After my sixteenth birthday. I inherited a huge Trust Fund left by my parents. Once the money arrived, I hired fake family members online. Dad, Mom, and Brother. I instructed them: “My dad talks little, but agrees to everything I say.” “My mom is gentle, cooks great food, especially Mac and Cheese.” “My brother has poor health, also doesn’t like me, you just treat me as non-existent.” All three looked very uncomfortable. After a long time, the fake mom held my hand and asked softly: “Why do you want to hire family? Do you miss them too much?” I avoided the guilt in her eyes, buried my head in her arms and laughed: “Being alone is too boring.” They obviously sighed in relief. But in a place no one could see, I quietly wiped away tears. Actually what I didn’t say is, I am dying. This time, don’t hypnotize me again, to forget your faces. … Chapter 1 The three people in front of me are all my closest relatives. But the absurd thing is, I want to see them, but can only do so by hiring. The moment tears were wiped away, Mom unknowingly touched my head. “Riley, be good, from now on just treat us as your real family.” Dad also echoed and nodded: “We signed a six-month contract.” “These six months, we will treat you well.” I thought I was mentally prepared. No matter what they said, I wouldn’t be sad. But really hearing these words, my heart was still sour and swollen. Six months. What about before that? What about after? Are you going to fake death and abandon me again to make Brother happy? These words stuck in my throat, about to blurt out. But still suppressed by me, didn’t dare to ask a single word. Can’t ask. If I ask, they will understand I already know the truth, and will hypnotize me again. So I withdrew from Mom’s arms, forced a smile: “Okay, you guys act natural, just like a family, don’t be restrained.” “Tsk.” My voice fell, Brother suddenly sneered mockingly. Then didn’t even act, turned and went back to his own bedroom. Mom and Dad looked at each other, hurriedly chased after him. Door closed, I carefully walked over to listen to the movement in the bedroom. Brother still hates me so much. Even mentioning my name, tone carries disgust: “Mom, Dad, why did you sign that contract with Riley?” “Didn’t we agree to move out and never see her again during the five years of treating my illness?” “Jasper, didn’t you see Riley’s appearance, how pitiful.” Mom coaxed him: “It’s just a month, your health is almost recovered, just endure it and it will pass.” “After a month we will leave, next two years Mom and Dad will accompany you abroad, okay?” My heart “thumped”, blood all over body cold. Brother irritably said: “I just can’t stand it, based on what she is so healthy, even rarely gets a cold.” “I was born with constant major and minor illnesses, this is unfair!” Dad who hadn’t spoken for a while sighed: “Jasper, this matter doesn’t blame Riley.” “Back when your mom was pregnant with you, our family company was just starting, your mom suffered a lot, so your health is also not good.” “If want to blame can only blame me, didn’t take good care of you guys…” “Actually I just feel uncomfortable in heart.” Brother is the type who eats soft but not hard. Hearing Dad say so, tone slightly softened: “Forget it, anyway at most one month.” “After a month hypnotize Riley to forget this matter, we leave!” Hearing the word “Hypnotize”, my body uncontrollably trembled. Just wanted to leave quickly, just turned around, the door behind opened. Mom saw my figure, face changed. “Sorry ah Riley, my son is a bit unskilled, not intentionally throwing temper…” I looked into the room. Brother pursed lips, eyes full of disgust. I laughed awkwardly twice. “It’s okay Mom, he acts very well.” “My brother hates me just like this, wishing I go die.” When Mom was pregnant with me, Dad already gained a foothold in Seattle, no need to worry about money anymore. From pregnancy Mom was very careful. Ate and used were all the best. So after I was born until grew up, I was very healthy. Also lively and cheerful, loved to make noise and laugh. But Brother because Mom worked hard during pregnancy. Born with poor health, constant major and minor problems. He was very annoyed with me. Annoyed that I always smile, never get sick, even if catch a cold just take two pills and get well quickly. Even more annoyed that I could jump around when he was uncomfortable, hugging Mom and Dad’s arms acting spoiled. This annoyance accumulated day by day, gradually evolved into disgust. Before I didn’t understand. I never thought one day, health could also become a sin. Until Brother suffered from severe depression and cut his wrist. When he was sent to hospital for rescue, I was crying anxiously aside. Dad who never scolded me suddenly slapped me: “Still have face to cry, isn’t your brother like this all because of you!” “If Jasper has any mishaps, I will beat you to death!” I was beaten dumbfounded, also extremely scared. Luckily later Brother’s life was saved, nothing happened. From then on, I became careful in front of Brother. I never dared to jump around again, even deliberately pretended to be sick several times. Because I found once Brother saw me uncomfortable, he would rarely smile at me. He felt the sick me, the sickly me like him, was his sister. But such situation didn’t last long. Because I was really too healthy. Even if deliberately took a cold shower before checkup, result came out still no illness at all. Experienced doctor frowned and warned Mom: “Rest assured, just a bit cold constitution.” “But the little girl is only twelve, you don’t always give her cold food and drinks.” “Yesterday gave her cold shower right?” Mom and Dad stunned in place. I nervously clenched fingers looking at Brother. His face ugly, glared at me and ran away. After this day, the fake death plan that tortured me for three years, officially started implementation. That time I was only thirteen. Suddenly learned family all died in car accident, panicked unlike shape. Their plan was very thorough. Specially arranged people to help me handle funeral all the way, hired nanny to take care of me continue school. Also found lawyer said will was made long ago, wait until I am sixteen to inherit estate. I was too stupid, never thought they were lying to me. Just blindly sad, collapsed, self-healed, sad again… Cycle repeats. Until the year before last, I bumped into them at Disneyland. They were playing with Brother. When I crying pounced up, whole family’s face was very ugly. Mom flustered pushed me away, said I recognized wrong person. But how could I recognize wrong? Own Mom and Dad, how possible recognize wrong? I crying shouted: “You are my Mom and Dad ah! I didn’t recognize wrong!” “Is it I not obedient? What did I do wrong you can beat me scold me, why don’t want me?” Mom face pale, brushed away my hand hugging over again. “Riley, you just wait for us a few more years.” “Wait until you are eighteen we will go home, be obedient.” I felt like falling into ice cellar, hysterically shouted: “Why! Could it be just because I am healthier than Brother?” No one responded. They all stood in place watching me go crazy. And such indifference, let me besides anger born endless panic. I knelt on ground, heavily kowtowed crying shouted: “Beg you go home ba, I wrong, all my fault!” “You are my family ah, beg you come back ba!” I kowtowed until head broke, still no one paid attention to me. In trance, I even felt this was just a dream of mine. Everything in front was fake, I just missed them too much, so hallucinated they were still alive. Until Brother coughed twice. Mom and Dad nervously grabbed his hand: “Jasper are you okay? Is it uncomfortable?” “Said can’t come out play, let’s hurry go back!” Saying, they three turned want go. I confused and helpless asked: “Where are you going? Really don’t want me anymore?” Dad steps paused, turning back face full of sorrow. “Riley, you go home first, tomorrow you will forget this matter.” I looked at their walking away figures in disbelief, face pale. Sure enough not long, a Hypnotherapist found me. Pity, they underestimated my vigilance. Hypnosis failed. I just pretended to forget this matter. Next two years didn’t mention a word again, also didn’t go find them again. Even last year diagnosed Stomach Cancer, I also told no one, hid this matter in heart. Until after inheritance arrived, I then posted on Craigslist hiring relatives. I knew, they would definitely see. Not come, then I quietly go die. Come, is life last bit surprise. “Riley, today let’s eat Mac and Cheese.” Mom’s words pulled back my thoughts. She gently smiled at me: “Long time didn’t eat, Mom will make for you in a while!” My eye rims red, almost dropped tears again. “Better drink porridge, eating meat stomach will hurt.” “Why stomach hurt?” Mom nervously frowned. Dad and Brother in room also looked towards me. I smiled very lightly: “Bit gastroenteritis, it’s okay.” They all sighed relief. And I turned, fast walked into bedroom. Door closed, I covered face with hands. So close, just now tears almost fell. Mom Dad, you lied to me for three years. Today let me, also lie to you once ba… Chapter 2 I haven’t eaten Mom’s hand made food for a long time. Although my current body can’t eat much. But I still couldn’t help, drank two more bowls of porridge. After meal, Dad said had things go out. Mom cleaning in kitchen, me and Brother sitting on sofa watching TV. Such scene just like when young. We seem never separated. “Didn’t expect you would also have time getting sick.” Brother suddenly sneered once, “When got gastroenteritis? Eating medicine works?” I sank face: “My brother won’t actively talk to me.” His expression stiff, pursed lips awkwardly moved away sight: “Like who willing actively talk to you.” I watched TV, ignored him. After a while, he asked again: “Then did you take medicine?” I frowned, just about to let him be quiet. Then heard Dad’s voice ring at door. “Riley, you quick come look which medicine works?” Me and Brother turned head together. Dad hand carrying a bag, inside filled with dozen kinds of gastroenteritis medicine. I slightly stunned, somewhat cramped. Too long time no family concern. I already forgot how should respond. Brother face sank, turned back to room. Home atmosphere became subtle, Dad awkwardly stood in place, also didn’t know should give medicine to me or not. Finally was Mom took medicine bag handed to me. “Riley, your Dad specially went out bought for you.” “Let’s look together, which kind you usually eat?” “You guys act very well.” I took medicine bag, casually picked a box. “This is fine, I eat myself later.” Mom face smile stiff, eyes rose thick guilt. “Riley, didn’t we agree this month not mention contract matter?” “You just treat us as your biological parents, don’t say anything acting not acting anymore…” Don’t know if psychological effect, seeing medicine, my stomach really bit hurt up. I nodded, avoided her burning sight, went kitchen pour water take medicine. This night, Mom slept with me. I fell asleep fast, but had nightmare. In dream, I repeatedly returned to day being hypnotized. Hypnotherapist held me, constantly guided me forget family looks. I tried to wake up, but how also couldn’t succeed. To end, really forgot Mom Dad and Brother. I woke from dream, whole body cold sweat. Mom also woke, subconsciously patted me, “What wrong Riley, had nightmare?” Hearing her voice, I instantly cried out. “Health has fault ma? Why don’t want me?” I uncontrollably pounced into her arms, greedily smelling Mom’s scent: “Mom, is it if I die, you guys can love me a bit more?” Mom body stiff, tone panicked: “Riley, did you remember something?” Hearing this sentence, I like poured by a basin cold water on head, instantly sober. “Mom Dad, why you leave me, I miss you so much…” I vaguely crying, body shivering: “I also want die, I want go find you guys.” “Turns out talking in sleep.” Mom sighed, reached hand hugged me tight. Speak again, her voice also choked: “Riley, wait us another two years, just two years okay?” “Wait cure your brother’s body, we still are a family.” “You won’t remember anything, that time no pain anymore.” I closed eyes tight, heart like grabbed by big hand, painful almost suffocate. Mom, I can’t wait two years anymore ah… Next morning woke up, bed side already no one. Mom went make breakfast. I inexplicably felt stomach hurt severe. Force support get up wash. Brushing teeth time constantly retch, finally spit a mouthful fresh blood. I skilled opened tap wash clean, continue brush teeth. Originally didn’t care, who knew after breakfast, stomach hurt to unbearable level. I bit afraid, holding secret expectation asked Mom: “Afternoon, can accompany me go hospital? I feel bit uncomfortable.” Mom immediately agreed: “Of course.” Immediately concern asked: “Riley where you uncomfortable? How about we go now!” My heart rose a burst warmth, “Afternoon ba, morning I still have things.” Actually I nothing have, just because morning my doctor shift off. Plus Dad accompanied Brother went out, afternoon can come back. I want whole family go together. Mom nodded, poured me a cup hot water. Noon, I secretly took special painkiller slept a sleep. Result woke up, home no one person. Already three o’clock, where can they go? I called Mom. “Where are you guys? Didn’t say want go hospital with me…” “Riley, you go hospital yourself, my son fever, we can’t accompany you!” Words not finished, interrupted by Mom hurried voice. My heart fell into hell, momentarily didn’t know what to say. Mom apologetic said: “Sorry ah Riley, if you not urgent then wait, tomorrow we accompany you go also okay.” “No need.” I hung up phone. Then mechanically wore clothes, went out, went hospital. Until met Dr. Wilson, I all muddle headed, didn’t know how myself came over. Dr. Wilson looked my report, brows locked tight: “Riley, your current situation very bad.” “Although your parents passed away, you also have to take care yourself ah, do you have other relatives?” I lowered eyes, mocking bitter smile: “You just say, how long I can still live ba.” Dr. Wilson somewhat unbearable looking me: “One or two months ba…” “Thank you.” I nodded, put away report, turned out hospital. Sky floated snow, when I home, snowflakes fell full head. Mom eagerly welcomed up, “Riley, did you go hospital yourself? Why not wait us?” “Can’t wait.” I expressionless rubbed past her shoulder, back to bedroom. Left three people in living room look each other. From this day, I rarely spoke to them. Time passed fast up. Blink eye, one month passed, contract expire. Brother awkwardly threw new contract to me. “Sign it, accompany you act another two months.” I expressionless, didn’t even look contract once. “No need, you guys go, salary later transfer to you.” He surprised looking me, stunned in place. Good half while then bite teeth: “As to ma? From that day not accompany you go hospital start then throw face.” “This has what good gamble anger, you…” “Contract already expired, no need act anymore.” I looked him, eyes no sadness no joy: “Pack pack, take your Mom Dad, go ba.” His face embarrassed, silent long time, finally packed things, took Mom Dad leave. Before leave, Dad and Mom held my hand instruct: “Don’t hire people from internet again, in case bad people ne?” “You have our number, have thing contact us.” “Thank you.” I polite nodded, pulled hand out. Mom Dad sighed, turned leave. They left after, I replied Dr. Wilson message, clear expressed I don’t want hospitalize. Then transferred all money they left me, to Dad’s card. Remark: 【Return you guys, later we no relation again.】 Message sent, I also went pack things.

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On our 10th wedding anniversary, Forest took me back to the rental apartment we lived in during college to reminisce. “Let’s have another healthy child, right on this bed.” I didn’t answer, endured the nausea and pushed him away. His phone fell out, a text message popped up, from our daughter’s attending doctor. “Mr. Forest, the surgery was very successful! Your little son currently has no rejection reaction to your daughter’s heart.” Tears suddenly burst, phone was fiercely snatched by him and smashed on the floor. “Your daughter has been in a vegetative state for three years.” “She won’t wake up, now the only heart can save people, when can you accept reality!” Before fainting from the shock, Forest’s twisted face double-imaged in front of my eyes. We were together for ten years. He couldn’t help cheating, sleeping with one starlet after another, I slowly became numb. Mistress pregnant gave birth brought to door to provoke, I pretended not to know, kept praising his friend’s child cute. To wait until daughter wakes up, I endured this rotten relationship. Didn’t expect he actually for saving illegitimate son’s life, dug out my daughter’s heart. On the ambulance to the hospital, he held my hand and said hoarsely: “Summer! We still have many ten years.” Luckily, a car accident interrupted his hypocritical deep affection. I woke up from severe pain, returned to the rental apartment when I was eighteen. … Chapter 1 My whole body was soaked in cold sweat, pain like falling apart. Forest lay beside me, dazedly opened eyes, subconsciously hugged me into his arms. “Awake? Still uncomfortable?” I fiercely pushed him away, rushed into the bathroom, crazy vomiting. Yellowed tile walls, rusty faucet, dirty and yellow toilet reflecting smell… This is the apartment Forest rented near my university. Our first home. Last night we had our first time. “Summer! What’s wrong with you? Open the door!” Forest anxiously twisted the handle. I didn’t have time to lock the door, it broke by itself. Same thing happened in previous life. “Sorry baby, I will definitely make money fast, change to a better house.” He did it. But he also changed, the sincerity in his eyes swallowed bit by bit by paper drunk gold fans. Before he smashed the door with a hammer, I opened the door from inside. I stared into his eyes, “Do you remember?” He looked confused, “What?” Only I came back alone. Inside his body is still the twenty-year-old Forest. At night, he went to work at the bar, I dragged my suitcase, sat on the Greyhound Bus home. Bumped and shook for more than twenty hours. Came with joy, returned with heaviness. One day in eighth grade, I came home from school, saw a bruised boy sitting in my seat at the dining table. He was Forest, my dad’s student. His parents divorced when he was three, mom remarried and went south, no news. Dad addicted to gambling, died of drunk driving two years ago. My dad’s earnest advice to study didn’t succeed that day, Forest still continued skipping classes, soon dropped out. Seeing him again was two years later. I rode bike home after evening Study Hall, wind lifted raincoat, blocked vision, crashed with a motorcycle. That day midterm results came out, I slipped more than fifty ranks, didn’t know how to explain to parents. Period came early again, stomach uncomfortable whole day. Also so unlucky, palms and knees burning pain. I sat in the mud and cried. “Summer Xu?” Hearing my name, I then looked up in surprise. Boy’s features sharp, eyes deep and sharp, under dim light, misty drizzle, extraordinarily good looking. Time seemed pressed pause button, only heart beat especially fast. He pulled me up, sent me home, apologizing all the way. My face burned hot, didn’t say a word, even more didn’t dare look at him. Next morning, out of community I saw him. He handed me breakfast, “Are you okay?” My tears like incontinence again, big drops fell down. He panicked, helpless, helpless tsk like annoyed himself provoked a big trouble. “Why is your face so hot? Fever?” I got up said uncomfortable, asked mom if I can skip morning study hall. Got a sentence: “Test so low score still have face ask leave?” But I skipped class. Forest took me to hospital for IV drip. “You are so good already, why your parents still not satisfied?” His one sentence provoked me cry again, raised both hands surrender. “Okay okay, little ancestor, you cry my heart hurts.” After going home that day, naturally got a storm-like scolding. But I seemed not feel so suffocated. I let Forest make amends, buy me breakfast, send me home after evening study hall, for a month. He looked at me smiling, as if saw through all my thoughts. “Okay, deal.” A month later, I asked him if he wanted to be my boyfriend. Voice trembling. His smile faded a bit, “Summer, no.” I cried again. “Wait you finish SATs, get into college, very fast.” He wiped my tears, saw by my dad. My dad’s strict eyes scraped back and forth on us two. Said to me: “Go home!” He confiscated my phone, until Graduation, he and mom took turns pick me up and drop me off. Also begged my homeroom teacher must watch me tight. Not allowed me have a bit freedom and privacy. Senior year second semester, I cut wrist suicide. Forest sneaked into hospital see me, eye rims red. “Silly girl, if you really have accident, how let me live.” “You take SATs well, we go south together, go far far away, they can’t control us.” I choked and nodded. Admission notice arrived, my parents then knew I changed application last minute, all filled schools in the south. My mom slapped me, hysterical. “You guys haven’t broken up right?” I looked at them indifferently, “No, I just want to stay away from you as far as possible, don’t want be arranged by you again.” That door closed, I never went back. Forest made breakfast for me everyday, sent me to class. Night worked as waiter in bar, sang, same time delivered food, modeled, did all odd jobs. Life turning point happened two years later. He was spotted by a music company, participated in American Idol style show, became famous overnight. Released album, held concert. Later transformed to actor, from being mocked to winning Oscar, he only used three years. When scenery most prosperous, he suddenly announced retire behind scenes, do film production company. I was pregnant, he didn’t want me and child receive malicious attacks again. That was the most peaceful, most happy time I lived. But when daughter was two, diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I put all energy on her ABA Therapy. Forest’s work also more and more busy, time at home less and less. I knew he was escaping, heart disappointed. But also felt self also responsible, indeed ignored our couple feeling. On his birthday, I dressed up half day, brought flowers and gift to pick him up from work. In trash can saw two just used, still in time to throw condoms. After moment panic, he heavily sat back on chair, tired and impatient. “Wife you count, how long we haven’t shared room, how many times you rejected me?” “Your heart only has daughter, only her treatment, already fast to obsessive degree. You don’t give yourself a bit breath relax time, but I can’t stand it.” “You know what, every time I open home door, have to deep breath. Because inside too suffocating.” “Summer Xu, no longer is that girl I loved, she already completely became a mothering machine.” I stood stiff in place, how went home, consciousness blank. Divorce noise half year, he disagreed, used daughter and property to threaten me. Daughter finally could call “Mom”. I laughed, again cried. Just live like this, I too tired, can’t toss anymore. Daughter grew to seven, can simple communicate with people, self toilet eat. Just in few days of my appendicitis surgery, she fell from second floor. Forest kept small actress want act an autism movie, use my daughter “collect wind” (observe/study). They insisted was accident, was daughter self suddenly throw temper, stepped on toy slipped. But daughter afraid of height, I never let her go up second floor. Forest very guilty, let me beat scold, also always accompany me, comfort me, say daughter definitely will wake up. Passed a period time start persuade me give up, finally grabbing my hand sign give up treatment consent form. I desperately broke free, fiercely slapped him, beat my own wrist to dislocation. “You must want our mother daughter life then willing?” “You want healthy child, so many young pretty girls queuing up, every one willing give birth for you!” His eyes colder, like completely gave up me, turn leave back view indifferent and decisive. “Annie” this name, was he gave daughter, hope she safe whole life, simple pure. Also represent she is our only treasure. But was him personal hand took away daughter’s life. Maybe in his eyes, daughter from diagnosed day, just not count as a complete person. Forest arrived earlier than my Greyhound Bus, waiting at community gate. His eyes dark, beard also grew out, voice very tired. “Summer you tell me exactly what happened? Why leave without goodbye run back yourself?” I lowered eyes, “I wrote on note, I want break up.” “Why?” His voice trembling. Not wait me answer, he himself heavy nodded two times. “Good. I said, respect your every decision. You here with me, forever are free.” I felt funny in heart. When I wanted divorce, he was another set of rhetoric. What I love you, you are my this life only wife, leave me you think don’t think… “I accompany you in, I will tell Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu, is I forced you go with me.” I shook head, “No need.” “Summer…” He grabbed my hand, eyes red scary. “Have matter anytime call me, our home, you anytime can come back. I will always wait you.” I said a “Sorry” to twenty-year-old Forest. “Such big lad, cry what!” An old man voice loud. I turned back, saw Forest squatting on ground, shoulders shrugging. I knelt at home door, told parents already broke with Forest, I repeat study, listen them, study medicine. My mom opened door, obviously still angry. “You still come back for what…” I pounced up hugged her waist. “Mom, sorry, I miss you so much.” Previous life, Forest’s obsessive fans dug out my identity, found my parents home. Smashed door, splashed paint, pointed nose scolded daughter they born is shameless bitch. My dad angry to brain stroke, after he died, my mom also followed suicide. I regret lifelong. Their education way indeed caused me big trauma. But when I most sad, most helpless, let me feel safe, still this home I grew up from small. This year of repeat study, my parents still everyday pick up drop off. But I not repel, will active hold their hands, chat with them. They occasionally careful probe, me and Forest still have contact or not. I smiling shake head, “I won’t be that silly again.” Second year SATs, I was city top scorer, admitted to UCLA Medical School. Very close to home, train three hours can arrive. Graduation party day, I hurried glance, Forest seemed stand opposite road. Ceremony ended, hotel waiter gave me a gift, said left by my classmate. Inside is a set of gray suit, on top placed a brooch. When me and Forest shopping in Beverly Hills, passed a suit custom shop. He said I go college definitely have many activities need wear formal wear, wait he salary again, take me custom make a set. Promises he made, all done. Previous life, my major was adjusted, Business Administration, I not interested. Most energy put on part-time make money, only circle Forest one person, didn’t make what friends in college. Study medicine eight years, I classroom, library, lab three point one line, year year GPA first. Get along very well with classmates roommates, had two special close friends. When choose specialty, I chose Pediatrics. Research direction is Autism. Previous life for daughter, I read all related professional books and academic papers, big small rehab institutions also almost walked all. My mentor, also one of experts I took daughter consult. He shocked by my graduation thesis workload big, ask me why interested in this field so much. I could only vague, said I have a sister is autism, already passed away. Forest still follow previous life track, became big star, big boss. In mall, bus billboard, app splash screen… everywhere can see his photo. Real person suddenly appeared at my door, I still stunned a bit then dare recognize. He wore a suit exactly same as day we got license, hand holding same bouquet. My brain buzzed. He one knee kneel, I scared back a step. “Summer, separated these ten years, I miss you everyday.” “You want restart your life, I respect you. Is me sorry you, hurt you, I really special special regret, I don’t know how redeem to you.” “Wife, except you, I never touched any other woman, moved heart to anyone. I want use time prove to you, my love to you no change.” He also reborn. In rental apartment, he lied to me. Yes ah, people is can win Oscar, acting of course good. That familiar suffocation like pain, spread from heart to whole body. “Summer, give me, give us another chance, we start over, beg you marry me again.” I subconsciously shake head, tears also fall down I then later realize, raise hand wipe two times. “You roll, immediately roll for me!” “We long bridge return bridge road return road, I impossible marry a murderer!” I person shaking. He stood up hug me. “Summer, you believe me, everything different.” I mocking laughed, force push him. “If child we born still sick ne? Won’t repeat mistake?” He shook head, “Not born, we not born, I go do vasectomy! This life just us two people.” Door pushed open from inside. “Wife, food ready. Your this friend, want come in eat together?” Forest looking man wearing home clothes inside door stunned. Pupil vibrate, full eyes disbelief. “Nate?” Nate eyebrow slight raise, eyes immediately become sharp, “You know me? Have we met?” I also very surprised, heart follow jump. Nate is DEA Agent, how Forest know him. In breath, Forest already restrain emotion. Turn head look me. “Summer…” I let Nate go in first, we have words say alone. Door close, Forest pull me to stairwell, silence long time then difficult open mouth. “I survived in car accident, but coma one year.” I listen then happy. He drop head, self-mock bitter smile, “Is my retribution.” “After I wake, have police come find me question, is that Nate. Company few small artists do drugs, Brother Tang always open one eye close one eye, hide from me.” Brother Tang is his partner, also his Bole (talent scout), like biological big brother take care him, trust him. “Summer you don’t look me like this, I really don’t know, I also give Brother Tang vaccine ahead, ordered three times five times, won’t happen that kind thing again.” My brain very messy, many lines, intuition not only these. I nodded, “Nate side I will explain.” “You and him how know? He call you… Wife? You guys together? When matter?” Instant, Forest become jealous man, strong and pitiful. “No… I impossible not know, you guys acting lie me. How possible you so fast fall in love with others?” I stare him, “You monitoring me.” He eyes guilty, didn’t deny. I sneer once, deep breath. “Me with who together, with you no any relation. You also no need keep body like jade for me, we impossible return past.” “Previous life you always let me accept reality, now this sentence I send you.” Enter home, sure enough smell very fragrant chicken soup. Nate sit on shoe change bench at door, look up see me smile, extend hand let me pull him up. “Sent away?” I hug him, warm embrace let my nose sour. He went execute mission, we already almost one year not see. “Back why not tell me?” He arms tighten, unstable breath express his miss. “Surprise how can say ahead.” Nate is my college best friend Nina’s brother. He came school give Nina birthday gift, we ate a meal together, then knew. Back dorm, Nina just excited shout: “My brother definitely interesting to you, a meal looked you twenty eight times!” I smile didn’t take serious, “I to man and dating no interest.” She hate iron not steel, “You just spend life with your thesis ba!” Later together opportunity is, Nate they caught a gang use kids transport drugs. Inside have two autism kids, ask me help communicate. But they small not accept intervention treatment, completely closed, ask nothing out. I emotion somewhat low, Nate send me back school way, get off buy an ice cream. Eyes meet, instant become very uncomfortable. And to Forest love at first sight different, heart didn’t beat how intense, just feel tongue can’t taste ice cream sweet. That day added WeChat, Nate everyday chat with me, start chase me. Half year later, I agreed his confession. He said, always feel my heart press a secret no way say out, eye bottom always reveal sadness. He hope can accompany me, with me protect this secret. Like pressed a switch, I tears flow non-stop. Suddenly realize, since come back, I never cried again. “Okay, go in eat.” Nate hold me up, carry me walk inside. Knock door sound untimely ring. “Summer, I just say last sentence…” Forest stare my lips, smeared lipstick deeply prick pain him. “You as long as live happy, joyful, I will bless you. But you believe me, I this life won’t have others again. You as long as turn back, I always there.” I indifferent look him. “I won’t turn back.” He stubborn show determination: “I will wait, until day I die.” “Up to you.” I close door, he again reach hand block a bit, low voice said: “Your this Officer Nate, not worthy.” I lean behind door, eyelid suddenly jump few times. Forest last glance inside, inexplicably make me feel very uneasy. I instruct Nate, pay more attention to Forest company, also be careful him. Nate serious nod, “Know.” Days calm passed half year. Except my birthday that day a bunch flower, Forest didn’t appear again. Until that day mentor suddenly call me to office. Forest sit on sofa. He pretend accident and surprise look, “Turns out really not same name. Summer, long time no see.” “Professor Meng, Summer father is my high school homeroom teacher, we know.” Forest establish a autism children foundation, among have scientific fund support autism research. Mentor recommended me. Forest sanctimonious face, make me vomit. I direct poke his disguise: “You use public for private interesting ma?” Then explain to mentor, he is culprit harm dead my that autism sister. I won’t accept. Mentor alone chat with me, my attitude very firm. If Forest intervene my research and work, I immediately resign. Mentor angry, “You threaten who? Your professional attitude?” Looks like Forest gave money indeed a lot. Forest waiting me at hospital gate, apologize with me. “I no other meaning, I just want help you, want redeem.” “These years I also always doing charity, I see those kids, think of daughter, heart special uncomfortable.” “Enough!” I fired, hatefully stare him, “Don’t mention daughter with me, you no qualification.” I turn want go. He pull me, “Summer, we together eat meal okay? I want let you see a person.” Leaf four years old, with daughter at least six seven point like. She intelligence healthy, but born no vision, thrown in orphanage. “Summer, we together adopt Leaf okay?” Leaf grab my hand nervous clench tight. My heart sour. This time my phone vibrate. Is Nate captain. Nate died. Shot fall sea. Police team search out drugs and guns in my home. Nate not martyr sacrifice for duty, is country traitor. I completely dumbfounded. Compare me die after reborn this matter still fantasy. Interrogation room. “Summer Xu, have you heard ‘Kingfisher’?” My pupil fierce widen, blood flow back, ears can only hear own violent heartbeat. “Summer Xu!” I horror return spirit, big mouth pant. Female police hand over tissue, I then realize self already full head cold sweat. I consecutive drank several cups water, try hard let self calm. “Heard, not once.” “He always lying me.” …

