My mother gave us two choices. Go with her to the Sterling mansion, attend the best private high school with the young master, but be restricted to domestic universities. Or stay in our hometown for school, with the promise of studying abroad after graduation. My sister snatched the first option. “Mom, I want to go to the Sterling mansion with you.” Mom smiled with relief and turned to me. “As the older sister, you should yield to your sister. Sending you abroad later will fulfill my duty as a mother.” Seeing my sister clinging to Mom with a look of anticipation, I knew. She had been reborn too. Unfortunately for her, Liam Sterling would never fall for her. Chapter 1 “Maddie, the employer has a lot of demands. Your sister and I are leaving today. Take care of yourself at home.” After packing, Mom left with Chloe immediately. It was completely unlike my past life, where she stayed ten extra days just to persuade Chloe to go to the Sterling mansion. In our past life, after Mom presented the choices, Chloe also rushed to choose. But back then, she chose to study abroad. After my parents divorced, I was awarded to my dad. For ten whole years, Mom never visited me once, yet I missed her every day. It wasn’t until Dad passed away and the police took me to Mom’s place that I had a mother again. When Chloe chose to go abroad, I was overjoyed. I could finally be with Mom day and night. But Mom wanted to take Chloe with her. She stayed for ten days, constantly trying to persuade Chloe to go. Chloe firmly believed the grass was greener on the other side. She didn’t budge until the employer urged Mom to return. So, I went to the Sterling mansion with Mom and met Liam Sterling. He was handsome, aloof, noble, and a top student. He was the Prince Charming in every girl’s heart. I couldn’t help but fall for him too. I knew the gap between us was like heaven and earth, so I buried that affection deep in my heart. Until after the college entrance exams, Liam, drunk after a party, pinned me against a wall. “Maddie, come study abroad with me, okay?” I turned my face away, restraining myself. “I don’t have the money.” Liam smiled, lighting up the entire basement. “I’ll pay for you.” In that moment, I knew. The person I had secretly loved for three years liked me too. Immeasurable happiness hit me. Excitedly, I told Mom that the young master wanted to take me abroad. What I got was a heavy slap across the face. “You’re not going! When you chose to come to the Sterling mansion, you gave up the path to study abroad. The money I saved is for Chloe.” I covered my face and explained. “The young master said I don’t need to pay; he’ll cover my tuition.” Mom scoffed, looking me up and down with disdain. “Shameless. Climbing into bed for money. weigh yourself properly—look at your status, look at his. “Someone like him is just playing with you. When he gets bored, I’ll be the one stuck with the bill. “Don’t even think about going abroad. If you dare disobey, don’t call me Mom ever again. “And stay far away from the young master. Don’t jeopardize my job.” Perhaps because I lacked maternal love growing up, my biggest fear was losing my mother. Heartbroken, I rejected Liam. But Liam told me solemnly. “Distance isn’t a problem. I can afford plane tickets.” In college, we started a long-distance relationship. He flew back every month to see me. The sweetness of love filled me with hope for the future. When Mom found out we were really dating, she went behind my back and asked Liam to take care of Chloe, who was also abroad. Liam, unaware of our family dynamics, naively looked after Chloe as her brother-in-law. Unexpectedly, one day in my senior year, I received a message from Chloe, along with a photo. Chloe, topless, arms around Liam’s neck, lying in a hotel bed. [Sis, Liam and I are together now. Stop pestering him.] I had been with Liam for three years. I knew he wouldn’t betray me. My first thought was that Liam had been set up. I furiously called Chloe. But I didn’t notice the truck rushing towards me. As my soul left my body, I heard Mom and Chloe talking. “It’s good your sister died. You need to grab the young master’s heart. You’ll be the mistress of the Sterling family.” Chloe laughed triumphantly. “It was smart of you, Mom, to have Liam take care of me abroad. That gave me the chance to take that photo when he was drunk. “I wanted Maddie to give up on her own, but her dying directly is even better. God has eyes. “Once Liam gets over his grief, I’ll make my move.” I always thought that even if Mom was biased, she still saw me as a daughter. I never expected she wouldn’t even shed a tear over my death. Devastated, I floated to find Liam. Only to find him in a bathtub, holding my photo, having taken his own life. Only then did I know. Liam loved me more than life itself. I went mad, using all my strength to trip Chloe as she walked down the stairs. Watching Chloe fall to her death, my soul finally dissipated. I didn’t expect to return to the day we chose our fates. This time, Chloe chose the Sterling mansion. She thinks going there will make Liam fall for her. Too bad she’s wrong. Liam won’t like her. And I will make them pay for what they did in our past life. Chapter 2 As soon as Mom and Chloe left, my aunt used “renovating the room” as an excuse to send me to boarding school early. Before, when Mom worked as a maid at the Sterling mansion, she let us stay at my uncle’s house and paid my aunt a monthly living fee. In my past life, after Mom and I went to the Sterling mansion, Mom increased the fee and asked them to take good care of Chloe. Chloe lived well at my uncle’s house. Now it seems Mom stopped the payments. I didn’t argue. I packed my things and left. Before school started, I had one more place to go. After leaving my uncle’s, I went to the bank. Dad used to deposit a small sum for my birthday every year. Only I knew about that account. I withdrew the money and took a long-distance bus to a remote cemetery. It was stormy that day. I wrapped myself in a raincoat and waited behind a tree. Near dusk, sixteen-year-old Liam rushed in through the rain, followed by several bodyguards. Liam was soaked, his narrow eyes cold, but his steps firm. He walked to a grave and frantically clawed at the grass. “Young Master, the rain is too heavy. It probably got washed away. Let’s look when the rain stops.” Liam acted like he didn’t hear. Just as he was exhausted and despairing, I walked out from behind the tree. “Excuse me, are you looking for this?” I pulled a necklace from my pocket. Liam’s eyes lit up, and he walked over quickly. Seeing him soaked, I raised my umbrella to shield him from the rain. Liam took the necklace with trembling hands, his expression softening. “How do you have it?” In my past life, after we got together, he said his biggest regret was losing the necklace he made with his mother in the summer of his sixteenth year. So, I came to the cemetery. To fix his regret, and to meet him. I shrugged, shrinking into my coat. “The rain washed it down. I picked it up and saw you searching, so I thought it might be yours.” “Thank you. This necklace is very important to me. What reward do you want?” Liam said thanks, but still kept people a thousand miles away. I shivered and said, “Treat me to a cup of instant noodles. I’m cold and hungry.” Liam froze, then burst out laughing. “Deal!” Half an hour later, at my insistence, Liam ate his first cup of instant noodles with me. “I didn’t know instant noodles were this good.” When we were together before, his favorite was instant noodles. After eating, Liam wanted my contact info to thank me properly. I smiled and refused. “If it’s fate, we’ll meet again.” The moment I turned around, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I wanted to rush over, hug him, and tell him everything about our past life. Tell him I missed him like crazy. But that would make me look insane. I didn’t leave my contact because I knew his every move in high school. We would meet again. Liam would think it was fate. Not a plan. Chapter 3 School finally started. The high school curriculum was too easy for me. I began plotting my second meeting with Liam. During the October break, I got a part-time job cleaning at the ice hockey rink. On the third morning, Liam came to practice. I watched secretly from the back. When he was done, I whispered. “You should twist your wrist when passing.” Liam spun around. I couldn’t see his eyes under the helmet, but I felt his shock. “It’s you! You can see my weakness?” How could I? He told me himself. I played dumb. “Just a little bit. Do we know each other?” Liam took off his helmet, eyes sparkling with surprise. I opened my mouth in exaggerated shock. “It’s you!” At noon, we ate together. “You’re a minor, how are you working here?” “Shh! Don’t let the boss know. I’m pretending to be an adult.” “Do you really need money?” “My dad died in a car accident. Mom took all the money and left with my sister. If I don’t work, what do I do?” Liam was silent for a moment. “Practice hockey with me later.” I hesitated. “I still have to sweep.” “Five thousand an hour.” “Yes sir, boss!” Liam laughed again, almost spitting out his rice. After playing in the afternoon, Liam asked me to dinner again. I was about to agree when I saw Chloe watching from outside the rink. “Next time! I have to go.” When paying me, we exchanged contacts. Back at the hotel, Liam texted. [Home safe?] I couldn’t help smiling. But I only replied with a “Mm.” Chapter 4 After the break, I started preparing for the debate competition. In my past life, although I knew Liam, at school he was in Class 1 and I was in the last class. At home, he lived on the top floor, I lived in the basement. We were two parallel lines. It was a debate competition that made Liam see me. This time, I was going to shine even brighter. But when I got the materials ready, I found my high school didn’t plan to sign up. Furious, I took my bedding and slept in the hallway of the principal’s house. The principal couldn’t beat me and finally agreed to let me form a team, but we had to pay our own expenses. Luckily, many students wanted to participate. We prepared and competed together, busy and happy. Liam sometimes texted me. Every time, I would stop and read every word multiple times. Finally, suppressing my eagerness, I’d reply with just a few words. Before winter break of freshman year, I led the debate team to the finals. Liam spotted me immediately. “Another part-time job?” I flashed my school badge. “I’m here for the finals.” Liam glanced at the badge, eyes widening. “You’re the legendary debater from Maple Leaf High.” “Legendary?” Liam looked moved, eyes burning. “For your school to make it to the finals, it’s like a miracle. “Half the audience today is here for your captain. Introduce me later.” Just then, a teammate ran over. “Captain, our seats are over there. Let’s go!” Liam froze, his look changing. I punched the air, smiling confidently. “See you in the arena, Student Liam!” There were four teams in the finals. We played against another school first. Having done this in my past life, I knew the topic and the opponent’s weaknesses. Unsurprisingly, we crushed them. Throughout the process, I felt a familiar gaze getting hotter. When Liam competed, I sat in the audience opposite them. Just like in the past life, he was calm and composed, dismantling the opponent’s arguments methodically. After he won, I saw him looking for me, so I dragged my classmates away. Feelings—the more you can’t have them, the more you crave them. When Liam texted, I only replied “Busy.” The next day in the grand finals, Liam and I sat opposite each other. In the past life, he was first speaker, I was second. I knew his style and used to cover his flaws. Now, his flaws became my points of attack. An hour later, Liam stood up and extended his hand. “Congratulations!” Familiar warmth came from his palm. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the tears. Leaving the venue, Liam was surrounded. Even losing, he was still the star. But Liam squeezed out of the crowd and walked toward me with his long legs. He smiled, eyes full of complex emotions. “Maddie, can I buy you dinner this afternoon?” The aloof god actively inviting a girl to dinner. The scene was silent for a second, then erupted in screams. “Am I blind? Liam is smiling at that girl.” “Buying her dinner too? OMG! I can’t imagine eating with Liam.” “She’s pretty too, and she won.” Teammates pushed me forward. “Captain has time, go eat!” “You two eat, we’ll sit at the kids’ table.” I looked up, about to nod. Suddenly, someone rushed out of the crowd. “Maddie! Impossible, how could you…” Chloe’s twisted face magnified. Just as she lunged to push me, Liam blocked me with a dark face. Whispers rose from the crowd. “That’s the daughter of the maid at Liam’s house. Always following him.” “Says Liam will love her, but he doesn’t even look at her.” “A toad wanting swan meat. Doesn’t know her place.” Exactly! Even swapping fates, Liam would never like Chloe.

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On every wedding anniversary, my husband, Christopher Kane, brings home a woman he picked up from the streets, claiming it’s for me to “train.” On our tenth anniversary, Christopher brought home a cocktail waitress from a cheap club, dressed in a skimpy bunny suit. “She doesn’t have a gown. Give her your wedding dress. And that set of jewelry I gave you last time, give her that too. As for shoes… the ones on your feet look fine.” “Oh, right. She’s young and inexperienced. Teach her well, especially about… bedroom matters.” Everyone waited for me to become a joke again. Instead, I fulfilled their expectations by saying I wanted a divorce. Christopher snorted, looking at me with contempt and mockery. “Sarah, how many times have you said you want a divorce? I’m sick of hearing it. It’s even more annoying than your moans in bed!” “If you really divorce me, I’ll give you a hundred million dollars!” The crowd roared with laughter again, whispering that I was just playing hard to get, that I didn’t know my place. What they didn’t know was that this was the 100th time I said I wanted a divorce. And it was the only time I truly meant it. Chapter 1 All eyes were on me. Even the cocktail waitress covered her mouth, giggling along. “Come on, place your bets! I bet a million she regrets it before she even walks out that door.” “I’m in for three hundred thousand!” Betting on whether I would divorce Christopher had become a stale tradition at every anniversary party. Many people hated me for losing money on me, and those who won didn’t necessarily like me either. I shook my head with a light laugh, scolding myself internally for being so spineless. It took ten years to finally decide to leave Christopher. “I bet she leaves!” A deep voice came from the crowd. Others tried to dissuade him from throwing his money away. I looked toward the sound but couldn’t see who it was. “Christopher, I’ll send the divorce papers to your office. Remember to sign them.” I had threatened divorce hundreds of times, but this was the first time I mentioned papers. Christopher straightened up, ash falling from the cigarette in his hand. I ignored him, squatted down, unbuckled my high heels, and placed them at the girl’s feet. Her name was Lily. She was in her early twenties, very pretty. “These shoes pinch a bit. You’ll get used to them after a while.” “As for the dress and jewelry Christopher mentioned, I’ll have the housekeeper bring them to you.” “Before you, Christopher brought back nine other girls. If you have any questions, ask them. They live on the third floor. Your room is the last one on the right.” In ten years of marriage, the women Christopher brought home could fill a harem. Tall, short, curvy, thin, innocent, glamorous, aloof, lively—he had them all. Rumor had it he wanted to collect a full set of “Twelve Beauties.” But I wasn’t blessed enough to be one of them. I brushed invisible dust off my bare feet, stood up, and walked toward the main door. Before I could step out, a strong force yanked me back. “Sarah Vance, if you want to leave, leave clean. Is there a single thing on your body that wasn’t bought with my money?” My bare feet felt like they were stepping on blades of ice. Even my breath trembled. “You want me to strip?” Christopher raised an eyebrow, his gaze light as if seeing right through me. “When your family went bankrupt, didn’t your mother strip you naked and shove you into my bed? Leave the same way you came!” “Or do you regret it? That’s fine. Kneel down and put the shoes on for her, and I’ll forgive you.” The crowd behind Christopher laughed so hard they doubled over. Years ago, shortly after Christopher and I started dating, the Vance family went bankrupt. My father jumped off a building and ended up in a vegetative state. Afraid the Kane family wouldn’t help, my mother drugged both Christopher and me. Afterward, she did everything she could to blow the incident up, forcing the Kane family to take responsibility. That night was the beginning of all my humiliation. It also completely destroyed the love Christopher and I had shared since we were teenagers. Christopher was forced to marry me. On our wedding night, he brought a woman home to humiliate me. He did everything in front of me. I even had to open the condom wrapper and hand it to him. I spent the next day on my hands and knees, cleaning up the mess. I lived this servile life for ten years. Now, I couldn’t do it anymore. “I’ll strip.” Before anyone could react, I undid the clasp of my shawl. It was deep winter. The heating inside was strong, but I was standing by the door. Cold wind poured up my skirt, raising goosebumps on my exposed arms and shoulders. I reached back and unzipped the dress. The thin fabric slid down. Shoulders and skin were exposed to the air. “Oh my god!” Some timid people covered their eyes. The men watched with keen interest. Only Christopher’s eyes were dark as ink, his thin lips pressed tight. The only sign of his agitation was the slight tremor in the fingers holding his cigarette. As the dress fell, I stood almost naked before the crowd. The cigarette burned Christopher’s fingers. He threw it down, ripped off his jacket, and covered me with it. “Sarah, you must have a death wish!” “Everyone close your damn eyes! If anyone says a word about what happened today, you won’t see the sun tomorrow!” “Get out! All of you!” Christopher rarely lost his temper, especially in public. Those present were old acquaintances who knew when to leave. The nine other girls Christopher had brought home scurried upstairs. Only Lily remained standing there. “Christopher, are you satisfied? Can you let me go now?” I looked up at him stubbornly. Tears swirled in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I had cried for Christopher too many times. I didn’t want to cry for him anymore. “Sarah, quit these hard-to-get games. It disgusts me.” Christopher still didn’t believe me, warning me not to embarrass the Kane family. I took a deep breath. “Christopher, I really want a divorce this time.” Christopher looked at me like he’d heard the world’s biggest joke. He grabbed the back of my neck and forced me to bend over. “Do you dare to divorce me? Can you afford your father’s daily hospital bills? Can you pay for your mother’s shopping sprees?” “Sarah, your mother would be the first to kneel before me and beg me not to divorce you!” Christopher’s loathing for my mother and me had nowhere left to hide. He hated my mother for the drugs, and he hated me for my inaction. “Even if your mother hadn’t drugged us, I would have married you. I would have helped you. But you used the methods I despise the most!” “Sarah, you destroyed our feelings with your own hands!” No matter how many times I explained, Christopher would never believe me. Seeing my silence, Christopher frowned deeper. He dragged me over and forced me to kneel in front of Lily, pressing on my neck to make me put shoes on her. “Put them on her. You’ve done this for ten years. You should be an expert by now!” For ten years, I not only took care of Christopher but also served those nine girls. Things I should do, things I shouldn’t, things forced, things voluntary—I did too many things I despised myself for. But now, I just wanted it all to end quickly. So, I obediently put the shoes on the girl again. Perhaps my obedience bored Christopher. He angrily dragged me into his room and stripped Lily in front of me. I had seen this scene many times. Sometimes Christopher even demanded I join in to “teach” them. Like before, I tore open a condom wrapper and handed it over. But this time, Christopher pushed it away. “Not needed this time.” My hand trembled as I pulled it back. Christopher didn’t stop his movements, but he glanced at me—something he rarely did. I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t be bothered. Christopher got angry again. He locked me in the bathroom. That night, the snowstorm outside was heavy, and the noise inside was loud. I sat there listening all night. In a daze, I was awakened by an urgent phone ring. “Is this Miss Vance? Your mother was in a car accident. She’s in critical condition. Please come to City Memorial Hospital immediately.” My heart suspended in mid-air. “Christopher!” I started pounding on the door, trying to interrupt the sounds outside. Christopher opened the door wrapped in a bathrobe, his loose collar revealing hickeys. The woman in his arms clung to him. “What?” “My mom was in a car accident. Can you take me to the hospital? Please?” I knelt and begged him, tears streaming down, terrified he wouldn’t take me because he was unhappy. “Sister, do you even draft your lies? It’s 3 AM and snowing heavily. Normal people are at home. Did a car crash into your mom’s house?” Lily sneered, pointing at the dark, snowy night outside. Christopher laughed along, not even lifting his eyelids. “Sarah, you’d lie about this?” “What? Can’t stand the noise anymore?” Christopher locked the door again. The louder I shouted, the louder the noise outside became. Desperate, I picked up a stool and smashed the window, climbing out. Sharp glass sliced my leg, blood flowing instantly. Because it was late and snowing, I couldn’t get a cab. I ran forward like a zombie, leaving shocking red trails in the snow. Beep beep. A black Cayenne stopped beside me. “Get in.” Inside the dim car, the man in the driver’s seat never looked back at me. I kept thanking him, but he didn’t say another word. As I got out, I heard him say: “Sarah, you have other choices besides Christopher Kane.” “If you figure it out, find me.” He handed me a gold-stamped business card. I took it with both hands, thanking him profusely. My mind was entirely on my mother; I put it in my pocket without looking. I stumbled into the ER. Before I could ask, I saw nurses pushing a gurney covered with a white sheet out of the operating room. “Where is the family of Susan Vance?” “The patient is dead, and the daughter still isn’t here. Unbelievable.” The nurses’ whispers pierced my heart effortlessly. I rushed over and lifted the white sheet. The face, usually so exquisitely maintained, was covered in cuts. Her body was broken. Regarding Christopher, I had resented my mother every minute for ten years. I had even viciously wished the whole family would die. But now that she was truly dead in front of me, I only felt heartache. With no family left, there was no funeral to plan. I sat by my father’s bedside for a while, talking about Mom, about myself. I spoke intermittently until dawn. Before leaving, I looked at my father, who hadn’t moved in ten years, and spoke with a sob: “Dad, I’m tired.” My mother was cremated early the next morning. I put her urn in a box and took it home. I also brought home the divorce agreement I had commissioned. Walking in, I bumped into Christopher and his Tenth Beauty chatting and laughing at the dining table. “Sign it.” I slammed the divorce papers on the table, my voice cold. “So you snuck out last night just to get these papers?” “Sarah, you really are rebelling!” I hugged the urn tightly, head down. “Christopher, let’s let each other go.” “I don’t love you anymore.” In the past, I would argue with Christopher. When tempers flared, we even got physical. I would point at his nose and ask if his declarations of love back then were just a joke. Most of the time, I held onto a sliver of hope, hoping he would forgive me, hoping we could salvage the marriage. So if he liked wild, I learned to please him in bed. If he liked pure, I wore his favorite clothes to make him happy. But as woman after woman moved in, my heart grew silent bit by bit. Those tricks to please him became my shame, and his outlet to humiliate me. “What fell out of your pocket, sister…?” “Adrian Sterling?” Lily picked up the card I dropped and read the name. It was Adrian Sterling. Christopher’s lifelong nemesis, the one who had been across the ocean, unseen for years. The next second, a dark-faced Christopher slapped me. “You say you don’t love me because you found someone else?!” “Do you know what kind of person Adrian Sterling is?!” My ears rang. I couldn’t stand steady. The urn in my hands fell and shattered. Watching the dust fly, I stood there, paralyzed. I instinctively knelt, trying to gather the ashes. But no matter how I scooped, it was useless. Lily poured a glass of milk on the floor. The others followed suit, pouring drinks. The powder turned into a sticky mess. “Ah!” In that moment, something snapped. I grabbed a stool like a madwoman and smashed it at Lily. Christopher couldn’t react in time. Lily was on the ground, clutching her head. “Christopher…” “It hurts.” Someone called an ambulance. Christopher grabbed my hand, forcing me to watch at the hospital. “If anything happens to her, you’re going down with her!” That day, I was forced to give blood to Lily. Again and again, until the doctor refused to take more. Only then did Christopher let me go, saying I deserved it. For those few days, I hid in my father’s ward, never leaving. “Sister is hiding here! Thanks to your hit, Christopher treats me so well now.” “Is this your dad? Why doesn’t he move?” Lily, now favored, walked and talked arrogantly. She flicked my father’s oxygen tube, asking curiously what it was. “Don’t touch it!” I pushed her away. She stumbled back, clutching her head. The next second, she yanked the tube out, playing with it in her hand, smiling. “Do you think Christopher will blame me for this?” Then Christopher walked in. He froze at the scene, looking back and forth between us. After a long pause, he said: “Lily is young, she doesn’t know better. Your dad was hopeless anyway. Ending it early is a mercy.” “I’ll just send your mom more money in the future.” The monitor flatlined. The sound announced my father’s death. I stood there, frozen. Beyond sadness, I felt a sense of relief. Christopher didn’t care about me anymore. He picked up Lily and left. Collapsed on the floor, I kept apologizing to my dad. But I didn’t know who in this world had ever done right by me. I took out the card and dialed the number. “Mr. Sterling, pick me up tonight.” Same cremation, one more time. This time, I left my father’s ashes in the columbarium at the funeral home. When I returned to the Kane house, Christopher wasn’t back yet. The Nine Beauties kept buzzing in my ear that Christopher was angry, that I was finished. I turned a deaf ear. They relentlessly asked if I was really divorcing. I didn’t answer. I just opened my bedroom door. “Choose. Everything in here is yours.” At my words, they swarmed in, emptying the room instantly. Only a few photos of Christopher and me from our youth lay scattered on the floor, ignored by everyone. I locked myself in the room until nightfall. Christopher sent the housekeeper to check on me. I only asked her to deliver the divorce papers. “Divorce again.” “A hundred times. Sarah, aren’t you done playing?” Christopher tore the papers to shreds. “Starve her! Bring her food when she stops acting up!” Christopher thought my divorce talk was fake. He thought my saying I didn’t love him was fake too. But love really can run out. Ten years. I really couldn’t love anymore. Now that I was utterly alone, what couldn’t I let go of? That night, I climbed out the window and got into Adrian Sterling’s car. Chapter 2 The next day, Christopher woke up and didn’t see my busy figure in the kitchen. There were no wontons he loved on the table, no hand-brewed coffee, no ironed and matched clothes on the rack. Christopher rushed upstairs in a panic and opened my door, only to find it empty. He picked up the photos from the floor, flustered. “Martha! Where is Sarah?!” The housekeeper ran over, spatula in hand, looked at the empty room, and shook her head. “I’ll call her mother.” Martha paused, asking instinctively: “Young Master, didn’t Miss Sarah’s mother die? She was cremated the next day.” Christopher flashed back to me holding the urn that day. His breath hitched. He bent down to pick up the photo, pupils dilating, looking like the life had been sucked out of him. In ten years, he never thought I would actually leave him. The photo in his hand was us in our early twenties, taken on a street in Paris. Back then, just starting out, he didn’t even dare put his arm around my shoulder in the photo. But seeing his nervousness, I had leaned my head on his shoulder. Christopher carefully wiped the dust off the photo. He tried hard to smooth the creases, but it was futile. “Martha is making wontons today, we gotta get downstairs fast.” “This dress is beautiful. Designer stuff really is different.” “This hairpin is nice too.” “Do these shoes look good?” Chattering voices came from outside. Christopher frowned and looked out. At a glance, he saw Lily wearing a pink maxi dress. He had bought that dress in Italy for me. It was our one-month anniversary gift. “Stop!” Christopher rushed out, shouting sternly. He saw things he had given me scattered on everyone—scarves, coats, skirts, bags, shoes. One of them was even wearing our wedding ring. “Who told you to wear her clothes! Take them off!” “Who told you to wear that ring!” “Take off everything that doesn’t belong to you!” Christopher’s gaze lingered briefly on each person, but he couldn’t remember their faces. He didn’t even remember their names. Normally, to provoke me, he indulged them in everything. This was the first time they saw him so angry. Terrified, they stripped off the items. Lily, inexperienced, muttered a refusal. Red-eyed, Christopher marched up and tore the dress off Lily. “I give you five minutes. Put everything you took from her back where it belongs!” Christopher had Martha watch them while he rushed downstairs to check the surveillance footage. Security showed him the footage from the past few days. Christopher saw me running in the snowy night, the shocking red blood trail behind me. He saw me get into Adrian’s car. Twice. Both times Adrian. “Damn it!” “I shouldn’t have let that bastard attend!” Christopher cursed and returned to the house. As soon as he entered, he saw the women chatting in the living room. In the past, seeing me surrounded by them, daring to be angry but not speak, he felt a secret pleasure. But now without me, he only found it noisy. “Without Sarah, life feels meaningless.” “Usually she’d be washing our socks by now, and making snacks later.” “You know, I kinda miss her!” Christopher stood at the door, eyes icy. Even though he had tacitly allowed all of this. Hearing it with his own ears, every word felt like a cut. Telling him that he forced Sarah away. “Martha!” “Tell them to pack their things and get the hell out!” Christopher’s sudden roar scared everyone in the living room. They apologized involuntarily, promising not to gossip anymore. But Christopher wouldn’t listen. He ordered Martha to supervise their packing. Lily, bold as ever, stood in front of Christopher, blocking him. “I’m pregnant.” Lily touched her flat stomach, a smug look on her face. But she was surprised to see the other sisters’ faces change. They rushed upstairs, packed in minutes, and fled the Kane house. Lily was confused. Shouldn’t pregnancy give her leverage over Christopher? Why were they so panicked? The next second, Christopher grabbed her and threw her into the corner. Pain shot through her back. Christopher stood there, composed and cold. When he spoke, the words were lethal. “Martha, call Dr. Chen to come over for an abortion.” A simple sentence proved this wasn’t the first time in the Kane household. What Lily didn’t know was that I used to handle this for him. Christopher never let any woman bear his child. Including me. In the second month of our marriage, I found out I was pregnant. Afraid Christopher would hurt me and the baby, I tried to run. But no matter how I ran, he caught me. During the struggle, I miscarried. That day, Christopher’s red-rimmed eyes were full of hatred for me. He called me cruel, heartless. To this day, I don’t understand. He caused the miscarriage, why was I the cruel one? Lily didn’t understand either, just like I hadn’t. So she knelt and begged: “No, I don’t want an abortion.” “Mr. Kane, didn’t you say you loved me? You said I was your favorite. Why can’t I have it?” Christopher looked down, contempt and disdain flashing in his eyes. “Love?” “You think you deserve it?” Lily looked into those deep eyes and trembled with fear. Christopher ordered Martha to clean Lily up, then drove away. He had more important things to do. Martha sighed, coaxing Lily to wait for the doctor.

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My evil stepmother is a national sweetheart. She plays the innocent flower on the outside, but she used public opinion to drive me to my death. My soul floated in the air— I saw Dad weeping bitterly, while my stepmother took my shares. I saw some netizens celebrating that the “homewrecker” was finally dead! I was utterly despairing, but… when I opened my eyes again, it was the day Dad brought his celebrity stepmother home. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. This time, I’m going to live my life to the fullest! In my past life, just because I called her “sister,” she gave me a stern warning. This time, when she stood in front of me and asked me to call her “Mom,” I immediately burst into tears. Dad immediately came over and picked me up. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” I asked timidly, “Dad, Auntie insists I call her Mom, but she’s not my mom. Can I not call her Mom…?” Mom’s death has always been a pain that Dad couldn’t forget. When I mentioned it, Dad remembered her again. His face fell as he scolded, “Bella, we just got married. If the child doesn’t want to call you Mom, she doesn’t have to. Why do you have to force her?” My stepmother’s face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly adjusted her expression. She gently hugged me. “I’m sorry, honey. I was too impatient. I just wanted to be accepted by Sweetheart so badly.” Her words sounded wronged, and Dad’s expression softened. Unexpectedly, slap! I slapped my stepmother’s hypocritical face. Both of them were stunned. Dad immediately scolded me, “Ice! What are you doing?” “Dad…” I cried, feeling wronged by his scolding. “Auntie pinched my waist, it hurts…” Chapter 1 My stepmother’s face flashed with panic as she hurriedly explained, “No, I didn’t, honey…” Dad lifted my shirt to look, and sure enough, there was a bright red mark. His face changed instantly. My stepmother couldn’t explain herself and broke out in a cold sweat. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry. Auntie was too rough just now.” I sneered internally. Did she secretly pinch me any less in my past life? Dad suppressed his anger, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he carried me away. That night, my stepmother slipped into my room and stuffed a card into my hand. “Sweetheart, your dad and I are going on our honeymoon. Auntie heard you’ve wanted to go traveling for a long time, haven’t you? Auntie is giving you this card. When we leave, you can secretly go wherever you want.” Trying to get rid of me already? Because of my weak health, Dad never allowed me to travel alone, nor did he allow me to have money for travel. In my past life, I listened to her and secretly went traveling alone, only to end up nearly dying of a high fever on the road. This time, I still took her card and obediently said, “Thank you, Auntie.” The next day, I brought it up at the dinner table. “Dad, I want to go traveling by myself.” Both of their faces changed. “What travel? Try mentioning it again!” Dad’s face turned red with anger. I retorted, “I want to go! Auntie gave me the money, why should you control me!” Dad immediately lost his temper at Bella. “Bella, are you out of your mind?! Didn’t I tell you about her health condition? Are you trying to kill her?!” “Honey, I was just afraid Sweetheart would be bored home alone.” She cried as she spoke, looking aggrieved and weak. Dad always fell for this. His anger subsided. “Dad, just let me go. You and Auntie are going on your honeymoon, and I’ll be really bored home alone,” I acted coquettishly, pulling Dad’s hand. “Besides, I’ve prepared all my medicine, nothing will happen.” At the mention of my fragile health, Dad got angry again. “Nobody’s going!” he said to Bella. “What honeymoon?! Cancel it all!” My stepmother’s face was as black as coal. Even though she was a national sweetheart, marrying my dad was still considered climbing the social ladder. This marriage was too high-profile. When the news spread that Dad didn’t even take her on a honeymoon, everyone speculated whether Dad really loved her. She was eager to show that her relationship with us was good, so she insisted on taking intimate photos with me. At first, I cooperated with her, but later she got the idea of live streaming, thinking it would better reflect the mother-daughter interaction and establish her image. That night of the live stream, she hugged me intimately, calling me Sweetheart, and wanted to rub cheeks with me. I “accidentally” bumped my head against her face, knocking her nose crooked. I was so scared I quickly covered her crooked fake nose— “I’m sorry, Mom! I’ll put your nose back for you!” Chapter 2 I held back my laughter and reached out to adjust her nose. She was so scared that she immediately turned off the live stream. After all, the national sweetheart debuted as the “bare-faced goddess,” known for never getting plastic surgery and rarely wearing makeup. How could that be? In my past life, she spent millions of my dad’s money every month just to maintain her face. Now she’ll have her hands full. Bella hated me to the core, but she was busy with PR for the next half month. It wasn’t until my dad helped her calm the public opinion that her reputation didn’t completely collapse. Knowing this made me feel uncomfortable again, because my dad was willing to help her calm the public opinion, but in my past life, I was killed by public opinion! Maybe, even my dad didn’t believe me about that incident. As expected, two years later, Bella suggested to my dad that I should be sent into the entertainment industry. “Honey, Sweetheart isn’t cut out for studying anyway, and she’s always wanted to be a big star. Why don’t we arrange some resources for her and send her to act?” In my past life, I really did want to be a big star, so I adored my stepmother and begged her to take me into the entertainment industry. At that time, I was about to take the college entrance exam, but disregarding my dad’s objections, I threatened suicide to go film a movie. Unexpectedly, the famous director my stepmother introduced me to often sexually harassed me in private. Finally, I couldn’t bear it anymore and beat him up. Who knew he would intentionally film it and post it online? He and my stepmother played good cop, bad cop online, implying that I framed him. I was crushed by public opinion, like a rat crossing the street, everyone shouting to beat me. My dad was disheartened with me at the time. Although he withdrew the public opinion, he couldn’t control the rumors in school. Under the pressure of public opinion, I lived a life worse than death every day, with no mood to review for exams. Eventually, unsurprisingly, I failed to get into university and was completely abandoned by my dad. The last straw that pushed me to jump into the river was the news of my stepmother’s pregnancy. She hugged my dad and smiled sweetly. “Sweetheart, you’re going to have a younger brother.” At that time, I felt like I had been struck by lightning, as if I were outside of this family. This was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. I never thought my dad would have other children. He clearly promised me that he would only love me as his daughter… That night, I jumped from the Zhangjiang Bridge and died in the icy cold river water. Chapter 3 Now, in this life, my stepmother proposes again to pull me into the entertainment industry. “Bella, why are you talking to the child about this now? She’s taking the college entrance exam next year. Do you want to distract her?” My dad was unhappy as soon as he heard it. “I’m just planning for Ice. Besides, Ice has always begged me to take her into the entertainment industry. With our family’s strength, can’t we make her famous?” Seeing that my dad was about to get angry, I immediately cut in, “Yes! I just want to be a big star! Auntie told me that being a big star allows you to know many people and make a lot of money. Given our family’s situation, why take the college entrance exam!” “What good people are there in the entertainment industry for you to know!” My dad’s words slapped my stepmother hard in the face. Seeing her face turn bad, he realized he had also scolded her. “Bella, do you really mean well for her?” My dad finally sensed something this time and became suspicious of my stepmother. “Honey! How can you think of me like that! I’m just doing it for her own good, to help her fulfill her dream! Boohoo…” This time, my stepmother’s pitiful crying did not arouse my dad’s sympathy. I innocently pulled my dad’s sleeve from the side and persuaded, “Dad, don’t quarrel with Auntie. I’ll study hard from now on.” My dad was distressed and angry. “You speak for her. I think she has many schemes!” A rift of suspicion arose between my dad and stepmother, and I was happy to see it succeed, watching my stepmother pretend to be pitiful while studying hard. Because I had fallen behind too much, later I even took the initiative to suggest to my dad to hire a tutor to come to the house specifically at night. My stepmother was afraid I would get into a good university. Because my dad said that as long as I got into a prestigious university, he would hand over the company to me in the future. Her stomach hasn’t moved yet, how can she be willing!? So she often ordered people to bring in food during tutoring sessions. It was all ice cream, milk tea, potato chips, cakes, and other things kids like to eat to distract me. I ate them all, but I was never distracted by these little things. Later one day, my dad found out I didn’t go to class and pulled me out of bed. “Sweetheart! Why are you sleeping in again?! Don’t you have school today?” I clutched my stomach, sweating profusely. “Dad, my head is dizzy, my stomach hurts so much.” My dad immediately became worried. “What’s wrong? Dad will call the doctor to see you right away!” The doctor examined me and said I had eaten something bad, causing gastroenteritis and a slight fever. My body has been weak since childhood, and my dad forbade me to eat indiscriminately. When asked, the auntie said my stepmother gave me so much junk food, and he was furious! “You ate three ice creams yesterday?” he questioned me. I nodded timidly. He was about to go settle accounts with my stepmother, but I stopped him. “Forget it, Dad. Stepmother isn’t my biological mother, it’s normal for her not to understand these things about me.” My dad’s face immediately darkened. He thought of my mother again. My mother died due to difficult childbirth, leaving me behind as soon as she gave birth. My dad wanted to give me a complete family, and he married my stepmother after hearing that she was a breath of fresh air in the entertainment industry. He thought—the national sweetheart is certified by the people nationwide, how bad could she be? But now he finally felt regretful. I asked him, “Dad, if you and Auntie have children in the future, will you not want me anymore?” “Dad doesn’t plan to have any more children. Don’t worry, Dad will only have you as his child in this life.” I instantly became suspicious—then what was the deal with the child in my stepmother’s belly in my past life? Chapter 4 There were six months left until the college entrance exam. To prevent my stepmother from affecting me, my dad asked me to move back to the old mansion, and his relationship with my stepmother became increasingly strained. I thought, with their relationship like this, it was impossible for my stepmother to still get pregnant, right? As a result, the news of my stepmother’s pregnancy came one month before the college entrance exam. My dad only said it was an accidental pregnancy, but since she was pregnant, and my stepmother tried her best to keep the child and wouldn’t allow an abortion, my dad had to give up. When I returned home after the college entrance exam, I saw my stepmother sitting on the sofa, glancing at me with pride. “Sweetheart, you’re back?” I nodded. She touched her small belly and showed off to me with a smile like in the past life, “Sweetheart, you’re going to have a younger brother.” In my past life, I hated this sentence the most. It was this sentence that drove me to desperation! I smiled and pressed a fruit knife against her belly, pressing her down and whispering, “Okay, as long as you dare to give birth, I will definitely treat my younger brother well.” She screamed, dodging backward as if seeing a ghost. “What are you doing! Are you going to kill me!?” “Auntie, don’t shout so loudly. I just wanted to peel an apple for you.” I shrugged helplessly. Since then, my stepmother was terrified that I would do something to her child, wishing I would get out. I immediately suggested, “Auntie, does the thing about sending me to film before the college entrance exam still count?” My stepmother’s eyes lit up. She looked at my dad’s face before nodding. “You’re not allowed to go,” my dad objected directly. “Dad, the college entrance exam is over. Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything.” After all, none of the people who killed me in my past life can escape! My dad initially refused to relent until the college entrance exam results came out. The phone screen displayed—623 points! I was so excited that my hands were trembling. “Dad, I got in! I finally got in!” My dad had never imagined I could score so well! As the calm and self-composed president of Yu Corporation, he was so excited that his eyes turned red, and holding me, he called my biological mother’s name— “Tang Yuan, do you see this? Our Sweetheart is promising!” My heart was filled with sorrow. It took two lifetimes to get this ending. “Dad, let me do what I want to do. I won’t let you down again.” After persuading my dad for half a month, he finally relented. Before I left, he urged me repeatedly to be careful of anyone in the entertainment industry. Stepping onto the filming island again, director Jiang Tao walked towards me amiably, “Miss Yu, nice to meet you!” He asked me to hand over my phone, but the phone accidentally slipped into the ditch. I looked embarrassed, “What should I do, Director Jiang? If you want the phone, come pick it up yourself.” Everyone on the set went silent. Jiang Tao always set up a generous and kind persona. Even after losing face, he pretended to laugh and asked someone to fish up the phone, but a trace of darkness flashed in his eyes. Sure enough, later he bullied me overtly and covertly. He wouldn’t let a scene pass even after dozens of takes, and later he couldn’t even help but curse at me. People on the set had rarely seen him like this, only saying that I wasn’t professional enough and made Director Jiang angry. I turned a deaf ear to his reprimands and swallowed my anger. Until one night, he finally came to my room to “explain the play” to me. In my past life, when he wanted to sexually harass me, I bit off a piece of meat from his ear, while he picked inconspicuous places to hit when he attacked. I was beaten half to death by him, but the next day when I lifted my clothes to check, the marks were gone. Instead, he actually took a picture of his ear injury and posted a Weibo— “Your kid did this, you have to give me work injury money@Actor Bella(cry-laugh)” Bella is my stepmother’s name, and she replied to the producer— “@Jiang Tao, sorry sorry, Ice is still young, used to messing around at home (sticking out tongue).” After this incident fermented, for a time my name was on the trending search #Who is Ice?##Yu President’s only daughter plays big shot##National sweetheart marries into wealthy family and gets bullied# Netizens were certain that the incident of me hitting people was just the tip of the iceberg, and they didn’t know how I bullied Bella at home. The internet’s abuse of me, who had just come of age, began from this time, and even my birth date and eight characters were dug out. Will I let him get his wish in this life? Jiang Tao’s face was covered with grease. Seeing that I didn’t refuse, he took off my clothes as soon as he entered my room, his eyes revealing obscenity. “Come, let Uncle Jiang properly explain the play to you.” “You’re always not good. Today Uncle will teach you a good lesson!” I showed a frightened and panicked expression to the invisible camera connected to the live broadcast room. “Director Jiang, why are you taking off my clothes to explain the play?”

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When I was 20, my husband, Liam Sterling, lost his first love, Sophia. She died saving my life. From that moment on, he clipped my wings, turning me into a useless bird in a gilded cage. Today, my grandfather’s heart condition relapsed, and I begged Liam for the money for surgery. He just smiled, pointing to the frozen lake outside the penthouse window. “Sure. Jump from here, and I’ll consider it.” When my body was pulled from the icy water, his “dead” first love was officially reinstated to the police force. Chapter 1 Liam is my ex-husband. Our marriage lasted all of a month and a half. Despite the divorce, I still lived in his house. He made me work as a maid and fulfill “marital duties.” If I refused, he would cut off my grandfather’s medical expenses. He said it was a debt I owed. I didn’t know anyone else in New York who could help. Desperate, I had to beg him. “Are you serious? If I jump, you’ll save my grandfather?” Liam swirled the red wine in his glass, indifferent. “You can try.” This was the 12th floor. I looked down at the thin layer of ice on the lake below. I was a strong swimmer, but fear still gripped my heart. Seeing my hesitation, Liam mocked, “Scared? Guess your grandfather isn’t that important to you after all.” He stood up to leave. I immediately took off my coat and leaped. “Mr. Sterling, will Miss Harper be okay?” Liam didn’t even glance back at his assistant’s concern. He headed straight for the office. “Tell my secretary, Ms. Grant, to contact the cardiology specialists.” The moment my body smashed through the ice, I knew I was done for. My legs went numb instantly, and I sank into the darkness. Soon, I saw my own body settle at the bottom of the lake. Christmas was coming. Grandpa would have to eat Christmas dinner alone this year. “Liam, remember your promise.” Chapter 2 Liam returned to the office and buried himself in work. He once dreamed of being a police officer, but now he was just a workaholic CEO. He worked until the early hours every day. Unless he was on a business trip, no matter how late, he always went home. Ms. Grant, his secretary, resolved the hospital matter and walked in with a stack of files. “Mr. Sterling, the situation in Boston needs you to personally oversee it.” Liam didn’t look up, flipping through documents. “Book the earliest flight. Pack your things; you’re coming with me.” Ms. Grant’s lips curled into a faint, imperceptible smile. “Yes, sir.” When Liam returned from the business trip, the first thing he did was look for me. “Chloe.” The master bedroom was empty. His face darkened. “Not replying to texts, not answering calls. I’ve spoiled you too much!” He swept his arm across the dresser, sending everything crashing to the floor. He glanced at the mess indifferently, then stomped heavily on a pink notebook lying on the ground. He knew it was my diary. It was an act of pure spite. Furious, Liam called Ms. Grant. “Stop all treatments for her grandfather.” Then he texted me. [Disappearing without reason has consequences. You have one hour to get back here, or your grandfather’s life is no longer my concern.] His usually obedient pet had suddenly rebelled. Liam was in a foul mood all night. Chapter 3 I had been at the hospital with Grandpa the whole time. Since the payments stopped, he was kicked out. The old man could barely walk, carrying his own bag, trying to call me over and over again. No answer. “Grandpa!” I reached out to support him countless times, but my hands passed right through him. He looked so sick that no taxi would pick him up. It snowed heavily that night. I walked home with Grandpa in the storm. The next day, his condition worsened. I watched him put on his glasses, trembling as he dialed Ms. Grant’s number. “Ms. Grant, have you seen our Chloe?” The woman’s voice on the other end was arrogant and cold. ” haven’t seen her.” “Sorry to bother you. I know I don’t have long, I’m not asking for money. You don’t need to worry about me clinging to you. “I just can’t find Chloe. I heard she’s close with Mr. Sterling. Could you ask him where she is? “Or could you give me Mr. Sterling’s number? I’ll ask him myself.” “Mr. Sterling is very busy.” She hung up. It was the first time I saw Grandpa cry. As he wept, his lips turned purple, gasping for air. I knew it was a heart attack. I reached for the phone to call 911. But my hand passed through the table. I knew then that I could do nothing. I could only watch helplessly as the old man died. The first night after Grandpa passed away, I went to find Liam. He was working late at the office, as always. I wanted to kill him, but I couldn’t even touch him. “Liam Sterling, you bastard! Why did you do this to me?” Chapter 4 Three days later, Liam arrived at the office to find the lobby crowded with people. Seeing Ms. Grant arguing with someone, he frowned. “What’s going on?” Before she could explain, a man rushed over and grabbed Liam by the collar. “You killed him! Why did you stop my dad’s treatment? Now he’s dead, are you happy?” Liam froze. “What did you say?” I stood beside him, watching coldly. The man was my father, a gambler. He probably went home to steal money, found Grandpa dead, and came to extort compensation. In this moment, I wished my father had a knife to stab Liam! But I knew my dad just wanted money to gamble. In the five years I was with Liam, this day was the most frequently he tried to contact me. Ms. Grant, having been hit, was indignant. “Mr. Sterling, why should we pay compensation?” Liam glanced at her with cold eyes. “Regarding Chloe’s grandfather, did you forget to report any details to me?” Ms. Grant was too scared to speak at first, then stuttered, “Four days ago, her grandfather called, asking you to help find his granddaughter. I refused…” Just as I wanted to slap her, a cold voice spoke from behind. “Impressive. Even her grandfather didn’t know where she was.” Liam closed his eyes briefly. “Your bonus for this year is gone. Get out!” Hearing the door close, he opened his eyes, looking out the window with hatred. “Chloe Harper, you really are cold-blooded. Can’t handle even this? How dared you take Sophia’s token to ask my father for money back then?” Chapter 5 I laughed sarcastically. Even now, he wasn’t worried about my safety at all. And my grandfather’s life was worth just a year-end bonus to him. But for what happened with Sophia, he took half my life. Christmas Eve. Liam’s grandfather insisted he bring his “wife” to the family mansion for the holidays. Liam still couldn’t reach me. He started losing his temper. The quiet assistant driving the car suddenly remembered the lake incident from long ago. “Mr. Sterling, could something have happened to Miss Harper? Jumping from the 12th floor in winter…” Liam cut him off without thinking. “Impossible. She won a swimming championship in college! She’s deliberately hiding to get my attention. She’s vicious and cunning! Forget her. Turn around, go to the mansion.” The assistant wanted to say more but was silenced by a glare. I sat next to him, my heart sinking to the bottom. But thinking about it, my life meant nothing to him anyway. So whether I was dead or alive didn’t matter. Maybe dead was better. Grandpa Sterling was disappointed to see Liam arrive alone. “Chloe hasn’t come back?” Liam’s face went cold. “Doesn’t answer calls, doesn’t reply to texts. Like she’s dead!” I am dead. Liam, you should be happy! Grandpa Sterling slammed his hand on the table. “Why didn’t you help with her grandfather? That was your wife’s grandfather’s life! “She’s not home now, aren’t you worried? Did you go handle the old man’s funeral?” “She doesn’t even care about her own grandfather, why should you worry for her!” Liam was annoyed too. He left without eating dinner. Chapter 6 Grandpa’s funeral was eventually arranged by Grandpa Sterling. It was grand. But few people came. Even my dad didn’t show up. Just Grandpa Sterling and the funeral staff. After everyone left, I stayed by Grandpa’s tombstone. I didn’t know what I was waiting for. Liam didn’t show up anyway. Grandpa was gone. Maybe it was a release for him. I went back to the lake house where I jumped. My only wish now was for Liam to find my body soon. Only when my body was recovered and put to rest could I leave this place completely. I wanted to be reincarnated. I never wanted to be human again. While I was wishing to be a seagull in my next life, Liam arrived. He drank a lot. As soon as he entered, our eyes met. My heart raced. “Liam? Can you see me? Hurry, go fish my body out!” But he quickly looked away. I knew it was my illusion. He stayed there for a long time, standing right where I jumped. Staring at the lake… I don’t know if it was my imagination, but I saw a flash of grief on his face. I had wondered how he would react when he saw my body. But I knew in my heart, I was just a toy for his atonement. But I clearly remember, the only person I wronged was Sophia Vance. Near dawn, Liam made a call. “Send someone to drag the lake.”

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My ex-boyfriend, Carter Sterling, pretended to be poor for three years while we were together. When he found out my mom urgently needed money for surgery, he even faked losing his job so I would have to support him. I finally couldn’t play along anymore. I dumped him and married the billionaire who was pursuing me. Today, I went to a client’s wedding, only to find the groom was Carter Sterling. I overheard his groomsmen teasing him— “Remember when Carter insisted on playing the ‘true love’ game? Still got dumped.” “What a pity. Faking unemployment was actually the final test. If she had just held on a little longer, she would be the bride today.” “If that gold digger knew she dumped the heir to the Sterling Group, she’d probably be green with regret, haha.” Actually, I knew everything. Chapter 1 Seeing Carter Sterling again was at my client’s wedding. He was the groom. Dressed in an expensive bespoke suit, hair meticulously styled, he looked noble and arrogant—nothing like the destitute man from back then. I didn’t plan on saying hello. Our breakup wasn’t exactly amicable. I dumped him. At the time, he knelt on the ground, crying and begging me to stay, but I didn’t look back once. Finally, he uttered cruel words: “Maya Zhao, don’t you regret walking out that door. Even if you crawl back later, I won’t even look at you!” I left without hesitation. I had lived with him in that cramped rental apartment for three years. I had enough. Running into him at his wedding was awkward. I turned to leave, but heard the groomsmen surrounding Carter, teasing him— “Remember when Carter insisted on playing the ‘true love’ game? Still got dumped.” “What a pity. Faking unemployment was actually the final test. If she had just held on a little longer, she would be the bride today.” “If that gold digger knew she dumped the heir to the Sterling Group, she’d probably be green with regret, haha.” Amidst his friends’ laughter, Carter sneered contemptuously. “Even if she regrets it, it’s too late.” I knew the “gold digger” they were talking about was me. So, they really thought I broke up with him because he was poor. Actually, I had known the truth for a long time. Chapter 2 Over a year into dating Carter Sterling. I was working part-time at a five-star hotel when I saw him walk in wearing a designer suit, inspecting the place. The manager called him “Mr. Sterling.” That was when I learned the hotel was his family’s property. The Sterling family was considered old money in New York. My poor, destitute first love turned out to be a wealthy heir! For me, it was like a drama turning into reality. I didn’t have the aloof pride of a drama heroine; instead, I felt like I hit the jackpot. Because I was certain Carter truly loved me. He would comfort me when I was sad and take care of me patiently when I was sick. Rich or poor, he was the best boyfriend. Since he liked playing the “poor man” game, I decided to play along. Until later, when my mom fell ill and urgently needed money for surgery, and he still happily played poor to test me. I finally got tired. I dumped him and married the billionaire who was pursuing me. Sorry to disappoint Carter and his bros, but I don’t regret it one bit! Suddenly, the bride walked over, grabbed my hand, and pulled me in front of Carter. Excitedly, she introduced me: “Carter, look! This is Miss Maya Zhao, one of the owners of the Azure Gallery I told you about. “I told you we look alike, but you didn’t believe me.” The man looked up. After a brief moment of distraction, he looked at me coldly. “Indeed very similar. But not as beautiful or young as my wife.” Chapter 3 The bride, Lily Moore, was my client. Half a month ago, she came to my gallery looking to buy some art for her new home. When we saw each other clearly, we were both stunned. We looked at least 60-70% alike. We hit it off immediately. Lily visited the gallery four or five times, bought eight paintings, and generously swiped her black card for five million dollars. Before leaving, she gave me the address of an estate and warmly invited me to her wedding. These days, she often mentioned her fiancé casually. Young, talented, a rich second generation, handsome, and generous to her. Just preparing the wedding cost over ten million. When talking about this, Lily’s face was full of happiness, lamenting how lucky she was. She was just a fresh college grad from an ordinary family, yet she managed to snag such a catch. She was indeed luckier than me. I met Carter right after college. Unfortunately, he kept pretending to be poor with me. Not only did he not spend money on me, he spent mine. I waited three years, and he had no intention of marrying me. Considering Lily was a big client and I wanted to expand my network, I accepted the invitation. But I really didn’t expect the groom to be Carter. Chapter 4 The man sized me up as if looking at a stranger he had never met. The bride coquettishly scolded him: “Don’t talk nonsense, she’s my friend.” Carter took the bride’s hand from mine. “Watch your bracelet. It’s the one I gave you, worth over two million. Careful that some vain people don’t eye it.” I knew he was deliberately taking a jab at me. Two million. So, Carter could be generous enough to buy such an expensive gift for a girlfriend. I touched my own wrist. There was a bracelet there too. Carter gave it to me. Two hundred bucks. It was when we were poorest. He said he earned it by wearing a mascot costume. In the 90-degree summer heat, he came back soaked in sweat. I didn’t know then he had just come back from the gym. I was both heartbroken and moved. I stayed up late drawing designs and used my freelance money to buy him a five-hundred-dollar watch for his birthday. Looking at his wrist now, that watch had long been replaced by a Patek Philippe. This was his true self. Fact: Feeling sorry for a man brings a lifetime of bad luck. I chuckled lightly. “Miss Moore is truly blessed. Your husband is so generous. Unlike my ex-boyfriend—no parents, lived off me, ate my food, and even the bracelet he bought was only two hundred bucks.” Carter’s face darkened. Lily defended me indignantly: “He sounds like a scumbag. Good thing you broke up.” Carter cleared his throat. “Maybe some people only deserve two-hundred-dollar bracelets. Unlike my Lily, who needs to be pampered. Any amount is worth it.” So, in his heart, I wasn’t worthy. Looking at the hypocritical Carter, I couldn’t help but laugh. “You two are so in love, it’s enviable. I wish you a happy wedding and a lifetime together.” I made an excuse to leave. But Carter got anxious. “Miss Zhao is leaving so soon? Is this wedding not luxurious enough for your eyes?” I heard the sarcasm in his tone. Curling my lips, I replied with one word—”Yes.” My wedding with my husband, Lucas Thorne, was held on a private island he just bought. We only invited close friends and family. Low-key, not overly extravagant, but it was my favorite. I didn’t care for the wedding Carter prepared for another woman. Chapter 5 I refused the bride’s attempts to make me stay and insisted on leaving. Behind me, the bride’s complaining voice arose. “Carter, what’s wrong with you today? You’re talking so weirdly. “She came specially to congratulate us. You’re being so rude.” Even though she was naive, she sensed something wrong in the man’s tone. Someone in the groomsmen group suddenly mentioned: “Maya Zhao, that name sounds familiar. Isn’t that…” “Shut up.” Carter interrupted him angrily. I walked out of the estate and waited for the driver to bring the car around. A gust of wind blew sand into my eyes, and I rubbed them. With the sound of hurried footsteps approaching, a hand reached out and grabbed my arm tightly. I turned back and met Carter’s cold face. “Don’t misunderstand. Lily insisted I come out to apologize to you. “Don’t you have anything to ask me?” I shook my head. “No.” Carter scoffed, looking at my teary eyes, and sneered: “Maya Zhao, stop being stubborn. “You’re leaving so fast because you don’t want me to see you looking pathetic, right? “Back then you dumped me because I was poor. Now seeing I’m rich, you must regret it.” Regret? Yes. I regret not breaking up sooner and accepting Lucas’s pursuit. That way, I could have bowed to poverty sooner, let my mom have the surgery, and she wouldn’t be left with sequelae, confined to a wheelchair now.

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Everyone said I was the lucky one who picked up the engagement my sister didn’t want. No matter how much I flirted, Liam Sterling, with his prayer beads always in hand, wouldn’t even touch the hem of my dress. Until that night, I saw him kneeling by Sofia’s hospital bed with my own eyes. He took my comatose sister’s hand and pressed it against his burning desire, his voice hoarse. “Sofia, I only agreed to marry your sister so I could come see you every day.” The next day, I tore up the engagement contract. “I’m not marrying Liam Sterling. I’m going to marry Adrian Cross.” My mother turned pale. “Nora! Adrian Cross was mutilated by his rivals years ago! He’s a eunuch! He’s ruined!” I looked at her, my heart dead. “Mom, it doesn’t matter who I marry anymore.” Chapter 1 “I’m not marrying Liam Sterling. I’m going to marry Adrian Cross.” I put down my tea cup. My voice was soft but firm. My mom’s face changed instantly. She grabbed my arm. “Nora! Are you crazy? Adrian Cross… three years ago…” She lowered her voice, leaning into my ear. “He got his manhood chopped off by a rival gang! He’s a living eunuch! And I heard he became a psycho after that, beating people up for no reason. You’re walking into a death trap!” I gently pulled my hand back, forcing a bitter smile. “Mom, right now, it doesn’t matter who I marry. Besides…” I gestured toward the living room. “Do you think we can say no to the Cross family?” In the living room, my dad was pouring tea for two men in sharp suits, a fawning smile plastered on his face. “It’s a huge honor that Mr. Cross is interested in my daughter! But… my eldest daughter is currently in a coma, and my second daughter has been engaged to the Sterling family for a long time…” The man sitting in the main seat slowly put down his coffee cup. “It’s just an engagement. Cancel it.” My dad rubbed his hands together, sweat beading on his forehead. Although the Cross family held immense power, their reputation in the elite circles of New York was… well… “If Miss Nora agrees to marry,” the man suddenly said, “the Cross family is willing to offer the heirloom ‘Hexa-petal Crystal Herb’ as a betrothal gift. I hear this medicine works miracles for coma patients.” I saw my dad’s eyes light up instantly. “I’ll marry him!” I stood up abruptly, my voice startling everyone. Just like that, my marriage was settled. After the Cross family left, my dad frowned at me. “Nora, haven’t you always liked Liam? Why the sudden…” I didn’t answer. I turned and went back to my room. Ever since my sister fell into a coma, everyone said I picked up the engagement she discarded. I had loved Liam Sterling for ten whole years, but he was always cold to me. After my sister’s accident, the engagement fell to me. I moved into his villa as his fiancée with joy in my heart, thinking I could finally love him openly. But no matter how many times I tried to get close to him, he would only politely drape a coat over my shoulders and turn away. Until last night. Driven by some ghostly impulse, I followed him when he went out, all the way to the hospital. I will never forget that scene. He knelt by Sofia’s bedside, trembling as he pressed her lifeless hand against his hardness, groaning her name until his release. “Sofia, I agreed to marry your sister just so I could come see you every day.” In that moment, I understood. My ten years of devotion were nothing but a joke. Chapter 2 The Cross family’s miracle drug lived up to its name. Within three days, Sofia woke up. My dad was so happy he decided to throw a gala for her. I stood outside the hospital room, watching medical staff bustle in and out. I typed and deleted a message to Liam on my phone. “There’s a party at home tonight. Are you coming?” The message, as always, sank like a stone in the ocean. No reply. An hour before the party started, I finally couldn’t help but call him. His voice came through the receiver, cold and distant. “I’m in meditation. What is it?” “My sister woke up,” I whispered. Clatter! The sound of prayer beads hitting the floor came through the phone. His breathing clearly hitched. “I’ll be there.” See? As long as it’s about my sister, even the most ascetic “monk” will break his vows. Hanging up, I walked to the stairs and saw Sofia wearing the gown my best friend had designed specifically for me, chatting and laughing in the crowd. “Nora, I borrowed your dress. You don’t mind, right?” She twirled elegantly, the skirt fluttering. “I just woke up, didn’t have time to order a new one.” My mom tugged my sleeve carefully, whispering, “Your sister just recovered. Let her wear it.” I forced a smile. “Of course I don’t mind.” As I turned, I heard Sofia say to her friend, “This dress fits me better anyway, right? Nora is too skinny; she can’t fill it out.” I went back to my room in silence and changed into a plain white dress. My dad stood in the center of the ballroom, face glowing. “My Sofia is awake! From today on, Sofia officially takes over the family company!” The guests applauded. Sofia beamed. “Thank you, Daddy. I’ll run the company well.” “What about the second miss?” someone asked from a corner. My dad seemed to just remember my existence. “There’s a small shop in the south side…” Sofia suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, wasn’t that shop meant for my coffee shop project? I even had blueprints drawn up last time…” My dad immediately corrected himself. “Then the one in the north…” I gripped my wine glass. “No need. I don’t want it.” My dad had always favored Sofia. Even though my mom was his lawful wife, she lived like a shadow. One look from Sofia, and my dad would give her his heart on a platter. I’ve seen my mom cry secretly at night, seen her smile apologetically while being scolded, seen her unable to even speak properly in front of my dad. As the party reached its climax, the butler announced loudly, “Mr. Sterling has arrived!” Liam walked in wearing a black suit, followed by two servers carrying a gift box. They opened it to reveal the deed to a luxury resort. “Congratulations on Miss Sofia’s recovery.” “This is too precious…” Sofia feigned refusal, but hugged the deed tightly to her chest. The room buzzed. “Looks like the engagement is going back to the rightful owner soon.” “She was the original fiancée anyway. Returning it to the original owner is normal.” “The second miss is in an awkward spot now…” I walked to the balcony alone. The night wind couldn’t blow away the irritation in my heart. Suddenly, the sound of high heels approached from behind. Chapter 3 “Sad?” Sofia walked over, swirling her champagne, a blatant smirk on her lips. “While I was in a coma, you had a good time, didn’t you?” “Dad said it was the Cross family’s medicine. But don’t expect me to be grateful.” “Remember this: you only deserve to live in my shadow.” She leaned into my ear. “Just like when we were kids, you only got the dolls I was tired of playing with.” As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly splashed the champagne all over her own face. “Ah!!” The scream attracted everyone’s attention. Before I could react, Liam rushed over and shoved me hard. “What are you doing?!” I stumbled backward, knocking over a table. Glasses and plates shattered on the floor, sharp shards slicing my calf. Looking up from the mess, I met the gaze of the entire room—some mocking, some pitying. “Nora, are you crazy again?!” My dad’s face was livid. My mom hid behind the crowd, afraid to look at me. Sofia was nestled in Liam’s arms, smiling triumphantly at me. The look in Liam’s eyes was one of thick, unadulterated disgust. My eyes burned. I turned and left. As I turned, I stepped on glass shards, but I kept my back straight, refusing to let anyone see my pathetic state. I went to my best friend Harper’s house and stayed for a few days. Hearing everything, Harper stomped her foot in anger. “Even if Liam is a block of ice, you don’t have to marry that cripple from the Cross family!” “You did so much for Sofia, and he didn’t even say thank you? Some ‘saint,’ he’s just a…” She suddenly stopped. At the entrance of the gallery, Liam was carefully escorting Sofia inside. Sofia wore a yellow sundress, looking as innocent as a daisy. “This painting is beautiful!” She pointed at the one in front of us. “Liam, buy it for me.” Harper immediately blocked her. “We saw it first!” Sofia’s eyes reddened instantly. Liam’s face went cold. “Give it to Sofia.” “Why should we?” Harper trembled with rage. I pulled her arm. “Let’s go. I don’t really like it anyway.” For the entire afternoon, Sofia followed us like a shadow. In the end, Liam bought every single painting in the gallery. Just as we were leaving, the crystal chandelier suddenly fell! A child was standing right under it. In the nick of time, I rushed over and pushed the frozen child away. As agonizing pain hit me, I saw Liam hesitate. “Liam…” Sofia suddenly held her forehead weakly. “I’m so scared! I feel dizzy…” Liam supported Sofia and turned away without hesitation. When I woke up, Harper was cursing with red eyes. “Liam Sterling is a beast!” I opened my phone with a pale face. On social media, Liam was admiring flowers with Sofia. “Don’t cry, Harper,” I whispered. “Did you forget? The one I’m marrying… is Adrian Cross.” She cried even harder. Chapter 4 To keep my mom from worrying, I lied and said I went on a trip. In reality, I spent three days alone in the hospital. The day I was discharged, Liam actually contacted me, asking to meet at the most expensive revolving restaurant in the city center. He pushed a delicate gift box toward me. Inside was a light blue silk scarf. “I will fulfill the engagement, as long as you stop targeting Sofia.” I laughed at myself. “No need. It was originally my sister’s…” “Sofia wasn’t feeling well that day…” He explained, which was unprecedented. Before he finished, Sofia appeared in her high heels, carrying the latest designer bag on her shoulder. That scarf was just a freebie that came with her bag purchase. “Nora,” she hooked her arm intimately through Liam’s, “I specifically asked Liam to pick that gift for you. Do you like it?” Her bag and the scarf were the same color, stinging my eyes. I forced a smile, digging my nails into my palms. When I got home, I saw my mom limping down the stairs, holding onto the railing. “Mom!” I rushed to support her, feeling a bruise on her wrist. “Did Sofia push you again?” My voice trembled uncontrollably. Over the years, Sofia always called my mom a homewrecker and even got physical, even though my mom married in three years after her biological mother died. Bang! The front door was pushed open. Sofia walked in and tossed her bag onto the sofa. “Sofia, why did you push my mom?!” I couldn’t hold back. “Who told her to be a mistress?” She raised her hand and slapped my mom. My brain buzzed. By the time I reacted, my hand had already slapped Sofia across the face. “I’ll say it again! My mom is not a mistress! My mom married in three years after your mom died!” I was shaking all over. My mom pulled me back in a panic. “Stop arguing, stop arguing, we’re all family.” Sofia sneered. “Who’s family with you, you bitch?” She backhanded my mom again. My mom stumbled into the wall, a bright red handprint appearing on her face. I snapped. But my raised hand was stopped mid-air by a sharp shout. “Nora?! What are you doing!” I looked up. Liam stood at the door, holding the shawl Sofia had left behind. Sofia’s face changed instantly. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “Liam, my sister is trying to hit me…” Watching him hold her tight, seeing the disgust in his eyes directed at me, I suddenly found it hilarious. As they left, I clearly heard Sofia whisper in his ear, “See? Like mother, like daughter…” On the opening day of the resort Liam gave to Sofia, my dad coldly ordered me to attend. “You embarrassed us at the last party. Go play a piece on the piano today,” he said, brooking no argument. “Don’t shame the family.” I sat at the piano, fingers moving mechanically over the keys. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sofia glancing my way. Just as the last note faded, Bang! The piano cover slammed down without warning. Excruciating pain shot through my ten fingers instantly. “Ah—” My vision went black from the pain. Instinctively, I looked toward Liam nearby. But Sofia grabbed his arm. “Ignore her. She’s been like this since she was little, screaming over a bug.” She shook his arm coquettishly. “Let’s go see the fountain.” Before I fainted from the pain, all I saw was their retreating backs. When I woke up, my mom was sitting by the hospital bed with swollen eyes. “Nora, the Cross family sent the best hand surgeon.” She tremblingly stroked my bandaged hands. “Mom thinks… maybe the Cross family isn’t as scary as the rumors say.” “Where are Dad and my sister?” I asked softly. My mom lowered her head. “Your dad went with Sofia to buy a yacht… said it was to celebrate the resort opening…” I didn’t speak, but tears fell uncontrollably. Besides my mom, it seemed no one in this world truly cared about me. Maybe leaving was the best choice. The day I went to Liam’s villa to pack my things, I rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Habitually, I entered the old passcode, but it didn’t work anymore. I called Liam. As usual, no answer. Just as I was putting down my phone, a social media notification popped up. His account, which hadn’t updated in three years, posted a beach photo. In the corner of the photo, a flash of a yellow skirt stung my eyes. I stared at the screen until my vision blurred. Trembling, I tried entering Sofia’s birthday. Click. The door opened. In the empty villa, a phone suddenly rang. “What is it?” Liam’s voice came through, cold as always. “Here to pick up some things,” I said calmly. “No one’s home.” “Mm.” He paused. “I’m with Sofia looking at shops for the resort.” His tone held a hint of impatience. “About the engagement, I keep my word.” Then he hung up. A string of prayer beads rolled out of a drawer, making a crisp sound on the floor. I squatted down, looking at this “gift” he had casually tossed to me, and suddenly laughed until I cried. I deleted all photos of him and his contact info from my phone, then went straight to the airport. “Window seat?” the check-in agent asked. “No need,” I whispered. “There’s nothing left to see here.” Liam Sterling, goodbye forever.

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My fiancé always targets the poor boy I sponsor. Pushed back, the boy stumbled, his eyes full of fear and innocence. “Sister, it’s my fault for being clumsy and making your boyfriend angry again.” Suddenly, floating comments appeared before my eyes. [Listen to him lie. Just now he provoked your boyfriend: ‘Can an old man pushing thirty even satisfy my sister?’] [Who are you? Just a toy she plays with when she’s drunk.] [You can tolerate that without hitting me? Are you even a man?] My pupils quaked in disbelief. Who knew that one day, the poor student would actually climb into my bed? He stood before my fiancé, his face full of provocation and satisfaction. “You didn’t have the ability to keep her. Can you blame me?” Chapter 1 As soon as I got out of the car, I saw Liam push Noah, causing him to stumble. A vein throbbed in my temple. I rushed over to help Noah up. “Liam! Why are you always picking on him?!” Noah held me pitifully, his dark eyes misty and shrinking back. “Sister, it’s my fault. I made Liam angry again.” The floating comments spamming my vision were chaotic. [Wow, this kid is a master manipulator. If I wasn’t there, I would’ve been fooled.] [This face-changing skill belongs in the Sichuan Opera.] A VIP comment even popped up a video window. Five minutes ago, Noah had his chin raised, spitting words soft yet venomous. [Who are you? Just a toy she greets when she’s bored and sleeps with when she’s tired.] [You’re thirty. An old man, half in the grave. How can you compete with me?] [You can tolerate that without hitting me? Liam, are you even a man?] No wonder Liam wanted to hit him. I loosened my grip on Noah, but he immediately rubbed against me. Liam’s face was purple with rage, his lips trembling. It took him a long time to speak. “Chloe, he’s twenty-two, not twelve! He’s not a child! You have no idea what he just said to me!” Noah tugged at my sleeve, his eyes full of panic and innocence. “Sis, I really don’t know what I said wrong. Even if I offended Liam, he’s an adult. Couldn’t he reason with me? He just started hitting me!” “Sis, when you have time, you should advise him to see a doctor. An older man being this irritable isn’t good.” I shook off his hand and scolded him to shut up. Noah stood aside reluctantly. Liam had high self-esteem and cared about his image. He definitely couldn’t repeat Noah’s words. I took his hand and looked at him sincerely. “Sorry. If he really said something, don’t take it to heart. I’ll discipline him properly when we get back.” Liam gradually calmed down. “Chloe, he’s an adult who can be held criminally responsible. You can’t let him live with you forever.” Noah truly panicked now. “Liam, what right do you have to dictate my life!” I turned back and glared at him. The comments celebrated. [The little tea bitch messed up! Talked smack and got his base stolen hahahaha!] [Let’s see how he pretends now.] [It’s over. Your sister doesn’t want you anymore!] Back then, Noah came to New York alone for college. He said he was afraid of not getting along with roommates, so he borrowed a room at my place. Later, I got busy with work, so I let him stay wherever. Thinking back, it was indeed my negligence. I nodded to Liam. As I prepared to leave, he tugged at my hem. Liam’s ears turned red as he whispered: “Chloe, I haven’t had my birthday yet this year. I’m only twenty-nine.” Noah snorted coldly. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Chapter 2 I drove Noah home. He kept his head down, quietly playing with his fingers. Just like when he was twelve and met me for the first time—obedient, like a beautiful, hollow doll. My heart ached suddenly. But the comments made me restless. Noah’s arrogant and vicious expression kept flashing in my mind. I thought I had done my best for him, granting his every wish. But when did Noah secretly grow into that person where I couldn’t see? Arriving at the destination, I stopped the car. In the dead silence. Noah spoke first. “Sister, don’t be troubled. I’ll move out.” I choked up for a moment. He lowered his head, tugging at his shirt. Though his words were decisive, the tremor at the end betrayed the boy’s feelings. I almost said forget it. The comments jumped out again. [Okay, okay, playing the pity card, right? Knowing sister is soft-hearted and can’t stand this retreat-to-advance tactic.] [If you really make him move out, he won’t be happy.] [Ignore him! He’s faking it!] The words asking him to stay swirled on my lips before I swallowed them back. “Okay. You can stay in the dorm tonight. Move your things slowly later.” Noah looked up sharply, his face full of confusion and hurt. That night, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, recalling the past. Noah’s mother was deaf-mute, and his father carried cement at construction sites. Though poor, they scraped by. Until an acquaintance introduced them to a pyramid scheme. The couple went all in. Luckily, the police raided the den, saving their lives, but all their money was gone. Noah was nine then. Locked alone at home for two weeks, drinking tap water when thirsty, gnawing on cucumbers when hungry. Later, Noah’s dad got addicted to gambling. The family owed a mountain of debt and was beaten half to death at their door. Later still, one hanged himself, the other jumped into the river. Relatives avoided him like the plague. Noah was sent to an orphanage. I sponsored him from age twelve to eighteen. Noah had high pride; after starting college, he refused to take a penny from me. He was smart, getting into the top university in New York, winning scholarships every year, and wanting to give me all the money. And he was so well-behaved, shyly calling me Sister. I tossed and turned, suspicious of the sudden comments. Should I trust inexplicable floating text over the brother I raised for ten years? Just then, my phone rang abruptly. “Are you Noah’s sister? I’m his roommate. Someone locked him in the equipment room, and his claustrophobia is acting up!” My head exploded with a boom. Chapter 3 When I saw Noah, he was curled up in a corner like a baring-teeth beast, refusing to let anyone near. I had to call him softly. “Noah, I’m here.” His face was pale, his unfocused pupils slightly focusing only when he saw me: “Chloe, you really came to save me.” His breathing was rapid. He couldn’t wait to pounce on me, hugging me, sticky cold sweat staining my neck. Guilt instantly filled my heart. The comments jumped out immediately. [Wow! Has claustrophobia but dares to lock himself in a dark room. What if sister had her phone on Do Not Disturb?] [Acting. Just did a hundred push-ups and soaked himself in cold water.] [Omg, truly a mad dog who can’t leave his sister for a second.] They were lying. Noah is my most obedient brother, not a mad dog. It was 4 or 5 AM when we got home. I settled him down and wrapped myself in the quilt to sleep. When I woke up the next day, toothbrush in mouth, I saw two people sitting in the living room through my blurry eyes. My boyfriend, and the brother I promised my boyfriend I would send away. I calmly locked myself back in the bathroom. Damn, I’m dead. But the comments actively fanned the flames, broadcasting the situation outside with video clips. Liam and Noah were staring each other down. Liam spoke first. “Chloe and I started with free love, not an arranged marriage.” “We are serious about this relationship, and our feelings are stable. So I hope you stop clinging to her.” Noah propped his chin on his hand and smiled. “Liam, look up at this house.” Liam was confused. “What’s your point?” Noah sneered. “Chloe dislikes cold tones, so the curtains are pale pink. She likes wood floors but fears maintenance, so the living room is tiled, wood only in the bedrooms. She loves flowers, so I filled the balcony with azaleas and hydrangeas.” “I bought the furniture. I renovated the house. I bought her bed, the sheets, the pillows, even the body wash and shampoo in the bathroom!” “Chloe can date anyone, but she only comes back to live with me.” “Liam, you’re not her first boyfriend, and you won’t be the last.” “So, what are you posturing about in front of me?” Liam pressed his thin lips tight, suppressing his anger. I slapped my forehead in frustration. When Noah was in high school in New York, I let him live in this apartment. But he said he couldn’t accept it for free. So I had to stay over occasionally to check his homework and assert ownership. Later, when he started college, I got busy. Noah said he wanted to repay me, so he took over cooking lunch and dinner, delivering them in thermal boxes. I thought the delivery was too much trouble for him, so I just came back to eat after work. He said it was troublesome to go elsewhere to sleep after dark, so I just stayed. And stayed until now. What “living together”?! It wasn’t like that at the start! Noah wasn’t done. He looked at Liam provocatively. “Oh right, do you know her phone password? Since you respect each other so much, you must respect privacy, right?” “But I know it.” “Want to hit me again? Don’t hold back. She’ll feel sorry for me.” Liam was calm this time. “Don’t you know? Chloe and I are engaged.” “So we aren’t just boyfriend and girlfriend. I’m her fiancé.” “And after we marry, she won’t live in this house anymore.” Chapter 4 The comments gloated. [Shocking! Roles reversed! The main wife becomes the mistress!] [Hahahaha Noah is truly broken now. This kid is grinding his teeth to dust while forcing a smile.] [Main wife Liam is almost thirty but still charming, mistress Noah is full of style and pitiable. I say take them both!] Seeing the comments getting more ridiculous, I couldn’t hide anymore. Noah’s words terrified me; I didn’t want to think deeper. I chased them out as soon as I emerged. “Don’t you two have serious things to do? Stop hanging around here.” Noah stared straight at me, his black eyes full of panic and helplessness, like a desperate gambler on a cliff’s edge. “Chloe, are you engaged?” Burned by his gaze, I looked away. “No manners. Call me Sister. This is between us; don’t worry about it blindly.” Noah pushed the door open and left. Liam sat on the sofa without a word. I had to coax the one in front of me first. Liam and I started after a drunken night. Though not a fairytale beginning, Liam was considerate, had a model’s body, was great in bed, and our thinking matched perfectly. Dating him was a natural progression. I leaned on his shoulder. “Is Young Master Sterling angry?” Liam had long eyes and long lashes. They fluttered beautifully when he was emotional. Liam sighed. “Chloe, do you really not understand?” “When we were on a business trip, Noah deliberately walked in the rain to find you, used a high fever to cling to you all night, and constantly provoked me and declared sovereignty in front of me.” “These things have long exceeded the feelings a brother should have. Chloe, do you really not understand at all?”

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I always thought my movie star husband treated our marriage more as a duty than a romance. He was calm, reticent, and never showered me with sweet nothings. Until one late night, I was scrolling through Reddit and saw a “Soft Husband” post being roasted for hundreds of comments. I clicked on the profile picture— Wait, isn’t that our cat? 1 [Help! I feel like my cat is scheming against me. What do I do?] [My wife is a software engineer, and I’m somewhat of a freelancer. We have a cat. My wife is a software engineer, so her salary is very high, and she’s busy with work, often doing overtime. As soon as she gets home, the cat clings to her, and my wife only pets the cat, not me. During the day, the cat just sleeps, but the moment my wife gets home, it wakes up. My wife is a software engineer, she’s incredibly smart and kind, so she doesn’t see the cat’s manipulative nature.] When I saw this hot post on the subreddit r/RelationshipAdvice, my brain cells immediately fired up. This guy is crazy. Competing with a cat for attention? I glanced at Ethan Sterling, my movie star husband, who was currently grooming our cat in the living room. I thought to myself, My Ethan is still the best. Even though he’s usually cold and distant, for day-to-day life, this is fine. I continued scrolling down the thread. As expected, the OP (Original Poster) was getting roasted in hundreds of comments. And his replies were even funnier than the original post. 2 [Why do you keep emphasizing she’s a software engineer?] [OP’s Reply: I didn’t mean to emphasize it, I’m just a bit sensitive. I went to school abroad when I was young, then went to art school. But my wife is a Big Tech engineer, and she was the top science student in her year. Although my education isn’t as ‘academic’ as hers, she definitely loves me more than the cat. This psychological gap makes me feel the cat is hostile towards me.] The OP’s wife sounds really similar to me, but our husbands’ personalities are worlds apart. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of schadenfreude. [Big Tech… engineer…? Unless you say your wife is a C-suite executive at Google, I can only sort of understand your overflowing superiority complex.] [OP’s Reply: My wife is an algorithm engineer.] What’s wrong with algorithm engineers? I am one. Still working overtime coding every day. We code monkeys are finally moving up in the world; even “soft husbands” (husbands who like being pampered/submissive in a relationship) are targeting us now. I laughed out loud. [As everyone knows, education isn’t sexually transmitted.] [OP’s Reply: But we’re married. I knew people on Reddit would be jealous before I posted, but it’s reality, this is human nature.] This OP is truly invincible. I laughed until I was dizzy, ready to turn off my phone and sleep. Before closing it, I habitually clicked on the OP’s profile picture to take a look. But with just this one look, I froze completely. —Why does this cat look exactly like my C++? 3 Ethan and I met through a friend. I’m a programmer; he’s a movie star. Logically, our worlds shouldn’t have collided. But rumor had it his family was forcing him to get married, so I picked up a bargain. Inheritance drama, you know how it is. After getting the marriage license, I consciously told Ethan there was absolutely no need to go public; his career came first. Because of this, his agent, Claire, has always been very warm to me. Although my movie star husband is usually cold and distant, I’m no longer a little girl chasing sweet romance. For a corporate slave exhausted physically and mentally every day, Ethan is simply the perfect husband. He has a face so handsome it angers the gods, and a body with perfect pecs and abs. When I get home from overtime, looking at his face makes me eat an extra bowl of rice. Not to mention he’s a neat freak and dislikes strangers, so he handles almost all the housework alone. Before marriage, I often ate irregularly due to work pressure. After marriage, all that was fixed, and I even lost less hair. Apart from sometimes being a bit too much for me in bed, Ethan is perfect. As for being cold and quiet towards me, that’s hardly an issue. But I absolutely, 100% do not believe he would go on Reddit and post those “Soft Husband” comments. Did I mistake the cat? 4 I wanted to find more clues from that account’s profile, but Ethan, fresh from the shower, got into bed. “Hubby, slow down… my sedentary waist can’t compare to your daily workouts… ah…” I often scream “Hubby” and “Baby” randomly when I’m enjoying it, but Ethan is different. He never says anything in bed, only occasional low pants. I used to suspect if, in Ethan’s eyes, this was just a marital duty he had to fulfill? Later, I stopped thinking about it. After all, it’s not like I wasn’t enjoying it. As expected of the man consistently ranked number one on the “Must-Eat Actor List,” by the end, I was basically semi-conscious. In a daze, I heard Ethan say that Leo wanted to visit tomorrow and asked if I was okay with it. Leo is the friend who introduced me to Ethan. Without thinking, I said, “Let him come, I shouldn’t be working overtime tomorrow.” Ethan paused noticeably, then nodded expressionlessly. For some reason, I remembered that Reddit post again. Although I completely didn’t think the OP was Ethan, I still subconsciously hugged Ethan’s waist and buried my head in his chest. “I saw a TikTok video where an influencer was jealous of their pet… good thing you aren’t like that.” “But although I really like our C++, it’s different from how I like you.” “I like you the most.” Ethan stroked my hair stroke by stroke, but said nothing. I let out a breath, but my heart didn’t feel as light as I expected. But that’s how it is; Ethan isn’t someone who cares about these things. Love or whatever, Movie Star Sterling has seen so much in the entertainment industry; marrying me was just for stability, right? 5 The next day at noon, Ethan’s assistant came to the office on time to deliver my lunch. When we first got married, I casually complained that the office cafeteria food was too greasy. Since then, Ethan’s assistant has come over every noon to deliver food. Truly a high-paid worker; the professionalism is high. Except when Ethan is filming out of town, rain or shine for the three years we’ve been married. I don’t know where his assistant buys the food; it’s very light and delicious, suiting my taste perfectly. I asked the assistant a few times, but he always stammered and wouldn’t tell me. My colleague, Wendy, saw me come back with the thermal lunch box and patted me with a smile: “Jenny, your husband really cares about you, sending his assistant to deliver food every day. Even the passionate young couples in our department aren’t as clingy as you two.” Wendy teased me: “If you said he cooked this himself, I’d believe it.” “Sis, don’t joke,” I stuck out my tongue. “My husband is so busy with work, how could he possibly cook for me every day?” Although Ethan has only filmed one movie a year in recent years, his work has gradually shifted to behind-the-scenes investments. A mature man like him definitely prioritizes his career; I consider myself to understand him well. On the other side, Sarah, a fresh grad who hadn’t been with the company long, also exaggerated: “Jenny, which restaurant did your hubby order this from? It looks delicious.” “If I ate this every day, I’d have more energy to argue with the product manager.” Just as we were chatting and laughing, a piercing voice suddenly sounded: “Jenny, are you being kept by an old man?” “They say your husband is rich and treats you well, so how come you’ve never let us meet him?” 6 The speaker was Vivian. She joined the company around the same time as me, but her promotion was much slower. Although she usually made snide remarks for no reason, I rarely argued with her. Sarah defended me: “Vivian, that’s too harsh. Jenny posted her marriage certificate on her feed. Maybe her husband just keeps a low profile.” Vivian raised an eyebrow: “Oh, even the marriage certificate photo had to be censored? How unpresentable must he be?” I smiled: “My husband is as handsome as the actor on your computer lock screen.” “There’s a limit to pretending,” Vivian rolled her eyes. “My lock screen is Ethan Sterling. Who can be as handsome as Ethan Sterling?” “Stop guarding some rich pig-head like he’s a treasure. In my opinion, love is more important in marriage.” “Anyway, I couldn’t kiss a rich old geezer.” —This is why I rarely get angry with Vivian. She seems to be a fan of Ethan… I felt very awkward. But honestly, Vivian wasn’t entirely wrong. Ethan seemed to have never said he liked me. Our marriage seemed to indeed lack a bit of love. 7 Somehow, I suddenly felt a bit down. So I opened Reddit again, wanting to distract myself. As soon as I clicked on the Relationship Advice subreddit, I saw that familiar cat avatar had posted a new thread. The new post was trending again, hanging high on the front page. [The misunderstanding is cleared up, my wife said she likes me the most compared to the cat] [I didn’t expect my casual post to spark such intense discussion. Actually, I was a bit angry at first, but only at the cat. After doing it last night, my wife hugged me and said she liked me the most. In real life, we are this loving. Turns out I was overthinking before, my wife loves me super much.] As expected, the comments section started roasting the OP again, picking replies the OP wouldn’t like to hear. But the OP was completely immersed in his own world. [Maybe OP’s technique is bad, and your wife comforted you afraid you’d be sad lol.] [OP’s Reply: No way~ I swim and work out every day after marriage, my wife often can’t keep her hands off my chest muscles. We’ve been married for three years and still maintain a frequency of four times a week.] [Actually, all of this is OP’s fantasy. The truth is OP’s wife is a sloppy programmer who can’t be bothered with OP.] [OP’s Reply: I know many people are jealous because they don’t have it themselves. The truth is my wife is smart and beautiful, a super amazing programmer. I thought of many ways to pursue my wife back then, and now I still insist on cooking lunch and dinner for her every day. I feel especially happy.] My face scrunched up; I felt like I was losing the ability to read. I clicked on the OP’s profile and found he had posted many updates showing off their love before. The captions used every trick in the book; the “soft husband” scent was almost overflowing. Now that the post was viral, a bunch of people flooded his past updates to roast him. I was about to close it, but the OP updated again. [Because my wife said the company cafeteria food was too greasy, I’ve always cooked myself and had my assistant deliver it. My wife especially likes my cooking and always asks the assistant where he bought it, she’s really super cute~ A super smart and powerful programmer like my wife naturally needs to eat healthily to maintain full energy.] My hand shook, scrolling down. The next picture was a thermal lunch box that was overly familiar— Isn’t this the meal I’m eating right now??!!

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My entire family was on a luxury yacht trip. Just because my adopted sister was curious about sea monkeys, Dad took all the crew members down into the water with her. Soon after, pirates targeted our yacht. The situation was critical. I called Dad on the satellite phone over and over, but no one answered. To protect me, Mom was violated by the pirates. To buy me time to escape, my brother was chopped up and fed to the fish. But it was all in vain. In desperation, I detonated the fuel drums, intending to take the pirates down with me. Hearing the explosion, Dad rushed back and saved me just in time. But my adopted sister, due to surfacing too quickly, suffered decompression sickness and died coughing up blood. Before she died, she looked at me with reluctance. “I always knew I was an outsider, I just didn’t expect… my sister to hate me this much…” Dad silently buried her at sea. When we got home, he didn’t blame me. He even groomed me to be the heir to the company. But on the anniversary of her death, he tied me to a giant rock and sank me into the ocean. “I heard that sacrificing your own flesh and blood to the Sea Witch can give Cici a good reincarnation in her next life!” “If you hadn’t played tricks back then, she wouldn’t have died! You owe her this!” As a sacrifice, I died with my eyes wide open, full of resentment. When I opened my eyes again, the pirate ship was right in front of us. Chapter 1 Seeing that escape was impossible, this time, I didn’t call Dad on the satellite phone. Instead, I reported the yacht’s coordinates directly to the Coast Guard. But the Coast Guard would take time to arrive. I had to ensure my brother and mom’s safety before then. The utility room was hidden. With luck, maybe we could hold out until the Coast Guard arrived. Thinking of this, I grabbed my brother and mom, trying to pull them inside. But my brother looked reluctant and shook off my hand. “Harper, are you crazy? Why hide in a utility room when there’s such a nice view?” Mom was also confused. “Yeah, the weather is so nice today. Isn’t it better to sunbathe outside?” Looking at my brother’s nonchalant attitude, I wanted to smack him. But in my past life, this same carefree brother was chopped up and fed to the fish by pirates just to buy me time to escape. Thinking of that, I gritted my teeth and explained to him. “If we don’t hide, we’ll all die at the hands of pirates!” At this moment, my brother also saw the pirate ship not far away. His face changed, but then he relaxed again. “It’s just a few guys, what are you afraid of? We have a dozen crew members on board, they aren’t pushovers.” I sighed. “They all went down with Dad and Cici to find sea monkeys. Not a single one is left.” Hearing this, my brother’s face changed slightly. Before I could urge him, he pulled me and Mom quickly down into the cabin. After hiding in the utility room, I piled all the heavy objects against the door, but I was still worried. I wanted to call the Coast Guard again, but found that Mom was already calling Dad. She dialed several times, but no one answered. I advised helplessly, “Mom, stop calling. Dad is underwater with Cici looking for sea monkeys. If he gets distracted, he’ll definitely blame you.” Mom said firmly, “Harper, how can you say that about your father? He didn’t answer because it’s inconvenient underwater.” “If he knows we are trapped, he will definitely come back to save us!” In my past life, Mom also trusted Dad unconditionally like this, but ended up being brutally violated. Seeing her persevering to dial the number again, I was so angry I grabbed the phone and shouted. “If you want to die, keep calling! See if Dad picks up!” Mom was stunned, feeling wronged. But the next second, the call connected. She looked pleasantly surprised, quickly took the phone back, and whispered. “Honey, come back and save us! Pirates are on the yacht. We’re hiding in the utility room, we can’t hold out much longer!” Mom’s voice trembled with fear. She had already heard the pirates boarding. They were searching room by room for supplies, and would be here soon. But on the other end, Dad was angry. “Today is Cici’s birthday. I promised to show her sea monkeys. We haven’t been out long, and you’re calling like it’s a life-or-death situation. Is this how a mother acts?” “You’re so old, yet you only know how to be jealous of Harper. I usually spoil you two too much!” Before he finished, Mom interrupted him. “Richard, I’m really not lying to you! There really are pirates on the yacht. They are searching the ship now. If they catch us, the three of us are done for!” My brother also leaned over to explain. “Dad, Mom really isn’t lying. Come back quickly, or it will be too late!” Dad’s roar came from the receiver. “Luke, as the heir to the company, you’re fooling around with your mother and sister? I’m so disappointed in you!” “Tell Harper, if she doesn’t want to be a sacrifice to the Sea Witch again in this life, stop inciting you and your mother. Otherwise, I won’t forgive her!” My brother didn’t understand what Dad was saying, but a storm rose in my heart. Did Dad… come back too? Then why did he refuse to come back and save us? Full of questions and grievances, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I grabbed the satellite phone, wanting to ask clearly. In his eyes, are the three of us less important than his adopted daughter Cici? But before I could speak, the call was hung up. When I called back, it was a busy tone. Just then, bang, someone kicked the utility room door. “Why is this room locked? Is someone inside?” Another person giggled. “Locked or not, watch this!” Immediately after, another loud bang, and the utility room door cracked open. A leering eye immediately pressed against the crack, smiling wickedly. “What did I say? Not only people, but two women.” “I’ve been drifting at sea for months, haven’t touched a woman in ages. Gonna have some fun this time!” The other person kicked him. “I found them first. I get first dip, you wait in line!” Then came a burst of lewd laughter. Mom turned pale with fright, and I was terrified. My brother grabbed a wooden stick, shielding me and Mom behind him. “If you dare come in, I’ll kill you!” But I knew very well that my brother, just recovering from a serious illness, was no match for those two pirates. Just as my brain was spinning, trying to find a way out. Mom suddenly blocked the crack in the door with clutter, took the jade bracelet off her wrist with a resolute expression, and put it on my hand, choking back sobs. “I planned to give this to you when you get married. I’m giving it to you now.” “Harper, listen to me. We don’t know when the Coast Guard will arrive. We can’t sit and wait for death. The window in this room can open, and there’s a small lifeboat hanging outside. You escape quickly!” “And Luke too! From now on, you have to protect your sister for Mom!” Saying that, she squatted down, signaling me to stand on her shoulders to climb out the window. I hugged her. “Mom, I’m not leaving!” My brother’s eyes were red too. “I’m not leaving either. I’m a man, how can I let a woman protect me? If anyone goes, it’s you two!” Just then, the door shook, looking like it was about to break open. Mom stomped her foot in anger. “Mom can’t swim, escaping is useless!” “If I remember correctly, your uncle’s stationed island is nearby! As long as you find him, Mom can be saved. Don’t dawdle!” Saying that, she poked the window glass out with a stick, then squatted down, buried her head between my legs, stood up forcefully, and pushed me out the window. Immediately after, my brother was also thrown out by Mom. The next second, I heard the sound of the utility room door breaking open. Mixed with Mom’s heart-wrenching roar. “You bastards, dare touch me and I’ll chop off your hands!” I was terrified and wanted to go back to save Mom, but immediately, I was pulled onto the raft by my brother and pushed away. “Harper, go find Uncle for help! I’m going back to save Mom!” Looking at my brother’s resolute back, I wiped away tears and rowed hard towards the island where my uncle was stationed. Chapter 2 I don’t know how long passed. My tears dried up, my arms hurt so much I couldn’t lift them, but I kept rowing mechanically. Until a small island appeared in my field of vision. Uncle was the base commander, with dozens of soldiers under him. If they arrived in time, they could definitely save my brother and Mom. After landing, I ran desperately towards Uncle’s residence. Maybe I was too anxious, I fell a few times and twisted my ankle, but I dared not stop for a moment. Because I knew, the sooner I saw Uncle, the greater the chance of Mom and Luke surviving. Seeing Uncle on patrol, I threw myself at him, hugging him, my voice trembling. “Uncle, please save Mom and Luke. We took a yacht out to sea and met pirates! It’ll be too late if we don’t hurry!” Saying that, I tried to pull him by the arm. But Uncle kept a straight face and shook me off directly. “Harper, I don’t want to lecture you, but just because your dad took Cici diving to see sea monkeys, do you have to act out this much drama?” “To make your dad leave Cici behind and prove you’re important, you really stop at nothing, even fabricating pirates as an excuse. I’ve been stationed in these waters for so long, how could I not know if there were pirates? Nothing but lies!” I was stunned, frozen in place. “Uncle, we really met pirates, I didn’t lie to you!” “Please, save Mom and Luke!” Thinking of Mom and Luke dying tragically in my past life, I felt like I was falling into an ice cave. But Uncle’s face showed no emotion. “If your dad hadn’t called in advance saying you made up the pirate excuse to fight for fatherly love with Cici, I really would have been fooled by you!” “Cici is so well-behaved, can’t you yield to her sometimes? She’s not like you, having everything.” I was speechless for a moment. “What do I have to say for you to believe me? I really didn’t lie, it’s Richard lying to you!” Uncle sneered. “Your dad lying to me? What good does it do him?” “Unlike you, always naughty since childhood, unlike Cici…” I was completely enraged, pointing at Uncle and roaring. “Mason, who exactly is your niece?” “Even if you look down on me, my mom is your biological sister, waiting for you to save her. What did she do wrong?” After saying that, I knelt down again, banging my head on the ground. “As long as you save them, I’ll do whatever you say!” But Uncle looked at me, still unmoved. Just then, the bracelet on my wrist was revealed. Uncle grabbed my arm, questioning loudly. “Why did your mom give you her bracelet early?” I gave a miserable smile, suddenly remembering a year-end dinner when I was young. Mom said she would pass the bracelet to me when I got married. At the time, I naively asked her why she couldn’t give it to me now. Mom hugged me and laughed, saying if she ever encountered life-threatening danger, she would give it to me early. Hearing this, Uncle’s face darkened directly, telling Mom not to talk nonsense, it was bad luck. Grandma and Grandpa passed away early. Uncle was practically raised by Mom, so their relationship was exceptionally good. At this moment, seeing the bracelet, Uncle’s icy face finally softened a bit. I choked out, “Mom asked me to bring the bracelet for help. She said as long as you see it, you will definitely understand her situation!” “The school’s quota for the Antarctic expedition this year, didn’t you always want me to give it to Cici? As long as you are willing to save Mom and Luke, I agree!” After saying that, I kowtowed heavily to Uncle again. Actually, when I was little, Uncle and Dad spoiled me a lot. But ever since Cici entered the house, that favor became less and less. My princess room, toys, and clothes were all given to Cici. Later, because of my excellent grades, the school gave me the only quota for the Antarctic expedition. But that night, Dad and Uncle came to me, asking me to give the opportunity to Cici. At that time, I even suspected I wasn’t biological. Otherwise, why did they side with that adopted daughter in everything? Until later, I learned a secret. It turned out that Cici was the daughter of Dad and Uncle’s “white moonlight” (first love/unrequited love). So, they made up for their regrets with the white moonlight on Cici. Seeing me offer the Antarctic expedition quota as an exchange, Uncle was suddenly stunned. Because he knew very well how important this quota was to me. Sure enough, he hesitated slightly, asking doubtfully. “You really aren’t lying?” I sniffled, tone firm. “If I’m lying, may I be hit by a car as soon as I go out!” At this time, Uncle’s sidekick couldn’t stand it anymore. “Boss, this little girl doesn’t look like she’s lying. If she has this acting skill, she could win an Oscar.” “How about we go check it out? It’s not far anyway, treat it as a patrol.” But Uncle still hesitated. I steeled my heart, took off the bracelet, and stuffed it into Uncle’s hand. “Didn’t Cici like this bracelet before? As long as you are willing to save Mom and Luke, I’m willing to give it to Cici!” If Mom is gone, what use is this bracelet to me? Sure enough, after getting the bracelet, Uncle immediately dispelled his doubts and agreed to go check with me. Before leaving, he warned me again. “I’ll trust you this once. If I find out you’re lying, I won’t forgive you!” I nodded desperately, following him and a dozen soldiers, driving three speedboats towards the coordinates I reported. As long as I could save Luke and Mom, I was willing even if it meant death. Chapter 3 But fifteen minutes later, after the speedboats rushed to the location, they found nothing. I was burning with anxiety. Before escaping into the utility room, I set an electronic lock on the yacht. Without the password, it couldn’t be driven away. Where did the yacht go? Where did the pirates go? Immediately after, we searched the nearby waters for a while, still finding nothing. Just then, Uncle suddenly received a call. After hanging up, his face was terrifyingly gloomy. Pointing at me, he scolded. “I knew you were lying. Your dad just called and said there were no pirates at all! Everything was directed and acted by you three!” “Now, your dad has already taken your mom and brother back on the yacht! Nothing happened!” “Harper, you went to such lengths, even fabricating the danger of your relatives to act, aren’t you afraid karma will hit you one day?” “I’m so disappointed in you! Cici is more like a daughter of the family!” My head exploded with a boom. “I didn’t lie, I really didn’t lie…” But before I could explain, Uncle kicked me off the speedboat, saying coldly. “Since you love acting so much, then soak in the seawater and reflect on yourself!” With that, he was about to drive the speedboat away. Just then, I saw something floating on the sea not far away. Swimming over to look, I was struck by lightning. It was actually my brother’s severed arm! The little alligator tattoo on the wrist was done by me. I couldn’t mistake it! I swam over quickly, ignoring my fear, hugging the severed arm, confirming again and again. Finally, although I didn’t want to admit it, I was almost certain this was my brother’s arm. At this moment, I couldn’t control myself and screamed, tears mixed with seawater flowing down my face. In my freshman year, I suddenly became obsessed with tattoos and wanted to practice on my brother’s arm. Luke refused. Finally, unable to beat my persistence, he only instructed me to tattoo something cool. Seeing the cute little alligator I tattooed on his wrist, he laughed and cried. “What is this thing? It doesn’t match my tough guy image.” “Besides, where do alligators have green eyes? Isn’t this a joke?” I explained patiently. “Alligators are so cool, just like you.” “Besides, the alligator’s eyes see the river water, and the river reflects the color of trees and grass, so of course they are green.” “I guarantee, this tattoo is unique in the world, no duplicates.” Hearing me say he was cool and unique, Luke was immediately happy, saying seeing the tattoo would be like seeing him. Even if his appearance changed, the tattoo wouldn’t. Unexpectedly, it became a prophecy. Uncle was about to leave, but was attracted by my scream. Seeing the severed arm in my arms, he immediately frowned and ordered other soldiers to search nearby. Sure enough, not long after, someone found a jacket nearby. And that jacket was bought by Uncle for Mom this summer. Uncle’s brows furrowed even tighter. He hesitated, then asked. “You really didn’t lie? My sister and your brother really met pirates?” I laughed and cried. “How many times do I have to say it for you to believe?” “This arm is my brother’s! I tattooed this myself, I absolutely wouldn’t mistake it!” “I don’t expect you to save them anymore, because they might already be dead.” But what I didn’t understand was, I clearly called the Coast Guard and reported the coordinates. Even if Uncle didn’t come, they should have been able to save Mom and Luke. But now, not only were Mom and Luke missing, even the yacht and pirates were gone. If not for Luke’s arm and Mom’s jacket, I would almost think I was just dreaming. But the arm reminded me constantly, this was not a dream. Hearing this, Uncle dialed Dad’s number again. This time, he put it on speaker. As soon as the call connected, Dad’s impatient voice came through. “What now? Didn’t I tell you? There are no pirates. Your sister and nephew have returned home. What else do you want to ask?” Uncle hesitated for a while, then asked back. “Richard, you weren’t with them, how do you know they returned?” Dad choked. “I just know. Ah, stop asking, I have other things to do. Hanging up.” With that, before Uncle could speak, Dad hung up. But this time, Uncle didn’t seem to believe him. Instead, he called for more reinforcements. He even planned to use drones to search the entire sea area. But the area was too large. Night was falling; there wasn’t enough time. At this moment, I suddenly remembered my spare phone was still in the cabin. Maybe it could be tracked. Sure enough, Uncle immediately located the yacht based on my phone. Following the yacht’s location, we immediately drove the speedboats there. On the way, Uncle’s soldier thoughtfully took off his jacket for me to keep warm. Uncle’s eyes also held some guilt. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly, not knowing whether to resent him. I knew he had a sister complex. In his eyes, no one was more important than my mom. I remembered a girlfriend he had before, who was dumped by Uncle just because she gave my mom attitude. Even I was arguably less important to him than my mom. So, him not believing me and refusing to help earlier wasn’t intentional. He was misled. Right now, he was probably more annoyed than I was.

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After eight years of pursuing Liam Sterling, the paraplegic “Monk,” he finally showed 1% affection for me and took me to a concert. But the star of the concert looked just like his first love. Disheartened, I was about to leave when terrorists attacked. The “paraplegic” Monk suddenly stood up from his wheelchair, pushed me aside, and rushed onto the stage to take a bullet for the star. Because of his push, I got shot too. The system declared my mission failed. At that moment, I activated the “No Love, No Desire” system. Once activated, I would lose all emotions and desires, loving no one. Chapter 1 Chaos erupted at the concert. On stage, Liam Sterling held Chloe tightly. Panic was written all over his face. He ignored the bullet wound in his own arm, his eyes fixed only on Chloe. “Are you okay? Don’t scare me.” “Please, don’t die.” It was the first time I’d seen Liam so flustered. After all, he was known as the aloof “Monk,” never moved by worldly matters. Only now did I realize he had lied to me for eight years. He was never paralyzed; he just pretended to be for eight years. I lay on the ground, watching my own blood pool around me. My heart hurt so much. [Host, your mission failed because you are dying.] The System’s voice rang in my ears. I remembered I had been pursuing Liam for eight years. Today, I was happy because his affection for me had finally ticked up to 1%. But now I understood. He just wanted to see Chloe. The woman who looked like his first love. [The exit channel is being constructed. Estimated time: three days. Host, you can leave in three days.] As the System spoke, I saw Liam pick Chloe up. His eyes were red, shouting for a doctor. “Doctor! Where’s a doctor?! Save her!” His eyes were full of this stranger, with no room for me. How laughable. I followed him for eight years and never earned his love. “System, I agree to leave. But before that, please activate the ‘No Love, No Desire’ system.” My voice choked, tears falling. The “No Love, No Desire” system was a reward I got from a previous mission, never used. The System was surprised: [Host, with only three days left, you still want to activate this system?] “Yes.” I answered without hesitation, staring at Liam. He had already left with Chloe in his arms, forgetting I even existed. My heart died completely in that moment. [Okay, Host. ‘No Love, No Desire’ system activated. You will gradually lose all emotions and desires, loving no one.] I closed my eyes, letting one last tear fall. Liam Sterling, this is the eighth year I’ve loved you. Today, I finally give up on you. Someone once said, you can never wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. Just like how I pursued Liam for eight years, yet never moved his heart. Chapter 2 When I was rushed to the hospital, voices buzzed around me. “Liam Sterling actually carried a woman into the hospital.” “Didn’t he declare himself a ‘Monk,’ never touching women?” “That woman looks familiar. She looks like Liam’s first love.” “Years ago, Liam turned to Buddhism because his first love died. Now that someone so similar appeared, of course he panicked.” Lying on the gurney, I felt cold all over. When I first came to this world, Liam’s first love had just died, and he had just become reclusive. The System said he was hard to conquer, but I didn’t believe it. I believed that as long as he was human, he had emotions and could be moved. Now I knew how wrong I was. After being wheeled into the operating room, the System told me: [Host, the bullet hit your abdomen. You wouldn’t have survived, but since the exit channel isn’t ready, I’m keeping you alive.] [By the way, you were pregnant. The fetus was hit by the bullet. Medically, it can’t survive. I can’t revive it.] I froze. “What?” “I was pregnant?” [Yes. Didn’t you know?] Of course I didn’t know. Liam and I rarely had physical intimacy. The only time was on the anniversary of his first love’s death, when he got drunk. He mistook me for her. I thought just once wouldn’t result in pregnancy. [Host, your child is dead.] [For the next three days, I wish you a good life.] Tears fell like hot pearls. Liam was the only target I ever loved. I really wanted to have a child with him. But now, the child was gone. I would never forget the moment terrorists entered the concert, and Liam pushed me away hard. He rushed to Chloe without hesitation, shielding her, taking a bullet for her. Eight years, and I never made it into his heart. When I woke up again, I was in a hospital room. Liam was lying in the bed next to mine. He was looking at me, slightly dazed. “Are… are you okay?” I looked at the thick gauze on my abdomen and chuckled lightly. “What do you think?” “I’m sorry.” “The situation was critical. I just wanted to save Chloe. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” “By the way, about my legs… I lied to my family about being paralyzed because I didn’t want them setting me up on blind dates.” His tone was polite, as always. Eight years by his side, and we were still strangers. “You don’t need to explain.” In the future, we have nothing to do with each other. I couldn’t bring myself to say that sentence. After all, I had loved Liam deeply. “Don’t worry. I’ll hire the best doctors for you.” He spoke again. Once, I craved his concern. Now, his concern only disgusted me. “No need.” I replied coldly, turning my back to him. Chapter 3 The System alerted me: [Host, Liam’s affection value for you has risen to 10%.] I was startled. How is that possible? I did nothing. Why did his affection suddenly rise? [Host, I can give you a chance if you want to continue the mission.] “No need.” I refused immediately. Eight years of chasing, I was tired. I never wanted to do it again. Thinking of this, I felt my love for Liam fading bit by bit. I knew my emotions were disappearing. The doctor suddenly came in to update me on my condition. “You were shot in the abdomen. The fetus was hit too, so we couldn’t save it.” “What?” Liam spoke first. The always steady, aloof Monk had disbelief in his eyes. “She was pregnant?” “Yes, Mr. Sterling. We tried our best, but we really did all we could.” I touched my abdomen. There used to be a little life there. Now it was gone. After the doctor left, Liam got out of bed and held my hand. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?” Maybe I was seeing things, but there seemed to be a trace of heartache in his eyes. But how could he ache for me? He never gave me a kind look. Back then, I took care of him daily, massaged his legs. He never said a word to me, only smashed things and told me to get out. Once, for his birthday, I made him a cake. He threw it in the trash without hesitation. He said, “Stop making useless efforts. I won’t love you.” Then he would go to his study, look at his first love’s portrait, and touch her collarbone. Muttering how much he loved her. Even later, when his family urged him to marry me, he refused. Now I’ve accepted it. I disturbed his life. I should exit. Chapter 4 Chloe pushed the door open. Carrying a fruit basket, she smiled when she saw Liam. “You’re really here.” “Mr. Sterling, thank you for saving me.” She walked over, put down the basket, and took out a string of black prayer beads. “Oh, you dropped this when you saved me.” Liam took it with a gentle expression and asked, “Are you okay?” My heart felt stabbed. My existence felt laughable. Once, I accidentally touched those black beads, and he kicked me out of the house. He told me coldly, “That’s not for you to touch. Know your place.” Yes, I understand now. I should know my place. To him, I was just an irrelevant stranger. Chloe went to wash strawberries for Liam. He ate them. But he never liked strawberries. Just because his first love died on the way to pick strawberries. I lay in bed, breathing hurt. Soon, I would lose all emotions and never feel sad again. “Mr. Sterling, who is this?” Chloe suddenly looked at me. Liam froze, looking at me with complicated eyes. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “She’s my assistant.” Assistant. I gripped the bedsheet. Taking care of his food, clothing, and life for eight years like a nanny. Indeed, assistant work. I didn’t refute him, just lay there.

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