I was the 40th generation successor of the Vance family, a renowned lineage of powerful vampire hunters. Yet, I was ambushed by a vampire and almost lost my life. It was Julian Blackwood who saved me, his vampire blood granting me immortality. He slaughtered his entire vampire clan for me. And amidst the bloody carnage, he proposed to me. Our souls resonated, our bond utterly inseparable. Until a century later, another woman found me, holding the Blackwood family’s heirloom ring. “Julian searched for me for a century. He even slaughtered his entire vampire kin to protect me and avenge me.” “Now that I’m back,” the woman lifted her chin haughtily, “you can roll over and disappear.” I tossed the blood-stained ring onto the table, then looked at Julian, his eyes blazing crimson. I tapped the tabletop. “Julian Blackwood.” “The consequences of betraying me.” “You should know them well.” Blood stained the ring. It dripped onto the floor, drop by sickening drop. With each falling bead of blood, there was the sound of Julian Blackwood shattering the heavy wooden table, followed by his chilling voice, towering over me. “Where is she?” Julian’s eyes were bloodshot, as if he wanted to tear me limb from limb. I wasn’t his wife of a hundred years; I was his sworn enemy. “She’s just a mortal.” “Flesh and blood, nothing more.” “Cassandra Vance,” Julian picked up a severed finger from the splintered wood, his gaze locked on me, teeth gritted. “Hand her over now, and I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.” “Otherwise—” “Otherwise?” My expression was cool, as I met Julian’s furious eyes. “Are you going to slaughter me to celebrate the return of your precious reincarnated lover?” “Julian Blackwood.” “Have I been too lenient, or has this past century made you forget who truly rules this house?” I clapped my hands. “You want your true love back? Of course, you can have her.” A curtain was drawn back. Seraphina Thorne was bound to a sacrificial altar, encircled by dozens of vampires. Mystical seals held them in place. Seraphina cried out in terror, her eyes pleading with Julian. One look, and Julian completely lost control. “Cassandra Vance!” Julian’s hand shot out, clamping around my throat. As oxygen was stolen from my lungs, I looked at the man who had sworn to love me for all eternity. Only mockery remained in my gaze. He lifted me, but I still smiled, snapping my fingers. From an iron cage below. A chorus of chilling vampire roars erupted. Seraphina writhed and struggled on the altar, her eyes shattered as she looked at Julian, making him tighten his grip on my throat, threatening me. “Let her go.” “Otherwise,” Julian’s gaze was murderous, “your entire Vance family will pay the price!” Julian and I had been together for a century. I helped him rise to his current position of power, only to find I’d nurtured such an ungrateful monster. My lips curved into a smile. I made a gesture, and the mystical seals instantly dropped. The vampires let out excited roars, rushing towards Seraphina. Julian screamed, “No!” and threw me aside, dashing towards Seraphina, engaging in a furious battle with the vampires. I watched from the sofa, enjoying the spectacle. Julian, covered in blood, emerged from a pile of bodies, carefully cradling Seraphina. His touch was so gentle, as if she were a priceless treasure. “It’s okay now.” “Seraphina, it’s okay.” I watched as the rough cloth covering her was removed. Seraphina let out a wail of sorrow, crying, “Why did you take so long to come!” She raised her hand, slapping Julian across the face. “I almost died!” “She tried to kill me!” “She did!” Seraphina pointed a finger, now missing one digit, at me. Her eyes held enough hatred to flay me alive. Julian gently set her down, then scooped her up bridal style. As he passed me, his gaze was icy. “Cassandra Vance!” “For one finger!” “I’ll make you pay!”

Mr. Davies handed me a tablet. “Ms. Vance.” “Julian Blackwood is currently making public statements to completely sever all ties with Vance Industries.” “Not only that,” he pointed to a news report on the tablet. “Julian Blackwood is preparing a press conference to expose the Vance family’s deepest secrets.” My expression remained calm as I watched the screen. A man in a sharp suit gently held a woman’s hand, facing the cameras. “I’m sure you all understand that I have now completely cut myself off from the Vance family.” Julian lifted Seraphina’s hand high. “From this day forward, Ms. Seraphina Thorne will be the love of my life.” Seraphina’s missing ring finger was starkly visible, and she perfectly conveyed a fragile vulnerability. Julian continued, “Many of you have tried to dig into the Vance family’s secrets, but you’ve always come up empty.” “Since Cassandra Vance is so bloodthirsty and cruel, I’ll be the villain, the traitor, and expose the Vance family’s secrets myself.” Mr. Davies’ voice overlapped with Julian’s. They spoke at once. “Ms. Vance, how dare he call you a monster!” “Cassandra Vance is, in fact, a creature of darkness!” I curved my lips into a smile, listening to Seraphina sob, “It’s all because of Cassandra Vance! She personally chopped off my ring finger, out of sheer jealousy. How could I, a mere mortal, fight against a supernatural entity like the head of the Vance family?” “Now, Julian and I are risking everything.” “We just hope you’ll join us in bringing down the Vance family.” On screen. Julian had someone bring out a vampire corpse, lying lifeless in a coffin, its eyes frozen open in silent accusation. He pointed at the petrified body. “This is Cassandra Vance’s lifelong secret. She isn’t human; she’s a creature of darkness.” The news exploded. I watched as my name trended, a storm of curses, fear, and conspiracy theories erupted, one after another. Some even vowed to summon elite monster hunters from a legendary order to ensure I had no resting place. I simply watched the news, listening to Mr. Davies’ indignant protests, then saw Seraphina send me a message from Julian’s SnapChat. 【How’s it feel, Cassandra Vance! Didn’t I tell you? Julian, who slaughtered his own kind for me, can just as easily end your life!】 【This is just the appetizer.】 【There’s more shocking stuff to come.】 【Just you wait.】 Seraphina sent a voice message. In it, she was whining playfully. “Julian, when are you going to send that grand gift to make Cassandra Vance suffer?” Julian’s voice was hesitant; he said he was still waiting for the right moment. But Seraphina wouldn’t let it go. “She chopped off my finger, she separated us for a century!” “If you don’t listen to me.” “I’ll find a mortal to spend my life with, and you can search for me in your next life!” There was a commotion on Seraphina’s end. I heard Julian frantically call out to her, “Seraphina! Don’t be dramatic!” “You know how deeply I love you.” “It’s just one grand gift. I’ll give it!” I knew I was caught in a storm. A swirling vortex. Yet, I remained still. Mr. Davies paced anxiously, asking, “Ms. Vance, are you just going to let them twist the truth like this?” I looked at Seraphina’s message. “The gift is already on its way.” “Ms. Vance, please accept it with a smile.” Then, a servant announced from the doorway, “Ms. Vance, something has arrived.” I had them bring it in. It was a small coffin. I rose from the sofa and walked over to it. The moment the servants pushed open the lid, Mr. Davies steadied me, and tears instantly streamed down my face. Julian’s call came through.

“Cassandra.” “You chopped off one of Seraphina’s fingers, and she’s still having nightmares because of it.” His tone was flat, as if he were discussing something trivial. “I consulted with a mystic. They said Seraphina is being tormented by a malevolent spirit. They deduced it’s our unborn child, so—” Julian’s breathing was steady. He was waiting for my response. Excellent. Just excellent. I wiped away my tears and told Julian. “I received your gift.” “As for anything else,” I carefully cradled the box of ashes, looking at the empty space where only a half-burnt mystical seal remained, sensing my child’s agony before fading away, my heart twisting in agony. “Julian Blackwood, protect your true love well.” “Because.” “When I truly snap.” “Ten of you.” “Wouldn’t be my match!” Julian hung up. A voice message followed: “You’re utterly unreasonable.” I listened to that voice message repeatedly, recalling a century ago, when he marked my neck. His eyes had been crimson as he said, “40th generation successor of the Vance family, I have admired you for a long time. Please don’t blame me for using such despicable means to save your life.” “I only want to be with you.” Later. We slaughtered all the vampires in the mountains. We went from a life of turmoil to one of stability, watching eras of chaos transition to prosperity. I finally became pregnant, but because of the vampire blood in my veins, I couldn’t carry the child to term. My baby emerged from my body bruised and cold. I used all my cultivation to preserve his physical form. I kept him safe in a small coffin, meticulously creating a tiny ice chamber. Julian had held me, sobbing. “It’s my fault.” “I made you unable to be a mother.” “I was selfish and vile, using such filthy methods, defiling your status.” That year, our souls were entwined. I couldn’t help but feel Julian’s heartbreak. Now, Julian had finally found his true love from a century ago. If he truly loved her that much, we could have separated peacefully. But since he dared to cross me, I shattered the coffin. With a mere gesture, the love nest Julian and I shared was engulfed in flames. I walked out of the inferno, looking at the media and the so-called demon hunters blocking the estate gates. A mere gust of dark wind. Sent them scrambling in terror, screaming, “Don’t kill me!” I heard the crisp vampire roars echoing through the mountains. When I arrived at Julian’s office, I saw Seraphina sitting on the sofa, her mouth full of potato chips. I pushed open the door, smiling as I asked her. “Are they delicious?” The chips clattered to the floor. I caught her jaw in my hand, meeting Seraphina’s terrified expression. I smiled faintly, baring my teeth. “It actually hurt quite a bit back then.” “But,” I squeezed Seraphina’s chin, “Julian was indeed clever. He concealed your existence, used me for a century, and ascended to his current position.” Seraphina’s tears fell, and she began to sob. “Cassandra Vance!” “If you dare to hurt me, Julian won’t let you get away with it!” “Oh,” Seraphina cried, then laughed. “I understand. Your little bastard’s soul has been scattered, hasn’t it?” “So, you’re desperate to avenge your little bastard?” “But Julian told me it was because you weren’t pure enough.” Seraphina’s challenging gaze made me utterly uncomfortable. “That’s why you couldn’t keep your child, couldn’t be a mother,” Seraphina looked at me triumphantly. “What you’ll never have in this lifetime, I can easily take—” Her words were cut short. A piercing scream ripped from her throat. Along with Seraphina’s shriek, Julian rushed in, yelling, “Cassandra Vance! What madness are you up to now!” I lifted Seraphina, who now had an eye gouged out. Blood splattered across my face, but I laughed, wild and unhinged. “Last time was a warning.” “This time,” I licked the blood from my lips, “the game begins.” Seraphina, dangling in my grip like a tiny chicken, struggled frantically, screaming through the hand pressed against her empty eye socket. “Kill her!” “Julian!” “Kill her!” “Kill her, Julian!”

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My supposed best friend, Briana, was supposed to be performing a critical surgery. Instead, she was on a video call, openly flirting with my fiancé, Julian. Her distraction led to a catastrophic mistake – her scalpel slipped. The patient was left permanently paralyzed, trapped in a vegetative state. Afterward, she threw me to the wolves – the patient’s devastated family, who were absolutely consumed by rage and grief. She shamelessly claimed *I* was the lead surgeon. I begged Julian to testify for me, but he simply said he’d already married Briana in secret and didn’t want his wife to get jealous. He turned his back on me and escorted Briana away. I was stabbed over a dozen times. The tendons in both my hands were completely severed, and the ring and pinky fingers on both hands were crushed into an unrecognizable pulp. In my darkest moment of despair, my childhood friend, Julian Hayes, appeared with his bodyguards. He cradled my hands, tears streaming down his face. He sent a private jet, flew in dozens of top experts from all over the world, and begged them on his knees to save me. Two years later, I overheard him talking to his assistant: “Mr. Hayes, because of Ms. Thorne’s mistake, the patient died right there on the operating table. Their family is flying back from overseas, and I doubt they’ll let her get away with it.” “Are we going to push the blame onto your wife again, just like last time? This is already her second time taking the fall for Ms. Thorne. What if someone ends up dead for real?” Julian scoffed: “She was stabbed ’til she looked like a sieve, her hands completely useless, and she still survived, didn’t she? If she can take the hit once, she can do it again. I’m supporting her anyway; as long as she doesn’t actually *die*, it’s fine.” “Briana is preparing for the ‘Golden Scalpel’ competition. Becoming Dr. Serena Reed’s disciple is her dream, and I will not allow any danger or obstacle to come near her!”

The assistant, Mr. Davies, looked pained: “But that competition spot originally belonged to your wife, Ellie! She was once the most brilliant surgeon in the country, and becoming Dr. Reed’s disciple was *her* dream too. You deliberately had her hands crippled, making her lose her eligibility.” “Your wife worked tirelessly for ten years to get that spot. Is this truly fair to her?” “Fair? What’s fair about it? Her hands are useless anyway. She’s just a cripple; she can’t compete. Period.” Mr. Davies still hesitated: “But you spent thirty million just to get Ms. Thorne a substitute spot, and then another two hundred million to bribe the organizers for the competition questions. If news gets out that you helped her cheat, your reputation and the company’s stock will suffer incalculable losses.” Julian looked annoyed: “Enough! From the moment I met Briana, I decided I’d do anything for her. Since I couldn’t make her choose me, then I’ll do everything in my power to lift her dreams. As long as Briana is happy, what’s a little reputation or stock loss?” “Briana *must* win that competition. Only then can she become Dr. Reed’s disciple. As for Eleanor… if she’s crippled, then she’s crippled. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her.” Outside the door, I trembled, recording everything on my phone, then stumbled downstairs. So, the patient’s family member who stabbed me and severed my tendons, who crushed four of my fingers all those years ago—he was acting on Julian’s orders! He saved me, he married me, not out of love, but to keep me penned up like a sacrificial lamb, ready to be offered up for his beloved woman whenever needed. I had survived, but both my hands were useless, and four fingers had been amputated. Now, I could barely even hold a fork, let alone pick up a scalpel again. But I never imagined that behind all of this was my own husband’s meticulous scheme. The thought that while I lay there in a pool of my own blood, my dreams shattered and my heart filled with utter despair, he might have been lurking in the shadows, savoring his ‘achievement’—it sent shivers down my spine that I couldn’t control. The scars on my wrists throbbed faintly, my hands trembling uncontrollably. A glass slipped from my grip and shattered on the floor, the sound drawing Julian’s attention. He instantly swept me into his arms, protecting me from stepping on the shards. His voice was full of feigned concern: “Ellie, I’ve told you countless times, in this house, *I* am your hands. Whatever you need, just tell me, and I’ll get it for you.” “Or there’s Mrs. Gable. Your hands aren’t fully healed yet. What if you make them worse? Do you want to break my heart?” I instinctively reached for the gloves on the bar. Julian stopped me, gently lifting my mutilated, grotesque hands, and kissed the scars where my fingers had been amputated. “Ellie, with me, you never need to feel inferior, and you certainly don’t need to wear gloves to hide yourself. I love you, and I love everything about you.” “I only regret that I arrived too late. Otherwise, your hands wouldn’t be like this, and you wouldn’t have lost your dream of being a doctor. Don’t worry, I will take good care of you.” His tone and gaze were so tender, yet his words filled my heart with immeasurable sorrow. The deep affection and salvation I thought I’d found were nothing but his elaborate disguise. I forced a smile: “Don’t say that. You did your best.” “You’ve worked hard. Go back to the bedroom first; I’ll ask Mrs. Gable to warm some milk for you.” I secretly put two sleeping pills in the milk, and after Julian fell asleep, I went to the villa’s garage. I intended to check the dash cam, but accidentally brushed against a button in the corner. The floor tiles beneath me flipped open, revealing a downward staircase. Beneath it lay a hidden room. The room was secured by an electronic lock. On the small screen, there was a heart-shaped sticker with pictures of Briana and Julian. As expected, the password was Briana’s birthday.

Once inside, the scene that greeted me pierced my heart like a sharp blade. Julian had transformed the secret room into a private cinema. On the best display screen money could buy, a video was playing: Briana in college, practicing vascular sutures on a white mouse. Briana’s pores were clearly visible, as if I could reach out and touch her. Her hands weren’t steady enough; the needle pierced right through the mouse’s heart, killing it instantly. Despite such clumsy technique, such idiotic操作, Julian had overlaid the video with heart stickers and a caption: “October 3rd, 2018, Sunny. My dearest Briana, a future medical star, you look so beautiful when you’re focused.” I once wanted to record our daily life after marriage, to keep as memories for our old age. Julian had told me that true memories should only be kept in the heart, and we shouldn’t waste time on such meaningless things. Yet, he had recorded so many videos of Briana’s daily life and work. The playlist held over a thousand videos, more than the days we’d been married. Each one was accompanied by his heartfelt confessions. In the secret room, there were also a dozen small wooden shelves, displaying hundreds of bottles of women’s hand cream. When I was still a doctor, I’d seen a similar bottle in Briana’s bag. Curious, I’d asked her where she bought it. Briana had scoffed: “Ellie, don’t even think about it. You can’t buy it, and you can’t afford it. This was specially formulated for me by an international master, commissioned by someone who loves me. The ingredients are expensive and rare, the best for nourishing skin. One bottle costs hundreds of thousands!” It turned out that ‘someone’ was Julian. Three years of marriage, and I had never received such favoritism. But what truly broke my heart was the comic poster titled ‘Briana’s Dream.’ A cartoon version of Briana was depicted, battling her way through, winning the ‘Golden Scalpel’ championship, and becoming Dr. Reed’s disciple. Next to it was Julian’s handwriting: “Briana, I will definitely lead you to the pinnacle.” And on this path to the pinnacle, I saw my own image: covered in blood, my fingers crushed to pulp, lying in a pool of blood. My face was crossed out with a vivid red ‘X,’ and a note read: Briana’s Obstacle, resolved. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I booked a plane ticket for three days later. Julian, since I was such an eyesore to you, I would leave for good. As for your Briana, she’d enjoyed my pain and spilled blood for long enough. It was time for it to end. I returned to the villa and drafted a divorce agreement on my phone. To leave with nothing was easy; there were plenty of templates. I sat on the sofa, staring blankly at my mutilated hands, sleepless through the night. The next morning, Julian, assuming I had simply woken up early, didn’t suspect a thing. He pulled out a thumb-sized tube of hand cream and meticulously massaged it into my hands. “Ellie, this is a new product developed by an international master. It can nourish your skin and help it regenerate. It’s incredibly hard to get; I finally managed to buy just one tube. It’s perfect for you.” Looking at the hand cream, I inwardly scoffed. This was a free sample he got from buying Briana’s expensive hand creams, piled up in dusty boxes in the corner of the secret room. Before I could even suggest divorce, Julian hurriedly got dressed and left. “Ellie, things are a bit chaotic outside lately. Stay home, be good, and don’t run around.” No sooner had he walked out the front door than I pulled out my phone. The recording device I’d secretly placed in his car transmitted Julian and his assistant, Mr. Davies, talking.

“Mr. Hayes, the deceased patient’s family seems to have contacted the media to seek justice for their loved one. I’ve already told the hospital staff to keep their mouths shut, but the public outcry is growing, and it’s very likely to trace back to Ms. Thorne.” “Then what are you waiting for? Leak Eleanor’s photo and our home address to the media. Tell them she’s the one who did it.” “But your wife…” “Don’t waste time! She’ll be safely tucked away at home. Just send two bodyguards to stand guard outside. What could possibly happen? The main thing is, nothing must affect Briana.” For Briana, he shamelessly threw me into the eye of the storm. Truly, his devotion was profound. Not long after Julian left, the media and influencers, having received the tip, swarmed our house. The two bodyguards, of course, were nowhere to be seen. They violently pounded on the door, shouting: “Eleanor Vance, you murderer, you heartless doctor! You killed someone and still have the nerve to hide at home and enjoy yourself? Today, we’re delivering justice! Get out here!” Windows shattered from stones, and rotten eggs splattered on my head, emitting a disgusting stench. Seeing the front door about to give way, Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper, couldn’t bear it. She urged me to change into her clothes and hat and sneak out through the back door. To my dismay, I hadn’t run far when a few influencers spotted me. “There she is! The bitch is running! Quick, catch her! Our livestream is going to go viral!” The trauma of being caught and tormented by the patient’s family years ago resurfaced, and I ran for my life in terror. In a panic, I FaceTimed Julian for help. The moment he picked up, he said: “Ellie, I’m in a meeting. Can we talk later, alright?” Before I could speak, Julian seemed to accidentally turn on his camera. On the screen, Briana was clinging to his arm, and they were leisurely and sweetly shopping at a mall. Briana pointed at a high-end jewelry store in front of them, pouting playfully: “Julian, I love all their diamond rings, but they’re so expensive. What should I do?” Julian’s gaze was full of adoration, his voice doting: “Then I’ll buy them all for you, Briana, as a cheer for your competition tomorrow.” “Oh, you’re spoiling me too much! I’m going to get completely spoiled. How about… you let me try on that pigeon-sized diamond first?” “Whatever makes you happy, Briana. I’ll do anything.” The sales associate next to them looked envious: “Sir, you truly adore your wife! They say loving your partner is like nurturing a flower, and no wonder your wife is so radiant. You two are a perfect match, truly enviable.” “If my husband spoiled me half as much as you spoil yours, I’d die happy.” Julian simply smiled, not denying it. In fact, he seemed quite pleased the sales associate called him Briana’s husband and immediately tipped her a thousand dollars. Briana playfully slapped his arm: “You’re such a spendthrift.” My steps froze instantly, the words caught in my throat, unable to go up or down. Only a sickening ache remained. Briana saw me on the screen and feigned enthusiasm: “Oh, isn’t that Ellie? Oops, it’s all Julian’s fault, he was so busy buying me jewelry, he forgot he was still on a video call with you. You’re so magnanimous, you won’t be mad, right?” She then introduced me to the curious sales associate: “This is my best friend. She’s not just generous, she’s quite special, actually.” “The rest of us normal people have ten fingers, but she only has six! Isn’t that unique? If she came today, you probably wouldn’t earn as much commission, since she doesn’t have as many fingers.” “Ellie, you’re so good at managing your money, always so thrifty.” Julian finally realized he’d pressed the wrong button and awkwardly tried to explain: “Ellie, don’t misunderstand. Briana has a competition tomorrow, and as a friend, I just wanted to get her a gift to cheer her on…”

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Visiting my mom at the Serenity Haven, she suddenly clutched her chest, crying out in pain. I immediately reached for her emergency heart medication. But the new head nurse, Tiffany, slapped the pills right out of my hand. “Visitors aren’t allowed to give residents medication without authorization!” “I’ve established new rules. All medications must be approved by me before use!” Seeing Mom’s ashen face, I frantically shouted: “My mom has coronary heart disease, and she’s having an angina attack right now! She needs her medication immediately! Any delay could be fatal!” I tried to grab the pill bottle from the floor. But the head nurse stepped on it, crushing it under her heel. “What’s all the fuss about? Chest tightness is common for the elderly, don’t make a big deal out of it.” “If everyone caused such a scene, breaking the rules, would you be responsible for the chaos?” This nursing home, which I invested two hundred million dollars to build, was denying my mother the right to her emergency medication! I was shaking with rage. I immediately called Director Miller. “Director Miller, you have three minutes to get in front of me, or you can kiss your job goodbye!”

