I am a jinx who can see the countdown to my family’s death. Because both my grandpa and dad died on the day I blurted out their death times. My three older sisters unanimously believed that my curse killed them, and they detested me. My mom also died due to complications during childbirth, leaving behind a younger brother who received all the love and adoration from my sisters. My sisters said my brother was a little lucky star, and since his birth, everything in the family had been smooth sailing. But Mom died giving birth to him. I lived in a cramped attic, gnawing on leftover bread, barely surviving until eighteen. Looking into the mirror, I saw my own countdown. I wasn’t sad; instead, I felt relieved. I’m finally going to die! Before dying, I only prayed to have one last meal with my sisters. But my sister glared at me coldly, warning me not to use such tactics to attract attention. I am a jinx; how could I be worthy of standing in front of my lucky star brother! 1 Since I was little, I could see a countdown hovering over people’s heads. When I first saw the numbers over my grandpa’s head, I told my parents. They just laughed, thinking it was childish nonsense, and didn’t take it seriously. A day later, when I saw Grandpa again, he was lying on the bed covered with a white cloth. Many people were crying sadly, but I didn’t understand what they were doing. Later, I saw a countdown on my dad’s head too. When I told him, Dad’s smile stiffened for a moment before returning to normal. That night, I didn’t see Dad come back from work. I only heard the urgent ringing of the telephone. After answering the call, Mom’s face turned deadly pale. Her belly was already very big. She ran too hurriedly and fell on the steps at the entrance. Right at that moment, I saw the familiar 24-hour countdown appear over her head. That day, my brother was born, and Mom died from massive hemorrhaging despite rescue efforts. I stood outside the hospital room, looking bewildered. My third sister, Chloe, pushed me to the ground, calling me a monster, saying I cursed them. Saying I killed Dad and Mom. My palms scraped hard against the cold floor, oozing tiny beads of blood. It hurt so much I wanted to cry, but looking around, no one came near me. Their eyes were filled with fear and disgust. I didn’t dare make a sound. I could only bite my lip, climb up from the ground myself, pat my little pants, and comfort myself in my heart. I curled up into a ball in the corner, listening to the continuous crying outside the door, hugging my knees and sobbing softly. “Dad, Mom…” I slowly fell asleep like this. When I opened my eyes again, the place was empty. They all left. Why didn’t anyone call me? Did they not want me anymore? I stood up in a panic, but because I had squatted for too long, my legs were numb, and I fell straight to the floor. In the quiet corridor, only the flickering fluorescent lights accompanied me. My body hurt, and I couldn’t hold back anymore, crying out loud. From that day on, everything changed. 2 My three sisters treated my brother extremely well, but avoided me like the plague. Seeing them like this, the servants in the house also started to treat me perfunctorily, judging people based on their status. As a child, I often fell asleep hungry, but I still managed to survive on leftovers until I was eighteen. Chloe always said bad people live longer; otherwise, why was I still alive? Nestled in the small attic, I also wondered if I couldn’t die because I was too bad. Thinking of this, I crawled out of bed, shuffling my slippers to the bathroom to wash up. My hair was withered and yellow, my cheeks gaunt. No one would guess this was the eldest son of the Jiang family. But I didn’t care about these things because I saw the countdown over my own head. Through the mirror, a bright red countdown stood impressively above my head. Finally, this day has come. I wanted to laugh, but only slightly hooked the corners of my mouth, looking at myself in the mirror, lost in thought. I have no friends, and the people I interact with usually are pitifully few. How should I spend this last day? After thinking for a long time, I slowly tidied myself up and came down from the cramped attic I had always lived in. The attic was really too small, so small that fitting a bed for an adult like me was a struggle. I was still using a twin-sized bed meant for dorm students. Fortunately, being thin and weak, I could barely sleep curled up on it. As for my original room, it had long been turned into a toy room for my brother after he was born. More than once, I peered through the small window of the attic, watching my sisters play with the boy on the lawn. He was innocent and cute, laughing carefree. Every time I saw it, I mimicked his smile, as if I could peek into a sliver of the same happiness. But my smile was ugly, I knew. I looked in a broken small mirror, and indeed, as my sisters said, I looked hideous. Since then, I haven’t liked smiling. I walked downstairs cautiously, not expecting anyone to be there at this time. Descending the escalator, my ears were filled with my brother Henry’s clear laughter. He was really happy. My brother excitedly held a hairpin, volunteering, “Second sister, let me put the hairpin on for you.” Second sister, Bella, lowered her head following Henry’s force, looking dotingly at her brother clumsily putting a crooked hairpin on her. Henry stepped back two steps to look, a bit distressed. The crooked bun really didn’t look good. He asked his sister to redo it. The woman looked in the small mirror and didn’t take it down. Instead, she smiled and rubbed his head. “No need, our Henry put a hairpin on for his sister for the first time. You did great.” “Let’s go, Second Sister will take you to school today.” Hearing this, Henry happily took her hand. My heart felt sour, remembering myself as a child. That was the first time I knitted a scarf. I stayed up for days to knit a somewhat crooked scarf. I nervously gave it to Bella, hoping for a word of praise, hoping she would pat my head like before. She didn’t take it, her eyes filled with disgust. “Who knows if I’ll be cursed taking your stuff.” Used to rejection, I gave the scarf to the family dog, hoping to make its bed more comfortable and warm. But the next day, I saw my scarf in the trash can, cut into pieces, unable to be put back together. Ignoring the filth on the trash can, I reached out to pick it up piece by piece, washed it clean, put it in a box, and never took it out again. Thinking of this, I pursed my lips. As they were about to leave, I still wanted to try one more time. Even just once would be fine. “Second Sister, Brother.” Seeing me, their expressions were different. Henry’s eyes lit up for a moment when he saw me, happily calling me brother. Beside him, Second Sister had a cold face, seemingly wanting to say something but perhaps holding back because of Henry. “Can we have dinner together tonight? Just once is enough.” I said it with difficulty, nervously waiting for their response. “Sure!” “No.” Two completely opposite voices sounded at the same time. Henry turned to look at Bella and asked in confusion, “Why not?” Yeah, why not? I silently dug my nails into my palm. “Did you forget? We agreed before that you’d accompany Big Sister to the auction tonight.” Under Bella’s affirming gaze, Henry seemed suddenly enlightened, then looked at me apologetically. “Sorry, brother, I don’t have time to have dinner with you today.” The boy thought for a moment and smiled again. “How about tomorrow? Let’s have dinner together as a family tomorrow.” A family? I forced a smile uglier than crying, the bitterness in my heart almost drowning me. I have no tomorrow. But I still agreed to him, watching him leave. Before leaving, Bella glanced at me, her cold gaze like a sharp blade, seeming to slice me inch by inch. “Ethan, don’t let me find out you’re plotting anything.” “If you let Henry get hurt even a little bit, don’t blame us for being merciless.” “Stay away from him.” 3 I watched them drift further away, my previous nervous joy instantly cooling to the extreme, as if falling into an ice cave. Slowly opening my palm, it was already bleeding from my pinching, leaving deep nail marks. Is this my image in her eyes? Like a villain, a murderer. Clearly used to it, my heart still throbbed with pain, and my stomach stung too. I walked to the kitchen to find something to eat. The tidy and clean kitchen had nothing. The refrigerator and cabinets were locked with passwords. Everyone was out, and the servants did this to guard against only me. I looked at half a piece of dry bread left on the island, hesitated, and picked it up. I found two shriveled walnuts in the living room. I kept chewing, but it was tasteless, and these things didn’t make me feel full. My stomach still hurt badly. I drank two cups of water fiercely to satisfy my hunger, but felt stomach acid surging up. A servant passed by rolling her eyes. Seeing the bread in my hand, she exclaimed exaggeratedly. “Oh my! Young Master, you aren’t eating that, are you? That’s leftover from this morning; even Lucky wouldn’t eat it.” Lucky is the family dog. “It’s a pity the Misses and Young Master Henry are busy with serious matters, and we cooked a bit early.” “Young Master, if you want to eat something, I can make it now, although it’s a bit troublesome.” The servant’s troubled look made me frown. I refused her with a wooden face, endured the slight stinging in my stomach, and returned to my room. This home couldn’t tolerate me, so much so that even the servants treated me sarcastically. The burning pain in my stomach made me almost unable to control my emotions. With trembling hands, I opened the painkiller packet, stuffed pills into my mouth, picked up the cold water beside me, and gulped it down. The physical discomfort seemed to ease a bit. Changing clothes, I washed my face, trying to look spirited. I went to the funeral supply store first. With only one day left, a custom urn was impossible, but fortunately, there were many other styles to choose from. I chose a pattern I liked as my future “home.” Holding the urn happily all the way, I felt many puzzled or surprised gazes. I ignored them and went straight to the next destination. Stopping and going, I passed by Third Sister Chloe’s school. It was break time, and laughter came from the school from time to time. I looked at them enviously, vibrant teenagers. But I haven’t been to school since I was ten. Just as I was thinking of leaving, I looked up and saw Third Sister getting out of a car preparing to enter the school. Thinking it was only the last day, I summoned up courage and jogged towards Chloe. But as I got closer, I saw her frowning and speaking seriously to someone on the phone. Don’t know if it was because she saw me, a trace of wariness flashed in her eyes. She said into the phone, “I know.” Then she hung up and walked towards me. I wanted to ask her to come home for dinner tonight but was intimidated by her gaze. “Ethan, if you want to stay in this house, hide your little schemes well.” “If I find out you did anything to Henry, I will definitely make you wish you were dead.” 4 My body stiffened instantly. It was Henry again. I already guessed who called just now, Second Sister Bella. Right, I’ve been a jinx since I was little; otherwise, how could I curse my family to death. Thinking of Chloe’s methods, I couldn’t help shivering. When Mom just passed away, no one cared about me. I was finally sent home by a kind doctor lady. Back home, there was no warmth as imagined. I was locked in the small storeroom at home by Chloe for three whole days without anyone asking, no food or drink. This incident remains my childhood shadow until now. On the third day, when I thought I was about to die, Eldest Sister Sophia descended in front of me like a god. She let me out. Although indifferent, over the years, she treated me the best, at least treating me as transparent. I believe what I said this morning has already reached her ears. Seeing me silent for a long time, perhaps thinking I was scared, Chloe leaned close to my ear, her tone airy. “You know, with my means, making a person disappear is still very easy.” My pupils shook, and I watched her enter the school stiffly. I walked step by step towards my original destination, my brain almost unable to think anymore. I walked into the photo studio. After knowing I came to take a funeral photo, the receptionist girl’s eyes were full of sympathy. She comforted me gently with a few words. The grievance in my heart burst at this moment. It’s easy for people to lose control under a caring greeting from a stranger, just like me now. My tears wet her shoulder. She didn’t speak, just silently patted my back. Clearly just a stranger, yet giving me infinite warmth. After coming out of the photo studio, I squatted by the roadside, holding the urn and funeral photo prepared for myself, staring into the distance in a daze. I decided to go to the company to find Eldest Sister Sophia. Because I hadn’t been to the company, I searched for a long time before finding it, but was stopped by the receptionist. They told me I couldn’t enter without an appointment, and the boss was in a meeting and couldn’t answer the phone. Unwilling to give up, I dialed that number memorized by heart from my contacts, but no one answered after several calls. I found her social media account through the number. Only the last day left, I wanted Eldest Sister to accompany me, even just for a short meeting. Sending the edited message, I waited anxiously. Two hours passed, still no news. Time was running out. I didn’t want to die outside, so I returned home. The servants were out shopping. The whole villa was silent and empty. I started preparing the meal early, hoping for their return. No messages came on the phone, nor any successful friend request notifications. I sat on the chair, quietly staring at the countdown over my head reflected in the mirror in my hand. Only the last three hours left… I wanted them to accompany me through the last day, wanted to know their reactions when I died. Maybe surprise, I thought. No one in this world cares about my life or death. My closest people hate me, detest me. I made a table of dishes. Got splashed by oil on my hand, it hurt, but couldn’t cover the excitement in my heart. I realized I wasn’t right, excited to the extreme, even my body couldn’t stop trembling. Two hours left, I sat on the chair staring dead at the door. Trembling, I picked up the phone and called Sophia. “Big Sister.” She answered, but didn’t speak. My voice started to tighten, “Can you guys, come accompany me for a meal?” “I’m going to die.”

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In the third month of my cold war with my movie star boyfriend, Julian Cole, we were invited to a variety show that required us to call the person we loved most. Out of spite, he called his assistant, Lily, sending the internet into a frenzy of shipping them. I, on the other hand, dialed an unknown number, calling my mom in another world, which led to mass ridicule online. Julian sneered. “You’re an orphan, where did you get a mom? Hiring someone to pretend just to save face, you really have no bottom line!” I didn’t speak. Amidst his mocking expression, I rushed to the window and jumped. The System had just said: As long as I die in this world. I can go home and reunite with my mom. 1 “Hiring someone to pretend just to save face, you really have no bottom line!” [Host, as long as your body dies in this world, you can go home.] Two voices rang out simultaneously. I stared blankly ahead, lost in thought for a moment. Julian, however, thought I was looking at him and scoffed disdainfully. “What? Don’t tell me you don’t even have a person you love most? Is your life that much of a failure?” Julian’s words drew a round of laughter from everyone present. Only I couldn’t smile. He wasn’t wrong. Since coming to this world and accepting the mission to conquer his heart, I had practically revolved around him. To complete the mission quickly and go home to cure my mom. I didn’t bother making friends and could only rely on him. Like a fragile dodder flower. I was even mocked by the internet as “Earth’s Strongest Chewing Gum.” In the years Julian loved me most, he liked to hold me and promise: “Star, I will be with you for a lifetime. We will never be apart.” I believed him. Until the first time I caught him kissing Lily. He explained impatiently, his eyes fixed on Lily, whose cheeks were flushed with shyness. “We just lost a game, can you stop being so suspicious? We are innocent, don’t think of us so nastily.” We had a huge fight. Then three months ago, I caught them coming out of the bathroom in bathrobes. I couldn’t deceive myself anymore. He didn’t explain either. Instead, he deliberately put his arm around Lily. “Argue, argue, argue, you only know how to argue. Can’t you learn from Lily’s obedience?” At that moment, I finally realized. It should end. This mission. I couldn’t do it anymore. Fortunately, the System didn’t force me to complete the mission and readily agreed to cancel it. It even promised to cure my mom as originally agreed. With that. I had no more worries. Snapping back to reality, the System’s voice rang in my head again. [Host, your mother asked me to tell you she misses you very much.] My nose stung, and my eyes quickly reddened. Yes, I have people I love. I have a mom. I miss her very, very much too. “I want… to go home.” I mumbled unconsciously, my voice choking up. Julian paused, a trace of intolerance flashing in his eyes, but he remained stubborn. “Chloe Vance, your acting skills are getting better and better…” I pretended not to hear, stood up, and walked quickly to the window. Amidst the panicked cries of the crowd and the sound of live broadcast equipment toppling over. I jumped straight down from the windowsill. Julian, I don’t want you anymore. Five years of feelings, I don’t want them either. I just want to go home. 2 When I woke up, the smell of disinfectant filled my nose. I thought I was back. But before I could be happy, a familiar voice shook my heart. Regrettably, I didn’t die. “Chloe, you threaten me by jumping off a building just because I called Lily? Didn’t I just say a few words to you? Wasn’t it you who started the quarrel?” “If you really wanted to die, go to a higher floor! The third floor won’t kill you. What are you pretending for?” Julian’s eyes were bloodshot. I stared at him blankly. Before I could speak, I was interrupted by Lily, who suddenly entered the room. Her face was covered in tears, looking precarious. “Chloe, I’m sorry. Julian was just angry with you and wanted to make you jealous, so he called me. I won’t appear again, won’t disturb you anymore.” After saying that, she looked at Julian with teary eyes, full of struggle and reluctance. Finally turned to leave. But before she could take a few steps, Julian grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. Julian looked unhappy. “You did nothing wrong, why leave? Don’t cry, I’ll make Star clarify for you.” He turned to look at me, his gaze gradually turning cold. “Star, because your jump was live-streamed, Lily is now being cyberbullied by the whole internet. You must come out and explain for her. She is innocent and shouldn’t be implicated by you.” “Because of your matter, Lily gets called a mistress wherever she goes. You have to apologize to her. You were wrong in this matter, I can’t spoil you.” I wanted to laugh a little. But felt these entanglements were no longer important. I threw the phone to Julian, my face calm. “Mm, post whatever clarification you want.” “I just want to go home now.” The System responded immediately: [Host, very soon.] I closed my eyes again, driving them away: “Get out, all of you get out.” 3 Julian paused, didn’t leave. Then skillfully unlocked my phone and quickly posted the clarification statement. When handing the phone back to me, his eyes were complex. “Star, after so many years, your lock screen is still that photo.” I didn’t speak, glanced at the screen. It was a photo of Julian and me holding a cake, smiling brightly, full of love. I was a bit dazed. That year he wasn’t a movie emperor yet, running extra roles and being a stunt double every day. Finally, it was my birthday. He used all his money to buy me an expensive and exquisite cake. “Star, thank you for being willing to stay with me. In the future, I will buy you the most beautiful and expensive cake every year. We must always be together.” Later he became famous and fulfilled his promise. But I don’t know when the cakes and gifts became cold and sharp. In the mouth, the sweetness was gone. Only endless bitterness remained. I lay in the hospital for a week, thinking about how to die every day. On the day of discharge, Julian came to pick me up. Many fans blocked the hospital entrance and started cursing when they saw me. “Chloe Vance, go die! Why didn’t you die jumping off the building!” “Pretending and plotting against others! Really enough of a green tea b*tch!” “You even slandered Lily as a mistress? I think you look more like a mistress! Don’t know how many sugar daddies’ beds you climbed!” In one ear and out the other. So many years, I was used to being scolded. Julian thought I was big-hearted, good-tempered, and highly tolerant. Praised my broad-mindedness more than once. But in fact, I was numb from discomfort, pained to the point of keeping a straight face. Finally shaking off the fans, Julian’s car stopped in front of me. The passenger window rolled down, revealing Lily’s slightly red cheeks. “Chloe, get in quickly. Your haters are coming again, don’t let us get scolded together hahaha.” She stuck out her tongue, smiling like a cat that stole cream. Julian wasn’t angry at all, smiling at Lily, his eyes full of unconscious softness. The passenger seat that used to be exclusively mine had changed style. Small cosmetics, a vanity mirror, and Lily’s favorite lop-eared rabbit and snacks were placed there. These were things Julian didn’t allow me to bring into the car. Claiming it would damage the car or be easily misunderstood if photographed by paparazzi. But thinking about it now. It all depended on whether he loved or not. But. It didn’t matter. I stepped back two steps. Hailed a taxi and went back to the small apartment I rented. 4 I sold most of my property and donated it to charity. Before getting ready to cut my wrist with porcelain shards, the doorbell rang. Outside stood Julian with a not-so-good expression, followed by red-eyed Lily. “Chloe Vance, do you have to throw a tantrum with me? I really don’t understand what you’re unhappy about again!” Saying so, he sighed, looking at me deeply. Seeming a bit helpless. “Forget it, today is your birthday. I won’t hold it against you. I bought you a cake and came specially to celebrate your birthday with you.” Lily blushed slightly, stammering a happy birthday to me. My gaze fell on the necklace she was wearing. Lily touched it, smiling sweetly. “This was given to me by Julian. I liked it the first moment I saw it. He said it was just a trinket, so he gave it to me.” Julian nodded too, entering the room and sitting down on his own. “It was old anyway, just sitting there. Since Lily likes it, let her have it. I didn’t like it anyway.” I stiffened slightly, stunned for a moment. This necklace was a couple’s item bought when Julian and I first got together. More than two thousand dollars, not expensive, but he cherished it particularly back then. “I will keep it well for a lifetime! This is the witness of our love, with special meaning. If I lose it, punish me by never seeing you again, okay?” Every year on his birthday, he liked to wear that necklace with me. Starting last year, he stopped wearing it. I didn’t ask much. Just didn’t expect it to appear on Lily’s neck.

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I’m a D-list celebrity. Yet, because of a video, I accidentally went viral and hit the trending list. In the video, I was aggressively sniffing a kitten who looked like it had given up on life, laughing maniacally. “Whose little kitty is this~ Hohohaha~ It turns out it’s Mommy’s kitty, mua! mua! mua!” “A cute kitten like you~ mua~ was born to be kissed to death by Mommy~ mua” Then one day. Julian Fox, the movie emperor who is seen as cold and noble by outsiders, pinned me against the corner, a pair of fluffy fox ears popping out from his black hair. “Foxes are also very good to sniff, would you like to consider it?” Me: ?!! 1 I’m trending. Because of a video. It started when I was live streaming with fans at home, and forgot to turn off the camera during the break. So, completely unaware, I performed an inhumane act of aggressive sniffing on my orange cat, Can-Can, in front of the live camera. While sniffing, I laughed maniacally in a high-pitched voice. “Whose little kitty is this~ Hohohaha~ It turns out it’s Mommy’s little Can-Can, mua! mua! mua!” “You waving your tail in front of Mommy, isn’t it just to attract Mommy’s attention?…” “An indecent kitten like you, no one likes you, only Mommy, only Mommy loves you the most, hehehe…” “Those kittens outside, at this age, are already working in cat cafes to earn cans. You eat mine, live in mine, what’s wrong with me kissing you? muamuamua!” Finally, satisfied, I returned to the camera shamelessly: “Sorry everyone, my cat just pestered me for kisses, delayed a bit of time.” … After the video was uploaded online, it quickly went viral. Me, a D-list celebrity, stayed on the trending list for a whole night for the first time—— #Susan Destroys Cat# #Susan PUA Master# #Susan Eats Cat# #Susan Cat Virtue Class Principal# #Susan’s Laugh# To be honest, I was quite confused. For this, I specially went to read netizens’ comments under the trending video. “I personally tested Susan’s quotes, they are effective. Just practiced on my cat, now it’s wearing an apron cooking for me in the kitchen, afraid I’ll send it to work in a cat cafe.” “Told my rebellious son if he doesn’t behave I’ll send him to Susan for cat virtue training, in a blink of an eye saw him wearing stockings dancing on a pole in front of me, said he wants to keep my heart.” “I just tried laughing like Susan, now I’m at the police station, the Cat Squad sent a cat to arrest me, my cat called the police, said there’s a pervert.” Me: …Ridiculous. “How could she forget to turn off the camera? Obviously staged, isn’t it just wanting to be famous? And so many idiots believed it…” “Agree with upstairs, just a D-list wanting to be famous deliberately released it to attract attention.” “Am I the only one who thinks her state is very neurotic? Honestly, I suspect she secretly abuses cats privately…” “Are the people upstairs sick? So disgusting, can think of everything so darkly, starting to hate before she even gets famous?” “Pretty sister don’t mind those idiots, I just like beauties like you who look good but have a sick brain, fan now hahaha…” “I’m a fan too, but I’m doing it to see more of Can-Can in the future. Its look of having no desires and giving up on life while being kissed by Susan really kills me with laughter hahaha…” “Although but, am I the only one envious of that cat? Boohoo~ I also want to be kissed by the pretty sister, Susan really hits my aesthetic point…” “No, upstairs you are not alone…” … What surprised me even more was that the current top star in the entertainment industry, Julian Fox, actually liked this video and commented below: “Very cute.” Julian’s fans were in an uproar, don’t know if they were bored or what, followed the vine to find my Twitter. So the already confused me gained hundreds of thousands more followers. Me: ? I silently opened the comment section again. “Susan on the surface (noble and cold): Men? Not even worthy of carrying my shoes. Privately (rubbing hands and laughing foolishly): Hehehe, Mommy’s little Can-Can. Boohoo~ Who understands this contrast, sister kills me…” “Laughing to death hahaha, after reading all of Susan’s tweets, I say, brother is right, the cat is really cute, this sister is really crazy too…” “Agree with upstairs, I will really die of laughter in Susan’s Twitter, hahaha…” “Let’s just say, is there a possibility that Julian Fox said Susan is cute (dog head).” “Can-Can: No one speaks for me?” … In summary, I seem to be famous. Finally, I posted a tweet with Can-Can’s greasy paw-licking meme. Caption: Admit it girl, you have fallen deeply in love with brother. 2 After getting famous, my agent Lisa, who hadn’t contacted me once in eight hundred years, came to me on her own initiative. “Got you an audition for a drama, third female lead, a villain, but lots of scenes, the character setting is brilliant, and it’s Director Wang’s drama, seize the opportunity.” She seemingly unintentionally scanned my room, still looking serious: “By the way, Julian Fox liked that video… did you know each other before?” I shook my head, that’s not true. How could Julian know an unknown D-list like me? At most, I was an extra in the crew he was in before, he probably doesn’t even remember someone like me. I was also quite surprised that he liked my post. After all, Julian is known as the flower of the high ridge in the entertainment industry, cold and distant. Besides acting diligently, I’ve never seen him show enthusiasm for anything before, let alone this kind of entertainment news that passes with a laugh. Thinking about it, I can only attribute the reason to—— My Can-Can is really super invincible cute, even the ascetic Julian likes him… Lisa continued in a deep voice: “Regardless of whether you knew each other before, if you can get this role, having a good relationship with him in the crew won’t hurt you.” I nodded, just about to watch her leave, but saw her stop at the door, cleared her throat and seemingly unintentionally said: “Where’s your cat? Why didn’t I see it?” I blinked and said truthfully: “Just got tired playing with me, sleeping.” Lisa twitched her lips, a trace of imperceptible disappointment flashed in her eyes. I held back my laughter, reaching out as if to stay: “Need me to wake him up?” Lisa decisively pushed the door out, her always indifferent voice carried a trace of unnaturalness: “No need, I didn’t say I wanted to see it.” With the “bang” of the door closing, my eyes carried playfulness. Tsk. Just say it if you want to see my Can-Can. 3 In the past two years, I have acted in many dramas. Although they were all insignificant small supporting roles, my acting skills have indeed been tempered. The audition went smoothly, and I successfully got the role of the third female lead. I was very happy. This means I can make money to buy cans for my little Can-Can again. A few days later, I entered the crew of “Winds of L.A.”, entrusting Can-Can to my best friend Bella’s care. As Lisa said, although I am only the third female lead, I have quite a few scenes, especially in the early stage, I have a lot of rival scenes with the male lead, bouncing around until the middle and late stages before going offline. And this drama, strictly speaking, is actually a big male lead drama with a detective theme in a modern noir background. The female lead is a tool person assisting in solving cases throughout, with almost no romantic scenes. But even so, once the drama was warmed up, countless fans still took the lead in shipping Julian and Emma Zhao as a couple. Emma, naturally, is the female lead of this drama. Current top traffic flower, beautiful and good acting, standing with Julian can be said to be a talented man and a beautiful woman. It’s a pity… I looked at Emma who returned disappointed not far away and raised my eyebrows. It’s a pity that fans will be disappointed. Julian really doesn’t understand romance, even a goddess like Emma who evokes pity is shut out. And Julian over there, just finished the conversation with Emma, lowered his eyes and quietly looked at the script in his hand. From my angle, the side profile is exquisite, the brow bone is superior. He was still wearing that dark cyan suit costume, thin and straight, with a calm temperament, really like a cold and jade-like noble son. Phone vibrated, best friend Bella sent a message. “Is Julian really handsome in person? Does he look worse in real life?” Naturally he is handsome. I was an extra in the same crew as him before. Looking from afar at that time, I felt he was extremely good-looking. Acting with him at close range yesterday gave me a more intuitive understanding of his beauty. What’s more… I looked at Julian’s quiet side profile not far away again. Then added a sentence after replying to Bella “Top-tier beauty, worthy of the reputation”. “He has a small black mole next to his Adam’s apple, very sexy.” I recalled for a moment, silently added. “Want to lick.” 4 One week after joining the group, I took time to video call Bella during the break on set. Haven’t seen for a week, missed Can-Can. And on the screen, it was Can-Can waving his tail and posing. I watched with burning desire, wishing I could rush into the screen and execute Can-Can on the spot. Cat-crazed me spoke without thinking: “Damn it!” “Vixen, wait till I come back and play you to death!” As soon as my voice fell, the surroundings seemed to be silent for a moment. Immediately after, there were whispering discussions. “Did you hear that? So Susan has a boyfriend…” “Tsk, can’t tell the young couple plays quite wild…” I froze, raised my eyes with hindsight, and met a pair of cold and indifferent eyes. It was Julian. He pursed his lips, still looking indifferent, but I seemed to see a trace of imperceptible shock in his eyes. Me: … I reacted for a moment, quickly showed him the phone screen, explaining: “Don’t misunderstand, I was video calling my cat just now.” I thought for a moment, then deliberately raised my volume and said seriously to the screen: “Can-Can, come! Meow a couple of nice ones for everyone.” Can-Can is indeed my good son, very obediently shook his tail and “ao” twice at the screen. And in order to let everyone hear clearly, I specially turned up the volume. “Meow~~” The meow was tender and long, soul-destroying. My heart burned listening to it, restrainedly pinched my fist. Damn, sooner or later die on Can-Can. At this time, there were surprised discussions from others. “Holy crap, clip sound (cutesy voice) cat!” “Why does this cat meow so erotically? Isn’t this an edge-ball (suggestive) cat? Meowing my soul away.” “Sure enough not a serious cat, no wonder Susan…” “They say cats resemble owners, I suspect Susan usually has…” Me: ? Hearing them speaking more and more excessively, I pulled my lips in a sneer, threatening the few people: “Watch your mouth! Be careful my Brother Baozi (Treasure) calls his cat brothers to throw cat poop at your window tonight.” The few people silenced decisively. And Julian at this time also looked at the few people, his handsome face slightly dark, expression cold. “Director Wang complained to me that the crew’s expenses are high. If you are really free, I think we can appropriately reduce manpower.” The few people scattered dejectedly. I naturally could see Julian was speaking for me, remembering Lisa’s instructions, I said to him with a solemn face: “Teacher Fox don’t be afraid! I, Can-Can-kun, serious dead dead di (very serious)!” I leaned close to him, serious: “Can-Can-kun, big big good cat, won’t throw poop randomly, you, don’t believe, I scare them.” Julian: … He lowered his eyes to meet mine, and after two seconds, actually bent his lips and laughed. He was born handsome and elegant, usually never seen smiling. At this time, lowering his eyes and smiling slightly, truly amazed people to the extreme. Damn it! The desire accumulated on Can-Can for a long time without venting poured out at this moment. Ultimately couldn’t hold back, I clutched my chest and blurted out dirty words to Julian: “Here, thump thump di!” … Afterwards, chatting with Bella. “And then? What did Julian say to you?” I recalled, replied to Bella: “Didn’t speak, couldn’t take teasing, ears turned red.” I looked up at Julian who was quietly reading the script with lowered eyes not far away. Perhaps my gaze was too burning, he seemed to sense it, raised his eyes to meet mine. Our gazes entangled. Half a minute later, he lost the battle, moved his gaze away first. I hooked my lips, slowly revealing a victorious smile, then messaged Bella: “He seems to get shy easily.” I immediately sent a lecherous meme: “Want to bully.”

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After a huge fight with my wealthy parents, they cut off my allowance. In a fit of anger, I hooked up with the executive CEO of my dad’s rival company. He was the famous “Crown Prince” of the city’s elite circle. He doted on me and was generous with his money, but the one thing he refused to give me was a title. When friends asked, he would shake his head casually— “Marriage still requires matching family backgrounds. “Chloe’s background is too poor; I won’t marry her. “But keeping her around as a canary isn’t bad.” I sneered coldly in my heart. My dad could no longer stand my stubborn temper. Not only did he soften up and want to give me the family inheritance, but he was also preparing to introduce me to a marriage partner. 1 In the third year of being with Julian King, I started to like him a little. On our anniversary, I specifically took leave from school. I bought a limited-edition watch as a gift and secretly ran to the private room of the bar he frequented, wanting to create a surprise. The moment my hand touched the door. I heard the sound of him and his friends laughing inside. Someone mentioned me. “Young Master King. “You haven’t really fallen for that poor student, have you? “You even rented the venue for an art exhibition for her. Downtown, that’s not cheap!” … My heart seemed to lift gradually. An art exhibition? For an art student without financial support and connections, even if they have enough works on hand. It is still very difficult to hold an art exhibition relying solely on one’s own strength. I had mentioned this to him before… I didn’t expect him to actually remember. I clenched my palms. Just as I wanted to rush in and give him a big hug— The next moment. I suddenly heard Julian’s cool voice. “Heh, like? “It’s just a few hundred thousand dollars, just to tease this kind of girl who hasn’t seen the world.” The surroundings immediately burst into laughter. His friends even applauded. “…To handle these beautiful girls without money or power, this method still works best. “And here I thought you wanted to marry her.” Julian picked up his wine glass. His voice turned cold. “Marry her? “Marriage still requires matching family backgrounds. “Chloe’s background is too poor, but keeping her around as a canary, I’m willing to support her forever.” 2 I looked down at the gift in my hand. The watch cost over thirty thousand dollars, not as valuable as the models Julian collected. But it was bought with my scholarship money. Now it seems really ridiculous. The gentleness and doting I originally thought existed. Were just disguises hidden under his prejudice and arrogance— Actually. From beginning to end, he looked down on me with this identity. Thinking of this. The feelings that had just warmed up finally cooled down bit by bit due to disappointment and anger. I smiled and put the watch in the locker outside the private room. Julian. Then as you wish— We end here. After coming out of the bar, I took a taxi back to school. Before, I lived at Julian’s place most of the time. Now it’s time to pack up and move my things back. Just as I walked downstairs to the dormitory. A phone call came in. It was an unknown number. After picking up— It was actually my dad. “Baby girl. “It’s been two years, are you still angry with Dad? “Isn’t it just wanting to study that painting thing? Dad will organize an art exhibition for you, hire teachers for you… “You, a young lady used to being pampered since childhood, how much suffering must you endure outside?” Hearing my father’s voice suddenly, my tears fell. Regret climbed to the peak. Why was I so stubborn back then? Just because I wanted to study art and not business, I fought with my parents and fell out. In a fit of anger, I ran away from home and blocked all their contact information. And my parents probably figured that with my spoiled temper, I wouldn’t last long outside. Sooner or later, I would have to go home. But who would have thought. They only found me again today. I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and stabilized my emotions. I whispered “Mhm”. “I was too willful. “Dad, I won’t throw tantrums anymore. “Can you come pick me up and take me home?” 3 From the villa area to our school, the journey wasn’t short. But my dad rushed here right after hanging up the phone. He made it in just half an hour. Even my mom and the housekeeper, Auntie Liu, came along. My roommates saw the Rolls-Royce parked downstairs, and my dad and mom dressed in luxury brands, their mouths gaping open for a long time. “Chloe Lin, your family is so rich… Are you out here experiencing life?” My mom saw my simple dormitory environment. Her reaction was similar to my roommates. “Chloe, what kind of life are you living? “Why do you have so few cosmetics… can you not even afford these anymore?” Actually. Most of my things were still at Julian’s place. But I opened my mouth. And still didn’t say this matter out loud. Julian’s father and my dad seemed to be enemies in the past. The two grew up together and were originally good brothers. But later, they parted ways fighting for a project. I admit. When I first met Julian, besides truly being in financial difficulty. I also approached him deliberately with the idea of spiting my parents. Pretending to be an innocent little white flower who knew nothing of the world. Seducing him to agree to let me stay by his side. It’s just that I originally thought two years… We should have had some feelings, and I wanted to reveal my identity today. But he gave me a blow to the head. Using practical actions to tell me. My fantasies about him. Were just an illusory dream. 4 As I was thinking this. My father had already stuffed my few belongings into the trunk of the car. He turned around and patted my head. Seeming hesitant to speak. “Chloe, you want to study painting, right? We won’t interfere…” “It doesn’t matter.” I raised my head. Interrupting my father: “I will join the company.” Actually, the moment I received the call just now, I had already decided. My parents only have me as their child. There must be a successor in the future career. Our family’s business is spread all over the country and is a leader in the industry. Should such an industry be handed over to an outsider? My father also considered this point and forced me to study business. It’s just that I was too naive at the time, thinking hobbies and ideals were more important than anything else. Thinking about it now. I like painting. I can totally persist in other times; it doesn’t conflict with taking over the family business. I smiled and took my father’s arm. “Dad, I have fully realized the mistakes in my previous thinking. “It’s just that I know nothing about the company’s business now… “I might have to learn from scratch.” Although I don’t understand business, I know. If you really want to take over an enterprise, whether it is theoretical experience or practical experience, it must be rich enough. A mature teacher or senior is even more necessary. My dad glanced at me, stunned at first. Then laughed. “I’m too busy during this time, maybe I can’t mentor you personally. “But it doesn’t matter. “I’ll find you a teacher to teach you the basics first.” He paused, seeming to think of something. Added a sentence. “Don’t worry, you two will definitely get along well.”

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On the eve of my wedding, I was dragged into the woods by two thugs and tormented for three hours. When my brother found me, I was disfigured, four teeth knocked out, covered in blood. My dad rushed over after finishing a business deal, pounding the wall and swearing revenge for me. Before entering the operating room, my brother, in his white coat, promised he would do everything to help me recover my looks and heal my body. But as I lay in the emergency room, I heard my brother whisper to my dad: “Dad, wasn’t it too much letting those animals bully Chloe like that?” My dad was silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice: “I didn’t expect them to be so heavy-handed! But this is good too. With Chloe ruined like this, there’s no way she can marry Liam Scott anymore. Bella can marry him rightfully now.” “We did this for Chloe’s own good. With her arrogant and domineering personality, if she really married into the Scott family, who knows what trouble she would cause.” … Since that’s the case, I don’t want them anymore. 1 My brother’s assistant checked my injuries and hurried out. “Dr. Chen, the patient has multiple injuries, should we operate immediately?” “Okay, we…” Just as my brother was speaking, my dad interrupted him. “No rush. Wait until Bella and Liam’s wedding is over before you operate.” “Chloe only suffered external injuries, she’ll heal quickly. If we do the surgery early and she runs to interrupt their wedding, what then?” The assistant beside him was shocked. “This kind of surgery can’t be delayed. We have to consider if the patient has any unexpected complications…” My brother echoed: “Right! We must operate on Chloe as soon as possible. I won’t allow anything to happen to her!” With a crisp slap, my dad hit him hard across the face. “Fool! We’re halfway done, how can we retreat now? Chloe is already like this. Our task now is to ensure 100% that Bella can marry Liam!” “Do as I say! Give Chloe the best medicine to lessen her pain, and delay the surgery until tomorrow night!” Listening to the conversation between my dad and brother, my heart went cold. When my parents divorced, my dad refused to let my mom take me no matter what. I thought he couldn’t bear to part with me, that he loved me. Who would have thought he would hurt me like this for an adopted daughter? And my brother, who fought others for me when we were young, and always thought of me first when he had good things growing up. Now he could let thugs bully me and even deliberately delay my surgery! How did they become like this?! The next second, the two walked into the emergency room. I closed my eyes, continuing to feign unconsciousness, but my fists clenched uncontrollably. My dad quickly noticed my abnormality. He held my fist and asked with concern: “Chloe, are you awake? How do you feel now?” He then pretended to order my brother: “Ethan, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and check your sister’s injuries, give her the best painkillers!” My brother immediately leaned in, checking my condition with heartache, stopping the bleeding and bandaging me. Their words and actions were full of concern for me. However, knowing the truth, I only felt chilled and nauseous. Those two thugs forcibly pulled out my teeth, and my mouth was still bleeding. I endured the pain, looking at my brother and asking: “I feel pain in my lower abdomen. Brother, when is the surgery?” My dad answered first: “Chloe, your brother is missing a medicine here. He has arranged for someone to transport it here urgently. The surgery might have to wait until tomorrow night!” “But don’t worry, your brother will stay here with you and won’t let anything happen to you!” I was disappointed to the extreme with them. I looked at my brother and couldn’t help asking: “Brother, is that true? I feel like I’m dying, but the surgery can’t be done?” My brother’s eyes flickered, clearly guilty. However, the next moment, he replied calmly: “Dad said so, how can it be fake? Chloe, don’t be afraid, I will do my best to ensure you are safe and sound.” 2 As my brother spoke, he cut open my pants with scissors to check the painful area on my abdomen. He trembled: “What happened to you? Why are you hurt like this here?” I tensed my weak body in pain, meeting their incredulous gazes, and answered softly: “I’m a woman with no strength. Falling into the hands of those two animals, could I have had it easy?” “They treated me like a toy, wishing to tear me apart…” My dad looked away unbearably. My brother hugged me tightly, trembling all over. “Chloe, don’t say anymore. I will definitely cure you! And your face, I will do my best to restore it to its original state!” My dad declared there that he would spend a fortune to find those two animals and tear them to pieces. My brother kept his word and really didn’t operate on me, only stopping the bleeding and giving painkillers. Groggily, I heard my brother asking my dad. “Dad, Chloe has been bullied like this. Are we really going to post her experience online?” “And spread rumors that she was loose herself, deliberately seducing those two thugs into the woods…” “When people online see this, who knows how they will curse her…” My dad said firmly: “We must do this! That kid Liam loves Chloe to death. It’s not enough that she was bullied by them; we have to ruin her reputation too!” “Only in this way will the Scott family completely reject Chloe!” “At worst, after the wedding is over, we’ll delete those things and hire a PR team to clarify and clear Chloe’s name!” I was going crazy. Clearly, I was night running when those two thugs suddenly appeared and forcibly dragged me into the woods. As my family, how could they slander me like this?! A few minutes later, my phone started vibrating, buzzing again and again. It was my best friend sharing a TikTok video. [Chloe, look at this TikTok video. Why does it mention you by name?!!] Opening it, it was a video of me hooking up with those two thugs and following them into the woods. This was obviously the masterpiece of my dad and brother. As the person who experienced this, I naturally knew this video was fake. However, the comment section was full of sarcasm and insults towards me. [Isn’t this the Chen family’s daughter? Is she this loose?!] [Heard she’s having a wedding with the Scott family’s son tomorrow. This is having fun outside before getting married!!] [Damn, how can there be such a disgusting woman? If I married this kind of b*tch, I’d break her legs!!] [Liam Scott definitely won’t want her anymore seeing her like this, right?!] [Her family must be furious, hahahaha!!] … Looking at this content, I trembled with anger. The pain on my body exploded instantly, unstoppable even by the best painkillers. At this time, my brother came over, took away my phone, and hugged me with heartache. “Chloe, I believe you. You are not like this.” My dad glanced at my phone and threw it hard on the ground. “How can they say this about my daughter? I’ll call right now and have someone delete this video!” He walked away making a call. My brother comforted me gently: “Chloe, don’t worry. In ten minutes, Dad can make this video disappear.” I didn’t speak, just faintly admiring the acting skills of these two. How can they be so thick-skinned? They clearly created the rumors about me, yet they act like good people in front of me one by one. A few minutes later, my dad walked back and said to me: “Chloe, I’ve had the video deleted. Dad will always be your support. I won’t allow anyone to hurt you!” My brother echoed: “I will always protect you too.” However, that video had been shared tens of thousands of times and had long reached the Scott family. What would Liam think of me? At this moment, I clearly realized that it was completely impossible between him and me. Perhaps, in tomorrow’s wedding, Bella Chen really will get her wish and become his bride. My heart hurts so much! My brother worried about my physical condition and asked his assistant to arrange a more comprehensive examination for me. After the examination, the assistant looked at me with pity, pulled my brother aside, and stuffed a report into his hand. “Dr. Chen, your sister’s organs are damaged. She must be operated on as soon as possible, otherwise she will completely lose her fertility, and various bodily functions will be seriously affected!” 3 My brother flipped through the report carefully, his face getting darker and darker. He warned the assistant not to talk nonsense and turned to find my dad. His thoughts were exactly the same as the assistant’s. I must have surgery now. If not, I might not only be unable to have children but also very likely lose the ability to take care of myself! In the hallway outside, my dad trembled: “How could this be? How could those two animals do this to my daughter!” My brother was anxious. “The urgent task now is to operate on Chloe immediately!” Even through the wall, I could feel how anxious they were now. At this moment, I thought they would operate on me immediately. However, I was soon disappointed to the extreme. My dad said coldly: “No! If we operate on her now, what about Bella’s wedding?” “It’s good she can’t have children. This way Liam will completely give up. He will love Bella wholeheartedly!” “As for losing the ability to take care of herself… As the best doctor in our city, can’t you even cure your own sister?” “Hmph, even if she really loses the ability to take care of herself, it’s fine. As her dad, I will support her for a lifetime and never let her starve or freeze!” At this time, I no longer had any expectations of them. Enduring the pain, I picked up the phone my dad threw on the ground and dialed a number I knew by heart. “I miss you. Can you come find me?” “Also, I want to ask you to do some things for me…” Just after the call, my dad and brother walked in. Under my dad’s gaze, my brother fed me medicine and water. I didn’t resist, obediently complying. Just after taking the medicine, a strong drowsiness hit me. It seems they gave me sleeping pills. I’m hurt like this, are they still afraid I’ll stop Bella’s good thing? When I opened my eyes again, it was already the next evening. By this time, the wedding where Bella replaced me should have ended, right? Before I was fully awake, my brother stepped forward excitedly. “Chloe! The medicine missing for the surgery will arrive in ten minutes. I can operate on you immediately! Just wait a little longer!” Joy couldn’t be hidden on my dad’s face, but I knew it wasn’t because I was about to have surgery, but because his adopted daughter finally married the man she liked. I looked at them indifferently and said lightly: “I’m not doing this surgery.” My dad got anxious immediately. “How can that be? We held on until now, finally can operate, how can you give up?” “Chloe, do you want to become a cripple who can’t have children?” My brother grabbed my hand tightly, anxiously saying: “I forbid you to give up!” “Chloe, you have to believe me. I can definitely cure you. And your face, I will restore it to how it was!” “Give me a chance to make up for it, okay?” Just then, my dad’s secretary walked in quickly and whispered to him: “Mr. Chen, Bella has arrived.” My dad looked happy. His tone changed, saying to me: “Consider the surgery carefully. Bella is here to see you now, don’t embarrass her!” A guilty look flashed across my brother’s face, but in the end, he said nothing. I knew what happened even if they didn’t say. Bella was an intern in my dad’s company. Somehow, she won my dad’s favor. That weekend, my dad brought her home and announced he recognized her as his adopted daughter. Since then, my dad treated her as well as his biological daughter, wishing to hold her in the palm of his hand. Until this time, for Bella to marry Liam whom she fell in love with at first sight, he didn’t hesitate to hire two thugs to drag me into the woods and bully me. Liam hasn’t come to see me for so long. It seems he also gave up on me and married Bella. I’m just curious why Bella isn’t enjoying her wedding night but ran over here at this time? Unexpectedly, she actually came wearing my wedding dress. 4 Seeing her, my dad and brother showed no dissatisfaction. Seeing me on the hospital bed, the joy on her face couldn’t be hidden. She feigned concern for me: “Chloe, how did you become like this? The thing about you and those two thugs isn’t true, is it? You were consensual, how could they treat you like this?” My brother frowned. Bella immediately apologized to me: “Sorry, sorry! I shouldn’t mention this to make you sad, I accidentally forgot!” I didn’t want to watch her act here. I endured the pain and disgust and asked her: “Bella Chen, why are you wearing my wedding dress?” Bella’s eyes reddened instantly, looking like she was about to cry. My dad’s face changed, glaring at me fiercely, shouting: “What else could it be? Chloe Chen, you were indiscreet before marriage, messing around with two men. Naturally, the Scott family won’t want you anymore!” “If it weren’t for Bella wronging herself and sacrificing herself to marry Liam, who knows how ugly this matter would have become!” My brother scolded me coldly: “Chloe, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you’re sick! Bella helped you this time, you shouldn’t question her!” Their righteous appearance made it seem like that video wasn’t forged by them. I laughed in anger, but laughing hurt my mouth. “Don’t blame Chloe, she must be very sad now. If she wants to blame someone, blame me!” Saying this, she walked up to me, looking at me mockingly, and said proudly in a volume only I could hear: “The once arrogant Chen family daughter has now become an ugly monster.” “Heard you can’t even have children, so pitiful!” “And I, replaced you to marry Liam. He will love me wholeheartedly in the future.” “Guess who did all this?” “It was the thugs your dad hired, your brother deliberately delaying your surgery…” “In their hearts, I am their family, and you are not even as good as roadside trash…” I glared at her, opening my mouth to curse her. I only said “You”, and she suddenly fell back hard. She fell to the ground, saying pitifully: “Chloe, I know you hate me for marrying Liam and taking away Dad and Brother’s love for you!” “If you really aren’t willing, I’ll return Liam to you, return Dad and Brother to you. I can also atone with death, no need for you to push me…” Before I could react, my dad rushed up and slapped my bandaged face. “Chloe! You’re hurt like this and still bullying Bella. How can you be so vicious?!” “Bella wronged herself to marry Liam to clean up your mess. If you have any dissatisfaction, come at me!” My brother also kicked my hospital bed hard. His kick was so powerful that I rolled off directly. He ignored it, helping Bella up and hugging her tightly. He said to me coldly: “Chloe Chen, if you dare touch Bella again, I won’t recognize you as my sister.” Even though I had decided to cut ties with them, my heart was still terribly cold. I watched helplessly as they left holding Bella. My dad took Bella for a checkup, afraid she was hurt in the slightest. He also had someone bring her the most delicious midnight snack. Only then did he remember me. He said to my brother: “Go ask Chloe what she wants to eat. We were so harsh to her just now, she must be angry.” A few minutes later, my brother stumbled back with a piece of cloth written in blood. “Dad, Chloe doesn’t want us anymore. She wants to sever ties with us!”

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1 After my family fell, my uncle was “diagnosed” with ALS. I left the military, borrowed from loan sharks, and carried his burden alone. For five years, I endured it all—broken ribs without painkillers, exhaustion without rest—every cent went to his care. One night, while waitressing at the Astoria Grand, I saw him. The man I thought was wheelchair-bound stood tall in uniform, laughing with comrades. “General,” one said, “you’ve faked ALS for five years. Sarah’s nearly worked herself to death. Isn’t it enough?” Uncle Marcus scoffed. “Almost. If she hadn’t rejected Elsie and driven her into depression, I wouldn’t have needed to teach her this lesson.” He continued, “Elsie’s doing better now. Soon, I’ll ‘recover’ miraculously. Sarah will have suffered enough to behave.” “But will she believe an ALS recovery?” his comrade asked. Marcus laughed. “That foolish girl? She’s believed me since childhood. This is for her own good. I’ll make it up to her later.” I lowered my head, tears falling silently. But Uncle, there is no “later” for us. Your illness is a lie. But mine is real. … A cold wind whipped around the building, chilling me to the bone. I stood frozen, a puppet on a string, as the faith I had clung to for five years was systematically dismantled, a death by a thousand cuts. Each one carved away a piece of my soul. His friend, Captain Grant, sighed. “I have to say, Marcus, that’s cold. This is the girl you raised. The youngest ace sniper in the Command. She threw away her career for you, without a second thought. She’s barely in her twenties and she looks like she’s aged a decade. The other day, she was eight hundred dollars short for your imported medicine. She came to me, begging for a loan.” Marcus’s face hardened. “And you gave it to her?” Grant shook his head, his expression pained. “You gave a direct order. What could I do? The kid stood outside my barracks all afternoon until she passed out from low blood sugar. I didn’t even dare help her up. She came to on her own and used the wall to pull herself to her feet.” What Grant didn’t say was that on that day, I had pressed my service pistol to my temple. Captain, I’d said, there’s one round left in the chamber. If you don’t lend me the money, I’m pulling the trigger. Uncle had been off his medication for seven days, and he was coughing up blood. But Grant had just stared at me with red-rimmed eyes, disarmed me with grim resolve, and shoved me out of his room like I was carrying the plague. Now I understood. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help. He wasn’t allowed to. Marcus’s voice was like ice. “Let me be clear to all of you. Until Elsie returns from her retreat in the Capital, no one helps Sarah. Not if she kneels, not if she begs. If she drops dead in front of you, you don’t even look.” “Elsie is a fragile soul, and her depression is just starting to lift. This five-year ‘punishment’ for Sarah is not to be cut short by a single day. If any of you upsets Elsie, don’t blame me for what happens next.” The room fell silent. Someone finally broke the tension. “General, aren’t you afraid that if Sarah finds out the truth, it’ll break her heart?” Marcus let out a short, harsh laugh. “Break her heart? I raised her. I gave her a life. What’s a little hardship? Elsie is different. She has no one. She’s suffered so much. It’s my duty to take care of her.” His gaze swept across the room. “What was said here tonight stays here. If a single word of it reaches Sarah’s ears, our history will mean nothing.” I leaned against the cold wall, my limbs numb. So that was it. The five years I had risked my life for, my entire future, was nothing more than a carefully orchestrated punishment. My career, my honor… all of it could be sacrificed at the slightest hint of Elsie’s displeasure, dismissed by my uncle as a necessary evil. I wanted to laugh, but the taste of rust filled my throat. A phone rang inside the room, and footsteps approached the door. I had no time to hide. I spun around frantically and collided with the manager carrying a bottle of wine. The bottle, a special reserve for the military elite, shattered on the floor. The manager’s face contorted with rage, and he slapped me hard across the face. The door to the private room swung open. Marcus strode out, his eyes passing right over me as he opened his arms to catch Elsie, who had just arrived. “What are you doing here by yourself?” he cooed. “I told you I’d come pick you up.” Elsie’s laughter was bright and clear. “I missed you, Uncle! I wanted to surprise you!” I was on my knees on the cold marble floor, less than a yard away, a mask covering my face. The brilliant diamonds on Elsie’s watch seared my tear-filled eyes. A single one of those gems could have paid for three months of my uncle’s ‘medicine.’ The manager scurried over, bowing apologetically. “General Redmond, my deepest apologies… This idiot broke your bottle.” A pair of black military boots stopped right in front of me. Marcus frowned, annoyed. “Enough.” He pointed a finger at me. “You broke it. You’ll clean it up with your bare hands. If Elsie steps on a single shard, you’ll swallow every last piece.” I knelt, my palms pressing into the carpet, searching for the glass. The shards bit into my skin, leaving a trail of tiny, bleeding cuts. Elsie let out a delicate gasp, clinging to Marcus’s arm. “Uncle, my feet are tired.” “You’re so spoiled. Let me carry you out of here. It’s filthy.” His black military boot pressed down on the back of my hand and moved on, without a moment’s pause. I remained on my knees, staring at my bloody palms, and a low laugh escaped my lips. Tears mixed with the warm fluid trickling from my nose, dripping onto the floor. The manager jumped back. “What’s wrong with you? You’re bleeding everywhere!” I staggered to my feet, wiping my face with my sleeve. It came away stained crimson. “Maybe… I’m finally dying.” Ignoring his stunned expression, I turned and walked away, leaving a broken trail of red drops behind me. When I pushed open the door to our apartment, the sound of breaking porcelain came from the kitchen. Marcus was struggling to push himself up with his arms, trying to get out of his overturned wheelchair. When he saw me, he froze, then dropped his head, his eyes quickly turning red. “Sarah… I just wanted to warm up some milk for you… I’m so useless… just a worthless cripple…” His speech was slurred, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth. Combined with his trembling hands and despairing eyes, he was the perfect picture of an ALS patient ravaged by years of illness. I suddenly remembered that before his “diagnosis,” Marcus had been a notorious neat freak. This was a man who polished his sidearm three times a day, who couldn’t tolerate a single wrinkle in his uniform. Yet for Elsie, he had kept up this pathetic, painful charade for five full years. In that moment, I wanted to cut open his chest and see if his heart was made of stone. Seeing my silence, his shoulders slumped. “Sarah… are you disgusted by me? Just go… leave me here…” I walked over without a word, righted his wheelchair, and helped him into it. Then I got a bowl of warm water and began to clean his face. He suddenly grabbed my wrist, his eyes falling on my torn and bloody palm. “What happened? Who did this to you?” I stared into the fake concern in his eyes. “Someone who looked a lot like you.” His jaw tightened. “At the Astoria Grand.” I smiled again. “But I know it wasn’t you. My uncle would never lie to me. Right?” His gaze flickered away. “Of course not. Sarah, you’re the most important person in the world to me. I would never lie to you.” I fought back the burning sensation in my eyes and wheeled him out of the kitchen. After I made dinner and brought it to the table, the living room was empty. The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and I could hear his hushed voice on the phone. “Be good, Elsie. Uncle has a big surprise for you tomorrow. We’ll celebrate your birthday properly.” On the other end, Elsie’s voice was sweet. “But tomorrow… it’s Sarah’s birthday too. If you’re not with her, won’t she be sad?” “Silly girl. You’re my most precious treasure. Sarah stopped celebrating her birthday years ago. She’s used to it.” Elsie cheered. “I knew you loved me best!” I stood at the door for a long time. Finally, I untied my apron in silence and left. When Marcus wheeled himself out, the apartment was empty. On the table sat a bowl of noodle soup and a single, foil-wrapped imported pill. He was used to me being gone by this time, working my night shift. But an image of my deathly pale face, my mangled hand, and my impossibly thin frame flashed through his mind. A sudden, inexplicable panic seized his heart. He grabbed his phone and quickly dialed a number. The next day, we were at the military hospital for a check-up. My uncle’s doctor was ecstatic. “Ms. Jenkins! A research institute in the Capital has a new experimental drug with incredible results for ALS! I managed to get General Redmond a spot in the trial!” Compared to his excitement, my voice was flat. “What are the chances of a full recovery?” “Over eighty percent!” Marcus played his part perfectly, his eyes welling with tears. “Sarah… I can get better… I can stay with you…” I forced a faint smile. “If only one of us could live, Uncle, no matter what, I would always want it to be you.” He froze, his brow furrowed. “What are you talking about? We’re both going to be fine. When I recover and return to the service, you’ll go back to being the Command’s proudest sniper—” But that pride… I didn’t want it anymore. And I didn’t want him anymore, either. The doctor asked me to leave the office, claiming the “examination process was complex.” I knew it was just an excuse to get me out of the room. I stood around the corner of the hallway and watched as my uncle quickly changed out of his patient gown and walked, steady and strong, into the elevator. Down below, the familiar black military sedan was already waiting. I quietly looked away and walked into another clinic at the end of the hall. “Sarah, the tumor in your brain has already pressed against major nerves. It’s inoperable now.” The doctor’s sigh was heavy. “If you had come in two weeks ago… there might have been a chance. You have… maybe a couple of days. Go say your goodbyes to your family.” I sat there in silence for a long time before slowly nodding. “After I die, please have me cremated. The ashes… please deliver them to the Westwood military base housing, to General Marcus Redmond.” I left what little money I had and walked out of the hospital. My phone lit up with a new text message. 「You should come see the house on base.」 The sender was Elsie. I hailed a cab and went to Westwood. The single-family house on the base, which I thought had been sold off years ago, was now ablaze with light, decorated like a fairytale castle. It was filled with guests, a glittering party in full swing. Elsie, wearing a diamond tiara and a white designer gown, clung tightly to my uncle’s arm. They stood surrounded by well-wishers in front of a six-tiered cake. She clasped her hands together, her voice saccharine. “My wish is to be the only little princess in my uncle’s heart, forever and ever.” Marcus smiled and pulled a small, dark blue velvet box from his uniform pocket. The moment he opened it, all the blood in my body turned to ice. It was a sapphire locket. It was a Redmond family heirloom, passed down through generations, only to the women who married into the family. On my eighteenth birthday, my uncle had placed it in my palm. Sarah, whether you accept me as more than your guardian or not, you will always be my most precious princess. I once valued it more than my own life. Even in our darkest times, I protected it fiercely. Now, that same sapphire locket, its chain shortened and its back engraved with a new name, Elsie, was being fastened around her delicate neck. As the crowd applauded, Marcus’s voice was full of warmth. “My little princess, congratulations. Your wish came true.” I don’t know how I managed to walk away from that blindingly bright scene. My phone buzzed relentlessly in my pocket. 「I recognized you at the hotel, you know, sis.」 「See? The locket is mine, and so is Uncle.」 「You’re like… a stray dog nobody wants. So pathetic.」 「Your life is such a failure. Why don’t you just die? ;)」 「Oh, by the way, I had Uncle prepare a special ‘birthday present’ for you. I hope you… enjoy it.」 I wandered the cold streets like a ghost for the rest of the day. As night fell, I returned to the old, crumbling apartment building we lived in. And then I understood what Elsie’s “present” was. The door was wide open. The inside of the apartment looked like it had been hit by a tornado. Marcus was on the floor, his hands tied behind his back, his new uniform covered in dust. He struggled against his captors, the veins in his neck bulging. “Well, well, long time no see, kid,” the leader said, a toothpick dangling from his lips. “Time to pay up for the month, isn’t it?” My face went white. “But I already paid off all the debts.” “Paid off?” The man sneered, grinding his boot into my uncle’s back. “I say you haven’t, so you haven’t. What, you don’t want to pay? Then let’s see how many whacks with a pipe your precious uncle can take.” “Sarah… don’t worry about me! Run! Just run! Let them kill me… I’m just a worthless cripple anyway…” The exact same words. I had heard them countless times over the past five years. I closed my eyes, a wave of exhaustion washing over me. They had staged this “debt collection” so many times, yet they had never truly harmed my uncle. But I, in my desperation to protect this liar, had suffered broken ribs, a crippled leg, and had given almost everything I had. The taste of rust filled my throat again. My voice was a hoarse whisper. “What… what do you want?” The man looked me up and down, his eyes filled with contempt. “You’re going to crawl through each of our legs. For each one, you bark like a dog three times. We’ll call today’s payment our entertainment fee.” “No! Sarah! You can’t!” my uncle roared, his eyes red as he struggled to get up, only to be shoved back down. I gave a numb, empty smile. The last tiny flicker of hope inside me sputtered and died. “Fine,” I heard myself say, my voice terrifyingly calm. “If this is what you want, then we’re even.” The words were meant for the thugs, but my uncle’s head snapped up, a flash of genuine panic in his eyes. But then he remembered his promise to Elsie. This was the last “lesson.” As soon as Sarah got through this, he would take her home and spend the rest of his life making it up to her. He had a lifetime to fix this. So he looked away. And as he “struggled,” he secretly activated the micro-camera hidden in his cuff, recording the image of me kneeling before those men. He sent the video. The men left. I lay on the floor for a long time before I found the strength to stand. Marcus crawled over, his eyes red. He opened his mouth to deliver another pitiful line, but when he saw the dead, empty look in my eyes, the words died in his throat. The next day, a medical team arrived to take my uncle to the Capital for his “miracle drug” treatment. Before he got in the car, he clutched my hand tightly, looking back every few steps. “Sarah, wait for me to come back. I promise, I’ll get you your sniper rifle back. You’ll be the pride of the Command again. I’ll never let anyone… bully you again.” I smiled but didn’t answer. I just watched quietly as the car disappeared down the street. Then, I doubled over, clamping a hand over my mouth as blood poured through my fingers. The doctor had said that when the tumor ruptured, it would be the end. It was strange. In that final moment, as I fell, I felt no fear. My mind was flooded with scattered, warm memories from a lifetime ago. Uncle Marcus, taking me home from the cold military cemetery, clumsily trying to braid my hair. Me, missing my first shot on the rifle range, and him scolding me with a stern face, only to secretly slip a piece of candy into my pocket later. Me, delirious with a high fever, and him sitting by my bedside all night, holding my hand and whispering over and over, “Don’t be scared, Sarah. Uncle’s here.” He had said, “My Sarah deserves the very best the world has to offer.” A warm liquid slid down my cheek. With a trembling, blood-stained finger, I opened my phone. Using the last of my strength, I typed out a message, one word at a time. 「Uncle, I’m not waiting anymore.」 「This life… I’m giving it back. To repay the Redmond family for raising me, and to pay for Elsie’s ‘pain.’ Please… bury me next to my parents.」 The message sent. I closed my eyes, my strength gone. And on the floor beside me, the phone began to vibrate, a frantic, desperate buzz against the cold linoleum.

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I was feeding his prize-winning hound when the livestream of his engagement party reached its crescendo. The bride was radiant. In the comments, someone jokingly asked where I was. “Ashley, what happened to that little shadow of yours? The one who swore she’d never marry anyone but you?” Ashley Hawthorne let out a short, cold laugh, flicking the ash from his cigarette with careless grace. “Don’t bring up that mute. She’s bad luck.” “She has no pride. Even if I threw her out, she’d come crawling back on her knees, begging for me.” The partygoers erupted in laughter. On the other side of the screen, I gently set down the bag of dog food. He was so sure of himself. So sure I would forever be the dog he could summon and dismiss with a wave of his hand. I closed the livestream, unclasped the collar from around my neck—the one engraved with his name—and threw it in the trash. My debt for the last twelve years had been paid with my life. From now on, we were through. I was done serving him. … I had just dragged the battered suitcase I’d used for twelve years to the foyer when the front door was shoved open with brutal force. Mrs. Hawthorne swept in, wrapped in a thick fur coat, her sharp-faced housekeeper trailing behind her. Her eyes landed on the suitcase in my hand, and her face instantly hardened into a mask of contempt. There were no questions, no attempt to make me stay. Only suspicion and disgust. “Stop right there.” Mrs. Hawthorne approached, looking me up and down as if inspecting a potential criminal. “You want to leave? Fine. Open the suitcase.” “The Hawthorne family has housed you for twelve years. Who knows if you’ve developed sticky fingers? We can’t have you stealing from us.” I froze, my fingers digging into the handle of the suitcase. I signed, It’s just my old clothes. There’s nothing of yours in here. “Stop with those ridiculous hand signals! They’re infuriating to look at!” Mrs. Hawthorne waved a dismissive hand. “Housekeeper, search it! Search every inch!” The housekeeper, practically vibrating with anticipation, lunged forward and snatched the suitcase from my grasp. She flipped it over, dumping its contents onto the marble floor. A few faded sweaters, two pairs of worn-out canvas shoes, and a handful of old books on sound design. It was a pathetic, laughable collection. Mrs. Hawthorne prodded the pile of clothes with the toe of her designer heel. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto something in the corner. It was an old pocket watch, its cover worn smooth with age. It was the only thing my father had left me. “I knew it. A little thief.” She sneered, her stiletto heel coming down hard on the watch. A sharp crack echoed through the cavernous hall. I scrambled forward, a desperate cry trapped in my throat, trying to push her away. That was my father’s! That was my life! The housekeeper was faster. She grabbed a fistful of my hair and slammed my head against the floor. I opened my mouth in a silent scream, hot tears blurring my vision. Mrs. Hawthorne ground the watch under her heel, twisting her foot until it was nothing but a mangled piece of scrap metal. “It belonged to a Hawthorne family driver, which makes it Hawthorne family property,” she said, her voice dripping with scorn as she looked down at me. “You eat our food, you live under our roof. The very breath in your lungs is a gift from us. Without my permission, you can’t even take a speck of dust from this house.” She bent down and yanked at the slightly thicker coat I was wearing. “I bought this, too. Take it off.” I refused, clutching the collar. It was the middle of winter, a blizzard raging outside with temperatures well below freezing. Without this coat, I would die. “You’re determined to do this the hard way.” She slapped me, a vicious backhand that sent my head snapping to the side. The taste of blood filled my mouth. “Strip it off her!” The housekeeper and two maids descended on me, forcibly tearing the coat from my body. Dressed in nothing but a thin, worn sweater, I was dragged to the front door and thrown out. “Get out!” The heavy door slammed shut behind me. I fell into a snowdrift, the biting cold instantly seeping into my bones. From inside, I could hear the maids’ fawning laughter and Mrs. Hawthorne’s curses. I pushed myself up from the snow. Barefoot, I began to walk away, step by agonizing step. The snow was already past my ankles. I didn’t look back. I would rather freeze to death on the side of the road than ever return to that hell. The heat in the villa was cranked high. Ashley Hawthorne stumbled in, reeking of alcohol, toying with a lighter Sophia had given him. “Eve, get me some water.” He barked the order out of habit, collapsing onto the sofa. There was no response. Only the hollow echo of his own voice. He frowned, loosening his tie, his voice taking on a raw, irritable edge. “Where the hell did you go? Are you deaf, or just playing the part?” The housekeeper scurried over with a glass of honey water, a sycophantic smile plastered on her face. “Mr. Ashley, that little jinx is gone.” Ashley paused, then let out a derisive snort. “Gone?” He sat up, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on the trash can in the corner. The collar, engraved with his name, lay inside, discarded amongst fruit peels and scrap paper. It had been his “coming-of-age” gift to me on my eighteenth birthday. “Wear this,” he had said, “and you’ll be my most obedient pet.” Ashley stared at the collar for a moment. Instead of anger, a wider, more amused smile spread across his face. He pulled out his phone and sent a voice message to his group of degenerate friends. “Let’s start a pool. How many days until Eve, the little mute, comes crawling back?” “I’ll bet on five.” “Nah, three. It’s freezing out there.” The chat filled with laughter and agreement. “Ashley, the little mute’s got some nerve this time. Running away from home.” “It’s just a game. Playing hard to get. It’s what women do.” Ashley’s voice was laced with absolute certainty. “She can’t live without me.” “It’s like a fish out of water, or a dog without its master.” “Put the word out. Anyone in this city who dares to help Eve Dawson is making an enemy of the Hawthorne family. I’m going to teach her that without me, she doesn’t even have the right to beg on the streets.” At that very moment, I was huddled under the eaves of a 24-hour convenience store, shivering uncontrollably. It had been two days since I’d left the Hawthorne estate. I had gone to every recording studio where I’d ever worked part-time. No one would hire me. Just half an hour ago, I had tried the last studio that had ever shown me kindness. The owner was a man in his fifties who had always been decent to me. But when I knocked, he blocked the doorway, his face etched with apology. “Eve, don’t blame me, kid.” He lowered his voice and pressed a few hundred-dollar bills into my hand. “The Hawthornes put the word out. Anyone who hires you loses their business. I’ve got a family to feed. I’m so sorry.” “You need to go, before someone sees you.” The door closed gently in my face. I stood in the swirling snow, clutching the money, feeling no warmth at all. No ID, no phone, no place to stay. Ashley was trying to kill me. Seven years ago, my grandmother had fallen gravely ill and needed emergency surgery. I had knelt before Ashley, begging him for a hundred thousand dollars. It had been snowing just like this. Ashley and his friends were in the yard, playing darts. He pointed to a tree trunk not far from me and tossed me an apple. “Balance this on your head.” “I don’t lend money,” he’d said with a smirk, “but I do give it away.” “You’re the target, not the apple. For every dart that hits you—and you don’t flinch—I’ll give you ten thousand.” I was shaking with fear, but I had no choice. I placed the apple on my head and closed my eyes. The first dart whizzed past my ear, pinning a lock of my hair to the tree. His friends cheered. The second dart sank into my left shoulder. Agony shot through me, but I bit down so hard I thought my teeth would shatter. I didn’t move. Blood stained the white snow. That day, I took five darts and earned fifty thousand dollars. By the time I dragged my broken body to the hospital, a white sheet was already covering my grandmother. “Even half an hour earlier,” the doctor said, “and we could have saved her.” I stared at the snow-soaked bills in my hand. A black, venomous hatred began to bloom in my heart. Ashley Hawthorne, do you really think I would ever come back? Keep dreaming. On the third day, a fever took hold of me. My head was spinning. To escape the wind and snow, I crawled into an abandoned pedestrian underpass. I curled up in a corner, hugging my knees, my consciousness beginning to fade. Suddenly, a blinding pair of headlights illuminated the entrance. A black Maybach pulled to a stop. It was Ashley’s car. The door opened, and Sophia, clinging to Ashley’s arm, stepped out. “Ashley, darling, I heard there’s a little shop around here with the most amazing chestnut pastries. I want to try them,” Sophia cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet. “Of course. Anything for you.” Ashley’s voice was indulgent and gentle, a tone I had never heard him use. As they passed the underpass, Sophia stopped. She had spotted me huddled in the corner. “Oh my goodness, isn’t that little Eve?” she exclaimed, covering her mouth in mock surprise as she tugged on Ashley’s sleeve. “Heavens, what is she doing sleeping here? She’ll freeze to death in this weather.” Ashley followed her gaze. When he saw my pathetic state, he let out a cold snort, his eyes filled with ridicule. “I knew she wouldn’t last long. Look at her, playing the victim, waiting for me to find her.” I didn’t want to look at them. I struggled to my feet, wanting to leave, but the fever had left me weak. I stumbled and fell heavily back to the ground. Sophia let go of Ashley and clicked over to me on her high heels. She knelt, holding out an elegant hand warmer. “Eve, here, take this and get warm. Don’t be angry with Ashley anymore.” I turned my head away, refusing to touch anything of hers. She leaned in close, whispering so only I could hear. “You looked like a bitch in heat, kneeling on the floor for him that night. What’s the matter? No one wants you now, so you have to sleep in a sewer?” Rage burned through me. I raised my hand to push her away. But before I could even touch her, Sophia let out a piercing shriek. “Ah!” She threw herself backward, landing hard in the snow. She clutched her stomach, her face draining of all color as tears welled in her eyes. “It hurts… Ashley, my stomach, it hurts so much…” “Sophia!” Ashley’s face contorted in panic. He rushed to her side. He didn’t even glance at me. He just kicked me, hard, in the shoulder. I was thrown backward, my back slamming against the rough concrete wall. My head struck a sharp rock. Blood streamed down from my brow. Ashley scooped Sophia into his arms, then turned to glare at me. “Eve, you’re asking for it!” he roared, pointing a trembling finger at me. “If anything happens to Sophia, I’ll kill you!” I lay on the ground, gasping for air, the taste of blood thick in my throat. I saw Sophia, nestled in his arms, flash me a triumphant smirk. But Ashley wasn’t finished. He handed Sophia over to his driver, who had just arrived, and strode back toward me. He grabbed me by the collar and hauled me to my feet. “Kneel and apologize to her!” I bit my lip, staring at him with defiant eyes. No. I did nothing wrong. I will not kneel. “You won’t kneel, is that it?” Ashley sneered and pulled out his phone. “Go to Westwood Cemetery. Dig up the old woman’s ashes. Since her granddaughter is so stubborn, let’s scatter her ashes to the wind. Give her a little encouragement.” My world shrank to a pinpoint. My grandmother was my last line. How dare he. I shook my head wildly, grabbing his wrist, my nails digging into his flesh. “N-no… p-please… don’t!” I gasped, forcing out a broken, airy sound. A cruel, satisfied smile spread across Ashley’s face. “Well, well. The mute can speak after all? Or are you just scared now?” “Then kneel. And bow your head to the ground until Sophia is satisfied.” He let me go. I collapsed to the ground like a broken doll. For my grandmother, I would kneel. I turned toward Sophia and slammed my forehead against the frozen earth. Once. Twice. Three times. The dull thud of my head hitting the ground echoed through the underpass. Each impact was the sound of my dignity shattering into a million pieces. I was dragged back to the Hawthorne villa.

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1 The night of my graduation, the freshman who’d been chasing me for six months got me drunk and lured me to his bed. When I woke up, he was smiling. “You weren’t just with me last night,” he told me. Soon after, photos of me in bed with a group of strange, middle-aged men went viral online. The caption read: “Shared Sugar Baby: Now Taking Appointments.” When I confronted him, his voice was laced with ice. “Isn’t your mother a professional homewrecker? As her daughter, you naturally had to one-up her.” The night my mother saw the news, she had a stroke. When she woke up, her mind was forever trapped at the age of eight. To support her, I became the star attraction at a downtown nightclub, the queen of the midnight stage. Eight years later, as I writhed under the hazy lights, I looked up and saw a pair of familiar eyes in a VIP booth. … Sweat slicked my skin as I danced, the cold metal of the pole a searing line against my inner thigh with every spin. A raw, familiar pain. After eight years, my skin still hadn’t gotten used to the friction. But I couldn’t stop. Every cheer from the crowd was a potential bill paid, another dose of the medication my mother needed tomorrow. I spun, inverted, and split my legs. And then, in the middle of a difficult backbend, my eyes slammed into his. My body faltered. I lost my grip and plummeted from more than six feet up. I hit the stage hard. A sharp, drilling pain shot through my ankle. The crowd erupted in jeers and crude laughter. “What the hell was that?” “If you can’t dance, get off the stage!” The manager rushed forward, bowing and scraping apologies to the audience while grabbing my arm. He hissed through clenched teeth, “Stella! What the hell was that? You trying to get fired?!” “Do you have any idea how many people are watching? If you ruin the club’s reputation, can you afford to pay for it?!” I clutched my swelling ankle, my entire body trembling with pain. I looked back toward the VIP booth, but the familiar eyes were gone. Had I imagined it? “What are you gawking at? Get the hell backstage!” the manager barked, snapping me back to reality. I bit my lip and limped off the stage. Back in the cluttered dressing room, I had just sat down when a busboy shoved the door open. “Manager says because of your screw-up, you’re not getting paid for tonight,” he said flatly. “What?” I looked up, my heart sinking. “Nothing? But my mother has a physical therapy appointment the day after tomorrow.” I grabbed his arm, my voice pleading. “Can you please talk to him for me? I’ll be more careful next time. I swear it will never happen again!” He shook my hand off, his face a mask of disgust. “It’s no use begging. He’s furious. Besides, it was your own damn fault for not paying attention.” He spun around and left, slamming the door behind him. I sank back into the chair, the pain in my ankle mingling with the panic rising in my chest. Therapy bills, medication costs, rent… The numbers spun in my head, suffocating me. If I didn’t get paid tonight, my mother’s therapy would have to be postponed. Just as I was drowning in despair, the door opened again. It was the manager. His expression had softened slightly. “Stella, come with me. A client in a VIP room asked for you. A private performance. Double pay.” My stomach dropped. I knew exactly what a “private performance” meant. A closed room, expensive liquor, and hands that didn’t know boundaries. I had always avoided it. But then I thought of my mother’s therapy, of the bills piling up, and I hesitated. “What? You don’t want to?” The manager raised an eyebrow. “Fine. But if you refuse, you can forget about your base salary for the month, too.” “I’ll do it,” I said, my voice tight. I had already fallen this far. What right did I have to be picky? The manager’s smile was triumphant. “That’s more like it. You’re in this line of work. No need to pretend you’re a saint. Now hurry up and change. Don’t keep the client waiting.” I pulled a conservative black slip dress from the locker, threw a thin jacket over it, and followed him to the VIP section. When he opened the door to the private room, the manager’s face instantly transformed into a fawning grin. “Mr. Wallace, here she is. This is our star, Stella.” I followed his gaze, preparing to force a smile, but my expression froze. 2 Seated in the main armchair was the face I had seen from the stage. Caden. So I hadn’t been imagining things. It had been eight years. He was no longer the fresh-faced freshman who used to follow me around campus. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his eyes sharp and steady, exuding the unmistakable aura of a Hollywood star. And I… I was a nightclub dancer, selling my body for money. The shame lasted only a second. I quickly composed myself. I didn’t have the luxury of feelings anymore. As instructed, I walked to the small stage in the center of the room and began to move to the music. I plastered a seductive smile on my face, even as sweat dripped into my eyes, stinging them. When the song ended, there was a smattering of applause. Caden, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke. His voice was laced with a chilling mockery. “Stella. Eight years, and this is what you’ve become. Impressive.” The room fell silent. The others, sensing the tension, chimed in. “Caden, you know her?” Caden picked up his wine glass, his eyes sweeping over me with disdain. “Not really. We went to the same university. I just had the misfortune of hearing about her… glorious achievements back then.” He drew out the words “glorious achievements,” and the men around him chuckled with knowing smirks. “Well, if she’s an old friend of yours, she should give us a proper show, right?” one of them jeered. “How about a striptease to liven things up?” My body went rigid, and the color drained from my face. “I’m sorry, I… I don’t do that.” “Don’t do that?” the man with the gold chain laughed. “We’re all here to have a good time, why the act? You dance well, and we’ll make it worth your while.” He pulled a thick wad of cash from his wallet and slapped it on the glass table. The others followed suit, and soon a small mountain of money was piled on the table. The bills glittered under the dim lights, a tempting, filthy sheen. All I could see were hospital invoices, my mother’s childlike eyes, and the urgent voice of the nurse on the phone. The seconds ticked by. The mood in the room shifted from anticipation to impatience. “Are you gonna dance or not? If not, get the hell out!” someone shouted. Caden just sat there, sipping his wine, a king watching a spectacle from his throne. And I was the sacrifice on the altar. My nails dug into my palms, the pain the only thing keeping me grounded. I gave a slow, deliberate nod. The music started again, slower and more provocative this time. I reached up and untied my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders. Then, with trembling fingers, I reached for the zipper on the side of my dress. The sound of it sliding down was quiet but deafening. The dress slipped from my shoulders, revealing the thin, black lace bra underneath. The air conditioning was cold, raising goosebumps on my skin. I moved mechanically, trying to cover myself with my arms, which only earned me more excited whistles. Just as my shaking hand reached for the clasp of my bra— “That’s enough,” Caden said, his brow furrowed. Everything stopped. I stood frozen, the dress half-off, pooled around my elbows. He stood up and looked down at me, his disgust unconcealed. “A leopard never changes its spots. Just like your mother—you’ll do anything for a price.” He turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him. With Caden gone, the others lost interest and began to leave. I quickly pulled my jacket tight around me, hugging myself as I stood there, stunned. Just then, the producer, Mr. Wallace, walked over to me. He tucked a business card into the top of my dress, his voice greasy. “Stella, right? You’ve got a great body. And you can really move.” He leaned in close, his breath reeking of alcohol. “I’m working on a new project. Looking for actors who are… adventurous. Willing to get creative. Give me a call if you’re interested. The price is negotiable.”

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After my husband went bankrupt, I followed him into a basement apartment. We were broke, living a miserable existence, and yet he still had to support me—his cruel, demanding, high-maintenance wife. The System ordered me to maintain this persona. But my moral compass was too strong; I was wracked with guilt after every cruel act. So, every time I finished tormenting him, I would secretly cry my eyes out. In the middle of the night, I crept into his room and lifted the sleeve of his shirt. A gash, nearly four inches long, jagged and raw, stared back at me. He’d gotten it working himself to the bone to buy the designer coat I had demanded. As I cleaned and dressed the wound, tears streamed down my face. “System,” I whispered, “when is he going to ask for a divorce?” I couldn’t stand being cruel anymore. I couldn’t stand seeing him get hurt. The System glanced at my husband’s arm, now damp with my tears, then at his eyelashes, which were trembling ever so slightly. It sighed. 【Divorce? Honey,】 it said. 【He’s planning on loving you for the rest of his life.】 1. “I’m so glad no one took it. See? I told you it was pretty. The ribbon is tied so nicely, too.” It was already ten o’clock at night. I stood under a flickering streetlight, holding the bouquet I’d just fished out of the trash, my voice filled with a quiet joy. The System responded with a cold, humorless laugh. 【A handful of cheap roses, some jasmine, and ten-dollar wrapping paper.】 it sneered. 【A bouquet that cost less than twenty bucks. And for this, you sneak out in the middle of the night to go dumpster diving? Why don’t you just move in there?】 I stayed silent for a moment before whispering, “You can be really mean, System.” Another cold laugh. I didn’t have much room to talk. Not long ago, I’d said something just as cruel to Louis. I had thrown the flowers on the ground right in front of him. He bent down to pick them up, but I stopped him with a sharp command. “Other men buy 999 roses. And you? If you don’t have money, don’t try to act romantic. This is pathetic and embarrassing. Just looking at it makes me sick.” “Can’t you make more money? Being this broke… marrying you was the worst luck of my life.” It wasn’t just the flowers. There was also a small box of fresh strawberries. His boss had handed them out during a site inspection. Louis hadn’t eaten a single one, saving them to bring home to me. The System rolled its eyes, thoroughly disgusted by my sentimentality. 【Can you please stop caring about such meaningless things? Stick to your role! You are the vicious, cruel supporting character. Your only purpose is to humiliate the male lead. I am so sick of you acting like an idiot!】 Its voice was sharp, urging me to go back inside. I pretended not to hear. I crouched down, carefully separating the jasmine blossoms and pressing them flat to use as bookmarks before slowly walking back to our apartment. Strawberries he wouldn’t eat, flowers he went out of his way to buy. If these things, so despised by the System, were meaningless… Then what in the world had meaning? 2. 【Next mission: Force the male lead to buy you a designer coat before Christmas.】 And that was the System’s answer. Louis was home early for once, standing on a stool, fixing a faulty lightbulb. The building was old, the wiring shot. It was a constant cycle of fix and fail. “I bought a small desk lamp,” he said, not looking at me. “I’ll charge it every day before I leave. If the light goes out again, don’t touch it. Just use the lamp and wait for me to get home.” I stood behind him, holding a mug of hot orange juice, my face pale and soft in the dim light. Louis’s hands, once impeccably manicured, were now covered in grime, the palms crisscrossed with tiny cuts. “I…” After a long hesitation, I finally forced out the scripted lines. “Christmas is coming. You have to buy me an expensive coat so I can dress up properly. How am I supposed to celebrate Christmas otherwise?” I showed him a screenshot on my phone, trying to sound fierce. “This one. You have to get me this one. If you can’t, then you’re a useless failure, and you shouldn’t even bother coming home.” Louis washed his hands thoroughly before taking the phone from me. He stared at the screen for a long time before looking up, his expression unreadable. “Is this the only one you want?” At the same time, the System shrieked in my head. 【What the—$800?! Are you insane? Where did you even find a coat at that price?】 The brand specified in the script was far too expensive. Thankfully, I was resourceful. I had scoured online resale apps. Sure enough, I found the $2,000 coat, barely used, for $800, shipping included. Getting it for $800 meant Louis would have to work a few less days, shed a little less sweat. “Is this the only one you want?” Louis asked again. It was only much later that I understood the complex emotions swirling in his eyes. There was a time when $800 wouldn’t have even bought a single button on one of his suits. But now, for the woman who had followed him into a cramped, run-down basement, it was an “expensive coat” to be cherished, a chance to feel beautiful again. When he was on top of the world, I had received nothing from him. But when he hit rock bottom, I was right there beside him, sharing his hardship. At that moment, though, I didn’t understand. I assumed he thought the price was too high, that I was pushing him too far. Shame makes people say stupid things. “Oh, uh, well, I can try to haggle a bit more. Maybe I can get it for less than eight hundred.” I had completely forgotten my persona, my mind consumed by bargaining and panic. Suddenly, the mug was lifted from my hands. Louis reheated the orange juice and passed it back to me. “Lipstick,” he said softly. “A hat, ribbons for your hair, a Christmas tree, a little cake.” A cold wind howled outside, but inside our tiny apartment, it was peaceful. He gently guided me to the sofa. Louis knelt before me, and I found myself looking into a pair of deep, beautiful dark eyes. “You’ll need all those things, too,” he said. “To have a proper Christmas.” 3. Louis was a man of his word. The day before Christmas, I received my gift. It had a crisp silhouette, soft fabric, and a vibrant color. The System breathed a sigh of relief. 【You almost fooled me. Good thing the male lead bought it from the department store. Hahaha, guess you forgot he has a thing about cleanliness. Who would buy a second-hand coat someone else has worn? Only a complete moron like you…】 The System’s mockery was relentless, but I wasn’t listening. “You said… he bought it at the department store?” After Louis’s company went bankrupt, all his old rivals had blacklisted him. He couldn’t get a job at a major corporation or find any respectable work. He was forced to take day-laborer jobs at construction sites, in warehouses, on the docks—anywhere he could sell his strength for cash. And I, his spoiled, vain wife, would immediately squander every dollar he brought home. I bit my lip. “$2,000. Where did he get that kind of money?” 4. It didn’t take long for me to find out. Someone posted a photo online that quickly went viral because of how handsome the man in it was. 【The guy our building management hired to wash windows. Hot, right?】 【OMG, I want that window washing service… for reasons. Why doesn’t my building offer this? One star!】 【I live in this building too. The person on the floor above me has no class. They left a flowerpot on their windowsill, and it fell and hit the poor guy. The gash was huge, blood was pouring out. It was terrifying.】 【I know, right? And he was so nice about it. He just asked for compensation privately. If it were me, I would have blasted them all over the internet! Let everyone see what a trashy neighbor they are!】 That night, I snuck into Louis’s room. It wasn’t really a room, just a folding bed in the corner of the living room, sectioned off by a curtain. Another one of my cruel deeds. I had claimed the only bedroom for myself and refused to let him in. I lifted his sleeve. Sure enough, there was a gash nearly four inches long, jagged and horrifying. Dangling 26 stories high, clinging to the side of a building with only a single rope for support, washing window after window under the scrutinizing gaze of strangers… Louis, had you already decided then and there that you would go to the department store to buy me that coat? “You’re hurt, and you didn’t even tell me.” The wound had only been hastily cleaned. Louis had acted as if nothing was wrong. At dinner, he gave me an apple but didn’t peel it for me like he usually did. He’d said, “A Christmas apple has to be eaten with the skin on. That way, the peace it brings is whole and complete.” It wasn’t that he couldn’t peel it. It was that his left hand was injured. He couldn’t hold a knife, so he’d made up a clumsy lie. A lie that had only fooled his stupid, cruel wife. As I applied ointment to the wound, my fingers gently brushed over the old scars on his wrist. This one, from when I had a fever and needed to see a doctor. He’d taken a job hauling bricks and, being inexperienced, had been cut by a tool. This one, from when I demanded a gold necklace. He’d worked as a bouncer for a night and had been hit with a steel pipe. And this one, and that one… I tried to control my emotions, but the more I tried, the more the tears fell. The System attempted to comfort me. 【Stop crying. If you ask me, you’re the unlucky one. If you’d married him a year earlier, you would have been a billionaire’s wife. You would have gotten mansions as wedding gifts. Instead, you get nothing but a basement apartment. What’s the big deal about him spending a little money on you?】 I was supposed to resent Louis. Resent him for going broke, for being poor, for not being able to give me a good life. But what about Louis? One day he was a golden boy, the next he was at the bottom of a pit. Mocked, humiliated, working grueling manual labor under the scorching sun, enduring the strange looks from everyone. And when he came home, he was met with the accusations of his pampered wife: “You’re a failure. So useless. You can’t even buy me a piece of jewelry. If I were you, I would have killed myself by now.” In the dead of night, Louis, when you stare at this damp, cracked ceiling, do you ever think about the man you were a year ago? Ambitious, brilliant, with the world at your feet? A bitter wind rattled the windowpane. On the bed, the man’s eyelashes trembled. I pressed my cheek to his palm, my tears soaking his wrist. “System, when is Louis finally going to ask for a divorce?” I couldn’t do this anymore. I didn’t want to hurt him again. This Christmas Eve was dark and bleak. The apple tasted of ashes. If he could just divorce me, he wouldn’t have to work himself to death, right? He wouldn’t have to juggle three jobs a day. He wouldn’t have to get hurt anymore. 【Divorce?】 the System said, its tone dripping with something that sounded almost like pity. 【Honey, he’s planning on loving you for the rest of his life.】

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We were childhood friends, running a trucking business together. A net profit of over $350,000 a year. At the end-of-year split, he tossed me an envelope with $8,000 cash. “Buddy,” he said, “you don’t own the rig. This is for your trouble.” I looked at him and his wife, celebrating their new BMW and their new house, and I smiled as I took the money. What he didn’t know was that over the years, I hadn’t just memorized every route; I had gotten to know every single client. The day I rolled up in my own tractor-trailer and snatched his biggest contract right from under him, he completely lost his mind. 1 The late-year wind bit hard, kicking up dust that felt like sand against my face. Rick shoved a thick envelope into my hand and clapped me on the shoulder. “Mark, my man. It’s been a long year.” His voice was thick with booze and a condescending sort of charity. I squeezed the envelope. It wasn’t thin, but it wasn’t fat either. The bills inside were so crisp they felt sharp. “Rick… what’s this?” “$8,000. A little something for your trouble.” He grinned, showing off teeth stained yellow from years of smoking and drinking. “It was a good year. We cleared $350k, net. You don’t have a truck in the game, you’re just riding along, so that’s a damn good piece of change for you.” Three hundred and fifty thousand. Eight thousand. The two numbers exploded in my head, leaving a dull ringing in their wake. My heart plummeted, a lead weight in my chest. His wife, Brenda, clung to his arm, dangling the keys to a brand-new BMW. The blue and white logo seemed to burn into my eyes. “Mark, you just keep working hard for my Rick next year, and we’ll take care of you.” Her hand, with its fire-engine-red nails, fished a set of house keys from her purse. She tapped them against the floor plan of their new home. “This one’s 1,800 square feet. We close next week. You’ll have to come to the housewarming.” I watched the raw, unfiltered happiness and pride spilling off them. I felt like a ghost at their feast, a complete and utter joke. I forced the corners of my mouth into a smile that felt like cracking plaster. “Thanks, Rick. Thanks, Brenda.” I stuffed the $8,000 into my pocket. My hands were steady, but my fingernails were digging so deep into my palms I thought I might draw blood. The dinner was at the nicest steakhouse in town. The private room was stuffy with heat, and the food on the table was arranged like art. I had zero appetite. My mind drifted back to the endless days and nights on the road. The summers, when the cab was a steambox with no AC, and I had to chug lukewarm water and pinch my own thigh just to stay awake. The winters, when we were snowed in on some godforsaken mountain pass, gnawing on frozen sandwiches for two straight days. I once drove for three days straight to make a rush delivery, my eyes so bloodshot the whole world seemed to shimmer and shake. And where was Rick during all of that? He was at home, tucked into his warm bed, AC blasting, making the occasional phone call to manage me remotely. “Mark, keep an eye on that load. Can’t have any issues.” “Mark, schmooze the guys at the dock. Get them to move faster.” “Mark, the client needs a little something extra, you know what to do.” I was the one who had to “know what to do.” I was the one who had to “keep an eye on things.” I was the one changing tires in a blizzard and laying down planks in the mud. And he was the boss, reaping all the rewards. All because the title of that tractor-trailer had his name on it. “Here, Mark, have some lobster. You need to put some meat on your bones. You’re all skin and bones from the road,” Brenda said, dropping a piece into my bowl with the kind of pity you’d show a distant, poor relative. “Yeah, trucking’s a tough life,” Rick chimed in, taking a sip of his whiskey. “But that’s what being a man is about. You gotta have something to strive for.” His “something to strive for” was the BMW key fob in his hand and the new house keys in his wife’s. My “something to strive for” was the eight grand in my pocket. My “trouble money.” I kept my head down, pushing rice around my bowl, saying nothing. Every grain felt like sand scratching my throat. Humiliation and rage churned in my gut like molten iron. Four years. We’d been partners for four years. Every route, every client, every weigh station attendant with a bad attitude—I knew them all. I’d learned them through sweat and sleepless nights. I had an encrypted file on my phone. In it were the contact details for every single client. Their shipping schedules, their bottom-line prices, even what brand of cigars they liked or what kind of coffee they drank. Rick knew none of this. He just knew how to watch the numbers climb in his bank account each month. As the drinks flowed, the mood in the room got louder. Rick and his cronies started bragging about the year’s success, about his sharp eye for business, about how he knew how to manage people. I sat in the corner like a piece of furniture, listening quietly. But my mind was racing, calculating every ledger from the past four years. Nearly a million dollars in total profit. My cut, all told, was less than fifty thousand. This wasn’t a partnership. This was vampirism. I wasn’t his friend; I was his livestock. As the dinner wound down, I finally lifted my head and met Rick’s hazy, drunken gaze. “Rick… any chance I could get a bigger cut next year?” My voice was raspy, but clear. “My folks are getting older, their health isn’t great, and I’m trying to save up to get married.” The room fell silent. Every eye was on me. The smile on Rick’s face slowly faded. He put down his glass, his eyes narrowed with annoyance and suspicion. “Mark, what’s this all of a sudden?” He paused, his tone turning cold. “You gotta know your place, man. You didn’t put up any capital, you don’t own the truck. To be honest, you’re just a co-driver. I’m only giving you this much because I consider you a brother.” “Any other co-driver would be lucky to get twenty grand a year, tops.” “That eight grand is because we grew up together. That’s for old times’ sake.” His words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. Old times’ sake? So my sleepless nights, my near-misses on icy roads, were worth an extra three thousand dollars of sentimentality to him. I looked at his face, so full of self-righteous justification, and I started to laugh. A quiet, humorless laugh. I didn’t argue. I didn’t explain. I just picked up my glass of cheap beer. “You’re right, Rick.” I tilted my head back and drained the bitter liquid in one go. “Thanks for the lesson.” The cold beer slid down my throat, a final toast to the funeral of our four-year brotherhood. My heart was no longer churning. It was a frozen, silent wasteland. From now on, I was driving my own road. 2 I didn’t go home for the holidays. I lied to my parents, told them I had to cover shifts at work. The truth was, I took that insulting eight grand, along with every penny I’d managed to scrape together over the years, and set a long-overdue plan into motion. Two days after Christmas, I showed up at Mr. Peterson’s front door with a couple of gift baskets. Peterson was the logistics manager for a major manufacturing plant—our biggest client. He was in his forties, a fair man who respected hard work and competence. He answered the door himself, a little surprised to see me. “Mark? What brings you here?” “Happy holidays, Mr. Peterson,” I said with a disarming smile. “Just brought you a little something from back home. Nothing fancy, just something for you and the Mrs. to enjoy.” Peterson invited me in. His house was tasteful and well-kept, with a quiet, scholarly air about it. I didn’t mention work. Not once. We just drank coffee and talked about the state of the shipping industry, about how the new interstate bypasses were affecting transit times and costs. Casually, I dropped in the route-optimization strategies I’d been developing in my head for the past two years. Which stretches of I-80 were always jammed during rush hour, which truck stops had the best and cheapest diners, even which weigh stations had the pickiest inspectors. Peterson listened with growing interest, a look of genuine appreciation in his eyes. “Mark, I had no idea you’d put this much thought into it.” “You spend enough time on the road, you learn to think about these things or you lose money,” I said. It was the simple truth. When I left, Peterson walked me to the door. “You’re a sharp kid, Mark. Keep it up.” He clapped me on the shoulder. That simple gesture felt heavier, more real, than any time Rick had ever called me “brother.” From Peterson’s house, I drove straight to my next target. For the entire holiday break, I was on the road, visiting people. The clients, the warehouse foremen, the shipping managers I’d shared a cigarette with while loading or helped out during a tough unload—I paid a visit to every single one. I didn’t bring expensive gifts, just those small, thoughtful baskets and a sincere greeting. I made sure they remembered me, Mark, not just “Rick’s co-driver.” When the holidays were over, Rick called, ordering me back to work. His tone was imperious, as if my taking a week off was a personal offense. “Mark, playtime’s over! I want the truck inspected and ready to roll by tomorrow!” “Got it, Rick,” I answered calmly. After hanging up, I looked at the “Key Clients” group in my phone’s contacts. Every name in that list was a beacon. I had the network. Now, I needed my own damn rig. I started haunting used truck lots and dealerships. A new Peterbilt tractor-trailer would run close to $180,000. Even a decent used one was pushing a hundred grand. I pooled all my money—including the humiliating $8,000—and came up with less than $25,000. It wasn’t even enough for a proper down payment. For days, anxiety was a physical presence, a hand squeezing my throat. I spent my days walking the lots and my nights in cheap motels, staring at the ceiling, running the numbers over and over. I couldn’t wait any longer. Every extra day I spent with Rick was another day he was sucking the life out of me. To make more cash, I started taking on side gigs. I found a dispatch office in a logistics park and convinced the woman running it to give me the short-haul, late-night loading jobs nobody else wanted. From 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., I moved between different warehouses. I hauled sacks of cement, rebar, crates of vegetables. Sweat soaked through my clothes, and when the cold night air hit me, the chill went straight to my bones. I gritted my teeth, hoisting one heavy load after another, driven by a single thought: faster, just a little faster. Every dollar was a brick in the foundation of my new life. Rick called a couple more times, asking why he couldn’t reach me during the day. I fed him some story about working overtime. He grumbled about me getting lazy and disrespectful, then left me alone. In his eyes, I was just a tool. You pick it up when you need it, you toss it aside when you don’t. He never cared what happened to the tool itself. His neglect was my opportunity. I kept driving for him during the day and loading boxes at night. I felt like a bowstring pulled to its absolute limit. Exhausted, but filled with a terrifying hope. My plan was taking shape, one agonizing step at a time. 3 The breakthrough came from a conversation with an old-timer at a truck stop. He told me some dealerships, desperate to meet their sales quotas, offered low-money-down financing deals. You could get into a rig for just 20% down, but the interest rates were killer. “It’s a gamble for guys like us,” the old driver said, blowing a cloud of smoke. “Guys with more grit than cash. If you win, you pay it off in a year. If you lose, they repo the truck and you’re left with nothing but debt.” It was the biggest gamble of my life. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I found the dealership he mentioned. A brand-new Peterbilt 389 was parked out front, gleaming and massive, like a beast of chrome and steel waiting to be unleashed. The salesman took one look at my worn clothes and the grime under my fingernails and practically ignored me. But when I pulled out my bank card and said I wanted that Peterbilt, on the low-down-payment plan, his eyes lit up. Everything after that was a blur of paperwork. Credit checks, contracts, loan applications. The moment I signed my name, my hand was shaking. This wasn’t just a sales contract; it was a bet on the rest of my life. Three days later, I came to pick it up. The second I settled into the brand-new driver’s seat and wrapped my hands around the cool, thick leather of the steering wheel, a profound sense of peace washed over me. Every screw, every inch of this machine, belonged to me. Mark. No more living under someone else’s thumb. No more taking orders. I turned the key, and the engine roared to life with a deep, powerful rumble. It was the most beautiful sound in the world. I felt like my future was right here, in my hands, on this wheel. I called my parents and told them I’d found a new job with better pay. I told them not to worry about me anymore. My mom started crying on the other end, telling me to take care of myself, not to work too hard. I fought back the lump in my throat and promised I would. I didn’t tell them about the six-figure debt I’d just taken on. I just wanted them to see me when I finally made it. Meanwhile, Rick was getting antsy about the first big job of the year. Usually, Mr. Peterson’s first shipment was already booked by now. But this year, there was only silence. Rick took Peterson out for expensive dinners, sent him gifts, but Peterson remained noncommittal, saying he was waiting for approval from the higher-ups. Rick was getting frustrated. He had no idea that the person Peterson was waiting for was me. I didn’t rush to make my move. I spent two weeks driving my new rig from one government office to another, getting all my permits in order. Business license, DOT number, operating authority. When the words “M-Line Trucking” were printed on the official certificate, I just stood there in the parking lot of the county clerk’s office, grinning like an idiot for a long, long time. My teeth were sharp. My claws were out. Now, all I had to do was wait for the right moment to strike.

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