After Gavin cheated on me, all my “friends” tacitly protected him. Colleagues said Gavin needed “soul resonance” and told me to turn a blind eye. Elders said if not for Gavin, I’d be doing some disgraceful job, telling me not to bite the hand that feeds me. Over the years, all my friends were made through Gavin. My job was introduced by Gavin. I understood why no one stood by me, so I didn’t argue. I disappeared amidst their disdain for 5 years. Until we met again at the Class Reunion. Gavin attended with my former best friend, Wendy. Talented man, beautiful woman, a perfect match. I chuckled softly. Gavin, who thought I died of a broken heart jumping into the sea after our daughter’s accidental death, froze in place: “Sunny, you’re still alive?” Chapter 1 Hearing this, Wendy looked up at me sharply, shock written all over her face. After all, to them, I had been buried at the bottom of the sea five years ago. I smiled faintly and said: “I have a tough life. Just drank a bellyful of water.” Wendy’s reaction was as fast as ever. Her expression returned to normal quickly. She rocked the boy in her arms and said to him: “Leo, this is Auntie Sunny. You should call her Godmother.” We promised back then. If we get married, we catch each other’s bouquet. If we have kids, we be each other’s godmother. The boy timidly called out “Godmother.” I didn’t respond. I turned to the teacher, said I had something to do, and prepared to leave. The teacher had long sensed the turbulence between the three of us and wished to send me away early. But Gavin followed me tactlessly. “Sunny, where are you going? I’ll drive you.” Wendy frowned imperceptibly but said: “Yeah, you can’t drive. It’s inconvenient alone.” I laughed inwardly. After so many years, she still treated me like a useless idiot. But if someone insisted on being my driver, why not? On the way, Gavin kept asking about my recent life. I only answered a few main questions simply. I was saved back then and survived. I lived by selling paintings abroad these years. I came back because a buyer who frequently bought my paintings wanted to meet me. Hearing this, Gavin’s voice suddenly rose: “Male or female? Are you sure he’s reliable? Keep your eyes open.” I mocked mercilessly: “Friends known for years are unreliable. Husbands sleeping in the same bed are unreliable. How can I judge a stranger?” Gavin shut up immediately. Wendy’s face turned iron green. Arriving at my place, I took my things and got out. But suddenly turned back to the boy beside Wendy. The boy named Leo. Upper face like Gavin, lower face like Wendy. Just as I reached out a hand, Wendy hugged the child in terror. “What are you doing? Want my child to pay with his life? He is innocent!” Gavin also called my name warningly. I just picked a fruit pit out of his mouth. “I was afraid he would be like my child. Choking to death while adults were right there.” Their faces turned white. Silence. Back home, I received a message from Mr. Jarvis. He appreciated my work very much. Whenever I had a new piece these years, he would view it even if he didn’t buy it. I came back this time to meet him, and also to settle a matter of the heart. In a quiet cafe, I met Mr. Jarvis. He looked fifty or sixty, with a lean face. “Miss Sunny, I can see many stories in your paintings. I am very curious.” “Do I have the honor to know a thing or two?” After looking around, I nodded. Chapter 2 In high school, I was a carefree rich girl. When classmates were studying hard, I only knew painting and having fun. Gavin was my opposite. Unshakable number one in the grade. Excellent grades, slick social skills. At first, I despised him, thinking he was a poser. Then Wendy came. Her family was poor, but she studied hard. After school, she had to work to subsidize her family. I admired her very much. I asked my dad to set up a scholarship specifically for students like her. I didn’t want to make a noise. But the teacher pointed out the origin of the scholarship in class and asked her to bow and thank me. Thinking back now, Wendy must have held a grudge against me since then. But I foolishly poured my heart out to Wendy, treating her as my best friend. Wendy’s biggest wish was to be first in the grade. However, Gavin was like an insurmountable mountain. Wendy was always second. After failing to take the throne again, Wendy cried loudly. To comfort her, I tried everything: “How about I chase Gavin? Date him and affect his studies!” Gavin, passing by, sneered: “Sunny, you are so dumb. Do you know how to chase me? Want me to teach you?” Later, we really got together. In my senior year, I met the biggest change in my life: My dad went bankrupt and committed suicide. When I was most desperate, Gavin and Wendy stayed by my side. Gavin promised he would take my dad’s baton and be the person who loved me most in the world. Wendy let me live in her house and racked her brains to tutor me. I cheered up and started studying hard. Before the SATs, I was stable enough to get into a good college. But an accident happened. Although I checked repeatedly, I couldn’t find my No. 2 pencils. Leaving the exam hall, I cried and slapped myself, feeling no one was more useless than me. It was still Gavin and Wendy who encouraged me constantly, helping me walk out of the shadow. They both got into NYU, the best university. Convinced I wasn’t cut out for studying, I worked as a waitress near NYU. Gavin came to help as soon as class ended. Over time, customers thought he was the employee. Gavin often told me his plans for our future. He said as soon as he graduated, we would marry. He would work hard to support me, buy me the best brushes, and let me continue to be a carefree rich wife. But I still felt a crisis. I begged Wendy to help me watch Gavin. Wendy looked at me with deep eyes and revealed a stiff smile. I only thought she was jealous of my display of affection, so I urged her to date too. Wendy said: “No need. I have someone I like.” Long later, I understood that smile, and who she liked. It was too late. Chapter 3 After Gavin graduated, we married as promised. Life was not as easy as he imagined. He worked desperately to make money, coming home exhausted every day, falling asleep immediately. To lighten his burden, I learned to cook and clean. I never knew before that there were so many chores. Endless cooking, endless sweeping… Each seemed trivial, but piling up, they drowned me. When the financial pressure eased, our daughter was born. I named her Joy, hoping she would be quiet like Wendy. But she was energetic from childhood, crying and making noise. Every night, I had to walk her around the living room to get her to sleep. When I got into bed, Gavin’s hand touched me. “Wife, we haven’t…” Despite physical and mental exhaustion, I obediently let him do what he wanted. But at the critical moment, the daughter’s cry came. I pushed Gavin away abruptly, jumped out of bed naked to hold my daughter. I didn’t see Gavin’s disgusted face behind me. Life finally ground me from an innocent princess into a disappointing housewife. That birthday, Gavin bought me the most expensive brushes. But I looked at the house and said: “We’re out of diapers. You should have bought diapers.” At that time, Wendy was killing it in the business world. She and Gavin joined the same company. Original intention unchanged, she still liked to compete with Gavin. And still couldn’t beat Gavin. Once she prepared fully, polishing the plan repeatedly, but the leader still chose Gavin’s. Wendy called, crying loudly: “Why can’t I beat Gavin!” “After so many years, can’t I win just once?!” I glared at Gavin, preparing to go out to comfort Wendy. But Joy hugged my leg and wouldn’t let me go. I had to send Gavin: “It’s unsafe for a girl to drink alone in a bar.” “You caused the trouble, you go solve it.” Gavin paused, looking at me intently: “You really want me to go?” “Of course.” Gavin seemed to make a big decision and said “Okay.” Before leaving that day, he looked back at me several times. I felt no premonition, just holding my daughter, telling jokes to coax her. Disaster brewed from there. That day, Gavin didn’t return all night. When he came back the next day, I just got up to cook. He explained a few sentences, saying Wendy was terribly difficult when drunk. He finally got Wendy home and fell asleep on the floor from exhaustion. His tone was natural. Wendy was my best friend. So I believed him easily. In the following days, Gavin worked overtime and traveled more and more. At first, I just thought the company was particularly busy recently. But slowly, I found something wrong. Hair on clothes. Strange perfume smell. Finally, when I found an opened condom wrapper in his pocket, I was sure he cheated. Heartbroken, I ran to Gavin’s company and made a big scene. I cried, screamed, rolled on the floor, demanding he hand over that woman. Gavin looked disgusted. “Sunny, I feed you and clothe you, letting you be a housewife who worries about nothing. Your repayment is framing me with baseless things!” He took out his phone, opened the camera, and aimed at my face: “Look at yourself now! An unreasonable shrew!” Chapter 4 In the phone screen, I saw my messy hair and sallow face. On the outdated clothes, there were many oil stains that couldn’t be washed off. Behind me, a group of female employees with exquisite makeup and decent clothes exuded the aura of career women. They looked at me with pity and contempt. Wendy walked out from among them. “Sunny, stop making a scene. It’s too ugly.” Gavin said sternly: “Let her make a scene! She wants to make me lose my job and let the whole family starve! Fine, go ahead, start a livestream, let everyone know!” Only then did I realize I had no capital to fight Gavin. After marriage, I had been detached from society, staying at home. And I only had a high school diploma. Once divorced, I had no competitiveness in the job market. My daughter would also be snatched by Gavin. I suddenly woke up, climbed up from the ground, and said: “I won’t make a scene. I’m going home.” After that day, I humbled myself, afraid of making Gavin angry. He became more and more brazen, lipstick marks on his shirt. But I was only afraid he would abandon me. What I could do was try to use our daughter to awaken Gavin’s feelings for this family. Fortunately, Gavin did love our daughter. When not busy, he even took her to the company to play. One day, he took our daughter away again. I finished housework and started scrolling on my phone. Accidentally, I stumbled upon a post. Title: “The Hate-Love Saga of the Eternal Second and the First Place.” I clicked in and saw the first sentence: “No one knows, what the eternal second wants most isn’t first place, but the attention of the first place.” My heart skipped a beat, something flashed in my mind, quickly scrolling to the back. “After losing to him at work again, I went to a bar to get drunk. He came to comfort me.” “He asked what I needed him to do. I asked him to kiss me. So he kissed me.” “From high school to now, he rejected my confessions ten thousand times. But the ten thousand and first time, he accepted. I took him home, and we did it until darkness fell.” “The first place I couldn’t reach finally became a subject under my skirt.” I felt like I fell into an ice cellar. So the person Wendy liked was Gavin. So the person Gavin cheated with was Wendy! I lost my reason instantly, ran to Gavin’s company, and barged into his office. Uninhibited moans came immediately from the lounge. I kicked the door open and saw Wendy sitting on Gavin disheveled. Rage attacked my heart. I threw everything I could touch at them. A heavy crystal award hit Wendy’s head. She bled. I burst into tears too. If Gavin’s betrayal chilled my heart, Wendy’s betrayal made me despair. “We are best friends. Why did you do this to me?” Wendy wiped the blood from her forehead and said coldly: “I never considered you a friend.” “A pampered waste. What you are best at is giving charity from high above.” “I hate you. Hated you since the first meeting.” I tried hard to find evidence to deny. “If you hate me, why did you take me in and tutor me back then?” Wendy sneered. “Because I like to fatten the rabbit before killing it. Why do you think you still forgot your pencils after checking so many times? Because I stole them outside the exam hall!” “What?” I was thunderstruck. Wendy shook Gavin smilingly. “There’s a witness here. Gavin, you saw me take the pencils back then, right?” Gavin’s face stiffened, turning his head away. “Don’t be shy. You didn’t tell Sunny then, so I knew you must love me.” In an instant, I felt my blood flowing backward, limbs weak, almost falling directly. “I’m going to re… report you…” Gavin’s face was gloomy, scolding: “Sunny! Enough!” “Think about our daughter!” After speaking, his face changed, looking around. Right, where is Joy? She should be here. Finally, we found our daughter’s body under the table by checking surveillance. Turns out Gavin and Wendy were messing around in the room, leaving Joy alone outside eating dried fruit. Joy choked on a pit, banged on the door for help, but was covered by their voices. She wanted to get the water on the table, but she was too small and couldn’t reach. She died silently, separated from her father by a door.

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After I actively made up with her, I saw a box of ultra-thin 001 condoms in the passenger seat of Sylvia’s car. I silently put it away for her, didn’t ask, didn’t make a scene. Sylvia looked at me with complex eyes and actively explained: “Check again, the whole box is there. We ran out at home.” I hummed, leaning against the uncomfortable seat, feigning sleep. Until she parked the car by the road, her tone softening: “Let’s buy some supplements. We’ll go back to your home for New Year’s Eve to see Mom.” I couldn’t hold back the tears in the end, turning my back to her. My mom passed away, and she still didn’t know. Chapter 1 “Ethan? Are you listening to me?” Sylvia’s voice deepened, carrying the oppressive aura of a superior. I said hoarsely: “No need.” No need to go back, never again. She misunderstood my meaning, leaning over to look: “Angry?” “Trust me, okay? Or you can count them?” Saying that, she opened the box, pouring out all the condoms, her eyes filled with helpless doting, as if coaxing a tantrum-throwing child. I wiped my tears and looked over: “Really not angry.” Sylvia leaned in to hug me, sighing: “Still saying you’re not angry.” “Didn’t you always want me to accompany you back?” “It’s rare that I don’t have social engagements this New Year.” “If we miss it, who knows when the next time will be.” Her palm gently patted my back, trying to comfort me as usual. But I pushed her away numbly, nodding: “Okay, let’s go then.” Before my mom died, she was nagging about her daughter-in-law being too busy with work to see her one last time. If Sylvia has time for New Year’s, it’s good to go pay respects. After all, after the divorce, there will be no reason to ask her to go. I bought a lot of things online, mostly flowers for the grave. Worrying about inflation down there, I planned to burn more. But on New Year’s Day, Sylvia didn’t come back. Chapter 2 Seemingly anticipated, I calmly accepted the fact that she might miss the train. I took a taxi to the station myself. Only when the train started did she call. “Sorry, something came up here.” “Change the ticket, how about we leave tonight?” I looked at the retreating scenery outside the window, swallowing tears: “No need, I’ve already left.” Didn’t even bother to ask the reason. But Sylvia explained actively: “This time it’s really not because of Gabriel.” “It’s the project we discussed before, suddenly had problems. I thought I could make it.” “Ethan, don’t make a scene.” Don’t know where she heard I was making a scene. I spoke calmly: “I know you’re busy, you can come tomorrow.” Waiting one more day is fine, let it be. Sylvia breathed a sigh of relief: “Wait for me obediently. When I arrive, I’ll make Beef Stew for Mom.” “She always said my cooking was good. Haven’t eaten it for years, right?” “This time I absolutely…” “I’m tired, want to sleep.” I interrupted her longing, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. I really wanted to shout: Mom can’t eat it anymore! Where were you before! But I was tired, didn’t want to argue. Argued too much, tired myself out, as if I was a person with no self-esteem, begging for her attention shamelessly. It’s fine if she comes, kowtows, lights an incense, let Mom see. It’s not in vain that Mom raised her for so many years, not in vain that I picked her up back then, and she mooched meals at my house for more than ten years. But I overestimated her after all. Chapter 3 Seeing me come back alone again, Uncle’s face wasn’t good. At night, Aunt tentatively asked: “Are you in conflict with Sylvia?” “Actually, when your mom was hospitalized, she sensed something was wrong, but didn’t mention it for fear of upsetting you.” “You should also restrain your temper. Parents are gone, only a wife left to depend on.” I listened quietly, told her Sylvia would come tomorrow, and explained: “Her company’s business isn’t good recently, always socializing.” “She also wanted to come when Mom was hospitalized. Don’t worry, we’re fine.” I didn’t want my family to know I wanted a divorce, too lazy to deal with their mediation. But I didn’t expect Sylvia to break her promise again. In the morning she told me she was on the way to the train station. Uncle specially killed a chicken raised for a year. Aunt went to buy groceries early in the morning: “Good that she comes back. She didn’t appear at your mom’s funeral, villagers thought you were abandoned.” “Now just right to shut their mouths.” “Come back often in the future.” Aunt nagged while busy in the kitchen. But with a table full of dishes, I called Sylvia countless times, none answered. “Let’s eat first.” I spoke holding back emotions, looking at them guiltily. Aunt and Uncle looked at each other, nodding one after another: “Okay okay, eat first.” “I’ll call your cousins over, can’t finish so many dishes.” “Let them accompany you up the mountain later.” Aunt busily went to get bowls and chopsticks. Winter food lost heat in half an hour. I held back tears, smiling with difficulty. Uncle suddenly sat next to me, patting my shoulder: “You’ve had your own mind since childhood. Do what you want to do.” “If your dad were here, he wouldn’t bear to see you wronged.” “Uncle’s home is always your home. Family is here, don’t listen to your aunt, live freely.” I smiled, got up and went to the bathroom, came out after crying. Uncle and Aunt were heating dishes in the kitchen. Phone suddenly rang—it was Sylvia. Chapter 4 “He’s hospitalized, in surgery.” “Life and death matter, I can’t ignore it.” “Ethan, wait for tomorrow, I’ll pick you guys up.” “By the way, bring Mom over to play for a few days.” I listened numbly, emotions churning in my chest. I didn’t want to get angry. Mom always said: “Ethan, don’t get angry often, not worth it.” “Live a smooth life, turn a blind eye, decades will pass.” “Look at me, I had many opinions about your dad before, but didn’t I only remember his good points after he left?” But Sylvia is really bullying me too much! “You don’t need to come. I have things to find you for when I return.” I finished coldly and hung up. Sylvia called again, I hung up directly. Her messages came: [Don’t be unreasonable, wait obediently.] [If there was anyone who could help, he wouldn’t have looked for me.] [About last time, he wanted to apologize to you, I didn’t let him.] [Ethan, I know you have a fierce temper, afraid you’d hit him.] [Can’t we live a good life? Don’t throw a tantrum over such small things.] … She sent a lot. I skimmed through a few. Cousins came back, I turned off my phone and ignored it. A meal eaten with different thoughts. Arriving at Mom’s grave, cousins waited not far away. I sat on the ground, looking at the person in the photo, tears couldn’t help falling. Many words in heart, but couldn’t say them. Only whispered when leaving: “Sorry Mom, I lost the daughter-in-law you liked.” “You won’t blame me, right?” Wind rose, as if fingers gently brushed my cheek. I held back tears, went down the mountain without looking back.

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I accompanied Gavin from a law firm intern to a top lawyer in the industry, but his principles were always more important than me. Even when my parents’ inheritance was stolen by the imposter heiress with forged evidence, Gavin refused to defend me with a cold face. “You are a relative of the client. Taking the case would be a professional stain.” I slammed the door and left with red eyes, defending myself in court until my voice was hoarse. But on the day of the verdict, the imposter Serena suddenly won with a new will. That paper was stamped with Gavin’s private seal. He personally notarized it for my enemy. I trembled to check the case file for appeal, but he submitted my “Psychiatric Evaluation Report” to the judge. The day I was forcibly sent to the mental institution, my parents’ urns were smashed by Serena in public. Gavin stood on the steps adjusting his tie, saying to reporters: “Finally justice for my client.” I watched the man I loved for so many years in the video, shedding tears silently. Turns out lawyers aren’t without selfishness, I just wasn’t worthy. Chapter 1 I stared blankly at the white ceiling of the hospital when Gavin rushed in, dusty, worry hiding in his eyes. After confirming I was fine, he exhaled a long breath, his tone carrying a bit of blame: “Scarlett, what exactly do you want? Do you know how many cases I have to deal with every day?” “Why can’t you be obedient like Serena—” His words stopped abruptly when meeting my gaze. “Serena isn’t like you, she has nothing left. She came to beg me, I can’t ignore her.” “Scarlett, I was wrong about this. I will use my whole life to make it up to you.” “Besides, giving the family assets to Serena was Grandpa’s wish…” “Scarlett,” his voice was hoarse, like he pulled an all-nighter, “Stop making a scene.” I sneered, pulling the wound at the corner of my mouth, the smell of blood spreading in my mouth. “Making a scene?” I stared at the ceiling, “Attorney Gavin, you think I’m making a scene?” He walked a few steps closer, carrying the scent of Gardenia that Serena used. It made my stomach churn, sneezing repeatedly. He reached out to touch my face but froze just before touching. I turned my head to avoid, eyes cold as ice. Gavin’s Adam’s apple rolled, finally whispering: “…The law only recognizes evidence.” This sentence again. But on the day the verdict came out, I went to find him unwillingly and heard his conversation with Serena outside his office. “Gavin, you forged Grandpa’s will and gave everything to me. Will sister blame you?” Gavin sighed, tone tired: “I let her down. I will make it up to her for the rest of my life.” I grabbed the water glass on the bedside table and threw it. The glass exploded at his feet, shards flying. He didn’t even dodge, just looked at me quietly, eyes full of emotions I couldn’t read. “Get out.” I gritted my teeth, “Or I’ll tear open the gauze now and let the nurse see how a top lawyer drives his wife to death.” He finally turned and left, pausing for a second at the door: “…Take your medicine. I’ll handle the hospital matters. I’ll take you home when you recover.” Chapter 2 Serena came the next day. She stepped in high heels, carrying a limited edition Hermès bag, red lips curved in a victor’s arc. “Sister looks good.” She leaned over, fingertips lifting my chin, “Gavin pushed his date with me last night for you.” I sneered: “What, afraid I die too slow, came to speed it up yourself?” Her face suddenly changed, clutching her stomach and falling onto the chair, face pale: “It hurts… Sister, why… why did you push me…” Before I could react, the ward door was banged open. Gavin rushed in, picking up Serena, scanning me with sharp eyes: “What did you do to her?!” I was stunned, then laughed out loud: “Gavin, are you blind? I can’t even pull out the needle lying in bed, how could I push her?!” But he just gave me a cold look, holding Serena and leaving quickly. At dusk, Gavin returned alone. He sat by my bed, fingertips gently rubbing the gauze on my wrist, voice so low it was almost inaudible: “…Does it hurt?” I turned my head away, nails digging deep into my palm. He sighed, taking a box of strawberries from his briefcase. My favorite fruit. He used to buy them to coax me every time I was in a bad mood. He placed it carefully on the bedside table and tucked me in. “Tonight is Serena’s birthday party. As her only legal family, you must attend, or the media will write nonsense.” He handed me a document, “Sign this. Give up the right to appeal for the inheritance.” I almost laughed in anger: “Why?” Just then, there was a knock on the door. “Miss Scarlett, your grandmother fell this morning and is now in the ICU. We haven’t been able to reach the family.” The hospital corridor smelled of pungent disinfectant. Grandma lay in the ICU, tubes all over her body. I stood in front of the payment window, fingers trembling holding the payment notice. The nurse repeated mechanically: “The system shows insufficient balance on your card.” I opened my mouth but found I couldn’t even squeeze out a hoarse defense. My accounts had long been frozen due to Serena’s victory. “Use mine.” Gavin handed over his Black Card, whispering in my ear, “Serena’s birthday party, you know what to do.” I looked at Grandma’s thin body in the ICU, shivering: “My grandmother needs surgery immediately.” He gently wiped the tears from my cheek, “I promise you, as long as you cooperate with tonight’s banquet, I will arrange the best experts for Grandma immediately.” Chapter 3 I was forcibly taken to the banquet. Serena in a red dress, smiling brightly. “Why does sister look so pale?” She hugged me with fake concern, hand pressing hard on my wound. Blood seeped through the gauze. I hissed in pain and took a step back. Serena apologized in panic. “Sorry sister, I know you always hated me, but today is my birthday. I just wanted to hug you. Please don’t hate me.” Then “accidentally” knocked over red wine. Dark red liquid spilled on me, soaking the gauze. I shivered in pain. Gavin arrived but just frowned, taking out a handkerchief to wipe Serena’s hands. “She didn’t mean it.” He said lightly, gaze not staying on me for a second. I didn’t want to watch their affection, turned to leave, but was held by Gavin, rooted to the spot. “Don’t make a scene.” His lips moved slightly, voice only audible to me, “Your grandmother just had heart surgery. If the medical team withdraws suddenly…” I trembled all over, staring at him deadly. Serena held Gavin’s arm triumphantly. “Gavin, I envied sister playing the violin most when I was little. Today is my birthday, ask sister to play for me, okay~” She smiled sweetly. Gavin nodded lightly. After one song, my wrist was numb with pain. Serena leaned on Gavin, looking at me smilingly. “Sister, play another one?” The bow pressed on the strings, pulling the wrist wound. Blood seeped under the gauze, dyeing the chin rest red. I pursed my lips, knuckles stiff. But the music couldn’t stop because Gavin sat below, fingers holding that Black Card, scanning indifferently. He allowed all this. “How about ‘Caprice No. 24’?” Serena tilted her head, smiling innocently and cruelly, “I remember sister performed it at school, it was beautiful.” That piece demands harsh requirements on the wrist. I looked up at Gavin. He was looking down at his phone, screen light reflecting on his cold side profile, as if he didn’t hear Serena at all. I knew he heard. He just didn’t care. I took a deep breath, lifting the bow. The moment the first note fell, tearing pain came from my wrist. I could almost feel the sticky sensation of the wound opening. But I didn’t dare stop, because Serena was resting her chin on her hand, smilingly counting the beat, and Gavin… Gavin finally looked up. His gaze landed on my bleeding gauze, paused for a second, then, He raised his glass and took a sip. “Oops, the pitch is off.” Serena frowned in fake surprise, “Does sister’s hand hurt?” Chuckles came from the audience. My fingertips trembled, cold sweat sliding down my back, but the music had to continue. Serena suddenly stood up, leaning over, red lips almost touching my ear. “You know what? Gavin said in my bed last night, the way you play the violin… is pathetic and laughable.” The bow slipped from my fingers, ear-piercing noise cutting through the banquet hall. Silence. Gavin finally moved. He put down the glass, stood up slowly, and walked towards me. I looked at him, throat tight, thinking he was finally going to stop this humiliation. But he just reached out, repositioning the bow for me, fingertips brushing my wound seemingly unintentionally, voice so low only I could hear: “Continue.” “Or your grandmother will be moved out of ICU tomorrow.” Chapter 4 I didn’t sleep for three days taking care of critical Grandma. Clothes wrinkled on my body, hair greasy. I crumpled the payment slip again and again, but Grandma’s medical fee was still not enough. I have to go home. At least shower, change clothes, then find a way to borrow money. The moment I pushed the door open, sweet perfume choked my throat tight. A silk nightgown not belonging to me was thrown on the sofa. Serena’s favorite lipstick was on the coffee table. My slippers were gone, replaced by a pair of brand new high-heeled slippers with rhinestones. “Back?” Gavin came out of the study, shirt sleeves rolled up to elbows, carrying the scent of Gardenia perfume Serena used. I opened my mouth, but sneezed first—I’m allergic to Gardenia, he knows. “You let Serena move in?” He frowned: “The old house is being renovated, she’s borrowing it for a few days.” Paused, then added, “What are you jealous about? We are innocent.” I stared at him, suddenly wanting to laugh. Innocent? Can innocent people sleep in the same bed? Gavin loosened his tie impatiently, taking out his phone, tone icy: “Must you make a scene now? The hospital just messaged, Grandma’s pathology report is out.” My heart sank. He knew I cared about Grandma’s condition most right now, but used this to shut me up. This is his usual tactic—using my most cared-for weakness to silence me. “Sister is back?” Serena came out of the kitchen, wearing my apron, holding a bowl of steaming meat soup. “I made soup, good for the body, try some?” Meat aroma drifted over. My stomach cramped suddenly. Haven’t eaten well for three days, gastritis flared up. But next second, I saw that familiar leash with brown spots by the wall. “Where is Snowy?” Serena blinked: “Ah, you mean that dog that always barked?” She scooped a spoonful of soup, smiling, “Right here.” My brain buzzed. Snowy was the birthday gift Gavin gave me, a small mutt that loved tilting its head to look at people. It liked sleeping on my slippers, running around with my socks. But now, it became a bowl of soup. I don’t remember how I pounced. Only remember Serena’s scream, the thud of the bowl hitting the floor, and the feeling of my nails sinking into her arm. “Are you crazy!” Gavin pulled me away, force so great I stumbled into the coffee table. Waist hit the corner hard, pain making me gasp, but he didn’t even look at me, going straight to check Serena’s arm. “Gavin! It hurts…” Serena’s tears came instantly, showing him the nonexistent “wound”. Gavin frowned tight, fingertips brushing her arm that wasn’t even red, voice gentle as hell: “I’ll take you to apply medicine.” He bent down to pick her up, like holding some fragile treasure. When turning, his gaze finally fell on me. I clutched my waist, blood seeping through fingers. His eyes flickered, seeming to want to say something. “Gavin!” Serena hugged his neck tight, “I’m dizzy…” He immediately withdrew his gaze, striding towards the guest room. When the door closed, I slid to the floor, palm pressing on that puddle of steaming meat soup. Stomach churned. I lay on the floor retching, but only spat out acid water. Chapter 5 I dragged the suitcase from under the bed, simply packing a few clothes. Lit the first photo on the balcony. Flames jumped up, swallowing the photo of Gavin and me on law school graduation day. He held my waist, I held the Best Debater trophy, smiling eyes curved into crescents. Gavin rushed over to grab the lighter: “Are you crazy?!” I slapped him on the face. Gavin’s pupils shrank violently. I didn’t give him a chance to explain. In front of him, I threw all photos, couple shirts, the watch he gave me… all into the fire basin. Flames distorted the air, and his pale face. Finally, I put the divorce agreement on the table. “Sign it.” Air solidified for a few seconds. Gavin stared at that document, eyes changing from initial blankness to sharpness, finally sneering. “You serious?” I didn’t answer, just pushed the pen towards him. He stared at me, eyes cooling inch by inch, suddenly grabbing the agreement, paper making harsh friction noise in his fingers. “Because I helped Serena? Because she lives here? Or because of that dog?” His voice sank lower, finally squeezed out through teeth. “You want a divorce for these?” I looked at him quietly. Looking at this man who once blocked alcohol for me, stayed up late for me, waited three hours in snow for me, now showing this expression for another woman. “Not ‘for these’.” I said softly, “I’m tired, Gavin.” His pupils contracted sharply, as if pierced by something. He grabbed my wrist violently, force almost crushing bones: “Scarlett, you are mine, I forbid you to leave me!” I stared at his face and suddenly laughed. “Gavin, stop pretending deep affection, I’m disgusted.” His pupils shrank violently, hands trembling slightly. “Scarlett, if you dare leave me, I’ll have someone throw your grandmother out of the hospital right now!!” Just then, my phone rang. It was the hospital. “Miss Scarlett, we are very sorry…” The doctor’s voice sounded like through frosted glass, blurry and distant. “Your grandmother… just passed away.” The world suddenly quieted. Gavin’s questioning, car horns outside, even my own breathing, all disappeared. Only that sentence remained, like a dull knife, scraping my nerves one by one. …Passed away? But she held my hand saying she wanted to go home with me when I came back from the hospital. I looked down at my hand, finding it trembling. Strangely, I didn’t cry. Gavin seemed to sense something wrong, frowning closer: “Who called?” I looked up slowly, looking into his eyes, whispering: “Grandma is gone.” His expression froze instantly, blood draining from his face. “Impossible…” He grabbed my shoulder violently, “I clearly renewed the medical fee! I just yesterday—” I pushed him away, stumbling downstairs. His panicked footsteps came from behind: “Scarlett! I didn’t do this! Listen to me…”

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The moment I heard my daughter call another woman “Mommy,” my hand shook. I accidentally arranged a red apricot branch in the vase. But my husband’s female assistant saw it and ran out crying. That night, my husband asked for a divorce. Receiving the message at 3 AM, I thought I was dreaming. But early the next morning, he rubbed his brows, dark circles under his eyes, and handed me the divorce papers: “Mia said you were mocking her on purpose. If I hadn’t stopped her, she would have jumped last night.” “She’s young and sensitive, hates people saying she climbed up by seduction. I can only become single to coax her.” “When she forgives you, I’ll withdraw the divorce application immediately.” My five-year-old daughter chimed in from the side: “Bad woman, bullying Mommy Mia! Daddy, punish her!” Normally, I would have cried and screamed, accusing my husband of cheating and my daughter of siding with the mistress. But this time, I didn’t shed a single tear, my hand holding the food didn’t even tremble. I nodded calmly: “Okay.” “Today is our seventh anniversary, and also our seventh divorce.” My husband nodded: “The last time. Once she cools down, I’ll come back and live a good life with you.” I smiled and submitted the divorce papers. He didn’t know, this time, I was serious. Chapter 1 When my husband called back to reconcile, his tone was exhausted: “Mia said she forgives you, you can come back now.” But the only response he got was the sound of splashing water. I raised an eyebrow and turned on the speakerphone. The man’s low groan beside me became instantly clear. “Who are you? Where is my wife?” Julian’s casual tone instantly became tense, accompanied by the faint sound of grinding teeth. The man holding me chuckled, tucked my hair behind my ear, hung up the phone, and left the room. Half an hour later, the front door was kicked open. Julian rushed in, grabbing my hand nervously, circling me. Finding me unharmed, he sighed in relief and hugged me tightly: “Wifey, I missed you.” His eyes were slightly red, chin rubbing against my shoulder: “Are you mad at me? Sorry, I won’t do it again. Don’t use a wild man to provoke me.” “You know I love you the most. Even if it’s fake, I’ll get jealous.” Missed me? So he accompanied Mia to see orcas in the Maldives, then immediately went to Aspen to see the snow. She posted over a hundred show-off moments on Instagram this month. Listening to his heartfelt words, I sneered, “It’s not fake.” Watching his smile freeze, I looked amused: “We are already divorced. I don’t need to provoke you.” Julian laughed twice, his expression instantly relaxing: “Still jealous, wifey? Don’t be mad. She and I are just colleagues, I didn’t do anything to betray you.” “How about this, to compensate for making you divorce, I’ll propose to you again. Couples fight at the head of the bed and make up at the end. Please forgive me one more time.” Saying this, he took out a box from his pocket: “This is a Tiffany necklace, I bought it specially for you on my business trip.” My gaze fell straight on the ring finger of Julian’s left hand. There was a faint mark, one only ring wearers have. When we got married, he said he didn’t prepare a wedding ring for the sake of his professional image. Coupled with this abrupt necklace, it was self-evident who he wore the ring with. At the same time, my daughter rushed in from the door and hugged me. She opened her palm, revealing a lifelike butterfly hairpin: “Can you stop being angry? The little butterfly is apologizing to you.” I took the hairpin and pinned it on my head. The cold rejection was instantly stifled. How can one be angry with their own child? Bang! Fireworks sounded. Julian took my hand and walked out the door. A heart shape formed by 999 drones was slowly flying over. When it flew to my door, the drones changed formation, forming my name. [Scarlett, Happy 10th Anniversary.] My daughter looked at me with hope, while Julian smiled gently, just like the boy who set up 999 candles to confess to me back then. Very cliché. But very dazzling. Passersby exclaimed, stopping to applaud us: “Young man is good, very romantic!” “Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!” I looked into Julian’s eyes without speaking. He pursed his lower lip slightly, leaning down to kiss my cheek. Just then, a car headlight flashed violently on my face, and Mia’s aggrieved crying came over. Chapter 2 Mia, teetering on sky-high heels, looked at Julian with teary eyes: “We just finished taking wedding photos, and you want to cheat? Julian. You said you would only love me in this life, you were lying to me! I’ll die for you to see!” Saying this, Mia ran towards a tree by the road, then crashed headfirst into Julian’s arms. She hammered Julian’s chest: “Julian, you bastard! Since you want to betray me, let me die.” My daughter ran over to wipe her tears, voice soft: “Mommy don’t cry, Daddy and I only love you.” Instantly, the gossiping eyes of passersby turned sharply towards me: “So that woman is the mistress?” “Must be. The child is so big, how can she have the nerve to seduce a married man.” I wanted to explain, but Julian frowned and interrupted me: “You go, I can’t let Mia down.” My daughter also pulled the hairpin directly from my head, ripping out a bunch of my hair. And snatched the necklace box from my hand: “Thought it was for you? These are gifts Daddy and I prepared for Mommy.” My daughter changed her tune to call Mia “Mommy” after only a month. Julian raised an eyebrow and smiled, kneeling on one knee in front of Mia: “I always wondered what I still owed you. Maybe, it’s this ring.” My daughter pinned the hairpin on her: “Mommy likes butterflies the best, I bought this specially for you.” At the same time, in the livestream of a passerby, a “Rich Family True Love” tag hit #1 on the trending list. [Husband and child love her so much, she is the real winner in life!] [OMG, that diamond on the ring is like two carats, looks like the Heart of the Ocean designed by a master for three years, worth over 100 million, the only one in the world.] Amidst the crowd’s praise, Mia looked at me contemptuously and leaned into Julian’s arms. Julian held Mia with one hand and led my daughter with the other, leaving. And I didn’t panic like before. Just silently screenshotted all of Mia’s social media posts, then blocked and deleted her and Julian. I have no time for the drama of a mistress rising to power. Chapter 3 Sebastian’s video call came through: “Scarlett, I’ve handled the company affairs and am on my way back. Want a midnight snack?” I thought seriously, “No, no appetite.” Sebastian’s expression instantly became nervous: “What’s wrong? Did the guy who called this afternoon bother you? He… he didn’t do anything to you, right?” Although he turned his head pretending to speak casually, the slight pursing of his lower lip revealed Sebastian’s concern. I smiled and shook my head: “What are you thinking? It’s just hot weather. Don’t answer strange calls like that in the future, they are all harassment.” When Sebastian returned home and saw the empty living room, he rushed into the bedroom. Seeing me packing, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Aren’t we going abroad next month? Why packing now?” I smiled and hugged him, continuing to pack: “I changed the ticket to three days later. Let’s leave early and travel there.” When buying the ticket, I hesitated for a long time. But now, deciding to leave was just a matter of a split second. There is nothing worth lingering here anymore. Except… Early the next morning, I arrived at the auction. My parents went missing during their world tour years ago. On a small island up for bid today, there is the only clue I’ve found so far. But before I reached my seat, I was tripped by a high heel. Mia chuckled, “No way, Scarlett. Although your child calls me Mom now, you don’t need to bow so deeply to me.” “You are so much older than me, I’m afraid it will shorten my life.” Although she said that, she didn’t walk away. Instead, she asked her friends to help me up. “So good at acting pitiful. If I were a man, I would be soft-hearted. Too bad, Julian is devoted and faithful, only has eyes for me.” I slapped away the hands helping me: “Being a mistress feels good, huh? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be smiling so happily, right?” Mia’s smile disappeared, “You really have a sharp tongue. Hope you can still smile later.” Thinking she was talking about Julian, I didn’t care. Who cares about a man who already cheated? But unexpectedly, when the bidding for the island project started, Julian’s subordinate began presenting using my proposal. My proposal was stolen! I looked at Julian in disbelief. He turned his head away unnaturally. I worked sleeplessly for a month on this proposal to get the usage rights of this island and investigate the clues before my parents disappeared. I didn’t expect him to treat me like this for Mia. Mia tilted her head, pointing at the PPT on stage: “Is the presentation good, Scarlett? I’m determined to win.” To find the truth, I could only grit my teeth and call my subordinate: “Add ten points to the budget. No matter what, I want this island.” Julian opened his mouth looking at me, seeming to want to explain, but was pulled by Mia: “Julian, you said you would give this island to me. How can you let Scarlett snatch this island with your money?” I smiled bitterly. So, we started from scratch together, but in outsiders’ eyes, I was just a leech. Just as I wanted to tell Julian I would compete to the end, he suddenly stopped Mia: “What’s the point of fighting for a deserted island? I have a better gift for you, Mia.” Chapter 4 After my employee presented on stage, the tenderers showed approving smiles. Seeing no hope, Mia left the conference room crying. Julian glanced at me and followed her out. I frowned slightly, not knowing what drama they were up to again. Malicious bidding on this island had already forced me to sell all my shares. Until the end, Mia came back in Julian’s arms, smiling at me ambiguously. On the way out of the venue, people kept pointing at me. Fragments of nasty words destroyed my good mood just now. Just as I walked to the door, a woman stopped me aggressively, “Are you the one sending nude photos to my husband?” Before I could react, she slapped me to the ground: “Itchy without a man for a day? Wearing lingerie and calling others husband on video?” More and more people gathered, including my partners. “Sent to me too. Didn’t expect President Scarlett to have such a body under the suit, and bought so many toys. She really knows how to play.” “No wonder she could hook President Julian to death. She probably climbed up using this back then. Can’t blame President Julian, no normal man can resist.” I was a bit dazed by the slap. Looking at the explicit images on her phone, my heart sank. The person in the picture wore lace fabric more seductive than being naked, leading the eye constantly to private parts. I wanted to explain, but someone suddenly threw a cup of coffee. The dirty liquid fell from my head, soaking my shirt. At the end of the video, my coquettish voice came out. Silence filled the venue. Without exception, eyes fell on my red lips stained with coffee.

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Five years into my blindness. My husband, Franklin, brought me our newly taken family portrait. He guided my hand to touch the faces in the frame one by one. His voice whispered gently in my ear: “On the left is your dad, on the right is your mom. This is our daughter Yolanda, and us two in the middle.” “Gwen, it doesn’t matter if you can’t see. I will always be your eyes.” I was about to tell him the surprise that my vision had returned. But the words were swallowed back hard. Because in that photo titled “Family Portrait,” all I saw were strangers. My “Dad,” my “Mom.” I didn’t recognize a single one. Watching my husband introduce them with such care, I couldn’t help clenching my fists, nails digging deep into my palms. An 8-year-old girl ran over and held my husband’s hand. “Daddy, why waste words with this blind woman?” I looked down and saw her face clearly for the first time. She didn’t look like me at all. If the people in the photo weren’t my parents, then whose child was this girl in front of me… And where are my real parents and daughter now? Chapter 1 “Yolanda, don’t talk to Mommy like that! Apologize to Mommy, now!” Franklin pulled Yolanda to his side. Yolanda stiffened her neck, glaring at me with venom. “I did nothing wrong! I won’t apologize to a blind woman!” After she finished, she turned and ran to her room. Passing by me, she deliberately bumped into me. I stumbled a step, stabilizing myself. “Gwen, don’t mind the child. She’s ignorant. We’ll educate her properly later.” I didn’t speak, just reached out, touching the family portrait again. Fingertips slid over the cold, hard faces of the strange man and woman. The day of the shoot. Under my constant urging, my parents finally agreed to fly back from abroad specially to see me, promising a surprise. I remember when I reached out to touch “Dad’s” hand, it felt wrong. The skin was too rough compared to my memory. I remember smelling “Mom’s” perfume. It wasn’t her usual jasmine scent, but a pungent, cheap smell. I asked Franklin then: “Honey, why do I feel… something is wrong?” Franklin held my hand, chuckling in my ear. “Silly, parents are getting old. It’s normal for skin and preferences to change.” “You’re just too sensitive.” Yes, I was too sensitive. He used “you are too sensitive” to wipe away all my doubts. Thinking about it now, that wasn’t sensitivity. That was the alarm of blood ties. “Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. I prepared a gift for you.” He took out a rough perfume bottle and brought it to my face. “Specially customized for you, unique in the world.” I clearly saw the bottle in his hand, printed with a cheap brand logo. My gaze fell on the trash can not far away. There lay a convenience store receipt, amount: $2.99. I looked up, facing him. “Franklin…” “Are you… hiding something from me?” The smile on Franklin’s face froze for a second, but soon, he sighed. “Gwen, why would you think that?” “Did blindness make you suspicious? Don’t be afraid, I’m here. I will never lie to you.” As soon as Franklin finished speaking, the phone in his pocket rang. It was a video call. “It’s Secretary Linda. Should be something urgent at the company.” With that, he answered the call calmly in front of me. Screen lit up. I clearly saw, on the other end. A woman wearing only black lace lingerie, lying lazily on a bed. In her mouth, she held a condom wrapper. “Mr. Sterling, there are… so many documents waiting for you to sign at the company. When are you coming?” Franklin’s Adam’s apple rolled. “I’ll be there right away. Get the materials ready.” He hung up, turned, and grabbed his coat. “Gwen, there’s an emergency meeting at the company. I must go now.” My brain was buzzing. This “Secretary Linda” wasn’t calling at this time for the first time. In the past five years, I heard her coquettish voice calling “Mr. Sterling” countless times. I thought it was business, never cared. Turns out, the truth was so unbearable. I looked up, staring straight at him. “Is the company… really that busy?” Franklin’s body stiffened, then he walked over and patted my head. “Yes, many projects recently, all for our family. Be good and wait for me at home.” Lies. Such practiced lies. His vows from before echoed in my mind. “Gwen, even if the whole world betrays you, I will never deceive you.” It was mocking my stupidity. It was telling me I was a huge joke. I lowered my head, a bitter metallic taste rising from the root of my tongue. Chapter 2 Franklin left home hurriedly with the excuse of “company emergency.” I walked towards the study. That was where Franklin spent most of his time at home. I hadn’t set foot there in five years. I pushed open the study door. On the central desk stood an exquisite silver photo frame. In the frame, it wasn’t a photo of Franklin and me. It was Franklin, Yolanda, and that lingerie-clad Secretary Linda from the video. A “family of three” portrait. So, this is his true family in his heart. Yolanda, that woman, and him. What am I? A raised blind woman? A tool convenient for him to seize my family property? Five years of marriage, turns out to be a complete scam. On the table, a luxuriously made wedding album was spread open. I reached out, fingertips trembling as I flipped through it. Every page was Franklin and that Linda. Every photo was showing off their happiness. I flipped to the last page. On the commemorative card, the date of the wedding photos was printed. I stared dead at that date. Blood all over my body froze instantly at this moment. That day. It was the day I lay alone on the cold hospital bed, giving birth to my daughter via C-section. He said, “Gwen, sorry, I’m stuck at an overseas conference, really can’t make it back.” He said, “When I return, I’ll make it up to you and the baby.” Tears finally filled my eyes. Ridiculous. Laughable. The huge shock made my vision blacken. I stumbled backward. Body hit an unlocked file cabinet nearby. Clang— The top drawer was knocked open. A thick document in a kraft paper bag slid out and fell to the floor. I looked down. The text on the document came into view. Icy chill rushed from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. I was cold all over. Chapter 3 The next day. I dialed a number. It was my family’s driver, Uncle Wang. He had been with my dad for decades, watching me grow up. “Uncle Wang, it’s me, Gwen.” “Miss Gwen?” The voice on the other end was full of surprise. “Uncle Wang, my parents… are they in good health recently?” Long silence on the other end. Just as my heart sank to the bottom, Uncle Wang’s voice came, full of endless grief. “Miss… you… you really don’t know?” “The old master and madam… passed away in a car accident four years ago!” Boom—! My brain went blank. Car accident… passed away… No. Impossible. Franklin clearly told me they went to travel around the world. He even read me the postcards they sent back. Those were all fake? I held the phone, body trembling uncontrollably, unable to say a word. Cold. Bone-piercing cold. I seemed to see the tragic state of my parents lying in a pool of blood. And I, their daughter, was kept in the dark like a fool. “Miss? Are you still listening?” Uncle Wang’s anxious voice pulled me back to reality. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. “Uncle Wang, tell me everything you know.” “Yes… four years ago, on the way home from the company, Master and Madam were hit by an out-of-control truck… died on the spot…” Uncle Wang’s voice choked. “But the truck driver disappeared and was never found.” “Son-in-law Franklin handled all the funeral arrangements. It was him… he fired all of us old staff.” I hung up the phone, body sliding down the cold wall slowly. Tears surged out silently. Four years ago. Fragments of memory flooded into my mind instantly. It was starting from four years ago that my parents, who loved me most, stopped calling me frequently and stopped visiting me often. Franklin said they were getting old and wanted to travel the world while they still could. Since then, I almost lost contact with them. Dad, Mom. Sorry. Your daughter is unfilial. I wiped my tears. Now is not the time to be weak. There is still my daughter. I still have questions in my heart. I immediately contacted my own people. “Get me a DNA test right away!” “Check, all records after my daughter was born, was she switched?” “And find out all details of my parents’ car accident, including that missing driver.” Chapter 4 I changed clothes and sneaked out of the house. Arrived at the Sterling Villa, the home I grew up in. I didn’t go through the front door. Familiarly, I infiltrated the villa’s garden, returning to my own home. I squatted behind the bushes, looking inside through the bright floor-to-ceiling windows of the first-floor living room. Just one glance, my blood curdled. In the living room, that strange couple from the fake family portrait was wearing my parents’ favorite loungewear, sitting on the sofa, watching TV leisurely. Franklin and that female secretary were sitting opposite them. On Franklin’s face was a doting look I had never seen before. The secretary held Franklin’s arm intimately, pointing at the wall with her other hand. Hanging on the wall were photos of my parents. “Frank, these photos are too unlucky. Change them to ours tomorrow, okay?” “Okay, whatever you say. This is our home anyway.” My home… My home was occupied by a group of thieves! Franklin, you beast! My nails dug deep into my palms, but I felt no pain. The phone in my pocket vibrated suddenly. I clicked open the message with trembling hands. Inside were two files. The first one. [According to DNA genetic marker analysis results, sample Gwen Sterling is excluded as the biological mother of Yolanda.] Drops of scalding tears smashed onto the cold screen. Although expected, the word “Excluded” still pierced my last fantasy like a knife. Yolanda, indeed, is not my daughter. Then where is the daughter I carried for ten months and risked my life to give birth to? My child, where is she now? I wiped my tears and opened the second file. It was a photo. A skinny, mud-covered little girl was curling up by the trash can downstairs of my apartment, rummaging for food. I rushed home. Right in the corner of the unit entrance, I saw her. My biological daughter… Turns out, on the second day of birth, she was taken away from me by Franklin. Then given to others to raise. She was being surrounded by a few older kids, pushed and insulted. “Little beggar! Get away! Don’t dirty our place!” She held her head, small body curled into a ball, silent. I looked at her dirty face and those stubborn eyes. Too similar. Exactly like me when I was little. A hot tear dropped onto the back of my hand without warning. I always knew about this child. The little girl mentioned many times by neighbors, picking trash downstairs every day! When I was blind, I heard her faint crying many times. I asked Franklin: “Who is crying?” Franklin said: “A wild child no one wants, crazy. Stay away from her, don’t get hurt.” Turns out, not a wild child, but my daughter. She has always been by my side. Within reach. But I believed the devil’s lies and passed her by again and again. Bang! A boy kicked her in the back. Her small body flew out like a leaf, hitting the wall heavily. “Stop!” I rushed over, hugging her tightly in my arms. I took off my coat, wrapping her cold body. She looked up, looking at me timidly. I wiped the mud off her face with trembling hands. She looked at me, big black and white eyes filled with tears. “Don’t be afraid… Mommy is here.” My voice trembled. After a long time, she used a mosquito-like voice. “M…Mom…” My tears could no longer be held back, pouring out. I held her tightly, tightly in my arms. How I wished to make up for the hugs missed in these five years all at once. Franklin. Listen well. The suffering my daughter endured, I want you to pay back a thousand, ten thousand times over.

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Late at night, my husband cried bitterly: “Mom was suddenly hospitalized, the doctor said we need $40,000 immediately! Transfer the money now!” “I’ll go to the hospital right now!” I was worried sick. “No! You’ll just cause trouble. I can handle it alone.” He stopped me. Feeling sorry for my father-in-law, I gave him my bank card immediately. But the next day, I couldn’t rest easy, so I quietly went to the hospital. From the ward came my mother-in-law’s sneer: “Son, that move was brilliant. That fool is so easy to trick, she’s literally our family’s ATM.” “$40,000 in hand, enough for us to splurge for a while.” My husband sounded triumphant. I silently took out my phone and dialed the bank’s customer service. Chapter 1 Cold wind poured in from the window at the end of the hospital corridor, unable to disperse the chill in my heart. I leaned against the cold wall, my finger sliding on the phone screen, finding that familiar bank customer service number. The moment the call connected, I heard my own voice, calm like a stranger. “Hello, my bank card seems to have been stolen. I need to report it lost immediately.” The other side asked formulaic confirmation questions. I answered one by one, my voice without a ripple, as if narrating something unrelated to myself. Hanging up, I deleted the call log, along with that recording that pierced my eardrums, cleaning everything up. After doing all this, I realized my fingertips were frozen white and numb. Returning to the empty shell called “home,” I didn’t turn on the lights. Darkness is the best camouflage, hiding all out-of-control expressions on my face. I sat on the sofa all night without closing my eyes. When the sky turned slightly bright, I walked into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. Eyes bloodshot, face pale and haggard, looking extremely worried about my mother-in-law’s condition. Good, just like this. At 5 AM, the sound of a key turning came from the entrance. Jason was back. He carried a body full of fatigue, his eyes showing feigned sadness and haggardness. Seeing me, he froze for a moment, then walked over quickly to hug me. “Chloe, why haven’t you slept yet?” His voice was hoarse, full of deliberately created emotion. I stiffly leaned into his arms, nausea churning in my stomach. This man, my husband, just a few hours ago, triumphantly called me a “fool” and an “ATM.” “I was worried about Mom, couldn’t sleep.” I buried my head in his chest, perfectly hiding my cold eyes. “It’s okay now, it’s all over.” He patted my back, tone like unloading a heavy burden, “The surgery fee is paid. Mom’s surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. The doctor said it’s not a big problem.” Surgery? A non-existent surgery. My heart was cold as iron. “That’s good, that’s good.” I cooperated with a sigh of relief, crying in my voice. He helped me sit on the sofa, poured himself a glass of water, and drank it all. That posture, as if he really was the filial son running around for his mother. He sat back next to me, holding my hand. His palm was warm as always, but at this moment, I just wanted to pull away immediately. “Chloe, thank you so much this time.” “If not for you, I wouldn’t know what to do.” He looked at me, eyes full of rehearsed “deep affection” and “gratitude.” Looking at this familiar face, for the first time, I discovered every expression of his could be calculated. “We are husband and wife, why say this.” I squeezed out a weak smile. He nodded with satisfaction, then changed the subject. “By the way, Chloe, tomorrow I might need your ID to process a supplementary insurance procedure. It can reduce a lot of costs.” Here it comes. Their greed is endless; $40,000 is just the beginning. The next step of the scam is to use my identity information to leverage more benefits. I lowered my eyelids, hiding the flash of hatred. “But… I left my ID at my parents’ place a few days ago, forgot to bring it back.” I said carefully, with a trace of apology. Jason’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. A trace of impatience flashed in his eyes, but was immediately covered by his perfect acting. “It’s okay, I’ll ask tomorrow to see if we can delay it.” He said considerately. “Mmhmm.” I nodded obediently. Late at night, we lay in the same bed. I turned my back to him, clearly feeling his steady breathing. He had fallen asleep with peace of mind. And I was soberly feeling the chill coming from every inch of my skin. The person beside my pillow is an executioner. Marriage is a slow torture. Now, it’s my turn to hold the knife. Chapter 2 Early the next morning, before the sky was fully bright, Jason got up. His movements were brisk, even humming an off-key tune, a sign of his excellent mood. He thought I was still asleep, tiptoeing to change clothes. “I’m going out, to see Mom at the hospital and handle the follow-up fees.” Before leaving, he planted a light kiss on my forehead. The touch felt like a slimy worm, making me almost vomit. I kept my eyes closed, motionless, until I heard the door gently close. I opened my eyes; the texture of the ceiling was incredibly clear in the morning light. I picked up my phone and checked the time. 7:15 AM. The show should start soon. I got up slowly, washed up, and even fried myself an egg. Food was hard to swallow, but I forced myself to eat it all. I needed strength to enjoy today’s big show. At 7:45, the phone rang sharply. Caller ID: “Hubby.” I let it ring for half a minute before picking up slowly. “Hello?” My voice carried the huskiness and laziness of just waking up. “Chloe!” Jason’s roar suppressing anger came from the other end, “What happened to the bank card? Why is it frozen?” I sneered inside, but my face instantly switched to a panic expression. “What? Frozen?” My pitch rose instantly, “How could this be? Is there a mistake?” “How should I know!” He was almost yelling, “I tried three times at the ATM, all transaction failed! The counter said the card is frozen!” “How could it be… I don’t know either.” I cried, voice full of innocence and grievance, “That’s Mom’s life-saving money!” I deliberately emphasized the words “life-saving money.” “Where are you? I’ll come find you right now! Let’s go to the bank together to ask!” I proposed actively, tone extremely urgent. Silence for a few seconds on the other end. Jason’s anger seemed choked by my initiative. “…I’m at the branch on Main Street, come quickly!” He finally gave the address impatiently. “Okay, I’ll be right there!” Hanging up, I calmly changed clothes, put on light makeup to look both haggard and decent. When I rushed to the bank, Jason was standing next to the lobby manager with a dark face, looking anxious. Seeing me, he immediately strode over, eyes cutting me like knives. “What exactly is going on?” He lowered his voice, squeezing words through his teeth. I didn’t answer him but walked straight to the counter. “Hello, I want to ask why this card is frozen?” I took the card from Jason’s hand and handed it to the teller. The teller took the card, checked on the computer, and answered in a standard business tone: “Ma’am, this card was reported lost by you via phone customer service last night, currently in a frozen state.” Hearing this, Jason’s face turned iron green instantly. He stared at me deadly, wishing to swallow me alive. Meeting his gaze, my eyes reddened, big tears rolling down without warning. “Reported lost?” I repeated in disbelief, voice trembling, “I… when did I report it lost?” I turned to Jason sharply, grabbing his arm, crying: “I was home all night after giving you the card! How could I report it lost? Was the card stolen by someone? Oh god, the money inside! That’s Mom’s life-saving money!” My crying was loud and clear, full of despair and panic. Everyone’s eyes in the lobby were attracted. People pointed at us, whispering. “What’s wrong? Couple fighting?” “Sounds like the card was stolen, life-saving money inside?” “That guy’s face looks so bad, why stare at his wife so fiercely?” Pressure of public opinion was like an invisible net, trapping Jason firmly. His face turned red then white, wanted to explode but suppressed by the crowd’s gaze. Looking at my tear-streaked face, he could only grit his teeth and extend his arm to pull me into his embrace. “Alright, alright, stop crying, maybe just a misunderstanding.” His voice was stiff, “Let’s ask clearly again, money won’t be lost.” He comforted me while signaling to the people around with his eyes, trying to calm the storm. I lay in his arms, the corner of my mouth curling into an unnoticed, cold arc. Jason, this is just the beginning. Chapter 3 Back home, as soon as the door closed, the last shred of Jason’s patience ran out. He threw my arm away violently, force so strong I stumbled into the shoe cabinet. “Chloe, did you f*cking do this on purpose?” His face was hideous, no longer the gentle and considerate look. I held the cold cabinet door, looking at him coldly. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” “You don’t know?” He seemed to hear a huge joke, chest heaving violently, “Bank card lost not earlier not later, but lost when I got it to pay? And reported lost? Do you think I’m a three-year-old!” He approached me step by step, spit almost spraying on my face. “Do you just not want to take out money to save my mom!” He roared his truest thought. Just then, his phone rang sharply. It was my mother-in-law Brenda. Jason glanced at the screen, as if finding an outlet, immediately pressed speaker. “Hello, Mom.” “Jason! Where’s the money? The nurse came to urge again! Didn’t you say pay today?” Brenda’s sharp mean voice came from the receiver, full of energy, not looking like seriously ill at all. Jason looked at me with even more venom. “Mom, there’s an accident, bank card frozen.” “What? Frozen?” Brenda’s volume raised eight octaves instantly, “How could it be frozen? Did that bitch Chloe do it! I knew she had bad intentions! Does she want me to die!” Vicious curses poured like dirty water. I silently turned on the recording function of my phone, screen down on the console table. “Mom don’t worry, I’m asking her.” Jason comforted his mother on the phone, eyes staring at me like a wolf. Hanging up, the madness in his eyes could no longer be hidden. “Speak! Who else did you tell the password to? Did you ask someone else to report lost?” “I didn’t.” I answered calmly. My calmness thoroughly enraged him. “Still pretending!” He roared, pouncing at me suddenly, “Give me your phone and ID! I’ll go to the bank to unfreeze it now!” He looked like he wanted to eat people. Prepared, I turned and ran into the bedroom the moment he rushed over, then quickly locked the door. Bang! His huge fist hit the door panel, making a dull sound. “Chloe! Open the door! Open the door!” “You poisonous woman! If anything happens to my mom, I will never let you go!” “Open up! Do you hear me!” He smashed the door crazily, cursing me with the most vicious words I could imagine. Those words were like poisoned knives, piercing my heart one by one through the door. No, my heart won’t hurt anymore. Only clearer and clearer hatred remained. Back against the cold door, I slowly slid to sit on the floor. Outside was the devil’s roar, inside was hell-like silence. I took out another spare phone, trembling, and messaged my best friend Sarah. “Sarah, I might need your help.” Reply was almost instant. “What’s wrong Chloe? What happened?” I told her what happened in the briefest words. Sarah’s call came immediately. “That beast! That dog couple!” Sarah cursed angrily on the phone, “Chloe, don’t be afraid! Most importantly protect yourself now, never open the door!” “Record all evidence! Every word he says could be proof to send him to hell later!” “Are you safe now? Do you want me to come over?” Listening to Sarah’s powerful voice, my chaotic mind slowly calmed down. “I’m fine, can still hold on.” I said, “I just… first time discovered he could be so scary.” “Not first time discovered, just first time willing to admit.” Sarah hit the nail on the head. “Chloe, remember, from now on, you are not enduring, you are collecting evidence. Every grievance you suffer, make them pay back double in the future.” I took a deep breath, clutching the phone tightly. “I know.” The cursing outside continued, but those voices could no longer hurt me. They were just evidence, the epitaph I personally prepared for this pair of blood-sucking mother and son, Jason and Brenda.

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My husband, Liam, and our nanny, Mia, just won the “Model Family Award” on social media. In the photos, they hug each other tightly, with my son Sam laughing between them. They look like the perfect family. Netizens praise them as the epitome of happiness. And I, the real wife and mother, am treated as an invisible woman, a boring housewife who knows nothing. Liam thinks I’m naive and easy to deceive. He doesn’t know that while he plays house with the nanny, I’ve already turned our home into a trap. The net is tightening. Chapter 1 That day, after Liam went to work and Mia took Sam to his prep class, the technician I booked arrived. I used the excuse that “the circuit breaker keeps tripping” to ask for a comprehensive check. A few hours later. The technician packed up his tools: “Everything is installed as you requested. The locations are absolutely hidden, and the signal is stable.” I clicked open the real-time feed on my phone—living room, dining room, study, guest room, main hallway, all clear. Cameras were hidden in book spines, wall lamp carvings, inside air vents, and even a micro device sewn into the badge of my son’s favorite down jacket. Every angle was calculated. Even if looked at closely, it was hard to detect anomalies. I turned off the screen and placed the phone face down on the table. How this show plays out next depends on them. Chapter 2 A week later, the organizer of the “Model Family Award” issued a statement. After verification, the winner Mr. Liam and Ms. Mia in the photo are not a married couple. The award was revoked due to false information. As soon as the news came out, public opinion shifted instantly. The original envy and blessings were drowned by a wave of doubts: [‘Outsourced’? I think it’s ‘Takeout’!] [Model family? More like Model Affair.] [Is the real wife invisible? This is disgusting!] The online uproar obviously affected Liam. Liam came home early. He slammed the door, tore off his tie, and threw it aside. As usual, I walked over to pick up his jacket. He turned abruptly, grabbing my wrist with great force. Eyes bloodshot, staring dead at me. “Sarah,” his voice squeezed through his teeth, “You’ve been… a little too quiet lately.” He leaned closer, breath hitting my face. “That award was exposed, the online rumors are so detailed…” “Did you leak it?!” Chapter 3 My wrist hurt from his grip. I looked up, meeting his angry questioning gaze. “Liam,” I whispered, face full of confusion, “Haven’t I been practicing calligraphy these days? You know that.” He still held me tight, scrutinizing me. I looked back calmly, gently pushing his hand away: “Calm down.” “Calm down. What good does it do me if this blows up?” I paused, lowering my voice, “But you are in a key position in the company. Many people are watching you. This event has such a big impact, could it be… someone wants to use this against you?” Liam’s face changed colors, finally relaxing his grip, but his expression sank. “…Those old bastards.” He gritted his back teeth, cursing low. I didn’t say more, turned back to the study, continuing to spread out the rice paper. The next day, after they all left. I clicked on the playback. In the video, Liam indeed went into Mia’s room again. Mia leaned in his arms, voice soft: “Is it… too risky now?” “Fear what.” Liam held her, tone certain, “They want to take me down with this little noise? Too naive.” “But I’m still a bit uneasy… especially about Sister Sarah.” Liam sneered: “Her? Once this promotion review is over, I have my ways to make her nod.” Light flashed in Mia’s eyes, but she still hesitated verbally: “I’m afraid Sister won’t be willing…” “By then,” Liam interrupted her, voice turning cold, “It won’t be up to her.” Chapter 4 In the following days, Liam’s reaction was swift. He recorded an apology video. In front of the camera, wearing plain loungewear, his expression sincere with just the right amount of fatigue, explaining it was just an ordinary pickup caught by accident. He emphasized that Teacher Mia in the photo is a professional child development specialist, trusted by the child for her diligence. “Didn’t expect an unintentional mistake to take up so much public resource and bring trouble to Teacher Mia. Really sorry.” He bowed slightly to the camera. His posture was low, explanation reasonable, even subtly creating an image of a “good man” who cares for his family but is troubled by public opinion. This operation was effective. Public opinion quietly turned: [Really sitting at home, pot falls from the sky.] [So open and honest, makes those speculations look dirty.] [Good to the child is good, he’s frank.] [Heard he’s a listed company exec, rare good man.] Some even started pointing fingers at me: [Shouldn’t the real wife reflect on herself?] [Support divorce! Let people with love be together!] [Teacher Mia is the one truly good to the child, some bio moms are worse than outsourced.] Liam went with the flow, quickly registering a short video account named [Sam’s Daddy]. The account started updating daily parent-child interactions intensively: reading picture books, building Lego, playing soccer in the park. Sam was naturally cute and not shy in front of the camera. Liam’s captions were also carefully designed, creating an atmosphere of “patience,” “companionship,” and “growth” everywhere. Soon, the account attracted a batch of “Mom fans” and “Passerby fans.” For a time, the image of “Deeply Affectionate Good Dad” became more deeply rooted. Zoey scrolled through those videos and comments, eyes red with anger, throwing the tablet on the sofa. “Using the child to whitewash, setting up a good dad persona, disgusting!” I took a sip of coffee from the table, tone waveless. “Seems the ‘Outsourced Mom’ providing ‘Full Service’ really satisfied someone.” “Sarah!” Zoey was anxious and angry, “They are stepping on you to climb up!” “Aren’t you going to do something? You still in the mood for coffee!?” I put down the cup, looking at the street outside. “What’s the rush.” I said. The glass reflected my calm profile. “The higher they stand, the harder they fall.” Chapter 5 Two months later, the annual influence awards ceremony of a well-known platform was held as scheduled. With the recent surge in popularity, the [Sam’s Daddy] account was invited. Liam dressed up specially, in a suit and leather shoes, high-spirited. He intended to bring Sam along, but gave up due to class conflicts. In the live broadcast lens, he walked on the red carpet, waving to both sides with a smile, dashing and elegant. The awards ceremony proceeded item by item. Finally, it was time for the “New Star of the Year” award. The big screen began to rotate the highlights of the nominees. When [Sam’s Daddy] appeared, the screen changed abruptly… Several high-definition photos popped up without warning. Mia smiled and adjusted his tie, intimate posture; Under the dim street lamp, Liam and Mia hugged tightly; There was even one in the car, Mia biting his ear… The scene was instantly dead silent, then erupted in suppressed gasps and discussions. The director cut the feed hastily, but the live signal had already been transmitted intermittently. Although the shot was switched quickly, quick-handed netizens had already screen-recorded. Barrage and social media exploded. [WTF! Solid proof?!] [Those few seconds just now!!] [Didn’t they say she’s just a nanny?? Nannying into his arms?] [No wonder the ‘family of three’ looked so natural, practiced for a long time, huh?] [Recorded! HD Uncensored!] The spotlight no longer deliberately played his shots. But in a hasty glimpse in the background, one could still catch Liam’s pale face. Chapter 6 The ceremony ended. But the fermentation online had just begun. Liam moved extremely fast. Overnight, he hired a top digital forensic team to technically analyze those photos. A few hours later. Report released. Conclusion clear: Photos show signs of synthesis. Liam immediately recorded a clarification video. In front of the camera, he looked slightly haggard, but his voice was hoarse yet firm: “Sorry to occupy public resources. I have a pure employment relationship with Teacher Mia, absolutely no improper behavior. The photos circulating online are maliciously forged, specific technical analysis has been issued by professional institutions (see graphic post). The innocent is clear, thanks to all friends who trust me.” The wind of public opinion became subtle again. But this time, there was more vigilance in the doubts of netizens. [Technical report is out, is someone framing him?] [Photos did look a bit fake… let’s wait and see.] [Don’t believe either side yet, let the bullet fly a while.] Zoey bombarded me with voice messages while scrolling videos. “This scumbag’s mouth is really hard! Still not ruined after this?” “I think those photos are real!” “What do we do next? Just watch him whitewash?” “Simple.” I picked up my phone, tone calm, “Find a few reliable alt accounts, spread the news. Say those ‘synthesized photos’ at the ceremony were forged and released by me, the unwilling ex-wife, due to psychological imbalance.” Zoey’s voice spiked. “Sarah! Are you crazy?! Splashing dirty water on yourself actively? What exactly do you want to do!” I held the phone, smiling slightly. “Just do it.” “Trust me.”

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I was the adopted daughter, but I fell in love with the biological son. At ten, Julian Sterling said he would marry me. At sixteen, Julian kissed me, telling me: “Blair is my only moon.” At eighteen, I gave myself to Julian, thinking our love was mutual. A night of passion. But when dawn broke, Julian suddenly despised me. “Get out. I don’t have a sister as cheap as you.” From then on, he never looked at me again. Later, the true daughter Serena Sterling returned. She hated me, effortlessly crushing everything I had. Father’s gaze, Julian’s love, and my dignity. Until she framed me for leaking classified military intelligence, causing Father’s mission to fail and his death in depression. Julian loathed me completely. He personally dragged me out of the funeral home, sweeping me out the door: “The Sterling family doesn’t have a daughter like you, and I don’t have a sister like you.” “In this life, don’t let me see you again!” Chapter 1 The third year after being kicked out of the Sterling family was also the first year I was kept by Jace. I saw Julian Sterling again. It was a charity gala hosted by the Sterlings. I knew I shouldn’t come, and I didn’t want to come. But this was Jace’s will. He was my patron, and I had no right to refuse. I lowered my eyes, my voice trembling: “Mr. Jagger, I don’t want to go over there…” Jace patted my face, not hard, but full of humiliation. “What’s wrong? Afraid to see Julian? Afraid he’ll see you like this now?” “Blair, you know. Wrongdoings always come with a price. I treat you well, why take birth control pills behind my back? Think I didn’t know?” My blood ran cold instantly. Then I laughed self-deprecatingly, actively wrapping my arms around his neck with a coquettish smile, a numbness of broken jars smashing. “Then you have to pay more.” “Give me fifty thousand, and I’ll accompany you to the gala.” My special medicine is running out. Fifty thousand is enough to buy three more bottles, to live three more months. Jace froze. His eyes went from astonishment to amusement, finally laughing low: “Fifty thousand?” “Blair, since when did you value yourself so low? I’ll give you a hundred thousand.” He leaned in, lips almost touching my ear. Malice poured out: “Remember to watch your eyes. I am your man.” “You, Blair, were thrown away by him long ago. Rotten, smelly, now picked back up by my money. Understood?” I lowered my eyelashes, answering meekly: “Understood, Mr. Jagger.” I followed Jace closely. He seemed dissatisfied, actively putting his arm around my waist, walking towards the center. Julian also saw our approach. Turning around, facing us directly. Jace extended his hand, greeting actively: “Mr. Sterling, long time no see. My father often mentions you, saying you are the one he admires most among the younger generation in the military.” Julian spoke politely. His voice was the same as in my memory, with a metallic coldness: “Your father flatters me. Mr. Jagger is the young hero, taking down the Hamptons project so easily.” Jace smiled. Didn’t let go of my waist, instead patting it, with a hint of showing off: “This is Blair, she’s been with me for a while.” “Blair, say hello.” Jace paused maliciously, waiting for my reaction. My throat was tight, every word like grinding on sandpaper: “Mr. Sterling.” Julian glanced at me coldly, as a response. Just then, Serena not far away let out a soft “Huh,” as if just discovering me. Walking towards me actively, smiling meanly: “Sister Blair? It really is you!” “Never thought I’d meet you here. You are now… with Mr. Jagger? That’s really fortunate. Although without a title, life must be much better than before.” “Sister must be more sensible, serve Mr. Jagger well. Don’t do shameless things like before.” I listened quietly, not even refuting. Serena hated me to the bone. If I said anything more, she would only humiliate me more severely. Just that my chest hurt badly, maybe the heart failure worsened again. Fortunately, with money, I can go buy more medicine later. Jace was initially interested in admiring my embarrassment, but seeing my face getting paler. Just as he frowned preparing to interrupt, Julian spoke first. “Serena!” “Mom has been waiting for us over there for a long time, let’s go.” Julian spoke. Serena, even if in high spirits, could only shut up resentfully. But still angry, she simply cursed before leaving: “Cheap!” Julian didn’t react, letting Serena finish cursing before taking her away. I remained silent. Quietly listening to the discussions from all directions caused by Serena’s insult. “Miss Sterling really hit the nail on the head. With such character, she only deserves to be a plaything.” “Heard Old Mr. Sterling died of anger because of her. Such an ingrate! Restless in the Sterling family back then, shamelessly climbing into Julian’s bed. Now latching onto the Jagger family… really growing skills.” “What skills? Great in bed I guess. That slutty vibe, men like it most.” … The buzzing in my ears grew louder, and the colic in my chest began to intensify. I couldn’t tell if it was because of Julian’s coldness or my illness. Vision began to shake, body falling backward uncontrollably. Luckily caught by Jace. His fierce voice swept across, surroundings instantly quieted down. He moved not gently, leaning close to mock: “What’s wrong?” “Seeing an old lover, pain unbearable now?” I knew Jace was getting angry again. Wanted to explain, but the severe pain from the heart strangled my throat, breathing becoming shallow and weak. Could only ask for help with gasping breath: “Medicine…” “My medicine…” Chapter 2 Jace finally noticed I was breaking out in cold sweat, unable to stand steady. Face changed instantly, picking me up princess style and walking out. In the center of the ballroom, Julian, nodding in conversation, looked back as if sensing something. Watching Jace carrying me away hurriedly. Serena followed his gaze: “Yo, what good means. Hooking Mr. Jagger even at the banquet, can’t wait already.” “Brother, say when she seduced you back then…” Crash! The crisp sound of glass exploding suddenly. Serena looked at the wine glass crushed in Julian’s hand, scared to say more. In the parking lot, Jace almost crashed open the car door, placed me in the passenger seat, and started rummaging for the medicine always in my bag. Poured out the last two pills, unscrewed water bottle to my lips. Medicine entered body. I recovered for a quarter of an hour, face gradually improving. Jace’s face became even uglier, asking anxiously: “What exactly is wrong with your stomach?” “Resting for a year, still not well. Tomorrow I’m taking you to the hospital for a full checkup!” I didn’t answer, eyes a bit unfocused. Following Jace initially was to survive, to find out the truth of that year. To tell Julian personally, I didn’t leak the secret. But today looking at Julian’s cold eyes, listening to Serena and others’ poisonous insults, nothing seems to matter anymore. Just felt a big hole in my chest. Wind blowing through, cold all over. Incurable. I looked up again, at Jace: “Jace, I don’t want to be with you anymore.” “Let me go.” Jace stared at me dead for a few seconds, suddenly sneered. Touching my face comfortingly: “Throwing a tantrum? I know, embarrassed you tonight.” “I promise you, won’t take you to such occasions if you don’t want to in future. If you want money, I’ll give you another five million, okay?” I dodged his hand, still insisting. “No.” “Jace, I don’t want to follow you anymore.” Jace didn’t speak again, just with a dark face, buckling my seatbelt and driving away. I thought he would take me home, but soon, I found the direction wrong. “Where to?” Jace snorted, voice hard. “Hospital.” “You are uncomfortable now, throwing a tantrum, I won’t argue with you. Wait till the doctor cures you, we talk about other things.” I chuckled lightly, hearing the concern in Jace’s words. “Jace, thank you.” I said it seriously. Perhaps the most sincere sentence in the three years with him. Jace raised his eyebrows proudly, smile not yet curled up. Only heard me slowly accepting fate: “But no need.” “I might… not live long.” The moment the voice fell, the sound of brake pads sounded suddenly. Jace’s throat rolled, very hoarse. “What did you say?” He grabbed me suddenly, eyes wide questioning: “What do you mean not live long?” “How come… it’s not stomach trouble, is it? You lied to me?” I looked into Jace’s eyes. Strange, saying it out felt a weird release. “Do you know… heart failure? The average survival period given by doctors is three years.” “This year, is the third year.” I lowered my eyes, seeing warm wetness falling on the back of my hand, a few drops at first, finally surging like a rainstorm. Not my tears. It was Jace crying. A crazy thought surged, I couldn’t help using Jace’s sympathy. This is my last chance. “Can you… help me find out the truth about the Sterling family secret leak back then?” “I don’t want to die wrongly accused.” “Jace, I beg you.” Chapter 3 Jace agreed to my request, the only condition was for me to cooperate with the treatment he arranged. This was simply a bargain for me. Only I didn’t expect Julian would want to see me actively. “Leave Jace, return to the Sterling family. Go back to Father’s spirit, kneel, kowtow, confess, explain clearly what you did back then.” “As long as you confess, repent sincerely, you are still the eldest daughter of the Sterling family.” I looked up, seeing Julian’s annoyed eyes. Word by word replying: “I didn’t do it.” “I did nothing wrong.” Julian repeated, voice suddenly rising. “Not you?” “Do you think the whole Sterling family is blind? Butler Lee, servants Aunt Zhou and Xiao Shuang, Serena, even Mother can testify! Only you frequented Father’s study during that time. What else do you want to argue!” “Are you going to tell me even Mother is framing you?” His roar was hoarse, making my vision black. I gripped the edge of the tablecloth tightly, fingertips white with force, barely supporting myself not to fall. Still insisting: “I did nothing wrong!” “I won’t go back, I will prove to you…” Julian’s face darkened completely. Speaking indiscriminately. “Enough! Refusing to be the eldest lady, insisting on being Jace’s shady mistress.” “Blair, why are you so cheap!” I froze. Looking up blankly at him. This face full of disdain and disgust overlapped infinitely with the man in my memory who held my face and kissed me. Only he was gentle then, he would tell me: “Blair is my only moon.” Later, nothing left. My eyes extinguished suddenly, the last faint love crushed by people. Murmuring: “Julian, at that time I thought you loved me.” Julian heard my words, laughing in extreme anger. “Blair, you don’t think I want to see you this time because I still can’t let you go?” “If not for Mother seeing you humiliated at the banquet last night, really pitying you. Willing to give you a way out, you think I want to see you?” I twitched my mouth corners lightly. Bitterness overflowed from the heart, murmuring: “Mother pities me?” “Is it pity, or… guilt?” I didn’t want to say more. Supporting the table edge to stand up slowly, walking towards the door. “Blair, if you dare leave today, I will never forgive you in this life!” Julian’s voice was trembling for some reason. But I didn’t look back, nor stopped, pushed the door and walked out. The Jagger family car was waiting for me. Just as I was about to get in, a crying voice sounded not far away: “Blair…” My movement stopped. It was Mother’s voice, containing tears, eyes red. “Blair, you’ve lost so much weight.” “You must have suffered a lot outside, come home with me.” I looked at her quietly. No resentment, no grievance, no expectation. As if genuinely confused: “Mother, why are you crying?” “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Finished, I bent into the car, Mother in the rearview mirror struck hard, crying to collapse. Driver drove me away, speaking respectfully: “Miss Blair, Mr. Jagger just got on the plane. He asked me to tell you, Mayo Clinic abroad is very good at treating heart failure, he has rushed there, will notify you immediately with good news.” “Any needs, tell me directly or contact Assistant Xu.” “Also, your matter is being investigated. Mr. Jagger asked you to rest assured, he guarantees to find out clearly for you.” I responded. Days Jace was gone, Mother’s contact entangled relentlessly. First texts, then calls, sending people to the villa these two days. Until this afternoon, she texted me: [Blair, Mother is sick, very serious, doctor said many scary words.] [Mother knows sorry to you, dare not ask forgiveness. Only beg… before I go, see you one last time. Come home once, okay? Treat it as Mom’s last wish.] I sat for a long time. Maybe still couldn’t cut off that little warmth, asked to drive to Sterling House. Butler Lee led me into the hall, dark, no lights. Subconsciously felt wrong, wanted to leave. But from the center of the second floor, a woman’s figure walked out slowly. Not the sick Mother. It was Serena. “Sister, you finally came.” “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!” Chapter 4 This is probably a trap. I turned to run, but was pinned down by Serena’s men. “Serena, what do you want?” Serena tilted her head slightly, revealing an innocent and cruel smile. “Sister, don’t be nervous. I just invite you to… revisit the old place!” She signaled a direction. Those two bodyguards immediately dragged me towards Julian’s study. “I just want Brother to see clearly, how the thief who leaked secrets back then, still has a thief’s heart, how… unrepentant!” “Once failed, twice, thrice. Brother will eventually despise you completely, you fake!” Before her voice fell, a bodyguard roughly grabbed my right hand, forced my index finger straight, and pressed it hard on the fingerprint recognition area of the control panel! “No—!” Then pressed my palm on the keypad randomly. “Error, password verification failed!” Panel screen flashed red blindingly! “Alert! Abnormal authority access attempt detected!” “Location: Master Study Security Panel. Trigger: Blair (Authority Status: Frozen).” “Alert Level: High Risk!” Sharp beep exploded from inside the panel instantly, piercing eardrums! Meanwhile, red warning text scrolled clearly on the panel screen, displaying: [Real-time alert sent to bound terminal: Julian Sterling. Security Center responded.] Rapid footsteps sounded throughout the Sterling house. Bodyguard let go, I was thrown on the floor panting by inertia. Serena retreated a few steps quickly, putting on a panicked expression. Pointing at me and the still flashing screaming control panel, shrieked to Butler Lee who rushed in: “She, she suddenly broke in!” “I don’t know what she wants! She pounced on the panel, I couldn’t stop her! Then…” Just then, a familiar voice suppressing anger sounded: “What’s going on?” Julian arrived. Serena pounced over, grabbing Julian’s arm, sobbing: “Brother! You finally came!” “I’m so scared… She suddenly rushed in, I couldn’t stop. Blair killed Father not enough, now stealing secrets in your study, wants to kill you!” Serena’s tears fell on cue. Julian looked at the pale me, then at the beeping panel, finally at the crying Serena, face instantly becoming extremely ugly. Closed eyes, heart thoroughly broken. “Blair, you really opened my eyes!” “Not me! It’s Serena framing me! She grabbed my hand…” I defended urgently, but interrupted by Serena. She cried, extremely wronged: “Sister! Even now you want to frame me?” “I know you hate me, hate the Sterling family, but how can you use this way… Father’s spirit won’t rest in peace!” I screamed with last strength, tears finally bursting. “I didn’t!” “It was Serena’s men pressing my hand! She is framing me!” “Julian, can you believe me once?” Julian seemed to hear a huge joke, pointing at the iron-clad alert record, sneering: “Framing you? System doesn’t lie, your fingerprint doesn’t lie!” “She did it to make you hate me more! To completely destroy me!” I cried, huge injustice almost breaking me. Julian walked closer step by step, pinching my chin and slamming me to the ground viciously: “Do you think you have anything worth ‘destroying’ now? Blair, you destroyed yourself completely long ago!” “I won’t let you go again!” “Someone, take to the basement. Report to DoD for processing!” I was forcibly dragged away from the study, screaming with all might, voice shrill and desperate: “Julian, I am wronged—!” “I didn’t, really didn’t!” No one answered me. Just before being dragged to the basement entrance, my unfocused eyes saw a figure standing quietly at the corner. It was Mother. She stood there unknown how long, tears falling, lips trembling slightly. No sound. But I read the lip shape. Three words. [I am sorry.] I despaired completely. With her there, Julian won’t believe me. That text, surveillance, all doubts… will be wiped out silently. Basement iron door closed completely in front of eyes. Struggling and screaming exhausted my last strength, heart began colic due to intense emotional fluctuation and hypoxia. Looking at the darkness, I collapsed on the cold damp floor, almost no strength to breathe. I knew heart failure attacked again. Subconsciously reached for medicine, but pocket empty. Probably dropped somewhere during struggle. Wanted to cry, but laughed out loud suddenly, feeling relieved. Maybe… this is fate. Body started twitching uncontrollably, like fish out of water, bouncing, cramping futilely on the ground, sound of nails scratching floor sharp and distant. At the very end, I actually thought of Jace. Felt a bit sorry to him. He said he would cure me, find out truth, marry me when cured. Long time, chest pain and suffocation disappeared suddenly. Last thought dissipated like gossamer: Sorry, Jace. Worked so hard, wasted your effort. I might… not wait for you.

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Winning eight million dollars in the lottery, the first thing I did was rush to the hospital to pay for my son’s surgery and treatment. But then, a call came from my colleague. “There’s an emergency at the office. You need to get back here right now and handle it!” My wife took the card from my hand, her voice dripping with false understanding. “Just give me the PIN. I’ll go pay for our son’s surgery. You go take care of work.” In my past life, I trusted her without a second thought and hurried back to the office. I never saw my son get his surgery. Instead, I got a summons from the police. It turned out my wife and my colleague had conspired to frame me, pinning his embezzlement of company funds on me. My son died in the hospital, unable to afford treatment. My parents, overwhelmed by grief, both died of heart attacks. And I, consumed by hatred, killed myself in prison. After death, my soul drifted to the Maldives where my wife was vacationing. I heard her say to my colleague with my own ears: “That idiot won all that money and the only thing he could think to do was waste it on that pathetic little weakling. He was just dragging me down into a life of misery!” “But now, the deaths of his entire family have bought us a lifetime of luxury. Consider it compensation from that fool, hahaha!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back at that exact moment—my wife taking the bank card from my hand. This time, I still gave her the PIN. 1 “Honey, you can leave things at the hospital to me. Hurry to the office, don’t let work be delayed.” My wife, Jenna, clutched the bank card containing the eight million dollars. Her words were a perfect mask of support, but her eyes gleamed with the thrill of a successfully laid trap. In my last life, I had given her my absolute trust. It never occurred to me that she would take the money meant to save our son’s life and conspire with my colleague, Mike, to frame me for embezzling company funds. I was sentenced to ten years in prison. My son, without the money for his surgery, died in the hospital. Even my parents, crushed by the series of blows, suffered fatal heart attacks and were left to die on the street like stray dogs. Freshly reborn, a storm of hatred raged within me, a primal urge to strangle the life out of this venomous woman who would sacrifice her own husband and child. But that would just land me back in prison, a tragedy I wouldn’t repeat. It wasn’t worth it. I would find another way. I would make Jenna and Mike, that treacherous pair, pay the price they deserved. I squeezed her wrist, my voice laced with meaning. “Then I’ll leave this to you. This is for our son’s life. Make sure you don’t transfer it to the wrong account.” After all, in my last life, Jenna hadn’t transferred the money to the hospital. She’d sent it to a separate account Mike had set up. A flicker of unease crossed her face. “Don’t worry,” she said, her voice a little too quick. “I won’t be that careless.” I smiled. “Good.” I turned and left, the smile vanishing from my face the second my back was to her. Once outside the hospital, I let out a cold laugh and dialed 911. “Officer, I need to report a crime!” “Just two minutes ago, I was the victim of fraud. Eight million dollars was just transferred out of my account. I need your help to track the funds immediately!” “What? Eight million dollars!?” The officer on the other end heard the amount, and his tone became instantly serious. He began filing a report. “The transfer just happened. It’s good you called so quickly. We’ll do everything we can to recover the funds. If you have any new information, you must let us know immediately!” My voice was thick with manufactured panic. “Yes, of course! That money was for my son’s life-saving surgery. Please, you have to help me!” Hanging up, a slow, grim smile spread across my face. I wasn’t worried about getting the money back. I knew that in a short while, it would be transferred right back into one of my own accounts. This was the very trap they had set for me in my last life. But this time, they were the ones about to learn what it means to be too clever for your own good. My phone buzzed violently. Mike’s name flashed on the screen. 2 I let it ring. I knew exactly why he was calling. He was rushing me back to the office, eager for the lamb to walk into the slaughter. With a cold smirk, I hailed a cab. But I wasn’t going to the office. I was heading to the State Lottery Commission. “Hello, I’m the winner of this morning’s eight-million-dollar prize. I need to have my win officially certified.” In my previous life, I was in such a rush to pay for my son’s surgery that I never bothered to get the win authenticated. Later, after I was framed, I tried to get proof, but Jenna and Mike had already bribed someone at the commission. They had altered the winner’s information, making it impossible for me to prove the eight million was legitimate lottery winnings. After getting the official certification, I also had the staff print out a detailed statement showing the eight-million-dollar deposit into my account. This time, I would leave Jenna and Mike no loopholes, no openings, no chance to succeed. My phone rang again. Mike. I swiped to answer. “Alex, where are you? Don’t you know something huge has happened at the office? It’s… it’s about you. The general manager wants you back here, now!” Mike’s voice was urgent, but he was deliberately vague, trying to keep me in the dark about the details. I knew his game. He wanted me confused and anxious, to walk into his trap completely unprepared. “Alright,” I said, my voice deliberately slow. “I’m on my way.” I arrived at the office at my own pace. Mike greeted me with a look of profound disappointment, his brow furrowed. “Alex, how could you do something like this? What were you thinking?” I met his gaze evenly. “Stop playing games, Mike. Just say what you have to say.” He fought to suppress a triumphant grin, raising his voice for the benefit of the entire office. “There’s no use pretending, Alex. The company knows you’ve been embezzling tens of millions of dollars!” His words dropped like a bomb. Heads popped up over cubicle walls. The office, once humming with work, fell silent, then erupted in shocked whispers. “Oh my god, Alex? He always seemed so quiet and hardworking. He has that kind of nerve!?” “The company found discrepancies last week, didn’t they? I can’t believe it was him!” “Goes to show you never really know someone. He looks so honest on the outside, but he’s a greedy bastard in secret!” “What would he even do with that much money? Is he supporting a second family behind his wife’s back?” “Who knows? I heard his son is really sick, needs an expensive surgery. Maybe he got desperate.” “A surgery doesn’t cost tens of millions. This is pure greed, plain and simple.” “Whatever the reason, embezzling company funds is a crime. People like him deserve to rot in jail. We’ll just wait and see him get what’s coming to him.” The scornful glances of my colleagues felt like needles. Their whispers buzzed in my ears. Mike’s lips curled into a subtle, smug smile. My expression remained unchanged. “It wasn’t me,” I said calmly. “I didn’t do it.” “The evidence is right here, Alex, and you still have the nerve to lie!” The general manager, Mr. Henderson, stormed out of his office, his face purple with rage. He slammed a thick file onto my desk. “I trusted you! I was going to promote you next week! Is this how you repay the company!?” I picked up the papers. They were records from the company’s financial system, showing a series of abnormal fund transfers. The operator was listed under my name and employee ID. And the most recent entry, dated just ten minutes ago, showed a transfer of eight million dollars from the company’s system to a bank account in my name. I pulled out my phone and logged into my banking app. Sure enough, one of my accounts had received an eight-million-dollar deposit ten minutes prior. 3 “Well, Alex?” Mr. Henderson roared. “What do you have to say for yourself now!” The looks from my coworkers turned from suspicion to outright contempt. “The proof is right there in black and white! How’s he going to talk his way out of this? Just call the police and have them drag him away!” “We bust our asses here for a fixed salary, and this guy just helps himself to millions? What gives him the right!” The anger in the room was palpable. We were all just working stiffs, and the idea that one of us had cheated the system to get rich quick was infuriating. Seeing this, Mike’s eyes filled with the undisguised glee of a successful schemer. I looked at him, a long, meaningful stare, but my words were for Mr. Henderson. “Sir, don’t you find the timing a little too convenient?” “I arrived at the office building ten minutes ago, and at that exact moment, eight million dollars lands in my account? I’m guessing it was Mike who brought this ‘evidence’ to you, wasn’t it?” Mike’s face tightened. “So what if I did? We may be colleagues, but I won’t stand by and watch a scumbag like you destroy this company. I reported you to Mr. Henderson for the good of everyone here!” I let out a cold laugh. “I’m not the only one with access to the financial system. And my password? You made a point of leaning over my shoulder the last time I logged in. I’m sure you saw it.” “How do I know you didn’t log in as me, transfer the money to my account, and frame me for all of this?” Mr. Henderson seemed to consider this. The situation was indeed too coincidental. The investigation into the missing funds had started last week, and my name had never come up. Yet today, suddenly, all roads led to me. He frowned, turning his gaze toward Mike. Mike’s composure faltered, a flicker of panic in his eyes before he quickly masked it. “Sir, don’t listen to his excuses! It’s not just the system records. I have a witness!” “That’s right. I can testify!” A collective gasp filled the office. Everyone turned, stunned, to see my wife, Jenna, standing at the entrance. “Isn’t that Alex’s wife? Oh my god!” “If even his wife is saying it, it must be true!” Mike beamed. “Well, Alex? Your own wife is here to report you. What’s your explanation now?” I wasn’t surprised to see her. In my past life, it was Jenna who appeared at my darkest moment, when the entire company had turned against me, and delivered the final, fatal blow. She was a brilliant actress. Her eyes reddened in an instant. “Alex, I didn’t want to expose you, but my conscience won’t let me stay silent!” A cold smirk touched my lips. “Jenna, if you had a conscience, you’d be at the hospital with our son right now, not here conspiring with Mike to slander me.” A guilty flash crossed her eyes, but she quickly recovered, her voice rising with righteous indignation. “I’m doing this for our son! I don’t want to see you make a mistake you can’t take back!” “Having a criminal for a father will only bring him shame in front of his friends! If you continue down this path, you’ll ruin our son’s future!” Her words were sharp and self-righteous. “Alex, it’s not too late to confess. You’ll just go to prison. That’s the punishment you deserve for breaking the law!” Mike chimed in. “Your wife is right, Alex. You should just turn yourself in. You might even get a reduced sentence.” “Yeah, the cat’s out of the bag. Being stubborn won’t help. Just confess.” “If you take what isn’t yours, you have to be ready to pay the price. Go on, Alex, turn yourself in!” In an instant, everyone was convinced of my guilt. Their voices swirled around me, a chorus urging me to admit my crime. 4 The triumphant excitement in Jenna and Mike’s eyes was impossible to hide. But there wasn’t a trace of panic on my face. I just spoke calmly. “You’re lying, Jenna. If I had been secretly embezzling money, our son would have had his surgery and been cured long ago.” “I won eight million dollars today. I handed you the card myself and told you to go pay for his surgery.” “And the first thing you do is come here and claim that eight million is stolen money? Jenna, how can you face our son, who’s lying in a hospital bed right now?” Even at the mention of our son, her expression didn’t soften. She shot back, her voice ringing with conviction. “I’m not lying! What good would lying do me?” “Yes, our son needs that money to live, but we can’t use your dirty money! It would only bring him shame and contempt from others!” I stared her down, speaking each word with deliberate weight. “Jenna, Jamie is your only son. To frame me, are you really willing to abandon him to die?” Her eyes were cold and empty, but her words were a performance of motherly concern. “Alex, I’m doing this for our son!” “Stop being so stubborn and turn yourself in. I’ll find another way to pay for the surgery. Our son and I will wait for you. When you get out of prison, we can be a family again!” Her heartfelt performance won over the crowd. “It sounds like his wife is telling the truth. What mother would risk her own son’s life just to frame her husband?” “Exactly. I heard they only have the one son. She wouldn’t want him to go without the surgery, but she can’t use stolen money, no matter what.” “She’s being rational. If they can’t afford it, starting an online fundraiser would be better than embezzlement!” “Besides, the company is missing tens of millions. The surgery doesn’t cost that much. Alex was just using his son’s illness as an excuse to embezzle money for himself!” Jenna and Mike stood together, looking at me with smug satisfaction. I stood there, expressionless, but a question churned in my mind. Jenna had always resented our son for being sick, for draining the money that she felt should be spent on her own lifestyle. But now, I had eight million dollars. With that money, Jamie could be cured instantly, with plenty left over. I was also on the verge of a promotion and a raise. Our lives were about to get better. So why was she so determined to betray me with Mike? Mike was already married, for God’s sake. What made Jenna think she could win against his wife and build a life with him? Seeing my silence, Jenna must have thought I was out of options. She subconsciously touched her stomach, her voice softening into a mask of reason. “Alex, you’ve already broken the law. There’s no escaping it.” “Just think of it as setting a good example for our son. Turn yourself in. I promise you, I’ll make sure Jamie gets his treatment. Okay?” My eyes locked onto hers, and in a flash of terrible insight, I understood. There was another reason, besides the money, that she had to betray me. Just then, Mr. Henderson’s patience snapped. “That’s it! Call the police!” I glanced at my phone and a small smile played on my lips. “No need. The police are already on their way up.” As the words left my mouth, several police officers walked into the office. Jenna and Mike’s faces lit up with manic joy. They pointed at me. “Officers, that’s him! That’s Alex! Cuff him and take him away!” The officers glanced at me, gave a slight nod, and then turned to the room. “Which one of you is Mike?” 5 Jenna and Mike froze. A nervous tremor entered Mike’s voice. “I’m Mike. Do you need me to act as a witness against Alex for the embezzlement?” The officer shook his head. “No.” “Mike, you are a person of interest in a bank card fraud and theft case. You need to come with us to the station for questioning.” The color drained from Mike’s face. Jenna rushed forward, frantic. “That’s impossible! You’ve made a mistake! The person you should be arresting is Alex!” The entire office was in shock. Even Mr. Henderson spoke up. “Officers, are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?” “The person who illegally embezzled our company’s funds is Alex. Just a short while ago, eight million dollars was transferred from our company account to his personal account. We have the records right here.” He handed the transaction record to the police. The lead officer looked at it, his expression grim. “We received a report from Mr. Alex earlier today, stating that eight million dollars was fraudulently transferred from his bank card. We have been tracking the movement of these funds in real-time.” “Our investigation shows the money was first transferred from Mr. Alex’s account to an account belonging to Mike. It was then routed through your company’s financial system before being deposited back into a different account belonging to Mr. Alex.” Mr. Henderson stood stunned for a moment before the pieces clicked into place. He whirled on Mike, his face contorted with fury. “The investigative team we set up initially identified you as the prime suspect, Mike. How is it that today, all the evidence suddenly points to Alex?” “So it was you all along! You embezzled the money and then orchestrated this entire charade to frame him! Were you playing me, playing this entire company, for a fool?” Mike’s face was ashen, but he continued to deny it. “It wasn’t me, it was Alex! He’s the one who staged this whole thing! He’s trying to frame me!” He glared at me, grinding his teeth, refusing to admit his guilt. I just looked at him calmly. “What possible motive would I have to frame you out of the blue?” Mike blurted out desperately, “How should I know? Maybe you’re jealous of me! Maybe you’re just a psycho who gets a kick out of ruining people’s lives!” I scoffed. “What would I have to be jealous of? You’re second-best to me in every aspect of our job. I’m the one getting the promotion next week. Sounds to me like you’re the one who’s jealous.” Mike’s face went from white to red with rage. I could see some of my colleagues still looked skeptical. So I pulled out the official lottery certification and the bank statements from that morning, showing the eight-million-dollar prize deposit. “See for yourselves. That eight million dollars is from a lottery ticket I bought. It’s my legitimate winnings! The person embezzling from the company has always been Mike!” “He knew the investigation was closing in on him, so he used my lottery winnings as a tool. He laundered the money through the company system and back into my account.” “He was planning to use this one transaction record to pin all the previous embezzlements on me, to make me his scapegoat!” I shot Mike a cold, predatory smile. “Once I was out of the way, you’d be free to spend the tens of millions you already stole, and you’d even snatch my promotion. Kill two birds with one stone. Not a bad plan, Mike. You’re quite the strategist.” Mike’s legs gave out. He stood there, trembling, his lips moving but no sound coming out except for a weak denial. “No… I didn’t… you’re framing me!” I smiled. “We’ll see about that. Once the police get you down to the station, the truth will come out.” “Did you really think you could embezzle tens of millions of dollars over time and not leave a single trace?” The last of the color drained from Mike’s face. He was shaking uncontrollably, barely able to stand. Anyone looking at him now could see the truth. “So it was Mike all along! What a snake!” “I was wondering why he was so eager to report Alex this morning. It was all a setup!” “Officers, get this greedy scumbag out of here!” As the police moved toward a defeated and terrified Mike, ready to take him away, my voice cut through the silence. “Wait. He has an accomplice.”

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The effects of the C-section anesthetic had just worn off when Donovan suddenly spoke to me. “The little bird I’m keeping lost her cat. I have to go help her find it.” I stared at our baby in the incubator, my voice trembling with disbelief. “I nearly died giving you a child, and you’re leaving me to go find another woman’s cat?” He adjusted his cufflinks, his tone matter-of-fact. “The baby has nurses and a nanny. Nothing will happen.” “But that’s a cat she’s had for three years. It’s like her child.” Pain shot through my incision, and I gasped, tears blurring my vision. “Donovan, in your eyes, are our child and I worth less than an animal?” “Don’t twist my words.” He glanced impatiently at his watch and tossed a black credit card onto the bedside table. “She’s a sensitive soul. If I don’t go, she might do something foolish. You’re my wife, Kiki. You need to see the bigger picture.” “And if I don’t let you go?” He chuckled as if I’d told a joke, then leaned down and patted my cheek. “Then you can leave with nothing. You know I don’t like women who don’t listen.” In that moment, my heart felt colder than the wound in my belly. 1 Perhaps it was the cold sweat from the fading anesthesia that had plastered my hair to my face, making me look utterly pathetic. Donovan let out a low laugh. “Kiki, do you remember that time you were rushed into surgery because the baby was breech? When the doctor made you sign the critical condition notice yourself, I was in the room next door, keeping Lila company while she had a check-up.” “She’d pricked her finger and insisted I had to blow on it to make the pain stop. That feeling of being needed… it’s something you could never give me. Do you understand?” The blood in my veins turned to ice. Even the searing pain from my incision faded into the background. That day, lying on the gurney, I had called out his name over and over, but the nurses couldn’t find him. When I finally reached him on the phone, his voice was light, cheerful. He’d just closed a huge deal. I had felt guilty for even bothering him. Donovan leaned in, kissing a tear from my cheek. “I was worried about you, of course. But Lila is so timid, she was terrified of getting a test done alone. I had to put you second.” I stared at the strip of lights on the ceiling, my eyes burning with an acidic sting that threatened to consume me. He seemed pleased with my reaction. He pulled out the black card and tucked it into the corner of my blanket. “I’m sorry, Kiki. I know this isn’t fair to you. But if you insist on a divorce, I’ll have to take the baby for the sake of the family’s reputation. And you, you’ll leave with nothing.” “But if you’re willing to endure this for our child, your position as my wife is secure. And this card is yours to use as you please.” Today was supposed to be the start of our new life together. Just half an hour ago, a nurse had been admiring the delicate gold locket Donovan had prepared for our child. Now, I felt like a complete fool, staring at the man I had shared a bed with for eight years. “Donovan, why are you telling me this now? Why, when I’ve just been dragged back from the brink of death?” He methodically wiped the sweat from my brow, his eyes filled with a possessive, almost perverse tenderness. “Because I love you. You’re the wife of my youth. To keep secrets from you would be a betrayal of our marriage.” He paused, a smirk playing on his lips. “And, of course, there’s another reason. I just had to see the look on your face when you finally broke. Seeing you here, so fragile and helpless in this hospital bed… it breaks my heart. It makes me want to make it up to you even more.” “So, Kiki, let’s not fight, okay? I’ll still respect you, just like I always have. Hm?” I snatched the water glass, the black card, everything within my reach, and hurled it all at him like a madwoman. “Get out! Donovan, get out!” He simply brushed a speck of dust from his suit and turned towards the door. “Well, you still have the strength to throw things. Guess you’re not dying.” “Calm down. I have to go find that little crybaby’s cat.” The door clicked shut behind him. I looked at the bloody mess on the floor, my heart colder than any wound could ever be. 2 I locked myself in the room, pulling out every IV line, disconnecting every monitor. I dug my nails into the unhealed incision, scratching and tearing until the world around me began to blur. In the encroaching darkness, I was back at the moment my family disowned me for choosing him. Back then, Donovan worked three jobs in a torrential downpour just to scrape together the money for my surgery. He knelt outside the clinic, soaked to the bone, and gave me a goofy grin. “Don’t be scared, Kiki. As long as I’m here, not even the grim reaper can take you.” Later, we lived in a moldy basement apartment. There was no heating in the winter, and he would tuck my frozen feet into his coat. “Kiki, when I’m rich, I swear I’ll carry you back to your family’s doorstep in triumph. No one will ever dare look down on you again.” And then, supporting each other, we made those promises come true… I woke to the ringing of my phone. It was my sister. “Kiki! Is Donovan insane? How could he bring his mistress to our parents’ house to provoke them?” My hands trembled as I opened the photo she sent. In the picture, Donovan was holding Lila’s hand, their fingers intertwined to form a heart in front of my parents’ home. The headline was a splash of acid in my eyes: 【DEVOTED CEO AND NEW FLAME GET BLESSING FROM EX-WIFE’S FAMILY】 The comment section was a war zone. Shaking, I called him to demand an explanation. His voice was cold, detached. “Lila thought she saw a clue about her cat near your parents’ house, so I took her to have a look. The media loves to exaggerate. If you can’t stand it, why don’t you call your family and have them issue a clarification?” I forced my body, still raw and unstitched, into a taxi and went to the hotel address from his phone’s location. In a daze, I remembered when he first became successful. A real estate tycoon’s daughter and a finance heiress had both publicly declared their love for him. The entire city’s elite circle was betting on which powerful family this boy from the wrong side of the tracks would marry into. But instead, he bought up every billboard in the city, displaying a single photo of me with a scrolling message: “Kiki is my only wife. For this life and the next.” After that day, everyone knew Donovan as the man who was crazy about his wife. Which made today’s public betrayal all the more absurd, all the more cruel. I pushed open the hotel room door to a scene of chaos. Donovan was kneeling by the sofa, gently massaging Lila’s ankle. He didn’t even turn around when he heard the door open. “You’re here,” he said, his voice low. “Go get Lila a glass of warm water. She had a scare and still hasn’t recovered.” Lila slowly turned, revealing the fresh love bites on her collarbone. She stuck her tongue out at me. “Sorry, sis. I never thought Donovan would actually leave you and the baby for my cat. I tried to talk him out of it, but he was just so worried about me. What could I do?” She blinked her big, innocent eyes, then gasped. “Oh, dear. I think we were in such a rush, we forgot to use protection. Donovan hates those things anyway. But don’t worry, sis, I’ll take the pill. I would never try to tie him down with a baby, like some people.” A wave of violent nausea surged through me. I doubled over, gagging. Donovan’s reaction was almost instinctual. He rushed to my side. “Kiki? What’s wrong? Did your stitches tear? I’ll have the driver take you to the hospital right now!” I summoned every ounce of my strength and shoved him away. “Don’t touch me! You make me sick!” He stumbled back, his expression darkening. He turned to Lila, who was watching the scene with amusement, and snapped. “What are you still doing here? Get out!” Lila flinched, her eyes immediately welling with tears. Donovan couldn’t help himself. He strode over, planted a quick kiss on her forehead, and whispered soothingly, “Be a good girl. Go on now. I’ll still come see you tonight, okay?” Lila’s tears vanished, replaced by a triumphant smile. As she left, she casually tossed an empty condom wrapper onto the coffee table, shooting me a provocative glance. Donovan turned back to me, his face once again a mask of concern. “Kiki, are you feeling better?” “I understand you’re upset. Your emotions are sensitive after giving birth. So, if you want a divorce, we can discuss the terms. Everything is on the table, except for the child.” I dug my nails into my palm until the pain overshadowed the nausea. “I’m not divorcing you, Donovan.” I don’t know what I was clinging to. Maybe it was the bitterness of eight years of my youth being thrown away. Maybe it was the desperate belief that my newborn child couldn’t grow up without a father. I grabbed a fruit knife from the table and held it to my own throat. “Donovan, if you dare to leave me, I dare to die right here in front of you!” For the first time, real panic flashed in his eyes. He swore he would send Lila away, that he would cut off all contact with her. See? He still cared about me, didn’t he? And as long as he cared, maybe everything could go back to the way it was. I just didn’t realize that this momentary surrender was just the prelude to a much greater humiliation. 3 A month later, on the day of our child’s one-month celebration, semi-nude photos of Donovan in bed with my own sister went viral. The double betrayal from my husband and my family was like a dull knife sawing at my throat. I pointed a trembling finger at the sister I had adored since she was a child. “He’s your brother-in-law! How could you be so shameless?” My sister just hid behind Donovan, her eyes red, saying nothing. Donovan, however, calmly produced a paternity test, crushing the last of my fight. “Kiki, stop pulling rank as the older sister. You’re not even a real daughter of this family.” “What right do you have to tell your sister who she can and can’t be with?” Overnight, I lost my family and became the laughingstock of the entire city. And then, Donovan made a public announcement: “Although Kiki is not who we thought she was, we are married, and I will take responsibility for her. Regardless of her origins, I will continue to love her and protect her for the rest of her life.” With one shameless speech, he not only erased the stain of his affair but also painted himself as a devoted, loving husband. But in the shadows, away from the flashing cameras, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, his voice soft and indulgent, as if cooing at a misbehaving child. “Kiki, I was very unhappy when you threatened me last time. Taking your family away from you today was just a small lesson.” He sighed, his thumb stroking my cheek. “As a reward for giving me a child, I’ve already gone a whole month without spending the night with Lila. But a man has to let off some steam. You have to be understanding.” “After eight years together, I thought you would be more sensible. But you made such an ugly scene. I’m a little disappointed.” “If you ever dare to threaten me again, you will regret it.” The next day, to completely extinguish any hope I had left, and to appease Lila, Donovan forcibly took our child from my arms. He said Lila’s cat was still missing, and she wanted a baby to replace it. I knelt on the floor and begged him. I told him I would give up everything, just please, don’t take my child. But he refused, his voice cold. “Kiki, Lila is just curious. What’s the big deal if she looks after the baby for a few days? You’re my wife. You need to be more magnanimous.” My mental state deteriorated. I began to suffer from crippling insomnia. Even with sleeping pills, all I could hear was the sound of my baby’s desperate cries. One day, I slipped past the nanny and rushed to Lila’s apartment. I threw open the door and saw Lila posing for selfies, while my child’s face was turning purple from lack of air, struggling alone on the sofa. She even gave the baby a disgusted shove. “Stop crying, you’re so annoying.” I went berserk. I lunged at her, tackling her onto the sofa, clawing at her face until it was a bloody mess. When Donovan arrived, to punish me, and to solidify the narrative of my “illness,” he had me forcibly committed to a psychiatric hospital. Three days of confinement. Three days of darkness and abuse. When I finally returned home, before my hand even touched the doorknob, I could hear the sounds from inside, sounds that would make anyone blush. “Kiki, just wait outside for a minute. I’ll be done soon.” In that instant, I realized I was the other woman. I secretly took out a safety pin I had hidden and began slicing open the veins on my wrist, over and over. When I woke up, Donovan was sitting by my bed, a rough stubble covering his jaw. He saw my eyes open and grabbed my hand. “Kiki, are you insane? Are you really going to kill yourself over something like this?” “I admit I went too far this time, but I never wanted to drive you to your death.” “Just get better. Stop torturing yourself. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you, okay?” Looking at him, my mind drifted. The boy who once ran across half the city for me, the man who swore he would never let me shed a single tear… how did he become this monster? We had been through so much together. We had survived the hardest of times. How did he change so completely? I watched him quietly, my voice a near-whisper. “Donovan, is there any part of me left in your heart?” He froze for a second, then covered my face with warm, urgent kisses. “Silly girl, what are you talking about?” “From now on, I will only love you.” For the two weeks I was in the hospital, it was like we were back in the honeymoon phase. He fed me every meal, bathed me, and canceled all his appointments to walk with me in the garden. But I knew it was just the calm before the storm. Less than three days after I was discharged, he started staying out all night again. 4 “Kiki, take your anger out on me. Don’t make things difficult for Lila.” “This has nothing to do with her. I’m the one who can’t let her go. I’m the one who chased after her.” Seeing the defensiveness and protectiveness in his eyes, I understood. This time, Donovan was serious. He couldn’t give Lila a marriage certificate, so he secretly transferred ten percent of his company shares to her, calling it compensation for her years of companionship. On the three-thousandth day of their “anniversary,” he set off a fireworks display that lasted all night—a sky full of stars just for Lila. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, my chest feeling as if it had been ripped open. I remembered, many years ago, crammed into our leaky basement apartment, he could only afford a five-dollar box of sparklers for the New Year. He stubbornly lit every single one for me, his voice choked with emotion. “I’m sorry, Kiki, for making you suffer with me. I can’t even afford proper fireworks for you.” “But I swear, when we have money, I’ll make the most beautiful fireworks in the world bloom just for you.” Back then, that box of sparklers was his everything. Now, a city-wide fireworks display was his grand gesture for Lila. It turned out he wasn’t unromantic. He just didn’t want to be romantic with me anymore. The final blow came at the so-called “family dinner.” Donovan had intended to announce my “recovery,” but midway through the meal, he changed his mind. He stood up and declared to everyone that Lila was the one true salvation of his life. Seeing Lila standing beside him, wearing the evening gown I had personally chosen for the occasion, seeing their hands clasped together… I snapped. I picked up our crying child and rushed forward. “Donovan! If she’s your salvation, then what were my eight years? What is our child?!” His first instinct was to shield Lila in his arms. His second was to shove me, hard. Thud. My child and I fell together from the third-floor balcony. When I woke up, Donovan was holding his head in his hands, his face a mask of regret. The baby was gone. I felt a strange sense of detachment. Perhaps even he couldn’t stand to watch this anymore. I thought of all the other lives we had to let go of in the early days, for the sake of his rising career. The doctors had told me long ago that my uterine wall was thin, that it would be difficult for me to conceive again. Donovan had cried then, begging me. “It’s okay, Kiki. We don’t need children. I just need you.” And now, this precious, long-awaited life had become a sacrifice to our twisted marriage. Donovan sobbed like a helpless child. “Kiki, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry…” But my heart had died with my child. He didn’t go to be with Lila, but Lila came to the hospital. She stood at the door of my room, tears falling like broken pearls. “Sister, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to tell you at a time like this…” “But… I’m pregnant.” The string, stretched to its absolute limit, finally snapped.

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