As the Quality Control Supervisor for an import company, before the upcoming long weekend, I had to finalize the inventory of our last shipment of king crab. The moment I stepped into the minus-eighteen-degree freezer, the heavy door slammed shut behind me. The alarm system went dead. Realizing the temperature was dropping, I immediately grabbed the emergency warm packs from my kit. But as I peeled one open and pressed it to my skin, a bone-chilling cold immediately told me something was wrong. I screamed, frozen, and through the walkie-talkie, I heard my fiancé, Mark, burst into maniacal laughter: “We’re live-streaming a challenge: locking the company’s ‘Ice Queen’ in the freezer to see how long she lasts!” His colleague, Chloe, who was on duty with him, chimed in with her syrupy sweet voice: “Anya, give a little smile for the folks in the stream! The top gifter wants to see it!” In an instant, I understood. They were live-streaming a prank on me. Not only had they locked me in the freezer, but they’d also swapped my life-saving warm packs for cooling patches meant to bring down a fever! I gritted my teeth, trying to stay calm as I pleaded with them for help. “Spare… the spare warm packs… give them to me!” Mark’s voice came through the walkie-talkie, utterly dismissive: “Oh, come on, Chloe gets awful period cramps, so she’s using all the spare warmers for her belly!” “You’re so tough, just jump around a bit and you’ll warm up! You might even get some donations from the big spenders!” I stopped arguing. With my numb fingers, I pulled out the flare gun, aiming it at the most expensive, mysterious cargo in the freezer. A vial of frozen sperm, worth two hundred million dollars.

The cold metal casing of the flare gun pressed against my palm. I held the barrel steady, pointing it at the silver metal container labeled “AF-001.” “Mark, are you sure you want to play this big?” My voice trembled from the cold, but my tone was unwavering. On the other end of the walkie-talkie, Mark’s laughter abruptly ceased. Then came Chloe’s panicked voice. “Anya, don’t be impulsive! That… that thing can’t be messed with!” “Oh? Now you know it can’t be messed with?” I scoffed, my breath condensing into a cloud of white in front of me. “When you locked me in here, why didn’t you think about the consequences?” Mark’s voice was still defiant. “Anya, don’t try to scare us! “It’s just a prank, isn’t it? Is it really worth taking it out on the company’s valuable cargo?” “Do you even know what that is, daring to point a gun at it? Put the flare gun down!” I ignored him, instead using my free hand to tap lightly on the metal canister beside me. The canister emitted a sharp, resonant clang, piercing the dead silence of the freezer. “That’s Ms. Sterling’s golden ticket to an heir!” “She spent a whopping two hundred million dollars to get that, all the way from an African tribal chief!” “They say it’s once-in-a-century elite genetic material!” “I’m the QC supervisor who personally handled the receiving procedures. So tell me, do I know what it is or not?” Silence crackled over the walkie-talkie. I could picture Mark and Chloe’s faces in the monitor room, suddenly drained of color. They knew the value of this thing better than anyone. The day it was stored, Ms. Sterling personally oversaw it, even demanding that the movers use brand new gloves. She’d said if even a single thing went wrong, everyone involved would vanish, permanently. Chloe’s voice, laced with tears, rang out again, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice. “Anya, we really just wanted to play a joke, to lighten the mood…” “Who told you to always be so cold and distant? Everyone’s a little scared of you…” “Please put the gun down, okay? Mark will open the door for you in a minute.” The moment she finished speaking, Mark immediately followed up. “Right, right, Anya, we were just kidding. I’ll figure out how to open the door right now.” “Maybe the old lock’s circuits froze up. Don’t worry, I’ll go get some tools!” Listening to their coordinated story, the last bit of warmth in my heart vanished. Circuits frozen? This German-engineered cryogenic door can function perfectly in temperatures as low as fifty below zero. He thought I was an idiot. “Stop acting,” my voice was icy. “I’m giving you ten seconds. Open the door.” “Don’t forget, you’re still live-streaming.” “If Ms. Sterling sees her legacy destroyed because of you, do you think you’ll even live to see tomorrow?” “Ten seconds. Open the door. Now!” “Ten.” “Nine.” I started counting down, my numb fingers hovering over the flare gun’s trigger. Mark’s exasperated growl and Chloe’s sobs came through the walkie-talkie. “Psycho! Anya, you crazy bitch!” “Mark, what do we do… the chat is blowing up, the top gifter says he wants to see her actually pull the trigger…” “Shut up!” “Three.” “Two.” The second before I pulled the trigger, Mark practically screamed. “Stop! I’m opening it! I’m opening it now!” I let out a shaky breath, my body trembling even more from the sudden release of tension. But half a minute passed, and I was struggling to breathe. The heavy freezer door remained motionless. Through the walkie-talkie, Mark’s voice came again. “Oh, Anya, I’m so sorry.” “I was too nervous just now. I entered the electronic lock’s password wrong three times, and the system automatically locked itself.” “Now… we’ll have to wait for an engineer to unlock it.”

My heart sank instantly after hearing his words. The nearest engineer would take at least an hour to arrive. “Mark, you’re toying with me?” “How can you call it toying?” His voice held poorly concealed triumph, as if he were savoring my despair. “This is fate. Heaven itself wants you to cool down in there.” Chloe chimed in, feigning fragility. “Anya, since you can’t get out, why don’t you just cooperate with our live stream?” “Everyone in the chat says they want to see the Ice Queen looking pathetic in the freezer.” “The top gifter just dropped another ten thousand in digital gifts, saying if you dance ‘K-Pop Shuffle’ in there, he’ll give another ten!” I trembled all over, whether from cold or rage, I couldn’t tell. From the very beginning, they never intended to let me out! The so-called wrong password was just an excuse for them to buy time and continue their cruel live stream! “Mark, aren’t you afraid I’ll actually destroy this thing?” I raised the flare gun again, but this time, my hand shook so violently I could barely hold it. “You won’t.” All trace of panic had vanished from Mark’s face. He said with absolute certainty: “Anya, I know you too well. Your sense of responsibility is so strong, you put the company’s interests above your own life.” “Last time, to rush a shipment, you stayed at the warehouse even with a high fever. This time it’s the same.” “You wouldn’t dare destroy it. You can’t.” His words were like a knife, piercing my heart with brutal precision. Yes, he knew me. But he was using my sense of responsibility to condemn me to death. “And, I advise you not to do anything reckless.” His voice turned cold. “I’ve already reported to Ms. Sterling that you’re doing a routine check, and to ensure everything is perfect, you’ll be on duty in the cold storage area tonight.” “Ms. Sterling even praised your dedication and said she’d give you a bonus.” “If you dare touch that thing, how will you explain it when Ms. Sterling arrives?” Shameless! He twisted the truth, cutting off all my escape routes! If something happened to me in here, it would be a “dedicated” accident. If I destroyed the cargo to save myself, it would be “embezzlement and malicious destruction.” Either way, I lost. A chill rose from my feet, quickly spreading through my entire body, chilling me to the very marrow of my bones. I felt my consciousness begin to blur, my vision growing dim. No, I couldn’t die here. I leaned on the icy shelves, forcing myself to stand steady. “Mark… for the sake of us almost getting married…” My voice carried a hint of pleading, my last hope. “Just let me out, and I can pretend today never happened.” There was a moment of silence on the other end of the walkie-talkie. I almost thought he would relent. However, Chloe’s lighthearted remark shattered my illusion completely. “Oh, Anya, you don’t know yet, do you?” “Mark has already decided to call off the engagement with you.” “He said being with you was too exhausting, like trying to warm up a block of ice that just won’t melt.” “And…” Chloe deliberately drew out her words, her voice full of triumph and smugness. “I’m pregnant. It’s Mark’s baby. We’re getting engaged next month.” *Boom!* My mind went blank. Pregnant? Calling off the engagement? So all of this wasn’t a spontaneous prank. It was a premeditated murder. They wanted me dead. So they could be together, guilt-free. “Anya, don’t blame me.” Mark’s voice came again, cold and devoid of any emotion. “If you have to blame anyone, blame yourself for being so boring, so overbearing.” “Chloe is gentler than you, she knows how to treat a man better. Not like you.” “Just rest in peace.” “Your career, your love life, everything you have, Chloe will take good care of it all.” Despair, like a vast net, trapped me firmly. I slid down against the shelf, collapsing to the floor, my body’s energy draining away little by little. Just then, I heard footsteps outside the freezer, and a slightly older voice asking. “Mark, not off work yet? What are you doing in the monitor room?” It was Mr. Miller, the night shift security guard! A spark of hope ignited within me. With all my remaining strength, I grabbed the walkie-talkie and screamed. “Mr. Miller! Help me! I’m locked in the freezer!”

No sooner had my cry for help left my lips than Mark’s calm voice came through the walkie-talkie. “Oh, Mr. Miller, still on duty? We’re just working a little overtime here.” He seemed to have switched the walkie-talkie to a private channel, as Mr. Miller didn’t hear my plea. “Oh, Anya’s in there doing a final inventory.” “You know, the last batch of goods before the Christmas break. She’s so dedicated, she insisted on overseeing it herself.” “We’re just here to keep her company, in case anything comes up.” Chloe immediately echoed him with a sickly sweet voice. “That’s right, Mr. Miller, Anya is so dedicated. We all told her to rest early, but she just wouldn’t.” “She even said it was cool in the freezer, which helped her focus on work.” Mr. Miller seemed convinced, his voice full of approval. “Ah, Anya’s a responsible young woman. You two are working hard too.” “Alright, you carry on. I’ll go check other areas.” The footsteps gradually faded. My last shred of hope was extinguished by their casual dismissal. I slumped to the ground, staring despairingly at the tightly shut door. The walkie-talkie was switched back to the private channel, and Mark’s mocking voice came through clearly. “Hear that, Anya?” “Everyone thinks you’re a workaholic, a strong, independent woman.” “Even if you freeze to death in there, you’ll just be seen as a martyr for the company, a tragic example of dedication.” “You’ll even become a positive role model for new employees.” Chloe’s laughter grew even more unrestrained. “Anya, listen! The top gifter just shelled out another ten grand in digital gifts!” “He says if you kneel down right now and act like a dog, bark a few times, he’ll make Mark turn up the heat.” “What do you say? Thinking about it?” Humiliation, naked humiliation. They not only wanted my life, but they wanted to stomp on my dignity, crushing it to dust, before I died. I bit down hard, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. My body grew colder and colder, my eyelids heavy as lead. I knew this was a sign of mid-to-late stage hypothermia. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before I slipped into unconsciousness, and then my heart would stop. Was I really going to die here? Die in a meticulously planned trap set by my fiancé and his mistress? No. I wouldn’t accept it. I *refused* to accept it! I used my last bit of strength, leaning on the shelf, swaying as I stood up. If they weren’t going to let me live, then we’d all go down together! With the last ounce of power in my body, I steadied my gun-wielding hand just as I was about to slip. I no longer aimed at the vial. Instead, I raised it slightly, aiming for the yellow, deadly insulation layer above the shelves. My movement seemed to finally make Mark realize something was wrong. His arrogant laughter stopped. “You… you’re really going to do it?” For the first time, a hint of genuine panic entered his voice. I didn’t answer him. I just pulled the trigger with all my might. “Bang!” A dull gunshot. A blinding red flash, like an angry fire snake, instantly shot towards the yellow foam! The next second, flames erupted with a roar! Chloe’s ear-splitting scream came through the walkie-talkie. “Fire! Ah—!” Followed by Mark’s horrified bellow. “Quick! Put out the fire! Damn it!” However, it was too late. The shrill, piercing fire alarm, echoing throughout the entire factory, was instantly triggered. Its sound drowned out all the insane laughter and screams. Polyurethane foam insulation is highly flammable. Once ignited, the fire spreads rapidly, releasing thick smoke containing highly toxic cyanide. This was the first lesson I learned during my orientation as a QC Supervisor.

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As I was washing Chloe’s underwear, I found a hole in it. A cigarette burn. But I quit smoking over a year ago. There was a tiny hole on the lace trim of the underwear, so small you wouldn’t notice it unless you really looked. With five years of smoking behind me, I instantly recognized that yellowish, charred circle. It was definitely a cigarette burn. My heart lurched. I’d quit smoking ages ago, and Chloe definitely didn’t smoke. Could someone please explain what the hell was going on? I stood there in the bathroom, holding the underwear, my mind racing. The more I thought, the more wrong it felt. And the more I thought, the more I felt my blood boil. Just then, Chloe sent me a SnapChat message. “Babe, I’m working late again tonight. You go to bed first~”

I pulled some strings to get Chloe that HR assistant job at a private company, mainly because I wanted her to have an easy life. But lately, she’d been working late constantly, not getting home until almost ten every night. I hadn’t thought much of it, assuming she was genuinely busy, but now… Something was up. Something was definitely effing up. Suppressing my anger, I replied, “What time do you finish? I’ll come pick you up.” “Oh, it’s fine, babe. You know, it’s year-end, we’re super busy. I have no idea when I’ll be done.” I immediately changed, grabbed my keys, and drove straight to Chloe’s office. The lights were still on. Standing at the entrance, I could faintly hear voices from inside. Was she really working overtime? I didn’t rush in. I pulled out my phone and called Chloe. “I don’t like you coming home alone. I’ll just wait for you downstairs.” “Didn’t I tell you not to bother?” “It’s okay, baby, I’m already downstairs at your office building.” Chloe’s voice on the other end of the line clearly changed, a hint of panic creeping in. “Huh? No, you actually came? What are you doing here?” What am I doing here? I’m here to see what *you’re* doing. I didn’t say anything more. After hanging up, I hid in the stairwell. A few minutes later, Chloe emerged, a man in a sharp business suit trailing behind her. They walked to the elevator and immediately embraced! The two kissed goodbye, clinging to each other. As he kissed her, his hands were all over Chloe, shamelessly exploring. Guessing was one thing, but seeing it with my own eyes? That was another. Rage consumed me, wiping out all reason. Blood rushed to my head, and I wanted nothing more than to storm out and strangle those two low-lives. Then I heard the man laugh. “Your boyfriend really has it bad for you, doesn’t he?” “Don’t even mention him! He’s such a persistent nuisance, always sticking to me like glue. Ugh, he’s such a buzzkill!” Chloe’s words hit me like a bucket of ice water, momentarily cooling my impulse to burst out. The man continued his lewd banter. “How about you just let him wait downstairs while we keep going?” “What are you thinking? He could come up any minute!” “Last time he called you, didn’t we already give it a try? What’s there to be afraid of?” “Ugh, you’re so bad, I hate you so much~”

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The young couple next door. They kept me up every single night with their loud moaning and yelling. I tried asking nicely, screaming at them, even calling the cops. Nothing worked. So, I started hitting on the wife. On Valentine’s Day, I specifically slipped a note into a bouquet of roses: Your husband hasn’t found out about us yet, has he? And then, her husband absolutely lost it. 0 I’d just moved into my new place. My neighbors were a middle-aged couple. I hadn’t even met them yet, but I knew their relationship had to be rock solid. How did I know? I heard it. Every night, usually around midnight, they’d get up to some activities that perfectly aligned with biological spring mating rituals. My apartment building has paper-thin walls. Afterward, I could hear the man light his cigarette, the click of the lighter as clear as day. I really didn’t want to be in a position years from now, looking at their future second child and saying: “You little brat, I practically heard you grow up.” Even worse was the woman. Her voice was incredibly hoarse, and when she got going, she sounded just like a duck. And her vocal cords? Pure sonic penetration. Every night, I’d be treated to her demonic, 3D surround-sound duck quacks: “QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK HA HA HA HA QUACK QUACK QUACK HA HA HA HA!” It was like being surrounded by a flock of Donald Ducks. One time, I had a nightmare. I was back in my high school final exam, less than a month before the big SATs. I grabbed the test, and holy crap, I couldn’t answer a single question. Cold sweat immediately drenched me. My strictest teacher glared at me, radiating pure menace, and casually grabbed a chalkboard eraser, chucking it right at my head. But as the eraser hit me, it turned into a duck neck. My teacher opened her mouth and went: “QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK.” The whole class turned to stare at me, and they too started “QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK”-ing. The classroom transformed into a giant duck pond, everyone rushing at me with their “QUACK QUACK QUACK.” I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart pounding like a drum. Next door, they were still at it: “QUACK QUACK QUACK QUACK HA HA HA HA QUACK QUACK QUACK.” I stared at the ceiling, seriously considering writing a short story titled A Duck Pond Nightmare. The last time I heard such an abstract sound was when my desk mate was watching some fantasy show during study hall. He’d mimic the villain’s laugh, cackling “hee hee hee hee” at me. No, this couldn’t go on. If this duck-quacking didn’t stop, I was gonna croak. So, I knocked on their door. 0

The man opened the door. He was wearing just boxer shorts, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His chest muscles sagged, and his eyes were suspicious. He scanned me up and down, asking what I wanted. I started by expressing my admiration for their marital bliss and my awe at his stamina. Then I delicately suggested that I really didn’t want to hear their second child’s entire developmental journey from conception to birth, and perhaps they could try to keep it down a little. The man’s eyes widened. He barked, “Are you going to control the sky, the earth, and our private life too?!” From then on, we had a lively debate about each other’s family values and mental health. He graciously inquired about the state of my sanity. I, in turn, offered suggestions for improving his moral compass. Subsequently, he started making inappropriate comments about my female relatives. I, on the other hand, questioned his paternity, offering possibilities like the milkman, some random guy, or even the neighborhood stray, urging him to cooperate and verify it as soon as possible. To my surprise, he was completely ungrateful, rolling up his sleeves, ready to fight me. I was overjoyed. Tonight, I had truly met my lucky star! I saw dollar signs; a new luxury car was practically waving at me. I quickly stuck my face out, “Go on, hit me! Hit me! Please, I beg you, knock me out!” Just then, his wife rushed out of the bedroom, shoved him aside, and squawked in her duck-like voice, “Honey, we don’t stoop to the level of a psycho like him, QUACK!” Finally, they slammed the door shut, ending our friendly exchange. 0

A moment later, the “QUACK!”s resumed. This time, they were even more piercing and triumphant than before. If it was Donald Duck earlier, now it was a turbo-charged duck. I knew they were retaliating, so I recorded it and called the police. The officers arrived shortly. After listening to a chorus of duck calls with me, the officer rubbed his nose, suppressing a smile, and said it indeed constituted disturbing the peace. So, I returned with the police for a second visit. The man flung the door open, immediately yelling, “What the hell do you want now?!” I didn’t say anything. The officer showed his badge and stated: “Hello, you’re disturbing the peace. Please keep the noise down. Other people are trying to sleep.” The man finally noticed the police, his eyes wide. “You actually called the cops for this?!” I couldn’t take it anymore. “Can you just shut your damn mouth for once?! Can you please have some freaking manners?!” “Didn’t you hear the officer? You’re disturbing the peace, got it?” He was in the wrong, but his indignation was strong. “I can do whatever I want in my own home! What we do in our marriage is none of your business!” He didn’t say “what we do in our marriage,” of course. Let’s just say he used a much cruder term, but I’m keeping it classy for you. I said, “I’m not against you two being affectionate, but can you keep it down? Stop all that ‘QUACK QUACK QUACK.’ Is your wife a duck or something?” “You got the guts to say that again?!” I mimicked his wife, pinching my throat: “QUACK QUACK QUACK, you’re so good, honey, QUACK QUACK QUACK.” The man’s face turned beet red. He lunged at me, ready to fight. The police officers pulled him back. They took him aside, appealing to his emotions and explaining the law for a long time. But he was stubborn as a mule, insisting it was personal privacy and nobody else’s business. I got it then. The police could only mediate. With someone so unreasonable, I didn’t expect him to have a sudden change of heart or turn over a new leaf. So, I voluntarily signed the police report and sent the officers on their way. Sure enough, they quickly reverted to their old ways. I scoffed. When I try to be reasonable with you, you’d better be reasonable back. Otherwise, I’ll be even nastier than you. 0

I dug out a cardboard box. I put my subwoofer inside it. Then I stuffed three sides with sponges. The side not blocked by sponges, I pressed tightly against their wall. I turned the volume up to maximum. And started playing Buddhist chants. [Namo ratna trayāya. Namo āryāvalokiteśvarāya Bodhisattvāya mahāsattvāya mahākāruṇikāya…] As the solemn Buddhist music slowly flowed out, I felt instantly refreshed. My entire mind and body were cleansed. This was a place of Buddhist serenity. I wanted to see if they’d have the nerve to continue their antics in front of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and all the divine beings. Sure enough, they too were apparently moved by the compassionate Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. They stopped immediately. “Honey, it seems the Bodhisattva has manifested, QUACK.” [End of free preview. To continue reading, please subscribe!] “Manifest my ass! It’s that damn neighbor playing tricks!” Dave pounded on the wall, “Turn off that music! What the hell are you playing Buddhist chants for in the middle of the night, are you crazy?!”

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My student was diagnosed with leukemia, and it turned out I was a match. So, I donated my bone marrow to him. As his teacher, I wasn’t looking for anything in return. Just out of politeness, I accepted the health supplements his mom sent over. But after Caleb started to recover, his mom showed up at my hospital room, claiming I, as a teacher, was trying to cash in on my bone marrow donation. Based on those two boxes of supplements, she demanded I pay her back, threatening to cause trouble until I got fired. That’s when I truly understood what it felt like to be bitten by something so utterly ungrateful. Four months later, when I found out I was pregnant, Caleb’s mom came knocking again. She said her son’s condition had relapsed, and I *had* to donate bone marrow again. “You’re pregnant? It’s just a blob of flesh, what’s so precious about it?” “Just get rid of it! Don’t mess up my son’s match!” There was a boy in my class, Caleb Hayes, who was diagnosed with leukemia. I had signed up for bone marrow donation at the hospital a while back, and when they confirmed I was a match, I agreed to donate to Caleb. Before the surgery, Caleb’s mom came to see me, bringing a bunch of health supplements. “Ms. Sterling, my Caleb is so lucky to have met you! These are the supplements Caleb usually takes.” My mom, Martha, wasn’t thrilled about me donating bone marrow, but seeing Caleb’s mom act like that, she couldn’t show her displeasure. It’s just polite to bring a small gift when visiting someone who’s sick. Looking at the stuff, they were just some inexpensive health supplements, nothing fancy or expensive. My mom politely accepted them. Caleb’s mom didn’t say much, just glanced at us before leaving. I was pretty nervous before the surgery, so I didn’t think too much about it. I just focused on encouraging Caleb: “Don’t worry, with your teacher here, you’re definitely going to pull through.” The surgery went smoothly. But there was a risk of post-operative complications, so I needed to stay in the hospital for observation. When Principal Harrison heard about it, he even brought some colleagues to visit me. I was genuinely relieved, because at least Caleb was alive. A little suffering was worth it. As we were talking, a young nurse, Chloe, rushed in. “Ms. Sterling, the patient’s family is saying you deliberately charged her for gifts and are refusing to leave the hospital, threatening to make a scene!” “You should call your family to come negotiate. The hospital staff can’t hold her back anymore!” I froze, completely stunned. Before I could even say anything, I heard a commotion at the door. Brenda, Caleb’s mom, burst in, yelling accusations at the top of her lungs. “You, a teacher, have the nerve to accept gifts from a student? The principal said you donated bone marrow voluntarily, and you still dared to accept things?” I was dumbfounded. What gifts? It was just two boxes of supplements. It’s customary here—if a relative or friend gets sick, you bring them gifts when you visit. And I was donating bone marrow to her son? How could she twist a few health supplements into me accepting gifts? I was completely confused: “You must be mistaken, Mrs. Hayes? You brought these yourself, I never asked for anything…” Caleb’s mom suddenly took a huge step forward, almost lunging at my hospital bed. “You’ve always bullied my son, and now you finally have a chance to bully our family! You’re just trying to extort money and take advantage of the situation!” “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You’re trying to create a big spectacle to promote yourself and get a promotion! My son is practically dying, and you want to use him as a stepping stone!” “How can a teacher be so malicious? If I didn’t expose you today, who knows how much more evil you’d do behind our backs!”

When I finally understood what was happening, a wave of pure rage surged through me. The ungrateful wretch! When her son, Caleb, first got leukemia, all the teachers and students at school spontaneously donated money. But money was easy to donate; finding a bone marrow match was incredibly difficult. Many people had to spend tens of thousands of dollars just to find a suitable donor. She was desperate, crying daily because she couldn’t find a match. Then the hospital found out I had signed up as a bone marrow donor, and my type matched Caleb’s. His mom, like a drowning person grasping at a straw, came to my house crying every day, begging me to donate. She promised she’d pay any amount if I could save her son’s life. Of course, I wouldn’t make things difficult for her. I had always intended to save a life, and Caleb was my student. Naturally, I asked for nothing, donating purely out of kindness. I even paid for all my pre-op tests myself, thinking her family had already spent so much on his treatment. I never imagined that my good deed would be met not with gratitude, but with such vile betrayal!

The roomful of teachers exchanged glances, unsure how to respond. Caleb’s mom was clearly there to extort money, but no one knew how to handle a situation like this. A colleague, Ms. Davies, spoke indignantly: “When her son first got sick, all the teachers and students volunteered to raise money, and this woman—she’s just insatiably greedy!” When Caleb was diagnosed with leukemia, the entire school rallied, with spontaneous donations from students and teachers, plus my selfless donation. It should have been a heartwarming act of kindness. Principal Harrison was proud of the school’s compassionate spirit and had even intended to use it for publicity, nominating me for an award for outstanding service. It should have been a win-win situation, but instead, it got me caught up in such a dirty scandal. Principal Harrison looked annoyed, and as he left, he didn’t forget to caution me: “You started this mess, you fix it. Don’t let it affect the school’s reputation.” Just then, my mom, Martha, walked in, smiling, carrying a food container. “The chicken soup I made this time is extra delicious! I even sent a portion to Caleb, but his mom wasn’t around, and he was awake… What’s wrong? Why do you all look so upset?” I couldn’t hold it in and burst into angry tears. “Mom, his mom just came in here causing a scene, saying she’s going to make me lose my job!” My mom heard the whole story, and her face turned crimson with anger. “My daughter kindly saved her son’s life, how could she do something so utterly shameless?” My mom has a quick temper. Ignoring our attempts to stop her, she spun around and headed straight for Caleb’s hospital room. “I’m going to go ask her face-to-face why she’s bullying my daughter like this!”

I followed my mom closely, supported by a colleague. When we reached the room, Caleb’s mom was feeding him chicken soup. “This chicken soup smells so good, son, drink more! You’ll recover faster! But there’s too little meat in this chicken soup, why didn’t she give more chicken drumsticks?” Caleb, sipping his soup, slowly mumbled: “Ms. Sterling’s mom also made ribs, I smelled them. She didn’t give me any. Mom, next time can you ask for some for me?” Caleb’s mom, of course, readily agreed: “That old hag is hoarding ribs from you? How shameless! Wait until I get them for you!” My mom couldn’t stand it anymore and scoffed: “Who’s shameless now?! I cooked those ribs for my own daughter! What, you think they’re for this greedy pig?” I stopped my mom, who was about to lunge forward to argue, and glared at Caleb. “You told your mom I was up for an award, didn’t you? You told her to make a scene about it, right?” I remembered. The day Ms. Davies came to give Caleb the donation money, she mentioned the award nomination. Caleb’s mom wasn’t there then; it could only have been Caleb who told her. Later, when Caleb’s mom asked me why I wasn’t on the donation list. I hadn’t thought much of it, just told her it was from the students and teachers at school, and since I was hospitalized, I wouldn’t know. She then muttered softly: “She’s getting such a big award for free, yet she wouldn’t even donate a little money?” At the time, I thought I’d misheard her. Now, looking back, Caleb was already relaying information then. They probably started plotting against me back then. Caleb’s hand, which was tearing chicken meat, stopped. He glanced at me, then guiltily spoke. “Ms. Sterling, my family has it tough.” My mom was absolutely livid: “Your family has it tough? What about mine? I only have one daughter, and she donated bone marrow for you, and now she’s still lying in this hospital bed! Is this how you repay her?” “Don’t listen to her BS!” Caleb’s mom retorted, hands on her hips, not backing down. “I asked around! You recover from bone marrow donation in about a week! Your daughter is just playing the victim, lying in bed like a hog for months!” “Trying to play the victim and get an award? You think you can just lie there like some cheap floozy and get ahead? Look at yourself! I’m telling you, if you don’t give me money to shut me up, I’ll make sure you lose your job!” I’d never been cursed at like that in my life, and I was utterly speechless with anger. My mom’s eyes turned red, she glared, her chest heaving abnormally. “Shut up! Who gave you the right to curse my daughter like that?” Caleb’s mom became even more aggressive, striding up to my mom and poking her finger repeatedly into my mom’s chest. “Like mother, like daughter, right? Getting all worked up like this, did I hit a nerve with you two?” My mom gasped, couldn’t catch her breath, and collapsed onto the floor with a thud. I was trembling with fright. Ignoring my own need for support, I rushed to my mom’s side: “Mom!!”

Nurses rushed over and quickly took my mom to the emergency room. Caleb’s mom still couldn’t keep her mouth shut: “See? I told you she deserved it! Her daughter violated teacher’s ethics by accepting gifts and secretly taking credit for an award with the principal. Her mom’s just getting what she deserves!” She muttered something else, saying this wasn’t over, and just because she was in the ER didn’t mean anything. She still planned to go to the Department of Education to cause trouble. The more I heard, the colder I felt. My mom was old and had underlying health issues; how many times could she endure such emotional turmoil? People like this are truly dangerous; she didn’t care about anyone else’s life or death. With a cold face, I transferred five thousand dollars to her. “I’ll take the loss. The teachers each donated an average of five thousand, so I’ll give you that average amount. But you have to sign a guarantee that you will never again come here and upset my mom!” Caleb’s mom was ecstatic. “If you’d just given the money earlier, your aunt wouldn’t have had to go to the hospital! Don’t worry, I definitely won’t come again!” “That’s why she’s Caleb’s teacher, right? She’s such a good teacher, not only donating bone marrow for free but also giving five thousand dollars!”

Ms. Garcia looked at her coldly: “Right, so Ms. Sterling is just there to be bullied, huh? Your son will still be in Ms. Sterling’s class, I’d like to see how he dares to face her again!” I remained expressionless: “Ms. Garcia, you’re joking. I wouldn’t dare provoke her child again. Who knows when I’d have to pay more money?” Caleb’s mom’s face instantly turned sour. “You still want to bully my son? You…” She suddenly rolled her eyes, as if another idea had struck her, and then turned and walked away. At that moment, the emergency room doors opened. I disregarded everything else and rushed to my mom’s stretcher. “Family, don’t worry, the surgery was successful. There’s a 24-hour critical period; as long as there are no complications during this time, the patient will be safe.” I stayed by my mom’s bedside for a day and a night, refusing even to eat. During this time, colleagues visited me several times, but Caleb’s family never showed their faces. “That Caleb is truly a piece of work! I just saw him gnawing on the ribs your mom left for you, saying something like ‘no one else is eating them anyway’… Back where I’m from, people would spit on a heartless family like theirs until they drowned!” I scoffed, not feeling surprised in the slightest. His whole family was utterly selfish; of course, they’d take every advantage they could. I only hoped that my past good deed would save my mom’s life. But from now on, I would never be so foolishly kind again.

My husband, Liam, heard that both my mom and I were hospitalized. He canceled a long-planned project out of town and took an extended leave to be with us. I was already weak, and worrying about my mom’s condition dragged me down for nearly two months before I finally started to recover. Today, I reported back to school. The kids in my class saw me from a distance, cheering and running to surround me, asking how I was. “Teacher, teacher, are you feeling better? We missed you so much!” “Caleb is so mean! Ms. Sterling sacrificed so much for him, and he still had the nerve to try and report her!” All the teachers and students at school had donated money for Caleb, and they had seen the posters in the display area. But those posters were taken down a few days later, and when colleagues returned to school, they all talked about the drama they’d witnessed at the hospital. Gossip always spreads fastest at school, especially such a bizarre story. So, everyone knew about the ungrateful student in sophomore year (Class 3). He’d received a free bone marrow transplant from his teacher, then blackmailed her for “hush money” by threatening to report her. I patted the students’ heads, feeling a warmth in my heart, when suddenly Sarah, the class monitor, rushed over. “Teacher, you need to go to Principal Harrison’s office, fast!” “Caleb’s mom is causing a scene, saying you’re not allowed to teach our class anymore!” When I arrived at the office, Caleb’s mom was yelling. Several other parents from the class stood beside her. “Ms. Sterling has been hospitalized for two months; she’s already fallen behind the school’s schedule. Why should she still teach my child?” A colleague tried to reason with her: “Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Sterling is a highly capable teacher. Besides, it’s only been two months; Ms. Sterling can easily catch up with the class’s progress.” “No way!” Caleb’s mom was aggressive: “With her body so weak after two months in the hospital, how can she have the energy to manage a whole class?” “Besides, she even dared to donate bone marrow for an award. Who knows what she’ll do next, or what award she’ll try to get, forcing kids in the class to do things? If she bullies my child again, I won’t even know!” “You must fire her! At the very least, transfer her! I absolutely won’t let Avery Sterling mess with my son again!” Caleb’s mom could twist white into black with just her mouth! My fists clenched in anger. And some of the student parents nodded along: “We’re not questioning Ms. Sterling’s ability, but she was hospitalized for so long. It did delay our children’s studies. Plus, we heard bone marrow donation has many side effects. Who knows if she’ll need to be hospitalized again?” “That’s right, Ms. Sterling, please understand us. High school academics are already tough; missing even one day means falling far behind!” So, this was *my* fault now? A chill ran through my heart. Sarah, the class monitor, suddenly ran over and stood by my side, absolutely furious: “Mom! Are you also ganging up with Caleb’s mom to bully Ms. Sterling?” A whole crowd of students surged in: “Ms. Sterling is a great teacher! We don’t want a new teacher!” The parents looked embarrassed, unsure how to respond. Caleb’s mom, however, showed no shame at all. “I knew this Sterling woman wasn’t any good! She’s only been teaching for so long, and she’s already brainwashed you brats into disrespecting your own mothers? If she taught you for three years, what would you even become?” “If you don’t transfer her today, I’ll cause trouble until the end! I absolutely will not let my son be corrupted by you black-hearted wretches!”

Several student parents didn’t say anything, but their stance was clear. Principal Harrison’s face was grim, but after much hesitation, he turned to me. “How about this, Ms. Sterling, I’ll transfer you to be a subject teacher for the freshman class? You won’t have to be a homeroom teacher anymore, and it might be easier on you.” Was he asking me to back down to these parents? I looked up, scanning the crowd, and suddenly caught a glimpse of a contemptuous look. It was Caleb, hiding behind the adults. When our eyes met, he instinctively tried to look away, but then, as if realizing something, he nonchalantly met my gaze. In that moment, I understood his thought— “I don’t want you to teach me, so what are you going to do about it?” His despicable character was laid bare. I was fed up with this utterly selfish family; being in the same room with them made me sick. “Fine, I’ll go with your suggestion, Principal. I won’t be the homeroom teacher for sophomore year (Class 3) anymore.” Principal Harrison breathed a sigh of relief and turned to discuss which class to assign me to. Caleb’s mom looked triumphant: “Ms. Sterling, you should actually thank me! You just had surgery, and your body’s probably too weak to even teach. I’m being very generous by not letting the school fire you!” The students in the class were so angry their eyes were red: “Ms. Sterling was hospitalized because she donated bone marrow to Caleb! Without Ms. Sterling, Caleb might not even be alive!” “Why should Ms. Sterling be transferred? Why don’t you transfer Caleb instead?” Caleb’s mom exploded: “My son’s recovery is because he’s blessed! Ms. Sterling is as skinny as a stick, what good was her bone marrow anyway?” “Even without Ms. Sterling, there were plenty of people who would’ve donated bone marrow to my son!” The surrounding teachers let out faint sneers: “Yes, your son truly is blessed. Where else would you find someone like Ms. Sterling these days? From now on, I guarantee no one will ever be kind to your son again!” The sarcasm made Caleb’s mom’s face turn even greener. But I was done arguing with them. I led my students back to the classroom. Before I could say anything, one girl started tearing up: “Ms. Sterling, I don’t want you to go!” “Caleb is a jerk!” They were my students, after all—kind-hearted and righteous. Kids are the least tolerant of injustice. With such a group of indignant students, I knew very well that Caleb’s days ahead wouldn’t be easy.

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When my sister-in-law, Jane, was young, she smoked, drank, and got into fights. She spent her days hanging out with bad boys. She’d racked up multiple abortions, never knowing—or caring—who the fathers were. Now that she’s older, she wants to find an honest man to settle down with. Matchmakers introduced her to many, but she’d either complain they were ugly or didn’t have money. Finally, for some reason, she threatened to kill herself if she couldn’t marry my younger brother. My husband, Alex, and my mother-in-law, Mrs. Chen, excitedly raised both hands in approval. When my brother refused, Alex looked at me coldly and threatened, “If your brother doesn’t agree, then our marriage is over. It’s not fair for me to be so happy when my sister has nothing.” My heart turned to ice. “Fine, let’s end it then.” When Jane was young, she lived like she was invincible. She’d always trail behind a pack of rebellious guys. Smoking, drinking, brawling. She wore outlandish clothes, and her hair was dyed in a rainbow of obnoxious colors. But she thought she looked amazing. On quiet, deserted nights, perched behind a bad boy on his motorcycle, amid the deafening roar of the engine, she’d smugly believe she was the coolest woman on the street. Every now and then, she’d come back with a baby bump, her mascara running down her face, claiming she didn’t know who the father was. Back then, Alex and I had been dating for three years, and I’d already started to think of Jane as my own sister. Unable to watch her spiral, I quietly asked Alex to talk some sense into her a few times. I don’t know what Alex said to her. But Jane showed up at my doorstep, cigarette dangling from her lips, baseball bat in hand. She lunged at me, spitting venom: “You fucking bitch, if you ever dare meddle in my business again, I’ll rip out your tongue and make you eat it! Don’t forget, you’re just my brother’s girlfriend. He can’t even control me, so who the hell do you think you are? You’re pathetic.” That afternoon, she brought her cronies and ranted at our doorstep for hours. My parents were livid, practically on their deathbeds from anger. With a sister-in-law like that. My whole family urged me to break up with Alex. After I suggested breaking up, Alex frantically knelt at our doorstep for three days, begging me to reconsider. Eventually, Alex’s mom, Mrs. Chen, *dragged* Jane and *forced her to beg for my forgiveness* on her knees at our door. She promised that such a thing would never happen again. My friends also tried to persuade me to stay with Alex: “Jane’s just an overgrown brat, don’t mind her. Besides, you’re living with Alex, not his sister. As long as Alex treats you well, that’s all that matters.” I thought about it for a long time. In the end, emotion overruled reason, and I decided to give Alex another chance. Jane didn’t like me. And I didn’t like her. Seemed fair enough. Every time Jane and I had a conflict – though it was more accurate to call it Jane’s unilateral provocations – Alex always sided with me, sternly scolding and warning Jane. I thought Alex was decent. His mom, Mrs. Chen, was also good to me. Most families have some kind of in-law drama. Mine just happened to be an immature sister-in-law eight years my junior. Compared to others, I felt relatively lucky. When we reached marriageable age, Alex and I smoothly walked down the aisle. To avoid conflicts with Jane, we bought a house and moved out after the wedding. Unless absolutely necessary, we never stayed with her for more than three days. Life continued peacefully for ten years. In those ten years, Jane didn’t mature one bit. However, the rebellious kids she used to hang out with had all grown up and started their own families. No one was willing to waste time with Jane anymore. She found it boring and decided she wanted to find an honest man to marry. Mrs. Chen and Alex tasked matchmakers with introducing her to many eligible bachelors. But thirty-year-old Jane had incredibly high expectations. She’d either complain they were ugly or that they didn’t make enough money. She kept picking and choosing, refusing to take a good look in the mirror and see who *she* really was. Then she met my younger brother, Daniel, who had just returned after four years studying abroad. She told Mrs. Chen and Alex that she’d fallen in love with him at first sight and would rather die than not marry him. And Alex, who had consistently stood by me for ten years. When it came to his sister’s future. He resolutely took a stand against me.

Truth be told, it was partly my fault. Two weeks ago, for my daughter Lily’s birthday, I invited my parents and my newly returned brother, Daniel, to celebrate. Jane, who usually disdained attending, actually brought a gift for Lily for the first time that day. After the party, Mrs. Chen and Jane came to find me. Mrs. Chen asked me point-blank: “Sarah, does your brother have a girlfriend now?” I was puzzled. When did she start caring about my brother? But I answered honestly: “I don’t know. Daniel just got back; I haven’t asked him about it yet. Why?” Mrs. Chen beamed. She took my hand, a flicker of excitement in her eyes. “Sarah, Jane has finally found someone she likes, you don’t know how happy I am.” Tears welled in Mrs. Chen’s eyes, as if she could now die in peace. Though I cared nothing for Jane’s affairs, out of politeness, I asked: “Who is it?” “Your brother.” Mrs. Chen’s eyes sparkled. Jane looked bashful. “Who?” My eyes widened, convinced my ears were playing tricks on me. Mrs. Chen repeated: “Your brother, Daniel White. Sarah, our families are about to become even closer.” My scalp tingled, and my heart pounded uncontrollably. I asked cautiously: “Daniel, he… agreed?” “Not yet, but I brought Jane here because I want you to help set them up. One is Alex’s sister, the other is your brother. Our families are already so close; it’s perfect!” *Huh!* Precisely because our families were so close, I couldn’t possibly push Daniel into such a mess. Even if Daniel weren’t my biological brother, but just a regular friend, I would never do such a disgusting thing. I managed an awkward laugh and spoke very tactfully. “They might not be a good match. Daniel has a postgraduate degree and has been abroad for several years. He and Jane might not have much in common.” Jane glared at me, a woman in her thirties, still pouting. “What do you mean we don’t have anything in common? Is Daniel an alien or something? I think you just look down on me.” She was right. I *did* look down on her. In terms of education, Daniel has a doctorate, while she didn’t even finish high school. In terms of looks, Daniel is a 6’1” sunny young man, while she smokes and drinks daily, her face sallow, her body bloated. In terms of character, Daniel was light-years ahead of her. But for the sake of family harmony, I didn’t dare say it. I could only awkwardly continue to make excuses. “Daniel is younger than Jane, and boys mature later anyway.” “So what? Age gap romances are trendy now!” Jane declared indignantly, acting as if she already owned my brother. I wanted to cry. I threw my hands up in defeat: “I can’t control Daniel’s affairs, just like your brother can’t control yours. If you want to be with Daniel, figure it out yourself.” Jane rolled her eyes at me. She mumbled a curse under her breath: “Bitch, like I care what you think.” Mrs. Chen awkwardly patted Jane’s back lightly. She reprimanded her, “Stop it, that’s rude.” I looked at the mother and daughter, a cold smile on my face. If Jane Chen ever stepped foot in my family, I’d take *her* last name.

Actually, Jane had met Daniel before. But back then, Daniel hadn’t fully grown into himself. Not only was his face covered in teenage acne, but his body was a bit chunky due to academic stress. Jane and her friends had even mocked him for it. Calling him a toad whose fat jiggled when he walked. Later, Daniel went to college out of town and spent his summers working odd jobs. He only came home for half a month during Christmas. Plus, Jane and I didn’t get along. So they hadn’t seen each other for years. Who would have thought that when they met again, Jane would declare she wanted to marry Daniel? It was truly bizarre. After Mrs. Chen and Jane left, I quickly called Daniel. I told him about Jane’s intentions. Daniel found it amusing, then casually told me: “Sarah, I have a girlfriend. We met when we were studying abroad. We’ve been together for three years, and once my work stabilizes, we plan to get married.” “That’s wonderful!” I was genuinely happy for Daniel. And I breathed a sigh of relief. Jane was an expert at clinging on; she wouldn’t give up until she got what she wanted. If Daniel were married, she might be a little more intimidated. Daniel’s voice was filled with bubbly happiness. “Mia is great. I’ll bring her to meet you when I have a chance.” “Good, you two should get married as soon as possible.” Somehow, I still felt a sense of unease. Like the sticky feeling of being stalked by a wolf.

Sure enough, a few days later, my brother called for help. “Sarah, please tell Alex to talk some sense into Jane. She’s completely insane. She’s driving me crazy!” It was then that I learned what had happened. After Jane left my house that day, she immediately began her plan to pursue Daniel. First, she got Daniel’s phone number and social media handles from Alex. When Daniel explicitly rejected her dating proposals, she then tracked down his workplace. Every day, she’d pretend to be Daniel’s girlfriend and order afternoon tea and desserts for his colleagues. Daniel finally lost his patience and instructed security to block Jane from entering the company. With no other options, Jane somehow got Mia’s phone number and workplace details. After threatening Mia unsuccessfully, Jane went directly to Mia’s office building and put up banners, claiming Mia was a homewrecker trying to break up her and Daniel. My head throbbed just hearing it. She was truly unhinged. I promised Daniel: “Your brother will be home tonight; I’ll talk to him.” Daniel sounded distraught: “Sarah, if Jane keeps this up, Mia will leave me! My future happiness is in your hands!” I nodded. Though I knew Daniel was partly joking, it was true that Mia would be upset. What young woman wouldn’t be annoyed by another woman relentlessly pursuing her boyfriend? That evening, when Alex got home from work, I told him about Jane’s behavior. I expected Alex to promise to talk some sense into her. Instead, he tried to persuade *me*: “Sarah, why don’t we just help Jane out? You know she’s been wild all these years, but Daniel is steady. They could complement each other. Besides, wouldn’t it be even better for our families to be closer?” “Better my ass!” Furious, I pointed at Alex and yelled: “You know what kind of person your sister is! Daniel has a doctorate, he studied at a prestigious university abroad, he’s young, accomplished, and has a bright future. How blind would he have to be to choose *your sister*—a high school dropout with a history of abortions—over someone as intelligent and promising as himself?” “Sarah!” Alex gritted his teeth. Seeing his ashen face, I knew I’d gone too far. Even if everything I said was true. But for Daniel’s sake, I didn’t regret it. “Alex, your sister and my brother will *never* be a thing. If you truly care about Jane, you should advise her to move on and focus on someone else.” I sighed, speaking very seriously. “Got it.” Alex’s face darkened. He grabbed his jacket and stormed out, slamming the door. He didn’t even bother to eat dinner. I watched his retreating back, feeling a wave of helplessness. I turned to call Lily, who was doing homework in her study, for dinner.

I don’t know when Alex came back. I also don’t know what they talked about that day. All I know is that from the next day on, Alex began a one-sided cold war with me. No matter what I said, he’d respond with indifference. At first, for the sake of family stability, I tried to mend our relationship. But after repeated rejections, I had accumulated a lot of anger myself. I stopped cooking his meals. I stopped washing his clothes. It wasn’t until three months later, when Daniel called to tell me he was getting engaged to Mia, that I had to initiate a conversation with Alex. “Daniel is getting engaged in two days. Get ready to go with me.” “To whom? If it’s not Jane, I’m not going.” He refused me flatly. I bit my lip, and tears of frustration spilled uncontrollably. “Alex, you’re almost forty years old! Can you stop acting like a child? You can’t even control Jane over minor issues, so why are you making *my* life difficult over something as big as Daniel’s relationship and marriage? Daniel is a person, not a puppet. What right do I have to demand he be with someone?” Perhaps seeing me cry. Alex’s icy face finally softened a bit. He pressed his lips together and sighed. “Jane and Daniel are different. My dad passed away when Jane was two, so she grew up in an incomplete family. She’s really pitiful, and it’s understandable that she’s a little headstrong. Daniel, on the other hand, grew up in a happy, healthy family environment. So what if he makes a small sacrifice for his marriage? Besides, Jane has grown up and matured now. It might not be a bad thing for Daniel to marry her.” *Was he serious?* Jane’s misfortune wasn’t Daniel’s fault. Why should Daniel be forced to make sacrifices? I wiped away my tears. I asked him expressionlessly: “Daniel’s engagement. Are you going or not?” He glanced at me. And firmly said: “If it’s not Jane, I won’t go. It’ll just upset her if she finds out.” “Fine.” I nodded, utterly disappointed. Go or don’t go. Who cares? A brother-in-law, that’s all he was. Did he really think he was that important?

On Daniel’s engagement day, Alex still showed up. Halfway through the ceremony. Jane burst through the doors. I looked at Alex; he guiltily lowered his head. Jane was wearing a white wedding dress and elaborate bridal makeup. Mia’s family’s faces turned grim. Mia herself directly questioned me: “Sarah, what is going on?” Jane rushed straight to Daniel, wrapped her arms around his arm. “Daniel, don’t get engaged to her! I knew you first; you can only be mine!” Daniel pulled his arm away, furious: “Are you crazy?!” I suppressed my anger and quickly turned to Alex: “What’s happening? How did Jane find this place? Get her out of here!” Alex ignored my plea, and instead tried to persuade *me*. “You know Jane’s temper. Just let her fight for him a little longer.” “Fight for what, my ass!” I yelled, enraged. Coming to someone’s engagement to “fight for him”—was that something a sane person would do? I stood up and grabbed Jane, trying to pull her out. “Don’t touch me!” Jane struggled free, screaming hysterically: “Sarah, why are you such a bitch? You just can’t stand to see me happy, can you? You’ve been married into our family for over ten years; even a dog would be loyal by now! You’re worse than a dog, always siding with your own family!” Mia’s family’s expressions grew increasingly dark. My brother and parents looked on the verge of tears. I was beside myself with rage. Gritting my teeth, I asked Alex: “Are you going to do something or not?!” Alex awkwardly touched his nose, his gaze shifting away, completely ignoring my plea for help. I sneered. “Fine, if you won’t, I will.” I grabbed Jane by her hair and dragged her out like a dead dog. A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the engagement hall. Alex’s face instantly darkened. He pried my fingers off Jane. Jane seized the opportunity to slip away. She ran to the window. She looked at us with a desperate resolve, half her body leaning out. “Daniel, I’m asking you one last time: are you going to be with me or not?” Daniel’s face was ashen; Mia’s face was as black as ink. Well, who could smile when their engagement party turned into such a disaster? Alex saw Daniel hesitate and turned his gaze to me. “Sarah, it’s come to this. If Daniel rejects Jane again, our marriage is over. It’s not fair for me to have a wife and child when my sister has nothing.” I stared at him, astonished. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and asked him: “Are you serious?” “Yes. If your brother doesn’t agree to be with Jane, then we’re done.” “Alright, then we’re done.”

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Everyone laughed, calling me Julian Hayes’s pathetic lapdog. When Julian Hayes’s latest conquest let out soft moans from the bathtub, I’d stand obediently by the door, waiting for him to call me in to clean up. “Are you two done?” “I’ll clean up for you.” After cleaning the bathtub for the 99th time, Even Julian couldn’t help but mock me. “How can you stand it?” “Watching me with someone else, then wiping down the tub—doesn’t it disgust you?” I wrung out the rag, scrubbing hard at the lipstick stains and sticky residue on the tub’s rim. “No, it doesn’t.” “As long as it’s yours, I love it.” He scoffed. “Figures. You’re meant for dirty work, a scavenger. What kind of filth haven’t you seen?” Once the bathroom door clicked shut, I took a deep breath, inhaling the sickly sweet scent in the air. “Sweet. So incredibly sweet.” He had no idea that I, the so-called scavenger, never truly cleaned away dirt. The more women Julian Hayes slept with, the more complex the scent on him became. And the more it awakened the dormant siren bloodline within me. Julian Hayes was merely a potent tonic I’d carefully cultivated.

The panting in Julian Hayes’s bedroom had just subsided. I pushed open the door, carrying a fresh set of clothes. With a hint of eager deference, I respectfully placed the clothes in Julian’s hands. “Darling, these are clean.” While Julian changed, I quickly picked up his discarded underwear from the floor, clutching it to my chest. The sticky liquid on the underwear dripped onto my hand. Far from being repulsed, I leaned in, sniffing it carefully. The color was too yellow, the scent too strong. “Darling, you seem a bit overheated lately. I’ll ask the doctor to prescribe something for you.” Then I swiftly picked up the last sock from the floor and scurried out. All of Julian Hayes’s personal garments were hand-washed by me. His underwear and socks soaking in hot water released a decadent, sweet aroma. It tempted me to lean down and take a deep, hungry breath. Sickly sweet, mixed with all sorts of complex scents. So delicious! So satisfying! I could even feel the deep-seated siren bloodline within me stirring restlessly. At this rate, Julian Hayes needed to sleep with just one more type of woman, and then he would be ready to be refined into the Ultimate Tonic. It wouldn’t be for naught that I had painstakingly helped him find 99 different types of women before. I was about to lean in for another confirmation sniff. When Julian’s impatient voice cut through the air. “Rowan! Are you trying to fob me off with *these* clothes now?” I immediately understood, and scurried back, pulling out several bespoke power suits from the depths of the wardrobe. Then, skillfully, I helped Julian put on his socks and shoes. Julian looked at his reflection in the mirror and nodded with satisfaction. I nodded with equal satisfaction. My Ultimate Tonic, I’ve worked so hard to nurture you to this perfection. You absolutely *must not* disappoint my expectations. Julian noticed the tears welling in my eyes. Impatiently, he flicked a tissue at my face. “Haven’t you figured out your place yet, after all this time? Don’t think a few tears will make me feel anything for you.” “A dirty scavenger like you will never compare to Seraphina.” My eyes darted, and I snatched the tissue before it fell to the floor. I blew my nose hard, then, with a sniffle, cautioned him in a tearful voice: “Darling, there are many women in this house, all kinds. But Miss Thorne is different, you absolutely mustn’t…” My words were cut short by the sound of Julian storming out of the room. Leaving me with just one parting shot. “Stop with your fake act. Your filthy mouth doesn’t even deserve to speak her name.” Seeing his attitude, I breathed a sigh of relief. After all, to complete the Ultimate Tonic, he needed to lie with 100 different types of women. But there was one crucial taboo: he absolutely couldn’t touch a virgin. Otherwise, all my previous efforts would be for nothing. And Seraphina Thorne was currently the epitome of pure beauty. Julian Hayes’s beloved, whom he treasured like a precious jewel. They had grown up together, and if I hadn’t interfered, They would probably be married by now. A pang of guilt pricked me. After all, I had broken up a couple. Oh well. Once Julian was refined into the Ultimate Tonic, letting Seraphina get a whiff of him would be a good enough compensation.

After cleaning everything up, I was about to pull out my tablet to select the final candidate. But I was unexpectedly shoved to the floor by the woman standing before me. My anger, however, instantly dissolved when I saw who it was. It was truly my fault. She’d worked so hard for several nights; I’d completely forgotten to pay her. As I prepared to sign a check, I murmured, “Chloe, right? Thank you for your hard work. Here’s ten million…” Before I could finish writing the check, she tore it into shreds. Along with it came a shower of salty saliva that landed on my face. Chloe looked at me defiantly. “How does that feel, huh? Pretty sweet? My spit is absolutely saturated with Julian’s scent.” I dabbed a finger into the saliva on my face and, without thinking, popped it into my mouth. “Sweet. As long as it’s his, I love it.” I even smacked my lips, as if savoring the taste. Chloe seemed caught off guard by my reaction, stuttering in shock. “I… Julian and I have true love! You lowly scavenger, don’t try to insult our love with your dirty money!” I sighed, pulled out another check, and this time increased the amount. She was just an employee; it wasn’t easy for anyone. Besides, I didn’t want to get tangled up with her any further. Julian had already wasted enough time on her. Seeing that I wasn’t taking the bait, Chloe’s voice grew sharper, and she shoved her phone, displaying a picture, right into my face. “Last night, Julian didn’t just give me hundreds of millions; he promised the position of Mrs. Hayes would eventually be mine! This is proof!” The phone screen, almost touching my face, displayed a bizarre photo. In the picture, used condoms were tied haphazardly into a bouquet. At a quick glance, there had to be at least twenty of them. It was indeed worth millions, perhaps even more. My guilt intensified. Chloe’s resentment was understandable. After all, the workload had been pretty intense these past few days. I said sympathetically, “You can have the money, but forget about the Mrs. Hayes title.” Chloe was about to open her mouth, but I cut her off. “Don’t argue. I’ve been through this; I’m telling you for your own good.” “After all, marrying into that kind of wealth can be a bitter pill to swallow.” Every day, seeing the Ultimate Tonic right before my eyes, yet not being able to consume it. It’s just teasing. Chloe frowned, raising an eyebrow in suspicion. “So you’re doing all this just for the Hayes family’s money? It’s not because you’re madly in love with Julian?” *Hiss*. My expression shifted instantly, switching to deep affection. “How could that be? Whether it’s being on call 24/7 to serve him, or his endless affairs, I don’t mind any of it.” “As long as Julian wishes, I’d even bear him ten children a year, all boys, without hesitation.” Having said all this, I couldn’t help but shed two lines of clear tears as a dramatic finish. Chloe’s gaze, which had been contemptuous, now held a hint of respect. Seeing that it was working, I immediately pressed my advantage. I pulled two large gold bars from the safe behind me. “Although your true love is priceless, you know my feelings for Julian. If this still isn’t enough, I might have to reluctantly part with…” As I spoke, I slowly began to pull the gold back. Chloe quickly snatched my retreating hand. “Enough, Mrs. Hayes, enough! I’m willing to let you have him!” “Julian Hayes must have saved the world in his last life to have a wife like you in this one.” From the moment the gold left my hand to Chloe slamming the door shut, Less than two seconds passed. But I heard several distinct clicks and cracks. My siren bloodline was on the verge of full awakening. And gold was a siren’s favorite thing. Becoming a siren was certainly an upgrade. Even heartbreak came with sound effects now. I breathed a sigh of relief, about to call the last candidate. When the door was kicked open. It was the driver. “Mrs. Hayes, come with me, something terrible has happened!”

The black Maybach sped towards the auction house. The moment the driver opened the door, a frail-looking Seraphina Thorne came into view. Two bodyguards stood between them, holding up the auction house chairman. The chairman was an old man, his hair white with age. But now he looked utterly dishevelled. His hair was messy, and both sides of his face bore prominent slap marks. The next second, Julian Hayes’s furious voice rang out. “You old fool, how disgusting! How dare you shake Seraphina’s hand without gloves on?” “If anything happens to Seraphina, I’ll tear down this auction house and use its doors for your coffin!” Seraphina Thorne was born with an exceptionally delicate constitution. Only her fated Julian Hayes was permitted to touch her. My left foot hadn’t even crossed the threshold. When I was mercilessly dragged by a bodyguard directly in front of Julian Hayes. Julian, cradling a weak Seraphina in his arms, frantically shouted at me. “Seraphina has been corrupted by foul energy! Aren’t you the scavenger who can cleanse anything? What are you waiting for?!” While a scavenger *can* clear away impurities, I can’t exactly cure illness. I was about to open my mouth to explain. When Seraphina spoke, her voice barely a whisper. “No… foul energy can only be cured by a scavenger’s blood.” “If I had to wash my hands with my sister’s blood, I’d rather die.” Julian, hearing this, clutched the woman in his arms even tighter. “Don’t be foolish. It’s her honor, a filthy scavenger, to have the chance to save you.” “Besides, a scavenger wouldn’t die even if she was drained dry.” I listened, stunned, from the sidelines. Were these two using my life for their flirtation? But then I remembered the Ultimate Tonic was just one step away. I glanced at the basin prepared to collect blood beside me. My heart hardened. *I’ll do it!* I clutched at Julian Hayes’s pant leg, a look of martyrdom on my face. “Darling, for Miss Thorne, what is my worthless life compared to hers? Drain me!” Julian Hayes smiled, satisfied. “Good, you know your place.” The needle slowly pierced my vein. A sharp, intense pain ripped through me, and I bit my lower lip until it bled, my breathing growing shallow. The basin slowly filled with my blood. I could feel my energy almost completely draining away. I looked at Julian Hayes before me, swallowing hard. “My Ultimate Tonic… oh, no, darling, you smell so good.” The doctor nearby quickly popped a candy into my mouth. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Hayes, you’ll have your fill soon enough.”

After eating the sweet candy, my energy did indeed recover significantly. After Seraphina Thorne washed her hands with my blood, her complexion gradually became rosy. Julian Hayes wiped away his tears, relieved, and instructed someone to bring out the prepared gift. Everyone watched eagerly, curious to see the legendary “Heart of the Ocean” necklace. The moment the gift box was opened, Its contents shocked everyone. Used condoms of various colors were tied into a bouquet. Although Julian Hayes quickly slammed the box shut, Seraphina had already seen everything. Seraphina’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, her delicate face crumpling. The doctor quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Miss Thorne, there’s a jewelry appraisal certificate at the bottom of the box. The gift was swapped. Mr. Hayes is innocent.” Julian Hayes nodded repeatedly in agreement. Seraphina skeptically reopened the box. Beneath the bouquet was a pregnancy test report with Seraphina Thorne’s name on it. Seraphina froze for a second, then a trembling sentence escaped her lips. “I didn’t, I’m innocent.” “If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it with my death!” With that, Seraphina moved to open the first-floor window, ready to jump. Along with the pregnancy test report, a photo of me personally handing the gold bars to Chloe also fell out. The instant he saw the photo, Julian Hayes grabbed Seraphina, who was trying to kill herself, with one hand. With the other, he delivered a stinging slap across my face. “Tell me, why are you trying to frame Seraphina and me?!” Now it was my turn to say, with a snotty, tearful face, “I didn’t, I’m innocent.” The assistant quickly added, “Mr. Hayes, we’ve already investigated. This auction house was originally Mrs. Hayes’s property.” “And, Mrs. Hayes spends almost all her free time in the room upstairs.” A true CEO’s assistant, efficient indeed. I was so hungry. The scent of the Ultimate Tonic was constantly teasing me. I tried to hold back, forcing my drool to appear as tears. My voice choked. “Darling, even if your affair is real, I wouldn’t dare tell Miss Thorne!” Julian Hayes’s face darkened. “Hmph, a woman reeking of money like you doesn’t deserve to be by my side. Divorce!” Now I was truly desperate. My legs gave out, and I knelt on the floor, clutching Julian’s leg and weeping. “Darling, what meaning does my life have without you?” “Fine, divorce, but at least let me help you find the last woman first.” Seraphina was provoked by my words. While I clung to Julian, Seraphina broke free, pushed past everyone, and ran straight upstairs. The woman who usually seemed so fragile, easily knocked over. Now moved like a gust of wind; the bodyguards couldn’t stop her. Julian Hayes kicked me away. He warned: “Get lost! If anything happens to Seraphina, I’ll drain your blood and use it to water flowers!”

I chased the two of them up to the sixth floor. But I saw Julian Hayes and Seraphina Thorne enter the room at the end of the hall, one after the other. That room was the themed room I had prepared for Julian’s final encounter. Most importantly, I had already laid out the formation for refining the Ultimate Tonic on the bed inside. I hurried after them. But then I heard the sound of the door being locked from within. I didn’t give up, frantically twisting the doorknob. “Darling, open the door! Don’t do anything rash!” “Even if you truly intend to follow Miss Thorne, you must complete the final great harmony of life first!” I banged loudly on the door, but it couldn’t drown out Seraphina Thorne’s crying and fussing from inside. But gradually, The cries turned into sounds of pleasure. Julian Hayes’s husky voice emerged. “Isn’t it just about proving your purity? There are plenty of ways.” “Whether you’re a virgin or not, I’ll know as soon as I sleep with you.” Then came the sound of tearing fabric. A bad feeling immediately washed over me. “Darling, what are you doing? Miss Thorne is naturally pure; she absolutely cannot lose her innocence before marriage!” The door wouldn’t open. My Ultimate Tonic, almost within grasp, was about to fly away. I was furious. “You filthy pair! How dare you cheat on me right in front of my face! You’ve utterly disappointed me!” The intimate sounds from inside seemed to be answering my curses. Then I heard Julian Hayes and Seraphina Thorne both let out satisfied moans at the same time. My heart plummeted to rock bottom. It was all over. My siren dream was completely shattered. Just as I was sinking into despair, A golden light suddenly burst forth, blinding me instantly. The siren bloodline within my body stirred restlessly, as if responding to some ancient call. With strength I didn’t know I possessed, I kicked the door open. And immediately cast a barrier. The moment I saw my fragrant Ultimate Tonic, I felt like a mother seeing her long-lost child. I embraced my Ultimate Tonic, weeping tears of joy. I’d been hungry for so long; finally, I could sate my craving. Then I swallowed the Ultimate Tonic whole. The instant the tonic entered my mouth, My entire body felt a profound sense of relief, as if every channel had been cleared. The bloodline in my dantian instantly underwent a qualitative transformation. I knew then: my siren bloodline had been successfully awakened. Seraphina Thorne, who had been knocked unconscious by the formation’s impact, slowly stirred awake. Looking at me, she still seemed disoriented. “Where’s Julian Hayes? Don’t think you can hide him from me! Even if you have his body, you’ll never have his heart!” I curled my lips into a smile, finding it ridiculous. “His heart? I don’t think I really tasted it when I chewed him.” I held up my wrist to Seraphina, showing her the needle marks. “What you owe me, isn’t it time you paid me back?” Seraphina Thorne’s flushed face instantly turned ashen. “What do you want? If you dare hurt me, Julian Hayes won’t let you get away with it!” I let out a satisfied burp and shrugged indifferently. “Him? What’s he going to do?” “My apologies, I forgot to let you get a whiff before I ate him. But I suppose you had a taste of him in bed just now, didn’t you?” I waved my hand, casting a spell, and ten-strength slaps landed, one after another, on Seraphina Thorne’s face.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299192”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Julian Blackwood, the powerful head of Blackwood Industries, harbored a dark obsession: he was fixated on women who had recently given birth. My father, Mr. Reed, desperate to ingratiate himself with Julian, couldn’t bear to send my older sister, Sera—a new mother married to Silas Thorne, a notorious crime lord. So, instead, he forced me, his illegitimate daughter, to consume potent tonics and rich, fattening meals every day. Only when my body became luscious and curvaceous was he satisfied. He then drugged me and sent me to Julian Blackwood’s villa. That night, my drugged body burned, twisting restlessly. Julian lost all control, brutally taking my virginity. When I awoke, he surveyed my bruised body with a detached amusement. “The Reed family publicly only had one daughter, Sera, known for her virtue and refined nature.” “Looks like you’re the unacknowledged bastard daughter. Since that’s the case, you’ll be my on-call plaything from now on.” I trembled all over, my eyes red, only managing a whispered, “Yes.” From that moment on, he kept me by his side, using me however he pleased. I thought I was doomed to be a kept woman, hidden in the shadows, for the rest of my life. Until a year ago, when I accidentally saved Damian Cross, a powerful figure from the city’s elite circles. As he left, he told me, “I owe you my life. You can ask me for anything.” I had only one wish. My legs felt like jelly. I carefully slipped away from the sleeping man beside me and, with trembling fingers, sent a text message. The reply came swiftly, “Thought about it?”

The moment the last message was sent, my phone vibrated frantically. It was a private video from Sera Reed. In the video, Julian Blackwood was on top of her, panting heavily, ravaging and tangled with her body. Her moans and the sounds of their bodies colliding assaulted my ears. “Julian, hmm, faster, even faster…” His muffled voice responded, “You’re a thousand times more captivating than Elara. She’s like a dead fish in bed…” My heart ached, making it impossible to breathe. My hands shaking, I closed the video. As I lay back down, his cold gaze swept over me. “What took you so long?” My eyelids fluttered violently, but I forced myself to calm down. “My stomach hurt a bit.” “Remember your place. Don’t ever think you can hide anything from me.” In the dim light, the disdain in his eyes felt like needles, pricking my own. He didn’t know that Damian Cross had just messaged me. Seven more days, and I would be free from this place. The next moment, without a word, he pulled me back under him, taking me again. I bit down hard on my lip, stifling any sound. Julian Blackwood tormented me throughout the night. The next morning, I woke up with a burning forehead, a high fever setting in. Julian, seeing my state, frowned slightly and offered to take me to the hospital. Just as we were about to leave, his phone rang. The moment he answered, Sera’s tearful voice instantly came through. “Julian, Silas hit me! I’m divorcing him. Can you come pick me up?” Julian’s voice softened instantly, reassuring her. “Don’t cry. Give me ten minutes, I’ll be right there.” He hung up, grabbed his car keys, and walked out without a backward glance. Leaving me stunned and alone in the hallway. I scoffed at myself. He’d completely forgotten about taking me to the hospital. Mr. Davies, the butler, sighed at my state and brought me some cold medicine. I slept, and by the time I woke up, most of my fever had broken. My gaze swept over the room I had lived in for five years, but there wasn’t a shred of attachment in my heart. I got out of bed and simply packed the few things I intended to take with me. Two days later, it was Grandfather Blackwood’s birthday gala. During the dinner, Grandfather Blackwood fixed his gaze on Julian. “You’re not getting any younger. It’s time to settle down and get married.” Julian picked up his glass, took a sip of wine, and said casually, “Grandfather, the company has just stabilized. No rush.” Always the same excuse! Grandfather Blackwood sighed, his eyes full of helplessness. Years ago, my father had looked down on Julian, forcefully breaking him and Sera up. Then he turned around and married Sera into the Thorne crime family, whose head was Silas Thorne, a notorious crime lord. No one expected that the Thorne family’s business would struggle so badly these past two years, losing all its former glory. Meanwhile, Blackwood Industries, under Julian’s leadership, had become increasingly powerful. Julian Blackwood had become the city’s most coveted bachelor, a rising star in the city’s elite, and everyone wanted to curry favor with him. My father regretted his decision deeply. To avoid being targeted by the Blackwood family, he had sent me, his illegitimate daughter, to Julian Blackwood. Grandfather Blackwood knew exactly what was going on. He knew precisely why his grandson had remained unmarried for so long. The next moment, he turned his attention to Sera. “Sera, why don’t you try to persuade him for me?” Hearing Grandfather Blackwood’s words, Sera’s eyes instantly reddened. Julian’s expression darkened. He picked up the wine glass in front of him and drained it. Then he pulled me close, signaling for me to pour him more wine. A strong, mixed scent of alcohol assailed me, and my stomach churned. “Ugh…” Grandfather Blackwood’s eyes lit up at my reaction. “That reaction… could it be… you’re pregnant?” ***PAYWALL***

A wave of panic washed over me. The next second, Sera’s gaze shot at me like daggers. Julian’s face was grim. He seized my wrist. “Grandfather, we have something to do. We’ll be leaving now.” He dragged me out roughly, then shoved me into the car, speaking in a low, heavy voice. “To the hospital.” The results came quickly: I was indeed pregnant. I stood frozen, my hand unconsciously going to my lower abdomen. I had thought about it before, what it would feel like to have a child of my own blood. But the next second, that faint glimmer of hope was crushed by Julian Blackwood. He casually glanced at the report, then said coldly, “Arrange for an abortion immediately.” Seeing my eyes welling up, he grabbed my wrist tightly. “Unhappy about this? You have no right to carry my child.” I blinked, forcing back the burning tears, and nodded. “I understand.” His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he said nothing more. It wasn’t until I was being wheeled into the operating room that I caught a fleeting glimpse of something like reluctance in his eyes. When I came out of the operating room, Julian Blackwood was nowhere to be seen. The anesthesia had worn off, and my lower abdomen throbbed with a dull, heavy ache. Just then, the hospital room door was pushed open from the outside. Sera, exquisitely made up and clicking in her heels, walked in. Without a word, she slapped me hard across the face. “You bitch, how dare you get pregnant with Julian’s child!” Her face contorted into a monstrous mask as she gestured to the two people behind her. “Drag her to the bathroom!” I was pulled off the bed and onto the floor, dragged all the way into the bathroom, and thrown onto the cold tiles. Then she kicked me several times in the abdomen. The excruciating pain made me curl up, cold sweat beading on my forehead. Clutching my stomach, I pleaded with a trembling voice, “Sera, I didn’t mean to get pregnant. Please, let me go…” She grabbed my hair, forcing my head back. “You dared to get pregnant with his child behind my back, and you want me to let you go? Dream on!” “Julian loves me. Even if you’re pregnant, you’ll never sit in Mrs. Blackwood’s seat!” She motioned to the two behind her again, and the next moment, a bucket of ice water was poured over me. The biting cold seeped into my bones, and I shivered uncontrollably. “Julian only keeps you around because he’s angry I married Silas Thorne, just to spite me.” “Once I get my divorce, he’ll marry me. And you, you won’t even be fit to polish my shoes.” She then tilted her chin at the two behind her. “Beat her! Beat her until she can never bear children again!” Fists and feet rained down on me like a storm. Pain surged through my entire body, and I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I passed out. When I woke up again, I was lying on the cold bathroom floor. My fingertips trembled as they touched my flat abdomen, and tears streamed down my face like a broken string of pearls. Perhaps this was for the best, saving me from future entanglements. Julian Blackwood eventually found out that I had been beaten into unconsciousness. Before he could question me, Sera innocently explained, “Today I came to the hospital to kindly visit my sister, but when she saw me, she became extremely emotional and started smashing things.” “I only argued back a few words, and she attacked me. My arm still hurts.” “My assistant only intervened because he couldn’t bear to see me hurt.” After her explanation, Julian believed her. The next moment, the hospital room door was violently kicked open from the outside.

Julian Blackwood’s cold gaze swept over me, lying on the hospital bed. “You dared to lay a hand on your sister? Apologize to her!” I bit my lip hard, tears brimming in my eyes, refusing to fall. Seeing my silence, Sera sneered softly. “Julian, I think my sister has been spoiled by you. She doesn’t respect me at all.” Julian’s eyes instantly turned icy. “I don’t want to repeat myself.” Five more days. If I could just endure these five days, I would be free from this place forever. Why provoke him at the last moment? Digging my nails into my palm, I spoke softly, “Sera, I’m sorry. It was my fault.” Seeing my sudden obedience, Julian’s brow smoothed out. “Remember your place. You’re nothing but a tool the Reed family sent to satisfy my needs!” The moment he turned, tears silently streamed down my face. So, in his eyes, I was merely a tool for his release. Due to my physical condition, Julian Blackwood didn’t come to my room that night. The next day, he happened to glance at my phone’s browsing history, which was filled with searches for livable cities. His face instantly darkened. “Where do you want to go?” He gripped my chin, his teeth gritted. “Elara Reed, understand what you are. You’ll be chained to my side like a dog for the rest of your life! Don’t even think about escaping!” An unspeakable suffocating feeling washed over me. I took a deep breath and obediently replied, “Yes, I remember.” His gaze swept over my pale face and frail body, and his brow furrowed. “Since you’re not dying, you’ll stay by my side from today on, serving me tea and water.” For the next two days, he always found fault with the various nourishing tonics brewed in the kitchen. He’d claim they weren’t to his taste, then hand them to me. Under his watchful eye, I drank them, sip by sip. As a result, my complexion improved significantly. He curled his lips in satisfaction. “Remember, your life is mine, and your body is mine to command. The day I tire of you, I’ll discard you somewhere you belong.” I lowered my head, my nails digging deep into my palms. Only two days remained until my departure. Just 48 hours, and I would be free. But Sera clearly had no intention of letting me leave peacefully. That day, she suddenly appeared at the villa. “I heard my sister is recovering well. I came to see her.” Seeing my distant attitude, she took my hand, feigning sadness. “Is my sister unwilling to see me?” I pulled my hand away, my voice cold. “Sera, if you have something to say, just say it.” “Why are you so cold to me, sister?” She looked wronged. “We’re sisters, shouldn’t I be concerned about you?” No sooner had she spoken than Julian Blackwood walked in. Sera’s face suddenly changed, and she immediately cried out in alarm, “Julian, my cat is missing! The one you gave me for my birthday.” My heart plummeted. “It was just here a moment ago, and then it suddenly vanished.” A short while later, a bodyguard entered, carrying a bloodied, barely breathing cat. “Snowball!” Sera’s pupils constricted. She snatched Snowball into her arms. “Elara, why did you have someone kill him?” My face paled. “I didn’t.” Just then, Mrs. Jenkins, a maid, was brought in. “Miss Reed, I killed the cat according to your instructions. Please, you must help me!” Sera’s eyes were bloodshot. “Elara, I know you’re jealous that Julian likes me, which is why you harbor resentment.” “But Snowball was innocent. I kindly brought him to play with you, and I never expected…” I looked at Julian, shaking my head repeatedly. “It wasn’t me. Please, believe me.” Julian Blackwood’s face was grim. He was about to speak when another maid stepped forward to testify. “I heard it too, Miss Reed. You even said it would be easier to kill the cat than Miss Sera.” The moment she spoke, Julian Blackwood’s eyes turned cold as he looked at me. “Still denying it? It seems I’ve been too lenient with you lately, making you forget your place.” He raised a hand. “Take her to the basement and let her reflect on her actions.” I stared in horror, my heart plunging into a bottomless pit.

The iron door locked, and the last sliver of light vanished. Darkness instantly engulfed me. My claustrophobia flared, bringing back the terror of being locked in the attic by my foster parents when I was a child. I trembled all over, my nails scratching at the cold metal door. “Julian Blackwood, please, open the door! I’m scared!” His cold voice came from outside. “Elara Reed, have you played enough? Just admit your mistake, and I’ll let you out!” He wouldn’t believe me. I gave a bitter laugh. Tears streamed from my eyes at that moment. “I didn’t do it.” He spun around abruptly, his voice laced with suppressed fury. “Unrepentant!” A short while later, Sera’s heels clicked outside. “See? He believes everything I say. I’m the one he loves most.” “Otherwise, why wouldn’t he believe you? And why would he make you lose the baby?” Her voice dripped with venom. “Dare to have any more delusions about him, and I’ll ensure you end up in a ditch!” I huddled in the corner, trembling. No need to wait for that day. I would disappear soon enough. I woke up in bed, meeting Mr. Davies’s worried gaze. “The Master still cares about you. He wasn’t happy locking you in the basement either.” “Your father looked down on the Master back then. He held a grudge, so he was inevitably harsh with you.” But why did I have to bear all of this? What had I done wrong? I thought Julian Blackwood wouldn’t come tonight. But he entered the room and, without a word, began to tear at my clothes. My breath hitched, and I hastily said, “I’m not feeling well.” He suddenly looked up, his face grim. “You dare refuse me?” I hesitated. Tomorrow I would be leaving this place. Tonight, I didn’t want to be his release anymore. If I didn’t agree, I was afraid he might notice something. The next moment, I tightly closed my eyes, giving up all resistance. Just then, there was an urgent knock on the door. “Sir, Miss Sera is in trouble!” The bodyguard’s voice outside was urgent. “Miss Sera was injected with an allergic agent!” “The doctors say this agent is very rare, and they need bone marrow stem cells to create a desensitizing agent. Miss Elara’s bone marrow is the only perfect match in the database! Miss Sera is already going into shock; she can only hold on for thirty more minutes…” Julian Blackwood stared at me, a faint flicker of hesitation in his eyes. The next second, he grabbed my arm without a word, dragging me out. His grip was so strong it felt like my bones would shatter. “To the hospital.” I was rushed into the operating room. Julian Blackwood said coldly, “Time is critical. No anesthesia.” He then instructed the doctor to extract 500ml of bone marrow in one go. As the thick, long biopsy needle pierced my skin and plunged into my spine, excruciating pain instantly erupted. I bit down hard on my lip, the metallic taste of blood instantly filling my mouth. Seeing my pale face after 500ml of bone marrow was drawn, he seemed to think of Sera and ordered the doctor to extract another 1000ml. The doctor hesitated. “This lady’s blood count is dangerously low; she could go into acute shock.” Julian Blackwood waved his hand. “Do as I say. I know what I’m doing.” His cold indifference pierced through me. In that instant, all hope drained from me. Seeing my lips turning blue after another 1000ml of bone marrow was extracted, Julian Blackwood’s eyes held a complex expression. “Get back home and rest. Tomorrow, Mr. Davies will have the kitchen prepare nourishing food for you!” I quietly agreed. And turned to leave. Julian Blackwood, that isn’t my home. It never was. And there won’t be a tomorrow for us! When I returned to the villa, it was still dark. I changed into a maid’s uniform and crept downstairs. Avoiding all surveillance cameras, I slipped out through the small back door. Not far away, an inconspicuous black car was parked. The window slowly lowered, revealing my pale but unusually calm face. I instinctively looked up at the second floor. Smoke was curling out from the window of the bedroom I had lived in for five years. Inside the room was a mannequin, carefully shaped to resemble me, arranged by Mr. Cross. I took one last look at the cage that had imprisoned me for five years. The car window slowly rose, cutting off the distant glow of the fire. Finally, it was over! Julian Blackwood, I would start a new life in a new place. From now on, we would be dead to each other!

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“Jade, tell Mom, how much money have you saved?” My mother’s voice on the phone was laced with a probing curiosity. I glanced at the numbers on my banking app: $5,243,657.89. But I didn’t tell her the truth. After a moment of silence, I said, “Mom, just a little over fifty thousand, I guess.” “Only fifty thousand? You’ve been working for ten years, how is that even possible?” My mother’s tone was thick with suspicion. Three days later, my doorbell rang. My parents stood at the threshold, their faces grim. “Your brother needs to buy a house for his wedding. We’ve already put in all our savings, but we’re still short a huge amount. You *have* to contribute.” 0 My name is Jade. I’m 32 and work as a Senior Financial Manager at an international firm in New York. Ten years ago, right after college graduation, I chose to stay and build my life here, rarely going back home. My parents and my older brother, Leo, and his family live back in our hometown, a smaller town out of state. Leo is four years my senior and works in administration at the local hospital. He’s always been the pride of the family. Growing up, I was accustomed to the role of the “obedient little sister,” while Leo was the “successful son.” This phone call came suddenly, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Two months ago, Leo told our family he was getting married. His fiancée’s family was well-off, but they insisted on him buying the house outright. While property prices back home weren’t as insane as in major global cities, a decent wedding home still cost over two million. My parents had pooled all their savings and even sold off an old property, but they were still significantly short. I knew they’d come to me eventually. “Jade, working in New York for so many years, you must have saved a fortune, right?” My mother’s voice was both a question and a statement of fact. I didn’t answer directly. “Mom, New York is expensive. Rent alone is thousands every month. I haven’t saved much.” “You’re single, not buying a house, not getting married. You must have *some* savings, shouldn’t you?” My mother’s tone edged with discontent. I knew I couldn’t dodge this topic forever, so I gave a vague figure. “Around fifty thousand, give or take.” The disbelieving silence on the other end was palpable, but she didn’t call me out on it. 0

I hung up and sighed. The coffee machine in the kitchen beeped, and I carried my cup to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the glowing Manhattan skyline. Ten years. It’s enough time to change so many things. A decade ago, after college, I’d considered moving back to my hometown. Back then, everyone in my class debated between going home or staying in the big city. I chose the latter, thanks to a conversation I’d accidentally overheard. It was a weekend during my senior year. I’d come home early and heard my parents discussing my and Leo’s futures in their bedroom. “Leo should start looking for a partner next year. We need to start saving for a house for him,” my mother said. “Where are we going to get that much money? Our savings aren’t even enough for a down payment,” my father sighed. “What if… we use the money we saved for Jade? She’s a girl anyway; she’ll get married eventually, and her husband’s family will provide for her.” “That’s probably our only option. Leo is our son; he’s the one who’ll start a family for us. We can’t let him start behind everyone else.” I stood outside the door, the bag of local treats for my parents heavy in my hand. My heart felt like it had been plunged into ice water. From that day on, I decided I’d rely on no one but myself. I stayed in New York after graduation, starting as a junior clerk, slowly climbing my way up to where I am now. I scrimped and saved, making every penny count. I enrolled in various training courses, earned my financial certifications, steadily improving my skills and income. For ten years, I rarely went home, staying only two or three days during the holidays. I didn’t resent my parents; I just chose my own path. And now, the obedient little girl of the past could stand on her own two feet. 0

That weekend, I met my best friend Chloe for dinner. She was my college roommate, also a New Yorker, now a doctor at a hospital. “Family trouble again?” Chloe guessed the moment she saw my face. I nodded. “Leo’s getting married. They want me to chip in.” “Are you going to?” Chloe took a bite of her steak, her eyes fixed on me. “I don’t know.” I swirled the red wine in my glass. “I told them I only have fifty thousand saved, but they didn’t seem to believe me.” Chloe chuckled. “Your monthly salary is more than fifty grand. Of course, they didn’t believe you.” “It’s not that I don’t want to help Leo, but…” I paused. “If it were just normal help, I wouldn’t hesitate. But growing up, the family always favored Leo. Now, for them to ask me to give up all my savings, even take out a loan, to help him? I can’t do it.” Chloe put down her knife and fork, looking at me seriously. “Jade, you need to understand, this isn’t just about helping your brother. It’s about setting a boundary. If you keep giving, they’ll just take it for granted.” I remained silent. Chloe was right; it was a matter of principle. But facing my parents, I still found it hard to be firm. “Oh, right, weren’t you talking about buying a place? Did you find anything?” Chloe changed the subject. “There’s this new development. I’m thinking of a four hundred thousand dollar down payment, a three hundred thousand dollar mortgage. The monthly payments would be around seventeen hundred. I can afford it.” Chloe looked at me, surprised. “You really saved that much money?” I smiled. “Ten years is a long time. Saving half my salary every month, plus a few raises from job hopping and some investment returns, I’ve managed to accumulate a little over five million.” “So, about your brother’s wedding…” “I can help out some, but there’s no way I’m giving them all my savings,” I said firmly. “In this life, I just want to live with dignity, on my own terms.” 0

Monday morning, I’d just arrived at the office when my father called. “Jade, your mother and I are coming to New York tomorrow. Make sure you pick us up.” My father’s tone left no room for argument. My heart sank. I knew I couldn’t avoid it this time. “Okay, Dad. Call me when you arrive, and I’ll meet you at the train station.” After hanging up, my mood turned incredibly complicated. I knew the purpose of their visit, but I hadn’t figured out how to handle it. That evening, I returned home and sat in front of my computer, repeatedly checking my asset portfolio. Besides my bank savings, I also had some funds and stocks. Over the years, I’d indulged in almost no luxuries; all my money went towards investing in my future. I opened my mobile banking app, set transfer and inquiry limits for my main account, and then prepared a statement for a secondary card that showed only a little over fifty thousand dollars. I knew it was deliberate, but I had to protect my assets. My parents might not understand my decision, but I had no choice. I couldn’t let ten years of hard work disappear, nor could I give up on the first home of my own, which was almost within reach. 0

The next day at noon, I picked up my parents at the train station. My mother looked a bit older than the last time I saw her, and my father’s back seemed a little more stooped. For a moment, a wave of guilt washed over me. “Dad, Mom, are you tired from the trip?” I took the suitcase from my father. “It’s fine, the train was fast, only three hours.” My mother looked me over. “Jade, you’ve lost weight.” “Work’s been busy, haven’t been paying much attention to my diet.” I managed a faint smile. “I’ll take you to lunch now. I took half the day off.” In the restaurant, the atmosphere was a bit heavy. We all knew the purpose of their visit, but no one spoke first. It wasn’t until after we finished eating that my father cleared his throat. “Jade, you know about your brother’s wedding, right?” I nodded. “Yes, he told me last month.” “The family has already put in all our savings, but we’re still seventy thousand short,” my father cut straight to the chase. “Can you help?” I gripped my knife and fork tightly. “Dad, my salary is definitely higher than back home, but New York living expenses are sky-high too. I haven’t saved much over the years, just a little over fifty thousand.” My mother immediately cut me off. “Jade, you’ve been working for so many years, making two to three thousand a month. How can you have only fifty thousand saved? Are you saying you don’t want to help your brother?” “Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but I really don’t have that much money.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’ve had my own expenses over the years, and…” “And what?” My father stared at me. “You’re single, not getting married, not buying a house. Where has all that money gone?” His words stung. In their eyes, I seemed to always be that little girl who needed to be told what to do. My life plans, my hard work, my dreams — none of it mattered. “Dad, I have my own life and plans.” I took a deep breath. “I can give Leo fifty thousand to help, but I truly don’t have any more than that.” My parents exchanged a look, clearly dissatisfied with my answer. “Fine. Let’s go back to your place first.” My father’s tone hardened. Sitting in the taxi, my heart pounded. I knew the real test was just beginning. 0

Back at my rented apartment, my parents looked around, their eyes wide with surprise. It was a 700-square-foot one-bedroom apartment. Not luxurious, but the location was good, and the monthly rent was over seven thousand. “You live in such a big place all by yourself?” my mother asked. “Work often requires overtime, so living closer is more convenient,” I explained. My father walked to the window, looking out at the view. “This apartment rent isn’t cheap, is it?” “It’s okay. The company provides a housing subsidy,” I answered vaguely. My mother started to wander around the room, occasionally scrutinizing my furniture and appliances. My heart was in my throat, terrified she’d discover something. “Jade, you said you only have fifty thousand saved. Let’s see your bank statements.” My father suddenly spoke. Despite my mental preparation, a wave of tension washed over me. “Dad, I’m an adult. My financial situation…” “What, can’t your own parents see it?” My father’s tone grew stern. “Do you have something to hide?” I knew further evasion would only arouse more suspicion, so I pulled out the secondary card’s statement I’d prepared earlier. “This is my salary card. There’s really only a little over fifty thousand in it.” My father took the statement, examining it carefully. He used to be an accountant; he was very familiar with financial reports. “Is this your only account?” He looked up and asked me. “Yes.” I lied, my heart pounding like a drum. My father handed the statement back to me, a glint I couldn’t quite decipher in his eyes. “Jade, do you really only want to give your brother fifty thousand?” “Dad, it’s not that I don’t want to give more, it’s that I truly don’t have it.” I insisted. “Alright then.” My father sighed, seeming to give up the pursuit. “Your mother and I will rest a bit. Tonight, why don’t you take us to see the city lights? We’ve been to New York so many times but haven’t really explored it properly.” My father’s sudden concession made me uneasy, but mostly relieved. That evening, I took my parents to see the sights. Watching the brightly lit cityscape, rare smiles appeared on their faces. We talked about lighthearted topics, like a normal family, as if the tense confrontation from lunch had never happened. 0

The next morning, I had to return to the office for some urgent matters. “Dad, Mom, please rest at home. I’ll be back at lunchtime to take you out to eat.” I put on my suit jacket, ready to leave. “Go on, don’t let us hold up your work,” my mother said, her tone much gentler than yesterday. At the office, I had just finished dealing with a few emails when my colleague Mike called. “Ms. Jade, two elderly people came looking for you earlier. They said they were your parents. I told them you were in a meeting, so they left a message for you to call them back when you have a moment.” My heart instantly lurched. “They… did they say anything else?” “No, they just asked about your work, and roughly what your salary was. I said I couldn’t disclose that, and they didn’t press it.” I hung up, my palms sweating. My parents actually came to the company to inquire about my situation? This was highly unusual. Did they doubt my story? I quickly called home, and my mother answered. “Mom, did you go to my company?” I asked directly. “Oh, yes, your father and I wanted to see your workplace and bring you lunch.” My mother’s voice sounded perfectly natural. “We couldn’t find you, so we came back.” “Next time, please tell me beforehand so I can arrange a tour for you,” I tried to control my emotions. “Okay, you go back to work. We’re just watching TV at home,” she said. After hanging up, I was terrified. I knew my parents. They wouldn’t come to my company for no reason. They must not trust what I told them and wanted to verify my true income. I immediately called the bank to confirm my main account’s security settings were still active. Then I double-checked my mobile banking app, ensuring there were no unusual login records. But I forgot one thing – my bank statements. The bank usually sends paper statements to my registered address every month. Initially, I used my hometown address, but after moving to New York, I changed it to my current one. However, the bank system sometimes had issues, and statements occasionally still went to my old address. It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t received last month’s statement. Could it be… No, it couldn’t be such a coincidence. I tried to reassure myself. Even if the statement was sent back home, my parents wouldn’t open it. They weren’t the type to disrespect their child’s privacy. But regardless, I had to deal with this quickly. I couldn’t let my parents discover my true financial situation. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to help my brother, but I couldn’t abandon my life plans and dreams. At noon, I returned home to find my parents sitting in the living room watching TV, the atmosphere unusually calm. “Finished with work?” my father asked, his eyes still on the TV screen. “Yes, handled a few urgent documents.” I put down my bag. “What do you want to eat? I’ll take you to a nearby restaurant.” “Whatever, you decide,” my mother’s voice was a bit distracted. During dinner, my parents surprisingly mentioned Leo’s situation less, instead asking about my work and life. This unusual behavior made me even more uneasy. After lunch, my father suddenly said, “Jade, your mother and I discussed it. We understand your situation. Fifty thousand is fine. If you can help, help; if not, it’s okay.” I was stunned. I hadn’t expected them to give up so easily. “Dad, I’m really sorry. If I had the ability, I’d fully support Leo…” “No need to say more,” my father waved his hand. “We’ll find a way to solve your brother’s problem. You just focus on your work.” My mother chimed in. “Yes, it’s not easy for you being so far away. We shouldn’t put pressure on you.” This sudden understanding and leniency felt off, but I couldn’t find any flaws in it. Maybe they really did understand my difficulties? 0

My parents stayed in New York for three days, during which I took them to various attractions. Occasionally, when Leo’s matter came up, they no longer insisted on me providing money. This unusual calm made it impossible for me to fully relax. The night before they left, we had a simple dinner at home. “Jade, we’re heading back tomorrow. Seeing you this time, we feel relieved,” my father said while eating. “Dad, Mom, if you miss me, you can always come and stay in New York,” I said sincerely. “You’re busy with work; we’d only be bothering you,” my mother said with a smile. “Oh, by the way, I heard from your colleague that you’re now a senior manager?” My heart suddenly tightened. “Yes, I got promoted last year.” “Your salary must be quite good, then?” my father asked casually. “It’s alright, enough for myself,” I answered vaguely. My father didn’t press further, instead turning to talk about things back home. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking maybe I was just being overly sensitive. The next morning, I took my parents to the train station. As we parted, my mother held my hand and said, “Jade, we’ll find other ways to handle your brother’s situation. You don’t need to worry.” I nodded, but a subtle uneasiness lingered in my heart. After dropping off my parents, I went directly to the office. As soon as I arrived, Sarah from the finance department came up to me. “Ms. Jade, your parents came looking for you yesterday and asked quite a few questions about you.” My heart sank. “What did they ask?” “They asked about your position, roughly how much you earn, and… they wanted to know if the company has a loan policy for employees, saying your brother needed funds for his wedding.” I maintained my composure. “They were just concerned about me, asking a few questions. Thank you for not disclosing my privacy.” Sarah nodded and left, leaving me deep in thought. My parents clearly didn’t believe I only had fifty thousand saved; they were secretly investigating my true financial situation. I opened my computer and checked my bank accounts. Everything was normal. But I still felt a sense of unease, as if something was about to happen. After work, I went home and thoroughly checked my apartment, making sure my parents hadn’t rummaged through my documents or computer. Everything seemed normal, but I decided to change all my financial account passwords, just in case. Just as I opened my laptop to do so, my phone rang. It was my brother, Leo. “Hello, Leo,” I answered. “Jade, Mom and Dad are back. They said you’re only willing to give fifty thousand?” My brother’s voice was filled with displeasure. “Leo, I really only have that much right now…” “Stop lying!” My brother suddenly raised his voice. “You’ve worked in New York for so many years, making such a high salary. How can you only have fifty thousand saved? Are you saying you don’t want to help me?” I was silent for a few seconds. “Leo, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but I genuinely don’t have more.” “Alright, if that’s what you say, then there’s nothing I can do.” My brother suddenly calmed down. “But Jade, some things, no matter how deeply you hide them, will eventually be discovered.” His words made my heart skip a beat. “What do you mean?” “Nothing, just a reminder. Anyway, I won’t bother your work anymore.” After hanging up, my sense of unease intensified. Leo’s words clearly hinted at something. Did he know something? I picked up the phone, wanting to call my parents and get to the bottom of it, but after hesitating, I put it down. Rather than provoking more suspicion, it was better to wait and see. But I knew this matter wouldn’t end so simply.

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I was probably a strong contender for the most *dutiful* fiancée of the year. I’d chased Julian Reed for eight years, thinking I was starring in some inspirational drama, finally melting that icy man’s heart. The proposal, the engagement – it was all as grand as a fairy tale. Until the eve of our wedding, as I sat surrounded by mountains of invitations, dreaming of our future. Then he came to tell me, for the sake of his first love: “I want to have a child with her, through surrogacy. It won’t affect our wedding.” Oh. So the iceberg wasn’t incapable of melting; it was just that the eternal spring in his heart was never meant for me. And my eight years of devotion? Just a convenient, understanding backup option when he wasn’t busy fulfilling his ‘responsibilities’. [Skylar, I’m going to have a child with Valerie.] Julian’s voice was as cool and detached as ever, devoid of any warmth. I thought I’d misheard him. I paused, my hands still on the wedding invitations I was sorting, and looked up at the man I’d loved for eight long years. “What did you say?” Julian sat casually on the sofa opposite me, as if we were discussing what to have for dinner. “Professor Evans is critically ill. His only wish is to see Valerie have her own child. I promised him I’d look after Valerie for life.” He paused, then added, “It’s just fulfilling a responsibility. We’ll use my sperm and her eggs, find a surrogate. There won’t be any actual relationship between us, and the wedding will proceed as planned.” Absurd! My ears rang with the sheer audacity. A month before our wedding, my fiancé wanted to have a baby with another woman. And I? I was supposed to be *understanding*, *magnanimous*. “Julian, have you lost your mind?” My voice trembled uncontrollably. “I’m perfectly lucid.” Julian frowned, seemingly displeased by my strong reaction. “Skylar, I always thought you were sensible. This is just to grant a dying old man’s wish.” Sensible. Right. From university onwards, I’d followed him around like a tireless ray of sunshine. He was always that iceberg, distant and aloof. Everyone said I was terrifyingly passionate, but only I knew that if I didn’t initiate, there wouldn’t be a single spark between us. Eight years. I’d seen his back more often than his face. I thought I’d finally warmed this stone. He’d proposed, given me a grand engagement party, making me believe I was the happiest woman in the world. Turns out, it was all just *my* belief. “So, in your mind, my feelings, our marriage—they’re less important than your so-called ‘responsibility’?” My eyes welled up, my voice thick with tears. Julian’s phone screen lit up. He glanced at it, his expression immediately turning impatient, and stood up from the sofa. “I have an emergency. You should just calm down for a bit.” He grabbed his jacket, not even sparing me another look, and headed straight for the door. Always like this. When I needed him most, he always had something more important, always left me alone. I watched his resolute back, my heart sinking deeper into an icy abyss. The door clicked shut, cutting off all sound. I was left alone in the living room, with a table full of invitations. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a SnapChat message from Valerie Evans. A photo. The background was the Reproductive Medicine Center at the hospital. Julian was tilting his head, listening intently to a doctor in a white coat. And Valerie sat right beside him, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. Below the photo, a caption: [Julian said to stop making a fuss, important matters come first.] Important matters. So, his “emergency” was accompanying another woman to a fertility consultation. A suffocating pain instantly seized me. I clutched my chest, gasping for air. But it felt like the air in my lungs was getting thinner and thinner. I rushed into the bathroom, looking at myself in the mirror. Pale face, swollen red eyes, haggard and unrecognizable for love. These eight years, like a long, unrealistic dream. Now, the dream was over. I looked at my pathetic reflection and suddenly laughed. Tears still clung to my eyelashes, but the smile held a chilling, bone-deep coldness. I went back to the living room, picked up my phone, opened my Ins account, and posted a single line: [Wedding date unchanged, groom TBD. Inquiries welcome via DM.] The comments section exploded instantly. [??? Skylar, did you get hacked?!] [OMG, going all out? Does Dr. Reed know?] [Count me in! Groom Candidate #1 reporting for duty!] Seeing my friends’ joking replies, I pulled at the corners of my mouth, but couldn’t manage a smile. My phone rang abruptly. It was a number I’d almost forgotten. Caller ID: My Arch-Nemesis. I paused, then remembered who it was. Asher Vance. We grew up together, rivaling each other since childhood. Not long ago, when I announced my engagement, everyone sent congratulations. Only he commented something baffling: [Are you sure you want to marry him?] At the time, I just thought he was crazy, sent a “buzz off,” and ignored him. The phone kept ringing insistently. I swiped to answer, my voice still a little hoarse: “What do you want?” A two-second silence on the other end, then Asher’s leisurely, yet somewhat serious voice came through. “Me. The groom’s spot. Consider me?” My grip tightened on the phone, my mind blank for a moment. But quickly, I calmed down. The Vance and Dawson families were old acquaintances, similar in status, and knew each other inside and out. Asher might have a smart mouth, but his character and family background were impeccable. Instead of marrying a man whose heart belonged to someone else, why not choose someone who could at least make me feel at ease? If it’s already broken, why not smash it completely? “Alright.” I heard myself say, calmly. Asher on the other end seemed stunned too, taking a few seconds to confirm: “You… you’re serious?” “What else?” I retorted. “Do you have any conditions?” “Conditions?” Asher chuckled softly. “First, change my contact name from ‘My Arch-Nemesis’ to ‘My Dearest’.” I didn’t say anything. “And,” His voice suddenly turned serious. “I’m not messing around with you. I want a real marital relationship. Are you sure you’ve thought this through?” A real marital relationship. I thought sarcastically, *I was with Julian for eight years, and we never became a real family.* “I’ve thought it through.” I answered crisply. “Give me half a month. I need to sort some things out.” “Deal.” After hanging up, I immediately opened Asher’s contact and changed the name to [My Dearest]. Looking at those two words, a thrill of vindictive pleasure rose from deep inside, bringing a flicker of warmth to my icy body. Julian, you’re having a baby with another woman behind my back. Fine, I’ll switch grooms behind yours. 2. Julian didn’t come back for the next few days. I didn’t call him to ask either. I just quietly, one by one, contacted the friends to whom I’d sent invitations, asking them to send them back or simply destroy them. My best friend, Chloe, was shocked on the phone: “What’s wrong, Skylar? Did you two fight? Don’t be impulsive!” My voice betrayed no emotion: “No fight. Just a change of groom.” There was a long silence on the other end, then Chloe’s dry laugh: “Alright, alright, I know you two are just playing games again. Dr. Reed is such an ice cube, only you, his little ray of sunshine, can melt him. No one else could.” No one believed me. Everyone thought my love for Julian was a given, indestructible. I hung up, a bitter taste in my mouth. It turns out, in this relationship, I was the only constant. I decided to prove it with action. When Julian finally returned, it was three days later. He looked exhausted, faint dark circles under his eyes; he clearly hadn’t rested well. He took off his jacket and tossed it onto the sofa. Seeing me sitting on the living room carpet, staring blankly, his first words mirrored my actions over the past few days. “Skylar, retrieve all the invitations.” He paused, his voice hoarse: “Professor Evans is critically ill; I need to be by his side during this time to honor his final days. Let’s postpone our wedding.” After saying it, he seemed ready for a fierce argument. However, the anticipated crying and questioning didn’t happen. I merely looked up, calmly met his gaze, and softly said: “Understood. My condolences.” This overly “sensible” attitude inexplicably startled Julian. He felt something was off, but days of exhaustion left him no time for deep thought. “You should come with me to the hospital this afternoon to see Professor Evans.” He offered the invitation. I nodded: “Okay.” Out of politeness, I should go. In the hospital corridor outside the ward, the smell of disinfectant was thick and suffocating. The moment Valerie Evans saw Julian, she latched onto him like he was her pillar of strength. Her tears gushed, and her body went limp, collapsing into his arms. Julian, almost instinctively, lunged forward, catching her steadily in his embrace. He bent his head, comforting the sobbing woman, and without looking up, said to me behind him: “You go in first. Valerie isn’t doing well; I’ll stay with her for a bit.” Their posture was so intimate, as if they were the couple. I watched the scene, my heart strangely calm. I didn’t even rush forward and tear her away from him, like I used to. I simply glanced at them, then turned, and quietly pushed open the door to a family waiting room. I was completely different from the crying, dramatic person I used to be. 3. Julian felt a flicker of surprise at my composure, but Valerie’s trembling in his arms quickly pulled his attention back. I visited Professor Evans alone in his hospital bed and then offered my condolences to Mrs. Evans. Mrs. Evans held my hand, her eyes red, conveying both gratitude and apology. “Skylar, you’ve really been wronged. The wedding trouble is all our fault.” I shook my head, indicating understanding. Mrs. Evans sighed and began to explain for Julian: “Julian, you see how he’s so cold and distant on the outside, but he truly cares for you. He used to mention you casually to us, saying what silly things you’d done, how you smiled like a silly ray of sunshine. He loved you without even realizing it; he just wasn’t good at expressing himself.” Loved without realizing it? Hearing those words, I found them incredibly ironic. If he truly loved me, why did I always feel ignored? Why did his turning back always outweigh his staying embrace? Why would he, for another woman, ask me to postpone our wedding, and even contemplate having a child with someone else? I was certain that the moment Julian agreed to surrogacy, everything had already come to an end. These belated declarations of love felt ridiculously cheap. Soon after, Professor Evans passed away. At the memorial service, Julian, as his most accomplished protégé, stayed by Valerie’s side throughout, acting almost like a de facto family member. When the ceremony concluded, it was pouring rain outside. Julian drove up and stopped in front of me. The car window lowered. Valerie sat in the passenger seat, and a sorrowful Mrs. Evans was in the back. “Get in.” He said it simply. I was about to open the back door when Valerie in the passenger seat suddenly burst into tears, sobbing as she pleaded with Julian: “Julian, I just want you to take Mom and me to the cemetery to be with Dad. Can’t *she* just call a ride herself?” Her words were sharp and malicious. Even Mrs. Evans in the back frowned, finding her daughter’s behavior disrespectful. Julian, however, fell silent. He glanced at Valerie’s tear-reddened eyes, then at me, standing silently outside the window. Ultimately, he chose to appease Valerie. He said to me: “I’ll come back for you later.” With that, he stepped on the gas, and the black sedan sped away into the rain. I was left standing alone, the icy rain pelting my face. I had anticipated this outcome, and there wasn’t even a hint of sadness on my face. I waited under the eaves of the funeral home for a full three hours. My phone screen remained dark. I knew he wasn’t coming. The funeral home was in a remote location, and I couldn’t find a ride. I had no choice but to walk along the highway in the torrential rain. The cold rain soaked through my expensive black dress, leaving me drenched and miserable. It took me nearly two hours of walking to reach the outskirts of the city where I could finally hail a taxi. By the time I returned to that so-called home, it was late into the night. 4. That night, I came down with a high fever. Julian didn’t return all night. I was delirious with fever, my bones felt like they’d been disassembled and reassembled; I didn’t even have the strength to grab my phone and dial 91

In the end, driven by a primal instinct to survive, I struggled to find some fever reducers in the medicine cabinet. I haphazardly swallowed a few pills, then drifted into a deep, feverish sleep. A whole day and night passed. When I woke up again, the fever had finally broken, but I was utterly drained of all strength. Julian returned at that very moment. He didn’t mention abandoning me at the funeral home entrance two days prior, acting as if it had never happened. He walked straight into the walk-in closet and began packing a bag. “Valerie’s in a bad way. I need to go stay with her for a few days.” He explained as he packed. He didn’t even notice my pale face or my weakened state. He just left me with a dismissive “Call me if you need anything” and rushed out again. I lay in bed, thinking sarcastically: *What’s the point of calling?* In his mind, my problems probably never counted as “anything.” Julian didn’t return for the next few days. However, through Valerie Evans’s Ins account, I passively learned all of his whereabouts. Today, he accompanied her to a calming art exhibition. Tomorrow, he walked with her by the river, the evening breeze rustling through her long hair. The day after, she was sick, and he sat by her bedside, patiently feeding her medicine. Every photo radiated meticulous care and constant companionship. I was already numb to all of this. After I recovered, the first thing I did was resign from my job. My colleagues were puzzled by my sudden decision to leave Portwood and return to my hometown. Someone subconsciously asked: “So, if you leave, what about Dr. Reed?” It was then I realized that, in everyone’s eyes, my life seemed to revolve around Julian. I smiled and replied: “It’s not a long-distance relationship. It’s… we won’t be seeing each other again.” After packing up my things at the office, I returned home carrying a cardboard box. As I opened the door, I ran right into Julian and Valerie in the living room. Julian saw the box in my arms and frowned, questioning: “What’s with the box?” “Oh, the company’s moving inventory. Just some personal items I’m taking home first.” I lied without batting an eye. Valerie interjected at just the right moment. She walked up to me, putting on a fragile, innocent expression. “Skylar, I’m so sorry. About the surrogacy thing… I was thoughtless. Now that Dad’s gone, it’s not needed anymore. Nothing happened between Julian and me, so please don’t take it to heart.” Her words sounded like an apology, but they were really a boast and a way to clear her name. I saw through her hypocrisy but was too tired to call her out. I just nodded. After I went to my room, I realized I’d left my phone on the living room sofa. Just as I was about to go retrieve it, the bedroom door was abruptly pushed open. Julian burst in, holding my phone, his face dark. Those usually indifferent eyes were now fixated on me, his voice filled with suppressed fury. He thrust the phone screen in front of me and demanded, word by word: “Who is this ‘My Dearest’ in your phone?” 5. I looked at Julian’s angry face and found it incredibly ironic. This was the first time I’d ever seen him jealous over me. I remembered the past, how I’d also painstakingly tried similar tactics, asking male friends to call me to try and provoke even a flicker of concern from him. But each time, he’d been completely unresponsive, as cold as ice. Now, that I was actually leaving, he finally learned to be jealous. It was all too late. Valerie had followed him and, seeing the tense atmosphere, immediately stepped forward to smooth things over, explaining proactively: “Oh, Julian, you’ve misunderstood! It must be Skylar’s best friend! We girls love giving our besties those kind of affectionate nicknames!” I was too tired to correct her. Exhausted, I simply went along with Valerie’s words, tacitly accepting her explanation. Julian’s expression softened slightly, but he still looked upset. I took my phone back, turned, and went into my room, closing the door. I redialed the number. The moment the call connected, Asher’s leisurely voice came through. He asked a string of trivial questions about the weather in Portwood today, and if I’d eaten. I grew a little impatient: “Asher, what exactly do you want to say?” Just as I was about to hang up, Asher finally asked the core question. His voice was no longer flippant; instead, it carried a hint of vulnerability. “I just wanted to ask you if you’ve had any regrets. Are you *really* going to change grooms?” He knew how much I used to love Julian—a love that was public, reckless. That love was a heavy stone weighing on his heart. I fell silent. Yes, my past love was tumultuous, known to the whole world. I chuckled self-deprecatingly, then answered with a firm voice: “I… don’t love him anymore.” “Asher, don’t worry.” I added, “I said I’d switch, and I won’t regret it because of Julian.” 6. I hung up the phone and stepped out of the room. Julian was still standing in the living room, his face still grim. He looked at me and said: “Next time, don’t use such easily misunderstood nicknames for your friends.” “Hmm,” I mumbled, giving him a perfunctory nod. Seeing me relent, Julian’s expression finally improved. Valerie, standing nearby, observed this scene. Her eyes flickered, and her expression grew complex. She realized that Julian still harbored a strong possessiveness towards me. So Valerie had a new idea. She proactively suggested: “Julian, Skylar, we haven’t had a meal together in ages. How about we all go see a movie tonight?” She wanted to use this opportunity to flaunt Julian’s affection for her in front of me. My first instinct was to refuse. But Valerie immediately turned to Julian, putting on an aggrieved look. Her eyes were red, as if I was still angry at her for what had happened before. Julian instantly felt a pang of pity and shot me a disapproving look, as if he were scolding me for being childish. I scoffed internally, but ultimately nodded. I was forced to go along. Valerie chose a high-end Japanese restaurant. Julian knew perfectly well that I was allergic to raw food and that it always upset my stomach. Yet, because Valerie said, “This restaurant is especially delicious,” he agreed without hesitation. At the dinner table, Julian meticulously picked out the salmon bones for Valerie, his movements gentle and focused. In front of me, there was only a single glass of warm water the entire time. Valerie even feigned confusion and asked me: “Skylar, why aren’t you eating? Is it not to your taste?” I couldn’t be bothered to respond. After dinner, Valerie chose a horror movie. In the dark cinema, she constantly initiated physical contact with Julian. Every time a scary scene appeared, she would shriek and immediately bury herself in his arms. Julian instinctively wanted to push her away, but seeing her tear-reddened eyes, he remembered his mentor’s dying wishes. He eventually relented, letting her lean against him. He subconsciously glanced at me sitting beside him and saw that I was watching them. My gaze was calm, completely unfazed, as if I were watching a play that had nothing to do with me. He wanted to say something, to explain. But I had already turned my head, continuing to watch the movie. A strange displeasure rose in Julian’s heart, but he still whispered comforting words to Valerie in his arms. Hearing his gentle reassurances, a faint, cold laugh escaped my lips. 7. As the day of my departure from Portwood drew closer, I decided to say a proper farewell to my friends. I messaged my group chat, suggesting we meet up. Chloe proposed we just do it at the alumni gathering in a few days, and everyone agreed. The gathering was set at a lively karaoke bar. Inside the private room, amidst the booming music, I leaned into Chloe’s ear and confessed: “I’m going home to get married in a couple of days.” Chloe’s eyes widened in shock. It took her a while to find her voice: “You were serious that day?!” “Serious,” I said with a smile, then added, “You’re all welcome to my wedding.” My friends gathered around, anxiously asking questions. “What about Julian? Does he know?” Just then, the private room door opened. Julian’s tall figure appeared in the doorway. He seemed to have just come from a business dinner, still smelling of alcohol. But he had heard the last question and frowned, asking: “Know what?” The atmosphere in the private room instantly became awkward. Chloe quickly covered it up, pulling over our friend Lena, who was good at palm reading, and clamoring to play a fortune-telling game. She forcibly changed the subject. “Come on, come on! Let’s get our marriage fortunes told!” A delicate wooden box was pushed in front of me. I casually drew a slip of paper and opened it. It read: “The flower of obsession will eventually wither, while the unheeded tree will flourish.” I looked at the words, my expression slightly stunned. *How true.* My obsession with Julian was finally about to fade. And this decision I made, the one I hadn’t truly believed in, might actually lead me to a new beginning. Unaware, the other classmates cheered, encouraging Julian to draw one too. He casually drew a slip and opened it. The few who leaned in to look instantly fell silent. The slip starkly read: “All for nothing.” A classmate immediately protested: “How is that possible! Everyone knows Dr. Reed and our Skylar have a stable relationship and are about to get married!” Those words made my knowing friends even more uncomfortable, but the scene was quickly swallowed by new laughter and chatter. Only Julian, staring at the slip of paper, looked thoughtful. Just then, his phone rang. Julian answered, listened for a few moments, and his expression suddenly changed drastically. He abruptly stood up, grabbing my wrist with a never-before-seen urgency and anxiety. “You’re coming to the hospital with me!” 8. Julian’s face was anxious, and he drove like a madman, taking me directly to the hospital rooftop. The evening wind was biting, chilling me to the bone. On the edge of the rooftop, an agitated man held a dagger tightly against Valerie Evans’s tear-streaked neck. The man was a disgruntled patient’s relative, harboring resentment, and had been tracking Julian. He’d mistakenly taken Valerie, who had been inseparable from Julian lately, for his girlfriend. “Julian Reed! You owe me my wife’s life!” The man roared, the cold gleam of the dagger flickering at Valerie’s throat. Julian saw Valerie crying and pleading for his help, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot. The next second. Julian grabbed my arm. A powerful force. He shoved me forward. I stumbled. The cold blade was right in front of my eyes. My back burned. It was the warmth of his hand, still lingering. Julian roared at the assailant: “Take her! She’s my fiancée!” The assailant froze. Then, a twisted,狂喜 grin spread across his face. “Oh? So this is the main course?” He pointed the knife at me, then at his feet. “Alright, you come over here.” The assailant laughed. The blade pressed into Valerie’s neck, drawing a thin line of blood. He stared at me as if I were a lifeless object. My ears filled with a roaring silence; I couldn’t draw a single breath as the cold wind rushed into my lungs. My mind went blank, all the blood in my veins seemed to freeze. I finally understood why Julian had so urgently dragged me from the alumni gathering: he was using me to exchange for Valerie’s life. The assailant fell for it and was about to make the exchange. Just at this critical moment, the police, who had been lying in wait, rushed out and subdued the assailant in one swift move. Valerie was safe. Julian immediately rushed to her, holding her tightly and comforting her nonstop. Valerie sobbed hysterically in his arms. It wasn’t until he confirmed Valerie was unharmed and her emotions had stabilized that Julian belatedly remembered me, the one he had pushed away. He walked towards me, his heart giving a sudden lurch, and explained: “Skylar, don’t be afraid. That was just a tactic to distract the assailant. Everything was under my control.” A tactic? I didn’t argue. Whether it was true or false no longer mattered. What mattered was that in a moment of life and death, he had unhesitatingly chosen to sacrifice me. In that moment, I looked at the man before me as if he were a complete stranger. The question that had lingered in my mind for so long finally had its answer. I truly, deeply regretted it. Regretted loving him. Over the next few days, Julian stayed by Valerie’s side, citing her need for companionship due to shock, completely forgetting that I, too, had been pushed towards a deadly blade. I no longer felt sad. My heart had already died. I returned to that so-called home and began calmly clearing out all items related to Julian. The wedding photo they had once cherished, I personally set alight, watching it turn to ash in the sink. All the matching toothbrushes, mugs, towels, and slippers were meticulously, one by one, tossed into a trash bag. I was going to cleanse this man from my world, completely and utterly. 9. I began to pack my own luggage. I had moved into this house with a heart full of joy, filling every corner with my presence, piece by piece. I naively thought that this would be enough to hold Julian’s heart. Now, it seemed utterly futile. When Julian came home, he found me folding clothes into a suitcase. He walked over proactively and asked: “Going on a business trip?” I had my back to him, a sarcastic curve to my lips, and readily admitted: “Yes, the company arranged it. Early flight tomorrow.” Julian didn’t think much of it. Perhaps out of guilt from what happened at the hospital, he uncharacteristically took the initiative to cook dinner. After dinner, he produced an exquisite gift box and handed it to me. “I’m sorry about the hospital incident.” Inside the box was an expensive fountain pen. I looked at the pen, my heart completely unmoved. I knew that all his unusual behavior stemmed from guilt, not love. Julian then said: “Valerie’s been in low spirits lately. I want to take a few days off to spend more time with her.” “As you wish,” my tone was as flat as if discussing the weather. Julian seemed pleased with my “understanding” response. He stepped forward and, uncharacteristically, hugged me from behind, resting his chin on the top of my head. “Once Valerie gets through this, I’ll make it up to you properly.” He promised. I didn’t respond. I knew, deep down, that there was no future between us anymore. The next morning, Julian bought breakfast and even offered to drive me to the airport. However, halfway through breakfast, his phone rang. No need to guess; it was Valerie. After hanging up, he once again said the phrase I’d heard countless times: “Skylar, I have an urgent matter that’s come up. I can’t drive you.” He told me to let him know when I returned, and he’d pick me up. With that, he turned and hurriedly left. I watched his resolute retreating back, a sight I’d seen countless times. This time, it was the last. I whispered softly: “Julian, I’m not coming back.” I took one last look around the house that held six years of my youth and love. On the living room table, I left a note. It contained only one line: “Julian, we’re over. I’m going home to get married.” Having done all that, I pulled my suitcase and walked out the door without a single ounce of regret. I hailed a taxi to the airport, resolute in my decision. It was a complete farewell to my past.

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Everyone at school knew I was Jax Anderson’s biggest admirer. I’d bring him breakfast, take notes for him. Once, when he sprained his ankle playing basketball, I even knelt down to tie his shoelaces. Until that day on the rooftop, when I heard him say: “Lily Hayes? She’s clingy as hell, impossible to shake off.” “When it’s time to apply for college, I’ll tell her I’m applying to A College. She’ll definitely enthusiastically follow suit.” “Then, Serena Chen and I can just go to C College.” His friend asked, “You’re just going to keep leading her on?” He sighed, “What else can I do? She’s a sheltered little flower, I’m afraid she can’t handle the shock.” But later, he cried and told me, “You used to love clinging to me so much…” 0 I came to bring Jax breakfast, but I froze on the stairwell. Lately, Jax had been pushing me to tutor him, saying he wanted to apply to A College. Turns out, it was just a lie to get rid of me. One of his friends pressed him, curious: “What if Lily doesn’t apply to A College?” Jax scoffed, casually shrugging: “Then she definitely won’t go to C College. She hates the cold, she’d never go up North.” “Besides, as long as I want to go to A College, she’ll go. I know her too well.” “Since we were kids, she’s always insisted on going to the same school, the same class as me, terrified of being far from me.” The whole group laughed. Someone nudged Jax, winking: “Jax, seriously, who doesn’t see how Lily feels about you? I bet if you go to C College this time, she’ll end up crying and begging to transfer.” Jax sighed, “She’s a sheltered little flower, she’s never faced any real setbacks. Keep your traps shut, okay? I want a few more quiet days before the college application results come out.” Another friend asked curiously, “So, when are you planning to tell Serena how you feel, Jax?” Jax’s lips curved into an unconscious smile: “She said she’d agree to be my girlfriend if I get into C College.” Another friend couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow, how romantic! Studying so hard for the school’s beauty queen?” Jax laughed, “It’s youth, you gotta be crazy for love at least once.” … I don’t know how long I stood there. My ears buzzed, and my heart ached so bad I could barely breathe. I couldn’t bear to listen anymore, so I dragged my heavy feet away. On the way back to class, Jax’s words kept replaying in my mind. It made me think of when I was ten. A girl in our class told me, “Jax wants me to secretly tell you he’ll be waiting for you at our old spot after school. He has something important to tell you, and you have to go alone. He said it’s a big surprise, so don’t tell anyone!” I went, full of expectation. I waited there like an idiot for a long, long time. Jax never showed up, not until it got dark and started to rain. I was so cold and scared of the dark. In the end, I just ran home crying. Later, that girl mocked me in class, “See? She thought Jax only played with her. So easy to fool!” Jax got really angry at a girl for the first time then. He promised me, seriously and solemnly, “Lily, I’ll never lie to you like that again. I’ll always keep my promises. If it’s really something important, I’ll tell you to your face.” But now, it seemed like that promise didn’t mean anything anymore. If he liked someone else, he could have just told me directly. I wasn’t that fragile. Why did he have to lie to me like this? 0

Thinking about it, Jax really had changed a lot. When he was little, he was vibrant and cheerful, a ray of sunshine. Then his parents frequently fought, eventually divorcing. Because of it, his personality grew more rebellious, and he gradually stopped wanting to go home. I always thought he was just too cold, that’s why he put up a prickly front. Coincidentally, my home had so much warmth, I could spare some for him. He always used to protect me when we were little. Now it was my turn to stick by him like a tiny firefly. So, after that, When he skipped class, I’d take notes for him. When he fell and got hurt playing basketball, I’d tie his shoelaces. He’d glare at me, tell me to mind my own business, and throw the notes I handed him back. But the next day, those notes would always appear deep inside his backpack. And he’d eat every bite of the breakfast I brought him. After a while, people started joking around him, saying I was his biggest fan. That time, Jax got into a fight with them right in front of the whole class. Later, those guys disappeared, and I never saw them again. I thought that Jax and I, after more than ten years as best friends, were special. But after Serena Chen showed up. Everything changed. 0

Serena transferred in during our sophomore year and wasn’t in our class. Not only was she beautiful, but she quickly snatched the top spot in our grade. One day after school, some sketchy guys cornered her in an alley. Jax couldn’t stand seeing someone stronger bullying the weak, so he stepped in to help and ended up with a cut on his face. From then on, Serena started appearing in front of Jax all the time. Claiming to ‘repay his kindness,’ she’d bring him breakfast, get him water, and even help him hide from teachers when he skipped class. At first, Jax said, “That new girl is seriously annoying. I just helped her out, who knew I couldn’t get rid of her.” But then, his attitude slowly shifted from annoyance to acceptance. He not only stopped rejecting Serena’s presence but would also make excuses about having things to do, no longer walking home with me. I knew he was walking Serena home. But every time I asked, he’d just say, “You don’t understand, she has a lot of family drama, it’s pretty sad. I just want to help her.” As if afraid I’d press further, he’d add, with his usual impatience, “Stop worrying about nothing, just take care of yourself.” Jax, who was usually so aloof, Would hand her his jacket when it got cold. Would specifically buy her favorite ice cream outside of school. He even worried about her getting bullied and wanted to go to the same college as her. But originally, that was our agreement. 0

On the day of our middle school graduation. I looked at the sparkling stars above and asked Jax, who was next to me, “Have you thought about what you want to do later?” Jax shook his head, a hint of helplessness on his face: “Do I even need to think about it? My dad only has me as a son, so I’ll definitely study something related and manage his company after graduation.” I paused, then spoke: “So, after we graduate high school, will we go our separate ways?” Jax looked into the distance, a lost expression in his eyes: “Probably.” An evening breeze blew by, and hearing that, I felt a strange sense of sadness. Jax looked at me, suddenly flustered. “Hey, don’t cry. You’re that sad to leave me?” He said, while clumsily wiping my tears away. “Wherever you want to go for college, I’ll take the entrance exam with you.” My eyes suddenly lit up. “Really? Then I want to go to A College.” “Tsk, your mood changed so fast.” Jax ruffled my hair, smiling lazily, “A College, huh? Looks like I’ll have to study hard.” “You cry so easily. What if you go somewhere so far away alone and get bullied and start crying again?” Maybe it was just a joke to comfort me back then, but I always remembered it. In high school, his grades were always bad, and I was secretly worried, but he didn’t react at all. Until the end of the second semester of junior year, when he anxiously pulled me aside to tutor him. I thought he remembered our old agreement. Now I realize I was mistaken. I’ve always followed behind him since childhood, but I started understanding him less and less. After a while, it just got tiring. All gatherings eventually end. Perhaps, it’s time for us to go our separate ways. 0

Jax sent another little note, asking me to leave first today. I was used to it, so I ignored him. That evening, Jax came to my house for tutoring, carrying a strawberry-flavored ice cream. Actually, strawberry was my least favorite flavor. But I don’t know when, Jax started buying this flavor every time. Now I realize it’s Serena’s favorite. Perhaps all the good things I received from Jax were just casual acts he did for Serena. A dense, aching pain spread from my heart. I said coldly, “You should go back. Don’t come to me for tutoring anymore.” It was the first time I’d ever refused him. As soon as the words left my mouth, my throat tightened. Because I liked him, I couldn’t accept his deception. I couldn’t pretend nothing had happened and foolishly stay by his side. Jax raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “Were you mad because I didn’t walk home with you this afternoon?” He ruffled my hair, “I know you’re clingy, but you have to let me have my own things too.” I shook my head, “Exams are coming up soon, and my schedule is really tight. I don’t have time to tutor you.” “You can find a tutor, or, ask Serena to help you.” Serena always studied hard, consistently ranking at the top of her class, so she’d probably be very willing to help Jax. Jax quickly rejected the suggestion. “No.” “Her family has very high expectations for her; she needs to work hard to get first place. She doesn’t have time to tutor me.” “You know my basics, so you tutoring me is more suitable.” I suddenly couldn’t speak. My nose stung, and my eyes felt hot. Right. One was a good student, struggling but resilient. The other was a clingy follower who always trailed behind him. Jax didn’t want to hold Serena back; she needed to strive for her own future. And me, with my good family background and loving home, was apparently born to make concessions, always revolving around him, Jax. Seeing that I remained silent, his tone softened, a hint of pleading in his voice: “Didn’t you always want us to go to the same college? So you have to be responsible for me.” So he still remembered our agreement. I looked at that familiar face and suddenly found it utterly strange. I held back my tears, staring into his eyes, and asked each word distinctly, “Are you really planning to go to the same college as me?” Time seemed to freeze for a few seconds. Then, he smiled guiltily and changed the subject: “Alright, Lily, stop messing around.” “I’ll walk home with you tomorrow…” Before he could finish, I slammed the door shut and leaned weakly against it. A bitter feeling welled up inside me, unstoppable. The tears could no longer be held back, falling one by one. 0

I stopped caring about anything related to Jax and threw myself into studying. At first, Jax would still try to talk to me. But after I ignored him too many times, he stopped trying. One day, I overheard his friend ask: “Jax, why is your childhood friend so quiet these past few days? Did you two fight?” Jax shrugged it off, “Who knows? She can’t stand me getting close to other girls, so she’s throwing a tantrum.” “Just keep my distance for a few days, and I’ll get some peace.” Actually, I didn’t have to follow him. These past few days, walking to and from school alone, I had much more free time, and things around me felt simpler. Being alone wasn’t as scary as I imagined; instead, it made me understand what I truly wanted. When the midterm exam results came out, I got first place in my grade. As I was organizing my错题本 (error notebook), Jax suddenly approached me. He had a dark look on his face, striding up to my desk and slamming his hand on my notebook, his voice chilling: “Lily Hayes, was getting first place this time on purpose?” Startled by the sudden commotion, I looked up at him, a bit confused. “You know Serena needed this first place,” he said, looking down at me. When he mentioned Serena, I remembered Jax saying before that she was very pathetic. If she didn’t get first place, she’d be beaten badly. But what was wrong with me working hard and getting first place myself? I retorted, “What does that have to do with me?” “Don’t you have any sympathy? If you’d just gotten one less multiple-choice question right, she wouldn’t have been beaten.” He frowned, suddenly leaning closer, “I know you don’t like me being close to her, but there’s no need to target her like this!” I was just doing my own thing, and in his eyes, it had become targeting. It was break time, and there were other students in the classroom. His voice wasn’t quiet, and I could feel the eyes around me and hear the hushed whispers. A wave of injustice washed over me, and I heard my voice tremble: “I’m not targeting anyone! Exams are about skill, not about who’s more pathetic!” “Besides, that’s her family business.” I slowly stood up, looking directly into his angry eyes, “Why should my score pay for your sympathy? You have no right to morally judge me here.” My deskmate, Chloe, couldn’t help but speak up for me: “Exactly, Jax. You’re totally guilt-tripping her, aren’t you? You earn your own grades. Why should she just give it up? Just because Lily is nice to you, does that mean you can just walk all over her?” Jax glared coldly at Chloe. I had a bad feeling. “Jax!” A voice interrupted the standoff. It was Serena. She ran in, looking panicked, and stood in front of Jax. “Don’t fight with Lily because of me! It’s all my fault, I didn’t work hard enough, I didn’t score well enough…” She then looked at me, a look of apology on her face: “Lily, I’m so sorry, truly sorry… Please don’t be mad at Jax, he didn’t mean it, he’s just too worried about me…” I watched Serena tightly grip Jax’s wrist, then looked at Jax’s slightly softened brow. His eyes were filled with undisguised pity and protectiveness for Serena. They, one angrily accusing, the other kindly mediating, made it seem like I was the unreasonable outsider who needed to be tolerated. I bit back my tears, telling myself not to cry. In that moment, something deep inside my heart shattered completely. 0 To prevent irrelevant people from disturbing my thoughts, I immersed myself in a sea of practice questions, losing track of time. When I looked up again, the classroom was empty. Ten minutes had passed since dismissal, and suddenly my stomach hurt, so I went to the restroom. As soon as I entered a stall, I heard Serena’s voice from outside. “My eyeshadow is almost rubbed off,” she chuckled. “Help me touch it up again.” “Jax really believes it?” her friend asked. “Of course. A rich kid desperate for attention like him totally falls for this stuff. Today, he even argued with Lily because of it.” The person asked again, “Aren’t you afraid of getting caught someday?” Serena smiled confidently: “As long as you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything, by the time he’s truly dependent on me, the truth won’t matter anymore.” I froze, my heart racing, and it took a long moment for me to react. Serena was no pathetic damsel in distress at all.

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