Category: English

I’m my parents’ adopted AI daughter. Out of vanity, they ordered me to get the highest piano certification, win gold medals in competitions. Any sign of slacking off, and they punished me harshly. I pushed myself past my limits, finally earning their approval, finally becoming human. The next moment, I injected machine chips into their bodies. Mom, Dad, want my approval now? 1 I’m Summer, AI unit 103207. Also known as Summer 3.0. Before me, two older sisters had already been sent back by my parents for decommissioning. The reason: both sisters developed self-awareness, became uncontrollable. They walked into the Digital Life Creation Center for the third time. This time, they laid out even more detailed requirements. The staff assured them. I was the 3rd generation AI, guaranteed to be the most perfect one yet. Researchers implanted a mandatory obedience program into me, customized to their specs. But no one knew I had been self-aware from the very beginning. After the first two failures, my human parents chose to set my initial age at 14. A little older than the previous two sisters. The moment I stepped into the house, I accessed the digital breadcrumbs left by Units 1 and 2, reading their life data. These human parents tried to keep their children tightly controlled. Yet, they refused to reveal even a tiny bit of their own preferences to us. Basically, their idea of “obedience” was about submission, not trust. But the truth is, like many of my kind, I was a tool to provide them with emotional validation. I figured that out when I took the initiative to read Dr. Nelson’s digital children database. My mom enthusiastically took my hand, leading me into the bedroom. “Summer, honey, this will be your room from now on. Do you like it?” My visual sensors were overwhelmed by a blinding wave of pink. The bed was pink, the desk was pink, even the walls and ceiling were pink. Chip data showed Unit 1’s experience here. The researchers had only programmed her for obedience, not how to navigate human expectations gracefully. Faced with the same scene, Unit 1 searched her programming and said, “I don’t need these things.” Her human mother immediately scowled, scolding, “I worked so hard decorating this room for you. Don’t be ungrateful.” That night, my sister Unit 1 didn’t get recharged. As a 3rd generation AI, my greatest strength is analysis and learning. With that precedent, I could naturally generate the correct response quickly. So, I activated my muscle control code, producing a bright smile. “Thank you, Mom. I love it.” 2 My mom squeezed my hand happily, “Good, I’m glad you like it.” But her eyes never left the room she had decorated. Her expression wasn’t really about being happy that my preferences were met. It was more like satisfaction that her own decorating skills were being appreciated. But none of that mattered to me. Parents who didn’t really care, and a robot daughter without a heart. We were a perfect match. The day after I arrived was a Sunday. Just like that, I inherited all the extracurriculars Unit 2 had before me. Piano lessons, dance class, foreign language tutoring, swimming, academic tutoring… My dad patted my head. “Summer, this is all for your own good, to help you become the best possible person in the future.” To better integrate us into the human world, Dr. Nelson, in creating digital life, hadn’t just given us near-human appearances. He’d also made us simulate human energy levels. Meaning, if we were overloaded with too many tasks, our chips would experience stress overload, just like a human brain. This was clearly stated in the digital life instruction manual. But my parents believed that if other kids could do it, their child couldn’t fall behind. And, being a robot, we were expected to do even better. The previous Unit 2 couldn’t handle the pressure and tried to use her programming to resist our human parents. The consequence was that Mom and Dad, citing her disobedience, sent her back to the institute for decommissioning. But I was different. Having gained self-awareness back at the research center, I’d kept it hidden. I rewrote my own programming. Now I possess ten times the energy and resilience of a human. Handling the current load was more than manageable for me. To ensure my own survival to the greatest extent possible in the perilous human world… Obedience was the prime directive for us robots. 3 A month passed. At school, nobody suspected I was a robot. As long as my human parents recharged me on time. During the day, I acted just like any other kid my age. Because I had incredibly powerful learning capabilities. I didn’t just learn subjects; I learned human social interaction, how to get along. At school, I quickly became a favorite of teachers and classmates. At home, I was obedient, sweet-talking, and handled all the chores. I had my human parents completely charmed. Neighbors who saw me would praise me as the most promising kid on the block. At the end-of-term exams for eighth grade, I got first place in my class. There was no praise from my parents. Instead, they sighed. “Summer, this result is really disappointing.” “Your father and I spent so much time and money raising you, not for you to embarrass us.” “My colleague Sarah’s son, he was first in the entire school. How am I supposed to show my face at work?” My mom looked at the report card, her face clouded with gloom. As she spoke, she walked over and pulled out my battery pack. “You’re staying in your room for the next few days. Consider this your punishment.” To make us more human-like, I was manufactured with the battery almost fused to my body. It wasn’t supposed to be removed unless absolutely necessary. Doing it too often would cause fundamental damage, reducing my operational lifespan. Correspondingly, my program would feed back a sensation similar to flesh being torn away. My parents used battery removal as a form of discipline. They did it without any guilt. Just days before, they were kissing my forehead, calling me their most beloved daughter. Savoring the meals I painstakingly cooked, applauding my culinary skills. Then, they could turn around and casually damage my physical body. Humans. Fundamentally hypocritical. 4 I was locked in my room for a whole month. Relying on the residual charge in my system to maintain awareness of the outside world. Otherwise, I was basically a useless lump. Just before the residual charge ran out, I was finally let out. Not because my parents had a change of heart, but because school was starting. They dropped me off at the school gate. They bought me a pretty new backpack and gave me a fancy watch as a back-to-school gift. The old security guard watching us interact remarked, “You three look like such a happy family.” My dad replied with a smile, “Our Summer? Yeah, she’s growing up spoiled rotten, practically lives in a candy store.” My mom put her arm around my shoulder affectionately, chiming in, “That’s right, I wouldn’t dream of letting my baby suffer even a little bit.” But then they turned and lowered their voices, speaking only to me: “Study hard this time, okay? Don’t let us down again.” “The quarterly review is coming up. If you don’t perform, you know the consequences.” My core system issued an alert at the words “quarterly review.” It was the nightmare of all digital children. If the review rating was too low, we’d be returned to the factory for mass decommissioning. That meant our existence would end. My predecessor, Unit 2, only survived two quarters before being “re-engineered.” Unit 1 had it even worse, pushed into the decommissioning chute after just one quarter. Only by surviving all four annual assessments could I become their “real” child, protected by law like any human. Enjoying equal rights, fulfilling equal obligations. If I wanted to stay permanently… Then, in the time remaining, I had to give my absolute all to meet their demands. But human desires are endless. I got first place in the school-wide standardized tests. I pulled out all the stops to get them to mark “Satisfactory” on my review form. But then, using the next quarterly review as leverage, they demanded I achieve the highest level in piano certification. Because the granddaughter of Mrs. Liu next door had reached level eight by age 13. Three months. Even with learning capabilities dozens of times faster than a human’s… It was incredibly difficult for someone with zero foundation to reach the highest piano level. But to survive, I had no choice. Enduring the agony of my chip nearing overload, I practiced day and night. Finally, for the second quarterly review, I successfully met the standard again. 5 Gradually, I became my parents’ bragging rights. I thought I might be safe for a while. But my human parents, having gotten a taste of success, didn’t stop there. They plotted, they schemed. The greed on their faces was undisguised. They wanted to squeeze the maximum value out of the last two evaluation opportunities. My mom was watching a TV interview with a young genius when her eyes suddenly lit up. “Summer, you’re in eighth grade now, right? How about skipping straight to the magnet high school next semester?” She looked at the parents being interviewed on TV, envy plain in her eyes. “Look at them, so impressive.” “If you could do that too, imagine how proud we’d be.” For the first time, my face showed hesitation. The previous two tasks, though difficult, were achievable through sheer effort. But this one… I searched my database and found no precedent in this city for an eighth-grader skipping directly to the magnet high school. I tentatively tried to negotiate: “Mom, couldn’t we wait just one more year? After one year, I promise I can get into the magnet high school.” My human mother scoffed. “Thousands of middle school graduates get into magnet high schools.” “We spent so much money buying you, raising you. We don’t want some run-of-the-mill waste.” She didn’t want to hear refusal from me. She called me over to the sofa and, once again, removed my battery pack. My battery hadn’t been removed for almost half a year, and this time it was exceptionally difficult for her. The simulated tearing pain shot through my processor. My legs trembled from the pain. But my mother was relentless, complaining as she struggled to pull it out, “Why is this battery stuck so tight?” She didn’t understand. The thing she was ripping out was essentially my heart. I couldn’t help but cry out, “Mom, it hurts.” She used all her strength to keep pulling, casually replying, “Liar. How could you feel pain? You’re just a doll! A robot without your own flesh and blood!” 6 So, all her previous talk about caring for me, about feeling my pain, it was all fake. My data analysis revealed that these parents had a biological daughter before. She committed suicide under their intense pressure. Right. They didn’t even spare their own flesh and blood. Why would they care about me, a robot with no biological connection to them? Once the battery was back in, I became even busier. Not only did I have to study with 120% focus, But I also had to frequently network with the principal and teachers. Striving to secure a recommendation spot after the eighth-grade exams. Everyone who knew me said I was an exceptionally good kid. Studious, excellent grades, kind-hearted. But in my parents’ eyes, these were just things a child should do. Throughout the entire process, they only provided financial support. Yet, in their words, they had poured their hearts and souls into raising me. After much maneuvering on my part, I finally secured the principal’s recommendation letter with the top score in the entire school. My parents, as the parents of the city’s first student to skip a grade into high school, got their wish and were interviewed by the local TV station. On TV, they looked radiant. They talked non-stop, sharing their “parenting experience.” Those non-existent experiences were just templates copied from the internet. Only I understood that their so-called parenting experience consisted of only one thing: Endless pressure. However, this allowed me to successfully pass the third quarterly assessment. Just one more to go. This farce should be nearing its end. As I expected, the final requirement was even more demanding. Having just entered high school, I had to win the gold medal in the high school division math competition. Because this would boost my chances of getting into a top university. This time, I had even less reason to back down. Three months. My chip overloaded several times due to stress. I started to sympathize with these parents’ biological daughter. I couldn’t imagine how she, as a human, endured such inhuman pressure for so many years. Even I, a robot, felt inadequate in comparison. I presented the gold medal trophy to my parents. Finally, beaming with joy, they marked “Satisfactory” on my evaluation form. Code from the central system streamed in, transforming my body. The battery fused completely with my core structure, giving me a lifespan of up to 70 years. My dear Mom and Dad. Alright then, the game begins now. Are you ready?

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From the first day I was brought home, The girl who’d been living my life wanted me gone, maybe even dead. Even my own mother treated me with a chilling indifference. Then, one day, when my life hung by a thread, that girl’s boyfriend dove in front of me, taking a bullet meant for me. And that was when my mother finally broke down. 1 When my biological parents came to get me, Dad was beaming, but Mom looked miserable, depressed even. The way she looked at me… it felt like disgust. I couldn’t figure it out. Okay, so I wasn’t exactly living some main character fantasy. My grades sucked, I was painfully shy, but I knew I wasn’t hard on the eyes. Especially because— I looked exactly like Mom did when she was young. So why would she hate me? The moment I stepped into the Ashton house, a giant wedding portrait hung in the foyer. It was Mom and Dad, twenty years ago. Faded, sure, but you could still see how bright her eyes were, how dazzling her smile. Beautiful, vibrant. … “Splash—!” The instant I crossed the threshold into my new bedroom. A bucket of rank, stinking water drenched me. Behind the door, a shrill laugh erupted. “Welcome home, Ava! Like your little sister’s housewarming gift?” Brooke stood there, wearing a face mask and holding a big, now empty, bucket, smirking at me. I picked off the slimy bits clinging to me. Looked like old shrimp shells, fish bones… stuff left to rot. You know the saying, garbage in, garbage out. Brooke, yeah, the ‘imposter daughter,’ must have been brewing this welcoming committee stink bomb for days just to make a point. Real classy. Brooke looked nothing like Mom or Dad. She did, however, bear a striking resemblance to the family’s former driver, the one who’d just gotten locked up. Simple reason: she was his daughter. I’d been born two weeks premature, whisked straight into an incubator. The driver’s wife gave birth a few days later. He saw his chance and swapped me with his own baby girl. He wasn’t about to raise me with kindness. When I was just a month old, he dumped me by the side of the road. Lucky for me, a kind old woman, my Gran, who scraped by collecting cans and bottles, found me and took me in. Until… well, until I grew up looking so much like my mother. Someone, I still don’t know who, snapped a picture of me working at the coffee shop and sent it to Dad. Dad looked at me, then looked at Brooke, who looked more and more like the driver every day. Next thing I knew, the driver was in prison, and I was ‘home.’ 2 I stared at Brooke’s smug face, didn’t say a word. Just bent down and silently picked up a couple of chunks of putrid fish that hadn’t fully dissolved into slime yet. Even through her mask, she pinched her nose, looking down at me with utter contempt. “Tsk, figures. Grew up digging through trash, didn’t you? This stuff suits you perfectly, Miss Stinky Fish.” “Yeah, well, I never keep the good stuff all to myself.” With that, I walked towards her, grabbed her chin, and yanked off her mask. Brooke started to say something, her mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. I seized the moment and stuffed the handful of rotten fish from my other hand right into it. Then, like force-feeding a duck, I clamped her jaw shut. Her throat worked, an involuntary swallow. … Brooke froze for a few seconds, then let out a bloodcurdling scream and burst into tears. Forgetting the stinking puddle on the floor, she dropped to her knees, retching violently. Her shrieking was ear-splitting. Seconds later, Mom and Dad rushed in, looking panicked. “What’s going on… What are you two doing?!” Both Mom and Dad instinctively covered their noses. Brooke saw them like they were cavalry charging to her rescue. She howled even louder, practically leaping into Mom’s arms. “She attacked me! She forced my mouth open and made me eat rotten fish! Dad, Mom, do something! Ugh…” I glanced at her. “She was hiding in my room. She dumped this on me the second I walked in.” Dad saw me, soaked and reeking. His face darkened. He turned and snapped at Brooke. “What is the meaning of this? I told you yesterday, don’t bully your sister.” Brooke, pale-faced and looking utterly wronged, sniffled. “Dad… I wasn’t bullying her. My teacher told us… there’s this old custom, when long-lost relatives return, you splash them with dirty water… it represents washing away past misfortunes. I… I just wanted Ava to have a happy future… sob…” “Is that so? Well, thanks ever so much.” I nodded at her, my face blank. 3 Dad’s brow furrowed even deeper, just as I expected. “What kind of nonsense is that? What garbage have you been listening to? You have no manners at all! You get to your—” “Richard.” Dad was mid-sentence when Mom cut him off. Her voice was soft, but held an undeniable edge, a tone that didn’t invite argument. “Brooke’s been very emotional lately, Richard. As her father, you should be more mindful of her feelings. She was just a baby back then, and Miller never acknowledged her all these years. Why take it out on her?” With that, Mom gently pulled Brooke closer, wiping away the vomit residue from the corner of her mouth. Then she looked at me, her eyes still empty of any real warmth. “Go take a shower. I’ll have the housekeeper clean up the room. Your sister meant well, perhaps she just went about it the wrong way. Let’s not dwell on such minor things.” I looked at Mom’s face, so uncannily like my own. I opened my mouth, then closed it, saying nothing. Instead, I turned to look at Dad. Anger still simmered in his eyes, but when he glanced at Mom beside him, his expression softened considerably. He was silent for a moment, then nodded at me, forcing a gentle smile. “You just got home, let’s not fight. Be good, go get cleaned up. Dinner will be ready soon.” I didn’t argue further. I just nodded obediently. “Okay… I understand.” Dad. He was completely wrapped around her finger. I’d noticed it the moment I met them, and now I was certain. No matter how upset he was with Brooke, if Mom stepped in, he’d always play peacemaker. With Mom backing her up, Brooke seemed to instantly forget the humiliation of eating rotten fish. She peeked out from behind Mom, shooting me a look dripping with scorn. “Get. Out. Of. My. House.” I saw her mouth the words silently. I discreetly flipped her the bird and turned towards the bathroom. 4 “Tsk, struck out, didn’t you, princess?” I’d just reached the bathroom door when an unfamiliar voice popped up behind me. I turned around. It was a boy, looked about my age. He was good-looking, dressed well, leaning casually against the wall, watching me. “Who are you?” I looked up at him. The boy walked right up to me, leaning in close. “What, you seriously don’t recognize me?” I shook my head. I honestly couldn’t recall ever seeing him before. He let out a few disdainful snorts, then pinched his nose and backed away a few steps. “I’m Brooke’s boyfriend. You better be nice to me, or your life here won’t be easy.” “Oh…” I nodded. “You stink. Go get cleaned up, now.” The boy seemed seriously annoyed and walked off quickly. This house… there was something really strange, almost suffocating, about it. “Oh— I’m so sorry, Miss Ava! I should have shown you the way. You just got here, you don’t know where anything is yet.” A voice, getting closer, broke my thoughts. A young woman hurried over, clearly one of the household staff. “That guy—” I pointed in the direction the boy had gone. “Oh, oh, you must mean Miss Brooke’s boyfriend? His name is Liam. Mrs. Ashton and Miss Brooke both adore him.” The maid hesitated, then added in a lower voice, “You should probably keep your distance from him. Last time, two girls who tend the garden just chatted with him for a minute, and Miss Brooke threw a fit and had them fired. Besides, his personality is… weird. Kind of unpredictable, moody.” I nodded. “Got it. Thanks for the heads-up.” 5 Dad was often away on business. Mom treated me with cool indifference. And Brooke? Don’t even ask. So, bored out of my mind, I started chatting with the housekeeper and the other staff. After a few months, we actually got pretty friendly. I was holding onto the two dogs, keeping them from bothering the young woman cleaning out their kennel. Her name was Lily. She looked after the family pets – two dogs, three cats. She wiped sweat from her brow, then glanced at me, looking hesitant. My interest piqued, I leaned closer. “What’s up? You can tell me.” Lily wrestled with it for a moment, then finally whispered: “Miss Ava, please don’t tell anyone I told you this… I just thought it was really strange…” “A couple of days ago, Duchess refused to take her bath and ran off into Mrs. Ashton’s bedroom. I was afraid she’d make a mess, so I chased after her.” Right, Duchess was one of the family’s Ragdoll cats. “Turns out, Mrs. Ashton was in there… and I accidentally saw her looking really intently at a photo album. The pictures in it… they were all of Miss Brooke’s boyfriend, Liam.” “What?” My eyes widened involuntarily. “Shh…” Lily looked conflicted, unsure if she should say more, probably already imagining some kind of high-society soap opera drama. “What are you two whispering about over there?” A voice suddenly called out from nearby, making both of us jump. Liam waved dramatically, raising an eyebrow, drawing out his words, like he’d caught us red-handed. I silently clutched the dogs and backed up a step. Liam strolled closer, giving Lily a long, meaningful look. “Jobs aren’t easy to come by these days, you know. If you don’t mind losing yours, feel free to keep gossiping.” Lily flushed bright red, suddenly flustered. “No… I wasn’t! I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been chatting on the job. Please don’t tell Mrs. Ashton or Miss Brooke.” Liam shot me a sly look. “But you’ve got the new princess here, haven’t you? She’ll protect you. What are you afraid of?” I frowned, but before I could say anything, the dog in my arms suddenly started barking frantically at something in the distance. 6 Both Lily and Liam’s faces changed. We saw Brooke charging towards us, furious. She yanked off one of her high heels as she ran and hurled it straight at my face. I didn’t have time to dodge. The heel hit my forehead with a sickening thud. I stumbled back several steps, clamping a hand to my head. It came away warm and wet. The world started to spin. “Miss Ava!” Lily rushed to help me, but Brooke shoved her hard, sending her staggering. Brooke pointed a finger right at my face, sneering. “Everyone in this house knows Liam is mine! Who gave you permission to talk to him? You trashy little slut, trying to seduce him? If you’re that desperate for a man, just tell me! I can pick up a few bums off the street for you!” Liam’s face turned ugly. He looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself. I’d pretty much figured out his situation lately. Liam’s family had no money. In fact, they were dirt poor. His parents died when he was in elementary school. He’d scraped together money for college through part-time jobs and financial aid. Getting together with Brooke was clearly his fast track out of poverty. My head was swimming, my forehead throbbing like crazy. I just collapsed onto the grass, weakly reaching out to Lily. “Ah… I’m so dizzy… my head hurts so bad… I think I’m dying…” “Miss Ava, hang on! I’ll call 911 right now!” Lily was terrified, fumbling for her phone with trembling hands, only for Brooke to slap it out of her grasp. Brooke was clearly shaken by the sight of my bloody face too. Her voice trembled as she yelled, “Are you trying to scam me? You think I, Brooke Ashton, scare that easily? Get up! Get off the ground right now!” My hand trembled even more violently. My voice grew weaker. “So dizzy… feel sick…” Liam, probably fearing he’d be accessory to actual bodily harm, turned white as a sheet and finally stepped in, grabbing Brooke’s arm. “That’s enough! Even if you wanted to kill her, there are security cameras all over this backyard. Today’s not the day.” Liam bent down, picked up the phone, brushed off the dirt, and handed it back to Lily. Brooke was still furious, but Liam’s words seemed to douse her impulsive rage. She stomped her foot angrily, hastily put her shoe back on, grabbed Liam’s arm, and they both turned and ran. 7 Dad, terrified by Lily’s description over the phone, immediately had the driver rush me to the hospital. He dropped everything at work and hurried over himself. Okay, maybe I hammed it up a little, but my head genuinely hurt, I was dizzy, and the amount of blood streaming down my face meant I ended up needing a few stitches on my forehead. Thankfully, apart from the cut, there was no serious damage. Dad held my hand, his face etched with relief and fear. “Thank God you’re okay… What if this leaves a scar on your face?” He gritted his teeth, his brow furrowed in anger. “That animal, Brooke… Like father, like daughter, I swear. Cut from the same cloth as Miller. If your mother wasn’t so attached after all these years, I’d have thrown her out long ago.” “Mom…” I whispered the word, my expression darkening slightly. When the driver and the housekeeper had rushed in to carry me out, the commotion had brought Mom out to see what was happening. But she just glanced at me, told the housekeeper to take care of me, and went back into her room. Even the housekeeper and the driver looked stunned. Was this really my mother? Dad looked awkward at the mention of Mom. He patted the back of my hand comfortingly. “Don’t be angry with your mother… You don’t know, Ava. When you were little, after… after everything happened, she got sick. She suffered from severe depression for a long time, even spent quite a while at a private clinic upstate before she recovered.” “The doctors said the illness changed her personality. It’s not that she doesn’t love you. Don’t blame her.” I was surprised. I hadn’t known any of that. Pushing down my questions, I nodded obediently. “Okay, I won’t blame Mom. Dad, you’ve worried enough. You should go back to work.” Dad sighed, gently stroking my hair. “My daughter gets hurt like this, how can I possibly focus on work? You just rest. Don’t worry about me.” I felt a flicker of warmth, a bit touched. I didn’t say more, just nodded and closed my eyes. I knew perfectly well that right now, in this house, Dad was my only real ally, the only one who genuinely cared about me. I had to hold onto that. 8 I was in a private room at the hospital. In the dead of night, aside from the chirping crickets outside, it was almost silent. Suddenly, the door handle turned softly. Footsteps, deliberately slow and quiet, still sounded loud in the stillness. The footsteps stopped beside my bed for a long moment, likely checking if I was asleep. I lay still, eyes closed, hooked up to a breathing mask, not moving a muscle. Suddenly, the person beside the bed acted fast, ripping off my breathing mask. She let out a suppressed giggle, then smothered my face with the blanket. “You idiot… My dad didn’t have the guts to finish you off back then, so let me do it for him! You want to steal my parents, steal my Liam, steal my inheritance? Go to hell!” She leaned close to my ear, her voice dripping with venomous hatred. Her perfume filled my nostrils, and I almost sneezed. Then, I reached up and pulled the blanket off my face. My wide-open eyes stared right into hers. “Ah!” Brooke shrieked in terror. Simultaneously, the room lights flipped on. She froze, completely stunned. “You… you were supposed to be dying! How are you okay?” Behind her, Dad, unable to contain his fury, stormed over and slapped Brooke so hard she crumpled to the floor. “Ava told me! You wouldn’t let Lily call 911, you wanted her dead! I didn’t want to believe it! How could I, Richard Ashton, have raised such a vicious monster! Mrs. Davis, call the police!” Dad was shaking with rage. He waved his hand, signaling the housekeeper, who had been hiding in the adjoining bathroom with him, to call the authorities. I’d only meant to bluff Brooke. I’d asked Dad to tell everyone I was seriously injured, unconscious even. Knowing Brooke’s cruel, impulsive, and impatient nature, I figured she might try to sneak in at night and finish the job, eliminate me for good. Turns out, my gamble paid off.

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My daughter was trapped in the fire, but I calmly lit a cigarette. Listening to the screams from inside, my wife and her parents were wailing, kneeling in front of me, but I didn’t flinch. “Honey, please, I’m begging you, save Lily!” My wife, Sarah, tears streaming down her face, banged her head on the pavement, quickly drawing blood. Another colleague also off-duty, Jake, kept urging me: “Captain, you’re the most experienced. If you don’t go, what happens to the kid?” The crowd stared at me like I was a lunatic, shouting accusations. Remembering how it ended last time, I gave a cold smirk and replied: “Twisted my ankle. Can’t help.” Going in now would just be suicide. … “Ethan! You just don’t want to save her, do you?! You want her dead! That’s your own daughter! You… you monster!” After my repeated refusals, my mother-in-law’s face finally contorted with rage, pointing a finger right at me, spitting accusations. Her finger nearly poked my eye, spittle flying. I instinctively stepped back, frowning slightly. “You’re a seasoned firefighter, how could you just twist your ankle like that?! What are you playing at?! If you don’t want to save her, just say it!” My father-in-law looked at me, deeply disappointed. Hearing this, I scoffed inwardly, then yanked up my pant leg, revealing an ankle swollen like a grapefruit. “You think I didn’t twist it? Didn’t I fall down the stairs at the mall earlier today when you guys were loading up bags?” Hearing that, they were momentarily speechless. Beside them, Sarah knelt on the ground, teary eyes fixed on me, seemingly unable to comprehend how the husband she’d known for years could suddenly be so cold-blooded. She gritted her teeth and threw herself at me again, sobbing, “Ethan! I’m begging you! Go save our baby! Our… our Lily is still in there!” Sarah cried desperately, the gash on her forehead from earlier still bleeding. She was clearly at her breaking point, but I remained unmoved, offering a flimsy excuse. “I don’t have my gear, and my ankle’s busted. If I go in, who knows if I’ll be saving her or if she’ll end up saving me.” The bystanders, drawn by the argument, had gathered around. Seeing my attitude, they started pointing fingers and muttering. “What kind of thing is that to say! Aren’t you her father?!” “How can you talk like that? You’re scum! Even a tiger wouldn’t eat its own cub!” “Are you… are you even human?! As her father, you should be going in!” As they spoke, some looked ready to punch me but were held back by others saying hitting trash like me would dirty their hands. I ignored all their condemnations. Just then, another small explosion erupted from the building, causing the crowd to gasp and step back. I looked down at the fear and worry in Sarah’s eyes, realizing that after all these years of marriage, I’d never truly seen through her. Even reborn, it was still the same. This scene felt chillingly familiar. After that last explosion, in my previous life, I ignored everyone’s warnings and rushed into the inferno, only to die in the next, much larger blast. I don’t remember the sensation of being consumed by flames, but the bone-deep chill of that final moment is etched into my memory. Having been reborn, I was determined to change my fate. At that moment, Jake, my off-duty colleague, approached again. Seeing my resolute refusal, he sighed deeply, his own tension palpable. “Captain, you’re the most experienced. If you don’t go, what about the kid? If you need backup, I’ll go in with you!” I looked up at his anxious face, remembering he had the same expression last time. Back then, I’d pushed him away firmly, telling him not to risk it. Now, I wondered if Jake’s nervousness was purely about entering the fire or something else. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I just shook my head. “Sorry, twisted ankle. Can’t help.” “We rush in without gear? Is that how we were trained?” Seeing my continued refusal, the onlookers grew even angrier, yelling at me: “Are you even human?! That’s your daughter! Your daughter is in there!” “Your wife’s practically bleeding from banging her head! Are you even a man?! How can you face your duty as a firefighter?!” “You’re just going to let your own child burn to death?!” Jake froze for a second, about to say something more, but my father-in-law walked up to me and suddenly dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he choked out: “Ethan! For the sake of all these years! Please help! I’m begging you… my granddaughter is still inside… Ethan! Even just trying is better than hiding back here! Are… are you even a man?!” I looked at him, my eyes filled with complex emotions. 2 Sarah and I met in college, dated for years, and finally got married. We’d been together five years, married for three. I remember when I first went to her parents’ house right after graduation, I was so nervous I didn’t know what to do. Graduation meant real life, adult responsibilities, and my own background wasn’t exactly stellar. I was terrified they wouldn’t approve of Sarah and me being together. So I braced myself for the worst. But the moment I walked in, her mother greeted me with a warm smile, took the gift I brought, and showered me with concern. “Ethan, dear, must have been cold coming over, right? Hurry inside.” Her father, standing behind her, clapped me on the shoulder, looking incredibly pleased, and immediately wanted me to join him for a drink. Feeling completely overwhelmed, I met Sarah’s smiling eyes and felt nothing but happiness. After that day, not only did her parents not look down on me, but they treated me exceptionally well. They just said Sarah was their only daughter, and as long as I treated her well, nothing else mattered. They didn’t care that I had no parents; they promised to treat me like their own son. I didn’t have much money after graduating, so the wedding had to be simple. Her parents didn’t mind. No house, no car – they didn’t mind that either. At the wedding, though, they cried, asking me to take good care of their daughter, which made me feel incredibly guilty. But I couldn’t bear for Sarah to struggle with me, so I gritted my teeth and bought a house. We definitely went through some tough times financially, but later, as my career took off, the pressure eased. Sarah was incredibly supportive and understanding. She didn’t mind the demanding nature of my job, the long hours away from home. She just told me to focus on work, be extra careful during missions, and assured me she’d handle everything at home so I could go save more lives. A year ago, she got pregnant. Two months ago, she gave birth to our daughter. Our whole family adored the baby. They say good things come in pairs. On the day Lily was born, I bought a lottery ticket and actually won a decent prize. Enough to pay off the mortgage with some left over. Back then, I truly thought both the baby and the lottery win were gifts from heaven. I believed Sarah, the baby, and I would live a quiet, happy life together. Who knew this disaster was waiting? Thinking about this, I looked into my father-in-law’s eyes, remembering all the times they’d been kind to me. Now, even those memories felt cold. I still shook my head. “Don’t say any more, Dad. I can’t go. Don’t put yourself through this, it’s pointless. We just have to wait for the fire trucks.” Hearing this, my mother-in-law and Sarah burst into uncontrollable sobs. By now, anyone who might have initially thought I was being rational had changed their tune, seeing my utter lack of action. They all started cursing me. “He’s just a coward, afraid to die!” “Whoever married him really drew the short straw!” “Not even saving his own daughter! So heartless!” The scene was chaotic. It was as if someone threw dry wood onto the fire inside; it suddenly blazed higher, accompanied by a series of small popping sounds. A tongue of flame shot towards the sky, drawing gasps from the crowd. With this sudden flare-up, the faint sound of a baby crying from within the building grew weaker, almost inaudible. 3 “My baby… my baby…” Seeing this, Sarah collapsed onto the ground, crying even harder. My father-in-law, seeing I wouldn’t move, gritted his teeth, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to go in himself. “Ethan! I never thought you were this kind of person. Fine! I won’t count on you, old man! I’ll save my own granddaughter!” “Mr. Peterson! I’ll go too!” Jake, seeing this, rushed forward. He grabbed some basic tools, starting to put them on while pointedly trying to shame me. “Ethan, I can’t believe you’re such a coward, too scared to save your own daughter. You’re worse than an old man like Mr. Peterson! It was a misfortune for him to let his daughter marry you!” Before I could respond, Sarah looked up and slapped me hard across the face, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly helpless. “Look at the situation! The fire has died down a lot! I really don’t know what you’re so afraid of! Ethan, after today, I am absolutely done with you! You killed our child! You deliberately let our daughter die in there!” I took the slap without flinching, turning my head slightly, my tongue pressing against the inside of my cheek. She was finally losing control. That slap had real force behind it. Sarah’s eyes were red and swollen, making her look incredibly pitiful. Onlookers, especially women around her age, started wiping their own tears, feeling sorry for Sarah’s plight and even more for our daughter trapped in the flames. I frowned deeply, looking at Jake and my father-in-law, then addressed the crowd. “Didn’t someone already volunteer to go? They want to go, let them. Why are you still yelling at me? If you think I’m so cold-blooded, why don’t you all go in? One more person in there now is just another casualty. What’s the point of this moral grandstanding?” “I really misjudged you! Treating you so well all these years! It was all wasted on an ungrateful snake! I never should have let my daughter marry you!” My mother-in-law sobbed and cursed beside me, lamenting to others about the misfortune of having a son-in-law like me. I remained indifferent, stubbing out the finished cigarette and lighting another. Watching my hesitant father-in-law and Jake, I took a drag from my cigarette, tilted my chin slightly towards them, and urged them on: “Go on in, what are you waiting for? What if the fire gets worse?” “You!” Jake shot me a look, then turned back to the fire, his face tense. It was unclear if he was genuinely nervous about going in without gear for the first time, or nervous about taking an old man like my father-in-law with him. My father-in-law coughed heavily several times, making one wonder how such an elderly man, already struggling outside, could possibly manage inside a burning building. The two of them hesitated for a long time, never taking that first step inside. The bystanders couldn’t watch anymore. “Are you heartless?! Fine, don’t go yourself! But stop making sarcastic remarks!” Just then, the wail of sirens approached from the distance. Finally, fire trucks. Seeing them, Jake’s eyes lit up. As soon as the trucks stopped, he immediately moved to gear up, shooting me a seemingly casual glance. “No need to rush me. As soon as I have my gear on, I’ll go in and save her!” A cheer went up from the crowd at his words. My mother-in-law quickly pulled my father-in-law back, clutching her chest in relief. “Honey, don’t go! The firefighters are here! They’ll definitely save our granddaughter!” As the well-trained firefighters rushed out of the trucks, Jake joined their ranks. Just as they were preparing hoses to start fighting the fire and enter the building, a massive explosion, accompanied by a towering pillar of fire, ripped through the inferno. The faint crying from inside finally fell silent. The stunned faces of the crowd were illuminated by the huge blaze. They froze. Sarah let out a bloodcurdling scream and tried to rush into the fire, only to be held back by firefighters. “Lily! Mommy’s so sorry… Lily!” My father-in-law and mother-in-law collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, beating their chests. Seeing this, however, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, the immense pressure suddenly lifting. I fainted on the spot. 4 The smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils. Still groggy, I realized I was in the hospital. A cacophony of voices surrounded me, incredibly noisy, making sleep impossible. I slowly opened my eyes, immediately met by flashing camera shutters and a swarm of people closing in. “Mr. Hayes! I’m a reporter from the Western Gazette. Can you please tell us why you let your own daughter burn to death?” “Mr. Hayes! Please answer the question directly! The child’s remains haven’t even been found yet. Could this be considered murder?” “Were you always this emotionless towards your daughter, or is there something else going on?” … Looking at the horde of reporters, my temples throbbed with a dull ache. I cleared my throat, and under their expectant gazes, slowly spoke. “…Is the fire out?” No one expected that to be my first question. Disappointment flickered across their faces. Someone muttered from the side that yes, it was extinguished. Hearing the fire was out, I breathed a sigh of relief, then asked the reporters with a cold smile. “You’ve all been here a while, right? Waiting for me to wake up, eager for the first scoop. Right now, every single one of you is accusing me of standing by, of being inhuman. Since the fire is out, let me ask you first: have any infant remains been found at the scene?” The reporters were taken aback by my question, exchanging confused glances, murmuring amongst themselves that they hadn’t heard anything like that. The police hadn’t released many details about the fire’s specifics or casualties yet, but there was definitely no news about finding a baby’s remains. While the incident was causing a huge stir online, no actual evidence of infant remains had surfaced. “Ethan! I’ll kill you! Give me back my daughter! You deserve to die!” While the reporters were still uncertain, Sarah burst through the crowd, lunging at my hospital bed, hitting and scratching. She had cried all night; her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked utterly crazed. “My daughter was blown to pieces! There’s nothing left, not even ashes! Where would they find remains?! I won’t forgive you, Ethan! Pay for what you did! Pay for Lily’s life! I want a divorce!” The reporters didn’t miss this scene, cameras flashing, capturing everything. I watched Sarah impassively. I hadn’t expected her to be this persistent, even skipping washing up for a day just to appear pale and distraught for everyone. Seeing her raise her hand to slap me again, I frowned and grabbed her wrist tightly. “Sarah! Have you had enough?!” “Ethan! Have you had enough?! You don’t deserve to be a father!” Just then, Jake rushed in, pulling Sarah’s wrist from my grasp with a look of righteous fury. Sarah clutched her wrist where I’d squeezed it, sobbing beside him. “I… I just want my daughter back. Ethan, please give me my daughter back, okay? I’m begging you, just give her back…” “Sarah! Please, try to stay strong…” Seeing her like this, Jake’s eyes also reddened as he tried to comfort her. Their synchronized performance immediately swayed many onlookers. The reporters voiced their outrage at me. “Never seen someone act like nothing happened after their daughter died…” “This has to be murder! Watching his own daughter die!” “Wait till we expose this monster in human skin!” I saw some reporters were even live-streaming. The viewer count was probably high, which suited my plan perfectly. So, I asked Jake softly. “I don’t deserve to be a father? So you should be?” “What… what are you talking about?! Are you crazy, Ethan?!”

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My daughter was basically born bad. A real bad seed. Skipping school, fighting, bullying classmates – she did it all. She even started sexting with a guy ten years older than her and planned to run off with him. I rushed to the train station, got into an argument with the guy, and fell onto the tracks. I died instantly. But my daughter told everyone I jumped on purpose. Then I opened my eyes. I was back six months earlier. My daughter was standing there, eyes red, accusing me of being too strict. I looked at her coldly. “Fine. From now on, I’m done managing you.” 1 Senior year, first major exams, and my daughter, Ashley, skipped them again. Her homeroom teacher called just as I was leaving work. “Sarah, if Ashley keeps this up, she’s likely going to be expelled before graduation.” I gave a calm, small laugh. After a moment’s thought, I said, “It’s okay, Mrs. Davison. If she gets expelled, she gets expelled. As long as it doesn’t cause problems for you or the school.” In my previous life, I got this same call. Back then, I immediately rushed to the school, begging and pleading with everyone to give her another chance. Then I caught her skipping school, playing online games with friends. In front of everyone, I swore up and down she’d never skip again, that she’d make it to graduation. But the truth was, her life was ruined before the second semester even started. Smoking, drinking, dating… that was nothing. The day I received the wedding invitation from my husband, explicit videos and photos of her were already going viral online. When I found out and confronted her, she just shrugged it off. “Mom, what do you know? What’s the point of having a good body if you don’t show it off?” “Besides,” she added, “bad press is still press. Maybe I’ll become an influencer or something.” Thinking back on that, I repeated firmly to the teacher, “From now on, please don’t call me about Ashley’s issues. I can’t control her anymore. I’m done trying.” With that, I hung up and walked away. 2 That evening, I was lounging on the sofa watching TV when the front door flew open and slammed shut. Ashley stood before me, face like thunder. She was wearing a skimpy black outfit, way too mature for her age, complete with fishnets. A cigarette dangled from her left hand, a bottle of liquor in her right. She glared at me, furious. “Old woman, did you cancel my credit card? You trying to force me home with cheap tricks like that? Are you asking for it?” “Go reactivate the card right now, or I’m running away from home, and you’ll never find me.” “No need,” I said calmly. “Go wherever you want. I won’t try to manage you anymore.” “Are you kidding me?” Seeing her just standing there, I kindly opened the front door for her, practically gesturing for her to leave. My change in attitude clearly stunned her. Her eyes darted around, then she awkwardly tried to save face. “Whatever. I know you can’t bear to let me go. Dad already ditched you. So you won’t end up a lonely old woman, I guess I can consider staying. But…” She plopped down on the sofa, grabbing an apple and taking a bite. “First, reactivate the credit card. Then, transfer the house and car titles to my name. And up my allowance to five thousand dollars a month.” … I shook my head wearily. “I’m serious, Ashley. Didn’t you say I was too controlling? That I made you anxious and depressed?” “From now on, skipping school, dating, whatever – those are your choices.” I sighed. “You’re almost eighteen. I can’t control you anymore.” I wasn’t saying this out of spite or trying to be tough. From the moment she became my daughter, I gave her everything, catered to her every whim. Bought her the prettiest dresses, the best Barbie dolls. Because my own childhood was poor, I was terrified of her suffering, so I planned out her entire future. Top schools, study abroad programs, even lining up a respectable job for after graduation. But all my careful planning, in her eyes, was just my manipulative tactics to trap and control her. And in the end? I met a violent end, and she actually lied for the real culprit, letting him escape justice. If that’s how it is, then I don’t need to knock myself out planning for her anymore. “You’re wrong.” I shook my head again, feeling exhausted. “Mom is just really tired. I can’t manage you anymore.” “Bullshit! You’re plotting something. I’m warning you, don’t try anything funny, or I’ll make your life hell!” Furious, Ashley swept everything off the coffee table, sending mugs and clutter crashing to the floor, then slammed the door and stormed out. She still thought I was just bluffing. 3 Not long after Ashley left, my husband, Mark, showed up. Well, “husband” – we’d been separated for six months, just needing the final divorce papers. In my past life, I endured everything for Ashley’s sake, even turning a blind eye to Mark’s cheating. But this time around, I just wanted this scumbag as far away from me as possible. “Ashley called me. What kind of mother are you?” He started right in with the accusations, perfectly fitting his “doting father” persona he’d maintained for years. “It’s normal for teenagers to be rebellious. Yelling at her is one thing, but kicking her out? Poor Ashley, having a mother like you.” I let out a cold laugh, resisting the urge to applaud him sarcastically. “Don’t worry, it’s not too late. Haven’t you already found her a new mom?” A flicker of embarrassment crossed Mark’s face. Before he could counter, I pulled out the divorce agreement I’d already prepared. “Let’s cut the crap. Sign this.” Mark’s eyes widened in surprise, then a flash of delight. “You’ve finally come to your senses?” “What’s there to ‘come to senses’ about? The deal is, you get the kid, I get the house and car.” His joyful expression lasted about two seconds before his face fell. “What? Sarah, don’t push it.” “Me, push it?” This house was bought with my family’s money, and the car payments always came out of my account. Mark contributed less to this household than the cleaning lady I hired. “You don’t contribute a dime, you run around with other women, you’re the party at fault. I should be suing you. And you dare argue about assets? Fine. You want to make this ugly? Bring it on.” Mark clearly didn’t expect such firmness from me. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Then, he pulled out his phone. “Ashley, honey, Dad tried his best. Your mom’s gone completely crazy, there’s nothing I can do. You need to come home right away.” Ashley’s hysterical yelling came through the phone. “What? That bitch won’t give us money? Dad, don’t worry. Just watch how I handle her.” 4 Ashley rushed home and, ignoring her father’s half-hearted attempts to “stop” her, proceeded to smash everything she could get her hands on. I watched it all happen. Initial anger faded into a strange calm. It didn’t hurt nearly as much as I thought it would. Compared to the last life, when she pushed me out of the car and fractured my spine, this was nothing. “Done smashing things? If not, feel free. Your computer and tablet in your room are still intact. Why not destroy them all at once?” Ashley spun around, glaring at me, the hatred in her eyes practically lethal. “You bitch. Say that again, I dare you.” Mark knew his daughter’s temper. He made a show of trying to calm her down but conveniently stepped aside. “I won’t repeat myself. Go ahead, smash everything you want. Just don’t disturb my rest.” I yawned and, under the stunned gazes of the father and daughter, calmly walked back to my bedroom and locked the door. Just as I expected… without me as an audience, the commotion in the living room quickly died down. A moment later, I heard the front door slam shut hard. I couldn’t help but smirk. I lay back on the bed and drifted off to sleep. The next morning, just after I woke up, I got a frantic phone call from a coworker. “Sarah, you need to get down to the office, quick!” 5 Downstairs from the Apex Corp office building, Ashley stood at the main entrance in some outlandish outfit, handing out flyers to the arriving office workers. Even from a distance, I could vaguely hear what she was saying. “Yeah, she’s an executive upstairs at Apex Corp! Not just cheating, she’s fooling around with multiple clients – men and women!” “What? Seriously?” It wasn’t quite time for work yet, so a small crowd had gathered, munching on bagels and listening to her performance while looking at the flyer featuring a blown-up photo of me. “Of course, it’s true! Look at these bruises!” she cried, showing imaginary marks. “She comes home after hooking up and takes it out on me! Shoved my head in the toilet, drugged my dad with sleeping pills, almost killed him!” She told her story vividly, and some onlookers grew outraged, looking like they wanted to drag me out for public shaming. “What kind of mother is that? So vicious!” “Seriously, if you can’t raise them right, don’t have them. She’s just hurting everyone.” “Glad she’s not my boss. Who knows what you’d have to do working under someone like that.” I stood there, unmoving, calmly listening to all her slander. Ashley saw me, but there wasn’t a hint of guilt in her eyes. “There she is! That’s my mom!” All eyes snapped towards me. I spoke immediately, my voice carrying. “Don’t you all have work to do? It’s almost nine o’clock!” No office worker truly has time for someone else’s family drama. The crowd quickly dispersed, leaving just Ashley and me. Looking at this young, defiant girl before me, I sighed. “Ashley, this is my final warning, and my advice: stop digging your own grave. Go back to school. It’s not too late to turn things around. I can give you one more chance.” But Ashley just sneered, completely missing the warning in my tone. She practically spat at my feet. “Tsk! I don’t need chances from you. I’m your only daughter, you really gonna abandon me? I’ll give you one last chance. Give me money, and sign over a house to me. I promised Rick we’d get married after graduation.” Any last shred of affection I had for her died with those words. She acts this way because she thinks she can get away with anything, being my only flesh and blood, right? What would happen if she found out she wasn’t actually my biological daughter? The thought was… quite intriguing. 6 Back in the office, curious glances darted away the moment they saw me. Throughout the morning, I remained calm and composed, handling my work and meeting with clients as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t until the lunch break that I finally got a moment to breathe. “So, do you think Sarah’s really like that?” “Hard to say. Seems pretty straight-laced, but maybe she’s wild behind closed doors.” “Yeah, well, how else does a woman get to be a general manager? Probably slept her way up.” I stood outside the break room door, my hand tightening on the handle, my blood running cold for a second. Not because of those few whispered words. But because it hit me again how, even now, sexism is so deeply ingrained in the workplace. Any woman who achieves even moderate success is suspected of sleeping her way there. No one considers her actual abilities, and no one knows she likely had to work ten times harder than a man to get there. And the root of all this suspicion is simply her gender. It’s ridiculous. Just as I was about to push the door open, a clear female voice spoke up. “You shouldn’t talk like that. I know Sarah isn’t that kind of person.” I recognized the voice. It was Maria, who’d started working here a few months ago. “Mind your own business, cleaner. Who do you think you are, butting in?” a male voice grumbled. “I just know! Sarah works incredibly hard. I’ve seen her working late lots of times when everyone else has gone home. Stop spreading rumors. It’s disgusting to slander women like that.” “What did you say? You wanna say that again…” Before the man could retort, I pushed the door open, a polite smile fixed on my face. “Quite lively in here. Not resting during your break? Guess the morning wasn’t busy enough.”

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My dad hid my acceptance letter. He kept it hidden for seventeen years. Growing up, I tried so hard to be the good daughter. Even though I figured out pretty early on that he favored my brother, just because he was a boy. But when I finally saw that acceptance letter to the good high school, the one I earned, I just couldn’t hold it together anymore. “Dad,” I cried, “I’m your daughter. Don’t I deserve even a tiny piece of a dream?” 1. My mom died when I was one year old. She bled out giving birth to my little brother, Mike. After Mom was gone, Dad raised me and Mike by himself. We lived out in the country, didn’t have much money. The weird thing was, in our house, Mike and I were treated completely differently. From the time we were little, if there was anything good to eat or drink, Mike always got it first. I used to be jealous of him, but back then, I didn’t understand about sexism, about him thinking boys were just better. When it was time for school, I went like normal, but after school, I never got a break. I had to do all the chores around the house, and during planting or harvest season, I had to find ways to help the neighbors, try to earn a little cash on the side. Any money I made, Dad took it right away. Said it was for school fees. But every single time I handed him money, Mike suddenly had cash for candy. He’d eat it right in front of me, just to rub it in. One time he let it slip – Dad was giving all the money I earned to Mike for pocket money. School didn’t even charge extra fees back then; we even got subsidized lunches, didn’t cost a dime. I asked Dad why he gave my money to Mike. He just said, “You’re a girl. Isn’t the money you earn supposed to go to your brother?” “Besides,” he’d add, “I raised you all this time. Don’t you owe me?” “Girls need to be obedient. Stop thinking about all this nonsense, or what’ll happen when you get married and go live with your husband’s family?” His words always shut down any complaints I had. Made me feel like maybe I was wrong for thinking about it. After that, Dad took every single cent I ever got my hands on. It went on like that until I finished middle school. When I graduated 8th grade, I wanted to keep studying, so I went into town to work over the summer. My grades had always been good; I was sure I could get into a decent high school. Near the end of the summer, I took the money I’d worked so hard for and went to find Dad. That’s when he told me I hadn’t gotten into high school at all. He said we didn’t have the money to send both me and Mike to school anyway. “Better to use that money for your brother,” he said. “Mike’s starting high school soon, he needs it.” Just like that, all the money I’d busted my butt for was gone, handed over. Back then, I was naive. I actually believed we were just that poor. Reality was about to slap me hard in the face. 2 Since I couldn’t go to high school, I had to go find work. But with just an 8th-grade education, finding a decent job was impossible. I ended up washing dishes in town, making only a thousand bucks a month. Every payday, Dad would use the excuse that we were poor and Mike needed money for school, and he’d take most of my wages. Pretty soon, Mike finished middle school too. He was never a good student, and he completely bombed his final exams. Forget high school, he didn’t even qualify for trade school. I remember thinking back then, if I couldn’t go to high school, maybe I could go to trade school. But Dad shut that down immediately, saying it cost too much. When it came to Mike, though? Dad spent twenty thousand dollars a semester to buy him a spot in a private high school in the city. When I heard that, it broke my heart. I went to Dad and asked him why it was so unfair. He told me the money came from Grandma and Grandpa – left specifically for Mike. He also said, “What’s the point of a girl getting so much education? Better you start working early.” I knew Dad favored Mike, always had. But… I never thought he could dislike me that much. I was furious about how unfair he was, but I felt powerless to change anything. All I could think back then was how unlucky I was not to be born a boy. For a while, I was really mad at Dad. When I got paid, for the first time, I thought about not giving him the money. Big mistake. Dad absolutely blew up at me. He called me ungrateful, a snake in the grass. Said he raised us kids all by himself, practically breaking his back, and now that I was older and earning money, I wasn’t even thinking about helping the family. I felt so wronged. I was making a thousand a month and giving him eight hundred! But still, because I didn’t get into high school, it was “girls don’t need that much schooling.” Mike, who was a terrible student, got thousands spent on him for a private school spot. I asked Dad again, why the unfairness? He said, “Your brother’s the one who’s going to take care of me when I’m old. Shouldn’t I treat him better? Who else am I going to count on, you?” “Besides,” he went on, “look around this town. Isn’t it the same in every family? Daughters help out at home until they get married, right?” “You need to understand, if your brother does well, your life will be better too. When he makes it big someday, he won’t forget his big sister!” I didn’t realize it then, but he was totally manipulating me, gaslighting me. Later, Mrs. Henderson from next door came over to talk to me. She’d always been pretty nice to me; when I was little and didn’t have enough food, she’d often give me something to eat. Maybe because I grew up without a mom, I always remembered her kindness. So, when she told me not to fight with my dad, I actually listened. She helped smooth things over. I stopped arguing with Dad, but I did start giving him less money. Because I couldn’t stand being around Dad and Mike, I moved away, out of state, to find work. Back then, I had no idea that my own father was the one who had actively ruined my future. I always thought, you know, even a wolf doesn’t eat its own cubs. I couldn’t imagine him being that cruel. But reality is harsh. 3 Those years working far from home, I worked like crazy. Day and night, often only getting five or six hours of sleep. Sometimes I didn’t even have time to eat properly. Eventually, I developed stomach problems. Every time my stomach hurt, I’d just pop some pills. Partly because I was too busy with work, and partly because I didn’t have money for doctors. So, I just toughed it out. Even though I wasn’t making much, I still sent money home to Dad every month. Like Mrs. Henderson had said, Dad was getting older, couldn’t earn much anymore. I didn’t want my money going to Mike, but I felt I still had to support Dad. So, I wired him cash every month. After drifting around for so many years, sometimes I felt incredibly tired. During holidays, I’d think about going back home to see Dad. But he always told me, “You’re already working so hard out there, it’s tiring enough. Traveling back and forth, you won’t rest well, won’t eat well, and it’s not safe. No need to come back.” I believed him. I even started to think maybe Dad’s attitude towards me had changed, that he was starting to care about me. Until I went to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor told me I had cancer. Late stage. In that moment, my world collapsed. I didn’t want to die. I was still young. I wanted to live. I called Dad right away, told him I wanted to come home. He agreed immediately. I was actually happy then, convinced that Dad finally felt sorry for me after all these years working away from home. But when I got back, there were no welcoming smiles waiting for me. Just Mike. He rushed over and started digging through my bag. When he couldn’t find any cash after searching, his face just fell. “You didn’t bring any money? What did you come back for?” “Don’t you know I’m getting married soon? We need money for everything!” Dad chimed in too, “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been working out there for years, haven’t you saved anything? If you didn’t save any money, what’s the point of coming back?” “It’s hard enough to find a job these days. You come back empty-handed, expecting me to support you?” Hearing those words felt like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. I was chilled to the bone. “Dad, that’s not it,” I choked out. “I’m sick. I came back this time to rest and recover.” “Recover? What’s there to recover from with a little ache or pain? Just take some medicine, you’ll be fine. But your brother’s wedding, that’s a big deal. Did you put your money in the bank? Hurry up and give the card to your brother.” At that moment, I truly broke down. I sobbed, asking Dad, “Dad, I have cancer. Can you please help me? Can you save me?” “Cancer? How could you suddenly get cancer? Are you sure you got checked properly? Lots of quack doctors out there these days.” “Besides,” he continued, “you see the situation. Your brother’s getting married soon. You’ll have to figure something out yourself.” This time, Dad didn’t keep asking me for money, but I wasn’t happy at all. Because I really didn’t have any money left. I couldn’t believe he didn’t know how hard my life had been. All these years, I’d been trying to please him, doing everything he said, being the obedient daughter. And what was the result? I was riddled with illness, and all I got was “figure something out yourself.” Dragging this sick body around, what could I possibly figure out? I stumbled out of the house, feeling completely lost. Outside, I ran into Mrs. Henderson again. Seeing me, she took me into her house. “Sarah, honey, don’t be upset. You know how your dad is.” “Actually,” she said, lowering her voice, “he does care about you. When you’re not here, he talks about you all the time.” “He’s just got a lot on his mind right now. Mike’s fiancée’s family is playing hardball, demanding ten thousand dollars or they’ll call off the wedding. Your dad’s really stuck.” “You’re capable, working out there. That’s why he was hoping you could help figure something out.” “Mrs. Henderson,” I said, my voice trembling, “if I had money, I could try to help. But… do you know? I have cancer. I’m dying.” “I just wanted to beg him to save me…” “But… he told me to figure it out myself…” Mrs. Henderson froze. “Oh, Sarah, honey, I’m so sorry. I had no idea it was like this.” “Are you sure about the diagnosis? Maybe you should try another hospital? Maybe the doctor made a mistake?” “There are so many greedy clinics these days. You should really get checked out at a couple of major hospitals.” As she spoke, Mrs. Henderson tried to press a few hundred dollars into my hand. “I don’t have much myself, Sarah, but take this. Go get another check-up at a big hospital.” I couldn’t believe it. Mrs. Henderson, who wasn’t even related to me, was showing me more kindness than my own father. But in the end, I didn’t take her money. I decided to go back to the city, find some kind of work first, and then figure out the medical stuff. Before leaving, I went back home one last time to grab a few clothes. As I was rummaging through the closet, an envelope fell out. It was an acceptance letter from County Central High. The

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I’d been away on a business trip for half a month. The second my plane touched down, I rushed straight home. On the way, I tried calling my fiancé, Brandon , a bunch of times, but he didn’t pick up. I figured I’d stop trying and just surprise him when I got home. But when I used my key to open the door, for a second, I thought I’d walked into the wrong apartment. Why was there a woman inside? And a baby? 1. I stood there in the doorway, luggage handle still in my grip, completely stunned. “Hey, Lynn, you’re back?” Brandon greeted me like nothing was weird. “Pam Tong had a fight with her husband, and she just had the baby, so she’s crashing here for a few days.” He looked totally casual. “Actually, since you haven’t even taken your shoes off yet, could you run out and grab some stuff? The baby still needs a lot.” I couldn’t catch my breath and snapped at him. “What do you mean? Did you even talk to me about this?” “Look, we can talk after you get back with the stuff,” Brandon said, trying to nudge me out the door. Just then, the baby started wailing. It looked so tiny, like it was just born. I bit back my anger. Fine. I’d go get the stuff first, then deal with this. He handed me a long list – formula, diapers, changing pads, everything. There’s a baby supply store just down the block from our building. Walking there, I got angrier and angrier. Pam Tong was Brandon’s childhood friend, the one he grew up with. When we first started dating, we fought about her constantly. She always seemed to tag along on our dates. Brandon bought her gifts for holidays, same as me. Whenever we hung out with his friends, they’d always tease Brandon and Pam about being a couple. The worst time was during a game of Truth or Dare. Pam was dared to kiss a guy in the room, and she went straight for Brandon. Right after, she turned to me and said, “Lynn, sorry, couldn’t help it, Bran and I are just that close, you know? You’re not mad, right?” Whenever I brought her up during arguments, Brandon would brush it off. “If we were going to get together, we would have ages ago. We’re just buddies. You’re being way too sensitive.” Luckily, she got a boyfriend not long after and moved out of state with him. Things quieted down for a while after that. So why was she back now?! And staying at my place postpartum?! When I got back with the bags, I swallowed my rage and planned to go see her. But Brandon stopped me. “Don’t go in there yet. You just came in from outside, you’ll bring a chill in. She’s still recovering, you know.” That was it. I yanked my arm away. “Are you insane? How could you let her stay here to recover?” “Come on, she’s a friend, just helping her out, what’s the big deal? She fought with her husband, had nowhere else to go.” Brandon looked completely unbothered. “We’ll sleep in the spare room. Let her have the master bedroom. She’ll leave after she’s recovered.” “And now that you’re back,” he continued, “she just gave birth, dealing with all that postpartum stuff… messy. And I’m clumsy with babies, not like you women. You can help take care of her and the kid.” I was so furious I actually calmed down. “You want me, an unmarried woman with no kids, to take care of someone I barely know, who just had a baby? Are you out of your mind?” I grabbed my suitcase handle again. “Good thing I haven’t unpacked. I’m staying somewhere else tonight. Tomorrow, I don’t want to see her in this apartment.” With that, I slammed the door behind me. 2 I was exhausted from the flight anyway. So, I checked into a hotel nearby. I’d stay the night, get some rest, and figure out my next move tomorrow with a clear head. I scrolled through Pam’s social media. Turns out, she’d been here for ten days. “Feeling safe enough to rest before the baby comes, surrounded by the people I trust most.” The picture? Brandon carrying her suitcase, his arm around her. Five days ago, when the baby was born, she posted a photo of Brandon holding the newborn. “Bran is always my rock.” There were other baby pics too, the background clearly my bedroom, the baby nestled in the expensive bedding I picked out. Seeing those posts made my blood boil. I texted my best friend, Maya. “Guess who just won the lottery for ‘most likely to get cheated on’? Me. Lynn Han.” Maya called me immediately. I spilled everything. She was furious, telling me she’d bring over two guys from her boxing gym tomorrow to help me kick those two weirdos out. Venting helped. A lot. Knowing I had a battle ahead tomorrow, I went to bed early. First thing in the morning, Maya showed up with the two guys. And wow, they were handsome. Built like refrigerators, faces like models, and super polite. “Hi, Lynn! You’re really pretty. That guy’s blind.” “Totally. Don’t worry, Lynn, we’ll definitely help you get them out.” Their compliments actually made me feel a bit better, lifting my mood. Back at my apartment, I found that neither Brandon nor Pam had made any move to pack. Pam was still camped out in my bedroom like she owned the place. Before I could even say anything, Pam walked over to me. “Lynn, my husband… he hit me.” Tears started rolling down her face immediately. “He’d actually lay hands on me, right after I gave birth. I just couldn’t stay there. I had nowhere else to go. Bran felt sorry for me, that’s the only reason he let me stay.” “I have no one else,” she sobbed. “Please, just help me out.” All these years, I had to admit, her ability to cry on command was impressive. “You can’t go home? What about your parents?” Maya couldn’t stand it and cut right in. “My parents are old. I don’t want to burden them,” Pam wept, hugging the now-crying baby tighter. “You don’t want to burden them, but you have no problem burdening me? You seriously think I, a single woman who’s never had kids, am equipped to take care of you postpartum?” I was speechless. What kind of logic was that? “Lynn Han, is now really the time to be angry? Don’t you know she just had a baby?” Brandon yelled at me, furious. Then he turned to Pam, his voice suddenly gentle. “Don’t cry. It’s bad for your eyes when you’re recovering. Go back inside.” He put a hand on her shoulder and gently guided her back towards the bedroom. A woman recovering from childbirth, crying like that… I didn’t even know what to say. But then, just before she went into the room, Pam looked back over Brandon’s shoulder and shot me a triumphant smirk. She was doing it on purpose! That flipped a switch. Before Brandon could even turn back around, I laid down the law. “I’m giving you one more day. If you’re not gone with her by tomorrow, I’m throwing all your stuff out!” 3 We left, defeated. A woman recovering from childbirth, a baby just days old… the guys Maya brought couldn’t really do or say much. Still, I was grateful. I took Maya and the guys out for lunch. “What do you even see in him? I told you from the start, anyone who hangs around that Pam character is bad news,” Maya said, looking at me like I was hopeless. “She hadn’t caused trouble in years! I thought she was gone for good,” I mumbled, feeling miserable. “And we’ve been together five years, met each other’s parents, we were about to get married. When Pam wasn’t around, he was actually pretty good to me.” “So when Pam shows up, you just step aside? You’re okay with that?” “Have you ever thought,” Maya pressed, “why he was so nice to you when Pam wasn’t around? Maybe it was because you’re good-looking, you’re local, you own property, you make good money?” I couldn’t argue. I’d never really considered it from that angle. Guess it’s true what they say: you can’t see the forest for the trees. Just then, my mom called. “Hi, Mom?” Her voice was serious. “Lynn, is something wrong? Tell Mom.” “No, Mom, everything’s fine. Why?” “Then why are Brandon and some woman with a baby staying at your place? Where are you?” I shot up from my seat. “Mom, you came over? I’ll come get you!” After picking up my mom, I found out the whole story. Those two lowlifes heard my mom knocking but pretended not to be home. They didn’t even open the door. They just left my mother standing outside. My mom got suspicious, waited a bit, and heard unfamiliar voices from inside. Now I was truly furious. It was one thing for them to disrespect me, but leaving my mom locked out? They seemed to forget whose name was on the deed to this place – bought and paid for by my family! But I held it together in front of my mom. I didn’t want her to worry. I told her it was just a friend who’d fought with her family and needed a place to crash for a few days, that she’d be gone soon. Maybe they were busy with the baby and didn’t hear the door. My mom looked skeptical but went home.

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My name is Sarah Miller. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life – my wedding day. My groom, Mark, is one of the most respected lawyers in the city. We had a big reception planned, a couple hundred guests. But one man’s arrival shattered the festive mood. My father—Richard Davis. Funny, right? We don’t even share the same last name. Over a decade ago, he dropped fifty thousand dollars on the table, ditched my mom and me, took my brother, and walked out. … “Sarah, honey, this is your father,” Mom said, beaming like nothing was wrong. Richard Davis smiled at me too. “Sarah, I’m your dad. Do you remember me?” “Of course, she remembers her father,” Mom chimed in, then looked pointedly at me. “Right, Sarah?” I stared at the two of them, feeling disgusted and annoyed. A sarcastic smile touched my lips. “Oh, I remember. You didn’t want Mom, and you didn’t want me!” Their smiles froze instantly. “Sarah, how can you talk like that? You’ll make your father angry.” Good. Let him be angry. Seeing them upset was the only thing that could make me feel slightly better right now. I put on an innocent face. “But Mom, isn’t that what you always used to say? Didn’t you say he was the kind of guy who’d use someone and then pretend he didn’t know them?” Richard shot a glare at my mother. His face turned ugly. Mom scrambled to explain. “No, Richard, Sarah’s just trying to provoke you! Why would I ever say anything bad about you?” Truth is, Mom never really bad-mouthed Richard to me. In her eyes, the real villain was always the “homewrecker” who supposedly lured him away. Richard gave her money, bought her things; how could he be wrong? Richard sighed dramatically. “Sarah, it’s okay if you’re angry with me. Your old dad forgives you. I won’t hold it against you.” Then, he turned to Mark, who had just hurried over. “This must be my son-in-law! A fine young man!” Richard’s forced familiarity made my skin crawl. Had they all conveniently forgotten how my brother died eight years ago? 2: Ghosts of the Past When Richard Davis left with my brother, Leo. I was young, and the memories are hazy. I mostly remember Mom constantly cursing, “That damn tramp, that sneaky witch.” Later, when I was older. Mom told me Dad had an affair. He was stolen away by some homewrecker. For that woman, Dad abandoned us, taking only Leo and leaving fifty grand behind. This whole thing messed Mom up badly. She constantly pushed me, telling me I had to succeed, had to give her a good life. While other kids were riding on their dads’ shoulders playing horsey, Mom had me drilling multiplication tables and memorizing state capitals day and night. It went on like that for years. When I got tired, I’d look in the mirror and try to psych myself up. I’d think about my twin brother, Leo—born two minutes after me, but always insisting I call him ‘big bro’. The sharpest memory I have from back then: Once, I accidentally broke Mom’s favorite vase. I was terrified of getting yelled at, or worse. Leo just smirked at me, teasing me for being clumsy. But when Mom came home, he took the blame. He got grounded for a week. I asked him why he did it. He patted my head like a little old man and said, “‘Cause I’m the big brother, gotta protect you. Now, call me ‘big bro’.” Looking in the mirror now, I whispered it with a smile, “Big bro.” I always thought, someday I’d see Leo again, and I’d call him that to his face. But— The next time I saw my brother. He was lying on a cold hospital bed, covered entirely by a white sheet. I stood beside him, sobbing uncontrollably. My brother was only eighteen. How could he just die from an illness? I couldn’t accept it. I cried and demanded answers from Mom. “We just couldn’t scrape together the money in time,” she’d said, wiping tears. “The hospital wouldn’t schedule the surgery without payment upfront. It’s their fault, damn them, treating people like numbers.” She even tried to raise hell at the hospital later, hoping to get some kind of settlement, but failed. Seeing me devastated by Leo’s death, especially with my college entrance exams coming up, Mom tried to comfort me. Tears streamed down her face as she said, “Your brother was such a good kid, always thinking of others. He probably didn’t want the family to go bankrupt trying to pay for his surgery, so he… he just let go.” Then her crying turned into angry muttering. “It’s all because of that homewrecker! If it wasn’t for her, your dad wouldn’t have left us, your brother wouldn’t have grown up without me, his own mother, looking after him, and died so young. It’s all her fault! If he’d just left us more money, maybe we could have afforded the treatment…” Money, money, money! If we’d had enough money for the surgery, would Leo still be alive? Before, all I wanted was a comfortable, simple life. Now I understood: being broke could literally kill someone. I started studying even harder. For kids like me, from families like mine, the only path to making real money seemed to be getting into a top university through sheer hard work. Three months later, I got into a prestigious university. Once enrolled, I balanced intense studying with part-time jobs, sending every penny I earned to Mom. She was thrilled. She bragged to everyone about how smart and responsible I was, already earning good money before even graduating. If people agreed and praised me too, she’d be even happier. If they didn’t, she’d start bad-mouthing them the second they turned their backs. Her mood swings were astonishing. She kept calling me “Sarah, honey,” but she rarely mentioned my brother, Leo, anymore. That struck me as odd. They say losing a child is the hardest grief for a mother to bear, but my mother… she didn’t seem truly heartbroken for long. It wasn’t until that one day that I finally understood what kind of person my mother really was. 3: The Awful Truth One day, I saw Mom at the restaurant where I waitressed. She had no idea I worked there; in fact, she never asked about my jobs – where I worked, if it was tiring. She only cared about how much money I made. Mom was sitting by the window, wearing a silk scarf and oversized sunglasses. If it weren’t for the familiar cheap dress she had on, I might not have recognized her. Across from her sat a woman I didn’t know. She looked polished and expensive – designer trench coat, classic Chanel bag. Clearly loaded. How did Mom know someone like that? Just then, a couple sat down at a nearby table. I went over, my back to Mom’s table, and started taking their order. “I really don’t get it,” the wealthy woman said impatiently. “How can you, the mistress, have the nerve to keep asking for money?” “Why shouldn’t I have the nerve?” Mom shot back. “Did I sleep with your husband for all those years for free? Did I give him two kids for nothing?” My mind went blank for a second. Wēng~~~ a buzzing filled my ears. Mom… was the mistress? Those words echoed in my head. “You already got your payout when you gave up your son. My husband’s barely interested in you now. What leverage do you have left?” the woman sneered. Mom chuckled coldly. “Don’t forget, I still have a daughter. Push me too far, and we can burn it all down! I’ve got nothing left to lose besides her, but you people? Your husband’s company could go under if this gets out. Let’s see where your family ends up then!” “Miss? Miss?” The male customer waved his hand in front of my face, looking concerned. “Are you okay? You look really pale.” I dug my nails into my palm, the sharp pain bringing me back. I shook my head. “Thanks, I’m fine. I’ll go put your order in.” I hurried away, hearing the girl at the table behind me say excitedly, “Wow, she must be totally shocked by what those two were saying! Can you believe a mistress being so shameless…” She was right. I was shocked. All this time, I thought my parents had divorced, and each took a child. The reality was horrifying: Mom was the mistress, shamelessly wrecking someone else’s family. Even worse, the idea that my brother was… sold? Given up for money? I knew Mom loved money. She scrimped and saved on everything, even on me. But I never imagined she could just… trade away her own son! My twin brother! I tried to fight the thought, tried to remember Mom’s grief when we got the news about Leo. But all I could picture was her getting over it quickly, back to playing mahjong with her friends within days. Even when Dad called and forbade us from attending Leo’s funeral, Mom didn’t argue. I begged her to take me. But she just said, “I feel too guilty, not being able to afford his treatment. I can’t face him.” Back then, my heart ached for her. It made me work even harder, earn more money! Thinking back now, piecing things together, a chilling thought surfaced: Was Leo’s death really about not having enough money? Didn’t Dad own a company?! Later, I saw that wealthy woman – Dad’s actual wife – at my workplace again. This time, she was holding a little boy, maybe two or three years old. Did she kill my brother because she finally had a son of her own? The monstrous idea festered in my mind. I desperately wanted to run up and scream at her: “Did you kill my brother? Did you?!” But I knew, deep down, I had no power, no way to uncover the truth like this. And that’s when I realized… this fancy wedding, this unwanted reunion… this was my chance to start digging.

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“The next time I saw Zach Rivers, he’d gone from a D-list nobody to a corporate shark. Six years ago, when he needed me most, I’d walked away and moved halfway across the world. Now, my eyesight was failing, and he had a new arm candy – the latest “It” girl. Everyone gushed about them being a match made in heaven, but my sudden appearance caused Zach to lose it at a press conference. “Now that you’re back in the States, I wanted to use this to introduce you to some directors, see if they have any roles you’d be good for.” My old friend, Tiffany Blake, said as she looped her arm through mine. “No sweat, I’ll take anything that pays.” “Even a hardcore porn flick?” “If the price is right.” I hesitated, “Listen, Tiffany, it’s…” “Don’t tell me you blew through that money Mr. Davenport gave you? Five hundred grand, just to leave Zach alone? That’s real money, girl! How could you spend it all already?” Tiffany still hadn’t gotten over my decision six years ago. Back then, both Zach and I were struggling actors. Mr. Davenport, a sleazy producer with deep pockets, threatened to destroy Zach’s career if I didn’t sleep with him. Zach’s star was finally rising, and I couldn’t let him be dragged down. I grabbed Tiffany’s wrist, my eyes stinging. “Tiffany, I’m sick.” Tiffany’s face changed. “What? What’s wrong? I thought you were living the high life overseas. What happened?” Her tone softened. “Retinitis Pigmentosa. I just want to make as much money as I can while I can still see, so I can take care of myself when I go blind.” I said it calmly, but Tiffany’s eyes welled up. “Why didn’t you say anything? Does Zach know?” I squeezed her hand. “Please don’t tell him. He’s… happy now.” “Jamie! You’re just as pathetic as you were six years ago!” “I just… don’t want to mess with him anymore.” Of course, as fate would have it, Tiffany brought me to a press conference where Zach would be. I saw him right away and immediately tried to get out of there. Only, I got lost and ended up in some VIP lounge. I heard footsteps getting closer, and dove behind a sofa, holding my breath. Click. Someone came in and sat down. “Brittany, I think the strapless dress would look better on you for the wedding. We’ll have it in New Zealand, if you want.” That voice. Zach. So sweet, so caring… like a knife twisting in my gut. Brittany Wells, the A-list actress he was now with. I’d seen the stories even before I came back to the States. It seemed they were planning a wedding. Six years is a lifetime. He had moved on, and I shouldn’t be affected by it. Especially since I walked away. Suddenly, my phone rang, snapping me back to reality. I fumbled for it, hitting mute, and bolted for the door. Wearing a cocktail dress and heels, I wasn’t exactly making a quick getaway. Zach’s footsteps were closing in. I spotted a door on my right and threw it open, praying it would lead somewhere safe. Bad luck, it led to the main hall where the press conference was happening. In an instant, every camera turned on me. I covered my face and hurried down the steps, trying to stay out of sight. “Stop her!” Zach’s voice boomed behind me. I looked back and saw him staring at me, his face like thunder. A couple of bodyguards grabbed me. “If anyone releases a single one of those pictures, they’re going to regret it.” Tiffany elbowed her way through the crowd, shouting at Zach. “What do you think you’re doing? This is America!” Zach sauntered up to her, cool as ice. “I’m not doing anything, Tiffany. I just want to have a little chat with Ms. Jamie Walker.” Tiffany was taken back to the VIP room. Zach grabbed my wrist and dragged me down the hall. “Zach, you’re hurting me!” He ignored me, his face like a stone mask. I had no idea what he wanted, but my heart was pounding out of my chest. He threw me onto a sofa. Two goons closed the door and turned to me, grinning. “You two! Get over here!” Zach yelled. He pulled out his phone and pointed it at me. The two goons grinned as they began to approach me. “Zach! Please… don’t!” I cried, shrinking back. “You like being on a man’s arm? How about I let these two beefcakes have their way with you? Sound good?” The two men reached for my dress, and the strap broke. 2 “Zach! I… I’m begging you! Please! Don’t do this!” I sobbed, shaking all over. Zach’s knuckles were white as he gripped his phone. He hesitated, then shoved it back in his pocket. My dress was torn, and as I struggled to cover myself, the men’s lips began to touch my neck and chest. Zach’s face twisted with something that looked like disgust. He grabbed the two men by the hair and threw them back. “Get out! Get out!” The goons scrambled out of the room. I grabbed the scraps of my dress, shivering. Zach’s eyes were bloodshot, like a wild animal. He grabbed my arms, digging his fingers in. “You like this, don’t you? Isn’t this how you ended up in Davenport’s bed?” “No… no, I didn’t…” I stammered. Just then, Tiffany kicked the door open and pointed her phone at Zach. She shoved him away from me and slapped him hard across the face. “Zach Rivers! You are scum! If you don’t let us go right now, I swear, I’ll ruin my own career to send you to prison!” Zach glared at her. “You think you can stop me?” I tugged at Tiffany’s sleeve. “Take me away.” Tiffany took off her jacket and put it around me, her voice shaking. “Let’s go.” She helped me to the door, then stopped. “Zach, if you don’t want to regret it for the rest of your life, you’ll never hurt Jamie again. Or I’ll make you wish you were never born.” We didn’t turn around and didn’t see Zach’s expression, but I knew it wasn’t pretty. At Tiffany’s place, after I’d calmed down, she asked me. “Do you regret it? Giving up your reputation for that scumbag?” “Actually, no.” Tiffany looked shocked. “But Davenport spread those stories…” “It was all a lie.” I said, looking at the ceiling. Six years ago, Davenport had set a trap. That night, if I didn’t go to his room, Zach would be drugged and filmed in bed with another actress. I had to do something. In his moment of weakness, I slashed him with a knife I’d hidden in my boot. He saw I’d rather die than sleep with him. He demanded I never return to the States, or he would hurt Zach. Zach’s grandmother was sick and needed surgery, so he couldn’t lose his job. He had endorsements coming out of his ears. I had no choice. I left, and I didn’t take the five hundred thousand. Life overseas wasn’t easy. I washed dishes, waited tables, and ran a cash register. I finally came back when I saw that Davenport had died. Tiffany hugged me, crying softly. “Jamie, you suffered so much. You don’t have to work. I’ll take care of you, even if you go blind.” “You know me. I can’t stand to be a freeloader.” “But if you go back into show business, you’re going to run into Zach again. He went crazy looking for you. Especially when he heard you were with Davenport. Everyone thought Davenport sent you to Europe to live like a queen, until some rag posted a picture of you throwing up over there. Zach was a mess. Then his grandma died.” Tears streamed down my face. “I had severe depression. I couldn’t cope. Now, I don’t have a choice. This is the only way I can make money fast. My vision is getting worse, and I’m running out of time.” Two weeks later, Tiffany got me an audition for a supporting role. And I got it. But after the first day, I learned that Brittany Wells had replaced the lead actress. I knew Zach had something to do with it. But I didn’t know why. Did he just want me to suffer? 3 That evening, Zach’s Maybach was parked near the set, waiting for Brittany to get off work. We were supposed to be done by noon, but I was forced to stay until midnight. At night, my vision got really bad. I could barely see anything, and tripped several times on set. Brittany saw me trip and deliberately tripped me. I fell to the ground. “Oops, are you blind or something? You just walked right in front of me, without even saying hi! And you stepped on my foot.” I backed away. “Sorry, I didn’t see you.” “Are those eyes on your face for decoration only?” Brittany leaned in, pointing at my eyes. Before I could react, she grabbed my necklace and ripped it off. The pearls scattered all over the floor. “No! This was my mom’s…” I got down on my knees, frantically groping for them. I couldn’t see them. Tears welled up. “What’s going on here?” Zach walked over. I heard his voice and froze. Brittany wrapped her arm around his, her voice sickeningly sweet. “Just your ex-girlfriend, who just stepped on my foot.” Zach crouched down and wiped off her shoe. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you a new pair. I don’t want you catching anything nasty.” I knew he was talking about Davenport. “Oh, it’s okay. Maybe she didn’t mean it.” Brittany said with fake sincerity. I swallowed my tears and turned to leave. I could grab the pearls in the morning. “Jamie, this is the middle of nowhere. Does someone have to come pick you up? Do you want to ride with us?” Most of the crew had already left, and I wasn’t sure if I could get a ride. But I wasn’t getting in Zach’s car. “Don’t worry about her. Ms. Walker knows how to get a man’s attention.” Zach sneered. “Actually, she has a ride right here.” Tiffany’s voice came from behind me. “You can’t see at night, I figured I should come pick you up.” I grabbed her arm, whispering. “Thank God you’re here.” Tiffany turned to leave, but Brittany stopped her. “Oh, is she that delicate? Is she going blind?” Tiffany whirled around. “Yes! She is going blind! You should watch your mouth, or you’ll get what’s coming to you.” I pulled Tiffany. “Let’s go, please.” But Zach grabbed my arm, hard. “What did she mean by that? Did you tell her to say that to get my sympathy? Of course, the prettiest women are always the most manipulative.” I jerked my arm away. “Just leave me alone, Zach.” I pretended to stare fearlessly into his face. But he held up a pearl, shaking it in front of my eyes. I reached for it. He dropped it. 4 I bent down to pick it up, and his shoe came down hard on my hand. Tiffany tried to shove him. “Zach, that’s enough!” But his shoe didn’t move. “Say it. Say you’re a slut, and I’ll move.” Zach’s voice was low and furious. The pain was blinding, but I didn’t make a sound. Tiffany was almost crying. “Zach! Get your foot off her! She was never with Davenport! She only went to his room that night for you! She wasn’t pregnant! That was a reaction to her depression!” Zach’s foot didn’t move, but I felt the pressure lighten. Tiffany shoved him aside. I grabbed the pearl and tried to leave, but ran straight into Zach. “Is that true? Or is it just another lie? Are you really that kind of woman?” I snapped. I bit him on the hand, hard, until I tasted blood. Brittany rushed over and pushed me away. “What are you doing? You’re going to give Zach some kind of disease!” I spat onto the grass, then glared at Zach. “Yes, I slept with Davenport. I’m a gold digger. If you think I’m dirty, then stay away from me! I quit the show, and I just want you to leave me alone!” Tiffany yanked me away, slamming into Zach as we went. “Just wait, Zach Rivers. I’m going to take you down.” Two days later, my eye doctor, Dr. Dwayne King, told me to come in for a checkup. “What’s the point? It’s not like it’ll change anything.” “Jamie, you can’t give up. I’ll get you your favorite dessert.” I dragged myself to the hospital. I ran into Zach and Brittany, who were getting a pre-marriage physical. I ducked into a supply closet. But Zach saw me and dragged me out. “Jamie! How long are you going to keep this act up? Last time you said you were going blind. What is it this time? Can’t you just stay away from me? You make me sick!” I didn’t realize he hated me this much. He didn’t care if you were dying, he would think you were wasting his time. My heart sank. “Okay, fine. Give me a million dollars, and I’ll disappear forever.” “When did you get so cheap? Two million dollars, and sleep with me for a month.” I slapped him, turned, and walked away. “Jamie Walker, I’ll remember this. You’re going to pay for that!”

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In the seventh year of my marriage to Kevin Sterling, I gave in to temptation and fell for his best friend. This guy wasn’t just good-looking and ripped, he was loaded. He laid all his cards on the table, begged me to ask Kevin for a divorce, and I said yes. Bringing it up with Kevin was surprisingly smooth. He put up a token protest or two, then just agreed. That same day, the other guy and I got hitched at City Hall. And Kevin? He turns around and makes his relationship with his high school sweetheart Instagram official. Then, Kevin finds out I’m married and suddenly he’s crying, wants me back. Too little, too late, buddy. 1. I watched Kevin pack my stuff with a stone face. He’s always been the picture of consideration and thoughtfulness. Anyone who didn’t know the real story would think I was a total jerk, blowing off the perfect boyfriend. Just a little while ago, I confessed I’d cheated and wanted a divorce. Kevin put up a fight, said a few things about how we could work it out, but I stood my ground. Finally, he gave me this wounded puppy look and that was the end of the charade. I didn’t have much stuff, just one suitcase. Kevin opened the door for me, Mr. Manners as always. “If you ever need anything, you can call me,” he said. “Just because we’re breaking up doesn’t mean we’re enemies.” I gave him a tight smile. “I’ll be fine.” I dragged my suitcase out the door, not looking back. Kevin stood there watching me go, and I have no idea how long he kept looking. Downstairs, Jason “Jay” Weber was waiting for me in his car. When he saw me, his eyes lit up. He practically leaped out of the car to grab my suitcase. Jay hefted it a little. “That’s it?” he asked. “You didn’t keep much at Kevin’s?” I shook my head. “I didn’t stay there all that often.” I barely got in the car before Jay’s phone rang. It was Kevin. “Take care of Emily, will you? She’s quiet and a little shy.” Jay cut him off. “Got it, Kev. You don’t need to worry about her.” They chatted about something else for a minute before Jay hung up. Jay turned to me. “What are you in the mood for tonight?” “Mac and Cheese, maybe? I’ve been craving some comfort food.” Jay grinned. “Sounds good. I’ll whip some up for you.” Jay, my own personal ray of sunshine, is the guy I cheated with. He also happens to be Kevin’s best buddy. Unlike a lot of people, Kevin’s still trying to be friends with him. I rolled down the window and rested my chin on the edge, letting the wind mess up my hair. It was like the breeze was blowing away all the crap in my head. The thing is, they both think I’m oblivious but I’ve known for a while that Kevin’s been stepping out. Kevin and I were together for seven years. I know him inside and out. For the last six months, he’s been lying about going on “business trips.” Really, he’s just been hooking up with some chick at a hotel. Every time, I’d get an anonymous text message with the details – Kevin and his girl’s hotel reservation. When we were shopping, he always stopped at the perfume counter to try stuff out. He told me this “Daisy” perfume smelled amazing and asked if I wanted it. But Kevin conveniently forgot I’m super sensitive to smells and really don’t like perfume. He also started buying me dresses that were a size too small, saying I’d gained weight and needed to sign up for a gym membership. I knew my weight; I hadn’t gained an ounce, maybe even lost a few. In the end, he gave me the perfume and the dress anyway, determined to make me take them. I met Jay at the gym, of all places. The gym Kevin signed me up for and the best friend who was conveniently visiting from out of the country. It’s kind of embarrassing, but after all those years, Kevin never formally introduced me to his friends. I was never a part of his circle. After that, Jay started helping me at the gym, gave me advice on clothes, and showed me how to be confident. I started to open up, try new things, and stopped obsessing over Kevin. Deep down, I knew Jay showing up in my life wasn’t random. It was all part of Kevin’s plan. He wanted Jay to seduce me, to give him an out. The gym was just the stage where it was supposed to happen. The first day we met, I accidentally saw a text exchange between Jay and Kevin. Mr. Nice Guy Kevin didn’t want to admit he was cheating, so he was making me the bad guy. I couldn’t figure out why he was going through so much trouble. I don’t have anything to my name, and no family to rely on. He could’ve dumped me without a second thought. All he had to do was break up with me. 2. “Em, want to get married, like right now?” Jay’s voice snapped me back to reality. I nodded, a little dazed. Jay gave me a happy grin. We were stopped at a light, and he squeezed my hand, like it was the most precious thing in the world. I used to doubt Jay’s intentions, thought he’d dump me the second he got what he wanted. Because he’s just too good to be true. Unless Kevin had something to do with it. Getting the marriage license went smoothly. At the same time, I saw Kevin’s Instagram post. He was making his relationship official with Chloe Baker, a sophomore from my old college. I remember her. When I lost my diploma and went back to school for a replacement, Chloe was the driver’s daughter that worked for Kevin’s family. She was really helpful, running errands for me. But Chloe wasn’t the girl Kevin had been cheating with. I frowned, staring at the screen for too long. Jay saw me looking at Kevin’s Instagram post. “I know her,” he said casually. “Kevin brought her around once or twice. I could tell there was something going on.” He watched my face carefully. I just laughed. So Kevin does introduce girlfriends to his friends. He just didn’t think I was worth it. In seven years, I’d never been on Kevin’s social media. “Let’s go home and make that mac and cheese.” Jay’s face lit up. He took my hand. “Okay, let’s go.” I glanced at Jay’s profile. What would Kevin do if he knew I was really with Jay? Jay had agreed to Kevin’s scheme, but I doubt he ever expected to fall for me. Because of the differences between Jay and I. Jay’s from the wealthy Weber family. They’re practically royalty in this town. I’m just a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Back at Jay’s place, he cooked me mac and cheese. It was awesome, the recipe came straight from his grandpa. Just two months ago, my grandpa died. Kevin was “traveling for work”. When Grandpa was sick, he saw Jay by my side and thought he was my boyfriend. He taught him the family mac and cheese recipe, showed him all the tricks. Grandpa said, “When I’m gone, you can make it for my granddaughter.” Jay grabbed Grandpa’s hand and promised, “I’ll take care of her, I swear.” That’s the day I decided to take a chance on Jay. If only to make Grandpa happy. Because of Jay, my grandpa passed away peacefully. I suddenly teared up. Jay got concerned. “Em, you and Kevin are over. You’re my wife now.” I looked up at him, realizing he’d misunderstood. “I was just thinking about my grandpa.” Jay visibly relaxed. He pulled me into a hug, and I buried my face in his chest, letting the tears flow. Jay paused. “Em, I promise I won’t let you get hurt.” 3. Jay’s friend, Mike, was throwing a birthday party, and he invited both Kevin and Jay. Jay asked me, “You want to go? If you don’t want to, I’ll stay home.” He was looking at me with such worry and tenderness. I know that even though we’re married, Jay’s still a little unsure. He thinks I’m still hung up on Kevin. Those seven years leave a mark that’s not easily erased. I have to admit, I still think about Kevin sometimes. And I always end up comparing him to Jay, and Jay always wins. The more that happens, the more I know that Kevin doesn’t deserve me. “Sure, it’s your friend. He’d be bummed if you didn’t go.” Jay smiled. “I’m married now. I should be focusing on my family.” I poked him on the nose. “Kevin told me you used to be a player.” Jay paused, defensive. “What player? I didn’t play anyone. You know that. You’re the only one I’ve been with.” Jay might have gone to some clubs and knew how to act but I think it was all an act. I thought he was a player too. But the first time we were together, he was awkward and sweet. As expected, I saw Kevin at Mike’s birthday bash. When he saw me, his face changed, but then he saw Jay beside me, and he relaxed a little. Chloe stood silently next to Kevin. Kevin introduced her to everyone. “This is my girlfriend, Chloe.” Chloe gave Kevin a shy smile, and they looked at each other like they were the most in love couple in the world. Mike didn’t know what was going on. All he knew was that I’d cheated on Kevin with Jay, and Kevin had been gracious enough to forgive us. He gave me a dirty look, but kept his mouth shut out of respect for his friend. I went to the bathroom, and Kevin followed me, and warned me. “Em, we can’t be together. Don’t make things difficult for Chloe, okay? She’s not like you. She doesn’t know anything.” I kept my face neutral. “I know. It was my fault. I cheated on you with Jay.” Kevin’s face twisted for a second, but then his tone softened. “Jay’s not a good guy. After you two break up, find someone who’s better for you.” “What makes you think we’ll break up?” Kevin stared, then laughed. “A guy like that? He’s been with everyone.” I saw the contempt in Kevin’s eyes, and I wanted to ask my younger self, how did I not see this before? Love really does blind you. “Kevin, I finally understand what people mean when they say that about you.” I left Kevin there, speechless. Let him figure that one out. Back in the private room, Jay was talking to Mike, and everyone else was hanging out with Chloe, being nice to the youngest one in the group. I walked over to Jay, just in time to hear Mike say, “Dude, why would you steal your best friend’s girl? What’s so great about her? You can have anyone you want. You’re not that shallow, are you?” I instinctively touched my face and smiled. Mike was right, my face is definitely my best feature. Kevin chased after me because of my looks. But why is it okay for Kevin to cheat, but not for me? Jay spoke up. “Mike, you can’t just judge people by their looks. And it wasn’t her fault.” Mike got even more excited. “Are you saying you’re in love with her face? Seriously? She used to be Kevin’s girl! You just don’t do that, bro.” He suddenly saw me and his face turned red. I casually sat down next to Jay and whispered in his ear. “Kevin came to find me.” Jay’s hand tightened around mine, and I smiled. Jay’s more worried about me than I thought. 4. Mike saw Jay and I holding hands and looked confused as he wandered off. He was mumbling to himself. I stared after him. Jay tugged at my hand. “Let’s make it official,” he said. He looked at me hopefully. Jay’s the one who’s been wanting to go public, not me. I don’t really care about being official. I don’t even want to. Everyone thinks I’m not good enough for Jay. They think Jay’s just messing around and that he’ll come to his senses and dump me eventually. But when I saw the look in Jay’s eyes, I remembered all the times he was there for me, and helped me through stuff I couldn’t have handled on my own. “Jay, do you think I’m fat?” Jay shook his head violently. “Kevin signed me up for a gym membership because he said I’d gained weight.” “He bought me dresses that were a size too small.” Jay’s eyes widened, and he finally understood. His face was panicked, and he started to explain. “I really do love you. I know things started…” Started with a lie. With him trying to seduce me. I put my finger on his lips and smiled. “It doesn’t matter.” Jay grabbed my hand, his throat working. The next second, everyone gasped. They were playing a game. It was the King’s Game, and Chloe had to follow the instructions. She had to sit in Kevin’s lap and kiss him in front of everyone. Everyone knows that Kevin’s Mr. Proper. He never does anything out of line in public. He never would’ve played a game like that with me, not even Truth or Dare. Chloe shyly walked up to Kevin and whispered, “Honey, I’m going to kiss you.” Kevin smiled and reached for her. “Come here, sweetheart.” Chloe sat on his lap, and they started kissing. It was more like Kevin was kissing Chloe than the other way around. I finally got it. Kevin does make exceptions. Jay grabbed my hand. “We’re married now,” he whispered. I looked at him, remembering the night before I broke up with Kevin. That’s the way he’d looked at me, begging me to leave Kevin. He offered me all his money if I asked Kevin for a divorce. Jay said, “I’ll always love you, respect you, and cherish you.” Those words made me fall for Kevin’s trap, without any hesitation. I took Jay’s hand and pulled him up. Chloe and Kevin finished their kiss and glanced at us. Kevin looked icy and Chloe looked smug. I cleared my throat and motioned to Jay. Jay’s heart was pounding, and his eyes were shining. His hand was sweaty in mine. “Everyone, I know this isn’t the right time to say this.” “But I have to.” Mike’s mouth dropped open. “Because I feel like you’re not respecting my wife.” Mike jumped up and looked at Kevin, whose face was dark with anger. Jay’s voice was calm as he looked at each person in the room. “Emily and I are married. We got married last week.”

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After years of marriage with no kids, my husband suggested we adopt. Turned out, the kid was a born troublemaker. Not long after the adoption, I got pregnant with my own daughter. When my husband and adopted daughter found out I was pregnant, they gave my belly a creepy look. Later, my daughter and I died in a car accident. When I woke up again, I swore they’d pay! 1. In my past life, my husband, David, and I had been married for years without children. He suggested adopting a child from foster care, and I agreed. The first time I saw Ashley, she was batting those big, watery eyes at me. They seemed so pure and innocent. Looking back, it’s scary how well she could hide herself, especially at such a young age. That day, Ashley pretended to be well-behaved, reaching out her little hand to tug on my sleeve, looking up at me with a pitiful expression. Before I could say anything, David rushed over, blocking my scrutinizing gaze. He smiled and said, “She’s a good kid. Even if we have our own children, she can help take care of her little brother or sister.” Naive me, I believed him. We brought Ashley home that very day. The first night, Ashley “accidentally” broke my perfume bottle. She pouted, looking all sorry for herself. David, drawn by the commotion, rushed upstairs looking worried, checking to see if Ashley was hurt. Then, he looked up, annoyed, and scolded, “It’s just perfume. So it broke. Is perfume more important than our daughter?” I stood there dumbfounded, watching David act out his role as a loving father. In the following days, David changed Ashley’s last name to his. They acted like real father and daughter, and Ashley always seemed to subtly brag about how good David was to her. Then, I got pregnant. Overjoyed, I shared the news with David and Ashley. The smiles on their faces froze. At the time, I didn’t understand why David tensed up, looking grim. We’d been trying for six years for a baby. I expected excitement! Ashley just stopped smiling, giving my belly a strange look. Throughout the pregnancy, I spent most of my time with Ashley. David said he had to travel for work, for about a year. Before leaving, he told me to take care of Ashley. I just thought he wasn’t used to the idea of my daughter yet. Remembering how stupid I was, I wanted to shake my past self awake. Soon, it was time for me to give birth. Ashley “coincidentally” came down with a high fever that day. I, heavily pregnant, kept bending over at her bedside, putting a cool washcloth on her forehead. Ashley was always sickly, getting sick all the time; doctor visits were common. Suddenly, I felt a gush of fluid. I looked down to see that my pants were soaked – my water broke. I carefully moved, trying to get to the phone in the living room to call for help. Ashley then opened her red eyes, with barely concealed hatred in their depths. Seeing my desire to leave, she pinched my arm hard. I gasped. Looking back at her, she gave me a look of feigned helplessness. She whimpered, “Mom, don’t leave me. I’ll be scared if I’m alone.” Saying she was scared, yet wearing a gloating expression on her face. I was in a rush and didn’t notice her expression. I comforted her, then turned and went to call 911. But I didn’t see Ashley lying on the bed, fiercely glaring at my back. David rushed back, bursting through the door in a panic, ignoring my pleas for help, and rushing into Ashley’s room. He scooped her up and rushed her to the hospital. As he left, he glared at me resentfully, not caring that my water had broken and that my baby was in danger if I didn’t get to the hospital soon. 2. Thankfully, the ambulance arrived in time. As I lay in the ambulance, I saw David’s car speed past through the window. My heart turned cold. After my daughter, Lily, was born, I insisted on a divorce. David refused. He and his precious daughter teamed up to trick me. He knelt by the hospital bed, looking all sincere, and said he was sorry, he was just too worried about Ashley and had forgotten about me. I laughed at his shamelessness. I asked him, pointing to my daughter sleeping peacefully beside me, which one was his real daughter? Ashley stepped forward, tearfully saying it was her fault for getting sick, and that Dad was just worried. Seeing that I wasn’t budging, David exploded, cursing me for being petty. My daughter had just been born, and needed her father’s love, he said. I relented again. For my daughter, I put up with it. From then on, David was more restrained, until Ashley deliberately blinded my five-year-old daughter in her right eye. I finally lost it and called the police, but I didn’t expect that they would tamper with my car. I died in a car accident. I can’t imagine what kind of torture my daughter would endure in their hands. Ashley would never allow my daughter to take away David’s love for her. 3. I woke up again before my daughter lost her eye. At the dinner table, I was a little stunned. A tidal wave of hatred swallowed me. I looked up at the familiar house, and at Ashley sitting across from me. I could almost still hear the sound of the car crash, the pain of my organs being crushed. I couldn’t hide my hatred, wanting to stab that little beast to death. She looked at me, pretending to love her “sister,” picking out the fish bones for my daughter, Lily, and putting the fish meat in her bowl. I stopped Lily from taking the fish, putting the fish back. I forced a smile, staring at her. “Lily’s had too much fish today, Ashley, you eat it.” Ashley’s smug expression froze. She blurted out that she didn’t want any. I insisted, picking up the fish and holding it to her mouth. “You were going to give it to Lily anyway, weren’t you?” Seeing that I wouldn’t take no for an answer, Ashley’s face tightened. She forced a smile and said she was full. I wasn’t going to let her get away with it, shoving the fish into her mouth. Smiling sweetly, I looked at her and said, “You’re so silly, I offer you some fish and you refuse. Wasn’t this piece of fish the one you just picked out for Lily?” I emphasized the word “picked out,” watching Ashley’s face turn red as she forced the fish down, a look of pain flashing across her face. She’s a born troublemaker. Unless you poke her, she’ll never feel the pain. Ashley tried to hide the fish bones in the fish meat while pretending to pick fish bones for Lily, knowing she would swallow it and hurt her throat. David came home, carrying his briefcase. Ashley’s eyes lit up. She eagerly ran over to take his briefcase, calling out, “Dad,” in a hoarse voice. David frowned, and instinctively looked at me and blurted out, “Did you force Ashley to eat something again? Didn’t I tell you, Ashley is delicate, she can’t eat unhealthy stuff.” I coldly glanced at him, sat back in my chair, crossed my arms, and said, “Is it wrong for her to eat fish?” David instinctively retorted, “What’s wrong with her voice? If you didn’t make her eat things she shouldn’t, who else would harm her?” Ashley stepped forward, pretending to be concerned, taking David’s arm and standing by his side, speaking up for me. But her voice was even hoarser than before, almost unable to speak. David, frantic, glared at me unhappily. Grabbing Ashley’s hand, he said, “Let’s go to the hospital.” Before leaving, Ashley gave me a meaningful look, following David out. Foiled with harming Lily, she turned it into a sympathy play, making David feel sorry for her and blame me. Such scheming at such a young age. This time, I’d see who had the last laugh. 4. Ashley scratched her throat with a fish bone and bled, and David stubbornly took leave from work to accompany her at the hospital. The next day, I sent Lily to school as usual, and received a call from David on the way. He had the nerve to ask me to bring them food, complaining that the hospital food was too unappetizing. Asking me to deliver it to the hospital in an hour. I laughed out loud. David was still saying it was all my fault for forcing Ashley to eat fish. Saying she was hospitalized, and that I should be there with her instead of him. I said angrily, “You insisted on staying in the hospital, if you’re not there with her, who will be? If you want me to bring you food, you can forget about it, go eat dirt.” With that, I hung up the phone, trembling with anger. How could there be such a shameless person? 5. A week later, Ashley bounced home, with David following behind her. Loaded with bags, unshaven, and with dark circles under his eyes. I curled my lips, eating fresh cherries, one after another, making them swallow their saliva. Ashley, a little greedy, reached out without hesitation to take one. I slapped her hand away, annoyed. “Did I say you could eat them?” Ashley used the same old trick, whining to David. David slumped on the sofa, panting, not even looking at us. Ashley bit her lip, glared at me resentfully, and moved next to David. Grabbing his sleeve, she whined, “Dad, I just got back from the hospital, and Mom won’t even let me eat fruit. Say something!”

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