The kidnappers chopped off ten of my fingers, warning that if they didn’t see the ransom by tomorrow, they’d throw me into a blender and grind me to bits. I decided there was no way out, no escaping their twisted game. So that night, I took matters into my own hands and ended it myself. I shattered my last chance at survival, cutting my own throat. Because I knew. Julian Sterling wouldn’t save me. He had once cut ties with his family, forfeiting his claim to a billion-dollar inheritance, all to be with me. But on our wedding day, he discovered my mother and I had taken $50,000 from his stepmother. I had supposedly deliberately seduced him, dragging him down from his high pedestal. In the five years we were married, Julian fought his way to become a business mogul. Yet, his parade of mistresses was endless. He even made me personally demonstrate to his pampered playthings how to properly please him in bed. Just ten days ago, I was kidnapped along with his current lover. Everyone knew Julian hated me. That’s why my ransom was $50,000, while hers was $500,000. But Julian didn’t hesitate; he paid the $500,000 and only took Chloe Harper. “You probably staged this yourself, didn’t you? You’ll stop at nothing to con money now.” “I’m giving you this out of charity for Chloe, but if there’s a next time, I’ll throw you into the ocean to feed the sharks.” But he didn’t know. I had truly been tortured for ten agonizing days. Until I died. Mr. Thorne, the Spirit Guide, sighed deeply as he came for my soul. He said my obsession was too strong; even in the afterlife, I’d be a lost soul, forever unable to move on. So, he gave me three sticks of mystic incense. He told me to resolve my obsession before midnight tomorrow, or I would be trapped forever.
Mr. Thorne said that until he officially came for me tomorrow night, I would appear completely normal. So when Julian saw me come home safe and sound, the mockery in his eyes was undisguised. “Back so late? Looks like your little kidnapping performance took a lot out of you.” “Since you got your money, do what you’re supposed to. Go inside and get the strawberry-flavored lube.” He was about to get hot and heavy with Chloe right there in the living room. If it were before, I would have just done as he said, then hidden in my room, covering my ears and weeping. But today, I simply sat calmly on the couch. I pulled out the divorce papers he had given me. “I’ll sign, but I have a condition.” Julian’s face darkened. He hated being threatened, but the lure of divorce was too strong, so he held his temper for now. “What condition? Let’s hear it.” “If it’s too much, don’t blame me for flipping out.” I touched the three sticks of mystic incense Mr. Thorne had given me. “I found a shaman who can create dreams. If you’ll just join me for three dreams, I’ll not only divorce you, but I won’t ask for a single cent of our assets.” “That simple?” Julian scoffed. “If three dreams could get rid of you, you bloodsucker, we would have divorced ages ago.” “Anya, are you trying to trick me again?” I looked at him calmly. There was no anger from his mockery. No guilt, no flinching, none of what he expected from me. Julian realized I was serious, and his expression grew solemn. I knew he was hesitating. Chloe wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “Julian, just agree. What if she changes her mind by tomorrow?” Julian pinched her breast playfully. “Alright, anything for my darling.” He then turned back to me, his eyes devoid of any emotion. “How do we do it?” I swallowed the bitter ache in my eyes. Lowering my head, I took out the first stick and lit it. Mr. Thorne had said the dreams were under my control, and everyone who entered would retain their memories. He told me to use these three dreams wisely to resolve my obsession. I was always unwilling to accept it. Did Julian truly have no love for me, even just a tiny bit? Between me and Chloe, would he always choose Chloe? I set the first dream in our old rental apartment. When Julian first left the Sterling family, we only had $3000 between us. So, all we could afford was this dilapidated basement apartment. Julian, being a spoiled rich kid, wasn’t used to sleeping on rough sheets. So, I took his old shirts—the ones with the softest fabric—and painstakingly cut them up to sew him a new one. Back then, Julian would hold me close, nestled on our cramped double bed, saying he’d make so much money one day and give me a good life. Julian touched the oddly patched bedsheet, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. But when he turned to me, he was back to his usual prickly self. “You think this will win my heart back?” “Anya, don’t forget who trapped me in this dump in the first place.” His stare made my heart ache. He started looking around. “Where’s Chloe? Where did you hide her?” Just as he stepped out of the basement, flames erupted from the doorway. The only way out was a small window leading outside. But the window was too high; without someone pulling you from the outside, it was impossible to climb. Chloe was there, screaming in terror by the window. “Julian! Save me!” Julian reached for her, and the flames surged into the room, the wood crackling and popping as it burned. I asked Julian. “There’s not enough time. We can only save one of us, Chloe or me. Who do you choose?” Julian glared at me, his eyes burning. “You’re insane. I’d be out of my mind to save you. I’m saving Chloe!” With that, he pulled Chloe out, comforting her in his arms. The fire in the room grew fiercer, my tears evaporating before they even touched my cheeks. I stood below the window, looking at Julian. “Chloe’s safe now. Will you help me out?” “You should know, this dream feels real. I can feel the pain.” Julian hesitated. He hated me, wanted me dead, but watching a living person burn to ashes was different. But just as he was about to reach out, Chloe suddenly clutched her throat. “Julian, my throat hurts so much. What if I can never sing for you again?” Julian scooped her up without a second thought. “Anya, is there a hospital in this dream? Where is it? Tell me!” I pointed in a direction. He turned and left, leaving me with a complex look in his eyes. There were too many emotions there, and before I could decipher them, thick black smoke enveloped my vision. The dream collapsed. I clutched my chest, coughing incessantly. Julian woke up a moment later, opening his mouth to curse. But seeing me cough like I was about to pass out, he unusually reached out and patted my back. “Anya, are you an idiot?” “You created a dream that hurt yourself like this.” “You’d better learn your lesson for the next two. Don’t do anything so dangerous.” I pushed his hand away. “You don’t need to worry about me. Go comfort your little darling.” Chloe cried incessantly after leaving the dream, her voice only softening when she hid in Julian’s arms. The two shared a comforting kiss. I had no heart left. Yet, my chest ached, a pain so profound it felt like dying all over again. This was the first dream. Julian knew I would die. He knew how dangerous my situation was. But he still chose Chloe.
After the first stick of incense burned out, Mr. Thorne came to see me, his brows deeply furrowed. “Anya, your obsession has grown stronger.” “You have less than twenty-four hours left. If you don’t resolve it, you’ll really turn into a vengeful spirit.” I showed him the first dream. Mr. Thorne was silent too. For a long time, he couldn’t think of anything to comfort me. But what about the second dream? I couldn’t think of a more brutal scenario. Mr. Thorne offered an idea. “How about this? Next time, don’t give Julian time to think.” “I’ve seen your red thread of fate; it’s tied very strongly. Julian can’t be completely devoid of feelings for you. If you make him choose between you and Chloe, you should look for his subconscious reaction.” That night, Julian held a grand party in the suburbs. When I was called over, I heard him clinking glasses with his buddies at the door. “Guys, Anya is finally divorcing me!” “Go wild tonight; all the drinks are on me!” Pushing open the door, I saw wedding photos, cut in half, plastered everywhere. Julian saw me enter, put his arm around Chloe, and tossed our wedding ring into the swimming pool. Everyone present burst into laughter. They were betting whether I would jump in to retrieve the ring. But I just walked straight over. I picked up a glass and clinked it against Julian’s. “Congratulations. You’re about to get what you want.” Then I downed the drink in one gulp. In our poorest year, I worked sixteen-hour days to give Julian a better life, developing severe stomach problems. But I was already dead now, what was a little alcohol? Julian turned his head away. His eyes seemed to redden for a fleeting second. But when he turned back, it was as if my previous observation had been an illusion. He stared into my eyes. “You wouldn’t mind playing a love song for Chloe and me, would you?” Everyone was watching me, enjoying the spectacle. Mr. Sterling’s “trouble-and-strife” wife, forced to congratulate the new couple at her own dismissal party. But I said nothing. I sat at the piano and began to play ‘Love Letter.’ I had specially practiced this song to win Julian’s heart. I could feel his gaze on my back, still as ardent as when we were in love. But from the fourth measure, I started to hit sour notes. The kidnappers had chopped off my ten fingers. Although they looked normal now, they were soft as noodles, completely without strength. Julian’s face grew darker and darker. Finally, he slammed the piano lid shut. “Anya, are you doing this on purpose? Is playing a song for me really that much of a chore?” “Or was your playing for me back then all a lie, too?” I pulled my hand out. Deep red marks were pressed onto it. Julian froze for a moment. He touched my hand, flinching back from the icy cold. “Why are you so cold? Are you not feeling well?” A dead person’s hand, of course, couldn’t be warmed. I looked at Julian. How long had it been since he cared about my body? I couldn’t remember. Julian’s mood soured, and he abruptly cut the party short. After seeing everyone off, only Chloe, Julian, and I remained at the villa gate, waiting for the car. Chloe extended her hand and waved it at me. A diamond, at least five carats, flashed blindingly on it. I remembered Mr. Thorne’s words, pulled out the second stick of incense, and lit it. A truck suddenly roared towards us from the distance. Julian had Chloe on his left and me on his right. Everything slowed down before my eyes. I saw Julian push Chloe to the left, holding her close. I saw the truck hit me, running over my legs. The second dream shattered instantly. There was no truck, no accident. Chloe and Julian were unharmed, but I collapsed to the ground from the searing pain throughout my body. Julian shook his head hard, taking a long moment to confirm that what had just happened was only my second dream. He roughly pulled me up and slapped me. “Are you insane, Anya?” “If the third dream is like this again, I swear I’ll strangle you.” But I just laughed, a bitter, hollow laugh. It made my tears well up. Mr. Thorne had gambled wrong again. Even if it was just a physical reaction, between me and Chloe, Julian still wouldn’t choose me.
Julian kept saying I was truly insane, seeing the look on my face. Just then, I received a notification from the hospital. “Ms. Anya, your mother’s condition is very poor. Please come to the hospital immediately.” I tugged on Julian’s sleeve, begging him to drive me to the hospital. But Julian hated my mother even more. He’d probably throw a party if she died, and he just pulled Chloe into the car and drove off. I hobbled to the hospital. My mother’s eyes couldn’t focus anymore. She looked at me, her expression a little confused. “Anya, why can’t I see your feet?” Perhaps she was dying and seeing my soul. I brushed it off. “You’re mistaken.” My mother started to sob. “Anya, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have taken that $50,000 back then. It made Julian resent you, and your illness was never cured, burdening you for so long.” The money was accepted by my mother and deposited into my account. When Julian’s stepmother showed him our transaction records, I was utterly lost for words, with no way to defend myself. But now, it was all in the past. I couldn’t let my mother die uneasy. I just kept comforting her: “It’s okay, it’s all over now.” My mother said she wanted to apologize to Julian. I stopped her. What was the point of dwelling on right and wrong now? Julian was convinced I had tricked him; he’d only think my mother was fabricating another lie. I personally closed my mother’s eyes. Mr. Thorne took my mother’s soul, pacing back and forth in front of me, worried about my lingering obsession. But I had seen through it all. I thought I didn’t need any more dangerous scenarios to test Julian. Faced with a threat to life, he would certainly choose Chloe. If he could just stay with me for once, I could let go. When Julian came home, I placed a bowl of simple rice, a traditional mourning meal for the departed, on the table. “My mother died. Our old custom is to eat a bowl of remembrance rice for the dead. If you eat it, I’ll divorce you.” Julian was startled. “Is this the third dream?” Of course not. Before I could speak, Chloe’s call came in. “Julian, I did fifty squats today, don’t you want to reward me?” Then she started to whine. “Come on, my stamina’s much better now. Let’s try something new.” Julian hadn’t even warmed his seat before grabbing his jacket and heading for the door. I grabbed his sleeve. “This is the last time. Julian, are you not going to divorce me?” “You wouldn’t still want to be with me, would you?” Julian scoffed. “Don’t try to threaten me with divorce.” “And what if we don’t divorce? Your mother’s dead. No medical bills. How much can it cost me to keep you? I’ll just treat you like a blow-up doll.” I let go of his sleeve and watched him walk out the door. I sat by the table and ate the bowl of remembrance rice for my mother myself. Julian suddenly ran back, throwing a red envelope into my lap. “Didn’t you say your mother died?” “Go buy something to celebrate.” A sudden lightness filled me. It was as if a heavy chain had been lifted from my heart. I smiled at him, and my body began to vanish before his eyes, like erased marks from an eraser. Julian reached out to grab me, but his hand met only air. He probably thought he was dreaming, only pausing for a moment in confusion before walking out the door. Julian lay on the bed with Chloe in his arms, his hand pausing as he unclasped her bra. He suddenly realized why this dream had been so long. Without bothering to get dressed, he rushed home. But he searched every corner of the house and couldn’t find Anya. A sudden, indescribable panic welled up inside him. He remembered Anya’s words and called the hospital. The nurse’s emotionless voice came through. “You’re asking about Ms. Anya’s mother? She passed away two hours ago. Ms. Anya said she would be cremated tomorrow.” “Oh, by the way, her mother left a letter. I’ll send you a photo.” Julian opened the image. A few lines were scrawled crookedly on it. [Julian, when your stepmother paid me, Anya truly knew nothing about it. It was all my fault. I don’t ask for your forgiveness, only that you treat Anya a little better. She anonymously transferred a lot of money to support your business; she wouldn’t let me tell you. If you don’t like her, then divorce her.] Those few lines were like a dagger, plunging deep into Julian Sterling’s soul. He didn’t know why his heart ached so fiercely, as if it were about to crack open. He kept mumbling, “I don’t believe it, it’s impossible.”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296992”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #惊悚Thriller
Leave a Reply