Category: English

Ten years ago, Michael Davis’s kidneys failed, and I was the only match in the country. His socialite sister, Ashley Davis, contacted me about donating, and it was love at first sight – for her, at least. She basically strong-armed me into giving up a kidney and marrying her. After our baby died, I filed for divorce. She went ballistic, ran me out of town. I ended up in some small-town dump, opening a diner just to survive. A few peaceful years went by, and then Michael’s kidneys went south again. Ashley calls the diner, demanding I give up my last kidney to save her darling Michael. She said scum like me didn’t matter; her precious Michael had to live. My diner partner, Sarah, answered the phone, shocked and helpless. “But, Ashley, you know John’s got kidney disease himself. He’s in the hospital, not doing well. He can’t donate a kidney!” “Where’s John? Get him on the phone!” Ashley’s voice was shrill and nasty. Her stilettos clicked on the pavement. She didn’t believe I was sick, so she came looking for me. Sarah stood in the diner doorway, her pretty face etched with worry. “Ashley, he’s really not here…” “Not here? He’s hiding!” Ashley sneered, her eyes like poisoned darts. “Get that coward out here! Michael needs a kidney! He owes me his life, and it’s time to pay up!” Sarah bit her lip, her voice low but firm. “He can’t donate! His kidneys are failing. They’re damaged!” “He’s just saying that because he doesn’t want to donate!” Ashley scoffed. She waved her hand, and the goons she brought with her started trashing the diner. Tables overturned, dishes shattered, and our cozy little place turned into a disaster zone in seconds. Sarah’s eyes filled with tears, but she couldn’t do anything to stop them. She pulled out her phone and started a video call to me. “John…” Sarah’s voice cracked. On the screen, I could see the carnage. “Ashley’s here… she wants you to give Michael a kidney. And she’s wrecking the place…” I watched in silence for a minute, then said in a hoarse voice, “Put Ashley on.” Ashley’s face filled the screen. It was the first time we’d seen each other since she ran me out of DC. For a split second, I saw a flash of something complicated in her eyes, but then it was gone, replaced by pure rage. Her beautiful face was twisted with anger. The familiarity was gone. My heart clenched. Back when she was chasing after me, that face was always smiling. “Ashley, leave Sarah alone,” I said. My voice was quiet, but firm. “John?!” Ashley shrieked, her voice piercing. “You finally showed your face! What, you gonna play dead now? Let me tell you something, you ARE going to donate a kidney to Michael! Right now! Immediately!” I took a breath, my voice weak. “I’ve got kidney disease, remember? I’m in the hospital. I can’t donate. And… I want to live a little longer, spend time with Lily.” I turned the camera to show my pale face, the messy hair, the hospital room, the machines. Ashley didn’t care. She just laughed. “Oh, please! What movie set are you filming this on? You think I’m stupid? You just want to keep screwing around with Sarah. You don’t need to drag Lily into this, you little…” I winced at her language, but I held my tongue. “If you don’t agree to donate, I swear to God, this isn’t over,” Ashley snarled, and then she turned and walked out. I watched her disappear from the screen, feeling sick with dread. I told Sarah to be careful, and maybe even close up shop for a while. Sarah looked worried, but she tried to reassure me. “Don’t worry. It’s broad daylight. She wouldn’t do anything crazy.” 2 Ashley’s revenge was even crazier than I thought. Less than an hour later, Lily’s teacher sent me a video, her voice frantic. “Mr. Smith, someone’s handing out flyers at the school. They’re saying awful things about Lily…” “Lily Smith! Your dad’s a cheater! Your mom’s a whore! You’re a bastard!” Kids chanting, like some kind of twisted chorus. Even over the phone, it made my skin crawl. Outside the elementary school, a crowd of people held up flyers with pictures of me and Sarah, and a big photo of Lily, along with the nastiest words you could imagine. My daughter was only nine years old! How could Ashley be so heartless? “Ashley! Stop it!” I yelled into the phone, my voice cracking. “Come after me! Leave Lily out of this!” “Can’t take the heat?” Ashley’s voice dripped with satisfaction. “You think you’re so high and mighty, screwing around with that tramp while you’re still married? Now you know how it feels! Should’ve thought about that before.” “Ashley, what happened back then…” I started to explain, but the words caught in my throat. I’d sworn I wouldn’t reveal the truth. “Shut up!” Ashley screamed. “Don’t you dare try to weasel your way out of this! John, if you pull any more stunts, I’ll ruin your daughter! She won’t be able to show her face in this city, in this country!” “You’re going too far! I can call the cops!” My voice was weak. “Call the cops? Hahahaha…” Ashley laughed like a maniac. “John, have you learned nothing since you left me? You call them! See who gives a damn!” I dropped the phone, completely drained. Ashley wasn’t bluffing. She could do it. I called Sarah, my voice trembling. “Get to the school! Pick up Lily! Now!” Sarah got there after the crowd had dispersed, but the damage was done. As they arrived back at the apartment we rented, I was talking to my daughter on video chat. The little girl was a mess, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, chaos erupted on the other end of the line. “Shameless slut! Living in our neighborhood with your bastard kid!” “Get out! We don’t want you here!” “Kill the home-wrecker! Kill the bastard!” I watched helplessly as a mob surrounded Sarah and Lily, pointing fingers, yelling, even throwing things. Sarah hugged Lily tight, trying to shield her with her body. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “It’s okay, Lily. I’m here…” Sarah’s voice trembled, but she tried to stay calm. “Mom… I’m scared…” Lily clung to Sarah’s neck, shaking like a leaf. My heart was breaking. I wanted to be there, to protect them. I could barely keep myself from screaming. She’d even stirred up the homeowners’ association, spreading lies about me and Sarah, calling Lily illegitimate. This woman was completely out of her mind! I was racking my brain, trying to think of a way to clear Sarah and Lily’s names, when Ashley struck again. She had people fake food poisoning at the diner! A group of them started clutching their stomachs and writhing on the floor, claiming they were dying. They even threw up everywhere. The other customers freaked out and ran for the exits. I had to pay out a ton of money to make it go away. But it didn’t end there. She hired some internet troll to spread rumors about dirty food at the diner, using those videos of the “sick” customers to back it up. Overnight, my reputation was ruined, and business dried up. With no income, I had to check out of the hospital. That made Ashley even happier. She was convinced I’d been faking the whole time. She showed up at my apartment with a crew, and they completely wrecked the place. Splattered red paint all over the walls, broke furniture, even ripped up Lily’s favorite doll. 3 “So, not sick anymore?!” Ashley stood amidst the wreckage, looking smug. Looking at her, all I felt was disappointment. “Ashley, we were married. Why do you have to be like this?” Ashley laughed. “Because you wouldn’t listen to reason! Michael needs your kidney, and you refuse to give it to him!” “I’m telling you, my kidneys are shot. They wouldn’t do him any good!” I said, carefully. “Give me a break!” Ashley didn’t believe a word of it. “John, if you don’t agree to donate, I swear I’ll make you regret it!” “Ashley, are you trying to kill me?” I closed my eyes, exhausted. “Kill you? Hahahaha…” Ashley’s laugh was manic. “John, I want you to suffer more than death!” The look on her face sent a chill down my spine. “John, if you still refuse to donate, don’t blame me for what happens to your precious daughter!” Ashley glared at Lily, who was hiding in a corner, her voice dripping with menace. My fists clenched. “Ashley, come after me, not her! She’s just a kid!” “That little brat deserves everything she gets!” Ashley’s voice was sharp. She stepped closer. “You, her, and your little mistress, you all deserve to die!” A surge of heat rushed to my head, and my vision blurred. I knew Ashley hated me, hated me for “betraying” her all those years ago, for “killing” her child. But Lily was innocent! “Ashley, what happened back then isn’t what you think…” I tried to explain, but she cut me off. “Shut up! I don’t want to hear your lies! You owe me a life, and it’s time to pay up!” “You…” I trembled with rage. “John, last chance. Donate or don’t?” Ashley’s voice was like a snake. Looking at her, I felt a surge of despair. I couldn’t let anything happen to Lily, but if I agreed, I’d die. What would happen to Lily then? “I won’t donate!” I bit out the words, drawing a line in the sand. “Fine! Fine! Fine!” Ashley laughed, her eyes blazing. “John, you asked for this!” She waved her hand, and a couple of thugs grabbed Lily, who started to scream. “Daddy, help me!” Her scream tore at my heart. “Lily!” My chest tightened, and I lurched forward, but the thugs grabbed me and held me back. “John, let’s see how you like it when someone you care about gets hurt!” Ashley said, her voice cold. “I’m going to send her to a club and let them do whatever they want with her!” “No!” I screamed, helpless. “Daddy… help me…” Lily’s cries faded as she was dragged toward the door. My heart turned to ash. “Ashley, let her go! Please!” I gave up on pride and got down on my knees, begging. Ashley watched without emotion. “Take her away!” She ordered, her voice hard as ice. The thugs dragged Lily away, and her cries echoed through the room. “Ashley! Stop! My baby died, Lily is your daughter!” Sarah shouted as she rushed in, her face pale with a mix of anger and terror. “Daughter?” Ashley scoffed, her voice like ice. “Don’t think I’m stupid enough to believe that little brat is your little bastard. You and John rented those doors, what was I supposed to think?” “She robbed my baby of her heart, she should have died!” Sarah wept openly. “Ashley, she really is your daughter! Back then…” “I don’t want to hear any more of your lies!” Ashley shrieked, pointing at Lily and yelling at the thugs, “Take her away! Send her to the club, and tell those guys to get really rough with her!” “No! Leave my daughter alone!” I struggled, but they held me down. “Daddy… help me…” Lily’s cries faded, and my heart shattered. A mouthful of blood came pouring out of my mouth, and I collapsed. 4 “Dad! Dad, what’s wrong?!” Lily wailed, terrified. She struggled to get free, but the thugs held her tight. “Let me go! I have to help my dad!” “John! John!” Sarah threw herself beside me, her tears falling like rain. I was on the floor, but Ashley just laughed, assuming I was faking it. She glared down at me, hatred burning in her eyes. “John, don’t think you can get out of this by playing dead! I swear, even if you die, I won’t let your daughter go!” Lily was dragged away, her cries ripping through the air. Michael hid where I couldn’t see him. He spoke into the phone, low and fast. “Take care of the girl, rough her up.” In the club basement, a few heavily tattooed guys grinned. Michael pulled them out of jail. They tortured people, and they’re waiting for the next victim. Ashley smirked. Lily begged for forgiveness. “I’m scared,” she said. “Shut up,” Ashley said. “You stole my daughter’s heart.” One of the men asked, “Miss Davis, this girl looks like you, is she your daughter?” “She can’t be.” Michael lied, “It is your daughter’s heart, which is why she looks like you.” “Torture her,” Ashley said. Ashley left. “Torture her! Beat her! Make sure you record it!” Lily was tortured to death. “I got revenge on my daughter.”

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During my craniotomy, that backstabbing medical student, Ashley Miller, deliberately swapped out my anesthesia. I was wide awake the whole time, tears streaming down my face, but she told everyone it was an “awake craniotomy.” My last call before surgery, I cried to my fiancé, Chase, for help, but he cut me off, annoyed: “Brooke, not everyone is as two-faced as you are.” “Ashley’s being incredibly generous, giving you this surgery after everything. Just cooperate, okay? Stop making a scene!” Then, she snatched the phone away. My scalp was sliced open, my skull drilled into. I was tortured to death, leaving a dying declaration pointing the finger at Ashley Miller. But Chase testified for Ashley: “Brooke’s chances of surviving the surgery were always slim. Her death has nothing to do with Ashley.” I blinked, and I was back in the OR, the moment they switched the anesthesia. … “Brooke, you think those scraps you threw my way to ‘help’ me made you better than me?” “So what if you’re a Park Avenue princess? Chase treats you like dirt, anyway. I just mentioned it once, and he handed you over to me to experiment on.” Ashley’s voice was low and icy, right by my ear. My mind was swimming with the diluted anesthetic, and I snapped my eyes open. The sharp smell of disinfectant, the blinding surgical lights – it all hit me. I was back. Back to the day of my craniotomy, with Ashley performing the surgery. In the last life, she swapped my meds with a low dose of anesthetic, leaving me conscious during the whole thing, fully aware of the agonizing pain and terror of having my skull cut open. “What do you say, wanna call Chase again and double-check?” Snapping back to reality, Ashley had already dialed Chase’s number. She raised an eyebrow at me, a smug look on her face, and tossed the phone onto my chest, then turned to prep her surgical tools. Just like last time, Chase’s voice was cold and impatient: “Ashley comes from old money. She’s way too good to risk her reputation by hurting you.” “Just cooperate with the awake craniotomy, and you’ll live. It’ll also get her a promotion. Win-win, Brooke. Can you stop being so dramatic?” He knew damn well that awake craniotomies weren’t for everyone, especially when it was only Ashley’s second surgery. She could barely hold a scalpel steady. Maybe the low dose of anesthetic was kicking in, because I couldn’t feel my limbs anymore. Chase said my name. He said something else, but I couldn’t make it out. I didn’t beg him to save me this time. I hung up and, with shaking hands, tried to call Dad. My family never liked Chase. I secretly hooked him up with connections and resources, turning him into a hotshot businessman. Only then did they back off. If they knew Chase and Ashley were screwing me over like this, they’d go ballistic. “Dad…” But she snatched the phone away as soon as I dialed. Ashley hung up right in front of me. “I knew you’d pull something.” Ashley deliberately waved her trembling hands in my face. Her eyes, shielded by the surgical mask, were full of hate. Shadows moved around me, creeping over my head. The surgical lights were so bright I couldn’t see what she was doing, and the idea of what might happen was worse than seeing it. I could still feel the excruciating pain of my last life. The cold, sharp scalpel pressed against my scalp. My heart was about to burst, but I couldn’t move. Just when I thought I was doomed to repeat the same nightmare, the OR door swung open. My best friend, Chloe, glanced at the heart monitor and stopped Ashley: “Ashley, are you crazy? The anesthesia’s not strong enough. She’s still conscious. How can you start surgery without enough meds?” Chloe glared at everyone else in the room: “Ashley’s out of line, and you’re all going along with it? If the chief finds out, you’re all screwed!” The others looked at each other, uneasy. 2 Ashley scoffed: “You mean Chase? Funny you mention him, he just called and said he’s giving me full control over Brooke’s surgery.” “Don’t believe me? Want me to call him again?” After Ashley shot them a hard look, the other people in the room all looked down. Last time, Ashley waltzed all over the hospital, pretending to be me, with Chase always backing her up. No one dared to cross her. Chloe was furious. “Get out of my way!” Ashley shoved her, and Chloe stumbled, knocking over a scalpel, which cut her cheek. “Who’s the surgeon here? You or me? Keep interfering, and I’ll have the chief fire you!” Chloe squeezed my hand reassuringly, then turned to leave. I grabbed her pinkie finger. Last time, Chloe was so angry she went to Chase. After I died, Chase blamed her for everything, ruining her reputation. She ended up jumping off a bridge. I didn’t want to hurt her again. I forced the words out: “Don’t…Chase. Go… CEO…Miller Group…” Chloe frantically nodded, tears streaming down her face. But Ashley grabbed her and slapped her across the face: “The surgery’s not done yet. Where do you think you’re going? Gonna run to Daddy? You wish.” “Ashley… let…Chloe…go!” I was beyond angry, but I was weak and helpless, barely able to speak. I could only stare at her: “That’s…Dad… touch… me… you’ll… pay… tenfold!” Ashley laughed, ignoring my warning: “You say you’re a Park Avenue princess? Look around. Does anyone here believe you?” Everyone avoided eye contact, pretending they didn’t see anything. They clearly agreed with Ashley. My heart sank. Ashley leaned closer, whispering in my ear: “Besides, even if you are who you say you are, if you die here today, Daddy will let me into the family. I’ll be the real Park Avenue princess.” “Fake will become real.” My eyes widened. I was consumed by hate, but my tongue was numb. I drooled, unable to say a word. Ashley smiled, satisfied. As she gloated, Chloe suddenly broke free and ran for the door. But a few guys in black suits came in and grabbed Chloe, shoving her in front of Ashley. “Ms. Miller, the chief said to go ahead with the surgery. We’ll make sure no one bothers you.” “Whether the surgery is a success or not, we won’t let anything bad happen to you.” Ashley raised her eyebrows at me, mocking me. My heart dropped. I realized Chase was back too. He’d even sent security to keep my dying words from getting out. This was the man I’d loved for seven years. It was all so twisted. An injection knocked Chloe out cold. The bodyguards lined up at the OR door, and Ashley moved over me. The low dose of anesthesia only left me weak. My mind was clear enough to feel my scalp being cut open. I was shaking all over. I could barely speak, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the bloodbath. My heart pounded in my chest, and my blood pressure spiked. Then the phone rang. A nurse ran in, her face white, and handed it to Ashley: “Dr. Miller, Ms. Miller wants you to take this call.” 3 Ashley flinched, and the blade made a long cut on my scalp. I felt a flicker of hope and whispered: “Sis…” But Ashley clamped her hand over my mouth. Her bloody hand pressed down on the respirator and the tubes in my nose and throat. Blood streamed from the wound on my head, and I could only stare at Ashley. I couldn’t say a word. Even breathing was hard. Ashley turned her head, lowering her voice: “Sis, the surgery’s not done yet. Yeah, Dr. Jones is the main surgeon. I’m just assisting. No, it’s going well.” “Don’t worry, we’re doing our best. I’ll call you later…” “She’s lying!” Chloe yelled, gritting her teeth. Ashley glared and nodded at the bodyguards, who covered Chloe’s mouth and gave her another shot. I struggled to make a sound to get to my sister, but it was useless. A few nurses held down my hands, copying Ashley and covering my mouth. Ashley held the phone with one hand and the scalpel with the other, making random cuts on my scalp: “It’s okay, Sis, don’t worry.” “Patients under anesthesia often get confused and say crazy things. It’s normal.” Every cut made tears stream down my face, and I couldn’t stop shaking. Last time, Ashley was on her phone while doing a C-section, and she screwed up and left a piece of gauze in the woman’s stomach. By the time they found it, the woman was burning up with sepsis. Chase paid to keep it quiet. Ashley was trying to kill me. She hung up, and a nurse leaned in, hesitant: “Dr. Miller, the patient’s blood pressure is dangerously high. Her heart rate is too fast. She’s going to suffocate.” Ashley didn’t say anything, just gave her a look. The nurse shut her mouth and backed away. My vision was going white, and my head was spinning. I couldn’t tell if it was the anesthesia or lack of oxygen. I thought I heard the sound of the drill. Buzzing, buzzing, just like last time. Why was this happening again? But I didn’t want to die. I looked at the lights, unable to breathe. Then, I heard voices. Chase walked in, wearing a white coat, and I tensed up. But he didn’t even glance at me. He smiled and patted Ashley on the head: “How much longer? Your sister’s waiting outside to take us all out to dinner when you’re done.” His voice was sweet and gentle, a total contrast to how he treated me. I’d been disappointed too many times. I barely reacted to seeing him. Only the word “sister” kept me from passing out. I don’t know what Chase said, but Ashley laughed and leaned into him. The drill slipped. It felt like my scalp was being ripped off. I clenched my jaw, staring at the surgical instruments thirty centimeters away. Fingers, move, move, please… I focused all my strength and waved my arm. Chase rushed over and held me down. The drill fell to the floor, hitting the surgical table and knocking the instruments to the ground. “Crash—” “What’s all that noise? Did something happen to my baby sister?” My sister’s voice. Then the door opened a crack.

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My little brother, all part of his “chosen one CEO” image, teamed up with my stepmom to swipe my nearly-finished business proposal. The result? The company tanked, losing millions. And he blamed it all on me. “He’s just jealous!” he wailed, “My own brother sabotaged my work! He can’t stand to see anyone succeed!” My dad, completely snowed by their act, kicked me out, cutting off all my money. I ended up homeless, eventually getting beaten to death by some thugs. With my last breath, I heard them mention my brother’s name. But fate, in its infinite wisdom, gave me a do-over. I woke up on the very day he stole my proposal. 1. Still reeling, I checked the time on my phone. Tonight was the night my brother, in cahoots with my stepmom, was going to jack my work. He’d sneakily implement my initial draft, and everyone would initially hail him as some kind of business genius. But that draft wasn’t market-tested. It had serious flaws. A month later, the lack of solid data would cause a massive market correction, costing the company nearly fifty million bucks! The stock market would bleed red. Some of the older investors would even consider pulling out. And then he’d pin it all on me. “It’s gotta be my brother! He was jealous, and changed the key parts of my plan to see me fail!” My dad would buy it because he thought the plan was solid. He didn’t know I’d created it. My stepmom’s crocodile tears and my brother, Chad’s, faux-frustration would pull at my dad’s heartstrings. Even my fiancée, who was only with me for the connections, would turn on me and side with Chad. They’d cut me off financially and throw me to the curb. Homeless, I’d be forced to scavenge through dumpsters for scraps. And eventually, I’d be beaten to death. Before I died, I heard them talking: “Are we really gonna kill him?” “He’s just a bum. Who’s gonna miss him? No one will even notice.” “Yeah, besides, his own brother paid us to do it. And we got rich guys watching our backs if we get caught!” Checking the time again – it was four in the afternoon. Based on my memories from the previous life, I got to work, hammering out the final touches on the proposal. Then, I immediately sent it over to Uncle Phil, a member of the board who could go toe-to-toe with my dad. “Phil, I’ve done the market research on this new streaming platform. Take a look and let me know if you see any holes.” I wasn’t about to sit around waiting for his reply. I quickly changed clothes and headed out. A month from now, Chad would accuse me of tampering with his plan. Let them steal the initial draft. The real skill wasn’t something they could just swipe. This time, I wasn’t going down without a fight. I called my dad and told him I agreed to the transfer to open a new branch in Chicago. Last time, I refused. I was determined to stay in New York and battle Chad for the inheritance. Which led to my plan getting stolen, Chad getting the credit, and me taking the blame. That helpless, trapped feeling was something I’d never forget. As the plane took off for Chicago, I finally started to relax. That plane ticket, proving where I was, was my alibi. I was going to enjoy watching them try to pin this on me in a month! 2. The plane landed late at night. As soon as I turned on my phone, I was bombarded with trending news articles. “Chad, the Handpicked CEO, Lands a Million-Dollar Deal!” “Shocking! Millions in Revenue in Just Two Hours!” “The Younger Son of the Smith Family – The Real CEO Material!” Just as I’d predicted, they’d stolen my incomplete draft. The headlines were all about how amazing Chad was. They even compared me to him. “Compared to the formerly hotshot VP, Amy Carter’s son, he doesn’t even measure up!” “Like mother, like son. Amy Carter was a homewrecker, so what else would you expect from her kid?” And that was me – Amy Carter’s son. Once, the Carter name had held a lot of weight in Smith Corp. Then, my dad married my mom, and together they fused their companies into a powerhouse. But when I was ten, my mom died in an accident. My dad brought my stepmom into the house. That’s when I learned she was my dad’s old flame, and that I had a half-brother who was barely six months younger than me. After that, my dad dropped the charade and his attitude towards me changed drastically. He never gave me the time of day. It was like he wished I’d never been born. But at 25, I was already making waves in the business world. My stepmom was afraid I’d outshine Chad, so she teamed up with her golden child to come up with this plan. I used to tell myself that maybe I wasn’t good enough, that’s why my dad didn’t like me. But I slowly realized that I was the product of a marriage of convenience. Chad was the son my dad truly wanted. And to give Chad what he wanted, my father was willing to sacrifice his own son. Instead of wasting time arguing with strangers online, I decided to focus on getting real results that would speak for themselves. But I still couldn’t sit by and watch my mom’s company get destroyed. I texted my dad. “Don’t get caught up in appearances. You should really double-check the numbers.” He called me immediately. “Are you trying to sabotage your brother?” “He’s barely started and he’s already making waves, and you’re already trying to tear him down? ” “Let me tell you, you’re just like your useless mother. You could never come up with something this perfect!” I could hear my stepmom chiming in from the background. “Now, Sam, don’t get so worked up. After all, she and her boy are known to steal from others.” “But skills from the blood can’t be stolen by anyone.” “Alan’s already been sent to the secondary office, if he can’t achieve anything, the rule of the company are there to be enforced.” Wow, talk about a low blow! I could hear Chad sniffling and my fiancée’s familiar voice. “Don’t be upset, Chad. He’s just jealous.” See? I didn’t even have to say anything. They’d already found me guilty. Chad just had to put on an act, and I’d be held responsible for everything. My well-intentioned advice was completely ignored. Well, we’d see who had the last laugh in a month. 3. My stepmom and Chad knew that I was the true author of the plan. Afraid that I might expose the truth online, they called a press conference overnight. They released a video of Chad working tirelessly on the plan. Saying he was going above and beyond for the company. Even late at night, if he had a flash of inspiration, he’d jump up to write it down. Instantly, he was hailed as “The Handpicked CEO.” Uncle Phil was furious. “You’re both Sam’s sons, your dad’s way too unfair!” “I saw the plan. It’s practically identical to the one you gave me!” “I had yours tested, but Chad’s just went straight into action!” “But your dad’s the chairman now. I can’t overrule him.” If my dad used his power as chairman to push it through, the company would start hemorrhaging money any day. I was able to convince Uncle Phil to get a group of the team and fellow board members together. They’d wait until the company lost money, then launch their counterattack. Chad’s new livestream plan started losing money in the second week. It wasn’t just because of the flawed data, but also because of my dad’s boneheaded decisions. To boost its influence and take over the market, he contacted a bunch of retailers with dead-stock products, just to restock the inventory quickly. He was treating his fanbase like sheep to be fleeced. But those fans weren’t stupid. The products arrived, and they were nothing like what they were expecting. Expensive makeup was causing breakouts. Candy was giving people food poisoning. The internet was flooded with complaints. “What ‘Handpicked CEO’? Is he taking us all for fools?” “Are you out of your mind?! I bought it because my favorite actor was promoting it. I ate it while watching their show, and ended up in the hospital!” “Leave my favorite influencer alone! She’s not just a marketing tool!” “I have such a bad impression of Smith Corp now. I’ll never buy anything from them again.” Countless fans were sending Chad hate mail. 4. When Chad was getting booed in public and receiving death threats, he cracked. I got a call from my dad. He started yelling and insulting me right off the bat. “Are you behind this whole plan thing? Are you that jealous of your brother?” “You can’t just accept going to the Chicago branch?” “You’re just trash! Can’t you understand your place in the family?!” Before I could even respond, my phone was blowing up with incoming calls. Then, the top trending topic was about Chad threatening to jump off a building. With a livestream link attached. It all clicked in my head instantly. Chad must have told my dad something, trying to get him to hold me back. That way, I wouldn’t have a chance to address the slander he was throwing my way. The first to attack gets the advantage, right? Sorry, but the comeback story is way more popular. I hung up on my dad without a second thought and clicked on the livestream. Chad was standing on the roof, clutching the railing for dear life. “I can’t even leave my apartment without getting booed and having things thrown at me. I’m getting death threats, people are even sending me fan mail written in blood.” “It’s because my brother’s jealous of me! He secretly changed the data! And he contacted shady business to smear my name!” But the internet wasn’t so easily fooled. That’s when my fiancée, Riley Moore, the daughter of the Moore Group, stepped forward with a video. It showed me hunched over a desk, working on the plan. It only played for a few seconds before cutting off. “This is a video of Alan Smith secretly sabotaging the plan!” She even released screenshots of our text messages. “I’m jealous of Chad’s talent.” “I’m the real heir to Smith Ent. He doesn’t deserve to be in the running for the position!” “I’m going to ruin him! Riley, you’ll help me, right?” Putting down her phone, Riley turned to the camera, righteous fury in her eyes. “Chad and I have been close friends for years. I know him. I know what kind of person he is.” “That’s why I refused to work with Alan and sabotage someone’s plan!” With Riley’s endorsement, the internet turned on me.

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My girlfriend worked at a club downtown. I thought she was the most precious thing in the world, but then she turned around and crawled into bed with my best friend since childhood. And she told me, her whole goal in working at that club… was always him! I thought she was trying to land a rich guy, but the truth was… 01 My buddy Leo hit me up, wanting to go to this club he knew. Said it was crawling with gorgeous women. Me, single since basically birth, hesitated for like half a second before saying yes. Leo was a regular there. The second we walked in, a hostess rushed over, practically fawning over him. “Leo, my man! The Velvet Lounge again tonight?” Leo didn’t say anything, just raised his eyebrows. The hostess got the message immediately and slipped away to get things ready. Compared to Leo, who navigated the club like he owned the place, I probably looked like a total newbie. Which, yeah, I was. It was my first time in a place like this. The multi-colored lights flashing everywhere, the dance floor packed with beautiful women… I felt my heart pounding in my throat, adrenaline surging. I felt a little out of place, but also kind of excited about what might happen next. Leo saw me standing there awkwardly and threw an arm around my shoulder with a laugh. “Dude, relax! This is basically my spot. Don’t be so uptight. Let loose. Anything happens, I got your back!” Hearing that, I managed a smile and nodded. Leo and I were different, even though we grew up together. Our lives had taken completely different paths. I went the straight-and-narrow route: four-year college degree, then landed a job at a well-known public company right after graduation. I was doing okay, pulling down a six-figure salary. He, on the other hand, dropped out of junior high and started running the streets. His biggest advantage? He hit the genetic lottery. Good old dad. His father was one of the wealthiest businessmen in our area, owned a huge cosmetics company. Leo was born late in their lives, so they treated him like gold. No matter how much of a screw-up Leo was, someone always cleaned up his messes. He wanted to be a street guy? His dad threw money and connections around until he was some kind of big shot with his own crew to boss around. Seeing Leo live so freely, I couldn’t help but feel a little envious. Seriously, comparing yourself to others will just make you miserable. They say all roads lead to Rome, but Leo was practically born there. Guys like me, from regular backgrounds, we could bust our asses our whole lives and probably never reach the level he started at. “Come on, man, what are you still standing there for? Let’s go have some real fun,” Leo’s voice pulled me back. He gave a little whistle my way, then stuffed his hands in his pockets and swaggered into the VIP section. I hurried to keep up. Before I even got settled on the plush sofa, a line of ridiculously hot girls came in. They all wore the same tight little uniforms, but each had a different number pinned to her chest. Seeing them lined up like that, ready to be picked, felt weirdly like browsing produce at a farmer’s market or something. Leo didn’t waste any time. He pointed out two girls with heavy makeup who looked sharp, like they knew how to work a room. He pulled them down, one on each side, without a hint of awkwardness. While Leo was getting cozy with his choices, I noticed one girl standing off to the side. She also had heavy makeup, but she looked really young. Her face fell when Leo didn’t pick her, and she clenched her fists so hard I could almost hear her knuckles crack. She looked genuinely pissed. What’s her deal? I thought to myself. She’s that upset just because Leo didn’t choose her? I couldn’t help but let out a small, surprised chuckle. Just then, Leo turned to me. “Jake, you gotta pick one too. Got a few more buddies coming later. Let’s get this party started, warm things up.” “Huh? Me? Pick one?” Happiness, or maybe just shock, hit me so suddenly my face flushed bright red. After shuffling awkwardly for a moment, I pointed to the innocent-looking one who’d been giving Leo the eye. But she didn’t seem thrilled to be chosen by me. Her face screamed reluctance. Leo noticed and got annoyed. He stepped over and pinched her cheek, his eyes suddenly cold. “Aren’t you all here for the same thing? Drop the innocent act. If you disrespect my boy tonight, I’ll make you seriously regret it.” The girl didn’t say a word, just kept staring at Leo. Her face was blank; I couldn’t guess what she was thinking. “Hey, hey, come on,” I quickly jumped in to smooth things over. “We’re just here to have fun, right? Don’t scare the poor girl.” “This is my best friend, practically my brother,” Leo said, letting go of her face but keeping his voice icy. “You better show him some respect.” His tone was calm, but the words left no room for argument. But hearing how close Leo and I apparently were, the girl’s expression instantly relaxed. She even managed a smile. “Oh, Leo, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’ll take really good care of your friend.” Leo nodded, satisfied. Then he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Nice eye, Jake. Trust my experience, that one looks brand new. You’re gonna have some fun tonight.” I just smiled without saying anything back. Leo really was an expert when it came to women. To put it mildly, he was the king of players, totally wild. But he wasn’t infallible. One time, things got really bad, led to two deaths, apparently. His dad spent a fortune cleaning up that mess. Leo didn’t seem to learn much from it, though. It wasn’t long before he was right back to playing the field. Watching him now, looking kind of sleazy as he poured drinks down the throats of the two girls beside him, I pursed my lips. I felt a bit awkward, a bit out of my element. “Hey, drink some water.” The girl I’d picked noticed my discomfort. She held out a glass of water, smiling. I took the glass from her, looking straight at her for a few moments. From the way she’d reacted to Leo, it was pretty clear her real interest wasn’t me. It was him. Even though she was sitting next to me now, her eyes kept darting over to Leo. Makes sense, I guess. Leo, the bad boy, had this magnetic charm. Plenty of young girls threw themselves at him. I took a small sip of water. Suddenly, I got this jolt of recognition. There was something familiar about her face, her eyes… like I’d seen her somewhere before. 02 I mentioned it, asked if we’d met before. She just shook her head, looking blank. Said she’d just arrived from some rural town way out in the sticks with a friend from back home. Tonight was her first time actually working the floor. “Oh,” I said, and let it drop. I turned back to drinking with Leo’s buddies who had shown up. One thing about Leo, say what you will, he was loyal to his friends. Even though we were in totally different places in life now, he’d helped me out a few times when I was really down. So yeah, I considered him a solid friend. After maybe a dozen shots of hard liquor, I was starting to feel pretty dizzy. Leo looked at me with a mischievous grin. “A night like this is priceless, Jake. Wanna tap out early?” I tried to shake my head no, but my body wasn’t listening. I stumbled and basically fell right into the lap of the girl I’d picked. When I woke up, it was the next morning. I opened my eyes, my head absolutely pounding. The girl lying next to me stirred, woken up by my movement. She wasn’t wearing anything. She looked at me, suddenly shy. “You’re awake? Last night, we…” I wasn’t exactly inexperienced. Seeing the tell-tale red stain on the white sheets, I knew exactly what had happened last night. “What? You expect me to take responsibility or something?” My tone wasn’t exactly friendly right then. Okay, so it was her first time, but she was still a club girl. That whole scene was murky, full of hidden depths. People there definitely weren’t as innocent as they might look on the surface. The last thing I needed was to get tangled up with someone complicated, someone who might try to shake me down for money later. “I… I… I didn’t mean that…” she stammered. “It was my choice. All of it. I just wanted to ask… since it was my first time… could you maybe give me a little extra money?” The girl lowered her head, biting her lip hard. She looked incredibly small and vulnerable, like she was about to burst into tears. “Okay, okay, I get it. You didn’t mean anything by it,” I said, softening a little. Seeing her like that tugged at something in me. I asked her if she wanted to leave the club life, told her I could help her find a regular job. She shook her head. She said she had reasons, unavoidable circumstances, for working there. Her name was Ashley, she told me. She grew up in some super remote, dirt-poor mountain area. She had four older brothers and one older sister. Because they were so poor, none of her brothers could afford to get married even though they were old enough. Her parents were worried sick. Originally, her parents wanted to basically trade her – marry her off and use the dowry money to get wives for her brothers. But with four brothers needing wives, even selling her off multiple times wouldn’t be enough. So, the only option was for her to go out and earn money to send back home. “I came here with a friend from my village,” she explained. “She’s been working here a long time. You can tell it pays really well. Her family built a three or four-story house back home, and both her brothers got married.” As she talked about this, Ashley’s eyes, which seemed so untouched by the world, started to shine. She looked hopeful, excited, her cheeks flushing pink. “Uh… so, do you actually know what working at a club like this involves?” Seeing her naivety, a pang of sympathy hit me. I frowned, my brow furrowing. She actually reached out and smoothed my forehead with her hand. “I know. It’s just sleeping with people, right? Look, last night, I successfully gave away my first time, didn’t I?” “Don’t feel sorry for me,” she continued. “I didn’t even finish elementary school before I had to quit and help my parents in the fields. I know a girl like me can’t find a good job in the city.” “Working here, the money’s fast and it’s good. What’s wrong with that? It’s just my body, right? They can have it. My life isn’t worth much anyway. I’m not afraid.” Ashley said it all so matter-of-factly. Hearing her put it like that, I suddenly felt like maybe I was the one being narrow-minded. What’s that saying? If I don’t have morals, you can’t guilt-trip me. Ashley’s blunt honesty kind of shut me down. All the preachy, concerned advice I wanted to give just wouldn’t come out. I got her contact info – added her on a messaging app – and sent her a decent chunk of money. “This is for you. Don’t rush to send it all home. Make sure you eat well, take care of yourself. Things are expensive in the city, don’t let yourself go without.” Ashley accepted the money instantly and even sent back a “Thanks, Boss!” sticker with a smiley face. Seeing her light up at the sight of the money, so obviously happy, a crazy thought popped into my head. She was new to this scene, didn’t know anything, and she’d given her virginity – something girls supposedly treasure – to me. I didn’t want this blank slate to get covered in all sorts of ugly colors. So, I just blurted it out, “How about you be my girlfriend? Quit the club. I’ll take care of you.” Ashley looked hesitant, opening her mouth like she wanted to say something. But maybe because she’d just taken my money, she didn’t actually refuse. Her eyes darted around for a second, then she asked me something totally out of the blue, “What’s your relationship with Leo?” I didn’t suspect anything, so I didn’t hold back. I told her straight up that Leo and I were childhood best friends, super tight. If I asked him for anything, he’d move mountains to help me out. Hearing this, Ashley’s eyes lit up again. She readily agreed to be my girlfriend. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right, but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what it was. 03 Ashley had that innocent, girl-next-door vibe. She actually looked a lot like a famous actress known for her sweet, angelic image. Her personality was great too – really gentle and considerate. Aside from not having much education, she was pretty much the perfect kept woman, a little songbird in a gilded cage. So, we fell hard and fast, settling into this blissful, passionate life together. She took care of the apartment, cooking and cleaning like some kind of domestic goddess while I went out and made the money to support us both. Sometimes, I’d see her tending to plants on the balcony, looking so peaceful and content, and I’d actually think about marrying her, keeping her safe forever. We clicked in almost every way, but I always sensed this invisible barrier between us, something I couldn’t quite define. She was good to me, almost too good, in a way that felt… performed. Like she was deliberately trying to please me to get something in return. We were happy together for a while. The only slightly weird thing was how she’d occasionally ask questions about Leo. Nothing major, just little things. Once, I teased her about it. “What? You still got a thing for Leo?” “That’s ridiculous! How could I possibly like him?” she shot back defensively. “If you keep talking nonsense, I’m gonna have to get rough with you,” she added, playfully raising a small fist like she was going to punch my arm. I laughed it off and then asked the question that, looking back now, I regret more than anything. “Haha, yeah, I guess you’re right. With a great guy like me around, who’d still be thinking about him?” “He asked me to grab dinner this weekend. Wanna come along?” She pretended to hesitate for a second, then nodded yes. At the time, I figured that our first meeting at the club was also her first time seeing Leo. I assumed she was just struck by this guy who oozed bad-boy charm. I never imagined that her being with me was never about me. It was always about using me to get to Leo. Even when I walked in on them together, caught them red-handed, my mind couldn’t process it. I refused to believe it. A wave of dizziness washed over me; I almost passed out right there. When the hell did they start hooking up behind my back? 04 Thinking back, it finally clicked. They must have started sneaking around right after that dinner party. I remember that night, Ashley and I went together. Before we left, she spent ages getting ready, putting on makeup, picking out the perfect outfit. Seeing her looking even more beautiful than usual, I just felt proud, happy to show her off. No sense of danger at all. Having a girlfriend that stunning turned heads everywhere we went. Nothing seemed obviously wrong that night, just a casual dinner between friends. But if I really strained to find suspicious details… maybe it was how nervous and clumsy Ashley got when Leo showed up. She dropped and broke like, three glasses in a row. And later, when we’d all had a fair bit to drink, Ashley excused herself to go to the restroom. Leo followed her out almost immediately. They were both gone for a good half hour before they came back to the table separately. After Ashley returned, she wouldn’t meet Leo’s eyes for the rest of the night, and her face was flushed really red. At the time, I just assumed she’d had too much wine. Now I know better. It’s entirely possible that back then, thanks to me playing matchmaker without even knowing it, they hit it off and snuck off to the bathroom to do god knows what! Love is a blinding light, alright. Blinding me with how badly I was being played. I never thought Ashley could be that kind of person! No, wait. That’s wrong. I was the one who thought too highly of her, projecting some kind of idealized image onto her. She worked in a nightclub. How pure could she really be? I was the clown all along. Just fooling myself. Catching them in the act, I was furious. I lunged at Leo and just started wailing on him, punching him hard. He didn’t even seem mad, just kept that stupid grin on his face. “Dude, chill out, okay? It’s just a woman.” “Bros before hos, right? Friends are forever, girls are like clothes. So I tried on one of your shirts, big deal. Don’t let some chick ruin our friendship, man. Not worth it.” Seeing him act so casual about it, like it was nothing, snapped me back to reality. I realized I couldn’t associate with scum like this anymore, someone with such a warped sense of morality. That incident from a few years back, the one that cost lives, clearly hadn’t taught him a damn thing. After his dad bailed him out, he probably felt invincible, like he could do whatever he wanted without consequences. How could I have been friends with someone like this for so many years? That was my mistake. I own that. As for Ashley, after I caught them, we had a massive blowout fight. I demanded to know when she started hooking up with Leo, and why him? She was surprisingly honest. Said Leo was always her Plan A. He was the one she wanted from the start. She admitted she’d used my phone ages ago to send his contact info to herself and had been secretly talking to him ever since. That dinner party was just her opportunity to finally make her move on him. And me? I was just a tool, a stepping stone to get closer to Leo. The ultimate sucker, the biggest backup plan ever! “Don’t even ask me why I chose him,” she spat. “Aren’t you just embarrassing yourself?” “Because Leo’s family has money! He can give me a better life.” “I told you from the beginning, I have huge family responsibilities! I wasn’t lucky like you, an only child. I have to make serious money to buy houses and wives for my brothers!” “Honestly? Leo was my target from day one. I did a lot of prep work for it. Getting stuck with you was just bad luck, totally derailed my plans!” I watched Ashley pack her bags, ranting about how useless I was. Words formed in my throat, but I swallowed them down. I just stood there and watched her storm out. Could I blame her? Maybe. Mostly, I just hated her. Hated her and Leo both. Wished that pair of cheating dogs would get into a fatal car accident or meet some other miserable end! But even then, I never imagined that Ashley’s karma would arrive so quickly. 05 Some time after Ashley and I broke up, I went to the hospital for a routine check-up and ran into her completely by chance. She looked so different it took me a moment to even recognize her. I couldn’t connect the worn-out, almost old-looking woman standing before me with the innocent, fresh-faced beauty I remembered. Seeing the crumpled lab slip in her hand, I had a pretty good idea of what was going on, but I asked anyway, just to twist the knife a little. “How come Leo isn’t here with you?” I pretended to be concerned, but really, I was mocking her. So, this was the life you wanted, Ashley? Doesn’t look quite as glamorous as you probably imagined. “He… he’s busy, I guess,” she forced a pale smile. “This baby… he doesn’t want it.” I didn’t say anything else. But she started talking anyway, whether I wanted to hear it or not, pouring out everything that had happened since she left me. She said that because our friendship fell apart due to her, Leo was furious and took it all out on her. He blamed her, saying if she hadn’t tempted him, he and I would still be tight, wouldn’t have had that falling out. Despite Leo’s explosive temper, she hadn’t thought about leaving. Instead, she used every trick in the book, stopping at nothing to manipulate her way into marrying him, into becoming part of the family. We all knew what kind of person Leo was. So, it wasn’t exactly shocking to hear that after the wedding, he treated her horribly. Domestic violence was routine. Forcing her to get rid of pregnancies was routine. Bringing other women home to spend the night was even more routine. “Seriously?” I sneered, disgusted by this materialistic woman. “He treats you like that, and you still won’t leave? Just because he has money?” Risking your entire life for stuff you can’t take with you when you die – was it really worth it? “I have my reasons… things I have to do…” “Ugh, when you find out, you’ll understand,” Ashley sighed. She dropped that cryptic line, then hunched over, clutching her stomach, and walked away. Watching her lonely figure retreat down the hallway, I felt a mix of confusing emotions. What kind of spell had Leo cast on her? What made her willingly jump into this pit of fire and refuse to climb out, even when it was killing her? 06 I hated her, I really did. But seeing her life in such shambles, a flicker of pity sparked in me. Memories of the sweet times we shared started playing on repeat in my head. But I knew, deep down, there was absolutely no going back for us. Meeting her, loving her… it felt like a dream. Now the dream was over, and it was time to get back to my real life, the path I was supposed to be on. Time flew by, and suddenly I was hitting thirty. Pressured by my parents, I started going on arranged dates, meeting women through introductions. I eventually found someone whose background and life goals seemed compatible with mine. We clicked well enough, set a date, and planned the wedding. Looking at my gentle, well-mannered fiancée, I could already picture our future life together. We’d be respectful, polite, build a stable, quiet existence. But sometimes, late at night, when the house was silent, I’d find myself missing that other woman – the one with the innocent face but the spirit of a wildcat. Images of her, her smile, the way she moved, still flickered in the back of my mind. I wondered how she was doing, if she’d found any happiness after all. One morning after we got married, my wife was scrolling through her phone at the breakfast table and gasped. “Oh my god, this is horrifying!” “What’s so shocking you have to yell about it? Just eat your breakfast,” I grumbled without looking up, annoyed she was glued to her phone during a meal, making a scene. “I know, sorry, but this news story is just… wow. This woman, she poisoned her entire family-in-law! And then… she castrated her husband…” My wife trailed off, clapping a hand over her mouth, looking genuinely shaken and scared. “It’s a big world, lots of crazy stuff happens. Calm down,” I said, finishing the last of my orange juice and pushing my chair back, ready to leave for work. But what my wife said next froze me in place. Still looking at the news on her phone, she shook her head. “It’s such a waste, though. After killing them all, she turned herself in. Look at her picture – even without makeup, she’s really pretty. With a little effort, she’d be absolutely gorgeous. Why would someone throw their life away like this?” “Oh, right, her name is Ashley.”

