Category: English

When my mom literally died of a heart attack right there at my wedding, everyone freaked out. My fiancé, that jerk, just assumed she was putting on a show to squeeze more money out of him. He started yelling for people to drag her away and cremate her quick. “I wanna see if she can keep playing dead when they shove her in the incinerator.” See, everyone knew that when Jaxon, the golden boy of the King family, was six years old, there was a fire. He almost burned alive. My mom saved him, but she was scarred for life, lost half her face doing it. Ever since then, I was Jaxon’s precious darling. He gave me everything I wanted, spoiled me rotten for sixteen years. When I turned twenty-two, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, promising to give me his whole world. But at the wedding, with all the guests watching, he swapped me out for his childhood sweetheart, Bella, who’d just come back from overseas. That’s when my mom, who came to see me marry the man I loved, dropped dead. I was crying my eyes out, but then I saw Jaxon walking down the aisle with Bella in a wedding dress. “Anna, it’s a big day. Remember to have a few drinks and enjoy yourself.” I just numbly got up from the pew and walked away, ignoring Jaxon’s death glare. 1 By the time I’d taken care of Mom’s arrangements, it was already dawn. I walked back home like a zombie, clutching her ashes. It had been ten hours since I texted Jaxon that we were done. This wasn’t the first time Jaxon had done something messed up for Bella, who’d weasled her way into his life. Every time we went on a date, she’d conveniently find a way to interrupt. Sometimes it was a stomach ache, other times an allergic reaction. No matter how minor, Jaxon treated Bella’s issues like they were the end of the world. At first, I tried to argue, but I eventually saw where I stood. I was still in love with Jaxon back then, so I tried to convince myself that things would get better. But it just resulted in me holding this little box of ashes. The moment I walked in the door, I saw Jaxon and Bella making out on the couch I’d bought for our new home. In the dim light, Bella’s pale face was flushed, like she was drunk or something. She was hanging all over Jaxon. “Jax, I want you!” Her half-closed eyes were full of desire. When he saw me, Jaxon glanced at the urn in my hands. Then, he gently pushed Bella off him and carefully laid her down on the couch. He even put a pillow behind her back. “Looks like she really is dead. Not just faking it.” Jaxon looked down at me, like he was doing me a favor. He said in a tone of voice full of impatience, “Haven’t you caused enough trouble? Fine, I’ll admit I feel guilty.” “I’ll make it up to you with another wedding. Okay?” I just stared at him, and started laughing. When Mom collapsed, he said she was acting, that she should just die already. Then he insisted that the wedding go on. Now that Mom had actually died, he had the nerve to act like he felt bad. He was going to give me another wedding. Did he think I still cared about this ridiculous relationship? I smiled coldly and said, “Jaxon, we’re done.” Jaxon, I don’t want you. I don’t want the wedding either. I don’t want anything to do with you. Even the air around him made me sick. 2 After I said that, I started heading to our bedroom to pack my bags. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. I was finally marrying my childhood sweetheart. I’d even planned a special surprise for him. Jaxon had a low sperm count, so his chances of having kids were less than one in a million. His biggest dream wasn’t about getting his company public. He wanted a kid. The whole King family was praying for it. His grandma even shaved her head and became a nun, praying every single day. And me? Well, I must have been lucky after all those years being a doctor, I was pregnant with Jaxon’s baby. The pregnancy test, which was supposed to be the surprise, was in my pocket. “Isn’t my guilt enough? Do you want me to beg?” Jaxon grabbed my arm before I could make it to the bedroom. He glared at me, just like when he practically forced me to put the ring on Bella’s finger. “Remember your place, don’t push it too far! Anna, I’m offering you a way out.” “Don’t you know where you come from? You had no right to be at that wedding.” I came from a small town. Jaxon, on the other hand, was the untouchable golden boy of the King family. When he was six, the King’s mansion caught fire. My mom, who was a nanny, saved him and his grandma. She lost half her face in the process. When I came to visit her in the hospital, Jaxon’s grandma took a liking to me, out of gratitude, or maybe it was something else. She wanted me to stay. Later, I learned that she wanted me to be her granddaughter-in-law. But in the beginning, Jaxon never cared about where I came from. He showered me with love. Everyone was jealous, said I was a hillbilly who’d struck gold. But I knew the truth. I loved Jaxon, not because he was a King. I fell for the guy who only had eyes for me. After Bella came along, a rich girl with a Ph.D. who spoke thirteen languages, Jaxon started bringing up my background. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Know you’re from the wrong side of the tracks?! Then say you’re sorry. If you do, I might give you another shot, for my grandma’s sake.” Jaxon looked pleased when I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even look at him. I just stared at the suitcase in the bedroom and said, “Marriage? I don’t need it.” “Get out of my way.” Jaxon froze, staring at me like he couldn’t believe what I was saying. Just then, Bella “happened” to wake up on the couch. When she saw the urn in my hands, she feigned surprise. “Oh, is that your mom in there?” I glared at her. Bella walked up to me, looking totally innocent. “Why did she have to die? I’m so sorry, Anna.” Then she looked at Jaxon and whined, “Jax! I love that urn! My dog died yesterday, can Anna give it to me? The poor dog, I’d love to use your mom’s urn for him, please!” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Jaxon, however, just smiled. He reached for Mom’s ashes. “Of course!” “I think that urn is perfect for a dog!” Jaxon was strong. I knew he was going to take Mom’s ashes to put his “dog” in them. I bit his wrist as hard as I could. 3 Jaxon lost it and slapped me across the face. “Bitch!” When I fell, I tried to hold onto the ashes. My head hit the corner of a table. “Jax!” Bella looked at Jaxon’s wrist. Then, she looked at me and frowned, “Anna, why did you bite Jax? He just feels bad for the dog. You think he wouldn’t get your mom a better one?” “Dead people aren’t as important as the living. Don’t you know how much Jax cares about you?” I held onto my mom’s ashes and struggled to get up. Blood was running down my face, dripping onto the urn. I looked at Bella, with her red eyes and tear-soaked lashes. I laughed. “Oh, he cares about me, huh? That’s why he replaced me at our wedding and killed my mom?” Then I turned to Jaxon and asked, “Jax! Don’t forget what my mom did for you. Who ran into the fire and got burned saving your life!” “Enough!” Jaxon slapped me again, knocking me to the ground. He yelled, “Anna! How long are you going to hold that old debt over my head? Isn’t the life you have now enough for you?!” I hit the ground hard, but still held onto the ashes. Bella walked over to me and looked me up and down. “Anna, Jax still loves you, why don’t you understand? Why do you always have to focus on the bad things?” “Even if you don’t become Mrs. King, he’ll take care of you for life.” I could tell that Jaxon was getting angrier. He kicked me in the stomach. The place where he had a child growing inside me. “Anna! Why can’t you be like Bella? Why!” I hit the wall, the pain was unbearable. Bright red blood was running down my legs. 4 My mouth was full of blood, and my vision was blurry with tears. I was sitting in a puddle of blood, my body was in agony. The worst pain was in my stomach. It felt like every nerve in my body was being pulled apart. Baby, don’t you want to leave? I held Mom’s ashes, and reached for my stomach. I coughed up a mouthful of blood. “Anna! What are you doing? I barely touched you, don’t act like you’re dying!” Jaxon looked down at me, looking hateful and annoyed. He grabbed a tissue and wiped his shoes. I laughed as I coughed. More blood came out. I held my stomach and grabbed onto my shirt. Bella teared up and looked at Jaxon. “Jax! Is she pregnant? Look at all the blood!” Jaxon looked at me with disgust. “How could she be pregnant? If she was…” Jaxon chuckled. “Everyone knows that the only thing the King family wants is a child. If she was pregnant, she would have told the world already, to get more out of it.” “She’s not smart, but she’s sneaky!” Just then, there was a slight shift in my stomach. The baby was gone. He didn’t want to stay anymore. He knew that this wasn’t a place worth staying in. “Cough, cough!” I coughed violently, and smiled. “Jax… what’s this?” I smiled as I took out the pregnancy test from my pocket with my bloody hands. “Jax, take a look at this!” 5 I held up the pregnancy test. Jax! You wanted a child, right? Well, before I leave, I’ll use this test and stab it right through your heart. You’ll know that you will never have children. “Anna!! I don’t have time for this!” Jaxon grabbed the test and crumpled it up. He threw it into the blood. “Can’t you understand what I’m saying? I’m losing my patience!” He grabbed my hair and forced me to look at him. “Give me the urn! Apologize to Bella! And you can be Mrs. King again! Got it?” My head was in pain, but I bit my lip so I wouldn’t make a sound. I just stared at him. Jaxon looked at the urn in my hands, and his neck started to twitch. “Why are you still holding it! She’s dead! How long are you going to use her to manipulate me!!” “Give it to me!” “Give it to me!” We yelled at the same time. He was full of anger, and I was hysteric. Jaxon’s hand got scratched, and he looked at me with hate in his eyes. “Okay! Here!” He yelled and opened the urn, throwing it at the ceiling. “Mom!” I lunged forward, trying to grab the ashes. Jaxon pushed my head to the ground. “Let me go, I can’t let my mom…” Jaxon slapped me. “Shut up! You’re using your mom’s death to get me to give you more money, right?” “Fine! I’ll do it!” He pulled my head up and grabbed some of my mom’s ashes, stuffing them into my mouth. “You loved the old lady, right? Let her rest inside you.” “Open your mouth! Why won’t you open your mouth!” Jaxon pushed my head to the floor. “You won’t even open your mouth! Why do you love her!” “Open it! Show me your love! If not, you can’t be Mrs. King!” 6 I held my mouth shut, but Jaxon continued to slap me, trying to get me to open it. He grabbed my chin, trying to force my mouth open. Jaxon was shaking, and he yelled, “Open your mouth, or apologize to Bella now! Beg me! Say that you want to stay here and be Mrs. King!” The pain on my lips was excruciating. My head was about to be torn in two. But I stared at Jaxon. Maybe he realized I was about to die, and his expression softened. He finally let go. I gasped for air and crawled onto the floor, trying to collect the ashes. Bella opened all the windows. “No!” I tried to get up. The wind rushed in and blew Mom’s ashes away. A few bones were left on the floor. “Oh, I’m sorry Anna! I was worried about Jax’s lungs, so I opened the windows, I didn’t think…” She stepped on my mom’s bones. “Sorry, I destroyed your mom’s ashes.” I tried to strangle Bella. I wanted to kill her. But Jaxon wouldn’t let that happen. I fell into the blood again. “Anna! What’s wrong with you? Do you really not want to be Mrs. King?” Jaxon yelled, like a madman. “If not, then why don’t you leave!” I laughed. “Can’t you understand? I want to leave, but you won’t let me.” Jaxon was about to rush over, but Bella stopped him. He just pointed at me. “Anna! Why do you want to leave! Why!” “If you want to leave, why did you stick to me like a dog all these years? Are you just a gold digger?” “Didn’t your mom save me so I would feel guilty and take care of you?” “She got what she wanted! Why do you want to leave!” Jaxon was angry. He couldn’t believe that I didn’t want to be Mrs. King. Jaxon’s face turned dark. Bella comforted him. He glared at me and said, “Don’t see my grandma, or else…” He didn’t even look back. “Don’t blame me if I don’t think about the relationship we had!” I couldn’t get up. I just looked at them leave. After their footsteps faded, I picked up the bones and cried. The wind blew in. The pregnancy test was blown to my feet. My head felt heavy. I lay in the blood. Before I died, I made a call. I thought it was Jaxon, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. But at the last moment, I heard… The phone ringing, getting closer. I saw Jaxon’s grandma appeared in front of me.

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My husband cheated on me. And my dog was the one who helped me find out. … I have a dog named Ghost. One day, when Ethan came home, Ghost rushed up and started sniffing obsessively at Ethan’s coat, circling him again and again. I even laughed and said, “What’s got you so worked up? Smell another dog on him?” Ethan just chuckled and told me I was imagining things. But then, for the next several days, Ghost did the same thing every time Ethan walked in. My gut told me. Something wasn’t right. Even when I finally learned the truth, I couldn’t believe it. He didn’t just have one affair going on; he had multiple partners. One of them had even had his child aborted after getting pregnant. His reaction to all this? He wanted “peaceful coexistence.” He even had the audacity to tell me: “I’m just doing what a lot of guys dream about doing. Lighten up, Rach. All men are like this.” Yeah, right. If I let him get away with this, I’d be betraying every ounce of self-respect I have. … I married Ethan back then mostly because he was incredibly good-looking. You hear people say, find a handsome boyfriend, so even when you fight, looking at his face makes it harder to stay mad. That was honestly my thinking when I decided I wanted a guy like that. But I met a few guys, and none of them clicked. Then, a chance encounter brought me to Ethan. It was a company trade show. I was head of PR, overseeing our booth, making sure everything went smoothly with our partners. I’d been so busy I barely ate all day. My blood sugar crashed, and I started to sway. Suddenly, someone caught me, steadying me and pressing a piece of candy into my hand. “Skipped breakfast rushing here, huh? Have some sugar, take it easy.” It was Ethan. I fell for him, right then and there. At the company dinner that night, he coincidentally ended up sitting next to me. “Eating something that spicy on an empty stomach will wreck you. You’ll regret it tomorrow,” he said, stopping my hand just as I was about to dive into the spicy Szechuan dish. Chatting after that felt completely natural. We talked a lot about work collaborations. He was articulate, and I really admired his perspectives on the industry. We exchanged numbers – well, added each other on social media. After that, he asked me out a few times. He was so thoughtful. He’d always make reservations, pull out my chair, specifically ask if I was feeling okay having cold drinks, and serve me food. He remembered everything I liked. When he started pursuing me seriously, it felt like a dream. Because I was five years older than him, and honestly, I was overweight. I asked him why he chose me. He looked at me intensely. “Love is just… one of those mysterious things. I just like you.” “You don’t think I’m fat?” He leaned in close, whispering so his warm breath tickled my ear, “Not at all. I love curvy girls. More to hold onto.” Nobody can easily refuse a confession from a young, handsome guy like that. I certainly couldn’t. I was completely swept off my feet. During our relationship, I definitely made my girlfriends jealous. But they all said Ethan seemed too good to be true. “No guy is that considerate. He knows exactly how to handle women, like he’s been trained.” “Either he has a sister he totally dotes on, or he’s got a ton of experience with women.” “Bullshit! No way!” I argued with my friends. “He just loves me! That’s what love looks like! Besides, what could he possibly want from me? Aren’t I the one who’s lucky to have him and his good looks?” “Alright, alright. Fine. A girl drunk on love… whatever, sis, I’m not jealous!” My friends couldn’t win the argument, so they let it go, muttering that we wouldn’t last. But we did last. And even more, he was the one who proposed. Yes, on our one-year anniversary, he asked me to marry him. 2 It was Christmas Day. Snow was falling everywhere, looking like something out of a movie, when he got down on one knee. “Rachel, marry me.” Maybe it was the beauty of the snow, but I couldn’t resist. I threw myself into his arms, hugging his neck tightly. I saw my own reflection in his eyes. “Yes!” Ethan came from a rural part of Appalachia. His family had three boys, his father passed away early, and his mother raised them all on her own. It was clearly a tough upbringing. Me? I was from New York City, born and bred. My parents were business owners, I was an only child, and life had always been comfortable. My parents didn’t approve of the marriage. But I was stubborn, head over heels in love. I cried, threw tantrums, pretended to go on a hunger strike – I pulled out every dramatic trick in the book. My mom eventually caved. My dad still wasn’t happy. But he stopped actively trying to prevent it. … On February 14th, 2019 – Valentine’s Day – we got married. He hadn’t been working long and couldn’t afford a place in the city yet. I didn’t care. I was overjoyed to marry him. On our wedding night, wrapped in his arms, he whispered promises in my ear. “Rachel, believe in me. I swear I’ll give you a good life. I’ll make your parents proud.” I hugged him tighter and nodded. “I believe you.” I felt like I’d found the greatest happiness imaginable. Life after the wedding was good. I was basically waited on hand and foot. We rented a small apartment, about 600 square feet, one bedroom. We both worked hard on our careers, side-by-side. Our companies even collaborated, and I used every connection and resource I had to help him build his network quickly. He didn’t disappoint. He climbed the ladder, getting promoted steadily, doing well at his company. His colleagues seemed to really like him. Ghost came into our lives because one of those colleagues was moving and couldn’t take the dog. So, I took him in. 3 Ethan and I made a deal. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, I’d walk the dog. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, he would. Of course, most of the time, I ended up doing it. Because Ethan’s job got more and more demanding. He got promoted again, which meant more overtime, often not getting home until after 10 PM. By then, Ghost was desperate to go out. Even if I had overtime, I could usually finish it at home. So I often got home on time, walked Ghost, and then logged back onto my computer to finish my work. I thought, we’re both working hard for our future, for a better life together. And so, life went on. Six months later, I found out I was pregnant. My mother came to visit when she heard the news. She took one look at our small rental and frowned. “You’re living in a place this small? You can barely manage yourselves, and you got a dog?” I hugged her arm, trying to charm her. “Mom, it’s just temporary! Bigger places are a pain to clean. A one-bedroom is perfect right now, isn’t it?” “And the dog was just fate, we had to keep him.” Mom sighed and poked my forehead gently. I knew, compared to my parents’ house, this place was tiny. But Ethan and I were both still building our careers, and he was saving up for a down payment. We couldn’t afford to rent anything much bigger. Even my dad started to soften up a bit. Parents always love their children, in the end. They bought me a condo outright. The day we got the keys, Ethan held me close, his voice low with emotion. “I’m sorry, Rach. I haven’t worked hard enough. I couldn’t buy you a place here myself.” “Trust me, just give me three more years. I’ll buy you an even bigger place.” He held me tight and kissed me deeply. What’s that saying? “Women are auditory creatures; they’re more easily moved by sweet words and promises than by silent actions.” Of course, I didn’t blame him. I hugged him back affectionately, comforting him, saying it had only been a year, we had time. “Besides,” I added, “it’s just the two of us now, soon to be three. What do we need a huge house for? It’d feel empty and spooky. I’d be scared.” “Rachel, you’re the best.” He hugged me even tighter, kissing me repeatedly, full of tenderness. “Once the baby’s born, you should stop working so hard. Let me take care of you.” I sniffled, my eyes stinging. Let me take care of you… Such beautiful words. … After our daughter, Sophie, was born, despite really not wanting to, I had to put my career on hold. For the first year, there was just no way to work. The baby needed feeding every two or three hours during the day, and my body wasn’t recovering particularly well. I simply didn’t have the energy for anything beyond the baby. That’s the reality of raising a child yourself, the reality of motherhood. And I didn’t want to burden my parents. During this time, Ethan got promoted again, to a management position. His work and corporate entertaining got even more intense. He often came home smelling of alcohol. But he was still thoughtful towards me. He’d often bring home things I liked – sometimes cake, sometimes a bouquet of flowers. He’d hug me and say, “You’re working so hard, honey.” Just like before. Except, we rarely had time just for the two of us anymore. Occasionally, if the mood struck, it would inevitably be interrupted by the baby crying. After a while, he stopped initiating intimacy altogether. I never used to think being a stay-at-home mom was that difficult. But once I was actually in that position, I realized how incredibly hard it is. Every single day, I was exhausted. Not just physically tired, but mentally drained too. There were endless little things, from morning till night, revolving around the baby. And then there was Ghost, constantly needing attention. Not taking him out was impossible. If I didn’t take him out, he’d chew the furniture and bark nonstop. So I started asking Ethan to help walk Ghost. He’d agree, but then immediately say he needed to research some stocks and disappear into the bedroom with his laptop. This went on for months, leaving me completely worn out. Until one day, all my pent-up frustration finally exploded. 4 That day, I specifically reminded Ethan to walk the dog. He casually agreed before I went to put Sophie down for her nap. Just as I got her settled and came out, I saw that Ghost had knocked over the kitchen trash can. Garbage – nasty bits of everything – was strewn all over the floor. He’d unrolled the toilet paper from the bathroom, trailing a long white ribbon all the way into the living room. The sofa cushions were pulled onto the floor, and Ghost, having stepped in water in the bathroom, had left muddy paw prints all over the white cushions. The cushions I had just washed yesterday! “Ethan!!!” Furious, I grabbed the dirty cushion and stormed into the bedroom. The computer screen he claimed he was using to “check the market” was displaying a video game. That night was chaos. In the heat of the argument, I yanked the plug from the wall. I don’t even remember everything I yelled. Finally, Ethan stormed out, face dark with anger, and walked the dog. He didn’t come back until almost midnight. I was already asleep. When I woke up the next morning, he was gone. When Ethan came home that evening, he brought me my favorite little cake, just like usual. Everything seemed back to normal. Except for Ghost. Starting that day, he seemed less insistent on going out constantly. When I was tending to Sophie, he’d curl up beside her, his round eyes watching the soft, white little bundle. “Ghost, this is Sophie. She’s your little owner now. You have to protect her, understand?” “Woof~” I have no idea if he understood, but I chose to believe he did. And so, the days passed. I treated Ghost better and better, doing my best for him. His food got more expensive, and every day I took the baby and the dog out for a walk together. Ghost bypassed Ethan entirely and became my dearest companion.

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It was the weekend, and the whole family drove out to this remote lake up in the hills to take pictures of my nephew for some competition. Suddenly, Kevin shrieked. He had several leeches clamped onto his ankle. I quickly grabbed a small utility knife to scrape them off. The bites were bleeding quite a bit. But Kevin started yelling that I’d cut him on purpose. He snatched the knife and slashed wildly at my face, several times. My brother, my sister-in-law, Mom, Dad – they all just watched Kevin ruin my face, even saying I deserved it. Later, on the way down the mountain path, Kevin deliberately shoved me. My whole family just stared blankly as I dangled from the cliff edge. Not one person reached out to help me. Then, I blinked. And Kevin was pointing at his ankle, yelling, “What is this bug? It’s huge!” I looked over, my voice flat. “It’s nothing. Just flick it off.” “Sarah, move back! You’re blocking the shot!” Through the fog in my head, I heard my sister-in-law, Linda’s, impatient voice. My brother, Mike, yanked my arm hard. “Didn’t you hear her talking to you? Just standing there like a damn statue.” It hit me then. I was reborn. I was back at the edge of that remote lake on the hilltop. Kevin was striking poses by the water’s edge. He wore a crisp white shirt and black overalls, his pale little face looking cherubic, almost pinchable. Who could believe this sunny, adorable little boy was the monster who’d disfigured me and sent me falling to my death? “Kevin, honey, step back a bit more, closer to the water. Yes, right there!” Linda’s camera clicked away, capturing every ‘precious’ moment. The whole reason we’d trekked up this godforsaken hill today was to get the perfect set of photos for Kevin. Mike and Linda planned to submit them to a big casting call held by a media company. The winner got a contract as a child model. Neither of them had a real job. They were pinning all their hopes on Kevin becoming famous and making them rich. This casting call? They were dead set on winning. “Kevin, just a little further back, stand in the water a bit. The light’s better there. Mom, go help Kevin fix his clothes and hat.” Mom scurried over, fussing over Kevin. But before Linda could even snap another picture, Kevin screamed. “There’s a bug in the water!” Linda waved it off. “Of course, there are bugs. It’s nature. Just ignore it and look at the camera!” Kevin was uneasy, looking down again. “It’s crawling on me!” He started stomping his foot frantically, trying to shake it off, but it wouldn’t budge. I leaned in for a look. Clinging tightly to his ankle was a fat, bloodsucking leech. Last time, when I saw the leech, I immediately found my knife to help him get it off. The bites bled non-stop because leech saliva contains an anticoagulant. But Kevin had insisted I cut him on purpose with the knife. He’d grabbed the knife from me and slashed my face like a maniac. I screamed, clutching my face and running, but Kevin just laughed loudly behind me. “You cut my ankle, so I messed up your face!” When I found a mirror, I almost collapsed. My face was covered in jagged cuts, blood everywhere. Kevin had permanently disfigured me. “Dad, please, take me to the hospital!” I’d begged. “What hospital? Just wipe it with a tissue,” he’d said dismissively. I couldn’t believe it. “I’m bleeding this badly, and you want me to use a tissue?” Linda chimed in, dripping sarcasm. “Well, you shouldn’t have cut my son’s ankle. Serves you right.” Mike backed her up. “Yeah, besides, kids don’t know their own strength. You’re his aunt, don’t make a big deal out of it.” Mom pulled me aside, dabbing at my face with a tissue. “Sarah, Kevin still has lots of pictures left to take. Don’t waste everyone’s time.” My heart felt like it had turned to ice. I could only grit my teeth and swallow the humiliation. We finally packed up when the sun started to set. “Mom,” I tried again, “can we please stop by the hospital on the way home?” “We have antiseptic at home. Just clean it up there.” “Mom, if I don’t go to the hospital, my face will scar!” Mike snapped impatiently. “So what if it scars? It’s not like you’re pretty anyway!” Kevin piped up, “Aunt Sarah’s ugly! Scars or no scars, it’s all the same!” Tears I couldn’t stop slid down my cheeks. I bit my lip, silent. Then, suddenly, Kevin pushed me hard from behind. I lost my footing, tumbled down the slope, and went over the edge of the cliff. My hands scrabbled, catching onto a protruding rock just in time. “Mom! Dad! Help me! Mike! Linda! Grab my hand!” I screamed for help, but they just stood there, watching me with cold indifference. Not a single hand reached out. Eventually, my strength gave out. I fell into the abyss, shattering on the rocks below. This time? I wasn’t getting involved. Kevin was freaking out about the bug. “What is this thing? It’s huge!” Mike and Linda rushed over. Even they flinched seeing the leech, fat and swollen with blood. I watched coolly from the side. “It’s nothing. Just flick it off.” Linda ordered Mike, “Get that disgusting thing off Kevin right now!” Mike looked scared too but shuffled forward hesitantly. He grabbed the leech and yanked. It didn’t come off. The leech’s mouthparts were latched deep into Kevin’s ankle, like they were burrowed into his flesh. The harder Mike pulled, the tighter it clung. Kevin started crying. “Daddy, get it off! Get it off!” Mike got rough, gave one massive pull, and finally ripped the leech free. He threw it onto the bank and stomped on it hard. There was a sickening squish, and blood sprayed everywhere. Mike looked shaken. When he turned back to Kevin, he saw the ankle bleeding uncontrollably. He quickly carried Kevin ashore, grabbing tissues to press against the wound, but they soaked through almost instantly. Mike didn’t know that ripping a leech off like that often leaves the mouthparts embedded in the skin, leading to infection and complications. Linda was beside herself. “What kind of bug is this? How could it bite my son so badly!” she whined at Mom. “Mom, what kind of dump did you bring us to? It’s full of giant bugs!” “What’s wrong with this place?” Mom defended herself. “It’s beautiful! Green hills, clear water. The best part is, the scenery’s great, nobody’s here, and it’s free! If we went to some other park, it’d be packed, not to mention the expensive entrance fees. For all of us? Think how much that would cost!” Linda shut up. She might feel bad for her son, but she loved money more. Mom peered closer at the wound. “Looks like a small bite. Just keep pressure on it, it’ll be fine.” After Mike held pressure for a long time, the bleeding finally slowed. Seeing things calm down, Mom immediately pushed them to continue the photoshoot. But Kevin refused to go back in the water. “Grandma, there are big bugs in the water! I’m scared!” “Then just stand near the edge,” Mom suggested. Linda looked around, still convinced the light was better in the water. “Kevin, honey, Daddy already killed the big bug. Don’t be scared, there are no more big bugs in the water now.” Kevin still refused. Linda kept coaxing. “How about this? Daddy will go with you. If there are any more bugs, Daddy will catch them.” After a lot of cajoling, Kevin finally nodded. Mike carried Kevin back into the water, gave him a pep talk, then stepped aside. I watched the lake water, barely covering Mike’s ankles, and a small smile touched my lips. They kept at it until the sun finally went down, and Linda capped the camera lens. “Okay, I think that’s enough for today.” I piped up, “The scenery here is nice. Let’s take a family photo!” Linda immediately shoved the camera at me. “Fine. You take it for us.” Wow. So much for a family photo that actually included me. I took the camera. “Okay, everyone stand next to Kevin. Move a little further in, yeah, right there, the light’s good.” Mom, Dad, Mike, and Linda all waded into the water. They lined up, waiting for me. I deliberately fumbled. “Uh, how does this thing work?” “Ugh, you’re useless.” Linda came over impatiently to show me. “Got it now?” “Yeah, yeah, got it. Go get back in place.” I raised the camera. “Okay, squeeze together a bit. Perfect. Stay like that, I’ll take a few.” I clicked the shutter repeatedly, taking several shots. Linda snatched the camera back to review them. She seemed satisfied enough. We all headed down the mountain together. This time, I learned my lesson and walked behind the little monster. As soon as we got in the car, Kevin started complaining that his ankle hurt. Linda pulled up his pant leg. The spot where the leech had bitten was red and swollen, with a distinct triangular mark. She shrugged it off. “It’s fine. We’ll put some cream on it when we get home.” But Kevin didn’t look fine. His face seemed paler than before. “Mommy, I’m cold.” Linda found a jacket and draped it over him, but he still seemed restless. “Mommy, I don’t feel good.” “Where don’t you feel good?” “Everywhere.” Linda assumed he was just being difficult. “If you don’t feel good, then go to sleep!” When we got home, Linda shook Kevin awake. “We’re home. Come on, get out.” Kevin was unsteady on his feet, but nobody seemed to notice or care. For dinner, Mom made simple noodles. Kevin frowned at his bowl. “I’m not hungry.” Mom tried to coax him, thinking he was just being picky. “Kev, Grandma’s noodles are delicious. Just try some.” Kevin picked up a single strand with his fork, put it in his mouth, but didn’t swallow. “Kevin, just eat this tonight, okay? Tomorrow Grandma will take you out for a big treat.” Mike slurped down his own bowl in two bites. “Mom, don’t worry about him. If he doesn’t eat, he’s not hungry. Kevin, listen up, if you don’t eat now, there’s nothing else later. You can just go hungry!” Kevin put down his fork, looking pitifully at his dad. Mike got annoyed. “Just let him starve then.” After dinner, Linda started reviewing the day’s photos, picking through them, but couldn’t find any she was truly happy with. “We’ll have to go back again tomorrow. These shots aren’t quite perfect.” “Ow!” Mike suddenly yelled, startling Linda. “What’s wrong with you!” Linda looked down and her skin crawled. Mike had four or five angry leech bites on both his lower legs. She grabbed the antiseptic. “Quick, disinfect these.” Mike grumbled, “Too many damn bugs in that lake!” “One last trip tomorrow, then we’re never going back there again,” Linda declared. The next morning, Linda went to wake Kevin. He dragged his feet, refusing to get up. Linda finally ripped the covers off him. “Stop lazing around! Get up, we have to go take more pictures.” Kevin sounded weak. “Mommy, I think I have a fever.” Linda felt his forehead. It was definitely hot. “It’s okay. You’ll feel better after some medicine.” She assumed he’d just caught a chill and mixed up some children’s fever reducer. She had no idea his symptoms were from the leech’s mouthparts still embedded in his skin, causing a nasty infection. If they’d gone to the hospital right then, Kevin probably wouldn’t have gotten so serious. But the whole family dismissed it, bundled him up, and drove him right back to that lake in the hills. Kevin stood in the water again, striking poses as Linda directed. Suddenly,he wobbled, lost his balance, and pitched face-first into the water.

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Brenda was a single mother. She worked diligently for my family for 20 years. Before the holidays, she had an appendectomy and had no one to care for her at home. So, I let her bring her daughter over to stay with us through New Year’s. On New Year’s Eve, I gave Crystal a cash gift in an envelope. She pulled it out and counted it right in front of me. “Tsk, only $2000? That wouldn’t even cover one of your handbags.” A few days later. I noticed that one of my classic monogrammed LV bags in the closet looked… faded. 1 I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Not until I managed to completely rub off one of the ‘L’s on the bag’s surface. Only then was I certain. This bag wasn’t mine. I immediately called Brenda. Half a month earlier, I had gone out of town on business and asked Brenda to take several of my regularly used bags from my closet to be professionally cleaned and conditioned. They were just returned the day before yesterday. “Oh my, what… what happened here?” Having been around me for so long, Brenda knew instantly this bag was a fake. I asked Brenda where the bags were sent for maintenance. “The same place you always go to!” That shop is owned by my best friend Chloe’s family. Never mind that she’d have no reason to swap my bag. Even if she did, she wouldn’t use such a crudely made fake! “Did you pick up the bags? Did anyone touch them after they were brought back?” “Actually, I didn’t pick them up. That day, I mentioned I needed to get the bags, and my daughter said she happened to be going shopping near there anyway. So she brought them back.” After Brenda finished speaking, I was silent for a long moment. I still remembered Crystal’s first day here. I had worked late and came home to find her upstairs in my room. Staring obsessively at my closet full of designer bags. Brenda seemed to realize something and quickly tried to clear her daughter’s name: “It couldn’t be Crystal. Sophia, Crystal wouldn’t do something like this! There must be some misunderstanding…” “Alright, Brenda, I didn’t say Crystal did it. I’m hungry. Can you make me a bowl of simple pasta?” Brenda let out a sigh of relief, agreed readily, and hurried to the kitchen to cook. I checked the recently installed security camera footage. It confirmed that the bag brought back wasn’t my original one. Meaning, it had been swapped somewhere along the way. While I was eating, Crystal returned. She acted as if she didn’t see me, glanced past without a greeting, and sashayed upstairs. “Crystal.” I wiped my mouth and stopped her. “I heard you helped pick up my bags the other day?” Crystal paused, a flicker of panic crossing her face. But a second later, she smoothed her hair, looking nonchalant. “Yeah, what’s up? Is there a problem?” I walked up to her, looked her straight in the eye, and said word by word: “One of the bags was swapped for a fake.” Crystal instantly flew into a rage. “What are you trying to say?” “Are you saying I swapped your bag?!” 2 Before I could respond, Crystal burst into loud sobs. Wailing that I looked down on her, accusing her without any proof. Brenda quickly arrived, drawn by the commotion. She protectively pulled Crystal into her arms. “Oh honey, what’s wrong? Why are you crying so hard?” “You just had surgery, you can’t cry like this. Tell Mommy what happened.” Crystal sobbed out her version of the story. Brenda shot up, confronting me loudly: “Sophia, didn’t you say you didn’t suspect Crystal?” “Crystal is my daughter, I know her character best! She would never do something like this!” “You can treat me however you want, but you can’t disrespect Crystal like this!” Brenda vented her anger. Afterward, she took a deep breath, stood up, and stared at me coldly. “Even though Crystal didn’t take your bag. I won’t let anyone look down on my daughter.” “I don’t want this month’s salary. Consider it compensation for your bag.” Brenda had worked for my family for 20 years. You could say she watched me grow up. My mother passed away from illness when I was very young. My father remarried quickly. They say when you get a stepmother, you get a stepfather too. When my stepmother mistreated me, and my father turned a blind eye, It was Brenda who stepped up, secretly looking out for me. After all these years, even though she’s older and slower, I kept her around, paying her several times more than others. Because in my heart, I considered her family. I thought she felt the same way. But I never expected… Seeing the hostility in Brenda’s eyes, a sudden tightness gripped my chest. I did suspect Crystal swapped my bag. Because after she arrived at my house, Two of my necklaces had already gone missing. And now a bag had been swapped. Besides Brenda and me, there was no one else in the house. Suspecting her was logical, wasn’t it? “Mom, I didn’t take the bag! Why should you give up your salary?” “Didn’t you say she’s loaded? A whole room of luxury goods, and she makes such a fuss over one missing bag!” “Are all rich people this stingy?” I almost laughed out of sheer anger. Did she have any idea that I had sponsored her college tuition? Stone-faced, I dragged all her luggage outside. “Get out. You’re not welcome here.” Crystal cried, pleading with Brenda for help. Brenda’s heart ached, tears streaming down her face, but she didn’t dare step out of the house. Because she could see I was genuinely furious. And besides Crystal, she still had a useless son to support. She couldn’t afford to lose this job. 3 After Crystal left, Brenda quickly apologized to me. Saying she spoke foolishly in the heat of the moment and hoped I wouldn’t hold it against her. Looking at her increasingly wrinkled face and frail body, My heart softened for a moment. I waved my hand dismissively and sent her away. I thought that with Crystal gone, life would return to its quiet, stable, uneventful routine. But I never expected that after returning from another business trip, Two more bags were missing from my house. My first instinct was to check the security footage, only to find it was blank for the days I was away. I found the camera – the plug had been pulled out. Suppressing my anger, I found Brenda busy in the kitchen. “The chicken soup is almost ready, Sophia. Have some water and rest for a bit.” I stared at Brenda’s busy figure and spoke calmly: “Brenda, have we had any guests recently?” Brenda’s hand paused. “N-no.” “Then how did two bags disappear from my closet?” “What? N-no way. There are so many bags in the closet, m-maybe you miscounted?” I walked over and turned off the stove. Brenda froze on the spot. She hesitated, turned, glanced at me, then quickly looked down. “Brenda, things are disappearing from the house for no reason. You need to give me an explanation.” “Well, I really don’t know…” “Then I’ll have to call the police.” Brenda immediately grabbed my arm. “Don’t! Don’t call the police!” “Look, Crystal said she needed to start her internship, entering the workforce, and she was afraid people would look down on her.” “So she came over, wanting to borrow a couple of bags from you.” “You happened to be out of town, so I made the decision myself and let her take two you don’t use often.” “But don’t worry, Sophia, Crystal said she just needed them for interviews.” “She’ll return them as soon as she gets a job.” I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Brenda’s phone rang. She answered immediately. A minute later, Brenda hung up, her face beaming with excitement. “Sophia, Crystal said she found a job!” “She said she’s coming over for dinner tonight, asked me to make a few extra dishes to celebrate!” “Oh, right, she knows you’re back. She said she’ll bring your bags back then too.” Brenda turned the stove back on and got busy cooking again. She muttered to herself, a hint of disdain in her voice. “See? Told you not to worry. Crystal said she’d return the bags once she got a job! She doesn’t lie.” I stood there, watching Brenda’s bustling back. She was even humming happily. I finally believed that sometimes, you get so speechless you actually laugh. Fine. Let’s wait for Crystal to arrive. I really wanted to hear what she had to say. 4 At seven in the evening, Crystal arrived fashionably late. She carried a large shopping bag in her left hand and a bottle of red wine in her right. Her expression was incredibly arrogant. As soon as she arrived, she sat down at the dining table. “Oh my god, I’m starving. Mom, when you look for your next job, can you find someone who doesn’t live in the middle of nowhere?” “The driver didn’t even know the way, it was pitch black the whole drive. What kind of rich person lives in a dump like this?” Brenda immediately ran out upon hearing her voice. She glanced nervously at me, then quickly told Crystal to watch her mouth. “What did I say wrong? Didn’t you tell me she’s broke now, that she’s selling this house to pay off debts?” “Anyway, you won’t be working here much longer, what’s there to be afraid of!” It dawned on me. No wonder Brenda’s attitude had changed so drastically recently. Turns out she overheard me calling a real estate agent about selling the house. Yes, that’s right. I was planning to sell this house. Because it held painful childhood memories – My mother’s death, the abuse I suffered, and later, the birth of my father and stepmother’s son… My life became even harder then. Soon after, my father took his new wife and son abroad to pursue opportunities, transferring the deed of this house to me. And now, I had already bought a penthouse in the city’s most exclusive new high-rise. I was just waiting to finalize things here and move. But I had been too busy with work recently and hadn’t had a chance to tell Brenda. I never imagined she’d misunderstand and think I was broke, needing to sell the house to cover debts… “Sophia, since Crystal already mentioned it, I won’t hide it from you either.” “Someone has already helped me find a new family. I’ll be starting there at the beginning of next month.” “Look at you, already having to sell your house. You won’t have money to pay my salary soon anyway.” “Let’s just part ways amicably.” I looked at the mother-daughter duo before me. After a long moment, I chuckled softly. “Alright, no problem.” “But Crystal, you took my things. Shouldn’t you return them first?” Crystal sneered, then tossed two bags out from her large shopping bag. “Aren’t they just a couple of worthless bags? Here, take them back!” Worthless bags? I almost burst out laughing. Brenda had indeed been considerate. She knew to give her daughter two bags I didn’t use often. Except these two “infrequently used” bags were ones I had spent a fortune and jumped through hoops to acquire. And now Crystal was calling them worthless bags. I carefully inspected the bags. The light wasn’t bright enough, so I went and turned on every light in the room. Crystal became even more dismissive, eyeing me scornfully. “Is all this necessary?” “You used to have money, after all. It’s just a bag. Anyone who didn’t know better would think this bag is worth millions!” “It doesn’t even have a logo! I was too embarrassed to even take it out for my interview today!” Seeing the obvious scratches on the hardware and the greasy stains inside, my heart ached. I looked up, staring coldly at Crystal. “You’re right, this bag isn’t worth millions. Just eighty to ninety thousand dollars.” “And now you’ve ruined it.” “Tell me, how are you going to pay for it?”

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Megan Vance’s sloppy mistake on the price quote cost the company a fortune, and now they were demanding huge compensation. To win back the contract, I had to go to this awful dinner meeting to apologize, forced to drink until I was practically sick, a gut-wrenching, humiliating apology. After smoothing things over, Megan cooed promises of a huge, lavish wedding. But the day before we were supposed to get married, I saw her, already in a wedding dress, throwing herself into Kevin Sloan’s arms. When I confronted her, she just shrugged it off. “You’re just a small-town guy trying to play in the big leagues. What makes you think I’d actually marry you?” “Besides, Kevin’s father is a Director. He’s in a totally different league than you.” “But… if you’re still really into me, I guess I could let you stick around.” Was Megan actually asking me to be her side piece? That slap wasn’t just loud; it shattered whatever was left between us. I turned my back on her and agreed to marry my childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Reed, heiress to the Reed fortune. Unbelievably, our weddings ended up scheduled for the same day, at the very same hotel. As I approached the hotel entrance, Megan, flanked by a crowd of our former colleagues, blocked my path. “Liam Miller, are you seriously trying to crash my wedding? Let me tell you, I won’t let anyone ruin my perfect day with Kevin.” “Since you’re so desperate for attention, why don’t you get on your knees right here and apologize to Kevin in front of everyone?” The crowd around us started jeering and egging her on. Megan kicked the back of my knee, forcing me down, and even started trying to rip my clothes off to humiliate me further. It wasn’t until Ms. Reed herself arrived that Megan stopped, plastering on a fake, fawning smile. “Ms. Reed! My ex is having some kind of breakdown, claiming he’s your husband. Don’t worry, I’m handling it. So… about that Northgate contract, do you think we could sign off on it?” … A crane accident near the subway had shut down traffic, so Evelyn and I had to take separate routes to the venue. When I finally got to the hotel, I was about to get out of the car. Just as I opened the door, I saw Megan, beaming, arm-in-arm with Kevin Sloan, walking into the hotel. My hand froze. I didn’t get out immediately. I couldn’t believe we were getting married on the same day. Ever since I’d cut ties with Megan, I’d wanted nothing more to do with her. Especially not today, on my own wedding day. I didn’t need that kind of bad luck. “Liam! Big brother! Over here!” A cute little girl darted towards me from nearby, yanking open my car door. “Brother, you’re here! Why aren’t you getting out?” Annie’s voice was loud, instantly catching Megan’s attention. She’d opened the door so fast I had no time to react. Suddenly, I was making eye contact with Megan across the short distance. Megan’s initially bright expression twisted into rage. She stormed over, pushed Annie aside, and yanked me out of the Lincoln sedan. “Liam Miller, how long are you going to keep harassing me?” Then her eyes landed on the groom’s ribbon pinned to my suit. Her pupils dilated, then she let out a contemptuous laugh. “Wow, you really are pathetic. It’s my wedding day, and you show up trying to crash it.” I forcefully pushed Megan’s hand off me and pulled Annie up from the ground, shielding her. Before I could even explain, Megan glared at me, spitting venom. “Liam, today is the most important day of Kevin’s and my life. If you dare cause trouble, don’t blame me for what happens!” Guests nearby started whispering: “How shameless can Liam be, trying to crash the wedding?” “If it weren’t for his screw-up with that quote, we wouldn’t have lost our year-end bonuses!” “Yeah, but you still have a job thanks to him, right? He’s the one who had to sleep with those execs from the client’s side to save the deal.” “Men and women, I heard. Can his skinny frame even handle that?” “Ugh, Liam’s so dirty. Just breathing the same air as him makes me sick. And he dares to crash her wedding.” Listening to their degrading comments, I trembled with fury. Megan had pinned everything on me. Just then, Kevin Sloan emerged from the crowd. His disdainful gaze shifted when he saw the bouquet in my hands, and his eyes lit up. “Megan, honey, how about I give you this bouquet from him?” 2 The bouquet I held was custom-made, ordered specially by Evelyn from France. It was incredibly expensive, interwoven with delicate, pure gold filigree roses. The unique craftsmanship and costly flowers made it sparkle in the sunlight. Megan had looked slightly guilty when she heard people blaming me for the quote error. But the next second, seeing I even had a bouquet prepared, her expression turned back to scorn. “Liam, there’s no way I’m marrying you. Just give me the bouquet; consider it your contribution to our wedding.” “After all, you love me so much, you wouldn’t want to embarrass me, right?” I stared at Megan, stunned. How could the girl I once knew, who was always kind and helpful, turn into this? I sighed, about to speak, when Annie darted out from behind me and gave Kevin a shove. “You big bully! Why are you trying to steal my sister’s bouquet?” “My sister had this specially made by a master artist in France!” Annie was small, so Kevin just stumbled slightly before regaining his balance. He looked down at her with disgust. “Where did this grimy little kid come from? Careful you don’t dirty my custom-made suit. It cost thousands.” Annie, Evelyn’s little sister, probably spent thousands on pocket money daily. She tilted her head, genuinely curious, and asked me, “Brother, his suit is so cheap, is he really worried about getting it dirty?” Kevin flushed crimson with rage, his finger practically poking Annie’s eye. I immediately pulled Annie behind me, my voice sharp. “Megan, I’m not here to crash your wedding.” Megan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smile playing on her lips. “Liam, still putting on an act even now?” “If you’re not here to crash the wedding, why are you here, dressed like a groom?” “Don’t tell me you’re also getting married here, at the Grand Excelsior Hotel?” I nodded. A wave of laughter erupted from the crowd. “Seriously? What a low-class move. He probably doesn’t even know how exclusive the Grand Excelsior is. How dare he try to associate himself with it?” “If it weren’t for Kevin Sloan being the Director’s son, none of us would probably ever get to see the inside of this place.” “Exactly. Thank God Kevin went and begged Ms. Reed. Otherwise, Liam probably thinks taking off his clothes a few times is enough to land a contract.” Many of those talking were my former colleagues, people I had helped numerous times. Now, they were twisting the truth, slinging mud at me without a second thought. Megan watched me with a smirk, waiting until the ridicule died down before speaking. “You come from nothing, dirtied yourself with God knows who, men and women… Who else would want you besides me?” “Alright, stop pretending. Give the bouquet to Kevin, and I’ll allow you to stay for the reception.” She reached out to snatch the bouquet. Annie, who had been pampered her whole life and never treated this way, reacted instantly, rushing forward to protect me. She pulled the half-finished juice box from her little backpack and splashed it all over Megan. Caught off guard, Megan’s suit was soaked. Her face turned terrifyingly dark. But Annie, oblivious to the danger, clapped her hands excitedly. “I got the bad guy! I got the bad guy!” “Such a naughty little brat. Needs to be taught a lesson,” Megan hissed, her voice dripping ice. She waved her hand, and several large, burly men suddenly surrounded us, grabbing Annie in seconds. I tried to stop them but Megan slapped me hard, sending me stumbling to the ground. Seeing Annie about to be dragged away, I forgot everything else and yelled, “She’s Evelyn Reed’s sister!” 