Before I could say anything else, Head Nurse Tiffany snatched my phone and violently smashed it on the floor. The screen shattered instantly. She crossed her arms, smirking at me with disdain. “Oh, so you dare threaten the Director? Who the hell do you think you are?” She scanned me with contempt. “Look at you, dressed like a pauper. I bet you can’t afford the VIP fees for Serenity Haven. Are you trying to stage a scene to extort money?” “Let me tell you, no way!” My chest tightened with anger, and I found it almost laughable. Because of my extremely sensitive skin, all my clothes are top-tier custom cotton, without any labels. In the eyes of a brand-obsessed snob like her, it just looked like proof of my “poverty.” “Ah… it hurts…” Mom groaned in agony, cold sweat beading on her pale face, her lips starting to turn purple. My heart was pounding. I couldn’t waste time arguing with this idiot. “My mom is in critical condition! Call a doctor, now!” Tiffany arrogantly tilted her chin up. “A doctor? Even a doctor has to listen to me.” “I said no medication, and that means no medication! No one can change my decision!” Her irrational stubbornness finally pushed me over the edge. “Fine, you won’t call a doctor, will you? I’ll take my mom to the hospital myself!” I immediately moved to help my mother into her wheelchair, ready to take her away. It was only a ten-minute drive to the nearest major hospital; there should still be enough time! Tiffany’s eyes hardened, and she gestured to two burly male orderlies nearby. “Grab her!” The two men instantly moved, gripping my arms tightly, one on each side, pinning me in place. Tiffany walked up to me, a triumphant smirk on her face. “Ms. Summer, the contract you signed clearly states that your mother must stay with us for a full year.” “If she leaves now, people outside will think we mistreat the elderly at Serenity Haven! Can you bear that responsibility?” I was trembling with fury. She clearly intended to hold my mother here, forcing her to suffer a slow, agonizing death! Just then, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. Director Miller came panting down the hall. “Stop!” “What are you doing!” When I first brought my mother here, I had specifically told Director Miller about her history of coronary heart disease and emphasized the need for her emergency heart medication to be on hand at all times. He had promised me emphatically that he would give my mother extra care. So I quickly shouted, “Director Miller, my mom is having a heart attack…” But before I could finish, Tiffany rushed forward, throwing herself in front of Director Miller. “Director, you’re finally here!” She pointed at me, her voice laced with a sob. “This visitor is causing a scene! The old lady just has normal chest tightness, she just needs to rest.” “But she refused to listen, insisted on giving the elder unauthorized medication, and even threatened to call an outside doctor! Doesn’t she trust the professional standards of Serenity Haven?” “I was only stopping her for the old lady’s safety!” After listening to her tearful accusation, Director Miller turned to me, his brows furrowed in a knot. His gaze swept over the shattered phone and pill bottle on the floor, then landed on me. “Madam, making such a scene here, it’s unacceptable!” “Head Nurse Tiffany is an expert our CEO, Mr. James, specially invited back from overseas. All the rules she sets are to ensure the safety of all our residents’ medication.” “As a family member, how can you be so unreasonable, causing trouble for no reason?” I looked at this man, twisting the truth so blatantly, and felt a wave of nausea. I had invested two hundred million dollars to build Serenity Haven, the most luxurious high-end nursing home in Newport City. To give my husband, James, who married into my family and was always eager to climb the social ladder, some status, I had given him the CEO position. After my father passed away, my work required frequent business trips, leaving me unable to care for my mother personally. Thinking that my own nursing home would provide proper care, I had entrusted her here. But look at the kind of people James had hired! A surge of anger shot from my chest to my head. “Rules? My mom is dying right now, and you’re talking about rules?” “This nursing home was built with my money! Is this how you treat an investor’s family?” I thought that revealing my true identity would at least make them hesitant, make them prioritize saving my mother’s life. However, as soon as I finished speaking, Tiffany slapped me directly across the face. She pointed a finger at my nose, cursing: “You built it? Who the hell do you think you are to say such a thing?”

“Let me tell you, this Serenity Haven is my husband James’s property!” “You pathetic excuse for a woman, how dare you impersonate the owner here? You have a death wish!” “My husband… James?” If she was James’s wife, then who was I? In that instant, I understood why this new head nurse dared to be so arrogant, why even the director followed her every command. All these years, James had always presented himself as gentle, caring, and deeply devoted to me. Those empty vows of eternal love, those sweet nothings like “I can’t live without you”—they all slammed into my face now, like resounding slaps. Just as I was lost in shock, I felt a sharp kick right behind my knee from behind. Caught off guard, I stumbled forward, collapsing onto the hard, cold tiles. My knees screamed in pain. Tiffany squatted down, pinching my face cruelly, slapping me repeatedly, and cursing: “Bitch! Whore!” “Tell me! Did you sleep with my husband to hook him?!” “Otherwise, how could a pauper like you ever get into Serenity Haven?!” My face was burning. Suddenly, my gaze caught sight of the watch on her wrist. That watch—I had commissioned it specifically for James last year, for our wedding anniversary. It was one of a kind in the entire world. I remembered clearly, when I gave him the watch, he’d hugged me, tearfully promising to treasure it forever. And now, he’d treasured it onto another woman’s wrist! Tiffany was still cursing. I simply opened my mouth and bit down hard on her hand. “Ah!” Tiffany shrieked in pain, kicking me to the ground. She looked at the bloody teeth marks on the back of her hand, her eyes instantly filling with venomous hatred. My mother, who had been lying in bed, saw me being attacked. She struggled to get up, trying to reach me. “Don’t… don’t hit my daughter…” Tiffany turned, glaring viciously at my mother. “You old hag! It’s all because of your awful daughter that I got hurt!” “Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson, you old biddy!” With that, she lifted her foot and violently kicked my mother in the chest! My mother’s angina hadn’t subsided. With that kick, she rolled her eyes and passed out. “Mom!” Summoning strength from somewhere deep inside, I violently broke free from the two orderlies’ grasp and threw myself towards my mother. I checked her breathing, a wave of relief washing over me. Then, I lunged at Tiffany, grabbing her hair and slamming her head to the ground with all my might. I scrambled on top of her, windmilling my arms, slapping her face again and again! “I’ll kill you!” “You dare touch my mom! I’ll kill you!” Tiffany was utterly stunned by the assault, screaming and trying to push me away. Director Miller, pale with fright from the sudden turn of events, nervously tried to pull me off her, frantically shouting into his walkie-talkie. “Security! Security, quickly! There’s an assault on the third-floor VIP section!” Soon, a group of uniformed security guards rushed in. It took several of them working together to finally drag my enraged self off Tiffany, pinning me firmly to the ground. Tiffany struggled to her feet, her pretty face swollen like a balloon, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She stumbled over to me, lifted her high-heeled foot, and stomped the heel viciously onto my hand. “Bitch! You dared to hit my face!” “Today, I’m going to break both your hands! Let’s see how you hit people then!” “Ah!” A searing pain shot through me; I felt like my hand bones had shattered. “Tiffany, I am James’s lawful wife.” “If he knew you beat me like this, and hurt my mom, he would never let you get away with it!” Hearing this, Tiffany burst out laughing. “Lawful wife? You?” “I said you were trying to hook up with my husband, and you really ran with that lie, didn’t you?” She patted my face. “Let me tell you some good news: James is on his way.” “When he gets here, I’ll make sure he wipes both you shameless mother and daughter off the face of Newport City!” Just then, a familiar voice came from the doorway. “Stop! Who dares bully my wife!” It was James. He walked towards us, his face etched with fury, two black-suited bodyguards trailing behind him. The moment she saw him, the venom and rage on Tiffany’s face vanished, replaced by an expression of extreme vulnerability and victimhood. She threw herself into James’s arms, pointing at me and sobbing. “Husband! You’re finally here! This crazy woman is impersonating you!”

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Three years after my best friend vanished, eighteen skeletons were unearthed beneath Harmony Creek. One of them was the worst—180 stab wounds, each one cutting to the bone. Clutched tightly in her hand was a single, folded note. “Don’t be scared. I just went home. If you can’t hold on, come back too.” The system’s alert blared in my mind: “Affection and Love Progress values have dropped to ten percent. Host, please expedite your demise and return to your original world.” That night, I put on my wedding dress and sent my suicide note to the family group chat on SnapChat. My adopted sister’s fiancé, who was with her, simply texted back: “Are you out of your mind?” My actress mother called me repeatedly, ordering me to take off the dress and apologize to Isabella. My brother, Arthur, a police officer, was furious. “You know Isabella can’t handle the news of you marrying Lucas since her memory loss, yet you deliberately wear a wedding dress to provoke her, hoping to worsen her condition, don’t you?” No one paid any attention to my suicide note. They didn’t know I was wearing the wedding dress not to marry Lucas. But to lure out the serial killer who murdered my best friend. And to finally break free from this world that had trapped me for twenty-five years. Only my lawyer brother, Daniel, sent multiple voice messages on SnapChat. “Vera, do you know something?” “Is that body Summer’s? Was that note she left for you?” I didn’t reply to anyone. I just clutched Summer’s photo, her image a blur through my tears. With plainclothes police officers following discreetly behind, I headed for the hotel.

I sat in the wedding car, the police officers disguised as bridesmaids and groomsmen looking at me with complex emotions. “Are you really sure about this? To lure out the ‘Bride Butcher,’ you might not make it out alive.” “Even though this case could cost Captain Arthur his job, you don’t have to risk your life…” I spoke softly. “I’m not doing this for Arthur.” They didn’t respond, assuming I was still angry with Arthur. Someone said, “I’ll call Captain Arthur. In such a dangerous situation, he should be here protecting you.” I watched him dial, a faint, bitter smile playing on my lips. The call connected. He said, “Captain Arthur, Vera is going in as bait for the Butcher today. It’s incredibly risky, you—” He didn’t finish his sentence before the line went dead. At that exact moment, my own phone rang. I answered, my face expressionless. Arthur’s furious voice exploded through the phone. “I always thought you were just selfish and childish because we spoiled you.” “I never imagined you’d stoop so low, throwing away all your principles just to force a marriage.” He gritted his teeth, his breathing ragged, each word a venomous accusation. “You not only pushed your sister’s condition to worsen, but now you have the gall to get my colleagues to lie, saying you’re acting as bait. You think you can trick us into pitying you, into softening our hearts and agreeing to your marriage with Lucas, don’t you?” “Vera, you’re exactly like that manipulative foster mother of yours—reckless, obsessed with men, always playing games. How dare you exploit such a critical case for your selfish agenda!” He bit out the words, his voice as cold as a knife. “Get over here immediately and apologize to your sister on your knees!” “Make it clear to everyone that Lucas has nothing to do with you. That *you* are the one being pathetic, trying to steal your sister’s man!” Listening to him, my hand clenched tighter. When he compared me to my foster mother in that tone, my vision swam. Yet, when he’d reviewed my case files years ago, he saw how my foster mother, just to avoid upsetting my foster father, Frank, would coldly watch as Frank entered my room in the middle of the night. He saw how she’d smashed a vase over my head, leaving a permanent scar above my brow, all while I screamed and struggled, threatening to call the police. Back then, his hands trembled, his eyes red as he gently traced my scar. He’d sworn with that same intense voice: “Vera, I won’t let anyone who hurt you get away with it. Not one.” I let out a bitter laugh, then spoke calmly. “My foster mother is Isabella’s biological mother.” “By your logic, *she* should have inherited my foster mother’s bad character.” “After all, she’s certainly been pretending to be crazy and helpless, trying to steal her sister’s marriage. Aren’t you all her accomplices?” A few seconds of silence followed on the other end, then Isabella’s frantic sobs erupted. “Sister, I really didn’t mean to… I’m sick and I don’t remember some things. I didn’t know you and Lucas… ” “Mom, Arthur, Lucas. I never meant for my illness to upset my sister. I’d be better off dead…” Then came my mother’s enraged roar. “Enough, Vera! If you have even an ounce of decency, come over and apologize immediately! Otherwise, we’re cutting you out of our lives starting today!” I heard a scramble on the other end, as if someone had snatched the phone. It was Lucas. His voice was calm but laced with impatience. “Vera, cancel the wedding right now and come apologize to Isabella on your knees.” “Otherwise, I’m breaking off our engagement.” I lowered my eyes, my voice steady. “Fine.” Then I hung up. The police officers exchanged glances. No one mentioned calling my brother to accompany me again. The wedding car pulled up to the hotel entrance. As soon as I pushed open the car door, a foul stench assaulted me. Eggs, fruit peels, and even some liquid splattered onto my wedding dress. I was shoved backward, almost losing my footing. “Bitch! Stealing your own sister’s boyfriend and still having the nerve to force a wedding! How dare you try to play the victim with the Butcher case! We have to teach this vile woman a lesson today!” “The actress mom, who’s usually so gentle, was brought to tears by her! A daughter like this should just be beaten to death!” It clicked then. My conversation with my family had been live-streamed by my actress mother. They grabbed my hair, kicked my body, forcing me to my knees. Others ripped at my wedding dress, holding up phones to capture my humiliated image. “Apologize to your sister and the actress on your knees!” “And this wedding dress! Does a dirty woman like you deserve to wear it? Tear it off her! Let her learn not to steal men!” My fingers trembled from the pain. Yet, I lifted my head and shouted defiantly. “I didn’t do anything wrong!” “Why should I apologize?” The crowd surged, then Arthur and my mother’s bodyguards pushed through, forcing the mob back. Arthur’s voice trembled with rage. “You still claim you did nothing wrong? I told you not to upset Isabella with your engagement to Lucas, so why are you still having this wedding in a gown? Why do you insist on this forced marriage charade?” But when he rushed over and saw me clearly, he froze. My wedding dress was torn to shreds, barely covering my body, which was covered in bruises and cuts. My forehead and clothes were stained with foul, dirty liquid. He instinctively moved to wipe the grime off me. He asked my mother in a low voice, trying to keep it steady: “How could you live-stream those things? And bring these extremist fans here?” “What if Isabella gets dragged into this?” My mother’s eyes showed a flicker of regret. But hearing him, she hardened her voice and replied: “She brought it on herself, didn’t she? Serves her right.” I took two steps back, avoiding his hand, and spoke calmly. “I didn’t come here to force a wedding. Lucas breaking off our engagement, or marrying Isabella, has nothing to do with me.” “I came here to be bait, to lure out the Butcher.” My mother’s face instinctively paled. Before she could speak, Arthur slapped me across the face. His expression was complicated, anger mixed with a flicker of panic. “I warned you not to use a major case involving dozens of girls’ lives as a tactic to make us pity you!” He took a deep breath, his face hardening, his voice turning vicious. “You’re just like that best friend of yours—heartless and immoral!” “She betrayed Daniel, stole his money, and ran off.” “She was afraid of being wanted by the police, so she secretly faked evidence, slipped a note into a victim’s hand, and pretended to be dead.” “I told you repeatedly that the body couldn’t be that lowlife Summer, but that idiot Daniel actually believed it and drank himself into oblivion, even abandoning his cases!” The onlookers started heckling. “Summer? Isn’t she that gold-digger who ran off with the money? Her nude photos were all over the dark web, you didn’t even need a dollar to see them, hahaha!” “A vile woman like her, interfering with a murder investigation. She deserves to die.” I clenched my hands, my heart tearing apart with pain. Three years ago, Summer found proof that Isabella was faking her amnesia and madness. But she vanished before she could give me the evidence. Before her disappearance, her nude photos were being sold online, available for just 99 cents. At the time, Summer cried and begged my younger brother, her fiancé, to represent her in court. But my brilliant lawyer brother, who had never lost a case, sat idly by in the plaintiff’s seat on the day of the trial. He didn’t utter a single word, ensuring we lost the case. The day we left the courthouse, Daniel dropped his pretense and scoffed. “This is what you get for messing with Isabella.” “This time it’s just your photos. Next time, you’ll be sold off on the black market, a plaything for strangers.” That day, Summer cried in my arms for a long, long time. The next day, she disappeared. I spent three years searching for her, but Daniel always met my efforts with scorn. “She’s just faking her disappearance, wanting me to look for her. Let her play her games. We’ll see how long she can hide.” Until… the victims of the ‘Butcher’s Bride’ dismemberment case were discovered in an abandoned underground facility in Harmony Creek. In my mind, the system finally announced Summer’s death. My Summer, dead at the Butcher’s hands. And the system had already decreed my fate. My ten years of striving for family affection and romantic love had all ended in failure. It instructed me to commit suicide immediately and escape this world. But I still chose to use my death to seek justice for those poor victims. … Lucas walked over, his face grim. “Since you insist on going against us, then as you wish, I’m breaking off our engagement.” I nodded, took out my phone, and posted a statement. —I am breaking off my engagement with Lucas. I held up my phone for them to see. “Is this sufficient?” The three of them were stunned by my actions, frozen in place. Lucas stared at me in disbelief. Then he gritted his teeth and continued. “Fine, then the child in your belly? You’ll have to get rid of it. Who knows what schemes you’d cook up with a baby.” I raised a hand to my stomach, a bitter smile on my face. “The child is already gone.” The words had barely left my lips when Lucas lunged forward, grabbing my shoulders. “What are you talking about! How could you bring yourself to abort this child? How dare you terminate *our* baby without consulting me?” His shock wasn’t unwarranted; he knew how much I longed for this child. Despite the unstable pregnancy, I gritted my teeth, enduring the thick, stabilizing injections that left my belly bruised. To help the baby develop, I choked down bowl after bowl of bitter medicine, fighting back nausea. Even as a doctor who never believed in superstitions, I found myself buying a fertility charm, praying devoutly every single day in my bedroom. But I knew, even as I yearned for this child—because in another world, I was an orphan, desperate for a blood relative—that if this child were born, unloved like me, it would only be a torment. Lucas automatically assumed that when I said the child was gone, I meant I’d aborted it. His eyes were filled with anguish. He grabbed my hand, completely forgetting his original purpose for being here. He tugged me, demanding we go to the hospital to confirm. Just then, a cry came from behind us. Isabella’s voice was shaky and shrill: “Lucas, isn’t today our wedding day? Why are you holding her hand? Why is she wearing a wedding dress?” “Sister, did you call me here just so I could see Lucas betray me? I hate you both!” She cried, spun around, and ran into the street. Arthur yelled, and my mother slapped me across the face: “What did you call Isabella here for! Are you only happy if you drive her completely insane?!” “If anything happens to Isabella because of you today, I’m disowning you!” “Lucas, stop her!” Lucas violently flung my hand away. I stumbled backward and fell. My wedding dress tore on the gravel, scraping blood from my knees. I sat on the ground, a bitter smile on my face, watching them rush after Isabella. I had seen those retreating backs too many times. When I first returned to this family, we did share a brief, happy period. Back then, my mother would smile as she cooked for me, Arthur would take me for ice cream after school. Daniel would pull me along to play his favorite computer games. But everything changed the day Lucas, the boy next door, and I started dating. Isabella began to act out. She would cry and scream, claiming I was scaring her. Saying I was going to send her back to my foster parents’ home. She’d point at me, her face streaked with tears, yelling hysterically: “Sister said, why should she have lived like that? Why should she be beaten and scolded while I took her place in a good life? She’s not okay with it; she wants me to suffer too!” At first, my mother, Arthur, and Daniel would try to soothe her. My mother would gently say, “That’s impossible, Vera wouldn’t say such a thing.” Arthur would explain for me, “She’s a good kid; she wouldn’t say something like that.” Daniel would say, “Isabella, you must have misunderstood Vera.” But as time went on, my mother and Daniel eventually sided with Isabella. They would cold-faced scold me whenever Isabella cried and fussed. “Are you done yet?! Do you only stop when you’ve terrified Isabella like this?” “We shouldn’t have taken you back. You’ve ruined this family.” Back then, Arthur would still rush out and defend me. He said I volunteered, helping girls who were victims of domestic violence. “How could a kind child like Vera say such things?” “Mom, you’re being too biased!” He would take me directly from home, and we’d travel to clear my mind. Later, on my birthday, Isabella threw a huge tantrum, forbidding me from celebrating. Arthur picked me up directly. He ordered a birthday cake for me and bought me a white dress with his own salary. He said, “Tomorrow’s your birthday; I’ll take you to Disneyland. Don’t worry about all that nonsense.” He even patted my head, smiling, “Brother will always believe you, always stand by you.” But all that stopped the very next day. That day, I took a day off from work, wanting to surprise Arthur. Instead, I was ambushed in an alley by my foster father, who had just been released from prison. It was a dark, old alley, the walls covered in peeling paint and the smell of damp mold. He dragged me into a corner, cursing, “You little bitch, daring to call the cops on me? Let’s see what I do to you now!” I struggled, but he kicked me down. He snatched the cake from my hands and savagely stomped on it. Cream mixed with mud, like a pool of blood. I was dizzy from the beating, my dress torn. In that moment, I felt like I was back in that hell. When I woke up, I clutched my wounds and ran to find Arthur. He was sitting outside a hospital room. I rushed to him, crying, “Arthur, help me…” But before I could finish, he slapped me across the face. It was the first time he had ever hit me. He dragged me, pulling me into Isabella’s hospital room, and forced me to kneel by her bed. He gritted his teeth and cursed me, “I can’t believe how good you are at faking it! How could you buy off that old animal to hurt Isabella?!” Tears streamed down my face. I cried, shaking my head, “It wasn’t me… it really wasn’t me…” But he didn’t believe me. He just looked at me with disappointment, coldly stating. “I can’t believe those monsters taught you to be like this.” “Now Isabella has been driven mad by you! Vera, you’d better live with that guilt forever and spend the rest of your life making it up to her.” My mother stood by, watching me expressionlessly. Even Lucas looked at me with a cold face, saying, “You disappoint me.” After that, he spent almost every day with Isabella, saying it was to atone for my sins. I always believed then—that my foster father had lied, seeking revenge on me. Until Summer overheard Isabella talking on the phone with a friend. She was laughing, triumphant. “Haha, I’m fine. Just put on a little show, and she’s completely screwed. That old man, give him a little cash, and he’ll cooperate.” “I told you, who does she think she is, trying to steal my family? All I have to do is cry a little, and everyone believes me.” When I found out, I felt utterly numb. … My thoughts snapped back to the present. I braced myself against the wall, staggering to my feet, and turned towards the hotel. But I hadn’t taken two steps when Arthur ran over and grabbed my arm. He roared: “You deliberately called Isabella here, provoking her until she had another episode! She almost got hit by a car, and now she’s fainted from shock!” “You have to come to the hospital with us and kneel at her bedside to admit your mistake!” “When she wakes up, *she* can decide if you’re allowed to leave!” I struggled as Arthur dragged me into the car. The police officer’s voice came through my earpiece: “The Butcher’s trail has gone cold. Stand by, you don’t need to enter the hotel anymore.” I let out a long sigh. I acknowledged, “Okay,” and turned off my earpiece. They brought me into the emergency room at the hospital. I stumbled as I was pushed toward the ER. Just as the door was about to close, I spoke softly: “Arthur, I didn’t tell anyone I was wearing a wedding dress and going to the hotel.” “Arthur, I didn’t call anyone to come, and I certainly didn’t deliberately call Isabella.” “This time, do you believe me?” Arthur frowned, impatiently pushing me. “Enough. Explanations are useless. Just admit your mistake. As long as Isabella forgives you, Mom and I won’t pursue this.” I let out a bitter laugh, the last shred of hope in my heart swallowed by a wave of bitterness. I turned and entered the emergency room. As soon as the door closed, a sharp pain shot through my neck. I lost my balance and collapsed to the floor. I woke up to the smell of damp mold in a dimly lit, stifling warehouse. Isabella lay next to me. Her eyes flew open, and her first words were a furious scream.

