Category: English

The day I was pushed down the stairs and miscarried, Marcus Sterling called me, his breath hitching over the line. “You dead yet? If not, bring a fresh set of sheets over and sign the divorce papers while you’re at it.” “Mia’s pregnant. I won’t let our child be a bastard. I have to marry her.” I looked at the address he sent. For the first time, I didn’t rush over with a group of people to catch him in the act. Instead, I simply replied: Okay. Marcus doesn’t know that he was originally a minor character destined to die of a terminal illness years ago. The only reason he’s still breathing is because I, a transmigrator, shielded him with my “Guardian Halo.” And his precious lover? She’s nothing more than a “virus” sent by the System to break my protection and force the world’s timeline back on track. Now, the halo is shattered. Marcus, you are finally going to die. 1 I arrived at the address Marcus gave me. Because I had just come from the operating table, my legs were shaking uncontrollably. My pale face was slick with cold sweat. The door opened, revealing Marcus’s visibly impatient face. He glanced at my crudely bandaged elbows and knees, where blood was already seeping through the gauze. There wasn’t a hint of concern in his eyes. He just frowned. “Why are you so late? You didn’t pick up your phone, and these sheets aren’t the royal blue Mia likes.” “I was worried she’d catch a cold lying on the damp ones, so she’s been forced to nap on the sofa.” I wiped the sweat from my brow and forced a faint smile. “My phone died. The malls are closed, and these were the only new ones at the house.” “I could have been faster, but I miscarried after Mia pushed me. The surgery took some time.” I hadn’t decided whether to tell Marcus about the baby. But that afternoon, I had run into them at the mall, coming out of a maternity store hand-in-hand. Before I could even speak, Mia screamed. “Oh, Mrs. Sterling, I’m pregnant! Please don’t hit me!” In the chaos, I was shoved down the flight of stairs. Mia sobbed an explanation as I tumbled. “Marcus, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to, I was just so scared. I know I’m just the ‘other woman’ and I deserve to be beaten, but I didn’t want our baby to get hurt, even if he has to live in the shadows.” Because of my history of confronting his mistresses, my reputation as a “vicious wife” was well-established. As blood pooled beneath me, I clutched my stomach and screamed Marcus’s name. But he didn’t even look back. He just pulled Mia into his arms. “I understand. Don’t be afraid.” “I’ll give you and the baby a legitimate name.” I watched him pull out a massive diamond ring and drop to one knee in front of the crowd to propose to her. In the middle of their tearful kiss, the life inside me flickered out. A bystander eventually called the ambulance. When Marcus finally remembered me, it was only to demand I vacate my position for his lover. I took the divorce papers from him. As I turned to go inside to sign, my weakened legs gave out, and I tripped over the threshold. “Sss—” The pain turned my face even whiter. Large drops of sweat rolled down my forehead. I couldn’t get up. Marcus immediately looked back at the sofa. Seeing that Mia hadn’t been woken up by the noise, he turned back to me with a scowl. “What now? This isn’t your first miscarriage. Don’t try to use it for sympathy. Even if you died right here, I wouldn’t change my mind about the divorce.” “Besides, it’s better this way. Mia wouldn’t want anyone competing with our baby for the inheritance.” “Don’t worry. Since you’ve been with me for so many years, I’ll give you enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” I froze, my gaze falling on the jagged scar on my wrist. I felt strangely calm. Marcus wasn’t wrong. We had a child once before, right when I first discovered he was cheating. The pregnancy hormones made me unstable, and I foolishly thought dying would make him regret. As blood turned the bathtub water crimson, the maid, Mrs. Gable, frantically called Marcus home. He simply leaned against the doorframe, exhaling a casual smoke ring. “Elena, it’s useless. When I loved you, a single sneeze from you felt like a knife to my heart.” “But looking at this blood now, I’m just annoyed. I’m mostly worried you’ll stain the coat I bought for my date with Mia.” “You get the point. I just don’t love you anymore.” That night, I lost the baby. Marcus spent the evening at a rooftop garden restaurant, playing the piano and singing love songs to Mia to celebrate their 100th day together. That was the day I stopped trying to stop him. Marcus has no idea that he was a minor character who should have died of brain cancer years ago. I gave him my “Guardian Halo” to save his life. But Mia was a virus sent by the System to correct the timeline. Every time they slept together, the halo weakened. As I lay on the operating table today, the System’s voice rang in my head: “The Guardian Halo has been completely destroyed. In one month, Marcus Sterling will die of brain cancer.” 2 A pen was tossed at my feet, snapping me back to the present. Marcus looked down at me with a mocking smirk. “What, do you expect me to carry you up so you’ll sign? Forget it. Honestly, every time I touch you, I feel a bit dirty.” “When you were pregnant the first time, I never even wanted that kid. Who knows whose it actually was?” He was referring to the time I worked multiple jobs at night clubs to pay for his medical bills and save up capital for his first business. I ended up in this book because of a System glitch. It promised to send me back once it was fixed and gave me the Halo for self-preservation. But I was penniless. When I was cornered by thugs in a dark alley, Marcus—then just a local construction worker—saved me. He took me back to his cramped, run-down apartment and cooked me a bowl of noodles. He took me in. He wore patched clothes but bought me beautiful dresses. He’d save the meat from his work lunches in a thermos to bring home to me. One day, he used months of savings to buy me a simple ring. “Elena, you have no family, and I’m an orphan. But together, we’re a family. I’m going to give you a good life.” I already knew then that he was destined to die. His health was failing; he fainted constantly. I lied and told him it was just low blood sugar, while I worked myself to the bone to pay for his secret treatments. At the clubs, customers would paw at me. I endured the nausea for the tips. But Marcus grew weaker every day. Finally, I exploited a loophole and gave him my Halo permanently. The punishment was that I could never return to my world. At the time, I thought it was fine. As long as Marcus was alive, I was home. He recovered, and I used my knowledge of the book’s plot to help him rise from a laborer to a CEO. But as soon as I got pregnant again, he cheated with his assistant, Mia. When I caught them, he didn’t even flinch. “Elena, before I had options, you were the best I could do. But now that I have everything, the thought of men touching you at those clubs makes me sick.” “Don’t give me that transmigrator crap. You really think I’d believe that? You had no money or status—how else would you get business info out of those clients if you weren’t sleeping with them?” “Mia is different. She’s pure. Clean. Being with her makes life feel beautiful.” So that was what he really thought of me. I stopped caring when he missed our anniversary to be with her. I ignored the lace underwear and used condoms in his car. I just waited for the Halo to break. Because the System made a new deal: if Marcus dies and the timeline resets, I can go home. As compensation, I can take all his assets with me. I used the doorframe to pull myself up and signed the papers without a word. The moment I finished, the power went out. Mia woke up and lit a candle, walking over with a smirk. “Oh, Mrs. Sterling. We made such a mess of the sheets, thanks for bringing the new ones. Too bad about the power, though. You’ll have to take the stairs down from the 46th floor.” “I’d give you a flashlight, but Marcus and I bought everything in this room together, and I’d hate for you to take anything of ours. Sorry~” She picked up the sheets and traced her finger over Marcus’s chest. “Marcus, I’m awake now… and I want you again.” Marcus’s breathing grew heavy. He scooped her up and kissed her, slamming the bedroom door shut. In the dark, accompanied by the sounds of their passion, I limped toward the stairwell. When I finally got back to our old house, I was covered in new bruises from the dark trek. Mrs. Gable helped me to the sofa and rushed for the first aid kit. As soon as I plugged in my phone, the hospital called. “Mrs. Sterling, your husband’s check-up results are in. It’s bad. Early-stage brain cancer.” “Strange… I looked at his charts this morning and he seemed perfectly healthy…” 3 Marcus hated dealing with administrative chores, so I always handled his records. “It’s lucky we caught it early,” the doctor continued. “Tell him to come in for a consultation immediately. There might be a chance.” I’ve waited too long for this. I wasn’t going to tell him a thing. I hoped he’d sleep with Mia ten times a day to speed up the spread. And he did. Marcus stopped coming home entirely. He was either flying Mia to Paris for custom wedding gowns or spending millions at auctions for pink diamonds he designed into rings himself. He made me a laughingstock. I stayed silent, listening to the System’s daily updates on his declining health. Until his assistant called. Marcus had assaulted a major client at a gala because the man had called Mia a “homewrecker” and said she wasn’t fit to be there. The client’s wife was furious, threatening to sue him into the ground. When I reached the station, Marcus was shielding a sobbing Mia, glaring at the client’s wife. “Sue me then. I’d rather rot in a cell than let my woman be insulted.” I paused. Years ago, at the club, he had taken a beating to protect me from a group of handsy clients. “I don’t care if I die,” he had said then. “My Elena will not be mistreated.” The man he wanted to protect had changed, but the lines stayed the same. I stepped forward to apologize to the client’s wife, Mrs. Higgins. She didn’t give me any face. She splashed her tea directly into my face. “Elena, have you no dignity? Your own man treats you like trash, parading his mistress around, and you’re here playing the martyr? You’re lower than she is!” “My husband is in the hospital. If he and this little slut don’t issue a public apology, we’re filing charges.” Marcus watched the humiliation with cold indifference, a smirk on his lips as if mocking my interference. But the moment she insulted Mia again, he lunged forward, only stopped by the officers. I wiped the tea from my face and leaned in to whisper to Mrs. Higgins. “Mrs. Higgins, if this goes to trial, it ruins both families’ reputations. Marcus isn’t a pushover.” “If you trust me, give me one month. I guarantee he and his company will vanish from this city.” She looked at me with contempt. “You? A woman who can’t even handle a mistress?” I showed her Marcus’s digital medical report. “You know Sterling’s success came from his uncanny market intuition. I was the one who gave him that info. I know a project right now that hasn’t been valued yet. If your family takes it, your net profit next year will be nine figures.” “Sign the settlement, and the info is yours. You choose: a messy legal battle with a dying man, or a guaranteed fortune.” Mrs. Higgins was smart. She agreed. Before leaving, she looked at me meaningfully. “Marcus is blind for throwing a gem like you away. When you divorce him, call me. I’ll introduce you to a real man.” I smiled and said nothing. She only valued me now because I was useful. I remember Marcus looking down at me once. “Elena, if I hadn’t given you a home, you would have been used up and discarded in some alley. You think you can control me?” I didn’t need him to give me a home anymore. A home is just a building. With money, I could buy a thousand of them. As I drove back to the villa and unbuckled my seatbelt, a pair of headlights blinded me. Marcus’s car slammed into mine. 4 The crash echoed through the night. Even with the airbag, I felt blood trickling down my temple. My body ached as if my organs had shifted. Marcus ripped open the car door and dragged me out by the collar. “Elena, you’re more disgusting than I thought! You sign the papers and then go behind my back to have Mrs. Higgins humiliate Mia? She cried so hard she almost miscarried!” “How did you hook up with the Higgins family? Sleeping with him too? You think if Mia loses the baby, I’ll come back to you? You’re a joke. A woman like you… the thought of touching you makes me want to puke!” “I’m marrying Mia regardless. We will grow old together. Give it up.” Mrs. Gable ran out, horrified by my bloody face. “Oh my god! Ma’am, come inside, let me help you—” “Don’t call her ma’am!” Marcus roared. “Mia is the only lady of this house now!” “This is my house. She has no right to be here. Mrs. Gable, Mia had a rough day and didn’t eat. Go make her some soup. If I catch you helping Elena, you’re fired too!” Mrs. Gable looked at me helplessly, clutching her apron. I smiled at her, signaling I was fine. I tried to call 911, but Marcus snatched my phone and hurled it into the lake. “Elena, I got here on my own merit. I didn’t need your ‘info.’ Don’t flatter yourself.” “Since you want to be difficult, I’m keeping the phone and the car I bought you. You’re leaving with nothing. That’s your punishment.” He marched inside, and I heard the electronic lock chime as he changed the code. The cold wind cut through me. I remembered him saying he was nothing without me. That everything he had was mine. Since his word was garbage, I suppose I could take back the life and money I gave him. The door opened again. Mrs. Gable hurried out and pressed a stack of cash into my hand. “Ma’am, this is my salary from this month. Take it. Get a cab to the hospital. Mr. Sterling is just… he’s confused. He’ll come to his senses.” Just then, the second-floor window opened. Items began raining down: our wedding photos, my clothes, every gift I’d ever given him. “Marcus… we’ve never done it in your house before,” Mia’s voice drifted down, high and playful. “I want to do it in the bedroom, on the balcony, on the stairs… I want every corner of this place to smell like us, okay?” “Anything you want, baby,” Marcus’s voice was husky. “This is your home now. We’re going to be happy forever…” As he spoke, the final item was tossed out. My heart twinged. It was a small wooden plaque. Before I gave him the Halo, he had carried me on his back up three thousand steps to a mountain shrine to pray for our marriage. He had carved our names into it himself: May Elena and Marcus love each other until their hair turns white. Now, the wood was splintered, the names gouged out by a knife. Mrs. Gable fell silent. I patted her hand. “Thank you, Mrs. Gable. I’ll pay you back. A thousand times over.” Good people deserve rewards. And traitors? They don’t live long enough to see their hair turn white. Six hours after I left the hospital, as Marcus tried to be intimate with Mia on that very balcony, he was hit by a blinding headache. His vision went black, and he tumbled over the railing. 5 I slept in the next morning before casually strolling into the VIP wing of the hospital. The doctors and nurses were standing outside the room with grim expressions. Suddenly, a fruit platter flew out of the room, followed by a roar. “Bullshit! How can I have brain cancer?! It’s impossible!” “Get me real doctors! The best specialists in the country!” The doctor looked at me helplessly. “Mrs. Sterling, he’s hysterical. He refuses chemo and surgery.” “It’s okay. I’ll talk to him.” I walked in. Marcus was holding a paring knife, but he lowered it when he saw me. He hadn’t died from the fall, but both his legs were in casts, and his face was a mottled mess of purple bruises. He looked hideous. He grabbed my sleeve like I was his only ally. “Elena, tell them. I’m just tired. It’s low blood sugar. I’ve had this before, right?” “These idiots say I have mid-stage brain cancer. They want to shave my head for chemo! It’s a joke, right?” I took the knife and started peeling an apple. “I saw the report. it’s real. Fear won’t help; you have to face it.” “The doctor said with chemo and surgery, there’s a chance.” Marcus stared at my calm face for a long time. Then he spoke, his voice cracking. “You knew. You already knew.” “The doctor said he told you two weeks ago that my check-up was abnormal. He told you to bring me back for a follow-up. It was early stage then.” “Elena, why didn’t you tell me? You’re my wife! You could have stopped this!” I placed a slice of apple on a plate and let out a soft laugh. “Marcus, could I even reach you?” “Phone, email, even your assistant—you blocked me on everything, remember?” “Even if I had told you, wouldn’t you have just called it another ‘vicious lie’ to stop you from seeing Mia? That’s what you always did.” Marcus froze. He seemed to finally remember. That anniversary, I had booked the ballroom and invited the guests. He took Mia to a hot spring in Japan. I sat there like a clown while people looked at me with pity. I called him a hundred times. He responded by putting me on his blacklist. He even made his assistant block me so I couldn’t track him down. We only ever spoke when he decided to call me. I stood up. “I know you’re scared. I’m still your wife for now, so I’ll sign the consent forms you’re too afraid to sign.” “I’ll handle the company so we don’t lose a cent. And since you can’t be without Mia, I’ll arrange for a cot to be put in here so she can stay with you. For her sake, you have to fight this.” Whether it was my confrontation or my “generosity,” Marcus’s eyes filled with guilt and tears. “Elena… thank you for helping me even now.” “I was out of line yesterday. I’m sorry. My offer still stands—I’ll give you enough to live a good life.” I smiled but didn’t answer. Once I was outside, the smile vanished. I spoke to the System. “Why mid-stage and not terminal?” “How long until he dies?