I’ve been Julian Xie’s canary for three years. I don’t want to do it anymore. Planning to let him kick me out. Need to find a reason. As everyone knows, Julian Xie is a non-marriageist. What he hates most in his life is forced marriage. On my birthday, I hooked his neck, panting softly: “Will you marry me?” The luggage is already packed, just waiting for him to speak and drive me away. I looked at him with starry eyes full of expectation. He frowned slightly, and in the next second, lived up to my expectations. His tone was light: “Good girl, don’t make trouble.” 1 Julian Xie has a younger brother. Not the kind of brother who can fight for girlfriends with him. It’s a brother eighteen years younger than him. After being an only child for eighteen years, he suddenly became a big brother. Because the age gap is really too big, no family property disputes happened at all. He spoils this brother very much. During summer vacation, his parents go out to travel around the world and dump his brother on him. This has nothing to do with me. I am his brother’s piano teacher. Many times, the little brat sits on the piano stool, I correct his posture, and the gaze behind me is burning. Every time I look back, I can always see Julian Xie staring at me. As if afraid I would eat the child. Caught red-handed, he is calm and composed: “Is there anything wrong, teacher?” Nothing. Just uncomfortable being stared at by him. Originally, things should have stopped here. Just one more person listening to my teaching. But later, some very bad things happened. 2 “Baby, I’m back.” I just opened the door, and a slightly drunk body hugged me tight. He shouldn’t have drunk much; the smell of alcohol wasn’t heavy. Looking at him, he was also sober. I stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “I’ll go make you some sobering soup. Do you want it with apple or ginger?” Julian Xie pinched my chin and deepened the kiss. He picked me up. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. Before he came back, I was playing games. The projector was on, only a dim spotlight left. Eleven o’clock at night, very quiet. He bit me lightly: “Wear a skirt at home next time.” Today I wore a full set of pajamas. I looked at him blurry-eyed, complaining in a low voice: “You are so lazy.” His movements were skillful. I heard the sound of the zipper being unzipped. Next second, his brows relaxed, sighing: “Did my good baby miss me?” Julian Xie held me and walked slowly towards the living room. I bit my lip, suppressing the trembling: “Mm, missed you.” The house is a large flat, not small. Julian Xie detoured to the kitchen midway, took a plate of strawberries and washed them clean. He did everything slowly and methodically. Just looking at his upper body, who could tell his loss of control over me. When we reached the living room, I didn’t have much strength left. He took a strawberry: “Open your mouth.” I obediently bit off the strawberry tip. Julian Xie kissed away the strawberry juice at the corner of my mouth, saying specious dirty love words. “Don’t bite, good baby is so greedy.” My cheeks were burning hot. No matter how long, I couldn’t stand him like this. Seeing me shy, he said more and more excessively. I buried myself in his arms whimpering. Julian Xie went on a business trip for half a month this time, and was immediately pulled to attend a dinner party upon returning to the country. It had really been too long since he saw me. His gentleness didn’t last long. Later, I couldn’t care about being shy, could only look at the ceiling. Mind blank. And he circled me into his arms, content. “Baby, sleep, good night.” 3 Waking up the next day, Julian Xie was by my side. I rested on his chest, using him as a human body pillow. He was hard all over, pleasing to the eye when looked at, but not as good as a pillow to hold. I moved my body, sore all over. He actually again… I looked up, staring blankly at his side face. Trance returned to three years ago. Three years ago, I also lay on the same bed with Julian Xie like this. While I was lost in memories, my head was rubbed. The man’s morning hoarse voice appeared: “Good morning baby.” He propped himself up, lazily pinching my face. “Did my good baby feel it?” How could I not feel it! He approached me very slowly. Julian Xie held my hand and pressed it on his chest. I was stunned. What is he doing? He said: “My heartbeat.” At this moment, he and I were inseparable. The heartbeat under the palm came through a layer of skin and flesh. I heard two heartbeats. His, mine. Julian Xie’s heartbeat was very fast, I suspected the rate could reach 130. The other heartbeat was mine. The steady heartbeat gradually accelerated. Couldn’t tell if it was nervousness or fear. Two heartbeats tended to be synchronized. He lowered his head to kiss me: “Baby, I love you.” Me: …? What’s wrong with him. Suddenly saying such things. I was a little panicked, fortunately the next second he pressed me under him. I reacted. Man got satisfied in bed, what’s wrong with saying some irrelevant love words. Scared me to death. Thought he was going to confess to me. Right, who would confess in this situation. I embraced his neck to cooperate with him. “I love you too.” 4 Julian Xie has been a bit wrong recently. According to past experience, he would be sticky with me day and night after returning from a business trip. But recently, the time I saw him decreased. This decrease was not very obvious. If I didn’t pay attention, I might not feel it. I propped my head, looking at Julian Xie’s reply just received on the phone. [Don’t come to pick me up, I have a meeting to attend, will be home half an hour late] Suffix with a pat head emoji. I looked at this message for a while, finally confirmed, Julian Xie is just wrong. Where did he get the cute emoji. Saved from whom. I chatted with him using only a set of line puppies, his new emoji is Peach Cat. I typed in the chat box: [Are you in love?] Thought about it and deleted it. Who falls in love and doesn’t accompany girlfriend. I changed to: [Are you secretly in love with someone recently?] Seems wrong too. I typed deleted typed deleted, finally sent nothing. Thinking of Julian Xie saying “I love you” in bed these two days, I sighed. Sigh. He never said such things before. Did he suddenly feel guilty towards me? I closed the chat box. Staring blankly at the ceiling. Forget it. He chose to hide from me, I’ll just pretend I didn’t find anything. I have no right to question him either. Just live like this, anyway it’s quite good. 5 Not good at all. The phone reminded me my period should come. Didn’t come. Waited two days, still didn’t come. Waited another two days. Waited half a month, nothing happened. I had a very bad feeling. During the day, after Julian Xie went out, I ordered a takeout. After the delivery arrived, I didn’t go to get it for a long time. Wait until the little person on the projection screen died again and again, I went to open the door and took the pharmacy takeout. So annoying. Don’t want to face it. But what should be faced still has to be faced. I looked at the two bars on the pregnancy test, even more annoyed. Throw it away. Definitely inaccurate! I packed up some things, went to the gynecology department of the nearest hospital for a checkup. Still showed pregnant. Hospital is also inaccurate. Broken hospital. I threw away the pregnancy test report too, prepared to go back disheartened. Passed by the snack street bought two portions of grilled squid to gnaw. Even more finished. I don’t even want to eat my favorite grilled squid. Phone vibrated in pocket, fished out, Julian Xie’s message. [Baby did you go out?] I took a photo of the grilled squid in hand: [Not tasty] He replied: [Send to my company, I help you eat] No. I finished the rest in one bite. Went to buy two new portions, then went to Julian Xie’s company.

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On the eve of meeting my online boyfriend in person, I suddenly discovered that he was my stepbrother. I stayed up all night editing a message: [Baby, actually I’m already a 40-year-old mom this year, divorced twenty times, raising ten children alone. [Are you still willing to accept me like this?] Ten seconds later, I quickly added: [I knew you would despise me! You’ve even started giving me the cold shoulder! [Let’s break up!] Delete, block, the whole package. After my stepbrother got heartbroken, I drank with him until we were drunk. “Brother, don’t cry, that bad woman isn’t worth it, you still have me, your sister.” But the first thing he did after recovering from heartbreak was corner me: “Tell me, should I call you baby, or sister? “Ex-girl-friend.” 1 My stepbrother has been in a very bad mood lately. Even Uncle Jiang, who is always busy with work, noticed it. “What’s wrong with Julian lately? Looks like he’s heartbroken. “But I remember he hasn’t been in a relationship.” I lowered my head, daring not to speak at all. After showering that day, my stepbrother suddenly stopped me. “Sarah Shi, is my figure very bad?” I dared not look into his eyes, my gaze wandering around. “Brother, your figure is obviously very good.” “Look into my eyes and say it.” My stepbrother’s beautiful fox eyes were filled with brokenness and sadness at this moment. Two consecutive days of depression made him look quite decadent. I looked at him, forcing myself to be calm: “Brother, it’s really good.” Actually, I didn’t lie. Julian Jiang has a typical male model figure, tall and straight posture, broad shoulders, narrow waist, inverted triangle. He lowered his eyes and muttered: “Then why would she rather make up lies to deceive me than continue to be with me? “Is it because I’m not good enough? “Why won’t she see me?” I played dumb: “Haha, Brother, what are you talking about?” But in my heart I was thinking. Why else? Because your online dating partner is me—— Your sister. 2 Half a month ago, I discovered something strange about my stepbrother. His usually cold face wore a smile, and he became a bit more gentle and close to me. He even took me to his cloakroom and actively asked me which outfit suited him better. After changing 5 sets in a row, I spoke slowly under his expectant gaze. “Brother, you look handsome in anything.” With a height of 188 cm, Julian Jiang is simply a walking clothes hanger. He can wear any random clothes with the temperament of a male model. But he was obviously dissatisfied with my answer. “Just choose the most handsome one according to your aesthetics.” I had no choice but to ask him what kind of person he was meeting. “Beautiful, gentle, kind, a 20-year-old female student.” I suddenly realized and couldn’t help teasing him: “So you are going to meet your girlfriend.” Julian Jiang’s usually expressionless face was rarely dyed with a thin blush. He coughed lightly: “Don’t ask too much.” But the upturned corners of his mouth still exposed his joy. Couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person his girlfriend was to be missed by him, a cold-hearted person. The final round was a set of navy blue shirt with black trousers, and another set of white hoodie with jeans. Julian Jiang stared at me. I really couldn’t choose, so I could only decline. “Brother, why don’t you ask my sister-in-law and see which one she prefers.” “You teach me how to take photos.” Under my guidance, he began to try various photo angles. After finishing, I was sweating profusely. He waved his hand and transferred me fifty thousand pocket money. I was elated: “Brother, you and sister-in-law are really a match made in heaven, a perfect match. You must have a baby early and grow old together.” Back in the room, I found that my online dating partner had sent a message. [Baby, we are going to meet, so nervous.] [Baby, what color do you like?] [Baby, what should I wear when meeting you, so conflicted, can you help me choose?] When I opened the two photos, my hands were shaking. The composition and color matching of these photos were too familiar. Although the face was not shown, these two photos were indeed taken by me for my stepbrother just now. Identical two sets of clothes. I could even see a corner of my floral skirt exposed in the mirror. So… The clingy and gentle online dating partner turned out to be… My cold and heartless stepbrother?! 3 Seeing that I hadn’t replied for a long time, messages kept popping up on the phone. Pond Fish (Chi Yu): [Baby, are you busy?] [Baby, do you dislike both pieces? I have many other clothes.] [What kind do you like, tell me okay?] [Obedient cat.jpg] I was immersed in shock and hadn’t recovered yet. Simply didn’t know how to face him. Pond Fish and I met in a game. Coincidentally, his ID is Pond Fish (Chi Yu). My ID is Old Abyss (Gu Yuan) [Note: from a poem, longing for the old abyss]. Teammates thought we were a couple. Result we became enemies. He banned my favorite hero, I stole his kills and health packs when he had sliver health. I was sarcastic about his bad play, he mocked me for only playing soft support. Neither of us submitted to the other, agreeing to fight another eight hundred rounds. Don’t know when this contest seemed to change flavor. [Prince of Lanling that sneak, why keep chasing me to kill?] [King Little Qiao, watch me avenge you.] [Princess Yao come take blue buff.] [Duo Duo come eat minion wave.] … Until I saw his abs photo on his Moments. Eight pack abs, distinct grooves, tender pink, cold white skin, hormones simply overflowing the screen. This is simply my ideal type, I was attracted at first glance. In getting along, I liked him more and more. Finally he confessed first. Three months into online dating. We agreed to meet in person in three days. But I really didn’t expect—— Pond Fish is my stepbrother. 4 I had complained about my stepbrother many times, and Pond Fish even helped me scold him. [Baby, your stepbrother is really not a good thing. Already in his twenties, face dark every day, either mental illness or psychopath.] [Unlike me, positive and optimistic every day, always with a smile on my face. So baby, you have to stay far away from your stepbrother.] Looking back at chat records. Clearly we were talking about the same person, why is the difference so big? Messages kept popping up. [Baby, did stepbrother make you angry again?] [When we meet, I will definitely help you get revenge.] [Baby, talk to me okay?] Julian Jiang hates deception very much, he didn’t like me in the first place. If he knew I often complained about him in private, I would be even more doomed. Most importantly, we are brother and sister. Brother and sister are brother and sister, how can Julian Jiang and I be pseudo-incest literature shining into reality? I took a deep breath and replied perfunctorily with a few sentences. [Baby, meeting soon, looking forward.] Just thinking about meeting, Julian Jiang seeing the online dating partner is me, and then his face full of anger. My heart trembled. Fear overshadowed my liking for Pond Fish. At 2 am, said goodnight to each other, confirming stepbrother was asleep. I lied to him. [Baby, actually I’m already a 40-year-old mom this year, divorced twenty times, raising ten children alone. [Are you still willing to accept me like this?] Ten seconds later, I quickly added: [I knew you would despise me! You’ve even started giving me the cold shoulder! [Let’s break up!] Then blocked and deleted, the whole package.

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After the college entrance exam scores were released, I, who ranked second in the whole school, resolutely jumped from a high building. Just because the night before the exam, Mia Song told me she had mind-reading skills, could not only know all my answers, but also score exactly one point higher than me. I didn’t believe in superstition, didn’t think about anything during the exam, but when checking answers after the exam, Mia Song recited my answers fluently backwards. After the scores were out, she suppressed me by a difference of one point, snatching the last quota for Tsinghua and Peking University. She patted my pale face, smiling smugly. “Chloe Su, a low-class bumpkin like you, still delusionally wants to change fate through the college entrance exam? Hurry up and die with your short-lived parents!” I, who didn’t get the Tsinghua and Peking University scholarship, watched helplessly as my seriously ill parents passed away, then jumped from the building with despair. But before dying, I didn’t understand why Mia Song could know all my answers and score exactly one point more than me? Could there really be mind-reading in this world? Opening my eyes again, I returned to the eve of the college entrance exam. This time, I definitely won’t lose again! 1 “Tomorrow is June 7th, the national college entrance exam will kick off…” Listening to the voice from the TV, I woke up with a start. June 7th, college entrance exam? Didn’t I already take it? Not only took it, but also ended up with my family broken and dead. After confirming the time repeatedly, I discovered with surprise that I was reborn! Reborn on the day before the college entrance exam! All nightmares haven’t happened yet. Excited, I wept with joy, but soon I received that message that made me break out in a cold sweat. The sender was my classmate Mia Song. She said: “Chloe Su, although you have always been first in the grade and the only person in the whole school with hope of getting into Tsinghua and Peking University. But believe it or not, I have mind-reading skills. During the two days of the college entrance exam, I will not only know the answers to all your test questions, but also accurately control it, scoring one point higher than you!” In my previous life, I scoffed at receiving this text message. Relying on her family having some money, Mia Song always bullied poor students like us. Also because my grades were good, she hated me exceptionally, always tripping me up. This text message was probably just her playing tricks, wanting to disturb my mood. But unexpectedly, when checking answers after the first day of exams, Mia Song actually recited the answers to all my multiple-choice questions fluently backwards, even counting my composition materials used in the Chinese exam as her own treasures. I was shocked at the time, but Mia Song pulled the corner of her mouth sarcastically: “Told you I have mind-reading skills, why didn’t you believe it?” I really didn’t believe anyone in this world could read minds, so the next day I held my breath, emptied my head, and wrote all steps on paper. But unfortunately, when checking answers again, Mia Song’s answers were completely identical to what I wrote down. She deliberately sighed: “Chloe Su, you were very tangled writing the last big physics question, almost made me have no time to finish writing.” This time, I completely collapsed. But the desperate thing happened after the scores were released. Mia Song, who had always had poor grades, not only scored 700 points like me, but also scored exactly one point higher than me. It was this one-point difference that made me lose the opportunity to be admitted to Tsinghua and Peking University, which also meant the school would not give me that huge Tsinghua and Peking University scholarship. And my parents waiting in the hospital for me to bring life-saving money also passed away in despair. I watched helplessly as my parents were pushed into the morgue. Turning my head, I saw Mia Song’s smug face. She patted my bloodless face and said with a smile: “Chloe Su, a low-class bumpkin like you, still delusionally wants to change fate through the college entrance exam? Hurry up and die with your short-lived parents!” “Don’t curse me in your heart. I know all the thoughts in your heart clearly. Including, that little secret of yours unknown to others…” Mia Song leaned over and spat out the deepest secret I pressed in the bottom of my heart word by word in my ear. My spirit completely collapsed. In despair, I came to the top floor of the hospital and jumped down with all thoughts gray. Fortunately, heaven gave me a chance to start over. This time, I must unveil the veil of Mia Song’s mind-reading skills and take a good look at what tricks she is playing! 2 After receiving the text message of Mia Song’s mind-reading threat, I took deep breaths for a long time before calming down my emotions. Then immediately searched non-stop on the internet how to resist mind-reading. People on the internet said to keep a distance from people who can read minds. I remembered during the college entrance exam, Mia Song and I were not in the same classroom, so distance shouldn’t be a problem. They also said some objects are likely to be mediums for mind-reading. I suddenly remembered Mia Song once gave me a little bear hair clip and a cheap plastic bracelet. At that time she distributed them to the whole class, so I took them all. Now it seems very likely there are ghosts in these two small objects! I brought a hammer and smashed the bracelet and hair clip to pieces with maximum strength. I thought, this time I shouldn’t be read by Mia Song again. The next day, I arrived at the college entrance exam venue early like in my previous life. Seeing me, Mia Song smiled all over her face, pretending to hug me intimately, but actually whispered like a demon in my ear: “Chloe Su, you received that text message yesterday, right?” I was startled violently, hair all over my body standing up. She patted my face and said in an encouraging tone: “Chloe Su, you must take the exam well. If you don’t do well, how can I get into Tsinghua and Peking University?” She left laughing loudly, while my fingernails almost embedded into the flesh of my palms. Because I had taken the exam once, I answered unusually smoothly this time. I have already thrown away the things Mia Song gave me. Now, she shouldn’t be able to write the same answers as me, right? After the first day of exams ended, as expected, classmates gathered together to check answers again. Listening to them reporting the answers to all multiple-choice questions, I remained calm on the surface, but was actually jumping for joy inside. Because my answers were completely consistent with the standard answers! This time, I can not only aim for 700 points, but possibly even close to full marks! This way, I will definitely be admitted to Tsinghua and Peking University, get the scholarship to treat my parents. But just as I was about to leave, Mia Song suddenly grabbed my shoulder. She smiled and said to me: “Chloe Su, you did really well in the exam this time, actually got all multiple-choice questions right! But I think your composition wasn’t written well. What era is it still using Li Bai’s poems as material, old-fashioned.” Hearing her words, goosebumps all over my body exploded, and a drop of cold sweat slowly slid down from my forehead. Why, why does she still know all my answers, even knowing I used Li Bai’s poems in my composition! Clearly for this composition, what I wrote was completely different from my previous life, and the materials used were all new. I asked with teeth chattering: “How do you know?” “Told you, I have mind-reading skills.” She left laughing loudly. Every laugh was an insult to my personality. 3 The next day, I sat in the college entrance exam venue, pursing my lips with a solemn face. After the exam bell rang, everyone around immediately started answering the paper, fearing delaying a second. But I still sat straight without a trace of movement. The invigilator noticed my abnormality, walked over and kindly reminded me: “Student, the exam has started, hurry up and answer the questions.” But I nodded, yet didn’t move my pen a bit. I had already thought it through. Since whatever answers I write will be known by Mia Song, I might as well not write. I looked at the sky and the ground, looked at the leaves outside, just didn’t look at the paper. I don’t believe she can still know what my answers are like this. Sure enough, after the exam ended, before I walked out of the exam room, Mia Song rushed over like crazy. She came up and choked my neck, roaring with a ferocious face: “Why! Why didn’t you write a single word! Are you crazy!” My face was flushed red from being strangled by her, but I showed a victorious smile for the first time: “Yes, I am crazy, so don’t even think about copying a single answer from me again!” Our matter attracted the attention of countless people in the corridor. The invigilator pulled Mia Song away and asked in confusion: “How do you know Chloe Su turned in a blank paper?” Mia Song stopped talking. She flung the invigilator away: “Is it your turn to manage me! Get away!” Before leaving, she pointed at my nose and ordered viciously: “I tell you, for the last exam in the afternoon, you must take it well for me! Otherwise I’ll make you look good!” Classmates beside were talking about it, not knowing what exactly happened between us. I tidied my clothes and left the exam room with a normal expression. She asked me to take it well, I won’t. So for the second exam in the afternoon, I still turned in a blank paper. Although the invigilator persuaded me several times, I remained indifferent. After the exam, not surprisingly, Mia Song appeared outside my classroom door again. But this time, because teachers were protecting me, she couldn’t come over to hurt me. Mia Song could only stare at me from not far away, sneering again and again: “Chloe Su, playing this kind of small trick with me is useless. My family has plenty of money. If I fail the college entrance exam, my parents can send me abroad. And you, if you fail to get into Tsinghua and Peking University, your parents won’t have money for treatment, and your whole family will be finished!” I lowered my head and remained silent. And when I went to the hospital to visit my parents, my mom on the sickbed tightly grasped my hand. “Daughter, your school teacher called just now, saying you turned in blank papers for today’s exams. You, did you really turn in blank papers?” I dared not look into mom’s eyes, falling into silence. My parents are both migrant workers on construction sites. Three months ago, the construction site suddenly exploded, and both of them suffered serious injuries. My dad is still unconscious, and although my mom is conscious, she lies in bed unable to move. The boss of the construction site ran away with the money, and we have to pay all medical expenses ourselves. The whole family pinned hope on the college entrance exam, because the school once promised that as long as I get into Tsinghua and Peking University, they will give me a huge scholarship. With this money, mom and dad can have surgery, so the college entrance exam is crucial to my family, and my mom also cares very much about how I did. Seeing mom’s anxious look and red eyes, I nodded honestly. “Yes, I turned in blank papers for both subjects today. But Mom, don’t worry, I will take out your medical expenses on time.” My mom didn’t understand, but seeing me speak vowedly, she didn’t pursue further. Before leaving, mom said to me again: “Daughter, our family’s lives and property are all on you.” I nodded heavily: “I know Mom, I won’t let you down.” 4 Soon, it was the day the college entrance exam scores were released. The school asked all of us to go to the school’s computer room to check scores. But actually I knew long ago roughly how much I could score. I did very well in Chinese and Math on the first day, approaching full marks in both subjects. But I turned in blank papers for English and Comprehensive Science on the second day, so it was a blatant zero. Adding up to a total score of 750, I scored 295. This result made everyone’s jaw drop. In the classroom, the teacher looked at the computer screen in front of me, refreshing again and again. But no matter how refreshed, it was 295. The teacher issued a desperate question: “Chloe Su, didn’t you say you did well? How can there be two zeros!” “You are our school’s only seedling for Tsinghua and Peking University. You, you are harming others and yourself!” And just then, at the other end of the classroom came the exclamation of Mia Song’s good friend. “Mia Song, how did you only score 296 points!” “Yeah, didn’t you say you would definitely perform extraordinarily in the college entrance exam and sprint for Tsinghua and Peking University?” Hearing this score, my heart thudded again. Why, why can Mia Song always be one point higher than me? Before I could figure it out, Mia Song had already rushed towards me from the other end of the classroom. Like a beast, she pounced on me directly from the chair, then choked my neck tightly, slapping my face. “Chloe Su, you bitch! You harmed me! You will die a bad death!” The crazy Mia Song surprised everyone present. Teachers wanted to pull her away, but her strength was immense, and for a while, everyone couldn’t do anything about her. I lay on the ground, watching Mia Song hysterical in front of me, couldn’t help feeling happy inside. Two lifetimes, I finally can win her once! Mia Song saw me smiling, but laughed loudly herself: “Haha Chloe Su, do you think turning in a blank paper can change your destiny? Idiot! Now let alone getting into Tsinghua and Peking University, it’s hard for you to even reach the undergraduate line! But your pair of short-lived ghost parents are still lying in the hospital, waiting for your scholarship to save their lives! I’d like to see, failing to get into Tsinghua and Peking University, what you use to save your parents’ lives!” And just then, the classroom door was knocked from outside. The uncle from the mailroom asked loudly: “Is student Chloe Su from your class here? A scholarship has been mailed to the school, need her to sign for it.” This time, Mia Song was completely surprised. “How is it possible?! You, a person who didn’t even score 300 points, on what basis can you get a scholarship!” I pushed Mia Song pressing on me away, stood up and tidied my clothes, calmly walked towards the door. Then took the letter from the mailroom uncle. After tearing it open, inside was a check for one hundred thousand. Seeing this check, the big stone in my heart finally landed. With this money, mom and dad can both have surgery. Not only Mia Song in the class, all classmates were shocked. The teacher walked quickly to my side, staring at that check again and again: “Heavens! One hundred thousand scholarship! Chloe Su, you only scored this many points, who gave you the scholarship?!” Mia Song stood up and sneered disdainfully after hearing the scholarship amount. “Mere one hundred thousand, what use can it be?” “Your parents, one vegetable one seriously ill, one hundred thousand isn’t enough for staying in ICU for a day. Poor country folks, don’t squeeze in the city wasting our educational resources!” Mia Song’s words were very ugly, but because she is the school beauty and has a good family background, she usually has many lackeys in the class. Plus before school teachers protected me because of good grades, now I scored less than three hundred points, status plummeted. So many people in the class began to echo one after another. “Exactly! Before Chloe Su was fake aloof in class, ignoring when others spoke. Claiming to be top scholar every day, now isn’t it just a vocational college score? Pretending to be so amazing!” “Also this what one hundred thousand scholarship, where is there a scholarship mailed to school mailroom? I think it’s Chloe Su directing and acting a play herself, just finding some face for herself!” “Country folks indeed have no brains, still stubbornly want face, doing things so full of holes, simply making a huge joke!” … Facing everyone’s doubt and humiliation, I said nothing, just put the check away into my pocket. But the angry Mia Song didn’t plan to let me go. She forcibly snatched the check from my pocket. Just as the mocking expression was put on, it froze. “Mere ten thousand—US dollars?! How can this be a US dollar check?!” Mia Song couldn’t believe her eyes, rubbed her eyes and continued staring at the check: “I didn’t see wrong, it is US dollars!” The teacher was also surprised, snatched the check to his hand to look, following with an earth-shattering shout: “Ten thousand US dollars? Then isn’t that seven or eight hundred thousand RMB!” Not only them two, the rest of the classmates in the class also widened their eyes and opened their mouths. They gathered around, craning their necks and standing on tiptoes to look. Finally discovered with surprise, it really was ten thousand US dollars! I saw Mia Song’s brows pressed down, knowing she was hiding bad water in her belly again, so snatched the check back from the teacher in advance and stuffed it into my own pocket. “Now everyone has seen I have a check for ten thousand US dollars. If anyone dares to damage my check, I will call the police to arrest him to jail!” Although words were spoken to everyone, my eyes stared firmly at Mia Song. Her face changed, seeming annoyed that her little thought was seen through by me at a glance. Soon, a smile rose on Mia Song’s face again, arms crossed over chest, revealing an understanding smile. “Oh I know, fake, must be fake. Really hard for you, even finding the mailroom uncle to act this play with you. Say it, how much commission did you pay the uncle?” After Mia Song finished speaking, the whole class burst into laughter. A few even bent over laughing, unable to lift their heads. “Truly worthy of being a big scholar, the face-saving pretentious method thought of is so special.” “If not for blowing too much, even US dollars came out, I might really have believed it!” “Shh, stop talking, what if the scholar cries? Careful she finds foreign mercenaries to beat us!” The teacher didn’t stop their ridicule of me, even secretly nodded in agreement. Facing everyone’s ridicule, I didn’t have much reaction, just said: “Summer insects cannot speak of ice. I have nothing to say to you. My university admission notice will be delivered in a few days. Then you will know if I was lying and acting.” Mia Song sniffed, while I strode out of the classroom, hurrying to the bank to withdraw money.

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Julian Lu, the young master of the Beijing elite, is a DINK (Dual Income, No Kids). But I’m pregnant. He hates women scheming against him the most. After a popular starlet announced her pregnancy, he hurriedly went abroad to find her. Turns out he just wants the person he likes to have his cub. I proposed breaking up and went back to my hometown to schedule an abortion. Later, he handcuffed me to the head of the bed and bit me hard. “Don’t shake, even if you cry I won’t stop. “You killed our baby, so you have to compensate me with another one.” 1 Only one bedside lamp was lit in the room. The tassels on the lamp swayed incessantly. Julian Lu was particularly fierce today. Even into the early morning, he refused to let me go. When I was about to fall asleep, he bit my neck. “Little darling, look at me, it’s not over yet.” “How about we continue tomorrow? I’m really sleepy.” I begged for mercy in a soft voice. He pinched my chin, displeasure hidden in his eyes. “Who was the boy who handed you a note today?” “……” So it was because of this. Julian Lu is usually busy with work, but today he rarely went to school to pick me up. I happened to be buying desserts at a milk tea shop. The clerk was a junior student, he recognized me. When paying, he stuffed a note into my hand. I turned around and saw an eye-catching blue sports car parked by the roadside. The window was open, Julian Lu looked at me faintly. He didn’t explode then. Endured all night. Now he wants to settle the score? Julian Lu used force with his fingers, my chin hurt a bit. “Speak!” Meeting his deep eyes. I softened my voice. “I don’t know him, he’s just a junior student, I’ve already thrown away the note.” “Ideally.” He lowered his head to kiss me, deeply and heavily. When my head was dizzy. He gasped and instructed me: “I’m going on a business trip tomorrow, be good at home. If I find out you did something you shouldn’t, you know the consequences.” Cold tone, movements fierce like a wolf. I nodded obediently. Of course I wouldn’t think Julian Lu was jealous. He likes girls who are physically and mentally clean. If I dare to get close to other boys, he will dump me immediately. 2 Julian Lu left for a month. I finally had time to do what I like. Recently, don’t know if I ate something bad, I always feel nauseous and want to vomit. After listening to my description, the doctor prescribed a pregnancy test stick for me. I was stunned. Half an hour later. I walked out of the gynecology department, staring blankly at the pregnancy test report in my hand. Everyone in the Beijing circle knows Julian Lu is a DINK. He also hates marriage very much. Every time Julian Lu comes to find me, he takes sufficient preventive measures. But still… hard to guard against. The doctor said all contraceptive measures are not 100% effective. I touched my flat stomach, a strong uneasiness rose in my heart. Julian Lu hates girls scheming. Before at a banquet, a singer who wanted to climb into his bed secretly drilled into his room, wanting to rely on the child for status. He threw the girl wrapped in a bath towel out directly. Later, there was no news of her in the entertainment circle. I bit my lip, my hand holding the pregnancy test report trembling. Finished. If Julian Lu suspects me of playing tricks. Who knows if the next one to be fixed is me. 3 I tossed and turned unable to sleep. Late at night, just preparing to send a message to test Julian Lu. The phone pushed the latest hot gossip. Julian Lu was photographed entering and leaving a foreign hospital with the popular starlet Mia Wen. Two people at the entrance of the gynecology department. Even though the girl was wrapped tightly, her beautiful figure and appearance could still be vaguely seen. Pure little white flower. Is the type Julian Lu likes. Paparazzi are spreading rumors about Mia Wen’s pregnancy, the child is likely Julian Lu’s. After all, they were photographed in a hotel before. For a time, the matter of the Lu family having a mistress was spread widely. I looked at those photos quietly. Immediately deleted the wording prepared in the chat box. Julian Lu indeed treats Mia Wen very differently. Last time at the banquet, I accompanied him. A man teased Mia Wen, saying she had resources despite bad acting, must be supported by a sugar daddy, and he also wanted to try this little star. Julian Lu splashed the wine in his hand over immediately. Grabbed the other’s collar, wanted to hit him. The Lu family’s upbringing is strict, he rarely gets angry in public. If I hadn’t pulled him back then. I’m afraid he would have broken that man’s leg. Perhaps, Julian Lu is not a completely firm DINK. He just wants the person he likes to be pregnant. …… I touched my stomach. Forcibly suppressed the sourness in my heart. Anyway, I was with Julian Lu because I was poor. My mother was sick. Just happened to meet Julian Lu chasing me. He gave money generously, helped my mother get rare special medicine. I had no reason to refuse. After all, compared to human life, what is self-esteem? Who Julian Lu likes, who he is willing to be with is his business. As long as he is willing to give money. 4 Next day. Julian Lu sent me flight information. As an obedient girlfriend, I naturally had to pick him up. Late autumn, I wore the little dress he liked most, with a windbreaker outside. Waited for two hours in the cold wind. At first it was flight delay. Until dark. I received his message. [Sorry, things here haven’t been dealt with yet, have to delay return.] My frozen stiff hands typed a line. [Then you pay attention to rest well, miss you oh~] Julian Lu likes my delicate appearance most. Soon, the bank card received a transfer of five million. I was stunned. Even if he sent holiday red envelopes before, he wouldn’t give so much at once. [Me: Transferred wrong?] [Him: Didn’t you say you wanted to go on a graduation trip, go out and have fun.] [Me: So generous, how about I go to London to find you?] I used a joking tone. The other party refused quickly. [Him: Go wherever you love to go yourself, don’t come to find me.] [Me: Then when will you come back?] He didn’t reply to me again. Until late at night. Paparazzi exposed Mia Wen went to Julian Lu’s private villa abroad. I stared at those intimate photos. After a long time, I realized. That money during the day was severance pay. Those Beijing elite young masters like Julian Lu are all like this. Give a sum of money, break up decently. Those girls also tactfully stopped pestering.

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When Caleb Miller got the approval to transfer back to the city, the two family quota spots were already assigned—— His fifteen-year-old sister, Tess, and the city girl, Molly White. The only one left out was me, his fiancée. Caleb had no parents; his sister was his only blood relative and couldn’t be left behind. Molly was his mentor’s daughter, frail and sickly, unable to survive the harsh life in this rural town. “Nora, I can’t leave Molly alone. My marriage to her is just on paper, it’s fake.” “You’re tough and hardworking, waiting a few more years won’t hurt.” “Once I get established, I’ll come back for you.” He said the exact same thing in my past life. Until I saw him buying birth control with Molly at the pharmacy. This time, I won’t wait. I packed my bags and boarded the train heading south. 1 When the news of Caleb’s transfer came, I was tidying up the yard. The Mayor ran in like a gust of wind, the wrinkles on his face blooming into a smile. He waved the document in his hand. “Nora, your hard days are finally over. Caleb’s name is on the transfer list to the city university!” I didn’t have much education, but I knew what that document meant. It was a transfer order from Western University. Caleb was one of the few college graduates in our era and a rare talent, so the university offered him a generous package. Not only a high monthly salary, but also two spots for family dependents to move with him. This was a privilege no one else had. The Mayor was still earnestly counting for me. “Caleb can bring two family members, just enough to take you and Tess away from this dusty town!” Tess was Caleb’s sister, fifteen this year, the age for high school, and couldn’t be delayed any longer. And I was his fiancée, the one who had supported him through these three difficult years in the countryside. Of course, I should go as family. Suddenly, a fit of coughing interrupted the Mayor’s happy ramblings. “Sister Nora, is the medicine ready? It’s been two hours, I can’t stand the coughing anymore.” “Molly White, why are you at Nora’s house again? Their life is hard enough, and you’re just adding to the burden. Don’t you have a place at the hostel? You never do your own work…” Molly walked out of the back room, obviously just waking up. At this time of day, she should have been working, but ever since she practically moved into my house, Caleb did all her work for her, while the washing and cooking fell to me. 2 Molly was the daughter of Caleb’s mentor. After the mentor passed away, Caleb brought her into our lives. Caleb had said, “Professor White was my benefactor. Molly is frail and sickly, she can’t handle hardship. You are my fiancée, so naturally, you should help me take care of her.” She stayed for three years. She got sick every few days, and I brewed her medicine every time. Everyone thought this was my responsibility. Including my future sister-in-law, Tess. “Nora is a country girl anyway, isn’t it right for her to do some work? Should we let Sister Molly ruin her hands?” Tess had always looked down on me. Although Molly was afraid of the Mayor, the Mayor couldn’t control Tess. Spoiled rotten by Caleb, she made no secret of her disdain for me. That’s why the Mayor said my suffering was finally over. Once in the city, I wouldn’t have to serve Molly anymore, and Tess would live in the school dorms, so I wouldn’t have to put up with her temper. Just then, Caleb came back from work. Sensing the tension, he asked, “What’s wrong?” “I know I’m a burden, and it’s normal for Sister Nora to be unhappy, but Brother Caleb walked ten miles overnight to the town to get this medicine for me. I don’t want to waste his kindness…” Molly was a year older than me, but she had that pure, innocent face. Every time she followed Tess in calling me “Sister,” I felt sick. Her teary-eyed look worked every single time. “Nora, how many times have I told you, Molly’s illness can’t be delayed! How can you be so cruel!” His fierce look made it seem like I was a villain hurting his beloved wife. But the moment Molly tugged at his sleeve, he softened immediately. “Still have a fever?” He touched her forehead tenderly. Molly pretended to be shy, glanced at me fearfully, and muttered, “Sister Nora will be angry…” Caleb’s face changed instantly, and he snorted coldly at me, “What right does she have to be angry? She’s the one who forgot the medicine!” In front of me, Caleb was always calm and stoic. Even when he proposed, he was indifferent, making me look like an excited fool jumping around. Back then, I felt ashamed, thinking that’s just how intellectuals were—calm and composed. I wanted to be like him. But I was wrong. His restraint was only for me. Love and lack of love are very obvious. In my past life, I didn’t understand. I thought I just wasn’t good enough. But now I see it clearly. He doesn’t love me, so his emotions aren’t affected by me. He loves Molly, so chaos ensues when she’s involved. So in this life, I won’t be swayed anymore. I have my own path to walk. 3 When I returned from the Mayor’s house, Caleb was holding the document with a serious face. Tess was annoyed from waiting, “Nora, where did you go? The medicine isn’t ready, and dinner isn’t cooked.” Tess never called me sister-in-law, always excluding me emotionally, yet taking my service for granted. “I ate at the Mayor’s house. If you’re hungry, cook for yourselves.” “You!” Tess and Molly had never done a day of housework in their lives, let alone Caleb, a man who thought the kitchen was beneath him. But this time, Caleb said nothing. “Alright, alright… Nora, I have something to discuss with you.” Hesitant and slow. I didn’t want to waste time with him. “You mean the quota for moving to the city.” Caleb was stunned, not expecting me to say it directly. He laughed dryly, “So you already know.” Tess, impatient with her brother’s stalling, jumped in. “It’s better if you know. There are only two family spots for the transfer, just enough for me and Sister Molly.” She glanced at Molly proudly, as if claiming credit for putting me in my place. Molly smiled helplessly, “You child, you can’t keep a secret.” Then, as if realizing she said something wrong, she nervously grabbed Caleb’s wrist. Caleb responded by patting her hand gently to comfort her. “Nora, I made this decision. It has nothing to do with Molly.” I didn’t speak, just looked at him quietly. Caleb frowned, wanting to say something, but Molly squeezed his wrist. He fell silent for a moment, then spoke. “Tess is fifteen, she needs to go to high school. There’s no high school here. If she doesn’t go to the city, her life will be ruined.” Caleb’s parents were dead, Tess was his only blood relative, so he had to take her. I nodded. Caleb looked at me and continued. “Molly… Professor White was my benefactor. If he hadn’t sponsored my education, I wouldn’t have this opportunity at West University. Molly is weak and can’t survive the hard life here, so I must take her back.” He emphasized the word “must” heavily. As if warning me that there was no room for compromise. I was tired and wanted to sleep. “Is there anything else?” “Nora, you…” “Of course there is! In two days, my brother is going to apply for a marriage license with Sister Molly!” Tess couldn’t wait to see my shocked, angry, and desperate expression. Unfortunately for her, I felt nothing but calm. “Okay. You guys should get some rest.” I turned to go into my room. Caleb panicked slightly. He shook off Molly’s hand and blocked my path. “Are you angry? I can’t leave Molly alone. My marriage to her is fake.” “It’s the only way. Molly isn’t like you; you grew up in the country, you’re tough and can handle hardship. Waiting a few more years won’t hurt you.” “Once I’m settled, I’ll come back for you.” “I’ll come back to visit you every month.” I nodded again, “Okay. When are you leaving?” 4 In my previous life, although I was in pain, I believed his lies. I watched them happily leave for the city, looking like a perfect family of three. But I waited for half a year, and Caleb never came back. Everyone in the village said I was a fool, that Caleb would never return. I went to the city, anxious to find answers. When I finally saw Caleb again, there was no surprise on his face, only ugliness. “Why are you here?” He didn’t see my shoes worn through from walking because I couldn’t afford a ticket, nor my cracked, pale lips. Only blame. At that moment, Molly and a school doctor walked out. Only then did I realize we were at the university clinic. “Professor Chen, your wife is in poor health, it’s best not to get pregnant right now. Take these contraceptives. Come back if you need more.” Molly’s face was flushed, her fist gently hitting Caleb’s chest. “It’s all your fault…” I realized then that their marriage wasn’t fake at all. It was just an excuse to get rid of me. “Nora, this isn’t the countryside. If people know I, a university professor, have an illiterate country wife, I’ll be a laughingstock. Molly is educated and smart; she’s suitable to be my wife.” He knew I was illiterate from the start. I remembered the first day he came to work in the fields, he fainted. I took him home and nursed him back to health. Since then, he came to my house whenever he was hungry. He devoured my simple food, saying he’d never get tired of it. Everything happened naturally, and we got engaged. He moved from the crowded hostel to my house, escaping the snoring and smells of other men. Caleb was satisfied then. He said from then on he had a wife, a full stomach, and good sleep. Later, when Tess had nowhere to go, he brought her here too. Like him, my parents were dead, but I had land and wouldn’t starve. Raising three people was hard, but I had no regrets, thinking this is what family does. But I never expected Caleb despised me all along. He was with me just for food, a babysitter for Tess, and a stepping stone to be with Molly. I fainted on the spot. When I woke up, I was alone in the hospital. I tried to find him again, but unfamiliar with the city traffic, I was hit by a car and died. Fortunately, I was reborn. This time, I won’t ruin my life for them.

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The twelfth year of liking Ethan Song. To force me to give up, he brought a girlfriend home. My mom wept with joy. “Our Ethan finally blossomed! It’s really double happiness!” He was stunned: “What double happiness?” My mom pointed upstairs. “Your sister got back together with her first love from back then. Look, the two are talking in the bedroom right now.” Ethan Song’s face turned pale instantly. 1 When the knock on the door sounded. I was shouting at Lucas Xu unbearably. “Bro, just got caught in the rain, do you need to shower for so long!” The sound of water stopped. His voice was lazy and tired. “Sarah Song, have some conscience, who did I get soaked for?” “You don’t feel sorry for me at all, can’t I take care of myself more?” I was at a loss for words, chuckled dryly twice. A bit ashamed. Indeed. If I hadn’t insisted on eating the pastries from the shop on South Street. Lucas Xu wouldn’t have been soaked like a drowned rat by the sudden downpour. Slender fingers reached out. I handed the dry clothes in my hand to him. “The T-shirt is your old clothes, the shorts are my dad’s, you should be able to wear them.” “Hurry up and change, my mom is knocking on the door! Time to eat!” Don’t know which sentence pleased him. Lucas Xu’s tail tone rose, humming “Mmh”. Making me get goosebumps from his “Mmh”. My mom probably waited anxiously, knocking again. I trotted over to open the door. “Mom mom mom, coming, going downstairs right away!” But. After the door opened. I silenced immediately. Standing outside wasn’t my mom, it was Ethan Song. He held the door frame. Dark gaze locking me. Scrutinizing every bit of expression on my face carefully. I had a moment of panic. But calmed down immediately. Indeed, haven’t seen for five months. I really didn’t expect. Ethan Song would appear at home at this moment. 2 “Yo, brother-in-law? Long time no see.” Just as I was about to say something, Lucas Xu, who came out of the bathroom, already walked up. He greeted Ethan Song one step ahead of me. Ethan Song’s eyes suddenly stern. Looking straight at the hand Lucas Xu put around me. Ethan Song’s voice was cold: “Let go of her.” Lucas Xu smiled happily, hugging me tighter. “I hug my girlfriend, reasonable and legal.” “What stand do you have to manage?” Ethan Song pursed his lips, expression gloomy. I pulled Lucas Xu. Signaling him to say less. Lucas Xu snorted coldly reluctantly. But next second. After glancing at the T-shirt on me same style as his. Happy again. Whispering to my ear as if no one else was present. “Little liar, lied to me back then saying threw away everything related to me, turns out secretly treasured couple short sleeves.” I stepped on him hard. Lucas Xu pretended to cry pain: “Lighter.” Such intimate appearance, all taken into Ethan Song’s eyes. His expression became more obscure. 3 Actually. Reconciling with Lucas Xu was unexpected for me. Including meeting him, I didn’t expect. That night friend Yao Yao’s birthday. We few corporate slaves decided to splurge, chose the most expensive club in the city to sing. But near off work, I was notified of an urgent task to do. After finishing, almost late. Racing against time to get there. I was led to the wrong private room by the waiter brother. Private room is suite layout. Arriving at the inner room door, I rolled my eyes. Prepared to open door with full strength, scare everyone properly. But didn’t expect! When I pushed the door, someone happened to be opening the door inside. Because I used too much force, inertia leaned forward. Directly collided solidly with the person pulling the door. Haven’t reacted yet. Surroundings suddenly cheered up. Some whistling, some opening champagne. Even more, some spraying streamers. Exactly like a mini wedding scene. Firm and powerful arms supported me, I thanked hurriedly. “Thank you, thank you.” Hearing my voice, he obviously stiffened. I didn’t care, continued pulling streamers on face flusteredly. Finally revealed two eyes. Moment raising eyes, I also stiffened. Everything around, still very noisy. “Hello sister-in-law! Brother Lucas finally introduced you to us today!” “Sister-in-law is really beautiful!” “Eh, why sister-in-law and Brother Lucas stunned?” “……” Lucas Xu’s friends were all very excited. Only he and I, eyes met. Big eyes staring at small eyes, dazed for a long time. What do people do when extremely awkward? Anyway I was about to cry. People around, probably also gradually sensed atmosphere wrong. Gradually stopped noise. My brain running fast. At this time, how to exit, would appear more natural? But biasly, Lucas Xu seemed to see through my thoughts. He stepped back leisurely. Folding arms, smiled. I secretly glanced at him. Sure enough, when Lucas Xu smiles, the mole at eye tail still shakes along. Bewitching and hooking. For a moment, I felt a bit dizzy. Suddenly couldn’t distinguish, if he in front was illusion or reality. Just knew staring at him silly. I remembered that summer. The boy’s collapsed face when roaring at me. I never saw Lucas Xu like that. Never. He used all strength saying to me: Get lost. He said, he never wanted to see me again. He cried, kneeling beside me questioning me, why treat him like that? He said a lot. Also asked many whys. I remained silent throughout. Couldn’t answer a sentence. “I treated you so sincerely, how could you play me like this, how could you?! Sarah Song, speak!” Lucas Xu shed tears. That tear seemed to drip on my heart, burned a scar. 4 Thoughts were pulled back by a light laugh then. I blinked dry eyes. Hurriedly lowered head, dared not raise again. But Lucas Xu refused to let me go. Man’s voice lazy, carrying weariness. “Alright you guys, stop booing, she is not your sister-in-law.” Crowd sighed. Awkwardness of mistaken identity hadn’t had time to spread. Lucas Xu continued: “She is your ex-sister-in-law.” Atmosphere instantly condensed into ice. Don’t know who sneered: “Heh, then which play is this singing? Still think our Brother Lucas wasn’t played miserably enough——” “Ah Qian.” Although Lucas Xu stopped him timely, my face still flushed red suddenly. I love blushing easily, can’t stand people teasing more. Past Lucas Xu knew this point. Always would tell me, with him here, nothing to fear. He always let me be bolder and more confident. He said, who dares make me blush, make me unable to step down. He can hit ten with one punch. But now, the one making me embarrassed, is also him himself. Clenched fist opened, then closed. Repeated like this, I finally raised head, met Lucas Xu’s eyes. Solemnly apologized. “Sorry, I went to wrong private room, really sorry.” Finished speaking, I bowed deeply under his astonished gaze. Turning to leave, but met a bright beautiful face directly. Woman long hair draped over shoulders, gentle and dignified. She smiled at me, then called: “Lucas?” My heart thudded. Stared blankly at Lucas Xu taking woman’s hand. He smiled again, putting away sarcasm just directed at me. Gentle spoke: “Xu Xu, come here, introduce to you, my friends.” Then, he introduced girlfriend to everyone. Gaze fixed on me. Lucas Xu’s face still hung smile. Eye bottom however no temperature, a piece of ice cold. “This is my girlfriend, your, sister-in-law.” I felt my steps, as if suddenly filled with lead. I remembered, the day breaking up with Lucas Xu, my mood crying to choke. Thought originally, future won’t have any day sadder than that day. Seems, spoke too early. But I showed nothing. Even curved eyes to Lucas Xu, said a blessing. “Really match, wish happiness long long.” Words out, atmosphere more solidified. I laughed dryly twice. Also knew said wrong words again. Then can it be worse? Obviously can’t. I hugged bag tight. Silently lowered head. “Apologize again for wrong room, have fun.” Finished speaking, I walked out quickly. But moment stepping out gate. My wrist suddenly grabbed by a strong force. I turned head in panic. Met Lucas Xu’s face, is anger? Or sneering cold laugh? I found. Three years not seen, I already can’t understand this person. “Anything else?” I tensed voice, gaze drifting. Still dare not look at him. A sneer, he leaned close to me. Familiar breath pressed down. Nice voice fell beside ear. Words Lucas Xu said, but like poisonous snake spitting letter. “Nothing, I’m just curious, another three years passed.” “Sarah Song, did you take down your brother?” My face suddenly pale.

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I’m a rookie paparazzo. To get my big break, I spent six months staking out Hollywood’s golden boy, Caleb Hayes. But I didn’t catch him. Instead, I caught his rumored secret son. The kid went to elementary school; I trailed him. The kid tripped; I picked him up. The kid wanted cotton candy; I paid for it. Later, another pap snapped a photo and the internet decided I was the baby mama. I went viral instantly. I panicked and tweeted: [I am NOT!] I didn’t expect Caleb Hayes himself to reply to my tweet: [Yes, you are.] That night, the internet broke. 1 I haven’t been in the paparazzi game for long. But as the saying goes, go big or go home. I was tired of scraping by, so I decided to aim for the stars. Specifically, Caleb Hayes. I sat in my beat-up, second-hand Honda Civic, scrolling through Caleb’s profile on my phone. Caleb Hayes. Twenty-eight. Ivy League grad. Returned to LA a few years ago and instantly conquered Hollywood with his god-tier looks and Oscar-worthy acting. Zero scandals. Squeaky clean. But the rumor mill whispered that he had a secret child. A man that perfect with no skeletons in his closet? I didn’t buy it. So, I parked myself outside his luxury apartment complex in Beverly Hills for months. I saw nothing. Not even his shadow. My savings were dwindling fast. Just as I was aggressively chewing on a stale bagel, my eyes widened. Someone was coming out of the gate! Could it be Caleb? I ducked down, peering over the dashboard. A young man walked out, holding the hand of a small boy. The kid looked about seven or eight, messy dark hair. I couldn’t see his face clearly from this distance, but my heart started racing. Is that the rumored son? 2 Terrified of being spotted, I slouched in my seat like a gremlin. The young man—definitely not Caleb—was holding something and complaining to the kid. “Little Leo, if you don’t eat this, you’re gonna starve at school.” Leo ignored him completely, head down, marching forward. They were walking right toward my car. As they got closer, I saw Leo’s face. He was pouting, but he was undeniably cute. Like a cherub in a designer jacket. “Seriously, kid, you’re impossible! Even Caleb isn’t this high maintenance,” the man grumbled, scooping Leo up into his arms. “Let’s go. Uncle Mitch is driving you.” Hearing the name “Caleb,” my internal radar went crazy. I watched them hop into an SUV. I didn’t think twice. I started my engine and followed them. This was a major breakthrough. If I found the son, the father—and the scandal—wouldn’t be far behind. I tailed them to a prestigious private elementary school and watched the little guy walk in. I figured the mom might pick him up later. That would be the money shot. I waited all day. From morning light until the bell rang in the afternoon. A flood of kids in uniforms poured out. Parents in Teslas and Range Rovers crowded the entrance. I wasn’t a parent, but I was just as anxious. Then I saw him. Leo stood by the gate with his oversized backpack, his dark eyes scanning the crowd. When he didn’t see anyone familiar, his shoulders slumped. He looked so lonely. He tried to squeeze through the crowd. But a frantic mom, rushing to get to her own kid, didn’t see him. She bumped right into him. Leo stumbled and fell onto the pavement. My breath hitched. Wait. Why is he on the ground? The parents were pushing and shoving. I was terrified he’d get trampled. Abandoning my cover, I threw my car door open and sprinted over. I grabbed his arm and pulled him up. “Hey, you okay?” Leo, who had been sitting on the asphalt, looked up at me. He blinked, dusted off his knees, and asked in a quiet voice, “Who are you?” His voice was soft and ridiculously adorable. I brushed some dirt off his jacket. “Uh, I’m a fan of your dad.” Fans follow Caleb. Paparazzi follow Caleb. Same difference, right? Just to make sure I didn’t look like a kidnapper, I added, “Kiddo, go wait by your teacher. Don’t leave with anyone unless you know them, okay?” Then I ran back to my car, heart pounding. Stupid, Riley. Stupid. I totally blew my cover. When “Uncle Mitch” comes back, he’ll know something is up and chase me off. 3 I stared at the sky through my sunroof, feeling tragic. But my conscience wouldn’t let me leave until I saw the uncle pick Leo up safely. I expected a cease-and-desist letter from Caleb’s agency that night. Rumor had it Caleb Hayes had a short fuse with privacy invaders. One pap who crossed the line was basically blacklisted from the industry. But surprisingly, I slept like a baby and woke up to zero threats. Maybe Caleb was too deep in character for his new movie to notice. I dodged a bullet. I went back to the apartment complex, cautious but bold. I watched Leo go to school and come back every day. A few times, I swear the kid looked right at my car. Uncle Mitch, however, seemed oblivious. Until one morning. I was yawning, opening a bag of donut holes I bought for breakfast, ready to start my shift. Leo walked out of the complex alone. No Uncle Mitch. No Caleb. I blinked. They aren’t letting a seven-year-old walk to school in LA, are they? Just as I thought that, there was a tap on my window. I jumped. I rolled it down to see a cute, frantic face. The sun hit his eyes, making them look lighter. He looked up at me through long lashes. “Pretty sister, can you drive me to school? My uncle overslept and he won’t wake up. He’s like a log.” My jaw dropped. “Huh?” I’m a paparazzo. And you want a ride? 4 I pinched myself. This had to be a hallucination caused by lack of caffeine. “Kid, do you know how crazy that sounds?” But Leo just stared at me with big, pleading eyes. “If we don’t go now, I’ll get detention.” He tilted his head. He looked innocent, harmless, and dangerously cute. I looked at the kid, then at my phone. I got an idea. I hit record on my camera. “Okay, buddy, repeat after me: ‘I am voluntarily asking Riley for a ride to school.’” I haven’t committed any crimes, and I’d like to keep it that way. Kidnapping charges are not on my bucket list. Leo looked confused for a second, then nodded solemnly. “I am asking Sister Riley to take me to school.” Good enough. I put the phone away, got out, and buckled him into the back seat. I knew the route to the private school by heart now. At a red light, I glanced at my bag of donut holes. Then I saw Leo in the rearview mirror. He was staring at the donuts like they were gold. “Hey…” I hesitated. “Did you eat breakfast?” Leo slumped. “No.” My heart cracked a little. I handed the bag back to him. “Want some?” His eyes lit up. He took the bag with both hands. His ears turned a little pink. “You bought these for me? You’re way better than Uncle Mitch. His cooking tastes like burnt rubber.” I barely heard his rambling. I was too busy mourning my breakfast. The car soon smelled like sugar and glaze. My stomach growled. Ten minutes later, we pulled up to the school. “Here we are.” I watched him hop out. He took a few steps, then turned around. I checked the back seat. Did he forget his backpack? No. He walked back to my window. “Sister, will you pick me up this afternoon?” Me: “…” Absolutely… not! But looking at his hopeful face, my brain malfunctioned. “Uh… sure?” Why can’t I say no to a kid who calls me ‘Sister’ instead of ‘Auntie’? Leo beamed. “Promise?” “Yeah, promise.” He ran inside. I put my hands on the steering wheel, ready to make a U-turn to get actual food, when it hit me. I’m a stalker with a camera. I haven’t gotten a single scandalous photo of Caleb, but I’m babysitting his kid? Damn you, Caleb Hayes. You owe me gas money.

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Late one night, I stumbled upon my wife and the heir to the Wynott fortune, locked in a passionate kiss. My wife, Mackenzie, froze in panic. The heir, Scott, was the picture of calm. I walked right up to them with a big, friendly smile. “Sis! Bro! Fancy seeing you two out here.” The next day, I was handed the deed to a 2,000-square-foot apartment in Manhattan. 1 My wife is exceptionally beautiful. We were college sweethearts. We got married right after graduation, moved to New York, and crammed ourselves into a tiny walk-up in Queens. I adored her. Just looking at her face, I could never bring myself to resent our poverty. I only hated my own inability to provide for her, to give her the life she deserved. I worked myself to the bone, but in a sinking economy, just not getting laid off felt like a victory. I was a failure as a man. Mackenzie and I scrimped and saved, dreaming of buying a place of our own. It’s the quintessential American dream, after all. But this was New York. The prices were astronomical. Our meager savings were a drop in an endless ocean. We were destined to fail. 2 Lately, I’d noticed Mackenzie was becoming even more beautiful. Being poor, I couldn’t tell designer brands from department store knock-offs. But I knew her clothes, her shoes—they all looked better, tailored to fit her perfectly. Her skin glowed. She looked like she did back in our freshman year of college. Mackenzie has always been the perfect woman: gentle and sweet by day, insatiable and alluring by night. Seeing her blossom like this, I finally felt like I was seeing a rose in its proper garden, not wilting in a forgotten pot. 3 My boss is Isabelle Wynott, a titan of New York society. Her younger brother is Scott Wynott, the heir to their family’s empire. I was just one of thousands of employees in their massive corporation. But one day, Scott showed up at my desk just to see me. He looked me up and down and said, “So, you’re Leo.” The cologne he wore was the same scent that had been lingering on Mackenzie. The chain around his neck was the other half of a matching set to the one Mackenzie had recently started wearing. That weekend, I told her I was going out shopping, but instead, I staked out a spot near our apartment building. Soon enough, a sleek sports car, utterly out of place in our rundown neighborhood, pulled up to the curb. Scott’s car. Mackenzie got in. I broke down and cried like a child. 4 I wasn’t angry. I was just heartbroken. Desperate. It was my fault. I was useless, so my wife had been lured away by the glittering world outside our cramped apartment. I knew I could make a scene. I could scream at her for betraying me, for wasting my youth. But what good would that do? Mackenzie was a kind woman. She was beautiful, and she had spent the best years of her life with me. Waking up to her face every morning, sleeping next to her perfect body—it was the greatest happiness I had ever known. What right did I have to resent her? Besides, she was too good. I couldn’t bring myself to blame her. I told myself that real love means forgiving everything. It means only blaming yourself. It means always feeling like you owe the other person more. I should be the one to set her free. A woman as beautiful as her was always destined to fly away from my impoverished nest. Like a flawless diamond, she was never meant to stay in a shack for long. It was fate. 5 But I couldn’t let go. What if Scott got bored of her? What if he cast her aside, and I had already divorced her? Wouldn’t she be all alone, feeling like the whole world had abandoned her? So I stalled, pretending I knew nothing. Until one night, I worked late and got home around 9 PM. There, right under the flickering streetlight in front of our building, I saw them. Mackenzie and Scott, locked in a deep, searing kiss. My mind went blank. I just stood there, frozen. My heart ached. My wife. I was destined to lose you. Mackenzie saw me. Her eyes, wide with shock, met mine. It hit me then. I’d forgotten to tell her I was working late. She must have thought I was already home. Damn. So much for plausible deniability. The sadness was overwhelming. Scott, however, didn’t flinch. Just as you’d expect from an heir. Cool as a cucumber, even in the face of disaster. I had to learn from him. 6 I walked forward, my voice booming with forced enthusiasm. “Sis! Bro! You guys out for a walk too?” Scott stared at me, completely bewildered. “What did you just call her?” I wiped a tear from my eye and said with utter sincerity, “Bro, this is my big sister.” Scott burst out laughing. He laughed so hard tears streamed down his face. To be so relaxed in the middle of a scene like this… I was genuinely envious. Mackenzie was still looking at me with a tragic expression, as if she’d been forced into this. “You’re a real piece of work,” Scott said, still chuckling. I shook my head quickly. “Bro, I’m just a poor guy.” Scott leaned in and gave Mackenzie another quick, possessive kiss. He was handsome, effortlessly charming. Mackenzie, pale and beautiful, looked stunning even in her distress. A perfect picture. She was being kissed by another man. And deep down, I felt a strange flicker of pride. That’s my wife. Good enough to be poached by the best. Scott got in his car and drove off. Even the exhaust fumes smelled like money. 7 Back in the apartment, Mackenzie stood before me, her eyes red. “I’m sorry, Leo. I was vain. I couldn’t resist the temptation.” Seeing her tear herself apart like that broke my heart. When you truly love someone, you have to think about their long-term happiness. I took her hands in mine. Her fingers were long, pale, and warm. I’d always loved holding her hand, loved the feel of her hands on me. She was perfect. I couldn’t even hate her. We sat down on the sofa together, and I apologized to her. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I couldn’t make enough money to give you a good life. Marrying me has made you suffer.” She shook her head. “No, it’s my fault. I have no ambition. I said I was studying for my certification exams, but I just went shopping and wasted time. I failed you.” “You’re so beautiful,” I argued. “If you hadn’t married a broke guy like me, you wouldn’t need to study for anything. It’s all because I’m useless.” We went back and forth like this for ten minutes. I realized it would never end if I didn’t stop it. “Mackenzie,” I said, my voice firm. “We need to talk.” 8 When we were young, we thought love was all we needed. Now, we had love, but our life was a constant struggle. My worldview had been shattered. I looked at her and said, “Mackenzie, since Scott likes you, you should be with him. He’s handsome, and I can tell he really cares about you. I’d feel better knowing you were with him.” She shook her head, tears welling up. “The one I truly love is you. Him… he… he spent so much money on me. Every time I was in trouble, he was the one who solved it… I just couldn’t resist…” She explained everything. Her father’s gambling debt—fifty thousand dollars that Scott had paid off. Her mother’s surgery—Scott had loaned her the money without a second thought. He was a good guy. He never forced her; he just gave and gave. Mackenzie had told me about her parents’ problems before. At the time, I felt like my world was collapsing. Not only could I not help, but my own negativity had made things worse. I had seen her parents as a burden. She was so kind, always thinking of others. We only had three thousand dollars in savings. It was nothing, but if she had given it to her parents, I would have been heartbroken. So she didn’t touch it. After that, I just buried my head in the sand and pretended nothing had happened. I was such a coward. Not long after, Mackenzie had told me cheerfully that her family matters were resolved. She even apologized for making me worry. I never knew it was Scott who had helped her. Comparing myself to him, the difference was stark. I was ashamed. “You don’t have to explain. I get it. I want you to have a good life. If he can make things easier for you, you should be with him. I love you, and that means I want you to be happy.” Mackenzie stared at me, stunned. The look on her face was killing me. I pulled her onto my lap. “Let’s get a divorce tomorrow. If he ever dumps you, you come back to me, and we’ll get remarried.” “Tonight… can you be with me one last time?” Mackenzie was silent. 9 I eventually convinced her. We went and signed the divorce papers. I told her she should let Scott know. His reply was a string of “hahahahaha.” I was starting to notice that was his favorite response. After we got the papers, I went back to work as usual. My mind was a mess of conflicting emotions. Happiness, because Mackenzie had found someone who could take care of her. Sadness, because I had lost her. Panic. My wife, who had been poor with me, was about to become rich. I was still a nobody. I felt the terror of being left behind. And grief. My love story had lost its battle with reality, and I had been the one to surrender. I was about to cry at my desk when I got a friend request on my phone. The profile picture was Scott’s confident, arrogant face. 10 I accepted immediately. I wondered what he could possibly want with me. He sent a single message: “Be at the realty office on Park Ave this afternoon. I’m gifting you a Manhattan co-op.” I rubbed my eyes again and again, making sure I wasn’t dreaming. Then I immediately sent him three bowing-and-scraping emojis. I quickly typed: “Bro, you’re too good to me! I freaking love you, man! Seriously, thank you! Your new brother-in-law won’t cause any trouble, I promise. My sister is amazing, but if she ever steps out of line, you just tell me, and I’ll set her straight. Oh man, am I texting too much? Sorry, you’re busy. I’ll be there on time. Bro, anything you need, just say the word. By the way, I’ve already packed her stuff. Should I drop it off at your place?” Scott replied with another long string of “hahahahahahahaha…” I took that as a good sign. So I texted my now ex-wife: “Sis, should I bring your luggage over to your new place?” Mackenzie: “No need. I’ve got it.” I was so jealous. That afternoon, I took my documents to the realty office and signed the papers for my very own place in New York City. 11 I started sending Scott two messages a day. In the morning: “Good morning, my Prince. A new day has dawned. Your humble servant is online and awaiting your command. Love ya, love ya, love ya!” Accompanied by a heart-eyes emoji. At night: “Good night, my Prince. Hope you have sweet dreams. Call me if you need anything. Your digital valet is always on standby.” I used to call him “bro,” but one day he said, “Calling me ‘bro’ makes me feel old.” So, I switched to “my Prince.” My devotion paid off. On the 19th day of my one-sided morning and evening greetings, he sent me a hotel address and a room number. He wanted me to buy him condoms. His exact word was: “rubbers.” You need a certain amount of life experience to understand slang like that. I shot out of bed like a rocket and raced to the pharmacy. I bought every brand, every size, every style. On my way to the hotel, I sorted them into different categories and even bought some emergency contraceptives, just in case. Safety first.

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Ten years after my death, the man responsible for thirteen murders was finally arrested. The trial was broadcast live. He stared into the camera, confessing to his crimes, one by one, detailing where he’d hidden the bodies. But when he got to the ninth victim, a strange, chilling smile spread across his face. “She was the most pathetic one I ever dealt with. And the one who most deserved to die,” he said, his eyes glinting. “I want to see every single member of her family, right here, in thirty minutes. If you fail, I will retract my entire confession.” He leaned closer to the microphone. “You will never find the remaining bodies, and this case will remain a mystery forever.” The internet erupted. My name, Nora Shaw, flashed across the screen as a nationwide search for my family began. Liam Carter, his face contorted with fury, slammed his police cap onto the table. He snatched his phone and barked into it: “Nora, you’ve been living it up overseas for ten years! Why do you still hate the family who exposed you for who you are?!” “Hiring a serial killer to act out this pathetic drama just to get our attention? Is that what you’ve sunk to?” … A decade had done much to chisel away the boyishness of Liam, now the captain of the Homicide Division. His anger was a low, controlled inferno. “Annabelle and I are getting married tomorrow. I’ve put up with your nonsense for ten years, Nora. Did you have to stir up trouble now, of all times?” “No one is going to play your games anymore!” If I were the Nora of the past, I would have stammered an apology. But the Nora who had been dead for a decade couldn’t answer him. “Sorry, the number you have dialed is…” The mechanical voice on the other end reminded him that I had supposedly left the country ten years ago. My old phone number was long deactivated. His rage dissipated into nothing, like a punch thrown at smoke. Frustrated, Liam snatched his cap, jammed it on his head, and settled back into his seat, his features once again a mask of cold professionalism. Someone in the online chat remembered me. “Nora Shaw? The genius architect? She vanished right after the groundbreaking for the Cross-River Bridge project.” “So she didn’t just vanish. A serial killer got her!” “She wasn’t even twenty-five. Such a brilliant mind lost too soon.” The chat filled with condolences for me. But Liam, usually the pillar of composure, shot to his feet. He had to correct the “rumors.” “Nora Shaw did not vanish,” he announced, his voice sharp and clear. “She was exposed as a fake heiress. She abandoned everything here and fled the country to enjoy her new life!” “The Cross-River Bridge was nearly a catastrophic failure because she irresponsibly abandoned the project.” “It was only thanks to the real heiress, Annabelle Shaw, who stepped in at the last minute and dedicated ten years of her life to it, that the bridge can finally open to traffic tomorrow.” At the mention of Annabelle, he completely forgot his professional demeanor. He was like a flustered young man, desperately defending his sweetheart’s honor. It was just like the day he received his first commendation. He’d grabbed my hand, pulled me onto the stage with him, and declared to the entire auditorium: “This is Nora Shaw, the most brilliant architect in Northwood, and my fiancée.” “Half of this medal,” he’d proclaimed, “belongs to her!” He unpinned the gleaming bronze medal from his own chest and carefully fastened it to mine. Amid the cheers and whistles of his colleagues, Liam, his face flushed, had leaned in and kissed me. How times had changed. The leading man was the same, but the woman he cherished was now someone else. The medals and commendations now belonged to another. That sincere heart, which had once moved me to tears, had been given, whole and unblemished, to Annabelle. Now, when he spoke my name, his face was a mask of undisguised disgust. “Nora, even if you paid this murderer to claim he killed you, I will never believe it!” “You’d better show your face and end this farce, or you will be charged with obstruction of justice!” He shot a cold, piercing glare at the killer. “Where,” he demanded, each word a block of ice, “is Nora Shaw?!” His colleagues flinched, averting their eyes from his fury. Only the killer met his gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. “I told you, Captain. You want to know where I put her body? You have thirty minutes to bring me her family.” He pointed a finger at the clock on the wall, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. “Ten minutes have already passed. I’d advise you to make the most of the time you have left.” The killer’s chilling threat sent a wave of fear through the online audience. Within minutes, the internet was flooded with posts searching for my relatives. “Don’t let Nora Shaw deceive you!” Liam’s voice cut through the noise, calm and authoritative, as he laid out his preconceived verdict. “Nora is doing this because she’s jealous that I broke off our engagement and am marrying Annabelle.” “I once stood on the riverbank and swore to Annabelle that the day the Cross-River Bridge opened would be our wedding day.” “She timed this entire spectacle to ruin our wedding tomorrow. That’s all this is!” He glared at the screen, his face a mask of righteous pain. I could almost hear his thoughts: Nora, you lived Annabelle’s life as the heiress for nearly thirty years. What more could you possibly want? “Liam!” The courtroom doors burst open. Annabelle stood there, soaked to the bone by a sudden downpour. Liam immediately shrugged off his uniform jacket and draped it over her shoulders. His eyes softened with concern. “What are you doing here in this storm? I told you I’d come see you after work.” There was a subtle tension in his voice, a desperate need to protect the trembling woman in his arms from any further harm. Liam’s gaze snapped back to the camera. “Nora, you see this? You’ve made Annabelle miserable. Are you satisfied now?” Annabelle, her face pale, shook her head and clutched his sleeve. “It’s perfectly normal for my sister to resent me, Liam. Please, don’t blame her.” She pulled out a file, carefully wrapped in a waterproof covering, and held it up to the camera. “Nora, sister, if you’re angry that I took over the Cross-River Bridge project, I’ll make it right. At the opening ceremony tomorrow, I will have the organizers announce you as the lead architect.” “Please, just stop making things difficult for Liam. He’s just trying to do his job, to keep people safe!” There wasn’t a trace of resentment in her voice as she defended me. Her eyes even shimmered with unshed tears. Paired with her drenched, fragile appearance, she was the picture of pitiable grace. Instantly, the comments section flipped, filled with sympathy for her and anger at me. “Nora Shaw is a monster, tormenting the real heiress like this for her own selfish games.” “Must be nice living it up abroad. Guess she has enough money to hire murderers for entertainment.” But the Cross-River Bridge project… Annabelle had stolen it from me. The day she took my blueprints, her voice was sharp with entitlement. “Sister, you pretended to be me for thirty years. Think of this as a little interest on the debt you owe me.” Shortly after, the lead architect’s name on all the internal project documents was changed to Annabelle Shaw. “Nora! Have you not caused enough trouble? Do you have to destroy Annabelle’s life to be satisfied?” Liam roared, his hand going to his service weapon. He drew it, the click of the safety echoing in the tense room, and pressed the muzzle to the killer’s head. “You like theatrics? Fine. I’ll play along. Tell me, where is Nora Shaw’s body?!” “Captain, don’t!” His fellow officers surged forward, trying to disarm him. The killer remained unfazed. He even seemed amused by Liam’s incandescent rage. “I’ve seen all the relatives from that photograph. Bring every single one of them here, or I confess to nothing.” “Photograph? What photograph?” Liam was completely lost. Of course he was. He had been in countless photos—work photos, award ceremony photos. How could he possibly remember one insignificant picture? But that photo was the only family portrait I ever had. After Annabelle was welcomed back as the true heiress, our two families had posed for one picture. My adoptive parents—her biological parents—and my biological parents all stood smiling, clustered around Annabelle, leaving an awkward, empty space around me. Even so, I had treasured that strangely composed photograph, keeping it with me for years. When I returned to my biological family, my parents could barely spare me a smile. They eventually gave up everything to move to Northwood, just to be closer to Annabelle. They only returned to our hometown of Southport for one day a year, for ancestral rites, and even then, they complained endlessly about the three-hour detour. “If only there were a bridge across the river, connecting Northwood and Southport,” they’d sigh. “Then we could see Annabelle every day.” Because of those words, I turned down a lucrative offer from a top engineering firm overseas. I poured every ounce of my being into making the Cross-River Bridge a reality. The day the project was officially greenlit, I walked out of the temporary construction housing I’d lived in for over two hundred days and went home for the first time to share the good news with my biological parents. Blinded by joy, I didn’t notice the man following me. By the time I saw the knife in his hand and tried to run, it was too late. The door to my home, my only sanctuary, was just a step away. But my parents had changed the lock, installing a new keypad. The cold, metal door blocked my escape. I died on my own doorstep. The half-inch threshold, as I fell, felt like an insurmountable mountain. “Nora, darling, Mommy and Daddy are so sorry we’re late!” An elderly couple stumbled into the courtroom, weeping for the camera. “You’ve been abroad for ten years. Can’t you let go of your resentment for us?” “Let it go, child.” I’d heard those words a thousand times. Hadn’t I let go of enough? I let go of my identity as the heiress and went back to them. I let go of a brilliant career overseas to build their precious bridge. I let go of the blueprints I had bled over for years, handing my reputation to Annabelle. For Liam, I had even let go of my own life. What else was there for me to let go of? Liam banged his fist on the table. “Talk!” he snarled at the killer. The killer shot him a disdainful look and slammed his own fist down, the sound echoing like a gunshot. “Are you trying to fool me with actors? Her real parents aren’t here yet!” I blinked, a bitter laugh catching in my non-existent throat. Ten years. I’d forgotten what my own parents looked like, so much so that I hadn’t recognized these impostors. A vein throbbed in Liam’s temple. “Her biological parents are in Southport, and her adoptive parents are in Northwood! The bridge doesn’t open until tomorrow, and there’s a torrential storm outside! How am I supposed to get them here?” The killer just smiled. “Then I thank you for the opportunity to retract my confession, Captain.” He glanced at the clock. “You have six minutes left.” The public was outraged by Liam’s coldness. Countless volunteers in both cities started searching for my parents. Fearing a public relations nightmare, Liam finally relented. He coordinated with the department to dispatch a helicopter to pick up both sets of parents. “Thirty seconds left,” the killer announced smugly, propping his feet up on the table. “Three…” “Two…” “One!” On the final second, the courtroom doors were thrown open. A collective sigh of relief filled the room. My adoptive and biological parents walked in, arm in arm, unhurried. The first person they looked for was Annabelle. “Oh, my sweet girl, did you get caught in the rain?” “Are you cold, Annie?” When my name was mentioned, it was with a sneer. “Nora dead? Don’t be ridiculous. She’s probably sunbathing on a beach somewhere.” Liam’s patience finally snapped. He grabbed the killer by the collar. “Talk!” he roared. The killer looked at the circle of people before him and laughed, a low, guttural sound. “She really was pathetic…” The audience murmured in confusion. The killer looked up, his voice suddenly clear and loud, and finally revealed my resting place. “Her body is sealed in the concrete of the central pier of the Cross-River Bridge.” In the dead silence that followed, Liam let out a choked, mocking laugh. “Nora, I thought you had a better trick up your sleeve than this.” “Ten years, and you still haven’t grown out of these jealous games.” “You orchestrated this entire elaborate drama just to make me destroy Annabelle’s masterpiece, just to stop our wedding.” But amidst the suffocating tension, the killer began to speak again, his voice chillingly calm. “Before I killed her, she had a chance to live.” It was true. I did.

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My swollen breasts ached so sharply I couldn’t sleep. Scrolling aimlessly on my phone, I saw a trending post: “My ex has been married for five years, but his paycheck still comes to me.” “He tells his frumpy wife he makes seven grand a month,” the post read. “But he only gives her fifteen hundred for groceries—the other thirty thousand pays my mortgage.” “Doesn’t his wife complain?” someone asked in the comments. “About what? The fool thinks he’s saving for a bigger house. Last month, right after she gave birth, I told him my pipes were clogged and I was scared. He dropped everything—wife, newborn—and rushed over at midnight.” “Some men marry for family,” she concluded, “but the moonlight in his heart will always be his first love.” The poster even shared a photo: the back of a man fixing a kitchen pipe. I recognized him instantly. The shirt he wore was the one I’d saved on groceries for three months to buy my husband, Alex. That night, Alex had claimed an office emergency. Even my mother-in-law had scolded me: “A man’s career matters. Don’t be needy.” So this was his “career”—driving a few miles to fix his ex-wife’s sink. I turned off the screen, a cold smile on my lips. If you’re both so proud of this, I’ll be happy to help. This time, I’ll make sure even that fifteen hundred for groceries becomes a luxury you can’t afford. 1. It was three in the morning. The phone’s cold light cast a ghostly glow on my face in the dark bedroom. I tapped on the photo of the man fixing the pipe, zooming in, then in again. The mole on the back of his neck—I could find it with my eyes closed. It was Alex. My Alex. The loving husband who was always telling me with a long face how business was bad, begging me to be understanding. Wincing from the throbbing pain in my chest, I took my phone to the balcony. The night air was cool, clearing my head with a brutal clarity. I opened the thread again and began taking screenshots of every single reply from the poster, “MidnightMoon.” Each one felt like a slap across my face. “My ex says his wife is super gullible. Believes anything he tells her.” “She was recovering from childbirth and didn’t have enough milk, wanted to buy imported formula. He told her they couldn’t afford it and to drink pig’s feet soup instead. Then he turned around and bought me a twenty-thousand-dollar handbag.” “Haha, come on. Men always want someone young and beautiful, right? The one at home got fat as a pig after the baby. It’s disgusting to even look at her.” I looked down at my own body, changed by pregnancy and breastfeeding, at the stretch marks that snaked across my stomach. So this was it. I had risked my life to give him a child, and in his eyes, I was just… disgusting. Tears threatened to fall, but I forced them back. When I went back to the bedroom, a text from Alex came through. He wouldn’t be home tonight. Work emergency. It was followed by a wire transfer. Fifteen hundred dollars. The memo read: “Honey, this month’s household money. They docked my performance bonus, so this is all I’ve got. I’m so sorry.” I stared at the glaring number, and the last bit of warmth in my heart froze over. This, in his eyes, was the total value of me and our child for an entire month. But for Zoe, it was thirty thousand. And that didn’t even include the bags, the car, and the endless “holiday gifts.” I accepted the transfer and replied with a “hugs” emoji. “It’s okay, honey. I’ll make it work. Just don’t work too hard.” I lay back in bed, but sleep was impossible. For five whole years. I had pinched every penny, never buying new clothes, haggling over dimes at the market. And all along, he was taking the money we were supposedly saving for our child’s future and paying off another woman’s mortgage. I stared at the ceiling, motionless, until the first light of dawn broke through the window. At six, my mother-in-law was already nagging me to get into the kitchen. “Clara, try to make something different for breakfast. Not just oatmeal and pickles again. Mrs. White next door says that’s not a balanced diet.” My hand tightened around the spatula. “Mom, Alex only got paid fifteen hundred this month. He said the company’s not doing well and he might get a pay cut.” “And with the baby, we have to be extra careful with our spending.” Her face fell instantly, but she quickly recovered, putting on her usual long-suffering expression. “Oh, times are tough. Clara, you’re a sensible girl. You have to stretch every dollar. We don’t have much to fall back on.” I nodded obediently. “I know, Mom. I will.” After breakfast, she left, satisfied, to go gossip with the other old ladies downstairs about how filial her son was and how obedient his wife was. I went back to our room and opened my laptop. I searched for the username “MidnightMoon” on every major social media platform. Soon enough, I found matching accounts on Instagram and Twitter. The profile picture was the same: a mirror selfie showing half a face and a long, elegant neck. The Twitter feed was a treasure trove. “Today’s afternoon tea, courtesy of a certain someone.” The picture was of desserts from a five-star hotel. “New battle armor. Can’t wait to wear it for him tonight.” The picture was of a sexy, silk nightgown. “Even though we’re divorced, he still comes whenever I call. It’s true what they say: the one who is truly loved can get away with anything.” I scrolled through post after post, a bitter taste rising in my throat. Using the locations tagged in her posts, I quickly pinpointed where she lived: The Sterling Residences. It was one of the city’s most exclusive high-rises, just three subway stops from Alex’s office. No wonder he was always “working late.” I created a burner account and followed Zoe, beginning my silent surveillance. Just as I was about to close the page, she posted something new. “This is what security feels like.” The picture was of a car key. A Porsche. The background was a pair of hands I knew all too well. Alex’s hands. My eyes locked onto the wedding ring on his finger. It was the one we bought when we got married. It wasn’t expensive, but we’d had a promise of eternal love engraved on the inside. How ironic. I saved the picture, then took off my own ring and threw it into the back of a drawer. Alex, since you’re so generous, I can’t be stingy either. This little gift you’ve given me… I promise I’ll return the favor, with interest. 2. When Alex came home that evening, he looked as exhausted as ever. “Clara, I’m dead. I was in meetings all day, barely had time to eat.” He collapsed onto the sofa, waiting for me to serve him. I brought him a glass of water and sat down beside him. “Honey, the baby’s one-month milestone is coming up. I was thinking we should get him a life insurance policy.” Alex’s brow furrowed. “Insurance? Doesn’t he have basic health coverage? We don’t have extra money for that right now.” I had expected this. “It won’t cost us anything now. My friend from college works at an insurance company, and they have a promotion. If we register our information, we can get a free accident policy for him. It’s completely free.” The word “free” smoothed the wrinkles from his forehead. “Oh. Well, in that case, fine. What do they need?” “Photos of the front and back of your ID, and your bank card number, just for registration.” Without a hint of suspicion, he pulled his ID and his debit card—the one his salary was paid into—from his wallet. “Hurry up and take the pictures. I need to go shower.” He tossed them on the coffee table and went into the bathroom with his phone. The moment the water started running, I snatched the cards and took photos. Then, I opened the official tax portal app on my phone. I used his ID number and phone number to attempt a login. It required a verification code. I walked to the bathroom door and knocked lightly. “Honey, the insurance company just sent a verification code to confirm your identity. Did your phone buzz?” His annoyed voice came from inside. “It’s in my pants pocket. Just grab it and look, but don’t go snooping.” “Got it.” I pulled his phone from his pants, which were hanging on the back of the door. I entered the code. Login successful. My finger swiped across the screen, tapping on “Income and Tax Details.” I had prepared myself, but when I saw the number, my heart still skipped a beat. Monthly Income: $20,000. Annual Bonus: $100,000. And that wasn’t including his other allowances or retirement contributions. His take-home pay alone was over half a million a year. And for five years, the amount he brought home was a steadfast, unchanging fifteen hundred dollars a month. Where did the rest go? The answer was painfully obvious. My hands were ice-cold. I quickly took screenshots, saving his income details for every single year, sent them to myself, and then deleted the chat history. After all that, I put the phone back in his pocket. The shower was still running. I stared at the dense columns of numbers on my phone, and the hatred in my eyes felt like it could burn a hole through the screen. Half a million a year. That was two and a half million dollars over five years. Money that should have been used to improve our lives, to educate our child. Instead, it had all been transformed into Zoe’s condo, her car, and her luxury goods. I immediately called a friend who was a lawyer. “This is a classic case of fraudulent transfer of marital assets,” she told me. “You can get it back. The hard part is proving the money went to a third party. Income statements aren’t enough. You need the transaction records.” Alex was cunning. I never got to touch his phone, and he surely deleted his records regularly. Bank statements could only be obtained in person, with his ID. I didn’t have his authorization. I couldn’t get them. Unless… An idea sparked. Zoe’s obsession with showing off. If she loved posting her life online so much, I would let her post to her heart’s content. 3. For the next few days, I was the perfect, gentle wife. I didn’t complain about the measly fifteen hundred dollars. I even went out of my way to cook Alex’s favorite meals. He lapped it up, and his guard slowly came down. “Honey, you’ve been so sweet lately. Is there something you want from me?” he asked casually over dinner, chewing on a pork rib. His mother cut in from the side. “That’s how a woman should be after having a child. Settle down. This is how a proper wife acts.” I smiled and put another piece of meat on Alex’s plate. “Actually, honey, I did want to talk to you about something.” Alex paused. “What is it? If it’s about money, the answer is no. I’m broke.” “It’s not about money,” I said, watching his expression carefully. “I was just thinking, this apartment is too small. It’ll be cramped when the baby gets older. Maybe we could look for a bigger place? My parents said they could help with a down payment.” The moment I said “bigger place,” his face changed. “What are you talking about? What’s wrong with this place? Your parents help with the down payment, but who pays the mortgage? Me! Do you have any idea how much pressure I’m under?” He slammed his chopsticks on the table, his voice rising. “Clara, don’t be so materialistic. Stop dreaming about things we can’t have.” I looked down, feigning hurt. “I was just suggesting it. Why are you so angry? Fine, we won’t move.” His mother chimed in to support him. “Exactly, Clara. Alex works himself to death out there every day. Don’t add to his stress. This place might be old, but it’s a home.” Seeing me back down, Alex’s expression softened, but he was still annoyed. “Alright, just eat. And don’t bring up such unrealistic ideas again.” After dinner, Alex went to the study, claiming he had to work. I knew he was video-chatting with Zoe. I went to our bedroom, picked up my phone, and logged into my burner account. I found the viral thread. It was now the number one trending topic, with over ten thousand replies. Zoe was still in the comments, arguing with people, basking in the glow of their envy and hate. I posted a reply: “You’re so full of it. Men are too smart these days to give their entire thirty-grand salary to an ex. Unless you’re his mother. You’re probably just some keyboard warrior living out a fantasy.” It was a classic troll move, but for someone as vain as Zoe, it was the perfect bait. Sure enough, five minutes later, she replied. “LOL, the jealousy is real. Just because you couldn’t land a good man doesn’t mean every guy is a loser like your husband.” I fanned the flames. “All talk. Where’s the proof? Show us the transaction records. Bet you Photoshopped them. I could make a hundred of those myself.” My comment immediately drew a crowd of onlookers. “Yeah, post the receipts!” “Pics or it didn’t happen.” “I think she’s making it up too. No man is that stupid.” Zoe was clearly enraged. To prove her irresistible charm, to shut me—the hater—up, she actually did it. She posted the screenshots. She’d blacked out some of the names and account numbers, but the dates and amounts were crystal clear. A transfer of $30,000 on the 15th of every month. Another transfer of $5,000 on the 20th. Some even had memos: “For my baby to buy clothes,” “For my baby’s new car.” I saved every single image. Then, using the text notifications from my own banking app, I cross-referenced the transaction times with Alex’s salary deposits. A perfect match. Down to the minute. Every single transfer was made immediately after Alex’s paycheck hit his account. This was the smoking gun. I left one last comment on her thread: “Wow, you’re amazing. He really is the man of the century. I hope you can keep smiling forever. Just be sure you never have a reason to cry.” She replied with an arrogant emoji. “Don’t worry, I’ll be happy for the rest of my life. As for jealous trolls like you, you can stay rotting in the mud.” I turned off my phone, feeling a profound sense of satisfaction. Next Saturday was our son’s 100-day party. Alex, always concerned with appearances, had booked a high-end hotel and invited dozens of relatives, friends, and colleagues. He wanted to make it a grand affair, to show everyone how perfect his family life was. Oh, it would be a grand affair, alright. It would be the most unforgettable party of his entire life. 4. The day of the 100-day party was bright and sunny. A large archway at the hotel entrance read, “Celebrating 100 Days of Our Beloved Son, Leo.” Alex was at the door, dressed in a sharp suit, his hair slicked back, greeting guests with a beaming smile. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he was the guest of honor. My mother-in-law wore a brand-new, dark red dress, her face crinkled in a permanent smile as she bragged to everyone about her handsome grandson and successful son. I stood to the side, holding our baby, watching their pathetic performance with a sense of bitter amusement. Their outfits must have cost a few thousand, at least. Alex really had spared no expense to keep up appearances. Just then, my phone vibrated. A notification from a “favorite.” I glanced at it. Of course, it was Zoe. She had posted a photo on Instagram, her location tagged at the coffee shop right below the hotel. The picture was of a latte with delicate foam art. The caption read: “It’s enough to just watch you be happy from afar. Even if I can’t stand by your side, my heart is always with you.” The absolute nerve, coming here to taunt me in person. And right below her post was a “like” from Alex. For a second, I almost laughed out loud. What a tragic, beautiful love story. But after today, I wondered if this perfect couple would have anything left to smile about. The guests continued to arrive, and soon the banquet hall was full. Relatives from both sides of the family, Alex’s bosses and colleagues—everyone was in high spirits, offering their congratulations. “Clara, you’re so lucky to have such a family-oriented husband.” “Yes, Alex is a good man. So hardworking and reliable.” I smiled and nodded, my eyes growing colder with each fake compliment. My mother-in-law came over and gave me a little shove. “Don’t just stand there like a statue. When it’s time for the toast, you’d better look happy. Don’t you dare pull a long face and embarrass Alex.” I turned to look at her, the old woman who had once criticized my every move and was now an accomplice in her son’s deception. “Mom,” I said suddenly. My voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the din of the hall with startling clarity. “What is it?” she asked impatiently. I stared directly into her eyes and asked, enunciating every word, “The thirty thousand dollars a month Alex gives to Zoe for her mortgage—did you really not know, or were you just pretending not to know?”

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