Category: English

After Women’s Day, my CEO wife created a “Men’s Day” and gave every male employee a gaming keyboard—except me. I overheard colleagues in the break room: “She set this up just for her boyfriend Liam. Even bought him a high-end gaming PC.” “He keeps bothering the CEO. No wonder she’s avoiding him.” I remembered the flashy setup the intern Noah got this morning. Amy never gave me a gift, not even on anniversaries. Lately, she’s been distant, only talking about work worries. I turned down Gray Corp’s offer to help her startup, worked tirelessly, even agreed to a secret marriage. All I got was her silence during rumors and clear favoritism toward the intern. Holding the hard drive with the latest tech, I called Gray Corp. “Deal. Technology for equity.” … A few seconds of silence, then Hannah Gray, known as the “tech industry’s Iron Lady,” couldn’t hide the excitement in her voice. “Charles, don’t worry. I guarantee your decision will be the best choice you’ve ever made! Tomorrow’s Eastern Pacific tender, with your technology, we’re set!” As soon as I agreed, the phone in my hand was snatched away. I turned to meet Amy Quinn’s cold gaze, a group of gloating employees standing behind her. She ended my call without a glance, her tone icy. “It’s just a keyboard. As a tech lead, do you really need to make a scene at HR? If word gets out, people will think Noah is deliberately making things difficult for you. Where would that leave him?” A bitter smile played on my lips— I hadn’t even reached HR, and she was already so worried about Noah. But for the past year, in the eyes of colleagues, I’d become a lecherous man destroying her and her boyfriend’s relationship, with vicious rumors flying everywhere, yet she acted deaf and ignored it all. Seeing the boss angry, the others naturally understood and joined in with harsh words. “Manager Gray, being an old bachelor, probably never received a keyboard before. Is that why he’s so sensitive?” “Are home-wreckers always this shameless? Ms. Quinn tried to avoid you and not give you a keyboard, but you still insisted on coming over!” “Men’s Day, as the name suggests, is for young, handsome guys like Noah and us. What’s an old fossil like you even thinking?” Every word pierced me like an arrow. Amy Quinn’s face, however, showed no ripple of emotion— I instantly understood that they were probably her mouthpieces, which was why she was so calm. I trembled with anger, looking coldly at this woman I’d been married to for seven years. “I am also a male employee of the company. Is there a problem with me fighting for the benefits I’m entitled to?” Seeing my eyes redden, a flicker of emotion finally crossed Amy Quinn’s face, and she sighed lightly. “If you want—” Noah Dubois suddenly appeared, clutching the gaming rig, and interrupted her, sobbing. “Manager Gray, it’s my fault. As an intern, I don’t deserve this! If you like it, take it. Please don’t use your managerial position to pressure me. I’m really scared!” His few close colleagues in the company also stepped forward, complaining passive-aggressively. “This morning, as soon as Noah received the keyboard, Manager Gray made him print hundreds of pages of garbled files within an hour. Noah stood by the printer until his back was breaking, but what came out was clearly useless paper that no one would read. Isn’t this blatant workplace bullying?” Amy Quinn saw the pile of half-printed documents on the desk, and that hint of emotion on her face instantly vanished. She pulled out a stack of what looked like gibberish, angrily tore it to shreds, and scattered it all over me. “And I thought about compensating you. Our Quinn Industries has always valued employee care as its corporate culture. You, a degenerate who bullies subordinates, are utterly disgraceful!” Behind the scattered papers were Noah and his friends’ triumphant smiles. But Amy Quinn didn’t know that what was written on those papers was my latest technical report, which I had slaved over for five sleepless nights. I had asked the intern to print it this morning because I wanted to present it to Eastern Pacific Group, the largest client in the industry, before the bidding closed, to secure the project directly. She grabbed another stack of papers and savagely slapped them across my face. “Apologize to Noah, now!” The sharp edges of the A4 paper left several cuts on my face. The tingling pain, however, was nothing compared to the desolation in my heart. I bent down to pick up the documents I had painstakingly worked on, my voice as cold as my heart. “He didn’t follow my instructions to produce the files within an hour this morning because he wanted to show off his new equipment. He’s the one who should apologize!” 2 Amy Quinn’s face grew even darker. She stepped forward and grabbed my collar. “Charles Gray, when did you become so deceitful and malicious? You’re clearly in the wrong, and for a bit of jealousy, you’d abandon all dignity? Kneel down and apologize to Noah, and I… I might let you stay on the team!” The crowd of petty people erupted. “You old home-wrecker, using your position to bully and harass the rightful person, and you still have the nerve to demand an apology?” “A pile of waste paper, wasting company resources and disrupting our work. What right does such a selfish, lowlife man have to be a manager?” “You usually know you’re cheap. You don’t even take salary or benefits, just cling to Ms. Quinn. Today, for a measly flower, you finally couldn’t keep up the act, could you?” I couldn’t help but let out a self-deprecating laugh— When Amy Quinn and I married, she was penniless, but she knew I liked to relax by playing games, and she often saved up to buy me gaming equipment. Our lives were humble then, but our hearts were full. Until she clamored to start her own business, pinching every penny, with no time to buy me equipment. As a renowned tech expert in the industry, I had no choice but to invest my money and efforts to support her. It wasn’t until last year, when the company began to thrive, expanding its team and hiring many interns, that she aimed to capture the market. I watched her every step of the way, knowing her struggles as an entrepreneur, so I joined Quinn Industries without a salary, giving all benefits to the new recruits. Even when rumors about her and Noah reached my ears, Even knowing that Noah, an intern, could expense anything without receipts or limits, Even though he’d been here only a year and couldn’t even manage basic printing, his year-end bonus was a sports car, I believed Amy Quinn’s explanation, “to show care for subordinates and enhance team cohesion.” But for today’s benefit, I always thought, given my preferences, she surely wouldn’t omit me. Yet, I never expected that my years of silent endurance and support would only be seen by everyone as undeserving. I pointed at the data on the document, looking at Amy Quinn with heartache. “This is the technical data I created with my blood and sweat. If it had been completed according to my timeline this morning, this document alone could have secured the Eastern Pacific bid ahead of time. Now it’s all ruined. Shouldn’t he be the one to go?” Noah, whom I was pointing at, his eyes darted around, then tears streamed down his face. “Manager Gray, I just got Ms. Quinn’s favor, and you’re setting such a malicious trap for me? No wonder you gave me a time limit to print so many documents. It turns out you couldn’t develop the software Ms. Quinn requested and were afraid of losing tomorrow’s bid, so you wanted to blame me! Are you really going to harm me just to cling to Ms. Quinn?” Others also chimed in. “I heard Ms. Quinn has been dissatisfied with the tech department for not breaking through the bottleneck for a year. This old fox is cunning, using Noah as a scapegoat!” “So it didn’t matter if the printed documents were garbled. It was just to give Noah an impossible task, purely for blame-shifting!” “How insidious! No wonder a man tries to climb the ladder by being a home-wrecker. Turns out he knows he’s incompetent!” Amy Quinn’s eyes were like daggers. She shoved me onto the pile of documents on the floor. “You’re truly scheming to calculate against Noah! I wondered why you volunteered for the tech work and then went quiet for so long. Turns out you were spending all your time plotting against Noah! Apologize to Noah immediately, or don’t even think about staying with the company!” But she forgot, back when the company was just starting and couldn’t afford employees, I often filled in for all positions. Including printing hundreds of pages within an hour, which she always considered basic. But when it came to Noah, it became me deliberately making things difficult. I gave a desolate smile, stood up, brushed off the paper scraps, took off my ID badge, and packed my belongings. “No need for threats. I’m quitting right now!” I printed another document, signed it, and handed it to her. “Sign this, and I’ll send you the mailing address.” Seeing the words “Divorce Agreement,” Amy Quinn froze, then instinctively grabbed me as I was about to leave— 3 Others assumed I was handing her a resignation letter and cheered. Only Noah, seeing her hold me back, his face instantly clouded over. He quickly pulled Amy Quinn’s arm away. “Ms. Quinn, are you trying to drag Manager Gray back to apologize to me? If he resigns as an apology, I might not be able to accept it…” Amy Quinn then recovered herself. Always mindful of her boss image, she quickly nodded along with his words. “Exactly, how can I let this scoundrel leave so easily?” She yanked me back, pressing me hard against the wall. “If I win the bid tomorrow, I’ll be a legendary heroine in the business world! How can you just leave at a time like this?” The fierce and unwilling look in her eyes, made it impossible for me to tell if she was keeping me for the bid, or for a love that had been worn down to a mere inconvenience by time. But I had long lost the interest to guess her thoughts. My heart like ashes, I stared straight into her eyes. “Since you think I’m incompetent, and you resent me for interfering with your love life, why stop me?” Amy Quinn’s face stiffened. She glanced at Noah behind her, making a clumsy attempt to cover up. “You’re neglecting your duties and bullying a colleague. Don’t drag me into it!” Then she leaned in, gritting her teeth and whispering. “Just because I’ve been busy with work these past few months and a bit less intimate in bed, you’re going to make a fuss over a keyboard and turn everything upside down?” I shook my head, speechless, and forcefully pushed her away. The contents of the cardboard box in my arms scattered across the floor. Noah immediately picked up the most conspicuous item, a photo album. He opened it and sneered. “No wonder Manager Gray is in such a hurry to leave Quinn Industries. Turns out he saw Ms. Quinn was out of reach and found someone new!” Others glanced at it and followed suit with mocking laughter. “Today, seeing he didn’t even get a keyboard, he knew Ms. Quinn was a lost cause and started looking for a new sugar mommy. How utterly pathetic! Looks like he’s been eagerly riding cars to hook up with new targets. Shameless!” But Amy Quinn’s face turned ashen as she looked at the contents— The album contained no photos, only train tickets. It was from college, during the National Computer Competition. She, as part of their school’s logistics team, fell for me at first sight and confessed passionately. But back then, I was already the school’s renowned prodigy, unmatched in software technology. Compared to her, a student who liked to play all sides and often failed classes, we were worlds apart. I gently rejected her, but after the competition, she came back again and again, even standing for hours on trains, to win me over. Moved by her persistence, I agreed to a relationship. When we got married, she gave me an album made of all those tickets, tears streaming down her face as she hugged me. “It took me thousands of miles to catch you. How could I not cherish you?” But now, this album of tickets had become the most ridiculous irony. Seeing my silence, the employees assumed they had guessed my illicit affair. They immediately took out their phones, pointed them at my face, and started a live stream. “I’ve never seen such a shameless kept man. Failing with one, he immediately goes to ruin the next. Everyone beware!” Instantly, my swollen face, paired with the title “Most Afraid of an Old Kept Man Who Tries Hard,” spread across the entire internet. Netizens delighted in the gossip, defamation flowing freely. “So old and still wanting to be a mistress. Isn’t earning money in bed tiring?” “Who told him he’s incompetent? No skills, so he has to rely on his body!” Some also questioned. “This man looks familiar. He seems to have won many tech awards before. He should earn quite a bit of money. Is it really necessary to be a kept man?” Seeing the public outcry, I was furious. I grabbed Amy Quinn’s collar. “Whether I’m a kept man or not, you know best. Tell everyone…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394925”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The day I was diagnosed with cancer, I walked in on my wife cheating with a young man and transferring assets. Just as I was about to confront the despicable pair, a body-swapping system suddenly bound to me. The system stated that I could swap identities with any same-sex target at any time. Watching my wife and the young man in each other’s arms, I smiled. From then on, she wanted a car? Buy. Wanted money? Transfer. Wanted the company? Sign it over. She thought she was draining me, but she was digging her own grave. I cooperated with her to transfer every penny, signing every debt in her name. When she had squeezed the last drop of blood from me, planning to run off with her lover. I closed my eyes and activated the body-swapping system. The assets were all mine, and the cancer was his! … “Honey, Summer invited me to the riverside to take photos. She said they just built a new trendy spot there.” My wife, Amelia, was dressed exceptionally beautifully today, applying lipstick over and over in front of the mirror. I nodded, not giving it much thought. “Alright, go ahead then. After the photos, you can stroll through the pedestrian street. Do you have enough money?” Amelia immediately pouted and walked over, shaking my arm, her voice soft and sweet. “Oh, I just got a new phone, so I only have living expenses left. I don’t even dare to go shopping.” Her playful demeanor and expression were exactly the same as when we were dating. Amelia herself was charming and lovely. When she pouted, she nearly melted my heart. Normally, I’d fall for it every time. I picked up my phone, smiled, and transferred twenty thousand dollars to her. “Tell me if it’s not enough. Have fun, buy whatever you like.” “You’re the best, honey! Love you!” Amelia stood on tiptoe, left a lipstick mark on my cheek, then picked up her small purse and click-clacked out the door in her high heels. I wiped away the mark on my face, a touch of bitterness in my heart. Five years of marriage. Although work kept me busy, Amelia and I had always had a good relationship. She loved to spend and shop, and I indulged her. The company was doing well, so a little extra spending was no big deal. But she didn’t know that my last physical had confirmed I had pancreatic cancer. I… wouldn’t live another year! At two in the afternoon, I drove to the office, ready to rush through a batch of contracts. The intersection ahead was completely blocked. I leaned out to look, a traffic officer directing, seemingly due to an accident. This road had heavy traffic; a blockage would last at least half an hour. I simply turned around, taking a detour through the business district. While waiting at a red light, I casually glanced out the window. That one glance made my heart skip a beat. In front of a glass door at the mall across the street, a woman was taking photos. A white dress, black stockings, smiling with eyes curved. Wasn’t that my wife, Amelia? But the one holding the phone and taking pictures for her wasn’t her best friend, Summer, but a young man. Buzz cut, sportswear, his muscles straining against his T-shirt. After taking a photo, Amelia jogged over to look, then practically hung onto his arm. They were laughing and chatting, their poses intimate. “Beep beep beep—” The light turned green, and the cars behind honked. I snapped out of it, stomped on the gas, then pulled over. In the rearview mirror, my face was expressionless, but my eyes were frighteningly red. I took off my suit jacket, tossed it into the car, and rummaged through the trunk for a baseball cap to put on. After getting out, I quickly walked towards the mall. Tracking them was easier than I expected. To ensure I kept up without being noticed, I maintained a distance of about twenty yards. The two were too engrossed, completely unaware of the man in the cap behind them. They first went to the food court on the basement level and got two milk teas. Amelia took a sip from one, then stood on tiptoe and put the straw into the man’s mouth. He wrapped an arm around her waist and took a big gulp. Their movements were practiced and natural, like a couple deeply in love. I clenched my fists, my gaze fixed on the two despicable creatures. After a few sips of milk tea, they took the escalator to the cinema on the fifth floor. I didn’t buy a ticket, only watching them go in. Outside the ticket booth, I leaned against the wall, staring at the exit. The wait was agonizing. I checked my phone countless times, each time only two or three minutes had passed. I don’t know how long it was, but the door opened, and their figures reappeared. My first thought was that Amelia’s state wasn’t right. Her face was abnormally red, her hair was messy, and her long dress seemed disheveled. She was trying to straighten her skirt with her hand. Looking at the man again, there was a lipstick mark on his face, and a section of his T-shirt hem wasn’t tucked in, as if he’d hastily tidied himself. As someone who’d been there, I was all too familiar with that state. Watching a movie? More like a live show. A rush of blood went to my head. I clenched my fists, took a step forward, determined to tear into that despicable pair. Just then, a mechanical voice exploded in my mind. [Ding! Identity Swap System successfully bound!] [Host can swap identities with any same-sex target at any time!] What the hell? Identity swap? I stared at the man’s back, a glint of light flashing in my eyes. After returning home, I immediately took action. Having started my business years ago, I had carved a path in a fiercely competitive industry. My network and resources were not to be underestimated. I knew plenty of people on both the legitimate and less-than-legitimate sides of things. I went straight to the city’s most professional private investigator, old Mr. Jenkins. He used to be a soldier, then a police officer, but after making a mistake, he was dismissed and started working as a private detective. While tracking Amelia, I secretly took a few front-facing photos of the two of them. I handed the photos to Mr. Jenkins, instructing him: “Mr. Jenkins, I need your help. Money is no object. I need detailed investigation reports as soon as possible!” Mr. Jenkins pocketed the photos. “Don’t worry, I know what to do.” With a generous reward, Mr. Jenkins’ efficiency was astounding. In less than a week, he had everything uncovered. In the agreed-upon private room at the tea house, Mr. Jenkins handed me a manila envelope, looking at me with a touch of sympathy. “Mr. Anderson, it’s all clear. The young man is named Sam Wilton, 27, unemployed, lives at The Gilded Manor, Unit 1203. All his information and photos are inside. You can review them yourself.” I nodded, signaling him to drink his tea first. The envelope was thick and bulging with documents. I untied the string and pulled out the top stack of photos. The first one: Amelia walking into a hotel with Sam, at three in the afternoon. The second: Amelia applying sunscreen to Sam by the pool. Sam was shirtless, Amelia only wearing a bikini. The third: Amelia passionately kissing Sam in a car, parked in a deserted area, the windows half-open. I calmly flipped through each photo, a vein throbbing in my temple. “Bastard!” I couldn’t hold back, slapping the table and cursing aloud. Mr. Jenkins didn’t say a word, pouring me a cup of tea. I never expected Amelia, who always presented herself as a goddess to me, to be so utterly devoted to an unemployed loafer. Though, to be fair, Sam was young, handsome, and in good shape—definitely the type women found attractive. I wasn’t bad-looking myself once, but after years of building my business, I had to pour my life into it. This led to weight gain, darker skin, and my energy was nowhere near what it used to be. Composing myself, I set the photos aside and continued reading the documents. Sam Wilton, 27, high school dropout, worked in sales, as a fitness instructor, and in nightclubs. Currently lives at The Gilded Manor 1203, monthly rent five thousand, drives a new BMW 320 bought last year. His spending records were also attached. Under normal circumstances, this guy hadn’t worked in over a year, but his spending was not low. He went to a bar almost every night, ate at brand-name restaurants in the mall, and bought trendy clothes and shoes. An unemployed man, where did he get the money? It wasn’t until I saw Amelia’s bank statements that I understood. Amelia’s transaction records over the past two years far exceeded previous years. A series of transfers, clear and piercing, some for a few thousand, many for tens of thousands. The largest single transfer was last June, a full hundred thousand. Some of that money was for clothes and bags I bought her, some she claimed was for stocks and funds, and some I gave her to help with her company’s cash flow. No wonder she had become so lavish with her spending these past two years. I thought I had spoiled her, but it turned out all the money was going into Sam’s pocket. “Mr. Anderson, take a look at this.” Mr. Jenkins suddenly spoke, pulling a sheet of paper from the very bottom of the file. “I used quite a few connections to dig this up.” I took it curiously. It was a company registration form. “Summit Commerce LLC” Legal Representative: Sam Wilton. Registration Date: One year ago. When I saw the shareholder information section, my pupils abruptly contracted. Shareholder: Evergreen Apparel Co., Ltd., holding 80% shares. Investment Amount: One million dollars. Evergreen Apparel was the company under Amelia’s name. Seeing this, I understood everything. A year ago, Amelia had told me that due to market impact, her company had lost several major clients, and profits had significantly declined. She said she had adjusted her strategy and was confident of a comeback. At the time, I praised her for her courage. But it turned out she wasn’t facing operational difficulties; she was transferring assets. Using the money I earned to register a company, listing her lover as the legal representative. When the time was ripe, she could directly absorb all of Evergreen Apparel, then take the money and that young man and vanish. And me? I would probably foolishly continue to make money, continue to spend on her, until I was drained and finally kicked aside. I took a deep breath, neatly stacked the photos and documents, and put them back in the file. “Thank you for your hard work. The remaining payment will be transferred to you immediately.” Mr. Jenkins nodded, then hesitated. “Mr. Anderson, I’ve seen a lot of this kind of thing. If you need anything further, you can always find me.” “No need,” I interrupted him, picking up the now-cold tea and draining it. “I’ll handle the rest myself.” With the body-swapping system at hand, did I still need to fear Amelia transferring assets? I didn’t even need to fear pancreatic cancer anymore! “Honey, look at this!” Amelia shoved her phone in my face. In the short video, a female car owner was showing off an automatic parking feature, the car turning its steering wheel on its own, precisely parking into a spot. “Modern domestic new energy vehicles are so smart, they can even self-park! You know I hate parking the most, I sweat every time I reverse. Could you… buy one for me?” Amelia leaned in, looked up at me, her voice soft as cotton candy. I glanced at the screen. The latest model of a certain brand’s electric car, even the lowest trim, cost at least thirty thousand. I sneered inwardly. Quite an appetite. Was she rushing to accelerate the process, seeing that I hadn’t been completely drained yet? However, this was exactly what I wanted. I put down my phone and nodded seriously: “Okay, supporting domestic brands starts with us. If we’re buying, let’s get the top trim. I’ll have accounting transfer fifty thousand to you tomorrow. If it’s not enough, we’ll add more.” Amelia paused, probably not expecting it to be so smooth. The next second, she sprang up from the sofa, jumped onto me, and wrapped her arms tightly around my neck: “You’re the best, honey! I love you so much!” “I’ll go run a bath for you!” She put me down and ran towards the bathroom, then halfway there, she turned back and winked at me, “Tonight… I’m going to reward you properly. You can do anything you want.” Despite her allure, I felt no stir of emotion. The thought of her with that young man made me sick to my stomach. I put on a tired expression: “The company’s been busy lately, a lot of pressure. I’m too exhausted today. I just want a good night’s sleep.” “Then I’ll give you a massage later,” Amelia said, not thinking much of it, and turned to run the bath. In the days that followed, Amelia’s requests for money became more frequent, and her reasons more outlandish. “Honey, my best friend Chloe said she wants to buy a house and is a little short on cash. I promised to lend her a hundred thousand.” “Honey, my cousin, you’ve met him, he’s in debt from online loans and people are cornering him at home. He’s begging me for fifteen thousand to save him.” “Honey, my grandfather had a heart attack and needs surgery. It’s twenty thousand.” To all her requests, my answer was one word: “Yes!” Two months later, our household savings hit rock bottom. The company’s liquid funds were also almost depleted. But it wasn’t enough. This amount of money was far from what she needed to “fly away with her lover.” Moreover, my body couldn’t wait any longer. In these two months, besides playing along with her, I also had to contend with my terminal illness. Late-stage pancreatic cancer was no joke. At first, it was just a mild pain, but it gradually worsened until one night I woke up from the sheer agony. I bit into my pillow, drenched in a cold sweat, not daring to make a sound, afraid of waking Amelia next door. During a follow-up visit, the doctor frowned at the scans: “It’s not being controlled effectively. The spread is faster than expected…” If that was the case, perhaps I should help her, speed things up. That evening at dinner, I deliberately sighed. “What’s wrong, honey?” Amelia asked with concern, but a hint of wariness was hidden in her eyes. She was probably afraid I would stop her financial supply. I put down my chopsticks and frowned, “There’s a big project recently that requires expanding our production scale. I’m thinking of mortgaging the company and borrowing ten million to take a gamble, but the risk is significant. If the project fails, the company might go bankrupt.” She didn’t speak, her eyes darting around, wondering what I was thinking. I held her hand. “How about we get a fake divorce? We’ll get the divorce certificate first, and then I’ll put the mortgaged company money under your name. Even if something happens to the company, I’ll bear the debt alone. It’s just that you’ll be ‘inconvenienced’ with a divorce on your record.” Amelia froze. She probably hadn’t expected me to not only willingly allow her to drain my assets but also proactively suggest divorce and give her a huge sum of money. She barely suppressed the curve of her lips, squeezing out a few tears from the corners of her eyes. “Honey, don’t worry. Even if you truly lose everything, I will never leave you.” At that moment, I even admired her acting skills. If I hadn’t seen those photos, hadn’t found those transfers, I might have actually believed her. The paperwork was processed quickly. Legal representative change, mortgage loan, asset transfer. I actively cooperated with every step, signing and stamping. Once everything was settled, Amelia’s attitude began to change. She came home later and later, her gaze towards me growing colder. Finally, one evening, Amelia linked her arm with mine and said cheerfully, “Honey, I want to go on a trip for a few days.” “Where to?” I asked subconsciously. Amelia blinked her big eyes. “Haven’t decided yet, just wherever the road takes me.” My heart stirred. I knew Amelia was preparing to flee. “Alright, go ahead. Have a good time.” The next morning, Amelia left the house, dragging her suitcase. The door closed. Her footsteps gradually faded away. The moment she left, I immediately woke up. Then, I closed my eyes and silently recited in my mind.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394906”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

At 3 AM, I was suddenly woken up by a call from building management. Opening my phone, I saw someone had tagged me in the residents’ group chat. [Unit 1601, have you no shame? Screaming every night at this hour, afraid no one knows you’re making babies, are you?!] [My daughter just started college, and now you’ve made her precocious.] [If you dare to scream again, I’ll go live from my apartment and let everyone know how shameless you are!] The neighbor downstairs kept yelling at me, and other residents chimed in, saying my screams disturbed them. But I wasn’t even home! Considering the possibility of my husband’s infidelity, I quickly turned on the bedroom monitor. The moment I saw the woman in the bed clearly, I smiled. Isn’t that the college-aged daughter from downstairs? 1 After a week of back-to-back meetings out of town, all I wanted was to get home and catch up on sleep. At three in the morning, the driver had just gotten onto the highway. Lying in the back seat, I was jolted awake by an unexpected call from building management. Opening the residents’ group chat, I saw it was Helen Carter downstairs making a fuss again. Ever since she moved in below me, she’d either complain about our heavy footsteps disturbing her sleep, or about our frequent guests making the elevator pass her unit too often. She’d tagged me countless times over minor and major issues. Seeing her latest accusation was completely baseless, I initially didn’t plan to respond. But neighbors who usually stayed quiet in the chat also chimed in. [Everyone understands these things, but the noise is too loud. It’s really disruptive, 1601, you should be more careful.] [This is a school district. Everyone has underage kids. Yesterday, my son also asked me what that noise was. It’s really hard to explain.] Seeing everyone’s comments, I was bewildered. If only Helen had heard it, she might be deliberately causing trouble. But I didn’t have conflicts with other neighbors normally, so they had no reason to falsely accuse me. Perhaps they mistook noise from another unit for coming from mine. Thinking this, I sent a screenshot of my meeting records from out of town last night and my current location to the group. “I haven’t been home for the past two days. You must have the wrong person.” After I explained, the group fell silent. Five minutes later, Helen sent a scornful voice message. [I pressed my ear against the door, and the sound definitely came from your unit. If not you, then who?] My heart sank, and I quickly considered the possibility of my husband’s infidelity. But we’d known each other since high school, endured a difficult long-distance relationship through college, and built everything we had today together through our joint venture. After so many years of marriage, I really couldn’t believe he would cheat. Another neighbor tagged me in the chat, [1601, we know your husband has stamina, but can you please keep it down!] I gripped my trembling hand, typing a reply in the group. “I’m not home. Please wait, I’m checking the surveillance.” My best friend had convinced me to secretly install cameras in the bedroom. She said our assets were substantial now, and I traveled frequently, so divorce might be inevitable someday. If my husband cheated first, the cameras might capture evidence. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. But now, I actually saw my husband and another woman in the surveillance footage! The woman happened to turn her head. The moment I saw her, I froze. Isn’t that Helen Carter’s college-aged daughter?! 2 I stared at the screen in disbelief, my body shaking uncontrollably. At that moment, I knew for sure that the man who had struggled alongside me had cheated. And I didn’t even know when he had gotten involved with his mistress. Helen’s angry messages continued to flood the group. I was furious and resentful, but I also knew that the most urgent thing wasn’t to retaliate, but to preserve evidence and catch them in the act! Over the years, my husband Mark and I had accumulated tens of millions in shared assets. Since he was the one who cheated first, I was determined to take as much money as possible during the divorce. I quickly contacted my best friend, who was a lawyer. Upon learning of Mark’s infidelity, she cursed him a few times, then asked, “How long until you get home?” I looked up at the driver. He had already sensed that something was wrong from my conversation with my best friend, and had significantly increased the car’s speed. He turned back and told me, “Two hours.” My best friend immediately began contacting a private investigator to help me gather evidence. She also cautioned me not to tip them off before I got home. If people in the community decided to knock on my door, I should incite them to go together in the group chat, ensuring there would be witnesses. Before hanging up, she said: “Anna, be careful on the road. Don’t let yourself get sick over a man who isn’t worth it.” From the moment I discovered Mark’s infidelity, I had only felt surprise and anger. But after seeing my best friend’s message, tears still stubbornly fell onto my phone. No time to dwell on my past with Mark, Helen, seeing that I wasn’t responding, initiated a group voice call. I casually hung up. Helen continued to post in the group. [Oh, so you can see the group messages. Why are you silent then?] [Are you pretending to be a victim who just found out her husband cheated?] [I saw your car this afternoon. You’re home. Now you’re afraid to admit it?] [You were so loud when you were screaming, now you’re ashamed?] I explained again that I was indeed on the highway and wouldn’t be home for another hour and a half. Helen still didn’t believe me. [If that woman upstairs really isn’t you, I’ll not only apologize to you publicly, but I’ll personally help you catch them, and smash that mistress’s face in!] I seized the opportunity, following Helen’s words, and said: “Then I’m afraid I’ll really have to trouble you, Helen, to smash that mistress’s face in.” “I saw on the monitor that those animals are sleeping right now.” “I’ll be home in an hour and a half. Please don’t alert them yet. When I get to the complex, I’d appreciate it if any neighbors who are awake would come with me to catch them in the act and help me seek justice!” The people in the group just wanted to watch the drama; no one really wanted to get involved in this messy situation. When I invited them to catch the cheaters, the group instantly fell silent. Only Helen was still cursing me. [You bitch, for sympathy, you’re denying this, even ruining your own husband’s reputation!] [Others don’t know you, but I do!] [When my house was being renovated, you pretended to be sick and said you needed to sleep, telling the workers to be quiet, which delayed my move-in by a month!] [Later, you hit and killed my dog with your car, but stubbornly claimed you had a leg injury and weren’t driving at all.] [You sly manipulative woman, this time I’ll make you pay!] I remembered both incidents Helen mentioned. Because this complex was close to my company, I was one of the first residents to move in. At the time, many people were indeed still renovating. Everyone renovated during the day, but Helen, wanting to supervise herself, insisted on having workers only after working hours. I approached Helen to discuss this several times, but she would just sneer after sizing up my clothes. “How would a pampered wife like you know how much we’ve sacrificed for this apartment? Of course, I need to supervise the renovation carefully. If it’s too noisy, go stay in a hotel!” At the time, I was running a high fever and didn’t have the energy to argue with her, so I called the police directly. Helen then began renovating during the day, but after moving in, she felt I had delayed her renovation progress and demanded 100,000 in compensation for emotional distress. I completely ignored her. But a month later, as I was driving out, her daughter, walking her dog, ran directly towards my car. Even though I slammed on the brakes, I still hit the dog, and it died instantly. Helen and my husband both rushed to the scene. Helen hysterically claimed the dog was part of their family and demanded 200,000 in compensation. I insisted on legal procedures, and my husband immediately called the police. When the police questioned Helen’s daughter, she was so frightened she just cried, and ultimately the dashcam proved my innocence. Out of humanitarianism, I paid 50,000. Helen grumbled her dissatisfaction, cursing that I would definitely get my comeuppance. My husband silently watched the distant Clara Doyle. That, I believe, must have been their first meeting. And now, they were lying in the same bed. 3 I didn’t rush to explain the truth in the group chat, but quickly relayed my new discovery to my best friend. “Clara Doyle and Mark likely started communicating after I hit that dog.” My best friend, armed with the private investigator’s findings, helped me trace Mark’s infidelity timeline. March 10, 2025: Mark first met Clara Doyle. June 23: Clara Doyle, claiming her water heater was broken, went upstairs to Mark’s apartment for a shower while I was away. August 15: The two entered a hotel together, one after the other. As of today, nearly seven months later, they had met 53 times, and Mark had spent two million from our joint account on her. The wedding apartment my parents gave me before marriage had become their secret rendezvous spot. My hands trembled with anger. Helen’s messages continued to flood the group. [This Anna Gu is the worst. She loves to play the innocent victim. Being her neighbor is truly bad luck!] [Good thing none of you with kids live too close to her, otherwise, if a child cries at night, she might just fabricate a heart condition and claim the child’s noise caused a relapse!] [Unlike me, I painstakingly raised my daughter for twenty years. She’s sweet and sensible, and blushes even seeing people kiss, yet she has to listen to her screaming every night upstairs!] [If she corrupts my innocent daughter, I swear I won’t live!] The word ‘innocent’ was particularly jarring. I immediately screenshot my home monitor and sent it to the group. In the image, Mark was asleep, embracing a woman. But because the image was blurry, Helen couldn’t recognize it as Clara Doyle, and started yelling at me. [Anna Gu, you are truly shameless. Why are you sending photos of you and your husband sleeping to the group chat!] [Don’t you know there might be minors in this group!] I sent a video of myself on the highway to the group, explaining, “I’m on the highway, I’ll be home in forty minutes. The monitor footage is live. How many times do I have to tell you, the woman screaming in my house is not me!” Seeing my anger, people in the group started trying to calm Helen down, saying it might really be a misunderstanding. Helen, however, remained defiant. [Just look at Anna Gu’s manipulative act. If I had really wronged her, she would have cried and called the police by now!] [I didn’t mean to be aggressive. As long as she promises not to be so loud in the future and compensates my daughter with 300,000 for emotional distress, this matter will be over.] Seeing the messages in the group, I couldn’t help but sneer. No wonder she reacted so strongly in the group today! She thought she’d caught me making a mistake and wanted to extort money from me! She demanded 100,000 during the renovation, and 200,000 when I hit her dog. She called me a pampered wife supported by my husband, but in her heart, she coveted my money. I could no longer contain my fury and sent a voice message directly to the group: “Helen, let’s not even talk about the woman upstairs not being me. Even if it were, your current actions are extortion!” Helen was not to be outdone. [I’m spreading rumors about you? My voice is hoarse from screaming, and you’re still defiant!] [I’m just asking if you’re going to pay for the emotional damages!] I replied directly: “I know you’re jealous of my money, but my money was earned through hard work. Even if I donate it, I wouldn’t give a single penny to someone like you who spreads rumors about me!” “And in this matter, I am also a victim!” [Pfft, my daughter is the victim!] [Since you won’t accept my kindness, don’t blame me for seeking justice for my daughter!] 4 After Helen finished speaking, she immediately shared a live stream link in the group. Clicking on it, I realized the person streaming was Helen herself. In the live stream, she was tearfully complaining that I screamed every day, causing her daughter to become precocious. She claimed her daughter was almost tricked into going to a nightclub to accompany men because of me. And when she tried to complain about me in the group to get justice for her daughter, she was accused of extortion. Helen cried hysterically, like a desperate, loving mother trying to protect her child. Unknowing viewers in the live stream immediately became enraged, rushing to support Helen. [Why bother talking so much to a bitch like that? Just kick her out of the complex and make her compensate you all with her apartment!] [To put it nicely, this woman might be a kept woman by her husband, but in reality, she could also be a mistress. I suggest the streamer expose her identity. If she’s really a mistress, it’ll be easier to deal with!] Helen pretended to accidentally leak my information in the live stream. In just five minutes, all my information was dug up, and my company received thousands of complaints overnight! The client with whom I had been negotiating a collaboration for a week, upon seeing the news, decided to terminate the agreement. My employees’ calls kept coming in, asking what was happening and how the company should handle public relations. “Save all evidence. Have legal prepare for a lawsuit.” After replying to my employees’ messages, I rushed to call each client back to explain, with no time to deal with the online outrage. After contacting all the clients, The car finally stopped at the entrance of the complex. My best friend said the timeline evidence for Mark’s infidelity was ready. Taking a deep breath, I looked at the dimly lit morning sky outside, and sent a message to the group. “I know everyone is enjoying the show. I’m downstairs at the complex now. If you’re awake, come with me to catch them in the act.” I opened the car door and stepped out, looking up at my apartment building. Many people were peering down. Helen, clutching her phone for the live stream, rushed down first. Pointing the phone at my face, she told her viewers: “This bitch must have sneaked out of her apartment while I wasn’t looking, deliberately creating the illusion that she wasn’t home!” “Now her place is definitely empty. She’ll open the door and claim I falsely accused her, but she doesn’t know I’ve recorded her screams!” Seeing many neighbors had gathered, I gave a cold smile. “I checked the monitor. Those animals are still inside. We won’t come up empty-handed.” “Now, I’m taking everyone upstairs to catch them in the act!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394926”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was the heiress to a vast fortune. Wielding my wealth like a weapon, I’d forced three impoverished college students into my service. One fed me strawberries, one massaged my feet, and another told me stories. As for who would stay with me at night, that was decided by drawing a card. This evening, I was enjoying strawberries, a foot massage, and a captivating story, lost in a haze of pure contentment. Suddenly, lines of text materialized before my eyes. [Why isn’t this villainess gone yet?!] [Don’t rush, upstairs! Our protagonist is about to reunite with the male leads.] [Though the male leads outwardly submit to the villainess, they secretly despise her. Once the protagonist arrives, they’ll team up against her.] [Spoiler alert from a lore enthusiast: The villainess ends up penniless, disowned by her wealthy family, homeless, and driven to madness, fighting dogs for scraps.] I jolted, a strawberry catching in my throat. “Cough… stop, stop…” The three stopped obediently, their eyes downcast as they presented the familiar cards. [The humiliation the villainess inflicts by drawing cards now, the male leads will repay every single bit of it, with interest, in the future.] My body trembled, and I quickly withdrew my hand. “I… I won’t draw anymore…” 1 The three of them frowned slightly. They probably thought I was just throwing one of my usual tantrums. After all, I was incredibly demanding. I often picked apart their service. Strawberries had to be seven parts sweet and three parts tart. If even one wasn’t to my liking, Paul had to rewash the entire batch. Foot massages required precisely six parts pressure. If Ashton’s touch was too heavy or too light, he’d have to tie weights to his fingers as punishment. Stories had to be exactly what I wanted to hear. If I didn’t like the ending, Noah had to invent a new one for me. Of course, I was often dissatisfied. [I can’t wait for the male leads to exact their revenge on the villainess! The poor boys she looked down on will transform into tech tycoons, artistic geniuses, and powerful CEOs. Just thinking about it gives me chills!] [Tell us more, upstairs! I’m dying for every detail of the villainess’s brutal downfall!] [Okay, so the male leads already harbored resentment from her prolonged humiliation. Then, the villainess, out of jealousy, repeatedly tried to sabotage the protagonist. Finally, the protagonist and male leads joined forces and exposed everything the villainess had done at a press conference.] [The villainess faced social ruin, was disowned by her family as a disgrace, and the male leads orchestrated it so she ended up with massive debts. Kicked out of her home, she had to live with vagrants, eventually descending into madness.] [This ending is so satisfying! I hate those ‘demure as a daisy’ types. The protagonist and male leads should absolutely get their brutal revenge!] A chill ran through me. I sprang from the sofa. Almost scrambling on all fours, I pushed past the three of them and bolted into the house. Behind me, the cards lay scattered on the floor. It was too terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. 2 Back in my room, I rushed to the bathroom to shower. Listening to the sound of the running water, I finally started to calm down. Wrapped in my bathrobe, I emerged to find Paul standing in my room. He held a plate of fresh strawberries. I froze, my hand loosening, causing my bathrobe to slip a little from my shoulder. “I’ve re-selected the strawberries, and washed them thoroughly.” His expression was always cool and detached, his voice devoid of emotion. If his Adam’s apple hadn’t subtly bobbed just now, he would have looked exactly like a statue. [Paul, despite his humble origins, is a high-IQ genius. The villainess has no idea that Paul has already used her ‘charitable’ one million dollars in startup capital to establish his own company.] [During the day, the protagonist thinks he’s attending classes, but he’s actually at his company. However, since the company isn’t stable yet, he fears leaving the villainess would lead to persecution, which is why he’s enduring this humiliation.] [The villainess couldn’t possibly believe Paul genuinely enjoys feeding her strawberries every day, could she? He just obediently listens because her voice irritates him, and it’s a convenient way to keep her quiet.] [The villainess doesn’t know that the reason she always sleeps so soundly whenever she picks Paul is because my Paul always washes the strawberries with sleeping pills.] [The villainess happily eats them, thinking it’s a sign of Paul’s affection, completely unaware that my Paul finds even touching her repulsive.] I was stunned. I did, indeed, love sleeping next to Paul the most. Even though he never held me back. But he had a comforting, crisp scent that always made me feel incredibly at ease. Turns out… what made me feel at ease was a damn sleeping pill! [As expected of my high-IQ Paul! Even his methods of placating the villainess are so clever!] [And it’s Paul who ultimately engineers the villainess’s massive debts! My Paul, a man of action, not words!] I trembled even more violently. I’d always thought Paul was just cold-faced. But he was even more ruthless than I imagined! That heartless jerk! I gave him a million dollars in startup capital and often gave him spending money! “Ophelia?” Paul frowned slightly. I instinctively took a step back, knocking over the plate. Strawberries tumbled across the floor. Sure enough, a flicker of almost imperceptible impatience crossed Paul’s face. As if he were trying to suppress something. “Still not satisfied with this plate? “Then I’ll wash them again.” “I… I suddenly don’t feel like eating strawberries today!” I clutched my bathrobe tighter, my voice trembling. “You… you don’t need to wash them again. Get some rest!” Having said that, I didn’t dare look at his expression. I bolted out the door. 3 I fled to the living room. On the way, I checked my bank balance on my phone five times. Then I silently repeated ten times that I only had savings, no debts. Only then did my heart gradually settle. But I hadn’t expected to find Ashton in the living room. Seeing me, he smiled faintly. “Ophelia, I knew you’d come down.” He took off the weights hanging from his fingers and knelt. “I didn’t control the pressure well just now, so I punished myself. Come here, I’ll massage them again for you.” Oh, his voice was so gentle. My heartwarming little puppy, I really appreciated it. So what if Paul was cold? I didn’t only have him. Feeling a little lightheaded, I started to walk towards him. [Ashton, the most cunning artistic genius. The villainess merely secured his entry into an art competition, then exploited that favor by forcing him to paint 100 portraits of her and made his hands, meant for creating timeless art, massage her feet every day.] [What a waste of talent! My heart aches for Ashton’s beautiful, nimble hands!] [Don’t worry, everyone, Ashton will soon gain recognition from a master and become a globally renowned art star. After the villainess is kicked out, it’s Ashton who will plot her mental breakdown.] My feet stopped abruptly. [Upstairs, spill the details quickly!] [After the villainess is kicked out, it’s my Ashton who hires a bunch of vagrants to relentlessly torment her. What goes around comes around: she forced Ashton to paint so many pictures, so she’ll have to massage the feet of that many vagrants, until she’s driven mad.] I quickly pulled back my feet. I’d always thought Ashton was the gentlest one… But it turns out he’s a damn black-hearted schemer! Seeing those beautiful, slender hands reaching for my feet, I practically leaped up on instinct. “I don’t want a massage!” Ashton froze. He looked up, his beautiful eyes gazing at me with a haunting intensity. Before I could even react, he stood, those handsome, long fingers gently entwining with mine. I was terrified, but found I couldn’t break free. “Why not a massage?” He breathed into my ear, “I was also thinking of showing you my new painting, Ophelia… “This one depicts you sleeping, it’s very beautiful…” [Haha, that’s not sleeping, that’s clearly dead.] [You can tell how much Ashton hates the protagonist, he even paints her deceased.] [Doing the cruelest things with the gentlest demeanor, I adore Ashton like this.] A chill went through me entirely. I had a distinct feeling I was actually dead. “Ophelia?” Ashton’s gentle voice whispered into my ear again. “No!” Survival instinct made me blurt it out, and I violently yanked my hand away from his. Ashton froze. “No?” “Uh, how many paintings have you done for me already?” I stammered, stepping back. He thought for a moment, then looked up with a smile. “Seventy-eight.” Seventy-eight!!! I nearly fainted. Why was he painting so diligently?!! Didn’t this mean that even if I stopped now, he’d still force me to massage the feet of 78 vagrants later?! 4 I claimed I needed to sleep and quickly escaped the living room. However, as I reached the turn in the staircase on the second floor of the mansion, I saw Noah looking down at me with a somber expression. Noah was actually the most hot-headed of the bunch. If he hadn’t been genuinely broke, he wouldn’t have stooped to my service. “What’s wrong with you tonight?” He crossed his arms. “Yesterday you were still insisting on hearing about the ‘chasing wife, crematorium’ trope, and now you don’t like it anymore?” [When will our Noah’s birth parents show up?] [They’ll be here soon! Noah was discovered by the Jensen family during a basketball game. He’ll turn out to be the Jensen family’s long-lost son, inheriting their massive commercial empire, becoming the Jensen family’s crown prince overnight!] [Handsome CEO, I love it!] [The villainess originally took a liking to our Noah’s looks and physique. Because she liked the sound of his voice, she made Noah tell her stories every day, completely unaware that Noah would disgustedly gargle every time he finished telling her a story.] [Poor Noah, a 6’1” sunny basketball player, forced by the villainess to become a romance writer.] [But in the end, it was also Noah who pressured the Sterling family, threatening them with bankruptcy if they didn’t kick the villainess out of the house. It’s a fitting revenge for past grievances.] Pressure… Kicked out of the house… My legs went weak, and I nearly fell. I was just a spoiled heiress with no skills. I knew nothing but how to enjoy life. If I were kicked out, I’d have nothing. Noah, seeing my lack of response, took a step forward. “Still not satisfied with the ending of this story? The protagonist and male lead didn’t die this time, it’s a happy ending. Still not good enough? “Fine, I knew you were picky and demanding. I’ve already written a new one…” “I won’t listen!” My voice was trembling. Noah was always warm, sleeping with him was like having a human hot water bottle. Especially comfortable in winter. Not to mention his strong arms and eight-pack abs… But now, I wanted to slap myself. You and your obsession with looks! You and your obsession with voices! You and your obsession with warmth! “Won’t listen?” Noah’s eyes darkened rapidly. But I couldn’t worry about that. I quickly fled back to my bedroom. Good, good. Paul was already gone. After a moment’s thought, I locked the door, pulled a large polar bear plush from the closet, and finally lay down with it. 5 I didn’t sleep well all night. I don’t know why there were so many sleepless night owls, but the comments kept flashing across the screen. From their excited discussions, I learned that today, during the day, the poor and resilient little white flower protagonist would meet the three male leads. I would then, out of jealousy, desperately try to sabotage her. And it would be her encouragement that solidified their resolve to take revenge on me. The next day, I went downstairs with dark circles under my eyes. I immediately saw the three of them sitting at the dining table, eating. The three of them looked up at me in unison. I pretended not to notice the flicker of displeasure in their eyes. The comments were right. They hated me. Before, I had been too foolish, not even noticing such obvious resentment. “Ophelia, come sit.” Ashton smiled gently at me, pulling out the seat between himself and Noah. Before, I would have happily run over. I might even have playfully asked Paul to feed me, Ashton to massage my shoulders, and Noah to say some auspicious words or sing a song. Perhaps I would have gone even further and tossed a card. To decide who would stay with me for a nap. But today, before he even finished speaking, I decisively moved to the opposite side, far from them. I didn’t have that much nerve now. “You guys are almost done eating. I’ll just sit here, so I don’t bother you, okay?” Ashton’s smile faltered. Paul’s eyes remained flat. Noah frowned. I ate my meal with my head down. Feeling a little guilty, for some reason. “Miss, your arrangements are complete.” The butler handed me a notebook. I took it, secretly glancing at the three across from me. “Uh, today, could I ask the three of you for a small favor?” The three of them looked confused. After all, I usually barked orders at them. No one responded. I quickly added: “There’ll be payment, not free labor! One hundred thousand each!” I gave Paul an insider’s ticket to a cutting-edge technology symposium. From my research, his company wasn’t yet qualified to attend such a high-level conference. Then I gave Ashton a ticket to a lecture by the renowned artist Master Lee. This ticket had sold out a month ago, and I had paid two hundred thousand to a scalper to get it. Finally, I gave Noah a meet-and-greet ticket for a famous basketball star. I knew that was his favorite player. These were temptations they couldn’t refuse. The three of them took the tickets, an unreadable emotion flickering in their eyes. “What does this mean?” Noah was the first to ask. “The family gave these to me, telling me to go to the tech symposium to learn, and to the art lecture and basketball star meet-and-greet for culture and sports. You know how lazy I am, so could you all go in my place? Make sure to stay the whole day, please.” “What about you?” Paul suddenly asked. I froze, “Huh?” “What are you doing today?” I let out two forced laughs. “I have other plans, other plans.” “What other plans?” Ashton asked. I was speechless. “It’s just…” “Tell us,” Noah said. It was something I couldn’t tell them. I summoned my usual imperiousness, deliberately sounding fierce: “What? What I do? Do I have to report to you?!” This tactic still worked. The three of them indeed stopped talking. 6 There was, of course, a reason I couldn’t tell them. I’d spent all night thinking, and I’d come up with a wicked plan. I was going to replace them and win over the protagonist. Actually, there was a Plan B. According to the comments, they hadn’t yet become formidable. I could easily find a way to crush Paul’s company, hinder Ashton from becoming a master and winning awards, get Noah removed from the basketball team, and prevent him from reconnecting with his family. But… how should I put it? I still had a shred of humanity. Until the very end, I still wanted to part ways with them peacefully, without a full-blown war. After the three of them left, I called the butler over again and whispered: “That other matter, is it also settled?” The butler chuckled. “Don’t worry, Miss. We offered a generous sum, and in just a few hours, about 10 male students signed up. As per your requirements, we’ve selected three.” I nodded in satisfaction. “Then I’ll meet them later when we go to A University Library.” Since the comments said they hated and sought revenge on me because I forced them, wouldn’t stopping that now be enough? I’m so wealthy, and I’m not bad-looking. A three-legged frog might be hard to find, but willing men? Surely, I could find them. Even though my requirements were strict this time. They couldn’t be too handsome; presentable was fine. They couldn’t be too intelligent; average was okay. They couldn’t have any special skills; ordinary was good. They couldn’t be orphans; from a regular family was acceptable. Eliminating any possibility of the chosen ones being male leads. But still, many people signed up. I happily got into the car with the butler, heading to A University. “First, I’ll interview them, then I’ll meet Evelyn Sterling.” Evelyn Sterling was the protagonist mentioned in the comments. She was currently working part-time at A University Library. The interviews went even smoother than I expected. The three boys looked very obedient. Not to mention small matters like feeding strawberries, foot massages, or storytelling… Even for the “nighttime” matter… One of the male students, blushing, stood up and said to me: “Sister, I can do anything, no matter how ‘spicy’ or ‘mild’…” I didn’t understand. “What?” He took small, quick steps around to stand in front of me, then leaned his head on my shoulder: “It means, whatever Sister wants me to do, I’ll do…” Good, good, good. I was ecstatic. But for some reason, I suddenly shivered all over. I abruptly looked back. No one was outside the window. Why did it feel so chilling behind me? As if someone were standing there with a knife. A murderous aura. And not just one. But rising and falling. Perhaps I’d been reading too many comments these past two days. I was getting a little paranoid. “Is the… is the air conditioning too cold?” One male student obediently replied, “Sister, the heater is on inside.” Another: “Sister is afraid of the cold, so I’ll be Sister’s human hot water bottle.” Oh, oh, oh. See? I looked from one to the other. Extremely satisfied. I could hardly let them go. After telling the three to wait for my call, I was happily fantasizing about my carefree future when the butler came in. His expression was somewhat troubled. “Miss, that student, Miss Sterling, has declined your meeting request.” 7 According to the butler, Evelyn Sterling refused as soon as she heard my name. “Birds of a feather, Miss Sterling and I are not the same kind of people. There’s no need to meet.” No choice, I had to go find her. I searched all three floors of the library, my feet starting to ache faintly, before finally finding her in the ground floor lobby. She looked at me with full vigilance. “I know you’re the Sterling family’s heiress. What exactly do you want?” I spoke gently, “I know you’re in great need of money right now, and I’d really like to help you…” “So you want to buy my character with money?!” I: “…No, I want to help…” “I’ve seen too many people like you. You act superior just because you have some money, insulting people randomly, treating us poor folk like your toys. What, have you grown tired of your old toys and want new ones, so you’ve come after me?” “No, I genuinely want to help you, without charge…” “How can there be a free lunch in this world? You just want to insult me, make me grovel before you. But my spine, Evelyn Sterling, is straight. I can kneel to heaven and earth, but I will not kneel to money or capital!” “You’ve misunderstood. I don’t need you to kneel. I know you’re an excellent student but didn’t receive the Sterling Corporation scholarship last year, so I can help you apply for a special one.” “Put away your hypocritical facade. Do you think that will buy my soul?” I: “…” I was getting a little tired. I cut straight to the chase, playing the emotional card: “I just want to give you money, help your seriously ill mother find a good hospital, and save you from working odd jobs so you can spend more time with your mother.” But her eyes widened: “You actually investigated my family? You want to use my mother to control me? I’m telling you, I’ll take care of my own mother, and I’ll do it with the money I earn myself, honorably.” I: “…” She pulled out her phone. “You’ve invaded my privacy by investigating me. I’m calling the police right now. I want to see if this world is truly fair and just!” No. “Let’s talk this out calmly…” What kind of protagonist calls the police at the drop of a hat?!! I quickly tried to snatch her phone, but she resisted violently. Before I even touched her, her foot slipped, and she fell heavily to the ground. As if I had pushed her. “Ophelia.” Three cold voices suddenly came from behind me. “What are you doing?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394907”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The topping-out ceremony for the commercial high-rise was just around the corner, when I suddenly realized the blueprint dimensions were all wrong. Demolishing and rebuilding would cost a cool ten billion. I clung to the rooftop railing, contemplating which spot on the ground would offer the least pain. But then, Manager Walter, flanked by his engineering team, kicked my door open: “At this critical juncture of the project, you, the chief designer, have been skipping out every day to fool around with escorts!” “And those blueprints? They’re just stolen copies of mine!” “You’re fired! I’m the new head of this project, and all design patents are now mine!” My eyes widened, and the despair in my heart instantly morphed into wild joy. Oh, right, I was totally busy with dates all this time. The wrong dimensions? Not my problem in the slightest! 1 The twenty-story commercial high-rise was almost topped out, and I was giving the blueprints one final check. My hand trembled, spilling coffee all over the desk. Because I’d just discovered that the dimensions for every single load-bearing wall were wrong! My heart pounded in my chest. I wiped my eyes, checked it twenty more times, and then, with a sigh, surrendered to the truth. Yep, definitely wrong! This twenty-story commercial building, from design to construction, and even the future investment and leasing, had cost a staggering ten billion dollars. If we had to tear it down and rebuild, I wouldn’t be able to pay it back if I sold myself eight hundred times over. I squatted on my chair, clutching my head, wanting to cry but no tears came. Wanting to scream but no sound escaped. As a celebrated architectural designer in the country, My work had won numerous international awards, earned investors billions, and left iconic landmarks in this city. But what did that matter now? I had failed, defeated by a load-bearing wall with an error of just a few inches. My parents were counting on me for their retirement, and my sister was about to take her college entrance exams. She always said her big brother was her pride. But this one mistake, my blunder, would bring devastating consequences down on them. I truly deserved to die! I was a sinner, having squandered everyone’s hard work, and condemned myself to eternal damnation. After much thought, I finally stood up, pushed open the door to the rooftop, and walked to the railing. Twenty stories. High enough. The people below looked like tiny ants. I pondered which side to jump from, to avoid scaring anyone while suffering as little as possible. Suddenly, the door behind me burst open with a loud bang. My arch-rival, Walter Stone, marched in with a whole team of people. “Arthur Lynn! You’ve really outdone yourself!” He stormed up to me, his voice a furious torrent. I froze, thinking he’d discovered the design flaw. Just as I was about to explain, he slapped a stack of photos right into my face. “Have you no shame? At this critical stage of the project, you, the chief designer, have been sneaking off every day to cavort with those cheap massage parlor girls!” I was confused, picking up a few photos from the floor. They showed a man and a woman, in various suggestive poses. The man was me, but I didn’t recognize the woman. Still, I instantly knew these images were all AI-generated. Because these past few months, desperate to finish the project, I hadn’t slept for days, having no time to go anywhere. I frowned and tried to reason with him. “Walter Stone, you must have the wrong person. Don’t make such baseless accusations!” But he sneered: “Don’t play innocent!” “Your design blueprints are just stolen copies of mine!” “You’re fired! And all design patents for this project are now mine!” He pulled out a draft blueprint, identical to mine, even down to the exact dimensions of the load-bearing walls. But in the designer’s section, his name was written. I looked and looked, thought and thought. Suddenly, in that hopeless abyss, I caught a faint scent of hope. 2 Walter smiled, looking at me: “Arthur Lynn, you’re a fraud! A scumbag like you doesn’t deserve to lead this project!” “I’ve already spoken to the investors. They want you out immediately!” I was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: “I poured my heart and soul into this project. What right do you have to kick me out?” Walter’s grin widened. He deliberately patted my face, his voice dripping with condescension: “The right of your plagiarism, your dereliction of duty, and the fact that I am now the overall head of this project!” As he finished, his phone buzzed. It was an internal company email, copied to all employees. It stated: Project Lead for “Skyline Pinnacle” Commercial High-Rise changed to Walter Stone. Arthur Lynn is terminated for unprofessional conduct and plagiarism of core designs. Arthur Lynn will have no further association with the “Skyline Pinnacle” project. Normally, a project nearing completion wouldn’t change its lead. It was like tending a field for a year, only for the land to change owners just before harvest. No one would be happy about that. But I was different. I desperately wanted to sever all ties with this project. I called Chairman Goodwin, but he didn’t pick up. Then I called President Foster. The moment he answered, I heard him erupt in a furious shout: “Arthur Lynn, you’re fired! You have nothing to do with this commercial high-rise project anymore!” He hung up. When I tried to call back, he had already blocked my number. Walter watched me, relishing my misfortune: “See? Does anyone still care about you?” He pulled out a document: “Arthur, be smart. Sign this and get lost.” “Otherwise, I’ll not only ruin your reputation, but I’ll also expose your dirty little secrets to your sister. Let her see what kind of a lowlife her ‘good brother’ really is.” My hands trembled as I picked up the document, my eyes instantly welling up. Not with sadness, but with exhilaration. Because that document contained a joint statement. Arthur Lynn has no connection whatsoever to the “Skyline Pinnacle” Commercial High-Rise project. All architectural design patents and construction advice are unrelated to him. My heart was bursting with joy, but I dared not show it on my face. 3 “Slander! This is pure slander! Walter, you say I’ve been fooling around with escorts every day, do you have any proof?” My eyes were bloodshot, my whole body shaking. Walter glanced at his phone, a smug smile playing on his lips: “Proof? It’s right there in your office.” A whole crew of them marched back to my office. Pushing open the door, I froze. A young woman in a revealing outfit was sitting in my chair. Seeing me, she immediately pounced and clung to my arm. “Mr. Lynn! You have to take responsibility for me!” I yanked my arm away from her: “Who are you? I don’t even know you!” The woman’s eyes reddened, and she latched back onto me: “How can you be like this? For the past six months, you’ve been coming to me every day, saying you couldn’t live without me. Now that the project is almost finished, you’re just going to turn your back on me?” Many colleagues started pointing and whispering about me. “Mr. Lynn always seemed so proper. Can’t believe he’s into that kind of thing.” “I knew that design wasn’t his style. Turns out it was Walter’s all along.” “They called him a genius designer? I say he’s nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing!” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down: “I’ve been working overtime in this office for the past six months. There are cameras everywhere. How could I possibly be going out to see you every day?” Walter laughed, slowly pulling out his phone: “Didn’t you know? The surveillance on this floor has been broken for ages.” I blurted out, “Impossible!” “I checked the surveillance footage last week to find some files. It was working perfectly.” Walter shrugged: “Don’t believe me? Call and ask right now.” I immediately dialed the security office. “Hey, Old Brown, are the surveillance videos from the last three months still available?” “Oh, Mr. Lynn, all the videos have been deleted, and the hard drives formatted.” My hand trembled slightly: “Even if they’re deleted, what about the logs? They can still be recovered within seven days, right?” The sound of furious typing came from the other end of the line. After a moment of silence, the voice returned: “No, Mr. Lynn. The system shows the logs were completely overwritten. Even the past seven days can’t be recovered.” I hung up, and Walter’s laughter grew even more unrestrained: “Hear that? You haven’t shown up for work for the past six months. There’s no record of you in the surveillance footage.” I stared at him, saying each word deliberately: “Even without surveillance, the documents I signed can’t be faked. Every design change order, every material confirmation sheet—aren’t they all signed by me?” Walter clapped his hands: “Right, you mentioned it, and I almost forgot.” He turned and walked to the file cabinet in the corner, pulling open the bottom drawer. A murky mess of black stuff floated in water, completely unrecognizable. “Tsk, tsk. What a coincidence, wouldn’t you say? The water pipe burst last week, and all the files in that cabinet got soaked.” Walter shook his head regretfully. All the drawers in my office had keys, yet Walter had opened them with ease. I glanced at Michael, my secretary, who immediately looked away, guilty. I clenched my fists, my nails almost digging into my flesh. It was too damn coincidental. So coincidental that every step was planned, so coincidental that even the water damage was precisely placed. They had plotted this all along, but alas, they were too clever for their own good. The strange woman leaned in again, reaching for me: “Mr. Lynn, you can’t just disown me now. My belly might be carrying…” “Get out!” I roared, and the entire floor fell silent. The woman recoiled two steps, startled, and Walter’s expression shifted. 