I, Evelyn Moore, am pregnant and suffering from severe morning sickness. My husband Julian Sanchez pushed me down into my own vomit and called me more disgusting than a pig. As I sat there heartbroken, a strange message suddenly flashed before my eyes. 【Poor woman, you weren’t supposed to have morning sickness at all. Your husband felt sorry for that widow’s pregnancy struggles, so he specifically had someone transfer all her discomfort onto you!】 【You work out relentlessly and restrict your diet, but all the benefits go to that widow. She stays refreshed and slim while you keep vomiting and gaining weight, your health deteriorating day by day.】 A chill ran through my body. Just as I tried to stand up, my son Dylan Sanchez casually threw a book at me, hitting my head. I saw another message. 【Your son doesn’t know gratitude either. To help that widow pass the civil service exam, he forces you to study every day. The harder you work, the higher her scores become!】 【In the end, you’ll die from complications during childbirth due to excessive weight gain, while that widow successfully passes the civil service exam. And this is exactly what the father and son have carefully orchestrated.】 I stared at these words in disbelief, rage exploding in my chest. They don’t dare mess with others, so they team up to exploit me—their wife and mother? Well then, I simply won’t let them have their way. I’d love to see if they’ll still like that widow once she returns to her original state! ***** “You’re just pregnant. Why are you so disgusting?” I clutched my chest in discomfort and looked up to see Julian’s face full of disgust. I used to think he was just a clean freak who couldn’t stand mess. But after seeing those messages, I realized he wasn’t disgusted by the floor—he was disgusted by me from the bottom of his heart! I said, “Who am I pregnant for? You seemed pretty happy when you were sleeping with me! You think I’m disgusting? Fine, then I’ll get an abortion so I won’t offend your eyes!” I wiped my mouth and glared at him with my hands on my hips. Julian was stunned, then flew into a rage, sweeping the dishes off the table and smashing them on the floor! He said, “I think you’ve had it too good for too long! You’re a housewife—having kids is your only purpose! If you dare get an abortion, I’ll divorce you! Don’t throw tantrums with me! Clean up this mess right now and go exercise! Look in the mirror—you’re as fat as a pig now. Who would want you if I left you?” I stared at him coldly, not moving an inch. Seeing this made him even angrier. He grabbed a plate to throw at me, but Dylan stopped him. Dylan said, “Mom, you can’t eat because of morning sickness, so you definitely don’t have energy to exercise. Why don’t you calm down and study instead? The civil service exam is coming up, and you need to work harder. By the time the results come out, you’ll have just given birth and can start working right away.” Looking at them, I suddenly felt like these past dozen Christmases had been an absurd dream. One was the man I convinced my parents to let me marry despite their objections, who used my father’s resources to start his company and become a boss. The other was the son I risked my life to bring into this world, whose every demand I fulfilled, making him the envy of all other children. Yet these two people I loved with my life had fallen for a widow. They were even willing to turn me into fertilizer to nourish that widow. I laughed coldly, “You two really are my wonderful husband and son, always looking out for me. Don’t worry, I definitely won’t disappoint your expectations. I’ll overcome my morning sickness and study hard to get a high score!” Dylan heard the sarcasm in my words and frowned at me. But Julian smiled smugly and continued his mockery: “At least you have that much self-awareness—it’s worth something. Look how fat you are—when I came home last night, I almost thought I’d walked into a pigsty! Alright, stop dawdling. Clean up the floor, then call your dad and have him invest five million dollars in my company. Otherwise, I won’t even be able to pay my employees’ salaries.” I almost burst out laughing. Not only does he treat me like a free maid, but he also wants my dad to give him money? I went to the landline to call my father Simon Moore, when I suddenly saw someone unexpected.

I hurried downstairs and ran into Jane Brewer, the widow I had once rescued from domestic violence. She looked radiant now—smooth skin, rosy complexion, and a slender figure that was utterly captivating. If not for the slight curve of her belly, who would have guessed she was six months pregnant? I remembered clearly that when her husband was still alive, she had been overweight with rough skin, crying to me more than once about how her husband called her ugly and beat her regularly. We lived in the same building, her upstairs and me downstairs. I couldn’t stand watching her get abused, so I not only stood up for her multiple times but also took her into my home when she was kicked out. Gradually, Julian and Dylan grew close to her as well. Later, Jane’s husband died in a car accident, leaving her alone and pregnant. Feeling sorry for her situation, I invited her over for meals even more frequently, cooked nutritious food for her, and even gave her my precious skincare products that I couldn’t bear to use myself. Meanwhile, after getting pregnant, my weight skyrocketed. I suffered from severe morning sickness, vomiting constantly, unable to sleep at night, looking so haggard I barely resembled a human being. Julian and Dylan began to despise me, unwilling to even look at me, instead spending their days laughing and chatting around Jane. Now, seeing me, Jane still approached with a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. She linked her arm through mine affectionately, acting coy: “Evelyn, you’re here! I heard Julian yelling at you downstairs earlier and was so worried about you. But honestly, he’s not wrong—you can’t just stop caring about your appearance because you’re pregnant. Look at you now, fat and ugly, with acne all over your face. You look like a beggar.” Before she finished speaking, someone nearby chimed in with a laugh: “What does being pretty have to do with pregnancy? Jane, you’re pregnant too, so how come you’re still so slim and gorgeous? Some people just have terrible genes—no amount of money can fix that. If I were you, I wouldn’t get too close to her. She’s rich and powerful—why would she care about poor folks like us? If I were Julian, I’d never marry a fat cow who only knows how to throw tantrums! What does she have that can compare to Jane? If Julian had any sense, he’d be with Jane instead.” Since getting pregnant, I’d been tormented both physically and mentally, so I rarely came downstairs and had no energy to deal with their nonsense. But today, I slapped her directly across the face and snapped: “Since you know I have a temper, you still dare to provoke me in my face? Seems like your skin is too thick—let me help loosen it up for you!” “Evelyn! What are you doing!” Jane shrieked, jumping forward to play peacemaker. “And you people too! Julian and Evelyn’s fight is their private business. Even if Evelyn’s as fat as a pig, as long as Julian likes her, what’s it to anyone else? What does this have to do with us outsiders? But Evelyn, don’t be so sensitive. Everyone’s just concerned about you—why are you getting so angry? We all live in the same neighborhood. How are we supposed to get along after this?” I laughed coldly: “Concerned about me? You call me ugly to my face and try to set up my husband with a widow—that’s your idea of concern?” Jane’s face changed dramatically: “Evelyn! Can’t you watch your mouth? Who’s a widow? Who are you calling a widow?” I stared at her coldly: “Whoever’s husband is dead is a widow. I’m stating facts—how is that offensive?” Just then, Julian came rushing downstairs, his face full of rage as he yelled at me: “Evelyn! Have you lost your mind? How dare you humiliate Jane like that?” I dodged to the side, and his slap grazed past my ear. Though he missed, the humiliation surged through me like a tidal wave. Someone deliberately stirred up trouble: “You really think you’re some rich princess, don’t you? Julian, you better control your wife. If you can’t handle her, send her to live with the pigs where she won’t be an eyesore!”

Julian’s face flushed red as he glared at me with vicious eyes. “Get home and work out right now! Stop embarrassing me out here!” This was actually my usual Pilates time. The old me had been obsessed with maintaining my figure – the moment I gained weight, I’d immediately start exercising with incredible dedication. But after seeing those comments, I realized all my daily workouts were completely pointless, serving no purpose except making Jane more slender and healthy. So why should I keep exercising? I ordered fried chicken delivery and sat in the garden downstairs, eating with relish. Jane had been giving Julian flirtatious looks, but seeing me suddenly indulging in food, she rushed over in panic. “Evelyn! How can you give up on yourself like this?” she said. She grabbed my arm, her grip tightening. “You’re already this fat and you still won’t lose weight? Do you really want Julian to divorce you? You know perfectly well he hates fat women!” I smiled coldly and shook off her hand. “What does his hatred of fat women have to do with me? Divorce? Ask him if he dares! His food, clothes, everything – it’s all paid for with my money. A man who lives off his wife has the nerve to look down on me?” I spoke while aggressively chewing my fried chicken. I hadn’t enjoyed a meal this much since getting pregnant. One box of fried chicken wasn’t enough, so I ordered pizza too. By the end of the meal, my stomach was completely stuffed. After eating, I went to the neighborhood fruit store to buy watermelon and savored it slowly. By the time I returned home, full and satisfied with a big bag of snacks, Dylan was already waiting at the door with a frown. “Mom, you’re just pregnant, not dying of some serious illness. If you have nothing to do, can’t you spend more time studying?” he said. He stepped back, revealing a huge stack of practice problems behind him. “I carefully selected all of these. You need to finish them within a week – don’t make me look down on you!” He kicked the books on the ground. “Carry these books back yourself. You can’t expect a kid like me to do the work for you, right?” I laughed coldly and kicked him down onto that pile of practice problems. Under Dylan’s shocked gaze, I smiled and said, “If you hadn’t come out of my belly, you’d be nothing! Do I need your approval? So what if you’re a kid? Did I give birth to you to be an emperor? Throw all these damn books out!” I had always been loving toward Dylan and had never scolded him so harshly before. He couldn’t accept it for a moment. “Are you crazy? I’m your son! I’m doing all this for your own good. Now you’re treating me like this – when you’re old, I definitely won’t take care of you!” I looked at him expressionlessly. “I won’t raise an ungrateful beast. Think carefully before you speak.” Dylan’s mouth opened and closed, his face turning bright red. Finally, he cursed viciously: “You think I want you as my mother? You’re fat like a pig, your face is covered in acne, and now you won’t even try to study. What kind of future could you have? You don’t deserve to be my mother!” He was still just a child after all. Before he finished speaking, he burst into tears, as if he’d suffered some terrible injustice. Hearing the commotion, Julian burst through the door. Seeing Dylan crying, Julian rolled up his sleeves, ready to hit me. “Evelyn, you’ve really gone too far! Today, I’m going to teach you a harsh lesson!” But he didn’t hit me immediately. Instead, he threatened arrogantly: “Get your dad to transfer money right now! Or I won’t let you off easy!” I’d never heard so many jokes in one day in my entire life. “You want to hit me and you want my family’s money? Looks like you really can’t see the situation clearly!” I said. Before I could finish, a neighbor suddenly ran in frantically. “Julian, you need to get downstairs quickly! Jane has severe stomach pain – she’s already been taken to the hospital.”

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While temporarily borrowing Mark Smith’s tablet to handle work, I, Elena Gilbert, logged into the cloud sync account to send files, only to accidentally discover that the system had automatically synced 999 private photos. The latest one was uploaded ten minutes ago. In the photo, Mark and a young girl were disheveled in his office, kissing shamelessly in front of the camera. The next second, a message from an unknown account synced through to Mark. 【The 1000th photo together, you promised me a surprise, you better deliver tonight.】 He replied instantly: 【Wait for me.】 I stared at those two lines, my fingertips growing cold, trembling as I dialed Mark’s number. I asked: “Today marks our fifth wedding anniversary. Are we celebrating like last year?” He fell silent for a long time, then apologized guiltily: “I have a meeting tonight and might have to work through the night. Don’t wait up for me.” I agreed in my usual tone, backed up and packaged all the records for my lawyer, then left to go to Mark’s company. ***** I’d been to Mark’s company countless times. Ten years ago, Mark and I started from nothing. Three months ago, I was still the technical director. Until that miscarriage, Mark convinced me to rest at home. In just three months, a girl I’d never seen before, Emily McCoy, appeared at the company, intimately close to him. She had seamlessly taken over my role. The receptionist’s eyes lit up when she saw me: “Ms. Gilbert, you’re here!” I raised an eyebrow slightly: “Why are you suddenly calling me that?” Before, colleagues always called me by my first name; no one used my surname. She scratched her head and smiled: “Mr. Smith felt it was impolite for us to call you by your first name, so he asked us to address you as Ms. Gilbert.” I sneered inwardly. Before I could speak, Mark hurried over. He rushed out of the elevator and draped his suit jacket over my shoulders. He said: “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? It’s windy outside, are you cold?” I smiled and held up the thermal container in my hand: “You said you’d be working late tonight, so I brought you dinner.” His eyes sparkled with delight: “Thank you for cooking for me, but just this once. I’d feel terrible if you got hurt.” On the way to his office, employees greeted us warmly, their eyes full of envy. In everyone’s eyes, Mark loved me deeply, obeyed my every word, and spoiled me beyond measure. Until a girl walked into the office, smiling brightly: “Hello, Ms. Gilbert, I’m the new assistant, Emily McCoy. Let me make you some coffee!” I looked at her face—identical to the person in Mark’s photo album. So it was her. I extended my hand: “Hello, I’m Elena Gilbert, Mark’s wife.” Her face instantly turned pale, and she left in a panic with her head down. Mark praised Emily to me: “Speaking of which, Emily is actually your junior, ten years younger than us, very talented, just like you.” I felt somewhat dazed. Mark and I were college classmates; he confessed to me the year we graduated. Five years of dating, five years of marriage—we’d been together for a full ten years. Now he was saying another person was like me. Same major, similar names, but she was full of vitality and adorably lively. I looked down and noticed a black hair tie hidden under his shirt cuff. I said: “I haven’t seen this hair tie before. Did you buy it for me?” He instinctively tugged at his sleeve, then frantically pulled off the hair tie and shoved it into a drawer. He said: “My hair’s gotten long and it’s inconvenient for work, so I just bought one randomly.” He was lying. A hair tie that thick could only be used for long hair. He could have brushed it off, but instead he chose to make a flimsy excuse. He pulled my hand over to touch his hair: “Look, I’m growing it out waiting for you to cut it.” I was terrible at cutting hair, but he always enjoyed it, saying only my handiwork was good. Just then, Emily came in with coffee. Seeing our position, her smile became strained. She said: “Ms. Gilbert, your coffee…” Before she finished speaking, the scalding coffee spilled on my arm, instantly turning it red. Mark’s expression darkened: “How could you be so careless?” Emily looked at him in disbelief, her eyes reddening as she covered her face and ran out. I watched Mark’s anger fade and quickly turn to regret. He still put on a show of checking my injury: “Honey, I’ll go buy some burn ointment. Wait for me.” I nodded: “Go ahead.”

Mark chased after Emily in the direction she’d left, and wouldn’t be back anytime soon. Taking advantage of this window, I opened Mark’s computer and easily pulled up all of Emily’s files, copying everything onto a USB drive. Before leaving, I planted a tiny surveillance device in the corner of the bookshelf. Mark didn’t disappoint me. He only called once to offer his condolences, then immediately went to comfort Emily. Through the surveillance feed, I watched them kissing passionately on his office desk, faces pressed together, breathing intertwined, their coats carelessly thrown on the floor. Emily’s hands wrapped around his neck, her voice soft and playfully reproachful: “You actually yelled at me because of that old woman? You’re so mean. As punishment, you have to spend the entire night with me!” Mark’s tone was indulgent: “Tonight was always yours anyway. Elena is so much older than you, and she’s domineering and boring. How could I ever like her? I’m just putting on an act.” My heart plummeted, as if crushed by an invisible hand. He then pulled out an exquisite box and handed it to Emily: “These are custom earrings I had made for you for two million dollars. Will you forgive me?” I watched the screen expressionlessly. I’d discovered the record of these custom earrings a week ago. They featured two snowflake patterns, and I’d thought they were his surprise for our fifth wedding anniversary this Christmas. I hadn’t said anything. Emily’s tears turned to laughter as she playfully demanded Mark put them on her himself. The two became entangled once again. I shut off the surveillance and sent Emily’s files to my lawyer friend Natalia Carter: [Help me investigate her entire background.] Natalia was my college classmate and close friend of fourteen years. After seeing the photos and videos, she immediately flew into a rage, sending me numerous messages. Soon, she sent me Emily’s social media accounts, with all her post history laid bare. I started reading from her earliest posts, like witnessing a romance filled with girlish dreams. The company had long since weathered its most difficult period from ten years ago, giving Mark plenty of time and energy for romance. He accompanied Emily to amusement parks, awkwardly taking photos of her. They kissed passionately on the Ferris wheel, their smiles radiant. [Kissing the one you love at the top of the Ferris wheel – I hope we can be together forever.] Emily even dragged Mark to couple’s restaurants he’d once scorned, holding heart-shaped props and sharing a single ice cream. [Someone said couple’s restaurants were just gimmicks, but he still came with me and helped me finish all the food!] There were also photos of Mark personally cooking to care for her when she was sick with a fever. [I have a fever and feel terrible, but thankfully someone’s here with me, making my favorite dishes.] I recalled from memory a house with the same layout – one I’d fallen in love with at first sight when we were house hunting, though Mark hadn’t been too pleased with it. Turns out he didn’t dislike that house; he wanted to save it for Emily. Emily’s most recent post had a university campus as the backdrop. She wore both graduation robes and a wedding dress in different photos, with Mark beside her in both. [From school uniform to wedding dress – thank you to someone for helping me fulfill my dreams.] I refreshed the page, and a new post appeared. The image showed a candlelit dinner with overlapping hands wearing matching rings, plus a pregnancy test report. [The ring is someone’s surprise and promise to me. As a thank you, I’ll give him a little baby.] Her username was “CallMePrincess.” In the comments, an account called “YesMyPrincess” interacted with her the most. Occasionally, other users would leave blessings when they saw the posts. Looking through those photos, I suddenly realized Emily really did resemble me in my younger years. The way Mark looked at her was exactly how he used to look at me. I opened Mark’s computer in the study and found an encrypted file. He’d told me he had no secrets from me, so all the devices at home had no passwords. This was the only exception. But he’d forgotten that I came from a technical background and had won international programming competitions with absolute dominance. When I saw the password was his and Emily’s couple nickname, I wasn’t surprised at all. Opening the file, I found the most recent document was Emily’s graduation thesis and final project. I could tell at a glance from the table of contents that it was one of the research topics I’d once worked on, with nearly identical code content and framework. Since it hadn’t yielded results, I’d temporarily shelved it. For an undergraduate’s graduation project, though, it was more than sufficient. Natalia was furious, swearing to destroy them both. She raged: “That bastard! He had a child with someone else and stole your research – what else does he want to do?” I silently clicked on the only video in the folder. It was an AI-generated, thirty-second pornographic video. The subjects were a strange man and my face. I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave, my blood freezing solid. I said coldly: “Natalia, he wants to destroy my reputation completely. Well, I want him dead.”

I didn’t blow up immediately. Instead, I quietly gathered all the evidence I could find and asked Natalia to thoroughly investigate Mark’s financial transactions over the past few years. The night passed quickly, and Mark never came home. The next day at breakfast, he smiled as he handed me an invitation. “There’s a graduation ceremony at the school next week, and they’ve invited us back as distinguished alumni. Elena, let’s go together and reminisce about our college days.” Mark had always been passionate about charity and had donated to our alma mater multiple times, but he’d always declined their invitations to attend events. This year was different, though—Emily was about to graduate and had been selected as the outstanding graduate representative. I smiled and agreed to go with him. The graduation ceremony was quite grand. Emily took the stage to speak, dressed in her cap and gown with flawless makeup. Mark smiled naturally as he told me, “When you were the graduate representative back then, I was completely mesmerized watching you speak from the audience. I was so nervous when I came to confess my feelings right after you stepped down from the stage.” I sneered inwardly. He must be feeling the same way now, unable to take his eyes off Emily. He took my hand: “You’re still recovering, so why don’t we let Emily gradually take over your work? You can stay home and prepare for pregnancy. Didn’t you say you wanted a child? If you have another miscarriage from an accident, I really couldn’t handle it.” I slowly pulled my hand away, the questions almost spilling from my lips. In the end, I only said coolly, “Emily just graduated. How could she handle an entire technical department? Let’s talk about it later.” A shadow crossed his eyes, but they brightened again when he looked at Emily. Emily spoke with confidence, radiant and youthful—a classic genius beauty. Mark didn’t realize that his gaze when looking at Emily was impossible to hide. I’d known him for over ten years and was all too familiar with his micro-expressions and looks. That gaze was full of love and pride. He, who never enjoyed listening to lectures, had actually listened intently to Emily’s entire speech. The dean followed the program with his remarks, offering words of praise before mentioning the scholarship. “As we all know, many alumni have contributed significantly to give back to our alma mater over the years. Among them, our outstanding alumnus Mark Smith has established a special scholarship to encourage underclassmen. Today we’re honored to have Mr. Smith here in person to present the scholarship to this year’s outstanding graduate representative!” Thunderous applause erupted as Mark stood and walked steadily toward the stage. Only I could see the eagerness beneath his calm exterior. He presented certificates and awards to each recipient. When it was Emily’s turn, they shared a smile. I suddenly froze. As Emily bent forward, a necklace fell from her collar—one I recognized all too well. An imperial green jade necklace with a carved pattern I would never forget. It was my mother’s keepsake, left to me.

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The day the pain transfer system was legalized, I, Jasmine Lynch, didn’t hesitate to transfer my parents’ cancer onto myself. After they returned from their world tour, my mom Gianna Lynch pouted with displeasure written all over her face. She said, “You’re really scheming. Just to earn a reputation for being filial, you took on all the illness and drove Winona away.” Winona Lynch, my younger sister. Ever since the pain transfer policy was implemented, she had completely disappeared. I froze for a moment, the smile on my face solidifying. But Gianna grew more agitated: “You rushed to bind the system with us first, didn’t you? Just to make her look unfilial! Sure, you’ve suffered these past few years, but at the end of the day, you brought it on yourself. You’re nowhere near as considerate as Winona, always walking around with that long face, guilt-tripping us. It’s so annoying!” I felt like I’d fallen into an ice pit, unable to believe what I was hearing. Just then, the system’s voice echoed in my ears. 【Do you choose to terminate the pain transfer system?】 ***** Upon hearing this, Gianna was instantly overjoyed. She said, “This system can be unbound? I agree! Of course I agree! If I’d known the price of binding was losing Winona, I never would have agreed in the first place!” My dad Bennett Lynch, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up from the sofa, and the two embraced, crying. He said, “All these years Winona hasn’t come back because of the psychological pressure. Now we can finally have our family reunion!” As if afraid the system might change its mind, they began competing to accuse me. “Jasmine never asked if we were willing—she bound the system without permission.” “Right! She just used Winona as a comparison to highlight her own greatness. So manipulative!” “And she walks around with that miserable face all the time, always in pain or throwing up, guilt-tripping and tormenting us like we owe her millions of dollars!” “What good is a healthy body? How could it compare to the happiness we had when Winona was with us?” They went back and forth, as if they had endless grievances. They paid no attention to my increasingly pale face and uncontrollably trembling body. Three years ago, the government introduced the pain transfer system. Bennett and Gianna had early-stage cancer, crying out in agony every day in our rental apartment. Gianna had sighed countless times in front of me: “I guess I’m just old. This illness would be nothing for you young people, but for me, it’s torture.” My heart ached for them. I went to discuss it with Winona, only to find she was gone. When I asked my parents where Winona had gone, they hemmed and hawed without giving a clear answer. In the end, I had no choice but to transfer both of their cancer cells onto myself. For three years, I endured excruciating pain every day, going to the hospital for chemotherapy while still working to earn money. Five days a week I couldn’t sleep well, three days I couldn’t eat, and my hair fell out in clumps. But seeing their bodies grow stronger, hearing them occasionally talk about wanting to travel, I felt it was worth it. But today, my illusion was completely shattered. The system issued its cold prompt. 【Jasmine, do you agree to terminate the system?】

My body swayed, and the hunger and nausea from not having a drop of water all day overwhelmed me. Gianna stood nearby, earnestly persuading me: “Jasmine, you’ve already established your filial daughter persona. You’ve heard enough praise for three Christmases. But why are you being so selfish, refusing to let Winona come back? You’re only enduring some physical pain, but we truly lost Winona for three whole Christmases! Do you know how I’ve been getting through these years?” I don’t understand! During the three Christmases of restored health, they no longer had to worry about their bodies giving out. Gianna danced every day and went shopping. Bennett took walks and became the most robust among all the old men. They could go wherever they wanted, while I had to give up the sports and hobbies I loved. I thought I had sacrificed so much for this family, but in their mouths, it became selfishness. Bennett’s accusatory voice rang in my ears again: “I’m really sick of your half-dead appearance! Moping around all day with no vitality at all! If you could be as lively and cheerful as Winona, we wouldn’t have suffered through these Christmases!” He seemed to have been holding it in for a long time, letting out a long breath after speaking. But Dad, I’ve taken on your stomach cancer and lung cancer. No matter how strong I am, I can’t force a smile and act carefree! Seeing my silence, Gianna frowned and couldn’t help but shove me: “Are you going to agree or not? Are you mute?” But she forgot that chemotherapy had already reduced me to skin and bones. With her light push, I fell heavily to the ground. Seeing me grimace in pain, their faces still showed only angry urgency. In that moment, my heart turned completely cold. I said: “Fine, as you wish.” The system issued its final prompt. 【After unbinding, the cancers belonging to Bennett and Gianna on Jasmine will return to their original bodies. Please confirm again.】 Bennett frowned and retorted: “What? The cancers have to go back to us? Jasmine is willing to keep them on her.” I quickly countered: “I’m not willing.” Actually, during these Christmases, I had regrets too. But their words today completely solidified my decision. I don’t want to bear your fates anymore. I want to enjoy my own life! I nervously watched the two of them, afraid they might change their minds. Fortunately, Gianna didn’t even glance at me, only pulling Bennett aside to whisper persuasively: “Jasmine had cancer for several Christmases and was fine, right? With modern medicine being so advanced, what’s this little illness? We owe Winona too much. Can you bear to watch her drift around outside?” Finally, the two made up their minds and chose to confirm. This time, I actually detected a hint of mockery in the system’s voice. 【Unbinding successful. Corresponding symptoms will gradually appear within three days.】 【You are the first pair to unbind for this reason. Enjoy what follows!】 In that instant, my body felt unprecedentedly light. My health had returned! Bennett and Gianna exchanged glances, thinking of something that made them smile as they left the house. I slowly stood up, watching their retreating figures with ice-cold eyes. This time, you’ll get a good taste of cancer’s agony!

When I got home, my husband Atticus Howard had already prepared a full spread of dinner. Seeing my rosy complexion, he couldn’t help but smile. He asked, “Honey, did something good happen today? You look so much better than when you left this morning!” My daughter Iris Howard kept piling food onto my plate. She said, “Mom, you need to eat more so you can get better!” Three years ago, when Bennett and Gianna were suffering from their illnesses and learned of my decision to bind with the system, Atticus didn’t blame me—he only felt heartache and pride. During my most agonizing days, he stayed by my side, offering gentle encouragement and never leaving. And Iris never complained about my inability to take proper care of her. Instead, she became even more understanding and considerate. Warmth filled my heart as I told them everything that had happened today. After hearing it all, Atticus was both shocked and overjoyed, pulling me into his arms. He said, “That’s wonderful! They never deserved all the sacrifices you made for them. From now on, you’ll never have to carry that burden again.” Though Iris didn’t fully understand, she was happy for me too. She said, “That’s great! Mom, does this mean you don’t have to take medicine anymore? And you don’t have to go to the hospital?” My eyes welled up with tears as I nodded firmly. I used to carry the burden of my parents’ illnesses, but from now on, I would live only for myself. The next day, while checking my phone, I saw an Instagram post from Bennett and Gianna. The content made my heart skip a beat. 【Welcome our precious daughter home!】 The photo showed them with Winona, all three sitting on the couch, smiling intimately. The post was uploaded at 9 PM yesterday. Winona was back? Right after I severed the system connection, they brought Winona home. If there wasn’t something fishy going on, I wouldn’t believe it. Just then, Gianna’s call came through: “How can you be so clueless? Didn’t you see my Instagram post yesterday? Winona’s back, and you don’t even know to come home and welcome her? You still haven’t apologized to her for what happened three years ago. Get your ass back here right now!” I didn’t argue and drove home. Perfect timing—I needed to have a face-to-face with Winona anyway. As soon as I stepped through the front door, I was greeted by takeout containers, beer bottles, and junk food scattered everywhere. These were all Winona’s favorites, but absolutely forbidden for cancer patients. Clearly, Bennett and Gianna hadn’t realized they no longer possessed healthy bodies. Bennett, unshaven and pale, habitually waved at me: “Hurry up and clean this mess.” I’d always known they favored Winona more. They couldn’t bear to let Winona do dirty or tiring work, always making me clean up their messes instead. But this time, I wasn’t doing it. Seeing my indifference, Winona on the couch shifted slightly, putting on a pitiful expression as she looked at me: “Jasmine, are you mad at me? I know you don’t like me—otherwise you wouldn’t have used the system binding to drive me away. But no matter how upset you are, you can’t take it out on Mom and Dad.” Bennett immediately flew into a rage, pointing at me and scolding: “Jasmine! Don’t push your luck! Apologize to Winona right now!” I let out a cold laugh, scanning all three of them: “Whether Winona was driven away by me or ran away herself, you know the truth better than I do.” I looked Winona up and down, noticing her outfit was all high-end brands. But how could someone who’d been pampered her whole life undergo such a dramatic transformation in just three years? I looked at Gianna and caught her avoiding eye contact, which confirmed my suspicions. I said, “Mom, I’ve supported you for three years. Since Winona’s back, let her take care of you from now on. I won’t contribute another penny.” At this, Winona was the first to panic: “Jasmine! How can you say such things!” Gianna immediately caught on, slapping her thigh and wailing: “How dare you! How did I end up with such an ungrateful daughter! You have to give us ten thousand dollars every month! Otherwise, your father and I won’t go to the hospital for treatment.” She knew I cared about their health and was trying to use that to threaten me. But now, that trick wouldn’t work anymore. I shrugged: “Suit yourselves. Whether you go to the hospital or not has nothing to do with me.” As I turned to leave, I kicked aside a takeout container: “Just a heads up—if you keep eating like this without any restraint, the cancer will probably worsen before your next checkup. Don’t blame me for not warning you, and don’t expect me to handle your funeral arrangements either.” As the door closed behind me, I could hear Bennett and Gianna’s furious cursing from inside. “I’ll eat whatever I want! You didn’t die in three years, so what’s a little food gonna do to us!” “I think you’re just jealous of Winona! Once you’re gone, don’t ever think about stepping foot in this house again!” Over the following days, Gianna seemed determined to provoke me, posting photos on Instagram almost daily of her and Winona dining out. Pizza, fried chicken, barbecue… She even captioned them: 【What’s it like having your precious daughter as your dining buddy?】 Looking at Gianna’s swollen, purplish cheeks in the photos, I smirked coldly. Bennett posted pictures of himself playing chess all night and drinking freely. In just two days, his belly had swollen up, looking as terrifying as someone six months pregnant. It wasn’t that they didn’t know the system had been severed, but people accustomed to doing whatever they pleased couldn’t rein themselves in so quickly. I calculated the timing—day three, when the system indicated the symptoms would fully return. Sure enough, early in the morning, I received Gianna’s call. She said, “Jasmine, why did I wake up with blood coming from my nose and throat this morning?”

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Three years after our marriage, I got pregnant. My gambling-addicted husband Roman Patel was so excited he nearly went insane, actually setting up betting pools across the entire city on the gender of the baby in my womb. Later, I miscarried. Heavy bleeding, and we couldn’t save the child. But Roman was thrilled like a madman, rushing off to announce the “good news” first thing. He said since the baby was gone, the betting result would be “neither boy nor girl,” and he won all the stakes. With that huge sum, he bought the biggest hospital in the city. Roman walked over to my hospital bed, his eyes bloodshot as he told me, “Valentina, this hospital is ours now.” Valentina Brooks is my name. He also said, “The doctors here will definitely get you pregnant again as fast as possible. Then I can set up another betting pool.” Thinking of our family’s curse that “the first child must die,” I smiled. I said, “Alright, Roman. This time we should definitely bet big.” Roman’s eyes were bloodshot—not from grief, but from the excitement of running betting operations for days on end. He leaned down close to me, his heavy cologne mixed with the hospital’s cold disinfectant smell making me nauseous. Roman said, “Valentina, look, all of this is ours now.” He spread his arms wide, smugly surveying the various medical equipment filling the room. He continued, “This equipment is all top-of-the-line globally. The specialists are also ones I hired from abroad at great expense.” Roman lowered his voice, his breath hitting my ear. He said, “They have only one job—to restore your health as quickly as possible so you can give me another child.” Roman paused for a moment, reaching out to stroke my belly. He said, “Valentina, let’s go big this time. We’ll bet on boy or girl, bet on twins or fraternal twins. How about it?” Looking at his face twisted with excitement, I smiled obediently. I said, “Okay, I’ll listen to whatever you say.” My compliance clearly pleased Roman. He reached out and pinched my cheek, his fingertips pressing hard, as if evaluating the quality of merchandise. He said, “You’re so good.” Just then, the hospital room door was suddenly pushed open. Roman’s mother Layla Patel rushed in carrying a large thermos container. Upon entering, she first glared at me, then ran over to Roman with a smile. She said, “Roman, I made you soup. You’ve gotten so thin lately from developing your business.” Layla set the thermos down heavily on the bedside table, splashing a few drops of soup. Roman didn’t even look, waving his hand impatiently. He said, “I’ve told you before, bring these things for Valentina. If her health isn’t good, how can my plans proceed?” The smile on Layla’s face froze for a moment, then quickly returned. She said, “My memory is so bad. Of course it’s for Valentina.” Layla efficiently ladled out a bowl of medicinal soup and held it in front of me. She said with a cold smile, “Valentina, drink this quickly. As long as you drink it, the next pregnancy will definitely give me a boy I’ll love.” The medicinal soup was very dark, its fishy smell making me nauseous. I didn’t take it. Layla’s expression immediately darkened: “What? Do you still think you’re the precious daughter of the Brooks family? If it weren’t for you, would my grandson be gone? Now I’m asking you to drink a bowl of soup, and you’re giving me attitude?” Roman also frowned: “Valentina, my mom means well.” I looked up and smiled gently at them both. I said, “Roman, Layla, it’s not that I won’t drink it. It’s just that this hospital is ours now, so we should trust science, right? The doctor just instructed that my diet should be light and I can’t drink random things. What if it conflicts with the doctor’s treatment and delays your important business?” Roman’s expression softened somewhat. He nodded slightly and said to Layla, “Mom, Valentina’s right.” He took the medicinal soup and continued, “Don’t make these unscientific things anymore. I didn’t spend big money buying this place to listen to quack remedies.” He walked to the window and poured that bowl of dark soup into the orchid plant Layla had brought earlier. Layla’s face looked terrible. She stared at me, her lips trembling, but couldn’t say a word. I lowered my head, hiding all my thoughts.

The day I was discharged from the hospital, Roman called in a crowd of people. The convoy of cars stretched from the hospital entrance all the way to the street corner. He wore a perfectly tailored suit and carried me in his arms, putting on a show of marital harmony. We returned to an unfamiliar mansion. The living room had no aroma of food, and medical equipment outnumbered the furniture. Several people in white coats stood to one side. When they saw us enter, they bowed in unison and said, “Good day, Mr. Patel, Mrs. Patel.” Roman basked in this respectful treatment. He pointed to the doctor at the front, introducing him to me with obvious pride. He said, “Valentina, this is Dr. Colton Baker, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist. I paid a fortune to bring him here. From now on, your health will be entirely under his team’s care.” Colton stepped forward and handed me a document. He said, “Mrs. Patel, this is a customized fertility plan we’ve designed for you, precise down to what you eat each day and when you rest. Even your emotions will be monitored. We’ll use the most scientific methods to get you into optimal conception condition within three months.” Colton’s tone was flat, as if he were reading a product manual. I opened the plan and found it filled with dense charts and data, breaking down and regulating every detail of my life for the days ahead. The word “pregnancy” in the objectives column was highlighted in bold red, particularly conspicuous. Layla dismissed all the servants. Nominally, she wanted to personally care for me, but in reality, she was keeping me under close surveillance. Every bite of food I ate, every sip of water I drank had to pass her inspection. She would say, “This is too cold, you can’t eat it.” “This could trigger old ailments or worsen your condition, it’s bad for your health.” “Colton says this is high protein. You need to eat more of it.” Once, when I was gazing at the jasmine flowers outside the window and lost in thought for a moment, Layla immediately rushed over. She said, “Valentina, what are you daydreaming about now? Colton says you need to stay in good spirits, you can’t always be unhappy—it affects your hormones.” With that, Layla turned on the TV and found some noisy program. “Watch something cheerful.” Roman spent most of his time at the new hospital he’d bought. When he occasionally came home, it was only to check on my “recovery progress.” He constantly pestered the doctors with questions: “How are her numbers looking? When can we start trying to conceive?” That day, I was taking a walk in the garden accompanied by a nurse. I saw the Patel family’s driver making a secretive phone call in the corner. I slowly walked closer and caught only fragments of his conversation. He said, “The stakes are even higher this time. I’m someone you can trust. Mr. Patel set the odds himself.” The sound of the gardener pruning branches seemed particularly grating. So a new round of betting had already begun preparations. That evening, Roman unusually came home for dinner. Layla had added some unknown substance to the soup again, and the entire dining room was filled with a strange odor. She set the soup bowl down heavily in front of me, saying with displeasure, “If this soup gets cold, it won’t be effective. Do you think I made this for you to drink? This is for my future grandson. Drink it now.” Turning around, Layla attentively served Roman his food. “Roman, with Valentina being cared for so well this time, she’ll definitely be able to successfully give birth to the boy I want.” Roman put down his fork and wiped his mouth. He said, “Mom, whether it’s a boy or girl doesn’t matter.” Layla was stunned. Roman’s face showed a hint of an amused smile. “What matters is that the betting pool is big enough and the suspense is sufficient. That’s what makes it fun.” “Valentina, to celebrate our new beginning, I’m throwing you a party. When the time comes, I’m going to announce some good news in front of the entire city.” I put down my spoon and asked softly, “What good news?” Roman said, word by word, “Of course, that I’m opening another betting pool for my beloved wife. This time, the stakes are ten times higher.” He looked at me smugly, waiting for me to show gratitude. I met his gaze, picked up the soup that had long since gone cold, and took a small sip. The strange taste spread across my tongue, yet I gave him a perfect smile.

The banquet was held at Roman’s newly purchased hotel. The lights were dazzling, and every type of liquor imaginable was available. The city’s wealthy elite had gathered together, holding wine glasses as they clustered in small groups, excitedly discussing the upcoming gambling event. I wore an evening gown as Roman led me by the hand through the crowd. I maintained a smile on my face while enduring the scrutinizing gazes from all around. A lady approached enviously: “Mrs. Patel, you’re so lucky. Roman treats you so well.” I smiled without responding. Layla wore an eye-catching red evening dress, weaving energetically among the guests. She boasted to everyone about Roman’s capabilities and claimed I would surely continue the Patel family bloodline. “I’m telling you all, Roman has brought in the world’s top experts this time. I’m definitely going to have a grandson,” Layla said smugly, making promises to several ladies. Those ladies immediately became excited, gathering around her to quietly probe for inside information about the gambling event. Not far away, several pot-bellied male guests surrounded Colton in his white coat. They weren’t there to consult about medical issues, but to fish for “inside data” about my body. “Colton, what are the odds of Mrs. Patel’s physical condition producing a son?” one man asked. Another man chimed in: “Yeah, give us a hint. That way we can prepare ourselves mentally.” Colton pushed up his glasses, pretending to refuse to reveal anything, though his eyes couldn’t hide his smugness at being pursued by the crowd. This banquet wasn’t a celebration at all—it was a “showcase.” Roman was displaying me to everyone as the “stakes” of his gambling game. Roman led me to the center of the hall. The large screen behind him began playing a carefully crafted video—clips of him and me being “loving,” set to deeply romantic background music. The video ended with a freeze-frame of my face from my first pregnancy, filled with blissful happiness. Then the screen went black, and a line of text appeared: [Tragedy has passed, true love is eternal.] Roman picked up the microphone, his voice breaking with emotion: “Thank you all for coming. Many of you know that not long ago, my beloved wife Valentina and I experienced a painful loss.” He raised his hand to wipe the corner of his eye and continued: “But love has made us choose to stand up again. To honor the child we lost and to welcome new life in the future, I’ve decided…” Roman deliberately paused, scanning the entire venue, savoring the moment when everyone held their breath in anticipation. Then he raised his voice: “I’ve decided to open another gambling event!” The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted in excited whistles and applause. The atmosphere instantly became electric. Roman grew more excited as he spoke, his cheeks flushing: “This time the scale will be unprecedented. We’ll bring in the most authoritative notarization team to supervise the entire process—absolutely fair, just, and transparent.” He excitedly pulled me into his embrace, planted a loud kiss on my cheek, then announced loudly: “And after paying out the winnings, I’ll donate all remaining proceeds to establish a charitable foundation to help other families who have similarly lost children.” The atmosphere reached its peak, with thunderous applause. Everyone was cheering for Roman’s “devotion” and “benevolence.” I stood beside him, coldly watching the surrounding commotion and cheers. Just as the atmosphere reached its most fervent point, I suddenly felt dizzy, my body went weak, and I instinctively pressed my hand to my forehead. “Roman, I feel a bit dizzy.” The smile on Roman’s face instantly froze. He quickly supported me, his urgency seeming genuine: “What’s wrong? Where don’t you feel well? Doctor! Colton!” The banquet was interrupted because of this. I was helped into the lounge. Colton frowned throughout his examination, not saying a word. Roman and Layla paced back and forth nearby, creating a suffocating tension. Finally, Roman couldn’t take it anymore and burst out: “What’s wrong with her? Say something!” Colton looked up, his expression complex as he studied us. Taking a deep breath, he slowly announced: “Mr. Patel, based on my preliminary examination, Mrs. Patel appears to be pregnant again.” The entire lounge fell silent. Roman’s face shifted from surprise to pure joy, then that joy transformed into something greedy. His eyes gleamed with eager anticipation: “She’s pregnant?” Roman’s voice cracked, dry and hoarse. Colton nodded: “Very likely. But for a definitive diagnosis, she’ll need to return to the hospital tomorrow for detailed tests.” Roman suddenly burst into laughter. He swept me up in his arms, spinning me around forcefully. He held me so tight it hurt my bones. Laughing, Roman said: “Did you hear that, Valentina? You’re pregnant again! My betting game can finally begin in earnest.” Layla snapped to attention and rushed over. Her hand hovered above my belly, wanting to touch but not daring to: “Wonderful! The Patel family will have an heir! This time you must be careful—we can’t have another accident.” The two of them—one only cared about money, the other only about offspring. Roman set me down and cupped my face, kissing me hard: “Valentina, you truly are my lucky charm.” With that, Roman pulled me along as we returned to the banquet hall with high spirits. He grabbed the microphone from the emcee, his voice trembling with excitement: “Everyone! Great news!” All eyes focused on him. Roman continued: “Valentina is pregnant again!” The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted in cheers and whistles. The timing was almost too perfect—like a staged performance. The “stakes” were in place before the betting had even begun. Roman raised his arms high, looking down at the crowd below: “Therefore, I declare the betting officially open!” He swung his hand down forcefully, and the large screen behind him immediately displayed various betting options and odds, numbers scrolling rapidly. Roman raised his voice again, with cruel amusement: “This time, we’re betting on boy or girl, and whether it’s twins or a boy-girl pair.” He paused, savoring the moment as the entire room waited in silence. Then he added: “To make this game more meaningful, and to commemorate this ‘gift of life,’ I’ve decided to place the final bet on—whether my child can survive safely for one month.” I gently caressed my belly and gave him an approving smile: “The game has finally begun. Roman, you’d better place a big bet this time.”

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My two older sisters got into a car accident and lost their memories. They forgot about me and mistook my parents’ friend’s son for our biological brother. Chloe, my older sister, gave him the inheritance my parents left for me. Harper, my second sister, used her connections to get him my graduate school admission spot. I thought they had truly forgotten me. Until one day, I accidentally overheard Chloe telling Harper, “Faking amnesia is exhausting. How about we just kick Julian out? Then we won’t have to pretend anymore.” I didn’t need them to kick me out. I left on my own, joining a twenty-year closed medical research program. During these twenty years, I couldn’t contact the outside world or go home. When my two sisters found out, they cried their hearts out. I was carrying the cake box, not even inside the front door yet, when I heard Chloe’s words. Harper chuckled softly. “Sounds good. Besides, without him, we can focus all our attention on Liam. Best of both worlds.” A shockwave ripped through me, and the cake box in my hands almost slipped. So, for the past six months, my two most beloved sisters had been deceiving me. They hadn’t forgotten me at all. And they knew Liam wasn’t their biological brother. Why? I couldn’t understand why they would lie to me like this. “But it’s his 23rd birthday today. Wouldn’t it be a bit harsh to kick him out right now?” Chloe suddenly spoke up again. My older sister still remembered my birthday. They remembered everything, yet for the past six months, they’d treated me like a stranger. Countless times they’d thrown me out of the house, countless times they’d showered Liam with affection right in front of me. “He’s really looking forward to this birthday. We have to make him leave on the day he anticipates most; that’s the only way he’ll completely give up and stop pestering us.” Harper’s voice was chillingly cold. That word—’pestering’—stabbed into my heart like a dagger. Thud. The cake I had personally baked fell to the floor, the frosting instantly smeared into a mess. Before, on my birthdays, Chloe and Harper would always prepare the cake for me. They’d also make sure to prepare lots of my favorite foods well in advance. So, every birthday was the happiest day for me. This time, I was also very much looking forward to it. I had hoped my birthday would somehow jog their memories. But now I knew: they had been faking amnesia all along.

When I entered the house, I was still carrying the ruined cake. Chloe was sitting on the sofa, peeling pecans for Liam. Harper was next to him, slicing an apple and thoughtfully drizzling it with honey. They used to treat me that way. Every time I came home for the weekend, they’d buy me tons of snacks, and both of them would play games with me. But recently, they’d been doing all this for Liam. They treated me like a stranger, giving me cold stares every day I came home. They never even cooked for me. I just thought they had amnesia, so I didn’t hold it against them. “Julian, come join us.” Liam flashed a smile, looking at me. He was the son of my parents’ friends. A year ago, his parents went on a business trip with mine and tragically died in a car accident. I was there too. In a critical moment, Dad shielded me, saving my life. With his last breath, he told me, “You’re a man now. You have to take good care of your two sisters.” I took his words to heart, willing to give up my own dreams and stay in the city with Chloe and Harper. But not long after, they both got into a car accident too, and then they lost their memories. When they woke up, they had forgotten me. They took Liam as their own brother and doted on him relentlessly.

“Oh, you’re just too sweet. These are from Chloe and Harper. Don’t you want to eat them all yourself?” Chloe ruffled Liam’s hair affectionately. Liam chuckled. “Even though Julian isn’t always nice to me, I believe I can win him over with my own kindness.” Harper shot me a cold look. “People like him can never be won over.” “Look how long we’ve kept him around. Not only is he ungrateful, but he keeps pushing his luck, shamelessly refusing to leave and claiming he’s our brother.” A bitter chill spread through my chest, and the hand holding the cake box tightened. Since they started faking amnesia six months ago, they’d treated me like a stranger, demanding I leave the house. But this was my home. I couldn’t just leave. So every day, I told Liam to get out and tried to tell my sisters that I was their real brother. But even when I showed them proof and had a paternity test done, they didn’t believe me. They said I was just faking it to get their money. They’d tried to kick me out more than once, but I stubbornly refused to go. Back then, I didn’t understand why they wouldn’t believe me, even with all the evidence right in front of them. Now, I finally understood. I looked at Chloe and Harper, and slowly, step by step, I walked toward them. I placed the cake box on the coffee table. Through the clear plastic, I could see the frosting was slowly melting, making the cake unrecognizable. “Chloe, Harper, it’s my birthday today.” My voice came out bitter. I couldn’t believe my sisters, who used to be so good to me, would now treat me so poorly for an outsider. They must have a good reason, a hidden difficulty. I didn’t want to expose them. I wanted them to tell me themselves. “How many times have we told you? We’re not your sisters!” Chloe looked at me with disgust. She probably forgot how much she used to adore me. Back then, she’d take me to play on the slide every day. She always told me, “Julian, Chloe will always be there for you.” “Yeah, what does your birthday have to do with us?” Harper’s face was equally cold. Normally, she was a very gentle woman, and always gentle with me. She owned her own company and once told me, “Julian, when you’re older, don’t worry. Harper will pave the way for you.” But now, they had both changed. Like this ruined cake, utterly unrecognizable.

Chloe grabbed the cake box and tossed it into the trash, her eyes cold as she stared at me. “Julian, please don’t come to our house anymore.” “You’re not our brother. You have no right to live here.” Actually, I should have noticed the clues earlier. They claimed to have forgotten me, yet they remembered my name, Julian. They treated Liam as their biological brother, but never once questioned why his last name was different. I trusted my sisters too much; my head was just muddled. I desperately wanted to expose them, but I held myself back. If I exposed them, they would surely get angry and wouldn’t want me anymore. My chest ached slightly, and I looked at them with pleading eyes. “Please don’t make me leave, okay?” “I… I only have you two.” I would never forget what Dad told me. I wouldn’t give up on them. Chloe paused, and for a moment, I thought I’d moved her. But after a few seconds, she said, “No. You’re not our biological brother. You can’t stay here.” “Liam is our brother.” Harper stood up and pushed me toward the door, her attitude unyielding. The pain was unbearable. I never thought they could hate me this much. “Fine, I’ll go.” If my absence made them happy, I was willing to leave. I turned to go, but then I heard Chloe tell Liam, “Liam, Mom and Dad left some money for you, and I’ve already transferred it to your name.” My whole body stiffened. I almost thought I’d misheard. Because my parents’ jobs involved some risks, they had transferred all their assets to my two sisters before the car accident. At that time, I wasn’t yet 18, so they had Chloe manage my portion of the inheritance. But now, she had actually transferred it to Liam. Even if they had a good reason to treat him well, they shouldn’t have given him my money. I had no income now. That was the money I needed for graduate school!

“Chloe, that’s my money! You can’t give it to him!” I turned back, glaring at Chloe. To my surprise, she got even angrier, stood up, and slapped me across the face. “You’ve got some nerve! You’re not even part of this family, so why would you claim that money is yours?!” “Those funds were left by our parents for Liam!” My ears rang, and my cheek throbbed with pain. “You always say Liam is your and Harper’s biological brother, but why is his last name different?” I stared intently into her eyes, catching a fleeting moment of panic. But the panic quickly vanished. She calmly fabricated a story: “Liam was raised by others for a while, so he took their last name. That’s why he’s a different last name.” “As for you, you probably just made up your own name!” “You’re not our brother at all.” A bitter chill spread through my chest. I thought that by speaking so plainly, they would drop the act. But they were still pretending. Chloe, Harper, what exactly is your secret that makes you treat me this way? In the end, I was kicked out of my own home. On my 23rd birthday, the only two family members I had in the world abandoned me.

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My girlfriend’s male friend was furious again. It was our five-year anniversary, and she’d only gottenme* a gift, completely forgetting abouthim*. Declan was instantly furious, and Seraphina, without a second thought, blocked and deleted me, changing our couple avatar. “My buddy has a huge temper, darling. Once I’ve smoothed things over with him, we can change it back.” I reminded her, “This is the hundredth time.” She chuckled, then leaned in to kiss my lips. “I know. I’ll make it quick this time.” That evening, Declan posted an update on his Ins feed: [Considering someone’s performance exemplary, I grant you three days of freedom.] Seraphina immediately unblocked me. [Okay, darling, you can change our couple avatar back now.] But then, a female account withmy* couple avatar added her and sent a question mark: [What kind of couple avatar needs three people?] Seraphina stared at the message from the unknown account, then let out a sudden laugh. “Darling, you’re learning to mess with me now.” She shook her phone, then rose to hug me. “Wifey was wrong, okay? For the past 99 times, you never threw a tantrum. Have you finally learned how to get mad?” “I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I gently pushed her away. “I’m actually breaking up with you.” “Hahaha!” Seraphina threw herself back into my arms. “Okay, darling, wifey knows she messed up. They say there’s a limit to how many times you can push someone, and you’ve put up with me 99 times. So, of course, wifey needs to have some self-awareness. “I came back this time specifically to win you over.” A gift box appeared before me. I opened it to find twelve pigeon’s blood rubies, meticulously arranged. “Around this time last year, you said that if we ever got married, you’d want twelve sunrise rubies to adorn the ceremony hall. “Darling, twelve gems for twelve months. Do you like my year-long effort?” Seraphina produced a ring box, revealing a brand-new set of wedding bands inside. She slipped the men’s ring onto my ring finger, then, holding the women’s ring, she blushed. “Could you… put this on me?” Just then, doors in every room suddenly burst open, and our mutual friends pulled party poppers. “Happy 25th birthday, Julian!” “Say yes! Say yes!” The scene caught me completely off guard. Rubies from Mogok, Myanmar. The last auction price was a hundred million dollars. I had only mentioned it casually, and she remembered it all this time? Ribbons scattered in my hair, and Seraphina took my hand. “Darling, I’ve waited a long time for this day.” Her FaceTime suddenly rang. She answered, and the smile on her face froze. I clearly heard Declan’s furious voice from the other end of the line: “Who gave you permission to propose?! I just said I’d give you three days of freedom! And you forgot my giftand* proposed tohim*?! “You, a woman, practically begging to propose? Aren’t you worried he’ll just play you? “Did you evenask* for my approval?! Where do I even stand with you!!” Seraphina froze. Then, she subconsciously looked at our mutual friends. One friend, who was recording and about to share it, stiffened and quickly lowered their hand. Seraphina shot him a fierce glare, then roughly pulled the diamond ring off my finger, turning to walk out. “No, Declan, I didn’t mean to keep it from you!” “Hey! Seraphina!” Someone tried to stop her. “Julian’s side—” “What’s the point of worrying aboutthat* now! Let’s go!” Someone else glanced at me, shook their head and clicked their tongue, then snapped the lid back on the box of pigeon’s blood rubies and took it away. “Well, well, I actually thought Seraphina was serious this time. Guess some people just aren’t lucky enough, huh?” “Hahaha, what do you bet Seraphina will do to calm Declan down this time? He’s really mad!” “Leaving everything else aside, that box of rubies definitely needs to go to Declan as compensation, right?” That evening, Declan did indeed post an update on his Ins feed. Twelve rubies, tossed into a trash can. The caption read: [Touched by filthy trash, wouldn’t even touch it myself. (Bomb emoji)] Immediately after, another update appeared on his account. The photo showed twenty-four flawless sapphires glittering in a custom-designed velvet gift box. Declan’s hand rested on the box, a men’s wedding ring now adorning his ring finger. The caption: [Blue is far less common than red. Considering someone gave me her one and only custom design slot for life, I’ll let it go this time.] Seraphina liked the post. Her comment: [Grateful for Declan’s mercy and forgiveness.] In the likes section, their mutual friends had liked the post for what felt like ninety-nine rows. In the past, I probably would have demanded an explanation from Seraphina. But this time, I just liked the post, then swiftly deleted Declan’s contact. Along with all those mutual friends, deleted them all. The account that had shared my couple avatar suddenly messaged me on Snapchat. [Julian, actually, I didn’t just change my avatar with you purely to spite them. I… [Julian, do you understand what I’m trying to say?] I paused, then sighed. [Thank you, Valerie. I understand, and I really appreciate your support. [But right now, I’m just done with relationships. I’m planning to accept the company’s overseas branch offer. For the next few years, I just want to focus on my career and nothing else.] There was a long silence on her end. Finally, a message came through. [I support your decision, but if you ever need anything, remember I’m always here.] I sent a “Thanks a lot” sticker, feeling a warm current flow through me. Valerie and I would connect after I moved abroad. I’d find a way to repay her kindness through work then. That evening, I packed my bags. I didn’t have much. Seraphina always said she wanted someone to have dinner ready for her when she got home. So, for all these years, I didn’t push for career advancements; I dedicated myself to being the man behind her success. So, the house was Seraphina’s. The renovations were paid for by Seraphina. The appliances were bought by Seraphina. Aside from a few personal items, I had nothing else to take. Perhaps that’s why, after five years and a hundred betrayals, I was left feeling so utterly dejected and unfulfilled. That very night, I left our five-year home and moved into the temporary hotel arranged by my company, ready to connect with overseas clients. But just as I was heading to the first-floor pool with my swim trunks and towel, hoping to bond with the clients, someone suddenly yanked me from behind: “Hey! Julian actually showed up!”

“Seraphina just smoothed things over with Declan and threw a party to celebrate. We sent Julian an invite, but why’d he delete us?” “Julian, if you’re fighting with Seraphina, don’t drag us into it!” “Oh, come on, Julian, you were just being stubborn! See, you still came! Get in here! We’re just waiting for you!” I slapped away their outstretched hands. “I’m sorry, but the breakup is real.” The elevator doors opened. As I stepped in, a hand suddenly slammed against the door frame. “Julian, Declan’s waiting inside. Don’t play these games too much—” “Snap!” A sharp slap landed on his face. “He’s waiting for me, so I have to go? What do you think you are?!” “You!” “All of you, get lost!” I cut him off. “Don’t make this uglier than it has to be.” “Why so much anger?” A familiar voice drifted over. I turned to see Seraphina, smiling, walking hand-in-hand with Declan. Declan was dressed in a custom-tailored suit, adorned with tiny scattered diamonds. If you looked closely, you could see carved sapphire embellishments on it. “I’m not angry anymore, Julian. Why are you still being so unreasonable? Come on, I’ll personally take you inside!” Declan grabbed my hand, squeezing hard. The treated diamond from his ring dug sharply into my palm. I hissed in pain and violently yanked my hand away. “Don’t touch me!” My sudden movement stunned everyone. Seraphina’s expression shifted, then she stepped forward with a smile, reaching for me again. “Darling, don’t be mad. Wifey will personally take you in. Declan’s in a good mood today, give him some respect, okay? Be a good boy.” “Get lost!” I pushed her back with such force that she stumbled two steps. “I said we’re really broken up! Are you deaf?! “If you really don’t get it, fine. Today, in front of everyone, I’ll say it again: We are over!” Seraphina’s smile froze. Someone snickered. “What do you guys bet? Is he serious or not?” “Fake! Fifty bucks says it’s fake!” “A hundred!” “Ten grand!” “Wait, guys?” “What, you actually think he’s serious?” “Tch! Good point. Alright, then just a small bet, a hundred grand!” “No, is no one betting on him being serious? Then what are we even betting on, hahaha!” Declan raised his hand. “A million bucks. I bet he’s serious!” “HAHAHAHAHA!” Sharp glances and mocking laughter enveloped me. I clenched my fists. The elevator doors opened again, and I turned to leave. “Hey! Julian, don’t go!” Declan lunged forward, grabbing me just as the elevator doors were closing. His movement was so forceful that half my body was violently caught by the elevator door, and the elevator shuddered, dropping a few feet with a sickening lurch. I stumbled a few steps, falling to the floor. Looking at the elevator stuck midway, I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if I’d been a split second slower. “Bang!” I seized Declan’s arm, and with a swift motion, landed a punch squarely on his face. “Do you know what you’re doing?!” “Declan!” Seraphina’s panic was instantly undisguised. She rushed forward and hugged him. “Declan…” Her voice trembling, she gently traced the side of Declan’s bruised face, then looked up at me. Her gaze was unfamiliar, cold, filled with suppressed hatred. It was a Seraphina I’d never seen before. Was Declan’s position in her heartthat* important? Even after everything he’d done, he couldn’t suffer even a single slap? “Julian…” Seraphina’s voice was chilling. Our mutual friends immediately understood, circling around me. I scanned the group. Most of them were men, some twice my shoulder width. I raised my chin, looking at Seraphina. “What do you want?” She flinched. I took a step forward. “Are you going to kill me here?” The veins on Seraphina’s hand instantly bulged. I met her gaze, refusing to back down an inch. “Go back inside.” Seraphina grit her teeth, helping Declan to his feet. Declan looked confused. “Seraphina? He hit me!” “Go back inside!” Seraphina repeated. “Seraphina!” Declan’s teeth were practically grinding. “Since when did you side with him?!” But this time, Seraphina didn’t humor him. She just shot me a glare, then pulled his hand and left. I closed my eyes, calming my turbulent emotions. I picked up my towel and swim trunks, then took the stairs to the first floor.

“Tsk, tsk, who’s this?” A familiar voice rang out. I turned to see one of Declan’s buddies holding my clothes, swinging them around, a sneer on his face. “Give them back!” I lunged forward, but another buddy yanked the door open and shoved me out. “Oh my god! Is that guy naked?” “Seriously, how shameless can you be?” “Tsk! He’s not small, huh? Did anyone get a picture?” “Got it, got it! Look at him, what a good little pet!” A pair of high heels clicked slowly across the marble floor towards me. All chatter ceased. “Huh? Ms. Seraphina? What’s she doing here?” I looked up. Seraphina was holding Declan’s hand, standing before me. Declan, following behind her, had shed his previous injured look. His eyes and brows were filled with smug satisfaction. “Are you satisfied with this punishment?” Seraphina glanced at Declan. The unfamiliar coldness she’d shown me earlier was now soft and warm for him. “Seraphina,” Declan looked at her meaningfully. “I almost thought he’d really stolen you away.” “How could he?” Seraphina pouted. “There are no cameras in the changing rooms. Declan’s idea was brilliant.” “Haha! Of course! I’ll reluctantly forgive you this time, but…” Declan eyed me. “He still owes me an apology.” “Julian.” Seraphina looked down at me from her superior height. “Apologize.” I clenched my jaw so tightly that my cheek felt torn, and I tasted iron. “What did you say?” Declan crouched down. The next second, a mouthful of bloody spit landed on his face. “Ah!” Declan’s suit was stained a shocking red. “This is brand new! And it has the sapphires Seraphina gave me!” “Julian!” Seraphina grabbed my chin. “I told you to apologize! Not to add fuel to the fire! Why can’t you just learn to be obedient?!” “Obedient?” I gritted my teeth and curled my lips into a sneer. “I’ve never done anything wrong! Why shouldI* be obedient?!” Fury burned brightest in Seraphina’s eyes. Then, it slowly died down, leaving behind a chilling emptiness. “Since you’re so stubborn.” Suddenly, someone roughly grabbed me. Seraphina pulled my arm, dragging me through the corridor, past the astonished onlookers, through their shocked whispers: “What’s going on? He just came out naked?” “How can someone be so shameless?” “Tsk! What a good pet for the queen bee. Keep filming! It’s blurry!” “Seraphina!” My wrist was encircled with deep red marks. “What are you doing?! Give me back my clothes!” The hotel interior was mostly guests; there weren’t too many people. But the moment Seraphina pulled open the doors to the banquet hall, my heart nearly stopped. “Ah!” Naked, I was thrown into the banquet hall, exposed to everyone’s gaze. Among them were those overseas clients. They watched, stunned, at me—the man who had been laughing and chatting with them just moments before—their expressions shifting. “Seriously?! Isn’t this the banquet hall? If he wants to show off, pick another place!” “What ‘master’s task’?” “Julian! Are you crazy?! Do you still want to work with us?!” “No… No…” My knee was scraped raw, skin torn open and bleeding, exposed to everyone passing by. I could only curl up, trying to shield my private parts. “Don’t say anything! Please, stop!” Agony and despair engulfed me. When I looked at Seraphina, she stood at the doorway, looking down at me. Then she raised a hand, and someone immediately closed the doors, cutting off my path back. “Psst, is what we’re doing okay? Isn’t this illegal?” “Tsk! You don’t know Ms. Seraphina’s power? This little thing won’t do anything to her! Just do what she says, or you’ll be sorry!” People came and went in the banquet hall, but no one offered a hand. Even if someone wanted to step forward, they’d be held back by a companion: “Are you crazy? Didn’t you see who threw him in here?” “Exactly. Can you afford to offend Ms. Seraphina?” The hand that was about to reach out would retreat. “Julian!” Someone rushed forward, wrapping me tightly in a jacket. “What are you looking at?! Get lost!” The onlookers were immediately startled by the roar and quickly made way. I recognized her voice. I looked up, my breath trembling. “Valerie… Valerie?”

“Julian?” In the private room, Valerie carefully observed my expression. I leaned back on the sofa, feeling utterly dead inside. “Don’t be sad. I’ve sent people to delete all the videos and photos of you. There’s not a trace of you online.” She seemed a little flustered. “Thank you, Valerie.” I felt for something on my body, then took off the only thing I had—my watch—and placed it in her hand. “I will always remember your kindness. This watch is my father’s heirloom. In the future, when I achieve success in my career, I will return with resources to repay you and redeem this watch.” “Julian!” A loud shout stopped me as I was about to leave. Valerie’s lips parted. “I helped you because my heart ached for you, not for you to repay me.” I didn’t look back. “Julian…” Her breath hitched slightly. “I hope you understand, I like you not because I want something from you, but because I want to give you something.” I turned around. My eyes were already red. “Then can you ruin Seraphina?” “Of course.” She walked towards me, step by step. “Of course, Julian. “I was going to do that anyway.”

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A week before our wedding, my fiancée, Serena, who was terrified of water, suddenly announced she wanted to learn how to swim. That’s when I guessed she’d fallen for the swimming coach downstairs. After accompanying her to one lesson, I calmly informed her: either cancel the engagement, or break it off with the coach. Serena stormed out, furious, and didn’t return home all night. She came back the next day, aching and exhausted, swearing that I was the only one for her from then on. On our wedding day, the city’s elite were all gathered. As the officiant called out, “You may now kiss the bride,” Serena suddenly pushed me away, her voice trembling: “I’m sorry, I can’t kiss someone I don’t love.” “I thought I could force myself, but I just can’t lie to my heart.” With that, still in her white gown, she ran towards the swimming coach below the stage, his eyes red-rimmed. The entire ballroom erupted in gasps, camera flashes blinding us. Overnight, I became the laughing stock of the city. And topping the trending topics was a video of Serena and the coach passionately kissing at *my* wedding. In that moment, my heart died completely. Since you chose to betray me again, don’t blame me for eradicating you!

Staring at her retreating back, the last shred of hope in my heart vanished. I waved my hand, shattering the champagne tower, glass raining down everywhere. My voice was chillingly cold as I warned: “If you leave now, the Hayes Group and the Vance family will be locked in an endless war!” Serena’s steps faltered, her eyes instantly bloodshot. “I’m sorry, but I can’t betray my own heart. I’ll make it up to you later.” In just half an hour, News of the Vance heiress running off for love dominated every media headline. 【LOL, seriously? Who talks like that anymore? Straight out of a cheesy romance novel! He totally deserved to be dumped!】 【To act so arrogantly in public, imagine how despicable he must be behind the scenes. They should investigate the Hayes family!】 【Cheers to Serena Vance! Women shouldn’t be sacrifices in arranged marriages!】 In an instant, the Hayes Group became the talk of the town, a laughing stock discussed over coffee. Meanwhile, Serena Vance, who orchestrated it all, was painted by public opinion as a brave new-age woman pursuing true love. I scrolled through the screen, my face devoid of emotion. Until I saw Serena Vance’s latest “apology statement”: 【Though this decision deeply hurt Mr. Hayes, I simply couldn’t accept a marriage without love, to sink into a numb existence for the rest of my life… All fault lies with me. Please don’t blame Mr. Hayes.】 Attached was a photo of her with swollen, red eyes. Especially glaring was the cheap silver ring on her ring finger. It clearly wasn’t the engagement ring I’d given her. Then, Liam Miller added fuel to the fire of public opinion: 【Serena has been so guilty, she’s lost so much weight. You can’t force love. We’ll still be friends.】 I actually laughed, a bitter, furious sound. If she had been honest before the wedding, I would have let her go and wished her well. But she didn’t. She chose this moment, in front of everyone, with the city’s elite gathered. To trample the Hayes Group’s dignity into the ground! And now she expects public opinion to force me to forgive her? Dream on! “Immediately inform everyone: withdraw all investments from Vance Corp, terminate all collaborations.” “Furthermore, use all resources to support Vance Corp’s competitors.” “If I don’t drive the Vance family into bankruptcy, I don’t deserve the Hayes name!” My assistant, Mark, broke out in a cold sweat, cautiously advising: “Mr. Hayes, public opinion is very unfavorable to us right now. Making a move at this moment might…” I cut him off sharply: “Afraid of what?” “An ungrateful serpent who repays kindness with malice — shouldn’t they be taught a lesson?” “This is a perfect opportunity to make an example of the Vance family. Let’s see who dares to challenge the Hayes Group again!” I rubbed my throbbing temples. Scene after scene of the past flooded my mind, unbidden. Years ago, Old Mr. Vance had suddenly passed away, and his illegitimate son aggressively seized the family assets. Serena Vance had knelt in the pouring rain for an entire day and night, just to beg me to save the Vance family. “Mr. Hayes, if you save the Vance family, I’ll do anything for you for the rest of my life!” I softened for a moment and proposed an arranged marriage. She agreed without hesitation. After our engagement, I fulfilled my promise. Not only did I help her reclaim her company, send that illegitimate son to prison, but I also personally taught her how to run the business. I nurtured Vance Corp from a small company into a prominent group in the city. But gradually, things changed between us. She started resisting my closeness, rejecting my arrangements, and longing for so-called “pure love.” Until Liam Miller, that swimming coach, appeared. She poured all her passion and affection onto him without reservation. Actually, half a month ago, I had given her one last chance. “Serena Vance, if you still want to get married, know your boundaries.” But she only smiled dismissively: “We’re just ordinary coach and student. It’s your own mind that’s dirty, seeing everything as tainted.” “Mr. Hayes, could it be that *you’re* guilty of cheating and that’s why you’re constantly suspicious of me?” My voice sank completely: “If you cross the line, I’ll take back everything I’ve given you.” She trembled violently, her tone finally softening: “You misunderstood. There’s nothing going on between Liam and me.” “I won’t see him again.” In that moment, I actually believed that we could go back to how things were. Sadly, she ultimately betrayed my last shred of trust. Since that’s the case, don’t blame me for being ruthless! The next morning, Serena Vance, accompanied by a large group of reporters, burst into my office. The moment she entered, she started weeping, tears streaming down her face:

“Mr. Hayes, I’ve already publicly apologized… please, I beg you, let me go, let the Vance family go…” Trembling, she handed me a document, explicitly stating in black and white: Agreement to annul the engagement. But all investments and collaborations would continue as usual. She had utterly disgraced the Hayes Group, then brought reporters to my office to pressure me, and now had the audacity to demand business as usual? Did I really look that easy to manipulate? I sneered in response: “Serena Vance, you humiliated the Hayes Group, played the victim online, smeared my name, and now you want to cancel the engagement *and* keep the money and resources?” “Do you think I’m particularly easy to bully?” She then dropped to her knees with a thud, repeatedly knocking her head on the floor. Tears mixed with the blood on her forehead, smearing her face. Serena Vance choked out: “Mr. Hayes, it’s all my fault! Please don’t take it out on my parents…” “Punish me however you want, I won’t complain!” Seeing this, Liam Miller, who was trailing behind her, grabbed Serena Vance and pulled her protectively behind him. He leaned close to my ear, his voice low but laced with menace: “Ryan Hayes, don’t push your luck. I have a thousand ways to make you beg Serena to let you go.” “There are some people you just can’t mess with.” I stared directly at him, refusing to back down: “I’d like to see who dares to touch the Hayes Group.” Liam Miller’s eye twitched in anger, a vein bulging on his forehead. Just as he was about to land a punch, Serena Vance suddenly lunged forward and hugged my leg. The blood from her forehead stained my shoe. “Mr. Hayes, I couldn’t control my heart, I fell in love with Liam!” “You can do anything to me, but please, I beg you, don’t hurt innocent people…” I looked up, seeing the constantly flashing cameras. My heart felt like it was being pierced by countless needles. Finally, I just uttered one word, my gaze dark and menacing: “Get out!” Serena Vance’s legs buckled, and she stumbled backward. Liam Miller caught her, then swung his hand and slapped me hard across the face. “You dared to push her?!” A stinging pain instantly flared across my cheek. But I licked the corner of my mouth, laughing in furious defiance. Liam Miller’s voice was cold as a viper: “The Hayes Group can look forward to bankruptcy.” “All these years you forced her to run the company, to attend those late-night business dinners, raking in profits. She doesn’t owe you anything anymore!” “She’s a living, breathing person, not a puppet for you to make money!” My gaze, sharp as a knife, pierced through Serena Vance as I asked, word by word: “Teaching you to manage, guiding you into the industry – in your eyes, that was just using you to make money?” “Sending your parents to a top-tier nursing home – was that just to control you?” “Serena Vance, where’s your conscience?” Her eyes red, she hung her head, not daring to look at me. I let out a bitter laugh, tears uncontrollably welling up in my eyes. “Serena Vance, you have no heart!” She suddenly lunged at my feet again, weeping profusely: “Mr. Hayes, I will repay your kindness… please, I beg you, let us be together…” Her trembling hand gently touched her flat stomach. “The baby is innocent, he can’t be without a father…” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, staggering back a few steps, barely able to stand. So, they even had a child together. That evening, Serena Vance went live on TikTok, tearfully “accusing” me. She was crying so hard she could barely breathe. “For projects, he forced me to wear *those* kinds of clothes to please clients…” “When I refused, he hit me… he burned me with cigarette butts…” Liam Miller embraced her tenderly, his eyes red as he roared: “Ryan Hayes! Do you have to drive her to her death before you’re satisfied?!” Serena Vance frantically tried to cover his mouth: “Mr. Hayes, I’m sorry, Liam is just too upset, he didn’t mean to contradict you.” “If you don’t break off the engagement, I really can’t live anymore…” Liam Miller, while comforting her, screamed in anguish: “You’re holding onto Serena, aren’t you just afraid of not having anyone to make money for you?” “You’re nothing but a worthless parasite, sucking women dry!” Serena Vance suddenly pushed him away and, facing the camera, repeatedly knocked her head on the floor: “Mr. Hayes, Liam is just worried about me, please don’t be so merciless…” The comment section had already gone wild. Countless vicious curses and insults flooded the screen. 【Ryan Hayes, go to hell! Scumbag! Bloodsucker!】 【Serena, run! We support you!】 【The seemingly glamorous CEO of Hayes Group turns out to be a coward who relies on women!】 Finally, Serena Vance tearfully announced that she would be marrying Liam Miller abroad next month. “I want to live for myself, for once.” The live stream ended, and that’s when the real storm began. Hayes Group’s stock plummeted, partners terminated contracts one after another, and I became public enemy number one. I looked at the pitiful face on the screen, feeling only absurdity and a chilling coldness. Hatred, like a rampant vine, grew wildly, tightening around my heart.

I pressed the intercom, my voice cold and clear: “Notify all senior executives to report to the conference room immediately for a meeting.” In the conference room, all the group’s executives were present. I slammed a thick stack of documents onto the table. “Serena Vance has severely breached her contract and maliciously damaged the Hayes Group’s reputation. File a lawsuit immediately.” “At the same time, freeze all assets of the Vance family.” When we first collaborated, I had already set strict breach-of-contract clauses. If I could elevate her to the heavens, I could naturally make her fall to pieces. “Release this bank statement publicly.” In the past six months, Serena Vance had embezzled public funds, set up shell companies, and engaged in tax evasion, totaling nearly three billion. And almost all of that money flowed to Liam Miller. The CFO took a quick look and gasped sharply. “Finally, make this annulment agreement public, in its entirety.” Since she had the audacity to make me sign such terms, she should bear the consequences. “I want everyone to see clearly who the real bloodsucker is.” “I, Ryan Hayes, am not someone to be taken advantage of.” An hour later, #SerenaVanceUngratefulSnake# Topped the trending topics. #LiamMillerEpicSpendingSpree# Followed closely behind. Lawyer’s letters, transaction records, and contract clauses were widely circulated by major media outlets. Countless financial bloggers and self-media platforms analyzed and denounced them: 【Sucking up three billion, then sending her benefactor to the internet’s stake of public scorn?】 【This isn’t just love-struck; this is fraud!】 The people who had previously cursed me now turned their weapons, aiming all their fury at them. A viral article titled “Two-Faced Heiress Serena Vance: Illegally Siphoning Three Billion For Her High-Maintenance Lover” swept across the internet: 【Exchanging an engagement for resources, getting pregnant with another man’s child, and still expecting her ex to pay?】 【Three billion – Mr. Hayes wasn’t just supporting a fiancée, he was funding a bottomless money pit!】 My phone was inundated with messages and calls, so I just switched it off. This time, I would leave no room for escape. But I never expected that just three hours later, all related posts and reports were swiftly deleted. Serena Vance called, her voice thick with barely concealed triumph.

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My husband, Victor Kaine, the underworld kingpin, was set up during a brutal operation on a remote Caribbean island and ended up spending a night with a local mystic. When he returned home, he knelt before me with a gun pressed against his forehead. “Elara, you are the only one I love. If you can’t forgive me, I’d rather die.” In the end, my heart softened, and I forgave him. But soon after, I accidentally caught him intimately holding that mystic. Even his subordinates called her the Boss’s Lady. I confronted him, but his eyes were red as he told me, “Elara, she saved my life, and she’s carrying my child. I can’t abandon her.” “Wait for me. As soon as the baby is born, I’ll send her away.” I believed his helplessness. But later, Seraphina unfortunately miscarried, and everyone suspected I was secretly responsible. Seraphina lunged at me like a madwoman, her nails tearing at my face. She cried, “If you want to hate me, hate me! Why did you harm my child?” Even Victor Kaine looked at me with deep disappointment. “When did you become so vicious as to hurt an innocent child? That was my child too.” With that, he ordered his men to break my legs and lock me in a dark, damp basement. “When you realize your mistake, I’ll come back for you.” At that moment, I completely gave up on him. I pulled out my phone and sent an encrypted message. “Destroy all information about me and my child. Once complete, arrange for us to leave.”

Half a month later, bodyguards dragged me out of the basement. I reeked, my face was pale. Victor Kaine held me close, his expression pained. “Elara, that child was innocent. If you did wrong, you must accept punishment.” “You know I love you most. Once Seraphina gives birth to my child, we can go back to how things were.” I silently watched him play the part of a man utterly devoted, letting him wash my body. He and I were over. He would never know that he had another child, a child with me. His mother died in childbirth with him, so on our first day together, he told me, “Elara, I just want our life together, just the two of us. Let’s not have children, okay?” I agreed to him. But seeing the smiles in his eyes whenever he looked at other people’s children, I secretly wanted to give him a surprise. That year, Victor Kaine was in a fierce battle with his enemies and told me to hide away for a year. It was then I discovered I was pregnant with his child. Fearing his worry, I never told him, not even after Leo was born. Later, Leo had health complications and was kept in the hospital. Victor Kaine brought me home around that time, and I planned to surprise him on our anniversary. I never imagined he’d surprise me first. In another month, Leo and I would be completely free from Victor Kaine. After that, I coldly watched Victor Kaine running back and forth between us, and I watched him add large doses of sleeping pills to my nourishing soups. He spent every night with Seraphina but still worried about my feelings, afraid I’d find out. Until a week later, I was rushed to the emergency room due to a drug allergy. It was Seraphina, perhaps intentionally, perhaps not, who had mixed up my medication with hers. When Victor Kaine found out, he unleashed a furious temper on Seraphina. “If there’s a next time, get out!” Seraphina’s eyes were red, and she cried, apologizing profusely to me. But a few days later, Seraphina went missing. Victor Kaine and his men searched tirelessly for three days and three nights before finding her. When they found her, she was covered in allergic rashes. She hung her head, not daring to look at me, and timidly said, “Punishing me is deserved. I accidentally caused Miss Vance’s allergy.” I looked at her with confusion, but Victor Kaine gave me a meaningful glance. It wasn’t until I overheard him talking privately with the doctor: “Add something she’s allergic to into her medication. She hurt Seraphina; she should suffer the same pain as Seraphina.” “We’ll treat her properly in a few days.” I froze, my heart felt like it had been slammed to the ground, repeatedly twisted, a pain that pierced me to the core. A week later, Seraphina and my allergies both cleared up, and we were discharged from the hospital together. That night, back home, a huge oil painting in the living room came loose and fell. At the crucial moment, Seraphina lunged forward to shield me. The easel scraped past both our bodies, landing with a loud thud. When Victor Kaine rushed in at the sound, he saw Seraphina protecting me. He flew towards us, his steps stopping abruptly in front of Seraphina, then he turned to me, pulling me into his embrace. “Baby, you scared me to death.” Victor Kaine didn’t even glance at Seraphina. But in a secluded corner, Victor Kaine pinned her against the wall, his eyes simmering with rage. “Who told you to jump in front? You’re pregnant, don’t you know that?” “Do you have to kill yourself to be satisfied?” The next second, Victor Kaine kissed her fiercely. She was pregnant again. My heart was numb. I quietly retreated. That night, Victor Kaine didn’t return to our room at all. Until the next morning, he came to the room and stared directly at me, his gaze full of disappointment. “I checked, and the easel didn’t fall by itself. Someone deliberately loosened the screws.” I looked up in disbelief. “You suspect me?” Victor Kaine sighed, “I told you I’d send Seraphina away once the baby was born. She tries so hard to please you, even shielded you from the easel. Why can’t you tolerate her?” In the scorching summer heat, I felt a chill run through my body. Victor Kaine actually didn’t believe me.

In the days that followed, he started to neglect me. But I no longer cared. In three days, I would take Leo and leave for good. But the day before we were scheduled to leave, Seraphina went missing again. Victor Kaine practically turned all of Veridian City upside down, but still couldn’t find Seraphina. He angrily smashed his phone and suddenly looked at me. “Baby, tell me, where is Seraphina?” I shook my head, “I don’t know… I truly don’t know…” It wasn’t the first time he suspected me because of Seraphina, but my heart still felt a raw, bleeding pain. Someone handed him Seraphina’s phone, which had been found before she disappeared. The last call was to me. Victor Kaine rubbed his temples, which were throbbing. “Elara, the evidence is all here. Are you still going to deny it?” I sneered, “Just because of one phone call, you suspect I arranged for Seraphina to be kidnapped?” I remembered the call Seraphina made to me before she disappeared. “The allergy was my own doing, including the easel; I loosened it. Knowing it wouldn’t actually hit me, I deliberately threw myself in front of you.” “A man’s concern and guilt are the most enduring forms of love. I wanted Victor Kaine to soften little by little, to feel guilty and compensate me, until I completely replaced you.” Her ambition on the other end of the line was completely undisguised. “Elara Vance, I know you and Victor Kaine have a child together. Want to make a bet?” “A bet on who matters more in Victor Kaine’s heart: you and your child, or me and the baby in my belly.” So Seraphina’s kidnapping and disappearance were all her own elaborate scheme. But Victor Kaine simply wouldn’t believe me. He looked at me with disappointment, “People’s lives are at stake, Elara. When did you become like this?” As night fell and the dispatched men still hadn’t found Seraphina, Victor Kaine completely lost his patience. “Seraphina mentioned you adopted a child from the foster care system.” My spine suddenly stiffened. Victor Kaine raised a hand, and someone dragged in a sack. Inside, something alive thrashed continuously. He picked up an iron bar nearby, his expression ruthless, “Elara, I’m giving you one last chance. If you don’t speak, this child won’t make it.” “Leo!” My eyes instantly turned bloodshot. I lunged forward, but someone roughly pulled me back. Victor Kaine raised the iron bar high and brought it down hard. “No!!” My pupils dilated, my vision filled with red, as if the bar had slammed hard onto my own back. A whimper came from inside the sack. The person inside jolted, then fell back down, becoming still. A pool of bright red blood seeped from the sack. “Ah!!!” I felt like I was going insane, the whole world was blood-red. The second blow was raised high again. “Stop, please! That’s your child, he’s your son!” I was being dragged back, screaming hysterically. Tears mixed with blood, my eyes filled with despair. Victor Kaine’s raised hand paused. “Baby, stop joking. We haven’t had a child all these years. Why would you lie to me with such words?” I couldn’t care about anything else anymore. I struggled and crawled to Victor Kaine, my face drenched in tears as I pleaded, “He really is your child, Leo truly is your son… Please… let him go, quickly call a doctor, save him…” Victor Kaine leaned down and cupped my chin. “Good girl, tell me where Seraphina is, and I’ll let him go.” I shook my head frantically, tears streaming down my face, “I don’t know, I truly don’t know. Please, let Leo go, I beg you, let him go.” Victor Kaine’s eyes suddenly turned cold, and he brought the bar down hard again. A muffled groan came from the sack, and then it fell completely silent. “Ah… no… ah…” I suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, my whole body convulsing violently. The third blow… The fourth blow… Ten blows in total. There was no longer any sound from inside the sack. “Leo…” Watching as there was no movement from the sack, and the ground was stained a vivid red. I collapsed to my knees, my body stiffening as if electrocuted, then shaking uncontrollably. I vomited another mouthful of blood.

Victor Kaine walked over, his black leather shoe stepping into the pool of blood, grinding hard on the sack. “Elara, are you still not going to talk?” He kicked it hard again. The sound of bones cracking was clearly audible. “Leo!!” I screamed in despair, crawling forward, but I was brutally pulled back. I couldn’t help but shriek again, “Victor Kaine, I curse you! You will never have another child in this lifetime!” Victor Kaine’s body stiffened. Just then, someone came in. “We found Miss Dubois.” Victor Kaine’s hand, which had been stroking my hair, paused. “Quickly, tell me the exact location.” He immediately got up and rushed out without looking back. Everyone left in a hurry. My eyes bloodshot, I crawled over and tremblingly untied the sack. Inside, Leo was covered in blood, his bones shattered, lying limp on the ground like a broken doll, utterly lifeless. I carefully picked Leo up from the pool of blood, pressing my face against his. He had only been in this world for three short years, suffering through illness. Just when he was finally recovering, his own father brutally took his life. At that moment, I wished I could die. Not long after Victor Kaine left, two men entered, trying to snatch Leo from my arms. “The Boss said to clean this place up, to welcome Miss Dubois back.” I seemed to jolt awake, clutching Leo tightly. “Where are you taking him?” “To the outskirts, to feed the dogs.” The men were impolite, forcibly grabbing Leo from my arms, disdainfully tossing him into a burlap sack, and heading towards the door. “Leo!!!” I screamed heartbreakingly, chasing after them, but I was locked inside. When Victor Kaine returned with Seraphina, he only saw me slumped dazedly in the living room. “Did you order Leo’s body to be thrown outside to feed the dogs?” I stood up, my eyes filled with bitter hatred. Victor Kaine’s face darkened as he said to me, “Do you know that because of your kidnapping, Seraphina lost her baby?” I suddenly burst into loud laughter, a sound of utter desolation. “Victor Kaine, I curse you and Seraphina to hell!” Victor Kaine’s face suddenly changed. “If you hadn’t arranged for Seraphina to be kidnapped and forced, how would she have accidentally fallen and lost her baby while trying to escape?” Victor Kaine’s face darkened further, his eyes full of disappointment. “I’ll let you taste what it’s like to be forced.” Victor Kaine found four men and locked them in a room with me. I struggled as I was dragged into the room. “Victor Kaine, I hate you!!! I wish I had never known you…” My remaining cries were abruptly cut off as the door slammed shut. Soon, struggling and crying, the sound of tearing clothes, and heart-wrenching screams came from the room. Two hours later, I lay numbly on the ground, my body covered only by tattered clothes. The four men left the room one by one, leaving me alone, discarded like a broken doll in the empty room. I stared blankly at the ceiling, my soul feeling as if it had been ripped out. Leo was dead. And I had been defiled by those beasts… I suddenly stood up, wrapped my tattered clothes around myself, climbed onto the windowsill, and resolutely jumped. The Kaine family estate overlooked the ocean. With a splash, a huge spray of water rose from the sea. Then, everything returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened. At that moment, a phone that had fallen from the windowsill chimed with a message I would never see again. “Miss Vance, all your paperwork is complete. We will pick you and Leo up tomorrow.” Alas, Leo and I would never leave. Victor Kaine didn’t come home for half a month. He thought this time he needed to give me the cold shoulder, not indulge me too much. He planned to return to me after he and Seraphina had their wedding. On the wedding day, the large screen scrolled through intimate photos of Victor Kaine and Seraphina. Before the photos began to play, Victor Kaine looked down and pulled out his phone. “Baby, I was wrong before. Seraphina won’t bother us anymore.” “Baby, once I’ve settled her, I’ll be back.” After sending the message, he imagined my joyful expression upon receiving it. Victor Kaine unconsciously curved his lips. The next second, the large screen began to play. His pupils suddenly constricted. My figure appeared on the large screen, in a sealed room at the Kaine estate. Four men tightly held my hands and feet. I screamed in terror and despair, pressed to the ground, unable to move. The crowd below pulled out their phones and started recording. Victor Kaine’s face instantly lost all color. He rushed forward to turn off the large screen, his eyes bloodshot, and he screamed hoarsely, “Elara!!!” Victor Kaine went insane. He smashed the large screen on the spot, confiscated everyone’s phones and recordings, and ordered everyone present not to spread the word. The next second, Victor Kaine abandoned Seraphina and rushed home frantically.

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Six months after my supposed biological parents found me, I started getting frequent nosebleeds and seeing black spots in my vision. A hospital check-up revealed the grim diagnosis: brain cancer. My ‘mom’ sobbed uncontrollably, lamenting my cruel fate. My ‘dad’ clutched my hand, firmly declaring he’d spend every last penny to cure me. But as I feigned sleep, I overheard Mom whispering outside the door: “Richard, Chloe’s symptoms are getting worse. Should we keep giving her the pills?” “Of course,” Dad’s voice was devoid of its usual warmth. “For Britney’s sake, Chloe *must* be so sick she can’t get out of bed! Ideally, she’ll willingly give her heart to Britney before she dies.” “But…” My dad cut her off sharply. “If we stop the medicine, her symptoms will ease. Don’t you want Britney to make a full recovery?” After a long silence, my mom finally responded, “I understand.” Lying in the hospital bed, I couldn’t stop trembling. My hands clutched the hospital gown over my chest, and I could barely breathe. It turned out there was no genuine affection whatsoever. All they ever wanted was my heart, from the very beginning. … “Chloe, time for your medicine.” My mom held a glass of water, offering the pill to my mouth. I held back tears, turning my head away. “Mom, do I have to take it?” I couldn’t see her face, but I heard her soft, coaxing voice: “Chloe, how can you not take your medicine when you’re sick? Take your medicine, and you’ll get better.” I shook my head defiantly, refusing. My dad walked into the room, took the pills from Mom, and squatted down in front of me, his voice sincere. “Listen to Dad, Chloe, take your medicine. I promise, once you’re well, you won’t have to take them anymore.” His face, the face of a dad who had been so doting and kind to me since I’d come home, blurred through my tears. His persistence was unyielding. I just felt defeated, so I took the water and swallowed the pill. ‘Real heiress,’ ‘biological daughter’ – it was all pretense. They brought me back into the Lu family, but their only goal was to use me as a heart donor for Britney. They drugged me, colluded with the hospital to falsify records, all for Britney! Even the mother who gave me life believed her adopted daughter was more important than her biological one. The tears I’d been holding back finally streamed down. The medicine I swallowed seemed to be taking effect; black spots appeared again in my vision, and my head was buzzing. Mom noticed my state and tenderly pulled me into her embrace. “Shh, it’s okay, Chloe. Don’t cry, don’t cry. Just sleep, you’ll feel better after a nap…” Dad quickly called for the doctor. “My daughter is very uncomfortable, can you give her an injection or an IV drip to ease her discomfort?” In front of outsiders, the couple put on a show of loving parents deeply concerned for their daughter. But peeking through my lashes, I saw the doctor in the white lab coat exchange a glance with my dad. In that instant, they seemed to reach some unspoken agreement. Then, the doctor calmly stated, “We can give the patient an IV drip first to alleviate the pain.” My dad gazed at me intently, not breaking eye contact for a second, as if I was the most precious thing in the world. “Then hurry!” The doctor hurried out and returned quickly. Moments later, a sharp sting on the back of my hand, and there was a needle and bandage. The cold liquid flowed into my veins, but I couldn’t help but tremble. They had drugged me for Britney; what are they injecting into me now?

I forced myself to stop trembling, shrinking further into the bed. It took a while for my heart rate to slow and my breathing to gradually steady. My dad, thinking I was asleep, whispered to the doctor, “What’s in this drip?” “Just saline solution,” the doctor replied. My dad sighed almost imperceptibly. The doctor joked with a smile, “Don’t worry, I know the limits. Even for Britney’s sake, we can’t let anything happen to *this* body.” My dad sighed again. “As long as you understand. If it weren’t for Britney…” He didn’t finish, but the doctor understood his implication. He patted my dad’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, with me on the case, everything will be fine.” They exchanged a knowing glance and chuckled simultaneously. Thank goodness, it was just saline solution… My heart eased, but my leg involuntarily twitched. Mom immediately noticed, gestured for them to be quiet, and leaned closer, whispering my name: “Chloe?” Her voice was soft, just testing if I was awake. I didn’t respond. The tense atmosphere in the room vanished in an instant. Soon after, they left. I was alone in the room. Ever since I’d overheard my ‘parents” scheming, I was horrified. More than that, I felt a deep pain and anguish. It was so clear now. I was their *biological* daughter. I had been maliciously abandoned by my father’s business rival right after birth, grew up in an orphanage, and was only found half a year ago. During my time back home, my ‘parents’ had been so good to me, and for the first time, I felt what it was like to have a family. Why… why was it all a lie? The footsteps outside the door grew fainter, and I started to sob quietly. I cried for the unfortunate two decades of my tragic life. Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. I quickly wiped away my tears, pretending nothing was wrong, and muttered dully, “Come in.” A middle-aged couple entered. They looked somewhat familiar. Strangely, both their eyes were red and swollen. “Is something wrong?” I asked, confused. The moment our eyes met, the woman burst into tears, rushing over to hug me, murmuring, “My daughter, my child, you’ve suffered so much…” “It’s my fault, Mom’s fault, for finding you so late!” This sudden turn of events left me completely at a loss, my hands hovering awkwardly. It was only after the middle-aged man’s explanation that I understood what was happening. “You mean… I’m actually *your* daughter?!” My eyes widened. The man nodded, handing me some DNA test results. I quickly flipped through them; it was a report from a reputable public hospital, highly credible. It showed that David and Sarah were my *real* biological parents. “But… what about Richard and Karen?” Half a year ago, Richard and Karen had found me at my university, claiming I was their biological daughter who had been lost for years. They’d also provided DNA test results like these, so I hadn’t doubted them, following them back to the Lu estate and enjoying what I thought were six wonderful months. Now, another couple pops up, claiming I’m *their* child? The woman hugging me had finally managed to suppress her sobs, but at my words, she nearly cried again. “Child, they tricked you!” “They were after your heart from the very beginning!”

David and Sarah had already uncovered the truth. Britney, the Lu family’s daughter, suffered from a congenital heart disease. She had been sickly since childhood, and no matter how wealthy the Lu family was, they were helpless against her illness. Unable to find a compatible heart donor, they had turned their attention to young adults who had just undergone their initial health screenings. It just so happened that I was a perfect match for Britney. That’s when the Lu family targeted me, bringing me home under the guise of their ‘long-lost daughter.’ In reality, it was all to drug me and then collude with the hospital to ‘diagnose’ me with cancer, all to naturally replace Britney’s heart with my healthy one. After hearing it all, I felt a chill down my spine. They were bold enough to go to such lengths, harming another’s life for the sake of their own child. If I hadn’t overheard their conversation outside the hospital room, if David and Sarah hadn’t found me in time, I probably would have “willingly” given up my heart… “Dad, Mom.” I looked up at my true biological parents. “You two should leave first and arrange for a room across the hall. Once I’ve handled things here, I’ll join you.” The Lu family had evil intentions, plotting against me, and I couldn’t just leave like that. They exchanged glances. Although they didn’t fully understand my plan, they trusted me and quickly left. In less than half a day, I’d experienced parental betrayal and this whole twisted ‘real vs. fake daughter’ scenario. My mind was still reeling, so I closed my eyes for a brief, restless sleep. When I opened my eyes again, I was awakened by Britney’s shrill, cutting voice. She was wearing a beautiful long dress, impeccably made up, followed by Richard and Karen, both with expressions of deep concern. Richard said in a gentle voice, “Chloe’s awake. Britney insisted on coming to see you, knowing you were sick.” “It’ll be good for her to keep you company.” *Hah*. Ever since I’d come back to the Lu family, my relationship with Britney, the ‘fake heiress,’ had been strained, to say the least. Her visit now was clearly with ill intentions. I rolled my eyes internally, but my expression remained cold. “Okay.” Britney must have said something before they came in. She simply glanced at them, and Richard and Karen left the room. Before leaving, Karen even held both our hands, admonishing us, “You two sisters shouldn’t argue. Talk things through calmly.” Britney impatiently pulled away, ushering them out of the room. The room became completely silent. Britney crossed her arms, sizing me up. “Tsk tsk, how pathetic. You’ve only had a good life for half a year and now you’re sick with *this*? Truly unlucky!” I sneered. “Well, that’s still better than being constantly sickly for over two decades like you. At least I’ve enjoyed a healthy life for two decades.” Britney hated her fragile body the most, unable to do anything. Provoked by my words, her eyes widened, and she spat out recklessly, “You don’t know, do you? Once you’re dead, your heart will be mine!” Her overly long manicured finger tapped against my chest, the sharp nail digging into my skin. A jolt of pain shot through me. Thinking of how Britney had repeatedly sought trouble with me these past six months because of Richard and Karen’s attitude towards me, I felt a surge of suffocating anger. I used to overlook her antics because our ‘biological parents’ favored her. Now, things were different. With a sharp crack, I slapped Britney across the face. “You *dare* to hit me?” Britney clutched her face, disbelief written all over it. I sneered. “Why wouldn’t I dare?” “Let me tell you, Britney, as long as I don’t agree, this heart will never be yours.”

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A month before the wedding, my fiancé, Declan, wanted to have a child with his deceased brother’s wife, Briar. He said it was to carry on his brother’s line. I didn’t scream or break down. I simply sent a calm text, asking: “Briar has many ways to have a child, why does it have to be with you?” But the next second, he FaceTimed me, furious, accusing me of being unreasonable: “My brother entrusted her to me on his deathbed, and she knows no one here. She only has me to rely on. What’s wrong with me having a child with her?” “Besides, it’s just IVF, Sera. It’s not like anything else will happen. We’re still getting married.” I smiled as I replied: “No need. My groom has changed. I’m happy to step aside for both of you.” … The room buzzed with nosy stares, openly scrutinizing me. Several people tried to speak, but the words seemed to catch in their throats. I knew what they wanted to ask: Briar’s belly was growing bigger, but the child inside wasn’t her deceased husband Brandon’s. It belonged to my fiancé. That was already explosive news. And the fact that I hadn’t made a scene, not a single protest, made it even crazier. Finally, an old classmate from high school couldn’t hold back and broke the silence: “Sera, did Declan get delayed on the way? Why isn’t he here yet?” I didn’t even lift my head. “He and I are no longer together. We broke up.” Everyone froze for a second, then burst into laughter. “You’ve got to be kidding! Everyone knows how perfect you two were. You were practically at the altar, how can you just break up like that?” Yeah, right? We’d been through so many tough times together. How could he change now, just when our lives were finally settling down? Before I could reply, the door suddenly swung open. It was Declan who walked in this time, but right behind him was the other star of the gossip, Briar Davies. Declan didn’t even glance at me. He pulled out a chair, helped Briar sit down, and then spoke: “Briar’s had some stomach pain, so I took her to the hospital to make sure the baby was okay. We’re a bit late.” The smiles on everyone’s faces instantly froze. Our classmate awkwardly scratched his nose. “What’s that supposed to mean? It’s only been a few days, and you’re already parading a new woman around?” Declan, as he cleared a fork for her, replied nonchalantly: “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just helping Brandon look after Briar. There’s nothing going on between us.” Even an idiot wouldn’t believe that. Our classmate quickly tried to smooth things over: “Alright, alright, enough joking around. Sera’s been waiting for you for ages, go sit next to her!” But he didn’t budge, completely unfazed, and his voice took on a hint of disdain: “Can she even compare to Briar? Briar’s pregnant, of course, she needs special care.” Then, ignoring everyone’s uncomfortable expressions, he whispered in her ear: “Don’t worry. I’m here. No one will dare bully you.” The once lively atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point. This reunion was supposed to be for us to catch up. I thought Declan wouldn’t go too far. Who knew he’d have the audacity to bring his mistress, completely disrespecting me? Their gazes turned from curiosity to unconcealed pity. Yet, I sat there, quietly eating, as if I hadn’t noticed them at all. Declan was clearly displeased with my behavior. He put down his fork and said sharply: “After dinner, you can take a taxi home yourself. I’m taking Briar home. I don’t have time for you.” Briar immediately bit her lip, looking terrified. “Sera is your future wife, after all, and I’m just the mother of your child… You should take her home first…” From her tone, you’d think I was the mistress. I put down my fork and slowly looked at both of them. “Don’t bother. My boyfriend is already waiting for me downstairs.” ### Chapter 2 Declan wouldn’t believe it. He thought I loved him so deeply, willing to give him everything, that I’d never fall for someone else. But when he followed me downstairs and saw the conspicuous Rolls-Royce, he couldn’t help but exclaim: “Th-this… How is this possible?” I rolled my eyes. “So clueless.” Under everyone’s astonished gazes, I got into the passenger seat and drove off. Declan’s face was so grim, it looked like it could drip water. Briar sighed. “Sera is really something. Even if she wanted to make you jealous, she shouldn’t spend so much money hiring someone to put on a show! Besides, how much would it cost to rent such a nice car? She doesn’t appreciate how hard you work to earn money, Declan…” Declan found an excuse to save face. He nodded, shaking his head helplessly. “She’s just too vain. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so unhappy with her. Whatever. As a husband, I should be tolerant of my wife, since we’re getting married soon, right?” But after he finished speaking, no one fawned over him as they usually would. Instead, everyone found an excuse to leave. After all, a man who abandons his devoted fiancée and openly brings his mistress to a gathering? No one had any respect for that. I was packing my things at home when he kicked the door open, reeking of alcohol. “Seraphina Hayes! What the hell are you doing?!” The sudden noise startled me. I whipped my head around and glared at him. “What’s wrong with you?! Why are you suddenly back? Aren’t you supposed to be staying at Briar’s tonight?” Ever since his brother died, he’d moved in with her under the guise of “looking after his brother’s widow.” Him showing up suddenly today could only mean trouble. He punched the wall. “I’m interrupting your date with your little fling, aren’t I?! Tell me! Who was that man who dropped you off today?! Where did you find that actor?!” I sneered. “Are you deaf? I already told you that’s my boyfriend. Can’t you understand plain English?” Declan froze, then his eyes darted around. “You think I can’t see through your tricks? You’re just mad I’ve been neglecting you lately, trying to embarrass me at the reunion, right?” “Briar already saw through your little schemes. Stop pretending!” I laughed, a humorless sound. “You’re both insane.” Seeing that I wasn’t going to respond, he, agitated, came closer to me. “Seraphina, can’t you have some sympathy? Briar has been through so much recently. I’m the only one she can rely on. If even I abandon her, how will she survive?” I stopped what I was doing and looked at him seriously, retorting: “So my feelings don’t matter? Have you ever considered how I feel, parading her around in public again and again?” My question stunned him for a moment. Then he awkwardly turned his face away. “You’re being unreasonable. It’s not like I’m not going to marry you…” What was going on in his head? He was so utterly shameless, yet he still expected me to marry him. I decided not to waste another word on him. I held out my hand to him. “Give me the house key.” He frowned. “Don’t you have your own?” I slapped the property deed onto the table. “Open your eyes and look closely. My parents paid for this house. We’re breaking up now, are you still going to cling on?” Declan lost his temper too. He threw the key on the floor. “I knew it! Your family never thought I was good enough! I’m telling you, Seraphina, don’t act like this. It won’t be long before you’ll be begging me on your knees to come back!” I picked up the key and pointed to the door. “You can leave now, or I’ll call the police.” He was so red-faced with rage that he slammed the front door, making the whole house shake. ### Chapter 3 Even though we were about to get married, my parents’ teachings meant we always slept in separate rooms. Since he was leaving, I definitely needed to clear out his room. Halfway through tidying up, a photo suddenly fell out from a hidden layer in the bookshelf. I picked it up, a little confused, but my eyes widened the moment I saw the image. The photo showed a young Briar and Declan, smiling brightly at the camera. Declan’s arm was tightly around Briar’s waist; their intimate posture hinted at an unusual relationship. In the background of the photo, there I was, crouching on the ground, busy picking up trash Declan had carelessly thrown away. So, they had been secretly involved since way back then. I, poor fool, had been completely in the dark, and almost wasted my entire life on him. Thinking about it, I trembled with anger, hating myself for being so blind. I’d actually believed their story of “pure friendship.” The next moment, Declan’s backup phone started ringing, its sound echoing through the room. Seeing “Briar” on the caller ID, I hesitated for a moment, then answered. Declan was clearly with her; why was she calling me? But I soon had my answer. Over the phone, I heard the intimate sounds of a man and a woman. “Declan, you just saw Sera, and now you’re doing this with me… isn’t that bad…?” Briar complained seductively. Declan’s voice was filled with impatience. “Don’t even mention that pathetic woman. Not only does she have zero passion, she just pisses me off. If it weren’t for her family’s money, I would have dropped her ages ago!” “You’re so much better, sweet and smart. I really want to be with you forever.” Briar sighed. “Sera would hate me even more if she knew. Ugh, I don’t even know what I did wrong.” Declan snorted. “You don’t need to worry about her. She’s been my little lapdog for years, she can’t live without me. Forget me having a child with you; even if I brought the baby home for her to raise, she wouldn’t dare say a word.” Even though I had prepared myself mentally, hearing the man I’d loved for years speak about me with such disdain still made my heart ache uncontrollably. That youthful period of my life? I’ll just consider it completely wasted. After a long session of intimacy, Declan finally got up reluctantly to shower. Briar seized the opportunity to grab the phone and gloat at me: “You heard it all, didn’t you? If you know what’s good for you, you’ll just leave.” I smiled faintly. “If he truly loved you that much, why didn’t he get together with you sooner?” “But then again, you two pathetic, cheating dogs are a match made in hell. Of course, I’m going to step aside for you. Just looking at Declan makes me sick!” Briar’s voice turned into a shriek. “You!” I cleanly hung up the phone. I packed up all his belongings and threw them out. I couldn’t stand to have his things in my house for another second. My phone suddenly lit up. It was a message from him. 【Tomorrow’s a good day. Shall we get our marriage license?】 I was a little surprised. 【Isn’t that too fast?】 He replied instantly. 【I just want to marry you quickly, afraid my princess will change her mind. Then I’d have nowhere to cry.】 I couldn’t help but shake my head with a smile. This man, honestly. ### Chapter 4 By the time Declan finally remembered he had a fiancée, I had already moved into a new home and was preparing for all our wedding arrangements. Without my “interference,” he felt an unprecedented sense of freedom. Not only did he accompany Briar on many adventures they’d dreamed of in their youth but couldn’t pursue due to their “status,” he also posted various travel photos on Ins: 【As long as you’re by my side, even doing nothing feels like bliss.】 I had begged him countless times to go with me to the Arctic to see the Northern Lights, but he always refused, claiming he was too busy with work. Now, a photo of him kissing Briar under the Northern Lights had become his Ins profile background. As Briar’s belly grew, she became less satisfied with just having what was in front of her. “Declan, can you really bear for our child to be called illegitimate for life? Don’t you want to hear him call you ‘Dad’?” “Think about what Brandon said to you on his deathbed – to take care of me for life! If I raise this child alone, how will I manage? You’d be letting Brandon down!” Declan could resist once or twice, but under her constant barrage of “sweetness and logic,” he gradually wavered. “But what about Sera? Our families have already sent out the invitations. Are you asking me to break off the engagement?” Briar leaned into his chest, tracing circles. “Sera is so understanding, she’ll surely understand your difficulties. Besides, if she’s willing, the three of us could live together! And she’s so rich, with her help, we could give our child a much better life.” Declan was completely convinced. He hugged her tightly. “You’re right! She loves me so much, she’ll never want to leave me. We’ll use this to pressure her; she’ll agree to whatever I ask.” Briar, her plan successful, giggled endlessly. “I knew you cared about me the most. When we get married, I’ll definitely repay you properly.” “I’m so lucky to have met you. Otherwise, after Brandon died, I don’t know how I would have survived.” Men are such suckers for flattery. Just a few sweet words, and he was floating on air, thinking he was the greatest man in the world. But that feeling didn’t last long. He stood at the door, saw the changed lock, and completely panicked. “Seraphina Hayes! I know you’re home! Get out here! You’ve got some nerve changing the locks!” “I’m telling you, our wedding has to be canceled. Briar’s child can’t be without a father, and you only have yourself to blame for being a barren hen!” Still no answer. The house was eerily silent. He grew increasingly impatient. “I’m talking to you, did you hear me? Don’t think you can escape by pretending not to hear. But if you’re really that heartbroken to leave me, Briar and I have discussed it. The three of us can live together.” “You can transfer twenty thousand a month to us for living expenses, and publicly, I can still call you my wife. How about it?” Still no response. He touched his nose. “Is she really not home?” He pulled out his phone and dialed my number. After a few rings, it finally connected. Excited, he repeated everything he’d just said. The other end was silent for a few seconds, then a lazy, drawling voice replied: “My wife’s in the shower. Talk to her tomorrow if it’s important.” ### Chapter 5 When I came out of the bathroom, I saw Asher lounging on the couch, casually spinning my phone in his hand. “Guess who just called you,” he said.

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