken a pregnancy test yourself?” “No, no! We came straight to you first! Your appointments are so hard to get—we absolutely trust your medical skills!” Lynn beamed, selling me out completely. “I see.” Kane responded coolly. His face looked calm, but I could see it clear as day— his knuckles gripping the pen had gone white from the pressure. Alarm bells rang in my head. I knew this look too well. This was his tell when jealousy was taking over and he was about to lose control. “Doctor, doctor, based on her condition, is there a high probability she’s pregnant?” Lynn pressed on with eager, gossipy anticipation. That sentence scared the soul out of me. I shot up from my chair: “I’m fine! I suddenly feel perfectly healthy! My period will come tomorrow! I’m leaving!” If I stayed any longer, who knew what Kane would do. But the moment I took a step, Lynn yanked me back and pressed me firmly into the chair. “Are you crazy? Do you know how hard I worked to get this appointment? Sit down and stay put!” I sat there feeling miserable, every cell in my body screaming at me to run. Just then, Kane finally looked up, his gaze landing on me before he addressed Lynn: “Your friend might feel a bit embarrassed with you here. Could you wait in the waiting area outside?” Lynn had an epiphany. As she headed for the door, she kept muttering: “Geez, what’s there to be embarrassed about? We’re all girls—what haven’t I seen?” Before leaving, she even gave me an encouraging thumbs-up. I watched her close the door, one thought in my mind: Lynn, my dear best friend, you have no idea that this upstanding doctor in his white coat has a possessiveness that runs terrifyingly deep in private. He once spent an entire day jealous just because I’d partnered with a male classmate for a class presentation. Let alone now, when he thought I was pregnant with another man’s child. The moment the examination room door fully closed, I felt like I couldn’t even breathe. Lynn was gone. Kane finally dropped the act. He casually tossed the pen that had run out of ink onto the desk and removed his silver-framed glasses. Those eyes that used to look at me with warmth were now cold as ice. He leaned back in his chair, pulling his lips into a cold smirk, his voice dripping with frost: “Well, well, Willow. Only one month since the breakup, and you’ve really leveled up.” “Who’s the father?” That one sentence left me stunned. I stood there frozen, taking forever to react. “What are you talking about? What child?” “Still playing dumb?” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze cutting into me like a knife. “Your period’s a month late. Your best friend says you and your boyfriend have a wonderful relationship. What’s wrong—you can do it but can’t own up to it?” “The forum posts weren’t lying after all. Just days after our breakup, you’re already out and about with other guys. Now you’ve even gotten yourself pregnant. Are you that desperate for company?” His voice grew colder with each word, until by the end, it was filled with barely suppressed hostility. I was completely baffled. What posts? What other guys? Heaven as my witness, this past month since the breakup, aside from going shopping once with Lynn, I’d spent all my time either cramming papers in the library or lying in my dorm. I hadn’t so much as touched another guy’s hand, let alone found a new boyfriend or gotten pregnant! My feelings for Kane had never changed since the day we got together. Even though I was the one who initiated the breakup, the one who said those harsh words, I’d never truly let him go. Looking at Kane’s expression, I suddenly remembered how Kane and I first met.

Last fall, I was helping a friend from NYU film her short movie project. One scene required borrowing the school’s medical clinic. For better filming quality, we specifically picked the quietest time slot—a Wednesday afternoon. In the empty examination room, I lay on the exam bed, frowning as I delivered my lines. Getting into character, I even reached my hand up into the air, trying to convey a sense of weak helplessness. Then my hand was suddenly caught by a warm, dry palm. Thinking my roommate was improvising, I kept my eyes closed and leaned toward that hand, continuing my performance: “Doctor, am I… am I dying…” Then I heard a low laugh above me, magnetic and tinged with helplessness: “Miss, you seem perfectly healthy right now, but if you keep this up, I might need to refer you to psychiatry.” My eyes flew open. I was completely dumbfounded. Standing before me was a man in a white coat—broad shoulders, narrow waist, refined features, eyes full of barely concealed amusement. He was still holding my hand firmly, and I was practically pressed against him. My roommate behind me had nearly dropped the camera in fright, shrinking into the corner, not daring to move. My mind went blank. My first thought was: I’m screwed. We got caught using the exam room without permission, and by a ridiculously handsome doctor no less. I scrambled off the exam bed in a panic, my face hot enough to fry eggs, stammering out apologies. I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Later I learned his name was Kane Cullen, NYU’s youngest medical professor. To make amends, I brought him food every day, making constant trips to the medical clinic. Though I claimed it was to apologize, my eyes couldn’t help but wander all over him. Kane was gentle and handsome. The more I looked, the more my heart raced. The more I visited, the more frequent my trips became. That Friday, I was taking my usual route with coffee and pastries, cutting through the quiet alley behind the medical school. The setting sun painted the brick walls on either side a warm orange. I hummed a tune, my mind full of the way Kane’s lips curved when he accepted my coffee. Then three men turned the corner and blocked my path. The one in front had a cigarette dangling from his lips. He looked me up and down with a gaze so slimy it made me sick: “All alone? Why don’t you have a drink with us?” I instinctively took a step back, my mind racing. “Don’t be scared. We won’t eat you.” Another one grinned and stepped forward, reaching for my wrist. I turned to run, but the third one blocked my escape route. Just as that dirty hand was about to touch me— The three men went flying. Their bodies slammed into the brick walls on either side with dull thuds and screams. And Kane stood right in front of me. He turned around, those amber eyes looking straight at me. “Are you hurt?” His voice was lower than usual, like he was struggling to suppress something. I shook my head blankly, staring at the three men’s pitiful state, my brain completely blank. He’d sent three grown men flying with his bare hands? “You… how did you…” My voice trembled. Kane took a deep breath. “Willow,” he said, his voice soft. “There’s something I was planning to wait a bit longer to tell you.” He took a step closer to me. “But now, I don’t want to hide it anymore.” The next second, a massive black wolf tail emerged from beneath his white coat. His eyes turned completely golden.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “378647”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

My husband is the top gynecologist in the city, but he vanished for three days and three nights to care for his secretary who claimed to have depression while I was hemorrhaging during childbirth. Later, intimate photos of the two of them spread throughout the entire city. Liam knelt by my hospital bed, his face swollen red from slapping himself. “Jenna, I was drunk that night and mistook her for you. I deserve to die.” To prove his innocence, he grabbed a scalpel and stabbed it into his own chest. Blood gushed out. I watched him confess with this insane performance and gave him one last chance. Until Sophie, his secretary, and I were both held hostage in a remote warehouse. “Jenna, you grew up in elite European schools. You’re strong—just hold on a little longer! Sophie can’t take it. She’ll lose her mind!” Liam roared as he begged the kidnappers on his knees. The high-altitude wind chilled me to the bone. But Liam didn’t know that these five years were just a gamble I made with my family. If I won, I’d spend my life with him. If I lost, I’d return to the Rivers family and inherit the fortune.

After escaping from the kidnappers, I dragged my battered body to make a call. “Dad, I lost the bet. I need to leave the country. Can you help me make arrangements?” My father paused but didn’t ask questions. “Alright. Get ready. I’ll send someone to pick you up in seven days.” After hanging up, I found a clinic by the roadside. After having my wounds simply bandaged, I returned to the villa under the servants’ mocking gazes. I never expected Liam to be waiting at home. When he saw me, he acted as if nothing had happened, pulling me into his arms. His mouth opened and closed, but all that came out was a pale: “I’m sorry.” “Sophie has depression and can’t handle stress. You know that, Jenna.” I stood still, my heart already frozen solid. Yes, between Sophie and me, he would always choose that homewrecker without hesitation. When Sophie was in a bad mood, he could stay out all night on our wedding anniversary. When Sophie had menstrual cramps and needed care, he could abandon me when I was burning with fever late at night. When Sophie’s parents got food poisoning, he could still skip my mother’s funeral to see her. But I remembered that in the beginning, when I was trapped abroad fighting against my family, he fought his way through the medical world to become a top figure in the field. He gave everything he had just to be with me. But now, that man who would firmly choose me had disappeared. I wiped the tears from my face. “Liam, but do I deserve to wait for death on the ninety-ninth floor?” Our eyes met. Liam seemed to notice my weakness. A flash of emotion crossed his face. The next second, Sophie suddenly screamed: “Liam, don’t leave me! I’m so scared!” Liam quickly pulled her into his arms, his eyes gentle. “Don’t be afraid, Sophie. I’m right here.” This scene was so familiar. Years ago, when I was injured after being kidnapped by my father’s enemies, he held me in his arms the same way, his eyes full of tenderness. “Don’t be afraid, Jenna. I’m right here.” The same person, the same words. Only the person in his arms had changed from me to Sophie. I looked at the intimate pair, my heart filled with desolation. When Liam looked up again, his face was full of irritation. “Jenna, is it really necessary to be so aggressive just because I chose to save Sophie?” “Besides, you didn’t die, did you?” He strode quickly to the third-floor balcony. “If you want an explanation, I’ll give you one!” But just as Liam took a step, Sophie threw her arms around the man’s waist. “No!” She cried with tears streaming down her face. “Miss Rivers, this is all my fault. I won’t bother you two anymore!” “Please don’t let Liam hurt himself, okay?” I somehow laughed out loud. “Fine. As long as you get out of this city, I’ll give Liam one more chance.” But after Sophie left, Liam, who usually never showed his emotions, began roaring and crying hysterically in the villa. “Jenna Rivers, you always satisfy your own needs without caring about anyone else’s wishes!” “You’re so selfish!” His eyes held a trace of coldness as he turned and left the villa. I clutched my aching abdomen and picked up my phone to schedule surgery and draft divorce papers.

The divorce procedures were complicated. As I browsed divorce information on the computer in the study, I accidentally discovered a private folder. I tried Sophie’s birthday as the password. Photos flooded out of the folder like a deluge. I knew the answer in my heart, but when I saw the proof with my own eyes, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Every record in the folder featured Sophie. When I was doubled over with menstrual cramps, they were chasing the sunset by the sea. When I couldn’t get a cab in the pouring rain, they were kissing under the stars. When I was being bullied by a doctor at my first prenatal checkup, they were entangled intimately in a romantic hotel. Liam expressed his love, saying he regretted not meeting her sooner. I let out a bitter laugh, my heart aching all over. The screensaver on the computer related to me seemed so pathetic compared to these thousands of photos featuring Sophie. It turned out the happiness I thought I had was built on ruins of lies. The sounds of a man and woman making love in the living room jolted me from my thoughts. Their movements continued until midnight. Torn clothes, lingerie, and mysterious stains on the carpet. Liam and Sophie lay naked on our marriage bed, their bodies tightly joined. I trembled with rage and disbelief. In five years of marriage, Liam had used his supposed germophobia as an excuse. We’d been intimate only a handful of times. Even when going through the motions of sex, he always frowned with disgust, and afterward would scrub himself raw in the bathroom, as if trying to remove a layer of skin. I never imagined he would be so shameless with another woman. I hugged the toilet and vomited until only acid remained in my stomach. After some time passed, Sophie appeared wearing my silk nightgown, deliberately showing off the red marks on her chest. “Sorry, Jenna, we made a mess of your room.” “But you can see it too, right? Liam can’t bear to let me go. I’m the one he loves.” Seeing my silence, Sophie even provocatively held up the sachet in her hand. “Your sachet is really useful. Liam got even more intense in bed when he smelled it!” I recognized the familiar scent and trembled with rage. The scars on my knees from kneeling to pray for blessings still remained, throbbing on rainy days. Back then, I had reverently hung the sachet I obtained on Liam’s body. But it became a toy for him and Sophie’s flirtation. When I knelt in the scorching sun until darkness fell, my knees rubbed raw, my entire body peeling from sunburn, what was he doing? Rolling around in bed with his little secretary, enjoying paradise. But the next second, Sophie dropped to her knees in front of me with a thud and slapped herself hard.

“I know I’ve wronged you, but Liam and I truly love each other!” “I don’t want status or to compete with you for anything. I just want to stay by Liam’s side.” Her cheeks were red and swollen, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. Liam seemed to hear the commotion and rushed out from the bedroom. His expression changed several times before he ultimately chose to believe Sophie. “Jenna, I never thought you’d stoop to physical violence out of jealousy!” I found it absurd and grabbed Sophie’s collar. “Sophie, when did I touch you? Stop acting!” She secretly dug her nails into my arm. I instinctively dodged, and Sophie took the opportunity to fall to the ground. Her knee was bleeding, and she cried heartbreakingly. “It hurts so much, Liam. I’m bleeding. Will I be okay…?” In his panic, Liam knocked me to the ground. Sharp pain shot through my abdomen. Blood flowed down my legs, but I barely registered it. Liam quickly opened the car door to take Sophie to the hospital. “Sophie has poor blood clotting. If anything happens to her, I won’t forgive you!” As we got in the car, Liam suddenly grabbed my arm. “I remember you and Sophie have the same blood type. Come to the hospital with us!” Without waiting for my answer, Liam roughly shoved me into the car. Halfway through the drive, there was a loud crash. We’d had an accident. My forehead slammed hard into the front seat. Excruciating pain swept through my lower abdomen. I tried to lift my head to call for help and saw Liam protecting Sophie firmly beneath him. He carried Sophie away and calmly made calls to have people handle the situation. Not until I struggled to crawl out from the back seat did he remember my existence and look at me with some surprise. “My stomach hurts so much…” Hearing this, Sophie asked weakly: “Liam, my knee is bleeding so much. Will I die?” Before, even if I just scraped my skin a little, Liam would be extremely anxious. He’d apply medicine, feed me candy, and cheer me up. This time, he looked at me with disgust as I broke out in cold sweat. “Jenna Rivers, how long are you going to keep up this act?” “I’m not…” My voice grew weaker and weaker. Until the ambulance arrived, Liam never looked at me again. My forehead was badly swollen, my arms torn and bloody from glass. Finally, I was sent to the hospital in a daze. When I woke up, my hospital room was already surrounded by Liam’s bodyguards. Seeing me open my eyes, Liam dragged me all the way to the blood draw room and threw me on the floor in front of the nurse. “Draw as much blood from her as you can. I just need Sophie to be safe!” Blood drained from my body at an alarming rate. By the time there was no more blood to draw and my vision went black, the nurse gasped in shock. “Miss Rivers has been taking special medication recently. This blood can’t be used!” Liam’s fury exploded instantly, his eyes dark. “Let’s see you try to weasel out of this!” “Sophie was right—you’re trying to kill her!” Before he finished speaking, he ordered his men to force me to kneel on broken glass without hesitation. I cried out in pain, my whole body nearly collapsing to the ground. Liam covered Sophie’s eyes with his hand, not wanting her to see this bloody scene. He looked down at me from above. “Jenna Rivers, you think too highly of yourself. Did you really think I’d soften and let you off?”

Intense pain swept through my entire body. I gasped for air. Sweat slid into my eyes. The last trace of warmth I felt for Liam in my heart vanished completely. The bodyguards dragged me and threw me outside the hospital. It was more than ten degrees below zero outside, with heavy snow falling. I wore only thin clothes but was pressed into the snow. The bone-chilling cold made me gasp. The freezing wind blew right through me. Sophie stood under the eaves wrapped in a fluffy blanket, watching my suffering. Liam raised his hand to tighten the blanket around Sophie. “Sophie, be careful not to catch cold.” Half my body was buried in the snow. I was shivering so hard my teeth chattered. My heart felt suffocated. I slowly bent over, covering my face to swallow my grief. I went from wailing at first to finally losing all strength, left with only faint breathing. Until the kidnappers sent a message. In the video, Sophie’s kitten was tied up in a cage. Covered in blood, it seemed to have lost all signs of life. Seeing this scene, Sophie nearly fainted. Her face turned deathly pale as she shouted at the kidnappers through gritted teeth. “However much money you want, we can give it. Don’t hurt my cat—” The kidnapper on the other end laughed. “Want to save your cat? Of course. A life for a life.” “Break Miss Rivers’s legs and send her to us as a hostage.” Liam froze in place, his chest heaving violently. But I could no longer speak, only begging brokenly. “Liam, don’t…” A flash of hesitation crossed Liam’s eyes. But the next second came Sophie’s crying plea for help. “Please, I’m begging you. The kitten has been with me since I was little. It’s my life.” “If the kitten doesn’t survive, I won’t live either!” The man who had been hesitating grew determined after hearing Sophie’s cries. Liam picked up a nearby stick and approached me step by step. My heart sank to the bottom. I begged. “Liam, you can’t do this to me.” He gritted his teeth and used all his strength to smash the stick into my knees. My legs were broken alive. Heart-piercing pain drilled through my flesh and into my heart. Liam held me tightly, his voice trembling. “Jenna, forgive me.” “I can’t live without Sophie. When you come back safely, I’ll atone to you.” Sophie smiled smugly at me and turned to the kidnapper in the video. “We’ll send you the hostage right away. You must keep my kitten safe!” I was dragged and hauled by Liam to the kidnappers’ location. Liam’s eyes were filled with crimson. “Don’t blame us, Jenna. I can’t let any danger come to Sophie’s cat.” “You were born with everything, but Sophie is all alone with only her cat to keep her company.” I was covered in injuries, without even the strength to resist. “Now that we’ve brought the person, release Sophie’s cat!” Liam pushed me into the kidnappers’ hands. The kidnapper looked at me mockingly. “Miss Rivers is truly pitiful—worth less than a mistress.” The atmosphere grew cold. Half-opening my eyes, I watched them hurriedly leave with Sophie. Only the kidnappers and I remained. They immediately grabbed my hair and violently smashed my head against the ground. Once, twice, more than ten times. Dark red blood flowed continuously from the torn flesh, tasting fishy and bitter when it reached my mouth. The kidnapper laughed sarcastically. Seeing that I didn’t struggle or beg for mercy, he immediately lost interest. “Miss Sophie said to leave no survivors. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for provoking the wrong person.” When the cold barrel pressed against my temple, I closed my eyes, my tone extremely calm. “You really think you can kill me?” The moment the trigger was pulled, there was no expected gunshot—only the dull thud of heavy objects hitting the ground. Both kidnappers had been subdued by the men in black my father sent. Walter, the leader, rushed forward and knelt on one knee. “Mr. Rivers sent us to bring you home!” Three minutes later, more than a dozen helicopters circled on the rooftop. I picked up my phone and sent a text to my lawyer. “Withdraw all of Liam’s medical symposium funding and take back the mansion he’s currently living in.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “378648”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

After marrying Ethan Pierce, I got pregnant nine times. But I miscarried all nine times. I thought there was something wrong with my body, until I heard him talking in his study. “She betrayed me. Her dirty womb doesn’t deserve to carry my child.” “Only the pure and innocent Lily deserves to bear my child.” It turned out every miscarriage was his doing. He pampered his pregnant mistress, caused my grandmother’s death, and pushed me to the edge. But when I left him to study abroad and became a renowned doctor, he showed up in a wheelchair, begging for my forgiveness. I just smiled faintly and introduced the man beside me. “This is my husband. What are you to me?” Sophia’s POV After my ninth miscarriage, I dragged myself home exhausted, clutching the medical certificate. The moment I walked in, I heard voices from the study on the second floor. My footsteps froze. A bad feeling stirred in my gut. The next second, I heard that familiar voice, cold and detached. “Clean up the mess. Don’t let Sophia find out.” “The oil stain on the floor has been wiped clean.” Through the speakerphone, I heard his secretary Robert’s hesitant voice. “Mrs. Pierce has been hoping to have a child with you. This is her ninth miscarriage. Shouldn’t we tell her the truth?” I forced my stiff legs to carry me up the stairs. Through the crack in the study door, I saw Ethan lean back in his chair and let out a cold laugh. “She should have known the future heir of the corporation could never come from someone like her.” “This is just a taste of what she deserves.” My face went pale. My weak body trembled violently. I clutched the miscarriage notice in my hand, but tears still fell beyond my control. The man who had dined with me so gently just yesterday, who promised to go with me to my checkup, now seemed terrifyingly unfamiliar. Thinking back to every pregnancy after our marriage: being bumped into while walking, mysteriously falling down stairs, midnight fevers, food poisoning… I thought it was my body’s tendency to miscarry. I never suspected anything. Every time, I blamed myself for not being more careful. Now, looking back, every seemingly coincidental incident had something sinister behind it. But Ethan loved me so much! I forced my eyes wide open. Even though breathing was difficult, I struggled to see the person clearly. After each miscarriage, Ethan would pray in the church for a month for our unborn child. To fulfill the child’s wish, he endured rumors throughout our social circle that he was impotent, and took medication for a whole year without batting an eye. To let me rest at home and prepare for pregnancy, he hired ten nannies to take care of my every need, arranging everything down to the smallest detail. Everyone in our circle praised how madly Ethan loved me. But now the truth hit me like a slap in the face. Love and not love, which was real? I trembled as I touched my abdomen, fresh from surgery. Dull pain radiated from below, making it almost impossible to stand. “If Mrs. Pierce ever finds out, will she leave?” Robert sounded worried. Ethan looked at the photo on his desk of the two of us smiling brightly in college, his tone firm. “We swore to be together forever. Even if she betrayed me, I won’t let go. This is just a small lesson.” “It’s only a child. It won’t affect our relationship.” He paused, then continued. “That college girl Lily got pregnant with my child after that accident at the gala. Let her have it. But I promised Sophia that the position of Mrs. Pierce will always be hers.” Every word cut into me like a blade. I stood frozen, my blood running cold. I covered my mouth tightly, trying to suppress the sob rising in my throat. I suddenly didn’t know whether I should confront him about cheating with a college student, or continue explaining that the child was a misunderstanding. The first time I got pregnant, Ethan and I had been broken up for three months. Because of my special constitution, I was hit by someone on an electric bike. It wasn’t until sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen that I realized I was three months pregnant. My parents died when I was young, my grandmother was in poor health, I called him twenty times, but Ethan eventually blocked me. With no choice, I contacted a classmate who worked at the hospital. After the surgery, when my classmate helped my weak body out of the hospital, we ran into Ethan, who had just finished a meeting and rushed over. His eyes fell on my classmate’s hand supporting my arm. His face darkened like a storm. “Sophia, are you that desperate for a man? We broke up less than three months ago and you’re already pregnant with someone else’s child?” Without waiting for my pale face to respond, he turned and strode away. I wanted to explain, but he simply didn’t believe it was his child. Not until my classmate went abroad did Ethan come to marry me. “If you want me to forgive you, marry me.” I agreed. I thought I could spend the rest of my life explaining. I thought Ethan had let go of this matter. Out of carelessness for losing our first child, I gave up my career to stay home and prepare for pregnancy, just wanting to make up for that regret. Even at the cost of my own body, I never regretted it. But Ethan never believed me! My vision blurred the scene before me. I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound. The doorbell suddenly rang downstairs. The sharp sound made the person in the room look up toward the door. My emotions were complicated. I didn’t know how to face him. Instinctively, I turned and ran downstairs in a panic.

