Everyone in Chicago said Dean Keynes was a cold-blooded monster. He kept a house full of venomous snakes—yet none were colder than he was. I married him only because our engagement had existed before the Doherty family went bankrupt. Over the years, he toyed with countless women. And I, his so-called wife, was left to deal with them. When I knelt to write checks to make them leave, those women would lift my chin with the tips of their high heels and sneer, “Mr. Keynes said you should kneel to send us off.” Every time, Dean would sit on the second floor, swirling a glass of red wine, watching with cold indifference. Then Sally came along—a factory girl from the countryside. One day, the hospital called. They’d finally found a kidney match for my sister. I called Dean in a panic. But it wasn’t him who answered. It was Sally’s delicate voice. “Miss Secretary? Mr. Keynes said my foot hurts. Could you bring me a Band-Aid?” That night, it was raining hard. I stood drenched outside the presidential suite, Band-Aid in hand. From inside came Dean’s languid voice. “Come in. Bring the Band-Aid.” A pause. “And the three boxes of condoms on the table.” I stood frozen, listening to the sounds of their intimacy. Then my phone rang. It was the hospital. The doctor’s voice was hesitant. “Madam Carol… your sister said something disrespectful to Miss Sally, and Mr. Keynes ordered the medical team removed…” “She… she pulled out her own dialysis tube…” The screen lit up with my sister’s final message. Sister, stop kneeling for me. —— I rushed to the hospital. The nurse looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry, Madam Carol. After your sister offended Miss Sally, the team was removed… we didn’t get to her in time.” I stood there, numb, my blood running cold. Another message arrived. It was from Dean. “Carol, this is just a small warning. If you want to save what’s left of your family, behave—and don’t upset Sally again.” Tears slipped silently down my face as I stared at the screen. When my family collapsed, everyone said I married him for money. No one knew I had loved Dean in silence for ten years. When I stood at the gates of the Keynes family holding our marriage certificate, I truly believed I could thaw the ice in his heart. I watched countless women come and go. I never cared. Because I thought it was all just a game. But Sally was different. She was never a game. After my sister’s cremation, I left the funeral home in a daze, her ashes in a small porcelain jar clutched to my chest. I returned home, took out the divorce papers I had prepared long ago, and went straight to Dean’s company. When I opened the office door, I saw him holding Sally in his arms, kissing her as if no one else in the world existed. His face—always cold, always distant—was now tender, full of warmth I had never seen. In five years of marriage, he had never once embraced me. Sex was mechanical, wordless. When he was done, he turned away. No eye contact. No warmth. But now he cradled Sally like something sacred. She playfully hit his chest, and he smiled, brushing her hair from her face. Then he finally acknowledged me. “She’s on her period,” he said without even looking up. “Go buy her some sanitary pads.” I glanced down. Draped around Sally’s waist was Dean’s six-figure designer suit jacket. Suddenly, I remembered last month—how I had collapsed with a fever during my own period. I had weakly tugged on his sleeve, asking for help. He had shaken me off. “You’re uncomfortable? Go see a doctor.”

  When I returned with the shopping bag, Sally had already gone into the bathroom. I leaned against the wall outside the door, staring blankly at the ceiling, my mind drifting. Suddenly, something wet and heavy slapped against my face. The sharp, metallic scent of blood flooded my nose. “Oh—sorry.” Her sweet voice drifted out from inside. “Sister Carol, could you help me wash my underwear?” She paused, then added with a smug lilt, “Mr. Keynes said my hands are for serving him. I’m not allowed to get them wet.” I didn’t say a word. I quietly washed the bloodied underwear with trembling fingers. Dean sat on the sofa nearby, a snake coiled leisurely around his hand, a glass of red wine in the other. He often looked like this—detached, elegant, dangerous. Like the cold-blooded creatures he kept, beautiful and heartless. I approached, placing the divorce papers in front of him. “Sign it.” He didn’t even glance at me at first. I studied his profile, that sharp jawline, those emotionless eyes. I suddenly remembered the first time I heard about his past. Back then, a kidnapping had left his brother dead and him abandoned in the dark. I thought… foolishly, that I could warm his soul. He looked up, sarcasm flickering in his eyes. “So impatient?” He sneered. “Fine. The medical team can return.” Then he pointed lazily toward Sally, who was curled on the couch like a fragile porcelain doll. “But first, apologize to Sally.” Without hesitation, I dropped to my knees. “Miss Sally,” I said quietly, “I’m sorry. My sister was wrong to say what she did.” Dean’s brows furrowed. He’d seen me kneel before, but never like this. There was no humiliation in my voice, no resentment in my expression. Just calm, jarring indifference. And that unsettled him. Sally’s eyes reddened immediately. She wiped at imaginary tears. “Your sister said I was a homewrecker.” Her voice trembled. “But the truth is you’re just old and can’t keep Mr. Keynes’s heart.” She turned to him, her voice pitiful and aggrieved. “Is it because I’m a factory girl? That I don’t deserve to be respected?” His expression softened instantly. He gently wiped away her tears. “Don’t say that. You saved me during that mudslide. You’re not like the rest.” Then he coaxed, “Little fool, tell me. What do you want to forgive them?” Sally lifted her chin. Her eyes gleamed with cruelty. “I want her to crawl into Bruno’s doghouse and sleep there tonight.” Bruno, Dean’s German Shepherd, lived in a kennel in the living room. I stood frozen. My chest tightened. In the past, I had endured humiliation from other women. But this… this was different. I looked at Dean instinctively, hoping—perhaps foolishly—that he would show a flicker of hesitation. But he didn’t. “Do as Sally says.” He sipped his wine as if discussing the weather. “If she’s satisfied, I’ll call the medical team back tomorrow.” My nails dug into my palms as I fought back the heat rising in my eyes. “If I sleep there for one night… will you sign the divorce papers?” He smiled coldly. “Of course. As long as Sally is happy.” My head dipped. My voice was barely above a whisper. “Okay.” Gasps echoed from the watching servants as I dropped to my knees and began crawling toward the kennel. Bruno snarled, teeth bared, and I curled up in the corner of his doghouse, trembling. Upstairs, laughter and moans echoed through the floorboards—unbearable, endless. I bit my lip so hard it bled. Just one more night, I told myself. One more night and I’ll finally be free. The wind outside was sharp and merciless. Curled up in that filthy space, drifting between wakefulness and fevered dreams, I lost track of time. By morning, when a servant opened the kennel, I was already burning with fever. My vision darkened. “Where’s Mr. Keynes?” I croaked. My voice barely sounded human. The servant looked away, speaking in a hushed tone. “He left early to celebrate Miss Sally’s birthday.”

I forced myself to the banquet hall, fevered and swaying with every step—just in time to see Dean fastening a diamond necklace around Sally’s neck. The look in his eyes… I’d never seen it before. Soft. Tender. “Sally,” he said gently, “meeting you is the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me.” My heart clenched. Then Sally spotted me. Her voice rang out, deliberately loud. “Sister Carol! Today’s my birthday, and that necklace you’re wearing—how special! Give it to me as a gift, okay?” I stiffened. The wooden necklace around my neck was the last thing my sister ever made for me. Her final gift. “Give it to her.” Dean didn’t even look up from his wine. I bit back the pain, forcing a hollow smile. I unclasped the necklace, placed it into Sally’s hand, then reached into my bag and pulled out the divorce agreement. Without a word, Dean signed it. “Fine,” he said coldly. “Go find Assistant Mike. He’ll arrange a new medical team for you.” Then he turned to Sally and pulled her into his arms. Just as I was about to leave, Sally grabbed my wrist. Her expression shifted to mock concern. “Oh no, Sister Carol, your hand is burning up. Let me get you some antipyretics.” She gripped me tighter. I tried to pull away, but I was too weak. Then she leaned in close and whispered, her voice dripping with poison. “By the way… what do you think Bruno would like for a treat today?” Before I could react, she pulled a small porcelain jar from her coat pocket—the one I knew too well. My sister’s ashes. “Give it back!” My voice cracked as I lunged toward her. But she let go on purpose. The jar hit the ground with a sharp crack, shattering. The ashes scattered across the floor. Bruno came bounding over, tail wagging. He sniffed the mess—and began to lick. “No!” I screamed, falling to my knees. “Stop! Please!” Sally stood above me, smiling as if she were watching a performance. “Mr. Keynes only has me in his heart,” she said sweetly. “Why do you keep embarrassing yourself?” Then she tossed the wooden necklace into a nearby trash bin. “You and your short-lived sister? You both deserved it.” “Shut up!” I slapped her across the face. “Don’t you dare talk about my sister!” She held her cheek, then smirked. “Why not? She’s dead. Isn’t it fitting her ashes fed a dog?” I raised my hand again—but it never landed. Dean caught my wrist midair. His face was a mask of fury. “Carol,” he said darkly, “are you looking for death?” Sally immediately turned on the waterworks. “She called me a country girl. Said I was no better than a chicken. Said I didn’t deserve to stay in the Keynes family…” At a glance from him, two bodyguards rushed forward and forced me to my knees. “Hit her,” he said coldly. Sally hesitated for show. “Isn’t that… a bit too much?” But Dean took her hand himself and swung it hard across my face. The slap rang out, sharp and final. My skin stung, my mouth filled with the taste of blood. My face went numb on one side. I lifted my head, dazed. And I looked at the man I had loved for over a decade. He wasn’t even looking at me. He was gently cradling Sally’s hand, rubbing it like something precious. “Did that hurt, sweetheart?” he asked softly. That’s when I finally woke up. To him, I wasn’t even worth the attention he gave a dog. Dean looked at me again, frowning. “I think I’ll take back the medical team—” But before he could finish, I let out a bitter laugh. Tears streamed down my burning cheeks. “There’s no need,” I said hoarsely. “My sister died long ago. Her ashes are gone now, too.” He stared at me, briefly speechless. Then he turned away—cold, unmoved—his arm around Sally as they walked off together like nothing had happened. I dragged myself back to the villa, every step heavier than the last. I began packing what little I had. Five years in this place, and nothing truly belonged to me. The wardrobe was filled with dark dresses—his favorite. He hated bright colors. So I never wore them.   I never dared to keep anything with almonds in the kitchen—just the faintest trace could trigger his allergies. Every year before Memorial Day, I would travel to Napa Valley myself, just to bring back the freshest premium green tea. I remember the time he became obsessed with racing. I secretly enrolled in driving courses, passed the test, and earned a license—thinking I could surprise him. But when I told him, smiling with excitement, he only gave me a cold glance. “Don’t touch my car.” Five years of marriage. All I had left was a marriage certificate. No photos. No shared memories. Even our fights were one-sided—I argued in silence, and he never bothered replying. At dawn, the door slammed open. Dean burst in, face twisted with fury. He stormed up to me and wrapped his fingers around my neck. “Where’s Sally?” I gasped, clawing at his hand. “I don’t know…” “Still lying?” His grip tightened, cutting off my breath. “She disappeared this morning after getting an anonymous message. Who else but you would want to hurt her?” “I really don’t know,” I choked out, shaking my head. His eyes darkened. He motioned to the bodyguards. Before I could react, they dragged me out to the pool and threw me in. The icy water slammed into my body, stealing the air from my lungs. I struggled to surface, coughing— Only to feel Dean’s hand push my head under again. “I’ll ask one last time,” he said above me. “Where is she?” Water surged into my nose, my throat, my lungs. The world spun, and my vision began to blacken. Somewhere, through the growing numbness, I heard his voice: “You really won’t cry until you see the coffin, will you?” — When I came to, bright white lights stabbed into my eyes. I was tied to an iron chair, wrists bound, my body aching. Across from me sat Dean, his once-familiar gaze now filled with cold, murderous rage. Sally curled in his lap, sobbing dramatically. “Mr. Keynes… If you hadn’t arrived when you did… I… I would’ve been…” She let the words trail off, her shoulders shaking in practiced tremors. I turned my neck, muscles stiff, and saw more than a dozen men kneeling on the ground. Faces bloodied. Begging. Dean didn’t spare them a glance. He crossed his legs slowly, voice sharp as frost. “Carol, I underestimated you. Even this kind of despicable trick… all to win sympathy?” I opened my mouth to explain— But in that instant, he lifted his hand. A flick of his wrist. The venomous snake he had raised for years slithered free— And lunged at me. Its fangs sank deep into my arm. Agony exploded through me like fire, spreading fast, relentless. My vision blurred. My body trembled uncontrollably. “When you wake up,” he said, standing up with Sally in his arms, “come back to me—on your knees.” The warehouse door slammed shut behind him. Silence. Then low, cruel laughter echoed from the bloodied men on the floor. The one in front spat out blood, his smile turning savage. “Dean dares to mess with us? We’ll make him pay—through his woman.” Panic surged, but the venom had already paralyzed my limbs. I thrashed in my restraints as their footsteps closed in. Rough hands tore at my collar— And the world went dark. — When I woke again, everything was quiet. Too quiet. Pain wracked every inch of my body. My ribs felt shattered, my skin torn open. I coughed, and blood spilled from my lips. My fingers twitched weakly, every movement screaming. Memories flickered like a dying reel of film— My sister’s gentle smile. The way my heart once raced when I first saw Dean. Those nights spent listening to him and others from behind a locked door… And then— The iron door creaked open. A figure stood in the doorway, tall and backlit by blinding white light. His face was shadowed, but the silhouette was firm, unmoving. I didn’t know who he was. But he wasn’t Dean. With the last shred of strength left in my body, I raised my bloodstained hand, trembling. “Help… me…” When he looked up, I froze.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398302”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Cheating #Hurt #sad #regret

  I was linked to a Sickness Transmigration System. It dumped me into the body of the true heiress, despised by everyone. Everyone adored the fake heiress, who’d been carefully cherished by the family for sixteen years. My three brothers feared I’d try to claim what belonged to the fake heiress, so they constantly mocked and taunted me. My biological parents were terrified my presence would upset the fake heiress, so they went all out to make it up to her. They never once considered my feelings. They saw my desperate yearning for love as a threat, as sheer jealousy. Later, I was dying. Even later, my second brother found the diary hidden under my pillow. They fell apart. *****   I was linked to a Sickness Transmigration System. It dropped me into the body of Harriet Bernal, the true heiress, half a year after she’d been found by the wealthy Bernal family. On my very first day here. Someone splashed a whole plate of food right onto me. Hot curry sauce ran down my face and neck, and fish balls rolled off my clothes onto the floor. The heat stung. I stared at the boy in front of me, my face blank. My gaze was blank, devoid of any emotion. Everyone else was startled by his actions too. Laurel, my mother, gasped, “Elton, what are you doing!” Elton’s face flickered with a hint of regret, but the words that burst out were nothing but blame. “It’s just that she always has that deadpan face! Renata talked to her, didn’t she hear?” Renata looked guilty at his words. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know it was because of me…” She looked at me apologetically. “My third brother didn’t mean it. Harriet, can I apologize to you for him?” Elton instantly bristled. “Who is she, anyway? Why would you even apologize to her? Renata, why do you even bother with her?!” I gave a faint, bitter smile. I wondered, too, what the original Harriet meant to them. Renata stood, surrounded by my three brothers, dressed in a pristine white dress, her hair perfectly styled. Meanwhile, my clothes were stained yellow with curry, and the smell of food clung to me, even without looking down. Renata. The family’s precious darling. This name shouldn’t have been hers. I ignored Renata. I picked up the last remaining fish ball that had landed on my lap, swallowing it along with the curry still clinging to my lips. It wasn’t the taste I remembered. I got up and left. “I’m full. I’ll head back to my room now, thank you.” As I turned, I met Mrs. Ward’s worried gaze. I managed a small smile for her. Silence fell over the dining table. Bernal and Laurel looked displeased. Brian, my eldest brother, said in a low, stern voice, “Elton, you genuinely crossed a line this time. Harriet didn’t do a thing.”   My original self in the previous world was already dead. Late-stage stomach cancer, died at eighteen. I had died a slow, agonizing death from the pain. There was no one by my side. Aside from that single fish ball just now, I hadn’t eaten anything solid for nearly three months. Perhaps the System, taking pity on my miserable existence, brought me to this world. This body also had stomach cancer. But it hadn’t progressed to a terminal stage yet. The System said the original girl had taken sleeping pills and committed suicide today. Frequent abdominal pain accompanied by coughing up blood had made her aware of her body’s problems. But she was afraid that speaking up would cause trouble for the Bernal family. Making the family, who already disliked her, despise her even more. So she chose to simply leave this world. How foolish she was. The Bernal family had vast resources; with proper treatment, she could have definitely gotten better. This family was truly ironic. They’d brought their biological daughter back half a year ago and still hadn’t noticed she was gravely ill. “Why am I here?” A girl who shared my unfortunate fate. Both orphans since childhood. Both afflicted with stomach cancer. Perhaps she was luckier than I. At sixteen, she was welcomed home by her biological parents. Perhaps she was unluckier than I. She never received a single shred of unconditional love before she left this world, becoming an angel. The System remained silent. “Has my arrival worsened this body’s symptoms?” I asked the System, feeling the metallic taste of blood in my throat. The System replied, “Yes. Just like your original self, you might… by eighteen.” “But if you cooperate with treatment…” I spoke calmly, “No treatment.” It didn’t matter. I was going to die anyway, so what did it matter? Besides, I didn’t want to live.   In the middle of the night, my stomach pain was unbearable, and I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It felt like I was back in my previous life. Every night, I’d curl up, eyes wide open until dawn. My room was empty. My throat was parched. I fumbled my way downstairs in the dark, desperate for a drink of water. Instead, I ran into my second brother, Jeremy, in the living room. Jeremy was a professional gamer, so it wasn’t unusual for him to be up at two or three in the morning. He clearly noticed me too. He looked at me with a sour expression. Jeremy was the quietest member of the Bernal family. The original Harriet had never seen him in a good mood in the six months since she came home. I ignored him. I figured her very presence was enough to irritate him. I walked to the kitchen, hunched over. But I didn’t realize Jeremy was startled by my appearance. Under the dim nightlight in the living room. He clearly saw me sweating profusely from the pain, my lips pale. Aside from the angry red scald mark on my cheek, the rest of my skin was shockingly pale, almost translucent. I, however, was used to my sickly appearance, so I paid it no mind. I leaned against the sink, trying to rest, but the next second, a wave of nausea hit me, and I threw up blood. “Ugh.” I choked, tears welling up from the pain. A sound came from the kitchen doorway. Jeremy had followed me in. I quickly turned on the faucet to rinse the blood from the sink, then cupped my hands and drank a few gulps of tap water. Then I heard Jeremy’s deep voice. “If you’re going to drink water, drink warm water. Cold water can upset your stomach.” I softly hummed in response, lowering my head, trying to walk past him. The original Harriet had barely exchanged words with Jeremy, and I certainly wasn’t eager to get tangled up with this family. But Jeremy grabbed my wrist. I turned my head to look at him, my voice hoarse. “Second brother, is something wrong?” Being so close, Jeremy saw the wound on my face more clearly. He frowned, silent for a moment, then asked, “Why haven’t you treated the scald on your face?” I looked at his seemingly impatient expression. I just assumed he thought it was some kind of attention-seeking stunt. I pulled my wrist free, nodded vaguely. “Yeah, I’m heading back now.” He was too close. Jeremy turned on the light, then walked closer to the sink, frowning. Though the blood had mostly washed away. He still keenly noticed the faint reddish stains lingering in the sink…

  The next morning, as I went downstairs, I ran right into Elton near the staircase. My third brother had the most hostility towards the original Harriet. He and Renata were close in age, and their bond was the deepest. Perhaps Elton was simply too young. All he knew was that the sister he had pampered and protected his entire life had suddenly been replaced. This new girl, who had just been found, was going to steal everything from Renata. He vented all his resentment on his biological sister. He resented her for shattering their perfect life. Little did he realize, the original Harriet was the true innocent one. Elton looked at the obvious scald on my face, his eyes darting away. He deliberately didn’t speak to me, waiting for me to greet him. But I didn’t even glance at him, walking past him and away. Bernal’s face was cold. “You’re a grown person, can’t you even treat a small scald yourself? What kind of impression will you make walking around like that?” Bernal was a traditional patriarch, his eyes always on profits rather than family. He was probably just worried about me embarrassing him. Besides, the original Harriet had only been home for half a year. She couldn’t play any instruments, paint, or excel in academics. Her grades were abysmal. She had no real value to him. Laurel also looked disapproving. I scoffed internally. If it had been Renata, she’d have probably been rushed to the emergency room the second it happened. Yet last night, not a single person had bothered to ask if I’d been scalded. Or if I was still hungry after eating so little. Their favoritism truly knew no bounds. “There’s no first-aid kit in my room.” Silence fell over the Bernal family. Of course, the master bedrooms in the Bernal family mansion were fully equipped. But when they brought the original Harriet back, they made their biological daughter live in a guest room. And a guest room’s amenities were naturally sparse. The original Harriet even used the public bathroom. Not one person offered to give the original Harriet a different room. Laurel looked at her daughter’s face, so similar to her own, flushed with the scald, and a flicker of panic crossed her heart. If it were Renata, even a small injury would have the whole family doting on her. But when it came to me, there was no sound, no care. I was nothing like Renata, not at all lovable. Elton retorted, “You didn’t say anything, how were we supposed to know it was that serious?” A dull ache started in my upper abdomen, and I couldn’t help but hunch over. The taste of blood welled up in my throat. I tugged at my backpack strap, my voice hoarse. “I’m going to school now.” Elton frowned. It felt like his imagination, but Harriet’s posture seemed… off.   After the original Harriet was found, she transferred to Elton and Renata’s school. But Renata didn’t want the original Harriet to share the same car, afraid someone would discover she wasn’t the Bernal family’s true child. So the original Harriet always went to school alone. In those six months, due to Renata’s subtle hints, she had suffered no small amount of bullying. But that foolish girl endured it all in silence. She probably knew that even if she spoke up, no one would care. And her family would never believe Renata had instigated it. I had just pulled my textbooks from my desk when I saw the fake cockroach glued to the cover. The few kids waiting to see my reaction were already secretly covering their smirking mouths. The original Harriet would have definitely just taken it. But for me, dealing with such problems was just another Tuesday. I just wanted to quietly wait to die here, but if they insisted on coming at me, I wasn’t some pushover they could walk all over. I snatched up the textbook with the fake roach still stuck to it and strode towards the girl who’d been openly enjoying the show. I slapped the book right onto her face. Before she could even shriek, I dumped all the books out of her desk and found an identical textbook. The original Harriet had always been quiet and unassuming in class, never making a sound. Today, with my flushed face, I drew the silent attention of many classmates. Now, my once invisible self was causing such a commotion. The classroom instantly fell silent. The girl snapped back to reality and lunged at me like a maniac, trying to scratch me. I grabbed her hair and said coldly, “I’m letting bygones be bygones for what happened before. Don’t you dare mess with me again.” With that, I shoved her away and went back to my seat, slumping down. Not only was my stomach burning, but I also felt faintly nauseous, like I was about to vomit. The girl wouldn’t let it go, raising her hand to slap my face. Suddenly, her wrist was caught by Porter, who sat behind me. His rebellious face darkened. “Too loud.” The girl’s eyes widened when she saw it was Porter, and she instantly shut up. Porter was the undisputed king of the school, a total bad boy. His family had serious power and influence, so no one dared cross him. She went back to her seat and exchanged knowing glances with the others who’d been enjoying the show. A smirk played on their lips.   I was in so much pain I couldn’t straighten up, cold sweat beaded on my forehead, and I bit my lip hard to suppress the nausea. The frown etched on my face from the pain wouldn’t ease. This wasn’t right. It shouldn’t have progressed this quickly. This felt like late-stage. The next moment, I was suddenly lifted into the air. The jarring screech of a chair dragging across the floor made the whole class turn to look. I struggled, trying to get out of Porter’s arms, but I didn’t have enough strength and he held me even tighter. The tall, slender boy seemed to have endless energy. “Don’t move.” He seemed to see me like this for the first time: “I thought you were just a meek little mouse, always letting people walk all over you. Guess even the quiet ones snap sometimes.” As we walked, Porter sighed lightly: “How can you be so light?” Before we even reached the infirmary, Elton lunged forward, blocking our path, fuming. Elton’s anger surged, and he sneered coldly. “Harriet, are you serious right now? Class is about to start, and you’re out here on a date with a guy!” “Clearly, you have no upbringing at all. You’re nothing like Renata.” My heart suddenly twisted with a sharp pain. A wave of emotions, not entirely my own, surged through my chest, overwhelming me. It was always like this… No questions, just immediate blame. The pain intensified, and the taste of blood flooded my mouth. My eyes welled up with tears. I quickly ducked my head, refusing to acknowledge they were mine. Through his thin summer shirt. Porter seemed to feel the hot teardrops. His face was etched with confusion. He had a hot temper, and he said impatiently, “Who are you? Can’t you see she’s not feeling well? You just came up and started yelling? Go get some therapy if you’re sick, don’t throw a tantrum here!” He started to pull my face away, but then he looked down and saw the angry, bright red scald on my cheek. “Don’t scare me. We’ll be at the infirmary soon.” Even if only for a second, I saw Elton’s gaze sweep over me. He must have seen the blood at the corner of my mouth. His face instantly panicked. He wanted to follow, but Renata, who had caught up, pulled him back. “Third brother, why didn’t you wait for me! You ran so fast?” Elton turned to look at her displeased expression, pushing down the unease in his heart, and stayed where he was.

Porter jostling me made me feel even more nauseous. I pushed at him, struggling to speak. “Want… to throw up…” Porter only heard a weak mumble. “What did you sa—?” Before he could even finish asking, I wretched, spewing everything out. I hadn’t eaten anything all morning, so what came out was just acidic water mixed with blood from my stomach. I tried my best to avoid it, but it still got on Porter’s clothes. I gripped his shirt, weakly apologizing. Porter’s face darkened, but he gently laid me on the infirmary bed, letting the school nurse take over. He silently went out to get a mop and rag to clean up my vomit. The school nurse applied medicine to my face and put me on an IV drip of glucose. “Young lady, why are you throwing up blood? Do you have any medical history?” The school nurse advised me to go to the hospital for a thorough check-up, just for peace of mind. I thanked him and explained that it was just because I hadn’t eaten breakfast. I didn’t need a check-up; I already knew this body’s condition. I silently asked the System why this was happening. The System’s mechanical voice quietly responded. “Because the original owner’s consciousness is fading faster.” Meaning she wanted to leave this world faster, right? The System remained silent. I gave a knowing, bitter smile. Harriet. Her name, given by her grandma, held a hidden meaning: “to retain,” “to keep.” When Grandma Rose found the baby girl, still bundled in swaddling, she was stiff and purple, frozen in the bitter snow. Grandma Rose thought the original Harriet had already frozen to death, but then her tiny finger moved. Grandma Rose took the original Harriet home and named the little girl Harriet. Grandma Rose was a woman of deep faith. She always said that saving Harriet, retaining her, was fate’s decree, and her own heartfelt wish. At five years old, Grandma Rose passed away. The original Harriet was sent to an orphanage by the neighbors. Later, the Bernal family took her back and wanted to change Harriet’s name. But she stubbornly refused; it was the only thing her grandma had left her. But now, Harriet no longer wanted to follow fate’s decree. She just wanted to find the only person who had ever truly loved her: Grandma Rose… Perhaps it was the pain, or perhaps it was because of the girl. My eyes welled up, and I stared blankly at the ceiling. We were two souls adrift, bound by the same tragic fate. No need for introductions; we understood each other instantly. In that moment. I wanted to hold that girl deep within my soul, tightly.     I noticed Porter was still there and quickly wiped my eyes. I pursed my lips. “Thank you for bringing me here.” In my past life, I faced too much malice and always fought alone. Now, facing Porter, who had helped me, I felt a little lost. And I’d just thrown up on him… Porter raised an eyebrow. “Then, as repayment, how about you get me breakfast every day?” I hesitated. I didn’t want to get too involved with anyone. Porter saw my worn, faded canvas shoes and quickly added, “My meal card’s yours. What? Your thanks aren’t just empty words, are they?” I sighed, helpless, and could only nod in agreement. After school, I planned to go to the hospital. My body’s condition would only worsen. I needed to get some painkillers. The original Harriet had a card; it was compensation given to her by Brian, the Bernal family heir, when she first returned. If ordinary painkillers worked, I wouldn’t even want to go to the hospital. Gastroenterology department. Dr. Todd was very young. Perhaps seeing that his patient was a young girl, he spoke softly, asking me where I felt unwell. For a moment, I actually felt like crying. Such concern was something I had never received in both my lives. I smiled at him. “Could you please prescribe me some morphine?” The doctor froze, unable to believe his ears. The young girl in front of him, barely old enough to be in school, was asking for morphine. I continued, “If not, then OxyContin, Fentanyl, just anything will do.” Dr. Todd choked, looking reproving. “What illness does this young lady have? Have you been checked? You can’t just take any medicine.” “I have stomach cancer, mid-stage,” I answered calmly and seriously. His expression instantly stiffened, and he even seemed agitated. “How is that possible? How old are you? Which hospital? Which quack diagnosed you?! Believe it or not, I’ll report them!” The doctor’s expression was a little amusing. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’ve already been checked. It’s just been hurting more and more recently. Could you please prescribe me some painkillers?” Dr. Todd looked at the girl’s genuine expression, and his heart sank. “Do your family know?” “You’re so young. Why aren’t you fighting for treatment?” I sighed. This was one reason I didn’t want to come to the hospital. I had to play the victim. “My family knows. It’s just… we don’t have the money at home, and I have several older brothers, so I won’t get treatment.” Dr. Todd looked like he wanted to say more but eventually said nothing. I left the hospital with my medication. Unaware that Porter had followed me the whole way.   Porter hid behind the door, feeling a chill run through him. After school, Porter had watched the girl wobble out of the school gate, worried she might faint halfway. After all, they’d shared a bond from half a year of him copying her homework. He inexplicably followed her. Unconsciously, he’d followed her to the hospital. He had planned to leave, but a strong emotion held him back. And then he overheard that the girl had stomach cancer. No wonder… she was coughing up blood. Porter felt a knot in his stomach, even wanting to slap himself. He had bullied the girl for half a year. He was a terrible person! But beyond that, a dense wave of heartache washed over him… When I got home, I intended to pack a few changes of clothes, preparing to move into the school dorms. But then I found my things had been moved. Mrs. Ward said, “Harriet, Mrs. Bernal gave you a new room.” “It’s on the same floor as Renata, the one on the far east side. She said it’s so you and Renata can bond better.” Mrs. Ward looked at me with pity. The Bernal family’s favoritism was truly boundless. Almost the entire third floor belonged to Renata, yet they’d given me only one room on the far east side. Ha. I felt a pathetic amusement on behalf of the original girl. Were they arranging this to warn me that my status in this family would never compare to Renata’s? But it didn’t matter anymore. I was moving into the dorms anyway, and in just another half a year or so, I wouldn’t be in this world anymore. The daily, agonizing pain told me so. The girl’s desire to break free from this family, and from this world, was incredibly strong.   At the dinner table. I informed Bernal and Laurel that I wanted to live at school. The family, who had been chatting and laughing, instantly fell silent. Laurel frowned. “Why do you suddenly want to live at school? Don’t you like the room your mother arranged for you today?” She suddenly remembered Mrs. Ward’s words from this morning: “Harriet and Renata’s rooms are quite different, I’m afraid Harriet might overthink it.” She then had a sudden realization, thinking Harriet had complained to Mrs. Ward, and said impatiently, “Don’t be so jealous. Renata’s room has been hers for sixteen years.” “You’ve only just moved in. Don’t compare everything to Renata. If you really want it, we can get an interior designer to renovate your room in a while.” Bernal’s face was even fouler. “Why aren’t you as sensible as Renata? What will people think if they find out that I, a prominent Bernal, let my daughter live at school? It’ll just be a joke.” Elton suddenly thought of the boy who had held me today and became annoyed, speaking without thinking. “Could it be for the convenience of flirting with some wild guy?”

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At graduation, I finally mustered up the courage to confess to my crush. But, as fate would have it, I got hit by a car. When I woke up, my crush stood right in front of me, staring at me coldly. “You’re awake? Great, let’s discuss the divorce agreement.” Me: ??? I haven’t even confessed yet! How did this turn into a divorce? ***** At my graduation ceremony, I finally summoned the courage to confess to Richard Mond, my long-time crush. On the other side of the crosswalk, Richard was standing there, looking sharp in his graduation gown, taking photos. I got so excited that I dashed toward him, completely missing the fact that the light was red. There was a loud crash. I was hit by a car, and everything went black. The next time I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the blinding white ceiling. And there he was. Richard, standing by my hospital bed. Still as handsome as ever. This might be the first time we’ve been this close. Richard was looking up at the IV drip, but his gaze slowly shifted to my face. I accidentally noticed the ring on his left hand. I’ve had a crush on him for so long. So, he’s already taken? Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I forced a smile and greeted him, “Richard, what are you doing here?” As I tried to sit up, I noticed that my arm was wrapped in thick bandages. The next second, Richard sat on the chair beside my bed, his voice cold and distant. “Nydia, you’ve really mastered the art of manipulation. Risking your life just to push for a divorce?” I stared at Richard, completely confused. What is he talking about? Divorce? I haven’t even graduated yet, let alone gotten married. Where is this divorce thing coming from? Just then, a nurse came into the room, holding a tray for bandaging wounds. “Dr. Mond, you’re still here? Miss Rosa, you don’t realize how lucky you are. You were hit by a car, but thankfully Dr. Mond happened to be nearby. He gave you emergency care right away. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be a broken arm you’re dealing with.” The nurse bent down and carefully disinfected my wound. After she rested my hand on the side of the bed, I noticed… I was also wearing a ring on my right hand! And it matched Richard’s ring. A couple’s ring! A wave of fear and uncertainty washed over me. After the nurse left, I grabbed Richard’s sleeve in a panic. “Richard, you graduated from NYU Medical School in 2018, right?” He frowned, clearly annoyed. He shook my hand off and looked at me coldly. “Since you’re awake, let’s go over the divorce agreement.”   This is absolutely ridiculous! I was on my way to graduation, got hit by a car, and now I’m being accused of “faking an accident” to force a divorce from Richard? Either I’ve lost my mind, or Richard has. “Wait, Richard!” Before I could finish, a little kid suddenly ran into the room, jumping right into Richard’s arms. Me: ??? Wow, this kid is so adorable. I reached out with my good arm to pinch his cheek, but he immediately hid behind Richard, clearly scared. “Sorry, little guy. You’re just too cute. I couldn’t help myself.” Richard shot me a disapproving look. It suddenly hit me that I hadn’t even gotten to the main point. “Richard, this might sound crazy, but I don’t remember anything you’re talking about. All I recall is being on my way to the graduation ceremony…” Before I could finish, Richard cut me off impatiently. “So, you’re telling me you’ve lost your memory?” Amnesia? Yes, that must be it. Amnesia is the only explanation for why I don’t remember any of this. I nodded sincerely. Richard’s icy expression didn’t soften. He pulled a document from his bag and tossed it onto my lap. “This is the divorce agreement. The terms are exactly as you requested. If you have no objections, just sign it.” I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. The little boy in Richard’s arms looked sad, his lips trembling. “Richard, shouldn’t we avoid discussing such topics in front of a child? It’s not good for his emotional well-being.” “How considerate of you, Nydia,” Richard sneered. “That’s our child.” … “And yet, when you were having dinner with another man, did you ever think about how that might affect his emotional well-being?” I hadn’t even processed his first sentence when the second one hit me like a ton of bricks. I stared at the little boy in disbelief. So, I didn’t just get married—I have a child too? But the little guy paid no attention to me. He buried his face in Richard’s neck, refusing to even look my way. Too much information. My brain couldn’t handle it. I was officially out of commission.

It took me a whole day to wrap my head around everything. It seems I really did lose my memory. I’m still me, and Richard is still Richard. The only difference is—we’re married, and we have a kid. But that divorce agreement sitting on the bed speaks volumes: there’s clearly a problem with our marriage. The problem is… did I cheat? No way, right? Why would I cheat on Richard? He’s good-looking and smart. I must’ve been crazy. So, what went wrong? How can I get my memory back? I scratched my head, completely frustrated. “Mommy.” A tiny voice came from the door. I looked up to see a small face peeking through the slightly open door. “Daddy said you need to disinfect your hand. Here’s the iodine. He said you should do it yourself.” The little boy held a bottle tightly in his tiny hands. I gestured for him to come closer. “Mommy’s hand hurts. Can you bring it over for me?” The boy hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded and shuffled over to the bed, placing the iodine on the bedside table. I pulled him onto my lap and studied his features. His eyes were big and round like mine, his nose straight like Richard’s, and his face… a perfect combination of both of us. This was our son. I couldn’t resist hugging him tight and planting a big kiss on his cheek. He smelled so sweet and innocent—absolutely irresistible. When I looked up, his face was bright red. He froze for a moment before wrapping his little arms around my neck and hugging me back tightly. He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “Mommy, you smell nice.” This little guy is the sweetest thing ever. As I basked in the joy of my son’s affection, the door opened again. Richard entered, his familiar presence filling the room. “Daddy!” The little boy immediately ran to Richard and held his arms out, waiting for him to pick him up. Richard had just showered, wearing casual loungewear, looking effortlessly sexy and relaxed. His hair was still slightly damp, with droplets running down his neck and disappearing into his collar. I swallowed. This man was dangerously attractive. As he came closer, my heart started racing. But then Richard’s words shattered my moment of bliss. “Nydia, don’t you think it’s a little late to start being a good mom to Jacob?” “I… I didn’t mean to…” I tried to explain, but the look on Richard’s face told me he wouldn’t believe a word I said. So, I stayed silent. “Whatever. Do what you need to do. I’m heading out.” As I left the study, Jacob peeked out from Richard’s neck and gave me a glance. Watching the two of them so close, a wave of sadness washed over me. What good are a husband and child if my husband doesn’t love me? Even my son seems closer to him. I started questioning everything. Why did we get married in the first place? Why did we have a child? Outside, the full moon hung high in the sky. The night breeze blew through the balcony, scattering my emotions. Nothing has changed. Except for me.     The master bedroom had only one large bed. The entire room was decorated in a minimalist black, white, and gray palette. Apart from that, it was immaculately tidy, with a light scent of gardenias floating in the air. I recognized it instantly—it was my favorite fragrance. I headed to the walk-in closet, looking for my pajamas. But all I saw was a row of black clothes. And they were all men’s clothing. … I had no choice but to knock on the door of Richard’s study. “Richard… I mean, honey, sorry to bother you.” Richard looked up from his laptop, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. His whole demeanor was both tempting and distant. “Do you know where my pajamas are? I looked through the closet in the master bedroom but couldn’t find them.” Richard stared at me for a few seconds without saying a word. Just as I was about to give up and leave, he suddenly stood up and walked toward me. He towered over me, standing at six foot one while I barely reached five foot five. I felt like a child standing in front of him. Richard smirked, slipping his hands into his pockets. “So, are you planning to carry on with this amnesia act?” I gulped, unsure of what to say. The truth was, even if I told him the truth, he wouldn’t believe me. Thankfully, he didn’t make things difficult this time. He walked past me, heading toward another part of the house. I stood there, confused and not sure what to do next. He glanced back at me from the corner of his eye. “Well? Aren’t you coming?” I immediately followed him, keeping a safe distance. “Thanks.” Two minutes later, I eagerly opened the closet door in the guest bedroom to grab my pajamas. But the moment I saw what was inside, I slammed the door shut, my face flushed with embarrassment. Oh my God! “This is…” I didn’t even finish my sentence, but I knew Richard understood. He stood by the door, arms crossed, silently watching me with a look that said, “Keep going, I’m just here to watch the show.” … Taking a deep breath, I slowly reopened the closet door. Inside were outfits so revealing, they looked like they belonged on a nightclub dancer. Tiny scraps of fabric—there was hardly anything to cover up with! Was this how I dressed after graduation… I mean, after I got married? Had my style become this… provocative? To make things worse, Richard didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving. I ignored his piercing gaze and continued searching through the clothes. But I couldn’t find anything even remotely “normal.” … I sighed inwardly and, for some reason, turned to Richard and asked, “Honey, which one do you like seeing me in?” His eyes immediately darkened, and without a word, he turned and walked out of the room. The door slammed shut behind him, and the sound made me jump. Why did he get mad? They say women are hard to understand, but men are even more of a mystery. I grabbed some pajamas and headed to the bathroom. A wild thought crossed my mind: could our impending divorce have something to do with… issues in the bedroom? After my shower, I wrapped myself in a robe and headed to Jacob’s room. The nursery was cozy, and it was clear Richard had put a lot of thought into it. Everything was designed with care. I tiptoed over to his bed. Jacob was fast asleep, clutching a little stuffed animal. I gently tucked the blanket around him and wiped his thumb, which he had been sucking on. For the first time, I felt a real connection to being a mother. But I still didn’t know how old he was. I looked over at our marriage certificate. It was dated four years ago. That meant Jacob must be around three. I ruffled his hair and quietly left the room. Just as I closed the door, I turned around and saw Richard standing right in front of me. We were so close that if I looked up, I could bump into his chin. My back pressed against the door, and Richard didn’t seem to realize—or care—that he was invading my personal space. My heart raced so fast, I thought it might leap out of my chest any second. “Are you done?” “Yeah.” The air was thick with awkwardness. I had no idea what to say next. “So… are you going to bed now?” Richard didn’t respond or make a move. I tightened the robe around me, making sure he couldn’t see the revealing pajamas underneath. “Okay, I’ll go to sleep first, then.” I stepped aside and practically bolted to the master bedroom. Without a second thought, I jumped into bed, pulled the covers over me, and lay still. Moments later, the bedroom door opened, and Richard walked in. He paused when he saw me lying in bed, seeming a little surprised. He stood there, just staring at me. His gaze made my scalp tingle. “Honey, which side do you usually sleep on?” No answer. Has Richard always been this strange? He’s so quiet, always just staring coldly, without saying a word. Frustrated, I got out of bed and stood by the side. “You pick first.” Richard finally moved. He walked to the other side, lay down, and shut off the bedside lamp with a loud click. …

  Now we were in total darkness. Great. Thankfully, I don’t have night blindness, or I’d really be angry right now! I fumbled in the dark, trying to get comfortable under the covers, but I couldn’t sleep. My mind was a chaotic mess, and to make matters worse, my arm, which was still sore from the accident, started to hurt again because of the way my robe was pressing against it. I shifted slightly, but Richard didn’t react, so I sat up and tried to remove my robe. As I finally managed to shrug it off, rubbing my sore arm, Richard suddenly opened his eyes. Before I could react, he rolled over and pinned me beneath him. I gasped, my breathing instantly becoming erratic. In the dark, I couldn’t see him clearly, but I could feel how close he was—so close that our breaths were mingling. “Jenny, what are you doing?” Richard asked, his voice low. “What do you mean?” “You wanted to get married, you went through so much trouble to get a divorce, and now you’re lying next to me, trying to seduce me. Nydia, I don’t have time for your games. What do you want?” “Seduce you?” I stared at him, completely stunned, when suddenly I felt a chill across my chest. Looking down, I realized that my pajamas were way more revealing than I thought. No wonder Richard thought I was trying to seduce him. “I… I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.” I reached for the robe I had tossed onto the floor, but Richard had already had enough. He got up from the bed, clearly done with the conversation. “Nydia, I don’t care what you’re thinking. I don’t have any feelings for you anymore. I hope you understand that. Whether you’re faking amnesia or trying to seduce me, it doesn’t matter to me.” “I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight. Do whatever you want.” Richard left. And now, I was alone in this big room, with nothing but my sadness.   I couldn’t sleep. I just lay there, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling until dawn. Around 7 a.m., I heard Richard’s voice outside, speaking to a woman who kept saying “okay, okay.” It was probably the nanny, I guessed. A little while later, the front door closed, and I heard the sound of the car engine starting. Richard had gone to work. I stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling while my mind raced. I’ve never been an outgoing person—if I were, I wouldn’t have been crushing on Richard for so many years without saying a word. But now, not only had my crush succeeded, but I had also become his wife. Along with the shock, there was a sense of joy I couldn’t suppress. I thought this was my one big chance from fate, but it turns out I played my cards terribly in this marriage. Emotional intelligence really is my weakness. As I was lost in thought, the bedroom door suddenly opened. A woman in a nanny uniform walked in. The moment she saw me, she apologized repeatedly. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t think anyone was in here.” “It’s fine, I was just about to get up.” I smiled at her, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she slowly walked into the room. “Mr. Mond left for work. I assumed no one was here since you usually slept in your own room.” My own room? Suddenly, memories from the day before came rushing back. There was definitely a bed in that other room where I grabbed my clothes. So, I had been sleeping in a different room all this time? Does that mean Richard and I had been living separately? It all made sense now—Richard’s strange behavior yesterday. Oh no, this is embarrassing. I buried my face in my hands, and a flood of regret washed over me. Hearing our conversation, Jacob came running to the bedroom door, his bare feet thumping against the floor. He stood there looking at me with big, expectant eyes, but didn’t dare come in. “Jacob, come to mommy.” I gently called to him, holding out my arms. The little guy’s face lit up with excitement. He sprinted across the room and jumped into my arms, knocking me onto the bed. He flashed a big smile, his tiny teeth showing. “Mommy,” he said, nuzzling his head against my chest. My heart melted. No matter how much Richard might hate me right now, Jacob is still my baby. I would always love him. After saying goodbye to the nanny, I took Jacob out for some quality time together. We went shopping. I bought him a bunch of cute clothes and treated myself to some more “normal” outfits. Honestly, the clothes I wore after getting married were a bit… much. Holding Jacob in my arms, I watched as he happily ate his ice cream, his face smudged with cream. I gently wiped his mouth. “Jacob, what was Mommy like before?” Jacob pouted, his voice soft with a hint of sadness. “You didn’t like Jacob.” Then he added, “You were always so mean.” Kids don’t lie. Hearing this broke my heart. So, I really had changed that much, to the point where even I wouldn’t recognize myself? Then why did Richard marry me? Was it out of love? If so, he sure had an interesting taste. “Mommy, I want that!” Sitting in my lap, Jacob pointed at a McDonald’s poster advertising the latest family meal. Well, kids will be kids—can’t resist the temptation. Me: “Let’s buy it!” An hour later, Jacob and I sat side by side on the couch in Richard’s office, looking like two children who had just been caught misbehaving.

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My sister-in-law, Chloe, was trapped in a deep chasm. I risked my life, tying ropes around myself, to go down and save her. Just as I secured the rope around her waist, the support from above suddenly gave way, and we plummeted, hitting the bottom hard. I looked up, only to see my husband, Brandon Kellen, cutting the rope. His first love, Vanessa Hayes, laughed maniacally: “Do it!” Black-clad bodyguards frantically shoveled quicksand into the pit, intending to bury us alive! I desperately contacted Brandon through my walkie-talkie. “Brandon! Chloe and I are still down here!” Brandon scoffed. “Three years ago, during the earthquake, you abandoned Liam, Vanessa’s brother, in the ruins for five days to save others. Now it’s time for you to pay the price!” Vanessa instantly forced out a sob: “Brandon, thank you so much. My brother’s death is finally avenged.” As the quicksand reached our ankles, I screamed, tearing my throat: “Brandon! This is your own sister down here!” “Amelia, you’ll say anything to stay alive, won’t you?” “My sister went to Disney with her friends today. I just helped her with the itinerary last night. Next time you lie, at least try to make it believable.” Vanessa’s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie: “Amelia, what goes around comes around! The way you caused my brother’s death, that’s exactly how you’ll die with that little bitch next to you!” I tried to put some distance between myself and Chloe, hoping they’d get a clearer view of her face. But I was too naive. She’d been trapped here for over a day, and her makeup was completely smeared. It would be a miracle if they didn’t mistake her for a ghost. “Brandon, you’ll regret this!” After saying that, I snapped the walkie-talkie off. There wasn’t much time left! If we didn’t get out before the quicksand reached our lungs, we would truly be buried alive. Chloe gasped for air, clutching my hand, refusing to let go. “Amelia… what’s wrong with Brandon? Does he really want to kill me? I’m his own sister!” With that, she finally burst into tears. Though my heart ached for her, there was no time for comfort now. If I didn’t make a decision, hesitating for even a second meant we’d both die here. The quicksand crept higher, slowly covering our ankles. “Hold on tight, don’t let go!” I tied us together with the rope and began to use the small shovel I carried to dig indentations, making it easier to climb. The next second, a rock the size of a sandbag grazed my ear and rolled past. Chloe yelled up, her voice hoarse: “Brandon! Are you crazy? Why are you throwing rocks at Amelia?” I covered my ears, trying to avoid more bleeding. Brandon picked up a megaphone, his arrogant voice echoing down. “Still running your mouth when death is imminent? You’re asking for it!” Rocks rained down, forcing me to stop digging. Chloe and I huddled together, dodging the barrage. And the yellow sand kept piling up; our calves were already completely submerged. The next moment, the bodyguards suddenly stopped shoveling. A package was thrown down. I opened it to find a phone and a document. The phone was on a FaceTime call with Alexander Kellen. “It’s not too late to back down. Just agree to this document, and I’ll have you both pulled out immediately.” I flipped open the document, wanting to see what could possibly make him go to such lengths to kill me. My mind went blank when I read it.

The document demanded that I surrender to the police and confess that the building collapse during the earthquake three years ago was my fault. It claimed I was responsible for trapping the Hayes siblings in the ruins, leading to one death. But at the time, I was hiking. All company affairs were handled solely by Brandon. He was the one who cut corners, and the building couldn’t withstand the earthquake, causing the casualties. Now, he wanted me to be the scapegoat, and to transfer all company shares to Vanessa. If I agreed to this contract, I’d probably spend the rest of my life in prison. Chloe read the document, then angrily tore it to shreds: “Brandon, you’re despicable!” Chloe snatched the phone, crying uncontrollably at the person on the FaceTime call: “Brandon! Open your eyes! I’m your sister!” “Didn’t you say you’d take care of me forever? Come down and save me! I won’t let Amelia sign that thing!” My heart ached. They say a sister-in-law is like a mother. After five years of marriage, Chloe and I had become inseparable, like best friends who could tell each other anything. Brandon scoffed at her. “Looking like a ghost and trying to impersonate my sister? That’s not how you beg. My sister, even if not a supermodel, has always been beautiful since she was little. How can you, a filthy bitch, even compare!” “Amelia, my patience is limited. Sign it, or die!” The bodyguards at the edge of the pit suddenly accelerated, shoveling dirt and sand down on us. Someone’s keys, mixed in the dirt, had a sharp edge that sliced Chloe’s arm. “Make your decision quickly, or next time I’ll throw knives down!” “Chloe!” I quickly tore off a strip of my clothing to bandage her wound. I glared up at Brandon. “Do you think this plan of yours is perfect?” Brandon sneered. “So what if it is? No one can save you now.” I pointed at Vanessa standing beside him. “Someone is using you to kill, can’t you see? You think you’re some knight charging for love, but you’re just a dog in someone else’s hands.” “Who are you calling a dog?” “You know who. Keep this up, and you’ll regret it, eventually.” Vanessa suddenly picked up a rock and hurled it at us. “Brandon, don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s just trying to buy time for reinforcements!” “Bury her faster!” Brandon immediately stopped thinking, his patience gone. “Didn’t you eat breakfast this morning? Shovel harder!” A dozen bodyguards furiously swung their shovels, and our thighs were almost completely submerged. I immediately pulled a spray bottle from my bag. With every ounce of strength I had, I swung it upwards, hitting the ground near the lead bodyguard’s feet. Brandon, however, burst into laughter. “Pepper spray? Hahahaha…” “Amelia, and you’re a genius from a top-tier university. Can you fend off ten people with one spray?” The sand buried us higher and higher, already reaching our stomachs. Chloe clung to my waist, tears soaking my back, filled with despair.

I watched as the nozzle of the spray automatically opened, dispersing a mist. “Brandon? Do you know how highly concentrated capsaicin spray I put in this?” Brandon’s brows furrowed slightly, but before he could answer. The ten bodyguards at the chasm’s edge suddenly collapsed, convulsing on the ground. Two even tumbled down into the pit. On the FaceTime call, the previously arrogant Brandon suddenly coughed violently, and Vanessa’s smile vanished. “Brandon? Why did they all faint?” Seizing the opportunity, I quickly began climbing up with Chloe. Ten years of mountain climbing experience made the task less difficult. But Brandon’s furious voice came through the phone. “Amelia, are you getting too cocky?” The phone screen shook as Brandon reached into his car, grabbed a water bottle, and used it to cover my spray canister. Then, he picked up a heavy-duty shovel from the ground and violently swung it down towards us. I couldn’t let go. If I fell from this height, Chloe would be smashed to death. Chloe was on my back, and there was no time to dodge. The shovel slammed directly onto her arm, a sickening crunch followed by a scream and a bloody mess. Chloe passed out from the pain. “Bitch, still trying to instigate her not to sign the contract! Let’s see how many more hits you can take.” Brandon threw two more shovels our way. I endured the searing pain in my hands, barely managing to dodge. If Chloe hadn’t been trying to help Brandon stabilize the company and manage the fallout from the disaster, she wouldn’t have been lured into this trap and ended up in such a miserable state. I roared into the phone: “Brandon! At this rate, Chloe will really die!” Brandon drew on a cigarette, slowly blowing smoke rings, unhurried. “Still trying to lie to me when death is at your doorstep? If you really want to save her, sign the document.” “Fine! I’ll sign, I admit it’s my fault.” Without hesitation, I quickly climbed down to the lowest level to retrieve the document and pen they threw. “I’ve signed it! Now let us out.” Chloe, jostled awake, saw my signature and couldn’t help but curse loudly. “You’re not human, Brandon! I’m your own sister!” Brandon used a thin string to pull the document up. After confirming my signature, he drew a throwing knife from his belt. “Still daring to curse me at a time like this? You two need a lesson.” He aimed for my head, and just as we relaxed our guard, he hurled it with force. Chloe, on my back, saw his move and lunged forward, blocking the knife with her hand. “Ah!” With a sickening thud, her hand was completely severed. “No!” I went mad, frantically pulling emergency bandages from my bag, trying to calmly stop the bleeding. “It’s okay, it’s okay…” “Amelia, keep begging me. Why didn’t you save Liam when Vanessa begged you back then?” Vanessa’s head peered over the edge, a triumphant smile on her face. “Brandon, hurry! Don’t go soft. Kill them both!” Chloe was now numb with pain, unable to even cry out, staring blankly at her severed arm. But Brandon didn’t stop. He and Vanessa began shoveling quicksand into the pit again. I swiftly tied Chloe securely to my back. This time, I had to reach the top. I climbed step by step, trying to match their shoveling speed. Brandon suddenly stopped. “Amelia, I’m tired of playing with you.” He pulled a handful of throwing knives from a bag and began aiming them at us. Vanessa, tired herself, dropped her shovel and started massaging his shoulders. “Go, Brandon! Pierce those two bitches!” There was a slope halfway up the chasm; if we could reach it, we’d have some cover and could wait for rescue. One step… A sharp pain shot through my back. I bit down hard, pushing Chloe onto the slope. Then I fell heavily, letting the quicksand engulf my body.

“Amelia!” I had pushed Chloe to safety, but seeing me submerged in sand, she jumped back down without a second thought. With one hand, she dug me out of the sand, forcing me to stand upright so I wouldn’t suffocate. I knew this couldn’t continue. I no longer had the strength to climb back to the slope. “Chloe, I… I’m not going to make it.” “Put me in front of you. You survive, then go find Alexander.” Alexander was the true head of the Kellen Corporation. With him, my innocence would surely be proven. Chloe held me tightly with her one hand. “No, Amelia! If we die, we die together! I never want to see that monster again!” Even injured, I was stronger than a pampered, one-armed young lady like her. Ignoring her struggles, I tied her securely. If only one of us could live, I would make sure it was her! Under my desperate gaze, Chloe finally stopped resisting. “Amelia, it’s okay, I still have one hand…” “I don’t hurt anymore. If he tries anything else, I’ll use this hand to block it.” I didn’t argue with her naive words, only felt a ridiculous pity for myself. After marrying into the Kellen family, I’d poured my heart and soul into their affairs, only to be killed by my own husband in the end. Just as I thought I’d be riddled with knives, Brandon suddenly appeared directly above us. A knife hovered above Chloe’s head. I was too weak to move, and couldn’t think of a better solution. I frantically turned the phone’s camera towards Chloe and shouted. “Brandon, I beg you, believe me one last time, okay?” “This really is your sister! I’m not lying! It’s your own sister!” Brandon on the FaceTime call impatiently rolled his eyes. “Amelia, you’re still so delusional, even when death is at your doorstep?” Vanessa’s simpering voice also came through. “Brandon, she’s just banking on your soft heart. Your sister is a Kellen heiress, how could she look so poor and ragged, with torn clothes?” “Exactly! I personally picked out your sister’s princess dress for Disney last night. Your sister can just go to hell with you!” “No!” Knives rained down from above. Chloe lunged forward, shielding me. “Amelia, live well for both of us.” Dozens of knives, from head to toe, pierced her body. Scalding blood streamed onto me. I met Chloe’s eyes, and they were filled with nothing but worry for me. Even in death, she was thinking of me, her sister-in-law. Vanessa laughed wildly: “Oh, what touching sisterly devotion.” “Dying with a bitch for company isn’t lonely, is it? Liam was all alone when he died!” The bodyguards, having recovered, resumed shoveling sand into the pit. I stared blankly at Brandon above me, the husband who once swore to love me forever. The demon who killed his own sister. He looked down at me, condescendingly: “Kneel and beg me, and I might leave you a whole body, and bury you two sisters together.” Vanessa tugged at his arm, cooing: “Brandon, you help dig too. Seeing her for another second just reminds me of my poor dead brother.” I watched the sand rise rapidly, already burying my chest, about to engulf my neck. Chloe’s body was right before my eyes, one hand still clutching me tightly. “Brandon, even if I die, I’ll turn into a vengeful spirit and tear you limb from limb!” Brandon clapped his hands. “That’s my wife, speaking so boldly. Well, go ahead and die now!” Just as the quicksand was about to swallow me, the sound of dozens of SUVs roared from all directions. Brandon’s voice trembled as he asked the man getting out of a vehicle. “Alexander… why are you here?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298995”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

My Ex-Boyfriend Married My Best Friend, So I Married His Uncle On our fifth-year anniversary, Lucas Sterling ditched me to marry my best friend, Chloe Miller. Their lavish wedding was live-streamed, going viral across every social media platform. I was branded a homewrecker, my own family disowned me, and even the funds for my life-saving treatment were frozen. That notorious playboy, Lucas’s uncle, Julian Sterling, came knocking on my door, a cold smirk playing on his lips. “My nephew stole my fiancée. To repay him, shouldn’t I take care of his ex-girlfriend?” I gripped my phone, staring at the dozens of unread messages I’d sent Lucas, then turned to pull out the paperwork. “Know where we go to register a marriage?” “Isn’t that Eleanor Hayes? Stealing her best friend’s boyfriend? How utterly shameless!” “And look who she’s with—Julian Sterling. He’s such a player. Seriously, they’re a match made in hell.” Ever since Lucas Sterling and Chloe Miller’s live-streamed wedding, the rumors hadn’t stopped. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling. You’ve had to endure so much because of me.” “What did you just call me?” Julian’s face clouded with displeasure. “Since you married me, don’t you dare pine for other men. Go home, pack your things, and come with me.” Julian drove me back to my place. He held my hand possessively and greeted my parents politely. But Mom and Dad weren’t happy. They both disapproved of Julian. Dad’s face turned crimson with rage. He raised his hand, ready to strike me, but Julian swiftly intervened. “Dad, Eleanor isn’t just your daughter; she’s my wife.” His voice was a low, dangerous warning. Only then did Dad lower his hand. “Once you walk out that door, don’t ever come back. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a daughter anymore!” I silently packed my belongings and moved into Julian’s house. “I’m busy these days. If you want anything, just say it.” He handed me a black card and, with practiced ease, typed a number into my phone, saving it as “Hubby.” I’d been so nervous, wondering what Julian would do to me, but he just said that and left. This was nothing like the rumored wastrel who only knew how to spend money and cause trouble. Before I could think too much, Lucas’s call came in. “Eleanor, I’m coming back tomorrow. Can you pick me up?” He and Chloe had immediately gone on their honeymoon after the wedding. Pictures of their ‘love’ kept popping up online. Now he remembered me? “As what? Your mistress?” “It was all a misunderstanding. I was just trying to save Chloe. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you for our anniversary when I get back.” “No need. I have plans tomorrow.” I hung up before Lucas could respond. I actually did need to go to the hospital tomorrow; my medication was running out. My doctor spoke earnestly, urging me to have surgery as soon as possible. The success rate for heart valve disease surgery was quite high. If I kept relying on medication, it would only get worse. But he didn’t know my finances were controlled by Dad. I didn’t have any extra money for surgery. After leaving the hospital, I walked aimlessly down the street. Luxury ads played on a huge shopping mall screen. One set of jewelry, a mother-and-child design, looked familiar. I took off the bracelet on my wrist and went to the counter. Sure enough, the sales associate told me it was a free gift, worth far less than the matching necklace sold separately. Lucas had given me this bracelet for my birthday last year. I remembered Chloe wearing a similar necklace the very next day. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it, but now, it felt like nothing more than Chloe’s discarded trash, yet I’d cherished it like a treasure. I tossed the bracelet into a nearby trash can, tears silently streaming down my face. “Eleanor? You really came to pick me up.” Lucas’s voice held a note of surprise. “You know Chloe is a benefactor to my company. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. But she was going to marry an asshole like my uncle, and I couldn’t let that happen.” Seeing Lucas, I realized I was only half an hour from the airport. “So you could just ruin me? Do you know what people are saying about me? My father even cut off all my funds.” Lucas hugged me, his expression pained. “Anything Uncle doesn’t give you, I will.” I pushed him away, shaking my head. “You should keep it for Chloe.”

I didn’t want to say anything more. As I turned to leave, I bumped into Chloe. It wasn’t a hard push, but Chloe crumpled to the ground, her eyes quickly welling up with tears. “Eleanor, if you’re angry with me, why take it out on Chloe!” Lucas harshly yanked me aside. I lost my balance and fell against a nearby trash can. A sharp pain shot through my chest, and combined with the putrid smell, my head grew dizzy. “It’s not Eleanor’s fault, I came here myself.” Chloe nestled into Lucas’s arms. “Eleanor, Lucas still loves you. He only married me to help me escape his uncle.” They embraced tightly, a picture of mutual understanding. “Fine, then I wish you both well.” I forced myself to stand up and slowly walked away. Back home, I immediately took a shower, but I still felt as if the foul smell hadn’t entirely vanished. My palm was still oozing blood, and my waist hurt with every touch. Lucas and I had been together since college. As an illegitimate child, he wasn’t well-regarded in the Sterling family. Even when he had little money, he always wanted to give me the best, spending all his part-time earnings on gifts for me. He used to be a staunch commitment-phobe. Yet, on graduation day, he took off his pinky ring—a symbol of his independence—and placed it on *my* ring finger. Later, he wanted to start his own business and needed significant seed money. To protect his ego, I secretly invested a substantial amount of money in his venture, disguised as an anonymous benefactor. Eventually, he established his company and gained a foothold in the Sterling family, but the Hayes family was in decline. I didn’t want to be a burden, but he gave me 50% of his company shares. He swore that with him, I would always remain the respected Eleanor Hayes. So what is true love? True love can change in an instant. These past few days, Julian had been coming home late. I’d drift in and out of sleep, feeling myself held close, but every morning, there was no trace of it. It seemed even a ‘wastrel’ had a busy schedule. I mechanically ate breakfast; now, eating was merely about fulfilling the bare minimum for survival. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was Dad. “Eleanor, I was wrong about you before. Your bank accounts are unfrozen. Just… be happy with Julian from now on.” “Dad, I might need to go abroad for surgery.” After much deliberation, I finally told Dad about my illness. There was a silence on the other end for a few seconds, then he burst into tears. I could feel his self-reproach, so I tried to comfort him. In that moment, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears myself. “Have you told Julian?” “No, and I don’t want you to tell anyone else. I can handle this myself.” After a brief chat, I hung up. The hospital called for a follow-up appointment, so I quickly got ready to leave. To my surprise, Lucas was at the door. “What are you doing at Uncle’s house? If I hadn’t gone to your place looking for you just now, I never would have known you were hooking up with my uncle.” Seeing my indifferent expression, Lucas started to sweet-talk me again. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have pushed you yesterday. I brought you breakfast.” He’d brought me a heavy breakfast—something rich and meaty. Not only did I despise strong-smelling foods, but my condition meant I couldn’t eat anything like that. “Just throw it away. I don’t need it.” I had no strength left to argue. “Where’s your bracelet? It’s okay if you lost it, I’ll buy you a new one. Let’s go to the mall after breakfast.” He still hadn’t changed his habit of not listening. I couldn’t win against him, so I went to the mall with him. All the way there, he kept explaining his relationship with Chloe. “Once this is all over, I’ll divorce Chloe. Just wait for me a little longer.” “Oh, and don’t get too close to Uncle. He’s been acting strange lately, targeting me in business, and he’s even started a new conglomerate.”

No wonder Dad had suddenly called me. He must have heard some things about Julian. “Lucas!” Chloe waved from a distance. “Perfect timing, you’re here! I was just about to find you to take our wedding photos.” Lucas awkwardly cleared his throat. “Well, then let’s go pick out some outfits. Isn’t your birthday in a couple of days?” Chloe acted as if she’d just noticed me, graciously inviting me to her party, clearly intending to make a spectacle of me. I ignored her and stepped into the high-end boutique in front of me. The sales associate at the counter eyed me up and down, then turned back to chat and laugh with her colleagues. But when Chloe walked in, the women immediately swarmed her with fawning smiles. I wandered around by myself, my gaze drawn to a fitted dress. Just as I reached out, another hand snatched it first. Chloe’s eyes were full of scorn. She glanced at the dress. “Eleanor, this dress won’t suit you. You’re too big for something like this.” I tried to take the dress, but the sales associate firmly pushed my hand away. “Who do you think you are, trying to snatch Ms. Miller’s dress!” She then fawned over Chloe, guiding her to the fitting room. “Ms. Miller has such a great figure, this dress will look stunning on you.” Chloe took the dress, pleased, and went to change. But when she emerged, she wasn’t wearing the dress, and her expression wasn’t good. The sales associate immediately realized the dress didn’t fit and eagerly offered to find another. “Give me that one. I’ll pay double.” “With those bargain-bin clothes, you honestly think you can afford this? Stop bluffing.” The sales associate scoffed. “Just give it to her. I’d actually love to see Eleanor in it.” Chloe smiled, but as she passed me, she whispered, “I heard your father froze all your cards. Let’s see how you pay for it later.” I ignored Chloe and walked straight to the fitting room. As my condition worsened, I’d grown thinner. The fitted, tasseled dress hung loosely on me, with plenty of room to spare. When I opened the door, I distinctly heard everyone in the room gasp, followed by murmurs of admiration. Even the sales associate who’d been so rude just moments before immediately plastered on a flattering smile. “Miss, this dress was practically made for you! You look absolutely stunning!” Lucas stared at me, completely lost, not even noticing when Chloe tugged at his arm. “Lucas, Eleanor insisted on taking my dress just now and even bid against me.” Chloe clung to Lucas’s arm, her voice pitiful. Lucas’s face turned scarlet with rage. “Can’t you just let Chloe have her way? You can’t afford it anyway…” He seemed to realize he’d said too much and trailed off. I scoffed, a cold smile playing on my lips. I reached for my card, then remembered that while Dad had unfrozen my accounts, I’d forgotten to bring them. Everyone in the store was watching me. Gritting my teeth, I pulled out the black card Julian had given me and handed it to the sales associate. “I’ll take it.” “And, I didn’t steal it. She couldn’t fit into it herself. I’ve never stolen anything from anyone.” I spoke deliberately loudly, hoping to make it clear to everyone that I wasn’t a homewrecker. But Lucas clearly misunderstood. “That’s Uncle’s black card! You really *are* involved with him!” He lunged at me, his eyes red. “You shameless woman…” He didn’t finish his sentence before he was suddenly lifted off his feet and tossed aside like a rag doll. Julian Sterling’s face was livid. “Well, well, isn’t it my dear nephew, the one with a penchant for married women? And my wife is *not* someone you get to eye up.”

Lucas’s bravado instantly deflated. “Uncle, what are you doing here?” He lowered his head, not daring to meet Julian’s gaze. Julian ignored him, walking directly to my side. “See anything you like? Feel free to pick anything out in *my* store.” As soon as he spoke, the manager led a group of employees who respectfully lined up. “We apologize, Mr. Sterling. Our oversight. We didn’t know you were here.” Only then did I realize this store belonged to Julian. “How did you know I was here?” Julian shook his phone. “Text message.” I shyly smoothed my hair, but he saw right through me. “It took you this many days to finally decide to spend some money. Keep it up.” Even though we were only married in name, it still felt inappropriate to be out with my ex-boyfriend. I couldn’t help but explain, “Lucas dragged me out here.” “Nothing else you want to tell me?” I nervously looked away, then heard a faint sigh beside me. “How much longer will you hide it from me? We’re going abroad for surgery next week.” I couldn’t refuse his kindness and nodded in agreement. Just then, a SnapChat message popped up from Chloe, inviting me to her birthday party again. After some thought, I decided to go. After all, Julian and I were married, and it wouldn’t be good for him if I kept being labeled a homewrecker. I had to clear my name of these baseless accusations. I hired someone to do my makeup and wore the fitted, tasseled dress. As soon as I arrived at the venue, many people noticed me. I ignored their probing stares. If I remembered correctly, I had originally booked this venue under Lucas’s name. It was meant for our fifth-anniversary party, but he’d apparently used it to impress Chloe. “Eleanor, what are you doing here? Are you trying to ruin Chloe’s birthday party? Just leave her alone; she can’t handle any stress right now.” Lucas looked at me with disgust, then quickly walked to my side, as if afraid I might do something to Chloe. “Didn’t I say we’d get divorced in a couple of days? Are you in such a hurry?” I pushed him away a bit. “Nephew, please show some self-respect.” Lucas’s face immediately darkened. “Don’t put on an act for me. You used to beg me to touch you.” “I know you’re deliberately using Uncle to make me jealous. Just wait for me, okay?” “How long should I wait?” I couldn’t help but retort, but he hadn’t expected the question and was momentarily speechless. “Eleanor, you’re here too! I was just wondering if I should invite you.” Chloe’s words drew everyone’s attention. The unbearable insults came flooding in again. Everyone believed I was the mistress who destroyed their marriage. “Chloe, you’re so kind! How can you be so generous as to invite a wretch like Eleanor?” “Yeah, Mr. Sterling, say something! How are you going to apologize to Chloe?” Chloe had invited me, but now it seemed I’d crashed the party. “Eleanor and I have nothing going on. Everyone, please don’t misunderstand.” Lucas hastily tried to distance himself from me. The man who had just asked me to wait for him was abandoning me so quickly. “What do you mean, ‘nothing going on’? I’m your aunt, you know.” At my words, the venue fell silent for a few seconds. Lucas’s expression was a mix of shock and disbelief. “Eleanor, you can’t just say things like that.” “You’re the one who shouldn’t be talking out of turn.” The main doors opened again. Julian Sterling stood there in a perfectly tailored navy suit, which highlighted his athletic build. Julian stopped about half a meter from me, knelt on one knee, and pulled out a ring box, all in one fluid motion. “Eleanor, will you marry me? Give me a chance to take care of you.” I hadn’t expected Julian to propose so suddenly. A long-forgotten flutter of emotion stirred within me. I didn’t know his true intentions, but I could feel he was helping me. It was Chloe’s meticulously planned birthday party, yet Julian and I had become the center of attention. I had no reason to refuse. I gave my hand to Julian.

“Isn’t that Julian Sterling, the wastrel who only knows how to party? I heard he’s gained a lot of power in the Sterling family recently, even Lucas can’t stand against him.” “He was just hiding his true strength. They say he has a ton of private businesses. The Sterlings are practically begging him to come back and inherit the family fortune.” Listening to the whispers around me, I increasingly felt like I’d gotten involved with someone incredibly powerful. Julian drove with one hand on the steering wheel, the other gripping mine. “Are you scared of me?” I shook my head. “You’re helping me. Why would I be scared of you?” In fact, I started to wonder if I was just a burden to him. Without me, he might find someone better. Suddenly, the car screeched to a halt. I looked up and saw Lucas standing in front of the car, arms outstretched. I rolled down the window. “Are you crazy? Get out of the way.” “Eleanor, you can’t go with him! Don’t you love me most of all?” I rolled my eyes, feeling a sense of helplessness, like I was stuck with a bad record. “Well, I don’t love you anymore. You can marry someone else, so why can’t I?” Something I said must have hit a nerve because his eyes suddenly widened. “You won’t be happy with a monster like him.” Just as I thought he was about to lose it completely, Chloe appeared from somewhere and hugged him. “Lucas, aren’t you supposed to be with me for my birthday? What are you doing here? Have you forgotten that you only get the inheritance if you marry me?” Lucas slowly calmed down. “Eleanor, I’m giving you one last chance. Come back to me.” I signaled Julian to drive away. I wasn’t coming back to him. Julian booked flights for tomorrow. From Julian, I learned that Mr. Sterling Sr. had declared that only married heirs would be eligible to inherit the family fortune. “But that’s not why I asked you to marry me,” Julian added afterward. The smile on my face froze, like a blurry, out-of-focus photograph, indistinct and panicked. Julian, however, wasn’t about to let me off the hook. “I’m serious. My reputation wasn’t the best before, but now I can give you everything you want. We’ll have our wedding after your surgery.” I didn’t answer him, my mind still reeling. Meanwhile, Lucas, though Chloe had dragged him back to her party, remained distracted. He still couldn’t believe Julian and I were married. He went to my father again, seeking clarification. “You have the nerve to come to me? You abandoned my daughter to marry someone else. What more do you have to say?” Lucas anxiously grabbed my father’s arm. “Did Julian tell you that? I was just repaying a debt. I didn’t have much money when I started my company, and Chloe anonymously donated to me.” My dad looked confused. “What are you talking about? That money was Eleanor’s own secret savings. She even told me not to tell you, afraid you wouldn’t accept it.” Lucas stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. His throat tightened, and he could only manage short, ragged breaths. All the innocent, warm memories from college flooded his mind. Only then did he realize he had been deceived all along. He thought I would always love him, so he’d shamelessly squandered my affection. “Where’s Eleanor now? I need to find her.” “Eleanor has already gone abroad for surgery. You won’t find her.” Lucas’s temples throbbed. “She’s sick?” My dad looked at him with disdain. “You say you care so much about Eleanor, yet you didn’t even know she had heart valve disease! While you were on your honeymoon, Eleanor was in the hospital!” Lucas’s knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, repeatedly muttering, “Impossible…”

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My mother-in-law, Martha Evans, was worried sick about how worn out I looked after giving birth. For Thanksgiving, she took me to this aesthetic clinic my husband, Liam Evans, had invested in, hoping to help me feel like myself again. But just before the injection, I happened to glance at the vial. The expiration date was six months ago! I froze, my blood turning to ice, and immediately screamed for them to stop. Martha was furious and confronted the clinic’s director, Dr. Evelyn Reed, on the spot. But Dr. Reed just shrugged, completely unconcerned. “What’s the big deal if it’s expired by six months? Just pump up the dosage, the effect will be just as good! What makes a hag like her think she deserves top-tier products anyway?” I was absolutely outraged, pointing to the door. “Your ads promise all products are the latest EU imports, yet you’re giving clients expired drugs! Aren’t you afraid your boss will find out?” She just laughed as if I’d said the funniest thing. “I *am* the owner’s wife! My husband bought me this place as a little trinket, a plaything! And let me tell you, even if you two dropped dead on the operating table today, my husband would smooth everything over for me. Now, pay up, or you’ll regret it!” I glanced at the price. Sixty-eight thousand for an expired injection? My mind raced, not just about the outrageous cost, but simmering with anger that Liam would dare to mess around behind my back like this! Before I could even think about confronting him, she was already on the phone, her voice dripping with sickly sweetness. “Oh, hubby, someone’s bullying me here at the clinic! If you don’t come soon, your little baby is going to be bullied to death!”

“You two just wait! My husband is on his way to deal with you two freeloading nobodies trying to skip out on the bill!” Hearing her absurd accusations, my entire body trembled with rage. “What are you talking about? We never said we couldn’t pay! We’re questioning you for using expired medicine to harm people!” She gave me a cold, dismissive glance. “You? You think you’re in any position to question us? Look at you, all bloated and ugly after childbirth, saggy skin, stretch marks all over your belly. You can’t even afford basic care, and you dare to come to a high-end establishment like ours?” Martha saw my face drain of color from her insults and immediately stepped in front of me. “How dare you speak to my daughter-in-law like that? She became this way because she gave birth! What right do you have to mock her? Besides, this is *my son’s clinic*! Even if it were just a regular place, you’re using expired medicine, and we have every right to question it!” Hearing Martha’s words, her face instantly darkened. “You old hag, who do you think you are? Your son’s clinic? This place was opened for *me* by *my husband*! Look at the rags you’re wearing! Who do you think your son is to even *compare* to my husband? I’m telling you, whether you get the injection or not, if you don’t pay me that sixty-eight thousand today, you’re not walking out that door!” Martha was always modest, used to wearing custom-made clothes that most people wouldn’t recognize the value of. I never imagined she’d be underestimated because of it. But Sera wasn’t done. Still seething, she shoved Martha hard. Martha was older, and the push sent her sprawling to the ground. “Mom!” I rushed to her side, helping her up. Martha’s face turned ashen, and she clutched her chest, gasping for air. “Mom, what’s wrong? Is your asthma acting up again?” Martha’s asthma was a chronic condition, easily triggered by excitement or stress. As I asked, I frantically pulled her inhaler from my bag, just as Dr. Reed snatched it away. “What an act, truly well-prepared!” “Call… call 911…” Martha stammered, barely coherent. Seeing Martha’s worsening condition, I had no time to deal with Dr. Reed. I quickly pulled out my phone to dial for emergency services. But Sera was lightning-fast. She lunged, grabbed my phone, and smashed it violently to the ground. *CRACK!* The screen instantly shattered into a spiderweb of cracks. “What a performance! When the expired meds didn’t work, you decided to fake an injury and call an ambulance, hoping to scam me out of money!” she sneered. “I’ve seen countless poor people like you! First, you nitpick and refuse to pay, then you fake illness, then you pretend to call an ambulance – it’s all just a ploy to extort money from me! Let me tell you, I, Seraphina Thorne, wasn’t born yesterday! I’ve seen through all these tricks before!”

I stared at the broken shards of my phone on the floor, then at Martha, who was struggling more and more. Tears streamed down my face, unstoppable. “Do you even know who she is? She’s your husband’s mother!” I screamed, completely breaking down. But instead of believing me, Sera just got even worse. “Oh, really, you pathetic hussy? I haven’t even said who my husband is, and you’re already trying to impersonate his family here? And you call her ‘Mom’? Clearly trying to be the mistress! You filthy slut, I’m not going to let either of you get away with this! Security! Get over here and hold this tramp down!” The words were barely out of her mouth before four burly men rushed over and pinned my arms and legs. Struggling was useless. I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Liam Evans! Liam Evans! Is your husband Liam Evans?! She really is Liam Evans’ mother! Please, I’m begging you! My mom truly has asthma, she’s in danger right now! Please, just let us call an ambulance!” Sera stood with her arms crossed, her eyes blazing with malice. “You actually know my husband, huh? Ha! I knew you wanted to be the mistress! No problem, I’ll make sure you never dare to covet someone else’s property again.” The moment she admitted she was with Liam, I heard my heart shatter. The last sliver of hope I clung to vanished. The man who’d promised to love and protect me for a lifetime had taken a mistress right after I’d given birth. And by the looks of it, it hadn’t been a short affair. “You four, have you ever slept with a woman?” Sera’s voice slithered in my ear, chilling me to the bone. “You’re in for a treat today. This woman likes to steal other women’s men. She’s all yours to ‘discipline.’” Before I could even process the fresh heartbreak, their disgusting laughter filled the room. I fought back with all my might. “Stop it! No! If you dare touch me, Liam Evans will never let you get away with it!” Sera laughed, a triumphant, mocking sound as she covered her mouth. “Liam Evans? He’s *my* husband! Why would he protect *you*? You guys, hurry it up!” With her command, I watched in horror as those repulsive faces loomed closer. Rough hands tore at my body, still weak and vulnerable from childbirth. The ripping sound of my clothes, interwoven with the men’s crude gasps, became the most terrifying symphony in my ears. “Stop! You beasts! Let my daughter-in-law go!” Martha was screaming beside me, struggling to get up from the floor, but her asthma attack made every breath a torturous battle. Sera slowly walked over to Martha, her face etched with utter disdain. “You old hag, you think you can play hero in your state? You’d better worry about yourself first!” *SMACK!* A loud, stinging slap echoed through the room, landing squarely on Martha’s aged face. “MOM!” My eyes widened in terror, and I let out a gut-wrenching scream. My heart, in that single deafening slap, completely shattered into a million pieces. I struggled with all my might, but I was held down firmly on the cold ground. Despair, like a tidal wave, completely engulfed me. I don’t know how long it lasted. Finally, the men stood up, satisfied. They adjusted their clothes, muttering insulting words about me, and then moved to stand behind Sera.

Time seemed to freeze. I lay there like a broken rag doll, my clothes torn, every inch of my body screaming in pain. But the deepest agony was in my heart, already riddled with a thousand holes. Still, I couldn’t give up. I mustered every last ounce of strength, scrambling on my hands and knees towards Martha. Her face was already turning purplish-blue, her breath so faint I could barely detect it. “Mom… Mom…” My trembling hand reached for hers; it was terrifyingly cold. No, Martha couldn’t die. She’d always treated me like her own daughter. I couldn’t let anything happen to her. I whipped my head around, glaring at Sera, who looked like a demon. I fell to my knees, humiliatingly crawling towards her feet, and clutched at the hem of her pants. “Please…” My voice was raw, like sandpaper. “Please… save my mom, she’s really dying…” Sera looked at my pathetic state, a triumphant smirk spreading across her face. “You want me to save this old hag?” She crouched down, her finger lifting my chin. ” It’s not impossible. But first, you have to agree to one condition.” A flicker of hope ignited in my eyes. “What condition? Tell me! Anything! As long as you save my mom, I’ll agree to anything!” Sera pointed to the expired syringe resting on the counter. “It’s simple. You inject that expired medicine into yourself, and I’ll *consider* calling an ambulance.” I froze. That was medicine expired by six months! God only knew what side effects it would have; it could easily kill me! “I… I…” I looked at the syringe, then at Martha, who was on the verge of dying. A fierce battle raged within me. Seeing my hesitation, Sera sneered. “How pathetic? Didn’t you just say you’d agree to *any* condition? Changing your mind already? Let me tell you, this is your *only* chance. Miss it, and you can start preparing the funeral for this old woman!” I looked at Martha’s increasingly faint breathing, tears streaming down my face. “Fine, I agree,” I bit out. “But you have to promise that as soon as I’m injected, you’ll call an ambulance immediately!” Sera’s smile widened even further. “Of course, I always keep my word.” She motioned, and a woman dressed like a nurse approached, holding a syringe and the expired vial. “Come on, arm out,” Nurse Davis said, her face devoid of emotion. My arm trembled as I extended it. The needle pierced my skin, and I felt a sharp sting as the cold liquid was pushed into my vein. I had no idea what effects these expired chemicals would have on my body, or if my life was even in danger. But as long as it saved Martha, none of that mattered. As soon as the injection was done, I looked at Sera. “There, I’ve done what you asked. Now will you call an ambulance?” But Sera just smiled and shook her head. “I said I’d *consider* calling an ambulance, not that I definitely would. And now that I’ve considered it, I’ve decided not to.” I stared at her, utterly incredulous. “You! You’re breaking your word? You explicitly said that if I got the injection, you would call an ambulance!” Sera crossed her arms, completely nonchalant. “So what? This is my place, I make the rules. I call the shots. I told you that even if you two died here today, my husband would sort it out for me!” I had believed I’d grasped the last straw of hope, only to find myself drowning in even deeper despair.

“You can’t do this!” I shrieked, my voice hoarse. “You promised! I’ve already injected the expired medicine as you demanded, now you have to uphold your end of the bargain!” Sera looked at me coldly. “And what if I don’t? What are you going to do? Sue me? Do you have any proof? All the surveillance cameras here are under my control. Everything that happened today, I can easily frame as an accident. You two barged in, caused a scene, and the old lady’s asthma flared up from over-excitement. What does any of that have to do with me?” Seeing my desperate face, Sera’s eyes suddenly lit up, as if she’d thought of some amusing game. “However…” she deliberately drew out her words. “I’ve actually thought of an even more interesting idea.” “If you’re willing to cooperate and play a little game with me, I might reconsider.” Hearing her, a glimmer of hope sparked within me again. Whatever the game, as long as it could save Martha, I was willing to cooperate. “What game? Tell me!” I asked urgently. Sera walked to the reception desk, scrawled a few large words on a piece of paper, and then waved it in front of me. “See this?” I squinted. The paper read: “I am a shameless home-wrecker.” “The game is simple,” Sera grinned triumphantly. “You hang this sign around your neck and crawl around the entire clinic. As you crawl, you have to shout loudly: ‘I’m a slut who seduces other women’s husbands, I deserve to die, I’m guilty!’ If you can complete this game, I’ll truly call an ambulance.” As she spoke, she pulled a string from a drawer, preparing to make the sign wearable. I looked around. There were quite a few other clients and staff in the clinic. If I actually did that, the video would definitely be uploaded online, and I’d never be able to show my face again in this lifetime. But then I looked at Martha’s purplish face, at her increasingly weak breaths. My heart ached so much I could barely breathe. “Okay…” I gritted my teeth. “I agree. But you *must* promise that after I’m done, you’ll call an ambulance immediately!” Sera’s smile was even brighter now. “Of course, this time I absolutely mean it.” She handed me the finished sign. “Here, put it on.” My hands trembled as I took the sign and hung it around my neck. I began to crawl, my voice barely a whisper. “I’m… I’m a slut who seduces other women’s husbands…” “Louder!” Sera yelled, dissatisfied. “Who can hear you with a voice that small?” I took a deep breath, and with all my might, I screamed, “I’M A SLUT WHO SEDUCES OTHER WOMEN’S HUSBANDS! I DESERVE TO DIE! I’M GUILTY!” My voice echoed through the entire clinic, drawing laughter from everyone. “Hahahaha, look at this woman, she’ll do anything for money!” “Shameless! She’s actually admitting she’s the other woman!” “This is going to be good! Record it and post it on Ins!” Amidst the mocking laughter, I crawled step by painful step through the entire clinic. Each step felt like walking on knives, each shout like tearing open my own heart. “I’ve done what you asked. Now will you call an ambulance?” Sera looked at my humiliated state and clapped her hands. “Bravo, absolutely brilliant!” At that moment, complete despair washed over me. She had never intended to save Martha from the start. Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door. “What’s going on here?”

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Seven Years Was Enough: I’m Done Chasing Her. After seven years of being a pathetic admirer to the campus queen, I finally decided I was done chasing. I blocked her number, left her city, and made up some lame excuse to break up with her. “Eleanor Vance, you only eat medium-rare steak, I like well-done. We’re just not compatible, so let’s break up.” Seven years of chasing, I was so damn tired. Later, I heard the most sought-after girl at Harvard had a complete change of heart. She started eating only well-done steak. Training finished. I put away my racket, sat on the locker room bench, and held my phone, praying with my eyes closed for three seconds. Good. Eleanor still hadn’t replied to my messages. “Eleanor, breakfast’s warm in the kitchen, don’t forget to eat. I’m heading out.” “Eleanor, I won first place in the league this morning. Want to celebrate tonight?” “Eleanor, what time are you off work today? The forecast says rain, did you bring an umbrella?” My chat log was just a long stream of my messages, not a single reply. I took a deep breath and put down my phone. I told myself she must be too busy to have seen them. But they say in psychology: if someone truly cares about you, they’ll find a minute to reply, no matter how busy they are, because they know you’re thinking of them. I showered and changed. Then I headed to Eleanor Vance’s office building to wait for her. Afraid she’d mind, I deliberately stood a little far from the entrance. I remembered one time I picked her up and called her name loudly in the lobby in front of her colleagues. She got angry. So I learned my lesson. I’d just wait at the street corner until she appeared. As the lights in the building flickered on one by one, I finally spotted her. Her radiant beauty made her stand out, even in the biggest crowd. Beside her was a man in a suit, eagerly opening doors and holding an umbrella for her. It looked like Derek Miller, her boss, who’d been relentlessly pursuing her for a while. Eleanor Vance never lacked men around her, and always the high-quality kind. “Eleanor.” I jogged over, unceremoniously brushing past him, stepping in between them. I held up my umbrella. “We have an umbrella, thanks, Mr. Miller.” Derek looked a bit awkward, his hand tightening around the umbrella handle. Eleanor’s gaze fell on me, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. “What are you doing here?” Her tone was sharp, almost accusatory. I felt like I’d annoyed her again. A hundred questions were swirling in my head. Why didn’t she reply to my messages? Why couldn’t she keep other men at a distance? Why had she forgotten our plans again? But what came out instead was: “You’ve been working all day, Eleanor, are you hungry?” Her eyes were indifferent. After a long moment, she spoke softly: “Let’s go.” I smiled, extending the umbrella towards Eleanor. Rain chilled my shoulder, but I didn’t feel it. Everyone has that one person they fall for the moment they see them. Eleanor Vance was that person for me. At the high school sports day, I was a tennis player, and Eleanor was the cheerleading captain. “Here, have some water.” She smiled sweetly, handing me a bottle of water. Her eyes were clear, impossibly beautiful. She just smiled at me like that, and my heart did a little flip. She probably had no idea then that a single bottle of water would be enough for me to get so completely wrapped around her finger. Eleanor eventually agreed to celebrate my league victory with me. But the restaurant was packed, with a line stretching out the door and every waiting spot taken. I knew how impatient she could get, so before she could even say anything, I grabbed her hand, ready to leave. “It’s too crowded. Let’s go somewhere else.” But to my surprise, Eleanor was unusually patient. “Haven’t you been wanting to try this place for ages? It’s fine, we can wait.” So she *did* know. Just one small gesture of kindness from her, and I’d be ecstatic. She had dark hair, a simple dress. I watched her, she watched her phone. For me, that was enough. The world felt perfect. But I’d celebrated too soon. I just stepped away to the restroom, and when I came back, she was gone.

I called, she didn’t answer. I messaged, she didn’t reply. I looked at my phone and let out a self-deprecating laugh. In three years, this was the seventy-eighth time she’d left me behind. It wasn’t as crushing as it should have been. I chose this, so I had to live with the disappointment. Who told me to be so helplessly, hopelessly in love with her? In my senior year of high school, Eleanor got a direct scholarship to Harvard, while my grades were okay, but my future felt vague. I stopped her by the school building and confessed for the first time: “Eleanor Vance, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?” She glanced at me, her voice cold. “I don’t like guys with bad grades. Can you get into Harvard?” I stood in silence for a long moment, then clenched my jaw and replied: “Yes.” So I studied day and night, trained day and night, and finally got into Harvard on an athletic scholarship. I saw her at the campus gates and confessed for the second time: “Eleanor Vance, I did it. Will you date me now?” She just frowned, and simply, decisively, threw five words at me: “I don’t like you.” I guess, even after three years of us being together, she still didn’t like me that much. I finished three huge well-done steaks, just how I liked them. I touched my eye, and tears were streaming down, tasting oddly sweet and bitter as I ate. I wiped them away with a bitter laugh. Why should I be sad? It wasn’t the first time she’d abandoned me. If I had to be upset every time, life would be unbearable. I curled up on the couch and waited until past midnight for the doorbell to ring. My heart leaped with a desperate hope. I opened the door, only to see Derek Miller supporting Eleanor, standing at my doorstep. “Liam, uh…” “The company had a last-minute business meeting, I called Eleanor myself. She seemed pretty drunk, so I just brought her home. You don’t mind, do you?” Derek’s apology seemed sincere, but there was a smug, mocking glint in his eyes. I ignored him, took Eleanor from him, and swallowed my irritation. “Thank you, Mr. Miller.” Eleanor was indeed quite drunk. As I helped her to the couch, she still clung tightly to my arm. “Eleanor, we’re home.” I leaned in to brush a strand of hair from her cheek. Her face was flushed, her skin warm to the touch. Her clear eyes stared straight at me. As I started to stand up, she suddenly wrapped her arms around my neck, showering my face with fervent kisses. The scent of red wine and her delicate perfume flooded my senses. “Eleanor Vance, do you remember what day today is?” I gently pushed her away and straightened my collar. She frowned, looking at me. “It’s just your league day. Congratulations on winning first place.” My heart plummeted. Fine, she forgot. What would blaming her change? I pulled out the takeout container of lobster from the restaurant. “Today is our three-year anniversary. This is your favorite lobster.” “You promised me we’d celebrate together. Why did you disappear just because Derek called?” I remembered everything about her. Why couldn’t she care about me, even just a little? Eleanor rubbed her temples, then opened the takeout box. “Well, we can celebrate now, can’t we?” “It’s not the same.” “Liam, why are you being so dramatic?” She frowned at me, a hint of impatience in her voice. I froze for a second. If only I could fly into Rose’s heart like Jack did, and make her love me. Why was she always so reasonable, and I was the one making a scene? Maybe my biggest flaw was simply being unloved by her. I sighed. “I’ll shell the lobster for you.” She wouldn’t know how utterly defeated I felt. I’d pushed myself so hard in training, all to lay this medal at her feet today. I held out the lobster meat to her, then suddenly smiled. “Eleanor Vance, do you think I’ll never leave you?”

She didn’t answer, and I didn’t want to ask. At least for now, I didn’t have the answer myself. Eleanor was like an alluring viper, drawing me closer, leaving me scarred but unwilling to give up. Maybe one day I’d just snap out of it, turn my back, and never look back. No matter how she called out, I wouldn’t look back. When I woke up the next morning, breakfast was set on the table. It took me a moment to realize it must have been Eleanor’s belated peace offering. Heart-shaped fried eggs, and warm milk. So, did Eleanor care about me, or not? Chances are, she didn’t care at all. Even if I left, she’d probably just feel relieved. When I arrived at the court, my coach, Coach Thompson, pulled me aside. “Liam, have you thought about that advanced training opportunity in Australia?” “You’re our best player here. If you go, your skills will definitely hit the next level.” “This is a rare chance. Chloe and I are both really rooting for you.” Chloe Davis was our professional manager. She always wanted to expand the gym’s reputation, and I was her chosen star athlete. Going for advanced training would be all gain, no downside for my career, but… If I agreed, it meant crossing oceans, and I wouldn’t see Eleanor for a long time. Leaving might not hurt her at all, but for me, it would be a tough hurdle to overcome. Thinking about it, I was pretty pathetic, actually. “Coach, I might have to let you down…” I squeezed the racket in my hand, feeling defeated. Coach Thompson patted my shoulder. “I get it. Great men have always fallen for beautiful women.” “I had a player almost jump off a building for a girl once. This is nothing.” I blinked. “…” “Just focus on your training. Chloe will be here later. Think about what you’ll tell her.” My mind was a mess, and my game was off during training. I put away my racket and started picking up balls for my teammates instead. I looked up and saw Eleanor. She wasn’t there for me, of course, because Derek Miller was with her, along with a well-dressed, distinguished-looking middle-aged couple. Derek was practically their personal assistant, diligently setting everything up for their game. As he walked past me, he frowned. “Liam, what are you doing here?” “Didn’t realize you were working as a ball boy here. Perfect, come pick up balls for us.” I didn’t say anything, just looked at Eleanor. Honestly, I didn’t expect her to stand up for me. Over the years, she was most accustomed to ignoring me. Sure enough, this time was no exception. “Liam, what are you waiting for? Don’t worry, you’ll get your tip.” Derek pulled a few bills from his wallet and handed them to me, urging. “Hurry up.” There was no way I was agreeing to that. I pushed his hand away. “I’m busy. Find someone else.” My refusal clearly left Derek a bit embarrassed. After seeing the couple off, Derek came back to find me. He probably wanted to show off his game and humiliate me a bit to regain his pride. He walked up to me. “Liam, if you’re working as a ball boy, you probably play, right? Care to challenge me?” I admitted he played well enough, but compared to a pro player, he was lacking. Let alone a *good* pro player. Unfortunately, he was too arrogant. “I’m not afraid of anything. What’s the stakes?” But he was even more shameless than I thought. He pulled Eleanor closer. “Mixed doubles. Eleanor and I against you and… well, whoever you can find. The loser has to shout ‘I’m a loser’ in front of everyone.” The bet was ridiculous, even pathetic. Derek was clearly trying to humiliate me. I stared at Eleanor, wanting to see her reaction. But she just said, flatly and coldly: “Liam, stop playing games.” A subtle chill crept into my heart. Derek was the one who challenged me, not I. Seeing my silence, Derek put on a victorious air. “Liam, you can’t find a partner, can you? So are we playing or not? If not, I’ll take it as you surrendering.” His nerve was astounding. Just as I clenched my fist, about to retort, a clear voice spoke up. “We’ll play.” A soft, slender hand gently rested on my shoulder. “Liam, I’ll be your partner. You don’t mind, do you?”

Chloe Davis smiled at me, holding out a racket. “It would be my honor.” I took the racket and turned to Derek. “Let’s start then.” I quickly glanced at Eleanor beside him. Her gaze lingered on Chloe’s hand on my shoulder. For a moment, I actually thought she looked angry. Derek must have been kicking himself. After a few rounds, he was like a mouse being toyed with by a cat, finding no opportunity to catch his breath. Finally, exhausted, he yelled, “Liam, you’re messing with me!” “You asked for it.” I wasn’t going to humor him. I delivered a brutal smash, the ball whistling past his shoulder. He fell flat on his backside, utterly humiliated. I walked up to them, racket in hand. “Mr. Miller, you lost.” “Time to honor your bet.” He glared at me, unwilling, but couldn’t utter a single word. Eleanor glared at me, a hint of anger in her eyes. “Liam, are you done playing games?!” She hadn’t said anything when Derek provoked me, but now she was questioning me for his sake. It hurt, even though I denied it. I was her boyfriend, for crying out loud. I felt like I had nothing left to lose. “Eleanor, can’t you just once stand by me? Just once?” I looked at her, pleading, hoping for an affirmative answer. But there was none. “Mr. Miller was just joking, why are you taking it so seriously?” She frowned, impatience etching itself onto her features. I clenched my fist. This time, I refused to back down. “A bet is a bet. Derek, are you really that sore a loser?” I didn’t get a reply from Derek, but Eleanor pushed me. “Liam, what is the point of this?!” She was always so proud and cold, rarely raising her voice, let alone laying a hand on me. But now, for Derek… A dull ache throbbed in my chest. I took a deep breath. Just endure it, and the pain would fade. I bit my lip, tears stinging my eyes: “No, it’s not worth it…” I didn’t know if she heard me as she walked away, but even if she did, what difference would it make? She never saw how pathetic I was. “Is she the reason you wouldn’t go to Australia?” Chloe looked at me with a complex expression. “Is she worth it?” I had no answer. Falling for Eleanor had always been my choice. Chloe didn’t press. She just reminded me that tomorrow was the deadline, and to give her my answer after I’d thought it through. Eleanor came home very late. I stopped her at the entrance and asked the question that gnawed at me. “Do you like Derek Miller?” She glanced up, answering casually. “No.” “Then why?” “Why what?” She frowned at me, then after a long moment, said: “He’s my boss.” “So, you protected him, not me?” “Did I?” Her tone was cold, dismissive. She didn’t understand, and I was used to it, but I didn’t want to be anymore. I stubbornly held onto her. “Eleanor Vance, did you ever really like me?” All these years, I hadn’t dared to ask, afraid of an answer I didn’t want. So I never truly knew how she viewed our relationship. She agreed to be my girlfriend after my seventeenth confession. I held a bouquet of red roses. “Eleanor Vance, let’s be together.” This time, she didn’t directly refuse. After three seconds of thought, she took the flowers from my hand. “Okay.” I couldn’t believe it, pinching my thigh three times to confirm I wasn’t dreaming. Later, I found out. At the time, a rich kid at school was pursuing her, and she found him annoying, so she put me forward. Said she had a boyfriend. Now we’d been together for three years, I deserved an answer. Eleanor stiffened for a second. “Does it matter?” “Yes, it matters.” “I’m tired. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.” Eleanor walked past me towards the bathroom. She chose to ignore me again. No answer was probably the best answer. Watching her retreating back, I shook my head in disappointment, feeling ridiculous and pathetic. Everyone hits a wall eventually, learning the hard way when to turn back. Eleanor was that wall for me. I’d smashed into her, bleeding and broken, only to never get a second glance. I sat alone in the living room for a long, long time, until the first hint of dawn crept through the window. Only then did I pull out my phone and send a message. “Chloe, I agree to the advanced training in Australia.” I packed my bags, erasing every trace of my life there, and left Eleanor without a word. As I passed our favorite restaurant, I sent her a message. “Eleanor Vance, you only eat medium-rare steak, I like well-done. We’re not compatible, so let’s break up.” The weather in Australia was dry, and it took me three years to finally get used to it. I held my coffee, looking at Chloe Davis across from me. “What brings you here?” Chloe leaned back, arms crossed, smiling. “To bring our champion home, of course.” “You’ve been winning awards non-stop these past few years. Once you’re back in the States, everyone will be scrambling for you. Don’t forget about us old folks then.” “Stop teasing me. Without you, Chloe, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Besides…” “We have a contract, I can’t afford to break it.” “Haha.” Chloe laughed heartily. “Why choose to come back now?” I took a sip of coffee. “All my competitions here are done, and my alma mater sent an invitation for their 70th anniversary. My old college professor has called me a dozen times. Can’t really turn down my mentor, can I?” Chloe looked understanding. “Right, you’re a big name now, a truly accomplished alumni. Gotta show up and bring some prestige to your old school.” I chuckled awkwardly. “All thanks to you, Chloe, for giving me the chance back then.” “So… Eleanor Vance? Have you thought about going back to find her?” Hearing that name again, I felt a strange sense of unreality. Time had flown by. Three years, just like that. And time was so amazing. The person I once couldn’t stop thinking about now felt… optional. I smiled. “Never thought about it. A career-focused brain is much more appealing than romance.” That was the honest truth. From the moment I left her, I decided to let go, and that’s how I achieved what I have today. Chloe nodded in agreement, raising her cup to mine. “To careers.” Eleanor Vance was also invited to the Harvard anniversary celebration. Of course. She had always been exceptional, and now she had worked her way up to become a successful CEO. From a distance, she was still stunning, a goddess who caused a stir the moment she appeared. I had mentally prepared myself to see her again when I returned home, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I wondered if she felt even a ripple of emotion seeing me. Probably not. After the ceremony, I wandered alone through the familiar track and field stadium. Every now and then, some younger students would come up to ask for my autograph. I happily obliged each one. As I handed their pen back, I looked up and saw Eleanor standing in front of me. She was dressed simply but sharply, her outstanding aura unmistakable. It was a striking, almost aggressive kind of beauty. I was surprised she initiated contact. “Liam Hayes, long time no see.” I smiled. “Long time no see.” Not that long, really. Only three years. I started to walk away. I wasn’t sure why, but seeing her made me feel a little uneasy. But she reached out and stopped me. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” I thought seriously for a few seconds, then shook my head. “No.” Eleanor seemed disbelieving. Her face, usually so composed, showed a flicker of something I couldn’t quite decipher. My immediate thought was that she couldn’t possibly be looking for an explanation for our breakup three years ago. With her personality, how could she bring that up herself? But I underestimated the power of time. It could erase some things and change others. Even someone as proud and cold as Eleanor Vance. Her eyes were slightly red. “Why did you leave without a word three years ago?” I thought I heard a tremor in her voice. I frowned. “I sent you a message.” “I didn’t agree to it.” “I asked everyone around me, they said you went to Australia. Everyone knew, why didn’t you tell me?” “What would telling you change? Would you have tried to stop me?” I took her hand off me, ready to leave, but she held on even tighter. “Why did you break up with me back then?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298992”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

My best friend and I somehow found ourselves pulled into an apocalypse novel. The system’s mission for us was to save this world. I was assigned to work alongside a brilliant doctor researching an antidote, enduring experiment after experiment. Over time, the usually cold and aloof doctor pulled me into his arms, promising to marry me. My best friend, meanwhile, was with the leading military officer, suffering serious injuries repeatedly to save him. The usually stoic and mighty officer swore he’d treat her well for life. Ten years into the apocalypse. The antidote was successfully developed, and the zombies, humanity’s greatest threat, vanished. Just as my best friend and I thought we could finally enjoy a good life in this world, Two men, hailed as “saviors” by the world, suddenly had other women by their sides. They held these new women’s hands with fervent devotion, whispering words of intense love. My best friend and I exchanged a look. It was time to leave this world.

“Serena didn’t mean it, Jordan. When did you become so petty?” “So what if she broke your medicine? Missing one dose won’t kill you. Why are you making such a big deal out of it and bullying her?” Dr. Julian Hayes shielded Serena behind him, his face etched with displeasure as he glared at me. The woman beside him clutched his sleeve, gazing up at him with pitiful eyes. The scene made it seem like *I* was the one who had done something wrong. “Julian, please don’t blame Jordan. It’s my fault for not handing her the medicine with both hands. I didn’t realize Jordan would be so clumsy.” My face was pale, large beads of cold sweat trickling down my forehead. The pain radiating through my limbs made it impossible to stand properly; I could only lean weakly against the wall. Ever since I became a test subject for Dr. Julian Hayes, my body had been riddled with all sorts of toxins. The side effects and complications were countless. The medicine that had just shattered on the floor was my mandatory monthly dose to suppress the toxins. Without it, I’d have to endure this entire month, suffering through alternating chills and fever, as the virus spread through my internal organs. “She deliberately smashed it on the ground!” I shrieked the words, using almost every ounce of strength I had. Dr. Julian Hayes scoffed, a look of disdain on his face. “You don’t trust me?” He sidestepped my question, instead looking at Serena with tender affection, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Serena would never accuse someone falsely.” His single sentence delivered my death sentence. Dr. Julian Hayes turned away, no longer looking at me. He took Serena’s hand and left the dark, cramped basement. I could no longer hold myself upright and collapsed heavily to the ground. My body instinctively curled into a ball, pain spreading from my limbs to my heart. I lay there, gasping for air. As consciousness began to fade, I thought of my last ten years. My best friend and I had been pulled into an apocalypse novel. All to save this world. For ten years, I had been utterly submissive to Dr. Julian Hayes. I’d proactively shared his bed in the dead of night, offering him solace and comfort, easing his desires. Then, when he struggled with his research, I agreed to be his test subject. After that, I was confined to the dark, cramped lab day and night, repeatedly enduring the agony of injections. There were even a few times when Dr. Julian Hayes increased the dosage to speed up the research, nearly causing me to faint and die. When I awoke, he was ecstatic, his hands trembling as he held me, his voice firm as he promised to marry me. I forced a painful smile, letting out a soft, cold laugh. The apocalypse ended, and Dr. Julian Hayes had a new woman by his side.

“Jordan, wake up, please don’t die! What will I do if you die?” “I’ll feed those bastards to the zombies sooner or later!” I woke up groggily, opening my eyes to see my best friend, Cassidy, sprawled over me, her eyes brimming with tears. I slapped her head, signaling her to get off; she was crushing the air out of me. Cassidy immediately wrapped her arms around my neck. “Jordan, I’m so glad you’re not dead! If you died, I wouldn’t want to live either!” She slowly helped me up from the floor. I rubbed my throbbing head, offering her a comforting look. Suddenly, I frowned, pulling her closer, my eyes fixated on a spot on her wrist. “How did this happen?” Over the past decade, Cassidy had trained relentlessly in combat under Officer Ryder, becoming virtually invincible. Before she could speak, I rolled up the sleeves of both her arms. A sharp gasp escaped me at the sight of numerous knife cuts, scars, and dense purple bruises. Cassidy, who had just managed to compose herself, immediately burst into tears again, becoming a complete sobbing mess. It dawned on me instantly. She was formidable; no one dared to harm her. But what if the person who hurt her was the man right by her side? “Today, Serena insisted on coming to the training grounds, claiming she wanted to spar with me. My blade hadn’t even touched her when she threw herself onto it! And Officer Ryder walked in right at that moment.” The rest didn’t need to be said. Officer Ryder must have accused Cassidy without even investigating, eager to avenge Serena. At that thought, I forced my weak body to stand, gritting my teeth as I looked at her. “I’m going to kill him!”

I dragged Cassidy to the training grounds, where we found Serena. But she wasn’t alone. Dr. Julian Hayes and Officer Ryder stood on either side of her, like personal bodyguards. The three of them were laughing and chatting. Dr. Julian Hayes spotted me and suddenly frowned, his face tight with anger. “What are you doing here? This isn’t where you belong. Get back to the lab. Your body can’t handle this kind of strain.” I sneered at him, cursing myself for not seeing through his hypocrisy sooner. If he cared so much about my body, why did he leave me alone in the lab last night to fend for myself? Or was it simply that when Serena was around, I would always be second? I avoided his gaze, took Cassidy’s hand, and looked at Officer Ryder with cold eyes. “I’ve come to demand justice.” Before I could continue, Cassidy suddenly pulled her hand from mine and rushed forward. “Blaze!” Blaze was Cassidy’s warhorse. For ten years, he had accompanied her into battle. From a weak, scrawny pony, he had grown into a strong, magnificent lead stallion, accompanying Cassidy through days of blood and sweat. But now, Blaze lay on the ground, his bright mane stained red with blood. His eyes were wide, as if proclaiming his brutal death. Cassidy knelt beside him, weeping until she retched. I knew how important Blaze was to her. “Who did this?!” Cassidy’s eyes were bloodshot as she glared at the three of them, her hands trembling uncontrollably with rage. Serena instinctively flinched, intimidated by Cassidy’s fury. I seized the moment, pulling Serena out from between the two men. I wound up my arm and slapped her directly across the face. “That’s for falsely accusing others! We had no quarrel, so why did you keep trying to frame us?” “And that’s for your cruel heart, for not even sparing Blaze!” Dr. Julian Hayes lunged forward and roughly shoved me to the ground, his eyes filled with a ruthless malice I had never seen before. “Who gave you permission to touch her?! It’s just a horse. Are you really making such a scene over an animal, Jordan?!” The rough concrete scraped against my skin, leaving my arms and shins instantly bruised and swollen. I gritted my teeth and struggled back to my feet. Serena hid behind Dr. Julian Hayes and Officer Ryder. Only her eyes were visible, glaring at us with a sly malice, like a perfectly sheltered princess. “Julian is right, Jordan. No matter how much affection you have for it, it’s just an animal. If an animal is disobedient, shouldn’t it be gotten rid of?” She stared at me with gleaming eyes, a clear implication in her words. Hearing her, my anger surged again, and I lunged forward, trying to grab her. My fingers barely brushed her clothes when her face suddenly twisted in pain. Then, she coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed into Dr. Julian Hayes’s arms. “Serena!” Both men cried out simultaneously. Dr. Julian Hayes awkwardly scooped her up and rushed towards the lab. Before leaving, he turned, giving me a cold, chilling look. “If anything happens to Serena, you’ll join her in hell.” I stood there, feeling utterly drained, in silent despair. The murmuring voices of the surrounding crowd drifted into my ears. “It’s just a horse. Why can’t she be more understanding? Serena’s right, no matter how good you are to it, it’s just an animal.” “I think Dr. Hayes was so sweet to Serena just now. Are they getting married soon?” “Yes, Serena said their wedding is just around the corner.” I woke up again to find myself confined in that dark lab. I looked down to see my hands and feet bound tightly to a chair, unable to move. Dr. Julian Hayes walked in, wearing a white lab coat and safety goggles, a syringe in his hand. The sight of the needle sent me into a desperate struggle, painful memories flooding over me like a tidal wave. I recalled the repeated agony of needles piercing my skin. The helpless inability to control my body, and the dizziness, vomiting, fever, and spasms that followed. I twisted my body, trying to break free from my restraints, despair etched on my face. “Julian, what are you doing? The apocalypse is over, isn’t it? The antidote has been developed, right?” My wrists were raw and chafed from struggling. Dr. Julian Hayes looked down at me. Perhaps my sudden submission stirred a flicker of pity in him, or perhaps mentioning the apocalypse reminded him of my sacrifices. He gently patted my head, a gesture meant to be comforting. His voice was no longer as harsh as before, yet the words he spoke sent a chill through me, like being plunged into an ice-cold abyss. “Jordan, Serena has a very rare disease, and there’s no known cure on the market yet.” “People have to be responsible for their actions. You hit her, so testing experimental drugs for her could be considered evening the score between you two.” “As for your best friend, Officer Ryder threw her into the stables. Since she loves horses so much, she can just live and eat with them from now on.” “Just bear with it a little longer, Jordan. Once I develop the medicine, we’ll get married, okay?” I stared at him in disbelief, unable to fathom that those words had just come from his mouth. I hit her, so I have to pay with my life? “Get out! I’d rather die than ever marry a man like you!” I weakly raised my arm, trying to swat him away. Dr. Julian Hayes held my struggling hand, seemingly unfazed by my words. “Jordan, don’t say such things out of anger. Just be a good girl and be quiet. We can finish this sooner.” My heart pounded with dread; I was utterly terrified. “No! Please, no! Julian, I don’t want anything anymore. I won’t marry you. I’ll stay far away from you, okay? I just beg you, let me go.” Tears streamed down my face. My desperate struggles were futile. Dr. Julian Hayes covered my eyes, and the cold needle pierced my skin. My body began to shiver uncontrollably, my teeth chattering. Finally, I couldn’t bear it any longer and passed out.

I woke up again on the cold floor. This time, however, I was roused by the system’s alert tone. “Host detected attempting to exit. Due to excellent mission completion, system will automatically approve exit request. Upon exit, you may return to the real world.” Tears welled up in my eyes. I could finally go home! I immediately contacted Cassidy. She was still being tormented in the stables. “We can finally go back!” Cassidy cried out tearfully on the other end. I knew her days had been rough. “Then let’s go back now, Jordan! I really can’t stand it anymore.” I thought of the pain of these past days, and the decade of sacrifice we had made for them in the apocalypse. “Not so fast. Before we leave, we have to give them a grand parting gift.” Cassidy, thrown into the stables, wasn’t in good shape. Bloodshot veins spread across her eyes, and her face was smudged with dirt. As soon as Officer Ryder entered, he instinctively covered his nose, frowning. The overwhelming stench almost made him gag. “Do you regret what you did?” He looked at the woman huddled in the corner, his voice softening slightly. I watched Cassidy’s live stream through the system, secretly marveling at her acting skills. Cassidy slowly lifted her head from her knees, forcing a painful smile with her bruised lips. “Regret? I regret nothing!” “I think you haven’t spent enough time in this stable. If you want to come back, apologize to Serena. She’s magnanimous; she won’t hold a grudge.” “Yes, Jordan,” Serena chimed in, idly fiddling with her hair. “I just want to see some remorse from you. I’m not the type to hold a grudge.” “Is there any point in me going back? Wouldn’t it be exactly what you want, finally, no one to bother you and your Serena?” Officer Ryder stepped forward, pulling Cassidy up. He gripped her wrist tightly. “What’s happened to you? You never used to talk to me like this.” Cassidy winced in pain, pulling her hand away. She looked at Officer Ryder with despair, her voice firmer than ever before. “Because I don’t love you anymore, Ryder. I’ve given up on loving you.” Officer Ryder snorted, his face filled with suspicion and disbelief. “How many times are you going to pull this trick? Stop playing games, okay? Just go apologize, and we can still…” Before Officer Ryder could finish his sentence, a dark shadow flashed outside the stable. A long, whistling sword flew straight towards him. Everything happened too fast. Officer Ryder couldn’t dodge. He could only watch as the sword tip tore through his clothes, aiming for his heart. A small figure suddenly moved in front of him, taking the fatal stab to the chest for him. The person in his arms rapidly lost color, a large mouthful of blood spilling from their lips. Officer Ryder’s pupils constricted, his face a mask of disbelief. He never expected that the person who, a second ago, had adamantly declared she would never love him again, Would, in the next second, rush forward without hesitation to block that deadly blow for him. Serena, meanwhile, had found an opportunity to flee the moment the assassin appeared. Cassidy lay in Officer Ryder’s arms, weakly gasping for breath. “Ryder, from now on, we are even. In our next life, I will never love you again.” Officer Ryder clutched Cassidy’s hand tightly, his eyes wide and unblinking, terrified that she would disappear at any moment. “No! Don’t! I’ll get someone to save you right away, okay? You’ll live!” The only response was the growing coldness in his arms. I glanced at Dr. Julian Hayes, who had just entered the lab. It was my turn to perform. As Dr. Julian Hayes, as usual, prepared his reagents, I looked at him with feigned tenderness. “Can you please stop using me for experiments, Julian?” Dr. Julian Hayes said nothing, a cold, hard refusal. “If I had another chance, I would never fall in love with you again.” Dr. Julian Hayes’s hands paused. “You won’t have a chance to leave me.” I curved my lips into a slight smile, then plunged the syringe next to me into my body. Moments later, I began to tremble violently and then passed out. The last thing I saw before my eyes closed was Dr. Julian Hayes smashing the reagent bottle to the ground and frantically rushing towards me.

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My Abusive Husband’s Mad Obsession For seven years, I was trapped in my marriage to Alex Thorne, confined within a gilded cage. He remained cold, letting other women waltz right into our home, flaunting their presence and humiliating me. He even forced me to be a silent observer. His friends, they were all used to it. Some even tried to push their luck, to bully me right in front of him. His cruelty, the constant emotional torment, it all became too much. I was driven to the brink, suffered a miscarriage, and eventually, I died while pregnant. Later, Alex Thorne found a witch. He deliberately burned himself alive, wide awake, to trade his life for mine, to bring me back. And I did come back. I was reborn. But now, all I want is to never see Alex Thorne again. Alex Thorne, the man who, since childhood, had only ever been kind to me, hated my guts. It was because on our wedding day, his first love, Brooke Miller, had been heartbroken, flown overseas, and then gotten into a car crash, dying tragically on the streets. My grief had consumed me, plunging my consciousness into darkness. When I finally opened my eyes again… The colorful lights before me swayed. It was our engagement party from all those years ago! “Evie Reed, what kind of stunt are you pulling now?” Alex Thorne’s impatient accusation rang in my ears. When he looked at me, he always subconsciously frowned. After so many beatings, my body reacted to his presence with an immediate, phantom ache, a ghost of the pain he’d inflicted. I knew I shouldn’t be afraid. But I couldn’t control it. The tearing pain made me unsteady, and I nearly swayed right into him. Seeing his impatient expression, I instinctively stiffened, pulling myself away from him, terrified that any contact would only bring more punishment. In my previous life, the relentless emotional abuse, his cold indifference as everyone else trampled all over me, the constant wear and tear on my spirit, and the brutal beatings whenever I dared to disobey – it all left deep, festering scars. So, whenever Alex Thorne showed that cold expression, a chill would creep through my entire body, and I’d tremble uncontrollably. I’d be plunged into an uncontrollable, endless fear. The emcee was about to announce the happy news of our two families’ engagement. I took a deep breath, quickly snatched the microphone from the emcee’s hand: “I apologize, due to a personal issue, today’s engagement ceremony is canceled. If you wish to stay for dinner, please do. Otherwise, you may collect your gifts and leave.” Suppressing the tremor in my voice, I bowed slightly. “I apologize for any inconvenience. The fault for today’s events lies solely with me, and Mr. Thorne is not to blame.” In the distance, the invited media were furiously snapping pictures, their camera flashes exploding like fireworks. I slowly lowered my eyes, my racing heart finally settling. Alex and I had grown up together, a match made through a business alliance. After college, I chose to become an actress. He, meanwhile, inherited his family’s empire. In everyone’s eyes, we were a match made in heaven, the perfect couple. But now, my public rejection of the marriage had shamed the Thorne family and created a massive news scandal. Alex Thorne’s face was a stormy mess, his fists clenching so hard I could hear his knuckles crack. “Evie Reed, you… don’t you dare regret this.” He cursed under his breath, then turned and strode away. His malice froze me in place. I didn’t dare, didn’t even want to look back at him. Alex Thorne, I wish you and the first love you cherished so dearly a lifetime of happiness. Lucky for me, I got a second chance. I will never again be a sacrifice to secure your position. In this life, I won’t abandon my career for you. We will never cross paths again.

After all the guests had left. I stripped off the gown I had personally designed and drove aimlessly through the city. My agent and parents called relentlessly, almost blowing up my phone. I didn’t answer a single call until the battery died. The engagement ring on my finger was a bit small, and the evening swelling made my finger ache painfully. I struggled to pull the ring off my ring finger. In my previous life, I only accidentally found out during my pregnancy that the engagement ring didn’t fit because its size was custom-made for Alex Thorne’s first love, Brooke Miller. I sneered, a sarcastic twist on my lips, and casually tossed the ring out the car window. A dull, heavy ache settled in my chest, a pain that clawed at my throat. I pressed a hand to my chest, biting back the tumultuous emotions, but tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I pulled into a random parking lot. After turning off the car, I cried until my emotions finally calmed. Then, I picked up my phone. I sent a message to my agent. `Ms. Jenkins, find me some work.` In my previous life, at this very moment, I had just starred in a hit show and was in the prime of my career. But because Alex Thorne told me he needed me to manage his household, I gave up working. God knows how many times in my past life I’d woken up in the dead of night, tears streaming, consumed by the crushing weight of my regrets. It still hurts to think about it. No wonder women online always say that losing your job means losing everything. Now, I’m desperate to get back on screen.

Ms. Jenkins sent me a script. The message read: `This project is perfect for you, a real career-maker, but if you want the role, you’ll have to audition in person.` I steadied myself and replied with a simple “Okay.” The audition was in five days. But at the audition site, I saw two familiar faces. “Evie, you’re here to audition too?” Brooke Miller smiled and nodded at me. Then she tightened her grip on Alex Thorne’s arm, deliberately pressing her chest against his, a clear provocation. I glanced at the two of them, tightly intertwined, and felt not even a ripple in my heart. I lowered my eyes and continued to silently recite my lines. Brooke tugged at her collar, as if there were pins inside. Marks, a mix of blue and purple, accidentally flashed before my eyes, showing me just how wild these two had been together. Alex Thorne instinctively snapped, “Evie Reed, do you have any manners? “Brooke greeted you, why didn’t you respond? Can’t you even say ‘sister-in-law’?” I looked up at the man who always acted so arrogant and scolded me with such disdain. In my previous life, because I was in love, I believed no one was perfect. Alex Thorne, the heir to the Thorne empire, with his prominent family background, a little arrogance was normal, I thought. I just put up with it. But Alex Thorne actually thought I was truly timid and weak. He became more and more reckless in front of me. We weren’t even engaged. What right did he have to lecture me like this? Sister-in-law? What sister-in-law? My actual brother, Dan, is busy with business overseas. And Alex Thorne’s girlfriend? What the hell does she have to do with me? My expression must have shown too obvious a disdain. Alex Thorne’s face turned green with anger, and he instinctively started to scold me again. But Brooke, at that moment, whispered something soothingly to him, then smiled sweetly and linked her arm through mine. “Evie, don’t be mad at Alex. He just has a bad mouth, he doesn’t mean anything by it. “I apologize to you on his behalf, he didn’t… Ah!!!” Smiling and apologizing one second, Brooke’s piercing shriek the next left me stunned. I hadn’t even moved. Yet Brooke sat pitifully on the ground, clutching her ankle and weeping. Brooke’s clumsy, self-directed act… Anyone with a shred of sense could see right through it, couldn’t they? But apparently, Alex Thorne possessed no such sense. He was utterly blind. He was standing right behind Brooke, watching the whole thing unfold. “Brooke!” He rushed forward, anxiously helping the fallen Brooke to her feet. The next second, his hand, filled with fury, landed squarely on my face. “Evie Reed! How can you be so vicious? “You’ve tormented Brooke so many times, yet she’s never once blamed you, always defended you. And you? You dare to push her right in front of me? You’re the one who called off the engagement, why are you taking your anger out on her? You’re completely out of your mind!”

I had never imagined I’d be slapped so mercilessly by Alex Thorne in public. He put his full, unforgiving strength into that blow. My cheek instantly swelled and turned crimson. A sharp ringing filled my ears. All sounds seemed distant and unclear. As I stumbled, Ms. Jenkins caught me. Tears of pain streamed down my face. The memory of him choking me in my past life felt terrifyingly real. I was shaking uncontrollably from fright. After a while, I regained my composure, forced myself to stand steady, and tried to calm down. “Alex Thorne, when have I ever tormented Brooke Miller?” A vein pulsed on Alex Thorne’s forehead. He was about to say something more, but Brooke, limping, quickly walked over and held him back. “No, you’ve never tormented me, Evie. Alex is just… too worried about me.” “I don’t hold past grudges… Evie, please don’t be angry with Alex.” Her voice was full of feigned grievance. I listened, utterly bewildered, even beginning to doubt if I had really bullied her. Brooke was helped away by Alex Thorne. Watching their backs, my rationality slowly returned. The throbbing in my cheek stung my nerves. I instinctively raised a hand to touch it. The pain on contact sent a jolt of urgency through me. “Ms. Jenkins, quick, get some ice packs.” Right now, nothing was more important than the audition. The cold touch made my fingertips redden. I lowered my eyes, looking at the lines I had memorized, and my thoughts drifted back to my previous life. When we were children, Alex and I had been close. We grew up together, he always put me first, treated me like a princess. At our high school graduation, some guy, drunk, made a few inappropriate jokes about me. When Alex Thorne heard it, his face instantly changed. In front of a crowd of people, he nearly beat that guy to a pulp. He told me then, “Evie, as long as I’m here, no one will dare to bully you.” After that, everyone knew I was his untouchable. But later… It was also him who felt I had cost him his true love, and so, in retaliation, he dragged my dignity into the public eye, shattered it, and trampled it underfoot. Thankfully, in this life, I’m not his fiancée. I haven’t stood in the way of his love. Just a little more time, and I’ll be able to completely cut ties with him.

After all, the engagement was made with the consent of both sets of parents. Even if it was to be broken, the elders of both families needed a formal discussion. This directly led to Alex Thorne and me having to meet again. At the Thorne estate. I silently held a glass of plain water. Across from me sat Alex Thorne, his face composed but his eyes betraying a deep annoyance. Seeing that man’s face, my cheek seemed to throb again. At once, I felt nothing but irritation. “Evie Reed making such a scene at the engagement party,” Mrs. Thorne’s sarcastic words dripped from her lips, “It seems she thinks our Thorne family isn’t good enough for the Reed family.” Mrs. Thorne’s unsettling gaze slanted at me, silently exerting pressure. In my previous life, after I married Alex, this mother-in-law constantly found fault with me. She actively poisoned Alex’s mind against me day in and day out. Alex Thorne’s intense dislike for me was, in no small part, a result of her manipulation. I had absolutely no fondness for Mrs. Thorne. Unfortunately, this was a discussion between elders, and it wouldn’t be smart for me to jump in. My parents were elderly. In my previous life, they both passed away shortly after I married. I… didn’t want to cause them any more distress. So, no matter how much injustice I faced today, I would swallow it all. My phone screen lit up. I instinctively tapped on Ms. Jenkins’ flashing chat bubble. `Evie, you passed the audition!` `You’ll be on set in less than two months – hurry up and prepare, familiarize yourself with the script the director sent you!` The smooth progress of my career finally eased my troubled mood. I lowered my eyes, trying my best to suppress the slight upturn of my lips. I didn’t notice that Alex Thorne, sitting across from me, had been watching me intently. My expression made his eyes darken. His long fingers toyed with the wedding ring he hadn’t yet taken off. He seemed lost in thought, pondering something.

The conversation, rather than discussing the annulment of the engagement, was more about the strategic alliance between the two families. After it concluded, my parents offered a few words of comfort before rushing back to their company. I let out a small sigh of relief, watched them leave, and then headed towards my car. Before I could open the car door, Alex Thorne’s tall figure blocked my path. “Evie Reed, breaking off our engagement isn’t a good decision for you.” His long eyelashes lowered, casting shadows on his cheeks. “Our two companies have deep ties. If we marry, it would be beneficial for everyone involved.” “If you’re willing to apologize in person, I’m willing to reluctantly marry you…” Reluctantly? I looked up at his self-righteous face. Alex Thorne’s face was undeniably handsome. But now, in my eyes, that face had lost all its previous appeal. His proposition was truly… So shameless it made you want to sigh with exasperation. I didn’t immediately expose his true intentions. Instead, I feigned hesitation, pondering his words. After a moment, I slowly opened my mouth. “What about Brooke Miller, then?” He chuckled softly. As if he’d heard something unbelievable. “You’ll quit acting after we get married. I won’t let you see her.” “Besides, with our family’s wealth, marriage is just a formality. You don’t actually think I’ll be like other men, dedicated to just you for life, do you?” “Wake up, Evie Reed.” His matter-of-fact attitude made it seem as if I were a foolish, ignorant woman, incapable of living without depending on him. “Is that so?” I chuckled lightly, meeting his gaze head-on, and said, word for word, “It’s you who needs to wake up, Alex Thorne.” “Marrying me, you’re clearly the one benefiting more, aren’t you? Don’t forget, while the Thorne family only has one child on the surface, behind the scenes…” I watched his face turn green at my words. I curled my lips into a sneer, rolling my eyes dismissively. Ultimately, the Reed and Thorne families had been equally powerful for years, but who was truly stronger was anyone’s guess. I only learned after marrying him in my past life that despite his deep love for Brooke Miller and his intense dislike for me, he still married me. Only a wife with a sufficiently prominent family background could solidify his position as the head of the Thorne family. These past few days, His cunning, manipulative mother probably hadn’t given him a moment’s peace. That was probably what drove him to pull me aside and try to win me over. “Evie Reed, don’t you dare be ungrateful!” Alex Thorne’s ears turned bright red. I wasn’t sure if it was from anger or if he still possessed some shred of shame. Seeing him clench his fist again, about to strike me once more, But before he could even register my defiance, I swiftly lifted my hand and delivered a stinging slap across his face. “Alex Thorne, consider that my return gift for the slap you gave me.”

I fixed him with a cold stare, rubbing my slightly aching wrist, glaring at him out of the corner of my eye. Years ago, when I first started acting, I underwent specialized combat training to perfect my fight scenes. I guaranteed that slap would be painful and leave a nasty bruise. Seeing Alex Thorne’s stunned expression, I scoffed, no longer bothering to spare him another glance. Who knew, the next second, he suddenly grabbed my neck, shoving me forcefully against the car door. “I gave you an inch, and you took a mile, didn’t you?” Alex Thorne’s sinister gaze swept over me from head to toe. The terror of being beaten in my past life rushed back. I gritted my teeth, refusing to show fear in front of this scumbag. “Alex Thorne!” An enraged roar echoed from the distance. The grip on my neck loosened. I saw my older brother, Daniel Reed, dart in front of us, landing a forceful punch on Alex Thorne’s jaw. Alex Thorne was forced to release his hand from my throat. “Dan…” I clutched my throat, gently pulling back his arm, which was still poised to strike again. My brother, consumed by rage, almost broke free. “Evie, don’t stop me! I’m going to kill this bastard!” My throat was terribly swollen, and even speaking caused intense pain. I was about to force out words, risking my voice, to persuade my brother to stop, when A man with a face five parts similar to Alex Thorne’s grabbed my brother’s raised fist. He said, “Don’t be impulsive. We’re outside. It won’t look good for you or Ms. Reed if this is filmed.” My brother, though hot-headed, was usually amenable to reason. He released Alex Thorne, whose lip was now split, and grumbled, affectionately ruffling my hair. “Didn’t I tell you? If someone bullies you, call your brother! If I hadn’t come to get you, he would have killed you!” My eyes welled up. In my past life, after marrying Alex Thorne, I was cut off from the outside world. Not just my agent, but my brother and parents too, were forbidden from meeting me or even calling. My parents died, and I was confined to the house, unable to see them one last time. Until my own death, I hadn’t seen my only remaining relative, my brother, either. My brother pulled my hand. “Come on, let’s go home. I brought you a gift!” As he opened the car door. Alex Thorne struggled to his feet from the ground, shouting loudly, “Evie Reed! I’m giving you one last chance. As long as you’re obedient, I won’t hold it against your brother for hitting me. I advise you to know your place, otherwise, don’t blame me if…” His words caught in his throat. His gaze fell on the man whose face was similar to his own, and he couldn’t utter another word. I calmly got into the car. Before closing the door, I said coldly, without a trace of emotion, “Alex Thorne, I’m giving you one last warning too. Stop bothering me, or else, you’ll be the one to regret it.” With that, I slammed the car door shut.

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My car crashed, and I ended up in the hospital. Suddenly, I had this idea to mess with my boyfriend. “Who are you?” Julian’s face froze. I was about to burst out laughing. But then Julian pointed at his best friend, Caleb. “I’m your boyfriend’s brother, and he’s your boyfriend, Caleb.” My expression stiffened. Caleb, however, stepped forward. “Yes, I’m your boyfriend.” I forced a smile. “Then take me home.” Caleb took me home. He said I’d always lived here. I looked at this place that bore absolutely no trace of my life, and nodded, playing along as if I were as blind as he was. I slept on his bed for a while, then went to get some water, but I heard a FaceTime conversation from the living room. “Caleb, do your brother a favor and pretend to be Sera’s boyfriend for a while.” “Aren’t you afraid she’ll suddenly regain her memory?” “If she gets angry when her memory comes back, I’ll just coax her into it. She loves me so much, she’d never truly leave me. It’s just… between her and me, it’s gotten a bit boring. This is a good chance for me to breathe, to have some fun outside the relationship.” “So you really hooked up with Chloe, huh? Just using this as an excuse to mess around with her.” “You know it. But I definitely love Sera more. Make sure you don’t touch Sera during this time she’s with you, alright? Though, among my buddies, you’re the one I trust most. And you always seemed to hate Sera, anyway.” My bare feet retreated. I made some noise at the door, then walked back towards the living room. Caleb quickly ended the call and stood up when he heard the noise. “The floor’s cold. Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” Caleb quickly scooped me up into his arms and set me down on the couch. “I’m thirsty.” I said, realizing I couldn’t find where the water was. “I’ll get it for you.” Caleb walked to the water cooler and brought me a glass of water. He sat beside me, looking at me, “Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?” I shook my head after drinking the water. He gently brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, then leaned in to kiss my forehead. My eyes widened slightly. I’d just heard Julian tell him not to touch me like that. I also thought Caleb hated me. Yet now… When his lips touched mine. I turned my head away. He calmly stroked my face. “You don’t remember, so we’ll take it slow. You’ll get to know me again.” Caleb, this man, seemed to be deceiving his own brother too. 2 When Caleb brought me to the private room, it was already lively. A bunch of privileged kids from the city’s elite circles fell into a strangely synchronized silence the moment they saw me, their gazes turning to Julian. “Oh, Sera’s here! Do you still remember me? I’m Chloe, your college roommate!” Chloe, sitting next to Julian, waved, calling out. Caleb led me to a seat. I looked at her and shook my head. “Sorry.” “It’s okay, we can all just get to know each other again.” Chloe said, linking her arm through Julian’s, leaning intimately against his shoulder. This former college roommate, then friend, now that she thought I had amnesia, leaned on Julian like she was subtly staking her claim, a smug satisfaction hidden in her smile. Julian, too, seemed to enjoy the perverse thrill of being intimate with another woman right in front of me. “Yeah, yeah, it’s great, isn’t it? Both of you best friends have boyfriends in this circle.” “You can always hang out together. Whether she has amnesia or not, it doesn’t really matter.” The other friends echoed similar remarks, a malicious glee apparent in their eyes, watching an unwitting victim get publicly humiliated. Everyone continued playing games. Julian and Chloe shared a single cookie, their mouths getting closer and closer with each bite. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” The shouts of encouragement. Julian and Chloe kissed in the charged atmosphere. Afterward, Chloe playfully buried her face in Julian’s chest, then subtly shot me a triumphant glance. Julian, too, looked pleased as he wrapped an arm around Chloe. Then, I lost the game and the penalty was to choose someone to kiss for thirty seconds. Everyone fell silent, looking at me. They were curious who I would pick. Would I instinctively pick Julian, like I used to? Julian seemed a little nervous, avoiding my gaze. He apparently didn’t want me to show any instinctive reaction so soon. Caleb, sitting next to me, also seemed tense. I smiled. “I’ll pick my boyfriend, of course.” 3 I said, then turned to Caleb. “Shall we?” I could distinctly feel Caleb relax. He gazed at me steadily, then leaned in. I proactively wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. “Whoa!” Another chorus of “Whoa!” erupted. These people might have seen Julian with other women, kissing other women, but they certainly hadn’t expected *me* to act this way with another man. So their surprised “Whoa!” was particularly novel, but then it suddenly died down. Caleb seemed to kiss me back fiercely, his lips hungry. Thirty seconds later, I pulled away, only to see Julian’s face was a thundercloud, which was why everyone else had suddenly fallen silent. How laughable. Caleb gently wiped a stray trace of moisture from the corner of my mouth. “What’s wrong, everyone? Didn’t I just complete my penalty?” I asked, feigning confusion at the strange atmosphere. “Even with her amnesia, Sera’s certainly not awkward with her boyfriend.” Chloe’s words were clearly mocking my ‘amnesia’ and calling me a fool. Julian’s face was even more displeased. I went to the restroom outside, but on my way back, I overheard a conversation from the staircase landing between the two men waiting for us. “Caleb, I told you not to mess with her. What you did just now was out of line.” Julian’s voice was cold. “It was just a game. She has amnesia. Is she supposed to look for her boyfriend or for you, who’s already with another woman? That’s not realistic, is it? And I’m her boyfriend, chosen by you.” Caleb replied with a smile. Julian was silent for a moment. “Fine, just be mindful of your boundaries. Even though I don’t believe you’d genuinely fall for Sera and get serious with her, you should still avoid overly intimate contact whenever possible. Otherwise, it would be unbearable for you, and I’d feel terrible about it, right?” “Ha, you really know me, don’t you?” 4 Back at Caleb’s villa, as I was about to enter my room, he grabbed my arm. Without a word, he lowered his head and kissed me. “Mmm—” I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter. After a long moment, he finally pulled back, stroking my cheek and murmuring. “We took a step forward today, didn’t we? We can get to know each other even better, gradually.” I looked up at him, stunned. He seemed to be doing the opposite of what he’d told his brother. I didn’t understand him. My family background and Julian’s were worlds apart. He worked tirelessly, step by step, to win me over. Later, I met some of his friends, a whole crowd of wealthy kids, especially Caleb. Caleb despised me, looked down on me, and that was a well-known fact within their circle. He always had sarcastic remarks about my relationship with Julian. In the past, I avoided him whenever possible. But after my ‘amnesia,’ and Julian forcing us into a couple, he’d repeatedly taken advantage of the situation to do things like this. Was he doing it to get back at Julian for making us a couple? As a designer, my work was pretty flexible, so I often worked from home. Caleb knocked and came in. “You’ve been working hard. There are fireworks tonight, let’s go watch them.” When we arrived at the lake where the fireworks were being set off, Julian and Chloe were already standing in the best spot, watching the magnificent display. Chloe, leaning against Julian, suddenly jumped up happily and gave Julian a quick kiss on the cheek, looking absolutely adorable. Julian smiled back at her, playfully tapped her nose. Then, he turned around and saw us. Julian saw me, and there was a flicker of stiff panic, but he quickly composed himself, acting as if nothing was amiss. Chloe also saw us. “Oh, you’re here!” “Sera, perfect timing! Help me take some photos with Julian!” Chloe called out, coming over and handing me her phone. Julian’s face faltered for a moment, then he glanced at me again. “I’m so happy today! These are the fireworks Julian set off just for me. I want to capture this moment forever.” Chloe walked back to Julian’s side, gazing at him with deep affection as she spoke. Julian’s expression softened, and he wrapped an arm around her. My hand, holding Chloe’s phone, faltered. So, this grand fireworks display was all for Chloe, arranged by Julian. 5 I watched the scene of them embracing in the camera’s frame. Julian gently held Chloe, and she nestled against his chest, a look of blissful satisfaction on her face. Behind them, the magnificent fireworks exploded, creating a picture of breathtaking romance. I quietly took their photos. Once, on my birthday, Julian had also set off fireworks, lighting up the entire lake just for me. Chloe had eagerly offered to take our photos then. I was probably as happy and blissful as Chloe was now. Chloe had even wistfully said, “I’m so jealous of you two. I truly hope one day I’ll have someone who treats me like that.” I had even comforted her, assuring her she would. Now, she certainly made it happen. Caleb took the phone from my hand. “Alright, you’re not here to be their personal photographer.” Caleb tossed the phone back. Julian caught it and handed it to Chloe. After the fireworks display, Chloe and I went to the restroom. The restroom was too crowded, so I decided not to bother. But on my way back, I again overheard the two of them waiting there for us. “Seems like you’re having a great time with Chloe, huh? You and Sera haven’t had this much fun in a long time, have you?” Caleb said. “Indeed. Lately, Chloe and I feel just like how things used to be between Sera and me. Chloe is more obedient, thoughtful, and considerate. She makes me feel comfortable and happy.” Julian replied. “Then why not just let things play out? Chloe does seem to suit you better. Sera… you said she can be stubborn sometimes, and that really frustrates you, didn’t you?” Caleb said. “Caleb, years of history with Sera isn’t something I can just throw away.” “Chloe even said she’s not looking for anything serious; as long as she can be happy for a while, she’ll be content. Such a sweet girl.” Julian remarked wistfully. “Heh.” 6 Back at the villa, Caleb suddenly wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. Then he pulled back slightly, looking at me intently. “Sera, you know what? You’re the best Sera, and you don’t need to be compared to anyone.” I stared at him, stunned, as if he were responding directly to Julian’s comparison of me and Chloe. How… how could he know me so well? My little habits that even Julian had forgotten – what candy I liked, what dishes, what movies… He pushed the boundaries a little further than before. I didn’t object. He stared at me for a moment, then he scooped me up into his arms and carried me into his bedroom. Julian had always been the only man I’d been with. When Julian first pursued me, I was full of distrust. But his seriousness and determination, his respectful attitude towards my grandmother, and the discreet help he offered behind the scenes – they all moved me. Later, his parents disapproved and cut off his allowance. I thought that would be the moment he’d realize the gap between us. But he didn’t compromise; instead, he worked odd jobs while attending classes with me. Eventually, his parents’ hearts softened, and they relented. That’s when we truly settled into our relationship. When my grandmother, my only family, passed away, he held me close, comforting me and assuring me I still had him. He’d always be by my side. Such a deep connection, and now it was completely unrecognizable. If that’s how it was, then maybe it was time to learn to move on to another man. On Friday, a group of us went to a resort for the weekend. When we were assigning rooms at the resort, Julian’s face was displeased. He privately spoke to Caleb. “Are you two really planning to share a room? Get separate rooms.” “It’s just sharing a room. You know I hate her, so what are you worried about?” Caleb replied. I suddenly appeared, and Julian’s disgusted expression froze, the words he was about to say swallowed back down. The next morning, Julian, his face ashen, called Caleb away. I was on the balcony upstairs and heard their voices below. “Did you two… sleep together last night?” Julian demanded, full of anger. “You didn’t spend the night with your ‘sweet’ girlfriend, but came to listen in on our room instead? Julian, are you a pervert?” Caleb retorted. “Caleb! Are you messing with me?!” Julian fumed. “Enough! I don’t need you to pretend to be Sera’s boyfriend anymore!” 7 “Ha, and what exactly are you going to tell her? That you’re her boyfriend? That you wanted to mess around and hook up with her friend, so you lied and told her I was her boyfriend?” Caleb sneered. “Do you dare to say that?” “You!” Julian choked. “Besides, what about your new girlfriend? Don’t you like her a lot? She’s right there, you know.” Caleb said. “Chloe and I agreed from the start that it was just a temporary thing!” “I never intended to give up on Sera, and Sera loves me!” “She’ll regain her memory eventually, and I’ll apologize sincerely. I’ll propose to her, swear I’ll only ever have her, and she’ll forgive me. And you, ignoring the code of brotherhood, took advantage and slept with her?” Julian was furious. “Caleb, didn’t you say you hated her?” “Hmph, when did *I* ever say I hated her? Wasn’t that just what *you all* assumed?” Caleb scoffed. Julian clenched his fists, glaring at him. “I truly never expected that my best friend, you, would set such a huge trap for me! You’ve been harboring dirty intentions for Sera, and you used this opportunity to get your hands on her!” “Julian, you orchestrated all of this yourself. You’re the one who said I was her boyfriend.” Caleb said calmly. Julian’s face paled, filled with panic. “Since Sera and I have already… become intimate, and you also think Chloe is so great, just like I said last time, wouldn’t it be better to just let things play out like this?” “When Sera regains her memory, you won’t have to beg for forgiveness; I will. Wouldn’t that make everyone happy?” Caleb said. Julian looked at him, then let out a cold laugh. “I don’t care about what happened between you and Sera. Perhaps it’ll even make her more likely to forgive me. I’ll break up with Chloe immediately, and I’ll do everything to make amends. We’ll see who Sera’s heart ultimately chooses!” I was idly fiddling with the flowers in a pot on the balcony upstairs. But I saw Chloe, who had been hiding behind the wall, listening to their conversation. After hearing Julian’s words, she frantically ran off. 8 That afternoon, while the men were fishing, Chloe suddenly called out to me. “Sera, let’s go pick grapes! It looks like so much fun.” I gave her a meaningful look, then smiled and went with her. Inside the vineyard. Chloe suddenly handed me her phone. “Sera, I want to show you something.” I took it and looked. “There are a lot of pictures; you can take your time looking. I took these from Julian’s phone.” Chloe said with subtle mockery. On her phone, there were countless intimate photos of Julian and me: kissing photos, photos taken in bed – they were all there. I handed the phone back to her, looking at her. “What’s the meaning of this?” She flinched, then sneered. “What do I mean? Julian says you’re Caleb’s girlfriend, yet you have so many intimate photos with Julian, spanning from our college days until now. What do you think that means?” “Oh, but everyone says my boyfriend is Caleb.” I replied, my face utterly calm. “Sera, are you really that stupid? Can’t you see from these photos? Julian is lying to you! Your boyfriend has always been Julian! Never Caleb! Julian only lied because you had amnesia. He didn’t want to keep being your boyfriend, so he took the opportunity to trick you into thinking Caleb was your boyfriend, so he could go off and mess around!” “Caleb is also helping Julian deceive you. You’re being played for a fool, spun around in circles, and everyone’s laughing at you behind your back! As your friend, I couldn’t stand by and watch, so I’m telling you this out of kindness!” Chloe impatiently blurted out the entire truth. My face remained calm. She stared at my unchanging expression, stunned. I simply smiled. “So what? Is there anything wrong with my situation now? Is Caleb not treating me well? Or is he worse than Julian was?” Her eyes widened in disbelief, staring at me. “You… you knew all this and can still be so calm?” She seemed to realize something. “You… you weren’t faking amnesia, were you?” I picked at a grape in my hand. “Oh, you caught me. Well, as my ‘friend,’ you can’t tell anyone, right?” “You… you…” She stared at me, utterly shocked. “You never had amnesia, yet you’re still with Caleb like this!” “Sera, you’ve been hiding such a deep secret!” “I’m going to tell Julian, I’m going to tell Caleb! You were never actually amnesiac! You’ve been lying to them from the start!” 9 I popped a grape into my mouth, watching her with amusement. “Are you sure you want to rip everything open? Do you really think Julian will keep you around then?” She froze, her face flickering with panic, seeming to recall Julian’s words about ending their relationship from earlier that morning. Then she scoffed. “If I tell Julian you were faking amnesia, and he finds out you’ve been lying to him and even deliberately slept with Caleb, do you think he’d still want you? Won’t he just choose me instead?” “Oh, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you ruin the image I’ve carefully cultivated in front of them. I’ll simply say, with a heartbroken sigh, that Julian’s deception made me believe he didn’t want me anymore. I was so hurt that I fell into Caleb’s arms.” I smiled at her. “Do you think he’ll believe I deliberately lied to him, or that my heart was utterly broken? Do you think he’ll feel more guilt and pity for me, or will he abandon me?” Earlier, she had heard Julian say he didn’t care that Caleb and I slept together, right? Ha. Chloe looked at me like this, recoiling a step, staring at me in disbelief, as if she was seeing me for the first time. “Sera, I never thought… I never thought this was your true face! You’re nothing like you pretended to be…” “What was I like before?” I looked at her, amused. “Chloe, you went to such lengths to be my friend, to scheme your way closer to Julian – what do you think you were after? Why are you so obsessed with what I might be thinking?” Chloe’s face flushed. “I… I truly love Julian! And you, you’ve been faking it all along, and you knew exactly what was going on, yet you still went to bed with Caleb! You’re nothing like everyone always thought you were – strong, brave, kind, sincere, and deeply in love with Julian! You’re not like that at all! You don’t love Julian at all!” “Ha, who said I don’t love Julian?” I found it ironic. “If he hadn’t pushed me into Caleb’s arms, wouldn’t I still be loving Julian? Did I ever betray him the way he betrayed me?” 10 I looked at her strangely. “How can you be so self-righteous with me? If Julian had nothing, would you still be able to say you truly loved him? Ha.” Chloe’s face turned green, then white. “You… you… Sera, you’re terrifying!” “I’m terrifying? The man who pushed his girlfriend into another man’s arms isn’t terrifying, but I am? The man who cheated with his girlfriend’s friend isn’t terrifying, but I am?” I smiled at her. “Chloe, you should be glad that between Caleb and Julian, I’ll only keep one, and I have no intention of fighting you for anything else. Julian is tainted in my eyes now. If you want him, go ahead and keep him, if you’re capable. I won’t sabotage you, don’t worry.” Chloe trembled as she looked at me. “So, you, Sera, don’t love Julian, and you don’t love Caleb. You… you just want to bag a rich guy, whether it’s Julian or Caleb, as long as they can give you a good life, either one will do!” A flicker of impatience crossed my face. “I said I loved Julian, but what did I get? Why should I still love a man like that? Caleb also deceived me, so why should I give him my whole heart? It’s just that, compared to Julian, Caleb isn’t as tainted in my eyes. As long as he treats me well and gives me what I want, I’ll treat him well in return.” Chloe looked at me. “Are you so sure Caleb will be yours to control? He’s widely known as the most ruthless one among that group of friends.” I played with the grape in my hand. “You rely on your abilities, I’ll rely on mine. You and I both know what it’s like to live in poverty. What you choose to do, the decision is yours.” If Chloe didn’t do anything against me, I wouldn’t do anything to her. But if she was foolish enough to treat me as an enemy, like before… I suddenly felt a figure lurking as if eavesdropping outside the vineyard. I turned my head, but only saw the leaves rustle.

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