This was the 521st time Hailey Reed had given me the silent treatment, and the first time she’d ever backed down. She sent me a restaurant pin, telling me to dress nicely and meet her. I remembered the ring I found in her coat pocket, and the ridiculously expensive event planner she’d booked recently. Finally, it clicked. Our eight-year relationship was coming to an end. She’d been busy preparing for a proposal party, that’s why she’d been neglecting me. I dressed immaculately and went to the agreed-upon location. Pushing open the door, I saw her ex-boyfriend, Adam Grayson, in a designer tuxedo, seated at the center table. A giant screen read: “Thank you, Hailey, for hosting this luxurious birthday party for the one she loves most.” She had said her ex had given her his first time, and she needed to compensate him. Someone like me, a “”second-hand”” man, had no right to make demands. But when I turned to leave, she regretted it. 1. Hailey Reed was bending down, putting a ring on Adam Grayson’s finger. Wearing my white tuxedo, I instantly became the awkward clown. Standing at the doorway, I was caught between coming and going. When they saw me, one frowned, the other dropped a glass. “Ethan Davies, are you deliberately trying to steal my thunder?” What kind of clothes could be more striking than designer couture? “I told you to dress nicely… never mind, I can’t be bothered talking to you. Adam, ignore him, see if you like this gift?” Hailey half-crouched, continuing to meticulously place the ring on Adam Grayson’s left ring finger. Everything before my eyes was identical to the proposal scene I had dreamed of. I had waited eight years, hinted to Hailey countless times. Just when I thought my wish was coming true, I witnessed Hailey placing the ring on another man’s hand. So, a woman wasn’t incapable of taking initiative. She just… didn’t love me enough. Hailey’s friends came over to tease, and she pouted. “You need to keep your eyes open when choosing a partner. Getting tangled up with a man like this will ruin your life.” Under the mocking gazes of the crowd, I made a clumsy retreat. Tears blurred my vision, and I accidentally missed a step, tumbling down the stairs. I thought Hailey would hear the commotion, chase after me, and explain everything. But she didn’t. She only sent me a text message. “Ethan Davies, don’t make a fool of yourself. I’m just helping Adam fulfill a small wish. He’s different from you; he gave me his first time, and I couldn’t be responsible for him, so I owe him more compensation.” Before meeting her, I had a previous relationship, which she had criticized for a long time. Even if I poured my heart into her, taking meticulous care of her, it still couldn’t compare to Adam Grayson’s “first time” given to her. Above this text, there was a message from my grandmother. “Finally, my dear grandson is getting married. Don’t worry, I’ll hold on with my old bones to attend your wedding.” My grandmother and I had relied on each other for years. She was gravely ill, with not much time left. My marriage was the only thing she worried about in this world. So when I realized Hailey was going to propose to me, I eagerly told her the good news, hoping to put her mind at ease. I never expected… I clutched my swollen ankle, my heart aching beyond words. I had wanted to ask Hailey if she had forgotten that today was our eight-year anniversary. But there was no need now. That ring I had waited eight years for, I no longer wanted it. 2. Hailey Reed came home late into the night. She brought me a piece of cake. “Not asleep yet? Adam asked me to bring this for you. See how generous he is? When will you be as sensible as him?” I glanced at it—a mango-filled cake. The reason for this cold war was mangoes. I’m allergic to mangoes, and I’d reminded her repeatedly, yet she still brought back a fruit salad with mango in it. I was angry that she didn’t care about me; she was angry that I was being unreasonable. I took a deep breath, suppressing my grievances. “Grandma’s health is getting worse. She wants to see you one last time. She asked if you’re free tomorrow at noon.” I hadn’t dared to tell Grandma the truth, afraid she wouldn’t be able to bear it. Likewise, for the sake of our eight years together and for Grandma, I wanted to give Hailey one last chance. Hailey instinctively blurted out, “I’m not free, I need to accompany…” Mid-sentence, her gaze fell on the calendar beside her. She seemed to remember something, a hint of guilt in her expression. “I’ve been too busy recently, but I’ll make some time tomorrow. Ethan, you don’t need to be so suspicious. I don’t mind that you weren’t a virgin; there’s no need for you to be so hostile towards Adam.” I didn’t want to talk, so I limped back to the bedroom to rest. On my bedside table was a small, transparent jar. Every time Hailey gave me the silent treatment after an argument, I would use her card to buy myself a tiny gold bead. Eight years, and I had accumulated 521 of them. The jar was full, unable to hold any more. As I was drifting off to sleep, Hailey received a call and rushed out. I didn’t press the issue. I just sent her a text when it was light, reminding her not to forget to visit Grandma. Grandma was experiencing a fleeting moment of clarity, trembling as she took out an embroidered marriage certificate. “Grandma respects you young people; living with the wife’s family is fine. Hailey is a good girl, just a bit headstrong. I’ve prepared the marriage certificate for you, my dear. When you live together, you must be more accommodating to her…” I found it hard to imagine how Grandma, who could barely hold a needle, had managed to embroider this entire marriage certificate. Grandma held my hand, reluctant to let go, giving me many instructions. She took out her life savings, wanting to adorn our wedding. But she waited until dark, until she finally closed her eyes, and still, Hailey never came. I handled Grandma’s funeral alone and finally received a call from Hailey. “Something urgent came up at work. I’ll cook for you myself tomorrow as an apology.” Before I could even speak, I heard that familiar voice. “Hailey, hurry, help me grab the biggest doll.” The call was abruptly cut off. I thought for a moment and then proactively messaged my boss. “I want to be in charge of the overseas project.” 3. Hailey Reed was a strong, successful woman. I respected her ambitions and was willing to be a live-in husband for love, putting my focus on the family. I had been stuck in a deputy manager position for many years. My boss, frustrated with my lack of progress, suggested I gain experience overseas. Three years, and I’d surely make a big breakthrough upon my return. Before, I hesitated because I couldn’t bear to leave Grandma and Hailey. Now… I had nothing to hold me back. When Hailey came home, I was packing. She didn’t notice anything amiss, casually tossing a teddy bear to me. “Your eight-year anniversary gift.” I remembered Adam Grayson’s social media post—he was holding a giant teddy bear, smiling brightly. The caption read, “Whatever I want, she always gives it to me with both hands.” In eight years together, Hailey had never once accompanied me to play those claw machines. And she would certainly never hand me something I wanted with both hands. “Don’t like it?” Hailey sneered. “Adam is simply innocent and not materialistic. A man your age, who’s seen the world, naturally values profit more.” Hailey emphasized the words “seen the world.” It was a subtle jab, insinuating that I had a previous relationship before her and hadn’t remained “pure” for her. “You can’t find fault with this gift, can you?” With that, Hailey took out a shoebox. It was from my favorite brand. Not long ago, I casually complained to Hailey that there was a new product I really liked, but unfortunately, it was a limited edition of only one pair nationwide and very hard to get. My heart sank. To say I wasn’t anticipating something was a lie. I carefully opened the shoebox, before I could even clearly see what was inside. A small snake directly coiled around my arm, biting hard into the web of my thumb and forefinger. “Ah!” I was terrified, desperately shaking my hand to try and fling the snake off. The cold, slimy feel of the snake sent shivers down my spine, coupled with the pain in my hand, I felt dizzy and almost blacked out. 4. Hailey was also surprised to see the snake. She started to call for help, but after a moment’s hesitation, she dialed Adam Grayson’s number instead. “Hailey, thank you for the shoes you sent me. They’re really beautiful.” “What’s with the snake?” Adam’s clear laugh came through the phone. “It’s a gift in return, of course! He deliberately ruined my birthday party. Don’t worry, Snowflake isn’t venomous.” Hearing this, Hailey visibly relaxed. She glanced at me, then took the phone out to the balcony. I’ve been afraid of snakes since I was a child. After calling Hailey’s name several times with no response, I forced my eyes open, trembling as I grabbed the snake by its neck. With a forceful fling, I flung the snake away. After all that, I was drenched in sweat, curled up on the sofa and crying from fright. The snake on the floor flicked its tongue, seemingly glaring at me, making me too scared to even get off the floor and walk back to my room. Hailey finished her phone call an hour later. My face was pale, my forehead beaded with sweat, and I was shaking uncontrollably. “Ethan? Are you okay? Adam was just joking, he’s young, don’t hold it against him.” Seeing that I wasn’t responding, Hailey, fearing something serious had happened, drove me to the hospital. That cold, slimy sensation, the sharp scales, kept replaying in my mind. I felt as if that snake was coiling up my arm to my neck. Sitting in the passenger seat, I shivered uncontrollably, as if I would suffocate at any moment. “Hailey, I’m scared…” A flicker of concern crossed Hailey’s eyes, and her tone softened. “It’s okay, Ethan, I’m here. Don’t be afraid. Just hold on a little longer, we’ll be at the hospital soon.” Hailey’s soft voice, tinged with a hint of tenderness, gradually eased me from my immense terror. Just as I was about to calm down, Hailey suddenly slammed on the brakes. 5. My forehead hit the “Adam Grayson’s Exclusive Seat” ornament. Hailey looked at the message on her phone, her brow furrowed, and her gaze at me became more conflicted. “You take a taxi to the hospital yourself. I’m going to drop Snowflake off with Adam first.” At the mention of that dark, slimy snake, my face turned ashen again. Hailey, however, pushed me out of the car without further discussion. “You’re a grown man, you’ll be fine. I’ll come to the hospital to see you. Adam would be upset if anything happened to Snowflake.” The car sped away, leaving me standing on a deserted street, feeling somewhat bewildered. The tall, dense grass at my feet seemed to hide another snake, ready to dart out and bite my ankle. I shivered with fright, not daring to wait for a cab there. Dragging my sprained foot, I ran frantically until I saw other people, and then finally relaxed. In that moment, the tightly wound string inside me snapped. I stood on the bustling street, biting my lip, tears streaming down my face. I was angry that Hailey had abandoned me midway, angry that she indulged Adam in scaring me, angry that she wouldn’t buy the spacious apartment I favored but instead converted our wedding home into a suburban villa to fulfill Adam’s wish, angry that she chose Adam again and again between him and me… I am a man, but I too feel wronged. Eight years, I had accumulated far too many grievances. After crying, I took a taxi to the hospital for a full body check-up. The snake wasn’t venomous, but I had suffered a severe fright, and the injury to my ankle had worsened. The doctor put my foot in a cast. I took a photo and sent it to my boss to extend my leave. I also assured him that I would handle everything before my injury healed, and wouldn’t delay work. My boss replied quickly, “Don’t put too many burdens on yourself. You are excellent. Rest well and take care of yourself.” This was the only care and recognition I had received in a long time. I sent Hailey a breakup text. I took a taxi back to pack my bags, preparing to move into the company dormitory. To my surprise, Hailey was home and had cooked a table full of dishes. She smiled at me, her gaze briefly resting on my plaster-casted foot before quickly moving away. “Ethan, I promised to cook for you myself as an apology. Don’t be angry anymore. Let’s go pick up Grandma for dinner.” I walked straight to the bedroom, pulling out my suitcase. “Grandma is dead.”

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My dad was a “conqueror.” After successfully completing his mission, he left this world, leaving me with four mothers. My first mom, Evelyn Bennett, was a CEO, rich beyond measure. My second mom, Lillian Croft, was a famous movie star. My third mom, Dr. Bella Reed, was a brilliant physician, and my fourth mom, General Maya Sterling, held significant power. These four mothers doted on me for sixteen years, giving me the stars and not denying me the moon. Until three years ago, when their former “white moonlight,” Adam Grayson, the son of their first love, returned. From that day on, my four mothers only believed him, not me. He accused me of calling him dirtier than a dog and unworthy of living in our home, so my mothers made me eat dog food and sleep in a dog kennel. He claimed I had bullied him with classmates at school, so my mothers withdrew me, then hired three thugs to beat me at home for three months. After Adam again claimed I pushed him, my mothers locked me in the dog cage and starved me for three days and three nights, telling me to “learn my lesson.” As I was close to starving, I heard my father’s voice. “Alexander, do you want to come back to Dad?” … I instantly snapped awake. Then I realized it wasn’t Dad speaking to me, but the System. It said that when Dad left, he’d left me a chance. If I wished, I could go to Dad’s world. Of course, I wanted to. But the words caught in my throat. I asked the System, “Will returning to Dad be better than now? If he loved me, why didn’t he take me with him in the first place?” The System told me that Dad took on this mission because Grandma was very ill, and he wanted to save her. In his own world, he was just a sophomore in college. Saving Grandma had drained all his savings, and his family was in debt. At the time, my four mothers promised that no matter whose child I was, they would treat me as their own, only asking Dad to leave them a memento. A parent’s love for their child extends to planning for their distant future. Dad didn’t want me to suffer with him, so he left me here. “Alexander.” The System’s voice was gentle, as if stroking me. “Your father has been waiting for you all these years. He hasn’t found a girlfriend, hasn’t married. He bought a small house and has been waiting for you. Do you want to go find him?” I nodded. The System sighed in relief. It said that as soon as my current body died, I could see Dad. Hearing this, I took off my clothes and tied them into a knot on the cage. I’d seen it on TV: if you put your head through, your body’s weight would cause death. Luckily, the dog cage was big enough, and I was short enough. After putting my head through the loop, a suffocating sensation quickly spread around my neck. My consciousness gradually blurred, but I felt happy. I would see Dad soon. But before I could even be happy for a few seconds, I heard someone call my name. The dog cage was opened, and I was rescued. After regaining my breath, I looked up, meeting a pair of panicked eyes. “Mommy Bennett.” The name slipped out almost instinctively. Soon, I regretted it. Because when Evelyn heard it, the panic in her eyes was replaced by disgust. “Don’t call me that. You don’t deserve it!” Evelyn was my CEO mom. Of the four mothers, she doted on me the most. Our eyes were very similar. All these years, I lived in Evelyn’s villa. Whatever I wanted, she would buy for me. She had said that even if it was the stars in the sky, if I wanted them, she would pluck them down for me. However, that doting love ended three years ago. Evelyn brought Adam Grayson back from abroad. It was then I learned that, besides my father, the four of them had a “white moonlight” in their past. That “white moonlight” had betrayed the four of them, gotten a large sum of money, and then left the country. It was Dad who appeared and redeemed them, helping them slowly recover from that betrayal. Later, the “white moonlight” was dying abroad, called Evelyn to apologize, and begged her to adopt Adam. The four mothers told me Adam was a little younger than me and asked me to be accommodating. I genuinely treated him as a younger brother. But from the very beginning, Adam wanted to steal all my mothers’ affection. He would mysteriously appear with injuries, claiming I had hit him. He would suddenly tumble down the stairs, saying I had pushed him. As his accusations of my harming him increased, my mothers grew more and more disappointed in me. Until that time Adam was cornered in an alley by a dozen thugs and almost beaten to death. When those thugs were caught, they all claimed I had ordered them. I had no way to defend myself. From that day on, I became the family’s villain. My four mothers forbade me from calling them “Mom.” I also moved from the children’s room to the dog cage. All the servants called me a murderer. Being beaten, scolded, and starved became a daily occurrence. Thinking of this, I quickly lowered my head and apologized, “I’m sorry, Ms. Th… Ms. Bennett.” Even so, Evelyn remained relentless. “Alexander Davies, what are you trying to do? Attempting suicide? Deliberately trying to attract our attention?” “But aren’t you too stupid? Staging a suicide here? This place stinks so much, even if your body rotted, no one would find it.” So she thought I was putting on an act. I didn’t argue with her, only asked, bewildered, “Ms. Bennett, why are you here? Aren’t you the most particular about cleanliness?” Evelyn frowned. “This is my home. I can go wherever I please. I came here to warn you: today is Adam’s birthday. Don’t cause him any trouble. At the very least, you cannot die here.” I nodded obediently. So she saved me because she didn’t want me to die in the villa and spoil Adam’s day. Then I’d just die somewhere else. After Evelyn left the dog kennel, I also left the Bennett family villa. I bought a bottle of pesticide and went to Dad’s old place. I lay on the bed, holding Dad’s photo, and was about to drink the pesticide when I paused again. If I just died like this and was discovered, it would definitely cause trouble for the police officers. So I wrote a suicide note, telling everyone I took my own life. The pesticide tasted bitter, burning like fire from my tongue to my stomach. I quickly lost consciousness. Dad, I’m coming! After I don’t know how long, I felt my stomach churning. After throwing up, I woke up feeling wretched. Seeing a different ceiling, I joyfully sat up. Before the word “Dad” could leave my lips, I met Dr. Reed’s eyes. Dr. Reed stood before me in a white lab coat, clutching my suicide note. Her fingertips trembled slightly from the force. Finally, she threw the letter at my face. “Alexander Davies, you truly have a knack for drama, even resorting to death to demand our attention.” “And you couldn’t even die somewhere far away. Why choose there? You dirtied your father’s house, do you know that?” I was bewildered by Dr. Reed’s shouting. Actually, among the four mothers, Dr. Bella Reed, the physician, was my favorite. She was a medical expert, proficient in both traditional and Western medicine. On weekdays, she would always teach me medical knowledge and acupuncture. She was gentle and interesting, spending the most time with me. I once believed she was my biological mother. Even when Adam first appeared, she didn’t pay him excessive attention like the other three mothers. Instead, she told me, “Alexander, you are Mommy Bella’s only son. No one’s appearance can shake your position.” Until that day when Adam suddenly fainted in public. Dr. Reed pulled an acupuncture needle from the back of his head. Just as she asked Adam what had happened, Adam suddenly knelt before me. “Brother, I was wrong. I didn’t tell Mommy Bella about this. She found out herself. Please, stab me again.” That was the first time I saw Dr. Reed furious. She looked at me with immense disappointment and said, “Alexander Davies, I taught you these things to save people, not to kill!” No matter what I said, she wouldn’t believe me. Because in the entire family, besides her, only I could insert that needle there. “Bella, calm down.” It was then I noticed Evelyn was also in the hospital room, her face grim. “Alexander Davies seems to be having mental problems. He tried to kill himself at home, then drank pesticide at Shen Hao’s place. I suspect…” Dr. Reed interrupted her. “Evelyn, are you going soft? Have you forgotten how good he is at acting?” “He’s so greedy for wealth, how could he possibly bear to leave us four? He’s merely making a scene for attention because he knows it’s Adam’s birthday today.” Hearing her words, Evelyn’s doubts gradually faded. “You’re right.” Just then, both their phones rang simultaneously. They took them out and checked them. “Mommy Bennett, Mommy Bella, when are you coming home? The other two mothers are already waiting at home.” “It’s my coming-of-age party today! If you don’t come back soon, I’ll be angry.” Adam’s childish voice echoed in the room. Both mothers’ faces simultaneously broke into smiles. They carefully held their phones, sending voice messages to Adam, coaxing him. This scene was very familiar. Once upon a time, they used to coax me the same way. It seemed my mothers hadn’t changed as people, but their hearts had. Amidst their constant “sweetie pie” endearments, my heart grew cold, and I moved towards the window. I was afraid of pain, so I always thought of gentler ways to die. But now I couldn’t wait any longer. So, in front of both of them, I climbed over the windowsill and jumped. Goodbye! My two mothers. The imagined pain didn’t materialize. I was caught by a tree outside. When I was rescued, Dr. Reed, her face ashen, came up and slapped me. “Alexander Davies, are you ever going to stop?!” Evelyn’s face wasn’t much better. Her whole body trembled as she also kicked me. “Alexander Davies, what exactly do you want?” I was kicked to the ground. Having just had my stomach pumped, and then this kick, the spot felt like someone was poking a knife into it and then twisting it vigorously. A putrid smell surged from my stomach into my mouth. After spitting out that mouthful of blood, I knelt before both of them. “Ms. Bennett, Dr. Reed, please don’t bother with me anymore. Just let me die.” My words left them both stunned. Evelyn frowned, “Is this your new trick? Blackmailing us with death?” “No.” I told them, my eyes red. “I met Dad’s system. It said that if I die, I can go to Dad. Please, just leave me alone, let me die.” “That way, you won’t have to worry about me competing with Adam for your affection, and you won’t have to keep me locked up to guard against me.”

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A year into our marriage, and my husband had never touched me. Just as I was about to find a man to cheat with, comments started scrolling across my vision. 【The side character is so clueless! Does she have any idea what kind of a beast the male lead is keeping leashed in his pants? He doesn’t touch her because he’s afraid she can’t handle it!】 【He’s terrified she’ll hate him, so he’s bottling it up until he’s about to explode, and what happens? His wife runs off with some other guy. LMAO.】 【Hehe, if she doesn’t mess up, how can the female lead come and save him? Our girl gets treated so well later on, it’s non-stop action, day and night.】 1 The comments left me frozen. The side character… was me? And the male lead… was that my husband-in-name-only, Jack? Before I could process it, a man’s voice pulled me back. “Rosalind? Did you need something from me?” The man before me wore a pair of silver-rimmed glasses, his features handsome and scholarly. His name was Arthur. He was one of the few men in our small town with a college education. He was also the man I was planning to sleep with. His gaze shifted to the eggs I was holding out. “Are those for me?” he asked, his eyes betraying a flicker of excitement beneath a veneer of modesty. They were. Or, they were supposed to be. A year of marriage, and my husband wouldn’t lay a finger on me. The other young wives who got hitched around the same time were already pregnant with their second, while I hadn’t even had a wedding night. I can’t count the number of times the neighbors have whispered behind my back, calling me a barren hen. I’m not a woman with thick skin. And at this point, does it matter who the father is? So I’d set my sights on the bookish Arthur. I just needed a donor. But now… Remembering the strange words that had floated past my eyes, I hesitated. The comments appeared again: 【This girl’s got terrible taste. She’s got a man with broad shoulders and a lean waist, a top-tier body, and she’s chasing after this skinny beanpole.】 【All she has to do is crook her finger and the ML would go at it with her till dawn. But no, she picks the guy who’s done in ten minutes. The contrast is just painful.】 Holy crap. Why didn’t you guys say so earlier? “Nothing! Just passing by!” I snatched the eggs back and sprinted away. 2 I ran all the way home. A thin wisp of smoke curled from the chimney. Jack was standing at the stove, focused on cooking. He must have just gotten off work; he hadn’t even changed. Sweat soaked his shirt, clinging to his body and outlining the powerful, tight muscles beneath. His back was a solid wall of strength, his waist lean and powerful. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing tanned, sinewy forearms. I swallowed hard. Jack looked like he had endless stamina. It was one of the main reasons I’d agreed to marry him in the first place. The comments flickered to life again: 【Look at that build! Six-foot-three of pure, rugged male lead. An athlete’s waist! This guy is a certified weapon!】 【She almost got to taste the good stuff. You give her the opportunity and she still fumbles it. What a beautiful idiot.】 【Good thing she’s a fool. Our sweet female lead would never want a man another woman’s already used.】 I gritted my teeth. Calling me a fool was one thing, but telling me my husband had to stay celibate for some so-called “female lead”? The hell with that. Tonight, Jack was mine. 3 Jack hadn’t said a word since I’d stormed in. He just kept working silently at the stove. A sliver of doubt crept in. Were these comments just messing with me? His cold demeanor didn’t exactly scream “I’m in love with you.” I pulled out the eggs, about to put them back in the kitchen. Just then, a deep, magnetic voice sounded right next to my ear. “Did you go to the chicken coop?” My heart leaped, and I spun around, relieved. I was overthinking it; he did care about me. But his brow was furrowed, his eyes filled with disapproval. “Didn’t I tell you not to do that kind of work?” His tone was scolding. I was stunned. He was yelling at me. And for what? For getting eggs from our own coop. This is what the comments called love? A wave of anger washed over me, and I was about to snap back with a sarcastic remark. Just then, new comments flew by. 【See? You’re jumping to conclusions again. He’s not mad at you. The coop is filthy, and he doesn’t want you going in there. He quietly takes care of all the dirty, tiring chores himself.】 【It breaks my heart to see the ML being so good to her when I know our sweet FL is waiting. Can this side character just get written out of the story already? I’m so over her.】 【Who cares about that? As a romance connoisseur, I just want to know if he’s bigger than an egg down there.】 【Much bigger.】 The anger vanished as I read. But when my eyes caught the last two audacious comments, I nearly choked. A large, warm hand landed on my back, patting it gently. Jack’s expression was full of concern. “What’s wrong?” My gaze drifted downward. Even his loose trousers couldn’t hide the impressive bulge at his crotch. The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Nothing. Just wondering which is bigger, you or the egg.” Jack froze. Then his handsome face flushed a deep crimson. “You’re a lady, you can’t say things like that. Do you… Do you want an egg? I can cook another one for you.” With that, he practically fled, his movements clumsy and uncoordinated. The comments erupted in laughter. 【She’s lying. In his mind, he’s already got her screaming his name.】 【Based on my extensive reading experience, he’s probably imagined them going at it so hard they’re both drenched.】 【Doesn’t even take that long.】 My cheeks burned. These people were so bold! I was still an innocent young woman, I couldn’t listen to this stuff. But… My eyes drifted back to Jack’s lean, powerful waist. Could you really work up that much of a sweat doing… that? 4 While Jack finished cooking, I finally pieced together the whole story from the stream of comments. It turns out I was the villainous ex-wife in a historical romance novel. I was beautiful and thought the world of myself, always dreaming of marrying some rich man and moving to the city to live a life of luxury. But one day, I accidentally fell into the river and was saved by the male lead, Jack. My body had been seen, and the town gossip forced me to marry him. But how could a rough country farmer compare to a well-read scholar? I was filled with resentment. I constantly berated and hit Jack, and shamelessly carried on with Arthur. When the affair was exposed, I demanded a divorce, only to be swindled out of all my money by my lover and eventually starve to death on the streets. I clutched my chest. That was a close call. I’d almost reached the “run away with another man” part of the plot. Looking back on the past year, I really had been awful to Jack. How could I fix this? I agonized over it until I glanced up and saw my reflection in the mirror. Even with a frown, my face lost none of its charm. Every expression was captivating. The comments confirmed it: 【The side character may be an idiot, but damn, she’s gorgeous.】 【Honestly, with that face and body, if she wasn’t so stupid, the ML would have taken care of her for the rest of his life.】 【Just the sight of her back has him completely mesmerized right now.】 My eyes darted to the side. Sure enough, in the corner of the mirror, I could see Jack leaning against the doorframe, his gaze locked on my back, as if he couldn’t bear to even blink. I’ve never been shy about using my looks to my advantage. And of course, I was more than a little curious to see just how “dangerous” Jack really was. After all, his powerful physique was a big part of why I’d married him. A year of being a widow with a living husband had left me… frustrated. Today I was wearing a form-fitting top and a pair of dark blue trousers. A simple, common outfit, but on me, it was undeniably sexy. Big bust, tiny waist, and round hips. I stood up. In the mirror, Jack’s eyes followed my every move. The look he cast on my back was hot, obsessive. Then, I casually swayed my hips. Gulp. A loud, distinct swallow echoed through the quiet room. A smirk played on my lips. Hook, line, and sinker. I turned to face him. Jack looked flustered, the tips of his ears bright red. The sound of his own gulp had startled him, and he blurted out the first thing that came to mind to cover his embarrassment. “Honey, the… the food’s ready.” The moment the words left his mouth, he seemed to realize his mistake. His face went pale. 5 A comment promptly appeared. 【Seriously, this girl is so ungrateful. If the ML hadn’t jumped in the river to save her, she would have drowned. And she has the nerve to blame him for ruining her dream of marrying into wealth?】 【She’s been a tyrant since they married. She hits him, screams at him, and won’t even let him call her ‘honey.’】 【Our FL is so much better. She only ever thinks about the ML. Not like this spoiled, lazy brat.】 Remembering my own vicious behavior, the affection in Jack’s eyes faded. He lowered his head, his lips pressed into a tight line, bracing himself for the usual storm of insults and blows. But the next moment, a soft warmth pressed against his arm. I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his strong bicep, my voice a playful purr. “Darling… I love it when you call me that. Say it again for me?” Jack froze. Then, as if he’d been burned, he yanked his arm away. He strode toward the dinner table, his movements stiff, his ears glowing red. “I’ll get your plate.” I smiled, undeterred. So I’d been a monster in the past. I could change. A man just needs a little sweet-talking. The comments weren’t so sure: 【Hold on, hold on. Why the sudden personality transplant?】 【Women with big chests are always the most desperate. I bet she’s just after his body!】 【Nooo! The ML is still totally into her right now! If he’s not a virgin anymore, what about our sweet FL?】 My smile widened. Congratulations, you guessed right. And I don’t just want to do it once. I want to do it every day. 6 He said he was getting the food, but Jack was nowhere to be found in the kitchen. I didn’t think much of it. While I waited, I went back to the room to touch up my makeup. Bold red lips, and eyes that were both sharp and innocently alluring. Like a rose in full, breathtaking bloom. He wouldn’t stand a chance. When I came out, Jack was back. But… he looked different. His expression seemed even colder than before. My confusion vanished, however, when I saw the dinner table. There were three dishes and two bowls of rice. One bowl was piled high with rice and meat, forming a small mountain. The other held a meager half-bowl of rice with only a few scattered vegetables. Seeing me, Jack pushed the overflowing bowl in my direction. I looked at his own pathetic portion, and a pang of guilt hit me. After we married, Jack never touched me, but he never let me go hungry either. Yet I had been completely dissatisfied with the marriage. I demanded meat at every meal. If I didn’t get it, I’d slap him, hit him, and curse him for ruining my chance to marry rich. To give me a good life, he worked from dawn till dusk, and every cent he earned was spent on me. I thought to myself, I really was a monster. “I washed my hands.” His voice, suddenly near my ear, pulled me from my thoughts. Jack’s large, well-defined hands were clenched nervously, his tone cautious. “I washed them many times. They’re not dirty.” I paused. My gaze fell on his sweat-drenched shirt. The work was hard. Every time he came back, he was covered in sweat. He wouldn’t even rest before heading straight to the kitchen to cook for me. Especially now, with the heat. Sweat beaded on his skin, but it didn’t smell bad. On his tanned skin, it just made him look more masculine. But… In my memories, I would knock the bowl from his hands with a look of pure disgust. “It’s filthy! I’m not eating anything your dirty hands have touched!” My eyes instantly welled up, and tears began to stream down my face. Jack panicked. He stood up, wanting to wipe my tears away but not daring to. The next second, he pulled a small pouch from his pocket and offered it to me, his handsome face a mask of helplessness. “This is the money from the hunt today. Go buy yourself a nice meal at a restaurant. It’s all my fault. Please, just don’t cry, okay?” I pushed the money away, my voice choked with emotion. “I’m not disgusted. I’m heartbroken for you.” 7 Jack stared at me, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. I wiped away my tears and scooped two-thirds of the meat and rice from my bowl into his. “It breaks my heart that you work so hard every day and eat so little.” Lifting my gaze to his handsome face, I couldn’t resist leaning in and planting a soft kiss on his cheek. “I’m just at home all day, I don’t get tired. I don’t need to eat this much. You need to eat more so you can be strong and take good care of me.” His fingers tightened into a fist, his face flushing a deep red. I hid a triumphant smile. See? A little affection was all it took. I leaned in, ready to kiss him again. But the next moment, he pushed me away, sending me tumbling to the floor. I looked up and saw that a vein was throbbing at his temple. His face was dark, terrifyingly grim. He turned his head away, his voice heavy with despair. “To think you’d lower yourself to sweet-talk me like this… and all for him. “Rosalind, my heart isn’t made of stone. “Did it ever occur to you that I can feel pain, too?” Huh? I was completely lost. What other man? What was he talking about? The comments filled me in: 【Don’t worry, guys, the ML just thinks he’s about to be cuckolded.】 【Our FL needs to show up soon! I feel so bad for the ML. He works himself to the bone to support his family, and his wife not only doesn’t love him but is also cheating on him.】 【When he first heard the rumors in the village, he told himself people were just jealous of his beautiful wife. But now that she’s suddenly being nice to him, his heart is completely shattered.】 My face went pale. Jack found out I was planning to cheat on him? This was a total misunderstanding! I mean, I had the idea, but I didn’t actually do anything! There was no time to think. Jack had his head turned away, the veins in his neck standing out in sharp relief. He looked angrier than I’d ever seen him. The comments were no help, just a chorus of glee that he was finally seeing my “true colors” and would divorce me to be with the female lead. Panic set in. Then, a sharp sting shot through my calf. I realized I’d scraped my leg when I fell. Looking up, I saw Jack’s gaze was also fixed on my injury. Tears instantly started to fall. I looked at him with wide, wounded eyes. “Honey, it hurts.” 8 The chair crashed to the floor as Jack shot up, the coldness in his expression vanishing in an instant. He rushed over and knelt beside me, his voice tight with anxiety as he examined the injury. The angry red scrape stood out starkly against my fair, delicate skin. “It’s all my fault. I’m a monster.” He was so frantic he didn’t know what to do. In his panic, he raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face. “Rosie, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed you. Please, hit me, okay?” I studied his expression carefully. His eyes were filled with nothing but regret and guilt. The earlier fury was completely gone. My confidence returned. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his chest, letting out small, hiccuping sobs. “My leg hurts.” I looked up at him, then pointed to my heart. “But this hurts more. “I know I’ve done things wrong in the past, but I’ve seen the error of my ways. I truly want to build a life with you. “And you don’t even believe me.” My eyes were red, my expression a mixture of stubborn pride and heartbreak. The key to a man’s heart? His guilt. And just as I’d predicted, my accusation left him completely flustered. Beads of sweat formed on his handsome face as he desperately tried to explain. “That’s not what I meant. I was just… I was so angry. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I’ll never do it again.” But I wasn’t listening. I pushed myself out of his arms and limped towards the door. “If you don’t trust me, then maybe we should just get a divorce!” The word sent the comments into a frenzy. 【YES! She’s finally letting the ML go!】 【I support this divorce 1000%!】 My face darkened, and I almost choked on my fake sobs. Screw you guys! Can’t you say something nice for once? But in the next moment, my expression cleared. Divorce? Not in this lifetime. Not in the next. Jack would never divorce me. I hadn’t taken two steps before I was swept into a searingly hot embrace. Jack held me tight from behind. “No. “I don’t want a divorce.” Something warm and wet fell onto my neck. I froze. He was crying. The comments went wild again: 【Holy crap, I get it now. She’s playing him! The vicious beauty vs. the loyal, rugged hero. I ship it so hard!】 【This is some gourmet-level drama. This is how you do it.】 【What is wrong with you people? Why are you happy she’s into him now? If he’s not a virgin, what about our sweet FL?!】 【It’s fine. An experienced man is better.】 【I’ve been wanting to say this for a while: she’s already lusting after the ML before he’s even divorced. How is that any different from being a homewrecker?!】 Reading that, I let a small smile grace my lips. See? There were some sane people in this world. When I didn’t respond, the arms around my waist tightened. Jack’s breathing was shaky. “Rosie, don’t leave me.” I let out a haughty little sniff. “We’ll see how you behave from now on.” After dinner, once he had cleaned and bandaged my wound, Jack dove back into the kitchen to diligently wash the dishes. I finally had a moment to think. The town gossip was mostly just people saying I was a pretty face who couldn’t handle hard work and would eventually leave Jack. There were no specific rumors about me and another man. My eyes narrowed dangerously. So, which one of these gossips had the nerve to start this particular lie about me? 9 The comments provided the answer: 【Our FL is so kind-hearted. She specially came to tell the ML that his wife was cheating on him. But he’s so lovesick, a few sweet words from the side character and he’s completely hooked again. Why did the author write it this way?! I’m so mad!】 【Don’t worry, the FL has another plan up her sleeve. The side character only has a few more days to be smug before she’s packing her bags in misery.】 Excuse me? Sifting through the endless stream of FL-worship, I finally found her name. Lily. I quickly wracked my brain for any information about this “female lead.” A moment later, a cold sneer formed on my lips. This is what you people call a female lead? She was Jack’s neighbor. A fragile, delicate-looking girl, the picture of innocence. They were childhood friends, and a matchmaker had even tried to set them up. But Lily’s family had rejected the proposal outright. Why? Because Jack’s family had a bad reputation back then, and they were afraid of being associated with him. If someone like Lily could be the female lead, then why couldn’t I? All I want is a piece of the good stuff. What’s so wrong with that? I checked the time. It was the afternoon work shift. I rolled up my sleeves and marched out, ready to go have a little chat with Lily. I’m no pushover. If you’re going to spread rumors, you’d better be prepared for the consequences. But as I walked, the villagers I passed all gave me strange looks. A few of the older women who despised me the most huddled together, whispering and giggling as they watched me. Words like “slut” and “tramp” drifted to my ears. My face darkened. I strode over to them and raised an eyebrow. “Talking about something interesting? Let me in on it.” My voice was dripping with mockery. The women jumped. The one in the lead quickly composed herself. “Rosalind, you little hussy, don’t you get too smug. Your good days are over. You think just because you have a pretty face you can bully young Jack and flirt with every man in town? Well, you’ve finally messed up.” I had no idea what she was talking about, but I wasn’t about to lose a war of words. “It’s called being a femme fatale. You’re just an ugly old hag making trouble.” Their faces turned purple with rage, but I still felt a sense of unease. The smug, gloating looks they gave me as I left suggested they were certain some disaster was about to befall me. When I reached the fields, I spotted Lily in the crowd immediately. A pale, pretty face with no makeup. The picture of innocence. In the words of the comments, she was the ideal wife: hardworking, frugal, and devoted. Completely the opposite of my spoiled, lazy self. I scoffed. If you love to suffer, you’ll never run out of suffering to do. She could have it. I was about to march over and give Lily a taste of the maternal discipline she clearly missed out on as a child when I noticed two well-dressed strangers standing beside her. They looked like officials from the county. Lily was crying, her tears like a spring shower, and the people around her looked indignant. What was going on? Just then, Lily lifted her head, and her finger shot out, pointing directly at me. Her beautiful face was a mask of accusation.

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Seven years of a passionate, tumultuous love affair with Zachary ended in a breakup so messy it became public knowledge. Five years later, on the third day of the New Year, I walked into a class reunion with my four-year-old son. The moment I stepped into the private room, I was met with a barrage of surprised and confused stares. My old college roommate sidled up to me and whispered, “Amelia, did you really have Zachary’s son? Does he know?” Her question opened the floodgates. “An unwed mother… and he’s married now. Doesn’t that make the kid illegitimate?” “Bringing him here so brazenly… what’s her game? Is she trying to force his hand?” I was about to explain when the door swung open. Zachary walked in, dressed in a sharp suit, radiating an air of success. He offered me a warm smile, but it froze when he saw my son, a flicker of delighted surprise flashing in his eyes. “Amelia, my son is already this big?” “It must have been so hard for you, raising him alone for the past five years.” I curved my lips into a smile. “Not at all. His father is the one who has it hard.” 01 Zachary, who had just sat down, stiffened. The familiar, mocking smirk played on his lips. “Amelia, you haven’t changed a bit. Your words are always sharper than your heart.” “I know you can’t get over me, but you also know I’m married. This child…” I frowned, cutting him off. “Mr. Hayes, I think you’re mistaken. What does this child have to do with you?” He blinked his handsome eyes, a playful look on his face. “With a face that’s a perfect copy of mine, don’t tell me it’s a coincidence.” A few of our former classmates chimed in with a laugh. “We saw it the second you walked in. He’s the spitting image of Zack when he was a kid. Zack and I grew up together; I’d recognize his son anywhere.” “Amelia, just admit it. You and Zack were inseparable from high school through college. We all thought you’d get married right after graduation. No one expected it to end so badly. I really never thought you’d still have his baby.” “Come on, Amelia, don’t be so stubborn. Being a single mom is tough. Look at how you’re struggling. Zack’s a VP at a publicly-traded company now. A little spare change from him would be enough for you and the boy to live comfortably for years.” Following their gazes, I glanced down at my clothes. Our nanny had the day off, and my roommate had practically dragged me out of the house. My son was at that clingy stage, attached to me like a little koala, so I had just thrown on something casual. I found it almost funny. These kids, who once all wore the same school uniform, were now judging people by their appearance. Zachary pulled a checkbook from his briefcase, wrote out a number, and slid it across the table toward me. His tone was a bit commanding. “We were both too impulsive back then. Regardless, the child is innocent. Take this as compensation.” I didn’t move. I didn’t even look at the check. I just stared at him with cold, empty eyes. “Compensation? You think that’s enough?” Zachary was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family, raised amidst scorn and indifference. It gave him a hidden anxiety disorder, a secret only the two of us shared. People thought he was cold and aloof, but in reality, he was deliberately suppressing his impulses, avoiding interaction. A single word, a glance, an unintentional gesture could trigger an episode. At his worst, he had cut me with a knife. Our first baby was lost when he beat me during one of his blackouts. I can’t remember how many times he caused me to miscarry. Five? Six? Maybe more? But I never blamed him. To soothe him, I taught myself psychology. I sold the heirlooms my mother left me to buy him the best medication. But when we broke up, he heartlessly told me to get rid of what was likely my last chance at having a child. Zachary’s gaze was complicated. I knew he understood the meaning behind my words. He pushed the check forward again, an act that felt like both an apology and charity. “Amelia, what’s the point? You’ve already had our son. Why can’t you see reason?” I shot him a look, my voice cool. “See what reason? That I should use our child to force my way back into your life?” “Zachary, I’ll say it one more time. This child…” “Oh, what a lively party!” A sickeningly sweet, familiar voice interrupted me. A beautiful, exquisitely dressed woman in a designer outfit walked in. Zachary’s childhood friend quickly made the introduction. “This is Zack’s wife. She was our high school classmate too, just in a different class. Amelia, do you remember her? She was quite close to you for a while.” I focused on feeding my son a spoonful of dessert, not looking up. My voice was flat. “I remember. Of course, I remember my dear sister, Isabel.” The chatter in the room died instantly. The only sound was the clinking of the spoon against the bowl. The awkward silence didn’t last long. Isabel smiled and took my hand. “Sister, it’s been too long. I’m so surprised you came.” I pulled my hand away and wiped my son’s mouth with a napkin. It was only then that she got a clear look at my son’s face. Her expression changed immediately. “Sister, you… you actually had him?” She looked at Zachary, tears welling up in her eyes. “Zack, she had your son. I can’t let her be a single mother. Let’s… let’s get a divorce…” Zachary gently pulled her into his arms, seating her beside him. “Don’t be silly. You’re about to be a mother yourself, you can’t be so naive. You feel sorry for her, but do you think I have the heart to make you a single mother?” His words were laced with a cruel irony. He seemed to have forgotten how heartless he’d been when I had insisted on keeping my child. “Amelia, I will not acknowledge this child. If you want to be a single mother, that’s your problem. Don’t ever think I’m coming back!” So, he did have a soft spot. It just wasn’t for me. Seven years of shared history, countless lost babies. To him, I was just a stranger. The atmosphere was thick with tension. No one had expected Zachary’s current wife to be my own sister. I stood up to leave, but Isabel raised a glass to the room. “I’m sorry, everyone. I’m pregnant, so I can’t drink. I’ll toast you all with tea instead. Thank you all for taking care of Zack in the years I was away.” “Especially you, sister. Zack told me you taught him how to love someone. Otherwise, he wouldn’t love me so much.” I didn’t say a word, didn’t raise my glass. I just kept feeding my son. Isabel, seemingly unfazed by the awkwardness, quickly mingled with our old classmates. Someone asked how we were sisters. She gave a meaningful smile, her explanation deliberately vague. “We have the same father, but different mothers. She’s the younger sister. I’m sure you understand.” With one sentence, she branded me with the shame of being the illegitimate child of a homewrecker. But was that the truth? Who was the real homewrecker? My father was a junior employee at my grandfather’s company. He was handsome and capable, so my grandfather introduced him to my mother. After my grandfather passed away, my father took over the company, and that’s when Isabel and her mother showed up. That was when my mother learned that before my father had even married her, he had already gotten another woman pregnant. The shock sent my mother into a deep depression, and she took her own life. Isabel and her mother brazenly took my mother’s place, and mine. That happened right after our high school graduation. Besides Zachary, no one knew. Rage galloped through me like a wild horse. I slammed the spoon down into the bowl, splattering dessert everywhere. Just as I was about to retaliate, my son’s soft little hand gripped my finger. His big, dark eyes were filled with fear. “Mommy, are you upset? Noah is eating nicely.” My heart lurched. I had forgotten my son was here. I couldn’t lose my temper in front of him. Bringing him today was a mistake. I couldn’t let someone else’s malice terrify my child. I took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing the anger back down. I managed a weak smile. “No, honey. Noah is being a very good boy. Let’s go home.” I stood to leave, but Isabel called out, “Sister, you haven’t been home in five years. Dad misses you. My mom and I have forgiven you for what happened. You should go see him.” I lifted my eyes, my gaze as sharp as ice. “Isabel, you’ve always had a talent for twisting black into white, for making evil seem righteous. You did it with my mother and me, and you did it with you and Zachary. Do you need me to elaborate?” Her face paled instantly. Zachary’s expression darkened. He tapped his fingers heavily on the table twice. “Alright, let the past be the past. It’s a rare occasion for us all to get together. Don’t ruin the mood.” Another vague dismissal. It was always the same. Whenever we fought, whenever he cheated, he never admitted he was wrong. I was always the one on trial. A chill spread through my chest. I took my son’s hand and stood up to leave. “It’s not convenient for me with a child. I’m heading out. You all have fun.” “Wait.” I turned to look at Zachary, who had called out to me. “Is there something else?” He pointed to the check on the table. “Take the money. Consider it a New Year’s gift for my son.” I let out a cold, humorless laugh and shook my head. “No, thank you. His father already gave him one.” I turned to leave, but my roommate grabbed my sleeve, her face etched with apology. “I’m so sorry, Amelia. I didn’t know it would be like this. Just wait a little longer. It’s snowing heavily outside, it’ll be hard to get a cab. I’ll call one for you…” Just then, my phone buzzed. A message from my husband. 【Darling, the snow is making the roads treacherous. I’ll be there in about half an hour. Wait for me.】 Alright. Another thirty minutes. I could endure it. Seeing me sit back down, Zachary seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his usual cool smile returning to his face. Isabel’s smile, however, was frozen, her eyes glued to the check on the table. She was a master actress. Even seething with rage, she maintained an image of generosity in front of Zachary. She forced a smile. “Sister, don’t be so stubborn. It hurts me to see you struggling. Take the money. If you ever need anything in the future, just come to your sister and brother-in-law.” She stressed the words “sister” and “brother-in-law,” each one like a sharp slap across my face. She was warning me not to cross the line. But wasn’t she the one who had crossed it first? After my mother died, I had a huge fight with my father. I wanted to just leave. But I couldn’t. If I left, everything my grandfather and my mother had worked for would fall into their hands. I was young and hot-headed back then, no match for the likes of Isabel and her mother. They constantly plotted against me. Once, I was locked in the basement for three days without a scrap of food or a drop of water. Zachary, beaten black and blue by their bodyguards, rescued me. Isabel accused me of stealing her diamond necklace and had me thrown into a hole in the ice in the dead of winter. Zachary, ignoring the danger, smashed the ice with his bare fists to pull me out. For me, he had jeopardized his family’s business dealings, torn ties with my father, and broken with his own family. He knew better than anyone the injustices I had suffered. He hated that mother-daughter pair even more than I did. So, the moment I saw him and Isabel, tangled and half-naked in the bed of what was supposed to be our marital home, every cell in my body died. Zachary’s enraged eyes met mine. “Amelia! Get out, or do you want to join in?” I should have left. I should have done something. But my feet felt rooted to the spot. I should have screamed, I should have gone insane. But I didn’t. I just stood there and watched them. My eyes, my heart, my mind were a complete blank. I couldn’t even shed a single tear. In the end, Zachary shoved me forcefully out the door. I stood there, just outside, until they emerged, fully dressed and holding hands. It was then that some switch flipped in my brain, and I launched myself at Isabel. Zachary pulled Isabel behind him, shielding her, and pushed me to the ground with one hand, looking down at me. “Amelia, look at yourself. We’re adults. Can’t you be more dignified?” I screamed at him, “When did it start? Why?” “Does it matter? Amelia, I’m tired of you. Is that answer good enough for you?” He was as cold as a stranger, his words like daggers, finding their mark in my heart. I scrambled up and tried to tear at Isabel, screaming that she was a whore, a homewrecker. Zachary slapped me across the face. “Amelia, have you made enough of a scene? We’re not even married. It’s not clear who the homewrecker is. Your mother is a perfect example, isn’t she?” I froze, feeling as if I’d been struck by lightning. In that moment, my world went silent. It’s true. The person who knows you best knows exactly how to hurt you the most. I refused to break up. I cried, I made scenes, I threatened to kill myself. When he felt a pang of guilt, he would come and comfort me. When he got tired of me, he would go back to Isabel. I went to his office and caused a scene. I posted their chat logs and bed photos online. I did everything a cheated woman could do, but it only pushed Zachary further away. The last time, I held a razor blade to my wrist in front of him. He just watched, his eyes cold, as the blood dripped onto the floor. That icy stare still sends a shiver down my spine. “Amelia, if you die, I’ll feel guilty for a while. But it won’t stop me from falling in love with someone else.” In that moment, I finally woke up. I let go. Lifting my head, my eyes met Zachary’s cool gaze, and an unbidden chill ran through me. I couldn’t stay in this room a moment longer. I shot to my feet and took my son’s hand. “My husband is here to pick me up. I’m leaving.” But Zachary grabbed my arm, a hint of something fragile in his eyes. “Amelia, you married someone else while raising my son?” His words drew a new round of speculative and contemptuous glances from our old classmates. “What is Amelia thinking? Did she run out of money to raise the kid? She actually found a guy to take on her baggage?” “That can’t be right. She’s still a daughter of the Su family. Even if she had a falling out with them, she should have enough money for a child, right?” “She looks so pure on the surface, but she just couldn’t stand being alone. It’s not that surprising. Zachary dumped her, and she’s still young. She can’t just be celibate forever.” “She probably found some old rich guy. What decent man would want a woman pregnant with another man’s child?” The whispers were like a thousand invisible hands, tearing my dignity to shreds. Seeing my distress, my roommate spoke up for me. “Don’t just gossip if you don’t know the whole story. Amelia must have her reasons.” I slowly regained my composure and managed a smile. “There are no reasons. I just got married. Right after we broke up.” Everyone froze. A crack appeared on Zachary’s eternally stoic face.

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On our son’s birthday, we were kidnapped. Victoria gathered ten million dollars for ransom. I learned after waking that our son was dead—the sixth of our children to die tragically. Broken, I wanted only to die and atone. A hollow man, I made my way to the rooftop, but stopped overhearing Victoria speak to a doctor: “Are you sure you want to implant your and Liam’s frozen embryo? You’ve already used six of your own children for Liam’s skin grafts. He’s healed. Must Nathan’s line end?” “A vasectomy isn’t ending his line. My child with Liam will be his, and losing a son will make him cherish this one more. Those six… they were born to be grafts. I gave them expensive graves. They’ll thank their loving mother in the afterlife.” I shrank into the corner, muffling my horror. The one I thought would weather life’s storms was the monster who created them. Even our children were just sacrifices for her true love. So be it. I’ll help them get exactly what they deserve. 1 The doctor looked at the nonchalant woman before him and hesitated. “Your physical state isn’t ideal for an embryo transfer right now. Perhaps we should wait…” “No need. The best cure for a broken heart is a new hope. This is the perfect time. When he finds out I’m pregnant again, he won’t have time to wallow in grief.” “Besides, Liam wants to be a father. I don’t want to make him wait. Not even for a day.” The doctor, his conscience pricking him, tried one last time. “Ms. Monroe, why not cultivate twins? One from you and Liam, and one from you and Nathan. If Nathan ever discovers the truth, he’ll still have a biological child. It could be a buffer, prevent things from getting too ugly.” Victoria’s patience had worn thin. “A heart can’t be divided equally. There’s no guarantee he’d treat both children the same. What if Liam’s child is neglected or wronged? I went through hell to restore his beautiful face after the fire; I’m not about to let him or his child suffer now.” “For years, Liam was so ashamed of his scars he wouldn’t even step outside. Now that he’s healed, he deserves to enjoy life, to be loved, not to be bothered by problems that can be nipped in the bud.” “Nathan will never find out. As long as he raises this child well, I’ll ensure he’s comfortable for the rest of his life. That’s a blessing most people could only dream of.” The doctor knew further argument was pointless. He sighed and turned to leave. As Victoria passed my hiding spot, her assistant rushed up, his face etched with anxiety. “Ms. Monroe, that bastard is trying to blackmail us. He wants another five hundred thousand to leave town. He’s here, at the hospital. He said if he doesn’t get the money, he’ll expose everything…” The assistant played a voice recording. “The great Victoria Monroe isn’t going to stiff me on five hundred grand, is she? All these years, helping you stage those ‘accidents’… I live in constant fear. I’m worried one of these days the stress will get to me and I’ll just spill the truth…” Hearing the kidnapper’s familiar voice, my blood ran cold. Victoria, however, just scoffed. “Then give him the five hundred thousand. And tell him that the only reason I haven’t dealt with him is to build up good karma for my son. But if there’s a next time, I won’t hesitate to arrange a little ‘accident’ for him, too.” After transferring the money, Victoria left. I remained frozen, unable to move. What kind of love could make a ruthless woman like Victoria spare the life of a blackmailer? Yet, she had no mercy for me, or for our six children. I found myself wandering toward the morgue, wanting to see my son one last time. But I was told Victoria had already had him cremated. The doctor’s words echoed in my mind—our children died to provide skin grafts for Liam. The thought was a knife twisting in my heart. After the “accidents” that killed our first five children, Victoria had always rushed to have them cremated, claiming she didn’t want me to prolong my grief. Lost in my own sorrow, I never questioned it. I thought she was protecting me. It never occurred to me that she was just hiding the horrific truth of their deaths, a truth their bodies would have revealed. “Nathan! I finally found you! You scared me to death!” Victoria’s face lit up when she saw me, but when she noticed the tears in my eyes, her expression softened with pity, and she pulled me into a tight embrace. “Nathan, it’s all my fault. I didn’t protect you. But don’t worry, I’ll find that kidnapper. I’ll make him pay for what he did to our son.” “This is the morgue. The air here is heavy. You just had surgery; you need to go back to your room and rest.” The familiar embrace no longer brought me warmth. Instead, it carried the scent of a cologne that wasn’t mine. A wave of nausea washed over me, and I gagged. Victoria’s face filled with concern. “Nathan, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?” “Get away from me!” My coldness made her flinch. She lowered her head, her eyes filled with hurt. “Nathan, I know our son’s death is painful. My heart is breaking even more than yours. But the living must go on. We’ll have another baby…” Ignoring my struggles, she dragged me to the doctor’s office. The doctor played his part, asking a series of questions before writing a prescription for an ultrasound. I knew what was coming. I tore the paper to shreds. “I’m not sick. I don’t need a test.” Victoria ignored my outburst, her voice gentle and persuasive. When I refused to cooperate, she gave the doctor a subtle nod. A sharp pain shot through my arm as the anesthetic took hold. There was a flurry of activity from the doctor and nurses. Just before I lost consciousness, Victoria’s voice, cold and resolute, echoed in my ears. “Make absolutely sure he can never have children again. There can be no mistakes.” 2 When I woke up, Victoria was sitting by my bedside. Seeing me stir, she rushed to share her “good news.” “Nathan, I’m pregnant! You’re going to be a father again!” “For the sake of our new baby, you can’t keep drowning in sorrow. It’s like our son has come back to us. This time, we’ll protect him. He’ll grow up safe and sound.” She gently caressed her flat stomach, her face a picture of pure happiness. I knew the embryo transfer had been a success. A dull ache throbbed in my lower abdomen. I smiled, a bitter, hollow thing. Noticing my strange expression, Victoria was about to ask what was wrong when her phone rang. She answered, a warm, gentle smile gracing her lips. “Nathan, there’s an emergency at the family estate. I’ll be right back.” She hung up and hurried out. A few moments later, a text message arrived: 【Get to the Monroe estate immediately. It’s urgent.】 My hand tightened around the phone. My instincts screamed at me not to go, but I hailed a cab and went anyway. The Monroe estate, a place I had never been allowed to set foot in, was ablaze with lights, as festive as Christmas. I could hear laughter and cheerful chatter from a distance, with no trace of the sorrow that should have followed the death of a grandson. Following Victoria’s instructions, I slipped in through the back gate and hid behind a tree. I saw Victoria standing before a man, presenting him with an elegant gift box. “Liam, happy birthday!” So, this was Victoria’s “emergency.” A birthday party for the love of her life. And yet, she had never given any of our children a proper funeral. Under the soft glow of the party lights, Liam’s skin, as smooth and flawless as a baby’s, burned my eyes. He opened the gift box with an expectant smile, and the guests gasped. “Victoria, isn’t that the main event from last month’s royal auction? I was wondering who the whale was who just bought out the whole room. It was you!” “Come on, spill it. Are you about to propose?” Victoria gazed at Liam, her heart pounding. If he just nodded, she would kick me to the curb in a heartbeat. Liam glanced in my direction and made a show of taking off the necklace. “Don’t be ridiculous, everyone. I’m just trying this on for my brother-in-law. We wouldn’t want him to get the wrong idea.” Victoria panicked, grabbing his hand. “Liam, this is for you! It’s your birthday present.” “Only someone as handsome as you could pull off a black diamond of this quality.” Liam leaned in and, ignoring the onlookers, planted a quick kiss on Victoria’s cheek. “Thank you, Victoria.” Stunned for a moment, Victoria then threw her arms around him, holding him tight. She was trembling with excitement, as if she were holding her entire world. “Liam, does this mean you’re willing to…” I knew I had been set up. I had no desire to watch this romantic scene play out. I turned to leave. Suddenly, Liam shouted in my direction, “Nathan! You’re here!” Her moment interrupted, Victoria spun around and stormed over to me, her eyes as cold as ice. “Who told you to come here?” “Didn’t you text me to come right away?” She pulled out her phone, glanced at the message, then turned back to Liam, poking him in the chest with a playful frown. “Don’t be so mischievous next time.” Liam just smiled and slung an arm around her shoulders. “Alright, alright, I know I was wrong. I just wanted to invite my brother-in-law to have some birthday cake with us.” Victoria melted under his touch. She turned back to me, her expression shifting to one of concern. “Why didn’t you call before you came over? If my mother had seen you, you would have been in for it…” Her mother had always despised me. She insisted that Victoria had to give birth to two sons before I could be officially accepted into the family and allowed into the estate. But with one child after another dying in “accidents,” her mother had declared me a jinx and forbidden me from ever setting foot on the property again. I glanced at the magnificent black diamond around Liam’s neck and gave a slight, humorless smile. “My mistake. I shouldn’t have come. Please, continue.” But Liam’s shout had been too loud. It had woken Victoria’s mother, who was napping on the second floor. 3 Victoria’s mother strode into the courtyard, spitting on the ground in my direction. “Nathan, you’re getting bolder and bolder! Do you think this is a place you can just waltz into? Get out!” I turned my gaze to Victoria, saying nothing. I didn’t expose Liam’s little trick. He, on the other hand, looked on the verge of tears as he explained to Victoria’s mother, “Godmother, I was the one who used Victoria’s phone to text him. I just wanted to make a new friend…” At that, Victoria’s mother shot me a venomous glare before turning to Liam, her voice dripping with affection. “Liam, a jinx like him is not worthy of being your friend. It’s your birthday; you don’t want to be tainted by his bad luck. If you want to make friends, just tell me or Victoria. We’ll invite all the handsome men and beautiful women in our circle for you.” She ordered me to leave again. This time, however, Victoria didn’t just stand by and watch. Liam also pleaded with her to let me stay for a piece of cake. Victoria’s mother snorted. “Fine. Since it’s the birthday boy’s request, you can have a piece of cake before you go.” I had no desire to be in their house, nor did I care about a piece of their cake. I turned to leave, my expression calm. Victoria grabbed my arm, her brow furrowed in annoyance. “Since you’re here, at least stay until after the party. Liam was kind enough to invite you. Don’t be rude.” Liam pushed me towards the tiered cake. After making a wish, he suggested that I cut the cake with him. Staring at his flawless, delicate skin, I nodded numbly. As our hands touched, it was as if I could feel my six children again. While I was lost in my thoughts, Liam whispered in my ear, “Feels smooth, doesn’t it? It’s all thanks to your children’s skin. I invited you here for cake as a thank you.” A fire of rage ignited within me. I yanked my hand away. In the sudden movement, the plastic knife in Liam’s hand somehow scratched his delicate skin, and a red welt immediately appeared. “Victoria! I think he doesn’t like me! He said my skin was as soft as a baby’s and he just had to cut it to see…” Victoria cradled Liam’s hand, her eyes red with distress. “Nathan! Apologize to Liam!” I met her icy gaze and refused. “He did that to himself. Why should I apologize?” Her eyes blazed with fury. “Liam just had his final skin graft surgery! Why would he deliberately hurt himself? Besides, he can’t stand pain!” “He can’t stand pain, but our sons could? Do you dare to tell me where the skin on his body came from?” “Don’t drag Liam into this just because you’re grieving! His skin came from the hospital, of course! If you’re going to cause any more trouble, then get out of this house!” I searched her face for a trace of guilt, but there was none. Her mother, who had been looking for an excuse to get rid of me, had found it. She called the butler, who unceremoniously threw me out the front gate. Still not satisfied, she cut a slice of cake and threw it at me. “Get lost!” The guests snickered, and I could see the triumphant, provocative glint in Liam’s eyes. Victoria stared at my calm, emotionless face, and an unbidden sense of unease crept into her heart. She said a few comforting words to Liam and her mother, then followed me outside, trying to wipe the cake off my shirt. “Nathan, you shouldn’t have come. My mother adores Liam. I was protecting you by telling you to leave. If she decided to punish you, you wouldn’t have been able to handle it. You understand that, don’t you?” In the past, no matter how her mother insulted me, a few sweet words from Victoria were all it took for me to forget. I even pitied her for having such a cold-hearted mother. Now I knew. I was a complete and utter fool. And she didn’t need my pity. “It’s fine. Thank you.” Thank you for showing me the truth. Seeing that I wasn’t making a scene, Victoria was about to call her driver to take me home, but then she heard Liam say he wanted to go shopping later. So she called a taxi for me instead, her voice once again gentle and soothing. “Go home, take a shower, and get some rest. I’ll be back to keep you company after I’m done here.” “Okay.” Once in the cab, I told the driver to take me to the hospital where I’d had my surgery. I paid a small bribe and found my severed vas deferens in a medical waste bin. I sealed it in a glass vial and took a cab home.

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The enemies of my parents, seeking revenge, declared they would tear their son limb from limb. To protect their adopted child, they took all the bodyguards, leaving me, crippled and unable to walk. Before the killer murdered me, he made a bet. He told me to call my parents, and if they came for me, he would spare my life. The moment the call connected, I desperately pleaded: “I’m held captive in the South End, can you please come and save me?” But the bodyguard’s voice came through: “Mr. Forrester said you’d surely lie about being in trouble to gain attention.” “Your father has already had a dozen of your distress calls hung up today. Haven’t you learned your lesson?” My father snatched the phone, his tone impatient: “Can’t you be more sensible? If we only care about our biological child and ignore our adopted one, people will call us hypocritical and heartless. What about our reputation as outstanding entrepreneurs?” “Besides, Leo is easily frightened. How can we possibly leave him home alone?” Later, the killer dismembered me and threw my remains into a septic tank. A month passed, and my parents held a celebration, reveling in their adopted son’s safety. On that very same day, a horrifyingly disfigured male corpse was discovered in a septic tank on the outskirts of town. 1. When my parents were about to leave to protect Leo, I tried to stop them. “The killer’s target is me, not Leo.” “You’re going to protect him, but have you ever considered my safety?” My mother pushed me away, her face etched with disappointment. “Leo may be adopted, but he’s our son too! Who knows if the killer might target him instead!” “If we only care for you and not your brother, people online will call us hypocritical and cold-blooded! What about our reputation? What about the company’s honor and stock price!” I listened to her words, utterly incredulous. “But your enemy is Leo’s biological father! Why would he ever hurt Leo? You’re choosing to protect him for good PR, disregarding your own son’s life! What kind of ‘goodness’ is that?” A sharp, stinging slap sent me sprawling to the floor. My father’s eyes blazed with fury, pointing a finger at me: “You’re absolutely out of line…” My mother’s face was grim. She held my father back. “Alaric, it’s not that we don’t care about your life. You’ve been recovering in the sanatorium for years because of your illness. Leo has been with us, attending events as our son. Everyone knows Leo is our son; they don’t know you exist.” “Moreover, the nominations for this year’s National Outstanding Entrepreneur Awards are coming up soon! If something were to happen to your brother now, both our personal and corporate reputations would be ruined!” “Can’t you think of your father and me?” Hearing this, I gave a bitter, hollow laugh. I pointed to my legs, limp and useless on the floor. “Think of you? Isn’t this the result of thinking of you? Isn’t this enough?” A flicker of guilt crossed my parents’ faces. Five years ago, Leo’s father, a man named Marcus King, caused the deaths of hundreds of workers, absconded with their hard-earned money, and vanished. The victims’ families came seeking revenge, but mistook me for Leo and abducted me instead. In that perilous moment, Marcus pulled the detonator on the explosives strapped to his chest. He shouted, demanding to know from my parents who, between Leo and me, was the son of the monster who stole their hard-earned money! Instinctively, my parents pointed at me. The moment the bomb exploded, my parents rushed forward, shielding Leo. I was held by Marcus, and the blast shattered my legs. That year, I had earned a scholarship to a prestigious university through my excellent grades. While I lay in a coma, my parents used their connections to steal my spot and give it to Leo. When I awoke, I wept, demanding to know why they had done this to me. My parents explained: “When we adopted Leo, we publicly stated to the media that we wouldn’t let past grievances affect him, and we swore we’d treat him better than our own son…” “With so many reporters present, if we had chosen you, wouldn’t our previous statements have been discredited? Your mother’s and my reputation would have been completely ruined…” My mother tried to persuade me: “You’re disabled now; we can’t let you go off to school alone. Your father and I want you to stay with us, so we can take good care of you!” “As for that scholarship… it would be such a waste to let it go unused, better to give it to Leo… that way everyone will praise your father and me for treating everyone equally…” But later, I underwent more than a dozen surgeries in the hospital, completely alone. Meanwhile, my parents proudly hosted grand graduation parties for Leo, even taking him to visit university administrators, asking them to look after him. All I wanted was for them to help me contact a specialist for my bomb injuries, to perform surgery. But they scolded me, calling me thoughtless. “No! If the media found out, they’d say your mother and I were abusing our power and misusing public resources!” “Your father and I are at a crucial stage. Are you happy to ruin our reputation?” Because I never received proper surgery, my legs were permanently crippled. … My parents’ silence gave me a flicker of hope. But before I could speak, Leo’s muffled sobs came through the phone. “Dad, Mom, don’t come! Brother is right, I should have been the one whose legs were blown off that day!” “If something happens to me tonight, I deserve it… just consider it me repaying you with my life!” He hung up right after. My parents, who had been hesitating, instantly changed their expressions. “Alaric Forrester! Look what you’ve driven your brother to!” “You’d better pray he’s safe before we get there! Otherwise, we will never forgive you!” I was numb. “And if something happens to me? Will you forgive him then?” My father, furious, kicked my wheelchair over, roaring: “How could I have such a selfish, inconsiderate son?” “If I could, I’d rather not be your son.” My words only earned me the sound of my parents storming out, slamming the door. “Fine! You don’t want to be our son! Then don’t enjoy the conveniences we provide!” “We’re taking all the bodyguards! You can just stay here by yourself!” Leo posted an update on his social media, tagging me: “Brother, don’t be angry with Mom and Dad because of me. I apologize.” Aunts and uncles who knew me sent messages, urging me: “Alaric, how can you be so thoughtless?” “Leo has accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Forrester to events, taking on many risks for you. You should be grateful to Leo, not squabbling with him during such a dangerous time.” But I found it laughable. To adopt Leo, they moved my registration to my grandmother’s house in the countryside and never checked on me. In contrast, they fully supported Leo, traveling with him around the world, attending events. They even encouraged him to open social media accounts, becoming an influencer on the strength of being the Forrester Group heir. I had questioned my parents about their favoritism towards Leo. Their explanation to me was always: “You are our son; you’ll have a good life no matter what. Leo has no parents to care for him, he’s so pitiful, so we naturally have to be a little more biased towards him…” So I became obedient and sensible, no longer competing with Leo. But what was my fate? … If my father hadn’t kicked me over, perhaps I could have rolled my wheelchair away and hidden. But now I was sprawled helplessly on the floor, letting the vengeful man who had burst through the window drag me away. My broken fingernails scraped trails across the floor. He tied me to the back of his car like a dead dog, dragging me to a dilapidated warehouse in the South End. Ten miles of dirt road, and I’d shredded half my body, broken an arm. At the height of the pain, I was close to passing out, but I still fought with all my might, desperately dialing for help. One emergency call after another, each one hung up. The moment the car stopped, I sent one last desperate text. “The killer is in the South End. Save me.” This time, my mother finally answered my call. Hearing my muffled shouts on the phone, my mother paused. But then she angrily demanded: “Alaric Forrester! Don’t you know everyone is waiting for clues to catch Marcus King tonight!” “You’ve been constantly dialing the emergency line, tying it up, just to squabble with your brother. Do you realize that if someone calls in with a tip during this time, you’ll be responsible for the delay! What’s the difference between your behavior and that monster Marcus King’s!” She said coldly: “You don’t need to call anymore. We’ve had all emergency hotlines block you! No one will listen to you!” Suddenly, a wave of resentment and anger filled her voice: “Now everyone knows our biological son is abusing the hotline and interfering with the arrest operation, all because of sibling rivalry. You’ve completely shamed your father and me! How could I have given birth to such a malicious and selfish son!” Her words were cut short as the killer stomped on my phone, crushing it. I watched the scarred, grotesque man before me, trembling uncontrollably, filled with despair. He stomped on my fingers, breaking all ten of them. My screams were drowned out by the storm. He hung me from the rafters, detailing years of hatred for my parents. With each grievance, he carved a fresh wound into my flesh. When he spoke of his biological son, Leo, a flicker of light shone in his eyes. He looked at me with a triumphant smirk. “My son has become a man of consequence.” “And you, you pathetic worm, will soon be a pile of rotten flesh, thrown into a septic tank.” He grew excited: “I never would have guessed! Your parents are so good to my son! Just because he said he was scared, they took everyone away that very night! That’s how I got my chance!” “You’re their biological child, yet they don’t even care if you live or die!” I struggled to ask: “So, you and Leo teamed up…” He grinned hideously: “So what? Blame your parents. If they cared about you, you wouldn’t have fallen into my hands.” Blood soaked my entire body. I was too weak to struggle, only able to whimper softly, begging him to let me go. He tossed a phone at my feet, a triumphant grin on his face. “Tell you what, call your parents. Tell them to come here and save you.” “If they truly believe you, I’ll spare your life.” The phone rang, once, twice, until it was nearly hung up before it was answered. My voice was hoarse as I whispered: “Dad…” In response, I heard the sounds of a lively celebration and a bodyguard’s voice. “Alaric? Looking for your father? He’s busy looking after your brother!” “Marcus King didn’t show up tonight, so your brother is safe. He twisted his ankle in excitement, and your parents are absolutely heartbroken.” Numb with heartache, I forced out: “Help me… Marcus King kidnapped me and took me to the South End…” Uncle David’s hesitant voice replied. “But your father said you’ve been filing false reports all day, lying to get attention.” “He told us not to answer any of your calls for help today, no matter what you said. We weren’t to help you.” “Still… your voice sounds so hoarse. Is something really wrong?” Before I could continue, my father snatched the phone. His voice was cold. “Alaric Forrester, it’s almost dawn. Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” “Thankfully your brother is fine today. He said he forgives you and won’t hold a grudge, but you need to apologize properly to him, otherwise we won’t pay for your rehabilitation therapy!” Uncle David also tried to persuade me: “Alaric, you kept calling the emergency line yesterday, and it caused your parents to be questioned. You should be more sensible, apologize to them and be nice. Can you please stop making trouble?” I forced a bitter smile, tears streaming down my face. “Just believe me this one time…” “Mom, Dad, please come to the South End?” “I’m really kidnapped. If you don’t believe me, you can…” “Your brother twisted his ankle! He can’t even walk, and you show no concern for him! Do you really want us to indulge your foolishness?!” My mother suddenly exploded, snatching the phone and shouting at me: “The South End is so far away! You’re a cripple, without money, how could you possibly get that far!” “Even now, you’re still trying to lie and deceive us!” “Do you only care if your father and I are completely shamed?!” Leo gently tried to comfort my mother, then feigned concern for me: “Enough, brother, please stop talking. Don’t you know the reporters are live-streaming here right now! Everything you’re saying is being broadcast!” “Your reckless behavior, wasting police resources, will damage Mom and Dad’s reputation!” “Hurry and apologize to everyone!” “Leo! You don’t need to try and persuade him!” My father, utterly disappointed, delivered his final words: “It is my failure as a parent to have raised such a son.” “From today onwards, I disown him.” “My only son, from now on, is Leo.” He roared into the phone: “Alaric Forrester! Do you hear me?!” He seemed to wait for me to say something. But I couldn’t say anything. The killer had slit my throat, and I was convulsing. My father, waiting for my response for a long time, let out a heavy sigh. “Alaric Forrester, you truly disappoint us…” The rusty iron knife hacked at my limbs. I no longer had the strength to resist. Warm tears mixed with blood splattered on my face. In the last moments of my life, the only thing I could do, was to swallow the wristband that had been continuously recording. Let me do one last thing. Let my death help those innocent victims, to catch this villain who has been on the run for over a decade.

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After showering, I stepped barefoot onto the smart scale in our house. A chime rang out: “Congratulations, Mindy, mid-pregnancy, baby is 1.5 kg!” I was stunned. I was pregnant? How did I not know? Excited, I grabbed my phone and immediately called my husband: “What’s wrong with the scale? Am I pregnant?” There was a brief second of silence on the other end, then his usual gentle chuckle: “Skylar, it’s just a scale, the data’s wrong. Are you overly sensitive because you haven’t conceived yet?” I hung up, then connected via Bluetooth. In the scale’s data log, I saw three months of continuous weight gain. Grabbing my car keys, I drove straight to Mindy’s university. Before confronting Mindy, I needed to confirm my suspicions. In the scale’s app, there was a heart icon every two weeks, which I assumed marked a prenatal check-up. Based on the pattern, today was a check-up day! I parked my car outside the private hospital. The scent of disinfectant hung heavy in the obstetrics and gynecology corridor. A few minutes later, a girl in a white cotton dress walked out of the consulting room, head down. Long hair reaching her waist, no makeup on her face—exactly the pure, innocent look my husband, Alex, always favored. The moment she looked up, I confirmed it. It was Mindy, the underprivileged student my husband and I had been sponsoring. When she saw me, her eyes clearly flickered with panic for a moment, but she quickly composed herself, patting her belly and forcing a shy smile: “Skylar? What a coincidence, are you here for an appointment too?” “Yes, a prenatal check-up.” “My scale at home says I’m pregnant, so I came to see if it’s true.” I got straight to the point, “And you? A prenatal check-up too? Your belly looks about four or five months along?” “N-no!” She waved her hands frantically, “I… I just gained weight…” “I just came for a routine physical… yes, a physical!” She stammered through her explanation, full of holes. If not for the smart scale’s cold “mid-pregnancy” announcement, I might have actually believed her. My gaze fell on her tightly clutched abdomen. She trembled with fright, instinctively taking a step back. But I smiled, stepping closer, my voice gentle: “Don’t be nervous, plenty of people get pregnant before marriage, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.” “If you really are pregnant, just make the man marry you. Have Alex talk to him; let’s see if he dares to shirk responsibility.” Mindy’s face instantly paled, her lips trembling as she bolted. I didn’t watch her humiliated retreat, instead turning to make a call. “Get me Mindy’s medical report.” Within ten minutes, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a message from my best friend, Chloe. An image: Mindy’s prenatal check-up report. A quick glance confirmed it was indeed mid-pregnancy. In the emergency contact section, two names stood out. Alex. Chloe was silent for a few seconds, dropping her usual playful tone: “Is it his?” I shook my head, a bitter smile on my face: “No proof yet…” Back home, before I even had a chance to change my shoes, my phone screen lit up. It was a notification from Mindy’s social media. A photo of a pregnant belly, the background my carefully chosen living room sofa, her wearing my loungewear, intimately leaning on a cushion I’d bought, with the caption: “Baby’s new home, I love it.” The location: the address of my newly renovated villa. I forced myself to calm down and stormed into Alex’s study. Following a woman’s intuition, I found his old phone tucked into a hidden compartment on the top shelf of the bookshelf. The lock screen was a photo of me, and the password was still my birthday. The screen lit up, and I tapped on the profile picture; it was a new account. The profile picture showed a slender hand stroking a woman’s pregnant belly. A chill ran through me. The plain silver band on that hand’s ring finger was one I had designed myself ten years ago. The contact list contained only Mindy. I opened the chat, and their love story unfolded before my eyes. The timeline wasn’t long, starting from when I was temporarily transferred out of town six months ago. The earliest message was from last Christmas, sent by Mindy: “Alex, Merry Christmas, the gift I want to give you is myself.” Alex hadn’t replied to that message, but I remembered he used the excuse of working overtime that night and didn’t come home. After a few innocuous holiday greetings, the messages grew increasingly vulgar. “Your waist is so soft.” “You were amazing last night, you utterly captivated me.” Those disgusting words turned my stomach. On our wedding anniversary, he video-called me until midnight. But after hanging up, he immediately went to find Mindy, hiking with her up a mountain to watch the sunrise. Mindy would occasionally feign innocence, asking: “Will Skylar be angry?” Alex’s reply was cold and heartless: “Our private world doesn’t include her.” I trembled as I opened the album of that secondary account; it was filled with Mindy. They kissed at sunset, their maternity photos, their dreams of a beautiful life as a family of three… I was shaking with rage, almost crushing the phone. Just then, my own phone received a picture of steamed dumplings from Alex, and immediately afterwards, the phone rang. “Skylar, are you home yet?” “I queued for half an hour in the North End to get your favorite dumplings. I was just about to bring them over, but something urgent came up at the company…” I sneered inwardly, looking at the message Mindy had just sent on the old phone: “Honey, the hotel room is ready, I’m waiting for you in my new sexy lingerie~” Unsurprisingly, those dumplings would soon appear before Mindy. I regulated my breathing: “Okay, you go take care of it.” I copied all the chat logs and videos from Alex’s old phone. When Alex rushed home, I was sitting in the living room. Seeing the scene, the gentle smile on his face froze for a moment, but he still walked over as usual, trying to embrace me: “Skylar, what’s wrong?” I sidestepped, avoiding him, and threw the printed prenatal report onto the coffee table in front of him. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, yet he still feigned innocence: “Skylar, why did you actually go to the hospital for a check-up?” I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Alex, look closely at the name on there—it’s Mindy, not Skylar! What do you have to say for yourself?” He still brazenly lied. “Mindy? Mindy’s pregnant? How would I know… you know these young university students getting pregnant so easily…” “But darling, what does this have to do with me? You’re not suspecting me, are you… I’m innocent…” I looked at the man before me, a terrible actor, and couldn’t understand how I had loved him for so many years. “Darling, I’ll go find Mindy right now and have her clarify everything to your face.” Alex calmly took out his phone and dialed Mindy’s number. Not long after, the doorbell rang. Alex pulled in a delicate figure from outside, it was Mindy. She cowered, timidly looking at me, no makeup on her face, appearing clean and innocent. “Alex… Am I here at a bad time? Skylar, please don’t misunderstand Alex, it’s all my fault…” “Do you have a say here?” I sharply snapped. Mindy flinched, her body swaying, and she fell straight to the ground. I watched her with cold eyes, not moving an inch. Alex, however, rushed forward, cradling Mindy protectively in his arms, then turned to me and roared: “Skylar! Why did you push her! She’s carrying a child!” Before I could speak, a commotion erupted outside the door. “What child? Who has a child of the Chen family?” A middle-aged couple, plainly dressed but with sharp eyes, pushed their way in. It was Alex’s parents. They had come to deliver local specialties to Alex. As soon as Alex’s parents entered, they saw Alex embracing Mindy. His mother glared fiercely at Mindy, then charged forward, ready to strike her: “You shameless hussy! How dare you seduce my son!” Alex quickly shielded Mindy: “Mom! What are you doing! Mindy is the daughter of Mrs. Davis from the general store at the village entrance!” At these words, Alex’s parents’ attitude did a complete 180-degree turn. His mother stopped her tirade, beaming with joy, “Oh, it’s Mrs. Davis’s girl, let me see, you’ve grown so big?” She scrutinized Mindy’s belly, “Pregnant? That’s wonderful! Where are you living now? I say, don’t live anywhere else, just stay here in our villa with a nanny, we’ll make sure you’re perfectly comfortable.” Alex adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and following his mother’s lead, turned to me: “From today onwards, Mindy will live here to rest during her pregnancy. Give her the master bedroom; you can go to the guest room for now.” His tone was not a discussion, but a decree. Before I could object, he helped Mindy up and walked out, leaving me alone in the living room. The next morning, Mindy sauntered downstairs wearing my favorite silk bathrobe. She was wearing my usual perfume, a unique scent that Alex and I had custom-blended in France during our courtship. There was only one of its kind in the world. I sat at the dining table, coldly watching her take a seat opposite me. “How did you sleep last night, sister?” Mindy deliberately rested her wrist on the table, revealing a Patek Philippe watch, smiling with feigned innocence. She was an underprivileged student; she couldn’t possibly afford it. Undoubtedly, the watch was a gift from Alex, and she was flaunting it to me. I ignored her, looking down at my porridge. She seemed unfazed, picking up a bowl of bird’s nest soup and stirring it gently with a spoon. “Alex is so good to me. He knows I have morning sickness and no appetite, so he even got up in the middle of the night to make me bird’s nest soup, saying it’s good for the baby.” “Sister, would you like to try some?” “Crash!” I couldn’t take it anymore, and furiously smashed the bowl of bird’s nest soup on the floor. “Ah!” Mindy shrieked, perfectly dodging into Alex’s arms as he walked in, crying, her face a tear-streaked mess. “Alex, I’m so scared, is Skylar going crazy?” Alex immediately shielded the “startled” Mindy behind him, his eyes burning with anger as he looked at me: “Skylar, look at yourself. What have you become?” “Mindy is pregnant, she’s from my hometown, and she’s an underprivileged student we both sponsored. Why are you losing your temper with her?” I couldn’t stand it anymore. I wasn’t going to play Alex’s game any longer. “I know Mindy is carrying your child.” Alex paused for a moment, then laughed. “Skylar, haven’t you always wanted a child?” The smile on his lips turned cruel. “I got Mindy to be your surrogate, shouldn’t you thank me?” “Thank you?” I trembled with rage. “Alex, you want me to thank you for getting your mistress to have a child for me?” My mother-in-law, who had just arrived with chicken soup early that morning, suddenly appeared. “Alex, are you saying Mindy is carrying your child?” Alex nodded. My mother-in-law’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she burst into laughter. “Heaven has eyes! Our Chen family finally has an heir!” She walked up to me, pointed at my nose, and cursed me furiously: “You barren hen! Our Chen family has had only one heir per generation, and after three years of marriage with you, there’s been no sign of a baby! Now you want to harm my precious grandchild! What are your intentions?!” Alex’s father also chimed in: “Skylar, it’s your good fortune that our Alex married you. If you can’t have children yourself, shouldn’t he be allowed to find someone who can? Don’t be so overbearing!” That whole family, they epitomized shamelessness. “Sister, don’t be angry,” Mindy poked her head out from behind Alex, stroking her belly. “Didn’t the doctor say you weren’t well and it would be hard for you to conceive? Alex is doing this for your own good too.” I was shaking with rage at this twisted scene, pointing at them, unable to speak. Suddenly, my vision went black, and I slowly collapsed. When I woke up, I saw that my assistant had called me hundreds of times. While I was unconscious, Alex had urgently convened a board meeting of the Forrester Group, proposing to remove me from my position. I floored the accelerator, crashing through the boardroom doors ten minutes later. Alex froze when he saw me, but quickly replaced it with a look of concern. “Skylar, it’s cold, don’t catch a chill.” I ignored him, addressing everyone: “Who wants to remove me? I don’t agree!” A cold laugh came from among the board members, it was my stepmother, Victoria. “Skylar, your mental state has been deteriorating lately. You’re constantly throwing tantrums and smashing things. You’re simply not fit to hold a board position.” I suddenly remembered a few months ago, when I accidentally overheard them secretly talking in the garden. Victoria handed Alex a card, both of them acting furtively. He had then dismissed it as “pocket money” from my stepmother, a gesture from an elder. It turned out they had already colluded. Alex’s voice suddenly came through the microphone: “Everyone, please settle down. I have a video I’d like to show you all, of my wife, Skylar’s, recent… true condition.” The giant screen behind him lit up, showing me. I was screaming hysterically in the living room, my face contorted, violently smashing the bowl of bird’s nest soup on the floor. The video was meticulously edited, only showing my most uncontrolled moments, perfectly portraying me as a deranged lunatic. The room erupted in gasps. Victoria opportunely pulled out a handkerchief and began to sob quietly. I coldly watched Alex on the stage. He looked back at me, his eyes filled with feigned heartbreak. He was truly a good actor. As soon as the video finished, a man in a white lab coat appeared in the conference room. “I am Dr. Lewis, head of the Provincial Mental Hospital,” “According to my diagnosis, Ms. Forrester is experiencing an acute manic episode of bipolar disorder, with severe violent tendencies, and must be immediately placed in isolation for treatment!” Alex’s tears instantly welled up: “My wife’s mental state has been extremely unstable recently due to personal family reasons, and it has severely impacted the company’s normal operations.” “To protect our collective hard work, I propose that Ms. Forrester’s chairman position be temporarily suspended, and I be granted full authority to manage the subsequent crisis!” “Uncles and aunts, for Skylar’s sake, and for everyone’s safety, I have no choice but to do this!” No sooner had his words fallen than several of his cronies on the board immediately voiced their agreement. “Mr. Chen is right, the top priority is to stabilize the situation!” “Ms. Forrester should take care of her personal affairs first; her health is paramount.” The conference room door was once again flung open, and blinding flashlights instantly engulfed me. A group of reporters rushed in. Alex’s face was etched with a grief I had never seen before. “To all media friends, I am deeply pained.” He pushed me away, leading the reporters into the room. “My wife… she has developed some mental issues because she hasn’t been able to have children.” Several reporters’ recording pens appeared before me. “Ms. Forrester, have you truly developed a mental illness due to infertility?” “Mr. Chen said you’ve been smashing things at home, even becoming violent towards him, is that true?” “Can shareholders really trust the Forrester Group to a mentally ill person?” Before I could refute, Alex stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. He looked at the camera, his eyes red-rimmed: “Skylar, don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to the best hospital for treatment right away.” His performance was flawless, like a perfect husband utterly heartbroken for his wife. And I, wearing only a thin nightgown, my hair disheveled, my face ashen. He roughly dragged me, shoving me into a car from the mental institution.

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After Fox’s company went bankrupt, I was relegated to being a “copper sparrow” with a monthly salary of just three hundred and eighty. My friends all urged me to find a new patron quickly. But I wouldn’t listen. No matter how tough or tiring things got, my main goal was unwavering loyalty. Later, Fox finally made a comeback, his wealth multiplying several times over what it was before. On the day we moved out, the tall man sat in my small apartment, his mood buoyant: “Although our contract has expired, I can agree to any condition you propose.” I was both surprised and delighted: “Then I want a three-hundred-square-meter luxury apartment in the city center.” “And what else?” “That’s all.” Fox’s smile faltered. He hid the small velvet box behind his back, his expression growing increasingly grim. “…That’s all?” 1. “W-well, what else should there be?” I felt Fox seemed very angry. I pulled my neck in, subtly scooting further away. “Or… maybe add fifty years of property management fees?” Fox took a deep breath, his dark eyebrows furrowing high on his forehead. “Iris Young, are you insulting me?” It was true. He was so wealthy now that a mere three-hundred-square-meter luxury apartment in the city center did seem a bit insulting. I had to be honest: “I’m sorry, but since I don’t plan on getting married, if I’m living alone in the future and want to get a dog, that size is more than enough.” Fox choked on his words. The hand that had been behind his back suddenly slipped into his pocket, his Patek Philippe watch prominently displayed. His voice turned cold: “Coincidentally, I also have no plans to get married.” “I agree to your terms. Anyway, the contract is over. I’ll transfer another two hundred and fifty thousand to your account, to thank you for your care during this time.” So generous! I immediately beamed, not having fully caught whatever he mumbled in his first sentence. “Thank you so much, Fox!” He pressed his lips together, saying nothing. As he slammed the door shut, the trash can outside emitted a resounding “thump.” 2. I happily shared what had just happened in our friends’ chat. Actually, I didn’t have many friends in this city; my so-called “friends” were just the partners of Fox’s circle of acquaintances. BoldChloe’sLuxuryLife: Iris, such a perfect opportunity to climb the ladder, and that’s all you asked for? Get out of here. Ethan’sStandInGirlfriend: Next time, don’t send news about such a small request just to annoy us girls. Maya’sBabyOnTheRun: Take this, patron gets rich, no side effects version. Only Liam’sMyBoy was carefully analyzing the situation: The Vance family has always wanted to form an alliance with Fox. I heard they even had dinner together last week, so an engagement is probably on the agenda. Also, Fox is a heartless man; he drove his own brother to suicide. Iris wouldn’t dare demand too much. She’d be locked up in a minute. Me: Exactly! He seemed so angry when he left, it was terrifying! T_T —They all knew Fox was famously difficult in their circles. Though handsome and wealthy, he had a terrible temper and many rules. His stamina was also extraordinary, often leaving me utterly exhausted. But back then, I was a dutiful “gold sparrow.” I could endure anything for money. Later, news came that Fox had gone bankrupt. “Iris, you should go. I have no money left.” He had been expelled by the Forrester family, his suit crumpled, his back so desolate, as if abandoned by the world. I did want to leave. But my mind quickly churned— Fox, a proud scion, had fallen to rock bottom. If I helped him now, he would surely remember my kindness when he made his comeback. And with his intelligence, earning money again was only a matter of time. It had to be better than me going out and working, right? My foot, already stepping away, immediately retracted. I tentatively asked: “…Actually, those bags and shoes you gave me before, I secretly sold a few and used the money to buy a small apartment.” “Fox, do you want to come home with me?” He nodded slightly. So, I took him back to that sixty-square-meter little apartment. We made a few rules, adding them to the end of our original contract: One, during bankruptcy, Fox couldn’t freeload; he had to work to pay for rent. Two, he wasn’t allowed to lose his temper. Three, he had to listen to me at my place; if he angered me, he’d sleep in the spare room. That night, sitting at the dining table, Fox ate every last bit of the tomato and egg noodles I cooked, leaving not even a drop of soup. After eating, he uncharacteristically washed the dishes without being asked, silent the entire time, like a large dog caught in the rain. Late at night, Fox pressed down on me, making the small pink bed creak. I protested this abusive behavior of riding roughshod over my benefactor. “Can you be gentler! The bed will break, and we can’t afford a new one!” I tried to kick him, but he caught my foot. He kissed his way up my ankle, his breath hot, yet his words were meticulously careful: “Iris Young, thank you… for still being willing to love me.” “I swear, I won’t let you live like this for too long.” —Having my own place, no matter the size, that could shelter me from the wind and rain, and where I could eat hot meals every day, had always been my dream. I honestly didn’t think this life was hard at all. But Fox seemed to have misunderstood something. Never mind. At least he looked full of fight, and his eyes sparkled again. 3. The trash can by the door had been kicked in by Fox. I moved the dented trash can downstairs. There was an elderly man on the first floor, suffering from mild dementia, who often collected various discarded items from the complex. His eyes showed a longing for this trash can. I decided to be thoroughly kind and just gave it to him. During this time, I also received a transfer from Fox. He had fumbled the numbers and accidentally transferred 52,000 to me. I remembered online legal advice that such large transfers with special meanings could easily be demanded back or even lead to extortion charges. I kept the money and kindly transferred 2,700 back to him. He never accepted the money. So I sent a message reminding him: Fox, you transferred too much; I’ve sent it back, okay? A huge red exclamation mark appeared on the screen. I froze. Fox had actually blocked me. …He always got like this when he was angry. I didn’t know how I’d upset him this time. So I didn’t try to contact him again. In the following days, Fox didn’t appear. I enjoyed the peace. First, I did a thorough cleaning of the apartment. When I had downtime, I looked at new apartment design ideas online, envisioning my wonderful future. But several more days passed, and Fox still made no move. His phone was still unreachable, and I remained blocked on social media. This was very uncharacteristic of his usually lavish nature. Where was my grand luxury apartment? I couldn’t sit still any longer. I proactively contacted Fox’s assistant. “I’m sorry, Mr. Forrester has a private engagement today. May I ask who’s calling?” I stammered, unable to answer for a long time. I almost forgot, Fox was no longer the man he used to be; his staff had all changed. His current assistant didn’t know me. And my contract with Fox had ended. We had no relationship. I no longer had the privileges of a “gold sparrow.” “Just a friend, nothing special.” With that, I awkwardly hung up the phone. 4. For the sake of the luxury apartment, I decided to go to his place. I waited for a long time downstairs at Fox’s building, finally seeing a black car approaching in the distance. The low-key, luxurious Maybach pulled to a stop. A car door opened and closed. I saw Fox’s stern, sharp features. Another graceful figure followed, stepping out of the car. The woman in a moon-white cheongsam had her back to me, her voice delicate: “Fox, I’m very satisfied with you.” “Whether it’s your looks or your family background, you perfectly meet my standards. I don’t mind slowly cultivating feelings with you after marriage.” Well, that was direct! Judging by her back, she was definitely a great beauty. She was Fox’s arranged marriage partner, Bethany Vance. “I’m leaving for now. Three days from now, give me your answer.” At this moment, Fox’s face was obscured, so I couldn’t see his expression. This kind of earth-shattering gossip, I had to let my friends know immediately! I ducked further behind the wall. Then I turned my phone screen brightness to the lowest setting, discreetly live-broadcasting the scene to my friends’ chat. Squeaky: @everyone Come quick! Miss Vance is proposing to Fox right now! [Peeking from behind the tree.jpg] The chat was instantly flooded with gossip emojis. Someone asked: Luna, in these three years, did you truly not feel anything for Fox at all? “Don’t you feel sad when you hear him say these things…?” My finger hovered above the screen, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to reply. A deep male voice suddenly boomed above my head, enunciating the chat name word by word: “Diamond Cage Owners’ Committee?” Fox had appeared behind me at some point. I braced myself, quickly locking my screen. He had one hand in his pocket, the other impatiently tugging at his tie. The corners of his eyes were flushed, and there was a faint scent of alcohol on him, his eyes swirling with emotions I couldn’t decipher. “Iris Young, when did you develop a habit of peeking?” My heart pounded relentlessly. I took a step back: “I came to find you.” Fox’s eyes instantly lit up, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Find me?” “Yes, this is something you left at my place.” “You left in such a hurry that day, you forgot it. I brought it over for you.” Fox suddenly laughed. “You really are… impatient. Are my things such an eyesore?” “They do take up a bit of space. The living room is much more spacious now that they’re gone.” Fox’s breathing noticeably deepened. He turned away to compose himself, and when he spoke again, his voice had returned to its usual calm: “You heard what Bethany Vance said just now?” I nodded. Fox’s gaze burned into me: “Then do you have anything to say?” I buried my face lower, twisting my fingers, and whispered: “Yes.” “Hm?” Fox waited expectantly for my answer. The night wind swept through the street, its rustling seeming to urge something on. I gathered my courage and sincerely said: “I wish you both happiness, many children, and a long, happy marriage.” “And then, you, you promised me that three-hundred-square-meter river-view apartment, when will you make that happen?” 5. Fox’s tone held no discernible emotion, betraying nothing. “Is that blessing sincere?” “Yes.” I nodded. Fox’s brow furrowed tighter. “Then why did you take me in?” I slightly embellished the reason: “At a time like that, how could I bear to see you alone and homeless…” He abruptly bent down and picked up the cardboard box, even stumbling backward due to the force, as if he twisted his ankle. I quickly reached out to help. Fox waved me off, straightened up, his eyes cold as ice: “Oh? So I should thank you for your pity.” “For your benevolence, I’ll have my assistant send you the contract tomorrow.” Under the dim streetlamp. His eyes were redder, and he gritted his teeth, forcing out a few words: “Iris Young, if I ever come looking for you again, I’m a dog.” Fox strode away, long-legged and distant, never looking back. Watching him walk away, I finally exhaled. I quietly spread my palm; it was already slick with nervous sweat. Actually, Fox was a decent patron. Even after going bankrupt, he stuck to our contract, working several jobs every day, transferring money to my account on time. Not only that. When disgruntled employees, whose wages were overdue, came knocking, Fox would diligently note down their names, sell whatever he could, and if that wasn’t enough, he’d use his earnings to pay them back little by little. He’d deliver food until midnight, yet still remember to bring hot breakfast home for me. Or, at our lowest point, when we were at the supermarket, fighting with an elderly couple for half-price vegetables until his shoe fell off, Fox still carried me back. Those “copper sparrow” days were, in fact, happier than the “gold sparrow” ones. Because the bankrupt Fox was much more endearing than the wealthy Fox. Now he was back in his original world, about to have a wife from a suitable family. I wouldn’t abandon my own interests or violate moral boundaries to become a mistress for some vague, ephemeral emotion. A sensible person knows when to quit while they’re ahead. So, ending it here was best for everyone. 6. To welcome my grand new apartment, I woke up early and put on full makeup. The friends’ chat was already buzzing. Maya’sBabyOnTheRun: I thought you were spineless, always looking meek, but it turns out you’re the most clear-headed one in this group. BoldChloe’sLuxuryLife: Someone who can share your hardships might not be able to share your joys. I support you. Liam’sMyDad (PatronForcedMeToRename): What are your plans next? I thought for a moment and replied: After the apartment title is transferred, I’ll research renovations, then adopt a dog. And then… live a normal life. Ethan’sStandInGirlfriend: Oh! Ethan’s cousin studied art abroad, and his family’s funding suddenly dried up. He was forced to come back yesterday and rely on Ethan. How about I set you two up? “You’re best at dealing with these heartbroken, bankrupt gentlemen, anyway. If you can get an extra sum from Ethan, we’ll split it sixty-forty? You get sixty, I get forty.” The corner of my mouth twitched. I thought it was just a joke, but a few minutes later, a friend request popped up on WeChat. The sender was very polite: “Hello, are you the therapist recommended by Clara? I’m Adrian.” I sighed and accepted his request. “Please don’t say that, I’m not a professional… but if you need to talk, I can be a listening ear.” Adrian sent a nodding cat emoji, looking very well-behaved and cute. Then he asked: “Could we meet tonight?” 7. What I didn’t know was— At this moment, my WeChat had been unblocked by Fox. He sat in his vast top-floor office, gazing intently at my chat window, yet not sending a single word. His assistant handed him a contract. “Mr. Forrester, everything is ready.” Fox snapped back to reality and opened the contract. His pen hovered over the signature line for a long time. “Do you have a girlfriend?” The assistant was startled but respectfully replied: “…No, I’m too busy with work.” “I do.” The assistant thought he was hallucinating. No, boss, yes, but what does this have to do with me? No one asked if you had a girlfriend… “She and I started with a transaction. Initially, I didn’t put much effort into the relationship, but gradually, I realized she was a very good person. She’s the one who stayed with me from nothing until now.” The assistant stared at his shoelaces, wishing he could become deaf on the spot. “But she seems to have never loved me.” “This apartment is her parting gift.” The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected Fox’s furrowed brow. He pondered, as if meticulously analyzing a difficult negotiation opponent, attempting to review his missteps in the relationship. “Does she… only like my money?” Strangely, this realization didn’t anger Fox. On the contrary, what flashed in his mind was Iris Young cheering joyfully in her new apartment. Fox had always eagerly anticipated Iris expressing such emotions because of him. But now? He had charged forward on the front lines for the person he cherished. Only to turn around and find that person had vanished without a trace. His heart felt empty, his feet lost their grounding, like he was floating in water, wishing he could just drown, deeply uncomfortable. The assistant cleared his throat: “Mr. Forrester, if I may be frank, being wealthy is one of your charms,” he racked his brain to complete the sentence, “if the lady likes your money, then at least it indicates…” “It indicates she needs me.” Fox suddenly interjected, his dark eyes brightening abruptly— If Iris Young liked money, then he would give Iris Young a lot of money. In short, all pride and dignity, could go far away. Whatever Iris Young wanted, he could afford to give. And he would absolutely not let go. Having understood this, the knot in his chest dissipated. Fox’s brows relaxed. “Tonight’s engagement is canceled. I’ll personally deliver this ‘breakup gift’.” —Oh, right, he had been drunk that night, and he thought he had said something like “if he came looking for her again, he was a dog”? Heh. His wife was about to run off; he’d be a dog if he had to. 8. Despite my various rejections, Adrian still showed up downstairs at my apartment with a “surprise.” From a distance, I saw his slender figure standing under the streetlamp, carefully cradling something in his arms. As I got closer, I gasped: “Oh, is that a kitten?” The kitten was a British Shorthair blue tabby, gazing at me with round, wide eyes. Adrian’s eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes. “I’m sorry to bother you so late.” “This is a stray cat I found while studying abroad, named Boots. But I just returned home, and there’s a situation with my family, so I really can’t help it. Could I please ask you to take care of her for me first?” He had naturally smiling eyes, making it impossible to refuse him. As he leaned slightly, the faint scent of tea mixed with paint wafted towards me. “I heard you’re moving to a new place? Boots is very well-behaved and won’t bother you.” Boots purred softly, her fluffy pink paw pads resting on my wrist. —Who could refuse that? It just meant my original plan to get a dog would be disrupted. Cats and dogs can’t live together, can they? They’d fight. I hesitated a little. “Meow~” Boots continued to exude charm. Unable to resist the temptation, I picked her up. “Oh, right, I also heard you’re planning to study abroad? I’m an expert in that area, from refining essays to charming professors, I know it all.” I quickly waved my hand: “How can I trouble you with that…” “Consider it a thank you gift,” Adrian’s eyes curved into crescent moons, “Thank you for being my sounding board.” A sudden shout interrupted our conversation. “You dog! Give me back my trash can!” The elderly man with dementia from the first floor angrily waved his cane, roaring at the deep shadows of the trees. In the deep shade opposite him, someone seemed to be standing, staring fixedly in my direction. The night was too dark. I rubbed my eyes, but couldn’t make out who it was.

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After my twentieth boyfriend was exposed as a “total jerk” by my best friend, Scarlett Pierce, I finally caved and agreed to an arranged marriage, tying the knot with Ryan Carter, scion of a powerful family, in a whirlwind ceremony. Later, at a friend’s gathering, Scarlett, with a half-eaten slice of cake, sidled up to Ryan, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. “Ryan, honey, I find this a tad too sweet. Could you possibly finish it for me?” I intervened, but instead of seeing the problem, she erupted. “What’s the big deal? I was just testing your husband’s character! What are you getting so worked up about?!” “We’ve been best friends for over a decade. You don’t honestly think I’m after your husband, do you?” In the past, I might have fallen for it. But not this time. I’d been reborn. I grabbed the cake from the table and smashed it right into her face. “You, of all people, to test someone else’s character? What a joke!” “You’re nothing but my former driver’s daughter, so stop pretending to be a socialite!” “I think you’ve not only set your sights on my husband, but you’ve probably already mapped out how you’re going to climb into his bed!” … My outburst turned heads. Friends started gathering around, and Scarlett’s face cycled through shades of crimson and white. It took her a full minute to compose herself. Wiping the cake from her face, she shrieked, “Olivia Howard, how could you speak to me like that?!” “All these years, if I hadn’t helped you weed out those twenty jerks, would you even be married to Ryan right now?” Ryan’s brow furrowed, just as I expected. He knew I’d had ex-boyfriends, but he likely had no idea the number was so… impressive. I smiled, my gaze fixed on Scarlett, and countered, “Back then, every time I started dating someone new, you were practically desperate to ‘test’ them for me. So, me going through boyfriends every two months, that’s perfectly normal, isn’t it?” “And speaking of which, I bet you’ve slept with quite a few of my exes, haven’t you?” Scarlett was, in fact, the daughter of my family’s driver. When I was in elementary school, her father died saving mine, and his only wish was for the Howards to look after his daughter. My father, a man of profound gratitude, not only financially supported Scarlett for years but also let her live with us. We were inseparable, quickly becoming confidantes. She’d always post my designer items online, cultivating this image of a wealthy socialite, and I never said a word. But I never imagined that while I treated her as my best friend, she resented my good fortune. In my previous life, she grew green with envy over my marriage into a prominent family. She spread rumors about my promiscuity, and my ex-boyfriends, eager to please her, actually conspired to drug and assault me, even taking compromising photos. The trauma was too much, and I jumped to my death. It was only in my final moments that I discovered her scheme: she’d consistently used the identity of the ‘true Howard heiress’ to seduce my boyfriends. Afterwards, she’d always put on an innocent act. “Olivia, I truly had no idea that would happen. I only exchanged a few words with him, and suddenly he showed his true colors.” “But perhaps it’s for the best. At least you saw him for who he really was. Good riddance to a jerk like that.” She’d then wash her hands of it, as if the fault lay entirely with the men. The memory churned my stomach, making me feel violently ill. Scarlett’s eyes welled up, and she cast a pathetic glance at Ryan, biting her lip. “I didn’t! I had a strict upbringing, with a curfew and everything. How could I possibly do something like that?” “I haven’t even had a boyfriend to this day…” Just like in my past life, she was playing the innocent, pure socialite. I couldn’t stomach her act a second longer and stood up to leave. But Ryan grabbed my arm, pulling me back into my seat. “Olivia, Scarlett’s intentions were good. Let’s just drop it. It was just a joke, and I didn’t fall for it. Don’t worry, I’m not a jerk.” Those words sounded eerily familiar. After all, which of my twenty exes hadn’t sworn they weren’t jerks? It seemed Scarlett’s plan had worked. However, this time, I was going to make sure Scarlett Pierce bore the full consequences of messing with my alliance with the Carters! Ryan, as the sole heir to the Carter fortune, naturally commanded respect from our friends. They quickly chimed in, trying to placate me. “That’s right, Olivia, you’re already married to the Carter heir. Are you seriously worried about him running off?” “Exactly! I think Scarlett was just overly concerned for you.” “Wasn’t Scarlett your proudest best friend? How could she ever harm you?” “You have a wealthy husband and a socialite best friend. We’re all so envious. You should be grateful.” I clenched my fists, almost grinding my back teeth together, before forcing myself to sit back down, my rage barely contained. Scarlett smirked, winking at me, then plopped down next to me, deliberately placing her limited edition alligator skin bag on the table with a loud thwack. My friends gasped as they recognized it. “Scarlett! You actually got that bag!” “Oh my God! There are only three in the world, and the city’s richest man owns one. Are you…?” Scarlett, clearly surprised by the bag’s prestige, immediately seized the opportunity. With an arrogant air, she declared, “Oh, it’s nothing. My family has plenty of bags like this.” I almost burst out laughing. That bag was clearly my mother’s. How did it end up in Scarlett’s hands? In my previous life, she used to steal my mother’s jewelry and rent it out to fake socialites. This bag was likely acquired the same way. One friend looked from me to Scarlett, her expression thoughtful. “But isn’t the Carter family allied with the richest family in the city? If you’re the richest family’s daughter, then Olivia must be…” She paused, her tone subtly shifting. “Could it be true what people are saying outside, that Olivia is just an adopted daughter of the richest family?” Another immediately chimed in, “Yes, that’s right! I heard that to repay a debt of gratitude, they adopted their driver’s daughter and treated her as their own. So that must be Olivia.” “To sacrifice their own daughter’s marital happiness for a debt of gratitude, that’s a bit hard to understand.” “Oh dear, I wonder what the richest family was thinking, to use an adopted daughter for a marriage alliance! How disrespectful to the Carters!” “I think Scarlett and the Carter heir are a much better match!” Scarlett’s face flickered. After all, Ryan and I had eloped, and she wasn’t aware that ours was a commercial alliance. Ryan’s expression instantly darkened as well; his pride was clearly wounded. I pulled out my phone and leisurely scrolled through a local app. “Hmm, I think I’ve seen this bag on quite a few influencers in the city…” I paused deliberately, looking at Scarlett. “But all their profiles claim they’re wealthy socialites… Could it be that you all rent this bag and share it?” Scarlett’s face went from red to white, her eyes glaring at me as if she wanted to tear me apart. It made sense; in the past, I’d been so naive, never exposing her publicly like this, and even thanking her for ‘testing’ those jerks for me. Seeing that our friends were starting to doubt her, Scarlett, in a fit of furious embarrassment, snatched a pair of scissors from the front desk and began slashing at the bag, shouting, “This is mine! How dare you slander me?! I’ll cut it to shreds, and then you’ll have nothing to say!” A collective gasp swept through the room. No one dared to speak as a million-dollar alligator skin bag was ruined before our eyes. I tutted, a mocking smile playing on my lips. “Enjoying yourself, are we? Have you figured out how you’re going to explain this to my mom?!” The words had barely left my mouth when Scarlett’s face contorted in panic. The scissors slipped from her trembling hand, plunging straight into her finger. A piercing shriek filled the air, and crimson beads of blood instantly welled up. She dissolved into a fit of dramatic sobbing, her eyes, overflowing with tears, turned to me, a picture of pathetic despair. “Olivia, are you satisfied now?” Ryan seized her hand, gently sucking the blood from her wound with tender concern, then quickly bandaged it with a tissue. He led her towards the exit. “To the hospital.” Seeing me still rooted to my seat, he flared up. “Olivia, Scarlett isn’t just your best friend, she’s like your sister! How could you treat her like that?” “You are now the Carter family’s daughter-in-law. I’m doing this for the family’s reputation! I’ll tell my father about this, and you’d better reflect on your actions!” I strolled out unhurriedly, only to find Ryan already helping Scarlett into the passenger seat. He didn’t spare me a glance, floored the accelerator, and sped away. I leisurely browsed the mall for a bit, then returned to the Carter mansion. The moment I stepped inside, I ran into Scarlett, who was sprawled comfortably on the living room sofa, looking quite pleased with herself. Seeing me, she rubbed her temples. “Olivia, Ryan said I could stay at the Carter house for a while. You don’t mind, do you?” I set down my belongings and asked, a hint of mockery in my voice, “No more curfew for you, then?” Ryan’s cold voice cut in from behind me. “Olivia Howard! What’s with the passive aggression?! If you hadn’t scared Scarlett, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt!” “She’ll be recuperating here for a while, and since you’re the one responsible, you’ll be personally taking care of her!” Ah, I understood. He expected me, the true heiress, to play maid to Scarlett. I picked up my handbag again, ready to leave. “Alright then, I won’t intrude. I’ll go back to the Howard estate.” “You!” Ryan was speechless, momentarily stunned by my defiance. Scarlett, standing behind him, looked fragile and pale, a picture of vulnerability. She spoke softly, “Olivia, it’s alright, it’s not a big deal. I don’t need your apology.” “Ryan is a good man. I just hope you cherish him.” A flicker of tenderness crossed Ryan’s face, a look I had never seen directed at me since our marriage. He took Scarlett’s hand and instructed the housekeeper, “Mrs. Davies! Prepare the room on the second floor. Get Scarlett whatever she needs.” Then he turned to me, his tone impatient. “You, wait here! I’ll settle this with you when I get back!” I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. “Mm, I’ll be waiting. We’ll see who’s settling scores with whom.” “Since you’re so smitten with my former driver’s daughter, I’ll just tell my parents to grant you both your wish!” Scarlett swayed, her eyes welling up, on the verge of tears. “Olivia, I know you’re still mad at me, but I truly did all this because I considered you my best friend, my sister.” “Even if you can’t understand me, you shouldn’t slander me like this…” If I hadn’t been reborn, I might have actually fallen for her act again. I stood up, glancing at Ryan, who was protectively holding Scarlett close. A mocking smile played on my lips. “You just called Ryan a good man? He’s practically embracing you right now. How does that still qualify him as ‘good’?” “Or is it only when a man sleeps with you, like before, that he earns the title of ‘jerk’?” “Olivia Howard!” Ryan pointed a furious finger at me. “Scarlett just showed me those chat logs! She had nothing going on with your exes!” “She merely exchanged a few messages, realized they had impure intentions, and kindly warned you!” “And I haven’t even started on you. With so many ex-boyfriends, just how desperate are you?!” Scarlett silently shed tears, murmuring, “Ryan, don’t blame Olivia. It’s my fault for interfering so much.” Ryan gently squeezed Scarlett’s shoulder, his voice dismissive. “She’s just an adopted girl who lives in your house; she has no real socialite upbringing in her bones.” “The Howards are really showing how little they think of the Carters, letting such a shameless slut marry into our family!” See? This was the twenty-first jerk Scarlett had “tested” for me. This time, I was truly grateful to her. I simply sat down, crossed my legs, and asked, nonchalantly, “So, you’re saying you want to call off the engagement?” At that, both Ryan and Scarlett froze. Scarlett had only ever dared to impersonate me to sabotage my relationships. Calling off a commercial alliance? That was a bridge too far, even for her. Ryan, however, quickly recovered, his voice firm. “It’s good that you know your place! The position of Carter family’s daughter-in-law was never meant for a fickle woman like you!” “If you know what’s good for you, get out! Don’t soil our Carter family’s property!” “Utterly preposterous!” The words had barely left his lips when a furious roar came from the doorway. “Call off the engagement?! It’s not your place to say!” Everyone turned to look. My father, Arthur Howard, strode in, his face thunderous, followed by my displeased mother, and the somewhat uncomfortable-looking Carter parents. Ryan immediately pointed at me, lodging his complaint. “Dad! The Howards actually used an adopted daughter to ally with us! It’s scandalous! When did the Carters start marrying adopted daughters?!” My father-in-law, Christopher Carter, turned green at Ryan’s words. He pointed a finger at Ryan’s nose and shouted, “You! Ryan! What nonsense are you spouting?!” He then turned back to my father, forcing a smile. “Arthur, the children are being foolish. Don’t pay them any mind.” My mother pulled me behind her, her eyes scanning me with concern. “Olivia, if you hadn’t told me today, I wouldn’t have known how much you’ve suffered…” My father, his fury boiling, pointed at Christopher and roared, “Who just said they wanted to call off the engagement? Fine! Does our Olivia even care about this ‘Carter family daughter-in-law’ title? Take a good look at yourselves in the mirror!” “My Howard daughter, when did it become your place to look down on her?!” Ryan finally realized he’d stirred up a hornet’s nest. He immediately let go of Scarlett’s hand, his face panicked. “Dad, it’s not like that, you’ve misunderstood! I just…” Scarlett hung her head, wishing the floor would swallow her, and mumbled, “I didn’t say anything…” My mother grabbed her arm, clutching her chest as she fumed, “Scarlett Pierce! How have we treated you all these years?!” “You ate our food, lived under our roof, and this is how you bully Olivia?! Do you have any conscience at all?!” All these years, my parents treated her like their own daughter, showering her with generous gifts and allowances during holidays. Faced with such a betrayal, my mother’s heart naturally ached. Scarlett knew she was in the wrong but stubbornly retorted, raising her head to argue, “If it weren’t for my father, would Mr. Howard be where he is today?” “You don’t even appreciate me, and now you’re ganging up to bully me! What did I do wrong?” My mother rubbed her temples in frustration. “What did we, the Howards, ever deny you? But you insisted on taking Olivia’s… Do you have no shame?!” Then my mother spotted the ruined alligator bag, her hands trembling uncontrollably. “You…! I worked so hard to get that bag! And you destroyed it like this?!” Scarlett nervously stepped back. “So what…? You owe my dad, and that pathetic bag isn’t even enough to repay it!” My mother seemed to lose all hope in that moment, her voice chilling. “Either you pay for it, or I call the police.” Pay for it? That bag was currently worth 500,000 dollars—enough to force her to cough up all the money she’d earned from impersonating a socialite over the years! Hearing the word “police,” Scarlett looked panicked at Ryan, but he was too preoccupied to notice her. Seeing my mother pull out her phone to call the police, she stammered, “Fine, I’ll pay! You’re all fake philanthropists! You give me things only to take them back! It’s disgusting!” My father took a deep breath, choosing to ignore the peculiar Scarlett. He coldly addressed Christopher Carter, “Given the circumstances, we, the Howards, no longer recognize Ryan as our son-in-law! We’ll arrange the divorce tomorrow!” Christopher panicked. While the Carter family was wealthy, they had recently been heavily pressured by competitors, and their stock had plummeted like a stone. He had pleaded with my father for over half a year to secure this marriage, hoping it would prop up the Carter family. Now, everything was ruined by Scarlett and Ryan. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face plastered with a forced smile as he addressed me, “Olivia, Ryan was just momentarily confused. Please forgive him. Our Carter family only recognizes you as our daughter-in-law!” My mother-in-law, her face flushed with fury, didn’t say a word. She simply walked up and slapped Scarlett. “It’s all your fault, you vixen! Seducing Ryan!” Then she turned to me, her face beaming with a gentle smile. “That’s right, Olivia, it seems it’s all this vixen’s fault. Don’t be angry!” I turned my head in disgust. “What are you talking about? Scarlett was doing me a favor, testing my husband’s loyalty.” “Now that it’s proven my husband’s a jerk, why would I stay with him?” Scarlett clutched her face, tears streaming down, looking utterly fragile. “I… I didn’t do anything!” “I just said a few words, and those men came at me. Is that my fault? Blame her for being so unlucky!” Even now, she was still putting on an act. I smiled, holding up my phone. “Are you sure you just ‘said a few words’?” “Did you really think by deleting and editing the chat logs, no one would notice?” My father took the phone. After reading through it, his face turned ashen. The phone displayed a group chat with twenty-one members—all my ex-boyfriends. At this moment, they were enthusiastically sending screenshots of their intimate conversations with Scarlett into the group, the content utterly disgusting. In my past life, these jerks were so smitten by Scarlett’s “true heiress” persona that, to curry favor with her, they even conspired to kill me. Reborn, the first thing I did was reconnect with all those jerks and then presented undeniable proof of my true identity, thoroughly humiliating them. When they saw Scarlett’s childhood photos with me, they couldn’t help but mock her. “She really claimed she was naturally beautiful? Which part of her hasn’t been touched up?” “Honestly, if she hadn’t always pulled her collar down, I wouldn’t have even looked at her.” …

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I was born unable to feel pain, yet I was a relentless people-pleaser. The first time my adoptive parents hit me, they covered my mouth with foul hands. “Stay quiet, or I’ll stab you dead!” “Worthless girl, I regret ever taking you in.” Since I felt nothing, I didn’t make a sound. Instead, I handed them a knife. “If it makes you happy, I’ll die.” Thinking I was mocking them, they stabbed me in the stomach. Blood spread across the floor. They finally smiled. Clutching my wound, I smiled back. Later, my rich biological parents found me. The day I arrived, a pale, doll-like girl rushed crying into their arms. The fake heiress looked at me tearfully. “Mom, Dad, now that Olivia is back, you won’t want me anymore, will you? I’ll just pack and leave.” My parents’ eyes filled with pity as they turned to scold me for being cold. Before they could speak, I lifted a vase and smashed it against my own head. “Don’t cry, sis. I’ll die right now, okay?” 1 The world instantly fell silent. Scarlett froze, her eyes wide, forgetting to cry. While my parents were contacting a family doctor, she recovered her wits and whispered fiercely in my ear, “You filthy beggar, what are you trying to pull?” “You’re dirty and smelly, not even worth a single one of my fingers. You’re completely unfit to be seen.” “If I were you, I would have drowned myself in a well by now, rather than coming back to embarrass Mom and Dad!” On the way home, my parents had already told me about our family situation. They were in a business marriage, both holding high-powered positions. Scarlett, on the other hand, had always been well-behaved and considerate since childhood, even gentle with the household staff. But this seemingly obedient sister didn’t seem to want me as her older sibling. A wave of hurt and fear surged through me. When my parents rushed in with the doctor, they found me sobbing and running out. Just then, a car sped by. I had no time to dodge and crashed directly into it. The screech of brakes ripped through the air, followed by a chorus of screams. My mother collapsed, terrified, while my father rushed to check on me. Tears streaming down my face, I whimpered, “Mom, Dad, perhaps I shouldn’t have come back?” My father helped me up, looking exhausted. “Olivia, your mother and I finally found you. How can you say such a thing?” I cried, tears pouring. “But Scarlett said I’m dirty and smelly, and that living would only embarrass you both.” My father’s brow furrowed, his face instantly darkening. Scarlett’s face went pale, and she shook her head frantically. “No, Dad, I didn’t…” She gave me a timid glance, her voice tinged with a victimized tone. “Sister, I know I took your place all these years, so it’s natural for you to resent me.” “But how could you falsely accuse me? I clearly said I welcomed you home.” She cried, looking utterly heartbroken, her shoulders trembling. Neighbors, drawn by the commotion, couldn’t bear it any longer and spoke up: “Scarlett is such a kind child.” “The one they brought back seems so unlikable, even risking her life just to vie for attention.” “She must have gone bad living outside. So young, yet so manipulative.” Listening to their scolding, I cried even harder. “Scarlett, do you really welcome me back? So, I just misunderstood? I’m so sorry. I’ll confirm again right now!” I choked back tears, pulled my phone from my pocket, and, in front of everyone, pressed play. 2 The phone screen was shattered, but the audio was still perfectly clear. The air hung in dead silence. The neighbors, who had just been vocally sympathetic, now lowered their heads awkwardly. On Scarlett’s face, only terror and panic remained. I clutched my phone, tears streaming down my face, pretending to be utterly miserable. “Mom, Dad, am I really as awful as Scarlett says?” “Of course not, Olivia,” my father reassured me gently. “You’re our precious child, found after so long, our only biological daughter.” But with so many eyes watching, and given that our neighbors were all wealthy and influential, making a scene would be disastrous. So, my father made a quick decision. “This is Scarlett’s fault. Your mother and I will talk to her properly. Shall we go to the hospital first?” With a single look from him, Scarlett reluctantly offered an apology. The crowd dispersed, and we quickly headed to the hospital. The doctor performed a thorough examination, confirming only minor scrapes and bruises, at which point my parents finally breathed a sigh of relief. Only Scarlett’s face was terrifyingly grim. Not only had my parents’ attitude towards her cooled, but her meticulously cultivated perfect image had also utterly collapsed. After my wounds were treated, I returned to the Howard house. Scarlett was summoned to the study, while I went to my room to rest. Because of what had just happened, the servants looked at me with sympathy. They led me to a bright, spacious room, not forgetting to thoughtfully close the door behind them as they left. The soft sheets carried a sweet scent, and I quickly felt sleepy. Just as my eyes were about to close, my arm was suddenly seized, and I was yanked violently from the bed. “Where did this beggar come from? Who gave you permission to sleep in Scarlett’s bed?!” My body was already weak. The pull sent me flying, my back slamming hard against the corner of a table, tearing my wounds open again. Looking up, a handsome young man stared at me with piercing eyes. He saw the blood on me, paused for a moment in surprise, then quickly stepped forward. But he merely went to straighten the sheets I had wrinkled. “Do you know how delicate silk sheets are? They’re easily ruined if they get dirty.” I was about to apologize when Scarlett walked in, having heard the commotion. “Eason, you’re here.” “Scarlett, what’s wrong?” Eason frowned, his eyes filled with concern as he saw her reddened eyelids. “Have you been upset?” “I’m fine,” Scarlett shook her head. “What were you and Olivia talking about?” At her words, Eason’s gaze shifted to me. “You’re Olivia Howard?” Without waiting for my answer, he kicked me again. “Were you intentionally putting on an act to embarrass Scarlett?” “Do you know her reputation has been ruined because of you? And now you’re in her room, are you trying to frame her again? So Mom and Dad will kick her out?!” “Let me tell you, even if you are the Howard family’s biological daughter, the only person I’ll ever marry is Scarlett!” So, he was Eason Knight, my fiancé. I secretly assessed them, truly believing they were a perfect match. Even if I didn’t say anything, I would never try to take him from Scarlett. “What, still scheming against Scarlett?” Eason sneered, his voice full of disdain. “Let me tell you, since I dared to hit you, I’m not afraid of you tattling!” Scarlett stood by, offering empty words of persuasion, but showing no intention of stopping him. Wiping away tears, I knelt before them, explaining. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know this was Scarlett’s room, and I never intended to frame her.” “Please don’t be angry. I’ll go explain everything to everyone right now.” Eason paused, his expression growing complex. Just as he was about to speak, Scarlett’s tearful sobs suddenly echoed from behind him. “Sister, why do you have to be like this?” “You’re Mom and Dad’s biological daughter. Whatever you ask for, they’ll agree to it without a second thought.” “Just like this room, you said you wanted it, and they immediately told me to give it to you…” These words were like adding fuel to the fire. Eason slapped me hard across the face. “You filthy beggar, why do you have to fight Scarlett for everything? If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t be so upset!” But I felt no pain. I looked up, my sole desire to make them happy, and asked, “Really? If I disappear, will Scarlett be happy?” Eason frowned, still cursing. “Yes! Without you, everything will be better!” The instant his words fell, my eyes suddenly lit up. Without hesitation, I turned and lunged towards the nearby railing. The next second, the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground mingled with screams. 3 I ended up in the hospital again. In the hospital room, Eason’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Knight, looked utterly embarrassed, forcing Eason to kneel and apologize to me. He resisted, disgruntled. “She jumped herself. Why should I apologize?” Mr. Knight rubbed his temples, a headache brewing. “If you didn’t do anything, would she just randomly jump from a height for no reason?” Eason turned his face away, pursing his lips in silence. Seeing this, Mr. Knight, enraged, grabbed his belt, ready to lash out. I struggled out of bed and shielded Eason. “Mr. Knight, it’s my fault. Please don’t blame him.” I used all my strength. Though I felt no pain, my struck shoulder quickly swelled and bruised. Eason was stunned, but still defiant. “Olivia, who told you to block for me?” “You claim you don’t compete or grab, yet the moment you returned, you took Scarlett’s room. Now you’re playing the good guy!” Scarlett, who had been silent, turned chalk-white. My mother looked at her in disbelief. “Scarlett, didn’t you suggest it yourself earlier?” Tears instantly welled in Scarlett’s eyes, and she stammered, “I’m sorry, Mom, Dad, I was just momentarily misguided. I was afraid that if Olivia came back, you wouldn’t want me anymore…” My mother shook her head in disappointment. “Scarlett Brooks, you’ve deeply disappointed us!” “Insecurity is not an excuse for your mistakes! You say you’re afraid, but do you even know what your sister went through before?” When I was five, I was kidnapped by traffickers. They intended to extort a hefty sum, but the police were hot on their heels, so they abandoned me and fled. My adoptive parents picked me up and used me as a punching bag. Because of my congenital insensitivity to pain, I was also emotionally slow. Day after day, year after year, watching the constant new wounds on my body, I mistakenly believed this was how love was expressed. People-pleasing became my only means of survival. I looked at my parents’ ashen faces, then glanced at Scarlett, who was on the verge of fainting from crying. Before Eason could rush to her side, I spoke. “Mom, Dad, Scarlett didn’t mean it. Please don’t blame her.” The hospital room fell silent. Everyone exchanged glances. My mother squeezed my hand tenderly but didn’t utter another word. Scarlett was ultimately grounded for three days. As for Eason, he started avoiding me from that day on. Perhaps to make amends, or to show how much they valued me, my parents spent a fortune hosting a grand welcome-home banquet. On the day of the banquet, my parents dressed me like an exquisite doll. They held my hands, one on each side, solemnly introducing me to the guests. I looked back and met Scarlett’s gaze across the room. Earlier, as a gesture of apology, the Knight family had generously transferred five percent of their company’s shares to me. Scarlett, as their future daughter-in-law, hadn’t even received a meager one percent. Yet, these past few days, she hadn’t caused any trouble, and her hostile attitude towards me had softened. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was finally willing to accept me and live in peace. So, when Scarlett suggested we go outside for some fresh air, I hesitated for a moment, then nodded, drawn by her sweet smile. But reality often defied expectations. When we reached our destination, I only saw a few young men, street thugs. I looked at Scarlett in confusion, about to speak, when a resounding slap landed hard on my face. Punches and kicks rained down on me. I curled up on the ground, shielding my head with my hands. Scarlett stood nearby, frowning in dissatisfaction. “Haven’t you guys eaten? Why isn’t she even screaming?” But even as they gasped for breath, exhausted, I remained silent. Seeing my battered state, Scarlett merely admired it, her eyes full of triumph. Through my messy hair, I met her gaze. “Scarlett, does this make you happy?” “Of course!” She strode forward, grabbing my hair. “Olivia Howard, I wish you would just die!” “I’m supposed to be the only young lady of the Howard family! Why did you come back? Why are you trying to steal Mom and Dad from me?!” Tears streamed down my face, my eyes filled with pleading. “Scarlett, what do I need to do for you to accept me?” Scarlett burst into laughter at my words, her face contorted with twisted pleasure. “Accept you? Not unless I’m dead! Otherwise, I’ll never accept you in this life!” The next second, her laughter abruptly ceased. I picked up a brick from the ground and brought it down forcefully.

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