I couldn’t snag a regular flight back home for the holiday, so I had no choice but to book first class. The moment I found my seat, I saw a brat bouncing all over it. I patiently smiled and said, “Hey there, little one, this is my seat. Where’s yours?” He made a face at me. “It’s mine now! You old hag!” I grabbed his collar, intending to lift him off the seat. Just then, a shrill female voice shrieked from behind me, “What are you doing? Let go of my son!” I released him, keeping my voice as gentle as possible. “Please, control your child. This is my seat.” Her volume abruptly escalated. “He’s just a child! Can’t you, an adult, just let it go?” “You’re all dressed up and look decent enough, but you have no compassion!” Her twisted version of the truth made me laugh, but it was a cold, angry laugh. “If you’re so compassionate, why couldn’t you afford a first-class ticket for your child?” Seeing that I wouldn’t give up the seat, the brat’s mother pointed a finger at me, lecturing: “Even my son knows about respecting elders and caring for the young, but you? You’re arguing with a child over a seat.” “What’s a selfish person like you doing in first class? You’re an insult to the other passengers here!” I was about to call a flight attendant. But she pressed the call button first, then imperiously waved at the chief flight attendant who rushed over. “Chief Flight Attendant, I want to file a complaint! How can your airline let just anyone into first class?” “This woman, she not only snatched my son’s seat, she assaulted him! I demand you kick her off this plane immediately!” Mrs. Davies, the chief flight attendant, maintained a professional smile, but a hint of impatience flickered in her eyes. “Ladies, the plane is about to begin its takeoff procedures. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.” “We can discuss any issues once we’re airborne and stable, alright?” I was about to nod and sit down, but the woman behind me beat me to it. She shoved her son into my seat and buckled him in. “Discuss? There’s nothing to discuss! She’s an adult, and she attacked my son over a seat, scaring him! This isn’t over!” I was almost laughing again at her shamelessness. “When did I attack anyone? I didn’t even touch a single hair on his head from start to finish, the surveillance cameras can prove it!” “And this is *my* seat! I paid for it!” I turned to Mrs. Davies, forcing down my anger. “Chief Flight Attendant, this is my seat. Please make her and her child leave.” Mrs. Davies just opened her mouth to speak, “Ma’am…” But the woman raised a hand, signaling Mrs. Davies to shut up, then yelled at me: “You have the nerve to say that! Didn’t your family teach you any manners? Do you even know how to write ‘respecting elders and caring for the young’?” “My son is only four years old! Can’t you show a little class and just give up the seat? What’s the big deal?” All eyes in the cabin turned to me, filled with scrutiny and blame. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her any longer. I directly pulled out my ID and boarding pass from my bag and showed them to Mrs. Davies. “Excuse me, but I paid twelve thousand dollars for this first-class ticket. My name is clearly written in black and white on the ticket.” “I paid for this service, so why should I give it to an ill-mannered brat?” “I could absolutely file a complaint against you. Why aren’t you verifying boarding passes before letting just anyone come in and take seats? This is a serious lapse in your work!” Mrs. Davies’s face went completely ashen. She knew the seriousness of the situation. She quickly turned to the woman, offering a placating smile. “Ma’am, I’m truly sorry.” “How about you take your child back to your own seat for now? The plane is about to take off, and safety comes first.” The woman scoffed, pulled out her phone, opened her electronic ticket, and shoved it right in Mrs. Davies’s face. “Look closely! This seat, 1A, whose name is on it?!” “My husband bought this ticket for me, how could it be wrong? I was giving you a chance to back down gracefully, but you chose to make a fool of yourself!” Mrs. Davies stared at it, and her face grew even stranger. My heart sank, and I immediately pulled out my own phone, opening my booking app. However, the moment I saw the electronic ticket information, I froze. Under seat number 1A, a completely unfamiliar name was displayed — Tiffany Gao. But I had definitely used my own account, my own card, and paid a solid twelve thousand dollars! What in the world was going on?!

“Please, check the airline’s backend system again.” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, and handed my phone to the bewildered chief flight attendant. Mrs. Davies took the phone, then looked at Tiffany’s ticket, her face etched with difficulty. She contacted ground staff via internal comms. A few seconds later, she looked up, her gaze complex. “Ma’am, the system indeed shows Ms. Tiffany’s name.” Tiffany let out a harsh, triumphant cackle, looking at me smugly. “Shocked, aren’t you? Let me tell you, this is an employee family ticket my husband got for me!” “My husband is the captain of this very flight, Julian Gu!” “I was being nice earlier, not wanting to expose you for occupying the seat, but now you’re digging your own grave, and I’m more than happy to help you finish.” She deliberately raised her voice, ensuring everyone in first class could hear. My entire world imploded. Julian Gu… wasn’t he my husband of five years? And who was this arrogant woman in front of me? The moment Mrs. Davies heard the captain’s name, her attitude did a complete 180. She handed my phone back, offering a polite smile. “Ma’am, please return to economy class. Let’s not delay our normal takeoff, alright?” My mind was a chaotic mess; I couldn’t calm down at all. “I won’t go to economy class.” “I paid for first class. My payment records can prove this ticket is mine.” Tiffany looked like she’d heard the funniest joke in the world. She crossed her arms, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “Oh, so you’re making fake tickets just to sit in first class?” “Technology is so advanced these days, it’s easy to doctor a photo, right? I’d say you’re quite young, but your vanity is just… wow.” “Is there no one at home? Can’t even afford a first-class ticket, so you resort to such shady tactics?” The surrounding passengers immediately began whispering, pointing fingers at me. “Oh my god, faking a ticket? That’s incredibly brazen!” “And grabbing a child’s seat too, how embarrassing. Does she think kids are easy targets?” “Now she’s really bit off more than she could chew, the husband’s a captain! Let’s see how she gets out of this one!” Seeing their reaction, Tiffany grew even more smug. She lifted a hand to brush her hair back, and a necklace around her neck flashed before my eyes. My pupils abruptly constricted. That necklace. I found it in the pocket of Julian’s jacket, hanging in his closet, the day before my business trip. At the time, I thought it was his five-year wedding anniversary gift for me. My heart had been so sweet for so long, thinking I’d finish my trip early and come back to surprise him. Turns out, the surprise had already been given to someone else. And I, like a fool, had been played for a fool the entire time. I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. “Chief Flight Attendant, I’m asking you one last time, can you really not resolve this?” My voice was icy. Tiffany seized the opportunity. “Oh, why are you making it hard for the staff?” “They’re just doing their jobs here, it’s not easy for them. You faked a ticket, got exposed, and now you’re feeling guilty, so you want to complain your way out of it, seriously!” “Not only do you not respect your elders or care for the young, you have no basic respect for service personnel! Where’s your class?” Mrs. Davies’s face completely darkened, and her tone became stiff. “Ma’am, I advise you to just take the high road and not make things difficult for us employees.” I gave a cold laugh, no longer bothering with them. I walked straight up and reached out to unbuckle the brat’s seatbelt. “You dare touch my son!” Tiffany shrieked, raising her hand, and a loud slap landed squarely on my face! I staggered, my cheek burning with pain. The entire cabin fell silent. “You actually dared to hit my son! Help! Air marshals! Someone’s assaulting people on this plane!” Tiffany screamed hysterically. Mrs. Davies’s face changed drastically. She immediately called for the air marshals via intercom.

Two tall air marshals quickly arrived, grabbing me from either side, my arms twisted behind my back, leaving me unable to move. Tiffany put on a pained expression, pointing at me and lecturing: “Look at you! All this over one seat, is it worth it?” “Do you know that because of you, the travel plans of hundreds of people on this flight are being delayed! Can your conscience bear that?” “As an airline family member, I can’t stand selfish, inconsiderate people like you!” After she finished, she even patted her son’s shoulder meaningfully. The brat, understanding, jumped up from the seat and loudly recited: “My dad is the coolest captain in the world! He always tells us to respect our elders, care for the young, and follow public transport rules.” “Always put the collective interest first! Don’t let your own matters affect everyone else!” These words instantly ignited the anger of the surrounding passengers. “What’s going on?! Get this woman off the plane! We’re in a hurry!” “Exactly! So self-centered! Who does she think she is? Causing trouble here!” “Even a child understands this, how can such a grown-up be so clueless!” “What’s wrong with the airline, letting someone like this on board? It’s bad luck!” Insults and accusations rained down on me. I was held tightly by the two air marshals, trembling with rage. This airline. I had acquired it five years ago. I bought it because Julian said he loved the sky and wanted to be a free-spirited pilot. For him, I used my family’s connections, allowing him to skip the lengthy process of accumulating seniority and become a captain at a young age. But now, I’d been such a fool, pouring my efforts into an ungrateful snake, and he’s letting this woman bully me! “This seat was mine from the start!” “She’s the one who forcibly occupied it with her child, twisting the truth is what’s actually delaying the flight!” I stared fiercely at Mrs. Davies and the air marshals. “I want to see your captain. Get Julian Gu out here!” “You still dare to see my husband?!” Tiffany was enraged. She lunged forward, slapping my face several more times and even kicking my shins hard. “Your mom didn’t teach you how to behave, so I’ll teach you today!” “Who the hell do you think you are to even *ask* to see my husband? Take a good look in the mirror, honey, you’re not even in his league!” I endured the blows, my face and legs stinging, but I merely sneered, my eyes like daggers fixed on her. “Let him come. He knows who I am.” Tiffany froze, then became even more agitated, yelling at the air marshals: “What are you waiting for?!” “This woman, first she occupied a seat and hit a child, now she’s threatening staff and demanding to see the captain!” “She’s a lunatic! Get her off this plane!” Mrs. Davies’s face was also filled with disgust. She waved her hand at the air marshals. “This woman is severely disrupting public order and endangering flight safety!” “Take her off the plane and hand her over to ground police!” “Yes, Ma’am!” The two air marshals increased their grip and began pushing me towards the cabin door. Tiffany stood with her arms crossed, a triumphant smile on her face. Just as I was being pushed to the cabin door, I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed a number. “This is Aria Ling! Immediately notify Air Traffic Control! Your airline system has been hacked, passenger ticket information has been maliciously altered!” “Taking off now will endanger the lives of all passengers! Immediately send the group’s highest-ranking executive to handle this!” After hanging up, a brief silence was broken by Tiffany’s sharp, piercing cackle.

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I stayed by my girlfriend’s side as she went from having nothing to owning a multi-million dollar company. But on the day her company went public, she announced her engagement to someone else. “Alex, he’s different from you. He’s from a truly established family, and we’re a perfect social match.” “I have to think about my own future. I can’t keep messing around with you anymore.” I didn’t argue. This ‘messing around’ had to end. After all, I still had family waiting. People who had called me ‘Young Master’ since I was a child. I snatched the cigarette from Chloe’s hand and took a deep drag. It was a gesture we’d shared countless times over ten years. Chaos stretched from the kitchen all the way to beneath the bed. I always used to call Chloe my ultimate temptress. She looked so quiet and reserved, but once things got going, she was an absolute firecracker. Slowly exhaling a smoke ring, I offered Chloe the remaining half of the cigarette, but she refused it. “Alex, I’ve had enough of playing around. Tomorrow, I’m getting engaged.” I flipped over, straddling Chloe, a smile I couldn’t suppress playing on my lips. “Ten years, and you’re finally going to marry me?” “Let’s do it now. No need for anything formal. I’ll definitely say yes…” “Not you. He’s different from you.” Our voices clashed, speaking at the same time. The air fell terrifyingly silent. Chloe lifted her phone, holding it up to me. On the screen was a guy, smiling openly and recklessly. His clothes had no visible labels, but you could tell at a glance they cost a fortune. “He’s the young heir of a family our company partners with. Isn’t he handsome? He’s not like you; he couldn’t just give everything up and fool around with me.” “His family background is excellent, and he’s so innocent. He’s been fighting with his family for me for a long time. I owe him an explanation.” Chloe took her phone back, carefully wiping the screen. She cherished this guy, so much that I could barely stand to look at him twice. A sharp pain instantly pierced my chest. That boy was indeed different from me. I was calm, brooding, always three steps ahead, every glance calculated. I helped her build her company from nothing to a billion-dollar empire. He, on the other hand, was bright and spontaneous, seemingly never thinking about what he’d do next. But I’d been with Chloe for ten whole years. From the moment she had nothing, I was there for the late-night drinks, the business deals, the reckless risks, the hardships, the scheming. More than just a partner, more than just an assistant – I was her everything, doing every dirty job and then some. I always thought she’d marry me, but now she was telling me it was all just “fooling around.” My fingers, pressed against her chest, slowly tightened. The composure honed over so many years finally crumbled before her. “Chloe, what about me then?” She didn’t speak, just grabbed my neck. I didn’t speak either, just grabbed hers. I squeezed harder, and her face went from pale to flushed. Her cool, clear eyes narrowed slightly, showing a rare hint of desire. In all these years, this was the first time I’d refused her. She didn’t care at all, smiling nonchalantly, a playful, almost mocking glint in her eyes: “Alex, you’re not actually in love with me, are you?” “You know I hate trouble.” “I’ll compensate you. Don’t make a scene.” “Be a good boy. This is your last chance to call me Chloe. If you don’t, starting tomorrow, you’ll only be able to call me Ms. Chloe.” She was so sure I couldn’t go through with it. She touched my earlobe. Seeing I remained silent, she ruffled my hair, put on her dress, adjusted her scarf, and transformed back into the composed, professional woman. It was as if the only things left in the chaotic room were the mess, and me. “Pack your things. Leave the key in the flowerpot by the door. You won’t need to come back anymore, Assistant Alex.” Her voice was cool and detached, and she left just as swiftly. The sound of the door closing was heavier than usual. I turned on my phone. The screen displayed a photo of Chloe and me. We were both in suits, smiling perfectly, gold-rimmed glasses perched on our noses, looking like the ‘Employee of the Month’ pictures hung in a company hallway. Chloe was right; we really were alike. The last time I wore a suit was ten years ago. In those ten years, I felt like I truly had become Chloe’s shadow. Looking around, I suddenly grew tired of the suffocating darkness. *WHOOSH!* I yanked open the curtains. The evening sun poured in. I raised my hand. My skin, so pale it was almost transparent, looked like a vampire’s in the sunlight. Leaning against the window, I lit another cigarette. Through the drifting smoke, I seemed to see the me from ten years ago. Back then, I wore white t-shirts, my youthful energy more dazzling than the sun itself, looking like a good-for-nothing punk. And Chloe was a critically ill patient clinging to life. We ate together, worked part-time jobs together. In a hospital room reeking of disinfectant, we had the most absurd romance. She always said I was too loud, yet before her last surgery, she pressed her last ten dollars into my hand. That composed, self-possessed woman, held me, crying in the most desperate way. “Alex, if I make it off this operating table, I’ll confess my love to you. I’ll love only you, for my entire life.” That day, she went into the operating room without waiting for my answer. I stood outside, crying and laughing, never imagining that someone as strong and unyielding as her could also be afraid. Later, she came out of surgery. With the first money she earned, she bought a watch and confessed her love to me. I laughed at her then: “Girls don’t propose! That’s supposed to be my job…” We held our gifts, our stomachs rumbling with hunger. During that time, our love was like a stubborn seed, taking root and sprouting in hunger, carrying the scent of earth. She told me countless times, with firm conviction: “Alex, once I make it big, the first thing I’ll do is marry you, and then we’ll have two adorable babies.” Now, her company was about to go public. She’d made it big, but she was going to wear someone else’s wedding dress.

I stayed in the villa all night, cleaning it thoroughly. The physical exertion did nothing to quiet my mind. All the past memories whirred endlessly in my head. I couldn’t even recall when I had become so calm and self-possessed. Perhaps, like my love for Chloe, it had subtly, silently, integrated itself into my life. Chloe’s assistant, Daisy, arrived very early. Her baby face was, unusually, clouded with worry. “Sir…” The word ‘Sir’ lingered on her tongue, twisting and turning, before finally settling on: “Mr. Alex.” “Ms. Chloe asked me to give you these things. She said to sign them and forget everything from these past years. This is your compensation.” Daisy opened a box, neatly stacked with cash. On top was a document. Chloe had transferred the branch company I managed into my name. “Ms. Chloe said to go to the branch company…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but I understood. Chloe was telling me to make way for her fiancé, afraid that I, a calculating old hand, would bully her ‘innocent’ fiancé. My fingertips traced over the documents, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Ten years of dedication, several times almost costing me my life. And in the end, it was all worth so little. It turned out I was so cheap in Chloe’s eyes. “Take these things back. And please, tell Ms. Chloe for me: let’s just pretend nothing ever happened all these years. I’m ready to settle down and stop playing games.” Chloe was right. I was nineteen when I met her, and now I was twenty-nine. The nineteen-year-old me would have been scared away by such intense love. But the twenty-nine-year-old me suddenly wanted to go back and see if she was still waiting for me. “Alex, no, I’m coming with you! You saved my life!” Daisy’s eyes suddenly reddened. “We all agreed; we only recognize you, not anyone else!” “If Ms. Chloe ends up with someone else, we’ll all collectively quit and follow you!” I had indeed saved their lives. In our poorest year, they all called me ‘Big Bro,’ staring at me with hungry eyes, bowls in hand. I dragged them out of various miserable situations and had them help Chloe. I never expected them to remember it until now. “Don’t be so impulsive.” I still spoke in a gentle, slow voice, trying to persuade her. But Daisy was sobbing uncontrollably. It wasn’t until Chloe walked in from outside. In front of outsiders, she rarely spoke much; just her gloomy, icy stare was enough to stop Daisy’s crying. Finally, her gaze landed on me. It was as cold as if she were looking at an enemy. “Alex, don’t try to use these tactics to stay. Don’t make me despise you. Whatever you want, I can give you.” I scoffed, raising an eyebrow at her. “I want my life. Can you give me that?” We stared at each other, Chloe’s face flushed. I wondered if she remembered how I had knelt before the director, begging, just to get her a chance at surgery. Her life? I gave it to her. And now she was using that very life to betray me. “I guess this is what they call demanding payment for past kindness, isn’t it?” Before the person even arrived, his arrogant and boisterous voice already allowed me to almost picture him. He emerged from behind the door, in head-to-toe designer labels, dazzling brighter than the sun. “I know about you, Alex. Someone as calculating as you, using ten years of companionship to secure a position – don’t you think you’re being unreasonable?” He scrutinized me up and down, his eyes filled with disdain. I looked at him too. He was so much like the nineteen-year-old me, looking as if every strand of his hair was studded with tiny diamonds. Every inch of him exuded a polished refinement. A fearless, devil-may-care vibe, but it came with a faint air of naive foolishness. “Chloe, he probably doesn’t even know whether to kiss your lips first or rip off your clothes and get in bed, does he? How can you even go for someone so young?” Before I even finished, Chloe’s eyes commanded me to shut up, and she pulled him behind her. Her face darkened, and her voice became even colder: “He’s not like you, not someone who’s just been messing around. Before we’re married, I won’t cross any lines with him.” Chloe used to say I was different from others, too. That kind of physical favoritism, the undeniable preference she used to show, it was once mine alone. Now, it was a thorn piercing me. I once didn’t understand what it meant for your heart to turn to ashes in an instant. But in that moment, I could feel all emotions extinguishing, leaving not even a ripple. A dull ache spread from my heart, inch by inch, until every part of my body throbbed. I stared at Chloe for a long moment, then adjusted my gold-rimmed glasses. The habit of ten years, even in extreme pain, still made me manage a faint smile. “Ms. Chloe, you’re right. But I don’t care for these things of yours.” “I arrived alone, and I can leave alone. I don’t want anything. Let’s just consider it all a game.” I pulled my suitcase, walking past her. Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand: “Don’t be petty with me.” Before I could speak, Leo, who had been standing there, let out a huff. He turned away, pouting, without a word. The hand that had just been holding mine released me, little by little. Chloe quickly started coaxing him, even disregarding her image in front of her subordinates. My years of experience made me keenly aware that someone had investigated Chloe. But I no longer had any reason to warn her. Daisy ran after me, sending me off, grumbling and cursing Chloe under her breath. It wasn’t until two honks interrupted her voice. “Young Master, I’m here to pick you up and take you home.” The suitcase was snatched from my hand, making it feel lighter. She bowed deeply to me, then looked up, flashing a row of white teeth, smiling brightly. Obedience and wildness clashed fiercely within her. Beneath the restraint of her suit, there was a fierce, untamed energy, a raw power barely suppressed. Her delicate, almost fierce face, which was usually so intense, melted into something warm and submissive when she looked at me. And in her eyes, I saw hostility. “Ms. Chloe, any further, and you’ll be crossing the line.” She slowly straightened up, enveloping me in her shadow. Following her gaze, I noticed Chloe, who had rushed out the door. The two women stared at each other, as if, in the next second, they would be consumed by primal urges, tearing each other apart.

Raven and I got into the car. In the rearview mirror, Chloe stood rigidly, engulfed by our car’s exhaust. Raven always drove fast, but when she drove for me, she was always incredibly steady. She turned down the music, glancing at the rearview mirror repeatedly. “Young Master, this time, you won’t leave me again, will you?” I didn’t answer her, just turned my head to study her. Ten years hadn’t changed her hair; it was still medium-length, a bit wild, and her sharp, intense eyes, now blinking, looked almost cute. I couldn’t even connect her to the little girl who used to cry and beg me not to leave. Raven had been sent to my family’s home when she was little. I’d climb trees for birds, she’d hold the ladder. I’d curse, she’d hand me a knife. I’d skip school, she’d take the scolding for me… We grew up together, played together. The day I was told I had to marry her, I completely lost it. Who could accept marrying their childhood playmate, someone who knew all their embarrassing secrets? You don’t date your best friend, right? It’s practically dating your sibling! Without a second thought, I ran to find her. I thought she’d be on my side, like always. But it turned out she was a shameless little bunny. Her bedroom, which she never let me into, was plastered with my photos. And she just stood there, staring at those pictures, her face flushed with a drunken haze. “Raven!” I only called her name once, and she shivered, her legs going weak. I looked her up and down. I was nineteen then, a shy and awkward age. But she was like she’d been wild for decades, with even more experience in being crazy. For every meal, she’d madly wag her tail at me. Finally, I couldn’t take her intensity anymore. I grabbed my suitcase and fled in a panic. From the north to the south. For ten whole years, I knew she was secretly watching me. But this wildcat never made a sound. Raven turned the steering wheel, pulling into a villa. I was surprised for a moment. I hadn’t realized she lived so close to me. “Young Master, this is all the territory I’ve claimed for you.” Raven parked the car, her handsome face leaning closer, her eyes sparkling as she looked at me. Her face practically screamed, *as long as the territory is big enough, Young Master will stay by my side.* I really couldn’t stand her silly antics, so I stepped out of the car, though a smile involuntarily tugged at my lips. Inside the house, Raven followed me, chattering incessantly about what she’d done over the past ten years. I couldn’t stand her constant chatter, so I grabbed her collar and pushed her onto the bed. But she, like a small leopard, flipped over, pinning me beneath her. Through the thin fabric, her body heat scorched every inch of my skin. She remained perfectly still, but her intense eyes grew brighter and brighter. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse. “Young Master, please, just this once, can you give yourself to me? Just once.” “Young Master, please, please don’t hate me…” Her wild boldness and restrained submission clashed intensely. In her upturned, beautiful eyes, a wronged, pleading look was suppressed.

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My client wanted her wedding dress to be light and romantic. “We’re getting married in Santorini, the ultimate wedding destination!” I smiled and agreed, but my heart felt like it was plunged into ice water. Just yesterday, I’d discovered a secret Leo had hidden deep in his bookshelf. Two plane tickets to Santorini from five years ago. One was his. The other belonged to a woman named Luna. On the back of the tickets, in Leo’s handwriting: “For your most romantic wedding.” But he had explicitly told me that weddings were cliché and a hassle. That’s why, in our five years of marriage, we had no proposal, no wedding, not even a single decent photo together. That evening, when Leo returned, I placed the two tickets in front of him. “Leo, let’s get a divorce,” I said calmly. He barely glanced at them before impatiently sweeping the tickets to the floor. “Seriously? That old thing again? What’s gotten into you?” I said nothing more. I simply had my lawyer prepare the divorce papers. Seeing my persistence, his patience snapped. “You’re divorcing me over two old plane tickets?” “Yes.”

My words hung in the air, and a long silence fell over the living room. Leo’s face darkened, irritation etched across his features. That same irritation, I’d seen it countless times over the past five years. When I’d painstakingly prepared a candlelit dinner, only for him to suddenly say he had to work late. When I’d waited for him, brimming with excitement, on my birthday, only for him to forget the time playing basketball with his friends. When I’d cautiously asked him when we could travel like other couples. He always looked at me with that expression, as if I were a spoiled child making unreasonable demands. “Skye, what exactly do you want?” He tugged at his tie, his brows deeply furrowed. “If you think I haven’t been spending enough time with you lately, I can make time. If you feel like you don’t have enough money, my extra card is with you. You haven’t forgotten the password, have you?” He reduced everything to material needs and companionship, deliberately avoiding any mention of feelings. Perhaps, in his heart, I, his wife, was only worthy of these things. I suppressed the ache in my chest and looked into his eyes. “I don’t want anything, Leo. I just want a divorce.” His patience finally ran out. “Is this really necessary? All this drama over some stupid thing from five years ago!” “I forgot to throw those tickets away; it was my oversight, and I apologize! But you can’t use that to threaten me into a divorce!” He spoke with self-righteous indignation, tearing off his tie and tossing his jacket onto the couch, his face a mask of cold indifference. I met his gaze defiantly, refusing to back down, still insisting on the divorce. The atmosphere grew heavy. Just then, Leo’s phone rang. The screen lit up, and the caller ID “Luna” stabbed me like a knife. Leo’s expression softened. He instinctively glanced at me, then picked up his phone, his movements subtly guarded. His voice melted. “…Not asleep yet? Another nightmare?” “Shhh, don’t be scared, don’t be scared. I’ll be right over. You just wait for me in bed, okay?” My heart ached with a dull throb. So, Leo wasn’t naturally cold. All his tenderness and patience were reserved for someone else. He hung up the phone, glared at me, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door. “Something came up at the office, Skye. I don’t want to have a pointless argument with you about this. If you keep stirring up trouble like this, there’s nothing I can do. Five years of marriage, and you still act like a naive girl, so childishly paranoid. It’s truly disappointing.” *I’m* stirring up trouble? I felt utterly powerless. Leo always blamed me during arguments. And most of all, he’d tell me that as husband and wife, we shouldn’t nitpick or keep score. “Leo…” A lump formed in my throat. I was about to call out to him when my peripheral vision caught a white piece of paper fluttering from his jacket pocket. It was a delivery slip. Driven by an impulse I couldn’t explain, I bent down and picked it up. **[Item: Condoms x 2 boxes, Recipient: Ms. Xu]** The date was last Saturday, and the delivery location was a hotel. The words caught in my throat, unable to be spoken or swallowed, and my heart sank. I remembered Leo saying he was on a business trip last week. He hadn’t come home all weekend, and when I’d called, his attitude had been impatient. I laughed, but tears welled up, stinging the corners of my eyes crimson. My hand clenched tight, and almost instinctively, I followed him out. But what I saw next, I never could have imagined. Leo left our house, turned right, and stopped at the house NEXT DOOR!

As he slipped inside, just before the door fully closed, I clearly saw a woman stand on her tiptoes and kiss him directly. “Leo, you’re finally here,” she whispered. “I was so scared alone…” Leo didn’t refuse her kiss. He deepened it, then slammed the door shut with a frantic urgency. My blood ran cold. Leo had brazenly put his mistress right next door, a single wall separating her from me! I stared at that tightly closed door, and fragmented images exploded in my mind. He would press her against the door, silencing her cries with the same possessive kisses I’d begged for for five years but never received. He would lift her into the bedroom like a precious treasure, gently peeling away her clothes… My heart felt like it was being squeezed, the pain so intense I couldn’t breathe. I leaned against the cold wall, then drifted back home, utterly lost. His scent still lingered in the house, but it now filled me with waves of nausea. Looking around this home I had so carefully decorated, I suddenly felt it was meaningless. I began to pack my things. As I reached for my old sketchbooks, I found a planner hidden at the very bottom of the bookshelf. I’d never seen it before. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I opened the first page. In that instant, I felt myself falling into a romantic dream meticulously crafted for another woman. There were analyses of Santorini’s sunlight in different seasons, solely to choose the most beautiful time for a wedding. There were comparisons of over a dozen top bridal brands, each page meticulously marked in red pen: *Luna’s possible preferred styles.* There were engagement ring designs drawn by his own hand, with tiny notes beside them: *The main diamond should be her favorite cornflower blue sapphire, and the band should be paved with small diamonds, because she said she loves the sparkle of a starlit sky.* There was even a proposal plan detailed down to the minute. *On Luna’s birthday, at the mountain observatory where they first dated, 999 drones will spell out her name in the night sky. Then, he will present flowers and the ring, promising her a lifetime under the stars.* The last page of the booklet contained a handwritten honeymoon travel plan. From the blue and white towns of Greece, to hot air balloons in Turkey, and then to the Northern Lights in Iceland… I turned page after page, my fingertips numb, my body trembling. All these years, I hadn’t been without hope. I thought Leo was just reserved, not good at expressing himself. I thought he was too busy with work to bother with these formalities. But now I knew: he wasn’t incapable, he just wasn’t capable *for me*. He had poured all his romance, all his meticulous care, all his grand gestures into someone else. And all he left me was perfunctory indifference and impatience. I remembered once at a gathering with Leo’s friends, after they’d had a few drinks, they egged him on to give me a proper proposal. We had already been married for two years then. I was a little hopeful too, my cheeks flushed as I looked at him. But Leo just leaned lazily back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. “Come on, stop it. We’re old married couples, why bother with all that fake stuff?” Everyone laughed and dispersed, that small interlude quickly forgotten. Only I, on that boisterous night, felt an emptiness inside. Turns out, it wasn’t that he didn’t do “fake stuff.” He just didn’t want to do it *for me*. He poured every romantic thought, every ounce of effort he could imagine, into Luna’s planner. And all he left me was a dismissive “trouble” and “cliché.” I slowly closed the booklet, my heart aching with a sharp, prickling pain. The tears finally broke free. Numbly, I set aside the planner, along with that glaring condom receipt. Through a blur of tears, I messaged my lawyer. “Mr. Miller, are the papers ready? Send them over. I want to sign tonight.”

Leo didn’t come home that night. I sat on the couch, staring blankly all night. As dawn broke, I rubbed my dry, aching eyes. There was no point in waiting any longer. Just as I was packing my last few personal items, the doorbell rang. I thought it was Leo, and my heart clenched. I walked over and opened the door. Standing there, however, was a strange woman. She wore a white dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders – a picture of innocent purity. I recognized her instantly. It was the woman who’d cooed about being scared last night. Seeing me, she feigned surprise, covering her mouth, her eyes wide with feigned innocence. “Oh, I’m so sorry, did I… did I get the wrong place? I’m looking for Leo.” She paused, tilting her head to scrutinize me, her tone deceptively sweet. “Excuse me, are you the housekeeper here?” I stared at her, brazenly waltzing into my home, staking her claim, and found it utterly laughable. “I’m Leo’s wife, Skye,” I said coldly. “Ms. Xu, why bother pretending you don’t know me? Honestly, your acting is terrible.” With her identity directly exposed, the feigned innocence on Luna’s face vanished instantly. She dropped the act, crossing her arms and speaking with contempt. “Wife? A wife who doesn’t even know where her husband spends the night?” She scoffed, tapped her phone a few times, then shoved it in front of my face. On the video, Leo, shirtless, was pressing her against a bed, their lips locked in a desperate kiss. Their frantic movements left no doubt about his desire. “See that?” Luna’s voice was filled with triumph. “Leo says he loves me most when I wear white dresses. He just can’t resist me like this.” She scanned my loungewear with a dismissive glance. “Unlike some people, dressed like a frumpy housewife, completely turning him off.” She swiped the screen, and intimate photos flashed one after another. “Leo was exhausted last night. He’s still asleep at my place right now.” She put away her phone, a defiant smirk playing on her lips. “He said having sex with you was like completing a chore, completely joyless. But with me, he’s like a tireless beast.” “Skye, you’ve been living a loveless, sexless marriage for five years, haven’t you? Must be so lonely.” *Slap!* I raised my hand and slapped her, hard, across her smug, triumphant face. Luna’s cheek instantly swelled red. Clutching her face, she glared at me with venomous eyes, shrieking as she tried to strike back. But just as she raised her hand, she caught a glimpse of the elevator, and her expression instantly transformed. All the fierceness vanished completely, replaced by terror. She stumbled backward, falling straight towards the shoe cabinet behind me, her forehead hitting the corner with a pitiful cry. I was stunned by her rapid transformation. I was about to speak when Leo’s voice, brimming with fury, boomed from behind me. “Skye! Are you out of your mind?!” He roared, lunged forward, and violently shoved me aside. Caught off guard, my back slammed hard against the cold wall, and the pain made my vision go black. He didn’t spare me a glance. Instead, he carefully helped Luna up, cradling her in his arms, his voice laced with concern. “Luna! Are you okay? Where did you get hurt?” Luna wept in his arms, looking utterly helpless and tear-streaked. “Leo… it’s not her fault, I just fell accidentally… please don’t blame her…” No sooner had she finished speaking than Leo looked up, his eyes turning menacing. “She’s just not feeling well and came over for some medicine! Why would you lay a hand on her? How utterly heartless can you be?!” I bit back the pain, not missing the flicker of triumph in Luna’s eyes. I gave a bitter laugh, raising my hand to wipe away the cold tears on my face. “Leo,” I said calmly, “I only dare to admit it today: you’re an absolute bastard!” “My lawyer will send you the divorce papers. We’re done.” He scoffed, carrying Luna into the elevator, leaving me with a single dismissive remark: “I don’t have time for your madness! If anything happens to Luna, you and I are not finished!” I sat on the floor, watching the elevator doors slowly close, reflecting my pathetic figure. After a long while, I forced back all my tears, went into the bedroom, and packed my luggage. Before leaving, I looked back one last time. The couple’s slippers I’d bought him were still by the entrance, untouched. The living room wall was still bare because he said hanging wedding photos was tacky. This house was filled with traces of our life together, yet not a single shred of evidence that we had ever been in love. I turned away decisively, not shedding another tear. It wasn’t worth it.

The next day, my lawyer called, his voice somewhat hesitant. “Ms. Skye, Mr. Leo… says he won’t agree to a divorce. It seems a mutual divorce isn’t an option.” I hung up the phone, pressing my temples to quell the frustration, recalling the information my lawyer had found on Luna. After a moment’s thought, I pulled out my phone and dialed Leo’s number. The phone rang for a long time before it was answered, and I heard men’s laughter in the background. “Leo, is your wife checking up on you again?” “Checking up? Looks more like she’s coming for his life! Leo, you gotta hang in there, don’t let that woman suck you dry. Our Goddess Luna is waiting for your attention!” The vulgar, disgusting words assaulted my ears, making me sick. The next second, Luna’s sweet, cooing voice chimed in, feigning a gentle reproach. “Oh, you guys, stop talking nonsense. Leo’s wife will get angry if she hears that.” “What right does she have to be angry?” One of the men scoffed. “Someone who clawed her way in through underhanded means, does she really think she’s someone important? If she hadn’t taken advantage of the situation back then, Leo and Luna would have a house full of kids by now!” A more unrestrained burst of laughter erupted on the other end. My hand, clutching the phone, began to tremble, blood rushing to my head. Leo’s voice finally spoke. “Alright, enough with the jokes.” A few seconds later, he asked impatiently into the phone, “What do you want?” “Are you just going to let them humiliate me like that?” I said, my voice cold. There was a moment of silence on the other end, then his voice rose. “They’re drunk, just kidding around. Are you taking it seriously? Skye, can you stop making such a big deal out of everything?” “Making a big deal out of everything.” He’d said that for years. I was finally, completely, sick of it! I’d wanted to part ways amicably, to preserve what little dignity we had left. But now, it seemed I was too naive. If they had no shame, why should I give them any? “Where are you?” I asked calmly. Leo paused, then gave an address. “Nightfall Club. Why?” “No reason.” I hung up the phone, then pulled out the red slip dress from the back of my closet. On our first wedding anniversary, I’d excitedly put it on, but Leo had only glanced at me coolly. “You look indecent. Take it off.” Since then, I’d never worn it again. But today, I felt it was just right. I headed straight to the Nightfall Club. When I pushed open the door to the private room, the revelry inside came to an abrupt halt. In the center of the room, Leo and Luna sat together on the couch. Luna was nestled in Leo’s arms, holding a glass of red wine, about to feed it to his lips. And on Leo’s face was an expression of ease and happiness I had never seen before. What a picture of devoted lovers. Leo saw me, and his face instantly fell. He pushed Luna away, his brows furrowed. “What are you doing here?” I didn’t answer. I simply curved my red lips into a smile, swaying gracefully as I walked towards him. “What am I doing? You’re about to find out.” I swept a contemptuous glance at Luna, then picked up a glass of red wine from the table and poured it over her head. “Ah!” Luna shrieked, stomping her foot in fury. “That’s a lesson in manners for you! You touch what’s mine, you pay the price!” “Skye! You’re insane!” Leo roared, lunging forward to grab my wrist, squeezing so hard it left red marks. “What the hell do you want?!” His eyes were bloodshot. I looked at his frantic, protective stance for another woman, my heart utterly dead. I abruptly raised my leg and kicked him hard in the stomach. Leo grunted, doubling over in pain. I looked down at him, my words like ice. “Leo, I didn’t want anything at first. But you insisted on provoking me. So of course, I have to deliver.” I turned to Luna, my gaze sharp. “You thought you could provoke me and get away with it? Ms. Xu, you’re quite foolish.” Her face instantly changed, but she still forced a smile. “Ms. Skye, threatening me is useless. My conscience is clear.” I laughed. “Oh, a clear conscience, how noble! I hope you can still smile after you hear what I have to say.” The atmosphere in the private room turned cold. Luna looked at me with suspicion, a flicker of unease in her eyes. She instinctively tightened her grip on Leo’s arm, feigning composure. “What… what do you mean?”

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  Three years after I announced my death due to illness. My son ran into Simon Sander, who had just returned to the country, at the airport. He let Simon lead him along, blinking his eyes and speaking to him, “Uncle, you look just like my dad.” Simon squatted down, smiling as he ruffled his hair. “But your mom didn’t choose me in the end, did she?” ***** Today was my fifth anniversary with Simon, and his idealized first love, Lydia, suffering from depression, called again. Her voice was soft and sweet, as if it held a magic, easily stirring up deep memories and emotions within Simon. “That ocean view we saw before, it was so beautiful. Will you remember Lydia in the future, Simon?” Simon’s hand, which had been fiddling with his hair, froze. His voice trembled slightly, “Lydia, what are you saying? Simon really likes you.” “I’ll come pick you up. Shall we go to your favorite seafood restaurant for crab, okay?” Simon’s voice carried a tension others might not have noticed. I watched him turn away without hesitation. My phone smashed onto the floor. Simon heard the sound and turned back, looking apologetic. He rushed over to me and knelt down. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I’ll make up our anniversary to you another day.” “You’ve always been an understanding girl. Lydia has been by my side all this time.” “I can’t just leave her alone.” I looked at his almost pleading eyes, slowly, imperceptibly, I loosened my grip on his sleeve, though my heart was screaming. Still, I couldn’t help but demand, “If you walk out that door today, we might really be over. Don’t you care?” “Even if her leg can’t dance anymore because of you, it’s been so many years. Whatever you owed should have been paid back long ago.” Simon’s eyes hardened instantly, sharp as a blade. “Hilary, stop being unreasonable. You shouldn’t be so jealous.” My vision blurred as his figure shrank, disappearing into the distance. Lydia was his untouchable. No one could mention her, no one could touch her. His words from when he was deeply in love still echoed in my ears, “You’ll always be my first choice. I’ll never let you be sad.” Simon, you broke your promise.

  I couldn’t help but recall our college days, me, Simon, and Lydia. I always thought Simon and Lydia had met through me. It wasn’t until the second year Simon and I were together that I accidentally overheard a conversation between them. That’s when I found out they had known each other for a long time and shared some unforgettable memories. “Now that you’re with Hilary, treat her well. She’s a very good girl.” “As for me, a cripple won’t have a bright future.” Her face was devoid of expression, utterly bleak. Lydia’s words successfully stirred up Simon’s guilt. He hugged her tightly. “Lydia, I’m so, so sorry! I’ll stay with you until you truly find your own happiness.” “Hilary won’t mind.” Many things I didn’t realize at the time. He called her Lydia, he called me Hilary. I actually wanted to rush out then and ask, “By ‘forever’ staying with her, do you mean the three of us will live together?” But as an understanding girlfriend, I couldn’t do that. It wasn’t until I returned to the dorm that night, looking at each other, us two girls who shared a strange similarity. Lydia spoke with a triumphant sneer, “See? Just a few words, and he can’t bear to leave me. You’re just a disposable replacement.” “You probably don’t know this, but Simon studied medicine because of me. He came to this university because of me too.” I said nothing. Lydia slowly, leisurely, stood up from her wheelchair and limped towards the bathroom. “He’s with you out of guilt, unable to get past a hurdle in his heart, that’s why he found you.” She smiled sweetly as she said that. A knot of unease tightened in my stomach. I vaguely guessed they had a complicated history. Looking at the wheelchair Lydia had left aside, I chuckled, “Well, you’re in the past, after all. Does Simon know your leg is almost healed?” Simon came from a prominent family. Lydia’s father was a murderer, and her mother was a gambler. Simon’s father was obsessed with appearances, so as long as he was alive, he would absolutely never let Simon and Lydia be together. At the time, when Simon’s father found out that Simon, still in high school, was dating a girl from a troubled background, he was furious. He went straight to the school and took Simon home. Lydia was lost and desolate all day until the news of Simon going abroad broke. She got into a car accident on her way to the airport. “For a dancer, not being able to dance is like taking my life.” She went on hunger strike, cut her wrists, took sleeping pills. And Simon stayed by her side through it all. In the end, her voice choked. “But your appearance gave me a sense of crisis. Hilary, I’m not like you. I only have Simon.” The next day, Lydia was found having cut her wrists in the dorm. I was scared by the blood everywhere and instinctively stepped back. She looked at me, her face pale. “Do you think Simon will blame you for provoking me?”

  Less than half an hour later, Simon burst into the hospital room, breathless. He slammed into me, sending me sprawling. My arm hit the nearby metal cabinet. “You were supposed to have moved out. Why were you even here, near Lydia?” He took out the soup from the meal tray and carefully fed it to Lydia. He then thoughtfully propped a pillow behind her back, before fixing me with a cold stare, his voice laced with accusation. “You knew Lydia’s situation was delicate. Why didn’t you stay away from her?” Lydia gently wrapped her arms around his neck, whining softly, “Simon, it hurts so much. I can’t walk like a normal person anymore.” But her triumph was impossible to hide in her eyes. Someone genuinely suffering from depression wouldn’t have that look in their eyes. Yet Simon hugged her tenderly, gently rubbing her leg. “Lydia will get better. Simon’s here for you.” His entire focus was on Lydia, he didn’t notice my bleeding arm, covered in cuts. I comforted myself countless times, telling myself Simon was only acting out of guilt. Every time, I compromised. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He knew Lydia’s illness wasn’t severe to this extent. But later, on a mountain drenched in a downpour, amidst a howling blizzard, on a deserted highway in the dead of night, even at our own wedding, Simon abandoned me without a second thought and chose Lydia. This was his last chance. I ran after him. “Simon, have you really thought this through?” Simon’s footsteps faltered. From a distance, I saw guilt in his eyes. “Hilary, I’m sorry. I can’t abandon Lydia. Her leg is like this because of me.” The outcome was clear long ago. For the first time, I used a hidden ability and heard Simon’s inner thoughts: “Hilary, I’ll make it up to you properly when I get back.” I shook my head, my voice raw and strained. “Simon, no need. We’re breaking up.” Simon finally turned and walked towards me, his brows furrowed, his tone filled with displeasure. “Stop being unreasonable! Our relationship and helping Lydia recover aren’t mutually exclusive. Why do you have to make it a competition?” “Lydia’s by the ocean, it’s dangerous. Her life is on the line, what are you even thinking about?” The atmosphere between us instantly solidified. People around us cast curious glances, eager for drama. A lump formed in my throat, choking back the words. It was useless because Simon’s mind was completely consumed by Lydia at the beach. I managed a faint smile, opening my mouth to speak. But before I could say anything, Simon’s phone rang. It was our mutual friend, saying Lydia’s condition was very bad. In just a few seconds, Simon made his choice. He abandoned me again without a second thought. Right then, I thought my decision to give up a prestigious university’s exchange program for Simon was absolutely terrible. I dialed that number, hidden at the very end of my contacts for a long, long time. “Rex, I’m giving in. I accept your offer.”   Back home, I threw away all my things that were connected to Simon. I only took a few pieces of clothing. Yes, I left. I walked away from Simon. My name is Hilary, because my mom hoped I’d live my life open-minded, optimistic, kind, and proactive. But I failed not only to do that, I even lost myself. “Hilary, long time no see.” Rex, long time no see. I looked at the man before me. He was still as radiant as he’d been years ago. “How did you end up so miserable without me around?” Rex took my suitcase, a hint of schadenfreude in his voice. Hearing his familiar voice, my nose stung, and my voice involuntarily caught in my throat. “Yeah, I’m pretty miserable. And I’ll have to trouble the great Rex, top influencer, for a while.” Rex haughtily snorted twice. “Hilary, I told you long ago to leave him.” “Rex, I’m pregnant.” Rex’s grip on my hand tightened abruptly. He seemed agitated. “And you? Do you want to keep it?” I pulled my hand from Rex’s grasp. “I’m ready to start a new life.” In the following days, I steadily began my new life. I paid no attention to the chaos that had erupted back home. When Simon returned home the next day, he unexpectedly noticed many things missing from the house. He called our mutual friends. “Has Hilary contacted any of you?” All he got were words of advice: “Simon, I’m just telling you, in this toxic relationship with Lydia, you might as well let Hilary go.” Everyone’s consistent answer was that they had no idea where Hilary went, until Hilary’s family was asked. “Hilary has a really good friend overseas. You actually know him – Rex.” Simon didn’t understand why everyone thought he had wronged me. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the prenatal check-up results on the vanity table. Simon left the country that very night, taking Lydia with him. The next time I met Simon was at the supermarket downstairs. “Hilary!” Rex reacted faster than I did, swinging a punch at Simon’s face. “You bastard! How dare you show your face?!” They wrestled, their identities too prominent. If no one pulled them apart, tomorrow’s headline would be “A-List Celebrity and Corporation Heir Brawl in Public: What’s the Real Story?” “We broke up. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” I shielded Rex behind me, casting a cold gaze at the man and woman opposite us. Simon pulled out the prenatal check-up results. “Hilary, stop messing around. You can’t let our child grow up without a father.” “I terminated the pregnancy.” He froze. He threw down the suitcase he was holding and clamped my arm tightly. “You’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

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I never in my wildest dreams imagined that the ruin of my ten-year marriage to Daniel Sterling wouldn’t be a well-connected socialite, or a formidable rival, but the innocent darling he’d personally groomed – Scarlett Hayes. Two months ago, my latest A-list fantasy screenplay, *Nine Heavens*, had just wrapped principal photography and was entering intense post-production. Daniel had urged me to rest, assuring me he’d handle everything at Starlight Entertainment. I believed him. I was a top-tier screenwriter, responsible for seventy percent of Starlight Entertainment’s blockbusters. I thought Daniel and I were comrades, partners, our relationship built on shared ideals and struggles, unshakeable. Until my assistant, Chloe, a fresh graduate, hinted subtly, “Maya, lately, Scarlett… and Mr. Sterling have been getting too close. The resources the company is allocating to her already exceed the standards for A-list artists…” I just smiled then, telling her not to overthink it. After all, Daniel had personally scouted her from obscurity, and she was Starlight Entertainment’s face for the coming years. Investing more in her seemed normal. Until that day. I came home early from my studio for a crucial soundtrack detail. The villa was eerily quiet. I stood by the half-open door of the upstairs study, where a soft, intimate glow spilled out. Then I saw it. Scarlett was sitting on Daniel’s lap, wearing a sheer silk nightgown, clinging to him like she had no bones. Daniel had just showered, his bathrobe loosely tied. Scarlett’s hand was tracing circles on his chest, far too boldly. “Daniel, I still can’t quite grasp this scene… could you explain it to me again?” Her voice was syrupy sweet, dripping with an almost childish vulnerability. Daniel laughed, a rare, genuine laugh, not the fake business smile he used for investors, but one filled with indulgence and affection. “Little siren, always trying to charm me.” He pinched Scarlett’s cheek. “Can’t even memorize your lines, and you want to be Best Actress?” “With you, Daniel, I’m not afraid of anything.” Scarlett tilted her head back, her eyes hazy. “Daniel, don’t you think my ‘experiential’ approach has more soul than Maya’s scripts, which are just built on pure technique?” My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins at that instant.

I waited for Daniel to refute her. Six years ago, Starlight Entertainment was on the brink of bankruptcy. I had poured in my mother’s entire inheritance and pulled all-nighters for three days and nights writing three screenplays, just to rescue him from the brink of ruin. He swore in front of all the shareholders: “Maya Linwood’s talent is the soul of Starlight. Anyone who dares to question her, questions my very existence.” The local media had labeled him “the doting husband.” He would remember. But the next second, I heard Daniel say, in a voice I had never heard before, tender to the core: “Of course. You’re unpolished jade, a natural talent, a born genius who doesn’t even have to try. Maya… she’s just a mature, excellent craftswoman. You’re different.” Craftswoman. Ha. Ten years of my hard work, in his eyes, I was just an artisan drawing blueprints and hammering nails. My heart felt like an invisible hand had clamped down on it, then thrown it into an ice bath. The pain was so intense my vision blurred. Scarlett, emboldened, buried her face in his chest, her voice laced with a sob: “Daniel, I’m so scared… I’m scared that one day Maya will dislike me, will think I’m stealing your attention, and then she’ll drive me away…” Daniel patted her back, his voice soothing: “Silly girl, with me here, no one can touch you. Starlight will always be your rock.” Always Scarlett’s rock? I forced a smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. Daniel probably forgot that Starlight Entertainment was founded on my blood, sweat, and talent. Without me, he wouldn’t be where he was today. The last flicker of warmth in my eyes died out, like a candle flame extinguished by a cold wind, leaving only a wisp of smoke. I didn’t cry, nor did I make a scene. I just quietly, step by step, turned and walked down the stairs. “Mrs. Linwood, you’re back.” Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, looked surprised to see me. “Mm.” I didn’t stop. I knew that the “devoted” pair upstairs had already heard me. Good. I’d wait for them in the living room downstairs. I had no interest in watching them scramble to get dressed. I simply turned on the living room’s home theater system, connected to the cloud server, and pulled up the past two months of indoor surveillance footage. When I wasn’t home, Scarlett acted like the lady of the house. Drinking from my cups. Wearing my slippers. Even sitting in my exclusive creative studio, on my chair, ordering Daniel to peel her fruit. And Daniel, the man who was so attentive to me outside the house, didn’t refuse her at all; in fact, he seemed to enjoy it. On the monitor, Scarlett pointed at my award-winning interview on the TV, pouting to Daniel: “Daniel, look how amazing Maya is. When will I be as great as her, so you’ll only have eyes for me?” Daniel turned off the TV, pulled her into his embrace, and whispered, “You don’t need to be like her. Just be yourself, that’s enough.” I watched it all, expressionless. My heart was a barren wasteland. I even saw how Scarlett subtly manipulated my five-year-old son, Leo. She’d hand him cheap toys and say, “See, Aunt Scarlett bought these for you. Your mommy only works; she doesn’t even know what you like.” She’d also point towards my study, asking with feigned innocence, “Leo, does Mommy not like Daddy playing with you? She’s always alone in her room, it’s so strange, isn’t it?” And Daniel? He just watched from the side, silent, implicitly condoning it. An icy dread snaked up my spine, chilling me to the bone.

Footsteps echoed from the stairs. Daniel and Scarlett descended. Scarlett had changed into a modest long dress, her face a mask of perfectly calibrated panic and innocence, eyes red-rimmed, clinging tightly to Daniel’s arm like a terrified fawn. Heh, impressive acting. No wonder she’s hailed as the next big thing. Daniel’s face was grim, his brows furrowed, with a hint of displeasure at being caught. “Maya, why didn’t you say you were coming home?” He walked towards me, his tone carrying a trace of accusation he probably hadn’t even noticed himself. I ignored him. I raised my hand and pressed pause. On the enormous screen, the image of Scarlett nestled in his arms, calling me a “craftswoman,” was frozen. The air instantly became dead silent. Scarlett’s face went white as a sheet, and she swayed as if she might faint any second. Daniel’s face turned ashen. He strode to me, blocking the screen, his voice low and warning: “Maya, what is this? What are you trying to do?” “What am I trying to do?” I finally looked up, my gaze calm. “Daniel Sterling, that’s what I should be asking you.” “I…” Daniel was speechless. Behind him, Scarlett had already started crying, her tears, like a string of pearls, began to fall. “Maya, please don’t blame Daniel; it’s all my fault… I just admire you so much, and I wanted Daniel to give me some acting tips, we…” “Shut up.” I bit out two cold words. Scarlett’s sobs hitched, and she looked at me in disbelief. She probably hadn’t expected the usually gentle me to speak to her in such a tone. Daniel’s temper flared. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he wanted to crush my bones. “Maya! Come at me! What does this have to do with Scarlett? She’s just a kid, she doesn’t understand anything!” A kid? A twenty-four-year-old actress was a kid in his eyes? I looked at his furious face and suddenly found it ridiculous. “Daniel, look closely at what she’s wearing.” I yanked my hand free and pointed at Scarlett’s sexy silk nightgown on the screen. “Wearing that to ‘practice lines’ with you? In your study, sitting on your lap, until your bathrobe was practically open?” My voice wasn’t loud, but every word was like an ice-cold knife, striking both their faces. Daniel’s face flushed red, then pale. Scarlett’s dramatic streak kicked in again. She cried harder, rushing to cling to Daniel’s arm. “Daniel, I didn’t mean to… I just felt comfortable wearing something casual at home… Maya, I truly didn’t mean to ruin your relationship, I… I’m leaving now! I’ll never bother you again!” With that, she covered her face and ran out, looking heartbroken. Just as expected, Daniel immediately felt a pang of sympathy. He shot me a furious glare, an expression that saw me as nothing but an unreasonable lunatic. “Maya, do you have to make such a scene?!” He chased after her. I heard the car engine start outside, followed by a deadly silence. He was gone. He’d left me alone in this house, empty as a tomb, for that “wronged” Scarlett. Slowly, ever so slowly, I walked to the massive floor-toceiling window. Outside, was the rose garden I had personally designed and planted. It was right here, years ago, that Daniel held the first script I had ever written and told me, “Maya, marry me. I’ll spend my life protecting you and your talent.” Ten years. How many decades do you get in life? I’d given him my best ten years, given them to Starlight. What I got in return was being called a “craftswoman.” I picked up my phone and dialed my private lawyer. “Mr. Davis, prepare something.” “Prepare what, Ms. Linwood?” “Divorce papers, and also… a full audit for copyright divestment and asset liquidation for all film and television projects under Starlight Entertainment where I served as screenwriter or held the original creative concept.” Mr. Davis on the other end was silent for three seconds, clearly stunned by the news. “Ms. Linwood, are you certain? This is almost half of Starlight’s empire.” “I am.” I hung up, looking at the roses outside the window. Daniel, you think Scarlett is unpolished jade, a genius? Fine. I’d like to see what kind of castles in the air your unpolished jade can build without me, the “craftswoman,” laying the foundation. This play needed a new ending.

The next day, I didn’t go to the office. Daniel hadn’t returned home all night, not even a phone call. I guessed he was busy comforting his startled “innocent angel.” Good. I’d use this time to settle all the messy accounts between us. I had Mr. Davis’s team move into Starlight, beginning the copyright and financial audit. The news spread like wildfire, sending the entire company into an uproar. Daniel’s call finally came through at noon, his voice thick with suppressed fury. “Maya! What the hell are you trying to do?! Bringing lawyers into the company, do you want everyone to laugh at us?!” “Laugh at us?” I leisurely applied lipstick in the mirror, the vibrant red like a battle flag. “Mr. Sterling, what’s left between us besides a joke?” He choked, his breathing growing heavier. “Stop messing around! Get your lawyers out of there! We can talk about this at home!” “Home?” I chuckled. “Which home? The one with you in it, or the one with Scarlett?” “Maya!” he practically roared. “Are you really trying to destroy ten years of our lives together?!” “Our lives?” I pulled a cold smile at my reflection. “Daniel Sterling, from the moment you put Scarlett and me on a scale, calling her a genius and me a craftswoman, there was nothing left between us but business.” “And I, Maya Linwood, never do business at a loss.” I didn’t wait for his reply; I hung up directly. My phone rang again almost immediately. This time, it was my assistant, Chloe. Her voice was utterly frantic: “Maya! It’s bad! Something huge has happened!” “Slow down,” I said, remarkably calm. “Scarlett… Scarlett gave a live interview today, and she said… she said that the new script you’re working on, *Begonia*, the lead character ‘Begonia,’ is based on her!” My hand, applying lipstick, froze. *Begonia*. That was the script I wrote for my mother. My mother’s childhood nickname was Begonia. She was the most resilient, gentle woman I had ever known, and she passed away in an accident when I was ten. This script was my elegy to her, the softest, most sacred place in my heart. I had never mentioned it to anyone, not even Daniel. Scarlett… how could she know? “Not only that,” Chloe’s voice was tearful, “she also implied in the interview that many details of the character resembled her own life experiences, and she ‘thanked’ you for tailoring it for her… Now the entire internet is calling you a ‘genius screenwriter’ who, to promote Scarlett, even ‘copied’ her life story!” “Copied” her life? Heh, she wished. A wave of nausea and pure rage surged up from my gut. “Maya, the PR department is losing their minds, and Mr. Sterling’s phone is unreachable, what should we do?” “Don’t panic.” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and when I opened them again, my gaze was icy. “Tell the PR department to do nothing. Wait for my message.” After hanging up, I immediately logged into my Ins account. That account, which had been dormant for almost a year, still boasted millions of followers. I didn’t post a long rant, just a photo and a single sentence. The photo was a black-and-white picture of my mother when she was young, holding a幼年的 me, smiling gently and serenely. In her eyes, one could vaguely see the shadow of the ‘Begonia’ character. The caption read: “*Begonia*, written for my one and only muse, my mother. She’s gone, but she lives forever in my stories. #BegoniaLivesOn” Not a single word mentioned Scarlett, but every word was a resounding slap across her face. Ins exploded instantly. #MayaLinwoodBegoniaIsMyMother #ScarlettHayesScam #FeelSorryForMaya These topics shot to the top three trending lists with unstoppable momentum. The tide of public opinion turned instantly. The marketing accounts that had previously praised Scarlett as “naturally talented” and “the chosen one” were left utterly exposed and humiliated. Countless netizens flooded Scarlett’s Ins, calling her a “fake innocent girl,” a “scheming manipulator,” and accusing her of “exploiting the deceased for fame.” I watched the comments, feeling no joy. Only a vast emptiness. I knew this was just the beginning. The war between me, Daniel, and Scarlett had just begun. My phone vibrated. It was a text from Daniel, just a few short words. [Are you satisfied?] I stared at those words and laughed. So, in his eyes, my act of clarifying the truth, of defending my mother’s dignity, was merely for my “satisfaction.” I didn’t reply. Because I knew he wouldn’t think that way for long. Sure enough, half an hour later, Chloe’s call came again, this time her voice filled with despair. “Maya… we’ve been hit by a backlash…” “What do you mean?” “Mr. Sterling… Mr. Sterling himself intervened.” Chloe’s voice trembled. “He ordered the company’s online smear campaign to claim that you… that you are exploiting your deceased mother, seeking sympathy, and deliberately suppressing a newcomer…” “He said Scarlett is just a naive young girl who misspoke out of pure admiration for you, and that you, as a senior, are being ruthless and utterly graceless!” “Now… now the tide has turned again, and many people are calling you malicious, calling you a publicity-seeker…” I gripped the phone, my knuckles turned white from gripping the phone. For a moment, I felt like I was choking on glass. Daniel Sterling. To protect Scarlett’s so-called “innocent darling” image. He actually stepped in personally, directing an online smear campaign, using the most vicious language to defame me and my deceased mother. He was trampling me into the mud, just to build a pure, unblemished wall around that ‘innocent’ woman he cherished. I finally understood. My talent, my efforts, my ten years of selfless love, even my most sacred family bonds. In front of Scarlett, they were utterly worthless. This man was no longer the boy who had weathered hardships with me. He had become a lunatic who would twist facts and sacrifice anything for his “precious darling.” And I was the price to be sacrificed at will. I opened my contacts and found a number I had saved but never thought I’d dial. The contact name was – Julian Thorne. The head of Aura Media, the man whom even Daniel Sterling had to treat with caution in the capital market. The call connected quickly. A deep, magnetic male voice, with a hint of lazy amusement, answered. “Ah, Ms. Linwood, finally remembered me?” “Mr. Thorne.” My voice was calm, without a ripple. “I want to discuss a business deal with you.” “Oh?” He seemed interested. “Tell me more.” “I want to start my own company, a new film and television production house.” “I have three A-list projects in hand: a sci-fi blockbuster, a suspense crime thriller, and one that’s currently at the center of controversy, *Begonia*.” “I need funding, distribution channels, and top-tier promotional resources.” “In return, you’ll own thirty percent of the new company’s shares, and… exclusive distribution rights for all projects overseas.” Silence fell on the other end of the line. It lasted so long I thought he would refuse. Then, Julian Thorne laughed, a deep chuckle, like the resonance of a cello. “Maya, do you know you’re declaring war on Daniel Sterling?” “I do.” “He’ll tear you apart.” “So what?” I looked out the window. The sky was darkening, a storm was brewing. “I have nothing left, so I have nothing to lose.” “Interesting,” Julian Thorne said. “I accept your terms.” “However, I have a condition too.” “Name it.” “I don’t want shares.” Julian Thorne’s voice, transmitted through the phone, carried an undeniable authority. “I want you.” I froze. “Mr. Thorne, I don’t…” “Don’t misunderstand,” he interrupted. “What I mean is, I want Maya Linwood to become the future head of production for Aura Media. Your new company, Aura will acquire it entirely. You’ll have one hundred percent creative freedom and decision-making power. I’ll give you the platform, the resources, everything I can give.” “Why?” I asked, puzzled. “Because I think betting on a genius’s revenge is far more thrilling than betting on a businessman’s marriage.” “Besides,” he paused, his voice dropping lower, imbued with a strange seduction, “I also want to see Daniel Sterling’s expression when the jewel he personally destroyed blossoms with even more dazzling brilliance in someone else’s hands.” “It’ll be quite a show, won’t it?” I had Mr. Davis send the divorce papers directly to Starlight’s board of directors. Attached was a fifty-page list for copyright divestment and asset liquidation.

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I could see everyone else’s final exam scores and college acceptances floating above their heads, but never my own. Didn’t matter to me, though. I was practically top of my class; if I said I was second, no one would dare claim first. The day before the final exam results were released. My fiancé, Julian, had a perfect 700 hovering above his head, along with the name of the prestigious university we’d promised to attend together. The maid’s daughter, Chloe, had a measly 250 and some low-tier community college. But the very day after the exam, Chloe’s score inexplicably changed to 720, and her college admission was suddenly the same as Julian’s. I thought exhaustion was making me see things. Turns out, I wasn’t wrong. The day the official scores were released, Chloe really did get a 720, with countless elite universities practically begging her to enroll. Meanwhile, no matter how many times I refreshed the score checker, my own score remained a pathetic 250. “Rich Prodigy Flunks with a 250, While Poor Innocent Girl Defies All Odds”—the headline instantly plastered everywhere, spreading like wildfire. Everyone, absolutely everyone, claimed my previous stellar grades must have been achieved through cheating. Even Julian, who had always spoiled me rotten, distanced himself, turning to hold Chloe’s hand instead. As I was spiraling into a mental breakdown, the maid’s daughter delivered the final, crushing blow. “My 720 is actually *your* score. And your fiancé, Julian, personally helped us swap them. Too bad no one will ever believe you.” I finally cracked, completely lost my mind, and was committed to a mental asylum where I was tortured until I died. Only on my deathbed did I discover that Julian was linked to a grade-swap system. The next thing I knew, my eyes fluttered open, and I was back. Back to the day before the scores were released. This time, I was going straight to live streaming my college entrance exam predictions!

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, you’ve activated the Live Prediction System!” The moment I opened my phone, a huge screen popped up in front of me. Turns out, my ability to see scores was also due to being linked to a system—it just hadn’t been fully activated in my previous life. A robotic voice echoed from the system. “Host, please accept your mission: Before scores are released, successfully predict the scores of 10,000 live call-ins. Mission success reward: Julian’s grade-swap system will malfunction. Mission failure penalty: Host will die.” My eyes widened, and I trembled with excitement. My original goal for going live was just to use public opinion to force Julian and Chloe to confess the truth about the score swap. Now, things just got a whole lot easier. “So, if I succeed, my scores will come back?” “Yes, Host.” Remembering that hellhole of a mental asylum from my last life, I didn’t hesitate to hit the confirm button. That hellish place. I swore I’d never set foot in it again. I quickly opened my live stream, and the system began its countdown. “Mission countdown: 24 hours begins!” Ten minutes had already ticked off the 24-hour clock on the screen, but my live stream was completely empty. Even if someone clicked in, they left just as quickly. To get 10,000 live call-ins before the scores were released, I’d have to stream non-stop, without eating or sleeping. Otherwise, I wouldn’t just lose my scores again; I’d die. Again. I quickly logged onto the school forum and posted anonymously: “SHOCKING! Top Senior Student Going Live to Predict College Entrance Exam Scores – 100% Accuracy!” In less than ten minutes, over twenty people flooded into my live stream. [Can she really predict scores?] [She’s a fraud, the scores aren’t even out yet.] [Isn’t that Stella Sterling, the number one student?] I took a deep breath and tapped the ‘Join Call’ feature. “Welcome to my live stream. I can accurately predict your college entrance exam scores and which university you’ll get into. If you don’t believe me, call in and verify.” The comments section was filled with skepticism, but soon, the first call-in request popped up. I accepted it, and a familiar face appeared on the screen—Ryan, the basketball team captain. A notorious troublemaker, always looking for a fight. “Well, well, if it isn’t our number one student,” Ryan smirked, his eyes full of mockery. “You claim you can predict scores? So tell me, what did I get?” I gazed at his head; a clear number floated there: 423 points, with the name of a local sports college beneath it. “423 points, Sports College.” I said calmly. Ryan’s face changed dramatically, then he burst out laughing. “Bullshit! I can get at least 500 points! My practice tests were always over 500!” The comments section blew up: [LOL! What a trainwreck!] [Ryan actually has decent grades though] [Stella’s gonna crash and burn this time] I simply smiled. “You’ll see when the scores are out. Next?” Muttering curses, he slammed the ‘End Call’ button, but the number of viewers in my stream had already climbed to over 300. Looks like controversy really does bring traffic. The second call-in was from an unfamiliar girl, wearing a mask that only revealed her eyes. “I… I want to see if you can really tell?” I looked at her head: 586 points, State University. “586 points, State University.” The girl’s eyes widened. “That… that’s actually the school I want to apply to.” The tide of comments began to shift: [OMG, how is she so accurate?!] [It’s a setup, right?] [Let’s keep watching, maybe she’s just guessing.] Over the next hour, I predicted scores and colleges for over twenty more people. Some believed, some didn’t, but my viewer count had already surpassed 2,000. My live stream became so popular that even Julian, who lived next door, stumbled upon it.

He barged into my room, his usual gentle and caring demeanor replaced by a terrifyingly dark expression. “Stella, aren’t you worried that live streaming rumors will affect your final exam scores?” I looked at Julian’s face, and it felt like a lifetime ago. The old me would have thought he was concerned for my well-being. But now, I knew perfectly well that he wasn’t afraid of my scores being affected. He was afraid for Chloe’s swapped score. My gaze turned ice-cold. “Who gave you permission to enter my room? Get out!” Julian was stunned, clearly not expecting me, usually so mild-mannered, to suddenly be a completely different person. But in a flash, he brushed past me, reaching for my laptop, clearly intending to shut down my stream. I quickly stepped in front of him. “Julian, was I too easy on you before? Don’t forget, you’re merely my fiancé, part of the Sterling family. Without the Sterling name, you’re nothing!” Julian’s pride was legendary; there was no way he could tolerate such humiliation. He would surely storm out. I didn’t have time to waste on him; I needed to get him out of here fast. At that moment, the comments section exploded: [Fiancé?!] [What kind of high-society scandal is this?!] [Quick, record this! Big news!] Julian’s face flushed crimson, but he still wouldn’t leave, stubbornly trying to close my stream, lecturing me all the while. “Stella, I’m doing this for your own good. I know you’ve been a pampered princess since childhood, and this is just a game to you, but if your predicted scores are fake, have you considered the consequences? Results come out tomorrow. What if something happens to you? What about our agreement?” I never thought Julian would sacrifice his pride for Chloe’s score. “Agreement? Are you talking about your agreement with the maid’s daughter, Chloe?” Julian’s pupils constricted, his face instantly turning ashen. In my previous life, I only found out at the very end that he and Chloe had been together all along. The live stream audience had already surpassed 500,000, comments scrolling wildly: [Too much information!] [Maid’s daughter? Fiancé?] [This is a real-life high-society drama!] I seized the opportunity to accept more call-ins, and the number of predictions rapidly exceeded 5,000. System prompt: [Mission progress 50%]. And Julian, seemingly afraid I’d reveal more, quickly threw out a parting shot before leaving. “Stella, don’t you dare regret this!” After Julian left, to prevent anyone else from disturbing me, I quickly locked my bedroom door and wedged a heavy object against it before settling back in front of my stream. Just then, I connected with a total academic superstar, which significantly boosted my stream’s traffic. I accepted the call, and a familiar face appeared on the screen—Daniel, the second-ranked student in our grade, known for his meticulousness. “Stella, can you really see our final exam scores?” Daniel pushed his black-rimmed glasses up his nose, his gaze sharp as a knife. I looked at his head; a clear number floated there: 705 points, with Harvard’s name beneath it. “705 points, Harvard.” Daniel’s brows furrowed. “Impossible. My self-assessment puts me at 685 at most. There’s no way it could be over 700.” The comments section immediately exploded: [OMG, the number two student is personally stepping in to expose this scam!] [Daniel is famously meticulous; if he says 685, he must have a reason.] [Stella’s gonna crash and burn this time, right?] My heart pounded, but I maintained a calm exterior. “You’ll know when the scores are released.” Daniel scoffed. “I participated in the Physics Olympiad and got 20 bonus points. But even with those 20 points, it’s only 705. How could you possibly know I had bonus points? Unless…” He suddenly stopped, a flicker of shock in his eyes. The comments section went even crazier: [Wait, if Daniel really has bonus points, then 705 matches up?!] [This is too mind-blowing! She even knows about competition bonus points?] [She must be guessing! Daniel himself said it’s impossible.] I seized this moment. “Daniel, you know in your heart if what I’m saying is true. Your Physics Olympiad bonus points are for a national first-place award, which grants 20 points, correct?” Daniel’s face changed. He opened his mouth, but said nothing, simply disconnecting the call. The live stream viewer count instantly surged to 200,000, comments almost entirely covering the screen: [Daniel just defaulted!] [OMG, Stella really can see!] [This is unbelievable!] Riding this wave of traffic, I quickly accepted many more call-ins.

System prompt: [Mission progress 70%]. But then, an uninvited guest arrived. Chloe’s account entered the live stream and successfully connected. “Stella, big sis, can you check my final exam score too?” On screen, Chloe was wearing a limited-edition dress I’d bought her just last month. In my previous life, I had poured my heart out for her, yet she wished me dead. I stared at the number above her head – 720 points, Harvard. Exactly the same as my previous life. But what came out of my mouth was: “250 points, some low-tier community college.” Chloe forced herself to suppress a smirk, feigning innocence. “I think Stella, big sis, is lying. Before the final exam, Julian tutored me every single night. There’s no way I could get a score like that. Maybe my college will even be the same as yours.” The moment Chloe’s words fell, the live stream instantly exploded. [OMG! Tutored every night? So much info!] [Isn’t that the maid’s daughter? Is she the one the princess mentioned earlier?] [Stella applied to Harvard; everyone in our school knows. Chloe’s grades were never that good, how could she possibly get in?] Chloe’s face subtly changed, but she quickly put on that pitiful, innocent expression again. “Stella, big sis, I know you’ve never liked me, but you can’t just hire trolls to slander me like this. Julian said I did really well this time…” The live stream comments scrolled wildly, and the online viewership had already passed two million. The system’s chime sounded in my ear: [Mission progress 80%, Host, please hurry.] Chloe’s face showed a hint of panic as the stream’s viewer count soared, but she quickly composed herself. “Stella, big sis, the scores come out tomorrow. Then we’ll know who’s lying.” “Oh yeah? How about we make a bet? If your score truly is 720 tomorrow, I, Stella Sterling, will quit the internet forever. But if your score is 250, then you’ll get out of the Sterling household.” Chloe hesitated, thinking about all the luxuries she’d enjoyed at the Sterling mansion over the years. I added fuel to the fire. “Are you scared, perhaps?” “How could I be?!” “Then bet,” I challenged, looking at her provocatively. “Or do you have something to hide?” Chloe’s face went pale, her lips trembling, unable to speak. Just then, a flood of paid trolls suddenly poured into the live stream. [Stella Sterling is a bully!] [Being rich doesn’t make you superior, bullying the maid’s daughter!] [I heard Stella Sterling’s grades were always faked!] I sneered. These troll accounts were clearly Julian’s doing. In my past life, he used this exact tactic to turn public opinion against me. Seeing these comments slandering me, Chloe immediately regained her confidence. “Bet it is. When the scores are checked tomorrow, I’ll definitely meet Harvard’s admission line.” I curled my lips. “Then we’ll see.” Just then, Julian appeared behind Chloe. He earnestly tried to advise me. “Stella, don’t keep making mistakes. If you can even get Chloe’s score wrong, let alone others’, give up now. If something goes wrong, I’ll face the consequences with you.” What superb acting. But I could still detect a hint of mockery in his eyes. He was laughing at me, unaware my score had been swapped, laughing at me about to plummet from heaven to hell, to be trampled under his feet, completely clueless. But I didn’t care now; I just wanted to use him to hit my target number. Because Julian had hired trolls, my stream lost quite a few viewers for a moment. Now, I was only one thousand people short of completing the mission, and only an hour remained on the countdown. I didn’t care if he wanted a prediction or not; everyone in the stream counted. I directly stated his score and college. “700 points, Harvard.” Julian paused for a moment but quickly recovered. “What’s that supposed to mean? We grew up together; it’s not surprising you’d know my score, is it?” With my fiancé’s arrival, the number of curious onlookers in the stream began to climb again, and with it, the number of score predictions. I directly uploaded a custom-coded system app; users could upload a selfie to get their score predicted. Efficiency immediately skyrocketed. To keep the momentum going, I dropped a major bombshell. “You guessed right. My fiancé has been secretly messing around with the maid’s daughter for a long time.” The live stream instantly erupted, comments scrolling like a raging torrent. [!!! I’m actually witnessing a live high-society drama?] [OMG, this is more exciting than a novel!] [So Julian tutoring Chloe was fake, and their secret affair was real?] Along with this came rapidly soaring prediction data. Just one more person needed, with only 30 seconds left on the clock. But then, the official score check system suddenly went live, *early*. Just then, Chloe triumphantly flashed her score: 720 points. “Stella, what do you have to say for yourself now?” Everyone was cursing me out.

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  My wife had always hated stuffed animals. But recently, she bought a giant teddy bear—and started cuddling it to sleep every night. As for me, I was left to the side, completely ignored. I couldn’t take it anymore. So, during our daughter’s first birthday banquet, I asked for a divorce. The entire room went silent in shock. Cora splashed a glass of wine in my face and shouted, “You’re jealous of a teddy bear?! Are you out of your mind?” I calmly wiped my face and said coldly, “Didn’t you say you wanted to spend the rest of your life with that teddy bear? I’m just making it easy for you.” —— “Jason!” she seethed. “Our daughter just turned one—and you’re divorcing me over this? What kind of heartless bastard are you?” Cora’s eyes turned red with fury, her body trembling. “Sign the papers,” I said, throwing the divorce agreement on the table. “See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau at nine tomorrow morning.” I didn’t bother explaining, and just turned and walked away. The guests were stunned again, exchanging confused glances. We were the couple everyone admired—the so-called perfect match. No one understood how things could fall apart so suddenly. There was a flash of panic in Cora’s eyes. Her parents frowned, their expressions darkening. They clearly hadn’t expected me to be this decisive. Her assistant, Amos, grabbed my arm and pleaded, “Come on, all girls like stuffed animals—are you really making a scene over this? Apologize to Ms. Cora.” “Have you forgotten how she nearly died giving birth to your child? She refused anesthesia and passed out from the pain, just to deliver your daughter.” “She sleeps in a separate room and takes care of the baby herself, so she doesn’t disturb your rest. Can’t you see how much she’s sacrificing for you?” More guests chimed in, rebuking me. “He’s right! You two had a good thing going. So many people envy you for marrying such a good woman.” “If there’s a problem, talk it through. What kind of man uses divorce as a threat? You can’t just take it out on your wife.” Cora took a deep breath and steadied herself. Then she rushed over and hugged me tightly. “Honey,” she said softly, “we’ve been through twelve years together—from strangers to soulmates. You’ve always been gentle and patient. You never lost your temper.” “Is it something at work? Are you trying to protect me by pushing me away? Tell me. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.” Hearing her speak up for me so earnestly, the guests began to side with her. They looked at me with increasing disappointment. “Jason,” her father finally spoke up. “I may be retired and out of the business world, but I still carry some weight.” “We’re all family. If something’s wrong, you should say it. Don’t bottle it up.” Even Cora’s parents chose to believe in me. After all, I was the son-in-law they had hand-picked. But I didn’t care about any of them. Without a glance around, I shoved Cora off me. My voice was cold. “It’s simple. I don’t love you anymore.” A dead silence ensued. “…What?” Cora froze. Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes. “I said—I don’t love you anymore,” I repeated. “Did you hear me clearly this time?” I stepped past her, ready to leave. “Stop right there!” Amos grabbed me by the collar and yelled, “Enough with this nonsense! Even as her assistant, I can’t stand watching this anymore!” “Have you forgotten how hard you chased after her for three whole years?” “And it took another six just to finally walk down the aisle with her!” “Have you forgotten what you said at your wedding? To hold her hand and grow old together. To never leave her.” “And your kid is already one year old! Do you want him to grow up in a broken home?” Watching him defend her so passionately, I smirked and said with a mocking tone, “Why are you so worked up? What—don’t tell me… you have feelings for her?”

“Anyone with a conscience would be disgusted by a thankless bastard like you.” Amos clapped back. His tone was growing even more arrogant. “You came from nothing, and yet Cora didn’t look down on you. She even arranged a job for you in her family’s company.” “If it weren’t for theCronin family, would you be living the good life you have now? Would you even be sitting in the president’s chair?” Smack! I slapped him across the face without hesitation. “You’re just an assistant. Know your place and keep your mouth shut.” Seeing him hurt, Cora instantly panicked. “Jason, are you insane?! What gives you the right to hit Amos?” She shoved me aside and hurried to help Amos off the ground. Her eyes were full of concern. “He deserved it,” I said flatly, clenching my fists, utterly unapologetic. The crowd instantly turned against me. They began to think my usual calm demeanor was all just an act—deep down, I was nothing but a violent hypocrite. Amos lowered his head and said quietly to Cora, “I’m sorry, Cora. This is all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn. I must have upset Mr. Jason. Please don’t blame him.” He looked so guilty and remorseful. “It’s not your fault,” she replied gently. “I dragged you into this.” Then she turned to me, her voice low and humble, “Honey, this is between us. Don’t take it out on others.” “Today is our daughter’s first birthday. Can’t we just get through the day without drama? I’m begging you.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. Her softness. My aggression. The contrast couldn’t have been starker. Naturally, the guests sided with her. Her father, Franco, took a deep breath and tried to mediate once more. “Jason, over the years, you’ve always been hardworking, devoted to the family, and respectful to your elders.” “There’s no need for things to get this ugly.” “If you really feel wronged, bring out the evidence. I promise I’ll stand up for you.” He was giving me an out, but I didn’t take it. I remained cold and firm. “This marriage is over. I’m divorcing her no matter what.” At that instant, his expression changed, and a hint of gloom clouded his face. Cora looked at me through tears. “Is there someone else?” she asked, voice quivering. “Think whatever you want,” I said indifferently. “If that’s what you believe, go ahead.” “That’s enough!” Franco finally exploded. “Jason, I’ll give you three days to think this through.” “Either you go home and act like a husband and father—” “—or we’ll see you in court. And don’t expect to leave with a dime.” “Don’t forget, everything you have now came from me.” The words were harsh and final. Everyone thought I’d finally give in. But instead, I turned and walked out without hesitation. Outside, my junior from university, Kelly, was already waiting for me. “I’ve already sent someone to Europe,” she said with a smile. “The answers you want—won’t take long now.” “Thank you.” I leaned wearily against the backseat, exhaustion soaking into my bones. “I’ll be facing Cora in court in three days,” I added. “I’ll need you to represent me.” As I spoke, I pulled out my phone and opened a video clip. In the surveillance footage, Cora’s beloved teddy bear walked straight out of the side bedroom. Then—it began dancing in front of the living room camera. That footage alone was enough to upend everything. Three days. That’s all I needed. Originally, I planned to check into a hotel. But all my bank cards had been frozen. Only then did I remember—over the past year, control of our finances had slowly shifted back into theCronin family’s hands. Even the bank account was now registered under Cora’s name. I had thought I was living in a warm and happy family. In reality, I was completely alone. That night, I crashed at Kelly’s place. The next morning, I returned to the company to collect my things. The moment I stepped into the lobby, I was bombarded by gossip and whispers from the employees.

“A live-in son-in-law asking for a divorce? Doesn’t even know how lucky he is—he’s dumber than a pig.” “So what if PresidentCronin likes cuddling a teddy bear to sleep? That’s not weird. I do it too!” “He probably got bored of her after she gave birth and her figure changed a little. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s keeping a harem of mistresses on the side.” The way they looked at me was full of disgust as though I were some vile criminal. I hadn’t even opened my mouth to respond when a familiar voice rang out from behind. “Enough! Who gave you permission to speak like that? Get back to work!” It was Cora. Only then did the employees reluctantly scatter. She walked up to me with a warm smile. “Honey,” she said, “I bought you a new watch. Try it on.” From her bag, she took out a pristine wristwatch. Gasps erupted around us. “A Patek Philippe limited edition! Only three were ever made—rumor is, they were all snatched up by mysterious collectors!” “PresidentCronin must’ve gone to great lengths to get her hands on this. She’s so thoughtful…” Everyone looked on with admiration and envy. But my response remained cold. “I came to collect my family heirloom,” I said, stepping back. “You can save the watch—for your teddy bear.” The words hit like ice water. Cora froze, stunned. The crowd erupted again, only now with outrage. “What an ungrateful bastard!” “He doesn’t deserve anything good!” I ignored every word and headed upstairs. When my parents passed, they left me with only one thing—a pendant they said would ward off evil. I’d worn it around my neck ever since. A while ago, Cora had complained that her office felt eerie, that strange noises kept happening. So I’d taken off the pendant and hung it in her office. From that day on, everything went quiet. But now? She didn’t deserve to keep it. As I entered her office, I saw Amos playing with a little girl. “President Jason,” he greeted with a grin. “You’re finally back. Nothing matters more than a happy family. Come, take a look at your daughter.” “She’s adorable—how could you bear to walk away from her?” He walked over with the child in his arms. “Move,” I said with a frown of pure disgust. “She’s your daughter,” Amos insisted, his voice rising. “You won’t even spare her a glance?” “Get out of my way!” I shoved him aside impatiently and walked straight in to retrieve the pendant. I turned. Amos and the girl had both fallen to the floor. At that exact moment, Cora walked in with several senior executives and saw everything. She rushed to the child, checking her from head to toe. Only when she confirmed there were no injuries did she breathe a sigh of relief. “What happened?” she asked, eyes darting between me and Amos. Amos hung his head. “I just wanted President Jason to look at his daughter, but he refused. He pushed me… I wasn’t steady on my feet, and I fell.” What? Before I could react, Cora slapped me hard across the face.   “You’ve become heartless!” she screamed. “That’s your own daughter!” “She’s barely a year old. What if she had been seriously hurt?” My face remained indifferent. “Say whatever you want. Even if she had died from the fall—it’s not my problem.” Her expression collapsed. Tears streamed down her face. Amos pointed at me, shaking with rage. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Cursing your own daughter to die? You’re beyond help!” “Enough,” Cora choked out, trembling with fury. “I’m done.” “Get out.” “Get out of my life! I can raise our daughter on my own. She doesn’t need a father like you.” “We’ll settle this in court.” Cora’s final words were practically screamed at the top of her lungs. I didn’t respond. I simply turned and walked away. Not long after, news of my divorce with her exploded online. One exposé after another flooded the internet. Some claimed I was keeping dozens of mistresses. Some said I was a regular at shady clubs. Others even alleged I had an illegitimate child. Photos were posted as so-called evidence. I was crucified on the internet—labeled a heartless scumbag who abandoned his wife and child. Still, I remained silent. No explanations. No statements. Until three days later, when I appeared in court. Because the trial was public, the gallery was packed—not just with friends and family, but with reporters as well. “Jason,” Cora said, fists clenched tightly, “I’ll give you one last chance. Admit your mistake, and let’s move on with our lives.” Amos chimed in beside her. “You don’t have a leg to stand on. You’ll lose everything in the divorce. What then? Who’s going to want anything to do with you?” “Just give in,” he sneered. “Unless you want to end up sleeping on the street.” Cora’s parents sat stiff-faced. “Jason,” her father said sternly, “think carefully about the consequences.” “If your whole argument for splitting assets is that Cora sleeps with a teddy bear, you have no chance of winning.” In the face of their criticism, I said nothing. I simply walked to my seat beside Kelly. The entireCronin family scoffed in unison. The hearing began. After reviewing Cora’s submitted evidence, the judge turned to me. “Sleeping with a teddy bear doesn’t constitute a fault in a marriage,” he said. “However, the plaintiff has submitted over fifty photos of you in intimate situations with other women.” “If you cannot provide new evidence, the court will rule you at fault based on the current facts.” I stood up calmly. “I have evidence.” Now the real show was about to begin.

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Chris and I were synced up on this Truth-Teller App. The deal was, if either of us lied, the system would automatically deduct $1314.00 from their linked account and transfer it to the other person. My best friend, Chloe, developed it. She asked me to help her beta test it. During our holiday weekend trip to a popular beach town, something felt off. On the train, Chris went to take a call in the restroom. When he came back, his expression was completely wrong. “Who was that?” I asked. He avoided my gaze. “No one. Just a spam call.” The next second, my phone buzzed with a notification: [Partner detected lying. $1314.00 deducted from linked account.] I stared at the message, speechless. Chris saw me staring at my phone, not saying a word, and leaned closer. “What’s up, Jo? What are you so engrossed in?” I turned the phone screen towards him. A muscle in his jaw jumped. “I thought you… usually kept app notifications off?” I didn’t say anything, just watched him. He snatched my phone, his fingers frantically tapping the screen, as if trying to delete the notification. “These apps are getting out of hand now. I’ll help you uninstall it later.” He shoved the phone back into my hand as he spoke. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in my chest. “So, that call just now? It wasn’t a spam call?” Chris’s eyes darted away again. He insisted stubbornly, “It was a spam call!” The words had barely left his mouth. “Ding-dong.” My phone chimed again, a new notification popping up. [Partner detected lying. $1314.00 deducted from linked account.] The air went completely silent. “Joanna!” He practically spat my name through clenched teeth. “Are you using this thing to spy on me?” He accused me outright. I scoffed. “Spy on you?” “Chris, have you forgotten?” “This app was developed by Chloe. She asked me to help her beta test it, and you agreed to link your account.” “What? Now that your lies are exposed, you’re trying to turn the tables on me?” He suddenly sat up straight, frowning at me. “What lie did I tell!?” “It was just a stupid call! What if I don’t want to talk about it?” “Why do you always have to pry into everything? Do you have any respect for my privacy!?” His voice grew louder and louder. Passengers around us cast curious glances our way. “Fine, I won’t ask.” I turned my face away, looking out at the rapidly receding scenery through the window. This holiday, from its very first second, was destined to be unpleasant. Chapter Two When we arrived at the cozy rental we’d booked, Chris was still sulking. He tossed his suitcase onto the floor, then stormed into the bathroom, his face dark, slamming the door shut. I looked at my pale face in the mirror and let out a self-deprecating laugh. My phone vibrated again. It was a message from Chloe. [Hey, babe. Is the app stable? How’s the user experience?] I stared at the words, and almost instinctively replied. [Very stable. The experience… is incredibly stimulating.] Not long after, Chloe called. “What’s wrong, Jo? Your tone sounds off.” I walked out onto the balcony, closed the glass door, and quietly recounted what had just happened. There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Then, Chloe cautiously spoke. “Joanna, don’t overthink it.” “Chris isn’t like that. Maybe he really has something he can’t talk about?” “Like… maybe family needing money or something. He’s a man, you know, too proud to admit it to you.” Her words sounded reasonable, like she was making excuses for him. “If he’d just been honest, do you really think I wouldn’t help?” “Men have their pride,” Chloe sighed. “Why don’t you talk to him properly later? Don’t let this minor issue affect your relationship.” “If this app makes you uncomfortable, just turn it off. Forget the testing.” After hanging up, the irritation in my heart eased a little. Maybe I really was overthinking things. The bathroom door opened, and Chris walked out, hair still damp, wrapped in a towel. He stood in front of me, hesitated for a moment, then softened his tone. “Joanna, I’m sorry. My attitude was bad earlier.” I looked at him, not speaking. He reached out to hug me, but I stepped aside, avoiding him. His arm froze mid-air, and his face clouded over again. “Ugh! Fine, I’ll tell you. It was just my mom calling for money. I was annoyed and felt embarrassed, so I lied.” He explained, but his eyes wouldn’t meet mine. “Are you serious? You’re still nagging about this?” My heart stirred. I pulled out my phone and tapped open the “Truth-Teller” app. I looked directly into his eyes. “Chris, you just said that your mom called, asking for money, and that’s why you lied to me. Is that true?” A flicker of panic seemed to cross his face, but he quickly composed himself, nodding forcefully. “Yes, it’s true!” My gaze locked on the phone screen. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. My phone stayed quiet. No notification popped up.

A huge weight lifted off my chest, as if instantly. Could it be that I had really misjudged him? He saw my expression soften, and breathed a sigh of relief, pulling me into his arms. “Joanna, stop overthinking. I love you the most.” His voice was gentle, whispering in my ear. I closed my eyes, enveloped in his familiar embrace. Just as I was about to believe him, my phone vibrated subtly again. I snapped my eyes open, pulled away from his embrace, and looked down. It wasn’t an app notification. It was a bank deposit alert. [Your savings account ending in 6689 has received $1314.00.] I froze. Then, another one. [Your savings account ending in 6689 has received $1314.00.] It was the money from the previous two deductions, transferred to my account down to the last cent. This was Chloe’s “penalty disbursement” feature. She’d said that if the other person lied, the deducted money would serve as compensation for emotional damages to the wronged party. I hadn’t even had time to fully process it when Chris’s phone suddenly rang at the worst possible moment. He glanced at the caller ID, his body stiffened noticeably. Then, phone in hand, he hurried to the balcony, locking the glass door behind him. The movement was so smooth, so practiced, it sent a chill down my spine. Through the glass, I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I could only see the gentle smile on his face. Chapter Three By evening, a light rain had started in the beach town. Chris returned from his phone call on the balcony, looking inexplicably down. He sat on the edge of the bed, smoking a cigarette in silence. I walked over, took the cigarette from his hand, and put it out in the ashtray. “Don’t smoke so much. It’s not good for you.” He looked up at me. “Joanna, let’s go back tomorrow.” I paused. “Why? We just got here today.” “Something urgent came up at work. I have to go back and deal with it.” He stood up and began packing the few clothes he had just unpacked. I watched his back, and the cloud of suspicion in my mind resurfaced. “What kind of emergency requires you to rush back immediately?” I pressed. He paused, his back to me. “Don’t ask. You wouldn’t understand.” Those words again. I walked in front of him, forcing him to look into my eyes. “Chris, look at me.” “Tell me, is what you’re saying right now true?” He sighed, replying helplessly, “Yes.” “Ding-dong.” The familiar chime. [Partner detected lying. $1314.00 deducted from linked account.] Chris suddenly dropped the clothes in his hand and sank onto the bed. “Why…” he murmured, “Why do you have to push me like this?” Watching him like this, I felt a mix of grief and indignation. “Am I pushing you, or are you pushing me?” “Chris, we’ve been together for three years. I thought there were no secrets between us.” “But now? You haven’t told me a single truth!” “I didn’t lie to you!” he suddenly yelled at me. “Everything I said was true! This stupid app is the problem! It’s trying to tear us apart!” He lunged at me, trying to snatch my phone. I held onto it tightly, not letting him succeed. During the struggle, his nail scraped my hand, leaving a stinging red mark. I gasped in pain and released my grip. He grabbed the phone and frantically tried to uninstall the “Truth-Teller” app. But he quickly discovered that the app couldn’t be uninstalled. Chloe had written it, directly embedding it into the system’s core. Unless both of us applied to unbind, it would keep running. He slammed the phone onto the floor. “Crazy! Both of you are crazy!” The phone screen shattered. But the notification was still lit. That night, we lay back to back, neither of us speaking.

I stared wide-eyed until dawn. Chapter Four The next day, we ended our trip early. The atmosphere on the way back was incredibly heavy. Chris wore headphones, eyes closed, refusing any interaction with me. And I, meanwhile, repeatedly looked at the three deduction records on my phone, and the three “emotional damages” payments transferred to my account. A total of $3942.00. How ironic. Back home, Chris slammed the door to the guest room. I sat alone in the living room, my grievance nowhere to go. Chloe messaged again, asking if we had argued. I sent her a photo of my phone with the shattered screen and replied with three words: [You tell me?] She immediately called, her voice full of apologies: “I’m so sorry, Jo. I didn’t know it would be like this… I just wanted to make a fun app, I never thought…” “Chloe, tell me the truth. Why did you really develop this app?” I interrupted her. Another silence on the other end of the phone. “I… it was just a hobby,” she stammered. I sneered. “Really?” I tapped open the app, looking at our two linked profile pictures. “Chloe, did you know Chris was trouble all along? Did you make this app to warn me?” “No! Absolutely not! Jo, don’t overthink things!” she denied frantically. My gut told me she was lying. But I had no proof. Maybe from the beginning, I shouldn’t have agreed to this. That evening, Chris emerged from the guest room, his eyes swollen. He sat down beside me. “Joanna, let’s talk.” I didn’t respond. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” he said, head bowed. “I shouldn’t have lied to you.” “I admit it. I lied to you.” My heart clenched. “That call, it wasn’t my mom.” “It was… a childhood friend of mine, Mark.” “He got into gambling, owed money to loan sharks, and was being chased by them.” “He called me for help, and I, being soft-hearted, lent him the money we were saving for a car down payment.” He said, looking up. “I was afraid you’d be angry, afraid you’d scold me for not thinking straight, so I didn’t dare tell you.” “Joanna, I really know I messed up. I’ll find a way to get the money back.” His explanation sounded watertight. If this had been before today, I might have softened, might have believed him. But now. I looked at his face and calmly asked the question. “Is everything you just said completely true?” “Cross my heart!” He raised three fingers, swearing solemnly. “May lightning strike me if I’m lying again!” My phone was silent. No deduction. Could it be… that this time, he was finally telling the truth? I looked at him, my heart a mess of conflicting feelings. He cautiously watched my expression, then tentatively took my hand. “Joanna, please forgive me?” “Let’s unbind that app. It feels like a thorn between us. I’m afraid it’ll eventually tear us apart.” I looked at the earnest plea in his eyes, and my resolve started to crumble. Maybe he really did know he messed up. Should I really give him another chance? Just as I was about to nod. Chris’s mom called. I put her on speaker. On the other end, her voice was choked with tears.

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I was born with an uncanny ability to attract wealth. Anyone who marries me is guaranteed a life of endless prosperity and luxury. In my previous life, desperate to marry Brandon Stone, I foolishly told his mother this secret. To save their failing company, she personally drugged Brandon, forcing him to consummate our marriage. That very night, when Tiffany Roberts heard the news, she threw herself from a building and died. Brandon, enraged by the death of his childhood sweetheart, dragged me into his basement and locked me in a dog cage. “This is all your fault, you bitch! Tiffany died because of you. I’ll make you wish you were dead!” Every day, his bodyguards whipped me a hundred times. There wasn’t a single spot of good skin left on my body. Finally, Mrs. Stone arrived. She wrinkled her nose in disgust when she saw me. “Just keep her breathing,” she ordered coldly. “As long as she’s alive, our family’s business will flourish.” With my last breath, I bit my tongue, ending it all. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Mrs. Stone came to formally propose. … She arrived with her bodyguards, carrying a tattered old blanket as an engagement gift. The Stone family, with their vast empire, actually thought a worn-out blanket was enough as a marriage offering. But even then, in my past life, I had happily agreed. This time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake. “This is our offering from the Stone family. Given your family’s situation, I certainly wouldn’t have agreed in the past.” “But seeing your genuine affection for Brandon, I’ll overlook it.” She spoke with disdain, scrutinizing our home. Mom knew how deeply I adored Brandon and turned to ask for my opinion. “I already have someone I like,” I declared, looking Mrs. Stone dead in the eye. “And you clearly look down on me. We won’t stoop to marry into your family.” With that, I pointed to the door, gesturing for them to leave. She was taken aback by my attitude. After all, I had always been so meek and subservient around them before. They had always hated that I was too loud, too boisterous, like some commoner. But now, I didn’t care. I grabbed their pathetic blanket, marched upstairs, and threw it straight out the window. Mrs. Stone stamped her foot, pointing at me, her dignified ‘lady’ facade completely crumbled. “Who do you think you are? If it weren’t for your special ability, why would I ever let you into our family?” “Honestly, this place makes me sick; it reeks of… well, poverty. I can’t stand to be here for another minute!” Hearing that, Mom grabbed her arm and pushed her out of the house. Then, she turned to me, her eyes filled with heartache. “My darling, they’ve been treating you this way all along? Why didn’t you ever say anything?” In my previous life, after I died, the Stone family’s business plummeted. They actually came to demand answers from my parents, eventually driving them to suicide. This time, I would make them pay. On the TV, the news was broadcasting about Stone Corp. and Thorne Enterprises battling for a major contract. Last time, it was my marriage to Brandon that saved Stone Corp. from ruin. And Thorne Enterprises had gone bankrupt, their entire family forced to jump to their deaths because they couldn’t repay their debts. Looking at Julian Thorne’s handsome face on the screen, I decided to change the game. I hailed a cab and went straight to Thorne Enterprises. Coincidentally, I ran into Julian there. “I need to talk to you.” To my surprise, he showed no reaction, no ripple of emotion. He simply led me into his office. “I was born with an ability to attract wealth. Believe it or not, if you marry me, you’re guaranteed to win this bid.” “So, will you partner with me to take down Brandon Stone?” He didn’t hesitate for a second. He just nodded. “Alright. Let’s set the wedding for the day after tomorrow.” I looked up, meeting his gaze. In that moment, I knew. He had been reborn too. Chapter 2 Since he already knew, there was no need for further explanations. The wedding itself wasn’t important to me; a simple ceremony would suffice. My sole purpose was to make the Stone family suffer a fate worse than death. Julian dropped me off at my company, right as Brandon Stone happened to be passing by. Seeing me with his sworn enemy, Brandon immediately pointed a finger at me and started yelling. “Are you that desperate for a man? Just a few days ago, you were madly in love with me, practically obsessed! Now, after just a few days, you’ve found a new lover, huh?” Julian, seeing how aggressively Brandon was acting, immediately stepped in front of me, shielding me. Brandon then adopted a sneering expression. “Wow, you’re really not picky, are you? So desperate you’ll take my sloppy seconds?” Hearing that, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped forward and delivered a hard slap across his face. The force of the blow was considerable. Brandon stared at me, his face contorted with rage. Tiffany Roberts, seemingly out of nowhere, rushed over. Seeing the red mark on his face, she started to drip with sarcasm. “Oh, Sister, I know the news of our wedding must have upset you.” “But you shouldn’t hit people! My security guard’s son is only 40 this year; I could introduce him to you, if you’re interested.” I couldn’t stand her sickening act for another second. I snapped my hand back and slapped her too. Tiffany clutched her cheek and buried her face in Brandon’s chest, sobbing theatrically about the pain. “Apologize to Tiffany, right now! Are you deliberately trying to disfigure her so you can take her place at the altar? I’m telling you, it’s never going to happen. I will only marry her!” I rolled my eyes at them. What a pair of twisted psychos. “I’m getting married very soon too. You two just lock yourselves together and spare the rest of the world!” Brandon stared at me in shock as I took Julian’s hand and walked away. That evening, to my surprise, Brandon sent me a barrage of messages. [My wedding with Tiffany is the day after tomorrow. Don’t cause any trouble!] [Were you intentionally trying to make me jealous by going with Julian today? Forget it!] [Don’t bother me anymore…] It felt like our roles had suddenly reversed. Before, I was the one chasing after him, constantly texting and calling him. I never imagined I’d receive a non-stop text bombardment from him one day. It was utterly annoying. I just blocked him. Finally, the world was quiet. As fate would have it, Julian’s and my wedding was scheduled for the same day, at the same hotel, as Brandon’s. His face turned black when he saw me appear in a wedding gown. He pushed me into a corner, screaming hysterically. “I told you, today is my wedding with Tiffany, don’t you dare ruin it! Are you deliberately trying to embarrass my family by wearing that?” With that, he reached out, trying to rip off my wedding dress. I struggled relentlessly, but I was no match for his strength. My wedding dress was torn to shreds. He shoved me into a dark storage room and locked the door. “You can stay in there. No one is interrupting my wedding today!” The darkness in there, the claustrophobia, it brought back vivid memories of the basement I was locked in during my last life. Suddenly, painful memories flooded back, and my head began to throb violently. I hammered on the door, but everyone was at the wedding. No one was coming to save me. My phone had no signal down here. I felt myself fading, unable to hold on much longer. Just then, I heard Julian’s voice from the hallway. A wave of hope washed over me, and with my last ounce of strength, I called his name. The moment the door opened, I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out. Chapter 3 When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. Julian, seeing that I was awake, asked if I was still uncomfortable. Looking at the tenderness in his eyes, I found myself a little unaccustomed to it. His assistant, Leo, suddenly burst through the door. “Mr. Thorne, we won the bid! We won!” He quickly turned on the TV, and Julian’s eyes were alight with excitement. My phone wouldn’t stop ringing. I picked it up and saw it was Mrs. Stone. “Did you, you witch, reveal our confidential bidding price to the Thorne family? Do you have any idea that if we didn’t win this bid, we’re completely finished?” “Didn’t you say you loved Brandon? I’ll agree to you two being together! Just get that bid back for us, right now!” They truly were mother and son; their greedy faces were identical. Annoyed, I hung up on her. Not long after, Brandon, I don’t know how, found his way to my hospital room. Seeing Julian taking care of me, he charged in, intent on dragging me away. “What exactly did you tell Julian? Did you leak our bid price to them?!” He yanked me straight off the bed. I hit the floor with a thud, wincing in pain. Seeing my pain, Julian helped me up and then turned to his bodyguards, ordering them to remove Brandon. Tiffany, playing her innocent victim routine, stood at the doorway. “Sister, what did you tell Mr. Thorne? Last time, I saw you sneaking around outside Brandon’s study.” Brandon, hearing this, became even more furious. He stood at the hospital room doorway and cursed my entire family tree. He had never allowed me near his study, yet Tiffany was always free to come and go as she pleased. Suddenly, I remembered it had been the same in my previous life. Company documents were leaked. Brandon, believing Tiffany’s words, accused me and forced me to kneel on shards of glass for three days and nights. My knees were a mess, completely ruined. Later, it was found out that Tiffany’s subordinate was the real culprit, but he never apologized, only saying I should “be more careful next time.” I glanced over at Tiffany, who was watching with a smug, entertained look. “Brandon Stone, when have I ever been in your study? Why don’t you check Tiffany’s computer?!” At that, Tiffany’s expression shifted. Brandon immediately told Leo to check her computer. They stormed out of the hospital, still arguing noisily. After three days in the hospital, I couldn’t stand it anymore. Julian said that we would have a proper wedding ceremony once I was better. For now, I went home. Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the door. I opened it to see Mrs. Stone, accompanied by a scowling Brandon. “Anya, I know you were just jealous, so I’ve specifically brought Brandon here to make amends.” “Brandon and Tiffany only had a wedding ceremony; they haven’t legally married yet. It doesn’t count as being married! As long as you agree to legally marry Brandon, I’ll promise you anything!” Brandon, hearing this, looked utterly annoyed. “Mom, do you really believe she’s some kind of money-magnet? Tiffany has a Master’s in finance! Is there any problem Tiffany can’t solve?!” Mrs. Stone, looking disgusted, told him to shut up and continued to plead with me, trying to appeal to my softer side. “Alright, if you agree to legally marry Brandon, half of Stone Corp.’s shares will be yours.” Brandon kept interjecting, calling her crazy. “Okay,” I said, a sly smile playing on my lips. “But I have one condition.” “Tomorrow is my wedding with Julian. If Brandon can livestream a ‘wedding raid’ in front of the entire city, then I’ll agree to marry him.” “Are you insane?! Mom, she’s only in it for the money! What is our family’s reputation? How can we do a livestream? It’s so embarrassing!” Mrs. Stone shot me a venomous look, then gritted her teeth and agreed. The next day, just as the wedding was about to begin, Brandon finally appeared. His livestream quickly went viral. He stood on the stage, holding a ring, and knelt before me, looking completely forced. “Marry me!” I gave a knowing smirk and pulled Julian closer. “No way, I’m not marrying you. I already have a husband.” Chapter 4 Brandon’s face instantly contorted. He threw the phone he was livestreaming with. “You dared to trick me! You conniving bitch, I’ll kill you!” Julian grabbed him by the collar.

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Julian and I had been tearing each other apart for six years, a constant war fought both in the open and in the shadows. His cruelty had driven my mother to fall, leaving her paralyzed. In return, I leaked confidential information that led to his bankruptcy. Everyone expected us to be locked in this cycle of torment forever. When we met again, he had already made a spectacular comeback, effortlessly fielding reporters’ questions. “Back in college, we all joked about finding love at 18, getting married by 25, and having a kid before 28. Julian, how far along are you?” “Almost engaged.” “Wow, you’re definitely ahead of the game!” I twirled the ring on my left hand. Funny, I’d already hit all three milestones myself. The girl who walked in was Julian’s fiancée. She was young, beautiful, and polite. She gave a polite nod to everyone, including me, before settling beside Julian. He didn’t look at her, though. His gaze was fixed solely on me. I could feel the probing glances from everyone around us, sharp and curious. In the past, Julian and I had created enough public drama to make our story a household name. I picked up my bag and started to leave. The two people next to me, however, clearly thought I was about to storm the stage and claw that girl’s face off. They instinctively held me back. I raised an eyebrow at them. “Ah, haha, Ava, where are you going?” “Restroom.” “Oh, haha, alright.” They chuckled nervously, settling back into their seats. Before I left, I overheard their whispered comments. “Two years, and Ava’s definitely reined in her temper.” “Seriously, I almost died of fright. Given her old personality, she’d have been up there clawing Chloe’s face to ribbons, wouldn’t she?” “Still can’t let him go after two years. She sees Chloe and immediately has to escape, can’t stand to be in the same room.” “Since nothing’s happening, tell them to pull back security.” Only when I stepped outside did I see the two rows of bodyguards standing by the door. They looked a little tense when they saw me. The one in charge tapped his earpiece, then motioned his team to stand down. I sat on the outdoor lawn, calling my daughter. She was telling me a new story she’d learned today. Julian’s interview also moved outside. We always found each other in a crowd. “Mr. Julian, regarding your previous bankruptcy, do you have anything to say to the person responsible?” He chuckled softly, looking at the camera. “I saw her today. Her eyes are still as beautiful as ever. If I get the chance, I’ll personally gouge them out and make them into a necklace for my fiancée.” Everyone present was stunned by his words. It was just a cruel threat, nothing out of the ordinary after six years of us hating each other’s guts. “So, did you take any revenge back then?” “Does crippling her mother count?” I casually swirled my drink, watching a children’s story on my phone, gently coaxing my daughter to sleep. My utterly nonchalant attitude clearly infuriated Julian. Or perhaps, between the two of us, no reason was needed to wish for the other’s agonizing demise. Julian sat down beside me, one finger pressing against my phone. He glanced at it, then let out a snicker. “Still pushing that ‘zen’ act, huh? Maybe a mindfulness podcast would be more your speed.” Julian gestured to the person behind him. “Chloe, this is Ava, our former class president from college.” Chloe smiled sweetly, extending her hand towards me. “Ava, it’s so lovely to meet you! I’m Chloe, Julian’s fiancée.” While they were all anticipating me to completely lose my mind, I simply offered a casual, “Hi there.”

Julian narrowed his eyes, as if he wanted to see right through me. Then he scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips, clearly believing I was overdoing the act. While Julian was being interviewed, Chloe pulled my hand. “You’re so gorgeous! I heard Julian’s ex-girlfriend, the one he dated for six years, is also here today. Do you happen to know who that is?” I couldn’t be bothered to decipher the sincerity behind her words. I pulled my hand away, a touch of my usual germaphobia kicking in, and wiped it with a tissue from my bag. Chloe looked down, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Ava, what’s with the act? You’ve been a total mess since college. Two years gone, and you’re still as fake as ever.” Leo slouched opposite me, radiating his usual arrogant idleness. “Leo, don’t say that! Ava isn’t like that.” “Chloe, you’ve only met her once, and she’s already got you fooled. I’ve known her for six years! If it weren’t for her, my brother wouldn’t have gone bankrupt!” “What do you mean?” “Chloe, still clueless? She’s my brother’s trashy ex-girlfriend.” Leo, with a defiant smirk, spat his gum in my direction. I used my bag to block it, then stood up and slammed the bag into Leo’s face. “Ava! What the hell was that?! Do you think I’m some commoner like you? I’m Leo Sullivan, the second son of the Sullivan empire! Who do you think you are, touching me? My brother will have your fingers chopped off, I swear!” “Your Sullivan family means nothing to me. If I could make him go bankrupt once, I can do it again.” This sudden, ugly confrontation completely derailed their interview. Julian rushed back. I looked down at the candy stain on my white bag. I had germaphobia. I held up the bag, looking him dead in the eye. “Ten grand.” “You seriously expect my brother to pay you ten grand for that? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Looks like you haven’t been doing so hot these past two years, but your talent for seducing men sure has improved.” I raised the bag again, ready to strike, but Julian clamped down on my wrist. “What was the last thing you said?” “Ten grand.” “The one before that.” I thought for a moment. Unsure if that was the line he wanted. But if he wanted to hear it, then he would. “If I could make you go bankrupt once, I can do it again.” Julian smiled. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen on his face all night. “I prefer you when you drop the act. You’re much more… tolerable.” I pulled my hand free, my arm frozen mid-swing. But he actually leaned his face closer. “If that hand lands, I’ll make sure your mother’s upper body joins her lower one in paralysis.” I was so disgusted I didn’t want to touch him, but the moment he finished speaking, my palm connected solidly with his face. Leo rushed forward first. “She actually hit you! Are you insane?!” He grabbed my neck; I yanked his hair. A clear glass stool crashed against Leo’s body, blood streaming down his head. I picked up a shard of glass and slashed Julian’s arm. Julian, with absolute force, shoved me into the pool. We tumbled into the pool, our fight a chaotic, undignified mess. “I heard you’ve been taking care of your mother these past two years. Must be exhausting, right? How about I arrange a little ‘accident’ for her? Then you won’t have to be tired anymore.” “Your eyes are truly beautiful. Gouge them out and propose to Chloe with them; it would be stunning.” I didn’t have as many meaningless words as he did. I stared intensely at his chest and plunged the knife down. I wanted to see him try to act tough and talk big then. And then maybe, just maybe, I’d see him tremble and beg me to make it quick. But the scene I imagined didn’t happen. Chloe shielded him. Blood bloomed on her white dress. “What is wrong with you? Take your rage out on me! Why hurt her?! Don’t you know she has a condition, she can’t stop bleeding?!” I twisted the knife even deeper. “I do now.” “Ava! Don’t you dare involve family!” “Oh, so my mother deserved to be paralyzed then?”

Without a shred of mercy, I shoved Chloe into the pool. Then I wiped the blood from the knife onto Julian’s shirt. No one dared to step forward at the sudden turn of events. Julian called me a psycho, but his eyes… they were clearly alight with a disturbing thrill. “Psycho?” “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” He’d been pushing my buttons from the moment I arrived at this party. Julian and I had fought for so long that I’d even forgotten what it felt like when we were in love. On the day Julian proposed, I sold off his company’s top-secret files. On the day I agreed to marry him, he had someone disconnect my mother’s oxygen tank. That day, after his car accident, when he was being flown abroad for emergency treatment… He was hooked up to countless tubes. When he saw me, he ripped off his oxygen mask and bit savagely at my lips. “Ava, if I die, promise me you’ll marry me in our next life. Let’s not torture each other anymore, okay?” He slowly slumped, gasping for air, as I watched his hopeful eyes and shook my head. “There is no ‘next life’ for us.” At the hospital, Julian rolled up his sleeves. “We’re the same blood type. Take mine. If it’s not enough, drain me dry.” When he stumbled out of the blood donation room, he was swaying on his feet. He pressed on my shoulder, desperately wanting to prove himself. “Ava, do you see? I know how to love now.” “Bro, you’ve given too much blood. You’re not thinking straight. Let me help you.” Julian pushed Leo away. “Get lost!” “I’m not that out of it.” He looked at me again. “Do you see now? I *can* love someone deeply! I can pick anyone, *anyone*, and love them with all my heart! Don’t you get it?!” Red and blue police lights flashed across our faces. I pushed him towards Leo, then, with my usual germaphobia, brushed off the spot where he’d touched me. “The police are here. Time for statements. I’ll cover her medical bills.” “Ava, I’m giving up first. Let’s just let each other go.” I didn’t answer him. I had already let him go two years ago. At the precinct, we were placed in separate interrogation rooms. After giving my statement, I just sat there. The murmurs from the next room grew louder. “Bro, you can fool others, but you can’t fool me. Is this another one of your schemes? You know she won’t marry you, so you’re trying to force her hand, just to spite her.” “What about Chloe then? Oh, right, Chloe’s so obedient, she’d probably even be happy just being your mistress.” “I’m serious. But until she agrees, I won’t break it off with Chloe. She’s young; it would be too much for her if I suddenly did.” “Bro, she won’t hear us, will she?” After a long silence, Julian’s voice finally came through. “If she heard, she’d be in here in a flash, slapping us both without mercy. She’s not here, so she clearly can’t hear.” I found it amusing. I lowered my head and made a call. “Hey, come pick me up.” Less than ten minutes later, a police officer called my name. “Ava, your family is here for you.” “Okay, thank you.” “You can leave after you sign.” I walked out of the room, passing theirs. Leo scoffed. “Family? Doesn’t she only have her paralyzed mother?” “Probably a friend.” Leo suddenly couldn’t resist. He pushed the door open with a grin. “Officer, who came to pick up Ava just now?” “What business is that of yours? Go back inside.” “Officer, don’t be like that~” Leo stood on his tiptoes, peering around the hallway corner.

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