4 I looked at a familiar figure in the crowd. “Michael, come here.” Michael Lee had been with me since his first day at the company. Back then, he couldn’t even read blueprints. I taught him CAD firsthand, and I stayed up late guiding him through design revisions. He was careless and once lost client files, and it was me who cleaned up his mess. He slowly walked to my side, but wouldn’t look up at me. Walter recovered, putting on his usual smirking face: “Perfect, Michael. Tell everyone, has Mr. Lynn been doing his job these past six months?” Michael kept his head down: “Mr. Lynn wasn’t often in the office.” I stared at him, incredulous: “What did you say?” He glanced at me, then continued: “There were a few times I went to find him for a signature, and he wasn’t there. Later, I saw one of Walter’s blueprints on his desk.” “I even asked him about it at the time, and he said he was just ‘referencing’ it. I never thought he was outright plagiarizing.” A murmur of shock rippled through the crowd. I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “Michael Lee, I taught you for three years. Is this how you repay me?” He finally looked up, his eyes red. But his words were sharper than ever: “Arthur, I can’t lie against my conscience.” “That design was completely copied from Walter. I saw it with my own eyes.” “And for this entire period, you weren’t in the office. All the company’s work was held up by Walter alone.” Walter patted his shoulder, a show of false concern: “Alright, Michael, you’re just speaking the truth. No need to feel guilty.” I looked at the two of them, a bitter laugh escaping me: “Fine, excellent! You’re really good at throwing people under the bus!” “You, and you, all of you, remember this moment!” No one took my words seriously. Michael even seemed relieved, thinking I was just making empty threats. Walter once again slammed the agreement in front of me. “Sign it, quickly.” I picked up the agreement and publicly read out the most crucial line: “Arthur Lynn has no connection whatsoever to the ‘Skyline Pinnacle’ Commercial High-Rise project. All architectural design and construction advice are completely unrelated to him.” “Walter, think carefully about the consequences. If this project has problems in the future, you’ll be solely responsible. Are you sure you want me to sign this?” Walter’s eyes flickered, as if in thought. Michael, beside him, urged him on: “Manager Walter, he’s just trying to provoke you. Besides, the project’s almost done. What could possibly go wrong?” Walter nodded in agreement, then looked at me: “Stop talking nonsense, sign it!” With red eyes and a heavy heart, I scrawled my name. Two copies. I pocketed my copy, my face grim. Then I turned and walked away. Behind me, I heard Walter’s triumphant voice: “Arthur Lynn, you’re nothing special, are you?” I stopped, turned back, and looked at him: “Don’t celebrate too soon!” “When the good times end, the bad times begin. Don’t come crying to me then!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394927”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My downstairs neighbor keeps ranting in the group chat about me dancing in the middle of the night, even called the cops. I rolled up my pants, revealing my prosthetic legs. The neighbor scoffed, “So prosthetics mean you can’t dance?” Left with no choice, the police installed a sound monitor. That very night, as I slept soundly, the device suddenly spiked off the charts! The neighbor brought people to smash my door, claiming I was causing a severe disturbance. But the noise, it was clearly coming from the empty apartment directly above me, unit 401! To clear my name, I led everyone upstairs. We only found a dog in 401. The police said the sound came from the dog scratching its cage. In the end, the dog was taken away by the police. But the next night, those eerie dance steps started again… 1 Patrick, from 201, was @-ing me in the group chat again. My phone vibrated on the coffee table, its screen a harsh, cold glow in the dim living room. I hadn’t bothered turning on the lights; only the streetlamp outside offered a sliver of illumination. I reached for the phone, unlocking it, the sudden brightness making me squint. It was him, alright. “Patrick from 201.” The building’s community chat had already scrolled through a dozen messages. “@Kevin from 301, are you ever going to stop? Every single night, two or three AM, thump-thump-thump! How’s anyone supposed to sleep?” “Is the HOA doing anything? Taking our money and doing nothing? Are you just going to let this guy torment the whole building?” “I’ve told you a hundred times, have some decency! What kind of dancing? Can’t you dance during the day? Do you have to be a maniac in the middle of the night?” “I’m calling the police tomorrow! See if that doesn’t shut you up!” A few other neighbors chimed in, either agreeing or trying to smooth things over. “Calm down, Patrick,” “Kevin probably doesn’t mean it,” “Just talk it out.” My fingers felt stiff, typing slowly: “Patrick, I’m telling you again, it’s not me. I’m asleep by ten.” Send. Almost instantly, Patrick’s reply popped up: “Bullshit! If it’s not you, who is it? You’re the only one above and below! My ceiling’s vibrating! Want to hear the recording? Have you no shame?” I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. That familiar spark of anger flared in my chest, making my throat dry. An explanation, the hundred-and-first explanation. “Patrick, I have a disability. How could I possibly be dancing? Are you sure you’re not mistaken? Or maybe it’s something else…” “Don’t give me that!” He cut me off, every word seething with malice. “Playing the pity card, huh? Can’t move your legs? You seem pretty agile to me! Prosthetics? Can’t you dance with prosthetics? You probably jump even higher!” That last sentence pierced me like an ice-cold needle. I clutched my phone. The living room was stifling without AC, but a cold sweat trickled down my back. My prosthetic legs, propped silently beside me, their cool metal shells usually comforting, now felt like searing brands against my skin. The next afternoon, the police actually showed up. Two officers, one older, one younger, their faces etched with routine weariness as they knocked on my door. Officer Ramirez, the older one, eyed me, then glanced at my wheelchair, a slight frown creasing his brow. “You’re Kevin Ellis? Your downstairs neighbor, unit 201, reported you for creating excessive noise late at night, a severe disturbance.” I stepped aside, inviting them in. My apartment was small, a one-bedroom, one-bath, almost too clean, lacking any real warmth. I rolled my wheelchair to the center of the living room. “Officer Ramirez, it wasn’t me. I go to bed very early.” The younger officer scanned the room, his gaze sweeping over the bare floors, simple furniture, finally settling on me. Patrick had followed them up, squeezing into the doorway, his face flushed and furious. He pointed at me, practically shouting, “Officers, it’s him! He’s always making trouble late at night! A compulsive liar! Look at him, he puts on a good show!” Officer Ramirez waved a hand, silencing him. “Mr. Ellis, we’ve received multiple complaints, and they’re all pointing to you. You mentioned a leg disability – could you elaborate?” I said nothing, gripping the armrests of my wheelchair, taking a shallow breath, and slowly, deliberately, rolled up the right leg of my jeans. The air thickened. Rolled up past my knee, it revealed the connecting structure of metal and composite materials, with a distinct scar around the skin interface. I paused, then, under Patrick’s suddenly wide-eyed stare, rolled up my left pant leg too. The same structure: the mechanical parts connecting to the severed flesh. 2 Only the faint hum of the air conditioner filled the living room. Patrick’s mouth hung open, his anger frozen on his face, slowly morphing into an expression of disbelieving shock. But quickly, something else began to churn beneath that shock. “This…” Officer Ramirez also seemed taken aback, his tone softening. “Mr. Ellis, is this…” “An accident, a few years ago.” I pulled my pant legs back down, the fabric falling to conceal the cold interfaces. “So, Officer Ramirez, I truly can’t be dancing in the middle of the night. My prosthetics are off at night; they’re over there.” I gestured towards the bedroom. Officer Ramirez nodded, then turned to Patrick. “Mr. Jenkins, you see, isn’t there some misunderstanding here? Perhaps the sound is coming from somewhere else?” “Misunderstanding?” Patrick’s voice climbed to a shriek. He darted past the officers, practically lunging at me, his finger almost poking my face. “Officers, don’t let him fool you! Prosthetics! What about prosthetics? Can’t you move with prosthetics? He’s probably even better at faking it! Bouncing around with his prosthetics at night, then playing the victim during the day!” “I heard it with my own ears, right above me, thump-thump-thump, like drumming! If it’s not him, who is it? Is it a ghost?” His spittle nearly sprayed my face, his eyes bloodshot, fixated with a mad certainty that wouldn’t back down. I caught a whiff of stale smoke and liquor on him. Officer Ramirez and the younger officer exchanged a look, both appearing resigned. The younger officer spoke up, “Mr. Jenkins, please calm down. Look, Mr. Ellis certainly has a special situation. But since we’re here, we can’t just take one side.” “We brought a decibel meter. We’ll leave it in Mr. Ellis’s living room for now. We’ll set a threshold, and if there’s genuinely excessive noise tonight, it will record it.” “We’ll also leave you our contact information. If anything happens again, you can call us directly, and we’ll come check the recordings. That’s fair to everyone, don’t you think?” Patrick’s chest heaved, glaring at me, then let out a heavy snort from his nose. “Fine, let’s see how long you can keep up the act! Officers, you better be fair, don’t play favorites with the disabled!” He bit down hard on the word “disabled.” Officer Ramirez didn’t engage with that comment. He had the younger officer retrieve a palm-sized white device, placing it on my living room’s TV stand. After a few adjustments, a green indicator light glowed. He gave me some instructions, mainly about living normally at night but being mindful of truly loud noises. They left, taking the still-grumbling Patrick with them. The door clicked shut, and the world abruptly fell silent, save for the faint power light of the decibel meter. I leaned back in my wheelchair, staring at that tiny light. Patrick’s last glare, that line, “Can’t you move with prosthetics?” He knew, he clearly saw, yet he chose a more absurd, more malicious interpretation. This wasn’t a misunderstanding; it was a twisted animosity. That night, I went to bed early. My prosthetics were off, resting on the specially made stand by my bed. I took a sleeping pill and quickly sank into a deep, dreamless darkness. I slept soundly. I don’t know how long passed, but violent banging on the door suddenly yanked me from the darkness. “Open up! Kevin! Open the door! Police!” I bolted upright, my heart hammering against my ribs. The bedroom was pitch black, only a sliver of hallway light visible under the door. The banging was urgent and heavy, mixed with Patrick’s hoarse shouts and another stern male voice. “Kevin! This is the precinct! Open the door and cooperate with the inspection!” It was Officer Ramirez. 3 I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand. The screen flared, stinging my eyes—3:17 AM. I steadied myself, trying to keep my voice even: “Coming!” I threw off the covers, instinctively found my wheelchair, pulled myself into it, and rolled towards the living room. Opening the door, the stark white hallway light flooded in. Outside stood Officer Ramirez, the younger officer, and a flushed, wide-eyed, almost gleeful Patrick. Patrick was holding up his phone, screen facing me, displaying what looked like some kind of graph. “Officers, see? It’s him, concrete evidence!” Patrick shouted, his voice distorted by excitement. Officer Ramirez’s face was grim. He stepped in front of Patrick, addressing me: “Mr. Ellis, apologies for the disturbance. We received a call from Mr. Jenkins, reporting that your decibel meter readings spiked severely, over one hundred, which is a major disturbance. We need to come in and check the device’s records.” My mind was still fuzzy. I stepped aside, letting them enter. “Officer Ramirez, I’ve been asleep this whole time, I just woke up. How could there be any noise?” The younger officer walked directly to the TV stand, picked up the white decibel meter, and pressed a few buttons. The screen lit up, displaying a string of data and a fluctuating curve. He studied it, a deep frown on his face, then handed the device to Officer Ramirez. Officer Ramirez stared at the screen, his expression growing even grimmer. He looked up at me, his gaze sharp. “Mr. Ellis, the meter’s record shows that from 1:40 AM until around 2:20 AM, the noise level at this location peaked at 105, with an average of over 95.” “Those are indeed very high readings, equivalent to a construction site. How do you explain this?” “I can’t explain it.” My voice was a little dry. “Because I genuinely was asleep. Could the device be faulty? Or perhaps…” I suddenly remembered Patrick’s accusation, and a bizarre, chilling thought surfaced. “Or the sound wasn’t coming from my apartment at all?” “You’re full of it!” Patrick jumped up, pointing at the ceiling. “It was coming from here! I heard it clearly! Dancing, it was dancing, thump, thump, thump!” The moment he finished speaking, as if to confirm his madness, or perhaps to mock my defense, there it was. Thump. A dull thud, distinctly from above. Not beneath my feet, but directly over my head. The sound wasn’t loud, but it was heavy, with a certain rhythm… then two more. Thump, thump. Evenly spaced, truly sounding like footsteps, or something bouncing on the floor. All four of us froze. Patrick’s excitement vanished, his face slowly turning towards the ceiling, mouth agape. Officer Ramirez and the younger officer also snapped their heads up. The living room was utterly silent. Only the decibel meter glowed, its curve seemingly flat. But a few seconds later. Thump, thump, thump, thump… A series of sounds rolled across the ceiling, from far to near, then near to far, truly like someone pacing back and forth, or bouncing, in the room. The sound was clearer than before, more rhythmic, even carrying a certain light cadence. “Upstairs…” the younger officer murmured, his face looking as if he’d seen a ghost. Officer Ramirez reacted fastest. He gave me a deep, complex look, then barked, “Let’s go! Upstairs!” We surged out the door. 4 My wheelchair was a bit cumbersome in the narrow stairwell; Officer Ramirez and the younger officer practically ran up. Patrick trailed behind them, his face ashen, muttering under his breath, “Upstairs? 401? How could that be… it was clearly…” Unit 401’s door was tightly shut, perfectly silent inside, as if the eerie footsteps had been a collective hallucination. Officer Ramirez pounded on the door. “Open up! Police!” No response. Only the knocking echoed in the empty stairwell. After another round of knocking, Officer Ramirez gestured for the younger officer to contact the building management. During the wait, we stood outside 401, nobody speaking. Patrick leaned against the opposite wall, his gaze fixed, alternating between 401’s door and me. His previous arrogance was gone, replaced by confusion and a subtle, unshakeable fear. The building’s night manager, still groggy from sleep, arrived with a ring of keys and found the spare for 401. The lock turned with a click, and the door opened. Officer Ramirez pushed it open first, flipping on the light switch by the door. Light banished the darkness. The entryway was empty, the living room empty. A thin layer of dust covered the simple furniture. No signs of anyone living there. The air held a faint scent of dust mixed with something else, strange. “Anyone here? Police!” Officer Ramirez moved further inside. The younger officer followed, cautiously checking each room. Bedroom, empty. Kitchen, empty. Bathroom, empty. Patrick squeezed into the doorway, peering in, his expression shifting from confusion to disbelief. “This… no one? Then what was that…?” My wheelchair was parked outside the door, offering a view of most of the living room. Indeed, no one. But… “Officers!” the younger officer’s voice came from inside, tinged with surprise. “Come see!” We followed the sound to a small balcony. On the balcony sat a rather large pet cage. Inside, a yellow-and-white mutt eyed us timidly, its tail tucked between its legs. Hearing the commotion, it shifted nervously, its paws tapping on the metal bottom of the cage, making faint “tap-tap” sounds. A dog? Just a dog? Officer Ramirez squatted to examine the food and water bowls beside the cage. The water was nearly gone, but a bit of kibble remained. He stood up, clapping his hands. “Contact the landlord. This apartment seems to have been vacant for a while. The dog might have been left by the owner, or someone temporarily boarding it?” The building manager quickly flipped through a registry, then made a call. The owner, an elderly lady, answered, stating she was staying with her son, the apartment had been empty for over six months, and she certainly didn’t own a dog, nor did she know where it came from. The situation grew bizarre. A dog, source unknown, confined to the balcony of an empty apartment, 401. Those “dancing” sounds… Officer Ramirez watched the dog, which, made more anxious by the crowd, began to pace nervously within its cage, its paws clicking against the metal, tap, tap, tap… The sound, amplified in the quiet, empty room, transmitted through the floor… A plausible explanation seemed to emerge. A dog, active in the middle of the night, its paws hitting the cage bottom or the floor, the sound traveling through the floorboards, distorted and amplified in the dead of night, sounding like footsteps, even dancing. Patrick’s face cycled through shades of red and white. He opened his mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing, avoiding my gaze and looking down. Officer Ramirez instructed the younger officer to take the dog away, to contact an animal shelter or find someone to temporarily foster it, while continuing to investigate its origin. He then turned to me. “Mr. Ellis, it seems this was a misunderstanding. The source of the noise was likely this dog. We’ll handle it. Apologies for disturbing your rest.” I nodded, too tired to say anything. Watching them leave with the whimpering dog, the door of 401 clicked shut and locked once more.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394908”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The Bennets offered 100 million for their biological daughter. I was that daughter, swapped at birth. But I was already dead. A mad scientist dug me up for the money. He warned me: my body was patched together, and even with blood, I’d last 30 days at most. “Don’t blow your cover until we get the cash!” So I played the part. When the fake heiress mocked me as a fool, I nodded eagerly. When my brother sped to scare me, I clutched my face to keep my eyes from popping out. At school, I even “adopted” a human to eat the lunches I couldn’t touch. I lasted until the scientist got the final payment. Then my mother found me, demanding I donate a kidney to my father. I shook my head. She screamed I’d do it whether I wanted to or not. But I had no kidneys left. No liver either. They’d been sold for cash before I died. The intestines, the uterus—rats had eaten those in the sewer. Now, all that remained was a heart that no longer beat. And it felt like that, too, was breaking. 1 “Now listen up, my little revenant, you are Aspen Bennet, Aspen Bennet.” “No skipping, no biting your nails, and for the love of Lucifer, do not detach your head to chase mice, got it?!” “God help me, just let me get this money in peace…” I nodded dutifully at the eccentric scientist before me. He claimed he’d patched me together, resurrected me, and that I was the long-lost Bennet heiress. To secure the hundred-million-dollar reward the Bennets had put out, I absolutely couldn’t reveal I was dead. The problem was, after my resurrection, I was a bit short on brain matter. All my memories from before were gone, and sometimes even the scientist’s words took a while to sink in. Right before we went inside, he clutched my shoulders, doing one last check: “What’s your name?” “Aspen Bennet.” “Alright. Besides not blowing your cover, what else were you supposed to do?” I stared blankly at his face, my shriveled brain slowly whirring. Seconds ticked by. Seeing his growing despair, I lowered my head, a little embarrassed. The scientist sighed in resignation, tapping my skull. “Remember, you must tell your father you want to go to school.” I nodded. “Look, your body can only survive on blood now. There aren’t enough people in the Bennet household, and draining them will get you caught,” he whispered, leaning closer. “At school, pick out young guys. They’re full of vitality, a little loss won’t be noticed. I’ll also sneak around to check on you until I get paid.” Under the scientist’s guidance, I met my “family” without a hitch. He bowed low, his tongue like a silver serpent, engaging them in rapid-fire conversation. His words were too fast for my brain to process, so I settled for observing the three people on the sofa. My brother, Ethan Bennet, scowled, his face etched with disgust, unwilling to even glance my way. My mother’s eyes were sharp, scrutinizing, like a vulture eyeing carrion. My sister, Maya Bennet, however, smiled sweetly at me. To return the gesture, I tried to pull my stiff facial muscles into a smile. But her face instantly went white, her eyes wide as if she’d seen a ghost. I didn’t understand. Was my smile that terrifying? The scientist had even given me special training on facial muscle movements. I tried a few more smiles, but she only cringed closer to Mother. Just as I pondered whether I should stitch my lips shut, the scientist got his first installment and left. He gave me one last look, then abandoned me in this opulent cage. 2 As everyone’s gaze swiveled to me, I nervously fiddled with the hem of my dress. “My name is Aspen Bennet. Hello.” Silence hung heavy for a few seconds. My father was the first to speak. He sat upright at the head of the table, sizing me up. “Good to have you back. How have you been these past years out there?” I paused, looking down at my crisscrossing suture lines and gray skin. By human standards, it definitely wasn’t “good.” So I looked up, answering earnestly, “Can’t you tell? I feel very unwell.” Father choked on his words. Mother quickly smoothed things over. “It’s nothing. Now that you’re back, you’ll recover just fine.” Father remained silent, clearly displeased with my blunt words. Finally, Maya broke the awkwardness. She smiled, leaning closer, her tone innocent. “Aspen, did you… not finish your makeup today? It looks like it’s flaking off. Did you buy some cheap makeup from a street vendor just to come home?” At her words, everyone’s eyes fixated on my face. Only then did they notice the thick, wall-paint-like layer of foundation – applied by the scientist to cover my cadaveric spots. As they stared, my brain stuttered. “This… this is my… my…” From sheer nerves, my jaw joint felt a bit loose. My brother scoffed, slowly enunciating four words: “Attention-seeking trash.” Seeing me silent with my head down, Maya continued her attack in a sweet voice. “Don’t panic, Aspen. It’s normal not to have experience with makeup at first. Oh, and seeing how you’re dressed, have you ever been to school? What did you do at home? You didn’t get married in some hick town, did you?” Her questions came too fast. I hadn’t even processed the last one before the next wave hit. What do normal humans do at home? I’d only climbed out of the dirt two days ago; I’d been sleeping in a coffin! Seeing my blank stare, Maya’s smile widened. She covered her mouth, whispering to Mother, “Mom, do you think Aspen is… well, a bit slow? She doesn’t seem to understand anything.” At that, my eyes lit up. I looked at Maya, genuinely grateful. “You’re so smart! How did you know?” I stepped closer, praising her sincerely. “I really don’t understand anything. You’re amazing, you can say so much all by yourself. Your tongue is so nimble!” Even though I was praising her, her lips twisted downward, her eyes narrowing as if she wanted to devour me. I felt a pang of confusion. “Maya, are you upset? Then I apologize. I’m sorry.” Maya’s face was ashen. “Aspen, stop playing games!” “Enough!” Father finally spoke, his voice laced with annoyance and impatience. “What’s all this racket? Aspen, go with the butler to the room on the second floor and settle in.” 3 Watching Father turn to leave, something suddenly flickered in my mind. Right, the scientist’s instructions! I quickly tapped my head and declared loudly, “I want to go to school.” Seeing no reaction, I repeated, “I need to go to school. Can I?” Maya scoffed, and Ethan stared at me as if I were refuse. “You, a simpleton who barely knows her ABCs, want to go make a fool of yourself?” Father frowned. “The money the Bennet family gives you will last you a lifetime. Don’t go out there and embarrass me.” I shook my head, my stiff neck unwavering. “No, I have to go.” Father suppressed his anger. “Why?” I faltered, racking my brain for the reason the scientist had given me, then answered precisely, “Because I need to find men.” The moment the words left my mouth, the living room fell into a deathly silence. Ethan clicked his tongue, his face full of scorn. “Looks dumb, but deep down she knows how to reel in a rich kid.” Father took a deep breath, his gaze on me like I was some incurable, filthy thing. But he couldn’t be bothered to argue further, waving his hand in agreement. Mission accomplished! I happily followed the butler upstairs. The room was small, shaded, damp, and gloomy – absolutely perfect! This environment would perfectly slow down the decay of my flesh. I excitedly spun around. No flies, no carrion beetles. Excellent, no worries about being nibbled on. The butler entered, carrying my dinner. Seeing me staring blankly at a corner, he said coldly, “Miss Bennet, Madam has instructed that since you’ve just returned and haven’t learned your manners, you needn’t come downstairs for meals. Dinner will be brought to your room.” “How thoughtful!” I exclaimed sincerely. But looking at the elegant stir-fry on the plate, I looked up at the butler. “The food is lovely, but I don’t eat at night. You can take this away, and you don’t need to send it up anymore. I’ve brought my own.” The butler’s face darkened. “Miss Bennet, you should know your place. You are not like Miss Maya. Why resort to a hunger strike to spite yourself?” I stared at his face, utterly bewildered. Why was he angry? I genuinely didn’t need to eat. If I put it in my stomach, it wouldn’t digest and would just start to rot. After much thought, I realized I’d forgotten to make an expression. The scientist said, a smile always works. So I forced my lips into a wide, unnatural grin, then chirped, “Thank you for your concern, but I know my body best. You can take it away~” My frozen smile was met with the butler recoiling slightly, then gritting his teeth. “Fine. If Miss Bennet doesn’t need it, we won’t send it up again. Don’t you dare regret it!” Watching his hasty retreat, I let my stretched smile drop, rubbing my aching facial muscles. Humans are so hard to understand. Never mind, I thought. No need for internal conflict for a corpse. 4 The next day, the chauffeur dropped me off at the gates of the elite high school. Maya had given me a sugary reminder before she left, telling me to “remember my place.” I understood perfectly – my place was to be a pseudo-human blending into school to feed. So in class, I mimicked everything: my desk-mate napped during breaks, so did I; he sighed during exams, so did I. My desk-mate got 28 on the math test; I got 23. Our homeroom teacher called my desk-mate (his name was Darcy) and me out into the hallway. I nervously rubbed my ashen fingers. Such low scores – would they find out I had no brainwaves? The teacher’s finger tapped the test papers with a loud thwack, spittle flying. “Aspen Bennet, Darcy Vance! Are you even human?! Can normal people score this low with their eyes closed?!” My heart lurched. They’ve seen through me! Darcy scratched his head, looking utterly unbothered. “Sir, if I don’t know it, I don’t know it. Worst case, I’ll go home and learn auto repair with my dad.” The teacher clutched his chest, furious, then glared at me. “What about you?! If you don’t work hard now, are you going to live on thin air later?!” Under his furious gaze, I opened my mouth, answering honestly, “Sir, I can indeed live on thin air.” The teacher nearly fainted, pointing at Darcy. “Get out of here! Aspen, you stay!” Darcy winked at me as he slipped away, as if to say, “You’re toast.” The teacher berated me for an entire break. By the time I returned to my seat, I felt like what little vitality this corpse possessed had been completely drained. To regain some energy, I poked Darcy, who was slumped on his desk. “Desk-mate, can I… take a little sip?” Darcy’s eyes were closed, half his face buried in his arms. “What do you want?” I leaned my head close to his neck, inhaling the fresh, pulsating scent of blood, and swallowed. “Blood.” Darcy scoffed, “Creep,” then dramatically turned his head away and went back to sleep. I looked at his unguarded nape and carefully leaned in. The scientist had modified my canines for easier feeding. While Darcy slept soundly, I gently pierced his skin and took a small sip. Sweet, warm blood flowed into my parched throat, but I still felt so hungry. A tiny bit of blood wasn’t enough to sustain a whole day’s expenditure. At noon, I had no choice but to go to the cafeteria.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394928”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When Dino once again refused to heal me, I went to the black market and bought a cheap, comfort-type Beastkin. The next second, a few lines of comments flashed across my vision. [The manipulative male lead #2 is here! The female lead absolutely must not bring him home!] [The male lead is just tsundere, tough on the outside, soft on the inside. If the female lead just lowers her pride and begs him again, he’ll comfort her.] [Actually, Dino already likes the female lead now, but if she brings this manipulative snake home, the misunderstandings between her and Dino will only grow, leading to heartbreak and suffering.] I instinctively pulled back my hand from making the payment. But a cold, scaled tail had already wrapped around my ankle. Inside the cage, the Beastkin’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Please, don’t leave me.” 1 The black market owner cracked a whip across Silas. He barked harshly: “Pull back your disgusting tail!” The cold sensation on my ankle vanished instantly. Silas recoiled into a corner of the cage, no longer daring to meet my gaze. His clothes were torn, revealing bloodied scratches on his pale skin. The comments continued to scroll. [Male lead #2 is manipulative, but so beautiful.] [No wonder the female lead feels sympathy, he really is pitiful.] [It’s all an act! Silas looks harmless, but he’s a White Serpent Beastkin, cold and treacherous to the core. The black market owner’s horrific death later? Probably his doing!] I looked at the owner; a jagged scar marred his face. Silas flinched, raising his eyes, but the owner was already poised to whip him again. He muttered curses: “How many times have I taught you?!” Most Beastkin in the black market were either abandoned or captured after being injured. Their ownership belonged to their master. As the whip was about to fall on Silas again, he dared not dodge, only cowering in fearful anticipation. But the pain never came. He opened his eyes, looking up in confusion. I had caught the whip. “Him, I’ll take him.” Silas’s eyes brightened. The owner grinned obsequiously: “Alrighty.” Perhaps sensing my earlier hesitation, the owner continued to push his wares. “Care to look at other stock? Their comfort abilities are far superior to Silas’s.” And far more expensive. I earned my money hard, going on dangerous missions daily. If not for Dino’s refusal to heal me, and the rising prices of healing serums, I wouldn’t be here in the black market, looking for a comfort-type Beastkin. The owner’s eyes darted around. He chuckled apologetically: “Ms. Dexter, don’t say I didn’t warn you. You get what you pay for. This Beastkin was injured, his psychic energy damaged. His comfort abilities are indeed lacking, and it also depends on your compatibility. Once sold, no returns.” I shook my head: “It’s fine.” I’ve always been able to endure pain. Normally, Dino wouldn’t let me near him, only offering me some clothes carrying his scent. “This works too. Don’t try to find an excuse to touch me.” An excuse? Even if he couldn’t see my exhaustion, he could see the horrifying scars on my body. I was too weary to argue with him. I simply held the clothes and lay on the bed. Highly compatible Beastkin partners could use their psychic energy to rapidly heal wounds, but Dino disliked me. The scent on his clothes could provide pain relief, but the effect would certainly be greatly diminished. Sometimes, even broken bones meant a trip to the clinic for healing injections. I looked at Silas. His eyes were hopeful, his smile shy. Besides, even if his comfort abilities were lacking, it was still better than a pile of cold clothes. I made the payment. The owner kicked the cage. Mocking Silas. “You lucky bastard.” Then he placed the whip in my hand. “Ms. Dexter, he’s been trained very obediently, and, to compensate for his shortcomings…” The owner winked, a lewd grin spreading across his face. “I taught him other things. You can enjoy yourself…” The comments went wild. [Manipulative snake, don’t you dare touch our female lead!] [Don’t worry, all that strength and cunning will find no place here. The female lead belongs to Dino.] [But later, when Silas kidnaps the female lead, and Dino finds her, the female lead’s face is flushed, but that part is glossed over!] [No, no, no! Filthy snake, retreat! Retreat! Retreat!] 2 When I opened the door, Dino was sitting on the orange sofa, watching a military channel. Hearing my return, he didn’t turn his head, but still scoffed coldly: “Hmph, so you do remember how to come home?” The comments section erupted in groans. [Dino, stop pretending! You’re dying of worry inside, yet you’re still putting on this act.] [Sigh, there’s a communication gap between the leads. Elara only knows Dino doesn’t like her, but she doesn’t know he secretly treated her while she slept, afraid she’d find out, so he never fully healed her.] [Dino is all action, no words.] Usually, If he refused to heal me, I would simply comply. But sometimes, I’d pass out from the pain, only to wake up with my wounds largely healed. I assumed Dino, unable to bear it, had used his psychic energy, but only enough to partially treat, a gesture of limited concern. These things, I truly didn’t know. So this time, after he refused me again, I simply went out in silence to buy a Beastkin. Comfort. If you won’t provide it, plenty others will. His very posture exuded annoyance. But I didn’t want to argue with him. So I just said softly to Silas: “My house is too small. You might have to share a room with someone else.” Silas hadn’t even had a chance to speak. Dino cut in: “Who is this guy?” I turned my head to Dino, his gaze cold. I patiently explained: “His name is Silas. He’s my comfort-type Beastkin. He’ll need to share a room with you from now on.” Dino, born into the Black Panther clan, had always been pampered, everything in his life going smoothly since childhood. Upon hearing this request, he exploded. “Elara, don’t you dare be ungrateful!” Silas, seeing Dino’s aggression, tugged at my sleeve and said gently: “I can sleep in the living room.” Dino scoffed. I took Silas’s wrist; his body temperature was lower than normal. “It’s okay, you’ll stay with him for now. The living room is too noisy, you won’t sleep well.” “Besides…” “Dino will be leaving soon.” Dino’s tongue pushed against his cheek when he heard that. His tone was lazy and mocking. “Since you care so much about him, why don’t the two of you just sleep together?” The comments couldn’t take it anymore. [Male lead, if you don’t want that mouth, donate it.] [Can’t you just say you’re jealous? You’re going to end up wifeless, you know that?] [Heh, if they actually slept together, you wouldn’t be happy. Who was it clutching her nightgown to his face when she wasn’t home, purring with satisfaction, tail and ears popping out?] [Dino poisons himself every time he licks his lips.] I was a little angry. Silas gently cupped my face, pressing his forehead against mine. The next second, The nerves throbbing from pain and frustration felt as if they were gently caressed. Silas, seeing his comfort had worked, his eyes lit up like stars, even happily revealing his vertical pupils. He said in a voice only we two could hear: “It’s alright. There’s no need to argue with Brother because of me.” But I wasn’t listening. I immediately retorted to Dino: “Don’t forget, you’re just a guest here too.” I had used all my savings to buy this small apartment in the ridiculously expensive capital. Not to live under anyone’s thumb. Dino trembled with rage: “You’re yelling at me because of him?” Yes, I am yelling at you. But… “It’s not because of him.” The favored always act with impunity. I just, my scales were tilting a little. Comments: [Tsk, quickly, take notes!] [How to Get a Woman to Fight Your Battles by Playing the Victim.] [Major male rivalry in progress, I love it.] [Silas is really well-trained; his tactics are too advanced. If it weren’t for the female lead’s affection, Dino might not have turned things around in the end.] [Keep it up, you’ll be crying when your wife runs away!] 3 Silas still sadly made a makeshift bed for himself on the floor. As I was making his bed, He smoothed the wrinkles with his serpent tail. I paused, surprised. When Dino first arrived, he complained the apartment was too small, the bed too hard—he found fault with everything. Because I loved him, I indulged his every whim, and he accepted my kindness as his due. Now, Silas held a glass of water, offering it to me: “Have some water, you must be tired today. I can manage by myself.” I said okay. Silas, however, looked at my waist. “Do you need me to massage it for you?” “Hmm?” “You’ve been holding your back a lot. Does it hurt a lot?” Ever since I became independent from my family… Few people had asked me if I was hurting or tired. Today, during a mission, I was slammed against a rock wall by a large lynx. “Can this heal wounds?” Silas nodded. His serpent tail wrapped around my waist, seeming to gauge my muscles. His movements were light. And very soothing. Silas’s eyes were closed, his lips pale. He didn’t even realize his slender tail tip was gliding over my ribs, resting just below my chest. I rarely had such intimacy with a male Beastkin. The only other time was when Dino lost control during his heat cycle. I instinctively wanted to move that white tail tip. But as soon as I touched it, Silas uncontrollably shivered, his ears turning red. The comments section went wild. [To increase Silas’s sensitivity, the black market owner specifically gave him drugs. The effects haven’t worn off yet.] [Female lead, I beg you! Don’t encourage him anymore!] [To be fair, Silas is very considerate.] [And snakes are naturally lustful. If Silas weren’t injured, he’d probably be trying to pounce on her right now!] Silas’s lips turned crimson, his eyes glistening with moisture. I felt a little embarrassed. “Thanks, I need to go out.” Silas turned his head. And softly hummed in acknowledgment. 4 At the clinic, Dr. Yu skillfully gave me an injection. “Oh, how come it’s not as bad today? Did your Dino finally come to his senses?” I pursed my lips, shaking my head: “No, I bought a comfort-type Beastkin from the black market.” Dr. Yu looked very pleased. “It’s about time! He, Dino, is so precious, thinking it’s beneath him to be with you. If he’s so high and mighty, why doesn’t he just move out?” I said softly: “He couldn’t help it.” She scoffed: “Dino always liked Lara. Why doesn’t he go to Lara for comfort?” Lara was Dino’s childhood friend. Their compatibility was also very high, at eighty-two percent. But when the great battle came, Dino, in an attempt to save Lara, fell into a cave with me. However, he was also going through his heat cycle. My compatibility with him was extremely high, and if a psychic link occurred during the heat cycle, it would lead to a deep-seated dependency. So, after he woke up, he resented my even higher compatibility, and even more, he resented that our connection upset Lara. But due to his injuries, his heat cycle was prolonged. After developing a deep dependency on me, instinct compelled him to stay near me. He hated this primal urge. Dr. Yu always called Dino a scummy jerk. I shook my head: “It’s okay. The Vance family will soon develop the separation agent, and then he’ll leave.” But the comments on screen revealed the truth again. [Laughing my head off! The separation agent was developed ages ago; the male lead, that stubborn tsundere, just refuses to use it.] [The male lead is in love and doesn’t even know it.] [Male lead: Don’t panic, I’m on my own timeline.] I was confused. Were these comments real or fake? Why did they keep saying Dino loved me? All I felt from him was sarcasm and coldness. When I asked for comfort, he always refused. They said he would secretly hug my nightgown to sleep. And that he worried about me every day when I went on missions. But… Unseen affection. What kind of love was that? 5 When I got home, I moved quietly, turning on the light to find Silas curled up on the living room floor, hugging a small bundle of blankets. Beastkin are generally large-bodied, but Silas, curled up like this, looked utterly pitiful. The light woke him. “Elara, you’re back?” As if he had been waiting for me. But he was clearly kicked out. It was my fault. I knew Dino had a bad temper, yet I made them share a room. “Did he kick you out?” I asked Silas, frowning. Silas’s face paled for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. He evaded the question: “I’ve cut up some fruit for you. I’ll go get it from the fridge now.” I stewed in silent anger as I watched Silas’s back. His smile, however, was warm. He placed a beautifully arranged fruit platter in front of me. As he reached forward, his long sleeve slid up to his forearm. I abruptly grasped his wrist. Silas’s skin was very pale, still bearing some unhealed whip marks, but what was more striking was a thin, long blood mark, with a tiny shard of glass embedded in it. “Did Dino do this?” Silas shook his head frantically: “It’s okay, it doesn’t hurt…” Which was as good as admitting it. Comments: [OMG, the super subtle wound reveal!] [The drama just landed!] [Manipulative snake’s cunning plan, Dino walks into a trap.] [Silas disturbed Dino when he rolled over, so Dino threw a glass at him, and the glass shards cut Silas’s arm.] [But the wound, is it really that deep?] [This definitely looks like Silas deepened it himself with the glass shard.] Perhaps it was the confluence of recent grievances and current anger. I directly pounded on Dino’s bedroom door. “Open the door!!” After a moment, the door opened. Dino stood there, wearing the cotton pajamas I had bought him, but they were unbuttoned, revealing a large expanse of his pale, muscular chest and abs. He leaned casually against the doorframe. His tone was utterly nonchalant: “Something wrong?” The comments section was full of knowing winks. [Tsk tsk tsk, I’m almost too embarrassed to say it, but who just deliberately unbuttoned his shirt?] [Showing off so much for whom? Couldn’t be for the female lead, could it?] [What pose is that? If he just pulled the female lead into his arms now, what would that manipulative snake even be doing?] Dino scoffed. “Late at night, waking me up. It couldn’t be about him, could it?” Silas interjected, trying to mediate. “It’s fine, Dino, go back to sleep. Elara just wanted to see you.” He then tried to pull me away. But I resisted, grabbing Silas’s wrist and accusing Dino. “You hurt him! Didn’t you see?!” Dino frowned impatiently, looking down at me mockingly. “Such a small scratch, what’s there to complain about? I broke a rib once and didn’t make a sound!” My voice was icy: “Apologize.” “What?” I enunciated each word: “A-po-lo-gize!” He unhappily pushed his tongue against his cheek, his tone a restrained fury. “You want me to apologize to this lowlife from the black market?” He laughed: “Don’t tell me you’d fall for someone like that.” I was deeply disappointed in Dino. “Someone like that? In my eyes, Silas is kind, gentle, and compassionate. It’s only natural to like him.” I took a step forward, my voice hardening, “And someone like you, cold, selfish, carelessly trampling on other people’s genuine feelings, that’s what truly disgusts me.” I took Silas’s hand and turned to leave. But behind me, Dino’s mocking voice rang out. His tone held a smile, yet it was like a rose embedded with thorns. “Is that so? I thought you actually liked someone cold, selfish, and carelessly trampling on other people’s genuine feelings like me.” He abruptly yanked my arm, pulling me towards him. His grip was strong, squeezing my bones painfully. “Didn’t you throw yourself at me? Did I beg you to comfort me during my heat cycle? You were practically gushing about how much you liked me when you had that fever a while ago. Do you think I don’t know about you secretly kissing me in the cave?” He let out a low chuckle. “Elara, what good is high compatibility? Even if you begged me to—I wouldn’t…” His voice was abruptly cut off by the crisp sound of a slap. My tears suddenly fell onto his palm. His throat bobbed, and he was about to speak. But Silas gently pulled me into his arms. His soft voice broke the awkward silence. “Elara, I’m a little hungry.” “Hmm?” Right. He probably hadn’t eaten all day. I also wanted to escape this suffocating atmosphere. “I’ll take you out to eat.” The comments section, after a brief silence, exploded. [Yes! My ship is finally sailing a little! (cries)] [Male lead, get ready for a wife-chasing inferno.] [The sharp-tongued tsundere male lead persona is still intact. But when your wife leaves, don’t you dare cry!] [I’m actually shipping Silas and Elara a bit. I’m such a sucker for gentle guys!] [Above comment, don’t break up the official pairing, okay? Besides, if it weren’t for Silas, the leads wouldn’t even be arguing.] [Silas probably didn’t expect it to work so well.] [Silas: I don’t know, he just stabbed himself.]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394909”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 The custom-made gown, a masterpiece crafted over six months and valued at a million dollars, now adorned the rising star, Kaden. The store was thick with perfume, but all I could smell was humiliation. The store manager, seeing Cora lounging on the sofa, was drenched in a cold sweat. Cora rose, her red-soled heels clicking on the floor, and personally straightened Kaden’s bowtie. “Kaden’s walking the red carpet at Cannes next week, and he needs a show-stopping outfit. What’s the big deal about him borrowing yours?” Her tone was dismissive, as if shooing away a fly. “Just pick out something off-the-rack, don’t make a scene.” Under the glare of flashing lights, Kaden preened in the perfectly tailored suit, a smile playing on his lips, and a defiant glint in his eyes darting towards me. I looked at my own reflection in the mirror, clad in a worn, pilling old shirt, clutching a takeout bag with her favorite congee—a stark contrast to the opulence around me. This wedding, a year in the making, was nothing but a cruel joke. I didn’t explode. Instead, I calmly placed the insulated container down and slipped the engagement ring from my finger, setting it gently on the coffee table. “Cora’s right, off-the-rack can be pretty good.” I lifted my gaze, all warmth gone from my eyes. “So, I’ll find a bride who’s willing to wear off-the-rack with me.” … The bridal boutique fell silent. Cora’s hand, poised to adjust Kaden’s tie, froze mid-air. She slowly turned, her shrewd eyes narrowing slightly as she scrutinized me. “Lucas, what did you just say?” Her voice carried an icy edge. Looking at the face I’d spent five years building into a star, a wave of nausea washed over me. “I said, there won’t be a wedding.” My voice was unnervingly calm. “Pfft.” Kaden, still by the mirror, suddenly covered his mouth to stifle a laugh. He walked toward me, still wearing the suit that should have been mine. “Come on, Lucas,” Kaden said, batting his eyeliner-enhanced lashes, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Cora just feels bad I don’t have something killer for the red carpet next week. This custom piece, on me, that’s how you make headlines, how you get commercial value. You’re so good at cooking and cleaning at home, why are you suddenly so clueless when it comes to Cora’s business?” He purred “Cora” like a lover, sickeningly sweet. I stared at him, my gaze a cold blade. “Take it off.” Kaden flinched, shrinking behind Cora, his eyes welling up instantly. “Cora, Lucas is being so mean! I’m scared.” Cora shoved Kaden behind her, her eyebrows fiercely knitted together. She strode toward me, her eyes blazing with disgust. “Lucas, have you had enough of this tantrum?” Her voice was condescending, her words sharp as daggers: “Kaden is the company’s cash cow. I give him resources for the sake of the Crawford Group, for our future. You, a jobless freeloader who only knows how to hover over a stove at home, who are you showing off this expensive gown to? Do you even deserve to wear it?” Five years of devotion, and all it earned me in her eyes was “freeloader” and “do you deserve it?” I took a deep breath, hands shoved into my pockets. “Cora, this is a custom suit I waited six months for. You just ‘borrowed’ it? Did you even ask me?” Cora scoffed as if I’d told a hilarious joke, then stepped closer, her perfume enveloping me. “Ask you? This suit cost a million dollars, charged to my credit card. What you wear, what you use—what isn’t paid for by me, Cora? And now you’re talking about having an opinion?” She extended a finger adorned with a diamond ring and jabbed it forcefully into my chest. “Lucas, you need to learn gratitude. Don’t think that just because I’ve been taking care of you, you can throw your weight around in front of me.” I looked at the arrogant woman before me, my heart turning to stone. She genuinely saw no wrong in snatching her fiancé’s wedding attire for another man. In her eyes, I was merely hired help. I was done wasting breath on her and turned to leave. “Stop!” Cora shrieked. She lunged forward, grabbing my wrist with a death grip, her nails digging into my flesh. “Lucas, don’t be ungrateful. Go pick out an off-the-rack suit, the wedding is still on next week. If you’re obedient today, after Kaden walks the red carpet, I’ll get you a three-hundred-thousand-dollar car.” She paused, her eyes turning cold and menacing. “But if you dare walk out of here today, I promise you, no company in all of New York will dare to hire you. No one will lend you a single cent.” I let out a cold laugh, forcefully pulling my hand free. “Cora, you sicken me.” I didn’t spare her another glance, striding out. Behind me, I heard Cora’s mocking laughter and the click of the glass door locking. 2 “Click.” The glass door locked behind me. I turned back. Cora stood inside, tossing an electronic key in her hand. She stared at me through the glass, a cold smirk playing on her lips. “Lucas, I told you, you’re not going anywhere without my say-so.” I pounded on the glass door. “Open up! You’re truly ruthless.” “Ruthless? I’m merely teaching you to face reality.” Cora walked back to the sofa and sat down, elegantly crossing her legs. Kaden leaned in, resting his head on Cora’s shoulder, and flashed me a provocative smile. “Come on, Lucas. Don’t bother. It’s about to rain, and I bet you don’t even have money for a cab.” Cora pulled out her phone and, right in front of me, dialed her assistant. “Cancel all subsidiary cards under Lucas’s name. Revoke his apartment access. Inform all car services and ride-sharing platforms in New York City: anyone who dares pick up Lucas will be going against the Crawford Group.” She hung up and tapped the glass with her knuckle. “Lucas, a man’s pride means nothing compared to money. Without me, you won’t even find a place to sleep in this city. I’m giving you two hours to reflect. When you’ve thought it through, you can kneel outside and beg me.” Night fell quickly, followed by a torrential downpour. The rain soaked me to the bone. I pulled out my phone, and a dozen messages popped up on the screen. [Dear customer, your subsidiary card has been frozen by the primary cardholder…] [Apologies, Mr. Lucas, your ride-share order has been forcibly canceled by the system…] Cora wasn’t kidding. She was using her financial power to block my every move. She wanted to drive me to despair, to make me crawl back and beg her like a dog. I wiped the rain from my face and called David, an old friend who was now a director at the Crawford Group. “David, can you pick me up? I’m on Champs-Élysées Avenue…” On the other end, David’s voice was awkward. “Lucas… I’m so sorry. Cora just announced in the company group chat that anyone who helps you will be fired tomorrow. My mortgage and car payments are huge… Lucas, you’re just a kept man, why not just humble yourself to Cora? What’s the point?” “Beep, beep, beep…” The call ended. My heart sank, then a flicker of bitter amusement sparked within me. For Cora, I had hidden my identity for five years. I had built a shell company into a multi-billion-dollar empire; I had placed mediocre people like David into executive positions. And now, they had all betrayed me. Through the rain-blurred glass, I saw Cora, wine glass in hand, comfortably enjoying my misery in the downpour. Kaden knelt at her feet, massaging her legs. I took a deep breath, shoved my numb hands into my pockets, and turned to walk into the rain. Even if I had to walk, I would return to my own world on foot. “Bang!” Before I’d taken two steps, a black Mercedes G-Wagen screeched to a halt in front of me, its tires splashing muddy water all over my trousers. The window rolled down, and Cora’s male assistant stepped out from under an umbrella, tossing a garment bag directly at my feet. 3 Through the half-open zipper, I saw a cheap, black security uniform. The assistant looked at me, drenched to the bone, and spoke with a condescending tone. “Mr. Lucas, Ms. Cora is being merciful. Mr. Kaden needs someone to hold an umbrella and carry his shoes tonight for the red carpet. Ms. Cora said, if you put on this uniform and act as Mr. Kaden’s assistant tonight, your cards will be unfrozen tomorrow, and the wedding will proceed as planned.” Me, holding an umbrella and carrying shoes for the man who stole my wedding suit—a cheap uniform at that? This was a blatant insult. I stared at the garment bag on the ground, my body rigid in the cold wind, my eyes like ice. “Go back and tell Cora…” “To go to hell.” The assistant’s face twisted in anger. He pointed a finger at my nose. “Lucas, don’t push your luck. Do you think you’re still the future CEO’s husband? You’re nothing now. Without Ms. Cora, you wouldn’t even have food to eat.” He waved his hand, and two bodyguards emerged from the back of the G-Wagen, gripping my shoulders from either side. “Get lost.” My gaze turned colder. The assistant picked up the mud-splashed uniform and forcibly shoved it into my arms. “Ms. Cora ordered that if you won’t cooperate, we drag you there.” I was roughly shoved into the car. Half an hour later, the car stopped backstage at the film festival red carpet. I was pushed out. In a nearby lounge, Kaden, wearing the million-dollar custom suit that should have been mine, was posing for photographers. Cora stood beside him, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, her eyes full of adoration. Seeing me, covered in mud, being escorted, Cora gave the reporters a polite nod and strode towards me. She looked at the muddy uniform in my hands, her brow slightly furrowed, and spoke with a feigned concern, “How did you get into such a mess?” She took off her own suit jacket, as if to drape it over me. “Lucas, you’re just too stubborn. If only you’d be obedient and just humble yourself a little, why would I ever let you suffer?” I turned my head, avoiding her touch. Cora’s face instantly darkened, her eyes turning vicious. “Lucas, my patience has limits.” She grabbed my collar, forcing me to look at her. “Now, go immediately and change into that outfit. When Kaden goes on stage, you’ll be there to hold his umbrella. If you dare mess this up…” She let out a cold laugh, then pulled a smooth, ancient jade pendant from her pocket. It was carved with a dragon, and its surface gleamed with a faint, reddish hue. It was my late grandfather’s memento, a family heirloom. I had entrusted it to her to show my faith, and now it was her tool for blackmail. “Cora. Give me back my jade.” Fire flashed in my eyes as I reached for it. She held the ancient jade high, a cruel glint in her eyes. “Go hold the umbrella, and I’ll give it back. Otherwise, I’ll smash it right now.” 4 This ancient jade pendant was the last tangible link I had to my past, to my family. Cora’s fingertips, clutching the jade, hovered in mid-air above the hard marble floor. One slip, and it would be gone. “I’ll count to three,” Cora said, looking at me as if I were an ant she could crush. “Three.” “Two.” My muscles tensed, nails digging deep into my palms, blood dripping between my fingers. “Cora, if you dare let go, I promise you, you will regret it.” My voice was hoarse, deadly serious. Cora paused, then burst into laughter as if I’d told a ridiculous joke. “Threaten me? With nothing but your measly freeloader self? Fine, let’s see how you’ll make me regret it.” A flicker of madness danced in her eyes. “One.” As the word left her lips, her fingers released their grip. The blood-red jade, carrying centuries of my family’s legacy and my grandfather’s final memory, arced through the air. Shatter! The ancient jade hit the marble floor, breaking into several pieces. “Oops, butterfingers,” Cora said, clapping her hands, her smile twisted. “Lucas, this is what happens when you don’t listen. Guards, get him out of here! Don’t let him dirty Kaden’s red carpet.” Two bodyguards rushed forward, kicking me behind the knees. I instinctively fell to one knee, my knee slamming hard onto the shattered jade, blood staining the ground. Surrounding staff and reporters raised their cameras, snapping photos. Cora turned, her arm around Kaden’s waist, and walked towards the red carpet, leaving me with only her haughty back. I lowered my head, letting the blood from my knee flow, a slow, grim smile spreading across my lips. “Good… Very good.” I slowly stood, ignoring the stares of disgust from those around me. From a pocket in my soaked undershirt, I pulled out an encrypted phone. This was a top-tier Wall Street secure line. Five years. It had been five years since I last dialed that specific number. The phone rang only once before being answered. It was Evelyn Nicol’s private line, the financial empress of New York. She was my only partner from the early days when I founded “Abyss Capital,” my multi-billion-dollar venture empire. “Hello, it’s me.” My voice was devoid of all emotion, only coldness remained. On the other end, the woman’s breathing hitched, her voice trembling. “Lucas… you finally called me.” “The game is over.” I closed my eyes, and when I reopened them, a fierce glint shone within. “I want the Crawford Group bankrupt by dawn. And… ” I looked at the shattered jade on the ground. “Pick me up backstage at the red carpet. Bring a knife.” “Three minutes. Anyone who hurts you, their entire family will pay.” Evelyn’s furious roar erupted from the phone. I hung up, standing silently in place. Outside, Cora was still basking in the flashbulbs and applause on the red carpet, while Kaden grandly displayed his suit to the cameras. One minute, two minutes, three minutes. The countdown ended. “Rumble.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394911”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The entire Federation knew that High Executor Hawke once owned a cat. For that cat, he’d sheathed his fangs, donned a collar, and willingly became a dog. Later, when he was on the brink of death, that cat threw him into the notorious Dead Man’s Tower, a place synonymous with brutality. Five years later, Hawke drenched District D in blood, all to find the cat who had betrayed him. And I, the cat himself, was currently cowering in a pile of garbage, playing hide-and-seek with him. From the alley entrance came the man’s low voice. “Teacher, have you hidden well?” “If I catch you, your neck will be bitten through, you know.” 1 “District D is under full lockdown. Once signs of subject S-09 are detected, report immediately.” “Those harboring him will be punished collectively.” “Informants will be rewarded thirty million credits.” “Those who capture him alive will receive ten times that amount.” A familiar voice echoed from the broadcast. I looked down at the half-eaten, expired ration bar in my hand. Ten times. Tsk. Hawke, that dog, I really did raise him to be expensive. To think, when I picked him out of a pile of corpses, he was fighting even wild dogs for bones. Now, to catch me, he’s blown the Federation’s annual military budget. If I’d known, I would’ve added some rat poison to that suppressor injection five years ago. And ended it all. 2 If cats have nine lives. I probably only had half of my last one left. That high-dose injection five years ago not only crippled half of Hawke’s powers but also drained all my mental energy. I was now just an ordinary, slightly anti-reconnaissance, useless cat. Aside from being a bit faster and jumping a little higher, I had no great talents. I had just ducked into an abandoned cardboard box. A dirty little hand reached in, tugging at my sleeve. “Brother, spare some food.” It was a partially mechanized child, an artificial eye blinking with a red glow. Seemingly another refugee caught in this “purge.” I sighed. Handed over my half-eaten cracker. “Eat it and get lost. Stay away from me.” The child took the cracker, wolfing it down: “Thank you, brother! Thank you, brother! You’re so kind. But brother, you smell so good, like… like expensive mint candy.” My face changed. Dammit. The suppressor patch had failed. Feline shapeshifters, under extreme stress, emit a unique scent. For canine shapeshifters, it was a walking GPS. What’s more, Hawke’s nose was an SSS-grade anomaly. “Go now!” I pushed the child away. Just as I thought of moving. A low howl suddenly echoed from a distance. It was a mechanical hound. Hawke’s personal guard, the ‘Black Fangs.’ I disregarded hiding my figure, my toes pushing off the box, propelling me forward. I had to get to the sewers. That was the only place that could block scents. I couldn’t help but recall the last time I saw Hawke. He lay on the ground, covered in blood, yet stubbornly clutched my trouser leg. His eyes were dark, his tone chilling. “Teacher, if you’re going to run, remember to run fast. Don’t let me catch you, otherwise…” Otherwise what, I hadn’t taken it seriously. I even patted his head, smiling: “Good dog, let go.” Thinking back now, I was truly reckless, relying on the fact that I had saved him. 3 The sewer entrance in my memory was just ahead. I slid down the wall, rushing towards the iron grate. My steps suddenly froze. The grate was gone. In its place was a ten-centimeter-thick blast-proof steel plate, fortified with a high-voltage electric fence. Not only that, all underground passages in District D were sealed. He had anticipated my plan. Hawke wasn’t hunting mice; he was trapping a turtle in a jar. The mint scent grew stronger. Without the suppression of my mental energy, that pheromone, unique to feline shapeshifters, was rapidly spreading. The mechanical hounds’ barks in the distance had changed pitch, from searching whines to the fierce howls of discovering prey. They’d caught my scent. Too late. I looked around. The alley was a dead end. The only cover was a few man-high garbage bins in the corner. They were filled with District D’s rotting, foul-smelling household waste. For a cat with a clean freak tendency, it was hell. But I wasn’t in a position to be picky. I gritted my teeth, propped myself on the rim of a bin with one hand, flipped over and jumped inside, then pulled the lid shut. The stench immediately invaded my nostrils. I clamped my hands over my mouth and nose, trying to squeeze myself as deep as possible. Tap. Tap. Footsteps, unhurried. The absolute dominance of an SSS-grade canine shapeshifter instantly enveloped the entire dark alley. The primal instinct in my bones made me tremble uncontrollably. Hawke was here. The man’s low voice slowly entered my ears. “Teacher, have you hidden well?” A few words, carrying a long-absent sweetness and madness, crawled up my spine like a venomous snake. Silence outside for three seconds. His voice suddenly dropped, with a hint of cruel amusement. “If I catch you, your neck will be bitten through, you know…” 4 My throat tightened; I didn’t even dare to swallow. He knew I was here. He could smell me. The footsteps resumed. This time, they were heading straight for the garbage bins. Thud. Something heavy hit the garbage bin next to mine. Trash spilled everywhere, and the mechanical hounds let out low whimpers. “Not this one.” He chuckled softly. The footsteps shifted, stopping in front of the bin where I was hiding. I could even hear his slightly ragged breathing. He was excited. “Teacher, do you know?” “Back in Dead Man’s Tower, every day I thought, when I claw my way out, the first thing I’ll do is find you.” “Find you… then pull out all your claws.” “And then, chain you to the bed with gold chains, so you can only ever look at me…” Creak. The lid was pried open slightly. Hawke’s eyes, half-smiling, locked onto mine. “Teacher.” “Long time no see.” My pupils instantly contracted into a vertical slit due to the sudden bright light. My back arched uncontrollably. Instinct was screaming. Run. You’ll die. Hawke tilted his head: “Aren’t you going to say hello?” I gritted my teeth. “…Executor, you’ve mistaken me for someone else.” The words had barely left my mouth when Hawke chuckled. The surrounding mechanical hounds immediately fell silent, not even daring to whimper. “Mistaken?” He leaned down slightly, propping one hand on the bin’s rim. “Teacher, do you know the scent you’re giving off right now…” He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, his Adam’s apple bobbing hard, “How much it attracts dogs?” Hawke opened his eyes, undisguised greed churning in his dark golden vertical pupils. He extended his black-gloved hand, reaching for me. “Come out. Don’t make me come in and get you.” Five years ago, this hand would have awkwardly tugged at my clothes, wagging his tail, begging me for another glance. Now, it commanded with the absolute dominance of an SSS-grade shapeshifter, approaching with unyielding force. The moment his fingers were about to touch me. I moved. A useless cat was still a cat. I sprang from the garbage pile, my claws instantly hardening and extending, slashing fiercely at the back of his hand. If I could just rip his glove, even if only for half a second— “Rip!” Hawke didn’t dodge at all. He flipped his hand, seizing my throat. “Ugh!” My breath was instantly cut off. All struggles ceased. Hawke lifted me with one hand. My feet dangled in the air. “You’re weaker, Teacher.” He looked up at me, a strange satisfaction in his eyes. “You were much fiercer five years ago when you disciplined me with that ruler.” My hands desperately clawed at his wrist. Just as I thought I was about to be choked to death, Hawke let go. I collapsed onto the ground uncontrollably. “Five years. Do you know how I lived?” Hawke squatted down, almost pressing his face against mine. Suddenly, his gaze fell on my neck, and his eyes darkened. “Very clean, Teacher.” His thumb dangerously caressed my carotid artery. “Tell me, should I bite here again, or…” His fingers slid back, stopping at the nape of my neck. “Or should I just turn you into a useless thing that can’t live without me?” My body stiffened. “Hawke… you wouldn’t dare…” “What wouldn’t I dare to do?” “You’re no longer some high-and-mighty instructor. You’re just a refugee in District D, a… wanted criminal for whom I’ve offered a three-hundred-million-credit bounty.” He stood up, pulling a silver collar from his waist. Click. The clasp locked. A heavy weight pressed against my neck. This was an electronic collar used by the military to restrain the most dangerous war criminals. “Take him away.” Hawke commanded coldly. Two Black Fangs guards immediately shifted into human form and stepped forward. They seized my arms, one on each side. Dragging me out of the dark alley. 5 I was taken back to the “White Tower,” the center of the Federation’s highest authority. There was no interrogation room, no water dungeon. Even the electronic collar on my neck had been removed. I was thrown into Hawke’s bedroom. And in the center of the bedroom, sat a giant golden cage. A cat cage? I walked over and looked. The cage was lined with soft cushions and even had a ball of yarn inside. When Hawke pushed open the door, I was staring blankly at the ball of yarn. I wanted to paw at it. He had changed into civilian clothes. In his hand, he carried a tray. “Are you hungry?” He placed the tray on the table. It was a steamed fish. Its fish eyes stared dead at me. “I don’t eat fish.” When I was a cat, I did indeed love fish. But ever since I picked him up, to leave the good stuff for this growing pup, I forced myself to change my taste to nutrient paste. Hawke raised an eyebrow. “True. Your taste has changed.” “You don’t like fish. You like hardship now.” I was forced back against the wall. No retreat. “Teacher, five years ago, in the depths of Dead Man’s Tower, do you know how much hardship I endured?” “It was full of failed test subjects. They had no sanity, only tearing and biting. To survive, I drank dirty water, ate decaying flesh, and even had to guard against rats biting my flesh while I slept.” I lowered my eyes. Of course, I knew what that place was like. Because I had personally chosen it. “But every time I was close to death, I thought of you.” Hawke’s fingers wrapped around my hair, tugging hard, forcing me to look up. “I thought, what is Teacher doing now? Is he enjoying himself in some warm embrace? Has he long forgotten that there’s a dog waiting for him?” “There was no warm embrace.” I wasn’t taking the blame for something I didn’t do. “I was scavenging.” After my mental energy was depleted, I couldn’t even complete basic tasks; if I didn’t scavenge, I’d starve. Hawke froze for a moment. Then, as if he’d heard a joke, he laughed, his shoulders shaking. “Scavenging? You? The pampered Instructor You, who usually can’t even be bothered to put on his own shoes, went scavenging?” “Believe it or not.” “Of course, I don’t believe it.” Hawke’s laughter abruptly ceased, his eyes instantly turning ruthless. He seized my wrist and dragged me towards the golden cage. “Get in.” I struggled desperately. “Hawke! Are you crazy? I’m human!” “You’re a cat.” Hawke’s strength was astonishing, allowing no resistance. He pushed me into the cage, then followed. With a click, it was locked. I gripped the golden bars, trembling with fury. “Hawke, if you have the guts, kill me.” Hawke watched me silently, then pulled out something. It was a white pill. “Killing you would be too boring.” He shook the pill between his fingers. “Teacher, don’t you like raising dogs? Now, let’s switch places.” “Eat it.” I stared at the pill. “What is it?” “Don’t be scared, it’s not poison.” Hawke’s lips curved into a wicked smile. “It’s a high-concentration gene inducer.” My pupils contracted violently. Gene inducer. That was a forbidden drug specifically used to accelerate shapeshifter traits. The side effect was that it would make a person lose their sanity within a short time, completely submitting to instinct. That meant, if I ate it… I would completely become a… a cat in heat, entirely dependent on him. “I won’t eat it.” Hawke wasn’t annoyed. “You don’t have to.” He looked at the watch on his wrist. “The purge of District D isn’t over yet. I heard there’s still a child there? Something like… Ah-Ji? And a partial cyborg?” My heart violently skipped a beat. It was the child I had pushed away. How did Hawke know? “What do you want?” Hawke shrugged. “Nothing. It’s just that the mechanical hounds have been hungry lately, and they’re very interested in the taste of semi-metal.” Despicable. Shameless. Vile. I cursed Hawke’s ancestors eighteen generations back in my mind. But I knew he would do it. “Give it to me.” Hawke smiled. He placed the pill in my palm. His fingertips brushed mine, almost imperceptibly. “Good.” “Now that’s my good cat.” 6 The drug took effect faster than I’d imagined. In just five minutes, my body temperature began to soar. Even as Hawke pinned me beneath him, I couldn’t believe it. That Hawke would go to such lengths for revenge. How much did he hate me? “Teacher, focus.” Hawke whispered in my ear. I was flipped over, forced to my knees. The bell Hawke had forced onto my collar jingled against my collarbone with every movement, a mockery, a constant reminder of my current identity. “It rings so beautifully.” Hawke hooked the collar, yanking it back. I was forced to tilt my head up. “Five years ago, when I knelt at your feet wearing this, Teacher, were you listening like this?” I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t even control myself from sticking out my tongue, licking the fingers he clamped on my chin, begging for a tiny bit of mercy, or a tiny bit of touch. Hawke’s eyes darkened. “So good.” He leaned down, his teeth biting into the nape of my neck. It hurt, but it also felt good. “Haw… Hawke…” I pleaded incoherently. “Don’t bite there… it will… it will mark…” In the shapeshifter world, the nape of the neck was the most private gland. Once bitten through and injected with another’s pheromone, it meant a month-long period of absolute submission. That was my last line of dignity as an ‘instructor.’ Hawke paused. “Mark?” He scoffed, his laughter full of vengeful satisfaction. “Teacher, don’t you understand? I, I want to mark you.” The next second, his canine teeth fiercely pierced the soft flesh. “Ugh—!” My scream was muffled back into my throat by his hand. My vision completely darkened. In the second before I passed out, I heard Hawke whisper in my ear, almost obsessively: “Jenny Crawley, Teacher, you’re mine.” “This time, you’re mine forever…” “Don’t ever think of escaping again.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394913”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel