I was in a catastrophic car wreck and desperately needed a transfusion of “Golden Blood”—the ultra-rare Rh-null type. My childhood sweetheart, Liam, was in the donor support group chat, practically begging on his knees: “Please, I’ll do anything. Name your price.” “Anything? Even marry me?” a girl asked. Liam grit his teeth, playing the martyr. “Yes. Even that.” The internet hailed Liam as the ultimate romantic hero, sacrificing himself for love. I was painted as the ungrateful shrew for making a scene. It wasn’t until years later that I learned they had been sleeping together long before the accident. But then, I opened my eyes. I was back. Back to the day of the car accident, bleeding out and waiting for a donor. I ignored Liam and immediately FaceTimed Adrian Thorne, the heir to a New York dynasty. “Adrian, it’s Harper Vance. I’m the one who saved you with my Golden Blood years ago. “Can you return those 1200ccs to me now?” I didn’t expect Adrian to be reborn, too. He flew in overnight, fighting tooth and nail to get to me first. “You can have the blood,” he said, his eyes dark with possessiveness. “But she has to marry me.” I never expected Liam to lose his mind right there in the hospital. 1 Adrian Thorne fought like hell to make me his wife. He raced against the clock, arriving at the hospital and donating his blood before anyone else could. Bella Sterling, the “Golden Blood Girl” Liam had found, didn’t know that. On the third day after my surgery, Bella stormed into my VIP ward with self-righteous fury. “Harper, I gave you 1200ccs of Golden Blood. Do you have any idea what that means? “It could cause heart failure, shock, or even kill me. I risked my life for yours. “So, no condition I name is too extreme. “My condition is that Liam must marry me. “I know you hate it. I know it kills you inside. “But you’re just going to have to suck it up…” I cut her off mid-rant. “I agree.” Bella froze, clearly not expecting me to be so calm. “Excuse me?” Even Liam, who was standing there wearing a mask of pained martyrdom, looked shocked. He thought I would scream. He thought I would break down. He expected me to fight like a madwoman, just so he could stand on the moral high ground and sigh about how “forced” he was. It was all to save you, he would have said. Do you think I want to marry a woman I don’t love? I’m sacrificing myself for you, and you’re being unreasonable. In my past life, I did scream. I cried every day, begging Liam not to leave me. He called me crazy. Years later, I found out the truth. They had been hooking up behind my back for months. I once overheard Liam laughing with his frat buddies over drinks: “I was bored of Harper ages ago. If I didn’t come up with that ‘sacrifice for love’ excuse, how could I have broken up with her cleanly? “She was obsessed with me. If I just dumped her, she would have burned my house down. “Blame it on our childhood history. She was too attached.” His friends laughed, toasting him. “You’re just too charming, man.” Liam swirled his wine, smirking. “True. Honestly, I kind of enjoyed watching her pine over me. Even after I married Bella, I wanted Harper to stay obsessed, crying until dawn for me. That kind of devotion… it’s intoxicating.” That moment, my brain went blank. I realized why, every time I tried to move on, he would pop back up to remind me of our “tragic love.” He got off on my misery. Reborn, I wasn’t going to be that patsy again. 2 I looked at Bella, my expression completely flat. “Since Liam agreed to marry you, I’m stepping aside. “Congratulations. When should I expect the wedding invite?” Liam looked at me in disbelief, his face turning an ugly shade of gray. Our mutual friends in the room sensed the tension and immediately started gaslighting me. “Harper, come on, we know you’re just saying that out of anger. “How could you possibly let Liam go? “If he actually leaves with Bella, you’ll cry your eyes out.” Hearing this, Liam’s face softened. A tiny, arrogant smirk touched his lips. He leaned down to kiss my forehead. “Babe, stop it. “Even if I have to keep my promise and marry her, my heart belongs to you. “If a man had offered the blood and demanded you marry him, I would have made the same painful choice. “Because your life matters more than anything.” The friends nodded like bobbleheads. “Exactly. Liam only loves you. It’s just a tragedy that Bella is the one who has the blood.” I smiled and said nothing. Who said there wasn’t a man who demanded to marry me? They didn’t know. The moment I realized I was reborn in the wreckage of my car, I called Adrian Thorne. I lay in a pool of my own blood and begged him. “Adrian, remember the Golden Blood I gave you? I need it back.” I didn’t know he was reborn, too. He rushed over, bypassed everyone, and gave me the blood in secret. He smiled at me, a look full of meaning. “Since your fiancé is willing to agree to ‘any condition,’ then I have one too. “But I trust my gut. If I ask now, he’ll freak out. “Let’s wait until you successfully break off the engagement.” I thought Adrian was overthinking it. Liam was dying to dump me for Bella. But I agreed. “Fine. We wait until the engagement is dead.” 3 In my past life, I eventually married Adrian. But my heart was still hung up on Liam. I ignored Adrian’s kindness. Yet, when Bella exposed me online as a “homewrecker” obsessed with a married man, and when I fell into a deep depression, Adrian stood by me. He faced the world and said coldly: “So what if she doesn’t love me? “I, Adrian Thorne, married her, and I will protect her for life. “I’m not here to be fair. I’m here to back my wife. Who gave you the right to hurt her?” I was already too far gone to appreciate it then. But he never gave up on me. Even though our marriage was in name only. This time, I wouldn’t mistake trash for treasure. I wouldn’t push away the man who actually loved me. Bella, however, didn’t believe I would let Liam go so easily. “Harper, nice acting. I almost bought it. “Everyone knows you’re obsessed with Liam. You’ve been stuck to him like glue since kindergarten. “I hate two-faced bitches.” “I’m not acting.” I pulled the engagement ring off my finger and handed it to Liam. “Since you’re marrying Ms. Sterling, it’s inappropriate for me to wear this. “Take it. I won’t bother you again.” Liam’s face darkened instantly. He forced the ring back into my hand. “Keep it as a souvenir.” I shook my head. “No. That’s unfair to Ms. Sterling. “From today on, I’m clearing my heart. I won’t think of you for a second. “If I ever pine for you again, may lightning strike me down.” If I was stupid enough to fall for him twice, I deserved the lightning. Liam’s chest heaved. He covered my mouth. “What are you saying? You can’t just swear on your life like that!” Bella was thrilled. She looped her arm through Liam’s. “Liam, come help me pick out a wedding dress. “Harper has plenty of friends here. You need to set boundaries.” Liam shook her off violently. “Get off! I’m not in the mood!” I was surprised. In the past life, he never yelled at her. Turns out, when I stop chasing him, his interest in her drops significantly. The friends in the room tried to calm him down. “Liam, Bella is right. You have to marry her. You need to set boundaries with Harper.” Liam roared, “Everyone get the hell out!” When the room cleared, Liam pinched my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Happy now? “If you don’t want me to go, just say it. When did you learn to play hard to get? “Swearing you won’t love me… with a mouth that stubborn, does your heart really agree?” He looked at me with those deep, “soulful” eyes that used to work on me. Too bad I was immune. I said flatly, “Yes. I’m fine with it.” Maybe my expression was too calm. For the first time, I saw panic in his eyes. 4 Late that night, Bella called, and Liam left. After he was gone, Adrian walked into my room. He brought homemade bone broth and fed me spoon by spoon. “Red meat builds blood,” he said softly. “Drink up.” I pushed the bowl toward him. “You need it too. “Draining 1200ccs at once isn’t a joke. You could get sick. “Thank you for doing that. I don’t know how to repay you.” Adrian looked at me with a gentle smile. “Years ago, when I was dying in the Alaskan wilderness, didn’t you risk your life to give me the same amount? “I didn’t know how to repay you then, either. I just wanted to give you my life. “Unfortunately, you were deeply in love with your childhood sweetheart and rejected me.” Three years ago, I saw a plea in a Golden Blood support group. A hiker was critical in a remote part of Alaska. I happened to be there for research. I was the only match. After I saved him, he proposed. I said no. Later, when he heard Liam married Bella, he came to New York to pursue me again. He told me, “It’s not just gratitude. I knew you before that. “When you were a grad student at that conference in New York… I fell in love with you at first sight. “I never expected the girl I crushed on to be the one to save my life. It’s fate.” I started crying. I choked back a sob and asked carefully: “I can’t repay the life-saving grace… “Is it too late to offer myself to you now?” Adrian froze. He grabbed my hand, his breath hitching. “Harper, what did you say? “Say it again. “Are you really willing to let Liam go? Aren’t you madly in love with him?” In my past life, right before I ended it all, I went to see Liam one last time. That’s when I heard him mocking me with his friends. The truth destroyed me. I shook my head, cupping Adrian’s handsome face. “I don’t love him. Not anymore. “I’ve been given a second chance. I just want to love you.” In our past life, we were married for three years, and I never let him touch me. Now, I closed my eyes, deliberately tempting him. “Adrian, can you kiss me? “We were married for three years in the last life, but you never kissed me. “People say you have the sexiest lips in New York. I want to know what I missed.” Adrian’s eyes turned red. He almost lost control when he kissed me. “I did kiss you once,” he whispered hoarsely. “But you cried so hard I stopped. I couldn’t bear to break your heart.” “I don’t remember that. From now on, I won’t cry. I’ll only…” My hand traced the muscle definition under his shirt. He shuddered. God, I was blind in my last life. I could have been eating this well every day.

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Later, he stood in the rain all night, begging for my forgiveness. “Maya, as long as you forgive me, I’ll do anything. I swear.” I packed up every gift he had ever given me into trash bags and tossed them into the dumpster right in front of him. “Then go redeem yourself in hell. How about that?” 1 It was the third year of our long-distance relationship, winter break. I was back home, FaceTiming Liam. “What time is your flight tomorrow?” I asked, checking the schedule. “I’ll drive over to pick you up at ten. That should be enough time, right?” Through the phone screen, Liam’s smile was playful and gentle. “No rush, babe. You can sleep in a bit longer.” I blushed slightly. “I just want to see you sooner.” Junior year had been brutal academically; the last time we saw each other was over the Thanksgiving break. “Me too.” Liam paused for a second, then suddenly added, “Hey, I might bring a friend back to crash for a few days this time. She’s from the West Coast, never really seen real snow before. She’s curious.” I sharply noticed the slightly intimate tone he used when mentioning this person. So, I asked, “Guy or girl?” “A sophomore. She joined the photography club, and we’ve been on a few shoots together.” His attitude was open and natural, so I didn’t think much of it at first. The next day, when I went to pick him up at the airport, I met this “sophomore” Liam mentioned. Her name was Emily. She was pretty, with a delicate frame and refined features, but her personality was surprisingly loud. As soon as we met, she threw her arm around my shoulder, turning to ask Liam: “Liam, bro, what do I call your girlfriend? Do I have to call her ‘The Missus’?” Uncomfortable with such immediate intimacy from a stranger, I frowned slightly and looked at Liam. He noticed my discomfort right away and swatted Emily’s hand off my shoulder. “Knock it off. My girlfriend isn’t into that. She’s the same year as me, just call her Maya.” Emily clutched the back of her hand, seeming stunned for two seconds, then obediently called out, “Maya.” On the drive back, Liam asked me, “How’s Mochi doing?” “Got fat again. My mom said I need to play with him more and cut down on the wet food.” Liam leaned back against the seat, laughing. “He just has no limits when it comes to eating. I’ll see him in a bit. Haven’t seen him all semester, wonder if Mochi still recognizes me.” Just as I was about to reply, Emily suddenly interjected from the back seat: “Liam, who’s Mochi?” “A cat we found together back in middle school. He’s always lived at Maya’s house.” Before leaving, I had specially placed a bottle of his favorite craft soda in the center console cup holder. He took a sip and placed it back into the side door pocket. Yet, not long after, Emily naturally reached over, grabbed that same bottle, twisted it open, and took several large gulps. I saw this happen in the rearview mirror. My hands instinctively tightened on the steering wheel. “Oops, grabbed it out of habit. My dad always puts his water there.” Liam chuckled, not touching the bottle again. “Don’t go mistaking me for your dad now.” While stopped at a red light, I turned to glare at him. Liam reached over, covering my hand on the steering wheel, and whispered: “Haven’t seen you in months, why are you glaring at me already?” The slight irritation I felt vanished at his touch. I shook my head gently and said, “My mom went out early to buy ingredients for her pot roast. She says you definitely miss her cooking. She’s never made this much of a fuss even when I come home.” “Oh—” Liam dragged out the syllable. “So, is my little May jealous? Think your mom likes me better?” “Liam!” “Okay, okay.” He rubbed the top of my head like he was petting a cat. “My mom prefers you too, always has. Every time you come over, she cooks a feast with zero spice. I have to get my own hot sauce just to eat.” I admit, bringing up the past with Liam always carried a bit of intentionality. Maybe it was intuition, but from the very first glance, I didn’t really like Emily. Obviously, Liam sensed this too. When we parked, he took advantage of Emily getting out of the car to lean into my ear. “Upset? Don’t worry, she’s just a regular friend. Absolutely nothing will shake my May’s supreme position in my heart.” After we got out of the car, Emily suddenly smiled and said, “You two have such a great relationship.” “Jealous?” Liam looked back at her. “If you’re jealous, go find your own boyfriend.” “I wouldn’t dare. Too many toxic guys out there, I’m afraid I can’t spot the red flags. But… if it were someone like you, Liam, I totally would!” Liam raised an eyebrow. “Bring any prospects around, I’ll vet them for you.” The hotel Emily booked wasn’t far from our neighborhood. After parting ways, I pursed my lips and walked ahead. Liam caught up and grabbed my wrist, making a pitiful face: “Did your loyal subject upset the Princess again? We agreed on a big hug when we met, haven’t had that hug today.” I stopped and turned to look at him. “Wasn’t that because I was afraid hugging would trigger your little friend?” Before I finished speaking, Liam grabbed my waist and pulled me into his arms. “Forget her.” He buried his face in the crook of my neck, whispering, “Three months apart. I missed kissing you so much.” 2 Liam and I had spent our lives together since we were very small. From elementary school through high school, we even walked the same route to and from school. After high school graduation, under the campus bleachers, Liam confessed his feelings to me. Everything felt natural, like water flowing into a canal. But when college acceptance letters came, due to a twist of fate, we were admitted to different schools. I stayed In-State, and he went a thousand miles away to the East Coast. At first, I didn’t think long-distance mattered. We had over a decade of emotional foundation and shared memories. Even if we weren’t together day and night, we had endless things to talk about. When classes weren’t busy, Liam would fly back to see me, stay for three or five days, and then go back. The slight strangeness generated by the distance would vanish the instant we met. I brought Liam back home and opened the door. Mochi ran over, but stopped a few feet away, curled into a ball, looking at us somewhat bewilderedly. Liam dropped his suitcase and squatted down. “What, don’t recognize me after three months?” I picked up a treat stick from the table and handed it to him. Mochi slowly nudged over to eat it, then rubbed affectionately around his ankles. After lunch, Liam and I helped my mom wash the dishes, then went into my room one after the other. As soon as I closed the door, he grabbed my wrist and pinned me against the door panel. “Lock it, May.” The next second, a searing kiss landed on my lips. I closed my eyes to fully immerse myself, but a knock came from outside: “Maya, Liam, come out and have some fruit.” I nearly jumped out of my skin, but the amusement in Liam’s eyes just grew stronger. He called out, “Okay, Mom, we’ll be right out.” Then he opened his suitcase to rummage for the gifts he brought me. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I sharply spotted a strange pink bag in the corner of his suitcase. Just as I picked it up, Liam snatched it back. “Don’t touch that, that’s Emily’s camera.” I was stunned. “Why is her camera in your suitcase?” “Oh, her bag is small, couldn’t fit everything, so she stuffed it in mine. I’ll take it to her tomorrow.” Liam answered nonchalantly, then showed me the gifts he prepared. It was an incredibly soft cashmere scarf, and the newest model iPad. “Didn’t you say you needed it for grad school prep? Use it for your online courses.” Holding the tablet, I couldn’t tell if I felt happy or confused. Liam’s house was in the complex across the street. His parents were still away and hadn’t returned, so he ate dinner at my place before going back. When he left, it was snowing outside. Liam wouldn’t let me walk him out. “It’s snowing, too cold. Go back inside.” I stood at the apartment entrance, grabbing the corner of his jacket, whispering, “No one’s at your place anyway, why not just stay here tonight?” After a moment of silence, Liam shook his head. “It’s fine. Been a while since I’ve been back, I need to clean the place up anyway.” I went back inside and chatted idly with my parents. In the gaps of conversation, I picked up my phone and casually opened Instagram, then suddenly froze. Ten minutes ago, Liam posted a new Story. It was a silhouette of him standing under a streetlamp against the snow. The caption read: “Been a while since I’ve seen snow.” My high school best friend, Sarah, commented underneath: “You’re home! Did Maya take this for you?” Liam replied to her: “No.” 3 I stared blankly for a good while before clicking in to message Liam. “You didn’t go home?” He didn’t reply immediately. I sat on the couch, Mochi curled up next to me fast asleep. I absently rubbed his head until my phone vibrated. The boundless emotions in my heart seemed to suddenly solidify into a tangible shape. “Emily called me on the way back, said she wanted to take photos of the snowy night. So I dropped the camera off to her. I’m home now.” He replied to me, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” “Waiting for your message.” Then Liam voice-called me directly. “May, it’s getting late, you should sleep. Your heart condition isn’t great, don’t stay up late.” Unsure if it was the connection, but his voice sounded slightly raspy. I fell silent for a moment. “…Have you been drinking?” “Drank a little. I was out shooting the snow with Emily earlier. She was hyped, ran and bought some beer, but couldn’t finish hers, so I had to—” He stopped abruptly, as if realizing he’d slipped up. The atmosphere went dead silent, quiet enough to hear each other breathing. After a moment, I whispered: “Liam, I feel like I don’t know you anymore.” The phone hung up. I returned to the bedroom, lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. My brain kept replaying the scene in the car earlier today. Emily was so natural when she picked up the drink Liam had sipped from, as if she had done it countless times before. This semester, Liam and I only saw each other that one time at Thanksgiving. And in the countless conversations before that, he had never mentioned this person to me. There was movement outside the door. Footsteps approaching, then a knock: “May, are you asleep?” “…” After coming in, Liam said, “I deleted the Story.” “That beer… I didn’t drink from the same can as her. I asked the clerk for a paper cup.” “I already told Emily. She came just to see the snow, now she’s seen it, and it’s almost Christmas. Told her to head home early.” He said so much in one breath, but I still had no reaction, just silently kneading the plush toy in my hands. That was also one of the gifts Liam gave me for my birthday many years ago. After a long while, I finally spoke: “Can you delete her?” “Yes.” Liam agreed without hesitation. He took out his phone, deleted Emily as a friend right in front of me, then sat on the edge of the bed and gently held me. “Babe, don’t be mad.” He said, “I looked forward for so long to seeing you today. Just hang in there for another year—one more year and I’ll be back for good.” He very rarely called me that; his voice was incredibly gentle. My heart softened instantly. For the rest of the winter break, I was almost glued to Liam’s side. The distance caused by being apart disappeared bit by bit. After school started again, because I had to begin studying for grad school entrance exams, I had to reduce the frequency of chatting with Liam. Several times, I’d leave FaceTime on while I studied or did practice problems on my end. Whenever I looked up, I’d see him staring intently at me. In April, for Liam’s birthday, I specifically requested time off from classes and flew out East to surprise him. I didn’t tell Liam before going. So, when I stood at the south entrance of his campus, phone out to message him, I ran straight into Liam, camera around his neck, laughing and talking. With Emily. We both froze on the spot. 4 I turned to leave. Liam chased after me fast, his tone helpless: “May, at least listen to me explain…” I turned to look at him, expressionless. “Fine, explain.” “The photography club had an outing this morning. When we left, I left my camera on the lawn. Emily said she forgot her hat too. We went back together to find our stuff, that’s why we fell behind the others alone.” As he spoke, he showed me the group chat messages on his phone. Indeed, forty minutes ago, Liam had tagged someone else in the group, telling them to lead the team back to campus first, saying he had to go back for his camera. But how could it be so coincidental? My hand tightened silently on my backpack strap. Emily followed over, looking full of guilt: “I’m so sorry, Maya. Please don’t misunderstand, I didn’t mean to be alone with Liam.” Liam frowned, turning his head to say: “If you can’t say anything helpful, just shut up.” Emily froze, a flash of grievance in her eyes. “Sorry… I didn’t mean it like that.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose irritably. “You go back first, I need to talk to my girlfriend.” I suddenly wanted to laugh. And then I really did laugh out loud. “Liam, what are you doing?” I said. “Are you two putting on a show? Should I give you both an award?” The sun was slowly setting on the horizon. The fiery light hit Liam’s face, and suddenly, his eyes looked weary. “Stop it, May.” He said, “There really is nothing going on between me and Emily. We rarely get to see each other, let’s not make it like this, okay?” I fought back the choke in my voice: “So you added her back as a friend, didn’t you?” “Yes, I added her. That’s because last week I was sick at the hospital and my debit card wouldn’t work. She covered my co-pay, so I had to pay her back.” Liam’s expression went cold. He tapped his phone a few times and handed it to me. “Here, look. Besides the money transfers, have I said a single word to her?” “You were sick last week?” I was stunned. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “You were busy reviewing and taking practice tests, how could I make you worry? When we FaceTime, I want to talk to you, but you just brush me off to study.” Liam sighed gently. “May, I know grad school is important to you. But we are in a relationship, could you spare some time to care about me too, okay?” I held his phone and looked down. On the screen, there were only two lonely transaction messages for sending and receiving money. Apart from that, not a single extra word. “If you’re unhappy about it, I can delete her again right now.” Liam reached out to take the phone back. I whispered, “Forget it, don’t delete her.” He probably heard the apology in my tone. After a moment, he composed himself and opened his arms to me: “Come here, give me a hug.” That night, Liam stayed with me in a hotel off-campus. He kissed me for a long time, but stopped right before the final step, rolling over to sit up. “I’m gonna get some water to cool down.” In fact, because I wanted to save that for after marriage, in the three years we’d been together, Liam and I had never gone all the way. But in this moment, an impulse from out of nowhere made me grab his wrist: “Don’t go.” Liam turned to look at me. Under the warm lamplight, his defined features looked incredibly alluring. “May…” His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. “Do you know what you’re doing?” His voice was incredibly hoarse, his tone carrying a danger that made my heart tremble. I retreated, pulling my hand back and pulling the duvet over my face. “Never mind.” Liam chuckled low. “I’m in no rush. Let’s save it for our wedding day.” The next day was Liam’s birthday. I went with him to the aquarium and took the scenic tram up the mountain. In the evening, he called a few friends from the photography club, saying they had agreed to grab dinner together beforehand. When we met up, I realized this group included Emily. Just yesterday we confirmed there was no other contact between them. But seeing Emily’s smiling face, in that moment, an uncomfortable feeling inevitably surged in my heart. On the way to the restaurant, someone suddenly stopped in front of us, saying to Liam and Emily: “I’m a photography student, doing some street photography. I feel like you two are a really matching couple, could I take a few couple photos of you?” I turned my head sharply, only to realize that Emily, walking on the other side, was practically glued to Liam’s arm. She laughed out loud, saying through her giggles: “Sure.” “Sure what? Who wants to take photos with you?” Liam said with a cold face, “Are you stupid? My girlfriend is standing right here, watch your jokes.” Emily looked at me calmly and naturally: “Sorry, Maya.” Even though she said it, there wasn’t a shred of apology in her eyes. Someone else explained to me: “Maya, don’t be mad. Emily’s just like that, a tomboy personality, treats everyone like one of the guys. Liam’s true heart for you is solid as a rock.” I pursed my lips and said blankly: “Is that so?” In that moment, I just felt Liam was incredibly far away. Even though the streetlights shone on him, even though we had known each other for fifteen whole years. But his eyes seemed submerged in a boundless deep sea. I couldn’t see the emotions in his eyes, nor could I see his heart. By the time I snapped back to reality, we were already sitting in the restaurant. Emily was laughing and ordering food with the others, while Liam beside me was holding my hand, softly calling my name: “May.” “…Babe.” My eyelashes trembled. “Why didn’t you push her away?”

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I have a toxic trait: I love the chase. There’s nothing like the thrill of pursuing someone out of my league to spice up a mundane life. Recently, I’ve been chasing a stoic, ice-cold man. I spent two months throwing myself at him, and he barely gave me the time of day. I was very satisfied. But, like always, I eventually got bored and found a new target. A few days later, the Ice Doctor messaged me first for the once: “You’ve been busy lately?” I was currently at dinner with my new target. I replied: “Oh, absolutely. Work has been crazy, sweetie. I’m still at the office.” Ice Doctor: “At the office?” Me: “Uh-huh.” Ice Doctor: “Then turn around.” 1 My best friend, Chloe, broke her leg, so I went to visit her at a high-end private hospital. We were gossiping in her room when the attending physician walked in. I turned around and froze. The man was tall, impeccable in a pressed white coat, with an air of clinical detachment that screamed “do not touch.” He was explaining post-op care to Chloe, his voice sounding like deep, cool water. Standing to the side, I admired the sharp bridge of his nose, his thick lashes, and his long, surgical fingers flipping through the chart. After he left, I exploded. “Give me your doctor’s number. Now.” Chloe looked at me like I was crazy. “Why?” I kept a straight face. “My contact list is missing a high-maintenance emotional challenge.” She rolled her eyes so hard I thought they’d stick. “Just admit your ‘chaser’ syndrome is acting up again.” Eventually, she forwarded his contact card. I sent a request immediately. His name was Ethan Caldwell. His social media was open, so I scrolled through. It was drier than the Sahara—medical journals, disease research, health tips. Definitely a work account. Hours later, he finally accepted. Me: Hi Dr. Caldwell, I’m Riley, a friend of your patient Chloe. Ethan: Okay. Me: When will she be discharged? Ethan: Day after tomorrow. Me: Thanks for taking such good care of her. Ethan: It’s my job. I hit a wall. His strictly professional attitude left me no opening to start my usual flirting routine. No problem. I needed to establish a physical presence first. For the next two days, under the guise of being a “supportive friend,” I practically lived at the hospital. Hair done, full makeup, outfit on point. Chloe wanted to kick me out. But it worked. When I saw Ethan again, his gaze lingered on me for a solid two seconds before moving away. Delighted, I went back to texting him irrelevant fluff. Finally, Ethan paused typing for a long time. Ethan: Ms. Riley. Me: Here! Ethan: We have patients with respiratory issues on this floor. I suggest you ease up on the perfume. Me: … 2 The day Chloe was discharged, I was devastated. Chloe nearly beat me with her crutches. “Give it up, Riley. I asked the nurses. Ethan comes from old money. He’s out of your league. You can’t land him.” I got even more excited. “That’s the point! If I actually landed him, it wouldn’t be fun anymore.” Chloe was silent for a few seconds. “I will never understand your brain.” I smiled. Sometimes, I didn’t understand it either. After Chloe went home, I continued to “harass” Ethan. Of course, I was a professional. I only bugged him when he wasn’t busy. I’d feign medical ignorance: Dr. Caldwell, my neck has been killing me lately. When are your office hours? He sent a link: Book online. Or I’d comment on his dry articles: Wow, so insightful! You work so hard! Learning so much! He ignored all of it. I suddenly realized a critical issue. I didn’t even know if he was single. This was serious. I decided to ask in person. On Tuesday afternoon, I booked an appointment with Dr. Caldwell. The copay was astronomical, but for the sake of the game, I swiped my card. Soon, a nurse called my name and led me into his office. This was my first time alone with him. From less than six feet away, I could see the tiny mole on his nose and the distinct curve of his pale lips. He looked up. My heart skipped a beat. He gestured for me to sit and asked about my symptoms. After I stuttered through a vague description, he asked follow-up questions. I had never been this nervous. Ethan’s eyes were dark, and when he looked at me professionally, there was a focused tenderness that contrasted sharply with his icy demeanor. My brain short-circuited. I rambled about nonsense. Ethan listened patiently for a long time before giving his verdict: “Riley, physiologically, your neck seems fine. If the discomfort persists, I can refer you to physical therapy.” I snapped out of it and shook my head vigorously. Walking out of the office, I realized I’d forgotten my main question. I turned to go back, but Ethan had already left his office and was walking down the hall. I checked my phone. It was past 5:00 PM. I had kept him late. I ran after him. “Dr. Caldwell.” He turned around. “I feel a little dizzy.” He frowned slightly. “Just now?” “Yeah.” “Go get an MRI first. Once we have the images…” He didn’t finish his sentence. My vision went black, and I hit the floor. I lied to Ethan. I didn’t have neck pain. I had hypoglycemia, and I hadn’t eaten all day. 3 In my haze, I felt someone pick me up. The embrace was solid, safe, and smelled like antiseptic and expensive cologne. A while later, after a nurse hooked me up to an IV, I struggled to open my heavy eyelids. Someone was standing next to the bed. I looked up to see Ethan, frowning deeply. “If you’re hypoglycemic, you need to eat on a schedule.” He dropped that advice and turned to leave. “Ethan.” It was the first time I used his first name. He paused and looked back. I finally remembered my mission. “Are you single?” A trace of impatience flashed in his eyes. “Riley, if you don’t have a medical emergency…” “Are you?” I asked again. Ethan paused for two seconds. “Yes.” He turned to leave again, but I grabbed his sleeve. He looked back, visibly annoyed now. I pretended not to notice. I looked up at him with my most sincere, heart-melting smile. “Then… is it okay if I like you?” After I said it, I saw it clearly. Ethan’s dark, irritated pupils trembled. 4 I violated the first rule of the chase. Rule #1: Be charming, but keep your heart on ice. Never be direct. Ethan’s life was probably rigid and disciplined. He’d likely never met anyone as shamelessly direct as me. One sentence, and I scared him off. Leaving the hospital, I fell into deep regret. I figured I’d probably get blocked on his phone. After hesitating, I sent a risky text: Am I still on your contact list? It actually went through. I tried to unsend it immediately. Ethan replied with an ellipsis: … Ethan: Yes. Me: … Crap, he saw it. Me: Sorry about today. My brain was foggy from the low sugar. I was talking nonsense. He didn’t reply. I scrolled through TikTok for an hour before a notification popped up. Ethan: Okay. Mission failed before it even started. Revealing my hand too early made the rest of the chase incredibly difficult. Over the next few interactions, Ethan basically ignored me. Luckily, I was a veteran chaser. I knew when to retreat. I drastically reduced my frequency and waited for the right moments. A simple “Get some rest” after his night shift, or a “Busy week?” on Sunday night. Once I retreated to a safe, non-aggressive distance, Ethan occasionally replied with a sentence or two. I didn’t push for long conversations. I quit while I was ahead. I had my own life, after all. When I asked “Off work?” and he replied “Yeah,” I knew he didn’t hate my existence anymore. Suddenly, I just wanted to see him. On a slow weekend, I went to the hospital lobby to wait for him to get off work. I didn’t know if I’d actually run into him. But without a strong agenda, I treated it as a vibe check. Whatever happens, happens. Luck was on my side. I saw him. And I witnessed a scene straight out of a soap opera. Ethan had changed into street clothes, but a young woman was blocking his path. I couldn’t hear them from a distance, but I saw Ethan’s furrowed brows and the impatience in his eyes. The same look he gave me that day. Another relentless pursuer, I guessed. As I got closer, I heard them. “Ms. Sanders, personally, I think it would be best if you found another doctor.” “Ethan, I’m not here for a checkup, I…” “Sister,” I walked over and interrupted. “Dr. Caldwell is off the clock. I think he’s done being bothered for the day.” My sudden appearance stunned her. She was young, probably college-aged. She blushed, mumbled an “Okay,” and hurried away. Ethan frowned at me. I wasn’t planning to pester him. I nodded at him, turned around, and walked out the automatic doors. While I was waiting for my Uber on the curb, a black SUV pulled up in front of me. The window rolled down slowly. I raised an eyebrow and walked over, intrigued. “Dr. Caldwell has something to say?” Ethan’s hands were on the steering wheel, eyes fixed straight ahead. His voice was cool. “Riley.” First time he said my name. My heart jumped. “Yeah?” “I don’t like being bothered after work.” I paused. Was he referring to the girl, or me? I looked down and smiled knowingly. “My goal is different from hers.” Ethan turned to look at me. The streetlights cast shadows across his face. His eyes were dark, filled with suspicion and scrutiny. He let out a soft, dismissive scoff. “How is it different?” “I just came to sit. If I see you, great. If not, whatever. I’m not asking for a response. Whether I like you or not is my business. If I’m bothering you, I won’t come around anymore.” The look he gave me was full of confusion. I guess normal people don’t understand my mindset. I smiled again. “Ethan, being liked by me just proves you’re an exceptional guy.” He didn’t respond. I waved. “Get home safe. Bye.”

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In the third month of the cold war with my boyfriend, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I swallowed my pride and sent a text to test the waters. “Do you still want to make this work?” He replied almost instantly. “Yes.” I put down my awkward ego and asked him: “Can we meet and talk?” He replied, “You don’t have cramps today, do you?” “…” “Your place or mine?” 1 No one knows how I survived those three months of silence with Ethan. It started over something small, so small I can’t even remember what triggered it. But this time, I held onto a ball of rage in my chest, refusing to reply to his messages. The chat history was frozen on his icy, non-apology from weeks ago: “Fine, let’s just say I was wrong.” Honestly, seeing that sentence made me vow out of spite that I would never speak to him again. I knew that even if I tried to reason with him, it would only earn me his classic rebuttal: “I already apologized, what else do you want from me?” He always used that line to control me. We had broken up and gotten back together countless times. In the beginning, it ended with him coaxing me back. Later, it turned into me finding various ways to beg for peace, giving him an off-ramp for his ego. Because he knew that once he said that line, it meant he had “apologized.” If I continued to discuss the actual issue, I was being “dramatic” or “high maintenance.” And after that, what awaited me was inevitably a long-lasting cold war. I obviously couldn’t handle the silence as well as he could. So, I would usually swallow my grievances and accept his “apology.” I psyched myself up and sent a message first: “I’m at the Urgent Care getting an IV drip alone. It’s hard to even go to the bathroom.” To make it seem less stiff, I added a cute, pouting sticker. He didn’t reply for a long time. After waiting for thirty minutes, I couldn’t suppress my anxiety. Every minute, a million thoughts popped into my head. Does he really want to break up? Does he not love me anymore? Does he have another girlfriend? Finally, before these thoughts drowned me, I sent another message. “Why are you ignoring me?” Truthfully, I was getting angry, but I still sent a cute GIF. “Do you want to grab dinner later?” He replied: “?” “No time.” Stiff. Emotionless. I had thought that if his tone softened even a little bit—just a tiny bit—I would drop the argument, smile, and pretend nothing had happened. But no. I tried hard to control my emotions, holding back my sadness and anger, and sent a question mark back. He asked: “You want to fight again?” My tears instantly poured down. But damn it, even while crying, all I could think about was Ethan. If he were by my side right now, if he could see me crying, would he hold me in his arms and comfort me? Would he feel guilty? I realized I was hopeless. Tears dripping onto the screen, I typed: “I just wanted a little care from you. I don’t want to fight, but your silent treatment really hurts me.” “Ethan, once the disappointment piles up enough, I really will leave.” The “typing…” bubble appeared, then disappeared. It flickered on and off for five minutes. I stared at his chat box the whole time. Was he writing me a long, heartfelt paragraph? I felt a secret joy. Honestly, I hadn’t seen more than a few words from him in ages. But no. His reply was short. “Here we go again. I don’t want to talk about your issues.” “Fine, let’s just say it was my fault.” 2 After reading that, my tears stopped instantly. It’s strange how human emotions can shift in a split second. I stared at the phone and turned it off without hesitation. I was certain Ethan would regret what he said today. I told myself that when he eventually came back, crying and begging for forgiveness, I must not be soft-hearted. The more excessive he was now, the more sincere his begging would be later. But as time passed—two whole weeks—there was not a single movement from him. I checked his Instagram. No updates. He was never one to post stories anyway. Aside from texting, I had no way to track him. I intentionally posted a story of me out having fun with friends. Ethan didn’t like it. He didn’t view it. Worried he missed it, I posted a few more. Still no reaction. Did I play it too hard this time? Is he really planning to draw a line and end it? Once the doubt started, the spiraling began. I re-read the chat logs from two weeks ago over and over. Actually, he did apologize. Why is it that every time I want to smooth things over, we fall into a new round of arguing? If I had controlled my emotions back then, would today be different? He was the only one who could tolerate my little tantrums. In front of him, I could be myself without fear. He gave me a grounded kind of love. I didn’t really want to break up. So why did we fight? Was I being too demanding? Come to think of it, the last time we laughed together feels like ancient history. If being together only means suppression and pain, then naturally, one would want to escape the relationship. So I shouldn’t blame Ethan. I should make it so that thinking of me brings him joy. I knew I could do it. Making him happy was actually very simple. Thinking this, I opened the chat box to message him. I typed and deleted, typed and deleted. Summoning my courage, I pressed send. “Do you know I’m really sad?” Unexpectedly, he replied quickly this time. “I know.” “Then why are you indifferent?” “I don’t know what to say.” My fingertips trembled on the screen. What was I expecting? He is Ethan. How could he possibly coax me just because I lowered my head first? 3 I looked up and out the window. My colleague’s boyfriend had arrived to pick her up from work. He tucked her cold hand into his pocket, and the smiles on their faces infected me. If Ethan and I weren’t fighting, we would probably be eating hot pot right now. He would fix my layered winter collar, holding my coat, watching me laugh quietly from the side. I admit it. I lost. I missed Ethan a little. No, I missed him terribly. But did he miss me? Or rather, did he still love me? I was always confident yet insecure. Was a girl like me worth loving? Thinking this, I couldn’t wait any longer and sent the message. “Do you still want to make this work?” He replied quickly. “Yes.” I almost cried. As expected, no matter how bad things got, Ethan never gave up on the relationship. “Then why the silent treatment?” “I don’t know.” I put down my awkward ego and asked him. “Can we meet and talk?” He replied, “You don’t have cramps today, do you?” … “Your place or mine?” The implication of that sentence was obvious, but I played dumb. “Is there a difference?” He said, “There are people at my place.” If I had a backbone, I would have called him, cursed him out, and blocked him. But I couldn’t. I typed out words that bordered on fawning, almost like I was a masochist. I wanted to know just how far Ethan would go. I handed him the knife that hurt me, perversely expecting him to stab me with it. Because the deeper the wound, the firmer my resolve to leave would be. I wasn’t afraid of heart-wrenching pain; I was only afraid of him mixing true love with fake intentions to torture me, making me hesitate. “Okay, my place. What time?” He waited a while before replying. “No rush. I’ll come after I drop her off.” Who is she? I didn’t ask. I checked the message, didn’t wait for him, didn’t eat, didn’t wash up. I turned off my phone, lay in bed, and fell asleep. Turns out, expressing sadness takes energy. And right now, I really didn’t have the heart to think. In my drowsy state, I felt cold lips kissing my face. I opened my eyes. It was Ethan. He skillfully slipped under my covers. Still unsatisfied, he prepared to kiss further down. I quickly dodged, extending my leg and using all my strength to push him away. But the strength difference between men and women is real. He grabbed my leg and pulled me under him. His lips murmured against my ear. “So eager to be eaten?” My face flushed with anger, but I couldn’t stop his hands. In desperation, I said loudly: “I’m on my period.” He froze. His brows furrowed, and he clicked his tongue. “Then why did you call me over?” “Boring.” My heart went cold. Did he really only come to me to satisfy his physical desires? I really was a fool. Seeing me silent, he chuckled. “Look at you, getting all mad. You little brat, who told you not to reply to my messages for two weeks?” “Was my acting like a scumbag convincing just now?” As he spoke, he poked my cheek with his finger. “Giving you a taste of your own medicine. That’s for pissing me off.” Hearing this, all my grievances, sadness, and anger mixed together. After suppressing it for so long, I finally cried out loud. He gently wiped away my tears. “Princess, why don’t you just bite me? Don’t cry. My heart hurts when you cry.” I was amused by his exaggerated expressions and asked: “Who did you go to drop off just now?” He looked arrogant. “Guess.” “I’m not guessing. Just tell me.” “How about this? I’ll tell you, and you let me game all night.” My face darkened. “Tell me or don’t.” He seemed unhappy. “I came all this way to comfort you, not to look at your angry face.” “I knew as soon as we made up, you’d restrict me from gaming with the boys again. Can’t I have some personal space?” I was dizzy with anger and threw a pillow at him. “Then don’t come to comfort me! I knew we wouldn’t get two sentences in before you’d want to play games and disappear.” “You say I piss you off? Ethan, I bet you wish we were in a cold war every day so no one would control you.” He walked to the door and started putting on his shoes. “If I wanted a cold war every day, why wouldn’t I just break up?” I laughed, my voice trembling with agitation. “Fine! You finally said it. You just want to break up.” He opened the door, his face indifferent. “You’re being irrational. Think whatever you want.” Bang! The door closed. The room was silent. Only the sound of my sobbing remained. 4 We fell into a cold war again. The next day, I applied for a business trip to another city. The weather in the South was humid and muggy. As soon as I got off the plane, I felt the moisture in the air. In the past, I would have been impatient to share my mood with Ethan. But not now. For the whole month of the trip, I didn’t want to say a word to him. On sleepless nights, I wondered: when did things change between us? In the beginning, we got together because of vanity. He was handsome. At a party, I lost a game and casually said I liked him. Why him? Because half the school liked him, so no one would believe it even if I said it. Everyone teased that I wasn’t sincere and demanded a serious answer. Unexpectedly, Ethan, who had been nestled in the sofa playing board games all night, suddenly sat up, looked at me seriously, and asked: “What do you like about me?” My face turned red, my head hot. “I like that… I like… that everyone likes you.” He lowered his head and smiled faintly. Maybe he was in a good mood that day, but he took out his phone and asked me: “You want to scan my QR code?” Seeing me stunned and silent, he asked, “Weren’t you going to pursue me?” Later, we somehow ended up together. Honestly, I didn’t take it seriously at first. Someone as good-looking and popular as him, who was rumored to change girlfriends frequently, probably wouldn’t take relationships seriously. My roommate hinted that he wasn’t someone I could handle and advised me not to overthink it. But privately, she stalked his socials, added Ethan on WeChat, and confessed to him. “Ethan, I like you.” My roommate was a beauty. She and Ethan were both regulars on the campus “Confessions” page. Even if they hadn’t interacted, they knew of each other. Someone asked Ethan why he got together with me. He said, “She’s easy on the eyes.” He didn’t say “like,” so everyone was convinced he was just with me for the novelty, a spur-of-the-moment thing. After all, getting together after meeting once? What feelings could there be? Love at first sight is fake. So my roommate felt confident in her confession. But Ethan just showed me his phone, typed a slow “?”, blocked her, and warned me: “Stay away from her in the future.” I nodded. “Oh.” I felt he was different from the rumors. Although he didn’t say he loved me, he was thoughtful and serious with me. Gradually, my emotions became tied to him. In my free time, I was either texting him or waiting for his reply. Sometimes, even while showering, I would check my phone to see if he had replied. But the better he treated me, the more I wanted, and the more insecure I felt. This life of being held hostage by emotions was exhausting. I hated being like this, but I was afraid that if we separated, I would never find anyone who treated me as well as Ethan. But now, amazingly, my mind wasn’t on any of that. It was truly miraculous; even I was surprised. On the day of my return, as soon as I turned off airplane mode, I saw dozens of messages flashing. All from Ethan. The first few messages he sent had been unsent. An hour later, he sent a few more. “It’s been a week… you haven’t even posted a Story.” “Are you on a business trip?” “Usually when you travel, you send me dozens of messages a day.” … I scrolled through the screen. He sent another message, but quickly unsent it. However, I caught it this time. “Thinking about it now, I don’t think I’ve replied to your messages seriously for a long time.” Surprisingly, he had learned self-reflection. In the past, when I sent him long paragraphs, he never felt he was the problem. Seeing this message, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t moved. Undeniably, I get happy because of the other person’s guilt and affection. I couldn’t help but reply with a simple “Mm.” Inside, conflicting emotions swirled, but unlike before, there was no resentment—mostly a sense of vengeful pleasure. Ethan sent me a barrage of messages. I clutched my racing heart, trying to calm down in the taxi, deciding to read them when I got home. As soon as I arrived downstairs, I saw the familiar Range Rover. He was leaning against the car door. Since it was early winter, he wore a navy blue coat over a camel turtleneck. His style was always good. Having not seen him for a month, he seemed to have lost a lot of weight, looking sharper and colder. As I got closer, I saw a cigarette between his fingers, the ember glowing in the twilight. Hearing me approach, he hurriedly stubbed out the cigarette and walked over. The faint smell of tobacco on him made me frown. In the past, we fought a lot about his smoking. Maybe because of my dad, I strongly resisted a partner who smoked. So when Ethan picked up the habit after graduation, I opposed it vehemently. I don’t know where I got such intense desire for control over this matter. We argued countless times. Often, while we were cuddling and watching a movie, the atmosphere sweet, I would catch a whiff of smoke on his clothes and check his pockets. The mood would snap, followed by his complaints about not being trusted, or his anger from embarrassment at being caught. At first, he would agree verbally but smoke secretly. Later, he just laid his cards on the table. “Stop controlling me. As long as I don’t smoke in front of you, isn’t that enough?” I thought about finding a non-smoking partner, but the truth is, the love a boy gives during the honeymoon phase always gives girls the illusion that they can change him. Thinking back, I was such an idiot.

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A rumor spread through our senior class that I was dating the school’s golden boy, Ethan Caldwell. After denying it countless times to no avail, I finally snapped at the classmates spreading the gossip: “Stop talking nonsense! I hate him, okay?” From that day on, Ethan never spoke to me again. Years later, he became the new king of Silicon Valley, a tech mogul with the world at his feet. My family, on the other hand, was drowning in debt, teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Yet, in our darkest hour, Ethan showed up at my door. He said he could save us. I asked him what his terms were. He refused to answer. He only said one thing: “Marry me.” After the wedding, we lived like strangers under the same roof, sleeping in separate rooms. Our relationship hit rock bottom. I always assumed Ethan didn’t like me. Until that car accident. A split second before impact, he yanked the steering wheel, throwing his body over mine to shield me. Choking on blood, he whispered into my ear, his voice trembling: “Please… Sarah… don’t hate me so much, okay?” 1 Ethan died. He died in the fourth year of our marriage. He died in that sudden, violent car crash. When the truck lost control, Ethan desperately turned the wheel to the left, using the driver’s side—his side—to take the brunt of the impact. That was the only reason I survived. A second before the collision, Ethan covered my eyes. “Sarah, please… “Please don’t hate me so much, okay?” I didn’t even get the chance to answer. My vision was washed in red, and the violent force knocked me unconscious. That memory has replayed in my dreams countless times since. I never imagined that a throwaway line I used to shut up some gossiping high schoolers would reach his ears—and that he would believe it for so many years. I wanted to tell Ethan personally: I don’t hate you. I never hated you. But I’ll never get the chance. He appears in my dreams over and over. And over and over, he dies in them. It’s a torture called regret, and it’s driving me insane. 2 After I was discharged from the hospital, his lawyer came to see me. That’s when I learned Ethan had made a will right after we got married. Billions of dollars in assets. All of it left to me. I laughed at his stupidity. It was just a business marriage. How could he be so reckless? What if I had been a villain plotting to take his money? What then? That idiot. He never left a way out for himself. Ethan’s parents died when he was young. He was raised by a pack of vultures—relatives who treated him like a burden, begrudging him every bite of food. But once he made it big, they swarmed him, playing the “family” card every other day. Now, at his funeral, they were all crying their eyes out. But not a single tear was shed for Ethan. They were crying for the money, putting on a show, hoping to claw a piece of his massive estate for themselves. I sat quietly, staring at the black casket in the center of the hall, numb. I couldn’t cry anymore. Rumors had long circulated in our social circle that Ethan and I had a cold marriage, that we lived separate lives. Seeing my composure now, the guests whispered amongst themselves. They called me heartless. Said I couldn’t even pretend to be sad. Ethan’s photo hung above the casket. In the picture, his eyes were gentle, a soft smile on his lips. Ethan didn’t smile often. It seemed like nothing in this world ever truly made him happy. The last time I saw him smile like that was recently, on our wedding anniversary. I had insisted we drink. After a few rounds, my face was flushed. I leaned into his embrace, tilting my head to brush my lips against his chin. I wasn’t actually drunk. I was acting. I needed the alcohol as an excuse to break down the walls between us, to test him in the most direct way possible. Ethan was tipsy too, his steps unsteady. When I kissed him, he turned red from his ears down to his neck. But on the surface, he pretended to be calm. “Sarah, you’ve had too much. Let me take you to your room…” I took the opportunity to act out, wrapping around him like an octopus. Hot skin against hot skin. We were so close I could feel his breath. No one could resist that kind of tension. That night, a storm raged outside. Inside, we were just as chaotic. Our first time happened four years into our marriage. I never expected a drunk Ethan to be like that. Borderline obsessed. His large hands held me tight, imprisoning me in his arms as if I would vanish the moment he let go. “Sarah… Sarah…” “Don’t leave me…” “Don’t reject me…” He kept saying my name. Hot tears fell onto my shoulder. I bit my lip, unable to speak, responding only with a flurry of kisses. But after that night, we both acted like we had amnesia. Neither of us had the courage to bring it up. The madness was swept under the rug as a drunken accident. Until a few days ago, when I found out I was pregnant. I planned to tell him on my birthday. But Ethan called me first, saying he wanted to take me out to celebrate. “Ethan, I have something important to tell you.” In the car, I couldn’t hold it back anymore. For so long, we had tiptoed around each other, both knowing but pretending not to, neither daring to cross the chasm between us. I thought this baby would be the turning point. “What is it?” Before I could speak, an out-of-control truck screamed out from the intersection. In mere seconds, I lost Ethan. And I lost our child. I live in agony and regret every single moment. They are gone. Why do I deserve to live? 3 I moved out of our marital home and into a small apartment I owned. Partly because Ethan’s vulture relatives kept showing up, demanding money. I was too exhausted to deal with them, so I handed everything over to the lawyers. Partly because the villa was filled with Ethan. His slippers, his towel, the unfinished bottle of wine, his favorite magnolia tree in the garden… The omnipresent grief was suffocating me. The day after I moved out, Wyatt Sterling showed up at my door. I knew my parents had given him the address. Ever since my family’s company survived the crisis and started thriving again, Wyatt had been buzzing around me. He knew how to suck up to my parents. He’d bring rare wines and antique paintings, charming them until they declared that not having him as a son-in-law was their life’s greatest regret. Whenever Ethan and I visited my parents, Wyatt was usually there. Emboldened by my parents, Wyatt would dare to use his own chopsticks to serve me food at the dinner table. And Ethan would sit right next to me. Lips pressed into a tight line, silent. I often regretted not considering Ethan’s feelings back then. Watching another man openly court his wife, with his in-laws cheering it on. How much must that have hurt him? Ethan was busy, constantly flying around the world for work. For the first two years, we were basically separated. Later, I tried to find opportunities to talk to him. To clarify things about Wyatt. But Ethan always dodged me. Whenever I tried to schedule a talk, he suddenly had a business trip. In the end, we never broke the ice. Now, Wyatt stood at my door. He brought pastries from my favorite bakery. Cheap flattery. “Sarah, just look at me, please? “I really love you! I’ve loved you for years!” Listen to him. So sincere. Shortly after I was discharged, my parents urged me to remarry. “It’s a good thing you didn’t have feelings for Ethan. Now that he’s gone, you won’t be stuck in grief. “We can see Wyatt genuinely likes you. Don’t hang yourself on one tree.” Hilarious. Years ago, when the Tanner family was facing bankruptcy, my parents wanted me to marry into money to save them. They even suggested I become a mistress to some old tycoon. When people are desperate, family affection means nothing. I was just a bargaining chip for their comeback. Where was Wyatt then? He was watching from the sidelines, dodging me. He was terrified I’d use our old classmate connection to drag him down with us. The only one who extended a hand was Ethan. I admit, when we first married, I felt nothing for Ethan. We were old classmates, sure, but we hadn’t spoken in years. His proposal felt like a transaction. He saves my family. I become his trophy wife, managing his household and social calendar. Mutual benefit. Naturally, not worth any emotional investment. But time reveals all truths. Ethan never calculated or schemed with me. He gave me access to his company’s most confidential files without a second thought. Total trust. Once you’ve seen the ocean, every other water is just a puddle. How could I ever look at Wyatt’s calculated, conditional “love” and want it? 4 I refused Wyatt. My parents came over to scold me for being stupid, asking why I was wasting my youth on a dead man. In their anger, they started insulting Ethan. Called him bad luck, said even dead he was ruining my life. The emotions I had suppressed for so long finally exploded. I smashed everything in the apartment. Then I grabbed a kitchen knife. I warned them: anyone who dared speak ill of Ethan again, I would take them down with me. Hair messy, screaming. Like a madwoman. In front of Ethan, I had always been gentle and rational. That was the version of me he liked. If he saw me like this… ugly and broken… He would despise me, wouldn’t he? My parents were terrified. They cried and asked: “Is this necessary? “You said you had no feelings for the Caldwell boy. Are you going to disown your own parents to defend him?” They seemed to have forgotten how Ethan damaged his own company’s vitality to save ours. Forgotten that without Ethan shielding me, I would be dead. A few days ago, when Ethan’s relatives caused a scene at his company, they showed the same ugly faces. Screaming that Ethan had no conscience, giving money to an outsider while starving his own blood, smearing his name all over social media. They also forgot how much Ethan had helped them, ignoring their past cruelty, once he became successful. Ethan, do you see this? When the tea goes cold, the people leave. There is no conscience in this world. You really had a hard life.

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The night Nathan Reynolds slit his wrists, I swore to myself that I would help him get back on his feet. For two years, I took every dirty, exhausting job I could find. But the very night I finally paid off his debts, I accidentally saw his text history with his best friend. Friend: [Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out the debt was paid off ages ago and cause a scene?] Nathan: [Not afraid. Sarah Miller passed my test. I plan to propose to her. Seeing how much she loves me, I can’t give her much, but I can give her a marriage certificate.] Friend: [Then do you need me to get the card ending in 7785 back? You’re getting married, it wouldn’t be right to keep sending money to sister Bella every month.] I turned to look at my haggard face in the mirror and smiled. Nathan Reynolds, from today on, I’ve decided not to love you anymore. 1 When I saw the chat history between Nathan and his best friend, Liam, it felt like all the blood in my body rushed backward from my feet to my head. Tonight, we had just celebrated paying off all his debts. Nathan opened two bottles of red wine and got drunk. Right now, he was lying in my arms, looking harmless, asking for kisses. A storm of emotions churned in my chest, finally settling into a cold sneer. The card ending in 7785. I knew that number by heart. Every payday, I transferred almost my entire paycheck onto that card, saving up to pay Nathan’s “debt.” I knew Bella, too. She was the beauty of our department back in college. Gorgeous, flamboyant. She and Nathan had an on-and-off entanglement for three years. But after failing her art exam, she chose to study abroad. A while ago, I saw her social media account. Bright and beautiful. In her mirror selfies, she was covered in luxury brands. Back then, I smiled and showed her profile to Nathan. “Bella’s a big influencer now. Do you regret not choosing her? If you had, you wouldn’t have to work so hard to pay off debt.” Nathan looked disdainful. “No regrets. I still prefer someone like you who knows how to live a simple life.” At that time, I didn’t know that half of Bella’s outfit was probably bought with my hard-earned money. No wonder my grandmother used to tell me, “Sarah, your hands are too thin. No fortune.” The year Nathan and I got together, his family’s business failed, and I heard they owed a lot of money. But how much exactly, I still didn’t know. I only knew that Nathan, then a junior in college, was implicated and had to drop out and return to our small town. Since high school graduation, his family had moved to the big city, and their old small villa had long gathered dust. Nathan returned alone, locking himself in the house all day. That day, as usual, I peeked through their window, only to find him lying in the bathroom, crimson blood filling the entire bathtub. I carried him on my back, running through the entire town, and finally saved him. But he cried and asked me why I saved him. I hugged him, and we wailed together. “It’s just money! I’ll help you earn it back!” He sighed, his gaze suddenly softening. “Silly, you only have a high school diploma. What money can you earn?” Despite that, I still accompanied him to the big city to look for opportunities. Because I had no degree and no skills, I could only do manual labor to survive. Delivering food, making milk tea, even fighting with aunties for cleaning jobs. During the most desperate times, I worked as an hourly housekeeper in the morning, then made milk tea, and delivered food at night after getting off work. When payday came the next month, I excitedly showed him my bank balance. A full two thousand dollars. His eyes red, he touched my head, held my bony hands, and choked with guilt, “Our Sarah is amazing.” But I didn’t feel it was hard. For me, as long as I could be with Nathan, no hardship was too much. People often say love is constantly feeling indebted. Back then, seeing the once high-spirited boy from school now huddled in a cramped rental apartment, I wished I could split myself into ten people to lighten his burden. Thinking of every moment from the past two years, I kept my eyes open until dawn. Nathan woke up groggy, rubbed his eyes, and hugged me tight. “Why haven’t you gone to work today?” I fought back the sourness in my eyes and rubbed them. “I quit.” Four thousand a month, shaking milk tea for ten hours a day. My tendonitis had flared up long ago. I had to put smelly patches on my hands almost every day. He froze, then stroked my head dotingly. “Mm, thanks to you, I could pay off the debt in such a short time.” “After we get married, you just stay home and be beautiful. I’ll earn money to support the family.” The words I had longed for for two years finally arrived, but suddenly, I didn’t care anymore. 2 I walked aimlessly on the street. The owner of the pork rice bowl shop I frequented spotted me. “Hey, eating here today?” I forced a smile. “Sure.” She raised an eyebrow. “We have a new dish today. On the house for you to try.” “The usual? Two orders, one with no pork, one with double pork to go?” That was how we always ate. Nathan had a big appetite and was never full. I secretly asked the owner to add my share of meat to his. Actually, he didn’t know that I had a big appetite too. But to save money to help him pay his debt, I often skipped meals, giving myself gastritis. Now, eating a few extra bites hurt. I shook my head. “No, just one today. I’ll break my rule and see if this pork is any good.” In two years, I hadn’t saved a penny and ended up with a body full of injuries. My life was even worse than when I was in the small town. If Mom, Dad, and Grandma saw this from heaven, they would be so heartbroken. After finishing the bowl, I received a phone call. “Sarah, didn’t you ask me about confinement nanny training before?” “The agency has a spot open now. Free training upfront, and after you get hired, they’ll deduct 5% from your monthly salary as tuition. I thought you’d be interested.” My body trembled slightly. I stood up quickly and excitedly said into the phone, “Sis, I’ll go! I’m willing to go!” When I returned to the rental, Nathan had already set up the proposal scene. His good friend Liam was helping too. My sudden return caught them off guard. Nathan hurriedly hid the flowers and balloons behind his back, looking awkward. “Sarah, why are you back so suddenly?” Liam simply started jeering, “Sarah saw everything. Just propose already.” He kicked Nathan, and Nathan knelt before me. “Sarah, um.” He stammered, “I rehearsed this scene countless times in my head, but now that it’s today, I’m really nervous.” “I want to tell you, I want to marry you. Will you marry me?” He took a ring out of his pocket, knelt on one knee, and looked at me with burning eyes. Seeing this, my eyes reddened. Yes, I had fantasized about this scene so many times. But now, I didn’t know how to face it all. Liam clapped and cheered from the side, “Marry him, marry him…” Nathan looked at me tearfully, “With a virtuous wife supporting my ambitions, I wouldn’t trade her for ten thousand ounces of gold.” “Sarah, after we marry, I won’t let you suffer a bit.” After he finished, I wiped my tears, walked past Nathan, and started packing my luggage. The job agent said that to ensure training quality, it was a closed camp. I actually felt happy about that. Closed meant room and board included, no extra expenses. Watching me put things into the suitcase, Nathan was confused. “Sarah, what are you doing?” I took a deep breath, smiled, and brushed his hand away. “Since the debt is paid, my debt of gratitude is paid too. From now on, let’s break up.” Because I was an orphan, I was bullied a lot in school. The worst time, they cornered me in an alley, calling me a jinx, threatening to strip me and film it to sell for money. It was Nathan who accidentally stumbled upon it and saved me, fighting three guys like a madman, ending up with a bloody face, warning them never to touch me again. Thanks to him, no one spat gum in my hair before graduation, and no one put dead animals in my desk drawer. Although I was used to it, his appearance made me temporarily give up the idea of finding my parents. Even if he had long forgotten that random act of kindness, every day I lived, I was grateful to him. Later, gratitude turned into love. That was why I willingly followed him when he had nothing. At this point, I didn’t want to pursue anything further. These two years paid off the debt of the past. Nathan tilted his head. “What do you mean? I don’t understand.” My teeth bit my lip hard, trying desperately not to make a sound. “I mean, break up.” 3 Panic was visibly written all over his face. “Sarah, did I do something wrong?” “You’re joking, right? This kind of joke isn’t funny at all.” Liam chimed in, “Yeah, Sarah, if Nathan did something wrong, tell me. I’ll teach him a lesson for you. No need to break up.” I shook my head, feigning ease, and signaled him to look at his phone. “Last night, I accidentally saw your chat history with Liam.” Nathan’s breath hitched. Liam immediately tried to explain for him, “Sarah, you misunderstood, it’s not…” Nathan struggled for a long time, not knowing how to explain. Finally, he only said, “But I really love you.” I smiled and nodded. “Mm.” Love is paying off the debt long ago and not telling me. Love is using my blood and sweat money to support his white moonlight. He panicked and grabbed my hand, trying to force the ring on my finger. “I know what I did was a bit excessive, but I only resorted to this because I’m sincere about this relationship.” “I just wanted to see how long you could last. I was scared you were just acting on a whim.” “My dad and mom were like that. After our family went into debt, my mom couldn’t take it and ran away. My dad, facing setback after setback, killed himself.” “I was so afraid that after I became dependent on you, you would be like my mom, unable to endure hardship and leave me.” “So for two years, you just watched me brave the wind and rain every day, living like a ghost?” He knew perfectly well how much I suffered to help him pay off the debt. Nathan’s face was pale. “But isn’t everything getting better now? Your efforts have paid off.” “The year before last, I made a million from stocks and investments. I know you sacrificed a lot for me. The days ahead will be sweet.” A lump formed in my throat. I asked him one last question, “What about Bella?” Nathan suddenly stammered. “Something happened to her family too. Bella is a girl alone abroad, cut off financially. If I didn’t help her, she really had no way out.” “You… you know too, she’s a spoiled princess who can’t carry anything heavy. She can’t be like you.” I clenched my fists, nails digging into my flesh. Yes, Bella is a beloved princess who can’t suffer. I’m a wild child with no parents, so I deserve to suffer. But Nathan didn’t know that when my parents were alive, I was the apple of their eye too. Looking at the guilty Nathan in front of me, he seemed so strange, as if I hadn’t truly seen him in two years. I wiped my tears, ignored the pleas behind me, and dragged my luggage out of the rental. From now on, I will live for myself. After entering the training camp, I voluntarily handed over my phone and devoted myself to the training. In just one month, I graduated as an outstanding student and received my certificate. The day I came out, I stood in the sun, feeling emotional about finally welcoming a new life. The supervisor handed me my phone with a serious face. “Your phone kept ringing. No saved names, all different numbers.” “Sarah, tell me honestly, did you secretly take out online loans and not pay them back, and now debt collectors are after you?” Confused, I took the phone, charged it, and turned it on. Countless messages flooded in. Bank balance notifications made up half of them. At first, it was transfers of a few hundred, then a few thousand, then tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands. The final number stopped at one hundred thousand dollars. Unknown numbers also sent many messages. The latest one was: [Have you calmed down enough? Please talk to me.] 4 It was Nathan’s tone. I remembered then that as soon as I left the rental, I deleted and blocked all his contact info. He just thought I was throwing a little tantrum. Although Grandma said I had no fortune, she also said I was like a cockroach that wouldn’t die—falling down and getting back up again. This was one of my few strengths. I was optimistic, optimistic to the point of absurdity. During the month in the training camp, I had already calmly let go. So this time, I didn’t choose to continue blocking him. Instead, I patiently replied to him. [I’ve really decided to let go. I wish you and Bella happiness.] He replied again, [I don’t believe it. You obviously loved me so much.] [Trust me, except for giving Bella living expenses, nothing else happened.] I answered his call. Nathan was anxious. The moment I picked up, he desperately explained. “Trust me, there’s really nothing between her and me.” “I’ve known Bella for so many years. Even if the romance is gone, I can’t just watch her starve and freeze abroad.” “What about me, Nathan? Did you have the heart to watch me starve and freeze?” Hearing this, I understood completely. That youthful friendship made Bella the eternal white moonlight in his heart. In his heart, there was no comparison between Bella and me. “I found a new job. I’ll probably be very busy from now on. I’m not planning to use this SIM card anymore.” “I received the money you sent. I’ll calculate what I earned over the past two years, and transfer the rest back to the card.” Silence on the other end for a long time. It wasn’t until I said I was hanging up. Nathan, who always had a good temper, breathed heavily, faintly angry. “Yes! I made a mistake, but I apologized, and I transferred double the money for the past two years to you. Do you have to be so petty and refuse to forgive me?” “Old sayings go that couples need to tolerate each other to live a good life. If you’re like this, I really have to reconsider marrying you.” “Well then, thank you for letting me go.” I sneered, then hung up, took out the SIM card, and threw it into the sewer by my feet. I followed the address given by the company to the client’s house. But I didn’t expect the world to be so small. The person I was to care for turned out to be Bella. She opened the door with a big belly and a smile. “Are you the new confinement nanny? You’re so young, probably about my age, right? Can I call you by your name from now on?” That smile seemed capable of melting hearts. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, the fact was, Bella was the kind of girl who was instantly likable. Looking at her smooth skin and graceful figure, a hint of jealousy stained my heart. Why? Why could she live so happily? My skin, dark from delivering food, and my scrawny figure formed a stark contrast in front of her. Thinking of this, a wave of hatred spread in my heart. I couldn’t help but mock internally. Such a beautiful girl, yet she willingly became a mistress and got pregnant. Just as I turned to leave. Bella grabbed my arm. “Thank goodness you came. Otherwise, I’m about to give birth, and I wouldn’t know what to do alone at home.” “I’ve set up your room. Come in and see if you like it.” She supported her belly with one hand and took my luggage directly with the other. Looking at her belly, she was probably seven or eight months along. Just as I hesitated, she held up three fingers. “Three thousand. I’ll give you three thousand a month.” Hearing the number, I agreed as if possessed. The salary she offered was double the market rate plus bonuses. I told myself internally. This money was mine anyway. Why not take it? So I deliberately asked her, “Where is your husband? You’re so far along, living alone?” A trace of sadness flashed across Bella’s face. She forced a smile. “My relationship with him is… special.” Hearing this, scanning the luxurious interior of the house, I understood completely. Bella knew she was the other woman and happily maintained an illicit relationship with Nathan, even having his child. But before I could tear into her, I noticed Bella’s legs trembling. She covered her mouth and gasped, then water flowed down her legs. Subsequently, her face turned pale with pain.

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During a variety show livestream, I was frantically gesturing to the award-winning actor, Ethan Vance, trying to get him to guess a phrase. “Okay, imagine we’re dating. If I just randomly slap you for no reason, what do you call that?” Ethan tilted his head, his tone utterly confident. “A reward.” I gritted my teeth. “Four words!” “Thank you, my queen? Do the left side too? Harder, please?” The host: … Me: Heh. Comments: [Stop giving him scenarios! You’re just fueling his fantasies!] 1 It was a live variety show. The phrase to guess was “Unreasonable behavior.” I was flailing my arms, trying to describe it to Ethan Vance. “Imagine we’re dating. If I just randomly slap you for no reason, what do you call that?” He tilted his head, completely serious. “A reward.” I gritted my teeth. “Four words!” “Thank you, my queen? Do the left side too? Harder, please?” “It’s an idiom! Four words!” Ethan looked straight at me and, without blinking, rattled off a string of ridiculous answers. “Consensual love? Soulmates forever? Happily ever after? Perfect match? Sleeping together?” The host and other guests: … Me: Wow. Dude, are you practicing your wedding vows or something?! Feeling defeated, I waved at the staff. “Pass! Pass! Next one.” The next phrase—”Ex-partner.” My vision went dark for a second, but I braced myself and spoke. “Okay, same scenario as before. If we broke up, what would I be to you? Two words.” Ethan thought for a moment, then lifted his chin slightly. “Mistress.” ? “Lover.” ?? “Simp.” ???! The studio went silent. The other guests looked like they were about to explode from holding back laughter. The live comments were going wild. [Zoey, stop with the scenarios! You’re just making him happy!] [Wait, who programmed Ethan like this?!] [I suspect for the last question, he was definitely thinking “Thank you, Master!” because my boyfriend has the same vibe.] [Hehe, sounds spicy.] [Ethan: Doesn’t matter what you say, I’m hearing what I want to hear!] [Did anyone else think Ethan’s tone when he said “sleeping together” was kinda… sus? Ahhh!] [Zoey’s fans, back off. Just because Ethan won an award doesn’t mean you can ride his coattails. Know your place.] [Is the commenter above okay? It’s just a show, why so toxic?] [If you don’t like it, leave!] 2 I took a deep breath, trying to control my face from twitching. He wasn’t stupid; he was doing this on purpose! Ethan leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed. Seeing my frustration, the corner of his lip curled up almost imperceptibly. Ugh, psycho! … Backstage, I walked silently toward the dressing room. Because we lost the game, I had gotten blasted in the face with whipped cream. I had wiped it off with a towel, but my skin still felt sticky and gross. The dressing room lights were off. I reached for the switch out of habit. Clack. The door shut behind me without warning. The next second, a firm grip landed on my wrist and lower back. I was pinned against the back of the door, my spine hitting the cold wood. But the palm pressing against my lower back was scorching hot, turning my cold sweat into a humid heat. My scalp tingled, and my breathing quickened. A woody scent enveloped me, with a sharp, aggressive undertone of something bitter. He leaned in and licked a spot of dried cream off my cheek. He gave his honest review. “Pretty sweet.” Pervert! Ahhh! I couldn’t break free, so I resorted to sarcasm. “Didn’t know Mr. Vance was so devoted, pestering his ex-girlfriend like this.” In the dim light, I couldn’t see Ethan’s eyes clearly. I only heard him chuckle. “I remember the reason you dumped me was: ‘You have multiple personalities, and the one that liked me got eaten by the others.’” “But unfortunately, recently, I’ve fallen for your main personality again.” Just as he finished speaking, urgent knocking exploded on the door behind me. “Hey, you two! Your mics! The mics aren’t off!!!” 3 ???! What?! I looked down sharply and saw the microphone pack clipped to my back blinking faintly. My heart rate, which hadn’t even settled, skyrocketed past the limit. My brain went blank, buzzing loudly. We’re doomed. The whole world knows Ethan and I have something going on now! Ahhh! I pressed my lips together tight, not daring to breathe. I was terrified any noise would be recorded. But Ethan leaned down wickedly, breathing right next to the lavalier mic on my collar, his tone innocent. “Babe, what do we do if they heard everything?” … On purpose. Absolutely on purpose! He pinned me here like a fish on a chopping block, and now he’s acting like the innocent victim?! After speaking, Ethan freed a hand, switched off the blinking indicator light, and called out to the door. “It’s off now.” Oh, so you drop the act for that sentence?! This guy switches faces fast! The noise outside faded away. The staff probably realized the atmosphere was weird and scattered. Wait, come in and save me, you cowards! Holding my breath, I shoved Ethan hard. Now he decided to play nice, stepping back with a half-smile. “What do you want?” “Just wanted a reasonable, logical reason for our breakup. That’s not too much to ask, right?” That simple?! I rolled my eyes, a mischievous idea bubbling up. “I’m getting married. Met him on a blind date.” “Are you satisfied with that reason?” Ethan’s lip twitched slightly. “Okay, understood. So, do you want to come over for dinner tonight? You can use me while you’re there.” ???! Use him? Sounds tempting~ Cough, cough, what am I thinking! “Do you not understand English?” “I said I’m getting married! We’re done!” Ethan’s expression didn’t change, his voice lazy and teasing. “You’re just marrying someone else. Does that stop me from simping for you?” “Like I said earlier, mistress, lover, simp—I’m fine with any of them.” “Or should I make dinner for three, and you can bring your damn fiancé along?” The more he spoke, the calmer he looked. Finally, he stood up straight and left me with one last sentence. “If you don’t come, I’ll come find you.” “But if the paparazzi snap us and make up some crazy rumors, don’t blame me.” Watching his back, a chill climbed up my spine. God, what kind of demon did I provoke?! 4 The first time I met Ethan was at the script reading for our new drama, Fleeting Life. He was dressed entirely in black, the only decoration a diamond stud in one ear. He looked intimidating. During the entire reading, he was cold and quiet. Even when he gave feedback, it was brief. I scrutinized him all day. Conclusion—heh, poser. With a personality this unlikeable, how does he have the nerve to compete with my idol, Julian West, for resources? And his fans praise him to the heavens. Saying things like “Intense beauty, perfect inside and out.” I say “Nonsense, blind and delusional!” After work that day, I managed to talk to Ethan. “Mr. Vance, I have a question. It might be a bit forward, so please don’t be mad.” Ethan stopped, nodded, signaling me to continue. I cleared my throat, trying to hide my anti-fan nature. “Do you have a girlfriend?” Seeing his surprise, I quickly added. “As the leads, we have a lot of scenes together.” “I’m asking in advance so I know the boundaries for our interactions.” Ethan said in a low voice, “No.” “What about a boyfriend? Are you sure you’re absolutely single?” I pressed on, smiling brightly while feeling incredibly shady inside. I didn’t believe the rumors were groundless. Nights spent with influencers~ Holding hands with male friends~ Selling himself for roles~ One of them has to be true! Once I dig it up, your days as a top star are numbered! Ethan narrowed his eyes, looking distant. “Ms. Hall, I don’t wish for any relationship outside of our work. I don’t do ‘on-set couples.’” “Don’t waste your time on me.” With that, he walked away without looking back. ???! He thinks I’m asking because I like him?! Ew, narcissist!

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The night before our wedding, Liam Sterling wrapped his arm around his childhood sweetheart and asked me for a one-night “hall pass.” He claimed that after tonight, he would be faithful to our marriage until death. I stared at him for a long time, then nodded in agreement. As he walked past me, he said generously: “You can go out and find a man tonight too. I promise I won’t mind.” “No need to go out,” I said quietly, walking over to his absolute best friend. I looked deeply into those beautiful eyes: “Sleep together tonight?” If he has a childhood sweetheart, don’t I have a first love? 1 The private VIP room was packed. His closest friends were there, along with my bridesmaids. After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was a little tipsy. Suddenly, Liam Sterling put his arm around Bella, the girl he grew up with. “See, Bella? Childhood friends really can’t beat the girl who falls from the sky.” “Didn’t I get snatched up by Maya here?” “I’m marrying someone else tomorrow. Do you… have any regrets?” Bella’s face instantly clouded with sorrow, looking like she might burst into tears at any second. “What’s the use of regrets?” “Who told you to fall in love with her later?” Liam stared at Bella’s tear-filled eyes, his expression full of tenderness. “How about we make up for those regrets tonight?” Bella looked up. “How?” Liam slowly turned his gaze toward me. “Wifey!” he shouted. “Tomorrow we’ll be husband and wife. I promise, I will be loyal to our marriage until death. I will never betray you.” “But tonight, the last night before the wedding… why don’t we do something wild? Let’s give each other one night of freedom. How about it?” Cheers and whistles erupted in the room. Then, seeing my freezing expression, dead silence fell. Liam’s intentions were blatant. He wanted to spend a wild night with the girl he had a flirtatious “situationship” with throughout his youth. To make up for the regret of loving but never sleeping together. He was certain I wouldn’t refuse him outright, and that as long as he coaxed me afterward, I wouldn’t hold it against him. His confidence was simple. Although he pursued me passionately, in terms of family background, I was marrying way up. He thought I was not only charmed by him but also attached to his wealthy family. After all, for a common girl like me with working-class parents, marrying into a wealthy family was incredibly difficult. Meeting him was supposedly my great fortune. He was right. I had experienced a wealthy heir falling for a common girl and his family making things difficult. But not with him. My bridesmaids tugged at my sleeve. “Maya, don’t be stupid. You can’t agree to this.” I looked at Liam for a long time, seeing the stubbornness and certainty in his eyes. Finally, I nodded, my voice calm. “Okay, I agree.” “Oooooh!” Laughter and applause erupted. The silent tension in the room vanished instantly. “Maya’s so generous! No wonder she can marry into the Sterling family!” “That explains why my brother Liam knelt in his dad’s study for three days and nights just to marry you!” “A woman entering a family like ours needs that kind of grace!” The slight tension at the corner of Liam’s mouth relaxed into a loose smile, and he pulled the obedient Bella tighter into his arms. He stood up, holding her. “Alright, it’s getting late. I have a wedding tomorrow, can’t party all night. Bella and I are heading out.” “Order whatever drinks you want, play however you like. Tonight’s tab is on me!” “Woohoo!~” “Our little Bella is going to suffer tonight~” More whistles and jeers filled the room. Walking past me, to show fairness, he looked down and said generously: “Wifey, if you want, you can go out and find a man tonight too. I promise I absolutely won’t mind.” He must be counting on my proud and conservative nature, knowing I wouldn’t actually do anything wild. I looked back at him. “Really?” He raised an eyebrow. “Of course. A gentleman’s word is his bond. You know I always keep my word.” “Just like I said I’d marry you, and I did.” His tone was proud, as if marrying me was a massive favor he bestowed upon me. So I should be sensible and generous about him and Bella tonight. I withdrew my gaze and looked toward the deep corner of the room, at the man who had been sitting with a frosty expression, silent all night. “No need to go out.” “What?” Ignoring Liam’s expression, I stood up and walked silently to the man’s feet. I squatted down, lowering my posture, emotions pouring from my eyes as I looked up to meet his gaze. I invited him carefully: “Sleep together tonight?” 2 The cold-faced man leaned back against the leather sofa, looking down at me. As if he might kick me away in disgust the next second. A laugh came from behind me. It was Liam. “Wifey, of all people, why him?” “He was hurt badly by his first love years ago and hates women! He hasn’t been near a woman in years.” Hates women… I tasted those words in my heart. Is that so? Emotions surged inside me. I stared unblinkingly at him. At this face that had haunted my dreams countless sleepless nights. Since meeting again, if not for the alcohol tonight, this was the first time I dared to meet his gaze directly. My fingernails dug into my palms. Actually, I wasn’t sure what attitude the current him would have toward me. Until the tip of a cold leather shoe lifted my chin. The man raised his chin even higher, his expression chilling a few degrees more. Making one tremble with fear, his voice, tinged with anger, asked me: “Are you sure?” I didn’t want to back down. Bravely, I pushed my chin further against his shoe. “I’m sure.” He suddenly stood up from the sofa. Everyone probably thought I had thoroughly pissed him off. That he would heartlessly throw me aside the next second. After all, rumor had it that a B-list celebrity tried to flirt with him at a gala recently. He thought she was in the way and shoved her directly into the pool. When she cried for help, he didn’t even give her a second glance and walked away. Even Liam was scared now, rushing in front of me to block him with open arms. “Bro, bro! She’s my wife, don’t hit her!” “She doesn’t know your temper. Please forgive her for offending you!” “Maya, get up now!” “Didn’t I tell you before? You absolutely cannot mess with this guy; he’s not interested in women.” “I know you’re not interested in men other than me, so stop trying to act tough in front of me. Go back and rest with your bridesmaids!” I don’t know which sentence Liam said wrong, but the man shoved him several steps away with one arm. His eyes hid daggers. “Who said I’m not interested in women?” At the same time, my vision blurred, and I was thrown over his shoulder. His deep voice, mixed with the resentment of settling old scores, reached my ear: “Maya, you came to me yourself.” Seeing us about to leave in front of everyone’s shock. Watching his best friend carry me away, Liam chased after us. “Ethan! What do you mean?” Yes, his name. Ethan. Cole. The man paused, turned his head slightly, his tone merciless. “Literal meaning.” Liam’s voice was clearly anxious now. “Are you serious? That’s my wife!” Calling me “Wifey” all night, are those two words grating on your ears now? Ethan looked back deeply at Liam, as if disdainful of wasting another word on him. He turned and carried me toward the door. Liam seemed truly panicked now, catching up and grabbing Ethan’s arm. “Ethan, we grew up wearing the same pants.” He looked at me on Ethan’s shoulder. “You don’t touch a friend’s wife, you know that, right?” Ethan had zero intention of putting me down. He shook off Liam’s hand and shoved him hard on the shoulder. Pushing him right onto Bella, who had also chased to the door. A perfect wall slam, they almost kissed. The man’s tone was chilly. “As long as you know.” “A rare night of pleasure. Worry about yourself!” 3 I was already dizzy from the alcohol. Now hanging upside down on Ethan’s back, I felt even dizzier. I wanted him to put me down, so I called out softly. “Ethan…” But I only got his cold words in return: “Don’t call me that. Are we close?” I swallowed the second half of my sentence. Just dizziness. I can endure it. Who told me to owe him? Not far away, Liam was still relentless, looking like he wanted to chase: “Ethan Cole! You dare! I won’t let this go!” But he was held back by other friends: “Liam, Liam! You know Ethan has been full of hostility since returning to the country. Don’t take him seriously!” “You quoted so low on that project near the South Sea. He didn’t say anything because of your friendship.” “He must hold a grudge. Tonight he’s probably just teasing you to annoy you. Maybe he’ll dump Maya as soon as he gets downstairs.” “He hasn’t had a woman in years, don’t you know? We joke about him privately, calling him what?” “The Black Monk! Scowls at everyone, avoids women like the plague! You started that nickname yourself.” “Relax! He only has that wild kitten of a first love who dumped him in his heart. He won’t touch Maya.” Liam didn’t chase, and Ethan and I walked far away. Just before entering the elevator, I heard my two beautiful bridesmaids mocking Liam. Sounding sarcastic: “Wow! Can’t handle the game?” “Give each other one night of freedom~” “A gentleman’s word is his bond~” “You can go find a man too~” “I absolutely won’t mind~” “Our Maya is single and free tonight~” In the VIP parking spot on the first floor, I was indeed dumped by Ethan. Dumped into the passenger seat of his private car. The black Pagani roared away into the dark night! In a villa with extraordinary style. I didn’t recognize it, never been here. As soon as we entered, he stripped off my coat, gripping the back of my neck hard. A kiss full of resentment and ferocity landed on my lips… It hurt. I pushed him. “Ethan…” But my waist was clamped tight, pressed against the wall, unable to move an inch. His tone was nasty: “Didn’t you want to sleep with me? What are you hiding from?” I couldn’t refute, so I could only beg: “Be gentle…” In an instant, I was thrown onto the bed. He didn’t want to be polite with me: “Can’t be gentle.” Clothes flew onto the floor one by one. He was fierce, without mercy. Until he discovered I was still pure. He suddenly froze. Only then did that handsome face, cold and ruthless all night, filled with resentment and anger, soften a little. “You…” “You haven’t slept with Liam?” Separated for years, how could I explain my current situation to him? I bit my teeth again and again, giving a perfunctory answer: “Didn’t have time yet…” A couple getting married tomorrow, yet haven’t slept together. In modern society, who would believe that? Who could do that? For me, of course, there was a reason. The reason is, strictly speaking, Liam and I never really dated. We skipped that stage and went straight to the end: marriage. Of course, this didn’t hinder his sincere desire to marry me, nor my sincere desire to get along with him and spend the rest of our lives together. But after tonight, everything was probably going to change. Ethan’s thick brows furrowed. He stared at me for a long time, surely finding it incredible. Liam and I hadn’t had a substantial relationship. But the facts were before him, and he had to believe that I really hadn’t been with another man. The ice in those beautiful eyes gradually melted, then bit by bit, dyed with a touch of red. Like the grievances and deep love suppressed for years were finally willing to show a tiny corner for me to see. Finally, helpless and defenseless, he held me in his arms. On the corner of my lip that he had ruthlessly bitten. He placed a kiss. He held me, turning over, pressing my head into his shoulder and neck. Intimate whispers. I heard his hot breath say: “Maya, I still love you.” After that sentence, his kisses were lingering, tender. Gentle. 4 Tears in the corners of my eyes, the chandelier on the ceiling swaying and blurring before me. Past midnight, my phone suddenly vibrated and rang incessantly. The melodic ringtone seemed annoying at this moment, disturbing the man’s focus. It was my phone… It was Liam… Who has time for him right now? I wanted to swipe it away, but accidentally, my unsteady finger hit the answer button. Liam’s voice, clearly unstable, came from the other side: “Wifey, why aren’t you home? Where did Ethan dump you?” “Let’s not play this stupid pre-wedding freedom game. I thought about it, it’s boring. And Bella is basically damaged goods, can’t compare to a single strand of your hair.” “Where are you? I’ll pick you up. I regret it so much, making that stupid suggestion in the VIP room…” Before I could speak, Ethan took the phone directly. His tone arrogant: “Regret? Too late!” “She can’t be picked up by you because she’s in my bed right now.” “What? Ethan Cole! Beep—” The phone was hung up and turned off by Ethan, thrown far away. Liam provoked the man, but I was the one suffering. He held me, moving from the head of the bed to the foot. He bit my ear: “Again.” Time passed minute by minute, second by second. I waited and waited, but couldn’t wait for a moment of pause. The night finally passed completely, and daylight brightened. Even the drawn curtains couldn’t block that bright brilliance. Today was the day of my wedding with Liam. At this time, I should be cleaning myself up and rushing home. Putting on my wedding dress, sitting in front of the vanity, letting the makeup artist paint a beautiful bridal look on me. Quietly and expectantly waiting for Liam to come pick me up with a long wedding convoy. Ethan, of course, knew this too. This man, who had plowed all night without fatigue, as the daylight gradually brightened, the hostility that had receded from him was returning bit by bit. He wouldn’t let me go. He wouldn’t stop. Begging didn’t work, pleading didn’t work, sweet talk didn’t work. He just used those beautiful reddened eyes to question me over and over: “Don’t marry him. Promise me. Promise me…” “Maya, don’t marry him. Promise me!…” I really wanted to promise, just begging him to stop for a moment, let me catch my breath. I couldn’t say a complete word right now… Receiving no answer for a long time, the man seemed desperate, suddenly collapsing heavily on me. Holding me tight, tight in his arms, his tone revealing traces of pleading: “Maya, don’t marry him, please…” So difficult. Finally given a gap to respond to him. “Okay.” My voice was completely hoarse. He immediately propped himself up, looking at me burningly: “You promised?” I nodded vigorously. If I didn’t promise, would you let me go hold a wedding with your best friend? Besides, seeing through a trash man like Liam, am I stupid? Still running to marry him? His Adam’s apple rolled and rolled, lips moving slightly, as if after much deliberation, he blurted out: “If I tell you now that I want you to be with me again…” “Are you willing?” My whole body was sore and numb; I really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I could only use my weak little fists to pound his chest: “Ethan, you slept with me all night, without even a minute of rest.” “And now you’re asking if I’m willing…” His brows suddenly relaxed: “So you are willing?” I could only nod vigorously again to answer him.

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Ethan knew that every time I died, I would come back to life. So, after that landslide, he didn’t hesitate to cut out my heart to save his first love. When he took my hollowed-out body from the doctor’s hands, he whispered, “You’ll be fine after a nap.” But he didn’t know—that was my last life. 1 Ethan carried my corpse into the basement of the Search and Rescue base. My internal organs had been harvested; I was nothing but an empty shell. My face, however, was still rosy, as if I were merely sleeping. He opened the cryonic preservation pod with practiced ease, his movements clean and efficient. When he placed me inside, his hands were steady. There wasn’t a shred of hesitation. “Just sleep for a while,” his voice was terrifyingly calm. “Didn’t you say it doesn’t matter if you die?” Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. I had prepared a table full of dishes and bought his favorite red wine. Seeing him come home on time for once, I was happy as a fool. He had just raised his glass when the phone rang. It was his lieutenant: “Captain, Bella ran into a landslide during the mountain patrol. She’s trapped…” His hand trembled. The glass shattered on the floor, dark red wine splashing onto my new dress like blood. “How bad is it?” His voice was already hoarse. “Critical. Internal organs…” He didn’t wait for the rest. He grabbed his jacket and rushed out. I grabbed his hand. “I’ll go too. I can help.” He looked back at me. His gaze was complex—not filled with concern, but with calculation. When we arrived, she had been pulled out, but her heart was severely damaged. She needed a transplant immediately. He looked at Bella, his unconscious first love lying on the stretcher, his fingers trembling. That tremor was a panic I had never seen in him before. Then, he looked at me. His eyes were bloodshot. “I’m sorry,” he said. Before I could process what he meant, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck. Before I lost consciousness, I saw him nod to the doctor. Turns out, they had prepared for this. When I was wheeled into the operating room, something strange happened. It felt like my soul floated out of my body. I hovered in mid-air, witnessing everything. I saw him standing right next to the operating table. When the doctor’s scalpel sliced open my chest, he watched expressionlessly. There was no ripple of emotion in his eyes, as if my body were nothing more than a tool to be used. “Her organs are in perfect condition, and the match is compatible,” the doctor’s voice sounded distant. “It’s enough to save Captain Bella.” I watched my own heart being taken out, placed in a cooler, and rushed to the adjacent operating room. He followed the cooler out, not sparing me a single backward glance. After he placed me in the cryo-pod, he sat nearby processing paperwork, occasionally glancing up at me. I floated in front of him, searching his eyes for a trace of guilt. But his gaze passed right through my soul, landing on his phone. A text from the doctor: The surgery was successful. She is recovering well. He smiled—a relieved, happy smile. He tossed my medical file aside and left the basement. On the open page of the file, it clearly read: “Organ Donor: Voluntary.” He didn’t even bother to invent a lie. He thought I would wake up soon anyway. But he didn’t know that this time, I would never wake up. Because the extra life I had—the one that allowed me to resurrect—had already been used up the last time I saved his teammate. 2 It’s true. I had the ability to resurrect. Three years ago, before I was pulled from the wreckage of a plane crash as the sole survivor, a voice in the darkness told me I had been granted three lives. The first life, I used on myself to survive that crash. Ethan was the rescue captain who came to the scene. He was tall, his dark blue uniform pressed and sharp. Standing before the wreckage, he was surrounded by a cold aura, like a general from a bygone era. I was curled up on the stretcher, shivering. He turned his profile toward me, his jawline tense and defined. When those dark eyes swept over me, it felt like he could see through my soul. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “You’re safe now.” His voice was deep and soothing, like warm water pouring into my heart. In that moment, I fell for him. The voice in the darkness had told me: If you maintain a marriage with your destined one for three years, you can stay in this world forever. Looking at this cold, handsome man, I decided to gamble. This was the first time twenty-eight-year-old Sarah truly wanted something with such determination. Ethan looked to be in his early thirties. Years of training gave him a lean, powerful build. He walked with a distinct rhythm, a habit from his military days. Every time I passed the rescue base, I could recognize his back instantly. I began to approach him as an ordinary woman. I delivered coffee to the base every day, brought late-night snacks for the team working overtime. I knew I looked desperate, like a sad puppy, but I didn’t care. They said Ethan never accepted gifts from women, but he took my coffee. He was always polite but distant. The team felt sorry for me, saying I was blind to reality. “Captain never gives any woman hope. Don’t waste your time.” But what I didn’t tell them was that every time I pretended to stumble, he was always the first to catch me. He would say “be careful,” but his hand would linger. Until one day, I heard him on the phone calling a woman “Bells,” his tone dripping with affection. It was his former lieutenant, Bella. Rumor had it they were childhood sweethearts. Bella was beautiful. Everyone said they were a match made in heaven. I should have backed off then. But I still had two lives left. I was young and headstrong, thinking I could surely last three years. If I had known my second life would be used to save his teammate, and my third life would be ended by his own hands, I would have run far away from the start. Unfortunately, love makes you blind. 3 Bella was Ethan’s partner back in the Special Forces. Everyone in the rescue team knew they used to be the best sniper and spotter duo. On the battlefield, a spotter and sniper need a connection so deep they can practically read each other’s minds to complete the mission. So after discharging, Ethan and Bella joined the rescue team together, moving with the sync of a single person. I once secretly looked through Ethan’s old photo albums. In the photos, Bella wore a uniform, her eyebrows raised in high spirits—a heroic elegance I, an ordinary woman, could never achieve. And Ethan stood beside her, looking down at her with such tenderness. Later, the team told me Ethan had chased Bella for five full years. From boot camp to special ops, from drills to actual combat, everyone thought they would end up together. But Bella rejected him in the end. “We aren’t right for each other. You deserve better.” She said this right before a mission. Ethan was the one loading her magazines. They remained the best partners, acting as if nothing happened. But in the dead of night, Ethan would go to the shooting range alone, firing until his fingers bled. Later, Bella applied for a transfer to a remote border rescue unit. The day she left, Ethan stood outside the airport, watching her back disappear through security. His fingers unconsciously rubbed a ring he never got the chance to give her. The team said that was the most broken they had ever seen him. I met Ethan six months after Bella left. He was like a pool of stagnant water then. Even his smiles were cold. But I didn’t care. I thought time would wash away the past. “He’s never had room in his eyes for anyone else. You think he’s gentle? That’s professional habit. Doesn’t matter if it’s you or a supermodel, he takes the flowers with a smile and throws them in the trash the moment he turns around.” An old team member told me this. They didn’t want to see me humiliate myself. But I didn’t believe it. I told myself the past is the past. Even if I was just a sequel to someone else’s story, I accepted it. Even the base nurse couldn’t stand it: “Sarah, why don’t you get it? The Captain visits the border every year to see Bella. They are separated by thousands of miles, but their bond is deeper than any day you spend next to him.” I really didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why Ethan agreed to date me, or why he married me. Thinking back now, perhaps from the day I used my second life to save his teammate, he had been planning this. 4 The rescue that changed everything happened in my second year knowing Ethan. Heavy rains caused a landslide, burying a village. Ethan led the charge, with his childhood friend and teammate, Mike, covering the rear. No one noticed the boulder teetering above. “Ethan!” Mike’s voice cut through the rain. The moment he shoved Ethan aside, the boulder crashed down. “NO!” Ethan tried to rush into the rubble like a madman, held back by three teammates. Back at the base courtyard, he knelt in the rain, shaking like a wounded beast. That was the first time I saw him lose control. The always calm and collected Ethan could be this desperate. Mike was his brother in everything but blood. They enlisted together, joined special ops together, and retired together. When Mike was pulled out, his heart had stopped. The doctor said even if he was revived, he needed a heart transplant, and the treatment would cost at least $800,000. “Please, you have to save him.” Ethan gripped the doctor’s hand, his voice raspy. “I’ll get the money. Whatever it takes.” But he had only recently retired; his savings went to his mortgage. The team pooled money, but it was barely a fraction. I watched him pace the hospital corridor, eyes red, looking like he hadn’t slept in days. “It should have been me,” he kept repeating. “Why did he save me?” In that moment, my heart ached so much I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t stand it anymore. “I can donate my heart,” I walked in and said. “I’m a perfect match for Mike.” Ethan jerked his head up. “Are you crazy?” His voice cracked. “You’ll die!” I smiled at him and whispered in his ear, “Trust me. I have a superpower. I won’t die.” He didn’t agree, but I went behind his back and did the surgery. I donated my heart to Mike, and my liver and kidney to a wealthy man’s daughter. The wealthy man transferred $800,000 to Ethan’s account. Three days later, I woke up. When I opened my eyes, Ethan was guarding my bedside. He hadn’t slept in three days. Dark circles bruised his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to leave. “You’re awake,” his voice was rough as he carefully held my hand. “Does it hurt?” That was the first time I saw him look so gentle. Mike recovered quickly, and Ethan began visiting me frequently. He peeled apples for me, fed me water, his gaze so focused it made my heart tremble. Sometimes when I feigned sleep, I felt him gently kiss my forehead. He started telling me his stories—childhood pranks with Mike, the grueling tests in special ops, and how terrified he was of losing people he cared about. When he spoke, his eyes were tender, but they hid something I couldn’t read. Later, he proposed. I nodded, tears streaming down my face. He kissed them away and held me tight. Later, I applied to work at the rescue base as a contract nurse, just to be by his side. And that was when Bella transferred back to headquarters.

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I am the real heiress, and Leo is the real heir. For ten years, lost and alone, we depended on each other to survive. We made a pact: if one of us was found, they would take the other with them. But when his family found him, he gently pushed me away. “The other ‘son’ is here too. The car is full. I’ll come back for you next time.” I knew he wouldn’t come back. Later, after losing the battle against the imposter son, he returned to me, disheartened. “Raising fish and planting trees isn’t a bad life. I’m willing to spend the rest of my days with you like this.” I shook my head, waving the DNA test result in my hand. “This time, it’s my turn to go home.” “And my family? They don’t have a fake daughter.” 1 When the village chief ran up to tell me Leo was back, I was rolling up my sleeves, picking passion fruit, sweat dripping from my forehead. I froze for a moment, then wiped the sweat and smiled. “Well, treat Mr. Billionaire nicely. We’re struggling to find buyers for these passion fruits anyway.” It had been three years since Leo left. In those three years, he never came back to see me, nor did he come back to pick me up as promised. From heartbreaking agony to silent disappointment, and now to a calm smile—I guess I’ve grown up. Growing up means focusing on reality. Leo is a wealthy heir now. Buying my passion fruit should be a piece of cake for him, right? “Luna, aren’t you going? Maybe Leo came back to get you,” the village chief said, happy for me. I pinched a fragrant passion fruit in my hand and shook my head. “No, I need to finish the harvest. If I don’t pick them now, they’ll overripen.” The chief was surprised but seemed to understand. He sighed and ran down the hill. I continued to bury myself in work with the other villagers, racing against time. Dizzy from the heat, I looked up to see a thin figure standing before me. I paused, then greeted him. “Mr. Vance, you’ve lost weight.” 2 Leo Vance had lost weight. I remember when he left three years ago, he was a tall, vibrant young man with a handsome face that looked out of place in the countryside. Everywhere he went, widows tried to flirt with him. Now, he was thin, silent, and gloomy. The only thing unchanged was that devastatingly handsome face. Reunited now, my eyes still went straight to his face. He didn’t speak, just stared at me intently. His eyes were red, lips trembling, as if he had suffered a great injustice and desperately needed a hug. I instinctively took a step forward, then stopped. I didn’t want to hug him. In the past ten years, I had hugged him countless times. He was a proud person, stubborn since childhood, never willing to lose. He once fought a homeless man for half a burger, getting beaten bloody, just to bring it back for me to eat. Then he cried silently in pain while I held him all night. He clashed with villagers for his adoptive mother, roaring like a madman with a sickle in hand, then collapsed exhausted into my arms, where I held him all night. When he missed home, staring blankly at the sky in the middle of the night, I held him all night too. This ambitious boy had never left my embrace. But three years ago, he left without hesitation. 3 That day was supposed to be the day Leo and I officially led the villagers in planting passion fruit. I was on the mountain fantasizing about a bountiful harvest and making big money. But Leo suddenly went down the mountain and met the family he had dreamed of. By the time I excitedly ran down, he had finished pouring out his heart to his family and was packing his meager belongings. I hugged him tightly, weeping with joy. “Leo, this is great! You finally reunited with your family!” His body stiffened, and he was silent for a moment. Surprised, I wiped my tears and looked at him. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?” He was happy, actually. But beneath that joy in his eyes, there was a different emotion hidden. “Happy,” he answered with one word, looking at the mountain outside the village. “Aren’t you busy? The villagers don’t know farming techniques; you need to guide them constantly.” “Busy or not, I have to come see you! You’ve been found by your family!” I didn’t catch the subtext in Leo’s words, rambling on instead. “Great! We’ll have money, and we can help the villagers develop. Perfect!” Leo fell silent again. I finally realized something was wrong. Leo was happy to see his family. But he wasn’t happy to see me. I pursed my lips and deliberately punched him lightly. “Cat got your tongue? You’re not thinking of dumping me, are you?” I asked in a joking tone. But Leo’s tone was serious. He hesitated, his eyes flickering. “My parents adopted a son. He came too, so…” He paused, looking away. “So, the car is full. I’ll come back for you next time.” 4 My head felt like it exploded. The car is full? I saw that car from a distance. It was long and huge, more spacious than Old Man Wang’s truck. How could it be full? I’m not stupid. I immediately understood what Leo meant. But ten years of feelings are hard to cut off. I really couldn’t believe it, nor did I want to. So, moments before the tears gushed out, I kept joking. “If there’s no room inside, I can sit in the trunk! Or the roof works too, haha.” My forced laughter sounded like the sharp cry of a dying duck. Leo exhaled heavily, turning his back to me. “Luna, wealthy families in reality are more exaggerated than in novels. They care more about matching status. “I was betrothed since childhood. I have to marry someone for alliance. It’s not up to me.” With every word he said, my tear ducts collapsed a little more. By the time he turned to look at me, my face was covered in tears. Yet he remained calm, his tone full of ambition. “I am the heir to a wealthy family. There is also a very favored adopted son at home. If I take you back, it will definitely drag me down. “I can’t afford any mistakes. I don’t want my biological parents to think I’m a useless person ruled by emotions. So, you must stay!” I was crying my heart out, unable to refute a single word. Leo’s eyes flickered. He hugged me, his voice softening. “Be good. Wait for me to come back for you.” 5 Leo did come back eventually. Standing alive among the passion fruit trees, standing in front of me. But I simply greeted him politely, calling him Mr. Vance. Leo blinked his wet eyes, pursed his trembling lips, a flash of doubt in his gaze, seemingly unable to understand why I was so indifferent. Actually, I should have excitedly thrown myself into his arms. Or joked like many years ago: “Oh look, crying again? Come here, Mommy will hold you.” And he would glare at me angrily: “I’ll beat you until you call me Daddy!” We played wild back then. Now, we can’t play anymore. I broke the silence. “Mr. Vance, look, our village’s passion fruits are ripe. Sales aren’t good this year. Can you help?” Leo didn’t look at the passion fruit. His gaze stayed on me. Finally, he spoke, voice hoarse. “Luna, you’re not happy to see me at all.” “I am! I don’t know how happy I am. Our mountain full of passion fruit depends on you!” I shook his hand enthusiastically. Genuine enthusiasm. Because I was really afraid this year’s fruit would rot in the field. Leo said nothing, just squeezed my hand. Living in luxury, his hands were now fair and tender like bamboo shoots. In contrast, mine were calloused, rough, and dark. “Luna, you’ve suffered,” Leo said, gently stroking the back of my hand, his eyes red again. Goosebumps rose all over me. I yanked my hand back. “Mr. Vance, please have some self-respect. Let’s talk about passion fruit.” He froze on the spot. I proactively handed him a business card. “Mr. Vance, our Almond Village passion fruit is famous far and wide. Planting history dates back to before the Reform and Opening Up. Guaranteed plump and juicy…” Actually, the planting history was only three years, and we lost money for three consecutive years. Leo stared at my card, speechless. I pointed to the number on it. “Mr. Vance, you can contact me anytime. We’ll supply however much you want!” With that, I took a sip of water and walked toward the mountainside. Back to picking!

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