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While I was deep in studying for the GREs, I rented a room in a shared house to have a quiet place to focus. The day after I moved in, one of my new roommates dropped a bombshell in our group chat. “Hey everyone, big announcement! I’ve decided to apply to grad school too. To make sure I get in, I’ve put together some ‘House Rules’.” Then she unleashed this ridiculously long list of demands. “No pets, no cooking at home, no ordering takeout after 9 PM, no showering after 9 PM, no playing music out loud…” 1. “One: Studying is exhausting, so I need total quiet. That means zero noise in the house, anytime.” “Two: I’m really sensitive to cooking smells – they give me headaches. So, no cooking allowed. Period.” “Three: I don’t like animals. No pets in the house. And if you touch an animal outside, make sure you don’t smell like it when you come back.” “Four: The sound of the shower is too loud and disrupts my studying and sleep. No showering after 9 PM.” … “Eight: No eating in your rooms. The sound of chewing distracts me.” “Nine: No using anything scented, like perfume. I hate strong smells.” “Ten: To avoid disrupting my studies, you must adjust your schedules to match mine.” It was my first time sharing a place, and I couldn’t believe I’d landed a roommate this nuts. I was speechless. There were three of us in the house, all supposedly prepping for grad school. How could she possibly think these demands were reasonable? Nobody replied in the chat, so she doubled down, declaring, “Starting today, I’m in charge here. You all need to follow these rules.” That did it. My temper flared, and I fired back. “Who do you think you are? You’re applying, fine, but so are we! What gives you the right to boss us around? Get over yourself!” Silence in the chat for a couple of seconds. Then, a flood of angry voice messages from her. “How dare you talk to me like that? You just moved in, and you’re already defying me?” “Let me tell you, getting into grad school is my top priority. Anyone who messes with that will regret it!” “I’m warning you, back off, or you’ll be sorry!” Wow, tough talk. Almost scary. Except I’d dealt with plenty of entitled blowhards like her back in college. “Doesn’t matter who I am. Your grad school plans are your business, not mine. You have no right to control what we do!” She lost it, sending a stream of voice messages basically cursing me and my entire family out. I ignored her and went back to studying. Before heading home, I saw a friend request from the other roommate, Megan. I accepted, and she immediately texted me. “Sarah, seriously, be careful with Jessica. You just got here, so you don’t know. This is her second time applying, and she’s got a chip on her shoulder about everything. She already drove another roommate out. If you want peace, don’t piss her off.” So that’s why Megan kept quiet while Jessica was laying down the law. She was scared of her. Well, I wasn’t. I’d been living in dorms since middle school. I’d seen every kind of weirdo roommate imaginable. I knew exactly how to handle someone like Jessica. 2. When I got home, Jessica wasn’t around. I took a shower and went to my room, making sure to lock the door behind me. She didn’t get back until after 9 PM, and the moment she walked in, she started screaming at me from the living room. It was the usual stream of insults and curses. I was practically immune by then. I wasn’t going to waste my energy arguing. I put on my headphones – world blocked out. I was exhausted and just wanted peace. The next morning, I packed up my essentials and locked my door securely before leaving. Who knew what she might pull while I was gone? When I came home that evening, I was hit by an overpowering, acrid stench of stale urine the second I opened the front door. It was strongest right outside my bedroom door. It was the peak of summer, boiling hot, and Jessica refused to open the living room windows. No ventilation at all. The air hung thick with the sour, foul smell. It was enough to make you gag. This kind of disgusting, petty move had Jessica written all over it. I went straight to her door and knocked hard. Jessica stumbled out, hair messy, eyes bleary, looking like she’d just woken up and extremely annoyed. “What do you want?” I pointed to the still-damp stain outside my door. “Did you do this?” Jessica’s eyes darted around. She didn’t admit it. “You got proof? You’re blaming me based on that? I don’t smell anything.” “Watch it, don’t go accusing people! You need evidence!” The nerve of her, acting all indignant! Anyone else might have had a heart attack from the sheer rage. Luckily, my heart’s pretty resilient. I could handle her “deny everything” attitude. Then, she immediately turned it back on me. “And speaking of you, what time do you call this? Didn’t I tell you no noise after nine? If your brain’s not working right, maybe eat some pig brains or something.” (Okay, maybe she didn’t say pig brains, but that was the vibe). Her bossy tone was infuriating. There was no reasoning with someone like this. I didn’t waste any more breath on her. I mopped the floor multiple times and sprayed a ton of air freshener – the strong floral kind I knew she hated – just to cover up the disgusting smell. She hated perfume? Fine, I’d spray it! Let’s see how she liked that. Jessica pinched her nose and yelled, “Are you crazy? Who said you could spray that stuff?” I grabbed the air freshener, aimed it vaguely in her direction (not at her, just near her), and gave it a good spritz. “Your attitude stinks. Thought I’d help clear the air.” She lunged at me, furious. But I just easily twisted her wrist, and she yelped in pain. All bark and no bite. How dare she challenge me? After that little lesson, Jessica actually quieted down for a couple of days. When I ate some microwaved leftover fish in the living room (which, okay, does smell pretty strong), she just glared at me from the sidelines. I thought maybe she’d finally learned her lesson. But nope. A couple of days later, I found my towel – the one I’d carelessly left hanging outside to dry – had this yellowish, crusted stuff on it. I sniffed it. The stench was horrific. Oh my god. Did she actually wipe her ass with my towel? I usually kept my towel in my room specifically to prevent this kind of crap. But I’d been in a rush that morning and just hung it on the balcony railing. And wouldn’t you know it, she didn’t disappoint. She really stooped that low. This time, I didn’t confront her. There’s no point arguing with someone completely unreasonable. Fine. If she wanted to play dirty, let’s see who could be dirtier. That night, I ordered a bulk pack of stink bombs online. Those things are no joke. I’d used them for pranks before. They smell absolutely vile. 3. Right before she went to take a shower, I snuck a few into the bathroom. They take a few minutes to activate. She’d be mid-shower when the stench hit. Perfect. Soon enough, I heard Jessica’s bloodcurdling shrieks of fury coming from the bathroom. I could barely contain my laughter out in the living room. My stomach hurt from trying not to crack up. Jessica burst out of the bathroom, face red with rage, and pointed at me. “Did you do this?” Fighting back a grin, I put on my most innocent face. “What are you talking about?” “Don’t play dumb with me! Who else would make the bathroom smell like a sewer?” “Whoa, hold on, lady. Even if I wanted to, how could I do anything while you’re in the shower? Besides,” I sniffed exaggeratedly, “I don’t smell anything weird.” Jessica jabbed a finger at me, looking like she wanted to tear me apart. She kept yelling, “Then where did the smell come from? Who else could it be?” “Beats me,” I said nonchalantly. “Kind of like how someone used my towel as toilet paper. I suspected you. Was it you?” “You…” Jessica spluttered, pointing at me, too angry to form words. She looked like she wanted to hit me, but she knew she couldn’t win. In the end, she just stood there like a frustrated clown, spewing insults. For every insult she threw, I just covered my ears and childishly chanted, “I’m rubber, you’re glue!” Jessica turned purple with rage but finally just resorted to threats. “You bitch! Just you wait! This isn’t over!” Ugh, resorting to threats when you can’t win an argument. So lame. The next day, Megan and I left for the library while Jessica was still snoring loudly. Before leaving, I strategically placed the rest of the stink bombs right outside her bedroom door. With no ventilation, I figured that should smoke her out nicely. Megan looked worried. “Sarah, Jessica’s seriously vindictive. She might do something crazy. Aren’t you scared of making her even angrier?” My philosophy has always been live and let live. But if someone comes after me, I fight back. An eye for an eye. Nothing to be scared of. Jessica constantly complained about needing to study for the GREs, but I never actually saw her crack a book. Her not studying was her problem. But preventing us from studying? That crossed the line. That night, I was reading when suddenly, the power went out. Strange, I thought, we just paid the electricity bill a few days ago. I went out to check, and sure enough, Jessica was standing by the circuit breaker panel, having flipped the main switch. Seeing me, she smirked arrogantly. “From now on, power goes off at 10 PM sharp. I need to sleep early, and you studying bothers me. Got a problem with that? Then you’ll have to deal with me.” Living with this person was pure torture. Calling building management about her disgusting habits wouldn’t do much. They’d probably just give her a talking-to, which wouldn’t change anything. Like they say, sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. I wasn’t going to let her win. I flipped the breaker back on. She immediately flipped it off again. We went back and forth like this a few times. “Look,” I finally said, pulling out my phone, “if you enjoy playing with the circuit breaker, knock yourself out. But I’ve recorded everything you just did. I’m sending this to the landlord right now. If any appliances get damaged from this, you will be paying for all of it.” Hearing that, Jessica faltered. “What does that have to do with me? It’s your fault for staying up late! I’m just trying to save electricity.” “Already sent it to the landlord,” I lied smoothly. “Keep flipping the switch if you want. Any damage, you pay. Simple as that.” I turned and went back to my room, leaving Jessica fuming in the hallway. She kept muttering threats under her breath, but she didn’t touch the breaker again. 4. The GRE test date was getting closer. Jessica was often out of the house. I spent my days at the library from morning till night, too busy to worry about her dramas. Until one day, Megan called me frantically. Jessica had brought her boyfriend over, and apparently, he’d brought luggage. She told me to get home ASAP. I rushed back to find Jessica and some guy sprawled on the couch, surrounded by bags. “Starting today, my boyfriend is moving in with me,” Jessica announced as if it were the most normal thing in the world. “I don’t agree,” I stated flatly. Jessica’s face instantly darkened. “I make the rules here. I bring who I want. Your opinion means jack shit!” “Don’t think I don’t know what this is about,” she sneered. “You’re just jealous I have a boyfriend and you don’t! Can’t find one yourself, so you take it out on me. You’re pathetic!” I almost laughed out loud. Jealous of her? Her boyfriend had terrible acne scars and looked like a scrawny weasel. Only she could find him attractive. “Jealous? Of what? That your boyfriend looks like a weasel, or the bad acne scars?” “If you try to let him move in, I’m calling the landlord and, if necessary, the police. Try me.” “On what grounds! I rented this room first! I decide who stays here! If you don’t like it, you move out!” Jessica stood with her hands on her hips, looking ready for a fight. Her boyfriend just lay on the sofa, scrolling through his phone, occasionally darting shifty glances around the room. He looked incredibly sleazy. For some reason, I felt like I’d seen him somewhere before. Jessica kept ranting and raving. I recorded the whole thing while calling the landlord and building management. When they arrived, Jessica toned it down slightly, but the daggers she shot me with her eyes could have started a fire. “If you don’t get your boyfriend out of here immediately, I’m calling the police,” I said firmly. When I signed the lease, I specifically added a clause stating no roommates could have partners move in or stay long-term without everyone’s consent. Everyone had agreed. My stance was firm. The landlord and manager tried to smooth things over, but I shut that down. They had no choice but to tell Jessica her boyfriend had to leave. Seeing Jessica back down, her boyfriend suddenly got angry and jumped up. “What damn business is it of yours if I sleep with my girlfriend? Mind your own damn business, bitch!” Okay, talk is one thing, but he actually pointed his finger right in my face, practically spitting on me. I grabbed his finger and bent it back sharply. He howled in pain. Skinny as a rail, and he thought he could intimidate me? My Taekwondo black belt wasn’t just for show. I threatened to call the police to sort it out. The landlord and management panicked, calling security, who basically shooed the boyfriend out like an annoying chicken. Finally, peace and quiet. Back in my room, though, something felt off. When I left that morning, my slippers were neatly placed by the door. Now, one was kicked across the room. Not only that, but the blanket on my bed looked like it had been disturbed, rumpled in a way I hadn’t left it. I was certain someone had been in my room. I quickly checked my valuables – nothing seemed missing. But then I looked in my closet. Two pairs of my underwear were gone. I asked Megan. She said when she got home, Jessica and her boyfriend were already in the living room. She wasn’t sure if they’d gone into my room or not. 5. The moment Jessica walked back in (presumably after seeing her boyfriend off), I confronted her directly. “Did you go into my room?” Between a random thief and her, I knew who the prime suspect was. “Don’t you dare accuse me! Why would I go into your room? Do you have any proof?” Jessica yelled, but she couldn’t meet my eyes. Classic sign of guilt – using volume to fake confidence. “If it wasn’t you, then I’m calling the police. Let them figure it out!” When the police arrived, Jessica kept denying everything, stubbornly refusing to admit anything. Until I pulled out the video footage. Clear as day, it showed Jessica and her boyfriend sneaking into my room and… well, doing whatever they did in there. I’d installed a tiny hidden security camera in my room early on, just in case. I never thought I’d actually need it, but thank god I did. Jessica probably never imagined I’d have proof like that. Her face went completely white.

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My wife’s old flame shared a sonogram photo on his social media feed. He wrote: “Thank you, for helping me have a child of my own when I needed it most.” That’s when I found out. My wife had aborted our child, then underwent IVF to carry her old flame’s baby. I calmly liked his post and commented below: “Congratulations to you both.” Almost instantly, Sienna Miller’s call came through, her voice laced with annoyance: “I was just helping Ryan out, giving him something he needed. Don’t make this more complicated than it is!” I quietly hung up. I knew it was time to end our marriage. 1. I stared at the abortion clinic paperwork and sonogram dated a month ago, pulled from Sienna’s dresser drawer. Only then did I realize I had almost been a father. But now, just because Ryan Davis wanted a child, Sienna had ruthlessly aborted ours a month ago, only to turn around and get pregnant with Ryan’s baby. I looked at the pile of prenatal vitamins and baby gear stacked in the corner of the living room, a chill settling deep in my heart. Actually, I first saw a sonogram photo a week ago. It fell out of Sienna’s purse. Seeing it, I felt dizzy with joy. Sienna and I had been married for four years, and my biggest wish was to have a child, a symbol of our love. I waited all day, hoping Sienna would tell me she was pregnant. But even late into the night, she said nothing. I convinced myself she was waiting for the second trimester, planning to surprise me on our anniversary. But reality slapped me hard across the face. Not only did she have no intention of telling me, but she’d secretly terminated the pregnancy. Now, a month later, she was framing it as simply “lending her womb” to Ryan. Sienna never liked me touching her much, nor did she care for children. She claimed they were naturally mischievous, noisy, and hard to raise. But recently, I noticed her frequently researching pregnancy preparations. She even stayed up late making two checklists: one for a hospital go-bag for expectant mothers, the other for newborn essentials. My heart had soared then, but now I saw it clearly. All these preparations were for the child she was carrying – Ryan’s child. Sienna came home unusually early tonight. I checked the time; it was only 9 PM. She usually wasn’t back until late. She called my name once. I lay in the bedroom and didn’t answer. She didn’t push it. Soon, the sound of the shower started. After she finished, she slipped quietly into the bedroom without turning on the lights and lay down gently beside me. I felt a warmth around my waist – the first time she had ever initiated an embrace. She pressed against my chest, her voice soft, pleading, “Honey, there’s really nothing going on between him and me. I’m just doing him a favor so he can have a child. Ryan has always wanted a kid. I promise, once the baby is born, I’ll cut ties with him completely.” I didn’t say anything. I just gently removed her arm from around me and shifted away silently. Sensing my coldness, she immediately bristled, her voice rising. “I’ve already humbled myself asking you like this, what more do you want?” “Don’t forget, you were the one who said you didn’t care about my past, that you just wanted to be with me.” “Can you stop being so petty? I could have hidden this from you, but out of respect, I told you the truth. And this is how you react? You’re really letting me down.” I let out a cold snort. “How were you planning to hide it? Wait until you started showing and then tell me the baby was mine?” “Sienna, do I look like a total idiot to you?” “Ethan Cole, Ryan is my best friend in the whole world! I was just helping him out. Do you have to be so relentless about this?!” She vented her frustrations in a rush, finally throwing out, “You need to think long and hard about how I’ve been treating you lately. I know you want a child too. After this baby is born, I’ll have one with you.” “Forget it. I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.” With that, the door slammed shut. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly – laughing at the tragedy of my marriage, laughing at how blind I’d been. In her eyes, apologizing to me was a huge favor, one I was obligated to accept. Otherwise, I was the one being unreasonable. She could treat me this way because, ultimately, I had indulged her far too much. So, this was all my own damn fault. 2. I woke up early the next morning to find Sienna already gone. I knew exactly what was happening; she’d been coming and going at odd hours lately. Her assistant, Lisa, called my phone several times, asking where she was. Lisa told me Sienna hadn’t been to her studio recently. Putting two and two together, she could only be with Ryan. I ignored it and went to the hospital to pick up my physical exam results. The doctor said my ulcer needed serious attention, or I might end up needing surgery. Leaving the clinic with the report, I bumped right into Sienna and Ryan. She was leaning against him, looking utterly dependent, while Ryan held several report forms. Seeing me, Sienna’s face hardened. “Are you following me?” I didn’t bother responding to her, looking straight at Ryan instead. His eyes flickered away nervously as he tried to change the subject. He feigned annoyance, pinching Sienna’s cheek lightly. “How can you say that? Ethan isn’t that kind of person. He knows there’s nothing between us.” Ryan’s words sounded like he was trying to smooth things over, but he was actually putting the ball in my court. I forced a smile. “Yeah, why would I follow you two? Just a happy couple here for a prenatal checkup.” Sienna flared up at that, shoving me hard. “What the hell is that supposed to mean! I only see Ryan as a brother.” I hadn’t eaten breakfast, and my stomach was cramping painfully. I didn’t notice the chair behind me and stumbled, falling to the ground. Ryan immediately pretended to help me up, muttering reproaches at Sienna, but his eyes held a clear look of provocation. Disgusted, I pushed him away, trying to stand on my own. Incredibly, he used the momentum to bump into Sienna behind him. Sienna instantly clutched her stomach protectively, yelling at me, “Ethan Cole! If anything happens to this baby, I will never forgive you!” I stood frozen, watching my wife scream at me over a child she was carrying for another man. A wave of desolation washed over me. Never before had I felt so grateful that Sienna had chosen to abort our child. How could someone who didn’t even love her own husband possibly love their child? Back home, I habitually picked up my phone to scroll through my feed. Right away, I saw Ryan’s latest post: a profile shot of Sienna, tenderly stroking her belly. The caption read: “Mine.” In the comments, Sienna’s friends chimed in. Ashley Young teased, “That side profile doesn’t look like your wife!” Chloe Jones joked, “Oh, back together with the dream guy, huh?” Lily Frost was more direct: “Ooh~ Now I get it. So the baby mama was here all along. Congrats, congrats!” Then, Sienna herself commented to clarify: “Don’t joke around like that. I’m just helping out. If you guys keep this up, my husband might get the wrong idea.” Her friends immediately understood, replying with “Got it,” “Understood.” But Ashley was an exception. She shot back: “Afraid of what? Why keep a petty guy like that anyway? Better off divorced. You and Ryan have been through so much for years, everyone sees how you feel. Just follow your heart!” Ashley always had it out for me, thinking I wasn’t good enough for Sienna compared to Ryan. Not as handsome, not as educated, not as charming. Honestly, I’d put up with it for years for Sienna’s sake. But now, with our marriage at its end, I didn’t need to protect anyone’s feelings anymore. So, I replied directly under Ashley’s comment: “Yeah, we’re getting divorced soon. Thanks for worrying about Sienna all these years.” After posting that, I went to my own profile and selected two photos: One was the divorce agreement. The other was the record of Sienna’s abortion procedure. I added a simple caption: “Finally free.” 3. My post immediately garnered likes and comments. Sienna’s friends were silent. They tactfully chose to ignore it, but I knew they were probably congratulating Sienna on escaping her miserable marriage. Then my phone started ringing off the hook. My parents, Sienna’s parents – everyone was calling to ask what was going on. Sienna herself frantically dialed my number, but I didn’t pick up. I just sent a quick text to my parents: “Coming home tonight. We’ll talk then.” I quickly packed my bags. As I was heading out, Sienna drove up, just returning. Furious, she got out of the car and stormed towards me, demanding loudly: “Ethan Cole, how could you divorce me over such a small thing and plaster it all over the internet!” “Do you have any idea how my parents called me, asking what happened, why I aborted the baby! Have you ever respected me at all?!” Her barrage of accusations nauseated me, but arguing was pointless now. Ignoring her anger, I picked up my suitcase and walked down the steps towards the gate. She suddenly lunged forward, blocking my path. “Does it have to be this way?” she pleaded frantically. “I told you I’d cut ties with him after the baby’s born! I’ve already bent over backward for you, what more do you want?” Her selfish words echoed in my ears, pushing me past my limit. I swung my hand back and slapped her hard across the face. “Sienna, you ask if I’ve respected you? Have you ever respected me? You aborted our child to carry one for Ryan.” “I am your legal husband, the father of that child, yet I had no right to know. Did you respect me then?” “Don’t let me stand in the way of your true love. Ashley’s right, you should follow your heart.” “A petty man like me isn’t right for you. Go find someone who can tolerate everything about you.” “I’ve already emailed you the electronic version of the divorce papers. Remember to sign.” With that, I stepped around her, pushed open the gate, and walked away. She yelled desperately after me, “You’ll regret leaving!” How could I regret it? This whole ordeal had finally woken me up. Leaving her would only make my life better. Back at my parents’ house, they anxiously asked about the divorce the moment they saw me. My mom’s eyes were red; she had clearly been crying. I told them everything – about Sienna aborting our child and then carrying one for Ryan. My mom pulled me into a hug, her voice thick with sympathy. “I told you from the start she wasn’t reliable.” My dad, after a moment of silence, said firmly, “Divorcing her is the right thing to do.” Truthfully, my parents had always had reservations about Sienna, feeling she wasn’t genuine with me. But I hadn’t listened back then. I’d chased her for five or six years, and finally getting together felt like a victory. I thought time would prove everything. Turns out, I was wrong. The marriage finally ended. It took me nearly ten years to understand that forced happiness isn’t sweet. After waiting a long time, Sienna still wouldn’t sign the divorce papers. Only when I threatened legal action did she finally respond, saying she would meet me and make Ashley and the others apologize. Her text message radiated exhaustion: “I’ll come pick you up with Ryan tomorrow. I’ll make Ashley and the others apologize to you. Can you please stop making things difficult for me? It’s so hard. Both you and Ryan put me in such an awkward position.” “I apologize to you. You know I’m someone who keeps my promises. I promised Ryan I’d help him, I can’t just abort the baby now.” “He also told me that once the baby is born, he won’t bother us anymore. It’s just that during this time, he kept saying he wanted to accompany me to the prenatal checkups. After all, I am doing him a big favor.” “Actually, his wife was supposed to go with me, but she’s not around lately. So, Ethan, please try to understand.” 4. She always claimed she didn’t know who to choose between Ryan and me, but her actions repeatedly showed that Ryan was always her priority. On our wedding day, she ditched me to comfort Ryan, who was arguing with his wife. On our anniversary, she ignored me because Ryan was afraid of thunderstorms. On my birthday, she went to celebrate Ryan’s. During holidays, she bought two sets of gifts – one for me, one for Ryan. It seemed fair on the surface, but it was utterly ridiculous. I expressed my dissatisfaction many times. She always promised to change but inevitably repeated her mistakes, even accusing me of being too sensitive. Looking back, the happiest moment between us was the day I proposed. On Skyline View Point, high above the city, under a sky full of stars, I planned a proposal just for us. That moment, the way she looked at me was filled with love, her vows warm and sincere. But now, everything had changed. When Sienna didn’t get a reply from me, she called directly. “Ryan has already booked the restaurant. Everyone’s coming to apologize to you. Don’t be angry anymore.” I responded calmly, “Will Ryan be there too?” “Yes, he’ll be there.” “Okay, come pick me up tomorrow.” If the apology was only for me, what was the point? Sienna’s car pulled up downstairs. When the window rolled down, Ryan was in the driver’s seat. He gave me a slightly apologetic smile. “Ethan, sorry about this. Sienna’s pregnant, so she can’t drive. I drove instead.” I smiled back. “No problem, I understand.” Previously, this would have bothered me, but now, whatever Sienna and Ryan did, I wouldn’t easily get upset anymore. Truth be told, even if Sienna had been driving, the passenger seat wouldn’t have been mine. At the restaurant, Sienna’s friends were already seated, waiting for the three of us. Ashley came over, greeted me, and insisted I sit next to her. “Ethan, sit here. I need to properly apologize to you later.” Her tone sounded more like a warning than an apology. Once everyone was settled, Ashley poured me a glass of wine first, saying it was her penalty. She downed it in one gulp, then began her “apology.” “Ethan, I’m a straightforward person, don’t take it personally. I used to think you weren’t good enough for my best friend.” “But since Sienna is still willing to be with you, then today, for her sake, I’ll apologize.” She poured another glass, held it towards me, and said, “This one is a sincere apology. I misspoke that day. I’m sorry.” As soon as she finished, Sienna’s other friends quickly followed suit with their apologies. Sienna, seeing the atmosphere easing, quickly encouraged everyone to start eating, trying to lighten the mood. But suddenly, Ryan raised his glass of fruit wine, stood up, and addressed me: “Ethan, I also need to say sorry. Sienna cares too much about me, and it’s caused you a lot of grief.” Sienna immediately pulled Ryan back down into his seat. “It’s not your fault, you don’t need to apologize.” Then she turned to me, looking earnest. “I’m sorry. I failed to handle this relationship properly.” I chuckled. “It’s okay. Actually, there’s someone else who’d like to hear your apologies too.” Just as I finished speaking, the door swung open, and a woman in high heels walked in. Ryan instantly panicked.

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After getting a gig as an assistant to my favorite influencer, I discovered he had two faces. To the rich, he was a bootlicker, calling everyone “sir” this and “Mr. That.” To regular people, he was condescending, calling them “nobodies” and “losers.” On camera, he’d call me “buddy” and praise my hard work. Off camera, he cursed me out, saying I didn’t deserve to eat and was societal trash. Disappointed, I quit. But then he tried to dock my pay. I didn’t argue. I just turned and got into an extended-wheelbase Rolls-Royce. Perfect timing. Wasn’t he trying to score an interview with the heir living in that ridiculous Beverly Hills mansion? Let’s see how he licks my boots. … “What are you looking at? Do it again! I’m gonna kick your food over again! I haven’t eaten, how dare you eat?” In the studio, Jason Vance, the influencer with millions of followers, knocked my lunch container right out of my hands. Seeing the food scattered on the floor, I seethed. When I didn’t apologize and just glared at him, he pointed at my nose and continued his tirade: “You piece of garbage! In this whole team, you’re the only one without a clue! Didn’t you see nobody else is eating? If I wasn’t generous enough to give you a job, you’d be fighting dogs for scraps under an overpass by now!” Hearing his condescending tone, I wanted to slap him hard. It was already 1 PM! He’d eaten earlier and wasn’t hungry, finding time to flirt with another female streamer, but completely deaf to everyone else’s stomachs growling as they chugged water bottle after water bottle. He’s a grown man. If he doesn’t eat, does that mean no one else can? We’re all just working here. Who does he think he is? I wasn’t going to put up with it, and I didn’t want to! Shoving his hand away, I went to grab another lunch container. Seeing my defiance, Jason blew up: “What the f—, are you deaf? I told you not to eat! You lowlife trash, you still dare to eat! I’m gonna teach you a lesson!” He moved to kick the food again, but I saw it coming and sidestepped. He, however, couldn’t stop his momentum and took a tumble, landing flat on the floor like a clumsy mutt. I clutched my stomach, laughing hysterically, which infuriated Jason even more. He scrambled up, pulled out a notebook, and started writing me up to dock my pay. This was his M.O. Anyone in the department who crossed him or displeased him got noted down. Come bonus or payday, he’d deduct amounts one by one. The worst time, he docked someone’s entire month’s salary. He knew this, expecting me to apologize and beg, figuring everyone has family to support. I rolled my eyes at him and took a big bite of my food. His hand paused, then he yelled at the top of his lungs. “You, Kevin Riley, you’re fired! Get the hell out of here now!” I quickly covered my lunch container, worried his spit might fly in. What if I ate it and became an ungrateful jerk like him? The rest of the team looked at me worriedly. Jason was basically the petty king in this agency. His word was law, and he held grudges. Anyone fired by him would have their reputation trashed, making it impossible to find work in the online media industry again. Hearing this, my buddy Mike, who I got along with, suddenly jumped out to defend me: “Bro, Jason, Kevin’s just new here. Please, cut him some slack this once. Jobs are hard to find right now, and he’s got bills to pay. I’ll keep an eye on him for you.” “Fine. Lick the rice off my shoe. If he licks it clean, I’ll let him stay!” Jason pointed at his expensive designer leather shoes, smirking down at me contemptuously. I remained unmoved, didn’t even look up. Watching an idiot wasn’t as good as eating. He got flustered and yelled at Mike: “If he won’t lick it, then you do it!” A vein pulsed on my forehead. I slammed my lunch container down onto his pricey shoe. He wanted to show off his thousand-dollar kicks, right? Fine, let him show them off like this! Jason jumped up and down, screaming: “You motherf—! You chose the hard way! Can you even afford to replace these, you broke loser?” As he said this, his fist came flying. I pushed Mike aside and raised my hand to counter. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind me. I turned, making eye contact with my dad’s Executive Assistant. 2 “Kevin, hurry up and meet Mr. Davies! This is our company’s biggest advertiser!” As soon as the overweight agency owner’s voice rang out, Jason Vance, who had been so arrogant moments before, completely transformed. He quickly retracted his foot and then clapped me on the shoulder like we were old pals: “Good work, buddy. Take the team and go eat first. Don’t starve yourselves for me, you guys are my A-team.” Buddy? Freaking buddy? I almost threw up the food I just ate. His words did bring a flicker of joy to the team members’ faces; they were eager to grab their lunches and leave. But my expression remained dark, and I didn’t move. Jason’s eyes turned icy, but he controlled his temper, adjusted my collar, and whispered menacingly, so only I could hear: “Don’t get any funny ideas. If you screw things up with my sponsor, I’ll make you regret it.” I scoffed, shrugged off his hand, and walked straight towards Mr. Davies. My father always told me not to use power to oppress others, to maintain compassion. He even suggested I come here, saying an influencer agency was a good place to see all walks of life, a place for me to gain experience. But facing scum like this? I was going to use power to crush him. Consider it pest control for the public good! Before I took more than a few steps, Mike was pushed forward. He grabbed my arm and pleaded softly: “Kevin, man, I’m begging you, just bear with it. I need this job. My mom’s sick, and it’s tough for grads to find work right now!” Seeing his anxious expression, the words revealing my identity died on my lips, washed away by the sight of his large teardrops. Mike’s hands were trembling: “Please, I really need the money!” My feelings were complicated. I wanted to pat his shoulder, but Jason bumped him aside. As Jason passed me, his tone was contemptuous: “You think losers like you can fight me? How naive!” “Kevin Riley, you just wait. When I get back, I’ll deal with you properly!” Watching his retreating back, I ground my back teeth until they squeaked. Losers? Wasn’t he also from a single-parent home, clawing his way up step by step? Now that he’d made it, profiting from the internet boom, he thought he was high and mighty? The internet really has made stars out of too many undeserving people. Mike wiped his tears and tried to smooth things over in a weak voice: “Kevin, that’s just life. Yeah, he has a bad temper, but he pulls huge numbers. Working on his team, if we push hard, we can still make good money. Let’s just endure it. He’ll cool down when he’s in a better mood!” Others murmured their agreement in low voices: “Yeah, the economy’s bad, jobs are scarce. Let’s not be impulsive!” Saying this, they bent over their now-cold lunches and scarfed them down. Seeing this scene made my eyes sting with anger. I walked out immediately to find Mr. Davies. Heading towards the parking garage entrance, I saw Jason obsequiously opening the car door for him. His smile was sickeningly fawning, crinkling the corners of his eyes into ridiculous shapes. I shivered, shaking off the goosebumps. I’d met plenty of crass people, but someone who could put on such an act was a first! I honestly didn’t know how I ever thought he had culture and refinement. How, from the list my father gave me, I’d chosen him to be an assistant for. Turns out, demystification is life’s greatest lesson. Whatever Mr. Davies said, Jason just bowed and nodded, like the perfect student. Even more absurdly, as the car started rolling, he jogged alongside it, waving goodbye enthusiastically. Only when the black Rolls-Royce disappeared around the corner did he straighten up. When he saw me, a flash of embarrassment crossed Jason’s face. Quickly, his gaze sharpened as he asked me: “What did you just see!” “I saw you acting like a dog in front of a rich guy. No, actually, worse than a dog!” I knew exactly what he wanted me to say, but right now, I just wanted to provoke him. Hopefully, he’d lose his cool and hit me, then it would just be self-defense! Clearly, it worked as expected. Jason’s face fell, and he threw a punch straight at me. This was the chance I was waiting for. With a slight turn of my head, I sent a fist straight towards his face. Could this weakling compare to me, someone who’d trained in Krav Maga since childhood? He was stunned by the hit and stumbled backward, landing hard on the pavement. Confirming there were no cameras around, I punched him again, this time on the left cheek. He clutched his face, yelling in pain, but could only roar helplessly: “You son of a bitch, you dare hit me! Just wait and see how I deal with you!” I ripped the lanyard with my ID badge from my neck and slapped it across his face: “Screw you! A lowlife like you dares to talk about dealing with me? Let me tell you, grandpa’s done! I quit!” Hearing this, he wasn’t angry; instead, he laughed out loud: “Fine! You walk out that door, and I’ll make sure you never work in this industry again!” 3 That kind of threat might work on others, but to me, it was a joke. My family’s Riley Enterprises is top five on the wealth charts, with complex holdings across various sectors. Even this influencer agency is majority-owned by Riley. He thought he could deal with me? He just picked a fight with the wrong person. Before leaving, I had to grab Mike. Otherwise, knowing Jason’s petty and vengeful nature, Mike would definitely suffer. Sure enough, a threatening voice echoed from behind me. “Kevin Riley, you can leave, but can Mike leave? How you treated me, that’s how I’ll treat him!” His infuriating words sent adrenaline surging through me. I couldn’t resist turning back and landing another punch. This time, I finally knocked out one of his teeth. … “You’re saying you’re Richard Riley’s son? Your dad… your dad… is really him?” Back at my place, after I told Mike my identity, he asked disbelievingly several times. Hearing the same answer each time, he let out an excited shriek. “Kevin, no, Mr. Riley! This place is hell. Can you… can you get everyone else out too?” On that note, I leaned in and whispered a plan in his ear. Mike nodded vigorously and went off to talk to the other team members. The online platform competition is fierce, with too many people scrambling for a piece of the pie. Even Jason Vance, a top influencer, wasn’t immune to slumps in engagement. With his numbers looking weak this week, hearing Mike’s proposal would surely tempt him. After all, who could refuse a collaboration, a “crossover,” with the “heir” of the wealthy family he so admired? Especially when the interview location was a mega-mansion valued at tens of millions? Every part of this screamed viral potential! “Good job! Don’t worry, if this video blows up, I’ll definitely give you a cut.” Jason, Mike, and the team were coming out of the office just as I was leaving with my backpack. Mike caught my eye when Jason wasn’t looking and gave me a subtle nod, signaling success. The next second, my burner phone received a friend request notification. 【Hello, Mr. Riley Jr., this is Jason Vance. Please accept my request~】 That “Mr. Riley Jr.” just oozed subservience. I actually preferred his arrogant self from before, calling me a loser and social trash… Just as I was about to tap accept, my phone was slapped out of my hand, shattering the screen. Jason stepped on it, grinding it under his heel, his tone smug: “Weren’t you leaving? Consider this an advance payment on the interest!” I found it hilarious. If he knew he’d just destroyed his only line of communication with the “heir” he worshipped, would he still look so smug? Too bad I wasn’t planning on revealing the twist just yet. “Oh, right, you have to leave the stuff in your bag behind too!” With that, a strong tug ripped the backpack off my shoulder, and the Patek Philippe box inside tumbled out. Everyone gasped. This item clearly didn’t match my supposed status. Jason had already pulled out his phone and was livestreaming: “Kevin Riley, how does a working stiff like you have a watch worth hundreds of thousands? Where did this come from?” The live comments instantly flooded with accusations: “Thief!” A few speculated if I might be a rich kid, but their comments were drowned out by the accusers! Only Mike, who knew the truth, stepped up to defend me: “That’s Kevin’s. Don’t make accusations without proof.” This provoked Jason’s sarcastic retort: “I don’t have proof? Then let him prove where he got the money to buy the watch! Why does the watch I ‘lost’ look exactly like this one?” His words were cleverly phrased, not directly accusing me of theft, but planting seeds of suspicion. Even the female streamer beside him chimed in snidely: “Wearing $50 shoes, clothes from who knows where, cheap glasses… if someone like that can afford a six-figure watch, then everyone here should be millionaires by tomorrow!” Before I came here, my dad had specifically altered my public records. Anyone checking would only find I came from a very ordinary family. And to fit the role, my clothes were custom-made, deliberately avoiding large logos. This watch was actually a 22nd birthday present from my mom yesterday; I hadn’t even taken it out yet. Even if I said these things, nobody would believe me, just like showing a receipt wouldn’t easily prove my innocence. This “prove yourself” trap was exactly the pit Jason had dug for me. Seeing me just stand there dumbfounded, Mike got anxious and nudged me: “What are you standing there for, man? Kevin, call your dad! Get him down here! Once he shows up, everything will be cleared up. Standing there like that makes you look guilty!” Hearing this, Jason bent over laughing. “Are you asking him to call his construction worker dad? Wouldn’t his dad showing up just prove the watch doesn’t belong? Mike, you’re not helping him, you’re burying him!” Mike’s face flushed red. “You don’t know crap! Kevin’s dad is the Chairman!” His words were met with a brief, stunned silence, followed by thunderous laughter. “Whoa, you think just ’cause they have the same last name, he’s the Chairman’s son? Nice try trying to latch onto someone famous!” The live comments were exploding with “LOLOLOLOL!” Jason deliberately took out another phone and held it provocatively in front of me. “Since Mike insists your dad’s the Chairman, go on, give him a call.” “Fine!” As I reached for the phone, he deliberately pulled it back in a circle, like teasing a dog. “Nah, I don’t believe you, and I’m not lending you my phone! If you’re really the Chairman’s son, I’ll eat my own shoe!” But the next second. Someone in the crowd suddenly yelled. “The Chairman’s here! Richard Riley is really here!” Jason’s face changed, and he looked back in alarm.

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My best friend has been hooked on this relationship advice livestream lately. While I was hashing out wedding plans with the event coordinator, She suddenly shoved her phone at me, “You HAVE to hear this!” The guy calling into the stream was saying, “My girlfriend’s decent enough, checks the boxes, but honestly? She’s not on my level anymore.” “There’s this other girl, way more impressive, and she’s into me…” “How do I get my girlfriend to just… take the hint and leave on her own?” Then, I heard a familiar meow in the background. My boyfriend of ten years wanted to dump me right before our wedding. And I hadn’t even had the chance to tell him, I’d just inherited a fortune. 01 My bestie, Chloe, practically slammed her phone into my hand. The caller on the screen had his camera off, voice distorted. “We’ve been together, like, ten years? She’s the typical good wife material.” “Always doing laundry, cooking, putting me first, you know?” “But I feel like she’s dragging me down now.” “My company’s taking off, and the daughter of this big potential partner, the CEO’s daughter, she’s really into me…” “How many chances do you get in life to really level up, right?” “It would be perfect if she just figured it out and left quietly…” Textbook scumbag. Normally, I’d be roasting him in the comments with everyone else, But those few distinctive meows in the background? It felt like my throat closed up. I’d rescued a stray cat, someone had drugged him, damaged his vocal cords. His meow was awful, unforgettable once you heard it. My boyfriend hadn’t wanted me to keep him; we’d even argued about it. The scumbag… was my boyfriend, Ethan Cole. I’d been with Ethan since college, back when he had nothing, all the way until now, when his company was finally getting somewhere. Ten whole years. He had been talking to a big company lately about a partnership. The contact person was the CEO’s daughter. Sometimes Ethan would duck into the bathroom late at night for calls, laughing and talking with her for an hour or two. Full of jokes and charm. Ethan said it was all for work. “Gotta keep the clients happy, right? How else am I gonna make the money to give you the perfect wedding?” With the wedding so close, I believed him completely. So, while I was drowning in wedding planning details… My groom-to-be, Ethan, Was agonizing over how to get me to leave him. My phone buzzed. A restaurant reservation confirmation. 【Mr. Cole, your requested private booth, ‘Sweetheart Suite,’ has been prepared. We look forward to welcoming you…】 It was the restaurant we went to for our ten-year anniversary celebration. I’d found the place back then, cozy and romantic. Naturally, they had my number; Ethan never bothered with little details like that. Chloe obviously recognized the cat’s unique meow too. She slammed her hand on the table, furious. “That bastard! I’m gonna go find him!” My mind was a mess, like I was still trying to wake up from a nightmare. My hand felt cold when I grabbed hers to stop her. “Ms. Quinn, should we finalize the lilacs as the main flower for the wedding?” The wedding planner was waiting for my confirmation. Lilacs. Symbolizing first love, innocence. Ethan and I were each other’s first love. I couldn’t just declare us dead on arrival like this. I managed to calm Chloe down and went home alone. As I walked in, Ethan was heading out. “Going somewhere?” “Weren’t we supposed to have dinner with your family tonight?” I was still holding onto a sliver of hope that the restaurant was a surprise for me. But Ethan just patted my shoulder. “Something came up at work last minute. You’ll have to handle dinner tonight, okay? Thanks.” Like he was encouraging an employee. My cat, Rascal – I named him that hoping a tough name would help him thrive – came over, rubbing against my leg. Rascal flopped onto his back, tail brushing against Ethan’s pants. Ethan made a “tsk” sound, full of disgust. I petted Rascal and asked him, “Ethan, have you been really stressed lately?” “If something’s bothering you, you can talk to me about it.” He answered casually, “What’s the point? You don’t understand company stuff.” “Just handle my mom tonight, make sure she’s happy. Don’t make me deal with mother-in-law drama.” Ethan forgot I graduated from the same university he did. In the early startup days, I worked just as hard as he did. It was his idea that a husband-and-wife team looked unprofessional. “You hold down the home front,” he’d said. “We have the same goal, just different roles.” All these years, I bought his crap, busted my butt being his support system, swallowing my own feelings so he wouldn’t be bothered. Looking back now, I was such an idiot— Beep. Ethan’s phone notification. He glanced at the screen, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips. “Oh, right, I got you a little something.” Before leaving, Ethan tossed a box from a designer brand onto the shoe cabinet. “If my relatives give you a hard time tonight, just look at the gift and try to put up with it.” A tiny pair of stud earrings. Normally, I’d be happy he was thinking of my feelings. But earlier today, Chloe had given me an early wedding present. She knew I liked this brand. She got me a classic handbag, and inside the bag was a small box. “That’s a free gift-with-purchase, just threw it in there,” she’d said. Identical earrings. I stared at the small box, feeling like I was holding the ashes of our love after cremation. “Ethan,” I said, “Maybe we should break up.” For a split second, in his surprised expression, I saw a flicker of relief he couldn’t hide. But the next moment, he smiled, cupped my face, and kissed my forehead lightly. “Don’t be silly. You just have pre-wedding jitters.” “I gotta run to work. We’ll talk when I get back.” Even breaking up with him, I was still being put on the back burner behind everything else. 02 I didn’t wait for Ethan to come home. I packed my bags. Grabbed Rascal and moved into Chloe’s place that night. If I love someone, I go all in, no looking back. But when I stop loving them? I can switch to pure logic instantly, cut my losses. Even though it was ten real, solid years of my life, I still have plenty of decades ahead of me. Chloe was sprawled on the couch, cuddling Rascal, looking at me with pity. “Sarah, you ditched the loser, and now all you’ve got left is money.” “Seriously, how awesome is that kind of life!” Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me. “Good thing I stopped you from telling that scumbag about the inheritance!” “You better figure out how to thank me! This is worth at least two hot pot dinners!” She was joking, gently trying to soothe my hurt feelings without making a big deal of it. Chloe’s family was well-off; she’d helped me out a lot over the years. But she never expected anything in return. A week ago, I’d suddenly gotten a call about inheriting an estate. At first, I thought it was a scam. Chloe snatched the phone and snapped, “Are your scammer background checks this cruel now?! You’re scamming orphans?!” “Shameless!” “Money? Fine! We don’t want it!” “Give me your address! I’ll show you what a fist of justice looks like!” The person on the other end gritted their teeth. “Ma’am, this is the police department!” I was the result of my parents’ youthful mistake. After I was born, they both took off, never to be seen again. My grandmother raised me by scraping by until I was seventeen, then she passed away. Back then, when I was lost and alone with my grandma’s body, the police couldn’t find my parents. And now they show up like this. Apparently, over the years, they’d each done very well for themselves, latching onto a sugar mama and a sugar daddy respectively. Old and faded, they remembered their youthful romance and decided to come find me for some family time. But they started arguing on the way back. It turned into a physical fight in the car, and they plunged together into the abyss of love – literally, off a cliff. The taxes I paid just transferring the houses, cars, and stocks into my name could have funded four or five of Ethan’s companies. I had planned to tell him about it as a wedding surprise. Too bad he wasn’t destined to have me. Thank God I wasn’t destined to have him. My phone rang. It was Ethan’s mother, calling to rush me. Oops, forgot to tell her I wasn’t coming tonight. The second I answered, she started chewing me out. “The relatives are all here! Where are you?” “Not even married to my son yet and you’re already acting like some high-society wife?” “Making the elders wait for you? No respect!” “Did you book the hotel rooms for the relatives yet?” “His second aunt and third aunt are the most down-to-earth ones, they don’t need a hotel, they can just crash at your place for a few days.” “Did you get the gifts I told you to prepare?” “They came all the way from back home, it’s not just about the food, you know.” “You don’t have family, so they’re here to support you!” “Now that my son’s making money, don’t be stingy and cheap.” “It reflects badly on my son when people talk.” “Sarah Quinn, get over here right now!” After unloading all that, she hung up. Honestly, she wasn’t always like this. The first time Ethan brought me home to meet his widowed mother. She held my hand, her eyes full of kindness. “Ethan tells me you’re an orphan?” “You poor child. Thank goodness you don’t mind that we’re poor, don’t mind an old woman like me.” “Good girl. From now on, you’re my daughter. This is your home.” Even looking back now, I don’t think the kindness Ethan and his mother showed me back then was fake. Their hen laid one egg a day. That single egg would appear in my bowl, cooked in different ways. When his mother slipped the family’s silver bracelet onto my wrist, Ethan’s eyes were filled with pain and guilt. They couldn’t give me much back then, but they gave me their all. But people change. They change the most. As Ethan’s career started to take off, his mother’s gaze got higher and higher. She went from calling me “daughter” to “Sarah” to just “Sarah Quinn.” From: “Aren’t you jealous? My daughter is so beautiful, like an angel!” To: “Don’t even mention her. She’s just destined to sit at home and enjoy life, can’t help my son with anything!” I decided I still needed to go to the restaurant. To give the bracelet back to his mother. And to get back the money I’d already paid for the dinner. My money didn’t grow on trees, and I wasn’t about to let some ungrateful wolves snatch it. 03 Through the closed door of the private dining room, I could hear the loud chatter inside. They were talking about me. “Ethan’s mom, your daughter-in-law really is a city girl!” “Still not here? Putting on airs!” Ethan’s mother made a couple of tutting sounds. “She’s probably off getting your gifts!” The other person scoffed. “She doesn’t look down on us poor relatives, does she?” Ethan’s mother quickly waved her hand. “She eats my son’s food, drinks my son’s water, just a burden who knows how to take. Does she dare?!” “She has to suck up to you elders!” “Otherwise, our Ethan wouldn’t even let her in the door!” Someone else started gossiping. “Ethan’s wife is definitely a looker, but she’s so thin. Hope she doesn’t have trouble having kids!” “Good thing she has no parents, saves trouble later if she fights with Ethan and threatens to run back home.” Ethan’s mother puffed up with pride. “Her? Argue with my Ethan? My Ethan just has to glare and she gets scared to death!” “If she hadn’t been chasing after our Ethan back in college, begging him to take her, with my son’s status now, he should be marrying some heiress!” “She really lucked out!” But it was Ethan who pursued me first. There was another guy, a rich kid, interested in me at the same time. Ethan swore to me, “Trust me, in ten years, I’ll be doing better than him!” Now, of course, Ethan wasn’t nearly as wealthy as that heir who inherited his family business. But back then, Ethan was like resilient grass in the wind, refusing to bend even when battered by storms, wearing his confidence like a white shirt. I saw in him the same thing I saw in myself – a forced strength born from having no one else to rely on. I wanted to build a safe harbor with him. With the wedding approaching, a lot of relatives had come. Ethan had complained to me many times about how demanding they were. “They helped pay a few years of my tuition, made my mom sign IOUs for all of it.” “Now every single one acts like I owe my success entirely to them.” Ethan didn’t want much contact with his relatives, but his mother felt completely different. She loved having people visit from their hometown. If someone’s daughter-in-law was having a baby, she’d tell me to take them to the hospital. If someone’s grandchild wanted to go to a good school, she’d tell me to find connections. If someone’s son wanted a respectable job, she’d tell me to help find one. Preferably high pay, low work. Behind their backs, his mother would scoff. “They used to look down on us. Now, which one of them is doing better than my son?” Chloe called me the “Chen Family’s Unofficial City Liaison Office.” “Did you sell yourself to that family?!” I should have seen the shift in Ethan and his mother’s mindset long ago. I just clung to the memory of that past sincerity, pretending to be blind and deaf. Ethan’s mother came out to call and rush me again, yanking the door open right in my face. She slapped my forearm. “You brat! You finally decided to show up!” “I thought we’d need a parade to get you here!” Chloe, who had come with me, stepped in front of me. “Hey! Why are you hitting her!” Faced with Chloe’s direct accusation, Ethan’s mother just forced a smile. “Oh, Chloe’s here too. Join us for a bite later. Let me just have a quick word with Sarah.” Ethan’s mother knew Chloe came from money and was always extra polite to her. She even once said she felt a connection with Chloe and wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter. Chloe looked like she’d swallowed a fly back then and bluntly said she didn’t need another mom. Without another word, Ethan’s mother dragged me aside. “Didn’t I tell you not to be cheap? Order some impressive dishes to shut them up!” “Spending my son’s money on the wedding like it’s nothing!” “I told you what to do, and you serve them mushrooms and noodles?!” She must have meant abalone and shark fin soup. I pulled my arm free from her grip, my voice calm. “I came to tell you that Ethan and I broke up.” “And this is yours.” I handed the silver bracelet back to her. I had wanted to ask for the dinner money back, but the meal had already started. I couldn’t make the restaurant take the loss. Ethan’s mother squinted, looking me up and down, making clicking sounds with her tongue. Like she was looking at a crazy person. I motioned for Chloe to leave with me, but Ethan’s mother grabbed me again. “What? You lived off my son, ate his food.” “Wasted so many years of his life, and now you think you can just walk away without consequences?” Suddenly, it was all my fault?? 04 Ethan’s mother said if I wanted to break up, I had two options: either give Ethan a son, or pay him a million dollars. “Giving my Ethan a child would be doing you a favor!” “My son’s bank card has been with you all this time! Who knows how much money you’ve siphoned off him over the years!” “Trying to run off with the money? Dream on!” She clung to me, refusing to let go, spitting as she yelled in my face. Initially, Ethan’s bank card was kept by his mother. But one time, Ethan gave the wrong account number for an investment, and the money went into his personal account. His mother, without asking, immediately withdrew $400,000 to buy her brother a house. Ethan was frantic. I had to sell my only property, an apartment, to cover the shortfall for him. After that, Ethan got the card back from his mother. He said he was giving it to me to manage, but honestly, Ethan always kept the main card himself. I only had a secondary card for daily household expenses. The relatives in the private room all came out to watch the drama. Ethan’s mother started wailing. “My son worked so hard to build his business, and this bitch wants to steal it all!” Chloe tried to pull me away, but a large, burly relative shoved her, knocking her to the ground. Seeing my best friend get hurt because of me ignited my anger. “Enough!” I pointed at Ethan’s mother, who was now sitting on the floor throwing a tantrum. “Ethan cheated on me emotionally! I already broke up with him!” “I dumped your precious son.” “Coming here to tell you was basic decency on my part, not because you hold any ‘elder’ status!” “Those few bucks Ethan clutches onto tighter than his life? I don’t want them.” “If you want money, ask your son! Don’t ask me!” “Forcing a girl to have a baby for your family after a breakup?” “You think I won’t call the cops and get you a nice, long, all-expenses-paid stay in jail?!” I was furious, scanning the crowd with a sharp gaze. “Who pushed my friend just now?!?!” Chloe immediately understood, pointing at the culprit. “It was him!” “Oww… I feel dizzy, nauseous… Call the police, don’t let him get away…” The man she pointed at jumped up. “Ethan’s mom! I was sticking up for your family!” “You gotta handle this!” I called the police. Ethan’s mother called Ethan. The police and Ethan arrived at the same time. Before the police could even ask what happened, Ethan stepped forward, shaking one of the officer’s hands. “My fiancée and my mom just had a little misunderstanding. It’s a family matter, we can handle it ourselves.” “Sorry to trouble you.” Ethan looked at me reproachfully. “Sarah, I asked you to do this one thing. Couldn’t you even handle that?” He shook his head in disappointment, as if I was an unbearable burden. I shot back immediately. “Excuse me? Your meals, your laundry, your schedule, taking care of your mom, handling all your relatives’ major and minor issues – I did all that.” “All you did was go to work.” “You’re the one who only does one thing.” He seemed surprised I’d talk back, his frown deepening. “Isn’t my work also for giving you a better life, making you happier?” I let out a cold laugh. “Ethan, you’re the one who’s been comfortably enjoying my efforts all these years, living a happy, easy life.” “Didn’t you want me to break up with you first?” “Well, you got your wish. Don’t push your luck.” “Officer, we’ve already broken up. His mother attempted to unlawfully detain me.” “And his relative just assaulted my friend.” “We request a medical examination and appropriate compensation.” Ethan stood there, stunned. His mother gritted her teeth. “Are you crazy broke, you damn girl?!” The young officer frowned. “Ma’am, watch your language.” Chloe rolled her eyes dramatically at them. “Who wants your money! We want justice!” The officer taking notes looked up. ??? That sounded familiar… I opened my phone, pulled up the balance of one of my accounts, and shoved the screen in front of Ethan’s mother. “Ma’am, put on your reading glasses and count the zeros.”

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I’d been in love with my childhood best friend for twenty years, but he only ever saw me as a little sister. When I finally gave him a love letter, he told me to forget about it immediately. That is, until I held my boyfriend’s hand right in front of him. Ethan’s eyes went red. He pushed my boyfriend aside and bit my lip, possessively. “Maya White, I don’t want to be your brother anymore.” I slapped him hard across the face. “You don’t even deserve to be treated like a dog.” 1 This marked my third failed attempt at skipping class this month. Once again, Ethan Miller grabbed me by the back of my collar and dragged me back. Rubbing the red mark on his wrist where I’d bitten him, he asked, “Maya White, are you trying to start a rebellion?” Knowing I couldn’t win a fight against him, I muttered “Control freak” under my breath as I followed. Ethan heard me. He stopped and turned around. “I’m your older brother. You think I can’t keep you in line?” I swung my backpack onto my shoulders, hopped on my bike, and took off. “We’re not even related! Mind your own business.” This time, Ethan didn’t chase after me. I knew I’d gotten under his skin again. My family and Ethan’s lived in the same apartment building, his family downstairs, mine upstairs. It was strange, really. Ethan’s parents were regular folks, working steady jobs with fixed salaries. But their son was incredibly bright, practically a genius. My parents were both partners at a law firm, courtroom champions. My grandpa was a renowned literature professor, and my grandma was a retired head teacher. Me? I was always at the bottom of the class, couldn’t even win a simple argument. When I was six, my mom and Ethan’s mom, Mrs. Peterson, had a whim. They took Ethan and me to get our IQs tested. The results: Ethan scored 130, a certified genius. I scored 80. The doctor mentioned potential developmental concerns, suggesting I might struggle. Mrs. Peterson looked at me with pity and told Ethan earnestly, “You have to take good care of your poor little sister from now on.” My mom, seeing the neighbor’s brilliant kid, was eager to latch onto him. She basically forced me to accept Ethan as my older brother right then and there. They might not have meant much by it, but Ethan took it seriously. Even at an age where he still occasionally wet the bed, he remembered his “mission”: To take care of me, his “slow” little sister. From that day on, it felt like I had a second dad. If the ages weren’t impossible, I’d almost suspect Ethan was secretly my father. 2 When I started elementary school, my parents’ careers were really taking off, leaving them little time for me. Mrs. Peterson downstairs would often bring me to her place. Back then, I really disliked Ethan. He didn’t talk much and always had a serious expression. He’d get annoyed if I didn’t study, annoyed if I didn’t eat properly. Honestly, I rarely saw him happy. Our neighbor, old Mrs. Gable, shrewdly commented, “He’s so young, but acts more serious than his own parents.” But despite his cold demeanor, his sense of principle was unbelievably strong. If he decided I needed to be asleep by ten, not a second later was allowed. Once, I went playing in the mud with classmates in a partially drained pond. When he found out, he borrowed a fishing net from someone nearby, scooped me up like a fish, and hauled me out. His strength and stern face scared the other kids in the pond into tears. Kids at school teased me, saying my mom had found me a “little husband.” I was so embarrassed and furious. During Ethan’s nap time, I took some watercolors and drew silly mustaches and devil horns on his face. The whole class burst out laughing. He just calmly wiped it off with a tissue. The moment he started wiping, I knew I was done for. After school, I hid like a mouse. I never expected my own parents to betray me. They practically bowed as they invited Ethan in, then dragged me out of the closet. Ethan had brought a box of watercolors and a stack of drawing paper. He sat at the table and watched me draw doodles for what felt like a day and a night. He said calmly, “Maya White, you like drawing so much? Go on, draw until you’ve had enough.” Later, I learned the term “calculating.” Looking back, it fit him perfectly. 3 It wasn’t until around the start of high school that I really began to like Ethan. At fifteen or sixteen, hormones were raging through the school. Crushes and early relationships were normal. As time went on, Ethan really started to stand out. He was remarkably handsome compared to the awkward teenagers around us. Back then, the girls in my class were obsessed with pop stars. Their yearbooks and notebooks were filled with pictures of idols with brightly colored hair. But gradually, they realized something: none of those idols were as good-looking as Ethan. They started acting like characters in teen dramas, giving Ethan love notes and fancy chocolates. Several times, I saw chocolates I wanted sitting on Ethan’s desk. I’d stare at them and ask, “If you’re not going to eat those, can I have them?” He wouldn’t let me. He returned all the letters and gifts to their original senders. On the way home from school, I’d argue with him. Why couldn’t he just take the free stuff? Returning it hurt people’s feelings. Ethan scolded me, “Maya White, you have no self-respect.” Maybe he was afraid I’d tattle to my parents, or start crying uncontrollably like I used to. Ethan walked into the corner store and bought a huge bag of assorted chocolates. He tossed it into my arms like feeding a stray dog. “Here, eat these slowly. Don’t touch chocolates other people give you.” I retorted defiantly, “Aren’t you ‘other people’ too?” He flicked my forehead with his finger. “I’m your brother. Would I ever try to harm you?” Ethan’s logic was seriously twisted. Were those girls who liked him trying to harm him? He was an expert at applying the ‘too much of a good thing’ principle to me. I ate that bag of chocolates over two days and ended up needing an emergency dentist appointment. After that painful lesson, I reluctantly brought the rest to school to share with my friends. Chloe Davis, munching on my chocolate, asked indistinctly, “Maya, do you think Ethan likes you? Why else would he give you so much chocolate?” I thought back over Ethan’s attitude towards me for the past decade or so. I shook my head firmly. “He’s less like a boyfriend and more like my dad.” Chloe clicked her tongue. “Your brain really is slow, isn’t it? Isn’t that exactly what they call a ‘protector’ type – the kind that acts like your dad?” 4 Chloe’s words stuck with me. Even though Ethan was harsh, everything he did was supposedly for my own good. Thinking about it that way, I realized I did depend on him. After all, since I was born, I’d spent more time with him than with my own parents. From the moment I could understand things, it felt like I’d unconsciously accepted it: I was meant to be with Ethan forever. So, even when he was strict with me, I took it gladly. Mimicking the other girls, I wrote Ethan a long love letter and slipped it into his desk. After school, while packing up, Ethan pulled out an envelope. He was about to return it out of habit, but then he saw the name on it. His fingers paused. My heart leaped into my throat. Finally, under my hopeful gaze, he put it in his bag. That evening, he called me up to the rooftop. I thought my romantic dreams were about to come true. Instead, he tore the letter into tiny pieces right in front of me. He said, “Maya White, are your grades perfect now? You have time to copy others writing love letters?” Among the shreds, I spotted the decorative washi tape I’d used to seal it. He hadn’t even opened it. When he returned letters to other girls, he at least managed a polite smile. With me, he was more ruthless than ever. I cry easily. When I’m hurt, the tears just pour out uncontrollably. But Ethan pretended not to see. He said coldly, “Go home and think about what you’ve done.” I knew for sure then: Ethan didn’t like me. I secretly vowed never to speak to Ethan again. Maybe this was the awkwardness of confessing to someone you know too well. The next day, trying to avoid Ethan, I left home half an hour early. Just around the corner, Mrs. Gable asked, “Maya, why aren’t you walking with young Ethan today?” A few steps later, Mr. Henderson, out for his morning walk, asked, “Hey kiddo, haven’t seen the Miller boy this morning?” Mrs. Diaz, coming back from grocery shopping, chimed in, “Maya, why are you out alone today?” I clutched my head and practically ran the rest of the way. What was I supposed to say? That I confessed my love, got rejected, and now we were enemies? But Ethan acted like nothing happened. He arrived at school right on time. Just like always, he brought me a bagel and the mushroom and swiss melt I liked. I glanced at it and threw everything into the trash can. 5 Ethan retrieved the breakfast from the trash and placed it back on my desk. “You can throw a tantrum, but wasting food is not okay.” Meeting his unusually stern gaze, I backed down again. In that moment, I felt a sudden wave of despair. I really didn’t have the luxury of acting like some novel heroine, running off to another country for weeks just to make the brooding CEO miss me. Just like now, no matter how much I sulked, when I went home, I still had to call him ‘Ethan’ or ‘big brother’. Looking back, the most rebellious thing I’d ever done was probably just sulking in secret. Then hiding, making Ethan find me, and then making him guess why I was mad. But he never guessed; he knew my patterns too well. Mad today, easily bribed with some candy tomorrow. I hated myself for being so predictable, but he’d always say it wasn’t my fault, because my IQ was only 80. The storm of the confession blew over quickly. Because we had high school entrance exams coming up, I temporarily shelved our feud for the bigger picture. Luckily, Ethan wasn’t petty. He was still willing to carve out precious time to tutor me. In the end, Ethan and I both barely scraped into the same Magnet High School. He was number one in the honors program; I was dead last in the regular track. When my parents saw my results, they treated Ethan to dinner three times in a row. I was left at home, stomach growling, surviving on ramen noodles. I thought life would just drift along like this. Ethan would continue being my unrelated but ever-present older brother. He didn’t like me, but at least for now, he didn’t seem to like anyone else either. Thinking about that brought me a sliver of comfort. But we were growing up, and things inevitably changed. Junior year, a transfer student arrived in Ethan’s honors class and immediately took the top spot in the grade rankings. As a struggling student myself, I wasn’t interested in their academic battles. I only noticed that Ethan, usually laid-back, suddenly got serious. He stopped walking to and from school with me, always leaving early and coming home late. I wanted to keep him company, but he said it wasn’t necessary, worried I wouldn’t get enough rest. During the mid-winter exams of junior year, Ethan caught up to the transfer student, tying with her for first place. Their homeroom teacher was ecstatic, happily predicting two Ivy League prospects from the class that year. My classroom was on the floor above Ethan’s. Afterwards, I often saw Ethan and the transfer student studying together in the hallway. The girl was elegant and composed. I’d seen her name on the ranking lists: Sophia Bellweather. 6 Chloe said they were dating. I didn’t believe it. Ethan was the least likely person to get into a relationship during high school. But they were always together, seemingly closer each day. Later, I noticed a little Stitch keychain dangling from Ethan’s backpack zipper. It looked familiar because Sophia had a pink Angel one (Stitch’s girlfriend). Ethan usually disliked cute things like that. Last year for his birthday, I gave him a pair of sneakers. As we were leaving the shoe store, someone outside was selling squishy stress toys. One was an ugly-cute, big-eyed monster that squeaked “love you” when squeezed. I bought one and secretly tucked it into the shoebox. I even planned my excuse: if he found it, I’d say it came free with the shoes. But unexpectedly, Ethan opened the gift box right in front of me. He glanced inside, then handed the big-eyed monster back to me. “I don’t need this. You can play with it.” Yeah, he was always mature and serious; he probably thought anything like that was childish. But now, this big-eared Stitch wasn’t childish? Hanging a keychain on his backpack wasn’t childish? Turns out, he just thought I was childish. Fingering the keychain on his bag, I asked Ethan if he and Sophia were together. He ruffled my hair. “You’re just a kid, what do you know?” My heart sank. Ethan was straightforward. Yes meant yes, no meant no. If he didn’t like something, he’d say it directly. Like how he rejected me years ago. But this time, he didn’t deny it. That was basically a confirmation. I hadn’t expected my first real encounter with Sophia to happen so soon.

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My fiancé’s brother, Mark, was in a horrific car accident. A steel pipe went straight through his lung. He was in the ICU, fighting for his life. And where was my fiancé, Ethan? Maxing out my credit card to throw a birthday party for his old flame’s dog. Panicked, I called him. His response was sharp, annoyed. “So I accidentally used your card for a bit of cash? Did you really need to make up some story about someone dying?” The last time I went looking for him, I found him and his old flame, Chloe, locked in a passionate kiss at a dog café. It was like he didn’t care at all that the person lying cold in the morgue was the brother who’d raised him, the brother he’d depended on for years. … When I got to the scene of the accident, Mark had just been loaded into the ambulance by the paramedics. A steel pipe was still gruesomely lodged in his chest. The sight shocked me to my core. A police officer approached me. “Family should follow the ambulance to the hospital. We’re investigating the scene now and will update you as soon as we know anything.” I nodded numbly, my body trembling as I climbed into the ambulance. Ignoring the shaking in my hands, I pulled out my phone and tried calling Ethan. Looking at Mark, unconscious and critically injured, tears streamed down my face. The line was busy. I called again and again. But even by the time Mark was wheeled into the operating room, Ethan hadn’t answered. A doctor approached me with consent forms. “Family needs to sign these immediately.” I reached for the pen, but the doctor stopped me. “It needs to be signed by immediate family.” Staring at the unanswered call on my phone screen, I felt a desperate urgency. I had no choice but to dial again. This time, finally, it connected. “Ethan, you need to get to the hospital right now! Mark was in an accident. He needs you to sign for surgery.” “Oh, you’re looking for Ethan?” A sweet, almost singsong female voice answered. I froze. It was Chloe, his old flame. “He’s helping me look for my dog right now.” Thinking of Mark, waiting, I couldn’t waste time questioning why Ethan was with Chloe. I just yelled, “Put Ethan on the phone!” A moment later, Ethan’s irritated voice came through. “What are you yelling about!” “Chloe’s dog ran off, so I’m helping her look for it. What’s the big deal? Can you stop being so controlling? We’re not even married yet.” My chest tightened, my nails digging into my palms. I fought to control my voice, tried to stay calm. “Ethan, I’m not joking. Mark was in a serious accident. He needs you at the hospital to sign consent forms…” He cut me off with a sneer. “Give it up, Maya. I already told my brother I’d marry you. What more do you want?” “You insisted on marrying me, used my brother as leverage, so you have to accept that I need… let’s call it emotional support elsewhere.” “I have important things to do today. Don’t call me again!” Ethan hung up abruptly, giving me no chance to say another word. I felt like my blood had turned to ice. A chilling cold seeped into my bones. Dragging myself over to the doctor, I begged him to start the surgery for Mark anyway. A nurse came out of the OR, saying Mark’s condition was too critical. The doctor just sighed heavily and went back into the operating room. I stood there, stunned, feeling like a thousand knives were twisting inside me. Ethan and I met in college, dated for five years. We were finally getting married, the date set for the eighth of next month. But then, Chloe suddenly came back to the country, and Ethan told his brother he didn’t want to marry me anymore. Mark had seen our relationship grow from the beginning. He refused to accept Ethan’s change of heart. It led to a huge fight between the brothers. And now, Mark was lying in surgery, and Ethan didn’t even believe me. I don’t know how I made it to the payment counter. “I’m sorry, the payment failed. Could you try swiping the payment code again?” The cashier’s voice snapped me back to reality. I tried several more times. Still declined. I almost never touched the savings in this account. I called the bank. They informed me that my entire balance had been wiped out half an hour ago. It was Ethan. 2 When I first met Ethan, he was just a broke kid. His parents had died young. It was Mark who raised him, working tirelessly to support him and put him through college. Back then, Ethan was sensible. He always worked part-time jobs to earn his own money, trying not to ask Mark for too much. Me? I grew up comfortably. With my parents’ support, I started my own small business early on and had considerable savings. After Ethan and I got together, I linked my bank card to his account. “Ethan, what’s mine is yours. Just use it.” At first, he refused. “I’m a grown man. How can I spend your money?” It took a lot of convincing before he finally agreed. “Okay, but when I make money, I’ll pay you back double.” I smiled brightly, my eyes shining as I looked at him. He gently stroked my head. Later, when he started his own business, he relied on support from both me and Mark to get by. It took him three years to become successful, a small business owner with his own savings. But I never unlinked my card. And lately, he’d barely used it. I called his number again. It was like he was waiting for it; he picked up instantly. “What, now you’re calling to chew me out for using a little bit of your money?” I couldn’t hold back my anger. “Ethan, Mark needs money for surgery! Transfer the money back to me, now!” Ethan chuckled lightly. “Is that it? Is he really having surgery?” I thought he finally believed me. Even though he couldn’t see me, I nodded. “Yes, really! Hurry up and send the money back, Mark he…” “Shut up!” Ethan’s tone was laced with mockery. “Stop acting, Maya.” “Didn’t you used to say I could spend the money on this card whenever I wanted?” “And now, just for a little cash, you’re making up all sorts of crazy stories.” I choked back my fury, my voice trembling, almost crying. “Ethan, it’s true! We can call off the wedding, I don’t care, but Mark can’t wait!” A cold laugh came from the other end of the line. “If he can’t wait, then let him die. Just bury him, problem solved.” I was shaking with rage. Ethan kept talking. “If it wasn’t for my brother pulling strings back then, your brother would have died years ago. Living these extra few years? He already got lucky!” The line went dead again. I felt like I’d fallen into an icy abyss. It took me a long moment to realize Ethan had misunderstood. He thought it was my brother who needed surgery. After five years together, I never imagined he could say something so cruel. Just then, my phone rang. It was my brother. When he heard about Mark’s accident, he immediately wired me a significant amount of money. After paying the medical bills, I saw Ethan had posted on social media. The picture was of a Golden Retriever wearing a party hat, sitting in front of a birthday cake. The background was unmistakable – they were at The Valencia, the most expensive hotel in the city. Even the cake was from the city’s most renowned baker. In the corner of the photo, I saw two hands clasped together. The woman’s hand wore a diamond ring – the engagement ring I had picked out. And Ethan’s caption read: 【Happy Birthday to Chloe’s Sunny! And happiness to my Chloe too 】 But Ethan, your brother is still in the operating room, waiting for you. While I was anxiously waiting outside the OR, the police found me. “Ms. Adams, regarding Mark Johnson’s accident, our preliminary investigation suggests it was caused by vehicle brake failure.” “Impossible. That car was just serviced three days ago.” 3 The words slipped out before I could stop them. I couldn’t believe the police’s findings. Ever since Ethan became successful, he’d actually been very good to Mark. Even when they argued, he made sure Mark’s car and anything else potentially dangerous was regularly maintained by professionals. I grabbed the officer’s arm. “Officer, there has to be more to this story.” The two officers exchanged a look. “Don’t worry, this is just a preliminary assessment.” “We will continue to investigate thoroughly.” I finally let out a breath of relief. After talking with the police, a long wait began. Late into the night, the light above the operating room door finally went out. The doctor emerged. “Hello, Mark Johnson’s surgery was successful, but he’s not out of the woods yet. He’s being transferred to the ICU.” Watching Mark being wheeled into the intensive care unit, I suddenly felt exhausted. I slid down the wall, sitting on the floor in a daze. My clothes were still stained with Mark’s blood. Pushing myself up, I hailed a cab, planning to go home and grab some clean clothes. It looked like I’d be spending the next few days at the hospital. I’d given up on Ethan. All I could do was pray that Mark would be okay. Mark wasn’t my biological brother, but he treated me like one. Ever since Ethan and I started dating, he treated me like his own little sister. So, no matter what, I had to take care of him. Waiting at a red light, I glanced out the window and a car caught my eye. It was my car. The car I bought when Ethan was just starting his business, to help him look professional. And right now, sitting in the passenger seat, was Chloe. The light turned green. Ethan sped off. “Driver, can you follow that car?” The driver gave me an “I got this” look and slammed on the gas. They drove to a resort hotel on the outskirts of the city and parked. I stopped a short distance away and watched, horrified, as they started making out. Ethan was tearing at Chloe’s clothes like a starved animal, her chest heaving up and down. My expression grew colder and colder. The cab driver glanced at the bouncing car in the distance, then awkwardly wiped his forehead. He turned to me, his eyes filled with sympathy. “Can’t trust a cheater, ma’am. Catching him in the act! Need any backup?” I couldn’t suppress the rage boiling inside me anymore. I could tolerate him seeing his old flame; fine, I wouldn’t marry him. I could tolerate him not believing me; I’d take care of his brother alone. But for Ethan to stoop this low… Using my car, deliberately, to do something so filthy, so disgusting, just to spite me. Furious, I reached for the door handle, about to get out, when my phone rang. It was my brother. “Maya, get to the hospital now! Mark… Mark’s not going to make it!” Using the last of my strength, I told the driver, “To the hospital, please. As fast as you can.” I had no energy left to confront Ethan. As their car disappeared from my peripheral vision, a wave of nausea washed over me. I gagged, trying to hold back vomit. And finally, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. I started sobbing. The driver handed me tissues, murmuring words of comfort. He thought I was crying because Ethan cheated. His voice faded into the background. I could barely hear him. My mind was consumed by thoughts of Mark. He was such a good person. My own brother had suffered from a rare disease years ago, getting weaker day by day. It was Mark who never gave up, searching relentlessly for doctors who could help. His job took him to many places, and eventually, he found the specialist who saved my brother’s life. I was eternally grateful to him. My brother considered him a true brother too. When Ethan and I first started discussing marriage, Mark had already prepared a house for us. He felt that as a woman, I needed security in a marriage. So, he bought another property just for me, putting only my name on the deed. “Sister-in-law,” he’d said, “you’re the best woman I know. This is my wedding gift to you. I wish you both happiness.” He was like my own brother, maybe even better. I couldn’t accept that he was just… gone. When I reached the morgue, all I saw was the figure covered by a white sheet. My body trembled uncontrollably. I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. My brother held me, tears streaming down his face too. A nurse looked at us with pity and sighed. “You should arrange to collect the body and handle the arrangements soon.” My phone rang. Shockingly, it was Ethan. I hesitated for a second, then answered without a second thought. Mark’s death was major news. Ethan absolutely needed to be told. I opened my mouth to speak, but sounds came from the other end first. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing… A woman’s moans. Rising and falling, loud and clear in my ear. 4 I gripped the phone so tightly I thought it might shatter. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard voices. “Ethan, are you really going to marry Maya? What about me?” Following a final grunt from Ethan, he chuckled lightly. “I can’t really disobey my brother’s orders.” “But don’t worry, I only love you. Even after we’re married, I’ll prove to my brother he made the wrong choice.” … I couldn’t listen to any more of their repulsive flirting. “Nurse, excuse me,” I asked, “Mark doesn’t have any other family. Can I sign to release his body myself?” She finally nodded. After signing the papers, as I was about to arrange for Mark’s body to be moved, my brother stopped me. “Maya, no matter what, you should tell Ethan.” I took a deep breath. I sat in the hospital corridor all night. It wasn’t until morning, as the sun began to rise, that I picked up my phone and called Ethan again. This time, there was no anger, no pleading in my voice. Just cold detachment. “Ethan, Mark has passed away. He’s being cremated tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t want to come?” He sounded groggy, woken up by my call, and clearly annoyed. “Are you nuts? Calling this early talking about cremation? How morbid.” His attitude didn’t faze me. “I’m asking you one last time. Are you coming or not?” “No! If someone’s dead, just cremate them already! What good would I do there? Is he going to magically come back to life? God, you’re annoying. Why don’t you just go die with him?” Before he could finish, I told him the location of the crematorium. This time, I hung up the phone. I was done expecting anything from him. Mark was like a brother to me. Even if Ethan didn’t show up, I could send him off myself. I would give him a proper, dignified farewell. My brother and I waited at the crematorium. Ethan never came. My brother drove me back to Mark’s house. I needed to sort through his belongings. “Maya, he’s gone. You need to be strong…” My brother’s voice cracked before he could finish. He turned away, covering his mouth. I went into the room alone. I hadn’t expected Mark to have prepared wedding gifts for Ethan and me so early. There was also a video. In it, he was smiling warmly, like a gentle spring breeze on a winter day. Comforting. “Maya, Ethan, when you see this video, you’ll already be married.” … “Brother wishes you a happy marriage. In the years ahead, you need to understand and tolerate each other.” “Especially you, Ethan. I watched you grow up. Don’t act like a spoiled kid all the time. You have to be good to Maya.” … I turned off the video, tears streaming down my face. I didn’t have the courage to watch anymore. Ethan and I were never going to get married. Among Mark’s things, I found so many items related to Ethan. Even his old school uniforms, awards he’d won – Mark had kept everything. A pang of guilt hit me. If Ethan didn’t come to Mark’s funeral, Mark would surely be heartbroken, wherever he was. After some thought, I took out my phone again and texted Ethan the time and place of the funeral service. This time, he replied almost instantly.

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