Category: English

On my first day at the new job, my supervisor, Baron, hinted that new hires usually treated everyone. So I ordered a coffee for each person in the department. To my surprise, Baron’s face instantly darkened. He tossed his coffee into the trash. “The company pays you a good salary, and all you offer is a fifteen-dollar coffee? I’ll give you a chance to make it up: treat the entire company to dinner!” He finished speaking, then flung a restaurant flyer onto my desk. I glanced at the prices—it was a Michelin-starred restaurant, $1000 per person. I smiled, didn’t refuse, and immediately set up my phone, opening the camera to record a video. At that moment, I heard colleagues whispering. “Is she serious? Filming a video just to eat dinner?!” They probably just thought I was some wannabe influencer, trying to pretend I’m high-class. But they had no idea I was a blogger with a million followers, specializing in career reviews. My phone hadn’t been set up for long when Brenda, a colleague, suddenly knocked it out of my hand. “Hey! New girl, what are you filming?” Could it be… Had she found out? My breath hitched, and I quickly snatched my phone. I was about to explain: “Brenda, that…” She impatiently tossed her hair, her tone slightly smug. “Who knows who you’d send that to, you idiot… I’m so good-looking, it’d be a huge problem if some clueless creep saw me!” I immediately relaxed, putting my phone back up. “Brenda, I’m just filming a VLOG to document my life!” “I promise I won’t get anyone’s face in it!” She seemed even more upset that I wasn’t filming her. She stretched out her arm, ready to snatch my phone. “Let me see it, then I’ll know if you filmed me or not!” But the next second, Baron cut her off. “Alright, enough with the bickering at the dinner table! Can we eat in peace?” “She’s treating today, so just let it go!” I was instantly speechless, feeling utterly sick to my stomach. Before I could argue, I heard other colleagues comforting Brenda. “Don’t bother with her, girl. She’s just some small-town idiot!” Mark, another colleague, changed the subject, turning his gaze to me. “But Jade, you’re really selling this ‘fake socialite’ act!” “Where did you get your knock-offs? They’re surprisingly well-made!” Another colleague immediately chimed in. “Designer replicas with such good craftsmanship? Could she even afford them? Probably rented fakes!” “Hahahaha!” Suddenly, the private room filled with laughter. Everyone was staring at me, grinning, as if I were a clown performing to relieve their work stress. “But it’s true, if you don’t have the budget, don’t bother renting luxury items to show off…” “Renting these cheap pieces of trash, aren’t you embarrassed?!” I looked down at my brand new bag, which had a few scratches. Just because I hadn’t babied it, they called it trash? I pursed my lips and retorted: “I earned this myself, with my own hard work, and paid for it in full.” The moment I finished speaking, the guys at the table exchanged knowing glances and smirked. “Oh~ ‘Your own hard work,’ huh~ Well, you certainly have ‘talent’ then!” Their scrutinizing glances made me deeply uncomfortable. They might as well have just called me a prostitute. It was bad enough that the men twisted my words. Even the women had to adopt a condescending attitude to judge me. “Girls these days are just so vain!” “To get their hands on these material things, they’re willing to sell their own bodies!” Looking at Brenda, who was meticulously groomed, I couldn’t help but frown. As a fellow woman, she should understand me better. Instead of defending me, she chose to use the very insults that had probably been thrown at her, to stab me. I secretly clenched my fists, wanting to lash out right then and there. But seeing the continuous recording on my phone, I swallowed my anger and slowly lowered my raised hand. Then I leaned closer to my phone, ensuring my feigned distress would be perfectly captured. “Brenda, Mark, I’m just a new hire…” “Why are you all speculating about me with such malice?” I thought my reminder would make them rein it in. But they showed no shame at all. They even tried to pin the blame on me. Brenda poured me a drink, feigning generosity: “Oh, you silly girl!” “We were just kidding, and you took it so seriously!” “If you can’t take a joke, you’ll have a tough time getting by in this company!” She put an arm around my shoulder. Before I could shrug her off, I heard her ask: “By the way, Jade, where did you work before this?” “Why haven’t I heard your name in the industry?”

Meeting their curious stares, I calmly took a sip of water. “Apex Corporation.” Before becoming a blogger, I did work in a related field. At Apex, the industry leader. So I wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. Hearing my answer, Brenda’s smile froze for a second. But she quickly recovered. “No wonder you’ve got such a temper, girl!” “So you came from a big company!” She deliberately emphasized the word “big,” drawing everyone’s attention back to me. “Looks like HR is pretty impressive, managing to recruit someone from Apex for our little company~” Someone couldn’t help but scoff. “Pfft, so what if she came from Apex Corporation? She still got let go!” “Otherwise, with Apex’s great benefits, who would ever want to leave?” Their words, one after another, were all meant to maliciously speculate about me. It was as if the worse off I, the new hire, was, the happier they’d be. Even though I despised them internally, for the sake of the camera, I patiently explained. “Apex is known for being incredibly selective in hiring, but once you’re in, you’re usually set. They rarely let people go.” Mark scoffed: “Then she must have pissed off her coworkers.” “I bet you’re just too much of an idiot to fit in with the other cliques, and they forced you out.” They could slander me all they wanted, but I didn’t want to drag innocent people into this. My voice couldn’t help but rise a few octaves: “Apex has an excellent work environment; there’s absolutely no clique bullying like you’re describing!” “I left simply because the career path didn’t align with my future ambitions!” Back then, the job market was getting tougher. I watched job seekers my age on social media, barely managing to find a job they were somewhat satisfied with. But after joining, they’d discover the conditions were completely different from what they were initially told, having been scammed by unscrupulous companies. That’s why I wanted to start a social media account, to help others navigate and avoid potential traps. They all wore “I told you so” expressions. Brenda even muttered: “Pfft, nine out of ten people who get fired say that exact same thing.” “You!” I was shaking with anger, about to stop recording and go head-to-head with her… But then Baron, who had been silent for a while, stepped in as a peacemaker. The commotion finally died down. With Baron’s intervention, they suddenly lost interest and started talking about their families. Paul, the team leader, started the conversation: “My son, Tim, only got into Mississippi University this year because he wasn’t feeling well during exams!” Mississippi University is an excellent school, and anyone listening knew she was bragging about her child. Everyone was praising her son, but Brenda remained silent. I turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow. “By the way, Brenda, your daughter is also starting college this year, right?” “How did her exams go?” Yesterday, during introductions, I heard them mention that Paul and Brenda’s kids were the same age. Seeing Brenda’s face instantly darken, I knew I had guessed correctly. As soon as I mentioned Brenda, a colleague couldn’t help but speak up for her. “Brenda went to Mississippi, so her daughter’s bound to be brilliant!” She grew more excited as she spoke, completely missing Brenda’s thunderous expression. “What’s so great about local schools? I’m preparing her applications to study abroad!” Everyone exchanged glances. They probably understood what she meant but chose not to call her out. They just gave awkward smiles: “Y-yes, you’re right!” “Brenda is so wealthy, she must have paved the way for her daughter long ago!” Although I’m professionally trained, at that moment, I couldn’t help but laugh. A bunch of bullies, only brave when they’re picking on someone weaker! I began to wonder, when my video goes online, would they still be as arrogant and condescending as they are now? In a blink, Mark pointed the finger at me. “Jade, you’re laughing so happily, your academic background must be very impressive, right?” “What school did you graduate from?” Everyone looked at me with mocking smiles. “Come on, tell us, it’s not embarrassing to come from a regular school!” “Maybe she’s from a community college, hahahahaha!” “You know, with how diligently she runs errands, she might not have even gone to college!”

“I’m from a vocational school.” Their laughter grew even louder. “Hahahaha, I knew it!” “Thought she was so impressive, turns out she’s just some vocational school graduate!” “And *she* got into Apex? Must have pulled some strings!” “Of course! Look at her, she doesn’t seem like someone who works hard…” “She was probably having an affair with a boss, got caught by his wife, and Apex fired her to cover it up!” I hadn’t said a word, and they had already concocted a complete storyline. After their uproarious laughter died down, they had the nerve to act like moral paragons, lecturing me. “Jade, try to be a decent person!” “Hahahaha… Mark, you’re too funny, trying to reform a prostitute!” **截断点** I thought if I didn’t respond, they would get bored and change the subject. But I didn’t expect them to get worse after drinking. Mark, heavily intoxicated, wrapped his arm around me, his hand not-so-innocently wandering down to my waist. “Jade, how much for one night?” “How about I give you three hundred?” I pushed him hard, but there was a significant disparity in strength between men and women. The harder I struggled, the tighter he held me. I could only yell: “Mark, you’re drunk!” “Brenda, Paul, help me!” They all covered their mouths, laughing at me, but no one came to my rescue. “Oh, little sister, you’re pretty smart, playing hard to get!” Someone even whistled at Mark. “Mark, make sure you wrap it up!” “Wouldn’t want to catch anything later…” “Hahahahaha!” Their laughter grew louder. Mark seemed encouraged by their laughter, becoming even bolder, and started kissing my ear. His warm tongue, reeking of alcohol, wriggled like a worm on my earlobe. It made me feel nauseous, wanting to vomit! I bit hard into his arm, and after breaking free, I quickly ran towards the private room door, shouting as I ran: “Help, help me—!” But I hadn’t gotten far when Mark yanked me back. He slapped my face, twisting my head to the side. “You little bitch, you actually tried to run?” “What, my money isn’t enough for you?” “I’m already doing you a favor by not caring you’re used-up trash!” “The HR manager is my cousin, so if you annoy me, hehe, you know what will happen!” “I advise you to behave and not think about running away!” He leaned in, trying to kiss me again. Looking at the laughing faces of my colleagues around me, I struggled, tears of humiliation streaming down my face. “If you touch me, I’ll make sure you regret it!” But he just laughed more smugly. “Oh? How will you make me regret it?” “Will I die in your arms?” But before he could get closer, Baron punched him, knocking him sober. “Mark, that’s enough.” Baron took off his jacket and draped it over me. It was the first time I felt a flicker of human kindness in this team. I was disoriented and shaken, still reeling, only able to stammer: “Thank you.” “Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone should head home.” As if struck by a pang of conscience, Baron, who initially made me treat everyone to dinner, actually paid the bill for me. They had managed to turn a $1000-per-person restaurant into a $3000-per-person tab! With the 15% service charge, the entire meal came out to a shocking seventy thousand dollars. I felt a bit uncomfortable about it. So I snapped a picture of the bill. Just as I was about to post it in the company SnapChat group and ask them to pay, Baron stopped me. “Actually, asking you to treat was just a pretense today.” “I knew you were a bit introverted, so I wanted to use this to help you get closer to the other colleagues.”

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I’m an outdoor enthusiast. My wife, though, she’s a total social phobia and never wants to leave the house. Then there was this “How Lazy Are You, Really?” challenge trending on TikTok. I snapped a picture of my wife, Chloe, sprawled on the couch, and uploaded it, starting the challenge. The comments were all like: “Yep, that’s genuine laziness, not an act.” But one comment made me freeze. 【Isn’t that Chloe , the swimming sensation from back in the day?】 【She and Jake even won awards for their synchronized swimming routines. Too bad they broke up after college.】 A week later, Chloe, uncharacteristically, grabbed her swimsuit and was heading out. She said she was going swimming with a friend. But I stared at her. “That ‘friend’ wouldn’t happen to be Jake, would it?” I’d known for a while that her first love was back. Chloe’s face instantly went pale. Her hand tightened around the swimsuit. “Alex, what are you implying?” “Are you stalking me?” I looked at her, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity. “Do I need to stalk you? Jake’s back in the country, right?” Chloe’s eyes darted away. She threw the swimsuit onto the sofa. “Yes, Jake is back. I only found out after a class reunion. Nothing happened between us!” I picked up the swimsuit. It was incredibly sexy, barely there. Nothing like any swimsuit I’d ever bought her. “If you’re so innocent, why dress like that?” “Alex!” Chloe’s voice rose. “How can you be so disgusting!” “We were just going for a swim, having a chat!” “What right do you have to go through my things, to read my messages!” “That’s my privacy!” I tossed my phone onto the coffee table in front of her. The screen displayed the comment section of that short video. 【Swimming Sensation Chloe】 【Chloe and Jake, the Golden Pair】 Those words were like a punch to the gut. “Privacy?” “Chloe, three years married, and I didn’t even know you used to be a competitive swimmer.” “I always thought you genuinely hated working out.” “But what’s the truth? You just hated working out *with me*.” Chloe stared at the phone screen, her body starting to tremble. “Who told you to post my picture online? Why would you expose my privacy?” “I’m your husband. Don’t I even have the right to post a picture of you…?” She picked up the swimsuit from the couch. “Believe what you want.” With that, she opened the door and left without a backward glance. I stood alone in the living room. A while later, my phone rang. It was my friend, Ryan. “Alex, did your wife go to ‘The Beast’ gym? I saw her with a guy… they looked really close.”

I hung up and drove to The Riviera Club. At the entrance, I saw Chloe’s car. I didn’t go in. I just sat in my car, staring at the club’s main door. At ten o’clock that night, Chloe walked out, side by side with a man. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a simple T-shirt that showed off his strong arms. It was Jake. Chloe was smiling beside him, a joy I hadn’t seen in the three years of our marriage. She tilted her head slightly, looking up at him, her eyes sparkling. Jake said something, then reached out and ruffled Chloe’s hair. In that moment, *they* looked like a couple. And I? I felt like a pathetic fool, hiding in the shadows, watching. I started my car and quietly drove away. Back home, I deleted that short video. And I deleted my account too. I sat in the dark, waiting for her to return. At midnight, the door opened. Chloe came in, smelling of alcohol. She saw me sitting on the couch and jumped. “Why are you sitting in the dark? You want to scare someone to death?” She complained as she switched on the living room light. “Have fun?” I asked. Her expression stiffened. “It was… just okay. A class reunion, what do you expect? Dinner, drinks.” She spoke, but her eyes kept avoiding mine. “Really?” I stood up and walked closer to her. “I thought you went swimming.” “No swimming.” She was still lying. “Chloe, Jake touched your hair.” She snapped her head up to look at me, her pupils constricting. “You… you really did follow me! Alex, you’re terrifying!” I pulled out my phone and played a video. In the video, Jake was ruffling her hair, and she was on her tiptoes, straightening his collar. “My friend sent me this video. If you’re brave enough to do it, why can’t you own up to it?” Chloe’s face instantly drained of all color. She stared at the video, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. Finally, she lost control. “I was drunk! He was just helping me, what’s wrong with that!” I smiled. “Then that bracelet he bought you, did you accept it?” Chloe subconsciously touched her wrist. “How… how do you know about the bracelet?”

“Guess.” I didn’t tell her I’d seen an empty jewelry box in the storage compartment of her car. She’d deliberately hidden the bracelet before going to see him. Just so I wouldn’t see it. Chloe’s face grew even paler. “So what? It’s just a regular bracelet, a gift from an old classmate. Do you have to be like this?” I took a step closer to her. “Chloe, you wore clothes I bought you, drove the car I bought you, to go see your ex-lover.” “He buys you a bracelet, and you happily accept it. What about me? Do you even remember my birthday last month?” I stared hard at her, my mind replaying the day I’d excitedly booked a restaurant and returned home with the necklace you’d had your eye on for so long. I called you, and you said you weren’t feeling well, you’d been lying in bed all day. “I believed you then. I canceled all my plans and came home to take care of you.” “But when I got home from work, there was a takeout receipt in the trash.” I spoke slowly, each word deliberate, my voice trembling. “Chloe, you weren’t unwell. You were just too lazy to celebrate my birthday.” Chloe’s eyes welled up. “Alex, I didn’t forget…” “Yes, you did.” I cut her off. “Because you don’t love me at all. You just married me to find a safe place to heal your heart after Jake broke it. I was just some kind of landlord, providing you with a roof over your head and food on the table.” The living room was terrifyingly silent. Chloe’s tears started to fall. “No… Alex, it’s not what you think…” She tried to reach for my hand. I pulled away. “Don’t touch me.” She froze. It was the first time I’d spoken to her so harshly. She started crying even harder. “Jake and I really have nothing going on, we’re just friends from the past…” “The past?” I scoffed. “The moment he came back, you threw everything else out the window.” Chloe’s phone suddenly rang. She fumbled in her bag, pulling it out. The screen lit up with the name “Jake.” She didn’t dare answer, nor did she dare hang up. I looked at her. “Go on, answer it. Why aren’t you answering? Your old friend must be worried about you.” Chloe bit her lip until it was white. Finally, she pressed the answer button and put it on speakerphone. Jake’s voice, laced with laughter, came through the phone. “Chloe, are you home? If your husband dares to bully you, just tell me. I’m not someone to be trifled with.”

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**Chapter 1** **POV: Elara** Inside the Rolls-Royce. Alexander leaned in, kissing me deeply. “Elara, you look stunning tonight,” his voice a rough whisper. I was breathless, my eyes hazy, a soft moan escaping my lips. Suddenly, Alexander’s phone rang, jarringly loud. He glanced at the caller ID, his brow furrowing instinctively. He held up a hand, signaling me to wait, then answered. The voice on the other end spoke flawless Norwegian. My eyelashes fluttered. Alexander replied in Norwegian, “Yes, she’s right here. Don’t worry, she doesn’t understand.” A faint, bitter smile touched my lips. Every single word, I understood. Years ago, for a major Nordic cooperation project, I’d spent countless nights learning Norwegian. My proficiency was nearly native, though I’d never told anyone. I hadn’t seen the need; learning a new language was never difficult for me. But at this moment, I wished I had never understood a single word of Norwegian. The person on the phone asked curiously, “Heard you found a budget version of Violet?” Because Alexander continued in Norwegian, “She does bear a resemblance, but she’s far more obedient, easier to control, like a kitten.” The other person then said, “You know Violet’s coming back tomorrow, right?” Alexander froze. “She’s returning?” “Would I joke about something like this? Since she’s coming back, does that mean your little obedient kitten needs to make way?” Alexander’s voice was cold. “I’ll just get her some treats. There isn’t a single kitten in the world that can’t be appeased with a few snacks.” He then hung up, turned, and tried to resume our intimacy. I went through the motions mechanically, my mind already drifting. We had been together for three years, from my sophomore year of college to my first year of grad school. In those three years, he’d showered me with an unimaginable kind of affection. He once booked out an entire Michelin-starred restaurant just because I mentioned I liked their risotto. When I had cramps, he’d clumsily make me chamomile tea and heat up a hot water bottle. I always thought I was the girl favored by destiny. My heart began to grow cold, bit by bit. Violet, a rising Hollywood star, the goddess Alexander secretly adored but could never truly reach. I remembered our first meeting three years ago in the university library. I had accidentally bumped a book from his hands, and as I stammered apologies, he stared at my face for a long time. His gaze was so intense it made my heart race. I thought it was love at first sight. Now, looking back, he wasn’t seeing me, Elara, at all. He was looking *through* my face, at the shadow of another woman. Three years, over a thousand days and nights. For him, I gave up the opportunity my family arranged for me to study abroad at the University of Oslo. I hid the fact that I was a Sterling heiress, becoming, in his eyes, just a simple, obedient college girl from an ordinary background. I learned to cook all his favorite dishes. I molded myself into his ideal woman. In the end, it only earned me the title of an “obedient cat.” Alexander leaned in to kiss me, but I subtly turned my head away. His movements paused, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes. “What’s wrong?” I looked up. In the dim light, my eyes shimmered. I spoke softly, “I’m a little tired. I want to go home.” My voice was perfectly calm, betraying no hint of emotion. Alexander simply chuckled. He probably just thought I was being moody and didn’t give it another thought. After all, in his eyes, I had always been docile. “Alright, I’ll take you back.” He restarted the car. The vehicle smoothly drove toward the villa in the suburbs. All the way there, I didn’t say another word. I leaned against the window, watching the streetlights rush past, my mind eerily clear. I am no cat. A Sterling daughter is never a pet to be manipulated. I pulled out my phone. The screen’s glow illuminated my bloodless face. I found an encrypted contact, labeled ‘Dad.’ I tapped open the chat, my fingertips flying across the screen, then sent the message. Just a few words. [I agree to the arranged marriage. I’m moving to France.] **Chapter 2** **POV: Elara** The car stopped in front of the villa. Alexander unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over, as usual, to give me a goodnight kiss. “Get some rest. I have some business at the office, so I won’t be staying tonight.” My gaze fell on his face, and then, I simply asked, “Alexander, do you love me?” He paused, then chuckled softly, squeezing my cheek. His tone was falsely affectionate and dismissive. “Silly girl, why ask such a thing? Go on in.” He didn’t answer. I understood. I opened the car door and walked into the luxuriously decorated villa without looking back. The living room was dark, utterly silent. I stood in the entryway until the Rolls-Royce finally disappeared into the rainy night, then slowly raised my hand and covered my face. No tears. My heart was utterly dead; there was no greater sorrow. My father’s message came back then: [Finally made up your mind? All the paperwork can be handled in a month.] I put away my phone, smiling silently, then switched on the living room lights and began to clear out my belongings. I dragged several suitcases from the walk-in closet. The designer bags, haute couture dresses, the jewelry he’d given me—I didn’t even glance at them, just tossed them aside. I only packed my own things: a few simple outfits I’d bought with my own money. I cleared out the study, packing up my research papers and textbooks. A photo frame still sat on the bookshelf. It held the first picture Alexander and I had ever taken together. In it, I was smiling brightly, and he had his arm around my shoulder, his eyes soft. I picked up the frame, stared at it for a few seconds, then, expressionless, pulled out the photo and threw it, along with the frame, into the trash can. The TV was playing an entertainment news flash. “…International superstar Violet has reportedly arrived in the city today, officially kicking off her domestic concert tour. Fans swarmed the airport; the scene was pure chaos…” On the screen, Violet, in a Chanel suit and oversized sunglasses, emerged surrounded by bodyguards. I looked at her face, a cold laugh bubbling in my chest. Not just a strong resemblance, they were practically identical. I opened Alexander’s laptop in the study. Trusting my intuition, I typed in the password—my birthday. He had once said he had no secrets from me. But I had never logged in before, out of respect for his privacy. Now, I easily logged in. His account was open, and the pinned chat was with Violet. The latest messages were from just half an hour ago. Violet: [I’m here. When are you coming over?] Alexander: [With her right now. Leaving soon.] Violet: [That replacement, you haven’t gotten rid of her yet?] Alexander: [Almost. She’s just an obedient pet, nothing to worry about.] My fingertips dug hard into my palms. My muddled mind was growing terrifyingly clear. I closed the laptop, then dragged all the packed suitcases to the front door. At 3 AM, the villa’s doorbell rang. I saw Alexander on the monitor. He seemed to have been drinking, his handsome face showing a mix of fatigue and impatience. I didn’t open the door. He started calling, his phone vibrating frantically on the living room coffee table. I ignored it. It wasn’t until the outside grew quiet that I returned to the living room, sat on the sofa, and waited for dawn. At daybreak, Alexander must have found a spare key. He opened the door. When he saw the neatly arranged suitcases in the living room and me sitting on the sofa, his face instantly darkened. “Elara, please, what are you doing now?” **Chapter 3** **POV: Elara** He walked over, pulled a velvet box from his pocket, and tossed it onto the coffee table. “Forgot to give you this yesterday. A new Cartier bracelet. Come on, don’t be silly.” His tone was like he was trying to soothe a disobedient pet. I slowly raised my head, my gaze falling on the exquisite box. I asked softly, “Is this for me, or for her?” Alexander’s face went completely cold. “What are you implying?” Just then, his phone rang again. The caller ID showed Violet. He glanced at me, his eyes full of warning, then turned and walked up to the second floor, lowering his voice as he answered the call. I heard his footsteps fade. His voice was so tender as he spoke—I only now realized that tenderness was never meant for me. Then, hurried footsteps approached. “Something came up with Violet; I need to go.” He passed me without stopping, dropping only that curt explanation. The front door opened again, then closed. This time, I knew he wouldn’t be coming back. I stood up, walked to the coffee table, and picked up the velvet box. I opened it. Inside lay a diamond bracelet of exorbitant value, glinting with a cold, expensive brilliance in the morning light. I picked it up, walked to the door, and pulled open the villa’s heavy front door. The cool morning breeze stirred my long hair. I raised my hand and tossed the brand-new diamond bracelet into the trash can by the road. Alexander left, and for five days, there was nothing. Not a single message. Yet I was unusually busy. I contacted my university, citing family circumstances, and formally submitted my request for a leave of absence. Simultaneously, I engaged Mr. Harrison’s law firm, which belonged to my father, to process my immigration to France. My properties and funds were systematically being liquidated and transferred. I was systematically erasing the past three years of my life, piece by painful piece. During this time, Violet’s presence was unavoidable. The first thing this international superstar did upon returning to the country was heavily promote herself on social media. One day, she posted a picture from a private art gallery; the next, a video of her dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant. The most infuriating post was a seemingly casual selfie. In the picture, Violet wore an oversized men’s white shirt, revealing her collarbone. She held a coffee mug, and that mug, I knew all too well—it was one of the matching couple’s mugs I’d personally crafted for Alexander last Christmas. The background of the photo was Alexander’s private apartment study. Every detail was a blatant provocation. The comment section had already devolved into a cesspool. [OMG! That’s Alexander’s shirt, right? I’ve seen him use that mug!] [Just get together already! First love is true love!] [Is that college girl still dreaming? You’ve occupied her nest long enough, time to give it back?] I impassively scrolled past those vicious comments and turned off my phone. I felt no pain, no anger, because a dead heart can no longer feel anything. I just felt that this game, it was time to end it.

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“Tell Eleanor, my engagement tomorrow depends entirely on her presence.” It was an ultimatum. A concession, in Adam’s mind. A few minutes later, the assistant stammered.”Sir, She said… to go to hell.” Eleanor’s POV Three hours ago, Adam Hayes called. It was the first time he’d reached out in three months. His voice was as cool and detached as ever, brief and to the point “Eleanor, come to my villa. I need to talk to you.” Then the line went dead. No room for questions. Just an order, like calling a dog he owned. I admit, for a split second, that stagnant pool in my heart, long since silent, rippled with a pathetic hint of hope. After all, I’d been that pet for seven years. I even stood in front of the mirror, carefully covering the shadows under my eyes with my most expensive concealer. I spritzed on the woody scent he liked and slipped into the white dress he’d once said looked nice on me. Seven years of feeling, of bending and yielding, had carved this sad reflex into me. He crooked a finger, and I’d run to him like a trained thing, eager for approval. Even though I knew another carefully orchestrated humiliation probably awaited me. The car smoothly pulled up to Adam’s villa. Mr. Henderson, the butler, saw me and a complicated look flashed in his eyes. He seemed about to speak, then stopped. My heart sank, but I managed a small smile and nodded at him, walking straight inside. In the foyer, a pair of unfamiliar pink high heels lay crookedly on the floor, scattered next to a man’s suit jacket and tie. I stopped. No tears, no outbursts. My expression didn’t even flicker. I just quietly changed into slippers and walked up the stairs, one step at a time. Every corner of this villa was painfully familiar to me. I could walk to his study with my eyes closed. The study door was ajar. From inside came muffled, intimate sounds and a girl’s petulant whine. “Adam, stop…you’re crushing my dress…” I pushed the door open. Inside, Adam held a young woman against him. Her face was buried in his chest, only the pale curve of her neck visible. Three buttons of his shirt were undone, his usually immaculate hair was messy, and a smile I’d never seen before, tinged with desire and indulgence, played on his lips. He glanced up at the sound. When his eyes met mine, that smile died, replaced by a flash of impatience and distaste. “Eleanor, don’t you know how to knock?” The girl in his arms startled like a deer, lifting her head timidly. A face of pure innocence, with wide, round eyes now brimming with tears, stared pathetically up at me. I recognized her-Selena Blake, a film academy sophomore who’d recently gotten some attention from a web drama. My own social media still had traces of posts I’d written defending her from trolls. had called her a “promising talent” and asked me to take care of her.” So this was how he took care of her. “Adam, who is this?” She whispered, her voice sweet and cotton-soft, perfectly timid. Adam didn’t answer her. He slowly straightened his collar, then turned his gaze back to me. “Now that you’ve seen, I won’t bother hiding it..” He pulled a velvet box from the desk drawer and tossed it onto the coffee table between us. “This, it’s yours.” I looked down. Inside the box lay a pair of diamond rings, the ones Adam’s grandmother had given us when we got engaged. Adam’s indifferent voice sounded above me. “I want to marry Selena. So, let’s call off our engagement.” No hint of guilt, no trace of hesitation. I didn’t look at the rings. My gaze fell on my left wrist. It was a silver bracelet, the one Adam had given me for my eighteenth birthday. He’d said I should wear it forever, just as he’d be with me forever. For seven years, I had never taken it off. It had long become a part of me, more familiar than my own skin. I raised my eyes, calmly meeting his gaze. “Understood.” My calm seemed to throw him. Then he said mockingly. “What, no performance this time? I expected tears. Screaming. The usual threats. Eleanor, that act is getting stale.” I didn’t answer. Instead, I lifted my left hand and began working the bracelet loose. I’d worn it for so long the clasp had stiffened. It caught against my knuckle, grinding the skin red and raw. The harder I tugged, the more it seemed to cling. Selena covered her mouth in a show of concern. “Eleanor, please don’t. Adam didn’t mean it like that. You’ll only upset him if you hurt yourself.” Her words sounded like an act, and a challenge. Adam crossed the room and seized my wrist. “Eleanor, what’s the game now? Trying to play hard to get?” I gasped, wincing in pain, but then I laughed. “Adam,” I said. “You ended the engagement. This bracelet is yours. Why wouldn’t I give it back?” He stared intently at me, as if trying to find even the slightest trace of pretense on my face. But he failed. On my face, there was nothing but the tears brought on by the pain. It seemed a broken heart really made no sound. He finally released my hand, his gaze unreadable. With all my strength, enduring the sharp pain, I finally tugged the slender silver bracelet off my wrist. A raw, red mark was seared onto my skin, a stark sight. I gently placed the bracelet on the coffee table, next to the diamond rings. “Adam, I wish you and Selena a happy marriage.” Then I turned and walked out of the study. I didn’t look back. Driving away from the villa, I finally couldn’t hold back anymore. My tears poured down, a torrent. Seven years. It turned out to be as short as a single slap. Loud. And agonizing.

Eleanor’s POV It was past eleven when I got home. The living room lights were blazing. My ‘dear’ father, Robert Vance, and my stepmother, Brenda, sat stiffly on the sofa, clearly waiting up for me. The moment I stepped inside, Brenda spoke in that familiar, needling tone. “Oh, look who finally decided to come home. We thought you’d be spending the night at Adam’s again-forgetting where you belong.” I was too exhausted to lift my head. I walked past her without a word and headed for the stairs. “Stop!” Robert roared, slamming a tablet hard at my feet. “Look at this yourself!” On the screen was a statement just released by Hayes Group’s PR department, announcing the happy news of Mr. Adam Hayes’ upcoming engagement to Ms. Selena Blake. The accompanying picture was an intimate shot of Adam and Selena. He had his arm around her waist, smiling broadly. How fast he was, Adam. Less than three hours after we broke up, he was desperate to announce it to the world, to cut ties with me, afraid that I, his clingy little pet, might tarnish his reputation even slightly. “Eleanor! What did you do?” Robert’s face was livid. “Why has Adam called off the engagement? ” He never asked how I was. Only whether his ladder to the Hayes family had snapped. I was too drained to speak. All I wanted was my room, my bed, and silence. Brenda saw her opening. “Robert, why bother asking? Have you seen what’s being said online? They’re calling her a barren hen, saying she trapped Adam with every dirty trick in the book. Her name is mud now. And the Hayes family-what would they want with a daughter-in-law like that?” When had those rumors even started? It was probably three years ago, when I drank myself into alcohol poisoning, damaging my body, trying to cover for Adam at a crucial business dinner. The doctor said it would be very difficult for me to conceive in the future. I had only told Adam about it. I looked at the two snarling faces in front of me and suddenly found it all very laughable. “I was the one who ended the engagement,” I said, flatly. Robert looked as if he’d heard the funniest joke. “You? What right do you have? Eleanor, I’m telling you, your brother and sister’s tuition and living expenses for studying abroad this month haven’t been sent yet! If you can’t sort things out with Adam, they can just pack their bags and come home!” It was the same old trick. Threatening me with the family members I cared about most. For the past seven years, this was why I’d lived like a dog in front of my own parents and Adam. But now, it was different. I looked up, meeting his gaze calmly. “So? What do you want?” My reaction stunned both Robert and Brenda. They were used to my meek compliance and hadn’t expected such a calm retort. Brenda’s eyes flickered, then she pasted on a sweet, false smile and took my hand. “Eleanor, don’t be upset with your father. He just wants what’s best for you. Since Adam is no longer an option, we can’t let you go to waste. Do you remember the Sterlings of Virginia? Their eldest son is seeking an arranged match. We were going to send your sister Lily, but she’s still so young and silly…” The Sterlings of Virginia. The top tier, the unimaginably wealthy family rumored to have a disabled heir. Alexander Sterling, who had turned volatile and cruel after an accident in his youth. No attendant lasted more than three months. No woman dared enter that fire. So this golden opportunity fell to me. The one Adam had thrown away. The scandalous one. The one who might never bear children. It sounded like a bargain. They were selling me, wringing out every last drop of value. “If you agree, the Sterlings will give us three hundred million. They’ll also cover your brother and sister’s Ivy League tuition-everything,” Brenda’s voice was laced with temptation. Three hundred million. My high school siblings. My life. In Robert’s eyes, that was my total worth. I looked at his greedy face, my heart turning to ice. Out of the fire, straight into the furnace. But at least, Virginia was far away from here, so far that I would never have to see Adam again, never have to live in the shadow of the past seven years. At least, this time, it was my choice. My marriage for my siblings’ future and my own freedom. It was a worthwhile trade. I pulled my hand from Brenda’s grasp, looked at Robert, and clearly uttered two words. “I agree.” Robert and Brenda’s faces instantly lit up with the wild joy of immense relief. Adam Hayes. This city, this relationship, these awful people and things. I was done with them.

Eleanor’s POV Three days after agreeing to marry into the Sterling family in Virginia, I met my best friend, Chloe Miller, at a Western restaurant downtown. It was a farewell, and a change of scenery. Chloe was the only genuine friend I had in our circle. As soon as she sat down, she grabbed my hand, her eyes red. “Eleanor, I know everything. Adam, that jerk, how could he do this to you? And Selena, that little bitch, if you hadn’t spoken up for her back then, she would’ve been drowned by her haters’ comments!” I smiled, handing her a tissue. “Why are you crying? I’m not the one who should be crying. I asked you out today to tell you I’m getting married.” Chloe’s crying stopped abruptly. “Married? To whom? Did Adam change his mind? No way, if he came back, I’d break his legs first!” “Not him.” I stirred the lemon water in my glass, my voice calm as if talking about someone else’s business. “It’s Alexander Sterling from the Sterling family in Virginia.” Chloe gasped, her face instantly looking worse than mine. “Alexander Sterling? The one rumored to be crippled and have a terrible temper?” I nodded. “Yes, him.” “Eleanor, are you insane?!” She shot up, drawing stares from nearby tables. “You’re going from the frying pan into the fire! What kind of pressure did the Vance family bloodsuckers put on you? If you need money, I have it. Don’t do anything stupid!” I pulled her back down, a wave of warmth washing over me. I knew she truly cared. “Chloe, listen to me,” I looked into her eyes, earnestly. “This is my own choice. You know what my family is like. If I don’t leave, my parents will control me forever. Marrying into Virginia, far away from this city, at least I’ll be free. And… the Sterling family offered me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” I told her about the Sterling family’s promise to cover all my siblings’ educational expenses. Chloe fell silent. After a long pause, she sighed. “You’re always like this, carrying everything alone. But what about you, Eleanor? When was the last time you thought about yourself??” Myself? It had been so long since I’d asked that question. For seven years, my life had orbited Adam. I learned what he liked, shed what he didn’t. I’d nearly forgotten who Eleanor was. Maybe marrying a stranger-a disabled man-was the first real choice I’d made for myself in years. We were still talking when a familiar figure paused beside our table. It was Selena. She wore a crisp new Chanel suit, her makeup flawless, a limited-edition Hermès bag over her arm. She looked nothing like the wide-eyed girl from the villa three days before. Adam wasn’t with her. “Eleanor, what a coincidence.” She spoke with a beaming smile, but her eyes were like poisoned needles, stabbing directly at me. Chloe was about to erupt, but I held her back. I shook my head at Chloe, then looked up at Selena, forcing a small smile. “Not a coincidence. I specifically chose this restaurant, one you couldn’t afford, to avoid people like you.” Selena’s smile froze for a moment, then she recovered it. “You’re so funny. Oh, by the way, Adam and I are getting engaged next week. You absolutely have to come, you know? It just wouldn’t feel right without a blessing from the ex.” As she spoke, she deliberately tossed her hair, revealing a dazzling diamond necklace around her neck. I recognized that necklace. Adam had bought it at an auction. It was his twenty-fifth birthday gift to me. So, the things he gave me could be worn by another woman in an instant. My heart, though numb, still felt that dull ache. “Ms. Blake,” I put down my fork and knife, leaning back in my chair, looking at her languidly. “Does wearing someone else’s discarded belongings give you a sense of accomplishment?” “You!” Selena’s facade finally cracked. “What are you talking about? Adam gave this to me! He said he’d never given anyone such an expensive gift!” “Is that so?” I laughed softly. “Then do you know the name of the necklace you’re wearing? It’s called ‘Eternity.’ When he gave it to me, he said it stood for forever. It seems Adam’s forever has a rather short expiration date” Selena snapped. “What do you have to be so proud of?” she burst out. “You’re just a woman Adam grew bored with! Do you think I don’t know? You can’t even have children-a useless hen! What could you possibly have over me?” She lowered her voice on that last sentence, but it struck my most painful spot. All the blood in my body rushed to my head in that instant. She continued, her voice filled with malicious glee. “Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. Adam bought the rooftop where your mother jumped off. He said the view was nice, and he’s going to turn it into a sunroom. We can have afternoon tea there, plant flowers. Your mother’s anniversary is coming up, isn’t it? Do you want to come up and join us then?” Smack! A sharp slap echoed through the entire restaurant. I stood there, my palm stinging. Selena clutched her face, staring at me in shock. Her eyes welled up instantly. “You…you hit me?” I could stand her flaunting Adam’s affection. I could endure her taking what was mine. But using my late mother to taunt me? That was a line she never should have crossed! “That slap,” I looked at her, my voice cold, “was for my mom.”

Eleanor’s POV The commotion in the restaurant attracted the manager, and then, Adam. He arrived so quickly,  like a dog guarding its bowl. Without a glance at me, he pulled a weeping Selena behind him and turned a look of cold disdain in my direction-a look I’d never seen on his face before. “Eleanor, what is wrong with you?” Selena, still tucked against him, pointed a trembling finger at me. “Adam, I only asked her to our engagement party… and she hit me.” His expression darkened further. He stared at me as if I were some deranged stranger. “Apologize to her,” he commanded. I looked at him, and a chilling thought settled in my chest: the man before me was a stranger.. Seven years. He had never once asked why. No matter the fight, no matter the reason, he would always make me back down, make me apologize. Because in his world, I, Eleanor Vance, was meant to be the sensible, accommodating, utterly trouble-free accessory. “I won’t repeat myself. Apologize.” When I didn’t move, he warned. Chloe, trembling with rage beside me, couldn’t help but speak up. “Adam, are you blind? She was the one who provoked Eleanor with her mom’s death! She’s the one who should apologize!” Adam’s gaze swept over Chloe, and he said coldly, “This doesn’t concern you.” Then, his eyes landed on me again, filled only with impatience and disappointment. “Eleanor, don’t make me completely lose the last bit of consideration I have for you.” The last bit of consideration? So, seven years of our relationship, to him, had dwindled to this. I laughed, but tears streamed down my face. I looked at Selena, protected in his arms, at his blaming face, and asked him, word by word, “Adam, what if today, I say no?” His brows furrowed tightly. He seemed surprised by my defiance. “Eleanor, don’t push me.” Push him? What had I pushed him to do? Had I pushed him to fall in love with someone else? Had I pushed him to break off our engagement? Had I pushed him to trample on my dignity? Smack! Another sharp slap. But this time, it landed on my face. The entire world fell silent. My cheek burned, a searing pain that soon turned numb. My ears rang, making me unable to hear the gasps and whispers around me. I only saw Adam with his hand raised, a flicker of shock on his face, as if he hadn’t expected himself to actually hit me. And behind him, Selena’s lips curved into a fleeting, triumphant smile. So, this was the end. This slap, more than the broken engagement in the villa, more than seeing my necklace on another woman, finally sobered me up. I raised my hand, wiped away my tears, then looked at him and said, incredibly calmly: “Fine, I apologize.” Adam seemed to relax, believing I’d finally given in. I turned toward Selena, met her expectant gaze, and spoke slowly. “I’m sorry.” Then, under the stunned eyes of everyone, I looked straight at Adam and went on. “Adam, I’m sorry for loving you these past seven years.” “I’m sorry I gave up myself and my dignity for you.” “I’m sorry I was blind enough to mistake a stone for a jewel.” Adam’s expression turned terrifying. “Eleanor! You-” “Adam,” I cut him off, forcing a smile. “You were the one who let go first.” “I promise you. From today on, I will never appear before you again.” “Never again. Just as you wish.” With that, I picked up my bag and, leaning on a worried Chloe, walked out of the restaurant without a backward glance. Behind me, Adam’s furious shout echoed through the dining room. But I didn’t care anymore. The wind outside was bitingly cold. But that was good. At least it could freeze a person clear.

Eleanor’s POV The day after returning from the restaurant, I started packing. ‘Luggage’ wasn’t really the right word. I disdained to take anything from the Vance house, and just looking at the things Adam had given me was painful. I cleared out all the designer bags, high-end fashion, and jewelry from my walk-in closet, piling them in the center of the room. Finally, I took out a heavy red velvet keepsake box from the safe. Adam had given it to me for my twentieth birthday. He’d said that every year, he would put a piece of jewelry he thought best suited me inside. When the box was full, he would marry me. Seven years later, the box was already overflowing. Inside were the tiny diamond earrings he bought me with his bonus after he landed his first project. There was the antique brooch we found at a flea market during our first trip abroad to Paris. And his mother’s sapphire ring, meant for his future wife… Each item had once been treasured. But now, they were just a pile of cold stones. I closed the lid of the box and, along with the blank wish card he’d signed when he was younger, promising to grant my every wish, placed it into the cardboard box meant for return. That wish card was my last resort. Back when Adam’s grandfather was still alive, to reassure me, Adam had signed this card in front of both our families. He’d said that as long as I held this card, no matter when or where, I could make a request, and he would never refuse. I once believed this card would be the most romantic fulfillment of a vow when I married him. Later, I thought it would be my final card to play to win him back. But now, I just wanted to return it to him. I didn’t want to owe him anything anymore. I called Adam’s assistant, Mark, gave him the address, and told him to come pick up the items. Mark’s voice was his usual business-like tone. “Ms. Vance, Mr. Hayes is very busy these days, preparing for his engagement party with Ms. Blake. I’m afraid he doesn’t have time for these irrelevant matters.” “Irrelevant matters?” I controlled my emotions. “There are his personal belongings in the box, very important ones.” Mark’s tone grew impatient. “Ms. Vance, I know you’re upset, but Mr. Hayes is truly starting a new life. Why cling on in this way? It would be better for everyone to maintain some decency, wouldn’t it?” He thought I was playing games, trying to cling to Adam. I took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible, “The box contains Mr. Hayes’s personal insignia and important tokens. You must come and collect them before five this afternoon. Otherwise, if anything goes missing, you’ll be responsible.” There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then he reluctantly agreed. “Understood, I’ll be there this afternoon.” At four-thirty that afternoon, Mark arrived as promised. He didn’t even step inside, just stood at the doorway. I pushed the few large cardboard boxes I’d packed towards him. “Ms. Vance,” he said pointedly, while instructing his driver to move the boxes, “you need to look forward. Mr. Hayes and Ms. Blake are a perfect match, everyone knows that. You’re only making yourself look worse.” I didn’t explain, nor did I argue. Arguing with someone living in their own delusion was the most foolish thing in the world. I just looked at him and said blandly, “Check the items thoroughly. Take them back to him. From now on, we’re even.” After they loaded everything into the car, I closed the front door.

Eleanor’s POV Three days later, a black stretch limousine pulled up to my house. I wore a simple white dress, carrying a small suitcase. Under the complex gazes of Robert and Brenda, I got into the car, bound for Virginia. After a flight of over ten hours, the plane smoothly landed on a private airstrip at Virginia Airport. A middle-aged man in a black suit came forward, bowing respectfully to me. “Ms. Vance, I presume? I am Mr. Alexander Sterling’s butler, Mr. Davies. Mr. Sterling is waiting for you at the hillside villa.” “Hello, yes, thank you.” I responded with a smile. Mr. Davies seemed surprised by my polite demeanor. He paused, then offered a kind smile. “Ms. Vance, please get in the car.” The black Rolls-Royce drove smoothly along the mountain road. The scenery was entirely different from the city I had left behind. The car finally stopped in front of a white villa nestled among green trees. The villa’s design was minimalist and modern, exuding luxury in a subtle way. The butler opened the car door for me and led me into the living room. In the center of the living room, a man in a wheelchair sat with his back to me. He wore a simple white shirt, his figure slender and tall. Even seated, his excellent proportions were evident. Hearing my footsteps, he maneuvered his wheelchair, slowly turning to face me. In that instant, my breath caught. The man before me bore no resemblance to the gloomy, violent image I’d conjured of someone disabled. His features were strikingly handsome, almost perfect, and his deep eyes seemed to see right through me. He was Alexander Sterling. I instinctively clutched the hem of my dress, breaking the silence first. “Mr. Sterling, hello. I’ve arrived.” He lifted the corner of his lips slightly, and his cool demeanor softened somewhat. “I know. I’ve been waiting for you.” His gaze slowly moved from my face down to my tightly gripped suitcase handle. “Mr. Davies, show her to her room. It’s been a long flight; she must be tired,” he ordered softly, his eyes never leaving me. “Yes, sir.” Mr. Davies stepped forward, ready to take my suitcase. “No, thank you, I can manage.” I quickly refused, not wanting to seem delicate right after arriving. I pulled my suitcase, ready to follow the butler upstairs, but just as I turned to pass his wheelchair, the suitcase wheel unfortunately caught on the edge of the rug. The entire case suddenly tipped to one side. “Careful!” Mr. Davies exclaimed. I instinctively reached out to steady it, my body also losing balance. I tumbled forward unexpectedly- I didn’t fall to the carpet. My hands landed on something warm and firm. Through a thin layer of shirt fabric, I could clearly feel the smooth, powerful lines of muscle beneath my palms. My cheek was only a few centimeters from his neck. I could even smell his clean, fresh scent. I… I had practically fallen into Alexander Sterling’s arms. My hands were pressed against his chest. My mind went blank, my cheeks flushed crimson, feeling as though they could start bleeding. In all my life, aside from Adam, I had never had such intimate contact with any man. I fumbled to get up, clumsily pushing against his chest, but the more I rushed, the more my strength failed me. All the while, Alexander Sterling sat steadily in his wheelchair, without even a tremor. He didn’t push me away, nor did he help me. He just sat there quietly, letting me struggle clumsily in his arms like a startled rabbit. I could feel his steady, powerful heartbeat, tapping against my palm, a rhythmic thud, then another. My heart, however, felt like it was about to pound out of my throat. Finally, with a burst of effort, I pushed against his chest and straightened up, retreating a few steps in disarray, my head bowed so low it almost touched my chest. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” I stammered, my face so hot it felt like it could fry an egg. He still didn’t say anything. I secretly lifted my eyes, quickly glancing at him. He maintained his calm expression, as if I hadn’t just thrown myself into his arms. He slowly reached up and smoothed the wrinkles on his chest that I had caused. Then, his thin lips parted, his voice a few shades deeper and huskier than before. “Eleanor,” he said, “we’ve just met. Are you that eager?”

Adam’s POV My bachelor party took over the penthouse suite of the city’s most exclusive club. The place was packed-friends, hangers-on, top-shelf liquor, beautiful faces. The air hummed with decadence. Yet I, the guest of honor, couldn’t focus. I sat slouched on the sofa, a cigar smoldering between my fingers. My gaze drifted through the haze, seeing nothing. My friend Garrett North leaned in, offering a glass of whiskey. “Adam. You’re getting engaged tomorrow. Why are you so upset?” I ignored the drink, tugging at my tie. “Nothing.” Garrett followed my absent stare toward Selena, who was holding court across the room, laughter too loud. He snorted. “Still hung up on Eleanor? Honestly, Adam. Why trade a woman like her for someone so common? Look at her. You can practically see her head inflating.” Eleanor again. My expression hardened. “Eleanor and I are done.” “Done?” Garrett scoffed again. “Come on. It’s been seven years of this dance. When has she ever been the one to walk away for good? Give it three days. She’ll come crawling back, tears and all. That stunt at the restaurant? Just her playing hard to get. Again.” My friends were quick to agree. “Exactly. Eleanor’s crazy about you. She won’t just walk away.” “She’s jealous, that’s all. You know how women are. Just smooth things over a little.” “You’re getting engaged tomorrow, Adam. I’d bet anything Eleanor shows up to make a scene!” I took another drink. My irritation had little to do with them. It was Eleanor’s silence these past few days that grated on me. Ever since the restaurant disaster, she’d disappeared. Vanished. No calls, no texts, not a single social media post. It wasn’t what I’d expected. The script called for her to be blowing up my phone by now, pleading for another chance. But she wasn’t. And that loss of control-it churned in my gut, a blend of pure annoyance and the first cold trace of panic. I picked up my glass and downed the burning liquor. It did nothing for the tightness in my chest. I pulled out my phone and tapped Eleanor’s chat window on instinct. It was blank. “Damn woman!” I cursed under my breath and threw the phone onto the table. Garrett watched me, eyes glinting with a mischievous idea. “If you’re that worried, Adam, just call her. Make up an excuse-tell her to bring you something. If she comes, she still cares. If not…” “She’ll come,” I sneered, utterly confident. I waved my assistant Mark over. “Call Eleanor,” I ordered, sinking back into the sofa. “Tell her I’ve drunk too much. I need hangover soup. She has thirty minutes.” It was an old trick. No matter the hour or what she was doing, one call from me and Eleanor would drop everything, make the soup, and drive across the city to deliver it. Because Eleanor adored me. “Tell her,” I paused, adding, “my engagement tomorrow depends entirely on her presence.” It was an ultimatum. A concession. This was the greatest concession I’d ever grant. Mark nodded and stepped away to make the call. He returned a few minutes later, his expression strained. “Mr. Hayes,” he said, leaning in close. “Ms. Vance answered.” My brow lifted. A cold, knowing smile touched my lips. Just as I’d predicted. Eleanor couldn’t stay away. “What did she say? Is she crying? Ask her where she is now.” Mark stammered. “She… wasn’t crying, Sir. She said… to go to hell.” My smile froze.

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My husband’s first love came back to life and reincarnated as our family cat. She tore my dresses. Knocked over my perfume. Scratched and bit me whenever she could. I complained to my husband. He only scolded me. “Why are you jealous of a cat? Elara is gone. Mimi is all I have left of her. Can’t you even tolerate that?” The cat shot me a smug, triumphant look, then curled into Jared’s arms. He stroked her fur, his voice thick with affection. “My poor Elara. If I could do it all over, I’d have given you a child. You must have been so lonely… that’s why you sent Mimi to me.” Oh, the loneliness? I can fix that right now. So, I took her to the park, where all the stray cats were waiting. They were all males. Jared went downstairs to get a package. The moment the door closed, Mimi jumped from her cat tree. She streaked toward me, back arched, teeth bared, a low growl rumbling in her throat. I ignored her and turned toward my room. She lunged. Claws sliced across my arm, leaving three raised red lines that quickly beaded with blood. I hissed in pain, bent down, and grabbed a slipper by my feet. Just as I raised it, the door opened. Instantly, Mimi retracted her claws, tucked her tail, and scurried to Jared’s feet. She looked up at him with watery eyes and let out a pitiful meow, darting glances at me as if she were the most aggrieved creature alive. Jared picked her up, his fingertips gently stroking her fur, his voice soft and tender. “What’s wrong, my Mimi? Who upset you?” I pointed to the bleeding marks on my arm, my voice tight. “Jared, she scratched me. It’s bleeding.” Jared didn’t even glance at my bleeding arm. He kept murmuring to the cat in his arms. “Impossible. My Mimi is the sweetest thing. She’d never scratch anyone. You must have scared her. She was just defending herself. Honestly, Chloe, you’re an adult. Why are you picking on a cat?” Mimi nuzzled into him, then tilted her head to blink at me. The triumph in her eyes was unmistakable. My grip on the slipper tightened until my knuckles turned white. I said nothing. A couple of days later, Jared went to the grocery store and asked me to feed Mimi. I mixed her expensive imported food and set the bowl down. Mimi sniffed it, then lifted a paw and tipped the bowl over. Kibble scattered across the floor, some hitting my pants. I knelt to clean it up, but she started aggressively pawing at my hair and stepping all over my clothes. Cat litter even rubbed off onto my collar. My patience finally snapped. I stood up to get a broom and shoo her away. Just as I reached the doorway, I heard keys in the lock. Mimi shot to the door, meowing piteously at Jared. Then she deliberately threw her full weight against my leg before collapsing to the floor with a dramatic thud. She rolled onto her back, belly exposed, looking utterly broken, as if clinging to her last breath after a beating. Jared rushed over, scooping her up. He’s panic. “My Mimi! How did you fall? Did she push you? Are you hurt, my darling?” I suppressed my rising fury and explained. “She deliberately ran into me! And she kicked over her food, getting cat litter all over me!” Jared snapped, his voice turning cold. “Chloe, enough. Don’t accuse Mimi. She’s gentle. She’d never do that. You probably didn’t want to feed her, so you made a mess, then tried to chase her off. Of course she panicked and ran into you.” “How many times do I have to say it? Be kind to her. Treat her like family. Why can’t you listen?” He lowered his head, cooing at the cat in his arms, his voice softening once more. “It’s all right, Mimi. Daddy’s here. No one can hurt you. Stay away from her from now on, don’t let her scare you.” Mimi nestled against him, eyes half-closed. Something like a smirk touched her mouth. She rubbed her head deliberately along his chin, a display of spoiled triumph that made my hands shake with fury. Jared always believed that cat. He always thought it was my fault. Even with the proof right in front of him, he’d look away and spin the story until the blame landed squarely back on me.

Jared’s indulgence of that cat had no bottom line. A while back, we had mice, so he bought rat poison and put it in the lowest corner of a cabinet, covered by a box. That morning, I was making oatmeal in the kitchen, while Jared was in the living room, watching TV with Mimi. The moment I turned my back to get the groceries, I heard the sound of a box tumbling in the living room. When I rushed out, I saw Mimi pawing at a bag of rat poison. The bag was torn open, white powder scattered across the floor, clinging suspiciously to its paws. I gasped, rushing forward to try and gather the bag, but Mimi was gone. I cautiously followed her into the kitchen. I watched as she lifted her paw, scraping the rat poison powder directly into the oatmeal I had just finished cooking. “What are you doing!” I shrieked, reaching out to shoo her away. Jared followed me in, saw the rat poison on the floor and the powder in the oatmeal, and just chuckled, bending down to pick up the cat. “Mimi, you little troublemaker. Always up to something.” He tapped the cat’s head, his voice dripping with fondness. Not a trace of reproach. I was in shock. “She put rat poison in the oatmeal! This could have killed someone!” Jared glanced at the oatmeal. He shrugged. “So? Just dump it out. Mimi doesn’t understand. It was just playing. It’s not like she meant to hurt anyone.” Mimi rubbed against him in his arms, her eyes fixed on me with a defiant look. Watching Jared’s casual demeanor, a wave of fury washed over me. “Doesn’t understand? How did she know the rat poison was under the cabinet? How did she know to tear open the box? And how did it just happen to fall into my oatmeal?” Jared’s face hardened, his tone turning accusatory. “What are you implying? That Mimi deliberately tried to harm you? She’s just a cat, what kind of evil intentions could she have?” I looked at the cat in his arms. It was squinting, almost as if smiling. How had she found it so precisely? How had she scattered it right into my oatmeal? Jared set the cat down and turned to me. “Stop staring. Dump it and make a new batch. And from now on, keep things like this where Mimi can’t get to them.” With that, he picked up Mimi and returned to the living room, continuing to watch TV. I stood in the kitchen, staring at the tainted bowl. I was growing certain. Something was deeply wrong with this cat. She wasn’t just clueless. She was doing it on purpose. She wanted to hurt me.

This silver tabby was Elara Stone’s cat, Jared’s first love. After Elara’s unexpected death, Jared brought Mimi straight home. He bought her premium imported cat food, designer collars, and regularly took her for grooming appointments. He even brought the cat when we visited my parents. My mom’s dog, who usually roamed free, approached Mimi and sniffed her. Mimi let out a yelp. Jared clutched the cat tighter, yelling at me. “Control your dog! What if it scares Mimi?” My mother quickly pulled the dog back. “He was only saying hello. He didn’t mean any harm.” Jared wouldn’t let it go. “What if it bit Mimi? She’s all I have left of Elara. If anything happens to her, could you even afford to make it right?” All my relatives stared at me. I stood rooted to the spot, speechless. All the money at home, Jared spent on the cat. I contributed my salary to household expenses, and those high-end cat supplies were all bought with my money. Mimi would bite and scratch me whenever she saw me. One time, Mimi broke the skin on my arm. I went for a rabies shot. Afterward, a rash spread across my body. The doctor called it an allergic reaction. I called Jared. I told him about the allergy and that I needed to go to the hospital. On the phone, Jared only said, “Got it.  I’m taking Mimi to her grooming appointment. We’ll talk later.” He hung up. No other questions. I went to the hospital alone, got some medication, and came back. Jared was already home, feeding Mimi treats. I told him, “The allergy is really uncomfortable.” Jared mumbled an ‘hmm’ without looking up. Mimi meowed at me, even swiping a paw. Jared quickly pressed down on her paw. “Stay still, sweetheart. Don’t get near her.” I asked, “Aren’t you going to ask how bad it is? How bad the allergy was?” Jared finally looked up. He blamed. “What’s the issue? It’s just an allergy. You took the medicine, right? You always make a scene and ruin my time with Mimi.” Mimi rubbed against him, her eyes fixed on me, almost as if smiling. I thought of the looks from my relatives, the scratches on my arm, the rash all over my body during the allergy attack, the rat poison in the oatmeal, and a heavy knot formed in my chest. Jared continued. “Mimi’s had it hard. With Elara gone, if I don’t spoil her, who will? You’re the lady of the house. Can’t you show a little grace? What kind of person picks fights with a cat?”

Ever since the rat poison incident, the certainty had been growing in me-something was wrong. This cat was too clever. Almost unnervingly human. The way she looked at me was exactly like Elara used to look at me before she died. I even wondered if Elara’s soul had somehow possessed it. Every time Jared and I tried to be intimate, she’d interfere. She’d either suddenly jump over and scratch me, or she’d meow incessantly at us, making it impossible for us to continue. Jared never blamed her. He’d just coo, “Is Mimi jealous? It’s okay, Daddy loves you.” Then he’d turn to me and complain, “Can’t you wait until Mimi’s asleep? She’s still young and needs constant attention.” I didn’t argue, but my suspicions grew heavier. The true moment of clarity hit me this time. Jared said Mimi needed a check-up, and asked me to drive her to the vet. I put Mimi in her carrier and placed it on the passenger seat. Just as I got onto the main road, she suddenly began to thrash violently in the carrier, her claws scratching against the bars, and meowing aggressively at my face. Distracted, I glanced at her, and the steering wheel swerved sharply. The car veered directly towards the roadside barrier. I slammed on the brakes, the car skidding to a halt, scraping the barrier. My heart pounded furiously. I turned to look at her. She had quieted down, her eyes filled with disappointment. In that moment, I knew. It was Elara. She wanted me to crash the car. She wanted to usurp my place, to push me out of Jared’s life and claim it for herself. A chilling dread washed over me, but I didn’t dare speak out. I just grit my teeth, drove her to the vet, and brought her home after the check-up. Jared noticed a few scrapes on her body and, heartbroken, asked what had happened. When he heard about the near-accident, that grown man actually broke down into sobs!

He held Mimi tightly, burying his face in her fur. “My poor girl, don’t leave me, please? Daddy was terrified. I swear I’ll never leave your side again.” He stroked her back, his gaze distant and sorrowful. “Elara…you left too soon. My beautiful Elara, it still breaks me. All you left me was this cat. If anything happened to her, I couldn’t face you..” Mimi nuzzled into him, purring softly. But her eyes stayed on me, accusing. I watched them coolly, then spoke, my voice level. “There’s a simple solution. Take her to a breeder. With her pedigree, you could charge a thousand per mating. There’d be a waiting list. Once she has kittens, your attachment could live on.” Jared went still. He looked up, his expression hardening into something savage. “No! Absolutely not!” “Mimi is pure. She would never be bred with some filthy stray. What kind of suggestion is that?” Mimi seemed startled by his shout. She immediately shrank, tucked her tail between her legs, her eyes watery, trembling all over. But she subtly glanced up, staring at me with fury. I watched her performance and smiled coldly inside. Keep acting. Jared lowered his head to comfort her. “It’s okay, it’s okay, I wasn’t talking about you, I was talking about her. Who would dare make you breed? I’d be the first to object.” He turned a sharp glare on me, his voice thick with accusation. “Enough. That’s Elara’s legacy. I would never subject her to that humiliation. What exactly are you plotting?” I lmet his eyes, a slight, cool smile touching my lips. “Plotting? What could I possibly be plotting?” “You’re afraid she’ll die, aren’t you? If she has kittens, problem solved.” “Not like that!” Jared snapped. “What kind of cats are in those places? They could be diseased. They could hurt her. No. Never!” Mimi rubbed against him, a smug glint in her eyes. I dropped the argument and just stared at the cat. Since you look down on those pampered purebreds at the shelter, you get what you get. The park is crawling with scruffy, filthy toms. When they’re in heat, they don’t ask for a pedigree. Then, your precious Elara can get a real taste of “love.”

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My name is Diana Morris. My husband Nathan Wright sent me to attend the Taming Course, and two years later, I graduated as the top student. The day I came home, he was sitting side by side on the couch with his beautiful secretary, Hailey Ramirez. I obediently knelt and handed the drink to her. Nathan said, “You’ll continue living at home. Hailey is preparing for pregnancy, so take good care of her.” I nodded repeatedly. He killed my entire family, and now, it’s my turn. I sleep at midnight and wake up at four every day, kneeling to scrub the floor, studying Hailey’s tastes and pregnancy recipes, massaging her shoulders and legs, and even serving as a prop for her photos. Day by day passed, and Hailey finally showed signs of pregnancy. She said joyfully, “Am I pregnant? That’s wonderful!” Nathan suddenly turned to me, frowned, and asked, “Diana, why are you so happy too?” Of course, I’m happy. After all, I am the best graduate of the Taming Course, the most obedient and well-behaved. He didn’t just ask; he stared at me intently, doubt evident in his eyes. I said, “Mr. Wright, I’m happy for Mrs. Wright.” After speaking, I continued mopping the floor, wiping twice with a wet cloth and once with a dry one, making the marble tiles shine enough to reflect a person’s image. Nathan’s frown deepened, clearly not believing it. Hailey leaned on the sofa, a slight smile on her lips, looking increasingly relaxed. She pouted at Nathan, “I feel so awful today, it must be the baby bothering me.” Nathan walked over and held her. She nestled into his arms and said proudly, “But I’m a good mom, eating properly so the baby doesn’t lack nutrition.” Nathan glanced at me. I chimed in at the right moment, speaking sincerely. “Yeah, Mrs. Wright has really been trying hard, eating even more than usual.” Nathan’s face suddenly darkened. I ignored him and went on to prepare Hailey’s health supplements after cleaning the floor. I neatly arranged the health supplements, energy drinks, and snacks on a tray and brought it to the sofa. Hailey sat on Nathan’s lap, constantly twisting her waist. He kept kissing her cheek, but when he saw me come in, he suddenly straightened her up and created some distance. I knelt by the sofa, holding the tray up with both hands for her convenience. Hailey looked down at me and said, “Diana, get up.” Nathan pointed to the small sofa nearby and gently said, “Kneeling too long hurts your knees, have a seat for a while.” I remained motionless, my voice extremely humble. “Serving Mrs. Wright is my duty, there’s no hardship in it.” Hailey finished her health supplements with satisfaction, leaned into Nathan’s arms, and sighed, “Diana is truly a born servant. Darling, give her a bonus.” I obediently held up the energy drinks, but my mind wandered to last month when Hailey caught Nathan trying to sleep with me. She claimed it was because I mopped the floor too slippery, causing her to fall, and punished me by making me sleep in the dog cage for three days and nights. Exposed to the elements and the snarling of vicious dogs, I barely crawled out alive. That was her warning me not to compete with her for Nathan. Hailey yawned, then suddenly remembered something and instructed me to bring out all the red wine in the house. I placed over thirty bottles of red wine on the table but couldn’t understand her intention. She glanced at me sideways and teased, “Diana, how can you be so dumb? I’m pregnant and can’t drink alcohol. “These fine wines would go to waste, so you might as well drink them.” “These are top-quality; don’t waste them.” At that moment, Nathan walked out of the study, looking at us with a grim expression. I smoothly opened a bottle, smiled humbly, and drank it straight. “Mrs. Wright, you’re right, I was too foolish. Thank you for your kindness.” Nathan rushed over, grabbed the bottle, and clutched my throat. “You’re allergic to alcohol! Spit it out now!”

The swallowed liquor felt like scalding sulfuric acid, burning my throat and insides. I forced myself to endure the discomfort, took two steps back, and smiled ingratiatingly at Hailey. Nathan shook his head in disbelief. He knew I never touched a drop of alcohol. Even in social settings, I never drink. The only exception was the night I caught him having an affair with Hailey. Weeping, I smashed a bottle of whiskey on the floor. The smell of alcohol caused an allergic reaction, and I fainted. After being resuscitated, I demanded a divorce from my hospital bed. He refused, and within a month, he set a fire that killed my entire family to seize the inheritance. That very night, he brought Hailey home, and she moved in for good. I couldn’t shed a single tear; I just wanted to kill them both. But when I accidentally tore the lace on Hailey’s skirt, Nathan said I was too selfish and sent me to a Taming Course to become a docile and virtuous wife. He took the opportunity to seize my last assets and lived happily with Hailey. I opened the second bottle of red wine and gulped it down without hesitation. Hailey looked at me with satisfaction, then turned to the shocked Nathan with a slight smile, “See how well-behaved Diana is now? She doesn’t even pretend to be allergic anymore.” Nathan opened his mouth but hadn’t spoken yet when the phone rang. He frowned, answered it, and walked away. I opened the third bottle of red wine. At that moment, Hailey, smiling brightly, snatched the wine bottle and poured it over me from head to toe. I couldn’t open my eyes for a moment. Her mocking voice came to my ears, “Diana, you don’t know how to cherish things!” “A few thousand dollars’ worth of red wine, and you still despise it?” I kept my eyes closed and apologized repeatedly, “It’s all my fault. Please punish me, Mrs. Wright.” She grabbed my hair and dragged me, stumbling, into the basement storage room. This place is my bedroom, barely enough room for two people to move around. Hailey sat on the bed, and I knelt by the bedside. The next second, the whip struck me. I didn’t dare run or move, curling up and enduring the pain of each lash. The whip tore through my clothes, cutting into my flesh, and my scarred back quickly became a bloody mess again. After drinking, my skin was already red, swollen, and itchy; now it’s no longer itchy, just painful. Mixed with the stomach cramps and dizzy headache, my breathing became harder, and my heart raced. I don’t know how many lashes I took; I collapsed to the ground in a daze, too weak to lift my head, and the whipping finally stopped. Hailey said coldly, “Enough. Look at how filthy you are. Clean yourself up; you’re going out today.” After speaking, she tossed down two small white pills. Ignoring the dirt, I picked up the pills, shoved them into my mouth, and swallowed. Nathan sprayed perfume on himself, frowned, and seeing my pale face like a ghost, said with concern, “Are you okay? Even if your past allergies were fake, drinking too much is bad for your health. Don’t drink anymore.” “Just serve Hailey well, no need to do anything extra.” Before meeting me, he was a timid and insecure country boy. When he first started working in New York, clients mocked him for his strong body odor. I helped him out and privately told him that clothes shouldn’t just air dry. If he couldn’t move for now, he should buy some cheap perfume to mask the smell. Since then, he began passionately pursuing me. His favorite gift to give was perfume. As his income increased, the perfumes he gave me became more and more expensive. After we got married, he simply bought a full set of equipment and built a perfume room at home. He once said passionately, “Diana, I want to create a unique fragrance just for you.” Hailey knocked on the door impatiently, her tone anxious. “Darling, let’s go quickly!” I tried to avoid Nathan, but he grabbed me with a displeased look. “Diana, why have you changed?” Changed? The old me gave up my career to protect his dignity, returning home to be a full-time housewife. Every day, I took care of his meals and chores, ensuring he was comfortable from head to toe. Even during lovemaking, I did everything to please him, fearing he might feel even a hint of unhappiness. Now, I have changed.

Hailey swayed her hips as she walked over, took Nathan’s other hand, turned his body toward her, and said softly, “I’ve been waiting for you for so long.” Nathan paused, kissed her, and the two walked hand in hand to the car. I silently sat in the back seat, watching the scenery outside the window, gradually growing uneasy. Wait, are they going to the Morris Manor? I looked at everything in front of me in panic. Where is my home? Where are my family’s graves? In front of me was only a field of flowers, the fragrance overwhelming, with people watering and weeding. I stumbled out of the car, rushed forward, grabbed one of them, and hoarsely asked, “Where’s the original house? Where did the cemetery go?” “Isn’t this the Morris Manor? How did it turn into a flower field?” The person was startled, then loudly replied, “The house you mentioned was demolished long ago. Mr. Wright said the soil and water here are perfect for a spice base.” Not far away, Nathan stared at his toes, coughing without saying a word. Hailey smiled warmly at me and said, “Diana, don’t worry. Although your family’s cemetery was removed, their ashes are still there. They’re on that boat.” I mechanically turned my head and looked where she pointed. There sat a small boat I used to love playing with as a child. The bright yellow hull, edged with red, was already worn and dirty. A whimper escaped my throat, and I dashed out suddenly. My foot stepped on gravel, and I fell hard to the ground. My palms scraped and bled, but I felt nothing as I got up and kept running. The small boat was rotten, and as soon as I stepped on it, my foot sank into a hole. Ignoring the pain, I leaned over and searched inside. The ashes? Where are my family’s ashes? Finally, I saw a toppled urn in the corner. The gray-white powder lay quietly inside, as if it could be blown away by the wind at any moment. My whole body trembled violently, tears streamed down uncontrollably, and I held it tightly in my arms, shaking. Tears blurred my vision, and pain tore through my body and soul. Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma… I’m sorry, it’s all my fault! It was me who fell in love with someone I shouldn’t have, it was me who harmed you! The small boat rocked. In the distance, Nathan’s voice called out, “Diana? Diana! Answer me!” Hailey walked over first, her face full of pride and jealousy. She grabbed my hair and slapped me hard several times without mercy. “Diana, why don’t you just die?” “If you don’t die, how can I become Mrs. Wright? I’m the only one for Nathan!” I had no time to fight back, just held the urn tightly. Soon, Nathan came over as well. Hailey chuckled softly, dragged me to the stern, and gave a hard push. “Clang!” The urn hit the boat’s edge and shattered. I panicked, trying to gather the ashes. Hailey leaned down, a sinister smile curling at the corner of her lips. “Guess who Nathan will save?” Then she grabbed my shoulders and flipped us forcefully—we both fell into the water! The river water rushed into my nose and mouth. I struggled desperately, but could only watch helplessly as the gathered ashes dissolved into the water, drifting away. Heartbroken, I reached out to grab them, and then pain shot through my neck. Hailey slashed my neck with the sharp shards of the urn. Blood gushed out, quickly diluted by the water, as my body heat faded away. Before I passed out, I saw Nathan jump into the water and hold Hailey without hesitation, just like three years ago during the mall fire, when he ignored me, who was within reach, to save her trapped inside. If the firefighters hadn’t arrived in time, I would have been burned alive. I was completely drained, drifting with the river’s flow. Am I really going to die like this? Nathan helped Hailey ashore, gently comforting her, and finally noticed me. Just as he was about to get up, Hailey suddenly threw herself into his arms, weakly sobbing, “Darling, I feel so awful. Am I dying?” Tears streamed down her cheeks, making her look pitiful. Nathan immediately focused all his attention back on her, cupping her face and kissing her tenderly. “No, Hailey, I promise you’ll be fine!” “Ambulance!” he roared, carrying Hailey away. I was pushed by the river, crashing into a rotten boat, using my last bit of strength to grab its edge. In a daze, my family members reached out to pull me up. “Diana, good girl, you must survive.” Blood-red tears streamed from my eyes. “Just wait, I’ll send the culprit to hell!”

When I woke up, I found myself in the hospital. Nathan, looking haggard, said to me with joy, “Diana, you’re finally awake!” I struggled to get up and knelt on the ground. “I’m sorry, Mr. Wright, I shouldn’t have fallen into the water, I shouldn’t have made you worry. “I’ll go back right away, and I’ll take good care of Mrs. Wright.” Nathan stared at the blood seeping from me, his eyes wide open. Seeing him lean down, I immediately curled up, trembling. “Diana, how could you end up like this?” he said, his voice trembling. I didn’t answer. The room was terrifyingly quiet. Just then, Hailey called. She said coquettishly, “Darling, I feel so unwell. It must have scared the baby when I fell into the water. Ask Diana to come back and take care of me.” Hearing this, I immediately got up and changed clothes. Seeing my back covered with whip marks, Nathan’s eyes widened in disbelief. He hung up the phone, his voice trembling. “Diana, who hit you?” I put on my clothes and said obediently, “Mr. Wright, Mrs. Wright is waiting for me. I have to hurry back.” His eyes were bloodshot as he tore at my clothes and roared, “Who hit you? Was it the Taming Course people? Those bastards!” I said gently, “Mr. Wright, the teachers just want to teach me the virtues of a traditional housewife to make you happy.” Nathan trembled all over, frozen in place. “But I didn’t ask them to…” Hailey called again to urge. I followed behind Nathan and left. As I passed the corner, a man in a suit exchanged glances with me. Back home, Hailey immediately threw herself into Nathan’s arms, grabbed his hand, and placed it on her lower abdomen, saying she felt uncomfortable. I turned and walked into the kitchen to start making a nutritious meal. Nathan’s gaze stayed glued to my back. Hailey immediately noticed and pulled his attention back with a softer voice. At midnight, she ordered me to kneel outside the master bedroom door and scrub the floor again. Inside the room, Hailey panted softly, “Darling, you’re amazing, a little harder. I love you so much. Do you love me the most?” Nathan, however, didn’t respond to her as he usually would. Hailey moaned even more passionately. I knew she was doing it on purpose for me to hear. After finishing the floor, I checked the health supplements bottle; it was already empty. Outside the window, a flashlight blinked three times; he was here to pick me up. I didn’t bring anything, just carried my laptop and walked out the door. Two hours later, I was on a flight heading abroad.

My name is Fiona Knight. That day, a woman named Camila Acosta came to my lottery shop claiming she had won a hundred million dollars. She held up a lottery ticket and shouted at the camera, “I won a hundred million dollars! But the shop owner saw I’m from the countryside and refused to cash my prize!” “Tomorrow is the deadline to claim the prize. My parents are still in the hospital, waiting for this money to save their lives!” She pointed the camera at me. Viewers in the livestream started cursing at me. [This shop owner is so cruel! That’s her parents’ life-saving money!] [Cash the prize immediately! Or we’ll all come and smash your store!] I just looked at the camera coldly and said, “Cash the prize? Impossible. You can sue me in court.” My words ignited the anger of the viewers. They all offered to help Camila send me to jail. But she hesitated and refused, “I’m just a rural person, I don’t dare to cause trouble, I just want to get back my parents’ life-saving money.” When the viewers heard this, they cursed me even more harshly. “You scumbag! How dare you bully an honest rural person like this! You’re absolutely heartless!” “If you don’t give the prize, just go die!” “How can someone like you exist in society? Are you deaf? Her parents are waiting for this money to save their lives!” I looked at the flood of foul language in the livestream, but my face remained expressionless. Suddenly, Camila knelt down in front of me. Her forehead slammed heavily onto the ground, and blood quickly seeped from her temple. She raised her blood-covered face and hoarsely begged me, “Miss, I beg you, please let me claim the prize. My parents are still in the hospital waiting for me.” “I know you look down on us rural folks, but that’s my parents’ life-saving money.” “Those are two living lives, please let me claim the prize!” She clutched my pant leg, her voice trembling. “As long as you’re willing to let me claim the prize, I’m willing to give you half!” “I swear, we can sign a contract. I’m willing to give you half the prize money, as long as you’re willing to let me claim it.” “I beg you, tomorrow is the final deadline.” Her words won the sympathy of the livestream viewers. But I remained unmoved, calmly repeating, “I won’t claim this prize. If you have any objections, just take me to court.” The comment section was flooded with another wave of insults. [You’re just a lottery shop owner, why are you acting so high and mighty?] [What gives you the right not to redeem the prize? Just wait to go to jail!] [I’ve never seen such an arrogant lottery shop owner in my life. Are you even human? Redeem the prize now!] [Are you going through menopause? If you want to die, just go ahead!] I ignored the insults, turned around, entered the shop, and locked the glass door. Outside, only Camila’s hoarse cries remained. At this moment, someone online recognized me. [Isn’t this the lottery shop I often visit? I buy a lottery ticket there once a week, and the owner is quite friendly.] [Yeah, I also often buy lottery tickets at this shop. I have pretty good luck and occasionally win small prizes. She has never refused to pay out.] [Yeah, my friend even won a hundred thousand dollars.] But these faint voices were immediately drowned out by the netizens’ scolding. [I think you all have no conscience. Did this woman hire someone to clear her name so quickly?] [You’re accomplices too, go to jail together!] [She’s a good person? Nonsense! That girl was waiting for the money to save her parents’ lives, so why wouldn’t she cash the lottery ticket? It’s clearly malicious!] Those who spoke up for me quickly fell silent. The entire morning passed, and Camila knelt outside with a pale face. No matter how she begged, I sat there coldly, saying nothing.

At night, I closed the shop and went home. Sure enough, my name was trending at the top. Under the entry, it was filled with overwhelming insults and curses against me. 【I’ve already found out, the shop owner is called Fiona Knight!】 【I think she grew up without parents’ guidance and became antisocial.】 【This vicious woman! If I see her on the street, I’ll kick her to death!】 Pinned at the top was a video posted by Camila. In the video, she is in a hospital room, with her parents in the background hooked up to ventilators. Her voice trembled, “Dear netizens, I’m not trying to seek pity on purpose, but my parents urgently need surgery, or their lives will be in danger. “I don’t ask for much. I’ve said before, as long as Fiona is willing to help me claim the prize, I’m willing to share half of the winnings with her. “As long as she’s willing to help me claim the prize and save my parents…” The comment section was filled with sympathy for her and even more vicious curses directed at me. I looked at all this and just smiled faintly. Then, I started the livestream. The netizens instantly flooded in. Facing the camera, I still said the same thing, “No matter what, I won’t let Camila claim the prize.” In an instant, the curses grew even more intense. [Are you out of your mind? Hand over the money now!] [It’s not like the money’s coming from you, just redeem the prize.] [You’ll face retribution!] At this moment, some shop owners nearby came out to speak up for me. [Could there be more to this? Fiona’s lottery shop has always had a good reputation.] [Yeah, in the past three years, different customers have won the ten-million-dollar jackpot three times, and nothing like this has ever happened.] Some even provided winning photos as evidence. But this evidence only sparked resistance from netizens. [Are you guys stupid? So what if she’s redeemed prizes before? She’s clearly bullying rural folks now.] [She’ll get what’s coming to her sooner or later.] [She’s purely antisocial. She knows that girl urgently needs money but deliberately delays giving the prize.] [Aren’t you afraid her parents will come after you for revenge when they die?] Netizens fiercely warned me in the livestream. [Fiona, remember, tomorrow at 10 a.m. is your last chance.] At that moment, Camila joined the livestream. Her eyes were red, and her voice choked. “I beg you, please come tomorrow morning.” “I’ll wait outside the shop all night. Once I get the money, my parents can have their surgery.” “I beg you, have mercy on me.” The livestream viewers were filled with sorrow. [This poor girl, both her parents are sick.] [She finally won the lottery, thinking it was a turning point, but ended up facing a demon.] [Why doesn’t that scumbag just die?] I stayed silent the whole time, watching everything expressionlessly. Before I ended the livestream, I calmly said, “Sorry, the lottery shop is closed tomorrow.”

Early the next morning, I got a call from the shop owner next door. Her tone was extremely anxious. “Fiona, what on earth are you doing? Hurry up and cash in the lottery!” “Do you know how many people are crowding at your shop’s door right now?” “Your shop door has already been splashed with paint, and even those of us who spoke up for you are getting dragged into this!” Hearing the noisy shouting and cursing on the other end of the line, I said nothing and directly hung up the phone. At that moment, someone opened my door. My husband Henry Parker and daughter Bella Parker, who were supposed to return the day after tomorrow, stood at the door. As soon as Henry walked in, he anxiously asked me, “What’s going on online? Why aren’t you giving out the prize?” Seeing that I didn’t respond, he continued, “Do you have any idea how scary netizens can be? They’ve already dug up information about Bella and me!” “Go claim the prize immediately, I’ll drive you there.” I stepped aside to avoid his reaching hand. “I won’t give her the prize.” Henry frowned and questioned, “What’s wrong with you? You run a lottery shop, a customer wins, and you refuse to pay? What does that mean?” Bella whispered, “Mom, you’re not really thinking of keeping the money like they’re saying online, are you?” “But even if she doesn’t take out the winning ticket, you still won’t get the money.” “Didn’t you hear her? Her parents are in the hospital waiting for this money to save their lives!” Looking at their anxious expressions, I calmly said, “I told you, I won’t cash this lottery ticket.” Henry immediately got angry upon hearing this and grabbed my hand, trying to drag me out. “I think you’ve really lost it!” “Do you have to ruin all of us before you’re satisfied?” “My boss already recognized you! He called and told me to sort out my family issues quickly, or I won’t get the promotion!” Bella sobbed, “Mom, my classmates are all laughing at me, saying you bully people from the countryside. What’s wrong with you? You weren’t like this before!” Seeing her in tears, my heart ached terribly. But in the end, I just trembled and said, “I still stand by my words, I will never give her the prize.” Henry stared at me for a few seconds and said, “If you refuse to give her the prize, then we’ll get a divorce!” “Bella’s custody goes to me. If you’re willing to be the sinner and face the consequences, we won’t.” I took a deep breath and finally nodded in agreement. Henry, furious, packed up with Bella and left. Not long after, my mom called. “Fiona! We told you not to open a lottery shop, but you insisted. “Now, you refuse to give customers their prizes, making such a mess. You’ve completely embarrassed your dad and me. From now on, just stay out there and never come back!” After hanging up, I realized my mom had removed me from the family group chat. All the relatives in the family also blocked and deleted me. At this moment, I looked at the clock on the wall, and it pointed exactly to ten o’clock. Great, the lottery redemption deadline has passed.

Right after, my phone kept ringing nonstop, with people constantly calling to harass me. Netizens have already found out my home address and are rushing over. I left home and randomly found a hotel. Meanwhile, Camila in the livestream was still accusing me, “I really didn’t expect to encounter something like this. “I won a hundred million dollar jackpot, but the lottery shop owner refuses to give me the prize!” At this point, many netizens expressed their willingness to provide her with free legal assistance. But Camila shook her head. “It’s no use, everything is too late. “Without this money, what’s the point of sending Fiona to jail? My parents can’t wait any longer.” Netizens started raising funds for her voluntarily, but she firmly refused. She said, “This is my family matter, I can’t trouble everyone.” “Everyone has it tough, how can I take your money to save my parents’ lives?” Netizens were moved to tears upon hearing this. In comparison, I seemed like a cold-hearted devil. At this moment, Camila said, “I believe God won’t let evil prevail forever, nor will He let someone like me remain in despair forever.” “Since I had good luck once, maybe it will happen again. I want to try the lottery shop again.” Many lottery shop owners rushed to invite her. Camila started a livestream and used her last remaining money to buy over a dozen lottery tickets. Netizens across the internet silently cheered her on. [Hope good luck can bless this poor girl once again.] [Trade Fiona’s family’s lifespan for Camila’s good luck.] [Scum like Fiona should rot in jail forever!] A week later, Camila went live again. In the live stream, she held a lottery ticket, her face twisted with joy. She exclaimed excitedly, “God has been so good to me! I won again!” “This time it’s ten million dollars! Though not as much as last time, it’s enough to save my parents!” A tear slid down from the corner of her eye. The entire internet witnessed how hard-earned her journey was. [Indeed, luck does protect the unfortunate!] [Congratulations, your parents are saved!] [Thankfully, we didn’t witness another tragedy.] [Good and evil will be repaid, Fiona, just wait for the law’s punishment!] Two days later, Camila started a livestream and went to a lottery shop to claim her prize. Many reporters were present to witness this historic moment for her. Just as the shop owner was about to take the lottery ticket for verification, I showed up. I pushed through the crowd, and curses erupted all around me. “How shameless can this person be, showing up here?” “This is someone else’s lottery shop. What are you doing here? Get out and wait for the law to deal with you!” Camila saw me and immediately put on a pitiful look. “Fiona, what are you doing here? Are you here to stop me from claiming the prize?” I smiled slightly. “That’s right, I’m here to stop you from claiming the prize.” Her face froze. At this moment, the lottery shop owner stepped forward, glaring at me fiercely and said, “Fiona, as a fellow lottery shop owner, I would never be as vicious and shameless as you!” “As long as the prize is won here, I will definitely follow the rules and give her the prize!” He turned to Camila, his gaze soft. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you the prize right away so you can use the money to save your parents’ lives.” As soon as he finished speaking, I shouted, “I’ll say it again, do not give Camila the prize!” At this moment, someone nearby, unable to stand it anymore, had already rolled up their sleeves, ready to throw a few punches at me. The person next to me yelled angrily, “You’re crazy! What gives you the right to stop others from claiming their prize?” Just as the punch was about to land, I pulled out my phone and shouted, “Haven’t you always wanted to know why I refuse to let her claim the prize? I’ll tell you right now!”

My name is Jade Thomas. I’ve been married to Zachary Stewart for seven years, and he’s been cold to me for all seven years. Every wedding anniversary, he forces me to kneel all night in front of my sister Yvonne’s sickbed to repent. All because seven years ago, on the eve of Yvonne’s wedding to him, a sudden fire broke out at home. She became a vegetative state trying to save me. And I, under my family’s arrangement, replaced her and married Zachary. Zachary blames me for ruining his lover and has tortured me nonstop for seven years, bringing different women home to humiliate me. On the eve of our seventh wedding anniversary, my dog Max, whom I had raised for five years, was in a car accident. I rushed to claim him and take him to the hospital for emergency treatment. He thought I was trying to escape and forcibly sent people to drag me into the same ward, pressing me to kneel by the bedside and repent. At that moment, I was completely hopeless. I asked him, “If I can wake Yvonne up, will you let me go?” He was stunned for a moment, then let out a cold laugh, as if he had heard an absurd joke. He said, “Yvonne has been in a coma for seven years. The most authoritative experts in the field have said she can’t wake up. “What ability do you have to make her open her eyes again?” He kicked me in the back, forcing me to lower my head toward the patient on the bed. He shouted angrily, “You’re the one who made her like this. How dare you say such irresponsible things in front of her?” “Apologize to her!” I curled up on the ground, enduring the pain as I searched for a document on my phone. That was Gavin Howard, a highly respected professor abroad. With his surgery, there’s an 80% chance a vegetative patient could wake up. Zachary was slightly stunned, but soon, a coldness reappeared in his eyes. He let out a cold snort. “If such an expert really exists, do you think I wouldn’t have found out in these years?” “You dare to bring up such fabricated nonsense just to shirk responsibility?” “Do you have to drive Yvonne to her death before you’re satisfied?” He roared angrily and kicked me hard in the stomach. Agonizing pain swept through my body instantly. I curled up, lying on the ground like a dog. I realized he had already decided that Yvonne would never wake up. He was also convinced that everything I did was just to harm her. So no matter what I said, he didn’t believe me. So I gave up explaining, got up as he ordered, and knelt again by the bedside. He no longer looked at me, sitting by Yvonne’s bedside, talking to her for a long time. He spoke of his love for her, saying he would always seek justice for her, telling her not to worry and to rest peacefully. After speaking, he left alone, locking me in the ward. It wasn’t until three days later that he had someone open the door and let me out. By then, I had collapsed on the floor, my face pale, and my knees covered in bruises. Zachary frowned, a hint of softness flashing in his eyes. But when he saw Yvonne on the hospital bed, that softness vanished instantly. He signaled the nurse to wake me up. As soon as I woke up, I heard his reprimand. “I only made you kneel and repent, I didn’t abuse you. Why are you pretending to be weak?” I didn’t respond, struggled to get up from the floor, and limped out of the ward. He suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Didn’t you say you wanted to see Max? I’ll take you there.” A month ago, I had a severe cold and temporarily sent Max to a pet center for boarding. Three days ago, it suddenly ran out and was accidentally hit by a car. The driver deliberately claimed that Max damaged his car and demanded $100,000 before allowing the pet center to take it to the vet. I wanted to rush over to handle it, but my phone was confiscated, and I was locked up. Now, three whole days have passed. All the pet center could give me was an urn of ashes. A sharp pain surged in my heart. I said calmly, “There’s no need.” Then, I left without looking back. I sent a text to my senior brother Ryan Carter overseas: [I agree to the exchange. Please help me bring Mr. Howard over.]

Yvonne is two years older than me and is classmates with Zachary. Our families have been close for generations. I grew up playing with them. In high school, they fell in love. By the time they graduated from college, they were ready to get engaged. I had feelings for Zachary too, but I never thought of taking him from Yvonne. No one expected a fire to break out at their home the night before the wedding. I escaped through the window first, but Yvonne, trapped for too long, became a vegetative state. Our family needed someone to maintain the alliance with the Stewart family, so they chose me. Zachary didn’t refuse. After the wedding, he kept tormenting me. But just now, when I was unconscious, I suddenly remembered what happened during the fire. At first, Yvonne wanted to scare me, deliberately placing a burning fire basin at my door, letting the smoke fill my room. To make it more realistic, she even deliberately poured gasoline outside my room. But later, she got burned and knocked over the fire basin. The flames quickly spread, setting the whole house on fire. I was sleeping at the time, and by the time the smoke woke me up, the fire was already raging. I didn’t know she was outside, and with the door too hot to open, I had to quickly tear the bedsheet into strips and climb out the window. In the end, I lost my grip, fell down, and passed out. When I woke up again, my memory of the fire was completely blurry. Everyone told me that Yvonne was trapped outside the room because she was trying to save me. But I selfishly locked the door and escaped alone. That wasn’t my fault at all. I’m clearly the victim. I will never make any sacrifices again. No matter what, I must leave Zachary. The next day, the pet center delivered Max’s ashes to the house. I placed it properly, went out to buy a bouquet of lilies, and put them in a vase on the table. Max used to love sleeping there, enjoying the scent of flowers. I just arranged the flowers when a shadow appeared before me. Zachary stared intently at the vase in my hands. “You know Yvonne loves lilies.” “You suddenly bought them today, are you trying to say you’re atoning?” “Don’t think a few bouquets of flowers can erase the mistakes you’ve made. What you owe her, you’ll never repay in this lifetime.” I used to feel guilty, used to feel sad. But now, my heart feels nothing. “The flowers were just a random purchase, you’re overthinking,” I said calmly. His gaze froze for a moment, then he sneered, “Of course, someone as cold-blooded as you wouldn’t have a shred of remorse.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. After a while, he had someone deliver a long dress. He said, “Wear this for tonight’s anniversary party.” The dress was just long enough to cover the bruises on my knees. Every year on this day, he would invite both our families and friends to a gathering. In front of everyone, he was especially gentle with me. Once the guests left, he dropped the facade and tortured me more cruelly. I took the dress and walked into the bathroom with an indifferent expression to change. Zachary stared at me, seemingly surprised by my calmness. “You’re quite well-behaved today?” I’m really afraid of wearing dresses. When I was fifteen, Yvonne and I were kidnapped. A thug targeted me and tore at my skirt in front of everyone. Although the police arrived in time and we were safely rescued, from that moment on, I carried a deep fear of “wearing skirts.” Zachary knows all of this. But after we got married, his favorite thing was forcing me to wear all kinds of skirts, long and short. He enjoyed watching my discomfort and fear, forcing me to beg him, only to reject me without hesitation. I used to never dare refuse because, like him, I thought I needed to atone. I also hoped that his impression of me would improve a bit because of this obedience. However, it was useless. Now, I no longer care about his opinion of me. “The material and design of the dress are good. Share the shop with me,” I said casually. “When I have time, I’ll buy a few more.” Zachary’s face suddenly darkened. I didn’t look at him and walked out of the room on my own. At this moment, my phone received a text message: [Mr. Howard will take tonight’s flight over, surgery in three days.]

I replied, [Okay.] Not long after, the banquet officially began. Our family members and some of Zachary’s friends also came. A few cousins gathered around me, chatting with me. My youngest cousin pointed at the person playing the piano in the corner and said with a smile, “Zachary is really thoughtful. He knows you like the piano and arranges live performances every year.” “I heard he always invites renowned pianists in the industry. They’re young, beautiful, and skilled!” Another cousin chimed in, “Jade, I remember you were amazing at playing the piano when you were little. Back then, Zachary always loved standing next to you, watching you play.” “Even though you’ve been married for so many years, you can’t let this talent go to waste. Otherwise, if he ends up liking another pianist, you’ll regret it too late.” A trace of bitterness rose in my heart. The piano used to be my favorite. But I can no longer play. Five years ago, he and I went to inspect a construction site. Suddenly, a heavy object fell from above. I used all my strength to push him away, but my hand was severely crushed, resulting in a comminuted fracture. Although it was later healed and looks normal on the outside, I can no longer perform actions requiring fine control. I still remember five years ago, when I woke up in the hospital, the way he looked at me held no gratitude, only disgust. He said, “Do you think throwing yourself to save me on purpose will make me go soft on you?” “I’m telling you, you owe Yvonne a life! No matter how many times you put on a show, I will never forgive you!” After that, his attitude toward me became even worse. He knew I couldn’t play the piano, yet every year, at all the important events, he would invite a pianist to perform. He was probably reminding me that I had lost my dream forever. “If that’s really the case, then it’s a good thing,” I whispered. Him falling for someone else was a relief for me. My cousins didn’t take my words seriously and changed the subject with a laugh. One of them teased, “Jade is so outstanding, one of the company’s pillars, does she still need to use talent to please Mr. Stewart?” I didn’t respond. After they finished talking and dispersed, I walked to a corner alone, took a piece of cake, and ate it slowly. Not far away, a girl brought by one of Zachary’s friends stepped forward and invited him to dance. He gladly agreed, wrapped his arm around her waist, and stepped onto the dance floor. I didn’t feel dissatisfied like before; instead, I looked down at my phone and booked a flight abroad for a week later. My deal with Ryan was that he would help me invite Gavin, and I would work at his overseas headquarters for at least five years. After leaving this time, I will never return. Seeing the ticket information, I put down my phone. At this moment, the dance music just ended, and I clapped along with the crowd. Zachary’s expression completely turned cold. He left his female companion and strode toward me. “Jade, what game are you playing now? Clapping so sarcastically, is that fun?” Sarcastic? Before, when I desperately complained and resisted, he was unhappy. Now that I’m silent and indifferent, he thinks I have bad intentions? I said, “Didn’t you tell me to mind my manners on important occasions?” “I’m just doing what you said.” Hearing this, his face turned even darker. In the end, he said nothing. After the banquet, all the guests left. He had the bodyguards throw me out too. He said, “Tonight, I don’t want to see you.” I casually booked a hotel. I’ve long gotten used to his torment. Even on my birthday, when I bought a cake to celebrate, he would smash it himself, then drag me to Yvonne’s hospital room, forcing me to look at her pale, frail face. He said, “Watching Yvonne suffer, can you still eat? Do you deserve to celebrate your birthday?” I took a cab to the hotel and stayed for three days. Three days later, I went to the hospital as Yvonne’s family member to sign the surgery consent form.

The surgery was successful, and Yvonne really regained consciousness. I went home, wanting to share the news with Zachary. Before I could speak, he sneered and said, “You still know how to come back? I thought you’d changed and would never step into this house again in your life.” “But now that you’re back, it’s too late. I’ve already had the designer turn your old room into a recovery room. From now on, Yvonne will be living here.” “You’ll stay in the maid’s room on the first floor and take care of her.” He casually pointed to the corner, to that dim and cramped little room. After saying that, he hurriedly left. Not long after, a caregiver arrived at the house. But she wasn’t here to work; instead, she arrogantly scolded me, “I was hired by Mr. Stewart to teach you.” “During this time, you must follow me and learn how to take care of patients properly. “Mr. Stewart said the comatose lady is his wife, very important, and not a single mistake is allowed. “You better be smart.” After she finished speaking and saw no reaction from me, she reached out to grab my injured right hand. A sharp pain hit instantly, and I flung her away. During the struggle, she stumbled and fell down a few steps of the stairs. She turned pale with fear, as if I were some kind of demon. She didn’t dare approach me again, hurriedly ran out of the villa, and pulled out her phone to make a call. Obviously, she went to complain. I didn’t care and turned back to my room to pack my things. There wasn’t much to pack anyway; I didn’t want to keep anything related to Zachary. I only took my documents and a few clothes with me. Just as I zipped up my bag, Zachary came back. As soon as he walked in, he harshly questioned, “I thought you could pretend to behave a bit longer this time.” “I just hired a caregiver, and you couldn’t hold it together?” I calmly said, “A caregiver for a vegetative patient isn’t suitable. You’d better hire another nanny for Yvonne.” “What nonsense are you spouting again?” he frowned, his face growing darker. At that moment, a noise came from behind. Yvonne was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed in. She looked pale and frail, but her eyes were clear, and she was fully conscious. She widened her eyes, looking around with a panicked expression. Until she saw Zachary, she suddenly became excited, pushing the wheelchair forward to hug him. Her voice choked, “Zachary! I missed you so much.” “All these years, while I was in a coma, I could always hear what you said. “But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t wake up. I was so scared. I thought I would never see you again.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she sobbed and continued, “I shouldn’t have saved Jade back then. It was all her recklessness, playing with fire, that caused the fire.” “All these years, lying motionless in bed, it was truly unbearable.” Zachary looked dazed. Seeing her crying, he despised me even more. He roared, “I knew it, you’ve been making excuses all these years!” “It’s clearly your fault Yvonne ended up like that!” “Hurry up and kneel down to confess to her!” He grabbed me like before, forcefully dragged me to the wheelchair, and ordered me to kneel and repent. But I was never the one at fault, so why should I compromise again? I shoved Zachary aside with force and slapped him hard with all my strength. “What gives you the right to hit him?” Yvonne exclaimed. Without hesitation, I slapped her too. I said, “This slap is for slandering me.” Then, I unlocked my phone, pulled up the surveillance footage from the day of the fire, and hit play.

This is a piece of footage I had restored by technicians after regaining my memory. The footage was clear—Yvonne intentionally scared me first, but in the end, she was the one trapped at the end of the hallway. It had nothing to do with me. Even my escape through the window, getting injured, and losing my memory were all thanks to her. I looked straight into Zachary’s eyes and calmly said, “Did you see clearly? Who’s the real victim?” “All these years, I’ve knelt enough.” “If we really count, it’s you who owe me.” I handed him the signed divorce agreement. I looked at him and said, “So, let’s get a divorce.” “I don’t want anything from you.” “My only request is that you two never appear in front of me again.” “The past seven years, consider it my repayment for their care since I was young.” “From now on, I don’t want to see them ever again.” “No way!” Zachary suddenly stood up, his tone agitated, “I don’t agree to the divorce!” I frowned, a bit confused. The past few years, he clearly hoped so much for Yvonne to wake up. He promised countless times by her ear that as long as she woke up, he would divorce me immediately and marry her. Now that his dream can finally come true, why is he unwilling? Yvonne was stunned too, her eyes instantly reddening. “Zachary, don’t you love me the most anymore?” “Now that Jade is willing to step aside, it’s a good thing.” “Or do you really believe what she said?” “That video must be fake! After so many years, how could footage from so long ago still exist?” “Besides, you know me best, how could I do something like that?” She cried so pitifully, her delicate body trembling slightly. Zachary couldn’t help but hold her tenderly. “That’s not what I meant.” Yvonne embraced him with a face full of happiness. I couldn’t be bothered to look at them anymore and turned to leave. I have plenty of evidence of how he tormented me over the years. Since he refuses to divorce peacefully, I’ll file for divorce. After I left, only the two of them were left in the room. Yvonne looked at Zachary with some anticipation. “Did you change the nursing room for me? Can I go take a look?” Zachary instinctively shook his head, thinking of me who once lived there. He said, “It’s not renovated yet. You should go back to the hospital to rest for now.” Without waiting for her to argue, he directly called the bodyguards to forcefully take her away. Afterward, he looked at the phone left on the table and the scene playing on the screen, rubbing his temples. He ordered, “Check if this video has any signs of being edited.” Zachary suddenly regretted his impulsiveness. The next day, he rushed to that room, wanting the workers to pause construction and restore everything to its original state, but the entire room was already empty. His face turned cold as he grabbed a worker by the collar and demanded, “Where are the things inside?” “Didn’t I tell you to put them in an empty room first and not to touch them?” The worker trembled in fear and stammered, “That lady said those were all trash, she didn’t want any of it, and told us to burn it.” Zachary’s eyes widened. The next second, as if all his strength was drained, he slid down against the wall and sat on the ground. Everything is gone. What will she use in the future? Where is she going? Does she not want him anymore?

My name is Ivan Barnes. I was born a people-pleaser, always going above and beyond to meet others’ demands. The nanny wouldn’t let me eat ice cream, saying hot water was better for my health, so I brought her boiling water to drink. My cousin said he deserved a share of my property, so that evening at the family dinner, I actually pulled him aside and asked my parents to adopt him as their son. Over time, no one dared to act out in front of me. As long as I’m around, everyone speaks with caution. The year I graduated from college, my parents arranged a fiancée for me, Rylee Lynch. She has a deeply bonded foster brother named Finley Lynch. That day on the yacht, Finley raised his glass and smiled at me, “Ivan, Rylee is your benefactor from a past life. The butterfly birthmark below her chest is the proof.” “You must repay her with a lifetime of gratitude!” The deck burst into laughter instantly. Rylee’s friends covered their mouths, giggling, and egged me on to swear to be a good husband. I put down my glass and said to the gentle and elegant woman sitting beside me, “Take off your dress, let me see your proof.” Everyone on the yacht looked at each other in disbelief. They all thought they had misheard. Finley awkwardly scratched his head and said, “Ivan, what are you talking about?” “I’m just joking, why take it seriously? You’re embarrassing Rylee.” I snapped my fingers, and the surveillance footage appeared on the big screen, while the music from the speakers stopped. The screen lit up, the speakers played again, and his joke from moments ago repeated over and over. I stared at Finley’s pale face and smiled slightly. “Sorry, I’m the kind of person who always believes what I hear.” “If I tear Rylee’s dress and find no birthmark, it means what you said isn’t about past-life romance but an affair between you two. I’ll post the video online and make sure you both become famous.” The crowd around was stunned. Rylee lost her composure, her face turning pale as she stomped on my foot. Taking advantage of my pain and loosening grip, she jumped away and grabbed a friend’s jacket to wrap around her shoulders. She glared at me with fury. “Ivan, you’re insane!” “Finley is my brother! We’ve bathed and swum together since we were kids, so of course, we’ve seen each other’s birthmarks.” “It was just a joke, and you want to ruin our reputation?” Oh, a joke. Many people have used that excuse before. It seems that as soon as they use that word, all the blame falls on me, and they don’t have to take any responsibility. But I never buy it. I lightly tapped the table, and the big screen switched to play an anonymous video received the day before yesterday. On the screen, Finley was draped in only a silk throw, looking smug and provocative. He deliberately aimed the camera at the sleeping woman beside him, clearly showcasing Rylee’s delicate features and the kiss marks on her shoulder. Finley chuckled lightly. “Ivan, you and Rylee are about to get married. “But you’re in her husband’s position, yet you’ll never win her heart. “Want to bet? On your wedding day, she’ll still be in bed with me.” The video looped, and I spread my hands to everyone. “Now, do you still think this is just a little joke?” “Tell me, can you accept your fiancé having such an ambiguous relationship with his sister?” The woman I stared at fell silent, her eyes fixed on her toes, not daring to lift her head. I tilted my chin at Finley. “Mr. Lynch, how would you feel if your girlfriend and her brother were lying naked in the same bed and someone filmed it to humiliate you?” Finley was speechless, his eyes nervously darting toward Rylee. Rylee was stunned too. It was only now she realized that while she was asleep, Finley had secretly recorded such a video to provoke me. Finley took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and with humiliation and pity on his face, apologized to me, “Please forgive me, Ivan.” “I sent you that video because I made a bet with my friends, betting that you love Rylee and would never doubt her.” “I really didn’t expect you to play it in public.” The last sentence he said was filled with grievance, tears rolling down. A trace of heartache flashed in Rylee’s eyes. Seeing this, Finley cried, “Please don’t hold me accountable! I promise to learn my lesson and stay far away from Rylee from now on!” Before I could say a word, Rylee rushed over and hugged him. She frowned at me, her tone displeased. “Ivan, Finley has already apologized to you. What more do you want?” “Just let it go. Look at the mess you’ve caused, no one is happy today!” “If this blows up and affects the marriage alliance between our families, can your parents handle it?” Without waiting for my response, she pulled Finley up and walked into the cabin, holding him tightly. The others, as if having watched a drama, dispersed one after another. However, the looks they gave me before leaving were full of mockery, pity, and disdain. I sat alone on the open-air deck sofa, poured a glass of champagne, and softly hummed a tune. Rylee is certain I won’t cancel the wedding. Why cancel? I’m looking forward to that day.

Since that day, Rylee’s followers didn’t dare to mess with me. She was chatting, but as soon as she saw me approaching, she immediately went silent. They pretended not to see me and wouldn’t message me online either. But I saw their Instagram posts, a group partying everywhere, celebrating all night. I scrolled through the pages, my smile growing wider. Half a month later, Rylee’s parents, Gideon and Bailey, held a banquet for their 30th wedding anniversary. After all, I am Rylee’s fiancé in name. She still invited me. I handed the prepared gift to a maid, instructing her to place a hundred pinhole cameras in every room. She hesitated. “Mr. Barnes, this is illegal. If Ms. Lynch finds out, I’ll be kicked out.” I smiled faintly. “You’re overthinking. This is just a joke between Rylee and me.” “She knows, see, I even put some up myself.” I pointed to the miniature camera disguised as a shell suit button in front of me. She stared at me for a moment, suddenly shivered, and nodded repeatedly. She finished posting and ran off with her suitcase. I walked into the banquet hall alone and saw Rylee and Finley arriving arm in arm. Their suit and dress were obviously a matching couple’s set, with sweet and intimate smiles. Seeing me, Finley’s face suddenly changed, as if he had run into the Grim Reaper. He abruptly let go of Rylee’s hand, staggered back, and bumped into the long dining table. His voice trembled, “Ivan, don’t get me wrong. I understand what you mean, I’ll disappear right now.” He said that, wiped the corner of his eye, and ran off. Rylee gave me a fierce glare and ran after him. The two of them ran to the backyard garden. Gideon and Bailey stood beside me and said earnestly, “Ivan, we all know about what happened on the yacht a few days ago. “Finley grew up in our family and shares a deep sibling bond with Rylee. “As Rylee’s fiancé, don’t target Finley anymore. “In the future, Rylee will attend many social events. Are you going to get jealous every time? It’s too unbecoming.” I sneered. “Oh, so they’re just purely close like siblings, huh? “Truly enviable. I’m an only child, never seen such close relatives.” I took out my phone and opened the remote camera app. In the hollow of the rockery in the backyard garden, Finley was holding Rylee tightly, one hand firmly on her hip. He choked up, “Once you get married, you’ll leave me all alone. I’m so sad.” “Can you leave me something to remember you by?” Rylee placed her hands on his neck, gently stroking him, and said, “What do you want? I can give you anything.” He slowly lowered his head, his lips almost touching hers. “A child. We don’t have a child yet.” “We’re not related by blood. But with a child, we’ll have a lifelong bond.” “If you don’t want to have sex with me, I can donate sperm instead.” Gideon and Bailey’s faces instantly turned pale. I closed my phone and let out a heartfelt sigh of admiration. Actually, when I found out Finley had consulted a sperm donation agency, I already guessed he wouldn’t hold back. But hitting on his sister at his adoptive parents’ wedding anniversary party, he’s truly bold. I looked at Gideon and Bailey. “I’m naturally a people-pleaser. If this is what Rylee wants, I can help find a top doctor to ensure she gets pregnant quickly.”

Fifteen minutes later, Rylee and Finley returned one after the other. The two kept about a meter of social distance, as if they were just coincidentally heading the same way. Who would have thought that just moments ago, they were privately discussing how to have a love child? Seeing me talking with Gideon and Bailey, a trace of jealousy flashed across Finley’s face, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by a sorrowful and aggrieved expression. He humbly said, “Dad, Mom, I’m sorry I haven’t helped you prepare for the banquet these past few days.” “I made a joke earlier that upset Ivan, and I’ve been too scared to come home.” Gideon, expressionless, told him to follow him to the upstairs study. Finley’s heart tightened. Normally, Gideon would pat his shoulder, say a few comforting words, or even scold me a bit on his behalf. Why was he so indifferent instead? He was full of doubts, but what he didn’t expect was that as soon as the study door closed, Gideon gave him a hard slap! His cheek went numb, followed by sharp pain. Rylee, shocked and anxious, tried to separate the two. But before she could speak, Bailey grabbed a hardcover book from the shelf and hurled it at her. Rylee hurriedly dodged, her face full of grievance. Gideon’s eyes were bloodshot as he pointed at her and roared, “I told you to take care of your brother, and now you’re taking care of him by having an illegitimate child?” “Shameless thing! You and Finley have completely disgraced the Lynch family!” “How do you expect the Barnes family to see us?” Rylee’s eyes turned red, her lips trembling as she glared at me with hatred. “You all know? Spying? Surveillance? Ivan, it’s you behind this, isn’t it?” I smiled and showed the phone screen. “You’re my fiancée, of course, I have to fulfill whatever you want.” “But the more, the merrier. Let your parents watch the live stream and brainstorm together!” Rylee gritted her teeth, almost spitting blood. Her eyes shifted, and she surprisingly held back her anger, instead smiling at me with grace and gentleness. “I’m sorry, Ivan, I didn’t consider your feelings.” “Finley and I are just like siblings, you don’t need to worry. You are my only husband.” “I promise, it will never happen again. Once we officially marry, I will arrange for Finley to study abroad.” “Rylee!” Finley blurted out, looking at her in disbelief. Rylee slightly shook her head at him. Finley suddenly turned to me, wishing he could tear me to pieces. I gave him a bright smile. I’m a good person, wholeheartedly trying to please both of them. Aren’t they close? What’s there to hide?

The wedding day arrived. Finley volunteered to be the best man, but his suit was exactly the same as mine, the groom’s. He walked arm in arm with Rylee, looking as perfectly matched as a newlywed couple on the red carpet. Their eyes were full of love, while I felt like the villain ruining their romance. I really wanted to puke. I didn’t want to see them anymore, so I packed up and went to the small balcony for some air. Suddenly, a strong force pulled me into the guest room behind me. Finley held up a spray bottle and sprayed my face several times. Caught off guard, I inhaled it and instantly felt weak all over. He swaggered, punching and kicking me, laughing, “Ivan, aren’t you so arrogant?” “I’ll make you livestream as a bitch at the wedding, guarantee you’ll be world-famous, and you’ll even thank me for it!” I collapsed on the ground, gasping weakly. “Do you think the Barnes family is easy to mess with?” He sneered coldly, his eyes full of disdain. “The Barnes family? Just a small clan about to be swallowed by the Lynch family, and you dare threaten me?” “Maybe before the takeover, your whole family will already be dead.” He casually kicked me, stripped off my clothes, and after checking, said, “You like recording? Don’t worry, what gets filmed later will only be you and the dog.” “In just a few days, your parents will join you in hell.” He stood up, snapped his fingers, and barking came from the corner. Three burly men walked over, each leading a female dog in heat. Finley glanced back at me, eyes filled with malice and glee, then left with a smile. I lay on the ground and chuckled softly. Finley, go ahead and laugh. Soon, you won’t be able to laugh anymore. Meanwhile, the banquet began, guests took their seats, the host was in place, but the bride and groom were nowhere to be seen. My parents, Archer and Stella, kept glancing around, their brows furrowing tighter and tighter. Gideon and Bailey, palms sweating, quickly flattered, “Don’t worry, maybe they got held up with something private.” “I’ve already instructed the servants to go and fetch them.” “Today will definitely be a perfect wedding, nothing will go wrong.” Archer remained expressionless, while Stella lightly curled her lips. “Don’t forget the wedding is being live-streamed. If something goes wrong and we don’t cover it up, your company’s stock price might not survive tomorrow’s opening.” No need to finish the sentence; the meaning is clear. Gideon and Bailey turned pale but didn’t dare say more. Suddenly, the music from the speakers stopped. After a brief silence, there was a deep, irregular noise. Bailey roared, “Who’s in charge of the sound system? Fix it now!” Immediately, she forced a smile and said to Archer and Stella, “Just a small issue, it’ll be fixed soon! Look, the host is already on stage.” But after the noise stopped, it wasn’t music that played—it was an extremely suggestive moan. In an instant, Archer and Stella turned their heads, looking around, their eyes uniformly filled with shock, anger, and confusion.

My name is Alexa Stevens. On the fifth anniversary of my marriage to my husband, Kevin Foster, when he should have canceled all work, he showed up at Haley McCoy’s show. Haley had just announced her official return to the country, and he immediately drafted a divorce agreement, demanding I hand over all shares, or he’d make my entire family disappear! The next day, I invited all the city’s media and held a press conference to expose and sell Kevin’s secrets. “Congratulations to Moore Group for successfully acquiring the ‘Exclusive Video of a Top Rich Heir and His Supermodel Friend’!” “This ‘Rich Heir’s Contact List,’ I’ve decided to give for free to my friend with the ID Sword Action.” “And as for the ‘HD Photoshoot of the Rich Heir’s Sister,’ consider it a little treat for everyone.” The press conference was buzzing, the entire internet was lively, and the live stream viewership reached tens of millions. Kevin and the Foster family rushed over and knelt on the spot, begging me to stop. But I directly revealed my trump card. “Next, let’s welcome Kevin’s biological father to unveil the mystery of his origins.” ***** It’s been three hours since Kevin sent the last message, and the dishes I carefully prepared have lost their color. I held the phone, the call log filled with his number. Suddenly, a news alert popped up: [Supermodel Haley McCoy spotted at a fashion show with a mysterious man, showing intimate interaction]. The photo was blurry, but just one glance left me completely disheartened. The Patek Philippe on Haley’s wrist was the one I had specially customized for Kevin. When he said he was busy, was it to watch the show with her? I smiled and downed the rest of the red wine in my glass. It was late at night when Kevin finally came back. He glanced at the dishes on the table and my outfit, without a trace of guilt in his eyes. He walked toward me, carrying the scent of Chanel No. 5, Haley’s favorite fragrance. “You’re still awake, good, saves me the trouble of waking you up.” He coldly pulled out a document and slapped it on the table. “Sign this.” Seeing it was a divorce agreement, my heart sank sharply. “Is it because of Haley?” He paused, his tone still cold. “Good that you understand, saves me from having to explain.” I looked up at him, seeing his dismissive attitude. My eyes reddened as pain and resentment tore at me. I said, “Kevin, our five years of marriage can’t compare to just one word from her?” This time, he finally looked me in the eye. But those once gentle eyes now held only disgust. “Alexa, what do you think you are? How dare you compare yourself to Haley?” “You know exactly why you married me. Stop pretending to be sentimental here!” For five years, I tried my best to fulfill my role as a wife, but in his eyes, it was just a facade? Five whole years, even raising a dog would build affection, yet all he feels for me is disgust? At this moment, I felt like I had fallen into an ice cave, my blood seemingly frozen. “I won’t sign,” I said. My answer instantly angered him. He slammed me onto the table, his voice cold and vicious. “Alexa, you’ve enjoyed five years as Mrs. Foster. You should be satisfied. Don’t push your luck!” “If you don’t sign, the Stevens family will disappear from New York tomorrow!” My gaze fixed on the wedding photo on the wall; his gentle image in it only highlighted his current ferocity, shattering the last shred of hope in my heart. “I’ll sign,” I said, closing my eyes, my voice hoarse. After I signed, his expression immediately softened. “Since you’re being so obedient, you can stay here a few more days.” After speaking, he grabbed the agreement and hurriedly turned to leave. I smashed the wine bottle against the wedding photo, watching the crimson liquid stain Kevin in the picture. I sent a message to a number. [Derek, inform the media, press conference tomorrow!] Early the next morning, dressed to the nines, I arrived at the venue Derek had arranged. Only about a dozen media outlets showed up at the scene. I got straight to the point, “Media friends, please start your live streams and boost the traffic now. Today’s content will definitely not disappoint you!”

Everyone was puzzled but still followed the instructions. As rows of cameras pointed at me, I smiled slightly and said, “Good morning, everyone. Today’s press conference is a bit special. We’re not launching a new product but revealing Kevin Foster’s secret.” Since it was morning, the audience across all live streams was sparse, totaling just over a hundred people. But as my words ended, the live chat instantly became lively. [Who is this woman? She looks pretty stunning!] [The wife of Kevin Foster, heir to New York’s top family, the Foster family. You don’t know her?] [But what does she mean? Are they fighting and using us as their emotional trash can?] [Sensationalizing, what nonsense?] Looking at these comments, I chuckled softly. “I need to correct everyone; I’m no longer Kevin’s wife. Last night, we officially divorced, and I left with nothing.” The media was shocked, and so were the comments. [Really? Could it be just for hype?] [Yesterday was their fifth wedding anniversary, how did they suddenly divorce? Could there be some hidden reason?] [The Foster family has a billion-dollar fortune, can she really give up everything? I don’t believe it.] Facing the doubts, I didn’t explain and simply continued, “Although I chose to leave with nothing, I still need to find a way to make a living. Next, I will reveal a few secrets about Kevin. If you’re interested, you can bid.” I playfully winked. But the netizens were completely stunned. [What does that mean? A press conference turned into an auction?] [Is she out of her mind from the shock? Coming up with such a way to make money.] I gave a signal to the person Derek arranged and then spoke, “I’m sure everyone is familiar with the international supermodel Haley McCoy, right?” “She has quite an extraordinary relationship with my ex-husband!” As my voice trailed off, the big screen suddenly displayed a pair of stunningly long legs, tightly wrapped around a man’s waist. Amid the panting and moaning, the camera slowly panned up, revealing two faces—Kevin and Haley! The screen froze on this scene, and it felt like the entire venue was paused too, followed by an uproar. “Mr. Foster,” “international supermodel,” and “marital affair”—the combination of these three keywords created a truly shocking sensation. The number of viewers in various live streaming platforms skyrocketed, and the stream arranged by Derek surged to 900,000 viewers and kept climbing! Apart from the overwhelming comments, dozens of big shots started showering gifts like crazy. [I’ll pay one million dollars for the video. I’m Mary Wilson from Aura Jewelry.] [I’ll offer five million dollars! Send me the video, and I’ll transfer the money immediately!] [I’m Owen Harris. I’ll offer twenty million dollars! Who dares to compete with me?] As soon as Owen’s name came up, everyone else immediately gave up bidding. Of course, I recognize him, the heir of the Harris family, who has been openly and secretly competing with Kevin for many years. I smiled and replied, “Alright, Mr. Harris. I’ll send you the HD content right away, along with a few exclusive portraits as a bonus.” Owen didn’t disappoint me. Within ten minutes of getting the video, it had taken over all major social platforms. He even openly mocked Kevin in a post, [Mr. Foster, would you like to endorse our company’s adult products?] Below was a photo captured of the two during their intimate moment, with their company’s product Photoshopped onto it. The male and female leads of the video quickly got the news and started calling me like crazy. I looked at the alternating calls and pointed the camera at them. “It seems our leads are a bit upset. Could it be they think my filming wasn’t professional enough?”

Although the scandalous photos spread like wildfire, the Foster family, being the top wealthy clan, quickly quelled the public uproar and launched a swift counterattack. [Kevin and Haley were maliciously face-swapped.] [Alexa willingly signed the divorce agreement but went back on her word.] Headlines like these suddenly emerged. Under the guidance of behind-the-scenes manipulators, uninformed netizens instantly turned against them. [Whoa, I almost got fooled by this woman!] [Exactly, Mr. Foster’s status is so distinguished, how could he possibly be secretly photographed? Ridiculous.] [This woman clearly didn’t get any money, driven by revenge, truly vicious!] Haley’s hardcore fans went completely overboard, directly cursing and insulting me and my family. I expected all of this. If they didn’t fight back, it wouldn’t achieve the result I wanted. I said, “It seems Mr. Foster isn’t quite satisfied with my gift? Don’t worry, the show is about to begin.” I bent down to open the safe at my feet and took out a heavy leather file folder. “Inside is Mr. Foster’s list of acquaintances.” “Over the years, he has seized residential land, manipulated real estate prices, and ruthlessly profited off the public, all relying on this group of powerful individuals. I think I don’t need to elaborate on the value behind these names, do I?” If what I mentioned earlier was a scandal, then what I just said is outright illegal news! After tens of seconds of dead silence, the livestream erupted into a frenzy of discussion. The online viewers skyrocketed, surpassing five million, with even multiple official accounts joining to watch. Doubts followed. [Nonsense! How could a woman like you get hold of the core secrets of a family as powerful as the Foster family?] [I think she’s just here to scam money! Causing such a scene, let’s see how she ends this!] Even Owen, who just bought the video, was full of doubt. [That’s the lifeblood of the Foster family! How could Kevin let you access something like that? You better stop while you can.] I still didn’t explain and directly had someone release a few pictures. Kevin supported a radiant middle-aged man as they walked out of a high-end club. That man was Bryson Welch, the director of the City Planning Department. Just as someone questioned what this could prove, the sound of their conversation played. “Mr. Welch, the best-located villas in the north of the city have been transferred to your nephew’s name. You can check them out when you have time.” “Kevin, I just love your efficiency! Rest assured, that piece of land can only belong to the Foster family.” This recording instantly left everyone speechless. Moments later, the big shots in the livestream started bidding wildly again. [I bid fifty million dollars!] [Fifty million dollars? Dream on! I bid one hundred million dollars!] In no time, the price skyrocketed to a staggering two billion dollars. As I was enjoying the show, an account named “Sword Action” caught my attention. I clicked on its profile and discovered it was the official account of the Bureau of Investigation. I was already aiming to take down the Foster family, so instead of selling to capital, handing these evidences to the relevant authorities would be faster. With my mind made up, I slowly spoke to the camera, “Sorry, everyone. A mysterious user just offered me an irresistible deal. So, I’ve decided to hand over all the evidence to them.” After speaking, I sent all the evidence of the Foster family’s illegal activities through the channel provided by the other party. After finishing all this, I picked up the still vibrating phone and answered the call. Kevin’s furious roar came through immediately. “Alexa, you bitch, where did you get those things? Delete them right now! Do you hear me? Or I won’t let you off!” I teased, “Mr. Foster, everything you said has been heard by millions of viewers. Say hi to everyone!” There was a pause on the other end, followed by an extremely suppressed voice saying, “What exactly do you want?” I said, “Don’t you know what I want? I want the Foster family to disappear completely!”

An hour later, media reported that over a dozen enforcement vehicles entered the Foster Group headquarters, taking away almost all the senior executives. The entire group instantly fell into chaos, with nearly half the employees resigning or switching jobs. At the same time, Foster Group’s stock price plummeted drastically. All the names mentioned in the records were taken for investigation. The power structure of New York’s elite is about to change drastically. As the protagonist, I am leisurely scrolling through Foster Group’s updates and netizens’ comments at this moment. My phone keeps vibrating, but the caller has changed from Kevin to his family. I accidentally answered a call from Kevin’s mother, Audrey Foster. That usually elegant and noble woman was now hurling insults. “You shameless woman! When has the Foster family ever wronged you?” “Let me tell you, you think you can destroy our Foster family like this? Dream on!” “We will never let you go! You’ll die a horrible death!” I was already familiar with her character, so I wasn’t surprised. The viewers in the livestream, however, were quite surprised. Turns out, even wealthy ladies from prestigious families curse just like common shrews. I said, “Instead of saying all this, you’d better learn how to beg first.” She wanted to say something else, but I directly hung up the phone and blocked her. Facing the camera, I said, “Everyone, what you just saw was merely an appetizer. What comes next is the real secret of the Foster family.” Hearing my words, the viewers who were about to leave instantly perked up. Even that level of scoop is just an appetizer? How explosive must the main course be? With such anticipation, the number of viewers in the livestream didn’t decrease but instead surged, heading toward tens of millions. At this moment of widespread attention, my livestream was suddenly shut down, and the entire venue’s signal was directly cut off. I immediately called Derek and found out that the Foster family had hired top hackers with a hefty sum to forcibly cut off my livestream channel. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fixed within ten minutes,” Derek’s voice was calm and confident. I had no doubt about his abilities, so I got up and went out for some fresh air. When I came back, the livestream had already resumed. Strangely, the media in the audience were looking at me with somewhat unusual expressions. I was puzzled and looked at the livestream; the viewer count was skyrocketing. But to my surprise, the netizens who were cheering for me just moments ago had suddenly turned to insults. The comments were filled with all kinds of words slandering me. My heart sank as I quickly opened the trending searches on my phone. I saw that Kevin had posted an article ten minutes ago. The article claimed that he and Haley had been together since childhood and were already engaged. It accused me of using despicable means to drive them apart, create misunderstandings, and then blackmail him with private matters to force him to marry me. After marriage, I relied on the Foster family’s power to act arrogantly and was obsessively controlling towards him. If he didn’t answer my calls, I would smash things at home. In the end, he couldn’t take it anymore and filed for divorce, but I demanded half of Foster Group’s shares. When he refused, I started holding press conferences to maliciously smear him. The lengthy article, nearly ten thousand words, portrayed him and Haley as star-crossed lovers, while I was painted as the venomous woman who tore them apart. At the end of the article, the sentence “As long as you stop in time, I won’t blame you, I still love you.” became the ultimate bait to manipulate readers. In just a few minutes, the comments exceeded a million, filled with sympathy for Kevin and Haley, and curses and insults directed at me. [This kind of woman is terrifying, Mr. Foster is truly unlucky to have met her!] [Let’s all stand together and seek justice for Haley!] [I support Mr. Foster and Haley getting married.] Looking at these twisted words, I couldn’t help but laugh. It seems I’ve been too kind to him. This time, I directly put a set of bold and provocative photos on the big screen. The audience in the live stream was instantly captivated. [Who is this beauty? Her figure is amazing!] [Alexa is my goddess from now on. Anyone who dares insult her will have to deal with me!] [Wait, isn’t this Mr. Foster’s sister, Lena?] [Don’t talk nonsense. How could a wealthy heiress take such photos?] Everyone kept arguing until Owen cleared it up for them. [That’s right, this is Kevin’s younger sister, the well-known socialite in the circle, Lena Foster.] A wealthy heiress? A socialite? Putting two completely opposite terms together made everyone’s minds freeze. Seeing everyone’s confusion, I finally spoke, “I suppose you’re all curious about why Lena ended up like this? Then we have to start with her background.” “An hour later, I will unveil this wealthy family’s secret.”

After an hour of buildup, when I went live again, the viewership instantly surpassed 30 million, and the livestream room crashed several times due to traffic overload. All the big shots in New York, including everyone from the Foster family, were glued to their screens, waiting for my story. When the livestream finally stabilized, I didn’t reveal the truth right away but started telling a seemingly unrelated story. “In New York, there’s a story that goes like this. “There was a prestigious family with a century-old legacy. By this generation, only two brothers remained. The elder brother and the younger brother had completely different personalities. The elder went into business, while the younger disliked constraints and pursued diverse interests. “During a horse racing accident, the younger brother suffered injuries to his lower body, losing the ability to have children. The elder brother, unwilling to let him face the blow, had the doctor alter the diagnosis. “Later, the elder brother entered into a family-arranged marriage, while the younger brother married a girl from an ordinary family and was very happy. “Ironically, during their interactions, the elder brother fell in love with the younger brother’s wife. One night, after drinking, he lost control and violated her. “From just that one time, she became pregnant. The younger brother, completely unaware, thought it was his child and was overjoyed, treating his wife with even more love. “His wife wanted to confess several times but was stopped by the elder brother. This secret was kept for twenty whole years! “Poor younger brother, unknowingly raised his elder brother’s child for twenty years.” “At first, everyone was a bit confused, but as I explained, they increasingly felt this was the true portrayal of the Foster family!” “But that absurd story is truly hard to believe.” “Everyone had a vague suspicion in their hearts, but no one dared to uncover the truth.” “At that moment, my phone started vibrating like crazy. Calls from the Foster family members came one after another. I didn’t answer but placed photos of Lena and Kevin’s father, George Foster, together, followed by a paternity test report from New York Hospital.” “The test results showed that George and Lena are indeed parent and child.” “The truth was revealed, everything was self-evident.” “This is the real reason behind Lena’s misconduct!” “The internet instantly went into chaos, and at this moment, the people in the Foster Manor were even more so.” “The moment he saw the results, George’s brother Bruce suddenly collapsed onto the chair. When his wife hurried to help him, his eyes turned red, and he violently kicked her to the ground, then grabbed the vase on the table and smashed it hard at George.” “He roared, ‘George! You beast! You deserve to die!’” “For a moment, the brothers turned against each other, fighting fiercely, while the women around them wept uncontrollably.” “The once century-old Foster family instantly turned into a live drama of family ethics.” “Losing billions couldn’t shake its foundation, yet at this moment, it began to crumble.” “A century-old legacy might be destroyed in an instant.” “When I learned about this scandal, I was ready to never speak of it. It’s all Kevin’s fault for annoying me.” “I looked at the camera, eyes playful. ‘Mr. Foster, who’s the real disgrace now?’”