When Julian Hale’s bed photos with Willow hit the trending list again. Everyone was speculating how I would go crazy this time. Julian even abandoned a multi-million dollar deal he was negotiating to explain to me. “About the photos, Willow is also a victim, don’t…” I stroked my pregnant belly, didn’t argue or make a scene. “Don’t worry, I understand.” Julian sat down satisfied, but I thought in my heart. He is not a qualified husband, luckily, I am not a perfect wife either. Chapter 1 [Your scheduled prenatal checkup will begin in one hour.] Phone ringtone broke the dead silence in the living room. After I turned off the phone screen, Julian asked me. “Who sent the message?” I explained vaguely, “Just a checkup reminder from the hospital.” “I have some things to deal with, won’t be back tonight.” Just as I was about to go out. Julian hugged my waist from behind. “Riley, why have you suddenly become so sensible?” Julian had a strong smell of Cologne on him. Before, I was always deeply addicted to this scent. Now, I find it exceptionally unpleasant and disgusting. I gently pushed him away, eyes lazy. “I hate the smell on you.” Julian’s face turned gloomy, he pressed me against the wall, leaned down. “You really should learn from Willow, how to please your husband.” His breath sprayed on my neck, words ambiguous. “How about one day, I let Willow teach you some tricks, so you can keep me a bit longer.” I turned my head not wanting to look at him, Julian touched my chin. “You being so obedient is somewhat novel.” He wanted to kiss me, pushed away by me, he wasn’t angry either. “Didn’t you say going to the hospital, I’ll drive you.” I frowned looking at Julian who opened the car door for me, still got in. Opening the car door, the passenger seat cushion turned pink, even the seat belt was shaped like a bear. Julian chuckled indifferently, “Little girls love these pink things, unlike you.” I looked at that passenger seat, eyes a bit sore. Which young girl doesn’t love pink? Once I also wanted to decorate Julian’s passenger seat in pink. But Julian rejected me directly. He said, “Pink is tender, how old are you now?” That year, I was only twenty-five. Perhaps my face was indeed not good looking, Julian promised me. “Tomorrow I’ll have someone remove these things.” I closed the car door, got into the back seat, “It’s okay, little girls, understandable.” Julian’s lips almost pursed into a straight line, silent all the way. Just entered the hospital gate, Willow pounced towards Julian. Even very subtly pushed me, luckily I was guarded against her long ago. Otherwise likely would have fallen. Julian hugged her, even lifted her butt up a few times. “Stop it.” Although his words were blaming, his tone was exceptionally gentle. Turns out he wasn’t specially driving me to the hospital. Just on the way. I didn’t want to watch them flirt anymore, turned and walked towards the hospital interior. Julian wanted to chase me, but was held back by coquettish Willow. “Brother Julian, I also feel a bit uncomfortable.” Such tricks, I’ve seen many times. Last time, at a Charity Gala. Willow bid against me, but failed due to lack of funds. Julian thought I bullied her. So he humiliated me in front of all power holders in New York. Made me lose all face in the circle. Even if I took out evidence, but Willow just casually acted spoiled. Julian unhesitatingly favored her. Thinking of this, I shook my head self-mockingly. Agreed not to care about him anymore, why think about these. I met the doctor, she said the fetus development is all good. So, first moment I got the checkup report. I sent a message to the child’s dad. [Doctor said child is all good, see you at Sky High Restaurant tonight.] Phone rang once, the other side replied a “kisses” emoji. I couldn’t help laughing. Chapter 2 I prepared to leave, familiar voices came from the next consultation room. My steps involuntarily stopped, looked inside. Willow was crying in Julian’s arms. “Great, Brother Julian, we finally have a child.” Julian’s voice soft enough to kill, “Have child then take good care.” Willow’s voice timid with probing, “Then what about Mrs. Hale?” Julian’s face changed a few times, “Your child is also Mrs. Hale’s child.” Hearing this, my heart only felt a burst of numbness. Julian doesn’t love me anymore, but he refuses to divorce. Even now wants me to raise his illegitimate child. But, why? I didn’t want to waste time here, so went out. Not far away a couple happened to come out with me. Husband carefully supported wife’s waist, wife complained coquettishly. “Just pregnant, not that delicate.” Husband spoke firmly, “Pregnancy pain I can’t share for you, but I will do my best to take care of you.” Two looked at each other and smiled, affection between them. Scene in front was so warm, I couldn’t help thinking of the past. First time learned pregnancy, I was excited sleepless all night. Next day Julian worked overtime home, I told him first time. I flipped through memory, what was Julian’s reaction then? He held me spinning in the living room, like a fool. I thought that was my happiest time. But, Willow came back not long after. My relationship with Julian returned to before. Later, that child was gone. Screech sound, a car stopped in front of me. Passenger window slowly lowered, Willow smiled very proud. She touched her belly looking at me, “Mrs. Hale, afraid have to wrong you sit in back.” “Brother Julian said I just pregnant, can’t bump in back.” Julian frowned looking at Willow, then looked at me. “How was your doctor visit?” I put away report, face already restored calm. “Fine.” Before Julian spoke, I rejected him first. “Told you before, not going back tonight, we are not on the way.” Willow fake oh-ed. “Mrs. Hale right, not same road indeed can’t walk together, forcing won’t be happy.” I stared at Willow with a half-smile, “Me and Julian haven’t divorced yet, not your turn a mistress to lecture me.” Willow lowered eyes, tears about to fall, grievance on body almost uncoverable, Julian immediately heartached hugged her comfort, then glared at me. “Riley, apologize.” I sneered, “Why should I apologize, which sentence I said wrong.” Willow instantly burst into tears crying extremely sad, Julian eyes sank. He let people pull me into car, suddenly in some alley, Julian stopped car. I watched him kiss Willow’s lips in front of me,啧啧 (smacking) saliva sound constant. What is this? Julian holding panting Willow teased, “Willow body soft like water, not hurry teach Mrs. Hale how to serve man?” Willow laughed strangely, leaned down. Julian hand pressed Willow’s head, eyes dead staring at me. I looked at scene in front, only felt disgusting terrible. Car door locked, I bent over constantly retching. Stomach violent cramps made me painful tears flow full face. Unknown how long passed, Julian sighed comfortably. I wiped a tear, sat in back seat closing eyes. Julian satisfied touched Willow’s head, “You are much better than her, some people in bed like wood, boring extreme.” I have to admit, even I already completely gave up Julian. But hearing Julian’s dislike, I still felt a bit heartache. It’s okay, as long as time long enough. I definitely can walk out. I touched my belly, heart felt much better. Chapter 3 Afterwards, Julian let Willow get off. All the way, we looked at each other silent. Finally he couldn’t hold it, slammed brakes. I subconsciously covered my belly, he didn’t see. He smashed steering wheel eye corners scarlet, “Riley Lu, when will you torture me until?” My face emerged irony, “What did I do?” “Even you guys doing in front of me, I endured, what else you want me to do?” Julian suddenly cold face, “Willow’s child, is me didn’t handle well, I apologize to you.” “She first time pregnant, crying begged me keep child, so…” She first time pregnant so Julian reluctant, then does he still remember how our first child gone? When I pregnant three months, because unstable fetus stayed home nursing. But unexpectedly received Willow’s provocative video. In video, she was doing with Julian in front of French window. That French window I recognized at one glance, that was when we just married. Wedding gift Julian gave me, a hotel exclusively under my name. That room even not open to public, but now. Julian actually messing with Willow in that place. I received video first time killed over. I smashed whole hotel, even stripped Willow naked threw on street. I hysterically roared at Julian. “Julian Hale, I loved you sixteen years, you also swore never fail me, why you treat me like this?” “Especially this woman, is a Escort.” I thought I could wake up Julian, but Julian just slowly buttoned up. “Escort also better than you, at least she knows how to please people.” That sentence directly knocked me into abyss. Warm hotel four seasons like spring, I froze trembling all over. Also that time, let me lose first child. From that day, Julian and Willow completely moved to table surface. They pair up pair in major banquets balls, Julian even personally helped Willow integrate into High Society. With his help, Willow step by step stood firm in circle. Even, company Willow established faintly competed market with my company. All this, Julian saw in eyes, but never stopped. People in circle all mocking me, licking dog licked more than ten years got nothing. Julian lit a cigarette, his words came through smoke. “And I plan, this child born give you raise.” I lowered eyes cover irony in bottom of eyes. Who rare your child? Not like I have no child. “No need, I…” My words not finished, Julian already changed face. “I already guaranteed like this, why you still cold face?” I dumbfounded laughed, “Julian, how about we just forget it.” My voice very light, Julian suddenly sneered. “Riley Lu, is this another new trick you changed?” No trick, I just tired. Julian suddenly answered a call. “What? I come immediately.” Then he looked at me, eyes forest cold. “Don’t regret.” I understood warning in Julian’s words. But I didn’t want care, got off car. Almost my foot just landed, car roared away. I looked at car back thinking. How anxious he was, even red lights ignored. Clearly before, Julian was a person carved rules into bones. Still remember when I just married into Hale family, because late night abdominal pain needed family doctor. But Julian rejected me with reason family doctor on leave, shouldn’t disturb. If not I dialed 911 myself before coma. Afraid I would die in Hale family then. Even next day, Julian came hospital see me. Also just a light sorry then ended. That time me, actually took this sentence as Julian’s introverted love. I shook head, hailed taxi on roadside went to Sky High Hotel. But received father’s message at hotel entrance. Chapter 4 [Lu Group recently funds somewhat difficult, I found Julian few times, he refused see me.] I looked message frown, what is he making trouble again? Vent for Willow? I replied message. [Dad, you go back first, I go find him talk.] I took out phone messaged child’s dad. [Family accident, tonight date cancel.] Phone soon rang, a message popped out. [Need my help?] I somewhat tangled, finger hovered on screen long time then replied. [Okay.] I returned Hale house. Villa brightly lit. Second floor window projected two tightly snuggled figures. That is bedroom direction. I quietly approached, heard Willow acting spoiled. “Brother Julian, this dress indeed not bad, just a bit small.” Julian laughed dull, “You be careful, this is Riley mother’s relic.” Boom sound, my brain sky spin earth turn. Julian actually gave my wedding dress to Willow wear. That dress was hand made by my mother, to collect diamonds on it. She personally went South Africa mine, picked for me one by one. More for embroidering this wedding dress, tired bad eyes. Julian he clearly knew meaning of this wedding dress. Suddenly, inside Willow screamed. “Brother Julian, this dress broken, what do?” I couldn’t hold anymore, directly pushed door in. Willow scared hid into Julian’s arms, I directly gave her a slap. Willow instantly woo woo cried, Julian frowned. “Just a wedding dress, worth throwing so big temper?” This sentence made my numb heart pain again. Just a wedding dress? My eyes too sorrowful, Julian let Willow take off wedding dress. Wedding dress already deformed, no longer look of back then. I held wedding dress went guest room, prepared put away well. Willow however unknown when touched over. She hooked lips smile, “How you so cheap, already entered room by me to this degree, still dead rely not go.” I sneered, “I want divorce, but Julian not allow.” “You so capable, you go find him.” I turned want leave, Willow suddenly fell on ground. “Brother Julian, save my child.” Almost instantly, Julian rushed over. He stared at me with furious look. “Riley Lu, my previous warning you didn’t take to heart a bit.” I stepped back half step, “I didn’t push her, she fake fall herself.” Julian however heartached hugged Willow in arms. “Willow nature gentle kind, absolutely won’t frame you.” Willow also cried, “All my fault, I shouldn’t appear in front of Mrs. Hale.” This sentence made Julian ruthless. “Mrs. Hale brain not clear, help Mrs. Hale clear up.” I wanted flee, bodyguards behind blocked. They filled a pool full water. And pressed my head into water. I childhood once drowned, so fear water very much. Julian knew, I struggled shouted. “Julian, I will die.” I thought, he more or less would consider old feeling. But he just lightly frowned. “Riley, not give you a lesson, you won’t learn good.” “My people have measure, won’t really hurt you.” Just like this, muddy water soaked my head. I desperately struggled, mind emerged look of drowning back then. Horror and despair wrapped me. My abdomen also came a sharp pain. “Stop!” Just when I despair, I heard that familiar voice. Soon, I was pulled up hugged in arms. “Riley, are you okay?” I crazy coughed, body couldn’t help trembling. But my heart settled down. Because I realized, Xavier Stone came. Julian saw Xavier first time was doubt. “Why you came?” Xavier brows like ice, peach blossom eyes full killing intent. “You want kill my wife child, of course I have to come!”

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Married for seven years, Julian Frost spent every Christmas with Layla. That Imposter who occupied my identity for 15 years. On the first Christmas Eve, he took away the Elderberry Syrup I boiled while coughing blood, said Layla was in the North, heating was too dry. I endured high fever and smiled: “Then Mr. Frost, cash it out for me.” That night, my account had an extra $10 Million. At midnight of the second year, he lit up half the city with fireworks for Layla in a no-fireworks zone. I took a picture of him lowering his head to pay the fine at the police station, exchanged for a Hudson River view villa. At the third year’s family dinner, I sat alone at the end of the table, listening to aunts’ ridicule. “The real heiress is not as good as a fake phoenix.” “So what if she’s the biological daughter? After all, she grew up in the Riverdale Lane slums, can be dismissed with money.” I smiled, recorded the audio and sent it to Julian, next day, received the Vintage Emerald Necklace I had eyes on for a long time. Just like this, every year I used his absence, exchanged for abundant real gold and silver. Until this year, Julian unprecedentedly stayed for Christmas. On the way to the family dinner, before I could speak, he actively handed over a share transfer agreement worth hundreds of millions. Presumably, this reunion dinner is a Hongmen Banquet (a trap). But, it doesn’t matter. I calculated the “compensation” I begged for these years, enough to buy down the Riverdale Lane in their mouths. Outside window fireworks exploded, time to leave. From now on, every New Year beats the old year. Chapter 1 Julian Frost sighed in relief after watching me sign the sky-high price agreement. “Layla is back, this home, will have two hostesses in the future.” “Layla is responsible for accompanying me, you are responsible for taking care of home and child.” “You sisters just live peacefully like this, okay?” Right, such big spending was originally for this. I raised my eyes: “Sure, Mr. Frost compensated so generously.” “If I still don’t know my place, I would be insensible.” Julian seemed touched: “Luna, don’t worry. The title of Mrs. Frost is forever yours, the decency you deserve, won’t be a cent less.” I sneered, stepped into the Frost family old mansion. At a glance, saw daughter kneeling alone in front of Layla, forehead still had blood mark. Aunts were surrounding and jeering. “Lily, quick call Little Mom, call then you have good days in future.” “Relying on your biological mom, useless.” Daughter bit her lip, just didn’t open mouth. Layla lost face, reached out and pinched Lily’s chin: “You girl, why don’t know what’s good for you!” Julian beside saw this, said nothing. I rushed forward pushed Layla away, hugged Lily into arms. Looked up, saw the woman wearing a wedding ring same style as mine, just the diamond was a circle bigger. “Layla, you…” My words not finished, Julian already strode forward, blocked in front of Layla. “Luna, speak nicely.” “Didn’t you agree just now? Calling Little Mom is also should be.” I looked at him nervous for Layla, just like when I was made difficult by Layla back then, he defended me. Really, feng shui turns. I smiled: “True.” “However, I agreed, but Little Aunt becomes Little Mom, letting Lily change addressing also needs a fee.” “Right, Mr. Frost?” A trace of impatience flashed in man’s eyes: “Money again!” Then eyelids didn’t lift, signed a check handed to Lily. Exchanged for daughter’s awkward “Little Mom”. Layla’s smile hadn’t unfolded yet, froze after seeing the amount on check. Julian detected, immediately put a jade pendant on Layla’s neck. Full room exclaimed. That was the token Frost family passed to the eldest daughter-in-law. When married back then, mother-in-law wanted to put on me, but stopped by Julian, said he would keep for me. He didn’t give, I then asked myself. So, third year Christmas Eve dinner, after suffering enough ridicule, I named and asked for that set of town-field Emerald jewelry. Heard, can offset ten of this jade pendant. … Christmas dinner started, I was still arranged at the end of table. Layla sat at main seat, welcoming everyone’s compliments. She smilingly echoed then looked at me. “Sister, remember you love eating crab most, I specially let Julian air transport best butter crab, you eat more.” I looked at that plate of tempting crab, fingertips trembled. Yes, fifteen years old taken back to Lin family, liked crab most. That was fresh sweetness never tasted in Riverdale Lane. Until one year, relying on parents’ doting, Layla who always squeezed me suddenly stopped. Even invited me to a private crab restaurant I liked most, said want reconcile. I ate crab meat, listened to her say “sisters deep affection”. Woke up again, was in abandoned warehouse outside city, whole body naked, blue and purple. Since then, crab’s fresh sweetness and pain despair bound dead together. Remember, that time was Julian kicked open door found me. Also him personally sent crying defending Layla away, swore not let her near me again. He even smashed whole table crab feast, hugged me said: “This life not allow you touch that dirty thing again!” And at this moment, this man was peeling crab shell, putting crab meat into my bowl. Movement was patience never had before. “Luna.” His voice low: “Matter passed so many years, should put down.” Full table silence, everyone watching my reaction. I smiled picked up crab meat, sent into mouth. “Yes, should put down, calculating again makes me look petty.” Grease fat choking people. Julian relieved heavy burden. That night, I had high fever. In groggy saw in phone, Layla’s Instagram post. Again full city fireworks, but this time woman said: “Finally back, he said, this life won’t let me leave again.” Photo corner, is Julian’s back hugging her shoulder. Almost simultaneously, phone vibrated, bank account received a huge amount. Really fair. I propped up body, called lawyer: “That last street shop in Riverdale Lane, buy it for me.” “Also, draft a divorce agreement.” Chapter 2 Second day, Christmas Day, Frost family custom to worship ancestors in Family Chapel. When I rushed there with fever, Layla already stood beside Julian, holding the incense stick that should be held by me. She just about to step over threshold, blocked by Frost family uncle. “Frost family rule, non-main wife not enter chapel. Miss Lin, please stay.” Layla steps paused, eye rims looking at Julian red and red. “Julian, I saved your life back then. Now, can’t even enter chapel?” Everyone expression subtle. Julian frowned looked at her, then turned to me. Nodded, counted as default. Then he walked to my side, forcefully held my hand tight. “Layla she, just has a knot in heart, wants go in look. Don’t expose her.” I smiled, back held his hand rolled up my own sleeve. A hideous scar extended from wrist to forearm. “Stomach, leg scars have more, want see?” Man shrank back hand, looked away. He knew clearer than anyone, back then opponent set death trap for him, was me desperate blocked several knives for him, body pierced through. And Layla who kept saying saved him? She ran. Just coincidentally met police I called, everything became her credit? Julian froze in place, stared at that scar long time, said to Layla. “Layla, you go back first.” … Afterwards, ancestor worship hastily ended. Julian dragged me in study, eye bottom was burning anger. “Must mention back then matter in that occasion?” “Luna, how you became calculating like a shrew.” “Use that bit broken thing want bind people not let go?” Looking at his disgusted look. I dazed for long time. Shouldn’t be like this. That year Julian would hold my hand say “very nice to listen” when everyone laughed at my accent. Would when I punished kneeling by Lin family, midnight climb wall pick lock, carry trembling me again and again say “don’t fear”. Just for this bit warmth, I desperately wanted pull him out from despair. Look, back then me how silly. And now, a sigh too late to exit, he threw a document on table. “Title of Mrs. Frost, since you reluctant, then you keep it.” “But human can’t want both.” “Those few old factories and land of your Lin family, I transfer to Layla.” I reacted long time, then understood. He meant Lin family’s last foundation. Back then his company verge of bankruptcy, I gritted teeth sold whole Lin family to fill his hole. That time he held my hand, tone choked: “Luna, believe me. These industries, I will definitely redeem back double give you.” Now, want take to give Layla for support? Also, even my life took for him became “broken thing”. These count what. “Up to you, but things agreed leave for Lily, not allowed move!” His eyes dodged a bit, avoided my sight. I almost sneered out: “You already moved?” Immediately, I received notification message, Lily’s education fund, trust authority all changed. Only heard man impatient said: “These years, gave you already enough.” “Layla pregnant, is a boy.” I subconsciously questioned: “Pregnant, how possible!” Julian face instantly changed: “Why impossible?” “You can’t birth, doesn’t mean she can’t.” I suddenly laughed, remembered that year physical exam report after we two injured. Those few knives, long cut off possibility of us two being parents again. Funny is, that time I actually wanted protect his self-esteem, lied was my own problem. That time he hugged me, voice choked. “No matter, we have Lily enough, she is our only.” Just wanted expose, Layla supported waist walked in. “Sister, don’t think everyone like you.” She changed topic. “Besides my child is Julian brother’s authentic flesh and blood.” “Instead you, back then trampled by so many people, who knows who is Lily’s biological father?” “Maybe even yourself can’t find all right!” I stood in place, brain blank. Turned look Julian: “So, you also think so?” Chapter 3 Man stepped forward hugged Layla. Deep voice said: “No matter what I think, Lily I will raise.” “But if you go against Layla again, I dare not guarantee Lily can still safely stay in Frost family.” Good one “no matter what he thinks.” He forgot how determined he was once right. Back then group of people hired by Layla, eventually timid, although tortured me scene unbearable, but I didn’t really lose virginity. Later I explained to Julian several times, he all red eyes covered my mouth. “Don’t think those painful things anymore, all passed, I believe you”. To prove his trust and deep affection, he quickly married me, not long I pregnant with Lily. I nervously proposed do DNA Test, he angry smashed cup, said I was insulting him and child. But now looks, he never believed me. Looking at this strange yet familiar man in front, suddenly felt all struggles lost meaning. I laughed: “Lily no need you raise, since you don’t believe, then we divorce.” Julian like heard some absurd words. “Divorce? Frost Group just took a government project, now can’t have any negative news, especially divorce.” “Besides, did you fish enough on me these years?” “If Frost family fell, those ‘compensations’ of yours tens of millions hundreds of millions, who can you ask for?” I nodded. Indeed, this marriage, can’t divorce now. Man in anger, really can’t fish last compensation! Just thinking, outside door came nanny voice: “Madam, Lily vomited, whole body burning hot, keep shouting pain!” But during holidays, family doctor went back hometown for New Year. Pretended not seeing Layla holding Julian’s hand. I panic held burning confused daughter, rushed to hospital. Acute pneumonia, hospitalized IV drip. Needle poking crying Lily, mouth noisy want Daddy. Before she sick, Julian even busy, would rush back, personally coax daughter feed medicine, guard by bed all night. But now. I looked up saw Layla holding Julian, walked out from VIP prenatal checkup channel. Julian start to end, didn’t look at us once, look at Lily shouting Daddy. Turns out, love never disappears, just transferred. Another year New Year, I alone guarded Lily in hospital. Wait she discharged, I took her to that villa in South Mountain. That was built by Julian according my childhood memory, inside collected all old things left by adoptive parents, was my first half life only remaining bit warmth. However, walked into yard, I detected wrong. That old plum tree I transplanted in yard was sawed off. Stepped in door, old rattan chair sat in childhood, adoptive mother’s sewing machine, adoptive father’s old bookshelf… all destroyed into pieces. Only heard Layla say: “Julian, these rags look bad luck, how I raise fetus ah?” Man smilingly touched Layla’s head: “You can’t stand looking then throw, up to you handle.” Voice not fell, always expensive man, rolled up sleeves, helped Layla move that red wood dowry chest adoptive mother prepared for me back then, walked to garbage truck outside yard. Layla looked up saw me, proud said: “Sister came? This house old air heavy, bad for fetus, I cleaned up a bit.” Saying, she picked up that only intact family photo on table, in front of me, fiercely smashed to ground. Glass shattered, adoptive parents’ faces scratched broken. My whole body blood rushed to top of head. Looking at panicked Lily, I suppressed trembling voice. “Auntie Zhang, take Lily to car.” Nanny panic held away child. I locked door, step by step walked to Layla. Raised hand, a slap fiercely fanned over. Layla hit on overturned sewing machine, but no trace panic, instead raised chin looking me. “Just angry? This counts what.” “You still don’t know right, your adoptive parents I found people killed.” “Who let them insist go Lin family, seek justice for you? Want send me to jail?” “So ah, I had to send them go forever.” My hand raised in mid-air, instantly froze, then started uncontrollably trembling. Woman appreciated my collapse, continued. “Also ah.” “Julian brother, he knew long ago. So back then rushed send me away.” “Not for you, was protecting me ah, my silly sister.” Instant, brain blank. I grabbed half piece broken wood on ground, smashed at her, then pounced up choke her neck. At this time, door suddenly crashed open.

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Accidentally scrolled to a Reddit thread about regrets of youth. But didn’t expect the first comment opened, was posted by my husband Julian Cole. He tagged his high school classmate Hailey’s handle, attached two photos of them together back then: “Have a secret, sophomore year I liked you.” Hailey’s reply was upvoted to top: “Same year, I also liked you.” Netizens were moved and matchmaking, hoping they pursue true love, don’t leave regrets. That night Julian posted a photo of them in a cafe, caption: “Long time no see, always have to be brave once.” Everyone excitedly blessed, I also liked it. By the way, booked tomorrow’s Abortion appointment. Chapter 1 After appointment success, I opened that thread again. Confirmed Julian’s first comment, was posted at midnight three days ago. That time I was blowing out twenty-six birthday candles, saying my wish: “Hope me and Julian love each other for life, never separate.” Julian put down phone, don’t know if heard clearly, casually responded: “Happy birthday, wish you get what you want.” Actually before this, I dared not express my feelings so directly. Seven years ago, Julian’s mother was critically ill, only wish was to see son start a family. But that time Julian was so poor he couldn’t even pay off Student Loans, plus dying mom and alcoholic dad, others avoided him like plague. Just when his mother was about to die with regret, I, this college classmate jumped out: “I don’t need anything, can marry you tomorrow.” Julian didn’t understand, I casually found a reason: “Just for your handsome face.” After marriage, no house no car no wedding, only thing had, was two credits added by school. Others secretly scolded my brain kicked by donkey, I only touched the ring on ring finger smiling silly. After graduation Julian’s startup was difficult, every night after social events, stood on shabby balcony of rental apartment smoking a cigarette. Back view melancholy lonely. I walked over, through smoke looking at his tough side face, let tone sound relaxed: “Dinner ready, today King Crab on sale, I bought two legs, very fat.” He blew a smoke ring, deep voice said: “Leslie, is it worth it with someone like me?” “Worth it.” I answered without hesitation. He turned head deeply looked at me, “If you regret want divorce, just tell me, I won’t force stay, give you freedom anytime.” “But also rest assured, in marriage, I will fulfill husband duty well, absolutely won’t have mistress.” Julian’s words drifted into my ears with evening wind. “This marriage of ours, led by you.” Thoughts pulled back, in downtown luxury villa, I looked at whole plate of King Crab before table, couldn’t help sighing. Just finished food steaming hot, person waiting probably still in gentle land, I took off apron eating alone. “Mr. Cole”, downstairs several maids’ voices rang simultaneously. Not a while, Julian walked up. He arm resting suit jacket, white shirt showed broad back narrow waist figure more. Beautiful face hung shallow smile, seemed mood very good. He walked to table, put down a small piece of cake. “Eat some sweets, mom mood good, baby in belly also happy.” Last month after confirming pregnancy, between me and Julian, added few points sweetness never had before. He would actively say want eat food I make, would bring me delicious food after work, would stick ear on my belly, listen to baby sound… Before this, except in bed, he treated me always polite distant. I thought we finally about to start dating, so that birthday day, said wish of never separate with him. Didn’t expect, he still didn’t forget Hailey. I fixedly looked at cake. Recognized at glance, bought from that cafe he reunited with Hailey. On it still had nuts I’m allergic to. Throat somewhat difficult, I softly asked: “Do you have anything to say?” Say it openly, say you can’t forget first love, say you really want be with her. This way you still count as brave, not sneakily stepping on two boats. I also won’t pester, we frankly separate. “No, I go shower first.” My heart sank. Julian turned to leave, I reached out pulled his suit jacket resting on arm, wanted stop him. “Why not…” Next second, glass jar of Origami Stars hidden in jacket fell out. Clang sound, glass splashed. Red paper stars fell all over floor. Chapter 2 Maid let out a cry. Julian turned head hard voice questioned: “Pull me for what? Want die?” His brows tight frowned, this is first time I saw steady him so furious. I stunned at once. Maid hurried forward, wanted help pick up. Shouted back: “Get out, all fucking not allowed touch.” Julian disregarded image squatting on floor, carefully picking paper stars look, like picking up rare treasure. This paper stars, is reunion gift Hailey brought him. In their cafe photo, can find trace. Splashed glass cut my foot, slowly flowing blood trace. Blood dripped on tile, didn’t stir half ripple in Julian’s heart. Finally, he held paper stars in palm, lightly glanced me once, walked straight downstairs. No one sentence explanation. “Let’s divorce.” I softly shouted. His steps paused half second, don’t know if heard clearly, continued walk down. Night, I lay alone on bed, staring at white ceiling. Julian in next door study, one by one counting paper stars if missing, if still 520. Man vigorous and resolute in business, this moment like a boy first awakening of love. This gift, carried his responded love. Actually, his secret crush was not unknown to anyone. I clearer than anyone, sophomore year, how much Julian liked Hailey. Pillow wet by tears, made dream also become humid. In dream, I returned to that sour youth… Summer vacation before high school start, I wearing heavy mascot suit, distributing flyers under 100 degrees sun. Group of kids surrounded me punching kicking, sweat mixed helpless tears flowing down. “Dead kids, not allowed bully people!” Boy took stick chased them away, patted dust on my body, also helped pick up scattered flyers. “Are you okay? Little Bear.” “Don’t fear, I accompany you finish, they dare not come again.” I followed gentle voice look up, through mascot suit small hole, sight from mole on his nose tip to a pair beautiful eyes. This is first time I saw Julian, also my first time moved heart. High school I was in class next to Julian, always subconsciously looking for his figure. But slowly, I found his gaze often stopped on his deskmate Hailey. That bright smiling girl, everyone said she was Prom Queen little sun. Julian attracted by her, human nature. And I wearing thick black frame glasses, grades ordinary looks ordinary, completely transparent person, not cared is also normal. I only hate myself not beautiful enough. Boy nature Julian, thought his love hidden hidden enough. But what I most familiar, is that silent like dare not look eyes same as him. I watched him such cold boy, sitting beside Hailey, face is shy embarrassment. Watched sports meeting he tried best run first place, secretly put medal into Hailey school bag. Watched him stuff umbrella into Hailey drawer, self rained heavy rain home. Whole high school my only intersection with Julian, was on graduation day, he knocked my shoulder. “Classmate, can help us take a photo?” So I put away camera borrowed want take photo with him, pressed freeze button for him and Hailey. Hailey eyes round, gentle smiling. Julian side head look her, eyes is unspoken love. These two photos, now appear in Julian confession comment section. Chapter 3 Julian didn’t return to bedroom all night. Before no matter how polite distant he treated me, never slept separate room with me. Morning, I pushed open guest room door, Julian already got up, standing before window slowly tying shirt cuff buttons. “Comments in your post, I saw.” I straight to point, voice extremely light. He didn’t have panic of being discovered, action of tying buttons still calm, “So this is reason you propose divorce?” “This reason not enough?” “Enough.” He said again: “But no need.” Julian walked closer to me, handed tie over, meaning couldn’t be more obvious. Every morning tying tie for him, is rare intimate ritual between us. I also very enjoyed this moment sweetness. But now, I didn’t take, only silent. He also didn’t angry, calm open mouth: “Thought about after divorce, what your life will be?” “No villa, no dozen maids serve, those fawning people outside, also won’t give you good face again, can you still accept such days?” He used material and power remind me, let me recognize reality. But person really can’t accept losing everything in front, actually is himself. He thought I same as him, but I married penniless him back then, wanted, only Julian this person. “Leslie, people all like this, heart all have unforgettable first love.” “But you rest assured, me and her, also just dating.” “I won’t let her trouble to you, won’t make illegitimate child, more won’t affect your Mrs. Cole position.” Julian deeply looked at me. Back then on balcony when he said “absolutely won’t have mistress” promise, tone also this certain. I naturally not believe, only inexplicably want laugh. He touched my belly, “Your only task now, is rest assured raise fetus.” I remembered abortion surgery booked yesterday, just wanted open mouth. His phone rang, Hailey voice faintly came from other end: “All blame you, boiled phone porridge with me all night, I have dark circles now.” “Later date, I not beautiful anymore, what to do ah.” Julian hooked mouth corner laugh, “Silly, in my heart, you look good anyway.” He pulled away me standing at door, walked out while chatting. Turns out he didn’t return bedroom sleep last night, was saying love words with Hailey. After Julian went out, I drove alone to hospital. From lying on operating table to down, less than fifteen minutes. Found lawyer simply drafted a divorce agreement, property I only asked for a small apartment. I just want pull out ASAP, don’t want tangle with Julian too long. Holding agreement walking on street, after handling things, dusk already sprinkled city. Called Julian few calls, all mechanical busy tone. Forgot, he said won’t answer my call during work time. Self-made Julian, fight for seconds on work, afraid slow a bit eliminated by society. After phone hung up, big data pushed me nearby amusement park live stream. In lens, wearing cartoon headband Julian and Hailey, sitting on pirate ship ten fingers interlocked. Happiness feeling through screen choked my neck, let my breathing stop. I mentioned request go amusement park together many times before, wanted sit carousel Ferris wheel with him, but he always said busy, said many social events, said that place too noisy too childish. But now him in phone, laughed so wantonly. Turns out he such busy person, also can spare time date. Turns out not didn’t want go, but person want go with isn’t me. Heart calmly numb, after back home, phone rang. Hailey voice pressed low came: “Old classmate, long time no see.” “Speaking of which, back then I should let them beat you to death at North Gate, save you now eyesore.” Chapter 4 Few people believe, Hailey who is sunny and kind in their eyes, would grab hair drag people into alley beat. Graduation day, Julian asked her meet at school gate. Julian waited at West Gate, I saw Hailey chatting with friends at North Gate. “That poor boy really wants ask me out, funny coming.” “But say one thing say one thing, he looks also school grass level, you not count too loss, try first ba.” “Roll ah, face can eat as rice? Usually bored play play okay, really dating will dye me poor sour smell too, disgusting.” My clenched fist waved to Hailey face, trembling voice cursed: “You guys then fucking disgusting!” Finally, I was dragged into alley by them, tore off clothes. Forced kneel in front of them, turn slapping my face. After they left, I limped to West Gate, wanted tell Julian don’t wait. But saw him nervously rehearsing confession, I dared not step forward. Leaned on other side corner wall, secretly substitute female lead, fantasy happiness. “Leslie, Julian just bought me ring worth million, said to you is kinship is responsibility, person loved always me. That stall goods on your hand still embarrassed wear?” Turns out my seven years youth, only exchanged his sentence “kinship only”. I looked down, at somewhat worn plain band on ring finger. Back then Julian spent 200 dollars bought, said later have money then change diamond ring for me. Promise in his mouth, always so light and fragile. “Hailey, you said right.” I took off ring threw into trash can, “So you better help me persuade him, briskly sign, I waiting him come find me divorce.” “Also, those few slaps back then I didn’t forget, next time meet I will count return to you.” “You dare? Do you know…” Her voice sharp rang, I lazy listen again, directly hung up phone. Then sent call record, amusement park live screenshot and thread comments etc cheating evidence together to lawyer, request redraft a divorce agreement. I want take back everything I should take back, even if lengthen time tangling with Julian. But out of my expectation is, Julian who didn’t return all night, next day I haven’t found him, he actively contacted me. Followed address he sent arrived private room. Once open door, a glass red wine splashed over face on. Sticky wine flowed from face into clothes, Hailey aggrieved complain, open mouth just come: “Back then was you, clearly knew Julian waited me at West Gate, but told me North Gate.” “Harmed us missed so many years.” “You love him but can’t get, then intervene break us up, also take advantage emptiness let him marry you, you really so cruel heart!” She tears and voice together, painful extreme. I looked at Julian sitting aside, staring at me indifferently, faintly suppressing anger, tone cold hard like iron: “Hailey already told me truth, you have anything want say?” I light sneered. Want say no, want do thing actually have one. Next second, I fiercely grabbed Hailey carefully styled hair, forcefully pulling, force her look up at me. “Count well.” Slap! One slap. Slap! Two slaps. Slap! … More fan more lost reason, all grievance, anger, insult of being gang slapped that year and pain of losing child, at this moment completely exploded. Chapter 5 “Leslie, you crazy!?” Julian stood up fiercely, shocked rushed. I smoothly also waved a slap over. Julian dead grabbed my wrist, roughly threw me away. Hailey immediately crying hid into his arms. “Julian, my face so painful…” He touched her red swollen face, eyes full of heartache, turn to me again, was full eyes rage and disgust. I didn’t explain, only took out prepared divorce agreement from bag put on table, “Sign.” He picked up agreement flipped few pages, frowned. Before he questioned, I spoke first: “These all clauses I drafted after consulting lawyer, if you have doubt, I don’t mind taking your cheating evidence go court sue.” Julian’s company is at key period of IPO. Once sue, court will prioritize freeze joint property, including his company. Julian fierce pinched my jaw, “Good, I can sign. Then debt you hit people I also calculate well with you.” “What you want do?” Julian didn’t answer, instead called restaurant manager, whispered in his ear. Immediately, manager forcibly tied my hands tight, then took out hood put on my head. Julian indifferent spoke: “All waiters in shop, line up come in, to this woman, punch one punch one thousand dollars, settle on spot.” Finally, he added: “Attention, can’t touch belly.” Turns out hood is for not let people recognize, leave handle of domestic violence. I screamed curse: “Julian Cole, you fucking bastard!” Words fell, my mouth blocked, heavy fists fell on body, back, legs… “Julian, my face ruined then ruined, you spare sister ba.” Hailey嬌声 (coquettish voice) persuade, Julian ruthless said: “So many years, I then saw her clear, this all she asked for.” “You watch just fine, don’t dirty your hands.” In endless beating and humiliation, I through hood small hole, looking Julian cold hard face. Trance, seemed saw that summer many years ago. That teenager stood out, drove away bad people for me, and man commanding others violence me now, actually is same person. Tears silently slid, I closed eyes, completely lost consciousness. Wake up again, was in cold back alley. Whole body severe pain, bones like fell apart, signed divorce agreement thrown in my arms. Passersby quickened steps, disdained look me. I held back urge to cry, determined won’t shed a drop tear for Julian again. Brain only one thought: I miss grandma, I want go home. Morning plane landed, hometown sun just bright, swept some haze on body for me. Passengers landed together beside, suddenly all looking phone whispering something. Eyes time to time glance at me. I opened phone, a video about Julian and Hailey rushed on trending. Seeing video content, my heart tight, missed half beat.

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To secure investment for my sister, my husband took me to a private party hosted by a legendary female tycoon known for her twisted tastes and appetite for both men and women. Before entering, my husband gripped my wrist tightly, eyes dark: “Winter, Big Mama Sue has a weird temper, no matter what she does to you later, you must not resist, don’t drag down Wendy’s project.” I nodded with tears in my eyes, after all, he loves Wendy, married me only out of necessity, it’s normal he doesn’t care about me. Next second, that three-hundred-pound Big Mama Sue pushed open the door, beady eyes shining, pulled Julian Pierce into her arms. “In my parties, I haven’t seen such a sweet man?” Julian struggled hard, annoyed Big Mama Sue, she gave him two big slaps. I hurriedly persuaded: “Husband, no matter what she does to you later, you must not resist! Wendy’s project is important!” Chapter 1 I am Winter, Julian Pierce’s wife in name, also the “Doormat” of high society everyone laughs at. Julian loves Wendy, love that shakes heaven and earth. Even Wendy went abroad to study, he kept himself pure for her, turning a blind eye to me, his legal wife. This time Wendy returned to start a business, eyed a film project, short of $50 Million investment. Julian without a word, pulled me out to “sacrifice”. Location set in “The Strip”, Las Vegas’s most luxurious money pit. Investor we meeting is called Sue, nicknamed “Big Mama Sue”. Rumor says this old woman plays hard, especially likes torturing young pretty girls. In elevator, Julian was still brainwashing me. He straightened his non-existent wrinkles, that face kissed by God tight, revealing a scum indifference under gentleman appearance. “Winter, Wendy health not good, can’t take stimulation, this money very important to her.” “Although Big Mama Sue reputation not good, but you are Mrs. Pierce, she will give some face, at most let you drink few glasses, touched few times.” “You thick skin, endure it will pass.” Listen, is this human words? I lowered head, bangs covered mockery in my eyes, voice soft like a frightened bunny. “But Julian… heard last month a starlet came out from Big Mama Sue’s room, went straight to ICU…” Julian impatiently interrupted me, tone full of disgust. “That’s them not sensible! I warn you, later no matter what Big Mama Sue wants do to you, you must not resist, if you ruin investment, I only ask you!” “Don’t drag me down, even more don’t drag Wendy.” Ding. Elevator door opened. I looked up, eye rims red, obediently nodded: “I know, Julian. For you, for Wendy, I willing do anything.” Julian grunted satisfied, walked out elevator first. Looking at his tall back, my mouth corner hooked a imperceptible sneer. Idiot. Since you so generous, hope later you can also think so. Private room door pushed open, a strong smell of cigar mixed with cheap perfume came to face. Under dim light, a mountain of flesh sat in middle of leather sofa. Big Mama Sue wore a leopard print tight dress, neck hung big gold chain, fingers full of gem rings, live like a nouveau riche spirit. She hugged left and right, two handsome young boys tremblingly feeding her grapes. Seeing us enter, Big Mama Sue’s beady eyes narrowed, swept a circle on me, then—— Extremely disdainfully moved away. “Mr. Pierce, this is… sincerity you brought?” Big Mama Sue voice rough, like broken bellows pulling, hear people scalp numb. Julian hurriedly changed a fawning smile, pushed me forward不動聲色 (quietly). “Big Mama Sue, this is my wife Winter. Although she not sensible, but win in young obedient, if you fancy…” Words not finished, Big Mama Sue suddenly stood up fiercely. That instant, I felt floor shook three times. She pushed away two boys beside, stepped on sky high heels, walked with pace not recognizing six relatives, straight to… Julian. Julian still chattering promoting me: “Winter, not hurry toast Big Mama Sue?” I just about reach for wine glass. A fat greasy big hand, directly bypassed me, grabbed Julian’s wrist. “Ouch, this small hand, really smooth.” Julian whole body stiff, fake smile on face froze instantly. “Big… Big Mama Sue?” Big Mama Sue simply ignored him, that pair beady eyes dead staring Julian’s handsome face, saliva about to flow down. “Tsk tsk tsk, in my private room, when seen such fresh man?” “This waist, yo, look this ass, this small face…” Big Mama Sue while saying, while pinched hard on Julian’s waist. “Mr. Pierce, turns out best sincerity, is yourself!” I stood aside, almost couldn’t hold back laughter. Deserve! Let you want send wife away, this time good, sent yourself in right! Julian obviously didn’t predict this trend. He dignified Pierce family eldest son, when suffered this humiliation? Immediately face black, subconsciously wanted throw off Big Mama Sue’s hand. “Big Mama Sue, please respect self! I come talk business!” “Slap!” Crisp slap sound echoed in room. Big Mama Sue backhand a slap, directly beat Julian confused. “Give face not want face thing! Old lady touch you is look up you!” “Pretend what chaste man? Entered this door, is old lady’s person!” Big Mama Sue strength huge, Julian that pale face instantly emerged five bright red finger marks. Surrounding bodyguards immediately surrounded up, each fiendish, rubbing fists. Julian panicked. Although he rich second generation, but just a flower shelf, where seen this black white eat all battle array? He help looked at me, eyes full of horror and command: “Winter! Not hurry help me speak!” I blinked, immediately changed a “virtuous wife good mother” expression. I stepped forward, didn’t pull Julian, instead held Big Mama Sue other hand, face sincere. “Big Mama Sue, you don’t angry, my husband he just shy.” Finished, I turned look Julian, earnest words, word word weep blood. “Husband, just now in elevator how you taught me?” “You said, no matter what Big Mama Sue wants do, must not resist, don’t drag down project.” “How can you speak not count?” Julian widened eyes, unbelievable looked at me: “Winter! You crazy? I let you…” “Let me sacrifice for sister Wendy, right?” I interrupted him, eyes contain hot tears, a look of righteousness. “Now chance come! As long as you submit Big Mama Sue, sister Wendy’s 50 million has landing!” “Husband, later no matter what Big Mama Sue do to you, you don’t resist! Life important, project important!” “You think about Wendy, think suffering she suffered abroad, you bear heart let her disappoint?” I bit “Wendy” two words extremely heavy. This is legendary——use magic beat magic. Walk green tea road, let green tea no road walk. Julian angry whole body trembling, pointed me “You you you” half day, one sentence can’t say out. Big Mama Sue heard my words, actually showed appreciative eyes to me. “Ouch, still this little wife sensible.” She arm around Julian neck, that force like want strangle a chicken. “Heard not? Your wife let you submit me.” “Mr. Pierce, don’t struggle, spring night one moment worth thousand gold.” Big Mama Sue saying, dragged Julian walk towards suite inside private room. Julian desperate struggle, two legs kicking on ground, shoe dropped one. “Winter! Save me! Call police! Quick call police!” “I not talk! This project I don’t want!” I stood in place, motionless, even intimately helped him pick up that leather shoe, put on shoe rack aside. “Husband, this is your wrong.” “Being human want word have trust, how can you for own bit chastity, ignore sister Wendy dream?” “You rest assured go, I will guard you here.” “Fighting! You are the best!” I made a cheering gesture to him. “Bang!” Suite door heavy closed. Isolated Julian pig killing like scream. I long exhaled, walked to sofa sit, picked a grape stuffed mouth. Beside two boys looked each other, looking me eyes full of awe. One bold, leaned over poured me cup wine. “Sister, you… really cow.” I smiled, held wine glass sipped. “Basic operation, don’t 6.” Just then, phone in my bag vibrated. Took out look, screen jumping two words——”Wendy”. Yo, main owner came. I slow orderly connected phone, opened speaker. Phone other end came Wendy delicate voice, carrying few points probing and anxious. “Sister, did you and brother-in-law see Big Mama Sue?” “Talk how? That 50 million… Big Mama Sue agreed?” I glanced at closed suite door, inside faintly came belt whipping sound, and Julian voice changed begging. Battle situation fierce ah. I cleared throat, voice gentle can pinch water. “Wendy ah, you rest assured.” “Your brother-in-law for you, that is really fought life.” “He is conducting… deep, negative distance communication with Big Mama Sue.” “I see this 50 million, stable.” Wendy obviously didn’t understand my implication, voice revealed surprise. “Really? Brother-in-law so good! I knew brother-in-law loves me most!” “Sister, you also don’t jealous, brother-in-law doing this all for our future…” Listen, this tea smell, across screen can smoke people dead. I forced back smile, echoed: “Yes ah yes ah, I not jealous, I moved too late.” “After all, like your brother-in-law this, willing sacrifice body for sister-in-law man, world rare ah.” “You later must good repay him.” Best is lower half life pushing wheelchair take care him. Hung up phone, I mood very good. Just prepare eat two more grapes, private room door suddenly pushed open. A man wearing black trench coat, figure tall walked in. He wore gold wire glasses, temperament cold ascetic, hand holding a string of Rosary Beads. Behind followed a row black suit bodyguards, aura stronger than just Big Mama Sue hundred times. Originally watching show two boys, seeing this man, scared face white, plop kneel on ground. “Lo… Lord Lo!” Lord Lo? Lorenzo “Lo” Russo? That in High Society truly hand eye sky, eat people not spit bone living Hades? Grape in my hand scared dropped. Finished. Could it be Julian this grandson still has back hand? Chapter 2 I looked at grape dropped on floor, looked again that evil god at door. Brain buzzing. If Big Mama Sue is physical attack, then Lo is magic damage plus true damage. This man hand that string rosary beads, heard every time fiddle one, want one family bankrupt. In High Society spread a sentence: Rather provoke Hades, don’t provoke Lo Buddha. At this time, this Lo Buddha using that pair seemingly merciful, actually cold eyes, faintly swept whole venue. Finally, gaze landed on my… mouth corner stained grape juice. He brows slightly frowned, slender fingers turned rosary bead. “When did The Strip class so low? What cat dog can enter.” Voice not loud, but like splashed a ladle cold water in oil pot, whole venue dead silence. Those two boys already shook into sieve, kneeling on ground head dare not lift. I swallowed saliva, just thinking should find a crack drill in. After all exes meet, exceptionally red eye. Especially when I dumped him back then, reason made up specially rotten——I said he that aspect not good, can’t satisfy me. Just then, inside suite came Julian heart tearing lung splitting roar. “Winter! Where you dead! Quick let people come in save me!” “Ah! Sue Dong! Don’t! There cannot!” “Help ah——” Voice shrill, hearer sad, listener… want laugh. Lo brow tip slightly raised, eyes playfully looked at that closed door. “Looks like, Julian plays quite flower.” This time, door opened. Big Mama Sue disheveled hair rushed out, face carrying unsatisfied flush, originally wanted scold which blind disturb her elegance. Result looked up, saw Lo. That pancake face instantly pale, two hundred pounds flesh mountain actually flexibly came a slide kneel. “Lo… Lord Lo? Why you came?” Lo ignored her, strode long legs into private room, straight walked to me. He taller than me a head, extremely oppressive. I subconsciously shrank back, back waist pressed on sofa back. “Mrs. Pierce,” he bit heavy these two words, tone cool thin, “Good mood.” I dry laughed twice: “Lord Lo joking, I this is… helping others happy.” This time, Julian finally crawled out from suite. Really crawled out. Clothes ragged, face blue purple, neck has several bright red lip prints, live like cabbage arched by hundreds pigs. He once saw Lo, like saw savior, roll crawl rushed over hug Lo thigh. “Lord Lo! Lord Lo save me! I am Julian!” “This crazy woman want rape me! Also Winter this poison woman, she see death not save! Lord Lo you want decide for me!” Julian cried snot tears, completely lost usual high mountain flower look. Lo disgusted frown, a kick kicked him away. “Dirty.” Julian rolled two circles, hit tea table, pain teeth grin mouth. He unbelievable looked Lo, then looked me, seemed not understand why Lo so cold to him. “Lord Lo, our Pierce family had cooperation with you…” “Pierce family?” Lo took out handkerchief, slowly wiped pant leg touched by Julian just now, as if stained some virus, “Start tomorrow, no Pierce family.” Julian stunned: “W… what meaning?” Lo ignored him, but threw that wiped handkerchief casually on Julian face. Then, a warm big hand suddenly pinched my chin. He forced me look up, thumb roughly wiped my mouth corner, wiped away that bit grape juice. Action ambiguous and carrying few points ruthless. “Winter,” he leaned close my ear, voice deep low only we two can hear, “This is man you back then dead live want marry?” “For such a waste, abandon me?” “Your eye sight, really is… rotten thorough.” I guilty looked away, dare not look him. “That time young not sensible…” “Heh.” Lo sneered, let go me, “Now sensible?” He straightened body, high above looked Julian on ground, also swept glance beside trembling Big Mama Sue. “Sue Dong.” Big Mama Sue scared a shiver: “Here! Lord Lo you order!” “Since Julian wants secure investment so much, then let him perform well.” Lo tone faint, “Tonight if not serve Julian comfortable, tomorrow your company also no need open.” Big Mama Sue heard, instantly spirit came. Since is Lord Lo order, then she this is imperial decree commit crime ah! “Lord Lo rest assured! I definitely let Julian… want immortal want die!” Finished, Big Mama Sue smiled hideously walked to Julian, like dragging dead dog dragged his ankle. “No! No! Winter! Save me! Lord Lo! Beg you!” Julian despair screamed, hands dead scratching carpet, nails broke. I stood aside, cold eye bystander. Save you? Next life ba. Lo one hand buckled my wrist, no explanation pulled me walk out. “Show watched enough, time calculate our bill.” “I this is listening your words ah.” “Besides, I see Sue Dong quite satisfied with you, heard next day sent 50 million to company account.” “You should thank Sue Dong… thick love.” Mention “thick love” two words, Julian face instantly green. Butt seemed started faintly pain again. “You roll! Roll out! I want divorce with you!” “Wendy is one loves me most, only she heartaches me!” “Divorce?” I bit a banana, smilingly said, “Okay.” “But, Julian, did you forget, back then we married signed agreement.” “If is you propose divorce, you want leave with nothing.” Julian stunned. He obviously forgot this stubble. Back then for let my dead ghost dad agree this marriage, he indeed signed such unequal treaty. That time he felt I loved him love die live, absolutely won’t let him leave with nothing. Pity, water in his brain, now then shake out. “You… you threaten me?” Julian angry bad. “No ah, I just remind you.” I finished banana, threw skin into trash can, “Also, that 50 million investment, is signed in name of Pierce Group.” “Meaning, if divorce, this money… also couple joint property.” Wendy heard, anxious. “Sister! This money is brother-in-law pulled investment for me! How can you rob?” “This is my dream ah!” I looked her that greedy face, sneered. “Dream? Your dream is using man ass exchange money?” “Wendy, you this dream quite unique.” “Want me introduce few rich women for you? Or rich men? You also go sacrifice a bit?” “You!” Wendy angry whole body trembling, turned pounced into Julian arms, “Brother-in-law! Look sister she humiliate me!” Julian heartached bad, wanted reach hand hit me, result pulled wound, pain howl howl. “Winter! You wait for me!” “Wait I discharge, I definitely let you look good!” “Okay, I wait.” I clapped hands, turned leave ward. Walked to door, I suddenly stopped steps, turned back smiled. “Right, husband, forgot tell you.” “That night, I also recorded video.” “You if dare mess, I send this video online.” “Title I thought well: Pierce family eldest son sacrifice for love, two hundred pounds rich woman passion night.” “You say, will this on Trending?” Julian face instantly green turn black, black turn white. Wonderful extreme.

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To let Julian Vance live his ideal rich second generation life, I fought my life to climb up in the corporate world. Finally succeeded with a seven-figure salary, holding company shares. Bringing this news, I drove overnight back home. Pushed open the door, saw him and his “Female Bro” entangled in bed. His eyes full of lust, face showed happiness I never saw. Words he said made my heart stop. “Sarah, I don’t want a lot of money, but lots and lots of love.” I sat in the living room smoking all night. Behind me in the bedroom, ambiguous sounds also rang all night. Early morning, Julian draped clothes walked out. I pushed a divorce agreement in front of him. “Since I can’t give you the love you want, then we part ways, gather well scatter well.” “Wish you guys full with love.” Chapter 1 Finished smoking the last cigarette in hand, I casually twisted the butt in the ashtray. Took out phone, unbind Julian’s unlimited Supplementary Credit Card, called Nursing Home to cut off his dad’s fees, also unbind bank card supplying his brother’s Mortgage. Done all this, sky just slightly bright. Sounds in room also quieted down, gradually stopped. Julian draped a piece of clothing casually came out, exposed neck still had fresh hickey. He first got a glass of water, then saw me still sitting in living room. “Sun rose from west today, not gone to work yet?” He slammed the cup heavily on counter with a thud, understated tone wrapped in thick mockery. “We been together so long, I thought married to me is not me, is work.” These years, he always complained in front of his few friends. “Your wife although not work, but always accompany you ah, unlike Sarah, directly live in company.” “Sarah not home again, doing what? Of course went to do that broken job again!” At first hearing these, I knew I was wrong lacking companionship to him. So no matter how busy business, I would arrive home before eight. Holidays festivals, I also pushed overtime, took him out travel. Major anniversaries, I even specially took a day off, phone off reject any call reject any message, give him wholehearted companionship. As a wife, I already won ninety-nine percent people. But these for him still far from enough. Every quarrel, he still would collapse shout, “I just want you accompany me more, am I wrong?” But when I asked him what else want me do, he stammered couldn’t say. I took off glasses rubbed brows. Now think, maybe person he wants accompany, not me. Received love if not from person in heart, maybe not count as love. Heard sound, Jessica also walked out from bedroom. Two people started kissing passionately in front of me as if no one else. Long time, Julian then patted Jessica shoulder, signaled I still aside. Jessica glanced at me, linked hand on Julian’s arm. “Sarah, me and Julian just good bros, two lonely people gather together relieve boredom only.” “Sister-in-law won’t be angry right?” After knowing Julian had a behavior intimate female bro, we once quarreled endlessly at home for this. I sent people check, Jessica had multiple fraud experiences. Relied on quite pretty appearance establish intimate relationship with many people, finally coax huge transfer roll money run. These, I all told Julian one by one, remind him keep distance with Jessica. But he not only didn’t believe, instead said I a woman actually learned those petty wife means to frame Jessica. Recall past, I sighed. These now for me all not important anymore. I took out a divorce agreement placed in front of two people. “Julian, I can’t give love you want.” “Since like this, then we gather well scatter well.” Chapter 2 I didn’t expect Julian actually red eyes. Heart sour, I subconsciously like usual start reflect if myself did too much. “You really want divorce with me?” Looking at his unbelievable expression, I forced myself turn head not look that look easy make people soft heart. “Really.” “Good, then divorce.” Said, he angry stepped forward picked up pen want sign at signature place. But blocked by Jessica in front interrupt. Woman, tears fall just fall. “You guys don’t quarrel for me anymore.” She looked at Julian deep affection, “If you and Sarah divorce because quarrel over me, then what difference with killing me?” “You guys stop quarreling, I go is fine.” Finished, she ignored our reaction, grabbed pen in hand rushed out door. Now even signing no pen. Julian face teary look also completely disappeared, look me eyes brought anger and blame. “Jessica can quit job for me, accompany by side twenty-four hours, she can give me unreserved love.” “You?!” He used sharp fingernail poking my chest, tone filled with full aggressive. “Your eyes only have money, simply no me.” “Sarah, if you can realize where you wrong, we still have room for redemption.” “Otherwise, this marriage we divorce for sure.” Door slammed heavily with a bang, home finally quieted down. I looked up, long exhaled a mouthful turbid air. No love only money, I bitter smiled. Julian, I want see you and your good bro two people how achieve drinking water full with love. Soon arrived work time, I could only hastily change a set clothes, carry bag went company. One night no rest let my state straight decline, even colleagues frequently cast caring gaze. “What happened Sarah, promotion raise let you excited yesterday one night no sleep?” Haven’t wait me open mouth pour out, ringtone belonged to Julian special concern urged life like rang. “Sarah, why I buy things today show can’t use supplementary card?” “I stopped.” Phone other side furious, “What you mean?” “You can use Jessica’s love to pay all things you want buy.” “You!” Not wait other side finish, I decisively hung up phone. “Yo, looks like you are workplace proud love field disappointed oh.” Colleague ridiculed finish, sympathetically patted my shoulder. “Women, just have advantage, active lower head admit mistake thing just passed.” “If this hurdle really can’t pass, take chance you two no child yet make a break, have child this involvement is much.” My hand typing keyboard stopped. Child. Actually me and Julian once had child. That time maybe was my happiest days since marriage. Joy of first time mother let me everyday like pumped chicken blood excited, even social events can happy drink more juice at table. But later. Child gone. Chapter 3 That day like usual, once off work I excitedly rushed back home. Since I pregnant, I rarely eat outside. Everyday no matter how bitter how tired, I will personally cook. Every prenatal checkup also green light, even he no time accompany me. When I carried big bags small bags vegetables back home, saw on table was abortion surgery, end wrote Julian’s autograph. Things spilled all over floor, I trembling hand holding paper went front Julian question. Got only light sentence, “Abort child, sign name tomorrow go hospital with me, I hungry, quick go cook.” This sentence like a heavy hammer hit on my chest, I retreated few steps, almost even stand unstable. “Why?” “Why not want this child?” “I as child mother even no chance decide child life death!” Sentence sentence question completely ignited Julian anger. We erupted most serious quarrel since marriage. He smashed all things in home on floor, a mess. Sound even alarmed downstairs neighbor. “Sarah, why I want abort child you not clear?” “You don’t pretend innocent with me here.” This sentence completely aroused onlooker neighbors pointing fingers. Instant, “Scum woman” “Cheat in marriage” “Two-timing” “Illegitimate child” tags one after another pasted on my body. I hundred mouths can’t argue, even don’t know how prove my innocence. Can only again and again helpless repeat, “I didn’t, I didn’t cheat.” Wait crowd scattered, I powerless sat on sofa. “Julian, I really didn’t cheat, you believe me okay?” “Cheat? I know you didn’t cheat.” I instantly sighed relief. “I just feel you only love money, not love me, child shouldn’t born in a family without love.” “Me and child don’t need lot money, what we need, is lot love.” That breath instantly stuck in my throat, face blood color instantly faded. “Just because this?” “Yes, just because this.” That instant I only felt whole body all strength pumped empty, whole person like walking dead. Clearly back then was him said his wish is live days spend money big hand big foot without working, live days raise dad and brother without working. I remembered in heart, and promised definitely will let him live ideal life. After marriage, he quit job at home eat drink play happy, I outside crazy pull business drink till stomach bleeding. I bind him unlimited supplementary card, never ask his every large expense. Self reluctant buy a piece clothes over two digits. In the end, he told me he lack love. I opened mouth, but didn’t know what should say. If want abort, then abort. Afterwards matter poked to father-in-law there. He open mouth to me is lecture. “If not you didn’t give Julian enough security, how would he not want this child.” “He alone at home originally easy think much, you want think think more for him.” I believed. So I left my signature, aborted child. I hypnotized myself, blamed all wrongs on myself. Crazy squeeze own time, just for can give Julian enough companionship. I felt love I gave him already much almost overflow, he yet still complaining not enough, still far not enough. Thoughts pulled away, I rubbed forehead, forced myself not think these anymore. Phone suddenly popped a message. Is Julian’s brother. “Sister-in-law, I recently want change a car, you see can sponsor me some?” I pulled mouth corner, type reply. “Go ask your brother, he has way help you buy.” Chapter 4 That side obviously thought I agreed fund support, quickly happy reply. “Okay le.” Night back home, home actually rare appeared food aroma. Julian wearing apron put down last dish. “Back, quick wash hand prepare eat.” I stunned at door, trance thought myself dreaming. Until hand held a bowl warm soup, I then gradually recover spirit. Defense line in heart appeared a trace loose. This still first time I eat meal Julian made. If he willing cut clean with Jessica… “Sarah, you willing Jessica stay by my side?” “What?” I recovered spirit, thought myself heard wrong. “She give me love, you give me money, if you willing, I can barely difficult not divorce.” Soup in mouth suddenly became sour difficult swallow. Turns out this meal actually is Hongmen Banquet (Trap). I put down bowl, slowly shook head. Soon, that agreement appeared in front of me again. This time, on it already wrote Julian’s name. “Then you sign.” “Between you and Jessica, I choose her.” One sentence, completely cut off our so many years friendship. Julian expression firm, eyes full of excitement about to rush to true love. “As you wish.” I flipped agreement, confirmed clauses inside are that one I printed, lifted pen signed name. After pen fell, I saw opposite Julian reveal relieved expression, face carrying spring boy shyness, flying sent a message. “Jessica always persuading me not divorce, specially let me come back find you make up, now look, you simply don’t know good person heart.” I didn’t know say what, could only nod express he said everything right. After signing, I got up opened door. In Julian puzzled gaze, threw his things out one by one. “What you doing!” I smoothly pushed him out too, blocked at door not let him break in. “Here is my home, is house I full payment bought, since we already no longer couple, then please you immediately roll out.” Seemed didn’t expect I treat him attitude so bad, he flushed red face, reached hand gave me a slap. “Sarah Jiang, bitch!” “We so many years couple, you actually so heartless.” Looking at him bite back, I licked blood spilled from mouth corner, indifferent, just sped up hand throwing things action. See me oil salt not enter, he angry stomped foot, made a call. “Jessica, come over!” Got positive reply, his eyes added few threads provocation. “Sarah, you just follow your money live days go.” “I bet you this life definitely can’t find true love.” Finished, he sat in hallway humming song. Phone rang, he thought Jessica arrived downstairs, flying pressed answer. “Jessica, you arrived so fast?” Didn’t expect phone other side came father-in-law loud question. “Julian, what happened, Nursing Home said my fees not renewed, now driving me out!” Haven’t wait him answer, another call came in. “Brother, how Insurance Company call me say my this month mortgage overdue? Sister-in-law card no money?” “Also promised buy car fees, how also not transferred?”

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My mother, Veronica Sinclair, believed her extreme holistic detox could cure every ailment from the common cold to cancer. My father, Rob Marshall, called it a cult, and the day he threatened to leave and take me with him was the day she decided to prove her method worked. To demonstrate her infallible ancient cure, she yanked me—my small body burning with a 102-degree fever—and shoved me into the Red Pine Infusion Pod, the herbal detox sauna she’d bought online. “Get in! You’ll steam for two hours. We’ll force out the deep-seated chill from your body and show your father how brilliant my way is!” Herbal steam erupted from the pod, the temperature gauge climbing past 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The searing heat woke me from my feverish haze. My skin blistered instantly. I hammered on the wooden door, crying out, “Mom, it’s too hot! My skin is peeling! I’m going to cook!” She pulled a roll of heavy-duty duct tape and sealed the gap around the lid, leaving only a tiny ventilation hole. “Quiet! Ungrateful child, do you know how much these herbs cost? Thousands of dollars a pound!” she snapped. “The pain means it’s working! It’s the toxins leaving your body! Look how flushed your face is—that’s the color of vitality! You are not coming out. You must stay in for two full hours!” To silence my protests and prevent me from escaping, she put on her noise-canceling headphones, started playing her New Age chanting music, and secured the lid with three heavy, antique brass locks. The only way I got out was when the scalding heat had destroyed my throat, when my fingernails had shredded from scratching the wood, and when the last of my screams had faded into silence. Only then did she finally turn off the heat. Later, when she called my father on video, she still had to gloat: “Rob, look at Lucy! Her skin is so pink and dewy. She’s been fully purged!” My mother had become so lost in her pursuit of the perfect elixir that she forgot me. By the time she remembered to unlock the pod, it was already the next morning… The steam felt like needles driven into every pore. I tried to curl away, but the Infusion Pod was barely bigger than a laundry hamper. There was nowhere to hide. “Mom! It burns! It’s too hot!” I scrambled, trying to climb out. The intense heat blurred my vision, turning the world into white fog. A hand slammed down on my head, forcing me back into the herbal bath. “Stop thrashing! You think a little warmth is too much? This is a secret ‘Nine Purge Elixir’ remedy I sourced. It will force the cold poison out of your system, and your fever will break!” Mom’s face was distorted behind the veil of steam. “I don’t want to be cured… Mom, please, I don’t want it. I want to go to the hospital…” My throat was raw and aching. “The hospital? That’s where they send you to die! Those antibiotics are poison! Your father is an idiot trying to harm you, and now you want to harm yourself?” She was yelling now, her voice thick with fanaticism as she clamped the lid down. The light disappeared. Click. Click. Click. Three sharp metallic sounds. She had locked me in. She claimed the antique brass locks preserved the qi of the medicine. “Mom, I can’t breathe… It’s so dark, I’m scared…” I beat on the wooden walls. The planks were so hot they numbed my palms and raised massive blisters. When the blisters burst, the acidic herbal liquid seeped into the raw skin, and I shrieked in pain. “Stop the drama! The raw ingredients cost me thousands! I added Monkshood and Black Nightshade—it’s poison fighting poison! Did you think this was some cheap bath tea?” Her voice filtered in through the wood. “The pain means the medicine has reached the infection! It’s killing the little parasites inside you! Hold still! When the pain passes, you’ll be reborn!” The heater beneath the wooden box roared, and the thermometer needle spun higher. 120 degrees. 140 degrees. 160 degrees… The herbal bath boiled, bubbling and spitting. My legs were submerged in the liquid, and the skin was screaming. “Mom… please, help me… I’m actually burning…” I pressed my face against the tiny ventilation hole, desperate for a gasp of cooler air. Through the hole, I saw my mother sitting cross-legged on the sofa. She had her noise-canceling headphones on, her fingers rapidly tracing the beads of her mala bracelet, mumbling to herself. She was listening to her calming chants. “Mom! Look at me! Look at Lucy!” I screamed, but my throat was so swollen and raw the sound was a weak, wet wheeze. She finally opened her eyes and glanced toward the pod. She stood up, walked over, and peered in through the small glass observation window. I put my blistered hand flat against the glass, showing her the damage. “Ugh, such a low vibration,” she tutted, then pointed a finger at my face through the glass and smiled. “But look at that color! So rosy! It means the fire-toxins are being forced out! This elixir truly is miraculous!” She took out her phone and started taking pictures of me trapped inside the steaming box. “I have to document this. When your father gets home, I’ll throw these photos in his face. Let’s see if he still has the nerve to call me an abuser!” I shook my head, tears and sweat streaming down my face. No, Mom, that’s not vitality. That’s the color of being cooked. “Need to turn up the heat just a little more. The color isn’t deep enough. We have to purge the sludge from the deepest layers.” She twisted the temperature knob. Maximum setting. Roooooar—! The steam doubled in intensity, choking my mouth and nose. My skin was peeling off in strips, and my throat made a sizzling noise. Before I lost consciousness, I saw my mother put her headphones back on and close her eyes. The air in my lungs was vacuumed out. My heart gave one final, violent flutter before it stopped. I remembered yesterday, when Dad had tried to take me away. I’d cried, pulled my hand out of his grip, and hugged Mom’s leg, saying, “I want my mommy.” If I had just gone with Dad then, would I still be alive? Mom, Lucy hurts so bad. Lucy promises she won’t ever get sick again. I was awakened by a smell. It wasn’t the smell of food; it was bitter with herbs, but also sour and metallic, like rancid meat. I was floating mid-air, looking down at the living room. It was cluttered with sachets of dried herbs and stacks of detox candles. I looked at the red wooden Infusion Pod in the center of the room. The box was still humming, vibrating faintly. Through the observation window, I saw a crumpled mass inside. Was that… me? A dark red liquid coated the body. Was that the herb bath, or was it my blood? The skin had rolled back and peeled away, exposing pale white muscle beneath. I wanted to gag, but a soul doesn’t have a stomach. The person on the sofa stirred. Mom took off her headphones and stretched languidly. “Oh, my. Did I fall asleep?” She looked at the wall clock. “Shoot! It’s the next morning already!” The scheduled two-hour steam had lasted a full twenty-four hours. I stared at her, hoping she would open the box to save me—even dead, I didn’t want to rot in there. She looked annoyed for just a second, then immediately calmed down. “No matter. This is Divine Will. A little extra purge means the detox penetrates deeper.” She walked up to the pod to check my “finish.” “Ooh! That color! Stunning!” Mom peered into the observation window, her eyes bright with triumph. “That deep, purplish-black! That is the sign of a profound detox! The decades of cold-poison have been forced out! Lucy is guaranteed to live to be a hundred now!” She rubbed her hands together, oblivious to the fact that the body inside was rigid, head slumped forward onto the chest. “I need to tell your father right away. Let him see how useless his Western poison really is.” Mom pulled out her phone and dialed a video call. On the screen, Dad looked exhausted, the sterile background of his law office visible behind him. “Veronica, I sent you the divorce papers. Did you read them? And where is Lucy? I’m taking her to the hospital for a check-up.” Dad’s voice was cold and hard. “Divorce? You just can’t stand to see your daughter and me doing well!” Mom flipped the camera to the pod’s observation window. “Open your eyes and look! Yesterday, she was burning up at 102. After one night of my holistic treatment, look at her complexion!” The video quality was poor, and the glass was fogged with condensation. Dad could only see a reddish, swollen shape. “What is that? Why is she so red? Veronica, why isn’t she moving?” Dad frowned. “Red means a full circulation of energy! She’s in Deep-State Meditation, a restorative sleep! You don’t understand, so don’t talk! You’ll pollute her aura!” Mom shook the phone. “See? This is what I call done to perfection!” “Done to perfection?” Dad latched onto the phrase, his face draining of color. “Veronica, what have you done to her? I’m coming home right now. Don’t you touch that box!” “Come back! I want you here to witness the miracle! That way you’ll never contradict me again!” Mom hung up, scoffing. “Clueless man.” She put her phone away and walked into the kitchen. “My daughter has been through a major cleanse. She needs a proper ‘Revival Broth’ to seal the cure.” She rummaged through the cabinets, found a packet of black powder, dumped it into a pot, and added a generous scoop of what looked like ashes. I turned away, sickened. When I was alive, I hated drinking her ‘elixirs.’ They always made me vomit and gave me severe diarrhea. She called it ‘purging the demons’ and made me thank her for the privilege. Now I was dead, and she was still preparing her poison. The doorbell rang. It was Mrs. Davison, our neighbor. “Ronnie, what are you cooking? That smell… it’s peculiar.” Mrs. Davison covered her nose, craning her neck to look inside. Mom was stirring the black, ashy mixture. “Mrs. Davison, you have a discerning nose! This isn’t meat; it’s my ‘Nine-Turn Grand Elixir’ for Lucy, made from the rarest herbs. It’s what we call an uncommon fragrance!” “But where is Lucy? Haven’t seen her in days.” “She’s in seclusion, Auntie. In the pod, about to achieve full spiritual enlightenment.” Mom pointed to the box, her eyes glowing with fervor. Mrs. Davison shuddered, gave Mom a look, muttered, “The things people do,” and hurried away. I floated behind Mom, watching her grin foolishly at the pot of black water. “Good girl, Lucy. Drink this, and you’ll never be sick again.” Mom, I won’t be sick again. Dead people don’t get sick. A liquid started seeping out from the bottom seam of the box, dripping onto the wooden floor. Mom looked down, but instead of panicking, she clapped her hands. “Aha! It’s purging! That is the cold poison from the bone marrow! Look at that black-red color! Marvelous!” She didn’t clean it up; instead, she pulled out her phone and started snapping pictures of the puddle of seepage. The caption: [Ancient Wisdom Never Fails! After 24 hours, the millennia-old chill has been forced out of my daughter! Gratitude to the Ancestral Wisdom!] The moment she posted it, her ‘Alternative Wellness Group’ friends started liking and praising the post. [You are a true healer! The color looks absolutely authentic!] [Please share the formula! My grandson has a fever too!] Mom beamed, drinking up the adoration. I stared at the pooling blood and liquefying tissue, my soul growing cold. That’s my blood and fat, Mom. Can’t you smell it? It was three in the afternoon when Dad’s car screeched into the driveway. With him were his lawyer and Dr. Peterson, our family physician. Mom’s invited “witnesses” had also arrived: seven or eight middle-aged men and women in hemp clothes and prayer beads, who gathered around the steaming pod. “The odor… it’s potent! The more potent the aroma, the stronger the medicine!” one bald man declared, giving a thumbs-up. “Ms. Sinclair, your dedication puts me to shame.” Mom, dressed in a flowy linen robe, adopted a serene pose. “Oh, it’s nothing. Anything for my child.” “What mother doesn’t worry? I haven’t slept in three days, tending this broth.” She was lying. She’d slept soundly with her headphones on last night. Dad burst through the door. He took in the scene—the steaming pod, the chanting circle—and his face twisted in horror. “What is that smell?” Dr. Peterson, a man who had seen everything, immediately covered his nose, his brow furrowed. “It’s not just the herbs… it’s…” He stopped, staring at the pod. Mom smiled, pointing to the box. “Well, well, the big shot, Rob Marshall, is back? Did you bring all these people to arrest me? Too bad. Lucy is perfectly well.” “You are boiling my child?!” Dad saw the locked box and his eyes bulged. He charged forward, kicking at the door of the pod. “Stop it! You maniac!” Mom shrieked, throwing herself onto the box, shielding the three locks. “This is a critical moment! If you open it now, the spiritual energy will dissipate! Lucy’s entire healing process will be ruined! She could suffer a permanent psychotic break!” The “Wellness Gurus” rushed forward to restrain him. “Mr. Marshall, you are out of line! We have all seen the sacrifice Ms. Sinclair has made for her daughter.” “Exactly! Western medicine only treats symptoms. We must rely on the wisdom of the ancients!” “Your violence will frighten the child’s spirit!” Dad was struggling, shaking with pure rage. “To hell with the ancient wisdom! I am her father! I demand to see my daughter!” He shoved the men away, reaching out to touch the box. “Agh!” His hand recoiled instantly. His fingers were bright red. “It’s this hot?! Veronica Sinclair, are you insane? This is easily 160 degrees! How long has Lucy been in there?!” Mom smoothed her robe. “What’s wrong with 160 degrees? It’s Constant-Temperature Protection. You wouldn’t understand. The herbs insulate the heat. Lucy only feels a cozy 100 degrees.” Dr. Peterson pointed at the fluid on the floor. “If she’s so comfortable, what is this blood on the floor? And what is that smell of putrefaction?” “Shut up! That’s the cold poison! The toxins!” Mom jumped up, pointing a finger at the doctor’s nose. “You quack! You know nothing! This is called ‘Marrow-Washing’! The fouler the discharge, the cleaner the body becomes!” Dad turned and grabbed the heavy wooden chair from the corner. “Today, divorce or jail, I am taking Lucy out of here!” “Don’t you dare!” Mom opened her arms wide, blocking the box. “Rob Marshall, if you smash that, we go down together! You’d be murdering her! You’d be killing your own daughter!” “You know what murder is?!” Dad’s eyes were bloodshot. He shoved Mom aside. She stumbled back, slipping on the puddle of “cold poison.” She fell hard, her hand landing in the sticky mess. The sensation made her pause for a second, but she scrambled back up, trying to launch herself at him again. CRASH! The chair smashed against the first brass lock. Wood chips flew. The box shuddered, and a low thud came from inside. That was my head hitting the wall. “Lucy!” Dad dropped the chair, ignoring the scalding metal. He wrenched at the deformed lock with his bare hands. His palms sizzled, the skin turning black and smoking. Click. The first lock broke open. A burst of white steam hissed out of the seam. Then the second, and the third. Mom was sitting on the floor, cursing wildly. “Rob Marshall, you will pay for this! You’ve ruined her path to transcendence! Lucy will hate you when she wakes up!” “If she hates me, she hates me.” Dad’s hands were shaking violently as he gripped the lid handle. “As long as she’s alive.” He took a deep breath and threw the lid back. WHOOSH— A violent plume of vapor surged out. I floated directly above the box, watching in sorrow. Don’t look, Dad. Please, don’t look. I’m too ugly now. The mist cleared. The contents of the box were revealed to everyone. “Oh, God—!” The bald guru was the first to clap a hand over his mouth and bolt for the restroom. The remaining wellness fanatics shrieked, covered their eyes, or fell backward onto the floor. “A ghost! It’s a ghost!”

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At three in the morning, my long-distance boyfriend, Dorian Vladimir, posted a short, pouty video on his Instagram Story, claiming he was running a fever and was completely miserable. Half a minute later, the story vanished. My stomach twisted into a knot. I pictured him alone, miles away in Boston, and panicked that something serious was wrong. I threw on clothes, hailed a car, and rushed to the airport, determined to cross state lines to see him. I finally flew across the country and practically ran up to his apartment building. That’s when I saw a delivery guy fumbling with the entry code, a small, discreet pharmacy bag with the tell-tale shape of a box of protection clearly visible. I wasn’t even there. He was sick. Why was he ordering condoms? A dark, impulsive thought made me move. I pulled out my phone, found a recent photo of Dorian and me, and showed it to the delivery guy. “I’m his fiancée, Aurora Vladimir. He must have ordered something for me. I’ll take it up.” 1 Holding that small, damning package of condoms, I felt completely detached from my body as I waited for the elevator. The ride to the eighteenth floor was faster than I wanted it to be. My hand was shaking as I pressed the doorbell. Dorian’s voice was quick to answer from inside. When the door opened, he froze, but there was no rush of panic like I expected. There was no attempt to hide the pale, pink mark visible above the collar of his shirt, or the fact that his phone screen saver—which he was holding—was a photo of him and some other woman. He looked down at my worn sneakers and the pharmacy bag in my hand. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, his voice heavy with annoyance. “Aurora, what are you doing here?” When he saw my eyes were already burning with unshed tears, he sighed, a sound heavy with false suffering. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you, but since you’re here, it saves me the effort.” He met my gaze, his expression brutally frank. “As you can see, I moved on. This is on me, entirely. She has nothing to do with it, so don’t go after her. I’ll give you whatever compensation you want.” I had rehearsed a hundred excuses he might give, a hundred lies I would have to call him on. I never expected him to be so direct, so bored of me. It was as if I truly disgusted him. Swallowing the bitter acid in my throat, I still clung to one last sliver of hope. “Why, Dorian? You promised me we’d be married as soon as your three-year assignment was up and you transferred back to Charleston. We only had two months left. What changed?” “Nothing changed. I just got bored. I got tired. I decided it wasn’t worth continuing.” Just then, a girl’s voice, thick with sleepy intimacy, called out from inside. “Who is it, honey? Why are you taking so long? Don’t catch a cold—come take your medicine.” Dorian replied with a softened, gentle tone, “I know, sweetie.” Then he turned back to me, the impatience flooding his eyes again. “Aurora, you know what? Watching you cry right now, I don’t feel guilt. I only feel annoyed. Go home. Don’t make this any more embarrassing for yourself.” His words choked all the questions and pleas I had left. The girl, Blair, appeared at that moment. She was wearing the old, oversized MIT sweatshirt I’d bought Dorian last Christmas, and on her feet were the thick, woolen slippers I’d personally knitted him. In her hand, she was waving a draft of their wedding invitations. She wrapped her arms around Dorian’s waist and looked at me with open hostility. “Who is she, Dorian? What are you two talking about?” A flash of genuine panic finally crossed Dorian’s face. He snatched the pharmacy bag from my hand. “Just a delivery. She was pestering me for a good rating.” With a heavy Slam! he shut the door in my face. My nose hit the cold wood, a sharp, stinging pain. The hand holding the bag of cold medicine I’d brought him hovered awkwardly in the empty air. The noise made the neighbor’s door across the hall open. The person who stepped out was Dorian’s mother, Charlotte. She had always insisted she would never leave our hometown, that she would wait there with me until Dorian transferred back from Boston. Yet, here she was, in this strange city, all for Dorian’s new woman. I looked at her familiar face, unable to speak. I remembered how good she had always been to me, saving me the best treats, always taking my side in fights with Dorian, and always telling people that Dorian had to marry me. Now, her expression was complicated, a mix of pity and discomfort. “Aurora, why did you come all this way so late?” she asked, pulling the jacket around me. That small gesture of kindness broke me. My tears finally burst forth. “Charlotte, why? We were so close to getting married. Why did it all change?” Her face softened with a brief flicker of guilt, but her words were direct. “It’s been three years, honey. People change. Blair… her family and her connections are just beyond anything anyone else can offer. They can put Dorian on a fast track in his career. And honestly, Blair is younger, and healthier.” Charlotte glanced briefly at my stomach before continuing, her voice lower. “The babies they have will be healthier. Aurora, you don’t want to be a roadblock to Dorian’s entire future, do you?” Four years of love, three years of waiting in a long-distance relationship, and at twenty-nine, I was merely a roadblock to Dorian Vladimir’s real life. I was suddenly empty of all words. I simply nodded, signaling my understanding, and silently walked away toward the train station. 2 Watching the familiar landscape blur past the train window, my heart was a dull ache. Dorian and I had traveled this route—this 121,500-mile stretch—hundreds of times over the last three years. Every hurried visit, every brief embrace, had felt worth the sacrifice. During the first year, he was devoted. He’d send me everything—from a beautiful, unusual stone he found on a campus walk to a high-end neck massager he and his friends tested at a store. He’d buy it for me, even if he couldn’t afford one for himself. Once, I was helping a friend get tests done and casually snapped a picture of a beautiful cherry blossom tree, tagging the location. When he saw the hospital geo-tag, he panicked and called me immediately. My phone battery had died. When I finally managed to turn it back on, I had over a hundred missed calls and countless worried texts. Dorian had called every friend and relative he knew trying to find me. Everyone knew I had a crazy, deeply devoted long-distance boyfriend. When I walked out of the hospital, he was standing there, looking like he’d been dragged through a hedge backward. He hugged me, crying and swearing, his voice raw. “Why was your phone off? Your driving is terrible, I thought you’d been in a wreck! I thought I was going to lose you.” He swore he regretted accepting the prestigious research position and would quit and come back to Charleston to marry me. But somewhere along the way, everything began to shift. Dorian’s visits to Charleston grew fewer, while my trips to Boston became constant. I heard a rumor that his institute was opening a new branch in Charleston. When I asked him about transferring, he was vague, claiming a new, complex project kept him tied to the lab. Our wedding date was pushed back again and again. One year became two, then three. My growing insecurity made me constantly check up on him. Then came the video call where Blair first appeared. She kept distracting him, making silly faces over his shoulder, or playfully tugging on his collar. Dorian, usually so reserved and cold about his academic work, didn’t show any impatience. He just gave her a soft, warning look that was clearly full of indulgence. When I asked who the girl was, he said, with an overly casual air, “Just a clumsy new kid in the lab.” An icy dread washed over me. The very first time Dorian had introduced me to his closest friends, he’d used that exact phrase: “My clumsy kid back home.” After that, Blair’s presence became a subtle but constant fixture in our calls. Dorian never seemed to notice the unconscious, soft smile that always played on his lips when he looked at her. Miles away, and powerless, I doubled down on my check-ins, needing constant reassurance, until he was simply annoyed by my neediness. Lost in memory, a sharp, piercing car horn blast ripped me back to reality. I was standing in the middle of a busy street. A sedan was speeding toward me, its brakes screaming a painful, high-pitched shriek. The world flipped and spun, and then everything went black. When I woke up, I heard the anxious, hurried voices of medical staff, and then the loud, amplified sound of a phone on speaker. “Hello, you are the last contact for this phone. The owner was in a serious car accident and is unconscious. Her situation is critical. Can you come to the hospital to sign the paperwork and arrange payment?” Silence hung heavy for a few seconds. Then Dorian’s voice, husky and breathless, came through the speaker. “She just delivered something to my apartment. I don’t know her.” A dial tone followed immediately. The chilling cold of the denial, the ultimate abandonment, sank deeper than the physical trauma. I felt as if the impact of the car had also shattered my heart, leaving me in agonizing pieces I couldn’t put back together. I don’t remember much after that, only that the first person I saw when my mind finally cleared was my mother, Charlotte, who had rushed over from Charleston. Seeing the silver streaks multiplying in her hair, the guilt overwhelmed me. My father’s kidney failure had already drained her emotionally and physically; now I had caused her more distress. Tears streamed down my face. Not wanting to burden her further, I insisted on leaving the hospital after just two days and returning to Charleston. No sooner had I arrived home than I received the notice: Dorian had unilaterally withdrawn his seed investment from my design studio. 3 Panic set in. I called Dorian immediately. On the thirty-second attempt, he finally answered. His voice, familiar yet chillingly detached, cut through the line. “Talk.” I took a shaky breath, forcing myself to speak. “I saw that you pulled the investment from my studio. It’s a small business, Dorian. If that funding is gone, the studio is over. My father finally got a kidney match. We need that money for the surgery now. Please, can you just wait, or postpone the withdrawal?” “Aurora, by what authority are you making demands of me? Let me be perfectly clear: we are broken up.” I felt the flush of shame, but I had no ground to stand on. “Can you just… loan it to me for now? I’ll pay you high interest. Please. Dad finally matched with a donor. This is the only chance he has. I’m begging you. He was always so good to you, you can’t—” “Enough.” Dorian’s voice was sharp with irritation. “Aurora, stop trying to morally blackmail me. I was kind enough to wait this long to break up with you. Your father needs a new kidney—that has nothing to do with me. Why should I finance his illness?” His tone softened slightly, but only to deliver the final blow. “And please, stop calling me. My fiancée doesn’t like it.” He hung up. My heart plummeted. I was adrift, completely lost. Could I really let go of my father’s only chance? I tried calling again, desperate enough to grovel, to beg. But when I dialed, I realized he had blocked my number entirely. A searing, inexpressible pain clenched my throat. Just two days ago, he was still my Dorian. How could everything change so completely, so viciously, overnight? I even found myself wondering if I was to blame for showing up at his door that night, for embarrassing him. But I was just worried about him… The following weeks were a blur of frantic attempts to raise money. I was still reeling when Dorian and Blair’s wedding invitations arrived in Charleston. They were high-profile, showing off their engagement to everyone we knew. The invitations were printed with real gold foil. The wedding favors were bespoke, artisanal rose-flavored confections created by a famous pastry designer, rumored to cost over a hundred dollars apiece. My phone immediately flooded with questions from old friends. “What the hell? Dorian’s getting married, and it’s not you? When did you two break up?” “No way. You waited seven years for him, and he’s marrying someone else? That’s not a man, Aurora. What are you going to do, you’re nearly thirty?” “You should have moved to Boston with him. Then that gold-digger couldn’t have gotten her claws in. I don’t know why you stuck around, clinging to that half-dead Solstice Weave studio just for your dad.” My mother also received an invitation, but she didn’t question me. She just quietly packed away the binders of wedding ideas I had collected over the years. I think the car accident had already shown her the terrifying truth. What I didn’t expect was for Blair to seek me out a week before the wedding. She wasn’t the aggressive, fiery rival I expected. She was surprisingly polite. “Ms. Vladimir, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were Dorian’s ex last time; I thought you were just a delivery person.” She spoke with an innocent sweetness that felt calculated. “I hear Dorian absolutely loves your homemade chicken pot pie. I was hoping you could teach me your recipe? You know what they say—the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Her request was so bizarre, I didn’t know how to respond. “Are you unwilling, Aurora? Do you still think you can win Dorian back?” she pressed, her tone suddenly sharper. I shook my head, embarrassed, and reluctantly agreed to her demand. Blair wasn’t the spoiled rich girl I’d imagined when it came to learning. She was fiercely determined. Her hands blistered several times while she learned the process, but she stubbornly carried on. I asked her why she was bothering; her family was wealthy, they could hire a professional chef to perfect the recipe. She just smiled blissfully. “Because he’s worth it. Did you know he’s so busy with his research, but he still carves out time to hand-make me tiramisu? And this ring? He worked on the design for a whole year.” She was gushing now. “He even used my name in his latest mathematical formula that was published—his department head apparently called him a lovesick idiot.” I barely heard the rest. A year. I was still asking Dorian about our wedding date a year ago, and he was already designing a ring for another woman. I remembered once jokingly asking Dorian to name one of his formulas after me. He looked at me with open scorn. “Aurora, do you still think you’re an eighteen-year-old girl? Don’t make such ridiculous demands. Science is sacred. It’s not something you use for your little romance games.” I understood now. Science wasn’t sacred. Blair was sacred. Science was a distant second. And I didn’t even rank high enough to be an afterthought. As she was leaving, Blair seemed pleased with herself. She magnanimously offered me a chance to regain Dorian’s investment. The condition: I had to use my signature Solstice Weave embroidery to design their wedding attire. I was desperate for the money. Despite the protest in my soul, I had no choice but to accept. 4 My father’s condition worsened. Unable to secure the surgery funds, I was frantic. I worked two all-nighters, finally completing the two elaborate pieces. Freshly discharged from the hospital, I carried the two heavy garment bags in the freezing, below-zero weather. By the time I reached Dorian’s apartment, I was exhausted. I found a chair near a heating vent and collapsed into it. Before I could even settle, Blair complained that she was cold. Dorian immediately pulled me up and pushed me to the side, allowing Blair to take my warm spot. I was forced to sit by the window, letting the cold draft seep into my clothes and raise goosebumps all over my skin. Blair, basking in the warmth, began to inspect the wedding outfit I’d created. Her face suddenly twisted in anger. “Dorian, the embroidery on your jacket is wrong! It’s not the traditional style. Aurora, you knew we wouldn’t recognize the difference. You were deliberately playing a trick, trying to curse us!” Dorian’s face darkened instantly. He looked at me with cold fury. “Why would you do that? Explain yourself.” “It’s a variation of the Solstice Weave, one of the newer techniques. It’s rare, but it’s recognized.” My voice was shaky from exhaustion and the cold. I rushed to defend myself. “Stop making excuses! You’re just jealous that I get to marry Dorian, so you deliberately sabotaged us.” Dorian looked at me with pure annoyance and weariness. “Aurora, honestly, you’re pathetic. Do you really think these childish tactics are going to make me change my mind? I don’t love you anymore. Nothing you do can change that. Do you understand?” “Are you honestly telling me that sabotaging my future happiness makes you happy?” His words struck me like a physical blow. “No, I didn’t—” “Then what is it? How else are you going to lie your way out of this?” He had forgotten. Years ago, at the height of our love, I had used the traditional, heavy stitch to make him a couple’s jacket. The stiff embroidery had chafed his broad shoulders raw, but he endured the pain all night, praising the design. When I saw his torn skin at home, I was hysterical. After that, I spent months developing a new, softer stitch just for him—the technique that later won an award and was formally recognized by the guild as the Solstice Weave. “My Aurora is the most brilliant,” he had held me tight and whispered then. Now, he had erased it all. I don’t know how many times I had to apologize before Blair was placated enough for me to gather the rejected garments and escape. The promised investment, naturally, was lost. Just as I stepped out of Dorian’s building, I got a call from my mother. “Aurora, your father is fading fast. He still doesn’t know about you and Dorian, and he’s asking for him. He wants to see him.” Hearing the words, my legs gave out. I sank onto the cold ground. It took me a long time to pull myself up from the snow. Hesitantly, I dialed a number. Three days later, the hospital issued another critical notice for my father. He was slipping in and out of consciousness, weakly gripping my hand and murmuring, “Be… good… to Dorian…” My mother turned away, her eyes red. The door to the room opened. To my mother’s shock, Dorian walked in. But a second later, another tall, handsome man pushed the door open, following him. He looked at Dorian, then at me, confusion plain in his voice. “What? Are two future sons-in-law here for the visit?”

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“Something’s off with this engine, ma’am.” The mechanic at the Mercedes dealership service center emerged from beneath the hood, his expression a strange mix of confusion and seriousness. I stared at him. “What’s off?” “The original factory setup for this car is an imported engine,” he said, wiping his hands with a rag. “The one in here now… it’s not.” I looked at the open engine bay. Just three months ago, before my Aunt Joyce borrowed the car, everything under that hood had been pristine. “So what is it now?” I asked. The mechanic avoided my eye. “Could you wait in the lounge? I need to have our Technical Director take a look.” 1. Aunt Joyce showed up at my condo while I was having dinner three months ago. “Kendall, honey, I have a massive favor to ask you.” She sat across from me, radiating that overly warm smile. I knew that smile. I’d seen it my whole life. It always meant a request followed by a silent, but definite, expectation of compliance. It always preceded a “borrow.” “What is it, Aunt Joyce?” “That gorgeous Mercedes of yours. Could I borrow it for just one month?” My chopsticks froze halfway to my mouth. My car was a C 300. I bought it three years ago for close to sixty thousand dollars. I’d scraped together the down payment and had only just paid off the final loan installment a few months prior. “You need a car?” “Well, yes. Your Cousin Brooke’s husband, Leo—his company is organizing a big scenic road trip out west. The Rockies, maybe even the coast. Your uncle’s sedan is a total clunker. I mean, we can’t show up in that thing.” My mother, who was visiting, immediately chimed in. “Your aunt is in a bind, Kendall. Just lend it to her for a month.” “But I need it to get to work,” I protested. “Can’t you take the subway? It’s just thirty days,” Mom snapped, giving me the ‘don’t-dare-disappoint-family’ glare. “Your aunt has asked you. How can you say no?” Aunt Joyce reached across the table and patted my hand, her voice dripping with sincerity. “Kendall, I promise you, I will treat it like my own. I’ll bring it back washed and detailed. If there’s even a single scratch, I’ll pay for it, I swear.” I looked from my mother’s pleading eyes to my aunt’s eager face. “Fine,” I sighed. “Oh, Kendall, you’re such a good girl!” Joyce sprang up. “Where are the keys? We’re leaving tomorrow morning!” “Aunt Joyce, I haven’t even—” “Don’t worry, I’ve been driving for twenty years. My technique is flawless. Yours is an automatic, right? Perfect. Less hassle for me.” I handed her the keys, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach. “Aunt Joyce, the odometer reads 20,000 miles, and the tank is full. When you bring it back—” “I know, I know. I’ll fill it up for you. One month. Max. I promise I’ll have it back by then.” That night, lying in bed, the uneasy feeling lingered. But my mom said, “Your aunt would never take advantage of you. You’re overthinking this.” I didn’t realize at the time that ‘one month, max’ would turn into three. The first month, Joyce said the scenery in the Rockies was so beautiful, she needed a few more days. The second month, she said they’d detoured to the Pacific Northwest and it would be a shame to miss the coast. The third month, she said the car had a “minor issue” on the road and she was waiting for a small repair before driving it home. I had asked for the car back three times during that period. The first time, she said: “Soon, soon. Don’t rush me.” The second time, she said: “Taking the subway is good for a young woman like you. Builds character.” The third time, she simply didn’t reply to my text. My mom told me not to make a big deal of it. “Your aunt hardly ever takes a vacation. Can’t you just let her enjoy herself?” Three months later, Aunt Joyce finally returned the Mercedes. She drove it to the complex, called to say the keys were at the front desk, and left without coming upstairs. When I walked downstairs, she was gone. I circled the car. The exterior looked okay, freshly washed. But something felt wrong. I opened the door. A cloud of stale cigarette smoke hit me. I don’t smoke. The odometer read 28,000 miles. I had lent it out at 20,000. Three months, 8,000 miles driven. I got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The sound was off. It used to be a smooth, low purr. Now it was rough, almost coarse. I convinced myself it was just my imagination, that I was just out of practice. But I hadn’t driven five blocks before I knew. The power was off. When I accelerated, the transmission stuttered, a jarring hesitation that had never been there before. My heart sank. I called Aunt Joyce. “Aunt Joyce, is something wrong with the car? It doesn’t feel right when I drive it.” “No, it’s perfectly fine! Maybe you’re just not used to it since you haven’t driven in a while.” “You said you had a ‘small issue’ and got it fixed. What exactly did you repair?” “Just an oil change and some minor fluid top-off. Nothing serious.” “Where did you take it?” “Just a little roadside shop. I don’t remember the name.” I hung up, my intuition screaming at me. The next day, I took a half-day off work and drove to the Mercedes dealership. “I need a full bumper-to-bumper diagnostic.” The service advisor checked me in. “Ma’am, has this vehicle been in an accident recently?” “I don’t know,” I said. “It was borrowed by a relative.” “Understood. Please have a seat in the waiting area. We’ll call you when we have the results.” I waited for almost two hours. Then, the Technical Director himself came out to find me. “Ms. Hall? Could I speak with you privately?” His expression was grim. My stomach dropped. 2. The Technical Director, Mr. Jenkins, led me into a small conference room, a thick stack of printed reports in his hand. “Ms. Hall, the situation with your car is complicated.” “How complicated?” “First, your engine… it’s been swapped out.” I went numb. “Swapped? What does that mean?” “When this vehicle left the factory, it was equipped with the original imported M264 engine.” Mr. Jenkins pointed to a string of numbers on the report. “The engine currently in the car is a salvaged, used domestic unit.” “A salvaged part?” “Yes. It means it was pulled from a totaled or junkyard vehicle, refurbished, and re-used.” A deafening buzz filled my head. “Are you sure?” “Absolutely. The engine has a unique factory serial number. We cross-referenced it with your vehicle’s registration records. They do not match.” “But… how is that possible?” Mr. Jenkins looked at me, his tone calm—clearly, he’d seen this kind of thing before. “This car was borrowed for the last three months, correct?” “Yes. By my Aunt Joyce.” “Then it almost certainly happened during that period. The current engine’s wear level doesn’t align with your car’s mileage. Furthermore, replacing an engine is a major repair. We checked our system—there are zero records of any engine-related service for your vehicle at any certified center.” “So it was done outside of a dealership?” “Most likely.” I took a shaky breath. “How much was my original engine worth?” “A brand-new, original M264, parts and labor, would cost you around $28,000.” “And the one in there now?” Mr. Jenkins paused. “This is a salvaged unit, and frankly, it’s a poor-quality one. If I had to put a price on it… maybe $1,500.” $28,000. $1,500. The two numbers spun in my mind, a sickening carousel. “Are there other issues?” “A few.” He turned the page. “The transmission has signs of fluid leakage—looks like the undercarriage took a hard hit. The brake pads are severely worn, which wouldn’t happen with normal driving unless there was a lot of hard braking. And finally, the rear bumper has a noticeable patch job. Looks like a fender-bender that was handled privately, not through insurance.” “Handled privately?” “Yes. No record. And the bodywork is subpar. Not done by a professional shop.” I leaned back in the chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. Three months. 8,000 miles. Engine swapped for a junkyard part. Leaking transmission. Worn pads. Private, shoddy paint repair from an accident. What had Aunt Joyce said when she borrowed it? “I will treat it like my own.” “If there’s even a single scratch, I’ll pay for it.” I let out a short, choked sound that was halfway between a laugh and a sob. “Can I get a written copy of all these findings?” “Of course. I’ll have them printed for you.” “And photos.” “No problem.” Mr. Jenkins stood up. At the door, he looked back at me. “Ma’am, if you don’t mind a piece of advice.” “Go ahead.” “You won’t be able to claim this through insurance because the engine swap isn’t in your records. If you decide to pursue this, you’ll have to either negotiate with the person who borrowed the car or take legal action.” “I understand.” He left. I sat in that small room for a long time. Then, I called Aunt Joyce. “Aunt Joyce, I need to ask you something.” “What is it, honey?” Her voice was carefree. “I gave the car back. What else could there be?” “It’s about the engine.” Silence on the other end for two seconds. “What about the engine?” “Aunt Joyce, I took the car to the dealership today for a full check. They told me the engine has been swapped out.” “…What?” “The original imported engine was replaced with a salvaged unit.” The silence this time lasted longer. Then, Joyce’s voice, rising sharply, full of indignation. “That is impossible! I drove it perfectly fine! How could the engine be swapped? Are you sure the dealership isn’t ripping you off? They’ll say anything to get money.” “Aunt Joyce, I have the report. The engine serial numbers don’t match.” “Well, it wasn’t me who swapped it!” “Then who was it?” “How am I supposed to know?” Her voice was a shout now. “I just drove it normally! Don’t you dare try to pin this on me!” “Aunt Joyce, you mentioned the car had a ‘small issue’ and you had it repaired outside.” “I just got an oil change! Does an oil change swap out an engine?” “Which shop did you go to? What was the name?” “I told you, I don’t remember! Why are you asking so many questions?” I took a deep breath, fighting to keep my voice even. “Aunt Joyce, the original engine was worth $28,000. The one in there now is worth $1,500. The difference is $26,500.” The other end of the line went completely silent. After about ten seconds, she spoke. “Kendall, what exactly are you implying to your old aunt?” “I’m implying, Aunt Joyce, that you need to pay that amount back.” “Pay? Pay $26,500?” Her voice became a screech. “Are you insane? I borrowed your car, and you want me to pay you twenty-six thousand dollars?” “You returned my car with a salvaged engine.” “I did not swap your engine! It had nothing to do with me!” “Aunt Joyce, the car was in your possession when this happened.” “Well, I don’t know what happened! It wasn’t me!” I wasn’t going to argue with her on the phone anymore. “Fine, Aunt Joyce. Let’s talk about this face to face.” “Talk? There’s nothing to talk about!” She slammed the phone down. I looked at the inspection report in my hand, my own trembling. Not from sadness. From pure, cold rage. 3. When I got home that evening, my mother already knew. Aunt Joyce had clearly launched the first offensive. “Kendall, how dare you speak to your aunt like that?” I placed the diagnostic report on the kitchen table. “Mom, just read this yourself.” She glanced at it, but didn’t pick it up. “What is all this nonsense? I can’t read this technical stuff.” “The engine was swapped. The original was worth $28,000. The replacement is a salvaged piece of junk worth $1,500.” “What do you mean ‘swapped’? Your aunt would never swap your engine!” “She was driving it, Mom. It happened on her watch.” “Do you have proof? Did you see her do it?” “Mom, it went out of my driveway with the original engine, and it came back with a junk part. Who else could it be?” Mom frowned. “Your aunt said she was driving normally. She said nothing happened. You actually believe the dealership? They’re just trying to scare you into buying a new engine.” “Mom, the engine serial numbers don’t match. It’s solid proof.” “What good are those codes? I don’t understand that stuff. What I do understand is that you can’t talk to your aunt like that. She is your elder.” I took a steadying breath. “Mom, it’s $26,500. Not twenty-six dollars.” “I know that. But you can’t just accuse your aunt. What if the repair shop did it?” “Then she took it to the repair shop. She’s still responsible.” “Responsible for what…” My mom waved her hand dismissively. “I know your aunt. She would never pull something like this. There must be a mistake.” “Mom, whose side are you on?” “Whose side?” My mother glared at me. “I’m on your side! I’m trying to prevent you from blowing this up and ruining our family relations forever!” “$26,500. Are you telling me to just forget about it?” “When did I say forget about it? I’m telling you to stop being so accusatory. Talk to your aunt nicely. She’ll own up to it eventually.” “Nicely?” “Yes! You’re the younger one. Apologize first, smooth it over, give her an out. She cares about appearances, you know. Just let her save face.” I managed a laugh—a harsh, desolate sound. “Mom, someone destroyed my property, and I have to apologize first?” “Destroyed? The car still runs, doesn’t it?” “With a salvaged engine that could fail any day? No, it doesn’t run, Mom. It’s a liability.” “Well, then fix it.” “Fix it? An item worth $28,000 was replaced with one worth $1,500, and ‘fixing it’ is supposed to be the end of this?” My mom was taken aback, her face tightening with displeasure. “Kendall, why are you talking to me this way? I’m looking out for you! If you make a scene like this, how are you going to show your face at the family holiday gatherings? What if your aunt holds a grudge?” “She swindled me out of $26,500, and I should be worried about her grudge?” “You…” Mom took a deep, shuddering breath and softened her tone. “Kendall, listen to your mother. Your aunt is not someone you want to cross. Your Uncle Jack, your Aunt Sue—they all side with her. If you alienate her, you’ll be the black sheep of the family.” “The black sheep?” “Yes! They’ll say you’re spoiled and you care too much about money to respect your elders.” I stared at my mother for a long few seconds. “Mom, you know I spent three years paying off that car loan. Over five hundred dollars every month. I never missed a payment.” “I know, honey…” “No, you don’t. You just told me to lend it to her. You didn’t think about how hard I worked to pay it off.” “Kendall—” “I’m done, Mom. I’ll handle this myself.” I picked up the report and walked to my room. As I closed the door, I heard my mother sigh deeply outside. “That child. Why is she always so stubborn…” I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. $26,500. For me, that was two years of solid savings. For Aunt Joyce, it was a “small issue.” For my mother, it was “not worth the fuss.” But why? Because she was my elder? Because she was my mother’s sister? Because I was supposed to be the “good girl?” I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the old text thread from when she borrowed the car. Aunt Joyce: Kendall, honey, can I borrow the car for a month? I promise to take care of it. [Me]: Sure thing, Aunt Joyce. Odometer is 20,000 miles. Full tank. Aunt Joyce: Don’t you worry, I’m responsible. I screenshotted it. I scrolled down to her texts asking for extensions. Aunt Joyce: Kendall, the Rockies are too beautiful, I need a few more days. [Me]: Okay, Aunt Joyce. When do you think you’ll be back? Aunt Joyce: Give me one more week. Two weeks later: Aunt Joyce: Kendall, we detoured to the coast. It would be a crime to skip the Oregon trail now that we’re here. [Me]: Aunt Joyce, it’s really hard for me to get to work. Aunt Joyce: Taking the subway is good for you. Builds character. One month later: Aunt Joyce: Car has a small issue out here. Getting it fixed, then I’ll be home. [Me]: What kind of issue? Is it serious? Aunt Joyce: Nothing serious, relax. I screenshotted all of it. She said “small issue,” she said she fixed it. Now the engine was gone. I opened my browser and searched: stolen engine replacement rights US law. Most threads said it was “difficult.” Without direct proof, proving who did the swap was hard. But some mentioned civil litigation. The person who borrowed the car is the primary responsible party. It was 11 p.m. Tomorrow, I was going to make my first move. 4. I arranged to meet Aunt Joyce on the weekend. I chose a quiet coffee shop. My mom insisted on coming, saying she was going to be the “mediator.” Joyce arrived late, with my cousin, Brooke, for moral support. As soon as they sat down, Joyce launched in. “Kendall, you dragged me all the way out here. Are you going to cross-examine me now?” “Aunt Joyce, I just want clear answers.” “Answers to what? I told you I didn’t swap your engine. What more do you want?” “Aunt Joyce, when you borrowed the car, you promised to take care of it.” “I did take care of it!” “Then how is the original engine gone?” Joyce’s face darkened. “What are you implying? That I took time out of my vacation to swap your engine? Why would I possibly do that?” “Then tell me: how did the car end up like this?” “How should I know?” Joyce’s voice rose. “I drove normally. We went through some mountain passes in Colorado, and once, climbing a steep hill, I felt the power lagging. I found a random shop, had them check it, and they said everything was fine after an oil change.” “Just an oil change?” “Yes! Just an oil change!” “What was the name of the shop? Where was it located?” “I told you, I don’t remember! We were in a hurry! Why are you drilling me?” I pulled the diagnostic report out and placed it on the table. “Aunt Joyce, please look at this.” She barely glanced at it. “I won’t look at it. It’s gibberish.” “The engine serial number is wrong. The original was the imported M264. This is a salvaged domestic part.” “Serial numbers, codes—it’s dealership nonsense! They’ll say anything.” “Aunt Joyce, this is a technical diagnosis, not nonsense.” “Fine, fine, whatever you say.” Joyce scoffed. “You’ve already decided I’m guilty. What’s the point in me talking?” At that point, Brooke jumped in. “Kendall, just spit it out. What’s the bottom line?” I looked at my cousin. “Brooke, the bottom line is, I want to know how the engine went missing.” “My mom said she doesn’t know. What more do you want from her?” “If she doesn’t know, does that mean she’s not responsible?” “Responsible for what?” Brooke arched an eyebrow. “You lend out a car and suddenly my mom has to pay for everything?” Mom grabbed my arm. “Kendall, be nice…” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain collected. “Aunt Joyce, Brooke. I’m not interested in proving who did the swap. I am saying that someone needs to cover the loss.” “And you want my mom to cover it?” Brooke sneered. “$26,500? Why don’t you just rob a bank?” “It’s $28,000 minus $1,500. $26,500, to be exact.” “Fine. $26,500.” Brooke threw her hands up. “You expect my sixty-year-old retired mother to hand over twenty-six thousand dollars?” “Shouldn’t she?” “Why? It wasn’t intentional!” “So, unintentional damage means no compensation?” “You—” Brooke started to argue again, but Joyce held up a hand to stop her. “Enough,” Joyce said, her expression shifting. “Kendall, I’ll ask you one question. Are you dead set on making a big deal out of this?” “Aunt Joyce, this isn’t a ‘big deal.’ This is normal civil recourse.” “Civil recourse?” Joyce gave a hollow laugh. “You’re talking ‘recourse’ with your own aunt? Is this how your mother raised you?” “Aunt Joyce, this has nothing to do with how my mother raised me.” “It has everything to do with it!” Joyce spun to my mom. “Sister, look at your daughter! Listen to her! I am her elder!” Mom looked mortified. She mumbled, “Kendall, mind your tone…” “Mom, what about my tone is wrong?” “You…” Joyce cut my mom off. “Fine. I see.” She pulled out her phone, scrolled through it, and showed the screen to me. “Look. This is the repair shop in Grand Junction. I found the transaction record. It was $850. That covered the oil change and a small service fee. If you don’t believe me, check it yourself.” I glanced at the receipt. Payee: XYZ Auto Repair. Location: Grand Junction, CO. $850. “Aunt Joyce, replacing an engine costs far more than $850.” “Exactly!” Joyce put her phone away. “I never replaced the engine! I just got an oil change! The engine has nothing to do with me!” “Then how is the engine gone?” “I don’t know! Maybe the repair shop did it! Maybe the dealership made a mistake! It was not me!” I looked at Joyce. She was completely self-righteous. She acted like I was the one who victimized her. “Aunt Joyce, I can contact that repair shop and investigate.” “Investigate all you like!” Joyce stood up. “I’ve made myself clear. This is not my problem. If you insist on blaming me, do what you have to do.” “Aunt Joyce, I’m not blaming you. I’m talking about liability.” “Liability?” Joyce snorted. “If you knew anything about ‘liability,’ you wouldn’t be arguing with your aunt over this.” She picked up her bag, gave my mom a cool look, and spoke in Chinese: “Sister, I cannot deal with your daughter anymore. You manage her.” Then, she walked out without looking back. Brooke followed, but paused to give me a final shot. “Kendall, you’re unbelievable. For one beat-up car, is this really worth it?” They were gone. The coffee shop fell quiet. My mom looked at me and let out a huge sigh. “See? Look what you did. You drove your aunt away.” “Mom, she swapped my engine for a junk part. I have a right to ask questions.” “The way you asked them! Who could put up with that?” “What way? I was perfectly calm.” “The things you said! Every sentence was designed to force her to admit guilt! Why would she admit to anything?” “If she did something wrong, why shouldn’t she admit it?” “Kendall, why can’t you understand?” Mom lowered her voice. “Your aunt is sensitive about appearances. The more you push her, the less likely she is to confess. You have to handle her gently, give her a graceful out.” “Handle her gently?” “Yes! Apologize for your tone earlier, and then talk to her slowly.” “Apologize for what, Mom? I’m the victim here.” “You apologize to get the problem solved!” “Is this really how you solve problems?” I looked at my mother, overcome with a deep sadness. “Mom, do you know that ever since I was a kid, every time Aunt Joyce took advantage of us, you told me to let it go? When she gave my toys to Brooke, you said to share. When she borrowed my savings in college—three thousand dollars I worked hard for—she didn’t pay it back for two years, and you told me not to worry about money among family. Now she’s swapped my engine for a junk part, and you still want me to apologize?” “Kendall…” “Mom, answer me one question. Are you standing with me, or with her?” My mother froze. “I… I’m standing with you, of course…” “Then can you support me in getting this money back?” Mom opened her mouth, but no sound came out. I waited a few seconds. “Mom, I understand. You don’t want to ruin your relationship with your sister. But I can’t let this go. $26,500 is two years of my life.” I stood up. “If you don’t want to help me, fine. But don’t stand in my way.” I picked up the report and walked out.

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I was sitting in the bathroom stall when I heard the new hire, just outside at the sink, loudly telling his family the good news. He’d officially been made permanent. Base salary: one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. I went silent. I’d been at this company for six years. Year one: sixty thousand dollars a year. No raise. Year two: sixty thousand dollars. A five percent raise at the end of the year. Three thousand dollars. Years three, four, and five: sixty-three thousand dollars. No change. Year six: HR just finished my review today. Next year’s raise would be five percent. Sixty-six thousand one hundred and fifty dollars. I currently manage the liaison work for five key projects. Because I was swamped, they hired three new people to report to me. The newest one, just confirmed as permanent, makes one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. It’s nearly double what I make after six years of grueling work. I walked out of the stall, went straight to Dahlia Stone’s office—our HR Director—and resigned. Dahlia looked genuinely shocked. “Why?” “Underpaid. Overworked. Disrespected.” 1 Dahlia Stone stared at me for a good thirty seconds. “Jenna, don’t be impulsive.” “I’m not impulsive,” I said. “I should have said this six years ago.” Since graduating, I had spent six years of my life inside the walls of this company. From a scrappy intern to the woman running point on five of our most critical accounts. The flow of business, the client relationships—they all hinged on me. They’d even hired three new assistants this year just to help me keep up. Yet, my dedication had earned me a starting salary of sixty thousand and a current salary of sixty-six thousand one hundred and fifty. The entry-level male hire, fresh out of his probationary period, was on a one hundred and twenty thousand dollar base. “Dahlia, I don’t want to debate this. Please start the exit process immediately.” Her face hardened. “Jenna, you have five major projects on your desk. Walking out now—isn’t that a little… low?” “Low?” I gave a short, bitter laugh. When I started, this company barely qualified as a legitimate office. Rich Kingsley, the employees, all ten of us, crammed into a twenty-by-twenty-foot shoebox. No AC in the summer, no heat in the winter, and endless, unpaid overtime. I took it all. Fueled by that naive, post-graduate ambition, I helped drag this near-bankrupt operation to the point where we now occupy four full floors of a high-rise. But today, I knew the truth. An intern’s starting salary was double mine. “Dahlia, do you know how much I make in a month?” “Six thousand six hundred and fifteen dollars.” “For that money, I’ve averaged three hours of overtime a day. I’ve revised proposals in the middle of the night. I’ve taken calls on the train during my holiday break to get projects finalized.” “Meanwhile, the new hire, who’s been here three months, clocks in exactly on time and is out the door the minute the clock strikes five. Last week, he messed up a scheduling conflict that brought five department heads to my office complaining.” “And even then, his base is one hundred and twenty thousand. You want to talk to me about ‘low’?” Dahlia finally dropped her gaze. After a long, painful silence, she offered a single, devastating sentence. “Who told you you’re a woman?” “Excuse me?” I stared, certain I’d misheard. Dahlia pursed her lips and sighed, a gesture of weary, female complicity. “I honestly thought you understood the landscape, Jenna.” “You’re a woman. You’re twenty-eight. You’re about to get married, which means a honeymoon, and then a maternity leave, and then a parenting leave… that’s almost a year out of the business, combined.” “The research shows, women’s focus shifts after marriage. Rich Kingsley worries you won’t be able to balance the firm and a family. You have to consider the company’s bottom line.” The words felt like a surgical knife, plunged directly into my chest. The absurdity was so profound I barely processed it. I could only ask the most obvious question. “What about you, Dahlia? You’re five years older than me. Your second kid is in kindergarten. What’s your salary?” Dahlia shrugged, a light, dismissive motion. “Eighty thousand. But Rich is my cousin.” That single statement annihilated my protest. I thought of the countless all-nighters I’d pulled for projects over the last three years. The instant noodles I’d eaten at my desk to meet deadlines. The courses and certifications I’d paid for myself to improve my skills. I’d worked this hard, sacrificed so much, only to be dismissed by Rich Kingsley with five words: You’re a woman. Because I was a woman, my tireless dedication meant less than a new, unproven man. Because I had no connections, the fact that the company would grind to a halt without me still didn’t qualify me for a market-rate salary. It all came down to a single, infuriating biological detail. I finally smiled. “Got it,” I said, standing up. Dahlia flinched. “Got what?” I didn’t answer. I just pushed the door open and walked out. I understood that this company was rotten to its core, and had been for six years. 2 I pulled open my desk drawer and retrieved the brand-new voice recorder I’d bought for meeting notes. Now, it was my only weapon. I slipped it into my jacket pocket. A cup of coffee landed on my desk. It was Spencer Wells, my boyfriend of three years, who outranked me by one level. “Dahlia said you’re quitting?” I didn’t look up. “Yep.” “Because of the salary thing?” My hand paused. I looked up at him. “You know about it?” He hesitated. “I know.” “What is your monthly salary?” I’d never asked him directly, seeing as we weren’t married yet, but now I was consumed by curiosity. Spencer’s eyes darted away. “Three hundred thousand. But I’m a Project Manager. You’re just a Project Liaison. We’re in different tiers, of course it’s different.” I held his gaze. “You were promoted to Project Manager at the beginning of this year. But your salary hasn’t changed for two years.” “I started managing the company’s key accounts the year before that. My five percent raise put me at sixty-six thousand. That’s less than a quarter of your pay.” “I know every project in this company inside and out. Every stage requires my sign-off. Without me, this whole operation would shut down before the afternoon, and not a single product would go out the door.” “Spencer, I am more important to this company than you are.” He frowned. “So what? Ability doesn’t dictate pay, Rich does. Go talk to him if you’ve got the guts.” I stood up. “You’re right. I absolutely will go talk to him.” I needed an answer for my six years of life. I walked toward the elevator immediately. Spencer looked stunned, rushing to intercept me. “Jenna, don’t do anything reckless!” I ignored him, pressing the call button. As the elevator climbed to the fifth floor, my mind was flooded with memories of my time here. In 2022, fresh out of college, I met Rich Kingsley—then thirty-seven—at a job fair. He was just starting out, short on cash, but bursting with passion. “Jenna,” he’d said, “we’re just a handful of people now, but we have a dream and we’re willing to grind. Come join us, and I promise you’ll never regret it.” I believed him. That first year, the company was housed in a cramped apartment. The summer was suffocating, the winter brutal. As the only woman on the team, Rich made a show of looking out for me. He’d slip me an extra five hundred dollars every month, calling it a “hardship stipend.” “Jenna, an Ivy League graduate like you, I’m putting you through hell,” he’d said. At the time, everyone else made four thousand, but I started at six thousand. The second year, the company stabilized. We moved into a modest office in a commercial building. I got my first real desk. Rich was thrilled on moving day, grandly announcing a five percent raise for me—three thousand dollars—by year end. That same year, Spencer joined. My subordinate. Base salary: eighty thousand dollars. The third year, I worked non-stop for two weeks, turning in sixteen different proposals. I successfully secured the Summit Group contract, earning the company a massive payout and finally putting us on the map. My reward? A cheap, mass-produced plaque, and the responsibility for all the company’s major project liaison work. Rich clapped my shoulder, his voice heavy with significance. “Jenna, I knew I was right about you. The future of this company rests on your shoulders.” That year, I was twenty-five. My salary was sixty-three thousand. In the fourth and fifth years, my project list grew, and the company took off, renting four floors of a corporate tower. I lost my office, however, because Spencer was promoted to manager and needed the space. I remember Rich, now sporting a beer gut from constant client dinners, his eyes perpetually yellowed and cloudy from drinking. Oily. “Jenna, don’t blame me. This promotion is strictly about utilizing your talent with the clients, not tying you down to a desk.” Rich puffed on his cigar, playing the concerned mentor. “Spencer came later and hasn’t closed any deals, but he’s a man. He’s better for schmoozing, and frankly, when dealing with the junior staff, a man commands more respect, right?” I was so naive then. I figured he had a point. I didn’t love sitting in an office. As long as the boss valued me, what was a Project Manager title, anyway? Now, hearing Spencer’s self-assured claim—*“We’re in different tiers”—*I felt like a complete fool. The elevator arrived at the fifth floor. I took a deep breath, walked to Rich Kingsley’s office, and knocked. 3 “Come in.” I pushed the door open. Rich was smoking. Seeing me, he immediately stubbed the cigarette in the ashtray, his voice grave. “Dahlia told me you resigned.” He poured me a glass of water himself. “I understand you’re unhappy with your pay. But you’re one of our veterans. The company invested in you for all these years. Walking out now is just bad form, isn’t it?” That word, low, again. I held the glass, looking at him. “Rich, I’ve been here for six years, I make sixty-six thousand. The intern who started three months ago makes one hundred and twenty thousand.” Rich’s face froze, then he plastered on a look of paternal concern. “Yes, the salary thing was an oversight on my part. How about this: I’ll raise you again. Five percent. What do you say?” Sixty-six thousand one hundred and fifty, plus five percent, was sixty-nine thousand four hundred and fifty-seven dollars and fifty cents. Less than seventy thousand. A fifty-thousand-dollar difference from a probationary hire. I didn’t compromise. I went straight for the heart of it. “Rich, I’ve been with you for six years. When times were toughest, we didn’t even have a water cooler, and we had to bring our own toilet paper.” “But you paid me two thousand more than the others then. Now the company is thriving. The smallest project I handle is worth five million dollars. Why are you unwilling to pay me the same as an intern?” I stared at him, waiting for the answer that would finally kill my hope. Rich cleared his throat, instinctively reaching for a cigarette. “Jenna, I didn’t want to say this, but since you’re pressing me, I’ll tell you: Because you’re a woman!” “A woman?” “Yes, a woman.” The fleshy jowls on Rich’s face began to tremble with sudden fervor. “I’ve done the research. Do you know the percentage of female leadership in the Fortune 500? Twenty-one percent! Some companies don’t have a single one. What does that tell you? You women are inherently not the same as men.” “But my performance has consistently been number one in the company,” I couldn’t help but argue. Rich scoffed. “So what? You’re about to marry Spencer, aren’t you?” I was confused. “And?” “And your value has cratered, hasn’t it?” Rich leaned forward, analyzing me like a faulty asset. “Look, once you marry Spencer, you’ll be a good wife. Once the baby comes, you’ll be a good mother. How do you balance family and career? The company hires you, and then you want vacation, maternity leave, and childcare leave. Who pays for the company’s loss?” “Plus, the internet says women’s focus declines after marriage. You’re twenty-eight, almost thirty. In a few years, you’ll be in menopause. There are plenty of young people on the market. Why should I invest in you?” My eyes had gone completely numb. I spoke calmly. “My performance is strong.” “A woman with great performance? Who knows if she had to sleep her way into those numbers,” Rich muttered. “I have high capability.” “How capable can you be? Your boyfriend, Spencer, is the one who got the manager title.” Rich sneered. “I’ve been with this company for six years, from the ground up. I have the deepest institutional knowledge.” “That’s why I didn’t fire you,” Rich said, smiling. “I even gave you a raise. Five percent. That’s generous.” I went silent, staring into the water glass. Rich patted my shoulder, a gesture that made my skin crawl. “All right, stop being angry. I’ll round it up to seventy thousand. Forget the resignation. As long as you keep working hard, the company will take care of you.” “Oh, and the signing ceremony with Summit Group is tomorrow, right? Prepare well. This is our biggest project of the year. Don’t disappoint me.” The Summit Group was a client I’d cultivated for three years. They were famous in the industry for their corporate culture of “respecting women’s career rights and opposing workplace discrimination.” It was especially notable that their newly appointed CEO, Ms. Victoria Graham, was a successful woman who had herself suffered professional prejudice. I looked up at Rich’s smug, smiling face. I stood up. “Don’t worry, Rich,” I said. “I won’t disappoint you.” Then, I turned and walked away. The small voice recorder and the miniature camera, still recording in my jacket pocket, glowed faintly red. 4 That night, I was, unsurprisingly, wide awake. I didn’t know if I could achieve justice tomorrow. I only knew that some things had to be done. And I was ready to be the one who did them. At 8:00 AM, I arrived at the office. Everything was normal. Dahlia, having heard about my conversation with Rich, walked past my desk and glanced at me with an odd, pitying look. At 10:00 AM, Spencer asked me to lunch, supposedly to celebrate that I hadn’t been fired. “It’s a good thing Rich is a good guy and decided not to hold your temper tantrum against you. If my mom knew you were jobless, she’d never let us get married.” I picked up my lunch tray and walked away, not even granting him a glance. At 3:00 PM, Rich arrived. He strode into the open-plan office, looking invigorated. “To celebrate securing the Summit Group project,” he announced grandly, “I’ve asked Dahlia to prepare a big bonus envelope for everyone!” “Rich is the man!” “Best boss ever!” Rich chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. “Dahlia, start handing them out.” The envelopes were distributed. Marcus, an assistant who’d been with the company for three years, gasped. “Five thousand dollars! Rich is so generous!” “Five thousand for me too! Great to be on Rich’s team!” Said a married, older male colleague, his eyes crinkling in a delighted smile. Vivian, at the next desk, tore open her envelope, then pouted. “Why did I only get three thousand?” “Me too. Three thousand.” The female employees, all of them, got three thousand. “Well, three thousand is better than nothing.” “But I work just as hard as the men. Why the difference?” Why the difference? I repeated the question silently, opening my own envelope. Neat, crisp bills. Five hundred dollars. “Jenna, don’t take it personally. I just gave you that big raise yesterday. Giving you too much would make the others talk,” Rich explained, smiling broadly, his eyes watching my reaction intently. I knew he was trying to ‘tame’ me. I didn’t argue or protest. I calmly put the envelope in my desk. “Thank you, Rich.” At 7:00 PM, the Summit Group motorcade arrived downstairs. Victoria Graham, the CEO, and her delegation walked into the conference room. Rich and Spencer were there, all smiles and obsequiousness, greeting the delegation warmly. At 7:30 PM, the ceremony began. Rich, as the CEO, stepped up to the podium to speak. “Thank you, Summit Group, for giving our firm this invaluable opportunity. Since our first collaboration, we have always adhered to a spirit of transparency, fairness, and professionalism. Through our joint efforts, we have achieved significant results. Moving forward, we will continue to provide professional service and quality work, hand-in-hand with Summit Group, to create greater, mutual success.” Rich delivered his prepared remarks with eloquent pride. Victoria Graham, seated in the VIP section, looked satisfied. She took the microphone. “After several years of collaboration, we have absolute faith in your firm’s capabilities. However, even more than capability, our company prioritizes whether your principles of transparency, fairness, and professionalism extend to your employee relations—especially regarding gender equality.” Rich’s face twitched. He chuckled nervously. “Of course, of course.” Before he could finish, the main screen behind the podium went black. A few seconds later, the conversation between Rich Kingsley and me, recorded in his office, echoed throughout the venue. “You women are inherently not the same as men…”

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Three years in that facility had tamed me. I was compliant. Docile. I did what I was told. When my older sister, Camille, came to pick me up, she recoiled almost instantly. “Still wearing that corpse-like expression, Ash? You will not bring that face home.” I simply nodded, then bent down, picked up a shard of broken glass near my feet, and drew it across my own face. Camille went instantly pale, staring at the fresh crimson bloom. Back at the house, my adopted brother, Noah, cornered me, his eyes sharp with menace. “Just so you know, coming back changes nothing. I can still make you disappear.” Before I could respond, he snatched a baseball bat from the corner and ruthlessly slammed it against his own forearm. “It’s okay, Ash. Whatever you need to do, big brother. I deserve it if it makes you feel better.” Jocelyn, my fiancée, walked in just in time to see Noah clutching his arm, his face twisted in pain. Her expression hardened instantly. “Apologize to Noah, Ashton. Now. Or else…” She didn’t finish the sentence. I turned, bolted to the third-floor balcony, and vaulted over the railing. I landed with a sickening crunch directly in front of my parents who were just stepping out of the elevator. “Ah!” Mom’s scream was a guttural, piercing sound of pure horror. Dad frantically pulled out his phone to call 911, his face ash-gray. Jocelyn, usually a portrait of composure, had finally lost her cool. Her pupils shrank as she froze on the spot. On the way to the ER, Noah scrambled to clear himself: “This isn’t my fault, okay? He jumped. I couldn’t stop him.” I spat up a mouthful of blood and nodded weakly in agreement. Three years in the asylum had taught me my role: I was the tragic hero of a dark, twisted story. The voices—the insistent, droning commentary in my head—told me that only through absolute obedience, followed by death, could I return to my original world. 1 I survived. My internal injuries were severe, but they managed to pull me back from the brink. Jocelyn watched me, her brow furrowed. She turned to Noah. “What the hell happened between you and Ash? I asked him for an apology. Why did he throw himself off a balcony?” Noah shrugged innocently, running a hand through his hair. “I have no idea. He just… decided to jump. It had nothing to do with me.” Camille, who had been silent, immediately stepped in front of Noah, shielding him. She glared at Jocelyn. “You’re his fiancée, and you’re siding with Ash over Noah? Don’t pretend you don’t know how sick Ashton is. He’s always been cruel, and he hates Noah! He was probably just trying to frame him.” Jocelyn started to protest, but Mom cut her off, looking displeased with Camille. “Enough, Cami! Ash is your brother too. He’s barely clinging to life after what he just did. Just keep quiet.” Dad scowled, his unspoken disapproval heavy in the air. Camille snapped. She marched over, grabbed my hand, and yanked me up in the bed. “Still acting? What did I tell you before we left the clinic? Forget everything already? You cause trouble the second you walk back in! If you really want to die, why didn’t you find a taller building? Did you count on the flowerbed to break your fall, you disgusting coward?” The voices in my head pulsed with a cold, urgent fear. Obey. Obey. I pulled the IV needle out of my hand and shoved Camille away. My gaze locked onto the half-open hospital window. “Fine,” I managed, my voice a broken rasp. “I’ll give you what you want.” My foot was already on the ledge. I thought: This is it. Freedom. But Jocelyn reacted instantly. She lunged, wrapping her arms around my torso, pulling me back with surprising strength. Sweat beaded on her forehead. The pure, unadulterated terror in her eyes was unmistakable. “Stop it, Ashton! Enough!” Mom was there next, gripping my arm so tightly her knuckles were white. “Ash, what are you doing?!” I forced a smile, a grimace that felt colder than any tears. “I’m okay, Mom. I’m fine.” The voices had warned me: my time here was running out. I had to obey their commands, or I would meet a fate worse than the death I craved. I needed a clean exit. But Camille just saw it as a calculated performance. Her face was contorted in fury. “You won’t quit, will you, Ashton? You’re afraid we’ll blame you for hurting Noah’s arm, so you’re putting on this pathetic show for us! It won’t work!” Noah, ever the collaborator, clutched his bruised arm dramatically. “It’s okay, sis. Don’t blame him. It was just one hit. I’m a man; I can handle it.” But this time, Dad hesitated. He did the unthinkable: he yelled at Camille. “Are you even his sister, Cami? He’s lying in a hospital bed! Do you think this can be faked?” Then he turned to Noah, his voice low and dangerous. “Noah, tell me the truth. What happened in the living room?” Camille and Noah stared at Dad, stunned. Noah sighed dramatically. “Dad, I swear I didn’t lie.” Jocelyn finally spoke, looking at Noah’s swollen arm. A flicker of pity or perhaps resignation crossed her eyes. “There’s a security camera in the living room. But when I came in… I did see Ash hit Noah. That part is undeniable.” Camille sneered at me, her eyes brimming with disgust. Watching them argue over me, a chilling clarity settled in. Obey. They said I hurt Noah. They needed me to pay. I waited until their focus shifted, grabbed the nearest object—a sharp, chrome fruit knife from the bedside tray—and brought it to my neck, drawing the blade across my skin with all the force I could muster. Arterial spray instantly painted the room. Camille, standing closest, was splattered with crimson. Noah’s eyes widened in horror. Mom screamed once and crumpled to the floor. Jocelyn, trembling, frantically yelled for a nurse. Chaos erupted. I closed my eyes, the deep relief of a promise kept washing over me. 2 Jocelyn was the first to return to the penthouse to check the security footage. The playback showed Noah taking the baseball bat and striking his own arm. The truth was unmistakable. “Why?” she asked him, utterly bewildered. Mom and Dad soon saw the footage, too. Mom was so furious she rushed forward and slapped Noah. “You are my son, but Ash is my son too! He’s your older brother! Why would you do that to him?” Noah hung his head, a flash of something dark and cold crossing his eyes. “Joss, Mom, I didn’t want to. I was just scared. I was afraid he’d come back and treat me like he used to.” “You know how he used to lash out, how he’d hurt people. I genuinely have… trauma from his past behavior. I felt like I had to do something before he hurt me again.” As he spoke, he started gasping, clutching his chest. A tell-tale sign of an oncoming asthma attack. The family knew his asthma was severe. Camille panicked, rushing to find his inhaler. After he stabilized, his face pale and clammy, Camille’s pity overflowed. She looked at our parents. “He’s like this, and you’re still pushing him? It’s all Ashton’s fault anyway. He did this to himself. He drove us all crazy with his cruelty, and this is what he gets!” “And you, Jocelyn,” she hissed. “Your eyes have barely left Ashton since he returned. Can you blame Noah for feeling insecure and threatened?” Jocelyn glanced at Noah on the floor. Her tone softened slightly. “My heart is with Noah, always. That hasn’t changed.” “But even if Ash isn’t my fiancé anymore, he’s still the boy I grew up with. His life matters.” Camille let out a harsh, chilling laugh. “His life matters? Mom, Dad, do you honestly think Ashton’s ‘sanity’ is cured? He’s trying to kill himself at every turn. Doesn’t that prove he’s still mentally unstable?” “He’s malicious! He saw Noah’s severe asthma; he must have done all this on purpose just to cause an attack. He is pure poison!” Noah generously waved a hand, dismissing the argument. “It’s fine, Camille. It’s my fault. If big brother Ash is happy, he can hit me, he can yell at me. I won’t fight back.” “Why should he get to hit you?” Camille snapped, her voice breaking. “You don’t owe him anything!” “He terrorized you for years. If I hadn’t stepped in to protect you, he would have destroyed you. Ten of his lives wouldn’t be enough to pay for what he’s done!” Camille spat, her gaze burning toward my hospital room. “I think his sickness is back. You need to test him again. If he’s still delusional, he could be dangerous. Who knows what he might do next? Who can guarantee Noah’s safety?” A heavy silence descended. In their minds, Camille’s words made a terrible, undeniable sense. Jocelyn thought for a moment, then walked into my room, standing over my bed. “Are you doing this to punish us for sending you away, Ashton? Is this a performance fueled by resentment?” I shook my head without a moment’s thought. “I don’t resent any of you. Everything I’ve suffered is what I deserve. Your punishment of me was unavoidable.” Jocelyn’s face darkened. She pressed on. “The doctors said you were better. Is this new compliance, this docility, just a lie? A clever trick to escape the asylum?” All eyes in the room turned to me. I started to shake my head, wanting to deny it, but the sudden pain in my skull was blinding, like an electrical current. Then, the relentless voices boomed in my mind: [BE A GOOD BOY. BE COMPLIANT. YOUR DEATH IS THE ONLY WAY OUT.] 3 I clutched my head, gritting my teeth. “I am not lying.” Noah immediately sidled up to my bedside, a spark of vicious delight in his eyes. “Let’s see about that.” He glanced at me, then motioned to his assistant, who slapped a bankruptcy filing on the table in front of me. “The company you broke your back to build is gone. It’s bankrupt. Do you have anything to say?” Everyone knew that firm was my life’s work, my half-life. But I kept my expression blank, my eyes calm and unblinking, as if the news meant nothing. He wasn’t satisfied. His eyes flickered to Jocelyn. In a calculated, predatory move, he kissed her, a long, possessive, open-mouthed kiss. He watched me as he did it, waiting for the inevitable explosion. He knew. Everyone knew. I had loved Jocelyn more than I loved myself. Under the scrutiny of my entire family, I reached into my pocket, pulled out the simple gold band—the engagement ring I’d once given Jocelyn—and handed it to him. “May you both have a lifetime of happiness.” Noah was momentarily stunned. But Jocelyn’s face shifted completely. She stared at me, her voice low and dangerously controlled. “It seems you really are cured.” I met her gaze, neither confirming nor denying. Noah lost the last shred of his composure. He called for a psychiatrist, demanding an electroshock test, then kept insisting the doctor increase the voltage. The doctor warned him, “Any higher, and he could slip into a coma.” “Keep going!” Noah screamed. The electric current sent me into uncontrollable spasms. The sheets beneath me felt suddenly wet, and the metallic scent of ammonia filled the air. Jocelyn squeezed her eyes shut, sweat pouring from her temples. Mom looked away, Dad steering her toward the door. Only Camille stood by, waiting for me to break. The doctor finally stopped the current when I went limp, unconscious. “That’s enough. No more.” Noah’s fists were clenched, but he couldn’t argue with a man who had flatlined. Mom collapsed against the wall, sobbing hysterically. But I was already gone. When I woke up, Dad was lecturing Camille and Noah. Jocelyn was sitting beside me, her hands clasped tightly around mine. The moment I opened my eyes, she released me instantly, asking in a rush, “You’re awake. How are you feeling? Any better?” I didn’t react, staring blankly at the ceiling. The memories—the real memories—were flooding back. When Noah first came to live with us, he was a small, fragile boy with severe asthma. I was fiercely protective, viewing him as my little brother. I gave him my room; I gave him whatever he wanted. Yet, he constantly developed strange, unexplained bruises. When Mom and Dad asked, he would just look at me and stay silent. The silence spoke volumes. Disappointment began to cloud my parents’ eyes. At school, he was easy prey for bullies. I stood up for him, warning every kid that if they touched him, they were messing with the Reeds. Somehow, the narrative shifted. Soon, everyone believed I was the one doing the bullying. When Camille asked, Noah maintained his silence, but his eyes, when he looked at me, were full of a false, calculated terror. The message was clear. Camille heard the rumors, and her affection for me bled into pure disgust. I was a rebellious teenager, but I wasn’t a monster. No one believed me. I started lashing out, burning myself out with pointless attempts to defend myself. I confided everything in Jocelyn, not noticing the subtle, increasingly odd look in her eyes. After I finished, she subtly slipped out of my embrace. She told me Noah had never said a bad word about me; in fact, he always spoke highly of me. I felt a cold rage. I kept trying to prove my sanity, but I was constantly burning out from the internal conflict. Jocelyn and Noah grew closer. My jealousy became a physical pain. I confronted her, again and again, demanding to know why she was abandoning me. Jocelyn simply watched me spiral, then told Mom and Dad, and Camille, that I was harassing them. Jocelyn was an orphan; she had a standing betrothal to me, and my parents had raised her. They trusted her completely. When she told them I was targeting Noah, their disgust for me intensified. Camille openly hated me. I never understood why she betrayed me. Until that night, when I walked in and found her and Noah kissing. Rage blinded me. I grabbed Noah’s collar and punched him with all my strength. He casually wiped the blood from his lip, then gave me a defiant, knowing smirk. Right in front of me, he started gasping, deliberately triggering an asthma attack. Jocelyn immediately slapped me. “Ashton Reed, you disgust me.” She didn’t spare me a second glance, rushing to call an ambulance for Noah. When Mom, Dad, and Camille arrived, they blamed me instantly. Noah lay in the hospital, looking frail and near death. When he woke, he explained my actions away: “It’s okay, big brother didn’t mean it. It’s my fault, Joss. I couldn’t control my true feelings.” Jocelyn, without hesitation, knelt before my parents. “I’m so sorry, George and Helen. I’ve fallen in love with Noah. Please, blame only me.” In that moment, a frenzy took over. I dragged the pale, weak Noah out of the bed and beat him like a madman. That’s when they had me committed. I stayed there for three years. 4 I endured three years of beatings and torment. Yet, I clung to a faint hope of survival. Then, one night, the orderlies dragged me into a black cell. They sneered as they chained me like an animal, then forced me into a pit filled with rats and snakes. I don’t remember how I survived that night. When I was near death, the voices, the commentary, finally spoke to me. They told me I was the hero of an abuse story, and I had to be absolutely obedient to leave this world. I became compliant. They chained me up and demanded I lick garbage from the floor. I did it. They beat me and kicked me. I walked toward them, letting them trample me. They eventually tired of me. Bored, they finally told my parents I was cured. My thoughts returned to the present. Mom was sobbing, her eyes full of tears. “Ash, what is it? You were never like this before.” I looked at her, confused. “The man I was before? I’ve been like this the whole time I was in the facility.” Mom sobbed harder, choking on her words. “This isn’t the facility, Ash. You’re home. You can be the way you used to be.” Home. The word was a confusing jolt. Mom embraced me, repeating that they were my family. I shook my head, firm in my conviction. “Family doesn’t hit me, doesn’t call me names, doesn’t tell me to get lost.” “Family doesn’t commit me for three years and forget I exist.” “And this isn’t my home. My home is…” I didn’t know where my home was. The voices only told me I had to die, completely obedient, to find it. I tried to recall what else they had said, but the effort brought another spike of searing pain, and I lost consciousness. The last thing I saw was the medical team rushing toward me, surrounded by their cries and screams. When I woke up, I was still here. Mom and Dad gripped my hands. Jocelyn’s coldness had softened into a strained concern. Only Camille’s eyes were still full of loathing. “He’s having a breakdown. This is just a pity display to manipulate you.” she insisted. Mom was so angry she smashed a medicine cup onto the floor. “He is your blood brother, Cami! When will you stop?” Camille pointed at herself in disbelief. “Stop? He’s fine! He didn’t die! Why are you all acting like this?” I looked at her, so full of hatred, and remembered the sister who used to defend me, who gave me her favorite candy. That sister was long gone. Sensing the tension, Noah stepped in, playing the peacemaker. “Mom, please. Camille is just worried about us. A psychiatric patient can harm people without facing legal consequences.” “Ash is covered in fresh injuries. That is the look of someone having a severe psychotic break. Let’s just ask the doctor. Let’s get a professional opinion.” A cold malice flashed in his eyes. Mom and Dad fell silent. Jocelyn looked at me, then at my numerous new self-inflicted injuries. She finally stood up to find a doctor, but Noah stopped her. “Go get the one who just treated Ash. He knows his condition best.” Jocelyn nodded without hesitation. The doctor walked in, asked a few questions, and I answered honestly and simply. She turned to my family, her voice clinical. “Mr. Reed is displaying clear signs of a severe performative personality disorder. If he is not returned to the facility, he poses a risk.” Noah smirked. Camille immediately grabbed my arm. “The doctor said it! You are not cured! You’re going to hurt someone and walk away free. You are coming back to the clinic now!” At the word clinic, a deafening roar erupted in my head. [ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE.] I threw Camille off me and sprinted for the window. She watched my legs swing out over the air, her face draining of all color. Then, the heavy sound of a body hitting the ground.

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