Sophia’s POV I opened the door to a delicate, innocent face. Her features were refined and pretty, her skin smooth and fair. Youth practically radiated from her. I looked at the woman before me in disbelief. Tears filled my eyes. I even forgot to run away. Footsteps approached from behind. A pair of large hands gripped my shoulders. Ethan’s voice came from above my head. “Why are you crying?” He frowned slightly, looking down at me in his arms, his fingers tightening. “Did someone bully you?” I didn’t answer. The paper in my hand was crumpled. I stared hard at the woman in front of me. Ethan followed my gaze. As if only now noticing the person at the door, displeasure flashed in his eyes. “Why are you here?” Lily nervously twisted the corner of her clothes, then pulled out a certificate from her bag. “The doctor said the fetus is unstable and I should drop out to rest. I’ve already processed my leave of absence.” She glanced at the man’s dark expression, then at me, stammering. “You… you said… if I ever had any trouble, I could come to you…” “You’re the baby’s father. You can’t abandon your responsibility.” Lily seemed to gather courage, looking at the man before her. Ethan irritably rubbed his temples and let go of me. “Come in first. I’ll go upstairs and call someone to take care of you.” Then he squeezed my hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry. She’ll leave soon.” Ethan didn’t explain Lily’s identity or the pregnancy. He turned and went upstairs to the study to get his phone. After he left, Lily’s previously timid expression vanished. She walked straight to the sofa and sat down, looking at me from across the room as if she were the mistress of this house. “So you’re that promiscuous wife Mr. Pierce talks about?” Promiscuous wife? Is that how Ethan referred to me behind my back? I struggled to breathe. Having just had surgery and lost a lot of blood, combined with my emotional turmoil, I staggered, bracing my hands against the doorframe, nearly collapsing to the ground. Seeing me like this, contempt flashed in Lily’s eyes. She crossed her arms and walked up to me step by step, warning in a low voice. “You’re a slut who slept with other men. How are you worthy of bearing Mr. Pierce’s child?” She proudly touched her still-flat belly. “Mr. Pierce said I’m the purest one. Only I’m qualified to bear his child.” “Everyone says Mr. Pierce loves you, but…” Lily looked at my dazed expression. “If it came down to the child or you, who do you think he’d choose?” What does that mean? A bad feeling suddenly hit me. I jerked my head up to look at her. The sound of a door closing came from upstairs. Before I could react, Lily suddenly grabbed my hand and violently pushed herself to the ground. Tears instantly streamed down her face. Lying on the floor, Lily clutched her belly, breaking out in cold sweat from the pain. “The baby, my baby…” Hearing the commotion, Ethan rushed downstairs and scooped Lily into his arms. “How did you fall? I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” But Lily grabbed his arm tightly, her eyes on me, her voice weak. “Mrs. Pierce, I never wanted to compete with you, but why can’t you tolerate even a child? Why did you push me?” “I didn’t!” Meeting Ethan’s gaze, I shook my head in denial. “I didn’t push her! You know I just had a miscarriage. How could I harm someone else’s child?” I kept shaking my head. I’d had nine miscarriages. No one knew better than me the pain of losing a child. How could I possibly want to harm anyone? Ethan clearly didn’t believe me. His eyes were frighteningly cold as he spoke word by word. “I saw it with my own eyes! Sophia, are you trying to deceive me again like last time?” “She fell on her own! She’s trying to frame me!” I didn’t understand why Ethan would never truly believe me. “There’s a camera at the door. Why won’t you just check it?!” I explained desperately, a sense of helplessness welling up inside. Ethan’s expression shifted, but Lily in his arms went stiff, then clutched her stomach in painful cries. “Mr. Pierce, my stomach hurts so much. Did we lose our baby?” Ethan’s thoughts were interrupted. He immediately lifted Lily in his arms. “Lily has always been pure and kind. This is your first time meeting today. She has no reason to frame you. I saw you push her with my own eyes. There’s no need to check the footage.” “Sophia, you’ve disappointed me again.” Ethan held the pale-faced Lily tightly in his arms, pushed past me standing in the doorway, and hurried out. Unprepared, my already unsteady body was knocked aside. I fell heavily to the ground with a thud and cried out in pain. Ethan’s steps paused. He didn’t look back. I finally understood. Ethan had never believed me. Those lost children were his punishment for me.

Sophia’s POV I sat slumped on the floor, looking at the miscarriage notice soaked with tears. They were both Ethan’s children. Why could he be so cruel as to personally send away nine of my babies? Before I could figure it out, my phone rang urgently. “Sophia, your grandmother’s condition has suddenly deteriorated. She urgently needs surgery…” My head exploded with a roar. I couldn’t hear the rest. By the time I reached the hospital, Grandma had lost consciousness. Seeing her lying on the bed with a breathing tube, my heart ached terribly. “The patient is very weak. The surgery can’t be delayed. We’re still short ten thousand dollars.” The doctor dutifully informed me. “We can’t reach Mr. Pierce. Your grandmother’s condition is critical. We recommend immediate surgery.” I desperately gripped the doctor’s hand, begging. “Please do the surgery first. I’ll pay the fee right now.” “I’m sorry, Sophia. The hospital has procedures.” I frantically dialed Ethan’s number. Once, twice, three times… Time passed. On the tenth call, the phone finally connected. A cold male voice came through. “What is it?” “Ethan, grandma -” I started to speak, but before I could get the words out, a young female voice cut in. “Mr. Pierce, I feel so terrible. My stomach hurts so much.” Ethan’s voice carried a hint of helplessness. “Don’t move around. The doctor will come check on you soon.” Then he hastily threw out a sentence and hung up directly. “Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it when I get back.” All the blood in my body rushed backward. My fingertips trembled slightly. When I called again, his phone was off. I had no choice but to steel myself and call Robert. “I’m sorry, I can’t give you that money. Mr. Pierce has instructed that because you did something wrong, you need to be punished.” I trembled with rage. Under my insistent questioning, Robert told me Mr. Pierce was with Lily in the VIP ward on the top floor of this very hospital. The elevator to the top floor was private access. I didn’t have a card, so I could only climb eighteen flights of stairs step by step. Along the way, my legs went weak and I fell to the ground. My knee hit the sharp edge of a step, and blood instantly flowed from the wound. Thinking of grandma hanging on by a thread, I had no other choice. I gritted my teeth and limped upward. By the time I stood at the VIP ward door, my body was soaked with sweat. My legs were sore and trembling. Blood had stained my white dress red. I raised my hand. Through the glass window, I saw Lily nestled in Ethan’s arms, acting cute. “Our baby was frightened today. The doctor said parents should spend more time with him. I heard babies can sense their mom and dad. Can you feel him?” Amused by her innocent words, Ethan rarely smiled. “It’s only been two months. It’s still just an embryo.” “But he wants his daddy to feel him.” Lily hugged Ethan’s arm coquettishly, completely different from her timid daytime performance. Ethan ultimately couldn’t resist. He obediently placed his large hand on Lily’s belly, his movements gentle. My nose stung. This was a scene I had imagined too. Once upon a time, I also dreamed of having a cute, well-behaved child with Ethan. But Ethan personally strangled my last hope. Thinking of Grandma in the hospital bed urgently needing medical fees, I finally raised my hand and pushed open the door. Hearing the sound, Ethan turned around. Seeing me, he froze, his gaze fixed on the wound on my leg. He frowned slightly and immediately wanted to get up to check on me. Lily timely gripped his hand, gently reminding him. “Mr. Pierce.” His advancing steps stopped. He suppressed his emotions. “Sophia, Lily has already forgiven you. As long as you come apologize, we can let this matter go.”

Sophia’s POV I clenched my fists, my heart filled only with bitterness. Their intertwined hands stung my eyes. I looked away, my gaze falling on Ethan’s face. “Ethan, Grandma is critically ill and needs surgery. We’re still short ten thousand dollars…” Before I could finish, Lily frowned in displeasure. “Sophia, even if you don’t want to apologize, you don’t need to use such an excuse, do you?” “I’m not.” I cut her off sharply. Lily’s eyes immediately reddened. She hugged Ethan’s arm, trembling. “Mr. Pierce, did I say something wrong? I’m so scared. Will Sophia try to harm our child again?” At this, Ethan’s expression darkened. “Sophia, it’s just an apology. If you did something wrong, you should be punished. No excuse will work.” Punishment? I tugged at my stiff lips. He’d already punished me with nine miscarriages. What more did he want? I suddenly remembered that before, when I fell and scraped my skin, Ethan’s eyes were full of heartache. He would cancel all his meetings and carefully stay by my side, summoning his private doctor to gently apply medicine to my wounds himself. But now I was a complete mess, soaked in sweat, blood still flowing from my wounds, yet he could still turn a blind eye. It was Ethan who comforted me after my miscarriages, who accompanied me through those days of lost hope. But he was also the father of those children, and their executioner. I was exhausted in body and spirit. My head felt dizzy. I dug my nails into my palms. The pain was the only thing keeping me conscious. Grandma was still waiting for the medical fees. I couldn’t be willful at a time like this. “Sophia.” Ethan’s cold tone carried veiled coercion and threat. I gave in. I bent down. “I’m sorry.” Ethan turned his head away, no longer paying attention. “Fine. This matter ends here.” He carefully helped Lily down from the bed and walked out. “Lily still needs to be examined. You should go back and treat your wound.” “Grandma needs surgery immediately!” I tried to reach out and stop Ethan. “We’re still short ten thousand.” Lily displeasedly blocked my arm. “Sophia, I heard from Mr. Pierce that your grandmother raised you since childhood. Even if you really don’t want this child, you don’t need to curse your grandmother who has cancer to death, do you?” “I didn’t!” Seeing the dissatisfaction in Ethan’s eyes, I desperately tried to explain. “Grandma’s condition has really deteriorated. She needs surgery now!” “Enough!” Ethan roughly shook off my hand. “I’ve already instructed the attending physician. If there’s any problem, they’ll contact me directly! Sophia, the position of Mrs. Pierce will always be yours. You don’t need to lie about this kind of thing.” The disappointment in his eyes was like a tangible force, transforming into countless swords that stabbed deep into my heart. In his eyes, was I really the kind of person who would use such things to compete for favor? I stood there, watching the two of them leave intimately, my vision blurring. Nurses nearby were gossiping. “Look at her. Can’t even have kids. How does someone like that get to be Mrs. Pierce?” “I heard she was jealous of that young girl’s pregnancy and tried to hurt the baby herself!” “Can you believe it?! She graduated from a top university, used to do pharmaceutical research. Who would’ve thought she could be so cruel? And she even lied about her grandmother being sick.” A sense of helplessness rose from the depths of my heart. I took out my phone and begged the doctor to operate immediately. I promised I would raise the money. “I’m sorry, Sophia.” The doctor’s words cruelly revealed the truth. “Your grandmother just passed away.” I hadn’t even seen her one last time. I turned and ran downstairs. When I gasped my way to the ward, I just saw Grandma being wheeled toward the morgue. That tightly wound string in my head finally snapped. I forgot even how to cry and collapsed straight down.

Sophia’s POV When I woke up, I stared at the white ceiling of the hospital room, feeling somewhat dazed. As if I’d had a dream. I forced myself up. Pain from my lower abdomen and wounds all over my body cruelly reminded me. The person closest to me in this world was also gone. My eyes were dry. I’d cried all my tears. “You’re awake. Drink some water first.” Ethan pushed open the door holding a glass of water. There were faint dark circles under his eyes. “You’ve been asleep for three days. Drink some water first.” I ignored his outstretched hand. “Where’s grandma?” Ethan frowned and set the glass aside. “It’s too hot. Grandma has already been cremated. Her ashes are at home, waiting for you to go back and bury them.” My nose stung. I remembered before I got married, Grandma held my hand. “You must be happy for a lifetime.” When I was born, my parents despised me and abandoned me on the street. It was grandma passing by who couldn’t bear it. She brought me home, raised me personally, and found every way possible to let me attend school. Some people didn’t understand. They mocked her, saying what good was it for a girl to study well? Better to marry someone rich. But Grandma always told me from childhood. “People can’t rely on others for a lifetime. Knowledge belongs to you. No one can take it away.” I failed Grandma’s expectations. I lost myself in this relationship. I didn’t even see the old woman one last time. Ethan stepped forward and pulled me into his arms. “Sophia, you still have me. I told you, I’ll give you a family.” Give me a family? It was my poor judgment that made me trust the wrong person, letting Ethan destroy my family! Ethan moved his lips to say something, but was interrupted by his phone ringing in his pocket. “Get someone over… yes, it’s been too long… not good for the baby…” The voice came in fragments, but I could still tell it was Lily acting cute with him. Before, I would have been mad with jealousy, would have questioned him, gotten angry. But now my heart felt no ripple. Ethan glanced at me beside him, then finally nodded in agreement. “I know. Do it your way for now. I’ll come back now.” After hanging up, Ethan stood, gently adjusting the blanket corner. “Rest well. I’ll come check on you later.” I closed my eyes, ignoring him. Ethan stood in silence for a while, then finally turned and left. My fingers curled. My hand gripping the clothes trembled slightly. Ethan, I have nothing left. I gritted my teeth and forced my body up. I took a cab home. I had to let grandma rest in peace. Then I would find Ethan and divorce him. When I reached the villa entrance, strange sounds came from inside. The air was filled with an odd smell. My heart sank. A bad feeling washed over me. When I opened the door, the scene before my eyes broke my heart! The living room had been temporarily converted into a cold white memorial space. White lilies surrounded the space. In the center stood a dark urn, with an enlarged photo beside it It was grandma. Then, a strange man grabbed the photo and tossed it into a metal tray. Flames shot up, swallowing the familiar face in an instant. “No!” I screamed and ran over, trying to reach into the fire to grab the photo. “Stop Mrs. Pierce.” Ethan’s calm voice came from nearby. Bodyguards immediately stepped forward, holding me firmly outside, not letting me near the fire. “Ethan!” I lost it. “Grandma is already dead! What more do you want?!” Lily shrank back and clung to Ethan’s arm. Her lips, painted with bright gloss, pouted slightly. “Sophia, I just got pregnant with Mr. Pierce’s child and now this happens. People say your grandmother’s ghost will haunt me. We need to get rid of the bad energy.” “Absurd!” I was so angry my lips trembled. I looked at Ethan. In my memory, Ethan hated this kind of thing most. The only exception was praying for their child. I still remembered that day. Ethan was soaked through with rain, but the cross he took out from his coat was perfectly clean and dry. “Sophia, the only exception is you.” But now, looking at Ethan less than five meters away, I blinked my dry eyes. I was no longer that only exception. Ethan stared at me steadily, his tone calm and cruel. “Lily has been having nightmares and can’t sleep. She just needs a ceremony.” He paused, then continued. “Don’t worry. Grandma’s ashes have already been burned once. They won’t burn away completely.” What does “won’t burn away completely” mean? I suddenly felt the man before me was terrifyingly unfamiliar. That was my only relative, and the grandmother he promised to take care of for a lifetime. “Mr. Pierce, time is almost up.” A man in ritual robes stepped forward from behind. “The lingering anger won’t go away. An evil spirit is clinging to her. Miss Lily is pregnant and weak. She’s already been possessed.” Hearing this, Ethan withdrew his gaze and turned to look at them. “Continue.” The man was heavily equipped. He took out a bag of white phosphorus from his pack and threw it expressionlessly into the urn. “No! No! Grandma!” My eyes turned completely red. I pushed through the crowd blocking me and rushed forward. “Watch out!” Before I could get close, the white phosphorus contacted the high temperature and suddenly ignited in the air. The urn exploded. A small piece of porcelain flew past my cheek. White ashes were blown everywhere by the intense heat. Through the hazy white dust, I saw Ethan holding Lily tightly in his arms. He used his back to shield her. I suddenly remembered when the lab had a chemical explosion before, he also held me in his arms like this. Even if his back was burned, his first concern would be whether I was hurt. Blood rushed to my head. Something sweet and metallic surged in my throat. I spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. Ethan, the price of loving you is too high. I don’t want to love you anymore. I’ll give you a gift you’ll never forget.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “378649”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On the day of my mother’s heart transplant surgery, my husband Ethan snatched away the heart meant to save her. He gave it to his childhood sweetheart, Autumn. She wasn’t even sick. My mother died on the operating table, while he held Autumn in his arms, watching the sunset by the sea. Autumn framed me for hurting her child, so Ethan threw me to the wolves. I was torn apart, and I lost the baby because of it. Later I learned he’d been hypnotized, with all his memories of loving me sealed away. But so what? Who will pay for my child’s life? For my mother’s life? Until he knelt before me, begging pathetically for mercy. I only smiled faintly. “Ethan, I’m already married to someone else.” Maya’s POV I waited anxiously outside the operating room. My mother was inside receiving a heart transplant. An hour ago, the doctor had already sent someone to retrieve the transplant organ. But that precious heart still hadn’t arrived. Suddenly, Ethan walked toward me, his presence ice cold. “That heart was a successful match for Autumn. Her body is weak and can’t wait any longer. Your mother’s surgery will have to be postponed.” I froze instantly. My mother’s chest cavity was already open, all the medical staff were waiting for the heart to arrive. How could Ethan suddenly change his mind and give the only heart to his childhood sweetheart?! My face turned deathly pale as I gripped Ethan’s sleeve tightly. “My mom is lying on the operating table right now. If you take that heart away, you’re condemning her to death! Ethan, that’s my mother. You can’t do this!” Ethan’s face showed no emotion, his tone indifferent. “Autumn is from a wealthy family, a rising star in academia. She’s made many contributions to society. The heart will create more value in her body.” I stood there stunned, as if I hadn’t understood, then let out bitter laughter as tears streamed down my face. “You think Autumn’s life is worth more than my mother’s? Does that mean my mother deserves to die? You promised that as long as I didn’t press charges against Autumn, you’d help me find a heart donor. How can you go back on your word!” Half a month ago, Autumn had injured me. I wanted to report it to the police, but Ethan stopped me. I knew he was biased toward Autumn, but to save my mother, I had no choice but to agree to Ethan’s conditions. Now, with my mother on the brink of life and death inside the operating room, Ethan was going back on his word. My whole body trembled with anxiety. I dropped to my knees at Ethan’s feet. “Ethan, I’m begging you. My dad died early, and my mom worked four jobs to raise me alone. I haven’t even given her a good life yet. She can’t die… Please…” Ethan looked down at me kneeling and begging, frowning slightly. “I did promise you, but now Autumn needs that heart too. I had to make a choice.” “Autumn and I have known each other for over twenty years. She’s more important to me. I hope you’ll be reasonable about this.” Those two short sentences left me both confused and heartbroken. The Ethan of the past loved me more than anything, wanting to give me the whole world. We first met by the roadside when some thugs were harassing me and Ethan came to my rescue. After that, Ethan would occasionally appear at my food cart, patronizing my business. Later, Ethan confessed his feelings for me, saying he didn’t mind my poor background and would take care of me forever. But all of that changed after Ethan returned from his business trip abroad. He seemed like a completely different person, extremely cold toward me. I glared at Ethan with grief and anger. “When we got married, you clearly said you would cherish me and love me. Now you want to sacrifice my mother for someone else. Have you lost your memory and forgotten what you said?!” Ethan frowned. “That’s nonsense. How could I have lost my memory?” With that, he stopped looking at me, turned coldly, and walked toward the exit. I froze for a moment, then chased after him. Outside the hospital, medical personnel were placing the cooler containing the heart into a vehicle. “Mr. Foster, the heart has been arranged. We’ll head to Sacred Heart Hospital immediately,” the driver said respectfully. Ethan nodded slightly. Seeing this, I frantically rushed over to try to grab it. I no longer cared about any dignity. I only knew that without this heart, my mother would die! But how could I possibly overcome the group of medical staff and drivers around? Before I could even touch the cooler, I was forcefully pushed to the ground, my arms and thighs badly scraped and bleeding. Ethan glanced at me and stepped into the vehicle. The car started and slowly drove onto the road. My eyes turned bloodshot as I struggled up from the ground and chased the car. I grabbed onto the rear of the vehicle with both arms and was dragged for a distance before falling hard to the ground. On the asphalt, a gruesome trail of blood was left behind. But the pain in my body couldn’t compare to even half the despair in my heart. I cried out helplessly, painful tears soaking my collar. My mother was still on the operating table, and I had no idea what to do. Just then, a nurse came running over anxiously. “Ms. Carter, we sutured your mother’s chest cavity as Mr. Foster requested, but something went wrong… You should go see her one last time.” I felt my entire world come crashing down.

Maya’s POV My background was rough. My father died in an accident when I was one year old. For the next dozen years, my mother worked four jobs day and night to support me. I matured early and always felt sorry for my mother’s exhaustion, saying that when I grew up I would definitely give her a good life. But my mother just smiled and hugged me, saying that as long as I was healthy and safe, that was enough. And now, standing in the morgue, the pale lights made me sway unsteadily. My mother, who just yesterday was talking about going on a trip together after the surgery, now lay silently on the mortuary bed, covered with a white sheet. I could no longer hold myself up and fell to my knees beside the bed. “Mom… please open your eyes and look at me…” I pressed myself tightly against the cold body, tears bursting forth. “You promised we’d go on a trip together. How can you leave me…” I cried my heart out, as if trying to expel my entire heart. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. It was a text from Ethan. “Autumn’s surgery was very successful. I’ll find another suitable heart for your mother. Just stay out of trouble.” As I read it, my vision suddenly blurred. I knew Ethan was afraid I would hold a grudge and cause trouble for Autumn, so he was trying to placate me. But Ethan didn’t know yet that my mother was no longer in this world… I looked at my mother’s body, then at the message on my phone. The grief and fury in my chest suddenly blazed up. If it weren’t for Ethan and Autumn, my mother would never have died on that operating table! I had to get an explanation! I shakily stood up and, in complete disarray, took a cab to Sacred Heart Hospital. I didn’t even need to ask to know which private room Autumn was in. Whatever Ethan had prepared for her would certainly be the best room on the top floor. When I rushed to the top floor, Autumn had just finished surgery and was still unconscious in the ICU. Ethan stood outside the ward, his gaze toward the room focused and affectionate. That kind of look once belonged only to me, but now it completely belonged to another woman. I felt a sharp pain in my chest. My mother’s death and my husband’s betrayal made me feel torn in half. Ethan heard footsteps and looked at me. Seeing me like a madwoman with disheveled hair and messy clothes, disgust flashed in his eyes. He said coldly, “Why aren’t you at the hospital with your mother? What are you doing here?” I didn’t answer. I tried to rush forward and force my way into the ward, but Ethan violently pushed me to the ground. His strength was too great. I had no chance to react before I crashed heavily to the floor, the intense pain making my vision go black. But no physical pain could compare to my torn and shredded heart at this moment. Ethan looked down at me from above, without a trace of pity in his eyes. “I warned you, as long as you behave, I’ll help you find another heart. If you insist on making trouble, don’t blame me for being heartless.” That cold look in his eyes was like looking at trash. I suddenly laughed, tears seeping from the corners of my eyes. “Ethan, you’re treating me like this for a woman who’s a homewrecker… You’re breaking your word. You’ll definitely get what’s coming to you!” Ethan’s expression darkened. He said coldly, “The worst thing that ever happened to me was marrying you.” That single sentence made my already agonizing heart spasm with pain again. After speaking, he called security to drag me to the stairwell like garbage, then stationed people outside the ward as if afraid I’d come back to cause trouble. In the dim stairwell, my suppressed sobs echoed. Suddenly, someone came down the stairs. It was Autumn’s female assistant, just as unreasonable and arrogant as Autumn herself. The assistant twirled her hair and mocked coldly, “You’re really shameless, actually following them here. Ethan doesn’t even care if you live or die to save Autumn. Can’t you see who he really loves?” I clenched my teeth and snapped back, “Autumn wrecked someone else’s marriage, and you as her assistant not only enable her, you help her cover it up. If I post what she’s done online, let’s see how you survive in academia.” The assistant’s expression changed, but she quickly shifted the topic. She pulled out her phone and shoved a photo in my face. Under romantic, dim lighting, the floor was covered with rose petals. Ethan knelt on one knee before Autumn, reverently holding her hand. “A month ago when Ethan went abroad on business, he actually took Autumn with him. He even proposed to her there.” “He said he’d get rid of you soon and be with Autumn.” “Autumn has better education and background than you. A woman like you who wants to climb the social ladder through marriage should stop dreaming.” I laughed. So Ethan had already planned to divorce me. No wonder he was so heartless. I had foolishly thought Ethan would help me, but in the end I’d sacrificed my mother’s life. I finally understood everything. I knew I wouldn’t get any justice, and no one would care about my deceased mother. I’d seen enough of the world’s cruelty since childhood. I should have known that’s just how things are. But I wasn’t willing to let my mother die in vain. I decided to do two things. The first was divorce.

Maya’s POV I hired a lawyer to handle the divorce proceedings. Then I went home and started packing. My bedroom was full of gifts Ethan had given me, each one expensive and rare. Once I jokingly asked Ethan to give me the stars from the sky. The next day, Ethan bought me a diamond necklace worth tens of millions of dollars. He said that although he couldn’t pluck stars from the sky, he could give me the world’s most expensive jewelry. Now looking at that diamond necklace, my eyes stung. I opened my phone and pulled up a photo. It was a picture I’d taken with Ethan at our front door when he left for his trip abroad a month ago. In that photo, Ethan still looked at me with tender eyes. I couldn’t understand why going abroad once had turned him into a completely different person. But at this point, I didn’t care anymore. The harm Ethan had caused me was real. No reason could whitewash it. I stayed home alone for three days. During those three days, Ethan never came home once. I knew he’d been at the hospital watching over Autumn the whole time. After Autumn woke up, she’d been active on social media. From her account, I could clearly see how carefully Ethan had been caring for Autumn these past days. Every day he personally made nutritious meals for Autumn, told her bedtime stories, even childishly wrote prayer cards for her. I saw all of this, but my riddled heart no longer felt pain. Besides divorce, I had a second thing to do: revenge. I saved all the photos Autumn had posted as evidence for future retaliation. On the day of my mother’s burial, I wore all black. I had no family or friends left, so I handled her funeral arrangements alone. After returning from the cemetery, I found the handmade doll my mother had sewn for me. When I was little, our family was poor. I always envied other children who had toys. My mother felt bad for me but couldn’t spare the money, so she made me a little doll herself. Over a dozen years had passed, and this doll had always been with me. “Mom, treat this as me, keeping you company down there.” With tears streaming down, I walked to the fireplace, lit the flames, and gently placed the handmade doll into the roaring fire. But I didn’t expect Ethan to suddenly come home. As soon as Ethan entered, he saw me dressed in black with the doll burning in the fireplace. Ethan’s expression changed immediately. “What the hell are you doing? Autumn’s health suddenly worsened. Are you making evil dolls to curse her?!” I hadn’t expected Ethan to think this way. Before I could explain, Ethan had already strode over and knocked the doll out of the fire, stomping hard on it. “No!” Seeing my mother’s keepsake being trampled, I frantically threw myself forward, using my hands to shield it. But my desperation only seemed to confirm Ethan’s suspicion in his eyes. Ethan’s face darkened, apparently convinced I was doing something malicious. He pressed his shoe down on my fingers and ground them hard. I cried out in pain but didn’t dare move my hand, afraid my mother’s memento would be destroyed. Seeing me trembling all over from pain, Ethan finally slowly withdrew his foot. He went upstairs, grabbed a few changes of clothes, and was about to leave again. But just as he reached the door, I called out to him. “Ethan, I’m not like you people. I never do such despicable things. Don’t throw dirty water on me.” My eyes were empty but revealed a stubborn strength. Ethan stared at me for a few seconds without speaking, then turned and left. I laughed self-deprecatingly. No matter how much I explained, it was useless because Ethan simply didn’t believe me. I clutched the burned and trampled doll tightly to my chest, tears slowly falling. Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me. I covered my mouth tightly, forcing down the urge to retch. I suddenly remembered that my period hadn’t come this month.

Maya’s POV I stood outside the gynecology office with the test results, completely stunned. I was pregnant. One month along. Counting back, it must have been the night before Ethan left for abroad. Ethan used to be very clingy with me, especially when it came to sex. That night he said he’d be away on business for at least half a month, so he kept taking me again and again. Several condoms broke and I didn’t even notice. I leaned against the wall to steady myself. I didn’t know why fate kept playing such cruel jokes on me. I had already decided to divorce Ethan. What was I supposed to do about this child? I walked out of the hospital in a daze. Later I learned that Autumn’s assistant had come to visit Autumn and happened to overhear the doctor talking to me. That assistant rushed to tip off Autumn. The next day, Ethan brought Autumn home to move in. Ethan supported Autumn with one hand and carried her luggage with the other. As soon as they entered, he spoke coldly to me. “The master bedroom is bigger. Move out and give it to Autumn.” I felt nothing inside hearing this. I didn’t respond, just went upstairs, simply packed my things, and moved into the guest room. I’d already given up on Ethan. I wanted to stay as far from him as possible, so moving to the guest room suited me fine. Seeing me so cooperative, not making a fuss, he seemed to expect me to cry and argue like before. Watching my silence, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. I didn’t come down for dinner that night either. Being pregnant had actually made my appetite smaller, so I only came down late at night planning to grab something light. But as soon as I reached the stairs, I ran into Autumn who was just heading up. Autumn glanced at my stomach, jealousy and hatred flashing in her eyes. She slowly approached me, saying in a low voice, “Ethan letting you stay in the house is his mercy, but you’d better know your place and get lost. Otherwise I’ll make sure Ethan doesn’t help you find a heart, and let her die in the hospital!” The mention of my mother made me grit my teeth, nausea rising in my stomach. Looking at that arrogant face before me reminded me of my mother lying helpless on the operating table. I couldn’t take it anymore and slapped Autumn across the face. The crisp slap stunned Autumn. “You dare hit me!” “I hit you alright. If you dare disrespect my mother again, next time it won’t just be a slap.” I threw out those words and stepped down the stairs. Autumn couldn’t take it and suddenly rushed forward to push me. Fortunately I grabbed the railing and didn’t fall. Autumn tried to attack again but lost her balance and tumbled down the stairs herself. Her wails echoed through the living room. I frowned. Just then Ethan came out of his room and immediately changed expression at the scene. He rushed downstairs to help Autumn up. Her ankle was twisted, and she curled up against him crying pitifully. ” Maya pushed me… It hurts so much!” Ethan’s face darkened. He strode upstairs and gripped my arm tightly, demanding, “How can you be so vicious? First you curse Autumn with a doll, now you dare push her!” “I’ve lived my life with integrity. I don’t do such things. But what goes around comes around.” The hatred in my words flowed out without reservation. Ethan narrowed his eyes and looked at me coldly, seeming very displeased with my hateful attitude. Ethan gripped my arm forcefully and said coldly, “Autumn has no quarrel with you. She wouldn’t falsely accuse you. Since you hurt her, you should experience the same.” With that, Ethan pushed me down the stairs. The world spun as excruciating pain crushed every inch of my body. Finally my head slammed hard into the floor, blood streaming down my face. Ethan looked down at me collapsed like garbage on the ground, without a trace of pity in his eyes. He went downstairs, picked up Autumn, and returned to the room, completely ignoring me. After a while, I managed to drag myself up through sheer willpower. But as soon as I stood up, I discovered with horror that blood was flowing down the inside of my leg.

Maya’s POV I froze, panic rising inside me. I had just lost my mother. I couldn’t bear to lose my child too. I staggered toward the door, wanting to hail a cab to the hospital, but it had started raining outside without me noticing. Torrential rain. Taxis were few and far between. I endured the severe pain in my lower abdomen and walked forward in the rain, hoping to find a taxi on the road. The rain was heavy, the wind was cold. I could feel blood continuously flowing between my legs, but I didn’t dare stop. I don’t know how long I walked before my vision kept going black and I collapsed on the ground, losing consciousness. … I dreamed of my wedding day with Ethan. Ethan wore a suit and tie, carefully placing the wedding ring on my finger. At that moment his eyes held tears as he said deeply that I was the love of his life. The next second, the scene changed to Ethan returning from his business trip abroad. That was the first time I’d seen Ethan so cold, looking at me as if I were a complete stranger. I jolted awake to find myself in a hospital room. “You’re awake? I’ll go get the doctor for you.” The nurse was about to leave when I quickly stopped her. “Why am I in the hospital? My… my child…” I instinctively touched my abdomen. The nurse sighed and said, “You collapsed on the roadside last night. Someone brought you to the hospital. The doctor performed emergency treatment, but the child couldn’t be saved.” A part of my heart collapsed completely. I sat there dazed, unable to react. Only after several seconds did I break down into hysterical crying. Why did all my loved ones leave me one by one? Why was fate treating me this way?! My heart-wrenching wails filled the hospital room. Even passersby who didn’t know what was happening inside couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. I stayed in the hospital for three days. During those three days, no one came looking for me. Following Autumn’s social media account, I discovered Ethan had taken Autumn to a private island resort. I looked at the photos Autumn posted, each one showing their extravagant, loving state. Ethan feeding Autumn fruit, kneeling by the bed to apply body lotion for her, climbing trees to pick flowers for her… Every single image declared how much Ethan cherished Autumn. My eyes burned red with hatred. Thinking that my mother and child had both died because of these two, yet they were living so happily, the fury in my heart blazed even hotter. I had originally planned to carefully plot my revenge, but now, I really couldn’t hold back anymore. All the anger I’d been holding in finally exploded. I was discharged from the hospital and went home, standing before the mansion. Cold wind blew across my face, stinging sharply, but my expression remained blank. My eyes were ice cold. “Ethan, this is what you owe me.” I took out the gasoline I’d prepared and poured bucket after bucket into the house. Then I struck a lighter and threw it in without a moment’s hesitation. BOOM. Roaring flames instantly surged up, consuming the mansion. Expressionless, I dragged my luggage and turned to leave.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “378650”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On the third day after my C-section, the baby and I checked into the premium postpartum care center I’d reserved in advance. Worried about the cost, I gently suggested to my husband Santiago that we could just hire a nanny to take care of the baby at home instead. Santiago laughed and said: “Don’t bother.” “I withdrew this cash without going through the finance department. If Everett finds out, I won’t be able to deal with her stubborn temper.” I froze. My heart felt like it had been pierced by a thorn—I couldn’t pull it out, couldn’t swallow it down. It just throbbed with a dull ache. Every time Santiago spent money on me, he had to get approval from Everett, the new CFO at his company. He called her his Minister of Finance. But I never imagined that on the very night I checked into the postpartum center, Santiago’s reservation would be hit with a full refund request. Clinton, the center’s manager, threatened and cornered, threw the refund receipt in my face and kicked the baby and me out into the rainy night. That night, my incision became infected. I developed sepsis and a fever that wouldn’t break. I called Santiago crying for help, only to discover I’d been blocked. As I lay in the emergency room with no one caring whether I lived or died, Everett posted a photo on Twitter from an auction. In the picture, she nestled in Santiago’s arms, smiling coyly: “Without my approval, what does it matter that Mr. Santiago is worth hundreds of millions? He still doesn’t dare spend half a cent without my say-so.” “I’d advise certain people not to be so possessive of other people’s money. You just had a baby—where do you get the nerve to stay at a luxury postpartum center?” Only then did I see clearly that Santiago hadn’t just handed financial control to Everett—he’d also given her the power to hurt me.

When Everett arrived at the postpartum center with the legal team, it was already late at night. Learning that the baby and I were staying in the most expensive top-floor suite, jealousy flashed in her eyes and her delicate features twisted for a moment. Seeing me, she let out a contemptuous laugh and said coldly: “How does a useless freeloader have the nerve to enjoy such luxury with a clear conscience?” “Russell, surely you’re aware that I never approved the expense for this postpartum center stay?” The incision from my C-section hadn’t fully healed yet. The fine, persistent pain left my face pale and my forehead covered in cold sweat. Our eyes met. Everett stared at me arrogantly, her gaze full of smug confidence. I took a deep breath, forcing myself through the pain to respond hoarsely: “I’m spending Santiago’s money—my husband’s money. I don’t need approval from some company CFO.” “Now, you’re disturbing my rest. Please leave!” Everett’s face darkened. She snatched the contract from the lawyer’s hand and threw it heavily at me: “Is that so? Too bad the money Santiago spends on you goes through the company accounts. And guess what? I have the authority to recover that money.” I jerked my head up to look at the lawyer standing nearby. Meeting my questioning gaze, the lawyer pressed his lips together and said with some reluctance: “Russell, Mr. Santiago did give Ms. Everett this authority.” “I’m sorry. I can only follow company regulations.” I froze, suddenly gripped by a terrible premonition. My heart pounded so hard it hurt. Sure enough, the next second, Everett turned and presented a stack of legal contracts signed by Santiago to Clinton, the postpartum center’s owner.

A shallow smile played on her face, but her words carried heavy threat: “Refund this order in full, and I won’t make things difficult for anyone. But if I don’t get this money back, Clinton, you should know how easy it would be for Santiago’s company to destroy a small postpartum center, right?” “Government departments could shut you down for inspection with any random reason I give them.” “Or would you prefer to be charged with conspiring with Russell to launder money?” Clinton didn’t dare confront the aggressive Everett. He clutched the stack of legal documents tightly and shot me a sinister glance. Through gritted teeth, he said: “Ms. Everett, Russell is still Mr. Santiago’s wife. Aren’t you afraid Mr. Santiago will be angry if you do this?” “Why don’t I call Mr. Santiago right now and get his opinion?” This fifty-thousand-dollar contract was too tempting. Clinton couldn’t bear to give it up, so he tried invoking Santiago’s name, hoping to make Everett back down. But the moment Clinton finished speaking, Everett burst into laughter as if she’d heard the funniest joke. In the vast room, only her clear laughter could be heard for a moment. Piercing, sharp, dripping with mockery. She said: “Sure, let’s get Santiago’s opinion. I’ll make the call myself!” As she spoke, Everett pulled out her phone and directly dialed Santiago’s number. The moment the call connected, his lazy, infinitely indulgent voice came through: “Everett, who’s bothering you in the middle of the night?” “What, we’ve only been apart for a little while and you already miss me?” My face went deathly pale. Hearing Santiago’s achingly familiar voice, I felt like my breath caught in my throat. The discomfort made my heart race with panic. Everett glanced at me dismissively, then let out a coquettish hum and said in a wronged tone: “Santiago, there was a fifty-thousand-dollar order a while back that you paid without my approval again, wasn’t there?” “I’m really going to get angry. You don’t take me seriously as your CFO at all.”

Santiago let out a muffled laugh and said helplessly: “My mistake, my mistake. Just go recover the money, okay?” “I give you full authorization. Take the legal team with you. Don’t be angry anymore, alright?” My mind went completely blank, replaying Santiago’s words over and over in an endless loop. Every word, every sentence was like a blade glinting with cold light, stabbing into my heart again and again. Only then did Everett break into a smile. After hanging up with a proud flourish, she looked at me with a mocking expression. “Surely no one actually thinks they can throw their weight around just because they’re the CEO’s wife?” All the blood in my body instantly turned cold. I bit my lip hard, unable to make a sound. Malice flashed in Everett’s eyes. She leaned close and whispered: “You dare pull rank on me as the CEO’s wife?” “Russell, just wait and see how I destroy you!” As soon as she got close, the heavy scent of her perfume hit me in waves, making my temples throb painfully. I suddenly snapped back to reality and frantically reached for my phone on the nightstand, my voice shaking: “That can’t be right. Santiago wouldn’t treat the baby and me that way.” “I don’t believe you, Everett. I need to make this call myself!”

But the moment I grabbed my phone, Everett slapped it out of my hand. She looked down at me from above. Her high heel came down hard. The lit screen quickly went dark, and Santiago’s name on the display went black along with it. Everett smiled: “One excuse after another, Russell. You’re not deliberately stalling for time, are you?” “I’m very busy. I don’t have time to play games with you.” She stood up and walked leisurely toward the door: “This postpartum center has no reason to stay in business anyway…” Clinton shot me a venomous glare, then hurried after her: “Ms. Everett, I’ll process the refund right now. I’ll return the money immediately.” “Please, you and Mr. Santiago, show some mercy. Don’t make things hard for my small business.” Soon, the fifty thousand was refunded to Everett’s account. She lifted her chin and flashed me a triumphant smile: “Oh no, Russell, this is Santiago’s money after all. He trusts me, and I can’t let him down, right?” “Please don’t blame me. If just anyone could spend Santiago’s money, how exhausted would he be?” The last thread of rationality in my mind snapped. Ignoring the pain, I lunged desperately at Everett. My voice came out hoarse: “Everett, you did this on purpose, didn’t you!” “I don’t believe it…” In the scuffle, I pushed hard. Everett stumbled backward. Just then, a familiar voice rang out urgently: “Everett!” That shout made me freeze. Everett froze too. But she quickly recovered, deliberately falling heavily to the ground, saying with tears in her voice: “Russell, I only came out of kindness to check on you and the baby. Why did you push me?” Santiago suddenly appeared, taking the fallen Everett into his arms. The look he gave me was ice-cold: “Russell, apologize to Everett!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “378642”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I was filling up at a gas station when I scrolled past a trending local post: “I want my mistress to come over for an affair, but my wife’s schedule is unpredictable. How can I avoid getting caught?” Someone replied: “I’ve got experience with this. I have two parking spots at home. Whenever I’m having an affair, I park my car horizontally across both spots. When my wife comes home and can’t park, she calls me to move the car. While I’m going down to move it, my mistress slips away. I’ve been doing this for six months without getting caught.” The comments praised his clever scheme, and the original poster even liked the reply. I rarely post online, but I couldn’t help responding: “A bunch of scumbags!” But when I drove home, I found my parking spot blocked by my husband’s car parked horizontally across both spaces. Seeing my husband, who always parked carefully and never crossed the lines, suddenly park horizontally across two spots, I slammed on the brakes. The post I’d just read flashed through my mind. It had to be a coincidence, right? Alexander was famous for being devoted to his wife. We’d been dating for five years and married for two—seven years total. He was attentive and considerate, treating me like a treasure. He never let me enter the kitchen or do any housework. Knowing I loved to drive, he’d even given me a Porsche as a birthday gift and bought the parking spot right next to his. Every time we parked, he’d always position his car closer to his side, leaving an extra eight inches of space for me to park more comfortably. How could a man who loved and protected me so wholeheartedly possibly betray me? But that post kept replaying in my mind. I stared at Alexander’s car for a long time before making a decision. I didn’t call him to move his car. Instead, I drove to a temporary parking spot nearby, turned off the engine, got out, and went home. I wanted to see if there really was an unfaithful husband inside, waiting for me to call about moving the car. When I reached the front door, I quietly pulled out my key and opened it as silently as possible. Once inside, I headed straight for the bedroom. The door was half-open. Through the gap, I saw the room was empty. I turned to the guest room. Pushed open the door—still empty. The study, bathroom, balcony, even the storage room—I checked every single one. Every room was quiet and empty. No one was there. Where was Alexander? Just as I was puzzling over this, the kitchen door opened. Alexander came out wearing an apron, carrying a dish. Seeing me, he froze for a moment, surprised: “Why are you home so early today?” He quickly set the dish on the dining table and gave me a simple smile: “I was planning to make a few more dishes before you got off work. You came home early—I haven’t finished cooking yet.” I glanced at the kitchen. Cut vegetables were arranged on the cutting board, and in the pot, my favorite soup was simmering. Clearly, he’d been busy in the kitchen for quite a while. I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly: “There wasn’t much going on at the office today, so I came home early.” Alexander nodded. “Then rest for a bit. I’ll finish the last two dishes and you can eat.” He went back into the kitchen to continue cooking. Watching his busy figure, I couldn’t help asking: “Why did you suddenly park horizontally across my spot today?” Alexander looked back at me, somewhat embarrassed: “I was worried you’d be hungry when you got home, so I rushed upstairs to cook. I didn’t pay attention to parking properly—just left it there and ran up.”

Alexander’s behavior seemed completely natural, and his explanation was flawless. After all, every day when I came home from work, there was always hot food waiting for me. Alexander was a surgical doctor with an incredibly demanding workload, yet he always managed to find time to come home and cook for me. Sometimes I’d tell him to rest and not work so hard, but he’d always say: “You have a weak constitution. When you’re hungry, you get heart palpitations and trembling hands. We can’t be careless about that.” “I need to make sure you have hot, fresh food the moment you get home. Nothing can interfere with that.” After speaking, Alexander continued bustling about. Soon, the food was ready—all my favorites. After serving me rice, Alexander was about to sit down and eat with me when suddenly his phone rang. He answered, immediately frowning with concern: “Alright, I’ll be right there.” He quickly took off his apron and said to me urgently: “There’s an emergency patient at the hospital that only I can operate on. I need to go.” He grabbed his car keys, planted a gentle kiss on my forehead, then hurried out the door. The moment the door closed, the house fell silent. I sat at the dining table, looking at the spread of dishes, but had no appetite. That post stuck in my mind like a thorn I couldn’t pull out. Alexander’s behavior and explanation had no flaws, yet I still felt something was off. I set down my chopsticks, stood up, and found myself walking into the bedroom as if possessed. The bedroom was tidy. Alexander had made the bed with military precision. At first glance, nothing seemed wrong. But the neater everything looked, the more uneasy I felt. I began searching the bedroom thoroughly. The bed had no strange odors or out-of-place items. Even the trash can was spotlessly clean. Everything was exactly as it should be. Was I really overthinking this? I shook my head and was about to leave when, as I turned to close the door, I spotted something under the bed. My heart skipped a beat. I immediately walked over, crouched down, and pulled it out. It was an earring. And I didn’t have pierced ears. It belonged to another woman. Realizing this, my head started buzzing. I stood there, staring at the earring in my hand, frozen for a long time. Then I pulled out my phone and found the post I’d read earlier. Sure enough, the original poster had replied to the comment he’d liked just one minute ago: “I parked across my wife’s spot like you said, but she didn’t call me to move the car and came straight inside.” “If I hadn’t heard her opening the door and hidden my mistress in time, I would’ve been caught.” The commenter replied instantly: “Looks like your wife’s pretty sharp.” The poster responded: “Yeah. I made up an excuse and slipped out. I’m driving my mistress home right now.”

Alexander really had cheated on me, and he’d brought his mistress into our home. My hands trembled as I put away my phone and walked out of the bedroom. Looking at the food spread before me, my heart ached. Alexander remembered all my preferences. He remembered that I got heart palpitations and trembling hands when hungry. He remembered I loved his goodbye kisses. But he forgot that I despised betrayal above all else. How ironic. A person could express such deep love for me while bringing another woman into our home. At that moment, I found myself curious. How much of the love I’d once been so proud of was real, and how much was fake? And when did things start between him and that woman? I sat at the dining table, trying to compose myself for a long time. Then suddenly remembered something. The thought made me immediately call my parents and ask them to come over. Sensing my urgency, my parents arrived as quickly as possible. “What’s wrong, Grace? What’s so urgent that you called us over?” I didn’t hide anything. I told them everything about Alexander’s affair in one breath. After hearing it, my dad couldn’t believe it: “Grace, could there be some misunderstanding? Everyone can see how good Alexander is to you.” “Plus, you know his job—he’s a surgeon, on call 24/7. Maybe he really does have an emergency surgery?” “That post—could it just be a coincidence?” But my mom slammed her hand on the table: “Impossible! There’s no such thing as this big a coincidence!” “The post says park horizontally, and he parks horizontally.” “Grace doesn’t call and walks straight in, and the post describes the exact same situation.” “The post says he slipped out to take his mistress home, and Alexander made up an excuse to leave.” “Plus there’s a strange earring in the house. How could this possibly be a coincidence?” My dad frowned. “But Alexander has always valued Grace more than his own life all these years!” My mom scoffed. “So what?” “Just because he’s been good to Grace means he couldn’t be cheating now?” “Every man who keeps a mistress acts perfectly fine at home.” “The better they act, the more convincing their performance.” My dad had no response. My mom grew angrier: “That Alexander!” “When he was pursuing Grace, he knelt at our door for three days and nights, swearing he’d treat her well. That’s when I agreed to let Grace marry him.” “And what happened?” “It’s only been two years of marriage and he’s already bringing his mistress home? This is outrageous!” My mom was furious. But I felt more confused than anything. As my dad said, Alexander had been very good to me all these years. He was young, accomplished, handsome—never short of young women throwing themselves at him. Even the hospital director’s daughter had openly pursued him. She’d even publicly stated that if Alexander would be with her, she could give him the entire hospital. But Alexander remained unmoved. He even offended her over it and nearly got blacklisted from the medical field. Despite all that, he stayed firmly devoted, telling me: “I can lose the whole world, but I can’t be without you.” Precisely because I’d genuinely felt how good he was to me, I couldn’t understand. What kind of woman could make someone like Alexander, who treated loyalty as his faith, change his heart?

“Grace, what do you want to do?” My dad looked at me, his expression serious. I paused, then said firmly: “I want to catch them in the act.” My mom immediately perked up: “How?” I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I looked down at my phone and opened an app I’d never used before. It was a location tracking app. Alexander had insisted on installing a tracker on his phone to put my mind at ease, saying it would let me check his location anytime. I’d refused at first—I trusted him, and I believed couples didn’t need such things. But he’d insisted, saying it was just insurance. If something ever happened to him, I could find him immediately. All these years, I’d been proud that I’d never once opened this app. I never thought I’d be using it to catch him cheating. I took a deep breath and opened the app. The screen loaded for a few seconds, then a map appeared. A green dot was slowly moving across it. My dad looked at the map, somewhat surprised: “That’s Alexander’s real-time location?” I nodded without speaking. My mom said impatiently: “Let’s go. We’re going there now.” “I want to see what kind of woman could bewitch someone like Alexander.” My dad said nothing, just grabbed his car keys and headed for the door. My mom and I followed close behind and got into my dad’s car. In the car, my mom kept muttering: “I thought Alexander truly loved you. I never imagined he could cook for you while bringing women home.” “In all my fifty-plus years, I’ve never seen anything so disgusting!” “If he really didn’t love you anymore, if he’d asked for a divorce, I’d be angry but I’d respect it.” “But instead, he treats you like a fool! Plays you for a monkey!” “If I catch him keeping a woman today, I’m going to tear them both apart!” My mom’s eyes were red with anger. When Alexander was pursuing me, she’d been against it. She felt Alexander’s family background was ordinary and he wasn’t good enough for me. It was only after Alexander knelt at our door for three days and nights that my mom relented. My dad drove in silence, not joining the conversation. I saw his furrowed brow in the rearview mirror. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. After about twenty minutes, I suddenly saw Alexander’s location stop moving. I immediately told my dad to speed up. We stopped near Alexander’s position. When we arrived, I spotted Alexander’s car parked in front of a villa. I quickly got out of the car and headed straight for the villa. But I didn’t notice that in the car, my parents’ faces both changed dramatically when they saw the villa. Seeing me walking toward it, my dad immediately got out and blocked my path: “Grace, are you sure Alexander brought that woman here?” Seeing my dad’s strange expression, I sensed something was wrong: “What’s going on, Dad? Do you know this place?” My dad opened his mouth but made no sound. Then my mom caught up. She glanced at the villa, swallowed nervously with a panicked expression, then said gravely: “Grace, let’s go back. Stop investigating.” I looked at my mom in disbelief: “Why?” “Mom, you were the one who wanted to come investigate. You were the most insistent about catching them red-handed.” “Now they’re right inside that villa, so why are you telling me to stop?” My mom didn’t answer. Instead, she grabbed my arm, her voice breaking: “Grace, I’m begging you. Let’s go back.” “Let this end here, okay?” My dad also stepped forward, his face serious: “Grace, listen to your mother. Let’s go back first.” “We’re doing this for your own good.” I was completely baffled. I couldn’t understand why my parents, who’d been so eager to defend me just moments ago, suddenly changed after seeing this villa. Was there something wrong with the villa? Or was it the person inside? Consumed by intense curiosity, I ignored my parents’ objections, rushed to the villa entrance, and knocked on the door. The door opened quickly. The moment it did, I saw Alexander standing inside, and the woman behind him. The instant I saw that woman’s face, my eyes widened and I suddenly understood everything…

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “378643”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

In the third year of our long-distance relationship, I secretly transferred to a hospital in Silva’s city without telling him. But on my first day at work, he became the first patient’s family member I received. “Doctor, my wife has been having severe morning sickness lately. Can you take a look at what’s wrong?” Silva’s hand rested on the slightly protruding belly of the pregnant woman beside him, his eyes full of heartache. Noticing my hesitation, he looked up at me with some confusion. I lowered my head and pulled my mask up as high as it would go, biting my lip hard as I suppressed my voice to ask. “How far along is the fetus?” “Three months.” Three months. But just one month ago, Silva had been beaming with joy as we registered our marriage at city hall. I let out a cold laugh and turned away from him to make a phone call. “Dad, take the marriage certificate I left in the safe and have it checked for authenticity.” “If it’s fake, freeze Silva’s bank cards, fire him from his job, and take back the penthouse we gave him.” “And if that marriage certificate is real, do the same thing anyway!”

After hanging up, I returned to the examination room. I adjusted my mask again, making sure Silva wouldn’t recognize me. I glanced at the name on the registration form again: Antonella. Very unfamiliar. I’d never heard Silva mention her to me before. I suppressed the shock in my heart and asked routine questions again under their puzzled gazes. “Have you been keeping up with your prenatal checkups?” Antonella nodded and turned to glance at Silva. “Yes, we’ve been on time with all of them.” “For the first prenatal checkup, my husband even left work and flew back overnight to be with me.” My chest swelled with an odd, bloating sensation, and my nose suddenly stung. Based on her pregnancy timeline, the first prenatal checkup would have been exactly the day after my wedding. No wonder Silva had changed his clothes before the wedding even ended that day, hastily packing his luggage. “Alice, something urgent came up at work. I need to catch the last flight back.” He’d held my hand apologetically, his eyes reddening for the first time in front of me. “Once I’ve handled everything, I’ll definitely take time off for a proper honeymoon with you.” I’d grabbed my wedding dress, wanting to call him back, but even after running until I lost a shoe, I still couldn’t catch up to his hurried figure. With the groom leaving mid-ceremony, the guests didn’t say anything outright, but the mockery in their eyes was impossible to hide. That absurd scene from that night—I never wanted to experience it again in my lifetime. I smiled stiffly, my tone sarcastic. “Your husband is so good to you.” I looked through the previous examination report again. “Last time you were slightly anemic. To be safe, we should draw blood for another test.” Hearing this, Antonella’s expression became nervous, her voice tinged with unease. “Is it necessary? My husband has been personally cooking for me every day recently. I’ve gained quite a bit of weight, so I shouldn’t be anemic anymore, right?” As she spoke, she shrank into Silva’s embrace, her eyes reddening, looking rather pitiful. Silva immediately gripped her hand gently to comfort her, then looked up to explain to me. “Sorry, Antonella is a bit afraid of needles, so she gets scared every time we need to draw blood.” Then he gently patted Antonella’s back to persuade her. “But for your health, let’s still listen to the doctor and get checked. It’s safer that way.” “After the checkup, I’ll go home and make soup for you myself.” I gripped my fingers, my eyes fixed on the computer screen in front of me. Silva was a male chauvinist at his core. Since we’d known each other, he’d always believed housework was women’s work.

The kitchen had always been his forbidden zone. Once when I had a high fever and was too weak to move, I asked him to make me a cup of fever-reducing medicine, but he coldly refused. “I’m a grown man. How can I step into a kitchen?” That night my temperature spiked to 104°F, and I remained in a daze until the cleaning lady found me the next day. Turns out he could set aside his prejudices and go to such lengths for the woman he loved. As they were talking, Antonella’s face suddenly turned pale, and she abruptly covered her mouth and stood up. It looked like she was experiencing morning sickness again. The next second, Silva helped her stand, skillfully pulling a bag from his pocket. Clearly he’d become very practiced at handling this situation. He steadied Antonella’s shoulders, letting her weight rest almost entirely on him. “Sorry, we need to use the restroom.” After the two left, I finally let out a sharp breath and opened Silva’s chat window. Our last conversation was from two days ago when I told him I had a surprise for him. As things stood now, this surprise would probably turn into a shock. Just as I was about to exit, a new message popped up in the pinned conversation. [The certificate is real, but I found out he purchased a fake marriage certificate online a few months ago.] I closed my eyes. I already knew the answer in my heart. Right after I replied to the message, someone knocked on the door from outside. “Doctor, we’re back.” The two sat down in front of me again, leaning on each other. Silva helped Antonella tuck the strands of hair by her face behind her ear, then adjusted her clothes. As he moved her collar, it revealed a bright red hickey on her neck. I frowned, trying to keep my voice calm. “Didn’t anyone tell you? The fetus isn’t stable during the first three months. You can’t have sex.” Antonella’s cheeks flushed red. She lightly punched Silva twice, her tone coquettish with reproach. “It’s all your fault.” “As soon as three months passed, you couldn’t wait. Now you’ve embarrassed me in front of the doctor.” My stomach suddenly churned, intense nausea rising to my throat. Silva smiled and good-naturedly accepted all her complaints. He asked me a few questions about pregnancy precautions, then pulled out his phone and recorded everything in his notes. I caught a glimpse of his note title: Darling’s Pregnancy Precautions. When the interface exited, I could see other notes inside: Antonella Baby’s Food Restrictions, Antonella Baby’s Health Cycle Records… I looked away, my heart cold. Such detailed life records—we’d known each other for four years, and he’d never done this for me. Last month, to fly over to see him, I’d swapped shifts with several colleagues. After working 36 hours straight, I rushed to catch the flight to see him. But when I got off the plane, I couldn’t even get through to him on the phone. After calling for a long time, the line finally stopped being coldly unanswered. But when I said I was already on my way from the airport to find him, Silva immediately raised his voice. “Don’t come over right now!” I sat in the taxi, somewhat bewildered. I’d told him my plans a week earlier, and we’d agreed on today. He’d readily agreed and promised to pick me up at the airport himself. But the Silva on the phone hemmed and hawed. “I… I forgot about this…” “I’m on a business trip out of town right now. Sorry, Alice, I didn’t get a chance to tell you.” “Just go back home today.”

My brain was foggy from staying up all night, and I hadn’t caught the panic and confusion in his tone. He must have had a beauty in his arms at that moment, having completely forgotten about our plans. After arranging their examination items, Silva took the forms to pay. Once Silva’s figure completely disappeared down the hallway, Antonella reluctantly withdrew her gaze. She touched her belly. “After talking so much, I still don’t know the doctor’s name?” I raised my eyes to look at her. “You can just call me Dr. Alice.” A flicker of emotion crossed her eyes, and she smiled as she spoke. “What a coincidence.” My heart stirred, and I pretended to ask calmly. “Do you also know someone named Alice?” Antonella smiled slightly and nodded, then her expression changed, disgust appearing in her eyes. “My husband’s ex-girlfriend is also named Alice, but that’s all in the past now.” “I heard his ex was really ugly, had a terrible temper, treated Silva badly, and was extremely controlling.” “Thank goodness he was brave enough to break up with her. Now he’s met me instead.” I gripped the pen in my hand tighter, laughing coldly inside. “Did your husband tell you all this himself?” “Of course.” She clenched her fist, her expression indignant, as if feeling wronged on Silva’s behalf. “She even threatened Silva with his future career, forcing him to marry her.” “Of course Silva refused and even gave her a good humiliation.” Hearing this, I raised an eyebrow, having already sentenced Silva to death countless times in my mind. When I met Silva, he was still a young man with nothing but his studies, penniless and naive. He said after graduation he wanted to work in Texas—it was the place he’d dreamed of since childhood. So I convinced my father to pull strings and build a highway for him to the top companies in Texas. I even bought him a house there. I held his hand and told him, “Do what you want to do. People in love won’t let distance change their feelings.” When he proposed, he admitted in front of all our friends that without me, there would be no him today. He knelt on one knee and solemnly placed the ring on my finger, saying he would be with me for the rest of his life. But in the blink of an eye, he’d betrayed me so completely. I looked at the girl in front of me, exhaled gently, and suddenly felt utterly tired of it all. Twisting the wedding ring on my finger, I suddenly changed the subject. “I really envy you for having a husband who loves you so much. I’m different.” Antonella quickly looked up at me, her eyes shining with gossip. I continued. “Actually, I’m already married. In the first month after marriage, I discovered my husband was cheating.” “He was hiding another family from me.” “Bang!” As soon as I finished speaking, Antonella slammed the table hard. “He’s such scum! Dr. Alice is so wonderful, and he doesn’t know how to cherish you at all.” I smiled helplessly and continued slowly. “And recently, I found out he got someone else pregnant behind my back.” This time Antonella stood up directly in anger, her chest heaving violently. “Scumbag!” “That kind of person deserves to be struck by lightning and die a terrible death!” Just then, Silva pushed the door open and asked with a smile. “What are you talking about? Who deserves to die a terrible death?” Antonella looked at Silva angrily. “We’re talking about Dr. Alice’s scumbag husband. You don’t know what vile things he’s done.”

Then she turned to look at me. “Are you two still together?” I smiled in acknowledgment, my gaze falling on Silva as he organized things. Hearing this, Antonella frowned, her tone somewhat earnest. “You should divorce him decisively. That kind of man is nothing but trouble.” “If Silva ever messed around behind my back, I’d definitely kick him to the curb the next second.” Behind her, Silva’s movements stiffened. He put away his smile, his expression turning somewhat unpleasant. Unfortunately, Antonella was facing me and didn’t notice at all. I nodded thoughtfully, then pulled out my phone and dialed a number in front of them both. “You’re right. I’ll bring up divorce with him right now.” The examination room fell quiet. Even Silva put down what he was holding and looked at me. Almost the instant the call went through, Silva’s phone rang from his pocket. Silva jerked his head up to look at me, then avoided my gaze and fumbled to pull his phone from his pocket with shaking hands. Then he decisively pressed the disconnect button. Antonella looked confused. “Who’s calling you right now?” A flash of guilt crossed Silva’s face. He lowered his eyes and quickly darkened the screen. “Unknown number. Probably a spam call.” I held up my phone and waited a while longer before an automated voice reported that no one had answered. I smiled bitterly and shook my head. “No answer. Probably busy with things I don’t know about.” Seeing my low spirits, Antonella grabbed my hand and tried to comfort me. “A week from now, Silva and I are having our wedding.” She pulled out an invitation from her bag and handed it over. “I happen to have an invitation in my bag. Come to the ceremony and soak up some good fortune.” “May Dr. Alice only meet good people from now on.” Hearing this, I was somewhat surprised and instinctively glanced at Silva. But I still nodded and readily accepted her invitation. After the two left with all their materials, I finally removed my mask. After rubbing my aching eye sockets, I looked at the recent call record on my phone. When I dialed, I’d deliberately deleted the last digit of the number, so it hadn’t actually gone through to Silva’s phone at all. Opening the invitation, I saw simple cartoon drawings of Silva and Antonella—clearly a thoughtfully designed piece. I noted the wedding venue address. My newlywed husband’s wedding—I definitely needed to carefully prepare a big gift. On the wedding day, I stood outside the hotel and saw Silva and Antonella greeting guests at the entrance. Seeing me, Antonella stood on tiptoe and waved at me. “Dr. Alice, over here.” I pointed to the mask on my face, my tone somewhat apologetic. “I’ve caught a cold recently. To prevent spreading it to others, you don’t mind if I wear a mask, do you?” “Of course not.” She arranged my seat at the front of the banquet hall, right next to the emcee’s stage. The ceremony began quickly, with all the steps proceeding smoothly according to plan. Until the final speech segment, when Antonella suddenly invited me up on stage. Her hand gripped my arm tightly, as if afraid I would escape the next second. I frowned, an odd feeling crossing my mind. The next second, Antonella suddenly turned and yanked off my mask in front of everyone. A beam of flashlight shone directly on my face. The intense light made my eyes sting painfully, and I couldn’t help but tear up.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “378644”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster