I am the brainless, busty “villainess” in a high school romance novel. My only hobbies? Trying to seduce the male lead and framing the female lead. Unfortunately, I failed at both. In the end, my true colors were exposed, and I was expelled. To prevent this tragic ending, I decided to find a new target and avoid the male lead like the plague. But the male lead, who was supposed to be a perfect gentleman in the original story, pinned me against the wall like a madman. My uniform skirt wrinkled under his grip as his hand tightened around my waist. His voice was low and bewitching, laced with an imperceptible madness: “Sophie, didn’t you say you liked me the most?” 1 The third time I used “delivering milk” as an excuse to seduce Caleb Vance, I awakened my memories. I realized I was the villainess in a novel. In the original story, I was the daughter of the housekeeper working for the Vance family. Since childhood, my mother instilled in me the twisted idea of climbing the social ladder. Living under the same roof, Caleb was the best target I could find. Unfortunately, he had no interest in a beautiful idiot like me. Instead, he favored the resilient, “white lotus” female lead, Lily Hart. Jealous, I made things difficult for Lily at every turn. But my schemes were clumsy and always exposed. In the end, I was expelled and kicked out of the Vance estate with my mother, never to be heard from again. Expelled? That means no high school diploma! In this economy, without a diploma, I wouldn’t even be able to get a job shaking bubble tea. So, “never to be heard from again” probably meant starving to death in a rental apartment. The thought made me shiver. I dared not covet Caleb anymore. But just then, the door in front of me opened. Caleb looked down, seemingly tired of my clumsy tricks. “What is it?” Startled, my hand shook. The glass slipped from my fingers, shattering on the floor with a crisp sound. I didn’t care about the milk splashing onto my nightgown. I immediately squatted down. Just as my fingers were about to touch the shards, Caleb grabbed my wrist. “Do you want to lose your hand?” His voice was cold. I tried to pull my hand back timidly. But Caleb didn’t let go. Confused, I looked up at him. I found his gaze landing squarely on my chest. Wait! Tonight, to seduce Caleb, I had chosen a sheer nightgown. Now, soaked in milk, the already translucent fabric became even more revealing. What Caleb was seeing… was self-evident. I yanked my hand back from his grip. Covering my chest in panic, I stammered, “I, I… I’ll clean it up later!” I ran back to my room and changed. Long sleeves, long pants, plaid pajamas. Covered up tight. Then, ignoring my mother’s disappointed look, I obediently cleaned up the glass shards and milk stains. After finishing, I looked up at his closed door. I swore in my heart: Stay away from Caleb Vance. Stay safe. 2 I had nightmares and didn’t sleep well. The next morning, unsurprisingly, I woke up late. Yawning, I stuffed a piece of blueberry toast in my mouth, put on my shoes, and ran out. Unexpectedly, I bumped into Caleb at the gate of the estate. The standard school uniform looked different on him. The crisp collar and the metal emblem on his blazer reflected the blinding sunlight, making him look noble and upright. Seeing me, Caleb didn’t say much. “Get in.” I took half a step back. Wait, this wasn’t what I planned. I grew up in the Vance household with my mom. While I wasn’t family, Mrs. Vance took care of me because I was young and sweet-talking. Thanks to her, I could attend the same elite private high school as Caleb. My mom even pushed her luck, asking for me to share a car with him to and from school, creating opportunities for me to seduce him. Unfortunately, Caleb was an unmelting block of ice. No matter what I did, he was unmoved. I wanted to use being late as an excuse to start going to school separately. I didn’t expect him to wait for me. I hesitated, wanting to refuse, but swallowed my words under Caleb’s gaze. “Hurry up, we’re going to be late.” “…Okay.” I dared not disobey and got into the car. Throughout the ride, I pressed myself against the window, trying my best not to touch Caleb. Almost there! Almost at school! I clenched my fists, cheering myself on. Suddenly, the car lurched. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and fell toward Caleb. My forehead slammed into his shoulder. Pain blinded me, and I almost cried. Covering my forehead with one hand, I searched for a support point with the other to push myself back. But my hand slipped, and I fell onto Caleb again. This time, I saw clearly. My palm wasn’t pressing on the leather seat, but on Caleb’s thigh. 3 This was fatal. If the driver hadn’t stopped the car right then, my escape would have counted as jumping from a moving vehicle. I didn’t dare look at Caleb’s expression and bolted toward the classroom. Maybe shame buffed my speed. I wasn’t late. Caleb, on the other hand, walked in unhurriedly just as the bell rang. I rejoiced. Thankfully, Caleb had refused my request to be desk mates, citing he wasn’t used to having people next to him. Otherwise, I would be sitting on pins and needles, preferring to drop out. That morning, contrary to my usual behavior, I didn’t pester Caleb. Not even eye contact. The second to last period was PE. The noon sun was blinding. I leaned against the only tree on the field providing shade, slacking off. No special reason. My mom was afraid I’d get tanned. She once said: “Men are visual creatures. If you’re fair and your skin is tender, they’ll worship you without you even smiling. If you’re dark and ugly, they won’t appreciate you even if you die for them.” Is that true? I don’t know. But I was happy not to sweat on the field. PE ended quickly. I followed the crowd back to the classroom. Looking down, I saw my jewelry box open under the desk. It was empty. I froze. This scene felt familiar. Before I could think, a hand picked up the box. It was my desk mate, Bella. “Sophie, did you lose something?” Her voice was loud, attracting attention. I remembered. This was my first confrontation with the female lead in the novel! I had stuffed my necklace into Lily’s bag during PE to frame her. But I failed, and my necklace was exposed as a fake. In reality, I bought it with real money! I wanted to cry. But right now, my necklace was still around my neck. What was missing was the bracelet Caleb gave me. He tossed it to me on my seventeenth birthday, saying it wasn’t worth much. I wore it happily. But yesterday, I decided to distance myself from him. If Lily misunderstood my feelings because of a bracelet, I’d never clear my name. Better to put it away. I waved my hand to stop Bella. “It’s nothing, just a bracelet… not worth much.” Unexpectedly, Bella got excited. “You mean the bracelet you always wear? That’s Sugilite! Ice-grade cherry blossom pink! It’s worth at least twenty grand!” Twenty grand?! I jumped up in shock. That’s my mom’s annual salary! Is this what rich people mean by “not worth much”? I blinked in confusion. Bella said indignantly, “Who is shameless enough to steal Sophie’s stuff? Return it now, or I’ll search your bags!” Whispers started. Someone mentioned Lily. “Besides Lily, who else is poor enough to steal? No wonder her parents sold everything to send her here. Stealing a bracelet would cover the tuition.” Mocking laughter erupted. Lily’s eyes turned red, holding back tears. Bella rushed to search Lily’s bag. Seeing things spiral out of control, I hugged Bella’s waist to stop her. “Wait! We can’t accuse her without evidence! Being poor doesn’t mean having bad character!” In the book, Lily was the epitome of integrity and resilience. But maybe too resilient. Lily slammed her bag on the desk and dumped it out. Contents scattered. Clatter. Caleb’s bracelet lay there conspicuously. Silence fell. Lily’s face changed. She seemed confused about why it was there. Then, she looked at me coldly. “Did you frame me?” Me? Me? The study representative added, “I saw Sophie return to the classroom during PE.” Everyone’s suspicious gaze fell on me again. I opened my mouth to explain but couldn’t say a word. A sense of powerlessness washed over me. What does this mean? I have to take the blame? My reaction looked like guilt. Plus, I had been hostile to Lily because she was close to Caleb. Framing her seemed logical. “Check the surveillance, then call the police.” Caleb, sitting by the window and silent until now, looked up. His gaze swept over me briefly. I felt uncomfortable. Someone asked, “Wasn’t the camera broken?” “I had it fixed,” Caleb said, looking indifferent, then lowered his eyes again. A voice broke the deadlock. A boy picked up the bracelet and sneered, “Just a joke. Lily is always so cold and aloof, so I borrowed Sophie’s stuff to prank her. No need for police, right?” He handed the bracelet back to me. I held the pink bracelet. And did something unexpected. I slapped him across the face. “It’s not funny at all!” 4 The framing incident passed without disaster. I was relieved. In the car home with Caleb, I fidgeted with my skirt and tentatively spoke: “Caleb.” He turned, his dark pupils like bottomless whirlpools. I handed over the bracelet. “Here, take this back.” He didn’t take it. I swallowed and explained, “I didn’t know your gift was so expensive. I feel uneasy wearing it. Please take it back.” After a moment, Caleb reached out. He picked up the bracelet. His hand was slender and well-proportioned. The cherry blossom pink bracelet hung on his knuckles. I noticed him looking at a bead cracked by Lily. “Sorry, I didn’t take good care of your gift.” Caleb didn’t respond. He deftly disassembled the bracelet, removed the cracked bead, and replaced it with a wooden bead from his own bracelet. The crystal pink bead and the wooden one looked mismatched. I didn’t understand his intention. Caught off guard, he grabbed my wrist. His temperature was cool, making me shiver. He methodically put the bracelet back on my wrist. His movements were serious, like putting a collar on a pet. “Wear it.” Caleb repeated what he said on my birthday. “It suits you.”

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My golden retriever boyfriend disappeared for three months. When I saw him again, he was the ruthless gang leader who kidnapped me. His face was dark, but his fingers tapped a Morse code message on the table: [Wife, I missed you to death.] Me: ? Does he have Dissociative Identity Disorder? 1 I tried to believe that this man—with a buzz cut, stubble on his jaw, and a dangerous aura—was the same sweet boyfriend who cuddled in my arms three months ago. The features were handsome, similar to his, but the vibe was completely different. I knelt on the floor, tapping my knee in response. [Are you Caleb Vance?] He expertly held a cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled smoke rings, squinting through the haze. “Name?” The short question emphasized his hostility. But the hand resting on the table kept tapping out a message, contrasting sharply with his outward appearance. [It’s me, babe. Play along.] I was conflicted. Caleb didn’t smoke. But this man looked like a chainsmoker. I paused, looked at him, and said, “Zoe Zhou.” He got the answer, tossed the half-burnt cigarette aside, and slowly pulled a switchblade from his waistband. His knuckly fingers caressed the blade. He stood up and walked toward me, his gaze sharp. The room was filled with teenage henchmen, none older than 16 or 17. They looked at each other, terrified by his aura. I was terrified too. My heart pounded as he squatted in front of me, lifting my chin with the blade. The cold metal made me shiver. Is this really my puppy boyfriend? I looked at him warily, unable to hide my fear. He emotionlessly placed his other hand on my neck. Then—he tapped lightly on the side of my neck. Morse code: [Waist 22] He could state my waist measurement without touching my body. I believed him. He tapped again: [Undercover] I understood, looking at him with mixed feelings. My boyfriend disappeared for three months to become an undercover drug lord. … Caleb continued the interrogation, his voice lazy and raspy. “Where is your father, Victor Zhou?” I lifted my chin and spoke with difficulty. “I don’t know exactly where he is.” That was the truth. But this answer obviously wouldn’t satisfy a drug lord. So Caleb put away the knife, his expression hardening, setting the stage for the next step. A henchman quickly ran over like a loyal dog, lighting a cigarette. He offered a sneaky suggestion. “Women nowadays care about their looks. Boss, if you burn her face with this cigarette, she’ll definitely tell the truth.” Then he glanced at me warily, whispering in Caleb’s ear, “I know Boss doesn’t hit women. I’m just scaring her.” Before the cigarette even reached Caleb’s hand. I jumped the gun, widening my eyes in feigned terror. I grabbed Caleb’s pinky finger, acting fragile and broken. “No, please don’t. I’m not close with my dad. Let me call him. I’ll cooperate.” Another henchman ran over with a phone and handed it to Caleb. Caleb handed it to me with a cold, ruthless expression. I met his gaze. Everything was going according to our silent plan. I took the phone with trembling hands and dialed my dad’s number. It connected after three rings. My dad, who hadn’t called me in a year, picked up so fast. He must have been in on the plan with Caleb. On speakerphone, I wailed like a proper hostage. “Dad, Dad, save me.” “I’ve been kidnapped by drug dealers. I’m scared.” “Dad, I don’t want to die.” My dad paused strategically, then said with heartache: “Zoe, Dad is sorry…” Then he switched targets immediately. “Who is your leader? I want to speak to him.” Caleb took the phone, his voice deep. “Me.” “Give me a week. I’ll appear before you.” “On the condition that you don’t touch a hair on my daughter’s head.” Caleb smirked, chuckling dismissively. “Deal.” “Don’t be late. Or the eighth day will be your daughter’s death date.” I was speechless. The “bad boy boss” persona must be engraved in Caleb’s DNA. 2 Within two hours of the kidnapping, the drug lord and the hostage reached a happy ending. Caleb squatted in front of me, reluctant to leave, flirting with his eyes while keeping a cold face. Except for me, the henchmen only understood his cold face. They stood there stupidly, holding back yawns. I felt sorry for them and yawned for them. Caleb thought I was sleepy and finally, humanely, let them go to sleep. “Go back to your rooms.” Then, a henchman spoke up fearlessly. “Boss, I’ve never been with a woman. Can I…” Lust overrode his brain. “She’s a hostage anyway. When Victor Zhou is caught, she’s ours to deal with.” Coveting the boss’s woman? I sweated for him. Sure enough, Caleb’s handsome face instantly dropped to sub-zero temperatures. His gaze shot toward the guy like an ice dagger. Another henchman poked the lusty one in the waist, winking frantically. A silent exchange of expressions ensued. Savior Henchman raised his eyebrows three times in disbelief: Bro, are you crazy? He looked at me, then at Caleb: That woman is gorgeous. Boss hasn’t said anything yet, and you dare ask for her? Lusty Henchman gulped: Boss doesn’t like women, right? I thought he was glaring at her. Savior Henchman twitched his mouth: How did you survive this long with zero situational awareness? I watched with relish. Finally— Lusty Henchman turned pale and green, shaking like a leaf. “S-sorry, Boss. I was wrong.” Caleb, who looked terrifying to his underlings, withdrew his icy gaze. While taking a drag, he winked at me through the smoke. The hand holding the cigarette tapped a few times, shaking off ash. Morse code: [Come here] It didn’t look like anything good. I liked it. So I got up from the cold concrete floor, stumbled, and fell into Caleb’s arms. I called him sweetly, imitating the henchmen. “Boss~” Hearing this, Caleb’s perpetually cold brow relaxed slightly. It felt like a “Dominant Mafia Boss Pampers His Little Wife” trope. I looked up at him with a smile. He wrapped his arm around my waist, lowered his head possessively, and kissed me. Mixed with the faint smell of tobacco, his movements were gentle. I hummed involuntarily. He immediately looked up and swept a cold glance at the henchmen. The perceptive ones tripped over themselves to escape. The clueless ones were dragged out by the perceptive ones. After they left, Caleb withdrew his gaze with satisfaction, whispering intimately in my ear. “Wife, put on a show with me.” Me: ? He glanced at the door. Shadows flickered under the door gap. Walls have ears. I understood. Our eyes met. Caleb pressed his lips into a sexy curve, his Adam’s apple rolling slightly. “How about we do it for real?” I slapped the back of his head without mercy. “If you want to die, Caleb Vance.” He pouted pitifully, holding me tight without moving. After this and that, he turned and picked up a red brick from the corner. He rubbed some brick dust onto my arm, calling it “attention to detail.” After processing, he princess-carried me to open the door. I lay in his arms, pretending to be half-dead and weak. Five greenhorn henchmen squatting by the wall saw my “bruised and battered” state, their jaws dropping in shock. They scattered at Caleb’s command of “Get lost.” The next second, he looked down at me, his eyes softening. I giggled. “Caleb, I really envy your wife.” “She gets to experience the joy of two husbands at such a young age.” 3 “So do you like me as Boss Leo or Caleb?” Caleb put me on the bed, squatting in front of me. In his room, we didn’t need to pretend for now. “Wife, which one do you like?” He returned to his true self, eyes sparkling with clear wisdom (and stupidity), pressing me for an answer. The corners of his mouth turned up, revealing bright tiger teeth. The puppy expression clashed violently with his current tough-guy image in a tank top and cargo pants. But the badder the man, the more I loved it. I answered without thinking. “I like Boss Leo.” As soon as I said it, I met Caleb’s expectant gaze. Feeling it was inappropriate and afraid he’d be hurt, I quickly added. “Not that I don’t like Caleb. As long as it’s you, I like…” Before I could finish, Caleb grabbed my wrists and pinned them above my head. I fell back helplessly, following his force. His other hand lightly encircled my waist. His voice was low and seductive. “If I knew you liked bad boys…” “I wouldn’t have pretended.” …? Caleb is a bastard. The little puppy act was all a lie. I was angry, but touching his chest muscles, hard and developed after three months, and resting my head on his arm, I slept soundly. Instantly not angry anymore. Half-asleep, I heard him whispering in my ear. “Sorry, wifey.” “In the future… I won’t hide anything from you.” I mumbled a response. 4 “Dad, sob, save me.” “Daughter, don’t be afraid!” After a brief exchange, I obediently handed the phone to Caleb. “Boss Leo! If anything happens to my daughter, don’t think about catching me!” “Heh.” “I’ll only give you a week. Show me what you’ve got.” Phone hung up. Routine performance over. I collapsed into Caleb’s arms, stuffing green grapes into his mouth. Feeding him until his furrowed brows relaxed. The watching henchmen looked three parts incredulous, seven parts “prostrate in admiration.” The two familiar henchmen started their silent communication again. Lusty Henchman opened his mouth wide, giving Savior Henchman a stunned look: Is this woman a witch? Look at Boss, he’s bewitched silly. Savior Henchman pursed his lips, glancing at him: Not really, Boss knows what he’s doing. Lusty Henchman exaggerated his expression: Wait until she rips Boss’s heart out, then it’ll be too late. Savior Henchman: … Me: Reputation seriously damaged. Caleb suddenly spoke, interrupting their communication, his gaze slightly cold. “Rick, Mike, stop looking sneaky in front of me. It’s annoying.” “Get out.” Rick (Lusty) and Mike turned pale and quickly slipped out. I looked back at him with a smile. Did he notice them gossiping about me and stood up for me? Caleb tightened his arm around my waist, pulling me closer, whispering hoarsely in my ear. “Don’t look around in my arms.” “Look at me.” Before leaning in to kiss me, he looked up and coldly swept a glance at the other henchmen. They tactfully left, closing the door behind them. I reached up to smooth out the frown Caleb kept to maintain his persona, unable to suppress a laugh. “Boss~ Jealous?” “Very jealous.” His gaze was burning. Just as he curved his lips to kiss me, the door banged open. “Boss, new goods arrived!” Rick (Lusty Henchman) delivered the news at the worst time. Caleb took a deep breath, looking at the door with a hint of anger. “Get lost.” The door closed quickly. Caleb and I looked at each other. After adjusting his mood to continue. We heard Rick gossiping loudly outside. “Holy crap, Boss smiled. First time!” “He smiled so wide at that woman.” “How to put it… Boss is handsome, but his smile is weird… kinda gross.” The air froze for a second. Caleb put me down gently, cracking his knuckles as he walked to the door, his gaze grim. Well, hope Rick survives.

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On my birthday, Caleb Thorne proposed to me. But before he could put the ring on my finger, Chloe Vance snatched it and put it on her own hand. Caleb smiled indulgently. “Chloe’s just being playful again.” Silence fell over the room. Everyone waited for my reaction, the official girlfriend. They expected a catfight. A scene. Instead, I popped a confetti cannon, raining colorful streamers over them. “A match made in heaven,” I said with a smile. “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.” 1 Caleb looked at me through the falling confetti. Chloe hugged his neck happily, acting like a spoiled child. “I love this ring! I want it!” Caleb seemed to wake from a dream, finally realizing this was my birthday party. He pulled Chloe’s hand down, explaining anxiously. “Chloe is just joking around.” The guests were our mutual friends. They started joking to ease the tension. “Tory, you’re the star tonight. Don’t get mad at irrelevant people.” Irrelevant? I looked at Chloe standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Caleb. They were childhood sweethearts, a perfect pair. She raised her hand, showing off the ring on her middle finger. It fit perfectly. Silently declaring that I was the irrelevant one. I raised an eyebrow and met Caleb’s gaze. “The ring is on. Is it time for the honeymoon?” Caleb’s face changed. He strode over to me. “Tory, Chloe was just curious and wanted to try it on. Be more generous.” “I grew up with Chloe. She has a child’s heart. Why do you have to make things difficult for a kid?” Everyone’s expressions turned awkward. Chloe wasn’t six, nor sixteen. She was twenty-six! Calling her a child? Did he think we were all blind? Chloe took off the ring. “Caleb, how can you say that about Tory? She wasn’t making things difficult for me. Tory, here’s your ring back. Happy Birthday.” She tossed the ring toward me. The round band rolled to my feet. The atmosphere turned weird. Everyone was confused. I was the victim, yet Caleb defended Chloe, even getting angry at me in public. Caleb looked at me, his eyes cold, seeing right through me. It felt like a bucket of ice water was poured over my head. I calmed down instantly. In the past, I would have never stayed calm. I would have fought Chloe tooth and nail. Then I would have had a huge fight with Caleb, maybe even a cold war. Then he would have a valid reason to disappear for days, no news, until I bowed my head and apologized. He tamed me, step by step. I bowed my head so many times that he no longer cared about my feelings. After all, in a relationship, the one who falls in love first… Loses. 2 Caleb and Chloe grew up in the same gated community. Chloe was naturally mischievous and loved causing trouble, but Caleb thought she was innocent as a child, always cleaning up her messes without complaint. In college, even though they never officially announced it, everyone assumed they were a couple. So, when Caleb suddenly gave me a bouquet of roses and asked me to be his girlfriend… I was stunned. I thought it might be a Truth or Dare punishment, or a dream. But I liked Caleb so much that even if it was a dream, I was willing to sink into it. Reality treated me well. Caleb really became my boyfriend. I could secretly hold his hand in the library, date him in coffee shops, and spend every important holiday with him. But all of these required my initiative. I thought he had never dated before and didn’t know how to take care of people. Until I saw how he took care of Chloe. Turns out he wasn’t incapable. It’s just that the person being meticulously cared for… wasn’t me. 3 The birthday candles were lit. Friends urged me to make a wish. I came back to my senses and blew out all the candles directly. Seeing this, Caleb frowned impatiently: “Tory, what tantrum are you throwing now? Don’t think just because it’s your birthday I’ll let you have your way!” I stood up, holding the table. “Then I’ll let you have yours.” I walked around the table, ignoring Caleb’s dark face, and walked straight out of the private room. As the door closed, I heard Chloe’s affected voice: “Oh no, it’s Tory’s birthday after all. Is it bad to make the birthday girl angry? Should I go apologize?” Caleb suppressed his impatience, his tone gentle. “Let her go if she wants. Who’s going to indulge her temper? Come on, let’s play!” A door separated us. Inside was a crowd’s revelry. Outside was one person’s loneliness. Caleb had never been so gentle with me. In front of outsiders, he never showed any bias towards me. They always did everything couples do in front of me, under the guise of friendship. Chloe had no sense of direction, so he tirelessly detoured to pick her up from work. Chloe made a mistake and got fired, so he hired her to be by his side. His passenger seat belonged to Chloe. His spare time, whenever Chloe needed it, was given without hesitation. Whenever I felt my territory was invaded and got angry, he said we were partners for life, Chloe was still a child, and told me not to be so petty. But seeing Chloe’s things appear in our home always made me panic. Until tonight, when Caleb let Chloe put on the engagement ring meant for me. It completely turned me into a clown. Caleb turned my love for him into a blade and stabbed me with it. I took out my phone to call a car, but a message popped up. It was from a friend, a photo of a tipsy Chloe being held in Caleb’s arms. “Tory, Caleb is going too far. Does he even know he’s your boyfriend?” Does he know? He should know. Otherwise, when Chloe got drunk, he wouldn’t just hold her. He should have carried her away, to be intimate in private… The night wind blew, bringing dust. My eyes suddenly hurt and stung. I rubbed them, but realized I wasn’t crying. My heart didn’t ache to the point of suffocation like before. It was as if the world had gone quiet. So, this is what it feels like to stop loving someone. 4 Back home, it was already past midnight after washing up. Caleb didn’t send me any messages. I didn’t urge him to come home like usual. Instead, I opened a message from my supervisor, Sarah. “Tory, really consider the overseas assignment. It’s a company opportunity, very rare. Just three years. Can’t your relationship survive three years?” Sarah was my senior from college and my boss. Recently, the company had an opportunity for overseas assignment and further study. She recommended me. I declined, saying my English wasn’t good. But she saw right through me. I was love-struck. I couldn’t bear to leave Caleb alone in the country. At graduation, our mentor asked about our wishes. Classmates talked about making millions, owning houses and cars, starting companies… I held Caleb’s hand and said seriously: “I want to have a home with Caleb!” Later, we bought a house. But I couldn’t even get him to come home. In the chat box, I typed and deleted. Before I could send anything, Sarah called me. “Tory, I really believe in you. Once you return, you’ll enter management. And it’s a team, you won’t be fighting alone.” “Sarah, let me think about it.” Hearing the hesitation in my voice, Sarah got excited. “Okay, think about it. I suggest you start preparing, review your English. Departure is next month, plenty of time.” I had no talent for English. I struggled just to pass in the past. As for speaking, Caleb helped me back then. Now, I have to rely on myself. The English books at home were all bought by me for Caleb. I knew this place too well. I grabbed the book I wanted easily. I naively thought I knew Caleb just as well. I laughed at myself. He’s indulging in tenderness; he doesn’t need my concern. I read for a while, eyelids heavy. Sleeping groggily, I heard the lock turn, then footsteps. Caleb was back. “Tory.” He called me a few times in the living room, then pushed open the bedroom door. Seeing me asleep, he sounded unhappy. “Tory!” I frowned, rubbing my eyes and sitting up. “You’re back?” He froze. Usually, if he came back this late, I would be waiting in the living room, questioning every detail, suspecting his relationship with Chloe, arguing, making a scene. This was the first time things didn’t go as he expected. But his face was dripping with gloom. I straightened the quilt. “Go shower and sleep. It’s late.” “After you left, Chloe got drunk, so I took her home, and then…” “Oh.” I didn’t wait for him to finish, lying down and covering myself. He stepped forward. The smell of alcohol mixed with women’s perfume invaded my nose. “She went too far with the ring. Another day I’ll…” “She’s just childish and playful.” I stuck my hand out from the quilt and waved it. “Go shower quickly, I’m sleepy.” “Tory, what exactly do you want?” He suppressed anger in his tone. I opened my eyes, puzzled. “What do I want?” “You…” He fell silent, which was rare. Usually, facing my questions, he would tell me to shut up in annoyance. I wrapped the quilt tighter. “Don’t overthink it. Work tomorrow.” With that, I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep. He stood silently for a few minutes, then turned and left. He slammed the door recklessly, venting his anger. I knew he was mad, and I knew why. He rarely softened towards me, and I ignored it. So he decided to make a scene. Thinking I would go coax him like before.

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On my daughter’s first day of kindergarten, the teacher kicked us out. “Mr. Thorne’s son has been attending this school for a year. Where did this daughter come from?” I was confused. My husband and I have a daughter who just reached school age. How could she have been here for a year? I investigated and found out that the new executive assistant at my husband’s company enrolled her own child a year ago, posing as Mrs. Thorne. When I confronted her, she showed me a marriage certificate with my husband’s name on it. “I know who you are. You’ve been pestering my husband for years, haven’t you?” The seal and photos on the certificate looked authentic. The date was five years ago. But Caleb Thorne and I have only been married for three years! 1 “Mommy, am I really a bastard child?” On the drive home, my daughter Mia looked at me, holding back tears. I gripped the steering wheel tight. “Of course not. Mia is Mommy and Daddy’s only treasure.” The tears pooled in her eyes finally fell. Her voice trembled with grievance. “Then why did Auntie Evelyn’s son say he’s Daddy’s real treasure? The kids at kindergarten said it too. They hit me and called me a bastard…” Looking at Mia’s slightly swollen cheek, my heart ached. It was her first day of school, and she had to go through this. When I contacted Evelyn Harper, she sent me a photo of a marriage certificate. In the photo, the man standing next to her was the one I’ve held countless times. The official seal was clear. The date was five years ago! But Caleb and I have only been married for three years. Come to think of it, this assistant appeared out of nowhere and immediately became Caleb’s EA. Could it be… I didn’t dare think further. I called Caleb’s phone. His male assistant answered. “Mr. Thorne is in a very important negotiation. No electronics allowed inside. If it’s urgent, I can relay a message.” “Was Caleb married before me?” The assistant paused, then hurriedly reassured me after hearing the context. “The certificate must be Photoshop. Don’t worry, Mrs. Thorne. The CEO wouldn’t dare!” Hanging up, I calmed down a bit. Caleb indeed didn’t have the guts. But I still needed to ask him face-to-face. For now, I had to wait for him to finish. To make Mia’s schooling easier, Caleb and I bought a manor near the school. Today was supposed to be move-in day. But when I pulled up to the manor, instead of an empty house waiting for me, I saw people moving luggage in and out. A banner hung over the gate: [Congratulations Mrs. Thorne on Your New Home] Reporters swarmed the entrance, cameras pointed at a glamorous woman. When I saw her face, my pupils shrank— Evelyn Harper? What is she doing here?! 2 Reporters excitedly pointed their mics at Evelyn. “Ms. Harper, is the marriage certificate you posted online real? Did you retire from Hollywood because you found true love?” I quickly checked my phone. Twitter was exploding— #EvelynHarperCalebThorne #EvelynHarperMarriageCertificate #CalebThorne: My Hidden Love of Five Years Finally Revealed I clicked. The top post was the photo Evelyn sent me. Caption: [Yes, we’ve been married for five years.] The comments were wild: [OMG I knew the Goddess didn’t retire to avoid that bitch Ava!] [Ava is a D-list celeb. It’s been three years and she’s still irrelevant.] [I’m a kindergarten teacher. Ava brought a kid today claiming it was Mr. Thorne’s. LMAO!] [Wow, what level of delusional is this?] [Back then, Ava was all over Mr. Thorne. Turns out he was already married to the Goddess! Karma!] [So her five-year hiatus was actually a secret happy marriage. 😭 Goddess deserves it!] “Throw this junk out. Caleb won’t like seeing it when he gets home.” Evelyn, wrapped in a shawl, covered her nose as she pointed at a pile of brand new collectibles. Workers immediately tossed my things onto the trash heap. My antiques and paintings collected from around the world lay among filth. “Stop!” I grabbed a worker’s hand and glared at Evelyn. “Who are you? What are you doing in my house?” “Oh my god, Ava the Bitch dares to show up?” “Hey, can’t you read the banner? Congrats Mrs. Thorne. Who do you think you are? Mrs. Thorne? LOL.” “Delusional fans are claiming houses now? Scary.” “This estate is worth nine figures. She’s just here for clout. Typical.” Slap! I slapped the reporter who was gossiping. “Who do you think you are? Did I give you permission to enter?” I knocked the camera away and shoved the reporter. “Get out!” “Stop!” A delicate hand blocked me. Evelyn frowned, looking dignified. “Ms. Ava, I’m generally easygoing, but that doesn’t give you the right to make a scene on my property!” 3 “Crazy! Ava is actually acting wild on the Goddess’s turf! Does she really think she owns the place?” “Heh, probably thinks she’s Mrs. Thorne. Hilarious.” I glared at Evelyn. “Move. My home doesn’t welcome outsiders. That includes you.” Evelyn stood in front of the reporter, frowning deeper. “Ms. Ava, I know you’ve had issues with me because of my husband. I don’t mind.” “If you’re here to congratulate me on my move, you’re a guest.” “But if you continue this obsession, making a scene and hitting people in my home, don’t blame me for kicking you out!” She wore a black qipao with bamboo prints and a white shawl, standing tall in heels. Her voice was crisp, instantly winning over the crowd. Cameras flashed like crazy. “Ahhh is this the Goddess? I’m dying, her charisma is overwhelming!” “Where can you find a Goddess so polite and principled? I’ll be her dog forever!” “If I were her, seeing a bitch impersonate me and crash my housewarming, I’d have the bodyguards beat her up and throw her out!” Evelyn didn’t show much reaction, but the corner of her mouth ticked up in smugness. She lifted her chin at me. “For the sake of our past working relationship, Ms. Ava, don’t cause trouble.” Slap! My hand connected with her face, leaving a red mark. I slammed the property deed onto her chest and grabbed her collar. “Look closely! This is my property, not yours! I haven’t settled the score about you stealing Mia’s school spot, and now you’re trying to steal my house?” “You’re just my husband’s assistant. Who gave you permission to act like the owner?!” “Ah!” She covered her face and bent over, acting like she was about to faint. “Help me~” “Do you have no shame?!” Someone suddenly shoved me hard. I almost broke a nail. “Crashing someone’s home for clout? I’ve had enough of you! If I didn’t want to ruin the Goddess’s day, I would’ve hit you already!” “Saying the Goddess is your husband’s assistant? Do you think we won’t touch you?” I steadied myself, gripping my phone, and sneered. “Fine. I already called the police. Come at me if you dare!” Evelyn’s face changed slightly. But the reporters cut in. “Ha! You’re the trespasser! The police will arrest you! Get out now! The Goddess’s home doesn’t need trash like you!” People grabbed my arms, dragging me out. I stumbled, about to fall hard. “What is going on here?” A clear voice rang out. I looked up sharply. 4 “Oh! It’s the estate’s new manager!” “I remember her! The media reported on her—the girl from the mountains who became a top exec!” Seeing Sarah, I finally felt a glimmer of hope. “Sarah! Come here! Tell them the truth!” Sarah was a college student I had sponsored. Because of her outstanding ability, I hired her as the estate manager right after graduation with a high salary. She could clear my name. “Sarah…” Evelyn’s face paled. I glared at her and grabbed Sarah’s hand. “Sarah, tell them whose house this is.” “Ma’am…” She struggled against my grip, pulling her hand away forcefully. She smiled awkwardly at me. “Sorry, I don’t remember inviting you.” “Sarah?” I froze. Sarah walked over to Evelyn, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Evelyn’s ear, asking with concern: “Madam, are you alright?” “Madam…” I thought I misheard. I grabbed Sarah’s arm, forcing her to look at me. “You don’t recognize me? I’m Ava! I sponsored you!” Sarah looked terrified, her smile turning into a grimace of grievance. “S-sorry, but the one who sponsored me has always been Mrs. Thorne…” I was furious. “I am Mrs. Thorne! I attended your graduation last month! You knew me then!” “I… I didn’t… what are you talking about…” Tears welled up in Sarah’s eyes, her voice breaking. “Enough!” Evelyn slapped my hand away, shielding Sarah behind her, frowning at me. “I know you hate me for taking Caleb. This is between us. Why are you attacking a child?”

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Accused of plagiarism by the entire internet, I announced my retirement right then and there. My boyfriend, Caleb, who had been righteously scolding me moments before, froze. “What are you doing? Didn’t you say you still have student loans to pay off?” His “white moonlight,” the so-called “victim” of my plagiarism, Bella, panicked too. “Harper, you don’t have to punish yourself like this. I’m willing to give you a chance to start over.” I watched the flashing cameras below the stage, my expression unmoving. In my past life, these two humiliated me while secretly stealing my work. In the end, the words I painstakingly wrote cemented Bella’s reputation as a genius author. Reborn, I deleted the author account I had used for six years without hesitation. I’ve had enough of living in a cramped rental apartment. It’s time to go home and inherit my family’s fortune. As for Bella, let’s see how you finish the second half of that bestseller without me. 1 “Ms. Harper Lane, you claim you have evidence to prove your innocence, so where is it?” “As a former fan, I really don’t want to believe you’d do this. Were your previous works even written by you?” Facing the countless microphones thrust in my face, I was momentarily stunned, then my heart began to pound violently. I was reborn. Reborn to the day I held a press conference to prove my innocence. In my previous life, my boyfriend’s first love, Bella, plagiarized my novel, which was based on my own unrequited love story. On the day of its release, it topped the bestseller lists, becoming a viral sensation in the YA genre. Reposted by countless influencers, netizens everywhere cried over its poignant story. I intended to show my original drafts as proof. But on the day of the press conference, someone wiped my hard drive clean. Not a trace was left. I experienced unprecedented cyberbullying. Every day, I received funeral wreaths, photoshopped death portraits, and threatening packages. I gritted my teeth and continued to write, only to be stabbed to death by a crazed anti-fan. Now, seeing me hesitate, my “loving” boyfriend of three years, Caleb, couldn’t wait to fire the first shot. “Harper Lane, if you say Bella framed you, then show the evidence! Don’t make baseless accusations and throw mud at innocent people!” He glared at me angrily, but a flash of triumph flickered in his eyes. Of course. How could he not know what was in my folders? He wanted me ruined so Bella could become the next literary superstar. I lowered my eyes, picked up my laptop, and walked to the podium. Power on. Screen share. The next second, under everyone’s shocked gaze, I deleted the author account I had used for six years. Caleb and Bella stood up abruptly. I spoke coldly: “Ladies and gentlemen, I have been wronged today. My evidence has been destroyed by someone with malicious intent, leaving me unable to defend myself. “This pen name is invalid from today. I am retiring. I will never set foot in the literary world again!” 2 I finished speaking, grabbed my laptop, and turned to leave. Caleb rushed in front of me, blocking my path. “What are you doing? Didn’t you say you still have debts to pay?” “You’re just quitting? Isn’t writing your biggest dream?” Bella panicked too. She walked over, tears welling up in her eyes. “Harper, you don’t have to punish yourself like this. I’m willing to give you a chance to start over.” I sneered as I watched their performance. The next second, Bella bit her lip and knelt before me right there on stage! “Harper, I beg you, please don’t quit writing over such a small matter. Your readers will never forgive me!” “I can delete everything, pretend none of this happened. If you quit, my guilt will be too great. I won’t write anymore either…” The sound of camera shutters exploded instantly. My former star editor couldn’t help but walk over to pull her up. “Bella, what are you saying? Why kneel to a plagiarist?” “She brought this on herself. You just signed a huge contract with the company; don’t forget, you have work to finish.” Too lazy to be attacked here, I simply left the venue. To avoid being blocked by reporters, I took a small path and called a cab from the back door to my rental apartment. On the way back, my phone notifications wouldn’t stop popping up. I opened Twitter. Four of the top ten trending topics were about me. #HarperLanePlagiarism #HarperLaneBella #BellaForcedToKneel #BellaGhostwriter Frantic marketing accounts denied all my past works. They claimed I stole Bella’s ideas and forced her to be my ghostwriter. My comments section was a disaster. 【Gross. Can’t believe I stanned a plagiarist.】 【I watched the livestream. Harper Lane was speechless and even forced Bella to kneel!】 【At least she knows to quit, or I’d ruin her!】 【Even her boyfriend stood up to identify her. Harper, what have you done?】 【I bet she made enough money and is running away. I support Bella suing her until she rots in jail!】 My DMs were full of filth. In contrast, Bella’s followers skyrocketed, her comments filled with heartwarming encouragement. I posted one comment: 【I wish you success in finishing the second half without disappointing your readers.】 I knew I didn’t have many drafts left. Bella was too impatient. She was worried I would publish before she did, so she struck first. But she couldn’t complete the foreshadowing and easter eggs I planted in the first half. Exposing her was only a matter of time. 3 I returned to my rental. A 900-square-foot apartment, neither big nor small, decorated warmly by me. The old walls were covered in photos arranged in a heart shape. Photos of me and Caleb. But every single one was secretly taken by me and printed out. He never agreed to take photos with me. He refused to post me on social media, and on anniversaries, he would start a cold war and disappear. I paid the rent and utilities all these years. I paid for most of our meals and shopping. I immediately contacted the landlord to break the lease, accepting the penalty. I threw away what needed to be thrown and packed up quickly. Just as I was busy, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find Caleb and Bella. “Harper, are you moving?” Bella entered and grabbed my hand with fake affection. I coldly pulled my hand away. Caleb looked at me with undisguised disdain. “Moving? As far as I know, her dad died of illness long ago. All the money she earned from writing went to pay off his medical debts. “She hurts over a $2000 rent. If she moves, she can only move to some shady basement.” I looked at him blankly. “What do you want?” Caleb said with disgust: “Apologize to Bella. Admit you plagiarized publicly.” 4 My brow twitched. Is he speaking human language? I questioned him angrily: “Caleb, don’t you know the truth? You’ve been living off me for years, where do you get the face to say this?” Caleb’s expression didn’t change. He spoke righteously. “Because you’re an orphan with no job, and Bella has been a princess surrounded by stars since school. I will help her get whatever she wants. “You probably don’t know, Bella’s parents are teachers. She is better than you in every way.” The boyfriend I had loved since college was now attacking me with the most vicious words. He only knew I was from a single-parent family and moved out due to conflicts with my mother. He didn’t know my mother was the Asia-Pacific Director of a multinational corporation. My father left us an inheritance worth nine figures. If I hadn’t chosen to stay here to avoid inheriting the family business… I would be someone Caleb could never reach in his lifetime. Seeing my silence, Caleb thought his attack worked and sneered. “Some people are born princesses, and some people, no matter how hard they try, are just invisible maids. “If I were you, I’d leave quietly right now and leave everything here to Bella. “What are you staring at? Log on to Twitter and apologize to Bella immediately, or don’t blame me for being unpolite—” The next second, I raised my hand and slapped Caleb hard across the face. I used so much force that Caleb’s face turned to the side. His eyes widened, instantly bloodshot. “Harper Lane, you dare hit me?” Bella screamed, stepping back to take out her phone to record. But I knocked her phone away first, then swung my suitcase, knocking both of them aside. I vented my resentment wildly, smashing whatever was at hand. I didn’t plan to keep anything anyway. “Since you like my stuff so much, take it all!” The room was a mess, everything in sight smashed to pieces. I opened the door and strode out of the place I had lived in for three years. 5 I called my mom. We hadn’t spoken in years, but she picked up immediately. In that moment, my tears flowed uncontrollably. In my past life, from the moment I left in anger after graduation until my death, I never spoke to my mom again. I couldn’t imagine how painful it was for her to hear of my death. This time, I just want to be my mom’s spoiled little girl. “…Just come home. Just come home.” My mom’s voice trembled, repeating those four words. Soon, I was on a plane to New York. Before boarding, I checked Twitter. Bella had posted another fake update. 【Sorry everyone, I’m taking a break from writing. Recent events have been overwhelming. Harper Lane was a senior I respected. I want to take some time to adjust.】 My former editor Lisa quickly reposted it. 【Fans, please give Bella some time to produce even better work. Next month we will hold a fan meeting in New York. Welcome everyone!】 They were clearly trying to mold Bella into a celebrity author. I sighed, turned off my phone, and fell into a deep sleep. When I landed, my mom was there with a driver, bodyguards, and a Rolls-Royce. She said she heard about my situation and was preparing PR and lawyers. “We will pursue this to the end. I will never let my baby daughter suffer any grievance.” I lay in my mom’s arms. She rubbed my back, her chin resting gently on my forehead. The car was filled with exquisite food and my favorite drinks. My mom started preparing the moment she got my call. I hugged her tight. “Don’t worry, Mom. No need for all this trouble.” I smiled. “Soon, the real plagiarist will eat her own bitter fruit.”

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My husband, Caleb, can’t forget his “first love,” the one that got away. Drunk in a VIP lounge, he spilled his guts to his friends: “I’ve loved her for years. Back then, it was a pity she got married. Now, it’s a pity I got married.” I didn’t get angry. I stayed by his side, just like always. Caleb hates me. He thinks I’m a spineless doormat, an obstacle between him and his true love. He wants a divorce desperately. Every time he asks, I refuse. What he doesn’t know is that he’s just a target in my mission. I just need to refuse the divorce three times, and the System will let me leave this world forever. 1 I rushed to the club in the pouring rain, arriving just in time to hear Caleb’s confession through the half-open door. “I’ve loved her for years,” he slurred. “But before I could tell her, she got married.” “Now she’s divorced, and I’m the one stuck in a marriage.” His friend laughed. “So get a divorce, man.” Caleb scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “That woman is obsessed with me. She’d never agree to sign the papers.” “You guys don’t know… seeing her hover around me all day makes me sick. She has no personality, no spine.” “She can’t even compare to Chloe’s pinky finger.” I froze outside the door. Behind me, the click-clack of high heels announced the arrival of the “white moonlight” herself, Chloe. “Ava, why are you standing out here?” Chloe smiled brightly, her beautiful eyes hiding a sharp malice. “Eavesdropping?” The men inside froze. They looked at Caleb, guilty. Caleb’s face flashed with panic, then hardened into ice. “You heard that?” I played dumb to save his face in front of his friends. “What? I just got here.” Caleb sneered, turning away in disgust. I walked in to help him up. “It’s late. Let’s go home.” He shoved me away. “I told you I wasn’t coming home tonight! Why are you here? Do you know how annoying you are?” Drunk Caleb didn’t bother hiding his contempt. His face twisted into a scowl I barely recognized. Actually, no. I recognized it. He’d been like this ever since Chloe announced her divorce. “Caleb, don’t talk to Ava like that,” Chloe said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “She came all this way because she cares about you. How about this? Ava and I will drive you home together.” Caleb looked at Chloe, and his expression softened instantly. “Okay.” So, I drove while Caleb and Chloe sat in the back. Whether he was drunk or doing it on purpose, Caleb laid his head on Chloe’s lap. They looked like a couple deeply in love. It burned my eyes. “Ava, don’t misunderstand,” Chloe said from the backseat. “Caleb is just drunk. Don’t fight because of me.” I didn’t respond. Arguing with a pick-me girl is a waste of energy. But she wouldn’t stop. “You really are boring, aren’t you? No wonder you guys haven’t built any real connection in five years.” 2 That comment stung. Years ago, I fantasized about a “marriage first, love later” romance with Caleb. But in the end, the first love always wins. When we arrived at the villa, Chloe helped Caleb inside without waiting for me. I didn’t stop them. I sat in the car and looked at the photo I had just taken. The next morning, when Caleb sobered up, I showed him the picture: him sleeping on Chloe’s lap, her gazing at him with love. Caleb stared at it, then smiled. He was clearly enjoying the fact that Chloe still had feelings for him. So I threw a tantrum. “What is going on between you and that homewrecker Chloe?” Caleb frowned. “Ava, watch your mouth. Have some class.” “Even if I have no class, I’m your wife! I have the right to question you and that shady woman!” My words were harsh. Caleb’s face went cold. “Is that so? You think being my wife gives you that right?” “Let’s divorce then,” he said, looking bored. “Ava, I want a divorce.” I screamed, “I don’t agree! Caleb, I won’t divorce you!” Caleb looked like he expected this. He looked at me with pure exhaustion and slammed the door as he left. As soon as he was gone, I dropped the angry act and sat down calmly. Finally. He said it. Six years ago, the System pulled me into this world. My mission: Make Caleb fall in love with me. I spent six years playing the devoted wife. I even fell in love with him for real. But Caleb never loved me. Mission failed. Now, the exit clause: If Caleb asks for a divorce three times and I refuse, the mission terminates, and I go home. One down. Two to go. When Caleb returned, I was in the study organizing my portfolio. In this world, I was a housewife, but secretly, I was also a popular webcomic artist. I was working on my debut graphic novel, a project two years in the making. I planned to take it back to my original world. Hearing the door, I closed my sketchbook and smiled. “You’re back?” Caleb looked stiff. I walked toward him. “I made your favorite soup. I’ll get you a bowl.” When I walked out, I saw why he was acting weird. Chloe was in the living room with a suitcase. “Ava,” Chloe smiled apologetically. “I have a stalker fan harassing me at my apartment. Can I crash here for a few days?” I stared at her blankly. Caleb spoke up, his voice quiet with guilt. “It’s true. Someone found her address. I can’t leave her in danger.” Seeing my silence, Caleb got impatient. “There’s nothing going on between us. We’re just old friends. She’s in trouble.” “Ava, stop being unreasonable. Grow up. Don’t be the same jealous girl you were years ago.” “Fine,” I said, cutting him off. “She can stay.” 3 Why not let her stay? If she lives here, conflicts will escalate. Caleb will ask for a divorce sooner. The faster he asks, the faster I leave this hellhole. Caleb looked surprised, suspicious even. “You agree?” “Are you unhappy that I agreed?” He frowned. “Don’t try anything. If I find out you’re bullying Chloe, I won’t let it slide.” I wanted to laugh. He’s my husband, yet he defends an outsider like a guard dog. Caleb ignored me and carried Chloe’s bags to the guest room. “Ava made some soup. I’ll bring you a bowl later. Her cooking is the only thing she’s good at.” I laughed out loud. Caleb, do you think marriage made me your servant for life? I can’t wait to see your face when I vanish. I went to the kitchen, drank a bowl of soup myself, and poured the rest down the drain. I’m not feeding that adulterous pair. I went back to the study. Soon, Caleb burst in. “Where’s the soup?” “Poured it out.” “What?” Caleb exploded. “Ava, what is wrong with you? If you didn’t want her here, just say no! Why act passive-aggressive?” “If I said no, would you have been happy?” Caleb stared at me, silent. I waited. Say it. Ask for a divorce. But he didn’t. He slammed the door and left. That night, I went to bed early. Caleb and Chloe were drinking and laughing downstairs. In the middle of the night, I felt someone hugging me from behind. It was Caleb. He smelled of alcohol. He kissed my neck. Disgusted, I pushed him away. “What are you doing?” Caleb sobered up a bit. “You’re my wife. What do you think I’m doing?” Seeing my resistance, his face darkened. “It’s your duty. Ava, if you’re going to be like this, get out of my house.” Since I found out about Chloe, I hadn’t let him touch me for three months. “Your house?” I asked. Caleb smirked. “You married me with nothing. This house is mine. Did you forget you begged me to marry you?” “If you won’t put out, get out!” 4 I laughed. Yes, I begged him. It was for the mission. I didn’t expect the man I once loved to weaponize that against me. “Fine. I’m leaving.” I grabbed a small bag. I paused at the door, waiting for him to threaten me with divorce. Instead, he sneered. “Go ahead! Leave!” He thought I was bluffing. I needed more chaos. I marched to the guest room and pounded on the door. Caleb rushed over and grabbed me. “Ava, are you crazy?” “Let go! You love Chloe, right? Let me ask her if she loves you back!” I thought this would trigger the divorce talk. Instead, Caleb slapped me. The sound echoed in the hallway. I went silent. Caleb looked at his hand, stunned. He opened his mouth to apologize but stopped. “Go back to your room.” I looked at him, eyes burning. Caleb couldn’t meet my gaze. “Ava, if you keep acting crazy, I really will divorce you.” Bingo. Even though I wanted to jump for joy, I forced out a tear. “I don’t agree.” I turned and walked out of the villa. Just one more time. One more refusal, and I’m free. I walked aimlessly through the streets. Six years in this world, revolving around Caleb. I had no life of my own. Luckily, I had my art. I checked into a hotel. Days passed. Caleb didn’t call. I didn’t want to waste time, so I planned to go back and force the third divorce request. But then, disaster struck. Chloe posted my comic on her art account. She traced my hand-drawn panels into digital art, copying the characters, plot, everything. I was furious. I called Caleb. He didn’t pick up. He turned off his phone. I went online and exposed Chloe for plagiarism. Chloe was an influencer artist. She denied it, claiming I was slandering her. She demanded an apology. My original drafts were at the villa. I couldn’t prove anything yet. Her fans swarmed my account, sending death threats. 5 I called Caleb again while taking a cab home. This time, he picked up. He sounded guilty. I hit record. “Did you give my drafts to Chloe?” “Where are you?” he deflected. “Answer me! You know that comic is my life’s work!” “I’ll compensate you,” Caleb said impatiently. “What do you want? A new apartment?” “Why did you give my work to her?!” “I said I’d pay you! Once Chloe monetizes it, she’ll pay you too. Delete your posts. If you do, I promise I won’t bring up divorce again.” “Ha.” I laughed. Never bring up divorce? That’s the only thing I want from you. “Dream on. I’m taking back what’s mine.” I hung up and posted the recording. The internet exploded. I arrived at the villa. Caleb and Chloe were in the living room. Chloe was crying on his shoulder. “Where are my drafts?” I demanded. Caleb marched over, grabbed my wrist, and smashed my phone on the floor. “Ava, you disappoint me. You said you loved me, but you won’t sacrifice a few drawings for me? You posted our call online?” “Do you want to ruin me? You used to be so obedient.” “I’ve lost all interest in you.” “Let’s divorce, Ava.” Caleb stared at me, expecting me to beg, to refuse, to cave. He didn’t know this was the magic number. Three strikes. Mission complete. I can leave.

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My boyfriend left me to die in a burning building to save his “first love.” Consumed by the flames, I was reborn back to the day he confessed his feelings to me. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, I rejected him cold. Instead, I walked towards the quiet, brooding boy in the shadows. He grabbed my wrist, his voice trembling: “Didn’t you say you were going to marry me when we grew up?” 1 “Say yes! Say yes!” When I opened my eyes, Caleb Vance was holding a massive bouquet of red roses, smiling at me. But my mind was flooded with memories of the fire. I saw Caleb firmly carrying his “white moonlight,” Layla, out of the inferno. He walked away without looking back. He didn’t even glance at me. In my despair, I prayed to God: If I get another chance, I will never choose him. I will run as far away from him as possible. Suddenly, a voice echoed: “Are you sure?” I was resolute: “Yes.” I didn’t expect to actually wake up on the day Caleb asked me out. 2 Caleb and I were childhood sweethearts. Everyone knew I loved him. At the start of senior year, he confessed to me after evening study hall. That day, I thought our feelings were finally mutual. I thought we were meant to be. Later, I found out he only asked me out to make Layla jealous. Even through college and after graduation, he was entangled with her. Every time he had to choose between us, I was the one left behind. I finally woke up and asked for a divorce. But Layla showed up at my door to provoke me. Then the fire happened. I waited for rescue, but all I saw was Caleb holding Layla, walking away without a backward glance. In that moment, my heart died. So, this time, amidst the cheers of our classmates… I rejected him. The noisy football field fell silent instantly. In my past life, I was Caleb’s shadow. I chased him, cared for him, brought him breakfast every day, gave him water during gym class, bought his school supplies, organized his test papers, and waited for him after school. Everyone with eyes knew I loved him. Caleb’s face darkened instantly. “Sunny, say that again?” I looked at him and sneered. “I’ll say it a hundred times. Caleb Vance, I don’t want to be your girlfriend. I don’t like you. We’re seniors now; I just want to study.” The crowd gasped. Whispers erupted around us: [I’d believe the earth is flat before I believe Sunny doesn’t like Caleb.] [Maybe she’s playing hard to get?] [But getting rejected publicly? Caleb looks like he’s gonna explode.] I didn’t want to be the center of attention. I turned to leave, but Caleb grabbed my wrist, suppressing his rage. “Sunny, are you crazy?” Am I crazy? You should ask yourself that. Layla told me later that he only confessed to me because he was mad at her. They had a fight, and Layla flirted with another guy in their class. Furious, Caleb turned around and confessed to me. Because he was certain I loved him. He knew I wouldn’t say no. He wanted Layla to beg for forgiveness, so he used my feelings as a pawn. I looked down at my reddening wrist and peeled his fingers off one by one. I pointed at the girl standing at the back of the crowd. “You like her, don’t you? You two fight, and I’m the sacrifice? What am I, a clown?” 3 Caleb froze. He looked at Layla’s retreating figure, then back at me, his eyes warning. “Sunny, are you done making a scene? Why drag other people into our business?” A scene? His defensive posture just confirmed everything. I pulled my hand away and enunciated every word: “Caleb Vance, do you speak English? I said, I. Don’t. Like. You.” He scoffed. “If you don’t like me, who else could you like?” Seventeen years of affection gave him the confidence to believe I couldn’t live without him. But I fought hard to be reborn. I just want to live for myself. I walked past Caleb toward the boy standing alone in the crowd. The class valedictorian, Ethan Hunt. I stood next to him and said to Caleb, “I like studying. I want to go to Harvard.” Then I turned to Ethan: “Hey genius, I might need your help with tutoring from now on.” 4 After rejecting Caleb, we entered a cold war. Everyone bet I wouldn’t last a day before crawling back to him. I smiled. And placed my own bet. [Forever.] [No way, did Sunny hit her head?] [Whisper: Caleb is furious. Sunny didn’t bring him breakfast, and he’s already thrown a tantrum this morning.] Not my problem. I just want to study. I just want him to leave me alone. My grades were actually good in high school. But in my past life, after getting together with Caleb senior year, I followed him to a local state college. I found out later he stayed local because Layla was here too. He did it on purpose. I opened my backpack and found the expensive stationery set I bought for Caleb. As I took it out, I heard Caleb’s desk mate say, “See? Told you she wouldn’t last the morning.” Caleb looked smug, waiting for me to present it to him. I took everything out. And handed it to my desk mate, Ethan. “Here, genius. A little bribe in advance. I’ll be bothering you a lot.” Honestly, Ethan and I barely interacted in my past life. He was always studying. I asked him a few questions once. But I vaguely remembered him asking where I wanted to go to college. Back then, my world revolved around Caleb. So I pointed at Caleb and said, “Wherever he goes, I go.” Ethan didn’t say anything. Now, as I gave him the supplies, he looked up at me. His cool gaze held a hint of curiosity. I smiled frankly. “Sorry if this is weird. If you don’t want it, I’ll throw it away.” Hearing “throw it away,” Caleb’s face turned ugly. He kicked the leg of the desk in front of him. But to my surprise, Ethan said “Thanks” and accepted it. 5 After deciding to study and stay away from them, I realized how far behind I was from my dream school. But I fell in love with the feeling of battling math problems late into the night. I loved discussing different solutions with the top students, the feeling of enlightenment. Life without revolving around Caleb was actually fun. Soon, the senior year pep rally arrived. In my past life, I was pushed onto the stage and goaded into confessing to Caleb again. What did I say? Oh right. “Youth should have no regrets. Love who you love. I’m confident I can get into the same college as Caleb Vance. The rest of the time, let’s enjoy our youth!” The whole school was shocked. Parents were called. Thinking back, I want to punch my past self. This time, I stood quietly in the crowd, memorizing vocab words, trying to be invisible. But during the open mic session, a girl shouted, “Doesn’t Sunny know public speaking? Let her say something for our class!” Others chimed in: “Haha, is she going to confess to Caleb again? Embarrassing.” “Didn’t she reject him? Is she trying to beg for him back now?” “I bet she doesn’t dare.” “Yeah, she’s chicken.” “So lame. She bet she wouldn’t apologize, but she’s still a simp.” I took a deep breath. It was coming. They wanted to see me fail. I understood. I spent 17 years chasing Caleb. Even he thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Only I knew how precious this second chance was. I turned to look at Caleb, not far behind me. Our eyes met. He looked triumphant in his uniform, chin raised, waiting for me to get on stage and apologize publicly, to wash away the humiliation of my rejection. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan looking at me too. For some reason, I felt guilty. Encouraged by the teacher, I stepped up to the podium. Behind me, whispers: “If Sunny doesn’t confess today, I’ll lose respect for her.” “Caleb is the man. You can’t spoil women.” “…” Looking at the sea of faces, I adjusted the mic and spoke clearly and confidently: “Good morning, teachers and students. I am Sunny from Class 1.” “The September breeze brings the scent of new beginnings. Shouldering the hopes of our mentors and carrying our own dreams, we face the dawn of the entrance exams. I solemnly swear: Sharp swords come from grinding, plum blossoms bloom from the bitter cold. Nine years of hard work for one moment of glory. I will give it my all. I hope everyone persists and fights for this year. Let our dreams set sail!” Thunderous applause greeted me. In my past life, after my confession, I heard whistles, jeers, and boos. I finally changed the trajectory. But I didn’t expect Caleb to block my path after the assembly. “Sunny, we need to talk.” 6 “I have nothing to talk to you about.” I didn’t even give him a second glance. I walked straight toward the classroom. Caleb chased after me, grabbing my arm. Ignoring my struggles, he dragged me to the side of the field. “What is wrong with you?” He frowned, questioning me. I shook him off. “How many times do I have to say it? I just want to study.” I tried to leave. He blocked me with his arm, eyes full of disbelief. “Study all you want, but why didn’t you bring me breakfast? Why did you give my stuff to someone else? Why didn’t you wait for me after school? Why did you rej—” He choked on the last word. I finished it for him. “Why can’t I reject you? Are you a hundred-dollar bill? Does everyone have to love you?” He was furious, grinding his teeth to keep control. Yeah. Before, he was the one rejecting me. He was high and mighty, only caring about himself. He enjoyed my devotion while giving all his love to someone else. And me? I was grateful for crumbs. I was so stupid. Like he was the last man on earth. After a long silence, Caleb spat out, “Sunny, you’ve changed.” I looked up at him. “Caleb, I was blind to like you. Go be happy with your Layla. Stop buzzing around me like a fly.” I walked away. Behind me, Caleb growled, “Fine, Sunny. Don’t regret this.”

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I studied my ass off to get into the AP Physics class just to be close to Caleb Vance. But his eyes were only for the pretty girl sitting next to him. In six months, the only sentence he ever said to me was: “Can you lend Lily a tampon?” So, I tore up the diary filled with my secret crush and stopped following him around like a puppy. Years later, at a high school reunion, I talked about my first love. I said he was a fierce, rugged bad boy. Before I could finish, Caleb stood there, holding the taped-together pieces of my torn diary, trembling as he questioned me: “Sarah, you’re lying. Your first love was obviously me! I’m still waiting for you to say it.” 1 In AP Calculus, the teacher called me and the school beauty, Lily Harper, to the board to solve a problem. It was an arithmetic progression. Lily solved it in three steps. I, on the other hand, filled half the board with over ten lines of clumsy calculations. Someone snickered. Then, a chorus of laughter erupted behind me. Lily smelled like sweet milk and vanilla. When the scent hit my nose, I started sneezing uncontrollably. The class roared with laughter. Just then, a cool scent of peppermint drifted from above my head, strangely calming. Caleb Vance, the class genius, was called up to verify the answers. He took the chalk from my hand when I was most embarrassed and patted my shoulder in comfort. But the next second. He wiped away a huge chunk of my answer without even looking at it. He broke Lily’s three steps into four, arriving at the same result: 51/50. “My calculation is the same as Lily’s, but hers is more concise.” The teacher nodded approvingly, erased more of my work, and started writing the solution based on Lily’s method. I was forced off the platform, not knowing whether to stay or go back to my seat. I had also calculated 51/50. But in the eyes of these geniuses, my method was the dumbest, clunkiest way. Just like my student ID number was 51. I was the extra, the fool looked down upon by the elite 50 students of the class. “Did you hear that? Caleb called her ‘Lily.’ What’s going on with those two?” The class started to gossip. “Stop it, Caleb and I are just bros,” Lily laughed. “Alright, alright, focus on the board,” the teacher said, not minding the banter. But the adoration in Caleb’s eyes didn’t look fake. They were a match. One was a top scholar, the other a genius beauty. Peppermint and milk, a match made in heaven. They could discuss complex math problems and watch foreign films without subtitles. I couldn’t keep up with their brilliant minds. All I could do was clumsy little things to please Caleb. I had a crush on him for three years. I studied day and night just to squeeze into the AP class to be closer to him. But six months had passed. His eyes only held Lily. He never once turned around to say a word to me, the girl sitting right behind him. What did proximity matter? I could never walk into his world. Feeling depressed, I skipped gym class to rest in the classroom. As I was dozing off on my desk, someone knocked on it. I looked up. Caleb’s arrogant, noble face was right in front of me. This was the first time he had ever initiated a conversation with me. 2 “Can you lend Lily a tampon?” For a moment, I thought I misheard. But it made sense. Why would Caleb talk to me otherwise? There just happened to be a person in the classroom. And that person happened to be female. I took one out and handed it to him, then buried my head back in my arms. Half an hour later, Caleb returned, his face dark. He questioned me coldly: “What kind of junk did you give her? Lily used it and felt chills immediately. She fainted and is now on an IV in the nurse’s office!” I froze. Before I could speak, Caleb’s accusations rained down on me: “Don’t you buy quality products for something so important? I can’t believe what kind of girl you are. You almost hurt Lily!” I was speechless. How do I even begin to explain basic physiology to a teenage boy? Anger and grievance fought in my chest. In the end, I said nothing. He had already decided it was my fault. No matter what I said, he would just pin more ridiculous crimes on me. Why waste my breath? 3 Lily was on the IV until the afternoon. Maybe he was still angry, but Caleb was colder than ever. When passing back graded papers, he threw mine onto my desk in a messy pile. But this time, I didn’t catch them with both hands like a servant. I let them slide off the desk and scatter all over the floor. He frowned and looked back at me. I stared at him, expressionless. “Pick them up.” “What?” “I said, you threw them. You pick them up.” My aggression stunned Caleb. He paused, then crouched down at my feet, gathered the papers, and placed them neatly back on my desk. For the rest of the afternoon, I didn’t say a word to him. Dinner break came, and naturally, there was no communication. We had a long break after dinner. Usually, I would take out the trash. The classroom didn’t have a bin; we had to go to the recycling station on each floor. I used to use “it’s on the way” as an excuse to take Caleb’s trash. Later, everyone around me started giving me their trash. This time, I didn’t want to help anyone. “Thanks, Sarah! I love hardworking girls,” Lily smiled, trying to hang a huge bag of trash on my hand. To her surprise, I coldly refused. “I’m not your maid.” Lily froze, her eyes reddening with tears instantly. People whispered behind my back: “What’s wrong with her today?” “She’s jealous.” “Senior year time is precious. She’s going anyway, why not take it? We have papers to write!” Finally, Caleb stood up and chased me out of the classroom. He called my name behind me, but I pretended not to hear and didn’t look back. When I returned to the classroom after walking a lap around the track, a pack of pink premium pads was on my desk. Caleb looked at me with his dark eyes and whispered: “I apologize for this morning. I’m sorry.” So, he understood? He bought this specifically to apologize? My heart softened for exactly one second before his next ridiculous sentence shattered it: “Lily cherishes you as a friend. Don’t let my mistake affect her. When she comes back, apologize to her too. You shouldn’t have been mean to her.” That’s when I noticed the large bag under Caleb’s desk. He had jumped the school fence to buy every brand and type for Lily to choose from. To stop me from “bullying” Lily, he casually tossed me one pack from the pile to shut me up. Dismissing me, the unimportant classmate. 4 I started actively avoiding Caleb. I ignored him, stopped creating “accidental” meetings, and stopped revolving around him. Caleb seemed to notice. One evening on the way home, he waited for me outside the convenience store. Seeing I bought a rice ball, he helped me open the wrapper, folded it neatly, and put it in my hand. “Sarah, let’s talk. I feel like you’re mad. Why?” “Did you only buy one rice ball? For me? Aren’t you eating?” I was silent for a few seconds, then tossed the rice ball into a stray dog’s bowl. “Sorry, I bought it for the dog. If you want it, negotiate with him.” Caleb stood there, stunned. I bumped past his shoulder and left without looking back. To avoid Caleb, I took a secluded route home. Turning into an alley, a familiar scent of milk and vanilla wafted through the air. I ran into Lily smoking a vape with some delinquent girls. It turned out the “milk scent” on Lily was a vape flavor. Through the pale smoke, Lily waved at me, her eyes full of mockery. “Sarah, going home? Say hi to my sisters.” “This is the loser from our class who’s been crushing on my desk mate forever. Shameless bitch!” I frowned and tried to move away, but one of the girls chased me, pinching my face with sharp nails. “So you’re the one stalking my sister’s man?” Before she finished, the Dean’s voice boomed from behind. He had caught them vaping. The girls scattered. Seeing no escape, Lily panicked and shoved the vape into my backpack. I didn’t have time to throw it out before we were ordered to stand still. “Hello, Mr. Dean.” Lily greeted him calmly, her face the picture of innocence. We weren’t allowed to speak. We had to empty our pockets and bags. The contraband was found on me. I tried to explain: “Sir, smoke has a smell. You can smell who it’s on, right?” The milk scent was clearly on Lily. But the next second, Caleb’s voice came from behind: “Sir, I’m Lily’s desk mate. That smell is Lily’s natural body scent, not smoke.” “Besides, we’re in the AP class. Lily is ranked 7th in the grade. Would she do something like this?”

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Caleb Vance had always been the devoted type. But on the day his “first love” was diagnosed with cancer, he handed me a pill that induces amnesia. “Ava, Summer is dying. Give me three days. I want to fulfill her dream of a wedding.” “I won’t hurt you. This pill causes temporary memory loss. Three days later, after the ceremony, you’ll take the antidote, fall in love with me all over again, and we’ll remarry.” Seeing the determination in his eyes, I took the pill and swallowed it without hesitation. What Caleb didn’t know was that I developed the pill myself. There is no antidote. In three days, I will forget him forever. 1 We walked out of the courthouse, divorce papers in hand. Caleb checked his watch. “Two minutes until it kicks in. For the next three days, you’ll forget you ever loved me. When you take the antidote, you won’t remember what happened during this time. You won’t have a chance to be sad.” “This divorce is just temporary. Once this is over, we’ll remarry. Don’t worry, my only true wife is you.” I looked at him silently. There would be no remarriage. As the creator of the drug, I knew exactly how it worked. It didn’t wipe memories instantly. It eroded them slowly, piece by piece, until the person you loved was a stranger. And the antidote? It didn’t exist yet. But Caleb didn’t know that. “Are you sure you won’t regret this?” I asked softly. He smiled, ruffling my hair affectionately. “Summer has loved me for years. Her only wish is a wedding. I can’t refuse a dying woman. I won’t regret it.” “Ava, I know you’re understanding. There’s no need to compete with a sick person. When this is over, we’ll go back to our happy life.” I curled my lips in a self-deprecating smile, letting the bitterness spread through my chest. I didn’t say another word. In our most passionate years, I drank until I vomited blood to secure contracts for him. He stayed up until his heart fluttered to help me with my research. Once, I teased him: “What if one day I get old and forget you?” His eyes turned red, and he kissed me fiercely. “Ava, I love you. Please don’t forget me. I’d go crazy.” Now, learning his first love has cancer, he actively divorced me and asked me to erase our memories. I guess he wanted to give her three days of perfect love—flawless, without the existence of a wife like me. A complete love just for her. If he dared to change his heart so openly and feed me drugs, why bother with the charade of remarriage? I laughed abruptly. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my head. I swayed and fell forward. Caleb caught me, his dark eyes filled with worry. “Are you okay? If you’re scared I won’t come back, I can give you the divorce certificate and all our documents for safekeeping.” I forced myself to stand, looking at him with confusion. “What divorce certificate?” Caleb froze, then probed tentatively. “Ava… do you remember we got divorced?” “Divorced?” Seeing my blank expression, a flicker of joy passed through his eyes. I looked down at the certificate in my hand and understood. The drug was working. The first thing it erased was the memory of our divorce. Caleb quickly snatched the certificate, afraid I’d see his name on it. His voice softened. “Ava, I’m your brother. You’re sick and lost some memories. I’ll keep these important documents for you.” I looked into his evasive eyes and didn’t expose him. Fine. If he wants to act, I’ll play along. Just then, a sugary voice called out. “Caleb! There you are!” I looked over. Summer was jogging toward us, but she “accidentally” tripped. Caleb instinctively let go of me to catch her. 2 Thrown by his sudden movement, I slammed into the wall. My already throbbing head exploded with pain. Summer fell into Caleb’s arms, smiling shyly. “Thanks for catching me, Caleb.” Caleb realized what happened and his face changed. He looked at me frantically. “Ava, are you hurt? Summer is sick, if she bleeds it won’t stop, so I had to catch her. I’m sorry.” I stood up, enduring the pain, and dusted myself off. “I’m fine.” Summer clung to Caleb’s arm, whispering. “Caleb, it’s just a divorce. Why did it take so long? I waited forever.” Seeing me staring, Caleb coughed awkwardly, looking guilty but not pushing her away. “It’s done. We can focus on the wedding now.” Summer beamed, shooting me a triumphant look. “Ava, I’ve been dating your brother for five years. We’re getting married in three days. You have to come!” I smiled. “My brother’s wedding? Of course I’ll be there.” Summer’s smile widened. “You should be our videographer! You have to capture the moment Caleb and I kiss…” “Summer.” Caleb’s face darkened, cutting her off. He looked at me, finding no sadness in my eyes, and felt an inexplicable pang in his heart. “She doesn’t need to come.” My expression didn’t change. Seeing Caleb defend me, Summer frowned and suddenly collapsed into his arms. “Caleb, my heart… it hurts. I can’t breathe.” Caleb’s eyes filled with panic as he held her. “Is it happening again? Hang on, I’ll take you to the hospital.” He looked up at me, voice low. “Ava, do you remember where home is? Do you need a ride?” I shook my head. “No need. I remember.” Caleb paused. The lab techs told him the drug only erased memories of the person you loved most. Thinking I loved him most, he relaxed. “Okay, go home then. I’ll take Summer to the hospital.” He carried Summer to the car. “Caleb,” Summer whispered weakly, “being held by you openly… even if I die now, it’s worth it.” Caleb scolded her gently. “Don’t talk nonsense.” Through the window, I watched as he buckled her in. Summer wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his earlobe. Seeing this intimate scene, my heart felt a sharp, cold stab. The sting of betrayal. His car sped away. At that moment, my phone rang. “Ms. Ava Lane, the Paris Research Institute is ready for your arrival. We welcome you in three days.” 3 I hung up and went home, only to realize the house was a shell. This was the home Caleb and I decorated together. He said we would live here forever. Now, the tea sets we designed, the ornaments we picked—everything related to him was gone. Even the soil in the balcony planters had been turned over, probably fearing I’d remember planting flowers with him. I smiled bitterly at the empty house. Caleb, are you thorough because you’re afraid I’ll be in pain, or afraid I’ll remember and ruin your wedding? If you knew there was no antidote, and I would never recover my memory, would you regret this? I took off my wedding ring. I wrote him a letter, put the ring inside the envelope, and tucked it into the gap of a flower pot. My phone rang urgently. It was my best friend, Lily. “Ava, I have to tell you something. I think Caleb is cheating. I just saw him hugging a woman at the hospital.” “Mmh,” I said. “Whatever. Let him be.” Lily was shocked. “Ava… are you okay?” Her nervousness made me laugh. “What could be wrong? Caleb and I are already divorced.” “Divorced?!” I briefly explained the situation. When I mentioned taking the pill, she exploded. “That scumbag! Shameless! He’ll do anything to marry that woman!” “You gave up the Institute for him! Half his success is because of you! Now he wrongs you for another woman and calls it ‘sparing you pain’? Feeding you amnesia pills? Who does he think he is?!” Pain finally surfaced in my eyes. My face went pale. Five years ago, when Caleb was at his lowest, I married him without hesitation. I used all my connections to save his company. Back then, he held me every night, whispering I was his eternal love. But people change. His heart found a new home. He forgot my sacrifices, demanding I be obedient and accept his “charity” toward Summer. Is loving one person consistently that hard? Why can I do it? 4 Lily ranted until she was out of breath, then concluded: “I guarantee, divorcing you and feeding you drugs… Caleb will regret this until he dies!” “He definitely doesn’t know there’s no antidote. Let him suffer. And you… you can finally move on.” I looked at the flower pot. Living with Caleb for years, I knew his habits. When he was upset, he drank on the balcony. If he truly regretted it after I left, he would find the letter. Late at night, Caleb came in, rummaging through closets. “What are you doing?” He paused, seeing me in pajamas at the door. He frowned and draped his jacket over me. “It’s cold. Why are you wearing so little?” I ignored the gesture. “What are you looking for?” “I want to borrow your wedding dress. Summer wants to wear it.” Caleb explained, “You might have forgotten, but it’s the one you wore.” I stared at him in silence. Of course I hadn’t forgotten. He designed it himself. From sketches to the final product, it took two months. All because I once said, “I want a one-of-a-kind wedding dress.” And now, he was taking it to complete another woman’s wedding. I felt a surge of absurdity. “Is that dress important? Why that one?” My question seemed to trigger a memory. He paused. When the dress was finished, he told me, “This dress belongs only to you.” He hesitated for a second, then said: “It was designed by a master. It’s the only one of its kind. Summer likes it too. Her only wish is to get married in it.” Seeing my downcast eyes, he added, “Don’t worry. I’ll return it right after the wedding. You can ask for anything you want then.” Still lying. My heart took another hit. On our wedding day, his eyes never left me. Afterward, he stored the dress carefully. I teased him. “Why do you cherish it so much?” He looked at me seriously. “Because you gave it its unique beauty. I want to preserve this memory forever.” But now, just because Summer liked it, he gave it away without hesitation. The dress lost its meaning. It became just a tool to make Summer happy. “It’s late. Go to sleep. I have to go out.” Caleb didn’t notice my strangeness. He took the dress and left. I dropped his jacket on the floor. Looking at the empty closet, I felt overwhelming disappointment. “It’s okay. I’m like you. Once he clears everything out, it’ll be fine.” Just being abandoned. Once my memory is wiped, I can truly let go. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my head. Another chunk of memory vanished. I was abruptly pulled out of my sorrow. 5 The next day, Lily told me Caleb was frantically preparing the wedding. It rivaled the scale of ours. I nodded thoughtfully. He was busy, yet still sent me three meals a day. Trying to have it all. Tough job. On the wedding day, Lily took me to the venue. We sat in the corner. Caleb and Summer were arm in arm, surrounded by bridesmaids. “I remember Caleb threw a wedding this big for Ava too. Tsk, Summer is so lucky.” Hearing my name, Summer tightened her grip on Caleb. Caleb explained, “Ava and I are divorced. Today is Summer’s day. Let’s not talk about the past.” Hearing him cut ties, the bridesmaids chimed in. “Summer is young and beautiful. Ava can’t compare.” “Caleb, Summer’s trusting you with her life. Don’t let her down.” Caleb smiled gently, just like he once promised me. “Don’t worry. I won’t let her down.” My eyes dimmed. Lily ground her teeth. “What kind of twisted values are these? Homewrecking is justified now?” Someone shouted, “Such a good day! Caleb, kiss Summer!” The bridesmaids chanted, “Kiss! Kiss!” Summer blushed, looking at Caleb. Her shyness was practiced. Amidst the cheers, Caleb stroked her ear, leaned down, and kissed the corner of her lips. The cheers reached a fever pitch.

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I discovered my boss has a “split personality” that turns him from a ruthless CEO into a seductive nightclub host. Taking advantage of the fact that his “second personality” doesn’t know me, I book him every time I go to the club. To thank him for his “hard work” at night, I bring him homemade lunches during the day. This “night shift, day feed” arrangement worked perfectly until I went home with him and saw two identical men standing there… Boss: “Say hi to your sister-in-law.” The “Other Boss”: “Bro, you mean say hi to my girl.” Me, shocked and greedy: “Calling me sister-in-law by day and your girl by night isn’t impossible…” 1 After getting roasted by my toxic boss for “working without a brain” and “leaving faster than anyone,” I did exactly as he wished: I clocked out the second the clock struck five. I sprinted to the bar to start the 99th “I Hate My Job” conference of the month with my best friend, Chloe. “He says I’m lazy? Ha! Hard work costs extra.” “You get what you pay for. I’m gonna show this company what ‘cheap labor’ really means!” “I just want his money, but he wants my life.” “Slave away for pennies… I just want to be a trophy wife.” … As I vented, the bar’s atmosphere hit its peak. Hearing Chloe’s excited gasp, I followed her gaze to the center stage. Three men were dancing, but the one in the center—wearing a silver mask, a crisp white shirt, and messy-chic hair—was captivating. Every move, every glance, that waist… I gulped. “My morals are hanging on by the thread of my poverty.” Chloe: “I can’t imagine how morally bankrupt I’d be if I were rich.” True that. Me: “How much to book that guy?” Chloe: “A grand, at least?” “…” Poverty keeps us honest. I withdrew my gaze, drank my cheap beer, and accepted my fate as a corporate slave. At the bar, I only order the most cost-effective draft. Twenty-three years old, enjoying a twenty-four-year-old’s mediocre life. Damn this world! A few rounds later, the dancers had mingled into the crowd. My eyes unconsciously searched for the boy in the white shirt. He was sitting on a sofa nearby. Surrounded by people with bad intentions. The innocent boy was having his chin grabbed, alcohol forced down his throat. He looked reluctant but helpless. His eyes, glassy and unfocused, met mine. That look of vulnerability made my heart skip a beat. The romance novels I read in high school suddenly made sense. So this is the POV of the CEO seeing the poor heroine being bullied! I downed another beer, slammed the bottle, and stood up! Alcohol courage. Chloe grabbed me: “How much money you got? How much face you got?” In times like this, if you don’t have fists, you need cash. I sighed: “I’m at the age where I have to spend money.” “I don’t have a rich girl’s life, but I have a rich girl’s disease. I can’t stand bullying.” I walked over, feeling like a billionaire. Getting closer, I heard them jeering, telling the poor guy to shake for them. “Outrageous!” Man, I’m here to save you! I pushed through the crowd and saw them touching him. His shirt was messy, tie crooked. He looked at his tormentors pleadingly: “Sir, I can’t drink anymore.” This scene triggered both my protective instincts and my… baser instincts. He’s so good! Right now, he shouldn’t be in this dirty bar! He should be at my apartment at 21 Oak Street! I slapped a card on the table, channeling my inner CEO: “I’ll take him!” Later, Chloe told me I slapped my driver’s license on the table, was met with deafening silence, and then dragged him away after paying $250 cash from my wallet. Back in our booth, I sat on the sofa, feeling like a god: “You… belong to me for this hour.” “With me here, no one dares touch you.” Chloe: “…” Novel dialogue really works in real life? The boy took off his mask and rubbed his flushed face: “Thank you, sister.” The music changed, the lights brightened. I swirled my drink pretentiously: “No need…” Before I could finish “to thank me,” I saw his face. It was Caleb Vance. My boss. The slave driver. “Holy shit! Caleb Vance?!” The hand I had just placed on his thigh recoiled as if burned. I went from CEO to corporate dog instantly: “B-Boss, what a… nice hobby you have here haha…” My brain short-circuited. I was already drafting my resignation letter. I work to make money for him, and now I’m spending money on him? The iron-faced boss moonlighting as a seductive host? I’m gonna die. Even Chloe sat up straight, like she was meeting a parent. The “host” pointed at himself innocently: “Huh? Are you talking to me?” I suspected he was drunk. Me, trembling: “You don’t know me?” Him: “Should I know you, sister?” He tilted his head, puppy eyes staring at me, drunk but not drunk. Setting everything aside… isn’t he kinda wrong for this? Chloe nudged me: “Is he really your boss?” Must be! I might not recognize my own mother, but I’d recognize my boss even if he turned into ash! But he denied it: “My name is Flynn. Not whatever Caleb Vance boss you’re talking about.” “Sister, I’m Flynn. Like… free as a bird.” “If I were a boss, why would I be working here?” He looked down, pitifully: “To be honest, I’m poor. My family is struggling. I have a disabled brother to take care of.” Chloe whispered: “Gambling dad, sick mom, disabled brother, and broken him.” Me: “…” He denied being Caleb again. I mustered the courage to grab his chin and examine his face. His eyelashes fluttered, eyes misty, cheeks flushed. Just as I was about to be bewitched by his fragility, I saw the red string necklace. His mom got it for him at a temple. It is Caleb Vance! I shuddered and let go of his face like it was hot iron. He turned his head defenselessly, looking like I’d slapped him. Chloe mused: “CEOs usually have issues… stomach problems, insomnia… maybe your boss is so stressed he developed a split personality?” That would explain a lot. Otherwise, why would a billionaire be here? A reasonable explanation: Amnesia! Or dissociative identity disorder! I gained confidence: “You’re really not Caleb Vance?” Flynn shook his head: “I’m not, sister.” Chloe said usually the personalities don’t know what the other does. To verify, I steeled myself, cupped his face, and kissed him. If it were real, the germaphobe, woman-hating Caleb would have flipped me over. But Flynn didn’t. After the kiss, he just grabbed the sofa in panic: “Sister, I work here but I don’t do that…” “I’m not an escort.” Confirmed. This little cutie is the second personality. Flynn covered his face, looking at me pitifully: “I… I haven’t been kissed before… sister.” My lust blinded me. Coupled with work trauma, my twisted psyche exploded into a fearless desire for my handsome, rich boss. I hugged him and kissed him hard: “Okay, okay, I’ll take responsibility!” 2 Next day at work, the boss was his usual stone-faced self. Looks like he really doesn’t remember. But I remember. I remember using his tie to bind his hands… After the morning meeting, my face was burning red. Colleague: “You okay, Mia? Don’t stress about the KPI…” Me, in my own world: “I think my relationship with the boss is a bit ambiguous.” Colleague: “I think it’s a bit delusional.” I stared at his back. Office romance, here I come. If I can’t be family, I’ll be a lover. As long as he pays. Work has stripped me of my morals! Someone must have gossiped that I looked mental. Before leaving, the boss called me in for a “counseling session.” “I know the workload is heavy… but Mia, I see potential in you.” “I’ve brought you on every project. Think about how much you’ve learned.” “If you’re tired, take the weekend off. Come on a business trip with me Monday.” Me, muttering: “Tsk, this mouth is so cold now.” “Last night it was so hot…” He paused: “What did you say?” Emboldened by lust, I stepped forward and lifted his chin: “Caleb Vance…” Do you know how slutty you were last night… Last night he was wild, now he’s serious. Caleb turned away. To me, this was playing hard to get. Tsk, men. He said seriously: “Ms. Mia, we are at work. Be mindful.” I got it. His subtext: Flirt with me after work. I was lost in fantasy, vaguely hearing him ask: “Did you understand?” I had an epiphany. I patted his butt on the way out: “I’ll wait for you~” Invest now, live in a mansion later. Caleb: “…” I don’t know if the primary personality has daytime shame, but my reflex slap earned me a spreadsheet. Boss: “Finish before you leave.” Fine. Just wait until later. 3 One hour later, Club Elysium. I was at the bar for less than a minute before Flynn appeared. He leaned on me drunkenly: “Sister, why so late?” “I thought you forgot Flynn.” The audacity! If you didn’t give me that spreadsheet, would I be late? You clock out on time to come here and fool around with your second personality! I pushed him away, plotting torture. I need payback for the work trauma. Flynn: “You’re late. They made me drink a lot.” I gripped my glass, silent. He tugged my sleeve, shaking it gently, looking at me with puppy eyes: “Sister, don’t you feel bad for me?” Honestly? I did. But thinking of the empty office while I worked overtime? My heart was colder than a frozen fish. I pulled him close and poured my strong drink into his mouth. He coughed, red liquid running down his chin, over his adam’s apple, into his shirt. I couldn’t help it. I bit him. Metallic taste. DJ music pounding. I went crazy. Lipstick smeared, clothes messy. I pulled his crumpled collar, panting. He held me, licking the corner of my mouth with his bitten tongue. Voice raspy and obedient: “Sister, want me to drink more?” My anger vanished in the kiss. He looked like a succubus. If I didn’t have a shred of morality left, I’d be pouring more than alcohol down his throat. “Caleb Vance…” Him: “Sister, I’m not him.” “I’m Flynn. Not Caleb.” Before I could speak, he grabbed my waist and lifted me off the stool. I tasted a lot of alcohol on him. I was tipsy. Before I knew it, we were in a dark corner, my back against the wall. He kissed me fiercely. I was shocked. He was usually passive. Why today… I pushed the man burying his face in my neck: “Caleb…” His breath was hot, kiss urgent: “I don’t want to hear his name.” Okay, crazy second personality. Can’t tolerate the first. 4 Rest is short. I opened my eyes and was at the airport. 5 AM. Caleb stood there, fresh as a daisy. How does he do it? Work all day, host all night? I got home at 12 and slept less than 4 hours. Caleb: “What? Is there something on my face?” Me, yawning: “No, just curious. You sleep so late, how is your skin so good?” Caleb, taking my suitcase: “How do you know I sleep late?” Oops. Based on observation, they don’t know about each other. And Flynn hates Caleb. Does Caleb hate Flynn? Me: “Haha, boss is busy, must sleep late…” Wait, where is his assistant, Leo? He paused: “Just us this time.” “Oh.” Normally I’d fight for my suitcase, but I’m so intimate with his second personality now. Touched hands, kissed mouths, just missing the home run. I felt entitled. Same body, right? Leo booked the hotel. Only one suite left. Me: “Leo only booked one?” Caleb: “One is fine.” We spoke in unison. The receptionist smiled professionally and handed over one key card. Caleb took it. His ears looked red. Okay, Flynn is at 70% progress, now Caleb is grinding stats too? The suite had two rooms. Caleb gave me the bigger one with the bath: “More convenient for girls.” He pushed my luggage in: “Freshen up, then we eat downstairs.” Everything arranged perfectly. I didn’t feel like an employee at all. Is the trophy wife dream coming true? I texted Chloe: [Sis is transforming!] Chloe: [Moon Prism Power!] Me: [Some people dream, I achieve. Trophy wife era loading.] Chloe: [You drunk again?] I looked at the CEO in the suit next to me and smiled. [Wait till I’m rich, I’ll buy you the mall.] I sent a pic of the high-end restaurant and a “candid” of the boss. Chloe: [?] Chloe: [?] Chloe: [?] Chloe: [Sister! My only sister!] [I’m resigning to carry your shoes!] [Old servant is late!] Me: [Soon. Wait for it.] [If Flynn wasn’t dormant, we’d be in the hotel bed, not the restaurant.] Chloe: [Oh my. Attack, sister! Bed is ready, man is ready… Get him drunk! Maybe the broken personality will come out!] [Then this and that…] Phone vibrated with Chloe’s “instructional videos.” She really watches a lot. The meal made me hot and thirsty. After eating, I stood up dizzy. The wine bottle was empty. Caleb’s glass was still full. Damn. I got myself drunk. Caleb came to support me: “Drink moderately.” Only Caleb would say that. Flynn drinks like a fish and loves it. Elevator was crowded. I leaned into his arms. He was stiff. Very different from Flynn. My face was flushed. Drunk Caleb is such a gentleman. He walked me to my door: “Can you manage?” I didn’t speak. The moment he let go, I fell backward. He caught me by the waist and helped me to bed, tucking me in. He turned to leave. I grabbed his hand. Chloe’s videos played in my head. Alcohol blurred the lines between Flynn and Caleb. I pulled him down and kissed him. “Mia…” Caleb was stunned, mouth slightly open. Maybe the personalities react differently. The kiss felt different. “Why are your lips so cold?” Am I too hot? Caleb pushed me away: “Mia, you’re drunk.” Ears bleeding red. Just like Flynn. “Why haven’t you changed?” I poked his face. “I thought you’d come out at night.” So, what’s the trigger? Caleb: “Change what?” He kept a meter distance. If Flynn is a clingy puppy, Caleb is a high-and-mighty cat. The push fueled my conquest. I wrapped my arms around his neck: “We’re adults. You know what I mean.” Special treatment at work, eye contact at the club, business trip for two, one suite… I’ve figured both of them out. I kissed him for a long time. Finally, Caleb reacted. He cupped my face, responding tentatively. I was encouraged. Tonight is the night! I tried to undress him, then felt a familiar flow. Period. Early. I lay dead on the bed. Caleb knocked, bringing brown sugar ginger tea. Perfect temperature. I drank it. He gave me a hot water bottle. I tossed it aside and looked at him pitifully: “Caleb, my stomach hurts. Rub it?” He said okay. Strength and heat perfect. I slept until midnight, woke up hot. Caleb was still there. “You didn’t go?” My voice was hoarse. He changed the towel on my forehead: “You have a fever.” Physical cooling failed. He carried me to the hospital for an IV. He had meetings tomorrow, but cared for me all night. Eating the porridge he made, I asked: “What are we now?” He paused: “Might be rushed, but if you don’t mind… will you be my girlfriend?” I nodded. Just like that, a fever got me a boyfriend. But because of the fever, I could only look, not touch. Caleb was strictly “no-touch.”

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