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My taste is very unique, only like specific looks. Boyfriend Parker Sterling thought I loved his face to the point of madness. But he forgot, He has a twin brother. Later at a friends’ gathering, boyfriend’s “female bro” took my diary while I was in the restroom. Said in front of everyone: “Aren’t you all curious what our Campus Sweetheart’s precious diary wrote? Let’s open and see now!” Everyone gathered around: “Must be writing how she humbly chased Brother Parker, didn’t she have a crush on him for three years?” Parker leaned lazily on the private room sofa, a satisfied smile hanging on his face. Sienna opened the first page. [Today finally met Parker, I confessed to him, he called me crazy.] Last page: [Third year with Parker, I still can’t treat him as you.] … Chapter 1 Words fell, surroundings instantly became quiet. Parker with a gloomy face snatched the diary. No one dared to speak again, in the tense atmosphere someone shouted: “Zoe is here.” Everyone looked at me playfully. I had already witnessed the whole process outside the door, at this moment whole body cold. Parker seemed angrier than me, eyes filled with rage. Seeing me standing still, he got up, forcefully dragged me to the stairwell to question: “Zoe, what does the last sentence of the diary mean?” “Who is he!” Dim light moved across Parker’s face, I couldn’t help but stunned for a second. Faces look very alike. But no matter how alike, he is ultimately not him. Maybe my gaze was too straightforward, Parker even angrier, punched the wall behind me: “Who are you looking at through me?” I recovered, asked back: “Then you, as my boyfriend, actually allowed another woman to casually look through my privacy?” Parker stunned, a trace of guilt flashed across his face. Just then, Sienna chased out, pretending to be a peacemaker: “Parker, how could sister-in-law have someone else in her heart, probably just to make you jealous, made up a person in the diary.” “All fake ya, did sister-in-law do few ridiculous things to chase you before?” Maybe remembering past I used all means to chase him, even found other men to stimulate him. Parker finally calmed down, face as always carried a bit of disdain. He stepped back from me, frowned: “Zoe, have you made enough trouble, only you can think of such boring things.” “Are you annoying or not, always so dramatic, must make me revolve around you 24 hours a day?” Sienna also echoed: “Sister-in-law, don’t do this kind of thing later, I’m watching for you, Parker only has you as woman beside him.” I sneered, isn’t she a woman? At this time, Sienna deliberately hooked one arm on Parker’s shoulder, familiarly said: “Parker, let’s go back, guys are still waiting for you not drunk not return tonight.” “Let sister-in-law calm down herself, can’t always spoil.” Parker looked at her, face raised a doting smile he himself didn’t even notice. Heart couldn’t help floating astringent pain. Like before, he will always spoil Sienna, no matter what she wants, will agree. And to me, he always bad words face each other. When Sienna has Cramps, one phone call can make him immediately leave me, rush to take care of her all night. And turn to me, he only says: “Take some Advil, others all pass like this, endure and it will be fine.” Treated coldly by him countless times, I also didn’t feel aggrieved, as long as seeing that face is enough. Watching backs of two people leaving playfully, thoughts interrupted by a message. Click open screen, is that number familiar to heart. [I’m back.] Chapter 2 Early morning, Parker came back drunk. He whole person pressed on Sienna, until put on sofa, hand still dead grabbing her not let go. “Sienna, you not allowed agree that man’s pursuit.” Sienna provokingly smiled said: “Sister-in-law, don’t think too much, he just checking for me.” Not important anymore. These years, men around Sienna always driven away by Parker in various ways. I from start thought was coincidence, to later couldn’t help question. He would only irritably accuse me: “Me and Sienna are just good bros, those men chasing her are not good things, I help her handle, any problem?” “Yourself heart dirty see everything dirty!” Pulled away from memories, I looked at Sienna, plainly smiled: “I know, I didn’t think much.” Check or true love, from now on no relation with me. Sienna face flashed a trace surprise, awkwardly said: “Person delivered, then I go.” She repeatedly pulled many times, then pulled hand away. Winter sky very cold, looking at Parker’s face, I finally didn’t bear, hugged a quilt cover on him. When pulling quilt touched his waist, he opened eyes saw is me, angered: “Roll away, don’t touch me!” Hand paused, next second, I cleanly pulled quilt up. “Accidentally touched, no other meaning.” Finished, I hugged quilt turned into room. Parker stunned a bit, wanted say something, but finally didn’t open mouth. Next morning, I just arrived office, was notified: Sienna will parachute replace me interview financial big shot, and require me send all content already interviewed to her. But this project only lack interview last person then complete. No need think much, can guess this is Parker did. Chill spread from bottom of heart, he clearly knew how much effort I paid for this project, stayed up countless nights in study. But he still indulged Sienna snatch my result. Just then, Parker brought Sienna over. He open mouth first sentence is warning: “Zoe, you understand Sienna a bit, she hard to have a liked project.” “Company so many people, you don’t make her hard do, hurry handover project data to her.” He afraid Sienna embarrassed, specially condescend come help her say hello. But from work to feeling didn’t have a trace consider my face. I couldn’t help think of before, I like a thing, as long as Sienna wants. Parker will give her. I once tried beg him don’t always so bias Sienna, can or not consider me a bit. But exchanged forever only his cold sentence: “Don’t want break up then give to her.” Past every time fight grab all ended myself embarrassed unbearable. Now, I also don’t want fight anymore. Who he bias, I don’t care. See me half day not say a word, Parker face carry anger, lower voice threaten: “Zoe, you better not make trouble… otherwise…” I smiled interrupt him, stuffed data just organized in hand into Sienna hand. “Give you, just a project.” Two people both stunned. Parker a grab my hand, eyes dangerous staring me. “What trick are you playing?” “Zoe, are you angry, so deliberately say so?” Sienna held back red eye rims. Finished, she turned just go, Parker panicked, dragging her hand not let go. “Sienna, I say is yours is yours.” I sneer once, see through Sienna pretended performance, mock: “Sienna, you stop pretending, okay?” “Project and Parker, I both…” Given to you. Words haven’t finished, Parker’s slap already fell on my face. “Who allowed you talk to Sienna like this!” Surrounding all my colleagues. Parker not care my face, he only afraid Sienna angry. Time stagnant, seeing red mark rising on my face, Parker eyes suddenly flashed a trace heartache, stammering just open mouth explain: “I not intentional, I didn’t want like this…” Sienna crying sound interrupted him, she gambling anger like said a sentence: “I don’t want anymore.” Parker looked me once, didn’t speak again, chased Sienna ran out company. I didn’t care surrounding same as before one sentence higher than one sentence irony. Five days, another five days then end. Today they gave me, I will one by one return back. Chapter 3 Consecutive three days, Parker didn’t go home. If past me, don’t know sent how many messages beg him go home. But now, where he go I all indifferent. Just threw away things belong to me in house, received my mom call: “Zoe, me and your dad tonight already appointed Parker his parents, together discuss your marriage ba.” I originally wanted refuse, but turn thought, these years, they four elders didn’t less spend mind on me and Parker feeling. Now story scatter, always have to say clear with them. So I agreed. Parker rushed come time, already late half hour. I didn’t expect he actually still brought Sienna together. Detect my parents expression unhappy, Parker indifferent explain: “Because once agreed, we want witness each other happiness every moment.” “So discuss marriage, she naturally have to be present.” Sienna also provokingly take words: “Yes ya, we both so many years good friends, feeling naturally extraordinary, Zoe, do you mind?” Parker eyes seem have seem not swept me, like waiting my attitude. I didn’t noise, also didn’t refuse. Smiling comfort my parents said: “It’s okay, I don’t mind.” Parker listen finish my words, gloomy face, fingers tightly pinching cup fell ground. Is he waiting me noise like before? But I before was care him, now feeling to him… already scattered clean. Atmosphere somewhat strange, Sterling parents somewhat sorry said: “Zoe is a good girl, better we set marriage first ba, in-laws side no matter what requirement, we all agree.” My mom smiling reply: “This matter have to Zoe herself decide.” Everyone sight fell on my head, I stand up, in Parker meaning unclear smile, open mouth: “Auntie, sorry, I don’t want marry Parker.” My answer shocked everyone, even Sienna waiting see me rejected stopped wine glass. Half day, Parker sneer once, mock said: “Zoe, your family before mentioned how many times marry, you now say you don’t want marry me? You think I believe? Today also you for ease with me then appointed meal ba.” Before, my parents indeed repeatedly in front Parker mentioned marry. Although they didn’t like Parker, but can’t stand I like. I want tie that face forever and ever by my side, just want die want live threaten my parents. So they can only time and time for me put down status. But every time Parker always perfunctory: “Wait I career success can marry Zoe.” Company listed after, he again say, wait I mature can let Zoe happy. Wait wait wait, year after year. He used countless excuses, but I think, he most want say should be: Person want marry not Zoe, is Sienna. This time, I say clear first ba. I again open mouth explain: “Parker, just like you said before, we indeed not suitable marry.” Seeing so calm me, Parker eyes flashed puzzle and panic. He wanted open mouth say something, Sienna suddenly cover stomach shout pain. “Parker I maybe ate wrong thing, stomach so pain, can you send me go hospital?” Parker in front my parents face hugged up Sienna, anxious walk out. Ignore Sterling parents block, he to me impatient said: “This marriage anytime can discuss, not have to now. Sienna uncomfortable, must immediately go hospital.” “You wait, I definitely will marry you.” He just out door, Sterling parents shake head, helpless said: “Zoe, is him not worthy you, we really want you be daughter-in-law.” I smiled comfort: “It’s okay, Auntie, still will have chance.” Chapter 4 Night, I received Parker seek peace message. I went, but not for seek peace, is propose breakup. Just walked to door heard his friends aside tease: “Brother Parker, this time noise so big, sister-in-law still will come ma?” “You understand what, even Brother Parker poke sky broken, she Zoe will also use herself patch up.” “Brother Parker all called, she definitely will come.” … Parker sat at main seat, eyes but always fall on Sienna. I calm walked in, instant various playful eyes lock me. Parker half lift eyelid, signal me sit go his side. I didn’t move, atmosphere stagnation, Sienna seem mean point said: “Sister-in-law is girl, want use coax, Parker.” Parker threw cigarette, walk close me, handed me a out of season bag, no patience open mouth: “Today morning is me impulsive, didn’t consider you and them, bought you a bag, don’t angry.” Sienna words to him is imperial decree. Even coax girlfriend have to she said then will go do. I no longer want mix in between these two people, allow bag he handed fall on ground, indifferent said: “Let’s break up.” “Parker, do you think I stupid to can’t see this bag is Sienna used?” Parker pulled down face, frown said: “Have you noise enough!” “Morning is pretend not willing marry, this time is propose breakup, Zoe, do you have end not finish?” I just calm reply: “Finished, between us finished.” Parker instant rage, a foot kicked open table, tightly grab my hand: “Zoe, I apology also did, coax also coaxed, what else you want?” Sienna see this scene, pretend persuade: “I know, sister-in-law is mind that bag.” “Sister-in-law, that bag I only used three times, Parker tonight organize group rush, didn’t have time buy gift, so use bag I brought apologize.” Is it, if not once saw Parker for give Sienna buy birthday gift, let major counters ten minutes send thousand gifts to home, I really want believe her this set rhetoric. But these all not important, I still insist: “I want break up.” My serious look deterred Parker. This is I with him together three years, first time propose breakup. Scarlet in his hand bright extinguish few times, silent confront after, he sneer said: “Good, good very, don’t cry beg me turn back!” Turn what back, tomorrow he just come back. Next day, to celebrate that person come back, I prepared an exhibition hall. Just personally arranging fresh flowers time, received Parker call. “Zoe, what you doing?” I insert good last flower, reply: “Arranging surprise.” His tone become brisk a lot, thought I am giving him arrange surprise. “Then I later just come look.” Before he hang up phone, I heard a group coax laugh, and tease: “Just one night, Zoe already preparing apology surprise, she indeed love you like life.” Is surprise, but not give him. Exhibition hall arrange good after, I sent address over. Evening, Parker and his that group friends swarm come. Seeing wearing wedding dress me, those people blowing whistle, mock: “Brother Parker, people wedding dress all wear good, hall also arrange good, just wait you this groom.” Parker to those flowers disdain said: “I said I don’t like White Roses, why you still prepare this.” “But since you so effort prepare… also wore wedding dress, I can propose, but you later can’t bully Sienna again.” He casual picked a grass weave into ring walk towards me, one knee kneel prepare open mouth time. I look didn’t look him once, straight walk to man just hurried come behind him: “You finally came back.”

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On New Year’s Eve, at the selection performance for the Principal Dancer of the ballet company. Gavin’s junior sister once again, in front of everyone, ripped off the wig on my head. She smiled with feigned surprise, “Oops, what a big shiny egg! Sister-in-law why did you shave your head bald!” The surroundings erupted with earth-shaking laughter, my sure-win Principal position thoroughly ruined. I didn’t slap her. Also didn’t blame Gavin why he lied to me that I had cancer, lied to me to shave my head with him. Just calmly left the venue, but Gavin impatiently chased out and grabbed my wrist. “Scarlett was just joking with you, can you not be so petty?” I loosened his shackles, smiled understandingly. “I’m not angry, the little girl is indeed quite interesting.” Finished, I calmly left without looking back. In my previous life, after the performance was ruined, I made a big scene and proposed divorce to him. But on the day of divorce, my son was diagnosed with acute Leukemia. I cried begging him to use connections to find a match, but was deemed by him as pretending to be pitiful, after a contemptuous mockery, was driven out. In this life, I no longer ask for his sincere heart, only ask that my son can enjoy the resources he deserves, safe for a lifetime. … Chapter 1 I was just about to call an Uber to leave, but Gavin unexpectedly chased up again to explain. “You also know the little girl has no bad intentions, at most just wants to play a joke with you.” I practiced dance since childhood, more than twenty years of persistence, he clearly knew before I treated dance more important than life. Now he wants to cover it with a light joke. “So many times before, didn’t you all endure it? Anyway not difference this time…” Turns out he also knew I suffered many grievances before. Last time was Scarlett joking poured a big bucket of ice water into my collar, time before last was she locked me in a sub-zero ice room… I took a deep breath, still smiled understandingly, “I really am not angry.” His face however suddenly became gloomy. “Pretending generous? Audrey you are really capable now, what new trick is this?” He still wanted to say something more, when Scarlett came. She hid behind him, naughtily stuck out her tongue at me, “Oops, Sister-in-law, I just let Senior Brother play a joke on you, you wouldn’t be so small-minded right?” I haven’t opened my mouth, Gavin frowned and interrupted. “What is there for her to be angry about, but you, running out from the venue are you cold?” He took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, also took off his scarf and tied it for her in a flurry. Scarlett smiled provocatively at me. “Sister-in-law you don’t mind ha, we were like this when in school, Senior Brother always takes care of me like a little girl.” Numb heart felt a burst of dull pain. How ridiculous, the little girl who never grows up in Gavin’s eyes, in reality is even one year older than me. My look of not fighting not grabbing, suddenly made Gavin’s heart tighten. He frowned, “Okay, let Scarlett apologize to you, this matter counts as thoroughly passed.” Scarlett’s proud smiling face froze, glared at me fiercely. “Sorry! Is that enough!” She quickly wiped a tear, ran out crying. Her aggrieved expression overlapped with previous life, making my heart shake. Previous life after I slapped her on the spot, she just ran out like this. After that I was divorced with nothing, my son’s pale little face when he died tragically is still vivid in my mind. I hurriedly spoke: “I really am not angry, but the little girl looks unhappy, won’t you go coax her?” Gavin indeed hesitated. “Okay, then you go home with son first and wait for me.” Clearly expected, watching his figure not looking back, heart tip still felt like pricked by a needle. Both sour and astringent, is feeling unworthy for the blind self in previous life. Back home, son carefully glanced behind me. “Mom, is Dad not coming back again?” Heart felt like soaked in water-logged cotton, stifled so throat couldn’t squeeze out a sentence. Since Scarlett brought her son born out of wedlock back to the country, time Gavin came home became shorter and shorter. I already can’t remember, when was the last time he read storybook with son. Son sensibly smiled at me, “It’s okay, later I have Mom is enough.” Heart bottom suddenly softened into a ball, took out the medical report from bag, I sighed in relief. After rebirth, I took son for checkup. Luckily in this life it’s only early stage. In this life I no longer ask for Gavin’s sincere heart. Only ask him to fulfill father’s duty, use resources to find a match for son. After coaxing son to sleep, phone then came message. Is Scarlett, “Sorry ha Sister-in-law, Tiger (her son) insisted his Daddy Gavin read storybook, Senior Brother slept at my place.” I smiled, said okay. Don’t say just stay at her place one night, even him Gavin, I don’t want anymore. So, it doesn’t matter. Next day when sending son to school, Gavin came back. His eyes flashed unnaturalness, “Last night Tiger insisted I read storybook, when he fell asleep it was already very late, so I didn’t come back.” I stunned, still smiled understandingly. “No need to explain, I believe you guys.” He however sullen face grabbed my wrist. “Enough, exactly when are you going to make trouble until!” I calmly handed the report to him. “I have no time to make trouble, son got acute Leukemia, although now is early stage, but also need to treat fast.” He dazedly took the report, guilt appeared in his eyes. “I will as soon as possible use resources in hand, find a match for son.” I nodded, unconsciously sighed relief. Just about to leave, he hesitated and pulled me again. “Wife, today the parent-child meeting held by Private School, I probably can’t go…” “Tiger has no father since small, I can’t let him be bullied by other kids in kindergarten, so I have to accompany him and Scarlett.” Heart cooled down inch by inch, so he wants to abandon his own biological son again. I took a deep breath, still calmly said okay. Then wearing pajamas, rushed to the kindergarten. From far away, saw Scarlett glamorous, surrounded among parents. “Mrs. Vance is really young and beautiful, this face is really maintained too well!” My appearance made her feel a trace of discomfort. She glared at me fiercely. Parent group seemed to pass a signal, sarcasm and mockery smashed towards me face on. “Oh my god, isn’t this a noble kindergarten? How could they let a beggar in!” “Disheveled beggar, also worthy to hold parent-child meeting with us? What is security doing?” Son’s small figure rushed out wanting to protect me. Next instant, however pushed down by sturdy Tiger, “Lue lue lue, you fatherless bastard, roll out!” Son scraped a patch, but red eyes stubborn said: “I am not a bastard, I have a Dad!” But remembering Gavin’s instruction at home, he could only bite lip dead tight. Seeing him speechless, surrounding kids laughed louder, circled pointing at him scolding “bastard”. Heart seemed to be torn alive, I just wanted to seek justice for son. Teacher came out to maintain order, however contemptuously interrupted me, “Your son is expelled, take him and roll quickly!” Next instant, she changed a face, fawningly smiled at Scarlett. “Mrs. Vance, are you satisfied with this result?” Seeing about to be driven out. I mockingly looked at Gavin who still remained silent, hoarse voice said, “We leave ourselves.” Scarlett however lightly smiled. “Wait! I suddenly remembered my husband’s cufflinks worth a million are lost, wouldn’t be you stole it right!” I frowned just want to deny, phone suddenly vibrated. “Wife, when going out I took advantage you not prepared, put a cufflink in your bag.” “Little girl wants to play you just cooperate ba, anyway won’t really do anything to you.” Heart seemed suddenly grabbed by invisible big palm, I forced back the sourness in eye rims. Gavin to her, really is bottomless indulgence. Scarlett quick eye quick hand fished out a cufflink from my bag. Crowd instantly boiled, “Pah, sure enough is this shameless poor beggar did it! Poor people are poor people, just hand cheap!” Only son pale little face, futilely explaining again and again: “You misunderstood, my mom is not a thief!” But attracted more ridicule from adults and kids. Scarlett suddenly approached me, smiling said. “Sister-in-law, if you don’t want to make bigger trouble, better kneel down and apologize in front of everyone early!.” “Like this, I let you go today, how about it?” I bit teeth dead tight, understood now is not time to fall out, could only endure humiliation, word by word said. “Sorry Mrs. Vance, it was me who stole.” Son looked at me in disbelief, surrounding instantly erupted laughter, made his little face red all over. My heart hurt so breathing carried stagnation. Gavin however sullen face, suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Audrey, what did you call her just now?” I mockingly smiled, “Mrs. Vance ah.” Finished I turned and left, he however frowned and chased up. “Scarlett she just played a joke with you, do you need to be like this?” Again this sentence, Scarlett in his heart forever is a naughty little girl. Every time real harm to me, in his eyes also just an irrelevant joke. Good thing now, I long didn’t care his thoughts. My face squeezed out perfect smile, like understanding virtuous wife good mother. “You think is joke, then is joke, she seems still waiting you behind, not go look?” Gavin sure enough hesitated stopped steps. I eyes crossed mockery, turned take son leave.

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At the graduation ceremony, Jasper Vance’s childhood sweetheart jumped from the upstairs balcony in front of everyone. She dragged a pair of broken legs crying to me: “Sister Scarlett, I won’t pester Jasper anymore, all my eggs have been harvested, doctor said I can never have children again, beg you don’t let them beat me, humiliate me anymore.” Speaking, she revealed purple bruises from abuse on her body. Jasper stared at me with splitting eyes, my brother Sebastian who depended on each other for life also angrily scolded me as vicious. They angrily wanted to break engagement with me, cut ties, and joined hands to send me into a hotel to work. Just to let me earn money alone, to pay Lila’s medical bills. I became a living experiment subject in the hotel, kidney dug out, uterus removed, even suffered various terrifying experiments against humanity. Finally, Jasper and Brother wanted to take me home. But at this time I was like a puppet, habitually lying beside them. “Teacher, not chopping hands tonight?” … Chapter 1 “Mr. Vance, I brought Miss Scarlett.” Hotel manager bowed and smiled to Jasper. I trembled all over following behind him, without the smell of disinfectant in the lab. Various smells outside made me uncomfortable all over. Manager seeing me not moving, stepped aside, presenting me before Jasper’s eyes. I hurriedly raised hand, soft sunlight stung my eyes pain. Three years kept in underground lab, I couldn’t see light, even daily liquid food was poured in dog bowl. That day teachers suddenly learned news I was to be taken back. Urgently injected me various nutrient shots, did scar repair, barely recovered me from skeleton look to normal human appearance. Jasper leaned on sofa, face full of displeasure. Manager seeing situation pushed my arm, smiling lowered voice said. “Still not greet people!” I looked at fake smile on his face, heart panic wanted to hide. Mind constantly surfaced manager’s warning glare at me. Cold sweat constantly seeped from my back, hugging arms rubbing up and down. Stammering said: “Mr… Mr… Mr. Vance… Good.” Long time not communicating with people. My language organization ability degenerated, could only pop out single or double words. Jasper waved hand let manager down first. After people left. He put down crossed legs, face full of impatience questioning me. “Scarlett, what exactly do you want to do?” I trembled even more severe, cold sweat on forehead big drops falling down. Jasper couldn’t see my reaction, walked to me, reached hand forcefully lifted my chin. “Look up at me, speak! You making this scene exactly want to do what!” My teeth chattering constantly repeating. “So… sorry… So… sorry…” His fierce eyes, gradually overlapped with those “Assistants” eyes. I knew this is doing wrong thing. Doing wrong thing needs punishment! I subconsciously walked towards the wall. “Slap! Slap! Slap!” One slap after another fan on my face. Face slapped red and swollen, even mouth corner faintly seeping blood. Guests checking in hotel around, one after another stopped looking at me pointing fingers. “Is this playing some thrill?” “Yo, little girl afraid caught cheating by main wife, right now facing wall self slapping.” “Want me say, definitely this man in suit forced the girl.” Jasper listened temple throbbing, stepped forward dragged me to no one place. “Scarlett what crazy disease you commit ah!” “I was just tone heavier a bit that’s all.” I low voice mumbled: “Heavier… a bit…” Mind surfaced teachers wearing white coats, face expression twisted and crazy. “Subject 8913, today need cut a piece of meat from you for test, teacher technique might be heavier a bit, you endure.” Teachers eyes revealed cold light. I covered wound on leg, pain to faint. Recover spirit, I subconsciously took off pants, grabbed Jasper’s hand probe down. “No… matter, I endure, you fast… point, okay… not okay?” Chapter 2 Jasper fierce pulled back hand, eyes flashed cold light. “Scarlett are you being cheap!” I scared trembling all over, wanted to use hand cut thigh meat down, but I had no knife. Could only use hand scratch blood marks on leg one by one. “Sorry… sorry, I can’t… scratch down, what to do?” “I no knife, no way… cut meat down, teacher sorry, sorry…” My hands dyed blood, wanted to grab Jasper’s arm. “Bang!” He lifted leg, fiercely kicked me to ground. “Crazy, Scarlett you besides going crazy, can do what!” Tile ice me recover spirit. Jasper kicked me? Jasper who once touched my head, said want protect me for a lifetime. Now actually, kicked me with foot! If change to before, I would definitely fiercely kick back, double return. But now, my brain subconscious reaction, definitely is I did wrong somewhere! Yes, must be like this! I hurriedly climbed up, knelt on ground non-stop kowtow. “Thump thump thump.” Consecutive dozen times, I kowtowed very hard, forehead blood flow straight. Just sent to lab time, like this did “wrong thing” kneel kowtow to bleeding. Frequent like home cooked meal. Start “wrong thing” was not cooperate draw blood do experiment. But that day teachers discussed, wanted to intuitively see if human and animal can harmoniously breed next generation. They found a red hair male orangutan. I aimed timing ran out, hid in hotel basement cleaner rest room. Trembling hand, used landline inside called Jasper for help. Let alone how I lowered voice cry complain, apologize, repent. Jasper still not believe, cold voice scolded me. “Scarlett can you stop a bit, isn’t it just some physical work organizing beds, must make noise want die want live!” “You can’t eat this bitterness, how before bullied Lila harmed her can’t have children, insulted by people time, didn’t think you would have today?” I cried want say not, those things all Lila slandered me. Receiver that end, then came Lila delicate voice. “Jasper you don’t be so extreme, I’m fine, as long as Sister Scarlett not angry, want me do what all okay.” “Jasper Vance you listen me say…” I just opened mouth explain, then was interrupted by Brother’s angry voice strong. “With her still have what good say, like this snake scorpion heart person, not stay far point if bitten by her a mouth, not poisoned death is disgusted death!” “I see just let her stay in hotel, when earn back Lila’s medical fee, then take back!” I cried shout: “Brother, Brother I wrong, beg you first take me back…” But no matter how I shout, phone that end like can’t hear generally. Brother urged Jasper enter venue. Turns out they just at hotel top floor, holding graduation celebration banquet for Lila. My crying sound uncontrollable bubble out, door was forcefully broken open. They swarm in, eyes wretched unbearable, sneering reach hand to me. “Dare run then dare accept punishment oh~.” “Since don’t want with orangutan, then try with us ba.” “Yes ah yes ah, try then know, you will fall in love with this feeling.” Malicious laughter, spread whole room. I paralyzed on ground, dead grabbing receiver, voice hoarse shout. “Jasper save me, Brother save me…” They lean more and more close, one after another terrifying twisted face, tight stick on me. Receiver came Lila accompanied by warm applause, go on stage thank Jasper and Brother words. “Here I want very thank, Jasper and Brother Sebastian hold me like princess treat…” Lila smiling finished get off stage. My throat shouted to hoarse, to end no longer can shout out sound. Can only numb watch ceiling shake. Jasper not love me, Brother also not love me, in this world no one love me again. “Bang!” Jasper see me not want life kowtow, one kick flip me. Angry scold: “Madman! Want go crazy also don’t go crazy in front of me!” “You in hotel name is cleaner, night but live Presidential Suite, breakfast lunch dinner abalone seafood not stopped, me and your brother monthly bill all want pay you million, which point treat you bad?” “I warn you don’t pretend in front my eyes! I not eat this set!” I blankly look at him. Can’t distinguish standing in front, is teachers, or Jasper. Jasper see me calm down, face full blood look. Hand grip fist, unnatural coughed two times. “Cough cough… you first wear pants well, I send you home, your brother and Lila prepared welcome banquet at home, waiting you go back.” I couldn’t help think, really waiting me? Since back then Lila transfer school back from abroad. Everything quietly changing, she in school intentional make whole body dirty appear in front Brother, said I in school lead bully her. Later Brother to back her up, school to from only pick Lila. And I can only walk, Brother said this is my punishment bullying classmate. Thinking this, I lift eyes look Jasper. Even always infinite doting to me Jasper, also because that year my birthday party, Lila in monitor blind spot jumped pool, cry complain said is I pushed. Thereafter all gifts he sent, give Lila all full size, give me sample. I angry threw sample into trash can. Jasper gloomy face, cold voice fierce me. “If not Lila said no your share, she not accept, otherwise you worthy let me send you gift?” This words like ten million thorns insert my heart, let me every breath painful unbearable. Back home, Brother busy take off apron on body. Not wait him speak, upstairs clear female voice rang. Chapter 3 Lila wearing lace palace dress, elegantly walked down from upstairs. Neck wearing Yoko London pearl necklace, more set off her gentle lovely. I one glance then recognize that pearl necklace, is year me and Jasper engaged he sent me. Always treasured by me in safe. Safe password only Jasper know, and safe location only Brother know. My lip corner overflow bitter smile. They are really very love Lila ah! “Ta-da, this is my welcome home gift for you, welcome Sister Scarlett home!” Lila face hang smile, from back took out embroidery cloth. Red Red Spider Lily, surrounding middle “Subject 8913”. “Ah!” I scared loud scream, horror wave away embroidery cloth. Lila however like by me big force pushed away, heavy fall on ground. Jasper fierce pushed away me, rush forward help up Lila. “Scarlett! You still dare face bully Lila!” “Lila okay right.” My life most important two men. One for Lila, angry eyes scold me. One only anxious care Lila injury, no one asked me why do like this. Jasper exclaim out sound: “Lila you wrist knocked broken, flow so much blood not pain?” Turns out floor four five drops blood stain, also is flow much blood. “Slap!” I cover face, look full face anger Brother. “Scarlett you once come back you make trouble, I still thought you in hotel, somewhat can learn good, didn’t expect compare before still bad!” Brother raise hand still want beat, stopped by Jasper. “Okay Sebastian, we better first go bandage wound for Lila.” Brother can’t stand Jasper persuasion, cold eyes glare at me. “Table has food, you hungry then first eat.” They two protect Lila in middle, she look back reveal provocation eyes to me. I eyes reveal sad expression. She proud hook lip smile. But pain on my heart, not match stomach cramping pain. Look food on table, careful step over. Before all lie on ground, like dog eat liquid food. I already forgot how like human, sit on chair eat. Wait Jasper they go downstairs, just see me lie on ground, holding soup bowl lick soup juice inside. “Scarlett you are intentional come torture me right!” Brother roaring kick fly soup bowl. I ignore black face Brother, chase soup bowl broken on ground. Sharp fragments cut my lip corner, and tongue. But I still like don’t know pain, continue lick. Just because that time in lab. My bowl bottom left point liquid food not lick clean. Seen by “Assistant” and teachers, they force pour me drink down twenty pounds liquid food. Belly almost bursted. That kind burst to want vomit, but can’t vomit feeling too painful. From then my rice bowl never dare leave things. Brother face gloomy drag up me: “Do wrong thing not apologize also count, make this kind thing, is want intentional lose my face right!” Apologize? I subconscious repeatedly nod. Mechanically repeat say: “I apologize, I apologize…” “Slap slap slap.” Another burst crisp slap sound, accompany my constant repeat: “Sorry… sorry…” Brother scared long time not sound. Jasper frown persuade: “Sebastian almost enough.” Brother wake, ignore reply his words, hurry forward pull my hand. “Okay, your apologize sincerity I felt, you quick stop hand.” I lift eyes, eye rims red staring him. “No, do wrong thing want accept punishment right?” Brother no come reason heart bottom uneasy, but thinking I said also no wrong, just straight nod. “Yes, do wrong thing want accept punishment.” I firm nod, take fruit knife on table, fierce gouge a piece from own arm. “Brother you take do test, forgive me okay?” Brother face pale, trembling back retreat. Chapter 4 I hand bloody lump forward pass. “Brother why you not want?” Blood drop on floor, sound “drip drop drip drop” sound. Jasper rush forward, tight press wound on my hand. Turn head roar shout at Brother: “Still not go call doctor come!” “Good… good.” Jasper twist brows take off clothes, take come bandage my wound. “Scarlett trouble you brain sober point!” I didn’t like he imagined, immediately repent apologize. Instead confused ask: “Is it my punishment strength not enough?” Jasper a burst speechless. I again continue say: “Not enough words, my right hand still can gouge, or you personal come.” “Scarlett don’t pretend! I tell you, even you today die here, also can’t offset wrong you did to Lila before.” “You not think make up, still one energy here go crazy, is want do what?” Jasper angry chest violent heave. I stuff knife into his hand, trembling voice say. “Then you personal come, okay?” Jasper temple crazy jump, a throw knife away. Lila drag his clothes hem, tearful cry complain. “Jasper you don’t angry, definitely is Sister Scarlett not like me stay here, I pass two days then buy plane ticket leave, she won’t deliberate hurt self to win your concern.” Saying, she turn hold my hand. “Sister Scarlett, you don’t angry, I this will asap pack things leave.” Next instant, she fierce poke down my wound place. Use only we two hear voice say. “Subject 8913 how you still not understand, this home not belong you, also not welcome you back!” “Ah ah ah!” In lab, painful memory immediately surface out. I break free her hand, horror cover head squat down. Lila lose strength back fall, Jasper a catch. “Slap!” He momentum fierce pat a palm on my head. “Really a bitch! I almost cheated by you, thought you spirit not normal, now look come is pretend!” I eyes appear double image, fall head faint pass. “Jasper you too impulsive, if hurt Sister Scarlett brain what do?” “All she self-inflicted, can be beaten to retard better, always better than now always make demon!” If can become retard, forget all this. I also will feel very good. Wake up again, already late night. Wound on arm simply bandaged. I lie in bedroom built from storage room, from corner find out box cutter. Walk up second floor, my bedroom hang Lila exclusive sign. Again forward walk is Brother room, Jasper tonight stay, sleep beside Brother. I gently push door enter. Like a puppet, habitually lie beside them. “Teacher, tonight not chop hands?” Brother hear sound look me, scared fall off bed. Jasper cold face, a kick flip me on ground. “Scarlett you still want kill people!” I horror shake head. “No no no, Teacher isn’t you said want chop my hand?” “When did I say want chop your hand!” No ma? I lower head ponder. Jasper and Brother look each other. Two people step forward drag hold me, box cutter fall on ground. “No, beg you don’t tear my clothes, Brother, Jasper save me.” I scared cover chest shout loud scream. Brother instant pale face shout to Jasper. “Jasper, Scarlett this reaction is…” Two people both blood energy strong men. Most clear, girl appear this reaction is encountered what.

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After taking the blame for the Fake Heiress and going to “prison”. The guards forced me to kneel on broken glass to repent every day, forced me to drink toilet water, and burned my back with cigarette butts. I struggled to support myself for a thousand days and nights, finally surviving until the day of execution. The dark muzzle of the gun pressed against the back of my head, but through the one-way glass, I saw my family in the observation room popping champagne to celebrate. My third brother Caleb pointed at the monitor screen and laughed: “Look at how this fool is shaking, she actually thinks she’s going to be shot for murder.” “Still Luna’s idea is good, hired a few actors to wear uniforms, and scared this proud Real Heiress into a dog.” “Who let her make our little princess cry? This ‘private prison’ is a playground built specifically for her.” A shot of a Blank Cartridge, I was scared out of my wits. Just as they were preparing to come in and enjoy my ugly state of incontinence, the cold voice of the System descended: “Host, have you had enough of this so-called family love? The teleportation countdown begins, let them cry over a corpse.” … Chapter 1 I was pushed onto the Electric Chair. Cold metal hoops clamped my wrists and ankles, digging into the already festering flesh. The back of my head pressed against a cold, hard round tube. That was the muzzle of a gun. Behind me came the crisp sound of pulling the bolt, like the knuckles of Death knocking on the door. My whole body trembled uncontrollably, teeth biting my lips into a mess, the smell of blood spreading in my mouth. Is this the end? In this sunless “death row” for a thousand days. I went from screaming for justice at first, to numbly begging for food later, it took a full three years. “Scarlett, asking you one last time, do you admit your guilt?” The executioner’s voice was processed by a voice changer, sounding like some kind of harsh electronic noise. I struggled to pull the corners of my mouth, voice hoarse like a broken bellows. “I… admit guilt.” What can I do if I don’t admit it? If I don’t admit it, today’s dinner will be sour swill with broken porcelain pieces. If I don’t admit it, I will be dragged to the water dungeon, soaking in filthy cold water for a full twenty-four hours. If I don’t admit it, that barbed whip will once again land on my back that has never healed. I’m really scared. I’m really scared of pain. “Very good.” The executioner seemed satisfied with my obedience. But I felt something was wrong. The wall directly in front suddenly became transparent. That was a huge one-way glass, powered on at this moment, revealing the scene behind. Bright lights stung my eyes into a squint. After adapting to the light, I saw the people behind the glass. Those were my family. My big brother Sebastian, shaking a glass of amber liquor in his hand, a mocking smile on his lips. My third brother Caleb, pointing at me and laughing clutching his belly, laughing until tears were about to come out. Surrounded by them like the moon among stars in the middle, was that Fake Heiress, Luna. She wore an expensive haute couture gown, like a pure little angel, snuggling in Mother’s arms acting spoiled. There was no jury. There were no victim’s families. Only my biological parents and brothers, looking like they were watching a ridiculous circus performance. I was stunned. Even if my brain was dull due to long-term torture, I also realized something was wrong. This is not a formal execution ground. Caleb’s voice came from the speaker on the wall, with undisguised mockery. “Look at how this fool is shaking, she actually thinks she’s going to be shot for murder.” “Still Luna’s idea is good, hired a few actors to wear uniforms, and scared the proud Scarlett into this state.” “Who let her make our little princess cry? This ‘private prison’ is a playground built specifically for her.” Every word was like a heavy hammer, smashing hard on my heart. Turns out all this is fake. No murder case, no prison, no judgment. All this, just because three years ago, Luna framed me time and time again, making the family disappointed in me. Until the last time she cried saying I pushed her, causing her to fall from upstairs, Just because of her sentence “Does sister hate me”, the whole family joined hands to create this hell for me. To coax this adopted daughter happy, they spent huge sums to build this basement, hired professional actors, forged everything. A full three years. Under their eyelids, I was tortured like an animal. And they, just behind this glass, while tasting red wine, while appreciating my pain. Treating this as a pastime after tea and meals. My vision blurred. Not because of tears, but because of extreme despair. Luna seemed to notice I was looking at her. She walked to the glass, picked up the microphone, voice sweet enough to make people vomit. “Sister, Happy Birthday.” “This big gift, brothers prepared for a long time, do you like it?” “As long as you kneel down and kowtow three times to me, say you know you are wrong, we will let you out, okay?” She laughed tremblingly. Sebastian behind her dotingly touched her head: “Luna’s heart is too soft, this kind of trash should be scared to death inside.” I opened my mouth, but couldn’t make a sound. A fishy sweetness surged in my throat. This is my blood relative. This is the family I desperately wanted to integrate into, wanted to please. “Execute.” Father’s majestic voice sounded, with a trace of impatience. “Don’t delay the celebration banquet tonight.” The “executioner” behind pulled the trigger again. “Bang!” A loud noise. I felt the back of my head seemed to be hit by a heavy hammer, severe tinnitus instantly swallowed everything. Although it was a blank cartridge, at this distance, the huge shock wave and sound were enough to break one’s heart and gall. My body jerked violently, heart contracted violently. The world began to spin, darkness surged like a tide. Just then, a cold mechanical voice exploded in my mind. [Detected host vital signs dropping rapidly.] [Detected host mental threshold collapse.] [System Activated.] [Host, have you had enough of this so-called family love?] My remaining consciousness grabbed this straw in the darkness. Enough? How could it not be enough. If there is an afterlife, I would rather be a blade of grass, a stone, than be a member of the Vanderbilt Family again. [Do you want to give up redeeming the whole Vanderbilt family and break away from this world?] [As long as this body dies, you can return to the original world and embrace a brand new life.] I want to go back. I dream of escaping here. [Good. Teleportation program started.] [Detachment begins.] [Let them cry over the corpse.] That severe pain disappeared. Replaced by an unprecedented lightness. My perspective began to rise, watching that skinny, scarred body, softly collapsed on the execution chair. That was my corpse. Also the last “gift” I left for the Vanderbilt family. Chapter 2 On this side of the one-way glass, laughter continued. “Oops, fell down, fell down!” Third brother Caleb excitedly slapped his thigh, pointing at the monitor screen laughing wildly. “Acting is not bad ah, this fall really looks like the real thing.” “Estimate scared to pee right? Just that loud noise, I was scared a jump.” Sebastian sipped red wine, eyes contemptuous: “Coward is coward, this bit of courage still want to compete with Luna?” Luna covered her mouth snickering, a trace of vicious pleasure flashed in her eyes. “Brothers don’t say that, sister is timid after all.” “But her expression just now, really so ugly, like a dead fish.” They were still waiting. Waiting for the person tied to the chair to wake up after extreme panic, then cry and beg for mercy, kneel on the ground and bark like a dog. That was their preset script. But, one minute passed. Two minutes passed. The person on the execution chair remained motionless, even the rise and fall of the chest was gone. Head hung weakly, like a broken rag doll. That dead silence, penetrated through the thick soundproof glass, inexplicably seeped over. “What’s going on?” Mother frowned, put down the teacup in her hand. “Why not getting up yet? Addicted to playing dead?” Caleb tsked, picked up the microphone and shouted: “Hey! Scarlett! Stop pretending!” “The play is over! Hurry up and kowtow to Luna!” No response. Only the buzzing sound of electric current came from the amplifier, and the deathly silence in that small space. Several “guard” actors behind looked at each other. They held specially made prop guns, could only make noise and slight air shock, simply couldn’t kill people. “This is the actor you guys found?” Father looked at eldest son Sebastian unhappily. “Handling things no sense of propriety, scared her directly faint?” Sebastian’s face couldn’t hold, put the wine glass down heavily. “I go wake her up.” “This damn girl, give her stairs she doesn’t go down, insist on me doing it personally.” He strode out of the observation room, passed through the heavy metal door, walked into the room named “Execution Ground”. Caleb and Luna also followed, prepared to appreciate my embarrassment up close. Sebastian walked to me, kicked the iron leg of the execution chair. “Clang” a loud noise. “Wake up! How long you want to pretend?!” My head shook with the vibration of the chair, still didn’t lift up. Messy withered yellow hair covered face, couldn’t see expression. Sebastian’s patience ran out. He reached out hand, grabbed my collar, wanted to lift me up. “I call you—” Voice not fallen, his hand fierce froze. Fingertip touched skin, cold like ice. Not that normal person’s cool, but a kind of lost all vitality, bone-chilling coldness. And, too light. Person in hand light like a piece of paper, as if only left a handful of bones. Sebastian’s heart inexplicably missed a beat. He subconsciously loosened hand. My body lost support, slid down along chair back, heavily fell on cement floor. Limbs presented a weird twisted posture, no perception. “Bro, what you doing?” Caleb walked in, disgusted covered nose. This room filled with a smell of old blood and mold. “Hurry wake up take away, this place stinks dead.” Sebastian didn’t speak. He dead stared at me on ground, pupil violently contract. Just now that touch… not right. That stiffness, not like pretended out. “Third, go call doctor.” Sebastian’s voice some hoarse. Caleb stunned a bit: “Call doctor do what? Splash basin cold water not wake?” “I let you go call doctor!!!” Sebastian suddenly roared out, veins on neck burst out. This shout, scared Luna just entered door a jump. “Big brother, what wrong with you?” Luna grievance flat mouth, “Sister pretend dead scare us, you fierce third brother for what?” Sebastian didn’t ignore her. He trembling squat down, extend finger, slowly probe to under my nose. No breath. Dead general silence. He again trembling go touch my carotid artery. There a piece dead silence, even most weak beat no have. Sebastian sat on ground, face instant pale like paper. “Gone… gone.” “What gone?” Caleb still outside situation, dissatisfied kicked my calf, “Hey, Scarlett, stop acting, you really think yourself movie queen ah?” “I said she no breath!!!” Sebastian fierce turn head, that eyes like a beast forced crazy. “She died! Understand ma?! She died!!!” “Died?” Caleb like heard what heaven big joke. “Big brother, you also cheated by her?” “Blank cartridge how possible beat dead person? This is specially found expert adjust prop!” He not believe evil squat down, want go pat my face. “Scarlett, almost get—” His hand touched my cheek. That cold stiff touch, let his words instant stuck in throat. Caleb also played racing car, seen blood person. Living person and dead person difference, feel on hand one touch then know. That not pretend dead can pretend out temperature. Caleb like electric shock shrink back hand, whole person bounce back, knocked over beside torture rack. Crash la la a piece sound. “How can be like this…” Caleb mumble self talk, eyes empty. “Clearly physical exam report said her body quality very good…” “Clearly this three years I let people regular give her nutrient shot…” “How possible just by one sound blank cartridge scared dead?” This time, parents always stood at door watch play also detected not right. Father big step walk in, face iron green. “Panic what! What manner!” He although say so, but footsteps also some rapid. In this special day, if really out human life, even here, also is a big trouble. Moreover, dead is his biological daughter. Although he never admitted. “Doctor ne! Still not come ma?!” Father roared. Actually no need call doctor. Second brother Julian is top surgical saint hand, today because have a important surgery late, haven’t rush come. But here equipped emergency team, just to prevent “play over fire”. Few people wearing white coat rushed in. They originally also hired by Vanderbilt family, usually responsible for handle my wound, ensure I can’t die, can continue suffer. “Quick! Look look what happen!” Lead doctor immediately kneel check. Flip open eyelid, pupil already dilated. Stethoscope stick chest, a piece dead silence. “Defibrillator! Quick!” Doctor forehead seeped cold sweat. If acting act smashed, really make person dead, Vanderbilt family this bunch crazy people absolutely will let them bury together. “Zzz—Bang!” Current hit on my body. That withered thin like wood body bounced on ground a bit, again heavy fall. No reaction. On monitor, that straight line walked steady and despair. “Increase voltage!” Sebastian roar beside, “Give me save her back! Hear not!” He not believe. Clearly few minutes ago, she still sat there, although embarrassed, although fear, but still alive person. How possible one sound gun shot just gone? “Is it heart disease? Ah? She before have heart disease or not?!” Sebastian grab doctor collar question. Doctor scared trembling: “No… never heard ah… these years physical exam, except malnutrition and external injury, no… no found heart problem…” “Then is how matter?!” “Maybe… maybe is stress cardiomyopathy rupture… or extreme terror lead to cardiac arrest…” Doctor stammer explain. “Also means… scared dead.” Scared dead. These two words like curse, echo in empty basement.

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I found the burner phone at the bottom of Naomi Caroline’s safety deposit box. It wasn’t even password-protected. It took only three seconds to boot up. But those three seconds were all it took to shatter seven years of marriage. The wallpaper wasn’t our wedding photo. It was a candid shot of a young man. He sat at a piano, his profile soft, almost luminous. Naomi was standing slightly in the shadow, and the depth of affection—the sheer, suffocating restraint—in her eyes was thick enough to drown in. It was a Naomi I had never seen. The young man was Liam Lee, a college student Naomi and I had been sponsoring for years. My hands and feet went numb. I tapped open the Notes app. [2018, I married Oliver Zachary. He’s compliant. He’s suitable for a husband. He makes the family happy. But how… how have I fallen for the scholarship kid?] [2020, Liam came back. We finally talked. It’s real. It’s mutual. Seeing him cry, my heart aches.] [2023, If I get pregnant, Liam will be sad. So, no baby.] The phone slid from my fingers. Finally, I understood. Why, in seven years of marriage, Naomi had only conceived once, and why, after that miscarriage, we had never tried again. 1 Naomi walked in just as I was kneeling on the floor, the old phone clutched in my hand. She was carrying a box of the best caramel cake from that bakery downtown—the one she knew I loved. The warmth in the room was immediately scattered by the chill she brought in. When she saw what I was holding, her motion of slipping off her Manolos froze mid-step. The gentle look she’d been wearing instantly evaporated. “Oliver, who told you to go into that safe?” Her voice was sharp, a freezing jab. No explanation. No panic. Her first word was an accusation. I looked up. My eyes felt dry and raw, burning with a pain too deep for tears. “Naomi. Seven years.” My throat was desperately hoarse. I pointed a trembling finger at the screen. “Is everything written here… true?” Naomi strode over, snatched the phone by gripping my wrist, and immediately switched it off. She shoved it deep into her coat pocket, her brow tightly furrowed. “Everyone has a past, Oliver, things they don’t want broadcast. You’ve crossed a line.” I nearly laughed, my heart clenching with a sickening, rhythmic ache. “Things you don’t want broadcast? You hid your feelings for another man right inside the heart of our marriage, and you call that ‘things you don’t want broadcast’?” “You married me just to appease your family? You wouldn’t have a child with me because you were afraid Liam would be ‘sad’?” “Naomi, you’re disgusting.” “Enough!” Naomi roared, then casually tossed the box of caramel cake onto the coffee table. The box tilted. Cream smeared across the mahogany. She took a deep, controlling breath, as if wrestling a beast inside her, and reverted to that cool, ruthlessly rational self. “Liam has a fragile disposition, you know that. He’s too sensitive for conflict.” “If we were meant to be, it would have happened long ago, and you wouldn’t be in the picture.” “I married you because you’re suitable, and also… because,” she paused, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes, “I don’t actively dislike you. Have I been a bad wife to you? You had the title of ‘Mr. Caroline’, a credit card with no limit, everything you asked for was yours.” I looked at the woman standing before me. Just yesterday, she would wake up instantly if I had a leg cramp in the middle of the night, no matter how deep her sleep, massaging my calf until I fell back asleep. I thought that was love. It was all an act. A performance. “I don’t actively dislike you…” I repeated the words, a dull, hollow thud in my chest. “Naomi, that’s your answer to seven years of my life?” She pressed her temples, then reached out to pull me up. “Stop this drama, Oliver. Liam had a frustrating moment at the gallery opening today, and he’s upset. I need to go check on him.” “Stay here. Cool down.” “When you’ve figured out what you should and shouldn’t ask, we can talk.” With that, she turned to leave. The hem of her cashmere coat brushed my face, carrying a sudden, cold draft. “Naomi!” I shouted at her retreating back, “If you walk out that door today, we are getting a divorce!” She paused at the door. But she didn’t turn around. “Oliver, don’t threaten me with divorce. Without the Caroline name, you think you’ll live this comfortably for long?” “Don’t be a child. Grow up.” 2 I had a fever. It must have been the stress, or maybe sitting on the cold marble floor all night. My temperature hit 103 degrees. I felt like I was simultaneously burning and freezing. In a semiconscious haze, I automatically reached for Naomi’s number. In the past, even a slight cough would stop her mid-global conference; she’d rush home. This time, the phone rang for a long time. “Hello?” But it wasn’t Naomi’s voice. It was Liam. Soft, syrupy, laced with the lazy languor of just waking up. “Oh, Oliver? Naomi’s in the shower.” In the shower at Liam’s place, first thing in the morning? I clenched my jaw, clinging to the last shred of my control. “Put her on.” “Oh, Oliver, don’t be mad, okay?” Liam let out a soft, little laugh. “I accidentally spilled coffee all over Naomi yesterday. You know how much of a germaphobe she is, so she just stayed in the guest room. She’s such a thoughtful caretaker, too. Last night… I was so exhausted, but she took such good care of me.” Every word was a deliberate stab into my chest. “Liam,” my voice was shaking, beyond my control. “Put her on the phone!” “What is it?” Naomi’s low, slightly scratchy voice came through, thick with sleep. Then Liam’s petulant whine: “Naomi, Oliver’s angry. He’s doing a check-in.” “Oliver?” Naomi’s tone instantly turned cold. “It’s too early for this. What are you playing at?” Hot tears spilled from my eyes, tracking a burning path into my hair. “Naomi, I have a fever. I’m really sick… I need to go to the hospital.” Even after seeing those notes, even after the fight yesterday. In that desperate moment, I clung to a ridiculous, seven-year-old illusion. Seven years. Surely, even a stray pet earns some loyalty? There were two seconds of silence on the line. Then, the sound of clothes rustling. Naomi’s tone softened, marginally. “What’s your temperature?” “103 degrees.” “Take some Tylenol first. Have the driver take you.” Her voice was measured, still calm. “Liam’s painting isn’t properly hung yet, and he can’t reach. I’ll help him finish and then come home.” A painting wasn’t hung yet. I was burning up, close to passing out, and my wife was helping another man hang art. “Naomi…” I gasped, weak and struggling for breath. “If I don’t get to the emergency room, I could—I’m allergic to penicillin. The house medicine is all out…” “Ah!” Liam’s sudden shriek came from the other end. Followed by the sound of something heavy crashing to the floor. “Liam! What happened?” Naomi’s voice was instantly saturated with a sheer, panicked urgency she had never shown for me. “My hand… Naomi, the frame hit my hand! It hurts so much…” Liam was sobbing. “Don’t move! Let me see! It’s bleeding… Just bear with it, I’ll take you to get it bandaged immediately!” Chaos erupted on the line. I was completely forgotten. “Naomi…” I tried to make a sound. To tell her that I hurt, too. That my heart was hemorrhaging. But the line went dead. I held the phone, staring up at the glittering chandelier on the ceiling, my vision blurring. It was crystal clear now. In her world: A scratch on Liam’s finger was a five-alarm emergency. My high fever and life-or-death crisis was just “stop playing at this.” I forced myself up, swaying unsteadily as I tried to get downstairs. Halfway down the staircase, the world went black. I lost control and tumbled down the rest of the steps. A searing pain enveloped me. In the last fragmented moment before consciousness faded. I saw Naomi at eighteen. The girl in a white shirt, carrying me on her back across the football field after I twisted my ankle, sweat pouring down her face. She said: “Oliver, don’t be afraid. I’ve got you. I will never let you get hurt.” Liar. Naomi, you are a complete and utter liar. 3 When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. I flexed my fingers. My whole body ached as if I’d been dismantled. “You’re awake?” Naomi was sitting by the bed, peeling an apple. Seeing my eyes open, she cut a small slice and offered it to my mouth, her expression as gentle as if nothing had happened yesterday. “Why so clumsy? You can’t even handle a flight of stairs.” “Slight concussion, fractured right leg.” “Oliver, you’re a grown man. Can you please stop making me worry?” Her tone held a mix of scolding and that familiar, high-handed weariness. I turned my head away, avoiding the apple. “Is Liam’s finger… bandaged up?” I stared out the window, my voice flat. Naomi’s hand froze mid-air. Then, she tossed the apple into the trash. “Oliver, how much longer are you going to keep this act up?” “Liam was injured while hanging a painting. His hand is his livelihood! You? You just had a fever. Is this really necessary, to nearly kill yourself just for sympathy?” Sympathy? I spun my head back, locking my gaze on hers. “Naomi, did I not want to go to the hospital?” “I begged you to come home, and you said you had to help him hang art!” “I was rolling down the stairs, close to death, and you were coddling him, telling him to stop crying!” “Sympathy? I risked my life to get your sympathy. You don’t deserve it.” Naomi’s face darkened instantly. She stood up, towering over me. “Oliver, watch your tone.” “I am your wife.” “Not for long.” I met her gaze without flinching. “I’m having the divorce papers drawn up.” “You wouldn’t dare!” Naomi grabbed my jaw with a force that made me feel my teeth might shatter. Her eyes were blazing, a mix of fury and an almost stunned disbelief at my defiance. “Oliver, where will you go after the divorce? Back to the Zachary family, who haven’t cared about you in a decade? Or sleep on the street?” “Everything you have was given by me! Your studio, your connections, the clothes on your back!” “Without Naomi Caroline, what are you, Oliver Zachary?” I was once the top student in the Architecture program at A-State. I had won international design awards. But for her, to be a good husband, I turned down one project after another, dimmed all my lights, and stayed near the kitCaroline stove. Now, she asked me what I was. “Then we’ll see.” I pushed her hand away, speaking each word distinctly. “We’ll see if I starve to death without Naomi Caroline.” “Fine. Very well.” Naomi laughed, a brittle, infuriated sound. She smoothed the crease in her sleeve. “Since you have such backbone, let’s see you stand tall.” “Cancel all his cards.” She gave the order to her assistant by the door, her voice icy. “Pull all the funding from his studio projects.” “I want to see how many days he lasts.” With that, she slammed the door and left. From outside, I could vaguely hear Liam’s voice. “Naomi, don’t be angry. Oliver is probably just delirious from the fever… I made you some soup…” “You’re the only sensible one.” Naomi’s voice softened, trailing into the distance. I closed my eyes. Two hot tears slipped out. 4 No one came to pick me up on the day of my discharge. I walked out of the hospital, leaning heavily on a cane, moving one agonizing step at a time. My cards were canceled. My phone couldn’t process a payment. I searched every pocket and found only a few dozen dollars in loose change. I hailed a taxi back to the house Naomi and I shared. Even if I was leaving, I needed my ID and the belongings my parents left me. I pushed the door open to the sound of laughter. Liam, wearing my silk pajamas, was curled up on the sofa, feeding Naomi grapes. Naomi was looking at her tablet, occasionally opening her mouth to accept a grape, her eyes full of doting affection. When he saw me, Liam tried to jump up awkwardly, only to “accidentally” tumble into Naomi’s lap. “Oh! Oliver! You… you’re back?” Naomi naturally wrapped an arm around his waist, then looked up at me. Her eyes were glacial, like I was a stranger. “Decided to come home? I thought you were going to be defiant forever.” I ignored her sarcasm, leaning on my cane and heading straight for the master bedroom upstairs. “Stop.” Naomi’s voice was frigid. “Who gave you permission to go upstairs?” I paused, turning back. “I’m getting my things.” “There are no ‘your things’ here.” Naomi idly played with a strand of Liam’s hair. “I had someone throw everything out.” My whole body jerked. I stared at her in disbelief. “Threw them out? Naomi, that included my parents’ mementos! And all my design sketches!” “So what?” Naomi sneered. “I told you, this house doesn’t keep idle hands, and it certainly doesn’t keep garbage.” “Liam is moving in. We needed to clear space. Your junk was taking up his new closet.” Junk? The only pocket watch my parents left me. The blueprints I had stayed up countless nights to draw. In her eyes, they were just garbage, clutter to be removed to make space for Liam. Blood rushed to my head. I threw the cane down and lunged up the stairs like a madman. The walk-in closet was empty. The racks that held my clothes were now filled with Liam’s designer pieces. My desk, my drafting table, all gone. Replaced by a white grand piano, Liam’s favorite. I rushed to the balcony, looking down. Next to the trash cans in the yard, there were a few black garbage bags piled up. I could vaguely make out the familiar edge of design paper. They were soaked through with rain, a mushy mess. I ran down the stairs, ignoring the searing pain in my leg, and staggered into the yard. I fell to the ground, tearing open the bags, oblivious to the mud. Ruined. Everything was ruined. I hugged the shattered pocket watch, kneeling in the mud, crying a raw, heartbroken sound. “Naomi Caroline! You’re not human!” “Give them back!” Footsteps approached from behind. Naomi stood under the eaves, holding an umbrella, with Liam nestled close to her. She frowned slightly, as if my crying was a nuisance. “Oliver, don’t act like a hysterical mess.” “A few sheets of paper, a broken clock. What’s it worth? I’ll write you a check.” Liam burrowed deeper into her embrace, whispering: “Naomi, poor Oliver… did I do something wrong? Maybe I shouldn’t move in…” “Nonsense. This has nothing to do with you.” Naomi kissed him on the cheek. “He’s the one who doesn’t know his place. A man who won’t learn his lesson should be made to feel the pain.” She raised her gaze, looking at me with icy indifference. “Oliver, for the sake of the past seven years, I’ll give you one last chance.” “Right now, apologize to Liam.” “Say you’ll never cause trouble again, that you’ll be a good, obedient husband.” “And I’ll let you back into this house. You can resume your role.” “Otherwise…” She nudged the mud puddle with her shoe. “Take your trash and get off my property.” The rain intensified. The wound on my leg felt like it had torn open, a drilling pain. But I felt nothing. The cold had vanished. Because my heart was utterly and completely dead. Slowly, I stood up from the mud. Clutching the broken pocket watch to my chest. I wiped the rain and mud from my face, looking at the perfectly matched couple before me. And I smiled. “Naomi Caroline.” “You think I want to be your obedient husband?” “You think I won’t survive without you?” I dragged my injured leg, one step at a time, until I stood directly in front of them. Naomi instinctively recoiled, startled by the sheer hatred in my eyes. “What are you doing?” “Slap!” I put every ounce of my remaining strength into a vicious slap across her face. Naomi’s head snapped to the side. The imprint of my hand immediately surfaced on her cheek. Liam shrieked: “You hit Naomi!” “Shut up! This isn’t your place!” I swung my other hand, delivering an equally hard backhand across Liam’s face. Liam was stunned, then collapsed onto the ground, covering his cheek and wailing. Naomi finally registered the attack. She raised her hand in a furious rage. “Oliver! You’re looking for death!” I lifted my chin, staring hard at the hand hovering over me. “Hit me!” “Naomi Caroline, if you don’t kill me today, I promise you, one day, you and he will kneel before me, and I will repay the pain you gave me, a hundredfold!” Naomi’s hand froze in the air. She looked into my eyes, and for a fleeting second, I saw a flicker of genuine fear. I looked at her with cold contempt, spitting out a mouthful of blood and rainwater. “Naomi Caroline, remember what you said today.” “I don’t know my place. I’m a mess.” “From this moment on, I cut all ties with you. With the Caroline family. We are done.” 5 Rain mixed with mud streamed down my pants. I dragged my throbbing right leg, step by painful step, out of the Caroline villa gates. Behind me, Naomi’s voice was a furious roar. “Lock the gates! Don’t let anyone open them for him!” “He won’t learn what obedience means until he suffers a little!” The massive iron gate slammed shut behind me. I stood by the side of the road, soaked to the bone. But I felt a liberating, unprecedented lightness. I pulled out my phone. The screen was covered in text alerts: notifications of Naomi’s bank card cancellations. A message popped up on WhatsApp. It was from Naomi. [The cards are canceled. When you learn to apologize, I’ll turn them back on. Stay outside for a few days and reflect. Don’t expect me to come looking for you.] Followed immediately by a voice note. Liam’s voice, dripping with feigned concern. “Naomi, don’t do this… Oliver is injured and broke. What if something happens to him?” Naomi’s cold laughter followed. “Relax. His kind has the vitality of a cockroach. Give him three days, and he’ll be crawling back on his knees, begging for forgiveness.” I listened without expression. My finger tapped the screen. Block. Then, I dialed a number I had sworn, three years ago when I retired for Naomi, I would never call again.

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The day Jax Coleman, the prodigal son, returned, he had all my things tossed out of my room. “I’m their real son, you fraud,” he sneered, hands jammed into the pockets of his designer jeans. “You can pack up and leave.” “Oh, and before you go,” he added, his eyes narrowing as he looked me up and down. “You owe us. I’ll charge you twenty years of Sterling hospitality at a million a year. Twenty million. Wire it directly to my account.” I didn’t argue. Instead, I calmly slid a card across the granite counter. “Certainly, Mr. Coleman. But first, you’ll need to schedule an appointment. This is the link to our digital verification portal. You’re currently number five-hundred in the queue.” Jax’s hand shot out and slapped the card away. “Tristan Stone, who the hell do you think you are, blocking my path to my parents?” I kept my voice even. “I’m not blocking you. I’m maintaining the process. There’s a waiting list.” Jax, however, was desperate to claim his birthright. He wasn’t listening. “You really think a nobody like you gets to make the true Sterling heir wait? As soon as I find my parents, you’ll be the one swept out of this house.” What Jax didn’t know was that he was just the latest in a long, humiliating line. Four hundred and ninety-nine hopefuls had come before him, each with an equally compelling, yet ultimately bogus, claim. My parents had long since handed the entire “True Heir Vetting Process” over to me. … 1 Jax cornered my mother, Charlotte Sterling, right as she was stepping out of a Board of Directors meeting at Sterling Tower. “Mom!” he cried, dropping dramatically to his knees in the marble foyer. “I’m your son! Your real son!” Mom didn’t even blink. Her executive assistant, a woman named Ms. Chad, immediately stepped in. “Sir, all claims for familial recognition must go through the online appointment portal.” Jax instantly welled up. The tears were remarkably fast. “Mom! Just look at me! You have no idea how much I’ve suffered all these years…” Mom finally lifted her head. She glanced at her watch, an understated Patek Philippe. “Thirty-six seconds,” she murmured, then looked at Ms. Chad. “Five seconds slower than last month’s contender. No new record, kid.” Jax froze, bewildered. “Excuse me?” Mom pulled out her sleek tablet and scrolled. “Vetting File JXC37. Jax Coleman, twenty-two. Lives in a walk-up in the Outer Boroughs. Parents deceased. Put himself through community college on grants. We know.” Jax’s face crumpled. “You… you investigated me?” Mom gave him a dismissive pat on the shoulder. “Your acting is solid, but the dialogue is stale. I suggest you watch The Royal Switch Season Two, Episode Eight. Much better performance.” Then she was gone. At three that afternoon, my father, Arthur Sterling, was inspecting one of the flagship Sterling Malls. Jax showed up again. This time, he changed tactics. “Dad!” He waved a faded photograph. “Look! I look just like you did when you were a kid!” My father took the photo and examined it. “Nice retouching,” he said dryly. “But next time, remember to slim the ears down. We Sterlings don’t have ears that large.” Jax panicked. “This is a real photo of me!” “Son,” Dad sighed, handing it back. “Last year, a guy showed up with a deepfake video claiming to be me. The technology was much more professional than your Photoshop skills. Go see Tristan. He handles this circus.” Jax stomped his foot in frustration. “Dad! How can you be so cruel?” Dad walked off without turning back. “Call me Mr. Sterling.” That evening, Grandma Eliza’s private jet landed at JFK. Jax had staked out the VIP exit all afternoon. “Grandma!” He dropped to his knees again, forehead touching the ground. “I’m your true grandson!” Grandma, fresh off a fourteen-hour flight, was still battling jet lag. She squinted at him. “Which number is this one?” The head of security, Mark, replied, “The fifty-seventh this year, ma’am.” Grandma nodded. “Did he make an appointment?” Jax stammered, “N-no, I didn’t…” “Unacceptable.” Grandma waved a hand. “Last year, a young man waited outside the terminal for three days before we squeezed him in. That’s the only exception we’ve made.” She had Mark help Jax to his feet, and then handed him a business card. “Here’s my grandson’s contact info. Schedule an appointment.” Jax looked down at the card. It read: Tristan Stone, Director of True Heir Vetting Projects, The Sterling Group. His face went green. The next day, Jax stormed into the Sterling compound. “I demand a DNA test!” He pounded his fist on the mahogany table. “Now! Right now! Immediately!” My parents exchanged a weary look. “Son,” Mom began, “it’s not that we don’t want to…” “You’re scared, aren’t you?” Jax sneered. “You’re afraid the test will prove I’m the real one!” Dad rubbed his temples. “We had our blood drawn thirty times last year. We’ve already done fifteen so far this year. My doctor says I’m borderline anemic.” Jax was momentarily speechless. I walked over, carrying a tray with three steaming mugs of tea. “There is another way, actually.” “What?” he asked, eyeing me suspiciously. “Hair or nail clippings,” I said, setting the tea down. “The technology is quite advanced now. Doesn’t necessarily require a blood draw.” Jax’s eyes lit up. “Then let’s do it right now!” I smiled. “We can. But you’ll still have to queue.” “Queue for what?” “My parents have a monthly quota for biometric samples. It’s full. We have over two hundred samples currently waiting in the lab. The earliest yours can be processed is next month.” Jax exploded. “Tristan Stone! You’re doing this on purpose!” I shrugged. “Just following procedure.” 2 Jax couldn’t wait. He spent twenty thousand dollars on a “fast-pass” from an appointment scalper. He was directed to the third floor, the “Keepsake Authentication Suite.” He walked in, puffing out his chest like a pigeon. “I have proof!” He pulled out half of a tarnished, heart-shaped locket. “The nurse gave me this when they swapped us! It’s one-of-a-kind!” The attendant, Mr. Lewis, took the locket and scanned the barcode on Jax’s appointment slip. “JXC37, Jax Coleman, Locket-Class Keepsake,” Mr. Lewis read out. “We currently have 287 registered Locket-Class items in the system.” Jax’s triumphant smile froze. “How many?” “Two hundred and eighty-seven,” Mr. Lewis confirmed, pulling up the data. “One hundred and forty-three half-pieces. One hundred and forty-four intact.” Jax sputtered. “That’s impossible!” Mr. Lewis gave a practiced, weary smile. “It started with the classic ‘two halves that fit together’ scenario. But it evolved. We’re now receiving quarter-pieces. We even offer a ‘Sterling Keepsake Fragment Puzzle’ service—ninety-eight dollars, free shipping.” Jax looked physically ill. I sent a voice note to the authentication suite, which played through the internal speaker: “Mr. Coleman, your locket is the ‘Standard Edition.’ Current market value is about four hundred dollars.” Jax whipped his head up, looking for the security camera. “Tristan! You set me up!” I replied with a laugh: “It’s called market research.” Jax refused to give up. “I have a birthmark!” He tore open his collar. “A butterfly shape on my left shoulder! Unique!” Mr. Lewis sighed and pulled up another database. “Out of the five hundred ‘heirs’ who have registered this year, one hundred and eight claim to have a butterfly-shaped birthmark.” Jax gaped. “One hundred and eight?” “One hundred and eight,” Mr. Lewis repeated, zooming in on the data. “Seventy-six on the left shoulder, thirty-two on the right.” Jax was frantic. “But mine is special! It has a unique pattern!” Mr. Lewis nodded patiently. “Yes. Claimants 43, 87, and 201 also said that.” He clicked through photos. “No. 43’s butterfly has spots. No. 87’s has stripes. No. 201’s is 3D-textured.” Jax’s lips trembled. “This… this can’t be happening…” I added the final blow via the speaker: “Mr. Coleman, you could always get a tattoo. Tattoos are now accepted as valid keepsakes.” Jax was so enraged he slammed his mug onto the floor, shattering it. “That’ll be two thousand eight hundred dollars,” Mr. Lewis said instantly, already writing an invoice. “Hand-painted Baccarat crystal.” Jax still wouldn’t admit defeat. “I look just like Mrs. Sterling when she was young!” He pointed at a framed photo on the wall. “Look at the resemblance!” Mr. Lewis let out a long-suffering sigh and turned on the projector. “Please observe this claimant.” The screen displayed a young man who looked not only like Mom but also like Dad—and even a little bit like Grandma. “We call him the ‘Family Portrait Composite,’” Mr. Lewis explained. “He won the ‘Most Sterling-Like Appearance’ award last year.” 3 Jax was quiet for three days. But I knew he was just plotting. Sure enough, he showed up at the Sterling Quarterly Gala. Midway through the evening, Jax let out a piercing scream. “My necklace is gone!” He covered his face, sobbing dramatically. “It was a gift from my adoptive mother!” The entire ballroom fell silent. All eyes were on him. Jax sniffled. “It was just here a moment ago…” His gaze swept the room, finally landing on me. “Mr. Stone,” he said, timidly. “Didn’t you just go to the restroom?” I raised an eyebrow. “I did.” “Then…” He hesitated, putting on a show of reluctance. “Could I please check your bag?” A murmur rippled through the guests. Mom frowned. “Young man, what exactly are you implying?” Jax’s tears came on cue. “Mom, I don’t mean anything by it! I just need to check…” I smiled. “Be my guest.” I handed him my leather messenger bag. “Take a look.” Jax took the bag and pretended to fumble through it. Then, “accidentally,” he flipped it upside down. Clatter— Keys, my phone, and a slim billfold tumbled out. And a glittering diamond necklace. “There it is!” Jax gasped, snatching it up. He looked at me, eyes brimming with false accusation. “Mr. Stone, why would you…” I cut him off. “Mr. Coleman, do you know why the Sterling Grand Ballroom has 128 multi-angle security cameras installed?” Jax blinked. “What?” I pulled out my phone and cast the security feed to the nearest display screen. The footage clearly showed Jax furtively creeping behind me and slipping the necklace into my open bag. “Over the last three years,” I scrolled through a private database, “forty-seven previous ‘heirs’ have used this exact maneuver.” Mr. Lewis, who happened to be tending the bar, called out, “That’s the 48th time. Could we get some new material, please?” I picked up the necklace. “Also,” I added, looking at the clasp. “I bought this last week. I still have the receipt.” I turned my attention back to Jax. “Do you have yours?” Jax’s face flushed a deep crimson. “The Sterling family treats its true son like this?” Grandma Eliza chuckled, a cold sound. “The last person who pulled that stunt is currently serving time for attempted grand larceny.” Jax bolted from the room. The next day, a major gossip site exploded with a headline: “Sterling Heir Caught in Midnight Rendezvous with Corporate Rival” The accompanying photo, taken from a high, distorted angle, showed me helping a woman into a car, making it look suspiciously like we were kissing. I checked the author of the post: A well-known gossip blogger. I clicked on the comment section. “Here we go again. Which number heir is responsible for this one?” “The last guy who tried to smear Tristan had to pay a five-million-dollar settlement. Deleting this post is my advice.” “Bro, the Sterling legal team moves faster than FedEx.” I took to my own professional social media account. “I want to thank Mr. Coleman for helping me generate buzz for my new High-Density Battery project. Also, congratulations on setting the record for the ‘Fastest Lawsuit Filed.’” The attached photo was a screenshot of the official indictment. Jax panicked and immediately deleted his posts and his burner accounts. On the third day, Jax somehow managed to get a visitor’s pass and infiltrated Sterling Tower. He walked into my office, carrying a porcelain mug of coffee. “Mr. Stone,” he said, head bowed low. “I apologize for yesterday’s incident…” I didn’t take the mug. “Just leave it on the desk.” He put it down but remained standing. “Something else?” I asked. He bit his lip. “Can you forgive me?” I smiled slightly. “You can go now.” He turned reluctantly to leave. I picked up the mug, took a perfunctory sniff, and pressed a discreet button on my desk. “Mr. Coleman is suspected of product tampering,” I said into the internal mic. “Security, please detain him.” Jax went ballistic. “You’re lying! You’re making this up!” I pointed to the mug. “Did you know that all Sterling executive drinkware is custom-made?” He stared blankly. “They have micro-sensors in the base,” I explained, showing him my phone screen. “They’re programmed to identify common pharmaceutical agents.” The screen displayed a notification: Laxative component detected. This is the 23rd detection this year. Jax’s face was chalk-white. “You… you’re hallucinating!” Security burst through the door. “You can’t arrest me!” he shrieked. I pulled out a thick stack of files. “We can,” I said. “This is the documentation for the eighty-nine individuals who have attempted to spike my drink over the past five years. Every single one is currently facing charges.” As the security guards hauled him away, he was still screaming, “Tristan Stone! You just wait! I’ll be back!” 4 Two weeks later, Jax, ever persistent, managed to secure an entry-level internship at the company. Within days, he was in the breakroom, spreading rumors. “Did you hear?” he whispered to a group of colleagues. “Tristan, the director of the battery division? He got the deal by sleeping his way to the top.” A colleague, Liam, looked up from his tablet. “Sleeping his way with what?” “With Mr. Zhao, the CEO of the rival firm!” Jax elbowed Liam conspiratorially. Liam laughed. “Are you not aware of Tristan’s track record? He won an International Programming Championship at fifteen, founded his first tech firm at eighteen. He’s closing multi-million dollar deals on his merit. He needs to sleep with people?” Jax choked. “Then why does he get all the big projects?” “Because he’s brilliant,” another colleague, Chloe, interjected. “He writes code that most of the company can’t even decipher.” Jax was stubborn. “You’ve all been fooled by him!” Liam threw his hands up. “Seriously, Chloe, which number is this guy?” Chloe counted on her fingers. “Seventeenth this year.” Jax was confused. “You don’t believe me?” Liam gave him a cold look. “I was claimant number thirty-eight last year.” He stood up and pointed a finger at Jax. “Tristan didn’t press charges. He actually gave me a job. He’s more benevolent than you deserve. Why do you think you can spread this nonsense and still walk free?” Jax went pale. The HR manager walked in. “Mr. Coleman, this is a formal warning. Another incident and you’re terminated.” Jax gritted his teeth. “By whose authority?” The manager held up her phone. “By the authority of this audio recording. Everything you just said was captured.” I smiled from the surveillance room. Jax really thought the Sterling breakroom was a secure place for gossip? My then-fiancée, Blair Ashford, came by the office to see me. Jax’s eyes lit up. He “accidentally” ran into her in the elevator. “Oh!” He faked a stumble and tried to fall into her arms. Blair immediately slammed the emergency stop button. “Security. Code 29 on the third floor. I have a trespasser.” Jax was stunned. “Ms. Ashford, I’m the new intern…” Blair’s voice was icy. “You are the 29th attempt this year. Try a new tactic.” Jax didn’t give up. He manufactured several other “chance encounters.” The breakroom, the hallway, the executive parking garage. Blair finally seemed to take the bait. “Mr. Coleman.” She cornered him in the stairwell. “Do you have too much free time?” Jax’s face flushed. “Ms. Ashford, I was just…” “Just what?” Blair’s eyes were predatory. “Trying to seduce me?” Jax bit his lip. “Tristan doesn’t deserve you…” Blair leaned in close to his ear. “And you do?” Just like the previous twenty-nine times, she semi-reluctantly allowed Jax to lead her away. I watched the surveillance feed and shook my head. Anyone who uses their body to plot corporate gain is a fool. (Though I wasn’t suggesting the one being lured wasn’t one either.) That evening, I called a private family meeting. “Mom, Dad,” I said. “I think the Ashford family is no longer a suitable match for an alliance.” Dad frowned. “What’s the issue?” I presented my tablet. “The Ashford Group’s financial reports have been doctored for the last three quarters.” Mom leaned in. “I noticed some inconsistencies.” “And,” I swiped the screen, “Ms. Ashford’s private investments are all money pits. She has no business sense. We can’t have her draining the family capital.” Dad’s face tightened. “How did you find this?” I smiled. “I have my channels.” Grandma Eliza settled the matter. “Then we switch. Tristan has never been wrong about a deal.” Mom hesitated. “But the engagement…” I showed them the latest security feed. “Ms. Ashford has been hit on by twenty-nine of the ‘heirs’ who’ve tried to replace me. She acts coy, but she’s never actually succeeded in turning any of them down.” Mom looked closer at the footage. “Unacceptable.” Grandma slammed her hand on the table. “A woman with no loyalty is a liability! We will not have her!” I nodded. “Phoebe Chad’s daughter, Phoebe Jr., is newly back from London. She has several cutting-edge tech projects.” Dad looked surprised. “How do you know about her?” I pulled up the data. “Last year, twelve of the previous ‘heirs’ tried to hit on her, too. Every single one was shot down instantly.” Mom’s eyes sparkled. “She sounds perfect!” Grandma gave the final word. “Done. We’re changing alliances.” As the meeting concluded, the butler rushed in, breathless. “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling! Mr. Coleman is here! He has the DNA test results!” I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? The results are in?” Jax burst through the door, waving the report above his head. “Dad! Mom!” His face was streaked with tears. “The results are back! I am your biological son!”

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In the rarefied world of luxury fragrance on the East Coast, there was an unwritten rule: no high-grade essential oils or ancient aromatic resins entered the country without the Beaumont family’s approval. Eight years ago, Camilla “Cami” Beaumont lost her sense of smell in a horrific car crash. The only scent she could register—the only one that anchored her—was the custom-blended Sustaining Scent I created. That unique power made me the Beaumont House consort, the trophy husband, the man tethered to her side. I was the one who was supposed to be the beating heart of her world. Then Blaine Maxwell arrived. The new male assistant had been with the company barely a month when I saw Cami’s eyes track him across the mahogany boardroom table. “He smells so… alive,” she’d murmured, her voice laced with a raw hunger I hadn’t heard in years. From that day on, she took him to galas and industry meetings I was expected to attend. The nights Cami spent away from our penthouse grew more and more frequent. Three months later, a pristine white envelope was left on our doorstep. Inside was Cami’s prenatal scan report. Blaine’s number flashed on my phone. He answered with a victorious, challenging laugh. “Trophy husband,” he drawled, the words designed to hit low. “My scent is natural. Cami says it’s got a pulse, a real person’s scent. Better than your manufactured dead perfume.” He didn’t hang up. Instead, he sent a video. Cami was lounging on a chaise, her eyes distant and cold. “If Grandmother Beaumont hadn’t forced me to swear on her deathbed that I wouldn’t divorce Caspian Thorne, do you think he’d have lasted a single week as the Beaumont Consort?” She let out a dry, bitter laugh. “Eight years of smelling that one, unchanging scent. It makes me sick to my stomach now.” I gripped the phone, my knuckles bone-white against the black glass. Cami didn’t know the truth. She died in that car crash eight years ago. The Camilla Beaumont who was walking, laughing, and getting pregnant relied entirely on the Soul Incense—a fragile, forbidden alchemy—to keep her fractured life force tethered to her body. Grandmother Beaumont had lost her gamble. It was time for me to walk away. 1 Grandmother Beaumont’s will stipulated that on the first day of every month, only I was permitted inside the family’s old Memorial Chamber. I worked quickly, competently, placing the fine ash of the Sustaining Scent into the small, ancient ritual vessel that held Cami’s residual life force. Before I could finish, I heard a clamor at the door. Blaine Maxwell burst in, his eyes suspiciously red and brimming with theatrical tears. He dropped to his knees in front of me. “Mr. Thorne, please. Have mercy on me and the baby,” he pleaded, his voice cracking. “You can get divorced and remarry. You don’t have to cling to the title and pretend to be this child’s father.” I closed my eyes and continued my silent prayer for the Beaumont family’s ancestors. I knew this move. Every time he played the pathetic victim, Cami would arrive, ready for a fight. Sure enough, a furious shout erupted behind me. “Caspian Thorne! Blaine was right! You’re using your Consort status to abuse him, forcing him to grovel!” Cami’s face was dark, clouded with fury. “Who gave you the authority to throw your weight around in my family’s sanctuary?” I stared at the two security guards at the door, who looked away like startled quail. “Why didn’t you stop him? Are you all incompetent?” “Don’t you dare lecture my staff, Caspian.” Cami’s voice was sharp with rage. She strode over and gently helped Blaine to his feet. “Don’t be afraid of him, Blaine.” She tenderly wiped the manufactured tears from his cheek, treating him like a priceless, fragile heirloom. I pressed my lips together and turned away, trying to mask the tremor of rage in my hands. To cover my distress, I feigned calm and adjusted the ashes in the vessel. As I closed the lid, a hand slammed down, knocking the small box to the marble floor. The fine, silver-gray ash exploded upward, clouding my face and stinging my eyes. “All you ever do is fuss over this junk—this incense for the dead,” Cami spat. “The ashes, the scents, it all smells like a goddamn mausoleum.” Her gaze suddenly landed on the small, ancient oak plaque in the center of the chamber. Her eyes narrowed. She grabbed my throat, her grip instantly tightening. “How badly do you want me dead, Caspian? Why did you put my name on a tethering plaque in the family’s Memorial Chamber?” A bitter, humorless smile touched my lips. She had finally noticed. Eight years ago, Cami had survived the crash with her body mostly intact, but her psyche was shattered, her soul fragmented. Grandmother Beaumont, desperate, came to me—the last of the Thorne scent-alchemists—begging for a solution. I agreed on one condition: I would create the Sustaining Scent and use the ancient Thorne Plaque to tether her life force. The debt was mine, the secret was ours, and during the duration of the ‘Scent Bond,’ she could never be told the truth. So, when Cami demanded an answer, I said nothing. But Blaine, ever the opportunist, leaned forward, a look of faux contemplation on his face. “I… I heard of a kind of old-world occult magic. Where you tether a name to a marker to keep a spirit trapped…” He shook his head quickly, acting horrified. “No, no, that’s impossible. Mr. Thorne would never dabble in anything that dark. I must be wrong.” Cami didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the oak plaque and smashed it to the floor, stomping on the fragments. I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat. “Cami, stop! You’ll destroy yourself!” Without that anchored fragment of her soul, her time was terrifyingly limited. My panic only seemed to fuel her conviction. She sneered. “Stop the theatrics, Caspian. What will it take for you to give Blaine his rightful place as the Beaumont consort?” My throat was tight, choked with despair. I managed to force out one word. “Divorce.” Cami’s brows knitted together. She massaged the throbbing vein in her temple. “You know Grandmother’s Will prohibits it unless ninety percent of the family signs off. You’re asking for the impossible.” I twisted my mouth into a pained smile. “And aren’t you doing the impossible to me?” Cami fell silent, the rage briefly replaced by a flicker of confusion. Blaine immediately pointed to her slightly swollen belly, reminding her of the urgency. “Cami, our baby can’t wait. Why don’t we talk to the elders tonight? Maybe they’ll finally agree.” After a moment of thought, Cami pulled out her phone and had the house manager summon all the senior Beaumont family members to the old estate. Half an hour later, Cami stood holding Blaine close, announcing to the gathered assembly, “I want to divorce Caspian Thorne.” 2 The conference room fell into a sudden, icy silence. Uncle Robert, the eldest patriarch, slammed his hand onto the table, splashing his Earl Grey tea. “Absolutely not! Over my dead body, Camilla.” A chorus of agreement followed. “He’s right, Cami. You’re not getting any younger. What kind of snake oil has this boy been feeding you? You’d throw Caspian away?” they muttered, shaking their heads in disappointment before filing out. Cami was vibrating with fury. She pointed a trembling finger at me. “What did you promise them? What kind of blackmail do you have on them to make them support you like this?” Blaine, his face crumpled with fake sadness, sighed dramatically. “If Mr. Thorne won’t agree, let’s just drop it, Cami. The baby can always just take his last name.” Cami pulled him into a fierce embrace, promising, “I will fix this, Blaine. I promise you.” I lowered my eyes to hide the devastating loneliness churning inside me and walked straight upstairs. My covenant with Grandmother Beaumont was simple: as long as I was the Consort, Cami’s physical safety was my paramount responsibility. With the Plaque destroyed and her soul-fragment scattered, I had to create an even more potent Soul Incense just to keep her body alive. I pulled out the sealed Thorne Family Grimoire—the book of formulas my father left me—and worked for three days straight. I found a way, a desperate, final solution, requiring a single, harrowing catalyst: my own heart’s blood. When the three-inch needle pierced the skin just above my heart, I didn’t cry. But when I looked at the bowl containing the precious, nearly-congealed paste, I sank to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Cami had promised me she was only using Blaine to try and recover her sense of smell. She swore he was merely a tool, and that I was the one she truly loved. I had been the fool, buying the lie and becoming the industry’s joke. Lost in the crushing memory, I didn’t notice the sharp, burnt smell emanating from the ceramic dish until it was too late. “Need a hand, Cas?” Blaine had appeared silently behind me. Quick as a snake, he grabbed the jade mortar and began mixing the paste rapidly. My eyes widened in terror. “Give that back!” He sidestepped my outstretched hand, a glint of perverse pleasure in his eyes. Crash. The mortar slipped, shattering into a million white fragments on the floor. “What did you do?” Rage, primal and suffocating, burst from my chest. Cami, hearing the commotion, rushed in. Her immediate concern was for Blaine. “What happened here?” “I just wanted to help Cas, but I accidentally broke his dish. I even cut my finger.” He showed her the microscopic scratch on his thumb. Cami’s face was instantly flooded with concern. She turned on me, her voice a roar. “Caspian Thorne, what in God’s name is the matter with you?” She stopped short, her eyes landing on the scattered pieces of jade. An uncharacteristic flicker of guilt crossed her face. My shoulders shook, and I choked on the lump in my throat. “You know… you know that was my father’s.” Cami looked away. “It was an accident, Blaine didn’t mean it. Besides, your father left you so much. What does one dish matter?” Her blatant favoritism was a physical punch to the gut. I bit my lip until I tasted blood. “Would you be so generous,” I whispered, “if he had smashed your mother’s last possession?” The question hadn’t even finished leaving my mouth when a stinging slap connected with my cheek. My right eye immediately swelled. Cami was breathing hard, her eyes blazing with hatred and disgust. “Don’t you dare bring my mother into this! If it weren’t for you, she’d still be alive!” Five years ago, Grandmother Beaumont had a massive heart attack. The staff had the day off, and I was away on an emergency trip. I had promised Cami before we married that I would always look after her family. I broke that promise. It was the poison that had slowly killed our marriage. Seeing Cami on his side, Blaine grew emboldened. “Caspian, Cami is the heir. How dare you publicly challenge her like this?” He turned to the guards. “For a lesson, smash every single one of his things! Do it!” The security team immediately began following his orders. Glass vials, delicate measuring cylinders, and precious copper vessels were all smashed against the tile floor. I was shaking, a silent scream caught in my throat. I lunged forward, but Cami pinned my arms behind my back. “Regret it now, don’t you? Where was this passion five minutes ago?” My instruments—my inheritance, passed down through generations—were being destroyed. It felt like watching my family die again. But Blaine wasn’t finished. He held up my father’s Grimoire, the leather-bound book that held centuries of Thorne knowledge. I fell to my knees, pleading, tears streaming down my face. “No. Please. Don’t.” It was the last piece of him I had left. Blaine raised an eyebrow, a triumphant smirk on his face, and tossed the book into the massive stone fireplace. In that instant, as the flames licked the ancient leather, I wrenched free of Cami’s grip and dove headfirst into the fireplace. “Caspian, are you insane!” Cami shouted, a flicker of genuine fear in her eyes. It only vanished when I stumbled back out, coughing and scorched. My hands were covered in massive blisters, but I clutched the remaining, charred pages of the Grimoire to my chest, sobbing until my ribs ached. Blaine, pleased with the spectacular result of my breakdown, swaggered off to the master bedroom. Cami threw a tube of burn cream at me. Her fingers twitched, as if she wanted to touch me, but I turned my head away, my jaw locked. “You are impossible!” Cami muttered, her face hardened again. She spun and stalked off. I stayed huddled in the corner, clutching the sacred, burnt pages, staring blankly at the ceiling. Then, my phone rang. “Caspian,” a familiar voice purred. “Interested in making a deal?” 3 The voice belonged to Blair Ashworth, Cami’s fiercest business rival. “Yes,” I said, nodding even though she couldn’t see me. “But you have to do something for me first.” Cami’s cruelty had been absolute. I had nothing left to lose. Blair agreed without hesitation. I buried my head in my arms, allowing myself one last moment of grief before I began my final campaign. A while later, my face wiped clean of tears and my expression a mask of indifference, I knocked on the master suite door. The muffled laughter inside immediately stopped. Cami opened the door, her silk robe slightly askew. “What do you want?” I handed her the remaining jar of the precious, thick paste. I spoke in a dead, flat tone. “I won’t be making Scent anymore. This is the last batch…” Before I could finish, Blaine snatched the jar from my hand. He held it up, a triumphant look on his face. “It’s this stuff. I had a little bit of the residue tested last week. It contains a chronic toxin. It’s highly addictive and leads to systemic collapse and eventual death.” Cami’s eyes narrowed into slits of pure fury. She slapped the tray from my hand, sending the last of the Sustaining Scentsplattering onto the carpet. I watched the precious balm absorb into the wool, my expression unchanged. I had expected this. Her shoe ground the paste into powder. “I knew it! I’ve been feeling so light-headed without your perfume lately. It was withdrawal! Caspian Thorne, you have a truly vile heart!” She grabbed my throat again, her eyes bulging. She was waiting for me to beg. I refused. Without the Sustaining Scent, Cami had less than a month to live. I didn’t say it. She wouldn’t have believed me anyway. I was done explaining. Seeing my lack of reaction, Cami’s grip tightened, but she was suddenly distracted by a sharp, aggressive bark. Winston, our elderly Golden Retriever, stood with his tail high, baring his teeth at Cami. “The disloyal brute,” Cami snarled, kicking out at him. Winston easily dodged her. We had gotten Winston when we first married. Cami never had time for him; I had raised him. He was fiercely loyal to me. I gasped for air and gently stroked the top of his head, signaling for him to go out to the garden. I returned to my room and began packing. One carry-on suitcase. It was all I needed. A knock. Blaine stood there, looking remorseful. He slipped his arm around mine, far too familiar. “Cas, I was a total jerk this afternoon. I apologize, okay? I made a feast to make it up to you.” He pulled me into the dining room and seated me at the table. The meal was spectacular, and the aroma was genuinely tempting. But when I looked at the shimmering, perfectly cooked meat on the platter, a strange sense of unease settled in my gut. Seeing I wasn’t eating, Blaine smiled thinly and placed a piece of meat on my plate. “Go on, Cas. Eat.” When I still hesitated, Blaine looked to Cami. She cleared her throat. “If you eat this meal, I promise I will move out with Blaine immediately. We won’t bother you again.” At her final word, I took a small bite. The moment the meat touched my tongue, Blaine slammed his hands on the table and let out a manic, cackling laugh. “Caspian, doesn’t that taste familiar? That’s your sweet little Winston!” Staring at his gloating, triumphant face, a wave of nauseating horror washed over me. Gag. Puke. I vomited violently, the food mixing with bitter bile. Ignoring the mess, I sprinted outside to the garden. Winston wasn’t there. Instead, I saw a bloody pile of fur and muscle near the stone fountain. Two bodyguards were calmly washing the dog’s skin. “The Madam really spoils the Young Master,” one chuckled. “He wanted Winston’s fur for a rug, and she just had the dog killed. Wonder what Mr. Thorne will do.” “Who cares? He’s yesterday’s news. The future is the Young Master.” Tears streamed down my face, hot and agonizing. I raced back inside and slapped Blaine across the face with all the remaining strength I had. “You sick psychopath!” Cami fiercely shoved me away. “It was just a joke, Caspian! You don’t need to be so dramatic about a dog that was going to die soon anyway. I’ll buy you a new one!” My forehead cracked against the corner of the dining table. Blood streamed down my face. I glared at her, trembling with venomous hatred. A look of genuine distress crossed Cami’s features. She started to reach for me, but Blaine immediately shouted, pointing down. “Cami! Look! You’re bleeding! The baby! That bastard Caspian must have caused this!” He was a master of his craft. I was the one who was bleeding and broken, yet he somehow made himself the victim. Cami felt a sharp cramp. She immediately forgot me and rushed off to the hospital, not forgetting to leave one last warning: “If anything happens to my baby, I swear I will make you pay!” 4 By the time Cami returned from the hospital with Blaine, the old estate was packed with every senior member of the Beaumont family. Her eyes were murderous when they landed on me. She spat out the words. “Caspian Thorne, what fresh hell are you trying to cause now? Did you call them here to defend you?” I was given the blame before I had a chance to speak. Uncle Robert stood up, looking at Cami with an expression of profound disappointment. “Camilla, we came on our own accord. We have conferred, and we agree: We approve your divorce from Caspian.”

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I squatted outside the hospital doors, finishing the last bite of a day-old flatbread, before finally dialing my granddaughter’s number. She was the golden ticket out of Red Rock County, the only one who’d flown out the second she got her college acceptance and never looked back. The only letter she’d sent informed me she was cutting ties, but she would wire my support payment every year. The line clicked open. I had meant to tell her I was sick, that soon I’d forget who she was—a joke to finally give her some peace. But the words caught in my throat, twisting into the familiar, bitter demand: “…Ella, when are you going to send this month’s money?” A cold laugh hissed from the other end. “Getting soft in the head, old man? I wired it at the beginning of the month, just like always. What is it, not enough for the coffin fund yet?” I leaned against the hospital flower bed, a thin stream of saliva running down the corner of my mouth. Ella was a success, all right. Our county’s finest. She even knew I needed a coffin. … Ella’s grown-up voice was nothing like the little girl’s. Squatting there, I suddenly remembered walking her to the village school when she was six. She’d clung to my legs, shaking, her tiny voice choked with sobs: “Grandpa, I… I’m scared…” Her voice had been soft, just like her mother’s, sweet and sticky like slow-dripping molasses. Now, this voice. It was cold. It was hard. If she pitched it right, it could probably leave a bruise. I peeled my lips back, letting the drool slide down my chin. Yeah. This was the voice of a phoenix that had flown out of the dust. Crisp. Efficient. Unapologetic. I swallowed. A strange surge of pride made my throat ache. “Ella, your voice… it changed.” There was a brief pause on the line. When she spoke again, the tone was the same, perhaps even colder. “Let’s stick to business. The money is there. Just check your balance and don’t call me again.” I mumbled, “Oh.” I wanted to say something else. Tell her about the awful noise from Cal, the County Official’s new motorcycle, or how the wild magnolias on the back hill were late blooming this year, or how my mind was getting foggier by the day, how after over a decade, I could barely remember her face. But the words died before they reached my lips. It wouldn’t be right to tell Ella any of that. “Alright then. That’s that.” I tried to mimic her clipped tone, making an abrupt end to the call. The dial tone buzzed in my ear as I slowly pushed myself up. My legs were asleep, and I stumbled. Cal, the County Official, who’d driven me here, caught my arm. He sighed. “Hank, why didn’t you tell her anything?” He pulled out his own phone. “Let me call her back. Just tell her about the sickness. Someone needs to know, Uncle Hank.” I slapped his hand away, my voice booming with a strength I no longer had. “Tell her what? The city doctors say this damn thing is a losing battle! Why bring her back here?” The wind kicked up, bringing the scent of hospital sanitizer and old fryer grease from a nearby food cart into my face. I sniffled, suddenly remembering making flapjacks for Ella when she was small. She’d always complain about too much onion, pouting and refusing to eat it. Now, I wondered if Ella still ate grease-soaked flatbread. Cal steadied me, a look of exasperated pity on his face. “Uncle Hank, your temper… no wonder my mother says you were stubborn as a mule when you were young.” I grunted. “Your mother’s right. Only the stubborn and the hard survive in this county.” Cal fell silent, pulling out a crumpled cigarette. “But you’re sick, you can’t just—” “Can’t just what?” I cut him off, straightening my back. “My Ella is a respectable woman now. She sits in an office with air conditioning. Why would I drag her back to this?” A siren wailed in the distance, a long, mournful sound that twisted my insides. “This county raises people, and it eats people. Her mama was the chewed-up husk left behind. Ella finally… finally flew away, her feathers clean and shining. What happens to me is my business. It has nothing to do with her.” “Come on. Let’s go back to the shack.” “My old place is still standing. When the time comes that I can’t move…” I didn’t finish the thought. When that time came, I’d take care of myself, clean and simple. That was the best way. The phoenix can fly as far as she wants, but she must never look back at this dirty, hard, thorny lump of earth. She had to stay clean and keep flying forward. She couldn’t end up like her mother, Violet. When I was seventeen, my parents arranged for me to take a bride, June, from a neighboring settlement. My folks made the call, and I had no say. The men in this part of the county were, mostly, awful. When I saw June arrive—her eyes full of fear and tears—I knew I couldn’t treat her like the other men treated their wives. I treated her like a person. I was good to her, believing life would eventually get better. A year later, we had a daughter, Violet. My Violet was a good girl from birth. I swore then that my Violet would not go down the same road as her mama. I didn’t know much, but I knew an education was the only way out. So I worked myself to death to keep her in school. She was smart, always at the top of her class. Her teacher said she could be the first girl in the county to go to a major university. I thought books could take her away, to a place I couldn’t see but knew was good. But when Violet was seventeen, on her walk home from school, she was cornered on the dirt path behind the hill by Roy, a trashy local who couldn’t get a decent wife. When I got the news, I grabbed my machete and ran to his place. My Violet, she was always so gentle and compliant. How could she have fought him off? But my own father grabbed me, wrestled me to the ground, and after a long silence, spat out a single sentence. “You’re bringing shame on us. If this gets out, how will our family ever show its face in this county again?” He told Violet she had to marry Roy. I went insane, lunging to kill that animal, but my father and my brothers pinned me down. My mother stood nearby, weeping, and June was nearly fainting from shock and grief. But in the end, my mother was the one who cried as she pleaded with me: “Let it go, son, let it go… Our girl is ruined now. If she marries him, at least she’ll have a roof over her head. It’s better than everyone pointing and whispering.” June looked at me, her eyes hollow with despair, her lips trembling, unable to speak. They had been worn down by this damn world, believing that a woman’s reputation was worth more than her life. But I didn’t agree! My father tied me up, strung me from the rafters, and whipped me with a belt. I cried and screamed, begging him to let Violet go, to send her away, anywhere. He didn’t listen. Violet stood nearby, utterly bloodless, her eyes empty. When they finally cut me down, she walked over, knelt by my side, and gently touched the wounds on my face. Then she said: “Daddy, stop fighting. I’ll marry him.” I’ll marry him. Those three words nailed me, and my Violet, to the coffin. Less than a year later, Violet was gone. She died giving birth. That day, it seemed like everyone in the county came by. They stood in my yard, cracking sunflower seeds and spitting. One said Violet had a low-born spirit, always trying to be some big scholar; she was cursed and it killed her. Another said a woman with no talent is virtuous, that she should have just married when she was supposed to, and that trying to get an education meant she deserved what happened to her on the way home. Later, I took a knife and went to that man, Roy. I gave him every last penny I had to take Violet’s daughter back. He despised Violet’s baby because it was a girl; he wanted to sell her off. But I didn’t care. She looked so much like Violet! Just one look at her, and my heart turned to bitter, burning ash. The baby didn’t cry or fuss. She just stared at the world that had swallowed her mother, her eyes wide and dark. I sat with her on the old plank bed where Violet used to sleep. My only thought was that I couldn’t let her become a second Violet. That thought burned like wildfire, drying up my tears and hardening my bones. I became the most fearsome mule-headed old man in the county, guarding her fiercely. The truck stopped at the edge of the county. Cal helped me out. “Uncle Hank, we’re home.” Home? I looked up at the familiar, yet alien, county, at the silent old oak tree by the road. This was never a home. It was a graveyard. It buried June, it buried my Violet, and it damn near buried Ella. Ella, like her mother, had a soft disposition from birth. And that was my biggest fear. It kept me awake all night, every night. I was terrified she was too pretty, that she would attract the wrong kind of attention, that she would be like her mother—swallowed whole, skin and bone, by this hungry place. I raised her in constant terror, never letting her out of my sight. But then one day, she was coming home from school. A group of men loafing by the county entrance gathered to mock her. “Well, lookie here, Ella’s growing up into a big girl.” “Yeah, couple more years and she’ll be ready for marrying.” Ella stood there, helpless, her face flaming red, unable to squeeze out a single word. The men laughed harder. One of them actually pushed his simple-minded, drooling son, who was squatting by his feet, toward Ella. “Ella, why don’t you be my boy’s wife? You give us a grandkid, and Uncle will treat you like a daughter.” I stood around the corner, watching her silently. Her lips trembled. Her body shook. But she couldn’t even utter a clear “No.” She couldn’t even find the strength to push away that dirty, grinning idiot who was rubbing against her. A surge of pure evil rage shot from my soles to the top of my head. I charged out, grabbed a porch stool, and slammed it down on those loose-lipped bastards. Ella screamed, her voice shaking, “Grandpa!” “You crazy old fool, Hank!” “You’re so old you’ll kick the bucket any day now! I was just offering to take Ella in so she’d be protected! I was helpingyou!” That last line made my heart clench. Yes, I was old. I might not be around to protect Ella. And then, she would surely go the same way her mother did. I looked at Ella, who was crying so silently you could barely hear her. At that moment, I made a decision. She had to learn to be covered in thorns, to protect herself. I was too old. I was running out of time. That evening after dinner, I held her down and hacked off her hair into a choppy mess. I stuffed all her little dresses into the stove. She cried hysterically, but she only shrank into herself, just calling “Grandpa” over and over. I refused to give her a moment’s tenderness. She started working harder around the house, trying to appease me. She’d sneak glances at me, her eyes void of resentment, filled only with an almost primal dependence and submission. But the more she tried to please me, the more timid she became, and the more hateful things I spat at her. I wanted to see her leap up—to point her finger and curse me, even to throw something at me. Anger was life; it was a shield. What terrified me was her gentle, compliant nature. In this poor, hungry place, that was a weakness that would get her eaten alive. I began to escalate my methods. I brought home a large, black dog from the next county over. Ella had been afraid of dogs since she was small. She backed against the wall, pale-faced, looking at me with pleading eyes. I released the leash without a word. The black dog snarled and lunged toward her. Ella’s scream caught in her throat. She kept calling for Grandpa to save her. I stood in the doorway, my hand resting on the rough wooden frame, my nails digging in until they hurt. Ella finally choked on her screams. She looked at me one last time, then abruptly squeezed her eyes shut. Her hand scrabbled along the wall until she found the heavy wooden plank we used as a carrying pole. She swung it with all her might at the dog’s head. In that instant, my body went slack, and the broken nails on my fingers stung. Ella slowly opened her eyes and looked at me again. But this time, I knew something in her eyes had changed. Ella’s need to please was gone, replaced by a cold silence and avoidance. The stone in my own heart finally settled. She no longer needed my lessons. She was hardening. I caught her once. That worthless local from the next county was whistling at Ella while she hung laundry. The fury flared up in my chest instantly. I grabbed the plank by the wall, ready to rush out. But Ella was faster. She picked up the empty wooden basin at her feet and slammed it hard into the man’s side. The sputter of the motorcycle engine stalled for a moment, then revved up in annoyance, and the man sped away, weaving down the road. I stood there, the plank raised, frozen. Ella went inside, expressionless. She hadn’t said a word. But I saw it: the ice in her eyes. Tears welled in my own eyes at that moment. But I was also strangely elated. Even without me, my Ella could protect herself. Ella went to high school, smart as her mother. Her teachers said if she kept up her grades, she was guaranteed a university spot. A new round of gossip started in the county. The same things they’d said about Violet. They said Ella was cursed, that she was aiming too high, and would likely fall to her death like her mother. That day, I went door-to-door with my machete, leaving a slash mark on the doors of a dozen houses. Finally, I stood at the county entrance, my throat hoarse as I yelled: “The way my Violet died—everyone in this county knows the truth! Some of your tongues tasted my daughter’s blood back then, and now you want to lick my granddaughter clean?” “I’m telling you! Half my body is already in the dirt! If any of you so much as think about messing with Ella, I will wipe out your whole damn family! Try me!” The county went silent. But the next day, I went to the little town where Ella went to school. I found a job washing dishes. I had to be closer to her. Every night, in the deep dark, I’d curl up on a makeshift bed of benches and slowly, painstakingly, count the money I’d earned. Ella would need even more money when she went to the big city. Ella was a quick study. Her grades were stellar. She was braver now. I kept wishing for the day she would fly far, far away. But then, Ella’s teacher contacted me through Cal.

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