After six months away on a work assignment, I came home to find my pet hamster dead. I couldn’t just bury it. I decided to preserve it, make a specimen so it would always keep its cute, round shape. But as I carefully began the dissection, I froze. The hamster’s lungs were completely black. That wasn’t a short-term discoloration; it was the result of prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke. But my wife and I never smoked. For the past six months, who had been living in my home? I didn’t *want* to suspect my wife, Lily Evans. I knew that trust was the bedrock of any marriage. That’s why we never installed surveillance cameras, and we certainly never checked each other’s phones. But perhaps I’d overestimated people. I scoured every corner of the room, finding no trace of smoking. No lighters, no ashtrays, nothing. Was I wrong about her? Was the hamster just sick? But then, my gaze fell on the wallpaper. I remembered it clearly: behind the sofa, there was a small ballpoint pen mark where I’d accidentally scuffed it. Now, it was gone. The wallpaper had been replaced. *That’s it!* If someone had been smoking in the room for an extended period, the wallpaper would undoubtedly be yellowed. Lily had thought of that and replaced it before I returned. I called her. She answered quickly, her voice sweet and gentle: “Honey, what’s up?” “Why was the wallpaper in the living room changed?” I tried to sound casual. “Oh, that.” She chuckled. “New wallpaper, new mood, you know? You’ve been gone for six months; the house needed a fresh look.” Her tone was perfectly natural, utterly devoid of guilt. “Oh, right, I booked a table at your favorite restaurant for tonight to welcome you home. Make sure you dress to impress!” I hung up, my mind reeling. After much thought, I posted on a relationship advice forum: **[Away for six months, came home to find my hamster dead, lungs totally black. My wife and I don’t smoke. Should I suspect her of cheating?]** Replies flooded in almost immediately: **[Bro, is this even a question? 90% chance she’s seeing someone else.]** **[Look for details, any extra men’s items?]** **[Useless. I’m a woman, and I’m cheating right now. Those clues would be long gone, you think I’d leave them for you to find?]** **[Whoa, TMI, lady! We don’t need *that* level of honesty!]** **[Listen to me: slip the building’s security guard a few hundred bucks and ask if anyone’s been coming and going from your place.]** I stared at the replies, a cold dread washing over me. Distracted, I changed for our evening date. Lily had booked my favorite restaurant and, smiling, handed me a beautifully wrapped gift box. I opened it. It was the mechanical watch I’d been wanting for ages. She didn’t like spicy food, but she’d ordered a table full of fiery red dishes for me, constantly sipping water to douse the flames. A pang of guilt struck me. Maybe I was overthinking things. Mid-meal, I couldn’t hold it in any longer and brought up the hamster: “Our hamster died. Did you know?” She nodded, her face falling into a sad expression. She reached across the table, taking my hand to comfort me. “I was going to tell you. It got sick a while ago. I took it to the vet, but they said it was too far gone. Don’t be sad, honey. We can always get another one.” Her voice held no trace of panic. Again, I wondered if I had wronged her. After dinner, we walked out of the restaurant. I reached for her hand, and she instinctively flinched back. It was a slight movement, but I felt it distinctly. I looked at her. She froze for two seconds before extending her hand again, clasping mine herself. She smiled. “You’ve been gone for six months, I’m just a little out of practice.” I said nothing. I remembered what one of the forum users had said. He told me to initiate physical contact with my wife. If she showed even a hint of physiological repulsion, there was a 99% chance she was cheating. We walked hand-in-hand to the parking garage. By our parking spot, a young man was engrossed in his phone. He looked up, surprised to see me, then immediately smiled and called out, “Good evening, Dr. Miller.” I stopped. It was Lucas Hayes, an intern from our hospital. Lucas then nodded to Lily: “Good evening, Dr. Evans.” Lily smiled back. “What a coincidence.” Something felt off. Lily and I were both doctors, but in different departments. She worked in outpatient care, while Lucas rotated through inpatient services. Logically, he shouldn’t know her. They chatted casually. Lucas kept pushing up his glasses, revealing the Patek Philippe on his wrist. I recognized it instantly. It was *my* watch. Only ten like it existed in the world, each with its own engraved serial number.

I said nothing. But I understood. The kid was deliberately showing it to me. I smiled, putting my arm around Lily’s shoulder. “We should go.” Once we were in the car, she chattered incessantly, telling me about her past six months. My mind wasn’t in it. I dropped her off at our front door but didn’t get out. I just told her something came up at the hospital, and I had to go back, so she should head upstairs alone. I returned to the hospital. I knew my car had a GPS tracker. Lily, ever cautious, would have likely sensed my suspicion. If I parked the car in the neighborhood, I wouldn’t catch anything. I was gambling. I remembered Lucas’s eyes earlier. I bet he was too smug, too impatient to wait. Just past midnight, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to my mother, asking her to call Lily for a casual chat. Ten minutes later, I dialed Lucas’s number. “Dr. Miller? Is everything alright?” His voice sounded surprised. I heard muffled noises in the background – a fan, and a woman’s voice. I recognized it. It was Lily. Nothing more needed to be said. It was just as the forum user warned: once the seed of suspicion is planted, every subsequent event only confirms its truth. I immediately started digging. First, bank statements, then PayPal and SnapChat transfer records. Months of transactions, reviewed one by one. No abnormalities. No large transfers out, no unfamiliar accounts. I checked our credit cards. Also clean. All daily expenses, no extra spending or loans. This was odd. Cheating, but not moving assets? Lily was incredibly materialistic. She’d fought with me for ages about our shared marital assets when we first got together. She was beautiful and had many suitors. She chose me largely because of my financial stability and background. Not touching our joint assets? That didn’t fit her style at all. I continued my investigation and finally discovered that my research paper document had been tampered with. It contained years of my accumulated core findings. Unpublished experimental data and my unique surgical method. If the surgery was successful, it would not only be the peak of my career but would also redefine industry standards. Lily, of course, knew the importance of this paper. Now, the modification time on the document had changed. The file had been opened, and a full copy had been made. I stared at the screen, my expression unreadable. I knew what they were planning. In two months, there would be a major public surgery, live-streamed internationally. Lily intended to give my surgical method to Lucas, letting him achieve overnight fame in front of countless cameras and esteemed experts. Then, they would completely cut me out. *Excellent.* This was far more ruthless than simply moving assets. The next day at work, I saw Lily by the conference room door. I noticed her clothes beneath her lab coat had been changed. She was clever, using such a subtle detail to imply she’d been home last night. As if to tell me I was imagining things. I smiled, walked up to her, put my arm around her waist, and leaned in to kiss her. She subtly recoiled. “So many people around.” As I leaned closer, I distinctly caught the scent of smoke. *Got it.* That afternoon, I was doing rounds with a few interns. Lucas stood at the front. I casually asked a few case-related questions. He answered thoroughly, even proactively suggesting two different treatment plans. Dr. Peterson, who was with us, nodded approvingly: “Excellent. Very promising.” Lucas, seizing the opportune moment, meticulously explained a detail about post-operative care. Dr. Peterson patted his shoulder: “Keep up the good work. You’ll have a spot here one day.” Dr. Peterson had never thought much of me. He found me too temperamental, said I never played his games, never buttered him up or pandered to his ego. But my competence was undeniable, so he couldn’t actually touch me. I knew he’d been itching to replace me. We reached the last patient room. Lying inside was my mother-in-law, Mrs. Evans. Her chart above the bed read “Elective Surgery.” Lily had insisted that I personally perform this surgery, saying she trusted no one else. Elective, huh? I glanced at the highly praised Lucas. Well, then, I’d choose a very special date for her surgery. I returned to my office. A few minutes later, Lucas knocked. “Dr. Miller, can I have a few minutes of your time?” He entered, standing before my desk with a smile. “Dr. Miller, Dr. Peterson said my performance was excellent. Could you fast-track my permanent position?” I looked at him. “Internship periods are fixed. You still need to pass the internal hospital assessment.” He sneered. “Sir, isn’t skill the most important thing?” I stared at him. “Skill is important, but a person needs to know their place.” His smile widened. “Positions are given by others, but they can also be taken.” I leaned back in my chair, saying nothing. He took a step forward, lowering his voice. “Some opportunities, whoever seizes them first, wins.” The air in the office grew heavy. He stared straight at me, showing no sign of backing down. I didn’t avert my gaze either. A minute later, he smiled again and turned to leave.

A week later, there was a city-wide medical conference that Lily and I both had to attend. I intentionally left early, pretending I’d forgotten my Patek Philippe, and asked her to bring it to me at the venue. When I arrived, she very naturally handed me the watch. I looked down, fastened it on, and said nothing. The hall was crowded. Lucas was there too. He was smiling and chatting with others, and on his wrist was that same watch, identical to mine. I nudged Lily. “Look, his watch is just like mine.” She feigned surprise. “Oh, my goodness, it really is! But it looks much better on you than on him.” I didn’t respond, just glanced at her. I’d already noticed. The watch on my wrist was fake. She had given my real watch to Lucas and bought me a fake one. She was treating me like an idiot. The hospital director droned on from the stage. I lowered my head and scrolled through Ins. Lucas had posted many updates. A picture from three months ago showed a close-up of a wrist. The watch face was clear – my real watch. The caption read: **[Thanks, sis, for the affirmation. You’ve given me a goal to strive for.]** A photo from ten days ago showed a partial view of a dining table, with a slender hand picking up food. I recognized that hand. It was Lily’s. The caption: **[Wish time could just stop here.]** Yesterday’s post was a back shot: a woman in a white coat, hair loose, brightly lit by the sun. The caption: **[Waiting for sis to get off work.]** I scrolled through them, one by one. None of them were directly explicit, but every single one bore Lily’s undeniable mark. Lucas was usually a social butterfly, with dozens of likes on his photos. But not on these. Because he’d set up a private group – these posts were only visible to *me*. He was doing this on purpose. He was telling me: *Your watch is mine, and so is your wife.* Someone at the conference called my name for a speech. I stood up and walked to the stage. I saw Lucas turn his head to look at Lily. Their eyes met. But I pretended not to see anything. In the days that followed, I continued to live normally with Lily. I kept writing my paper, and I silently watched them copy it. Soon, the day of the surgery arrived. That morning, I went to the garage to get my car as usual. As soon as I started the engine, the tire pressure warning light came on. The left rear tire had been punctured. All the air had leaked out. I feigned panic and called Lily: “Honey, what do I do? My tire’s flat!” She paused for two seconds, then her voice became even more frantic than mine: “Oh no! What are we going to do? Today’s surgery is so important, you won’t make it!” “Well, someone else will just have to take over for you.” Like someone pushed to despair, I said, “Then let someone else take over.” I hailed a cab, but not long after we set off, the car was rear-ended. *Heh.* I sneered. They were being incredibly thorough. Ten minutes later, Lucas sent a message. **[You’re finished.]** I slowly typed back four words: **[No, *you* are.]** My divorce lawyer picked me up, and we drove straight to the hospital. But I deliberately avoided the surgical area, letting them believe I was still stranded on the road, fixing my car. I had already arranged for someone to give me real-time updates on their movements. Lily was helping Lucas adjust his mask and gloves: “This is a golden opportunity today. Do a great job.” “When the time comes, just say you wrote that paper and Dr. Miller plagiarized you.” “His surgical steps are written out clearly. There’ll be no problem!” Lucas wrapped his arm around her neck and kissed her forehead forcefully. The surgery began. It was then that I unhurriedly walked to the entrance. A few nurses were whispering at the door: “Dr. Hayes is set this time. Dr. Peterson and Dr. Evans are really pushing for him.” “With so many people watching, if this goes well, he’ll be famous.” “It’s such a shame for Dr. Miller.” Minutes ticked by. Initially, he performed smoothly. But twenty minutes later, panic broke out inside. The monitor’s alarm blared suddenly. A nurse shouted, “Patient is hemorrhaging heavily!” Lucas’s voice was laced with panic: “Pressure, more gauze… How do we stop the bleeding?” Dr. Peterson snapped, “Replace him! Quick, replace him!” Lily frantically interjected: “Lucas is on the operating table for the first time! Replacing him now would crush his confidence!” “Besides, the patient isn’t in critical condition, it’s just a little extra blood. If no one gives interns a chance, how will they ever grow?” I chuckled softly. “Are you sure?” “Why don’t you check the patient’s name?” Lily looked at the patient’s chart, and her face instantly turned ashen.

“Ryan… you… you have to save my mom!” I pushed open the operating room door. Lucas, incredibly, still didn’t want to yield. “I… I can still…” I stepped behind him. “Get out.” I took his instruments, operating with swift precision, stabilizing the bleeding point. The blood pressure gradually returned, and the steady beeping of the monitor resumed. Two hours later, the surgery concluded perfectly. —*That* was the difference. Of course, I hadn’t told them that all of this was part of my plan. The paper they stole was a deliberately altered, fake version. The surgical steps seemed detailed, but in the method for handling blood vessels, I’d embedded a subtle trap. Anyone who had performed this surgery before would immediately recognize that the technique there was incorrect. But for an imposter, eager for quick success and lacking foundational knowledge, it was a heaven-sent shortcut. The moment Lucas got his hands on that fake paper, I knew he would follow it without question. After the surgery, Lily rushed up to me. “How’s my mom?” Actually, I had originally orchestrated this surgery to give my mother-in-law the opportunity for global attention. But Lily, sensing something was wrong, had quietly swapped her mother with another patient. She knew her little lover might not be able to handle such a high-pressure situation. She couldn’t let anything happen to her mother. I, without a change in expression, had swapped them back. Let her own mother be Lucas’s guinea pig. My mother-in-law had never given me a moment’s peace. Right after we got married, she’d said in front of all our relatives: “Lily is our family’s treasure. She’s never suffered a day in her life, so don’t expect her to take care of you. You’ll have to bear most of the burden.” I bought a house, bought a car, and invited her entire family to live with us. But once they moved in, she went around telling everyone that *her daughter* had bought the house. She came to stay with us for what was supposed to be a week but ended up staying for three months. Any milk or fruit I bought for the fridge, she’d say she didn’t like and pour it out. But if something serious happened, I was always the first one she called. Her brother lost hundreds of thousands in the stock market, and she called me at three in the morning asking for money. Once she got the money, she started complaining that I kept too much personal savings, implying I was up to no good. Even so, I never spoke ill of her to anyone. For holidays, gifts were always plentiful. When her relatives needed medical care, I personally arranged the best rooms for them. I had fulfilled my duties as a son-in-law. And today, I had saved her life. Back in my office, I pulled out a divorce agreement and placed it in front of Lily. “Sign it.” She froze for a second, then immediately forced a laugh. “Honey, what’s wrong? Is there some misunderstanding?” “You’re being silly. Lucas is just a colleague. Why are you imagining all this nonsense? You men are even more petty than us women.” I said nothing, just stared at her. “Why did the hamster die?” I asked. She stiffened, frowning. “Didn’t I tell you already? It got sick! Little animals have short lifespans anyway, and maybe you fed it too many treats and it overate.” She refused to admit anything. I knew, of course, that if I opened Lucas’s phone gallery right now, I’d find the evidence. If I hadn’t set this trap today, he’d probably be basking in the glory of a successful surgery, and perhaps even parading Lily around, bragging to me. But I wasn’t in a hurry. Presenting evidence now would only lead to her crying and begging for mercy. I didn’t want mercy. I wanted her to be utterly incapable of recovering.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298956”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

Dumped By My Husband, I Hit The Jackpot After returning from a three-month company training program, I found my husband gone, the locks changed, and a stranger opening the door. One question was all it took to learn the house had been sold. Unable to reach Jake, I headed to my in-laws’ place, only to find the entire run-down neighborhood dark and deserted. My in-laws, Mark, and Brenda, all had their phones switched off. I panicked, not knowing who to call. No one in the family SnapChat group bothered to reply. My ride-share driver told me the old houses there were being torn down for a redevelopment project. They ran off, terrified of having to share any money with me. But what they didn’t know was that my parents had hit the lottery for three hundred million dollars, and I wasn’t scared anymore. Not one bit. Three months ago, my company sent me away for training, promising a promotion and a significant pay raise upon my return. Jake and I had been married for two years. Our salaries weren’t high, so we planned to save up for a couple more years before having kids. This trip meant a substantial boost to my income, so I agreed without hesitation. Just last night, I had FaceTimed Jake, and we were planning our happy future with kids. He even said he’d pick me up from the train station today. But when I got off the train, he wasn’t there, and he wasn’t answering his phone. I thought he’d simply forgotten, but when I took a cab home, I found him gone, and our smart lock had been changed. I wondered if the old lock had broken, and he’d replaced it, but he hadn’t told me. After knocking for ages, a scruffy, bearded man opened the door, asking angrily who I was. I flinched and asked him the same, checking the house number to make sure I wasn’t at the wrong place. He claimed to be the owner, saying the house had been sold ages ago. He even asked if Jake and I had argued, because why else would my husband sell the house without telling me? A whirlwind of thoughts flashed through my mind, then it all went blank. I pulled out my phone and dialed Jake’s number again. Pick up, pick up, Jake, just pick up! What’s happening?! I crouched in the hallway, phone in one hand, anxiously chewing on my thumbnail, completely at a loss. I quickly sent him SnapChat messages, but my hands were shaking too much to type. I ended up sending a barrage of ten or so voice messages, asking where he was, why someone else was in our house, when it was sold, why I knew nothing… A storm of questions raged in my head. No reply. In desperation, I quickly called Mr. and Mrs. Miller. But their phones were all switched off! This sent me into an even greater panic.

I quickly grabbed my things, hailed a cab, and headed to my in-laws’ old, dilapidated house, less than half a mile from ours. As the car got closer, the neighborhood grew darker, not a single light shining anywhere. “Why isn’t there a single light on?” I blurted out. “Oh, it’s a redevelopment project. Didn’t you know? Everyone’s moved out. What’s a young woman like you doing here? Are you here to pick something up?” “Redevelopment? No, I had no idea. When did this happen?” “Just the last couple of months. I heard the compensation money had already hit their accounts, and some families had even moved abroad!” “What?!” “We’re here. It’s really dark, miss, be careful.” The driver was nice enough. I thanked him and got out. I switched on my phone’s flashlight and stumbled my way to my in-laws’ old place. The yard was a mess, and I couldn’t see much inside, but it was definitely empty. Still, I hammered on the door, just to be sure. Luckily, I had a spare key. I fumbled for my keyring and unlocked the door. The moment I stepped inside, I jumped. You’d think the place had been ransacked. The house was a complete disaster, as if a hurricane had swept through it. Pots, pans, dishes—everything was scattered everywhere. I quickly called Mark and Brenda, but they still didn’t answer. Jake and I rarely contacted his relatives after we got married, so I naturally didn’t have their numbers. I could only reach out to Kevin, his oldest friend. Kevin said: “His parents got twenty million dollars from the redevelopment project. Jake sold *our* house for six hundred thousand. And his brother Mark, his wife Brenda, and the rest of the family – all five of them – they’ve gone abroad.” “You… you’d better figure out a place to stay for now. That’s all I can tell you.” With that, he hung up. What kind of sick, twisted plot was this? Had Jake’s entire family just abandoned me like this? I stood there amidst the wreckage of what used to be my life, trying to process it all, utterly incredulous. Was this real? Just yesterday, we were so happy. I looked around and suddenly felt a profound chill. The world was so big, but where was my home?

I walked to the nearest motel, my stomach rumbling. Ha. Just yesterday, Jake said he’d take me out for a fancy dinner when I got back. How ridiculous. My husband’s family had run off with twenty million six hundred thousand dollars. What were the odds? I went downstairs to the convenience store and bought a cup of instant noodles. Honestly, most people in this situation probably couldn’t eat or sleep, but I devoured mine without missing a beat. After eating, I lay on the bed and felt a sudden sense of physical relief. After all, I’d been on a train all day, dragging my suitcase around, and then dealing with this completely devastating news. My body finally relaxed, but my mind was a jumbled mess. Why? How could they? For the two years we were married, I’d been frugal, buying cheap skincare and hardly any new clothes, all to save more money. But Jake? He made just $3,200 a month, and that money would vanish on gas, cigarettes, and stupid video games. I couldn’t count on him to contribute to the household. Utilities, HOA fees, and heating bills were all my responsibility. Every morning, I had to get up and make breakfast, because if he wasn’t eating breakfast, he wouldn’t bother making any for me either. I ate lunch at work. In the evenings, when I worked late, he never waited for me; he’d just eat at his parents’ place and come home. I worked overtime five days a week, while he barely worked and spent all his time gaming. All this hard work, I never thought much of it. Marriage was about mutual tolerance, after all. But when I found out they’d gotten twenty million dollars and then dumped me, everything suddenly seemed so ridiculous, so terrifying, so pathetic. I worked so hard, all for the sake of having children with a man like that. I picked up my phone to send a SnapChat to my mom, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth. I didn’t want to worry her and Dad. Oh, how I longed for my parents’ freshly baked pastries, or their famous twisted bread sticks. Tears welled up as I thought about it. I couldn’t imagine how furious and worried they would be if they knew. That night, I kept calling Jake every so often until 2 AM, when his phone finally switched off. He actually switched it off! He must have seen my calls and SnapChat messages, but instead of giving me an explanation, he just shut his phone off! How was that different from betrayal? No, it *was* betrayal! I almost wished he’d cheated, so I could yell and scream at him. But now I couldn’t reach him, couldn’t yell at him, and still didn’t understand anything. This feeling was truly too painful, too helpless. I eventually fell asleep, still crying. I woke up the next day and called in sick to work. At this point, the situation seemed set, so I started thinking about how to find Jake’s family. I looked online; you couldn’t report someone missing until after 24 hours. So I agonized in the motel, waiting for the time to pass. Since they deliberately made themselves unreachable, I had no choice but to call the police. I don’t know how I made it through that day. As night fell, the motel’s already dim lighting made the room feel even quieter. I turned on the TV, and it happened to be the lottery drawing. I thought, given everything, I should have bought a ticket earlier. I gave a bitter laugh. I hadn’t given up trying to contact the five of them, calling each number, sending SnapChat messages and group messages, but still, no one answered. But why *her*? Why did they take Brenda, but not me? It was beyond infuriating. Perhaps because I’d spent the day searching for “redevelopment compensation distribution,” “missing persons,” “marriage,” “assets,” and “divorce” related topics. My YouTube feed was suddenly flooded with lawyer recommendations. I casually followed a lawyer with several million followers who was livestreaming. He was from around here. I figured a local lawyer would be easier to communicate with. After his livestream ended, he sent me a private message asking what help I needed, so I sent him the whole story. He said we’d have to find the family first before dealing with anything else. I asked about his fees, and he said he was quite expensive—$200,000. That didn’t even include other miscellaneous costs. Damn, I thought, I wouldn’t be able to afford a lawyer even if I found them. I did have some savings, but his older brother, Mark, borrowed $200,000 from us before the holidays and still hadn’t paid it back. I was left with only $120,000. It was money my parents had saved as my dowry. I really didn’t want to spend it.

“Chloe! We won! We won! We hit the jackpot!” “Won what? What did you win? Slow down.” “Your dad and I passed a lottery stand yesterday and bought a $20 ticket, just like we always do. We just checked the numbers, and we got them all right!” Hearing this, I jumped up and down on the bed, ecstatic. I was so overwhelmed with excitement, I didn’t know what to do. “Really? Are you sure? Did you both check it right? How much did you win?” “We don’t know, but all the numbers were correct!” I quickly sat down and meticulously double-checked the lottery numbers and ticket ID my mom had sent me. No mistake! It was real! I immediately sent a private message to Mr. Sterling, asking him to be my lawyer. The next day, I rushed out to buy a mask and a change of clothes, and even bought a full-body mascot costume to wear when claiming the prize. I completely forgot about reporting Jake missing; I’d leave everything to the lawyer. I quickly booked a train ticket home to my parents’ place, fearing they might get overwhelmed by the process. When I got home, they had prepared a feast of all my favorite dishes. Tears streamed down my face. I didn’t know if I was crying from the pain of Jake abandoning me or the joy of the lottery win. My parents thought I was acting strangely; why was I crying when it was such good news? But they didn’t ask further, just urged me to sit down and eat. I ate two bowls of rice, and they kept telling me to slow down. Being with my parents felt so wonderful. After dinner, I sat on the sofa, thought for a moment, and decided to tell them everything. After I finished, they were stunned and absolutely furious. “What kind of family is that?! That bunch of good-for-nothing freeloaders, suddenly rich, just abandons their daughter-in-law? That’s despicable!” my dad said, slamming his fist on the table. “I didn’t want you to marry into that family in the first place, but I couldn’t talk you out of it. I never thought they’d do something like this. Oh, to think we won the lottery, such wonderful news, only for this to happen,” my mom said sadly. “It’s okay, Mom and Dad. I’ve already found a very good lawyer in our city, and he’ll handle everything. It’s just that I only have the $120,000 dowry you gave me when I got married, and the lawyer’s fee is at least $200,000.” “We have money! Even if we hadn’t won the lottery, the money your dad and I saved would be enough for you to hire a lawyer, let alone now that we’ve won. “We’ll support you no matter what. Don’t worry, with your dad and me here, we saved this money for you, didn’t we? You don’t have to be afraid of anything.” I couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into loud, unrestrained sobs. My parents transferred $180,000 to me, bringing my total to $300,000. The next day, we packed our things and drove to the state capital, where we met my lawyer and paid him. Then we went to complete the lottery claim procedures. A week later, my parents received the prize money. They had won a staggering $360 million! After paying the 20% tax, we were left with a solid $288 million. After discussing it as a family of three, we decided to donate $80 million to charity. After all, it was lottery winnings; giving back to charity felt right, like it would bring us peace of mind.

My parents immediately wanted to give me the rest of the money, but I refused. Because even though Jake had abandoned me, I was still legally married. If they transferred the money to me, it would become marital property, and there was no way I was letting my parents’ money become that scumbag’s money. Soon, the lawyer contacted me, saying he’d found Jake and his family of five. They were living it up in a lavish resort in the Caribbean, and the lawyer immediately sent me the address. To be safe, I set off for the Caribbean with my legal team. My parents wanted to come too, but I worried they’d get even angrier if they saw Jake’s family. When we arrived at their place, it was truly luxurious! A sprawling villa, a huge parking lot, and a yard that looked like an entire forest. When I saw them, they were splashing around in the large swimming pool in the yard! So, they were this happy after ditching me. Had they forgotten I even existed? Wait. No, there were six people. The closer I got, the more my rage surged, threatening to burst when I finally saw clearly. I wanted to unleash a bomb on that pool, to blast them all straight to hell. The lawyer noticed my emotional shift and quickly pulled me back. He warned me not to be impulsive and to follow his instructions. I took a moment to compose myself, exchanged a glance with the lawyer, and walked forward again. They saw me and stopped playing. Jake, his potbelly sticking out, jumped out of the pool in a flash. He strode towards me. “What are *you* doing here?” “What am *I* doing here? Shouldn’t *you* be explaining what *you’re* doing here first?” “You were away on your trip, so we came to have fun. How did you find us?” At that moment, his parents also walked up to me, followed by Mark and Brenda. “Your family is truly harmonious, aren’t you? Did you forget you even *had* a wife? Did you two forget about your youngest daughter-in-law? Did you two forget about your sister-in-law? “This place must cost a fortune, right? Where did you get the money to stay here? What happened to our house? What about your old house, you two? Explain everything to me!” “Why are you so loud? Your tone is so crude, so beneath this place. “Besides, what kind of daughter-in-law talks to her mother-in-law like that? Speak to us in a softer voice. You’re not worthy to yell at us.” His mother spoke first. “You still remember you’re my mother-in-law? I thought you’d already erased me from your family records! I remember my residency was tied to yours, all four of you, after we got married.” Hearing me mention the residency, their faces showed a mixture of panic and a strange expression. I almost laughed at the sight. “What residency? Why are you bringing that up?” his dad said. “Why am I bringing up residency? You all know perfectly well why.” “You found your way here, so you must already know about my parents’ old house redevelopment. That’s right, the compensation was twenty million dollars. “But that money belongs to my parents, not to us. What does it matter if your residency was tied to ours? Don’t even think about claiming a single cent of it.” “I wasn’t trying to claim your paltry compensation money. But what you did was utterly shameless, wasn’t it?” “What’s shameless about it? And you said ‘paltry’ compensation money? That was twenty million dollars! “You, a penniless nobody from that humble bakery, have you ever even *seen* that much money? You probably couldn’t even comprehend it, could you?” His mother started to verbally attack me. She was beyond unreasonable. “Forget about the twenty million for a second. What about our house?” “That wasn’t *our* house, it was my parents’ house! They bought it for me *before* we got married. You have absolutely no claim to it.” “No matter who bought it, that was our home! We’re still married, and you sold the house without telling me? I come back from my business trip, and you vanish, not even asking where I’m eating or sleeping?” “You’re a grown woman; why would I ask? If you’re hungry, just go back to your parents’ run-down bakery and munch on their pathetic little pastries! Hahahahaha!” After my worthless excuse for a husband said that, the rest of those shameless people all burst into laughter. I clenched my fists, wanting to punch him square in the face. He was infuriating! “When was *our* house bought by your parents before marriage? Clearly, they only paid a $100,000 down payment before marriage, and I transferred the remaining mortgage payments to you every month. “The title was in your name, but I was the one actually paying the mortgage. How can you say it’s theirs?” “Since they made the down payment, it’s *theirs*. And sure, you paid the mortgage, but our money was marital property, so it’s basically like *I* paid it. So, I say the house is *mine*.” “Now you know about marital property? Then do you know that the redevelopment compensation money is *also* marital property? Is your family so incredibly hypocritical? “Do you know that I also have a share in that compensation? You ran off just to avoid giving me my share? Are you planning to hide in the Caribbean for the rest of your lives? Never going back home?” “Go back home? Of course not! The old houses were demolished, our house was sold, and I even quit that pathetic $3,200 a month job. See this villa in front of you? We bought it. We’ve decided to live here from now on.” “Bought it? Your ‘whole family’ will live here, and those words don’t include me, do they?” “And who’s that woman in the pool? I’ve never seen her. Don’t tell me she’s part of your family now too?” “Don’t worry about it so much. I’m going inside to get something. You just wait here.” With that, he walked towards their grand villa.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298955”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

My Ex-Husband’s Karma The day I received my husband’s ALS diagnosis. I found out he was cheating. He filed for divorce: “I’ll leave with absolutely nothing. She’s not after my money; she just loves me for who I am.” I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just quietly put away the diagnosis. “Fine. I hope she lives up to her word when the time comes.” After all, not having to care for him when he’s bedridden later? I couldn’t be more thrilled. At the divorce court, by the clerk’s window. “You have a one-month waiting period. Once you’ve made your decision, you can come back to finalize the divorce.” As the clerk finished speaking, a red stamp landed on the divorce cooling-off period receipt. I glanced up at the clock on the wall. Three minutes past ten in the morning. It had been less than 24 hours since I discovered my husband, Alex Davies, was cheating, to him filing for divorce, to us now processing it. Just as efficient as when we decided to get married after only three months of dating. Snapping back to reality, I watched Alex take the receipt. His distinctly jointed fingers folded it neatly, his fingertips still displaying the practiced precision of a lawyer. “Don’t forget to come back in a month to finalize the divorce. And don’t regret it.” His brows were furrowed, as if he feared I might try to cling on. I nodded. “I know. You shouldn’t regret it either.” Alex didn’t say another word. He looked down, engrossed in his phone, replying to messages. The familiar smile and tenderness in his eyes were unmistakable. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen him look like that. When we first started dating, he used to smile at me that way too. But somewhere along the line, his gaze toward me became nothing but cold and indifferent. I used to think it was because he was overworked, never imagining his affection had simply been redirected to someone else. The drive home was silent. Once we arrived, Alex’s car was parked outside. He started packing his belongings, putting them into the trunk. Not long after, a woman’s voice drifted from a distance: “Alex! What are you doing?” I looked over and immediately saw Tiffany. The woman Alex had sworn wasn’t after his money, only his heart. Seeing Alex packing, Tiffany grabbed his arm. “Alex, you’ve already divorced Jade! She should pack her own things!” As she spoke, Tiffany’s displeased gaze flickered towards me several times. I leaned against the doorframe, watching her suitcase. I instantly understood. It seemed Alex hadn’t mentioned to her that he was leaving with absolutely nothing. I couldn’t help but remind her. “Ms. Tiffany, why don’t you take a closer look? Whose things is he packing?” Tiffany finally noticed it was all Alex’s stuff. Her face stiffened. “Alex, why are you moving your things?” Alex took her hand and explained. “I’ll be living with you from now on, of course, I need to move my things.” Hearing this, Tiffany looked at me incredulously. “Jade, Alex bought this house outright! If anyone should be moving out, it should be you!” I looked at Alex. Quickly, Alex pulled Tiffany closer. “Tiffany, I’m leaving with nothing, but don’t worry. Everything she has now, we’ll have later.” The words “leaving with nothing” seemed to hit Tiffany hard. The expression on her face faltered. But hearing Alex’s last sentence, Tiffany’s face softened, as if she’d thought of something. “Alright, I trust you.” Then, Tiffany started helping Alex pack his luggage. I just stood by, watching quietly. I knew Alex, as a lawyer, was a master at securing his own interests. Tiffany probably thought “leaving with nothing” was some sort of ploy, and that I’d eventually have to give everything back. Too bad. This time, Alex’s decision to leave with nothing was a meticulous calculation of assets, a signed agreement, and notarized. Alex was eager to be with Tiffany. But the mere loss of the house was already causing such a strong reaction from Tiffany. It seemed her claim of “not being after his money” was largely exaggerated. Once most of his things were packed, Alex turned to me. “I’ll move the rest of my stuff out within the month.”

After that, he left with Tiffany. After he left, the spacious apartment felt empty. When we got married, I once thought this would be the home where Alex and I would spend the rest of our lives. But I never expected that after only three years, this home would be broken. Every corner of this apartment held memories of Alex and me. I couldn’t bear to live here anymore. Ultimately, I put the house up for sale on a resale platform. Just after I finished listing it, Alex’s partner, Marcus, called. As soon as I answered, Marcus asked, “Jade, are you and Alex really getting divorced?” I simply hummed in agreement. Marcus sighed. “You worked so hard to help him build his career, and things were just starting to get better.” “Alex is just infatuated right now. He’ll come back to you once he’s over it. It’s not worth throwing everything away for a junior assistant he’s only known for half a year.” His words were all about persuading me to reconsider, not to make a decision I’d regret. But the one who was determined to divorce was Alex. If he didn’t want me to be with him anymore, how could I stay by his side? Silently, I took out Alex’s diagnosis from my bag. ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Yesterday, when I received this diagnosis, I was heartbroken and distraught over him suffering from such a terrible illness. But now, I felt a strange sense of relief. When people do bad things, they always get their comeuppance. I pulled out a lighter, ignited it, and watched the diagnosis burn to ashes. Staring at the flickering flame, I told Marcus, “Don’t worry, I won’t regret it.” After all, Alex had no future left. I thought explaining it to Marcus would be enough. But I hadn’t expected him to be so persistent in trying to mend my marriage with Alex. He called again, asking me to come to their law firm to drop off some case files Alex had left at my place. After some thought, I agreed. Firstly, to put an end to his tiresome attempts, and secondly, to use this opportunity to definitively close this chapter. When I arrived at the firm, I stared at the “Summit Law” sign, lost in thought. When Alex first founded this firm, he’d pointed to that very sign and told me, “Jade, this is the starting point of my career. I’ll give you a better life someday!” Back then, no one could have imagined that the beginning of his career would mark the end of our marriage. I shook my head, clearing the images from my mind, and stepped inside. As soon as we met, Marcus said he’d take me to Alex. But as we approached Alex’s office, through the clear glass door, we saw Tiffany leaning against his desk, handing him a coffee. Their eyes were locked, and they didn’t notice Marcus and me standing outside. Just as Alex took the coffee, his hand trembled uncontrollably, spilling the brown liquid onto some documents. I watched him frown, seemingly surprised by his hand’s sudden unsteadiness. But Tiffany quickly wiped it clean with a tissue, not forgetting to playfully scold him, “Do you like me that much? You were staring so hard your hand got unsteady!” Alex didn’t think much of it, affectionately taking Tiffany’s hand to flirt. “Who can blame me when you’re so beautiful?” They were about to kiss right in front of us. My heart clenched. I couldn’t bear to watch another second. I turned, handed the case files to Marcus, and walked away. Marcus awkwardly followed. “Jade, Alex has been under a lot of stress lately. He was just momentarily tempted…”

I quietly cut him off. “Marcus, you don’t need to make excuses for him. And please, don’t waste your time trying to fix things anymore.” “I’m going to be completely honest with you today. Alex and I will never, ever get back together.” Marcus fell silent, his gaze fixed blankly behind me. Realizing what that meant, I turned and met those familiar eyes. Alex was standing behind me, having heard my words, and his face was grim. He stared at me intensely, then twisted his lips into a cold sneer. “Jade, that trick won’t work on me.” I flinched, then an endless bitter ache swelled in my chest. The reason he thought I was playing hard to get was simply because he was convinced I loved him and couldn’t leave him. I looked at him quietly, and spoke softly. “Alex, don’t worry. I can love and I can let go. Since I agreed to divorce you, I won’t bother you anymore.” Just then, the elevator doors in front of me opened. I stepped inside directly, but as the doors closed, my tense body relaxed for a split second. Scenes of him and another woman, so loving, flashed relentlessly before my eyes like a slideshow. My heart still felt like it was being twisted by a knife. To this day, I still didn’t understand how he could fall in love with someone else so easily… But my pride wouldn’t allow me to beg. When I got home. The real estate agent was showing the house. The location Alex bought was excellent. I had only listed it on the resale platform a few days ago, and already many people had come to view it. Today, the buyer was even more straightforward, signing the preliminary contract on the spot. After receiving the deposit, I immediately assured them, “Don’t worry, I’ll move out within the next two days and make sure the house is spotless.” Over the next two days. I quickly bought an apartment closer to my hospital and hastily cleaned out the house. As for Alex’s other belongings that he hadn’t managed to take, I sent them all to his law firm via cash-on-delivery. Just as I finished packing the last box and was about to call the agent to hand over the keys. Alex showed up at my door. He stood in the doorway, not stepping inside, and informed me with a stiff tone. “Mom and Dad are calling us home for dinner tonight.” I paused for a moment, then looked at him. “Correction. They are *your* parents now, not mine.” Alex’s face darkened slightly. “We haven’t finalized the divorce yet. Why are you so harsh towards them?” My head buzzed. I could barely believe my ears. Harsh? I never thought the person I loved most would use that word to describe me. All words caught in my throat. I couldn’t utter a single syllable. Alex simply led me to his car. The passenger seat had a sticker Tiffany had put on it, reading ‘Tiffany’s Princess Seat.’ I froze, turning stiffly to the back seat. “I’ll sit in the back.” The drive was unusually quiet. In truth, this had been the norm for the past six months of our marriage. We were supposed to be the closest people, yet we were worse than strangers. My heart ached with sharp, recurring pains. That evening, at the Davies family home. Mrs. Davies kept piling food onto my plate, launching into her age-old topic. “Jade, you and Alex have been married for three years now. When are you planning on having a baby?” “You’re a woman, dear, there’s no need to push yourself so hard with work! Being a doctor is exhausting! Why don’t you just quit and focus on starting a family?”

This kind of talk hadn’t stopped since Alex and I got married. Before, for Alex’s sake, I had listened to it all, endured it. But now… I put down my forks, looked at everyone in the Davies family, and spoke softly— “Mrs. Davies, you should save those words for Alex’s next wife.” “I came here today to tell you that Alex and I have already filed for divorce.” Taking advantage of the Davies family’s stunned silence. I continued to reveal, “And the reason for our divorce is because your son, Alex, cheated on me with his assistant! He chose to leave with absolutely nothing himself. I don’t owe your family anything!” Alex’s face instantly paled. He turned to me. “Jade!” He seemed not to have expected me to completely disregard his reputation and spill everything. The atmosphere became instantly silent. Mrs. Davies’s hands trembled as she looked at Alex. “Alex, is what she’s saying true?” Alex paused for a moment, then nodded honestly. “Tiffany is a very sweet and lovely girl. I’ll bring her back in a few days; you’ll definitely like her when you meet her.” He admitted it so candidly. A self-deprecating smile touched my lips. Yes, Alex was the type of person who couldn’t bear to see the woman he deeply loved suffer any injustice. When we were dating, he was just as eager to introduce me to his family, just as eager to marry me. And now, he was doing the same for Tiffany. Unexpectedly, his words angered Mr. Davies, who had remained silent until then. “How dare you bring a mistress into this house! I’ll disown you! What kind of decent woman breaks up someone else’s family at such a young age?” His beloved was insulted, and Alex’s face instantly darkened. “Dad! Tiffany and I are truly in love!” His response was a resounding slap across his face from Mr. Davies. “Our family has never had a divorce, let alone a second marriage! What will people think of us? It’s disgraceful!” Mr. Davies cared most about appearances and reputation. He didn’t truly care about my marriage with Alex; he just didn’t want to be embarrassed. Alex was stunned by the slap, speechless for a long moment. Mr. Davies then looked at me. “Jade, we don’t air our dirty laundry in public! This time, Alex was wrong, and we apologize on his behalf. Please don’t hold it against him!” “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure he breaks it off with that woman completely!” “Since your cooling-off period hasn’t passed, go cancel the divorce papers quickly.” After Mr. Davies finished speaking, he gave Mrs. Davies a meaningful look. Mrs. Davies immediately came over and took my hand. “Exactly, exactly! Jade, if you don’t want children, then don’t have them for now. Our family’s problems should be settled within these walls. Why make such a fuss about divorce?” Alex stood by, clearly displeased, but held his tongue out of respect for his parents. He was always like this. For three years of marriage, it was always me who played the ‘bad guy’ by standing up to the elders. This time, let me be the ‘bad guy’ for him one last time. I pushed Mrs. Davies’s hand away. “I’m sorry, but I’m not that generous. I can’t accept a husband whose heart isn’t with me.” Seeing my resolute attitude, Mrs. Davies faltered, then began to pull rank as an elder. “Jade, Alex cheated when he was married to you. Have you ever thought about your own problems?” “It’s probably your fault for not keeping your husband happy. Aren’t you embarrassed for letting him stray like this?” My heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle, a tingling pain spreading through me. But on the surface, I just gave a light laugh. “He’s the one who cheated. What do I have to be embarrassed about?”

After saying that, I pulled my hand from Mrs. Davies’s grasp, picked up my bag, and left the Davies family home. But I’d only taken a few steps. Alex chased after me from behind. “Jade! Stop!” He came up to grab me, but his hand suddenly froze mid-air. This was an early symptom of his ALS. I watched him quietly, simply asking, “What else?” Alex’s brows furrowed tightly for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. He questioned me, “Jade, you’re just deliberately trying to ruin Tiffany’s reputation, aren’t you? Now my parents won’t accept her. Are you satisfied?” I looked at Alex. In that moment, I suddenly couldn’t remember why I had ever loved him. The lover in my memory spoke to me softly, with extreme tenderness. But now, he glared at me, as if I were his enemy. After years as lovers, I never imagined we would come to this. My eyes finally reddened, and I couldn’t help but ask him, “Alex, when you chose to cheat, you should have expected this day, shouldn’t you?” Alex’s face stiffened. And I didn’t say anything more to him, walking away with long strides. The next day was my day off. I completed all the transfer paperwork and moved into my new home. I also invited some friends and colleagues over for a housewarming party. As the atmosphere grew lively, they raised their glasses to me, cheering. “To our Jade’s new home!” I smiled, clinking my glass. “To my new life!” From that day on, my life became much calmer. I blocked all contact numbers for Alex’s family, only keeping his number so I could find him on the day we finalized the divorce. I thought I would have no further contact with them. Until a week later, in the early hours of the morning, I saw Alex on a gurney in the emergency room at the hospital where I was on call. He was curled up on the emergency stretcher, clutching his upper abdomen, his face as white as paper beneath his suit. My brow furrowed. I knew at a glance that he was having a stomach attack. Ever since he opened his law firm, Alex’s eating habits had been erratic. I used to remind him to eat on time, and whenever I had a moment, I would even cook him light, stomach-friendly meals and bring them to his firm. It seemed without my reminders, he hadn’t taken care of his body, and it quickly deteriorated. I reached out to palpate him, but the next moment, my hand was sharply pushed away. It was Tiffany, who had accompanied him. Seeing that I was the attending doctor, her face registered displeasure. “Why are *you* here? Aren’t there any other doctors?” A stinging pain shot through the back of my hand. And Alex, pale on the stretcher, didn’t say a word to stop his ‘girlfriend’. My heart turned cold. I stood at the emergency room door, looking at them. “Right now, I’m the only doctor on call in our department. Do you want him treated, or not?” Tiffany pursed her lips, remaining silent. Based on my professional ethics as a doctor, I continued to press on Alex’s upper abdomen, observing his reaction. Once I had a grasp of the situation, I turned to meet Tiffany’s eyes. “If you want another doctor, that’s fine. Either transfer him to another hospital, or wait here until 8 AM when the other doctors come on duty.” At this, I looked at Alex, who was in a semi-conscious state from the pain. “It’s up to him if he can hold on until then.” Tiffany was furious but understood that leaving or waiting for another doctor to come on duty was unrealistic. His condition would only worsen. She could only agree. An hour later. I finished treating Alex, completed my duties, and went home.

The next day. I returned to his room to conduct post-operative examinations. Upon entering, I found him alone in the room; Tiffany was nowhere to be seen. A post-op patient has limited mobility and needs care, so someone should at least be by their side. I recorded Alex’s data, frowning as I asked him, “Why are you alone? Isn’t anyone looking after you?” Alex was propped up on the bed, his lips pale, his voice hoarse. “She went to get me some food.” No sooner had he spoken. Tiffany walked into the room, carrying a bowl of spicy wontons, steaming hot and fragrant. She held up the bag in her hand, enthusiastically showing it to Alex. “Alex, I bought your favorite wontons! I waited in line for ages to get them!” Alex’s already pale face stiffened. Looking at the wontons, topped with a thick layer of chili oil, I still felt compelled to remind her from a doctor’s perspective. “Ms. Tiffany, he just had surgery. His diet should preferably be bland.” Upon hearing my words, Tiffany’s eyes immediately reddened, and her face showed displeasure. “Jade, what do you mean? Are you just jealous of me taking care of Alex? Don’t try to stir up trouble between us!” *Don’t listen to the doctor, then suffer the consequences.* I was speechless and couldn’t be bothered to say more, so I just looked down and wrote in the patient’s chart. It was Alex who lowered his eyes and reached out to hold Tiffany’s hand. “Tiffany, my stomach isn’t really up to spicy food right now. You should eat those wontons yourself. I can order some porridge for delivery.” Tiffany’s voice wavered with hurt. “But I went all that way to get them for you, and now you won’t eat them…” Alex immediately soothed her. “Don’t cry. When you cry, my heart aches.” The hand holding my chart trembled. He had said those exact words to me countless times before. When I was curled up in pain from my period, when I was upset because he was late for a date, when he hurt me during intimacy… Every time, he would gently hold me in his arms, tenderly kiss away the tears from my eyes, and then tell me, “Don’t cry. When you cry, my heart aches.” But now, he was using those very words to comfort another woman, right in front of me. I didn’t know how I managed to leave the room. It wasn’t until I was in the hallway outside that Dr. Liam, a colleague, called out to me. “Dr. Jade, could you help me look at this patient’s CT scan? Something feels off.” I walked over, about to take the report from his hand. Unexpectedly, a child suddenly darted out of a nearby room and ran straight into me. Unprepared, I stumbled back a few steps, right into Dr. Liam’s arms. Dr. Liam instinctively steadied me. I regained my balance and opened my mouth to say, “Tha…” Before I could finish, Tiffany’s surprised shriek came from nearby. “Jade! How can you be hugging another man during work hours! What kind of behavior is that?” I frowned and turned my head. Alex, still in his hospital gown, stood with Tiffany at the room entrance, his face utterly dark. Tiffany, however, glared over here and sneered again, “Alex, look! She made you leave with nothing, but she was probably the one who cheated first!” My face tightened. Dr. Liam beside me quickly frowned and explained, “What are you talking about? That was just an accident.” But Alex gave a cold, mocking laugh. “How convenient. How did Jade just *happen* to fall right into your arms?” Seeing that Dr. Liam was about to explain further, I stopped him. “Dr. Liam, please go on with your work.”

I didn’t want my personal affairs to involve a colleague. After Dr. Liam left, Tiffany kept chattering. “Alex, since Jade wronged you first, then leaving with nothing is just too unfair to you.” Alex merely stood in the doorway, his gaze fixed on me, dark and intense. I didn’t listen any further. I walked directly to them and looked Tiffany straight in the eye. “Tiffany, as a lawyer’s assistant, you should know that defamation carries legal consequences.” Tiffany’s eyes darted away, about to protest. But Alex spoke first, his tone full of mockery. “Jade, aren’t you brave enough to admit what you’ve done? That’s not how the word ‘defamation’ is used.” I felt utterly bewildered. “What have I done?” Alex sneered, a tight smile on his lips. “You’re still playing dumb at this point, so I’ll be direct!” “Jade! That baby you intentionally aborted six months ago, do you dare say it was mine?” *Boom.* It hit me like a thunderclap. A chill crawled from my feet up my spine, leaving me utterly cold. I looked at the man before me in disbelief. “So that’s why you suddenly became cold to me six months ago? You suspected me of betraying you?” Alex gritted his teeth. “It wasn’t suspicion, it was a fact!” I froze, feeling a dull, unbearable ache in my chest. Six months ago, Alex and I had a child. But this child wasn’t in our plans, and I was entirely focused on my work at the time. I had indeed mentioned to Alex that I didn’t want the baby. However, I ultimately decided against the abortion; after all, it was a life. Yet, during a patient resuscitation, I couldn’t save the child. During my hospital stay, Alex was very cold to me. I thought he was angry and resentful. So I suppressed all my grievances and pain, even humbling myself to apologize and seek reconciliation. But from then on, he became even more distant. He started staying out, citing work as an excuse. He even forgot our wedding anniversary, forgot my birthday. I never blamed him. I only blamed myself for not protecting our child. But now I realized, Alex had thought I betrayed him all that time! My eyes reddened. I stared intently at the man before me, almost grinding out the words. “Every day, besides work, I came home to cook for you. How dare you accuse me of cheating?” Alex scoffed, laughing in exasperation. He pulled out a video from his phone. “Fine, then how do you explain this?” I peered at the screen. In the video, Dr. Liam and I walked side-by-side into a hotel in the dark of night, and walked out together only at dawn. Alex’s voice was hoarse with hatred. “Jade, you told me that day you had an important surgery to perform. But what kind of surgery needs to be done in a hotel?” A cold wind swept through the hallway, chilling my heart to the bone. I looked into his eyes, feeling only disappointment and ridicule. “If that’s the case, why didn’t you ask me for clarification then?” Hearing this, Tiffany quickly interjected to smooth things over. “Jade, it’s my fault. I was the one who advised Alex not to confront you directly. After all, you wouldn’t have admitted it anyway…” I cut her off without ceremony. “Tiffany, this is between Alex and me. Please don’t interfere.” Tiffany fell silent, looking at Alex with a wronged expression. And Alex, naturally, shielded her behind him, sneering at me. “You wanted proof, didn’t you? The evidence is so clear now, what else do you have to say?” — CUTOFF POINT —

I looked at this man, who, after three years of marriage, had no trust in me whatsoever. I felt nothing but coldness. Tears fell from my eyes without my knowing. I awkwardly wiped them away, then quickly looked down, searched for a news article on my phone, and handed it to him. “That day, we performed an emergency surgery in that hotel! The story even made the news! There’s still a banner from the family hanging in our department office. Do you want to go see it?” The news had gone viral at the time. I had wanted to show it to Alex immediately. But he had said, “I’m already so tired from work. I’m not interested in reading any news.” His single sentence extinguished my desire to share. If only Alex had cared a little more about me, about my work, he would have known the truth. But back then, I suppose his heart was already elsewhere. I looked at his shocked face, yet felt no sense of relief from the misunderstanding being cleared up. After a long pause, I lowered my eyes and gave a bitter laugh. “Alex, the one who betrayed our marriage, from beginning to end, was only you.” After saying that, I put away my phone and left the hospital room. Two days later, Alex was discharged. I put all my energy into my work, no longer paying attention to them. My next encounter with Alex was two weeks later, outside the courthouse. At this point, only one week remained until our divorce cooling-off period ended. This time, our hospital was involved in a medical malpractice lawsuit. I was testifying as a witness for the hospital, and Alex was our hospital’s defense attorney. In court, with irrefutable evidence and Alex, a golden-tier lawyer, on our side, the lawsuit was won without a doubt. After the hearing, I was preparing to go home. Alex followed and called out to me. “Jade, wait.” I couldn’t avoid him, so I asked in a professional tone, “Mr. Davies, is there anything else?” Hearing how I addressed him, Alex’s expression faltered. After a moment, he squeezed out the words from his throat. “About before… I was wrong. I misunderstood you. I’m sorry.” I frowned, falling silent. A belated apology was useless for our current situation. Clearing up this misunderstanding wouldn’t mend our broken relationship, nor would it change the fact that he had fallen for someone else. I shook my head. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.” Alex sighed. “I wanted to ask, do you still have the recipe for the medicinal porridge you used to make for me? My stomach hasn’t been feeling well these past few days. Tiffany isn’t very good at cooking these things, so I thought I’d try making it myself.” After only two weeks out of the hospital, he had lost a lot of weight. It seemed Tiffany truly wasn’t very good at taking care of people. My expression softened, and thinking that he would soon be gravely ill, I finally agreed. “Alright, I’ll send you the recipe when I get home.” As I finished speaking, I turned to leave. But Alex called out to me once more— “Oh, and one more thing! Last time you asked me to get a check-up at your hospital, are the results back yet?” I froze. Before I could reply, Tiffany’s figure ran over from not far away. She linked her arm through Alex’s, asserting her claim to him. “Jade, the case is over. What are you still trying to talk to my boyfriend about?” And Alex, as usual, tacitly allowed Tiffany’s assertion of ownership. My heart tightened. I swallowed the words on my tongue, and simply looked at Alex. “You can go to the hospital yourself to ask for your check-up results when you have time.” I didn’t want to get involved in their romantic drama, so I turned and left. Behind me, I could still hear Tiffany’s angry questioning. “Alex, what were you just talking about with her? Do you still like her?”

Immediately followed by Alex’s helpless reply: “Tiffany, can you please stop being so sensitive? I was just asking her some things. I truly have no feelings for her anymore.” Tiffany’s voice suddenly became shrill: “You’re the one who didn’t make me feel secure. How can you blame me for being sensitive?” And Alex’s tone now carried a hint of weariness: “Tiffany, you’ve checked my phone thoroughly, my salary card is with you, and you’ve even deleted all my female friends. What more do you want me to do?” So they fought too… But perhaps these arguments were sweet for Alex, just as mine had been for him. None of that had anything to do with me anymore. I quickened my pace, leaving their voices far behind. The next day was Saturday. I planned to go to the mall to pick out a birthday present for my best friend, Sarah, whose birthday was coming up. In the jewelry store, ornaments were abundant, dazzling the eyes. As I focused on selecting, I heard Tiffany’s sugary voice. “Jade, what a coincidence!” I looked up towards the source of the voice, feeling like I had run into an old enemy. At the entrance, Tiffany was walking towards me, her arm linked with Alex’s. I had no desire to get entangled with the two of them, so I started to leave. But Tiffany blocked my path. “Jade, Alex and I were just about to pick out wedding rings. Since it’s such a coincidence, why don’t you help us choose?” The words “wedding rings” pierced my heart like a sharp knife. Alex and I hadn’t even officially finalized our divorce yet. And he was already so impatient, bringing her to buy wedding rings. Did he not want to show me even basic respect anymore? I looked at Tiffany’s deliberate display of gloating, biting back my emotions with all my might to keep from losing composure. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me, his ex-wife, to help you choose wedding rings, would it?” Alex looked somewhat uncomfortable, but Tiffany quickly interjected. “It’s fine, Jade. Your taste is so good, any ring you pick will be perfect.” I gave Alex a self-deprecating glance. —*Not all choices are good, sometimes there are missteps, like choosing a husband.* I directly raised my hand and pointed to a million-dollar diamond ring in the center of the display case. “I think this twelve-carat ‘Heart of the Ocean’ is quite nice.” At my words, both their faces changed. Alex had just left with nothing. He couldn’t afford something so expensive. Indeed, Alex looked in the direction I pointed. When his eyes met the price tag, his face stiffened for a moment. His gaze shot at me like a cold arrow. “Jade, are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?” But I found it laughable. They were the ones who had deliberately provoked me first, yet in the end, he could accuse me of humiliating him. I clenched my hands, lowering my eyes as I softly said, “Alex, you yourself once said that the person you love deserves the best things in the world, didn’t you?” Alex’s expression froze. He stiffened. But quickly, he waved his hand grandly, and actually pulled out his credit card. “You’re right, Tiffany, I’ll buy it for you!” At these words, Tiffany’s eyes instantly lit up. She hugged Alex and kissed him. “Alex! You’re so good to me!” Their affectionate display made the store clerk smile just as brightly. Only I stood there, unable to smile. Alex probably didn’t remember that he had promised to buy me this ‘Heart of the Ocean’ a long time ago. But back then, neither he nor I had much money, and I said we’d get it later. Yet, it turned out that if he truly wanted to buy something, he would find a way, even without money. His love for Tiffany seemed far deeper than his love for me. It appeared the person I deeply loved had never truly loved me back. Just thinking of that made my heart ache as if it had been brutally torn apart.

I couldn’t stay there for another second. After having the gift I’d chosen for Sarah wrapped, I left the store directly. Unexpectedly, that evening I received a call from Alex. “Jade, did you sell our house?” His incredulous voice carried a hint of sluggish drunkenness. I knew he was drunk. In the past, when he drank for business, his tone was always like this. But I didn’t know what he was doing now. He had just splurged on Tiffany during the day, so why would he come home to *our* “home” completely wasted at night? But I no longer wanted to guess at his emotions. My tone turned cold. “Yes, the house is mine now. How I handle it is none of your business, is it?” Alex was silent for a moment on the other end of the line, then asked again, “Where are you living now? I want to see you.” I remained silent, then refused again. “There’s no need. We’ll see each other naturally in a few days when we finalize the divorce.” With that, I was about to hang up. But Alex’s voice came urgently through the phone— “Jade, I regret it! I don’t think Tiffany and I are that suitable. Can we… not get divorced?” My heart skipped a beat, but I knew clearly it was just a casual remark from a drunk man. “Alex, you’re drunk.” “No, I’m not!” Alex’s emotions became agitated. “Jade, I know what I’m saying sounds a bit thick-skinned, but please don’t hang up. At least just listen to me for a bit, okay? I really have no one else to talk to.” This was the first time Alex had ever shown me such a vulnerable side. But it was all because of another woman. I asked him hoarsely, “What do you want to say?” Alex’s voice was raspy. “Do you know? I liked Tiffany because she was young and vibrant, she adored and relied on me. Her whole world revolved around me. That’s something entirely different from you.” I had nothing to say. Yes, I was a doctor, and I was busy every day. But I had foolishly believed that our independent careers, balanced with our leisure time spent together, was the ideal state for our marriage. A mutual understanding. But the truth was, he had grown tired of me long ago. I managed a bitter smile. “But from the very beginning, didn’t you know what kind of person I was?” The other end of the line fell silent. I took a moment to compose myself before saying, “But all that’s in the past. In five days, you’ll finally be with Tiffany, the woman you love. Don’t worry, I won’t stand in your way.” However, these words didn’t seem to make Alex happy. He sighed on the phone, then changed the subject. “But after Tiffany and I actually started living together, I realized she only knows how to have fun, not how to run a household.” “When I had a stomachache, I just asked her to get me a glass of water and some medicine, and she said I was treating her like a maid!” “She can’t cook, and she never cleans the house. Every day I come home from work, not only do I have to clean up after her, but I can’t even get a cup of hot water!” Alex’s long-suppressed emotions poured out like a flood. I was somewhat surprised. This Alex seemed a completely different person from the mature, steady man I remembered. Before our marriage fell apart, our interactions were extremely harmonious; arguments were almost nonexistent. Now, it seemed that perhaps it was only because he didn’t love me that he could remain so emotionally stable. I suppressed the endless bitter ache rising in my heart and offered a practical suggestion. “Those are minor issues. You can hire a housekeeper to solve them.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298954”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

I was two minutes late and had my entire year-end bonus, a whopping ten thousand dollars, docked. Mr. Sterling, the factory director, made an example of me at a company-wide meeting, declaring it a stark warning to everyone else. I didn’t argue, didn’t make a scene. I just quietly accepted it. From that day on, I clocked in at the very last second, and the moment the dismissal bell rang, my computer was off, and I was out the door. 0 The March wind still carried a biting chill, howling through the bare branches of the trees around the factory, a desolate sound. Inside Assembly Line 3, however, it was eerily silent. All the machines had stopped, the usual deafening roar replaced by the collective breathing of hundreds of people. I, Avery Hayes, stood right in the center. Everyone’s gaze, like searchlights, converged on me—pity, schadenfreude, fear, and undisguised curiosity. On the high platform, the newly appointed factory director, Mr. Sterling, held a microphone, spitting as he spoke. His slick face flushed red, a glow born from the intoxicating rush of power. “What kind of enterprise are we? We are the group’s benchmark! And what is discipline? It is the lifeline of this company!” His voice, distorted and shrill through the loudspeaker, scraped against everyone’s eardrums like a blunt knife. “But still, there are always a few individuals, disorganized, undisciplined! Self-important, treating company rules like they’re nothing!” His hand abruptly pointed at me. “Avery Hayes! Engineer in the Technical Department! This morning, two minutes late! A full two minutes!” He emphasized the words, as if those two minutes were an unforgivable crime. “According to the newly enacted labor discipline regulations, one minute late means a hundred-dollar deduction. Two minutes late, the nature of the offense is egregious! I have decided to deduct Avery Hayes’s entire year-end bonus for this year, totaling ten thousand dollars!” “Ten thousand!” A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. That ten thousand dollars represented a year of my hard work, countless all-nighters, and overcoming endless technical challenges. Now, because of two minutes, it was gone. I stood rooted to the spot, dressed in faded blue overalls, my eyes behind black-framed glasses showing not a single ripple of emotion. I was just thinking about how I’d stayed up until 4 AM last night, poring over a German document to crack the K-factor compensation algorithm for the A-7 equipment’s servo motor. When my alarm went off, I thought I was still dreaming. Was any of that necessary to explain? To someone whose only goal was to assert dominance, there was no point in even trying to communicate. Beside me, Mark, a good-natured engineer in his fifties, was sweating profusely, secretly winking at me, his lips silently forming the words: “Just give in, Avery, quickly, just give in.” I saw him, but I simply shook my head slightly. My silence seemed to thoroughly infuriate Mr. Sterling on the stage. He felt his authority challenged—an engineer, and a woman at that, dared to be so calm in front of him. He pulled the microphone closer, his voice almost a roar: “Avery Hayes! Do you have anything to say? Do you have any objections to this disciplinary decision? If not, come up and sign the confirmation!” He wanted to see me cry, to beg, to break down. That way, his “example” would be truly made. Under the scrutiny of hundreds of eyes, I began to walk, one step at a time, toward the high platform. The steps weren’t many, but it felt like I walked for an eternity. Every step felt like I was treading on the ashes of ten years of my youth. I took the flimsy disciplinary notice from Mr. Sterling’s hand. The black words on it twisted like venomous snakes. I picked up the pen from the table. Mr. Sterling’s face was already etched with the triumphant sneer of a victor. He thought I would ultimately yield. I held the pen, my hand steady, not a tremor. In the signature box, I meticulously wrote my name. Avery Hayes. Two words, calm and firm. After signing, I pushed the notice back to him, ignoring his stunned expression, and turned to leave. Below, a dead silence. No one had expected such an outcome. No arguments, no tears, just a calm acceptance, like signing a document in someone else’s story. I returned to my workstation, ignoring the complex gazes behind me, put on my noise-canceling headphones, and opened my laptop. The unfinished algorithm model from last night immediately popped up on the screen. It was as if everything that had just happened was merely a ridiculous farce that had nothing to do with me. Kevin Sterling, Mr. Sterling’s nephew, newly transferred to the technical department and rumored to be taking my place, let out a small, contemptuous snicker not far behind me. “Who does she think she is? Without the golden child, how do you expect anything to get done? Don’t try to act so superior.” I heard it. The classical music in my headphones couldn’t drown out the ugliness of human nature. I didn’t turn around. The clock’s second hand ticked, a dull, rhythmic beat. At precisely 5 PM, the dismissal bell shrilly cut through the air of the workshop. I took off my headphones, shut down my laptop, neatly organized the blueprints on my desk, put them in a drawer, and locked it. The entire process was fluid, without a single wasted movement. I picked up my backpack and walked toward the time clock. I was the first in the entire workshop to punch my employee ID. “Beep—” A crisp confirmation tone announced the end of my workday. My war had just begun. 0

The next morning, I timed it perfectly. With ten seconds left before official start time, I rushed through the factory gates. The time clock displayed: 8:00:00 AM. Perfect. Changing into my work uniform, I walked into Assembly Line 3. Usually, I’d arrive half an hour early. That’s because the A-7, the most valuable German-imported equipment in the entire factory, had a peculiar temperament. It needed to be preheated and have several core parameters finely tuned to ensure the first batch of products after startup reached optimal yield. This was a habit passed down by my mentor, the former chief engineer, and a tacit understanding I had always maintained. But today, I decided that tacit understanding could go to hell. I walked to my workstation, took out my travel mug, and unhurriedly brewed a cup of tea. Steam clouded my glasses. David, the workshop manager, a man in his forties, frowned at my leisurely pace but said nothing. He knew my habits and probably assumed I had already finished the debugging. At 8:30 AM, the startup bell rang. The massive production line, like a slumbering steel behemoth, began to slowly awaken. Conveyor belts rolled, robotic arms swung, and everything looked as usual. Until the first batch of products emerged from the A-7 equipment. “Screech—” An incredibly harsh metal grinding sound abruptly echoed throughout the workshop. Immediately afterward, the A-7’s alarm light began to flash wildly, a dazzling red. “What’s going on?!” David was the first to rush over. He picked up a freshly produced item and his face instantly turned ugly. “They’re all defective! Scratches on the surface! This whole batch is ruined!” Everyone’s gaze, in unison, turned back to me. I slowly wiped my glasses clean, walked over, and glanced at the flashing error code on the screen. “Servo motor torque overload, causing robotic arm positioning accuracy deviation.” I calmly stated the facts. “Avery! Didn’t you debug it this morning?” David was agitated, his voice laced with accusation. I spread my hands and pointed to the “Operator’s Manual” on the wall, reading out loud, word for word: “Article 3: Equipment inspection and debugging before startup are normal work tasks and should be performed during official working hours. It’s currently just past 8:30 AM, which is official working time.” My voice wasn’t loud, but every word was crystal clear. David was choked into silence, his face turning a deep, mottled red. Of course, he knew the rules were rigid, but for the past ten years, I had “voluntarily” completed this task ahead of time. They had grown accustomed to my effort and had come to take it for granted. “I’ve got this!” A voice cut in. Kevin Sterling pushed his way through, his face alight with eagerness to impress. “It’s just a torque parameter, right? I understand it!” He pushed aside the operator and sat down at the control panel, furiously typing away. Mr. Sterling, who had somehow heard the commotion and rushed over, looked approvingly at his nephew’s initiative. He shot me a scathing glare, an expression that seemed to say: See? The world still turns without you. I hugged my travel mug, retreated to the side, and watched with cold indifference. Kevin adjusted the torque parameter upward. The alarm stopped, but the machine’s operating sound became heavier, like an asthmatic struggling to breathe. “Done!” Kevin triumphantly stood up, seeking praise from his uncle. Mr. Sterling nodded in satisfaction, patting his shoulder: “Excellent, Kevin. Young people need to be brave enough to take responsibility! Not like some, who draw a high salary but only know how to shirk duties!” His words were clearly aimed at me. I ignored him, simply watching the new products emerge on the conveyor belt. The scratches were gone, but a faint burr appeared around the edges of the products. An untrained eye wouldn’t notice, but under the high-precision instruments of quality control, this batch of products was still scrap. I didn’t expose it. Why should I? In the afternoon, a core pressure sensor on the production line required annual calibration. It was delicate work, and one of my “specialties.” When I used to do it, relying on experience and feel, I could finish it in half an hour, with precision far exceeding the standard. Today, David approached me again, his tone noticeably more polite. “Avery, about that sensor, you see…” “Understood, David.” I nodded, taking out a thick “Sensor Standard Calibration Procedure Manual” from the cabinet. I opened to the first page and began the operation, step by step, strictly following the manual. Connecting wires, checking grounding, opening calibration software, inputting initial parameters… Every step, I performed meticulously, and agonizingly slowly. Mark watched beside me, stomping his feet in frustration. “Avery, you don’t usually do it this way. For that zero-point drift, you could just feel the casing’s temperature and get a pretty good estimate.” “Mark,” I said without looking up, “The manual says to use an infrared thermometer, record three readings, and take the average. I’m just following protocol.” Mark sighed, speechless. Two hours later, as the clock struck five and the dismissal bell rang again. My calibration work was still missing the final step: “data solidification.” “Ms. Hayes, Ms. Hayes! Just one more minute, just one minute! Save the data before you go!” David was practically pleading. I took off my safety glasses and powered down the equipment. “I’m sorry, David, but it’s time to clock out. The manual states that no precision instruments should be operated after working hours to prevent safety incidents.” With that, I picked up my backpack and, under the bewildered stares of everyone, once again clocked out precisely on time. Behind me, Mr. Sterling’s voice, suppressed to its absolute limit, roared. “Avery Hayes!!!” I didn’t look back, but a cold, sharp smile curved my lips. Mr. Sterling, that was just the appetizer. That evening, just as I got home, Mark’s call came through. His voice was filled with worry. “Avery, if you keep this up… Mr. Sterling will make your life hell. You can’t fight him, he’s got family connections.” “Mark,” I opened the fridge and grabbed a cold soda, “He’s already made my life hell. What else is there to fear?” “But what about the production line? Our mentor’s life’s work, it can’t be ruined like this.” The mention of my mentor made my heart ache. I was silent for a moment, then softly said, “Mark, sometimes, to protect something, you first have to make those who want to destroy it feel the pain.” Hanging up the phone, I took a sip of soda. The icy liquid slid down my throat, but it couldn’t extinguish the fire burning within me. 0

One week. In just one week, the production efficiency of Assembly Line 3 plummeted by thirty percent. The defect rate, moreover, skyrocketed to an unprecedented fifteen percent. The workshop was plagued by constant minor issues, alarms blaring intermittently like a discordant symphony. The other engineers were frantic. They could solve some routine problems, but anything involving the A-7’s core system left them helpless. Kevin, on the other hand, was overly eager, rushing to every problem. The result was often him turning small issues into big ones, and big ones into complete shutdowns. The entire workshop was filled with complaints, but no one dared to speak up openly. Mr. Sterling’s face grew darker with each passing day. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and called an emergency meeting for all technical personnel. In the conference room, smoke hung heavy, and the atmosphere was oppressive. Mr. Sterling sat at the head of the table, his fingers drumming heavily. “Look at yourselves! Look at what our factory has become! Low efficiency, mountains of defective products! You’ve shamed this company!” His gaze, sharp as a knife, sliced across every face. “I know some people are playing dirty, that they have issues with the new company regulations! But I’m telling you, for a company to develop, there must be iron discipline! From today on, I demand that everyone embrace a spirit of dedication, willingly work overtime, and recover the lost production capacity!” He paused, his gaze finally landing on me, like two poisoned nails. “Avery Hayes! As the factory’s only senior engineer, a technical backbone, you must take the lead!” He was cornering me. All eyes once again focused on me. I met his gaze calmly, adjusting my glasses. “Mr. Sterling,” I spoke, my voice soft but remarkably clear in the silent conference room. “According to Article 41 of the Labor Law, if an employer arranges for overtime work, overtime wages should be paid to the laborers in accordance with relevant state regulations. Article 44 clearly states that for overtime work on statutory holidays, no less than three hundred percent of the wage should be paid; for overtime work on rest days, compensatory leave should be arranged first, and if compensatory leave cannot be arranged, no less than two hundred percent of the wage should be paid.” I paused, watching his face grow increasingly grim, and continued: “May I ask, Mr. Sterling, which standard will we be following? As long as the standard is clear, I am willing to take the lead.” “You!” Mr. Sterling slammed his hand on the table, sprang to his feet, and pointed a finger at my face. “Do you have any sense of collective honor?! Are you trying to negotiate with me?!” “No,” I shook my head, my words clear and resonant, “I have respect for the Labor Law, and for our factory’s own regulations. The first rule of the factory regulations is to strictly abide by labor discipline. Since being late is severely punished, then working overtime should also be compensated. This isn’t negotiating, this is following the rules. Aren’t you the one who loves talking about rules the most?” “You… you…” Mr. Sterling trembled with rage, his face turning purple, his pointing hand shaking, yet he couldn’t utter a single word. Because everything I said was reasonable, every word legally sound. The “rules” he used to suppress me had now become my sharpest weapon against him. The entire conference room was silent. Everyone was stunned by my defiant stance. Under the table, Mark quietly gave me a thumbs up. The meeting, naturally, ended badly. I became the center of attention. Some said I was crazy, some said I was foolish, and some secretly admired my courage. I didn’t care. That night, the core drive shaft of the production line began to exhibit severe periodic tremors. This was a precursor to a major malfunction; if the drive shaft broke, the entire production line could be scrapped. Kevin, again, tried to show off, bringing a few of his newly recruited “loyalists” and confidently declaring he would fix it. At eleven o’clock that night, I received a call from Mark, his voice choked with tears. “Avery, something terrible has happened! Kevin and his team… not only couldn’t they find the problem, but they accidentally… accidentally deleted the A-7’s motion compensation program!” I held my phone, standing on the balcony, the night wind stirring my hair. I simply uttered a soft “Hmm.” “You need to come quickly! If you don’t, the production line will really be finished!” Mark was practically begging. “Mark, it’s after hours.” My voice was unnervingly calm. On the other end of the line, there was a long silence, followed by a heavy sigh. The next morning, as I arrived at my office, the door was kicked open. Mr. Sterling stormed in like an enraged bull, his eyes bloodshot and furious. “Avery Hayes!” He rushed to my desk, slamming both hands down on it, making my water cup jump. “What kind of work ethic is this?! The production line is in such serious trouble, why didn’t you come in last night?! Are you deliberately trying to retaliate?! Are you?!” He roared at me, his spittle nearly hitting my face. I leaned back in my chair, watching his flustered anger, and suddenly, I smiled. It was a genuine smile, tinged with a hint of mockery and pity. I raised my eyes, looking at him calmly. “Mr. Sterling, may I ask, do I still have a year-end bonus?” He froze, clearly not following my train of thought. I continued to smile, asking word by word: “No, right?” “Then why should I work overtime?” 0

Mr. Sterling’s face instantly changed from purple to pale, then from pale back to a deep, mottled red. He gaped, voiceless, like a duck with its neck wrung. On my desk, the small cactus was an irritatingly vivid green. He glared at me, his chest heaving violently, as if he might have a heart attack any second. Finally, he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: “Fine… fine! Avery Hayes, you’ve got guts!” With that, he stormed out, slamming the door so hard that dust rained down from the ceiling. I watched his retreating, disheveled back, my smile growing colder. A man consumed by humiliation would, inevitably, resort to even more foolish tactics. Sure enough, the next day, he gave me an impossible task. He demanded that I write a complete “Production Line Optimization Report,” covering all equipment and processes, within a single day. He sugar-coated it, saying it was for me, the technical backbone, to play a core role. In reality, he wanted to force me to work overtime, or to accuse me of “neglect of duty.” I accepted the task. Then, at 5 PM, I clocked out precisely on time. The next morning, I placed a two-page report on Mr. Sterling’s desk. The report’s title: “Analysis of Core Issues Affecting Current Production Line Inefficiency.” The content was extremely concise. 1. Core Issue: Long-term inadequate maintenance leading to performance degradation of key equipment. 2. Direct Cause: Multiple recent unauthorized operations by non-professional personnel, disrupting core system stability. 3. Recommendation: Immediately restrict non-professional personnel from accessing core equipment and conduct re-qualification certification for all operators. Each point was like a resounding slap, hitting Mr. Sterling and his precious nephew right in the face. “Avery Hayes!” Mr. Sterling roared in his office, tearing the report into shreds, the paper fluttering down like snowflakes. “Is this a report?! You’re accusing *me*! I’m warning you, if you continue with this passive resistance, I will formally terminate your employment on grounds of dereliction of duty!” I stood opposite him, took out my phone from my pocket, and pressed play. “…Are you deliberately trying to retaliate?! Are you?!” “…if you continue with this passive resistance, I will formally terminate your employment on grounds of dereliction of duty!” His voice, from yesterday and today’s two咆哮 threats in my office, echoed clearly in the quiet room. Mr. Sterling’s face instantly turned ashen white. He stared at the phone in my hand, and for the first time, fear flickered in his eyes. He realized I wasn’t a docile sheep, but a hedgehog that had already laid traps, waiting for him to fall into them. Neither soft tactics nor hard tactics would work. Mr. Sterling finally quieted down for a few days. But he didn’t give up. He used his connections at Group Headquarters to poach a supposed “technical expert” named Dr. Bennett from a competitor in a neighboring city, offering him double the salary. Dr. Bennett, a man in his forties with a receding hairline and gold-rimmed glasses, arrived at the factory with the air of a savior. Mr. Sterling treated him like an honored guest, introducing him grandly in the workshop, in front of everyone. “This is Dr. Bennett, a renowned technical authority in the province! From now on, all technical issues at our factory will be fully entrusted to Dr. Bennett!” His gaze provocatively swept over me. The implication was clear: Avery Hayes, you’ve been replaced. Many people looked at me with sympathy. Only Mark, worried, whispered to me: “Avery, I’ve heard about this Dr. Bennett. His reputation isn’t great, he likes to boast.” I smiled: “Let him boast, Mark. The harder the wind blows, the more likely he is to trip over his own tongue.” On his first day, Dr. Bennett went straight to the core equipment, the A-7. He circled the machine a few times, pointing and commenting knowledgeably. “Hmm, German equipment. The design philosophy is advanced, but the control logic is too rigid, it doesn’t quite suit our operational habits. I’ll take care of this problem.” He sat down at the control panel, attempting to access the backend system. Then, he froze. He couldn’t understand some of the code comments I had left. Those comments were written in a unique style that only my mentor and I understood, mixed with our “insider language” and abbreviations. For example, “Y_Comp” stood for “Yuan-Compensation,” Yuan being my mentor’s first name. Dr. Bennett scratched his head, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he stared at the screen. Kevin, standing nearby, wanted to help but couldn’t, pacing anxiously. And the worst was yet to come. In the afternoon, Mr. Sterling’s assistant rushed in, frantic, holding an email. “Mr. Sterling, an urgent email from Bosch Group Germany! They’re asking about the latest operating data for the ‘L-W Optimization Module,’ saying it’s crucial for their decision on additional orders! They need a reply today!” Mr. Sterling handed the email to Dr. Bennett. Dr. Bennett looked at the unfamiliar term “L-W Optimization Module” in the email, completely baffled. “L-W Module? What’s this? It’s not in the equipment manual?” Mr. Sterling was also bewildered. He turned to me, demanding sharply: “Avery! What is this L-W module? Is this your doing?” I looked up, meeting their gaze calmly. “L-W, Avery Hayes. My initials.” “That module is a power optimization and precision compensation system I developed independently, based on my mentor’s original work. It’s specifically designed to match that batch of special custom products for the Bosch Group.” “Oh, right,” I added, my tone casual, yet it landed like a bombshell. “The software copyright and technical patent for this module are registered under my personal name. I merely granted the factory a royalty-free license for its use.” The entire office fell into a deathly silence. Mr. Sterling and Dr. Bennett’s expressions froze, a priceless silent movie. I saw the shock, the anger, and a hint of undisguised panic in Mr. Sterling’s eyes. A thrill of vengeful satisfaction, mixed with a sense of impending crisis, quietly rose within me. Mr. Sterling, now, you know what it feels like to hurt, don’t you? 0 Only three days remained until the German client’s final delivery deadline. And that multi-million-dollar production line, after days of “effort” by Dr. Bennett and Kevin, had not only failed to improve but had completely broken down.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298953”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

After two nerve-wracking months of watching my stock portfolio explode, I cashed out. A whopping hundred million dollars. My heart pounded with excitement as I called my wife and son, telling them I’d be home this afternoon. I had big news, the best news, to share. My wife’s voice on the phone was oddly flat. “You’re sure you’re coming home today?” “Absolutely! Sweetheart, I promise the news I’m bringing home will be the biggest surprise ever.” She chuckled. “Okay, then I’ve got a big surprise for you too.” I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face the entire drive home. I pictured my wife waiting with a huge dinner spread, just for me. They’d be ecstatic when they found out how much I’d made. But when I pulled up to the house, I saw a pile of stuff by the front door. A closer look. It was all my stuff. My son, Leo, was actually throwing my clothes out onto the lawn. “Leo, what on earth are you doing?” I asked, utterly bewildered. Leo looked up, saw me, and sneered. He even let out a cold huff. “Mom told me to throw all your junk out.” My brows furrowed at his words. I rushed inside, desperate to ask Veronica what in the world was going on. The moment I stepped in, I saw a table laden with food. And my wife, Veronica, was leaning into another man’s arms, beaming. I knew him. Damien, her supervisor from work. It hit me like a ton of bricks. My head immediately swam with rage. “Veronica! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” I roared, my voice shaking. Veronica rolled her eyes at me. “Asher, are you brain-dead? Can’t you see what’s happening?” “Obviously, I found a better man, and I’m kicking you out. “A penniless loser like you? Anyone who sticks with you is doomed! You didn’t actually think I’d be loyal to you for life, did you? “Damien is a supervisor at his company; he has a brilliant future ahead. You, a broke deadbeat, couldn’t even compare.” She finished, smug, pulling Damien even closer. Damien grinned victoriously, looking down at me with utter contempt. He looked like the cat who got the cream. I gasped for air, clenching my fists. “How long have you been cheating on me behind my back?!” “Hmph! I’ll tell you the truth. Damien and I have been together for a year. Now that he’s finally divorced, I’m divorcing you to marry him.” A suffocating feeling tightened in my chest. I’d worked so hard, all to give my wife and son a better life. I’d volunteered for a tough assignment, surveying terrain in a remote, harsh location. Day and night, I’d dreamed of making enough money to provide that cozy family life I’d always dreamed of. I’d been out there, enduring wind and sun, busting my butt. And my wife had been in here, having an affair and turning me into a complete cuckold. “Fine. If you want a divorce, we can divorce. But Leo comes with me.” I took a deep breath, forcing the words out. A woman who betrayed me? I didn’t want her anymore. But then my son, Leo, screamed at me, “No! I don’t want to go with you!” Leo was fourteen this year. I thought he was old enough to understand. “Leo, don’t worry. I promise I’ll still be a good dad to you after your mom and I split.” Leo just gave me a look of disgust. “Seriously? Who’d want to be with you? Mom’s marrying a supervisor, he makes hundreds of thousands a year! Look at you, just a pathetic nobody, barely making enough to scrape by. “Mom already said she’s taking me with her after the divorce. Uncle Damien will be my dad from now on. You’re nothing! Don’t ruin my bright future! “Right, Dad?” Leo practically fawned over Damien, calling him “Dad” with a big smile. Veronica chuckled, patting his head. “That’s my son! He knows how to play his cards right! “A broke deadbeat like him really doesn’t deserve to be your father.” I stood there, feeling like all the blood in my veins had turned to ice. I thought Leo was just upset about the divorce. But it turned out he actually looked down on me, wanting Damien as his father. It felt like a knife twisting in my chest. “Leo, I have money. I can still give you a good life too.” The moment I said that, all three of them burst out laughing. “Asher, how can you even say that with a straight face? ‘I have money’? I know exactly how penniless you are!” Veronica scoffed, a sneer plastered on her face. “Exactly! My new dad already promised to buy me the latest phone. That’s probably something you’d struggle to afford, isn’t it? But even if you did buy it, I wouldn’t recognize you anymore. Mom says you always upgrade when you can, and I’m going with her to live the good life with my new dad. Don’t be a roadblock!” Damien smirked, looking at me. “Buddy, no offense, but a man needs to be capable! “It’s only natural for an incapable man to lose his wife and child. If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself for being useless.” My wife nodded. “Damien’s right. Asher, I’ve already prepared the divorce papers. Sign them quickly. Since Leo is staying with me, the house has to be mine.” I stood there, numb. My wife and son’s faces were utterly alien and chilling. Fine! If they want a divorce, then divorce it is. I wasn’t going to fight for a woman who cuckolded me. But my son… My throat tightened. I looked at Leo, asking seriously, “Leo, are you truly giving up on your dad? Aren’t you afraid you’ll regret this later?” Leo impatiently rolled his eyes. “I said, just sign the divorce papers! I can’t wait for you to divorce! Besides, I already have a new dad. Who wants a useless dad like you? I won’t regret anything!” My heart died completely at his words. I signed the divorce papers without another thought. I looked at them. “Even if you beg me on your knees for forgiveness later, I will never forgive you.” Veronica burst into laughter. “Poor loser, always fantasizing. Begging for forgiveness? Not in a million years.” “Exactly, just get out! Don’t interrupt our family dinner.” “And those piles of junk at the door? Take them with you.” Leo smugly chased me out. I gave him one last, cold look, then turned and walked away. I didn’t want my things. And I didn’t want an ungrateful wretch of a son either. I checked into a hotel. Before the divorce was even finalized, Veronica posted a photo of herself, Leo, and Damien on Ins, captioned: “My beautiful family of three.” Relatives on Veronica’s SnapChat group started asking what was going on. She laughed and replied, “What else? I dumped my useless husband and found a man a hundred times better.” Leo also excitedly sent a voice message: “Yeah, everyone! I’m announcing that Uncle Damien is my dad now. Don’t ever associate me with Asher, that pathetic loser.” They didn’t even care that I was still in the group. Their words filled me with both coldness and fury. And those relatives? They all chimed in, laughing: “Oh, so that’s what happened. Asher was pretty much a deadbeat anyway. Veronica, you’re so capable, congratulations!” “Seriously, why is Asher still in the group? Can’t he see nobody respects him? Why doesn’t he just leave? Such bad vibes.” I watched their mocking messages, my face unreadable. Initially, I hadn’t thought about leaving. Now, I decided I wouldn’t. I wanted to see. How well Veronica and Leo would live, without me, Asher. A month later, Veronica and I officially received our divorce certificate. She wasted no time, practically dragging Damien to get their marriage license, while Leo happily cheered them on. I felt utterly ridiculous. All these years, I’d been frugal, providing Veronica and Leo with more than enough materially. Everything else, I’d poured into the stock market. I knew my job was ordinary; even if I worked myself to death, I wouldn’t make much money. So I devoted myself to studying the market. And I really did pick a killer stock, raking in a hundred million. But I felt it was mostly luck. So I decided to stop. I planned to use the money to buy houses, cars, and invest in some stable businesses. I’d originally intended for all that money to go to my wife and son. Well, now. I could spend it however I pleased, all on my own. That day, I went to the sales office of a high-end complex in our area, “Grand Manor Estates,” which offered move-in ready homes. As I walked in, I spotted Veronica, Damien, and my son, Leo, all looking at properties. I frowned. What a small world. I was about to leave and come back another time when Damien suddenly saw me. “Well, well, Asher. What are you doing here? You certainly love to crash the party, don’t you?” At his greeting, Veronica and Leo both looked my way. When they saw me, they both let out a scoff. “Asher, you poor jerk, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re actually here to buy a house.” “Even the basic condos here are ridiculously expensive, like, half a million dollars for a small apartment. You couldn’t even afford a broom closet!” Veronica said, her face twisted in a mocking smile. Leo actually pulled out his phone, snapped a picture of me, and sent it to the SnapChat group, scoffing: “Everyone, come see! Some pathetic loser actually dares to come look at houses at Grand Manor!” The moment he sent it, The relatives in the group started sending sarcastic voice messages. “Asher, I told you, why don’t you just leave the group? You’re divorced from Veronica now, and she’s buying a house. Why are you tagging along? Won’t you be embarrassed when you walk around and realize you can’t even afford a down payment?” “Exactly, Asher. We get that you’re still hung up on Veronica, but a useless man can’t blame a woman for being heartless. Stop making a fool of yourself.” “Veronica, you and Damien should tell the sales staff to kick this broke jerk out. What’s the point of serving someone who can’t buy anything? It’s just wasting their precious time.” Veronica played each mocking voice message from her relatives, a triumphant grin on her face. I scoffed, pulled out my phone, and said, “Who’s still hung up on Veronica? I’m here to buy a house.” Immediately, another wave of mockery erupted. “Asher, stop bluffing! You couldn’t even get a mortgage for a place here!” “Yeah, if you can afford a house here, I’ll cut out my tongue and let you eat it!” At that moment, Damien smirked. “Veronica, relax. If he says he’s here to buy a house, let’s just pretend he is.” “Today, we’ll watch closely and see what kind of house he’s going to buy!” Veronica’s smirk turned wicked. She actually started a SnapChat group video call. “Everyone, I’m going to livestream a joke for you. Come and enjoy watching a broke guy with no shame trying to act rich.” After she spoke, the people on the video call were already roaring with laughter. The saleswoman, Sarah, looked a bit bewildered but politely turned to me. “Sir, what kind of property are you interested in?” I smiled, then looked at Veronica. “How big of a place are you planning to buy?” Veronica proudly puffed out her chest. “My husband is buying us a fully furnished, 135-square-meter, three-bedroom, one-living room apartment. That’s over three million dollars! A price you couldn’t afford in a lifetime.” Damien also smiled, looking self-satisfied. Everyone in the group was raving about how lucky Veronica was to be getting such a big, luxurious home. I turned to Sarah, the saleswoman. “Do you have any villas? I’d like to buy a villa. Money is not an issue.” At my words, the people on the video call doubled over with laughter. “Asher, you really are a show-off! How dare you say money’s not an issue and you want a villa? I’m staying right here, watching to see if you can actually afford it!” “No way, I need to record this. I’ll post it online so people can see what a failed attempt at showing off looks like.” “Veronica’s getting a bigger house, and he’s just putting on a show for his pathetic self-esteem. Poor saleswoman, she’s stuck wasting her time with this jerk today.” Veronica heard what the group said and looked at me with a smirk. My son, Leo, glared at me and yelled, “God, you’re so embarrassing! Mom and I were totally right not to stick with you!” Sarah, the saleswoman, looked a bit awkward. “Sir, are you sure you want to look at villas?” “Positive. Just show me your best villas.” Seeing my serious expression, Sarah nodded and led us to the villas, introducing the properties carefully. “Mr. Asher, this villa is top-notch in terms of both its surroundings and its interior design. However, the price is also higher, coming in at over twenty-two million dollars. What do you think, this…” Sarah hesitated, and Veronica burst out laughing. “I told you, don’t waste your breath! He’s definitely going to say he doesn’t like it or it’s not what he’s looking for.” Leo also sneered, “How else would he save face? With all those eyes watching.” The people on the video call were also laughing. They all watched me like I was a joke. “Alright! I’ll take this one.” I swept my gaze over them, a deep glint in my eyes. I’d come here planning to buy a house anyway. And this villa truly did suit my taste. Of course, I was going to buy it. The moment I said that, everyone burst out laughing even harder. Damien directly told Sarah, “Don’t get your hopes up. This guy’s just trying to look important. Forget a villa, he can’t even afford a broom closet!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298952”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

At the orphanage, a wealthy couple came, looking to adopt my brother and me. My ten-year-old brother, Liam, holding my five-year-old hand, pointed to a dirty little kid with a doll who seemed a bit lost outside the door. “You go play with that kid for a bit. I’ll call you when it’s time to leave.” Watching his retreating back, a sense of fear made me chase after him. But then I saw him, standing with Daisy, pleading with Director Anne. “Daisy is so well-behaved and considerate. Please, let her take Chloe’s place and be adopted with me instead.” I stood there, stunned and disbelieving. The dirty little kid, meanwhile, ran over eagerly and pulled on my hand. “Our family needs a little sister. Come home with me.” Watching Liam’s retreating back, an unsettling feeling stirred within me. Ever since our parents passed away, we had been at this orphanage, and Liam had been my shadow. He’d always said we’d be adopted together. That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone bullying me. But now, looking at the dirty little kid who only talked to her doll, I felt a shiver of fear. After a moment of thought, I turned and ran in the direction he’d gone. I found myself outside Director Anne’s office, where Liam was holding Daisy’s hand, pleading. “Daisy is so well-behaved and considerate. Please, let her take Chloe’s place and be adopted with me instead.” Director Anne looked conflicted, trying to reason with him. “Liam, you and Chloe are siblings. You’re a family. Are you sure you want to give up on her? I’m afraid you’ll regret it later.” Liam shook his head firmly. “Chloe is smart and beautiful. She’ll find another good home. But Daisy, she only has me. I need to look after her.” My nose stung, and tears started to stream down my face. But I only had him. Director Anne looked at Daisy’s face, her honesty tinged with sadness. “I’m afraid they might not agree.” Liam hugged Daisy. “They will agree. They only wanted to adopt me anyway. Chloe was just a bonus, so replacing her won’t make a difference.” Director Anne finally nodded. “Alright, I’ll ask them.” I peered through the window, watching Liam and Daisy hug each other, seemingly overjoyed. I couldn’t understand why things had suddenly turned out this way. The little kid stood by the door, studying me for a long time before finally running over. He grabbed my hand, shaking his head happily. “Our family needs a little sister. Come home with me.” My lip trembled, and I yanked my hand away from his. “Don’t touch me. My brother wouldn’t abandon me. I don’t want to go with you.” The little kid frowned, shaking his head seriously. “No, your brother doesn’t want you. I heard him just now.” I burst into tears, pushing him away. “That’s nonsense! I’m going to find out right now.”

Inside the office, Liam held Daisy’s hand, speaking softly. “Daisy, from now on, we’re family.” Daisy pressed her lips together in a joyful smile and nodded vigorously. “Yes, you’re the best brother.” Liam gently stroked her head. I shoved the door open with a bang and angrily rushed forward, pushing Daisy away. “Get away! That’s my brother!” Daisy stumbled back a couple of steps, steadying herself, and looked at me with hurt in her eyes. Liam gasped and quickly rushed over to her. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” Daisy silently shook her head, but her eyes were brimming with tears. Liam turned to me, his gaze full of displeasure. “Chloe, who told you to hit people? Is this how I taught you to behave?” I felt a surge of injustice but forced back my tears. “Why did you replace me?” Liam looked away, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. That only made me angrier. I pointed at Daisy, my voice trembling with indignation. “Replacing her with me? Is that something a real brother would do? How can you face Mom and Dad after this?” Liam opened his mouth, then finally, with a hint of exasperation, he raised his voice. “Why are you being so selfish? There are so many kids here waiting to be adopted. Are we, just one family, supposed to take up two spots?” I didn’t know how to argue back. I could only stand there, eyes wide, tears streaming down my face. Yesterday, the wealthy Thompson family visited the orphanage. They thought Liam and I were a beautiful pair, being siblings, and wanted to adopt us together. Liam had been ecstatic, saying we’d never be separated. He even excitedly packed my favorite things. Daisy was the daughter of Mom’s best friend. She and her mom were on the same flight as ours, and her mom didn’t survive either. So, she came to the orphanage with us. She always used to cling to Liam, saying how lonely it was being an only child. Liam was always kind to her, but he’d always told me that no one could ever replace me. Just yesterday, I saw him comforting Daisy. “Don’t worry, someone will come to adopt you soon too.” But when he came back, he seemed downcast. That night, before bed, he asked me, “Chloe, do you think anyone would bully Daisy if she gets adopted alone?” A sudden sense of dread washed over me. I hugged his arm tightly. “No, Director Anne wouldn’t allow it.” He was silent for a few seconds, then spoke again. “What if the people who adopt her aren’t kind?” I panicked, my voice rising involuntarily. “Director Anne would deal with it! Liam, we can’t get involved.”

Liam nodded absentmindedly, then turned over and went to sleep. But I knew he was worried about Daisy. Mom’s best friend had been a single mother. Our two families lived close by and often visited each other. Although Daisy was very clingy with Liam, he hadn’t been particularly close to her before. Liam often said that a brother’s love belonged only to his sister, and that was me. But human emotions aren’t solely determined by blood ties. When Liam was eight, he was kidnapped by traffickers. It was Daisy who discovered it and resisted with all her might to save him. She clung to the kidnapper’s car and was dragged for hundreds of feet. That’s what made the bystanders call the police. But she also sustained severe injuries, leaving indelible scars all over her body, including her face. I don’t remember the details clearly, only her terrified screams in the hospital. Despite multiple treatments, she never fully recovered. From then on, other kids often called her an “ugly freak.” Liam started taking care of her and worrying about her. Mom also used to say, “Daisy is our family’s savior; we owe her so much.” At first, I nodded, half-understanding, “Daisy is our family’s benefactor, we should be good to her.” But gradually, Liam became more and more attentive to her. Any gift he gave me, Daisy would get one too. Once, he even managed to get a limited-edition collectible, but he gave it to her. I panicked. He was *my* brother. My own brother. And so, I started to hate Daisy. I hated her for always trying to steal my brother. I waited until we were alone and warned her. “Stop bothering my brother. He doesn’t like you at all.” Daisy moved closer to me, whispering in my ear. Her words were cold and chilling, like a boa constrictor I’d seen on a nature documentary, making me shiver all over. “I won’t stop. Auntie said they’d treat me like their own daughter now. So Liam is *my* brother too! I’m going to bother him every single day.” I got angry. I lunged forward and pushed her down, raising my fist. “If you come near him again, I’ll hit you!” But she just pressed her lips together, her eyes welling up. Liam came out of his room and saw us. For the first time, he lost his temper with me. “Chloe, why are you so spoiled?” “We’ve just spoiled you rotten!”

And so, I hated her even more. She was always silent, yet she stole all the family’s attention. I didn’t know what to do; I just felt that if she left, everything would be fine. Because of this, Mom and Dad grew more and more disappointed in me, and Liam became closer and closer to Daisy. But we were family, and they just thought I needed more guidance. Who could have known there would be a plane crash, taking Mom and Dad’s lives? At the orphanage, I clung to Liam even more. He was the only family I had left in this world; no one could take him from me. Liam repeatedly promised he wouldn’t leave me, telling me to stop being mean to Daisy. But he didn’t know that ever since Daisy was injured, her personality had become a bit strange. She always walked around with her head down, looking at me with eyes full of hatred. And I also knew Liam was always secretly saving his candy and milk for Daisy. I couldn’t bring myself to like her. But I never, ever imagined he would take my adoption spot and give it to her. Maybe it was because I was crying so hard. Liam looked a little heartbroken. He came over and wiped my tears. “Don’t cry, Chloe.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298951”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

When I questioned Seraphina about her assistant, Caleb, for the eighth time, she just coldly pointed to the door. “It’s exactly what you think it is. If you can’t handle it, you can move out of my house.” The moment she spoke, words I alone could see flashed before my eyes. [Don’t listen to her, bro! She’s just mad you don’t trust her!] [Just tell her you’re jealous, and she’ll drop to her knees, explaining everything!] For the first time, I ignored those words. I just looked at Seraphina and said, “Fine.” I turned and walked back into my room to pack. The words in front of me started shaking even faster. [Bro, don’t be impulsive! She’s just playing hard to get, but she totally cares about you!] [If our guy just turns around and looks at her, her tears will start falling!] I paused, my hands still on my packing. I was the one who pursued Seraphina. Back then, she was our university’s most famous real-life Cinderella story. Beautiful, from a troubled family, she’d topped her major for three consecutive years and even won a national award. Guys swarmed around her, but her perpetually cold face kept them at bay. Only I persevered for three years, finally winning over that ice queen. Even after we became official, her constant aloofness didn’t bother me. I believed that if I loved her enough, the ice would eventually melt for me. Later, when I found out her parents had both cheated on each other when she was just a child, leaving her with a fractured family… My eyes welled up as I told her, “No matter what happens, I’ll always stand by you. I’ll never push you away.” That night, Seraphina clung to me, wanting me all night long. And those invisible words? They appeared after I proposed to Seraphina. They told me why Seraphina would get inexplicably angry. They taught me what to do when she was furious, her eyes red, telling me to leave. They said an ice queen like Seraphina needed someone as warm and fiery as me to melt her heart. At first, I believed it was a reward from above. Until one day, Seraphina came home with the scent of another man’s cologne clinging to her. They said: [She just wants you to be jealous, bro! It’s just a little game women play.] The first time Seraphina didn’t reply to my texts, and then hung up when I called. They said: [Keep calling, bro! She’s secretly thrilled seeing your name flash over and over!] Another time, at 2 AM, Seraphina’s phone was off. I searched everywhere she might be in the pouring rain, only to come home and see her being helped out of a car by her assistant, Caleb. They said: [What’s she doing wrong? She just wants to close this deal to travel the world with you, bro!] And finally, today, I couldn’t hold back anymore and asked Seraphina again: “Pictures of you kissing Caleb were sent right to my phone. How do you explain that?” And… that’s how I ended up here, packing my bags. But honestly, this wasn’t the first time I’d heard Seraphina say, ‘Get out of my house.’ After we got married, her favorite line was always, ‘Get out of my house.’ She knew I had no one else in this unfamiliar city, that going home by train would take 16 hours. She was aware my parents weren’t in good health, and she knew I never burdened them with my troubles. So, the moment we argued, those words would fly out. And when she said them, any big problem we had suddenly became *my* problem. I still remember the first time she said it. I was stunned, sitting in our room, feeling utterly miserable. Three hours later, she came in, knelt before me, her eyes slowly turning red, and her voice trembling as she pleaded. “Asher, I don’t know why, but when I get angry, I just think of how my mom used to treat my dad.” “For me, this place isn’t home unless you’re here.” “I’m sorry, please don’t leave me, okay?” Seeing her so fragile, as if she might break with a touch, I immediately reconciled with her. And so, we fell into a vicious cycle. She’d tell me to leave, I’d retreat to our room, and then she’d come to apologize…

I closed my eyes, and then the door behind me suddenly opened. Seraphina gripped the doorknob and began, “Asher…” Her words died in her throat when she saw the suitcase on the floor. She snapped her head up to look at me, then sneered, “Good for you. At least you’ve got some backbone this time. Pack up and leave already. Don’t waste my time.” My body stiffened, but I didn’t turn around. Instead, I sped up my packing. The words appeared again before my eyes. [Bro, just look back at her! Her tears are about to fall!] [The moment our guy turns around, she’ll hug him, kiss him, and then things will get R-rated!] [I guarantee you, her inner monologue right now is: *Please, don’t go.*] I stared at those lines, my breath growing shallow, almost suffocating. From dating to marriage, she pushed me away again and again, and I, like a fool, would stick to her like glue. I’d lived like that for seven years. During one fight, she’d scoffed at me: “Asher, do you even know how to spell ‘self-respect’?” She didn’t know that when you truly love someone, you throw self-respect out the window. But now, I was done loving. I snapped the suitcase shut, zipped it up, and pulled up the handle. I walked past Seraphina, pushed open the door, and strode out. As I headed downstairs, those words flickered across my vision again. [Oh no, bro is really mad this time! If she doesn’t sweet-talk him now, it’ll be too late!] [Why is she just standing there on the balcony like a statue? Our guy is already leaving the complex!] Just as I felt an urge to look back, my phone rang, a jarring sound. Seeing ‘Seraphina’ on the screen, my heart fluttered, but my hand automatically answered the call. On the other end, Seraphina’s voice was icy: “Do you still want that figurine on the bedside table? If not, I’m throwing it out.” Her words hit my heart like a hammer, the pain so sharp I suddenly found it hard to breathe. The figurine Seraphina mentioned was a pair of little ceramic dolls we’d made together on our first date. Our names were carved into the base, etched there by our own hands, and she’d insisted on adding a heart around them. For years, no matter how much we fought, she never touched those dolls. But now, she was saying, so coldly: *Throw them out if you don’t want them.* Those words flashed again. [Bro, she’s actually asking if you’re really going to abandon her if you don’t even want those memories!] [A conflicted person needs an unshakeable partner. She just wants to confirm you won’t leave her!] Staring at the words, I choked out a trembling sound: “Yeah, go ahead and throw them away.” Seraphina didn’t say another word before hanging up. I dragged my suitcase out of the apartment complex, then paid a hefty price to a real estate agent to find me a rental apartment within three hours. By the time I’d settled everything, it was already past midnight. I lay in bed, feeling a strange emptiness, experiencing the first night without Seraphina in seven years. The next day, I walked into the company in a daze. When I reached my desk, I saw a Starbucks Americano waiting for me. I turned around, about to ask my colleague where the coffee came from, when Seraphina and her assistant, Caleb, walked into the office together. Caleb smiled brightly: “It’s my birthday today! My boss treated everyone to coffee, and there’ll be desserts this afternoon too!” It was *his* birthday, but Seraphina was paying.

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes were fixed on me. My hands clenched at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. Then, I picked up the coffee, raised it in Caleb’s surprised gaze, and said, “Happy Birthday, Caleb.” Caleb was speechless. Seraphina, however, looked at me and suddenly spoke: “Asher, you were late today. Pay attention to your work. Don’t slack off just because you’re doing menial tasks.” At her words, the looks directed at me immediately shifted. It was pity, laced with mockery… Under that barrage of stares, I couldn’t help but feel humiliated, but more than that, my heart turned cold. I forced myself to meet Seraphina’s gaze and said, “I already informed my supervisor last night. No need for you to worry, Ms. Seraphina.” Seraphina’s lips pressed into a tight line. She gave me a deep look before turning and walking away. As soon as she left, a male colleague, who I’d always been at odds with, spoke up. “Asher, so all that happiness you post on SnapChat was fake. Your wife doesn’t even care about you.” “Well, I guess it makes sense. She makes millions now, and you’re just an admin assistant. You married up.” He smugly picked up his coffee and walked out, letting out an undisguised scoff as he passed me. I lowered my gaze to the Americano on my desk, and then suddenly remembered something. When I first joined the company, Seraphina and I were both in technical roles. But company policy strictly forbade employees in the same department from dating. To avoid suspicion, and because I thought one of us should focus on our home life, I voluntarily transferred to the administrative department. After successfully transferring, I started leaving work on time, keeping our home perfectly organized. But now, in Seraphina’s eyes, I was nothing more than someone doing menial tasks. I stood in silence, but then the words flashed again. [Bro, don’t listen to the gossip! She bought coffee for the whole company just so she’d have a legitimate reason to come see you in admin!] [Seriously, when Caleb said ‘birthday,’ her eyes lit up! Trust me, bro!] I believed what those words said was true. But Seraphina could have just come to the administrative department openly. Instead, she went to such lengths, using the most humiliating way to see me. That suffocating feeling in my chest just wouldn’t go away. The entire morning, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t focus. It wasn’t until noon that my boss, Monica, called me into her office. As soon as I entered, she pushed a file across the desk to me. “The German branch had a few key tech talents leave, taking employees with them. Compile the performance metrics from the past year and select someone to take charge.” My heart skipped a beat, a thought rushing to my mind, and the words tumbled out. “Monica, I was originally in a technical role. I volunteer to transfer and move abroad.” The moment I said it, both Monica and I froze. Before this, I had never once thought about voluntarily leaving Seraphina. But once the thought took root, it became unstoppable. Monica asked hesitantly, “Asher, this assignment requires signing a contract. You won’t be able to return to the States for at least five years. Do you want to discuss it with Seraphina?” I shook my head, my desire to go growing stronger: “No need, Monica. I can decide for myself.” “I once sacrificed my career for my family. Now that I have a chance to start over, I don’t want to miss it.” Monica’s eyes changed as I spoke. After looking at me for a long moment, she nodded: “Alright, I’ll recommend you to upper management. Don’t disappoint me.” I nodded vigorously, a sudden surge of excitement filling my chest.

Just as I walked out of the office, the words flashed again before my eyes. [Wait, bro is going abroad? What about Seraphina?] [Seraphina, come sweet-talk our guy now, or he’ll really be gone! All those nights you spent staring at his pillow won’t matter then!] This time, I didn’t pay attention to what they said. Instead, I eagerly began reviewing technical materials. Fortunately, even though I’d switched departments for the past two years, I’d maintained my good student habits, regularly reading cutting-edge industry papers. I spent the entire day recharging, until my friend, Julian, sent me a message. [Asher, it’s my birthday today. Can you make it?] I immediately remembered and quickly replied: [Sure.] After work, I walked out of the company and saw Seraphina’s silver Bentley parked across the street. I couldn’t help but stop, and the words began to flicker again. [Bro, she’s here to pick you up! Just look at her for two seconds, and she’ll come right over!] [Bro isn’t mad anymore, right? She’s not worth getting mad at, that stubborn woman!] I had just paused when someone suddenly bumped into me from behind, making me stumble. I turned around to see Caleb’s smiling face. “Oops, sorry, Asher! I’m in a hurry to celebrate my birthday with our boss. Didn’t see you standing there.” I was stunned. Caleb continued, “Oh, by the way, Ms. Seraphina said she’s taking me to Juliet’s Bistro. I saw on your SnapChat that you’ve posted dining photos from there. Do you have any dish recommendations?” At his words, my mind went blank. Because Juliet’s Bistro was the restaurant where I successfully confessed my feelings to Seraphina. I had once told her very seriously: “This is our special place, just for us. Even if we break up someday, you’re not allowed to bring anyone else here.” And she had answered just as seriously: “No one else. Only you.” My heart suddenly felt a gaping hole, and pain and coldness spread from there. I hadn’t even fully recovered from Caleb’s words when Seraphina rushed over. But she didn’t spare me a single glance. Her dark eyes reflected only Caleb, and she asked anxiously, “What happened? Are you hurt anywhere?” It was ridiculous. I had clearly decided to go abroad and leave Seraphina, but this scene still made my nose sting, weak as I was. Unable to bear the surging,暧昧 atmosphere between them any longer, I stepped back and turned to walk away. The words before my eyes flickered wildly. [Bro, don’t let her playing hard to get annoy you! She saw you get bumped and rushed over despite the red light!] [Why won’t she just apologize? Can’t she see our guy is upset? Why is she caring about someone else first?] My steps quickened, and the words in front of me grew blurrier and blurrier. It wasn’t until I turned the corner and could no longer see them that I leaned against a wall, rubbing away the blurring tears. And then I cursed myself: “Asher, you’re pathetic!” Once my emotions calmed, I hailed a taxi to the address Julian had sent me. When I pushed open the private room door, my three friends were sitting there, chatting animatedly. Jasper’s voice was filled with worry: “Do you think Asher will really come? Usually, at this time, he’d be home cooking for Seraphina, right?” Marcus scoffed lightly: “The last time we talked was two months ago, when he called me asking about a women’s perfume. He must have wanted to buy it for Seraphina.” Julian leaned his head on his hand, sighing: “I really hope Asher comes. He didn’t make it to my birthday last time. I even ordered his favorite mango cake this time.” Hearing that, my nose suddenly stung. These were my three best friends.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298950”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

My wife has a ton of guy friends. I kept telling her to keep her distance. But she’d just say, “Why are you so petty? They’re all like brothers from the old neighborhood!” Fine. I immediately called my female friend who’d just returned from overseas. My wife wasn’t happy about that. My wife stayed out all night again. I scrolled through SnapChat and saw a new video posted by Asher Hayes, one of my wife’s guy friends. My wife was in a crowd of men, glass in hand, beaming. I didn’t feel a flicker of anger. 0I turned off my phone, didn’t call her incessantly like I used to. I slept straight through till morning. The next day, my wife came home with breakfast, her heavy, smudged makeup still on. She looked at me, trying to be sweet, and started to explain. “Darling, I’m so sorry. Asher just got back, so everyone gathered for a reunion. It got super late, and I didn’t want to disturb your sleep, so I just stayed at a hotel with them. But don’t worry, honey, I didn’t share a bed with any of them this time.” She specifically emphasized that she hadn’t slept in the same bed as Asher. Last time she stayed out, we had a huge fight. I was furious that she was a married woman, yet she had absolutely no boundaries. Out drinking with guys every other night. But my wife cried, calling me petty. She swore they were all like brothers from the old neighborhood, her “best guy friends.” Just thinking about her “best guy friends” made my blood boil. Asher Hayes was the one I resented most. Asher was Maya’s childhood sweetheart, they’d grown up together. In today’s terms, Asher was Maya’s closest male confidant, her male bestie. But to me, their relationship had no boundaries whatsoever. More than once, I’d seen a drunk Maya snuggled into Asher’s arms, playfully whining. They even shared the same drinking glass, completely unbothered. At first, My wife would patiently explain things to me. She’d reassure me, give me peace of mind. But as time went on, she grew increasingly impatient. She’d just throw one line at me. “Asher and I have absolutely nothing going on. If something was going to happen between us, it would have happened already. You wouldn’t even be my husband.” Of course, her guy friends all chimed in to “reason” with me. “We grew up together, we’ve always treated Maya like our little sister, so don’t take it the wrong way, alright?” “We’re just like family.” Family? What kind of brother and sister sit on each other’s laps and feed each other? It made my stomach churn. I told my wife countless times that I was uncomfortable. I didn’t like her going out with them at night. Later, I don’t know how it reached her guy friends’ ears. Suddenly, her “good brothers” started making snide, passive-aggressive remarks about me. “Oh, Maya, don’t drink anymore. Your husband will blame us for getting you drunk.” “Dude, Maya’s all yours now. We wouldn’t dare take her home anymore.” They said all these things right to my face. Gradually, they all started to think I was petty, Not a “real” man at all. My relationship with my wife also started to cool. Snapping back to reality. My wife handed me a freshly made coffee. She wrapped her arms around me from behind. “Husband, are you still mad? Don’t be mad, please! They’re just friends to me. You’re way more important.” I didn’t say anything. “Don’t be mad. Let’s go on a trip next week! Just the two of us, a romantic getaway. Haven’t you always wanted to go hiking? I’ll go with you.” I’m an outdoor enthusiast, I love hiking. I’d tried to get Maya to go with me before, but she had absolutely no interest in it. Her friends even laughed at me when they found out. “Hiking? Is that what old people do?” “Our Princess Maya can’t get a tan on a mountain!” Gradually, I stopped bringing it up. Now, my wife was actually suggesting it herself. A flicker of hope ignited inside me. Seeing my expression soften, my wife beamed. She immediately promised she’d arrange everything for the hiking trip. 0

My wife had been well-behaved these past few days. She hadn’t gone out to parties at night. But today, I saw Asher post his hiking photos. It was the exact mountain I wanted to climb! And in the corner of one picture, I spotted a pair of hands. The ring on one hand was unmistakably Maya’s. I grabbed my phone and confronted my wife with the photo. “You went hiking with him?” Her face immediately flushed with embarrassment and panic. “I was just scouting out the trail! I mean, I’m going with you in a few days, right?” It was the first I’d ever heard of needing to “scout” a hiking trail. Didn’t her friends call hiking “old people’s entertainment”? Why were they all so enthusiastic when my wife said *she* was going hiking? “I asked you to go before, and you refused. But now you’re all over it with Asher? Maya Harrington, how can I *not* overthink this?” Seeing me get angry, My wife’s own temper flared. “I *told* you I was just scouting the trail! If you’re so bothered, let’s go right now! You want to hike, right? We’ll go together right now!” She pulled my hand, dragging me toward the door. I yanked my hand away. “No need.” I walked into the bedroom and started packing my suitcase. My wife stared at me, shocked. “What are you doing?” I kept packing, not looking up at her. “My mom’s sick. I’m going home to see her.” I’d married Maya right after college. Since she was an only child and couldn’t leave her parents, I’d moved a thousand miles to settle in her city. But I was an only child too. Now my mom was sick, and I couldn’t even be there for her immediately. Maya froze for a moment. I saw several emotions flash across her face. A silent, suffocating tension filled the air. “Why didn’t you tell me? Honey, I’m sad that Mom’s sick too. Do you need me to come back with you?” I bent down, packed the last item, and closed my suitcase. “No need.” Anyone who truly wanted to go wouldn’t ask. That night, I took a direct flight to City B. Counting the time, it had been two years since I’d gone home to see my parents. Looking at my mother in her hospital bed, an unexpected wave of guilt washed over me. “Leo? Why are you here? Where’s Maya?” “Mom, I came to see you. Maya… she’s pretty busy with work.” My mother didn’t have many wishes, only that our family life would be harmonious. “Good, good. It’s nothing serious, you don’t need to worry about me. You didn’t have to come. What a waste of your time!” I spent the next few days taking care of my mom. Maya, on the other hand, was checking in on me constantly. Every day, she’d ask when I was coming back. After my mother recovered, she urged me to return to City A. So I told my wife the date of my return. The day I landed at City A airport, A luxury sedan pulled up in front of me. My wife sat in the passenger seat, shouting, “Honey, over here!” I looked closer; the driver was Asher Hayes. My wife naturally got out to greet me. Asher gave me an insolent smirk. “Leo Sterling, you can handle your own bags, right? I won’t bother getting out.” I didn’t reply, just put my suitcase in the trunk myself. My wife linked her arm through mine affectionately. “Honey, you’re finally back! Asher heard you were returning and offered to pick you up himself!” I opened the back passenger door, expecting my wife to join me, but she casually opened the front passenger door and got back into the front. Asher, with a cheeky grin, casually put his hand on Maya’s shoulder, then glanced at me and immediately explained, “Leo, seriously, I just wasn’t comfortable with Maya coming to pick you up alone.” *What a pathetic man, always relying on his woman. He’s totally beneath me.* My wife’s face showed a hint of awkwardness. She quickly changed the subject, opening her phone to show me a group chat. “Honey, Asher really did offer to pick you up, okay? Don’t misunderstand. I’ve been so good these past few days, waiting for you at home every single day.” That group chat had all their old neighborhood friends in it. Everyone but me. I pressed my lips together. “It’s fine.” 0

I ignored the barely perceptible challenge in Asher’s eyes. He always said he was afraid I’d misunderstand. Yet he constantly did things that *made* me misunderstand. How many nights had she stayed out? How many times had she been drunk somewhere else? Ever since news of my fight with my wife got out, Asher’s overtly inappropriate touching of my wife had turned into subtle, sneaky touching. Normally, what had just happened would have infuriated me. But now, I didn’t care anymore. I couldn’t be bothered with the two of them in the front, with their complete lack of boundaries. “Can you wait a few minutes? I’m waiting for a friend.” A stunning woman walked toward us. Chloe Vance, clicking in her heels and dragging a suitcase, hurried toward me, waving as she ran. “Leo! There you are, I finally found you!” Chloe pouted playfully at me. “You’re so inconsiderate, not waiting for me! Do you know how long I dragged this suitcase around looking for you?” Chloe opened the car door and slid onto the seat beside me, intimately linking her arm through mine. “This is my first time in City A. I don’t know anyone, so you’ll have to take responsibility for me!” This scene made Maya Harrington and Asher Hayes freeze simultaneously. They didn’t understand what stunt I was pulling. Maya immediately became alert, her brows furrowed so deeply it looked like she was trying to pinch something between them. “Honey, is this who you were waiting for?” Before I could reply, Chloe introduced herself to both of them boldly. “Hi everyone, I’m Chloe Vance, and Leo and I grew up together!” “Grew up together?” Maya’s tone was sharp. “Yep! We’re best buddies, right, Leo?” Chloe hooked her arm over my shoulder, saying it to Maya without a care in the world. I glanced out of the corner of my eye at Maya, who was in the passenger seat. Maya was completely stumped. In contrast, Chloe chattered away with me the whole ride. “Oh my gosh, Leo, it’s so beautiful! Look!” “Leo, do you remember when we were kids…” “Leo…” Compared to us, the front of the car was eerily quiet. It wasn’t that Asher wasn’t talking. Normally, whenever we went out, Asher was the most talkative person there. He’d always pull Maya into conversation, going on and on. From childhood anecdotes to the latest gossip from their old neighborhood. He’d always talk about things I couldn’t possibly join in on. But now, Asher was still trying to start conversations, but Maya’s responses were always terse. After dropping Chloe off at her hotel, Maya immediately told Asher to pull over. Then she opened the car door and joined me in the back seat. Her face was black with fury. “Why did you move to the back?” Maya snorted. “What, I’m not allowed to sit here? What exactly is that woman to you?” I closed my eyes, feigning sleep, deliberately avoiding the question. “I’m really tired. Let’s just go home.” 0

Maya walked into the house without a word. I’d just finished changing my shoes when I saw her sitting on the sofa, arms crossed, her face a mile long. I pretended not to notice and started unpacking my luggage. After a while, She finally spoke. “What exactly is your relationship with that Chloe Vance?” She stared at me intently, desperate for my answer. “I told you, she’s a buddy!” “A buddy? You’re calling a woman your ‘buddy’? That woman was clearly all over you! Were you seeing her the whole time you were home? Were you two together all those days?” Her questions came like a machine gun, and the more she talked, the angrier she got. She stood up and threw a cushion at me. I dodged it, ignoring her rage. I said calmly, “She’s a good person. As a friend, what does it matter if she’s a man or a woman?” “Of course it matters! You’re married! How can you be calling another woman your ‘buddy’?” I retorted, “Oh, really? Aren’t you married, and you’re still calling all those men from your old neighborhood ‘buddies’?” Maya was so shocked she couldn’t speak. I’d never seen so many expressions cross her face at once. Shock, shame, and regret. Finally, after a long pause, she squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth. “They’re different! I grew up with them, I know everything about them…” I cut her off directly, mimicking her usual words. “Chloe and I are childhood friends too! What’s so different about that? Can’t you trust me?” Maya was completely stumped. For days, she gave me the silent treatment around the house. I simply pretended not to notice. That weekend, We went to Mrs. Harrington’s parents’ house for dinner, as usual. At the dinner table, Mrs. Harrington noticed the tension in the air between Maya and me. “Maya, Leo moved away from his hometown for you; you can’t keep acting like a spoiled princess.” Then she looked at me kindly. “Leo, Maya’s been spoiled since she was little, she can be a bit delicate. Don’t take it too seriously. Married couples have their ups and downs, but they always work it out. You have to be more understanding.” Maya, as if begging for peace, clasped my hand. “Husband…” She was about to speak when someone interrupted her. “Maya, why didn’t you tell me you were coming for dinner?” Asher Hayes had arrived. Asher immediately hooked his arm around Maya’s neck. Maya awkwardly pushed his hand away, glancing at me with a hint of embarrassment. Asher noticed me standing there and let out a dismissive “tsk.” He said casually, “Oh, Leo’s here too!” As he spoke, a whole group of people came in behind Asher. These were all Maya’s “guy friends.” “Maya, you’re here! Why didn’t you invite us to hang out?” “It’s rare for everyone from our old neighborhood to be together like this.” Maya’s face indeed lit up with anticipation. Maya looked at me, pleadingly, hoping I would agree. The other guys also looked at me, As if they were practically glaring daggers at me if I didn’t agree. Even though Maya and I had been married for three years, I still wasn’t close to any of them. They were always somewhat distant toward me. And, of course, I couldn’t integrate into their circle. They couldn’t relax when I was around. “Husband, how about you come hang out with us?” Maya affectionately linked her arm through mine, asking sweetly. For a moment, the entire room fell silent. Everyone was looking at me. Some of the guys exchanged glances. Everyone was waiting for my answer. They didn’t want *me* there, but they desperately wanted Maya. Since that was the case, I’d give them what they wanted. I wiped my mouth and replied coolly, “Okay.” They stopped talking. The atmosphere was incredibly strange. A few minutes later, Maya cautiously spoke, “Then I’ll… be back early.” Then she added, “You don’t have to come pick me up later; they’ll take me home. I’ll definitely be home early this time.” She gave me a reassuring promise. But I just smiled, quietly eating my dinner. Maya stood up and left with them. Before they even walked out the door, I heard someone say, “Did Leo change his mind? He’s actually letting Maya go out with us?” 0 After they left, Mrs. Harrington apologetically took my hand. “Leo, please go pick Maya up tonight.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298949”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

Eight months pregnant and struggling with mobility, I satisfied my drunk husband Samuel Garcia in other ways. My movements were clumsy and awkward. He leaned against the headboard, his tone filled with dissatisfaction: “Compared to Adeline, your technique is terrible. When I get the chance, I’ll arrange for you two to meet, so you can learn from her.” Adeline Moore was his childhood sweetheart. Hearing this, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. My voice trembling, I asked: “She’s helped you like this too?” Samuel didn’t care at all, even burping from the alcohol: “That was her punishment for losing at Truth or Dare. Don’t worry, we didn’t have any real contact.” I was stunned, then said: “Let’s get divorced.” ***** Samuel laughed and crossed his legs. Being drunk, his words were somewhat incoherent. He pointed at my belly: “Besides me, no other man would want you—a pregnant whale covered in stretch marks.” Stretch marks? Pregnant whale? Those words stabbed into my heart like knives. My voice shook: “Have you forgotten how many shots I took, how many pills I swallowed, how many hospital visits I made just to fulfill your dream of becoming a father?” Samuel didn’t care, lighting a cigarette: “Same pregnancy, but Adeline’s belly doesn’t have all those disgusting stretch marks like yours. She just applied stretch mark oil a few times, and her belly stayed smooth as a young girl’s.” I collapsed onto the sofa, tears streaming down my face. I asked: “You’ve applied stretch mark oil on her?” Samuel exhaled smoke: “Not just applied it—I’ve also done prenatal education for the baby in her belly. Don’t worry, she doesn’t have a man, so I just wanted to let her feel what it’s like to be cared for by one.” I completely broke down. I grabbed the water glass from the table and threw the honey lemon water right in his face. Samuel instantly sobered up. He was stunned for a moment before coming to his senses, asking cautiously: “Stella, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been smoking. I apologize to you and the baby.” Stella Myers is my name. Samuel tried to lie on my belly and talk to the baby like he used to. I pushed him away directly: “Get out.” Samuel rarely looked this panicked: “Stella, you know men say stupid things when they’re drunk. Did I say something that upset you just now?” Samuel immediately made a swearing gesture: “I swear, I only love Stella and our baby.” Fighting back nausea, I grabbed a throw pillow and hurled it at him. The corner of the pillow grazed his eye, making Samuel wince in pain. He stood up, his voice cold with anger: “Stella, stop being unreasonable. Adeline and I didn’t have any real contact. What man nowadays doesn’t have close female friends? Her helping me with her hand was just a Truth or Dare punishment—would you rather I cheated on you while you’re pregnant?” I stared at Samuel in shock. I never dreamed that the man who always claimed to love me could speak so matter-of-factly about another woman helping him with her hand. Swallowing the bitter taste in my throat, I pointed toward the door: “Get out.” Samuel’s face turned ashen. He angrily shoved past me: “Stella, I’ll be waiting for you to come begging me to come back.” The thunderous slam of the door completely shattered me. I slid painfully from the sofa to the floor, tears flowing endlessly. The baby in my belly seemed to sense my despair, constantly kicking at my stomach. In the early morning hours, sharp pain suddenly shot through my belly. Instinctively, I reached for my phone to call Samuel, but my trembling hand accidentally opened Instagram instead. I saw Adeline’s latest post. Her naked, prominently rounded belly had a hand gently applying stretch mark oil to it. Just like Samuel said, her belly was smooth without a single stretch mark. Adeline’s caption read: [My baby may not have a father, but his godfather hasn’t let him fall behind at the starting line. Prenatal education begins!] Enduring the severe pain, I called Samuel. The phone rang for a long time with no answer. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead as I felt warmth between my legs. This icy despair was suffocating me. Before losing consciousness, the last thing I saw was that huge wedding photo on the wall.

I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I woke up, my parents Levi Myers and Gianna Myers were sitting by my bedside, their faces filled with worry. I instinctively touched my belly. The flat stomach left me stunned. I looked at Levi and Gianna, my voice trembling: “Dad, Mom, was the baby born safely?” Gianna, who had always been strong, had tears in her eyes as she turned her face away. She said through her tears: “Stella, you need to be strong.” Those words pierced my heart like a knife. The bone-deep pain nearly made me faint again. My heart was breaking, yet I couldn’t shed a single tear. Gianna held me and said: “Stella, you still have us.” Looking at their gray hair, I was filled with regret. Three Christmases ago, they had already disapproved of Samuel. They had warned me more than once to be careful of Adeline, who was always around Samuel. But back then, with my head full of love, I not only ignored their advice but also blamed them for meddling. I even shouted that I would cut ties with them when they strongly opposed my marriage to Samuel. Thinking about all this made my heart ache. I said: “Dad, Mom, I was wrong.” Gianna held me and cried, while Levi kept wiping his tears beside us. During the week I was recovering, Samuel didn’t call even once. Fortunately, with Levi and Gianna’s care, my body recovered quickly. Half a month later, I received a call from Samuel. It was noisy on the other end, and I could vaguely hear Adeline’s voice. She said: “Samuel, when we play the ‘remote underwear removal’ game, you absolutely cannot let my skin be exposed. Only you can see, touch, and kiss my belly.” I gripped the phone tightly. Then Samuel said: “You have half a month left before giving birth. As long as you apologize to me now, I’ll come back immediately to be with you.” I hung up directly. After my recovery period ended, I finally removed Samuel from my blocked contacts. Almost immediately, his call came through. My voice was calm as I asked coldly: “Where are you?” My proactive inquiry made Samuel laugh. He said: “I knew you’d give in.” Then he gave me an address. I put on makeup, changed into a loose maternity dress, picked up a box beside me, and went to the club where Samuel was. Samuel was leaning back on a sofa with Adeline sitting beside him, along with several of his friends. Seeing me, Adeline mocked: “Stella, you’re so lucky to have found a man like Samuel who hasn’t cheated despite not satisfying his desires for a month.” I sat across from Samuel. Seeing my carefully applied makeup, Samuel frowned. He said: “You’re pregnant and still wearing makeup? Don’t you know cosmetics are bad for the baby?” Adeline coughed lightly. Then she said: “Samuel, I saw news yesterday saying that women in their third trimester have very strong sexual needs. Stella hasn’t contacted you for a month, and today she’s dressed up so beautifully. She wouldn’t be thinking of…” She didn’t finish her sentence, deliberately leaving room for misunderstanding. At the same time, her body suggestively brushed against Samuel’s arm. Looking at Adeline in her tight top, deliberately showing her belly, I let out a cold laugh. I said: “Miss Moore, just because I put on makeup, you want to label me as having a ‘messy private life.’ What about you? You’re showing your belly, using the excuse of being ‘good friends’ to hang around men all day, flirting with a married man, and carrying a child whose father is unknown. What does that make you?” Adeline hadn’t expected me to be so direct, and her face darkened. She bit her lip pitifully and looked at Samuel: “Samuel, maybe I really shouldn’t get too close to you. No wonder my child can’t even feel a father’s love.” Samuel immediately felt sorry for her. He patted Adeline’s back and said: “Silly girl, I promised you I’d take care of you and the child. I am this child’s father. From now on, whatever my son has, your son will have too.” Adeline smiled and shot me a provocative look. She suddenly raised her hand and placed it between Samuel’s legs. Then, with a smug expression, she said: “Stella, you’re overthinking. Even if I touch him, he won’t react. We’ve been friends since childhood, and our relationship is as pure as a blank sheet of paper.” As soon as she finished speaking, there was an obvious change between Samuel’s legs.

Adeline burst into laughter and pinched Samuel’s waist with her hand. Samuel let out a moan that mixed pleasure with pain. Adeline didn’t think there was anything inappropriate about her behavior at all. She pulled her hand back and said, “We friends always play around like this. Stella, if you’re jealous, you’ll die of jealousy.” I looked at Samuel and said, “Your ‘pure friendship’ is truly eye-opening.” Samuel smiled and said, “She just touched me a little, it’s not like I’m losing any flesh. Don’t worry. Stella, I’ll remain faithful to you and won’t touch other women.” Adeline slapped the table. She said, “Samuel, we should move on to the next activity.” Their friends nearby started cheering them on. One of the men said, “Samuel, you’re going to ‘enjoy yourself’ again today.” Samuel smiled and turned Adeline around directly. Then, with practiced movements, he used his mouth to unzip her top. With his hands raised, his mouth worked its way down until it stopped at Adeline’s bra clasp. Next, Adeline’s bra fell down. Everyone present applauded and cheered. Adeline even put the bra right on Samuel’s head. Seeing this scene made me feel sick to my stomach. Samuel tossed the bra aside. Then he said, “Stella, this is the most inappropriate thing between us. You don’t need to be jealous of her.” As soon as he finished speaking, Adeline shoved the pregnancy oil into Samuel’s hands. She said, “Time for the oil massage.” Samuel first warmed his hands, then dripped the pregnancy oil on Adeline’s belly and began massaging skillfully. He worked from top to bottom, not missing a single spot. My eyes stung with tears. When I was five months pregnant, I had also asked Samuel to apply pregnancy oil for me. But after seeing the stretch marks all over my belly, he immediately rushed into the bathroom and threw up. Later, when I asked him to do prenatal education for the baby in my womb, he disgustedly threw the prenatal education book into the trash. He said, “A barely formed fetus doesn’t need prenatal education.” After saying that, he turned and left. But now, the same man who had been disgusted by me was lying on Adeline’s belly under his friends’ teasing, gently telling stories to the baby in her womb. Every gentle movement Samuel made felt like stepping on my wounded heart. Only after finishing two stories did Samuel look up at me. He said with a smile, “Don’t worry. When we get home tonight, I’ll tell stories to our child.” I said coldly, “No need.” Samuel didn’t notice anything unusual about me. He even said, “Then don’t blame me anymore for not doing prenatal education for the child. Adeline has no one to take care of her. I’ll spend more time taking care of her from now on.” Adeline linked arms with Samuel, smiling happily. She said, “Samuel, you won’t forget my due date, will you?” Samuel gently tapped her neck with his finger. He said, “The twenty-third of next month. How could I possibly forget?” A friend sitting nearby, perhaps sensing something was wrong with me, blurted out, “Samuel, when is Stella’s due date? We’ll go to the hospital to see her and the baby then.” Samuel froze. He stared intently at my belly and said, “Her due date is…” After a long time, he still hadn’t said the date. Samuel let go of Adeline’s hand and sat down next to me. He said, “Stella, I have too much going on at the company. It’s normal for me to forget. Tell me now, and I’ll write it down in my notebook immediately.” As he spoke, he opened his phone’s notepad. I glanced at the notepad and saw it was densely packed with various reminders. Without exception, they were all related to Adeline. Samuel said awkwardly, “Adeline and I grew up together. It’s normal for me to care about her.” After saying that, he placed his hand on my belly. He said, “Baby, I’m waiting for you to be born. When the time comes, I’ll buy you…” Before he could finish, Samuel’s expression suddenly changed. He immediately stood up, staring intently at my belly. After a moment, he asked with a trembling voice, “Where’s the child?” I pointed to the box I had brought with me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398291”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Cheating #MarriageInTrouble #Pregnancy #Divorce

My best friend Claire Miller and my boyfriend Andrew Evans never got along, even getting into physical fights several times. I thought this was what people online called “a good friend with boundaries” and “a considerate boyfriend who knows his place,” so I never had my guard up around either of them. Until one day during a trip, I accidentally saw Claire with her arms around Andrew’s neck, kissing him passionately. Claire even said, “That idiot Raelynn really thinks we don’t get along. She has no idea how many times we’ve hooked up.” Raelynn Phillips is my name. Then Claire continued, “Every time you and I pretend to fight, she gives me gifts to apologize. She’s such a fool. But don’t you dare break up with her. Otherwise, I won’t get this thrill anymore.” Listening to them mock me so mercilessly, my heart turned cold as I secretly pointed my phone camera at them. Since they loved making me their plaything and victim of deception, I was going to scheme against them too. ***** The intimate sounds from the room kept coming. My fingertips trembled—I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. My best friend Claire was actually with my boyfriend Andrew? Hadn’t they always had a terrible relationship, fighting every time they saw each other? But their intimate conversation reminded me that this was all real. Andrew said, “Baby, don’t worry. If I break up with her, you’d lose your graduate school recommendation, wouldn’t you? She told me a couple days ago that her academic report is almost finished. When the time comes, I’ll steal it and give it to you to help you win the first-place scholarship.” Hearing this, Claire was thrilled and leaned in to kiss Andrew again. She said, “Andrew, you’re so good to me. Raelynn has such a wonderful boyfriend, yet she neglects you every day at the library. She’s so stupid. But once she’s done with her studies, she’ll have plenty of time to spend with you. You won’t dump me for her, will you?” “Her?” Andrew acted like he’d heard the biggest joke in the world. He snorted and said, “I’ve been fed up with her for ages. We’ve been together for over a year, and she won’t even let me touch her. When I kiss her, it’s like kissing a piece of wood. How could some boring prude compare to you? If it weren’t for you, I would’ve broken up with her already.” He sounded particularly indignant, making Claire laugh non-stop. And I stood outside the door, feeling like all the blood in my body had stopped flowing. How could this be? What I thought was a “good friend” and “sweet romance” was nothing but a stupid joke in their eyes. Had they been lying to me about everything? I suppressed the urge to confront them and stumbled back to my room. That night, I couldn’t sleep at all. When I woke up the next day, my eyes were swollen and I looked haggard. As soon as Claire saw me, she rushed over with concern. She said, “Raelynn, what’s wrong? Didn’t you sleep well last night? I know what it is. Andrew must have been snoring too loudly and kept you awake! I told you we shouldn’t have brought him—just the two of us girls should’ve gone on this trip, but you wouldn’t listen!” Andrew immediately shot back, “Claire, what’s that supposed to mean? Raelynn is my girlfriend. As her boyfriend, of course I need to come along to protect her. Why do you always try to get between us?” Here they went again. I’d forgotten when it started, but these two seemed destined to fight whenever they were in the same room. At first, I thought they both wanted alone time with me, and I was caught up in the happiness of “being cared about by two people.” I even foolishly created opportunities like this trip for all three of us to hang out together, thinking I could help ease their conflicts. But now I knew their arguments were just a disguise to cover up their illicit relationship. I was the one who’d been playing the fool in the middle all along. The more fiercely they argued, the more abnormally I refrained from stepping in to stop them. Finally, Andrew put on his fed-up act and left the villa. After he left, Claire sat beside me and started her usual routine of trying to convince me to break up with him. She said, “Raelynn, look at that attitude of his. Being with someone so emotionally unstable, you’re bound to end up in an abusive relationship sooner or later. We’re best friends. Would I ever hurt you? I can’t bear to see you in such a bad situation.” The worry in Claire’s eyes looked genuine. Before, I’d been repeatedly deceived by this very expression, unable to see the truth and thinking Claire was genuinely concerned about me. Unfortunately, now I knew the whole truth. So every word she said made me feel sick. Probably seeing that I wasn’t reacting, Claire put on her usual disappointed and anxious expression. She said, “You still don’t want to break up with him? What kind of spell has Andrew cast on you? I’m telling you—if you don’t break up with him this time, we’re done being friends!” Claire angrily finished speaking, then deliberately moved to sit farther away from me and started playing on her phone. Soon enough, I saw a $2,000 skincare set appear in her recommended videos. When I looked up, I caught Claire stealing glances at me. I almost laughed out loud from anger. Claire had done this before. Every time she and Andrew finished “fighting,” she would “accidentally” let me discover something she was interested in lately. I was afraid of losing her as a friend. So no matter how expensive the item was, I would buy it and give it to her, hoping she wouldn’t hold grudges against Andrew. Claire’s daily necessities were pretty much all covered by me for this reason—headphones, clothes, cosmetics. But this time, I just glanced at the skincare set and said nothing. I’d already been scammed out of so much money by these two jerks. I hadn’t even figured out how to get that money back yet. And now Claire wanted me to keep spending? No way!

Because I didn’t respond, Claire and I fell into a strange cold war. Even Andrew noticed. After dinner, he made a point of asking me: “Raelynn, did you and Claire have a fight?” I nodded. “She told me to break up with you. I refused.” Andrew was stunned. After all, I’d never talked to him about these things before, and I was always singing Claire’s praises in front of him. He hadn’t expected me to be so direct, and he even forgot to put on his usual act of being upset. Finally, Andrew said: “No wonder she seemed to be in a bad mood. You should go apologize to her and cheer her up. Claire’s pretty great—you need to be more tolerant of her.” Did I hear that right? Andrew, who fought with Claire every single day, was telling me to be more tolerant of her? I let out a cold laugh and looked at Andrew. “That’s strange. You two fight every day, so I thought if Claire and I had a falling out, you’d be celebrating for three days straight. Why are you noticing her bad mood today and telling me to cheer her up?” Hearing my words, Andrew realized he’d said the wrong thing. He gave a guilty smile and reached out to hug me. He said: “I just don’t want you to be in a bad mood too. Everyone knows you two are closest. If you really had a falling out, you’d definitely cry. Baby, how could I bear to see you upset?” He called me “baby”—the exact same term he’d used for Claire that night. I felt a wave of nausea and instinctively dodged his embrace. I said: “You just finished smoking. The smell is too strong. Stay away from me.” Andrew sniffed at himself. He said: “Is it that bad? Then I’ll go take a shower first. Later I’ll come with you to find Claire so you can apologize. You need to be good.” Without giving me any chance to refuse, Andrew headed into the bathroom after speaking. Looking at his phone in his jacket pocket, I hesitated for a moment, then took it out. His passcode hadn’t changed—it was still my birthday, and his wallpaper was still a photo of us together. But everything had already changed. Andrew’s phone was clean, without even Claire’s social media accounts. I thought about it and kept searching. Sure enough, I found another WhatsApp hidden in a messy folder on his desktop. I clicked on it and discovered it was Andrew’s alternate account. His chat history with Claire was still active from just moments ago. The two of them were even calling each other “honey” now. My hands were shaking as I scrolled through their chat history, and I suddenly remembered I’d seen this account’s profile picture before. Back then, Claire had openly bragged to me about her flirtatious conversations with this account. She told me that’s how men were these days, and advised me not to be so traditional, or Andrew would be stolen away by someone else. But back then, I was completely absorbed in the illusion Andrew had created, and I’d confidently told her: “That won’t happen. Andrew is the most honest person in the world.” Thinking back to that moment, I wanted to slap myself hard for being so stupid. I scrolled through their chat history bit by bit. Even though I’d mentally prepared myself and tried to stay calm, tears still fell one by one. For three hundred and seventy-four days straight, they hadn’t gone a single day without contact. They’d started chatting just three months after Andrew and I got together. On the hundredth day anniversary of my relationship with Andrew, while I was heartbroken and guilt-ridden because family issues prevented me from coming back to celebrate, they had slept together. When Claire and I went shopping together, who could have imagined we were actually texting the same person? Even during those few days when I was away on a research trip, Andrew would chat with me until 2 AM every night, telling me he “loved me” and saying “goodnight,” but in reality he was holding another woman in his arms, having just finished having sex with her. All the timelines connected, like two parallel worlds sharing the same axis of time. Fighting back tears, I took screenshots of their chat history one by one, then restored his phone to exactly how it was, pretending nothing had happened. But no one knew that inside, I was dying from the pain.   I ultimately turned down Andrew’s suggestion. Using the excuse that I wasn’t feeling well, I returned to my room early. Though he noticed something was off about me, he didn’t say much—just told me to get some rest. Then he left. I didn’t need to think twice to know he was definitely going to see Claire. Sure enough, before long, Andrew came back putting on a caring act, bringing me a glass of milk. His attitude seemed sincere, but there was a lipstick stain at the corner of his mouth that he hadn’t wiped clean. It was Claire’s favorite shade. Andrew said, “Raelynn, have some milk. You haven’t seemed yourself these past couple days. Is something bothering you?” As I brought the glass to my lips, I paused slightly. I suddenly remembered that every time I drank something Andrew brought me, I’d sleep unusually deeply. And that night when I caught them together—I’d only had a couple sips of what he brought because my stomach was upset, then put it down. Could there be something wrong with what he was giving me? A cold sweat broke out across my body. Looking at Andrew’s smile again, I found it strangely sinister and cold. Not knowing what I was thinking, he just smiled and urged, “What’s wrong? Baby, do you need me to feed it to you?” “Go ahead and drink up. Get some good rest afterward. We’re heading back tomorrow, so you need to be well-rested.” I shook my head. “I don’t want it right now. Just leave it there.” Andrew’s expression immediately became unnatural, but he couldn’t very well force me. After hesitating for a long time, he had to compromise: “Alright. Just remember to drink it later.” Andrew gave me a few more reminders. Seeing that I really wasn’t going to cooperate, he finally left the room. After he left, I immediately poured the milk down the sink, then crawled under the covers and pretended to be asleep. Sure enough, after what felt like forever, Andrew finally came back to check on me. Claire was following behind him. Seeing that I was “asleep,” they both relaxed, and their behavior became bolder. After some rustling sounds of clothes, I heard the sounds of them having sex. They were shameless enough to do this in my room! Claire said, “You bad boy! Right next to her, you dare to sleep with me. Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out?” Andrew replied, “What are you worried about? I put in more of the drug today. Look, she’s sleeping soundly. She dared to upset my baby, so she has to pay the price.” Claire laughed, “You’re so good to me. Raelynn’s been in such a bad mood these past couple days, actually daring to ignore me. She’s not even bringing me gifts anymore. You don’t think she’s figured something out, do you?” “How could she?” Andrew kissed Claire’s lips, reassuring her. “I’ve handled everything perfectly—didn’t leave any evidence.” “Besides, you and I fight every day, so there’s no way she’d suspect us. Once we get back, we can play some more exciting games.” Andrew’s last words were drowned out by the sounds of him and Claire kissing. I felt nauseated, my palms bearing deep marks from my fingernails. I was indeed heartbroken by Andrew’s betrayal, but what I found even harder to accept was how much Claire seemed to be enjoying this. Claire came from a poor family. When we started freshman year, she was mocked and bullied by some troublemakers in our class because of her heavy accent, and they even stole the scholarship she’d applied for. I couldn’t stand watching it, so I took her all the way to the administration office to get the leadership to help resolve the situation. Later, because I was constantly coming and going at odd hours, I was worried about disturbing my roommates’ sleep, so I moved out of the dorm. When Claire heard about this, she said she wanted to move out with me too, but she didn’t have the money. So I just had her cover utilities while I took care of the rent and other expenses. That’s how we ended up living in the same place and gradually became best friends. I’d share half of whatever good things I had with her, and I’d often buy her things she liked. We once got drunk together and promised to be best friends for life. But how did we end up like this?

I don’t know how I made it through that day. From then on, it felt like something inside me had been ripped out by the roots, leaving nothing behind. On the way back, I sat in the passenger seat. Unlike before, I deliberately acted intimate with Andrew. Fighting back the nausea in my stomach, I made sure to say suggestive things. At first, Andrew nervously stole glances at Claire’s expression through the rearview mirror. But after just a few words from me, his attention was completely drawn away, and he even started playing along with me. Men, especially cheating men, are all the same. You think his willingness to betray his morals for you means true love, but he’ll always be attracted to the next person who actively approaches him. Claire sat in the back seat, making a few snide remarks. On the surface, she was criticizing me, but every word was actually a threat to Andrew. She said, “Raelynn, get a grip, will you? You’re actually going to wear that kind of outfit and dance for him? Does he deserve it? Andrew, I’m warning you, don’t you dare go along with this. Raelynn is precious, and if you dare to look, I’ll gouge your eyes out!” Andrew snorted coldly, “She’s my girlfriend. If I want to look, I’ll look. I can even hold her in my arms while I watch. What’s it to you?” For once, Claire didn’t argue back. She probably couldn’t tell whether Andrew’s words were just an act or if he meant them. I leisurely admired the scenery outside the window. Their conflict needed to escalate further. Only when their contradictions intensified would they lose control of their emotions and make mistakes, allowing me to smoothly proceed with the next phase of my plan. I had Andrew drop Claire off at home first, then used the excuse of needing to pick up something from school to have him give me a ride. On the way, I casually mentioned that I’d be going back to my hometown in a couple of days. Andrew’s eyes filled with delight, though he tried to suppress the excitement in his voice. He asked, “Going back home? Why so suddenly? How long will you be gone?” I made up some random excuse: “My mom said there’s an issue with my passport information and wants me to come back to fix it. Probably three to five days. Too bad it coincides with your birthday – I won’t be able to celebrate with you.” Andrew thought for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively, “It’s fine, business comes first. I have a birthday every year.” I sneered inwardly. How considerate of him – he’d probably already planned what wine to drink with Claire on his birthday. I calmly exchanged “I’ll miss you” type pleasantries with Andrew. After getting home, Claire was still giving me the cold shoulder over what happened in the car. It wasn’t until she heard me packing that she poked her head out and asked, “You’re leaving?” I repeated the same story I’d told Andrew. After hearing it, she became excited too. She said, “Well, be safe on your trip. If that bastard Andrew makes you angry, just tell me and I’ll rush over to beat him up for you.” I smiled without responding. She wanted to help me beat him up? Knowing them, they’d probably end up in bed together after all that fighting.   That day, while Andrew and Claire were both in class, I dragged my suitcase and pretended to leave. But I took a detour at the community gate and went straight to Andrew’s rental apartment. Then I pulled out my phone and opened the live streaming platform. I wrote the stream title: [I want to secretly prepare a birthday surprise for my boyfriend to see his reaction. You guys have to help me keep it a secret, okay.] As soon as I started streaming, dozens of people joined. Most of them were classmates from our school. Comments immediately started flooding the live chat. [Wow! You’re so romantic!] [Did your boyfriend save the galaxy in his past life?] [I really want to see a man moved to tears!] I smiled sweetly at the camera. Then I said, “You guys need to keep it down, don’t give away my plan. I told my boyfriend I was going back home, but I’m actually trying to surprise him.” After that, I pointed the camera toward Andrew’s bedroom and pretended to prepare decorations for the surprise. Actually, I had already hidden my phone in a safe corner, waiting to watch their little show. Sure enough, they didn’t disappoint me. Before long, I heard the sound of the door lock turning. Then came the continuous sounds of a man and woman kissing, mixed with Claire’s voice that carried a hint of tears. She said, “You have to make this clear to me today. Do you love me or do you love Raelynn? Last time in the car, you actually said you wanted to hold her in your arms while watching? Are you going to abandon me?” Andrew said, “How could that be, baby? If I didn’t want you, why would I be so eager to see you? I heard you prepared a birthday surprise for me? Show me what it is.” Their entire conversation was captured on camera, and comments instantly flooded the live chat. [Isn’t that Claire’s voice? How is she at Andrew’s place?] [Wait. I remember Claire is Raelynn’s best friend. They have such a close relationship and go everywhere together. She’s actually doing this behind her best friend’s back?] However, some comments urged everyone to stay calm, saying it might not be what everyone was thinking. But the next second, Claire’s revealing clothes and their gradually embracing figures were captured crystal clear on camera. At that moment, the viewers went completely crazy. [Oh my God! Am I getting to watch this for free?] [Raelynn, is this setting up a surprise?] [This is totally catching them in the act!] The number of viewers multiplied, and some people even started posting screenshots on the campus social media platform. Of course, the “surprise” Claire and Andrew had for me didn’t stop there. They were so brazen that they even started plotting about my academic report again. Claire said, “Andrew, I regret this. I don’t want to share you with her anymore. That day in the car when I saw you two being so intimate, I was furious. Her academic report is almost finished, right? When she comes back, help me steal her academic report. Then we’ll both get recommended to the same school and continue being together. You can dump her ruthlessly!” Andrew was extremely excited, so he agreed to whatever Claire said. He said, “Okay. I’ll do whatever you say, baby. When the time comes, I’ll say she’s too busy and doesn’t have time for me. She’s so stupid, she’ll definitely think it’s her fault. Then I can take the opportunity to squeeze some money out of her.” Even though I had orchestrated all of this, hearing them plot against me so shamelessly still made my heart ache inexplicably. I had treated them sincerely, but I never expected I’d raised two ungrateful people. At this point, the live chat was filled with comments defending me. [These two are disgusting. Raelynn treats them so well, and this is how they repay her?] [Plus, I often see Andrew and Claire fighting. I had no idea they were all acting.] [Not only do they eat and drink at Raelynn’s expense, but they also want to steal her academic report. They’re shameless!] The constantly scrolling comments kept my stream’s popularity high. However, because the content was too explosive, my account was banned shortly after. But it didn’t matter. The most important part of the video had already been screen-recorded and was spreading widely among our classmates. I had achieved my goal. Several friends who usually got along well with me came to comfort me. I deliberately put on the act of a victim, crying as I told my story. For a moment, all public opinion was on my side.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398290”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Betrayal #BestFriends #Revenge #Independent