Category: English

I am the sole heir to the Sterling family empire, groomed from birth to inherit the throne. Until one day, a beautiful woman showed up with twins in tow, marching right up to my mother and demanding she return everything that belonged to her. She claimed that ten years ago, she had a one-night stand with my father, and that I was nothing but a bargaining chip my mother used to marry Arthur Sterling. Hearing this, my mother didn’t even flinch. She just dialed my father’s number and gestured for me to speak. My voice was bratty, laced with annoyance. “Dad, there’s some crazy lady here blocking our way, saying she’s the only one who deserves you and that her two kids are yours.” “Do you think she’s got some loose screws in her head?” 1 My parents’ marriage was a strategic business alliance. From the day I was born, they raised me as the undisputed heir. For my first birthday, my father transferred 3% of the corporation’s shares into my name as a present. My mother gifted me an actual, literal castle. They never bothered faking a loving marriage in front of me. They each had their own affairs. As a result, every year for my birthday, I would receive over a dozen presents from various “aunts” and “uncles.” The doll from Uncle Hayes? Didn’t like it. Threw it away. The diamond necklace from that movie star, “Aunt” Valerie? Liked it. My mom told me to keep it. And then there were all the gifts from other random adults in their circles. At my seventh birthday party, one of my father’s business partners presented me with a custom, high-end jewelry set. I hesitated, looking up at my father, unsure if I should accept it. He rubbed my head, crouched down, and looked me dead in the eye. “Chloe, if you like it, take it. You are the heir to the Sterling family. Anything you want in this world can be yours.” What did I want? I wanted sparkling jewels and gorgeous dresses. And I wanted money. Lots and lots of money. I was young, but I was already the little princess of the Sterling family, known by everyone in high society. My grandmother once urged my father to have a son to carry on the family name, but he shut it down immediately. He told her he wouldn’t let anyone or anything threaten my position as his heir. 2 So, when one of his mistresses showed up at our door with a secret son, I wasn’t even surprised. I just stood behind the half-open door, watching them, feeling mildly annoyed. My father tossed a credit card onto the floor without a single flicker of emotion. His voice was ice. “Take your kid and get the hell out of here. If I ever see your face again…” “You know what will happen.” The DNA test results fluttered to the floor like snow. The woman collapsed, sobbing hysterically. “Arthur, how could you do this to me…” The bodyguards moved in to drag them out, but the little boy suddenly broke free and charged straight at me. He cursed at me furiously, “It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault! Why do you get to live with Mommy and Daddy?!” I could have easily dodged him, but for some inexplicable reason, I just stood there, frozen. Ugh, what a death wish. He shoved me hard onto the floor and reached out to strangle me. I looked up in shock, feeling the sting of my scraped palms. “Ow…” The next second, he was kicked viciously to the floor. My mother, hearing the commotion, rushed down the stairs to help me up. She didn’t forget to spin around and deliver a brutal slap across the boy’s face. “What kind of filthy trash thinks they can touch my daughter?!” My mother glared at my father, her voice raising. “Arthur, I don’t care about your private life. But now your mistresses and bastards are showing up at my door, putting their hands on my daughter.” “Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” Arthur’s face darkened. He rubbed his temples in frustration and shot a look at the two bodyguards. “Send her abroad. Make sure she never comes back.” Ignoring the woman’s desperate pleas, he looked coldly at the boy on the floor. “And find a way to dump this little brat in an orphanage.” My mother let out a cold scoff, then finally turned her attention back to me. She carried me to the sofa and grabbed the first-aid kit to clean my scraped hands. No one ever explained anything to me. The incident was swept under the rug as if it never happened. My father bought a mountain of gifts to coax a smile out of me and personally took me to a high-profile auction to publicly reaffirm my status. But that day, I saw the ugly, rotten underbelly of this family clearly. Did it matter, though? I was a perfectly qualified heir, after all. 3 After three years at my elite prep school, a pair of fraternal twins suddenly transferred into my class. The sister stood meekly behind her brother, her voice squeaky. “Hi everyone, I’m Mia Vance. It’s nice to meet you!” The little boy was clutching a sleek, high-end mini laptop. He kept a straight face, his features bearing a striking resemblance to my father’s. He spoke coldly: “Leo Vance.” “Let’s give a warm welcome to our new classmates!” The teacher tried to hype them up, but the class only offered a scattering of unenthusiastic claps. Several appraising looks landed on them. I rested my chin in my hand, watching them with mild amusement. When they looked my way, I gave a lazy, slow clap. Are these my dad’s secret kids? They look pretty annoying. After class, the resident rich-kid bully and his two cronies cornered Leo. “Hey! I haven’t seen you around before. Who are your parents?” He shoved Leo aggressively. Leo shot him a cold glare, stepping in front of Mia to protect her. “Move.” “Don’t look down on me!” Mia grabbed Leo’s hand, puffing her cheeks indignantly. “It’s none of your business! My mom is super important…” “Mia, let’s go.” Leo gave her a gentle look and pulled her away. Once they were gone, I waved my hand dismissively, my eyes drifting to the laptop sitting in Leo’s desk. Interesting. 4 After school, I ordered my butler to look into the twins’ background. Their mother’s name was Sarah Vance. Ten years ago, she went abroad for unknown reasons, and returned with two kids. Interestingly enough, she was my mother’s half-sister. My aunt. This didn’t seem like a coincidence. I narrowed my eyes, a theory already forming in my head. “Miss Chloe, should I dig deeper?” The butler stood respectfully by my side. I took a huge gulp of milk, hopped off the sofa, and padded barefoot toward the door. Halfway there, I stopped, turning back thoughtfully. “No need… Oh, actually, what has Sarah been doing since she got back? How did she even get those kids enrolled in my school?” “It’s connected to the Harrington family. The second young master, Sebastian Harrington, pulled some strings to get them admitted.” “Also, records show Sarah Vance just submitted a resume to Sterling Enterprises. She has an in-person interview scheduled for tomorrow.” I had heard my dad mention Sebastian Harrington. He stayed out of his family’s corporate drama and became a doctor instead. He had also been abroad for the past few years. But doing the math, Mia and Leo couldn’t possibly be his kids. And the fact that Sarah applied to Sterling Enterprises the second she returned? That was completely intentional. Having confirmed my suspicions, I sighed, grabbed my phone, and texted my parents to ask when they’d be home. After a moment of thought, a bright, innocent smile spread across my face. “Since she’s interviewing at my future company, I don’t think it’s out of line if I drop by tomorrow to take a look, right?” The butler bowed his head. “Whatever you wish, Miss Chloe.” 5 It was very late by the time my mother got home. My father claimed he had an important meeting and wouldn’t be back that night. Wearing cute cat pajamas, I clung to my mom’s arm and whined. “Please let me go to the office tomorrow! I miss Dad…” “Well… maybe I don’t miss him that much, but I just really want to see the office!” “You little rascal,” my mom chuckled, affectionately tapping my forehead. She agreed immediately. “Fine, you can go in the morning. I’ll have the driver take you.” “Thanks, Mommy!” I kissed her cheek, my voice sweet as sugar. “But don’t run around causing trouble for everyone, okay? I’ll pick you up around noon.” “Go back to sleep.” She tucked me in and stood up to leave. I buried my face in the soft duvet, closing my eyes in satisfaction. I couldn’t wait for the show tomorrow.

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After I beat up the fake heiress, my brothers threw me into a psych ward. When I finally got out, I was exceptionally well-behaved. If my brothers told me to go East, I didn’t even dare glance West. But why did the fake heiress suddenly become even more well-behaved than me? Dr. Keller always told me: if they don’t throw the first punch, I can’t hit back. That’s the basic code of conduct for a psychiatric patient. Huh? What a joke. Making someone throw the first punch? That’s easy. I have a million ways to make that happen. 1 The day my second brother, Liam, came to pick me up from the asylum, I was wearing a babydoll top and denim overalls. My hands were obediently folded in front of me, and my eyes were cast downward. All traces of my former arrogance were completely wiped clean. Liam looked me up and down and finally spoke, sounding satisfied. “Do you know what you did wrong?” I nodded obediently and recited the exact script Dr. Keller had drilled into me. “I’m sorry, Liam. I was jealous of Chloe, and that’s why I paid those thugs to bully her. I was wrong. I’ll never do it again.” Just the right amount of grievance. Just the right amount of remorse. Eyes brimming with tears, but so full of shame that I didn’t dare let them fall. I had spent a long time practicing this exact look, modeling it perfectly after Chloe. Sure enough, Liam bought it. He raised his noble hand and patted my head like he was bestowing a grand charity. “Good girl. If you hadn’t gone so far this time, Arthur wouldn’t have locked you up in the psych ward.” “From now on, get along with Chloe.” I mimicked Chloe again, nuzzling gently into his palm. Just as I expected, Liam smiled, genuinely pleased. Neither of us noticed Dr. Evans, the asylum director, standing nearby, violently shuddering. I tilted my head and shot him a sideways glance. Cold sweat immediately beaded on his forehead. “M-Mr. Sterling, if there’s nothing else you need, I’ll leave you to your sibling reunion.” Liam nodded. “You did a good job. The Sterling family’s investment funds will be wired over shortly.” “Th-thank you!” After thanking him, Dr. Evans hastily turned to practically sprint away. “The Director sure is quick on his feet…” I commented softly. Thud. Dr. Evans face-planted onto the pavement. Then, under Liam’s bewildered gaze, he scrambled up and ran for his life, looking as if the devil himself was chasing him. “Liam, can I go home now?” Seeing my docile expression, Liam nodded. But he didn’t forget to warn me, “If you ever bully Chloe again, even if Arthur doesn’t lock you up, I will!” “Okay.” I nodded obediently. 2 When we arrived at that familiar, massive estate, I stopped at the front door and didn’t dare step inside. Chloe had told me this was her home. The parents were hers. The brothers were hers. I was the outsider. How could I just walk into someone else’s home? It wasn’t until Liam said, “Come inside,” that I put on a flattered, timid smile. “Can I really?” Just as I hoped, Liam felt a pang of guilt. His eyes even reddened slightly. But remembering my past viciousness, he quickly pushed the emotion down. Not long after, my oldest brother, Arthur, arrived home with Chloe. “Arthur, I brought Harper back,” Liam said. “Has it already been six months?” Fast? I lived a fate worse than death in that place. Every day felt like a year, yet they thought the time flew by. “Yeah. Dr. Evans specifically called to remind me this morning. I completely forgot. Turns out we actually left her in there three days extra.” Arthur didn’t seem to care, acting as if leaving me to rot in that hellhole was no big deal. He scrutinized me with a harsh, judging gaze. I immediately gave him an obedient half-bow. Seeing me, Chloe looked absolutely terrified and quickly hid behind Arthur. Arthur patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t be scared, I’m here. If she dares lay a finger on you again, I promise you, she will never set foot outside that asylum until the day she dies!” Arthur glared at me like I was his mortal enemy. I quietly rubbed my chest. So… even a psychiatric patient’s heart can still hurt, huh? “I’m very good now. I’m very obedient,” I said, my eyes sincere, looking slightly pathetic. Arthur looked at me with pure disgust and led Chloe away to wash up for dinner. 3 Dinner, unsurprisingly, consisted entirely of Chloe’s favorite dishes. Suppressing her supposed “fear,” Chloe proactively placed a piece of crispy fried pork into my bowl. “Here, Harper, have some.” Pepper coating Szechuan peppercorns, and the peppercorns themselves marinated in mango juice… This piece of pork perfectly hit every single one of my severe food allergies. Arthur gently rubbed her back. “Chloe, I raised you myself. You aren’t inferior to anyone, and you don’t need to suck up to anyone!” Chloe lowered her head to eat, tears welling in her eyes. I was genuinely confused. They gave her the best of everything. They even cooked her favorite foods every single day. Why did they always act like she was the one being wronged? Dr. Keller always said: The kid who knows how to put on a show gets the candy. I sat there obediently, staring at the piece of pork, swallowing hard. Then, I asked the question that made all of their faces turn black. “Can… can I eat this?” Arthur: … Liam: … Chloe: (Grinding her teeth). Seeing that no one objected, I obediently picked up my chopsticks and started shoveling food into my mouth. I was starving. I hadn’t eaten normal food in so long. In that moment, I wanted to swallow the entire table whole. Seeing my completely unrefined, ravenous eating habits, my brothers looked disgusted. “Harper, did they not feed you in there?” Liam asked. I shook my head. “They did! But there wasn’t any meat in the slop buckets…” Slam! Arthur threw his chopsticks down. “Harper, who the hell are you trying to guilt-trip?!” “That facility is heavily funded by the Sterling family! Even if Dr. Evans had the guts, he would never dare abuse you like that!” “If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable!” He wouldn’t dare? Arthur, have you ever seen a bed of nails? Have you ever experienced electroshock therapy? Have you ever been forced to fight stray dogs for a scrap of food? Of course, Arthur hadn’t seen any of that. But Chloe, safely tucked under his wing, smiled. If she hadn’t kept her head down, her grin would have reached her ears. I stood there, trembling and completely lost, not daring to speak, looking at furious Arthur with wide, terrified eyes. Liam frowned and tried to calm him down. “Arthur, Harper just got back today. Can’t we just have one peaceful family dinner?” Arthur forced his anger down, his disgust for me only growing deeper. Liam sighed helplessly and handed me a clean pair of chopsticks. “If you’re hungry, eat as much as you want.” I smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Liam.” Liam’s pupils contracted. Did his sister know how to smile? And could she smile this beautifully? Why hadn’t he seen it once in all these years? So… as long as he treated her a little better, she would smile this sweetly and call him her brother… For a split second, Liam felt something squeeze his heart. Arthur’s eyes flickered too, but it didn’t change his attitude toward me. 4 Just as I finished washing up and was about to get into bed, Chloe walked in. “Harper, I brought you some warm milk.” She walked in without knocking. I took it obediently. “Thank you.” Those two words had never, ever come out of my mouth when addressing her. Because every time she played nice, there was a trap waiting. Chloe froze for a second, then started laughing. “Wow, you really have become quite the obedient little dog.” The next second, her hand “slipped,” spilling the entire glass of milk all over my pajamas. “Oh no! Harper, why didn’t you hold it steady?” Her eyes gleamed maliciously, but I didn’t move an inch. She then picked up the only gifts my two brothers had ever given me—the year I first returned to the family—and threw them straight into the trash can. I still didn’t move. She looked around the room, her eyes finally landing on the framed photo on my desk. It was the only photo I had with my biological parents. This time, I moved. I grabbed her wrist. Chloe finally smiled triumphantly. With her other hand, she snatched the frame and smashed it violently onto the floor. My eyes burned with fury. “Ooh, are you mad? Hit me if you dare!” Naked, blatant provocation! As a psychiatric patient, the very first thing I learned was how to follow the rules. I raised my arm and slapped her across the face with everything I had. Chloe was completely stunned by the slap. It took her several seconds to start her performance. “Arthur! Liam! Help me!” Both brothers charged into the room instantly, pulling Chloe behind them, glaring at me like they wanted to kill me. “Harper! Have you lost your damn mind?!” I folded my hands obediently in front of me. “She told me to hit her.” Chloe covered her face, sobbing hysterically. “I just came in to bring her milk, and I saw her throwing the gifts you gave her into the trash! And then she tried to rip up the photo of Mom and Dad! I tried to stop her, and she just hit me… sob…” The gifts were in the trash. The photo was on the floor, the frame completely shattered. The evidence was irrefutable. I couldn’t deny it. “Harper, do you still hate us this much? Do you still hate the Sterling family? You being switched at birth wasn’t Mom and Dad’s fault, and it wasn’t the Sterling family’s fault…” Liam looked profoundly disappointed. Hate? Probably. I wandered the streets for ten years. My “adoptive” parents trained me to beg for money. When I got older, I ran with street kids, stealing food just to survive. Getting beaten half to death was a regular occurrence. I struggled to survive at the absolute bottom of society, living like a cockroach. But the Sterling family? They treated my replacement like an absolute princess. How could I not hate them? I hated them for not finding me sooner. I hated them for losing me. I hated that after losing me, they just went and adopted a replacement… I also hated that every time Chloe plotted against me, they never believed me. They always stood by her side. “If I had known you would turn out like this, I would have just let you get beaten to death on the streets!” Arthur finally said what was really on his mind. I looked up at him, my expression shifting back to eerily docile. “Chloe threw the gifts in the trash. Chloe smashed the photo…” “You…” If my brothers had beards, they would be bristling with rage right now. I pulled out my discharge certificate and showed it to them. “I swear on my honor as a certified psychiatric patient, I am not lying!” Psychiatric patient? My brothers’ pupils contracted. Liam quickly snatched the certificate from my hand, his fingers trembling. “This… this looks real…” I nodded. “Dr. Keller said that as psychiatric patients, we must be docile and obedient in the outside world if we want to survive.” Arthur glanced at the certificate and suddenly let out a cold scoff. Clearly, he didn’t believe me. “Docile? Obedient? Fine. Then pack your things and move out of this room right now. Let Chloe live here!” This room was the “princess suite” my parents had personally designed for me. My mom designed it, my dad oversaw the renovations. It was the cozy little sanctuary they built to welcome me back to the Sterling family. Chloe had tried to steal it countless times before, and I always fought her tooth and nail to keep it. But today… “Okay.” I nodded obediently and immediately started packing my meager belongings. Arthur, Liam, and even Chloe froze. They all knew this room was my absolute bottom line. When I actually walked out, Chloe looked thrilled. She could finally move into this room legitimately! But on the surface, she timidly tugged at Arthur’s sleeve. “Arthur, can I really stay here?” Arthur’s face looked a bit grim. “If she can live here, why can’t you?” Turning around, he clearly wasn’t done punishing me. He pointed to the tiny storage closet downstairs. “From now on, you sleep in there.” I nodded obediently again and cheerfully carried my blanket inside. Arthur’s arm froze mid-air before he could even put it down. He watched with a thunderous expression as I set up my blanket in the cramped, windowless space. I could feel his chest practically vibrating with rage. I was genuinely confused. Isn’t this what you wanted? Why are you so mad? Seeing me about to lie down and go to sleep, he spoke again: “Wait!” I stood perfectly still. The next second, the housekeeper brought in a bucket of ice water and dumped it directly onto my blanket. “Now you can sleep.” Arthur stared at me, his face devoid of emotion. He was absolutely certain I wouldn’t be able to tolerate this. He was waiting for me to snap and expose my “true” nature. Unfortunately for him, he was going to be disappointed. I lay down fully clothed in the soaking wet, freezing bed, and within minutes, I was snoring softly and sweetly. Arthur: !!! 5 When I woke up again, I was lying in a comfortable guest bedroom. Liam was sitting by my bed, muttering to himself, “How long has it been since she actually slept? She’s been asleep for ten hours straight…” Seeing my eyes open, he looked at me with deep concern. “Harper, are you really…” He couldn’t bring himself to say it, but I knew what he meant. “I am a psychiatric patient, but I’m not insecure about it at all.” Liam: … Arthur, of course, wasn’t going to believe me that easily. He tested me continuously for half a month. If he told me to go East, I absolutely wouldn’t dare look West. If he told me to eat rice, I absolutely wouldn’t dare touch the chicken. He even placed a fat, wriggling grub—my absolute biggest fear—directly onto my hand. I shook uncontrollably from terror, but I didn’t dare shake the bug off. Arthur’s face grew darker and darker. Finally, one day, he couldn’t hold back and asked Chloe, “Did you really do all those things?” Chloe had never faced this kind of questioning or grievance before. That very day, she sought out the housekeeper to scheme. “Doesn’t your son want to buy a bigger house?” “Get this done, and the money on this card is yours!” The housekeeper’s eyes gleamed with greed. Over the years, the money she had squeezed out of tormenting me was enough to buy her a house already! Highly motivated, the housekeeper snuck into my room that night and used her signature move—viciously pinching me awake. “Don’t make a sound!” I was very obedient. I didn’t make a sound. I just stared at her innocently with wide eyes. Perhaps my submissiveness gave her courage. The housekeeper let out a sinister chuckle. “Get up. Take your clothes off.” I obediently sat up, but I absolutely refused to take my clothes off. Dr. Keller always said: A girl must maintain her boundaries, no matter the circumstances. The housekeeper started getting angry. She pulled out a long sewing needle. “Do you remember how this feels? If you don’t take them off, I’ll stab you to death!” I tilted my head, recalling some very unpleasant memories. Once, I had a terrible fever. My brothers took Chloe on a ski trip and left me, burning up at 102 degrees, in the care of this housekeeper. I was too sick to get out of bed. For three days, she didn’t give me a single bite of food or a drop of water. I almost died of starvation and dehydration. In my feverish delirium, right as I was about to fall asleep, she would stab me with a needle… That time, I really almost died. When my brothers came back, I told them about her abuse. Arthur slapped me hard across the face. I found out later that while I was suffering in hell, the housekeeper had been calling them every single day, sobbing about how unreasonable I was, how I was physically abusing her, and even showing them fake injuries she made on her own arms… That was the day I realized my place in their hearts was lower than a hired servant’s. “Scared now? Are you going to listen?” The housekeeper’s fat face twisted into a grotesque sneer. Dr. Keller said that people at the bottom of the hierarchy, who are used to suppressing their true nature and acting submissive, become exceptionally vicious the second they get the chance to dominate someone else. Dr. Keller also said: There is no need to show mercy to vicious people. The next second, I grabbed her by the hair, smashed her head violently against the wall, grabbed the hand holding the needle, and plunged it deep into her own thigh. A pig-like squeal echoed through the entire mansion. “Shh, you can’t do that. Disturbing the peace means you get locked in the water dungeon…” But she didn’t seem to understand human language. I frowned, grabbed her by the hair, and dragged her out the door. My brothers were jolted awake and rushed downstairs. “H-Harper, what are you doing?!” Liam’s face went completely white with terror. “She’s too loud. She’s so loud I can’t sleep. Where’s my thirty-meter machete? I need to cut her tongue out.” A freezing chill shot straight from Liam’s feet to his scalp. He was absolutely terrified and frantically tried to stop me. “There’s no machete!” “Harper, how about I help you throw her outside? If we throw her out, she won’t be loud anymore!” I tilted my head. “Is that how it works?” Liam had to coax and plead to finally rescue the housekeeper’s head from my grip. He threw the housekeeper out the front door, and surprisingly, it really was quiet again! I went back to my room, got into bed, and went to sleep. Soon, the sound of my sweet, soft snoring drifted from the room. The remaining people stood there, staring at each other in shock. The entire mansion descended into a deathly, suffocating silence.

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The call came in the dead of night. My patron, asking me to deliver a box of ultra-thins. Staring at my rain-soaked clothes, the man’s voice was a low rasp. “Fuck,” he said. “Who told you to be so damn good?” I held the bag out to Pierce Knight, who was leaning against the doorframe. “The 0.01s you asked for.” When he took it, he deliberately brushed his calloused thumb over my knuckles, a predatory smile in his eyes. “She’s not here yet. Why don’t we break them in?” I froze for a second before he let out a low chuckle. “I’m kidding.” “I’ve set up a blind date for you next Wednesday. You’ve been with me for years, and I don’t want you to get the short end of the stick.” “You’ll go, won’t you?” 1 His tone was a question, but his eyes held a lazy, non-negotiable weight. This wasn’t about him not wanting me to get the short end of the stick. This was about his old flame coming back to the country. He wanted me gone, neatly disposed of, before she found out we ever existed. My fingers, already curled against my palm, tightened into a fist. I forced myself to look up, my voice carefully steady. “Just send me the address.” He caught the shift, the formal chill in my tone. His brow twitched, just for a second. Rainwater dripped from the ends of my hair onto my collarbone, and I shivered from the cold. “It’s late,” I stammered. “I should get going.” “Wait.” Pierce disappeared into the living room and returned with a Burberry shawl. He wrapped it snugly around me, leaving only my eyes, still damp with rain, visible. Flustered, I looked up to thank him and was caught in the sudden intensity of his gaze. His fingers were still resting on the collar of the shawl. His throat bobbed. “Don’t go tonight,” he said suddenly. I blinked, my response automatic. “But… isn’t someone else coming?” He cut me off before I could finish, his knuckles pressing against the top of my head, a raw, impatient edge to his voice. “You actually fucking believed that?” “In your mind, am I just some degenerate who sleeps around?” “In all these years, who’s been by my side but you?” Later, tangled in the sheets, as I was lost in a haze of pleasure, he leaned in and whispered in my ear. “This is the last time for us.” “Claire is coming back.” “I don’t want her to suspect anything, so be a good girl and go on that date.” The truth, finally. I sank my teeth into his shoulder, a silent scream of fury. 2 Pierce’s stamina was nothing short of superhuman. The saying that a man is over the hill after twenty-five was a complete lie when it came to him. The morning mist peeking through the curtains had turned a pale white before he finally ended his campaign and headed for the shower. As the water started running, I gathered my clothes from the floor and slipped into the guest bedroom. It was our unspoken rule. Pierce was a light sleeper and hated having anyone in his bed. So for five years, no matter how exhausted he left me, I would always use my last ounce of strength to drag myself to the guest room. The next day, I woke up well after nine. As I rushed downstairs after getting ready, I ran right into Pierce, fresh from his workout. He was wearing a white tank top that clung to the powerful, sleek lines of his shoulders and back. “I had Mrs. Gable save you some breakfast.” I waved my hands frantically. “I’m going to be late for work. I have to catch the subway.” Pierce raised an eyebrow. “I can just drive you, can’t I?” I was at the door, pulling on my shoes, the word tumbling out before I could stop it. “No.” “The results of my promotion are coming out today. If my colleagues see me getting out of the boss’s car, I’ll never be able to explain it.” Pierce’s hand, which had been twisting the cap off a water bottle, stilled. The air went silent for a beat. Then, he let out a short, dismissive laugh. “Suit yourself.” Just as I was leaving, he called my name and handed me a business card. “Your blind date for next week.” A buzzing filled my ears, yanking me back to reality. One night of passion, and I had almost forgotten. The whole reason I had agreed to bring him the damn condoms was to finally end our five-year-long, sordid affair. Afraid he’d think I was going to cling to him, I took the card. The sharp plastic corner dug into the soft flesh of my palm. My nose stung. “I’ll go,” I mumbled, my voice low. 3 For years, I had spent every weekend at Pierce’s house. At first, I used to lug huge bags filled with changes of clothes and countless bottles of skincare products. He found it a hassle and eventually had a vanity built for me, just to store my things. This time, as I left, I packed it all up. Everything. Including the pink slippers I always wore, and the silk nightgown in the closet. As I did this, Pierce just leaned against the doorframe and watched me, his expression unreadable, a murky swirl of emotions in his eyes. Not until I had cleared everything out and said my goodbyes did he speak. “From now on, we’re just colleagues.” He saw through my anxiety and let out a short, derisive laugh. “Relax. I’m not going to sabotage your career.” 4 I ran all the way to the office, barely making it to my desk before ten. My colleague, Becca, treated me to a rare coffee. “Stella, congratulations in advance! When you’re the department director, don’t forget your old comrades.” I smiled shyly. “The results aren’t out yet.” She scoffed. “Don’t be so modest. Of all the candidates, you’ve been here the longest and have the most successful projects under your belt.” “Besides, everyone’s seen how you’ve bled for this company over the years.” “You becoming director is what everyone wants.” I dropped the pretense and smiled at the rest of the team. “If I get it, I’m treating everyone to the most expensive sushi in the city!” Cheers erupted in the office. With three minutes to go, I refreshed my email countless times. I was so nervous I ran to the bathroom three times. Finally, I clicked open the new email. A line of bold, black text leaped out. 「We regret to inform you that your application for promotion has been unsuccessful…」 My mind went completely blank. My team members crowded around, and as they saw the result on my screen, the cheerful office fell deathly silent. The silence was broken by the Head of HR, who walked in with a smile, a woman trailing behind her. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to Claire. She has a master’s from abroad and has been personally appointed by Mr. Knight as the new Director of the Creative Department.” I looked up, and my breath caught in my throat. The woman was dressed in a sharp, tailored white suit, her long hair loosely tied back, revealing a slender, pale neck. She was the spitting image of the girl in the photo I had once seen tucked away in Pierce’s wallet. 5 It felt like coming down with a severe flu. My head was stuffed, my mind a complete blank. I was moving on autopilot, a heavy force pushing me forward. The walk to Pierce’s office wasn’t long, but I had to keep wiping away tears with the back of my hand. People were staring, but I was past caring about the embarrassment. I knocked. Pierce’s usual cool voice came from within. “Come in.” I stood there, my eyes red. The moment I spoke, the tears started falling again. “Why?” He didn’t even look up, his finger still tracing a line on a document. “Why what?” My voice rose, thick with an uncontrollable sense of betrayal. “There are so many other positions in the company. Why did you have to give Claire the one I was supposed to be promoted to?” Only then did Pierce look up from his papers, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather. “She wanted to be in the Creative Department.” “Just because she wanted to, you can just throw away five years of my hard work?” He knew. He knew that to get this promotion, I had taken the overseas assignment in Africa that no one else wanted. He knew I had caught malaria there and almost didn’t make it back. Pierce stood up and walked over to me, looking down at me from his towering height, his eyes cold and empty of any warmth. “Stella, this is reality.” “Because I’m in this position, I get to decide everything.” My voice trembled. “All I wanted was a fair chance. Is that so hard?” He let out a low laugh, as if I’d said something hilarious. “Fair?” “You want to talk to me about fairness?” “Stella, get one thing straight,” he said, leaning in, his breath a cold whisper against my face. “If you hadn’t slept with me…” “With your degree from a second-rate state school, you wouldn’t have even made it past the initial resume screening at this company.” “Why don’t you go ask all those Ivy League graduates who interviewed with you back then if they think that was fair?” “You didn’t seem to mind the perks of power then, so don’t come crying to me about fairness now.” His words were like a series of sharp slaps across my face, leaving my cheeks burning, my every breath a painful sting. And in that moment, I understood. Even though I had worked my ass off for five years, trying to prove myself, never once thinking of using my relationship with him to get ahead… I couldn’t change the fact that I had only gotten my foot in the door because of him. I had no right to talk about fairness. So, I decided to quit.

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Elias stole my brother’s girlfriend. My brother hugged my legs and wept hysterically for three days and three nights. I felt incredibly bad for him. To force Elias to give my brother his girlfriend back… I packed up my entire life savings and confronted him. “Um, could you please give Chloe back to my brother? He really, really likes her!” Elias looked at me with a half-smile. “Why should I?” I held up my purse triumphantly. “I brought money! You can have it all!” “This isn’t nearly enough. I want a million dollars.” I panicked. “But I don’t have a million dollars! Can you wait a little bit? I’ll go ask my brother for it.” He refused. “The offer is only good for today. If you don’t have the cash, there are other ways to pay off the debt.” My eyes lit up. “Like what?” He leaned in close. “Every time Hazel kisses me, it counts as a hundred dollars.” 1 Elias and I were childhood sweethearts. When I was little, my family lived in the countryside, right next door to Elias’s grandmother. My parents always said his grandmother lived all alone and was very lonely, so we needed to take good care of her. Later, her daughter moved back home, bringing her son with her. The three of us kids basically grew up together. Everyone loved Elias. Except my brother. My brother always felt like Elias was trying to steal me away from him, so he absolutely despised him. That hatred persisted from our childhood all the way to the present day. Lately, my brother hated Elias even more. Because his girlfriend had recently broken up with him. He racked his brain, investigated everywhere, and finally discovered she had been in close contact with Elias. The two of them frequently chatted late into the night, often for hours at a time. My brother was a sobbing mess. He clung to me and wailed, “Elias is a manipulative snake! I’ll hate him for the rest of my life!” He cried so tragically. I realized I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I went to the bank, withdrew my cash, stuffed it into my purse, gathered my courage, and went to find Elias. My brother always said Elias was a ruthless businessman driven entirely by profit. I figured I had to offer him enough compensation to make him stop seducing Chloe. I counted the money in my purse. I had a full fifty thousand dollars! This was my life savings! I had been saving this for twenty years! New Year’s money from my parents, allowance from my brother, and even the red envelopes Elias had given me over the years—it was all in there. Clutching my life savings, I set out on my mission. 2 I guarded my purse with my life all the way to his hotel room. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door. Elias had apparently just finished showering. He answered the door wearing only a towel wrapped low around his waist, rubbing his dripping wet hair with a smaller towel. A drop of water fell from his hair, tracing a slow, trembling path down his collarbone… Over his chest, down his abs, past his V-line… And then… Just as I leaned in to get a better look, he reached out and aggressively ruffled my hair. “Hazel, where are you looking?” I frantically denied it. “I wasn’t looking anywhere!” He grabbed my hand. “Do you want a closer look?” Seeing him reach for the towel, I shook my head wildly. “No, no, no! I’m here on business!” Elias looked genuinely disappointed. He took my hand and led me into the room. He pulled me down onto the sofa with him and handed me the hairdryer. “Dry my hair first?” I sat on his lap, straightening up to blow-dry his hair. He wrapped his arms around my waist, shifting his position to accommodate the angle of the hairdryer. I was basically a pro at this; I’d dried his hair countless times! Over the buzzing of the hairdryer, Elias asked, “Why did my baby come looking for me so late tonight?” His hair was short, so on the highest setting, it dried quickly. I turned off the hairdryer and put on my most serious face. “Why did you steal Chloe?” Elias tilted his head, confused. “Chloe?” “Chloe Vance! She’s my brother’s girlfriend! She broke up with him a few days ago, and my brother says it’s all your fault!” He had literally cried at me for three days and three nights. Every day when he came home, he just sobbed and cursed Elias. My ears were practically bleeding from hearing it! I decided things couldn’t go on like this. As a good little sister, I had to step up and help my brother. Elias gently nibbled on my earlobe, murmuring indistinctly, “Baby, all I did was analyze the pros and cons for Chloe.” Aha! So it was his fault! I glared at him fiercely. “It’s all your fault for stealing Chloe!” My ear felt wet. He was so annoying! I was trying to have a serious conversation with him; why was he acting like this?! “What does my baby want me to do?” “Give Chloe back to my brother!” He tilted his head back, his dark, wet eyes gleaming with amusement. “Why should I?” I looked around frantically, then pointed at my purse on the side table. “My purse!” I unzipped it. “I brought money! You can have it all! If you just give Chloe back to my brother, it’s yours!” He glanced at it casually. “How much is in there?” I puffed out my chest proudly. “Fifty thousand! It’s my entire life savings!” Elias pinched my cheek playfully. “Hazel is so amazing, saving up fifty thousand.” Before I could even celebrate the compliment, he shifted gears. “Fifty thousand isn’t enough.” I froze. “Then how much do you want?” Elias smiled lazily. “A million.” I completely forgot Elias was ridiculously rich. No wonder he wasn’t impressed by my fifty thousand. My head drooped. “I don’t have a million.” But my brother does! I’ll go borrow it from him! My mood instantly brightened. I looked at him with big, pleading eyes. “Can you wait two days? I’ll get it to you in two days.” He rejected the offer. “I’m only agreeing to this today. If you wait until tomorrow, the price goes up to five million.” Five million! That’s way too much! My brother definitely wouldn’t give me that much. I completely deflated, wilting like a dying flower. Elias comforted me. “There are other ways to pay off the debt.” I asked blankly, “Like what?” Elias leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear. “Hazel… give yourself to me.” 3 “Ugh, it hurts…” “Elias, be gentle…” I glared at him with tear-filled eyes. He tried to be lighter, but it still stung. I whimpered, “Ow!” He sighed helplessly. “Dummy, who told you to run?” I was sitting on the edge of the bed with my knees pulled up. Elias was half-kneeling on the floor in front of me, applying ointment to my scraped knees. I had run too fast earlier and wiped out completely! How could he blame me for running? It was his fault for saying such weird things! He actually said he wanted me! Of course I was going to run! What if he dismantled me and sold me for parts?! Paying off a debt with your own body is a terrifying concept! I had heard so many horror stories about debtors being lured out and having their organs harvested to be sold on the black market! It was horrifying! I absolutely refused to give myself to him to settle a debt. How was I supposed to know the hallway floor had just been mopped and was incredibly slippery? I was running so fast, I took a massive, epic spill. My knees were completely bruised. Hearing the commotion, Elias had rushed out. When he saw me, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. “Elias…” Looking completely heartbroken, he bent down and scooped me up. “How did you fall?” I sobbed, “It’s your fault for scaring me.” He carried me back to the hotel bed and ordered room service to bring up a first-aid kit. My knees were scraped raw and hurt so, so much. He used a cotton swab dipped in iodine to disinfect the cuts. Elias was so clumsy at it; it hurt like crazy. To keep the hem of my dress from brushing against the wounds, I pulled it up a little higher. I poked his shoulder. “Hurry up and put the medicine on!” His gaze slowly drifted upward. The next second, his large hand clamped down firmly on my bare thigh. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he said hoarsely, “Hazel, hold still.” I obediently waited for him to finish. Once my knees were covered in iodine, I inspected his work. Yep, all done! “Done!” I gave Elias a light push. “Let go of my leg, I need to go home.” His fingertips lightly brushed the edge of my dress. He said in a low, raspy voice, “Hazel hasn’t achieved her goal for coming here today yet.” Oh, right! He still hadn’t agreed to give Chloe back to my brother! I frowned in frustration. “But I really don’t have a million dollars.” “Then kiss me. Each kiss counts as a hundred dollars.” I grew even more frustrated. “A hundred dollars a kiss means I have to kiss you ten thousand times to reach a million!” My lips would literally fall off! Unless he raised his rates, I was absolutely not kissing him! Elias nodded in agreement, then asked for my input: “Should we try a different payment plan?” I looked at him expectantly. “Like what?” “Let me kiss you. One kiss counts as a thousand.” When he kisses me, it usually takes at least ten minutes. A thousand kisses means… a thousand times! By the time he finished, my brother would have literally cried himself to death. Seeming to sense my intense dissatisfaction. Elias proposed another solution. His fingertips began trailing slowly upward. I wasn’t entirely sure what he was trying to do. I gripped the bedsheets tightly. “Elias…” His Adam’s apple jumped as he gently pressed against the fabric. “Baby, let me kiss you, and I’ll make sure Chloe goes back to your brother.” Is he allowed to kiss me there…? I clung to a shred of rationality. “No, only boyfriends are allowed to do that.” He leaned in closer. “Baby, aren’t I your boyfriend?” My brain felt completely foggy. “Huh? Are you?” He nodded seriously. “Yes. You promised Grandma you’d be my wife.” “But wasn’t that just to make Grandma happy?” “Baby, I took it very seriously.” He meticulously laid out his logic. “Plus, if I’m your boyfriend, I won’t steal Chloe anymore.” He made a very solid point. I hesitated, then conceded, “Okay, I give you permission to be my boyfriend.” He smiled, looking incredibly satisfied. “So good.” I was also incredibly satisfied. “Problem solved!” I scrambled off the bed, ready to head home. Elias grabbed my leg and yanked me right back onto the mattress. I looked at him, utterly confused. “What’s wrong?” His voice was dark and low. “Baby, you haven’t let me kiss you yet. You can’t break a promise.” But… but… Elias was relentlessly stubborn, insisting I cash in my end of the bargain immediately. I bit my lip, agonizing over it. “Only one kiss, okay?” 4 Bzzzt—Bzzzt— Bzzzt—Bzzzt— My phone had been tossed somewhere near the headboard. I begged him, “The phone.” Elias’s heavy breathing was right next to my ear. He reached over, grabbed the phone, and handed it to me. With trembling fingers, I swiped to answer. My brother’s voice came through the speaker. “Hazel, where are you?” “I… I’m at…” I absolutely could not tell my brother I was with Elias. He hated Elias right now. If he knew, he would definitely yell at me. “Ah… I’m cooking! Yes, I’m cooking dinner!” My brother didn’t suspect a thing. “What bizarre concoction are you trying to make now? If I had known, I would have bought you an apartment without a kitchen so you’d stop wasting good food.” “Me? Ah, I’m not wasting food.” My brother scoffed. “Right, sure. You’re not wasting food, you’re just wasting medical resources. You’re the only person I know who managed to cook themselves straight into the ER.” His tone turned serious. “If whatever you make looks weird, do not eat it. If you give yourself food poisoning again, I am not covering for you with Mom and Dad.” I nodded frantically, though he couldn’t see me. “Uh-huh.” Maybe my responses were too distracted, because he suddenly grew suspicious. “Hazel, why are you being so quiet today?” “I’m busy…” Thankfully, my brother was just making casual conversation. He moved on to the real reason he called. “Hazel, could you ask Chloe if she’s free tomorrow for me?” My brother and Chloe had always had a great relationship. Her sudden, out-of-the-blue breakup had absolutely devastated him. Chloe and I were still on good terms. Right now, I was the only person who could act as a bridge between them. “Okay.” As soon as I agreed, I gasped and paused. My brother instantly caught the anomaly. “Hazel, what’s wrong?” “…I bumped my head.” “Be careful. You’re a grown adult, how are you still so clumsy?” [He wanted to keep fussing over me, but I aggressively cut the conversation short.] “Brother, I need to get back to cooking. My kettle is boiling, I have to go pour the water!” “Alright, go do your thing. Just don’t forget to ask Chloe for me.” The line went dead. Confirming the call was disconnected, I burst into tears. “I’m going to saw your nose off!”

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We were out watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks when my son ran straight up to a police officer and demanded a hug. The problem was, the officer he was hugging… was my ex-boyfriend. My instinct was to turn and run, but then I heard this little kid drop an absolute bomb: “Mommy! I found Daddy!” 01 On New Year’s Eve, I took Leo out to see the fireworks. I took my eyes off him for one second, and the little guy vanished. Cold sweat instantly broke out on my forehead. I frantically searched through the massive, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. I screamed, “Leo! Leo!” Just as I was panicking enough to start looking for a cop, my eyes caught something. I saw Leo’s tiny little body desperately tugging at the utility belt of a tall police officer. He kept chanting, “Mister! Mister, hold me!” The man had a sharp, cold jawline and devastatingly handsome features. Standing tall in his uniform, he was incredibly striking, commanding attention even in the dense crowd. He looked down at the little dumpling tugging at him, and the corner of his mouth unconsciously curled into a gentle smile. He crouched down, smoothly hoisted Leo up, and set him securely on his broad shoulders, holding him tight. He even asked softly, “Can you see better now, buddy?” This picture-perfect scene of a handsome officer protecting a child immediately drew the crowd’s attention. Several people pulled out their phones, snapping pictures of the heartwarming moment. Amidst the noise and cheering, I was the only one standing completely frozen in place. Someone next to me nudged my arm. “Is that your kid? Why aren’t you going over to get him?” I opened my mouth, but I had absolutely no idea what to say. The kid was definitely mine. But the man used to be mine, too. Wait, scratch that. He was mine. 02 I hesitated, unsure of how to approach them. After all, I was the one who dumped Arthur. After three years of dating, I didn’t even give him a reason. I just sent a single text: [I don’t think this is working out anymore. Let’s break up.] Arthur called me relentlessly and sent countless messages. I blocked every single one. I ruthlessly left the city, thinking I would never cross paths with him again for the rest of my life. I never expected that during a brief trip back to my hometown to visit some graves with Leo… I’d run straight into him. Looking at his increasingly mature, handsome face, the years had only added a sharper, harder edge to his features. I suddenly remembered the final message he ever sent me. Having given up on desperately begging, his tone was freezing cold: [Mia, for the rest of your life, you better pray you never cross my path!] [Because if you do, I will destroy you!] His personality had always been tough and uncompromising. He was a regional taekwondo and kickboxing champion—a fact he had… well… demonstrated during our relationship. I fully believed he could destroy me. So for all the years since I left him, I didn’t even dare to double-park my car. I lived in constant fear that the cop writing the ticket would turn out to be him. I hesitated for a long time. I watched my kid excitedly pulling Arthur’s hair and rubbing his dirty face all over Arthur’s uniform, leaving a massive dark smudge on the pristine navy-blue collar. I decided it was safer to stay hidden. I figured I’d just keep a close eye on Leo. Once the fireworks were over and he got down, I’d secretly follow him, grab him, and run home. But I never anticipated that right as the countdown to the fireworks began, the little guy would suddenly start twisting his head around, scanning the crowd. The second he spotted me, his huge eyes lit up like floodlights. I panicked. I was just about to mouth the words: “Don’t yell! Mommy will come get you in a minute!” But he excitedly smacked Arthur’s handsome face and screamed at the top of his lungs: “Daddy! My Mommy is right there!” 03 Me: … Arthur: ? Amidst the absolute chaos, only Leo looked incredibly proud, raising his chin triumphantly. He shot me a sly, expectant look, clearly saying: “Mommy, I did a great job, right?” 04 Okay, fine. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have spent late nights crying over old photos of Arthur and me. And I definitely shouldn’t have answered Leo when he pointed at the screen and asked, “Mommy, who is that?” I boldly declared: “That’s the person Mommy loves.” But my absolute, catastrophic mistake was… When he asked, “What does ‘the person you love’ mean?” I gave him a highly inappropriate explanation: “It means the person Mommy loves exactly like how a mommy is supposed to love a daddy.” So, his toddler brain connected the dots: Daddy, Mommy, and Love. He also understood that Mommies and Daddies were supposed to be together. Therefore, he firmly concluded that Arthur was his biological father. Under Arthur’s scrutinizing, deeply shocked gaze, the little guy extended his short, chubby arms toward me, waving frantically. “Mommy! Come here! We’re supposed to be together!” Me: … I genuinely did not want to move. Because the look in Arthur’s eyes felt like he was about to eat me alive. Not to mention the crowd around him, who were practically vibrating with excitement. “Oh, they’re a family! No wonder they looked so perfect together.” “Exactly! The dad is gorgeous, the mom is beautiful, and they have such an adorable kid. What a happy family.” “Don’t be shy, young lady, go to your husband!” My face was burning red. I shook my head frantically. But Leo burst into loud, heartbroken wails, hiccuping pitifully. “Mommy… Mommy, come here…” Oh god. Son, doing this makes me look like I’m committing child abuse. Finally, Arthur couldn’t stand it anymore. With his long legs, he slowly strode through the parting crowd until he was standing right in front of me. His signature scent—a mix of crisp mint and the lavender detergent he always loved—wafted over me, absolutely undeniable. A flood of familiar memories rushed to the surface of my mind. “Arthur, you sweat so much every day! Use this detergent, it smells so, so good!” The man gave a faint smirk, reached out his long arm, and pulled me flush against his chest. “Not as good as you.” My face flushed scarlet, and I struggled playfully, tugging on his ear. “Ahhh! Officer Arthur, how are you so smooth?! Do all the girls chasing you know this?” He laughed, pressing an incredibly tender kiss to my lips. “I’m only like this with you, Ms. Mia.” The memories slowly settled. I looked up at the man standing before me, who was significantly taller than I was. As the fireworks bloomed overhead, illuminating the moment our eyes met, I heard his deep, low voice. “Long time no see, Mia.” I forced a strained smile. I was just about to offer a polite greeting when I heard a furious, gritted question: “Is this kid mine?” 05 Obviously not. The kid was over five years old. We broke up exactly three years ago. The math simply didn’t add up. Arthur clearly realized this too, and his handsome face turned even darker. He gripped Leo’s chubby little legs tightly to make sure he didn’t fall off his shoulders. But the veins bulging on the back of his hands made it glaringly obvious just how furious he was. My heart was hammering in my chest. I watched the rest of the fireworks display in sheer terror. Just as I was about to grab the kid and make a run for it, a group of his fellow officers swarmed us. “Bro, is this the sister-in-law you never stop talking about?” “Yeah, yeah! It’s her! She’s the lock screen on your phone!” Me: ? Arthur, who had been pursued by countless girls his entire life and was basically a legendary catch, actually kept a photo of me this whole time? And made it his lock screen? My heart gave a sudden, violent lurch. I couldn’t help but look at the man beside me. His jaw was clenched tight. He barked coldly: “Shut up!” “Fall in line! Get back to your posts!” The officers quickly scattered. But Leo still refused to let go of Arthur. His massive eyes filled with tears, and he asked pitifully, “Daddy, where are you going?” I panicked and tried to forcefully pull Leo away. But the kid was clinging to Arthur like a koala. Arthur furrowed his brow, a flicker of genuine tenderness crossing his eyes. Ultimately, he crouched down, opening his mouth as if to say something. Leo’s lower lip quivered. Looking devastatingly sad, tears immediately spilled down his cheeks. “Daddy, Leo wants to go home with you!” “Are you throwing Leo away again?!” The heartache in Arthur’s eyes instantly spilled over. Before I could even try to stop him, he scooped Leo up into his arms. His voice was deep and heavy. “Let’s go. Daddy’s taking you home.” Me: ? Huh? 06 The little guy seemed to genuinely adore Arthur. Even after we got into the police cruiser, his tiny hand kept a death grip on the corner of Arthur’s uniform shirt. Arthur had no choice but to speak softly, coaxing him to sleep. It was actually bizarre. Ever since he turned two, the kid had been a nightmare at bedtime. Normally, he wouldn’t close his eyes before 2 AM. But Arthur only had to murmur a few soothing words, and Leo immediately closed his eyes, falling into a deep, peaceful sleep nestled against his chest. Me: ? Son, acting like this makes your mother look completely useless. Arthur handed the sleeping child back to me and climbed into the driver’s seat. “Where to?” “Xing’an Apartments.” Arthur started the engine and let out a cold, sharp scoff. I suddenly realized why. When we broke up, Arthur said he was going to come find me. I told him I had moved. I told him he would never find me! The reality was… not only did I not move, I had been living right next door to his precinct this entire time. This is so awkward. I offered a sheepish smile, desperately trying to think of something to say to praise this dedicated public servant for driving me home. Suddenly, he asked coldly: “Where’s the kid’s father?” “Did you get a divorce?” Me: ? Bro, we broke up three years ago. How is it biologically possible for me to have a five-year-old son? In the dark cabin of the cruiser, a flash of deep sorrow crossed Arthur’s sharp profile. He said chillingly, “You met him while I was studying for the civil service exam, didn’t you.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. During our second year of dating, Arthur was completely consumed by studying for his police exams, while I was preparing to apply for grad school overseas. We were long-distance and rarely saw each other. So… Arthur actually thought I had cheated on him during that time? I felt a flare of irritation and leaned back against the seat. “Arthur, I can’t believe you think I cheated on you! “I am so incredibly hurt!” My tone was bright and teasing, exactly how I used to talk to him when we were deeply in love. Arthur stiffened violently and turned to look at me. A fleeting look of desperate hope flashed in his eyes: “So… this child… “Whose is he?” 07 Me: “Well, he’s definitely not yours.” Arthur: … 08 I really wasn’t lying. The kid was actually my brother’s. But my brother wasn’t my biological brother. I was an orphan, my parents having passed away when I was very young. When I was 14, my brother, who had come to my rural village to invest in a tourism project, adopted me. He took me out of the village, paid for my education, and was even preparing to send me overseas for my master’s degree. Everything was perfect. He married his high school sweetheart, and my sister-in-law treated me wonderfully. My original plan was to bring Arthur home to meet them before I left for grad school. But then— My brother and sister-in-law were in a horrific car accident while on vacation. They both died, leaving behind their two-year-old son, Leo. I looked down at the child sleeping soundly, completely innocent and carefree in my arms. I remembered my sister-in-law’s dying wish. “Mia… don’t let him… become an orphan. From now on… you are his mother.” The memory rushed back, suffocating me. I looked at the man sitting next to me—handsome, radiating integrity, with a brilliant future ahead of him. I swallowed all the words I wanted to say. Arthur seemed to sense my withdrawal and got angry. He turned his face away, refusing to look at me. “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t care about your business. “I was just asking.” 09 I nodded, saying quietly: “Yeah. I know.” Arthur had been a “school heartthrob” his entire life, and now he had such a respected, honorable career. There were probably countless girls lining up for him. How could he possibly still care about me? My eyes caught the name lighting up his phone screen: [Lindsay.] A girl’s name. Wait, why does that name sound like his younger sister? As I was silently questioning it, Arthur hung up the call and flipped his phone face down. He shot me a glance and said flatly, “With you here, it’s inconvenient.” True. When your ex-girlfriend and your current girlfriend collide, it’s obviously going to be inconvenient. Just then, the car pulled up to Xing’an Apartments. I hurriedly grabbed Leo and stepped out, constantly repeating my thanks: “Thank you… Thank you…” But with a heavy child in my arms, I couldn’t get the car door open. Arthur got out, walked around, and pulled my door open. I lost my balance and stumbled forward, falling straight into his chest. To make sure Leo didn’t get squished, I instinctively twisted my body, but my head crashed uncontrollably against Arthur. My soft lips grazed the exposed skin of his neck. A reflexively soft murmur escaped my lips: “Thank you… Officer Arthur.” This posture, this exact tone of voice. It was exactly how I used to beg for mercy when Arthur had me pinned to the bed, playfully teasing and tormenting me. Arthur’s entire body went rigidly stiff. His ears instantly flushed crimson. The red rapidly spread all the way to his cheeks. He steadied me and let out two incredibly unnatural, forced coughs. “You. Stand up straight. “Stop trying to seduce me. I have no interest in you.” Me: … He was exactly the same as before. Serious and stoic, but with a hidden layer of arrogant, introverted vanity. “I know.” After solemnly thanking Arthur again, I carried Leo toward my building. But I never expected to run into a group of unwelcome guests right at the entrance. 10 “Give us the kid back!” It was my sister-in-law’s adoptive parents. Ever since my brother and sister-in-law died, they had come knocking multiple times. But it wasn’t because they wanted the child back. It was because they wanted to monopolize the massive life insurance payout my brother and sister-in-law left behind. I had witnessed with my own eyes how they abused Leo in the past, which is exactly why my sister-in-law desperately pleaded with me on her deathbed: “Please, never let Leo fall into their hands.” Right now, I held the child tightly against me, covering his ears, and snapped: “He is my child! Who are you people? Get lost!” Mr. and Mrs. Zhang refused to leave. “Bullshit! Leo is my daughter’s kid! You’re an unmarried girl with no kids of your own, what gives you the right to raise him? “Give him back!” They lunged forward to rip the child from my arms. Leo was terrified and burst into tears. He clung desperately to my neck, screaming for his mother. I shielded him with one arm and used the other to shove the two elderly people away. They started screaming at the top of their lungs: “Everyone, come look! This girl is kidnapping a child! “She doesn’t even have a husband, but claims the kid is hers! Come look at this!” Several residents came out of their apartments to watch the commotion, pointing and whispering at me. “I know her. Isn’t that the Chen family’s daughter? She’s not even married, where did she get a fatherless kid?” “Maybe the kid belongs to her dead brother, and she’s trying to keep him to steal the inheritance…” Dead. Brother. Seeing Leo’s massive eyes darting around nervously. I clamped my hands tighter over his ears. “Stop talking nonsense! Get the hell out of here!” Leo realized the danger I was in. Ignoring what the people were saying, he screamed: “Leo has a Daddy! “Leo’s Daddy is right there!” Leo pointed his chubby little finger straight ahead. In the dim light of the corridor, Arthur suddenly appeared. The sickly yellow hallway light cast deep, unreadable shadows across his sharp, severe features. I couldn’t read his expression. I could only feel the violent trembling of Leo’s tiny hands clutching mine. Silently, a wave of intense anxiety washed over me. After all, we had been broken up for years. He had always been raised with strict discipline. He absolutely despised getting involved in messy, chaotic drama like this. Humoring Leo’s little game earlier tonight was already completely out of character. There was no way he would publicly acknowledge being this “son’s” father. … My mind was a chaotic mess. Just as the old couple lunged forward to grab the kid again— A deep, resonant voice echoed from the doorway, carrying an involuntary, undeniable warmth. “Son, come here. “Daddy’s got you.”

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The A-list movie star who happens to be my boyfriend is playing the lead in the film adaptation of my novel. He’s the one who secured the financing, handpicked the crew, and burned through every favor he had to ensure this movie would be his magnum opus. But on the first day of filming, he ignored the entire production team’s protests. He fired the A-list lead actress and replaced her with a total nobody—a girl who had just stepped off a bus from some small town. That night, the new starlet posted a sprawling manifesto on Instagram: “I have no family connections, no luck, and even the author of the original book couldn’t see my potential. Only Chase saw me—shivering and half-drowned in the gutters of this industry—and pulled me out. Thank you for believing in me. And thank you for the canary diamond necklace—the first real piece of jewelry I’ve ever owned.” Chase Montgomery’s public reply was three words long: “You’re worth it.” The internet went into a shipping frenzy. Immediately, the vitriol shifted toward me. “Who does this hack writer think she is? She’s just some shut-in who types in a cramped apartment. What does she know about star power or beauty? No wonder she couldn’t see Tiffany’s potential.” “The book wasn’t even that good. It’s only a hit because Chase is carrying it. This author just got lucky—a blind squirrel finding a nut.” I stared at the screen, feeling a jagged rip open in my chest. Seven years of waiting, of building a life with him, and in one heartbeat, I finally let go. 1 Midnight hit. Chase missed my birthday. Again. Thirty minutes later, the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed through the foyer. My eyes drifted toward the door as he tossed his designer coat onto the rack without a word. When his gaze snagged on the small, untouched cake on the dining table, his brow furrowed with a flicker of irritation. “I was busy today, June. Birthdays happen every year. Missing one isn’t the end of the world.” He pulled out his phone, his thumb tapping the screen with practiced indifference. “I just Venmoed you five thousand. Buy yourself whatever you want.” A bitter sting rose in my throat, my eyes heating up. Always the same line. Always the same price tag on my feelings. Yesterday’s headlines were still burned into my brain: Chase Montgomery Drops Multi-Million Dollar Endorsement to Make Time for Dinner with Tiffany Blaire. If this had been a month ago, I would have screamed. I would have demanded to know why she was worth a multi-million dollar sacrifice while I wasn’t worth a single night off. Now, my voice was just cold. “You’re right. A birthday isn’t a big deal. And neither is this relationship. We’re done.” Chase froze for a half-second, the words seemingly failing to register. “What is that supposed to mean?” “Is this because I forgot a gift? I literally just gave you the money, June.” He let out a sharp, condescending exhale. “Fine. If you want to throw a tantrum, throw it. But don’t expect me to come crawling back this time.” A ghost of a smile touched my lips. When had he ever crawled? Every time we fought over Tiffany, I was the one who smoothed things over. I was the one who apologized for being “insecure.” Not this time. I stood up, picked up the cake, and dumped it into the trash can. I didn’t look back as I walked toward the bedroom. Behind me, I heard him dial a number. His voice was loud, intentionally loud. “Does anyone suspect anything about me and Tiffany? Fine. Put out a statement. Call her my ‘rumored girlfriend.’ We need the buzz for the movie anyway.” “Don’t worry,” he added, his voice dropping into a dismissive mumble. “She won’t make a scene.” The ‘she’ was me. A single tear escaped, hot and trailing down to my lip. It tasted like salt and regret. He used to tell me, “You’re the only girl for me, June. One day, I’m going to stand in front of the whole world and hold your hand so firmly no one will ever doubt it.” Now, he was announcing his love for someone else to the world, and I was just the ghost in his apartment. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my mother. “That arrangement you mentioned? The one with the family friend? I’m in. When do we start?” 2 The next morning, the sound of my suitcase wheels clicking against the hardwood floor filled the silent apartment. Chase was in the kitchen, a cup of espresso in his hand. He went still, his eyes narrowing at the luggage. “Where are you going?” I didn’t meet his gaze. “To a hotel for a few days.” He studied me, looking for a crack in my resolve, then let out a low, mocking scoff. “June, come on. You’re really doing this? You’re jealous because I’m filming with Tiffany?” “I’ve told you a thousand times, she’s just a co-star. You’re the girlfriend. Stop making up scenarios in your head.” He stood up slowly, reaching out to grab my arm, but I pivoted away. His hand hung in the air, empty, and his face instantly darkened. “You think you’re being tough? If you walk out that door today, don’t you dare think about coming back.” I didn’t answer. I turned the deadbolt, pulled the handle, and walked out without a second glance. A loud crash echoed behind me—the sound of a glass shattering against the floor. I didn’t stop walking. By the time I’d hailed a car, checked into a hotel, and unpacked, it was late afternoon. My phone buzzed. It was a text from the director of the film. Tonight was the wrap party for the first week of shooting, a massive celebration because the buzz was already breaking records. He’d invited me as the author. He was an old friend of my mother’s; I couldn’t say no. As I reached the door of the private lounge at the Soho House, a roar of laughter erupted from inside. “Chase and Tiffany were together back in college! They were each other’s first loves!” My hand froze on the door handle. College? Chase had always told me about a girl from his university days—the one who broke his heart, the one he could never quite get over. That girl was Tiffany Blaire? Chase and I grew up together in a group home. When I was seventeen, my mother—who had been searching for me for a decade—finally found me and brought me back into a world of wealth and privilege. When I reconnected with Chase years later, he was a struggling actor. I didn’t tell him who my mother was. I wanted him to love me, not my inheritance. Inside the room, Tiffany gave a performative pout. “Oh, stop it, you guys! Chase has a girlfriend. What if she hears you and gets the wrong idea?” The room erupted in even louder laughter. “Chase doesn’t have a girlfriend, Tiff! We’ve all seen it for months—his heart is clearly taken.” “I even heard Chase personally demanded Tiffany for the lead role. He wouldn’t take no for an answer!” I stood paralyzed. When my mother had passed my manuscript to the director, he’d loved it instantly. As for Tiffany… she was the polar opposite of how I’d written the protagonist. I’d assumed the director had made a casting choice based on some industry trend. It wasn’t the director. It was Chase. I looked through the crack in the door. He was looking at Tiffany with a soft, indulgent smile. He didn’t deny a word of it. Tiffany’s eyes swept the room and landed right on me. “Oh my gosh, who’s that at the door? For a second, I thought a stalker had broken in. You scared me!” Chase’s brow furrowed when he saw me. He hesitated for two painful seconds before looking back at Tiffany. “Just an old acquaintance. She probably saw me through the window and wanted to say hi.” Tiffany’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk. She raised her voice so the whole room could hear. “Oh! I remember her now! I’ve seen her before.” “That day Chase drove halfway across the city just to get me that specific iced matcha? She was standing under a tree across from the shop, just… staring at us for the longest time.” “Her eyes were red like a rabbit’s. I thought she was going to burst into tears. Why? Are you a fan of Chase or something?” A young assistant with a messy bun piped up, “Wait, I remember too!” “That was the day Tiffany got a little upset because she thought Chase was being followed. Chase later explained it was just some girl he knew from the foster system. Said she was a mess—apparently, she’d been caught trying to sleep with her teachers back in middle school just to get better grades.” Another crew member shook his head, looking at me with pure disgust. “She looks so plain and innocent. Who knew she was such a cliché? No wonder she’s here trying to sink her claws into a star like Chase.” The room went quiet for a few beats, every gaze on me heavy with unshielded contempt. 3 I felt like I was made of glass, ready to shatter. My mind raced back to eighth grade. My homeroom teacher had lured me to his house under the guise of extra tutoring. It was Chase who had sensed something was wrong. He was the one who kicked the door down and pulled me out before anything could happen. But afterward, the rumors spread like wildfire. They said I’d seduced him. They said I was “fast.” I looked at Chase, my heart screaming. He knew. He had seen me shaking, huddled in the corner of that teacher’s living room, unable to breathe. He jerked his gaze away, staring at the floor, unable to meet my eyes. Tiffany walked over to me, her movements feline and graceful. She reached out and took my hand with a sickeningly sweet touch. “Don’t be mad at Chase,” she whispered, her voice loud enough for the people nearby. “I totally misunderstood who you were to him back then, so he had to tell me the truth to calm me down. I didn’t realize people would start gossiping.” “Chase is just like that. He can’t stand to see me upset.” I pulled my hand back, my voice remarkably steady despite the roar in my ears. “My eyes were just irritated that day. I wasn’t crying.” “And as for Chase? We’re just old acquaintances. You don’t need to worry about me.” Chase’s mouth opened, a protest dying on his lips. But Tiffany was faster. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back toward the center of the party. I left immediately. I couldn’t be in that airless room for another second. Fast footsteps echoed behind me. Chase caught up to me in the hallway. When he saw the shimmer in my eyes, a flash of genuine guilt crossed his face. “June, look. I’ve told you—this is all for the brand. If it weren’t for the movie, I would have gone public with us ages ago.” “And about that story… if you hadn’t been standing there staring at us like a ghost, people wouldn’t have asked questions. I had to say something to protect Tiffany’s reputation.” I let out a hollow laugh. He’d forgotten. He’d forgotten that I’d texted him that day, telling him I was nearby and asking if he wanted to grab a coffee. He never replied. When I saw him, he was handing a drink to Tiffany, laughing at something she said. I’d texted him again while standing under that tree. He’d glanced at his phone and typed back: “In a meeting. No time. Go home.” I didn’t want to argue anymore. I started walking. Chase moved to follow me, but his phone chirped. He checked it, and his expression softened instantly. “Tiffany? Don’t worry, I’m coming right back.” He looked at me, hesitating for a heartbeat, then turned and ran back toward the party. The next morning, a headline exploded across the tabloids: “Chase Montgomery’s Secret Girlfriend Exposed—and It’s NOT Tiffany Blaire!” The photo was from years ago—a grainy shot of me and Chase eating at a dive bar when he’d just booked his first commercial. The second headline followed minutes later: “Tiffany Blaire Seen Crying in Her Trailer: ‘I Won’t Stand in the Way of True Love.’” I checked my phone. Over a hundred missed calls from Chase. The second I picked up, his voice slammed into me, raw with rage. “June! Have you lost your mind? Are you so desperate for a title that you’d leak old photos to ruin my career?” “The studio is breathing down my neck, telling me I can’t be seen with Tiffany anymore. Is this what you wanted? Are you happy now?” I gripped the phone, my heart sinking into my stomach. I hung up. I didn’t have the energy to explain that I hadn’t leaked anything. When it came to Tiffany, he never believed me anyway. A moment later, Chase’s official statement hit Twitter. “I have a purely platonic history with Ms. June Porter. I helped her out years ago because I felt sorry for her situation, but lately, her behavior has become obsessive. I am currently and happily pursuing a relationship with Tiffany Blaire. My heart is hers, and hers alone. Please do not harass her for the actions of a confused fan.” The comments section became a bloodbath. “Chase’s loyalty is everything! Leave Tiffany alone!” “June Porter? I know her. She’s the girl who slept with her teacher in middle school. Now she’s trying to social-climb her way onto Chase?” The insults got darker, more graphic. Someone leaked my burner phone number. The threats started pouring in. And then, the sound of heavy footsteps and shouting came from the hotel hallway. “We tracked the GPS! She’s in room 412!”

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To pay for my mute wife’s medical treatments, I had to do the unthinkable: leave my newborn son behind to work as a high-end live-in night nurse for a wealthy family. I had just received a six-month lump sum from my employer, Silas Vance—a man who lived in a world of marble and shadows—and I was rushing home to reunite with my family. But when I stepped into the foyer of the Vance estate to return a forgotten key, I saw Silas on the velvet sofa, his arms wrapped around a woman in a lingering, intimate embrace. Realizing I was intruding, I turned to slip away, but then I heard him whisper her name. “Isabelle, how much longer are we going to keep this up? I almost feel bad for him. I gave him a two-hundred-dollar bonus just now, and he looked like he’d won the damn lottery.” The woman’s laugh was like silk, cold and expensive. “Two hundred? Silas, the toilet paper in our guest bathroom costs more than that.” I froze, my blood turning to ice. I thought I had misheard. My wife’s name was Isabelle. But my Isabelle was mute. She lived in a world of silence and signed prayers. Then, the woman turned her head, a sharp, mocking smile playing on her lips. “Let the game continue. I need to keep my figure, so breastfeeding is out, and you’re useless with a bottle. Little Toby loves the way he preps the formula. He used to be an OB-GYN, remember? I feel better knowing he’s the one raising our son.” “And his own kid?” Silas asked, trailing a finger down her neck. “What if he finds out you’re worth billions? What if he realizes you faked being poor just to see if he’d ‘sacrifice’ himself for you? He left his own flesh and blood to be a nanny for ours. Won’t he snap?” Isabella leaned in, pulling Silas down by his silk tie. Her voice was a low, sultry murmur. “He’s obsessed with me. Even if he knew, he’d stay. He’d probably beg to be your footman just to stay in my orbit. Without the ‘poor girl’ act, how else was I supposed to know if his heart was real?” She paused, her tone turning dismissive. “As for his brat? Please. It was just a byproduct of the IVF process. The kid can survive on rice water for all I care.” I stood in the shadows, my vision blurring into a terrifying shade of crimson. I stared at the distinct, crescent-shaped birthmark on her neck—the same one I had kissed a thousand times in our cramped, dim apartment. Isabella. If you aren’t mute, then I don’t owe you a damn thing. I stepped out of the house, my hands shaking as I pulled my phone from my pocket. I dialed a number I hadn’t called in three years—the number of the billionaire father I had disowned for her. “Dad,” I said, my voice cracking but hardening with every word. “I’m done playing the ‘struggling commoner’ game. Come get me. I want to go home.” 1 I don’t remember the drive back to our apartment. By the time I regained my senses, I was drenched in a cold sweat. A faint, pathetic whimper—like a dying kitten—echoed from the bedroom, jolting me into reality. “Jamie!” I screamed, lunging into the room. My son was in his crib. He was nearly six months old, but he looked as frail and skeletal as the day he was born. On the nightstand sat a bowl of crusty, dried-out rice starch. Isabella’s words sliced through my mind again. The kid can survive on rice water. She didn’t just neglect him. She was starving him. I realized then that she had only agreed to the IVF because she wanted Silas’s child. My son, Jamie, was an accident—a “byproduct.” She had carried twins, but in my desperation to protect her “fragile” health, I never questioned why she seemed so exhausted. I had spent her entire pregnancy scavenging for extra shifts, even picking through recycling bins at night just to buy her prenatal vitamins, while she secretly retreated to her mansion. Silas’s child couldn’t go an hour without a bottle before I was summoned. I was never allowed to go home. Every cent I earned went straight into Isabella’s account, while I ate Silas’s leftovers to save money for her “surgeries.” She had promised me she would take care of our boy. Jamie’s cries were getting weaker. I scooped his tiny, feverish body into my arms and sprinted for the hospital. It was well past midnight by the time the doctors stabilized him. I looked at my phone. Three hours ago, in a panic, I had texted Isabella. No response. I turned the corner of the hallway and froze. A familiar silhouette stood by the nurse’s station. Isabella was cradling Silas’s baby, her face tight with anxiety as Silas rubbed her back. “He coughed twice, Doctor,” she was saying, her voice clear and frantic. “Are you absolutely sure he’s okay?” The doctor sighed. “Ma’am, we’ve run every test twice tonight. Your son is perfectly healthy. You can go home.” I stood paralyzed, still struggling to reconcile the woman who signed “I love you” with this polished, articulate stranger. My phone chirped. A text. I watched as they disappeared into the elevator before I looked down. It was from her. Sorry, honey. My boss had an emergency and needed a driver. I might be late getting back. I let out a jagged, hysterical laugh. How had I been so blind? She “drove” for a wealthy employer, yet she arrived in a custom-tailored coat. She told me her designer clothes were “hand-me-downs” from her boss. I had believed every single lie. By the way, is Jamie okay? another text popped up. She finally remembered she had a son. Silas’s baby coughed twice, and she demanded a full medical workup. Our son had a 104-degree fever, and she had ignored my texts for three hours. I scrolled up through our chat history. It was a graveyard of my one-sided devotion. Long paragraphs of me describing Jamie’s milestones, met with her cold, one-word replies. I remembered Silas bragging about his “clingy” wife, how she tracked his GPS and texted him every hour. I thought Isabella was just “reserved.” She wasn’t reserved; she just didn’t give a damn about me. She had spent three years pretending to be mute just so she wouldn’t have to bother talking to me. I wiped the chat history clean, my thumb hovering over Silas’s Instagram. He had just posted a story. 2 The photo showed a woman’s profile as she rocked a baby. In her hand was a gold-rimmed crystal bottle—a limited edition piece worth thirty thousand dollars. Silas had once told me his wife bought a whole warehouse of them. One bottle was enough to buy Jamie’s formula for a year. But to Isabella, Jamie wasn’t even worth the cheap stuff from the grocery store. She had played me for a fool, turning me into a wet nurse for her lover’s child while my own son withered away. I started to laugh, hot tears stinging my eyes. My phone buzzed again. Sir, the private jet will be ready in three days to collect you and the young master. Attached was a dossier on the woman I thought I knew. Isabella Sterling. CEO of Sterling Global. The “Iron Lady” of the Chicago tech scene. Net worth: Twelve billion dollars. I scrolled down to the “Spouse” section. Silas Vance. My hands shook so violently I nearly dropped the phone. I went home and dug through the safe where I kept our “marriage certificate.” I ran my finger over the seal. There was no raised stamp. It was a fake. All of it. I sat in the dark until dawn, when I heard the key turn in the lock. Isabella walked in. She saw me sitting there and froze for a split second before rushing over, her face a mask of practiced concern. She started signing frantically. [Honey, what’s wrong?] I looked up at her, my eyes bloodshot. A thick, cloying scent hit me—the same woodsy cologne Silas wore. I used to think it was a coincidence. I didn’t realize that every night, while I was in the nursery next door, my wife was in my employer’s bed. She kept signing, her expression “pleading.” [Is it the baby? I’m so sorry! I’m such a burden to you. I crashed the boss’s car today and they docked my pay again.] She hung her head in “shame.” It was her favorite move. Every time she “lost” money, I would work an extra shift to make up for it. I would hold her and tell her everything would be okay. Now, I just watched her. Silent. When I didn’t give her the usual comfort, a flicker of genuine confusion crossed her eyes. She lunged forward to hug me, then pulled back, signing again. [What is it, Nathaniel?] My eyes settled on a faint red mark on her collarbone. A hickey. I reached out, my fingers brushing it. She grabbed my hand, “explaining” quickly with her fingers. [It’s… a mosquito bite. The boss’s garage is full of them.] I pulled my hand away. “The baby had a fever. He’s in the hospital under observation.” Her face didn’t twitch. Not a single spark of maternal fear. Just a shallow mask of guilt. “I’m such a failure,” she signed. [I can’t even speak, I can only drive… I can’t even take care of our son.] Usually, this would make me feel like the failure for not providing more. Because she “lost her voice” for me. 3 Three years ago, I was staying in a luxury hotel in Denver when a fire broke out. Isabella, a stranger in the room next door, had supposedly dragged me out of the flames. I walked away with minor burns; she allegedly suffered severe smoke inhalation that destroyed her vocal cords. I was so consumed by guilt that I walked away from my family’s fortune, canceled my plans to join my father’s firm, and spent six months nursing her back to health. When she “realized” she would never speak again, she wrote a note: [If you feel like you owe me, why not marry me?] I was a fool. I thought it was a romance. She brought me to this dilapidated apartment and signed: [I have nothing. If you don’t want to suffer with me, you can leave.] I stayed. I worked five jobs. I slept four hours a night to save for her “surgery.” My surgeon’s hands became calloused from scrubbing dishes. My skin turned dark from construction work. I even have a twelve-inch scar on my leg from a delivery accident that left me with a permanent limp because I couldn’t afford to take time off for physical therapy. I did it all for her. “I have enough for the surgery now,” I said, my voice flat. “I quit the job at the Vance’s. I’ll be home to feed the baby myself.” Isabella blinked, stunned. She pushed me toward the bed and hurried into the bathroom, claiming she needed a shower. Five minutes later, my phone rang. “Mr. Thorne? This is the clinic. We have an update on your wife’s vocal cord procedure. The estimate has increased from thirty thousand to eighty thousand. We have a limited surgical window. If we don’t proceed this week, the damage may be permanent.” Perfect timing. Isabella stepped out of the bathroom, “overhearing” the call. She looked at me with tearful eyes, signing: [Forget it, honey. Let’s not do the surgery. It’s too much.] I looked deep into her eyes—eyes that were currently calculating exactly how much more she could squeeze out of me. “I’ll find the money,” I said. The tension in her shoulders vanished instantly. She turned away and began typing a text. I recognized the contact photo: Silas. She was smiling—a real, genuine smile I had never seen directed at me. Later that night, as I drifted into a fitful sleep, I felt her hands on me. But as she moved to pull back my sweatpants, she stopped. She stared at the jagged, ugly scar on my leg—the price I paid for her “rent.” In the dim light, I saw the look on her face. It wasn’t pity. It was disgust. She pulled away, signing: [I need to use the bathroom.] I waited a moment, then stood up. I followed her quietly. She wasn’t in the bathroom. She was in the storage room, staring at a photo of Silas on her phone, her breathing heavy, her body moving in a way she never moved for me. She whispered his name. I felt a surge of bile in my throat. I bolted for the bathroom and gagged. Isabella heard me. She rushed to the door, “concerned” again. [Honey? Are you okay?] I shoved her away. The rage was boiling over, the truth sitting on the tip of my tongue, ready to shatter her world— Then her phone rang.

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My boyfriend’s “bro” snipped the strap of my swimsuit and gave a smug smile. “It’s just a game. You won’t get mad, right, Chloe?” My boyfriend slung his arm around her and said dismissively: “Mad? Her? I just have to crook my finger and she’ll come crawling right back to me.” He was right. Ever since my succubus nature awakened, I was always… so uncomfortable. Amidst the roaring laughter of the crowd, I bent forward, clutching my chest, and suddenly saw a series of floating text—a bullet screen: [Here we go again with the cliché plot. The female lead gets emotionally and physically abused by the scumbag and his mistress, gets her heart broken, and finally leaves. Then the scumbag has an epiphany, grovels to win her back, and they live happily ever after?] [I swear, when will these hack authors stop writing this garbage? Give me my money back!] [Exactly! Is the female lead blind? Can’t she just look at the ‘Ascetic’ guy sitting right next to her? Why do you think he always wears prayer beads and acts like an untouchable saint? It’s because he has a serious addiction he’s desperately suppressing! He has an entire basement full of toys. He’s cold on the outside but completely unhinged! THAT’S what we premium members want to see!] I froze. Quietly, I sidged over to the most aloof, untouchable ascetic in the circle. Sensing his intense, overwhelming life force, I blushed, bit my lip, and asked in a tiny voice: “Hi. Can I kiss you?” 01 A dead silence fell over the entire room. “Chloe, what kind of joke is this? Get over here right now!” My boyfriend, Liam, instantly lost his composure, scolding me furiously. At the same time, he offered an apologetic smile to Julian. “She’s just throwing a tantrum. Please don’t lower yourself to her level, Mr. Sterling.” Julian wasn’t wearing a swimsuit. His white dress shirt was buttoned all the way up to his collar. He wore a string of prayer beads around his wrist, his expression was perfectly serene, and a faint scent of sandalwood lingered around him. He was someone they could never reach in their daily lives, and certainly someone they couldn’t afford to offend. He lifted his eyes slightly, shooting me a brief, almost imperceptible glance. His eyes were like clear, translucent glass. My heart started pounding wildly. Could those floating comments be lying to me? This was a matter of life and death for my livelihood. Not long ago, my true nature as a succubus had awakened. I heard that a succubus’s first heat cycle was exceptionally agonizing. I had to find prey to relieve the overwhelming desire. As the heat cycle drew closer, I was finding it harder and harder to control myself. The dark, pulsing heat rising within me made me feel constantly feverish and terribly uncomfortable… I tagged along with Liam to this party precisely because I intended to use him to get through my heat cycle. He was decent-looking, had a good height—I figured he wouldn’t be too disappointing in other areas, right? But before I could even test the goods, his “bro,” Sarah, intercepted him. They were just playing Truth or Dare. Sarah was sitting on Liam’s lap, feeding him a blueberry mouth-to-mouth. They kissed until a string of saliva connected them, making everyone scream with excitement. Amidst the cheering, Sarah wrapped her arms around Liam’s neck and winked at me smugly. “Liam was just helping me out. We’re bros, we’ve always messed around like this. You don’t mind, right, Chloe?” I bit my lip, my eyelashes fluttering. I put on a perfect display of someone deeply hurt and broken, yet trying to endure it with hidden devotion. This is one of the classic techniques we succubi use to lure our prey. The highest-tier hunters always appear as prey themselves. Once a succubus awakens, they subconsciously radiate an intoxicating, seductive charm. My pitiful, vulnerable appearance instantly drew the heated gazes of the men around us. Sarah gritted her teeth in hatred. Under the guise of a game, she had snipped the strap of my swimsuit. My pure white swimsuit was accented with pink bows, giving off an innocent, girlish vibe. It perfectly highlighted my figure, making me look simultaneously pure and incredibly alluring. With the bikini top slipping, exposing a large expanse of pale skin and a deep cleavage… I was dangerously close to a complete wardrobe malfunction. I let out a small gasp, wrapping my arms tightly around the thin fabric over my chest, looking like I was about to burst into tears. Like a fragile, helpless little bunny, which only made the malicious, predatory stares around me even hotter. In the next round of the game, unsurprisingly, I lost. My Dare: [French kiss a member of the opposite sex for ten minutes.] Amidst a chorus of malicious, mocking laughter, Liam, still holding Sarah in his lap, casually hooked a finger at me, looking slightly annoyed. “I really don’t know what to do with you. Come here, Chloe.” The crowd cheered him on: “Liam’s got his girl completely trained! Such a beautiful girlfriend, and she’s so obedient.” “Liam’s living the dream, a girl in each arm!” I felt a wave of disgust. That mouth was literally just kissed by Sarah. And now he expects me to kiss it? Nobody likes eating someone else’s leftovers. Just as I was debating what to do, I saw those floating comments. Without a second thought, I sat down right next to the legendary, untouchable ascetic, Julian. He felt cool to the touch, yet he radiated an incredibly rich, intoxicating life force. He smelled so good… I swallowed hard. My entire body felt like it had been set on fire. I was so thirsty. So hot… I absolutely refused to touch Liam’s leftovers now. The man next to me was completely covered, wearing a long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, long legs… yet he sat as stiffly and virtuously as a monk. It made you want to… rip open his pristine white shirt, bite down on his elegant neck, pin his vein-lined hands to the bed, and utterly destroy all of his aloof, untouchable dignity! Drag him down from his high-and-mighty pedestal and devour him entirely… It was incredibly thrilling! My eyes lit up. To get a taste of this absolute delicacy, I pulled out all the stops. I tightened my arms around my chest, making my curves look even more pronounced. My soft body accidentally-on-purpose brushed against his arm, then I quickly and shyly pulled away. Looking up at him from the absolute perfect angle, I blinked my watery, doe eyes. With blushing cheeks, I bit my lip and asked in a tiny voice: “Hi. Can I kiss you?” He slowly lowered his eyes, remaining silent. Not one to give up easily, I prepared to try again. But Liam suddenly rushed over, grabbing my arm, trying to yank me away from Julian. “I apologize, Mr. Sterling. She doesn’t know any better. She ruined your mood.” I mentally cursed him for ruining my mood. I let out a fake, frightened squeak. As I yanked my arm free, I conveniently delivered a resounding slap across Liam’s face. Taking advantage of the momentum, I threw myself directly into Julian’s arms. During the struggle, the thin fabric of my swimsuit drifted gracefully to the floor. My soft curves pressed tightly against Julian’s chest. As I tackled him onto the sofa, I made sure to give his chest a good squeeze. So firm. So much muscle… Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He let out a suppressed, muffled groan. That sound made my entire body melt. I collapsed completely against him. I was starving for it. I was so hungry, and he was so incredibly tempting… 02 If the protagonist of this steamy, scandalous scene were anyone else, the screams from the crowd would have capsized the boat. But this was Julian. Everyone was dead silent. No one dared to even breathe. Only the bullet screen was going absolutely insane: [Holy shit?! What is the female lead doing??? Is she trying to use the aloof ascetic to make the male lead jealous? Getting back at him for flirting with his ‘bro’ right in front of her?] [Since when do abused female leads have these kinds of moves? She’s supposed to be an innocent little bunny! Her swimsuit got cut, she must feel helpless, so she went to the ascetic second male lead because she thinks he’s cold and celibate and won’t do anything to her!] [Agreed with above. The male lead’s scummy friends were looking at her like they wanted to eat her. The ascetic second male lead is the only decent guy here. He’s much safer.] [Safer? Hahahaha, this is literally walking right into the wolf’s den! If she actually manages to break his seal, I don’t even want to imagine what happens next… hehehe…] [The ascetic second male lead is totally faking it! He’s been suppressing it for ages! He acts all cold and detached on the outside, but if we didn’t already know he only came to this party for the female lead, he might have actually fooled us!] [LMAO, I wonder who it is that chants sutras, meditates, and plays with prayer beads all day, but gets pushed into complete villainy by the intense tension between the male and female leads later on? The guy literally has a solid gold birdcage and ankle chains prepped in secret~] [Why doesn’t the female lead just consider the second male lead, boohoo… Even though his face is cold, he’s hot everywhere else! Even though his words are hard, he’s harder everywhere else!] [The commenter above needs to put some pants on. This is a comment section, not a no man’s land.] I stared blankly at the comments, swallowing hard. I peeked down at the man I was pinning to the sofa. A jaw-droppingly gorgeous face that could command any room, pale skin, clear, shallow eyes. He exuded an otherworldly, untouched aura of purity. He actually liked someone? And that someone was… me? Bullet screen, you better not be lying to me. Our eyes met. Julian snapped back to reality as if he’d been electrocuted, instinctively trying to push me away. I braced myself, let out a soft whimper, and clung to him tightly. I pressed myself firmly against his chest, trembling slightly. With a tearful, pleading voice, I begged: “Please… Mr. Sterling, don’t… don’t look at me…” Julian’s hands froze instantly. A hazy mist clouded his clear eyes. A brilliant flush of red rapidly bloomed across his pale cheeks, spreading all the way to the tips of his ears, completely exploding. Oh my. I keenly sensed a very specific change pressing against me. I purposefully, accidentally rubbed against it. Julian’s breath hitched. Even his abs locked tight. The size seems very impressive. I couldn’t be more satisfied! But on the outside, I widened my doe eyes in feigned terror, biting my lip in distress: “M-Mr. Sterling… how could you…” Julian’s eyes darkened. He reached out, grabbed a towel from nearby, and draped it over my shoulders. Even after he propped himself up, I was still sitting securely in his lap. Mm, excellent core strength. His lower body strength… is also fantastic. Clearly, the bullet screen thought so too: [He just effortlessly lifted her up with him! That core strength, those hips! If he held her up while standing… I can’t even imagine how amazing that would feel!] [Stop, he’s probably already dying of pleasure! The female lead is so soft, so pale, so curvy, and they’re pressed skin-to-skin! He’s definitely regretting wearing a shirt today!] [A hundred years from now, Julian’s epitaph will read: “My greatest regret in life was wearing a white dress shirt to a swimsuit party.”] Despite being incredibly tense and having burning red ears, the look Julian gave me was still freezing cold. Like he was looking at some filthy creature that had tainted him. If it weren’t for those comments and the very enthusiastic response from ‘Little Julian’… I really wouldn’t have dared to get this close to him. Heh. What a faker. I didn’t move away. Instead, I wrapped my arms around his neck. I tilted my head up, pressed my lips against his cherry-blossom pink ones, and gave him a soft kiss. The man’s heartbeat, pressed flush against me, instantly became deafeningly loud. Under the towel, the hand gripping my waist tightened abruptly. With a force that felt like he was trying to meld me into his own body… 03 “Chloe! What the hell are you doing?! Let go of Mr. Sterling right now!” Liam finally let out a shrill, hysterical scream. He wanted to pull me away, but he was too intimidated by Julian’s status. He just paced around anxiously. I pulled away with agonizing reluctance, explaining innocently: “But… the rules of the game say I have to kiss for ten minutes. And it has to be a French kiss…” The room was dead silent. No one dared to speak. They wanted to play this vulgar game to embarrass and humiliate me. But who would dare pull that kind of stunt on Julian Sterling? I blinked my watery doe eyes, my cheeks flushed, and politely asked in a whisper: “Mr. Sterling, can I kiss you?” I let out the tip of my bright red tongue. “A kiss… right here.” Julian’s eyes went dark. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his jaw clenched almost imperceptibly. Sitting in his lap, I intentionally rubbed against him, acting spoiled. His breathing grew heavy, and his hands locked onto my waist in a death grip. He forced a single sound from his throat: “Mm.” Having received permission, I carefully kissed him. Julian’s reaction was inexperienced and passive. The muffled groan he couldn’t suppress was deep, raspy, and incredibly magnetic. So seductive… Unable to contain my excitement, I audaciously pried his lips open. While tangling my tongue with his, I greedily feasted on his abundant life force. It felt so good. I wanted so much more… An unspeakable heat wave surged from the top of my head, spreading downward. Ugh… I can barely hide my ears and tail anymore… I nuzzled against Julian’s lips, offering a soft, seductive temptation: “Mr. Sterling… I really want to eat you whole…” As if layers of chains had suddenly snapped, the wild beast imprisoned for so long finally saw the light of day. Julian’s gaze sharpened, and he suddenly, ferociously kissed me back… [Wait a minute, this characterization seems off for the female lead, right? What happened to the innocent little bunny? Why is she clinging to the ascetic second male lead and refusing to let go?] [I thought it was weird earlier! Since when does the abused female lead take the initiative with another man? Aren’t they usually supposed to preserve their purity for the scumbag male lead?] [Pfft! Preserve her purity for a cheating scumbag? What, does she need to build a chastity monument for him? Wearing mourning clothes would be more appropriate!] [The female lead is impure, so disgusting! I’m gonna throw up! The male lead is right there and she’s cheating with the second male lead! That’s so shameless!] [LMAO, this game was exactly what the scumbag and his friends wanted to play, wasn’t it? Is anyone in this room actually ‘pure’? Why are you only picking on the female lead? Just admit you hate women!] [Seconded! Honestly, the most ‘pure’ people in this room are probably the ascetic second male lead and the female lead! This plot development is amazing! More, more, don’t stop!] Ten minutes was barely enough for an appetizer. The deep, tangled kiss finally ended. Julian’s clear eyes were completely glazed over, his lips stained a deep red, his face full of an unsatisfied, heavy lust. The aloof ascetic had been entirely dragged down from his pedestal. Thankfully, I was the only one who could see it. I was incredibly excited. I couldn’t help but pat his flushed cheek: “Mr. Sterling, the ten minutes are up~” 04 Julian retreated to his room early, and no one dared to stop him. Liam was boiling with rage, but he didn’t dare explode. He could only stand there while his ‘bros’ exchanged knowing glances, silently mocking him for being cuckolded right in front of them. He glared at me viciously, wanting to lash out. I ignored him, wrapped the towel around myself, and went back to my room to change. While I was rummaging through my things, Sarah walked in unannounced. “Chloe, I really underestimated you. Liam actually said you were innocent. Looks like you know exactly what you’re doing!” Her contemptuous tone was dripping with hostility. “I, Sarah, despise fake, pretentious green tea bitches like you the most! Acting all weak and pitiful, being so incredibly fake—isn’t it all just to seduce men?” Now that I’d had a taste of the absolute best, I had completely lost interest in Liam. I didn’t even have the energy to pretend anymore. “Mhm, you’re absolutely right. You’re so amazing, Sarah. Being a ‘tomboy’ means you get to French kiss your ‘bro’. Unlike me, who actually has to pretend to be weak and pitiful.” Sarah choked, completely caught off guard. Her face turned an ugly shade of red. “What do you mean by that?!” I ignored her. “Chloe, you better explain yourself!” She charged forward and snatched my bag. “Believe it or not, I’ll throw your bag into the ocean so you have absolutely nothing to wear!” I blinked innocently. “Wow, you’re so fierce and manly! You’re practically radiating masculine energy! I’m so scared~” Unable to swallow her anger, Sarah actually threw my bag straight out the window into the ocean. She smugly dropped a threat: “Chloe, crossing me won’t do you any good! Not a single girl on this boat will lend you clothes. Let’s see what you do now!” I shrugged carelessly. “You’re so mean, Sarah! What am I supposed to do now? I guess I’ll just have to go ask the boys to lend me some clothes~ I’m sure they’d be more than happy to help me out, right?” Sarah never expected me to answer with such blatant shamelessness. She cursed loudly: “Chloe! You… you despicable, shameless fox demon!” What a coincidence. My true succubus form was literally a red fox. I let out a burst of laughter. I patted Sarah on the shoulder and said earnestly: “Sarah, you’re the only one who treats a piece of garbage like Liam as a prize. ‘Bros’? Don’t make me laugh. You know exactly what your intentions are.” “Why fight over a two-legged man? Since you like him so much, you can have that trash.” “As for me, I’m off to enjoy a real delicacy~!” 05 I messed up my hair on purpose and rubbed a few red marks onto my neck and shoulders. Wrapped tightly in the towel, I knocked on Julian’s door. Julian had already reverted to his meticulously neat, aloof persona. It was as if nothing had happened earlier. I hunched my shoulders and whispered pitifully: “Mr. Sterling… can I come in?” Julian frowned: “Miss Vance, this is inappropriate.” Dead man, still putting on an act. I wonder who it was just a few minutes ago, standing at attention the second I hugged him, gripping my waist like a vice the second I kissed him. My eyes instantly turned red, and I sobbed: “I’m sorry, I know I’m causing trouble for you, but I… I really don’t know who else to turn to…” “They threw my bag into the ocean… and those guys are, are…” “I’m too scared to go to them, so I came to find you…” Crystal-clear tears rolled down my eyelashes. I bit my lip and clutched the towel tightly to cover my chest. Messy hair, ambiguous red marks, humiliating tears, a broken me. Perfect! Not far away, the party had resumed its rowdiness. I heard voices approaching, joking loudly: “Liam’s little girlfriend is really something else. I wonder if he’s blind, still messing around with Sarah. ‘Bros,’ yeah right!” “What girlfriend? He already said he was just playing around. But that body, and her swimsuit was cut… I’m literally aching right now. If Liam is just going to leave a stunner like that alone, he should let me have a turn!” “I wonder where that cut swimsuit went. I wanted to use it later…” I threw myself into Julian’s arms in terror, shivering and pleading pitifully: “Mr. Sterling, please help me, I’m begging you, please…” Julian caught me, half-resisting, half-accepting. Well, the first time is awkward, the second time is easy. The veins on his arms bulged, as if he were trying desperately to restrain something. “Miss Vance, I am a man too.” I looked up at him innocently: “Huh?” “You can’t just casually walk into a man’s room.” The dimly lit room stretched endlessly behind him, like an abyss waiting to devour someone. I traced small circles on his chest with my finger, speaking in an exaggeratedly sweet, baby voice: “Is that so? Why is that?” Julian abruptly grabbed my wandering hand. His fingers were long and strong. The teasing voices in the hallway were getting closer. Julian’s hoarse voice carried a hint of gritted teeth. “Chloe, if you dare to come in, don’t you dare regret it!” The towel draped over me was roughly yanked away, and I was dragged into the room. 06 The bullet screen had been exploding non-stop since earlier: [!!! Can someone please tell me what kind of plot development this is??? Did we suddenly change channels from a PG rating to an R rating? This is way too exciting!] [Ahhhh, the female lead is definitely doing this on purpose, right? Who said she was an innocent little bunny? Her entire character concept just shattered! How is the male lead supposed to abuse her physically and mentally, and then go through a groveling redemption arc for a happy ending now?] [Why the hell would we want a happy ending with the scumbag? I think the ascetic second male lead absolutely destroys the male lead! The way the female lead is seducing him is perfect! Don’t stop!] [So her innocent, pure act was all fake? The way she verbally destroyed the second female lead was so sarcastic and amazing! I want her to teach a masterclass, hahaha! This is so much better than that garbage abuse plot!] [This pairing—the aloof ascetic with a secret addiction X the pure-but-seductive succubus—is AMAZING!] [So the next part is exactly what I think it is, right?! Hurry, hurry! My premium member’s pants just magically flew away!] [Yes, sisters, yes!] The lights in the room were off. I was thrown onto the bed. Julian’s white dress shirt was tossed over my head, blocking my vision. The elegant scent of sandalwood lingering on the collar was intoxicating. I pulled the shirt away, excitedly preparing for my feast. Then I heard him say: “Put this on first. I’ll buy you new clothes once we dock.” The bullet screen was just as incredulous as I was: [??? Second male lead, are you serious??? Are you actually trying to achieve enlightenment or something???] [I thought the long-suffering, innocent female leads in these angst novels had the most endurance. But you! My ascetic second male lead! You are the true Ninja Turtle!] [Ascetic bro, you really are a true monk. Maybe you should take a look at the massive tent in your pants before you speak?] [Ascetic second male lead, stop acting! Stop acting! I’m literally begging you! I’m holding it in so hard I’m about to explode!] [I am Buddha. Ascetic second male lead, I hereby grant you permission to return to secular life. O ascetic with the hidden power of addiction, reveal your true strength before the female lead. I, the Buddha who made a pact with you, command you: SEAL RELEASE!] I accidentally let out a laugh at the comments. Julian’s expression instantly turned deadly serious. His clear eyes were exceptionally cold and emotionless: “Is this funny to you?” I hugged his shirt and asked tentatively: “Mr. Sterling, are you angry?” Julian pressed his lips together and didn’t speak. Using the dim light, I shamelessly admired his body. Cold, pale skin, elegant collarbones, and on his full pecs… Mm, a sweet shade of pink. Solid abs, a tight waist, and an alluring V-line trailing down into… I stared blankly. I didn’t want to be human anymore. I pitched my voice up again, dragging out the syllables in a teasing question: “So, is baby angrier up here, or angrier down there?” 07 Julian had definitely never been teased like this before. He instantly turned bright red. The flush spread from his ears all the way down the back of his neck. He scolded me strictly: “Miss Vance, you are Liam’s girlfriend. Please have some self-respect!” If it weren’t for those comments, I probably would have genuinely been scared by his icy reprimand. I looked at him with sparkling eyes, entirely unbothered: “He just did that with another girl and let them bully me. He’s not my boyfriend anymore.” Julian’s face was like a sheet of ice. “Even so, I am not a man you can just fool around with, Miss Vance.” “If you’re just looking for a way to salvage your relationship or cure your loneliness through these methods, go find someone else.” He turned and walked into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water echoed. I bit my lip, grinding my teeth in frustration. I slowly put on his shirt. It enveloped me entirely in his sandalwood scent. It felt exactly like being held tightly in his arms. His scent was all over me… The heat wave I had suppressed for so long surged back with a vengeance. It spread like wildfire, completely out of control. The air itself felt hot, damp, and heavy. “Mm…” I let out an involuntary moan, hugging a pillow in unbearable heat. The elegant sandalwood scent seemed to seep directly into my body. Ugh… I really can’t take it anymore… Perhaps it was Julian’s stimulation. My heat cycle had officially begun. But he was still acting so freezing cold. What was I supposed to do? Did he really have no interest in me? Suddenly, the bullet screen exploded again: [HOLY SHIT! Male lead, what are you doing??? Using the sound of the shower to aggressively reward yourself is one thing, but why is the female lead’s bow swimsuit in there with you?!!! Even though the swimsuit is ruined, are you trying to completely destroy the bow right now???] [Good lord, I was wondering where the female lead’s swimsuit went. So you had it the whole time! You’ve got fast hands, kid! (in more ways than one)] [He was just acting like an untouchable saint who saw through the illusions of the mortal world, serious and rigid like a monk cultivating his spirit… but behind closed doors, you’re really playing hard, aren’t you, Ascetic Bro?!] [The female lead was so seductive just now! ‘Where are you angrier’ had me dying laughing. She’s too good at this! Hahaha] [But the ascetic bro is still acting all high and mighty. What if the female lead gives up? Female lead, please don’t give up on the second male lead, boohoo! I’m still waiting to see you guys go at it seven times in one night! The ascetic second male lead can definitely handle it, I promise!] I narrowed my eyes and licked my lips. Heh. Dog. He really knows how to act. Fine. I guess I’ll play with you one last time. 08 Julian came out of the shower. I had already put on his white dress shirt and buttoned it all the way to the top. His shirt was oversized. On me, it slipped down, exposing a large swath of my pale shoulder and neck. It was the absolute classic “boyfriend shirt” look. The white fabric was slightly sheer, and I wasn’t wearing anything underneath. As I breathed, the curves of my body were tantalizingly visible. Julian immediately looked away, refusing to meet my eyes. I got out of bed and walked toward the door. “Mr. Sterling, thank you for taking me in. I’m sorry for being a burden.” I reached for the doorknob, but Julian’s footsteps faltered. He quickly stepped behind me, his voice tight with hidden frustration: “Looking like that, where exactly do you think you’re going?” I offered a tragic, faint smile. “Mr. Sterling, you’re right. I am exactly the kind of lonely, desperate woman you said I was.” “Since you don’t like me at all, I’ll listen to you. I’ll go find someone else like a good girl. I won’t bother you ever again…” SLAM! Julian slammed his hand against the door, violently shutting the sliver I had managed to open. His breathing was incredibly close. His large, imposing frame completely engulfed me in his shadow. His voice was hoarse, every word seemingly ground out through clenched teeth: “Chloe, you are not leaving.” “You are not allowed to find anyone else.” I whimpered, acting terribly wronged: “Mr. Sterling, you can’t do this.” “You clearly don’t want me. Why are you trying to trap me so aggressively?” Julian went silent. But the chest pressed firmly against my back was heaving violently. I couldn’t stop a triumphant smirk from forming on my lips, but I said: “…I’m in so much pain. I know you don’t want me, but someone out there will…” “Mr. Sterling, please let me go…” “No!” Julian’s monk-like composure was crumbling rapidly. It was time to add the final, lethal dose of fuel to the fire. A fluffy, fiery-red fox tail suddenly slipped out from beneath the hem of the shirt, wrapping seductively around Julian’s leg. It was a vibrant, almost vulgar shade of red. But it made the man behind me stop breathing entirely. I panicked, desperately pulling at the hem of the shirt, trying frantically to hide the tail. But my arms and the tight fabric only served to further accentuate my chest. The thin material couldn’t hide anything at all… I cried and begged: “Mr. Sterling, don’t look at me, please…” “Please let me go. If you drag this out any longer, I really won’t be able to take it…” Julian’s ascetic resolve shattered into a million pieces. Veins popped on his powerful arms as he wrapped them around my waist, violently yanking me back flush against his chest. He buried his face in the crook of my neck. His voice was incredibly quiet and muffled: “Not. Letting. Go.” “You’re not allowed to leave. You’re not allowed to find anyone else!” “You can only come to me. It can only be me…” The untouchable flower on the high peak had finally crashed completely into the mud. I was so excited my ears popped out too. This was way too thrilling! The bullet screen was losing its collective mind: [Oh my god, what kind of supernatural fantasy is this?! The ascetic monk x the fox demon female lead! This is top-tier! If you knew who I shipped, you’d know how lucky I feel right now~] [? So the innocent little bunny female lead is actually a red fox succubus? No wonder! This pure-yet-seductive energy has completely hooked him! She’s got him entirely under her control!] [Hiss, pant… hurry up and get to the good part! My premium member tires are literally sparking!!!] I couldn’t wait any longer either. I was starving. I melted into Julian’s arms, taking control and hugging him back. Just as I was about to kiss him, I saw that the corners of his eyes were flushed red, his gaze shattered and vulnerable. “Mr. Sterling?” He looked at me with an expression of pure, tragic heartbreak. He looked like he was about to shatter into pieces. “Chloe, I am not a tool for you to use to make someone else jealous.” “And I am definitely not someone else’s replacement.” “You are not allowed to treat me like that.” [Oh my god! Why didn’t anyone tell me that once the ascetic monk breaks his vows, he evolves into an obsessive, devoted, fragile little wife?! Who’s going crazy? I’M GOING CRAZY!!!] [I’ve learned so much today. So when the untouchable saint is dragged off his pedestal, he turns into a pathetic, wet puppy terrified of being played with and abandoned? THIS is the exact flavor I wanted! So incredibly satisfying!] [The Female Lead: A fake, innocent little flower. But you, my second male lead! YOU are the true, innocent little flower!] [Help, why is the screen black?! Are you bullying me because I haven’t paid for a premium membership?! I’m going to buy one right now, boohoo! Second male lead, please don’t finish too fast!!!] [Meanwhile, a prestigious annual premium member casually walks by, proudly displaying their golden badge.]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391679”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After six years in the shadows, my CEO girlfriend, Veronica, finally agreed to let me meet her parents. But then she stayed out all night. The next morning, she strolled into the office, bold as brass, with a love bite on her neck and her first love, Spencer, at her side. They chatted as if no one else existed, completely ignoring me, her actual boyfriend. A colleague whispered, “Isn’t that the new guy? Started a few days ago, right? Wow, he moves fast. Already latched onto the boss. Just another pretty boy looking for a sugar mama.” Before I could say a word, Veronica’s voice cut through the office. “Spencer is a top graduate I hired myself. If you lack his talent, don’t resort to petty jealousy. I won’t have anyone speaking ill of him!” The vice president, one of the few who knew about us, sidled up to me. “Who’s this guy? I thought you were the boss’s boyfriend.” A bitter smirk touched my lips. “Not for much longer.” The VP stared, confused, but Veronica was already marching toward me. “Your performance has been slipping lately,” she announced, her voice cold. “I’m putting you on the back burner for now. Spencer will take over your projects. You will assist him.” The office went silent. I had been by Veronica’s side since the company was just a dream. I was, without a doubt, the driving force behind our success. My performance had never been anything but stellar. Yet here she was, demoting me for no reason. And for what? To play second fiddle to a rookie who’d been here less than a week. I stared back at her, my face a mask of ice. My silence seemed to irritate her. Her brow furrowed. “Did you not hear me?” A smug look flickered in Spencer’s eyes. He smiled, a saccharine, condescending expression. “Finn has been with you since the beginning, Veronica. He probably has a bit of an ego. I doubt he’s willing to be my assistant.” His passive-aggressive tone dripped with poison. Veronica scoffed. “An ego? What right does he have to an ego? If it weren’t for me, his community college degree wouldn’t have even gotten him through the door. All I’m doing is revoking the special privileges I gave him, and he can’t handle it?” “Does he really think he can throw his seniority in my face?” Her words painted me as a useless leech, coasting on tenure. But my contributions to this company were greater than hers, and she knew it. That community college degree? That was because of her too. Veronica and I both came from nothing. We bonded over a shared dream: to make it big in this city, no matter what. But her family couldn’t afford the steep tuition and living costs. They were going to force her into an arranged marriage for the dowry. She had cried in my arms, begging me to help her, telling me she didn’t want to drop out. Because I loved her, I gave her every penny I had saved for my own tuition. I dropped out of university myself. I took grueling jobs in filthy restaurant kitchens, working my fingers to the bone just so she could have a better life. It wasn’t until two years ago, after our company finally took off, that I had a moment to breathe. I enrolled in a community college, planning to finish my bachelor’s degree. But she told me the company needed me. She asked me to put my education on hold again. So yes, my highest level of education is an associate’s degree. She knew exactly why. And now, she was using it as a weapon to humiliate me. I felt the weight of every stare in the room—disdain, pity, judgment. I clenched my fists. But when my eyes met her cold, unforgiving gaze, the fight drained out of me. The woman who had once looked at me with so much love was gone. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I turned, walked to the printer, and printed a single sheet of paper. My resignation. “If I’m just a community college grad,” I said, my voice flat, “then I guess I don’t belong here. After all, the minimum requirement for this company is a bachelor’s degree.” Veronica was stunned. She clearly hadn’t expected this. But she recovered quickly, her expression hardening. “I don’t care if this is some power play or a pathetic attempt to make me feel guilty. Once you walk out that door, you’re not coming back. This isn’t a revolving door, Finn.” I gave her a single, emotionless glance. “I know.” As I turned to leave, Spencer leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Her face contorted with disgust. “So that’s your game,” she spat, her voice dripping with venom. I had no idea what she was talking about. Then she threw a file onto my desk. It was a contract I had just secured a few days ago. Spencer made a show of clicking his tongue. “Finn, everyone knows you’re tight with Mr. Peterson from this client. The deal isn’t even finalized yet. You quitting now… it’s pretty obvious you’re trying to use this to blackmail the company, aren’t you?” “I get that you’re upset about being my assistant, but this is what the CEO wants. You can’t just defy her, can you?” The look of betrayal on Veronica’s face told me she believed him completely. The old me would have frantically tried to explain, to plead my case, to assure her I would never do such a thing. But now? All I wanted to do was laugh. She knew. Deep down, she knew I was the one holding this company together, but her pride would never let her admit it. So she crushed me with one hand while using me with the other. Before, I had tolerated it because I loved her. Now, I just felt like a fool. I had sacrificed my future for a woman who wouldn’t even give me the title of “boyfriend” in public. I had lost my pride, my dignity, everything. The rage that should have been boiling inside me was gone, replaced by a calm, chilling emptiness. I copied all the relevant files from my computer onto a drive and placed it on the desk. “Here are all the project details, including the final quotes. You can use this to move forward. I won’t say a word to the client.” I turned and walked away without another word. I could feel a burning gaze on my back, but I didn’t look back. The moment I stepped out of the building, the air felt cleaner, fresher. I hadn’t even had a chance to enjoy it when Veronica came running after me. She grabbed my arm, her brow furrowed with accusation. “I say a few words and you just walk out? What is that supposed to mean? You were the one who said you wanted to step back and let me run the company!” A cold laugh echoed in my chest. “I agreed to step back, Veronica. I never agreed to let you cheat on me!” She had been out all night, then shown up with a love bite and Spencer on her arm. And then she had the audacity to demand I work as an assistant for that clueless pretty boy. I may be loyal, but I’m not an idiot. “Cheat on you?” she stomped her foot, her voice rising. “What are you talking about? Spencer and I are just friends! Stop being so jealous!” Before I could retort, Spencer appeared, an apologetic look plastered on his face. “I’m so sorry, Finn. I had no idea you were resigning because you were jealous.” “But I was out with clients last night for the company. I had too much to drink, and Veronica was just looking out for me. Nothing happened between us, I swear. Please don’t misunderstand.” As he spoke, he deliberately angled his head, revealing a series of fresh scratch marks on his neck. The little bastard was provoking me. The old Finn would have exploded, demanding Veronica swear she would never see Spencer again. But after years of fighting the same battles, I was done. She would never change. And I had no desire to continue this pathetic dance. I said nothing, my face a cold mask. Veronica took the initiative, her hand finding mine. “I know you’re just acting out because you’re jealous. I’ll let it slide this time.” “We have a very important dinner meeting tonight. It can’t happen without you. Please, just pull yourself together and come with me.” Her voice was soft, a clear attempt at reconciliation. But it just sounded like a cruel joke. If it weren’t for this dinner, she wouldn’t have even bothered chasing after me. My eyes drifted to Spencer, and my blood ran cold. He was wearing my shirt. It was the shirt Veronica had bought me for our third anniversary. I cherished it. I barely ever wore it, saving it for special occasions. Now, it was wrinkled and reeked of stale smoke and cheap liquor. I’d been wondering where it went after I’d left it out to dry a few days ago. Veronica must have given it to him. I noticed several small, yellowed cigarette burns on the sleeve. Something I had treasured, treated with such disrespect. Pathetic. And hilarious. My expression didn’t change. Veronica sighed. “Fine. If you come to the dinner tonight, I won’t change your position. Happy now?” I remained silent. “You’re just afraid of Spencer being promoted above you, aren’t you?” she continued, as if talking to herself. “So I’ll make you both equals. There. Are you satisfied? If I wasn’t worried about upsetting you, Spencer would have been in management from day one.” I finally looked her in the eye. “Promote him if you want. It has nothing to do with me.” Her face darkened. “What is that supposed to mean?” I laughed, a dry, humorless sound. “I already gave you my resignation. I have nothing to do with this company, and you have no reason to tell me any of this.” “Also, we’re breaking up.” Veronica’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you say?” I pulled out my phone and blocked her number right in front of her. “Do I really need to explain what ‘breaking up’ means?” “You dare break up with me?” Veronica hissed, her teeth clenched. “You were just telling me you wanted to meet my parents! What is this, some kind of game?” I pointed at Spencer with my chin. “Oh, so you do remember that? For a minute there, I thought you’d forgotten.” “How was the bar last night?” Yesterday was the day. The day we had planned for over six months. The day I was finally supposed to meet her parents. I had spent a fortune on gifts, wanting to make the best possible impression. I waited on the couch all day. From morning until night. Veronica never came. Instead, I saw Spencer’s smug post on social media. A picture from a loud, crowded bar. Veronica was curled up in his lap, their bodies pressed together intimately for all the world to see. I waited for an explanation. An apology. I got nothing. In fact, she had clearly forgotten all about it, demanding I become Spencer’s assistant without a shred of guilt. She was heartless. “I already told you,” she snapped, her defensiveness flaring into anger, “the company isn’t public yet! It’s still small! You know my parents favor my brother over me. We have nothing to show for ourselves, so how can we get married? You never try to understand my pressure, you just keep pushing me to meet them!” “So what if I went out for a drink to blow off some steam?” I laughed until I couldn’t breathe. “Nothing’s wrong with it. Do whatever you want. It has nothing to do with me.” Spencer, dropping his apologetic act, stepped in front of Veronica. “You’re the one making wild accusations. The CEO and I have a clear conscience. We have nothing to hide!” Veronica looked at Spencer with gratitude, then turned to me, her eyes filled with resentment. “If you want to throw a tantrum, fine. I’ve said all I’m going to say.” Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. Watching the scene unfold, I felt nothing. It was almost funny. Whenever we had a problem, Veronica never tried to solve it. She would just throw a fit. And if that didn’t work, she would cry until I gave in. She was using the same old trick. But this time, I didn’t react. I just turned and walked away. She screamed my name, absolutely furious. But I only ever caved because I loved her. Without love, she was just a stranger. I deleted everything that reminded me of her. Then I sent a message to my best friend, who was living abroad. “I’m in. Let’s start that import-export business.” I was about to call him to catch up when my phone rang. An unknown number. “Hello, is this Mr. Finnian Reed? Your father’s medical bills are two weeks overdue. We’ve been trying to call you, but we couldn’t get through. We had to stop his treatment a few days ago. He passed away that same day. We were calling to ask when you would be available to… collect the body.” The world tilted. I couldn’t breathe. “What did you say?” I asked, my voice a strangled whisper. My father was the only family I had left. A car accident years ago had left him in a coma, a vegetable. He was kept alive by machines and IV drips in the ICU. To keep him alive, I had arranged for my entire salary to be deposited into a dedicated account that the hospital could draw from directly. How could the bills be overdue? The person on the other end repeated, “The card you provided for the hospital was frozen two weeks ago. We’ve been trying to contact you, but the number we have on file is no longer in service…” I was the second-in-command at the company. There was no reason for accounting to freeze my account. There was only one person who could have done this…

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1 My best friend, Scarlett, and I had somehow transmigrated into the bodies of the villainous sisters. She was a glamorous It-Girl, the darling of the entertainment industry, backed by the scion of the city’s elite, Lord Preston. I was the stunning A-list actress, infamous for my extravagant spending, the prized possession of the new money magnate, CEO Beckett. We bickered and squabbled, yet together, we crushed every wannabe starlet and social climber under our heels. That was until the innocent ‘pure white flower’ appeared. For her, Lord Preston, a.k.a. Preston Hayes, halted Scarlett’s projects. For her, CEO Beckett, a.k.a. Ethan Beckett, hadn’t touched me in days. Ah, the protagonist has arrived. … The Gold Star Awards ceremony was ablaze with flashbulbs. Scarlett and I, a freshly crowned Best Actress and a top-tier It-Girl, sat front and center in the first row, our designer gowns flowing together, an undeniable spectacle. Scarlett, her nails tipped with brilliant red polish, nudged me. “See that? Fifth row, dressed like she just rolled out of a thrift store. That’s Lily Evans.” She whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the crowd. I followed her gaze. A girl in faded jeans and a worn-out T-shirt stood out like a sore thumb among the sea of haute couture. “Is this chick clueless or is it some kind of performance art? Ugh, quite the statement,” I commented, a smirk playing on my lips. Scarlett snorted. “She’s going for the ‘pure, resilient little daisy’ vibe. Don’t get it? Soon enough, she’ll be ‘accidentally’ bumping into a powerful CEO. The main plot is definitely kicking off.” During the intermission, as the elegantly dressed crowd began to mingle, Lily, clutching a glass of red wine, took an “unfortunate” stumble. The entire contents of her glass, without fail, splashed all over a man. His pristine white custom-tailored suit instantly bloomed with large, crimson stains. Lily’s face blanched, her eyes welling with tears. “Oh, m-my apologies! Mr. Hayes, I truly didn’t mean to! I’ll replace it for you…” She trailed off, biting her lip, a picture of tearful, humble despair – how could a poor person like me ever afford to replace such a thing? Preston’s assistant was about to unleash a tirade, but Preston himself simply raised a hand. Far from angry, he offered Lily a handkerchief. “It’s fine. Wipe up, don’t be startled.” Watching the scene unfold from a distance, I playfully teased, “Looks like your sugar daddy’s getting hit on, Scarlett.” Scarlett’s smile stiffened for a second, then she forced a casual shrug. “Don’t worry, your big shot CEO won’t last three seconds either. This is where we start our villainess antics.” Preston had Lily sit beside him, effectively taking Scarlett’s usual spot. And my own CEO boyfriend, Ethan Beckett, Preston’s closest friend, was watching the whole thing with a curious smirk. Scarlett immediately slid into character, sashaying over, glass in hand, a captivating smile gracing her lips. “Preston, aren’t you going to introduce us? Who’s this young lady?” Lily, startled, shrank back behind Preston. “Miss Scarlett, please don’t misunderstand, Mr. Hayes asked me to sit here.” “I told her to sit here,” Preston cut in, his gaze sweeping over Scarlett. “Got a problem with that?” Scarlett’s smile vanished, her expression turning icy. She pressed on, unrelenting. Bravo, sis! You’re a quick study. Scarlett then swung her glass of red wine, aiming to drench Lily, but Preston swiftly raised a hand and slapped her across the face. He then loudly chastised Scarlett, mindlessly defending his new favorite. I walked over to Ethan, tugging at his sleeve. “That’s enough, give your friend some space. No need to make his girlfriend’s life a living hell.” Ethan, however, grabbed my wrist, his grip alarmingly strong. “Stella, since when did you become so busybody?” He flung my hand away and strode directly to Lily, taking off his own suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders with an air of possessive authority. “Miss Evans, please don’t mind them. They’ve been spoiled by us and don’t know any better. I apologize on their behalf.” Every eye in the banquet hall was fixed on us. Humiliation. Raw, public humiliation. Lily timidly looked up. “Mr. Beckett, please don’t be like this, it’s not your fault. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t be here.” She then started to cry. Ethan, his face full of concern, turned to me, his gaze freezing over. “Stella, come here.” He commanded. “Apologize to her.” I stood my ground, unmoving. I rolled my eyes at the overly dramatic Lily. Apologize to her? An A-list actress like me? She wouldn’t even be fit to carry my shoes on set, a ladder-climber who got ahead by buttering up directors. What a joke. Ethan’s patience snapped. He strode over to me, grabbing my arm. “Stella, don’t forget who you are. You’re nothing but a toy I bought and paraded around. If you don’t want me to cut off your resources, you’ll apologize to Miss Evans right now.” “Or,” he leaned closer, his voice a low growl meant only for my ears, “do you want me to teach you, in front of everyone, how to be a good little dog?” I felt a rush of blood to my head, followed by an instant chill. I looked at him, a sudden, almost serene smile gracing my lips, and slowly raised my hand, my gaze falling on the eight-figure Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon on my wrist. With a crisp click, I unfastened the clasp. Ethan’s face instantly darkened. “Stella, what are you doing?” I placed the cold, heavy wristwatch into his palm. The chill of the metal made him flinch instinctively. “Mr. Beckett, the five-year lease is up,” my voice was terrifyingly calm. “This watch, returned to its rightful owner.” With that, I turned and walked away, not sparing him another glance. Scarlett was quick on the uptake, her ten-centimeter heels clicking as she caught up to me, linking her arm through mine. “Men over 25 are practically sixty. Do these hundred-and-twenty-year-old geezers really think we’re desperate? Stella, let’s go have some real fun.” Under the gaze of hundreds, we walked out of the Gold Star Awards banquet, heads held high. Once outside, the evening breeze hit me, and I realized my back was drenched in cold sweat. Scarlett and I, two women in couture gowns and sparkling jewelry, stood arm in arm on a deserted street in the early hours of the morning, waiting for a ride-share. “I got a text,” I said, shaking my phone. The screen showed a bank notification – account frozen. “Ethan moves fast. All my cards are stopped.” “Tricky old man,” Scarlett rolled her eyes. “Mine too.” It had started to drizzle, tiny needles of cold rain pricking our exposed shoulders. We stumbled along, supporting each other, towards a nearby bus shelter to escape the rain. Sitting on the cold metal bench, raindrops dripped from our hair, our expensive gowns plastered damply to our skin. My mind was a chaotic mess, dominated by Ethan’s words: “good little dog.” Five years ago, when I first transmigrated, I was a struggling actress, a mere extra on set. I’d refused a director’s inappropriate advances, been slapped, and was curled in a corner, crying. That’s when Ethan appeared, like a god descending. He kicked the director away, then charmingly removed his suit jacket and draped it over me, covering my torn costume. His hand gently touched my swollen cheek, his voice deep and powerful. “Does it hurt?” I nodded, tears still flowing. He pulled me into a protective embrace. “From today on, no one dares to lay a hand on you but me. Stella, you won’t have to answer to anyone else. You only need to look at me.” Back then, I thought he was my savior. The rain intensified, and I began to shiver with cold. Scarlett took off her warm little shawl and wrapped it around me. “What are you thinking about?” “I’m wondering if I made a mistake from the very beginning.” “What good is thinking about that now?” Scarlett said. “Let’s figure out what we do next. All our resources are going to Lily.” Just then, my phone screen lit up. A text from an unknown number. “Saw you at the awards. Are you okay? Your old friend, Shane Yu.” Shane Yu. The name made me pause. He was a friend from my real life, before I transmigrated. We had anticipated this day, secretly saving up and buying a small apartment together. Back in our apartment, after shedding our soaked gowns and taking a long, hot shower, we curled up on the sofa, each with a mug of hot cocoa. I opened my phone to check social media. Eight out of the top ten trending topics were about us. #StellaBeckettSplit #ScarlettFallsFromGrace #LilyNewPrincessOfPrestonDynasty #BeckettHayesBrotherhood The comments section was even more… colorful. “LOL, I always hated Stella, a gold digger who actually thought she was the main squeeze.” “Scarlett too, always scowling. Preston must have been sick of her!” “Am I the only one who thinks Lily is so brave and pitiful? She’s like a pure white lotus blooming in the mud!” “^Above, I just got inside info: Stella’s S-tier blockbuster, Phoenix’s Cry, the lead role has been given to Lily!” “Figures,” Scarlett scoffed. “Killing two birds with one stone. One gets resources, the other gets to invest. Her plans are so obvious, you can hear them from a mile away.” Just as she finished speaking, Scarlett’s phone rang. She answered it with a questioning look, putting it on speaker. “Hello?” A soft, tearful female voice came from the other end. “Is… is this Miss Scarlett?” “I am truly sorry,” she choked out. “I didn’t know things would turn out this way. Mr. Hayes just took pity on me, that’s why he helped me. Your and Miss Stella’s projects being canceled, it’s all my fault.” Scarlett scoffed. “Get to the point.” “I heard Mr. Beckett say that Miss Stella must be going through a lot right now. Mr. Beckett actually cares about her very much, he’s just mad she’s so proud, unlike me, who understands how to be considerate.” “And?” “So if you two need money, I can go beg Mr. Beckett and Mr. Hayes, they both have very kind hearts.” “Lily Evans!” Scarlett cut her off. “Are you seriously thick, or just pretending? Do I need to translate ‘get lost’ for you?” With that, Scarlett hung up. “Damn it,” she threw her phone aside. “Top-tier green tea, confirmed. She’s trying to provoke us.” I nodded, about to speak when my former agent, Ms. Jenkins, called, sobbing hysterically. “Stella, my dear girl! My precious daughter! Mr. Beckett pulled funding from Phoenix’s Cry! He said he won’t invest a dime unless you’re replaced! The production team has officially announced Lily as the new lead!” I comforted Ms. Jenkins for a few moments, then hung up, my heart cold. Ethan was clearly trying to cut off all my paths. Scarlett’s phone rang again. The name ‘Preston Hayes’ flashed on the screen. Scarlett stared at the name for a few seconds, then swiped to answer. From the other end, Preston’s voice was chillingly devoid of emotion, cutting straight to the chase. “Lily is allergic to cat fur.” Scarlett said nothing. “Get rid of that cat you keep in the hillside villa.” That ragdoll cat was a gift from Preston last year, flown in from overseas at a six-figure cost for Scarlett’s birthday. He’d even personally said, “It’s called ‘Unique,’ because you are my only one.” Scarlett gripped her phone, her knuckles white from the pressure. Preston, on the other end, grew impatient. “Did you hear me? Immediately. Now.”

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