3 Everyone froze for a second. Just when I thought Megan would let Annie go, she burst out laughing. “Evelyn Reed’s sister? Don’t tell me you’re going to claim you’re dressed like this today to marry Evelyn Reed?” I nodded grimly. “Now that you know, let Annie go… Ahh—” Before I could finish, Megan slapped me again, hard, her teeth clenched. “Still playing games at a time like this? Looks like you won’t learn your lesson until you’re taught one.” She raised her hand again, ready to strike. This time, Kevin stopped her. “Alright, Megan. It’s our wedding day. Let’s not waste time on this lowlife.” Then his tone shifted. “Why don’t we take this opportunity to make Liam write a resignation letter? Saves me the trouble of seeing his face at the office later.” Although Megan had publicly claimed she saved the Southbridge project contract, upper management knew perfectly well it was signed only after I met with the client. The commission was rightfully mine. But if I resigned, it would all go to Megan and Kevin. Megan’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. She immediately started forcing me to write the resignation letter. When I refused, Megan pinched Annie’s chubby cheek hard, threatening, “Such a young child. What if she got a little scar on her face, or maybe lost an arm or a leg? Who knows if she’d even survive after that…” I couldn’t believe it. Megan was using a child to threaten me, just for some commission money. Annie started crying, terrified, calling my name. Megan snatched the bouquet from my hand and presented it to Kevin like a trophy. Ignoring that, I looked straight at Megan, my voice flat. “If I write the resignation letter, will you let Annie go?” Megan nodded, a mocking smile on her face. “Believe it or not. It’s not like you have any other choice, do you?” “I warned you, Annie is Evelyn Reed’s sister. And I am marrying Evelyn Reed today. You’re humiliating her fiancé and her sister like this. Aren’t you afraid of her retaliation?” The crowd roared with laughter again. “Has Liam lost his mind? He came to crash the wedding, realized Megan didn’t want him, saw Ms. Reed was also getting married here, and suddenly decided he’s marrying her?” “I bet he doesn’t even know who Ms. Reed really is. She’s the Evelyn Reed, the most powerful heiress in the city. Ruthless. Nobody dares to cross her. Liam pretending to be her fiancé? He must have a death wish.” “That Southbridge project was with her company’s subsidiary. That’s why the commission was so high.” Understanding dawned on the onlookers, and their gazes turned even more contemptuous. The pen trembled in my hand. Humiliation and fury washed over me. The moment I finished the last word, Megan snatched the paper away, glanced at it with satisfaction, and handed it to Kevin. “Now, can you let Annie go?” But Megan’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “Let her go? She threw juice on my suit. Doesn’t she need to apologize?” Annie and I were alone, cornered. I didn’t want to prolong this. I apologized immediately. Megan snorted. “Just a quick ‘sorry’ is enough?” I clenched my jaw, staring hard at her. “What else do you want?” Megan sneered, kicked the back of my knee again, and laughed coldly. “An apology requires the right attitude. I want you kneeling when you apologize to me.” I was forced onto one knee, but I refused to bow my head completely. I was about to become Mr. Reed. My humiliation was Evelyn’s humiliation. Megan clearly didn’t expect me to be so stubborn, refusing to fully kneel even after being kicked. She reached out again, trying to force my head down. In the struggle, the sleeve of my jacket rode up, revealing a collection of expensive watches on my wrist. Kevin’s eyes widened, instantly shouting: “Well, well, Megan! So you spent money buying Liam all these fancy watches? I want you to take every single one of them off him right now!” 4 Megan froze. She knew perfectly well she hadn’t bought me these watches. Suddenly, she flew into a rage, kicking me hard in the chest. Sharp pain exploded, nearly making me black out. All I could hear was Megan’s furious voice. “So you didn’t just whore yourself out to other women, you took their gifts too?” “Liam Miller, you are utterly shameless! You make me sick.” Even as she spat the words, her eyes greedily scanned my arm. Impatiently, she ripped up my other sleeve. Seeing more limited-edition watches there, her eyes practically glowed. Kevin sneered. “Megan, those watches look exactly like the ones that were stolen from me.” I looked up in disbelief. What was he talking about? These were all limited-edition pieces Evelyn had tracked down for me through various channels after learning I collected watches. Most people couldn’t even get their hands on them. But Megan instantly understood Kevin’s ploy. She yelled loudly: “Liam Miller, I never thought you were this kind of person! You actually snuck into my place and stole the watches I bought for Kevin!” She lunged, trying to rip the watches off my wrists. I fought back desperately, but Annie was still her hostage, and I was no match for several large bodyguards. Soon, I was pinned to the ground, my pristine suit stained and dirty, my entire appearance utterly wretched. To prove her point to Kevin, Megan personally started yanking the watches off. Most of them had been custom-fitted by Evelyn to my size. They fit perfectly, and their clasps were intricate. Megan had no idea how to remove them properly. But she didn’t care about hurting me. She just ripped them off with brute force. My sharp cries of pain accompanied each watch she triumphantly handed to Kevin. Annie screamed from the side, “I’m gonna tell my sister! She’ll make you pay!” But no one paid any attention to a little girl’s threats. Soon, both my wrists were raw and bleeding, scraped horribly by the forced removal. I gasped in pain but refused to beg for mercy. “Can you let Annie go now?” I struggled to sit up, wanting only to get Annie away from them. But Kevin suddenly blocked me, eyeing me maliciously. He drawled, “Megan, you think maybe Liam stole the other things I’m missing too?” “Why don’t we strip him down and see if he’s hiding anything else under his clothes? We wouldn’t want them turning up in his possession later, making things awkward, right?” Megan nodded readily. Ignoring my struggles, she reached out and ripped my dress shirt open down the front. A cold draft hit my chest, exposing large patches of skin marked with intimate-looking bruises or hickeys. Instinctively, I tried to cover myself, but my bleeding hands wouldn’t cooperate, I couldn’t lift them properly. The crowd leered, making crude jokes. My former colleagues were the loudest. “I always knew Liam was trash. He used to hit on me all the time back at the office.” “He probably got those marks from all the men and women he’s been with, right?” “…” The vile comments rained down, filling me with shame and agony. But apparently, this wasn’t enough for Kevin. He wanted me to suffer more. He pulled out his phone, grinning wickedly. “Liam, don’t say I never did anything for you. I’m about to make you famous. Going live right now!” Kevin’s eyes glinted with malice, fixed on me. I covered my face, trembling with helpless rage. If looks could kill, Kevin would be dead a hundred times over. But I was alone, surrounded by people enjoying my humiliation. Just as despair washed over me, a cool, commanding female voice cut through the air: “Who dares cause trouble at my wedding?”

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

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

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

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

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

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