Everyone said Arthur Vance was aloof and untouchable, but he chased me like a dog for ten years. Even when I was pushed into a roaring fire, he didn’t hesitate to throw away his billion-dollar empire to follow me into the flames. Given a second chance at life, I decided I wouldn’t be the wicked woman who kept him dangling anymore; I would treat him with my whole heart. Unfortunately, it seemed he had been reborn too. “Elena, did you really think you could train me like a dog again this time around? Hmm?” He cornered me, forcing me to sign the divorce papers. He said he would absolutely never want me in this life. Absolutely never. 1 When I was eleven, someone deliberately broke five of my fingers. From that moment on, I swore I would climb to the absolute top of this world. No matter what it took. By any means necessary. Later, I did a lot of terrible things. Eventually, someone took revenge and pushed me into a raging fire. As the flames swallowed me, my mind was blank. But then, a figure in white burst into my vision and held me tight. It was Arthur, my husband. The man who loved me to death, the man whose only flaw in his entire flawless life was me. As we turned to ash together, I thought: If there’s a next life, I swear to god, I will give him my whole heart. 2 “These are the divorce papers.” “Sign them.” The flickering lights made my thoughts scatter. The man standing opposite me lowered his eyes. Hiding the ice within them. “Arthur.” “Don’t do this.” I tried to grab his hand. His veins pulsed as he quickly pulled it away. It had been one hour and forty-one minutes since my rebirth. Suddenly, I felt a strange sense of relief. Arthur had finally realized I was a terrible woman who only wanted his money and toyed with his feelings. He didn’t want me anymore. 3 I sat in a bakery, looking through the thin glass. Watching two figures wandering around the academic building across the street. Arthur definitely didn’t know I was secretly watching him. Watching him explain a problem to that girl, while she practically rubbed against his shirt. Yes, in this life, Arthur finally knew who was truly kind and innocent. But resting my chin on my hand, I still texted her. “Chloe, why are you trying to seduce your brother-in-law?” 4 Chloe Miller was my sister. To be precise, she was the real heiress; I was the fake one. When I was twelve, Mrs. Miller picked me up on a night of torrential rain. Everyone thought it was a coincidence. It wasn’t. To make sure Mrs. Miller found me looking pitiful in that rainstorm, I purposely broke my own leg. I wanted wealth, I wanted power, I wanted to never taste that bone-deep humiliation ever again. And Chloe? She was found and brought back to the Miller family when she was sixteen. She was forever kind, innocent, and pure. The things I had to shatter my bones to get, she received without doing a single thing. I hated her. I hated that she never had to fall into the mud to taste real suffering. 5 I was just that kind of vicious, wicked woman. That’s why I suffered so much in my past life. Perhaps Chloe really was what everyone called her: A “girl like a deity.” And I had angered the deity. So in this life, the only person who ever loved me had abandoned me too. I curled up on the sofa, staring at the divorce papers on the coffee table. “Arthur, are you coming home tonight?” The message sat in my phone; it had been four full hours without a reply. Arthur was naturally aloof. His friends always joked he was a block of ice. But in my past life, I never felt that way. I thought he was my dog. He’d come running as soon as he caught my scent, always nuzzling me, wanting to hold my hand if it was free. Forget ignoring my texts; if I sent one word, he’d reply with ten lines of nagging concern. But now… A notification popped up. Thinking it was him, I hurriedly checked it. It wasn’t him. It was Chloe, with a text and a photo attached. “Sister, I have no intention of seducing my brother-in-law.” “I want to help manage Dad’s business, so Arthur is just introducing me to some people.” In the photo, she was smiling sweetly, standing right next to him. They looked like the perfect couple. 6 I must have called Arthur a dozen times. He didn’t answer a single one, and eventually just blocked me. Truth be told, Arthur was terrible at networking and office politics; he was just an academic. In my past life, to snatch some market share from Chloe in my dad’s company, I made him woo executives from various pharmaceutical companies. He went and did it without a single complaint. I never considered how a prestigious university professor, someone so proud, managed to bow his head and beg those people for favors. I only remembered one incident from my past life. I had secured a deal, gotten drunk, and called him to pick me up. The private room was full of prominent figures. Leaning against the sofa, watching that pale figure approach me step by step, I called out, “Here boy…” Calling him over like a dog. A highly respected medical professor, a man who never lowered his chin for anyone. To be teased and humiliated by me like that in public… the old me must have felt so smug. …Everyone thought he would storm out. But what did Arthur do? He walked right up to me. Then, with complete naturalness, he squatted down and grasped my ankle. He slipped my high heel back on. He looked up, his brow bone looking like a gentle mural. “It’s getting cold. Don’t catch a chill.” “Elena.” 7 Elena. He loved calling me that. But since our rebirth, he hadn’t used that name once. … I’m a light sleeper, so I woke up when he came home. I lay there, wondering what he’d do seeing me completely defenseless. But he did nothing. He walked right past me, not even willing to drape a blanket over me. I sat up and hurled the divorce papers at his back. The man paused, the lines of his back distractingly attractive. “Don’t rip them.” “If I have to draft a new one, you won’t be getting nearly as much.” In the pale moonlight, I sat there watching him speak so calmly. A dark cloud seemed to hide in his pupils, mixing with an obscure, icy detachment. “I won’t sign.” I stared dead at him. He seemed to expect this, nodding. “Fine. Then we’ll go to court.” “Arthur, you bastard.” I lunged at him, but he easily pinned me down. The crescent moon cast a sliver of light as he held me against the sofa. His hand gripped my neck, not gentle at all. I bit the webbing between his thumb and index finger, but he didn’t seem to feel the pain. Then, suddenly, he let go. A gentle touch brushed my cheek. “So you cry too.” He left me with that cold, cryptic sentence. Leaving me alone in the living room, I pressed my hands hard against my eyes. As if that would stop the tears from spilling over. “Don’t leave me.” I had sworn when I was ten years old. That I would never say those words again. 8 I refused to sign the divorce papers. The very next day, Arthur pulled out of every collaboration related to me. A significant portion of the Vance family’s assets was in the medical industry, and he was a top-tier scholar in the field. I admit, in my past life, I only married him because it was profitable. I knew he didn’t want me anymore. But when I learned he had transferred all those projects to work with Chloe instead, my heart still gave a sudden, dull ache. Yet, I felt this was how it should be. He saw clearly in his past life. Chloe was so pure and clean. Unlike me. I was used to using filthy methods to get what I wanted. But his withdrawal from our collaborations set off alarm bells for our peers. Instantly, I found myself isolated and helpless. … I prepared to suck up to Arthur again. “Arthur, are you at the university?” “I made some lunch, should I bring it over?” I didn’t dare hope he still had feelings for me, but I really hoped he’d remember our history and not cut me off completely. Staring at my silent phone, I felt utterly shameless. We had fought so badly yesterday, but when it came to business, I still had to beg. I decided to cook some nice dishes and deliver them personally. Then I realized a problem. I had no idea what Arthur liked to eat. He, on the other hand, probably had my likes and dislikes memorized backward and forward. After all, Professor Vance’s biggest obsession in our past life was feeding me all sorts of delicious food. I wasn’t actually that delicate, but I loved throwing tantrums in front of him. “Arthur, these noodles are too hard.” “Arthur, who are you feeding these mushy noodles to?” “Arthur, I don’t like spicy food.” “Arthur, since when do you cook so blandly?” He only got genuinely angry with me once. His ink-dark eyes stared at me, his tone cold and serious. “Elena, do you think I’ll always be on your side?” I looked down, admiring my manicure, and told him: “Then get lost.” That was my answer. And he really did get lost. It was freezing outside, and he left without a coat. He must have been furious. I probably texted him around dusk. “Arthur, I miss you.” Within fifteen minutes, the front door opened. He pulled me into a sudden, tight embrace, bringing the sharp winter chill indoors with him. His high nose bridge pressed against my neck, and I heard him say: “Yes, I will always be on your side.” …See? For the old me, training Professor Vance was easier than training a dog. … After cutting my finger for the third time, watching the unidentified bubbling mass in the pot, I finally snapped out of my memories. I realized I possessed exactly zero culinary talent. So, I ordered takeout from the Linchuan Pavilion. And transferred it into my own thermos. Anyway… he probably couldn’t tell the difference between home-cooked and restaurant food. …Probably. 9 “I’m sorry, Sister.” “I didn’t know you brought lunch for Professor Vance too.” “He’s already eating the food I made…” Chloe stood blocking my path, looking visibly flustered and helpless. “Call him brother-in-law.” I gave her a sharp smile, noticing her small hands tighten inside her cuffs. … “Arthur.” I stood in front of the man who was eating with his head down. When he ignored me, I snatched the chopsticks from his hand. I swapped his lunchbox for mine. He stared down at the new dishes for a moment. His deep, dark eyes finally focused on me. “Look.” I held up my bandaged hand to him. “To cook for you, I cut myself three times.” “It took me forever. Please eat mine?” I met his gaze, looking very calm. But it was a calm that looked like it was about to shatter. Finally, he sighed. “Elena. These dishes look exactly like the ones from Linchuan Pavilion.” “Did you steal their recipes?” “…” I pretended not to hear the mockery in his voice. I decided to just go for broke. “Arthur, just tell me if you’re going to eat it or not!” It seemed that so many times before, if I got angry, he would soften and coax me. I was so used to it, I forgot this wasn’t the him and me from our past life. But he still lowered his head and, spoonful by spoonful, finished the seafood congee I brought. He was so obedient, just like the Arthur from our past life who did whatever I told him to. When he finished, he watched me bend down to clean up the lunchbox—something I’d never done before. “Elena.” He called my name, his voice like a clear stream. “I’m allergic to seafood.” “Two lifetimes, and you still can’t remember.” I flinched violently and looked up at him. His wrist, usually pale enough to see the veins, was already breaking out in red hives. He just showed it to me. “Will you only be happy when you’ve tortured me to death?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391381”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The world didn’t know it, but he was the real stand-in. At 2 AM, my ex called, saying he wanted to get back together. With red eyes, I agreed. But from the other end of the line erupted a thunderous roar of laughter. [I told you guys, this woman, Emily Vance, as long as I crook my finger, she’ll shamelessly crawl right back to me.] I didn’t get angry. I just asked him if what he just said still counted. [Nathaniel Hale, as long as you come back, you can do whatever you want to me…] Deathly silence on the other end. [Emily Vance! I’m fucking Liam Sterling! You better explain right now, who the hell is Nathaniel Hale?!] 1 In the middle of the night, I was running a slight fever. In a groggy haze, I heard my phone ring. I answered it. There was a lot of noisy commotion, and it took a while before a man’s magnetic voice reached my ear. [Emily, I miss you.] That familiar voice made my eyes instantly tear up. For the past few months, I’ve been relying on sleeping pills just to close my eyes. Hearing his voice again, I couldn’t help but choke up. [I miss you too.] Soon, the voice spoke again. [Emily, let’s stop fighting. Let’s get back together.] The man’s voice was like rich red wine, instantly intoxicating me. After the high fever, a layer of sweat coated my body, soaking through my clothes. My long nails dug into the edge of my phone case. I could barely suppress my sobs as I eagerly nodded in agreement. But then, a burst of thunderous laughter erupted from the phone. [Liam is the man! Two sentences and he’s got his ex-girlfriend begging like a dog!] [People actually fall for the middle-of-the-night ‘let’s get back together’ routine? Liam, where did you find this weirdo? When you were together, she treated you like a king. It’s been three months since you broke up, and she’s still hung up on you.] [That’s just our Liam’s charm. When they were together, he’d tell her to get lost and she would, obedient as a dog.] [One time, Liam was out on a date with another woman, and with one phone call, Emily came over just to drop off condoms.] [Are there really people that pathetic?] [That’s our Liam’s charm. I’ll take this penalty drink.] Unbridled mockery poured from the phone, finally replaced by Liam’s voice again: [I told you guys, Emily Vance is pathetic. As long as I crook my finger, she’ll shamelessly cling to me.] Liam’s voice was still deep and magnetic, but laced with a hint of smugness. Then, he said to me: [Emily, we’re playing Truth or Dare. Thanks for taking a drink for me.] His tone was dismissive, and he sounded ready to hang up. But I didn’t want to miss this hard-won opportunity. I pressed him urgently: [Did you mean what you just said?] He froze. Even the background music seemed to quiet down a bit. [Emily, are you sick in the head? You didn’t actually think I was calling you in the middle of the night to get back together, did you?] Liam cursed at me. I ignored him, persisting: [You said it, and I agreed.] As I spoke, I couldn’t hold back my cries. My voice took on a pleading tone, lowering myself to the absolute dust: [Nathaniel Hale, as long as you come back, you can do whatever you want to me…] No response from the other side. For a long, long time, it was a deathly silence. Then, a furious, low growl from Liam: [Emily Vance! You better explain right now, who the hell is Nathaniel Hale?!] 2 Nathaniel Hale. That name accompanied me throughout my entire youth. In a daze, I was transported back to when I was sixteen, the summer I first met Nathaniel. Those were the hardest days of my life. My grandmother, who I had always depended on, passed away. I became like a wild dog completely off the leash, letting myself rot in the mud. Caught in another vicious fight, my homeroom teacher issued a final ultimatum: if my parents didn’t show up this time, she would report me to the school board for expulsion. I didn’t care. Leaning lazily against the wall, I said indifferently: [My dad is in Canada, my mom is in Thailand, and I can’t reach either of them. Do you want me to invite my grandma up from the grave?] [Emily Vance!] My homeroom teacher, enraged by my attitude, grabbed me by the collar to drag me to the expulsion office. That was when Nathaniel Hale appeared. He hurried over and stepped in front of me. His first words were: [I’m sorry I’m late. I’m Emily’s older brother.] Brother? I froze, and so did the teacher. The teacher froze because the man standing before her had a clean, sharp aura, looking like he belonged to a completely different world than me, with my messy hair and heavy makeup. I froze because I never expected my parents to have an illegitimate child this old. So, I was extremely resistant to him. [Bullshit, I don’t have a fucking brother!] I cursed loudly, lunging forward to push him away. But Nathaniel, despite looking slim and refined, easily pinned me with one hand while calmly communicating and apologizing to my teacher. He promised that from now on, he would keep a strict eye on me. Due to his pleading, the teacher decided to give me one last chance. Nathaniel practically dragged me home. On the way, he shoved me into a hair salon, getting rid of my chaotic, colorful hair and the heavy makeup. The mirror revealed my original face. He stared at me for a moment, then smiled and ruffled my hair: [Look how nice you look as a student.] I didn’t dodge; instead, I took the opportunity to bite down hard on the webbing between his thumb and index finger. I failed. He caught my chin instead. [Tsk, such a fierce little girl?] [Get lost! I’m calling the cops, you kidnapper!] I mumbled my curses, my jaw held tight. Even though Nathaniel was very good-looking, it didn’t stop me from hating him, especially when he smiled—it was blindingly bright. I cursed, kicked, and hit him. Nathaniel didn’t get angry. He let me throw my tantrum. Only when I settled down did he slowly explain: [I’m not a kidnapper. Your parents entrusted me to take care of you.] [Bullshit. They don’t care about me. Otherwise, why didn’t they come back when Grandma died?] I tried to act like I didn’t care, but I still choked up when I yelled, glaring at him with red eyes. My cheeks felt a little itchy, and a little wet… Nathaniel fell silent. He let go of me, and after a long while, he promised: [Once you get into college, they’ll come back.] I thought for a moment and replied: [They’re dreaming.] 3 Whether I agreed or not. Nathaniel forcefully moved into my house. During that time, I called the police, but Nathaniel actually produced a legally binding guardianship document, signed by my parents, completely shutting me up. I gave up and started treating him like he was invisible. We had a two-bedroom apartment. I had one room, and Grandma had the other. Now he moved into Grandma’s room, and he really started acting the part, preparing three meals a day and taking care of the daily cleaning. A free maid? Why not. Once I figured that out, I accepted it with peace of mind. Except one thing was really annoying. He nagged me to come home every day after school. No matter which shady internet cafe I hid in, he would always catch me red-handed. As soon as I got home, he checked my homework. If I said I didn’t understand, he would actually sit by my side and explain it to me. Whatever I didn’t understand, he could teach. [Nathaniel Hale, tell me the truth…] Caught and dragged home yet again, I couldn’t help but ask: [Did you get bound to some mission system? If I get into college, do you get points or wealth? Or get cured of a terminal illness?] Nathaniel flicked my forehead. [Going to college is for yourself.] [Why go to college?] I rubbed my forehead, complaining: [I don’t even want them to come back…] [Do you really not want them to come back?] Nathaniel interrupted me, looking at me with a very serious tone: [Don’t you want to prove to them that even if you’re all alone, you can become excellent?!] My fingertips curled, and my heart surged slightly. He had a tiny teardrop mole at the corner of his eye. I looked into his eyes; they seemed to hold a galaxy, shining so brightly… 4 Midterm exams. I went from second to last to the top fifty in my grade. When I got my report card, no one around me could believe it. I was so happy. My mind was full of how to tell Nathaniel the good news that night. I’d lie and say I was still second to last, then extort a meal of braised pork ribs out of him. Nathaniel’s braised pork ribs were seriously delicious. I was thinking happily, but before school even ended, I was called into the homeroom teacher’s office… She suspected I cheated and wanted to cancel my score. That night, I went to a bar. 5 Nathaniel bailed me out of the police station. According to the police officer: During a spot check, the police caught a bunch of minors in the bar. I was the most conspicuous one, drunk in my school uniform, twisting and shaking on the dance floor with a bunch of shady characters, having the time of my life. Nathaniel’s face was very dark. I saw him whisper something to the police officer, sign a document, and then walk over to take me out of the station. Actually, I hadn’t drank that much, and after standing in the drafty police station hallway for so long, I was mostly sober. All the way home, Nathaniel didn’t speak to me. Seeing his stern face, I got angry too. I was about to storm into my room when he stopped me: [Stop! Don’t you have anything to say?] That one word ignited all the rebellion in my body. [I don’t need you managing me! Are you my dad, or my mom?! Do you really think a piece of paper gives you the right to control me?!] Nathaniel strode toward me. Even though he was skinny, when he kept a straight face, his aura was terrifying. Standing in front of me, he was a full head taller. Looking down at me, his face as cold as frost, his tone harder than ever before: [Do you know how disappointed your parents would be if they saw you like this?!] Hearing that, I slammed my backpack down as hard as I could and screamed hysterically: [How disappointed could they be?! The grass on their graves is taller than I am! What the hell do they know?!] I saw the ice on Nathaniel’s face crack, piece by piece. The air was stagnant for a long time before his deep voice finally broke the silence: [When did you find out?] My fists were clenched tight. The feeling of the alcohol rushing to my head returned, and my whole body felt uncontrollably hot. Biting my lip, I looked into his eyes and enunciated every word: [Stop treating me like a child. I understand everything. My parents have been dead for a long time! You hid it from me, and my grandma hid it from me too… I know a lot. I also know that they were undercover agents, and you’re a cop too!] 6 Groggy. Memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave, making my already throbbing head feel like it was splitting open. On the phone, Liam was still demanding an answer. I snapped back to reality and replied instinctively: [Where are you? I want to see you right now.] I missed him so much. I really, really wanted to see him right now. The other side went silent. I heard mocking banter in the background—some calling me shameless, others saying I was playing hard to get, and some teasing Liam, asking if he was getting anxious. Finally, Liam sent an address. I didn’t even bother getting dressed up; I just hurried over. When I got to the bar, Liam’s group was still there. Seeing my pale face, Liam, sitting right in the middle, froze for a second. [Emily, we haven’t seen each other in a few months and you look like you’re… dying?] I didn’t care. Ignoring all their mocking stares, I approached him. But when my eyes adjusted to the dim light and I saw Liam’s face clearly, an indescribable wave of fury washed over me. [Where is your teardrop mole?] I reached out and grabbed his chin, frantically inspecting his face. I hadn’t seen him in a few months. Liam’s face was different. The corners of his eyes, his nose bridge… and more importantly, the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye, the one just like Nathaniel’s, was gone… He didn’t look like Nathaniel anymore! Annoyed by my grabbing, Liam pushed me away roughly, his tone impatient: [That mole was ugly as sin. I’ve wanted it removed for ages. It looks much better now.] He touched his face, smiling confidently. But I suddenly started tearing at him like a madwoman. [Who told you to remove it?! You don’t look like him at all anymore!] I had searched so hard to find someone who looked so much like him, and now Liam had ruined it. In my anger, I turned my wrath on the man in front of me, getting up to leave, but my arm was forcefully grabbed. [What do you mean? Like who? That guy named Nathaniel Hale? Emily Vance! You better explain to me right now, who the hell is Nathaniel Hale?!] Liam finally remembered his previous question and interrogated me sharply. Someone tried to break up the fight. [Liam, calm down. Emily is definitely playing hard to get…] [Exactly. This guy probably doesn’t even exist.] Hearing this, Liam’s expression softened, and the look he gave me became a bit more contemptuous. He said: [If you want to get back together, show some sincerity. Don’t just make up some random ‘Nathaniel Hale’ or whatever, using a fake person to mess with me…] Before Liam could finish. I slapped him across the face. With one hundred percent of my strength. [Who are you calling fake?! Nathaniel Hale isn’t dead! He isn’t!] [Emily Vance, have you lost your mind?! Are you psycho?!]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391380”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Julian spent $100,000 on a fireworks show for his newly hired secretary. He even remembered to text me: [Elena, I’ll give you a fireworks show on our tenth anniversary.] That was exactly what I wanted ten years ago. Back then, we were broke. After getting our marriage license, we could only afford sparklers. Now, watching the sky light up with fireworks, I scrolled back to our announcement video from ten years ago, took a screenshot, and posted it on my feed: [In the end, it all comes down to this.] Julian didn’t come home that night. The next day, I had a courier deliver him a divorce agreement. Arriving with it was a letter from a slow-mail service, sent ten years ago. In the letter, Julian had handwritten: [Did I love Elena a little more today?] 1 As soon as he received the divorce agreement, Julian called me immediately: “Elena, what are you making a fuss about now? “Do you find it amusing to bring up divorce over every little thing? “You’re thirty this year, not three. Can you act a little more mature?” He was furious. His tone was filled with blame. Before I could reply, a coquettish female voice came through the phone: “Mr. Vance, don’t be angry. Sister probably didn’t mean to argue with you. She’s just getting older and might be in a bad mood. Just coax her a little and she’ll be fine.” Julian seemed even angrier: “Shut up.” Then he yelled at me: “Elena, I’m coming back now. We’ll talk this out face-to-face.” 2 Right after he hung up, I received a notification for new social media posts. A girl named “Blooming Youth” posted three times in a row: [Ugh, my ‘brother’ actually yelled at me. His punishment is not seeing my smile for a whole week.] The accompanying picture was of Julian’s CEO office. [Hehe, my ‘brother’ apologized. He said the woman at home was acting up again and told me to be a good girl and not to cause trouble. Fine, I forgive him.] The picture was of two cups of premium bubble tea. [My ‘brother’ has to go home and coax that old hag again. Older women really are so demanding. Unlike me, I only feel sorry for him.] The picture was a side profile of a pale, innocent face. She was Julian’s newly hired secretary, Chloe. Three months ago, Julian desperately needed a document and sent Chloe to our house to get it. I happened to be home at the time. The young girl, barely in her twenties, wore light makeup. Her cheeks were fair and plump. Her high ponytail swayed in the breeze. She wore casual sportswear. She gave off the vibe of an innocent high school girl. After getting the document, she smiled and asked for my social media handle. Without thinking much of it, I agreed. Before leaving, she affectionately hooked her arm through mine: “Elena, what’s your skincare secret? You don’t look like you’re pushing thirty at all. No signs of aging. “Unlike me, I’m barely twenty and I feel like I’m already getting wrinkles.” She smiled brightly. Her eyes looked sincere. I put on a professional, fake smile: “It’s simple. Don’t say things you shouldn’t, and don’t do things you shouldn’t.” After that day, I talked to Julian about Chloe. He chuckled playfully: “What, are you jealous? “She’s just a naive little girl fresh out of school. Don’t worry, she’s no threat to you. “Besides, HR hired her, and you know our company’s processes are very transparent. “Moreover, don’t you trust your husband? We fell in love at seventeen, married at twenty, and it’s been almost ten years now. “No one can destroy our relationship.” At that time, I looked at the earnest Julian in front of me. His youthful vows still echoed in my ears. True love conquers all. But no one ever mentioned that true love could also create those very obstacles. 3 Yesterday was the company’s ninth anniversary. It was also a major milestone as the company’s profits surpassed one billion dollars. As the Vice President, I should have been there. But there was a problem with a contract from a major client down south. The client had to be appeased immediately. Julian couldn’t leave. And since we signed the client together and had been working with them for over five years… He only felt comfortable if I went. Although I was the Vice President, I had gradually been relinquishing my power since last year. I was preparing for pregnancy. I only participated in company affairs occasionally. I was confident about this business trip. After settling everything, I went home and crashed. I just didn’t expect the company’s celebration banquet last night to be so “exciting.” At 10 PM, Julian called to check in: “Elena, I won’t be coming home tonight. The veteran employees want to celebrate until 3 AM. You’ve had a hard day, get some good rest.” I had complaints, but I swallowed them. It was the company’s ninth anniversary, growing from a mom-and-pop shop to the leading enterprise in the city. The employees who had fought alongside us deserved to be rewarded. I simply reminded him: “No smoking, and don’t drink too much. We’re still trying for a baby.” “Yes, ma’am!” His phone call chased away my sleepiness. The red notification dots on my social media app practically begged to be clicked. Amidst the overwhelming sea of updates, I immediately locked onto Chloe’s. [He said he couldn’t promise me all his love, so he promised me a sky full of fireworks instead.] The accompanying pictures were nine live photos of a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show. The fireworks clearly spelled out the initials “CC.” I clicked on the first live photo. A deep, lingering male voice instantly turned my hands and feet to ice: “Little Chloe, has your eighteenth birthday wish come true now?” It was Julian’s voice. At the same time, I received a voice message from Julian: [Elena, the company’s fireworks show is beautiful tonight.] [Wait until our tenth anniversary, I’ll give you a fireworks show just for you.] The exact same voice. Just lacking a bit of intimacy and indulgence. Refusing to give up, I went back to Chloe’s post and clicked on the second live photo: “Brother, is this fireworks show really just for me?” Third live photo: “Yes, just for my little Chloe.” Fourth live photo: “But these are clearly the company’s fireworks. They’re not just mine.” Fifth photo: “The company’s banquet didn’t have fireworks planned. I custom-ordered these for you.” Sixth photo: “Be a good girl. They’re just benefiting from your special treat.” … Nine live photos completely shattered the illusion of my beautiful romance. I stood on the balcony. From the eighteenth floor, the entire city spread out before me. Clusters of blue and purple fireworks exploded in the sky. Chloe’s updates kept coming, one after another. [Let those unspoken feelings drown in this sky full of fireworks.] … It was as if she were mocking pathetic me. Ten years ago, I also wanted a fireworks show just for myself. 4 Back then, Julian and I had just graduated from college. He majored in software engineering, and I majored in economics. He wanted to start a tech company. And I had passed the civil service exam in my hometown. Coming from a small town, we had no backing. Everyone around us mocked him for his pipe dreams. But when he looked at me with hopeful eyes, I didn’t hesitate to throw away my secure job and follow him to the big city. During our poorest year, we got our marriage license. Tears welled up in his eyes: “Elena, I’m sorry. When we’re successful, whatever wedding gift you want, I’ll make it up to you.” At the time, I still loved romantic dramas. The male lead always confessed his love deeply under a sky full of fireworks. So, I told him: “I want a fireworks show that belongs only to Elena.” That day, we played a fireworks scene from a TV show. We lit sparklers. And made a vow to be together forever. Now, the company had been running for almost ten years. The fireworks show that was once out of reach, Julian could easily throw hundreds of times. Yet he custom-ordered a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show for his little mistress first. Now, clicking on the video we took the day we got our marriage license… The girl holding a sparkler, smiling sweetly at the camera, looked so naive and ridiculous. So, no matter how deeply we once loved each other… This is how it all ends! I had been deceiving myself, refusing to believe the clues that had long been obvious. … A noise came from the entryway. Julian was back. 5 His anger seemed to have subsided significantly: “Elena, let’s not fight anymore, okay?” He held a pink envelope in his hand. It was the proof of love we left at a slow-mail shop in the city ten years ago. At the time, I badgered him to see what he had written in the letter. He hugged me tight and whispered in my ear: “Elena, the me ten years from now will give you the answer.” The warm breath, the youthful flutter. It was a beautiful memory that made me blush every time I thought about it. He had put my contact information on that letter. This surprise from ten years ago had now become a joke. I looked at the envelope and asked, “Julian, did you love Elena a little more today?” His expression froze, and he said somewhat awkwardly, “Of course.” I pressed, “Of course what?” He replied, “Of course I love Elena.” I continued, “Who ‘of course loves Elena’?” He looked displeased, “Elena, why are you getting more melodramatic as you get older? Julian loves Elena. Are you satisfied now?” I took the envelope from his hand and opened the yellowed letter: “Julian, ten years ago you wrote: ‘Did I love Elena a little more today?’” “But ten years later, you don’t love me more. Because you’ve transferred that love to someone else.” He rubbed his temples in frustration: “Elena, we’re not kids anymore. Can we stop being so dramatic? “I’ve told you I’ll only love you in this life, and you will be my only wife.” I played Chloe’s live photo. Julian’s deep but clear voice came from it: [Little Chloe, has your eighteenth birthday wish come true now?] [Be a good girl. They’re just benefiting from your special treat.] Hearing his voice, Julian snatched the phone away: “Elena, is this fun for you? Having me followed!” Seeing that it was Chloe’s post, he hurriedly explained: “That kid said she’d never seen a fireworks show. As her boss, I was just fulfilling her wish.” His explanation was truly laughable. “So you custom-ordered a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show for her? Mr. Vance, you are truly generous. “You’ve read the divorce agreement, right? If there are no issues, just sign it!” Seeing my firm stance, he finally realized I was serious. He rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance, his tone filled with resignation: “Elena, stop arguing with me, okay? I have absolutely crossed no lines with Chloe. “I just think she looks a little like you did ten years ago: clumsy, silly, with a fearless drive. “This fireworks show was entirely because she casually mentioned it was her 18th birthday wish, and it reminded me that your wish at 20 was also to have a fireworks show. “That’s why I agreed. Honestly, I did this for the 20-year-old you. “And I promised, on our tenth anniversary, I’ll give you an even grander fireworks show.” I really don’t understand men. Why would compensation for a lover be given to a mistress? His lover is right here, isn’t she? I didn’t know how to respond to him. I could only crouch on the floor, burying my head in my arms. I tried my best to hold back my sobs. But my body wouldn’t stop shaking. Julian hugged me from behind: “Elena, give me a little more trust, please? “We went from school uniforms to wedding attire. I would never betray the sincere heart you showed when you ran to me without hesitation. “Actually, I have some good news.” 6 He grabbed my hand. His index finger constantly stroked my wedding ring. “Before I came back, Arthur called me and told me you’re pregnant.” Julian and I had been trying to get pregnant for over a year. But there had been no good news. A week ago, we went to the hospital for another checkup. The doctor was our mutual friend—Arthur. The three of us went to college together. Arthur was a groomsman at our wedding. Now, this good news was delivered by our good friend. If Chloe wasn’t around, how wonderful this would be. I slowly raised my head. The tear streaks made my face look even more haggard: “Julian, what did you say?” He gently wiped away the teardrops from the corner of my eye: “Elena, we’re having a baby. We’re going to be parents.” I let out a mocking laugh: “A baby is only willing to come to a family where the father loves the mother. Julian, do you think this baby wants to come?” He held me tightly in his arms: “Elena, what exactly do I have to do for you to believe that I love you?” I broke free from his embrace, looked up, and met his eyes: “They say, ‘Where a man’s money is, his love is,’ right?” He seemed to see a glimmer of hope: “Elena, all my assets are in your name. What else do you have to worry about?” I sneered: “Julian, you run a company. I think you should be very clear about how marital property is divided.” Perhaps out of guilt for his infidelity, or perhaps eager to prove his love so I would safely deliver his child… That very day, we signed a marital property agreement in front of a lawyer. The agreement stipulated that all real estate under our names would belong solely to me, and the other party would no longer have any rights or interests in those properties. At the same time, we notarized the agreement and registered the transfer of the real estate. A week later, I received five properties and three commercial storefronts. Along with the five million dollars in our joint account. Julian and I maintained a superficial peace. This embryo became the only bond between us. Sustaining this fractured marriage. I no longer brought up Chloe. He also seemed to forget that I had brought up divorce. Instead, he started instructing the nanny to prepare nutritious meals. Every day, he would send me flowers, bags, jewelry, and clothes in different ways. Men can be so pathetic. Half a month later, Arthur called, urging me to go in for a prenatal checkup. In the examination room, his voice was slightly hoarse: “Elena, how have you been lately?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391379”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My childhood sweetheart lost his sight in a car accident. Out of the goodness of my heart, I donated one of my corneas to him. Yet, he believed I orchestrated the crash, claiming my donation was a manipulative ploy to force him into marriage and tear him away from his first love. He hated me for the rest of his life. Before he died, he told me he would rather be blind than ever look at my face again. When I opened my eyes, I was back to the moment right before he sped off to win back that first love. I pretended to know nothing. In this life, I don’t want to see him ever again either. 1 In the dead of night, my mom yanked me out of bed. As she hastily threw on her clothes, her face was grim. “Get up, quickly. Your Aunt Clara just called. Noah got into a car accident. We need to get to the hospital, now.” My heart hammered in my chest. It wasn’t until we reached the hospital and I saw Noah’s parents pacing anxiously outside the operating room that it finally hit me. This wasn’t my life flashing before my eyes right before suicide. I was actually reborn. My mom was busy trying to get updates on Noah’s condition. The adults were panicking like lost children. I was the only one calm enough to speak with the doctor. “The family needs to be prepared. The patient suffered severe facial trauma. Both corneas have detached. It’s highly likely he will be permanently blind.” Just like in my previous life, Aunt Clara nearly fainted at the news. I sighed silently, feeling absolutely nothing inside. I simply asked, “His corneas are detached, but can you save his eyeballs?” The doctor promised they would do their best, then shoved a pen into my hand. “What is your relationship to the patient? Sign here, quickly.” The word “wife” almost slipped out, but I forced it back down. I handed the pen to Noah’s father, who was slightly more composed. “I’m just a neighbor. I don’t have the authority to sign.” In my past life, when I heard Noah was going to be blind, my reaction was just as devastating as Aunt Clara’s. After all, I had been secretly in love with him for ten years. The thought of someone as vibrant and free-spirited as Noah never seeing the world again broke my heart, so I donated one of my corneas. Noah regained his sight. After a few days of depression, he proposed to me right there in the hospital. He held me and said, “Emily, from now on, we’ll be each other’s light.” My ten-year unrequited love finally had a happy ending, but I hesitated. “What about Mia?” Noah scoffed, pointing at his eyes. “If she hadn’t thrown a tantrum and broken up with me in the middle of the night, why would I be like this?” His answer was decisive then, but less than two years into our marriage, everything changed. By chance, I saw his search history on an AI app. He had asked the same questions multiple times: [How to make someone’s corneas detach] [Help me design the perfect car accident] [Can a person who died from carbon monoxide poisoning still donate their corneas?] Seeing those searches felt like plunging into hell. I gave him a cornea out of years of affection, and he wanted to take my other one. So, I sealed the doors and windows of our home, lit some charcoal, and drank with Noah for the first time since our wedding. When we were both buzzed, I asked him, “Do you regret marrying me?” Drunk words speak a sober heart. The look he gave me was like a knife. “If I didn’t marry you, how could I repay you for that meticulously planned car accident?” He slammed my diary—I have no idea where he found it—hard onto the table. “Emily Vance! You’ve had a crush on me since we were kids. When you couldn’t have me, you deliberately caused that crash to blind me, didn’t you?!” “When I went blind, you took the opportunity to donate your cornea to trap me into marrying you!” “You destroyed my health, you ruined my relationship with Mia, and you wanted me to feel guilty for the rest of my life! You are so incredibly vicious! I’d rather be blind for the rest of my life than look at your face!” Every word he said shocked me to the core. With red eyes, I tried to explain that it wasn’t true, but he slammed his hand on the table and demanded, “Then why else would you willingly disable yourself just to give me a cornea? Don’t tell me you were brainwashed by that ‘childhood sweetheart’ nonsense! We’re just neighbors! It’s not that deep!” I was utterly paralyzed. So this is how Noah had maliciously interpreted my actions all along. As the carbon dioxide built up, my mind grew hazy. We both died in that room. It wasn’t a painful death. 2 This time, I coldly watched the two families frantically search for a cornea donor, determined not to get involved in Noah’s karma. Aunt Clara was constantly wiping away tears, and my mom looked deeply worried. “Sigh, why would Noah speed out in the middle of the night?” “What was so urgent he had to risk his life? Such a good young man, and now…” Aunt Clara’s face flashed with sudden resentment. “I checked his phone and found out he was secretly dating a girl named Mia.” “She was throwing a tantrum, saying if he wasn’t at the train station in ten minutes, she was leaving the city. Noah panicked and…” I lowered my eyes and stayed silent. No matter how you looked at it, this had absolutely nothing to do with me. Yet, in my past life, Noah somehow managed to pin the blame entirely on me. Just then, a loud crashing sound came from the hospital room. Aunt Clara and my mom rushed in before I could even react. I followed them in to take a look. Noah had knocked over the water glass on his bedside table and fallen out of bed. He had ripped the bandages off his eyes and was blindly feeling around, his eyes red and frantic. “Noah!” Aunt Clara cried out, heartbroken. “Get up, the floor is cold!” “You can’t move around like this right after waking up! You have a fractured leg, be careful!” Noah grabbed Aunt Clara’s hand like it was a lifeline. “Mom, what’s wrong with my eyes?” “Why can’t I see anything?! Why?!” Aunt Clara’s heart ached for her son. She opened her mouth several times but couldn’t force the words out. She covered her mouth, suppressing her sobs until her shoulders shook, terrified of making a sound. Unable to see, Noah looked around frantically, pure panic in his eyes. Finally, my mom couldn’t bear it anymore. She pulled me over to help Aunt Clara lift him back into bed. “Emily? Is that you, Emily?” “Tell me quickly, what happened to me…” I gave Aunt Clara a complex look, and only after she nodded did I speak: “The car accident caused your corneas to detach. You are permanently blind.” Noah froze, immediately blurting out, “Impossible.” I said nothing more. Aunt Clara quickly rushed to comfort him. “Don’t be afraid. Your dad and Uncle Vance are already looking for a donor.” “You’ll get your sight back soon.” How could someone as proud and reckless as Noah handle such a blow? Eventually, the doctor came in on his rounds and issued a stern warning: “You must take absolute care of your eyes right now. If your condition deteriorates further, you won’t be able to have a transplant even if we find a donor.” I smiled silently. If corneas were that easy to come by, Noah wouldn’t have coveted my remaining one in my past life. But isn’t this exactly what he wanted? In this life, at least, he will truly never have to look at me again. 3 Uncle Vance failed repeatedly to find a cornea, his hair turning gray in a matter of days. Noah couldn’t accept the reality of his blindness. He radiated a toxic, aggressive energy. Less than three days after he was admitted, Aunt Clara was hospitalized due to stress-induced high blood pressure. I actively avoided Noah, but my parents scolded me for it. “Emily, our families have always been close. You should at least try to help out.” Unable to get out of it, I finally went. As soon as I entered the room, Noah heard the noise and turned his head. “Emily, right?” I was surprised, then heard him let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I know your footsteps.” “Why haven’t you come to see me? Do I look scary now?” I sat a short distance from his bed, my tone neutral. “I’ve been too busy lately. Couldn’t find the time.” The ten years of unrequited love had been entirely ground away by the torment of our marriage in my past life. In this life, I was thinking clearly. Noah was right. We were just neighbors. He seemed to be waiting for me to comfort him. When I stayed silent, he started feeling around for his phone. Once he found it, he held it out toward the other side of the bed. Speaking to empty air, he said, “Can you check if Mia called me?” “I can’t even unlock my phone. She must be worried sick not hearing from me for days.” I sighed in exasperation. “I’m over here.” Noah froze, a flash of defeat crossing his face. I took the phone and checked. Zero missed calls. Opening his messages, the last chat history was from days ago. I glanced at Noah, and curiosity got the better of me. I opened the conversation. I really wanted to know why he blamed me for his accident in my past life. “Noah! My mom said if you want to marry me, the dowry has to be an entire shopping mall. Non-negotiable.” “Your family is rich. Two malls would be nothing to you. If you’re going to be this insincere, let’s just break up.” Noah’s replies were incredibly subservient. “Let’s talk about this, okay? I’ll talk to my parents.” Mia sent a picture of a train ticket departing in half an hour. “Then come find me when you’ve talked to them.” Noah begged her not to leave. Finally, she relented, but said she would only wait ten minutes. Reading the chat log, I couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh. They were fighting over a dowry. It had absolutely nothing to do with me. In my past life, just because I was soft-hearted enough to give him my cornea, he took all his anger out on me? “Well? Any news?” Noah asked anxiously. I shook my head and placed the phone on his lap. “No.” “Impossible!” He felt around for the phone, trying to hand it back to me. “Is the battery dead?” “Or maybe it broke in the crash and isn’t receiving messages?” “Emily, could you go buy me a new phone?” Seeing his desperate panic, a surge of vindictive pleasure rose in my chest. As if to punish him, I said deliberately, “Mia hasn’t contacted you. Not even once.” 4 From that day on, Noah made me check his unread messages every day. As the days passed, his panic became obvious. “It’s been so many days. Why hasn’t she reached out?” “Do you think something happened to her?” I looked at him expressionlessly. But then he suddenly said, “Call her for me.” The moment the call connected, Noah’s eyes lit up. It was the first time he smiled in days. “Mia…” The person on the other end wasn’t friendly. “Why are you calling me? I told you I’d only wait ten minutes, and you didn’t show.” “Isn’t that an unspoken breakup? Stop bothering me.” Noah quickly explained, “I’m sorry, Mia, don’t hang up!” “I… I didn’t mean to be late, and I don’t want to break up. It’s just… I got into a car accident. I’ve been in the hospital.” I got up and walked out, afraid that if he got rejected, he’d somehow blame me for it again. But seeing how he acted with Mia made me realize one thing: he truly didn’t love me. We grew up together, and I had never seen him act so pathetic and subservient. When Aunt Clara arrived, I went to find his attending physician. If the car crash was so severe, why did Noah only suffer minor injuries everywhere else, except for his eyes? The doctor looked a bit exasperated. “When they brought him in from the scene, his face was covered in blood.” “We later found out the patient had installed a custom, protruding ornament on the steering wheel logo. When the airbag deployed, it drove the ornament straight into his eyes.” “It’s a real shame…” I raised an eyebrow and went home, finally understanding. In my past life, my entire heart was focused on Noah. It was only when my life flashed before my eyes that I realized I had played a winning hand terribly. This time, I took two-thirds of my savings and bought gold. My mom looked at me suspiciously. “Are you opening a jewelry store?” I smiled and shook my head. “Holding it for appreciation!” When my dad came home that night, he looked depressed. He sighed heavily during dinner. He kept shooting me sideways glances. “We can’t find a cornea anywhere. Noah is probably…” I looked up at him. “You’ve done everything humanly possible. Even if you can’t find one, Uncle Vance won’t blame you.” My parents both stared at me, tentatively testing the waters. “I’m just worried you won’t be able to accept it.” “We know you and Noah have been close since you were kids, and as you grew older…” “If you insist, your mom and I won’t object.” Understanding their unspoken meaning, I set my chopsticks down seriously. “Dad. Mom.” “I don’t like Noah anymore.” “Not because he’s blind, but because he already has a girlfriend. He’s not right for me. We’re just ordinary friends, just neighbors.” “Please don’t say things like that again.” My parents were surprised for a moment, but quickly nodded. “Emily, don’t worry. Whatever you choose, we support you.” 5 A week later, my dad offered to pick Noah up when he was discharged. But Aunt Clara politely declined. “Thank you, but Noah’s friend is coming to pick him up.” “You’ve already done so much for us recently.” That afternoon, we saw a girl helping Noah out of a car. Aunt Clara and Uncle Vance followed behind them, their faces devoid of joy or anger. “I heard Aunt Clara always disapproved of that girl. Why did she change her mind so suddenly?” My mom shook her head. “Noah is blind now. Even if she wanted to object, she can’t.” That evening, Aunt Clara’s family invited us over for dinner. I tried to find an excuse to decline, but Aunt Clara and Uncle Vance came to our door personally. “If Emily is busy today, we can do it another time.” “Your family has helped us so much lately, we don’t know how to thank you. You have to come over for dinner.” Setting Noah aside, Aunt Clara and Uncle Vance had always been incredibly kind to me, in both lives. Unable to refuse, I accepted. When we arrived, my mom went straight to the kitchen to help Aunt Clara. My dad and Uncle Vance sat together, scratching their heads as they called everyone they knew trying to find a cornea. Leaving me awkwardly sitting in the living room with Noah and Mia. Mia acted entirely like the lady of the house, even pouring me a cup of tea. “I heard you’re the childhood friend who grew up with Noah?” I smiled politely. “Not exactly. Just neighbors.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Noah frown. But when Mia leaned into his embrace, his frown immediately smoothed out. Mia smiled shyly. “Noah has been so much more dependent on me since he lost his sight.” I had no interest in competing with her, so I just smiled and played along. In this life, I only wanted to keep my distance from him. Whether he was happy being blind was none of my business. At the dinner table, Aunt Clara and Uncle Vance drank to drown their sorrows. After a few rounds, they were a bit tipsy. I helped Aunt Clara back to her bedroom. “Auntie, please get some rest. Noah’s condition is improving every day, don’t worry too much.” “Everyone is still trying their best to find a cornea.” Aunt Clara covered her face and sobbed softly. “You can’t even buy a cornea with money. We all know it’s just false hope.” “I never wanted Mia to marry into our family… Emily, you and Noah were supposed to be…” I smiled and gently interrupted her. “Auntie, Noah and I are just friends. You should just be happy for him.” Aunt Clara stared at me blankly for a moment, then nodded, her tears flowing even faster. I helped my parents back home. Right before we left, I looked back and saw Mia staring up at the Vance family house, her eyes filled with greed. Knowing Noah, he definitely reached out to Mia after his accident in my past life too. But she rejected a Noah who still had one good eye then. Why would she suddenly change her mind for a completely blind Noah now? Mia definitely had an ulterior motive. 6 Noah and Mia got their marriage license very quickly. By all accounts, this should have been a joyous occasion, but Aunt Clara and Uncle Vance looked deeply troubled. “Why does Aunt Clara have more gray hair now than she did a few days ago?” My mom’s face showed clear frustration with Noah. “Because she’s worrying about him.” “That girl is trouble. Knowing Noah is blind, she took advantage of the situation and demanded an exorbitant dowry. She asked for more than half of the Vance family’s assets, claiming it was ‘compensation’ from their family to her.” “And Noah insists he won’t marry anyone but her. Uncle Vance was so angry he almost had a heart attack.” Marrying Mia was Noah’s life-long obsession. Let alone half their assets, he’d probably gladly hand over his entire net worth. The only ones I pitied were his parents. To suffer such a disaster in their middle age. After dinner, I went to my room. In my past life, I lost an eye. In this life, I was naturally going to travel and see the beautiful scenery of the country. While I was researching travel itineraries, my mom suddenly knocked on the door. “Emily, Noah is here to see you.” I frowned. Thinking about how I had been intentionally keeping my distance from him recently, I got up and went downstairs. “What is it?” Hearing my voice, Noah turned toward me. “Want to go for a walk?” I looked back at my parents, grabbed a coat, and went outside. But I didn’t go far, just stopping under the streetlight right outside our door. Noah felt around with his hands but didn’t move forward. Seeing I wasn’t approaching, he pressed his lips together. “Aren’t you going to help me?” I clicked my tongue. “Men and women should keep their distance. I need to maintain boundaries with a married man.” Noah slowly, tentatively took a step forward, only to trip over a small rock and stumble. I watched him expressionlessly. After all, the memory of him slamming his hand on the table in my past life, screaming that he’d rather be blind than see me, was still incredibly vivid.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391378”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Arthur and I were childhood sweethearts. I had a stepdad, and he had a stepmom. We grew up depending on each other. He said he liked to wander, so I wandered with him. I thought we would be together forever. Until the day I stood in our rundown apartment and watched Arthur, shirtless, bend down to pick up another woman’s bra. I asked him why. He didn’t answer. He just told the woman to get dressed and leave. After a long time, he said he wanted freedom. And I was his biggest obstacle to that freedom. The day he left, I gave him a small kite charm. I said, “I wish you freedom.” 1 I had imagined my reunion with Arthur many times. But I never expected it to be under these circumstances. The hospital called me using Arthur’s phone, saying he’d been in a car accident and asking if I could come. That was how I found out Arthur had returned to the city at some point. It was a bustling metropolis. Even at this hour, the streets were alive with traffic. I rushed to the hospital, found out Arthur’s room number, and hurried over. It was a relatively small private room. A woman with a great figure was standing by the bed with her back to me, speaking in a flirtatious tone: “Arthur, I was the very first one to rush over and see you. Aren’t I good to you?” “Yeah, you’re the best to me.” The familiar voice rang out. I stood frozen, blinking, and slowly withdrew my hand from the door handle. Arthur and I hadn’t spoken in years. When we broke up, I was absolutely heartbroken. But time is the ultimate healer. When I thought of him now, my emotions rarely fluctuated. But hearing his voice so suddenly, I realized that maybe I hadn’t stopped loving him; perhaps the feelings were just too heavy, so I had forcibly locked them away. I didn’t dare enter the room. I asked the nurse for Arthur’s account number and paid his hospital bill. After leaving the hospital, I parked by the side of the road and smoked for a long time. I had always been a good student, a “good girl.” Smoking was the only bad habit I inherited from Arthur, and I only picked it up after we broke up. As work pressure increased over the years, my smoking addiction grew with it. After finishing half a pack, my mind wasn’t any clearer. Instead, I choked on the last drag and started coughing violently. How pathetic. I rested my head against the steering wheel and let out a bitter laugh. Logically, I should have appeared before Arthur looking glamorous and successful, casually saying, “Long time no see.” But I hadn’t even dared to look at him with my own eyes. Just hearing his voice made me flee in panic. Maybe I was just a glutton for punishment. My favorite thing seemed to be offering up my sincere heart just to have it trampled on. 2 I secretly went to check on Arthur a few more times after that and even asked his attending physician about his condition. Arthur’s room was always lively. No matter when I went, there were always people by his bed, men and women, chattering away. It was to be expected. Arthur had always been popular. No matter where he went, people naturally gravitated toward him, forming a circle with him at the center. He was always the center of attention. The last time I went to see his doctor, the doctor rubbed his temples in frustration. “Honestly, the patient in bed 2 isn’t seriously injured. Just a minor fracture and a mild concussion. He’s recovering very well.” “I know you all care about him, but could you please elect one representative to ask about his condition? Otherwise, I have to repeat the exact same thing five, six, seven, eight times a day. It interferes with other patients’ families who need to consult with me.” I didn’t dare confess that I wasn’t actually his family. I just apologized profusely and backed out of the doctor’s office. And then I locked eyes with Arthur, who was taking a walk in the hallway. He had three people with him: one holding his IV drip, one supporting his arm, and another trailing slowly behind. It looked exactly like a king surrounded by his court. I even heard Arthur say in a very annoyed tone, “I’m injured, not crippled. Can you let go of me? I can walk by myself!” The moment he finished speaking, he saw me. I cursed the hospital hallway for being so wide, leaving my panic and awkwardness completely exposed. I stood frozen for a long time. Finally, I was the one to speak first: “Long time no see.” “Arthur, who’s this?” Arthur looked at me, his expression neutral. “Someone from my hometown.” “Looking at you with such loving eyes, I thought she was your ex-girlfriend.” Arthur and I had depended on each other for over twenty years. I had worn his only winter coat; he had worn my only scarf. We had shared a single plate of fried rice and slept under the same blanket. Now, I was just “someone from his hometown.” I gripped my phone tightly, turned, and started to walk away. Arthur called out to stop me: “Wait.” He asked if I was the one who paid his hospital bill. “I saw a call log with your number on my phone. The hospital called you, didn’t they?” Arthur said. “Are you still using that same bank card? I’ll transfer the money directly to you.” “No need,” I refused. “If anyone’s transferring money, it should be me transferring it to you.” Arthur paused. “I spent so much of your money back then, I feel pretty bad about it. Give me your account number, and I’ll pay you back.” One of Arthur’s friends laughed at this. “Thinking about paying him back after all these years? That’s not very sincere. How much interest are you planning to pay?” Arthur shot the guy an icy glare. “Don’t listen to him,” Arthur said. “You don’t need to pay me back.” I scratched my head and said, “I have to.” I used to spend Arthur’s money without a second thought. When he bought me things, I accepted them as if it were my absolute right. Back then, I thought we were family. His money was mine, and when I made money in the future, it would naturally be his. But since we had separated, it was time to settle the financial accounts. 3 Arthur didn’t give me his account number, but I went to the bank and printed out my transaction history anyway. The next day, I gathered my courage, took my bank card, and went to the hospital. But Arthur’s room was empty. He had been discharged. Actually, I knew Arthur probably wouldn’t accept the money. I just wanted an excuse to see him one more time. But he didn’t leave me a single chance. The moment he spotted me, he vanished without a trace. Sometimes I couldn’t help but wonder what I had done so wrong. I had never been hysterical or thrown massive tantrums at him. To what extent did he despise me that he avoided me like a plague? “Men actually hate the submissive, overly-accommodating ‘desperate lovers’ more than they hate manipulative users. You’re like a piece of chewed gum stuck to their shoe—impossible to shake off, and disgusting when you stick.” At the bar, my friend downed her cocktail in one gulp and poked me in the forehead. “I’m talking about you, you desperate lover!” “Sometimes I really want to cut your brain open and see what it’s made of. How can you be so blindly devoted to a man who’s rotted into the mud, and absolutely refuse to change?!” Holding my drink, I argued back seriously: “First, I’m not a ‘desperate lover.’ Besides Arthur, I’ve never loved another man in my life. Second, Arthur isn’t a rotten person. He’s incredibly good.” My friend rolled her eyes in disgust. “Seriously, I thought after all these years you’d at least sober up a bit. I didn’t expect you to not have changed at all. You’re hopeless. I suggest you just bury yourself alive.” I smiled and didn’t argue anymore. Every single one of my friends had called me delusional. And I had explained to every single one of them that I wasn’t delusional; I knew exactly what I was doing. I wasn’t a desperate lover. Arthur truly used to treat me incredibly well. “Every desperate lover says that. But look at what Arthur did. He cheated on you, brought another woman into your rented apartment, and blocked your number. You went to beg him to get back together, waited outside his bar for a whole week, and he didn’t even show his face once.” “You guys don’t understand. Without Arthur, not only would I not have gone to college, I wouldn’t even be alive today.” I downed more than half a bottle of beer in one gulp. My alcohol tolerance had grown over the years, but mixing wine and beer tonight was getting to my head. I laid my head on the bar, tugged at my friend’s arm, and pointed at the male models dancing in the center of the club. “My tuition and living expenses for four years of college were all earned by Arthur dancing night after night like that. “He made six thousand a month back then. Five hundred for rent, five hundred for his living expenses, and the rest was spent entirely on me. “He actually got into college too, but my parents refused to pay for me to go. So Arthur said the college he got into wasn’t that good anyway, so he wouldn’t go. He went to work to support me instead. “When I graduated, my parents wanted me to marry someone just to get the bride price. Arthur borrowed money from every friend he had to scrape together the bride price they demanded. “So I am Arthur’s wife. He paid the bride price. I was supposed to marry him.” The music was still blaring, but my friend seemed too drunk to reply. She just lay there next to me, silent. I was quiet for a long time, then added, “So, it was actually normal for Arthur to want to leave, right? I was such a burden; I dragged him down for way too long.” 4 My friend was dead drunk. I finished the last half bottle of beer and scanned the QR code to pay the bill. As I stood up, my gaze accidentally swept past the bar entrance, and my eyes widened instantly. It was Arthur! He was wearing a low-profile black hoodie and a face mask, but I recognized him instantly. He didn’t see me. He walked straight to a lively booth, where someone cleared the center seat for him. I saw Arthur pull down his mask and casually take a beer someone handed him. A young woman smiled brightly and leaned in close to Arthur, saying something to him. Arthur nodded nonchalantly, offering a casual response. In the past, I never got jealous. I was too certain. I felt that nothing and no one could ever separate me and Arthur. I clearly knew his charm, but I was also absolutely confident in his loyalty to me. When did it start? When did Arthur stop loving me? I still remember, after Arthur said he wanted to split up, he never returned to our apartment. I went to the bar where he worked to find him. I called every one of his friends. I even ran to their houses, asking if they knew where Arthur went. I sent him countless messages, wanting to ask what exactly went wrong with our relationship, asking if we could just talk, promising I would change whatever needed changing. I told him I didn’t mind if he played around with other girls, just please don’t be angry. Eventually, I only worried about his safety. I said he didn’t have to talk to me, just reply to one message so I knew he was safe. Finally, having exhausted all my options, I sat on the freezing steps outside the bar at 3 AM. Hugging my phone, I used my stiff fingers to type out a message, word by word. [I agree to break up. Come home, let’s sort out the apartment.] Ten minutes later, Arthur appeared beside me. It turned out he had been there all along. Standing not too close, not too far, watching me coldly. In that moment, I felt as if I had never truly known him. Arthur had rented the apartment. He said he was leaving soon and had prepaid three months’ rent. I could keep living there or talk to the landlord about breaking the lease. He left very cleanly. When he walked out, he only carried a black backpack containing his wallet and ID. He didn’t take anything else. I walked him downstairs, still wearing the matching couples’ pajamas we had bought together at a wholesale market. I handed him a tiny kite charm, smiled, and said, “I wish you freedom.” Arthur, do you feel free enough now? 5 Knowing Arthur frequented that bar, I started dropping by every few days. I knew very well that Arthur and I were over. That’s just how Arthur was; once he made a decision, he never looked back. But I never ran into him again. I wasn’t sure if he was avoiding me, but even if he was, it wouldn’t be surprising. No matter who you are, being pestered by an ex-girlfriend you’re already sick of probably isn’t very pleasant. I usually sat at the bar. Over time, I got to know the bartender. As soon as I sat down, he’d slide a cocktail over to me. But tonight, I had barely been sitting for two minutes when I heard a loud slam right next to my ear. I turned to see a scantily clad woman angrily slam a delivery box down on the counter and furiously demand of the bartender, “Get me a vodka!” “Whoa there, Princess. Who pissed you off now?” “Who else?! I bought a gift for Arthur. I reminded him so many times, but it’s just been sitting in the package locker at his complex, practically growing mold, and he still hasn’t picked it up.” The woman stomped her foot in frustration. “It was so expensive! I wouldn’t even buy such an expensive watch for myself!” My heart skipped a beat. Without being obvious, I glanced at the shipping label on the delivery box next to me. The address was very detailed, right down to the apartment number. The bartender didn’t pour the vodka; instead, he handed her a sweet cocktail. “I remember Arthur saying he doesn’t accept gifts, right?” “It’s obviously because I didn’t get him the right gift,” the woman said, resting her chin on her hand and sighing mournfully. “Ugh, when will I finally win over that untouchable flower, Arthur?” “There are plenty of women who share your ambition. All I can say is, good luck.” I sat to the side and feigned curiosity. “Who are you guys talking about?” The bartender smiled. “A very handsome guy.” “How handsome?” “Incredibly handsome!” The bartender wanted to say more, but the woman shot him a glare that shut him up. I smiled awkwardly, took the hint, paid my tab, and left. Then, immediately, I took a cab to the address on the delivery box. My heart was racing, my palms even sweating slightly. I told myself I was just going to pay him back. One last time. This would be the last time I let myself indulge. Half an hour later, I rang Arthur’s doorbell. Faint footsteps came from behind the door. I took a deep breath, trying my hardest to force a natural smile onto my lips. The next second, the door opened. A woman with beautiful eyes stood there, wearing an apron and holding a spoon, a sweet smile on her face. She looked at me, confused. “Who are you looking for?” “Sorry, I think I have the wrong—” The words stuck in my throat. I couldn’t utter another syllable. Because I saw Arthur, who had just opened the bedroom door behind her, walking out shirtless. 6 It was truly strange. I had witnessed Arthur cheating, but it hadn’t hurt as much as this moment. Maybe it was because the atmosphere of domestic life hung so heavily around them, as if they had been together for a long time. I was acutely aware that Arthur already had another woman by his side. It wasn’t just a physical relationship; they shared a glass of water, shared a bed, and watched the sunrise and sunset together, just like we used to. My presence would only be an annoyance to him. If I truly loved him, if I truly wanted what was best for him, I should take the hint, be mature about it, leave the bank card with open honesty, and walk away. But when I opened my mouth, I found I had almost lost my voice. Swallowing hard, I held out the bank card. “Hello. I’m from Arthur’s hometown. He lent me money in the past, and I came specifically to pay him back today.” The woman turned to look at Arthur. Arthur stood frozen in place. After a couple of seconds of silence, his gaze fell on me. “Want to come in and sit for a bit?” I really shouldn’t have sat down. But Arthur got a glass to pour me water and pulled out a chair for me. The woman opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately just frowned. “Arthur, go put a shirt on. You don’t want your cold to get worse.” Arthur stood by the dining table, looking at me. I could only keep my head down and finally stepped over the threshold. “Sorry for intruding.” I tried very hard to control my gaze, preventing myself from looking around randomly, terrified of seeing something that would make me even sadder. But some scenes were unavoidable. Arthur went back to the bedroom, put on a long-sleeved shirt, and sat at the dining table, enveloped in a dark cloud of low air pressure. This was his typical state when he was sick. Looking at the tight line of his lips, I guessed he probably still had a low-grade fever. My fingertips twitched, and I forced myself to clench my hands into fists. The woman brought a bowl of porridge from the kitchen. She carefully picked out the shredded ginger, then peeled an egg, putting the egg white on a small plate and mashing the yolk with a spoon before mixing it into the porridge. “Arthur, want a taste?” Arthur didn’t eat ginger because he hated the strong smell. He didn’t eat egg whites because I loved eating egg whites. My eyes stung fiercely. It felt like tears were going to burst out the next second, so I quickly looked away. How cruel. Was this intentional? Deliberately making me stay to witness his intimacy with someone else? Arthur didn’t touch the porridge. He just casually asked me, “How have you been lately?” His tone was purely conversational. I looked at the woman sitting next to him, glaring at me like a hawk guarding its prey. I knew that if I leaked even a hint of my feelings for Arthur, an argument would be unavoidable. I had nothing left to give Arthur, so the least I could do was save him the trouble. Thinking of this, the fists resting on my knees clenched a little tighter. A sharp pain shot through my palms, but I managed a natural, even slightly shy smile on my face. “Pretty good. I’m getting married soon.” Hearing this, Arthur lifted his eyelids and stared at me. His eyes reflected my image. A long time ago, his eyes only reflected my image. Without showing it, I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “You guys should come to the wedding.” Arthur wouldn’t come, so I wasn’t afraid this lie would be exposed. The hostility on the woman’s face finally vanished, and her attention returned to Arthur. “Arthur, eat up, or it’ll get cold.” I held my glass, took a restrained sip, and politely said it was time for me to go. Arthur stood up too. “I’ll walk you out.” “Arthur, you’re still sick. I’ll walk her.” Arthur ignored her, simply following close behind me. Just slightly crossing the boundary of normal personal space, I could even smell the faint scent of soap on him. The sound of the door closing echoed behind me. I didn’t look back, walking straight toward the elevator. Arthur’s pace was steady, his rhythm the same as it had always been. My hand hanging by my side twitched. I suddenly really wanted a cigarette. “It’s good that you’re getting married. You should have gotten married a long time ago.” Arthur coughed, his voice a little hoarse. “He treats you well, right?” Afraid that speaking would result in a sob, I lowered my voice and offered a simple “Mhm.” “What about you?” Having steadied my breathing, I smiled and asked him. “You guys seem to have a pretty good relationship. You must be getting close to the big day too, right?” The elevator doors chimed open. I hurried inside and frantically pressed the “close door” button, not even daring to hear Arthur’s answer. Only when the elevator doors completely closed… Did I softly say, “Goodbye.” This time, it was real. We would never see each other again.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391377”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

On my way to take the graduate school entrance exam, my parents revealed the secret of my birth. “Harper, don’t come home right after the exam.” “We have good news: our biological daughter is coming back.” I thought they were joking. But my brother hugged me. “Harper, it’s true. You can’t call me ‘brother’ anymore.” Seeing my pale face, my parents laughed. “Oh, don’t tell me this child actually thinks she can keep staying in this house and calling us mom and dad now that our real daughter is back?” My brother affectionately ruffled my hair, just like he always used to. “Silly Harper, wake up. We can only be strangers from now on, understand?” 1 Standing at the entrance of the exam hall, my mind was completely blank. I hadn’t yet recovered from the shocking revelation that I wasn’t my parents’ biological daughter. Just a second ago, my brother, Mason, had been checking my admission ticket and making sure I had all my specific exam pens. Now, he waved his hand in front of my face and chuckled. “Seriously, Harper, what’s with that expression?” “Don’t tell me you object to my real sister coming home?” “She’s the true daughter; you’re just the fake, the imposter.” “You’ve been hogging everything that rightfully belongs to her all these years.” “Don’t you feel even a little bit guilty? Are you trying to compete with her?” I had just found out about my true identity. They hadn’t even given me a moment to process it. My mind was still stuck on the happy images from this morning: my dad personally cooking breakfast and wishing me success; my mom braving the freezing cold to wear a qipao (a traditional dress symbolizing victory) to wish me a triumphant return; my brother canceling important meetings to personally drive me to the exam hall. How could they go from caring for me meticulously one second to looking at me like I was a wicked imposter the next, guarded against me, and telling me we were now strangers? I could only grit my teeth. My heart felt cold and bleeding, yet I forced a smile. “No, I don’t. Congratulations on your family reunion.” “I’m going in for the exam now.” The wariness on Mason’s face finally melted into affection, and he patted my shoulder. “That’s a good girl. Go on in, and do well on the exam.” My mom pointed to her beautiful qipao and said: “Harper, remember when you took the college entrance exam? I wore this exact qipao, and you passed with flying colors.” “Trust me, this lucky outfit will guarantee you pass the grad school exam on the first try.” “Oh, wait, ptui ptui, I almost forgot. I can’t call myself ‘mom’ anymore.” “Harper, from now on, you have to call me ‘auntie’.” “Come on, let me hear you practice calling me ‘auntie’ first.” My mom looked at me with eager anticipation, waiting to hear the word “auntie” from my lips. But this woman standing in front of me was the mother I had called “mom” for twenty-three years. My nose stung terribly. I bit down hard to keep the tears from falling. My throat felt blocked. My lips parted several times, but I couldn’t utter a single syllable. Yet, they seemed completely oblivious to the fact that I was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. My dad actually put on a smile and urged me. “Harper, hurry up and say ‘uncle’ and ‘auntie’.” “If you don’t get used to changing how you address us now, our real daughter might overthink it when she gets back. She’s sensitive, and we can’t hurt her feelings, understand?” I felt like I was being shoved into the deepest pit of hell. My heart was dying, all hope turning to ash. With immense difficulty, I forced out two words: “Uncle, Auntie.” My dad carefully observed my expression, seemed to sigh in relief, and let out a hearty laugh. “Haha, that’s right! This is how you should address us from now on.” My mom gave me a tight hug. “Our precious Harper, hurry inside for your exam. Make sure you get a good score.” At that moment, I desperately wanted to scream hysterically: If you really wanted me to get a good score, why couldn’t you wait until the exam was over to tell me?! Telling me now—how am I supposed to focus on the exam?! But I couldn’t bring myself to ask any of it. I could only drag my leaden feet into the exam hall. As I turned around, the tears I had been desperately holding back finally broke free, falling in large drops. No matter how hard I wiped them, they kept coming. During the security check at the entrance, the proctor noticed my red, swollen eyes and asked what was wrong. “Student, nothing is more important than the graduate entrance exam right now. You need to adjust your mindset quickly.” I fought back the tears and nodded. There’s a saying: The first sword you draw after reaching the shore is used to cut down the one you love. But I hadn’t even reached the shore yet, and my family had already cut me down. How ironic. Honestly, why were they in such a rush to sever ties with me? Couldn’t they have waited two days? Let me finish the exam without distractions? I gripped my pen tightly, my heart numb with pain, but I had to face reality. They found the true daughter and didn’t want me, their fake daughter and sister, anymore. Fine. Then I’ll do as you wish. I wouldn’t shamelessly cling to them. Once the two-day exam was over, I would immediately leave this city and disappear from their lives forever. 2 From 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM, the first exam was Ideological and Political Theory. I forced myself to calm down. I thought about all the hardships I had endured over the past year preparing for this exam. Even if the sky was falling, I had to stay calm and not let my terrible mood ruin my performance. Finally, I finished all the questions and walked out of the exam hall. When I retrieved my phone from the storage area, I discovered that my dad had kicked me out of the family group chat. He even sent me a private message to explain: [Harper, how did you do this morning?] [You worked so hard; Uncle believes you definitely did great.] [Oh, by the way, Uncle kicked you out of the family group chat.] [Mainly because I was afraid you’d feel awkward. After all, Chloe and us are the real family of four. You’d definitely feel uncomfortable staying in the group, but probably too embarrassed to leave on your own. So, Uncle did you a favor and helped you out. Don’t feel any psychological burden, okay?] A lump of stagnant anger blocked my chest, unable to go up or down. What, am I supposed to be profoundly grateful? Thank my dad for being so understanding, for kicking me out of the group chat to save me from awkwardness? It was laughable. I thought I had the happiest family. Growing up, I never experienced gender discrimination. My dad loved me, my mom doted on me, my brother spoiled me. When I got sick, the whole family would hover around me, anxious and fretting, asking if I was warm enough, wishing they could suffer in my place. Was all that familial love fake? Just because we didn’t share blood, did everything cease to exist? I didn’t understand. Suddenly, a car pulled up in front of me. Mason rolled down the window and looked at me. “Harper, why are you crying? Did you not do well?” “That shouldn’t be. You spent the whole year studying diligently, pulling all-nighters. You even memorized notes in the emergency room when you had a high fever.” “Logically, this exam should have been a breeze for you.” I suddenly realized my face was covered in tears. I quickly wiped them away. Feigning calmness, I explained: “I finished all the questions.” A look of relief washed over Mason’s face. “I knew you could do it! Get in, I’ll take you to lunch.” As we passed a shopping mall, Mason parked the car and dragged me to the cosmetics counters. “Harper, what’s your favorite skincare set? Don’t hold back, pick whatever you want, I’m paying.” My chilled heart warmed up just a little bit. “Mason, it’s okay. I don’t need any skincare products.” My brother instinctively reached out and ruffled my hair. “Silly Harper, it’s not for you. I want you to pick out your favorite skincare set as a welcome gift for Chloe. She wants to meet you, and insisted I bring you along for lunch.” “Hurry up and pick something. Don’t just stand there. Pick the most expensive one, the one you usually wouldn’t dare buy for yourself.” “You have no idea how nervous I was when Mom, Dad, and I went to the high-speed rail station to pick Chloe up this morning. It’s my first time being an older brother to my biological sister. I’m terrified she won’t feel how much I like her. How about this set? What about this one? It’s too hard to choose, maybe I should just buy them all and let her pick?” I turned into a statue. So Mason didn’t specifically come to the exam center to pick me up for lunch. He did it to please the true daughter, Chloe? My nose burned intensely. “Mason, can I not go?” Mason frowned slightly. “Why? Harper, do you not like her?” “Are you hostile toward her?” “Do you think she shouldn’t have shown up? Is that really what you think?” I picked up the most expensive skincare set and handed it to Mason. “No. A lot of girls like this La Mer set. I’ll give her this one.” While Mason went to pay, I bought a plane ticket to the capital for tomorrow night. I couldn’t stay in this city any longer. With every breath, I felt like I was suffocating to death. I wanted to go stay with Professor Lu, who taught at Tsinghua University. She was my mom’s best friend, and also my godmother. She was always telling me to study hard and try to become her graduate student. She used to say: “If your mom hadn’t been faster on the draw, you would’ve been my daughter.” “Since you can’t be my daughter, how about being my student?” “A teacher for a day is a mother for a lifetime. Godmother will love you like her own flesh and blood.” Only today did I understand what she meant. It turned out my parents had become sick with longing after losing their daughter. So, they went to an orphanage and adopted me. I sent a WeChat message to Professor Lu. But even after I arrived at the restaurant with Mason, I hadn’t received a reply from her. 3 It was almost 1:00 PM when Mason and I arrived at the restaurant. The afternoon graduate exam started at 2:00 PM, but we had to enter the exam room half an hour early. Calculating the time, I didn’t have time to stay for lunch. So, before opening the private room door, I explained the situation to Mason: “Mason, I’ll go in, give the gift to Chloe, and then I have to catch the subway to the exam center.” Mason looked at me with pity. “You’re not going to eat anything before you go?” “I’ll buy a couple of buns at the entrance and eat them on the way. I really don’t have time. It takes about half an hour to take the subway from here to the exam center. I can’t delay.” Mason agreed, but suddenly changed his tone: “Harper, don’t call me ‘brother’ in front of Chloe. Remember to call me ‘Mr. Vance’.” “After all, she’s my real sister. I can’t give her the illusion that I want both of you. Between the two of you, I have to choose one, and I must choose her, understand?” I clenched my fists, forcing a smile. The brother who used to dote on me now only guarded against me. “I’m sorry, I forgot to change how I address you.” “Don’t worry, from now on I will treat you like a stranger and never call you ‘brother’ again.” With that, I consciously stepped back, putting distance between us. Just then, a waiter carrying a tray of dishes filed past, almost bumping into my back. Mason grabbed me and pulled me to his side, scolding the waiter: “Watch where you’re going! You almost spilled soup on my sister’s back! She has an important exam today, can you afford to delay her?!” The waiter apologized profusely. I smiled bitterly. So Mason did know today’s exam was important to me. Then why did he keep stabbing me in the heart, over and over again? 4 Mason pushed open the door to the private room and motioned for me to go in. Three people were already seated inside. My dad, my mom, and Chloe, the true daughter, who was being showered with their affection. Seeing me, my mom enthusiastically introduced us: “Harper’s here! Come meet Chloe.” “Your uncle, auntie, and Chloe have been waiting for you for a long time.” My mom specifically emphasized the words “uncle and auntie,” making me feel incredibly awkward. But a smile bloomed on Chloe’s face. When she smiled, the mother, father, and brother who used to love me all smiled along with her. That kind of cautious, fawning affection stung my eyes. I looked away, not wanting to see the scene, and forced myself to explain: “I’m sorry, Uncle and Auntie, I’m late.” I handed the La Mer set to Chloe, the true daughter. “Hello, Chloe. A small welcome gift. I hope you like it.” Chloe picked up a half-human-sized stuffed bear from the seat next to her and handed it to me. “Hello, Harper. Your gift is indeed quite small, not as big as mine.” “But, it’s the thought that counts. I like it very much, thank you.” I suppressed my anger and didn’t explode: “…” If she wasn’t embarrassed, I felt embarrassed for her. After all, anyone could see whose gift was truly “smaller.” But I noticed that my parents’ eyes held only affection for her, and blame for me. As if buying high-end skincare that Chloe didn’t recognize and making her look foolish was my fault. My dad put on a cold face and told me to sit down and eat. I really couldn’t stay any longer. Every look from my parents suffocated me. Thankfully, I had a ready-made excuse. “Uncle, Auntie, I’m short on time, so I won’t eat. Enjoy your family meal.” “Having an outsider present at your first reunion meal would make it imperfect.” “Chloe, take your time eating, I have to go.” But just as I was about to step out the door, Chloe cried out: “Mom, Dad, did I say something wrong and make Harper mad?” “Why is she leaving as soon as she arrives? Is she not even willing to eat a meal with me?” “I’m kind of dense. I don’t understand social etiquette, and nobody taught me. Unlike Harper, who grew up in the big city and had you to guide her. If I did something wrong, you have to tell me. Once I know, I’ll fix it.” My dad couldn’t stand seeing Chloe cry; it broke his heart. “Harper, come back! How can you be so rude?” “Chloe waited an hour on an empty stomach just to eat with you.” “You want to leave as soon as you get here? What kind of behavior is that?” “Sit down right now and eat something before you go.” If I stayed to eat, how would I take the afternoon English exam? I looked at Mason for help. But Mason seemed to not see me. He personally pulled out a chair for me. “Harper, sit down. Be a good girl and at least have a few bites.” I couldn’t hold it in anymore and turned around to explain: “It’s not about you. I have an exam at 2:00 PM. The graduate entrance exam is very important to me.” Chloe blinked at me, looking completely innocent and naive. “Wow, Harper, you’re amazing! You have the best educational resources and can even take the graduate entrance exam. Unlike me… I grew up in the countryside. The teachers there just coasted along. I didn’t even get into college. Is the graduate exam really more important than me?” She stood up from her seat and enthusiastically came over to pull me into the chair. “Good sister, it’s an hour until 2:00 PM. You’ll still make it if you leave at 1:30 PM. Mom, Dad, what do you think?” Not a single person in the room contradicted Chloe. Just this morning, an hour and a half before the exam, my mom was rushing me to leave. “Harper, hurry! You have to be in the exam room half an hour early. Don’t be late!” But now, they seemed to have collective amnesia. None of them dared look at me, but they eagerly agreed with Chloe: “Our precious daughter is right. Even if the sky falls, nothing is more important than you.” My heart plummeted into an ice cellar. I was utterly disappointed. Unable to control my anger any longer, I was just about to snap back. Suddenly, Professor Lu replied on WeChat: [My precious Harper, of course you’re welcome!] [I saw the WeChat Moments your mom posted. She found her biological daughter.] [That’s wonderful! Harper, do you want to be my daughter?] [Make sure you focus on your graduate exams these two days. Come to the capital as soon as you’re done.] A ray of warm sunlight finally broke through the freezing cold in my heart. “You’re right. A mother’s heart aches for her own daughter. My mom just messaged me. She’s telling me to hurry up and take my exam. I have to listen to my mom. Goodbye, Uncle and Auntie.” My mom abruptly stood up, her face changing drastically. “Harper, what nonsense are you talking about? Isn’t your mom…” SLAM. I slammed the door shut and walked out, cutting off the rest of my mom’s sentence. 5 Mason caught up to me at the restaurant entrance and grabbed my arm. “What’s your problem? Do you think I don’t know you’re in a hurry?” “If you had just sat down and taken two bites, I naturally would have found an excuse for you to leave. Why did you have to make the atmosphere so awkward? And you even dared to make up a lie, saying your mom was rushing you to your exam?” “Your mom is still sitting in the private room. Which eye of yours saw her send you a WeChat message?” I yanked my arm back forcefully and yelled angrily, my heart completely dead. “Mr. Vance, please conduct yourself properly. Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to grab a strange girl’s arm in public? Besides, isn’t that my aunt sitting in the private room? Where is my mom?” Passersby stopped and asked if I was being harassed and if I needed help. Mason furiously growled at them: “Get lost! I’m her brother!” Hilarious. Now he’s admitting to being my brother again? I loudly refuted him: “He’s not. We are strangers.” Mason looked at me with hurt eyes, but I didn’t want to look at him anymore. Taking advantage of the passersby blocking Mason, I pushed open the restaurant doors and ran out as fast as I could. I bought two buns at the subway entrance to fill my stomach, my tears falling harder with every bite. Thankfully, I made it in time for the afternoon English exam. At 5:00 PM, I walked out of the exam hall. The world was vast, but I had nowhere to go. I hadn’t forgotten my parents’ instructions from the morning, telling me not to come home right after the exam. But I still wanted to go back and pack my bags. I had bought a ticket for 7:00 PM tomorrow. Tomorrow, right after the exam, I would head straight to the airport. There wouldn’t be time to go home and pack. I took a cab home, but no one opened the door for me. Through the large iron gates of the villa… Mrs. Xu, the nanny, looked at me with pity as she shoved my thickest down jacket and some a change of clothes into my arms. “Miss Harper, the Master and Madam took Miss Chloe to the mall to buy clothes and haven’t returned yet. But before leaving, the Master instructed that you are not allowed to sleep here tonight. It’s so cold, please find a hotel to stay at quickly.” I stood awkwardly outside the gate, telling Mrs. Xu it was fine. A cold front was moving in, and large snowflakes suddenly began to fall from the sky. Like a stray, homeless cat, I pulled the down jacket tightly around myself and explained to Mrs. Xu: “I’m not trying to sleep here. I just want to pack my bags.” “Just give me one hour.” But Mrs. Xu shook her head vigorously: “I really can’t.” “The Master said if I let you through these gates today, I’ll be packing my bags and leaving too.” “Miss Harper, I have two kids in college. I depend on this job to support my family and pay their tuition.” I couldn’t bring myself to put the nanny in a difficult position. I stood outside the iron gate, shivering from the cold. “Then could you pack for me?” “I don’t want any of the clothes or jewelry the family bought me.” “But please get all my award certificates, diplomas, and things like that from over the years. I earned those with my own hard work.” “They’re in the safe in my bedroom. The code is 074523.” Mrs. Xu probably knew I had been kicked out and kindly nodded. “Miss Harper, wait here. I’ll go pack for you right away.” “Okay, thank you.” I stood at the gate waiting. The snow and wind grew heavier. It was so cold. I sneezed several times. My breath plumed in the freezing air, and my face felt like a block of ice. If this were the past, my parents would be worried sick. But now, they probably didn’t have time to worry about me. They had their biological daughter to care for. Mrs. Xu rushed out carrying my travel bag. “Miss Harper, it’s packed.” “See if anything is missing, and I’ll go back and look for it.” I unzipped the bag and made sure my most important certificates and IDs were there. “This is fine. Thank you, Mrs. Xu.” Just as I was about to leave, two headlights shone directly on my face.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391376”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My eight-month-pregnant sister-in-law was pushed to the ground, suffering a massive hemorrhage, and rushed to the hospital. Driving by, I simply rolled up my window, pretended I saw nothing, stepped on the gas, and left. In my previous life, I was the one who found her unconscious and bleeding. I rushed her to the hospital immediately. But the situation was critical. The severe bleeding triggered an amniotic fluid embolism. My husband was the top obstetrician in the city. I frantically called him, begging him to get to the hospital. Instead, he assumed I was throwing a jealous tantrum because he was having dinner with his first love and her family. He thought I was using his sister’s “accident” to force him to come back. By the time my in-laws finally arrived, my sister-in-law was dead—the doctors couldn’t save her from the embolism. His entire family blamed her death on me. They believed I deliberately misled my husband, effectively killing her. My brother-in-law, rushing back from out of town, believed their poisonous lies. Driven mad by grief, he hacked me to death with a machete right at his wife’s funeral. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the very day my sister-in-law was pushed and began hemorrhaging. 1 My mind reeled. As the red light lit up ahead of me, I instinctively hit the brakes and stopped at the intersection. Screams and panicked shouts erupted from the sidewalk. “Call an ambulance! A pregnant woman fell! She’s bleeding everywhere!” My hand immediately gripped the car door handle. But the moment I was about to push it open, memories flooded my mind—my husband and my in-laws pointing their fingers at my nose, cursing me, blaming me for her death. And then… I touched my own stomach. In my past life, this was where my brother-in-law’s machete had hacked me until I was nothing but a bloody pulp. Phantom pain shot through my muscles, making my whole body twitch. I pulled my hand back. The light turned green. Without a moment’s hesitation, I slammed the gas pedal and drove away. To prevent my in-laws from using me as a scapegoat again, I went straight to my mother-in-law’s house. “Mom, Arthur is working overtime today, so I bought some fish and brought it over for you.” I walked in, pretending not to notice her frantic, guilty expression as she hastily hung up a video call. “Elena, you’re here…” Before she could finish, her phone rang. The moment she answered, the color drained from her face. Tears instantly spilled from her eyes. Her legs gave out, and she practically crawled and stumbled toward me. “Hurry! To the hospital! Sarah fell!” I already knew, but I put on a perfectly shocked expression. I helped her to the car and sped to the maternity hospital where my husband worked. In this life, without my intervention, a bystander had called the ambulance that brought my sister-in-law, Sarah, to the hospital. By the time we arrived, she was already in the operating room. “Family members, sign here. The patient is 32 weeks pregnant. She fell and suffered a massive hemorrhage. We must perform an emergency C-section.” Just like in my previous life, my mother-in-law signed the papers with trembling hands. I turned to her and said, “Arthur is the best obstetrician in the city. He told me he’s working overtime today. Just in case, I should probably go get him.” She hesitated for a second, then nodded. I called Arthur’s number. Three calls in a row went unanswered. “Mom, Arthur might be busy. I’ll go up to his department and find him.” My mother-in-law’s eyes darted nervously, but she nodded. The moment I walked away, she pulled out her phone to call him herself. I knew he wasn’t at the hospital at all, so naturally, I wasn’t going to waste my energy looking for him. Standing in the stairwell, I watched my mother-in-law dial Arthur’s number over and over. Her expression morphed from composed, to anxious, to sheer panic as tears streamed down her face. A cold smile crept onto my lips. She had no idea that her precious son, eager to enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted evening with his first love, had put his phone on silent long ago. The video call she hung up right before I walked into her house was from Arthur. He had called to ask her to keep me occupied so I wouldn’t interrupt his romantic rendezvous. Watching her pace like a cat on a hot tin roof, I purposely jogged back to her, panting heavily. “Mom! Arthur’s colleagues said he isn’t working overtime today! And he’s still not picking up his phone!” A fleeting look of guilt crossed her face, but she still covered for him. “He was probably called out for an emergency consultation. If he’s not answering, just try again in a little bit.” Right then, Aunt Martha—Arthur’s aunt—and Sarah’s in-laws rushed down the hallway. Aunt Martha glared at me, her eyebrows immediately shooting up in anger. “Where is Arthur? Isn’t he an obstetrician? What use are you standing here? Why haven’t you told him to get down here?!” Aunt Martha was my late father-in-law’s older sister. Since he passed away, she had an iron grip on all the family’s affairs. In my previous life, the moment the doctor pronounced Sarah dead, before I could even process it, Aunt Martha slapped me twice across the face. “You are her sister-in-law! You’re supposed to look out for her like a mother! How could you just watch her die?!” In this life, I certainly wasn’t going to give her that opportunity. I put on a bitter, helpless smile. “Aunt Martha, I can’t reach him. He told me this morning he was working overtime, but I just checked his department. His colleagues said he didn’t come in today, and his phone goes straight to voicemail.” My mother-in-law mumbled something under her breath but ultimately stayed silent. “Are you an idiot? If he doesn’t answer, keep calling! Useless!” Aunt Martha screeched. I quickly took out my phone and dialed, one call after another. Finally, on the tenth attempt, the call connected. 2 I instantly put it on speakerphone. “Honey…” “Are you sick in the head?! Why are you calling me over and over again? I told you I’m working overtime! I’m busy, do not bother me!” “Arthur, Sarah fell down and is hemorrhaging! She’s in the operating room right now and hasn’t come out! If you’re not at the hospital, where are you?!” There was a pause on the other end. Then, a woman’s sickeningly sweet, artificial voice echoed through the speaker. “Oh, your wife doesn’t trust you. She went to the hospital to check up on you! Arthur, won’t your colleagues get the wrong idea? Elena, really, if you have an issue, you should just ask Arthur directly. Going to his workplace to cause a scene is one thing, but making up a curse about Sarah having an accident? That’s just malicious.” “No, I didn’t! Arthur, Sarah really is in the operating room. If you don’t believe me, you can—” “Get lost! If you’re going to lie, at least try to make it believable. Sarah is at her mother-in-law’s house, how could she fall? Throwing a jealous fit is fine, but there’s a limit. Going to my workplace to cause trouble? If this ruins my year-end evaluation, I swear I’ll kill you!” Before I could say another word, he hung up. The group of people gathered outside the operating room, previously whispering among themselves, fell dead silent. I smiled bitterly, putting on a deeply wounded expression. My mother-in-law looked away, avoiding everyone’s gaze. Aunt Martha looked momentarily embarrassed but said nothing. Sarah’s in-laws exchanged disgusted looks and sighed. Just then, the operating room doors burst open. A nurse rushed out, her face pale with panic. “The patient is experiencing an amniotic fluid embolism! You’re Dr. Sterling’s family—can someone please contact him immediately?!” My eyes flickered. Everything was playing out exactly as it had in my previous life. My mother-in-law’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor. Aunt Martha could no longer maintain her aloof facade. She frantically dialed Arthur’s number, muttering, “It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine. Arthur is the best obstetrician. He’s saved several patients with amniotic fluid embolisms before. He can definitely save Sarah!” The golden window for treating an amniotic fluid embolism is only a brief ten or so minutes. It’s literally a tug-of-war with the Grim Reaper. Over the past three years, Arthur had successfully saved five mothers from it, losing only one. That was why he had become the top surgeon in the maternity hospital. Aunt Martha’s call connected. She screamed, crying into the phone, “Arthur, get to the hospital right now! Your sister has an amniotic fluid embolism! You’re the only one who can save her!” From the other end came the sound of children screaming and playing, mixed with the laughter of adults clinking glasses. “Aunt Martha, Elena goes crazy, and you join her? Enough is enough! I revolve around her 365 days a year. I finally come out just to get one day of peace, can you all just let me be? Lily and I have nothing going on. Her family came back from out of town, and I’m just having dinner with them. Just for today, can you stop calling me?!” “Arthur, I am not lying! Your sister is really dying! It’s an embolism, and you’re the only one who can save her! I’m begging you, come back right now, or you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!” “I’ll regret it if I do go back!” Arthur’s voice was cold, entirely devoid of warmth. Hearing his voice, my mother-in-law completely broke down. She grabbed the phone, screaming, “Son! Your aunt isn’t lying! Your sister is really dying! Even if you don’t believe Elena, and you don’t believe your aunt, do you not even believe me?! Come back right now!” I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. To me, a mother-in-law who knew her son was cheating and helped him cover it up was a piece of trash. But to Sarah, she was a genuinely good mother. “Arthur, did you hear your mother?! Would your own mother lie to you?! Hurry back!” Aunt Martha stomped her feet in panic. “Mom, you…” Arthur’s voice finally sounded hesitant. “Ah! Arthur! My eye, my eye hurts so much!” A woman’s fragile cry of pain suddenly rang out, accompanied by an adult scolding a child. “How could you shoot a marble at your aunt’s face?!” Arthur’s voice immediately turned frantic with concern. “Lily, does it hurt? Don’t move, I’m a doctor, let me take a look!” Then, Arthur spoke into the phone, his tone returning to a rushed, icy state. “Mom, stop acting. Even if what you’re saying is true, it’s useless. I just drank a lot of alcohol. I can’t drive, and I can’t get back in time.” With that, he hung up. The phone slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor. My mother-in-law’s head slumped against the tiles, and she didn’t move. Aunt Martha knelt on the floor, tears streaming silently down her face. “How did Arthur become like this? How could he… how could he abandon his own flesh and blood for a woman on the outside? Animal. He’s an animal…” I helped my mother-in-law up. Looking at the massive, swelling bruise on her forehead from hitting the floor, I truly felt it wasn’t worth it to have given birth to a son like that. However, I didn’t pity her. Because in my previous life, she had a hand in driving me to my death. I don’t know how much time passed before the operating room doors opened again. “We’re sorry. We did everything we could.” 3 Two lives lost in an instant. My mother-in-law looked like her soul had been ripped out. She refused to eat or drink, simply clutching Sarah’s clothes and weeping. Aunt Martha, furious beyond belief, recounted everything that happened at the hospital to every single relative, cursing Arthur as a monster. When Sarah’s in-laws found out the baby she had been carrying was a boy, they cried even harder. David, Sarah’s husband, rushed back from out of town that very day. When he saw the lifeless bodies of his wife and child, his face twisted in agony, his eyes bloodshot. He simply couldn’t accept that he had only been on a business trip for three days, and the wife he had dreamed of a happy future with right before he left was just… gone. After hearing the truth from his parents, David wiped his tears and silently began organizing the funeral with me. No one thought to notify Arthur. Especially after finding out he had been dining with Lily’s family at a hotel directly across the street from the hospital, yet hadn’t even bothered to walk over and verify the truth. Even my mother-in-law was completely disillusioned with him. But a major event like this… how could I possibly let Arthur miss it? The day before Sarah was to be buried in their hometown, I paid someone to notify him. On the day of the burial, a light drizzle fell from the sky. I stood by the car holding an umbrella, watching the crowd carry Sarah’s coffin out of the mourning tent. In my past life, it was on this exact day that I was hacked to death by David. My blood, mixing with the rain, had rolled out a red carpet for my sister-in-law. Before the coffin even cleared the doorway, Arthur’s car screeched to a halt. He stormed out, full of rage, and sprinted toward me. I watched him with a numb expression, not saying a word. Smack! He looked at the black-and-white portrait I was holding and slapped me hard across the face. “You bitch! To trick me into coming back, you actually dared to curse my sister?!” I crashed to the ground. The portrait slipped from my grasp and landed in the mud, covering half of Sarah’s face, leaving only a pair of cold, lifeless eyes staring silently at Arthur. Arthur’s eyes were bloodshot. I don’t know if it was fear or fury that unleashed the beast inside him, but every trace of the gentle, refined doctor was gone. He looked at me with pure malice and lunged. “You bitch! I’ll teach you to lie! I’ll teach you to curse my sister! I’ll kill you!” I let him punch and kick me, keeping my eyes fixed on Sarah’s portrait. Sarah, I repeated in my mind, look closely at who your real enemy is. When you go down to the underworld and file your complaint with Yama, don’t name the wrong person. “Enough! What the hell are you doing?!” Hearing the commotion, the people inside the mourning hall rushed out. Aunt Martha shoved Arthur away violently, crying and screaming, “You animal! Your sister could have been saved! We called you so many times! Your mother practically got on her knees and kowtowed to you! And just because of one word from that little slut on the outside, you left her to die! You killed your own sister, and now you come to her funeral to cause a scene?! What do you want?! What the hell do you want?!” Arthur stumbled back a few steps, a look of desperate, terrified denial on his face. “Aunt Martha, what are you talking about? How could Sarah really be dead?! She was just trying to trick me! How could you all help her trick me?! Is it because she’s pregnant? You’re all helping her lie to me for the sake of the baby?!” I curled into a ball on the ground, letting the rain hit my face, washing away the tears pouring from my eyes. So… Arthur knew I was pregnant at this time in my past life too. “You’re all lying to me! I want to see Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!” Arthur screamed, trying to charge into the mourning hall, but was forced back the very next second. The heavy black coffin, carried by eight strong men, slowly emerged from the doorway. 4 “Didn’t you want to find Sarah? There she is.” Aunt Martha wiped the rain from her face, pointing at the coffin with biting sarcasm. Arthur stumbled toward the coffin, his legs giving out, and he collapsed onto the muddy ground. “Who is this act for? Your wife begged you to come back, you said she was lying. I told you to come back, you said I was lying. Your mother kowtowed and begged you to come back, and you said she was lying too. Did you really think we were lying? Or is your sister’s life just worth less to you than having dinner with a woman on the outside?” “No, it’s not like that! Sarah is my sister! I practically raised her! I loved her like my own daughter!” Sarah and I never had a good relationship. Although she lost her father early, she was treated like a precious treasure by her mother and Arthur, resulting in a spoiled, arrogant personality. Coupled with Arthur’s dismissive attitude toward me, she never showed me an ounce of respect. Every time she saw me, she was bossy and spoke to me with disdain. In the past, I was always forced to compete with her for a place in Arthur’s heart. She won every time. Arthur defended her unconditionally, every single time. Now, she had finally been forced to compete with someone else. And losing just once cost her her life. Maybe this is what they call karma. Smack! Arthur’s continuous denial enraged Aunt Martha, and she slapped him across the face with all her might. Enduring the heavy, dragging pain in my lower abdomen, I felt nothing but a dark satisfaction. If I wasn’t so physically weak right now, I would have loved to beat him senseless myself. Someone helped me up from the ground. Holding my sister-in-law’s portrait, I stood to the side, my head bowed, carefully wiping the mud off the glass. I let the blood pool and run down my legs beneath my skirt. My baby, Mommy is so sorry. Go find a mother and father who will actually look forward to your birth. I had just wiped the photo clean when Arthur violently shoved me again, directing all his misplaced rage onto me. “It’s you! You killed my sister! She was perfectly fine at home, why would she suddenly fall?! It’s all your fault! You cursed jinx, give me my sister back!!!” I crashed to the ground again. The portrait smashed into a puddle, my legs slick with blood. But neither Aunt Martha nor Arthur seemed to even notice. “Elena, you’ve always been jealous of Sarah! You were jealous of how much I loved her! But she’s my real sister! How could you kill her?! You murderer, I’ll kill you!” Arthur’s face was contorted, twisted in a demonic snarl. Like a rabid beast, completely devoid of humanity. He was even more unhinged than in my previous life. Ah, right. In my previous life, they had a reason to blame Sarah’s death on me. Because I was the only one standing outside the operating room. No one else heard the phone call I made to him. He could spin the story however he wanted. But in this life, his mother, his aunt, and Sarah’s in-laws all knew exactly what he did. He couldn’t deflect the blame anymore. This was just the fury of a humiliated man. He couldn’t even convince himself with his own lies, so naturally, he lost control. I swallowed the retort on the tip of my tongue, wrapped my arms around my head, and curled into a tight ball. Today was the day of Sarah’s burial. Even if the Sterling family didn’t care, the Hayes family wasn’t going to let Arthur delay the auspicious hour. Sure enough, as the coffin was loaded onto the hearse, David supported his parents and walked out of the mourning hall. “Arthur, get the hell out of here. Do not dirty my wife’s path to the afterlife!” 5 David grabbed Arthur by the collar and landed a brutal punch to his face, pinning him to the ground and striking him twice more. Aunt Martha immediately stepped forward to intervene. “David, stop! You’ll kill him!” Enduring the pain wracking my body, I let out a cold laugh. What a perfect, united family sharing the same name. “It’s not my fault! It’s all her! It’s Elena! She was jealous of Sarah, so she deliberately misled me and wouldn’t let me come back! She killed Sarah!” Arthur roared, actually trying to scramble up from the ground to attack me again. The veins on David’s forehead bulged. If his parents hadn’t been standing right there, he might have actually fallen for Arthur’s lies. He shoved Arthur hard back onto the ground, pulled out his phone, and shoved a security video in his face. It was the footage from the day of the accident. In the video, a young boy suddenly ran over from a distance, violently shoved Sarah to the ground, and then kicked her directly in her pregnant belly, shouting vicious curses at her, calling her a “fat pig” and a “monster.” I had, of course, sent this video to David anonymously. In my past life, protected by Arthur, Lily’s nephew—the true culprit—had completely escaped responsibility until the day I died. In this life, I naturally wasn’t going to let him off the hook. “Didn’t you say you wanted to beat Sarah’s murderer to death? Look! This little monster is the murderer! Lily’s older brother’s son, Tommy! Go beat him to death! Go kill him!” Arthur grabbed David’s phone, watching the video over and over again. When he clearly saw the boy’s face, he shook his head, muttering, “No, it can’t be. It couldn’t possibly be Lily’s nephew! Someone must have manipulated him!” “Arthur, Sarah is dead, and you’re still defending outsiders?!” I held up Sarah’s black-and-white photo, pointing it at him. “Look at her! She was your own sister!” Arthur snapped his head toward me. “Yes! It was you! It must have been you! You jealous bitch, you couldn’t stand seeing me and Lily together, so you deliberately manipulated Tommy! You wanted to kill two birds with one stone—destroy Lily and kill Sarah!” I laughed coldly. “Arthur, you don’t love me, and you defend the woman on the outside at every turn. Fine, I accept that. But Sarah was your own flesh and blood. She is dead, yet every word out of your mouth is about Lily. Arthur, do you have even a shred of humanity left?” The moment my words fell, David let out a guttural roar, raining a barrage of dense, heavy punches down on Arthur’s face, over and over again. If friends and relatives hadn’t rushed in to pull him off, David truly would have beaten Arthur to death right there. Everyone thought David was just lashing out in a moment of impulsive rage, but I knew the truth: David didn’t want to live anymore. He didn’t hack me to death with a machete like he did in my past life, all thanks to the security video I sent him. It let him know that the ones who killed Sarah weren’t just Arthur, but Lily, and her entire family. David, please don’t disappoint me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391375”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My mom is the heroine of a novel, but my dad isn’t the male lead. He’s the villain. They all say my dad was a terrible man who forced himself upon the heroine, which resulted in me being forced into existence. But after my mom had me, she was “redeemed” by the male lead. She didn’t take care of me for a single day. She viewed me as a stain on her life and wished I would disappear from the face of the earth. Meanwhile, my villain dad changed my diapers, fed me formula, and drove me to school. Despite being subjected to daily mental and financial attacks by the “hero and heroine,” he took care of me day in and day out for decades. One day, I asked him: “Dad, why does everyone say you’re the villain?” He replied: “Because they’re out of their damn minds. Stop overthinking. It’s 8 PM. Time to drink your milk.” Chapter 1 After he spoke, my villain dad poured me another glass of hot milk. He stared at me until I drank every last drop. Honestly, I absolutely hate milk, but my dad always said, “Eat your meat, eggs, and dairy. That’s the only way you’ll be strong enough to beat the crap out of people later.” I was shocked by his educational philosophy at the time, but I always drank the slightly sour milk under his unwavering, intense gaze. Sigh. I’m a grown woman now, and I’m still being forced to drink milk. Once I finished, he went back to being busy. His company literally couldn’t function for a day without him. According to the plot of the book, in about three years, we would lose this massive estate. We’d have to move into a cramped apartment and live like ordinary people. I suddenly started to panic about the future. My big, bad villain dad was going to end up in a tiny rental because of me? How could I let that happen? “Dad, why don’t you just hand me over to Vanessa? Didn’t she say that as long as you give me to her, she’ll stop shorting the Sterling Group’s stock?” Vanessa Hayes is my biological mother, though I’ve never called her that. She abandoned me the moment I was born. She doesn’t deserve to be my mother. Chapter 2 My villain dad, Arthur Sterling, didn’t even look up. His fingers continued flying across his keyboard. “What kind of nonsense are you spouting? You drank your milk, now go to bed.” I muttered, “I’m not spouting nonsense. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have to work this hard.” I wasn’t a clueless kid anymore. I knew everything about their past grievances and tangled history. Right now, Vanessa and her devoted male lead, Carter Hayes, were going crazy, recklessly attacking the Sterling Group. My dad slammed his laptop shut and poked me hard in the forehead. “Nora, what goes on in that head of yours all day? Your mother already has her true-love daughter. Why would you go back there? To be the fake heiress? Or to be their punching bag?” I pouted. “I’m not that brain-dead.” “Seems to me you’ve forgotten the pain now that the scar has healed. You have a perfectly good life as a billionaire’s daughter, but you want to go over there and suffer? Has there ever been a time you ran into Chloe and weren’t mocked?” “If you’re bored, take the black card and go shopping. Go travel. If all else fails, go read a book or practice your kickboxing. You just have too much free time on your hands.” I mumbled an “Oh.” I silently took my dad’s Amex Centurion card. He was right. In the eyes of the outside world, I couldn’t even compare to Vanessa’s precious true-love daughter, Chloe Hayes. Every time we appeared at the same event, I’d end up humiliated, whispered about by the media and the other rich socialites. Plus, I used to be too weak. My dad blamed it on me not eating enough meat and dairy. “Who does she think she is?” my dad would say. “Has there ever been a single thing I haven’t given you the absolute best of since you were born? The fact that you don’t hit them back when they talk trash makes me furious. If you hit them and cause a scene, I’ve got your back. I’ll clean up the mess.” They talked about me like that, and I didn’t fight back. I was useless. Chapter 3 When it rains, it pours. I was in the middle of a massive shopping spree at a luxury boutique when I saw Vanessa bring Chloe in to pick out clothes. The two of them walked in. Chloe was clinging to Vanessa’s arm. “Mom, you don’t need to spend so much. It’s not even an important occasion.” “Of course it’s important! It’s my precious daughter’s birthday. You have to be the most dazzling girl in the room. Whatever you want, Mom will buy it for you.” Chloe acted all cutesy. “I wonder if I can sit down for a bit. My feet are sore~” Vanessa totally bought into it. “I’ll have them model the clothes for you. You just sit over there and pick.” That was when they finally noticed me. I was sitting in the boutique’s VIP lounge, enjoying the personal service from the sales associates. Beside me was a mountain of luxury goods and shopping bags I had already paid for. They were scattered all over the floor. Chloe’s face turned pale when she saw it. Usually, Vanessa and Carter strictly controlled her spending. If she wanted designer goods, she had to wait for Vanessa to offer. She could never be as carefree as me—swiping a card whenever I wanted, buying whatever I desired. The sales associates looked a bit awkward. My stuff was everywhere, and I was sprawled out comfortably. There wasn’t a single place left for the mother-daughter duo to sit. “Ladies, please wait just a moment,” an associate said. I couldn’t care less, but Chloe’s expression was ugly. She timidly pulled on Vanessa. “Mom, why don’t we go to a different store? I didn’t know my sister was here.” Vanessa immediately stepped forward and tried to grab my arm. “Nora, get up.” I didn’t move an inch. My dad just told me not to suffer any grievances. Vanessa looked annoyed. I was looking at her like she was invisible, completely ignoring her presence. “What kind of attitude is that?” I smiled at the two of them. “I just dropped tens of millions of dollars in this store today. If I don’t sit here, who does? Do you see the staff kicking me out?” Chloe’s face grew even paler. Even though Vanessa brought her here to shop today, she would never spend that kind of money on her… Chloe’s ankle was apparently a bit chafed from her shoes. Somehow, she dramatically lost her balance and fell to the side. If Vanessa hadn’t been standing close by, she would have hit the floor. A crack appeared in Vanessa’s flawless facade. “Nora! Apologize to Chloe!” “Not a chance in hell. You want an apology? Wait for your next life. Have all these items delivered to the Sterling Estate. If any new arrivals come in, send them straight over. The air in this store is toxic; I don’t like it.” Chapter 4 Vanessa’s expression turned dark and sinister. “Nora, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because Arthur has your back! Once you’re married off, we’ll see how he protects you then!” “Huh? Just because I get married means my last name won’t be Sterling anymore? What kind of medieval, patriarchal garbage is that?” But I didn’t care what she thought. I turned on my heel and strutted out. A villain needs to have the self-awareness of a villain: don’t constantly shove yourself in front of the main characters. My dad and I never gained anything good from being around her. I still remembered the time my dad snapped at her: “Vanessa, drop the innocent victim act, and don’t be a bad influence on my daughter.” All she had to do was shed a few tears, and the Sterling Group instantly faced aggressive suppression from Carter. My dad even got attacked once when he went out. If he wasn’t tough as nails, he might have died right there. Carter is the adopted son of the Hayes family. He’s Vanessa’s most loyal attack dog, and an absolute psychopath. If she’s unhappy, I genuinely believe Carter would drag the whole world down with her. And right now, the thing that makes Vanessa the most unhappy is me—the stain on her life from before her marriage. Rumor has it that after my dad forced himself on her, she desperately wanted to abort me. But the doctor strongly warned her: “If you abort this child, your chances of ever conceiving again will be extremely low.” Because of that, Vanessa held her nose and gave birth to me. The moment I was born, she dumped me at the gates of the Sterling Estate. She didn’t want me, and she didn’t want to be my mother. And I don’t look a thing like her. I look exactly like my dad. We have the classic villain aesthetics—striking, sharp, and flawlessly elegant features, all perfectly replicated on my face. Anyone could tell we were father and daughter. As I grew older, I got more beautiful, and supposedly more “wicked.” But besides their verbal and mental attacks, they couldn’t actually affect my life in any tangible way. Because for a very long chunk of the plot, my villain dad is the one with the real money. And that is what disgusts Vanessa the most. Chapter 5 Vanessa didn’t give up trying to control me. Her control freak tendencies were off the charts. Using the excuse that I was of marriageable age, she claimed she was looking for a suitable match for me and repeatedly sent me resumes and invitations. The previous ones were all ugly losers. I threw them in the trash without a second glance. But when the latest resume was placed in front of me and my villain dad, we were both stunned. “I thought she’d find me some uneducated, trust-fund playboy? Is this a trap?” The owner of this resume was Sebastian Vance, a well-known heir in the city’s high society. After studying abroad, he returned to work at his family’s corporation. Although he hadn’t elevated the Vance family to top-tier billionaire status like his uncle had, he was still a capable and handsome heir. At the very least, in this city, there was a long line of rich girls dying to marry him. My villain dad agreed. “A resume this impressive… what game is she playing? Is this guy secretly gay? Why don’t you go check it out? It’s just a cocktail party anyway. Treat it like a night out.” We exchanged a look. Both of us felt this wasn’t as simple as it seemed. I sighed, dressed up, and went to the event. He had successfully piqued my curiosity. Deep down, I knew Vanessa wasn’t kind enough to save a good catch for me. I only realized what was going on when I got there. Sebastian was indeed quite a catch. Six-foot-three, articulate, with a face that could rival any Hollywood star. But his eyes were constantly lingering on Chloe. Chloe was wearing a little white dress, her cheeks flushed. “I just received my acceptance letter for a Master’s program at Harvard, but it’s a bit far from home, so my parents are hesitating…” The people around them gasped in admiration. In this circle of rich kids, there are few who can actually study, and many who just like to show off. Getting an acceptance letter from an Ivy League school was definitely something to brag about. Me: “…” Why is she acting so innocent and helpless again? I remembered that Harvard was also one of the schools listed on Sebastian’s resume. Sure enough, Sebastian’s eyes lit up. He stepped right past me and walked up to Chloe. “Don’t worry about it. I graduated from there too. If you have any questions, you can ask me anytime.” Right then, Vanessa appeared out of nowhere and warmly grabbed my hand. “Nora, this is Sebastian. Why don’t you introduce yourselves?” “Hmm… what did I tell you back then? I told you to study hard. Now look at you, you can’t even join the conversation, can you?” Sebastian finally turned his head to look at me. Almost imperceptibly, he furrowed his brow. Chapter 6 The people attending this cocktail party were all invited by the Hayes family, and every single one of them was a shrewd socialite. Instantly, the whispers started: “Isn’t that the useless daughter from the Sterling family?” “She probably graduated from some diploma mill, right? Standing there all alone, how embarrassing.” “Exactly. Born from the same mother, yet the difference is night and day. It really comes down to education.” “What good is money if you’re an empty-headed airhead? Sooner or later, she’s going to squander the entire Sterling fortune.” … Chloe stood to the side, looking at me timidly. “Sister, why are you here? If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought that topic up.” Her voice grew quieter. “Even if I talked about it, you wouldn’t understand…” The look in Sebastian’s eyes changed from initial awe at my appearance to a trace of contempt. There are plenty of beautiful women in the world, and plenty of them are airheads. And guys like him hated airheads the most. I instantly understood what Vanessa was doing. She wanted me to see with my own eyes how outstanding her precious daughter was. More likely, she just sent me Sebastian’s resume without ever telling him I was the intended match. She wanted me to witness firsthand how attracted he was to Chloe. And me? Pampered to the extreme by my dad, my public image was that of a brainless, wicked girl. She really knew how to play the comparison game. I looked at the wealthy socialites who had just been gossiping and pointed at them one by one. “The Wangs, the Qians, the Sus. You were the ones talking trash about me just now, right?” I smiled brightly at them. “Your husbands are out getting stolen by mistresses, and your kids are sitting in your basements getting fat off your money, yet you have the free time to gossip about someone else’s family?” “And you, my dear sister. Why don’t you mention that your dad donated an entire building to the school just to get you admitted?” My words instantly silenced the entire room. Chloe’s face turned beet red. “I… I applied on my own merits.” Sebastian stepped in to comfort her. “Ms. Sterling, you’re being far too aggressive. How could you possibly know those things? Do you have any proof? There’s no need to be so hurtful.” I shrugged. It was like they were meeting me for the first time. Anyone with half a brain in this city knew exactly what kind of person I was. Plus, as a minor villain who constantly danced around the main characters, what’s wrong with having a little inside information? “Lies don’t hurt. The truth is the sharpest knife.” “My dad wanted to donate a few buildings for me too, but I told him no need. I wasn’t going to go gild a hollow brain just for show.” This time, Chloe was genuinely so embarrassed she was on the verge of tears. It took Vanessa a long time to smooth things over and get the party back on track. She viciously warned me to keep my mouth shut. Later in the party, I ran into Sebastian again while getting a slice of cake. Hidden by the white tablecloth of the dessert station, I kicked Sebastian’s leg with my stiletto. It was supposed to be a subtle, flirtatious gesture, but I kicked him like I was venting my anger. Sebastian hissed in pain. Chapter 7 I was still in a foul mood when my driver dropped me off at home. As soon as I walked through the door, I kicked my heels off. My villain dad was on the couch dealing with company business. He turned to look at me. “What’s wrong? Who made my precious daughter angry? Do you want Daddy to handle them for you?” I plopped down next to him. “What ‘good man’? His brain is shallower than a puddle. When he gets old, I’m going to track him down and sell him snake oil supplements.” “Men are all like that. I’ve made you watch so many documentaries about scumbags. How do you still have any illusions about men?” I pouted, crossed my legs, and ate the fruit a maid handed me. “Hmph. He looks so proper on the outside, but he’s absolute trash.” “He was never a good thing to begin with. What, does he look better in person than in his photos?” I nodded. “Sigh, it’s just a handsome face. If you like it, grab him and keep him as a pet. If you don’t, toss him out. Why get so worked up over a crooked tree?” Sometimes I feel like my villain dad’s mindset is way too advanced. What he’s suggesting—isn’t that basically keeping a harem of male concubines? I was so shocked I almost choked on my fruit. What kind of respectable heiress actually keeps a stable of male models at home? I thought about it for a second. I couldn’t just swallow tonight’s humiliation for nothing. “No way. How can anyone not like me? He has to like me.” “Once he falls for me, I’m going to dump him so hard and make him pay for what happened today.” My dad fell silent for a moment. “Forced fruit isn’t sweet, Nora. You still need to know where to draw the line.” He sank into thought, a dark, gloomy aura radiating from him. Only then did it hit me—didn’t my dad force his relationship because he liked someone? Now, this messy web of relationships is still tangled. I wonder if he’d do it all over again if he had the chance. I patted my dad’s shoulder. “Dad, it’s fine. There are plenty of people in this world who hate us already. I don’t mind adding one more. Even if I tie him up, the worst he can do is hate me. What else can he do? We live in a society with laws. He can’t kill me.” It’s just a man. Three-legged frogs are hard to find, but two-legged men? Men are a dime a dozen. “You’re right. But Nora, Dad doesn’t want to see you get hurt. Play your games, but don’t give away your heart.” I promised him I wouldn’t.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391374”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

While I was shamelessly trash-talking my ex with my best friend on the train, the middle-aged man sitting next to us suddenly turned his head and asked: “Excuse me, that 6’2″ guy you just said ‘couldn’t perform’—is his name Liam? Liam Sterling?” I was completely clueless, so I just nodded. “Yeah, that’s him.” The older man gave me a deep look, sighed with profound regret, and whipped out his phone to furiously text someone. I didn’t think much of it and went right back to gossiping. But to my absolute shock, the moment the train pulled into the station and I stepped onto the platform, I saw my ex striding toward me with that drop-dead gorgeous face of his. He let out a cold laugh and sneered: “You haven’t even tried me yet, and you’re already spreading rumors to my dad that I can’t get it up?” 1 After getting into a huge fight and breaking up with Liam, I was sitting on a mountain of unvented anger. So, I dragged my best friend, Mia, bought tickets for the Amtrak to the capital, and decided I needed a change of scenery. On the train, I scrolled through my chat history with Liam. It was still stuck on the screen where I sent the breakup text. He hadn’t replied with a single word. Some people are alive, but they might as well be dead. I angrily locked my screen, turned to Mia, and started trash-talking him. “You have no idea… how awful he is!” Mia frowned and asked, “How awful?” I pursed my lips and started listing his crimes like I was reading a receipt. “The day before yesterday, he forgot to buy me a cupcake! “The day before that, he forgot my morning kiss! “And the day before that, he actually had the nerve to say the cherry tomatoes I bought were the size of regular tomatoes!” Hearing my list, Mia nodded thoughtfully and agreed, “That is pretty awful! How could he not buy you a cupcake?!” Me: “Right?! Exactly!” “So… that’s why you broke up with him?” Mia shot me a confused look. She probably couldn’t fathom why I would dump someone as insanely hot as Liam over a cupcake. Looking at Mia’s confused eyes, I fell silent for a few seconds. Of course that wasn’t the reason. Just last night, right when things were getting heated and we were about to go all the way, he suddenly checked a text on his phone. After reading it, without saying a word, he pulled his pants on, got up, and left. Before walking out the door, he just dropped a casual, “Go to sleep early.” I didn’t overthink it at first. But later, I saw someone mention in a group chat that Liam’s first love had returned from overseas, lost a game of Truth or Dare, and had to call guys to come drink with her. Obviously, Liam had gone to her. Between me and his first love, Liam chose her. Upon realizing this, I was so furious that I instantly texted him we were done. But getting stood up in the middle of the night like that was way too humiliating. I would rather die than admit that part. So, I put on a righteous tone, though my eyes darted away shiftily. “Of course not! You don’t know this, but every night he dresses super conservatively. He’s more old-fashioned than I am! “Honestly, I suspect… he can’t get it up!” Hearing this, Mia’s jaw dropped. “Seriously?! Liam can’t perform? You’d never guess it! He’s 6’2″ and he has such a great nose!” “All show and no go,” I said, shaking my head like a wise old sage. But just as I was about to continue tearing him down, we were suddenly interrupted by the middle-aged man sitting next to us. The man looked at us kindly and asked: “Excuse me, young lady, the 6’2″ guy you just said ‘couldn’t perform’—is his name Liam? Liam Sterling?” Hearing his polite question, I was confused. But I answered honestly. “Yeah, that’s him.” Seeing me nod, the man gave me a deep look, sighed with profound regret, and then lowered his head to furiously text someone on his phone. I shook my head, didn’t overthink it, and went right back to venting. After gossiping with Mia for the entire ride, my mood had significantly improved. Before getting off the train, I was even in a good enough mood to wish the middle-aged man a safe trip. But I never expected that the moment the train arrived and I stepped onto the platform… I would see my ex striding toward me with that drop-dead gorgeous face of his, letting out a cold laugh, and saying: “You haven’t even tried me yet, and you’re already spreading rumors to my dad that I can’t get it up?” Me: “?” Wait, what? That guy on the train was his dad?! 2 I whipped my head around. My eyes landed on the gentle older man who had gotten off the train with us. Perhaps sensing my gaze, the man gave me an awkward but polite smile and embarrassingly admitted, “Ah, yes, I’m his dad. I am so sorry he put you through all that.” His dad knew everything I had just ranted about, and was now actively apologizing on Liam’s behalf. Seeing his utterly sincere apology… I just felt all the blood rush straight to my head. My toes curled so hard they could have built a magic castle right there on the platform. OMG! I actually sat there and talked about my ex’s performance issues right in front of his dad. It was so mortifying I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. I didn’t even have the face to respond. I muttered a half-hearted “Mhm,” turned around, and tried to bolt. But before I could take two steps, my wrist was grabbed. I turned back to see Liam standing in front of me, his handsome face dark as a storm cloud. His dark eyes locked onto me as he demanded: “We haven’t finished talking. Where do you think you’re going? “And what’s this about dumping me without a single word of explanation? “Did I do something wrong? Are you unhappy? “If you’re unhappy, you have to say it. If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to know what’s wrong? “Even a criminal on death row gets to know what his crimes are before the execution, right?!” Liam’s perfectly shaped lips kept moving, firing off words non-stop. I stared at him, stunned. This was the first time I had ever seen him lose his cool like this. In my mind, he had always been this aloof, aristocratic guy with incredible self-control. He rarely let his emotions show like this. I was a bit surprised. But that didn’t stop me from being pissed. I coldly yanked my hand out of his grip and said stiffly, “You don’t know, huh? Fine, then let me ask you. “Where did you go last night? “Do you have any idea how long I waited for you?! “I even bought lingerie specifically for last night, and you didn’t even look at it! “And then… you just ran off! “I saw the group chat! Your first love lost a game of Truth or Dare, and you went to take care of her, didn’t you?! “That’s why you’re wearing the exact same clothes today!” I fired off all my pent-up anger like a machine gun. After I finished, I looked up at him. I thought he would look at least a little guilty. Or at the very least, apologetic. But I didn’t expect him to look completely, utterly bewildered. He stood there for a full thirty seconds before his brain finally processed it. I watched as Liam raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose with his long fingers. He looked at me with extreme exasperation and explained: “What kind of crazy scenarios are you cooking up in that head of yours? “When did I go to a party? “Last night, my dad texted me saying he and my mom got into a huge fight, and she took off to the capital by herself early. He told me to catch a late flight out here to track her down and make sure she was safe. “That’s why I haven’t changed clothes. “If you don’t believe me, smell me. Do I smell like a single drop of alcohol?” After explaining, Liam actually took two steps closer, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, and leaned in. Seeing his skin right in front of my face, I instantly blushed. I quickly pushed him away. “Y-y-you… stop that! “There are people around!” “So you’re not mad anymore? We’re not breaking up?” Liam didn’t let me push him away completely. Instead, he grabbed my hand and pressed it flat against his chest. Feeling his heart pounding wildly against my palm… My own heart started racing too. Even though I was already softening up, I stayed stubborn: “You left without even explaining anything! It’s perfectly normal that I misunderstood! “Besides, why should I just take your word for it? I don’t believe you.” Hearing that I still didn’t believe him, Liam looked even more helpless. He turned his head to his dad. “Dad, back me up here, will you?” Hearing Liam call him, his dad quickly wiped the amused, shipping grin off his face, looked at me very seriously, and nodded. “Yes, it’s true.” Seeing that even his dad was backing him up… Me: “…” Well, now I really had no reason to stay stubborn. Blushing, I pressed my lips together. Knowing I was in the wrong, I muttered softly, “Oh. Okay, fine. I’m not mad anymore.” After saying that, I expected Liam to let go of me. But instead, the very next second, I heard Liam give a dry, humorless chuckle. “Great. Now it’s my turn to be mad. “We need to have a serious talk about you spreading rumors to my dad that I can’t perform. “You know me. I don’t like taking a loss. When I have a score to settle, I settle it immediately. “Let’s go, wifey. It’s time for your husband to prove himself.” With that, he wrapped an arm around my waist and started marching me out of the station. Seeing that he was absolutely not joking… I immediately reached a desperate hand out toward Mia. “Save me~” Mia instinctively reached out to grab my hand. But before she could reach me, Liam dominantly swept me away. Looking at this bossy, overbearing Liam… Me: “…” I had a feeling I was doomed. 3 Without Mia’s help. I was smoothly dragged all the way to a luxury hotel suite Liam had already booked. The moment he pushed the door open, he tossed me onto the massive king-sized bed. Even though the mattress was soft, the impact still made my head spin. I struggled and tried to sit up. But before I could even push myself up, my wrists were swiftly pinned down. Liam leaned over me, pinning both my hands above my head with one of his. His voice was husky as he said, “Wait right here. I’m going to take a shower. “Today, I am going to make absolutely sure your little ‘misunderstanding’ is cleared up!” He said it through gritted teeth. Seeing my shocked expression, he couldn’t help but ask, “What, are you scared? “Let’s see if you ever dare to go out and spread rumors again.” Saying that, Liam thought I was actually intimidated, so he let go of my hands. His tone softened. Looking at his devastatingly handsome face, I unconsciously swallowed. My mouth moved faster than my brain: “Who’s scared? I’m just worried a certain someone can’t back it up.” Hearing me actually dare to provoke him… Liam raised an eyebrow and let out a cold laugh. “Fine. Just don’t cry later.” Me: “Not a chance~” I shook my head, looking incredibly smug. That just added fuel to the fire. I watched as he stripped entirely naked right in front of me and marched into the bathroom. However, just five minutes later, he was done showering and walked out. Seeing how fast he was, I was stunned. I opened my mouth, about to make a comment. But before I could speak, my lips were captured in a kiss. I thought it was going to be a fierce, enduring battle. But to my utter shock, merely three minutes later… I heard him let out a sigh. Looking at him, realizing it was already over… Me: ? ?? ??? 4 It ended before it even started? I turned my head to look at him, my eyes filled with utter astonishment. He lay beside me, a look of profound frustration and regret on his handsome face. Me: “…” I tried to hold it in. For a few seconds, I thought about the saddest moments of my entire life, desperately trying to keep the corners of my mouth flat. But they twitched upward anyway. Finally, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into loud laughter. “HAHAHAHAHA! “That’s it?! That’s it?!” Hearing my blatant mockery, Liam’s face flushed a deep crimson. After a few minutes of agonizing silence, he pulled me closer with a look of pure, unwilling determination. “I don’t believe it. Let’s go again! Give me one more chance!” I was laughing so hard I was shaking. I felt his hands starting to roam again, but I didn’t even try to stop him. Whatever, it was only going to be a few minutes anyway. It wouldn’t even be enough time for me to finish laughing. But before he could actually get started again, we were interrupted. From outside the hotel room door came the booming voice of his mother. “Son! Mom booked an appointment for you with a urologist! “Let’s go get you checked out! “Stop ruining that poor girl’s life!” Hearing this, Liam’s face turned as dark as a storm cloud. And I completely lost it, roaring with laughter. “HAHAHAHAHAHA!” 5 Even though Liam desperately didn’t want to go… He had no choice. Under his mother’s iron-fisted suppression, he was forced to comply. He held my hand, his handsome face radiating pure misery. Seeing his pathetic, puppy-dog eyes, I patted his shoulder comfortingly. “It’s okay, let’s just go see what they say. I know you can do it. Going is just to give your mom some peace of mind.” Hearing my comfort, Liam glanced at me, asking with uncertainty, “Really?” Seeing him looking so uncharacteristically defeated… I suppressed a smile and replied with absolute seriousness: “Yeah. Don’t worry, no matter what the test results say, I’m not leaving you.” “Okay.” Perhaps the recent failure had severely damaged his fragile ego. Because right now, he was as fragile as a delicate glass doll. If I said one more word, I was afraid he might actually burst into tears on the spot. Of course, if he did… That would be even hotter. I imagined the scene in my head and secretly giggled. His mom drove us to the clinic. Liam held my hand the entire way. His handsome face was completely devoid of its usual arrogant shine. He just looked insecure and full of self-doubt. Seeing his desolate expression, I offered some very hypocritical comfort: “It’s fine, I think it’s like that for everyone their first time.” But Liam wasn’t in the mood to engage with me. He kept his head down, deep in his emo feelings. The ride was extremely quiet. Until we watched him walk into the doctor’s office. His mom and I stood outside the door. She looked at me and offered an awkward but polite smile, very similar to his dad’s. She spoke with deep apology: “I am so sorry, sweetheart. I really haven’t paid enough attention to my son’s issues in this department. “I’ve truly put you in a terrible position. “Don’t worry, if there’s really a problem, I absolutely won’t let my son drag you down with him.” Hearing her incredibly kind words, I shook my head. “It’s okay, Mrs. Sterling.” Perhaps seeing that I wasn’t abandoning him even now… Her gaze turned even more affectionate, and her tone became impossibly gentle. We waited for half an hour. Finally, Liam walked out, his handsome face flushed red. He locked eyes with me, blushing as he handed me the medical report. I froze for a second, but looked down at it anyway. I couldn’t understand the medical jargon at the top. I just read the doctor’s simple, easy-to-understand conclusion at the bottom. “Hmm… Size is fine, hardness is fine… just lacks exercise and has poor stamina~” Reading that last sentence… I looked up at Liam, about to offer a few words of comfort. But before I could even open my mouth, his mom beat me to it. I watched as she literally kicked him in the leg. She scolded, “I told you to stop sitting at your computer all day! Now look at you, embarrassing yourself!” Hearing her words, I strongly agreed. I chimed in, “Mrs. Sterling is right! Liam, you really need to start working out!” Hearing me join in on the teasing, Liam let out an exasperated chuckle. He took a few steps forward, wrapped his arm around my waist, and murmured in a low, husky voice, “Alright then. But my wife… is going to have to work hard and exercise with me.” Hearing that… My eyes widened: “!!!” Oh no. This was bad!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391373”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

During a game of Truth or Dare, I asked my boyfriend: “If you met a girl who was younger than me and liked you, what would you do?” My boyfriend glanced down at the underclassman sitting next to him and answered without hesitation: “What do you think? I’d obviously choose the younger one.” “Why are you asking me this all of a sudden? Did you really think I’d choose you?” “Chloe, people need to know their place.” After he said that, he smiled and wrapped his arm around the underclassman’s waist. I didn’t respond. I just thoughtfully looked at his young, successful best friend sitting behind him. Because just moments ago, that very friend had confessed his feelings to me. His messages were still on my phone screen: [Have you thought about it?] [Why aren’t you saying anything?] [Chloe, am I really not as good as him?] 1. The pointer of the spin-the-wheel game stopped in front of my boyfriend. He chose “Truth.” As the person with the most points, I had the right to ask the question. Driven by some inexplicable impulse, I looked up at Julian, who was acting ambiguously close to the underclassman: “If you met a girl who was younger than me and liked you, what would you do?” The moment the words left my mouth, the entire room went silent. Everyone seemed eager to hear his answer. After all, lately, Julian had been taking Mia, a direct underclassman from his major, everywhere he went, using his status as her senior as an excuse. It made his intentions hard to read. Julian slowly lifted his eyelids, looking straight at me. His voice, slightly slurred from the alcohol, sounded exceptionally gentle: “Chloe.” “Do you even need to ask that?” I felt a wave of embarrassment. He was my boyfriend of three years, yet I found myself needing to ask a question that shouldn’t even have another option. But the next second, he let out a mocking scoff: “Of course I’d choose the younger one.” “Chloe, people need to know their place.” The gazes of the people around us shifted to me, filled with a mix of pity and contempt. Julian and I had been together for three years. He pursued me for over six months. Back then, he had nothing, but I stayed by his side anyway. Let alone the fact that a year ago, the wealthy Vance family had finally found him, turning him into a famous, wealthy heir in the city overnight. Everyone was waiting for my anger or my silent endurance. Instead, all I could think about was three days ago. I had acute gastroenteritis and called Julian, crying. He told me I was being too delicate, that it was just gastroenteritis, and it wasn’t my first time having it. Later, his best friend, Ethan, took me to the hospital. While I was there, I saw Julian taking care of Mia, who was suffering from menstrual cramps. During the six months he pursued me, he would stand under an umbrella in the rain, tilting it entirely toward me while half of his own shoulder got soaked. He used to smile and say, “Chloe, I will always treat you so well.” After three years of dating, in this very moment, Julian completely rotted away in my heart. 2. Seeing my expression, Julian frowned slightly. He reached out and grabbed my hand: “It’s just a game, Chloe.” “Is it really that hard to hear?” “If you chose someone younger, I wouldn’t be mad.” I blinked. “Really?” The corners of Julian’s mouth curled up slightly. “Of course.” I looked down, thoughtfully gazing at my phone vibrating in my palm: [Have you thought about it?] [Why aren’t you saying anything?] [Baby, am I really not as good as him?] I looked up and saw the elegant, refined man standing behind Julian. His burning gaze was fixed on me. That was Julian’s roommate of three years, and his best friend. Just moments ago, he had confessed his feelings to me. My face flushed red. I couldn’t even imagine someone like him calling me “baby.” Looking back up, I said softly: “Then let’s break up.” “I choose someone younger too.” Julian scoffed, looking at me like I was a child throwing a tantrum. “Sure.” “Do you have someone in mind? Need me to introduce you to someone?” Looking into Ethan’s slightly shining eyes, I shook my head: “No need.” Julian clearly didn’t take my words seriously and went back to playing the game with the others. Only Ethan, sitting opposite me, stared at me with burning intensity. My phone vibrated again: [Baby, so good.] Me: … I was starting to regret this. In my mind, even though Ethan was the youngest in Julian’s dorm, he was the definition of an untouchable, aloof ‘ice prince.’ I didn’t expect him to be like this on the inside. The tips of my ears instinctively turned red, and I got up to go to the restroom. When I came out, Ethan was leaning against the wall in the hallway. Seeing me, he immediately pulled out a tissue and meticulously dried my wet hands. … “Baby, I’ll take you home later.” His voice was low, raspy, and magnetic. Saying things like that didn’t feel out of character for him; it just added an intense aura of desire. My ears tingled, and I nodded instinctively. I let him hold my hand as we walked back to the private room. But as soon as we stepped inside, I snapped back to reality and pulled my hand free. When I looked up, I caught a fleeting glimpse of hurt in his eyes. 3. Seeing Ethan and me return together, Julian didn’t think much of it. He just stood up and grabbed his jacket: “Let’s go.” I noticed his lips were wet. I glanced at Mia. Yep, hers were wet too. Without a doubt, that “Dare” must have been very exciting. On the way back, Mia familiarly slid into the passenger seat of Julian’s car. “Mia gets carsick, so you sit in the back.” I shook my head: “No need, I’ll ride in Ethan’s car.” For the past month, Julian had been extremely “busy.” Whenever I looked for him, he would impatiently tell Ethan to keep me company. So this time, Julian didn’t overthink it either. He just let out a cold laugh: “Chloe, Ethan only kept you company before as a favor to me.” “How can you keep bothering Ethan? He’s a slight germaphobe and hates people riding in his car. It’s hard to catch a cab here, so be reasonable.” Ethan looked at me with deep, dark eyes: “It’s fine. She’s the exception.” Julian’s face turned ugly. He didn’t look at me again and drove off. 4. On the ride back, I didn’t dare look at Ethan. I could only aimlessly stare at the steering wheel. But then I saw his long, pale fingers. The defined knuckles. I swallowed hard. Hitting a red light, Ethan stopped the car and handed me a bottle of water: “Thirsty?” I shook my head, feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment. I didn’t dare tell him I had a thing for hands. He chuckled softly, put the water bottle down, and took a sip of sparkling water himself. When he tilted his chin up slightly, his sharp, clean jawline was perfectly defined. My gaze was drawn to him again. His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He reached out and covered my eyes: “Chloe, don’t tempt me. We’re moving too fast.” I hurriedly explained: “I just wanted to taste what it’s like.” He suddenly turned right, parking the car by the side of an empty park. He cupped the back of my head and kissed me. At first, he held back, keeping it light and tentative. But when his slightly heavy breathing brushed against my cheek, I instinctively parted my lips. His breathing hitched, and then he began to passionately plunder. A long time passed before he finally let me go. His gaze landed on my lips, his voice husky: “Have you tasted it now?” I didn’t dare look at his slightly red, incredibly sensual, thin lips. I turned my face away to avoid his gaze. I noticed the sparkling water had spilled onto the leather seat, leaving a wet patch. “The seat got dirty.” I remembered Julian saying Ethan was a slight germaphobe. He pulled out a tissue and reached over to wipe it: “It’s fine. Chloe can get anything dirty she wants.” We hadn’t even done anything, it was just a kiss. But the atmosphere felt overwhelmingly romantic and intimate. … 5. On the way back, Julian called me several times. I didn’t answer any of them. On the final call, I regretfully told him: [If I had known your best friend was this handsome…] [I wouldn’t have bothered dating you in the first place.] [The way he calls me ‘Chloe’ makes my heart ache for him.] Him: [?] I didn’t wait for his reply; I just hung up. And blocked all of his contact information. … Ethan parked the car right in front of my dorm building. The Vance family had donated 50 million to the university, so he naturally had some privileges. Once the car stopped, I instinctively pulled the handle to get out. It wouldn’t open. Ethan saw the surprise in my eyes but didn’t explain. He just leaned in close to my nose, his voice magnetic and raspy: “Baby, does it really make your heart ache when I call your name?” The tips of my ears burned. I didn’t know how to explain. Ethan curled his lips into a smile, as if he understood something. “So this is how baby likes to play.” The car doors unlocked. I scrambled out and ran toward the dorm building. Ethan grabbed my hand and pinned me against the wall. “Chloe, I feel so uncomfortable.” I definitely felt it. He seemed… a little restless. Remembering his broad shoulders, I sighed. Those few drinks at the club seemed to be hitting my head right now. My mind went foggy. I reached out and patted it. “Be a good boy.” Ethan let out a soft laugh and bit my earlobe: “You really do have a soft spot for younger guys, don’t you?” Me: … Can’t you just talk normally? How did I never realize he was such a flirt? The dorm matron, walking out in her pajamas, sneered: “You young people sure know how to have fun.” “Three minutes until curfew.” I immediately pushed Ethan away and sprinted inside. 6. When Julian got hung up on by Chloe, he and Mia were dining at a Michelin-starred romantic restaurant. Mia said she wanted black truffle steak, so he brought her here. She smiled and asked him: “How did you know about this place?” “Did you bring Chloe here before?” He shook his head. “A friend recommended it.” Thinking about it… In their three years of dating, he had never brought Chloe to a place like this. He was an orphan, and his college tuition was barely covered by financial aid. To survive, he took on three part-time jobs starting his freshman year. That was when he fell in love with Chloe at first sight. She was a freshman just like him. On the first day of orientation, Chloe’s picture was posted on the university’s confession page. Everyone saw her delicate, beautiful face, and so did he. In almost an instant, he fell for her. At that time, he was insecure and poor. But when he saw her wearing faded, washed-out jeans, he only felt a sense of relief. Later, he pursued Chloe for over six months. After they got together, he continued working his part-time jobs. During a heavy winter snowstorm, when he walked out of the western restaurant where he worked, Chloe was standing at the door holding an umbrella, waiting for him to get off work. Later, the Vance family found him and brought him back. But he never brought Chloe to a restaurant like this. Subconsciously, he felt that since Chloe had eaten street food and cheap diners with him for three years, it didn’t really matter if they came to a place like this. But instinctively, he brought Mia here. Besides the fact that he was no longer short on money, the more important reason was that the niche designer dresses Mia wore weren’t suited for street food stalls. Remembering Chloe’s words… He felt a sudden, inexplicable panic. Mia, sitting across from him, noticed and comforted him: “She’s probably just still angry and saying things to make you mad.” He thought about it and agreed. He knew exactly what kind of person Chloe was—pure and conservative. There was absolutely no way she would ever do anything with his best friend. But what was that momentary panic? He couldn’t explain it. “Should we go find her and explain things right now?” Feeling irritated, he looked out at the rain: “No need. Let her be.” He knew Chloe’s family situation better than anyone. A child of divorce, with both parents remarried to other people. She had no home, which made her exceptionally terrified of loss. She needed security more than anyone else. Without him, she had nowhere to go. He was absolutely certain that within seven days, Chloe would come looking for him with red, tearful eyes. Thinking of this, his panicked heart settled down. 7. When Julian returned to the dorm, the others were already asleep. Only Ethan was still sitting at his computer, reviewing the latest government bidding projects. He knew Ethan had recently started a company, but he didn’t pay it much mind. After all, with their family backgrounds, most of them only had two paths after graduation: return to the family business or start their own. Whichever path they chose, with their families backing them up, they couldn’t fall too hard. He didn’t understand why someone like Ethan, the only heir to a massive conglomerate, would want to start his own business instead of taking the easy route of inheriting his family’s empire. But it wasn’t his place to say anything. Seeing Ethan in the dorm made him breathe a sigh of relief. When Ethan saw him, he instinctively furrowed his brow. Julian realized that Ethan was a germaphobe, and the cloying, sweet women’s perfume on his own clothes was indeed quite pungent. Feeling slightly guilty, he pinched his nose. After all, his roommates all knew Chloe. She never wore this kind of perfume. And although Ethan was always very cold towards Chloe whenever he saw her, he had still known her for three years. Knowing Ethan wasn’t the type to gossip, Julian relaxed. The next second, he grabbed his clothes and headed to the bathroom. When he came back out, he saw Ethan on the balcony, talking to a girl on the phone. His voice was low and deep: “Baby, what are you doing right now?” It was the first time Julian had ever seen the usually aloof “ice prince” Ethan show an expression like this. In the quiet night, the girl’s soft, clear voice came through the receiver exceptionally clearly: “I’m taking a shower.” The girl’s voice was accompanied by the sound of running water. He couldn’t hear it very clearly. He only saw Ethan’s Adam’s apple bob slightly. When Ethan saw him, he immediately adopted a coaxing tone and said: “Baby, text me after you’re done showering, okay?” “It’s a little… inconvenient right now.” The other side murmured an agreement, and the call ended. Julian looked at Ethan, knowing this was just male possessiveness acting up, and didn’t say much. Honestly, through the screen, what could he even see anyway? But it did show that Ethan cared deeply about this girl. Julian asked casually: “Got a girlfriend? Is this the girl you’ve been texting every day recently?” “Could it be that girl you’ve had a crush on for three years?” Ethan sat back down at his laptop and gave an affirmative “Mhm.” Seeing that Ethan didn’t want to elaborate on his relationship with the girl, Julian didn’t press the issue. After all, the whole dorm knew Ethan had a girl he’d been secretly in love with for three years. From the looks of it, he had finally gotten what he wanted. Then, he suddenly remembered Chloe saying his best friend was more handsome than him. He had panicked a little at the time. But thinking about it now, Ethan was the only one in the dorm more handsome than him. And Ethan was already with the girl he’d loved for three years. This made him even more certain that Chloe was just throwing a tantrum. Julian let out a breath of relief. Remembering Chloe’s words, he still felt a surge of anger. He decided to give her the cold shoulder for a while. He needed to teach her a lesson.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391372”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel