Six years of my life, I dedicated to Ryan Sterling, building everything with him from the ground up. It wasn’t until a month before our wedding that I found out I’d been cheated on. The man who’d sworn to marry me had already tied the knot with someone else behind my back. As our wedding day loomed, I suddenly discovered that Ryan Sterling, my boyfriend of many years, was having an affair. It left me utterly bewildered. We’d started a business together, I’d helped him build his fortune from nothing, and we’d accumulated considerable wealth side-by-side. I’d watched him transform from a penniless young man into the successful entrepreneur he was today. But now, it seemed I was no longer the woman he loved wholeheartedly. I knew him when he loved me, so the lack of love was painfully obvious. Should I just cut my losses, quickly divide our assets, and break up? That didn’t feel fair to me. Or should I hold on, dragging things out until our relationship completely withered? That would be a torment for all of us, not just them. So, what was the best solution? My answer was clear: Yes, I could break up with him! But… He owes me, and I’ll make him pay for every single bit of it! They say once you’ve made it to the top, the first thing you do is cut ties with the very people who helped you get there. I never believed that before. Now, I had no choice but to. Discovering Ryan’s infidelity was purely by chance. That day, I happened to be home from a business trip, ready for a deep clean. When I changed the bedsheets, I instinctively removed the pillowcases too. So, when my hand brushed against that red marriage certificate inside the pillowcase, I froze, stunned to my core. Ryan Sterling… he actually got secretly married to someone else? How could this be happening? Tears welled in my eyes. I tried to delude myself, to believe it was all a fake. I desperately searched for any sign of a forgery. But the result was utterly disappointing. Blunt, bold words stared back at me. Holder: Ryan Sterling. Marriage Date: March 15, 2024. The raised official seal was a stark, undeniable reminder that I was the other woman. That day, it was supposed to be our wedding photoshoot. But he’d claimed urgent company business. I, naive fool, had actually believed him, thinking he was truly busy with work. My tears streamed down, uncontrollable. They splattered onto his marriage certificate with another woman. In the photo, their smiles were radiant and blinding. They seemed to mock me, the clown who’d been so easily deceived. I stood there, my fingers clutching the certificate, trembling uncontrollably. Why would Ryan hide this marriage certificate, conceal the fact that he’d betrayed me? Was someone holding something over him, forcing him to marry? Was he left with no choice? Or was he afraid that if I found out the truth, I’d expose his past and destroy everything he’d built? Whatever the reason, it was no excuse for betraying our relationship. Expressionless, I put the marriage certificate back exactly where I found it. I went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, trying to clear my head. It did absolutely nothing.

After sitting on the sofa for an hour, numb with disbelief. I called Leo Davis, Ryan Sterling’s assistant. I wanted to indirectly figure out what Ryan had been up to lately. When Leo answered, I heard a soft “Shhh” from his end, then the background noise gradually faded. A moment later, he spoke, a hint of a smile in his voice: “Lena, are you looking for Mr. Sterling? Bad timing, he just left to meet a client, he’s not in the office right now.” Meeting a client without his right-hand man? That lie was way too flimsy. I let out a cold laugh: “No, I’m looking for you.” Leo paused, then chuckled, replying: “Lena, anything you need my help with, just say the word.” I tapped my finger lightly on the armrest of the sofa, my voice as cold as ice: “Leo, do you remember how many years it’s been since we first met?” Silence stretched for a few seconds on his end. Then, his voice came back, tinged with a fawning tone: “Of course, it’s been exactly ten years since we met.” I pressed on: “Do you remember who saved you back then, when you were cornered in that alley and getting beaten by a gang?” “It… it was you. You called the police ahead of time and stepped in, stopping that assault, saving me from those thugs, and taking me to the hospital…” Leo stammered out his reply. Even though I couldn’t see him, I could picture his embarrassment. I took a deep breath, suppressing the anger boiling within me. “So, I’m looking for Ryan Sterling now. Is he there?” “…Yes!” “Where are you guys right now?” “The Golden Summit Private Club.” “Room number.” “7008.” I hung up without another word. Driving while this emotional was an accident waiting to happen. So, I opted for a cab to the club. Leo was already waiting for me at the entrance. The moment he saw me step out of the car, he rushed over. He took my bag and guided me towards the elevator. Inside the elevator, he seemed flustered, rubbing his hands together nervously, apologizing awkwardly: “Lena… I’m sorry, I, I really am. Mr. Sterling just met up with some friends today, I was afraid you’d worry, so I said he was seeing a client.” Just friends today. What about all the other times? My face was devoid of emotion. I didn’t bother to reply. If a boyfriend I’d been with for six years could betray our relationship, how could I expect loyalty from a so-called classmate, based on the flimsy ties of an old friendship? Leo escorted me to the private room door, then turned and left. I was about to push the door open, wanting to see with my own eyes who Ryan Sterling had chosen to marry. But the teasing voices drifting from inside the room made me pause, standing quietly by the half-open door. Someone joked, “Mr. Sterling is so virtuous, here we all are with ladies on each arm, and he’s just sitting there drinking juice.” Another person immediately chimed in. “Naturally! Mr. Sterling’s girlfriend is a top student from the Riverton City Music Academy, the campus belle everyone here envies, a truly supportive partner.” “I heard that when Mr. Sterling was just starting his business, he had cash flow problems. His girlfriend found out and didn’t hesitate to quit her job at the music academy, pouring all her savings into helping him. So admirable!” No sooner had the words faded than a man’s voice cut in, sounding quite certain: “You’ve got it all wrong!” It sounded like Sean Peterson, an old friend of Ryan’s. He continued, half-joking, half-serious: “What six-year girlfriend? Who in their right mind dates someone for six years and doesn’t marry them?” “You guys don’t know, do you? He told Lena he wasn’t married yet because he wanted to save up enough money to throw her a lavish wedding. But the truth is, he secretly married someone else two months ago.” “Saying he was forced, that she had something on him… please! Like they say, one’s willing to act, the other’s willing to play along. If he truly didn’t want it, no one could have forced him to drop his pants, right?” Everyone in the room burst into surprised laughter. Ryan, meanwhile, leaned back on the sofa, a smirk playing on his lips. Sean continued to spill the beans: “That girl isn’t even prettier than Lena, and she didn’t even finish high school. She’s just an online influencer from Riverton City. What do you think he’s thinking?” The room fell silent. Sean, growing even more relaxed, crossed one leg over the other, looking completely at ease. “Haven’t you heard that men never truly grow up? I’m just looking for something new, some fresh excitement.” “You wouldn’t know, Lena… she just can’t give me that thrill. She’s always so cold. Now, just thinking about her calm, controlled face makes me lose my appetite.” “Besides, even if she were a goddess, I’ve slept with her for six years, a whole 2190 days. I’m utterly bored.” “If it wasn’t for having to split half my assets with her if we broke up, I would’ve confronted her ages ago.” Hearing these words from Ryan’s own mouth felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over me from head to toe. My heart was frozen to the core, the chill seeping into my very bones. If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I would never have believed these words could come from the mouth of the boyfriend who had always been so compliant with my wishes. Some sayings are indeed true. You can never imagine how ruthless a man can become once his heart changes. To him, you’re just a completely superfluous person. I didn’t push the door open and confront him. Instead, I quietly turned and walked away. Even for the sake of the past six years, I chose to preserve some dignity for both of us.

At the club entrance, Leo was anxiously pacing back and forth. Seeing me approach, he immediately rushed over, a wide, ingratiating smile plastered on his face: “Lena, I didn’t lie to you, did I? Mr. Sterling was just catching up with old friends today.” “As for those girls in the room, they have nothing to do with him. He even specifically asked me to order him juice, so he wouldn’t get drunk and make you worry.” I looked at my old classmate, who had become so smooth and slick. The genuine sincerity that once filled his eyes was long gone. He continued to smile ingratiatingly: “Lena, let me find someone to drive you home. And, I won’t tell Mr. Sterling you were here.” I didn’t refuse his offer. The driver was in Ryan’s business car. Sitting in the back seat, two handprints, one large, one small, were strikingly visible on the window. My heart sank. I stared intently at those tangled handprints, which seemed to whisper the sordid stories that had unfolded here. After getting out of the car, I told the driver: “Thank you for the ride.” “Oh, and by the way, the back window is dirty. Remember to clean it for your boss, Mr. Sterling.” The driver stood there, bewildered and helpless. Soon after I got home, my phone rang. It was Leo, calling specifically. On the other end, his voice was urgent as he explained. He said the handprints on the back seat were accidentally left when he was being affectionate with his new girlfriend, and he repeatedly promised it wouldn’t happen again, begging me not to tell Ryan about it. How ridiculous. He seemed to have forgotten who helped him get to where he was today. But I didn’t expose his lie. Late that night, Ryan finally returned home. I was sitting on the living room sofa, idly watching TV. On the screen, a girl was weeping bitterly: “Why are you doing this to me? You promised you’d marry me, so why are you marrying another woman behind my back?” In the past, I never truly saw Ryan for who he was. Now, I realized I probably hadn’t even seen his worst side. “So late, and you’re still not resting? Are you binging another show?” Ryan asked, his voice cheerful, as he entered, taking off his suit jacket and changing his shoes. I turned my head, gazing at the man I’d been with for six years. At thirty, he had only grown more mature. With a defined jawline and thick, dark short hair, he exuded mature charm and gentlemanly grace. His tall, slender physique, accentuated by his well-fitted suit, made him look even more composed. I had shaped this man, bit by bit. I had accompanied him through his growth, through his entrepreneurship, from nothing to everything, step by step, to where he was today. But now, he had betrayed me, marrying another woman. He took off his suit, draped it over the sofa back, then sat beside me, gently massaging my throbbing temples. “Is your head hurting again?” “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you to the doctor, okay?” “Okay,” I replied softly, subtly moving his hand from my forehead. He didn’t notice my odd behavior. He stood up and said, “I’ll go shower first. I have to go on a business trip tomorrow; it might be for a month.” “Where to?” “Seaside City. Some suppliers there are having issues with contract fulfillment, I need to go talk to them personally.” He spoke smoothly, without a single flaw. I said nothing more, watching him quietly walk back to the bedroom. Only after the bedroom door closed, I walked to the entryway and picked up the jacket and briefcase Ryan had just taken off. I examined them carefully. Inside were a laptop, some business cards, and a few documents. The laptop was password-protected; I couldn’t open it. I flipped through the documents and business cards, finding nothing unusual. Just as I was about to put everything back in the bag, a piece of paper tucked inside the suit jacket caught my eye. It was an ultrasound pregnancy report. The report indicated early pregnancy, 10 weeks. Patient name: Amber Hayes. Patient age: 29. Amber Hayes… I froze. The woman who had married Ryan Sterling. The owner of a newly opened beauty salon in Riverton City. Her image involuntarily surfaced in my mind. An obviously cosmetically enhanced face, a slender build, long flowing hair, a preference for revealing, sexy clothing that showcased her long, pale legs. I remembered seeing her for the first time when I accompanied a friend to her beauty salon for a skin treatment. I’d casually heard her mention that her family background was modest, and she had worked very hard to get where she was. When it was time to pay, she even offered a discount, hoping we would frequent her salon more often. When she said that, her eyes crinkled into crescent moons. It truly left an impression. My hand clutching the pregnancy report slowly tightened. I took out my phone, snapped a picture of the report, then put the items back into the bag.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299081”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

That year, when I was twenty, I married Damien, my father’s closest friend. He was eight years older than me, a formidable business elite in the city’s elite circles, known for his decisive and tough demeanor in the business world, always keeping women at arm’s length. But with me, he showed an extraordinary tenderness. He’d have multi-million dollar jewelry delivered to me the very next day, just because I’d casually mentioned, “That necklace is pretty.” When my period cramps had me curled up in bed, he’d drop a massive project, personally brew me comforting ginger tea, and gently coax me to drink it spoon by spoon. In moments of passion, he’d cup my waist, his voice low and husky, calling me “baby,” saying I was so good, so addictive. Even all his social media accounts bore the name “Für Elise.” I always thought it was to commemorate the day we first met, when I played that very piece on the piano. Until that day, when I found an old photo album in his study. The album was filled with pictures of the same girl, who bore a striking resemblance to me, smiling as she stood by a piano. On the back of one photo, it read— “Für Elise, my dearest Isabelle.” … After uncovering the truth, I did only two things. First, I went to the hospital and terminated my five-month pregnancy. A five-month-old baby already kicks in your belly. On the operating table, I gritted my teeth and held back tears, but when the nurse asked, “Do you want to see the baby?” I broke down, shaking my head. Second, I drafted a divorce agreement. Then, I called Damien. Before, he’d always answered my calls instantly, his voice soft as he’d ask, “What’s wrong, baby?” But this time, I had to call twenty-three times before he finally picked up. A jumble of voices came from the other end, followed by his friends’ mocking tones: “How important is a first love, really? The moment Isabelle came back, Damien just ditched his five-month pregnant wife at home.” “What do you expect? The girl was just a stand-in. You should’ve seen how much Damien loved Isabelle back then; he practically drank himself to death after they broke up. He never forgot her all these years, even coaxed some girl into being her replacement.” “And that girl’s still clueless, clinging to Damien like a shadow every day. Last time I saw Aurora kissing Damien, the way she was acting all cute and sweet? It totally melted my heart. If I had a sweet, bubbly girl like that at home, I’d have forgotten Isabelle ages ago.” “Ah, well, Damien might seem cold, but he’s incredibly devoted. He only loves Isabelle. Look, Isabelle just casually complained about her feet hurting in heels, and he immediately scooped her up to buy her flats…” I gripped my phone, tears silently streaming down my face. Suddenly, the other end of the line went quiet. “Who picked up my call?” Damien’s voice abruptly cut through. “Huh? I don’t know, maybe someone accidentally pressed it…” Footsteps sounded from the other end, and soon the background noise returned to silence. When he spoke again, that intoxicatingly gentle voice of Damien’s whispered through the receiver: “What’s wrong, baby? Is it thundering? Can’t you sleep?” “Husband has a business dinner, I’ll be back later to keep you and the baby company, okay?” I took a deep breath: “I’m calling to sign the divo—” Before I could finish, a woman’s voice chimed in: “Damien, my feet hurt…” He paused for a moment, then hastily told me: “Be a good girl, go to sleep first. Husband will be back later to be with you.” And then, the call ended. I smiled, wiping away all my tears, then looked up at the desktop. Two “gifts” lay there, both for Damien. A divorce agreement, and a gift box containing the baby we’d aborted. Those who betray a sincere heart deserve to swallow a thousand needles. I might be young, but I wouldn’t tolerate such deceit. I wouldn’t keep the person who deceived me. I could love wholeheartedly, and I could let go just as completely. I don’t know how long I sat there, but finally, I stood up and put the gift box with the baby into the freezer. Just then, a sound came from the main entrance of the villa. “Baby, why aren’t you asleep yet?” Damien walked in, shedding his suit jacket, his tie loosely around his neck. “What are you looking for in the fridge? Are you hungry?” I didn’t answer, just watched him silently. He seemed a bit unaccustomed to my coldness. He pulled out an exquisite lunchbox from behind him, his eyes soft: “I ran all over town to buy this. Haven’t you been craving this lately?” He meticulously laid out the pastries, all my favorites during my morning sickness these past few months. In the past, I would have thrown myself into his arms and kissed him. But now, I only felt a bitter irony. “Why are you standing there without saying anything? Is the baby in your tummy bothering you again?” As he spoke, his hand reached out to caress my lower abdomen. I blocked his hand and handed him a document: “Sign this.” He paused, about to open it, when his phone suddenly rang. I saw the caller ID – it was Isabelle. After he answered, I didn’t hear what was said, but his expression changed slightly. He hung up the phone without even looking at the document, quickly signed it. Then he grabbed his car keys and started to leave. “Baby, I have an urgent matter to deal with. You go to bed early.” At the door, he added gently: “From now on, just buy whatever you want; you don’t need my signature. We’re husband and wife, what’s mine is yours.” I clutched the signed divorce agreement in my hand, a faint, bitter smile touching my lips. “Damien, we won’t be husband and wife for much longer.” That night, I had a very, very long dream. In the dream, it was the first time I met Damien. I was eighteen that year, attending the Sterling family’s gala with my father. He stood by the piano in a crisp black suit, long fingers holding a champagne flute, his face perfectly sculpted. It was love at first sight. Later, I boldly stole a kiss from him. He paused, then chuckled softly: “Little girl, that’s not how you kiss.” Then he cupped the back of my head and taught me what a real kiss was. That kiss was so long, so long, it left me breathless. Even now, thinking back, it feels like an ethereal dream. When I woke up, my pillow was soaked. Daylight had broken. After a long while, I picked up my phone and called my dad. “Dad, I got divorced,” my voice was hoarse. “After I get the divorce decree, I’ll come abroad to be with you.” “Did Damien bully you?” Dad’s voice immediately rose. “No,” I gazed out at the brightening sky outside the window, “I just don’t love him anymore.” Actually, it was Damien who didn’t love me. And I, too, would never love him again. I didn’t utter those words, feeling as if I’d swallowed a piece of broken glass, letting it tear me apart inside. After hanging up, a SnapChat friend request popped up. On a whim, I accepted it. The person immediately sent a video. In the video, Damien was lightly dozing on the sofa, his brow furrowed, murmuring a name: “Isabelle…” Immediately following the video, a long message arrived: `This is Isabelle, Damien’s first love. I never thought that after all these years, even after he got married, he still hadn’t forgotten me. When I came back to the country today, I found he still has my name tattooed on his inner wrist, and all our photos, all the diary entries he wrote, are perfectly preserved. See, he’s still calling my name in his dream; he must be dreaming of our past, after all, those were the first love days he’ll never forget.` I stared at the long message, my heart aching to the point of numbness. I only replied with one sentence: `What do you want?` The other person replied after a long pause: `Nothing, just want to take back what’s mine. He’s about to wake up. Don’t you believe me? If I just say I had a nightmare, he’ll stay with me for the next five days and won’t contact you once.` I didn’t reply again. Ten minutes later, Damien’s message came through: `Baby, I have an urgent project and need to go on a five-day business trip. My secretary will be with you; feel free to contact him if you need anything. Take good care of yourself and the baby.` I stared at the screen and suddenly laughed. As I laughed, tears streamed down, splashing onto my phone screen. For the next five days, Damien was indeed completely silent. But Isabelle’s messages kept coming. Damien walking with her on the beach, taking her to watch the sunset from a mountaintop, driving her around the countryside… Isabelle messaged: `These are all places we used to go when we were dating.` I read every single message, then suddenly remembered Damien had taken me to those same places too. Back then, I thought he was being romantic. Now I understood; he was just revisiting old haunts, seeing someone else through my reflection. On the evening of the fifth day, I started packing. The jewelry Damien gave me, the bags, the clothes… Everything related to him was packed into cardboard boxes and thrown into the storage room. When Damien rushed home, dusty and tired, he saw a walk-in closet that was half empty. He clearly froze for a moment: “Baby, what are you doing?” I didn’t even lift my head: “Nothing, just throwing away some useless stuff.” Damien didn’t overthink it, just smiled and handed me the gift in his hand—a limited edition set of illustrated books. Last month, I had casually mentioned wanting to collect them; I hadn’t expected him to remember. “Baby,” he naturally pulled me into a hug, his large hand caressing my lower abdomen, “Is your morning sickness still severe? Tomorrow’s your prenatal check-up; I’ll go with you.” “No need.” I pulled away from his embrace. “No need anymore.” Damien finally sensed something was wrong: “What do you mean, no need? Are you feeling unwell lately?” A housekeeper chimed in: “Madam hasn’t had much appetite these past few days; she’s barely eaten anything.” Damien immediately loosened his tie: “I’ll go buy groceries and cook for you. All your favorites. Come on, eat a little, alright?” As he turned, he didn’t forget to instruct: “You all take good care of Madam. Make sure she doesn’t bump or bruise herself.” The housekeepers whispered enviously: “Mr. Sterling is so good to his wife…” “You should find a husband who’s older and knows how to dote on you…” I listened quietly, a flicker of self-mockery in my eyes. Once, I too believed I had found the best love in the world. But only now did I understand that it was nothing more than a meticulously planned stand-in game. No sooner had Damien left than the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and a woman stood there, holding an exquisite box of pastries. “Hello, I’m Isabelle, the Isabelle who sent you messages.” Isabelle smiled sweetly yet provocatively: “Damien has been taking such good care of me lately, so I made some pastries to thank him. A guest is a guest; you wouldn’t be unwelcoming, would you?” Without waiting for my answer, she simply walked in and began to look around. Passing by the garden, Isabelle paused: “These roses are my favorite kind. I can’t believe Damien still grows them.” My fingertips trembled. I remembered Damien personally tending to these flowers every morning, never letting anyone else touch them. I once thought it was his hobby, his personal touch. By the pond, several turtles basked lazily in the sun. “Oh, they’re still alive!” Isabelle exclaimed in surprise. “I raised these when I was little. I left them when I went abroad and thought they’d died long ago.” I thought of Damien, feeding these turtles religiously every day, and a suffocating tightness filled my chest. In the living room, Isabelle’s gaze swept over the display cabinet filled with dolls: “These are my most cherished collectibles.” She looked around again: “The furniture style is also my preferred Nordic minimalist design.” I followed behind her, each step feeling like I was walking on razor blades. This home, where I had lived for two years, suddenly felt alien. In the bedroom, Isabelle ran her fingers over the suits and ties in the wardrobe: “These were all gifts from me. I can’t believe he’s kept them so new.” I remembered myself ironing these clothes by hand every day, and my throat felt clogged. It turned out he never let me touch them, not because he was a germaphobe, but because these were all traces of Isabelle. Finally, Isabelle stopped in front of our wedding photo. “What a coincidence,” she tilted her head and laughed, “Damien and I used to talk about wanting three themes for our wedding photos: desert, ocean, and forest. I can’t believe you chose those three too.” My face instantly went pale. When we took our wedding photos, Damien insisted on these three themes. I thought he simply loved the romance of nature. “What are you doing here?” Damien’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. He strode in quickly, his face not looking pleased. Isabelle immediately put on a sweet smile: “I made some pastries, so I came to bring you some. Your lovely wife enthusiastically invited me in as a guest and even said she’d keep me for dinner.” Damien’s brow slightly relaxed. He turned to me: “This is Isabelle, my childhood neighbor. We’re like brother and sister. She was abroad before and just came back recently, so you haven’t met her.” I watched him silently. Childhood neighbor? Like brother and sister? He kept their relationship well hidden, didn’t he? Isabelle also played along: “Yes, Damien has always taken care of me since I was little. When I was a picky eater, he specially learned to cook for me. His braised pork ribs, steamed sea bass, and braised meatballs… they’re all my favorites.” My fingers dug into my palms. These were all Damien’s most frequently cooked dishes. I had naively thought it was because I liked them. I couldn’t force a smile, so I excused myself, claiming to feel unwell, and went upstairs. But not long after, Isabelle came knocking on the door, holding a bowl of a pregnancy tonic. “Damien brewed this for you; he asked me to bring it up.” She smiled innocently. “Drink it while it’s warm.” I took the bowl; the medicine had a pungent smell. “Oh, right…” Isabelle suddenly asked, “Are your baby’s names by any chance Asher for a boy and Lily for a girl? Those were the names Damien and I had picked out before.” My hand trembled, and the bowl of medicine almost spilled. Those two names were precisely what Damien had chosen when I first got pregnant. So, even our child was to be used by him to commemorate Isabelle? My heart suddenly twisted in a violent spasm, and before I could react— “Oh, no!” Isabelle suddenly “accidentally” knocked over the medicine bowl. The scalding liquid splashed onto my arm, instantly turning red and blistering. I gasped in pain, too preoccupied to acknowledge Isabelle’s apology, my face pale as I turned to go downstairs for ointment. But just as I passed the top of the stairs, I felt a sharp shove from behind. “Ah!” I tumbled down the stairs, landing heavily on the first-floor landing. Blood spread beneath me, staining the beige carpet crimson. The next second, Isabelle also tumbled down, seemingly after me. In the kitchen, Damien was about to open the fridge when he heard the commotion and rushed out. Seeing the scene, his pupils instantly contracted. “Isabelle!” He flew over, catching a stumbling Isabelle, anxiously checking her ankle, “Are you alright?” “I… I’m fine,” Isabelle said weakly, “Quick, check on Aurora…” Damien finally looked at me, lying in a pool of blood, but Isabelle suddenly “fainted” in his arms. “Isabelle!” His usually composed voice was now laced with urgency. He scooped Isabelle up, striding quickly out, not even sparing me another glance. I watched their retreating figures, my consciousness gradually blurring. In the last moment before darkness consumed me, I seemed to see the fridge door slightly ajar, revealing a corner of the box containing the “gift”… When I woke up again, the blinding white light made me squint uncomfortably. A doctor was examining me, and Damien stood by, his face grave. “How’s the baby?” he asked the doctor. The doctor looked up in surprise: “The baby? Miss Aurora’s baby was terminated long ago, wasn’t it?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299080”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

“I need you to fake a private jet crash for me. I need to get away from Julian Sterling.” My best friend, Chloe, nearly dropped her jaw hearing my request. She thought she was hallucinating. It was just like when she first heard Julian and I were getting married. A girl from humble beginnings and a privileged heir from an elite family—two people from entirely different worlds—somehow ended up together, defying everyone’s expectations. Gossip swirled. Some said Julian was just infatuated, others whispered he had a forbidden love and I was merely a shadow. There were even rumors that he married me on a dare. But after three years of marriage, Julian proved with his actions that there was no other reason for our wedding than his insane love for me. Julian fell for me at first sight and launched a relentless pursuit. Besides showering me with endless gifts, he donated billions to various charities under Elara’s name. He also funded numerous educational projects worldwide, all bearing the ‘Elara’ title. He wanted my name to be synonymous with philanthropy, ensuring that if I ever faced hardship, kindness would always find me. To spend more time with me, he joined me in my part-time jobs: waiting tables, handing out flyers, sorting packages… This pampered heir, who’d never even washed his own clothes at home, gritted his teeth and worked alongside me for two whole years. His long, slender hands, once only familiar with a violin, were now calloused. His sincerity finally moved me. But the vast disparity in our families’ backgrounds meant his parents fiercely opposed our union. To win their approval, he endured sixteen brutal family punishments, beaten until he was a bloody mess, leaving scars that still marked his back. When he realized that wasn’t working, he renounced his entire inheritance and started from scratch – so no one could interfere with his right to choose his own spouse. All our friends thought he’d lost his mind. He was always so sharp and rational, yet here he was, willing to give up a fortune that generations couldn’t exhaust, all for one woman. His family had no choice but to concede and approve our marriage. After we got married, he replaced all his personal staff with men. Even though I never asked, he meticulously reported his schedule and even installed a GPS tracking system so I could check up on him. Netizens raved about our “fairy-tale love,” calling it the ultimate victory for true romantics. For a time, our online ship became an absolute sensation, even outshining major celebrities. But no one knew, except me, that this “perfect husband” had secretly fathered twins with another woman and built a second family behind my back. When I found out, my heart shattered, and I passed out, spitting blood. Hearing the news, Julian canceled a multi-billion-dollar deal and rushed back home, taking care of me nonstop for two days. When I woke up, he was anxiously watching over me by the bed, warming the IV fluids in his hand. “You’re awake? You scared me senseless.” Julian pressed my hand to his face, almost in tears. The man who wouldn’t even bat an eyelid when a gun was pointed at his head during a business deal was so panicked when he heard I’d coughed up blood that his legs went weak. Looking into his eyes, filled with worry and desperation, my heart felt torn to shreds. The love in his eyes wasn’t a lie; he genuinely loved me. But had this same devoted man also looked at Seraphina with those eyes? Had he whispered those same sweet nothings to her? Seraphina was the woman he cheated with, his childhood sweetheart. After news of Julian pursuing me spread, Seraphina gathered her friends to bully me at school. She’d even deliberately caused trouble at my part-time jobs, leading me to lose several positions. She even hired some thugs to harass me, but Julian, who happened to be there to confess his feelings, caught them in the act. At that time, he didn’t care about their long-standing family friendship, ruthlessly driving Seraphina’s family into bankruptcy. If his mother hadn’t intervened, he would have killed Seraphina several times over. So, if I hadn’t seen those disgusting videos and the paternity test results with my own eyes, I would never have believed Julian cheated, let alone that his children were already a year old. I closed my eyes and turned my head, tears streaming down, soaking a large patch of my pillow. Julian didn’t see my tears; he thought I was just tired. “Elara, the doctor just checked you and said you’re two months pregnant! We’re having our own baby!” The usually cold and dignified executive was now as excited as a child. “Our anniversary is in five days, and you’re pregnant! This is double the happiness!” My eyes snapped open. When I was little, my father kicked me into an icy river, and I stayed there for a long time. It damaged my body, and many doctors said I’d have great difficulty getting pregnant. Because of this, Julian’s family elders, who were already displeased with me, often gave me the cold shoulder. I endured it because they were his parents. But Julian didn’t want to see me suffer for his sake. He said coldly, “Elara is the woman I love. Her choosing to be with me is a blessing I earned in a past life. If you dare give her a hard time about not having children, then I’ll cut all ties with you. We’ll be strangers.” I gently stroked my lower abdomen, unable to hold it in anymore, and burst into sobs. *This baby, why did you have to come at such a terrible time?* Julian pulled me into his arms, cooing softly, “Why are you suddenly crying? Who upset you? Your husband will make them pay.” But then I caught a faint, unfamiliar scent of perfume on him, mixed with the smell of baby formula. I abruptly pushed Julian away and leaned over the bed, vomiting. Julian thought it was morning sickness and instinctively held out his hands to catch it, not worried at all about me getting sick on him. He looked at me with deep concern. Of course, he was thrilled about my pregnancy, but he had been there for Seraphina’s entire pregnancy and delivery, and her post-partum recovery. He knew how much women suffered through it all. I stared at Julian, stunned. I knew he had severe OCD, yet he was willing to go this far for me. He even hand-washed all my clothes and shoes. He had given me three years of unconditional love, and I had returned it in kind. I truly couldn’t imagine living without him. For a moment, I even thought about abandoning my principles, thinking that if Julian would just cut ties with Seraphina, we could go back to how things were. But the next moment, he received a text, said he had an urgent company matter, and hurried away. Half an hour later, I received photos from Seraphina. In them, Julian was holding the twins, kissing their foreheads. That picture shattered all my illusions. After leaving the hospital, I went to Chloe and asked her to fake a plane crash. Because I knew Julian; he would never agree to a divorce, nor would he let me go. He would simply lose his mind. After leaving Chloe’s, I immediately booked an abortion in another state. Julian’s family was too powerful. If I stayed in this city, he would find out about the surgery before I could even have it. Just before I entered the operating room, Seraphina sent me another video. It was two and a half hours long. In the video, Seraphina was in seductive lingerie, Julian in a crisp suit, and on a nearby table, various aphrodisiacs. The kitchen, the desk, the entryway… they were having wild trysts in every corner of the room. The Julian in the video was a side I had never seen before—completely unhinged. Every scene tore at my heart, yet like a masochist, I watched the entire video. “Ma’am, it’s time for your surgery. But, are you sure you’re okay?” The doctor asked, concerned. Only then did I realize I was weeping uncontrollably, shaking from head to toe. I wasn’t crying just from sorrow, but because I realized that even knowing Julian cheated, I still couldn’t let go of my love for him. He was a living, breathing person, not an item to be discarded at will. Tearing him from my life felt like tearing open my chest, ripping my bleeding heart to shreds. I wiped my tears and decided to give Julian one last chance. I called him, “Where are you right now? I miss you. Can you come back?” Julian’s voice was tight, as if he was holding something back. “Honey, there’s a very important company matter tonight… Ugh!” He let out a muffled groan, his words suddenly rushed. “I won’t be back tonight!” With that, he hung up. I stood there, stunned, tears flowing unchecked. He had never hung up on me before. This was the first time. A few minutes later, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m fine. Let’s proceed with the surgery.” Late that night, I dragged my exhausted body home. Chloe texted me, “Baby, everything’s arranged. Execution in two days.” I collapsed onto the bed. All night, I’d fall asleep only to wake up crying. In the latter half of the night, I sat in the dark, hugging my knees, until dawn. The next morning, Julian returned. He took off his coat and waited for the cold to dissipate before coming to hug me. Then he opened his tablet, pointing to an island. “Honey, look at this island. I just bought it for our child. Also, I’ve started building amusement parks in cities all across the country, which will be named after our baby. When the baby arrives, I’ll throw a hundred-day feast, inviting everyone to celebrate!” He finished speaking excitedly, only then realizing I hadn’t said a word since he walked in. Suddenly, he heard my soft sobs. He walked around to face me and saw my face was drenched in tears. “What’s wrong?!” He’d never seen me cry like this before; for a moment, his voice even trembled. If I was even one percent unhappy, Julian would feel a hundred percent of the pain. Every mood I had was magnified exponentially in him. Now, seeing my tears, his heart ached as if someone were twisting and pulling it. “I’m fine.” I avoided his touch. “Pregnant women are sometimes like this, they just suddenly feel like crying.” “Really?” Julian finally relaxed. “I’ll stay home with you all day today, okay? What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.” “No need. I’m going to a class reunion at noon, and then visiting some old teachers tonight. You go do your work.” I stood up. This time, I was leaving the country, probably never to return. Seeing them one last time was my way of saying goodbye. Julian was uneasy about me going out alone and insisted on coming along. The moment we entered the class reunion private room, everyone burst into laughter. “I knew it! If Elara’s here today, Julian will definitely follow. He’s terrified she’ll get lost.” Julian smiled amiably, accepting their teasing, and personally distributed the gifts he’d prepared to everyone. Everyone gasped, “Oh my god, this is the latest full set of Chanel jewelry! That’s seven figures! Mr. Sterling always gives us such expensive gifts. We’re really basking in Elara’s glow!” I had always been popular in college, and everyone present was a good friend. Julian was also willing to go out of his way to please them. Because if they were happy, I would be happy too. Everyone secretly marveled at the immense power of love, capable of transforming the unapproachable CEO, Julian, into a cheerful sunflower who smiled at everyone. “Elara, I really envy you, having such a loving husband!” Hearing those words, I didn’t smile blissfully as before, just offered a polite smile. As the private room filled with laughter, the door suddenly swung open. Seraphina, dripping in jewels, appeared before everyone. “How come no one told me about the reunion? Aren’t we in the same class?” Seraphina’s appearance immediately dampened the atmosphere. She seemed oblivious to their unwelcoming stares, casually sitting across from me, and then scanning the gifts in everyone’s hands with a smirk. “Chanel, a very famous brand. But I guess not everyone knows that it’s *my* brand.” *Hers?* Everyone whispered amongst themselves. Her family had been driven to bankruptcy by Julian back then, unable to make a living anywhere in the country. How could she have founded such a luxury brand? “My family did face some difficulties back then, but then I met my husband. Two years ago, he invested billions and used a lot of his connections, working tirelessly to set up companies for me. And it’s not just this one, oh no. He’s opened twenty-six companies for me.” As she spoke, Seraphina’s gaze subtly drifted to Julian, then she flashed me a challenging smile. My breath hitched. I remembered two years ago, there was a period when Julian was especially busy. He’d said the company was expanding into overseas markets, which explained his workload. But it turned out he was busy setting up companies for Seraphina. A sharp pain spread from my chest, and I instinctively clutched my heart. “What’s wrong, honey? Are you feeling unwell?” Julian immediately stood up, alarmed. “I’ll call a doctor.” Seraphina sneered, “Elara, Mr. Sterling dotes on you, treats you like a queen, yet you still look half-dead all the time.” The moment her words fell, Julian’s face instantly darkened. He slapped her hard. “Shut up and get out, or I’ll make sure you can never speak again.” Seraphina clutched her face, grunted, and reluctantly left the room. As soon as she was gone, the room’s atmosphere livened up again, but my face remained pale. Julian anxiously squeezed my hand. “Honey, where does it hurt? The doctor will be here soon.” I pulled my hand away. “I’m fine. I need to use the restroom. Don’t follow me.” The moment I stepped into the hallway, Seraphina blocked my path. She sneered, “Don’t think you’re so important just because Julian hit me for you. I’ve given him a son and a daughter. His heart is already shifting towards me. Do you believe me if I say the kids have a fever, he’ll rush straight to me?” When I returned to the private room, Julian’s expression was indeed abnormally anxious. He walked over and kissed my forehead. “Honey, I have an urgent company matter and need to go back. I’ve already told the manager, all your expenses are on my tab. You and your friends have fun.” I clutched his sleeve tightly. “Didn’t you say you’d spend the day with me? Stay, please?” Looking into my half-pleading, half-calm eyes, for some reason, a wave of panic suddenly rose in Julian’s heart. He felt that if he left today, he would lose something incredibly important. But Seraphina said the children were sick, and they were his flesh and blood. He had to go see them. Ultimately, he peeled my tightly clasped fingers from his, one by one. “Honey, I promise I’ll be back tonight to be with you, okay?” I took a deep breath. So, Julian’s heart truly was shifting. Half an hour later, Seraphina sent me a video. Though I knew what I’d see, my hands trembled as I clicked play. In the video, Seraphina was weeping plaintively. “I can’t bear to be without you for a moment. I missed you so much I couldn’t stand it, that’s why I came to the reunion. But seeing you and Elara so affectionate, I got so incredibly jealous that I said those bitter things. And you hit me.” Julian gave a faint smile. It was clear he was flattered. He used a warm egg to soothe her swollen face. “There, there. Stop crying, or you’ll turn into a little mess. You can ask for anything you want, as compensation.” “Then… the children’s birthday is coming up. I want that new island you bought, as their birthday gift.” Julian frowned. “No. That’s for my and Elara’s child.” “Please, darling~ I had an astrologer look at it, and that island is like a lucky charm for our children, it’ll bring them good fortune! You promised to compensate me!” This time, he agreed. Seraphina flashed a challenging smile at the camera, then sent a voice message. “See? Even something he promised you, if I ask for it, he’ll still give it to me. You lose.” I held my phone, sitting numbly. I remembered how Julian had soothed my pain when I got hurt working part-time. It turned out, everything he did for me, he would also do for another woman. In that moment, I felt utterly drained. But as long as I left Julian, everything would be fine. Tomorrow, I could finally leave.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299079”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

**Chapter 1** The night before our wedding, my fiancée suddenly lost her memory. She remembered everyone else, but I was a complete blank. That day, I finally got my hands on a new medication that could potentially bring back lost memories. My heart pounding with hope, I rushed to find her. My hand had just touched the doorknob when several familiar voices echoed from inside the private room. “Vivian, how did you even come up with pretending amnesia? It was perfectly executed, absolutely brilliant! Asher Reed would never suspect a thing. So, how long are you planning to play this game before telling him the truth?” Their gleeful laughter stopped me dead in my tracks, my face frozen in disbelief. Vivian Thorne… was *faking* her amnesia?! What about all those nights I’d cried myself to sleep, agonizing over her condition? What was all that pain for? A chilling cold started from my feet, slowly spreading through my body, leaving me utterly cold. I clenched my jaw so hard it ached, listening to Vivian’s nonchalant tone. “Maybe another month. Then I’ll go back to Asher, resume my role as his devoted and faithful girlfriend.” Her friends looked at her, clearly astonished. “A month? Is that even enough time for you to ‘play’? How many guys have you been with in the past few weeks? Why don’t you just break up with him already? You’ve been dating the same boyfriend for seven years—nobody in our circle sticks with one guy that long!” “Sneaking around with guys, then having to fake amnesia just to keep Asher from getting mad—aren’t you tired of it?” Facing their teasing, the smile on Vivian’s face slowly faded. “I would never break up with Asher. He’s the only one I love. It’s just been so long, and I got a little bored. In bed, he’s too reserved, and I miss the thrill. This time, it’s just a pause button, a wild escape. After a month, I’ll go back to him and be his one and only.” “That’s easy to say, but Asher, with his unforgiving nature… if he ever found out the truth, he wouldn’t just swallow his anger. Aren’t you afraid he’d break up with you and leave?” “Yeah, remember that guy from a prominent family? He played around too much, his girlfriend left the country, and he’s still chasing after her like a madman.” Though they all spoke with serious faces, Vivian didn’t seem to care. She swirled the wine in her glass, letting out a soft chuckle. “He’ll always be mine, no matter what. As long as his name is Asher Reed, whether he leaves the country or marries someone else, I’ll drag him back and keep him by my side for life.” Hearing her confident declaration, everyone in the room cheered, “Vivian, you’re amazing!” and popped a bottle of champagne. Numb, I dragged my heavy feet, stumbling out of the bar. Outside, a heavy rain was falling. But I felt nothing of the weather, walking listlessly into the downpour. Cold raindrops pelted my body. My trembling hands couldn’t hold on any longer, and the small bottle of medicine plummeted to the ground. Watching the hard-won pills, meant to cure amnesia, wash away, long-dormant memories were suddenly reawakened. My first encounter with Vivian was at a freshman Christmas party. I made a grand entrance, playing a soulful piece on the piano that captivated everyone. Vivian fell for me at first sight. A young girl, she blocked me backstage with a huge bouquet of roses, declaring she wanted to pursue me. I’d already heard rumors about her—the campus beauty queen who’d supposedly dated over twenty boyfriends in just a month since school started, a girl full of irresistible allure. I didn’t like “players” like Vivian. And because my parents’ affair had shattered our family, I was extremely strict about relationships. I ignored her advances, keeping my distance. But she pursued me obsessively, refusing to let go no matter how many times I rejected her. She caused a school-wide blackout so I could get some rest when I was sick, she boldly declared her feelings for me in front of the entire school on the sports field, she rejected every guy who confessed to her… Day after day, she persisted for three years, but I still didn’t give in. It wasn’t until the summer after senior year that I was cornered in an alley by a group of troublemakers. Vivian fought off four or five people who were with them, taking several wounds herself, almost losing her life for me. I cried hysterically by her hospital bed, unable to comprehend how someone could risk their life for another person. In that moment, I thought, *she’s the one*. We were together for seven years, from high school sweethearts to navigating our careers. Vivian always treated me the same. Everyone said I’d found true love and finally settled down. I believed it too. Until three months before our wedding, when she was in a car accident during a business trip and diagnosed with amnesia. She remembered everyone, except me. The devastating news nearly broke me, but I held on. I tried everything, traveling far and wide for doctors and remedies, staying up late reading medical journals, all to help her recover her memory as soon as possible. But I never imagined this amnesia was nothing but a complete and utter deception. All the courage and determination that had sustained me were now washed away by the heavy rain. In a daze, I returned home, pulled out all my documents, and headed to the police station. Meeting the inquiring gaze of the officer, I spoke in a hoarse voice. “Hello, I’d like to change my name.” After reviewing the papers, the officer handed me a pen. My hand trembling, I signed both my old and new names. Looking at the new name, one no one would recognize, I managed a bitter, ugly smile. From now on, no matter where I went, or what I was doing… Vivian Thorne would never find me. **Chapter 2** By the time I finished the paperwork, it was already dark. I hailed a cab and pulled out my phone to search for plane tickets. The name change application had been submitted, but it would take a month to process. So I booked a flight to Melbourne for the first of next month and accepted the offer from the study abroad agency. Ever since graduation, I’d been preparing to study overseas for my master’s. But Vivian said she couldn’t live without me, that she didn’t want a long-distance relationship, so my plans had been put off for three years. Now that I’d decided to cancel the wedding and end this relationship, everything from the past needed to be left behind. It was time for me to think about myself and start a new life. Back home, I changed out of my wet clothes, showered, and went to bed. That night, I slept more peacefully than I had in the past month. The next morning, I woke up, ate breakfast, then gathered everything related to Vivian. Gifts she’d given me, matching couple’s clothes we’d bought, love letters from our school days… They filled five boxes. I dragged them out of the villa, one by one, and tossed them all into the dumpster. As I was busy, a limited-edition sports car suddenly pulled up to the curb. I turned at the sound and saw Vivian. She got out of the car, arm in arm with a man, walking boldly. Even when she saw me, she didn’t flinch. I knew she wasn’t avoiding me because she was sure I wouldn’t expose her actions during her “amnesia.” From the beginning, Vivian had refused to acknowledge me as her boyfriend, even having someone throw my things out of the villa. I thought I’d be homeless, but then the owner of the house next door suddenly contacted me, saying he was going abroad and offered to rent it to me at the lowest price. At the time, I thought I was lucky. Now, it was clear it was all her own orchestrated play. She was afraid I’d really leave, so she used this method to keep me close. Recalling the past month of deception, I could only feel a bitter amusement. I didn’t care what act she was putting on today. I turned, lifted the last box, and dumped it into the trash. Vivian, who happened to be walking by, glanced over. Seeing the items I was discarding, her face turned cold. “Why are you throwing all these things away?” I shot her a sidelong glance, my voice flat. “Didn’t you lose your memory? How do you remember any of this stuff?” Vivian realized she’d let something slip. She quickly adjusted her expression, feigning indifference. “Just asking, that’s all. How could I possibly remember? The past is the past, and now is now. I only like Julian Hayes now. After all, when I had my car accident in South Bay, he was the only one who came to take care of me.” Car accident? If her amnesia was faked, where was this car accident coming from? I curled my lips slightly, glancing at the man on her arm. He wore a blue and white windbreaker, broad-shouldered and slender-waisted, his eyes full of smugness. A new face. He was probably the most satisfying lover Vivian had found during this period, which was why she brought him back so openly. I didn’t want to waste any more words on her. I simply hummed in response, then turned and went inside the villa. Watching my retreating back, Vivian’s eyelid twitched. She’d brought someone back; shouldn’t Asher be crying and jealous? Why was he so calm? Vivian sensed something was off but didn’t chase after me to explain. She simply watched me disappear behind the door. At eight o’clock, the doorbell suddenly rang. I put down my takeout bag and went to open the door. It was the man Vivian had brought back earlier. He raised a hand and waved, a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes. “Hi, I’m Julian Hayes. I’ll be staying at my girlfriend’s place for a while. Since we’re neighbors, would it be convenient to exchange SnapChat IDs?” “No need.” I rejected him without a second thought, turning to leave. Julian snatched my phone, quickly opened SnapChat, and added himself. Seeing my face darken, he grinned as he handed the phone back, his tone flippant. “Just making friends, you know? We’ll be seeing a lot of each other from now on. Oh, by the way, do you have any condoms? I used up the whole box I bought today. Mind lending me a few?” A pallor flashed across my face, and the hand I used to take back my phone trembled slightly. “No.” Julian, however, wouldn’t give up, his mockery undisguised. “Right, my mistake. Why would you have any? Vivian doesn’t want you anymore, does she?” **Chapter 3** I knew he was deliberately provoking me. I didn’t want to engage, so I pulled the front door shut. Julian grabbed the doorknob, then dramatically collapsed to the ground, tears instantly streaming down his face. “Brother, I know you don’t want to see me, but I just came to borrow some seasoning to make dinner for Vivian. If you don’t want to lend it, fine, but why hit me?” Seeing Julian’s sudden act, my heart lurched. Before I could react, Vivian, who had entered the house without my noticing, rushed up the steps and pulled him to his feet. She looked at me coldly, her voice laced with suppressed anger. “Julian has done nothing to you, why are you making such a scene? He’s my boyfriend now, so please be more polite to him!” After spitting out those words, she didn’t even glance at my expression, turning and leaving with him. Each word echoed in my ears, making me clench my fists involuntarily. I stared fixedly at their retreating backs until they disappeared into the dusk, then expressionlessly raised my hand. *Bang!* The door slammed shut. In the dead of night, my phone on the bedside table vibrated. Waking with a start, I rubbed my eyes and instinctively pressed the answer button. The next second, the screen changed, revealing a vast expanse of pale skin covered in hickeys. Ambiguous moans filled the air, interspersed with heavy, relentless breathing. Watching the shaky camera capture those indecent images, I sobered up completely. Realizing what the person on the other end of the line was doing, I froze like a statue. A few seconds later, Vivian’s voice, thick with desire, came from the speakerphone. “From now on, you’re not allowed to bother Asher next door.” “You’ve seen right through my little tricks, so why are you still on my side? Is it because you really like my body, so you don’t want to be honest with him and want to enjoy yourself a little more, huh?” Hearing his rare burst of playful whining, Vivian groaned softly and patted his abs. “If you already know, why ask?” After a flurry of movement, the camera focused on Vivian’s face. Watching her revel in the moment, my heart turned to ice. I bit down hard on my lower lip, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. The breathing grew more rapid. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and pressed the disconnect button. My sleep-hazy eyes were now completely filled with tears. I tilted my head back, trying to keep the tears from falling, countless images flashing through my mind. In the past, during our intimate moments, she would always be mindful of my feelings, afraid I might be uncomfortable. Too much consideration, I suppose she was never truly satisfied? Now she wouldn’t have to worry anymore, nor would she have to scheme for fleeting moments of pleasure. From now on, I would grant her freedom. For the next few days, I stayed holed up at home. It wasn’t until Liam’s wedding day that I finally pulled myself together and went out. Upon arriving at the hotel, I gave him the gift I’d prepared in advance, before the ceremony started. We chatted for a bit, and Liam, his eyes crinkled in a smile, gripped my hand. “Asher, I sent an invitation to Vivian, and she said she’d come. Go pick her up later, and talk to her a lot. Maybe she’ll remember our proposal and get her memory back.” I paused, then shook my head. Seeing the smile slowly vanish from my face, a flicker of worry crossed Liam’s eyes. “What’s wrong? Giving up already?” I was about to answer when I saw Vivian and Julian appear at the entrance, arm in arm. Liam followed my gaze. Seeing them so chummy, his face turned red with anger. He swore he was going over there to teach them a lesson. I quickly held him back, my voice weary. “Forget it. It’ll all be over soon.” Liam didn’t understand what I meant. He was about to ask for clarification when a groomsman came over. “The wedding is about to start, Liam.” After much persuasion, I finally got Liam onto the stage. Listening to the wedding march beginning in the hall, I took a deep breath and returned to the main reception area. The guests were already seated; only the spot next to Vivian remained empty. After a moment of hesitation, I walked over and sat down. Throughout the wedding, Julian constantly clung to Vivian, asking her to serve him food. She responded to his every request, pouring him drinks and blowing on his soup, utterly attentive. She even ate the dessert he’d already taken a bite of without hesitation. Seeing how intimate they were, I looked away, towards the center of the stage. I had no appetite and hadn’t touched my food. Liam’s mother, seated nearby, served me some dishes, urging me to eat more. Not wanting to refuse Mrs. Smith’s kindness, I picked up a dumpling. Vivian, who was beside me, saw this and immediately reached out and took the dumpling away. “Are you crazy? This is seafood filling, you’re allergic to it.” **Chapter 4** Watching the dumpling roll several times on the floor, I looked up and met her gaze intently. Vivian then seemed to realize what she’d done. Her expression grew unnatural as she quickly offered an explanation. “The housekeeper never buys seafood. I’ve told her many times. That’s what she told me.” After saying that, she dared not look at my face again, turning to peel a shrimp. Julian leaned close to her ear and whispered something. Whatever he said, Vivian’s eyes deepened. She put down what she was doing and pulled me out of the venue. I didn’t care where we were going. It wasn’t until the bouquet toss ceremony ended that I finally got up to use the restroom. As I approached the door, I heard continuous slapping sounds coming from inside. I stopped, holding my breath. After a few minutes of quiet, a woman’s seductive voice came from the innermost stall. “Why are you so horny? Coming to a wedding, and you wear *these* clothes, hmm?” “Don’t you like it?” A gasp, followed by a soft chuckle. “Of course, I like it.” I looked up at the sign above, my fingernails digging deeply into my palms. Footsteps echoed down the hallway, and the restroom fell silent again. I took one last look at the tightly closed stall door, my eyes red, then turned and left. At three in the afternoon, the wedding concluded. After saying goodbye to Liam, I went downstairs. Stepping out of the elevator, I saw a familiar sports car parked on the road. I pretended not to notice, about to hail a taxi, when Julian, appearing from nowhere, grabbed my arm. “Vivian had some company business, so she left her car with me. We live close by, want a ride?” I rejected him without a second thought. Julian, however, paid no mind, practically shoved me into the passenger seat, locked the doors, and sped off. He drove so fast that I could only fasten my seatbelt. All the way, Julian, under the guise of casual conversation, constantly boasted and provoked me. “You’ve known Vivian was faking amnesia all along, haven’t you? Why didn’t you call her out?” My eyes froze for a moment, my face cold. “None of your business.” “How is it none of my business? I really want to stand openly by Vivian’s side and become her fiancé. Even though she doesn’t have that in mind right now, you know she really likes my body. She’ll fall for me eventually, don’t you believe it?” I completely ignored him, turning my head to look out the window. Seeing that I wasn’t taking the bait, Julian grew exasperated and uttered a few more taunts. I simply closed my eyes, pretending he didn’t exist. This dismissive attitude infuriated Julian. He glanced at the upcoming turn, then, hardening his heart, sharply swerved the steering wheel, crashing the car. *“CRASH!”* Under the violent impact, my body lurched forward uncontrollably. I opened my eyes to a shower of glass shards, instinctively raising my arms to shield myself. Crimson blood dripped from my arm. I slammed against the side door, a searing pain shot through my head, and my vision went black. I passed out. I don’t know how much time passed. Falling endlessly in darkness, I finally regained some consciousness. Perhaps it was the anesthetic, but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could only hear some sounds around me. It was two people talking, their voices eerily familiar. “Vivian, you’ve blown this whole thing so wide open, how are you going to fix it? Asher values his hands more than his life, and you chose to save Julian first? Do you want to kill him?” “How could I want to kill Asher? He just happened to wake up. If I had agreed to save him first, wouldn’t my fake amnesia have been exposed? There are still twenty-something days left. I just wanted to play around a bit more, I won’t let anything happen to Asher.” “Nothing happened? Didn’t you hear the doctor? One more minute before he got into surgery, and Asher’s hand would have been permanently ruined! If he wakes up and finds out the truth, you and he will never have a chance again.” The person holding my hand seemed very nervous at these words, their palm growing sweaty. A few minutes later, she pressed a kiss to my forehead, her voice full of certainty. “He won’t know. I’ve made arrangements. In twenty-three days, the doctors will announce that my memory has returned, and everything will go back to how it was.” After a long sigh, someone left the room. The other person remained by my bedside, murmuring softly. “Asher, our wedding is so soon. I’ve already ordered the rings. You’ll see them the day my memory returns.” “After we get our marriage license, how about I take you to see the Northern Lights? Do you remember the wish you made under the shooting stars on our third anniversary?” “When you said you wanted to be with me forever, I was so happy. I want to grow old with you too.” The effects of the anesthetic slowly wore off. I remembered who this chattering person was. It was my fiancée, Vivian Thorne. She seemed very concerned about me, calling the doctor every half hour to check on my condition. She would also considerately feed me water, tuck me in, and stay by my side without leaving. Until I fully woke up. All the tenderness she’d showered on me receded like a tide. Watching her elusive figure leave the hospital room, a hint of sarcasm flashed in my eyes. A few minutes later, a nurse came in to check on me. I noticed the nurse carefully hiding the medical chart and spoke in a hoarse voice. “Who was taking care of me these past few days?” The nurse’s gaze darted around a few times, and she stammered in response. “I… I’m not really sure. It was probably… a nursing aide.” I just felt tired. I picked up my phone and checked the time. December 8th. I had been unconscious for three days. My inbox still only contained advertisements and phone bill notifications. I closed my eyes, silently praying that the name change process would be completed soon. For a long time after that, Vivian didn’t appear. Julian, however, sent me many messages every day. Half of them were various provocations and photos of him showing off his relationship. The other half were SnapChat videos of him and Vivian in bed, from various locations. I didn’t open a single one, immediately setting my phone to Do Not Disturb. On December 15th, I completed the discharge procedures. I threw away everything else, leaving the hospital with only my medication. As I reached the entrance, I coincidentally ran into Sarah Jenkins, a senior from university who had pursued me once. We exchanged a few pleasantries, and I was chatting happily when Vivian, who seemed to appear from nowhere, grabbed my arm. Her face was so dark it could drip water, her eyes full of gloomy resentment as she looked at me, her voice dripping with jealousy. “Who allowed you to get so close to her?” I glanced at her, used some force to pull my reddened wrist from her grasp, and spoke with sarcasm. “Didn’t you lose your memory and refuse to acknowledge me as your boyfriend? I’ll chat with whoever I want; I don’t think it’s your place to control me.” With that, I didn’t wait for her reaction, hailed a cab, and left. Vivian, speechless and choked with anger, could only watch me drive away. **Chapter 5** I don’t know how long it was, but falling endlessly in darkness, I finally regained some consciousness. Perhaps it was the anesthetic, but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could only hear some sounds around me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299078”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

The Harrington family, a dynasty steeped in old money and tradition, had one iron-clad rule: their heir could *never* marry outside their elite circle, especially not a woman of humble origins. Yet, Liam, the sole heir, had fallen hopelessly in love with me—just a regular girl from the wrong side of the tracks. To be with me, he’d defiantly given up his inheritance, enduring ninety-nine brutal lashes, administered by his father’s personal guards, and was forced to kneel in the grand hall of their estate for three days and three nights. His tailored shirt was soaked crimson with blood, yet he still looked up at me, a faint smile on his battered lips. “Evelyn, don’t be afraid. I only want you.” The Harringtons finally conceded, reluctantly agreeing to let him leave the family with me. But there was a non-negotiable condition: he had to secure an heir for the family. From then on, the words Liam said to me most often were—”Just wait.” The first time, he asked me to wait for him to get another woman pregnant. So he slept with Seraphina thirty-three times, until she conceived his child. The second time, he asked me to wait a little longer. That baby was a girl, and the Harringtons demanded a son. So he slept with Seraphina ninety-nine more times, until she was pregnant again. Just as I thought I’d finally reached the end of my ordeal, Seraphina and Liam’s daughter, who’d just celebrated her hundred-day party, suddenly developed a high fever and started vomiting blood. Everyone immediately blamed me. Seraphina lunged at me like a madwoman, her nails clawing at my face as she screamed, “If you hate anyone, hate me! Why would you hurt my child?!” Liam’s parents were furious. “This is our first grandchild! How dare you lay a hand on her?!” When I was stripped and thrown into a freezer at twenty degrees below zero, Liam stood just outside the door. Through the frosted glass, I saw his hand tremble as he lit a cigarette. But the eyes that once overflowed with love now held nothing but chilling indifference. “I told you to wait,” he said, crushing the cigarette butt, his eyes filled with disappointment. “Why would you hurt my child?” *His child.* How wonderfully possessive. I doubled over in pain, my heart feeling like it had been ripped open. Suddenly, I remembered— He’d once knelt in the rain, swearing, “Eve, I only want you in this life.” He’d once pressed his forehead against mine, saying, “Eve, I’ll only acknowledge the child born from *your* womb.” He’d once kissed my fingertips after we made love, promising, “Eve, just wait a little longer. Soon, it’ll just be the two of us.” But now, he stood beside Seraphina, holding *their* child, looking at me as if I were a wicked stranger. When the freezer door opened again, my frozen fingers dug desperately into my palms. This time, I wouldn’t wait. I dialed Mrs. Harrington’s number. “I’m willing to leave Liam,” my voice was eerily calm. “But I have one condition: I want you to send me somewhere he’ll never find me.” A satisfied laugh crackled from Mrs. Harrington’s end. “If you’d been this sensible earlier, wouldn’t things have been easier? One trip to the freezer taught you manners, it seems. A street vendor like you, worthy of our Harrington family?” “We’ll arrange everything in half a month,” Mr. Harrington’s voice was laced with contempt. “Then, don’t ever appear before Liam again.” The call ended. I stood by the villa door, my fingertips trembling. In the living room, Liam was bouncing Lily on his knee, while Seraphina leaned on his shoulder, smiling tenderly. A perfect family of three, filled with joy. I stood there, my heart feeling like it had been violently torn out. “Miss Evelyn, you’re back?” Seraphina spotted me first. Her spine stiffened immediately. Liam, almost instinctively, passed our daughter to the nanny. “Take her upstairs.” His gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced my heart. He was afraid I’d harm his child. The man who’d once said, “I’ll only acknowledge the child born from your womb,” now guarded against me like a murderer. Once Lily was taken away, Liam walked over, reaching out as if to check me. “You’re back. In the freezer… were you hurt?” I looked at the man who’d once taken ninety-nine lashes for me, a bitter ache swelling in my chest. I turned my head, dodging his touch. He frowned, then began to explain. “Eve, last night, under those circumstances, the more I protected you, the harsher their punishment would have been.” “Besides, we’re leaving soon. I didn’t want any complications. And the child is innocent, why would you—” “I told you it wasn’t me!” My eyes suddenly welled up. Liam seemed startled by my intense reaction, pausing a moment before softening his tone. “Alright, alright, it doesn’t matter anymore.” *It doesn’t matter anymore.* Those four words felt like an ice pick driven into my heart. He still didn’t believe me. As the atmosphere grew tense, Seraphina walked over, gently touching her belly. She feigned sincerity. “Miss Evelyn, I should apologize too. I was so frantic then. You don’t have children, so perhaps you can’t understand a mother’s feelings…” She raised a hand to smooth her hair, the vintage diamond bracelet on her wrist glinting softly under the lights. My eyes narrowed. I snatched her arm. “Where did you get that bracelet?” “Seraphina liked it, so I gave it to her,” Liam said, pulling my hand away. “Consider it your apology to her.” “That’s my mother’s heirloom!” My voice trembled. “How could you give it away? You know how important it is to me!” I reached out to snatch the bracelet back, but Seraphina suddenly stumbled backward, clutching her belly and crying out in pain. “Ah… my stomach…” “Evelyn!” Liam instantly pushed me away, his eyes chillingly cold. “She’s carrying my child! Haven’t you caused enough trouble?!” His force was too great. I was thrown violently against the corner of the coffee table, my head hitting it hard. Blood instantly gushed out. But Liam didn’t even glance back. He scooped Seraphina into his arms and rushed out. “Liam…” Seraphina whimpered, leaning against him, her voice weak. “Will the baby be alright…?” “Don’t worry, I’m here,” his voice was sickeningly tender. “You’ll be fine, and the baby will be fine.”

When Liam rushed out of the villa with Seraphina in his arms, I was still slumped on the floor, blood streaming down my neck from the back of my head. I watched his retreating back, so desperate, so frantic. He didn’t look back even once. The throbbing pain in my head was unbearable. Suddenly, I remembered, he used to be just as anxious about me. Back then, I ran a small fish stall in the local market. My hair was always in a simple ponytail, and I never wore makeup. My unassuming beauty earned me a quiet nickname among the vendors: “The market’s unassuming pearl.” The first time Liam saw me, he stood by my stall for two whole hours. Finally, he pulled out a black card, holding it out to me. “Come with me. You’ll never have to touch this stuff again.” I might have been poor, but I had my pride. I paused, then pushed the card back into his hand. “No, thank you, sir. I earn my living through honest work. There’s no shame in that.” He gazed at me silently for a long time, then handed me a business card, his fingers long and clean. “My name is Liam Harrington. I’ll be back tomorrow.” I didn’t think much of it. But the next day, he indeed returned. He drove a black Maybach and stood in the reeking market in a crisp suit, completely out of place. For three months, the city’s most eligible and notoriously reserved bachelor did many outrageous things to pursue me— I refused his roses, so he had expensive, air-freighted seafood delivered to my stall every day. I avoided his luxury car, so he’d walk through the reeking, fish-scented market on foot. I told him we lived in different worlds, so he’d squat beside my fish-scaled wash basin and scale fish for me, his aristocratic hands covered in grime. He stood in my fish market for three whole months. I’d refuse him once, and he’d come back a second time, a third, a fourth… I wasn’t unmoved. I was just too aware of the gulf between us, so I couldn’t, didn’t dare, fall for him. Eventually, I finally said yes, because he took a splash of sulfuric acid meant for me, thrown by a rival vendor. It left a raw, ugly scar across his back. He was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, yet he still smiled and said to me, “Eve, remember, you owe me your life. You’ll spend a lifetime repaying it.” Tears streamed down my face, hot and scalding against his palm. After we got together, he pampered me shamelessly. I cut my finger slicing fish, and he called a private doctor in the middle of the night. I casually mentioned liking a certain cake, and he immediately bought the entire pastry shop. When I had period cramps, he’d stay up all night, gently rubbing my stomach. Once, I tripped and scraped my knee. His eyes turned red with worry, and his hands trembled the whole way to the hospital as he carried me. The doctor laughed, saying it was just a superficial scratch, but he insisted on an X-ray, terrified I’d fractured a bone. And now— I looked down at the pool of blood on the floor and suddenly laughed. As I laughed, tears started to fall. I hailed a cab to the hospital alone. After my wound was treated, I was still so dizzy I could barely stand. As I stepped out of the examination room, my wrist was suddenly grabbed fiercely! “Evelyn!” Liam’s voice was tight with anger. “Seraphina almost miscarried, and you’re still not giving up? You followed her to the hospital to cause more trouble?” I turned and saw his tightly furrowed brow and the coldness in his eyes. He was in a suit, as aloof and distinguished as ever, but the cloying scent of Seraphina’s perfume still clung to him. “I came to the hospital…” My voice was barely a whisper. “Not for her.” I slowly raised my hand, pointing to my bandaged forehead. “I was hurt too.” Liam’s expression froze. Only then did he notice my pale face and the gauze on my temple. “You said you’d take me away once she had the baby,” I looked at him, my eyes red-rimmed. “But now, can you even see me anymore?” Liam’s brows furrowed deeper. He reached out to touch my wound. “What happened?” “You pushed me,” I said calmly. “I hit the table corner.” Liam’s pupils contracted. He seemed to recall the scene then. His anger immediately dissipated. He pulled me into his arms. “Eve, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. I was just afraid something would happen to Seraphina. She’s pregnant, and if anything went wrong, our departure would be delayed again…” I let him hold me, my eyes vacant. I’d heard these words too many times. “I understand,” I pushed him away. “Go take care of her.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist again. “Eve, no matter what, you have to believe I only love you. Everything I’m doing is just so we can leave sooner.” He gently stroked my bandage. “I’ll have the maid look after you. Don’t let your wound get wet.” With that, he let go of my hand and turned towards Seraphina’s hospital room. I stood there, watching his tall figure slowly disappear. I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. “I don’t believe it anymore…” I whispered. “Liam, I don’t believe it at all.”

In the following days, I received provocative photos from Seraphina almost daily. In the pictures, Liam was gently coaxing Lily, his eyes soft and tender, while Seraphina leaned on his shoulder, smiling sweetly. My fingertips trembled as I scrolled through them. There were photos of him staying by Seraphina’s hospital bed late at night, of him personally feeding her soup, and of him holding their child, his eyes full of doting affection. Each image felt like a knife carving into my heart. But as the pain continued, I suddenly realized I couldn’t feel it anymore. Perhaps my heart had utterly died the moment I was locked in that freezer. I was about to block Seraphina when my phone buzzed again. It was a picture of my vintage diamond bracelet, being playfully handled by Seraphina. 【Want your mom’s heirloom? Come and get it.】 I shot up, my vision momentarily blurring. But I didn’t care. I grabbed my jacket and rushed out. In the VIP room, Seraphina was softly humming a lullaby to Lily. “Daddy loves his little baby, doesn’t he? Daddy comes to see us every day…” She looked up and saw me, her smile widening. “You’re here. Did you know? Since I’ve been hospitalized, Liam hasn’t even gone to work. He’s been here, looking after Lily and me.” My nails dug deep into my palms. I didn’t want to hear it. “The bracelet?” Seraphina slowly picked up the diamond bracelet from the bedside table and dangled it. “You mean this?” She curled her lips, her smile cruel. “How about this: you kowtow to me three times, and I’ll give it back to you.” I trembled. “Don’t push your luck.” “And what if I do?!” Seraphina’s eyes were filled with disdain. “Evelyn! You’re nothing but a lowly, despicable street vendor. I’m the heiress of Albright Corporation, the woman the Harringtons chose for Liam! What makes you think you’re in my league? Asking you to kowtow is an honor!” She made a show of loosening her grip. “I’ll count to three. If you don’t bow, I’ll smash it.” “One, two—” I bit down hard on my lip, my eyes stinging. My knees hit the floor with a thud. Three loud thumps later, my vision swam. Seraphina laughed. “You look truly pathetic, bowing like that.” She stood up, looking down at me. “But I won’t give it to you.” With that, she raised her hand— “Smash!” The diamond bracelet hit the floor, shattering into several pieces. I trembled, rushing forward to pick them up, when the door suddenly burst open! Liam, Mr. Harrington, and Mrs. Harrington stood in the doorway, their faces grim. “What are you doing?!” Mr. Harrington demanded sharply. Seraphina’s face instantly twisted. She cried and threw herself into Liam’s arms. “Liam! I don’t know what happened, she just burst in here, pinching and hitting Lily…” She pulled open Lily’s clothes, revealing several dark bruises! I was incredulous. “I didn’t!” I shook my head frantically, but Mr. Harrington was already striding towards me. “Smack!” The slap made my vision swim, my ears ring, and blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. “Vicious woman!” Mr. Harrington’s voice seemed to come from a distance. “How could you harm such a small child?!” Mrs. Harrington spoke coldly. “The last punishment was clearly too light. Guards! Drag her out and give her twenty lashes!” Liam clenched his fists, taking a step forward. “Mom—” “You’re still defending her?!” Mrs. Harrington interrupted sharply. “She hurt *your* biological daughter! Even if you eventually abandon her at the old estate and run off with Evelyn, that won’t change the fact that Lily is your flesh and blood!” I trembled, instinctively looking at Liam. He still stood there, his long fingers clenched white, knuckles pale. He looked at me, his eyes filled with such struggle, such pain… Finally, they slowly settled into a terrifying calm. He slowly turned his face away. I stared blankly at his averted face, my heart feeling like it was being violently torn apart. But the next second, my lips slowly curled upwards, and I laughed. I laughed at myself for being so foolish, for actually believing he would take me away. I laughed at myself for being so stupid, for thinking those vows could outweigh blood ties. I laughed at myself for being so naive, for still hoping he would choose me at the last minute! I was dragged to the hospital’s outdoor corridor. Bodyguards held my shoulders, forcing me to kneel. The first lash came down, and pain made my vision swim. In a daze, I remembered— The day I learned the Harringtons were desperately trying to prevent us from being together, I, with tears in my eyes, broke up with him. That night, it poured rain, and he stood outside my apartment building all night. The next day, he had a fever of 104°F, almost developing pneumonia. When I went to see him, he was delirious with fever, yet he clutched my hand and said, “Eve, remember, even if the whole world is against us, I only want you.” The second lash fell, and I bit through my lip, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. I remembered the time he flew back from abroad overnight, just because I’d sent a text saying “Miss you” in the middle of the night. The third lash, the fourth lash… Each lash felt like it struck my heart, hurting more than the wounds on my back. By the fifteenth lash, I could almost hear his pained voice in my ear: “How did you get hurt again? Let me see…” By the nineteenth lash, I was already in a daze from the pain, my ears ringing. I vaguely heard someone calling my name, but I couldn’t tell if it was reality or hallucination. The last lash came down, and I finally couldn’t hold on. My vision went black, and I completely passed out.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299077”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

**Chapter 1** Everyone knew Liam Henderson adored me more than life itself. He would turn down every woman who tried to get close to him. He named his new jewelry collection after me. He’d faced severe consequences from his family, nearly losing his inheritance and status, all because he feared me enduring the pain of childbirth. Yet, this man, who loved me so fiercely, ended up in bed with his best friend’s sister. After countless times he broke his promises to me for her, I decided to leave. 　　“System, I’m the daughter of Host 12138. I request to leave this world.” 　　It was a cold winter night, the fire in the fireplace roaring, casting dancing shadows on the white wall. 　　I stared at the swirling snowflakes, slowly took off the simple silver necklace from my neck, and spoke softly. 　　Moments later, a cold, mechanical voice abruptly echoed in the quiet bedroom. 　　“Received. System is processing. You will be removed from this world in 15 days.” 　　The instant the words faded, I realized the necklace in my palm had vanished into thin air. 　　At the same time, the TV began broadcasting an interview with Liam Henderson. 　　“The new jewelry collection being launched today is named ‘Love Aurora,’ Mr. Henderson. Does it have any special meaning?” 　　Hearing the host’s question, Liam, the main guest, showed an extremely gentle smile, his eyes filled with warmth. 　　“Aurora is my wife’s name. The meaning behind this collection name is simple: I will love her for a lifetime.” 　　The host, caught off guard by such a loving declaration, couldn’t hide her flirty smile. 　　“I hear from online news that you and your wife were each other’s first loves, and you got married as soon as you were old enough. Five years into your marriage, your relationship is still so stable and sweet. Do you have any relationship secrets?” 　　“Secrets? Well, perhaps it’s listening to my wife in everything, always replying to her messages instantly, preparing surprises for her every day…” 　　Liam’s series of relationship tips drew envious cheers from the studio audience. 　　“Oh my god, I wish heaven would grant me such a dominant and devoted boyfriend!” 　　“Liam Henderson is one in a million. When will it be my turn to be Mrs. Henderson!” 　　Listening to the endless exclamations below, Liam’s eyes curved into a smile, his voice soft. “Sorry, Liam Henderson belongs only to Aurora.” 　　A wave of thunderous applause erupted as the interview drew to a close. 　　Watching Liam’s figure gradually blur and recede, I turned off the TV, a sarcastic smile twisting my lips. 　　Liam Henderson belongs only to Aurora? 　　Perhaps in the past, that was true. 　　After all, we grew up together as childhood sweethearts, started dating at fifteen, and married at twenty-two. Our love story began in school and led all the way to the altar. 　　Everyone around me envied me for finding such a faithful and devoted partner. 　　He would fill his Ins feed with my photos, actively keeping his distance from all other women. 　　He spared no expense, arranging a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the entire city for our wedding, just to declare to the world that he had married the girl he loved most. 　　When I was diagnosed with kidney failure, he didn’t hesitate to donate his kidney to me, simply because if I died, he wouldn’t want to live either. 　　Seven years of dating, five years of marriage – he truly hadn’t broken the vows he made when he proposed. 　　But what did it matter now? 　　People change. 　　My father was like that, and Liam, he’s no different. 　　My father, Richard, at twenty-seven, betrayed my mother, getting involved with his secretary, causing my mother to lose heart and completely leave this world. 　　Liam, at twenty-six, similarly betrayed me, secretly taking his best friend’s sister as his mistress behind my back. 　　The exact same script, playing out again more than twenty years later. 　　And this time, I made the same choice as my mother. 　　If he betrays me, I disappear! 　　I touched my empty neck, suddenly remembering what my mother told me before she left. 　　“Aurora, Mom isn’t from this world. I came here to complete a mission, and now that it’s done, and your father has betrayed me, Mom has to go home. Before I leave, I’m giving you this necklace. Whenever you feel unhappy, use it to summon the System and leave this world forever, to be with me.” 　　Leave this world forever? 　　Just as I wished. 　　I gave a soft laugh, slowly took off my wedding ring, and tossed it into the fireplace. 　　The moment I closed the door, a soft click came from behind. 　　Liam, covered in wind and snow, pushed the door open, carrying a bouquet of vibrant red roses, a smiling gesture as he handed them to me. 　　“Aurora, I was late coming back from the meeting today. I’m sorry to make you wait so long for me.” 　　I received such beautiful flowers every day. 　　But today’s bouquet had an unusually strong scent, as if trying to conceal something. 　　I placed the flowers on the table and then caught a whiff of the strong perfume on him. 　　So, it was to cover up her scent. 　　I suppressed the pain in my chest, looked up, and saw the faint red mark on his collar. 　　My tears had already run dry, so this time, I only glanced at it before looking away, speaking calmly. 　　“It’s fine. From now on, you can come back whenever you want. Or not at all. You don’t need to worry about my feelings.” 　　Just as he didn’t need to know that I only had fifteen days left in this world. **Chapter 2** Hearing me speak those words in such a flat tone, Liam’s heart suddenly pounded. “Aurora, please don’t be angry with me. I promise I won’t come back late again. I swear, if you forgive me, I’ll do anything.” It was the smallest of matters, yet he held me, pleading and coaxing, placing my slightest feelings above all else. I didn’t understand why a man who loved me so terribly would also betray me. But I had to endure this charade for another fifteen days, so I forced down the pain in my heart. “I’m really not angry. I just think you don’t need to prioritize my emotions so much.” “How could I not prioritize them? I love you so much, Aurora. The whole world means nothing to me compared to you.” He smiled, continuing to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. I said nothing, but Liam suddenly noticed my neck was bare. “Aurora, where’s your necklace?” He knew it was something my mother had left me before she disappeared, something I cherished and always wore, never taking it off. My body stiffened slightly. I lowered my eyes, my voice barely a whisper. “It broke. I sent it in for repairs.” Seeing my expression, Liam assumed my unhappiness today was because the necklace reminded me of my mother. He quickly offered words of comfort. “It’ll be fixed, Aurora, don’t be sad. Your mother will come back to you too. Even though she vanished into thin air all these years, I’ve never given up searching for her. How could someone just disappear from this world for no reason? She must be hiding. Believe me, I’ll reunite you two.” I forced a thin smile. I would indeed be reunited with my mother very soon. “How’s my father doing lately?” Liam paused for a moment, then sighed softly. “Same as usual. He’s disoriented in the mental hospital, constantly muttering your mother’s name.” “He deserved it.” I uttered those three words, one by one. Then I looked up at the person whose face had subtly changed. “Liam, my mother and I are alike. On our wedding day, I told you: if your heart changes, I will also disappear, and you’ll never find me again…” These words, falling on Liam’s ears, made his heart pound with increasing panic. He didn’t want to hear any more, so he quickly pulled me into his arms, his tone firm. “No, Aurora, I won’t betray you, and I won’t allow you to leave like your mother did.” Hearing him make such a solemn promise again, my voice was calm. “What if that day truly comes?” “That day will never come. Even if you were to vanish without a trace, I would search every corner of this world and beyond, stake everything I have, and I would find you.” His words were like a declaration of fate, foretelling the future we were bound to confront. I closed my eyes, my voice barely audible. “I’ll be waiting for that day.” Liam hadn’t heard clearly and asked something, his voice trembling. I shook my head, broke free from his embrace, and turned into the bedroom. “Nothing.” Early the next morning, a knock on the door woke both Liam and me. Opening the door, Chloe stood outside with her suitcase, her big, teary eyes instantly pleading. “Brother Liam, there were rats in my apartment last night, and I was too scared to stay. Can I crash at your place for a few days?” Liam rejected her without thinking. “No, Aurora doesn’t like strangers staying here. Go to a hotel.” Chloe’s face immediately fell, and her eyes welled up. “You won’t help me? If you don’t let me stay, I’ll tell my brother! You promised him you’d take good care of me! Aren’t you worried about me, a young girl alone in a hotel?” Hearing this, Liam rubbed his temples. “Chloe, don’t be unreasonable!” I sat nearby, quietly watching the two of them pretending to be mere siblings. They had already done every intimate thing possible, yet they were still putting on this act in front of me. Perhaps seeing that Liam wasn’t budging, Chloe immediately looked at me with a pitiful expression: “Sister Aurora, please let me stay for a few days. I promise I won’t cause any trouble.” I looked up at her. “Fine. Make yourself at home.” Hearing that, Chloe cheered, dragging her suitcase inside. She didn’t stand on ceremony, walked right over to the dining table, and sat down, her eyes sparkling at the sandwiches on the table. “Brother Liam, did you make all these? You’re so amazing!” Liam slapped her eager hand away, moving the plate in front of me. “If you want to eat, have the maid make something. What I make is only for Aurora.” Chloe’s lips immediately drooped in a pout, and she lowered her head, walking silently into the kitchen. I glanced at the breakfast on the table but didn’t touch it. Liam noticed immediately. “Aurora, why aren’t you eating breakfast? Don’t you like what I made?” I gently shook my head, coming up with a casual excuse. “No, I just feel like having the croissants from ‘The Daily Crumb’ downtown.” Liam immediately picked up his car keys and went to the entryway to change his shoes. “I’ll go buy them right away.” Chloe, who had just come out, heard this and quickly put down her plate, skipping after him. “The food at home doesn’t suit my taste either. I want to eat out too.” Watching their backs as they left, one after the other, I forced a bitter smile. Half an hour passed, and Liam hadn’t returned. I had a premonition. I took out my phone and accessed the dashcam footage. The screen was still loading when a sultry gasp echoed in the quiet room. “Brother Liam, easy… easy…” In the cramped car, the two people who had been at odds moments ago were now naked, wrapped in each other’s arms. Liam thrust his hips wildly, his eyes red-rimmed, fingers digging into Chloe’s soft, yielding waist. “How can you be satisfied if I don’t go harder, huh? It’s bad enough you shamelessly seduced my best friend, but now you brazenly move into my home? Just to cling to me?” “I’m telling you! I don’t love you at all, you’re just a tool for my release. Aurora is my bottom line. If you dare make a scene about us in front of her, you’ll face the consequences.” **Chapter 3** The moment Liam finished speaking, Chloe’s sobbing began on the video. “Yes, I was delusional. I knew you were married and only had eyes for Sister Aurora, but I still couldn’t give up, insisting on clinging to you, letting you torment me like this every day! Do you think I want this? If I didn’t like you so much, why would I degrade myself?” Watching her cry, her face streaked with tears, Liam’s thrusting movements suddenly stiffened. Though his tone remained harsh, his actions softened slightly. “Can’t take a single word? So fragile? Where’s all that fire you had when you were trying to seduce me? Didn’t you say you only wanted my body, not my heart?” Chloe didn’t respond, instead crying even harder. Liam, exasperated, finally leaned down and kissed away her tears one by one. “Alright, be good. What gift do you want? I’ll buy it for you.” Chloe whimpered pitifully. “I… I want the necklace you bought for Sister Aurora, and the breakfast you just bought for her!” Liam’s brow furrowed. “Choose something else.” “Why not? I just want those.” Seeing her pout again and start tearing up, Liam had no choice but to give in. “Alright, you can have it. Anything you want, just don’t cry, okay? Be a good girl, let me kiss you.” Though I already knew Liam had betrayed me, seeing this scene unfold, I was still ripped apart by pain. My heart tightened, a sharp, suffocating ache that made me curl up, drenched in sweat. I bit down hard on my lip, but couldn’t stop the choked sobs rising in my throat. Liam, Oh, Liam. When we were fifteen, you stammered out a confession, saying I was the only girl who ever made your heart race. When we were twenty-two, you knelt before me with a ring, promising to give all your love to me, and only me, for a lifetime. Turns out your “lifetime” was only a few years. My sharp fingernails pierced my skin, drawing blood. But my knuckles kept pressing harder, deepening the wounds, as if only this could barely quell the bone-deep agony in my heart. I sat stunned at the dining table, motionless. Tears streamed down my face like rain. I don’t know how long passed before my phone screen returned to normal. A short while later, Liam, fully dressed, pushed open the door. “Aurora, I’m back…” His gentle voice cut off abruptly. Seeing my tear-streaked face, his heart lurched, and he rushed to my side. “Aurora, why are you crying?” I struggled to control my emotions, pulling out a tissue, my voice incredibly hoarse. “It’s nothing. I just watched a really touching TV show and cried.” Liam quickly took the tissue, gently wiping away my tears, his eyes filled with heartache. “What show? It made you cry so much.” “Do you want to see?” Liam paused, then playfully ruffled my hair. “Sure, let me see. I’ll have someone take that show off the air later. How dare it make my sweet girl cry.” As he spoke, he reached for my phone. But just as his finger was about to tap the screen, I suddenly spoke. “Where are the croissants you bought?” Liam’s movements froze for an instant, then he quickly embraced me, apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry, Aurora. They were all sold out by the time I got there, and the shop was closed. I’ll go buy them for you tomorrow, okay?” No sooner had he spoken than Chloe walked in, carrying a bag, her face beaming with triumph as she held it up. “I bought the very last croissant, Sister Aurora! Do you want me to give it to you?” I said nothing, my gaze fixed on her neck. The pure silver necklace Chloe was wearing looked very much like the one my mother had left me. It seemed Liam had stayed up all night to find a similar one, planning to cheer me up. But Chloe had simply used a little manipulation, a little pout, and he had given it to her. Noticing my gaze, Chloe walked right up to me, pulling the necklace for me to admire, a cheerful smile on her face. “Isn’t this necklace pretty? I just bought it. Sister Aurora, do you think it suits me?” I stared at it for a long time, then laughed, tears streaming down my face. “It suits you.” With that, without looking at their expressions, I turned and went upstairs. In the evening, I ate a light meal and returned to my room. As soon as I sat down, I felt a cramping pain in my lower abdomen, as if it were filled with lead. I felt weak, slumped onto the sofa, and cold sweat slowly seeped through my clothes, soon dampening my sweater. Liam, who had followed me up, saw my pained expression. Knowing it was my period, he quickly went downstairs to make brown sugar water. After feeding it to me spoonful by spoonful, he gave me some medicine and then rubbed his hands together to warm them, gently pressing them against my stomach. He held me, wishing he could bear the pain for me, his eyes overflowing with heartache. “My sweet girl, let’s not have children, okay? I can’t stand to see you in so much pain during your period. If you were to give birth, I can’t even imagine.” I lifted my pale, paper-white face, looking at him quietly, my voice extremely weak. “No children, what will your parents think?” “I don’t care what they think! Nothing is more important than you! If they insist on forcing me, I’d rather leave the Henderson family and give up all my inheritance!” He declared, while passionately kissing my neck. “Aurora, I told you, in this life, you alone are not enough for me to spoil. You are my child, and I’ll spoil you for life.” **Chapter 4** Every word was sincere, utterly earnest. I almost believed him. But then I remembered the videos from this morning, and I felt nothing but mockery. His love for me was clearly not fake, so why could he do something so deeply hurtful to me? Tears streamed down my face. I buried half my face in the pillow, my consciousness growing hazy. Unbeknownst to me, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up again, it was already midnight. I felt the space beside me and realized I was alone. I paused, then picked up a glass, planning to go downstairs for water. But as soon as I left the bedroom, I heard faint creaking sounds from next door. The study door was ajar. I tiptoed over and saw two figures entangled on the desk. Chloe’s skin was pale as snow under the lamp. Her face was flushed, and she was panting softly, her fingers ceaselessly clawing at the tabletop. “Brother Liam, isn’t… isn’t Sister on her period? You’re not with her, and you’re tormenting me again…” “Shut up!” Liam intentionally lowered his voice, but his movements didn’t stop. This unexpected scene hit my chest like a heavy blow, making every breath a tearing agony. Could he really not control himself? Every moment, he had to be with Chloe… I looked away, no longer thinking of getting water. I stumbled back to my room. Half an hour later, my bedroom door opened. Liam, after showering, lay down beside me and pulled me into his arms again. “Aurora, my sweet, your husband’s here. It won’t hurt anymore.” I didn’t answer him. I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. But tears streamed down my cheeks, dampening my temples. The person behind me, thinking I was asleep, continued to gently rub my lower abdomen. I felt the burning warmth of his fingertips, and all my strength seemed to drain away, leaving only endless pain. I counted down in my mind, over and over. Only thirteen days left. Just hold on, Aurora, only thirteen days, and you’ll have nothing more to do with this man. During my period, Liam canceled all his work and stayed home with me. Once I slowly recovered, he reluctantly let go of me and went to the company to handle the piled-up affairs. After he left, I took my ID and went to the civil registry office to process the cancellation of my household registration. The clerk looked surprised. “Miss, only deceased persons can apply for this service.” I nodded. “I will be completely leaving this world in ten days. Please help me process it in advance.” The clerk thought I had cancer, gave me a sympathetic look, and eventually processed it for me. Holding the stamped documents, I sighed in relief, a smile of liberation on my face. Soon, there would be no Aurora in this world. And Liam would never find me!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299076”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

“My child, stay, and I’ll give you a billion dollars.” “No, two billion!” At the grand Hayes Estate, Old Mr. Sterling Hayes sat hunched in a plush armchair, his gaze pleading with me. But I, sitting opposite him, simply shook my head. With a gentle push, I slid the colossal check back across the table. “Grandpa, I’m sorry. We agreed on six years, and that time is up. My debt of gratitude has been repaid. It’s time for me to leave.” My voice was soft, yet unwavering in its resolve. Seeing my mind was made up, Old Mr. Sterling Hayes could only sigh. “You’ve worked tirelessly these past years. Before you go, tell me anything you wish for.” A heavy silence stretched between us for what felt like an eternity before I finally spoke. “I want you to… approve of Asher and Serena being together.” “You asked me to approach Asher specifically to make him forget Serena. But six years have passed, and you’ve seen it for yourself. Perhaps true love truly cannot be broken apart.” Another profound sigh escaped Old Mr. Sterling Hayes, his eyes heavy with weariness and resignation. “Enough, enough. I’m old. I won’t meddle in their young lives anymore. Let them do as they please. As for the divorce, my child, you’ll have to tell Asher yourself.” I nodded, bowing respectfully to the old man, then rose and walked toward the grand entrance. Once in the car, I cast one last look at the estate. The first time I came to this sprawling mansion, it was out of gratitude. I was an orphan from a foster home, destined to drop out of school like the other children there. But fate, or perhaps luck, intervened when Old Mr. Sterling Hayes noticed me. He sponsored my education, giving me a chance at a future. I had talent, and I worked tirelessly, skipping grades until, at just 22, I had already earned my Ph.D. from an elite university, a feat that turned heads. The year I achieved academic success, I specifically sought out the Hayes Estate to thank Old Mr. Sterling Hayes in person. He sat regally, his face etched with fatigue, and made a request. “My child, the Hayes family lacks no wealth. If you wish to repay my kindness, grant me one request: starting today, and for the next six years, you will approach my heir, Asher, and bear him a child, to make him forget… his adopted sister.” It was then I learned that Asher, the heir to the Hayes Group, had fallen for Serena, his adopted sister. He was willing to throw away his entire inheritance, defying all societal norms and family expectations, just to be with her. He was their golden boy, groomed from childhood to be the perfect heir, yet he rebelled so fiercely for a woman. The entire Hayes family was in a frenzy. To quash his obsession, they even sent Serena abroad. But after that, Asher plunged into a spiral of heavy drinking, a shadow of his former self. To repay my debt, I agreed. From then on, I began to approach Asher, relentlessly pursuing him, playing the part of a woman madly in love. Finally, I succeeded in marrying him and even bore him a child. For six grueling years, I performed my duties diligently, without a single complaint. But the moment Serena returned, his suppressed affections reignited with a vengeance. Even our son was frequently taken to see Serena, developing an affection for her and, in turn, growing distant from me, his own mother. It turned out, the woman he secretly cherished, the one he never spoke of, was also the one he had never forgotten. Thankfully, from now on, none of this would concern me. The Hayes family’s claim on me was only for six years, and the child had been born. Finally, I was free to leave. My scattered thoughts snapped back into reality, my gaze darting back inside the car. In the next horrifying instant, a runaway truck barreled straight for us. Then came a series of violent impacts. “BANG!” The world tilted, and I felt a jarring lurch. My forehead slammed into the hard seat, a searing pain consuming my senses. My vision dissolved into black, and I succumbed to unconsciousness. When I next awoke, the stark white ceiling and the acrid smell of antiseptic informed me of my whereabouts. A nurse, checking on me, expressed her relief upon seeing I was awake. After asking for my basic information, she marvelled, “You’re incredibly lucky. Just a mild concussion. We had over a dozen patients from that pile-up on Bayfront Road, and you’re the only survivor.” The nurse re-checked my vitals, letting out a relieved breath. “Nothing serious. We just need a family member to sign some discharge papers, and you can go.” I struggled to sit up, still reeling from the shock of my near-death experience. It took a long moment before I nodded, picking up my phone and dialing Asher’s number. The ringing continued, unanswered. Finally, perhaps annoyed, he simply disconnected the call. One call, two, three… I called him over a dozen times, but he never picked up. My gaze dropped, and I tapped on another contact: my son, Leo’s number. Time ticked by, the call disconnected again and again. Finally, a message popped up on the screen. [Can you stop bothering me? I have important things to do. Oh, and make sure to cook some chicken soup at home.] His tone was dismissive, his command arrogant. If you didn’t know, who would guess those words came from the son I carried for nine agonizing months? Outside the hospital room, nurses walked by in the hallway, their hushed voices drifting in. “Mr. Hayes is so devoted to his wife, isn’t he? She just had a minor burn from hot water, barely a scratch, and he booked an entire floor for her! And the young master, so well-behaved, constantly running errands for her.” “You’re mistaken. That’s not Mrs. Hayes. That’s Mr. Hayes’s adopted sister, Serena.” Hearing her, the other nurse quickly corrected her, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “But you’re new to Riverview City, you wouldn’t know. Mr. Hayes apparently loves his sister. He even nearly gave up his inheritance for her before, causing a huge scandal. It was only after Ms. Serena was sent abroad that he married the current Mrs. Hayes.” In that moment, I finally understood what those two—father and son—were so busy with. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. If I had truly died in that multi-car pile-up, would there even be anyone to claim my body? I looked up at the nurse, my voice quiet. “I’m sorry, I don’t have family. Can I sign for myself?” Perhaps it was the first time she’d encountered someone completely alone. A flicker of sympathy crossed the nurse’s eyes, and she eventually made an exception, handing me the discharge papers. I handled the discharge formalities alone. As I walked past a hospital room on my way to pick up medication, familiar voices drifted out. I instinctively glanced inside and saw Asher and Leo, both at Serena’s bedside, their faces displaying a tenderness and obedience I had never seen directed at me. I watched silently, my expression betraying no emotion, as if the people inside weren’t my husband and son. After a moment, I shifted my gaze, turning to walk away. Back home, I retrieved the divorce papers from a drawer. My eyes landed on Asher’s fluid signature at the bottom, and for a fleeting moment, I saw him signing it all those years ago. His eyes had been distant, devoid of any emotion as he looked at me. “Elara Brooks, I know you’re madly in love with me, but my heart belongs to another. I only married you because my family pressed me. From now on, if you ever want a divorce, just sign here, and you’re free to leave anytime.” Now, I picked up the pen and, without a moment’s hesitation, signed my name in the section for the wife!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299075”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

After years of a fruitless relationship, today I finally decided to let go. “Ms. Carter, this is for your pre-booked death service. Your death is scheduled for Leo’s celebration party in three days, by falling into a river. Both you and the baby will be faking your deaths. Please confirm.” I gently patted the sleeping infant in my arms, then signed my name neatly on the client section of the document. Everyone in this city knew I was Julian Hayes’s most ardent admirer. I had been obsessed with Julian for eight years, relentlessly chasing him until I finally became Mrs. Hayes. But they didn’t know that when Julian was five, he gave me his mother’s diamond ring and said he’d marry me when he grew up. When Julian was fifteen, he solemnly tattooed both our initials over his heart, his voice earnest, “Anya, I want to love you every day, forever.” At eighteen, Julian risked his life to rush into a burning building to save me. A falling beam struck his head, requiring emergency surgery. The doctors warned he might suffer memory loss. Before the surgery, Julian took off the amulet he’d worn since childhood and placed it on me. “Anya, death can’t separate us, let alone a little memory loss. Wait for me, I promise I’ll remember you!” “Remember to wear this amulet and never take it off. It’s our token of recognition!” Later, Julian woke up, but he’d lost all memory from before he was sixteen. He even mistook Seraphina Reed, who secretly loved him, for his girlfriend. For eight years, I tried everything to make Julian remember. But because Julian’s mother insisted he marry me, he only grew to resent me more. He even said, when I was in labor, nearly dying, “Just tell me when she’s dead, so Seraphina can take her place as Mrs. Hayes.” That single sentence drained the last shred of affection I had for him. I held my baby and went to the fake death agency, wanting nothing more than to leave his world forever, never to see him again! Leaving the agency, I saw a large screen in the mall, looping an interview with Julian. He was holding Seraphina’s hand, his eyes soft. “Seraphina’s son, Lucas, is only three. He needs a father’s love, so we don’t plan on having children for now. I don’t want to upset him.” Julian’s answer triggered wild cheers from the onlookers. [Ugh, this ice-cold CEO ignores his own flesh and blood but treats his ex-girlfriend’s kid like a treasure? So devoted and loyal, I’m dying of envy!] [This is the woman Mr. Hayes fell for at sixteen. Even after she abandoned him when he went blind, he stayed devoted, waiting three years to win her back. Such an open-minded and passionate man is rare!] [That obsessed stalker thought taking care of the blind Mr. Hayes for three years would win his heart? Those two are true love, alright!] [Who knows how Anya Carter, that manipulative faker, got her position. She actually thought giving birth to his son would win him back. Mr. Hayes never even looked at her properly, she’s completely deluded!] [I’ve never seen such a shameless woman. Those two are beautiful and brilliant. She clearly knows Julian only has eyes for Seraphina, yet she clings to the position of Mrs. Hayes. So dark-hearted!] The cold words of the crowd pierced my heart like sharp swords, leaving it riddled with holes. The pain made it impossible to breathe. My baby’s cry broke my reverie. Ignoring everything else, I hurried into a nearby mall, searching for a nursing room to feed my child. Unfortunately, I ran into Julian again on the first floor, buying toy guns with Seraphina’s son. Julian patiently picked out toys, a rare smile gracing his usually stern face. The moment our eyes met, Julian’s smile vanished. He spoke coldly, “Can’t you do anything productive for once, instead of spending all day tracking my movements and crying for me to come home?”

“Julian, stop it. Anya is still recovering from childbirth, she’s very weak. This is when she needs care the most. If she doesn’t recover properly, she could suffer long-term health issues.” Seraphina wrapped her arm possessively around Julian’s, her smile gentle. “Since Anya came to find you, be good and go home with her today.” “Your baby is almost a month old, and you haven’t held him once as a father. It’s really not right.” “Hmph, my child? He was just a formality, a duty I had to fulfill for my family. He doesn’t deserve for me to hold him!” Julian affectionately pinched Seraphina’s cheek. “Even if he’s not my own, I feel better holding your son.” Their argument attracted a crowd of onlookers and hushed whispers. [Oh my god, isn’t that Mr. Hayes and his wife? This is Anya Carter’s child, one she almost died giving birth to. What Mr. Hayes said is a bit harsh, isn’t it?] [At least Anya Carter stayed by his side tirelessly for three years when Mr. Hayes was blind. From his tone, it sounds like he wants this woman dead.] [Yeah, Mr. Hayes is such a jerk. Women are so weak after giving birth, and she’s not getting any care from her husband. So pathetic.] People always follow the crowd, saying whatever suits the moment. In such scenes, some cursed me, others defended me. I was used to it. I looked at Julian’s disgusted face, my eyes welling up with tears. He had long forgotten how he risked his life to save me from the fire. Forgotten how he donated bone marrow for me when I had leukemia, defying everyone. Forgotten his promise that we would love each other every day, forever. The one trapped by those sweet memories wasn’t Julian. It was me. Luckily, in three days, I would leave his world completely, never to see him again! Leo’s cries grew more anxious. I felt a surge of panic, pushed past Seraphina, who was blocking my way, and rushed into the nursing room at the end of the aisle. Behind the door, I heard the sound of a woman falling and a man’s shocked, pained cry. I focused on feeding Leo, my phone ringing incessantly. It was Julian calling. I decisively turned it off. After soothing the baby, I left the nursing room to find Julian holding Seraphina, who was resting on a bench. Seraphina had a bandage on her forehead, her eyes filled with tears. “Julian, please don’t blame Anya. She was just anxious about the baby and accidentally pushed me. She definitely didn’t mean to disfigure me.” “Hmph, this woman knew you depend on your looks, yet she deliberately pushed you down. How malicious!” Julian’s face was like ice, and he snapped, “Anya Carter, get over here and apologize to her!” “No, no, it’s fine,” Seraphina demurred, though her eyes gleamed with triumph. I looked at her, devoid of emotion. I took off the amulet I always wore close to my skin and handed it to her. “I bumped into you today. Take this as my apology.” At this, Julian’s eyes flashed with confusion, and Seraphina was equally startled, feigning refusal. “Anya, you shouldn’t! This is your most cherished necklace. Keep it!” “My face is really fine, you don’t have to be so worried.” “Anya Carter, what trick are you trying to pull now?” Julian suppressed a sudden flicker of unease, frowning in displeasure. “Before, when I told you to return the amulet to Seraphina, you cried hysterically, refusing to give in even if it meant death. Why are you suddenly willing today?” “I’m not playing any tricks. I just don’t want it anymore.” My expression was indifferent as I held Leo and walked away. But Julian blocked my path. “Don’t think this reverse psychology will make me agree to go home with you. Are you so desperate for a man you’ve gone crazy? Dream on!” I placed the amulet in his hand, not sparing him a glance, and walked away. In three days, I would be completely out of his life. Why would I care about an amulet he gave me, or if he wanted to come home?

Julian vaguely felt I had changed, but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He meticulously cleaned the amulet and handed it to Seraphina. “This is my most precious amulet. It’s yours now.” “Julian, Anya seems upset. You should go back to her,” Seraphina gently advised. “Whether she’s upset or not, what does it matter to me?” Julian said. “Let’s go!” … The clock on the wall struck midnight. Julian still wasn’t home. In the past, I would have called everyone around him, asking about his whereabouts and persuading him to come home. After all, he’d had two brain surgeries and couldn’t stay up late. Now, I was busy getting rid of everything, unwilling to waste time on insignificant people. I instructed Martha to inventory all the gifts I had given Julian over the years. They filled five large boxes. There were watches worth tens of thousands of dollars, calligraphy and paintings, and 136 custom-made suits. There were also 238 love letters Julian had once written to me. I had once tried to use these passionate letters to awaken his love and memories. But I hadn’t known that my roommate, Seraphina, had secretly sabotaged me, delaying my visit to Julian in the hospital. When I rushed to the hospital with the love letters, a conscious Julian was holding Seraphina’s hand tightly. His eyes were full of deep affection. “Seraphina, I’ll be good to you my entire life!” “I’ll make you a superstar!” I was shocked and heartbroken, desperately wanting to prove my identity with the love letters and the amulet. Instead, I was met with Julian’s cold accusation, “What a scheming and manipulative woman. How dare you secretly replace my name in the love letters I wrote for Seraphina with yours?” “And you even deliberately got the same tattoo on your chest as mine and stole the amulet I gave Seraphina?” “You’re utterly despicable!” The boy who once loved me so deeply now only believed Seraphina’s fabricated lies, looking at me with nothing but disgust and disdain. No matter how his friends explained, Julian was convinced that I had painstakingly tried to steal Seraphina’s place. He even threatened to cut ties with them if they continued to speak on my behalf! Thinking about the eight years I spent chasing Julian, the hopeless waiting, and his mockery, tears blurred my vision. If he truly loved me, how could he have no physical memory of me, mistaking someone else for his girlfriend? How could he hurt me so deeply, not giving me an ounce of trust? Ultimately, Julian didn’t love me enough, which was why he so easily fell for someone else’s manipulation! I suppressed the bitterness in my heart and tossed my wedding ring into the trash. Then I doused the discarded items with gasoline. Martha, the housekeeper, retrieved the ring from the trash. “Madam, this is the lily wedding ring Mr. Hayes personally carved for you when he was sixteen. You can’t throw it away!” “And these gifts and love letters were once Mr. Hayes’s most cherished possessions. He won’t be able to bear it if you burn them.” “Please give Mr. Hayes more time. He loves you so much, he’ll definitely regain his memory!” “Whether Julian regains his memory or not, I don’t want him anymore.” I tossed the lit lighter onto the clothes. “The Julian I loved died when he was sixteen. He’s never coming back.” The soaring flames illuminated my cold eyes, filled with endless sorrow, but more so, with a hopeful anticipation for the future. In 62 hours, I would vanish completely with my son, leaving Julian with absolutely nothing!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299074”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

I was Julian, the Sterling family’s adopted son for eleven years, a fake young master in an elite household. Then, when I turned twenty-one, the real heir, Asher, returned. From that moment on, my entire adoptive family showered Asher with affection. Even Chloe, my fiancée, gazed at him with a tenderness that meant she couldn’t bear for him to suffer even a little. The contrast with me couldn’t have been starker. My adoptive father called me trash, my adoptive mother branded me an ungrateful wretch, my adoptive sister Valerie demanded I vacate my position as the Sterling family’s son for Asher, and my fiancée insisted I hand over the prestigious university placement I’d worked three years to secure. If I dared to disagree, the torment would begin. Today, I sought out Chloe precisely because I couldn’t endure the torture any longer. I decided to give in. The heavy mansion gates finally swung open, and Chloe gazed at me with an icy stare, where I’d been standing, drenched and shivering, for two agonizing hours. “Chloe, I agree. I’ll give Asher my university placement.” “It would have been so much easier if you’d just listened earlier,” she said, holding an umbrella over me as she led me inside. A rare flicker of satisfaction danced in Chloe’s usually aloof eyes. She poured me a cup of hot water, a fleeting softness on her face. “Julian, it’s good you’ve come to your senses. Your grades are exceptional; missing out on university isn’t really that important.” “Asher is different. He was stuck in a disadvantaged neighborhood for years. His education suffered, he’s behind in his studies. It’s rare for him to show this ambition, so just help him out this time.” Chloe’s tone, seemingly gentle yet utterly resolute, conveyed a certainty that I would bend to her will. I stared at the woman I loved, so close to me, and my body began to tremble uncontrollably. I felt a chill that cut deeper than any rain-soaked cold outside. This was the woman I had loved for eleven years, my girlfriend, my fiancée. It was only today that I truly understood. She wasn’t born cold-hearted. She simply… didn’t love me.

I couldn’t recall anything from my early childhood. From my earliest memories, I grew up in an orphanage. At ten, I was adopted by the Sterling family. At the time, the Sterlings were heartbroken, having lost their biological son. Even with me, the atmosphere in their home was perpetually somber. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling were strict parents. They constantly compared me to Asher, hoping I would grow into the perfect rich kid. Those years were tough. Endless lessons, countless talents to learn, and a constant stream of scolding. Chloe was the only light in those oppressive years. She was ethereal, quiet, yet handled everything with effortless grace, approaching perfection. She was like the most dazzling princess in a crowd, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The Sterling and Taylor families were close. They’d always spoken of an arranged marriage between our children since we were kids. When the real Asher went missing, that engagement fell to me, their adopted son. From ten years old to twenty-one, I knew she was my future fiancée. I willingly followed Chloe, my every joy and sorrow tied to her. Chloe never explicitly reciprocated, but she never rejected me either. She played the part of a suitable fiancée, walking by my side. I thought she saw the boy who quietly adored her, that she was touched by me, willing to accept my affection, and offering some care in return. But just as I believed our relationship was growing stronger, Asher returned. And from that day, everything changed.

The burning heat of the mug in my hands jolted me back to reality. I turned and headed for the bathroom, needing to wash away not just the rain, but everything else. Chloe stood rooted, watching my back. “Let’s go to the Maldives sometime soon. I’ll take you diving.” My steps faltered. She always did this—offered a sweet taste just when I thought of giving up, making me reluctant to leave. But this time, I wasn’t as happy as she expected. I turned back, my voice cold. “Chloe, I don’t swim. Diving is out of the question.” Asher was a swimming champion as a child, and enthusiastic about activities like diving and surfing. It was obvious who Chloe wanted to go to the Maldives with. Not a hint of embarrassment touched Chloe’s face. She just looked at me, completely composed, and asked, “So, where would you like to go for your vacation? I’ll handle the arrangements.” It was rare for Chloe to ask for my opinion like that. I didn’t argue further, nor did I answer. When I emerged from the bathroom, Chloe looked up from her phone and glanced at me. “Are you running a fever?” I gave a bitter laugh. In the dead of winter, she’d left me outside in the rain for two hours. Of course, I had a fever. Chloe pulled me to the bed, tucking the blankets around me. “Lie still. I’ll get some medicine.” She had barely turned when her phone rang. The next second, I heard Asher’s voice on the other end. “Chloe, my stomach hurts so bad! I think I’m dying…” “Wait there! I’m coming right now!” Hearing his plea, a rare look of panic crossed Chloe’s face. Without a moment’s hesitation, she walked out, completely forgetting about me, burning up with fever. The sprawling mansion instantly felt empty. My head throbbed, hazy with fever. In my daze, my heart ached with a dull, familiar pain. Love and indifference, they were so painfully clear. But thankfully, my biological parents had found me not long ago. I picked up the overseas call I had rejected so many times before. “About moving to the States, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll finish up my academic research here, and in two weeks, I’ll join you in America.” “That’s wonderful, sweetheart! We’ll make it up to you, darling. After all these years, we’re finally going to be a family again.” “For these next two weeks, spend some time with your adoptive parents, say your goodbyes.” Goodbyes? Would anyone truly care if I left or stayed? There was no need. In two weeks, I would pack up everything and silently leave this place!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299073”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

Behind Julian Sterling’s back, I arranged for his ‘little rose’ to study at a prestigious music conservatory in New York. Julian, who everyone always described as a detached ascetic, instantly went berserk. He was convinced I’d deliberately sent away his little rose. He marooned our five-year-old son, Leo, on a cruise ship heading for the Arctic, demanding I bring Seraphina back. I watched Leo cry in agony on the ship as it sailed further into international waters. Then, Julian’s assistant hoisted Leo, his small body dangling precariously outside the railing. Julian’s voice, chillingly low and sinister, echoed, “Eleanor, you have five minutes to decide. Otherwise, our son will sink to the bottom of the deep blue sea!” **Minute one:** I remembered the five years I’d secretly loved Julian, quietly becoming his unacknowledged partner. He came from an influential family in pharmaceuticals; I was just a girl from a humble background, with no standout looks. I’d chosen to be a secret, content without a title. **Minute two:** Sterling family had Julian set for an arranged marriage of convenience with an heiress right after graduation. But Julian pulled me straight to the courthouse and we got our marriage license. **Minute three:** I got pregnant, but the Sterling family refused to accept me. Julian took me away from his family, cut ties, and we had our son, Leo. **Minute four:** Julian adopted his friend’s niece. The night of Seraphina’s 20th birthday, I saw the raw, hidden love in Julian’s eyes when he looked at her. **Minute five:** I remembered Julian and his little niece, Seraphina, in bed, willing to die entangled in each other’s arms… Julian’s hand opened, and the personal charm he’d worn for nearly twenty years was gone. That charm, which I was never allowed to touch, was now fastened around Seraphina’s right ankle. Julian’s eyes were arctic, completely devoid of warmth. “Eleanor, I’m asking you one last time. Where is Seraphina?” A sharp pang of pain tore through my throat, and Leo’s desperate cries for “Mommy, save me!” hammered in my ears. The sea wind whipped at my face, stinging painfully. “Eleanor, do you want our son to die, is that it?” My chest ached, each breath a struggle. I lifted my tear-filled eyes to Julian. “Julian, Leo is your biological son! How could you threaten his life?” Julian’s thin lips curled as he spat, “But Seraphina is my life too!” Tears streamed down my face. So, Seraphina was his life now. What were Leo and I to him then? “Eleanor, as long as Seraphina comes back, you’ll still be my wife.” I swallowed, trying to control my emotions. “Julian, I don’t believe you’d actually sacrifice our son for Seraphina. Besides, I haven’t harmed her.” Julian’s voice turned cold. “Counting down five seconds. If you don’t tell me where she is, our son, Leo, will be thrown into international waters to feed the sharks!” “5… 4… 3…” Seeing him actually start to move, I couldn’t hold out any longer. “Seraphina is at the BK Music Academy in New York.” I crumpled to the ground. He actually dared. He dared to abandon our own son for Seraphina. My tearful eyes watched Julian immediately grab his phone and dial. He was clearly frantic. “Get a helicopter over here. I’m flying to New York.” He didn’t spare me another glance, his eyes glued to his phone. My trembling hand scooped up a handful of sand. For ten years, I’d quietly been Julian’s woman behind the scenes. Whether it was scientific breakthroughs or achievements, every single one of his projects had my help. He built Sterling Pharmaceuticals from the ground up, moving beyond pure research to become its CEO. I’d spent 24/7 in the lab, solely dedicated to developing the specific drug he wanted. I succeeded. Sterling Pharmaceuticals quickly rose to become a top-tier pharmaceutical group, rivaling the original Sterling corporation. That night, Julian held me close, kissing my neck with such tender affection. “Eleanor, you’re my other half! Woven into my very soul!” I thought everything was finally moving in the right direction. I could prove I deserved to stand by his side, the Sterling family had seen my results, and in the last two years, our relationship with them had softened. But the outcome was this: Julian had fallen in love with a girl nine years his junior. A girl who was innocently charming, who’d cling to him, constantly pouting and saying: “Julian, I want you to stay with me.” “Julian, I don’t get this problem, help me.” “Julian, you absolutely *must* come to Seraphina’s cello competition. If you don’t, I’ll forfeit…” “Julian, Seraphina really likes you.” Acting spoiled was something I’d never done with Julian. Confessing my feelings was something I’d never done with Julian. Julian, right under my nose, fell for that ‘little princess’ who was so utterly helpless she ‘could barely function on her own.’ This little princess needed him to pamper her, and he willingly took on that difficult task, treating it like sweet candy. The helicopter arrived quickly. Julian couldn’t wait for Leo’s cruise ship to return; he boarded the helicopter and flew to New York. I watched the helicopter disappear into the distance. I called Julian several times, but he hung up every time. I sent him a message directly: **[When is our son coming back?!]** His reply came: **[In three hours, Eleanor. Seraphina is just a friend’s niece I promised to look after. She even calls me ‘Uncle Julian,’ I can’t let him down.]** I managed a bitter laugh at his explanation. *Can’t let him down?* I was about to turn off my phone when another message popped up. **[Eleanor, so what if I love Julian? He wants to be with me, and we’re willing to die tangled in each other’s arms. He’s had no passion for you for ages. You’re just unwilling to let him go.]** **[Eleanor, Julian came to my school again tonight. We went to a hotel, and he really liked the bunny outfit I wore today.]** **[…]** There were also explicit videos, showing Julian’s unrestrained passion in vivid detail. I turned off my phone and sat numbly by the sea, waiting for my son to return. The sea wind had dried my tears. I once believed that my love for Julian was enough. When Julian cheated, I even thought men might just be looking for excitement; we had a son, we needed a complete family. But now, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. I’d been alone since childhood, without parental love or family affection. I thought I’d found true love, but now everything was shattered again. I opened a contract on my phone. This was the divorce agreement I’d signed when Sterling Pharmaceuticals went public. It meant automatically forfeiting all my shares in Sterling Pharmaceuticals and waiving my claim to the marriage itself. Just before the IPO, Grandpa Sterling had found me. “Eleanor, if you sign this, I’ll help Julian’s company go public. He wants to list on NASDAQ, and with my help, Sterling Pharmaceuticals can rival the original Sterling corporation.” To reassure the Sterling family and for Julian’s sake, I secretly signed the agreement. I had never imagined Julian would leave me. Now, everything had changed. Soon after, I sent another message. **[I agree. I’m joining Ocean’s Gate.]** That was the world’s top marine medical research team, where the best minds from all over the globe gathered. The catch? You needed to be confined beneath the sea for 30 years before you could pass through that ‘Gate of Time.’ My only condition: I would take my son, Leo. Julian would never find Leo and me again! To go to a place without borders, I needed to take my unique research findings with me. But all the research data and samples were in the lab. Opening that lab required both Julian’s and my fingerprints and passwords simultaneously. Soon after, Leo finally returned. His face was stained with tears, and he was sleeping fitfully. I kissed his forehead. “Leo, do you want to leave with Mommy?” Leo’s eyelashes fluttered. He looked at me, crying, “Mommy, Leo almost went into the ocean.” A five-year-old already understood what that meant. It was Julian’s most trusted assistant who had held Leo. My eyes welled up. “Leo, if you come with Mommy, you won’t have Daddy anymore. Are you willing?” Leo wrapped his small arms around my neck and nodded. “Wherever Mommy is, Leo is.” I took Leo to the corporate building. My fingerprints and password allowed me access to the high-level research lab. But I couldn’t open that door. Through the glass, I could see the computers and various experiment samples inside. One set of experimental data, which I had developed entirely on my own, was the only thing I truly wanted to take with me. “Mommy, what should we do? Daddy’s not here, you can’t open this door.” My mind replayed Julian building this lab, recording my fingerprints and password. He’d held me, whispering in my ear, “Eleanor, don’t tell me your password, and I won’t tell you mine. This place holds the company’s most important treasures. Only when we’re here together can we open this door and see these things. This way, we’ll always be connected, never separated.” When two people are in love, it’s about mutual reliance. But when the love fades, it becomes the perfect way to guard against each other. Julian, did you ever consider this day, five years ago? I ultimately couldn’t open the lab door. I took Leo straight to our apartment on the second floor. For years, Leo and I had lived in the corporate building with Julian until Seraphina’s arrival prompted them to buy a villa, turning it into a home. Everything here was something Leo and I had put together ourselves, before Seraphina came along. I packed all my belongings: things Julian bought for me, things I bought for Julian, and all the matching couple items I’d secretly bought with hidden hopes. Leo also sorted all his things. “Daddy bought this, don’t need it. Mommy bought this, take it. This is our family photo, don’t need it.” The little guy used three bags, categorizing items quickly. I held back my tears, watching my son meticulously sort everything. Julian, do you know how smart Leo is? He didn’t say a word, but he understood you’d abandoned him. Leo ran over and hugged me tightly. His small hands wiped away my tears. “Mommy, you always wanted to go to that lab, didn’t you? You said the ocean makes up three-quarters of our home, and we have to protect it. You always wanted to be a warrior protecting the ocean. Mommy is the best. You’re just going to fulfill your dream, and Leo supports you, he’ll go with you.” I looked at a painting in the distance. Julian was a skilled painter. It was an oil painting he’d done of Leo and me when Leo was two. I walked over, opened a paint box nearby, grabbed a brush, and slowly painted over my own image. Leo immediately grabbed a small brush, mimicking me, and painted over his own image in the painting. The little guy said warmly, “Mommy, when Leo learns to paint, I’ll only paint for you. Leo is super talented, definitely better than this painting.” I smiled faintly, stroking his face. Once everything was sorted, I made a call, and the junk collection service hauled everything away. That included the bed Julian and I shared, the sofa, the kitchenware—everything. The cozy photos I’d arranged on the walls, Leo’s messy scribbles, I tore them all down and threw them away. I even bought new paint and brushed the walls over and over again. Until this 200-square-meter apartment was left with only its load-bearing walls, empty, not even a single needle left. The walls were stark white, not a trace visible. And in the kitchen, the stomach medicine I always kept for Julian? Not a single pill remained. It took me a day and a night to do all this. Leo fell asleep on the floor. I carried him back to the villa. Pushing open the door, I found the living room filled with cigarette smoke, a dozen butts overflowing in the ashtray. Julian’s usually stoic face was etched with a hint of despair, his eyes bloodshot. His voice was cold, deep, and menacing. “Seraphina was bullied the moment she got to school! She’s lying in her dorm, covered in bruises, and she doesn’t even have money for medicine!” Julian had been waiting for me, his face accusatory, his icy eyes chilling me to the bone, as if I were his enemy. I glanced at Leo sleeping in my arms. “Julian, whatever it is, don’t argue in front of our son.” I was about to head upstairs. Just then, Seraphina appeared at the top of the stairs. She was wearing a white nightgown, her cascading curly hair falling to her waist, her innocent face filled with panic. She nervously clutched the fabric of her nightgown. “Aunt Eleanor, I… I promise I won’t cling to Uncle Julian anymore. Please don’t send me abroad.” The girl stood not far away, deliberately calling me “Aunt Eleanor” to make me sound old and past my prime. She looked at me pitifully. Julian had already risen from the sofa and went straight to Seraphina on the stairs. He gently pushed back her long hair, revealing red finger marks on her fair face where she’d been slapped hard. Seraphina collapsed into Julian’s arms, weeping. “Aunt Eleanor, the students who bullied me were all from here. They said they were paid to do it. You sent me to a top music academy, so it couldn’t have been you bullying me, could it?” Julian’s eyes turned completely cold, his icy gaze fixed on me, standing downstairs. “Eleanor, you may not like Seraphina, but I told you I have to take care of her until she graduates with her master’s at 25, until her uncle returns. But my constant compromises have only led you to bully Seraphina again and again.” Their arguments were loud enough to wake Leo. He tried to turn his head, but I wouldn’t let him. “Leo, close your eyes. Don’t listen.” I struggled to compose myself. “Julian, the BK Music Academy is one of the top three institutions in the world. If there’s bullying, you can call the police, or investigate it yourself, instead of interrogating me here.” Seraphina continued to sob uncontrollably. “Aunt Eleanor, I was wrong, I was wrong.” She pleaded while kneeling on the floor. “Please, Aunt Eleanor, I just want to study here in Veridian City. I can even live on campus. I promise I’ll only come back once a month—no, even half a day is fine. Please don’t send me away. Those people will kill me.” Seraphina’s tears seemed to mesmerize Julian. He picked her up right in front of me, his eyes filled with ruthless fury as he looked at me. “We’ll talk in the study later. I need to comfort Seraphina first.” I numbly went upstairs, Leo’s childish voice saying, “Mommy, can we leave Daddy sooner?” Julian embraced Seraphina. I stroked Leo’s back, my heart aching. “Yes, honey. Once Mommy handles everything, I’ll try my best.” I carried Leo down the second-floor hallway towards his bedroom. As we passed Seraphina’s room, I noticed the door wasn’t quite closed, leaving a slight gap. Through the sliver of space, I saw Julian pinning Seraphina on the bed, his hand already disappearing beneath her white nightgown. My body instantly stiffened, my eyes filled with excruciating pain. Julian, is *this* how you’re taking care of her?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299072”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn