The Uncle Who Shattered My Heart How long does it take to get over someone? I’d been with Julian since I was fifteen. From fifteen to twenty-five, everyone else changed so much. But for those ten years, my world revolved solely around Julian. Thinking this, I let my hand fall. “Uncle, Aunt, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll come back to the UK with you.” Hearing me finally agree, my Uncle’s joyful voice came through the phone. “That’s wonderful, Chloe! Don’t worry, our family will take good care of you, just like our own daughter!” My Aunt quickly snatched the phone. “Chloe, I’ll have your cousin Liam come pick you up tomorrow, okay? I’ve had your room prepared, and the school arrangements are all set. You just need to come!” My Uncle and Aunt’s warmth made my heart feel fuzzy. Thank goodness, there were still people in this world who loved me… “Aunt, no rush. I still have some things to take care of here. It’ll probably take about another month.” “After all, he did care for me for ten years.” My Aunt wholeheartedly agreed. “You’re right. We’ll have Liam visit your uncle then. He’s not blood-related, so taking care of you for ten years is an immense kindness; we can never repay that debt.” “Yes, he was very good to me. He’s a good person…” After hanging up, I went alone to handle my visa. On the way back, I originally planned to walk. But I didn’t expect… “Chloe! Walking alone? Get in!” I wanted to refuse, but I couldn’t argue with Seraphina’s persistence. Sitting in the luxury car, I felt incredibly uncomfortable. I kept my head down, awkwardly fidgeting with my fingers. The woman beside me, however, kept talking nonstop. “Julian is really something, letting you out alone. Didn’t even get you a car. If I hadn’t bumped into you, were you really going to walk all the way home? Calling a cab would have been fine. Is Julian so cheap that he doesn’t even give you pocket money? I’ll have to give him a good talking-to about this!” The woman’s name was Seraphina, Julian’s fiancée. And the person I disliked the most. No other reason, except that Seraphina was the woman who had stolen Julian from me. And the woman who had completely shattered my life’s dreams. From fifteen to twenty-two, my world had only contained Julian. My feelings for Julian grew increasingly complex. He was the man who had saved my life, and the man who had raised me. My hero, and the object of my uncontrollable affection. My feelings for Julian evolved from initial admiration to deep love. Over the years, Julian had no shortage of women around him. But I always believed they were merely passing acquaintances, unable to capture his heart. I always fantasized that one day, I could be with him in a different capacity. Until Seraphina appeared, shattering all my illusions. Seraphina was different from all the other women Julian had known. The way Julian looked at her was intense and profound. Unlike the distant chill he showed other women, and not the familial concern he showed me. It was a gaze I had never seen before. I couldn’t help but recall Seraphina’s first appearance, how she effortlessly snatched everything I cared about. It was at a party at the Hayes’ family estate. Seraphina fluttered into Julian’s arms like a little bird. Julian held Seraphina with practiced ease, and Seraphina clung to Julian, their fingers entwined. At that time, everyone still jokingly called me the future lady of the house, Julian’s little wife-to-be. Amidst the guests’ laughter, Seraphina stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around Julian’s neck, and pulled him into a kiss. Watching that scene, I felt a searing pain in my heart. I instinctively clenched my fists, so humiliated I wished I could sink into the ground. A sliver of hope still lingered. Please, Julian… Just refuse her, won’t you? Even if it’s just to pretend for my sake! Julian’s gaze also fell on me. He understood the plea in my eyes. But… As if to make me completely give up hope. He not only didn’t refuse Seraphina but actively tilted her chin up, passionately kissing her. They kissed fervently in front of everyone, their eyes seemingly holding only each other, no longer tolerating any unwelcome presence. After their passionate kiss, Seraphina’s face glowed with happiness. Blushing, she wrapped her arm around Julian’s, feigning shyness towards me. “Oh, look at us, making a spectacle in front of Chloe!” She playfully tapped Julian’s chest. And Julian’s face remained full of doting affection. “Seraphina initiated the kiss, I naturally couldn’t refuse.” Seraphina’s face flushed even deeper. “What are you saying? Chloe is right here. No propriety at all.” With that, Seraphina cast a faux-apologetic look at me. “Sorry, Chloe, we just lost our composure. Don’t mind us.” Faced with such a scene, I could no longer bear it and ran out crying. “Chloe, where are you going?!” Seeing me run out, Seraphina feigned concern and made to chase me, but Julian stopped her. Julian watched my retreating figure with a cold expression. “Leave her be. Just her usual dramatics!” “Julian, does Chloe dislike me…?” Seraphina’s eyes welled up, looking utterly hurt. Julian shook his head. “She’s twenty-two, not a child anymore!” “She should know what she should and shouldn’t do!” 2. My thoughts snapped back, the car had already reached its destination. “Get out, Chloe. I told Julian. We haven’t had dinner together in ages, have we? Don’t be shy, we’re family.” Seraphina’s voice was gentle, but I felt no warmth or closeness from it. Seeing the stern-faced man standing at the entrance, my body tensed. My heart was incredibly bitter, filled with sorrow. It truly had been a long time since I’d had a meal with Julian. There were fewer and fewer of Julian’s things in the house, and our connection grew thinner. Julian seemed to be deliberately avoiding me, even moving out of the home we’d shared for seven years to live with Seraphina. Did Julian really hate me that much now? Perhaps my leaving would be a good decision for everyone, at least they wouldn’t have to torture each other anymore. My face was etched with bitterness. Julian’s peripheral vision caught my expression; he noticed something was off. But he said nothing, did nothing. In his mind, everything he was doing was to help me grow better. This was the best way for us to be together, good for both of us. During dinner, Seraphina spared no effort in showcasing her intimacy with Julian. “Here, Julian, have some shrimp balls. I remember this is your favorite dish; you always order it.” Seraphina enthusiastically put food on Julian’s plate. Hearing her words, both Julian and I paused. Shrimp balls weren’t Julian’s favorite dish; they were mine. For years, Julian had ordered them first at every meal, just to accommodate me. This time was no different… Seraphina looked a little awkward. She sensed the shift in atmosphere between us, but she didn’t understand why. To ease the tension, Seraphina smiled and put a shrimp ball on my plate too. “Quick, Chloe, you eat too. Their shrimp balls are the best, crispy outside and tender inside. Have them while they’re hot, they don’t taste as good cold.” I didn’t refuse. “Thank you, Auntie.” Hearing my words, Seraphina and Julian both froze. Simply because “Auntie” was the first time I had ever called her that. Before this, I was unwilling to even call Julian “Uncle.” Back then, I was stubborn, stubbornly believing that as long as we didn’t explicitly define our relationship, there was still another possibility for us. “Chloe, what did you just call me?!” Seraphina’s face was beaming with delight. I smiled, my expression even calmer, as if it were the most commonplace thing. “Auntie, of course. Julian’s wife, I should naturally call Auntie. Although you’re still so young, seniority shouldn’t be mixed up.” Seraphina happily tugged on Julian’s arm, shaking it. “Julian, Chloe called me Auntie! She accepts me! This makes me so happy!” But at that moment, Julian’s face showed no hint of joy. His expression was dark, filled with displeasure. He looked at me with heavy eyes. I felt like I couldn’t read Julian anymore. It was he who told me to treat him as an uncle, as an elder. It was he who made me accept reality, accept Seraphina. But why, when I finally understood, gave up, and did what he wanted, was he unhappy? I said nothing, just quietly picked up a piece of fish. As for the plate of shrimp balls, I used to eat half the plate by myself. This time, I didn’t touch a single one. Perhaps a change of taste would also change my mood? Seeing my distant demeanor, Julian’s eyes deepened further. Seraphina then coyly leaned on Julian again. “Julian, I want to eat fish, but I don’t want to pick out the bones~” Seraphina deliberately spoke in a high-pitched, cutesy voice, tilting her head, her large eyes winking playfully. “Alright, my little gourmand, I’ll pick out the bones for you.” “I knew you spoil me the most, darling~” Julian picked up a piece of fish, carefully and meticulously removing all the tiny bones. This gesture, however, once again touched the softest part of my heart. When I was little, I rarely ate fish. I thought picking out bones was too much trouble, so I just wouldn’t eat it. My family thought I didn’t like fish, so they hardly ever made it. In truth, I loved fish; I just hated the hassle. But Julian was different. The first time he took me out to eat, he saw my eyes fixed on the fish dish, yet I didn’t touch it. He instantly saw through my little心思, and personally peeled away each tiny bone from the fish. He handed the tender white fish meat to me. I was so happy to experience such treatment for the first time. I ate very happily that meal. Later, this habit continued. Just like the shrimp balls, ten years of living together, even a single meal was full of memories. At first, Julian wasn’t skilled; the fish he de-boned was often messy. But now, he was incredibly proficient. Every piece of fish he picked was perfectly intact, the tender white meat looking incredibly delicious. Only, the one enjoying this treatment was no longer me… “Wow, darling’s skills are truly amazing!” “I never would have thought, Julian, that you’re such a meticulous person, doing even these little things so well.” “I’m so lucky to have a boyfriend like you!” Seraphina’s voice was filled with happiness. And Julian dotingly ruffled Seraphina’s hair. “Alright, eat up quickly. It’ll get fishy when it’s cold.” “Okay~” 3. “Cough! Cough!” Trying to avoid suspicion, I ate my food quickly, but unexpectedly, a fishbone got stuck in my throat. I coughed hard, trying to dislodge it, but it was no use. The two who had just been so loving had their atmosphere ruined by me. Almost immediately, Julian pushed Seraphina away and rushed over, patting my back. But I covered my mouth, pushed Julian aside, and ran out alone. Julian’s first reaction was unmistakable. Seraphina saw everything, and her face turned incredibly sour. Julian stood there awkwardly. After composing myself, I walked out of the restroom, only to be blocked by Seraphina, who was waiting at the door. She said: “Chloe, Julian and I are getting married. Can I ask you to stay away from him?” “What?” I stared at Seraphina, wide-eyed in disbelief. But Seraphina continued, seriously: “I know this isn’t something I should say, but we’re getting married. And I know you don’t like me, but please, think clearly. He was just your father’s comrade. He raised you for ten years just to repay your father’s kindness all those years ago. What right do you have to waste his entire life?!” “I’ve warned you many times already, why don’t you understand how to keep your distance?! Julian is a man and not meticulous enough, but how can you, a girl, be so disgusting?!” My secret thoughts laid bare in public, I was utterly humiliated. I knew Seraphina was trying to shame me. I tried to use the pain in my palms to remind myself to stay calm. I lowered my head, responding softly. “Okay, I won’t cling to him anymore.” But Seraphina acted as if she hadn’t heard me, closing in step by step, still talking nonstop. “Please, I’m begging you, won’t you let go of Julian, and let go of me? They say giving you a glass of water is kindness, but giving it forever turns you into an enemy. Julian raised you; he didn’t want you to cling to him for life, did he?!” “What if one day I wasn’t paying attention, would you try to climb into Julian’s bed, to be on equal footing with me?” “Ah!” Seraphina’s words grew increasingly offensive, and I was backed into a corner. When I heard the words “climb into bed,” I couldn’t take it anymore and pushed Seraphina away. I didn’t use much force, but Seraphina fell to the ground, crying out. The moment I saw Julian, I realized it was all a trap Seraphina had set for me! Seeing Seraphina ‘attacked’, Julian immediately rushed over. He furiously shoved me to the ground. “What are you doing?” He glared at my stunned face, his bloodshot eyes looking at me like an enemy. Then, he tenderly picked up Seraphina, carefully cradling her in his arms, and turned to leave. Unwilling, I scrambled up from the ground and blocked Julian’s path. I wanted to explain to Julian. “No, Julian, it’s not like that. I didn’t mean it, it’s a misunderstanding, it was her…” “Julian, it hurts so much…” “Don’t blame Chloe. I was the one who took you away from her, so it’s okay if she slaps me…” Before I could finish, Seraphina, hiding in Julian’s arms, pitifully interrupted. As she spoke, she tearfully revealed her swollen, red cheek, making her look utterly wronged. With Seraphina’s deliberately misleading explanation, Julian’s expression worsened. No matter how much I tried to explain, Julian wouldn’t listen to a word. In his mind, I was already the unreasonable, violent person. I refused to give up, reaching out to block the car door. I looked at Julian, unwilling to accept, wanting to explain, but Julian didn’t want to hear a single word. His eyes were entirely fixed on Seraphina, who was hiding in his arms. Julian roughly pulled me away, carefully placed Seraphina into the car, then slammed the door shut. Unprepared, my hand was caught. “Ah!” I groaned in pain, my hand turning purple. But Julian, who had always been so concerned about me, didn’t even glance my way. He got into the car and sped off. I could only rub my bruised, purple hand, watching the car disappear into the distance. In the end, I went home alone. And that road felt even longer. The bruises on my hand and the marks on my body reminded me how cruel Julian had become towards me. But actually… Julian wasn’t always so cruel to me. 4. My teenage fantasies had always centered solely on Julian. After I came of age, my feelings for Julian began to change. At that time, I tried every way to pursue Julian, hoping to make our relationship closer. I learned to bake, learned to make handmade chocolates for Julian on Valentine’s Day. Julian didn’t have a girlfriend then, and he was very happy when he received the gift. He smiled and said: “Chloe has grown up, and has other intentions.” Julian’s gaze towards me wasn’t entirely innocent back then either. So, in the past, I always believed we were in love. Later, our feelings for each other grew increasingly complicated. My courage also grew. From entwined fingers, sharing a cookie, drinking from the same milkshake, to our lips entwined in passionate kisses. Those days were the happiest of my life. I felt Julian was slowly becoming mine. Until my twentieth birthday, when I had prepared wine, wanting to take the next step. Everything felt so natural. We passionately embraced, slowly unbuttoning each other’s clothes, touching each other’s skin. But at the crucial moment, Julian suddenly stopped. His emotions slowly cooled. He pulled the blanket over my body, said “I’m sorry,” and left without looking back. No matter how much I called out to him, he didn’t turn around. After that day, Julian seemed like a different person. He began actively distancing himself from me, and wouldn’t come home for days and nights. The man who had always been so discreet started to have all sorts of women around him. Every day, he carried the scent of a different woman’s perfume. When he finally returned, I seized the opportunity to confront him, seeking an answer. But Julian said: “I only see you as a child. You have no right to meddle in my affairs.” “Then what did all of *that* between us mean?” I desperately questioned him. But Julian’s face only showed indifference. “I made a mistake before. Just treat it as a bad dream. Wake up and forget it ever happened. I could never love you!” I refused to believe his dismissiveness. I couldn’t believe Julian’s past attitude towards me was false, and even less that he didn’t love me. I deluded myself into thinking those women were just an act, that Julian loved me, and that one day he would return to me. But all these fantasies shattered the moment Seraphina appeared. Unlike those other women, Julian introduced Seraphina as his “lover.” He even deliberately held a gathering to tell all his friends and family that Seraphina was his woman. And that night, Julian didn’t come home. I sat alone on the sofa, hugging my knees, staring at the door, waiting for Julian to return. I never imagined Julian would treat me this way! Couldn’t he at least listen to my explanation? The next day, still unwilling to give up, I ran to Julian’s office. Seeing me, Julian couldn’t help but frown. “Didn’t I tell you I’m busy? The office isn’t a playground for you. Don’t just show up for no reason!” His cold attitude humiliated me once again. My hand, clutching my clothes, tightened. “Uncle Julian, I just came to explain what happened last night. I didn’t mean to hit Serap… I didn’t mean to hit Auntie Seraphina. It was her…” Before I could finish, Julian interrupted her. “Seraphina already told me about it last night. Maybe her words were a bit harsh, but she wasn’t wrong.” “I’ve told you again and again that I don’t love you, and there’s no way we can be in any other kind of relationship. But you stubbornly refuse to give up, clinging to me repeatedly, ruining my relationship with Seraphina. Aren’t you just throwing away your dignity?” “I warned you about all this a long time ago. Why can’t you remember?!” Listening to Julian’s words, I couldn’t help but lower my head. I was afraid I’d start crying again, so weak. Yes, he had warned me long ago. Two months prior, I had also barged into Julian’s office, unwilling to accept. What had he told me then? “I know very well what love is and what responsibility is. I don’t love you, only have responsibility for you!” “You need to understand, you’re grown up now. My responsibility for you ended the day you turned adult. I’ve raised you for ten years; I’ve done right by you!” Unwilling to accept it, I blurted out: “We’re not blood-related, so why can’t I be with you…” “Chloe!” Julian’s face changed, and he sharply reprimanded me, stopping me from saying anything more. “I can help you with school, with work, anything. But if you keep thinking about all this nonsense, then I’m sorry, my stance is clear. Go back to where you came from. As far as I’m concerned, I never raised you!” Julian’s coldness was unexpected. I couldn’t imagine the man who had always been so gentle with me could be so cruel. Running here to confront Julian had already exhausted all my courage. I was stubborn, and I was proud. With Julian’s words having reached this point, I could no longer beg him for even a sliver of affection. It was these repeated rejections and hurts that finally made me decide to accept my Uncle’s offer and leave. Thinking this, I gave a self-deprecating smile. Thankfully, I was much more sensible now. I smiled and looked up at Julian. “Thank you for your advice, Uncle Julian. I understand. I’ll be sure to keep my distance in the future.” After saying that, I took a deep look at Julian, then turned and left his office. What I didn’t notice was that Julian, still sitting in his office chair, had become rigid, his fists clenched white. As I ran out, Julian instinctively wanted to chase after me, but he didn’t move. Julian rubbed his aching temples. He hadn’t wanted to be so absolute. But… He had to make me give up! My entire life couldn’t be wasted on him, and they shouldn’t be together! ***Paywall*** 5. After leaving Julian’s company, I also prepared to pack my things and leave this home. I was leaving soon; for the remaining time, I shouldn’t get entangled with him anymore. But unexpectedly, as I was packing, Julian suddenly returned. Seeing my luggage, Julian’s face turned grim, and he couldn’t help but frown. “Where are you going?!” I pursed my lips, a little flustered. “I’m graduating soon, and I need to prepare my final project. I want to move to the studio to focus on it.” Hearing my words, Julian sighed in relief. “Your studio is too small and dusty; it’s not suitable for living. I’ll have Mr. Hayes set up a studio for you at home.” I shook my head, declining Julian’s offer, insisting on moving out. “No, thank you, Uncle Julian. I’m used to the studio; I don’t really want to change. “Besides, you and Auntie Seraphina are getting married soon. When she moves in, it wouldn’t be very convenient for me to keep living here. “You’re right, I’m grown up now. I shouldn’t cling to you anymore.” Julian was speechless, my words blocking him. His brow furrowed deeper, his expression turning grim. He wanted to stop me but realized he had no standing to. In the end, he could only agree with a dark face. “I’ll drive you.” This time, I didn’t refuse, just nodded obediently. “Okay, thank you, Uncle Julian.” Julian was unaccustomed to this version of me. I was too cold, too distant. It was as if he was merely an uncle I rarely saw, with nothing but basic politeness and respect between us. Julian felt incredibly distressed but was unable to react, for he was the one who had brought all this pain upon himself. He had no right to demand more from me. The atmosphere in the car was deadly silent, neither of us speaking. But halfway through the drive, Julian’s phone rang. It was Seraphina. As soon as he answered, Seraphina’s tearful voice could be heard. “Hello, Julian, it’s me, Seraphina. I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much! Is my foot broken?!” “Okay, where are you? I’ll be right there!!” After hanging up, Julian looked at me hesitantly. But I unbuckled my seatbelt first. “It’s okay, Uncle Julian, you can just drop me here. Auntie Seraphina’s injury is more important. There isn’t much further to go, I can walk the rest of the way.” “Alright, be careful.” After dropping me and my luggage off, Julian immediately sped away. I stood alone, dragging my luggage, watching the car fade into the distance, my face filled with bitterness. I was already used to Julian leaving me behind. The drop-off point was quite secluded, and I couldn’t hail a cab along the way. Left with no choice, I dragged my luggage alone for five kilometers. By the time I reached the studio, I was exhausted, wanting nothing more than to collapse on the floor. Skylar, my roommate, was startled to see me like this and rushed over to help me move my things. “Oh my goodness, you didn’t walk all this way, did you? Didn’t you say your uncle was giving you a ride?!” Mentioning Julian, my face flushed with a bit of embarrassment. I could only say: “He was busy, couldn’t take me.” Skylar nodded. “Must have been something really important then!” “Your Uncle Julian really is good to you, though. Remember freshman year, when that girl bullied you, acting all high and mighty because her family was rich, and even the professor didn’t take your side? We all thought you’d have to just take it!” “But then he showed up and got you justice. I remember he even skipped an important meeting for you! He really does care about you!” Skylar’s words brought back memories of those past moments. It was precisely because of these memories that I could never forget Julian. And couldn’t help but love him. But now, our relationship… “It’s all changed.” That was the only phrase I could think of to describe our current relationship. I smiled, saying nothing more about Julian. Skylar also noticed something was off. In the past, I would talk endlessly about Julian, my face always glowing with happiness. Now, I didn’t want to discuss him at all. She, too, tacitly avoided mentioning Julian again. After I unpacked, I dedicated myself to ceramics. Kneading clay, throwing, molding, carving, sun-drying… I performed these steps with skill and precision. I thoroughly enjoyed the process. Making pottery was when my mind was most at peace, most comfortable. Because when I was making ceramics, my thoughts were entirely on the piece. It demanded all my energy, leaving no room to think about Julian anymore. “Wow! This is too beautiful!” “What kind of hands do you have? Can I just cut them off and have them? Compared to you, my hands look like pig’s feet!” Seeing my work, Skylar excitedly crowded around me. “Don’t flatter me too much. It hasn’t been fired yet. If it turns out to be a failure, I’ll just cry.” I looked at the clay piece with some apprehension. “Don’t worry, Little Pear’s creations are always masterpieces! What kind of hands are these? Master ceramist hands! Nothing can go wrong!” “Besides, how much effort have you poured into this piece? You even went all the way to personally dig up the clay. Every step was so meticulous. Don’t worry, it will definitely be perfect!” Hearing Skylar’s comfort, my heart warmed, and I felt much more at ease. “I hope it’s as you say. Please, don’t let anything go wrong!” After countless other complex steps, the ceramic vase, into which I had poured my heart and soul, was finally fired successfully. The vase was entirely sky-blue, covered with delicate ice-cracked patterns, looking incredibly beautiful. It was so exquisite, it seemed otherworldly. “Wow! Absolutely stunning! So gorgeous!” “Seriously, I’m not exaggerating, you’ll definitely win first prize at this year’s graduation exhibition. No one has more talent or works harder than you, and no one’s piece can be more beautiful than this divine vase!” Skylar was utterly mesmerized, kneeling on the floor, admiring it carefully. Afraid she might accidentally damage my masterpiece. I quickly laughed and helped Skylar up from the floor. “It’s not that serious. It’s just a vase. I’m no master.” “Chloe, my friend, please correct your thinking. This isn’t just a simple vase; it’s a work of art you poured your heart and soul into!” “And seriously, I’m not boasting, this piece of yours is absolutely incredible! You must protect your treasure vase well; it will lead you to success!” Seeing Skylar’s reverent expression, I couldn’t help but laugh until tears came. “Alright, alright, I’ll take good care of my treasure vase!” “That’s more like it.” Skylar was quite smug. During this time, I had been busy working on my graduation project and hadn’t thought about Julian for a long time. It wasn’t until Julian called that I felt like an eternity had passed. “Open the door. I’m outside.” Hearing Julian’s voice, my body instantly tensed, having just been laughing joyfully moments before. Why was he suddenly here?! Skylar noticed my uneasiness and quickly asked what was wrong. I shook my head, saying with a bitter smile: “Uncle Julian is here.” Skylar also froze. She said, somewhat awkwardly: “He’s probably just checking in on you, right?” I nodded, my eyes complicated: “Maybe…” I opened the door for Julian. 6. Standing outside the door were not only Julian but also Seraphina. The moment Seraphina saw me, she immediately smiled and pushed the bag she was carrying into my hands. “Julian and I were just passing by, so we bought some food to come see you. I hope we’re not interrupting your work!” Seraphina was clinging to Julian, her face full of tenderness, looking just like a thoughtful older sister. If I hadn’t seen Seraphina’s true colors before, I might never have guessed the wicked thoughts hidden beneath such a gentle smile. Julian, however, looked indifferent: “Are you not going to welcome us?” I felt uncomfortable but couldn’t just kick them out. I could only step aside, making way for them to enter the studio. “Wow, Chloe, your place truly has an artist’s vibe!” Seraphina looked around my studio. I quietly made tea. “It’s nothing, I’ve just been working on ceramics lately, so it’s a bit messy. Please don’t mind it.” “No problem at all, we don’t mind.” As she spoke, Seraphina picked up the vase I had just finished firing. At that moment, Skylar and I both held our breath. Skylar instinctively cautioned her. “Be careful, please don’t drop it. I’ve poured a lot of heart and soul into this vase!” “Of course not, how could I drop it?!” Seraphina replied dismissively, then held the vase with one hand, examining it up and down. “Tsk, tsk, tsk, it’s really beautiful. Even better than the one I saw at the auction house last month!” Seeing her actions, I had a bad feeling. The next second… “Clang!” “Ah!” “The vase!” Seraphina’s hand slipped, and the vase fell to the ground. I immediately dropped the hot kettle and lunged to try and save it, but it was too late. The scalding hot water spilled onto my hand, but I didn’t care. My mind was entirely focused on the vase I had poured all my heart into, now shattered. Under Seraphina’s clumsy action, the once beautiful vase was smashed to pieces, becoming a heap of fragments on the floor. My eyes instantly turned red. I shoved Seraphina away and loudly demanded: “What are you doing?!” Seraphina feigned weakness, collapsing to the ground. A shard of porcelain had cut her leg, and a few drops of blood seeped out. Even though it was just a tiny, insignificant cut, she immediately burst into tears. “Ah! So… so painful!” “Chloe, I was just clumsy! How could you do this to me?!” The moment she cried, Julian immediately pushed me aside and rushed over, cradling Seraphina in his arms with a pained expression. In doing so, he stepped on the shattered vase, crushing the already broken pieces even further. My heart shattered along with it. Julian carried Seraphina away in a hurry, only managing to say: “Seraphina didn’t mean it. I’ll compensate you for the loss,” before he left. After they left, I could only kneel on the ground, carefully picking up the fragments with my scalded, red hands, silently weeping. Skylar was heartbroken to see me like this. She knelt down and hugged me tightly. “It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t be too sad. The vase is broken, there’s no way to fix it.” Then, a flash of anger crossed her eyes. “I saw everything. That woman did it on purpose! She deliberately broke your hard work, then lied to get your Uncle Julian’s sympathy! She’s so scheming!” By then, I was in too much pain to breathe. I cried into Skylar’s embrace. “Skylar, do you think this is fate? Destined. I can’t leave a perfect piece in Jin City, and I can’t have a dignified ending with him either.” Skylar didn’t understand what I was talking about, nor how to answer me. But she knew that what was shattered was not just a vase, but my heart. 7. Skylar bandaged my hand, but the scald still throbbed, keeping me from sleeping well all night. The next day, Julian called. Not to ask about my injury, nor to care about my work, but merely to clean up Seraphina’s mess. “How much was that vase of yours? I’ll pay for it. Consider it bought by me for Seraphina. She told me it was just an accident, and she got hurt too, so don’t blame her.” I furrowed my brow, my face filled with pain. “Julian, that vase was my graduation piece, half a year of my hard work. It’s not something money can buy. And Skylar saw everything; Seraphina was clearly delibe—” “A million dollars. I’ll give you a million dollars. I’ll help explain things to the school too. Anyway, your pieces will eventually be sold, so consider it an advance purchase from me.” “And stop saying those things. I told you, Seraphina is always kind-hearted; she couldn’t have done it on purpose!” Hearing Julian’s words, I couldn’t bear it anymore and wretchedly hung up the phone. After the call disconnected, Julian called several more times. But I just let it ring, unwilling to answer. After ringing three more times, Julian gave up and didn’t call again. He directly transferred a million dollars to my account and sent me a message. “Don’t be childish. It’s just a broken vase. If it’s really an issue, I’ll buy you a better one at next month’s auction.” Seeing Julian’s message, my heart ached beyond words. I couldn’t imagine how Julian could say such things without shame. He knew that becoming a good ceramist was my lifelong dream. My mother was a renowned ceramist, and my father had always supported her career when he was alive. He would even personally fly to Yuncheng to find the best kaolin clay for my mother. I had thought that even if Julian and I didn’t have a good outcome, at least he would respect my passion. But I never expected that, in Julian’s mind, the career I wanted to dedicate my life to, the work I poured my heart into, was nothing but a joke. At that moment, my heart ached to its core, more painful than when the vase shattered. I was completely disillusioned with Julian. It turned out that in his eyes, I was merely that. Fortunately, in ten days, I would be leaving Jin City. I wouldn’t be an eyesore anymore! Although the vase was broken, I still did my best to repair it. But even after three days and three nights without sleep, I couldn’t restore it to its original state. There was still a gap in the middle of the vase. That piece of porcelain had been crushed to dust by Julian’s foot, forever lost. Just like my broken heart, which could never be fully repaired. When I submitted the damaged vase, my professor was also filled with regret. “Oh, what a wonderful piece! How did it break?!” Hearing my professor’s words, I lowered my head in shame. “I’m sorry, Professor, I’ve disappointed you.” The professor shook his head, kindly comforting me: “Chloe, don’t take it too hard. It’s not a big deal; you have a long way to go in life. Although this vase is beautiful and perfect, it won’t be the only great piece in your life. You’ll create even better works in the future!” “Besides, even though this vase is broken, you’ve repaired it wonderfully. The small missing piece in the middle gives it a unique beauty, lending the vase a special meaning. Don’t forget, regret can also be a form of appreciation.” Hearing my professor’s words, my heart felt warm. I told my professor that I would be leaving Jin City for the UK in ten days. The professor was greatly surprised: “So sudden? Are you going with your Uncle Julian?” I shook my head bitterly. “No, just me.” “Does your Uncle Julian know? He’s really good to you. Yesterday, he even called me specifically to ask if your broken ceramic piece would affect your studies and if there were any remedies!” Hearing my professor’s words, I smiled bitterly. “He knows. After all, he’s getting married soon and will have his own children. He can’t possibly keep supporting me for life, can he?” The professor nodded, understanding. “True. You’re not blood-related, so he’s done right by you.” I also nodded with a bitter smile. Yes, Julian had done right by me. What right did I have to ask for more from him? 8. At this point, my only remaining attachment in Jin City was to repay Julian for his kindness in raising me. Fortunately, I had always kept meticulous records, noting every expense Julian had covered for me. It amounted to over ten million dollars in total. My parents’ inheritance, plus the million dollars Julian had given me, could repay most of it. For the remaining portion, I decided to sell off the ceramic pieces I had made over the years. Because I was in a hurry to sell, most didn’t fetch good prices, and many pieces I loved had to be sold for cheap. Even though it pained me, I gritted my teeth and sold them. I was leaving soon, and I wanted to leave cleanly, owing Julian nothing. On the third day before my departure, I returned to that house. My mother’s few remaining works were still there in the villa, and I wanted to take them with me. I carefully took out my mother’s works, caressing them with longing. At this moment, it was as if the scenes of my childhood, making pottery with my mother, were right before my eyes. “Mom, I’m taking you to reunite with Uncle and Aunt and the rest of the family.” Halfway through packing, Julian suddenly came home. Seeing me packing, Julian frowned in confusion: “What are you doing?! Why are you taking these ceramic pieces?!” The moment I saw Julian, I froze, my eyes darting away. “It’s my Uncle Liam. He contacted me a while ago and told me a lot of stories about my mom when she was young. He also said he regretted arguing with her back then, and now he doesn’t even have anything to remember her by. So I thought I’d send him some of Mom’s old pieces so he can feel closer to her.” I told the lie without shame. Julian thought I was acting strange. “When did your Uncle Liam contact you? How come I don’t know?” My heart skipped a beat. “Just a couple of days ago, I guess. Maybe he’s getting older and just reminiscing about the past.” Julian nodded, looking understanding. I finally breathed a sigh of relief, almost exposed. After mailing the items, I prepared to leave, but Julian called out to me. “Your graduation project is fin… finished. When are you moving back in?” I froze again. “No need, Uncle Julian. Skylar and I are living together, and it’s quite nice.” Julian frowned in displeasure, his tone serious and unyielding. “The conditions there are too poor; it’s no place to live. The house isn’t just your room; you shouldn’t have to suffer outside like that.” With him saying that, I couldn’t refuse, so I could only agree. Seeing me nod, Julian finally looked satisfied. He immediately prepared to take me back to get my things. Just then, Seraphina suddenly arrived. She knew the house code and came and went as easily as if it were her own home. Seeing me, she paused for a moment. “Oh, Chloe’s back.” “Perfect, we can all eat together. Even though today is Julian and my anniversary, it’s fine. Chloe, you’re not an outsider, so join us.” Seraphina’s intention to get rid of me was clear. I smiled bitterly. But it was fine, I had no intention of staying anyway. I played along with Seraphina’s words. “Then Uncle Julian and Auntie Seraphina should celebrate properly. I have plans with a friend, so I won’t intrude.” Seraphina was very pleased to see me so perceptive. “Well, alright then. Chloe wants to be with her friends, and it wouldn’t be right for us, as elders, to stop you. Go on, don’t be late!” I breathed a sigh of relief and left as if fleeing, not even glancing at Julian. Julian watched my retreating figure, his expression solemn. When had I started to become so estranged from him? Even being in the same room with him felt so constrained. That night, I suddenly received a message from Seraphina. “Thank you, darling, for the anniversary gift! I’ve already posted it on SnapChat~” Seeing this baffling message, I was puzzled and initially planned to ignore it. But a moment later, Seraphina seemed to realize her mistake and sent another message. “Oh dear, Chloe, I’m so sorry, I sent the wrong message. I meant to send it to your Uncle Julian. Please don’t mind.” Against my better judgment, I clicked on Seraphina’s SnapChat profile. Opening Seraphina’s SnapChat, the first thing I saw was a meteorite fragment I recognized all too well. The caption for the post read: “Who got a piece of the cosmos from their darling? How unbelievably romantic~” Below were countless well wishes from Julian’s friends. “Wow, I never would have guessed! I thought Julian wasn’t the romantic type, but this is so sweet.” “Julian has been buying meteorites at high prices for years. I thought he was a secret astronomy enthusiast, but it turns out it was all a surprise for his lady!” “Giving stars? That’s so unique. I wish my husband would learn a thing or two from Julian, see how romantic he is!” But when I saw that SnapChat post, I couldn’t smile at all. I thought I wouldn’t be sad anymore, but Julian had hurt me again. Because of a “stone.” A seemingly ordinary stone, yet it carried memories unique to Julian and me. Since childhood, I had always loved stars, spending my days poring over astronomy books and visiting planetariums. Later, when Julian learned about this, he would send me a meteorite fragment for every birthday. Black, rocky stones covered with crevices, which others might dismiss as insignificant, worthless rocks. But every time I received this special gift, I would be overjoyed. In my heart, this was the best gift there was. For all these years, this unique gift had become our most precious shared memory. Now, even my stars were given to Seraphina. My heart was filled with nothing but bitterness. It seemed… I truly held no place in Julian’s heart anymore. Unbidden, tears welled up in my eyes, flowing uncontrollably. 9. And Seraphina kept sending me messages. “Chloe, you’re not angry, are you? I’m Julian’s girlfriend, so it’s normal for him to give me gifts.” “You’re grown up now, you wouldn’t get angry with Julian over something so small, would you? Julian raised you all these years out of kindness. Are you really going to cling to him for life?” “I’m not trying to be mean, but I’m much older than you and I understand things better. You lost your parents young, and Julian, being a man, naturally isn’t as meticulous. It’s okay if you don’t understand these things, I just want to tell you that a person should have some basic sense of boundaries!” All of Seraphina’s actions were aimed at driving me away. I understood her intentions and saw through her little schemes. I replied to Seraphina’s message. “Auntie Seraphina, please rest assured, I truly won’t cling to Uncle Julian anymore.” Seraphina replied instantly. “That’s wonderful! I knew Chloe was a sensible, good child!” With two days left until I left, I forced myself to stop thinking about Julian. To do this, I spent entire days and nights in the studio, making ceramics, spinning like a top. But Julian had become my nightmare, omnipresent. Even when I accidentally twisted my ankle, I couldn’t help but think of Julian. When I first arrived at Julian’s house, I was timid. Faced with an unfamiliar environment and people I barely knew, I was always careful. Too shy to accept strangers’ kindness, too embarrassed to trouble Julian. During that time, even if I felt unwell, I would silently endure it alone. When I first transferred to the new school, I was still reeling from the trauma of losing my parents and had shut myself off. I always kept my head down, unwilling to speak or interact with anyone. This personality meant that no one in class wanted to play with me, and classmates often deliberately picked on me. Sometimes they would tear up my completed homework and accuse me of not doing it. Sometimes they would pour water on my chair and then laugh at me for wetting my pants. I was afraid of bothering Julian with all this. And I was afraid Julian would find me annoying and kick me out, so I always endured it in silence. Until one time, those bullies went too far. They poured sand into my shoes during my dance class. When I got home, my feet were covered in blisters and bleeding. The housekeeper at home shrieked when she saw the blood on my feet. “Oh my goodness, Miss Chloe, what happened to your feet? Why is there so much blood?!” Julian happened to be home that day. The moment he heard I was hurt, he rushed over. He thoroughly examined me from head to toe. Then he sternly asked what had happened at school, whether I had been bullied. At first, I fidgeted with my clothes, unwilling to tell the truth. Julian sighed and comforted me for a long time. Only then did I finally open up to him, telling him about the bullying I’d been enduring at school. To help me get justice, Julian canceled an important meeting he had scheduled for nine the next morning. He personally took me to school to stand up for me. And when the perpetrator’s parents said: “Children without parents to teach them just have no manners,” Julian instantly exploded, smashing a cup. “Say that again! She’s under my care now; she’s *my* person. No one bullies her!” After that day, no one at school dared to bully me again. And no one dared to call me “the child nobody wanted” anymore. Over the past ten years, such incidents had happened countless times, and Julian had stood by me and defended me countless times. He was like my hero and guardian; whenever I needed him, he would appear as if from the sky. My encounter with Julian happened just as a young girl’s first stirrings of love began. When other girls in class spoke of “love,” only Julian’s image would appear in my mind. I had also asked myself, what exactly were my feelings for Julian? Was it family love? Was it attachment? As a teenager, I felt it was neither. I loved Julian; I had fallen hopelessly in love with him. Recalling these past events, my face grew even more bitter. Tears streamed down, and I drifted to sleep amidst the heavy bitterness. 10. The next day, perhaps due to overwork, my body gave out. A fever raged at forty degrees, and I was unconscious. In a hazy state, out of desperation, I called Julian for help. The phone connected, and I struggled to speak: “Ju… Julian…” However, the person who answered was not Julian, but Seraphina. “You still haven’t learned your lesson, still trying to cling to Julian, are you?!” “No… no, I have a fe—” I struggled to speak. But before I could finish, Seraphina continued to berate me. “I’ve already warned you! Julian has already rejected you himself! What more do you want?!” “You don’t know, do you? Julian spent the entire night with me yesterday. We did everything a couple should do. He never once thought of you!” “Clang!” I used all my strength to desperately hang up the phone. In the end, we couldn’t even have one last conversation. After the double blow of physical and emotional trauma, I had no strength left. The phone slipped from my hand and fell to the floor, and I lost consciousness. On the other end of the line, Seraphina smirked triumphantly when she saw the call disconnected and then deleted the call record. A little while later, Julian walked out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, looking curious. He picked up his phone from the bedside table and casually asked: “Were you just talking to someone?” Seraphina feigned ignorance and shook her head. “No, darling. Who would be so inconsiderate as to call this early in the morning?” “True.” Julian nodded, not pressing further. When I next awoke, I was in a hospital room. I weakly opened my eyes, somewhat confused, looking at the unfamiliar man sitting by my bed. “Who are you?” The man was dressed in a suit and tie, handsome and capable. Seeing me awake, he immediately stood up and called a doctor to check on me. Only after hearing the doctor say, “There’s nothing serious, just finish the IV and rest well,” did he nod in thanks, visibly relieved. After sending the doctor off, the man introduced himself. “Hello, my name is Kai Hayes. I’m your brother Liam’s friend. Your brother is in the UK and couldn’t make it back, so he asked me to bring you to the hospital.” “Now that you’re awake, you can give him a call.” I nodded blankly and took the phone. As soon as the call connected, an urgent male voice came through. “How are you, Chloe? Feeling better? You scared me to death, sis!” “I really shouldn’t have let you stay in the country alone. You should come to the UK and live with us as soon as possible, so we can take care of you. It’s a good thing Kai was back on some business this time, otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what to do!” Hearing Liam’s words, I realized that I must have answered his call in a semi-conscious state yesterday. Noticing something was wrong, Liam immediately contacted his friend in the country to take me to the hospital. I felt a little embarrassed and quickly thanked Kai. Kai nodded. “No problem, it was just a small thing.” On the other end of the line, Liam continued to instruct me. “Chloe, Kai is heading back to the UK anyway, so he can bring you with him. Your Uncle and Aunt were so scared when they heard you were sick. If I hadn’t reassured them that Kai was there, they would have flown over themselves that very night to take care of you!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299140”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #玄幻Fantasy

My brother died. He died in the brutal winter, his body never found. The night Liam died, the internet was ablaze with news: Billionaire Crime Boss Proposes to Blackwood Heiress, Celeste Blackwood. Fireworks painted the city sky, dazzling and extravagant. Hundreds of private jets had flown in the freshest roses, followed by the purchase of a ‘Heart of the Ocean’ diamond worth hundreds of millions. All because the spoiled Blackwood princess, Celeste, had, in a fit of pique with the crime boss Dominic Vance, publicly announced her “poor” boyfriend on social media. So, the crime boss had spent a fortune to win back his ‘princess.’ In the end, Celeste was “touched” by Dominic’s grand gesture. They reconciled, a ‘fairytale romance’ celebrated across social networks, showered with blessings. And my brother, the princess’s “poor” boyfriend, became the sole sacrifice. Accused and vilified by countless strangers. Unable to endure the cyberbullying, Liam begged Celeste to clear his name. Instead, she had her men break his limbs, shatter his teeth, and cut out his tongue. He was thrown into a dark, forgotten basement, left to starve to death, then his body was dumped off a cliff. The ‘prince and princess’ love story concluded with the “poor” medical student’s dreams shattered, leading to a “fragile” suicide off a cliff. The internet cheered, celebrating his demise. Knowing the truth, I immediately smiled and signed Celeste’s multi-million dollar settlement. Everyone called me cold-blooded and heartless, saying I was just like my brother, profiting from his tragedy. I just smiled at their gossip and whispers. No one understood my hatred, and I didn’t expect anyone to avenge us. Before I had power, I could only lay low, forcing a smile. True atonement requires feeling the same pain you inflicted. I took the millions in compensation and went abroad. Plastic surgery, skin grafts, liposuction, breast augmentation, even intimate reconstructive surgery. I dedicated myself to learning every skill I needed. I endured hundreds of procedures for a flawless face. I could go three days and nights without rest, mastering a new language. In two years, I transformed myself into a completely different person. A perfect, flawless face, a devilishly sculpted body, possessing both innocence and allure as if born with it. Far more beautiful than Celeste Blackwood. For these two years, I’d been like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, observing Celeste’s every move. Every post, every news article, I could recite by heart. I watched her flaunt her global limited-edition bags and jewels, watched her receive Dominic Vance’s extravagant proposal. Each piece of information fueled my deepening hatred. It made me crazy like wanting to kill them. Why did they get to invade my life like demons? Why did she get to live such a dazzling, bright life while my brother died so tragically? I wouldn’t forgive. One day, I would make her crawl at my feet, begging for mercy. Dominic Vance, the crime boss, was her greatest asset. I would make her lose his protection entirely. I would use every means to make Dominic abandon her, despise her. I would personally break every one of her wings. My chance to get close to Dominic came quickly. They had barely announced their engagement when a fierce argument erupted. That very night, Celeste posted photos on social media of herself abroad, partying with male models. Their usual cat-and-mouse game: she’d run, he’d chase; she’d throw a tantrum, he’d coax her back. No matter how outrageous or over-the-line Celeste’s actions were, Dominic always bowed his head first, seemingly cursed to reconcile with her. It didn’t matter. Even if he was cursed, I would cure him of his ‘sickness’ (Celeste), making him my puppet and mine alone. 2. After repeated scouting, I finally caught Dominic at home. I bribed the apartment complex security, then, in a form-fitting strapless dress, clutching my design portfolio, I rushed to his front door. Just as Dominic stepped out to throw trash, I feigned a stumble and collided directly into his arms. A light rain began to patter, water droplets clinging to my hair, making my smooth, fair calves look even more alluring. “Oh! Oh my gosh, I’m so, so sorry!” I flustered, but precisely because of it, my chest was heaving, a torrent of unspoken desire, an infinite temptation. “Who are you?” Dominic’s brows furrowed. He was wearing only gray shorts, his eight-pack abs perfectly sculpted, a clear testament to his impressive physique. “I’m so sorry, I’m a design student, here to pitch my interior design graduation project. I didn’t expect such heavy rain…” “Do you happen to have any interior design needs?” The rain had soaked my light-colored dress, the black lace beneath now barely concealed. Dominic stared at me for a few seconds, his frown deepening, then nodded: “I actually do need some work done recently. Come in, I’ll just change first.” A surge of triumph filled me. I stood awkwardly in the living room, waiting for Dominic to change. “Alright, let’s see these interior designs.” Suddenly, a playful voice sounded from behind me, and someone grabbed me from behind, holding me tightly. His voice sent a shockwave through me, and fear clawed its way up from my gut. Julian Blackwood. Celeste’s brother. The man I would never forget, even in hell. “Let’s see if the art is prettier or the artist.” His hand grew increasingly bold, moving from my waist down to my thigh. “Sir, please don’t. I’m just here to sell my designs.” My voice trembled, soft and weak. “Dressed like that, aren’t you just out to sell yourself? Why play innocent now?” Julian eyed me up and down, a look of contempt on his face, as if I were a piece of meat on a butcher’s block. “Apologies, my friend is a bit out of line. I’ve just seen your designs, they’re quite good, we can use them. My assistant will contact you.” Dominic emerged from his room, taking control of the situation. “You… you really want to use my designs?” I gazed up at Dominic, my expression utterly pathetic. My eyes, glistening with unshed tears, unintentionally revealed my fair, tender neck. “Yes.” “Who do you think Dominic Vance is? Would he lie to you?” Julian clapped Dominic on the shoulder, his eyes still leering suggestively at me. “Then… then could you perhaps pay a deposit?” I acted as if Julian had scared me, trembling as I offered my SnapChat code. Dominic glanced at me, said nothing, and scanned my code to add me. After adding me, I fled Dominic’s mansion as if my life depended on it. Back in my dingy rental, I scrubbed my body relentlessly. Until my skin was raw and red, I finally collapsed into a crying heap. My face could be surgically altered, my skin grafted, but memories couldn’t be erased. The countless moments of torment exploded in my mind. I wanted to flay Julian alive, feast on his flesh, drink his blood. Two years ago, fresh out of college, I was delivering a contract for my boss when I stumbled upon Julian assaulting a young woman. Even though I quickly retreated, Julian found an excuse the next day to call me back. For the sake of my job, I went. But he forced me to kneel and lick his shoes. When I refused, he felt disrespected, and that’s when my torment began. 3. He sabotaged my career, blacklisting me from the industry. He took humiliating photos of me and sent them to my parents, which triggered my father’s asthma attack. My mother, rushing my father to the hospital, got into a car accident, and they both died. He also used his connections to sabotage my brother’s competition. He told me if I didn’t submit, Liam would be next. I was terrified. I couldn’t bear it. I crawled on the floor like a dog, licking his shoes, using my head to open his beer bottles. A bottle shattered against my head, blood pouring down, washing away all my dignity. Liam, discovering what happened, was both heartbroken and furious, but mostly helpless. He knew the Blackwood family was powerful, so he sought help from Celeste. But he didn’t know that the Blackwood siblings were nothing but wolves in human skin, utterly depraved. My brother, in the end, died by Celeste Blackwood’s hand! My tightly clenched fingers turned bluish-white from the force. Endless hatred consumed my soul. I would make them pay a blood debt! Five days after adding Dominic Vance on SnapChat, I finally found another opportunity to approach him. “The castle I built for you is being renovated tomorrow, my little princess. Are you coming over?” Dominic sent this message, tagging Celeste. Immediately after, I received a message from his assistant: a meeting to discuss the renovation plans tomorrow. Clearly, the arrogant Celeste wouldn’t be satisfied with such a mundane apology, and my chance had arrived. I deliberately wore a light-colored, deep-V bodycon dress. Sprayed with an alluring perfume, subtle yet undeniably provocative. When I arrived at the address the assistant had given, I purposely tugged at my neckline, feigning urgency as I walked in. Celeste, as expected, wasn’t there. But Dominic was also nowhere to be found. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a sound. I walked toward it and found Dominic, clearly drunk, collapsed in the basement wine cellar. “Celeste, haven’t I been good to you? Why did you leave me?” I leaned closer to hear what he was saying. “Mr. Vance, you’re drunk.” I bent to help him, my soft cleavage perfectly positioned at his eye level. “You smell so good.” Dominic pressed his entire face against me. I feigned a recoil, shrinking back. Dominic’s large hand grabbed me, pulling me into his embrace. “Celeste, feel this. Don’t you love it?” Dominic guided my hand across his abs. His other hand wasn’t idle, beginning to caress me. “Celeste, your body’s gotten even better.” Dominic’s body grew hotter, and my hand ventured deeper. “Mr. Vance, I’m not… please, no, no…” My words were met with a bite mark on my collarbone. My refusal only seemed to excite Dominic further, like a tireless wolf, taking me again and again. Celeste, you’d never imagine. The man you love most was with me, tirelessly praising me, saying it felt better than before. Even exhausted, he couldn’t bear to take his hands off me. Celeste, you and your brother brought such pain to my entire family. I will make you repay it a hundredfold! First, I’ll steal your man, making you feel the sting of abandonment. Especially from the one you love most – wouldn’t that be fun? As dawn broke, I lay beside Dominic, sleepless through the night. Gazing at him, I traced his outline in the air with my hand. He was so handsome, a pity he was blind to fall for a demon like Celeste. “Celeste.” His voice, hoarse from sleep, spoke her name. Before even opening his eyes, his hands began to wander over me again. “Celeste, you’ve really kept your figure well.” Dominic started to nibble my ear. “Mr. Vance…” 4. I murmured, like a kitten. I couldn’t help it; my voice was hoarse from screaming last night. But it served my purpose perfectly. “Who are you?” Hearing my voice, Dominic instantly woke up, pushing me away with a jolt. Unprepared, I tumbled to the side. He looked at me with a hint of anger: “It’s *you*?!” “Mr. Vance, I’m so sorry. I came over yesterday to discuss the design plans and saw you on the floor. I just wanted to help you up, but you…” I paused, my expression utterly pathetic. “My strength was too little; I couldn’t push you away.” I apologized weakly, inadvertently exposing the bite marks and large bruises on my body. “I… I’m so sorry…” Looking at the disarray of the room, especially the crimson stain on the bedsheets, Dominic’s gaze completely changed. He looked at me with a hint of remorse. I didn’t answer, just sobbed softly. But I knew he was watching me. No man could accidentally take a girl’s virginity and feel no remorse. Especially not Dominic Vance. Perhaps his guilt would be my best weapon. “Mr. Vance, I know you didn’t mean to. What happened between us was an accident. Even though I’ve never been in a relationship and would want a boyfriend like you, I know your heart belongs to someone else. I won’t delude myself. Your hiring me as a designer is already a huge help; I’m very grateful.” Tears streamed down my face; I kept my head bowed. I picked up my clothes from the floor, haphazardly pulling them on, then walked out without looking back. After that day, my bank account kept receiving transfers. I knew it was Dominic’s compensation, but I couldn’t accept it, or my act would be for nothing. I transferred the money, every last cent, back to Dominic’s assistant. “Please tell Mr. Vance I’m very grateful for his kindness. Meeting him already feels like a blessing from above.” After sending the message, no more transfers came, but I wasn’t after money; I was after the “big fish.” For half a month after that night, Dominic made no further moves. Celeste’s address abroad kept changing, meaning they hadn’t reconciled yet. It was time for me to add some more drama to this play. One stormy night, I knocked on Dominic’s door again. My white blouse was now soaked through by the rain, subtly outlining the pink lace bra underneath, clearly revealing the “scenery.” I dragged a huge suitcase, its black color making me appear even more delicate and fragile. Like a lost little bunny, I said pitifully. “Mr. Vance, my landlord suddenly sold the apartment, and I haven’t found anywhere else yet.” “You’re the only person I know here. I’m so sorry to bother you, if it’s inconvenient, I…” I hadn’t finished speaking when I sneezed. I looked up at Dominic, a little embarrassed. My pale face, with a nose red from the cold and cheeks flushed, made me look like a helpless, harmless kitten seeking shelter. “Come in.” “Could I use your bathroom?” I looked down at my semi-transparent top. “I’d like to change.” It was a request he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. “Go to the guest room.” Dominic averted his gaze and turned away. But I saw the way he gulped. “Thank you, Mr. Vance!” I quickly showered and stood before Dominic, holding my wet underwear and bra. “Mr. Vance, do you have somewhere I can hang these to dry?” “Just hang them in the guest room. You can stay here tonight; tomorrow I’ll have my assistant find you a place.” Dominic quickly lowered his head, but his reddened ears betrayed him. 5. “Thank you, Mr. Vance!” I thanked him, my voice sweet. Because I wasn’t wearing a bra, my loose white shirt clearly outlined the curves of my breasts. It was this barely concealed “scenery” that had made Dominic’s ears flush red. Dominic’s master bedroom was upstairs; he lived alone, and the door was currently shut tight. I carried a cup of hot milk and approached Dominic’s bedroom door. “Celeste, isn’t it time you came back now?” “Dominic Vance, I told you, I have a new boyfriend. Unless you personally fly abroad to bring me back, and hold a press conference to apologize in front of the whole country.” “Aren’t you afraid I’ll find another girlfriend?” “No, I’m not! How dare you! Without me, where would you be today, Dominic Vance?” Celeste had always been the little princess of her family. With a doting brother, she was perpetually pampered and haughty, believing everyone in the world should kneel and adore her. Even though she was madly in love with Dominic, treating him as her life, she still used such trials and humiliations to test his sincerity. Dominic, in his early thirties, had become an industry titan in just a few years, thanks to his college romance with the Blackwood heiress. Celeste had given up her chance to marry into another wealthy family for Dominic, and had used all her resources to help his career soar. Such a deep connection, even if Dominic no longer needed the Blackwood family, remained his deepest emotional attachment. But even the strongest bonds can’t withstand repeated erosion. “Bang!” A crashing sound came from the master bedroom. My chance had arrived. What man wouldn’t want a doting and compliant wife? I deliberately dropped the hot milk, the sound of breaking glass attracting Dominic’s attention. “What are you doing here?” He was blaming me for eavesdropping! “I’m so sorry, Mr. Vance, I just wanted to bring you a cup of hot milk. I have nothing else to repay you with, and seeing you still awake so late, I just wanted to do what little I could.” I bowed my head low, almost to the floor, my voice growing softer with each word. “Thank you for your trouble,” Dominic’s tone softened with a hint of apology. I gently shook my head, preparing to turn and leave. “Did you hear anything just now?” Dominic’s voice came from behind me. “Actually, I think Miss Blackwood must love you very much!” After a few seconds of silence, I turned to face his intense and handsome face. “Only when someone loves deeply do they resort to such methods, repeatedly testing their place in your heart.” “You have no dating experience, yet your theoretical knowledge is solid.” A faint smile touched Dominic’s lips. “Women are all like that, but sometimes excessive testing can also hurt the other person, just like you’re hurting now, Mr. Vance,” I said, a gentle smile on my lips, soft as moonlight. “Then tell me, what’s a good way to resolve this?” He seemed intrigued, stepping out of the master bedroom to stand beside me. “I think if Miss Blackwood also experienced the same pain, if she felt exactly what you’re feeling now, she’d surely never cause you headaches again.” My heart pounded furiously. I wasn’t sure where Dominic’s bottom line was regarding Celeste, but I had to take this risk. “Are you saying, like Celeste, I should deliberately find a girlfriend to make her jealous?” Dominic’s tone suddenly sharpened. I felt nervous, unsure if it would work. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Vance, I overstepped,” I quickly lowered my head, biting my lower lip, then looked up at him. “So, will you help me?” 6. Dominic asked. My heart swelled with relief! I’d won the gamble! “If it’s for you, Mr. Vance, then I’m willing.” I blinked my eyes, like a docile kitten. Celeste, the thought of you soon experiencing this pain, it’s truly exhilarating! The next day, my Ins account was flooded! “Bitch, how shameless can she be? Steals someone’s boyfriend and then goes public!” “She does have some looks, maybe Mr. Vance just wants a change of pace.” “She can’t even compare to one of Celeste Blackwood’s toenails! She’ll be dumped by Mr. Vance sooner or later!” First thing this morning, Dominic had publicly announced his new girlfriend on social media. He had actually adopted my suggestion. I woke up in the Vance residence that morning, Dominic already gone. His assistant knocked on the guest room door. “Miss Miller, Mr. Vance arranged a villa for you in the suburbs, for you to stay at temporarily. We should get going, otherwise, Miss Blackwood might get upset if she finds you here.” “Okay, please wait downstairs for me.” As I answered the assistant, I secretly tucked my freshly laundered underwear and bra from last night under the guest room pillow. Celeste Blackwood would be upset? Good. I would find a way to make her furious! The assistant took me to a remote villa in the suburbs. “Miss Miller, this is Mr. Vance’s private villa. He said you could stay here temporarily as compensation for your help. If he needs you again in the future, he’ll let you know.” The villa looked like it hadn’t been lived in for a long time; dust covered the furniture. I lay on the sofa and opened Celeste Blackwood’s Ins again. She had deleted all posts related to Dominic from her social media. “Don’t be sad, Princess Celeste, your fans will always love you!” “Yeah, what right does that bitch Aria Miller have to compare herself to our Princess Celeste?” “Can no one seriously dox this disgusting woman? She’s so annoying!” There were thousands of comments from fans, but Celeste, who always interacted with them, hadn’t replied to a single one. It seemed the heiress was truly heartbroken. Dominic had merely announced a new girlfriend on Ins out of spite, and she was this devastated. I really wanted to know what would happen if she found out Dominic had slept with another woman. Would she explode? I sent a photo of my underwear and bra, drying in Dominic Vance’s home, to Celeste. “Who are you?” Celeste replied instantly. “How do you have pictures of my house?” Her chat window kept flashing. I ignored all her messages. Celeste Blackwood, this is just the beginning. Don’t worry, I’ll slowly take everything from you: your money, your love, and your arrogant pride! As I expected, Celeste couldn’t sit still. The day after Dominic announced his new girlfriend on Ins, she immediately returned home. Celeste didn’t even drop her luggage before rushing to my villa. With her were Julian Blackwood and several burly bodyguards. Those siblings were demons! They always reveled in tormenting others! Now, with a “justifiable reason,” they certainly wouldn’t miss such a golden opportunity. I was tied to a chair in the villa, my cheeks already slapped dozens of times. “Hmph! I thought Dominic Vance would find some woman of substance, but it’s just this disgusting trash!” Celeste hurled the underwear I’d left at the Blackwood family residence onto my face. “You think a few good looks give you the right to steal what’s mine?! You don’t deserve him!” She forcefully yanked my hair, forcing my head back to meet her gaze. My face contorted in agony. I had to live. I had to get my revenge. “You’re just relying on that face, aren’t you? I’ll scratch it up now, let’s see how arrogant you can be then!” 7. Celeste snatched a knife from a bodyguard, intending to disfigure my face. “I’m going to carve ‘home-wrecker’ all over your face, so everyone who sees you knows exactly what you are!” Celeste’s smile was utterly twisted. I watched the blade draw closer, unable to stop my trembling. From the moment I decided on revenge, I’d imagined countless scenarios like this. She cared so much about Dominic; she wouldn’t let any woman who got close to him off the hook. This path was always treacherous. Since I’d have to face it sooner or later, why not now? “You’re doing this to me purely out of jealousy. You’re jealous that Dominic loves me.” I sneered at Celeste. I couldn’t beg. My brother had knelt before the Blackwood siblings, only to receive the worst possible outcome. Devils don’t care about the lives of ants! I would provoke her, deceive her. Once she was convinced Dominic loved me, I would execute my carefully laid plan! Hearing my words, Celeste flew into a rage, her fists and feet assaulting me. “Jealousy? What kind of pathetic dog are you! You think you’re worthy of my jealousy?” “You’re nothing but a replacement! Dominic would never genuinely love you!” Celeste screamed. A sarcastic smile played on my lips. “But yesterday, when Dominic held me, he kept saying he loved me. He even said I was far more beautiful than you.” Celeste heard my words, trembling with fury. “Celeste, calm down. This woman is just trying to provoke you. She knows she’s not getting out alive, so she’s trying to get a quick death. Don’t make it easy for this bitch.” Julian Blackwood grabbed Celeste’s hand. “Did you hear that? Dominic said she had a better body than me! I’m going to kill her!” Celeste tore her hand from Julian’s, her eyes filled with venomous malice, screaming as she swung the knife at me. I twisted my body to the side, dodging the sharp blade. She believed it. She believed Dominic had slept with me, believed Dominic loved me! “Dominic and I have been together for a long time, many times. He said he likes me, he loves me! We made love fiercely in *your* house.” I had to add more fuel to the fire. Celeste took the bait. She began to scream furiously, even collapsing to the floor in her rage. “Did you hear that? Did you hear what she said? I’m going to kill her! I’m going to kill her right now, immediately!” Julian Blackwood cracked his knuckles, striding towards me. “Go ahead, kill me. Then I’ll become Dominic’s eternal love, always living in his heart. He’ll never forget me.” Hearing my words, Julian paused. Julian was different from his sister; besides being a demon, he was also a shrewd businessman. He was weighing the pros and cons. He feared Dominic truly loved me. He couldn’t afford to have another woman permanently lodged in Dominic’s heart. That would be a huge threat to the Blackwood family’s standing. Celeste was still raving, screaming and running towards me. This time, Julian intercepted her. “Don’t stop me! I’m going to kill this woman!” “Celeste, listen to me. What if Dominic really did fall for this woman? If we kill her, she’ll just stay in his heart forever. That’s not good for anyone.” A glint of cunning flashed in Julian’s eyes as he spoke. “Besides, killing her would be letting her off too easy.” “Then what should we do?” 8. Celeste stopped screaming about killing me. Between her eyebrows, alongside the fury, was a hint of sorrow. It seemed she truly believed my words. “Who would love a tattered rag?” Julian Blackwood’s lips curled into a mysterious smile. I was bound hand and foot and thrown into the back of Julian Blackwood’s luxury car. Celeste, meanwhile, drove off in another car in the opposite direction. “You might fool Celeste, but you won’t fool me, you bitch!” Julian suddenly spoke. “Mr. Vance really has fallen in love with me.” “You’re nothing but his plaything. That’s how it is in our rich world; every man has a few trinkets around. A passing fancy, tossed aside once he gets bored.” Julian’s tone was smug and utterly shameless, as if he were boasting. “Even if I’m a plaything, I’m his favorite plaything. You’ve never seen how he looks at me, so how can you be so certain?” “Fine! We’ll see how Dominic Vance treats you in a bit.” Julian brought me to a private party. He had someone change me into a sheer black negligee; one wrong move and I’d be exposed. Julian eyed me up and down. “Your body is quite good, indeed. I wonder if your screams will be just as delightful later.” “Bring her up.” Two burly men dragged me upstairs; I had no chance to resist. Earlier, on the way, while Julian went to the restroom, I’d used his phone to send Dominic a distress text. Now, all I could do was hope Dominic saw it. There were about ten men at the table, all over fifty, bald and pot-bellied. From the moment I walked in, I felt like prey. “Gentlemen, tonight, I, Julian Blackwood, am treating you all, and I’ve brought a rare beauty. You can enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content.” Like merchandise for display, I was placed in the center of the round table for everyone to scrutinize. “A beauty indeed.” A greasy hand began to caress my thigh. My stomach churned with revulsion. I backed away a few steps, trying to escape that hand. “Still trying to dodge, are we? I’m giving you too much credit!” The hand moved from my leg to my face. My cheek stung with a fiery pain. Retreating didn’t solve my predicament; it only pushed me further into the lion’s den. A man with yellowed teeth embraced me from behind. “Oh, come on, Mr. King, don’t be so rough! You’ll scare my little beauty.” “Here, drink this.” He held a glass of liquor to my lips. I turned my head away, not wanting any contact with the foul-breathed man. That only piqued his interest. He poured the drink down my collarbone, then began to follow the path of the liquid with his lips. “Mr. Li really knows how to have fun!” The group began to egg him on. My constant attempts to pull away angered “Mr. Li.” He grabbed my wrist. “Don’t play hard to get! Do you want to die?” Julian Blackwood watched it all with a playful smirk, then suddenly spoke: “Mr. Li, don’t be angry. Aria has many talents. How about she performs a striptease for everyone?” “Great idea!” The others echoed. I glared at Julian, wanting to devour him alive. He had once again thrown me into such a humiliating situation. “If you refuse, I’ll kill you now. Then I’ll tell Dominic Vance you died during a group game.” He whispered in my ear, his tone dripping with certainty. I couldn’t die. I had to get my revenge. I had to see the Blackwood siblings dragged to hell! 9. “Excellent suggestion, Mr. Blackwood! A striptease is only good if she strips completely!” A man nearing seventy declared. Tears of humiliation welled up, unstoppable. “Haha, this woman’s even hotter when she cries. Let her cry and dance!” “Why not just strip now? I can’t wait.” “No, no, taking it off piece by piece is much more exciting.” One man said, setting up a camera, its lens aimed directly at me. They pushed me to the center of the round table, their disgusting hands like whips. Each strike flayed me, leaving my skin raw and bleeding. “Strip, strip, strip!” The men’s chants grew louder. I was a lamb to the slaughter. This feeling was worse than death. I could only pull down my dress zipper, my movements stiff, as I began to dance. “What’s all the commotion about?” Dominic Vance had arrived. He stood in a black suit, exuding a refined, elegant aura. To me, he was like a savior descending. The tightly coiled spring in my heart finally snapped. All strength seemed to drain from my body, and I collapsed onto the table. “Help Miss Miller down,” Dominic’s tone was firm, brooking no refusal. His gaze held a hint of apology as he looked at me. “Mr. Vance, what brings you here?” The greasy men instantly began to bow and scrape, fawning as they cleared the main seat. “So, you’re the ones who wanted my girlfriend to perform a striptease?” Dominic stood tall, his presence powerful enough to silence everyone in the room. “Mr. Blackwood, why didn’t you tell us Aria was Mr. Vance’s girlfriend?” The greasy man’s face flushed crimson. Caught between two powerful figures he couldn’t afford to offend, he could only grin and bear it. Dominic draped his jacket over me. He took my hand and led me to sit in the main seat. “Since you all enjoy stripteases so much, go ahead. You perform for us!” Dominic’s gaze swept over every person in the room. “Starting with Mr. Li.” The men exchanged nervous glances, looking from one to another, but no one moved. Dominic’s brow furrowed slightly. “My patience is limited. I’ve long considered acquiring your companies. If not for Mr. Blackwood’s guarantee, I doubt any of you would be here today.” “Right away, right away!” Mr. Li stood in the center of the round table, beginning to strip off his clothes piece by piece, gyrating awkwardly. The scene was utterly grotesque, yet no one dared to laugh. Then came Mr. King, then the man with the camera. They each took their turn performing the striptease, offering apologies before they were finally allowed to leave. Dominic took my hand, ready to depart. Julian Blackwood exhaled a puff of smoke, saying to Dominic, “Dominic Vance, be careful. This woman isn’t as simple as she seems.” He sounded like he was warning Dominic, and perhaps warning me too. Had he seen something? Only Dominic and I remained in the car. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? After I got your message, I searched every bar and club in the city, one by one, until now. But thankfully, it’s not too late. What would you have done if I’d arrived later?” His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his voice laced with apology, regret, and anger. I bit down hard on my lip, my mouth filled with the taste of blood. “What could I have done?” “Miss Blackwood is your fiancée. Would you really fight with her over me?” My voice trembled uncontrollably, and then I lowered my head and wept. Dominic sighed deeply: “You’re right. I can’t argue with Celeste over you. I’ll give you a sum of money; you can go live somewhere else.” “If I go somewhere else, will Miss Blackwood really let me go?” 10. My crying made my voice sound a little hoarse. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my flesh, my hands and body covered in blood. He knew Celeste Blackwood’s character better than I did. He knew that even if I fled to the ends of the earth, Celeste wouldn’t let me go. “I’m scared!” After a moment of silence, I turned and threw myself into Dominic’s arms, my voice soft. His body stiffened; he didn’t embrace me back. But I knew he must be feeling guilty. How could he not feel remorse, having accidentally brought such humiliation upon an innocent girl? Guilt is the beginning of betrayal. Celeste, the man you love is about to fall completely in love with me. “Mr. Vance, I’m truly terrified.” I whispered, sobbing in his arms. No man could resist a vulnerable little rabbit crying in his arms, her nose red. I looked up and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Sir, I’m scared. Please don’t send me away, okay? I just want to stay by your side.” I leaned my mouth close to his ear, whispering my plea: “Please, don’t send me away. I’ll do anything you want.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and straddled him, sitting on his lap. I started to cry and gently kiss him at the same time. The atmosphere in the car grew increasingly heated, and soon, sparks flew, and things escalated quickly. It wasn’t until faint dawn that he took me to another residence. “You can stay here for now,” His voice was calm, completely different from how he’d been in the car last night. “Will you come to see me?” Dominic’s silence was my only answer. The spoiled princess Celeste Blackwood and Dominic Vance reconciled once again, becoming another celebrated couple. But I knew the cracks couldn’t be mended. There were fissures between them, and Dominic’s heart no longer belonged entirely to Celeste. The plan to steal everything Celeste loved was now truly beginning. I began to diligently refine my aesthetic sense, studying design to elevate my skills. I used the money Dominic gave me to enroll in the best design classes. The Blackwood family had made its fortune in interior design. Arthur Blackwood and his wife were formidable figures in the industry. Alas, their son and daughter inherited none of their talent, showing no aptitude for design or art. At this moment, I was browsing a notice seeking a designer to be hired at great expense. During this time, I had been consistently updating my portfolio on social media. Coupled with Dominic Vance’s public announcement of me as his girlfriend some time ago, my account had gained a modest following. The tone of the comments section began to shift. “I think Aria’s designs are really good, she has genuine artistic talent.” “Am I the only one who thinks Aria is much prettier than Celeste Blackwood, and more elegant, better suited to be Dominic’s girlfriend?” “Exactly, her designs perfectly blend artistry, aesthetic appeal, and practicality!” While my social media comments and follower count still couldn’t rival Celeste’s, this was enough confidence for me to submit my resume to Blackwood Industries. I sent my latest design proposal, “The Vance Collection,” to Blackwood Industries, deliberately hinting at a combination of Dominic’s and my own names. The email received a swift reply. Arthur Blackwood, Celeste’s father, personally called me, expressing his admiration for my work and hoping I could come to Blackwood Industries for a more detailed discussion. Arthur Blackwood’s office was large, and I sat on a soft leather sofa. Arthur Blackwood, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, exuded the air of an artist. “Mr. Blackwood, I believe Blackwood Industries’ target clients are primarily the wealthy. The affluent appreciate differentiation. We can leverage differentiation while incorporating some vibrant, flamboyant elements. This will strongly appeal to younger client demographics.” A faint smile played on my lips, making me appear poised and elegant. “Miss Miller is absolutely right. I’ve reviewed your designs, and they possess a strong appeal to younger generations, which is precisely what Blackwood Industries needs right now. I’m very impressed.” Arthur Blackwood’s eyes were full of admiration for me. He pushed an employment contract across the table. “I hope Miss Miller will accept this contract and allow us to collaborate with sincere cooperation.” The compensation outlined in the contract was exceptionally generous. “You shameless bitch, what are you doing here?” Celeste Blackwood burst in, fuming.

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The grand engagement ceremony played out on TV. Everyone was celebrating Alexander Thorne and Serena Davies’ wedding. “Mr. Thorne and Ms. Davies are truly a match made in heaven. Let’s send them our sincerest wishes for eternal love and happiness!” A thunderous applause erupted, and then, the couple exchanged engagement rings. The TV station zoomed in on Serena’s ring. A massive, emerald-cut diamond ring, its exorbitant cost immediately apparent. I watched the TV, finishing the last of my instant noodles. I watched my own boyfriend smiling at another woman, doting on her without reservation. That ring was supposed to be mine. After that intimate night, Alex had taken the ring out to show me. “Do you like it?” I nodded ecstatically, yet a trace of worry lingered. “Won’t this be incredibly expensive?” Alex chuckled. “For the Thorne family, what’s a little expense? Izzy, don’t worry about any of that. Just prepare to marry me.” At that moment, I was overjoyed that our five-year relationship was finally leading somewhere. In my heart, I was already fantasizing about the beautiful days ahead. But after Serena came back, I realized I was nothing. I was just a replaceable substitute, discardable at any moment. “Your flight is scheduled to depart on the 31st at 2:31 PM. Please prepare accordingly.” I finished reading the text and turned off my phone. All these years, I had given up everything to stay by Alex’s side, even abandoning my own dreams. Now, it was fine. I could pursue them again. It wasn’t until late that night that Alex came home. He fumbled his way onto the bed, embracing the warm body beside him. “Sleeping so early tonight? Hmm?” He woke me. I slowly turned over. “I’m tired.” Alex kissed my forehead, his hand beginning to roam. I stiffened, avoiding his touch. “I’m not feeling well. Let’s just skip it tonight.” Alex’s hand paused, then he let me go. “Are you upset?” I didn’t answer. No woman would be happy seeing her boyfriend get engaged to another woman. “Izzy, don’t throw a childish tantrum. It’s just an engagement.” A pang of bitterness hit me. *Just an engagement.* I had waited five years and never even got an engagement. Alex had never even been willing to take me to meet his family. But two years ago, at my birthday dinner, Alex was singing “Happy Birthday” to me one moment. The next, he took a call and rushed out the door without a single explanation. Leaving me alone and awkward at my own party. Everyone curiously asked who the girl on the phone was, but I couldn’t answer. I later found out it was Serena, his first love, whom he couldn’t have in his youth. And I? I was nothing more than a forgotten shadow. The true first love had returned, and the forgotten shadow was insignificant. Serena had only been back for three months, and Alex had already introduced her to all his friends. That took me five years to achieve. Later, Alex forcefully introduced Serena to everyone, including his parents. He made it clear that with him there, no one would dare hurt Serena. Then came the engagement, so extravagant, because he loved Serena so much, he wouldn’t let her suffer even the slightest inconvenience. It was only then that I truly understood: Alex had never loved *me*. Our relationship would never have a future.

When I woke up, Alex was already gone. I got up and packed my things into a suitcase. Yesterday, Alex told me to be more understanding. He said the engagement was just to give Serena a guarantee for her future; otherwise, she’d have no one else to rely on but him. But what about me? I felt like I only had Alex to rely on too. And now, not even Alex. Today was our five-year anniversary. A sliver of hope I didn’t even know I still held lingered in my heart. No matter what, I wanted to bring this relationship to a proper end. So I bought a lot of groceries and cooked a feast, all Alex’s favorite dishes. Over the years, it had become a habit. What Alex liked, what he disliked – it was all etched into my heart. “I’ve cooked dinner. Are you coming back to eat?” For the past four anniversaries, Alex had remembered. He’d buy me flowers, all sorts of gifts. Only today, I waited until the food grew cold, until the sun set. Alex didn’t come home, and he didn’t even send me a single text. My heart felt as thoroughly chilled as the meal on the table. I slowly ate the food, mouthful by mouthful, but for some reason, the more I ate, the saltier it tasted. “Izzy, your father is a bit tight on cash lately. Could you send some money over?” As soon as I finished cleaning up the dishes, I got a call from my father. “I don’t have any money.” My father had a gambling addiction. I’d give him small amounts, but never large sums. That would only feed his addiction, making it worse. “What about Alex? He’s so rich, tell him to give you some! I’m his father-in-law, he can’t refuse me, can he?” Listening to his utterly entitled words, my grip on the phone slowly tightened. Every time, every single time, it was like this. Why did no one ever think about me? A deep sense of fatigue washed over me. “I’m breaking up with Alex, Dad. I don’t have any money, and you shouldn’t gamble anymore.” “Breaking up? Are you crazy? If you break up with Alex, where will you find someone as good? You’ve been with him for five years, who would want you now?” If I didn’t know this man was my own father, I’d think these were words only an enemy would utter. “He’s marrying someone else. I won’t give you any more money, and don’t call me again.” I didn’t want to talk to my father anymore. The phone slipped weakly from my hand. I slid uncontrollably down the wall. My sleeves were soaked with tears. The conflicting emotions in my heart threatened to swallow me whole. It wasn’t until Alex came home. “What are you doing sitting here?” He asked. I raised my hand to shield my eyes. Having been in the dark for so long, the light was somewhat blinding. I didn’t answer, unsure what to say. Alex pulled me to my feet, then noticed the suitcase in the living room. He raised an eyebrow. “Packed so much? Where are you planning to go?” I finally spoke slowly. “To clear my head.” Alex snorted. “If you want to clear your head, go ahead. Just remember to come back.” He was calm, completely confident I wouldn’t leave him. And why wouldn’t he be? For five years, I had taken such meticulous care of Alex; this man seemed to be the sole purpose of my life. “Izzy, don’t play these ‘running away’ games just because you’re mad at me. You know that doesn’t work on me.” “I already gave your father the twenty thousand he wanted.” With that, Alex walked straight to the bedroom and lay down. I froze, a suffocating wave of profound humiliation engulfing me.

Alex never gave me any explanation about the anniversary. It wasn’t until I found Serena’s private Ins account. I couldn’t help but snoop on Serena, wanting to see what kind of woman Alex had fallen for. And there it was: on our anniversary, Alex was at an amusement park with Serena. They wore matching headbands, smiling at the camera. Alex looked down at Serena, his gaze incredibly doting. “My fiancé spoils me so much~” That was Serena’s caption. I was mesmerized. Serena was beautiful. Unlike me, Serena seemed exceptionally cheerful. I, however, was a bit quiet, not very talkative. That day, Alex spent the entire day with Serena. I remembered going to an amusement park with Alex once. I had begged Alex to go. Seeing other couples take so many beautiful photos, I had the same idea. Alex initially refused, saying he was too busy with work. But I persisted, and he eventually agreed. Yet, when I placed the cat-ear headband on his head, he snatched it off. “Why would a man like me wear something like this?” So our photo only showed me, awkwardly standing beside him with cat ears, and an annoyed Alex. I thought Alex was just naturally like that, so I comforted myself, believing he treated everyone the same way. Until I saw how he was with Serena. Only then did I understand he just didn’t love *me*. I turned off my phone and blocked Serena’s account. Since I had made up my mind, there would be no more lingering attachment. “If you ask Alex for money again, I’ll end my life.” After sending that text to my father, I continued packing. “I’m hungry, Izzy. Why didn’t you bring me lunch today?” After everything was packed, I received a message from Alex. His stomach wasn’t good, and he didn’t like food from outside; he only liked what I cooked. I had been delivering his meals for five years. I still went to buy groceries and cook. After all, Alex had given my father quite a bit of money; I couldn’t just stop doing it. The kitchen was filled with cooking fumes. Afraid Alex would be impatient waiting, I quickly changed my clothes and left. When I arrived at the company, I went upstairs, but I noticed people looking at me with varied expressions. I didn’t understand, only wanting to complete my task quickly, so I naturally didn’t hear the employees discussing behind me. “Isn’t she the one who delivers food from the restaurant?” A colleague scoffed. “New here, are you? That’s Mr. Thorne’s ex-girlfriend. Too bad, she never even got a proper title after all these years.” Unaware of their whispers, I went upstairs and pushed open the office door. “I brought you lunch…” Only to see Serena sitting in Alex’s lap. Her lips were glistening, making it obvious what had just happened. Serena seemed a bit shy and immediately stood up when she saw me. Serena was wearing the latest designer fashion, and on her finger was that emerald-cut diamond ring. Alex looked at me with a hint of impatience. “Why didn’t you knock before coming in? Have you forgotten your manners?” Serena immediately smoothed things over. “Alex, why are you being so hard on her? She just forgot to knock.” Alex immediately fell silent. Serena walked up to me. She wore a faint, expensive perfume, while I, having just cooked at home, reeked of cooking fumes. In my haste to leave, I had thrown on old clothes bought from a discount mall two years ago. “Hello, I’m Serena Davies. Thank you for bringing the food.” I thought my heart wouldn’t feel any ripple anymore. But at that moment, an unbearable sadness still overwhelmed me.

I don’t know how I left the company. Only then did I understand what everyone was whispering about. They were probably saying how all my hard work over the years had ended with me being discarded. I went home and slept with my head buried under the covers until the next day. That day, Alex didn’t come home. “Izzy, come to the studio.” I received a text from my mentor after I woke up and immediately rushed to the studio. I studied design. My mentor once said I was extremely talented and hoped I would study abroad. But at the time, I met Alex, and madly, irrevocably fell into that relationship, giving up the opportunity to go abroad. My mentor had sighed over it for ages. Now that I decided to study abroad, she was naturally very happy. When I arrived at the studio, my mentor was drawing, and a young man stood beside her. “Izzy, you’re here? This is Liam Thorne. You two will be going abroad together this time. Come and meet him.” I hadn’t known there would be someone else and felt a little nervous. But the man extended his hand first. “Nice to meet you, Izzy.” His hand was large, with well-defined knuckles. Liam looked at me, smiling, a charming and poised demeanor. “Hello.” My mentor finished her drawing and patted my shoulder. “It’s good to go together, you can look out for each other. Exchange contact info and communicate more. Izzy, you must seize this opportunity this time.” Knowing my mentor only wanted what was best for me, I felt a rare warmth and nodded emphatically. My mentor had other things to attend to, so Liam suggested they have dinner together. His sincere invitation was hard to refuse. So we went to a French restaurant. “Izzy, this place is really good, I come here often.” I smiled. “Then I’ll eat a lot. Speaking of which, why do you want to go to Germany too?” Liam poured me a glass of water. “Someone I like is going, so I’m going too.” I looked at the young man before me, lamenting how wonderful youth was, before love soured. We chatted happily, our design philosophies aligned. The cheerful atmosphere, however, was broken by a voice. “What are you two doing here?” It was Alex. Serena stood beside him. For a moment, I didn’t know what to do. Liam stood up. “Uncle Alex, Izzy and I are just having dinner.” He spoke candidly, and my eyes widened in shock. “He’s your uncle?” Liam nodded. Alex glanced at him, then looked at me. “What do you two have to talk about over dinner?” I was about to answer, but I saw the obvious defensiveness in Alex’s eyes. Alex’s parents had never met me. He was afraid I might use Liam to tell others about our relationship. That would only humiliate Serena. Before I could speak, Liam interjected. “Izzy and I share the same professor; we’re just discussing some design issues.” I remained silent. Alex’s guard dropped. He then gave me a deep look. “Just discussing design, Izzy. You two have a good chat.” He specifically emphasized “good chat.” I gave a bitter smile. I hadn’t planned on saying anything anyway. Alex finished speaking and left with Serena. “Alex, wasn’t that girl the restaurant delivery person?” Serena asked curiously. So, he had never told Serena about our relationship.

“Izzy, is the food not to your taste?” I shook my head. “It’s delicious, but I usually don’t eat much.” Liam drove me home. He didn’t ask any more questions, only said: “There are plenty of good men in the world. Sometimes, there’s no need to cling to one person, even if that person is Alex Thorne.” He showed none of the deference he had displayed when we met Alex at the restaurant earlier. I looked up at him, my eyes wide. “You… you know?” Liam chuckled softly. “Not just me, everyone in the Thorne family knows. It’s just that Alex never mentioned it, so they pretended not to know.” I fell silent. When we arrived home, as I was about to get out of the car, Liam leaned closer. The pleasant scent of cedarwood filled the air. I froze, but Liam merely removed a fallen leaf from my shoulder. “Izzy, I’m really looking forward to our time in Germany.” I didn’t understand what he meant and hastily tried to get out of the car. Liam calmly got out and opened the car door for me. “Thank you for driving me home. I’ll go now.” I didn’t know what I was thinking; I just inexplicably wanted to escape. But Liam grabbed my hand. “Izzy, sleep well.” Then, he released my hand. I scampered upstairs. Liam chuckled softly, got back in his car, and drove away. Perhaps it was because too many things had happened; I was still lost in thought before I fell asleep. In the middle of the night, I came down with a high fever. My head throbbed incessantly, and my throat was as dry as if it were smoking. I forced myself up to get some water, but I felt dizzy and lightheaded and collapsed on the floor. With great difficulty, I picked up my phone and called Alex, my first contact. He didn’t answer the first time, nor the second. On the third call, Alex’s voice came through, laced with irritation. “Why do you keep calling? I’m busy.” I could hear a girl crying in the background; I vaguely heard what sounded like Serena’s voice. “She’s clearly your ex-girlfriend. If my friend hadn’t told me, how long were you planning to hide it from me?” My throat was parched, but I managed to squeeze out a few words. “I’m sick…” Before I could finish, Alex interrupted. “If you’re sick, find a doctor. I’m still busy.” With that, he hung up. I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out. In my daze, I thought I saw someone pick me up. “Izzy, I’ll take you to the hospital.” What happened after that, I don’t know. Until I opened my eyes. The smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils, and the sunlight was a bit blinding. There was no one else in the hospital room but me. There wasn’t even a single message on my phone. A wave of loneliness washed over me. I pulled the blanket tighter around me, staring blankly at the ceiling. The door quietly opened. Liam came in, carrying breakfast, and smiled at me. “Izzy, it’s those soup dumplings you love!” For some reason, I felt like crying. If I were to go abroad with Liam, perhaps it wouldn’t be so lonely after all. Anyway, nothing could be worse than how things were now.

When Alex arrived, Liam was feeding me. I felt awkward but couldn’t resist Liam’s insistence on feeding me, saying I was a patient. “I’ll do it.” Alex sensed something was off and snatched the bowl from Liam’s hand. “Liam, thank you for taking care of Izzy. I was busy yesterday and couldn’t make it.” Alex said, then fed me a spoonful of porridge. I nearly scalded my mouth. Liam had always blown on it to cool it down before feeding it to me. Seeing that I was scalded, Alex put the bowl aside. Liam spoke in a flat voice. “Isn’t my aunt-in-law Serena?” Alex took a deep breath. “Serena just returned to the country. Her parents are gone. No one can protect her except me. The engagement is just a temporary arrangement to help her.” “Otherwise, how could she gain a foothold?” Liam said nothing, but his sarcasm was evident. I no longer believed those words. When I went to the office that day, they were clearly kissing. “Alex Thorne! Is this how you treat me?!” Serena stood at the doorway of the hospital room, tears streaming down her face, looking at Alex. She didn’t seem to have just arrived; she had probably heard everything. “You promised you’d marry me! You said I was the one you loved most! You lied to me!” With that, she covered her face and ran out. Alex was uncharacteristically flustered. He stood up, about to chase after her. But I grabbed his hand. “Alex Thorne, you love her, and you’re going to marry her, aren’t you?” Alex’s head throbbed. “Izzy, don’t make things difficult for me right now. Whatever it is, I’ll talk to you when I get back.” I immediately let go, earning a look of approval from Alex. “Liam, take care of her.” With that, Alex rushed out. Five years of affection, easily worn away. Liam picked up the porridge again and fed me. “What’s Uncle Alex thinking?” I replied calmly. “I don’t care anymore.” Liam paused, trying to steady his trembling hand. His heart was pounding. After finishing my meal, I checked out of the hospital. Only five days were left until my departure, and I still had some things to pack. I didn’t have many photos with Alex. I figured Alex probably didn’t want them anyway, so I shredded all of them in the paper shredder. Watching past memories turn into a pile of fragments, I suddenly felt a sense of liberation. By the time everything was packed, Alex returned. He looked tired. Seeing the three suitcases in the living room and the empty bedroom, a nameless rage flared within him, having just appeased Serena. “Packed so neatly. Are you really planning to leave for good?” My cold hadn’t fully recovered, and I spoke with a stuffy nose. “If I don’t leave, how will you marry someone else?” The fire in Alex’s heart burned hotter. He scoffed. “What’s with this act? Who are you doing this for? I told you it was just a temporary arrangement. Izzy, why can’t you just be sensible? I’m already so exhausted. Do I have to come home and take care of you too?” Alex could gently soothe Serena, but I never received such treatment. In the end, I was the one deemed “unreasonable.” I didn’t want to explain, and I didn’t know where to begin. Seeing my silence, Alex laughed. “Fine, fine. Do you really think this can threaten me? That I can’t live without you? If you leave, don’t ever come back!” With that, Alex slammed the door and left. My nose stung, but I held back my tears. I didn’t want to shed another tear for Alex.

Alex didn’t come home for two days straight, and I was content to be on my own. Alex hadn’t allowed me to work all these years, so it had been a long time since I’d drawn design sketches. Holding the pen in my hand felt a bit surreal. Unfortunately, fate didn’t want to grant me such peace for long. “Izzy Miller, you’ve grown quite bold. Don’t you care about your father anymore? You said you’re breaking up with Alex Thorne, but if you really do, will he still give me money? I think you just don’t want to give it to me. I’m giving you one last chance. I’ll be waiting for you at the coffee shop. Bring me three hundred thousand, or I’ll go find Alex Thorne.” After blocking my father’s phone number, he switched to sending texts. Receiving that message, I had no choice but to go. Things were already so bad between Alex and me; I really didn’t want my father to go asking Alex for money again. When I arrived at the coffee shop, my father, William Miller, immediately asked. “Where’s the money? Cash or card?” I spoke expressionlessly. “I don’t have any money.” “You don’t have money? Are you messing with me? You even threatened me, saying you’d end your life if I asked for money again? Are you dead?” Looking at my father’s fierce expression, I didn’t want to give him any more chances. “I’ve told Alex. He won’t give you another penny. We’ve already broken up, and he has no obligation to give you money anymore.” William snorted with laughter. “Trying to lie to your old man? He gave me two hundred thousand last time. I’m asking you, are you giving me the money or not?” “I don’t have money. I can’t give it to you.” The moment I finished speaking, William grabbed me. “I’ll just have to ask him myself if you two really broke up.” William had specifically chosen a coffee shop very close to Alex’s company. He dragged me all the way into the company lobby. “Where’s Alex Thorne? I need to see him!” My clothes were pulled loose, and everyone’s eyes were fixed on the two of us. I was weak and couldn’t break free. “I told you! He doesn’t have money for you! Why do you have to be like this?” I shouted out loud. William ignored me completely. “Alex Thorne! Your father-in-law is here! My daughter followed you for five years, gave you everything, and now you say you’re breaking up? Do you really think us Millers are easy to bully?” Watching the pointing fingers and stares of the crowd, my heart died. The commotion grew too loud. Alex and Serena came down. He frowned. “What’s going on here? All this yelling.” William saw him and immediately broke into a smile. “Son-in-law, my daughter has been with you for so long, and now you’re just breaking up?” Alex started to say something, then glanced at Serena beside him. Seeing Serena’s questioning look, he finally spoke. “Yes, we’ve broken up.” “That won’t do. Izzy gave you the best years of her life. How can you just break up like that?” Alex’s frown deepened. “What do you want, then?” “Give me five million, and this matter is settled. I won’t pursue it further.” The whispers from the onlookers grew louder. Tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. I was being bought and sold like a commodity by my own father. Serena said to Alex. “Alex, she’s so pathetic. Why don’t you just give him the money and be done with it?” I looked up, meeting Serena’s pitying gaze. I had no dignity left. Alex was still deliberating. I slowly stood up. “Alex Thorne, we’ve already broken up. You don’t need to give him another penny.” The moment I finished speaking, William’s slap landed on my face. “Do you have a say here? Shut your mouth!” A dead silence settled in my heart.

Alex instinctively wanted to go help. But Serena grabbed his wrist. “Alex, her father looks terrifying.” My face was turned to the side from the impact. I glanced at Alex, but he made no move. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Love” was truly nothing more than this. “Mr. Thorne, have you decided?” Alex was about to agree. But I spoke in a chilling voice. “If you give him a single penny, I will end my life right here.” Alex had never seen such a look in my eyes. I was always gentle, always compliant. But now, my eyes were as desolate as a bottomless lake. Finally, he said. “I can’t give it to you. Security, please escort this man out.” William was dragged out, still cursing and swearing. “You rich people, what’s a little money to you? This bitch, she only cares about outsiders.” “Everyone back to work! What are you all doing standing around here?” At Alex’s command, everyone scattered like frightened birds. I walked towards the back exit. Missing the complicated gaze Alex cast at my retreating back. “Alex, let’s go upstairs. I was almost scared to death just now.” Serena clutched her chest, looking utterly frightened. In the end, he didn’t come after me. Serena had only just been appeased; he didn’t want his efforts to go to waste. No big deal, he’d just go home tonight and explain everything to me properly. Thinking that, Alex felt it wasn’t such a problem after all. He and Serena went upstairs. I walked numbly down the street, almost getting hit by a car. I found a stone bench and sat down, crying out loud. Five years ago, I met Alex. I chased him for a long time. I chased him until even I felt hopeless, wanting to give up, when Alex finally agreed. I had heard his friends mention Serena. But I naively believed that was the past, and Alex had finally been moved by me. I came from a humble background. My father gambled, and my mother had vanished without a trace long ago. Alex never said anything. He even helped me. I truly believed it was love. Even without marriage, I tried my best to play the role of a dutiful girlfriend. But now, my heart felt shattered into a million pieces, beyond repair. I stayed on the roadside until late at night before dragging my exhausted body home. Two more days, and I would be leaving the country. Now, thinking back, this might be the most correct decision I had ever made. To be able to get away from everything here and start a new life. Returning home and opening the door, Alex, awkwardly wearing an apron, said. “Why are you home so late? The food’s all cold.” I didn’t understand what Alex was doing. “I’m not hungry.” With that, I lay on the bed, quietly digesting my negative emotions. Alex leaned in to kiss me. “Not eating isn’t good for your health. Eat a little.” I pushed him away. “What do you even take me for? Your plaything?” Alex took off the apron. “What kind of talk is that? Wasn’t I just worried you’d be hungry?” “You’re worried I’ll be hungry, but not worried I’d be beaten?” Provoked by my words time and again, Alex’s face hardened. “That’s your father. All of those things were done by him. I gave him so much money, wasn’t that enough?” He cooked dinner and waited for me, only to be treated with cold words. When had Alex ever lowered himself to this extent? Since I wasn’t grateful, he had no need to endure it.

I gave a bitter laugh. “It’s all my fault. Why do I have a father like this? Why do I have a lover like this?” Alex knitted his brows. “Are you serious about breaking up?” I stared blankly at the floor. “What else can I do? I’m not shameless enough to cling to you when you’re already engaged to someone else, am I?” Seeing me like this, a pang of pain shot through Alex’s heart. Yet, he also felt I was being unreasonable. I had him for five years. In those five years, Alex had given me everything he could. But after Serena went abroad, not only was she subjected to domestic violence by her then-husband, but she also lost a child. Serena had no parents; she only had Alex. I, at least, still had family, and five years of his companionship. Why was I never satisfied? “I don’t agree to the breakup.” Alex said firmly. “But you agreed at the time, didn’t you? If we break up, you can take good care of Serena without any worries.” Alex was so angry his stomach hurt. “No matter what you say, I won’t agree.” I had been by his side for a very long time. To him, it was more than just love; it was something deeper. He couldn’t accept losing me. “A breakup doesn’t require your agreement; it’s just a notification.” I said. I had no desire to get entangled in this anymore. If possible, I just wanted to live my own life peacefully. The red and swollen marks from the slap were still on my face, but Alex didn’t care in the slightest. Having been cared for by me for so many years, Alex had come to view me as a habit. But I was a living, breathing person, and I couldn’t remain just a “habit” forever. Seeing my resolve, Alex’s head throbbed. Meanwhile, he hadn’t visited Serena for too long, and she was constantly texting him. He resisted replying. Until Serena sent him a photo of herself. Bruised knees. “Alex, I accidentally fell, it hurts so much, I can’t even walk now. What should I do?” Alex couldn’t sit still anymore. But he had a vague premonition. If I left this time, he would lose me forever. He paced agitatedly in the living room. I watched his phone vibrate incessantly, saw him go from calm to anxious. “If you have something to do, go. Don’t worry about me.” Alex heard me, and then Serena sent another message. “Alex, it’s so dark here, I’m scared.” Alex grabbed his jacket, ready to leave. “I’ll have my assistant come take care of you.” Leaving that one sentence, Alex hurried downstairs. I stood up and pulled a photo from the drawer. It was the one we took at the amusement park. Even though it wasn’t a great picture, no matter how crazy I got, shredding all the others, I’d always kept this one. As a last memento. Back then, I was happy. Alex, though busy, had still accompanied me to the amusement park. I thought that counted as a special preference. Now it seemed I was just too foolish. Picking up a lighter, I set the photo ablaze. The flames illuminated my haggard face. From now on, all grudges, all ties, were finally severed. I slept soundly that night.

I woke up bright and early. I watered all the plants in the house and made myself a hearty breakfast. All my belongings in the bedroom had completely vanished. “Izzy, I’ll pick you up at 12.” It was a message from Liam. I replied with “Okay.” I was leaving the country. Picking up the coffee from the table, I leaned on the balcony, lost in thought. Perhaps things would get better from now on? When Alex returned, this was the scene he walked into. “Izzy, can you stop being mad, please?” He pulled me into his arms from behind. “Once Serena settles in here, I’ll cancel the engagement, but as her guardian, I still have to take care of her.” Listening to Alex’s words, my heart felt not a single ripple anymore. “Alex, do whatever you want, you don’t need to tell me.” Seeing my calm demeanor, Alex thought I had truly come to terms with it. “I’ll talk to my family about marriage, and we’ll have two beautiful babies. Everything will be fine.” With that, he pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “Izzy, didn’t you say you liked this? I had someone bring back an even better one.” It was the ring I had yearned for so much. Alex knelt on one knee and slid the ring onto my ring finger. “Izzy, stay by my side.” I inspected the ring on my hand. It was indeed beautiful, even more stunning than Serena’s. But I didn’t need it anymore. Seeing my expression, Alex kissed my forehead. “I’m off to the company. I’ll be back for dinner tonight.” I didn’t answer. Alex just smiled helplessly. He always thought I’d eventually be appeased, and even if I was angry, I’d eventually get over it myself. Alex left with a relieved mind. I took off the ring and placed it back in the box on the table. It was almost noon. Liam came upstairs to help me with my luggage. “Thanks for your hard work, Liam.” Liam, inadvertently flexing his bicep, smiled and said. “It’s my honor to help you, Izzy.” We got into the car together and headed for the airport. The scenery outside the window kept changing. A news headline popped up. “Thorne Group CEO spotted dining with new love at Sycamore Tree Restaurant, the two sharing laughter.” The news was taken down within a minute. But I still saw it. The photo showed Alex and Serena. The Sycamore Tree Restaurant was where Alex and I first fell in love five years ago. Turning off my phone, I said to Liam. “I heard Germany is a food desert. Will we starve?” Liam chuckled. “Don’t worry, Izzy, I’m a good cook.” I laughed too. We picked up our boarding passes and boarded the plane together. Before leaving, I sent Alex one last message. “Alex, we’re not getting married.” After sending it, I deleted his contact information. Then I turned off my phone. When Alex received the message, he was shopping with Serena. He shook his head and replied. “Izzy, I’ve already lowered myself. What more do you want from me?” But it showed a red exclamation mark. He started calling, but the phone was constantly off. “Serena, here’s my card. Buy whatever you want.” Serena pouted. “Alex, is it her again?” Alex was anxious, but he kept a smile on his face. “No, just some urgent business. I’ll be back later.” Serena finally nodded. Alex rushed home. The living room was neatly cleaned; their matching couple’s mugs were still there. He breathed a sigh of relief, then rushed into the bedroom. The photos he had once displayed, Izzy’s clothes and belongings – all gone. Alex couldn’t believe it. He frantically searched for any trace of Izzy. Then he saw the box on the table. That exquisitely beautiful ring lay quietly inside. A note beside it read. “I’ve gone abroad. Goodbye.”

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He Chose the Princess. I Found My Empire. Liam Taylor and I traveled back in time. In my past life, I was the adopted sister he personally brought home from the orphanage. Later, I became his wife, and we stayed together until old age, our love deep and profound. This life, when Liam’s parents smiled and beckoned to me like before, wanting to take me home, young Liam, however, suddenly stepped forward, blocking their view: “Dad, Mom, don’t choose her. I want the girl next to her as my sister.” He grabbed Chloe, the girl standing next to me – the one who, in the previous life, died from illness before she turned ten. When he turned to look at me, his gaze was as cold as a winter blade: “You took Chloe’s place, causing her to die young. This life, it’s your turn to suffer what she went through.” I understood everything in an instant. So this time, he wanted to be the hero, protecting that fragile “princess.” “Will you come with me?” Mrs. Caldwell stood before me, her voice gentle. I looked ahead – the man who had walked hand-in-hand with me for decades, now leading another girl, walking away without a backward glance. I nodded softly. Fine by me. This life, I wanted to try a different path too.

As I stepped out of the orphanage gates, the Taylors were still there, hadn’t left. The moment he saw me, Liam’s face tightened instantly, and he awkwardly shoved Chloe into the backseat. Before the car door was even properly shut, he yelled at me: “Mila Caldwell, even if you begged me on your knees, I wouldn’t acknowledge you as my sister! There’s no place for you in the Taylor family!” “You, a thief, are meant to be with the Caldwells, the family that will torment you!” The words barely left his lips before he forcefully pushed me, and I almost fell. With a *bang*, the car door was slammed shut. My foot slipped, and I swayed twice, unable to steady myself. Several cars roared off into the distance. The exhaust fumes stirred up a swirl of dust, coating my face and eyes, making them sting so much I couldn’t open them. Just then, a sleek black Maybach slowly pulled up in front of me. The window silently lowered, revealing Mrs. Caldwell’s face, cold as ice: “Want to go to the Taylors’?” I shook my head, my voice quiet: “The Caldwells’ is fine.” She paused, then glanced at me sideways: “What’s your name?” I murmured: “Mila.” “From now on, no more ‘Mila Taylor.’” She uttered a few words calmly, “Call yourself Mila Caldwell.” Few words, but I understood her meaning. I swiftly pulled open the car door, climbed in, and politely said: “Okay, Mom.” Mrs. Caldwell’s eyebrow twitched slightly, but she said nothing, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes. I didn’t say another word, sitting quietly. The car drove into a luxurious villa complex, stopping in front of the Caldwells’ mansion. I followed her inside, watching her set down her bag. She casually looked up, as if talking to herself, yet also introducing someone. “Asher, this is your new sister, Mila Caldwell.” I froze. Instinctively, I looked up. On the railing of the second-floor hallway stood a young man. He was even handsomer than Liam, his features so clean they seemed unreal, almost overly aloof. I didn’t know how long he’d been standing there, completely silent. My heart skipped a beat. This was Asher Caldwell? So different from how I remembered him… In my past life. Shortly after I was brought into the Taylors’ home, he was sent abroad. When we met again, it was many years later. By then he was in power, but his face was covered in scars, terrifyingly cold. Ruthless in his methods and intimidating in appearance, people in the circle secretly called him “Caldwell the Tyrant.” I smiled at him and softly called out: “Brother.” But he acted as if he hadn’t heard me, still leaning against the railing, his gaze as cold as stagnant water. “Don’t mind him,” Mrs. Caldwell said calmly, “He’s just not one to engage with people.” After she finished speaking, she called for a housekeeper, telling me to follow her to get acquainted with the house, then left herself. I was about to step over the threshold, head bowed. For some reason, as if by an impulse I couldn’t explain, I turned back for a glance. And met the young man’s gaze. His eyes were dark and deep, like a dry well, showing no emotion. My heart gave a sudden lurch. I was about to force a smile. But he shifted his gaze first, turned and went back into his room, closing the door silently.

I’d been with the Caldwells for over a month. Since that day I met Mrs. Caldwell at the orphanage, she hadn’t shown her face again. Asher, on the other hand, I’d occasionally run into him at dinner. Every time I saw him, I’d smile and sweetly call him, “Brother.” But him? He never acknowledged me, not even bothering to lift an eyelid. I wasn’t angry, nor did I feel embarrassed. Because I simply didn’t have time to dwell on such things. My days were packed lately, so much so that even taking a breather felt like a luxury. Mrs. Caldwell hadn’t appeared, but her orders certainly hadn’t stopped. From morning till night, it was either learning posture, practicing dance, or horseback riding; all sorts of elite classes were piled onto me. And it was still summer vacation, a time that should have been relaxing, but it was more exhausting than school. Even Maria, who cleaned the rooms, saw my bruised knees and her gaze softened. “Miss, won’t you tell Mrs. Caldwell to let you rest for a day?” I bent down to put on my shoes, shaking my head gently: “No need.” The day I arrived, Mrs. Caldwell had made it clear. “A Caldwell child has no right to be lazy. Even if you’re not blood-related, you can’t bring shame to this family.” “Unlike that girl next door from the Taylors’, who’s out having fun every day.” Maria sighed, handing me my backpack: “Exactly, they were making a racket early this morning. I heard the whole family booked tickets to go abroad for the summer.” She said that, really, to show she felt sorry for me. She felt that at my age, I shouldn’t be cooped up indoors every day, laboriously practicing these etiquette rules. I stood up, took the backpack, and smiled: “Maria, I’m not suffering. I want to learn this.” Outsiders might find the Caldwells’ rules terrifyingly strict, like a literal ice chamber. But I knew, this was an opportunity. The Caldwells are an old-money family, with deep roots and extensive connections. Any path they chose was something the Taylors, a new-money family, couldn’t achieve in decades. Here, I could learn, and I could rise higher. Even if everyone in the Caldwell household treated me coldly, Mrs. Caldwell was mercilessly strict, and Asher wouldn’t even give me a direct glance… I was lost in thought when suddenly something soft brushed against my leg—a ball of white fluff. Immediately after, an agitated and annoyed female voice rang out: “Oh, sweetie! Wrong person! Come back!” “Brother! Help me catch it!” “Silly thing.” I bent down, picked up the kitten, and stood up. And came face to face with a young man walking towards me. A smile played on his lips, his eyes filled with indulgence. I recognized him immediately— Liam Taylor.

The moment Liam saw me, his smile instantly vanished, replaced by pure disdain in his eyes. “How dare you show your face here again? You’re like a persistent shadow!” His tone was sharp, his words laced with venom: “Don’t think that blocking my path here will change my mind about you. Dream on!” “Mila?!” Chloe’s voice suddenly chimed in, filled with surprise and delight. She came trotting over, her fluffy skirt swaying, her eyes bright: “Wow, I really didn’t expect to run into you after leaving the orphanage! What a coincidence!” She took the kitten from my arms, then turned and saw the black sedan parked behind me, asking curiously: “That car… is it here to pick you up?” The moment her gaze swept over it, she froze, her expression changing completely. “Oh my God! You didn’t actually get adopted by the Caldwells next door, did you?” I was about to speak when my gaze inadvertently fell upon her neck – the key pendant hanging there, so familiar it made my heart tremble. Chloe noticed, instinctively raised her hand, and tightly clutched the pendant in her palm, completely hiding it. I pretended not to notice anything, just nodded calmly: “Yep, I’m living with the Caldwells now.” “So now you’re Mila Caldwell?” I calmly glanced at Liam, who stood there looking awkward, as if he’d just misunderstood something. “Something like that.” “The Caldwells are pretty intimidating, aren’t they?” She leaned closer, lowering her voice, “I heard their son has some kind of mental issue, that he can’t speak. Is it true?” She secretly pointed towards the Caldwell mansion, her face full of gossip, barraging me with questions. I had just started to frown, about to offer an explanation, but she continued to babble on. “Hey, these clothes you’re wearing… are they for horseback riding and archery? You’re actually learning that?” She tilted her head, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “I have things to do, I’m leaving.” I was about to pull away when Liam coldly cut in: “Chloe, why waste time with someone like her? Let’s go.” Chloe acknowledged him, then mischievously stuck out her tongue at me: “Don’t mind him, my brother is usually so gentle, he’s probably just in a bad mood today…” “Brother, wait for me!” She lifted her skirt and chased after him. I stood there, silent for a second, then also turned and left. The wind gently carried their words to me. “Brother, the Caldwells are really harsh, aren’t they? Mila is about my age, and she has classes every day. I saw her arms, black and blue; she must be training so hard.” “Hah, what’s the point of learning all that? A girl doing all these useless things will only suffer sooner or later.” “Our Chloe doesn’t have to suffer like that. She just needs to be pretty and act like a princess.” “Mhm! Dad, Mom, and Brother spoil me the most!” Suffering? So, in their eyes, this is considered suffering? I twitched my lips, not saying a word. In my past life. The Taylors truly poured their hearts into me, providing me with good food and drink. But whenever I wanted to learn real skills, I was always stopped. I wanted to practice horseback riding and archery. They would panic: “What if you ruin your face! How will you get married later!” I was being stalked and wanted to enroll in a self-defense class. They immediately objected: “A daughter of the Taylors learning how to fight? How disgraceful! Aren’t our bodyguards enough?” Later, I wanted to learn about business and bookkeeping. They still shook their heads: “Your brother is handling everything at home. Why bother yourself with it?” They’d say they loved you, but secretly they raised you like a flower that would wilt at the slightest breeze. But Mrs. Caldwell was different. She only said one thing, which I remember to this day: “In the Caldwell family, no one lives by relying on others. If you can learn, you must learn; if you can fight for something, you must fight for it.”

Summer break flew by in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, it was time for school to start. My mom had already arranged for me to enroll in the same international school as Asher. The same place Liam and I had attended in my past life. On the first day of school, I got into the car early. When Asher opened the door, I cheerfully called out to him: “Morning, Brother! Mom said we’d be going to and from school together from now on.” Asher’s hand paused in mid-air. Then, without a word, he sat in the corner furthest from me. The next day, I did the same. The third day. The fourth day… This went on for nearly two months. But I noticed that even though Asher never spoke to me, and my words were always ignored like they were just thin air to him, sometimes, when I ate breakfast slowly and rushed out of the yard, I’d find him still leaning against the car, backpack on, waiting. I suppressed my surprise and said with a smile: “Brother, you’re really a good person.” As usual, he gave me a faint glance, then slipped into the car without a word. But— This time, when he got in the car, he stepped in with his right foot first! A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Interesting, he really has changed. That day. After school, I waited at the entrance of the academic building for ages, but there was no sign of Asher, and I couldn’t reach him on his phone. As I was anxiously pacing around, something suddenly *clicked* in my mind. I remembered. Around this time in my past life, a sensational incident occurred at the school gate. Back then, I was desperately trying to catch up with the school’s pace, cramming for lessons. I only vaguely heard students discussing it, saying someone from the Caldwell family had caused trouble. They also seemed to mention that their child had gotten into trouble. Years later, I happened to hear someone mention it. Asher Caldwell, the patriarch of the Caldwell family, had his face deliberately scarred in high school. Could it be… today? Oh no! No time to think! I immediately messaged the driver: “If you don’t see me at the school gate, don’t wait. Come directly to the school’s back alley to find me.” Then I bolted, running towards the back alley. Asher, please don’t let anything happen to you!

When I arrived, the situation was already bad. Asher was surrounded by several thugs at the end of the alley, unable to move. “Well, well, Caldwell’s young master isn’t playing the big shot today, huh? Too much of a mute to even beg for mercy?” “Nonsense, being mute is easier, saves him from running back to complain and cause trouble.” “Damn, this kid still has a stubborn look in his eyes!” The guy who looked like the leader, a high schooler named Mike, sneered and spat on the ground. Then he pulled out a utility knife and directly gestured it towards Asher’s face! My heart plummeted. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a baseball bat lying nearby. I took a deep breath, gritted my teeth, and charged out, shouting as I ran: “The police will be here any second! I’ve already called them!” I swung the bat wildly, my movements pure instinct. Luckily, I hadn’t slacked off in physical education classes recently, so my stamina held up. They hadn’t expected me to suddenly appear, and hearing that I’d called the police, they immediately panicked, scattering and hiding. “Damn it! This kid has serious luck!” After a few curses, they turned and ran, their footsteps hurried and chaotic. Once they were gone, I immediately rushed to Asher’s side. He had a bloody cut on his face, not too deep. But his arms and legs were black and blue, clearly having taken a beating. “Brother, hang in there, I’ll take you home!” I helped him up, ready to leave. Suddenly, a powerful force hit me from behind – I was brutally kicked to the ground! “Hey, Mike, I told you this little punk was bluffing! Called the police? Don’t make me laugh!” “So young and already learned to lie, what a piece of trash!” “A mute loser and a lying cheat, perfect together! Haha!” Mike was furious, kicking my back repeatedly. I curled up, my head tucked in, but my gaze met Asher’s eyes, wide with horror. My lips trembled, but I still managed a weak smile and whispered: “Brother, don’t be scared.” Asher’s whole body jolted. He stared fixedly at me, and I stood in front of him, not retreating a single step. The punches and kicks from behind grew fiercer. Just then— Asher, who had been silent all this time, suddenly pounced like a madman. He bit down hard on the closest guy’s hand, his teeth sinking into the flesh, not letting go! That ferocity stunned the thugs, freezing them for a few seconds. But being outnumbered and weaker, he was quickly pinned to the ground. Punches rained down on his head and chest, and someone even pulled out an iron bar… Could it be… Could we truly not escape this calamity? In my blurring consciousness, I heard voices and footsteps from the alley entrance. Was it the driver…? I desperately forced my eyelids open, trying to look that way. In my field of vision, a pair of clean white sneakers slowly appeared…

Someone stood at the alley entrance, their shadow stretched long by the sun. Mike and his crew immediately glared, yelling fiercely at them. “Where did this newbie come from, staring here for what?!” Newbie? Not the driver? I desperately forced my eyelids open. I wanted to see the person’s face clearly, but blood was smeared all over mine, making it impossible to see anything. Just then, a clear voice echoed from afar. “Liam, why are you just standing there? The cake shop is this way!” The person paused. “Oh, coming.” I blinked, my throat dry, and mumbled a single word: “Brother…” His footsteps faltered slightly. But in the end, he didn’t turn around, slowly walking away with the little girl. The little girl couldn’t help but turn her head to glance into the alley, and the next second, she shrieked. “Brother! There’s someone lying there, bleeding so much! Did you see?!” The moment her words fell, her vision went black – her eyes were covered by a hand. “Don’t look, it’s not pleasant.” Liam’s voice was gentle, like he was coaxing a child. From very, very far away. I thought I heard him whisper: “My little Chloe, this time I found you early, and I won’t let you suffer any injustice again.” “The Caldwells won’t be able to hurt you again, and you won’t leave us early like in the last life.” In my daze, I remembered him mumbling when he was close to his last breath in my past life: “It’s all my fault… if only I had found you sooner…” Back then, I thought he regretted that I hadn’t been able to keep our child, and that I couldn’t have children anymore. I choked out, comforting him: “Old man, in the next life, we’ll still be together, and we’ll have children…” Who knew that what he couldn’t let go of, deep in his heart, wasn’t me at all. What lingered in his heart was that rainy day when he was with me, getting an IV drip, and didn’t rush back to save Chloe. So this life, he kept her tightly by his side, protecting her meticulously. He came here today, not to save me. But merely to see with his own eyes how I, the thief who stole his beloved’s place, was being tormented. But in my past life. I vaguely heard classmates discussing it. After the incident at the Caldwells’, Asher was sent away, abroad. Chloe, however, couldn’t go with him, staying home, her life getting worse by the day. A knowledgeable girl had quietly mentioned: “That day, when they were escaping for their lives, Chloe was the first to run.” “Asher shielded her from the attack, and she ran off without a backward glance…” But Liam insisted on believing that his sister was pure and flawless. Hah. Did he really believe. That girl he doted on so much was truly that kind? I bared my teeth in a grimace, wiping away the blood and tears from my face. Suddenly, I pushed myself up, clinging desperately to one of the thugs’ legs. Let them kick, let them curse, I wouldn’t let go for anything. “You… don’t hit my brother!” My last bit of strength drained away. Before my eyes. Everything went black.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a blurry face resting by my bedside. The air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant. My mind slowly came back to me. So I was in the hospital. It seemed the driver had called the police, and I’d been brought here in time. I tried to sit up, perhaps a bit too roughly, and the person next to me stirred, then lifted their head. It was Asher. His naturally alluring eyes stared intently at me for a long time. Then he slowly raised a hand and gently touched the bandage on my head: “Sister… does it hurt?” It had been too long since I’d heard his voice. His voice was a little hoarse, as if he hadn’t used it in a long time. But it wasn’t unpleasant; rather, it was a low, comforting sound. But I was completely stunned. Asher… just spoke to me? It wasn’t just me who was dumbfounded. Even Mrs. Caldwell, who had just walked in, suddenly froze, her eyes wide: “Was that… Asher speaking?” She was always composed, but now even her voice trembled: “Asher, say ‘Mom,’ okay?” Asher merely gave her a faint glance, then turned back, staring at my wound, not uttering another word. I felt a little helpless, wanting to smooth things over, but didn’t know what to say: “Mom, just now, Brother, he… actually…” Mrs. Caldwell waved her hand, her eyes instantly reddening: “It’s okay, no rush, Asher needs time…” She didn’t finish her sentence. Just then, Maria walked in, carrying a lunchbox. During dinner, as she served us soup, she mentioned that the alley incident from that day had been thoroughly investigated. It was just a few street punks who, hearing the Caldwell family had a decent background, got some crooked ideas. What was even more outrageous was that one of them was actually a student from our school! The adult culprits had all been arrested and wouldn’t escape jail time, and the student had been expelled from school, his punishment decided. I hummed in acknowledgment, but my gaze involuntarily drifted to Asher next to me. Who would have believed it? In my past life, just because of these few rotten people’s momentary evil thoughts, such a pure person was dragged into hell. Thankfully, this time. He was sitting perfectly fine in front of me. Asher saw me just staring blankly, my forks untouched, and frowned slightly: “Sister, eat.” I froze, quickly snapped back to attention, and casually picked up a piece of ribs to place in his bowl: “You eat more too, Brother.” Dinner was just finished. A nurse rushed in, bustling and laughing as she pointed at Asher: “Running around again! Do you know your own room is on the third floor?!” Only then did I understand. He had secretly snuck over. Before leaving, he stood by my bed, reached out, and ruffled my hair: “Sister, get well soon.” Just those few words. All the adults in the room had red-rimmed eyes. Maria turned her back, subtly wiping the corner of her eye. After he left, Mrs. Caldwell didn’t move. She stood rooted to the spot, watching his receding figure, for a long time. Today she wasn’t wearing makeup, and her hair was simply tied back. She looked less sharp, with a rare hint of softness. “Asher wasn’t like this before.” “He was obedient, polite, and unnaturally intelligent for a child. Back then, everyone said the Caldwell family had produced a prodigy, not… a silent, withdrawn boy.” She sat beside me, her voice as light as a breeze: “The change began with an accident four years ago.” My heart jolted, and I froze in place.

Mrs. Caldwell began to speak. Asher indeed had a sister before, named Hazel Caldwell. She was the daughter of his father’s younger brother. At that time, Asher’s father and his uncle and aunt passed away young in an accident, and the family suddenly lost half its foundation. The entire burden of the Caldwell family fell solely on Mrs. Caldwell’s shoulders. Hazel was left without care, so Mrs. Caldwell simply took her into their home, raising her like her own daughter. Those few years, the Caldwells had a tough time. With their pillar gone, the Caldwells were like an unlocked money bag; everyone wanted to grab a share. Mrs. Caldwell had to harden her heart, acting decisively when needed, becoming increasingly assertive, and thus offending many. Four years ago, their two children were kidnapped. The kidnappers laid hands on Asher, and six-year-old Hazel, seeing this, immediately pounced. She bit down hard on the person’s hand, refusing to let go. The kidnapper went mad with rage, swinging a stick, hitting her head repeatedly… Asher witnessed the entire scene. After they were rescued, he changed. He never smiled again, nor did he speak another word. Mrs. Caldwell tried every possible method, but nothing worked. Left with no other options, she took an old friend’s advice and brought another “sister” home. Hoping to see if she could thaw the ice in his heart a little. Mrs. Caldwell stood up and slowly walked to the window. She said I wasn’t actually the first girl brought into this family. “Asher has never been this close to anyone. He truly feels differently about you.”

A week later. I returned to the Caldwells’ from the hospital. The atmosphere was noticeably different. Before, everyone looked at me like I was a temporary foster child, an outsider. Someone who could be sent away at any moment, and even calling me “Miss” felt forced. Now, their gazes had changed; it was as if they truly considered me one of the Caldwell bloodline. But my classes didn’t decrease at all; in fact, there were even more. Mrs. Caldwell said directly: “You’ll be joining Caldwell Group later. If you don’t have any real skills, who will listen to you?” At her words, the expressions of several other Caldwell family members nearby changed. Their gazes fell on me, some wary, some scrutinizing, some clearly displeased. I didn’t have time to bother with them, instinctively turning to look for Asher. Afraid he might feel awkward. But I saw him tilting his head, hand propped under his chin, his eyes shining like stars. He stammered out a few words: “Sis… sister, don’t be scared, you’re the strongest.” My nose stung, my eyes felt warm, and I nodded heavily: “Mhm!” Mrs. Caldwell also smiled, her tone gentle: “Asher, you’ll have to work hard, or your sister will leave you far behind. Then you’ll have to rely on her to protect you.” “No, no way!” Asher shot up, his face flushed with urgency. “I… I’ll protect my sister!” With that, he actually assumed a stance and performed a set of punches and kicks. His movements were clumsy, but deliberate and incredibly serious. Ever since that incident at school, he had been at the martial arts gym every day, training harder than anyone. Mrs. Caldwell and I exchanged glances, unable to help but laugh. Watching his flushed face and enthusiastic movements, my lips slowly curved into a smile. Mrs. Caldwell once said: “Asher is lucky to have a sister like you.” But this time. My entry into the Caldwell family, wasn’t it also me finding my light?

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On the one-year anniversary of our remarriage, I snuck into the hotel where my husband was staying for his business trip, planning to surprise him with flowers. Instead, I stumbled upon a lavish birthday party he was throwing for Serena Thorne, the woman he’d always adored, his “white moonlight.” He was carefully fastening the heirloom bracelet, meant only for the Caldwell family’s true daughter-in-law, onto her wrist. A clueless guest chimed in, “If Caleb truly loves Ms. Thorne, then when his affair with her first went public, and Layla was so furious she divorced him and walked away, wasn’t that exactly what he wanted? Why did he spend six months chasing her down, begging her to remarry him?” Someone quickly offered an explanation: “Chasing her down? Remarriage? Please. Serena was just playing games with Layla.” “When Layla first filed for divorce, it blew up online, and Serena got slammed by netizens for ages. Serena was furious, so she told Caleb to pretend to win Layla back. Layla was completely played, genuinely believing Caleb had a change of heart. She held out for only six months before agreeing to remarry him.” “And in this past year of their remarriage, Serena’s ‘fun’ with Layla has only escalated. Like making Caleb dress Layla in a cheap knock-off gown to a gala just to humiliate her, or tricking Layla, who can’t swim, into going diving, then sharing the video of her nearly drowning with their entire social circle just to laugh at. It’s truly ‘entertaining’.” “I heard today is Caleb and Layla’s one-year remarriage anniversary. I bet Serena has something even better planned for Layla later. I can’t wait.” I felt like I’d plunged into an ice cellar. But I didn’t rush out to cry or yell. Instead, I began to plan my own staged death. Caleb Caldwell, you’ve deceived me for so long. It’s time I returned the favor.

“Ms. Hayes, your ‘fake death’ protocol has been activated. In seven days, everything will proceed as planned.” Hearing the voice of the covert agency staff on the phone, I let out a long breath. In seven days, I would vanish completely from Caleb Caldwell’s world. I hung up and circled the date seven days from now on my calendar in red. The vivid crimson seemed to mock me for my foolishness over the past year and a half. When Caleb returned with a cake, I was still staring blankly at the calendar. He set the cake down, wrapping his arms around me as he always did, asking tenderly, “What are you doing? You look so lost in thought.” Feeling his warm chest against my back, a bitter sadness welled up inside me. Married for five years, remarried for one. I never knew Caleb was such a brilliant actor. So good that he made me believe he had truly let go of Serena and fallen in love with me. That he truly couldn’t live without me, which was why he relentlessly pursued me for six months after our divorce, determined to remarry. I shook my head. “Nothing much, just thinking.” His gaze fell on the circled date on the calendar. “Is seven days from now an important day?” “Yes.” I suppressed the bitterness in my heart, hinting, “It’s the day I’ll give you a surprise.” Caleb stroked my hair affectionately. “I’ll look forward to it, then.” “But let’s not worry about seven days from now. Layla, do you remember what day today is? It’s our one-year remarriage anniversary. I made this chocolate cake myself. Come on, try it.” My heart lurched as I looked at the cake he held out. I remembered Serena’s birthday party earlier today, someone laughing as they asked what ‘fun’ Serena had planned for me. She had casually scooped a handful of dirt from a flowerpot and sprinkled it onto a cake, laughing, “I’m happy today, so I’ll let Layla off easy. I’ll just live-stream her eating dirt.” And now, Caleb had actually brought back *that exact cake with dirt*, trying to pass it off as chocolate. My heart stung as if pierced by needles. After a long moment, I managed to whisper, “My stomach isn’t feeling well. I don’t want anything sweet.” Caleb’s smile faded slightly. “Your stomach’s bothering you again?” “Come on, Layla. This cake is my effort, after all. Just one bite, then I’ll make you some stomach-soothing soup, okay?” He scooped up a mouthful from the area with the most dirt and brought it to my lips. I met his eyes, searching for a hint of guilt from his deception. But there was none. His gaze was sincere, as if he genuinely didn’t want me to disappoint his efforts. Forcing back the wrenching pain in my chest, I nodded slightly. “Okay, I’ll eat it.” The dirt-filled cake landed in my mouth, grinding painfully against my gums. I knew that a hidden camera, somewhere unseen, was recording my humiliating moment of eating dirt. Serena, watching the live-stream, must have been utterly delighted. Caleb, satisfied, put the cake down and went to make me the stomach-soothing soup. Watching him disappear into the kitchen, a chill spread through my heart. Caleb knew my stomach condition was severe, yet to please Serena, he didn’t hesitate to make me eat a cake filled with dirt. He truly had no love left for me. I didn’t get to drink the soup Caleb was making. Instead, I was rushed to the hospital for a stomach pump due to severe stomach cramps. As my consciousness faded, I heard a gentle voice coaxing me, “Hang in there, Layla. The pain will be gone soon.” I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming, but when I awoke, I saw Caleb asleep, slumped beside my hospital bed. His face was drawn with exhaustion, looking like he’d been taking care of me for a long time. His phone vibrated continuously in his hand. I picked it up and opened it, seeing his friends’ messages in their SnapChat group: “Caleb, Layla eating dirt today was hilarious! I’ve rewatched the video ten times!” “Right? But why were you in such a hurry to send Layla to the hospital, Caleb? Did you feel bad?” Caleb had replied below: “Don’t joke around. It wouldn’t be good if Serena saw that.” “I was just playing the role perfectly. If I don’t soothe her now, how will I trick her into cooperating next time?” So, it was all an act again. I forced a bitter smile and put the phone back. Caleb woke up soon after, sighing in relief when he saw I was okay. “I’m so sorry, Layla. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed you to eat that cake.” I said nothing, just looked at him silently. My gaze made him a little uncomfortable. He quickly grabbed his jacket and stood up. “Work things. I need to go back and handle them. I’ll come see you later.” The moment the door closed, I shut my eyes, and tears finally streamed down my face. Caleb, six more days.

I didn’t wait for Caleb to visit me again; I checked out of the hospital early. I took my marriage certificate to the relevant office, intending to file for divorce. But the clerk frowned after examining it. “Ms. Hayes, your marriage certificate is a fake. It holds no legal validity whatsoever, so you can’t file for divorce based on this.” I froze, then suddenly remembered the day we remarried. Caleb had said it was too crowded at the office, and waiting in line would be tiring. He’d arranged for a friend to handle the paperwork, telling me to just wait at home. Back then, I was touched by his thoughtfulness. Now I realized that this remarriage, from beginning to end, was nothing but a sham. I clutched the fake certificate, my fingertips white, but then I laughed aloud. Good. It saved me the trouble of divorcing. When I got home, Caleb was already waiting for me on the sofa. “Layla, why did you check out of the hospital alone? Why didn’t you wait for me to pick you up?” “Are you still upset about the cake? Can you forgive me? As an apology, how about I take you to an auction to buy you a present?” I didn’t want to go, but Caleb didn’t give me a choice, pulling me out the door. Once we arrived, I immediately spotted Serena Thorne in the crowd. She wore a striking red gown, the heirloom bracelet meant for the Caldwell family’s true daughter-in-law glistening on her wrist. Noticing my gaze on Serena, Caleb hastily explained, “Layla, I don’t know why Serena is here. I haven’t been in touch with her for a long time.” “If you’re unhappy, I’ll have someone remove her right now.” I forced a smile, too tired to expose his lies. “No need.” It was just an act for my benefit anyway. The auction soon began, and I was indifferent throughout. But Caleb acted as if he genuinely wanted to make it up to me. Whenever I so much as glanced at an item, he would immediately raise his paddle. In a short while, he had acquired many things. People around us cast envious glances, but a terrible premonition bloomed in my heart. My premonition soon came true. When the ruby necklace, the grand finale item, was brought out, Serena was the first to raise her paddle. “Ten million.” I thought Caleb wouldn’t dare bid against Serena, but he didn’t hesitate to raise his paddle. “Fifteen million.” Meeting my astonished gaze, he gave me an affectionate smile. “You didn’t like any of the other things we bid on. You’ll definitely love this final necklace, right?” I was about to shake my head, but he had already turned his attention back to bidding against Serena. After a tense bidding war, Caleb made a decisive gesture. “Sold!” Suddenly, the entire room erupted. Everyone’s gaze at me was no longer just envy. I felt a pang of agony. Turning my head, I met Serena’s knowing, mocking eyes, and my heart sank. Caleb ultimately won the bid for the ruby necklace. But when the auction ended and the staff came to collect payment, he was nowhere to be found. My face went pale at the astronomical sum. I tried calling him, but only heard the voicemail message saying his phone was off. The staff’s expression slowly changed. The looks from the people around me shifted from envy to mockery. “Caleb Caldwell’s wife, can she actually not afford it?” “I thought Caleb doted on his wife so much. Turns out it was all fake.” “Maybe this woman deliberately latched onto Caleb and came to the auction, wanting to show off and buy expensive jewelry, but Caleb didn’t indulge her at all. Now look, she’s totally humiliated.” The insulting words felt like a barrage of slaps, making me feel faint. The staff had completely lost their pleasant demeanor, sneering at me, “Mrs. Caldwell, can you pay or not? If not, there’s a breach of contract fee!” I opened my mouth, but finally, my voice rasped, “Alright, I’ll pay the penalty.” I didn’t have any money on me. I had no choice but to take off my necklace, my bracelet, and even my dress, to use as collateral for the penalty. The incident quickly went viral online. The hashtag #LaylaAuctionScam trended instantly. The comments were filled with ridicule and curses. I stared at the vicious words, my nails digging into my palms, but I couldn’t even cry. So this was Caleb’s true purpose in bringing me to the auction. He wanted me to become everyone’s laughingstock. I returned home, looking at the countdown on the calendar. Five more days.

I didn’t want to go out and face the mocking stares, but in two days, it was Grandma Vivian’s birthday gala, and I had no choice but to attend. The gala was held at the Caldwell family estate. As soon as Caleb and I arrived, I saw Serena Thorne holding Grandma Vivian’s arm, chatting intimately with her. She had the usually stern Grandma Vivian laughing heartily. They looked like a perfect family. I glanced at them, then turned to look at Caleb. I saw his eyes filled with tenderness, clearly moved by the heartwarming scene. Noticing my gaze, Caleb uncomfortably explained, “Serena is a guest Grandma Vivian wanted to invite. I couldn’t stop her.” “If you don’t want to see her, we can go upstairs and wait after we’ve given Grandma your gift.” I said nothing, but Caleb had already pulled me forward. After offering birthday wishes, he instructed a servant to bring over the gift. “Grandma, this is a birthday gift Layla spent six months meticulously preparing for you herself. It’s full of her heartfelt wishes for you, and I hope you like it.” Hearing this, Grandma Vivian shifted her gaze from Serena. She gave me a casual glance and said faintly, “You’re very thoughtful.” Seeing Grandma Vivian’s attitude, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. From the first time Caleb and I married, Grandma Vivian never liked me. After Caleb and I got divorced, and the Caldwell family and Serena were dragged onto social media, she disliked me even more. After our “remarriage,” to spare Caleb from being caught in the middle, I had spent six months carving a custom-made sculpture representing longevity and good fortune, intending it as a birthday gift to make her happy. I never imagined that before the gift was even presented, I would uncover the truth about our remarriage and prepare to leave. Before I could fully react, Grandma Vivian had already pulled back the red cloth covering the gift. A delicate urn was starkly revealed. Grandma Vivian’s face instantly darkened. She suppressed her anger, saying, “Is this the ‘heartfelt wish’ you spent six months preparing?” My heart leaped. Grandma Vivian was a traditional woman. Presenting her with an urn at her birthday gala was nothing short of a provocation. But how had my sculpture turned into an urn? I instinctively looked at Caleb. Before the gift presentation, he was the only one who had handled my gift. But I didn’t get an explanation from Caleb. Instead, I heard Serena’s gleeful voice: “Layla, why would you give such a gift? Are you unhappy with Grandma Vivian?” “Grandma Vivian, please don’t be angry. It’s not worth getting upset over someone so insignificant. Come see the gift I prepared for you.” She clapped her hands, and immediately someone brought over a gift. When it was opened, it was my meticulously carved sculpture. My heart sank. There was nothing left to misunderstand now. Clearly, Serena wanted to play another cruel joke on me, so she had Caleb switch out my birthday gift, making me offend Grandma Vivian. I squeezed my palms tightly, feeling only a chilling emptiness in my chest. I didn’t participate in the rest of the birthday gala. Instead, Serena and Caleb stood on either side of Grandma Vivian, chatting and laughing with guests, looking every bit like the Caldwell family’s daughter-in-law. My heart was bitter. With the heirloom bracelet meant for the family’s daughter-in-law on her wrist, she certainly seemed like the Caldwell’s daughter-in-law, didn’t she? Finally, the gala ended. Just as Caleb and I were about to leave, Grandma Vivian had Mr. Davies, the butler, stop me. Mr. Davies held up a whip and said, “Ms. Hayes, Grandma Vivian has decided not to dwell on the incredibly offensive ‘gift’ you brought. However, as a Caldwell daughter-in-law, you must learn respect. You will be disciplined according to family tradition to ensure you remember this lesson.” Seeing the whip covered in barbs, Caleb couldn’t help but frown. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he only said, “It’s just a few lashes, Layla. Endure it. Don’t make Grandma upset again.” I had long since abandoned any hope for Caleb. Hearing his words, I simply nodded, my voice hoarse. “Okay.” I was quickly led to the family shrine. Mr. Davies wielded the whip, lashing me again and again. The whip sliced through the air, striking me brutally. As it recoiled, its barbs tore away flesh. After nine lashes, I was covered in blood. Before I lost consciousness, I calculated the time. Two more days. The final two days.

When I woke again, I found myself in our familiar bedroom. Caleb was gently applying medicine to my wounds, a tenderness in his eyes he himself hadn’t noticed. He didn’t realize I was awake. After finishing the dressing and bandaging, he left the room. The door didn’t close tightly. Through the crack, I heard him on the phone with Serena Thorne. “Caleb, I have a new idea. Lots of people are into wilderness survival lately. I just found a remote mountain. How about you trick Layla into going there and abandon her for a couple of days?” “Just imagining her lost on a wild mountain, unable to find you, afraid to leave, forced to eat bark when she’s hungry and drink her own urine when she’s thirsty—I find it absolutely hilarious.” Caleb seemed to hesitate. “Layla just got whipped by Grandma Vivian over the birthday gift, and she’s still covered in injuries. Maybe we should wait on the wilderness survival thing?” Serena immediately grew displeased. “Are you feeling sorry for Layla? I knew it. All that talk about me being your true love was just lies.” Hearing Serena’s words, Caleb immediately caved. “How could it be a lie? I’ll do it.” Listening to Caleb’s voice, my heart felt utterly desolate. In the past, when Caleb loved me, he would be heartbroken if I so much as bumped into a table corner by accident. But now, at Serena’s behest, he had caused me to endure nine lashes. My wounds hadn’t even healed, and he was already planning to send me into the wilderness to fend for myself. If that’s the case, Caleb, let this wilderness survival trip be an unforgettable memory for you. I relayed the wilderness survival details to the fake death agency, and they quickly responded. After reading their reply, I deleted all records related to the agency from my phone. After a day of recovery, Caleb found me. “Layla, you’ve seemed a little unhappy lately. How about I take you out hiking to clear your head?” I nodded calmly. Caleb had expected me to resist, having prepared all his coaxing words, but he was surprised by my cooperation. He paused, a vague unease stirring within him. But he quickly suppressed it, smiling as he stroked my head. “Layla is so well-behaved today.” Feeling the familiar warmth on my head, I could no longer feel any joy. After lunch, Caleb and I left. The car drove on. While stopped at a red light, Caleb glanced at me several times, looking as if he wanted to say something. I asked him, “What’s wrong?” His gaze lingered on my injuries, but when he spoke, he said, “Nothing, I just remembered you mentioned you had a surprise for me, and the date was tomorrow, I think.” I forced a smile. “You remember? Don’t worry, it’ll be a surprise you’ll love.” Even though I was smiling, I felt my eyes welling up, and I quickly turned my head away. Caleb’s unease returned, stronger than before. The car soon reached the “wild mountain” Serena had mentioned. Looking at the mountain before me, a ripple of emotion still stirred in my heart. I knew this mountain. It had been in the news several times before for tiger attacks. Serena really knew how to pick a place. And Caleb? Did he know there were tigers in the mountains? As I turned to look at Caleb, a tiger’s roar echoed. Caleb heard the sound but only frowned. “Layla, I forgot something in the car. You go ahead and start up the mountain, and I’ll come find you after I get it.” With that, he walked back the way we came without looking back. Watching his retreating figure, the last shred of affection I held for Caleb completely dissipated. I truly followed Caleb’s words and ascended the mountain. By the time I reached the summit, the sun had already set. The tigers and wolves in the mountain roared again and again, but Caleb, who was supposed to retrieve something, never returned. When the appointed time came, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I simply jumped off the cliff. As Caleb drove back, the unease in his heart grew stronger. What was that sound just now? Leaving Layla alone, wouldn’t she be in danger? His mind instinctively replayed Layla’s recent calm yet sorrowful eyes, and his heart tightened. When he arrived at the place he’d arranged with Serena, he pushed open the door to find several friends already there. But he wasn’t in the mood to socialize. He immediately grabbed Serena’s hand and said, “That mountain you picked, it’s not dangerous, is it?” Serena impatiently pulled her hand away. “What danger could there be? If you’re so worried, go back and be with Layla.” Caleb quickly hugged Serena, trying to soothe her. Once he had calmed her down, he started talking to his friends. It was exactly what he always did. But today, Caleb felt a strange dread, as if something terrible was about to happen. Time ticked by. Caleb’s phone received several calls, but Serena hung up every single one for him. “It must be Layla trying to call you for help. Just ignore her.” Caleb didn’t intervene, but his heart was already filled with a growing sense of foreboding. After another urgent call rang, Caleb snatched the phone before Serena could. But it wasn’t Layla on the other end. It was an unfamiliar male voice. “Is this Ms. Layla Hayes’s husband? We’re the police. We just received an alarm from infrared sensors in the mountains. Ms. Hayes has committed suicide by jumping off a cliff.”

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Last life, I impulsively divorced my ex, only to realize I was useless at earning money. I barely scraped by, ending up in a terrible state. In the end, I didn’t even have money for medical treatment, dying miserably in a hospital. He was the one who scattered my ashes. My ex-husband, on the other hand, had it all. His career skyrocketed, becoming a law firm partner with a seven-figure income, and he even reunited with the love of his life. His story was inspirational, a perfect happy ending. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I angrily filed for divorce. Alexander looked at me with an indifferent expression. “Your family’s on the verge of bankruptcy. Do you really want a divorce? Aren’t you afraid of starving to death?” That truth hit me hard, a brutal reality. But in my past life, I was too busy being stubborn, too focused on winning an argument to really listen. I even pretended to be noble, walking away from the marriage with absolutely nothing. Now? No matter what, I had to stick around until Alexander made his fortune and I could claim half of it. Then I’d use that money to live lavishly and date attractive men.

Alexander leaned on his hand, a familiar, humorless smirk playing on his lips. “Seriously, a divorce? Cassidy Hayes, have you found someone else?” There wasn’t an ounce of warmth in his eyes, as if they could burn right through me. How did I retaliate last time? Oh, I put my hands on my hips, stomped my feet, and climbed onto a chair. I tilted my chin up, glaring at him disdainfully: “Trust me, I’ve got eight guys lined up, and every single one of them is better than you. Alexander, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll sign those papers right now.” The agreement on the table reeked of my former arrogance. I hadn’t wanted the five-million-dollar villa, nor had I kept any of the luxury items he’d bought me, returning them all. My main point was not letting money ‘taint’ my perceived nobility. But after decades of roughing it, washing dishes in freezing temperatures for minimum wage until my hands were raw and bleeding… Now, looking at all those material things, they seemed absolutely adorable. Love? Without money, love is just a pile of trash. I immediately plastered on a sweet smile, my eyes crinkling as I looked at him. “Oh, darling, I was just talking nonsense. How could I divorce you? I love you so much!” “What I just said doesn’t count. You… you must be tired, right? I’ll draw you a bath so you can relax.” I snatched the papers and bolted, tearing the damn thing to shreds in the bathroom. Even the paper scraps were tossed into the trash and flushed away. The flush of the heated smart toilet was pure music to my ears. I couldn’t help but hug it, feeling its warmth. *Sob, sob.* No more freezing my butt off in winter. No more starving in winter. No more working grueling jobs for my dad’s medical bills and our family’s living expenses. I don’t know what I was being so dramatic about in my last life, obsessing over whether Alexander truly loved me. Even after he’d entrusted his entire fortune to me, I was still hung up on a few ambiguous texts. It took the crushing blows of life to finally understand the importance of money. I’ve learned my lesson now. I will never leave money again. I drew Alexander his favorite 96.4°F bathwater. Then I thoughtfully laid out the clothes he’d change into. Alexander stepped into the bathroom, and I was still grinning at the door. He stared at me for a few minutes, then quietly flipped the lock on the bathroom door. Me: … *Jerk. Who’s craving your body?* I headed into the bedroom and started tallying up my secret stash.

To be honest, for the first 25 years of my life, I truly lived like a princess. My parents ran a manufacturing business, raking in nearly eight figures in revenue annually. I was an only child, and all their love was poured onto me. My grades were always mediocre, but I was pretty and lucky. I barely scraped my way into an Ivy League university, where I met Alexander, who was dirt poor. Just like in all those novels, I fell in love with Alexander. I pestered my parents to fund his education and even give him startup capital for his business. After graduating, Alexander, to repay me, married me. And then came two years of a seemingly perfect but emotionally distant marriage. Alexander was a good man, but even good men can’t control their desires. He only felt gratitude for me, so even in bed, he never lost control. He was busy with work, dedicating a fixed hour every Saturday for intimacy. Any other time, I had to book an appointment with his assistant just to give him a kiss. In that lifeless routine, my ‘sensitive soul’ couldn’t take it anymore, and I started actively sabotaging myself. Thinking back now, I can’t blame Alexander for finding me boring. I became a housewife right after college, spending my days watching TV and playing games. Alexander and I didn’t just lack common interests; sometimes, even casual conversations fell flat. He accused me of being brainwashed by TikTok, and I thought he wasn’t as attentive or charming as other women’s husbands. That’s how our relationship slowly spiraled into a dead end. Lying in bed, I sighed deeply. *Cassidy Hayes, fate has been kind to you.* *A useless person with no real skills like me, and yet the heavens gave me a second chance? My ancestors must have been saints.* Since I had this opportunity, I resolved to live well. Forget about reversing the family’s decline or leading them to prosperity; at the very least, I needed to be a reliable safety net for my family. Just then, Alexander walked in, toweling his hair dry. He noticed I hadn’t changed, and a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. Right, it was Saturday, my designated ‘wifely duties’ day. Unlike my usual cold demeanor, I immediately rushed into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and changed into the special lingerie I’d kept at the bottom of my drawer. I’d bought it when we were newlyweds, hoping to spice things up, but Alexander had left for a business trip before I ever got to wear it. No time like the present. Anyway, we’d both be enjoying it, so I might as well get what I want. The moment I walked out, Alexander’s breath hitched. He seemed a little shocked, and there was some other emotion too. He spoke, his voice low: “Cassidy, you…” I silenced him with a kiss. “Shhh, time is precious. Don’t talk…”

Gotta say, a change of mindset makes all the difference. Before, I yearned for love, always fixated on Alexander’s every move. If he frowned, my heart would flutter, afraid he was displeased. If he groaned or pulled away, my heart would ache, thinking I’d done something wrong. But once I started seeing him as a means to an end, all those anxieties vanished. All I cared about was whether he was enjoying himself, if the angle was right, and if he was going hard enough. After three rounds, Alexander’s face was practically green. I looked up, trying to kiss him again, but he gently pushed me away. “I have court tomorrow, can’t be too tired.” Oh, okay. I’ve been ‘thirsty’ for over twenty years, so it was only natural I couldn’t hold back. He didn’t want to continue, so I wasn’t upset. I got dressed and out of bed. Alexander rolled over, looking at me with shock. “Where are you going?” Me: “To the guest room. This bed is a mess.” It was… wet. Uncomfortable. I’d catch a cold. Before, I’d put up with it to be close to him, but now I valued my own health. Someone else could deal with that discomfort. I slammed the door shut, leaving Alexander’s conflicted expression behind. The next morning, I slept until ten. He was already gone, leaving a note: [Business trip to New York for a week.] Underneath was a stack of cash for living expenses. Alexander liked to give me cash, I didn’t know if it was to humiliate me or what. I counted it: ten thousand dollars. Generous as always. I changed clothes, grabbed the money, and headed straight to the bank. As I walked in, I almost got lost. Nothing new there. I had my typical ‘spoiled princess’ syndrome; I didn’t know how to do anything. Even slightly complex environments could overwhelm me. Finally, I managed to flag down a staff member. They led me to the counter where I exchanged the cash Alexander gave me for gold bars. I then moved my own savings into a new account. After all that, I took a cab to my parents’ house. If I remembered correctly, their business was already in trouble, but they hadn’t dared to tell me yet.

The moment I stepped through the door, a palpable cloud of gloom hung over the house. Dad sat on the couch smoking, and Mom was scratching her head, staring at the computer screen. Seeing me, they exchanged a look and forced out weak, artificial smiles. They were about to speak, but I waved a hand, cutting them off. “Stop pretending. I know your business is in trouble.” My parents ran a traditional manufacturing business that had been hit hard by the internet revolution. They’d sunk all their capital into a project that had gone wrong. Now, their cash flow was about to dry up, and they faced a difficult choice. One was to risk it all again. The other was to liquidate all their assets, cover their debts, and close shop for good. In my past life, my parents, unwilling to give up, chose to risk it again. They lost everything, down to their last penny. My dad, already stressed, smoked himself sick with lung cancer. My mom tried to bounce back, but any money she earned was immediately used to pay off debts, making even basic living difficult. So this time, I cut them off directly and told them the outcome. “Dad, Mom, stop struggling. You’ve fallen behind the times. The factory business won’t get any better.” Artificial intelligence was developing too fast, delivering a devastating blow to traditional industries. My parents’ mindset couldn’t adapt, so their downfall was almost inevitable. They were shocked when I suggested closing the business. “What do you know? You’ve never been involved in the family business.” “Exactly! I asked Mr. Williams and Mr. Garcia, and they both said they’d help us if we wanted to risk it again.” Yes, those ‘uncles’ did help. And later, they became regular debt collectors. I smiled bitterly. “Come on, Dad, Mom, let me tell you why I’m saying this.” Hugging my knees on the couch, I told them everything that had happened in my past life. There was no need to hide anything from my closest family. My parents were deeply affected, especially my dad, who started to cry. “So, sweetie, for the next ten years, you were washing dishes and paying off debts? And you died alone in a hospital because you couldn’t afford treatment?” He gripped my hand, trembling. My mom didn’t speak, her head bowed for a long time. Finally, she looked up, both crying and laughing. “Okay. This time, we’ll listen to our sweetie. No more struggling.”

My parents started to liquidate the family business. Because they had accumulated decades of experience, even after deducting debts and losses, they surprisingly still had a few hundred thousand dollars and a house left. After signing the sales contracts, my parents stood in the factory lobby, sighing with emotion. “Worked so hard our whole lives, only to realize we’ve left nothing behind. This factory, this land, all these machines… they’re all someone else’s now.” I linked my arm through theirs. “Dad, Mom, don’t worry. Being alive is more important than anything.” Exiting the traditional industry competition now only meant losing a few million dollars. If they had continued to stubbornly hold on, they would never have recovered. My parents were now out of work and had a lot of free time. For a while, they didn’t know what to do and felt a bit lost. I took out the few million dollars I had saved and put it in their hands. “Dad, Mom, these are my savings from childhood. They’re all yours now.” “Even though I lived miserably in my past life, I also witnessed the rapid development of the times.” “The factory went bankrupt because you were always pushed by your work, with no time to learn new things. Jumping into new projects now blindly would definitely be risky.” “So, take this money, enroll in an MBA program, and learn some new knowledge. We’ll have money again when the opportunity arises, okay?” My parents looked at me in surprise, then smiled. “Oh, Cassidy has really grown up. What insightful words!” “Okay, Dad and Mom will listen to you. We’ll go back to school.” Striking while the iron was hot, I immediately found them top-tier executive courses. Two days later, they flew to Los Angeles to begin their classes. Meanwhile, I let go of the redundant household staff, handled security, and then returned to Alexander’s and my house. I found he was already back, reading documents on the sofa. Seeing me, he closed the file and slipped it into his laptop bag. He stood up, heading for the study. I ignored him, took a shower, and then settled into the bedroom to watch video editing tutorials. A friend of mine, an influencer, told me the internet was huge now. I didn’t have any other special skills, just this seemingly perfect life that I could use to fool people into thinking I was some effortlessly perfect socialite. I thought I’d learn how to make vlogs, just in case it took off. I was watching a video when Alexander pushed the door open and stood silently behind me. He asked: “Ready?”

I choked on my water. I instinctively glanced at the calendar. Oh, it was Saturday again. I closed my laptop, walked over to him, and stood on tiptoes, reaching up to kiss him. Alexander gripped my neck, pausing for a moment. “Wear the outfit from last time.” …Huh? Oh. After four intense rounds, I was the one who begged for mercy first. Alexander got off me, and I turned, intending to get out of bed. He grabbed my wrist. Me: “Hmm?” Alexander pursed his lips. “Sleep here.” Me: “It’s wet.” He immediately pulled fresh sheets from the cabinet and made the bed. “Not anymore.” Fine. I lay back on the pillow, and he pulled me against him, gripping my shoulder. Me: “Hmm?” Alexander: “I’m cold.” Fine. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep almost instantly. I didn’t know the person next to me stayed awake, watching me for half the night. I had a very long dream, reliving the days when I chased Alexander. From the moment he entered college, he was an incredibly brilliant figure. Countless people would gather outside the law classroom just to catch a glimpse of him. Alexander was distant and never truly warmed up to anyone. He only had one childhood friend from his village, Serena, with whom he shared a good relationship. After I set my sights on Alexander, I tried to find out if they were a couple. Before I could figure anything out, Serena left the country on her own, and Alexander’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. Pancreatic cancer, the king of cancers, was practically incurable. But with money, she could suffer less. Alexander was so worried he couldn’t sleep for nights. I went to my parents, got him a hundred thousand dollars for his mother’s hospital bills. Alexander’s mother finally got some rest, and Alexander came to find me. He said: “Thank you.” I said: “Don’t mention it. Just marry me.” I was transparent about my desires, and unapologetic in my flirtation. Alexander looked at me and smiled softly. At the time, I didn’t understand what that complex smile meant. Two years later, I finally did. It was the smile of compromise. The helpless look of someone selling their soul.

I woke up the next morning to find Alexander, uncharacteristically, not at work. He was setting out breakfast, talking to me. “Today’s a good day. We should go see your parents.” I was drinking my coffee, not looking up as I replied: “They’re not home. They went to Los Angeles.” Alexander paused. “To Los Angeles?” “Mm-hmm. I enrolled them in an MBA program. They’re taking classes.” “What about the factory business?” “It’s finished.” Alexander looked at me quietly for a moment. “Was that your idea?” “Yeah. I just thought it was pointless to keep it going. It would just drain them dry.” I wiped my mouth, went to the door to put on my shoes, and grabbed my bag. As I opened the door, I said: “I’m meeting a friend. Might be back late. See you.” Alexander was about to say something, but the door was already shut. I really was going to meet someone – my influencer friend, Brianna, to get some tips. Brianna was incredibly helpful. She meticulously explained how to set up an account, how to write a bio, how to boost engagement, and how to define my target audience. She spoke so fast, I couldn’t write quickly enough, and she even complained: “Your handwriting is like chicken scratch!” I bared my teeth. “I’m a slacker, what do you expect?” Brianna chuckled, about to playfully pinch me, but her gaze suddenly froze. “Holy crap!” I followed her line of sight. Not far away, a handsome man and a beautiful woman were walking side-by-side across the street. A car sped past, and the handsome man pulled the woman into his arms. It was Alexander and Serena. *When did she get back? Why didn’t Alexander tell me?* A flicker of regret crossed my mind, then I shook my head, dismissing it. *No more being love-struck. No more obsessing over men. Being love-struck leads to a tragic end!* I refocused on taking notes. Brianna had gone to the same university as us, so she knew about the three of us. She nudged me with her elbow. “Hey, isn’t that your husband’s… ‘special friend’? Aren’t you worried?” What was there to worry about? I already knew how it would end. In three years, Alexander would become a law firm partner and reconcile with Serena. On the day he proposed to her, fireworks lit up the entire city. The sky was dazzling, and I was huddled in a dark corner, being yelled at by my boss for accidentally breaking a dish. “You can’t even wash a dish properly, what good are you?” “Two hundred from your perfect attendance bonus. See if you dare break anything next time.”

I didn’t know that when Alexander pulled Serena close, he saw me pull my gaze away. When I got home that evening, he was standing by the window, lost in thought. My head was buzzing with new knowledge, and I was incredibly tired. I ignored him and went into the bathroom. But Alexander squeezed in after me. He was only wearing boxer briefs, but his presence was commanding. His handsome, profound face held an endless intensity as he searched my expression. “You saw me today, didn’t you?” Me: “Mm-hmm.” “Do you have anything you want to ask?” I shook my head. Alexander took a deep breath, sounding a little angry. “Why aren’t you asking?” I was confused. “Why should I ask?” What was there to ask? Whether I asked or not, wasn’t she still the one you loved? Alexander suddenly exploded, rushing forward and pinning me against the wall. His kisses rained down on me, overwhelming. His large hands moved lower and lower, igniting sparks amidst the soap suds. I trembled all over, feeling a little stifled. “Today’s Sunday.” *Damn it, it’s not our designated day.* Alexander, fuming, picked me up and carried me out. “I don’t care what day it is, I want you!” Money’s hard to make, and he’s a handful. That bastard Alexander tortured me all night. When I woke up the next day, my entire body felt like it had been run over by a truck, but the dog-man had already left for work. On my phone, there was a new friend request. The profile picture showed Serena in a business suit. She said: “Are you there? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

Serena could dream. She wouldn’t ruin my mood. I immediately blocked her and went to the mall to buy a new laptop and a GoPro. Under Brianna’s guidance, I filmed the first vlog of my life. I was very clear about myself: I couldn’t pretend to be some high-flying, sophisticated professional, nor could I play the part of a spoiled socialite. So, I decided to launch my ‘Pretty but Useless’ Self-Rescue Plan, letting my followers see that, oh, rich people aren’t all the same. Thanks to precise positioning and relentless self-deprecating humor. I gained 3,000 followers overnight. Looking at the 99+ notifications in my backend, I couldn’t help but feel ecstatic. *Turns out, I can do something right too.* Just as I was sharing the news with Brianna, Alexander came home, bringing someone with him. He had brought Serena home. Alexander looked calm as he told me: “Serena accidentally spilled soup on herself at dinner. Her place is far, so she was wondering if you could lend her an outfit.” If I didn’t lend her something, he’d definitely say I was petty. I went into the bedroom and grabbed a casual outfit Alexander had bought me when we were newlyweds. Coincidentally or not, Serena looked incredibly good in it. She smiled faintly. “I didn’t expect you, Cassidy, to have similar taste to me. I loved this brand before I went abroad.” That was quite a compliment. I responded frankly: “Alexander bought this. I’ve never worn it.” “If you like it, you can have it.” Serena’s smile became genuinely sincere, and the hostility in her gaze lessened. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly… but I really do like it.” I gave her an eight-toothed standard smile, which made Alexander’s face darken. He frowned, losing control of his expression for the first time. “I apologize. My wife is just joking. You can’t have these clothes. I’ll go find you another set.” With that, he genuinely went and got another outfit, telling Serena to change. Serena stared at him stiffly for a moment, then angrily entered the bathroom. I thought, at this point, they were playing a game of cat and mouse, and tonight would surely turn into a dramatic showdown. Though it was a bit early, and my career hadn’t taken off yet, my family wasn’t in debt, so I wouldn’t starve. If Serena stayed tonight and they ended up in bed, I could use this opportunity to get a larger share of the assets. I definitely needed to keep this house, and a car for convenience. Savings… how much did we have in savings? Lost in thought, I opened my bank app and started checking the balance. I didn’t notice Alexander had already seen Serena off and changed his clothes. He stood before me, his face dark, looking like a storm was brewing. “What are you doing?” “Checking how much money I can get in the divorce.” I quietly turned my head away. Alexander yanked me up, sweeping my new laptop off the table. It was ruined. Before I could even regret the loss, he lifted me onto the table, leaning in to tear and bite at my lips. His right hand ripped at my collar, while his left reached for the drawer. This man’s temper was getting increasingly unpredictable. He was hurting me. I thought he was going to take it further. But Alexander suddenly stopped. He buried his head in my neck, his hot breath making me tremble. He couldn’t stop himself from muttering in frustration. “Why aren’t you angry?” “Cassidy Hayes, don’t you love me anymore?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299135”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #玄幻Fantasy

My Ex-Lover Wants Me Back? In Your Dreams! When I left Damian, everyone thought it was a tragedy. After all, I was the one who had been with him the longest, the one most likely to marry him. I’d even given him a son and a daughter. When I brought up breaking up, Damian was leaning back on the sofa, dangling a toy, amusing the kids. “If you leave, you’ll never see these little ones again. Think carefully.” I nodded. “I’m getting married. He doesn’t mind my age, he doesn’t mind that I’m not beautiful, and he doesn’t mind my past with you… I want to marry him.” Damian’s hand, shaking the rattle, paused. After a long moment, he gave a careless laugh. “Fine, suit yourself.” He was so utterly indifferent. So much so that later, when he’d ruined my husband’s company, forced me to divorce, and begged me to pity him, holding our children close— I genuinely thought it wasn’t him. I was practically raised in the Thorne family, groomed to be Damian’s wife. I was quite beautiful as a child. But as I grew up, I became… ordinary. Among Damian’s succession of gorgeous girlfriends, I was dull and plain. Damian didn’t like me. But I had been by his side for many years. So, he allowed me to have his children. A son and a daughter, raised by his parents, the most doted-on grandchildren in the Thorne family. Everyone said I was the woman most likely to marry Damian. Until I voluntarily decided to leave.

It was a late autumn evening. The mansion was warm and cozy. Damian leaned back on the sofa, shaking a toy to amuse the toddlers in their playpen. I placed a fruit plate in front of him. And told him I wanted to leave. “If you leave, you’ll never see these little ones again. Think carefully.” “I have thought it over.” I fidgeted with my hands as I spoke. “I’m getting married. He doesn’t mind my age, he doesn’t mind that I’m not beautiful, and he doesn’t mind my past with you… I want to marry him.” Damian’s hand, shaking the toy, froze. After a long moment, he smiled calmly. “Alright, if you’ve made up your mind, then suit yourself.” He was so utterly indifferent. I silently exhaled, a wave of relief washing over me. Powerful men always have this twisted possessiveness. Once they’ve branded a woman as theirs, they won’t let her go, even if they don’t love her. Fortunately, Damian wasn’t like that. I wiped my hands on my apron. Damian was back to teasing the two children with a toy. His voice was light, mocking. “Mommy doesn’t want you anymore, does she~” The two children burst into earth-shattering wails. My body stiffened. I fled as if my life depended on it.

When the news got out, many people came to persuade me. Eleanor Thorne, Damian’s mother, flew all the way back from Europe, gently pleading with me not to do this. “You have two children, and years of shared history with him. Who could ever compare to you? “Those women he’s with now? They’re just pretty faces, nothing more. They don’t have even a fraction of the history you share with him. “The position of Mrs. Thorne is yours, Seraphina. You’ve waited a decade, why abandon it now?” I hung my head, saying nothing. I’d heard these words far too many times. From when I first became an adult, to giving birth to two children, to their first birthdays. Damian’s girlfriends came and went, a revolving door. Yet I, the “already destined” Mrs. Thorne, was still waiting for a wedding that had no end in sight. “I’m sorry, Eleanor, but I don’t want to wait anymore.” I looked up, softly cutting her off. I pulled a deep red invitation card from my bag. “I’m getting married next month, Eleanor. I hope you can attend. “As my mother.” Eleanor’s lips trembled. But she sighed and took it. She had brought me from the orphanage into the Thorne family, raising me as her own daughter. I had always thought of her as my mother. “Alright, I’ll go. But please, think about it again. “Damian cares about you, he’s just… like that. His words aren’t always true.” Eleanor spoke endless good words about Damian, until her throat was dry. Just as she reached for her teacup, the invitation in her hand was snatched away by Damian.

He’d just gotten back, looking exhausted, still in his overcoat, a chill clinging to his face. He flipped through it with a pleasant smile. Seeing the cheap-looking invitation card, rough around the edges, he gave a low, dismissive chuckle. “Has your taste truly fallen this low? “Even if you don’t stay with me, you don’t need to debase yourself like this, just picking up some random guy.” “He’s not random.” I clutched at the hem of my dress, my voice soft. “He’s a friend from the orphanage. He’s very smart and he’s good to me. He’s just not well-off right now… I believe he’ll only get better.” He gave a careless laugh. With a sharp rip, he tore the invitation card in two. “Damian!” Eleanor cried out, a mix of shock and anger. “What are you doing!” He ignored Eleanor’s outburst, simply looking at me with an indifferent gaze. “If you’re going, then go completely. Don’t take anything with you. “The jewelry and clothes the Thorne family provided you, the house my mother gave you last year, the shares – everything must be left behind. “If you want to suffer with another man, you won’t leave with anything that reminds anyone of the Thornes. Understand?” This was all to be expected. I nodded. “I know.” “If I’m not mistaken, the clothes you’re wearing right now, I bought those too.” Damian slowly pointed towards the door. “Strip everything off and get out.”

My face instantly went pale. Eleanor rose, as if to argue, but flinched under Damian’s icy glare. A housekeeper politely, yet forcefully, escorted her away. Her lips trembled as she turned to me, her eyes filled with guilt. She and Damian weren’t close. In fact, Damian wasn’t close to any of his elders. Damian was already fully in charge, and she couldn’t stand up to him. She could only repeat, over and over: “Don’t go too far. Talk things through.” Damian gave a faint laugh. He leaned back on the sofa, legs spread, and asked me with a sneer: “Why aren’t you stripping? “Weren’t you so determined to leave? What are you hesitating about? “Can’t let go of the Thorne family’s wealth and prestige, or… can’t let go of me? “If you can’t, just say so. No one’s forcing you out—” Damian’s words abruptly stopped. Because I had, trembling, stood up, tears welling in my eyes, and began unbuttoning my top. Garments fell one by one, piling around my bare feet. His expression grew even darker. His gaze swept over my body for a moment, then he let out a scoff. “You’ve got some nerve!” He was genuinely furious. He slammed the teaware off the table. Taking huge strides, he grabbed the blanket from the sofa and roughly wrapped me in it. Pointing towards the door, he roared at me: “Get out!”

Snow was falling outside the mansion. The cold wind howled. I sat on the steps, my body naked beneath the blanket, shivering so hard my teeth chattered. I was waiting for my fiancé to pick me up. The lights were on in Damian’s room on the second floor. Through the thin curtains, his tall figure was faintly visible. He stood there, watching me, unmoving, looking down. His fingers seemed to be twirling a wisp of smoke. I was numb with cold, my blood feeling like ice in my veins. I curled up, eyes closed, refusing to show any weakness. Damian was waiting for me to beg, I knew it. His indifference that day was just a facade. He’d realized, belatedly, that I was truly leaving, and now felt the humiliation of his possession being claimed. He was mercifully giving me a chance to regret. If only I would turn back now. A low rumble—the sound of tires on asphalt. A black van pulled up to the mansion gates. Its paint was peeling, and one taillight was broken. It was completely out of place against the backdrop of the luxurious, elegant mansion. A man rushed out of the driver’s seat, his face anxious. The moment he saw me, his eyes reddened, pure anguish on his face, as if he might burst into tears. “Seraphina!” He rushed forward and embraced me, his hot tears soaking into my chest. “I’m here. Don’t be afraid. I’m here to pick you up. “Let’s go home.”

Liam Miller was a friend from my orphanage days. I had actually forgotten him. Until recently, when he found me and declared I was the love of his life. He swore he would do anything for me. I slowly chewed on those two words in my mind, then suddenly smiled. “Then… will you marry me?” His grip on my arm stiffened. He froze for a moment. Then, his face broke into a joyous, astonished smile. “Really? I can marry you? There’s such a wonderful thing in the world!” I stared at him, my expression blank. Having been with Damian all these years, I’d witnessed the shifting loyalties of people’s hearts. But at this moment, in his clear, bright eyes, I couldn’t find an ounce of falsehood or pretense. They seemed full, overflowing, with genuine sincerity. But—sincerity? Did I deserve such a thing? A woman Damian had used and tossed aside. A woman who’d debased herself, bearing children for a man who refused to acknowledge her—practically a concubine— I almost laughed out loud. “Are you sure you want to marry me?” He nodded. “Then go die.” I spoke the words, filled with malice. I expected him to get angry and leave. But to my surprise, his eyes widened, round and full of disbelief. “Do I… do I really have to die to marry you? “Then you’d be a widow, wouldn’t you? “Can’t we avoid that? I’m perfectly healthy. Or I could just change your lightbulb for you!” I was speechless. Later, I learned that Liam had been adopted by wonderful foster parents. They were a loving couple, their family harmonious. He grew up bathed in love, living a life completely opposite to mine. That’s how he developed his slightly naive, somewhat innocent personality. He was serious about wanting to marry me. From the moment I agreed, he had been planning our wedding for a long time.

Liam picked me up, intending to leave. He’d barely taken two steps when we were surrounded by bodyguards. The Thorne family’s bodyguards were all ex-military, in black suits, all muscle, their faces stern and intimidating. Mr. Finch, the butler, bowed respectfully. “Miss Seraphina, the young master has instructed that if you wish to leave, you must repay the Thorne family for the expenses of your upbringing over the years. “A total of one hundred and thirty million.” I poked my head out from under the blanket. My body was so numb with cold, I could barely feel anything. Even facing an absolutely astronomical sum like that, my heart couldn’t stir a single ripple of emotion within me. I looked back up at the second floor. Damian’s tall figure stood heavily by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down. His silhouette was blurred, but I could still feel his suffocatingly oppressive presence. “Truly ruthless.” I murmured to myself. Mr. Finch looked pained. “Miss Seraphina, if you just be a little yielding with the master, everything will be fine. You’re different to him, after all.” “What’s different? He’s still just as ruthless as ever.” I gave a low laugh. I nestled my head further into Liam’s embrace, then extended my bare arm and wrapped it around his neck. “Liam, what should we do? So much money. It’s terrifying.” He tightened his arms around me, gently patting my back to comfort me. “Don’t worry, I’m here!” He was actually a bit nervous. The Miller family was just moderately well-off; a sum that large was something he couldn’t even imagine. But he didn’t abandon me. Instead, he held me closer, then, gathering his courage, looked up at Mr. Finch. “We’ll certainly pay back what we owe, but it can’t just be whatever amount you say. You need to provide proof!” Mr. Finch’s smile remained unchanged. “Of course, the proof will be provided shortly. “To prevent Miss Seraphina from getting cold, perhaps you both would like to rest inside the mansion for a while.” He politely gestured them in. Liam was a good kid, fresh out of college, and when someone was kind to him, he instinctively wanted to comply. “Don’t go in.” I patted Liam’s hand, stopping him from walking towards the mansion. I looked up, addressing the shadowy figure behind the floor-to-ceiling window, and smiled. “Mr. Finch, please tell Damian that if he doesn’t let me leave today, I’ll end it all right here. “I say it, I mean it.”

Mr. Finch was gone for a long time. So long that I grew drowsy. Liam had held me the entire time. He seemed a little tired, lowering his head to touch my nose with his forehead, then straightened up, blushing. “Seraphina, you smell so good…” Clapping sounds echoed. The crisp sound of leather shoes on the hall floor. I looked up. Damian, impeccably dressed, leaned against the doorframe, lazily watching us, and let out a scoff. “You chose such a penniless nobody just to get yourself married?” I closed my eyes, not looking at him. “Master, please, just let it go. You have no shortage of women. Please…” “I’d like to let it go, but the Thorne family has traditions, Seraphina. Those who defy certain oaths… pay a price. Thirty lashes. Do you remember?” He watched me with a smirk. “Family traditions are absolute. I can’t go against them. As soon as you endure thirty lashes, I’ll no longer stand in your way.” I froze for a moment, utterly bewildered. The Thorne family upheld their vows strictly, and I knew about their traditions concerning oaths. But Damian was the current head of the family! Everyone in the Thorne family relied on him; if he didn’t bring it up, who would dare raise an objection? He was deliberately making things difficult for me! After the words “thirty lashes” fell, the room plunged into a deathly silence. Mr. Finch looked at me, then at Damian, disapprovingly, finally sighing helplessly. “Miss Seraphina, just try to be a little yielding with the master. He was actually already making arrangements for your wedding to him—” “Silence!” Damian cut him off coldly. His narrow, predatory eyes fixated on me. Seeing that I had no intention of begging, he turned to Mr. Finch. “Prepare everything.”

I wore clothes borrowed from a maid, kneeling on the cold marble floor, my knees throbbing with pain. When family traditions were upheld, every member of the Thorne family was expected to witness the proceedings. There were people I knew, people I didn’t, and many enemies who had always resented me, now eagerly gathered to witness my downfall. “I knew it. Damian never cared for that woman, no matter that she bore him two children. A self-degrading harlot!” “She’s a pitiable soul, too. Ah, a mother subjected to family law means those two children are out of the running for inheritance.” “Thirty lashes! Will that woman even survive?” The surrounding voices were fragmented and annoying. Naked, undisguised malice fell squarely on my shoulders, on my back. I remembered a time, long ago, watching a similar proceeding in the Thorne family, clutching Damian’s sleeve, terrified. I asked if one day I, too, would kneel there and be beaten. He smiled, stroking my head. “Silly girl, you belong to me. Who would dare touch you? “I’ll protect you. Don’t be afraid.” And now, the man who promised to protect me was wiping dust from a dust-covered leather whip with a handkerchief. He was going to carry out the punishment himself. I trembled and closed my eyes. The crisp sound of leather shoes on the ground. The whip tapped my shoulder. Damian didn’t look at me. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the grand portrait of his stern-faced grandfather above the fireplace, his voice melodious. “You can still regret it now, it’s not too late.” I smiled faintly. “Master, I have no way back.” “What do you mean, no way?” He bent down, closer to me, wiping a tear from my eye, and whispered: “With me, you could practically bring down the sky, and no one would dare question you. “Come back. I’ll marry you. You’ll be Mrs. Thorne. Everyone who’s cursing and mocking you now will cower at your feet, desperate to please you. “Think it over carefully, don’t be stubborn, Seraphina.” Damian, with his immense pride, always used to being worshipped, was practically showing weakness by saying such things to me. His dark eyes watched me unblinking. A clear meaning shone in them: He was waiting for me to turn back. If I did, a grand future, a life of luxury, awaited. But I looked up, meeting his eyes, my fingertips trembling with an odd, almost exhilarating thrill. I heard myself say: “No, Master. “I’ve fallen in love with him. I won’t marry anyone else.” The dull sound of the whip lashing my back. Damian struck five times. An unprecedented chill and ruthlessness permeated him, and Mr. Finch didn’t even know how to intervene. I knelt on the ground in a sorry state, my back streaming with blood. Crimson drops dripped one by one, and tears, from the pain, uncontrollably welled up. Damian’s voice was cold. “I’ll give you one last chance. Do you want to come back?” I shook my head. Damian scoffed coldly. “Stubborn.” He raised his hand again, bringing it down hard. The whip’s tail cut through the air with a chilling *whoosh*. But it didn’t land on me. He dropped the whip. His eyes were shadowed, and a terrifying aura enveloped him, like a vengeful demon from the darkest depths. “You may go.” He said. “From this moment on, you and the Thorne family are no longer connected.”

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My boyfriend of seven years, the man I loved with all my heart, was the one who personally sent me to prison. Just because his first love, Chloe, was assaulted by some thugs a few days before her wedding. He was convinced I was behind it, seeking revenge. I endured unimaginable torment in that prison. After seeing me reduced to a shell of my former self, my father jumped from a building, taking his own life right then and there. That night, I gave up all hope of living and plunged into the icy cold sea. Yet, Liam, a man who never believed in anything beyond himself, completely shattered. “If only Aria could live,” he screamed, “I’d give my own life for hers!” Women’s prisons are never as peaceful as they seem on the surface. On my very first night, I was dragged out of bed. Before I could even react, a heavy slap landed across my face. My ears rang with a deafening buzz, then came the second, the third… They only stopped when my mouth was full of blood, and I collapsed onto the floor. I struggled to lift my head, looking at faces I didn’t recognize, unable to speak. One of them looked at me, a sneer twisting her lips. “What are you staring at, huh? Mr. Hayes said to take good care of you, you disgusting homewrecker.” I trembled all over, my body aching, but my heart aching even more. Mr. Hayes? Liam? No wonder there was such a commotion and no guards came running. He’d obviously made sure of that. He hated me that much. Was I truly wrong to have loved him? But I couldn’t die, not yet. I still had my father; he was waiting for me. I couldn’t let him suffer the unbearable pain of burying his own child. I endured three years of that inhuman existence. But fate offered no kindness. The day I was released, Liam was there. I dragged my battered, broken body, ravaged by suffering, slowly towards him. The man I once loved to my core now stood before me like a devil, and I couldn’t even meet his gaze. Liam gripped my chin, forcing my head up to meet his eyes. “Aria Sterling, long time no see.” That chilling indifference in his voice made me tremble uncontrollably. He smirked. “What, are you scared of me? Didn’t you once love me to death?” I knew he was angry, and I scrambled to explain. “Liam, I know I was wrong. I stopped loving you a long time ago. Please, just let me go.” “But Chloe… she’s still traumatized because of what you did. How can I possibly forgive you for that?” He released my chin and motioned for his bodyguards. They grabbed me by each arm and hauled me outside. I screamed in fear. “Liam, please let me go! I truly know I was wrong!” They acted as if they hadn’t heard me, dragging me behind a car. They tied my hands with rope, binding me to the back bumper. Liam got into the car, the engine roared, and I was forced to stumble and run. Once we reached the bustling downtown area, the car slowed. Liam pulled out a speaker, cranked the volume to max, and started playing a looping message: “Aria Sterling, the former heiress of Sterling Enterprises, is a shameless homewrecker who framed her best friend to marry into the Hayes family.” Instantly, countless people poured out, surrounding the car. Liam simply stopped, letting everyone point, whisper, and gossip about me. I was terrified. Then, someone threw an egg, hitting me square on the head. Soon, more eggs, trash, and water bottles rained down on me. “The Sterling heiress is a homewrecker, how shameless!” “I heard before, she broke them up. To stop Chloe from marrying the Hayes heir, she hired some thugs to hurt her.” “This is exactly what she deserves.” Tears streamed down my face. If I truly were as malicious as they claimed, then this torment would be nothing but what I deserved—what goes around comes around. But the truth was, I was completely innocent. To this day, I had no idea about Chloe’s encounter with those thugs. I begged them to stop, to shut up, but all I got in return was endless curses and insults. The day I was released, Liam ambushed me at the prison gates. He handed me a white flower, his eyes gleaming with sinister malice. “This white flower suits you perfectly. Your father, Mr. Sterling, the former CEO of Sterling Enterprises, jumped to his death after watching that video of you. You were locked away, oblivious, and there was no one to claim his body. So I, out of the kindness of my heart, had him cremated.” His words pierced me like blades. My mind reeled, my heart felt like it had been struck by a sledgehammer, making it impossible to breathe. My father, who had loved me to his bones, had left me forever in such a tragic way. I remembered. When I first entered prison, they filmed the videos of me being humiliated. So, my father had been dead for three years. So, I had no family left. My phone suddenly lit up. It was a scheduled text from my father, timed perfectly for my release. Five simple words: “My dearest Aria, wishing you peace.” My father had died seven days after I went to prison. “Aria Sterling,” Liam called my name. “If you truly want to atone, I can give you a chance.” Three years of hellish prison, and my father’s life—yet, he still didn’t think it was enough. I suddenly found it all absurd, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Dad, in three days, it’ll be your death anniversary. How about your daughter comes to join you? Lost and distraught, I turned and stumbled towards my home. Every step felt like treading on knife blades, a piercing pain. But the moment I stepped inside, I saw the person I loathed most in this life. Chloe called out to me. “Aria,” she said, her voice dripping with false concern, “what happened back then, you abandoning me, it was understandable. Luckily, those thugs didn’t hurt you. I only just found out Liam sent you to prison; he never told me before. He truly went too far, and I apologize on his behalf. I’m so sorry.” Before I could react, Liam spoke first. “Chloe, you’re just too kind. That’s why she always bullied you. You don’t need to apologize to her. Everything she’s going through now is what she deserves.” Tears instantly welled in Chloe’s eyes. “Aria, Liam just loves me too much, don’t be angry. We’ve already bought this place. How about we just give you the house?” This was my home. Why would I need someone else to ‘give’ it to me? Gazing at the empty living room, my heart instantly twisted in agony. Every inch of my skin throbbed, as if countless blades were mercilessly churning inside me, threatening to tear me apart. It no longer looked anything like it had three years ago. Chloe slowly pulled a document envelope from her bag and tossed it onto the coffee table with a mocking smile. “Here’s the deed to your house. Now it’s back where it belongs. To me.” I stared intently at that document envelope. Three years of prison, countless dark and endless nights. The humiliation of being ‘specially cared for’ by fellow inmates countless times—all of it transformed into a raging inferno of fury. I rushed over, snatched the deed, and *RIIIP*, tore it in half. “What the hell are you doing?!” Liam roared, lunging forward. He raised his hand and, *smack*, slapped me hard across the face. The force of the slap made my head ring, and a trickle of blood instantly oozed from the corner of my mouth. “You ungrateful brat!” Liam’s eyes were filled with disgust and rage, as if he were looking at a repulsive cockroach. “I’m here today to make you sign the share transfer agreement for the company my father left you. Don’t play high and mighty with me; you lost the right to bargain with me a long time ago!” Clutching my burning cheek, I stared at him in disbelief. So, he hadn’t just come to humiliate me today; he wanted my family’s assets. I let out a cold laugh, my voice trembling but undeniably firm. “Liam, don’t you dare dream! I won’t sign it. This is what my father left me. I’d rather die than give it to you!” Seeing this, Chloe immediately adopted a pathetic, vulnerable look. Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice wavered with a sob. “Aria, please just sign it. I’m pregnant now, and raising a child costs money. Plus, Liam’s company has had some project issues lately, and we’re struggling with cash flow. Please, just pity us and help us out.” I looked at her hypocritical face, a wave of nausea washing over me. I coughed violently, each cough feeling like it would rip my organs out. Blood continuously seeped from the corner of my mouth, staining my clothes. During my three years in prison, I was tormented in every conceivable way by the people he’d ‘looked after.’ My body was already riddled with damage, now like an oil lamp flickering, about to go out at any moment. “You two… don’t you dare dream…” I managed to gasp out the words, my body swaying precariously. Liam looked at my state, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but it quickly turned back to cold indifference. “Fine, seeing you in this state, I don’t expect you to sign today. I’ll talk to you another time.” With that, he turned to leave. But Chloe quickly grabbed him, whining, “Liam, just give me a little more time. Let me talk to Aria again. Maybe she’s just having a moment.” Liam hesitated, then finally nodded. “Alright, I’ll wait for you outside.” The moment Liam was gone, Chloe dropped her pathetic act, a vicious grin spreading across her face. “All these years, even though Liam was by my side, his thoughts would drift to you occasionally. Do you know how much that hurt me? Three years, and I still haven’t truly reached his heart. Aria Sterling, you disgusting woman, you don’t deserve his love.” I looked at her coldly, no emotion stirring within me. “I don’t care to.” Chloe was enraged by my words. She shrieked and lunged at me, yelling, “Aria Sterling, how could you hurt my baby?!” Just as she was about to reach me, she suddenly stumbled sideways, deliberately making it look like I’d pushed her. “Ah!” She shrieked in pain, collapsing to the floor. Her hands clutched her stomach, a look of agony on her face, and slowly, blood began to seep from between her legs, staining the floor crimson.

Just then, Liam, having heard the commotion, burst in. He saw the scene and roared, “Aria Sterling!” The next second, my vision went black, and I completely passed out. When I woke up again, Liam was gone. I tried to sit up, but my whole body ached as if it were falling apart. I decided then and there that I had to leave this place, go somewhere Liam Hayes could never find me. I needed money, and I needed to leave fast. Dragging my body, which felt like it was about to fall apart, I found a job at an upscale club. Carrying a tray of drinks, I pushed open the VIP room door and saw Chloe with her friends. I turned to leave, but Chloe called out to me. “Isn’t this the former heiress of Sterling Enterprises?” she sneered. “Look how low she’s fallen, reduced to selling drinks and faking smiles here.” The others instantly surrounded me. Chloe continued, “You just won’t go away, will you? Are you still trying to cling to Liam?” “Chloe, I’m just here to earn some money. Once I have enough, I’ll leave.” She pointed to the drinks on the table. “Alright then, drink all of these, and I’ll give you fifty thousand dollars.” Fifty thousand dollars. Enough to leave this place. I grabbed a bottle and chugged it down. One bottle after another. Finally, I couldn’t drink anymore, and I threw up everything. The bottle in my hand dropped to the floor, shattering into pieces. Chloe picked up a bottle and smashed it against her own head, then shrieked, “Liam! Aria’s gone mad with drink! She said I stole you from her and tried to smash this bottle over my head!” I struggled to lift my head and saw Liam standing in the doorway. He must have arrived without me noticing. He kicked me to the ground, then brought the bottle straight down on my head. *CRACK!* My head exploded with searing pain, blood gushed out instantly, blurring my vision. Chloe’s friends screamed and ran away. Liam looked down at me. “Aria Sterling, you dare threaten Chloe? You’re asking to die!” Chloe hid in Liam’s arms, crying. “Aria, I truly love Liam. I can’t live without him. Please, please don’t fight me for him.” Liam kicked me again, hard, then comforted Chloe in his arms. “Don’t be scared, I’m here. She won’t hurt you again. I’ll take you to the hospital first.” After Liam and Chloe left, a kind stranger helped me get to the hospital. Eventually, with no money for treatment, I snuck back home. Groggy and disoriented, I woke up, unsure how long I’d slept, only to discover I couldn’t see out of my right eye. I wasn’t scared. Instead, I smiled. It was better this way. At least I wouldn’t have to see Liam anymore. I gave up on the idea of earning money; all I wanted was to leave this place quickly. I pleaded with my landlady to give me back the remaining rent. The landlady grumbled and cursed, saying she’d never seen someone so young be so petty, asking for a few hundred bucks back. I knelt and begged for a long time before she finally agreed to refund the money. With the cash, I bought a ticket for the next available train. Anywhere to get away from here would be fine. At the station, I sat quietly in the waiting area. The announcement for boarding came on, and I happily stood up, only to find my path blocked. Without a word, they grabbed me and started dragging me outside. I struggled in fear. “Who are you? Let go of me!” They acted as if they didn’t hear me. I bit down hard on one of their wrists. The man cried out in pain and let go, then kicked me hard in the stomach. I was thrown to the ground, the pain in my stomach making me curl into a fetal position. I felt a gush of warmth between my legs, followed by a pool of blood spreading on the ground. One of them panicked. “How are we going to explain this to CEO Hayes?” The other said, “CEO Hayes said to get her there by any means necessary. In a daze, they dragged me into a car. After a long time, I was brought to a hospital. They took me into a blood drawing room. The nurse saw my condition and gasped in horror. “She’s bleeding! Get her to the emergency room immediately!” “No!” one of them barked. “CEO Hayes said Miss Chloe needs a transfusion, so draw from her. If there’s any delay, none of us can afford the consequences.” The nurse had no choice but to take out the equipment and start drawing my blood. The moment the needle pierced my skin, I couldn’t feel the pain anymore. I watched my blood drain away, little by little. Liam, if this is what you want, then I have nothing left to say. This is probably all I have left to give. My vision gradually blurred, and in the last instant before consciousness faded, I saw Liam rush in. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed, Liam sitting beside me. Seeing that I was awake, he spoke coldly. “You’re pregnant.” I froze. Could it have been that one time, when he forcibly took me despite my desperate cries, that I conceived his child…? I hadn’t even fully processed that news before his next words pushed me straight into hell. “You dared to sleep with another man? Typical Aria Sterling! But the baby’s gone now. The doctor said your uterus was severely damaged, and you’ll never be able to have children again.” The baby was gone… I could never have children again… I sat up, pounding on him with my fists like a madwoman. “Liam, what do you want from me? What have I ever done to you that you treat me like this?!” Liam raised his hand and slapped me. “Because of what you did to Chloe back then, dying a thousand times wouldn’t be enough to atone. But why would I let you off that easy? Making your life a living hell—now *that’s* interesting.” Seeing my pain, he actually smiled. “You’ll never be as good as Chloe. Only your suffering can atone for the mistakes you made back then.” With that, he turned and left without looking back. I was tired. Living was truly exhausting. I just wanted to sleep, peacefully, forever. After leaving the hospital, I arranged to meet Liam on the bridge where we first met. When he saw me, his face was grim. His first words were a warning. “Aria Sterling, don’t even think about getting any ideas.” I smiled, just like the day we first met. “Liam, I once loved you very much, so much that I lost myself. Later, I realized your heart only belonged to Chloe, so I broke up with you. I didn’t hire those people to hurt Chloe. You didn’t believe me, and there was nothing I could do. You sent me to prison, indirectly caused my father’s death, and stripped me of my right to be a mother. I can’t take revenge for any of that. Now, all I want to tell you is that falling in love with you was the biggest regret of my life. If there’s another life, I pray I never meet you again.” With those words, I turned and jumped into the sea. “No!” Liam’s voice came from behind me, laced with a rare panic. Tears streamed from my eyes. Finally, I could get some real sleep. Liam fumbled for his phone to call for help, but his hands shook so violently he kept entering the wrong password. In a fit of rage, he threw his phone, screaming my name over and over again… Liam suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized for a long time. Chloe stayed by his side every day, never leaving. Liam looked at Chloe, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. He remembered the things I had said. Could it be that those thugs really had nothing to do with me? But Chloe’s every word implied I was involved. Chloe pouted. “Liam, you haven’t really talked to me for days. Didn’t you hate Aria the most? Didn’t you want her to die? Now that she’s really gone, you should be happy.” Liam frowned. “Who said I wanted her dead? I just wanted to punish her.” Chloe asked, her voice tearful, “Are you… are you falling for her?” Liam said impatiently, “How could I?” Even so, Liam secretly sent out search parties, again and again, to the area where I had jumped, but all came back empty-handed. Chloe sensed Liam was growing increasingly distant. One day, she suddenly fainted. Liam rushed her to the hospital. The doctor told him Chloe was pregnant. When Chloe woke up, she clutched Liam’s hand, overjoyed. “Liam, this is wonderful! We’re having a baby! I’m going to be a mother!” Liam froze, then murmured to himself, “She was going to be a mother too… but because of me, she can never be a mother again.” Chloe gently shook his hand. “Liam, what’s wrong? You’re going to be a father. Aren’t you happy?” Liam smiled, but as he smiled, tears streamed down his face. “I’m going to be a father…”

He should have been happy, having a child with the woman he loved most, yet his thoughts drifted to me. The next day, Liam went to the hospital to see Chloe. As he reached her hospital room, he was about to push the door open when he heard her talking to someone. “Chloe, you need to be careful. What if Liam finds out the baby isn’t his?” Chloe’s voice was filled with smug satisfaction. “Liam will never know. Even if he did, I could just twist a few words and fool him. Just like before, I only had to hint a few things, and he believed Aria Sterling hired those thugs to defile my innocence.” “You really are ruthless, staging the whole thing yourself.” “He liked Aria Sterling so much. If I didn’t go to such extremes, how would he ever have looked at me? Aria Sterling completely overstepped her bounds. Who was she to love Liam? He belongs only to me. She deserved to die!” Liam felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. The hand poised to push the door open slowly retracted. He had been wrong all along. He had blindly believed Chloe, thinking I was the one who had harmed her. Under her manipulation, he had hurt me again and again. He had personally thrown me into prison, letting the inmates torture me. He had tied me up and paraded me through the streets, then shown the video to my father, driving him to suicide. He had forced me to donate blood to Chloe. With nowhere left to turn, I had chosen to end my life. Each and every one of these injuries, these torments—they were all his doing. He thought of the words I spoke before I jumped, wondering how utterly despairing my heart must have been. Liam didn’t know how he managed to leave the hospital. Outside, it was pouring rain. He walked home, drenched. He drank himself into a stupor, and in his haze, he called my name. “Aria, how desperate must you have been to jump?” When he sobered up, he went to the hospital, dragged Chloe, and demanded the doctor perform an abortion. Chloe cried out in fear. “Liam, are you crazy?! That’s your baby! Why would you abort him?!” Liam’s eyes were bloodshot. “I always used protection. You know perfectly well if this baby is mine or not.” “I was crazy to believe your lies and torment Aria, finally driving her to jump into the sea.” Chloe couldn’t believe it. “You… you heard everything?” Liam didn’t waste any more words with her; he simply pushed her into the operating room. After the surgery, the doctor came out and told him it was successful. The baby was gone. Good. Liam walked out, when suddenly a nurse stopped him. “Mr. Hayes, I thought about it and decided to tell you. That lady who was brought in for blood earlier, her right eye seemed to be blind. And her body was already very weak; after losing so much blood that day, if she doesn’t get proper rest, she might not live much longer.” Liam stood in silence after hearing this. No wonder he thought my gaze at him felt strange; I was blind. He raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face. The nurse flinched back. “Mr. Hayes, are you alright?” Liam looked up, tears streaming down his face. The big, imposing man was crying like a child. “I was an asshole. I hurt Aria again and again. She said she won’t love me anymore. She doesn’t want me. What am I going to do…?” Liam returned home, lost and distraught. He searched every corner of the house, only to find not a single photo of me. He wanted to find any trace, any evidence that I had ever existed, but found nothing. He collapsed to the floor, remembering the days we spent together. I’d cook for him in countless ways, always trying new recipes. When he was sick in the hospital, I would stay by his side 24/7, afraid he might need something. I had loved him with all my heart, and all I got in return was a dead end. After Chloe was discharged, Liam grabbed a wine bottle and, without hesitation, smashed it into her right eye. Blood gushed out instantly, and Chloe shrieked in terror. Liam smiled. “Aria, her right eye is blind now. When you know that, will you feel a little better?” Chloe clutched her eye, screaming, “Liam, you lunatic! I’ll call the police and have you arrested!” Liam laughed maniacally. “Go on, try! I’ll just throw you into the ocean. Get out! And never show your face to me again!” Chloe was thrown out. Liam started dreaming of me every day. He dreamt I was still alive, so he continued to send search teams to the area where I had jumped. I never thought that five years later, I would meet Liam again. His hair was white, his face haggard, like a withered old man. Seeing me, his face lit up with excitement. “Aria, this is great! I knew you weren’t dead.” I didn’t want to say anything to him. I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm, his voice hoarse. “Aria, I’ve been looking for you for five years.” When I jumped into the sea that day, I was rescued by an eyewitness and taken to the hospital. During the months I spent in the hospital, I received several critical condition notices. On the brink of death, my entire past flashed before my eyes. Was I really going to end my life like this? I was not reconciled, so I fought and clung to life. I never expected that Liam would actually grieve for my loss. He had searched for me so extensively for all those years. But when I truly saw him, I only felt disgust. I looked at him coldly. “Let go of my hand.” But he held on tighter, his voice husky. “I won’t let go, Aria. I know everything now. What happened back then was all Chloe’s doing, a charade she staged. I believed her lies and wrongly accused you. It was all my fault. You can hit me, curse me, do anything you want, but please, come back to me. I can’t live without you.” Disgusted, I yanked my hand away. “Liam, you know what you did to me. How do you even have the nerve to ask me to come back?” He dropped to his knees with a thud. “Aria, I’m begging you, please give me one chance. I’ll treat you well for the rest of my life.” Seeing him so pathetic, I smiled. “Alright, I’ll give you a chance.” Liam looked as happy as a child who had just received candy. “First, dye your hair. I don’t like old men.” He was quick to act. In less than three hours, his hair was dyed. I nodded, satisfied. “Not bad, very efficient.” He smiled ingratiatingly. “For you, I’d do anything.” I didn’t believe him. “Really? Would you even give up your position as heir to the Hayes family?” Liam hesitated for a moment, then nodded emphatically. “I will.” Liam returned home and immediately declared he was renouncing his inheritance.

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I’m just your average guy, working his butt off. And I got completely enchanted by the new sales rep at the company. She was forty, but looked like a girl in her twenties. I was utterly captivated, even considering breaking up with my girlfriend. My name is Alex, and I’m just a regular guy working in a corporate job. I’m currently a manager at a medical company, a position that’s not too high, not too low. Just like everyone else, I was living my life by the book. Graduated from college, went straight to work. Been dating my girlfriend for a few years, and we were about to walk down the aisle. But for some reason, lately, whenever my girlfriend tried to be intimate, I just couldn’t drum up any interest. Until the sales department got a new bombshell. The moment I saw her, my body instinctively reacted. My heart, which had been silent for far too long, suddenly hammered in my chest. I pretended to be calm, sneaking glances at her through the glass of my office. “Isn’t that the gorgeous woman I saw on the subway this morning! What a coincidence.” Morning rush hour on the subway was a nightmare, people packed in like sardines. Luckily, this morning I finally snagged a seat. And then this stunning woman stood right in front of me. She wore a business suit, her skirt length just above the knee, Perfectly showing off her long, slender calves. Her dark hair swayed elegantly. A mix of apple-scented shampoo and gardenia perfume drifted into my nose. Her collar was slightly open, making it impossible not to wonder what lay beneath. I casually glanced around and noticed it wasn’t just me; Several other men’s gazes were fixed on her. Beautiful women always grab our attention first. Then, I noticed something that made my blood boil. A burly man in casual clothes got on, standing directly behind her. His large, grubby hand was shamelessly inching closer to *her*. His entire body was practically pressed against hers. “Damn it, I haven’t even made my move, and this pervert is already at it!”

I cursed him in my head, but didn’t dare make a sound. Considering his build, I was no match for him. Of course, no one around me spoke up either. Standing up for someone is a rare sight these days. Just as I hesitated, feeling indignant for this woman, She took matters into her own hands. She stomped her high-heeled shoe right onto his foot. Then, agilely, she moved towards the door and loudly admonished him. “Are you done or not, you creep? Do you want me to call the police?” “Seriously, get a life!” With that, just as the train doors were about to close, she jumped out of the car. I breathed a sigh of relief. I was genuinely afraid that man would freak out and do something extreme. Luckily, she was quick on her feet. It was a way of protecting herself. “Knock, knock, knock.” A knock on my door startled me, pulling me out of my memory. “Mr. Alex, hi, I’m Valentina, the new sales rep. Looking forward to working with you.” She walked directly to my desk, extending her fair, delicate hand. “No worries, just do your best. Here, performance is everything.” I shook her hand, feeling a surprising softness. Her eyes were smiling, stirring something deep within me. “Mr. Alex, I’ll take her to get onboarded!” Just then, my buddy Jake, who’s always up to no good, walked in, Breaking the awkward moment. He wore a sneaky grin, looking mischievous. “Alright, go ahead.” After work, Jake teased me. “Alex, you were totally mesmerized, weren’t you? I saw your soul almost float right out of your body.” He looked at me with a smirk and playfully patted my shoulder. I slapped his hand away.

“What are you thinking? Get your head out of the gutter. I have a girlfriend.” He leaned closer and whispered, “Well, if you’re not going to make a move, I certainly will.” I knew he was going to try and flirt with Valentina, but damn, I had a girlfriend. “Be serious, man. Don’t mess with her feelings.” “I’ll just try it out. If it doesn’t work, then whatever.” I felt a little annoyed, but didn’t say anything more. Back home, my mind was still consumed by thoughts of Valentina. And just as I opened the door, Chloe, dressed in something barely there, was waiting, hoping to spend an intimate evening with me. The scant fabric perfectly showcased her perfect figure. “Alex, you’re back! Do you like this outfit?” She twirled around. Leaving little to the imagination. Seeing her long legs and sexy body, I couldn’t resist pouncing. I can honestly say tonight was the most energized I’d been in a long time. Even Chloe praised my stamina. “Alex, what’s gotten into you tonight? So happy, so much energy?” I didn’t speak, responding instead with my actions. We both found absolute pleasure tonight. But what she didn’t know was, I pictured Valentina, the woman I’d only met twice, and that’s when a true fire ignited within me. Afterward, she fell asleep, But I felt a hollow emptiness and a pang of guilt. I shoved down those filthy thoughts, And tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep. The next morning, as soon as I got to the office, I saw Jake hovering around Valentina. I don’t know what joke he told, but she kept giggling, covering her mouth. “He sure works fast.” I felt both helpless and jealous. “Ahem, Valentina, could you step into my office for a moment?” I deliberately interrupted their conversation. She walked in, giving me a chance to observe her up close. Today, she had her dark hair elegantly pinned up, revealing her long, pristine neck. Like a graceful swan. “Mr. Alex, is there something you need?” I pulled out a client file from my drawer, Gesturing for her to stand next to me. As I explained, I caught the scent of her perfume.

“Alright, Mr. Alex, I understand. I’ll go negotiate as soon as possible.” She didn’t seem to notice my scrutinizing gaze, Just gave a casual reply and left with the file. At lunchtime, Jake and she went out together to meet the client. To say I wasn’t envious or jealous would be a lie. However, when I returned after lunch, I overheard others whispering. “Wow, look at her, she’s so old, but still so charming.” “What are you talking about? She doesn’t look her age at all.” “Yeah, how can you say that? She takes such good care of herself, like a girl in her twenties.” When they saw me, they suddenly stopped discussing, but I was curious. I walked over to the computer screen and saw Valentina’s ID. “So she’s forty! You really can’t tell at all.” Valentina was a full ten years older than me. Yet, knowing her true age, I didn’t feel disappointed. A forty-year-old woman must have experienced a lot, She’d definitely be more experienced in love and life. Just as my thoughts were a tangled mess, and I was looking for an excuse to get closer to Valentina, That very evening, I received a voice message from Jake. “Alex, buddy, I’m at a hotel right now. Tonight’s gonna be awesome. I’ll tell you all the details when we meet tomorrow.” He was drunk, his voice full of triumph, even a hint of provocation. Faintly, I could hear a woman’s voice in the background. I immediately thought of him going out alone with Valentina to meet clients today. It looked like she had gotten drunk, and he had taken his chance. Furious and desperate, I channeled all my loneliness and pent-up desire onto Chloe. “Alex, I need to go home and see my parents tomorrow. I’ll be gone for a few weeks.” I stroked her face, responding absently. “Go ahead, take care of yourself.” The next day, I expected Jake to strut in, beaming and bragging about his conquest, But his face was unusually pale. I called him into my office. “What’s wrong? Too much fun last night?” He forced a weak smile and continued to tease me. “If it were you, you’d be the same.” “They say women in their forties are like tigresses, insatiable.” I wished it had been me. I asked him for details about last night, and he stammered, claiming he was too “overjoyed” to remember any. Then he suddenly said he needed to take some time off. I didn’t hesitate; I immediately agreed. “He must be completely hooked on Valentina.” But to my shock, less than a month later, Jake was dead.

The police found his body in a river, his internal organs had been removed. When I saw the news, I was utterly shocked. For some reason, Valentina’s alluring image suddenly popped into my head. “Could it be someone who was obsessed with Valentina?” Just as a sliver of suspicion flickered towards Valentina, A message from her shattered all my defenses. My imagination ran wild again. “Mr. Alex, are you free tonight? Could you join me for a drink?” “Just saw the news, I can’t believe Jake is gone. He was such a good guy.” At least she had some decency. Although the invitation was sudden, I had no reason to refuse. Plus, Chloe was visiting family, giving me plenty of space. Sure enough, that night, I successfully had her, But what I didn’t know was, this was the beginning of my misfortune. Following the address Valentina gave me, I arrived at her place right on time. She opened the door wearing a bathrobe, her eyes heavy with sleep. It seemed she truly felt comfortable around me. My gaze involuntarily traced the curve of her neckline, revealing a tempting glimpse, but she seemed oblivious. “Mr. Alex, you’re here?” I nodded. She was so drunk her words were slurring, And she swayed, almost stumbling. I quickly grabbed her arm, and she fell into my embrace. “Are you okay, Valentina?” She shook her head stubbornly, and I gently helped her to the sofa. The gardenia perfume completely enveloped me, making me feel utterly captivated. “I’m fine, I can still drink.” She picked up the bottle from the table and took a long swig. Then she burst into tears, full of grievance. “I’m such a jinx. Jake and I just got together, and then this tragic accident happened.” Hearing that, I snatched the bottle and took a swig myself. “Yeah, his death was so sudden.” She suddenly broke down, sobbing into the sofa, I couldn’t bear it. “Valentina, don’t be sad. What’s done is done; we have to look ahead.” Unbeknownst to me, my lips were already pressed against hers. We entwined ourselves together. From every angle, she didn’t look like a woman in her forties. When I woke up, I saw her injecting something into her arm.

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I was the only daughter of the city’s wealthiest man, and the price of that immense wealth? Ninety-nine kidnappings since I was a child. To ensure someone would inherit the family empire and keep me safe, my father arranged five fiancés for me. I chose the seemingly gentle and refined Julian Hayes. I naively believed we’d be a loving couple after we married. But on our wedding night, he dismissed all my bodyguards. The 100th time I was kidnapped, I was tied to the rooftop. The kidnappers taunted me while calling Julian. I whimpered, begging him for help, but all I got was his impatient voice. “You’ve been kidnapped so many times already; you never actually die. Why make such a big deal out of it? Scarlett needs protection. What’s wrong with letting her use your bodyguards?” After the call was hung up, the kidnappers shaved my head and severed my hands. Overnight, they finally grew tired of me, kicking me off the rooftop. As I fell, I saw Jaxson Thorne speeding towards me on a Ducati. He rode that black Ducati, rushing like a madman, reaching out to catch me. But it was too late. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I chose my fiancé. My father laid out five photos, asking who I’d pick. I bypassed Julian, pointing directly at the wild, captivating smile in the corner. My father frowned, telling me: “Jaxson Thorne fell to his death rock-climbing on Eagle Peak last week.”

“Chloe? Chloe!” A voice yanked me back to reality. I jolted my eyes open. Before me was my father’s study. Five photos were still spread across the rich mahogany desk. I froze for two seconds, then looked down at my hands. All ten fingers were intact, no blood, no wounds. I… I’d been reborn? “What are you zoning out for?” My father, Arthur Sterling, frowned, tapping the table. “Pick one. Let him inherit the family business and keep you safe.” I looked up, my gaze falling on the photos. Five photos, five promising young men, all carefully selected by my father as potential fiancés. The one in the very middle was Julian Hayes. He wore a custom-tailored Armani suit, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose bridge, smiling with that refined charm – truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In my previous life, I was fooled by that facade. I chose him, only to die on our wedding night. This time, I skipped past him, pointing without hesitation to the photo in the furthest corner. The man in the picture had tanned skin, sharp eyes, and a rebellious smirk. He exuded an untamed aura. Jaxson Thorne. My father paused. “Chloe? Haven’t you always liked Julian? Why Jaxson now?” “Dad, I choose him.” I clenched my fists, my nails almost digging into my palms. The memories of Julian’s betrayal in my past life and the searing anguish in Jaxson’s final glance churned in my heart. My father looked serious. “Jaxson’s too wild. He’s always hanging out in clubs and climbing gyms, and he runs a tattoo studio—hardly a serious career. How could he ever be suitable for you?” “I only want him.” My father sighed, picking up his phone and dialing. “Check Jaxson Thorne’s current status.” On the other end, Ms. Davies stammered, “Mr. Sterling, Mr. Thorne… he fell to his death during a rock-climbing competition on Eagle Peak last week.” My father put down the phone, sighing heavily. “Chloe, pick someone else. Jaxson Thorne… he’s gone.”

“Gone?” I stared at my father, disbelief warring with certainty. “No way. He can’t be dead.” My father frowned. “Ms. Davies confirmed the news. There was an accident during the Eagle Peak climbing competition last week. Search and rescue found his gear, but the person…” “I’m going to Eagle Peak.” I cut him off directly. “Don’t be ridiculous!” My father slammed his hand on the desk, standing up. “What’s there to see in a dead man? It’s been raining constantly on Eagle Peak lately; the mountain paths are treacherous. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is…” “He’s not dead.” With that, I turned and left. By four in the afternoon, I was at Eagle Peak. A light rain was still falling. I stood at the base of the mountain, gazing up at the cloud-shrouded peaks, worried. The rain had turned the mountain path into a slippery, muddy mess. My new Louboutin heels sank into the mud the moment I stepped on it. “Miss Sterling, let’s go back.” The driver, holding an umbrella, tried to persuade me. “It’s too dangerous to go up the mountain in this weather.” “No, I have to go up.” I shook off his hand and bent down to take off my heels. The icy mud instantly covered my feet, and tiny sharp stones dug painfully into my soles. “You all wait at the bottom.” “But…” “That’s an order.” I started walking up the mountain barefoot. Rainwater streamed down my hair. The rough surface of the rocks chafed and burned the soles of my feet. Every step was like walking on knife-blades, but compared to the pain of betrayal and humiliation in my past life, this was nothing. I didn’t know how long I’d been walking. The fog on the mountainside seemed to grow heavier. I leaned against the slippery rock face and suddenly saw a faint glow emanating from a crevice ahead. It was a hidden cave. I scrambled forward, using my hands and feet, pulling away the vines that concealed the entrance. The cave wasn’t deep. A camping lamp glowed in the corner, and beneath its light, a person sat. A dark outdoor jacket, neat short hair. He suddenly looked up at the sound. It was Jaxson Thorne. A living, breathing Jaxson Thorne. “Jaxson Thorne!” Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. “Oh, thank goodness! You’re not dead…” “Chloe? What are you doing here?” Jaxson Thorne froze when he saw me. I rushed over and hugged him tightly. His skin was warm. Though he was covered in dirt and rain, it was unmistakably the warmth of a living person. “You’re okay… I’m so glad…” I was so choked up I couldn’t form a complete sentence. Jaxson Thorne quickly held me, looking utterly bewildered. “How did you get like this?” He then looked down at my bloody feet, his expression instantly changing. Without a word, he carried me to a dry rock and pulled out a first-aid kit from his backpack. “Why did you come up the mountain without shoes?” He knelt on one knee, gently wiping the wounds on my soles with a disinfectant swab. My tears fell like rain. I choked out, “They all said you were dead… but I didn’t believe it, so I came to find you.” Jaxson Thorne paused, looking up at me. “And you came all the way up here barefoot to confirm it?” I nodded. He sighed softly. “You idiot. I’m investigating an internal mole in the company, and my current identity is inconvenient. That’s why I deliberately faked an accident. This whole thing is too dangerous; you shouldn’t have come.” “But you can’t just fake your death! Don’t you know I was terrified!” He looked at me, utterly confused. I continued, “Jaxson Thorne, I don’t care what you’re doing, but you have to be back in the city in a month. You absolutely must return before the wedding.” Jaxson Thorne froze. He slowly lowered my foot, a faint smile on his lips. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there for your wedding, right on time.” He misunderstood. I was about to explain when a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the air from outside the cave. Jaxson Thorne’s face changed. “They found us! You need to get down the mountain, now!” “Wait!” I grabbed his jacket sleeve. “You still don’t understand, I’m going to…” “Boss!” Before I could finish, a head poked into the cave entrance. “Those guys are searching this way!” Jaxson Thorne pushed me deep into the cave. “Hide, don’t make a sound.” He turned to leave, then looked back and added, “Take the small path down the back of the mountain, and don’t look back.” “Jaxson Thorne!” I called to him. “You absolutely have to be back on time!” He was already rushing towards the entrance. At my words, he paused but didn’t turn back, merely raising a hand to wave. “Got it.”

After returning from Eagle Peak, I immediately sent Jaxson Thorne the wedding hotel address. He replied instantly: [Received. I’ll definitely be on time for your wedding. Julian Hayes must be thrilled, right?] I stared at that message for a long time. He still thought I was marrying Julian. “Miss Sterling, Mr. Hayes is here.” Riley, my assistant, whispered from outside the door. I put away my phone, composed my expression, and calmly said, “Let him in.” Julian Hayes pushed open the door, his widowed sister-in-law, Scarlett Bell, trailing behind him. “Chloe.” Julian smiled. “Scarlett hasn’t been well lately, and I was hoping she could stay at the CBD apartment to recover. It’s close to the hospital, so it’d be convenient if anything happened.” “No.” I blurted it out without even thinking. Julian frowned. “That apartment is empty anyway. Can’t you just…” “I said no.” I cut him off directly. “That’s my property. It’s my choice who lives there.” Scarlett’s tears flowed instantly. She looked at Julian, aggrieved. “Julian, it’s fine… I guess I’m just unlucky. A jinxed woman like me doesn’t deserve to stay in Chloe’s apartment…” I scoffed. “Good self-awareness. It’s important to know your place.” “Chloe Sterling!” Julian’s voice was stern. “Scarlett is my sister-in-law, and she’ll be your family too. Can’t you be a little more generous?” I couldn’t help but let out a snicker. “Julian Hayes, have you forgotten? You’re the one who needs something from me now, aren’t you?” His face instantly turned ugly. “Don’t make it difficult for Chloe. I’ll just leave!” With that, Scarlett covered her face and ran out. Julian glared at me fiercely, then turned and followed her. I watched their retreating backs, a self-deprecating smile on my face. In my past life, I really must have been completely out of my mind to have trusted that scumbag. Three days later, the Dior boutique called to inform me my wedding dress had arrived. I purposely arrived two hours early, hoping to surprise Jaxson Thorne. When I pushed open the VIP room door, I froze. A strong, cheap perfume scent assaulted me. Scarlett Bell was twirling in front of the mirror, wearing *my* haute couture wedding gown. Julian Hayes sat on the sofa, gazing at her with a doting expression. I smirked coldly. “Take it off.” “Chloe… I…” Scarlett flinched, startled. She tripped on the hem of the gown, stumbling forward. Julian rushed to catch her in one swift motion. “Chloe Sterling!” He glared at me. “Scarlett hasn’t been well. The doctor said she might… she might not make it until our wedding day. She just wanted to experience what it’s like to wear a wedding dress. Can’t you be less petty?” I walked up to Scarlett, saying each word distinctly. “I’ll say this one last time. Take. It. Off.” The sales associates quickly helped Scarlett remove the dress. At that moment, Scarlett suddenly knelt on the floor and bowed her head to me. “Chloe, I’m so sorry! I’m despicable, I don’t deserve to wear such beautiful clothes!” Julian tenderly helped her up, then turned and roared at me, “Chloe Sterling, are you happy now?” I ignored them, turning to the sales associate. “Remember to disinfect this dress ten times. I hate dirty things.” Scarlett ran out, covering her face. Julian shot me a furious glare, then slammed the door shut as he left. Riley, my assistant, rushed in, breathless. “Miss Sterling, guess what? Scarlett Bell was hit by a car right after she left the store! I heard her leg is broken!” I picked up a glass of champagne and took a sip. “Serves her right. Karma.” “Oh, and by the way.” I put down the champagne, my voice flat. “Inform the wedding planner to change the groom’s name to Jaxson Thorne.” My assistant’s eyes widened in shock. “Miss Sterling, are you saying… you’re not marrying Julian Hayes anymore?” “Exactly!” I smiled faintly. “The man I’m marrying is Jaxson Thorne.” She paused for two seconds, then cheered. “That’s fantastic! That Julian Hayes and Scarlett Bell were always together; it was disgusting to watch!” I smiled, pinching her cheek. “For something as important as marriage, how could I possibly choose the wrong person?” Yes, this time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.

After Scarlett was hospitalized, Julian Hayes stopped bothering me. I’d been working overtime for two consecutive days at the company, and tonight I was still there until nine. I yawned as I stepped out of the elevator. As soon as I reached the underground parking garage, hurried footsteps sounded behind me. Just as I turned, a sack was roughly pulled over my head. A familiar terror instantly swept through me. Memories of being kidnapped in my past life surged like a tidal wave. “Let me go! I’ll give you whatever you want!” I struggled desperately, but I was violently shoved into a car. The car was eerily silent. The scent of leather seats mixed with a familiar cologne. It was the one Julian Hayes always used. My heart sank instantly. I suppressed my trembling. “What do you want?” Silence stretched for a few seconds, followed by a deliberately lowered voice. “You don’t need to know that much.” The car screeched to a halt. He grabbed my arm, brutally dragging me out of the car. “Remember this lesson.” The metallic whoosh cut through the air, and the next second, searing pain exploded in my lower back. “Ah!” A golf club slammed heavily into my lumbar spine. The agony made my vision blur.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299131”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #玄幻Fantasy