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391167”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My sister-in-law and I got pregnant around the same time. While her pregnancy was perfectly normal, I was diagnosed with severe malnutrition due to extreme morning sickness. I asked my mom to come stay with me and help out for just one month. She refused repeatedly, even having the nerve to lecture me: “Do you have any common sense? Why would I abandon the grandchild who is going to carry our family’s last name, just to take care of a kid who won’t? People would laugh at me.” Later, when I no longer needed her and used my own money to hire a professional maternity nurse, she threw a massive fit. 1. By my eighth week of pregnancy, my morning sickness was so severe that I dropped ten pounds in a single week. Remembering that my mom had taken care of pregnant relatives before, including some with similar symptoms, I called her, hoping she could stay with me for a month. But when I explained what I needed, she sounded put out. “I don’t have the time! Brittany is pregnant too, I can’t just leave her.” Brittany was my younger brother’s wife. She was currently four months along. Ever since Brittany got pregnant, my mom went to her house every single day to cook organic bone broths, make pregnancy smoothies, and wait on her hand and foot. Brittany was in great shape. She had almost no negative symptoms, her ultrasounds were perfect, and she was still going to the office every day. “Well, could you just come during the day then? You don’t have to stay long, even just around lunchtime would help.” We all lived in the same city, just a fifteen-minute drive apart. “I told you, I don’t have time. I have to go to Brittany’s house to deep clean during the day,” she said, her tone laced with impatience. I looked at my pale, haggard reflection in the mirror and felt a surge of grievance. “Mom, I’m your daughter too. Why can’t you care about me the way you care about Brittany?” Silence hung on the other end of the line. Then, I heard her take a deep breath. When she spoke, her voice was sharp and entirely foreign: “Can you stop being such a brat? Do I have to spell it out for you? Brittany is carrying a Miller. She’s having the baby that will carry on our family name! Your kid is going to be a Davis. Why would I abandon my true legacy to take care of someone else’s? People in our circle would think I’m crazy.” When I didn’t say anything, she added, “Go call your mother-in-law. It’s her job to take care of you anyway. That’s how it works.” If her first words made my heart run cold, her last sentence plunged me into an icy abyss. My grip on my phone tightened. I let out a dark, mocking laugh. “Mom… Ethan is from a blended family. His mother passed away when he was young. Did you… forget?” Of course she forgot. Why would she remember? Back when she was rushing to marry me off, constantly setting me up on blind dates, she only cared that Ethan had a “clean background and a lucrative career in tech.” All she cared about was the massive wedding check she knew his family would write—money she could guilt me into handing over. As for anything else about him, she didn’t care enough to remember. Sure enough, the atmosphere turned awkward, but my mom quickly recovered. “Well, then use your own money to hire a nanny! You and Ethan make six figures, you can easily afford it.” With that, she hung up. I closed my eyes, the room spinning around me. 2. That night, after another violent bout of nausea, I lay awake in bed. Scrolling through Facebook, I saw a post my sister-in-law had made earlier that evening. It was a photo collage of a beautifully set dining table. Roasted chicken, organic salmon, creamy mashed potatoes… all my mom’s signature dishes. The center photo was a selfie of Brittany, my mom, and my brother Kevin. Their heads were pressed together, beaming brightly. Her caption read: [Pregnancy cravings have been tough, but my amazing mother-in-law cooked up a storm for me! So incredibly blessed to have the best MIL in the world!] I stared at the group photo, my stomach churning again. That radiant smile on my mom’s face in the picture… it was a smile she rarely ever showed me. Suddenly, a notification popped down from the top of my screen. Brittany had tagged me in our family group chat: “Hey Sarah, Mom said your morning sickness is acting up? Don’t stress too much! I DM’d you a YouTube video from a top OBGYN, you should watch it. Let’s try not to make Mom run back and forth between us, she’s exhausted enough taking care of me. Just try to be understanding, okay?” Between the lines, her smugness was palpable. I clicked the video she sent. It was just some generic doctor listing basic pregnancy advice. I closed it after five seconds. My brother Kevin chimed in: “Yeah sis, you’ve always been tough, stop whining. Brittany is further along than you, she needs the help more.” When I didn’t reply, my mom sent a message: “Oh, your sister has always been the sensible one. She knows how to look out for her brother’s family.” Sensible… That word was like a needle, piercing the deepest, most vulnerable part of my heart. 3. Kevin and I are three years apart. When I was five, our parents divorced. My dad wanted custody of Kevin, but my mom fought tooth and nail for both of us, just to spite him. She even changed both our last names to her maiden name, Miller. I remember her telling me back then: “It’s just us now. You’re the older sister, so you need to be sensible and help Mommy take care of your little brother.” The winter I was eight, Kevin ran a high fever. My mom carried him on her back through the snow for two miles to get to the ER, staying awake the entire night to watch over him. A few days later, I caught the same fever. She just tossed me a Tylenol and told me to go to sleep. When she saw the hurt in my eyes, she hugged me and sighed, “Your brother is just so difficult. If only he could be as good and quiet as you, Mommy would be so happy.” Hearing that always made me feel like I was winning a prize. When I was seventeen, a girl in my class had to drop out because her parents wouldn’t pay for her college. I cried and asked my mom if that would happen to me. She patted my head and said, “Silly girl. As long as you have the grades, Mommy will always find a way to pay for your school.” That moment of warmth melted away all the years of unfairness. I truly believed my mom loved me. But a few years later, that belief was shattered. I had come home for winter break. The front door was slightly ajar. Just as I was about to push it open, I heard my mom talking on the phone inside: “You don’t get it. The more degrees a girl has, the richer the guy she can land. Plus, if she becomes successful, it’ll take the financial pressure off my precious Kevin in the future.” Letting me get an education wasn’t out of love; it was an investment in my “market value.” The ultimate beneficiary was always going to be my brother. Years later, I started my own interior design firm, and my career took off. Whenever she had the chance, my mom would remind me of how she put me through school. She’d talk about working two jobs and avoiding the doctor when she was sick just to pay my tuition. I knew she wanted gratitude. She wanted a return on her investment. So, when she asked me to cover Kevin’s college tuition, I agreed. When she pressured me to take the generous wedding check my in-laws gave me and use it as a down payment for Kevin’s house, I agreed. When she told me to cover Kevin’s monthly mortgage payments, I agreed. Because I couldn’t deny that she had played a part in my success today. But today… her words on the phone, and the little performance they were putting on in the group chat… The crumbling wall around my heart finally collapsed entirely. Suddenly, everything I had done for them felt so incredibly pointless. With ice-cold fingers, I slowly typed my reply: “No need to come over, Mom. I’ve already hired a private maternity nurse.” The group chat went dead silent for a moment. Then, my mom sent a thumbs-up emoji. Brittany followed up with: “That’s the spirit! Family is all about mutual understanding.” 4. I didn’t bother replying. Just as I exited the app, Ethan called. Ethan was out of state on a consulting trip this week. A few days ago, when I started feeling sick, he suggested hiring a live-in nurse. But I had thought of my mom’s experience and, not wanting a stranger in the house, I suggested having my mom come over instead. Before he left, Ethan had even cleaned out the guest room and left a debit card with $15,000 on it, meant as a generous allowance for my mom and me for the month. I thought it was too much and tried to give it back, knowing I had my own savings. But he insisted, saying it was his way of compensating for not being able to take care of me himself. If my mom had known about that card, she probably wouldn’t have rejected me so quickly. On the phone, Ethan first checked on how I was feeling, then asked if my mom had arrived. I gave him a brief rundown of what happened. Perhaps hearing the exhaustion in my voice, he tried to comfort me. “Brittany is pregnant too, so maybe Mom just really can’t handle both. It’s understandable.” I let out a dry laugh. “No, it’s not the same. Even if Brittany wasn’t pregnant, she still wouldn’t have come.” Ethan went silent for a few seconds before saying softly, “I’ll try to wrap this project up early. Once it’s done, I’m going to ask for a transfer to a non-travel team.” I smiled. “It’s fine. I’ve decided to hire a full-time professional.” “That’s a great idea. Pick someone you feel comfortable with. A colleague of mine actually recommended a high-end agency recently, they’re supposed to be top-tier. I’ll text you their info.” Soon enough, a contact card popped up on my screen. I added the agent. After a brief chat, they sent over their pricing tiers. Their caregivers were rated by stars. I immediately looked at the five-star column. Because I needed full-time, live-in care specialized for high-risk pregnancies, the price was steep. Ethan asked how much it would be. “About four thousand a month.” “Okay, just use the card I left on the counter.” “No,” I replied firmly. “That card is going to be our baby fund from now on. I’m officially done paying Kevin’s mortgage, and I’m cutting my mom’s monthly allowance in half. The money I save from that will easily cover the nurse.” Ethan paused. “But Kevin’s job barely pays three grand a month, and his mortgage is two thousand. If you cut them off, they’re definitely going to come after you.” “Not my problem. I never had any legal or moral obligation to pay for his house in the first place.” Ethan chuckled softly. “Hearing you make this decision actually makes me really happy. Don’t be afraid, Sarah. I will always have your back.” Warmth flooded my chest. Ethan came from a similar background. After his mother passed away, his father quickly remarried and had a new son. The existence of his half-brother turned Ethan into an outcast in his own home. After a few explosive arguments, he simply stopped going back. Maybe it was our shared trauma, or just how perfectly our values aligned, but we fell for each other hard. We got married just a year after meeting. At first, I worried we were rushing, but our life together only got sweeter. He respected my choices and gently helped me untangle the knots my mother had tied in my head. He was right. He was my absolute rock. 5. Once Maria, the maternity nurse, moved in, my life finally had order. Maria was in her early fifties, efficient, and an incredible cook. Every day, she whipped up different nutrient-dense meals tailored to my cravings. She went on walks with me, kept me company, and told me hilarious stories to keep my spirits up. Under her care, my morning sickness faded, and the color returned to my cheeks. During our nightly video calls, Ethan always remarked on how much better I looked. One afternoon, just as Maria brought me a bowl of fresh fruit, my phone rang. It was my brother. “What the hell is going on? I just got an alert that my auto-pay bounced for insufficient funds. Did you forget to transfer the mortgage money?” he demanded, his voice dripping with annoyance. I put down my fork and wiped my mouth. “Oh, forgot to tell you. You’re paying your own mortgage from now on. Mom told me to hire my own help, so I need to keep that money for my nurse.” He froze for a second, then exploded. “Are you fucking kidding me? Those are two completely different things! If you don’t give me the money, how am I supposed to pay?” I walked over to the window, looking out at the clear blue sky. “The house is in your name. The loan is your problem. It has nothing to do with me.” Furious, he yelled, “Sarah, listen to me, don’t push your luck! You’re my older sister, it’s your job to help me with this! You are sending me that money today, or I’m coming over to your house to get it!” I laughed lightly. “You can certainly try. Good luck getting past the security gate at my complex.” I heard the sound of something smashing on the other end, followed by a string of vile, furious curses. I didn’t bother listening. I just hung up. A few minutes later, my mom called. After I declined it three times in a row, she stopped trying. I thought she might show up at my door to scream at me, but instead, a few minutes later, she posted a message in the massive extended family group chat. “Sarah, your sister-in-law is further along in her pregnancy, so I really couldn’t come help you. If you’re mad at me, take it out on me. Please don’t punish your poor brother.” As soon as she dropped that ambiguous, victim-playing message, the relatives swarmed. Uncle Bob: “Linda, what happened?” My Mom: “Sigh… Sarah is throwing a tantrum because I couldn’t be her nurse. She stopped the auto-pay for Kevin’s house. His mortgage is due tomorrow and the poor boy is panicking.” To them, my mom was a tragic, saintly single mother who had raised two kids on her own. Naturally, they all immediately pointed their guns at me. Uncle Bob: “Sarah, I’m going to be straight with you. You’re a married woman now, you shouldn’t be bothering your mother. Your mom’s priority has to be Kevin’s family. Kevin’s kid is a Miller. Why are you acting so spoiled?” Aunt Karen (Bob’s wife): “Exactly! You don’t abandon your own blood to go help a daughter who married out of the family. Your mom did nothing wrong. Stop holding a grudge.” Uncle Bob: “Your mother paid for your college, she fed and clothed you. She’s done more than enough. You wouldn’t have your fancy business without her. Learn some gratitude! Kevin is just starting his life, his job is stressful. If you don’t help him, who will? Stop being so incredibly selfish.” Aunt Karen: “Linda, you spoiled that girl. Now you see what happens. You raised an ingrate.” Looking at this barrage of unhinged entitlement, the familiar nausea twisted in my stomach. I was just aggressively typing out a rebuttal when a breath of fresh air appeared in the chat. It was my cousin, Jessica.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391183”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Victoria Ashford confessed her love to me on the third day of the ‘conquest’ challenge. But the Affection Meter floating above her head was clearly, definitively, Zero. After we made it official, she elevated me to the sky, showering me with a devotion that felt like an obsession. On our sixth anniversary, she orchestrated a lavish, public proposal. I was nodding, tears blurring my vision, when a block of floating text—a corrupted digital overlay—drifted into my line of sight: [It must be exhausting for the second female lead, pretending to love the cruel sidekick for six years just to protect the male lead!] [LOL, the replacement really got into character!] My blood turned instantly to ice. That’s why the number had never moved. At the exact same moment, a cold system alert screamed inside my mind: “Final Phase Initiated. Conquest Countdown: Ten Days.” “Failure will result in your immediate obliteration.” I forced a smile, gently pulling my hand away—the diamond ring still hovering between us—and wiped the tears from my eyes. “I’m sorry, Victoria,” I said. “But I’m tired of playing your game.” 1. The text overlay scrolled relentlessly: [Wait, did the sidekick’s eyes just change?] [He should have woken up sooner. The second female lead only has eyes for the male lead.] [Can’t wait for him to blacken and go feral—] Feral? No. I was just suddenly remembering the details. The way she insisted I couldn’t see anyone alone, calling it her “fear of me choosing bad company.” The way she always gently cut me off when I mentioned work: “But darling, I just want to be with you every second.” It wasn’t affection. It was a gilded cage. I wandered back to our sprawling, isolated villa, mechanically throwing things into a suitcase. As I passed her study, the digital overlay intensified: [Look at the computer! The second female lead forgot to log out of her chat!] [Oh no, oh no, if he sees the conversation history…] [CRISIS! Male Lead Protection Initiative Activated!] The chime of an incoming message echoed from the study. I pushed the door open. The screen was bright, showing a conversation between Victoria and Jasmine Cole. Victoria’s latest message read: “He suddenly rejected the proposal. Keep Chase safe these next few days. Don’t let Kai near him.” Jasmine’s reply came quickly: “Don’t worry. You’ve sacrificed so much these past six years.” I laughed, a ragged, dry sound. How ridiculous. My existence had unified two women who were supposed to be bitter rivals. I scrolled up. The record was a blunt knife, slowly and methodically slicing through my skin. Jasmine: “I remember the original plot—Kai ruined Chase’s career, maybe even his looks, and hired thugs to rough him up.” “It’s a travesty that you had to share a bed with that psycho for six years.” Victoria: “As long as Chase is safe, it’s worth it.” Jasmine: “He seems to love you more and more. If he ever found out the truth, do you think he’d go even more insane?” Victoria: “He won’t find out.” “And if he does, and if he dares to touch Chase—” “I’ll break his hands and feet and have him locked up in a psychiatric ward for life.” She had added an exclamation point to the last sentence. I stared at the screen, my fingers numb with cold. The overlay was a frenzy: [‘It’s worth it’… Second female lead is obsessed! But with who, I won’t say!] [Am I the only one who thinks this is terrifying? Using someone for six years, just to protect their true love?] [It’s the cruel sidekick! She’s protecting the true love and doing the world a favor. It’s a win-win!] [Look at the sidekick’s expression… Is he about to blacken?] [Sidekick, stop it! Just run!] Run? I looked down at my wrist. Yes. I had to run. The night was thick and dark as I dragged my suitcase out the door. I stood on the curb, suddenly realizing I had nowhere to go. The overlay seemed to panic on my behalf: [Is he really leaving?] [Go! Don’t hold up the second female lead and the male lead’s romance!] [Wait… isn’t that Victoria’s car in the distance?!] Headlights stabbed the darkness, and her familiar black sedan screeched to a halt beside me. Victoria scrambled out, her silk blouse slightly askew, her breathing ragged. Her face held the perfect, heartbreaking blend of panic and sorrow. “Kai, I’m so sorry, I rushed things… I thought you’d be happy.” She reached out to grab me, her eyes wet. “Don’t go, please. We can talk this through. Just tell me what I did wrong.” Once, that performance would have broken me. Now, all I could hear was the chilling echo of the chat log: break his hands and feet and have him locked up. I took a step back, dodging her touch. “It’s not you,” I heard my own voice say, light and distant. “It’s just… I’m bored.” “Bored…?” Her lashes fluttered, as if the word were a foreign language. “You don’t love me anymore?” In the harsh glow of the streetlamp, her eyes were filled with fractured light. Her acting was Oscar-worthy. A new message floated by: [Honestly, not all of her goodness to him was fake, right… This is kind of painful.] That single line clicked something into place. I raised my head, looking straight into her eyes. “Victoria.” “In these six years, was there ever a second… that you genuinely felt happy?” Her pupils contracted, microscopically. She didn’t answer. But the overlay exploded: [!!! Did he find out?!] [HOLY SHIT HIGH ALERT—] [Second female lead, what are you waiting for?! Lie!] The wind was brutal. I grabbed my suitcase and turned, vanishing into the night. No footsteps followed. Only the countdown, ticking loudly in my mind: 9 Days 23 Hours 59 Minutes. The game wasn’t over. But the player was done following the rules. 2. I hailed a cab and leaned against the window, my hands trembling. It wasn’t fear. It was exhilaration. Shedding six years of pretense felt like finally gulping air after drowning. The countdown blinked relentlessly: 9 Days 23 Hours 10 Minutes Less than ten days left. All because of someone who would never love me. The absurdity was staggering. “Where to, son?” the driver, an older man with a gray beard, asked, looking at me in the rearview mirror. I gave him the address of a small, unpretentious café down by the river—the place I loved most. Victoria had called it “too noisy, too messy.” She’d forbidden me from going back. The overlay drifted past: [Where is he going? Shouldn’t he be hiding?] [Victoria’s last look was terrifying…] [Am I the only one who thinks he looked incredibly hot just now?] The city lights blurred past the window. For six years, I’d lived in a bubble, seeing only the world Victoria had filtered for me. Now the glass had shattered. The wind rushing in carried the scent of street food, the dampness of the river, and the casual laughter of strangers. It was so real it made me want to weep. The café was just as I remembered. The bell above the door jingled as I walked in. The owner, a kind, middle-aged man, looked up and paused. “Kai? Is that really you?” “Uncle Chen, it’s been a while.” “It is you!” He wiped his hands on a towel and walked out from behind the counter. “It must be five or six years, right? You used to take that window seat, one latte, and write screenplays all afternoon…” I remembered then. Before Victoria, I was a film student, dreaming of winning an Oscar, filling the margins of my scripts with notes. And then? Victoria had said: “Acting is too stressful.” She’d said: “Hollywood is toxic. It’s not for you.” She’d said: “I’m all you need, Kai.” And I had believed her. I gave up the auditions, canceled the contracts, locked my dreams in a drawer, and handed her the key. “The usual?” Uncle Chen asked. “The usual,” I confirmed. I paused. “And add a slice of Tiramisu.” I’d never allowed myself to eat it—Victoria said I “gained weight easily and wouldn’t look good on camera.” But I only had ten days left. Who cared about a camera? The window seat was empty. I sat down, the river breeze cool on my face. The lights of the opposite bank shimmered on the water, a dizzying sheet of moving gold. The moment the first bite of Tiramisu hit my tongue—the sweet cream and the bitter, boozy coffee—I closed my eyes. It was glorious. This was what it felt like to be alive. The overlay was silent for a moment, then a few lines drifted across: [He’s eating so intensely…] [I feel weirdly sorry for him.] [If you only have ten days left, I guess you’d want a good meal.] [Do we actually think Victoria is going to let him be this free? I doubt it.] I doubted it too. So, when my phone vibrated, flashing Victoria Ashford, I wasn’t surprised. I answered without speaking. “Kai, where are you?” “I’ve been worried sick about you.” Her voice held a hint of manufactured exhaustion. “I’m eating.” “Come home, Kai.” Her tone softened, the classic manipulative lull. “We both need to cool down. I promise, I won’t bother you tonight; you can sleep in the guest room. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?” I knew that cadence. For six years, whenever I caused a ripple, she used it to gently, patiently, guide me back into the cage. Then everything would reset. “Victoria.” I looked out at the river. “Do you remember my graduation film?” She paused. “Why bring that up now?” “I played a man who was held captive, and in the end, he burned the whole house down, taking himself with it.” I dug my spoon into the cake. “You said my performance was too extreme, that no one in real life would be that foolish.” “Now I understand.” “He wasn’t foolish. The fire was the only thing he had left.” The breathing on the other end of the line deepened. “What exactly are you trying to say?” “I’m trying to say this,” I finished the last bite of Tiramisu. “For the next ten days, I’m living my own life.” “Don’t look for me. Don’t contact me. Don’t threaten my family.” “And after ten days, if I’m still alive…” I smiled. “We can play your game again.” 3. I checked into the most expensive penthouse suite in the city, charging it to the supplementary card Victoria had given me. The overlay was still buzzing: [The Penthouse??? He’s really living it up.] [Using the second female lead’s money for a hotel is legendary.] [He’s got ten days left, let him be extra!] I tossed my suitcase near the door and sank into a rose petal-filled bathtub. The countdown flickered: 8 Days 14 Hours 32 Minutes Eight and a half days. My phone remained eerily silent. Victoria hadn’t called back. That was unlike her. Late that night, I lay in the three-meter-wide bed. The overlay was sparse: [He actually fell asleep? Balls of steel.] [The second female lead is tracking his phone location, I think.] [Seriously, this surveillance dynamic is suffocating.] Just as I was drifting off, a violent slamming sound ripped through the room. I sat up instantly. The overlay exploded: [What was that sound?!] [Someone’s kicking the door in!!!] [Is it Victoria???] [Help! I’m terrified!] Before I could react, the door to the suite was violently kicked open. Victoria stood in the doorway, her eyes blazing with red streaks, radiating a level of pure rage I had never seen. “Kai Jensen.” Her voice was hoarse as she walked, step by slow step, toward the bed. I instinctively clutched the collar of my robe. She stopped in front of me, glaring. “Where is Chase?” I blinked. “What?” “Don’t play dumb.” She suddenly grabbed my wrist, the strength in her grip making my bones ache. “Where did you take him? Tell me!” “I don’t know what you’re talking about—” I tried to pull free, but her hold tightened impossibly. The overlay scrolled madly: [What’s going on? The male lead was kidnapped?] [The sidekick did it? Impossible, he’s been at the hotel.] [The timeline doesn’t add up. When would he have planned a kidnapping?] [Victoria has lost it!] “Victoria, let go!” I gasped, the pain a cold shock. “I haven’t seen Chase Donovan! I’ve been right here for two days—” “Kai, I underestimated you.” “You act heartbroken, then turn around and kidnap Chase? You’re truly vile.” “I didn’t.” I gritted my teeth. She shoved me roughly onto the bed, leaning over me, hands braced on either side of my head. “I’m giving you one last chance. Where is Chase? What did you do to him?” Her breath was hot on my face, carrying a ferocious, almost psychotic intensity. In six years, I had never witnessed this Victoria. The overlay was starting to split: [The second female lead is terrifying…] [But if the sidekick really did kidnap the male lead, he deserves it, right?] [Look closely! The sidekick didn’t have time to do this!] [Maybe it’s a misunderstanding?] “I told you, I don’t know.” “Victoria, look at me. Have I lied to you in these six years?” Her pupil’s flickered. There was a moment of hesitation. “The location where Chase’s phone tracking disappeared,” she leaned in, her eyes like poisoned daggers, “was the vicinity of the café you went to.” My blood ran cold. A trap. Someone had set a trap. “It wasn’t me, I didn’t—” My voice was starting to shake. “Enough!” She abruptly stood up, pulling a small, folding knife from her pocket. Victoria grabbed my hand and pressed the blade against my wrist. “Kai,” her voice was a chilling whisper. “I know you hate Chase, that you hate him for ‘taking’ me. Even though I was never yours to begin with. But you cannot touch him.” “I’m asking you one last time! Where is Chase?” The blade bit into the skin of my wrist. A warm, immediate river of blood spilled out. The excruciating pain shot through my body. My vision tunneled. I thought I might pass out. The overlay went wild: [The second female lead is completely unhinged!] [I’m starting to pity the sidekick… he genuinely looks lost.] [Say something! Lie to her if you have to!] I opened my mouth, a broken gasp escaping my throat: “I… didn’t…” 4. The crimson blood stained the pristine white sheets. Victoria’s hand was an iron vise, clamped tight around my wrist. The blade was embedded in my flesh; every heartbeat brought a fresh, tearing wave of pain. “Last chance,” her voice sounded miles away. “Where is Chase?” I tried to speak, but no sound came out. My vision blurred. I could only make out her tightly controlled jaw and the near-feral crimson in her eyes. The overlay flooded the air: [He’s going to die…] [Victoria let go! He’s really going to die!] [Can someone call the police?! This is attempted murder!] [System! Why isn’t the system doing anything about this level of physical harm?!] The system remained utterly silent. Right. In a conquest game, the sidekick’s life was never a priority. I was just an NPC, a stepping stone for the protagonists’ love, a villainous backdrop to showcase the hero’s virtue. But I could feel the pain. It was horrifically real. “You won’t talk?” Victoria’s grip pressed the blade another fraction deeper. I heard the thin slish of skin parting, followed by a warmer, faster gush. Black spots started to dance in my vision, like static on an old TV. Just as I believed this was how I would die— Victoria’s phone rang. The moment she saw the caller ID, her pupils shrank. She answered instantly: “Chase?” A man’s broken, shaky voice came through the speaker: “Victoria… I, I got away…” “They’re at the abandoned factory on the West Side… they all ran…” “…I’m so scared…” “Don’t be scared! I’m coming now!” Victoria’s voice instantly transformed. The harshness vanished, replaced by a tenderness, a near-trembling devotion I had never been the recipient of. “Are you hurt? Find a safe place and hide.” She didn’t even hang up. She dropped my wrist and sprinted toward the door. The blade was dragged across my skin as her hand left, sending another jolt of pure agony through me. I slumped onto the bed, watching her figure disappear into the hallway. The overlay was silent for a moment, then erupted: [She just left?!] [The sidekick’s wrist is still pouring blood!] [She could at least call an ambulance?!] [Is this her ‘love’? Hurting someone without hesitation for the male lead?] [How could I ever have thought she was sincere…] I struggled to raise my uninjured hand, reaching for the phone on the nightstand. My fingers shook, centimeters from the device, yet it felt like a thousand miles away. More and more blood pooled on the sheets, the deep crimson spreading across the white linen. I bit down on my jaw, using the last of my strength to inch forward— My fingertips finally brushed the edge of the phone. The overlay was frantic: [Keep going! You got it!] [Call 911! Hurry!] [Don’t pass out! Hold on!] I unlocked the screen, but my vision was too blurry to make out the numbers. I fumbled for the keys, pressing 9, 1, 1, then the call button. I heard the dial tone. One ring. Two rings. My breathing grew shallow. The black spots consumed my sight. “Hello, 911 Emergency…” I opened my mouth, trying to speak, but only a wet, choked sound came out. “Hello? Can you hear me? What is your emergency?” I tried to tell them I was in the hotel, bleeding, dying. But my throat was choked, unable to form words. “Hello? Hello?” The voice on the line faded away. The phone slipped from my grasp, hitting the carpet with a dull thud. The overlay was in chaos: [NOOO!!!] [Someone save him!!!] [Where are the hotel staff?! Didn’t anyone hear the noise?!] [Victoria, you BITCH!!!] My consciousness began to fracture. In the haze, I felt like I was floating, looking down at my pale, curled-up body in the spreading pool of blood. Then I saw the overlay messages again. [Victoria met up with Chase.] [Chase is hugging her.] [She’s comforting him, saying ‘It’s okay, it’s all over.’] [Chase just kissed her.] […They are kissing.] [While the sidekick is lying here bleeding out.] The overlay paused for a few seconds. Then the tone shifted: [I suddenly feel… sick.] [What did the sidekick do wrong? He just loved the wrong person.] [He was genuinely dedicated for six years.] [How dare Victoria do this to him?] [If the sidekick dies, she’s a murderer.] [I want to see her regret this.] [I want to see her on her knees begging for his forgiveness.] [But he might not make it.] [Can someone go to that hotel and save him? I can’t watch this anymore.] The countdown was still lit, faintly blinking: 8 Days 9 Hours 01 Minute The game wasn’t over. But the player seemed to be making an early exit.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391203”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 I’d just gotten back from sorting out the birth certificate when I saw my husband untying our daughter’s wristband. A prickle of suspicion chilled me. I was about to push the door open, but then I watched him swap out our daughter’s swaddling with another baby’s. Just then, a woman’s gentle voice drifted from inside the room. “Declan, I swear, I’ll raise your daughter as my own.” My husband, Declan Gray, looked up, his eyes brimming with a love and pity I’d never seen directed at me. “Liana, little Hope lost her father the moment she was born. Don’t worry, I promise to give her a complete family. She’ll grow up healthy, surrounded by a mother and father’s unwavering love. From this day forward, I am her father.” Outside the hospital room, I clutched the flimsy birth certificate, feeling like I’d been plunged into an ice bath. Liana Hayes, his unattainable ‘one that got away,’ the woman he still pined for. He wanted to give his beloved Liana’s daughter a complete family. What about our daughter? Inside, he held Liana’s baby with such tenderness, such intense focus and love. That look, so gentle and adoring, had never once been for me or our child. The warmth and affection on his face became a searing blade, striking me before I could even process it. An inexpressible, sharp pain tore through me, gutting my heart. I looked down, my eyes fixed on the pristine birth certificate, tracing our daughter’s name: Anya Gray. My vision blurred, tears welling. Was even her name a silent homage to their lost love? Only then did the realization hit me, slow and crushing: Declan didn’t love me. And he didn’t love our daughter either, this child I’d carried for nine months, enduring a full night of labor to bring into the world. The truth shattered me, leaving me trembling, barely able to stand, clinging to the wall for support. Declan’s voice, hoarse with emotion, reached me from the room. “Liana, the regret of our love, of what could have been, we’ll mend through this child. My first half of life was for you. The second will be for her. She’s the last thread connecting us.” The regret of a love that couldn’t be? I let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh. Why must your regrets be mended at the cost of my daughter’s entire life? A sacrifice made at another’s expense. My love for him withered, replaced by a silent storm of disappointment and resentment taking root deep within me. I wiped the tears from my face, slowly pushing myself off the wall. Steeling myself, I pushed open the door, interrupting their intimate exchange. Declan’s face darkened the moment he saw me, his voice sharp with irritation. “What took you so long? Is that how a mother acts? Amelia Reed, can’t you learn from Liana? Her eyes haven’t left the baby for a second!” I lowered my gaze, hiding the disappointment and pain swirling in my eyes. In Declan’s world, I was always second best to Liana, even when he knew I’d just been getting our daughter’s birth certificate. Living in the same apartment building for years, he constantly compared me to Liana, always praising her, oblivious to the simmering tension between them. How blind I’d been not to notice their unspoken connection. My eyes fell on Liana, and a tight, bitter smile touched my lips, hatred gathering in my gaze. The baby in Liana’s arms was clearly my Anya! Sensing my stare, Liana subtly shifted, blocking my view. Just then, the baby in Declan’s arms began to wail. This time, he didn’t instantly blame me. Instead, he cradled the baby, murmuring soft reassurances. He hadn’t held our daughter once in the three days since she was born. Yet now, he looked down, speaking softly, an aura of paternal love radiating from him. The difference between love and indifference was stark, a brutal punch to the gut. I stared at him, my mind a battlefield, a bold and dangerous idea taking root. Liana turned, offering me a strained, bitter smile. “Little Hope lost her dad right after she was born. Seeing you two as a happy family of three… it really stings, you know?” She spoke with an air of self-pity, but a flicker of triumph, impossible to suppress, danced in her eyes. Declan looked up, his face etched with unconcealed sorrow, his eyes slightly red. “Liana…” I dug my nails into my palm, the sharp pain pulling me back from my daze. Liana sighed, then carried Anya to another bed. I took a deep breath, pushing down the bitterness, and reached out to take the baby from Declan, intending to soothe her. “Honey, is the baby hungry? I’ll go get some water for her formula.” Normally, Declan would have eagerly handed the baby over, but now, his brow furrowed in a tight frown. 2 “My daughter will have breast milk, of course. Formula? Do you have any responsibility at all? Amelia, listen to me, we’re only having one child, and I want to give her the absolute best! Don’t you even think about a second or third child!” With that, he practically shoved the baby into my arms, gesturing for me to feed her. I turned my face away, my heart swelling with a mix of bitterness and anger. Before Anya was born, he’d constantly told me to formula feed her so his mother could take over after my confinement, urging me to go back to work. His harsh words still echoed in my ears: “Amelia Reed, I know your family is wealthy, but you need to learn to be independent, not just waste away as a stay-at-home mom! The baby will be raised by the nanny and my mother.” So, the only true ties that bound him were Liana and her daughter. My daughter wasn’t worth his concern, nor did she deserve to grow up in her mother’s arms. Indifference meant no thought, no care. It wasn’t until Anya, still in Liana’s arms, began to cry loudly that my self-pity was interrupted. Hearing my daughter’s cries, I involuntarily took a half step forward. Liana frowned, impatiently placing the baby on the bed. Then, as if an idea struck her, she quickly turned to Declan and me, explaining, “Crying it out, it helps train a child’s independence. After all, this child was born without a father. I can’t spoil her.” Anya sobbed heartbrokenly, yet Liana simply scrolled through her phone. Listening to her absurd justification, I clenched my fists, a furious heat rising within me. “A three-day-old infant? Training what independence? Liana Hayes, crying is a baby’s natural instinct! If you let her continue, she’ll cry herself sick!” My heart ached at Anya’s cries, and I lunged forward, desperate to pick her up. But Declan coldly blocked me. “Amelia Reed! What right do you have to lecture Liana? Who do you think you are?” My mind exploded. My blood ran cold, and I started to tremble uncontrollably. He knew. He knew the one crying her heart out right now was our child! My body rigid, I turned to Declan, my voice catching in my throat. “The baby is crying. Can’t you hear her?” Declan’s brow was deeply furrowed, his eyes utterly devoid of emotion. He looked at me with annoyance. “Liana’s own child. Is she not heartbroken enough that you, an outsider, need to step in?” I almost demanded to know how he could be so cruel. But the words died on my lips, replaced by a bitter ache, and I averted my gaze, unable to bear it. The conviction in my heart, however, only grew stronger. Anya cried until her voice was hoarse, but Declan seemed oblivious, his attention solely on the baby in his arms. He didn’t even spare Anya a glance. I tightened my fists, waiting for my chance. A chance to quietly switch the two babies back. Liana’s child might have been born without a father, but I wouldn’t let my Anya suffer the same fate. She deserved a life of privilege and love! I vowed silently, Anya, trust Mommy. I will ensure you have all the love of a mother and a father. Newborns were taken for a bath when they were three days old. I held this strange baby in my arms. This afternoon, I would get my Anya back. Anya had a tiny red mole behind her ear, a secret only I knew. From the day she was born, I’d been the only one to feed her, to change her diapers. Declan didn’t know, and Liana didn’t either. They thought by swapping swaddles and wristbands, they could steal my daughter? Ha. How naive. She was my precious girl, whom I cherished so deeply I barely dared to sleep at night. In the afternoon, Liana’s mother arrived. The moment she saw the sleeping baby on the bed, she snapped irritably, “A curse-bringer, a useless girl! Get her out of this hospital already, stop wasting money!” Liana’s husband had passed away two weeks prior, never even seeing his own child. A tragic story, indeed. Mrs. Hayes’s loud voice drew glances from other patients. Both babies in the room startled and began to cry simultaneously. Declan frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by my distraction. He snatched the baby from my arms, murmuring reassurances. My eyes never left Anya, her cries tearing at my heart. Mrs. Hayes, further annoyed by the crying, roughly yanked open the baby’s swaddling, her dirt-stained finger jabbing at Anya’s face. 3 “Cry, cry, cry, that’s all you do! Your father died because of your crying! If I’d known it was going to be a girl, I never would have let you be born!” Noticing the disapproving stares from others in the room, Liana, ever conscious of appearances, made a halfhearted attempt to intervene. “Mom, don’t say such things to the baby.” I watched Liana coldly. Her eyes hadn’t even left her phone. How could people like them possibly raise a child well? Yet, my husband was so blind and senseless, convinced the world owed Liana everything, willing to sacrifice anything to make it up to her! Mrs. Hayes scoffed, finally lowering her voice, but still grumbling, “I’ll take the child back to the countryside. Liana, you need to find another man while you’re still young! Preferably a rich one, so I can have something to look forward to in my old age…” As Mrs. Hayes’s rambling grew more outrageous, Liana finally looked up from her phone, her gaze instinctively drifting toward Declan. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she answered with a weary air, “Mom, I… I couldn’t marry the man I wanted back then. Now, it doesn’t matter who I marry.” Declan lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the baby in the swaddle, appearing calm. But I saw the profound sadness and loneliness in his eyes. He held the baby, no longer attempting to comfort her, his fingers unconsciously scrunching the bedsheets. Liana’s words had pierced him deeply. Yet, he showed no reaction to the thought of my daughter being taken to the countryside, branded as a father-killer. His mind was lost in Liana’s lament. I stared at his slightly pale face, my gaze fixed on him as I cautiously asked, “Honey, Liana’s baby… she’s quite pitiful, isn’t she?” My eyes never left Declan, searching for a flicker of compassion, reluctance, or even a hint of guilt. There was nothing. Declan suddenly looked up at me, his eyes cold. He pressed his lips together, then said softly, “She was born unlucky. No one is to blame.” I stared at him in disbelief, as if I’d never truly seen him before. Or perhaps, this was the first time I was truly seeing the man he was. The Declan before me was detached, callous. He casually dismissed her fate as ‘unlucky,’ a phrase that struck not just her, but my heart, with crushing weight. An unfamiliar emotion surged within me, suffocating me. The heavy atmosphere in the room made my heart pound, and I numbly turned away, unwilling for him to see the tears in my eyes. Declan’s gaze suddenly landed on me, his eyes sharp. “Amelia, you’ve been acting strange all morning. Since when did you care so much about other people’s business?” I took a deep breath, expelling the tightness in my chest, and smiled. “Just seeing the baby… it tugs at my heart, that’s all.” Declan’s brows furrowed even tighter. He paused, then a hint of mockery entered his eyes as he scoffed, “Hmph, well, you’re certainly overflowing with sympathy. Amelia, instead of worrying about other people’s children, why don’t you pay more attention to your own daughter?” When the nurse announced it was time to take the newborns for their baths, my eyes drifted to Liana, who remained unmoving. “Liana, aren’t you taking your daughter for a bath?” Liana glanced at Anya in the swaddle, about to say something, when Mrs. Hayes quickly interjected, “No. A girl? Not worth the money.” Anger flared in my chest, but I suppressed it, remembering my plan. “It’s free, Auntie. The hospital provides it.” Hearing my words, Mrs. Hayes’s eyes lit up. Driven by the thought of a freebie, she scooped up Anya from the bed. “Then we’ll go! Your city hospitals really do have good service!” Mrs. Hayes, holding Anya, followed me closely out of the room. In my peripheral vision, as soon as we left, Liana went over to my husband, who was sitting on the visitor’s sofa. His eyes met hers, filled with remorse. I bit my lip hard, frantically telling myself, Don’t act rashly. For our daughter’s happiness, endure this for now! At the infant bathing room, the nurse directed parents to queue up to drop off their babies, with families waiting outside. Anya went in first. Mrs. Hayes, bored while waiting by the door, struck up a conversation with me. When she found out I also had a daughter, she pursed her lips, her eyes filled with disdain. “Tsk, what’s the point of having a girl?” My expression instantly turned cold. I had no desire to speak further with such an ignorant and narrow-minded person. 4 Mrs. Hayes couldn’t stand still, constantly looking around. She seemed to spot something exciting, turning back to instruct me, “Hey, Amelia, can you pick up that little brat for me later? Auntie will be right back!” My heart skipped a beat. This was the perfect opportunity. I quickly nodded. Mrs. Hayes hurried off towards the bustling crowd. At that precise moment, I handed the prepared clothes and swaddle to the nurse. When the nurse brought Anya out after her bath, she was wearing the tiny outfit I’d prepared. I held her close, my eyes never leaving her, as if cradling a lost treasure I’d miraculously found again. My eyes were stinging with unshed tears. By the time Mrs. Hayes returned from her distraction, the two babies had, through my careful maneuvering, swapped identities once more. From this day forward, my Anya would grow up safe and sound under my protection. She would have the complete love of both her mother and father. My gaze swept over the infant in Mrs. Hayes’s arms, and I had to avert my eyes. I was sorry. My heart was small, only holding enough space for my loved ones and my daughter. There was no room left for anyone else. Back in the room, I expected everything to have returned to normal, unnoticed. But to my shock, the moment Declan took the baby, he knew something was wrong. His eyes were fixed on the infant’s face, his expression grim, dark as a storm cloud. A terrible premonition bloomed in my chest. Sure enough. He roughly tore open the baby’s swaddle, ignoring her sudden startled cries, and sharply demanded, “Amelia Reed, where is my daughter? What have you done with my daughter?” Declan’s eyes were bloodshot. As if a sudden thought struck him, he thrust the baby into my arms and strode out of the room. I held Anya, trying to stop him, but he brutally slapped me. Smack! “Amelia Reed, get out of my way! I’m going to find my daughter!” I had just given birth. The force wasn’t immense, a light slap, but it left my mouth numb and stinging. I grabbed Declan’s arm, my voice a raw, ugly rasp squeezed from my throat. “Our daughter is right here, honey. Look at her. She’s our Anya…” Declan flung me away, his gaze poisonous, as if he wanted to tear me to shreds. “No! She’s not mine! She’s just your Amelia Reed’s daughter, never the precious baby I wanted!” I stood there, holding our daughter, a sharp pain in my chest, as if tiny ants were gnawing at my heart. It wasn’t an intense pain, but it made tears well in my eyes. I forced my eyes wide open, looking at Declan, and asked with a bitter laugh, “Declan, do you hate Anya? Or do you just hate me? Are you truly so unwilling to raise our child?” He glared at me with hatred, his lips trembling, trying to speak but failing. I watched him in silence, my eyes frighteningly red. Yet, when I looked at him, there was still a hint of pleading in my gaze, perhaps even unknown to myself. Deep down, I still harbored hope for Declan, for our family. I still loved him. In the silent standoff, Declan’s face was alarmingly pale. I offered him a forced smile, reaching out to steady him. “Honey, my body hasn’t fully recovered yet, I…” Just then, Mrs. Hayes walked in, holding the endlessly wailing child. Hearing the baby’s cries, Declan cruelly pushed my hand away and snatched the child from Mrs. Hayes. His hands trembling, he pressed his face against the infant’s tiny one, his eyes filled with tender love. “Don’t cry, baby. Daddy’s here. Good girl.” I looked at my empty hands, humiliation and pain washing over me. In my arms, my daughter slept soundly, her little mouth smacking. Perhaps she was dreaming, for she even smiled sweetly. The tears I’d held back now streamed down, soaking her swaddle. Anya, forgive Mommy. Maybe I can’t give you a complete family anymore. But believe me, I will love you with all my strength. Behind me, I heard Declan soothing the baby, and Liana standing beside him, a possessive, protective stance. The hospital room fell into a dead silence, all eyes on him, then on me. I wiped away my tears, and by the time I turned around, I was the calm, decisive Amelia Reed again. If a forced connection brings no joy, then I’ll simply let it go. I looked at Declan and said calmly, “Declan, let’s get a divorce.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391149”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

“Ms. Sterling, this is your seventh citation.” The property manager’s assistant handed me the pink slip, his eyes darting away in guilt. Two hundred dollars. Including the previous six, I’d been fined $1,400 this month alone for “obstructing common areas with personal clutter.” I looked at the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) mounted in the corner of the 17th-floor landing and let out a bitter laugh. I had spent $2,000 of my own money to buy it three months ago specifically because my neighbor across the hall, Mr. Henderson, has a severe heart condition. “Ms. Sterling, my hands are tied,” the assistant whispered. “Mrs. Miller reported it again. This time, she went straight to the HOA board…” Mrs. Miller. Brenda Miller from 1702. Ever since she discovered that filing reports earned her “Community Credits” that could be redeemed for grocery vouchers, the entire building hadn’t known a moment of peace. I took a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll move out.” The assistant froze. “Wait, what?” I was already opening an app on my phone, my thumb hovering over the words “Terminate Service.” I waited three seconds, then tapped it. The screen flashed a confirmation: [Vance Elevator Services • Grandview Towers Building 1 • Annual Maintenance Contract Terminated.] My name is Sarah Sterling. I’m 32. I’ve lived in this building for 15 years. For 15 years, I’ve been the building’s silent benefactor—the “sucker.” 01 It all started two months ago. I was coming home from work when I stepped off the elevator to find Brenda Miller standing in front of my door, snapping photos with her phone. “Mrs. Miller? Is everything okay?” “Sarah, you have far too much junk in this hallway,” she said without looking up. “Fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and now this big metal box. You’re hogging public space, you know.” I followed her gaze to the “big metal box”—the AED I’d installed last month. Mr. Henderson is 68 and his heart is failing. He’d had an episode in the hallway once, and if I hadn’t been passing by, he wouldn’t have made it. After that, I bought the machine and even went out of my way to get CPR and AED certified. “Mrs. Miller, that’s a defibrillator. It’s for Mr. Henderson—” “I don’t care what kind of ‘ator’ it is,” she snapped. “Rules are rules. No personal items in the common areas.” “This is life-saving equipment.” “Then keep it inside your own apartment. Why put it out here? To show off how much money you have?” I was stunned. Show off? I’d paid $2,000 for it and specifically mounted it in a discreet corner so neighbors wouldn’t think I was flaunting anything. “Mrs. Miller, if I keep it inside, it’ll be too late to reach it in a real emergency.” “That’s your problem.” She shoved her phone in my face. The reporting portal was open; the photo was already uploaded. “I’ve submitted it. If the property manager doesn’t handle it in 72 hours, the HOA will.” With that, she marched off. I stood there, keys in hand, paralyzed. The door across the hall cracked open. Mr. Henderson peeked out. “Sarah, I heard everything,” he sighed. “Maybe you should just take it down. Don’t make an enemy for my sake.” “Don’t worry about it, Bill. The machine stays.” He hesitated. “That Brenda Miller… don’t let her get to you. She’s just like that.” “I know.” I didn’t just know. I knew more about the costs of this building than anyone else. 02 The next day, the building management showed up. It was Joe, an old-timer who’d worked here for ten years. “Ms. Sterling, look…” He looked at the AED uncomfortably. “Technically, the hallways have to be clear.” “Joe, it’s an AED. It’s for emergencies.” “I know, but someone reported it. I have to show the board I did something.” “So, what’s the solution?” Joe scratched his head. “Maybe move it inside for a bit? Until the heat dies down?” “Joe.” I cut him off, my voice steady. “Who pays for the annual inspection and refill of the fire extinguishers in this building?” He stiffened. “Who bought the high-efficiency motion-sensor LED lights for the stairwells?” “…” “Who installed the filtered water station in the lobby?” Joe looked at the floor, silent. In this entire building, only the management staff knew these things. For 15 years, I’d never mentioned it to a single neighbor. “Ms. Sterling, I know how much you’ve done, but…” “Fine. I won’t make your job harder.” I unscrewed the AED from the wall and carried it into my apartment. Joe looked relieved. “Thanks for understanding, Sarah.” I shut the door without a word. I opened my phone and went to the building’s Facebook group. Sure enough, Brenda was posting her “Victory Report.” [REPORT SUCCESS! The illegal obstruction on the 17th floor has been cleared. Remember everyone, see something, say something! Let’s keep our public spaces tidy! 🌹] The likes poured in. [Brenda is the best!] [Who was the person on 17 anyway? Some people are so entitled, thinking they can just claim the hallway.] [Exactly. About time someone did something.] I watched the comments scroll by. 72 units. Not a single person remembered that the AED cost me $2,000. And not a single person remembered that the elevator in this building hadn’t broken down once in 15 years. 03 Brenda didn’t stop. On day three, the first-aid kits were reported. I’d placed them every few floors—stocked with bandages, antiseptic, and even emergency aspirin. Fine: $200. On day five, the lobby water station was reported. I’d installed it eight years ago, paid for the filters twice a year, and covered the minor bump in the building’s electricity. Joe brought me an “Illegal Utility Connection Notice.” “Ms. Sterling, Brenda says we don’t know who installed it. She’s worried about leaks or electrical hazards.” “I installed it.” “Doesn’t matter. There’s no official board permit on file…” Fine: $200. On day seven, the “Share-an-Umbrella” bin I kept by the door for kids was reported. Brenda called it “unsightly clutter affecting property value.” Fine: $200. On day ten, the fire extinguishers themselves were reported. 18 floors, two per floor. I replaced them every year out of pocket because the building’s official ones had expired three years ago and the HOA was too cheap to buy new ones. Brenda said: “The color of the canisters is dated and clashes with the hallway decor.” Fine: $200. I stood in the management office with five pink slips on the desk. “Sarah,” Joe sighed. “I’m so sorry. Brenda is… well, you know.” I knew. I knew all too well. Brenda Miller, 52, retired, husband is a mid-level bureaucrat at the City Inspector’s office. She moved in three years ago and immediately started reporting the food truck down the street, the hardware store on the corner, and even the birdhouse on the roof. She lived for the Community Credits. “Joe, I’ll pay the fines.” I slapped $1,000 in cash on the desk. “Sarah…” “But I have a condition.” “Anything.” “Starting today, everything I bought for this building is leaving with me.” Joe blinked. “What?” “The fire extinguishers. The first-aid kits. The water station. The LED sensors. The umbrellas. And the AED.” “But Sarah… those are part of the building now…” “No,” I corrected him. “They are my private property. The HOA never spent a cent on them.” I dropped a thick folder of receipts on the desk. “Fifteen years of invoices. Look for yourself.” Joe flipped to the first page, his hand starting to shake. 2011—36 Fire extinguishers: $1,800. 2012—18 Motion sensor lights: $900. 2014—Lobby water filtration system: $1,200. Annual filters: $200. … 2026—AED Unit: $2,000. Page after page of meticulous spending. Joe’s face went white. “Sarah, in fifteen years… you’ve spent nearly…” “$124,000.” I stated the number flatly. Like I was reading a weather report. “I did it because I wanted to. But since people find them to be eyesores, I’m taking my ‘clutter’ back.” Joe stood up, his lips trembling. “Sarah, don’t do this. People… people use these things every day…” “And?” “And… just don’t take it so personally. You know how Brenda is—” “Joe,” I interrupted. “Am I taking it personally? Have I ever reported her for drying her laundry on the common balcony? Have I reported her shoe rack in the hallway? Have I reported her for taking up two guest parking spots?” Joe went quiet. “I haven’t. I just did what I wanted to do and spent what I wanted to spend. But she’s decided to penalize my kindness. Fine. I’m done being kind.” I gathered my copies of the receipts and turned to the door. “Oh, and one more thing.” “What?” “My company handles the elevator maintenance for this building.” Joe looked like he’d just seen a ghost. 04 My name is Sarah Sterling. I’m the CEO of Sterling Elevator Group. This building was my parents’ home. I grew up here. When I was 17, my father died. When I was 23, my mother passed too, leaving me this apartment and a small, struggling maintenance company. I turned that three-person shop into a city-wide operation with thirty employees. But I never told my neighbors. There was no point. I simply put this building on our “Pro Bono” list. For 15 years, this elevator never skipped a beat. Other old buildings in the neighborhood had residents getting trapped every other week; ours was perfect. Neighbors thought we were just lucky. Only I knew that my technicians came every month for a secret inspection. I paid for the new cables every three years and the control board every five. Because this was home. Before my mom died, she told me: “Sarah, I worry about the old folks in this building. If you ever make it, look out for them.” I said I would. I did. But I never expected 15 years of quiet service to be rewarded with “Public Space Violation” fines. On my way home, I called my operations manager. “Mark, Grandview Towers Building 1. Don’t renew the maintenance contract.” There was a pause. “Sarah, isn’t that where you live?” “Yes.” “Just curious… what’s the market value of the free service we’ve been giving them?” “About $15,000 a year for the basic contract. Parts like cables and boards are extra.” “Got it. I’ll send the termination notice tomorrow.” I stood outside the building, looking up. 18 floors. 72 families. I knew most of them. Mrs. Higgins on the 6th floor—I sent her a gift basket every Christmas. Mr. Henderson on the 9th—he helped organize my dad’s funeral. But they were old now. They didn’t come out much. The building was full of new people who didn’t know me. They just knew me as the woman on 17 who “cluttered” the hallway. I walked inside. The elevator doors opened—bright, smooth, and silent. I hit 17. “Floor seventeen,” a gentle, recorded voice announced. I had designed that voice. The recording was made by a college friend who studied broadcasting. I wanted a soothing voice to make my neighbors’ days a little better. For 15 years, that voice accompanied 72 families. No one knew it was me. No one cared. 05 Moving the items took longer than I thought. 36 fire extinguishers. 6 first-aid kits. 18 sensor lights. The water station. The umbrella bins. And the $2,000 AED. I hired three movers. We spent the whole day running the elevator up and down. Neighbors gave us strange looks. “Sarah, what are you doing?” “Moving.” “Where to?” “Away from here.” I didn’t elaborate. Brenda Miller happened to be coming home from the store. When she saw the commotion, a smug look crossed her face. “Oh, Ms. Sterling. Finally decided to clear out the junk?” I ignored her. “It’s about time. Hallways should be clean, not full of this random crap—” “Brenda,” I interrupted. My voice was calm. “This is property I paid for. It isn’t ‘crap’.” She blinked. “Paid for? You? I thought the building provided these.” “Ask Joe.” Her smile faltered for a second but returned quickly. “Doesn’t matter who bought it. Leaving it in the common area is a violation. My report was valid.” “Yes. You were absolutely right.” I nodded and went back to directing the movers. Brenda watched for a bit, then walked away. I noticed her pace was a little faster than usual. By 6 PM, the last extinguisher was gone. I stood in the empty hallway. There were pale circles on the walls where the canisters used to hang. The outlet for the water station was exposed and bare. Fifteen years of history, erased by my own hand. Would my mom be disappointed? My phone buzzed. A text from Mark: [Termination notice sent and confirmed by management. They asked if we’re coming to pull the monitoring equipment. I told them no, but the scheduled inspection for Friday is canceled.] [Copy that,] I replied. I looked at the door of the apartment I’d lived in for thirty-two years. I hesitated, then turned toward the elevator. “Floor seventeen.” I pressed ‘B’. I got into my car in the garage and drove away. I didn’t know if I’d ever come back. 06 Three days after I moved, Joe texted me. [Sarah… the fire extinguishers… you really took them all?] [I did.] [What about the AED?] [That too.] [Sarah, please… can we work something out? We just had a surprise fire marshal inspection. We failed. The building is facing a massive fine because half the units are missing equipment.] I didn’t reply. A few minutes later: [About the elevator… were you serious? Your company has been doing it for free?] [Yes.] [What happens now?] [Management needs to find a new contractor. Market rate is about $15,000 a year.] Silence for an hour. Then: [Sarah, the HOA budget is only $40,000 a year for the whole building. We don’t have $15,000 for a premium maintenance plan…] [That sounds like a management problem.] I put my phone down and went back to my spreadsheets. My business was booming; I didn’t have time to mourn a building that didn’t want me. On the seventh day, the texts became more frequent. [Sarah, the seniors are asking why the water station is gone.] [I moved it.] [Could you… bring it back?] [For whom? The people who fined me for ‘hogging space’?] Joe stopped texting for a while. Then: [Sarah, people are complaining the hallway lights are out.] The sensor lights were mine. I’d been paying the electricity for them through a small auxiliary bypass I’d permitted years ago. Now that I’d cut the power, management realized they hadn’t even wired those sockets to the main building grid. [Sarah, Brenda is asking about the first-aid kits. She says her blood pressure is up and she needs the emergency meds you used to keep in there.] I laughed. Brenda Miller. You called it “clutter.” Now you realize it was a lifeline? I didn’t reply. On the tenth day, the inevitable happened.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391168”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I am the top OB-GYN resident at St. Mary’s Hospital. My boyfriend’s mother was in pain, so I personally removed an IUD that had been tormenting her for thirty years. Their repayment? They broke into my condo, trashed the place, and caused a riot at the hospital. They claimed that after removing the device, I implanted a listening bug in her uterus. No matter how I tried to explain the medicine, she wouldn’t listen. She even started livestreaming her delusions to report me: [I’m reporting Chloe Carter! This psycho put a listening device inside me!] Facing their insanity and threats, I could only look at the sky in disbelief: What kind of doctor plants a bug in a patient’s uterus? The paranoia was off the charts. 1 When my boyfriend, Brad Sterling, burst into my apartment at 1 AM dragging his mother, Brenda, behind him, I was completely disoriented. I was yanked out of bed and onto the floor before Brad’s foot connected with my ribs. “Chloe! Are you trying to kill my mother?!” The sharp pain in my abdomen woke me up instantly. Woken up in the dead of night and assaulted for no reason—even with my usually calm temperament, I was furious. “Brad! What the hell is wrong with you?” Brad shoved his mother toward me, his finger jabbing aggressively almost into my eye. “You have the nerve to ask what’s wrong?” “I trusted you enough to bring my mom to you, and this is how you treat her?” “You know exactly what you put inside her uterus!” I froze, unable to believe my ears. Put what inside her uterus? “What are you talking about? There has to be a misunderstanding…” Despite my anger, patient health came first. I immediately tapped into my professional training, reviewing the procedure in my mind. Just a month ago, Brad brought Brenda to the hospital to see me. I removed a very old, embedded IUD from Brenda’s uterus and sent them home. That was it. I never imagined Brad would suspect I planted a foreign object inside his own mother. Relying on my professional ethics, I tried to patiently explain. “I only removed the IUD, Mrs. Sterling. There were no additional procedures…” The next second, my face stung. Brenda slapped me hard. “Still lying? Don’t think I don’t know your game!” “You just want to listen in on our secrets so you can control my son’s life!” “Let me tell you, you sick freak, keep dreaming!” “As long as I’m alive, you’ll never succeed!” I was completely stunned by the slap. I had never been hit in my adult life, let alone by my boyfriend’s mother. Seeing my shock, Brenda sneered. “Still playing dumb? Let’s see how long you can keep this act up!” She began tearing through my apartment, smashing things while screaming maniacally, “Let’s see you eavesdrop on this… let’s see if you dare!” I snapped out of it and yelled for them to stop, but Brad grabbed me, pinning my arms. I was forced to watch helplessly as Brenda destroyed the home I had carefully curated. Expensive ceramics, framed photos, electronics… Brenda smashed everything in sight. When I saw her heading toward the curio cabinet in the center of the living room, I couldn’t contain my rage any longer. “Don’t you dare touch that!” I bit down hard on Brad’s arm holding me. I tasted blood, and Brad yelled in pain, flinging me onto the floor. My back slammed into the corner of a table, sending blinding pain through my body. Ignoring the pain, I scrambled up and rushed toward the cabinet. Inside that cabinet was everything left of my late parents. 2 Seeing my desperation, Brenda’s expression turned vicious. “So worried? I guess this cabinet is important to you, huh?” As she spoke, she opened the glass door and grabbed a trophy, winding up to throw it. “No! Stop!” That trophy was from my parents’ first national medical competition win. It was the witness to the start of their love story. They cherished it their entire lives. I sucked in a cold breath, forcing myself to calm down. “Brenda, please. We can talk about this like adults…” “Talk? Did you think about talking when you planted a bug in me?” Brenda showed no intention of resolving anything. Her face was dark and cruel. “Unless… you get down on your knees and beg. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens.” Before I could react, she loosened her grip on the trophy. “Don’t!” I lunged forward, fighting the pain in my back, but the glass award hit the hardwood floor, shattering into pieces. I watched as Brenda casually picked up a framed photo, looking at me threateningly. Brad just stood there, watching his mother humiliate me. “Chloe, this really is your fault. It’s normal for Mom to be upset…” “Baby, just get on your knees and apologize to Mom, take the device out, and we can put this behind us…” I almost laughed out loud at Brad’s shamelessness. “Why should I apologize for something I didn’t do!” The next second, my head snapped to the side from another slap. Brad’s face twisted into a snarl. “Didn’t you hear me tell you to kneel!” Brenda threw the framed photo at me. The sharp corner of the frame sliced my forehead, and blood immediately started trickling down my face. I couldn’t worry about the wound. Seeing my parents’ legacy about to be destroyed, and after a fierce internal struggle, I closed my eyes and dropped heavily to my knees. “Brenda, I’m sorry.” “It’s all my fault. I’m begging you, please stop smashing things…” “But I really didn’t do those things… I really didn’t!” I swallowed the humiliation, thinking this would satisfy them enough to spare my parents’ belongings. I underestimated Brenda. Seeing me on my knees gave her a look of pure sadistic pleasure. Then, she grabbed a heavy vase nearby and hurled it at the cabinet. The glass doors shattered, and my parents’ awards crashed onto the floor. My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “No!” “You said if I begged, you’d leave their things alone!” Brad and Brenda looked down at me with smug satisfaction. “I said I wanted you to kneel and apologize…” Brenda sneered. “But I never said I’d spare your parents’ junk.” Watching her venomous smile, a sharp pain pierced my heart, and tears burst forth. “You… you monster!” “Me? Look at yourself. This is the price for plotting against us!” I ignored their gloating. Without a word, I crouched down. Piece by piece, I solemnly picked up the fragments from the floor. The sharp glass sliced my palms, turning them bloody. I didn’t feel it. Tears mixed with blood, making the cuts sting even more. But I clutched the shards tightly, almost masochistically. As if by holding them tight enough, the items could be restored, and my parents wouldn’t be gone. Ignoring the psychotic mother and son, I gathered everything together and held it reverently in my arms. When I looked up again, my eyes were ice cold. I called 911. 3 Brad, watching coldly from the side, noticed my action immediately. He snatched the phone from my hand and ended the call. “Trying to call the cops? In your dreams!” With a ferocious look, he shoved me back onto the floor. The glass shards embedded deeper into my palms, adding injury to injury. Brad loomed over me. “If you don’t take that thing out today, don’t blame me for forgetting our three years together!” “Hey! Chloe, are you listening to me!” Brad tried to grab me again, but I dodged his outstretched hand, looking at him with utter indifference. “I told you, I didn’t put anything inside your mother. If you don’t believe me, go to a hospital and get a scan. Stop acting crazy in my home.” Even a saint has limits, and I am a living, breathing human being. They had insulted my character, my professional ethics, and destroyed my parents’ memorial. No matter how good my temper was, I was done enduring it. I kicked them out on the spot. “Now, get the hell out of my house!” Brad wanted to keep yelling, but Brenda, a flicker of calculation in her eyes, stopped him. “Son, forget it. I don’t want to affect your relationship because of me…” “Chloe probably put that thing in me because she loves you too much… surely not because she suspected you’d cheat…” “Sigh, I’m old and useless. It doesn’t matter if my body gets violated…” Hearing Brenda’s passive-aggressive incendiary remarks, Brad exploded exactly as planned. “Suspecting me of cheating? Does she have no trust in me at all? We’re done!” “And Mom! Why are you still defending her?” I was too tired to watch their bizarre mother-son performance. I walked to the door and threw it open. “Say whatever you have to say outside. Don’t loiter in my home.” Brad choked on my words, threw out one last threat, and stormed off angrily. I ignored him, focusing entirely on salvaging my parents’ belongings. I knew my relationship with Brad was over. Based solely on his mother’s delusion, he pinned a non-existent crime on me and even destroyed my mother’s legacy. I decided the next time I saw Brad, I would officially break up with him. I just didn’t expect the next time would be so soon. They weren’t done yet. They came to my hospital to cause a scene. 4 I was consulting with a patient when Brad and Brenda aggressively barged into my exam room. Brenda was holding a handmade banner, sitting on the floor throwing a tantrum. The banner was full of slander against me. They ignored everything else, grabbing random patients and shouting. “Everyone, stay away from this quack! She’s a fraud!” “My mom came to her to have an IUD removed, and she turned around and put a listening device in her uterus!” “You dare let her treat you? Do you have a death wish?!” My blood pressure skyrocketed at their antics. Patients and their families inside and outside the clinic looked at them with “Are you insane?” expressions. After all, nobody believes you can just “put a listening device in a uterus.” But Brad and Brenda were committed to the bit. They ripped the network cable out of my computer, deleting all the diagnosis and treatment notes I had just typed. Then, they grabbed a heavy pen holder from the desk and threw it hard at me. It struck my ribs with a dull thud. Flushed with anger at her baseless, blatant lies, ignoring the pain in my side, I stood up abruptly. “What listening device?!” “Brad, haven’t you made enough of a scene? Stop spitting blood!” Hearing this, Brenda escalated, grabbing a nearby person and crying. “Oh my god, the doctor is angry and wants to hit me!” “I was fine before I came here, but ever since her treatment, there are noises inside me every day. She definitely planted a bug!” “My son said she was the best doctor, but she put a bug in my uterus! She must suspect my son is going to cheat on her!” The next second, Brad opened a large thermos he was carrying and splashed red paint all over me. My white coat was instantly ruined, my eyes plastered shut and stinging. The scene was chaos. Brenda tried to rush up and hit me again. Before I could dodge, Brenda was suddenly shoved and stumbled. It was my long-time patient. She didn’t believe a word of Brenda’s story and, seeing me humiliated, stood up for me. She looked at Brad and Brenda with disgust. “A listening device in a uterus? Can’t you at least draft a believable lie?” “Leaving aside if it’s even medically possible, what use would it be to Dr. Carter?” She grabbed my paint-splattered hand and comforted me softly. “Don’t be scared, Dr. Carter!” “I’ve seen plenty of people like them! I’ll call security right now…” Seeing everyone pointing fingers at them and no one taking their side, Brad and Brenda left in a huff. I let out a breath of relief and went to change my clothes amidst looks of sympathy. But the moment I stepped out, the Hospital Chief of Staff, Dr. Albright, appeared at the door. She looked self-righteous, staring at me. “Dr. Carter, two patients have filed complaints that you placed a listening device in one of them…” “Dr. Albright, I didn’t. You know me…” She cut off my explanation. “Enough! Patients are rioting. Can you reflect on yourself for a moment? Why are they targeting you and no one else?!” “I don’t have time to waste here. Come to my office immediately!” With no other choice, I followed the Chief to her office. 5 As soon as we entered, Brenda lunged at me, punching and kicking. My glasses were knocked off my face. While dodging her blows, I bent down to pick them up. A polished leather shoe stepped firmly onto my frames. Brad crushed my glasses beneath his foot. He looked down at me arrogantly, demanding I kneel and apologize to Brenda. “Chloe, I’m trying to keep the peace because of our three years together, but you’re being ungrateful…” “I advise you, while I still have patience, hurry up and kneel to apologize to my mom. Don’t refuse the face I’m giving you!” Dr. Albright also turned on me, threatening to fire me for lacking medical ethics. “Mr. Sterling, rest assured, I have already cancelled Chloe’s nomination for the Harper Fellowship. If she doesn’t handle this well, I will remove her as Chief Resident!” “Dr. Albright! You can’t!” The Chief, usually cordial, suddenly revealed her snobbish side, glaring at me with contempt and humiliation. “I always knew Dr. Carter was manipulative. Who knows if she even got the Chief Resident position legitimately!” “Otherwise, how could a woman become Chief so young?” My eyes turned red with rage at her shameless words. More than a decade of grueling medical training was wiped away in a sentence, reducing me to an opportunistic schemer? Looking at the people in front of me, they all felt like strangers. “Brad, can you please just get your mother a scan before you keep causing trouble?” He looked dead certain, then looked at me with disappointment. “We already got checked. We didn’t bring out the results because we didn’t want to cement your guilt, but you’re ungrateful…” “Since that’s the case, don’t blame us!” With that, Brad started a livestream on his phone. Behind him, Brenda’s face stiffened slightly; clearly, she hadn’t expected Brad to blow this up online. As a minor internet influencer, people flooded into Brad’s stream immediately. [I’m 실명 reporting Chloe Carter, this psycho! She put a listening device in my mom’s uterus!] [An OB-GYN planted a bug inside a patient and won’t admit it!] [Even if she’s my girlfriend, I can’t watch her keep doing wrong!] The chat was instantly enraged, raining curses down on me. [WTF? Planting a bug in a living person’s uterus? This doctor is insane!] [Support for you, bro. Feel bad for your mom. Call the cops and lock her up!] Seeing so much support, Brad gave me another arrogant, charitable look at the camera. “Chloe, I’m livestreaming now. It’s not too late to take out the device and apologize…” “I know since I’m so amazing, being with me makes you anxious, but you can’t harm my mom like this…” I just looked calmly at him and the rigid-faced Brenda, gesturing for him to produce the examination report. Our hospital’s reports have unique coding; it’s impossible to fake one out of thin air. The next second, I was stunned. Brad pulled out a redacted examination report and showed it to the camera. “This is my mom’s report. Viewers, please help get justice for me and my mom!” The report in Brad’s hand indicated: Foreign object present in the uterus. “How is that possible!” 6 I looked up in disbelief. But when I caught Brenda’s expression—a mix of guilt and smugness—I realized she must have tampered with something. In an instant, the online abuse, the real-life spitting, and the verbal attacks felt like a mountain crushing me. [Quack! I can’t believe I booked an expert appointment with her! She’s black-hearted!] [She actually planted a foreign object… who would dare see her now!] Dr. Albright looked utterly disappointed and fired me on the spot. “Dr. Carter, this hospital doesn’t need a doctor with no ethics like you!” “You can get out now.” “Not only that, I will ensure you are blacklisted from the entire industry, to do right by the patients!” Brenda gloated from the side, sneering maliciously. “Wouldn’t it have been better to just kneel and beg earlier? Now look at you, you have nothing.” Brad also lamented to the livestream with feigned heartbreak: “I never expected my girlfriend to be this kind of person…” “I harmed my own mother…” I clutched the report tightly, trying to find any inconsistency. Dr. Albright called hospital security to throw me out immediately. My former colleagues looked on with unbearable pity as they pulled me toward the exit. Was my reputation really going to be destroyed today? Even though I did nothing wrong… Just as I felt total despair, the ultrasound image attached to the report started looking familiar. Suddenly, a lightbulb went on. I struggled violently free from the guards, rushed in front of Dr. Albright, and shouted: “This report is fake! It’s fake!” Everyone looked skeptical, thinking I was just a desperate dog barking at a wall. I pointed directly at Brenda’s lie: “This report isn’t hers!” “This belongs to another patient of mine from a month ago!” I remembered it clearly because patients with legitimate uterine foreign objects were rare, so the case stuck in my memory. I never imagined Brenda would steal someone else’s report to frame me! The crowd burst into an uproar. Ignoring everyone, I made a snap decision and dragged Brenda back into the examination room. This time, the new scan showed: [Cystic echo. Absolutely no foreign objects like a listening device.] Seeing this result, Brad looked at Brenda in shock. “Mom, didn’t you say that report just now was yours? You swore the doctor said there was a bug inside you…” “Now the result is different, how do I explain this to my fans!?” Facing her son’s questioning, a flash of guilt and panic crossed Brenda’s eyes, quickly replaced by malice. She sat down on the floor and started wailing loud enough to wake the dead. “Oh my god! The hospital is definitely faking it! The hospital is faking reports to protect their doctor!” “Causing my son to doubt me… you black-hearted hospital, you’re trying to kill me!” She threw a tantrum regardless of the setting, attracting patients from the hallway, many of whom started filming us with their phones.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391184”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Her disappearance was sudden, unexpected – my fiancée, vanished the night before our wedding, just hours before she was due to hand over crucial evidence in a high-stakes smuggling case. Even when the authorities declared her fallen in the line of duty, I refused to believe it. For five long years, I searched. Then, I saw her. Standing beside a forensic expert hired by the very police department that had declared her dead, her belly subtly rounded, her eyes holding nothing but the blankness of a stranger. Overjoyed, I brought her home, and slowly, painstakingly, helped her reclaim her memories. She made a resolute decision, ending that pregnancy, and married me. The man by her side that day, Dr. Vance Holloway, simply vanished from her life. It wasn’t until a critical operation, when she threw herself in front of a bullet meant for me, her lifeblood staining the ground, that she whispered in my ear: “I’ve repaid what I owed you in this life, Julian.” Her voice, barely a breath, added, “Next time… don’t look for me. Let me live my life with him.” I understood then. She regretted it all. And then, I opened my eyes again. I was back at the airport, back to the day we first reunited. … The afternoon sun, fractured by the terminal’s glass walls, cast shifting patterns of light and shadow across the polished floor. Beside me, a sharp intake of breath, laced with disbelieving shock. “Boss, is that… Elaine? She’s alive!” “Lucas, keep your voice down.” I bit out the words, my gaze, however, was already magnetically drawn, pinned to the figure across the concourse. “Captain Thorne, it really is her! Five years!” Lucas’s voice trembled. We’d been classmates at the academy, and he, more than anyone, knew the hell I’d walked through these past five years. I snapped back to reality, my knuckles white from gripping nothing but air. In front of me, a woman in a cream-colored trench coat leaned in, listening to the man beside her. Sunlight painted a soft curve across her slightly swollen abdomen. As she turned her head, her eyes met mine. They were clear, but held only polite detachment, as if she were looking at a complete stranger. This was it. The place we’d reunited. The genesis of every tragedy in my previous life. My instincts screamed, and I instinctively moved, cutting off my colleague, who was poised to charge forward. “Don’t.” Lucas looked utterly bewildered. “Why not? That’s Elaine! She’s not dead!” In my previous life, I’d seen her here too. I’d rushed forward like a madman, desperate to claim her. I’d pleaded, pulled strings, even called in her parents. Eventually, I brought her home. We’d found the best psychologists and neurologists, working day and night to retrieve her memories. The day she finally remembered everything, she wept, silently went to the hospital to terminate the pregnancy, and then married me. But the day we signed the marriage certificate, Vance Holloway vanished from her world as if he’d never existed. Her silence, the deep-seated sorrow in her eyes, became an unbreachable chasm between us, a forbidden zone in our marriage. It wasn’t until that mission, when she took that fatal bullet for me, that her final request was to be released, to be free, to live her life with Vance in another existence. The thought squeezed my throat, and my voice came out raspy, “She’s pregnant.” I took a deep, shuddering breath, swallowing the metallic tang in my mouth. “And the man with her… that’s Vance Holloway, the expert the International Criminal Police Organization hired.” Lucas’s urgency flared. “Then all the more reason to bring her back! You searched for her for five years! We all thought she was blown to bits with the evidence in that smuggling case…” “She’s doing well now.” I cut him off, my gaze sweeping over Vance’s hand, instinctively resting on her lower back. My heart felt like it was being pummeled by a blunt object, again and again. “Look at her. She doesn’t recognize us. Does she look like someone clinging to the past?” Lucas still tried to argue. “But she’s Elaine! You two were inseparable, childhood sweethearts, graduated the academy together, even had your wedding date set…” “After five years in the thick of it, dodging bullets and accumulating scars, my body isn’t suited for building a family anymore.” Lucas froze. It took him a moment to find his voice. “Captain Thorne, don’t talk nonsense. Modern medicine is so advanced…” “It’s true.” My voice was eerily calm, as if discussing someone else’s fate. Five years chasing criminals on the border had left me with chronic back and knee issues. The internal injuries from the bullet graze in the last mission hadn’t healed properly either. “My last check-up confirmed permanent functional damage.” But none of that was the real reason. I couldn’t forget Elaine on that operating table in my past life, couldn’t forget her tracing her empty womb, saying, “Now we’re even,” couldn’t forget the look of release in her eyes as she was shot, that blood-flecked “Next time…” A moment of silence stretched between us before Lucas’s voice softened. “Even so, she should be allowed to choose.” I shook my head, my Adam’s apple bobbing. “I owe her enough already. If I hadn’t pushed for her to go undercover in that smuggling operation, none of this would have happened. Now she’s forgotten the past, she has a new life. Why would I drag her back into the mud?” In my past life, I’d forced her back to my side, believing it was salvation, but it ultimately became a living hell for us both. She guarded her guilt towards Vance, and I clung to my obsession with her. We exhausted every last ounce of affection in endless arguments. It wasn’t until that look of liberated relief in her eyes as she shielded me from the bullet that I fully understood: Some missed chances are for a lifetime. Lucas sighed, finally relenting. “So… we just watch?” “First, we finish the mission. Command is waiting for Professor Holloway.” The escort process went more smoothly than anticipated. Vance Holloway was polite and composed, his gaze towards the woman beside him filled with quiet indulgence. At the end, he requested our assistance in helping “Elara Vance” find her family in the country. “She hasn’t been well, and she’s been through a lot. We’re not pushing her to recover her memories; we’ll let it happen naturally. But we’ll need official identification to get married, so we’d appreciate your help.” I handed back the form with “Elara Vance’s” basic information, my tone strictly professional. “It’s our duty, Professor. Congratulations to Miss… Vance, on starting a new life. We’ll verify the information and issue the necessary documents as soon as possible.” Elara nodded and offered a polite, distant smile. “Thank you, Captain Thorne.” For the next few days, I forced myself not to inquire about any progress. Until Vance brought her to the precinct himself to confirm the paperwork. The office door opened. Seeing me, she instinctively shrank back behind Vance, her already pale face draining of color. I knew. The internal inquiries into Elara’s identity over the past few days must have unearthed fragments of her past, putting both her and Vance on guard. Now, she sat on the visitor’s sofa, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her trench coat, her eyes darting away, refusing to meet mine. Her thin face radiated an obvious unease. “Captain Thorne, are all the documents in order?” Vance spoke first, his tone polite but unmistakably distant, lacking the previous warmth. I pushed the neatly compiled file across the table. My voice was steady. “Everything’s in order. The registry system has confirmed: Elara Vance is Elaine Monroe. Her parents… we’ve informed them.” At the mention of her parents, Elaine’s shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly. I guessed she had probably already seen them, and vaguely learned something of her past. Vance took the file. When he looked up at me, the wariness in his eyes was undisguised. “Thank you for your diligence, Captain. However, I’m curious, you seem particularly invested in Miss Vance’s situation?” The question was blunt, a clear demarcation. Behind me, the muffled footsteps of my colleagues told me they’d sensed the shift in atmosphere, discreetly avoiding our conversation. I replied calmly, “Elaine Monroe was a cadet at the academy, and a former colleague. Verifying the identity of a missing person is simply part of my duty.” Vance persisted, his voice hardening slightly. “But from what I understand, Captain Thorne, you’ve been searching for her for the past five years?” Before I could respond, the office door burst open. “Julian!” Mrs. Monroe spotted me instantly, rushing forward, her eyes reddened. “Thank heavens for you, we wouldn’t have found Elara without you. This girl…” Mr. Monroe clapped me on the shoulder, his voice filled with emotion. “You’ve worked so hard all these years. We all thought… we all thought she was gone, and only you never gave up.” Their warmth and familiarity made the atmosphere even more charged. Elaine instinctively edged closer to Vance. Mrs. Monroe gripped my hand, chattering on. “Isn’t it ironic? You two were supposed to get married right after graduation, then all this happened. Now, she’s back, but…” She glanced at Elaine’s stomach, then at Vance. “Aunt Eleanor, you’ve misunderstood.” I was about to explain, but Elaine suddenly stood up, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly. She walked to Vance’s side, gently took his arm, and looked at her parents, her gaze exceptionally firm. “Dad, Mom, I think you already know. Vance is my fiancé. Captain Thorne and I… we just knew each other before. We don’t have any special relationship now.” “Please don’t bring up the past. I’m doing very well now.” Mrs. Monroe was stunned, then sighed. “Elara, you and Julian were so good together. School, training, you said you’d never marry anyone else…” “Mom!” Elaine cut her off, her eyes welling up. “That’s all in the past. Now, I just want to build a life with Vance.” Vance reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, his gaze settling on me, a distinct possessiveness in his eyes. “Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, I understand your affection for Captain Thorne, but Elara has chosen me.” Vance, at just the right moment, put an arm around Elara’s shoulders, looking at me, his tone calm but with an undeniable declaration. “Captain Thorne, thank you for helping my fiancée find her family. I trust Captain Thorne is a man of integrity and would not interfere in another’s relationship.” A heavy silence fell over the office. I looked at the older couple, who once treated me like a son, then at Elaine, her eyes full of defensiveness, and Vance, shielding her. My heart felt like it was submerged in ice water. I took a deep breath, gently led Mr. and Mrs. Monroe aside, and spoke in a low voice, clear enough to be heard. “Uncle David, Aunt Eleanor, finding Elara again is wonderful. But her safety and happiness are paramount now. If she doesn’t remember, forcing it won’t help.” I paused, my throat tightening. “Elara and I… we were not meant to be. Congratulations on your family being reunited. From now on… I won’t intrude.” Mrs. Monroe’s tears immediately began to fall. She clutched my arm. “Julian, don’t say that! For these past five years, if it weren’t for you holding things together, our family would have fallen apart… we remember everything you’ve done for us…” Mr. Monroe also let out a heavy sigh, his voice hoarse. “Foolish boy, what’s this about intruding? Even if you’re not our son-in-law, this will always be your home! Come back for dinner anytime!” “That might not be appropriate.” Vance suddenly spoke, his tone cool. “Since Captain Thorne has decided to let go, it would be best to completely cut ties, to avoid further disruption to our lives.” Elara, head bowed, softly echoed, “Vance is right, Captain Thorne. In the future… perhaps we shouldn’t meet again.” Mr. Monroe’s face immediately darkened. He shot Vance a sharp glance, his voice laced with suppressed anger. “My wife and I aren’t so muddled that we’d discard someone once they’re no longer useful! What Julian has done for Elara these past five years, we’ve seen and remembered. We already consider him a son. It’s not for an outsider to comment on.” Mrs. Monroe, her eyes red-rimmed, held my hand tightly. “Exactly! If you find Julian’s presence an inconvenience, then don’t come back to this house! We recognize him as our kin, and that has nothing to do with you!” Vance’s face tightened. He attempted to explain, “Mrs. Monroe, you’ve misunderstood. We just feel that since Elara has chosen to start a new life, some unnecessary ties might…” “Unnecessary ties?” Mr. Monroe cut him off, his voice now chilling. “Professor Holloway, you saved our daughter, and we’re grateful. But we’ve seen how Julian has lived these past five years, and it pains us. Now you dismiss him with a phrase like ‘unnecessary ties’? Isn’t that taking advantage of him?” Seeing the escalating tension, Elaine quickly took her mother’s arm, her voice pleading. “Mom! Dad! Please don’t be like this… Vance didn’t mean it that way. We don’t dislike Captain Thorne. He just wants me to focus on my pregnancy. The past is a burden to me, and I just want a peaceful life now.” Watching her instinctively defend Vance, my heart felt like it was being crushed, a dull ache spreading through me. Five years of searching, and in her eyes, it had become a past that shouldn’t even be mentioned. I took a deep breath, gently pulling Mr. and Mrs. Monroe away, who were still ready to argue. “Uncle David, Aunt Eleanor, I understand your feelings. But Elaine is right, maintaining some distance is necessary.” I looked at Vance and Elaine, then continued. “Professor Holloway’s concerns are valid. I will be mindful in the future, and try not to intrude on your time with her parents, to avoid any awkwardness.” Mrs. Monroe was distraught. “Julian! What nonsense are you talking about! That is your home!” I shook my head, my voice softening. “That will always be your home, Uncle David and Aunt Eleanor, and I respect that. But Elaine has her own family now. My frequent presence really isn’t appropriate. If you wish to see me, you can always come to the precinct or my place. I will gladly host you. There’s no need to hurt your relationship with your daughter over me.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391204”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 When I learned again that the child my wife carried was conceived with her new lover, I didn’t rage or push for an abortion as before. Instead, I silently supported her pregnancy, ensuring she carried it to term. Soon, I became gossip fodder for the elite circles—every cheating socialite wanted a spouse as “magnanimous” as me, mistresses hoped to ensnare my wife, and rich househusbands called me a disgrace. Ten months later, she gave birth safely. Emerging from the delivery room, Catherine, ever gentle, kissed my hand. “Thanks to you, my child with Liam is healthy and beautiful. Don’t worry—he only wants to be a father, not threaten your place as Davies’ son‑in‑law. You’re still the one I love most.” People said I loved her so blindly I accepted the mistress, but only I knew—this was a child the Davies matriarch forced me to protect, using an old life‑saving debt. With their firstborn now born, the divorce agreement she promised should finally take effect. … The night before Catherine’s delivery, I was given a sufficient dose of tranquilizers and bone-weakening agents to prevent me from harming her or the child. When the medication wore off, I opened my eyes to see her embracing the baby with unbridled joy. “Darling, Grandma has already named our child. Just sign here, and we can register him.” She handed me the birth certificate. Seeing the name “Michael Davies” on it, my foggy mind instantly cleared. Michael. That was the beautiful wish I had for my unborn biological son. It was our hope for our love. It was also the name of the thirteenth generation’s firstborn son in the Davies family tree. Years ago, to save Catherine from kidnappers, I took a knife wound for her, damaging my reproductive function. That part of my life became difficult. Our first IVF child, a boy, was seven months along when Catherine, in an act of misguided compassion, helped a drugged Liam. After a night with him, she suffered a massive hemorrhage, leading to a forced abortion. That was a fully formed boy. I had prepared to give him a symbolic burial, to bring him into our ancestral graveyard. But the fortune teller said the child didn’t count as a full-term stillbirth, the timing was bad, and we had to wait. That wait stretched for over a year. During her pregnancy, she whispered to me countless times that she wanted to give the name “Michael Davies” to this illegitimate child. I always refused. But now, looking at her expectant eyes, I only found her past tears and apologies disgusting. I knew Grandma couldn’t have chosen this name. It was merely Liam, who liked to snatch everything from me, whispering ideas into Catherine’s ear. Anyway, divorce was a certainty. A heartless mother’s surname was not worth having. “Whatever. Call him what you like.” “I only have one request: don’t put my name down as the father. My biological son in heaven would be displeased.” Catherine paused, guilt flickering in her eyes. “Noah, don’t worry, I’m only using him because of his shared bloodline with you. Liam and I…” She didn’t finish speaking when a sudden crash came from outside the door. “You beast, who allowed you to show your face here!” Liam was knocked to the ground, his eyes red. “I just wanted to see the child.” Grandma Davies relentlessly struck him with her cane. “Get out!” In that instant, Catherine was like a startled bird. Disregarding her post-delivery body, she carelessly tossed the baby onto me and rushed out. The hundred-plus needle marks and self-inflicted wounds on my arms, each as thick as a child’s arm, were pressed open. But she left as if she hadn’t even noticed. Her unwavering movement, shielding Liam from the old lady’s cane, made her earlier comforting words seem incredibly ridiculous. “Grandma! It was my idea! I did it for the Davies family! Don’t hurt an innocent person!” Grandma Davies froze, unconsciously looking at me. Seeing the white bandage on my arm soaked with blood, she was angry at her own helplessness. “You wicked child! He was given hundreds of injections just yesterday! Can’t you see all his wounds?” Catherine’s eyes widened with panic and regret. She was about to rush over to me. But Liam suddenly collapsed behind her. She panicked, disregarding my injuries, and helped him up, intending to leave. Grandma Davies fiercely blocked her path. “You’re not leaving! You’re so reckless right after giving birth!” “Your husband is still inside! Do you even want this family anymore!” 2 Catherine’s eyes were filled with hesitation. “Yes! But Liam is hurt from your beating! I can’t just abandon him! Noah… he has you, he’ll be fine!” Once upon a time, she had been just as reckless for me. Once upon a time, she would never have made me the choice to be cast aside. I cast her an indifferent glance. “Grandma, let her go.” She seemed surprised by my magnanimity. After all, in the past, to keep her from leaving, I had thrown tantrums, rolled on the floor, self-harmed, and shed all my masculine dignity. Her expression was complex. She wanted to say something, but ultimately, she left. A nurse helped me re-dress my wounds. The baby was sleeping soundly. My phone suddenly showed a message from her. [I’m sorry. I just didn’t want a scene at the hospital. It would affect the Davies family’s reputation.] [Liam is unconscious and can’t be left alone. I won’t come over for now. I’ll recover with him. Don’t worry.] I stared at the screen, stunned for a long time. I remembered once, when I heard she was injured on a business trip, I took an eleven-hour flight, accompanied her to her check-ups, and stayed by her side every minute. Back then, she was overwhelmingly touched, swearing she would never let me down in this life. Seeing me sigh, Grandma Davies snatched my phone away. She read the cold words on the screen and snorted. “That ungrateful girl! I’ll deal with her when she gets back. Noah, don’t worry, Grandma…” At this, I suddenly laughed, my gaze calm as I looked at her. “You tacitly allowed all of this, didn’t you?” “I no longer care what happens to her. You promised me earlier that you would help me divorce once this child was safely born. I hope you keep your word.” Her expression froze, her eyes filled with deep guilt. “Grandma is sorry.” “I’ve already tricked her into signing the divorce agreement. You rest up well. We’ll leave after she finishes her confinement.” Grandma took the baby with her, arranging for someone to care for him. I, in turn, discreetly returned to my pre-marital residence, avoiding gossip. But that very night, rumors spread throughout the business world about the Davies heiress’s rage for her lover, defying her powerful family to protect her uncle, despite her postpartum state. Davies Group stock continued to fall, leaving Catherine overwhelmed. Liam’s influencer account was swarmed by netizens. The incident where I had personally exposed him for seducing his sister-in-law, which Catherine had suppressed, resurfaced. The platform was full of condemnation. If not for Catherine’s help, his account would likely have been shut down with heavy penalties. The next time I saw her was seven days later. The first thing she did was look at me with disappointment. “Noah Harding, are you happy, seeking revenge on us like this?” I paused, then quickly realized she was blaming me for the spread of the gossip. Of course. After all, I used to work in media. My specialty was fanning the flames. Unfortunately, the first time I went crazy and exposed her affair with Liam, she threatened my company with privacy violations and defamation, forcing them to fire me. Now, it truly wouldn’t be easy to find someone to help. I gave her a sidelong glance, long past the feeling of being wronged when misunderstood. I picked up the anniversary memorial gift for Michael. “You should know, your scandals aren’t just the obvious ones. If I wanted to expose more, you’d probably have to bleed even more.” She stood by the door, stunned for a long time. Almost helplessly, she spoke. “After this, I’ll break up with him. But promise me, can we live a good life together from now on? With a child, we could be a happy family.” She had said things like that almost every day during her pregnancy. Yet it didn’t stop her from continuing to be entangled with Liam. Either she felt sorry for him being an illegitimate child, or she thought he was lonely without family to rely on. In short, there were a thousand reasons for their passionate involvement and her helping him rise to prominence. She stood by the door, refusing to leave, as if I wouldn’t move until I answered. Looking at the sunlight she blocked, I perfunctorily agreed. It wasn’t until the next morning, when unblurred videos of my alleged infidelity went viral, that I understood what she meant by “after this.” Catherine released a clarification video. In the video, she tearfully told the media that I had been caught cheating during her pregnancy by my younger brother and had then falsely spread rumors about her as revenge. 3 Liam, in turn, sorrowfully claimed that he had merely advised me not to hurt Catherine’s feelings, but I, believing he would expose my affair, sought revenge. Everyone urged Catherine to divorce me, this upstart. Yet, she maintained an image of deep affection. “No matter what mistakes Noah makes in this life, I cannot stop loving him.” Watching her hypocritical act, I couldn’t help but vomit. Hearing this, Catherine, who was outside the door, rushed in. “What’s wrong?” I frowned, looking at Liam, who had followed her in, and shook off her hand. “Nothing, just disgusted with you. To protect your mistress’s crimes, you’ll slander your husband’s reputation at any cost. Catherine Davies, your love is truly magnificent.” Her face turned ashen. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain. But Liam suddenly knelt down. “I’m sorry, brother, it’s all my fault! Sister-in-law only used you as a shield for me. But she’s still in confinement, afraid you’d be angry, she came to explain to you despite her condition. Don’t be angry with her.” Catherine looked at him with tenderness, her gaze chastising me. “I came here to tell you about this. Those videos were all AI-generated by me. Ultimately, he’s your brother. It’s only right for you to sacrifice yourself to help him. My helping him is helping you maintain your family ties. Why must you be so aggressive towards him?” “Moreover, you’re unemployed. Reputation means nothing to you. What outsiders say won’t affect my feelings for you. It’s enough that I know it’s fake. But he’s different. He has no one to rely on, and he depends on the media for his livelihood. If his image and reputation are ruined, everything is over for him.” Listening to her sanctimonious justifications, I only felt nauseous. Unemployed, was that not also thanks to her? She not only forced my company to fire me but also warned the entire media industry that anyone who hired me would be going against her. My job interviews constantly hit dead ends. I finally found a private studio, but she maliciously reported us. Ultimately, all my media professional licenses were revoked, and I became a disgrace to the industry, hated by all. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. All in all, in about half a month, I would be completely free. Grandma also promised me that she would clear my name then. Their opinions no longer mattered. I looked at her with an expressionless face, let out a long breath, and turned over to lie on the bed. “Do whatever you want. It’s up to you.” She thought I was going to try and hit Liam like before, so she tensed up, fiercely shielding him. But seeing me turn my back and lie down, all her emotions came to an abrupt halt. After a long moment, she asked me, her voice filled with disbelief. “You… you’re not angry?” My voice was flat. “Haven’t you always wanted me to get along with him?” She let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “You’ve finally learned your lesson. I knew you weren’t that heartless. I’ll definitely make it up to you later.” I didn’t respond. I didn’t even look at her until they left. After a long time, I touched my chest, which felt completely still. So this was what letting go felt like. In the following days, she seemed to feel guilty, sending me gifts every now and then. She wasn’t discouraged when met with resistance, only endlessly recounting our beautiful future life together. It wasn’t until she brought up the child’s full moon celebration that she hesitantly spoke. “Liam will never be able to acknowledge his biological child in this life, so I want him to openly attend the child’s full moon celebration as the father while the child is still too young to understand.” “It would complete his regret, don’t you think?” My hands didn’t stop their work; I didn’t even glance up. “I told you, it’s up to you. This isn’t my child to begin with. Whatever you want to do has nothing to do with me.” She stiffened, her eyes welling up with redness and a hint of anger. She snatched the memorial items for Michael from my hand. “Why have you been like this all these days? Do you know what his attendance represents? It represents tacitly acknowledging him as a son-in-law of the Davies family. You used to never agree to that.” I paused, then glanced at her indifferently. “Isn’t this better? Last month, when you were ‘helping’ him with his needs, didn’t you also say it was a pity he couldn’t have a proper status in this life?” Watching her, ashen-faced and frozen like a statue, I retrieved the items. My emotions were so stable it was as if nothing had happened. Her endless explanations, attempting to claim she didn’t love him, but only had physical intimacy and felt responsible for him—disgusting rhetoric—were defeated by my silence.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391150”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When the internet leaked the news that I was just one of thirty-eight mistresses kept by Silas Sterling—a “Fake Mrs. Sterling”—I was eight months pregnant, busy managing the PR crisis involving him and a young model’s bed photos. Everyone said I was the most dedicated PR Queen in the Manhattan elite circle. My husband’s scandals flew ahead, and I followed behind, cleaning up the mess with a straight face. I had handled over a hundred crises for Silas and issued non-disclosure agreements and hush money to countless women he had slept with. I never expected that one day, I would become the subject of the PR myself. When I found Silas, he was lying naked with Chloe Vance in the nursery I had prepared for our baby. Condoms were scattered across the floor. Seeing me, the usually lethargic man shushed me. “Talk outside. Chloe is a light sleeper.” I didn’t explode. I only asked calmly, “Does today’s news need a statement?” Thinking of the photoshopped marriage certificate Chloe had posted, Silas smirked. “Good girl, Elena. Chloe is sensitive. Don’t expose her.” I nodded. “Understood.” I turned around and posted a public statement on social media: [I am indeed not in a marital relationship with Mr. Sterling. I would like to congratulate Mr. Sterling on his new marriage.] A wave of mockery erupted online, but Silas grabbed my hand, satisfied. “Once you have the baby, we’ll have a proper wedding.” I didn’t answer. He didn’t know that once this child was born, my debt to the Sterling family would be paid in full. And someone else had been waiting ten years for me. A wedding was already prepared—just not by him. The man on the other end of the phone was ecstatic. “Elena! You finally said yes.” “Wait for me! I’m flying back to marry you right now!” I hung up, only to find Silas standing behind me. “Did you talk to the reporters? Is it handled?” I looked down at my contact list; it was almost entirely journalists. I curled my lip. I had revolved around him for so long that I had no friends left to call. No wonder he assumed I was working. Seeing my silence, Silas narrowed his eyes and leaned in. “What are you looking at?” I clicked the screen off. “Nothing.” Behind him, movers were bringing in mountains of luxury goods. Brands I had coveted for years but could never justify buying. Seeing the smirk on his face, I reminded him, “I’m about to give birth. I won’t fit into those…” Before I could finish, Silas was excitedly directing the men. “Turn the nursery into a walk-in closet. Move everything in there.” Then, he held out his hand for my keys. “Chloe is packing her bags. She loves this place. Elena, you need to move out for now.” I froze. “What did you say?” Silas smiled carelessly, leaning close to my face. He handed me a deed to a different property. “Consider this your bonus for the hard work.” I watched the maids tear down the curtains I had carefully chosen. The sunlight streaming in was blinding. I remembered the first time Silas brought me here. He had pressed the keys into my palm and said, “Elena, this is your home. No one can ever kick you out.” I had once told him my mother and I were evicted when I was young. He knew I wanted a home that could weather any storm. He gave it to me, and that security kept me by his side for ten years. Through every night he didn’t come home. Through every provocation from other women. Through the mockery of high society. Now, he wanted the keys back. Ten years later, I was being evicted again. “Fine,” I said. I handed him the keys, took the new deed, and turned to leave. Silas looked surprised that I didn’t cause a scene. Usually, I wasn’t the “calm and collected” wife the tabloids described. Every time he cheated, I fought like a lunatic. I even threatened to end it all. He would just pacify me with checks and jewelry. But this time, I was done. I was ready to settle for a quiet life for the sake of the baby, but Silas could sleep with anyone except Chloe Vance. Chloe was the living proof of my father’s betrayal. Chloe and her mother were the ones who drove my mother to jump from a thirty-second-story window. Silas grabbed my wrist. His fingers brushed against the faded scars on my arm, and he flinched, unable to hide his disgust. Then, a rare flash of guilt crossed his eyes. “I’ll have the driver take you. The new place has great light. You’ll like it.” I nodded. Halfway there, the driver turned the car around. “The boss wants us back, ma’am.” Inside the house, smoke filled the air. The servants stood trembling while Silas stared at a scorched pot. Seeing me, he dragged me into the kitchen. “Elena, that soup you always make… teach me how to do it.” I watched him. I watched him sweat as he turned on the stove, overcoming his lifelong fear of fire just to make a pot of soup for the woman he loved. Chloe had posted on Instagram: “In this cold winter, if someone brought me a bowl of hot soup, I’d marry them on the spot!” So Silas, who had never touched a kitchen utensil in his life, was clumsily cooking because of a joke on social media. A few days ago, when I fell in the kitchen, Silas had watched from a distance as if I were a stranger. Later, he posted the security footage of me struggling to get up to a private circle of friends. His caption: “Like a fat pig rolling on the floor.” I silently made the soup for him. He took notes on his phone. When it rang, he answered immediately. I saw the contact name: “Wife.” I felt a hollow chill. If Chloe was his wife, who was I? As he stepped onto the balcony to talk to her, I called his number. It went straight to a busy signal. He had blocked me. I laughed at myself and left. Silas’s mother was waiting for me at the family estate. She sighed. “Elena, I thought you decided to stay for the baby…” I placed the divorce papers on the table. “According to our deal, if I provide an heir, the medical bills the Sterlings paid for my mother are settled. I’m three days from my due date. Let me go.” Ten years ago, Silas was the playboy prince and I was a dishwasher at a bar. He chased me for eighteen months. When his mother found me, my mother was in critical condition. She told me I was the only woman Silas couldn’t forget. She wanted me to manage him and give the family an heir. In exchange, they would pay for my mother’s life support. I didn’t hesitate. “It’s Silas’s loss,” his mother said, nodding. “I’ll arrange your departure after the birth.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391169”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Because I didn’t get home on time to present a welcome gift to Elias’s illegitimate daughter. He punished me by making me kneel in the snow and reflect for three hours. Subsequently, I received news that my grandmother had been kicked out of the Dawson family villa and sent to a rental apartment. I just calmly dialed my assistant’s number. “Please print another copy of the M&A agreement for Mr. Sterling.” 01 When the butler reported to Elias that his canary had returned to the country with her daughter. Elias was finalizing the details of our wedding anniversary celebration with me, which was seven days away. Upon hearing the news, he immediately instructed the butler to remove the anniversary decorations. And to decorate the Sterling villa into a dream castle for a little princess. He added ten times the budget to buy gifts, insisting on coaxing the mother and daughter back. After giving his orders, he explained to me lightly: “I just want to compensate the child for the fatherly love she missed all these years. If you don’t make things difficult for them, they won’t shake your position as Mrs. Sterling.” I didn’t speak, thinking about how to successfully secure the M&A agreement for the Sterling Group in the afternoon. The deadline for the valuation adjustment agreement (VAM) I signed with Elias during our arranged marriage is in exactly seven days. Once this M&A deal is completed, I will fulfill the last clause of the agreement. The rest is what Elias owes me. Before I left for work, Elias suddenly stopped me. “They will arrive home at 5 PM. I expect you to be home on time to give my daughter her welcome gift. Don’t play any tricks.” To ensure everything went perfectly, there were many details to finalize for the M&A. Even though I rushed home, disregarding the slippery, snowy roads and nearly getting into an accident, I was still ten minutes late. Looking at the gift I prepared, Elias was very cold. “Luna, giving a show of strength to someone coming to our door for the first time is wrong.” He turned and instructed the butler. “Make her kneel in the snow for three hours to reflect on her mistakes.” Three hours later, I saw the message from my assistant. My grandmother had been kicked out of the Dawson family villa and sent to a rental apartment. I rubbed my freezing, numb knees. Calmly, I dialed my assistant’s number. “Please print another copy of the M&A agreement for Mr. Sterling.” 02 After instructing my assistant to take good care of my grandmother. I entered the house again. A little girl wearing an Elsa princess dress rushed over and squirted water all over my face with a toy water gun. “You big bad witch, why are you in my daddy’s house?” A woman in a white lace nightgown stopped her with a gentle tone. “Mia, you can’t be impolite to others.” She tilted her neck, revealing patches of red hickeys. Even though I had seen her countless times on Elias’s phone screen. Her appearance still made my heart skip a beat for a few seconds. The little girl didn’t stop her actions, instead aiming the water gun at my body. Chloe looked meaningfully at my ruined makeup, a smile playing on her lips. “Mrs. Sterling, the child is just playing Elsa casting a spell, please don’t hold it against her…” Soaked and shivering from the cold, I was about to change my shoes and go find Elias to sign the papers. The little girl, with unknown strength, suddenly pushed the shoe-changing stool away. Stepping on the puddle on the floor, I fell heavily to the ground. My forehead hit exactly on the corner of the shoe-changing stool, and blood immediately gushed out. The nanny tried to reach out and help me. Chloe glared at her, and she retracted her hand, explaining to me in a low voice. “Madam, sir instructed that we should treat Miss Chloe as the hostess of the house…” When Elias arrived upon hearing the noise, the little girl had already started crying. She grabbed Elias with one hand and clutched her chest with the other. “Daddy, this auntie just accidentally fell and is bleeding, I’m so scared…” My pupils dilated. Even though I was mentally prepared, I was still shocked by the little girl’s superb acting skills. Elias frowned at me. “Why are you glaring at Mia? You’re not going to tell me she made you fall, are you?” I gritted my teeth and stood up. “I was careless.” Elias nodded impatiently. “You’re an adult, next time remember not to make a fool of yourself in front of the child and scare her.” Noticing my bleeding forehead. He pursed his lips and told the nanny to get the first aid kit for me. He then hurriedly went upstairs carrying the child. Chloe followed Elias smugly. At the corner, she looked back at me with contempt. Mouthing word by word: “What do you have to compete with me?” 03 After the nanny helped me treat the wound, I went back to my room to pack my personal belongings. When I finished packing, Elias stumbled back in. Two buttons of his shirt were undone, with a smudged lipstick mark on it. He saw the room looked much emptier and sneered. “Are you trying to remind me that I should have bought a gift for you too? Luna, don’t forget your place!” Elias and I had an arranged business marriage since childhood. Later, my parents died in an accident, and my uncle seized all the shares of the Dawson Group. Elias unilaterally announced the cancellation of our engagement and kept a beautiful canary by his side. But Old Mrs. Sterling recognized only me and, before she died, ordered Elias to marry me. Upon learning this, Chloe left the country overnight. Elias, heartbroken over losing his love, forced me to sign a VAM agreement. Within eight years, I had to earn a billion dollars for the Sterling Group, and he would give me 30% controlling shares of the Dawson Group, but I had to divorce him. I didn’t have much affection for Elias. To get the Dawson Group back, I treated my marriage as a business all these years, striving to make everything go his way. But now, the words of apology were on my lips, yet I couldn’t say them. Seeing me not replying for a long time, Elias’s tone softened. “The child just came back, I have to bond with her. When she accepts me, I’ll have them move out.” Smelling the alcohol on his breath, I stepped back, avoiding his hands that were ready to hug me. Elias frowned. “I know you’ve always wanted a child. Chloe had a hard time alone abroad all these years, so I just had a little drink with her. I promise, starting tomorrow, I won’t touch a drop of alcohol, and I’ll give you a healthy baby, okay?” I smiled inwardly. During these years of business marriage, I never thought of bringing a child into such a family. Every day after he fell asleep, I would regularly take a birth control pill. I calmly handed over the documents in my hand. “This is the M&A agreement for the subsidiary, please sign it, Mr. Sterling.” Elias took the pen, scribbled his name, his frown deepening. “Don’t you have anything to ask me?” I opened my mouth, wanting to say something. The little girl appeared at the bedroom door holding a stuffed animal. She pouted. “Daddy, I can’t sleep alone, I’m scared… Can I sleep with you?” Elias looked at me somewhat hesitantly. I had already closed the file. “I’ll go to the study.” Elias breathed a sigh of relief. The little girl cheered and threw herself into Elias’s arms. “The witch is gone, now Daddy is all mine!” Elias paused his movement of hugging her, but still smilingly held her in his arms. “With Daddy here, my little princess has nothing to fear! Tell me, how do you want Daddy to coax you to sleep?” 04 A doodle was stuck on the study door, depicting a witch’s hat and broom drawn in a child’s handwriting. I frowned and ignored it. “Ah—!” Pushing the door open, I was startled. It was crawling with spiders of all sizes… Elias rushed over angrily. “Luna, how long are you going to make a fuss? Mia was just about to fall asleep and you woke her up!” The little girl followed behind him timidly, and before I could speak, tears streamed down her face. “Daddy, I specially decorated this for auntie. Is auntie doing this because she doesn’t like me?” A spider crawled out from the crack of the door, and Elias’s face turned pale. Shortly after we got married, Elias took me back to the Sterling family’s old mansion to pay respects. His cousin’s little nephew accidentally threw a toy spider onto my coat. I was terrified and threw myself into Elias’s arms on the spot. At that time, disregarding his sister-in-law’s dark face, he taught the little nephew a lesson. “If you dare to scare your aunt again, I’ll break your legs!” Afterwards, he teased me: “Is Mrs. Sterling so afraid of spiders?” But after returning home, he ordered the servants to clean every place in the house where bugs might grow. “Apologize to Mia!” Elias’s cold voice pulled my thoughts back. “Mia kindly prepared the room for you. As an elder, have you thought about how sad the child would be with such a reaction?” Chloe came out of another bedroom, looking sleepy. She pulled the child into her arms, her tone carrying a mother’s fierce resolve. “Mrs. Sterling, I know you have issues with me, but the child is innocent. Direct your dissatisfaction at me, don’t target the child.” She rubbed the little girl’s head, her tone gentle. “Mia, Mommy told you long ago that auntie wouldn’t welcome us, but you insisted on following Daddy back. Now you know how sinister people can be, right? Come with Mommy. Even if we live in a rental, it’s better than suffering here!” The little girl pouted and burst into loud wails. Chloe turned to leave. Elias glared at me fiercely. “I said Chloe is also the master of this house. Whoever dares to make them suffer, get out of the Sterling family!” I didn’t want to stay another night in the Sterling house anyway. I just didn’t want my grandmother to see my disheveled state and worry about me. Ignoring Elias’s ugly expression, I went to the nanny’s room. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.” 05 Early in the morning, I was woken up by a noisy sound. The little girl was clamoring to build a swing in the garden. She gestured, directing the servants where to put the swing. “Put it right where this laurel tree is!” Chloe also helped command the servants. “Didn’t you hear my daughter say to cut down this tree?” A servant looked up at me and explained in a low voice: “But this is Madam’s favorite tree, Sir never lets anyone touch it…” I was born in August when the laurel flowers were in full bloom. My parents named me Luna (Moon) and personally planted a laurel tree at the Dawson family villa, symbolizing purity and wealth. After my uncle seized the Dawson Group, he used underhanded means to sell my parents’ villa. Shortly after we married, Elias somehow heard about this. He spent a fortune to buy back the Dawson family villa. And transplanted the laurel tree to the Sterling family’s garden. He said as long as the laurel tree is there, it’s like my parents are still guarding me. At that time, a trace of warmth suddenly emerged in my heart. Maybe when the VAM agreement ends, I can try to truly accept him, even give him a child… The little girl started crying and shouting. “I don’t care, I want the swing right here!” Chloe looked at me provocatively. “If I remember correctly, Mrs. Sterling seems to have been kicked out by Mr. Sterling last night?” She gently comforted the crying little girl. “Everything Daddy has is yours, no one dares to say no.” I took the suitcase handed to me by the nanny. “Miss Chloe, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t read much and don’t understand basic legal knowledge, but it’s not good to be a bad influence on the child.” I looked at the little girl, mimicking Chloe’s gentle tone. “During the years auntie and your daddy have been married, half of your daddy’s assets belong to auntie, that part isn’t yours.” Chloe’s face looked terrible. The little girl, with tears in her eyes, looked at me in disbelief. “Enough!” Elias’s deep voice came from behind. “Luna, how can you use legal jargon to destroy a child’s innocence?” In the second year of our marriage, Elias was set up, and a sex scandal broke out. The Sterling Group’s stock plummeted, wiping out hundreds of millions in market value. It was me who staked out lawyers for days and hired PR firms to suppress the matter. When I fainted from low blood sugar, he held me in his arms, his heart aching. “It hurts me to see you worrying so much for me. Just stay home and be Mrs. Sterling from now on, okay?” I almost believed it was true. Fortunately, my uncle had taught me a lesson earlier. You can’t completely trust even the closest people. What you hold in your hand is the most real. “Mr. Sterling, I’m just telling the truth. If you feel offended on behalf of your precious daughter, please send me a lawyer’s letter.” I turned and left. As the car started, Elias chased out, his face deadly pale. “Luna, I didn’t mean that…” I ignored him and stepped on the gas pedal.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391185”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel