I grew up with Caleb Sterling. Fifteen years of friendship that blossomed into romance. I finally married him, believing we were destined for a happily ever after. I didn’t expect that on our very first wedding anniversary, he would fly across the ocean to find his “one that got away.” Furious, I chased after him to demand an explanation, only to be abandoned by him in a foreign bar, left to fend for myself. Months later, after enduring hell on earth, I escaped back to the States, covered in scars. I arrived just in time to find Caleb and his friends at a club, celebrating “The 191st Day Since Harper Vance Vanished.” He held a drink, laughing. “Every day I spent with Harper was nauseating. If it weren’t for her, Sienna and I would have been together years ago.” I decided to grant his wish. I turned to leave. But then, he fell to his knees, weeping, begging me to love him again. 1 When I returned to Chicago, Caleb Sterling was throwing a party. A banner hung outside the VIP booth: [Celebrating 191 Days of Freedom from Harper Vance]. Standing outside the door, I heard Caleb’s voice, lazy and dismissive. “Harper finally learned her lesson. Women need to be taught a thing or two.” “Harper’s temper was insane. Only you could tolerate that, Caleb.” “She used to be the Vance family heiress; everyone gave her a pass. Now that she’s broke, someone needed to humble her.” “Honestly, our lovely Sienna is the real MVP here. One move and she tamed Harper completely.” “The Vance family is bankrupt. Harper is going to cling to you even harder now, Caleb.” Caleb scoffed loudly. “She really is like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe. Every day I was with her, I felt physically sick.” Just as the words left his mouth, I pushed the door open. The rowdy atmosphere died instantly. I saw a mix of emotions in their eyes: surprise, contempt, resistance, and… shock. Their eyes widened in disbelief. The vibrant, proud Harper Vance of six months ago was gone. Standing before them was a skeletal figure, radiating the aura of someone already dead. Sienna Cole spoke first, her voice laced with feigned concern. “Harper? What happened to you? You look… terrible. Don’t just stand there, come in and sit.” I scanned the room. There was only one empty folding chair in the corner. Everyone else had their fixed spots. For instance, the seat next to Caleb now belonged to Sienna. I stood calmly. I didn’t scream or throw a fit like I used to whenever I saw Sienna getting too close to Caleb. Sienna—gentle, beautiful, understanding Sienna. She was their goddess, the group favorite. In the past, every time I made things difficult for her, they hated me a little more. It was laughable. I was the one who grew up with them, yet now I was the intruder. Sienna coughed lightly behind her hand. Caleb immediately frowned with worry. “Are you deaf?” he snapped at me. “Didn’t you hear Sienna? If you don’t want to come in, then get lost. Don’t leave the door open; she’ll catch a cold.” His voice was filled with the same old disgust and impatience. Six months. He had zero curiosity or concern about where I had been. I should have given up on him a long time ago. 2 I forced a smile. I reached into my bag and pulled out a manila envelope and a small box, sliding them across the table toward him. Inside the box was his proposal ring. To be accurate, it was a metal keyring he had casually taken off his car keys. It was too big, cheap, and rusting, but I had treated it like a diamond. Every time Sienna showed off the massive gems Caleb bought her, I told myself my keyring was more precious because it was a promise. How pathetic I was. If I had a real diamond, maybe I could have sold it to buy my father a decent grave plot. But thankfully, I didn’t want any of it anymore. The envelope contained the divorce papers. I had already signed them. Caleb’s face darkened. He pursed his lips, staring at me. Sienna suddenly gasped, covering her mouth as she stepped back. “Harper, your hands… what happened?” Everyone’s gaze shifted to my hands. The back of my hand was swollen, purple, and covered in a dense cluster of needle marks. It looked horrifying. I calmly pulled my hand back into my sleeve and looked at Caleb. “Caleb, the divorce papers are signed. I’m sorry for tying you down with this marriage all these years. You’re free now.” Caleb’s voice was icy. “Harper, what’s the play this time? Put away these cheap tactics. It’s disgusting.” “You sign, we divorce, and you never have to be disgusted again,” I said, turning to leave. “Fine! Great, Harper! You better be serious. Don’t you dare regret this, and don’t come crawling back like a pathetic dog begging to reconcile!” I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back. “See you at the courthouse.” Behind me, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the booth. 3 On our first wedding anniversary, Sienna posted a single sentence on social media: [I wish he was here.] Caleb immediately flew to Europe to be with her. Angry and unwilling to accept that she was the shadow over my marriage, I followed him. I found them in a bar, embracing intimately. When I confronted him, Caleb looked at me like I was his enemy. His words were daggers. “What right do you have to control me? If not for you, Sienna and I would have been together ages ago.” But I was the one dating him first. Sienna was the one who interfered, then dumped him, then came back. Why was it my fault? Blinded by rage, I smashed things. A shard of glass scratched Sienna’s finger. Panic-stricken, Caleb rushed her to the hospital, leaving me alone in a chaotic bar in a foreign country. That same night, back home, my father committed suicide by jumping off a building. I missed his final call because I was running for my life. I came back for two reasons: to bury my father, and to divorce Caleb. I lay on the bed in the small rental apartment, enduring the burning pain in my stomach. This tiny studio was the only asset left after the family bankruptcy. It was small, but it allowed me to sleep with dignity. 4 I was woken by violent banging on the door. My instinct was to curl into a ball inside the closet. It took me a moment to remember I was back in the US. I opened the door to find Caleb looking annoyed. “Are you dead? How could you not hear that?” He stopped mid-sentence, frowning as he looked me over. “Why do you look so pale? You’re sweating. Are you sick?” Last night in the dim club, he only saw that I was thin. Today, in the daylight, I looked like a terminally ill patient. “Harper, what is wrong with you?” I shook my head. “Did you sign the papers? If you signed, let’s go to the courthouse.” Caleb’s face turned stormy. “Enough! Harper, I’ve tolerated you long enough. Haven’t you acted out enough? Today it’s divorce, tomorrow will you claim you have cancer just to get my attention? It’s useless! I don’t care what you do. I will never love you!” “Good. After the divorce, I promise never to appear in front of you again.” I pulled out my phone to book an appointment. Caleb snatched the phone and smashed it onto the floor. I immediately dropped to my knees, trying to reassemble the shattered pieces. This phone was a gift from a woman in the bed next to mine, just before she died. Caleb threw his wallet at my head. “Don’t act like a beggar to get my pity. Buy a new phone. Keep the change. And don’t use ‘I don’t have a phone’ as an excuse to pester me.” He stormed off. I looked at the cash in the wallet and laughed a dry, tearless laugh. If only he had given me this money six months ago… I wouldn’t have had to run, I wouldn’t have had to sell my body to science just to survive. I didn’t use his money. I found an old brick phone in the apartment. I called Caleb’s assistant to come pick up the wallet. “Mrs. Sterling,” the assistant said awkwardly. “I’m in a critical meeting. Could you bring it to the office?” In the past, Caleb forbade me from entering his company. Even for urgent documents, he’d send someone home rather than let me visit. Now that we were divorcing, I didn’t want to overstep. “You’re busy. I’ll figure something else out.”

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I chased Gabriel Stone shamelessly for four years. He was fed up. With a single order, my family fearfully sent me abroad. He said, “I don’t care what it takes, just keep her away from me! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Drugs, hypnosis, electroshock… These methods were truly effective. I forgot the feeling of loving him. Even my memory of him became blurred. Finally, he relented and allowed me to return to the States. Wherever he appeared, I actively avoided him. Because my mother told me that this god-like man was someone I couldn’t afford to offend. Seeing him kissing my sister, I secretly took out my phone to take a picture. His gaze was fierce and cold. Terrified, I shrank into the corner, stammering: “I’m sorry, I just thought… you two looked so perfect together, so shippable…” I don’t know why. But the eyes of the man who usually hid his emotions trembled violently. 1 Since returning from Europe, I’ve felt like my brain isn’t working right. I spend most of the day sleeping. I think I might be sick. Mom comforted me, saying not to worry. “You’ve always been a sleepyhead since you were little, unlike your sister who is so disciplined.” “It doesn’t matter, everyone’s constitution is different. If you’re sleepy, just sleep.” I poured a large cup of black coffee, trying to wake myself up. But it had no effect. I rubbed my temples, feeling distressed, when the front door opened. The butler announced: “Miss Aria has brought Mr. Stone back.” Joy immediately surged in Dad and Mom’s eyes. Dad eagerly went out to welcome them. Mom was about to follow but suddenly remembered something. She looked at me with difficulty: “Lily, you…” I nodded sensibly: “I know, Mr. Stone doesn’t like me.” “Sister’s engagement is important. I’ll go upstairs first. I need to catch up on sleep anyway.” Mom looked at me, yawning, with relief. I took a few steps, then suddenly remembered I hadn’t taken my coffee cup. Wait, I wanted to try drinking another cup. The moment I turned around, I inadvertently met a cold gaze. Almost instinctively. I forgot the coffee cup and ran for my life. As if running late would cost me my life. I ran into my room and locked the door. Then I braced a table against the door. Only then did my heart, hanging in my throat, settle down. I couldn’t explain why, but seeing Gabriel Stone gave rise to an intense emotion: Fear. Mom said this was because Gabriel was a natural-born ruler, and anyone with him would feel oppressed. “Especially a natural weakling like you.” Mom told me not to appear in front of Mr. Stone. “Mr. Stone, he doesn’t like people who look cute but are actually stupid.” “His gaze will only stay on excellent girls like your sister.” “What status does the Stone family hold? If we can become related to the Stone family through marriage, it would save us lifetimes of struggle.” “Lily, you need to be sensible.” I was very sensible. So, every time Gabriel came to our house, I actively avoided him. Mom was very pleased with this and sometimes patted my head. This was the greatest reward for me, and I cherished it very much. So, I never dared to tell Mom. Even if she didn’t say it, I would actively avoid Gabriel. His aura was too overwhelming. I felt very uncomfortable. Very suppressed. As if my heart was being squeezed hard by someone. There was also an inexplicable sourness. Laughter came from downstairs. Amidst this laughter, I fell asleep. 2 When I woke up again, the sky was dim. It was already evening. The villa was very quiet. Gabriel must have left. I was hungry. I opened the door, wearing a white princess nightgown, and went downstairs barefoot to find something to eat. The floor was cold, and I felt my brain clear up a tiny bit. I was standing by the kitchen counter heating a slice of bread. The study door suddenly opened. Gabriel, in a sharp suit, walked out of the study. Under the warm yellow light, his contours were more three-dimensional, his figure upright. His features were like a sculpture. Like a god descending with the power of life and death. But he was too cold. His temperament was cold, his eyes were cold. Even the lead-gray cufflinks of his suit gleamed coldly. Separated by the long living room, his gaze fell lightly on me. His thin lips pressed into a straight line. Full of pressure. Almost instantly. I came back to my senses. Holding my head, I squatted under the dining table. Hiding myself clumsily. Sister’s light steps flew down the stairs. She ran into Gabriel’s arms, hugging his arm and shaking it. “Leaving so soon? You haven’t even seen my new stills yet. Stay for dinner, okay?” Sister’s temperament had always been distant and cold. But now she showed a young girl’s charm, her voice sweet and pleasant. Like a beautiful bird. With bright feathers and a melodious song. Gabriel didn’t speak; he looked coldly at me, shivering under the table. Sister’s smile fell. She bit her lip and said: “If you’re busy, another day is fine too. Let’s go, I’ll walk you out.” Gabriel stood still. The pressure on him was so heavy, as if he wasn’t listening to Sister at all. Sister opened her mouth but dared not make a sound. After a long time, he spoke, his voice deep: “Okay, I’ll leave after dinner.” Surprise crossed Dad and Sister’s faces simultaneously. Gabriel curled his lips slightly: “What are you afraid of? Didn’t she forget everything?” Gabriel walked to the dining table with his long legs and squatted down. His suit pants outlined the firm lines of his legs. “Lily, do you still recognize me?” I looked up timidly, then lowered my eyes, not daring to meet his gaze. I nodded slowly. But my fingertips and toes suddenly felt a needle-like pain. Like a stress reaction. I screamed. I closed my eyes tightly. Shaking my head desperately. “I don’t know you! Don’t hit me! I don’t know you!” 3 At the dinner table, the atmosphere was weird. Dad and Mom tried hard to liven up the mood. But Gabriel just ate quietly. His posture was noble. He had no intention of speaking. It made Dad and Mom’s enthusiasm very awkward. Sister had a dark face and said nothing. I dared not pick up food, only eating small bites of rice. Finally getting through this meal, Dad and Mom seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Watching Gabriel’s figure about to leave, I suddenly remembered something and called out to him: “Mr. Stone, wait a moment.” Everyone looked at me in surprise. Including Gabriel. His brows furrowed slightly, obviously impatient. “Just a moment. Okay?” I gestured a one-centimeter distance with my fingers. Saying that, I ran upstairs and soon ran down holding a tin box. Everyone’s eyes were locked on me. I opened the lid of the tin box and asked: “Mr. Stone, this is yours, right?” On top of the tin box were over a dozen ID photos. Some were one inch, some two inches. Obviously not obtained through legitimate channels. Because some photos had steel stamps, some had solidified glue on the back. Clearly pryed from various places. The Gabriel in the photos was younger than now, with a few traces of greenness between his brows. But his features were already very superior. Besides the ID photos, there were some messy things. Candy wrappers, cigarette boxes, used pen refills, crumpled test papers, etc. Gabriel looked at me with a burning gaze. I gritted my teeth before daring to continue: “I found it in a corner of my closet. I don’t know who put it there. But I recognized your photos, so it should be yours, right?” Gabriel’s eyes moved slightly, seemingly with a bit of inquiry. I felt shorter under his gaze. My shoulders dropped. He said: “Not mine, throw it away.” “Oh, okay.” I tossed it into the trash can beside me and was about to go upstairs. A hint of danger suddenly appeared in Gabriel’s eyes. “Lily, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?” He called out to me. I was puzzled: “What?” He seemed to see through everything, his eyes mocking, and sneered. “Nothing. Good acting. Don’t do it next time. I’m not interested.” With that, he walked away. 4 Mom closed the door. Sister held it in all night and finally burst into tears on the table. Dad, heartbroken, couldn’t help but slap me. I was caught off guard and fell to the ground awkwardly. My head hit the corner of the table. Buzzing with pain. Mom hugged Sister’s shoulders heartbrokenly and said to me: “Lily, don’t blame your father for being harsh. Tonight, you really disappointed us too much!” “Did you forget Mom’s repeated instructions?” “Why did you go downstairs without permission? Why did you talk to him? Are you that cheap?!” Blood seeped from the wound on my forehead and flowed into my eyes. A blood mist appeared before my eyes, blurring my vision. Covering the wound, I tried to explain: “I’m sorry, I thought he left. I didn’t mean to…” Sister suddenly grabbed my collar and screamed hysterically: “Running downstairs dressed like that, deliberately dangling your bare feet in front of him, and holding a broken box trying to get his attention, Lily, who are you trying to seduce?!” “Do you know Gabriel’s status? Do you know your own status? How dare you have designs on him?” “Do you know that just because of your indiscretion tonight, I might lose him?” “Can’t you live without a man? You even have to seduce your own sister’s boyfriend!” With that, Sister opened the door and walked out. Mom hurriedly pulled Sister: “Aria, where are you going so late?” Aria looked at me hatefully: “In this house, it’s either me or her. If she’s here, I’m not. I’m leaving!” Soon, the sound of a car starting came from the garage. Mom sighed deeply. Dad slammed the door in anger. I spoke softly: “I’ll stay out tonight, okay?” Mom hesitated: “Where can you go?” “I’ll stay at a hotel. I stayed in hotels a lot abroad, I’m familiar with them.” Back then, I couldn’t stand the inhuman torture, so whenever I had the chance, I escaped from the hospital. Staying in the cheapest motels. Avoiding the painful treatments they arranged for me. But Sister always found me quickly and took me back. Mom was silent, then nodded after a while: “You were indeed wrong tonight, so go stay out. Mom will bring you back when your sister calms down.”

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Five years at this company, and my salary is still stuck at $3,800 a month. Everyone calls me a pathetic lapdog, unable to leave my female boss, Claire Chen. I count on my fingers; this is the tenth time I’ve asked for a raise. Her face is still cold, impatient. “How many times have I told you? The company isn’t doing well right now. Can’t we talk about this at the end of the year?” My colleagues whisper about me. “See that? That’s the end of an old lapdog! Even after being treated like this, he still can’t leave Claire.” The next day, a new intern arrived, a returnee from overseas, with a salary of $25,000. On his first day, Claire put him right at my desk. Only then did I realize that my request for a raise had offended her. In a fit of anger, I turned around and jumped to a competitor company as a vice president. I’m done being this old lapdog! 01 “Claire, the contract with Runyuan Company has been signed. I’m asking for a raise!” “Can’t you see I’m busy? Who let you in? Asking for a raise just because you closed one deal? I don’t like employees who bargain!” I forced a smile and repeated it. This was her own promise to me. She said that if I could close this project with Runyuan Company, she would double my salary. Before I could finish, she looked at me with impatience. “Didn’t I tell you? The company is facing the pressure of going public right now. It’s good enough that I haven’t laid anyone off. You should be secretly happy that you still have a job. Where else can you find a good boss like me?” It was the same old rhetoric. I couldn’t help but remind her, “But, boss, my salary has been only $3,800 for all these years…” “I’m giving you $3,800, and you’re still not satisfied? With your work level, who would want you if you left my company? Don’t think that just because you closed a few deals, the company can’t do without you, understand?” Claire waved her hand as if she were shooing away a fly, wanting to end this unpleasant topic as soon as possible. I suppressed my anger and explained, “Claire, I’ve always been grateful to you, but I also need to eat and live. With this salary, I really don’t have enough!” She poked her finger at my forehead in anger. “Jiang Yuan, don’t always think about getting a raise. After so many years, why haven’t I given you a raise? Isn’t it because you haven’t done well enough in some places, and your contribution to the company isn’t big enough?” When Claire said my contribution to the company wasn’t big enough, I couldn’t help but sneer out loud. I’ve been with the company for five years. To close deals, I don’t know how many times I’ve drunk with clients, how many times I’ve drunk until my stomach bled. If it weren’t for that special feeling for Claire, I would have chosen to leave the company long ago. Now, she denied me with a single sentence, which couldn’t help but chill my heart. Seeing me stunned in place, she looked at me impatiently and said, “Alright, I still have things to do. Next month’s salary will increase by $200!” $200? Do you really think I’m a beggar? Back at my desk, several female colleagues started whispering. “I say Jiang Yuan is just a lapdog. Being humiliated by Claire like that, he doesn’t dare to fart.” A girl covered her mouth and laughed. “That’s right. For so many years, he’s been following Claire around like a dog without a mind of his own. Can Claire even look at him? It’s really a toad wanting to eat swan meat. He doesn’t even take a look at himself in the mirror!” I clenched my fists, suppressed my anger, and walked back to my desk quietly. As soon as I got home after work, I received a call from Claire. “Why did you leave after work? We’re about to sign a contract with Shengshi Group. Don’t you know? Have you done the proposal?” “Claire, didn’t you ask Dong Xin to coordinate that proposal? Besides, if I do it now, I’m afraid it will be too late!” Before I could finish, Claire yelled at me. “How many times have I told you to cooperate with Dong Xin? What’s the matter with you? Do you really think my company is a place to loaf around and wait for death?” “Claire, that’s not my duty. Besides, the projects under my command are also rushing to catch up with the schedule. I really don’t have time…” 02 “Jiang Yuan, can’t you stand in my shoes and think about me? I’m tired to death every day. Can’t you be considerate of me?” The sound of men clinking glasses came from Claire’s side. I gritted my teeth, thinking that it wasn’t easy for her, and decided to compromise one more time. So, I kindly reminded her, “Rest early. It’s not good to drink with the opposite sex so late!” Before I finished speaking, Claire yelled violently, “Jiang Yuan, what are you? You’re bossing me around? Let me tell you, if it weren’t for the fact that you’re an old employee, I would have let you leave the company long ago. Do you believe it? If the company leaves you, there are a lot of people better than you waiting to come to my company!” After speaking, she seemed to hang up the phone angrily. I had to believe it. The next day, colleagues whispered that a returnee intern was coming to the company, with a monthly salary of $25,000, which was several times mine. This time, I finally couldn’t help it and barged into her office again. “Claire, a colleague just said that you hired an intern, and his salary is several times mine, right?” I tried my best to make my tone sound natural. Claire snorted coldly and said, “Do I need to report to you when I hire someone? Don’t think that just because you are a veteran of the company, I have to listen to you. Don’t you take a look at yourself in the mirror? You’re almost thirty, and you haven’t achieved anything.” Holding back my anger, my voice trembled uncontrollably, “But why is he only here, with a monthly salary of $25,000, while I only have a monthly salary of $3,800 until now?” She said impatiently, “You don’t even understand this. Gu Yunze is a returnee student, the exact talent our company needs. Which company doesn’t lack such talent now? What do you understand!” I bit my lip and asked softly, “So, is this the reason why you won’t give me a raise?” Claire slapped the table angrily and said, “Jiang Yuan, are you sick? I am the president of the company. What kind of person I want to use has nothing to do with you. If you want to work, work. If you don’t want to work, I don’t welcome you.” I asked with final hope, “Claire, I’m asking for a raise. If it continues like this, I really can’t go on.” Claire sneered, “Do you not understand human language? Starting next month, I’ll give you a raise of $200. Are you deaf? Also, what kind of bullshit is this proposal you wrote? Take it back and rewrite it for me!” She slapped the proposal on my face, and my cheek suddenly hurt from the blow. I knew she was deliberately finding fault, and this proposal was done a few days ago. I went back to the department resentfully. Some colleagues looked up at me, and many people had sarcastic smiles on their lips. 03 Claire’s secretary, Yuan Xiaoling, saw me and said arrogantly, “Jiang Yuan, Claire just told me to arrange a new desk for you immediately.” “Arrange a new desk? Why?” Yuan Xiaoling smiled sinisterly and commanded two colleagues to carry a small table over and place it next to my desk. Where is this a new desk? It’s clearly an intern’s desk. Seeing me silent, Yuan Xiaoling hooked her lips and pouted, “This is the new intern, Gu Yunze. He’s a high-achieving returnee student. Claire wants you to guide him first, and later you will also hand over the work in your hands to him!” I clenched my fists and said unconvinced, “Why should I guide him!” Yuan Xiaoling sneered, “This is Claire’s arrangement. I am just conveying Claire’s words. If you don’t agree, you can get out of our company immediately. I think if you lose your job, you’re afraid you’ll have to beg on the street!” Before the words fell, many colleagues laughed. Yuan Xiaoling had only been here for less than a year, but she liked to take a chicken feather as an order. She was usually bossy to us old employees or liked to report on us behind the leaders’ backs. After Gu Yunze sat down, he said to me unceremoniously, “Your name is Jiang Yuan, right? Follow me and pay attention to work efficiency. You should immediately prepare a material for me to deal with Yunhao Company. I want to connect with them.” “By the way, is it Yunhao Company? I am Gu Yunze. I will follow up on this project in the future. Oh, that Jiang Yuan, is now my follower!” Gu Yunze held his mobile phone and acted like a company boss. He didn’t even know that President Zhou of Yunhao Company hated others to play tricks on him the most. I couldn’t help but smile secretly. Just wait for this project to fail! Gu Yunze started yelling again, “Who is that? Help me pour a glass of water, and that initial design proposal, have you finished it!” I was about to explain when Yuan Xiaoling looked at me nonchalantly and said, “That Jiang Yuan, Claire asked you to go to her office. She has something to tell you!” After speaking, she still looked at me with a gloating expression, while Gu Yunze smiled even more proudly. Sure enough, Claire said with a straight face, throwing the folder on my face, “What’s the matter with you? You are in charge of this project. Now Yunhao Company doesn’t want to cooperate with us. Look at what you’ve done!” 04 Forcing myself to endure the stinging pain on my cheek, I explained, “Claire, this is Gu Yunze’s responsibility!” Claire snorted coldly, “Didn’t I tell you? Let you guide him. How did you guide him? When something goes wrong, you want to shift the responsibility to others. You idiot. Does the company pay you to do stupid things?” I held back my anger and was so angry that I couldn’t say a word. Gu Yunze also scolded from the side, “Claire, this is all his arrangement!” After speaking, Gu Yunze still looked at me with unkind intentions. Claire also stared at me angrily, “Do you have any sense of responsibility? When something goes wrong, you push the blame to the intern. Don’t get paid this month. Gu Yunze has a high academic qualification and good work performance. He is promoted to manager of the marketing department!” Gu Yunze nodded quickly and said, “Thank you, Claire. I will definitely work harder!” Claire nodded with satisfaction, “This is our company’s competent employee, especially some old employees. They should correct their positions. If they don’t work hard every day, I’ll immediately let him pack up and get out!”. After speaking, Claire also looked at me purposefully. A few days later, Gu Yunze threw the project contract with Tenghai Group to me. “You go and connect with Tenghai Group. If this project fails, don’t think about working here!” I sneered, “Manager Gu, you followed up on this project. Now you throw it to me. Why!” Gu Yunze didn’t expect me to say that. He was stunned, and his face suddenly turned ugly. He widened his eyes in disbelief, and his tone was sharp, “I am your leader now. If I ask you to do it, you do it. Do you still want to stay in the company!” Claire appeared behind me and also said impatiently, “If he asks you to do it, you do it. Do I have to arrange you to agree? In the company, Gu Yunze’s words represent my words. Do you not want to work in the company?”. I almost laughed when I heard this. I asked her with a sneer, “Claire, how can such an important thing be given to me? I’m afraid I’m not capable enough to do it well!” Claire didn’t expect me to say that. Her face was distorted with anger. “You are working for the company, not for you to be picky here. If you don’t go, get out immediately!” Seeing me silent, Claire became anxious and immediately changed her words, “Jiang Yuan, you are also an old employee of the company. Don’t you know how difficult it is for me?” “If this contract cannot be signed, how much loss will it bring to our company? You have worked in the company for so many years. Can you think about it for me?” I knew that if I didn’t agree to Claire’s request this time, the company’s capital chain would be broken. I still softened and agreed again.

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Everyone thought I was secretly in love with Chase Sterling. So when he lost a round of Truth or Dare, the crowd roared, pressuring me to kiss the star athlete from the rival university in his place. My breath hitched in my throat. “Come on, Elara. It’s just a kiss, it won’t kill you.” “Yeah, don’t worry. Chase will understand.” Chase leaned back, looking at me with that signature lazy, arrogant smirk. “Yeah, Elara. Do me a solid, will you?” He was betting on me refusing. He knew I was conservative, the quiet girl who never stepped out of line. But I lowered my head and whispered, “Fine.” Chase’s smile faltered instantly. His expression darkened. “Fine then. Three seconds. Not a millisecond less.” “See? I told you she’d do anything for Chase.” “Chase has her trained well.” Ignoring their jeers, I stood up and walked slowly toward Liam Thorne. I stood on my tiptoes, leaned in, and pressed my lips against his. 1 Chase Sterling was used to running the show. He’d seen it all. But tonight, in the private VIP room of the restaurant, he lost a game and picked “Truth.” Someone asked him if, in the three years we’d known each other, he had ever felt a spark for me. everyone leaned in, eager for the gossip. Chase paused for a second, then burst out laughing. “Who? Elara?? A spark? You’re kidding, right?” The room erupted in laughter. Only two people at the table remained silent. Me, sitting on the far edge of the booth. And Liam Thorne, sitting right next to Chase. Liam was the captain of the basketball team at the university next door. Tonight’s dinner was organized by Chase after their game. I had practically begged him to let me tag along. I hadn’t said a word all night, feeling completely out of place. Eventually, the group moved on to drinking and games. Chase, lounging in his chair, lost again. This time, he picked “Dare.” The card read: Kiss the person to your left for three seconds. To his left was Liam. Everyone looked at Liam. He didn’t react, just calmly continued eating his appetizers. Chase threw an arm around Liam’s shoulder. “Bro, you don’t mind if I kiss you, right?” Liam, known for being cold and distant, paused his fork. He offered a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Actually, I do mind.” The crowd started hooting. “Chase, man, Liam doesn’t swing that way. Just get a girl to sub in for you.” “Let Elara do it.” “She’d do anything for you, right?” I stayed silent. Chase looked at me, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Elara, help me out?” He was so sure I’d say no. “Fine,” I said softly. The room went quiet. Chase’s face dropped. “Okay. Three seconds.” I walked over to Liam. His face was flawless. It felt like a crime to touch him and ruin that perfection. My gaze drifted from his sharp jawline to his lips. Wait, did Chase specify where to kiss? He didn’t. So, cheek or lips… it didn’t matter, right? I bent down, intending to aim for his cheek, but at the last moment, I turned and pressed my lips firmly against his. I felt Liam’s long lashes flutter against my skin. His Adam’s apple bobbed. The room exploded. “Whoa! Elara!” “Three seconds! Count it!” “3.” “2.” “2.5.” “2.3.” Liam’s lips were incredibly soft. My entire body was trembling with nerves. “2.15…” Chase couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up abruptly, breaking the countdown. “Three seconds are up. Done.” He yanked me back by my arm, putting distance between Liam and me. Sensing Chase’s foul mood, the group quieted down and awkwardly went back to their food. 2 On the drive back, the silence in the car was suffocating. Chase stared straight ahead at the road before suddenly speaking. “Elara, you were getting back at me, weren’t you?” I blinked, pulling myself out of my thoughts. “What?” “You saw me kissing that girl outside the dorms last week, didn’t you? So you used Liam to get revenge? You’re so petty. That was just a fling.” Kissing? I recalled vaguely that I had gone to drop off some notes for Chase a week ago. I did see him making out with a stunning girl by his car. It was loud and public. Very on-brand for Chase Sterling—wild and unattached. But I hadn’t felt a thing. I had told Chase before that I didn’t like him. He just never believed me. 3 When I was ten, my family went bankrupt. My father fled the country to escape debt, and shortly after, my mother went abroad with a friend. My uncle took me in. By then, my uncle had remarried into the wealthy Sterling family. He was Chase’s stepfather. I moved into the Sterling estate. Chase was my age, but he was a terror. He loved to tease me, prank me, and order me around. After six months, I was done putting up with him. Chase sensed my defiance. He threw a stack of cash at me with a sneer. “Elara, you’re broke, right? Be my personal assistant. I’ll pay you a salary.” He wasn’t wrong. I had no one. I couldn’t rely on my uncle forever; he was already walking on eggshells in the Sterling household. I needed money. Money meant freedom. Money meant a safety net. At first, Chase knew I stuck around for the cash. But eventually, he convinced himself I was actually in love with him. It started in our sophomore year of high school. Chase and Liam lived in the same luxury gated community and went to the same private school. I went to the public school on the other side of town. I only came back to the Sterling estate on weekends. When I heard Chase had a game against Liam, I asked if I could come. Chase eyed me suspiciously. “I thought you had to study? You said you weren’t going out.” “I’m not too busy this week,” I lied. Chase leaned in, invading my personal space. “My dad said you’ve been pulling all-nighters studying. You came back just for my game?” His eyes lit up with narcissistic realization. “You like me, don’t you? Wow, Elara, get a grip!” I waved my hands frantically. “No, you misunderstood, I don’t…” Chase ignored me, already dialing his best friend. “Dude, you were right. Elara is totally into me. Her grades dropped three spots this week because she’s distracted, but she still came to watch me play. Dinner’s on me.” I found out later his friends had bet that I wasn’t just doing it for the money. At the court, I didn’t look at Chase once. My eyes were glued to Liam. He wore a light-colored jersey. His hands were strong, his movements graceful. When he jumped for a shot, his jersey lifted, revealing toned abs. I kept my head down, terrified someone would catch me staring. Nobody would ever link someone like me to someone like Liam. Nobody knew about the summer I was fifteen. I used to sneak out at night to go through the recycling bins in the rich neighborhood. Rich people threw away amazing things. Designer bags with tiny scratches, clothes with tags still on, electronics. I could sell them for good money. One night, at the last house on the block—Liam’s house—I saw something glinting in the storm drain near the curb. It was a ring. I spent twenty minutes fishing it out with a stick. Just as I grabbed it, the front door opened. Liam ran out, wearing silk pajamas, looking panicked. He was tall, clean, and smelled like expensive soap. I was holding a trash bag and covered in grime. I turned bright red. He saw the ring in my hand and let out a huge breath. He looked at me without a hint of disgust. “I’m so sorry,” he said, breathing hard. “Could I buy that ring back from you? My parents were fighting and… it got thrown out. I thought it was gone.” That was the first time Liam Thorne really saw me. But I had known him since I moved in. He was the golden boy. Even my aunt, who hated everyone, praised him. He was everything Chase wasn’t—polite, disciplined, brilliant. I handed him the ring. It was grimy from the drain, so I wiped it with a tissue from my pocket. “Here.” “Thank you. Wait here, let me get my phone, I’ll transfer you…” “No need,” I mumbled. I grabbed my bag of “treasures” and ran into the night. I felt ashamed of the difference between us. But that night, I made a promise to myself. One day, I would stand in front of him as an equal. I started secretly following his life. I went to every game he played against Chase. I found out which city he wanted to go to for college. He became my goal. While chasing that goal, I fixed myself. That year, I cracked the top three in my class. For the first time, teachers looked at me with respect. Only Chase thought I was doing it for him. When I nagged him to study (per my uncle’s request), he thought it was love. When I went to games, he thought it was love. When I endured his pranks for my paycheck, he thought it was love. I stopped trying to explain. After graduation, I got into a university in Boston, right next to Liam’s Ivy League school. Surprisingly, Chase followed us to Boston, attending a different college nearby. During freshman year, I didn’t see Chase much. But sophomore year, the inter-collegiate games started up. I went to every single one. Chase told his friends he’d never seen a girl so clingy.

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I had the worst luck in the world. During a live-streamed audition for a dating reality show, my dress was lifted by a gust of sea wind, exposing me to the entire internet. The screenshots went viral instantly. I was the laughingstock of the year. But that humiliating accident somehow “awakened” a paralyzed billionaire who hadn’t felt desire in years. His younger brother offered me eighty million dollars on the spot. The job? “Spend his birthday with him.” I signed the contract and became his private companion. Every day, I walked past him in high heels. He could look, but he couldn’t touch. But the one who went crazy first wasn’t him. It was his brother. 1 I swear I must have been cursed. My flashing incident was trending #1. As soon as my stilettos hit the red carpet, a gust of wind off the Pacific lifted my white skirt, Marilyn Monroe style, but without the grace. The producers didn’t cut the feed fast enough. The comments section exploded. “That innocent vibe is killer!” “Is she here to date or to commit a crime?” “Wife material!” I stood there frozen, the sound of shutters clicking like gunfire around me. I wanted to die. The worst part was, I didn’t even want to be there. I was filling in for my childhood best friend, Chloe. She had a fever and a swollen face, so she shoved me into the dangerous white dress. “Just stand there for me! You’re so conservative you radiate holy light. They definitely won’t pick you! Just do it!” I shouldn’t have listened to her. Three hours later, I was curled up on a deserted stretch of Malibu beach, burying my face in my knees. Last week, I got laid off. Yesterday, my boyfriend of seven years dumped me. He said I was as exciting as a dusty Bible in a convent, then slept with a girl he just met nineteen times in three days. And today, the whole world had seen my underwear. “Excuse me.” A gentle, unfamiliar male voice broke the silence. I looked up. A young man stood there in a crisp white shirt, smiling perfectly. “Hi, I’m Ethan Vance. I’d like to talk to you.” He pointed behind him. At the end of the wooden boardwalk, a silver-grey wheelchair sat in the shadows. The man in the wheelchair wore a dark black shirt. His features were sharp as a knife, his eyes cold as ice. But when his gaze landed on me, his pupils dilated—shock, delight, and a terrifying hint of… greed. Before I could refuse, Ethan ushered me into a black sedan. The leather seats smelled of expensive cologne. The wheelchair was folded in the trunk. The man, Sterling Vance, stared at me the whole ride. He looked like he was dissecting a struggling butterfly. Suddenly, he spoke. “I remember every angle of your skirt lifting.” My face burned. I reached for the door handle, but Ethan tossed a thick document onto my lap. Agreement for Psychological Stress-Induced Physiological Rehabilitation Companionship. 42 pages. It detailed everything: appear within his visual range daily, wear “elegant yet alluring” attire, maintain eye contact for no less than 20 seconds, provide physical comfort if necessary to stabilize mood, guide physiological recovery… “You want me to be a fluffer?” I laughed angrily. “A companion,” Ethan corrected softly. “Don’t misunderstand.” He wrote a check. Ten million dollars. One month. Until his brother’s birthday. As long as I “appeared as I did today,” he guaranteed Sterling wouldn’t touch me. Of course, supplementary agreements could be signed if needed. It sounded even more perverse. My phone buzzed. It was my dad’s assistant: “Miss Harper, the company’s funding chain broke. We’re short eighty million. Your dad is threatening to jump off the roof.” I closed my eyes and whispered, “I’ll sign. But I want eighty million.” “Eighty million? Miss, did you read the part where he won’t touch you under the basic agreement?” “Doesn’t that depend on my skills?” I shot back. “A woman elegant, charming, and innocent enough to make your brother lose control with a single look.” “Deal. Not just companionship. If you cure his physiological disorder, you get eighty million.” Ethan smiled. “Until July 14th, you are my brother’s… exclusive gift.” 2 When I officially moved into the Vance estate, I realized it wasn’t a house. It was a fortress. Face ID entry, sensor elevators, private security guards… Sterling lived on the top floor of the main wing. The whole space was sealed off like a palace. As the “Special Companion,” I lived one floor below him. So close, yet worlds apart. The most absurd part was the man who showed up at my door, claiming to be my training coach. “Hello, darling~” The man wore a pink polka-dot shirt and oversized red sunglasses. “I’m Wyatt. I’m here to turn you into a weapon of mass seduction.” I stared at his flamboyance, speechless. “…” “Today we start with Lesson One: Sexy Body Language!” Wyatt clicked a laser pointer at a PowerPoint presentation. “Topic: How to give a man heart palpitations without triggering a sexual harassment lawsuit while walking.” “This… this is too much…” I wanted to quit. “Quit and pay the breach of contract fee. Eighty million,” Wyatt sang, holding up eight fingers. “Come on, put on this dress and walk ten meters.” He tossed me a cream-colored lace dress. It was even more revealing than the one Chloe gave me. I changed, my hands trembling. Wyatt shouted from the hall, “Don’t walk too steady! Be like a willow in the wind… like you just finished a tango and want to collapse but can’t. Rebellious but weak.” I took a deep breath and walked from the end of the corridor, pinching the hem of the dress. But my heel slipped on the polished floor, and I nearly wiped out. “Stop!” Wyatt lunged forward. “You look like a drunk toddler, not a seductress!” “You do it then!” I snapped. “I teach, I don’t test. If I were a woman, you wouldn’t have this job.” As we argued, a soft whirring sound came from the other end of the hall. Sterling’s wheelchair stopped silently at the top of the stairs. He was wearing a dark grey shirt today, buttoned all the way up. His face was pale and ascetic. He stared at me without speaking, but his knuckles were white as he gripped the armrests. I realized I was still wearing the “training dress.” My heart skipped a beat. “Walk again,” Sterling said suddenly, his voice raspy. I froze. “What?” “Those steps you just took.” His gaze locked onto my thigh, visible through the lace. “Do it again.” The air solidified for three seconds. Wyatt grabbed my arm and hissed in my ear, “Eighty million! Don’t forget the eighty million! Walk!” I gritted my teeth, went back to the end of the hall, turned, and walked toward him step by step. I looked up, trying to mimic the eye contact technique Wyatt taught me: Glance, look away, then look back with hesitation. Sterling watched me, his expression growing colder by the second. When I reached him, he suddenly said, “In the future, don’t look at me like that when you walk.” “You asked me to walk!” I laughed in disbelief. “Walking is allowed,” his eyes darkened. “Looking is not.” “What do you want from me?” I whispered. Sterling lowered his eyes, slowly turning his wheelchair around. His voice sounded like it was being dragged out of his chest. “People who play with fire… should be afraid of getting burned.” He left. His back was cold enough to freeze the air. Wyatt whispered in my ear, “Congrats. He’s showing symptoms.” “What symptoms?” “Physiological reaction!” He looked ready to dance. “Oh my god, I can see you counting cash in the Maldives already!” I rubbed my temples. “You certainly have sharp eyes.” I turned around and saw a glass of warm milk on the table. It was still steaming. I knew only Sterling had been there. 4 I didn’t tell anyone I dreamed about Sterling that night. In the dream, I was practicing the “seductive glance back” in the hallway. The lights were soft. I wore the cream lace dress, swaying towards him. When I looked back, I crashed right into his deep, dark eyes. He looked like he’d been electrocuted. His wheelchair slammed into the wall with a dull thud. I woke up covered in cold sweat, heart pounding. That morning, Wyatt took a leave of absence. I finally had a moment of peace to walk in the garden. The garden was the only place in the estate without cameras. I walked along the gravel path, silently rehearsing Wyatt’s instructions: Left foot light, right foot drags, show 30% ankle, don’t look back too fake… I muttered to myself, “I feel like a weirdo.” “You look like one, too.” A cool male voice cut in. I jumped, nearly tripping. Sterling had appeared out of nowhere. His wheelchair was parked by the colonnade. The wind ruffled his black clothes. He held a book but wasn’t reading. “Stalking me again?” I stepped back warily. “Your footsteps are too loud,” he said calmly. “I heard you.” “Seen enough?” “No.” He put the book down and slowly wheeled closer. “Continue.” My legs went weak. “I’m not acting anymore.” “You’re afraid of me?” He stopped, staring at me intently. “…No.” “Yes.” He seemed to read the twitch of my lips. “You’re afraid I’ll get close, and you’re afraid you’ll fall for me.” The words hit me like an arrow. “Are you crazy?” I blurted out. “Are you sick?” He didn’t get angry. He actually smiled faintly. “Indeed. My medical report says ‘Post-Traumatic Adaptation Disorder,’ with ‘deviated physiological response to stimuli’ in parentheses.” I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. He suddenly reached out and tucked a stray hair behind my ear. The gesture was gentle, like a lover’s touch. “Do you know what you smell like right now?” he whispered. “W-what?” “A trapped animal.” He enunciated each word. “You look like a little pet that wants to run but doesn’t know where to go.” My face burned. Before I could retort, a voice interrupted. “Brother, breakfast is ready.” Ethan stood on the stone steps, smiling innocently. “Harper, come join us? The chef made pumpkin gratin, your favorite.” I let out a breath and practically ran toward him. But Ethan leaned in and whispered, “Don’t be fooled by my brother’s serious face. He wasn’t always like this.” “What do you mean?” “He used to love sketching figures.” Ethan winked. “Realism. The kind where you measure proportions with your eyes.” I was speechless. “After the accident, he stopped talking. The doctors say… he might have suppressed it for too long. Who knows why he only reacts to you.” “You mean I’m like a switch?” “Maybe,” he sighed. “I’m just worried about you. You don’t know his state. He’s… deep.” I looked down at my shoes, feeling heavy. Of course I didn’t know Sterling Vance. The man with eyes full of forbidden fire… I couldn’t read him, and I didn’t dare to try. “If you want to quit this game,” Ethan patted my shoulder, “I’ll help you.” I looked at him. He stood in the sun, his smile as clean as spring water. I turned back to the colonnade. Sterling was gone. The sunlight hit the tire tracks he left behind, looking like a path leading into an abyss.

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My husband, Sterling Vance, gave his new secretary a diamond necklace worth over a hundred thousand dollars. The little secretary posted a picture of it on Instagram, bragging: [Hard work pays off. A persistent heart will never be let down. I’ll keep doing my best, my dear CEO!] My assistant forwarded the post to me. I forwarded it to Sterling: [A hundred grand is pocket change. How much do you consider ‘real money,’ Mr. Vance?] Sterling: [Over a million, I guess.] Me: [Transfer two million to my account within one minute. Memo: Voluntary Gift.] Sterling: [Stop playing games, babe.] Then, he received a video. In the video, I smashed his favorite antique Ming vase. Exactly two million dollars’ worth. 1 Sterling called immediately. “Do you know how expensive that vase was? What the hell are you doing?” “Sterling, was my message not clear enough?” I glanced at the Patek Philippe on my wrist. “You have thirty-four seconds left. I’m standing in front of that 19th-century oil painting in your study. You know what happens next.” The call ended abruptly. Twenty seconds later, a notification from my bank showed a transfer of two million dollars. I sent him a photo. In it, his favorite painting lay on the floor, slashed to ribbons. [The vase was a warning. The painting is a punishment.] [Sterling, you are a married man.] This time, Sterling didn’t call back. Not even a text. I knew he was furious. But I didn’t care. Marriages in our circle are business mergers. If love happens, it’s a bonus. If not, it’s just business as usual. Sterling and I were somewhere in the middle. We didn’t hate each other when we first met, but we weren’t in love either. That set the tone. We had the grand wedding, the socialite spectacle. On our wedding night, we slept in separate rooms and politely wished each other goodnight. It wasn’t until six months later that we finally slept together—and I was the one who initiated it. The Vance family is old money, refined and uptight. Sterling grew up cold and detached. My family, the Sullivans, came from the streets. My dad built his empire with grit and bare knuckles. We don’t do subtle. We do direct. So I never believed in love at first sight. Sterling and I grew on each other. I loved him, and he loved me. But we were rational people. Love wasn’t our priority. But this little secretary had touched a nerve. Her blatant showing off stung my eyes. I don’t allow anyone to covet what’s mine. Not even a glance. But I also knew that the more you suppress something, the harder it fights back. Especially with a man like Sterling. That evening, Sterling texted me. [Business dinner tonight. Won’t be home.] I didn’t reply. I focused on my work. At 8 PM, my best friend, Blair, sent me a photo. It was taken at a high-end restaurant. Sterling was sitting there, and next to him was a young girl. She was dressed to impress, hair and makeup done professionally. She had that sunny, innocent vibe, complete with cute dimples. Blair: [What’s the situation? Why did your man bring a kid to a business dinner? Did you guys fight?] My assistant sent me a screenshot at the same time. The little secretary had posted on Instagram again. [Attending a high-end gala. Feeling one step closer to my dream life, thanks to a great mentor.] The photo was a selfie. She was beaming, her dimples deep. The diamond necklace around her neck was blinding. Behind her, Sterling—usually camera-shy—was watching her take the selfie with a faint smile. His eyes held a look of indulgence that betrayed his thoughts. I remembered his previous secretary. She got fired on the spot just for replying to a work text during a business dinner. But now, Sterling was not only tolerating this girl’s selfie obsession but actively participating in it, using his status to boost hers. He knew my best friend was at that dinner. He was acting this brazenly because I had smashed his vase and slashed his painting earlier. He knew I would see the photo. He knew I would see her post. He did it to spite me. Unfortunately for him, when it comes to revenge, the entire Vance family combined couldn’t hold a candle to me. I texted Sterling: [Care to explain the person sitting next to you?] Five minutes passed. No reply. I texted Blair: [Is he checking his phone?] Blair replied instantly: [He looked at it, but didn’t type. Are you grilling him?] I texted Sterling again: [Answer me. I know you saw it.] Still nothing. [I’ll give you one last chance. If I don’t see a reply in ten seconds, you bear the consequences.] Ten seconds later, I sent him a photo. Sterling replied instantly: [Sarah, what the hell are you doing?] Blair texted me: [Holy crap! What did you send him? His face just went white. Like, ghost white.] I sent Blair a devil emoji: [Watch the show.] The photo I sent Sterling was of an old, yellowing pink envelope. It looked like something a high schooler would cherish. It was a love letter from Sterling’s first love. The girl who pushed him out of the way of a speeding truck in high school and died in his place. That letter was the last thing she left him. He valued it more than his life. I suddenly realized that the new secretary looked vaguely like that girl. So, the great CEO Sterling Vance was playing the “replacement” game. He was projecting his dead first love onto this intern. Seeing no reply from me, Sterling texted again. [Don’t touch it!] Even the punctuation screamed panic. [Sterling, call me.] He obeyed. The phone rang immediately. His voice was low. “Stop it, Sarah. Can we talk about this when I get home?” “Put me on speaker.” “What are you doing?” “I said, speaker!” Sterling had no choice. “Sorry to interrupt everyone’s dinner, but I heard our CEO brought a newbie to the table tonight. Just calling to confirm.” Sterling’s voice was tense. “Sarah, it’s not what you think. It’s strictly professional. Don’t misunderstand.” “Is it? Which CEO gives a hundred-thousand-dollar necklace to his secretary?” “Sterling, I don’t care what your relationship is. But I want you to slap her. Right now. Twice.” “You can refuse. But you know the consequences.” 3 That night, Lily—the secretary—ran out of the restaurant crying, clutching her face. Blair blew up my phone all night. [Babe, that was a show! Dinner is on me next time!] [Omg! Your husband has a heavy hand. Those slaps looked painful.] [Is this girl part of some kink you guys have?] [Everyone’s gonna talk about this tomorrow. If I were her, I’d want to die.] [Girl, teach me your ways of husband management!] I replied casually: [It’s simple. Just don’t love him, and you can control him.] Blair lost interest: [Never mind then. I can’t do that.] Of course she couldn’t. She and her husband were childhood sweethearts who still called each other “honey bear” in public. It was nauseating. [By the way, your husband looked murderous all night. Is he gonna fight you when he gets home?] [Fight? Who’s beating whom?] Blair sent a “be gentle” gif and went silent. Half an hour later, Sterling stormed into the house. He burst into the bedroom, grabbing my wrist, eyes blazing. “Where is it?” I stared at him, silent. “Sarah, where is the letter?” I kept staring. After a minute of standoff, he crumbled. He sat on the bed, head in hands. “I did what you asked. I humiliated myself tonight. She could sue me for assault. What more do you want?” “Did I make you humiliate yourself? Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” Silence. Then Sterling spoke. “She’s just a college grad. There’s really nothing going on. How can I make you believe me?” “Sterling, belief isn’t about what you say. It’s about what you do.” “A hundred grand isn’t much to you, but to a normal family, that’s life-changing money. Don’t tell me you don’t know that.” “You casually give that kind of money to another woman and expect me not to care?” “I saw her crying because she messed up a report. I just wanted to comfort her. It was a spare gift I had lying around. I have no feelings for her.” “A spare gift worth a luxury car? You give that to a girl fresh out of college, and you don’t think she’ll get the wrong idea?” “If you hadn’t enabled her, would she have posted that on Instagram? Did she think I wouldn’t see it?” “You took her to dinner, let her sit in my seat. How does that look to outsiders? How does that make me feel?” “She took selfies at a business dinner, and you didn’t stop her. You even posed for her. Did you think about how I would make you lose face then?” “You fired previous secretaries for less. Why did you spare her?” “Your indulgence gave her the courage to provoke me. Your special treatment gave her delusions.” I peeled back his layers. “I saw her resume. She’s unqualified. You hired her because she looks like the girl who saved your life.” “Sterling, you’re using a replacement to relive your past with a dead girl, aren’t you?” Sterling went silent. The air pressure in the room dropped to zero. “Sterling, look at me.” He looked up, meeting my eyes. I cupped his face and kissed him firmly. “I love you. Now tell me, do you love me?” His voice was hoarse. “I do.” I pulled the yellowed envelope from the drawer. “I wasn’t part of your past, but I don’t want to miss your future.” I placed the letter in his hand. “I love you, so I won’t touch the past you cherish. But don’t make me stop loving you, okay?” Sterling’s breathing grew heavy. He flipped us over, pinning me to the bed, burying his face in my neck like a starving wolf. “Sterling, this is the first time. And the last time.” He moved frantically. “I promise. Never again.” 4 Lily became the office joke. Usually, assistants rotated for events. But since Lily’s “promotion,” she had monopolized Sterling’s schedule. Lily skipped work the next day. When my assistant presented the absentee report to Sterling, he signed it without hesitation. Everyone knew the little secretary’s glory days were over. Lily was transferred out of the executive suite to the front desk. She was banned from the lobby whenever Sterling was in the building. Her salary was slashed. Rumors flew. Everyone knew the “Iron Lady” wife had forced the CEO to slap his mistress in public. Before this, people bet Lily would be the next Mrs. Vance. Now, those rumors vanished like smoke. The consensus was clear: covet the throne, and you die a painful death. Lily became a pariah. I’m a vengeful person. You aim for what’s mine, you pay the price. I instructed my assistant to file for Lily’s termination. HR signed off immediately. But I underestimated Lily. I didn’t expect Sterling to have told her about his first love. He rarely even spoke of it to me. When Lily came to pack her things, she wore a pale yellow dress and white canvas shoes—the dead girl’s signature look. She “accidentally” bumped into Sterling in the elevator. Before he could speak, her tears shattered his defenses. In his office, a tearful Lily stood behind Sterling as he raged at my assistant. “I pay your salary, and you use the power I gave you to target my people? Are you insane?” My assistant stood firm. “Mr. Vance, who is ‘your people’?” Sterling faltered. He didn’t want to answer that. “You’re fired. Pack your things. Lily will take your position.” That night, Sterling exploded at me for the first time. “What gives you the right to drive her away? Because of your petty jealousy? Are you insecure because she’s younger?” “Don’t think being my wife lets you do whatever you want. You crossed a line!” He grabbed a vase and smashed it at my feet, then stormed out. “Sarah, you’ve disappointed me.” The door slammed. I stared at the closed door, expressionless. I picked up a sharp shard of the vase. Holding it tight, I slashed a long gash down my own arm. Blood dripped from my fingertips onto the floor, blooming like dark flowers. Sterling, if you want war, I won’t be polite.

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My mother was in end-stage kidney failure. To save her, my father emptied his life savings. My brother donated a kidney without a second thought. Even my elderly grandmother dragged her frail body to the hospital to care for her day and night. But on the day she was discharged, my mother picked up a kitchen knife and hacked my father, brother, and grandmother to death. I survived only because I was away at boarding school. After killing them, my mother vanished without a trace. The police searched everywhere but found nothing. The case went cold. No one could understand why my mother, who had always been gentle and kind, would slaughter the family that loved her so dearly. Until my wedding day. My mother walked into the ceremony, knife in hand… 1 “Elara, I know this is hard for you, but you don’t have to drop out.” “You’re the top student at the Police Academy. Giving up now is a waste of your talent.” Professor Thorne looked at my withdrawal form, his voice filled with concern. I didn’t hesitate. “As long as my mother’s case remains unsolved, I can’t focus on anything else.” Thorne sighed. “The department has prioritized this case. A special task force was formed, but there are simply no leads.” “I’ve been analyzing it myself. I’ve consulted on hundreds of cases, but this one… it makes no sense. Your family was known for being close. Your mother had no history of violence. Why would she do this?” Professor Thorne was a legend in criminal psychology. He had helped solve impossible cases for decades. Yet, even he was stumped by my mother’s actions and disappearance. “I’m quitting school to investigate this myself,” I said. “Elara, don’t be impulsive. She’s your mother, yes, but she killed three people. She’s dangerous. Investigating alone is reckless.” Tears welled up in my eyes. The image of the mother who used to brush my hair, now a wanted fugitive, broke my heart. “If she comes for me, good. Then I can ask her why.” My mother, Grace, had always been the heart of our home. She preached that family was everything. I couldn’t reconcile that woman with the monster who destroyed us. 2 I moved back into the empty house. The silence was deafening. The faint metallic scent of old blood still lingered in the air. I sat on the couch, staring at the family portrait on the wall. My heart felt like it had been carved out. My parents had been deeply in love. Dad was frugal but would spend a fortune on a dress if Mom liked it. When she got sick, he worked three jobs to buy her the best supplements. Grandma treated Mom like her own daughter. When Mom was hospitalized, Grandma stayed by her side, wiping her face, feeding her. My brother, Noah, was our pride. He gave up a scholarship to Stanford to stay close and donate his kidney to Mom. We were the envy of the neighborhood. The perfect family. Why? I searched every inch of the house for clues. Mom’s bedside table still had Dad’s hangover pills. Dad’s side had books on post-transplant care. Grandma’s room was tidy, the jade bracelet Mom gave her stored safely in a velvet box. Noah’s room was filled with medical journals, notes on kidney health scribbled in the margins. Nothing. No secret diaries, no hidden debts, no signs of an affair. Finally, I turned to the surveillance footage. 3 I had watched this video a thousand times. The authenticity had been verified by forensics. Dad, Noah, Grandma, and Mom were eating dinner. Halfway through, Mom stood up and walked to the kitchen. She returned with a cleaver. Before anyone could react, she was swinging. The violence was brutal, efficient. She didn’t stop until they were unrecognizable. Her face was twisted in a mask of pure rage, as if she were killing her worst enemies, not her family. My family died with shock and confusion frozen on their faces. After confirming they were dead, Mom looked directly into the camera, then walked out the door. For three years, I locked myself in the house, replaying that footage. My boyfriend, Caleb, dropped out of the academy with me. He moved in, took care of me, and tried to help me solve the case. “Elara, it’s been three years. We can’t find her. The task force has given up. You need to let go.” Caleb placed a plate of food in front of me. He looked exhausted. Everyone told me to move on. They said my mother was just a psychopath who snapped. But I knew there was more. Why kill the people who saved her life? One day, while staring at the screen for the millionth time, something clicked. A detail I had missed. I stood up, shouting, “I know the truth!” 4 “What is it?” Caleb asked immediately. “Let’s get married,” I said. Caleb froze. “Now? What does that have to do with the case?” He had proposed before, wanting to take care of me, but I had always refused. “Just trust me,” I said, my eyes burning with intensity. “Announce it. Make it big. Invite influencers, reporters, livestream it. You’ll understand soon.” Caleb looked at me, saw the resolve in my eyes, and nodded. “Okay.” We set the date for two days later. The news spread like wildfire. “Elara Vance is getting married? Her mom is still at large!” “I thought she went crazy from grief. Now a wedding?” The internet buzzed with speculation. On the day of the wedding, the hall was packed. Reporters live-streamed the event. As we were about to exchange rings, she appeared. My mother stood at the entrance of the banquet hall. She was wearing a custom-made cheongsam my father had bought her years ago. In her hand was a rusty cleaver. She looked older, her eyes cold and dead. Guests screamed and scattered. The cameras zoomed in. Livestream comments exploded: “That’s the killer mom!” “She’s here to finish the job!” “Run, girl, run!” Caleb stepped in front of me protectively. I gently pushed him aside and walked toward her. “Mom,” I said calmly. “Long time no see.”

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My parents said they didn’t have the energy to raise two kids. So, they took my younger sister and moved to the city, leaving me and my grandmother behind in a rundown house in the countryside. Over a decade passed. They had everything now. But they forgot about me and Grandma. When I called, they brushed me off with vague excuses. My sister, raised like a princess, became an influencer. To gain followers, she spread rumors that I was the golden child, the one our parents favored. When angry netizens stormed our old home to confront me, they didn’t know I had already fallen into the swollen river while picking fruit for my family. I was long dead. In the morgue, my parents cried as if their hearts were being ripped out. “I’m dead. Now my sister is their only daughter. Why do they regret it?” 1 “Guys… even though Mom and Dad only love my sister, and even though she bullies me, they are still my family… blood is thicker than water!” “I’m not sad. I have to go cook dinner for my parents later to apologize. I shouldn’t be inconsiderate of my sister.” On the phone screen, my sister, Chloe, was crying beautifully, her makeup impeccable. She was live-streaming, telling her followers how much she had suffered growing up. How her older sister forced her to boil water for noodles, resulting in burns… How her parents secretly gave her sister snacks and not her… How her sister framed her, causing her to be beaten by their parents… Chloe told the stories with vivid detail, and the viewer count kept climbing. Everyone in the chat was cursing my parents and me. But what they didn’t know was that these stories were true—except the roles were reversed. I was the one being bullied. I wanted to rush over and argue with her. But my hand passed right through her shoulder. No matter how loud I screamed or tried to explain to the screen, it was useless. My hand only ruffled Chloe’s glossy, well-maintained hair. I looked at my own palms. There was no river mud, no cuts from picking fruit. I stared blankly. So, I really was dead… I remembered not long ago, the apricots in the mountains had ripened. My parents and sister hadn’t come back for the holidays in years. But this time, Grandma said they were definitely coming. I was so happy I couldn’t sleep. Before dawn, I grabbed a basket and went to pick apricots. I hadn’t spent much time with my parents or sister. I didn’t know what they liked or what they needed. But dried apricots were the best treat I knew. You can’t go wrong with good food! So, I tirelessly picked basket after basket. Dew soaked my clothes, branches scratched my hands, but I didn’t feel tired… As I headed home with a full basket, the surging river water from the flood season washed away the small bridge. I fell in. I bobbed up and down, screaming for help, but the roar of the water drowned out my voice. Finally, I sank to the bottom, vanishing as if I had never existed… “Guys, I have to go now! I have to cook for my sister and parents.” Chloe closed her laptop and walked out of the simple room that only had a bed. Outside, it was spacious and luxurious. I had never seen such a beautiful house. It had multiple floors! Compared to the house I lived in with Grandma, this place looked like a palace. Yes! Such a big house, so beautiful. But there wasn’t a single room for me or Grandma. Even though I was their child too! Even though I needed their care too. When they took my sister out of the mountains, they promised they would come back for us. But… they seemed to have forgotten that promise. Forgotten that they had another daughter who looked at the stars every night, counting the days until our reunion… “Sweetie, you’re done streaming? What do you want to eat today?” “I don’t have much of an appetite. Let’s go for Italian.” Outside the door, Mom and Dad had been waiting for a long time. They carefully helped Chloe change out of her “poor girl” costume into a beautiful designer dress. “Chloe looks so good in this! If Harper wore it, her dark skin would make it look terrible!” “With all those calluses on her hands, she’d ruin the fabric!” “Harper is nothing compared to Chloe! Not even a single strand of her hair!” They chatted happily, not forgetting to belittle me. Watching them drive away in their luxury car, my nose stung. Yeah! My hands were rough, my skin dark from the sun. I wanted to be like my sister too. But if I didn’t work the fields under the scorching sun, Grandma and I would have starved to death in the mountains. My dark skin, my thin frame, my callused hands—they all told the story of their bias. 2 Over the past few days, I tried to leave this house, but failed. I couldn’t leave them. I finally fulfilled my wish of living with Mom and Dad. Just not while I was alive. And it turned out, Mom and Dad didn’t seem to love me in their hearts either. For days, they talked about Chloe constantly, rarely mentioning me. I was the contrast to their precious daughter, the punchline when conversation lulled. They attacked my appearance, saying I was like a block of wood with no thoughts or emotions. Calling me a country bumpkin who would just get married early and have kids… Chloe’s social media account exploded because of the “parents favor the older sister” gimmick. Now, Chloe was rubbing her forehead, struggling to come up with the next video idea. Mom and Dad were brainstorming beside her. Pfft! Beside me, Mom suddenly burst out laughing. Chloe rolled her eyes in annoyance, wanting to leave but stopped by Dad. “Hahahaha! Chloe, do you remember the dried apricots Harper gave us? We still haven’t finished them! That bumpkin thought dried apricots were the best thing in the world! Hahahaha…” The whole family burst into laughter. Only me, my face pale. So, they didn’t like dried apricots. Why didn’t they tell me earlier? Maybe then I wouldn’t have lost my life… For those apricots, Grandma and I guarded them day and night. Worried about rain, worried about bugs. Just so they could eat something good. “So they don’t like them…” I murmured, blood tears rolling down my cheeks, making my pale face look even more terrifying. Even though I had become numb to them over the past few days, their words still pierced my heart like swords. Day by day, I watched how Mom and Dad loved this sister. She had bad grades and couldn’t get into high school, so they hired the best piano teacher to tutor her, planning to send her abroad as an art student. I was always in the top ten of my school. My teacher said I was the most likely student to get into a top university. But when I timidly asked them for money for tutoring, they claimed business was tight and couldn’t even spare five hundred dollars. She wanted to be an influencer, so they brainstormed ideas for her. At the amusement park, Chloe was bored with the rides. She reluctantly looked up for photos. I stared wide-eyed at the rides I had only seen on TV. When I was little, they promised to take me to the amusement park if I got perfect scores. But in the end, my certificates covered the wall, and they rarely praised me. Eventually, they stopped visiting altogether. They gave all their love to Chloe, forgetting to leave a little for me. They always said working in the city was hard, that bringing a child along was troublesome. They said it would be hard for whoever they brought. But they chose to bring the youngest, Chloe. What about me? What was I? 3 “Our Chloe was praised by her teacher again! He said she learns piano so fast!” “Chloe has fair skin, she needs to wear designer clothes!” “Chloe…” At dinner parties, Mom and Dad bragged endlessly to their business partners about how excellent Chloe was. Chloe didn’t give them face, sitting on the side playing games and swearing. But in my parents’ eyes, Chloe was cute no matter what. They hid my existence. Few of their partners knew about me. “Hey, Joe… Chloe is great, but your older daughter Harper is also good, right?” “Joe, you have another daughter? Why haven’t I heard you mention her?” “Why bring her up? Ruining such a good day! Are you doing this on purpose?” Smash! Mom threw her wine glass to the ground, shattering it. Her hysterical screaming silenced everyone. The air froze. No one knew why mentioning the older daughter would trigger such a reaction. “Sorry! Everyone, she drank too much. Please enjoy your meal, we’re leaving!” Dad smiled apologetically while dragging Mom out. The family fled in embarrassment, leaving whispers behind. “Harper is such a jinx!” “She ruined the good mood today!” “Why doesn’t she just die?!” In the car, the family blamed me for Mom’s outburst. I listened quietly. Today I truly felt how much of a disgrace my existence was to them. I was like a stain they tried their best to cover up. Thinking of this, I felt a bit happy. I even smiled. Now that I was dead, I wouldn’t be an eyesore to them anymore. And I wouldn’t make them eat dried apricots they hated. They would be happy, right? “Wow! Mom, Dad, you’re so good to me!” “You’re our child. We have the means now, who else would we treat well?” The next day, Chloe was blindfolded and taken to a large apartment. The decoration was in her favorite style, filled with clothes and toys. This was the apartment they bought for Chloe. Her graduation gift. Chloe said thank you for once. Moved to tears, my parents posted on social media about how their daughter was sensible and grateful. I stood by a pile of toys and dresses, reaching out to touch them. But my hand passed through, feeling nothing. Soft or hard? Thin or thick? Warm to wear? These clothes, I couldn’t wear in life, and couldn’t touch in death. Just like my parents’ love. Overflowing, but not for me. It always flowed to those who didn’t lack love. And I was still fantasizing that Mom and Dad would find a conscience and care about me a little. Wearing my old, ill-fitting blue shirt, I fell into the turbulent river that day. From beginning to end, I drowned in the cold water, unnoticed. I started to worry about Grandma. That small, thin old woman who saved all the good food for me. She loved me more than anyone. Maybe she was the only person in the world who still cared about me. But she had Alzheimer’s, which had gotten worse over the years. When I went to school or out, I always locked her inside. I wondered if she was hungry now, if she had a moment of clarity and realized I was gone. It was late summer, and it rained constantly in the mountains. The old house leaked, and Grandma would groan in pain, holding her rheumatic knees. The suffering Grandma and I endured, they ignored. To Mom and Dad, it seemed less important than what Chloe would eat tomorrow.

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I am the true heiress, and Caleb Vance is the true heir. During the ten years we were lost and adrift, we relied on each other for survival. We made a pact: whoever was found first would come back for the other. But when his wealthy family finally found him, he gently pushed me away. “The adopted son is here too. The car is full. I’ll come back for you next time.” I knew he wouldn’t come back. Later, he lost the battle for inheritance against the adopted son. Disheartened, he returned to find me. “Raising fish and planting trees is a life worth living,” he said. “I’m willing to spend the rest of my life like this with you.” I shook my head and waved the DNA test results in my hand. “This time, it’s my turn to go home.” “And my family doesn’t have a fake heiress.” 1 When the mayor ran up to tell me Caleb was back, I was sweating, sleeves rolled up, picking passion fruit. I froze for a second, then wiped the sweat from my forehead and smiled. “Well, make sure you treat Mr. Vance well. We’ve been struggling to find a buyer for these passion fruits.” Caleb had been gone for three years. In those three years, he never came back to see me, nor did he come to pick me up as promised. I went from heartbreak to silent disappointment, and finally to this calm smile. I guess that’s growth. Growth means focusing on reality. Caleb is a wealthy heir now. Buying my passion fruit should be easy for him, right? “Luna, aren’t you going? Maybe Caleb is here to take you away,” the mayor said, happy for me. I shook my head, squeezing a fragrant passion fruit in my hand. “No, I’m racing against time for the harvest. If I don’t pick them now, they’ll be overripe.” The mayor was surprised, but then seemed to understand. He sighed and ran down the hill. I continued to work hard with the other villagers, racing against the clock. Just as I was dizzy from the heat, I looked up and saw a thin figure standing in front of me. I paused and greeted him, “Mr. Vance, you’ve lost weight.” 2 Caleb had lost weight. I remember when he left three years ago, he was a tall, energetic boy with a handsome face that looked out of place in the countryside. Everywhere he went, he attracted attention. Now, he was thin, silent, and lifeless. The only thing that hadn’t changed was that devastatingly handsome face. Reuniting now, the first thing I looked at was still his face. He didn’t speak, just stared at me intently. His eyes were red, his lips trembling, as if he had suffered a great injustice and desperately needed a hug. I inexplicably took a step forward, then stopped. I didn’t want to hug him. In the past ten years, I had hugged him many times. He was a proud person, stubborn since childhood, never wanting to lose. Once, he fought a homeless man for half a hamburger, getting beaten bloody, just to snatch it back for me to eat. Afterwards, he cried silently in pain, and I held him all night. He clashed with villagers for his foster mother, wielding a sickle and roaring like a madman. Exhausted, he collapsed into my arms, and I held him all night. He missed his home, staring blankly at the sky in the middle of the night, and I held him all night. This ambitious boy had never left my embrace. But three years ago, he left without hesitation. 3 That day was the day Caleb and I officially led the villagers to plant passion fruit. I was on the mountain fantasizing about a bountiful harvest and making a fortune. Caleb suddenly went down the mountain and met the family he had been dreaming of. By the time I ran down excitedly, he had already finished reuniting with his family and was packing his meager belongings. I hugged him tightly, weeping with joy. “Caleb, that’s great! You’ve finally found your family!” His body stiffened, and he was silent for a moment. I was surprised and wiped my tears to look at him. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?” He was happy, but beneath the joy in his eyes, there was a hidden emotion. “Happy,” he replied with one word, looking at the mountains outside the village. “Aren’t you busy? The villagers don’t know much about planting; you need to guide them constantly.” “Even if I’m busy, I have to come see you! Your family found you!” I didn’t catch the implication in Caleb’s words and continued talking to myself. “This is great! We’ll have money, and we can help the village develop. Perfect!” Caleb fell silent again. I finally realized something was wrong. Caleb was happy to see his family. But he wasn’t happy to see me. I pursed my lips and playfully punched him twice. “Cat got your tongue? You’re not thinking of abandoning me, are you?” I asked this jokingly. But Caleb’s tone was serious. He hesitated, his eyes flickering. “My parents adopted a son, and 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 had seen that car from afar. It was huge and long, more spacious than Old Man Wang’s truck. How could it be full? I’m not stupid; I understood Caleb’s meaning immediately. But ten years of feelings are hard to let go. I really couldn’t believe it, nor did I want to. So before the tears welled up, I kept joking, “If the car is full, I can sit in the trunk, or even on the roof, haha.” My forced laughter sounded like the sharp cry of a dying duck. Caleb sighed heavily, turning his back to me. “Luna, wealthy families in reality are more exaggerated than in novels. They care more about matching social status. “I was engaged since childhood. It’s an arranged marriage; I don’t have a say.” With every word he said, my tear ducts broke down a little more. When he turned to look at me, my face was covered in tears. But he remained calm, his tone full of ambition. “I am the heir to a wealthy family, and there is a favored adopted son at home. If I take you back, you will definitely be a burden to me. “I can’t afford any mistakes. I don’t want my biological parents to think I’m an emotional loser. So, you must stay!” I was crying my heart out, unable to refute a single word. Caleb’s eyes flickered, but he still hugged me, his voice softening. “Be good, wait for me to come back for you.”

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Bullied by classmates, called a waste by my mother. With nowhere left to turn, I fell into depression and attempted suicide. My dad tried to get me a leave of absence from college, but my three uncles objected. “You’re spoiling her, that’s why she’s so dramatic.” “Hang her upside down from the balcony. Starve her for three days and nights, she’ll be fine.” I begged for mercy, but my family ignored me. My mother’s phrase, “It’s all for your own good,” explained everything. When I lay injured on the floor, unable to care for my little brother, causing him to be scalded and disfigured, I finally found release. “Mom, if I die, will I stop being a waste?” 1 “Dad, Mom, I’m dying, please let me down…” Hanging upside down was unbearable. Blood rushed to my head, my eyes throbbed with pain, and I felt like I was suffocating. “Hear that? She’s already begging!” “Depression? Suicide attempt? All fake!” My uncles laughed as they drank beer, completely ignoring my pleas. “You guys spoil her too much, that’s why she’s so pretentious.” “Now that she’s hanging from the balcony, you can’t be soft-hearted. Keep her there for at least three days and nights.” My dad looked worried, his brow furrowed deeply. “Is this… dangerous?” My mom waved her hand dismissively. “They have experience. You should listen to the experts.” Uncle Ray chuckled. “I’m a dean of discipline at a high school. I’ve seen too many students like this. Lying just to skip school, claiming depression at the drop of a hat. Where do all these dramatic kids come from?” Uncle Ben nodded in agreement. “Exactly! I took a test in the psych ward once. Basically everyone has mental issues, either depression or anxiety. As the old saying goes, ‘If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.’ Isn’t this normal?” Uncle Carl exhaled a puff of smoke. “You should learn from me. My son said he wouldn’t go to school last year. I broke his leg, and now he’s as good as gold. And my daughter, she ran away from home once. I dragged her back and beat her, and now she’s obedient. You guys just feel too sorry for the kid; she’ll walk all over you!” Hearing their words, my dad relaxed a little. Uncle Ray pointed at me sternly. “For these three days, no food, no water! Unless she says she’ll go to school, don’t let her down!” “She’s already in college and still acting like this! If you’re soft, you’ll ruin her life!” My mom nodded. “Understood. I have no problem with it, it’s just Joe who’s always soft on his daughter.” She glared at my dad. He wanted to say something but didn’t dare. Then my mom turned on the TV and played an online English class. 2 “Lily, even if you’re upside down, you have to keep studying. Don’t fall behind.” “Everyone is racing against time. You’ve been out of school for a week, do you know how far behind you are?! What if you graduate late!” “Don’t blame us for being cruel; we’re doing this for your own good!” I had been hanging for an hour, and it was excruciating. “Mom, please let me go…” My mom’s face changed instantly. She slapped me. “Ungrateful thing! I talk to you nicely, and you don’t listen. You insist on being a waste!” “Let me tell you, unless you study yourself to death, keep studying! Don’t give me excuses! Bullying, depression… pah! I don’t believe any of it!” My parents and uncles were busy eating and drinking; they ignored me. My five-year-old brother, Leo, ran over secretly. He stuffed a candy into my hand and touched my face with his small hand. “Sissy, does it hurt?” “I’ll blow on it for you…” Leo blew on me, trying to make me feel better. “Leo, don’t talk to your sister! She’s a waste!” Hearing Mom yell, Leo walked away, looking wronged. Since childhood, the word “waste” has followed me. My mom is a kind mother to the outside world, but a cold demon at home. When I was bullied by classmates, she didn’t help me; she made me apologize to the bullies. When I attempted suicide due to depression, she said I was acting. When I took a break from school to recover, she said I would set a bad example for my brother. My parents urged me to go back to school; I refused. The principal and my advisor came to persuade me; I refused. Now, my mom brought my three uncles, and they called me dramatic, insisting on teaching me a lesson. Everyone pressured me, but no one asked why I wanted to die, why I reached this point. The bullies broke two of my ribs, which still hurt. Now hanging upside down, my chest felt even worse. I wasn’t afraid of death; I just didn’t want to die so painfully. Could you make it quick? 3 Suddenly my vision went black. I couldn’t see anything. Suffocation washed over me. I suddenly felt a bit of fear. What I feared wasn’t the approaching end of my life, but that when the end came, I had never truly lived as myself. “It’s been ten hours, that’s enough!” My dad was extremely worried, seeing my color was very wrong. “No! This is nothing! Joe, don’t be soft!” Just as my uncles were objecting, Grandpa called. “What? Mom fell from the third floor?” “We’re coming right now!” Grandma had an accident, and they rushed to leave. “Let Lily down. She can take care of Leo. We’ll deal with her when we get back!” My mom gave the order, and my dad quickly let me down. “Lily, take care of Leo for dinner and bath, put him to sleep, understand?” It took me a long time to breathe normally. “Can you… leave someone here… I can’t see…” My mom’s face changed instantly. “Stop acting so delicate! Can’t see? Why don’t you say you’re dying!” My mom kicked me hard twice. My healing ribs broke again, and I vomited a mouthful of blood. My dad’s face changed; he looked nervous and uneasy. 4 “Why are you vomiting blood? This… let’s go to the hospital!” My mom pushed him away, glaring at me viciously. “What do you mean by not dodging? Trying to frame me for domestic abuse? Want me to bear that bad name?” “Don’t think you can run away just by pretending to vomit blood. Stay home obediently, don’t go anywhere!” “Clean the floor; it looks unlucky!” She turned and went into the room to pack her bag. My brother gave me his water bottle. “Sissy, drink water.” My dad sighed. “Your mom is just like that, a bit strict, but it’s for your own good.” “We invited your uncles specifically to help you. You have to understand our good intentions.” So that’s what my dad thought. In the room, my mom argued with my dad again. “Just to skip school, full of lies! Even cursing herself to be blind!” “Tell her, even if she dies, I’ll burn her homework for her, so she can’t escape studying even as a ghost!” My mom’s words were like a knife, cutting my wounds deeper. Two months ago, I was locked in the bathroom by bullies, stripped naked, and photographed. When I cried and told my mom, she rolled her eyes coldly. “Why don’t they bully others? Why only you?” “You’re just a waste; you’d be less trouble dead.” When she learned the bullies included the school dean’s daughter and her client’s daughter, my mom immediately took gifts and made me go door-to-door to apologize. “They bullied me, why should I apologize?” My mom slapped me in public. “Endure what you can endure, endure what you can’t.” “If you hadn’t done something wrong, would they bully you?”

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