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A sudden fire engulfed our home, trapping my mother-in-law and a pet dog inside the raging flames. Shawna, my husband Max’s childhood friend and a rescue team member, rushed to the scene. Yet, she insisted on saving the dog first. The consequence? My mother-in-law burned to death. Afterward, I dragged Shawna to court. But the day before the trial, I received a chilling video: my son, Leo, was dangling upside down, hundreds of feet in the air. My CEO husband stood before me, his eyes cold and unfeeling. “Shawna was just strictly following rescue protocols. You save those with a chance of survival. Your mother was already dead when Shawna rushed in. Your current actions are nothing but malicious revenge.” “Don’t you realize you’ve severely damaged Shawna’s reputation and disrupted her daily life? I’m giving you five minutes. If you don’t drop the lawsuit, I can’t guarantee that rope on the helicopter won’t snap.” Turns out, Max had always believed it was *my* mother who died. That’s why he’d stooped so low, threatening our son’s life to force me to withdraw the suit. I looked at him, my expression blank. “Withdrawing the lawsuit requires the victim’s family to sign off. I don’t have that right.” Hearing my refusal, Max’s face hardened, his gaze growing even colder. “Seraphina, I’m not discussing this with you; I’m *telling* you!” “Your mother was already dead by the time Shawna got there. She only brought the dog out of kindness, and you’re twisting it into a reason to get back at her. You’re truly vile, it’s sickening!” “Leo is only five years old. He can’t hold on up there for long. You’d better make your choice quickly.” I looked at Max, so smug and confident, and my heart turned to ice. To clear Shawna’s name, he was willing to threaten our own son’s life. I was dying to see if he’d still wear that expression if he knew it was *his* mother who died! Max’s father, Vincent, was a brutal alcoholic. Every time he drank, he’d beat Max and Evelyn. Once, to protect Max, Evelyn had a leg broken by Vincent. From that day on, Max swore he’d protect his mother with his life. Later, Max and Evelyn escaped their fractured home. He clawed his way to his current position, using every means possible, all to give Evelyn a better life. Max’s filial piety was legendary. Once, his father secretly found Evelyn, demanding money. Max mobilized all his resources that very night, and by the next day, Vincent was in prison. Sentence: life imprisonment. I thought of Evelyn, such a good woman, burned alive when there was still hope for rescue. I couldn’t help but sigh. “Max, Evelyn was standing at the window, desperately calling for help before she burned to death. She wanted to live so badly. Can you really bear to see her die in vain?” Max just stared at me coldly, tossing a withdrawal application onto the table in front of me. “That was just a final flicker of life before the end. Besides, your mother was over fifty; she’d lived long enough.” “And if she really could’ve survived, she would’ve held on until the rescue team got back to her. Since she didn’t wait for them, it means she deserved to die.” I saw a hint of disdain flash in Max’s eyes, and a chill shot through my heart. “Max, do you know that the last name Evelyn called out before she died was yours? She hoped so much that you would save her!” Max scoffed. “I’m not a miracle worker. Calling my name won’t save her. Besides, the fire was so fierce that day; even if the rescue team had gone for her first, your mother might not have made it out alive.” “Just sign the withdrawal application! Don’t waste any more time.” Max roughly pressed on my shoulder, forcing me to look at his phone screen. The image showed Leo, dangling upside down hundreds of feet in the air, trembling uncontrollably. “Mommy, save me! I’m so scared.” I stared at my son on the screen, horrified, and a surge of rage boiled within me. “Max, our son was born after three agonizing years of IVF, and you’re dangling him hundreds of feet in the air for Shawna? Are you even human?” Max looked at Leo on the screen, his face utterly devoid of emotion. “Whether Leo comes down safely depends on whether you sign that withdrawal application.” Watching Leo on the screen, almost unconscious, I clenched my fists tightly. “Fine, I’ll sign it.” As the words left my lips, Max finally cracked a slight smile. He picked up his phone and gave an order to the person on the other end. “Bring the child down!”

Then Max looked at me with a triumphant smirk. “I’ll publish this withdrawal application online for everyone to see. You won’t get a second chance to sue.” Max then sent me a photo. It was a mansion worth millions in a prime school district. “Shawna’s almost depressed because of you. This villa is your apology gift to her.” I looked at Max’s arrogant face, my expression darkening. “You buy that house yourself, Max! After all, the victim’s family who made her depressed isn’t me.” Max shot me a furious glare, his face turning pale. “Seraphina Hayes, what does your mother dying have to do with me? You’re the only victim’s family here. Don’t drag me into this. My mother is perfectly fine.” Then he pointed a warning finger at me. “Don’t let me catch you cursing my mother behind my back, or I swear I won’t let you off easy.” With that, Max grabbed the withdrawal application and stormed out. I watched his retreating back, utterly bewildered, unable to fathom why Max would go to such lengths for Shawna, even threatening our son’s life. Thinking of Leo, I frantically called Maria, the nanny. Learning that Leo had already been taken to the hospital, I rushed there immediately. After a doctor’s examination, Leo was fine, but I froze when I saw his medical report. The report listed Leo’s blood type as AB! But I am O-negative. A wave of panic washed over me. I grabbed the report and hurried home, determined to confront Max. Just as I was about to knock, I heard mocking laughter from inside. “It was just an AI-generated video, and Seraphina believed it right away. You’re so clever, Max.” Peeking through the slightly ajar door, I saw Shawna leaning into Max’s embrace, gazing at him with adoration. Max’s hand traced circles on Shawna’s back. “How could I ever truly hang *our* biological son hundreds of feet in the air?” Shawna giggled shyly, tracing patterns on his chest. “It was brilliant, the way you swapped Seraphina’s vitamins for birth control pills, making her believe she was infertile, then forced her into IVF. Then, so naturally, you had my egg implanted in her, making her carry our son for ten months. Pure genius.” It felt like a thunderbolt exploded in my mind. My son, whom I had lovingly raised for five years, was Shawna’s? I clenched my fists, feeling a sharp knife plunge deep into my heart. I never imagined the man sharing my bed was a complete demon! I was about to push the door open and confront Max, but his next words stopped me cold. “If it weren’t for Seraphina’s family background, I never would have left you to marry her. Now that her mother is dead, all the inheritance will go to Seraphina. Once I get my hands on those assets, our family of three can finally be together.” Max’s words were like invisible hands squeezing my heart, making it impossible to breathe. I never thought this entire conspiracy was tailor-made for me! If Evelyn hadn’t come to our house that day to bring Max soup, perhaps the one who died would truly have been *my* mother. I dared not think further. I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer. “Prepare a divorce agreement for me right away. I’m filing for divorce.” Then I called my assistant. “Help me investigate something.” The next day, I returned home with the divorce papers. Max was lounging on the sofa, casually eating fruit with Shawna in his arms. When he saw me, Max’s face darkened. “So you finally decided to come home. Where’s that apology gift I told you to get for Shawna? Is it ready?” I scoffed at Max’s entitled attitude. “Max, Shawna caused Evelyn’s death, and you expect me to buy Shawna a house? Aren’t you afraid Evelyn will crawl out of her grave tonight to claim your life?” Hearing me, Shawna, feigning fear, hid deeper in Max’s embrace. “Max, I know Sera is still angry about Evelyn’s death, but how can she curse people so viciously?” Max looked at me with utter disgust. “Your mother’s death is her own bad luck. Otherwise, why would the fire only burn her and no one else? If you keep dwelling on this, don’t blame me for being unkind.”

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I refused a $100,000 offer for my gaming account. My seven-year-old horror game was shutting down, and I spent my last all-nighter saying goodbye to every NPC. My roommates scoffed, calling me crazy. My family said I was insane. Even my childhood best friend screamed that I was a lunatic, turning down good money. But they had no idea. Days later, the horror game merged with our reality, and monsters started mercilessly slaughtering humans. To save themselves, they shoved me in front of a terrifying boss, hoping I’d be its first victim. Instead, I turned and threw myself into its arms: “Honey! They’re bullying me!” When I logged back into the game interface, nearly half a month had passed in the real world. That half-month of finals week had drained all my energy, and I desperately needed to recharge in my game. I never expected that as the interface refreshed, a game shutdown notification would pop up. I froze. My roommate behind me happened to glance at my screen. She sneered, “Still playing this game, even though it’s shutting down? You should sell your account while someone’s still offering to buy it. That’s real money, you know!” I smiled, saying nothing, just maneuvering my computer to enter the game. Seven years. This game had long become a part of me, impossible to cut away. I skipped straight to the final level, having already taken down all the minor bosses. I sat patiently, waiting for *him* to appear. But I waited and waited. The system countdown to shutdown hit zero, and I was forcibly logged out. He still didn’t show. I sighed, taking one last look at the world I’d fought for over seven years. I couldn’t help but whisper, “I won’t see you guys again. I’ll miss you. Take care of yourselves… get better and better.” My roommate rolled her eyes. “Are you seriously messed up in the head? Who talks to a screen like that? They won’t reply! They’re just lines of code. You think they’re your family?” “Sicko.” I gripped the hem of my shirt, a pang of loss in my chest. “You don’t understand. They really matter to me.” “Maybe you don’t get it, but please, respect me, and respect them.” She burst out laughing. “Respect *them*? A bunch of NPCs with only a few lines of dialogue? What right do they have to demand respect from me?” “No wonder you care so much about them. After all, a loser like you, who nobody loves in the real world, can only find a sense of belonging in a game. Tsk, tsk, tsk, how pathetic!” Chloe, my other roommate, finally spoke up, clearly uncomfortable. “She’s our classmate… isn’t that a bit too much?” Blair scoffed. “You don’t know what this psycho did! A few days ago, someone offered $100,000 for her account, and she wouldn’t sell it! Said there were ‘the most important people’ in it! What is that if not insane? $100,000! Do you know how long that could last us?” I couldn’t take it anymore. I slammed my hand on the desk. “Blair! Have you said enough?! My game account is my business! You don’t get to tell me what to do!” “Someone as cold-hearted as you would never understand this feeling. They helped me through the darkest days of my life. What’s wrong with not wanting to let them go?” Blair wasn’t about to back down. “Who in their right mind gets emotional over digital data?! You’re seriously disturbed! I’m telling you, either you move out of this dorm today, or I’m going to the dorm supervisor! I refuse to live with a crazy person who talks to game characters!” Our argument escalated, eventually alarming the school faculty. The teacher rushed over, scolded us both, and only then did the commotion subside. Lying in bed that night, I sighed, thinking about how I didn’t even get to see Damian one last time. Forget it. Maybe some people and some things are just meant to be regrets. Those beautiful memories are enough to keep in my heart.

A mix of rain and snow fell for three days straight. We hadn’t seen the sun in just as long. The entire world was shrouded in gloom, fierce winds tearing through fallen leaves, as if determined to rip everything apart. News anchors, who had started with optimistic predictions, now looked utterly distraught. No one could explain what was happening with this sudden, violent natural disaster. Watching the flickering network signal, I started to panic. I even tried reaching out to my family, whom I hadn’t contacted in ages, but all I got was: “Didn’t you say those weird game characters were your family? Why don’t you get them to come out of the game world and help you?” “If you want us to pick you up, sure, but go ahead and withdraw from school first. Your dad’s already lined up a family for you, and the money we’d get from it, over a hundred grand, will be enough for your brother…” I hung up abruptly, burying my face in my arms and sobbing quietly. Blair swung her legs idly. “See? People who get obsessed with games are unwelcome everywhere, even by their own families!” I wiped away my tears, about to retort, when a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air outside the window. “Help me!!!” We all rushed to the window, but what I saw next made my legs turn to jelly, and I collapsed onto the floor. It was *him*. The familiar minor boss from the horror game, stabbing a person with a knife. Passersby tried to flee but were snatched back. Then, blood dyed everything red. “What IS that thing?! This… isn’t this the real world? How are game characters appearing?” Blair wasn’t doing any better than me. She’d curled into a ball in the corner, shaking uncontrollably. Before we could even process it, the dorm door was kicked open. The monster, who moments ago had been outside, now stood in our doorway, grinning at us with a mouth that stretched to its neck. “You’re all so pretty. Can I be your friend?” Everyone was too terrified to speak. Blair, quick to react, shoved me forward. “Kira! Don’t you love these freaky things? Go be friends with him!” Damn it. Staring at that familiar monster face, my mind was a blur. I’d played this game for seven years, but deep down, I was still a total noob! All those times I cleared levels, it was always with the help of the main boss. But now… Where was I going to find someone to help me?! I pressed myself against the wardrobe, forcing a shaky smile. “Y-you… you calm down first. We can talk… How’s… how’s your family?” The monster’s smile faltered. “Family… I was choked to death right after I was born, just because I was a girl.” Sweat beaded on my forehead. “Oh… oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.” Its icy gaze immediately locked onto me. The next second, it teleported to my side, its hands tightly gripping my throat. “You’re a girl too. Why did *you* get to live?” I immediately choked, my face turning crimson. “Oh God… go after whoever hurt you… I… I’m a victim of old prejudices too… We’re both victims, why hurt me?” But consumed by rage, it wasn’t listening. Its grip tightened, making my eyes roll back. Just before my consciousness faded, I heard a crackle from the outdoor broadcast: **[ATTENTION! Recent studies indicate that the horror game, which closed recently, has merged with the real world due to an unknown cause.]** **[Citizens are advised to quickly conceal their locations. Monsters from the horror world possess extreme aggression and lethality. If encountered, you must immediately flee!]** **[Repeating! These monsters are highly lethal! If targeted, death is inevitable! Proceed with extreme caution!!!]**

Why couldn’t they have broadcast that *before* I was nearly choked to death?! Just as my consciousness was about to completely vanish, the monster suddenly released its grip. My body sagged to the floor like a deflated balloon. “Killing you like this is too boring. How about you answer a few questions for me?” The monster smiled sweetly, its eyes, however, filled with murderous intent. “Sound good?” I didn’t exactly have the power to refuse. “Ask away.” The monster suddenly leaned close to my face. “Tell me, was it wrong for me to be a girl?” I flinched. “No.” “Then why did I have to die? Just because I was seen as a burden?” I didn’t answer. Blair, on the floor, was frantic. “Say something! Hurry up and answer her! What if she gets mad and kills us all?!” Under pressure, I forced myself to look at the monster. “No.” “Then why did I die before I even had a taste of milk, before I could even call out ‘Mommy’? What did I do wrong?” Tears of blood started to well in its eyes, its voice turning guttural and sharp. Layers of skin peeled away, revealing the raw flesh beneath. Chloe, the timid roommate, fainted on the spot at the sight. Honestly, I couldn’t answer that question. Because *I* was the one who had lived. If it weren’t for modern laws, if it weren’t for the fact that my brother needed money for his arranged marriage, I might have been a ghost choked to death myself. “You can’t answer my questions, so you have to die.” Its sharp nails dug deeply into my neck, blood trickling down my skin. Meanwhile, Blair, taking advantage of our struggle near the dorm door, slammed it shut with a *snap*. She locked it multiple times, completely disregarding my desperate situation. Only after she’d done all that did she let out a sigh of relief, glaring at me with hatred. “It’s all your fault for being so stupid and not answering her questions! If you’re going to die, die outside, don’t drag us down!” “Didn’t you say they were your family just now? Go ahead and spend some quality time with your ‘family’! Don’t thank me for creating this private moment for you!” My mind was a mess. If the monster applied just a little more pressure, I was gone for good. Through the window, I saw Blair’s triumphant gaze, and a surge of pure rage filled me. Damn it, if I’m going to die, I’ll take someone with me! “The one inside… she knows the answer to that question… You… you can go ask her…” The monster smiled. “No rush. I won’t let any of you off the hook.” Blair’s smile vanished instantly. “You bastard! You want to drag me down with you?! I should have finished you off completely back then, you menace!” In my fading consciousness, a smile touched my lips. Blair, even if I die… I’m taking you with me! The monster’s grip tightened further. Just before I completely lost breath, my hands fell limply to my sides, and the bracelet on my arm slipped to the floor. The monster glanced at it casually, then its eyes widened in disbelief. “You! You’re Kira?!”

The monster roughly tossed me onto the floor. Freed from its grip, I gasped for air. I didn’t die! Thank goodness, I actually survived! Blair was even more shocked, pressing herself against the glass. “Kira! You really *are* a monster! Even that terrifying thing knows you! What are you pretending to be normal for?!” “Tell me! Did you bring these monsters?! You filthy bitch, you—ARGH!!!” Before she could finish, her tongue was instantly sliced in two. Blood splattered across the dorm. Chloe, who had just woken up, fainted again at the sight. “Noisy.” The monster frowned in displeasure, then its gaze returned to me. Its voice now held a hint of expectation. “Where did you get that bracelet?” I dared not lie to it. “I designed it myself.” It frowned, shaking its head frantically. “But… but *that person* also had one on their hand.” I suddenly realized something. In the horror game, you could design small accessories for your character, and I had added this bracelet. Could it have recognized me through it? That shouldn’t be possible. I was a weak player, a total noob who couldn’t even crack the bottom of the rankings. How would it remember me? The figure in front of me suddenly slapped its head. “Are you the one who used to say ‘the old man next door’s socks smell better than his cologne’?” …Did it really have to say that out loud? I nodded awkwardly. “Y-yes… that’s me…” The woman, who moments ago had been full of murderous intent, instantly leaped three feet into the air with excitement. “Excellent! I finally found you! Come with me, quickly!” She grabbed me, ready to bolt outside, scaring me so much I clung tightly to the bed frame. “Wait, wait, wait! Where are we going?!” Blair grew frantic. “Are you stupid?! If she wants to go, just go with her! What if she changes her mind and decides to stay? What then?!” I snapped back. “Isn’t my life worth anything?!” Blair glared at me viciously. “A life like yours? Who cares if it’s gone! My parents are waiting for me at home!” To flaunt parental affection in front of someone who had been deprived of family warmth since childhood was practically asking for death. As her words faded, so did her head. With a casual wave of its hand, the monster used a ribbon to twist Blair’s head a full 360 degrees. It rolled to the floor like a perfectly round ball. Blair’s terrified scream was abruptly cut off in her throat; she died without ever understanding what she had done wrong. The monster then turned to me, a radiant smile on its face. “Are you happy she’s dead?” I clenched my fists, wanting to say something, but finally just sighed. I wasn’t a saint. Blair had constantly tried to harm me, so her death was a consequence of her own actions. Seeing my silence, the monster seemed to take it as approval, smiling even more brightly. “Then, when we see *that person*, could you put in a good word for me?” I was a bit confused. “What person?” “Just… the one! We can’t say his name, but he said you’ll understand everything when you see him!” With that, it dragged me outside. I felt like I was going to throw up my guts from running before it finally stopped. It frowned, looking at a group of people ahead. I recognized Derek, my childhood best friend, at the forefront, and quickly waved to him. “Derek! I’m here!” But he looked at me like I was a fly. “You’re still alive?” “Perfect. Our team needs bait to attract fire, and someone as naive as you is just right.” I pointed at myself, incredulous. “Me? Bait?” Derek sneered. “What else? You’ve been stupid since childhood. I say a few nice words, give you a few scraps, and you treat me like your best friend, saying you’d repay me. Well, now’s your chance.” A monster with its head split open had already spotted us from the roadside. It roared and charged. Derek immediately grabbed my collar and shoved me towards the monster. “Kira! This is your fate!” “No!!!” I squeezed my eyes shut, awaiting death. But the next second, I fell into a warm embrace. “Who permitted you to harm her?”

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“Jocelyn, give your parachute to Serena, hurry!” The plane’s windshield was shattered, a fierce air current ripped through the cabin, and the fuselage violently bucked. The plane was minutes from crashing. The crew had already deployed their parachutes and jumped. The entire cabin held only Captain Leo Thorne, me, Caleb Vance, and his fiancée, Serena Hayes. In that desperate moment, Serena’s parachute pack was torn. “It’s over… Am I going to die here?” Serena’s face was soaked with tears, her body trembling uncontrollably. That’s when Caleb made his choice. “Didn’t you hear me? Jocelyn! Give your parachute to Serena!” I thought I’d misheard him. “…If I give her my parachute, what about me?” “Stop arguing! Just give it to her. You insisted on coming on this flight with us! You were always the extra one!” After saying that, Caleb snatched the parachute pack directly from me and handed it to Serena. “There’s not much time. You go first.” Serena, still sobbing, put on the parachute. “I’m terrified of heights, I can’t… Caleb, you come with me!” One second she was claiming she couldn’t, the next she was pulling Caleb, who already had his parachute on, and they both jumped. Her piercing scream echoed in the air, fading into the distance. In a matter of seconds, they were gone. Leaving me alone at thirty thousand feet, feeling like I was trapped in a nightmare. “Don’t just stand there, grab onto me. We’ll jump together.” Captain Leo rushed out of the cockpit. The wings and roof of the plane were already on fire, the aircraft completely out of control, moments away from exploding. I knew this wasn’t the time for sentimentality. I clung tightly to Leo, counting one, two, three— We leaped into the thick clouds, accompanied by plumes of black smoke. I thought I was going to die. The moment my parachute opened, Leo and I were violently separated by the turbulent air currents. My body plummeted at an extreme speed, followed by a suffocating, near-death sensation. I plunged into the deep sea like a meteor. I don’t know how much time passed. When I woke, I thought I was dead. The scorching sun beat down, a sea breeze caressed my face. I lay on the ground, coughing violently, spitting out bitter, salty seawater. I… I wasn’t dead. Before me stretched an endless ocean; behind me, a dense forest. Not far away, someone was lying there… I thought it was Leo, who had jumped with me. But as I got closer, I saw it was… Caleb! I looked around, bewildered. There was only us. Caleb’s clothes were soaked with blood. During the fall, his thigh had been gashed by sharp rocks, and he’d passed out from blood loss. “Uncle Caleb! Uncle Caleb!” No matter how I called, he didn’t respond. The wound on his leg wouldn’t stop bleeding. He wouldn’t last much longer. I quickly tore off some of my clothes to tie around his leg, trying to stop the bleeding. The immediate priority was to disinfect the wound. “Uncle Caleb, I’ll carry you. There must be herbs in the forest that can disinfect and stop bleeding…” My small body erupted with an immense burst of energy in that moment. I somehow managed to hoist the almost six-foot-three Caleb onto my back. Every step was incredibly difficult. I walked barefoot into the forest, my skin torn by thorny plants, my body covered in ugly gashes. I’m terrified of insects, and poisonous bugs swarmed in the forest, buzzing around me, biting and stinging, making me itch unbearably. Yet, I didn’t shed a single tear. Because the most important person to me was on my back; I couldn’t afford to fall. Finally, I found herbs for inflammation and bleeding. I chewed them into a pulp and squeezed out the juice, applying it to Caleb’s wound. Only then did my heart finally feel a little steadier. The forest seemed like a giant maze, with no end in sight. “Thirsty… thirsty…” Caleb’s soft murmurs broke my heart. Without fresh water, I could only bite my wrist and feed him my blood. “Uncle Caleb… I’ll definitely get you out of here.” My eyes were bloodshot, my lips cracked, my whole body felt like a zombie. My only thought was to get Caleb to our other scattered companions and out of this terrifying place. I don’t know how long I walked, but eventually, the trees gave way to an open, wild plain. Scattered airplane debris lay everywhere, and the ground showed signs of being scorched. The next second, several familiar figures appeared. It was Captain Leo, flight attendant Maya Jenkins, security guard Grant Bell, and Serena Hayes! They were all here! Leo was the first to spot us and rushed towards me. Seeing familiar faces, my tightly strung nerves finally loosened. A stream of tears flowed down my face, my eyes rolled back, and I fainted. I woke up at noon, my entire body aching as if it had been run over. A bonfire was lit opposite me. I immediately saw Serena nestled in Caleb’s arms, a scene of affectionate display. “Serena, you saved me. I will never fail you in this life…” Serena brushed a light kiss on his lips, nodding shyly. “Uncle Caleb… it was me who saved you, though…” Caleb gave me a cold glance. “Jocelyn, you’re getting better and better at lying. Do you really need to claim credit for this too? If Serena hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known that *you* were the one who broke her parachute pack. People’s lives were at stake, how could you be so reckless?” “Uncle Caleb… I just woke up. Aren’t you even going to ask how I got all these injuries?” Caleb stiffly turned his head away. “If you hadn’t stubbornly followed me onto the plane, would any of this have happened? You brought it on yourself!” “So you gave my parachute to Serena?” “You didn’t die, did you? What’s the point of holding a grudge now?” Watching his indifferent expression, my heart ached as if it were being ripped to shreds. The pain was so intense that it turned numb. I brushed away the lingering tears from my eyes. “Fine, I won’t be reckless anymore.” I won’t cling to you ever again. Once we’re safely off this island, I’ll completely disappear from your world.

The plane crash had stranded everyone on this remote island. With no communication tools, we couldn’t contact the outside world, forced to passively await rescue. But before that, we had to survive. There were seven of us trapped on the island: Besides me, Caleb Vance, Serena Hayes, and Captain Leo Thorne, there were co-pilot Paul Davies, security guard Grant Bell, and flight attendant Maya Jenkins. The first order of business was to distribute supplies. Leo and Caleb had both brought some food and water before jumping, just in case. But resources were scarce; these meager provisions weren’t enough for seven people. “One portion each.” Leo and Caleb had already divided all the food and water equally into seven shares. Everyone immediately tucked their portion away, afraid someone else would try to grab it. That’s when Serena started her usual antics again. She pointed at the crackers in my hand and said, “I like those crackers. Can I have them?” My brow furrowed. I ignored her directly. “Jocelyn, I’ll give you my chocolate, and you give me your crackers.” It was obvious to anyone that the crackers were a much larger portion than the chocolate. Serena was clearly trying to take advantage of me. “Sorry, I don’t like chocolate.” Serena pouted, tugging at Caleb’s arm petulantly. “Caleb, I really want those crackers…” Caleb glanced at the crackers in my hand and said without hesitation, “Jocelyn, trade with her.” Before I could even react, Caleb stepped forward and took the crackers from my lap. Just like he’d taken my parachute. Authoritatively. Serena took the crackers, happily hugging Caleb and kissing him on the cheek. “Caleb, you’re the best.” Caleb’s expression didn’t change. He then pushed the chocolate into my lap. I didn’t take it. The chocolate fell to the ground and Paul quickly snatched it up. “Can you stop being so stubborn? It’s just crackers! Why do you always have to make things difficult for Serena?” My face was filled with shock. The person before me was utterly unrecognizable. Was this still the uncle who had brought me home and promised to protect me? “It’s alright, Caleb. Jocelyn’s still young, it’s normal for her to throw little tantrums. Don’t pay her any mind.” Caleb snorted coldly and, with Serena’s help, turned and walked away. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t grieve over him anymore, but the sadness still clung to me like a bad habit. After finally pulling myself together, I returned to the bonfire. The others were already discussing how to use the available resources to send out a distress signal. The seven of us split into three groups. The first group would go to the beach to collect wood for a bonfire, hoping to attract passing ships or planes. The second group would stay put and arrange “SOS” signals with branches and stones. The third group would use airplane wreckage and branches to build a makeshift shelter. The weather on the island was unpredictable. If we encountered severe weather like heavy rain or typhoons, we’d at least have some protection from the elements. Caleb was injured and couldn’t move easily, so he stayed behind to rest. I volunteered to go to the more distant beach. Among these people, I was the only one who had walked from the beach through the forest, so I was already familiar with the route. Serena, for some reason, also volunteered to go to the beach. Though I was reluctant, I had no reason to refuse her company. “Wait.” Caleb suddenly called out to us. But before he could say anything, Leo stepped forward, holding a pair of makeshift sandals he’d just woven from grass. “Jocelyn, you should wear these. The path is so rough, and you have cuts on your feet. We don’t want them to get infected.” My shoes had been washed away by the sea, so I’d been forced to go barefoot, every step painful. “Thank you.” I looked at Leo gratefully. Behind them, Caleb’s expression subtly changed. He silently pushed the canvas shoes he’d found among the plane wreckage further under a rock behind him. He said nothing at all.

We walked in silence. I led the way, with Serena trailing behind. “I’m so tired. How much longer until we get there?” Serena finally broke the silence, but it was just a string of complaints. “I didn’t ask you to come. If you’re tired, you can go back.” “Don’t provoke me! I’m not going back.” “Then shut up, say less, and conserve your energy.” Serena scoffed, then abruptly changed her tone. “Guess why I wanted to be on your team?” I didn’t answer. “I just wanted to tell you to give up on Caleb early. He’s never going to be with you! You’re his enemy now; he hates you more than anything.” “…What do you mean?” Seeing me turn back, Serena hugged her shoulders triumphantly. “You don’t know yet, do you—” Her words were cut short by a sudden roar of a wild animal in the distance. I quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. “Don’t speak!” The roar was long and low, carrying a strong warning. Serena was shaking all over, tears streaming down her face. I pressed myself against the ground, feeling the vibrations from the roar. The beast’s footsteps were relentless, getting closer and closer— “Run!” I gripped Serena’s wrist tightly and sprinted forward. Every second was terrifying; I ran with all my might. But Serena was losing stamina, her steps growing heavier and heavier. “I’m tired! I’m not running anymore!” Serena cried, shaking off my hand and plopping down on the ground. “Do you want to die?” I couldn’t leave her alone there, so I desperately pulled her! “I’m just not running! What’s that thing going to do, eat me?” The roars grew closer, my heart was pounding out of my chest. In that instant, I forcefully dragged Serena behind a thick tree. Holding my breath, I silently watched the direction the roar had come from. Within seconds, a tiger slowly emerged from the depths of the woods. It was over two meters long, exceptionally robust, with piercing amber eyes. Serena, who had just been loudly complaining about not running, was now too terrified to move. If it weren’t for me, she would have collapsed into a trembling heap. The tiger didn’t seem to notice us. I was secretly relieved when Serena suddenly let out a shriek. “Ah!” A flying insect had landed on her hand. “Bug! Bug!” With that scream, my heart plummeted. Without thinking, I dragged Serena deeper into the forest. In our escape, we bumped into Paul, who was collecting firewood. “Run!” Paul, confused, looked back curiously. Before he could even register what was happening, the tiger sprang from the dense bushes and bit deeply into his thigh! Serena’s screams were so loud they drowned out Paul’s last cry. I don’t know how long passed, but the tiger’s roars gradually faded. I went back alone to look for Paul, but only found half of his body and his head. His internal organs had been torn out, his intestines dragged far away, and his thighs and arms were mangled beyond recognition. Serena had run back alone and told the others about encountering the tiger. The others arrived with torches. Seeing Paul’s body, they were all struck speechless with terror. Serena reacted even more violently, throwing up on the spot. Then, she pointed at me, turning it all around on me. “Jocelyn, I never thought you’d be this kind of person… Because I traded crackers with you earlier, you bore a grudge and wanted to get back at me… The tiger was clearly going to pass us by, but *you* screamed, which made it notice us! If it weren’t for you, Paul wouldn’t have died…” Serena cried and accused, pinning all the blame on me. “Even if you hate me, you can’t play with people’s lives… What did Paul ever do wrong?” She sobbed incessantly, tears flowing like a flood. Paul’s death was truly horrific, and it fueled the anger of the others.

“It’s terrifying, a young girl with such a vicious heart… Is she some kind of sociopath?” Maya said. “Paul was so innocent… Someone else deserved to die!” Grant glared at me. Leo, however, spoke up for me. “We’re all in this together. I believe Jocelyn wouldn’t intentionally lure a tiger to harm a companion. Things aren’t clear yet; let’s not jump to conclusions.” “What’s not clear? Jocelyn is a murderer! I refuse to stay with a sociopath like her! Who knows how we’ll end up dying!” Maya retorted. “Yeah! Why wasn’t she the one bitten by the tiger? She’s the one who deserves to die!” Grant added. Serena continued to sob. When Caleb approached, she immediately threw herself into his arms. “Caleb, I was so scared just now…” “Mr. Vance, Paul was indirectly killed by your precious niece. You at least owe us an explanation, right?” Maya challenged. Caleb’s eyes were bloodshot. After looking at Paul’s body, he walked up to me and asked, “Did you really lure the tiger?” I let out a bitter laugh. “If I said no, would you believe me?” “_Smack_—” My left cheek burned with a stinging pain. Caleb, in front of everyone, had slapped me hard. “Jocelyn, how could you have become so vicious?” It hurt—my face hurt, and my heart hurt even more. I lifted my head, my gaze utterly devoid of emotion. “How could I be so vicious? Of course, it’s because my uncle raised me so well.” “Say that again!” Another slap was about to land, but Leo stepped in front of me. “Enough! Stop it! This isn’t the time for infighting. Paul is dead; we should be uniting! I’m the captain. I vouch for Jocelyn. She would absolutely never do anything to harm anyone here! If she really did something, you can throw both of us into the sea!” With Leo’s guarantee, and the fact that I had also been hit, the others finally quieted down a bit. They dug a pit to bury Paul’s body, then returned to the shelter. Caleb and Serena walked ahead, with Leo and me following behind. “Does it hurt?” Leo reached out to touch my face, but I flinched away. “I’m fine. Thank you for earlier.” Leo sighed, then pressed a piece of candy into my hand. “No matter what, I’m always on your side.” Unbeknownst to us, we had already been on the island for a week. Food was nearly depleted, and fresh water was almost gone. But rescue had still not arrived. Every day, the few of us went to the beach to keep watch, lighting bonfires and arranging huge “SOS” signals on the sand. We just hoped that a passing plane or ship would notice us. Caleb’s injuries had healed considerably, so he joined them in heading out to sea every day. Fishing, hunting, distilling fresh water. Every day, the cycle repeated. I hadn’t spoken to Caleb again. He spent every day with Serena. I had become the unwanted one. During my university days, I had joined a wilderness hiking club, so I was quite skilled in survival techniques. I couldn’t swim, but I was the one who caught the most fish. Whenever I caught fish, Grant and Maya would wait nearby. As soon as I pulled in a fish, they would immediately rush forward and snatch the largest and fattest one. They claimed it was punishment for me luring the tiger. In reality, it was just bullying. “Are you ever going to stop?” When I caught a fish, Grant and Maya once again picked out the biggest one. And then they also drank the purified fresh water I had just distilled. I had reached my limit and yelled at them. “You lured the tiger and caused Paul’s death, so you should atone for it! What’s wrong with catching a few fish for us? Now you’re playing the victim!” I refused to back down. I shoved Maya away and snatched back the fish I’d caught. “If you want fish, go catch your own.” Grant, who had a short temper, raised his hand and shoved me. My shoulder ached intensely, and I stumbled, falling to the ground. “What the hell do you think you are? Daring to yell at me like that!” Grant’s face was contorted in a snarl. The next second, he climbed directly on top of me.

“Get off me!” I struggled relentlessly, but it was no use. “Look how delicate you are, want to bet I’ll have my way with you right here?! I’ll make you scream for mercy!” I had never in my life suffered such an insult. I pushed and resisted, but it only made Grant’s taunts and advances more fervent. Just then, Caleb and Serena emerged from the forest, carrying wild fruit. Seeing the scene, a surge of blood rushed through Caleb’s body, and anger blazed through him. He was just about to rush forward when Serena called out to him. “Caleb, don’t you hate her? Don’t help her, let her figure it out herself. She’s your enemy.” Caleb’s heart ached intensely. In those few seconds of hesitation, Grant had already ripped my clothes. “You animal! What the hell are you doing?!” Caleb still didn’t intervene. Because Leo had returned. The firewood in his arms scattered everywhere as he darted forward, tackling Grant. I cowered to the side, clutching my shoulders tightly, my pained eyes fixed on Caleb’s face. They remained there, unmoving. This man who had raised me, this man I would willingly give my life to save, was watching me being violated, and he did nothing. A sliver of confusion emerged from the despair. I had heard everything Serena said just now. Serena had said the same thing before. She said… Caleb hated me. The chaotic scene finally ended. Grant was beaten to a pulp by Leo, no longer daring to make a sound. But a shadow had been cast over my heart forever. The others built a makeshift shelter on the beach, and as night fell, everyone gradually went to sleep. I secretly called Serena out. “What did you mean by what you said earlier this evening? Why did you say my uncle hates me? Why am I his enemy?” Serena seemed to have anticipated my coming to her, and immediately let out a cold laugh. “You still don’t know, do you? Your uncle found out your true identity six months ago. And guess how coincidental it is: the truck driver who killed your adoptive parents—his brother and sister-in-law—was *your biological father*, the one who abandoned you twenty years ago!” In that moment, I felt like plunging into an icy abyss. My heart felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed by the sharpest knife. The pain spread through every fiber of my being, leaving me unable to breathe, unable to move a single inch. …My biological father? That term felt impossibly distant to me. I had grown up in an orphanage, never knowing my birth parents. When I was eight, my adoptive parents brought me home. That was the first time I felt the warmth of a family. Two years later, when I was ten, my adoptive parents died in a car crash. Caleb brought me home, a second orphan. For ten years, he raised me from a little girl into a young woman, watched me grow, and treated me with thousands of kindnesses, more than anyone else in the world. Caleb didn’t know, but I had fallen in love with him long ago. He was the secret crush of my teenage years, the sole star of my most vivid dreams, the one constant in my life for all these years. On my eighteenth birthday, I drank a glass of red wine and waltzed with him, my arms around his neck. I deliberately wore a seductive dress, a clumsy attempt at seduction, an innocent provocation. After ten years, I had grown thirty centimeters taller; I could reach his lips on tiptoe. And I did. I pressed my lips against his, trembling as if struck by lightning. My tongue traced the tight seam of his lips, desperate for even the slightest hint of a response. The next second, he pushed me away. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” His eyes blazing red, he shoved me away. The cake crashed to the floor, a messy ruin, and he stormed out of the house. He was gone for two years. When he returned, he had a fiancée. He seemed like a different person, treating me with utter coldness. I thought it was because of our forbidden love, but it wasn’t until today that I realized it was more than that. I had become the daughter of the man who killed his brother and sister-in-law, his enemies. But I was a victim too. I didn’t even know that man. Did sharing the same blood make us family? I couldn’t understand it, only felt a deeper despair. There was too great a distance between me and the man I loved most. No matter how far I walked, I couldn’t reach him.

“Every second you’re around, Caleb’s reminded of his brother and sister-in-law’s death! He hates you, *despises* you! And you’re still clinging to him like a leech, aren’t you shameless? You should just die! Don’t ever appear in front of Caleb and me again! If you were gone, everyone would have some peace!” Serena’s eyes were full of hatred. She grew more and more agitated, then lunged at me without warning! “Go to hell!” She shoved my shoulder hard. I abruptly lost my balance and fell backward. In her excitement, her foot slipped, and she fell into the sea with me. I barely knew how to swim, just enough to dog paddle and keep myself from sinking to the bottom. I didn’t want anyone to die, so I struggled to grab Serena. But she didn’t cooperate at all, thrashing about, trying to push me down to climb ashore. The more she struggled, the faster she sank. “Help! Help! Someone!” I called for help repeatedly, finally waking the others. “What’s going on? What happened?!” Caleb saw Serena and me both in the water, his face ashen. He immediately ran towards us. Leo quickly followed, jumping into the water too! The moment he hit the water, Caleb glanced at me, then coldly turned away, swimming towards Serena. Leo also jumped in, pulling me onto the shore in one swift motion. Serena had swallowed a lot of seawater and lay on the ground, barely conscious. Caleb cupped her chin and gave her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Finally, Serena regained consciousness, coughing up all the seawater from her lungs. “Caleb… you scared me so much!” Serena clung tightly to Caleb’s neck, crying hysterically. “What happened?” Serena sobbed, “Jocelyn said she needed to talk to me, so I went out with her. She resented me for taking your attention away, told me to stay away from you, and even cursed me to die… Then, then she got more and more agitated and shoved me…” I had no strength left to argue, leaning against Leo’s chest, panting heavily. “Is that really what happened?” Caleb stood up and demanded, looking at me. I said nothing, burying my head in Leo’s chest and letting the tears flow freely. Seeing me leaning against Leo, Caleb’s gaze instantly turned sharp. That inexplicable possessiveness surged within him. He frowned deeply, pulled me roughly from Leo’s embrace, and demanded, “Speak! Is what she said true?!” I rested my head against his chest and said softly, “Think whatever you want.” I was done trying to explain. A sharp pain pierced Caleb’s heart. Looking into my inexplicably sad eyes, he felt a strange difficulty breathing. “…Consider all the years I raised you a waste.” Caleb hardened his heart and shoved me to the ground. He took Serena’s hand and walked away decisively. Leo caught me, steadying me, and draped his jacket over my shoulders. “Why didn’t you explain? I know you’re not that kind of person.” Hearing Leo’s words, I felt an even deeper sense of irony. Even a stranger could see I wasn’t such a malicious person. But my dearest uncle, he didn’t believe me. Was it disbelief, or unwillingness to believe? Days turned into weeks. Unbeknownst to us, half a month had already passed. They didn’t wait for rescue; instead, they faced a terrifying disaster. The day had been perfectly clear, but the night brought ominous clouds and raging winds. Deep-sea fish mysteriously washed ashore, and the tide receded eerily. “Something’s wrong here, we need to fall back immediately!” Caleb had a bad feeling. These strange phenomena couldn’t mean anything good! Serena and the others didn’t take it seriously. “It’s probably just going to rain again, it’s fine.” “No, everyone, retreat quickly!”

Leo’s tone was serious, ordering everyone to immediately pack up and retreat into the forest. “I don’t want to go… there are tigers in the forest.” Serena whimpered pathetically. “Are you deaf?! Something bad is about to happen!” Leo retorted, his face grim. At that moment, a strange rumbling sound began to rise from the ground. “Tsunami! It’s a tsunami!” I was the first to react. “Run!” Serena was also frightened by the eerie rumbling. She grabbed whatever was at hand and ran into the forest with the others. “Head for higher ground!” Caleb directed everyone to evacuate. Before long, towering waves suddenly erupted from the sea, crashing violently onto the coast. Seawater surged inland, trees snapped. We were minuscule like specks of dust, chased by the waves. The ground shook violently. We scrambled desperately up the high ground behind the coast. I was agile, no worse than the men. But Serena was useless. After climbing for a while, her limbs gave out. Her foot slipped, and she lost her balance, on the verge of falling. In that instant, she instinctively grabbed my foot, which was above her. “Ah!” She yanked me hard, and I slid directly down the slope. Serena, however, managed to regain her balance and miraculously escaped falling. “Jocelyn!” Caleb watched as I fell. I landed heavily between two large rocks at the bottom of the cliff. My eyes were half-open; I had lost the ability to move. “Jocelyn!” Caleb turned to jump down, but Serena clung to him tightly. “You can’t save her now! If you die, what about the company? What about the Vance family?!” No sooner had she spoken than another towering wave swept across the ground. In my last second of consciousness, Caleb was simply staring at me, unmoving. “No, I have to go back and save her!” Caleb’s heart ached as if it were dying. It felt as if something vital was slowly draining from his body. He went down step by step. By the time he reached the bottom, the world had returned to calm. As if nothing had happened. “Jocelyn! Jocelyn!” He searched for what felt like an eternity but still couldn’t find me. The massive waves had carried me back to the beach. I used all my strength to cling to a reef, preventing myself from being swept into the deep sea. When it was all over, my entire body felt like it had been run over by a car. Every bone ached agonizingly. I was still wearing the red jacket Leo had given me. It was dazzlingly red. Lying on the cold sand, I suddenly heard a whooshing sound above my head. My heart pounded fiercely. I thought I was dreaming. It was… a helicopter! I saw the helicopter circling in mid-air. I cried out through the pain, “Help! Help!” Perhaps the helicopter heard my faint plea, or perhaps it was drawn by my red jacket. In any case, it stopped. The roaring sound was deafening. I saw the helicopter land on the beach not far away. Several people in uniform got out and were running towards me! After so many days, I was finally going to be rescued. I let out a long sigh of relief. After telling them I had other companions, I peacefully closed my eyes. As my consciousness faded, I remembered everything I had endured during those days. Being slandered, being hit, being violated… And the person closest to me had always watched with cold indifference. Well, Caleb, you finally made me give up on you for good. The rescue team pulled everyone from the deserted island and took us to the hospital. I had been severely injured by the storm, suffering from lung infection and multiple fractures all over my body. I was barely recognizable. When I woke again, a day and a night had passed. Both my legs were in casts, and moving even slightly caused excruciating pain. I was grateful to be alive. After surviving such a life-or-death experience, I finally understood. The others had only sustained minor injuries. I was the abandoned one; my survival was nothing short of a miracle. That afternoon, Leo came to see me. Aside from a few scrapes on his face, there was barely any sign that he too had endured nearly half a month of survival on that deserted island. “Jocelyn… I wanted to go down and save you then, but you were already gone. I’m sorry…” I shook my head. “In a life-or-death situation, everyone’s choices are their own. You don’t need to apologize to me.” Leo’s eyes were red, filled with guilt. My expression, however, was a stark contrast to his. My gaze was calm, as if I no longer cared about anything that had happened.

Leo hadn’t left yet. He had been gathering his thoughts for a while, about to say something, when the hospital room door was pushed open again. The tapping sound of a cane hitting the floor made my heart clench. Without turning around, I knew who it was. It was Caleb’s father, my adoptive grandfather, Mr. Vance Sr. Caleb escorted Mr. Vance Sr. into the room. “Grandpa, Uncle Caleb…” I murmured softly, my gaze no longer lingering on Caleb for a second. Mr. Vance Sr. snorted coldly. “Serves you right! If you hadn’t shamelessly followed Caleb, would all this have happened? Serena told me you even broke her parachute pack, nearly killing her on the plane! What were your intentions? How could the Vance family have raised such a useless girl?” “What does this have to do with Jocelyn? A broken parachute pack was just an accident, and Mr. Vance is no saint, he snatched Jocelyn’s parachute and gave it to his beloved fiancée, didn’t he? It wasn’t Serena who almost died, but Jocelyn… You’re Jocelyn’s grandfather, yet you come in here and immediately start barraging her with questions? She’s still injured. Is everyone in your family this heartless?” “Leo!” Caleb’s eyes flashed with barely suppressed anger, his gaze instantly turning sharp. “What, did I say something wrong?” The tension in the air was palpable. “It was my fault for being thoughtless, for interrupting Uncle Caleb’s plans. I shouldn’t have boarded that plane. It was only right for him to give his parachute to his fiancée. I’m just an adopted child of the Vance family; my life isn’t worth much anyway. Dying wouldn’t be a loss. I’m already very content to have miraculously survived. I’m sorry, Uncle Caleb. I won’t ever trouble you again.” I said calmly, my voice completely flat. Caleb’s heart clenched. He countered, “You?” “You’re an elder. Is there anything wrong with addressing you that way?” Mr. Vance Sr.’s expression finally softened somewhat. “It’s good that you know your place! Don’t cause Caleb any more trouble in the future! Otherwise, I won won’t be so lenient with you!” If it had been before, I would have been utterly wronged, turning my gaze to Caleb, seeking his protection and comfort. But this time, I was exceptionally calm, even detached. “Jocelyn…” Caleb felt a growing unease in his heart, a stifling pressure in his chest. “It’s getting late, Grandpa, Uncle Caleb. You should head back. I apologize for causing you trouble; it won’t happen again.” Mr. Vance Sr. had originally been seething with anger, ready to properly discipline this disobedient girl. But his rage met no resistance, and it deflated. Although displeased, he couldn’t continue to pick a fight. “Come on, Caleb. Serena is waiting downstairs. Aren’t you two going for a wedding dress fitting soon?” At the mention of wedding dresses, Caleb subconsciously glanced at me, feeling a strange apprehension. But I seemed not to have heard him, my eyes empty. He finally panicked, a cold dread washing over him. “Jocelyn, are you okay?” I shook my head. “I’m fine. You should go, don’t worry about me.” “I… I’ll stay with you for a bit.” “Stay for what? Is she a three-year-old?” Mr. Vance Sr. was about to erupt again. Caleb swallowed the words he was about to say. “Alright, your twentieth birthday is coming up soon. I’ll come pick you up from the hospital then, and we’ll celebrate properly.” “We’ll see.” I stopped looking at Caleb. Appearing tired, I turned my gaze towards the window. That dull ache grew stronger and stronger, making even breathing difficult. Caleb grew more and more uneasy, but he didn’t know what else to say. Ultimately, he gave up, leaving with a promise of “I’ll come see you tomorrow,” then departed with Mr. Vance Sr. Life in the hospital was exceptionally calm. I no longer had that stubborn persistence I once had; instead, I felt lighter. Caleb had visited me a few times, perhaps plagued by guilt. He was no longer cold and aloof, seeming to have transformed back into the uncle who had once spoiled and indulged me unconditionally. But I knew, everything had changed.

Caleb was his father’s child born late in life; his father was busy with work, so his older brother and sister-in-law were closer to him. His older brother had raised him; his elder brother was like a father to him. In his heart, his brother was the most important person. And my biological father, whom I had never met, had killed the people he cherished most. I shared the same blood as the murderer of his brother and sister-in-law. This was my original sin. It didn’t matter anymore. Anyway, I was leaving. The day I was discharged from the hospital was also my twentieth birthday. Caleb kept his word and came to pick me up early that morning. He ignored the subtle tension between us, wrapped an arm around my waist, and intended to carry me bridal style. The moment he touched me, I flinched away as if pricked by a needle. “No, thanks. I can walk myself.” Caleb’s arms felt suddenly empty, a strange panic stirring within him. In the car, he opened the passenger door for me, but I quietly sat in the back seat. “Jocelyn… there are some things I need to take care of at the company. Once I’m done, I’ll come home to celebrate your birthday.” I nodded absently. In fact, I had just seen Caleb’s SnapChat messages with Serena. They were going to take wedding photos today. After arriving home, Caleb gave a few instructions and then hurried off. Watching his retreating figure, I felt a sense of relief. My legs were still a bit weak, so I walked slowly, taking a long time to reach the second floor. My room was right next to Caleb’s. Before I came back, Caleb must have had someone clean it. The room was immaculately clean, as if I had never left. The walls were covered with photos of Caleb and me, a painful sight now. I tore all those photos down. And the diary in my drawer, filled with my teenage crushes and secret thoughts about Caleb, I threw it into the fire pit. I burned it all to ashes. When Caleb first brought me home, I lived there for a decade. The days were long, but in this house, there were surprisingly few things that truly belonged to me. I only packed a small amount of clothes and necessary documents. Everything else that was useless, I burned. The plush doll Caleb gave me when he brought me home; The unburnt candle from my fifteenth birthday cake, prepared by Caleb; The princess dress he gave me when I was sixteen… Too many memories. My life had been completely filled by Caleb. Now, I was going to burn it all away. When I left, the room was still immaculately clean, but all traces of me had been completely erased. I took only one twenty-four-inch suitcase. That was all. As the car drove to the airport, the sky was clear and sunny, and my heart felt a sense of newfound clarity and lightness. I was finally leaving. What I once thought was inseparable, I managed to let go of. Caleb, this time I won’t cling to you anymore. Goodbye. Ahead lay a new world. I was going to walk into it alone.

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My Ex-Employers Can Go to Hell It was my fifth year as a personal caregiver for the Harrison brothers. Julian’s paralyzed legs were strong enough to carry him again, and Leo, who’d been blind, could finally see. Just when I thought I’d finally warmed these two brothers’ hearts, and everything was about to get better, after five years of silence, Chloe Hayes came back. It was to stop her from leaving the country that Julian and Leo had engaged in a reckless high-speed chase on the highway that ended in a horrific crash, leaving them both critically injured. That day, I finally understood. I wanted to see the Switzerland my mother had longed for before she died. … “Shameless! A mere caregiver, completely forgetting her place. Did she really think a few years of looking after the Harrison brothers would suddenly change who she is?” “Now she’s a joke! The moment news broke of the Hayes heiress’s return, they dumped her flat and left her for us to laugh at.” “If I were her, I’d just throw myself in front of a bus. No matter how she dressed up, that desperate, cheap vibe just reeked off her.” I was enveloped by their scornful, mocking stares, every word a jab at my self-delusion. Yes, I had indeed misunderstood. Yesterday, they had eagerly pulled me along, picking out dresses and accessories. Tomorrow, the Harrison family was hosting a grand banquet for them. And I, the great benefactor who helped them recover, was to be publicly thanked. When Leo said it, his eyes shone with an undeniable joy. But when his gaze met mine, he shifted it away awkwardly, as if hiding a secret. After we finally finished trying on clothes, Julian was called away by a phone call. Leo eagerly led me to his room. He pressed his lips together, his eyelashes trembling slightly with nervousness. “Tomorrow, I’m going to say something very important at the banquet. Really, really important. So you have to listen carefully.” “This year, I want to watch the snow with you.” In that moment, I remembered the winter when Leo’s blindness hadn’t yet healed. I stood with Leo by the door, feeling the soft crunch of snowflakes falling around us. We’d only been out for a little while when Leo fumbled, trying to go back inside. But he slipped on the icy ground, falling in a messy, furious heap. He blindly scooped up a handful of snow and flung it in my direction, his voice raw with fury. “Are you deliberately trying to make fun of me? You know I’m blind and can’t see, but you brought me out to watch the snow. Are you trying to humiliate me?” “Seeing me like this, are you satisfied?” I sighed, standing still, letting him vent his emotions. Then I knelt down and shaped a small snowman, placing it in his palm. “Some things, you only truly realize you’ve memorized when you can’t see them.” “Feel it carefully. Can you remember what snow looks like now?” Only when the snowman was about to melt did I take out a clean, soft handkerchief and carefully wipe the melted snow from his hands. Afterward, I heard Leo say, confused: “Only when I can’t see do I realize what I’ve memorized? “But why is it only your face that appears in my mind right now?” In that moment, surrounded by the vast expanse of snow, I said nothing. But I clearly heard the sudden acceleration of my heartbeat in my chest, answering him. After returning from the banquet, I changed out of my elaborate dress. I went back to my small room and skillfully pulled out a somewhat worn notebook from a drawer. I flipped through the pages, one by one, until my eyes blurred, and warm tears streamed down my face, dripping onto the paper. It was as if I was crying out all the grievances I’d endured over these past few years. I remembered my mother’s frail, drawn face in her final days, whispering weakly from her hospital bed: “Skylar, my two biggest regrets in life were not being able to give you a better life and not being able to visit Switzerland myself.” “If you ever get the chance, go see it for me, won’t you? How beautiful it truly is, the place that kept him from ever coming back to see me.” I don’t know how long passed before I closed the notebook and put it back in the drawer. From inside, I pulled out another document. It was the employment contract I had signed to care for Julian and Leo. The contract was for five years, and now, only seven days remained until it ended. So, I’ll use these seven days to say a proper goodbye. It’s time for all of this to come to an end.

It wasn’t until dusk began to fall that Julian and Leo finally returned. They didn’t talk much when they were alone; it was usually only when I was present that the atmosphere would lighten. But now, it seemed I was no longer needed. Because walking back with them was Chloe Hayes. The two tall men shielded her between them, Leo lowering his head, searching for conversation topics. He constantly monitored Chloe’s expression, and even the usually taciturn Julian had a slight smile playing on his lips. They looked harmonious and warm. She playfully patted Leo’s forehead, her voice chiding. “Leo, you’re such a child. Even if you’re upset or angry, you shouldn’t shave a girl’s head.” “It was just a caregiver, after all. Hair grows back.” Chloe pouted, feigning anger, and said coquettishly: “So if I ever make you angry, will you shave *my* head too?” Leo immediately clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture, promising: “My dear princess, how could I ever be angry with you? Besides, if anyone dared to make you lose even a single strand of hair, I’d make them pay for it a thousand times over.” This humble, fawning Leo was someone I had never seen before. I listened to all of this in silence, a bitter taste in my mouth. Because the caregiver with the shaved head Leo was talking about was me. After Julian and Leo’s car accident, the family had practically given up on them, and all the household staff had been reassigned. Only the two incapacitated men were left in the mansion. It just so happened that my mother had recently been diagnosed with a fibroid tumor, requiring a large sum of money for examination and treatment. Initially, I had simply been living with my mother in the Harrison family’s guest house. After her illness, with nowhere to find money, I proactively approached Julian and offered my services as a caregiver. I signed that contract, becoming their exclusive caregiver. Back then, shortly after his accident, Leo couldn’t accept the reality of his blindness and resisted anyone who tried to approach him. After I used a little force to make him eat, Leo held a grudge. He sneaked into my room in the dead of night, and with a shaver, mercilessly cut off my waist-length hair that I had kept for many years. Afterward, Leo even gleefully brandished his “weapon of choice,” threatening: “Next time you try to pull a stunt on me, it won’t be just this.” I cradled the pile of hair on the floor and cried all night. But now, Leo was using it as a joke to tell others.

The three of them were chatting animatedly, and it wasn’t until they reached the living room that they noticed the presence of a fourth person. “Long time no see, Skylar. Here’s a check for a hundred thousand dollars, a thank you for taking such good care of Julian and Leo these past few years.” With that, Chloe pulled a check from her purse and offered it to me. I didn’t take it. I sat there because I wanted to know if, after all these years, I was still nothing more than a caregiver in their hearts. If so, then why had they said all those things that made me dream? I looked up at the two men standing not far away, but they wouldn’t even spare me a glance. Their attention was entirely fixed on Chloe. Perhaps, the answer was already clear, wasn’t it? I stood up, my voice flat. “It was just part of my job. Ms. Hayes, there’s no need for this.” Seeing my reaction, Chloe didn’t say anything more and withdrew the check. “Since that’s the case, let me just add a few words. The Harrison family has strict rules. Now that Julian and Leo are back managing the company, there will inevitably be guests coming and going. Skylar, you’d best not make the mistake of sitting on the main sofa a second time, lest someone see you.” “I’m just giving you friendly advice. I’d hate for you to live here so long you start thinking you’re the lady of the house and behave improperly.” She finished, then turned to Julian and asked: “Right, Julian?” Julian smiled at her indulgently, his voice soft: “Whatever my Chloe says.” When I heard his reply, my eyes welled up slightly. Before, I took care of their daily needs and meals. No matter how tired I was, I always stuck to the rules, never eating or sitting with them. Only when they rested in the afternoon would I doze off, slumped at the dining table. Over time, I developed chronic back pain. Once, I fell asleep at the table, groggy from exhaustion, and didn’t even realize Julian had moved me to the sofa. When I woke up and felt the soft comfort beneath me, I immediately panicked, ready to apologize. But Julian’s voice was gentle as he told me: “It’s just the three of us here. You can think of this as your home.” I quickly tried to refuse, saying it wasn’t my place to presume. But Julian replied, sounding troubled: “If you don’t agree, I’ll just have to drag these useless legs and carry you here myself every time.” That day, I felt warmth. And today, I clearly saw reality again. I forced a bitter smile, my voice low as I responded: “I’m sorry. I’ll be more mindful of my behavior from now on, and it won’t happen again.” My feet felt like lead as I turned to leave, and tears flowed uncontrollably. Back in my room, I took out my phone and booked a flight to Switzerland. Seven days later, the person walking out of the Harrison family home would be a new me, starting fresh.

That evening, I still prepared dinner according to Julian and Leo’s tastes. As I turned to head back to the kitchen to eat the portion I’d set aside for myself, Chloe called out to me. “Skylar, why don’t you join us? I remember you grew up here too, didn’t you? There are no outsiders tonight, so it’s a good chance to catch up.” I was about to refuse when I heard Leo speak, frowning: “Just sit. Don’t make that angry face. Chloe just got back; don’t upset her.” The atmosphere grew tense, so I reluctantly sat down. As I picked up my fork to serve myself some food, Chloe suddenly remembered something amusing and burst out laughing. “I just remembered seeing Skylar once when I came to the main Harrison estate for dinner as a child.” My hand, holding the fork, trembled, and my face went pale. I almost fell off my chair. Chloe propped her chin on her hand and continued, oblivious: “Julian and Leo were there too, right? I hated the food and snuck out. You two were worried and followed me out.” “Then I saw Skylar sitting in a corner with her bowl. I was curious and wanted to get a closer look, but I accidentally knocked her bowl over. Suddenly, a dog darted out, snatched the meat from the ground, and ran off! Skylar was so desperate she chased after it, trying to snatch the meat back!” As she recounted the story, she truly seemed to find it hilarious, covering her mouth and giggling non-stop. My fingers, clenched around the fork, were white. I couldn’t speak. Back then, my mother and I had only recently moved into the Harrison house. I was at an age where I was growing fast and always hungry. It was only when the main family hosted banquets that I could get a decent meal. In my desperation, I had indeed fought with a dog over a piece of meat. Bringing up such an old, humiliating story in front of everyone was undoubtedly meant to put me down. “No wonder Skylar has worked so tirelessly for Julian and Leo all these years. Perhaps she thought that given enough time, she could latch onto one of them and never have to live that hard life she did as a child again.” “Chloe, that’s enough. Stop talking.” Leo, uncharacteristically, didn’t agree, cutting the topic short. I looked up, thinking he might defend me. But then I heard him say: “My brother and I aren’t that foolish. Just anyone can’t marry into the Harrison family.” Julian also put down his fork, his voice deep and brooking no argument: “Skylar, our relationship is purely employer-employee. My brother and I are grateful for her help with our rehabilitation and treatment, but that’s all it is. Skylar, please don’t entertain any inappropriate thoughts.” Their words were like sharp blades twisting in my heart. My body swayed, and I instinctively grabbed the table, the last flicker of hope inside me extinguished. Yes, how could I still harbor such inappropriate expectations for these two? I was indeed wrong. Wrong for not simply sticking to my role as a caregiver from the beginning, for giving too much of my heart. **Chapter 5** That night, I lay in bed, my mind replaying all the moments from the past five years. Why did all those beautiful memories seem to vanish so easily, as if they never existed, the moment Chloe reappeared? I never foolishly dreamed of marrying into the Harrison family. I just wanted to draw a little warmth from here. After my mother died two years ago, I had no one to rely on. No friends, no family. It was *they* who said I could consider this place my home, giving me a sense of belonging. Over a thousand days and nights, all reduced to a scheme to climb into wealth and an impossible dream, by Chloe’s mere words. I didn’t understand why people could become completely unrecognizable overnight. Just yesterday, they were pulling me along, saying they would thank me at the banquet. Lost in thought, I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and walked out of my room. I looked at the moon, and unconsciously found myself by the swimming pool. The moonlight flickered, and I unseasonably remembered the day my relationship with Julian deepened. After that car accident, outsiders said that the Harrison family’s golden boy was now confined to a wheelchair, unable to care for himself. Since coming to the Harrison house, I had been locked in a daily struggle with the volatile and difficult Leo. It was only with Julian that I found a moment’s respite. So I cherished the time spent with Julian, and felt a deeper connection to him. Unconsciously, I wanted to shield him from external news, to spare him any pain. He was always gentle and polite, never showing a hint of negative emotion. Until that late night, when I was thirsty and went to the living room for a glass of water. The house was silent, but I heard the incessant sound of dripping water coming from Julian’s room. After knocking for the third time and receiving no response, I pushed the door open anxiously. My gaze instinctively went to the bed, but it was empty. I walked towards the sound of water and saw Julian completely submerged in the bathtub. I frantically pulled him out, but he violently pushed me away. Julian’s eyes were red, radiating an aura that warned everyone to keep their distance. For the first time, he spoke to me in a voice as cold as ice. “Who let you in? Get out!” I trembled with fear but didn’t obey him. Instead, I forcefully approached him and dragged him out of the bathtub. “If something happens to you, no one will pay me, and I might even be blamed by your family. I have a duty to ensure your safety.” Having fought wits and strength with Leo for so long, I had developed a surprising amount of strength. Though it was difficult, I managed to get him onto the bed. For a moment, silence hung heavy between us. The man who was usually so gentle now had an expressionless face, like a lifeless object, devoid of any spark of life. But my sharp eyes caught his legs trembling unnaturally, and his lips were pale. I realized this was a sign of his leg pain. I brought hot water, soaked a towel, and placed it on his knees. “Does this feel better? My mom used to have rheumatism, and I’d put hot towels on her, and it made her feel much better.” Julian didn’t reply, his dark eyes fixed on me. I didn’t mind, continuing to replace the hot towels on his knees. After a long while, Julian finally spoke: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll fire you for defying my wishes?” My hand paused, but I didn’t lie. “Yes, but I’m more afraid you’ll die there.” Julian suddenly let out a laugh, though it sounded tinged with despair. “If the old Julian had died, perhaps many people would have mourned. But the Julian I am now is a cripple. If I die, I die. Who would care?” “Since childhood, I’ve grown up under the Harrison elders’ expectations. I had to excel at everything, never make a single misstep. Even when I was afraid, I couldn’t show the slightest hint of hesitation, or countless Harrison relatives would be eyeing me, ready to tear a piece off me.” “Now, they’ve gotten their wish.” I listened quietly, not interrupting. That night, Julian seemed to pour out everything he had kept unspoken until then. Finally, he said. “Do you know, before you found me, I had tried countless times to drown myself in the water, to just die. But I always failed.” “And just today, I was almost successful. But you saved me.” “You gave me a new hope for life. Will you help me stand up again?” I looked at the fragile Julian before me, who seemed on the verge of shattering, and without hesitation, I nodded. “I will.” Chapter 6 After that, I tirelessly applied hot towels to his knees every day. I looked up recipes online to make him nutritious porridges and broths. And when he nearly stumbled during rehab, I would catch his falling body again and again. At the time, I thought that having gone through difficulties together, we must surely be friends. But now, merely because Chloe had returned, that unrealistic fantasy of mine was shattered. My thoughts snapped back to the present. The night wind blew, bringing a chill to my skin. I stood up, intending to go back inside, but my gaze fell on the center of the swimming pool. Julian was submerged in the water, slowly sinking. The scene was a chilling echo of that day years ago. Without a second thought, I dove in, too caught up to consider anything else. But the moment I hit the water, an overwhelming fear engulfed me. Childhood memories flooded my mind. It was as if an invisible hand in the water was dragging me down. I struggled, opening my mouth to scream for help, but water rushed into my nose and mouth. I don’t know how long passed before a pair of large hands gripped me, pulling me up. I clung to the person in front of me like a drowning person to a lifeline. Once I could finally breathe, I saw who had saved me. It was Julian. Before I could even thank him, a third voice came from the poolside. “You really are exactly as Chloe said—a shameless opportunist trying to worm her way into the Harrison family!” “All these years of pretending, you must be exhausted. Should I present you with an Oscar?” Leo stood by the edge of the pool, his eyes fixed on the two of us in the water, our bodies tangled in an awkward embrace. The fury in his eyes seemed ready to erupt. Julian, after bringing me to safety, didn’t offer a single word of explanation for me. He simply walked away. “I thought you were different from all those other women out there. Turns out you’re just more cunning. Should I praise your patience, for pretending for so long in front of me? It makes me sick!” Leo finished speaking, then furiously ripped the crucifix pendant from his neck and hurled it at my face. It was a pendant I had once braved a snowstorm to get for him. He had carefully placed it around his neck back then. And tenderly cupped my frost-reddened hands, tucking them into his embrace. “I’ll never take this pendant off, or may I never achieve what I seek, and live a lonely life.” My hands trembled as I picked up the fallen metal cross from the ground, tracing the lingering warmth on its surface. The moonlight shone on my face, leaving my wretchedness nowhere to hide. After a long while, I tossed the cross into the pool. Fine. I was leaving anyway. Explanations no longer held any meaning. Chapter 7 A sleepless night. The next morning, I left the house early. This was my first time leaving the country, and there was a lot to prepare. Around noon, I returned home to make lunch, but received a call from Leo. “Chloe is having a piano recital today. You should come too.” I found it strange. Chloe clearly disliked me, so why would she invite me to her recital? Just as I was about to refuse, the voice on the other end of the line added: “She just returned, and the staff we hired aren’t enough. Come give us a hand.” So that was it. Perhaps after last night’s ordeal, I had finally accepted my place and Leo’s words no longer stirred any emotion in me. I just wanted to finalize my visa and leave this Harrison house that had trapped my entire youth. “Okay, Mr. Leo.” Leo on the phone fell silent. He hadn’t heard that title in a long time. In the past, to force me to call him by his name, He had thrown tantrums, gone on hunger strikes—done it all—until I finally agreed to stop using that distant title. Somehow, hearing that title again, he suddenly felt an emptiness inside. As if something had quietly slipped away. But right now, Leo didn’t have time to ponder; he had more important things to do. Chloe’s piano recital, held under the guise of a welcome-back party, couldn’t have a single flaw. I quickly tidied myself up and headed to Chloe’s residence. As I pushed open the door, I saw Leo, who usually needed help even to get a glass of water, standing on a ladder wiping the crystal chandelier. Leo was exactly as rumors described: arrogant, wild, and never listening to advice. But now, he was willingly and personally preparing for Chloe’s recital. This demotion of his status, in the eyes of outsiders, became a testament to his doting affection for Chloe. A few staff members were huddled together, trimming flowers for the banquet, whispering enviously: “Mr. Leo is truly smitten. The moment he heard they needed a hand, he rushed over. No airs of a young master at all.” Hearing this, I only found it absurd. Leo’s young master airs were quite extraordinary. When I first started caring for him, he found new ways to torment me every day. He was incredibly demanding, even if the water he drank was slightly too warm, He would mercilessly throw it in my face and make me pour a fresh cup. Looking at the man now, willingly doing manual labor, a pang of sadness still welled up in my heart. But it lasted only a fleeting moment, and then I walked inside. Chloe saw me enter, a sneer twisting her lips, and walked up to me, giving instructions without missing a beat: “You’re just in time. Go wipe down the piano I’ll be playing tonight.” I nodded, carrying the bucket of water further inside. As I passed Leo, he didn’t even spare me a glance. He was entirely focused on cleaning the crystal chandelier in front of him. I fetched a bucket of water and meticulously wiped down the priceless piano before me. Accidentally pressing a key, a melodious note flowed out. I felt a pang of nostalgia, recalling a memory deeply buried in my heart. There was also a piano in the Harrison mansion. But by the time I came to care for them, one was paralyzed and the other blind, so the piano sat unused. Still, I dutifully wiped every speck of dust from it, trying to keep it looking pristine. Once, while cleaning, I accidentally pressed a key. I was flustered, trying to close the lid, but a hand reaching from behind stopped me. Julian appeared behind me, guiding my hand to the keys. His voice, as clear as wine, drifted softly into my ear, his breath warm on my neck. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll play with you.” Perhaps the atmosphere that day was simply too perfect, making me forget to refuse. I let his slender, well-defined hands guide mine, playing a beautiful melody. I couldn’t tell if it was my heart fluttering or just nervousness. All I knew was that after that day, something felt different. My thoughts returned to the present, overlapping with those past memories. I swallowed the tears welling in my eyes. And pushed the memories aside. After cleaning the piano, I helped with a few other tasks, then retreated to a corner, trying not to draw attention to myself. Until the banquet began, and the piano was brought out. I stood in the corner, watching Chloe in her elegant gown under the spotlight, and Julian and Leo applauding below. They looked so perfectly matched. It was truly beyond my wildest dreams. Chloe raised her hand. The guests’ applause seemed to pause, and they watched the woman on stage with bated breath. As a few notes drifted out, everyone was captivated. But suddenly, Chloe cried out in pain. “Ow, that hurts! Why is there a razor blade in the piano?” Chapter 8 A few drops of bright red blood welled from my fingertip. Below the stage, Julian and Leo’s faces darkened. They immediately rushed forward to check on her. Leo’s eyes brimmed with heartache, and the guests murmured amongst themselves. Chloe’s eyes filled with tears, her voice choked with sobs: “This piano, only I touched it. Is she angry because you called her over? But why didn’t she just tell me directly, Leo? It hurts so much!” “Will my hand be scarred?” Hearing this, Leo’s anger intensified. His gaze frantically searched the crowd. My face went ashen. I couldn’t understand why this had happened, and I rushed forward to explain. “It wasn’t me! I don’t know why there was a razor blade inside!” But my explanation was too flimsy; in their ears, it became a desperate attempt to deflect blame. Leo violently turned to face me, a storm brewing in his eyes, as if he wanted to devour me whole. “Chloe, don’t be afraid. I told you that whoever hurts you, I will repay them a thousandfold.” After saying this, Leo gently pushed Chloe out of his embrace and slowly advanced toward me. The unsettling feeling inside me grew stronger, and the terrifying aura pressed me back two steps. Until I could retreat no further, Leo abruptly grabbed my hands, yanking me forward. His grip was incredibly strong, almost crushing my wrist bones. I stumbled and struggled, but couldn’t move him in the slightest. Then Leo forced my hands onto the piano. My eyes widened in terror. “No, Leo! You can’t do this to me!” “I’ve been too lenient with you these past few years, making you forget your place. Consider this a lesson today.” With that, Leo mercilessly pressed my hand onto the razor blade, rubbing it back and forth with brutal force. The intense pain triggered my survival instinct. I instinctively looked towards Julian. But I saw him subtly shield Chloe behind him, his eyes looking at me with icy indifference. This reaction felt like a thick rope tightening around my heart, suffocating me with a dull ache, leaving my soul desolate. For a moment, it made me forget to struggle. Only when my hands were bleeding profusely did Leo finally release them, letting me slide and kneel on the floor. For the first time, I felt lost and helpless. Even if I wanted to leave, I didn’t want it to end in such a messy, undignified way. I was surrounded by everyone, like a criminal awaiting judgment. No one listened to my explanations, and no one stood in front of me to protect me. But I hadn’t done anything wrong. Leo frowned, looking at Chloe’s injury, his voice soft: “Chloe, I’ll take you to the hospital. Your hands are for playing piano; I’ll make sure they heal perfectly.” With that, he scooped Chloe into his arms and walked out the door. Julian pulled out his phone and called his assistant. “Contact the best dermatology and reconstructive surgery expert in the country and have them come to the Harrison family’s private hospital immediately.” They clustered around Chloe as they left, treating her with such extravagance, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. After the crowd dispersed, my hands, still bleeding profusely, slowly began to clot. I slowly stood up, letting out a self-deprecating laugh. Chloe’s triumphant smirk as she was carried away flashed in my mind. So that was it. Was this her lesson for me? Chapter 9 A sleepless night. The next morning, I left the house early. This was my first time leaving the country, and there was a lot to prepare. Around noon, I returned home to make lunch, but received a call from Leo. “Chloe is having a piano recital today. You should come too.” I found it strange. Chloe clearly disliked me, so why would she invite me to her recital? Just as I was about to refuse, the voice on the other end of the line added: “She just returned, and the staff we hired aren’t enough. Come give us a hand.” So that was it. Perhaps after last night’s ordeal, I had finally accepted my place and Leo’s words no longer stirred any emotion in me. I just wanted to finalize my visa and leave this Harrison house that had trapped my entire youth. “Okay, Mr. Leo.” Leo on the phone fell silent. He hadn’t heard that title in a long time. In the past, to force me to call him by his name, He had thrown tantrums, gone on hunger strikes—done it all—until I finally agreed to stop using that distant title. Somehow, hearing that title again, he suddenly felt an emptiness inside. As if something had quietly slipped away. But right now, Leo didn’t have time to ponder; he had more important things to do. Chloe’s piano recital, held under the guise of a welcome-back party, couldn’t have a single flaw. I quickly tidied myself up and headed to Chloe’s residence. As I pushed open the door, I saw Leo, who usually needed help even to get a glass of water, standing on a ladder wiping the crystal chandelier. Leo was exactly as rumors described: arrogant, wild, and never listening to advice. But now, he was willingly and personally preparing for Chloe’s recital. This demotion of his status, in the eyes of outsiders, became a testament to his doting affection for Chloe. A few staff members were huddled together, trimming flowers for the banquet, whispering enviously: “Mr. Leo is truly smitten. The moment he heard they needed a hand, he rushed over. No airs of a young master at all.” Hearing this, I only found it absurd. Leo’s young master airs were quite extraordinary. When I first started caring for him, he found new ways to torment me every day. He was incredibly demanding, even if the water he drank was slightly too warm, He would mercilessly throw it in my face and make me pour a fresh cup. Looking at the man now, willingly doing manual labor, a pang of sadness still welled up in my heart. But it lasted only a fleeting moment, and then I walked inside. Chloe saw me enter, a sneer twisting her lips, and walked up to me, giving instructions without missing a beat: “You’re just in time. Go wipe down the piano I’ll be playing tonight.” I nodded, carrying the bucket of water further inside. As I passed Leo, he didn’t even spare me a glance. He was entirely focused on cleaning the crystal chandelier in front of him. I fetched a bucket of water and meticulously wiped down the priceless piano before me. Accidentally pressing a key, a melodious note flowed out. I felt a pang of nostalgia, recalling a memory deeply buried in my heart. There was also a piano in the Harrison mansion. But by the time I came to care for them, one was paralyzed and the other blind, so the piano sat unused. Still, I dutifully wiped every speck of dust from it, trying to keep it looking pristine. Once, while cleaning, I accidentally pressed a key. I was flustered, trying to close the lid, but a hand reaching from behind stopped me. Julian appeared behind me, guiding my hand to the keys. His voice, as clear as wine, drifted softly into my ear, his breath warm on my neck. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll play with you.” Perhaps the atmosphere that day was simply too perfect, making me forget to refuse. I let his slender, well-defined hands guide mine, playing a beautiful melody. I couldn’t tell if it was my heart fluttering or just nervousness. All I knew was that after that day, something felt different. My thoughts returned to the present, overlapping with those past memories. I swallowed the tears welling in my eyes. And pushed the memories aside. After cleaning the piano, I helped with a few other tasks, then retreated to a corner, trying not to draw attention to myself. Until the banquet began, and the piano was brought out. I stood in the corner, watching Chloe in her elegant gown under the spotlight, and Julian and Leo applauding below. They looked so perfectly matched. It was truly beyond my wildest dreams. Chloe raised her hand. The guests’ applause seemed to pause, and they watched the woman on stage with bated breath. As a few notes drifted out, everyone was captivated. But suddenly, Chloe cried out in pain. “Ow, that hurts! Why is there a razor blade in the piano?” Chapter 8 A few drops of bright red blood welled from my fingertip. Below the stage, Julian and Leo’s faces darkened. They immediately rushed forward to check on her. Leo’s eyes brimmed with heartache, and the guests murmured amongst themselves. Chloe’s eyes filled with tears, her voice choked with sobs: “This piano, only I touched it. Is she angry because you called her over? But why didn’t she just tell me directly, Leo? It hurts so much!” “Will my hand be scarred?” Hearing this, Leo’s anger intensified. His gaze frantically searched the crowd. My face went ashen. I couldn’t understand why this had happened, and I rushed forward to explain. “It wasn’t me! I don’t know why there was a razor blade inside!” But my explanation was too flimsy; in their ears, it became a desperate attempt to deflect blame. Leo violently turned to face me, a storm brewing in his eyes, as if he wanted to devour me whole. “Chloe, don’t be afraid. I told you that whoever hurts you, I will repay them a thousandfold.” After saying this, Leo gently pushed Chloe out of his embrace and slowly advanced toward me. The unsettling feeling inside me grew stronger, and the terrifying aura pressed me back two steps. Until I could retreat no further, Leo abruptly grabbed my hands, yanking me forward. His grip was incredibly strong, almost crushing my wrist bones. I stumbled and struggled, but couldn’t move him in the slightest. Then Leo forced my hands onto the piano. My eyes widened in terror. “No, Leo! You can’t do this to me!” “I’ve been too lenient with you these past few years, making you forget your place. Consider this a lesson today.” With that, Leo mercilessly pressed my hand onto the razor blade, rubbing it back and forth with brutal force. The intense pain triggered my survival instinct. I instinctively looked towards Julian. But I saw him subtly shield Chloe behind him, his eyes looking at me with icy indifference. This reaction felt like a thick rope tightening around my heart, suffocating me with a dull ache, leaving my soul desolate. For a moment, it made me forget to struggle. Only when my hands were bleeding profusely did Leo finally release them, letting me slide and kneel on the floor. For the first time, I felt lost and helpless. Even if I wanted to leave, I didn’t want it to end in such a messy, undignified way. I was surrounded by everyone, like a criminal awaiting judgment. No one listened to my explanations, and no one stood in front of me to protect me. But I hadn’t done anything wrong. Leo frowned, looking at Chloe’s injury, his voice soft: “Chloe, I’ll take you to the hospital. Your hands are for playing piano; I’ll make sure they heal perfectly.” With that, he scooped Chloe into his arms and walked out the door. Julian pulled out his phone and called his assistant. “Contact the best dermatology and reconstructive surgery expert in the country and have them come to the Harrison family’s private hospital immediately.” They clustered around Chloe as they left, treating her with such extravagance, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. After the crowd dispersed, my hands, still bleeding profusely, slowly began to clot. I slowly stood up, letting out a self-deprecating laugh. Chloe’s triumphant smirk as she was carried away flashed in my mind. So that was it. Was this her lesson for me? Chapter 9 My hands were stitched with sixteen sutures, making it difficult to slowly pack my things for abroad. Luckily, Julian and Leo hadn’t returned these past few days. Not having to do anything else reduced the frequency of the pain in my wounds. I opened my phone, intending to search for essential items needed for moving abroad. But I accidentally tapped on SnapChat and saw Leo’s latest post. In the photo, he and Julian stood on either side of Chloe. Behind them was the clear blue sea, and all three wore wide smiles. “Taking our little princess Chloe to the beach to relax. Suddenly reminded of our first meeting, when a brave princess saved the knight who would accompany her for life.” I liked the post, then went back to my contacts, unpinned Julian and Leo, and sent each of them a message. “Five-year contract is up. No debts, no regrets. Goodbye forever.” After sending it, I blocked and deleted them both, then pulled my suitcase and walked out of the Harrison house. On the other side, Julian and Leo received the message simultaneously. Leo’s face changed when he saw it. He instinctively tried to text back a question mark, but his chat window showed a red exclamation mark. He looked up at Julian, noticed his grim expression, and guessed he’d been deleted too. Leo glanced at Chloe, who was swimming in the ocean, then grabbed his jacket from the chair and hurried to leave. “You stay here with Chloe. I’m going back to see what kind of game Skylar is playing now.” The usually steady Julian didn’t agree this time. Instead, he stopped him. “I’ll go back. You stay here and look after Chloe. She probably doesn’t want to see you right now.” At his words, a flicker of regret crossed Leo’s eyes. Because that day, in his fury, punishing me in front of so many people had indeed been excessive. But now, he was panicking, unable to calm down. He knew Skylar. She was forgiving, gentle, and never backed down, even when he gave her endless grief. Instead, she repeatedly embraced the helpless, vulnerable person he hid deep inside. This Skylar would never use leaving to threaten him. So, Skylar was serious. Realizing this, his heart pounded even harder. He wanted to go back immediately and find out why. As they stood at an impasse, Chloe’s cry for help suddenly came from the beach. The two brothers exchanged a look, then simultaneously ran towards the ocean, jumping in to pull her out. Chloe coughed up water from her throat, a blush rising to her face. “Thank you both. I’ve always been afraid of water since I was little, unlike others who can play by the sea. But now, with you two by my side, I’m not afraid of anything.” She expected them to make eternal vows to protect her, as they always had. But to her shock, Leo violently pushed her away. Startled, she looked up. She saw them both with grim faces, staring intently at her, as if to pierce right through her. “You’ve been afraid of water since childhood?” Chloe hadn’t realized she’d made a mistake and still nodded. “I have aquaphobia. My parents strictly forbade me from going near water when I was young. Luckily, you two are here.” With that, she tried to lean into Julian’s embrace, but he subtly dodged her. “So, it wasn’t you who saved us back then?” Chloe had lived too comfortably all these years, only now remembering that she had claimed credit for someone else’s deed. She quickly tried to salvage it, “It was me, it was me! I forgot.” The trusting, doting expressions they usually wore were gone. They exchanged a look and then, with a shared understanding, bolted outside. A single thought flashed through both their minds simultaneously. They absolutely couldn’t let Skylar leave just like that. At Kyoto Airport, I, with my modest luggage, boarded a plane bound for Switzerland. After this farewell, what lay ahead was a brand new beginning.

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My Wife’s Secret Crush Ruined Our Marriage In a coastal city, a monstrous Category 5 hurricane was about to make landfall. I closed the windows tight, the wind howling furiously outside. My phone, resting on the table, buzzed incessantly. I stared at the incoming call but ignored it. This was already Maya Rodriguez’s eighteenth frantic call. Messages? Countless. “Liam Reynolds, the hurricane’s coming! I can’t get back to the city now. Go pick up Julian and take care of him, quick!” “Julian’s legs are injured, he can’t protect himself, do you hear me?” “If anything happens to Julian, I swear I’ll never forgive you.” “If you don’t answer, I’ll divorce you, I swear…” I’d lost count of how many times Maya had ordered me around because of her secret crush, Julian Thorne. And I’d lost count of how many times she’d threatened me with divorce. I used to get terribly anxious about these things. But not anymore. “Julian called me just now, he was crying. He must be so desperate right now. I’ve never asked you for anything else, so please, I’m begging you this time, go pick up Julian. Please?” I blacked out my phone. Lying in bed, headphones on. Perhaps the fierce hurricane outside was finally bringing down the long-standing heat. It had been a while since I’d had a comfortable sleep. In the five years I’d been married to Maya, I’d given so much for her. I genuinely believed that true feelings would be reciprocated. But even after we entered the sacred bond of marriage, even after we got our marriage license, It couldn’t stand against a single message from Maya’s secret crush. “Maya, I’m back in the country. Can you come see me?” I still remember the look of surprise and joy on Maya’s face when she saw that message. “Liam, I won’t be celebrating your birthday with you. I’ll make it up to you next time.” With those words, Maya hopped on a plane and flew to Sea City, leaving me utterly helpless. Maya returned from Sea City half a month later. When she arrived in the city, she asked me to pick her up from the airport. It was my first time seeing Julian Thorne. He was in a wheelchair, with a pale, refined face, delicate features, and sharp contours. Dressed in white, he exuded an elegant aura. Maya carefully pushed his wheelchair, lavishing him with a tenderness I’d never seen her display before. And certainly, a tenderness I would never experience. Maya and Julian had grown up together. They had been legends of the school from their middle school days all the way through college. Every little thing they did would become the talk of the campus. They were, without a doubt, the undisputed focal points of the school. Maya truly loved Julian. But in their junior year of college, Julian, a foreign exchange student at the time, openly flaunted his blonde, blue-eyed girlfriend on his social media account. He officially declared his love for her. Maya was heartbroken and devastated then. She completely fell apart. She even went abroad herself, begging Julian not to break up with her. But in the end, she couldn’t even get a glimpse of Julian. Maya suffered for two years. It took immense effort for me to pull her back from the emotional abyss Julian had dragged her into. But even so, what good did it do? With Julian’s single sentence about returning home, all my efforts vanished into thin air. I sighed lightly. It was time for me to let go of this relationship that was never truly mine. I placed the divorce papers, which I had prepared in advance, under my pillow. That night, I slept soundly.

The next day, after the storm cleared. The hurricane finally dissipated. I had just opened my eyes when I heard some commotion outside. Before I could fully wake up. A figure rushed into the room. Her eyes were a bit red, her hair a mess, her eyes sunken, with dark bags hanging beneath them. Her clothes were thrown together, a stark contrast to her status. She looked utterly haggard. Clearly, she hadn’t slept well the previous night. Seeing Maya Rodriguez, a top fashion designer, in such a state, genuinely surprised me. Our eyes met. Maya immediately yanked the blanket off me. “Get out here, I need to talk to you.” She seemed to be trying her best to control her emotions. But I could already see this was the prelude to a volcanic eruption. I moved at a deliberate pace, no longer the person who used to tense up at the slightest sign of Maya’s anger. On the contrary, there was a sense of calm in my eyes. Maya looked slightly surprised by this but didn’t dwell on it. She went outside, sat on the sofa, crossed her legs, and folded her arms across her chest, her expression showing a hint of fury. She was ready, waiting for me to come out and apologize. Maya had even decided in her mind that this time, she would punish and scold me severely, to make sure I learned my lesson. To know what I should and shouldn’t do. But after waiting a while, I didn’t emerge. Maya’s anger gradually dwindled with the wait. She stormed back into the room, just as I was coming out, and we nearly collided. Maya’s emotions were about to burst forth. But I cut her off. “Oh, by the way, Maya, Julian’s rehabilitation and hospital bills came in a while ago. Check them over, and if everything’s in order, just sign them.” Maya had put a lot of effort into getting Julian back on his feet. Now, she was even treating Julian at the city’s exclusive private hospital. I heard it had state-of-the-art medical equipment imported from abroad. Maya had sent Julian there without hesitation. Hearing about Julian seemed to calm Maya’s emotions somewhat. I handed Maya the hospital bills, with the divorce papers tucked inside. Maya didn’t look closely. She took the pen and quickly signed her name. As for the divorce papers beneath, Maya didn’t seem to care at all. After she signed, she handed the documents back to me. I carefully put both the hospital bills and the divorce papers away. I planned that once the thirty-day waiting period was over, I would move out of this place that felt like a house but wasn’t a home. Maya’s expression quickly reverted to its icy demeanor. “Liam Reynolds, don’t you think you owe me a reasonable explanation now?” A flicker of confusion crossed my face. “Explanation? What explanation?” Maya’s voice rose a few octaves. “I called you so many times last night, sent you countless messages, why didn’t you answer my calls or reply to my texts? Do you even know? Julian almost died last night.” She questioned me, demanding why I hadn’t taken proper care of her Julian.

I looked at Maya, furious over Julian. A bitter pang flashed in my eyes. It appeared as quickly as it vanished. “Last night, I…” I was about to explain. But Maya cut me off. “I can’t believe how cold-blooded and heartless you are. You almost became Julian’s killer.” Listening to the charges she was pinning on me. There wasn’t much of a ripple in my heart. She only thought about Julian’s safety. Had she ever thought about mine? Last night, a Category 5 hurricane swept through, uprooting large trees outside. If I had gone out, would I have been swept away like those trees, disappearing without a trace? As she spoke, she pulled up the security camera footage. In the video, Julian, sitting in his wheelchair, looked terrified and pale as the fierce wind blew in. He repeatedly cried out for help. “Maya, where are you? Come back quickly, I’m scared being alone.” “Maya, please come be with me…” Julian called out for Maya to the camera, looking utterly helpless and desperate. “Did you see that? Did you see that?” Maya’s voice caught in her throat. I was slightly surprised and turned to look at Maya, only to find her eyes red and her lips trembling. “How desperate Julian must have been last night! If I hadn’t rushed back through that Category 5 hurricane to take care of him, who knows what would have happened?” Maya’s tone was fierce, and her eyes were sharp as she stared at me. She seemed to be waiting for a reasonable answer. I looked at the video, then averted my gaze. “Julian’s fine now, right?” “He’s fine, but he’s still traumatized. He can’t stand like a normal person, so he’s naturally more sensitive and fragile emotionally, and his nerves are weak. After something like this, he won’t be able to sleep for at least half a month.” “That’s true. And since you ended your meeting early, you can go stay with him at his place.” I said calmly. Maya paused for a few seconds after hearing this. Her gaze towards me shifted. She had a feeling that something about me had changed. But she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. She knew I had never supported her interactions with Julian before. Why had my attitude changed now? Maya was still in a huff. “I don’t need you to tell me that, I’ll make my own arrangements.” She tossed that out, then ignored me. She turned and went into the walk-in closet, starting to pack her clothes. She pulled a suitcase and walked out. “I might need to be away for about a week to take care of Julian this time.” “Oh.” I replied calmly. Maya, who was rushing out, abruptly stopped, turned, and glanced at me. “Don’t overthink it. Julian is a patient, after all, and he was traumatized last night. You don’t need to be jealous.” I said, “I’m not jealous. In fact, what I did last night was wrong, causing Julian such distress. Perhaps you should go take care of him for half a month or even a month, so his emotions can fully stabilize.” Maya frowned slightly. “Liam Reynolds, what do you mean? Don’t use those words to needle me, to mock me.”

“Maya, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not mocking you. It just so happens that I have an event to participate in soon, which will take some time. If you were home, I wouldn’t have time to take care of you. So, this works out well; you can use this time to properly spend time with Julian.” I said truthfully. My face was serene, showing no emotional fluctuations. “What event?” “Didn’t you promise to join me for a charity drive a while back? I figured you wouldn’t have time now, so I’m planning to go alone.” I explained. This charity drive was very meaningful. The organizers hoped to donate books to underprivileged children in remote areas through this event. At the time, I thought about signing up for such a meaningful activity. That day would also roughly coincide with our fifth wedding anniversary. If our fifth wedding anniversary could be spent on such an event, it would be a truly significant day. For this, I had even bought the gift in advance. But Maya seemed to have forgotten our wedding anniversary. Hearing me bring it up, her expression didn’t change much. “I really don’t have time to participate this time. I’ll join you another time if I get the chance.” “Alright, I understand. You should go take care of Julian quickly; don’t make him wait too long.” Maya still looked at me with a hint of confusion. But as soon as she heard Julian’s name, she no longer hesitated, turning to walk out. Watching her disappearing back. I let out a bitter laugh and said nothing more. I stood there for a moment. When I came to my senses, I began to pack up my belongings in the house. In our five years of marriage, besides a single photo of us from an event we attended, there were no other shared photos in the house. We hadn’t even taken wedding photos. Of course, I wanted to take wedding photos, but when I brought it up to Maya, She bluntly refused. “I don’t want to waste time on meaningless things.” But what was meaningful to Maya? Ever since Julian returned to the country. Maya had been busy, helping him arrange a place to live. She found hospitals and specialists to help Julian with his treatment. Maya paid meticulous attention to every update Julian posted on his Ins story. I remember Julian once posted a picturesque European landmark. Maya dropped her busy work, and the very next day, she took Julian to that landmark. Julian posted a picture of a delicious meal. Maya immediately started learning to cook, just to satisfy Julian. As for me. Maya never did any housework. Let alone cook a meal for me. For me, it was simply unimaginable. I simply packed up my belongings in the house. I threw everything that belonged to “us” into the trash can. Among them was a scarf I had knitted for her by hand. She had never worn it once. When I gave her the scarf and told her I had knitted it myself, she immediately pursed her lips. “As a top designer, wearing such an unstylish scarf from you would be absolutely laughable.” From then on, the scarf was relegated to a corner, collecting dust. This scarf was just like our relationship. From the very beginning, I wasn’t even Julian’s “substitute.” In the end, after five years of marriage, I was merely “the dusty scarf.”

After packing up my things. I contacted the event organizers and submitted some documents. Then I left, because this charity drive wasn’t hosted in this city, but involved a wilderness hike. So, it would take a few days. I bought a plane ticket and departed, also taking the opportunity to clear my mind. When I arrived at the location, one of the organizers looked surprised to see me alone. “Mr. Reynolds, I remember you mentioned coming with your wife?” I chuckled softly. “My wife had some urgent business, so she couldn’t make it…” The organizer didn’t say much about it. The charity drive lasted about a week. At the end, participants could also voluntarily donate to the charity fund. I donated a delicate “Crystal Heart.” This was originally a surprise I had planned for Maya during this charity drive. But she didn’t need it now. So, I made sure it was put to good use. The organizer opened the box containing the “Crystal Heart” and glanced at it, a hint of surprise on their face. “Mr. Reynolds, isn’t this too valuable? I remember seeing something like this online, it was worth hundreds of thousands.” “It’s just a small token of my affection for the underprivileged children in the mountains.” After a moment of stunned silence, the organizer quickly thanked me. I waved my hand. After returning from the charity event. I saw a familiar number calling me again. It was a call I had rejected countless times. After a moment of hesitation, I pressed the answer button. A voice came from the other end. “Mr. Reynolds, our C Group is very eager to…” “Mr. Reynolds, our company has extended invitations to you dozens of times to join us as our lead animation designer. We’ve seen your work from the global competition, and it perfectly aligns with our needs. We sincerely invite you to join our company. What do you think?” I had studied animation design and production. And I had a strong talent in this field. A while ago, out of boredom, I participated in an international animation rendering competition. I won first place. After that, I was noticed by an animation production company called “C Group.” I knew about this company; it was a top production studio that collaborated with Hollywood. Many famous animations on the market were produced by this company. When they invited me before. I still felt tied down, and I still clung to a sliver of hope. I always thought that one day, Maya would see my efforts and dedication. But now, none of that mattered to me. “Alright, I accept your invitation.” I answered before the other person could speak. The other person was stunned for a few seconds, as if they hadn’t fully processed what I said. A few seconds later, the person finally let out an excited voice. “That’s wonderful, fantastic! Mr. Reynolds, please complete your emigration procedures as soon as possible. Our company will cover all expenses.” “Okay.” I agreed. And hung up the phone.

When I returned to the apartment, I found it empty. A thin layer of dust had settled on the floor and the dining table. I was usually the one who cleaned the house. When I was here, this cold house felt like a home. When I was not, it was just a concrete and steel structure. Counting the days, it had been about ten days already. Twenty days left. This emotionally draining relationship was finally coming to an end. Just as I got up to tidy the place. My phone suddenly rang. It was Maya calling. After a moment of hesitation, I answered. “Liam Reynolds, you should be back in the city now, right?” I paused for a few seconds when I heard that voice. Because it wasn’t Maya’s voice. It was Julian’s. It was unthinkable for me to even touch Maya’s phone. Yet now, Julian was calling me from Maya’s phone. This was clearly a way to assert his dominance. “Yeah, I just got back.” I replied calmly after coming back to my senses. “Today’s my birthday, and Maya organized a birthday party for me. I heard from Maya that you went on a charity trip, and it’s been so many days, you should be back by now. So I called to invite you to my birthday party, do you have time?” Julian’s voice was excited, but I could also detect a hint of provocation. “Maya also hopes you can come. Of course, I hope you can come even more. After all, if it weren’t for your generosity, tacitly allowing Maya to take care of me, I don’t know how I would have gotten through these dark days.” Julian’s voice continued. “Alright, send me the address, I’ll be there later.” I hung up. Julian quickly sent me the address. I glanced at it, then looked away. Then I went out to start preparing my emigration documents. Since I had applied for an overseas visa before. I was quite familiar with the process. I submitted my application to the consulate, and it would take about ten days. After finishing my errands, I checked the time. From where I was to Julian’s birthday party venue, it was about a thirty-minute drive. Leaving now, the timing was just right. I might be a little late, but that didn’t matter to me. Sitting on the subway, my thoughts drifted. I chatted briefly with a friend. I informed my friend that I was preparing to move abroad soon. My friends, hearing that I had a better opportunity to go abroad, were all happy for me. Half an hour later. I arrived at the location. Following the address, I walked forward. The decor of this place was very high-end; it was clear the prices here wouldn’t be cheap. But this was the place Maya had carefully chosen for Julian. The venue was quite large, with many private rooms. I was led by a waiter to the door of the private room. When I pushed the door open. A booming music sound erupted. Accompanied by cheers and teasing. “Cheers…” The private room was spacious, two to three hundred square feet, with integrated leisure and entertainment. I pushed the door open and saw Maya smiling, with a hint of shyness, sharing an intertwined toast with Julian.

The two of them were intimately close, looking incredibly sweet. Seeing this, I also clapped along with the crowd. No one seemed to notice my arrival. But Julian’s gaze quickly fell upon me. “Liam Reynolds, you’re here…” As his voice landed. The eyes of the cheering crowd all turned to me. Even Maya’s gaze landed on me. Today, Maya wore a floor-length gown, exuding an elegant aura. Her delicate features had an air of nobility. The moment she saw me, a flicker of paleness crossed her face, quickly flushed with a hint of red. Her eyes were also filled with a touch of panic. But this panic vanished quickly. Her expression changed again and again. After a long moment, she said, “Liam Reynolds, why are you here? I’m telling you, I just…” “No need to explain. It’s Julian’s birthday today, and I know you’re just getting into the spirit of things, celebrating Julian’s birthday.” I said calmly. Everyone who heard my words paused for a few seconds. They seemed to be trying to process it. Julian quickly tried to explain. “Liam Reynolds, it’s a misunderstanding. Maya and I are not… we’re nothing.” His explanation actually made it sound more like there was something between them. “Yeah, I know.” I said. Julian was about to say more, but Maya cut him off. “Julian, you don’t need to explain. He’s very understanding; he wouldn’t fuss over such a small thing.” “Yes, that’s right.” I cooperated with Maya. I genuinely didn’t care if they shared an intertwined toast. Even if they kissed in front of me right then, I wouldn’t care. Julian’s lips now held a smirk that was half-triumph as he looked at me, adopting the posture of a victor. “Julian, thank you for inviting me to your birthday party. Happy birthday.” I said with a smile. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now. Have fun.” After speaking, I turned to go. But Maya’s voice suddenly rang out. “Julian, did you invite Liam Reynolds here? And you made me share a toast with you, weren’t you deliberately trying to cause a misunderstanding between Liam and me?” “Maya, it’s not like that, I…” Julian blurted out an explanation to Maya. But I was no longer interested in what they were saying. I turned and walked out. Leaving the private room, I soon arrived in the main lobby. My phone suddenly rang. To my surprise, it was my good friend Sam Peterson. I answered the call, and Sam’s voice came from the other end. “Liam, you’re so unfair! You’re going abroad and didn’t even tell your bro. If I hadn’t found out from another friend, I’d still be in the dark.” “I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet. I was planning to treat you guys to a good meal before I leave.” I said. But just as I finished speaking. A voice suddenly came from behind me. “Liam Reynolds, you’re going abroad? When?” Startled by the sudden voice. I turned around and saw Maya, in her floor-length gown, chasing after me. “I’ll tell you later.” I said into the phone, then hung up. I looked at Maya. “Oh, I’m planning to travel abroad for a bit recently, to clear my head.” “Oh, a trip abroad sounds nice, you can enjoy yourself.” Maya seemed to let out a sigh of relief, looking at me, as if I was only going away for a short vacation. I had just said it casually. After all, Maya probably didn’t care what I did abroad.

“Alright, you should go back. Julian’s birthday party has just begun. I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving first.” I said calmly. “No, Julian’s actions were a bit too much today. I don’t want to go back. I’ll go home with you.” Hearing her say that so unexpectedly. I paused for a moment. “Alright.” We both walked out. Maya suddenly said, “That figurine you said you wanted a while ago? I just checked, and it’s back in stock. I ordered it for you.” “No need, cancel it. I already bought one.” I was indeed interested in that figurine. When it was my birthday before, Maya asked what gift I wanted. I told her I wanted that figurine. I had hoped to receive it on my birthday. But that hope was ultimately dashed. That day, not only did I not receive a gift, Maya didn’t even celebrate my birthday with me. “Oh, really? Well, next time you see a figurine you like, let me know, and I’ll buy it for you.” “Yeah, okay.” I replied. Maya stepped forward and linked her arm through mine. I subconsciously tried to pull my hand away, but Maya held it tightly. Maya felt my attempt to “pull away,” and her heart raced for a moment. A sense of unease welled up inside her. It wasn’t until I stopped resisting and let her hold me that Maya felt a little relieved. This way, she could feel like I was still under her “control.” We walked out of the lobby and got into the car. Maya’s phone rang. She answered it, and her expression immediately changed. “Ah, what did you say? What happened to Julian?” “Okay, I’ll be right there.” Maya hung up the phone and said to me anxiously, “Julian fell down the stairs, I need to go check on him.” “Alright, go. Here are the car keys, it’ll be easier to take him to the hospital later.” Maya took the car keys from my hand, a look of hurried determination on her face, and ran back towards the private room. I stared at her disappearing back for a moment, lost in thought. Then I came to my senses and called Sam Peterson. I arranged a farewell dinner with my friends. After a few rounds of drinks, I returned home. I slept until the sun was high in the sky. When I woke up, I felt incredibly relaxed. During the days I waited for my visa, I intensified my workouts, updated my resume, and gathered my portfolio to directly liaison with C Group. Maya hadn’t returned during this time; she was at the hospital taking care of Julian. She called me once, saying Julian had fallen down the stairs. He was quite badly injured and might need to be hospitalized for ten days to half a month. She wouldn’t be coming home during that time. I said nothing to this, simply telling Maya to take good care of Julian at the hospital. Finally, my visa was approved. Some more time passed. The thirty-day waiting period was almost over. I packed my belongings, left the divorce papers, and headed to the airport with my suitcase. As I walked downstairs, I happened to see Maya pushing Julian’s wheelchair into the apartment complex. Maya’s attention was entirely on Julian. They were laughing and chatting, incredibly sweet. They didn’t even notice me leaving the building. I looked at their “intertwined” backs and suddenly smiled. My smile was light, as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. From now on, I would start my own life, live my own way. Goodbye, Maya Rodriguez! Never to see Maya Rodriguez again. I looked up at the setting sun, picked up my suitcase, and strode towards the light in my heart. This time, as I left, I didn’t look back.

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It was the third day of our cold war. I’d just walked through the door when Mr. Davies, our butler, presented a massive bouquet of roses. Mr. Davies’s smile was a little too sweet, a little too forced. “Sir realized his mistake. He personally picked out your favorite red roses this morning.” “If Sir didn’t have a meeting today, he would have delivered them himself. Please don’t be too angry, you’re the most important person to him.” To cover for Julian, Mr. Davies piled on the compliments, but after a long day, I just felt irritated. Red roses were my favorite. My hand lifted, but I didn’t reach for them. I wearily rubbed my forehead and walked past the butler, heading upstairs. Every time we argued, Julian would send me lots of things. Usually, I’d cherish them like treasures. But after finding that love letter, these gifts felt like a cruel joke. It was almost time for the seasons to change, and I wanted to update my wardrobe. While tidying up, I found a yellowed envelope at the bottom of my closet. Pink trim, old-fashioned. I knew immediately it wasn’t mine. I’d been looking at it for less than half a minute when Julian, fresh out of the bathroom, rushed over and snatched the envelope from my hands. He carefully inspected it, making sure it was undamaged, then folded it up. As if just realizing I was there, he looked at me, stunned. Julian showed no sign of embarrassment or shame at being caught. Instead, his gaze held a hint of reproach. “Why are you rummaging through my things? Even after marriage, people need their own space. You’re getting more and more out of control.” Just for accidentally seeing something of his, I was being judged. It was as if the marriage vow, “Everything I have is open to you,” had never been spoken. I pressed my lips together, meeting his eyes. “Aren’t you going to explain yourself?” The name on that love letter was Chloe, my high school desk mate. The date was during our sophomore year. Julian and I had gotten together at a reunion dinner after graduation. He confessed his feelings, and I immediately accepted. I’d forgotten that day was the second day Chloe had left the country. In high school, I was quiet. Chloe was outgoing and could chat with anyone. Because we were desk mates, Chloe often talked to me. To be honest, I liked her back then. We had a good relationship, sometimes ate together, and discussed girl talk. Julian, however, didn’t seem to think he was in the wrong. He said, “What’s there to explain? *You* should be explaining yourself. Why were you going through my stuff?” The atmosphere hung heavy until his phone rang. He answered it, letting out a sigh of relief. “Forget it, I forgive you. Just don’t touch my things again.” He tossed out the words, then casually threw on some clothes and left. As for the love letter, he acted as if he’d forgotten about it, never mentioning it again. It wasn’t that I hadn’t made a scene before, but his contemptuous, helpless gaze always cut deep. He’d said: “We’re married now, what else do you want?” His words tightened around my heart, squeezing until I couldn’t breathe. The window was open, the air circulating, yet I felt suffocated. In that moment, for the first time, I began to truly examine our years together. That night, I had already fallen asleep. In my dream, a dog kept clinging to me. Drowsily, I opened my eyes, met by a pungent smell. Julian, reeking of alcohol, was kissing me. His eyes were moist, like a golden retriever who had finally found its owner. After years of marriage, I got up and gently pushed him aside, intending to get him some diluted salt water to sober him up. I sat up, putting on my shoes, when suddenly a warm presence pressed close behind me. Julian hugged me tightly, burying his head against my shoulder. His voice was full of grievance: “Don’t leave.” I turned my head, my gaze tinged with a hint of sarcasm. “Am *I* the person you want to stay?” The moment the words left my lips, I felt the person behind me stiffen. The pressure on my shoulder eased. I turned around to see Julian lying flat on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes deep and vacant. My heart ached, my nose stung, but a cold, mocking smile touched my lips as I continued. “Is it because my parents passed away that you pitied me and married me?” He was the one who proposed, six months after my parents died in a car accident. I was devastated then, and he volunteered to help me manage the company. Before helping me, Julian had lost a fortune trying to start his own business. He was desperately looking for loans, and relatives and friends avoided him like the plague. He finally begged me to let him join the company to repay his debts with his salary. Unfortunately, his meager salary couldn’t even make a dent in the massive debt. He could only solve it by dipping into the company’s funds. I saw how hard he worked for the company, so I never exposed him. Later, after we got married, he gradually took over the company, allowing me to pursue work I loved. He promised me that my shares in the company would remain the highest, and he did keep that promise. But the reality now was Julian asking me: “So what do you want now?” I gave Julian a sidelong glance. The tearing pain in my heart made it hard to breathe. Disappointed, I stood up. My hand was taken, a warm palm connecting to icy fingertips, a confusing mix of hot and cold. Julian repeated his question, this time with a hint of compromise, forbearance… and a touch of disgust. “What else do you even want?”

After that night, he often avoided being alone with me. I didn’t crumble like I had after my parents passed. I pulled myself together and went back to work at the company. The company’s board members were surprised by my return. Some said I was just back to play around, while others speculated that my marriage was on the rocks. I took on more and more responsibilities, and Julian slowly stopped avoiding me. He started acting like he used to, doing things according to my wishes. I knew there was an invisible veil between us, obscuring our true selves. What broke the stalemate, or rather, worsened it, was a high school reunion. Our old homeroom teacher suddenly organized a reunion and specifically called to invite us. Our once handsome class monitor had turned into an overweight office worker. The quiet girl had transformed into a stunning, articulate beauty. Everyone had changed so much. Their arrival drew everyone’s attention, and murmurs started. “Is that Aria? She’s so gorgeous now.” “They actually look so good together now.” It was true. Julian and I had almost no interaction in the three years we were in the same high school class. It was my desk mate who had a good relationship with him. Everyone always thought Chloe and Julian would end up together. In high school, Julian was smart, handsome, and popular. I was just a clueless nerd who didn’t know how to dress up. Back then, no one thought we’d ever be together, and Julian was the one who confessed first. Mark, our class monitor, was still as enthusiastic as ever. He walked up to us and started chatting. “You two are such busy bees! Our teacher said it took forever to get you to come.” I smiled, my gaze sweeping over the room, unfazed by everyone’s eyes on us. “But we’re here now, aren’t we? Let’s sit down and talk.” Once we sat, everyone caught up, drinking and reminiscing. Quite a few classmates I’d never really interacted with in high school came over to chat with me. Brad, our old jock, half-drunk, came over and clapped Julian on the shoulder. “You’re one lucky bastard, marrying our class’s rich girl! And now she’s so beautiful.” “Hahahaha, the poorest guy in our class ended up with the richest. Good for you, buddy!” His voice wasn’t quiet. After he finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the room. Julian’s smile froze, his face darkening. Julian hated nothing more than people saying he owed his wealth to me. He always believed his achievements were solely due to his own efforts, and I merely provided a stepping stone. A smile was plastered on my face, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I said calmly, “Brad, you’re drunk.” I wasn’t defending Julian; I was defending my own pride. Brad let out a loud burp. “No, I’m not! If I’d known you were so loaded, I would’ve gone for you first…” Before he could finish, Mark quickly came over, clapped a hand over his mouth, and dragged him away. “You’re wasted! It’s been years, can’t you tell what to say and what not to say?” Our teacher sensed the awkward atmosphere and started urging everyone to eat. The mood hadn’t improved when the door opened, and a familiar figure appeared. Her figure was graceful, her appearance beautiful. She had a new maturity and charm that she didn’t possess in high school. Chloe walked in, greeting everyone warmly, and chose a seat closest to me. A few people stared at Chloe, whispering. Our teacher coughed a few times and said, “Stop staring. Chloe’s back in the country for good this time. You’ll have plenty of time to catch up.” Their eyes locked, a silent, intimate conversation unfolding right across me, as if they wanted everyone to know about their unspoken affection. And I, his actual wife, felt like the villain tearing them apart. Later in the reunion, everyone got wasted. I stepped outside for some fresh air and happened to run into Chloe. A sickly sweet, cooing voice reached my ears: “I’m back now, so when are you going to divorce her?” The door was ajar. I couldn’t see the other person, but my heart plummeted. The moment that voice spoke, my heart died a little. The owner of the voice seemed annoyed, but tried to be gentle with the person in front of them: “You just got back. What’s the rush? Settle in first, then we’ll talk.” “Don’t lie to me! I came back for you!”

I crossed my arms, a faint smile playing on my lips, but my eyes were brimming with coldness. “Why are you talking out here? Is it something others can’t hear?” They exchanged a glance, unsure if their conversation had been overheard. Compared to Julian’s panic, Chloe quickly regained her composure. She walked over intimately and linked her arm through mine. “Oh, we were just talking about you, silly! I was asking Julian what you like these days because I wanted to get you a gift.” I pulled Chloe’s hand away, forcing a polite, business-like smile. “Still calling him Julian, huh? You two are still so close.” Both their faces stiffened. I continued, “No need for you to trouble yourself with gifts. Julian and I have everything we need now.” I’d vaguely heard about Chloe’s life abroad; it hadn’t been easy. Driven by a desire for shared misery, I looked up at Julian, giving him no quarter. “Julian, you and Chloe were quite the match in high school. But maybe you shouldn’t be too close now, I might get jealous.” I said I might get jealous, but my cold demeanor sent a chill down Julian’s spine. The ride home was silent. Julian’s phone kept buzzing. I was starting to get annoyed by it. I asked, “Aren’t you going to reply? What if Chloe has something important to tell you?” The moment her name left my lips, Julian slammed on the brakes. He shot me an irritated glance and then turned off his phone. “I told you, there’s nothing going on between us. Didn’t I just explain it to you?” His defense was weak and pale. I bit my lower lip, my mind already calculating divorce. After that, their relationship completely froze. We didn’t even argue anymore. Although he was the one who confessed, I clearly knew I was the one always chasing. Every cold war ended with me making the first move to reconcile. Julian would just brush me off with gifts, as if presents could solve everything. But he forgot that it was my connections and family that had lifted him to heights he could never have reached on his own. Perhaps Julian had truly loved me once, but that love letter signaled that I was never his first priority. I felt too little love, and I didn’t want to trap myself in fantasies. But at night, getting lost in memories made it hard to breathe. My body felt off. I selectively ignored it and went to work as usual the next day. For several days, Julian didn’t come home. I knew but paid it no mind, dedicating my energy to the company’s new project. It was only when I finally decided to take a night off and came home for dinner that Mr. Davies asked, “It’s getting cold lately. Sir hasn’t been home for days. I wonder if he has enough clothes at the office. Madam, would you like to send some to him?” This cold war had lasted too long, and everyone else in the house was a little anxious. Perhaps Mr. Davies just couldn’t stand the current atmosphere and was offering a kind suggestion. I’d been stressed with many things recently, and my emotions felt a little out of control. My cool voice turned sharp, piercing through anyone who didn’t align with my mood. “If you’re so worried, go find him yourself. I probably even know where he is. Do you need me to tell you?” Mr. Davies had been hired during my high school years because my parents were busy with the company. Before, in our home, Mr. Davies always prioritized my feelings. But after Julian and I got married, Mr. Davies gradually began to prioritize Julian. I stared at the dishes in front of me, most of which were Julian’s favorites. It wasn’t just Mr. Davies; the housekeeper was the same. Clothes and daily meals were first discussed with Julian. The home décor was arranged according to his preferences. Everything that was mine was slowly being eroded, swallowed up. I took a deep breath, my eyes sharp as I swept them over Mr. Davies. “Find the design blueprints I made for the house before. Arrange everything according to those.” Mr. Davies hesitated, wanting to speak, but then forced a smile. “Madam, that’s a huge project, and we should discuss it with Sir first…” I stared at her, expressionless. Mr. Davies fell silent, no longer speaking, and immediately ordered someone to find the blueprints. I went to the company and focused solely on organizing the project proposal, not noticing anyone had entered. When I finally took a breather, I looked up to see Julian, whom I hadn’t seen in days. I pretended he wasn’t there, standing up to ask my secretary why she’d let someone in without my permission. Julian stepped forward and grabbed my hand. After days apart, his first words were an accusation: “Why are you redecorating the house? Are you planning to divorce me? All because of that love letter?” He sighed in exasperation, accusing me: “You’re getting more and more selfish. You weren’t like this before.” At his words, my heart suddenly tightened. I exhaled, scrutinizing him. “And you? Haven’t *you* changed?” “Also, it’s my house. I don’t need you telling me what to do.” Julian hated it when I talked about money. Every time I brought it up, he felt like a failure, inferior to me. I knew this, which is why I often avoided such topics and only praised Julian when we were out. But with too much praise, not only did outsiders think I relied entirely on Julian, even Julian himself couldn’t distinguish reality. Julian was provoked by my words, his grip unconsciously tightening on my wrist. Pain shot through my wrist. I pressed my lips together, ignoring his cold gaze, and pried his hand off. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to these past few days.” Julian was speechless for a moment, then quickly found his voice. “You never saw how hard I worked for the company before? Now I’ve just made one mistake, and you’re treating me like this?” “Is it true that you only care about this company, and I’m nothing more than your obedient dog?” My brows furrowed. I didn’t understand why he was feeling sorry for himself. I just said, “If that’s what you want to think, I can’t help you.” Then, remembering something, I scoffed, “Are things settled with Chloe yet? Or are you just coming here to throw a tantrum? You know I’m not a forgiving person, right?” Julian’s body stiffened. He denied it flatly: “I’m not.” It was such a flimsy denial. My phone vibrated in my hand. I glanced down, then dismissively replied to him, “Yes, you’re right. It’s just harmonious, loving help between classmates and friends.”

Julian was annoyed by my attitude. “Why are you treating me like this over an outsider? She’s her, you’re you. We’re married.” His twisted logic made me laugh in exasperation. I wanted to leave, but Julian grabbed me. He remembered the real reason he came to see me: to tell me to get less involved in company matters. I was the largest shareholder, and my return significantly impacted Julian. The old-school board members, who already disliked Julian, were now openly challenging him, causing him to gradually lose influence in the company. My bad mood made me prone to sarcasm, and he didn’t know how to communicate with me anymore. After all, since our marriage, we rarely had such difficult conversations. Before, I often talked myself out of my own moods, making him forget that I used to be quite strong-willed before we married. Seeing that I didn’t trust him, Julian, as if grasping a lifeline, said, “I can explain it to you. That love letter…” But I didn’t have time to pursue it now. I turned and waved him off. “I have something to do right now. We can talk later.” Julian’s heart twisted with an indescribable bitterness, like he’d swallowed poison. I wasn’t intentionally ignoring him; it was just bad timing. I had finally gotten a response from the head of the Hayes Group, whom I’d been trying to meet for a long time. I arrived at the agreed-upon location, following the address he’d given me. When I saw the person, I froze. The balloon in my chest, on the verge of bursting, seemed to slowly deflate. Meeting the eyes of the person before me, I broke into a smile. It felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders, and I exhaled in relief. It wasn’t a forced smile or a cold sneer, but a rare moment of genuine ease these past few days. Liam watched my transformation from tension to relaxation and smiled wryly, extending his hand. “Long time no see, Ms. Jiang.” His address made me momentarily disoriented. It had been so long since anyone called me Ms. Jiang. The title of Mrs. Qi had almost made me forget my own surname. I snapped back to reality, stood up, and shook his hand. “Long time no see, Liam.” Liam was my junior high classmate. Our families lived close and knew each other, so we often walked to and from school together. We went to different high schools, but our relationship remained as good as ever. However, Liam went abroad for university, and later I got married, so our contact diminished. I never expected the representative I was meeting to be Liam. We exchanged a few pleasantries, then got down to business. Liam had just returned to the country and taken over his current project. The partner for the collaboration was still under discussion. Although we were old acquaintances, Liam had no intention of giving me special treatment. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to secure the deal, but the hope wasn’t entirely gone. There were still a few missing points in the contract, and Liam asked me to revise them and come to his company next time for discussion. Afterward, we both stood up and walked out. With the business negotiations set aside, our conversation reverted to our old easygoing dynamic. Liam had been dropped off by his driver, but then got a call saying the driver had an emergency. I didn’t hesitate to offer him a ride home. We chatted and laughed our way to the parking lot, only to find Julian there. Julian’s eyes lit up when he saw me, but then his gaze narrowed sharply when he saw the person beside me. He quickly walked to my side, separating us, his eyes filled with hostility. Julian didn’t want to speak to Liam. As if fleeing a plague, he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward his car. I glanced back at Liam, my mind still preoccupied with the contract. Realizing I couldn’t offend him, I shook off Julian’s hand. Julian’s eyes darkened as he looked at his hand, which I’d just pushed away. I stopped. “What are you doing?” Julian’s gaze was full of scrutiny, sweeping over both of us. He sneered, “What am *I* doing? What are *you* doing? You’re married. What are you doing with him?” I considered myself innocent. I was working hard for the company, yet he suspected me. My emotions had been unstable these past few days, and his words made me explode instantly. “How dare *you* ask me? Ha, I didn’t realize Mr. Qi’s standards were so high. When Mr. Qi and Ms. Chloe were together, did you ever consider that you were married?” Our words turned into spears, stabbing at each other. Our voices were powerful, yet privately held shattered hearts. The parking lot lights were dim. We could see each other, but a fog separated us, making it impossible to get closer.

The atmosphere was at a standstill. Liam took two long strides forward. “Mr. Qi seems to have a lot of animosity towards me. Do you think there’s a problem with our partnership?” Julian, who had been about to speak, closed his mouth again, his brow furrowed with confusion. “Partnership?” I scoffed at his confusion. “Julian, you really are a diligent husband, aren’t you? You truly haven’t cared about the company at all these past few days?” Liam “kindly” explained the reason for our meeting. Watching Julian’s face go from angry red to pale green, Liam’s eyes flickered with disdain and scorn. I was in no mood to deal with whatever he was thinking. I got straight into my car. Liam understood and followed, leaving Julian standing alone. After that, Julian came home, while I was busy dealing with company affairs. No matter how he tried to win me over, I ignored him. Everyone’s patience has a breaking point. I dragged my exhausted body home, met by a cloud of cigarette smoke. I hated the smell of smoke. Julian occasionally smoked, but he always avoided me when he did, and he’d air himself out before coming near me. The room was dim, with small points of light near the sofa. I turned on the light, still intending to ignore him as before. A weary, tired voice came from behind me, a mix of surrender and coercion. “Let’s talk.” An unavoidable conversation. I checked my watch and said, “Ten minutes. I need to sleep. I have an early start tomorrow.” Julian paused at my words, then let out an enigmatic chuckle. “Now talking to you is on a timer? When did we become like this?” I replied: “Since your love letter.” Julian was silent for a while, then said, “Yes, that love letter was for Chloe, but I haven’t had feelings for her for a long time. Why don’t you believe me?” No feelings? If there were no feelings, why did that conversation at the class reunion happen? Was I imagining it? I inwardly sighed at Julian’s growing ability to lie through his teeth. I turned to meet his gaze, like an invisible struggle for dominance. Neither of us would back down until we were both wounded. “So, is an explanation really so hard? Wasn’t it *you* who kept running away!? Do you dare to ask yourself if you truly had no ulterior motives?” “When I tried to explain to you, what were *you* doing? Weren’t you busy chatting with Liam?” “That was business. I don’t have as much free time as you do.” “Business? Does business require meeting and chatting every day? Fine, you had no ulterior motives. But what about him?” “You should sort out your own mess first. Everything I do is for the company. Oh, right, it’s *my* company, not yours. You, of course, don’t care about its development!” “Did you go abroad that year after we got married because of him?” I didn’t understand what that had to do with that year – a year I didn’t want to revisit. I don’t remember when that night ended. I only remember countless hurtful words exchanged between us. Our bodies were still there, but our hearts had already crumbled, and love had rotted. After his outburst, I dreamed all night. I didn’t sleep well. Waking up, I checked my phone for messages. Among the work emails, one stood out. Unknown sender: [It’s Chloe. Let’s meet and clear things up.] I swiped away the message and replied to my work emails. It was business as usual: reviewing documents, attending meetings, communicating. It wasn’t until dusk approached that I pulled out my lipstick and reapplied some color to my lips. When I arrived at the meeting spot Chloe had chosen, I found she was already there.

Chloe rested her chin on her hand, smiling as she looked at me. “I thought you wouldn’t come.” I ordered a black coffee. Chloe seemed surprised. “You drink black coffee now? I remember you used to hate anything bitter.” Because of our close relationship as high school desk mates, Chloe was the first person to know about my family background. But times had changed. Years had eroded our feelings. No one stayed in the past. I lowered my gaze. “You’re probably not here to reminisce.” Chloe stirred her coffee. “I really didn’t want things to be like this between us. Actually, I quite liked you.” I smiled, not a mocking laugh, but a genuine one. The chosen spot was perfect; I could see the sunset outside with a glance. The setting sun’s rays fell on Chloe and me, as if admiring our beauty. “About Julian and me, I’m sorry, but I really can’t be without him now.” My tone was mocking. “Your feelings seem so deep. Why did you break up before?” Chloe was rarely stumped, but she quickly recovered, leaning forward with more aggression. “I know about the love letter, the one he wrote to me.” “Actually, by now you should probably know why Julian chose you back then, right? It was because I went abroad, and you could be his best stepping stone at the time.” She mercilessly shattered my illusions, every word stabbing at my heart. I saw it clearly, yet I still deluded myself, convincing myself that at least the love of these past few years was real. But hearing the truth from Chloe, my former good friend and the woman Julian once loved, still made me uncontrollably sad. Gathering my last bit of courage, I met her gaze, stating calmly, “So what? At least we were happy for all those years, and we genuinely loved each other.” Chloe wasn’t deterred. She looked like a victorious winner already, pulling out her phone and pushing it towards me. “Read this, then tell me when you two ever loved each other.” I picked up the phone and scrolled through, my pupils contracting, the air growing thin. Chloe’s smile in front of me twisted, like a demon’s. I forgot how I walked out of the coffee shop. I only remembered all my memories with Julian being splattered with paint. My mind was filled with that chat log. Chloe and Julian’s messages started in the second year of Julian and my relationship. At first, it was just polite greetings, then slowly progressing to casual chats, sharing things, then ambiguous messages, and exchanging gifts. Every word they typed on the phone felt like a slap to my face. They had even met multiple times over the years. Julian’s frequent excuses about going abroad for “business collaborations” were actually trips to see Chloe. The year I was undergoing treatment, they met as usual, the overflowing affection on the screen searing my eyes. How ridiculous. So ridiculous that I couldn’t even cry. It was completely dark now. There was no dramatic rain, like in a movie, to accompany my sorrow. The city went on as usual. I even felt a strange relief that I had found the love letter, that I had taken my heart back from Julian before seeing those chat logs. But why did it still hurt so much? Was love really so hard to let go of? I walked to my car, then squatted down, burying my head in my knees, unable to speak. Afraid of being discovered, I didn’t even dare to cry out loud. I don’t know how long passed, until my legs went numb. Someone gently called out to me. I looked up, my vision blurry from crying for so long. A man was squatting in front of me, his voice soft, as if afraid to startle me. “Why are you crying here? Did something happen?” I suddenly stood up, but my legs were sore and numb from squatting. I stumbled forward and fell into Liam’s arms. Liam was about to make a playful remark to lighten the somewhat sad atmosphere. But the person buried in his shoulder began to sob louder. Liam sighed and silently patted my back. He comforted me just like he did in elementary school when I cried after doing badly on a test. “It’s okay, it’s okay. Everything will pass.” The voice muffled against his chest, tainted with a sniffle: “It won’t pass. It’s already too late.” I knew I shouldn’t be so close to Liam in public, especially after I’d told him just yesterday not to overstep. But I desperately needed a anchor right now. Liam had just finished a business meeting and happened to drive by, seeing my familiar car parked. He got out and found me squatting on the ground. When I buried myself in his arms, a flicker of joy shot through me, but seeing me cry, he felt a rare surge of anger. He liked me, had for a long time, but it felt like everyone kept getting in the way of his feelings. Julian’s appearance, the growing distance between our families, and then *that* incident—he felt he had no face to see me. Going abroad for further studies, he saw more of the world, and his desire for power grew day by day. And his former affection had twisted into a distorted love. Liam was no longer afraid; he confronted his desires head-on. Liam patiently, endlessly comforted me. He had already noticed Julian standing not far away, staring at us with cold eyes. Liam’s lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile. He lowered his head and gently kissed the forehead of the person in his arms. I was startled by his action, and rationality returned. I quickly pulled away from him. Liam reined in his emotions and said, “I apologize, I was out of line.” I had thrown myself into his arms, so I opened my mouth but had no words. I just blurted out, “I have something to do,” and got into my car.

The next time I saw Julian was in a photo someone sent me. An anonymous text message, an intimate photo. Julian was asleep, tightly embracing the person in his arms, a pretty, charming woman. The photo scorched my eyes and my heart. Suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t breathe, violently bending over and dry heaving. When I came to, I was already in my car. My mind was fixated on finding answers, but what could I even say? In a moment of distraction, a powerful impact came from the right. Before the car window shattered, I only felt like a fool. The next time I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital. My head was splitting, and I felt a bit disoriented. The pain in my abdomen spread throughout my entire body. A nurse called the doctor. As the doctor stood by my side, about to speak to me, two people burst into the room. Julian looked at me with heartache, while Chloe stood outside the door, silent. The doctor, having seen many ridiculous situations, inwardly scoffed but maintained professional composure, a cold glint flashing behind his glasses. “Fortunately, the car accident didn’t cause severe injuries, but Ms. Jiang’s body is weak after the miscarriage and needs careful recuperation.” At his words, everyone present froze, including Liam, who had just arrived. I touched my aching abdomen, deflated, and softly murmured, “I… I was pregnant?” Recalling my recent unexplained emotional fluctuations, everything suddenly made sense. Light shone at the foot of the bed, but it stopped beside me, casting me in shadow. A slight chill in the breeze hinted that the city’s cold autumn was approaching. I sat on the hospital bed, my eyes vacant. The pain in my abdomen spread throughout my body. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, curling into a ball, my eyes red and terrifying, tears flowing unconsciously. Julian approached the bedside, his hands trembling as he pulled me into his embrace. It was a rare moment of tenderness after so many days, yet I felt no warmth at all. The doctor offered a few polite words of comfort and then hurried to the next room. Julian’s eyes were slightly red, his voice hoarse. “…We’ll have other children.” In that moment, those words were genuine, a heartfelt promise from him. I couldn’t even remember the last time Julian had comforted me with such tenderness. Chloe walked over and sat on the side of the bed, advising me, “It’s important to take care of your health.” Catching Chloe’s gaze and the ambiguous red mark on her neck, I snapped out of the fleeting tenderness. I remembered how I’d lost my mind after seeing that photo. I struggled forcefully out of Julian’s embrace, retreating away from them. I had already felt Julian’s perfunctoriness for a long time. It was just that the feelings accumulated over time were watered with flesh and blood. The love letter was just the fuse. Even before that, I had been enduring. My feelings for Julian had also been cooling. But whenever I thought of the young Julian, I couldn’t bear to let go. In this relationship, which I wasn’t sure I had wanted, I truly had loved him well. But now, after losing the child, I couldn’t tell if this feeling was love, or just a high sunk cost from the past. At this moment, I truly hated Julian. I tried hard not to look too pathetic, but my body was uncontrollably trembling. I clutched my chest, hatred erupting through my eyes. When Julian met my gaze, he froze at the hate and disgust in my eyes. It was as if a sudden arrow had pierced his heart, bleeding profusely. Before today, he thought he only felt a sense of marital responsibility towards me. But when he heard about my car accident, he was terrified. In that moment, he realized the world would be gray without me. Seeing that I was okay, his senses for this world returned, like his heart started beating again. Chloe, standing nearby, felt complicated. She had just witnessed Julian almost go crazy for someone else. After hearing the news, he had driven recklessly to the hospital, nearly causing a second accident that day. The man whose eyes were once filled only with her in high school was now anxious and worried for another woman. For some unknown reason, she had stubbornly followed him. She had successfully angered me, the woman who had lost her child, creating a rift between Julian and me. Yet, she found no joy in it. Now, just as Chloe wished, I hated Julian. Every word I uttered was a sharp knife aimed at him. “You two disgusting cheats, get out! Get out! What are you pretending for, Julian? You must be thrilled, aren’t you? The baby’s gone, and your crush is back. Congratulations.” “I shouldn’t have gone looking for you. Why, why do I always lose? Why, why, why, I hate you, I hate all of you…” After the miscarriage, my face was as pale as paper, yet flushed from emotional intensity, my long hair disheveled. Tears soaked my beautiful face, making me look sickly and disheveled, with a broken beauty. I grabbed the water glass beside me and threw it at Julian. He didn’t dodge, and blood trickled down his forehead, bringing me back to my senses. My body couldn’t handle further outburst. I deflated, returning to my usual demeanor, and after a long silence, slowly spoke: “Now that the baby is gone, I’m also tired of you. Let’s get a divorce.”

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