Category: English

Just the mere mention of the wedding decorations sent my fiancée’s “true love” running out in tears. Ashley slapped me so hard I fell to the ground, her eyes burning with hatred. “Liam, are you that desperate to get married? Are you so afraid you’ll never find another girl that you’re trying to force me into this?!” “The wedding is postponed again – for another week!” I held my cheek, but I felt nothing. This was the eighth time she’d pushed the wedding back. I’d been waiting for her since I was twenty-eight, and now, well into my thirties, I was still waiting for an answer. So, this time, I calmly packed my bags and decided to leave. Maybe this wedding wasn’t meant to happen. … I held my throbbing cheek, a searing pain spreading through me. My body trembled, shaking uncontrollably. The woman who was supposed to be my fiancée glared at me with disgust. She disgustedly wiped the hand she used to hit me with a tissue. “Liam, you know perfectly well that Jason isn’t feeling well, so what are you trying to pull mentioning our wedding in front of him?” “Yes, I said I would marry you. Does that mean you have to be so impatient? Are you afraid that no one else will ever want you?” “Can’t you just wait a little longer?” Her face was etched with frustration, and her eyes held a deep disdain. My mind flashed back to Ashley’s passionate proposal three years ago. “Liam, I really want to marry you soon so we can be together forever!” Not long after that, I had brought up the subject of marriage. Ashley promised me a grand and lavish wedding. But I’d been waiting for that wedding for three years, and it still hadn’t happened. The first time, she said it was too early, that we were still young and there was no need to rush. I thought she had pre-wedding jitters and tried to reassure her. Shortly after the second date, she made another excuse, saying the company had something come up, requiring that she go on an indefinite business trip, pushing it back once again. Over and over again, it had been put off, and now we were at the eighth occasion. Every time, I would excitedly book the venue, hire the DJ, and prepare the party favors. But Ashley would always find an excuse to back out. Until today, I couldn’t take it anymore. We weren’t getting any younger, and our careers were stable. I gathered my courage and asked her when we were going to get married. I never expected to be slapped for it. After a long silence, I bit my lip tightly, my ear ringing from the blow, my cheek swelling. Ashley sighed and turned to leave. I instinctively grabbed her hand and asked quietly, “Where are you going?” She jerked her hand away as if she’d been electrocuted, taking a step back. I froze, my hand awkwardly suspended in mid-air, staring at her in disbelief. “I’m sorry, Liam. I was impulsive. I’ll go get some ointment for your cheek.” Ashley quickly offered an excuse, her voice low and apologetic. This time, I just bit my lip and said nothing. Three years of love. Suddenly, I felt like I didn’t know her at all. She could hit me without hesitation, and then immediately apologize? After Ashley left, she didn’t come back for a long time. Worried, I decided to go look for her. But under the lamppost in front of the hotel, I saw two figures embracing. The woman looked up and whispered in the man’s ear. “Don’t worry, Jason. If you don’t want me to, I definitely won’t marry him.” “After all you’ve done for me, I’ll agree to whatever you say!” I suppressed the sadness and pain in my heart, covered my mouth, and tried not to cry out. I wanted to confront them, but my legs felt like lead. 2 After a long time, Ashley reluctantly pulled away from Jason and headed back towards me. I quickly ran home. Before I even got there, Ashley called. Her voice was sharp, scolding me. “Liam, I told you to wait for me at the hotel. Where did you run off to?” My throat tightened, and tears welled up in my eyes. I was about to question her, but the words that came out were full of hurt. “I waited for you at home since you didn’t come back.” Ashley paused, then spoke softly, trying to soothe me. “I’m sorry, I got stuck in traffic.” I had barely sat down on the couch when Ashley got back. She acted like someone whose date had been interrupted and who had no choice but to go home. She tossed the ointment at me. “Here’s the medicine. Rub it on yourself.” I clutched the ointment in my hand, staring blankly at her back, and gritted my teeth. “You hit me in the face. Could you please put the ointment on for me?” A flash of disgust and contempt crossed Ashley’s eyes. She looked away, scoffed, and said coldly, “You asked for it!” “Besides, do you not have hands? You’re a big adult now, can’t you think of a way to do this yourself, or do you need someone to teach you?” A string of questions left me feeling ashamed. She wasn’t like this before. Whenever I got a tiny cut while cooking, she would panic, get a bandage, and stick it on me. I would laugh at how serious she was. She said that if she was any slower, the wound would heal on its own. She would cover my mouth, her eyes red with concern, telling me not to say such things. I took the ointment to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. I overheard her talking on the phone. The call was loud, and I heard everything clearly. My heart grew cold. “I’m going to the hospital to see Grandpa tomorrow, Jason, want to come?” “Would I be okay to see Grandpa with you?” “Of course. Grandpa’s met you before. If it weren’t for you saving him, he wouldn’t be here now. Plus, he already sees you as his grandson-in-law!” “Don’t say that, you’ll make me blush. You already have a fiancé. I guess I’m not that lucky!” Then her voice became firm and decisive. “No, I’ll only marry you!” Crash! The ointment fell into the sink, making a loud noise. Ashley quickly hung up and appeared in the bathroom, frowning. Seeing me rubbing ointment on my face, she tried to probe. “Liam, I’m going to the hospital to see Grandpa tomorrow. Want to come?” I already knew the truth, but my heart felt like it was full of holes. Looking at myself in the mirror, my swollen face looked like a monster. “Do you think it’s appropriate for me to see Grandpa like this? Would you even want me to see him?” Over the years, every time I asked to see her grandfather, Ashley would always find a hundred reasons to refuse. Just like she refused our wedding. So, to this day, I still don’t even know what her grandfather looks like. I only know that Ashley was raised by her grandfather and that he was the person closest to her. But she had taken Jason to see her closest family many times. I suppressed the pain in my chest and asked her again. “If I wanted to go, would you take me?” Ashley didn’t answer. She grabbed the ointment from my hand and gently rubbed it on my face, saying. “It’s okay, Liam. Once your cheek heals, I’ll take you to see Grandpa. He’ll love your handsome face!” I didn’t say anything. But I had a big question mark in my mind. She had made similar promises countless times over the past three years. I used to think she was really thinking of me, so I never pushed her. But now I suddenly realized that I couldn’t swallow her lies anymore. The reason she wasn’t taking me to see her grandfather was simple: she didn’t see me as her fiancé. 3 The next morning, Ashley left early. As expected, she was picking up Jason to take him to the hospital to see her grandfather. I washed my face, put on a mask, and went to find a rental apartment. This house belonged to Ashley. I was going to move out. While waiting to meet the landlord, I clicked on Jason’s social media. There was a photo of him, Ashley, and an old man. The caption read “Family photo.” The comments were full of blessings. Even though I knew about this last night, my chest still felt like it was being crushed by a rock. I stared blankly at the photo until the taxi driver told me to get out. Before logging out, I liked their photo and left a comment with a blessing. The apartment search went smoothly. The location was great. It was right next to a hospital. I had recently passed my nursing exam and had been accepted to work at the hospital. I was going to share the good news with Ashley today, but now it didn’t seem necessary. After paying the deposit, I went back to pack my bags. But as I passed in front of the hospital, I saw Ashley and Jason. They were holding hands, their fingers intertwined. It was Jason who saw me. He boldly pulled Ashley forward and spoke to me sarcastically. “Liam, you’re here too? Did you come with Ashley? Why don’t you go up and see Grandpa? “You didn’t even tell Ashley you were coming!” Ashley’s eyes flickered with worry. She took a half-step forward to hide their joined hands, quickly letting go. But at Jason’s reminder, that worry turned into anger, and her eyes flashed. “What are you doing here? I don’t think I told you where I was going!” She frowned, her expression changed, and she glared at me. “Liam, are you stalking me?!” She took another step forward, forcing me back. Her face was scary. She grabbed my arm and ripped off my mask. “You look like hell. Why are you stalking me instead of resting at home?” “Didn’t I tell you I’d take you once your face healed? What are you trying to pull by stalking me now!” Ashley was reprimanding me. She didn’t bother to ask for an explanation. Passersby stared at my swollen face. I felt ashamed and tried to cover it with my hand, arguing with her. “I’m not stalking you!” “You’re not stalking me? Then why are you here?” Ashley scolded angrily. “Don’t tell me you came to the hospital for your cheek. Or are you dying of some terminal illness?” My chest felt heavy. But I wasn’t going to tell her anything. I wasn’t going to tell her that I rented an apartment here, or that I had been hired to work at this hospital. In the end, I just remained silent, letting Ashley scold me. “Can’t talk? Liam, I’m impressed. If you had said you wanted to see Grandpa, would I have refused? You’re stalking me now!” “Next time, do I need to let you know where I’m going?” I was stunned. I didn’t know how to respond. She had never allowed me to come with her, always making excuses. Now it was my fault. I took a deep breath and suppressed the sadness in my heart. I looked at Ashley. “Whether you believe me or not, I wasn’t stalking you.” After saying that, I ignored Ashley’s surprised look, hailed a taxi, and left. As soon as I got in the car, tears started streaming down my face. That’s it, I’ll just let them have each other. 4 As soon as I got home, my phone rang. It was Ashley. “Liam, are you home?” She spoke softly, as if nothing had happened. But her voice sounded insincere. I wanted to hang up, but I needed to settle things with her. She was the one who had messed up this relationship. I shouldn’t run away. “What’s up?” “I’m at a hotel. I sent you the location. I think the decoration style is nice. Come check it out.” I hung up, confused. A hotel? Was it for our wedding? This wasn’t like Ashley. I used to push her, but she would never get involved. Now she was bringing it up on her own. I washed the tears off my face and went to the hotel. When I got there, I realized that it was nowhere near the level of the hotels I had picked out for the other eight attempts. I looked at Ashley, confused. “Didn’t you say we should keep the wedding simple? Why are we picking such a nice hotel?” Just then, Jason came down the stairs. He pointed at things with the hotel manager. “Liam, you think this hotel is great too, right? Ashley said she’s going to have a birthday party for me here.” My face froze. Ashley welcomed Jason and gave me a disgusted look, scolding me. “Don’t talk nonsense. I just wanted you to see the hotel. You’re still fantasizing about the wedding!” I felt embarrassed. I bit my teeth and nodded. I hid my hands in my sleeves, trembling, and said, “Great, it’s great.” Jason grabbed my arm. “You have to come to my birthday, Liam! I want your blessing!” Then, where only we could see, Jason smirked at me. She knew that I had fought with Ashley about the wedding venue. Today, she was provoking me with her birthday party. I couldn’t contain the anger in my chest and pushed Jason to the ground. She screamed, burst into tears, and half-collapsed. “Liam, I just wanted your blessing. If you don’t like me, that’s fine, but why would you push me!” “Liam, are you sick?” Ashley felt sorry for her and helped Jason up. After comforting her, she turned to yell at me. “Go get treated if you’re sick. Don’t be crazy here. You can’t afford to hurt Jason!” My heart was breaking, and I could barely breathe. But I looked her in the eye, tears in my eyes. “Yes, I’ll go get treated. I wish you and Jason a happy marriage and may you have children soon.” I turned and left the hotel. Back home, my makeup was ruined. I packed my bags and moved to the rental apartment. I left Ashley with a letter to terminate our engagement. For the next two days, Ashley and I had no contact. She didn’t come home. I saw on Jason’s social media that they had been all over the city. [This is the best birthday gift ever!] The last photo was of them embracing and kissing in the decorated ballroom. I habitually liked and commented with a blessing. Then I logged out, smiling bitterly. After being with Ashley for so many years, she had never made time to travel with me. Now she was having fun! On the day of Jason’s birthday party, I was starting my first day at the hospital. After two days, Ashley sent me a message. [It’s Jason’s birthday today. You have to come, or you’ll regret it!] I didn’t reply and focused on work. The nurse station rang, and I ran to room 18. An old man had lost consciousness. The machine was beeping. The doctor asked me to call the family. “Notify the family, prepare for surgery!” I used the phone to call the patient’s family. “Is this the family of Shaun Baldwin?” The voice on the other end laughed. “Liam? When did you become a nurse? You’re scheming. You think I’d fall for that?” “Don’t you know that I hate you chasing me?” I didn’t expect it to be her. I suppressed my anger and said coldly, “The patient has heart failure and liver failure. He needs surgery. Please come to the hospital.” “I’ve delivered the message. Believe it or not. I hope you don’t regret it!”

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I did three years in prison, taking the fall for my little brother. While I was inside, pure luck had me save the son of some billionaire tycoon. As a thank you, the tycoon wired $10 million into an account for me. The day I got out, the first thing I did was call my dad, excited to share the unbelievable news. But the second he heard my voice, click. He hung up. My gut clenched. Something must be wrong at home. I grabbed a cab and rushed over. I was just outside the apartment door when I heard my sister-in-law, Ashley, complaining loud enough for the neighbors to hear: “Couldn’t he have picked any other day to get out? Seriously? Now I missed my prenatal check-up because we had to rush the deed transfer.” Then my mom’s voice: “Honey, it’s for the best. He paid for this place, sure, but with a prison record, finding work will be impossible. What if he just plans to crash here and mooch off us forever?” Ashley scoffed. “If he shows up, tell him to find a rental. I’m not living with an ex-con!” Hearing them, my hand froze halfway to knocking. My heart, which had been pounding with anticipation to see them, just plummeted. It was June, blazing hot outside, but suddenly I felt like I was standing in a freezer. This door… I’d dreamt about walking through this door for three solid years. Now, standing right in front of it felt like standing on a cliff edge. I just stood there for a long moment, unable to move. My parents always favored Ryan, my younger brother. But Ryan… he used to follow me everywhere. I went to prison for him. Surely he wouldn’t want to kick me out? Holding onto that sliver of hope, I finally knocked. Mom opened the door, putting on a surprised face. “Alex! You’re back already? Your dad was just about to head out to pick you up.” She looked me up and down, squeezing out a pained expression. “Oh, you poor thing. Look how thin you are. It must have been hell in there.” If only I hadn’t heard her words from outside the door. If only that concern was real. “It’s okay, Mom. Catching a ride is easy these days,” I said, my voice a little tight. I stepped inside. Ashley immediately came at me, spraying disinfectant like she was trying to hose me down. “Don’t take it personally,” she chirped, “just clearing out the bad juju.” Yeah, right. Her face screamed disgust. She saw me as contaminated goods. An ex-con. Funny, she seemed to forget why I was an ex-con. It was for her and Ryan. I didn’t say anything, just started walking towards my old room. “Don’t bother,” my dad’s voice cut through the air. “There’s no room for you here anymore.” He was slumped on the sofa, chain-smoking. The ashtray was already overflowing with fresh butts. My arrival seemed to have really stressed him out. I stopped, turned to face him. “Dad, I was gone for three years, not dead. Don’t I even deserve a room in my own home?” He stubbed out his cigarette, his voice hard. “The family’s grown, Alex. There just isn’t enough space.” I didn’t argue the point. Instead, I asked, “Where’s Ryan? Does he feel the same way?” Just then, Ryan came out of the bathroom, looking uncomfortable. “Hey, Alex… look, Ashley’s two months pregnant. Things are… tight. Space-wise, I mean.” He hesitated, then added quickly, “But hey, you’re my brother, right? Family first. If you really need a place, I guess… I can clear out the nursery we just set up.” He said it like he was being generous. I nodded slowly. “Okay. The baby’s not due for another seven months anyway. I’ll take the nursery for now.” Ryan’s face froze. He opened his mouth, then closed it, looking trapped. Ashley couldn’t hold back anymore. She stormed over, yelling right in my face. “Are you kidding me? How selfish can you be? Can’t you see we’re crammed in here? You actually want to take the baby’s room? The nerve!” I almost laughed, it was so absurd. “We all fit before. I go away for three years, the baby isn’t even here yet, and suddenly there’s no room? And Ashley, need I remind you? I bought this apartment. Paid in full.” My dad slammed his hand on the coffee table. “Alex! Watch your tone! You think buying a place makes you king of the world? Fresh out of prison and already demanding things?” Disappointment washed over me. “Am I demanding the apartment back? Or are you refusing to even let me have one room?” “I told you already, there’s no room for you! If you need a place to stay, go rent one! We don’t owe you anything!” Dad was practically shouting now, pointing towards the door. A clear eviction notice. “‘Don’t owe me anything’,” I repeated slowly, the words tasting like ash. “Who was it that begged me, tears streaming down their face, to take the fall for Ryan? Who promised that if I did this, I’d be the family’s savior, that you’d spend the rest of your lives repaying me?” “All I’m asking for now is a room in the apartment I paid for. Is that too much? Is this how you repay me?” Each word was heavy, fueled by a churning mix of anger and hurt. Back then, Ryan and Ashley had taken my car, driving recklessly – speeding, wrong way down a one-way street – and hit someone. Killed them. My parents came to me immediately. Ryan had just gotten into a top university, they’d said. His future was so bright. This accident couldn’t ruin him. Me? I was just a clerk at some small company. My future didn’t matter as much. So they cried, they pleaded, they begged me to take the blame. They swore the whole family would be forever grateful once I got out. It wasn’t about getting repaid. I did it because I loved them. I loved my parents, I loved my brother. I was willing to destroy my own life for them. To protect Ryan, I sold my car, emptied my savings account, lost my job, paid the victim’s family compensation, took the conviction, and endured all the public shame. Three years in prison. Three years of hell. I gritted my teeth and got through it. But I never imagined this. Not overwhelming gratitude, not even simple relief. Just… utter betrayal. Rejection. The family I loved, the family I sacrificed everything for… had turned into a pack of ungrateful vultures. “Look, Alex,” Ryan started, his voice laced with frustration, “I know you’re pissed. But these past three years haven’t been easy for us either! Having an ex-con in the family… people talk! They stare! If you move back in, imagine the gossip. Can’t you think about us for a change?” There it was. The brother I’d shielded, the one I’d given everything for, finally showing his true colors. To him, I wasn’t a savior. I was an embarrassment. A burden dragging them down. Any lingering hope I had just… died. This house felt cold, empty. All my sacrifice? A fucking joke. I looked at my brother, this golden child standing taller than me now, and my voice went flat. “Ryan, don’t forget. The one who should be the ex-con is you. The one who brought shame on this family… is you.” “If you really cared about the family’s reputation, you would have confessed back then. Instead, you let me take the hit, you live in my apartment, and now you have the gall to blame me for not thinking about your feelings?” My words hit home. Ryan’s face turned ugly. “I already thanked you for taking the rap! What more do you want? You’re my older brother, isn’t that what older brothers are supposed to do? It was three years, big deal. Why do you keep bringing it up?” He made it sound so trivial. Like me doing three years hard time was the same as letting him have the last slice of pizza when we were kids. A simple ‘thanks’ should cover it. Predictably, Dad jumped to his defense. “He’s right! Older brothers should look out for their younger siblings. Trying to cash in on doing your duty? You’re being petty, Alex.” “Exactly!” Ashley chimed in, rubbing her belly protectively. “You’re just a broke ex-con looking for a handout. If you’re here leeching off us, how are we supposed to raise our child?” Mom nodded gravely, adding her piece with a sigh. “Alex, honey, your father and I are looking forward to being grandparents. And you’re not getting any younger. It’s perfectly normal for someone your age to live on their own, renting if they have to.” One after another, their words stabbed at me. Sharp, cold, relentless. I was beyond disappointed, but my eyes burned anyway. I looked at them, my voice hoarse. “No wonder none of you ever came to visit me. Not once in three years.” “I told myself you were just busy. Too caught up with life. But the truth is… you were just ashamed of me.” I tilted my head back, blinking hard against the tears. Then, looking each of them in the eye, I asked, my voice steady and low, “Let me ask you one last time. Are you absolutely, positively kicking me out today?” “Yes!” Dad didn’t hesitate. Mom, Ryan, Ashley – their faces were set, resolute. No room for negotiation. No trace of affection left in their eyes. I nodded slowly, a heavy finality settling in my chest. “Fine. Then as of today, we’re done. I cut all ties with you.” “I just hope… you don’t regret this.” This family, this house… there was nothing left for me here. The $10 million I’d planned to share? That was off the table now too. Without another word, I turned and walked out. Behind me, I heard Ashley’s voice, shrill with resentment. “Regret what? Cutting ties with a loser ex-con with no future? Don’t flatter yourself!” Leaving the apartment that felt colder than any prison cell, I wandered the streets for hours. Eventually, I checked into a decent hotel. Online, I found a top lawyer and paid for a consultation. The apartment I’d bought outright was in my parents’ names. Could I get it back? The lawyer was optimistic. If I could prove I was the actual buyer – provide payment records, renovation receipts, property tax or HOA payment history – I had a strong case. Luckily, I’m meticulous about keeping records. I had everything. I hired the lawyer on the spot, giving him full authority to handle the case. My goal: get my apartment back. With that settled, I lay on the hotel bed, staring at the nine-figure balance on my banking app. My mind drifted back. Mom and Dad always doted on Ryan. He was the smart one, the one destined for greatness. Me? They pulled me out of high school before I could even finish, told me to get a job to pay for Ryan’s future education. So, I entered the workforce young. Construction sites, waiting tables, factory lines, food delivery – I did every grueling, low-paying job imaginable. The apartment represented nearly ten years of scrimping and saving every penny. When it came time to sign the papers, Mom and Dad laid on the guilt trip. What if I got married and forgot about them? They cried, pleaded, until I agreed to put the deed in their names. We were family, right? What could go wrong? The moment I was out of prison, they transferred the deed to Ryan. Didn’t even save me a closet, let alone a room. I couldn’t forgive my parents. And Ryan… the disappointment ran deep. I’d literally gone to prison for him. And this was his gratitude? Teaming up with Mom, Dad, and Ashley to throw me out on the street. The irony wasn’t lost on me. It was brutal. But dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything. At least fate hadn’t left me completely stranded. I had money now. More than I could probably spend. All my life, I’d worked for my family. Now, with no family left, it was time to live for myself. The next day, I went straight to the sales office of a luxury gated community. They happened to be running a promotion: buy more, save more. So, I bought ten fully furnished houses. Cash. I picked one for myself, hired a housekeeper to cook and clean daily, and settled in. The other nine? Rented them out. I used to dream about being a landlord, living off rental income. I never thought prison would be the path to achieving it. Now, just the rent from those nine houses brought in more money each month than I knew what to do with. Life was, unexpectedly, pretty damn good. About a month later, my dad called. “Alex, have you lost your mind? You’re actually suing us?” “I’m suing the people illegally occupying my property,” I replied calmly. “Wow, Alex. Prison really did change you. Turning on your own family, airing our dirty laundry in public? You’ve got some nerve,” he spat. I could almost picture his face turning purple with rage. “Just following the example you set,” I retorted coolly. Then Mom grabbed the phone. “Alex, even if you get the apartment back, what then? Don’t forget, Ryan just landed a great job at a big company, making six figures! And you? You’re an ex-con nobody will hire. You have no income! You’ll come crawling back to your brother eventually! Are you sure you want to burn this bridge over one lousy apartment?” “Getting the apartment back isn’t about needing it,” I said, my voice flat. “It’s about the fact that you vultures don’t deserve to live in it.” I hung up while they were still yelling. Just as I put my phone down, someone knocked on my front door. I opened it to find a stunning woman standing there. Very attractive, confident vibe. “Hi, landlord,” she smiled. “I’m Chloe, from house number two? Your tenant.” I vaguely remembered her. She was the first person to rent one of my houses. Quick, easy transaction. She saw the place, loved it, signed the lease on the spot. “Right, Chloe. What’s up?” I asked. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking slightly embarrassed. “Well, I’m having a little get-together with some old friends right now. They heard about the mystery landlord who bought ten houses cash… and they’re dying to meet you. I was wondering… would you maybe grace us with your presence? Give me some bragging rights?” She batted her eyelashes, looking genuinely hopeful. My first instinct was to say no – I didn’t really know her. But looking at her pleading eyes, I found it hard to refuse. Seeing me hesitate, Chloe clasped her hands together playfully. “Oh, come on, landlord extraordinaire! Please? I already told them I totally knew you and could definitely get you to swing by. Don’t make me look like a liar in front of everyone!” I have a weakness: I can handle confrontation, but I fold easily when people ask nicely. “Alright, fine. I’ll be over in a bit.” Chloe beamed. “Awesome! We’ll be waiting!” After she left, I ditched my sweats, threw on some decent clothes, and walked over to house number two. I knocked. The door swung open. And standing there, glaring at me, was Ashley. My sister-in-law. Ryan was right behind her. “Alex?” Ashley’s eyes narrowed. “Are you seriously stalking us all the way out here?”

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On our anniversary, the other woman sent me a picture. Her and my husband, Ethan, in bed together. Not long after, Ethan asked for a divorce. The reason? She was pregnant, and I hadn’t given him any kids. What he didn’t know was, he couldn’t have kids. He was infertile. 1 Honestly, the signs that Ethan was cheating were obvious. I just hadn’t wanted to see them. It started about six months ago. Ethan staying out late, coming home smelling like sickly sweet perfume. Lipstick marks deliberately left on the back of his neck, like a calling card. Whoever he was seeing wasn’t afraid of me finding out. She was practically declaring war. I felt him pulling away. He became dismissive, responding to my ups and downs with nothing more than a tired sigh. “Ethan, what’s going on with you?” I finally asked him one night. “We got through so much tough stuff together,” I pressed, my voice trembling, tears welling up without permission. “Why won’t you talk to me now when something’s bothering you?” For the first time in what felt like forever, Ethan really looked at me. His lips moved, but no sound came out. After a long pause, like he’d made some heavy decision, he pulled me into a tight hug. His hand rested near my neck, and he murmured against my skin. “I’m sorry, honey. Work’s just been insane. I’m just… tired.” He held me tighter. “Tomorrow’s our anniversary. Let me make it up to you, okay? Give me a chance to show you.” I sighed internally but squeezed his hand back. I still believed he’d just lost his way for a bit. That eventually, when he came to his senses, he’d come back home to me. For our anniversary, he booked a table at a rooftop restaurant. The wind cut right through me that night. I watched the clock hands creep past midnight. Fireworks exploded in the distance, brilliant and loud. Then my phone buzzed. A text from him: “Cheers to 5 years with my amazing Ava. Here’s to many more summers together.” My whole body started shaking. When I came back to myself, I realized I was crumpled on the floor, tears streaming down my face. My palm stung – I’d clenched my fist so hard my nails dug in, drawing blood. My phone lay screen-up on the ground nearby. The man who was supposedly looking forward to our next anniversary was currently wrapped in someone else’s arms, looking disgustingly cozy in the picture she’d sent. I knew it then. His future summers wouldn’t include me. 2 I knew the girl. Chloe. She’d started at Ethan’s company about a year ago, and ever since, he hadn’t stopped raving about her. The way his eyes lit up when he talked about her… I knew that look all too well. But I trusted him. We’d dated for two years, married for four. The initial spark had long since faded, worn down by the daily grind of bills and chores. I’d considered the possibility of the “seven-year itch,” but I always firmly believed that no matter what, he’d end up back with me. “She’s so great,” I teased him once, only half-joking. “Aren’t you even a little tempted?” Ethan got genuinely angry. He looked hurt, clamping down on his frustration, like he couldn’t believe I’d doubt our connection. “The company doesn’t need her that badly,” he said stiffly. “If you don’t like her, I’ll fire her. Simple as that.” Relief washed over me. I cupped his face, kissing him, trying to soothe his ego. “I was kidding! The company’s just getting stable, we need good people. You can’t just fire someone for no reason, what would everyone think?” Somehow, word still got out. The next time I dropped off lunch for Ethan, I felt eyes on me. People looked… weird. Before long, a young woman – Chloe – was kneeling in front of me in the hallway, hair disheveled, sobbing. “Ava, please, I swear I’m not trying to break you up! This is my first real job out of college, I need it! Please don’t make him fire me!” Ethan looked furious too. Rumors flew around the office. Morale dipped. Obviously, firing her was off the table now. Instead, I ended up trending online. Hashtags like #GoldDiggerWife #JealousOfCampusBeauty. Apparently, I was the manipulative wife trying to ruin the reputation of some “college It-girl” to keep my husband’s money. Ethan had to issue a public statement, blaming it on corporate sabotage from a rival company, just to quiet things down. But it was only surface calm. I knew people were whispering behind my back, telling Ethan he should divorce me. He shut down anyone who dared say it to his face. Leaning against him later, exhausted, he held me silently, stroking my hair. At that moment, my trust in him soared to an all-time high. But my gut told me this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. Chloe wouldn’t just give up. 3 When did things really spiral out of control? It was probably the night Ethan came home reeking of booze, collapsing onto the sofa the second he walked in. I couldn’t even remember how many times this had happened recently. He’d had stomach problems since college. Once the company started doing well, I nagged him constantly – avoid drinking whenever possible. He was groaning, clutching his stomach. I went to get his medication. When I came back, he was face down on a throw pillow. And there it was, bright red against his skin: a hickey. Something inside me snapped. I yanked him upright, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “Ethan. Who were you drinking with?” He waved me away, annoyed. “Business partners.” It felt like tiny needles were drilling into my heart. The sharp pain made my nose sting. I grabbed his wrist as he reached for the glass of water I’d brought. I never expected him to shove me. Caught off guard, I stumbled back, hitting my head hard on the corner of the coffee table. Pain exploded, and suddenly, there was blood everywhere. “What the hell is wrong with you? Can you just leave me alone!” he yelled. Then he saw me, kneeling on the floor, hand pressed to my bleeding forehead. The alcohol haze seemed to evaporate instantly. He scrambled for the first-aid kit, hands shaking. Blood dripped onto my hand, onto the wedding ring he’d placed there years ago. A wave of desolation washed over me. He couldn’t find anything to stop the bleeding and fumbled for his phone to call someone to take us to the ER. That’s when I saw his most recent texts. Pinned to the top. From her. Chloe. “Ethan, u home yet?” “Pretty cool drinking whatever u want w/o someone nagging, right? 😉 ” “My bday tomorrow! If u come, Chloe has a special little surprise for uuuu 😉” Ethan swiped the messages away frantically, turning his back to me while he called for a ride. I laughed, a hollow, broken sound. Tears mixed with the blood streaming down my face. Chloe. Ethan. So intimate. 4 When I came to – or maybe just focused after the stitches – Ethan was beside me, holding my hand. His face was stubbled, haggard. “Ava, I’m so sorry, I…” I cut him off, reaching for my phone and dialing a friend, a private investigator. “Hey, Mark? Need you to check someone out for me. Chloe. Chloe Jenkins.” (Let’s give her a last name). Ethan’s bloodshot eyes widened in shock. He went deathly pale, his lips trembling. He looked like a cornered animal. He gripped my hand tighter, so tight I flinched. He probably didn’t even realize his own strength. “Ethan, you’re hurting me.” Hearing my flat tone, the flicker of hope in his eyes died. He instantly loosened his grip, gently cradling my hand instead, rubbing it softly. “Honey, I messed up. I swear, it’ll never happen again. Please, just forgive me this once, okay? Please?” I’d rarely seen him this pathetic. When we were young, he was the confident, ambitious guy everyone looked up to. After we got married, he was the mature, gentle husband. This desperate man begging for forgiveness… the image flickered, overlaying the face I knew, then separating again. I realized, with a sickening clarity, that I was the only one who hadn’t changed. The man I knew, the man I loved, had been twisted by time into someone I barely recognized. I pushed my phone into his hand, leaning back against the pillows, suddenly exhausted. “Ethan,” I said, my voice weary. “I’m just curious about her. Could you have Mark check her out for me? Please?” His hand, holding my phone, wouldn’t stop shaking. Finally, after a long, searching look, he relayed the message to Mark over the phone. I’d actually done some digging on Chloe before. She wasn’t nearly as innocent as she pretended. Just a little prodding revealed she’d hooked up with quite a few powerful men. Using Ethan’s phone, I sent her a message, inviting her over to our house next week. “Seriously, Ethan?? You’re finally taking me home? Won’t Ava be pissed?” she texted back immediately. I didn’t reply. Ethan looked tortured, covering the phone screen with his hand as if he couldn’t bear it. He buried his face against my side, a silent plea. I just stroked his hair gently. Don’t worry, I thought grimly. The real fun hasn’t even started yet.

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“Maya.” My friend Chloe was still looking worriedly at me, perched precariously on two stacked kegs of beer, slurring my words. Tonight was the night I officially ended my one-sided crush. Day 365, exactly. Hard to believe, right? Yours truly actually fell for that sly fox for a whole year. Tonight, I’d even drunk myself stupid over him, losing count somewhere between my fingers and toes. “Chloe, your brother… he’s just a… major… player.” I swayed, raising the plastic cup in my hand, still cursing the man I’d silently adored for a solid year. Of course, in that moment, I had no idea. The very man I was cursing out a thousand times over was sitting at the table right behind us. “Mr. Cole, what’s so funny?” One of his employees, sitting with him, looked puzzled at Ethan Cole’s smiling face. The boss had been grinning like an idiot for the past five minutes. Maybe he’d had too much? “Just listening to someone I like tear me a new one.” Ethan picked up his pint glass as he spoke. “Do I really seem like a fox?” He put the glass back down, asking his employee with surprising seriousness. The sun was practically burning a hole through my blinds, but I was still sprawled out like a starfish on my bed. “Ugh… First day of work.” That’s right. Today was my official entry into the real world, and yesterday, I’d gotten blackout drunk and made a fool of myself over some jerk. “Just my luck.” I dragged myself out of bed, muttering another curse at the guy who clearly toyed with people’s emotions. I opened Instagram, checking if I’d missed any DMs from last night, and saw the 99+ notification bubble on my story views and feed. Whoa, did some major drama go down yesterday? Curiosity piqued, I tapped the notification and saw video after video being shared by practically everyone I knew. “Drunk Woman Climbs on Man, Tries to Rip His Clothes Off at Local Brewery.” In the video, some girl was absolutely wasted, practically straddling a guy, and then dramatically smashed his phone onto the hard concrete floor. “What the actual f—?” “This chick is…” Just as the next insult was forming on my lips, I heard a clear voice in the video say, “Ethan Cole.” … “Holy crap, is that… me?” I sucked in a breath, zooming in on every pixelated detail. My face in the video was mercifully blurred out, but Ethan’s shirt was clearly ripped open at the collar, buttons missing. Ding-dong. Just as I was processing the mortifying image of my drunken alter ego, my doorbell rang. “Who is it?” I shuffled over to the door. “Ethan Cole?” I opened the door, and there he stood – the star of last night’s public humiliation, courtesy of me. He was wearing a hoodie, but I could just make out a reddish-purple mark blooming on his neck. Probably… My doing. I swallowed hard. Oh God… I’m screwed. “The player’s here to collect his dues.” He grinned, looking way too pleased with himself. The next second, he pulled a phone out of his hoodie pocket – an iPhone 13 Pro Max with a screen so shattered, little shards of glass were practically flaking off. “My phone. You smashed it yesterday.” He deliberately waved the mangled wreck in my face. “I… I’ll pay you back!” I tried to sound defiant, but I knew I had zero leverage. It’s just, what, over a grand? Worst case, I’d have to swallow my pride and hit up my parents. “Oh really?” He raised an eyebrow, casually leaning one hand against the doorframe, hip cocked. “And the viral video? My reputation? How do you plan on compensating for those?” 2 “I…” My mouth just opened and closed. Ethan straightened up, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Character defamation, and assault without consent…” “Assault?! Give me a break! I didn’t do anything like that to you!” I cut him off before he could finish. “Didn’t you?” Ethan raised that damn eyebrow again. He looked like the cat that got the cream, absolutely reveling in this. “Maya Bishop, right?” I’d barely stepped into the lobby of my new office building when I ran smack into the HR Director who interviewed me a few weeks ago. “Yes, that’s me.” I managed a tight, awkward smile. I’d finally managed to get rid of Ethan, that smug fox, at my apartment, only to immediately run into this woman who radiated stern high school principal vibes. Ethan Cole is definitely bad luck for me, I thought grimly. “The CEO wants to see you in his office. I’ll take you up.” The woman adjusted her glasses, her tone clipped and slightly annoyed. “The CEO?” Little old me, fresh out of college, getting summoned by the CEO on day one? “Not the Marketing Department…?” I tried to keep my voice pleasant and polite. “Just go when you’re told. Stop asking so many questions.” She gave me a dismissive look, clearly unimpressed. “Okay then.” I swallowed my irritation. This battle-axe… if this wasn’t a professional setting, I’d be tempted to give her a piece of my mind. I followed her through a large open-plan office area. The unfriendly stares from nearby desks finally made me realize something was off. Oh God… did they see the video too?? My steps grew heavier, my anxiety spiking. No way. Am I going to get fired before I even log into my work computer? 3 “Ethan Cole?” The HR Director pushed open the door to the CEO’s office, and I blurted out his name like I’d seen a ghost. So much for making a professional first impression. Ethan was lounging in his chair, still wearing the same hoodie from this morning. He glanced up, sizing me up. “Lorraine, you can go.” He cleared his throat, waving dismissively at the HR Director beside me. The woman, apparently named Lorraine, shot me another dirty look before turning and stalking out of the office. Inside the company, Ethan’s looks apparently won him legions of female admirers. Honestly, who wouldn’t fall for a ridiculously good-looking guy like him? Of course, I never imagined this Ethan Cole, Chloe’s brother, was actually the honest-to-God CEO. “You have three meetings today. You’ll need to take notes on your laptop.” Ethan clicked his mouse, bringing up his schedule, acting as if our conversation this morning never happened. “Me?” I pointed at myself, then glanced back at the closed office door. “I’m just an intern… assigned as the CEO’s Executive Assistant?” “Mm-hmm. Problem?” Ethan looked up, arching an eyebrow. “Not happy about it?” The salary for an EA to the CEO was way higher than a regular assistant gig. Who wouldn’t bow down to the almighty dollar? Me, Maya Bishop… Of course, I was the first one bowing. “Happy! Very happy!” I nodded repeatedly, my smile feeling incredibly fake. Okay, maybe Ethan was capable of acting like a normal human being after all. “Ahem, shouldn’t I have an experienced assistant train me first?” Normally, even an intern assistant position would involve shadowing someone senior to learn the ropes. Especially for the CEO’s assistant. “Little Maya, having me train you shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Ethan rested his chin on his hand, his tone deliberately teasing. I was wrong. So, so wrong. How could I ever treat this calculating fox like a normal person? Fine. Deep breaths. Keep the peace. Besides, he was technically the “victim” of my drunken antics. And… my direct boss. “No problem, no problem at all!” I forced another bright smile and pulled my laptop out of my bag. “Right, since I’ll be personally training you for the next few days, your temporary workspace will be… over there in the corner.” He raised his eyebrows again, a knowing smirk playing on his unfairly handsome face. I followed his gaze to the spot he indicated. A simple, small wooden desk crammed next to a large potted plant. “Are you kidding me?” I pointed, barely managing to hold back the string of curses already queued up in my head. 4 “How is this kidding?” Ethan slowly took off his non-prescription glasses (definitely just for show), steepling his fingers under his chin. The next second, that damned fox! He tugged the collar of his hoodie down again! “Now this is kidding. Oh wait, no, it’s teasing.” The fox even craned his neck, practically daring me to get a good look at the angry, purplish hickey. “Ethan Cole!” I stomped my foot, wanting nothing more than to hurl my laptop straight at his face – the face that probably broke hearts daily. “Don’t think just because you’re letting the other stuff slide—!” I surged forward, ready to grab his non-existent tie, but just as I lunged… The office door opened. “Mr. Cole…” The man poking his head in was balding, looking a bit older than Ethan. His eyes widened as he took in the scene: me with one knee practically planted on Ethan’s stomach (from the lunge), my hand fisted in the collar of his hoodie. Yep, balding guy totally got the wrong idea. The spectacularly wrong idea… “Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Cole… I’ll come back later…” The man retreated faster than seemed physically possible, carefully shutting the door behind him. Oh, fantastic. I could already hear the office gossip: New assistant tries to sleep her way to the top on day one. This was going to be even juicier than the brewery video. “He’s gone. Feel free to continue.” Ethan just smirked, those sharp eyes of his crinkling at the corners with that foxy charm. “Continue what?! I was about to punch you!” I scrambled back, smoothing down my white button-down shirt. What a jinx. My first day, and already caught in two compromising situations. As I meticulously straightened the wrinkled hem of my shirt, Ethan stood up and smoothly cornered me against the wall. “Little Maya, there’ll be plenty of time for you to ‘punch’ me later. No need to rush.” He leaned in close, his dark eyes meeting mine, and for a second, it felt like sparks flew. “You… stop talking like that. It’s creepy.” I glared back, refusing to be flustered. Later that evening, the viral video that had taken over my feed was suddenly gone. Vanished without a trace. Figures. The internet’s attention span is short. I stared at my phone screen, finally breathing a sigh of relief. Okay, note to self: No more binge drinking. Ever. My face can’t handle another round of pixelated internet fame. I’d lived a relatively drama-free life until now, and somehow, this damn fox tripped me up completely. “Sly fox…” I muttered at my phone screen, then went into my photo gallery and deleted every picture I’d saved of him over the past year. This past year, I’d poured everything into liking him. Even people around us knew how I felt about the ‘fox.’ If it hadn’t been for that day I accidentally overheard he liked someone else, I wouldn’t have given up so quickly. Having someone he liked, yet still accepting gifts from other girls… seriously, what a player. The thought made me snort in disgust. Ping. Late at night, my phone chimed. “Who the heck is messaging me this late? So annoying.” I rubbed my eyes, reluctantly grabbing my phone. The screen flared brightly. A single red notification dot next to Ethan Cole’s contact.

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I was grabbing breakfast with my roommates. All because I ordered a bowl of savory tofu pudding, one of them went ballistic on me in front of everyone. She kept a snake in our dorm despite everyone’s objections, and even stole stuff. The others were willing to put up with it, but not me. No way! 1. At the start of the semester, to bond with my roommates, we did everything together. Today, when we all went for breakfast, I ordered a bowl of savory tofu pudding. It came out steaming, spicy broth mixed with soft tofu, and smelled amazing. I was about to dig in when one of my roommates, Brittany, suddenly shrieked, pointing at me, looking like she’d seen a ghost. “Yulie, what the heck are you eating?” I was a little confused. “Tofu pudding.” She looked horrified. “That gross stuff is tofu pudding? The only tofu pudding I’ve ever had is sweet.” Being told my food was disgusting killed my appetite, and I frowned. But I tried to be patient. “It’s a regional thing. Some people eat it sweet, some eat it savory. It’s not that weird. Even if you don’t like it, you should respect other people’s preferences.” Brittany just stared at me with a sour look on her face. She made no attempt to hide her disgust. The other roommates noticed the tension and tried to smooth things over. “Hey, we eat it savory back home, and nobody calls it gross.” “We usually have the sweet stuff here, but I think savory tofu pudding sounds good. Live and let live, right? What’s the big deal?” But Brittany did something no one expected. She stood up and started yelling at me, right there in the crowded cafeteria. “Tofu pudding is supposed to be sweet! You hick, take your savory garbage and get outta here!” 2. Truth was, this wasn’t the first time Brittany had done something totally off the wall. On move-in day, she gathered the four of us together and, all smiles, announced she wanted to keep a snake in the dorm. “Hey, I wanted to get your thoughts on something… Would it be okay if I kept a snake here?” One of our roommates, Sarah, was a typical Southern girl, super sweet and gentle. She immediately voiced her opinion. “I’m sorry, but I’m terrified of snakes.” I and the other roommate also voted no. People either loved or hated snakes. The ones who loved them couldn’t get enough, but the ones who hated them would freak out at the sight of one. It wasn’t that I was afraid of snakes, but the school clearly stated no pets allowed. It would be a huge hassle. Brittany insisted. “It’s no big deal, the snake’s super cute, non-venomous, and doesn’t bite. You’ll love it.” “I’ll keep it in a tank. I promise it won’t get out.” We still looked unconvinced. She muttered, “I can’t believe you’re all being so difficult.” Then, right in front of us, she pulled a snake out of her backpack. “Too bad, I already brought it. I’m keeping it.” Sarah burst into tears when she saw the snake’s flashy pattern and its tongue flicking at us. I frowned, annoyed by her “ask for forgiveness, not permission” attitude. This wasn’t a discussion, it was a heads-up. Brittany, holding the snake, declared, “It’s not just your dorm, you know? I have a right to have a pet.” It was a done deal. She swore up and down the snake wouldn’t get out of the tank, so we had to agree. Chapter 2: Under the Radar 3. After the tofu pudding incident, Brittany apologized to me privately. She grabbed my hand, all fake sweetness. “Yulie, I’m so sorry. I just say what’s on my mind, no filter. You’re not mad, right?” I accepted her apology for the sake of peace, but I wasn’t going to be as friendly as before. I started distancing myself from Brittany. I wasn’t about to get close to someone who could go off like that at any moment. One day, I got back to the dorm, and Brittany was on my chair, holding her snake, flipping through my photo albums on the bookshelf. She didn’t even offer to get up when she saw me. Instead, she started cackling. “Yulie, you were such an ugly kid! Total country bumpkin.” I rushed over, snatched the album away, and snapped, “Who said you could go through my stuff? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners?” Brittany shrugged. “Relax, it’s not like it’s valuable. What’s the harm in looking?” She clearly didn’t think she’d done anything wrong. Then, her eyes lit up, and she stared at the bag I was carrying. “Oh my god, Yulie, that bag looks so fake!” “That design just came out! It’s not even in stores yet.” I subtly moved the bag behind me. Brittany took that as a sign I was ashamed of getting called out. She grinned, playing along. “So, you’re into designer stuff, huh?” “But young people need to be realistic. Don’t go chasing after labels. Carrying a fake won’t turn you into a princess.” “If you like them, I have tons of real bags you can borrow. No need to carry knockoffs. People will laugh at you.” I politely declined. “No thanks. I don’t want to catch anything.” I saw a crack appear in Brittany’s perfect smile. The bag wasn’t actually mine. Luxury brands sent me the latest designs as soon as they came out. This bag was the cheapest one in my closet. My parents always said to be low-key. That’s why I picked it. Now someone was calling it a fake. I’d seen Brittany’s “real” bags. They were heavily discounted designer brands, used so much the leather was peeling. She wasn’t exactly clean. She sometimes tossed used tissues into her bags. I really did worry about catching something. I wasn’t trying to be snide. Brittany was the weirdest person in the dorm. When it was time to pay the water bill, she’d argue she barely used any water. When it was time to pay the electric bill, she’d calculate exactly how many hours she was in the dorm and only pay for those hours. When we went out for hot pot, she’d say she was on a diet and only eat greens, so she should only pay for the greens. Then, when we were done, she’d scarf down all the leftover meat, saying we couldn’t waste it. That was who she was, and now she was trying to act generous. Hilarious. Brittany’s face turned red. “Fine, be that way. I wouldn’t want you to get my bag dirty.” Chapter 3: Fake Rich 4. Brittany was a “beauty” influencer with a million followers. She streamed live every night from the dorm, sometimes doing crazy live chats with fans. The rest of us usually went to bed at a decent hour, but Ms. Brittany had to mess that up. Her streams were a nightmare. She’d suddenly scream when everyone was quiet or blast music and shout at her game in the middle of the night. My roommates were all on the verge of a breakdown. “Brittany, could you stream earlier? We need to sleep. We can’t with you being so loud.” Brittany always agreed. “Sure, no problem.” Then, the next night, she’d do it all over again, and apologize. “Sorry, but my fans can only watch me at night. I can’t let them down, you know?” Then she’d start on us. “If you can’t sleep, that’s your problem. Some people can sleep anywhere. I guess you guys are just princesses.” I had never met someone so shameless. I wanted to smack her. Why couldn’t she be quiet at night? Sarah stopped me. “Just ignore it, okay? Less drama.” I decided to check out Brittany’s stream to see what it was like. Her username was “LittleB_SoCute!” I barely recognized her. The person on screen was nothing like the girl in our dorm. Brittany had dark skin, her eyes were tiny, and she was short and skinny. But on screen, she was a big-eyed, fair-skinned, curvy babe! The magic of filters, I guess. The comments were going wild. [LittleB is so hot!] [What kind of guy could land LittleB?!] [So glad LittleB is at State U! Lucky us!] Then, one comment popped up. [I go to State U too! Never seen you around.] Other fans jumped in. [You can’t just see LittleB anytime!] [It’s a blessing to see her. Beauty is rare.] Brittany tossed her hair and smiled. “I’m a homebody. I only go out for class. Hope to see you around!” The comments exploded. [Hot and a homebody! I love it!] [LittleB is one of us!] 5. “Yulie, look!” Brittany spun around in front of me, showing off a fancy Hermès bag, grinning from ear to ear. She wanted me to ask about it. I glanced at it and said, “Nice.” Brittany was not happy I didn’t seem jealous. She cornered me and told me all about the bag. “It’s Hermès! You’ve probably never seen one before.” “Guess who gave it to me? My top donor! I can’t believe he splurged.” “He hasn’t even met me in person. He’s just obsessed with me.” Brittany giggled. I smiled, thinking my grandma wouldn’t even let the dog wear that to carry sausages. Brittany said generously, “I can let you borrow it when I’m done with it.” I declined. “No thanks. I have enough bags.” Brittany laughed. “Yulie, you’re not fooling anyone.” She looked down at me, all high and mighty. “You dress so plain. You could never afford something like this.” I said, “Yep.” 6. I saw Brittany had just updated her social media. The photo was her in a skimpy dress, posing for the camera. The picture was heavily edited, but… Was that my Prada bag? I thought back. I’d been doing an experiment with my professor that day. I hadn’t been back to the dorm all day. Brittany had snuck out my bag while I was gone! She hated fakes, right? What was she doing? [LittleB’s bag is so cute! Link, please!] Brittany replied, [Sorry, cutie. It’s Prada, but it hasn’t come out yet. You can’t buy it yet.] [Wow, getting it before release! What’s your deal?] Someone replied, [Brands send the latest stuff to their partners first. Get it?] Brittany sent a blushing emoji. Everyone knew. [You’re not just a pretty face! You’re rich!] [Marry me!] She’d built a “rich” persona online. I grinned. How could I let that happen?

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I’m the daughter of a mob boss, lost for years and finally found by my dad. All because I brought my boyfriend to the family dinner to introduce him. My stepmother and her daughter, Tiffany, immediately hated me. In my past life, Tiffany gouged out my eyes, cut out my tongue, and hired thugs to torture me to death. “I’m the only heiress in the Miller family. How dare you, you little tramp, try to steal my man? Just wait until he finds out you’ve been used by everyone. He won’t want you then!” My boyfriend knelt before my stepmom, begging her to plead for me, but she didn’t budge. “She’s not my daughter. As long as Tiffany is happy, she can die with some value.” To cover up Tiffany’s crime, my stepmom even ordered my boyfriend to be stabbed to death and dismembered. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment when Tiffany was about to gouge out my eyes. This time, I immediately called my dad. “Dad, don’t give those two a single dime starting today.” “Also, Tiffany isn’t your biological daughter. There’s no need for her to stay in the Miller family anymore.” I wanted to see how long this Miss Perfect could keep up her act. “Lily, I’m so sick of you hanging all over Jake! You’re always batting your eyelashes at him, trying to seduce him. How else would he even look at a skank like you? Today, I’m going to poke your eyes out so you can’t flirt with anyone anymore!” Hearing that familiar voice, I felt a chill on my eyelids. A sharp pain hit, and my muddled brain instantly cleared. Opening my eyes, I saw Tiffany grinning wickedly, holding a knife to my eyelid. She had already cut a line. I immediately realized I had been reborn. Reborn to the day Tiffany tied me up in the basement to gouge out my eyes and cut out my tongue. The Bluetooth earpiece hidden by my tangled hair carried the mocking voice of my stepmother. “Lily, Tiffany is my biological daughter. Do you think I’d help you? You should just hand Jake over to her. Then I might consider saying a good word for you. Tiffany is such a good girl. You must have made her angry.” The cold touch on my eyelids made my heart sink. I silently closed my mouth, not begging my stepmother for help. I remembered how, in my past life, I desperately tried to explain to her that Jake and I had known each other for a long time, and I never tried to steal Tiffany’s boyfriend. I begged her to let me go, sacrificing all my dignity. But my stepmother coldly refused. Tiffany noticed my unusual behavior. She smashed my hidden phone, cutting off my only hope of rescue. Remembering this, I immediately turned my head. The knife that was supposed to cut my eye missed and left a long gash on my left cheek. My actions triggered Tiffany. She slapped my uninjured face. “You dare to dodge! If I want to punish you, you’ll take it!” My right cheek went numb. Warm blood flowed from the gash on my left cheek. I must already be disfigured. Tiffany saw my blood-covered face and sneered before turning to leave. I knew she wasn’t letting me go. She was going to find someone to violate me. Once she was completely gone, I struggled with my tied hands, barely reaching the phone in my pocket. This time I needed to call my dad. I had just dialed when Tiffany walked back in and saw me. “Lily, what are you doing!” My heart raced. There was no time to hide. But the phone connected at that exact moment. Five burly men appeared behind Tiffany, grinning and walking towards me as they unbuckled their pants. The terrifying scene from my past life flashed through my mind. Just before Tiffany reached me and grabbed my phone, I shouted as loudly as I could, “Dad, help me!” “Ah!” Tiffany grabbed my phone, smashed it to pieces, and slapped me hard across the face. The unhealed wound throbbed, but I wasn’t as afraid this time. I knew my dad would come to save me. I was the only biological daughter of a mob boss, kidnapped as a child and found ten years later. My dad kept this a secret because he suspected someone close to him was involved in my disappearance. No one knew I was a Miller. If my dad knew I had been hurt like this, even if he had gone legit years ago, he would make the people who hurt me pay dearly. Tiffany’s slap was hard. I fell to the ground, unable to move. The next second, she stepped on my face with the sole of her shoe, grinding repeatedly, looking down at me. “Still trying to call for help? You won’t get the chance. Today, I’m going to let them ruin you. Let’s see if Jake still wants you!” With that, she winked at the five men. They leered as they took off their clothes and approached me. My dad wouldn’t arrive so quickly. It seemed I couldn’t escape being violated today. I closed my eyes in despair. But at that moment, the door was kicked open. Opening my eyes, I saw my boyfriend, Jake, who had been dismembered by my stepmother in my past life, rushing to save me. 2 “Lily!” He shouted anxiously, “Run, Lily, run!” Seeing him risk himself for me again, just like in my past life, my heart ached. I curled up in a ball, shaking my head at him through tears. “Jake, just go! Don’t worry about me!” I was covered in wounds, my hands were tied, and I couldn’t run far even if I tried. He had died a horrible death trying to save me in my previous life. I couldn’t let him be in danger again. Jake resisted for a few moments before the thugs knocked him down and started kicking and punching him. “Jake!” My heart broke. I shouted desperately, “Leave him alone! He’s innocent!” But it did no good. Tiffany kicked me in the stomach, making me almost throw up. “Lily, you’re really something. Jake is willing to fight so hard for you.” I was confused. Wasn’t she obsessed with Jake? Why was she unmoved by him being beaten? I endured the pain and looked at her. “Why are you doing this to Jake? Let us go now, or you won’t be able to handle the consequences!” Tiffany sneered and kicked me in the gut again. “Because he keeps rejecting me! If I can’t have him, then I’ll ruin him!” With that, she squatted down and grabbed my chin. “What consequences can you even bring me? I’m the only daughter of a mob boss! Even if I kill you today, the cops won’t dare to mess with me!” “Jake is suffering because of you! You deserve this!” The five men approached me again. One was already unbuckling his belt. Jake did everything he could to tackle one of the men. But the others ruthlessly pinned him to the ground, stomping on his ankle. “Ah!” Jake’s screams and the sound of bone cracking pierced my ears. We would both die here if this continued. Realizing this, I didn’t care anymore and revealed my identity. “Tiffany, you’re just a kid your mom brought into the Miller family through remarriage! I’m Guy Miller’s only daughter!” “Stop right now and let us go, or I can kick you and your mom out of the Miller family with one word. I’ll make you pay a thousand times over!” Tiffany paused. After understanding my words, she laughed even louder. “Lily, if you don’t want to die, you can beg me. Kneel down and beg me. There’s no need to make up such outrageous lies, right? Aren’t you a Cloud? I’ve never heard of my dad having a daughter with a different last name.” My heart sank. My dad was too secretive about my identity to protect me from danger. He didn’t even let me change my last name. Nobody knew his daughter had been found. My dad suspected someone close to him had been involved, so he replaced all the butlers and servants in the house. Even the pet dogs were replaced. Now, nobody, neither inside nor outside the family, knew that the former mob boss had found his daughter. I endured the pain and glared at Tiffany. “I’m telling the truth. You can call my dad and ask!” I had a glimmer of hope that if Tiffany called my dad, I could beg for help again over the phone. “Hmph, I won’t call. I don’t believe you!” Saying that, she stepped on me again. My stomach churned. I opened my mouth to gag. The moment I opened my mouth, she pinched my chin shut. “Still lying when you’re about to die? I’m going to cut out your tongue right now and see how you can still lie!” With that, she had two burly men hold my shoulders while she slowly picked up the knife from the ground. Fear instantly spread through my body. I struggled violently, kicking with my untied legs. One kick landed on Tiffany. She stumbled and almost fell. “Bitch!” Tiffany instantly snapped. She slapped my face repeatedly, yelling as she did so. My face burned. It must be so swollen that you couldn’t make out my features anymore. Watching the knife get closer and closer, I felt a chill run through me. Was I going to be unable to escape being gouged out and having my tongue cut out again, even after being reborn? Tiffany viciously grabbed my tongue. My tears instantly poured out in pain. Just as the knife was about to fall on my tongue, the basement door was kicked open. A group of black-suited bodyguards rushed in, effortlessly taking care of the thugs guarding Jake. The two thugs holding me were startled and unconsciously let go of me. Tiffany didn’t care about anything. She turned to run, but other bodyguards pinned her to the ground. My dad’s assistant rushed over, followed by a doctor, and took Jake and me to the Miller family’s private hospital. 3 I had just been bandaged up and taken to a VIP room when my dad called. I answered the phone and told him everything that had happened. My dad was furious. “Tiffany is really out of control, she really thinks of herself as my daughter? Don’t worry, honey, Dad will take care of you!” “And that bitch, Brenda. She doesn’t deserve to hold the title of my wife. I will make them regret coming into this world.” I nodded in agreement. “Dad, since Tiffany isn’t your biological daughter, then there’s no need to keep her in the Miller family anymore.” “Also, Jake is my boyfriend. He almost died saving me this time. I’ll introduce him to you when the time comes.” My dad made a heavy promise. “Don’t worry. From the moment she dared to hurt you, she was no longer a member of my family.” “Dad has already landed, I’m coming back to help you get revenge!” Hanging up the phone, my heart finally settled. I wanted to go to the room next door to see Jake. Just as I got out of bed, the door to the ward was pushed open from the outside. My stepmother, Brenda, walked in with a group of bodyguards. Before she could speak, she raised her hand and slapped me to the ground. “You little tramp, who gave you the guts to bully my daughter!” The wound that had just been bandaged up started bleeding again. My head spun. I didn’t understand what right she had to hit me. She was just my dad’s second wife. If it wasn’t for me, she would still be selling herself in a brothel. When I was seven years old, my biological mother died of illness. My dad wanted to go legit because of his position, so the mob boss assisted the police in taking down several brothels. Brenda was one of them. The first time I saw her, I thought she looked like my mom. So, I begged my dad to let her be my mom. That’s how she came to marry into the Miller family with Tiffany, who was the same age as me. I gave her the opportunity to be a rich lady, but she pushed me into hell. Tiffany, who should have been locked up awaiting my decision, walked out from behind Brenda. Looking at me on the ground, she said, “Mom, never mind. She said she was Dad’s biological daughter, and she said she was going to make me pay.” Brenda looked at me, her red lips curled into a sneer. “The Millers do have a biological daughter, but she was kidnapped by traffickers a long time ago. She’s probably dead by now.” “I’ve been married into the Miller family for so many years. How could I not recognize the real Miller heiress?” Brenda’s words directly negated me. Then, a middle-aged man walked out from behind Brenda. I recognized him as the person who had just rescued me, called Randy, and a glimmer of hope reignited in my heart. Just as I cast a look of help towards Randy, he kicked me in the stomach. “You’re really a shameless whore. You want to trick us into thinking you’re the boss’s daughter? You’re really brave!” “You don’t know your place. Let me teach you a lesson!” He kicked me in the stomach again and again. I couldn’t take it anymore and spit out a mouthful of blood. My vision blurred with pain. I looked at Randy in disbelief. “Are you crazy? I really am Guy Miller’s biological daughter!” “Smack!” He slapped me. My head rocked back and forth. “I’ve been by the boss’s side for so many years. The boss does have a missing daughter, but if it was you, why wouldn’t he recognize you?” “You even dare to call the boss by his name. You really don’t want to live.” “The Miller family only has Miss Tiffany. I think you’re just trying to steal the Miller family’s money and pretend to be the boss’s daughter to scam money!” Randy turned me into a lying woman trying to scam money with a few words. I wanted to explain that my dad didn’t announce it to protect me, but before I could open my mouth, Tiffany spoke pitifully. “Mom, Lily is seducing Jake. You know, Jake is the person I like, but she seduced him. This is just insulting me!”

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I was Daniel’s fiancé. The day his family’s company went belly up, Daniel was scrambling, hounded by creditors. I ended up being the one who got him out of the country. Before he left, I even fronted him a million bucks to get started. “Here’s a million. I’ll be right here, waiting for you to come back and marry me!” Five years later, Daniel was the hot new thing in the business world, and he came back, just like he said he would. Only this time, he wasn’t here to marry me. He was here to call things off. Right in front of the cameras, he took Jessica’s hand and made it official. “Five years ago, when my family lost everything, we called off the engagement with the Eleanor family. Jessica’s my fiancé now.” … I sat back in my office chair, lit a cigarette. I looked at Jessica, sitting all dolled up next to Daniel. She was a looker, even more so than in the pictures I’d seen online. I blew out a lungful of smoke, filling the air. Jessica started coughing without even trying to hide it. Daniel was all over her, waving the smoke away from her face and turning back to me with a frown. “Hey, there’s a lady present, Eleanor. Can’t you put that thing out?” Now that he was a big shot, Daniel was less of a kid than he’d been five years ago. His eyes were sharper, and he had a bite to his words. Five years ago, no way he would have talked to me like that. I used to smoke, I used to drink, and he’d just be there, quietly by my side. Then he’d give me gum to get rid of the cigarette smell, make me hangover soup to get the buzz out. Just like he was waving away the smoke for Jessica now. Back then, I was just dumb enough to fall for that sweet, caring act. I practically begged my dad to go to the Daniels family and ask for my hand in marriage. But the good times didn’t last. Not long after we got engaged, the Daniels family went bankrupt out of nowhere, and Daniel’s parents died soon after. Daniel was all alone, with nowhere to go, and creditors chasing him left and right. I gave him a million, got him out of the country, and even said something ridiculous, like I’d wait for him to come back and marry me. Thinking about it now, I had to laugh. Daniel frowned at me. “What’s so funny, Eleanor?” “Do I need to get your approval to laugh, Mr. Daniels?” He stared at me for a long moment, then reached out and handed me a bank card. “Here’s ten million. It’s ten times the million you loaned me five years ago. I hope you’ll keep quiet. I don’t want to talk about any of that again!” I chuckled, then calmly pocketed the card. “One thing at a time, Daniel. The ten million is what you owed me. Keeping quiet is going to cost you extra!” Seeing me negotiate, Daniel seemed relieved. He pulled out another bank card and handed it over. “Here’s another ten million. I hope you keep your word!” With that, he seemed to regain his confidence, standing up straight in front of me. The little bit of hair falling on his forehead fluttered a little, just like the day he said goodbye five years ago. He didn’t look like he’d changed much. He said he’d make it, he’d come back to this city, and he’d never forget how I felt about him. The memories and reality started to merge. Daniel’s brand of gentle, confident arrogance still got to me. I must be out of my mind. Was I about to get all lovey-dovey now? “Ms. Eleanor, the amounts in both cards are correct.” My assistant’s voice snapped me out of it. Daniel looked a little cold, seeing that I didn’t trust him enough to check the amounts on the cards. Before he left, he gave me a solemn look. “Eleanor, you should try to be more of a lady. No one’s going to like you the way you are!” He said it with such sincerity, like he was actually worried about me. But I didn’t care. I am who I am, a one-of-a-kind firework. 2 Honestly, I knew Daniel had changed his mind long ago. Or maybe he never loved me in the first place. Five years ago, when he promised to marry me, he was probably just caught up in the moment. Or maybe it was my million that got to him, and he couldn’t find a reason to say no. So now that he was back, he couldn’t wait to get rid of me, to make things right for him and Jessica. What Daniel didn’t know was that I was way ahead of him. He was out of the country for five years, and I wasn’t there for him. Jessica was. She gave him encouragement when he was down, cheered him up when he was feeling bad. She made a much bigger impression than me, the woman who just gave him a pile of cash. Now, they’d been through thick and thin together, and I was just the rich girl who got played. I handed the two bank cards to my assistant and had her bid on a necklace at an auction. The next day, I showed up at Daniel’s party for the reopening of the Daniels Corporation, wearing that necklace. When I made my entrance, I made sure to rub the brightest pink diamond on the necklace, making it sparkle. Everyone in the room turned to look at me, and the whispers started up. “Isn’t that the necklace Daniel was going to buy to propose to his fiancé?” “Does that mean Eleanor’s the fiancé Daniel’s been talking about?” “No way! Didn’t he say on the news when he got back that they called off the engagement five years ago?” Seeing things get out of hand, Daniel couldn’t stay put. He hurried over to me, his voice low and angry. “Are you doing this on purpose, Eleanor?” “You knew I needed that necklace, so you had someone buy it out from under me!” I lifted my glass and took a sip, ignoring Daniel. But the reporters were like sharks smelling blood. They swarmed around me and Daniel. “Ms. Eleanor, is that the necklace that Mr. Daniels said he was going to use to propose?” “Now that the necklace is on Ms. Eleanor, does that mean you two are getting married soon?” “Ms. Jessica, did you know about this? Mr. Daniels, how are you going to explain this?” Daniel’s face was priceless. He started explaining himself, struggling to say that he had nothing to do with me. As for the necklace, it was just an accident. I waited for him to finish, then calmly set down my glass and added, “I bought the necklace myself, but someone else paid for it, right, Daniel?” Daniel looked like he’d swallowed a bug, his mouth open but unable to say a word. He’d given me the money, but he couldn’t explain why. Whatever I said, he just had to take it. The reporters could smell something fishy, and soon the news about me and Daniel was all over the internet. Everyone was sure that Daniel was the man who gave me the money. He didn’t want to admit it, but he couldn’t deny it either. By the end of the party, most of the reporters had left. Jessica was glaring at me, her eyes locked on the necklace around my neck. “Eleanor, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you have money. So what if you got your hands on the necklace? Daniel doesn’t love you. He’ll never love you!” “All you ever do is make money. You reek of it. No one will ever like you.” 3 I had to admit, Jessica’s words touched a nerve. I raised my hand and slapped her. I wasn’t done yet, but Daniel ran over and stopped me. He grabbed my right hand, his face dark and his voice mean. “How long are you going to keep this up, Eleanor?” “You stole my necklace, ruined the Daniels Corporation party, and now you hit Jessica. What else do you want?” “Don’t think you’re so special just because you’re Eleanor’s daughter. I’m not afraid of you!” He squeezed my hand harder and harder. Before long, there was a bright red mark on my wrist. Jessica was like a bunny, already in his arms, crying and sniffling. “It’s not Eleanor’s fault. It’s my fault. I just said that the necklace she bought was really pretty, but she misunderstood what I meant.” “It’s my fault for not making myself clear. Daniel, I’m okay. You just got back. You don’t need to make things worse with the Eleanor family.” I finally saw what Jessica was up to. She was putting me down to make herself look better to Daniel. And she wanted to make me look bad in front of everyone. Too bad for her, I didn’t care. Everyone in this town knew that Eleanor was rich and had a nasty temper! The people around us were whispering, but no one dared to come forward. Some of the people who knew me were shaking their heads. I raised an eyebrow, yanked my hand away from Daniel, and rubbed my wrist. I kept a smile on my face, and my eyes didn’t change at all. “You’ve gotten a lot bolder in the last five years.” Five years ago, Daniel wouldn’t have dared to grab my wrist like that, not even if I gave him a hundred reasons. He wouldn’t have dared to go against me like this. He didn’t say anything. After a long moment, he gave me a cold look, then took Jessica and left. I knew he wouldn’t stay and fight with me for long, but I didn’t think Jessica would pull any more tricks. After the party, a video quietly made its way to the trending page. The video started with me slapping Jessica and ended with Jessica sadly pulling Daniel away. It made me look like a villain, and it made her look pitiful. People were standing up for her. In the comments, a lot of people came forward, saying that they had been abused by me. I got people to explain that the video had been edited and wasn’t the whole story. But it seemed like it was too late. Everyone had made up their minds about me. After the video came out, Jessica got a lot of attention and did a lot of interviews. She kept hinting that I should apologize. Daniel also took the chance to launch the first product of the rebuilt Daniels Corporation, using his victim status to push the company into the market. His popularity soared, and the company was making money hand over fist. I was the only one who was taking the heat. I looked at the business evaluation for the Daniels Corporation over the past few weeks. I had to say, I had good taste. Five years ago, I knew Daniel would make it, so I gave him a million without thinking twice. He didn’t let me down. He came back a success. But when he came back, he stood on the opposite side of me. I’d basically helped an enemy! I could make him successful, but I could also drag him back into the mud! After that mess, Eleanor’s company took a hit. Our reputation went down, and other companies were targeting us. My best friend was afraid I would be sad, so she dragged me to a bar. But when I got there, I realized it was a trap. Daniel was there, laughing and drinking with other people. My best friend slammed her glass on the table. “Why didn’t you tell us that jerk was here? We wouldn’t have come if we knew.” Some of the people we knew told us to sit down and talk. They said that we shouldn’t stay mad at each other. Daniel even lifted his glass and toasted me. He stood in front of me, saying, “Eleanor, what’s done is done. The Daniels Corporation has gotten back on its feet. If we keep fighting, it won’t be good for either of us. Even Eleanor has to earn money, right?” I didn’t say anything, and his face started to turn ugly. “Are you going to drag this out until we both lose?” The room went silent. All you could hear was my laughter. “You need to be sincere if you want to apologize, or shut up. And where’s your fiancé? Why isn’t she here to talk? Or are you afraid I’ll hit her again?” “I’ve been getting dragged through the mud online for weeks. She hasn’t even shown her face. You just want me to forget about it?” Daniel’s lips were pressed into a thin line, and he was glaring at me. “What do you want?” “What do I want? I want her to apologize to me online, and say that she twisted the facts!” Daniel didn’t even hesitate. If he did that, Jessica’s reputation would be ruined, and the Daniels Corporation would take a hit. I smiled and said, “Then there’s nothing to talk about. Let’s settle this for good!”

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After the wedding, my billionaire husband insisted on sleeping with 99 different starlets every year. At a gala, Chad accidentally shattered a wine glass and demanded that I, eight months pregnant, get on my knees and clean it up for the “it” girl. As the live stream camera focused on me, my water suddenly broke in front of a million viewers. The “it” girl shrieked and jumped back, “Get a shot of her skirt! That’s so gross!” That night, I hemorrhaged in a nearby restroom and delivered a stillborn baby. Meanwhile, back in the ballroom, my husband was toasting champagne with Brittany, his flavor of the week. I wrapped the dead infant in a napkin and handed it to my mother-in-law. My voice was calm. “I did what you wanted. I delivered the first heir to the Lancaster fortune. Now, can I leave?” 1. My mother-in-law wept, cradling the lifeless bundle. “Honey, is there really no turning back? Chad’s just blind and stupid, but he’s not a bad person, can’t you…” A notification popped up on my phone. It was a live stream of Chad down on one knee, proposing to Brittany, the “it” girl. Fireworks exploded as he sincerely kissed her dress. Brittany, teary-eyed, flashed a diamond ring the size of a pigeon’s egg, already sporting a new designer gown. “Who said Chad was secretly married? This is the proposal! Call me Mrs. Lancaster from now on,” she cooed. The internet went wild. Brittany, overwhelmed by the “Mrs. Lancaster” comments, blushed and hid behind Chad. The comments got bolder. “We need to see Chad and his ‘Mrs.’ kiss!” Chad acted as if I didn’t exist. He pulled Brittany in for a sloppy kiss right in front of the camera. My mother-in-law choked. She thought I’d freak out and grabbed my wrist. “Honey, I’m done. I never should have forced Chad to marry you. Leave. Be free.” But I wasn’t angry. All my life force had drained away when I delivered that stillborn. “Maybe wait until after the funeral…” Looking at the cold little body in my mother-in-law’s arms, my heart ached. Once the baby was buried, Chad’s cruelty would never hurt me again! I agreed. My mother-in-law immediately called Chad. “Mom, I knew you’d call. The proposal was just for Brittany. Is Hope giving you trouble again? Can’t she just leave me alone…” “Chad, you need to come home in three days, or you’ll regret it.” A woman moaned in the background, and Chad laughed. “Are you going to drug me again at the old house? Can Hope handle it with her baby bump?” “Get back here for your son’s funeral! Hope had a miscarriage!” The line went silent for a second. Then, the moaning started again. “Oh, she can just get in line. She can have another one,” he said casually. My mother-in-law slammed the phone down. “Honey, leave after the funeral.” Chapter 2 Chad, unable to reach my mother-in-law, surprisingly came home. “I heard about the miscarriage. How are you? You’re young. You can have another one.” I clenched my fists, my knuckles turning white. This was the first time in five years he had offered to give me a child. I would have been thrilled before, but now, I didn’t want it. I said coldly, “No thanks. I don’t want to have your baby.” Chad’s anger exploded. “Hope, I just offered you a kid! Isn’t that enough? Who do you think you are?” He shoved me onto the couch, ripping at my shirt. “You’ve always wanted a baby, right? Here, I’ll give you one. You’ll be happy now!” I pushed him off, slapping him. “Chad, I don’t want you anymore!” You! I don’t want you! The baby, I don’t want it! This “Mrs. Lancaster” title! I don’t want it either! Chad sneered, “Don’t want it! You think I believe that? You just wanted to trap me with a kid. Don’t pretend you don’t care. If you don’t want to, plenty of other women do!” He brought Brittany home to provoke me. Unlike his other flings, Brittany was pregnant. I was drinking a medicinal broth when Chad walked in. “Brittany’s pregnant. She’s moving in. You have experience, so take care of her.” I laughed. Experience? Eight months of a stillbirth experience? Seeing my lack of reaction, Chad frowned and ordered the butler to prepare a room for Brittany. Brittany pinched her nose at my soup spoon and threw it on the floor. “Oh, is Hope so weak she can’t hold a spoon? I’m afraid you’ll never be able to carry a baby.” She wasn’t the first to insult me. The other women had taunted me the same way. I used to beat them to a pulp. But I felt nothing now. Brittany, ignored, felt like a fool. When Chad returned, she grabbed my wrist and shoved the bowl onto the floor. Then, she screamed and fell. “Hope! I just wanted a sip of your soup. Are you trying to kill Chad’s baby?” The usual act. I used to cry and explain that it wasn’t me. But now, I calmly ladled another bowl and poured it over her head. If she wanted to eat, then she could eat. Brittany shrieked, covered in broth. Chad grabbed me, throwing the bowl. “Hope, are you jealous that she can have my baby? What’s wrong with you?” The broken shards sliced my wrist, and blood gushed out. I fell onto the glass. Chad picked up Brittany, yelling at me. “Apologize to Brittany!” The blood ran down my arm and dripped on the floor. Apologize? I picked up a shard and plunged it into the wound, staring at Chad as I slowly widened the cut. Chad hated my seemingly obedient but defiant attitude. He sneered. “Trying to make me feel sorry for you? You’re overdoing it. One cut on your right wrist isn’t enough. Want a few on your left?” I laughed and said “Okay.” Then, I pulled up my sleeve, revealing my prosthetic arm. Brittany gasped, and Chad frowned, his eyes wide. “Why do you have a prosthetic arm?” My left arm had been crushed five years ago saving Chad. He had panicked, finding the best doctors to fit me with a lifelike prosthetic. But the night I was forced to marry him, he had looked at my arm with disgust. “Using your arm to guilt me. Now you’re Mrs. Lancaster. Don’t let me see that metal thing again!” I wore long sleeves whenever I saw Chad. He had forgotten that I had lost an arm. I thought he would feel guilty. Instead, he scoffed. “You finally brought out the prosthetic to guilt me? Want me to feel bad and treat you better? Fine. You win.” Looking at his smirk, I laughed. Yes, I was winning. I’d be free in three days. Chapter 3 Chad took Brittany to the hospital. I went to my room to pack. I realized that nothing held a shared memory of Chad and me. I opened a basket and took out a baby shoe. The thread was a gift from him. That was all. No love, no wedding. The wedding photos were fake. The pregnancy was the result of being drugged. Five years of misery. I needed to end it. “What cute baby shoes!” Brittany appeared behind me, snatching the shoe. Chad stood there, glancing at me indifferently. “Worthless. She bought them for the baby.” Like always, Chad dismissed me. “She was sent here to have my baby.” I used to cry and wait for Chad to love me again. But I was done. Chad continued. “If you like it, our baby can wear it.” Brittany threw the shoe down and clutched her stomach. “Chad, my stomach hurts. The baby’s things are bad luck. We can’t keep it here!” He glared at the shoe. “Burn it.” I tried to stop him. I watched as Chad threw the shoe into the fire. The love was gone. It was just a shoe. I went to get my passport expedited. When I returned, Chad saw it. “Why do you need a passport?” I was startled. “To take my mom on vacation.” He looked surprised, then scoffed. “The funeral’s in two days, and you’re going on vacation.” “You’re heartless!” I was a heartless fool. I burned myself for love, but Chad didn’t care. That night, Chad came to my room and threw a black card at me. He said he was sorry and that he shouldn’t have hurt me. Then, he pushed me onto the bed. “Come on! Brittany’s pregnant, so I’ll satisfy your baby fever.” I felt sick. I slapped him. “Don’t touch me! I don’t want your baby! Get out!” Chad paused, studying me. I glared back. “Get out!” Chad laughed, wiping the blood from his mouth. “Other women sleep with me for free. Now I’m offering you a black card, and you’re complaining. You’re expensive!” He pinned my hands. “Chad, you’re cheap. I think you’re disgusting. I don’t want your kids!” Chad grabbed my chin. “I gave you two chances! Other women line up to sleep with me and have my babies!” “Don’t regret it! You weren’t meant to be a mother!” Chad slammed my arm into the bed. I wiped my mouth. “Chad! I won’t regret it! I hope you do!” I packed my bags. Two days. Chad, I will be free! Chapter 4 I made it to the funeral. I placed flowers on the grave. Chad walked in with Brittany, then she pulled Chad away so we could be alone. I knew she was up to no good. But I was leaving soon. Brittany whispered, “You’re finally going to be famous!” She swallowed pills and slapped herself, pretending to fall. Blood stained her dress. Reporters rushed in, live streaming. “Why?! Why did you hurt my baby?!” “How can you be so proud? Even if you love my husband, you can’t force me to have an abortion. Please don’t hurt my baby…” Brittany screamed. “Is it because Chad rejected you?” “Did you force her to have an abortion? Are you going to jail?” She had paid them off. I didn’t understand why she would sacrifice her child to hurt me. Chad tied me up and made me kneel in front of Brittany’s bed. “You’re evil. You forced Brittany to have an abortion. She’s a star. You ruined her life!” “She’s kind, but I’m not. Kneel and apologize!” Apologize? I laughed. “She wants me to explain?” Brittany was pale and weak. “I just want a sincere apology. Is the mother of the Lancaster heir not worth your repentance?” Chad squeezed my jaw. “Think before you speak, or you won’t leave this room!” “If I apologize, I can leave?” “Yes, if Brittany forgives you.” I nodded. “Don’t touch me. I’m apologizing.” I knelt. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Lancaster. I loved Chad and schemed to break you up. But you and Chad are meant to be, and a mistress can never break that.” “I’m sorry, Mrs. Lancaster. I was jealous and poisoned you. I killed the Lancaster heir. I’m a murderer!” I banged my head on the floor. Brittany smiled. Chad frowned at the blood. “Stop it!” “Want me to regret this?” He started to pull me up, but I continued banging my head on the floor. She ordered Chad to move the patient to another room She did not want me to escape her, [Pricing Point Here] Chapter 5 “What?” “Hope, she died from banging her head on the floor!” Chad laughed. “You can’t die from hitting your head. She’s trying to scare me. I’ll go see her.” Seeing that Chad didn’t believe him, the guard fell silent. Chad saw my body being wheeled into the morgue. He lost it, barging into the morgue and screaming at them to not touch me. The nurse called my mother-in-law. She arrived and slapped him. “Why can’t she die? You tortured her. Let her be free! Chad, I’m in charge of the funeral. You can’t see her again!” Chad returned to the room and saw my blood. He vomited blood. He curled up on the floor, crying. “Hope, I’m sorry. Hope, please come back.” “I’ll bang my head a million times. Please come back, I was wrong…” The guards couldn’t move him. Reporters snapped photos of him crying. “Chad, isn’t Hope a mistress? Why are you crying?” “Mrs. Lancaster lost the baby. Are you suing Hope?” Chad snapped. He punched a reporter and yelled, “Hope isn’t a mistress! She’s my wife, Mrs. Lancaster!” The internet exploded. #Chad and Hope Married for Five Years. The Mistress is the Real Mrs. Lancaster. #Real Wife’s Miscarriage. Mistress Pregnant. Stealing the Identity. #Brittany Fakes Pregnancy. Everyone knew the truth. Chad was drunk, remembering our first meeting. I grew up in Chad’s orphanage. The children were raised to be servants. I was skilled, so I was sent to work for Chad. I lost my arm saving him. We fell in love in the mountains, hiding from kidnappers. My mother-in-law wanted Chad to marry me. But someone accused me of colluding with the kidnappers. Chad believed it. He canceled the wedding and tore up the marriage certificate. My mother-in-law forced him to marry me. He was a victim, saying, “Hope, do you think I didn’t see the greed? Do you think I did not see you with the kidnappers?I am not going to give you a penny of my fortune!” “Beg me for a baby, or you’ll be a widow forever!” My dream wedding became a tomb. I wanted a divorce, but my mother-in-law refused. I had to have a baby. So, I tried to sleep with Chad. He hated me and wouldn’t come home. My mother-in-law drugged Chad, and I got pregnant. In the third month, I gave Chad the pregnancy test. He choked me and forced me to swallow an abortion pill. “I said you could only have a baby if I wanted you to!” My mother-in-law saved me, whipping him. Chad cried. “Hope’s baby must have been cute…” The baby was dead. He had killed it. I had given birth in a bathroom and was left for dead, he was with Brittany. “Hope must have been in pain, and I was with another woman. I should have been with her. I’ll die with her!” Chad saw evidence that Brittany had faked the pregnancy and paid off the reporters. He kidnapped Brittany and made her apologize. She died from banging her head on the floor. Her death was hidden. Chad wasn’t allowed to attend my funeral. So, on the same day, he had a wedding. He held my photo, admitting I was his wife. He had cheated on me many times, and Brittany was just one of them. He had forced me to apologize. He was hated, and the Lancaster’s stock plummeted. Someone sent him a photo from the orphanage. The woman’s face looked just like mine. Chad offered a million for information about me. He was crazy. “Hope, you’re not dead. I’ll find you!”

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Because of the pandemic, our apartment building suddenly went into lockdown. I glanced at the small fortune I’d spent stockpiling food. I wasn’t worried. What I didn’t expect was that my soon-to-be ex-husband, Ethan, who’d come back to pack his things, and his soon-to-be fiancée, would also get locked down… in my apartment. Oh god, what kind of fresh hell was this? 1 “Urgent notice: Due to the ongoing health crisis, the building is temporarily locked down. All residents must cooperate…” Locked down. Again. I was used to it by now. Looking down at the two huge grocery bags in my hands – easily four figures worth of panic-buying – I wasn’t panicking. When I got to my apartment door, I was fumbling in my purse for my keys when I realized the door was already slightly ajar. Ethan’s voice drifted out, “I told you, I can pack up my stuff myself.” I pushed the door open and came face-to-face with Ethan and a stunning woman standing beside him. The beautiful woman looked a little flustered. She glanced at Ethan, then lowered her gaze, a charming hint of softness in her eyes. Okay, I got it. This must be Ethan’s long-lost ex-girlfriend, the one he was crazy about, who just got back from overseas. “Hi, I’m Lily – Ethan’s soon-to-be ex-wife,” I chirped, maybe a little too brightly. “Oh… hi, Lily. I’m Sarah…” Ethan’s ex was clearly taken aback by my enthusiasm. After a surprised pause, she offered a gentle smile back. We even made a move like we were going to shake hands, friendly as could be. Except my hands were full. Ethan frowned at me, then walked over and took the heavy bags. “What’d you buy all this for? Celebrating our divorce?” His tone was clipped, annoyed. Remembering why I’d bought it all, I blurted out, “The building’s on lockdown!” “Lockdown?” Ethan’s frown deepened. He glanced over at the suitcase standing near the door, a serious look clouding his dark eyes. Sarah looked worried now too. She turned to Ethan, her voice soft, “Ethan, what do we do? We still have…” “We’ll have to stay put for now. Wait until the lockdown lifts,” he cut her off. It finally hit me. With the sudden lockdown, Ethan and his old flame were going to be stuck here… with me. Great. Making the beautiful Sarah stay in what was technically still Ethan’s and my “marital home.” I almost felt bad for her. 02 Ethan and I didn’t get married for love. It was purely a marriage of convenience. Back then, my family was relentlessly pressuring me to get married, and he happened to need a wife for appearances. We “met” on some upscale matchmaking site and got married practically overnight. About a month ago, I found out his ex, Sarah, was back in the picture. So, I did the decent thing and offered him an out – asked for a divorce. We were just waiting for him to get back from a business trip to file the papers. Never thought we’d get hit with a lockdown before we could make it official. Since this apartment was Ethan’s before we got married, and he was being pretty decent about it – agreeing to sign it over to me in the divorce settlement – I did the polite thing. I cleared out the master bedroom, which I’d kept spotless, and generously offered it to him and his future wife. I moved my stuff into the smaller spare room next door. And just like that, the three of us began our extended quarantine life together. After a few days, I could see why Ethan was hung up on Sarah for so long. Sarah was efficient with housework and an amazing cook – a total domestic goddess. “Sarah, you’re incredible! Ethan would be the luckiest guy in the world if he married you!” I laid it on thick, smiling sincerely. Hey, when someone’s cooking gourmet meals for you, you gotta lay down some compliments, right? Sarah blushed, clearly flattered. Her eyes, full of affection, drifted towards Ethan. But he just kept eating slowly, methodically, barely acknowledging her. What was Ethan’s deal?! Not exactly Mr. Warmth. Or… was I, the soon-to-be ex-wife, making things awkward? Thinking maybe I should stop being the third wheel, I decided to head downstairs for the mandatory COVID testing. As I got up, Sarah headed towards the kitchen, probably feeling hurt by Ethan’s coolness. I nudged Ethan’s arm discreetly. “Sarah’s amazing,” I whispered. “You gotta treat her better, you know? Don’t be so cold, like you always were with me!” Ethan paused mid-bite, shooting me an icy glance. “Doesn’t all that food you inhale ever shut you up?” “…” Ouch. Sharp tongue. I was used to it, though. I rolled my eyes at him. As Sarah came back from the kitchen, I said, “Sarah, your future husband here has been looking gloomy these past few days. Am I cramping your style? Interrupting your quality time?” Sarah blushed crimson. Ethan’s face darkened. See? Called it! “Lily.” Ethan’s voice was suddenly low and sharp, calling my name… 03 I jumped, startled. He hadn’t used that tone with me since we got married. What was his problem? I quickly grabbed my mask and face shield by the door. “Just going down for my COVID test!” And with that, I bolted. Seriously, if they wanted alone time, they didn’t have to treat me like the enemy! As I pulled out my phone to find my ID, a notification popped up – a message from Ethan. I tapped it, but it vanished. “Message retracted.” Ugh, I hated when people did that! Given our super awkward situation, and with his old flame right there, I couldn’t exactly text back asking what he’d said. So, I took my curiosity down to the testing line. The person administering the tests – clad head-to-toe in PPE, but I recognized her voice as my neighbor, Deb – expertly swabbed my throat, twisting it just long enough to make me gag. Seeing no one else waiting, she leaned in conspiratorially. “Someone’s been eating well during lockdown, huh? Looking a little… healthier.” I chuckled nervously, about to mention the unexpected “domestic goddess” in our apartment, aka Ethan’s girlfriend. But Deb beat me to it. “Speaking of, where’s your husband and his… cousin? Haven’t seen them down here.” Cousin? It clicked. Deb must have thought Sarah was Ethan’s cousin. When Ethan and I first got married – partly because my parents were breathing down my neck, partly because I saw flashes of kindness beneath his reserved exterior – we somehow managed to make our convenient arrangement look real to outsiders. So, I figured Ethan must have told people Sarah was his cousin to avoid gossip, to protect her reputation. Smart. I just laughed vaguely and mumbled something noncommittal to Deb before heading back upstairs. Since we were still under lockdown, the building staff told everyone to head straight back to their apartments after testing. Walking back, I couldn’t help but hope I’d walk in on some classic rom-com scene – maybe a steamy make-out session against the wall, or some intense flirting. Anything to justify how hard I was trying not to get in their way…

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On our third anniversary, Ethan forced me to give blood for his old flame’s dog. The long needle pierced my skin, the suffocating feeling of my blood being drawn making me scream in despair. My life hung by a thread. Meanwhile, Ethan and Olivia were busy planning the dog’s funeral arrangements. He didn’t forget to warn me: “You stay in that room and reflect on what you did, otherwise, forget about marrying me!” After I got out of the hospital, I didn’t hesitate. I called my Aunt Carol and agreed to the match she’d arranged overseas. But Ethan, why are you now frantically searching the world for me, spending nights outside my building, repenting? 1 When I was finally let out of the room I’d been locked in, Ethan was helping Olivia move her things in. Silently, I moved my suitcase into the guest room, leaving the master bedroom for her. Only then did Ethan nod, satisfied. “Locked up for a few days, you finally learned your lesson.” My breath caught, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. Three days ago was our third anniversary. I had excitedly planned a proposal, only to have Olivia show up unexpectedly and ruin everything. The moment Olivia saw me, she smiled. “Wow, you really do look like me. No wonder Ethan’s with you.” It hit me like lightning – the crushing realization that I was just her replacement. I was so stunned I didn’t even notice when Olivia approached Ethan’s golden retriever, Goldie. She gently stroked Goldie’s fur. “Goldie, Mommy’s home.” But the next second, she plunged a sharp pair of scissors deep into Goldie’s body. The dog died right there in a pool of blood. A few tears from Olivia, and Ethan instantly, furiously decided I was the murderer. That same night, he dragged me to the hospital, practically wanting to drain me dry. “Goldie bled to death. You should feel what Goldie felt!” Ethan’s cold, final words echoed in my ears. The feeling of my blood leaving my body, the suffocation, made me shriek in desperation. I explained, begged, apologized over and over… But it wasn’t enough for him. He locked me, weak from blood loss, in that room, alone with Goldie’s lifeless body, forcing me to repent until I broke down. Whenever exhaustion threatened to pull me under, Ethan would play recordings of Goldie barking, constantly grating on my nerves. For three whole days, every time I closed my eyes, I plunged into agonizing nightmares. Fear and despair washed over me like a flood. While Ethan and Olivia were planning Goldie’s funeral, I dragged my weak body to the hospital. I was so close to death, even the doctors weren’t sure they could save me. After being discharged, I immediately called my Aunt Carol. “Aunt Carol, I’ll do it. I’ll go abroad for the marriage arrangement.” 2 I had two weeks before Aunt Carol would come pick me up to go overseas. I had no choice but to return to that house. As soon as I walked in, Ethan forced me to kneel before Goldie’s urn and repent. Olivia stood nearby, eyes red from crying, mourning Goldie’s tragic end. Then she turned, helped me up, and spoke softly, “Sarah, I was so lost in grief over Goldie the past few days, I couldn’t check on you. You don’t mind, right?” “And Ethan… honestly, locking you in that room with Goldie’s body… that must have been so hard for you.” Ethan sneered, “She brought it on herself!” The whole situation felt utterly absurd, and a wave of fear washed over me. The man I had loved for three years wanted me dead… over a dog! After the memorial, Ethan tossed a necklace at me. “Your third-anniversary gift. Making up for it now.” I looked at the necklace – clearly an accessory matching one of Olivia’s expensive designer bags. I sighed inwardly and didn’t reach for it. Ethan’s face instantly darkened. “Don’t like it? Sarah, don’t be so greedy.” I forced a bitter smile and took the necklace. “I like it. Thank you,” I said calmly. Only then did Ethan look satisfied. He left, taking Olivia out for French food, her favorite. I leaned against the doorframe and slowly sank to the floor, bitter tears escaping the corners of my eyes. Ethan wasn’t always like this. For three years, he had cherished me. If I randomly craved those specific tacos from downtown at 3 AM, Ethan would drive across town without hesitation to get them for me. He never forgot my birthday or any of our anniversaries, always planning surprises weeks in advance. Every payday, he’d transfer his check straight to my account, saying he wanted me to feel completely secure. … Until six months ago. Ethan started coming home late, sometimes not at all. Whenever I called, it went straight to voicemail or was busy. Once, I couldn’t stand it anymore and brought lunch to his office. He casually handed the meal I’d spent hours preparing to his assistant – Olivia. Then he urged her to eat. “You have a sensitive stomach, you need to eat on time.” In that moment, a sense of unease and defensiveness gripped me, especially when Olivia smiled and called me “Sarah, dear.” Her eyes held a clear hint of provocation. I asked around and found out the truth: Olivia was the old flame Ethan could never get over. As soon as she returned to the country, she became his assistant. Feeling insecure and desperate, I planned the proposal on our third anniversary, hoping marriage would tie him down. But Olivia’s words – “You look like her” – shattered everything. Three years as Ethan’s substitute. It was time to face reality. 3 Ethan and Olivia came back very late. The sounds drifting from the living room woke me up. “Ethan, this is so thrilling… Aren’t you afraid your fiancée will find out?” Her breathy moans were unbearable. I clutched the blanket tightly, my lips pressed into a thin line. Then I heard Ethan’s careless reply: “Afraid of what? This is my house, not hers.” “Oh, stop~ Aren’t you worried she’ll break up with you?” Olivia tested. Ethan scoffed, absolutely certain. “She won’t. She loves me way too much. Why would she ever leave me?” “Besides,” he added, his voice laced with contempt, “she has no job, no savings… and let’s be honest, who else would want her now? She’s not exactly untouched. Marrying me is her only option.” “Shh, baby, let’s not talk about unpleasant things. Just enjoy the moment.” … Tears fell like broken pearls until they dried up. The noises from the living room finally stopped. When I woke up the next morning, Ethan and Olivia were gone. I started packing my things and realized how little I actually owned. Everything fit into one suitcase. For Ethan, I had given up the chance to emigrate with my aunt, moving alone to this unfamiliar city. Three years had passed. My aunt, focused on her career, was thriving. Me, focused on finding true love, had failed miserably. I gathered all the gifts Ethan had ever given me. Anything useful, I donated. Anything useless, I threw into the dumpster downstairs. It took several trips up and down before everything was gone. Downstairs, I ran into Ethan again. My first instinct was to run, terrified he’d realize I’d thrown out all his gifts. But he casually took my hand. “What are you doing?” I suppressed my panic. “Just taking out the trash,” I said coolly. Ethan gave a distracted “Mm-hmm,” his eyes glued to his phone. Looked like he and Olivia were arguing again. After a moment, he asked, “What did you say?” “Nothing,” I replied quietly. He still hadn’t heard me. Needing both hands to type, he let go of mine and walked towards the elevator by himself. But then his phone rang. His expression changed drastically when he saw it was Olivia. He hesitated for a few seconds before answering. Olivia’s crying voice came through the receiver: “Ethan, you have to come save me! These business partners are trying to get me drunk…” Before she could even finish, Ethan bolted out the door. 4 After Ethan left, I hailed a cab and went to the bank. I transferred the entire inheritance my parents left me into Ethan’s salary account. It wasn’t a huge amount, but it was enough to cover everything he’d spent on me over the past three years. If I was leaving, I was leaving completely, owing nothing. As for what Ethan owed me… I decided to let it go. After leaving the bank, I got a text from Ethan. He told me to meet him at a hotel restaurant. I hesitated for a few seconds, then changed my route and told the driver to take me there. As I approached the private dining room, I heard people singing “Happy Birthday.” The first thing I saw was Ethan and Olivia locked in a passionate kiss. Olivia was wearing an expensive haute couture dress, a diamond sparkling on her hand. I recognized it. It was the gift Ethan had placed in the crystal cabinet in his study a month ago. At the time, I’d foolishly thought it was a birthday present for me and had been happy for days. Now, it was clear it was always meant for Olivia. Another round of false hope, but this time, it didn’t hurt as much as before. Those three days locked in that room had extinguished any love I had left for Ethan. People in the room looked confused when they saw me enter. A few well-meaning guests even asked if I had the wrong room. A sharp pain twisted in my chest. I looked at Ethan, my gaze complicated. So, after three years together, he had never even mentioned my existence to his friends. To the world, he maintained the image of being single. Ethan frowned, accusatory. “What are you doing here?” I lowered my eyes, speechless. I should have known. In three years, Ethan never initiated plans with me. It was always me taking the first step. Olivia smoothly intervened, “Ethan, I invited Sarah to celebrate my birthday with us. You don’t mind, do you?” Ethan’s expression softened slightly. His cold eyes scanned me before he finally let me sit down. I chose a seat in the furthest corner, watching everyone congratulate Ethan and Olivia, reminiscing about their high school romance. “I remember back in high school, Ethan swore he wouldn’t marry anyone but Olivia. I was so bummed when you two broke up. But look, after all this time, you found your way back to each other! Meant to be! Cheers!” “Yeah, Olivia, you better treasure Ethan! When you went abroad, he was miserable for ages. He dated a few girls afterwards, but they all kinda looked like you!” … My fingertips trembled uncontrollably. Hot tears fell onto my hand. No wonder I chased Ethan for two years and he never agreed. The moment Olivia left, he got together with me. So, it was all just to get back at Olivia. My nails dug deep into my palms, drawing blood. A voice message notification popped up from my aunt. I meant to tap ‘voice-to-text’ but accidentally hit the speaker mode. “Sweetie, it’s your birthday today! Did you have cake? Auntie ordered one for you, celebrate with your friends!” The message played out loud. The room fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere turning awkward. Ethan looked surprised, but mostly angry. “Sarah, what is your problem? You know damn well today is Olivia’s birthday, and you pull this stunt? Who are you trying to disgust?” Ethan lashed out without thinking. Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. My own boyfriend, celebrating his old flame’s birthday on my birthday, and wouldn’t even let someone wish me well. What a prize. “What are you laughing at?” Ethan demanded, annoyed. I looked him straight in the eye, calm, and said, syllable by syllable, “Coward.” Anyone could see the tension between Ethan and me. Combined with the fact that I resembled Olivia, it wasn’t hard to guess I was another one of her stand-ins. Only Ethan refused to acknowledge it. “Sarah, oh, it’s your birthday too? Why didn’t you say so earlier…” Olivia tried her usual tactic, feigning retreat to gain ground. I tilted my head, staring into her eyes. “My birthday. What’s it got to do with you?” Crash! The glass in Ethan’s hand shattered at my feet, sending shards flying, embedding themselves deep into my calf. Blood started flowing freely. “Apologize to Olivia!” Ethan roared. The same rage as the day he locked me in that room. But this time, I wasn’t afraid. I couldn’t wait to get out of this place, out of this city. My feet moved faster than my brain. I bolted for the door. But Olivia suddenly ran to stop me. A piercing scream cut through the room as she crumpled to the floor, her face contorted in pain. My eyelid twitched violently. A wave of unease washed over me. SLAP— Ethan struck me hard across the face. I fell to the ground, watching helplessly as the heel of his leather shoe ground viciously into the back of my hand. Cold sweat broke out all over me from the pain. Ethan didn’t stop until my hand was a bloody mess. “If anything happens to Olivia, I swear I won’t let you off the hook!”

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