For three years of our engagement, Scarlett had been kidnapped eight times. The night before our wedding, it happened again. I sold off everything I owned, drained my accounts to raise the ransom, and even followed the kidnappers’ demands, diving into a freezing pool in the dead of winter to fish out Scarlett’s high heels. Soaked to the bone, I hauled myself ashore, only to see Scarlett, who was supposedly kidnapped, smugly showing off to her ‘captors.’ “I told you guys, Liam would do anything for me. You just wouldn’t believe it, would you? Now you do!” “Forget diving into a freezing pool in the dead of winter to get my high heels. If I told him to drop dead right now, he wouldn’t hesitate for a second.” Her friends, disguised as kidnappers, burst into laughter, their eyes filled with scorn and mockery, as if I were nothing more than a pathetic simp. I calmly looked at Scarlett. “This is your ninth ‘kidnapping.’ And your ninety-ninth time making a fool out of me!” “All the promises I made to you? They’ve all been fulfilled. I don’t owe you anything anymore!” “Scarlett, for the wedding three days from now, you’ll have to find someone else to be the kept man in your family!”
My words hung in the air, and Scarlett and her friends froze. Scarlett frowned, her voice edged with impatience. “Liam, is your petty temper flaring up again?” “We were just playing a prank on you, and you’re getting mad? Seriously?” “Are you even a man? Can’t you stop being so small-minded?” Her scolding almost made me laugh, a bitter, humorless sound. For three years, she’d put me through ninety-nine ‘tests’ to “prove my love for her.” Each time, she’d drag me through hell, only satisfied when I was completely humiliated. My feelings for her had been chipped away, eroded by each one of her cruel games. Before I could even respond, her friends chimed in, mocking me. “Liam, that’s enough! Are you seriously expecting Scarlett to apologize to *you*?” “Don’t push your luck, man, you’re getting too big for your britches!” “Scarlett and we were just joking around, and you dare to threaten to cancel the wedding? Are you completely out of your mind?” “Do you really think you can leave Scarlett? Can you give up the wealth and luxury you’re about to get your hands on? Do you know how many guys dream of marrying into the Scarlett family?” “Scarlett just wanted to test your sincerity one last time before the wedding. It’s not like she did anything outrageous! And you dare to throw a tantrum? Have you forgotten your place?” “You pathetic freeloader, you gold-digging pretty boy, how dare you talk back to Scarlett? Who do you think you are?” Among Scarlett’s friends, her “god-brother,” Trevor, was the loudest in his mockery. Trevor sneered at me. “If it weren’t for Scarlett, with your dirt-poor background, with nothing to your name or influence, you’d never even dream of getting into our rich kid circle.” “Back then, if it wasn’t for Scarlett, you couldn’t even afford your mother’s funeral.” “You owe Scarlett. You’ll never be able to repay that debt in this lifetime, understand?” “She only pranked you ninety-nine times, and you can’t handle it?” “Don’t think just because Mr. Scarlett valued you, you can give Scarlett attitude. Once you leave her, even a stray dog wouldn’t spare you a glance, you pathetic piece of trash!” A cold wind swept through the dilapidated warehouse, making my soaked body shiver violently. I didn’t want to argue anymore. I turned and started to leave. Scarlett exploded. “Liam, stop right there! Did I say you could leave?” “We’re not even married yet, and you dare to treat me like this. After we’re married, you’ll start walking all over me, treating me like dirt, won’t you?” “I’m ordering you, get down on your knees and apologize right now. Then I’ll forget this ever happened. Otherwise, don’t even think I’ll forgive you!” I ignored Scarlett and continued shivering in the cold, walking towards the exit of the crumbling warehouse. Trevor lunged forward, kicking me hard, sending me sprawling to the ground. He looked down at me, a cold smirk on his face. “Liam, are you deaf? Didn’t you hear Scarlett?” Scarlett’s other friends crowded around, their faces gleeful, forcing me to my knees. Scarlett watched, her eyes cold, as if it still wasn’t enough. She said, “Liam, I’m giving you one last chance!” “Start slapping yourself. You don’t stop until I say so.” “Once my anger subsides, I’ll forgive you for today’s incident.” I stared at her, my heart filled with a profound and utter disappointment. She wasn’t like this once. She really wasn’t! I took a deep breath. “Scarlett, whatever I owed you, I’ve already paid back.” “I was grateful when you lent me money to bury my mother all those years ago.” “I gave you my genuine heart, but you took advantage of my love, trampling on my dignity more and more recklessly. I’m truly exhausted!” “Now, in your heart, my standing means less than your friends, less than your god-brother.” “Put your hand on your heart and ask yourself, do you truly see me as your fiancé, or just a pathetic simp you can call and dismiss whenever you please?” As my words finished, Scarlett’s face twisted. She was clearly embarrassed and furious. “Liam, when did you get so sharp-tongued, so defiant?” “You’re unrepentant. I’ll have to teach you a lesson today.” “Slap him!”
As soon as Scarlett’s command left her lips, Trevor swung his arm back and forth, relentlessly slapping my face, his expression exhilarated. Scarlett’s friends held me down tight. I couldn’t fight back. Trevor kept hitting me, a nasty grin on his face. “I’ve hated your guts for a long time. You’re just a gold-digging pretty boy, but you always walk around acting all aloof. Aren’t you fake?” “Becoming a kept man in the Scarlett family? That’s the luckiest break you could ever get.” “If Mr. Scarlett hadn’t favored you, there’s no way a poor kid from a dirt-poor background like you would ever get to marry Scarlett!” “Do you know how jealous I am of you? And yet, you’re so oblivious to your good fortune…” Trevor continued to slap and insult me. Scarlett seemed satisfied with Trevor’s words. She looked at me with cold eyes and snapped, “Liam, don’t test my patience any further!” “Bowing your head and apologizing isn’t some impossible task for you!” “For the past three years, you’ve bowed before me countless times. Your dignity has been long gone in my presence. Don’t be a stubborn idiot and make me angry now.” “Today…” Her words were cut short by the wail of police sirens from outside the dilapidated warehouse. Scarlett and her friends froze. Then, Scarlett exploded. She lunged forward and kicked me hard in the chest with her high-heeled shoe, roaring, “Liam, you actually called the police?” “If I were really kidnapped, just that move of yours would make the kidnappers kill me without hesitation! Don’t you understand that?” Scarlett’s kick, delivered with her high heels, was powerful, making me cry out in pain and pass out. As I lost consciousness, I was confused. I didn’t call the police! How did they find this remote, rundown warehouse? … I had a dream, going back four years. At that time, my mother was terminally ill, and all my savings had been spent on her medical treatment. Scarlett reached out to me then, lending me a sum of money. The interest was high, but for me at that moment, that money was a lifesaver. I arranged my mother’s funeral, paid off my family’s debts, and then, as agreed with Scarlett, I started working at Scarlett Corp. I worked diligently, and with my outstanding abilities, I quickly repaid Scarlett, principal and interest. However, in Scarlett’s eyes, the favor I owed her was something I could never repay in this lifetime. Our relationship deepened then, and Mr. Scarlett, her grandfather, also thought highly of me. Three years ago, Mr. Scarlett personally arranged our engagement ceremony. I thought I had found my happy ending, but the harsh reality told me my thoughts were too naive. Not long after Scarlett and I got engaged, Mr. Scarlett passed away. Trevor returned from studying abroad and attended Mr. Scarlett’s funeral. The Trevor family and the Scarlett family had a deep friendship. Scarlett and Trevor had been childhood friends, but Trevor moved abroad with his family in high school, and Scarlett lost contact with him. After Trevor returned, he announced he planned to develop his career in the country. Scarlett wholeheartedly helped him, constantly introducing herself as his “big sister” and enthusiastically bringing Trevor into her circle of rich friends. She was very attentive to Trevor’s affairs, and Trevor often showed concern for her. It was Trevor who suggested that she “test” whether I truly loved her. From then on, Scarlett began her so-called “tests of love.” I had argued with her before, but each time she would impatiently say, “If you can’t even get through these small tests, how can you truly love me?” “Liam, you have no money, no background. I pulled you out of the mud. You should be grateful.” “All I want is a man who thinks only of me. Is that too much to ask?” “And don’t always complain about Trevor and my friends. My god-brother and my friends are all doing this for my good. You have no right to criticize them.” “I’ll say it again: once you’ve passed ninety-nine tests of love, we’ll get married.” And this kidnapping was Scarlett’s final test of love for me. Was she satisfied with the outcome? I didn’t know! I only knew that our relationship had reached its absolute end. When I woke up from my dream, I found myself in a hospital bed. A woman was sitting beside the bed, holding my hand tightly. The moment I opened my eyes, she smiled gently and said, “You’ve been unconscious for two days. You’re finally awake!” I stared blankly at the woman beside the bed and blurted out, “Aurora? What are you doing here?”
Aurora and I were from the same village. She used to follow me around everywhere when we were kids, always pestering me to play house and often saying that when she grew up, she’d be my bride. Later, when we were in middle school, her parents passed away. Then, Aurora was taken away. I heard her biological parents found her and took her to live a good life. For many years after that, I never saw Aurora again. It wasn’t until after my mother’s funeral, after I had already agreed to work at Scarlett Corp, that Aurora suddenly reappeared. She knelt before my mother’s grave, burning offerings and incense, her eyes red and swollen. She looked at me and said, “Liam, I’m back!” I didn’t ask much about Aurora’s experiences over the years. I only knew that she had spent most of her time abroad and that her family treated her very well. Knowing she hadn’t suffered made me happy enough. But when she heard that Scarlett and I were dating, Aurora fell silent for a long time. Finally, she said to me, “Auntie may be gone, but you still have me.” “No matter what, I’ll always be behind you!” “This time, I’m back for good. I’m planning to open a small company here.” “If you and Scarlett find your happy ending and get married, I’ll bless you.” “But if you two can’t make it work… just remember, I’ll always be waiting for you!” As I recalled these memories, Aurora picked up a bowl of porridge from a thermos. She gently told me, “Have some porridge first. You haven’t eaten in two days, surviving only on IV fluids.” “The doctor said you were lucky. If you had been a little less fortunate, that kick from Scarlett could have caused immediate cardiac arrest and shock.” “Diving into a freezing pool in the dead of winter to get Scarlett’s high heels? How could you be so foolish?” “If the police hadn’t arrived in time, Scarlett and her friends might have actually killed you…” Listening to Aurora’s concerned rambling, I quietly ate my porridge. After a long while, I softly asked, “You called the police?” Aurora hummed in affirmation. “A few days ago, you suddenly started selling off all your assets, low-balling your property and cars regardless of the losses. I knew Scarlett must be putting you through another one of her so-called ‘tests of love.’” “How many times has she played you? Are you still that blind?” My face flushed slightly. I gave a bitter smile. “She and I are done!” “Ninety-nine ‘tests of love’ have completely erased any feelings I had for her.” Aurora’s eyes lit up, and a radiant smile spread across her face. “Tomorrow is your wedding with her. If you don’t show up, she’ll be utterly humiliated, and the Scarlett family will denounce you. Aren’t you afraid they’ll ruin your reputation?” I jokingly replied, “If the Scarlett family targets me, if I can’t find a job anymore, will you…” Before I could finish, she looked at me with serious eyes. “Yes!” “I’ll support you for life!” “Even if the whole world stands against you, I’ll always be by your side to fight against it.” “Just like when I fell into the water as a child and you saved me with all your might.” “You protected my childhood back then.” “Now, I have the ability to protect you for the rest of your life!” “Three years ago, I missed my chance with you.” “This time, I won’t!” On the wedding day, the hotel ballroom was packed with guests. The Scarlett family bustled around, but their faces were grim.
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