My foster father pulled down my pants and beat me, then posted photos of my bruised body on his SnapChat story: [I’m only doing this for her own good.] Three days later, those photos spread throughout the entire school. From the kids who bullied me to the boy I secretly crushed on, everyone witnessed my humiliation. That day, after school, I stood on the rooftop. A figure in a pig mask grabbed me and shoved a note into my hand. It read: [Live. I’ll help you get revenge.] “Holy crap, she’s that old and still gets spanked by her dad? That’s messed up.” “Is her dad a total pervert?” “Maybe she did something really bad, otherwise why would he beat her like that?” “The photos are on SnapChat! That’s social suicide!” “I heard it’s that day student, Luna. She barely participates in anything.” … I’m Luna. Now, as I walked into the classroom, my hands and feet were freezing. Because on the big screen, a photo was projected. In the picture, I was sprawled on the couch, my face streaked with tears. Arthur Vance’s camera had zoomed in on the part where my pants were pulled down, capturing every red mark and bruise in sickening detail. Eighteen years old, stripped of privacy and dignity, my private parts exposed for everyone to see. The photo wasn’t even censored. My humiliated self, displayed like Arthur Vance’s trophy. I suddenly remembered what he’d said yesterday— “Fine, Luna, you’re tough, just like your mother. Now you don’t even react when I hit you. But I have plenty of ways to deal with you.” I saw Arthur Vance pick up his phone then, but I didn’t understand what he was doing. A chilling premonition suddenly washed over me. I quickly pulled out my own phone and tapped on Arthur Vance’s SnapChat profile. Turns out, after he beat me last night, he took photos and posted them to his SnapChat story. His caption was equally cutting: [Everyone only sees my harshness, but no one understands the bitterness and hardship of a single father.] Below were mostly comments from relatives. [Arthur, you did good, thumbs up.] [She’s a girl, you shouldn’t be too hard on her.] Among those likes, a familiar pink rabbit avatar stood out like a sore thumb.

A ripple of light laughter drifted from behind me. Tiffany Hayes, our class president, smiled at me with her big, sparkling eyes. She had her hair in a high ponytail today, adorned with the trendiest pink rabbit hair clip. Next to her, her best friend Brittany Chen wore the same smug smile. They always smiled like that, so innocently, when they bullied me. Brittany winked at me. “That’s you in the photo, isn’t it, Luna?” I lowered my head, staring at that pink rabbit avatar again. It was as if information was suddenly connecting. Tiffany and Arthur Vance probably exchanged contacts during a parent-teacher conference. She’d never liked me, even encouraging the whole class to isolate me. Arthur Vance’s SnapChat story had only this one classmate in his contacts, but it was enough to ignite the fuse that would destroy my school life. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I rushed to the front of the classroom and shut down the computer. But they just laughed even louder. I didn’t understand why. Brittany laughed until she wiped away a tear, her expression a mix of contempt and glee: “Oh, right, weren’t you always into Noah Miller?” She suddenly asked such an irrelevant question. My heart sank. Brittany just smiled again. “I just wanted to remind you, turning off the computer won’t do anything. This morning, that photo was uploaded to the school forum by someone, and it went viral. Now, everyone in school has seen it. Do you think Noah Miller saw it too?”

After class, Noah Miller appeared at the classroom door. “I’m looking for Luna.” No one dared to speak. I sat in my seat, afraid to look up at him, even more so, unwilling to walk out that door. But Noah Miller clearly saw me. He walked straight in, his voice laced with concern: “Luna, I saw the photo. Are you okay…?” —Noah Miller *had* seen it. I clutched my textbook, using it to hide the tears that blurred my vision. A crushing mix of shame and humiliation threatened to swallow me whole. Around us, a chorus of snickers. Noah Miller’s expression hardened: “Who’s laughing?” “Luna is your classmate. Is it really that funny to witness her distress?” Every word he spoke pierced my heart. The guy who started the laughing scoffed. “This is *our* class. What we laugh at is none of your damn business! Don’t think you’re hot shit just because you’re the student council president…” Before he could finish, Noah Miller grabbed his collar and punched him. Noah Miller and I were different. He was pure, excellent at everything, the most dazzling person in the entire grade. Yet, somehow, a stray kitten in the corner of the sports field had brought us together, drawing us closer. Noah Miller never understood why I always cried without warning. He would just quietly stay by my side, then pat my head and say: “Luna, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it, just don’t cry. This world, after all, always has some good waiting for you.” I uncontrollably fell for him. Turns out, getting close to an outcast like me indeed came with a price. “What the hell are you playing at, pretending to be Mr. Nice Guy? You saw Luna’s photo, didn’t you? What do you think, pretty hot, right?” The guy Noah punched kept spouting trash talk. “Defending her so much, did she let you feel her up or something…” Tables crashed, and I rushed forward, pulling Noah Miller back. “Noah, stop fighting.” I heard myself sobbing. Yes, what could be more humiliating than this? If… if only I could die, that would be a blessing.

I spent the entire day like a statue, silent. After school, I stayed alone in the empty classroom, sitting until the night slowly fell. The clock was nearing 7:30. “—Household Rule Number Six: You must not return home later than 7:30 PM.” This was a rule Arthur Vance had set. After my mom remarried Arthur Vance, this suffocating life became omnipresent. My mom always told me to bear with it, that she would divorce soon, but later, she left me and ran away. And then, I endured many years alone. No one knew that the beating I got yesterday was simply because I was a few minutes late getting home. “Luna, check the time yourself, what time is it?” Arthur Vance stood up from the couch and slowly approached me, pulling the belt from his waist. “Dad, I’m sorry, I was wrong.” I controlled my trembling, trying to stand tall. “You were wrong? Wrong about what? Recite those twenty-eight household rules for me.” He sneered, standing before me, wrapping the belt around his hand. “Take off your pants. Go, lie down on the couch.” I instinctively recoiled. “Luna, don’t make me say it a second time.” “Dad, after school today, the teacher gave us extra lessons, that’s why I was late, please don’t…” Before I could finish. Arthur Vance roughly yanked my entire body towards the couch, pressing his knee hard against my shoulder. I fought back with all my might, but my pants were still forcefully and violently ripped down. I struggled like a madwoman. “No! No!” The disparity in strength between a man and a girl was too great; I couldn’t escape. “I told you to recite the rules! Why aren’t you reciting them?!” Crude words mixed with curses, he swung the belt in his hand repeatedly, putting all his strength into each heavy strike against my buttocks. The man’s suddenly sharp, high-pitched voice echoed through the living room. I was drenched in sweat from the pain, clinging desperately to the couch cover, refusing to utter a word. Those twenty-eight household rules repeated endlessly in my mind: Rule One: The bedroom door must not be locked at night. Rule Two: You must drink any beverage Daddy gives you. Rule Three… What was Rule Three again? Arthur Vance was breathing heavily beside me, like a beast. And my body below was long numb from the pain, my memory beginning to blur. I had thought countless times, if Arthur Vance hated me so much, why didn’t he just beat me to death? —The memory ceased. The clock before me finally stopped at 7:30. I calmly stood up and walked towards the rooftop.

Climbing onto the rooftop edge, I spread my arms. Looking down at the world below, I felt no fear, shed no tears. Only a sense of exhilarating relief, of finally being peeled away from this rotten mess. Jump. Only by jumping could I truly fly. I slowly closed my eyes. Just as my feet were about to lose contact with the ground, a force from behind abruptly yanked me back. I fell to the ground. In the dim twilight, I saw a person. A human body with a pig face, dressed in black. He wore a pig mask, his face obscured. The pig face was somewhat terrifying. It was covered in wrinkles, its mouth half-open, revealing a row of menacing tusks inside. “Who are you?” That grotesque face filled me with fear. He didn’t answer me but raised a hand and gave me an identical mask. I took it. He gestured for me to open the mask. Inside was a note, with eight large words written on it. [An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.] From beneath the mask, the person’s voice was hoarse, muffled. “Who I am isn’t important. Luna, do you know the difference between a human and a pig? Humans wield the butcher’s knife. And pigs, only after being fully butchered and sent to the dinner table, gain value recognized by people.” I stared at the mask, bewildered. “Do you want to be human, or do you want to be a pig your whole life, letting others carve you up?” The figure in black chuckled softly. He leaned down and pressed the mask into my hand. “As soon as you put it on, it means this game of turning the tables begins immediately. I will help you. Luna, this time, what will you choose?”

As you can see, I didn’t die. And I was late getting home again, even an hour later than yesterday. Arthur Vance sat on the couch, a little tipsy, seemingly in a good mood. “Dad, I…” Before I could come up with an excuse, he waved his hand. “I called your teacher today. She said you really did have extra lessons yesterday. I was wrong to blame you. Daddy thought you were learning bad habits from those other girls outside, starting to secretly date.” He pulled me to his side, making as if to pull down my pants again. “Did it hurt last night?” I abruptly stood up. “Dad, I’m an adult. I have my privacy, and I need respect.” I had always been terrified of Arthur Vance. Ever since my mom left, he had only gotten worse. I’d refused him many times, and even secretly called the police, but it was always useless. The police said adults disciplining children was a family matter, and they couldn’t do anything. And Arthur Vance was good at pretending. He often presented himself as a suffering single father to others, crying to everyone about how my mom had abandoned me, a burden, and ran off with another man. Everyone thought he was responsible and caring, a good foster father. Only I knew what a nightmare those household rules were. “My little Luna, don’t forget. Household Rule Number Fourteen: You must not be mad at Daddy.” Arthur Vance gently reminded me, completely ignoring my protest. “I won’t hit you anymore, we’ll switch to a different punishment. Every time you break a household rule, you’ll be punished by sleeping in Daddy’s room. How about we start today?” —This was a request Arthur Vance had never made before, but I had no choice but to comply. Late at night.

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“Aria, your sister is already engaged to Julian. Don’t cause any more trouble. Your parents have already bought your plane ticket. You’ll stay abroad for the next few years and only come back after your sister’s wedding.” Seeing the “we’re doing this for your own good” expression on my parents’ faces, I finally realized I had been reborn. Reborn on the day my parents forced me to go abroad, the day I was meant to completely give up on Julian Sterling. In my previous life, I was also persuaded to leave by my parents. But I was unwilling. I explained to Julian countless times that I was the one he truly loved, I begged my parents again and again to tell the truth, to stop letting Celeste take my place. But all I got in return was Julian’s deeper disgust. He even coldly told the nurse on the phone, when I was on the verge of death after a car accident, “What trick is Aria Henderson playing now? Tell her not to ruin Celeste’s and my wedding.” And I, I eventually died on the operating table, watching that globally televised grand wedding, watching Julian gently place the ring on Celeste’s finger, watching them receive everyone’s blessings…

Since heaven gave me a second chance at life, this time, I wouldn’t make a fool of myself again. “Okay, I’ll go.” I reached out and picked up the plane ticket, my voice surprisingly calm. My parents were shocked to see me agree so readily. “Aria, you’re really agreeing to leave? You’re not planning another trick to ruin your sister, are you?!” Ruin? How ridiculous. Julian was always meant for me. But my parents forcibly took him away and gave him to Celeste. More than twenty years ago, Celeste was diagnosed with leukemia. My parents didn’t hesitate to have another child, and so, I was born. My umbilical cord blood saved my sister’s life, but from then on, I lived in her shadow. Because Celeste was sickly and frail, my parents showered all their love on her. Growing up, I gave up everything: my room, my friends, even a spot in the finals… There was only one thing I wouldn’t give up: the boy who stole my heart at first sight—Julian Sterling, the scion of the Sterling family. He was once a golden boy, blessed by fate, standing on top of the world. But after his birthday party, he was in a car accident that left him blind, abandoned by his family in a secluded mansion. I secretly took the keys from home and went there every day after school, climbing the wall to be with him. “I’ll come every day.” In the darkness, my sweet, clear voice became Julian’s only salvation. I never revealed my name, only tracing “Call me Seven” on his palm, stroke by stroke. He would gently comb my hair, play the piano for me, and in thunderous nights, press my cold hands against his chest. The night before his surgery, he kissed my fingertips and vowed, “When I can see again, you’ll be the first person I want to see. Then, we’ll be together, okay?” The surgery lasted twelve hours. But when Julian woke up, the first person he saw was Celeste. That was because my parents, after learning Celeste also liked Julian, secretly put sleeping pills in my water, making me sleep for a day and a night. Then, they lied and testified that Celeste was the one who had been with him all those years, allowing Celeste to take the credit that was rightfully mine. Julian never doubted it. He and Celeste went from dating to getting engaged, deeply in love. For three years, I tried to explain countless times that I was the one who had been with him, that I was the one he should love. But he never believed me. Not until I died. I looked at my biological parents, feeling only immense ridicule. “You wanted me gone countless times before, and now that I’ve agreed, you don’t believe me? Don’t you think you’re being strange?” “That’s not what we meant. It’s best if you’re willing to go, of course. You’ll leave for Europe in half a month. You can pack your things and sort out your affairs during this time.” My parents, afraid I might change my mind, hurried to give a few more instructions before happily leaving. I turned and went back to my room. As soon as I closed the door, my phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat message from Julian. [Tonight, 8 PM, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Room 1808.] I stared at the message, my fingertips tightening slightly. In my previous life, when I received this message, I was ecstatic, thinking he was finally willing to listen to my explanation. But when I went, I found out he had deliberately called me to witness him and Celeste in bed, just to make me give up. I broke down crying then, and he just coldly said, “Did you see clearly? My heart only belongs to your sister.” Thinking about it now, it’s truly laughable. I took a deep breath and replied: [Okay.] At eight PM, I arrived at the hotel on time. Room 1808’s door was ajar. Julian was holding Celeste, both of them naked. Used condoms were scattered around, and the room was thick with a sensual atmosphere. Seeing me standing outside, Celeste let out a small shriek. Julian lowered his head, placing soft, lingering kisses on her collarbone, his voice gentle and deep. “Don’t be scared, I deliberately called Aria to come. I wanted her to know that you are the one I love, so she wouldn’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts about me and would recognize that I can only be her brother-in-law.” Reborn, seeing this scene for the second time, my heart still felt like it had been violently stabbed, bleeding profusely, in unbearable pain. But I had to get used to it!

Because from now on, Julian would only be my brother-in-law. I don’t know how much time passed, but I finally unclenched my hands, covered in nail marks, and saw Julian, fully dressed, walk up to me. “Did you see clearly? My heart only belongs to your sister. Remember your place. I am your brother-in-law. Don’t ever do those shameless things again!” My face was devoid of any expression. “I saw clearly, and I understand.” Julian paused, seemingly surprised by my calmness. A moment later, he picked up an invitation from the bedside table and handed it to me. “Celeste’s and my wedding is next month. I hope you can come.” I took the invitation. “I’ll be there on time. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.” Julian stared at my face, his brows slightly furrowed. For some reason, I was unusually compliant today. But he didn’t ask anything. He took Celeste’s hand and left the hotel. I followed behind, my steps heavy. My head was down, my mind in a daze, when I heard a scream nearby. The next second, the giant overhead light fixture crashed down. Julian instinctively shielded Celeste, stepping back, perfectly avoiding it. I was left standing alone, struck by the falling fixture, covered in blood, collapsing to the ground. Waves of pain surged over me like a tide, tearing at my nerves, making me tremble uncontrollably in the pool of blood. Large tears welled up, blurring my vision. I watched him shielding Celeste, and then I closed my eyes. The boy whose heart was once only for me was never coming back. And I, I could finally truly let go. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a hospital. A nurse was changing my dressing. Seeing me awake, she let out a sigh of relief. “You were unconscious for two days. Glad you’re finally awake. How do you feel? Your sister fainted from shock the day she brought you here. Your parents and brother-in-law are in the next room taking care of her. Should I call them over?” At her words, my eyelashes fluttered. I shook my head. “No need. They wouldn’t want to see me, and I don’t want to see them either.” A flicker of pity crossed the nurse’s eyes before she turned and left the room. “Oh, they’re biological sisters, but the younger one was hemorrhaging badly and ended up in the ICU. Yet her family didn’t even ask about her, only fussing over the ‘shocked’ older sister. They haven’t visited even once in two days.” “I heard her brother-in-law is the CEO of Sterling Group. It’s normal for a sister marrying into a wealthy family to neglect her sibling, I guess. But her brother-in-law is really devoted, isn’t he? He’s been with her sister constantly, personally feeding her medicine and porridge, and he even hired a retired psychologist to help her with her emotional distress. Gifts to cheer her up are constantly being delivered to the room…” Their hushed comments clearly reached my ears. But I remained expressionless the whole time. I was already used to such situations. In the afternoon, the doctor called me for a follow-up check-up. With no one to accompany me, I had to force my weakened body out of bed on my own. As I passed the next room, I saw my parents and Julian all gathered around Celeste, showering her with concern. Mr. Henderson was tucking Celeste in, Mrs. Henderson was peeling grapes and feeding them to her. Celeste’s face broke into a sweet smile, her voice deliberately娇娇 (soft and娇弱 – delicate). “Dad, Mom, you’ve been taking care of me all these days and haven’t checked on Aria. I’m full now, so why don’t you take the rest of this fish soup to her? She was so badly hurt; she definitely needs some nourishment.” “Oh, don’t worry about her. She can survive anywhere. This soup your mom simmered all night long. Taking it to her would just be a waste.” Mr. Henderson rejected the idea without a second thought, and Mrs. Henderson nodded in agreement. Julian gently adjusted Celeste’s bangs, his eyes overflowing with tenderness. “Celeste, the doctor said you fainted from too much worry. Aria has always been cold and heartless, never caring about your sisterly bond, even daring to desire your brother-in-law. Why bother with her?” Hearing his cold evaluation, I let out a self-deprecating, bitter smile. I’ve been allergic to seafood since birth; I can’t eat any aquatic products. But Celeste loved fish, shrimp, and crab, so our family always had seafood for every meal. I couldn’t eat any of it, only greens and white rice, and I’d still be blamed by my parents for being a picky eater. In front of others, Celeste would act extremely concerned about her younger sister, but whenever we were alone, I would be subjected to endless taunts, and occasionally, physical abuse. And what’s worse, after hitting me, Celeste would cry and run to our parents, twisting the truth. My parents, without even asking, would punish me by making me kneel in the rain all night.

From then on, I kept my distance from this sister, giving her whatever she wanted. In my previous life, Julian was the only thing I truly wanted to fight for. But, I ended up in such a tragic state. This time, I just want to live my own life—no fighting, no snatching, and no more love. I finished my check-up alone and went to the pharmacy to pick up my medication. The pharmacy was in another building, requiring me to cross a garden. As I passed the fountain, I was stopped. Looking up, I saw Celeste. “Well, look at you, already able to get out of bed. Doesn’t look like your injuries were that serious, after all. Let me tell you, Mom and Dad are both on my side. Even if you told Julian that you were the one who accompanied him back then, and that he truly loves you, it’s useless. Save your energy!” Faced with her provocation, my reaction was indifferent. “Don’t worry, from now on, I won’t like Julian anymore. Everything you want, I’ll give to you.” Celeste was already used to my submissive demeanor, and her eyes sparkled with even more triumph. “Give up? Do I need you to give up anything? I’ve had everything I ever wanted since childhood! You’re only fit to pick up my discards! You’ll never win against me in this lifetime!” I didn’t want to engage with her taunts and tried to slip past her. Seeing me try to leave, Celeste frowned, about to scold me further, when a familiar figure suddenly appeared in the corridor. Her mind stirred. She directly grabbed my hand, dragging me and jumping into the fountain. Neither of us could swim. We thrashed around in the water, screaming for help. My wounds reopened, and blood stained the water. The icy water rushed into my nasal cavity, making me cough incessantly. I was in too much pain to struggle, my body sinking straight down. Just as I was about to suffocate, I saw Julian rush over and jump into the water. He swam past me, not even glancing my way, offering no help. He simply pulled Celeste out onto the bank. Celeste, her eyes red, collapsed into his arms, then looked at me, still drowning, and deliberately feigned distress. “Aria accidentally pushed me into the water, Julian. You know she’s my only sister. Can you please save her?” Hearing her words and looking at me in the water, Julian’s face was as cold as frost. “Celeste, don’t speak for her anymore. She definitely intended to harm you and then jumped in herself to play the victim. Since she’s so incorrigible, let her cool down properly in the water!” Every word pierced my heart deeply. My face turned purple, my ears buzzed, and all my strength was gone. My consciousness grew hazy, and the scene before me blurred. I watched Julian carry Celeste away, then lost consciousness… I don’t know how long it was before a cold draft woke me. I shivered awake to see my parents standing before me, their faces livid. “You’ve got some nerve, pushing Celeste into the water! Were you trying to kill her, take her place, and be with Julian?” “Let me tell you, as long as your father and I are alive, we will absolutely not let that happen! You don’t have a single thing that surpasses your sister. You don’t deserve Julian at all. I advise you to face reality and stop dreaming!” Hearing their angry accusations, I felt a chill run through me, my eyes slowly filling with despair. The pain that had been suppressed for years finally erupted completely. “I don’t deserve him? And she does? If it weren’t for your false testimony and lies, Julian wouldn’t have even looked at her! You stole what was rightfully mine and gave it to her. Don’t you find that utterly shameless?!” Seeing me dare to talk back, Mrs. Henderson’s face turned red with anger. Mr. Henderson raised his hand and slapped me across the face. “You rebellious child! We are your parents! Your life and everything you have were given by us. We can take it back whenever we want, and give it to your sister if we want! What right do you have to object?!” “If you dare to reveal the truth again, you’ll see what we…” Before he could finish, the hospital room door was violently pushed open. Julian walked in, his brows furrowed. “The truth? What truth?” Seeing him suddenly burst in, my parents jumped, stammering their words. “We… we were just disciplining this unfilial daughter, trying to make her tell the truth about why she pushed Celeste into the water.” “Yes, yes. She refuses to admit it, and your aunt and I are furious. We don’t know how to punish her.” They exchanged a glance, tacitly changing the subject. Julian didn’t think much of it, his gaze on me icy cold. “Since she still refuses to admit her mistake, lock her in the morgue. Release her when she understands what she’s done.” My parents thought it was a brilliant idea and immediately called security to take me away. I clutched my swollen face, my eyes numb and empty. I knew that resistance would only invite more brutal punishment, so I didn’t struggle, letting them drag me away. Wrapped in the chilling, eerie cold of the morgue, I could only hug my trembling body, constantly shivering. In a haze, I remembered the days at the Sterling family’s old estate, huddling together with Julian during thunderous, rainy nights. Back then, he would take off his jacket and drape it over me, tightly hold my hand, pull me into his embrace, and repeatedly tell me he was there, not to be afraid. Sweet memories intertwined with the icy reality, tormenting my nerves. Time passed minute by minute. In hunger and cold, my consciousness slowly faded. Then I saw the door open.

Julian walked in, his face cold, his gaze extremely sharp. “You’ve been locked up for a day and a night. Have you learned your lesson?” “Yes, I’ve learned my lesson thoroughly.” I curled my body, managing to squeeze out a hoarse reply. Watching the satisfied look on his face, I stumbled to my feet and left, whispering in my heart. My mistake was trusting his promise to be together, my mistake was falling in love with him. After being discharged, I returned home and cleared out everything related to Julian. Diaries and love letters written in my youth, photos of him I secretly collected, gifts I wanted to give him, surprises I planned for him… I had intended to tell him all the stories of my secret crush once we were together. But now I knew there would never be a chance for him and me again, and these things would never have a purpose. I threw them all away. As I turned, I bumped into Julian, who had just dropped Celeste off. He glanced at the trash can, his gaze on me still indifferent. Celeste also saw the items. She deliberately hugged his arm, smiling sweetly and playfully. “Julian, it seems Aria has truly learned her lesson this time. She definitely won’t bother you anymore. She is my biological sister, after all; you shouldn’t always be so cold to her.” Julian looked at me with a detached expression. “I’m always indifferent to people I don’t like, because I just can’t bring myself to be pleasant.” I listened quietly, saying nothing. I took a soft breath, swallowing those unspoken emotions, and went back to my room. The next day was Celeste’s birthday party. The grand hall was packed with guests, buzzing with chatter. “Mr. Sterling sure hosted a magnificent birthday party for his fiancée! I heard these flowers were air-freighted from Europe this morning, and there will be fireworks for three days and three nights to celebrate! Miss Celeste’s jewelry set reportedly cost hundreds of millions, personally bid for by Mr. Sterling at Sotheby’s!” “Mr. Sterling truly emptied his pockets to make his beloved happy! Miss Celeste is so fortunate to marry him, and the Henderson family will soar. It’s just a pity about Miss Aria, a ticking time bomb, always coveting her brother-in-law. So shameless!” “Exactly! You’d think they’re biological sisters, but how can Aria be inferior to Miss Celeste in every way? Her looks and personality are lacking, and she shamelessly clings to Mr. Sterling, even her morals are twisted! If I had such a daughter who disgraced the family, I’d kick her out. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are truly kind-hearted!” Listening to these whispers, my heart felt utterly dead, undisturbed by any ripples. I sat in a corner like an invisible person, wanting to avoid drawing any attention. Not far away, my parents and Julian surrounded Celeste, like she was the center of the universe. They would adjust her skirt, shield her from toasts, light her birthday candles, and sing “Happy Birthday” to her with smiles. Watching their harmonious scene, I remembered my past birthdays, when Celeste would always find an excuse to take my parents away, leaving me alone at home to blow out candles and celebrate by myself. In the years I was with Julian, he would celebrate my birthday with me, we’d make wishes, eat cake, and I’d receive gifts from him. I thought I would never be alone again. But that fleeting moment of care and warmth I once had was now completely stripped away. And I, I no longer yearned for it. Amidst the festive atmosphere, Celeste closed her eyes and made a wish. Everyone eagerly presented their gifts. Celeste unwrapped them one by one, from luxury handbags to various exquisite pieces of jewelry, her smile never fading. The last two gifts were from my parents and Julian. Their announcements caused a sensation. “My wife and I deliberated for a long time and decided to make Celeste the successor to Henderson Group, inheriting all of the family’s assets!” “My gift to Celeste is fifty percent of Sterling Group shares, and the Sterling family’s heirloom wedding rings. Grandma once told me that any couple who wears these rings will surely live a harmonious life and grow old together. Celeste, you are the only person I want to marry in this life. Thank you for agreeing to be my wife.” Under everyone’s gaze, Julian personally placed the ring on Celeste’s finger, embraced her, and kissed her. The entire hall erupted in cheers and applause, everyone offering their blessings. I watched from a distance, my heart heavy and suppressed. I dug my nails into my palm, wanting to leave, but Celeste called out to me. “Aria, where’s your gift? When are you going to give it to me?” Suddenly, everyone’s eyes turned to me. I paused, took out the carefully prepared gift from my bag, and handed it over. Celeste opened it with a smirk, about to make a sarcastic remark. But Julian beside her froze, staring intently at my raised hand. “Why do you have this bracelet?” Hearing him, I looked up, meeting his incredulous gaze, and subconsciously touched the bracelet. During the time Julian was blind, even though I knew he couldn’t see, I would still dress up carefully to visit him.

Back then, I often wore this bracelet. Every time he held my hand, he would feel it and ask me what gems were set in it. Seeing me remain silent, Julian suddenly grabbed my wrist, his tone urgent. “Speak! Why is this bracelet with you? Who exactly are you?!” I hadn’t expected Julian to not recognize me, but to recognize this bracelet. My heart was a mix of complex emotions, and I was about to speak, but Celeste cut me off. “Aria, why did you take my bracelet without my permission?” With that, Celeste walked over, trying to snatch the bracelet, her sharp nails scratching several blood marks on the back of my hand. I let out a muffled groan of pain, trying to pull my hand free, but Celeste took advantage of the moment and intentionally fell backward. Seeing this, Julian’s face changed dramatically. He instinctively shielded Celeste in his arms, his gaze at me incredibly dark. “So that’s it, I thought…” “So you stole Celeste’s bracelet, and when you were exposed, you lashed out at her in anger? Aria Henderson, you’re truly disgusting!” Seeing that he didn’t even give me a chance to explain, believing Celeste’s words instantly, a chill ran through me. I raised my bleeding hand, my voice filled with undisguised despair and pain. “Since you remember this bracelet, didn’t you notice that after your sight returned, you never saw Celeste wear it? Because she doesn’t even know this bracelet exists, and she’s not the one you believe…” My words, each one dripping with blood, were cut short by Mr. Henderson’s slap. My vision went black, and my body uncontrollably crashed into the champagne tower. Hundreds of glasses shattered all over me, drenching me from head to toe. I fell heavily to the ground, covered in bruises and blood, tears streaming down my face from the pain. Mrs. Henderson walked over to me with a grim face, pouring the red wine she was holding directly onto my face, her voice sharp. “Celeste doesn’t wear it because the bracelet was accidentally damaged and sent for repair. The housekeeper just retrieved it today, and you secretly put it on when we weren’t home, even trying to claim it as your own?!” “It’s one thing for you to cause trouble at home, but today is your sister’s birthday! You put on this show in public, completely disgracing our Henderson family! This was your grandmother’s most cherished jewelry, left to my precious Celeste. How could it possibly belong to you?!” Mr. Henderson echoed Mrs. Henderson, instantly convincing Julian that their words were the truth. He soothed the sobbing, extremely wronged Celeste, wiping away her tears. Then, he walked over to me, knelt down, and lifted my bruised and battered wrist. He took off the bracelet, wiped away the bloodstains with a handkerchief, and placed it on Celeste’s hand, his face filled with tenderness. “Celeste, this bracelet holds your grandmother’s love for you, and it carries the memories of our five years together. I won’t let anyone defile it.” He finished with this firm statement, then looked at Mr. Henderson, his voice like ice. “Mr. Henderson, shouldn’t the Henderson family implement disciplinary action for privately stealing family property and immoral conduct?” Mr. Henderson nodded repeatedly, immediately ordering someone to bring a whip, taking it into his own hand. “According to family rules, for the mistakes she made today, she should receive fifty lashes! I, Mr. Henderson, failed in raising my daughter and disturbed everyone’s enjoyment. Today, I will publicly discipline this unfilial daughter to uphold our family’s reputation!” With that, he swung the whip, bringing it down fiercely. *Swoosh!* My back was torn open, and my body trembled uncontrollably. Piercing screams echoed through the hall. Blood gushed out, quickly staining my entire body. I was in so much pain that my consciousness blurred, and broken groans of agony escaped my throat. “I didn’t steal anything! That bracelet… it was… originally… mine! Grandma gave it to me!” Watching my pathetic struggle in a pool of blood, Julian showed no pity. Instead, he covered Celeste’s eyes and led her away. Witnessing their figures disappearing into the distance, I closed my blood-red eyes. I bit down hard on my lips, smeared with blood and tears, enduring the pain and refusing to make another sound. After the punishment, my parents left without even a glance at me. The guests and staff in the hall also sneered and departed one after another, no one paying any attention to me. I lay on the cold floor, covered in wounds, as the lights went out. Only boundless darkness remained, completely enveloping me. It wasn’t until early the next morning that I regained some strength and went to the hospital alone to treat my wounds. Seeing the shocking scars on my body, even the doctor was a little frightened. It took a full three hours to clean and bandage them. I was drenched in cold sweat, several of my fingernails broke, but I finally endured it. After two days of rest in the hospital, my wounds slowly scabbed over. During this time, Celeste sent many taunting messages daily. “Mom and Dad have agreed to convert your room into a nursery. Julian’s and my baby will stay there when they come back. When are you going to move your pile of junk out?” “Julian took me to pick out my wedding dress today. I thought a few were good, so he bought them all for me. My feet hurt from trying on shoes, and he was so worried, he even massaged my legs.” Looking at the photos of Julian gazing lovingly at Celeste, my eyes were only filled with numbness.

I didn’t reply to any of them. After recovering from my injuries, I returned home and began packing my luggage. Aside from essential documents and personal items, I threw everything else away, leaving nothing behind. The housekeeper saw this and nervously came over to remind me. “Miss Aria, Miss Celeste meant for you to move to the basement. Although it doesn’t get much sunlight, there’s plenty of space. You don’t need to throw these things away.” I looked at the empty room, my voice flat. “No need. These things won’t be used again, so just throw them all away. I’m leaving the country soon and won’t be coming back.” The housekeeper was stunned, a hint of surprise in her eyes. “You’re leaving and not coming back?” Before she could finish, Julian pushed open the living room door and walked in. “Who’s leaving and not coming back?” The housekeeper was about to reply when Celeste emerged from the bedroom. “Why are you here so early? I haven’t even finished my makeup yet!” Julian didn’t pay attention to them. He walked straight to Celeste’s side and playfully poked her nose. “It’s fine, take your time. I can wait for you.” “I can’t get my eyebrows right. You’re so good with your hands, help me draw them.” The two went back to the room, laughing and talking, and closed the door. I withdrew my gaze, silently pulling my packed suitcase. For the rest of the day, Julian and Celeste were inseparable, extremely affectionate. He would personally cook breakfast for her, hold her in his arms, and feed her bite by bite. He would watch movies with her, explaining the hidden Easter eggs. He would pull her onto the balcony for a kiss, letting her lipstick smudge on his collar, his eyes and brows filled with an unbreakable tenderness… The house staff, whenever they witnessed this, would secretly gossip. “Miss Celeste and Mr. Sterling have such a good relationship! Even though they’re not married yet, they’re practically a newlywed couple, inseparable for even a moment!” “Miss Celeste has been pampered since childhood, so she’s developed a rather spoiled temper. Now that she’s marrying Mr. Sterling, who’s so devoted to her, she’ll probably be even more unrestrained. She’s so lucky!” “Alas, poor Miss Aria. Not only was she neglected by her family since childhood, but the one person she finally fell in love with happened to be her brother-in-law. They’re biological sisters, yet why is she so unlucky?” Hearing their remarks through the door, I lowered my eyes. In the past, I had questioned fate countless times, asking why it treated me this way. But after dying once, I understood a truth: if I had to fight for it, it wasn’t truly mine. This applied to family affection, and to love, as well. So, I no longer yearned. I only wanted to escape, to never again fall into the mire. At dinner time, the staff announced that my parents had booked a private room at the Grandview Hotel and that we should eat out. I intended to find an excuse to refuse, but Celeste forcibly pulled me into the backseat. Along the way, no matter what Celeste said, Julian would immediately respond. “Julian, after we get married, how about we go to Europe for our honeymoon? I want to see the Northern Lights, and I want to see fashion shows. You’ll have to take lots of photos of me then. I want your phone, computer, and tablet all filled with my selfies, no repeats!” “Okay. I’ll take some photography lessons then, and make sure to capture you at your most beautiful. I’ll print the photos and hang them all over my office and study, so whenever I miss you, I just have to look up and see you.” “Then you must keep your word! When we have a baby later, we can look through photo albums together and reminisce. Oh, how many babies do you want? If it’s a boy, he should be tall and handsome like you, but if it’s a girl, I think she should be more like me…” The two chatted back and forth, seemingly forgetting my presence. I stared blankly at the scenery outside the window, not uttering a sound. The day Julian had his corrective eye surgery, I, due to the sleeping pills, had a dream. In the dream, he woke up and the first person he saw was me, and from then on, he had eyes only for me. He would be by my side constantly, prepare many surprises, and take me on dates to experience this vibrant world. He would kneel and formally propose to me, walk me down the aisle, and hold me and our child for family photos. In that dream, I found someone who truly loved me, and I had my own little family. It was just a pity that after I woke up, everything vanished like a bubble. I fought with all my might, but in the end, I met a tragic death. As I was lost in thought, the screech of sudden brakes startled me. I looked up to see a sports car, seemingly with brake failure, rushing straight towards us. With a loud crash, the entire car slammed into a bridge pier. My entire body felt like it was tearing apart. My forehead, arms, and legs were bleeding. Excruciating pain washed over me. I felt like I was being ripped to shreds, unable to catch my breath.

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My brother came back from studying abroad for the holidays, and with him came a future sister-in-law. She was apparently set on making sure I knew my place, this little sister-in-law she’d never met before. In front of people, she was gentle and generous. Behind closed doors, she targeted me at every turn. When I tolerated her, she’d gloat, “I’m going to be the lady of this house, the future mistress of the Thompson family.” “You’d better be nice to me, or I’ll have your brother kick you out!” But I just smiled. No one told her my brother was adopted. I was the only heir to the Thompson family. Even my brother answered to me. It was the holiday season, and the airport was packed. But I still spotted my brother, who was there to pick me up, in the crowd. When my brother brought me home from the airport, Mom and Dad were waiting anxiously, their heads held high, watching for me. It had been ages since I’d been home, studying abroad, so everyone was thrilled. After I chatted with my family, telling them how much I’d missed them, my brother pulled a stranger over to me. He introduced her to me, a little shyly, “This is my girlfriend, your future sister-in-law, Vanessa.” Then he tilted his head slightly towards her, “Vanessa, this is Cassidy, my sister I’ve told you so much about. Just call her Cass.” “Nice to meet you.” She offered me both hands with a polite smile. I was still caught up in the excitement of being home. I greeted her quickly, then turned back to babble on with my parents. That night, Mom and I cuddled up, and she told me Vanessa was an intern my brother met at a branch company he managed. She was apparently innocent and gentle, and my brother was absolutely smitten. So, not long after they started dating, he brought her home and declared he wanted to marry her. I was excited. “And? Is Ryan really getting married?” “Your dad and I, of course, hoped he’d find someone from a similar background, but if he insists, we can’t say much. If he truly loves her, we’ll let him.” Mom was always open-minded, so I wasn’t worried about my brother. But I didn’t expect that when I saw Vanessa the next day, I realized I had seriously underestimated her. Because of the jet lag, I didn’t wake up until late afternoon. I went downstairs to find something to eat. As I sat at the dining table, eating breakfast, a voice drifted over from behind me, slow and deliberate, “Oh, little sister is just waking up now? Your brother has already been at work for half the day.” *Are you okay?* A flurry of question marks floated above my head. I turned around. It was Vanessa. “Huh. Were you talking to me?” I was a little incredulous. She rolled her eyes so hard, I thought they might pop out. She walked down the stairs slowly, arms crossed. Seriously, she was already strutting around like she owned the place. Yesterday, in front of Mom and Dad, she was perfectly normal. Now, behind their backs, she couldn’t wait to give me attitude. “Who else would I be talking to? Is there a third person in this room right now?” Her tone held unmistakable hostility. Guess I hadn’t misunderstood her. After the initial shock, I found it amusing. “I thought you were talking to someone else. After all, we’re not exactly close. And please don’t call me ‘little sister.’ I don’t have any ‘sisters’ in this house.” I snapped back at her, then turned to continue my breakfast. This piece of work… my brother must have been completely blind to fall for her. She continued walking towards me, looking furious and about to speak, when we heard the front door open. Vanessa immediately switched faces, her expression soft and vulnerable. Her tone, a moment ago so sarcastic, completely reversed. “Don’t be mad, little sister. If you don’t like me calling you that, I won’t anymore.” I couldn’t believe such a classic manipulative snake actually existed in real life. Didn’t she think it was too fake? Just then, Mom and Ryan walked in. Seeing Vanessa’s sad, wronged expression, Mom looked confused and hurried over to ask, “What’s wrong? What happened?” Vanessa saw Ryan was back and upped her game. She even managed to squeeze out two tears, which welled up in her eyes, making her look truly pathetic. “It’s nothing. Cass, ah, I mean, Cassidy just doesn’t like me calling her ‘little sister.’ I won’t do it anymore. I just thought it would make us closer, I didn’t mean to upset her. I’m so sorry.” I was stunned by her performance. Living over twenty years, I’d never encountered such a master manipulator. What an eye-opener! Mom tried to mediate. “Oh, come on, it’s such a small thing. No need to get upset.” Ryan also chimed in, “Cassidy is probably just grumpy from waking up. She might still be adjusting to the time difference since she just got back. Don’t take it personally.” He gave me a subtle look, then put his arm around the pathetic-looking Vanessa and led her back to his room to comfort her. I didn’t need to eat anymore; I was full of anger. Mom looked at me, asking what happened. I just said, “Nothing.” I wanted to see what other crap this woman would pull.

Freshly back in the country, I was like a wild animal, starved for ages. I went out every day, meeting old friends and feasting, vowing to make up for all the food I’d missed over the years. During this time, I didn’t have time to deal with Vanessa. But then, a friend brought her up. “How’s your future sister-in-law treating you? She’s not just anyone, is she?” It was my childhood friend, Jake. His expression and demeanor screamed, *I know everything, but I won’t tell you until you ask.* He’d been like that since we were kids. I shot him a glance and, as he wished, said, “Spit it out already!” He grinned, even more slyly. “That girl is an intern at your family’s company. She barely started, and she’s already got your big dummy brother wrapped around her finger.” I scoffed. “That’s it? You needed to tell me *that*? Everyone knows that. Tell me something I *don’t* know.” Jake didn’t get annoyed. He continued, “But did you know, this girl only had one goal from the moment she joined the company: to snag your brother. Now she’s going around, calling herself the future mistress of the Thompson family, flaunting that status everywhere.” I finally turned to look at him. Jake smugly pulled out his phone and showed me a few screenshots. It was a SnapChat conversation between Vanessa and her girlfriends. 【Ryan is mine. What rich heir? He’s practically groveling at my feet, Vanessa’s feet!】 【Ryan brought me home to meet his parents. The Thompson house is so big! And they have a housekeeper! I *have* to hold onto this.】 【Ryan’s sister is coming home soon. Daughters in these families are always a threat. Once she’s here, I’m going to give her a good lesson.】 *How stupid.* To brag about something like that, she clearly couldn’t keep her mouth shut. I grumbled to myself, then turned back to Jake. “What’s your connection to the person in the screenshots?” Jake gave a cheeky smile. I looked at him disdainfully, but he was quite brazen. “What’s the big deal? It’s a mutual thing, we both got what we wanted. Not like your brother.” But I couldn’t help but keep an eye on Vanessa. From what I observed, though her name meant “butterfly,” her ambition was anything but delicate. She presented herself as a gentle, kind, innocent flower, not fighting for anything, not wanting anything. But in reality, she made sure she wanted for nothing. She manipulated my brother into getting her a permanent position, a promotion, and a cushy department job. From occasionally staying over, she practically moved into our house completely. She was great at playing the victim and charming people. In this house, apart from me and Maria the housekeeper, she had a smile for everyone. She buttered up my parents, her future in-laws, and reeled in my brother, eager to marry him and become the *real* Mrs. Thompson. I was the only one, his sister, she didn’t even bother to pretend for. Maria brought me a late-night snack, and when Vanessa saw it, she demanded some too. But it was already very late; the soup had been simmering for hours. There was no time to make more now, and Maria was about to go to sleep. The moment she heard Maria was reluctant, Vanessa put her hands on her hips and pulled out her “future madam” act again. “What, I can’t even get a bowl of soup made for me? Are you the Thompson family’s housekeeper, or are you here to enjoy yourself? Am I not allowed to tell you what to do?” Maria had no choice but to go make it for her. She was truly this domineering, yet in front of my parents, she constantly yielded to me. I, on the other hand, was too lazy to play along with her childish games and never gave her a pleasant look. This contrast made me seem like the ill-mannered one. I even tried to ask my brother, hesitantly, if he was really going to marry Vanessa. Did he truly know her? Ryan just thought I was acting like a child, saying he would marry her and hoped I’d get along with her. My parents also grew increasingly fond of Vanessa. Vanessa would go shopping with Mom, buying bags. No matter what Mom liked, she’d praise her taste. She made Mom laugh constantly. Of course, she often received gifts from her future mother-in-law. Emotional value exchanged for material value—both were quite satisfied. Ryan, naturally, was happy to see their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship so harmonious. I was the only one in the family who didn’t like her. This disparity became more and more apparent. I actually started to look like the villainous sister. Because of this, Vanessa became even more confident with me. In places my parents couldn’t see, she treated me even worse.

“Little sister’s room is so big. Can I move into this room after your brother and I get married? You’ll be marrying out anyway eventually. I think the light and space here are the best. It would be such a waste if it just sat empty.” It sounded like a question, but her tone was a declaration. She’d had her eye on my room from the start. I glanced at my brother, who was standing nearby. He didn’t say a word. My anger turned into a mocking laugh. “Really? You’re not even married in yet, and you’re already planning to snatch my room? Besides, you’ve already snagged my brother, so why doesn’t he buy you your own marital home? Why do you need to squat in my house?” “Cassidy! Don’t talk nonsense.” Mom heard what I said and walked over. “Vanessa, don’t mind her.” Mom actually turned to comfort Vanessa, then told me, “Is that how you should talk? Apologize to your brother and Vanessa right now.” No way. Even though I realized I shouldn’t have said that, I refused to apologize in front of Vanessa. Vanessa saw Mom siding with her and looked at me with even more triumph. “It’s okay, Auntie. Cassidy is just being moody. We won’t move out; Ryan and I want to stay with you both. I even want to take care of you in your old age.” After giving me a provocative look, she spouted flattering words to Mom. Ryan also played peacemaker, “It’s not Cassidy’s fault. Vanessa was teasing her about switching rooms, and Cassidy took it seriously.” He then turned to me, as if coaxing an unruly younger sister. “Your sister-in-law was just playing with you, don’t be angry, okay?” Mom also kept saying how sensible Vanessa was, and how I’d become so petty. She scolded me for being unforgiving over a simple joke. Seeing that they were actually starting to plan the wedding, I began to panic. I couldn’t let her actually marry into my family. I couldn’t possibly live with this master manipulator. One day, when Vanessa wasn’t at our house, I called a family meeting with Mom, Dad, and my brother. “I disagree with Vanessa marrying into our family.” The moment I said that, Mom, Dad, and Ryan all looked at me. Mom said, “Cassidy, don’t be silly.” Ryan looked unsurprised. “Just as your sister-in-law predicted, you really don’t agree.” *Seriously, she actually anticipated this.* Ryan looked a bit helpless. “Why are you so unhappy with Vanessa? You seem to find fault with her everywhere. When she told me, I didn’t believe it, but I can’t believe you’re making things difficult for her now.” Ryan even looked a little wronged on her behalf. “Cassidy, please, for my sake, stop targeting Vanessa, okay? If you really dislike her, after we get married, I’ll move out so you two don’t have to live together.” It seemed Vanessa had pre-emptively warned Ryan. Any words I said next, he would just dismiss as reasons stemming from my dislike of Vanessa. She was truly cunning. Knowing that anything more I said would be useless, I directly pulled out those SnapChat chat logs between Vanessa and her girlfriends. *Seeing is believing,* I thought. *They have to believe me now, right?* I showed them the screenshots one by one, but Ryan remained unmoved. He barely glanced at them before answering resolutely, “This can’t be something Vanessa said.” I knew he’d say that. I pulled out a full screen recording, showing the account, the real-name verification—everything was recorded. Ryan’s expression finally lost its complete trust in her. He watched carefully, including the voice messages. “You’ll be my bridesmaid on my wedding day.” It was Vanessa’s bragging tone. “I’m about to become the mistress of the Thompson family. Soon I’ll be living the easy life there.” Her so-called best friend replied, “Is this good news on the horizon? Congrats, but being the daughter-in-law of a wealthy family isn’t easy. It’s hard to say if it’ll be a life of luxury or suffering. Good luck to you.” It seemed these “sisters” weren’t truly genuine; one was boasting, the other consumed by jealousy. “Hmph, his parents are easy to fool. They’re getting old too. Once I’m in, they’ll have to listen to me anyway. Only his sister, she always gets in my way. I’ll find a way to kick her out then, so she doesn’t get in my way in our family home. She’s just a girl; she won’t inherit anything substantial anyway. Everything belonging to the Thompson family would be my husband’s! He even told me he’s going to take over the company soon.”

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My Fiancé’s Best Friend is a Snake in Disguise I caught my boyfriend applying sunscreen to his childhood best friend. So, I turned around and asked *her* boyfriend to apply sunscreen for *me*. My boyfriend, Julian, glared at me, his face twisted with anger. “Riley Hayes, how could you be so disgusting? Letting another guy put sunscreen on you? Don’t you know there should be boundaries between men and women?” I looked at him, completely innocent. “Oh, so *you* know about boundaries between men and women?” “I was just wondering if every guy, when applying sunscreen for a girl, makes sure to rub it all over her chest too?” “Guess there are still some decent men in the world after all.” *Slap!* Julian’s hand slammed across my face, his eyes blazing with a fury that threatened to consume me whole. “Riley, Chloe is my best friend. I’ve never seen her as a woman.” “Asher is *her* boyfriend. How could you be so trashy? Asking him to put sunscreen on you?” “Do you have no shame? You’re absolutely sickening.” My left cheek burned, and my chest felt like it was crushed under a giant rock, making it hard to breathe. Julian’s words were like knives, stabbing into my heart, one by one. In his eyes, my asking Asher for sunscreen was “trashy” and “sickening.” But *his* applying sunscreen to his female best friend? That was perfectly fine, completely normal. Even if it meant touching her most private areas, there was nothing wrong with it. Chloe pretended not to care, but her eyes still welled up. “It’s fine, Julian. I know Riley hates me. It’s my fault, I apologize.” “I thought everyone understood Julian and I. We’ve been close since we were kids. This isn’t the first time he’s helped me with sunscreen, but Riley, don’t worry, I won’t ask him again.” Chloe turned her head, wiped a tear, and forced a strained smile. Julian gently comforted her, but Chloe pushed him away. “Don’t let Riley misunderstand again. She probably thinks we’re hooking up just because he put some sunscreen on me.” “If this keeps up, if you two ever divorce, she’ll probably blame me for it, right?” “I can’t possibly bear that guilt.” “Riley, but I still have to say, if Julian and I were *really* going to be together, we would have been ages ago. There’d be no room for you.” “He might be a good man to you, but to me, he’s no different from any other guy.” Then, she looked at Asher, understanding written all over her face. “Asher, don’t worry, I won’t blame you. I understand.” The way she said it made me seem like the unreasonable one. Chloe ran off, her eyes red. Julian glared at me, coldly. “Riley, are you satisfied now?” “Coming out with someone like you is just a buzzkill.” “Always suspecting this, suspecting that. Do you question every single woman I’m around?” “Look at Chloe. Does she ever question Asher? No.” “It’s just you, always nitpicking and causing drama. You’re so petty, your mind is tiny.” Looking at the disappointment and disgust in his eyes, I suddenly felt a wave of helplessness. There was no point anymore. He would never take my side. Being with him was just too exhausting. “Julian, let’s break up.” Julian’s eyes widened, shocked and furious. “Do you know what you’re saying? We’re getting married! And you’re telling me you want to break up? You’re insane!” I closed my eyes, my voice chillingly calm. “I’m not insane, Julian. I should have broken up with you a long time ago: when you faked an illness to manipulate me into caring for you so Chloe could win the piano competition; when you shoved me into a freezing pool during my period just to make Chloe happy; when you hung up on my desperate call for help because you were watching a movie with her.” “I was too indecisive, always convincing myself you’d change, time after time.” “I was too arrogant. Now I realize my mistake, and I’m fixing it. So, let’s break up.”

No one answered. I opened my eyes. Julian was nowhere to be seen. Maybe some sand got in my eyes, because tears streamed out, one after another. A tissue appeared in front of me. “Here, wipe it. Your makeup’s running.” Asher was Chloe’s new boyfriend. Julian and I had set a wedding date, and Chloe had enthusiastically suggested we have a joint wedding. Before I could refuse, Julian had agreed without hesitation. He explained it to me casually. “Chloe’s my best friend. A joint wedding will be fun, Riley. Don’t be so petty.” This group ocean getaway was also Chloe’s idea. Julian, as always, readily agreed. He was always like that. Whatever his “best friend” asked, good or bad, he’d agree. When we got to the beach, Julian said he’d forgotten the camera and asked me to go back to the hotel to get it. I didn’t think much of it. Who knew when I came back, I’d see him applying sunscreen to Chloe. Her bikini was barely clinging to her. Julian was pressed against her from behind, his hands on her chest. Their proximity was intimate, far beyond the boundaries of friendship. Seriously, what kind of “pure” friendship goes this far? Touching each other’s private areas? Seeing Asher still there, I asked him, “Aren’t you upset? She’s your girlfriend.” Asher raised an eyebrow. “I never said she was my girlfriend.” I froze for a moment, but Asher didn’t elaborate. After that whole scene, I wasn’t in the mood to enjoy myself anymore. I decided to head back to the hotel. Walking along the shaded path, suddenly, a large hand clamped over my mouth. A pungent smell made my head spin, then everything went black. I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was lying on a reef. Several men surrounded me, their eyes leering, hands rubbing together. Each of them held a bottle of sunscreen, their eyes glowing with a predatory green light. “Heh heh, little beauty, heard you like sunscreen.” “Big brothers are here to rub it in for you, guaranteed to cover every inch, top to bottom, inside and out.” I snapped awake, my heart pounding wildly, like it had plunged into a black hole. Several terrifying hands reached for me. I screamed, I struggled, but my hands and feet were held down by multiple grips. “Help! Julian, save me! Someone, please save me!” The utter helplessness made me burst into tears, screaming at the top of my lungs, hoping someone would come to my rescue. But those men seemed to read my thoughts and burst into laughter. “Go ahead and scream! This is an undeveloped area. You can scream until your throat rips, no one’s coming.” “Look at this little chick, her skin is so pale. Wonder how that guy could bear to let her go.” My nostrils were filled with various foul smells, tears streamed down my face. My heart felt dead, my whole body felt like it had fallen into a sewage pit. I stopped thinking, sinking my teeth into one of the men. A searing pain tore at my scalp, and I was slapped hard a few times. “Bitch! Still dare to bite me?!” “Get her! The boss said to just leave her alive!” My vision went black, a buzzing filled my ears, completely engulfed by despair. Suddenly, the sickening touches disappeared. Several screams echoed. I opened my eyes. A black suit jacket fell over me, covering my body. I was lifted into someone’s arms. At the police station, Julian rushed in and immediately hugged me tightly. “Riley, you scared me to death! Are you okay? How could something like this happen?” “Who did this? Where are the culprits?” His shouts echoed off the walls. Chloe slapped herself on the forehead. “Riley’s fine, isn’t she, Julian? Do you have to make a big scene so everyone knows?” “Listen to your dad. Take your fiancée home, let her rest. Apologize, comfort her. She’s not as tough as me, able to handle anything. What if she gets depressed?”

Julian seemed genuinely worried. He comforted me the whole way, his face full of indignation. “But then again, Riley, today’s incident is partly your fault too. If you hadn’t been so petty and made me angry, maybe something like this wouldn’t have happened.” “You’ve learned your lesson now, right? Chloe and I truly have nothing going on, just a pure friendship. Don’t be so jealous anymore.” I turned my head, looking at my reflection in the window, feeling only disgust. What he didn’t know was that Asher had shown me a video. In the video, Julian was teaching Chloe to swim, taking photos of her. My desperate calls for help were clearly audible in the background. They had heard me but hadn’t come to my rescue. I lay numbly on the bed, the sound of rushing water filling my ears. Suddenly, several message notifications pinged. It was Julian’s phone. The screen displayed a group chat called ‘Queen Chloe and Her Knights’. They were chatting excitedly, messages pinging incessantly. A glance caught my attention, making me freeze. “You guys wouldn’t believe it, she was screaming so tragically, her voice was completely hoarse. Anyone would’ve thought those guys were really something.” “Must’ve given her the ride of her life, Julian. You really know how to deliver. Seriously, she’s so annoying. Every time we go out, she acts like a chaperone, ruins all the fun. Our Princess Chloe has suffered so many grievances because of her.” “Got a video? No video? Send it over, let’s see.” “Didn’t Julian already send it? Scroll up.” In the video, I was practically naked, my cries mixed with lewd laughter. Julian had called it his “trophy,” flaunting it in the group. He had written: “Buddies are like limbs, women are like clothes. Anyone who upsets my buddy, I’ll make them regret it. My fiancée is no exception.” My entire body trembled, as if plunged into an ice cave. All this time, it was Julian who orchestrated everything. His concern and fear were all an act. Julian walked out, wrapped in a towel, and saw me sitting on the bed, lost in thought. He pulled me into his arms. Leaning against his chest, it felt like a safe harbor. But I knew he wasn’t my safe harbor; he was the source of my disaster. “Riley, don’t think about it. It’s over.” “I won’t abandon you. Our wedding will proceed as planned. Be good.” A hint of sarcasm flickered in my eyes. I looked up at him. “Are you so sure something happened to me?” Julian’s expression froze, a flicker of unnaturalness crossing his face. He lowered his gaze, gently comforting me. “Riley, I know you can’t accept it right now, but it’s happened. We have to learn to deal with it.” “Of course, I wish nothing had happened, but…” He trailed off, firmly believing that something *had* happened to me. My heart felt like a piece had been gouged out, empty and aching. The Julian who would have risked his life to save me was now, for someone else, stabbing me again and again. Julian, I owe you nothing. After what happened, I had no desire to stay. I bought a plane ticket to go home. Chloe acted as if nothing had happened, hooking her arm around Julian’s neck, threatening him like a good buddy. “Don’t forget the bachelor party, Julian. Just you. If you dare bring anyone irrelevant, your dad will really get you.” Julian raised both hands in surrender. “Got it, my dear son. Let go, you’re choking me.” A boarding announcement sounded over the intercom. I grabbed my bag and walked towards the gate, not calling Julian. Chloe rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Your girlfriend is such a bore. I didn’t even make a fuss about her asking my boyfriend to put sunscreen on her, and she’s still complaining.” “Son, I don’t like this fiancée. Get your dad a new one.” Julian gave an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “I really don’t want to go back. If only she were half as sensible as you, I wouldn’t be so exhausted.” “I’m leaving. Be safe, and call me if anything happens.”

On the plane, Julian was distracted, constantly checking his phone. The flight attendant reminded him several times, but he acted as if he hadn’t heard. Just as the cabin door was about to close, suddenly, Julian’s phone rang. He seemed to have been waiting for this call, answering it impatiently. A tearful voice came through. “Son, your dad’s hurt.” At that, Julian sprang to his feet and rushed out of the cabin door without a word. His back view was frantic and anxious. I withdrew my gaze, feeling no surprise. After getting off the plane, I was about to tell my parents and the Davis family about calling off the wedding. But Asher sent me several videos. In the videos, Chloe had a bandage wrapped around her leg, leaning on Julian’s shoulder. Several of their friends were gathered around the hospital bed. Someone asked her what happened to her leg. Chloe said nonchalantly, “My ‘son’ was leaving me, so I got too sad and fell down the stairs, I guess. It’s just a fracture, nothing serious.” Julian’s eyes were slightly red, and he gently squeezed her face, clearly pained. “If you wanted me to stay, you should have just said so. Is hurting yourself fun?” “I didn’t mean to!” For some reason, the atmosphere became heavy. Chloe and Julian seemed to be hiding something, their eyes both red. Someone sensed the tension and pressed them about what had happened. Chloe smiled, her eyes red. “What could possibly be wrong? My ‘son’ is getting married, so his ‘dad’ is happy, of course.” “You don’t look happy at all, Chloe. Could it be… you like Julian?” Silence spoke louder than words. The person’s mouth dropped open wide enough to swallow an egg. “No way, you really like him? What about Julian?” Julian gently wiped away Chloe’s tears, his meaning unmistakable. That person let out a sharp gasp. “Since you both like each other, why aren’t you together? Julian, did you mess Chloe around?” “What are you talking about?” Julian frowned, a bitter smile on his face. “Do you think I don’t want to marry Chloe? My mom only likes Riley. What could I do? I couldn’t let Chloe marry into a family where she’d be mistreated.” Chloe patted his shoulder reassuringly. “It’s not your fault. I just wasn’t lucky enough.” “But to be in the same wedding as you, I have no regrets.” She took a deep breath, as if to finally unburden herself of a long-held secret. “Julian and I met in college. For those years, he didn’t have a girlfriend, and I was the one who helped him out. Until he got a girlfriend.” “During those years, I made sure he wasn’t ‘deprived’ in *that* area. But with Riley for three years, he was practically dying of frustration. Seriously, how did you even manage to tolerate that?” “That time in the avalanche, he risked his life to save me, but when he saw it was Riley, he threw her back and cried out my name, begging me not to die.” “He carried me to the hospital and stayed by my side for days. From that moment, I knew he was the one. Now that he’s getting married, I thought, even if I can’t marry him, wearing a wedding dress for him and walking through a wedding ceremony with him would be enough.” “So I rented a boyfriend and pretended to have a wedding. I never planned on getting married anyway.” So, Julian wasn’t the one who saved me. My fingers trembled. Knowing the truth, I wasn’t sad, I was ecstatic. I knew it! How could my savior have become such a hateful person? Julian laughed at her, calling her foolish, his eyes filled with undeniable affection. “Chloe sacrificed too much for me. I hired those guys to ruin Riley, hoping it would stop the wedding.” “If it didn’t work, I’d use it as an excuse to never touch her again.” “I couldn’t give Chloe marriage, but my body and heart had to be pure for her.” What a deeply devoted pair of star-crossed lovers. In that case, Julian, don’t blame me. I exited the video, and Asher’s message popped up. “Ms. Hayes, the man you’re marrying is not a good person. If you want to escape the wedding, I can help you.” Escape the wedding? I hadn’t done anything wrong, why should I run? Why should *I* be the one running? “What exactly do you want, Asher? I don’t think we’re that close.” Asher, if he was Chloe’s rented boyfriend, why was he exposing Julian’s true colors to me? But he didn’t reply again. The night before the wedding, Julian went to his bachelor party. Asher sent me an address. By the time I arrived, the party was in full swing. Everyone was drunk. Julian, in his tuxedo, and Chloe, in *my* wedding dress, were enacting a fake wedding. His friends were egging them on, urging them into the bridal chamber. Julian, tipsy, bent down and swept Chloe into his arms. He looked like he was marrying the woman he loved, a smile stretched almost to his ears. They went into a room amidst the cheers of his friends, kissing passionately, oblivious to the world around them. Enjoy this last hurrah. Tomorrow, you will all descend into hell.

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I left work early to go home, only to walk in on my wife and her friend chatting away in the kitchen, deep in conversation. Ashley spooned some soup and offered it to Mark, her friend, to taste. Their expressions were completely normal, though, not a hint of anything out of place. At dinner, Mark even joked with me. “Leo, you’re not mad that I was just chatting with your wife, are you?” I smiled and shook my head. But then, something strange hit me. The bedsheets, which I’d changed that very morning, had been replaced with an identical set. A prickling sensation of unease began to creep over me. While Ashley was in the shower, I meticulously checked the bedsheets. That morning, I’d accidentally flicked a marker pen, leaving a faint black line on the bottom edge of the sheet. It was pretty light, barely noticeable, so I hadn’t bothered with it. I flipped the sheet inside out, top to bottom, but couldn’t find that black line anywhere. Just then, Ashley walked in, wrapped in a towel. “Honey, what are you doing?” “And why are you all sweaty?” I fanned myself with my hand, trying to act casual. “Just really hot, that’s all.” “Ashley, these sheets… weren’t they changed this morning?” She paused for a second, then furrowed her brow. “Yes, honey, you saw me change them, didn’t you?” My heart sank. The sheets really had been changed twice in one day. I rubbed my temples, forcing a smile. “Guess I’m just overheating and losing my mind.” Suddenly, Ashley’s phone buzzed with a text message. She quickly swiped her phone, staring at the screen, and let out a soft laugh. I tilted my head, trying to glimpse her phone, but realized she’d put on a privacy screen protector. “Ashley, what’s so funny?” At my question, she quickly put her phone away. “Just some funny internet memes, they’re hilarious.” I nodded, wrapping an arm around her slender waist. “Honey, tonight…” Before I could finish, she gently pushed me away. “Honey, you’re all sweaty. Go take a shower.” “Then you’ll wait for me, right?” I rushed through a shower, no more than 10 minutes from start to finish. But by the time I returned to the bedroom, Ashley was already in bed, eyes closed. “Honey, I’m really tired today. Maybe another time.” “Alright, you sleep. I’m going to have a smoke.” I stood on the balcony, angrily puffing on a cigarette. From all the signs today, Ashley and Mark’s relationship was clearly more than just platonic. I decided I needed to test them, to see if my suspicions were true.

My wife, Ashley, and I had been married for two years, and our relationship had always been harmonious. We barely ever argued, a model couple in the eyes of outsiders. Ashley had a very kind nature and quickly hit it off with my friends. Three months ago, after a promotion and a raise, I decided to treat my friends to dinner out. But Ashley insisted it would be more fun at home, easier for us to chat and drink. That day, she personally prepared a lavish spread of dishes. All my friends praised me for marrying such a wonderful wife. Mark was there too that day, sitting right next to Ashley. “Leo, you hit the jackpot marrying Ashley.” “She’s gorgeous and so capable, seriously makes a guy jealous.” Ashley’s face flushed then, and I thought it was shyness or maybe she’d had a bit too much to drink. Later, Mark kept pouring me drinks, and I ended up pretty wasted. I only remember Mark being the last to leave. He even suggested I add Ashley to our SnapChat group. Since that day, Mark became a regular at our house. He’d occasionally buy groceries and help Ashley in the kitchen. But each time, he’d notify me beforehand, almost as if to prevent me from overthinking things. Ashley’s style of dress used to be quite modest and conservative. But recently, she’d completely changed her look, going for a sexier vibe. She’d buy sensual lingerie, but she never wore it in front of me. I thought she was shy, but now I suspect it wasn’t meant for me at all. When it came to our intimate life, Ashley would either make excuses or just go through the motions. “Honey, I’ve been so tired from work lately.” After saying that, she’d roll over, close her eyes, and pretend to be asleep. I felt she was working too hard and suggested she quit. But she insisted that women needed financial independence. Before all this, I loved her, admired her, and trusted her completely. But today, Ashley had lied to me, and it left me with no choice but to doubt her.

The next day, I took half a day off work. I drove to a popular artisan bakery downtown and waited in line for bread. I bought a banana bread, which was much more expensive than regular bread. Unless you were told, you’d never guess it was banana bread from its appearance. That was precisely its unique selling point. After buying the bread, I called my friend Mark. “Mark, are you home?” Mark on the other end of the line sounded a little surprised. “Yeah, just got home from the morning shift.” “A client gave me some of that trendy bakery bread, it’s pretty pricey.” “You like bread, right? I’ll drop some off for you.” Mark didn’t refuse and even thanked me over the phone. As soon as I rang the doorbell, Mark opened the door. “Mark, here’s that bread for you.” Mark smiled as he took the bag of bread. “Thanks, Leo, you really didn’t have to.” He seemed reluctant to let me in. “Mark, we’re brothers, what are you talking about?” “I really need to use the restroom.” With that, I stepped forward, ready to walk inside. He awkwardly stepped aside, suddenly much more enthusiastic as he let me in. “Leo, the restroom’s over there. Go ahead.” I nodded, quickly made my way into the restroom, and closed the door. A quick glance around revealed nothing out of the ordinary. I flushed the toilet and then turned on the faucet to wash my hands. As I was drying my hands with a paper towel, I spotted an opened box of condoms. My heart skipped a beat. Mark was single, I was sure of it. This only intensified my suspicion about his relationship with Ashley. I took a deep breath, walked out of the restroom as if nothing had happened. “Leo, stay for a bit. Want a soda or bottled water?” “Bottled water is fine.” I twisted open the water bottle and glanced at the bag of bread on the coffee table. “Mark, this bread just came out of the oven, you should try some.” “I’m actually a bit hungry myself.” Mark opened the bag and started eating the bread. He even made an astonished expression. “This bread is so good!” He ate several pieces in one sitting. “Too bad Ashley doesn’t like this kind of bread.” I deliberately dropped that piece of information. Mark frowned, looking puzzled. “Why doesn’t Ashley like this kind of bread?” I answered with a serious face: “She says the smell makes her nauseous.” Mark nodded thoughtfully. To my surprise, he ate all the bread before I left. He even asked me to take the trash out with me. As soon as I got home, I received a text from Ashley. 【Honey, I’m working overtime tonight. Don’t wait up for me, I might be here all night.】 But Ashley had never worked overtime in all her years at this job. Most of the time, she even came home early. I typed out a reply. 【Okay, take care of yourself.】 Today, I had lied to Mark. Ashley didn’t get nauseous from the smell of the bread; she had a severe allergy to bananas. And what I had given him was banana bread.

I sat in the living room, smoking, watching the clock on the wall. Taking a deep drag from my cigarette, a bitter taste filled my throat. It was already nine in the evening, and Ashley still wasn’t home. I scrolled through my phone and saw Ashley had posted an update on Ins. The photo was of an office desk, piled high with documents. The caption read: 【Busy, busy, busy. Going to be an all-nighter.】 I called a mutual friend of Ashley and mine. I asked her if she’d seen Ashley’s Ins post. Her answer was no. At that moment, I was certain Ashley’s post was only visible to me. Meanwhile, Mark had also posted an update. A photo of gourmet food, clearly at a restaurant. The caption was: 【Good food for company.】 Originally, I thought about waiting outside Mark’s apartment complex. But after thinking it over, it didn’t feel right. I had been to his place today; if he and Ashley were really up to something, I’d already tipped them off. There was no way they’d be brazen enough to do it at his place tonight. Besides, a shred of trust for Ashley still lingered. Around one in the morning, I received a call. “Hello, are you Ashley Shen’s family?” “Yes, I’m her husband. Who is this?” “This is the hospital. Ashley Shen is in the emergency room. Please come down to sign some papers.” After hanging up, I rushed to the hospital. After signing the papers, I waited outside the emergency room. In the distance, I thought I saw a familiar figure at the end of the corridor. I walked over to check, but no one was there. Not long after, Ashley was wheeled out. I immediately went forward to ask. “Doctor, what happened to my wife all of a sudden?” “The patient suffered a severe allergic reaction to bananas.” I frowned. Ashley would absolutely never willingly touch anything banana-related. Unless she had come into contact with someone who had. Mark had eaten a lot of banana bread today; there must be residues in his mouth and system. And this time of night was perfect for a certain kind of activity.

After Ashley was moved to a hospital room, I found a nurse to inquire further. “Excuse me, who brought my wife here?” “The patient was brought in by paramedics. It seemed a man sent her. He said he was a colleague of the patient, and asked us to call you, then he left.” From all the clues, it seemed Ashley and Mark were indeed together. A sharp pain pierced my heart. I had been stabbed in the back by both love and friendship. What was even more unbelievable was that they had been so obvious, right under my nose. Yesterday, in the kitchen, their calm expressions and acting were truly remarkable. Since they loved to put on a show, I decided I’d play along. I sat by her hospital bed, looking at Ashley’s face, which now seemed so unfamiliar to me. Suddenly, Ashley opened her eyes, looking at me with confusion. “Honey, why are you here?” I forced a smile. “Ashley, the doctor said you went into shock. Did you eat something with bananas?” A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. She stammered, “Maybe there were bananas in the takeout I ordered.” “Ashley, how could you be so careless?” “You’re usually so particular about what you eat!” “This happened because you were working overtime. Your company bears some responsibility for this.” “I’m going to your office right now to talk to your boss.” Seeing me stand up, Ashley panicked and reached out to grab my hand. “Honey, it was my own fault. How can you blame the company?” “Look, I’m fine now, aren’t I?” Her expression was clearly agitated, and her lips were even paler. Just then, the doctor walked in, adjusting his glasses. “Mr. Shen, regarding Ashley Shen’s patient report, it shows she is pregnant.” “I’ve already called the OB/GYN to consult tomorrow.” The doctor finished speaking and left the room. Both Ashley and I froze simultaneously. A question gnawed at me: whose child was Ashley carrying? Mine, or Mark’s? But Ashley and I always used protection during our intimate moments. And Mark had condoms at his place, proving he also took precautions. Could it be that Ashley’s lover wasn’t Mark? Or perhaps, she had more than one lover? — The Story Continues Below —

Ashley spoke before I did. “Honey, we’re having a baby!” Her eyes actually sparkled with excitement. She began to gently caress her lower belly. She seemed to be wholeheartedly embracing this unexpected new life. A halo of maternal glow seemed to radiate from her. “Ashley, I remember us using protection.” I reminded her, gently. But Ashley seemed unfazed. “Honey, are you mistaken?” “Didn’t we go without a few times?” “Besides, nothing’s ever 100%, is it?” “Honey, aren’t you happy about becoming a dad?” Ashley suddenly sounded very clever. The times we “went without” were four or five months ago. I remembered all of it very clearly. What’s more, it was Ashley who, three months ago, had specifically said she didn’t want children yet. She wanted to enjoy more of our time as a couple. Everything had been premeditated, and I had been completely oblivious. Not only had Ashley made a fool of me, but now she wanted me to be a fool of a father. I tried to calm my emotions, planning my next move. First, I would play along, without revealing my hand, and find out who Ashley’s lover was. One, two, I’d find them all. “Ashley, I’m just… I’m going to be a dad, and I’m a bit overwhelmed right now.” I sat back down beside her hospital bed. Ashley took my hand and placed it on her stomach. “Honey, feel this, it’s our baby.” Her touch now made me feel sick, felt dirty. I slowly withdrew my hand. “Ashley, you should rest. Don’t get too excited.” “You’re right, honey.” “A client gave me some banana bread today. Knowing you were allergic, I gave it to Mark.” “I never thought you still couldn’t escape the banana allergy.” I stared intently at Ashley’s face, observing her reaction. Her face went pale, then red, and her hand trembled slightly. Her mouth twitched, and her expression looked unnatural. “Guess I couldn’t avoid the allergy today.” “Honey, I’m tired, I need to sleep.” “You should go home too. You have work tomorrow.” She seemed eager to get rid of me. Was she going to call her lover with the good news? “Ashley, you’re in the hospital. What kind of work can I go to?” Ashley shook her head. “Honey, I’m fine.” “Now that we have a baby, you need to earn money for formula, right?” Since she wanted me to leave so badly, I’d humor her. I didn’t argue further and walked out of the hospital room. But after lingering in the corridor for a while, I quietly returned to the side of Ashley’s room. Leaning against the wall, I pretended to be engrossed in my phone. As expected, I heard Ashley’s voice from inside the room, talking on the phone. “Mark, Leo gave you bread today?” “Did you know he gave you banana bread?” “You almost killed me!” “Alright, that’s it, I have to hang up now.” I peeked through the doorway; Ashley seemed to have sent a message. Soon after, she put down her phone and lay down to sleep. My friend, Mark, was definitely Ashley’s lover. But he wasn’t necessarily the baby’s father. Because Ashley hadn’t told him about the pregnancy.

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On my eighteenth birthday, my parents gifted me an estate. My paternal grandparents transferred all the shares under their name to me. My maternal grandparents also prepared a cool hundred million dollars as a present. But my sister’s fiancé anxiously blurted out, “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, I know you’re incredibly well-off, but you can’t just let Lily spend so recklessly.” “Besides, Chloe and I are getting married soon. Shouldn’t we get a share too? Otherwise, it’s just not fair.” Before I could even speak, my sister kicked him right out of the house. “Who the hell do you think you are, coveting my sister’s fortune?!” My parents had always spoiled me rotten. For my eighteenth birthday, they threw a lavish party. Spotlights converged on the stage as I slowly walked to the center, listening to everyone’s heartfelt wishes. My parents joined me on stage, a property deed in my mother’s hand. “Sweetheart, when you were sixteen, you said you wanted to live in an estate that looked like a castle. Now, this estate is complete just in time for your birthday.” “And now, it’s yours.” I gazed at the photos in my mother’s hand, utterly stunned. The entire estate was designed exactly to my liking. I was so touched. I couldn’t believe that a casual comment from me, a passing wish, could become a reality for my parents. A lump formed in my throat, and I hugged them tight. “Thank you, Dad, thank you, Mom. I absolutely adore it.” Grandpa and Grandma Hayes also stepped onto the stage, their faces beaming with affection as they pulled out a contract. “Darling, guess what this is?” Curious, I took it. But when I opened it, I was shocked. “Shares!” Grandpa chuckled. “That’s right! Now our family business is yours to inherit. You’ll have to study hard from now on. Don’t you dare let the company go bust, or your old grandparents will be broke!” I was incredibly surprised by this, but I confidently promised. “Don’t worry, Grandpa and Grandma, I’ll work hard and manage the company well.” Just then, my maternal grandfather, who’d just arrived, gave a theatrical huff. He walked up to me and slipped a bank card right into my hand. “Running the company? That sounds like it’ll make my dear Lily too busy and too tired.” Grandma Davies chimed in, “This card has a hundred million dollars on it, sweetheart. Keep it safe, and if you ever run out, you know who to call!” I’d always known our family was wealthy, but today, this endless showering of money was making my head spin. I playfully whined, leaning against Grandma, “It’s too much, too much! How will I ever spend it all?!” Grandma pinched my nose, about to speak, but she was cut off by my sister’s boyfriend, who hadn’t said a word until now. “Honestly, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, giving all this money to Lily, who’s just turned eighteen, seems a bit… inappropriate, doesn’t it?” At his words, everyone in the room turned to look at him. Leo Carter, my sister Chloe’s boyfriend, was her college classmate. He’d pursued my sister for three years before she finally agreed to be with him. They’d just gotten engaged last month. My parents and other relatives had always disapproved of him, feeling Chloe should marry someone from a family with similar wealth and standing. But because Chloe loved him, they hadn’t forced them apart. Dad was already fuming at Leo’s comment. He instinctively pulled me behind him, glaring sternly at Leo. “How much we want to give our daughter, do you really think it needs your approval?” “What’s more, today is our daughter’s eighteenth birthday. Of course, we’ll give her something precious on such an important day.” Leo felt Dad’s fury, but jealousy had clearly hijacked his reason. He stubbornly pressed on, ignoring the hostile atmosphere. “If that’s the case, then why didn’t Chloe and I receive anything from you on our engagement, which was also a very important day?”

Dad’s face completely darkened. He eyed Leo with cold disdain. “Every single thing used for your engagement with Chloe, wasn’t it bought with our family’s money? And now you dare to be jealous of my daughter!” “If Chloe hadn’t loved you, do you honestly think you’d even have the right to stand here and speak to us?” Leo struggled to counter Dad’s words. His face flushed a sickly green, and I even caught a flash of something cold and ruthless in his eyes. “I know your family has never approved of me, but Chloe and I genuinely love each other. You can’t break us up!” He paused, then his attitude softened slightly. “I’m not jealous of Lily. I’m just trying to stand up for Chloe. After all, Chloe is also your daughter. It’s not fair that the two daughters are treated so differently.” “And Chloe has sacrificed so much for this family, practically running the company, yet she gets less than this kid who does absolutely nothing.” I pressed my lips together. I used to respect him, after all, Leo was going to marry my sister and become part of our family. But now, how could he speak such hateful words? I looked at him, utterly bewildered. “Mom and Dad have always been fair to both Chloe and me. And Chloe has never held these things against me.” Leo was on a roll now. He swept his gaze over me, up and down. “Really? Do you honestly think your sister doesn’t care about any of this?” “What if she cares a lot? She often tells me how tired she is. She even complains that you constantly rely on the family and refuse to grow up.” The disdain on Leo’s face grew. He completely ignored me and looked at Grandpa Hayes. “Grandpa, if you ask me, the shares in your hands should go to Chloe. Only she can make the company better and stronger.” “Handing the family fortune over to this pampered, incapable young lady? I’m afraid our entire family will suffer.” I finally couldn’t contain my anger and pointed at him. “Don’t you dare go too far!” “Grandpa!” My mother’s shocked cry echoed behind me before I could finish my sentence. Grandpa Hayes’ face had turned ashen with rage. He clutched his chest and collapsed backward. Thankfully, Dad was quick and caught him. The family doctor directed everyone to carry Grandpa back into the house. After clearing everyone out, he began to examine Grandpa. Leo knew he had gone too far. He hid in a corner, not daring to utter a sound. But I simply couldn’t stand for it. Grandpa doted on me the most, and now he had fainted because of this man, because of me. I walked straight up to Leo, glaring at him furiously. Leo jutted out his chin, still defiant, clearly annoyed it was just me. “What? Are you going to hit me now?” Without hesitation, I slapped him hard across the face. “You bet I am!” Leo hadn’t expected me to actually hit him. He widened his eyes, clutching his face, and began to wail. “You actually hit me!! I’m going to tell your sister! I’ll tell Chloe you disrespected me, your future brother-in-law, and she’ll teach you a lesson!” My voice trembled with rage, my eyes burning red. “Leo Carter, you better pray Grandpa is okay. Otherwise, even if Chloe disowns me, I won’t let you get away with this!” Just then, Chloe, who had received the news of Grandpa’s collapse, rushed back home. Before she could even ask what happened, Leo lunged at her. He whined like a little kid, pointing at his reddened cheek. “Chloe, I just said a few honest words, and your sister actually laid her hands on me!”

Chloe Hayes’s brows immediately furrowed. “What happened?” Chloe looked at me, her gaze full of quiet scrutiny. Before I could open my mouth, Leo cut me off again. He pointed at me, as if I had subjected him to countless injustices, exaggerating the truth several times over. “Chloe, I know your family looks down on me, but they really bullied me today.” “Since you and I are engaged, I’m her brother-in-law. How could she lay a hand on me?!” I was so angry I couldn’t speak, my chest heaved with fury as I pointed at him. How could someone be so good at twisting the facts?! I never would have guessed Leo was like this before. If I had known this would happen, I would have been the first one to object to his marriage with Chloe! Leo smirked at me triumphantly, then put on a pitiful act as he spoke to Chloe. “Chloe, you wouldn’t believe how awful they were today.” “Your parents gave your sister a huge estate, your grandparents gave her all the company shares, and your maternal grandparents gave her a staggering hundred million dollars.” “Chloe, you’ve worked so hard managing all the company’s affairs, yet you’re valued less than this kid who knows nothing. I feel it’s so unfair to you.” Chloe’s furrowed brow finally smoothed out. She glanced at me, then looked at Leo. “Is that so?” “And what exactly did *you* do?” Leo thought Chloe wanted to hear how he had defended her. He suddenly perked up, his head held high with excitement. “Chloe, of course I spoke up for you!” “These people, I don’t think they even see you as family. They completely spoil your sister.” “She just turned eighteen and gets all these things, while you and I got nothing for our engagement!” Chloe’s eyes narrowed slightly. She stared at Leo, her gaze turning cold. “So, you’re the one who angered Grandpa to the point of collapse?” Leo felt a flicker of danger but still tried to explain himself. “How could that be, Chloe? I would never scold Grandpa. I just said a few things about your sister.” “Said she was childish, didn’t know how to help you, and only knew how to spend money.” “Maybe Grandpa thought I was right, and that’s why he fainted!” “You’re lying!” I finally couldn’t help but shout, my anger completely overriding my reason. I stepped forward, reaching out to hit him! “You’re a complete liar! You disrespected Grandpa, and that’s what caused his blood pressure to spike and him to faint!” “I’ll tear your mouth off!” But Chloe stopped me with a firm hand. She looked at me, her face grave. “Stop it!” A prickle of tears burned my nose. I looked at my sister, feeling utterly wronged. “Chloe, you’re stopping me for *him*?!” Chloe ignored me and turned back to Leo. “So, you said bad things about Lily, which made Grandpa angry and caused him to faint, right?!” Seeing Chloe protect him, Leo mistakenly thought Chloe felt the same way he did—that our family’s kindness to me was favoritism. He became even bolder. “Chloe, I was just speaking the truth.” “Lily just turned eighteen, what right does she have to own so many things?” “These gifts are more than ten times what we received for our engagement!” “I think your family doesn’t see you as true kin! *I’m* the one who loves you most in this world!”

Leo was supremely confident. Since he started dating Chloe, he’d heard her complain countless times about how exhausting work was, and how annoying all the social obligations were. Meanwhile, I could just relax at home and have everything, and she was green with envy. That’s when the seeds of jealousy first sprouted in Leo’s heart. And today, the gifts from my family were a stark contrast to what he and Chloe received for their engagement. This fueled his envy even more. Why should two daughters of the same family have such vastly different treatment? And why should he, as Chloe’s future husband, miss out on so much? He had to stop this. He had to get his share! Chloe remained silent, so he continued to exaggerate the facts, adding some fabricated details. “Chloe, only I know how much pain you’ve been through these past few years.” “Did your family ever truly care about you? Only I was by your side, helping you through difficult times!” “Even if I spoke a bit harshly today, every word was true. It’s just that your family is unfair to you!” I didn’t know what words to use to describe this man’s shamelessness. But Chloe kept holding me back, preventing me from rushing forward to tear his mouth off. The doctor emerged from the resting room. Seeing Chloe and me, he walked over. I gritted my teeth, ignoring Leo for a moment. “Doctor, how is Grandpa?” “Miss Hayes, Miss Lily, your grandfather isn’t in critical danger, but fainting from anger isn’t good for anyone…” He glanced at Leo, who was standing to the side, then spoke, almost as a warning, “Your grandfather’s health was good before, but a shock like this could significantly weaken him.” “We absolutely must not let the person who caused your grandfather to faint get away with it.” I clenched my fists. Ignoring my sister’s restraints, I walked up to Leo. Without a word, I waved my hand, and the household security guards immediately grabbed Leo. He was pinned to the spot, unable to move. “Lily, what are you doing?!” “Your sister’s right here! Are you still going to hit me? I’m your brother-in-law!” I glared at him through gritted teeth. “Brother-in-law? Who the hell do you think you are?!” “You only have a place in this family because of my sister, and today you angered Grandpa to the point of collapse! I’m going to beat you to death!” I raised my hand, my palm just about to connect with Leo’s face, when Chloe stopped me again. I looked at her, bewildered. “Chloe!” “Why do you keep stopping me, again and again?! What are you doing?!” “He’s the one who made Grandpa like this! Are you really going to keep protecting this culprit?!” “We’re family! Do you trust this man so much that you’d hurt your own family?!” Leo, however, glared at me defiantly. As he struggled against the security guards, he shouted loudly. “Chloe, don’t listen to her nonsense!” “Everything I did was for you! I was trying to help you get what you deserved!” “Without me, they wouldn’t even see your contributions. They don’t see how much you’ve sacrificed. *I’m* the one who loves you most!” “Slap!” Chloe raised her hand and slapped Leo hard across the face. “Who the hell do you think you are?!” That slap not only felt incredibly satisfying to me, but it also left Leo completely stunned. His eyes filled with confusion and a pitiful sense of betrayal. “Chloe, how could you hit me?! Everything I did was for you!” But Chloe felt no sympathy for Leo. She raised an eyebrow and spoke in a cold voice. “Leo Carter, do you take me for a fool?” “Can’t you hear that everything you say is just thinly veiled jealousy of Lily, a desperate attempt to get your hands on the gifts she received?!” “What kind of creep are you, daring to covet my sister’s things?” A prickle of tears burned my nose, and I finally let a flicker of my hurt show. I knew it! How could Chloe ever believe Leo’s lies?! But Leo couldn’t believe it. “How can you say that? I did all of this for you!” “Chloe, why don’t you believe me?!” “You even stopped Lily from hitting me for *my* sake! How can you not believe me?!” Chloe let out a scoff. “I stopped my sister not because I was protecting you, but because I didn’t want her hand to touch your face. It’s dirty!” She grabbed Leo’s face. “You just think Mom and Dad are unfair to me, don’t you? You believe they don’t want to leave their fortune to you.” “You weren’t speaking for my sake at all. You’re just a selfish jerk who pushed all his excuses onto me.” Leo’s true intentions were laid bare, but he still refused to admit it. “That’s not true! Chloe, I love you so much! Do even *you* think I’m that kind of person?!” Chloe gave a cold laugh. “Love me? If you loved me, you wouldn’t have badmouthed my sister in front of everyone.” “And you wouldn’t have angered my grandfather to the point he collapsed.” “Since you’re so obsessed with money, I’ll make sure you get absolutely nothing.” As Chloe spoke, she pulled out her phone and called her lawyer. “Mr. Miller, I need you to transfer all assets currently under my name to Lily’s. Immediately.”

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A week before my birthday, my family had taken him in when we were kids, practically raising him to be my future husband. But Ryan suddenly swapped the luxurious hotel we’d booked for a cheap inn. My friends laughed at him. “Just because Ashley likes B&Bs, you changed Chloe’s birthday venue? They’ve been rivals since childhood! Aren’t you worried Chloe will be heartbroken and break up with you if you don’t tell her?” “Besides,” another friend added, “you’ve been together for so many years. If she wants a hotel, just give her what she wants. Why stir up trouble?” Ryan scoffed. “It’s fine. She’d break her own legs for me, that’s how much she loves me. She’ll listen to me.” “If she broke up with me, wouldn’t her legs have been broken for nothing? She’d never leave me.” I watched the surveillance footage, silent for a long moment, then my trembling hand switched off the recording. On the day of my birthday, Ryan couldn’t find me at the inn. He desperately FaceTimed me. “Chloe, where are you? I can’t find you anywhere!” Wearing a custom-made gown, I stood by the bar, watching guests mingle, and smiled as I replied, “I’ve been here for half an hour.” **01** This year was a milestone birthday for me, coinciding with our ten-year anniversary with Ryan. So, I’d planned a grand celebration. I’d booked the city’s most luxurious resort for the event weeks in advance. But I never imagined Ryan would go behind my back to change the venue, all because my arch-rival, Ashley, wanted to spend a few days at a B&B. Tears streamed down my face, and I held my breath, staring intently at the surveillance video. Ryan’s friends couldn’t understand him. “Chloe’s so good to you, this will break her heart.” “And besides, it’s *her* birthday. She should decide.” Ryan impatiently shot back, “Who cares what she wants? She’ll end up doing what I say anyway. Ashley was orphaned as a child and constantly bullied by Chloe. She’s suffered so much over the years; I don’t want to disappoint her.” “What reason do I have to soften for a cripple? She only lost her legs. Was Ashley any less pathetic when she was so traumatized by Chloe she couldn’t speak?” Ryan’s assistant, a smirk playing on his lips, chimed in, “Don’t you worry, sir. You adore Miss Ashley, so a little sacrifice is only right.” “As for Miss Hayes, your marriage is a done deal, nothing she can do to change it. There won’t be any problems.” “Besides, with her crippled legs, who else would be willing to take Miss Hayes in if you left her?” Hearing this, Ryan frowned and snapped, “Shut up. Some things are better kept to ourselves. If Chloe finds out, she’ll go on a hunger strike, and can any of you afford the consequences?” His friend watched him helplessly. “Alright, alright, just make sure you know what you’re doing. If you knew it would come to this, why did you ever turn down Ashley’s confession in the first place?” Suddenly, a sweet ringtone chimed. Ryan pulled out his phone. Everyone recognized it as Ashley’s personalized ringtone, and they smirked, teasing Ryan. The assistant quickly jumped in to flatter him, “Sir, your future wife just FaceTimed me asking what you were up to.” Ryan’s face lit up at the title, and he nodded in satisfaction before answering the call softly. Ashley’s sugary voice, dripping with fake sweetness, carried through the speaker. “Ryan, I don’t really like the décor at the B&B. Can we change the wallpaper to light blue?” “Oh, and I want to add a private screening room! We can watch movies together in there!” Her tone was ambiguous and嬌氣, and for the first time, I saw a shy expression on Ryan’s face. Ryan nodded. “Consider it done, just as you like.” Ashley hesitated. “But… won’t your girlfriend be upset? She never really liked me.” “I’m not trying to make her unhappy, I just want her to have a wonderful birthday!” Ryan gently coaxed her, “What’s the big deal? If she gets mad, she’s just being petty! Go ahead and decorate however you want. Don’t worry about the money; just deduct it from Chloe Hayes’s wedding budget.” “Oh, Ryan, you’re so good to me! I’m going to pick out a pretty dress right now. I’ll look absolutely gorgeous for our anniversary!” Ryan hung up, and his assistant, after observing his expression, immediately launched into a string of compliments. “Sir is so good to Miss Ashley; she’ll be even more grateful to you.” His friend looked uneasy. “It’s your anniversary with Chloe, and it’s also her birthday. Is it really appropriate to let Ashley handle everything?” Ryan smiled dismissively. “Chloe and I have been together for so many years; she’ll understand me. Her legs are broken, she can’t run, and she can’t wear pretty dresses. Ashley is different; she’s healthy and has a bright future.” “Besides, even if it comes out of Chloe’s wedding budget, I’m still the one paying for it.” I stared at the monitor, feeling utterly powerless. So this is what it felt like to be treated differently. All these years, no matter what I wanted to do, Ryan always used my disability as an excuse to reject my requests. For so long, I hadn’t even owned a single decent dress. The only one I ever had was a miniskirt he’d bought for Ashley, which she found ugly. But Ryan never thought about it: what business did a cripple like me have wearing a miniskirt? **02** Sitting in my wheelchair, I clutched the tablet tightly, biting my lip, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. The people in the surveillance video were long gone, but what had just happened was devastatingly real. Ryan and I had been together for seven years, from high school sweethearts to now. Seven entire years, I had poured my entire life into him. Including my legs. I naively believed that as long as I kept giving everything to him, he would always love me. When he first suggested throwing a birthday party for me, I was so touched I almost cried in his arms. I always comforted myself, telling myself that he loved me. That he was trying to make me happy. Was he perhaps remembering how I looked dancing in a blue gown when we first met at that hotel? Too bad he wouldn’t remember. I cried, looking at my progressively atrophying legs, sadly thinking, maybe he never loved me at all. My legs started to ache. I wheeled myself to the bedroom in a flurry, found my anti-inflammatory medication, and swallowed a handful. Ever since I broke both my legs protecting Ryan from robbers, I’d had to take a dozen bitter, huge pills every day. The medicine in my throat was so bitter I wanted to cry, but I forced myself to swallow it down. I felt nauseous and threw up all my breakfast into the trash can. I instinctively wiped my mouth; this had become my daily routine. But Ryan had never once shown concern for me. A SnapChat message from Ryan popped up. I picked up my phone to read it: “Babe, I have to go on a business trip tonight. Be a good girl at home alone, and remember to take your medicine.” My hands trembled uncontrollably. Finally, I managed to compose myself and slowly typed out: “Okay.” Ryan had supposedly been on a business trip for a week, but I’d just seen him on surveillance footage at another mansion in Northwood. My gut told me he was hiding something. I lay awake all night, tossing and turning, until I finally saw him in a picture my best friend sent me. “Chloe, why is your boyfriend on Ashley’s Ins? It looks pretty cozy.” I clicked on the screenshot. Ashley had posted a photo of Ryan’s back, captioned: “True friends always prioritize their buddies over their crushes! ~” In the picture, Ryan, wearing an apron, was cooking with his back to Ashley, who was pouting playfully at the camera—definitely a girlfriend’s POV shot. Beneath it, a flood of comments: “Couple goals!” “Seriously, they’re soulmates, look at them!” “Wow Ashley, your mystery guy has an amazing body!” Ashley replied below, “Don’t guess randomly, everyone! Ryan and I aren’t quite there yet!” I quietly saved the screenshot. He was always like this, pushing my boundaries again and again. I touched my disabled legs, already planning what to do next. Once upon a time, I would have just endured it, just like he said: I’d broken my legs for him, so I’d be reluctant to break up. But now, I refused to endure any longer. I dialed the number I’d memorized long ago. **03** “A meeting?” As I organized the leverage I’d collected against Ryan over the years, I called Julian, Ashley’s stepbrother. He scoffed. “Mrs. Miller calling me bright and early, before I’m even out of bed? A bit bold, wouldn’t you say?” Ignoring his mockery, I suppressed my anger and calmly stated, “Don’t you want to get your conniving stepsister out of the Lin family for good?” “Mr. Lin should know what’s more important: mocking me, or getting her out of your house.” Julian stopped his taunts, falling silent for a moment before saying, “Meet me at the Downtown Bean coffee shop.” My objective achieved, I gathered the evidence, ready to discuss our partnership. Suddenly, a loud kick against the door echoed from outside. Ryan stumbled in, clearly drunk, vivid red hickeys on his neck standing out like a sore thumb. “Chloe Hayes, get over here and change my clothes!” His eyes half-closed, he pointed at me and yelled. Martha, our housekeeper, rushed forward to help him instead, but he harshly pushed her to the ground. “What are *you*? How dare you touch me? Where’s Chloe Hayes? Where did she run off to?” “Only the woman I love can take off my clothes!” I smirked. Ryan was such a good actor; even drunk he was pretending to love me. If I hadn’t seen those videos and Ins posts, following my usual pattern, I would have been incredibly touched and loved him to the point of irrationality, no matter his drunken rants. Martha’s eyes pleaded with me. I walked forward expressionlessly, my voice cold. “You’re a grown man, undress yourself.” Ryan froze, looking at me with a wronged expression. When he saw I remained unmoved, he angrily shoved me aside. The mirror shattered when I hit it, sending shards everywhere, some piercing my skin, making me break out in a cold sweat from the pain. Blood welled from the cuts, and my eyelid was sliced. Helpless, I could only blink one eye, the other squeezed shut. Seeing this, Ryan scrambled, trying to help me in a disorganized panic, but his phone rang, interrupting him. Ashley’s sugary voice, dripping with fake sweetness, came through the phone. “Ryan, my, my hand got scratched by some grass! It’s bleeding, and I’m so scared!” I watched Ryan in silence, the evidence in my hand clenched tight. If he chose me today, I would forgive him. But Ryan didn’t hesitate; he turned and rushed out of the mansion. Before I closed my eyes, I only heard him frantically FaceTiming his assistant. “Mike, get the car to the mansion ASAP and pick me up! Ashley’s hurt, I need to take care of her!” “If you’re late, you’re fired!” I heard Martha sobbing beside me, cradling me. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I closed my eyes, my heart filled with years of unrequited love, pain, and the agony of having my boyfriend stolen by my rival. “Why her? Why?!” I cried out, devastated, in Martha’s arms. When I next awoke, I was in the hospital, hooked up to an IV. Julian, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, sat quietly beside me. Seeing me stir, a faint smile played on his lips, tinged with sarcasm. “Mrs. Miller certainly keeps people on their toes. A phone call in the morning, and in the hospital by the afternoon.” “Does Mr. Hayes even know what a living hell his daughter is enduring?” I remained silent, then turned and handed him the files on my phone. Julian raised an eyebrow, scanning the documents carefully, his eyes widening in surprise. “So much evidence! Chloe Hayes, you’ve actually gotten smarter over the years!” I smiled. “Don’t mistake me for someone easily bullied. As the Hayes family made him, we can also unmake him.” “Since he betrayed me, he shouldn’t blame me for being ruthless.” **04** Alone in the hospital, I bit my lip hard, but tears still welled up uncontrollably. To say I wasn’t heartbroken would be a lie. Ryan and I had been together for over a decade. For more than ten years, I had so naively believed he loved me. I remembered my father holding his hand, smiling as he looked at me: “My dear daughter, this is Ryan Miller. You two will grow up together.” Ryan’s father had passed away then, and his mother had remarried. My father, pitying his difficult circumstances, took him into our home. When he was eighteen, he was kidnapped while trying to save Ashley. To rescue him, I had both my legs brutally broken. At that time, Ryan, his eyes red-rimmed, swore to me: “Chloe, I’ll protect you for the rest of my life!” But his “lifetime” apparently only lasted a few years. Only I remembered him holding me, covered in blood, crying in such utter despair. It was as if he were a completely different person now. I clearly felt it: the Ryan I loved no longer loved me. Julian hired the best orthopedic doctor for me. As I watched the doctor repeatedly press my calf muscles, sighing constantly, tears silently streamed down my face. Julian, seeing this, patted my shoulder. “Chloe Hayes, it will get better. Don’t overthink things.” Remembering the doctor’s instructions, I desperately fought back my sorrowful thoughts, tilting my head back, trying to force the tears back into my eyes. Ryan’s phone call came through. The background on his end was noisy. Ryan impatiently asked, “Chloe, where are you? Why aren’t you answering my messages?” I felt a pang of disorientation. He hadn’t really changed, had he? Always delivering words of concern with the most impatient tone. But in the past, I never noticed these details. I just thought he was good to me, that I had a husband who cared about me anytime, anywhere. Ryan continued, “Don’t be mad about this morning, Chloe. I was drunk and couldn’t control myself. Plus, Ashley’s hand got scratched by some grass and bled a lot, so I had to go help her first.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh, glancing at Julian, who was silently observing the drama unfold, then said, “Ryan, I bled no less than Ashley did.” Ryan froze. “Chloe, are you okay? I was too frantic this morning, I didn’t think about you.” “Ashley’s still young and a bit delicate. I hope you can understand. I’m like a brother to her; I have an obligation to take care of her.” I scoffed. “A brother? What kind of brother are you? Isn’t Ashley’s brother Julian? He hasn’t even made a move, and you’re already overstepping your boundaries to handle someone else’s business?” “Ryan, she may be young, but I’m a year younger than she is.” “You have the time to take care of someone else’s sister, but you weren’t even remotely moved when your own girlfriend was lying on the ground, covered in wounds?”

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Scrolling through my feed, I stumbled upon a post: [My boyfriend sent me a picture, saying he’s on a business trip alone. But do you really think someone staying alone would mess up the bedsheets like this? He’s not picking up my calls either. Girls, help me analyze this.] The accompanying photo showed a hotel bed and sofa. It looked eerily familiar. Most of the top comments were filled with graphic emojis and crude illustrations, all hinting at suggestive positions. Others were trying to play detective, analyzing the wrinkles on the sheets and the number of food wrappers. One comment, however, instantly caught my eye: [OP, does your boyfriend have a habit of coiling the end of his charging cable into a small loop?] I didn’t know if OP’s boyfriend had that habit, but *I* certainly did. OP replied, [My boyfriend never does that.] [OP, break up with him immediately. He’s definitely cheating.] My finger flew to the screen, zooming in on the charging cable. A faint reflection shimmered on the charging brick. I stared at the sticker on the charging brick by the bedside, my mind racing. Blake and I had been together for ten glorious years. For our tenth anniversary, he’d given me the most beautiful bouquet. Hidden within those flowers was the engagement ring he used to propose. Tears streamed down my face, tears of pure joy. I couldn’t wait to marry him, to make it official. Immediately, I sketched the flowers and the ring, turning them into little stickers. Blake had a habit of sticking these little decals on my things, saying it was his way of always being by my side. I just couldn’t believe such a coincidence could exist. I sent the photo to Harper, my best friend, asking her to take a look. [Isn’t that the hotel you and Blake stayed at during your last trip?] Harper’s words hit me like a splash of cold water. [I knew it! The room layout looked so familiar at first glance.] Harper jokingly suggested it might be some other woman trying to provoke me. [Don’t mistresses usually try to be discreet? I’ve never seen one this arrogant.] I laughed it off, not taking her seriously, and responded in an equally casual tone. But her words lingered, leaving a trace in my mind. I clicked on the poster’s profile, and my heart seized. The IP address matched my exact location. I scrolled through her daily posts. Most of them were pictures of different clouds in the sky. That actually matched her username, “DifferentClouds.” There were a few photos of the poster herself – she looked very young and beautiful. Coincidentally, Blake also loved posting pictures of various clouds on his SnapChat. All sorts of clouds. I scrolled through Blake’s SnapChat, comparing his photos one by one. And there it was: their cloud photos were eerily similar. [Could it be that they just browse the same parts of the internet and save the same photos?] I brushed it off, even joking with Harper. [Go get Blake’s phone and check if he has any other photos.] Harper suggested. Doubt, once planted, festers like a poison. [Honey, I want to post some cloud pictures on my SnapChat too. Do you have any other cloud photos I can choose from?] I snuggled up next to Blake. [I’ve posted a lot of pictures already. Just go look through my SnapChat.] [No way! We have so many mutual friends. If you’ve already posted them, they won’t be fresh anymore.] I pouted, clinging to his arm, trying to be cute. [Ugh, fine, fine, honey. I’ll send you the photos.] That was his subtle way of refusing to let me see his phone. He saw my frown and realized I was getting annoyed. [Oh, come on, honey, don’t be mad. I’ve got a gift for you.] I feigned curiosity. Perhaps eager to appease me, he hurried into the bedroom to get the gift. His phone lay face down on the table. I took a deep breath, quickly unlocked it, and opened his SnapChat. My stomach dropped. He had a few posts marked as ‘hidden from me’—all of them cloud photos. I tried to find “DifferentClouds” in his friend list, but there was no trace of her. I heard him coming out of the room, so I quickly locked the phone, put it back in its original spot, and put on an expectant expression. [Ta-da!] He presented me with a gift box. As I saw the bag in its entirety, my mood plummeted instantly, as if I’d been thrown into an ice cave. He always bought me popular, well-known brands. But this one was a niche international brand. And, coincidentally, it just so happened to be Celeste’s absolute favorite. If I hadn’t looked at her profile, I wouldn’t have even recognized it. Could “coincidence” really explain all of this? Who exactly was “DifferentClouds”? Was I the other woman, or was she?

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My husband and his mistress went hiking deep in the mountains one night, only to tragically fall off a cliff. By the time I rushed to the hospital, he was unconscious, being wheeled into surgery. The doctor asked me about the resuscitation plan, and I sobbed, screaming, “I’ll spend every last dime! He *has* to live!” Jasmine arrived at the hospital, holding a child and clutching a will, ready to dispute the inheritance with me. “The law states that illegitimate children have inheritance rights. And I have Liam’s will right here. It says 90% of his assets go to my son! Besides the will, you’ll also have to pay me child support every month!” I pointed at my husband, lying paralyzed and speechless from a stroke on the bed. “You said it yourself, it’s a will. Come back when my husband is actually dead.” I got the call about Liam being rushed to the hospital. I was busy investigating and liquidating Liam’s assets, calculating how much I’d get if he cheated and we divorced. Liam was a senior executive at a top tech firm, worth hundreds of millions. When I heard he was cheating, I was ecstatic. When the hospital called, I was over the moon. All his assets would finally be mine. But I never expected Jasmine to block me at the emergency room door, holding a child and a will. “Your husband left a will, and he left all his money to my son.” I glanced at the child in Jasmine’s arms, who looked exactly like Liam. Then I sprinted to the operating room entrance and burst into tears. “Liam, I’m here! You have to pull through!” The doctor rushed up to me, urgently asking for my decision. “You’re the family, right? The patient has severe brain damage. Even if he survives, he might be bedridden for life. The rescue costs and subsequent nursing fees will be incredibly high. Please consider it. We respect the family’s wishes.” I snatched the pen and papers from the doctor’s hand without hesitation: “Please! You *must* save my husband’s life! I’ll lose everything, I don’t care!” The doctor started to say something else, but I boldly signed my name with a flourish. I declared, my voice firm: “Spend whatever it takes! I’ll take care of him for the rest of my life!” The doctor nodded, clearly moved, and quickly turned back into the operating room. Jasmine, holding her child beside me, sneered: “I never realized you were so deeply in love with Liam! What a pity, he loved *me*.” I shot her a glare, my gaze fixed on the closed operating room door. Thankfully, Liam was eventually saved. Thank goodness. He was paralyzed in bed, unable to move anything but his eyeballs. He’d need lifelong care. Seeing Liam in such a state, Jasmine could only negotiate with me. “Liam and I were true love. We even had a child. How about this: you give me twenty million dollars, and I’ll disappear. We’ll consider the will void.” I chuckled, looking at Jasmine: “What Liam and you being ‘true love’ has to do with me? I’m his wife of ten years. Who are you to demand anything? Twenty million? Go look in a mirror. You’re not even worth two bucks!” Jasmine tossed the will onto Liam’s bed, speaking imperiously. “Liam’s will is right here. It says he’s leaving ninety percent of his money to our son. I’m only asking for twenty million now, and you won’t even give that? Don’t wait until Liam dies to regret it.” I rolled my eyes at Jasmine, who was still spouting about “true love.” “If it’s true love, why are you so eager for him to die? You said it yourself, it’s a will. Come back when it can actually be enforced.” 0

The next day, I approached the attending physician, my eyes brimming with tears. “I’m planning to take Liam home. Mainly, the rescue operation cost us a fortune. I simply can’t afford the rehabilitation expenses anymore, so I’ll just do his rehabilitation at home.” “Ms. Hayes, please don’t give up. Our hospital has a fund for low-income families. Seeing how much you love your husband, if you fill out a few application forms, I’d be willing to help you apply.” I quickly hugged the doctor, sobbing uncontrollably. “Even if we get the fund, my family still has to pay a portion. We’ve already incurred so much debt to save him. My mother-in-law is currently picking up discarded items on the streets to earn money. I just can’t bring myself to accept it.” “Let’s leave the fund for those who need it more. Doctor, please believe me, I’ll do a good job with Liam’s rehabilitation at home.” Seeing my determination, the doctor didn’t press further. As she left, she secretly slipped me a sandwich. When I discharged my husband, I submitted a 10,000-word thank-you letter, explicitly naming and praising this doctor’s department. I also, as an anonymous benefactor, donated one hundred thousand dollars to the hospital’s fund. After leaving the hospital, I took Liam to a small rehabilitation center. This was a place I’d scouted through many options before settling on. The specialty here? No one ever actually *dies*. I employed the same tactic, bursting into tears and clinging to the doctor. “We don’t have money, but I want the best possible treatment for my husband. Can you just try to keep him alive for now? I’ll go earn money. Once I’ve saved enough, I promise to get him the most expensive treatment.” The doctor pushed me away with a look of distaste. “We’ll do our best.” With that, she instructed a nurse to arrange a triple room for Liam. I peered through the window at the room’s conditions. Perfect. Dilapidated and dirty, with loud nurses. Exactly what Liam would *love*. After settling Liam, my next step was to quickly get my share of the assets.

I had already investigated his assets when he cheated before. I knew all his liquid and fixed assets like the back of my hand, and I’d secretly memorized all his passwords. So, the first thing I did when I got home was open his phone, log into his stock account, and transfer thirty to forty million dollars in batches to his card. Then, I took his card and flew all over the world, swiping it to buy limited-edition designer bags. I happily bought dozens of bags, each worth hundreds of thousands. I was swiping his card for the very last bag in Dubai when my mother-in-law, Mrs. Hayes, called. Liam usually had a distant relationship with her and was always busy, so she hadn’t suspected anything when she couldn’t reach him, only finding out about his accident two weeks later. Mrs. Hayes arrived at the perfect time. The liquid assets were handled; now it was time for the properties. Thinking this, I quickly flew back home, removed my makeup, and waited for her to arrive. Sure enough, she cried endlessly on my shoulder, tears and snot streaming down her face. To be honest, Liam was a decent person, but he inherited many terrible genes from his parents. Like selfishness, like infidelity. I always thought it was genetic. His mother, who was once a victim herself, an independent woman who decisively divorced her cheating husband, when it came to her son, she’d spout nonsense like, ‘Men need multiple wives to spread their lineage,’ and ‘His cheating just proves how charming my son is.’ She even instructed her son to hit me if I didn’t comply. I suppressed my disgust and handed Mrs. Hayes a tissue: “I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t want you to worry. I’ve already found Liam the best rehab center; he’ll definitely get better.” Mrs. Hayes immediately stopped crying: “Where’s my son? Where is my son?” I quickly forced a smile and said, “Didn’t I tell you he’s at the rehab center? Why don’t you go home for now, and I’ll take you to see him when I have a chance.” “No! I want to see my son today! My son!” she cried, grabbing at me and beating her chest. I rolled my eyes in exasperation and took her to see Liam. Walking into the triple room, Mrs. Hayes’s anger was practically overflowing. She started hitting me: “This is what you call the best rehab center? The conditions are terrible, and it’s a shared room! Quickly, spend money and get him a better place.” I pretended to be wronged, speaking softly: “I don’t even know anything about his money; he probably gave it all to his mistress. The hundreds of thousands for this rescue were borrowed from everywhere.” “Besides, his accident happened because he was playing in the mountains with his mistress and lost his footing.” Mrs. Hayes’s eyes widened, her face changing color several times. “That’s because you’re too difficult! If you hadn’t neglected him, would he have run off to the mountains? It’s all your fault! Give me back my son!” “I want the best, most expensive room! I don’t care; you need to change my son’s room right now!” I rolled my eyes, speechless. The nurse heard the commotion and came in to check. “What’s all the shouting about? If you want to shout, take it outside!” Mrs. Hayes grabbed the nurse’s hand. “When will my son get better? Please, help him. Get him the best room, and get the money from this woman!” The nurse looked at me, bewildered. I shook my head and pointed to my temple, and she instantly understood, pushing Mrs. Hayes away and leaving the room. “Mrs. Hayes, the doctor said the best care comes from family. How about you take Liam home and look after him yourself?” Mrs. Hayes froze for a moment, then immediately put her hands on her hips and pouted at me. “You want me to take care of him at my age?! Do you have any conscience?!” “Since the doctor said he needs family care, you should take Liam home immediately. Don’t think about being lazy and just leaving him here. You’re his wife; you *must* take care of him.” “Fine!” Mrs. Hayes didn’t expect me to agree so quickly and looked somewhat incredulous. In front of her, I called the property manager of our upscale apartment complex, asking them to send a car and staff to bring Liam home. Mrs. Hayes thought I was up to some trick and watched me the entire time. But she didn’t realize I was acting gentle and meticulous throughout. The property manager saw everything and was deeply moved by me. “I never knew you and Mr. Hayes had such deep feelings. To still be willing to care for him after he’s paralyzed, I truly admire you.” I lowered my head and smiled gently: “We’re husband and wife; we always vowed to go through thick and thin together. Now that he’s in trouble, I have to support him.” The young property manager looked at me with even more reverence after hearing my words. Mrs. Hayes, seeing that I had genuinely brought Liam home, put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes at me. “Take good care of my son. If even a single strand of his hair falls out, I’ll call the police and accuse you of murder.” I ignored her warning, instead tucking my husband’s blanket in. “Mrs. Hayes, I need to care for Liam. Could you help with dinner?” Hearing this, Mrs. Hayes grabbed her bag and scurried away without a backward glance, clearly afraid of doing any work. I looked at Liam, eyes closed, and couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. *That’s your mother. Your selfish mother.* But thanks to her selfishness, everything fell into place for me.

A week later, I went to the property manager’s office with a red envelope. She greeted me with a wide smile and pulled out a chair for me. I looked slightly troubled, discreetly slipped the red envelope into her bag, and spoke in a hoarse, weary voice. “You know what happened to Liam. The doctors said if he rehabilitates well, there’s still a chance. So, I plan to take him abroad.” “I want to sell the house, but you know Liam is the owner. I’d have to go through court to sell it. Could you help me get a certificate?” The young woman didn’t hesitate to issue the certificate for me, stamping it. She even helped me get a certificate from the community office. I held Liam’s medical records and hospital certificate in one hand, and the primary caregiver certificate in the other. The court ruling came quickly. The real estate agent was even faster. Within a month, all procedures were completed. The downtown penthouse and the suburban villa were all sold. Seventy to eighty million dollars were transferred to my account. But before I could even celebrate, Mrs. Hayes came knocking. Mrs. Hayes, along with Derek, my brother-in-law, and a group of burly men, blocked my door, preventing me from moving. “You actually dared to sell the house! It’s in his name! How did you even sell it?!” Thankfully, Liam didn’t trust anyone. Besides this house, he hadn’t told anyone about his other properties, not even his mother. I quickly shed two tears, sobbing aggrievedly. “I sold this house to pay for Liam’s medical treatment. I was hoping to take him abroad to try and find a solution. How else would I get the money without selling the house?” Mrs. Hayes, hands on her hips, angrily cursed, disbelievingly. “I don’t believe a word you say! You’d love for him to die, with all the mistresses he kept! And you want to save his life?!” Mrs. Hayes had inadvertently hit on my true feelings. Derek snorted: “He’s my brother; he doesn’t need *your* help. Hand over the money from the house sale, and we’ll save him ourselves.” I rolled my eyes to the heavens: “Where were you when he needed care and money? Now that there’s money, you suddenly show up. If I give you the money, who knows if you’ll just abandon his treatment?” Mrs. Hayes trembled with rage and rushed at me: “He’s my son! What are you trying to do by monopolizing him? Give me the money!” I quickly stepped back, as if suddenly remembering something: “I know Liam has another house!” “I’ve already paid the money from this sale to an overseas hospital; here’s the receipt. Why don’t you go get that other house? You can sell it, and I won’t take a single cent.” Derek snatched the papers I held out, looking them over. They were all in English; I knew they wouldn’t understand. I quickly changed the subject and continued. “Your brother bought a villa, probably worth five or six million. Jasmine is living in it now.” “He bought it with marital assets, so Jasmine has no right to live there. Just go reclaim it.” Derek’s eyes clearly lit up at this: “Are you serious?” “Your mother has met Jasmine. Just go to that address, and you’ll know if it’s true.” “I’m not leaving. You can send anyone to watch this place; if I’m lying, you can do whatever you want with me.” Derek heard this, stroked his chin, and eyed me up and down. Mrs. Hayes slapped Derek’s back: “Your brother isn’t dead yet!” “What’s the difference between him and dead? He might as well be dead!” “…” With a family like this, Liam truly had no hope of survival.

Derek was efficient. He blocked Jasmine at the villa that very day. “You’re Jasmine? Pack your bags. This is my brother’s house; we’re taking it back.” Jasmine had only heard that Liam’s younger brother was a scoundrel but never expected him to be such an animal, actually trying to seize the house. Jasmine gave him an impolite glare. “Who are you to say? Liam bought this for me. What does it have to do with you?!” “You good-for-nothing thug, get lost! You’re disgusting me!” Derek got angry hearing this, grabbed Jasmine’s hair, and slapped her twice across the face. “You b*tch! How dare you curse at me? Who do you think you are? My sister-in-law is sitting pretty at home!” Jasmine bit Derek’s shoulder. “You won’t get the house, and you won’t get the money! Your brother already made a will. Once he dies, the house and money all go to my son!” Derek visibly froze: “A will? A son? What do you mean?” “What do I mean? It means your brother never planned to leave you a single cent. He wrote a will leaving all his assets to my son.” “Your sister-in-law is a barren woman; I helped your family carry on the lineage, you should be thanking me!” Derek, usually arrogant, was speechless for the first time. In one swift move, he grabbed Jasmine’s hair and dragged her onto the main street. “You cheap mistress, acting so self-righteous? Everyone, come on, take pictures, look! Look at this mistress’s wretched face!” The onlookers, drawn to the drama, started filming with their phones. Jasmine covered her face and tried to run. Derek yanked her back, tearing her white dress. Exposing half of her butt. “Why are you running? Are you afraid people will know you’re a mistress, Jasmine?” Jasmine’s name was out in the open. She couldn’t care less about anything else. She lunged forward and bit Derek’s arm, holding on for dear life. Derek screamed in pain, pushing her to the ground and slapping her. Their battle intensified. The crowd, watching the spectacle, filmed with their phones and whispered. “I heard this woman raised her child alone every day; I used to feel sorry for her, but she’s a mistress?” “She looks decent, but it turns out she’s nothing but trash!” I watched the video sent by my close friend from the front lines on my phone, laughing uncontrollably at home. Jasmine didn’t return for a long time. Her nanny, fearing something had happened, came out with the child to check. The child looked so much like Liam that Derek recognized him at a glance. He snatched the child and held him high above his head. “You said my brother left all his money to your son? What if he dies?” Jasmine, seeing this, lunged at Derek like a madwoman, frantic and helpless. “Please, please give me the child!” Derek sneered, holding the child even higher. The child’s cries attracted more people. Mrs. Hayes, watching from the crowd, quickly tugged at Derek’s sleeve. “Quick, put the child down! He’s your brother’s child after all!” “Besides, so many people are watching! Hurry up! Hurry up!” Derek impatiently shoved Mrs. Hayes away and pointed at Jasmine. “Three days! If you don’t move out, I’ll kill your son! Let’s see what you’ll inherit from my brother’s estate if your son is dead!” With that, he tossed the child high into the air towards Jasmine. Jasmine visibly froze at Derek’s words. At the moment the child fell, she actually missed him. The child accidentally rolled onto the ground, crying even more heartbreakingly. Seeing this, Derek quickly waved his hand. “You missed catching him! It has nothing to do with me.” With that, he quickly ran into the crowd and disappeared. I hung up the video call, lay on the sofa, rubbed my eyes, and mumbled to myself. “Dog eat dog. What a show.” 0

I heard Jasmine’s child hit his head and needed surgery. Mrs. Hayes had no time for me now, only for her grandchild. I used this opportunity to quickly establish a transnational trading company and found a specialized financial agent. Just as I thought everything was going smoothly, I received a call from Liam’s company. They asked me to return the money. The 800,000 dollars in humanitarian compensation the company had given when Liam had his accident. I rushed to Liam’s company, bewildered. There I saw Mrs. Hayes, Jasmine, and the child protesting with signs in front of the company building, demanding compensation. The security guards dared not touch the old woman, the child, or the woman, so they could only try their best to hold them back. Liam, as a senior executive at a large company, already had a certain reputation. This protest made it common knowledge that he had cheated and had a son. When I arrived, Jasmine was wailing and crying. “My husband dedicated himself to this company for over a decade, and now his son is sick and needs money. Are you capitalists really so cold-blooded?” Mrs. Hayes chimed in beside her. “My son collapsed because he worked himself to death for you, and now he’s lying at home in a vegetative state! We demand compensation! Compensation!” The company’s PR manager was constantly trying to placate them, offering them water, and inviting them inside. They completely ignored him, continuing to wail and cry, pouring out their grievances to the cameras of passersby. They were leveraging the company’s fear of negative publicity affecting its stock price, framing themselves as the vulnerable party against a powerful corporation to gain public sympathy. Seeing this, I smiled, pulled out a megaphone, and yelled at Jasmine, who was still wailing. “Which shrew is out here impersonating me and cursing on the street?” “I am Liam’s legal wife. May I ask who you are?” Jasmine’s eyes, full of hatred, were clear for all to see when she saw me. I gave Jasmine two quick slaps, catching her off guard. “It’s not shameful to extort money for your child, but don’t use my name. The company has been more than fair to Liam. He went messing around with his mistress and had an accident, and the company still paid out humanitarian aid.”

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I was the only one in my family cursed—or blessed—with the ability to reset my life upon death. Even before I could properly talk, my mother would cover the grimy walls with lottery numbers written in charcoal, forcing me to memorize them. If I mispronounced or misremembered a number, my mother would take a needle and meticulously stitch the incorrect digits onto my arm, each jab a painful reminder, meant to “deepen my memory.” By the time I turned six, I had memorized every lottery number from every drawing since my birth. For the first time in my life, my father actually took me to town. He even bought me an ice cream, fulfilling a long-held wish. But it was also that day my father, beaming with an eerie excitement, led me to the edge of a desolate cliff. “Maya, you’ve enjoyed such a privileged life. Now it’s time to pay us back.” The next second, my father shoved me off the steep precipice. When I opened my eyes again, I had reset to my three-year-old self. My parents stood over me, their faces alight with eager anticipation. “Maya, what are today’s winning lottery numbers?”

Every ten generations, someone in our family inherits the ability to reset their life. I happened to be the tenth generation. So, my parents quit their jobs and stopped farming, focusing solely on having children. They had seven kids in total. Only when I was born did the ancient family heirloom, a book passed down for centuries, finally react, its pages shifting in color. That’s why, even when I was still babbling, my mother would use burnt-black charcoal to cover the mud walls with lottery numbers, teaching me to read and memorize them. But as a young child, I constantly struggled to remember. I’d mix up the numbers or get the dates wrong. At first, Mom didn’t hit me. But once I turned two, my mother, desperate for a better life, finally lost her patience and decided to punish me. Initially, she only used thin switches to whip my calves. The switch was thin and flexible, but when it cracked against my calves, it stung with an agonizing burn. However, as more and more lottery numbers accumulated, so did my mistakes. Mom assumed I wasn’t trying hard enough. She started hitting me with a stick as thick as her thumb and burning me with red-hot iron tongs. Back then, I didn’t understand. All I knew was to beg for mercy in my childish voice. “Mommy, I’m sorry, please don’t hit me anymore.” But this usually just infuriated her further. Her eyes, filled with a monstrous rage, burned holes through me. “I told you to memorize lottery numbers! Why are you spouting nonsense? Don’t you know talking ruins your focus? You’re so dumb, when will I ever get to live a good life?” That’s when she’d pull out her embroidery needle, stitching the incorrect numbers onto my arm as if I were a piece of cloth to be mended. Each pierce of the needle sent searing pain through me, but I didn’t dare cry or make a fuss. It wasn’t until Dad came home at night that I would finally burst into sobs. Then, Dad would pull me onto his lap. “Maya, don’t blame your mother. It’s because you’re so disobedient. If you just listened to your mother and memorized the lottery numbers, why would she use an embroidery needle on your arm? She’s doing it for your own good, to help you remember.” “You see how poor we are. The faster you memorize all the numbers, the sooner we can all live a good life.” Listening to the frantic beating of his heart, I, a young child, couldn’t understand why memorizing lottery numbers would make our whole family’s life better.

Besides hitting me and forcing me to memorize lottery numbers, Mom was actually quite kind to me in other ways. Since my parents never worked, our family usually only had potatoes to fill our stomachs. But I was the only one in our house who got to eat an egg every day. Because Mom said if I ate well, my memory would improve, and I’d memorize the lottery numbers faster. What’s more, even my three older brothers had chores, but I was exempt from everything. So, even though Mom hit me, I still thought she was the best mother in the world. Until one day, Grandma Martha came to visit. After Grandma Martha left, Mom pulled Dad into the bedroom. She said Grandma Martha had apparently told them I needed a “brain swap”—that only by changing my brain could I become smart. At the time, I had just had numbers stitched onto my arm by Mom, and it was still painful and itchy. I didn’t quite catch how one was supposed to “swap brains.” But I was willing to do it. I felt guilty for not being able to memorize the lottery numbers and preventing my parents from living a good life. So, that evening, when Dad said he was taking me to a special place, I eagerly followed him. On the way, to make Dad happy, I even excitedly recited lottery numbers. But I never expected Dad to take me to a graveyard. Before I could even figure out what was happening, Dad led me to an open coffin. Standing beside it was a dirty, disheveled old man. My dad pulled five hundred dollars from his pocket and handed it over. “This ‘brain swap’ you talked about, does it really work?” The old man, Silas, leered at me with a disgusting, knowing smirk, shaking his head and laughing. “Of course! The guy in that coffin? He was a genius, a top scholar in his day. If his family wasn’t out of town, who would dare dig up his grave in the middle of the night?” “Alright, have your daughter lie in there. Just three days with this genius scholar, and I guarantee you’ll have a smart daughter back.” Though I was young, I still understood the old man’s words. I turned to run, but Dad grabbed the back of my neck, holding me in a death grip. “Maya, what are you running from?” I stared in horror at my favorite dad. After a two-second stunned silence, I began to struggle violently. Because I had seen the face of the person lying in the coffin. To call him a “person” felt wrong. He was nothing but a collection of putrid, reeking bones. But Dad paid no attention to my cries and pleas. He roughly grabbed me and flung me into the coffin. I cried out, trying to scramble back out. Dad pressed my head down hard, and my body slammed back into the coffin. Finally, he coldly pushed the coffin lid shut, blocking out the last sliver of moonlight from the sky.

I stayed in that coffin for three days. For three days, I breathed in the stench of the decaying corpse, alternating between crying and throwing tantrums. But each time I cried and screamed, a bitter ache would settle in my chest. Because I realized that my parents didn’t seem to love me that much after all. This made me remember the rumors circulating in our village. People in the village said our family had seven children. But I only had three brothers. I had never met my three older sisters. The villagers whispered that my three sisters had been turned into “flowerpot girls” by Dad and sold off. I didn’t understand what a “flowerpot girl” was. How could a person turn into a flower? But I knew it couldn’t be anything good. And I also realized, with a terrifying jolt, that if I hadn’t inherited the family’s reset ability, would I also have been turned into a “flowerpot girl” and sold by Dad? Though I still didn’t really understand what the reset ability truly was. But thankfully, Dad finally let me out. The moment I saw the moonlight again, my whole body trembled. Silas, the old man, leered at me with a disgusting gaze. “Maya, will you be able to remember numbers well after this?” I looked at the terrifying, sinister smile on the old man’s face and nodded frantically. “I… I can.” Silas walked away toward Dad, looking satisfied. “This girl has a stubborn fate; she might need the ritual done again. Take her back and observe her. If it doesn’t work, come back to me.” My body trembled violently again, utterly terrified. I glanced in horror at the bones lying in the coffin. I swore I would never, ever come back here again.

When I got home, I developed a high fever. In my feverish sleep, I had many dreams. I dreamt of my three sisters, whom I had never met. They smiled and invited me to come play with them. I hesitated for a moment, then refused. Even though my parents were so cruel to me, I still didn’t want to leave them. I lay in bed for three days. When I finally opened my eyes again, Mom was lying beside me, looking utterly exhausted. Seeing me awake, she reached out and touched my forehead. The warmth of her palm seeped through my skin, reaching deep into my chest. At that moment, I thought, my mother must still love me. She just wanted a good life so badly that she hit me. Dad also reverted to his usual self. He would buy me chocolates, the kind only city kids could afford. Although I didn’t like them; they were too bitter. Still, I happily threw myself into Dad’s arms. It was from that moment on that I decided I had to properly memorize the lottery numbers. I didn’t want Dad and Mom to turn into those other versions of themselves again. And of course, I didn’t want to be sent back to that old man for another ritual. I don’t know how it happened, but ever since I made up my mind to memorize the lottery numbers well, my brain seemed to improve. From barely memorizing one set of numbers a day, I could now memorize three sets daily. Every time I exceeded my quota, Dad would gently stroke my head and praise me for being so good. Mom never hit me again. The tongs, the embroidery needle, and all those other things were put away. I was truly happy then. Time flew by, and I slowly grew older. I had firmly ingrained all the lottery numbers up to my sixth birthday in my mind. The day before I turned six, Dad gently ruffled my hair. “Maya, tomorrow is your birthday. What kind of present do you want?” My eyes lit up as I looked at him. “Ice cream, Dad! I want ice cream.” Dad chuckled, a simple, good-natured laugh, and nodded. “Alright.”

Early the next morning, Dad took me to town. It had an amusement park and all sorts of snack shops. This new world utterly amazed me. Dad even took me to a diner, ordering me sweet soy milk and delicious meat buns. I ate, my mouth smeared with oil. After breakfast, just as Dad was about to take me to leave, a man walked into the diner. He wore a coffee-colored jacket, his face grim, made even more intimidating by a long, jagged scar that seemed to pull at the corner of his eye, giving him a truly fearsome look. I instinctively shrank behind Dad, terrified. Once we were out of the diner, I fearfully asked Dad, “Dad, that man who just came in, he was really scary.” Dad replied with some impatience, “He’s a killer. If you dare make trouble again, I’ll let him chop you up and turn you into dinner.” My body trembled violently again, and I didn’t dare say another word. But a child’s world, no matter how terrifying the emotions, can be completely dispelled by something delicious. I was no exception. When Dad handed me the cheapest ice cream from the ice cream shop, I instantly forgot all about the killer. I never imagined the ice cream I’d fantasized about would taste so incredibly delicious. But what I didn’t know was that the ice cream in my hand would be the last sweet taste I would ever savor in this life. After I finished the ice cream, Dad prepared to take me home. That’s when I saw the “killer” from the morning again. He was sitting by the door next to the ice cream shop, smiling as he fed buns to a stray cat. I frowned, confused, looking at the smile on the man’s face. Dad said that man was a killer, didn’t he? But why was the killer so gentle when he was feeding a cat? My dad, whenever he saw a stray cat on the street, would always kick it away. Before I could figure it out, Dad’s impatient voice called from not far away. “Maya, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and get over here!” My body trembled violently, and I quickly ran after Dad. On the way home, I kept wanting to ask about the killer. But my father completely ignored me, rushing along hurriedly. Until Dad led me to the edge of a steep cliff. Looking down at the seemingly bottomless abyss, my body instinctively clutched the hem of Dad’s shirt. “Dad, why aren’t we going?” Dad knelt down in front of me. “Maya, have I been good to you?” Although I didn’t know why Dad was asking this, I nodded earnestly. “Dad has been very good to me.” A wide smile spread across Dad’s face. “Then are you willing to repay Dad?” “Yes, Dad.” The moment I finished speaking, my body suddenly hung suspended in the air. Dad had lifted me up. But before I could even scream, Dad threw me off the cliff. Along with the plummeting sensation came unstoppable tears. I never imagined my own father would kill me. Until my back slammed hard against a rock. I grunted, crying out loud. The intense pain radiating through my body made me instinctively grasp desperately at the wild grass growing nearby. I don’t know where I found such strength. But I knew I didn’t want to die. I wanted to live. I wanted to ask my father. Why he would do this to me. Just as I was about to scramble back to the cliff edge, Dad, who I thought had left, suddenly reappeared. He was smiling, a truly twisted and vicious grin. “You little brat, you’re tougher than I thought!” Before I could react, Dad powerfully kicked me in the head.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a strange, yet familiar, room. The ceiling beam, just like in my previous life, was half broken. But the room was filled with many more appliances, even a television. For a few seconds, I couldn’t quite grasp what was happening. Until my parents, several years younger, excitedly spoke up. “Maya, you’re the Maya who reset, aren’t you?” I looked at their familiar, yet strangely unfamiliar, faces. The emotions I had suppressed for so long finally erupted. I wanted to confront Dad. Why had he been so cruel to me in my last life? I wanted to ask Mom. Had she known all along that Dad would throw me off the cliff? But I had barely cried for a moment before my sobs caught in my throat. Because my *new* dad was looking at me with frantic excitement. “She has to be the reset Maya! The original Maya was so dull, she wouldn’t even cry.” My new mom echoed his excitement, “I think so too! Wait here, I’ll go check that old book our ancestors left behind.” A moment later, my new mom ran back in. “There are words! The ancient book has words now! It says lottery!” My new dad instantly jumped up, ecstatic. “So, in the last life, I made Maya memorize lottery numbers? It must be true! If it were me, I’d definitely make Maya memorize lottery numbers.” I watched the two of them chat excitedly, my heart feeling like snowflakes fluttering in winter, a dense, sharp pain spreading through me. Their conversation was eerily similar to that day in my previous life when my parents discussed taking me to the graveyard. Perhaps my expression was too sad, because my new mom noticed my distress. She slapped my new dad, then bent down and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Maya, don’t overthink it. Mommy and Daddy are just too happy.” My new dad also snapped back to reality. “Right, right, Maya! Dad just didn’t expect what the ancestors said to be true.” Through my watery eyes, I carefully scrutinized their expressions. But whether it was my imagination or not, I felt like their smiles were forced. Still, I timidly shook my head. “It’s okay.” Perhaps my obedient timidity lowered my new parents’ guard. My new dad looked at me, excited. “Maya, hurry up and tell us the lottery numbers now! Today’s the drawing! I’ll go to town before dark, and I can even wait there for the results. If Daddy wins, I’ll buy you delicious chocolates when I get back.” Hearing my new dad’s words, my heart tightened again. This dad, trying to coax me, sounded so much like my dad from the previous life. I finally told my new parents the lottery numbers. That very day, they took my brothers and left for town. I was tied by the neck with a rope to the bed at home.

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