At 2:00 AM, our Student Rep, Brad, tagged me in the class GroupMe. [Student ID ending in 0089 must report for the 800-meter fitness assessment. Absence will result in an automatic failure.] I woke up instantly. Yesterday, the lottery had picked my roommate, Tiffany. How did the number suddenly change to mine overnight? I told Brad I had just been discharged from the hospital and couldn’t run half a mile. He accused me of slacking off. “The lottery picked you. If you don’t show up, enjoy the disciplinary mark on your permanent record.” So, on the day of the test, I showed up. I ran ten seconds, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed with a deafening thud right in front of the State Senator who was visiting campus. The next day, Brad, the Dean, and the entire administration were in a total panic. 1 At 2:00 AM, the vibration of my phone jolted me awake. It was a notification from the class GroupMe. Brad, our Student Rep, had tagged me. I rubbed my eyes, reading the message twice in disbelief. [Student ID ending in 0089, report to the track at 2 PM sharp for the mandatory physical assessment. Attendance is non-negotiable.] I stared at the screen. 0089. That was me. But I vividly remembered the lottery results from yesterday. The ID selected was 0088. That belonged to Tiffany, my roommate and the class Social Chair. How did the number shift by one digit overnight? I scrolled up to check yesterday’s logs. Conveniently, all messages regarding the lottery had been deleted by an admin. Only the new notification remained. Run an 800-meter dash? Absolutely not. Two days ago, I had an emergency appendectomy. The doctor explicitly told me: No strenuous exercise. Asking me to run 800 meters wasn’t a test; it was a beautifully orchestrated attempt at manslaughter. I didn’t want Brad to go to jail for murder, so I messaged him privately. [Brad, I literally just got out of surgery for my appendix. I can’t run. Please redraw the name.] Seconds later, Brad posted a new announcement in the main chat, using a pinned message so everyone would see. [The list has already been submitted to the Dean’s office. No substitutions. No exceptions.] Then, he replied to my DM: [The lottery picked you. Stop making excuses. If you aren’t there, I’m reporting you for truancy.] My grip on the phone tightened. I turned to the other bed in my dorm. Tiffany was awake, scrolling on her phone. “Tiffany,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “Yesterday, you were the one picked for the run. Did Brad make a mistake?” 2 Tiffany didn’t even look up from applying her lip gloss. “There’s no mistake. It was always you. Just run fast and don’t embarrass our class, okay?” I looked at my other two roommates. They avoided my eyes. “Yeah, Sarah, it was you yesterday. Just suck it up.” “If you skip, you’ll get a disciplinary strike. You know how hard those are to expunge. Just jog it.” I almost laughed out loud. Asking a girl with fresh stitches in her abdomen to run half a mile? This wasn’t a mistake. This was a setup. Brad and Tiffany were dating. He was obviously swapping the numbers to save his girlfriend from sweating, expecting me to just eat the loss. Well, I wasn’t going to play nice. 3 Early the next morning, I went straight to our Academic Advisor, Ms. Perkins. I explained that I was post-op and couldn’t run. Ms. Perkins didn’t even look at my paperwork. She just sighed, annoyed. “Sarah, Brad already briefed me. The lottery is fair and random. You refusing to participate shows a lack of school spirit.” “If our class fails the participation metric because of you, it affects the whole department’s funding. Do not be selfish.” “And don’t try to fake sick. Do you know how many students claim they have ‘appendicitis’ before the fitness test? It’s a cliché.” I slammed my hospital discharge papers and the bill onto her desk. “Is a bill for $15,000 a cliché, Ms. Perkins?” She glanced at it and waved her hand dismissively. “I’ve seen Photoshop before. The school takes this test seriously. Unless you have a note from the Surgeon General himself, you are running.” My blood pressure skyrocketed. Normally, getting a medical exemption requires a bureaucratic nightmare of paperwork that takes weeks. I had gone to the ER off-campus. She was walling me off. Since the official route was blocked, I went to the battlefield: the GroupMe chat. [ @Brad : There is no record of the drawing in the chat. Did you perform this ‘lottery’ in your dreams?] Two minutes later, Brad posted a photo. It was a wrinkled piece of paper with “0089” scribbled on it in sharpie. It proved nothing. He could have written it five seconds ago. [Random selection. Fair and square. If anyone has a problem, DM me.] Tiffany immediately chimed in: [This is a chance to show our class pride! Everyone needs to cooperate with the Student Reps.] “Cooperate?” I laughed. At the start of the semester, Brad and Tiffany skipped a mandatory lecture to go on a date, forgetting to submit our class’s group project. The professor failed the whole class on that assignment. Brad had given a tearful apology then, promising to “do better.” I guess “better” meant forging documents. I opened the Google Sheet where the class roster was stored. It was shared with everyone. I checked the “Version History.” I took a screenshot of the edit made at 2:03 AM and posted it to the group. [Brad, yesterday the selected ID was 0088—Tiffany. Why did the spreadsheet get edited at 2 AM to change it to 0089?] [Does Excel have a mind of its own now?] Brad didn’t panic. He replied instantly: [Tiffany has been working tirelessly organizing the Fall Formal. As Student Rep, I used my discretion to rotate the duty to the next person on the list to prevent burnout.] Working tirelessly? Yesterday, Tiffany posted twenty Instagram stories of herself kayaking at the lake. I screenshotted her Instagram and dropped it in the chat. [Kayaking all day looks exhausting. Glad she has the energy to type in the chat, though.] The group went silent. Tiffany, humiliated, finally snapped in the chat: [The list is finalized! It cannot be changed! If you don’t show up, it’s on you!] 4 At 1:00 PM, Ms. Perkins called me into her office again. She adjusted her glasses, looking at me with pure disdain. “You students are so fragile. ‘Snowflakes,’ as they say. This test is critical. If you had an issue, you should have said something before the list was submitted to the Dean.” “I tried,” I said. “Brad changed it overnight.” She rolled her eyes. “You need to learn to support your leaders. Go get ready.” She grabbed her purse and trotted out. Everyone knows the 800-meter run is the worst. Nobody wants to do it. If I managed to get out of it now, someone else would have to be picked last minute. Brad had set me up so that if I quit, the class would hate me. I walked back to my dorm. I turned off the lights and climbed into bed. Who cares about the 800 meters? Let the class score a zero. If I fail, I’m the only one in trouble. If the class fails, the Advisor loses her bonus. Let them burn.

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I was reborn on the day my fiancée embezzled company funds to buy a lavish gift for her “first love.” In my past life, I bankrupted myself to fill the hole she dug. This time, I didn’t. Instead, I quietly handed the evidence over to the police. During the week she was held for investigation, I broke off our engagement and vanished from her world completely. In my previous life, I spent thirty years giving her everything. In return, she never smiled at me once. She accused me of trapping her into motherhood and tried to hurt our innocent daughter multiple times. When the earthquake hit, I held up a slab of concrete to save them, crushing myself in the process. After they were rescued, she stopped the emergency team from searching for me. My daughter, whom I cherished like a pearl for twenty years, called him “Dad.” “If you hadn’t used money to force Mom to marry you, our family would have been together years ago!” And my wife, Clara, threw herself into his arms, weeping tears of joy. “Finally. We can be together openly.” So, given a second chance, I decided to grant their wish. 1 “Caleb, do you have any cash right now? Can you transfer me $500,000? Consider it an advance on the wedding costs!” The familiar, frantic voice on the phone snapped me awake. In my last life, when I hesitated, Clara stole the money from her company accounts. When she got caught, she cried and begged me to save her. I couldn’t bear to see her go to prison so young. I emptied my savings, sold my assets, and even borrowed from loan sharks to pay it back. Only later did I find out she hadn’t taken the money for a family emergency. She took it to buy a luxury watch for her high school sweetheart, Travis, just to show off. This time, I wasn’t going to be the fool. I hung up the phone. Then, I called her company’s HR department and tipped them off about the missing funds. Sure enough, the next day, Clara was taken away by the police for embezzlement. A colleague at my office looked at me cautiously. “Caleb, I heard from the boss that if Clara pays back the money, they won’t press charges. She’s your fiancée… are you going to help her? If not, she’s looking at prison time.” I shook my head, my face a mask of regret. “I want to, but I’m powerless. Half a million isn’t a small amount. Even if I sold both my kidneys, I couldn’t come up with that much cash.” My colleague nodded sympathetically. “Yeah, that’s true.” After he left, memories of my past life flooded back. I had destroyed my financial future to save her. Her parents were so grateful they pushed up the wedding date. But Clara? She believed I had orchestrated the whole thing to force her into marriage. To get revenge, she carried on an affair with Travis behind my back for decades. She even had a daughter with him—a daughter I raised as my own, loved with all my heart. And that same daughter was the one who told the rescue workers to stop looking for me. She stood there and said, “He used money to separate my mom and dad. He’s the reason we couldn’t be a family. He deserves to die.” My beloved wife didn’t correct her. Instead, she joined in. “Caleb, if you hadn’t emotionally blackmailed me, I never would have married you. The only man I ever loved was Travis.” “I never forced you to help me back then. Even without you, Travis would have saved me.” “Do you know why I hated being close to you? Every touch made me sick. You stole thirty years of my life. Now, my daughter and I just want to be with Travis.” Then they walked away, arm in arm with him, a perfect, happy family. I lay under the rubble, filled with rage, despair, and grief, until my heart gave out before help arrived. Thank god fate gave me a do-over. This time, I absolutely would not lift a finger. I wasn’t going to be the doormat. I wanted to see if Travis would actually save her, like she claimed. 2 During the few days Clara was in detention, she tried to call me constantly. I ignored every call. So, she shamelessly contacted my parents. “Clara said she just made a mistake in judgment. She invested the money hoping to make a profit for your future together.” “Caleb, you’re going to be husband and wife. You need to share the burdens. If you can help, help her. Your dad and I have some savings…” I cut my mother off. “Mom, Clara is lying to you. She stole that money for another man.” I told her everything. My mother was silent for a long time. “But… we watched Clara grow up. Could there be a misunderstanding?” “No misunderstanding, Mom. Don’t worry about it.” After hanging up, I booked a month-long cruise for my parents. If they weren’t here, they wouldn’t be caught in the middle of this mess. I didn’t expect to see Clara again so soon. Apparently, she signed an agreement with her company promising to repay the funds within two weeks, so they temporarily dropped the charges. I ran into her at a mutual friend’s gathering. Everyone avoided the topic, but the looks they gave us were awkward. I didn’t care. But when I met Clara’s gaze, filled with pure hatred, a chill went down my spine. My gut told me: She was reborn, too. Just as the conversation picked up, the door to the private room was kicked open. Travis stormed in, glaring at me. “Caleb! Are you even a man? Your fiancée was locked up, and you didn’t even visit her!” “It’s a good thing you aren’t married yet, or you would have ruined her life!” I glanced at the furious man, then at Clara. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. The tenderness in her gaze was undeniable. In thirty years of marriage, she never looked at me like that. Sure, she would pretend when she needed something. Like when she begged me to let Travis stay in my rental property for free. Or when she asked for our savings to fund his “startup.” Or when she asked me to donate part of my liver to him. Her love for him was never hidden. I just chose not to see it. I thought if I was good enough to her, she would eventually love me back. I forgot that you can’t warm a heart made of stone. My silence infuriated Travis. He grabbed my collar. “Did you hear me?!” “Clara is your fiancée! Are you really going to watch her go to jail? Are you human?” The room started whispering. “Caleb usually seems so devoted. I can’t believe he vanished the second she got in trouble.” “Husband and wife are birds of a feather, but they fly apart when disaster strikes.” I finally understood why Travis was here. He and Clara were using public pressure to force me to pay. Unfortunately for them, the reborn Caleb didn’t give a damn about public opinion. I shoved Travis away. My voice was ice cold. “You seem a lot more worried than I am. Which makes sense, considering my fiancée embezzled that money to buy you a gift.” 3 The room went dead silent. Every eye turned to Clara and Travis. Clara’s face cycled through several colors. She looked at me with open disgust. “You knew.” I looked at her calmly. “If I didn’t know, were you planning to trick me into paying it back?” In my past life, I didn’t find out the truth until after the wedding. Travis had shown up at our new house, slipping a diamond ring onto Clara’s finger right in front of me. “Caleb, you don’t mind, do you? Since you technically paid for it.” That was when I learned her “investment” story was a lie. My parents and I had sold everything to pay for a ring for another man. When I confronted her, she said it was the price I had to pay for separating them. Fine. This time, I wish them a lifetime of togetherness. I thought exposing the truth would shut them up. Instead, Travis pointed a finger in my face. “Caleb, you’re scum!” “Clara only bought that stuff because you said you liked it! She wanted it for your wedding bands!” “Now that she’s in trouble, you’re trying to pin it on us to save yourself?” Clara looked at me with teary, accusatory eyes. I knew I never said I liked any ring. But our friends didn’t know that. Their gazes shifted. “Caleb always seemed like a nice guy… I can’t believe he’s this shady.” “Poor Clara. Stuck with a guy like that.” “Clara, we’ve known you for years. We believe you.” “Break up with him, girl. He’s trash.” Everyone was comforting her. Clara thanked them, sobbing. In that moment, I was the villain. The betrayer. The scumbag. But in my last life, I cherished her for thirty years. What did I do wrong? Why did I deserve that ending? I collected myself. I ignored their performance. Real friends wouldn’t doubt me based on a few lies. The ones who did weren’t worth keeping. Seeing I wasn’t cracking, Travis got desperate. As I lifted my glass of juice, he slapped it out of my hand. It shattered on the floor. “Caleb! You ruined Clara’s life, and you’re sitting here drinking juice?!” I was tired. I looked up at him. “Clara stole money for you. The auction items went to you. How did I ruin her?” Travis sneered. “If you didn’t want the rings, we never would have gone to the auction!” “And those items are in your house, not mine!” “You claim you love her, but you’re throwing her to the wolves. Aren’t you afraid of karma?” Clara stood up and slapped me. Hard. “Caleb, I am so disappointed in you. The engagement is off!” Her friends jumped in. “Breaking up isn’t enough, Caleb. You caused this mess, you have to fix it.” “Yeah, if the items are yours, how can you let a woman pay for them? Don’t be a leech.” “If she goes to jail, how will you live with yourself?” I ran my tongue over my stinging cheek. I looked up and met Clara’s triumphant gaze. She thought having a crowd meant she won? I turned on the TV in the room and connected my phone. A video started playing. It was security footage from the auction house parking lot. Clara and Travis walking out, arm in arm. “Travis, are you happy tonight?” “Happy. But Clara… how are you going to pay back the company?” “Don’t worry. I have Caleb. He’s an idiot. I’ll cry a little, beg a little, and he’ll find a way to get the money.” “Clara, you’re so good to me…” They kissed. Passionately. Clara’s face went white. I smirked. “I accept your proposal to break off the engagement. After all, I don’t want to be an idiot.” I turned and walked out. 4 The first thing I did after waking up in this timeline was secure that footage. It cost me a favor, but it was worth it. I left the silent room behind. The video was damning. The friends who had defended her looked sick. Someone laughed bitterly. “So we aren’t friends, we’re just tools?” “Looks like Caleb wasn’t the only idiot.” “Clara, maybe spend less time plotting and more time figuring out how to stay out of prison.” They left, one by one. Only Clara and Travis remained. Clara’s eyes were red with hate. Travis looked panicked. I texted both our parents, informing them the engagement was off. I didn’t do it in person because I knew Clara’s parents would never approve of Travis. Travis was an orphan with no job, living off Clara. Now Clara was half a million in debt. Even if she sold the items—which had been bought at a huge markup—she’d only recoup half. The rest would bankrupt her parents. Without money, their “true love” would crumble. In my past life, she resented me because she thought they could live on love alone. So this time, I stepped aside. Let them try. Clara was frantically trying to sell the luxury goods, but lowball offers were making her and Travis fight constantly. She didn’t come to me. But her parents did. “Caleb, we know Clara made a mistake. We apologize on her behalf.” “She was just confused. Can you forgive her this once?” They looked ten years older. To be fair, her parents had always treated me like a son. “Uncle, Auntie, I can’t accept your apology. Clara didn’t make a mistake; she just doesn’t love me.” “Forcing us together will only make us miserable.” Clara’s mom wept, grabbing my hand. “But Caleb, you’ve always loved her! And she likes you too, she just doesn’t realize it yet!” I gently pulled my hand away. “Auntie, I did love her. But once I knew her heart belonged to someone else, I let go.” “I grew up with her. I just want her to be happy.” Her father sighed. “Forget it. They aren’t meant to be. Let’s go.” I drove them home. Just as I was leaving, Clara and Travis arrived, holding hands. Seeing me, Clara’s face froze. She rushed over and shoved me away from her door. “What are you doing here? Here to laugh at me?” “Or did you regret it and come to suck up to my parents?” Looking at her, I felt nothing. No anger, no love. Just… pity.

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I saw a post online that stopped me in my tracks. “My wife is obsessed with me and she hasn’t done anything wrong, but she’s useless to me now. How can I make her leave the marriage with absolutely nothing? Advice needed!” Someone in the comments called him heartless. The original poster replied: “Marriage is a business transaction. I didn’t make her disappear. That’s already my greatest kindness!” I froze. The wife in the post sounded exactly like me. While he was in the shower, I secretly checked his phone. The post was his. I wiped his leather shoes meticulously, not shedding a single tear. But when I thought of my daughter, I coughed up a mouthful of blood. 1 I dated Ethan for four years and have been married to him for sixteen. Looking in the mirror, my hair is thinning, my figure is bloated. I look sixty, not forty. All these years, I supported my husband and raised our child, managing every detail of the household. My black hair turned gray; my smooth face became haggard. Our child is still in high school, yet he wants me to leave with nothing. I quietly wiped the blood from my hand and continued polishing his shoes. Ethan’s voice echoed from the bathroom: “Hey, get me some underwear!” I don’t know when it started, but he stopped calling me by my name or even “honey.” I quickly grabbed a pair of silk boxers for him. Ethan is extremely picky about what touches his skin. Most of his underwear is made of expensive silk. Meanwhile, I wear the cheapest clearance rack clothes I can find. Ethan dried his hair as he gave me orders: “Clean up the bathroom!” The bathroom was a disaster, as always. His dirty clothes were balled up in the sink. A sock and his old underwear were on the floor. The toilet wasn’t flushed, and the stench of urine hung in the air, with droplets on the seat. I have a sensitive nose and I’m a neat freak. “Can you flush the toilet next time?” “What’s the big deal? I give you so much money every month, you can’t do this one thing?” He gives me $500 a month. Just enough for groceries and basic utilities. Yet he acts like a king at home, throwing things everywhere, expecting me to clean up after him. I developed frozen shoulder, mastitis, and chronic stomach pain. Whenever I felt sick and wanted to see a doctor, he frowned: “You’re so dramatic. You do nothing at home but still manage to get sick!” So I endured the pain. No doctors, no medicine. This time, the pain was unbearable. I secretly went to the hospital for a checkup. It was breast cancer. Ethan didn’t know any of this. Right now, he was lying on the sofa playing on his phone, smiling ear to ear. “Ethan, do you remember the promise you made me years ago?” Ethan’s smile vanished, his voice icy: “You’re old enough to stop dreaming. Are you annoying or what?” I glanced at his screen. He had just tipped a pretty livestreamer $1,000. I lowered my eyes. “You said when our daughter started high school, you’d buy me health insurance. Can I have some money for that?” He looked disgusted. “Back payments for insurance would cost at least $20,000. I need money for stocks right now. Where would I get extra cash?” “Then… can we buy a cochlear implant? So our daughter can do speech therapy…” Our daughter lost her hearing as a child. If she gets speech therapy soon, she might have a chance to speak again. I didn’t expect him to buy me insurance. But I thought since he rejected me once, he wouldn’t have the heart to do it twice. But he rejected me again: “Enough! Stop bothering me! Go cook!” I clenched my fists. Ethan, you are so cruel. How can I trust you with our daughter? With a hardened heart and trembling hands, I crushed the sleeping pills I had prepared and mixed them into his takeout dinner. He scolded me for wasting money on takeout. I whispered an excuse about looking for a job and not having time to cook. He scoffed, burying his face in the food. “You haven’t worked in sixteen years, and you think you can do accounting? Keep dreaming! Cleaner, nanny, security guard—if you find one of the ‘Three Lows,’ you should thank God!” “And if you do find a job, I’m cutting the household allowance! I’ve supported you for years…” He kept rambling, grease on his lips, rice spraying onto the table. After eating, he sprawled on the sofa, rubbing his belly, leaving the mess for me. Suddenly, I felt sick. “The $500 you give me is barely enough for food! For a highly educated nanny who works 24/7 with no holidays, do you think $500 is enough? Why do you take it for granted that I clean up your mess?” “Jade, did you take the wrong meds today? Believe it or not, I’ll stop giving you a cent starting now!” I rolled my eyes and pretended to be distracted. Soon, the smell of burning fabric filled the room. I burned a huge hole in his silk shirt. He jumped up in anger: “Dammit! Can you do anything right? I needed that for the company annual meeting tomorrow!” I quickly apologized. He cursed, calling me a “useless woman,” and stormed back to the bedroom. 2 Thanks to the sleeping pills, Ethan slept like the dead that night. I used his fingerprint to unlock his phone. He was cheating, of course. With his secretary, sixteen years his junior. They said goodnight every evening. He called her “Baby,” she called him “Darling.” His monthly business trips were actually vacations with her, paid for by the company. He bought her expensive jewelry, Hermès bags, Chanel cosmetics… Every item was worth a fortune. And me, his wife? Besides my wedding ring, I didn’t own a single piece of jewelry. Whenever I envied other women for looking nice, he always said: “You stay at home all day. Who are you dressing up for?” I’m not afraid of hardship, but to be deceived and looked down on like this for years… Even worse, that woman was pregnant with his child. The day he took her for an ultrasound, I went to the hospital alone for my checkup. He cheered because she was carrying a boy. I walked ten miles home, crying in terror after my cancer diagnosis. But there was more. Ethan had been transferring assets for years. He moved money to third-party accounts—tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands. It added up to over a million dollars. How could he cry poverty and refuse to buy a $30,000 cochlear implant for his daughter? I couldn’t stand living with him anymore. That night, I pretended I found a job that required travel and moved out. In reality, I rented a cheap room in a rundown part of town. Before leaving, I secretly installed cameras in the house. Ethan probably thought I wouldn’t leave because I had no savings. But he didn’t know I had a mother who loved me with all her heart. Before she passed, she left me a nest egg: “Jade, this is my life savings. Don’t tell anyone. Unless you have no other choice, don’t touch this money!” In 2004, my mother passed away, leaving me $20,000. That money was my lifeline now. In college, I was a top student in Financial Management and a certified CPA. If I hadn’t quit to become a full-time mom, I would be a senior partner by now. No use dwelling on the past! Getting back into finance now would be incredibly hard. My daughter is deaf and mute. I need to leave her enough money so she never has to worry. I delivered food and worked odd manual labor jobs while waiting for an opportunity. It took a month to finally get an interview at an accounting firm. 3 To seize this chance, I spent my days reviewing accounting principles. During lunch, I watched the home security feed while I ate. Since I moved out, Ethan brought that woman home constantly. Sometimes their passion ignited right in the living room. What infuriated me most was that my daughter, home for the weekend, walked in on them. Ethan only yelled at her, not even noticing her bruised face. Or maybe he noticed and just didn’t care. My daughter left the house in anger. The two continued their intimate chat. “You’re reluctant to divorce your wife because she treats you well?” “She’s sick all the time. She’s useless to me now. Don’t worry, I can get rid of her with a few thousand bucks!” “What about your daughter? Is she still going to college?” Ethan frowned. “She’s deaf and mute. What future does she have in school? Getting her married off early is the real priority!” The woman sat up straight. “I have a nephew. His family is quite wealthy, though he’s a bit… slow. He’d be a good match for your daughter. Should we set them up?” Your idiot nephew is a good match for you, why don’t you try him? I was shaking with rage. I thought Ethan would be angry, but he said, “Once we’re married, you can arrange her marriage however you see fit.” They laughed and rolled around on the sofa. I went cold all over. My hands shook so hard I dropped my book. Panic drowned me. If I die, will my daughter’s fate be left in the hands of this adulterous couple? I rushed to my daughter’s school. The teacher said she hadn’t been in class for two days. Her grandmother picked her up. That meant the day after she caught Ethan cheating, my mother-in-law took her. My heart was on fire. I immediately took leave and headed to Ethan’s hometown. When I arrived at the village, the sun was setting, casting a blood-red glow over everything. Before I even reached the door, I heard my mother-in-law bragging loudly: “My granddaughter is deaf and mute, but she’s pretty! Don’t look at her mom now, she used to be the school beauty! Very pretty!” Surrounded by compliments, she got even smugger: “My son is even more impressive now. He’s about to marry the Chairman’s daughter! That girl introduced a suitor for my granddaughter. The boy is a bit slow, but his family owns a big factory! Once Lily marries him, our family will really be moving up…” Blood rushed to my head. I slammed the door open. My mother-in-law was playing mahjong with three other old women. Seeing me, her eyes went wide, mouth agape. “Why are you back?” “Where is Lily? Where is my daughter?” From an inner room came frantic banging and muffled cries. It was Lily! I rushed forward, but my mother-in-law blocked me. “What are you doing? You can’t just barge into my house!” I shoved her aside and opened the door. In the woodshed, Lily was handcuffed and shackled. Her hair was matted, eyes swollen. She looked at me, crying for help. My mother-in-law hurriedly explained: “Ethan found her such a good husband, but she wouldn’t listen! She insisted on going back to school. I had to lock her up so she would agree to the match…” Slap! I hit her across the face. “You old witch! This is kidnapping!” She clutched her red cheek. “What kidnapping? Watch your mouth! Do you know how rich that family is? Does a deaf-mute girl deserve such a good family?” Slap! I hit her again. “Old witch! Who caused Lily to be deaf and mute? You have the nerve to despise her?” When Lily was two, she had a high fever. My mother-in-law, favoring boys over girls, refused to take her to a doctor and fed her “holy water” instead. By the time I found out, the fever had burned out her eardrums. She was deaf. That was the pain and regret of my life. That year, to take better care of Lily, I quit my high-paying job to become a stay-at-home mom. After all these years, this old witch didn’t feel guilty. Instead, she despised Lily for her disability. My mother-in-law had tears in her eyes, wailing: “Help! Help! My unfilial daughter-in-law is beating me!” “Who is your daughter-in-law? Didn’t you just brag that Ethan is marrying the Chairman’s daughter? Old witch, I’ve already called the police. You kidnapped Lily. Get ready for prison!” She kept babbling: “You can’t lay eggs, you can’t make money, and you dare hit me! When Ethan divorces you, go beg on the streets!” I finally understood why the Goddess of Mercy has a thousand hands. Two hands weren’t enough to slap her. Suppressing my rage, I pulled Lily out of that hellhole. At that moment, I was almost glad she couldn’t hear. She didn’t have to listen to the filth. It took a week for Lily to recover. During that time, I thought a lot. Ethan, I planned to wait until Lily finished high school to divorce you. But I can’t wait anymore. I won’t let my daughter be hurt again. 4 The next day, I filed for divorce, submitting evidence of Ethan’s infidelity and asset transfers. After his assets were frozen, Ethan found me. “Jade, who gave you the guts to divorce me? Withdraw the suit immediately! Or I won’t pay a cent for our daughter’s tuition or living expenses!” If I were truly a penniless housewife, he would have me cornered. But the money my mom left me gave me the courage to say no. “Ethan, withdrawing is impossible! You aren’t fit to be a father. You have no right to fight me for custody!” “Your daughter is deaf and mute. Only you treat her like a treasure. Jade, you don’t even have a real job. Do you think the court will give you custody? Don’t blame me for not warning you—if I get custody, I won’t let her go to college!” “Of course, if you agree to leave with nothing, I might consider letting you have her!” Lily is a girl. Since birth, she was despised by him and his mother. Especially now that his mistress is pregnant with a boy, Ethan is desperate to divorce me. With bloodshot eyes, I pointed at his nose: “Ethan, was our daughter born deaf? What right do you have to look down on her?” If his mother hadn’t neglected her, Lily wouldn’t be deaf! Years later, instead of blaming his mother, he despised his daughter! He thought I would submit. But the next day, I paid Lily’s tuition and living expenses and brought her to live with me on weekends. The partner at the firm I joined was my old classmate, Kim. With her help, once I re-passed the CPA exam, I could become a full-time employee. Lily used to be bullied at school because she didn’t have a cochlear implant. This time, I advanced my salary, added it to my mom’s legacy, and bought one for her. Receiving the gift, my daughter bounced around the cramped apartment like a little rabbit. “Mom, if I can talk normally one day… I will make lots of money, buy you a big house, make you beautiful…” I wiped my eyes. “Okay, I’ll wait for Lily to grow up…” My daughter is my untouchable scale. No one touches her! Ethan, especially not you!

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During a live broadcast for our new reality show, the strap of my top suddenly snapped. The live chat instantly exploded with hate. “Who is this nobody? She definitely did that on purpose to seduce my Caleb.” “Thirst trap.” “Pick-me girl behavior.” “Shameless! Stripping on camera to get attention.” I turned my head to look at the A-list superstar standing next to me. I decided to show his fans what actual seduction looks like. Chapter 1 As a D-list actress hovering on the edge of obscurity, I somehow landed a spot on a high-profile outdoor reality show. Rumor had it that Caleb Sterling, the top-tier, Oscar-winning heartthrob, was going to be on it. My agent, Maxine, pulled every string she had to shove me into the cast. The official lineup had four people: Tiffany, the current “It Girl” traffic magnet. Leo, a handsome idol-turned-actor. Greg, a veteran comedian and variety show staple. And me, the “who is she?” of the group. Maxine gave me a serious pep talk: “Harper, this is a once-in-a-lifetime shot. You could go viral overnight and become a star.” I looked at the show’s itinerary, nodding along, but privately, I doubted Caleb would actually show up. He never did reality TV. It was probably just the producers using his name for clout. But Maxine really must have sold her soul, because when the official livestream announcement happened, Caleb Sterling actually walked in. As soon as he appeared, the viewer count skyrocketed. After the introductions, the host started cueing the segments. Right at the start, they shuffled the standing order, placing me right next to Caleb. I felt stiff. Caleb’s fanbase was massive and terrifying. One wrong move, and I’d be canceled before I even started. To Caleb’s right stood Tiffany, the darling of the industry. The production obviously wanted to push a “shipping” narrative between them. Suddenly, I felt a slackening sensation on my chest. Then, I watched in horror as the strap of my camisole snapped and slid down my arm. Are you kidding me? Is the wardrobe budget non-existent? I, who had zero screen time until now, suddenly became the focus of the camera. My shirt was half-undone, looking precariously revealing. Caleb, who had been looking at the lens, must have heard the snap. He turned his head and looked right at me. I seriously suspected the production crew sabotaged me. Since I was the nobody, generating some scandalous heat off me wouldn’t hurt their precious stars. My top was barely hanging on. It looked bad. It looked like a “wardrobe malfunction” meant to grab headlines. As expected, the live comments went feral. They were calling me shameless. Accusing me of throwing myself at Caleb. The insults were getting creative. If you didn’t know better, you’d think I had assaulted him. I didn’t do anything! The strap broke on its own! The producers saw what was happening and didn’t cut away. They loved the drama. Screw this. I couldn’t take the disrespect. I curled my lips into a smile, turned fully toward Caleb, and pitched my voice into a sickly sweet, flirtatious register. “Caleb, honey, could I borrow that for a second?” I pointed a manicured finger at his chest. Caleb stood there in a perfectly tailored black suit, looking dapper as hell. On his lapel was a gold feather brooch. He looked at me, then calmly unpinned the brooch. His fingers were long, pale, and elegant. I took it from him with both hands, batting my eyelashes, and whispered in that same breathy voice: “Thank you.” I gave myself goosebumps. Caleb paused. “…You’re welcome.” The stream was lagging, but I glanced at the monitor. The chat was unified: Kill that pick-me girl! Chapter 2 I used the gold brooch to pin my strap back in place. Then, I lightly tugged on Caleb’s sleeve, bringing back my fake, syrupy voice. “Caleb, your pin is just so beautiful.” I just wanted to annoy the haters. I didn’t expect Caleb to turn his entire body toward me, glance at the pin on my chest, and smirk. “Keep it. It’s yours.” I have a weakness for handsome men. Especially men as unreasonably handsome as Caleb Sterling. The tone. The line. The eye contact. Crap. I think I just played myself. The stream was glitching from the traffic overload, but once it smoothed out, one comment spamming the screen caught my eye: [Mrs. Caleb Sterling]: Give my husband’s pin back, you witch! You vixen! Surprisingly high praise. “Vixen” implies I’m hot enough to ruin a life. I’ll take it. Everyone around us was throwing subtle side-eyes, but I didn’t care. I was being annoying on purpose. Caleb, however, cleared his throat and spoke into his mic, his tone calm but firm. “Let’s keep the comments civil, please.” His voice was like velvet. His rational fans immediately stepped in to control the chat. It made me feel a little guilty for trolling, so I behaved myself for the rest of the stream. I faded into the background while the stars talked. Leo, the idol guy, and Greg, the comedian, were super nice. Zero ego. Tiffany, on the other hand, was icy. She only seemed interested in talking to Caleb. Whatever. After the stream, I trended. I didn’t look, but I assumed it was bad. When I got home to pack for the actual filming, Maxine called me, sounding ecstatic. “Harper! You made it! Bad press is still press! Do you know how many followers you gained?” I had about 100k followers on Instagram before this. Mostly bots. “How many?” I asked, throwing toiletries into my bag. “Fifty thousand!” Maxine screamed. Damn. The power of Caleb. I checked my phone. Fifty thousand new followers, and my DMs were filled with red notifications. All hate mail, no doubt. I tossed the phone aside. Internet people are so dramatic. … The next morning, Maxine drove me to the meeting point. I was early; the others were still wrapping up other gigs. That afternoon, the Director, Lee, knocked on my hotel room door holding a file. I invited him in. I’m a nobody; no paparazzi care about who enters my room. “Director Lee, what’s up?” He handed me the file. It was a script. A villain script. It was a tailored “Black Road to Fame” route. He wanted me to be the designated antagonist to generate buzz. “Harper, it’s a win-win.” I looked at the script. Sure, it was a win for the show. But I didn’t want to do it. Every bullet point on the page was designed to make the internet hate me. I’ve stayed invisible in this industry specifically because I hate doing things against my conscience. “Director, let me think about it.” He nodded and left. … Right after Lee left, the Assistant Director, Miller, showed up. He had a slimy smile on his face. “Harper, aren’t you going to invite me in?” I stepped back to let him in, leaving the door wide open. “Harper, you’re so pretty. Why haven’t you blown up yet?” I thought about it seriously. “Maybe the casting directors are blind?” Miller paused, clearly not expecting that answer. He walked past me and shut the door. “I have something to show you. Better to keep the door closed.” He handed me his phone. It was a video of Director Lee entering my room and leaving twenty minutes later. The angle made it look… suggestive. I handed the phone back. “What’s your point, Miller?” “Nothing,” he smirked. “But if I leaked this, what do you think would happen?” “I’d get cyberbullied to hell,” I said flatly. Miller grinned, a predatory look in his eyes. He started unzipping his jacket. “Exactly. You don’t want people to get the wrong idea, right? Maybe we can work something out…” I watched him cold-eyed. This script was too cliché. As he tried to shrug his jacket off, I grabbed the fabric and yanked it back up, choking him slightly. Then, I gathered a mouthful of saliva and spit right in his face. “You sick pervert. Get the hell out.” I might be a D-lister, but I’m not scared of this garbage. The show hasn’t even aired. If he leaks that, he destroys the show’s reputation. The investors would eat him alive. I grabbed a heavy tripod from the corner of the room and started jabbing him toward the door. “Did a pig eat your brain?” I yelled, poking him hard in the spine. Miller yelped and scrambled into the hallway. Just as I jabbed him out the door, Caleb and his personal assistant were walking by. awkward silence. “What’s… happening?” Caleb’s assistant asked. I retracted the tripod and gave a stiff smile. “Director Miller had a stiff back. I was helping him with some… percussive therapy.” The assistant looked skeptical. “Is that so?” “Would you two like to try?” I brandished the tripod. The assistant waved his hands frantically and hustled Caleb away. Caleb didn’t say a word. He just looked at me with those unreadable eyes. That night, Maxine called me in a panic. Miller was known for holding grudges. She said he’d make my life on set a living hell. I told her to relax. I’ve been bullied for two years in this business. What’s a few more days? Chapter 3 After the drama, the show finally started filming. The title was The Journey. The gimmick was that the itinerary was decided by live viewer votes. The director said “anything goes.” The first stop was the Great Smoky Mountains. I expected scenic views. Instead, the van drove us deeper and deeper into the sticks until I thought I was back in my grandma’s village. I sat with Leo. He was bouncing off the walls, excited about the “countryside.” “Aren’t you curious, Harper? Have you ever seen mountains like this?” I looked at the winding dirt road. “Curious? It feels like I’m visiting my relatives.” The live chat scrolled on the monitor in the van. “Leo is so cute!” “Harper is actually kinda funny lol.” We arrived at a farmhouse. Cameras were everywhere. We split into teams based on shirt color. Pink team: Me, Leo, Greg. Blue team: Caleb, Tiffany, and a new guest singer. The Director shouted through a megaphone. “Welcome to Gold River Village! The theme voted by the netizens is ‘Agriculture’!” “Since it’s not harvest season, your task is… catching crawfish in the mud.” The team with the most crawfish gets a feast. The losers get nothing and have to do the dishes. Leo was thrilled. He jumped straight into the mud pit. Tiffany looked horrified. “Harper, you’re so brave. I’m scared of the mud.” I reached down, grabbed a squirming crawfish, and shoved it toward her face. “Don’t be scared, Tiff. Here, a gift.” She screamed. I decided to stay away from her. I wandered over to Caleb’s section. He was surprisingly good at this. His bucket was half full. Mine was empty. I followed him around, trying to learn his technique. Suddenly, I saw a hand reach into my bucket. “Hey! What are you doing?” Caleb dumped my meager catch into his bucket, grabbed the handle, and sprinted away. “Stealing your crawfish!” he yelled back. I stood there, frozen. I thought Caleb Sterling was the cool, mysterious type. Who is this bandit? “Caleb! You brat!” I roared and took off after him. The cameras swiveled. Caleb was surprisingly fast in the mud. The chat went wild. “Wait, is this the real Caleb?” “I’ve been a fan for 10 years and I’ve never seen him run like a thief.” “I take back what I said about Harper, this is hilarious.” I was wheezing. Leo, covered head to toe in mud, watched us run laps. “What’s happening?” “He robbed me!” I shouted. The game ended. Caleb won. I lost. Winners ate inside. Losers stood outside watching. I was starving. My stomach growled audibly. Caleb walked out with a bowl of savory stew. The smell was heavenly. I closed my eyes. Out of sight, out of mind. “Want some?” I opened my eyes. Caleb was holding the bowl right under my nose. I hesitated, then nodded shamefully. He immediately pulled the bowl back. “But you lost. We have to respect the rules.” I mentally cursed him in five languages. Caleb Sterling. What a jerk. Chapter 4 The livestream ended for the night. We were staying in local farmhouses. It was past midnight. I was tossing and turning. I was angry and hungry. Why didn’t I pack snacks? I couldn’t take it. I got up to scavenge. The cameras were off. I crept out to the courtyard and bumped into a dark figure. “Caleb? Are you haunting the place?” After the mud incident, I dropped all formalities. He was half a head taller than me. He turned, his beautiful eyes catching the moonlight. “What are you doing?” “Admiring the moon,” I lied. “It’s beautiful tonight.” “I thought maybe someone was hungry.” “Mind your business.” He walked a few steps, then turned back. “Come on.” “Where?” “To find food. I’m hungry.” My jaw dropped. I watched him eat that whole bowl of stew! But hunger won. I followed him. “Where are we going in the pitch dark?” “Follow me.” He used his phone light. We hopped a fence and ended up in a cornfield. “Go ahead,” he said, snapping a cob off a stalk and handing it to me. “Stealing? Again?” Caleb gently bonked me on the head with the corn. “You want to run without paying?” “I mean…” “If you run, I’ll bring a roast chicken to visit you in prison.” I rolled my eyes. Who started the rumor that he was high-maintenance? We grabbed a few ears of corn. He left some cash under a rock near the farmer’s porch on the way back. “My assistant will come explain tomorrow,” he muttered. Next up: Top Celebrity Roasts Corn for Me. We sat by a small fire in a clearing. I ate two whole ears. Caleb ate half of one. “I thought you were starving?” He just smiled. … We snuck back just before dawn. The next morning, the director announced a change of plans. “Wilderness Survival.” We had to hike up a mountain to visit a famous temple, then head into the woods. Halfway up the mountain, I was dying. We took a break. Miller immediately ran over to Tiffany with a folding chair and a parasol. “Tiff, careful of the sun. Can’t have our star getting a tan.” I sat in the dirt under a tree and rolled my eyes. Caleb walked over, sat next to me, and opened his umbrella. I shamelessly scooted into the shade. He handed me a portable fan. “I owe you one,” I said, fanning myself. “Just be my servant for life,” he deadpanned. His assistant, Ben, handed him another fan. Tiffany’s assistant piped up loudly: “Director Miller is so sweet. Harper, didn’t he bring you an umbrella?” I hadn’t even responded when Caleb muttered, “Dramatic.” I gave him a thumbs up. Then I pitched my voice up to match the assistant’s tone. “Maybe the Director just prefers the other girls. Besides, my skin isn’t as delicate as theirs. I can handle the light.” The cameraman looked like he didn’t know whether to film or run. Later, Ben sat next to me. “Harper, are you married?” “Nope. I’m 24.” “Boyfriend?” “Nope. Why are you so nosy?” “What a coincidence,” Ben grinned. “Caleb isn’t married and has no girlfriend.” I blinked. “Wow. What a coincidence.” … I looked at Caleb. Pale skin, refined features, great body. Rich. Not totally terrible personality… Why am I listing his pros? Scary. “Why are you staring?” Caleb asked. “Don’t get any funny ideas.”

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1 I was on a luxury liner in international waters, trying to clear my head, when I saw my little sister trapped in the center of a poker table. Standing opposite her were the two boys she grew up with—her so-called “best friends.” They were flanking a fragile-looking girl, sneering with cold amusement. “What’s wrong, Lily? Can’t afford the buy-in? You were acting pretty tough earlier. Didn’t you demand three million from Bella for a ruined scarf?” “You can fold, sure. Just sign over your 15% stake in the family trust to Bella by tomorrow morning.” Lily’s knuckles were white, her eyes rimmed with red. Someone in the crowd laughed, loosening his tie. “Out of cash, little girl? Tell you what, take off a piece of clothing, and I’ll give you five hundred in chips.” Wolf whistles erupted around the table. “Strip it all off, and my whole stack is yours.” I stood in the shadows of the upper VIP deck, slowly twisting the signet ring on my pinky finger. I haven’t shown my face in years. It seems this trash has forgotten that even though my sister uses her father’s surname, she is still a Sterling by blood. And anyone who touches a Sterling girl pays with their life. … The executive assistant beside me held his breath, whispering cautiously, “Ms. Sterling, I’ll call the cruise manager immediately and have him apologize on his knees.” I looked down at the table, my voice icy. “No rush. Let’s see what game they’re playing first.” Anyone daring to touch my people right under my nose… none of them were getting off this boat in one piece. Down below, Brad Kingsley looked at my sister, surrounded by leering men, and smirked. “Lily, why so shy? I’ve got those private photos from your cloud. How about I sell a set to the crowd and buy you back into the game?” Before the words fully left his mouth, he tossed a flash drive to a technician. A second later, the massive LED screen lit up. High-definition photos of my sister, half-dressed and vulnerable, were projected for everyone to see. “The Rivers’ eldest daughter acts so pure, but look at that body!” “I’m already excited. Imagine her live.” Before the filthy comments could die down, Chad Thorne threw another drive onto the table, laughing darkly. “I’ve got more. If you’re too scared to strip for chips, I’ll help you out. Here’s another buy-in!” The crowd roared with approval. The atmosphere turned feverish. “You boys are generous! Giving us a free show!” Lily was trembling, tears streaming down her face. “We grew up together… how could you do this to me?” “Now you’re crying?” Brad sneered. “Where were those tears when you forced Bella to pay for that scarf?” “We’re helping you raise money. Why are you so ungrateful?” Lily tried to argue, her voice desperate. “She ruined it on purpose! That scarf was a gift from my sister…” The girl in the middle, Bella, suddenly dropped to her knees, weeping theatrically. “Lily, I know I was wrong. I’ve bet everything I have. Please, just let me go! Don’t call the bet!” Brad slammed his hand on the table. “Lily! You’re relying on your money to bully Bella to death, aren’t you?” Chad yanked Bella up from the floor, pulling her into a protective embrace. “If you dare bully Bella in front of us, don’t blame us for being heartless!” Bella sobbed softly. “Don’t blame Lily. Blame me for upsetting her.” She turned to my sister, a glint of malice in her eyes. “Lily is out of money. I heard she works eight jobs just to eat. If she doesn’t call this bet, I’ll let it go.” I laughed, a cold, sharp sound. I looked at the chips on the table. Lily had already bet everything—even the shares our grandfather privately gave her. If she folded now, she would be destitute, saddled with massive debt. I stared at Bella. She was wearing the couture gown I had custom-made for Lily. On her wrist was the Patek Philippe I sent for Lily’s birthday. Even the emerald necklace our mother left for Lily was hanging around Bella’s neck. And my own sister? She was wearing a faded, second-hand dress with a patch on the hem. Since when did a Sterling fall so low? Lily bit her lip so hard it bled. Tears carved tracks through her pale makeup. She looked ready to collapse. So, what Bella said was true. “Investigate,” I ordered sharply. My assistant vanished instantly. I’ve been abroad expanding the family empire for years. I rarely came home. But I video-called Lily every month. Why didn’t she tell me? Suddenly, Lily looked up, her voice broken. “Why? You were my childhood friends. How could you use stolen photos as chips?” Brad toyed with a stack of chips. “If you don’t want to trade, then fold. Give everything to Bella as an apology.” Chad didn’t even look up. “Cut the crap. Either trade the photos or go over to the loan sharks and strip right now!” The crowd jeered. “Strip, princess!” “Sleep with me tonight, and I’ll cover your bet!” Lily was surrounded, shaking like a leaf. Just when everyone thought she would break, she looked up. A desperate, final fire burned in her eyes. “I call!” The crowd gasped. 2 I froze, my fingers unconsciously tapping the railing. I knew Lily’s assets. What was on the table was everything she had. Watching her thin, trembling figure, my heart ached. She pulled out her phone with shaking hands, switching between a dozen loan apps. It took her a full hour to scrape together a measly hundred grand. “That’s it?” Chad sneered, slamming his wine glass down. “Bella spends more than that on a facial.” Bella covered a giggle. “Lily, just give up. I’ll be merciful.” Brad shoved his entire stack to the center. “Raise. Double it.” Lily’s face went corpse-white. “Since you’re so desperate, let me help you again…” Chad pressed a remote. The big screen shifted. It was an AI-generated deepfake video of Lily. The actions were explicit, the voice perfectly synthesized to sound like her moaning. “That sound… damn.” “I’d pay twenty million for the full set!” Lily shot up from her chair. She was vibrating with rage and humiliation, looking at the two men she once trusted. But they only had eyes for Bella, gently draping a coat over her shoulders. “Turn it off! Turn it off right now!” Lily screamed. But her voice was drowned out by the bidding war from the crowd. A waiter bowed, handing her a tablet. “Miss Rivers, would you like to sell the copyright to the video? Otherwise… you either call or fold.” Lily buried her face in her hands, sobbing. “I… I really have nothing left…” The men around her looked like hungry wolves waiting for a dying animal to drop. My knuckles cracked as I gripped the rail. I was about to go down there. But then, Lily reached into her worn pocket. She pulled out a dull, grey stone and placed it carefully on the waiter’s tray. “I’ll use this for chips…” Laughter exploded in the hall. Bella laughed so hard she shook. “Oh my god! Is she insane? Picking up a rock from the road to bet?” The waiter respectfully took the stone away. Less than three minutes later, he returned with a cart stacked neatly with fifty million in chips. “Miss Rivers. Your chips.” The hall went dead silent. Bella’s mask cracked. “That dirty rock is worth fifty million?!” Brad stood up. “You’re kidding me!” Chad kicked his chair over. “Get the appraiser out here!” 3 I narrowed my eyes. That wasn’t just a rock. That was a rough-cut, unpolished diamond seal—the Sterling family signet. It authorized the transfer of up to one hundred million dollars from the family trust. Lily would never use it unless she had no other choice. And these idiots only valued it at fifty million? Behind me, the cruise owner was kneeling on the carpet, shaking so hard his sweat was soaking the floor. He didn’t dare wipe it. Down below, the crowd was in chaos. “The appraisal confirms this is the private seal of the Sterling family of New York, valued at one hundred million,” the manager’s voice trembled over the PA. “We are discounting it to fifty million for immediate liquidity.” “The Sterlings?” Someone gasped. “Do those kids have a death wish?” Hearing the name, Bella’s eyes suddenly reddened. “Grandpa Sterling has been sick for so long… Dad gave all the family assets to me…” She turned to Lily. “Sister, I even sold a kidney. I really have no money left. We’re sisters, why are we tearing each other apart? Don’t let others laugh at us.” The wine glass in my hand shattered. “Sisters?” My assistant stepped forward, whispering. “Bella is an illegitimate daughter George Rivers acknowledged six months ago. DNA confirmed. He dotes on her.” Good. Very good. George Rivers, you have a death wish. I haven’t been home in a few years, and you dare pull this behind my back? You think I went too easy on you before? I’ll settle his account when I get back. Right now, I need to save my sister. Brad looked furious. “Lily, since you’re so vicious, don’t blame us.” “Call! Fifty million!” Brad slammed the table, only to be told he didn’t have enough chips. He and Chad exchanged a look, gritted their teeth, and signed over their family shares. “Double!” They pushed the chips to Bella. “Let’s see what you have to call that!” Bella smiled triumphantly, mouthing to Lily: You’re done. Lily was trembling, her face drained of blood. Double meant one hundred million. This cut off all her exits. If she folded, she lost everything and couldn’t leave the ship. If she called… she had nothing left to bet. A man shamelessly reached for Lily. “Hey beauty, sell the videos, you’ll have the money.” “Shameless!” Lily slapped him. “Bitch!” The man sneered. “You’ll be begging me later.” Chad played with a chip, smiling cruelly. “Want to call? Double again.” Bella finally dropped the innocent act. Her eyes were venomous. “Sell your body, sister. Even used goods like you are worth something.” A dozen men circled closer, eyes sticky and gross. “Strip! Strip! Strip!” “I’ll sign a donor agreement.” Lily’s voice was quiet, but it hit like a thunderclap. The room gasped. “Is she crazy?” “She’s giving up her life?” “Is her body worth two hundred million?” Bella screeched, “Sister, are you dreaming? Even if we sold you for parts, you aren’t worth two hundred million!” Before she finished, the waiter wheeled out a cart with two hundred million in chips. The hall erupted. “Rigged!” “I’m healthy as a horse and they only offered me five million! How is she worth two hundred?” “If we don’t get an answer, we’re trashing this boat!” 4 “Everyone, calm down.” The manager raised his hand. The big screen lit up again. Lily’s medical report was displayed. My pupils contracted. Lily was born with Golden Blood—Rh-null. The rarest blood type on Earth. Rich people would pay astronomical sums for a live donor of that blood type. From the moment she was born, I classified her medical records as top secret. I guarded that secret with my life. And now, these people had forced her to expose it. Especially the Kingsley and Thorne families. I treated them well because they grew up with Lily. And this is how they repay me? Bullying my sister for some bastard child? “Bella, don’t panic!” Brad looked grim, comforting her. “Don’t be scared. This is her last stand. We’ll strip her clean,” Chad added. The two men frowned, desperate to gather funds. They mortgaged antiques, real estate, and called loan sharks. But to beat my sister, they needed four hundred million. I watched them struggle calmly. They gritted their teeth. Not only did they make Bella sign a donor agreement, they signed their own lives away too. They scraped together six hundred million. “All in!” The two men stared at Lily with pure malice. They weren’t just trying to destroy my sister; they wanted to swallow the Rivers family and take a bite out of the Sterlings too. The dogs I raised for my sister were trying to bite the hand that fed them. Lily lost all hope. She opened her mouth several times, finally pleading with her childhood friends. “Brad, Chad… for the sake of our past, please let me go…” She was crying. The two men hesitated. They almost reached out. But Bella was faster. She slapped herself hard across the face and fell to her knees in front of Lily. “Sister! It’s all my fault! It’s because I’m poor and couldn’t pay for that scarf! I’ll be your slave… do whatever you want to me, just don’t hurt Brad and Chad!” The sympathy in the men’s eyes vanished, replaced by ice. Lily was utterly broken. She didn’t even want to check her cards. She turned to leave, a walking corpse. I signaled with my hand. My assistant slipped away. Lily didn’t make it two steps before bodyguards grabbed her and slammed her back into the chair. “Call or fold! No one leaves the table!” Security surrounded her. It was life or death. Both sides were all in. The dealer covered the hands. The room held its breath. Lily, ashen-faced, suddenly looked up toward the VIP balcony. Toward me. She straightened her spine and screamed, “I CALL! DOUBLE!” Silence. “Miss Rivers,” the waiter said coldly. “You have nothing left to bet.” Smack. A black card hit the table. Lily shouted, “I have money! I call!” Brad and Chad’s faces twisted. They stared at the card. “Lily, where did you get that? You’re broke!” Bella’s eyes were red. “Sister, don’t use a fake card. This isn’t a game. You’ll die for this!” But before she could finish, gasps filled the room. “How is that possible?” Brad and Chad jumped up, staring at the screen in disbelief. “No way…”

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I’m a human picked up by a fox-kin. The fox-kin, having just finalized the adoption papers, frowned and grabbed me by the collar, intent on giving me a bath. I struggled for my life. Frustrated, he posted a help thread online: “The little human I adopted is extremely resistant to bathing. What should I do?” Another kin replied: “These humans are perverts. If you take off your clothes and get in the tub, they’ll be willing to wash.” The fox-kin pondered for a moment, then chose to strip completely. 1 The kin who adopted me is a melancholy fox. According to him, “I was actually planning to kill myself that day, but then I met you.” “You were covered in blood, holding some suspicious lump in your hand, looking lost and contemplating taking a bite out of it.” “I really couldn’t stand it.” “You were too dirty.” “I thought, before I die, I might as well throw that thing away and wash you clean.” “At least make you less of an eyesore.” So, I was taken home by a fox. Thinking back to that day, it feels absurd. Who would have thought this fox, who looks so dignified and aloof, actually has a penchant for self-harm in private? The clean, sharp cuts on his wrists have healed into jagged scars. Seeing me stare at his wrist, he silently pulled his sleeve down. “Don’t look, it’s ugly.” “Once I clean you up and find a suitable owner, I’ll send you away.” Without hesitation, I nodded. The fox seemed a bit unhappy, staring at me wordlessly. I was brutally honest, pointing at his scars. “You don’t value your own life, so I don’t expect you to value mine.” “If I stay with you, I might end up suffering a lot.” The fox got angry. With a cold face, he chopped vegetables so loudly the house shook for a good while, then brought out a meal that looked, smelled, and tasted perfectly human. I knew better than to provoke him, so I ate quietly. Sitting across from me, the fox was so mad the tips of his ears were trembling. “You ate my food.” I didn’t even look up. “You picked me up. You’re responsible.” I don’t understand why he’s so emotionally unstable. The first day I was picked up by the fox, I curled up on the sofa and slept soundly. But in the middle of the night, the fox, sporting dark circles under his eyes, shook me awake. “Did you drug me? Why can’t I sleep?” Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was my pitiful form curled up on the sofa. I was confused. “What does your insomnia have to do with me?” The fox stared straight at me for a while. Suddenly, he opened his arms and hugged me, burying his face in my neck and inhaling deeply. He even took the opportunity to carry me to the bed in his room. I struggled. “Are you a pervert?!” “You said at dinner I wasn’t allowed in your private space, what are you doing now?!” The fox covered my mouth, silencing me. “I changed my mind.” Then he rested his chin on my shoulder and closed his eyes. A moment later, the soft sound of steady breathing came from behind me. I lay there numbly, letting him hold me, staring at the ceiling. “I give up…” Foxes. Zero trustworthiness. 2 I transmigrated into this beast world a week ago. At the time, I knew nothing, staring blankly up at the cyberpunk-style buildings. I was even clutching a freshly made burrito in my hand. After hesitating for two seconds, I decisively walked to a nearby green belt, planning to finish my breakfast before pondering the serious question of where I was. Because in my hazy memory of crossing the street at a green light, I seemed to have been hit by something. But just as I sat down, my waist tightened. “Don’t eat that. Dirty.” The next second, a cool, calm voice spoke, and a furry head leaned in close to my neck. “A… wild human?” “Mm, smells like a little human.” He sniffed, then casually tossed my burrito into a nearby trash can. Instinctively, I raised my hand and slapped him so hard his head turned. “Are you sick?!” I struggled against the restraint around my waist, looked down, and saw a fluffy white tail. The man with ears popping out of his head narrowed his eyes, touching his face as if savoring the feeling. Then. He tilted his head and offered me the other cheek. I froze, reaching out to touch those twitching ears. Warm, moving, and translucent enough in the light to show the pink of blood flow. I paused, my gaze falling on my blood-stained hands. A flash of memory hit my brain—me getting hit by a car while crossing the street. Then my eyes rolled back, and I fainted. Just as I closed my eyes, I heard the man scream in panic: “Human, don’t die—” Damn it, I must have gone crazy from working too much. I actually saw the shadow of a fox in a person. This is too weird. The fox-kin carried me to the hospital for a checkup. Originally, the fox warned me that once he cleaned the blood off me, he’d find me an owner and send me away. I saw the scars on his wrist and calmly nodded in agreement. But after one night. The fox processed the human adoption papers. 3 And so, I was adopted by the fox-kin, becoming a member of his household. After thinking about it all night, the fox decided not to die for now. He brought me home, acting all cool and indifferent along the way. “Do you have a name? Shall I give you one?” “Do you prefer ‘Good Human’ or ‘Baby Human’?” How is this any different from a human seeing a kitten on the street and cooing “Kitty kitty”? I put on a cold face and slapped away his hand. “Neither. I have my own name.” “My name is Sarah.” The fox-kin didn’t mind my rudeness; instead, he nodded good-naturedly. “I’m Asher. I’m a fox-kin. You’re my little human now, understand?” I stopped walking and emphasized, “I’m not a pet you’re raising. I’m a person.” The fox-kin tilted his head and smiled at me. “You look really cute when you’re serious. I want to kiss you.” Since sleeping while holding the human and smelling her scent last night, he figured it out. If he ignored me, there was a high probability this little human would die, so he had to live. Suddenly, I felt a warm touch on my cheek. Simultaneously, my raised hand came down. The fox-kin covered his face, muttering as he opened the door for me, “That still hurts a bit.” My expression was serious as I reiterated, “I told you, keep your hands off me!” “I really will hit you.” The fox-kin lowered his eyes, looking at me with pity and affection. “But I’m not a human, I’m a kin. Those are different concepts.” “Did I pick up a mentally challenged little human?” “But it doesn’t matter, I can raise her. The little human just needs to be healthy and happy.” Me: “…” 4 The fox who adopted me said that in my original life, I was already dead. I looked at him with disbelief. But then, a flash in my brain showed me clutching a burrito and flying through the air after being hit by a car. I swallowed the words on the tip of my tongue. I seem to really be a little bit dead… He explained: “This is the Beast World. Every human who dies by accident randomly appears here, and kin take the opportunity to pick up these intermittently dropping humans to raise.” “Humans who arrive here need to be registered for unified socialization training later to prevent stress.” “Mm… picking up a human is kind of like seeing a dirty, pitiful kitten on the road and wanting to adopt it.” “But it’s also different because here, kin and humans can be together.” “And humans who come here have a unique soothing ability that can prevent kin from going feral.” “Although it’s my first time raising a human, I’ve done a lot of research online.” I closed my eyes, terrified to imagine being raised by a fox-kin. Asher picked me up like a child and walked toward the bathroom. His tone was gentle and doting: “Alright, time for your bath.” My eyes widened in horror, and I struggled desperately, grabbing the door handle. “I can do it myself! I don’t need you to wash me!” Asher coaxed me patiently, prying my fingers off one by one. “Be good, little human, don’t squirm or you’ll fall.” “You just got here, you don’t know how to use things yet. Let me wash you.” I screamed: “Humans are autonomous! I can wash myself! I really don’t need your help—” I kicked and punched in his arms, struggling so hard I wished I could slither away into the shadows. I was harder to pin down than a pig at New Year’s.

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I have three childhood best friends. I was the only girl in our group of four. My family’s fortune had collapsed, and the elders were scrambling for a lifeline. Their brilliant plan? Marry me off to one of the boys. But Jace, the resident bad boy, swept a disgusted look over me and sneered, “No way. I like girls who are actually feminine. She’s just a bro to me.” Liam, the puppy-dog playboy, threw his hands up in mock regret. “Same here. I only see her as a big sister.” Ethan, the genius academic, was the coldest of them all. “She’s rash and dim-witted. She isn’t fit to be my wife.” Refusals, insults, humiliation. They threw them out without a second thought. My parents could only sit there, smiling awkwardly, swallowing their pride. That was the moment my heart finally went cold. So, I looked at my parents and said, “Mom, Dad, I already have a boyfriend.” Chapter 1 Jace sat with his sleeves rolled up, one arm draped lazily over the back of his chair, manspreading like he owned the place. He was joking around with Liam. Ethan, meanwhile, was staring at his phone. His long fingers swiped across the screen with indifference, the light reflecting off his glasses making him look detached and unapproachable. They were completely ignoring my parents’ desperate attempts to smooth things over. Until I dropped that single sentence. The private dining room went dead silent. Jace and Liam snapped their heads toward me in unison. Ethan finally looked up, his gaze sharp and meaningful. I pretended not to notice. I turned to my stunned parents. “You should have told me about this arranged marriage idea earlier. We could have avoided this whole embarrassing misunderstanding.” “They’re right,” I continued, my voice steady. “We grew up together, sure, but I only see them as brothers. There’s absolutely nothing romantic between us.” My parents hadn’t told me this was a setup. They were afraid I’d be too proud to come. They had carefully chosen Liam—he was two years younger than me, clingy, and we rarely fought. They thought he was the safe bet. I don’t know why the other two showed up. I was angry at my parents for blindsiding me, but mostly, I just felt a crushing ache in my chest. Back when my family still had money, my mom once asked if I liked anyone. I had looked away, refusing to answer. Mom knew immediately. She asked, with a knowing smile, if it was one of the three boys. I turned bright red and shouted at her to stop talking. She took that as a yes. But after that, I locked my feelings down tight. Even they couldn’t guess which one I actually loved. Then my dad’s investments tanked. The Sterling family fell from grace. The other three families—the “Old Money”—started distancing themselves. Mom thought that if she didn’t fight for me, given my stubborn pride, I’d never confess. So she took a risk and set up this dinner. She just didn’t expect the boys I grew up with to trample her daughter’s dignity so thoroughly. I was used to their mockery. But seeing the strained, plastic smiles on my parents’ faces, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a vice. I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood up, scanned the table with cold eyes, and said, “It doesn’t look like you guys want to eat anyway.” “Since that’s the case, let’s just call it a night.” Chapter 2 My parents went to get the car. I was about to follow when a hand grabbed my arm from behind. I spun around to face Jace. He looked pissed. He was wearing a white dress shirt unbuttoned to reveal a black tee underneath, showing off two new diamond dermal piercings on his collarbone. Trendy, wild, unrestrained. Just like him. He loomed over me, a sarcastic smirk playing on his lips. “Been a while. Your temper’s gotten worse, hasn’t it?” “I thought you took a leave of absence from school. Where’d you find this boyfriend?” “How old is he? Is he hot? Do I know him?” The questions were rapid-fire, aggressive. It sounded like concern. But I knew better. If I answered, he’d just blink those pretty eyes and tear me down, telling me I wasn’t good enough for whoever it was. It had happened too many times. I yanked my arm away, my voice rising uncontrollably. “It’s none of your business!” Jace stared at his empty hand, stunned. The smirk vanished. He frowned, his irritation growing. Liam popped out from behind Jace. He grinned, showing his canines. “Whoa, why the big reaction?” He used that sweet, boyish voice he knew people loved. It made him seem harmless. But his words were poison. “Does our Chloe really have a wild man on the side?” “Wow. Aren’t the three of us enough for you?” His grin widened as he dropped his voice. “Slutty.” Liam loved to joke that the three of them were my “harem.” As if I held some high status. As if I was the queen bee. But in our little quartet, I was the desperate one trying to fit in. I used to lie to myself. I told myself their pranks and insults were just “guy things.” They defended me from outsiders, right? We grew up together. I had to be special to them. Until that incident. That was when I realized I was just a toy to them. A clown for their amusement. I met Liam’s gaze. He was waiting for me to flinch at the insult. I stared at him blankly for a few seconds, then turned and walked away. A few steps later, a colder voice stopped me. “When are you coming back to class?” I paused but didn’t look back. It was a normal question, so I gave a normal answer. “Couple of days.” I heard Liam click his tongue in annoyance. He spoke loudly on purpose, ensuring I heard him. “Of course. She only answers him.” “But seriously,” Liam sneered, “you guys broke up ages ago. Chloe, why the special treatment?” Funny, isn’t it? Of the three, Ethan was the one who hated the idea of marrying me the most. He called me stupid. Said I wasn’t fit to be his wife. But he was the one I had actually dated. Ethan was the one who confessed to me first. Chapter 3 Unlike the generational wealth of Jace, Liam, and Ethan’s families, the Sterlings were “New Money.” My dad caught a lucky break in the tech boom and rocketed into their social circle. But behind our backs, people whispered. They called us lottery winners. Trash with cash. They said we didn’t belong. When I was little, I wanted to fight them. My dad stopped me. He told me that if we wanted to stay at the top, I had to make friends with those three boys. So, I swallowed my pride. I became the tomboy, the sidekick, the girl who laughed off every insult. I followed them from elementary school to college. I forced them to accept me. Even if my motives started out impure, after all those years, I genuinely loved them as my best friends. Then my dad’s stocks crashed. The boys started freezing me out. I finally understood that we were never equals. This time, I didn’t beg for their attention. I went to school, kept my head down, and tried to adjust to life without them. Then, I got kidnapped. It was a group of acquaintances—guys I partied with—who cornered me. They needed drug money. I recognized them. I thought it was a prank. I even laughed and offered to lend them cash. But when they demanded a ransom my family couldn’t possibly pay, I realized they were serious. They took everything valuable I had. Locked me in a warehouse for two days without water. When I heard them debating whether to sell me to human traffickers because they were too scared to call my parents, I felt a hysterical urge to laugh. It was like watching toddlers holding real guns. Absurd, but deadly. The laughter died when they stripped me naked to take photos for the “buyers.” I curled into a ball, screaming, threatening them. But they saw my fear. One guy, Kyle, used to be my friend. He crouched down, sighing while his hands roamed over me. “Chloe, forgive me. I actually really liked you. I didn’t want to do this…” I bit his finger. I bit down so hard I almost severed it. Chaos erupted. They swarmed me. And then— The warehouse door crashed open. A beam of sunlight cut through the darkness, blinding me. A tall silhouette stood in the light. It was Ethan. Chapter 4 After the rescue, I didn’t leave the house for weeks. The betrayal by friends, the kidnapping, the humiliating photos—it broke me. My mind was fragile, teetering on the edge. During that time, Ethan—cold, aloof Ethan—never left my side. I had never seen him so gentle. He seemed to sense my crumbling mental state. He filled the silence with conversation. I stayed in his private penthouse. He handled my leave of absence from the university. He hid everything from my parents so they wouldn’t worry. He used his connections to punish Kyle and the others quietly. He even managed Jace and Liam, keeping them away so no one would disturb my recovery. He was my shield. His maturity and reliability made me open up, made me depend on him. Finally, I couldn’t help it. I asked him, trembling, “Why… why are you being so good to me?” I remember the scene perfectly. Ethan was wearing casual loungewear, sitting next to me on the rug. He had rolled up his sleeves, revealing pale but strong forearms, twirling a fountain pen in his fingers. Without his glasses, his eyes were soft. He didn’t answer directly. Instead, he smiled and asked, “Do you want to be my girlfriend?” I fell. Hard. Under his care, I healed. I became happy again. Looking back, it feels like a fever dream. Ethan seemed passive, but he was dominant to the core. When we were dating, Jace stopped touching me. Liam stopped the dirty jokes. If I frowned, Ethan fixed the problem immediately. I was so happy I was planning our wedding in my head. But it was an act. It was all fake. I’ll never forget that day. I had spent hours cooking for the first time. My hands were covered in small cuts. I made a gourmet meal, eighteen dishes, just because Ethan said he wanted a home-cooked birthday dinner. The doorbell rang. I opened it, expecting praise. Instead, I got laughter. Cruel, raucous laughter. Liam was clutching his stomach, doubling over. Jace was whistling, recording me with his phone—me in an apron, holding a spatula, looking like an idiot. And Ethan. He was leaning against the doorframe, a faint smile on his lips, watching the scene like a player who had just won the game. “I never thought our arrogant Princess Chloe had a domestic side,” Jace jeered. “Hahaha…” “Good thing the bet was only for a month. Any longer, and she’d be trying to have your babies, Ethan!” “Ha! Interesting. My turn next, right?” Jace paused after saying that. He looked at me. Then he shrugged, turning away indifferently. “Oops, she heard me. Guess I’ll have to come up with a new game next time.”

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My new housekeeper’s son is the charismatic male lead of this world. He accidentally “saved” my three villainous sisters, charming them into becoming his loyal attack dogs. They handed him every resource our family had on a silver platter. In their eyes, I was the jealous brother who couldn’t stand losing the spotlight, framing him at every turn. Eventually, my three sisters discarded me. My eldest sister, the cold-hearted CEO, froze all my bank accounts and kicked me out of the Vance estate. My second sister, the gentle doctor, secretly switched my heart medication, leaving me in constant, agonizing pain. My third sister, the A-list celebrity, hid my identity and encouraged her millions of fans to cyberbully me into oblivion. I died a miserable death, with no one to claim my body. When I opened my eyes, reborn into the past, I decided to give up. I would “lie flat”—do nothing, fight for nothing. But I never expected that this time, my sisters could hear my inner thoughts. 1 The last time I saw the four of them in my previous life, it was in a condemned apartment building. I sat in a wheelchair, wearing clothes stained with grease and filth. Caleb Thorne, however, was dressed in bespoke haute couture that he never could have afforded before. He was surrounded by my three sisters, the center of their universe. He looked down at me with a sneer. “For the sake of our past friendship, if you apologize to me today and call me ‘brother-in-law,’ I’ll forgive you. I’ll even let you back into the Vance mansion. What do you say?” Call him brother-in-law? He wasn’t worthy to shine my shoes. He was the reason I was disfigured and crippled. His shameless goal in marrying into the Vance family was to dismantle it from the inside out. But, of course, no one believed a word I said. Everyone thought I was just jealous of Caleb. That envy was the only reason I ended up like this. I gritted my teeth and spat on the floor. “You? Worthy? I’d rather die than call you family. One day, your ugly true colors will be exposed to the…” Before I could finish, a slap silenced me. The force was so strong I felt my teeth loosen. My ears rang. Through the dizziness, I looked up to see my eldest sister, Victoria, staring at me with icy indifference. She frowned, looking at me like I was something rotting on her shoe. “Atlas, if you can’t keep your mouth shut, I don’t mind tearing it off for you.” I clutched my swelling face. “Victoria…” She cut me off again. “Don’t call me that. From the day you framed Caleb, you ceased to be our brother.” Her words were like serrated knives plunging into my bleeding heart. The light in my eyes dimmed. I wanted to defend myself, but my throat was so dry I couldn’t make a sound. My heart began to spasm. I clutched my chest, gasping for air. “Meds… my meds…” Elena, my second sister, rarely smoked. But because of Caleb, she had picked up the habit. She walked two steps toward me and pressed the burning cigarette butt into the back of my hand. Ignoring my hoarse cry of pain, she pointed at my chest and mocked, “Atlas Vance, your congenital heart disease probably exists because your heart is black. I don’t see the need to treat it anymore.” The pain sent me tumbling out of the wheelchair, gasping for breath on the dirty floor. Sophie, my third sister, crouched down slowly. She looked at my emaciated frame—skin and bones—and furrowed her brow. “Why are you acting so aggrieved? Atlas, do you really think playing the victim will get you our forgiveness? You’re delusional.” “Besides,” she added darkly, “it looks like you haven’t learned your lesson yet.” I knew what she meant. Just because I cursed Caleb once, she allowed her fans to dox and harass me. Someone had even followed me home, pushed me out of my wheelchair, and filmed me crawling on the ground. Dead rats were constantly thrown at my door. The landlord, unable to deal with the harassment, evicted me. I ended up here, in a shack next to a dump with a door that wouldn’t lock. Without medication, even breathing became a torture. I lay on the ground like a dying fish, covered in wounds. My consciousness faded. I tried to recall a single happy memory from my life, but I couldn’t find one. My sisters ignored my outstretched hand and turned to leave. The last thing I heard was a muttered curse: “What a waste of space.” I opened my mouth, but I had no strength left to struggle. This was my second rebirth. I had tried everything—scheming, planning, fighting—but I couldn’t beat the “chosen one” aura. This world is a novel, and Caleb is the protagonist. His goal is to destroy the Vance family to pave the way for the woman he truly loves. My three sisters are the villains, destined to fall in love with him at first sight, be “redeemed,” and then willingly become his pawns. To save them, I died trying to expose him. In their eyes, I was just a jealous brat. No matter how many times I restart, Caleb always wins. I knew that when I opened my eyes, I would be back at the beginning. But this time, I’m tired. 2 When I opened my eyes, I was still shaking from the phantom pain of death. The filthy shack was replaced by a bright, warm dining room. Warm yellow light illuminated exquisite dishes on the table. A familiar voice sounded beside me, dripping with grievance. “Atlas, why aren’t you eating? Did I make something you don’t like?” “I’m sorry. I didn’t know your tastes changed. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll make it.” My pupils contracted. It was Caleb. At this point in the timeline, he had already become my “friend” and had “saved” my sisters a few times. Rumors were already circulating that he was the Vance family’s lucky charm. He wasn’t wearing servant’s clothes. He was wearing the designer gear I had gifted him, looking more like the young master of the house than I did. He bit his lower lip, looking fragile. “I asked the housekeeper, and she said you love seafood. Are you refusing to eat because I cooked it? I followed the recipe step by step…” The performance was Oscar-worthy. I remained silent. Caleb started to panic. “Atlas, why won’t you talk to me? Are… are you disgusted because I came from the slums? Do you think I’m dirty?” I opened my mouth, but only a rasp came out. I squeezed my throat, trying to force words. I was terrified that if I upset Caleb, my three sisters would use it as an excuse to torture me again. But I couldn’t speak. Victoria’s gaze landed on us. Her eyes were dark. “Atlas, is this how a Vance behaves? This is Caleb’s kindness. Even if you don’t want to eat it, you will sit there and finish it.” I lowered my eyes, laughing bitterly in my heart. These three were already blind to everything but him. [How could I dare despise him? After all, he’s going to be the master of this house soon. I’m just the cripple who gets kicked out to live in the slums. What right do I have?] [Strangers would think Caleb is your biological brother with the way you defend him. Oh, wait. Not a brother. A lover.] [Does anyone even remember I have a severe seafood allergy? Or does my life just not matter?] Suddenly, the dining room went dead silent. The three women, who had been smiling indulgently at Caleb, froze. Their expressions went cold. I forced the nauseating seafood down my throat, bite by bite, suppressing the urge to vomit. I flashed a weak smile at Caleb. Victoria’s face turned pitch black, as if someone had exposed her darkest secret. Seeing me finish the food quickly and turn to leave with a pale face, she reached out. “Atlas…” Elena glared at her to shut up, then turned to me with a gentle voice. “Atlas, are you feeling unwell today? Let me check you over, okay?” She was a doctor. In my past life, she was the one who prescribed my heart medication, and she was the one who stopped it. She had watched me suffer in agony, forgetting I was once the little brother she doted on. I stood on the stairs, looking back. My expression was hidden in the shadows. [It’s just an allergy. It won’t kill me immediately.] [I’m really tired. Just stop torturing me. I’ll agree to whatever you want.] Elena froze, her face draining of color. “I… I didn’t mean to forget your allergy.” Didn’t mean to. What a clumsy, laughable excuse. I couldn’t be bothered to pretend with them anymore. I turned and walked away without looking back. 3 I knew the moment Caleb showed up, I would lose. No matter what I did, I would never be the chosen one. So, I quit. A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. Caleb was back, bringing his signature pitiful act. He knocked rhythmically, sounding like he was on the verge of tears. “Atlas, what’s wrong? Did I make you unhappy? I apologize, please don’t ignore me, okay?” “Aren’t we best friends?” While his mouth spouted grievances, a different, mechanical voice echoed in my ears. [System, what is wrong with Atlas today? He’s acting weird. The script didn’t say he’d be this passive. The sisters think I bullied him, and my affection score dropped by ten points!] Then, a robotic reply: [Host, please relax. I have scanned the targets. Their affection for you is still above 50. The drop is within manageable limits.] I felt a chill run down my spine. Even in the warm room, I started to shiver. Those voices again. In my past life, when Caleb orchestrated the car accident that put me in a coma, I heard him talking to this mechanical voice. They talked about destroying the Vance family, using my sisters as stepping stones. When I woke up, I went straight to Victoria. But no matter what I said, all I got was a look of disgust. Caleb had walked out of her private study, acting like a saint. “Victoria, Atlas is just confused. It’s okay. I forgive him.” Victoria had scolded me. “Atlas, look at you! You tried to kill Caleb, and he still cared for you while you were in a coma!” I barely remember what happened after. I just remember being kicked out into the rain. Victoria looked down at me from the porch. “Since you can’t tolerate Caleb, the Vance family won’t tolerate you. Without the title of the Young Master, you are nothing.” 4 The memory made my body tremble. [What act is he putting on now?] I knew Caleb wasn’t alone outside the door. [Doesn’t matter whose affection he’s farming. It has nothing to do with me. I’m leaving this family anyway.] I took a deep breath and opened the door. Caleb’s hand was frozen in mid-knock. He tried to grab my hand, but I sidestepped him. “Atlas…” He dragged out my name, his eyes darting to Sophie, who stood behind him. “Tell me what’s wrong. Don’t give me the silent treatment.” Sophie stood silent for a long time. When she finally spoke, it was to defend Caleb. She looked at me with deep, fake concern. “Atlas, I heard from Victoria and Elena. Is there a misunderstanding? Aren’t you two best friends? Do you know how much Caleb cried because you ignored him?” She sighed, acting like the benevolent sister. “I know a very famous psychiatrist. If you don’t want to talk to your other sisters, talk to me. I’ll take you there tomorrow, okay?” She didn’t understand anything, but she was ready to institutionalize me. [Right. In your eyes, if I don’t like Caleb, I must be mentally ill. When you let your fans destroy my life, why didn’t you worry about my mental health then? Or are you just trying to lock me up in a psych ward to vent Caleb’s anger?] Sophie froze. Her expression twisted in horror. She looked at Caleb, then at me, and finally down at her own hands in disbelief. “Atlas,” she stammered. “Did… did I do something wrong?” “Please don’t hate me.” I shook my head warily and slammed the door shut. Through the wood, I heard a thud and Caleb’s yelp. “Sophie!” The System screamed: [Warning! Sophie Vance affection -10. Current level below 50. Host must recover points immediately!] “Don’t call me that,” Sophie’s voice sounded dark. “I’m not as blind as the other two. You better give me an explanation, or I won’t mind…” I couldn’t hear the rest as they walked away. I didn’t care about Sophie’s sudden change. If they were defending him this hard now, the inevitable betrayal was just a matter of time. Nothing mattered more than staying alive.

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Right before we went to sleep, my husband asked me a question. “Would you ever fall in love with someone else and divorce me?” My face, hidden under a sheet mask, tightened instantly. I lowered my eyes and let out a soft, dry chuckle. “Why? Did you find someone you love?” 1 My words seemed to short-circuit him. His mouth opened and closed, a flicker of panic darting through his eyes. A moment later, he forced the corners of his mouth into a stiff grin. “Sarah, come on. I was just talking hypothetically. Where is your head at?” He stood up, grabbing his running gear. “Go to sleep. I’m going for a night run.” “Is that so?” I tried to smile back, but the muscles in my face felt heavy. It was hard because I knew he wasn’t speaking hypothetically. A night run? Since when does a lead software engineer, exhausted after a twelve-hour shift of coding, find joy in a solitary run at 11 PM? “Are you going with that girl? The one with the long hair?” Ethan paused, one foot halfway into his sneaker. He turned, a look of genuine alarm on his face. “That’s just a colleague from the office.” He thought for a second, then added, “We just bumped into each other on the trail. Don’t misunderstand.” “I saw you two yesterday,” I said, my voice quiet. “On the track by the lake. She fed you a piece of chocolate.” What I didn’t say was that I also heard what she said. Her voice was thick with regret. Why did we meet so late? If only we had met a few years earlier, we could have been together. Ethan swapped his running shoes back for house slippers. I was still standing in the bedroom doorway. He walked over, gripping my shoulders. “You stay at home all day; it’s too easy for you to let your imagination run wild. I won’t go running tonight. Let’s just sleep.” He walked past me toward the bathroom. But his wedding ring, usually on his finger, had fallen onto the floor mat next to his running shoes. I knew then. He wasn’t just running. He was running away. 2 I needed to know. What kind of colleague was she? What did she have that made her more relaxing to him than his own family? I wanted to see the person who could so easily shatter four years of dating and ten years of marriage. We survived college. We survived the poverty of his early startup days. We survived the death of his mother. We survived the nights we held each other crying when the funding fell through. We survived every time we had to mortgage the house to keep the company afloat. And yet, we were losing to a cup of craft coffee in the breakroom? I saw her at his company’s anniversary gala. She was vibrant. Capable. Outside the revolving doors, an intern stumbled, dropping a tower of gift boxes. She rushed forward in four-inch heels, catching the bottom of the stack with one hand, her pearl earrings blurring with the motion. She directed the staff efficiently, then crouched down to put a Band-Aid on the intern’s scraped heel. The whole sequence was fluid, graceful. Her smile was unshakeable. I stood in the lobby, watching Ethan panic as he ran to her side. “Are you okay?” he asked, breathless. She looked up, and her eyes met mine across the security gates. We locked eyes for three seconds. Ethan, realizing I was there, instinctively let go of her hand. He walked quickly toward me, his body positioning itself to block my view of her. “Sarah,” he said, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “This is my colleague, Claire.” A colleague? A special colleague that required him to shield her with his body? Claire looked me in the eye calmly. There was no panic. It was as if I were the intruder. 3 We sat on opposite sides of the long table in his company’s conference room. We looked less like husband and wife and more like two parties in a hostile negotiation. He kept his head down, his hair falling over his evasive eyes. “Sarah…” I looked at him, waiting. He swallowed hard, his lips pressing into a thin line. He didn’t continue. I didn’t believe for a second that he didn’t know I knew. But I wanted to hear him say it. I wanted him to own the decision. Outside the frosted glass, I saw a white silhouette pacing. Ethan saw it too. It seemed to give him the resolve he needed. “Sarah, I’m sorry. But I have to admit, this marriage… it feels like work. I think… I don’t love you anymore.” I knew it. But knowing it didn’t make the words hurt any less. I thought I had prepared myself, but the burning sensation in my eyes betrayed me. “What about Leo?” My voice cracked. Leo is our son. Seven years old. Ethan looked up, startled by my tears. He looked helpless. “Leo… Sarah, Leo is my son. Of course I love him. But…” He chugged a glass of water as if it were vodka. “But I don’t want my son growing up in a home without love.” Having finally dislodged the boulder in his throat, the rest of the words poured out faster. “Sarah, counting college, we’ve been together fourteen years. I know you sacrificed a lot for me, for this family. But I work so hard every day. When I come home, I just want to relax. But all you talk about is your parents, the kid, the house… our romance is dead. It’s flavorless. I am just… so tired.” He finally looked me in the eye. I gripped my sleeves, digging my nails into my palms to stop the tears. “How long have you been together?” He waved his hands frantically. “No! Sarah, I didn’t cheat! We haven’t done anything physical. It’s been strictly professional!” Strictly professional? I laughed bitterly. Does an emotional affair not count as cheating? “Go tell Leo,” I said, standing up. “I’ll sign the papers.” 4 When I walked out of the conference room, Claire was standing by the door. We stared at each other. Neither spoke. She knew who I was. The office was empty; everyone was setting up for the gala. Ethan rushed out behind me. “Sarah, please don’t—” I smiled. “Don’t what? You think I’m going to hit her?” Ethan’s mouth hung open. He didn’t deny it. A wave of bitterness washed over me. Claire looked at me with a calm, almost pitying expression. Pity for what? For disrupting my family? “Don’t overthink it, Ethan,” Claire said softly, touching his sleeve. “Ms. Fang wasn’t going to do anything. I was just worried you wouldn’t be able to get a ride, so I waited.” Ethan instantly relaxed under her touch. “Silly, don’t overthink it…” He stopped mid-sentence, realizing I was still there. The same words. I realized then that “sweet nothings” are recyclable. You can say them to anyone.

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Whenever Sebastian fights with his first love, he buys me bags, shoes, and bracelets. I accept them happily. After all, I was specifically hired to make his first love jealous. Eventually, I became financially independent and happily became the sugar mommy to a young, aspiring idol. Then Sebastian told me, “Actually, you’re better. Let’s start a sweet, healthy relationship for real!” Huh? But what about my puppy dog idol? 1 When Vanessa returned to the States, everyone thought Sebastian would dump me. After all, Vanessa was his true first love. I was just the replacement. “She’s only made money because her eyes look a bit like Vanessa’s.” That’s how people described me. When Sebastian heard this, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he quietly pulled strings behind the scenes, drowning the gossiper in debt until they went bankrupt. Yes. Sebastian didn’t dump me. He treated me even better. New designer bags arrived one after another. Necklaces upgraded from regular diamonds to rare pink diamonds auctioned for astronomical prices. Besides that. My bank account would randomly receive transfers of hundreds of thousands of dollars. From Sebastian. Labeled: Voluntary Gift. Rumors started circulating in our circle that I, the substitute, had finally made it. That I was going to be the official Mrs. Sterling. Until I bumped into Vanessa. “You’re the girl Sebastian is keeping on the side? Jane?” She looked me up and down carelessly. “You do look a little like me.” In her eyes. Disdain, contempt, arrogance. “Sebastian hasn’t touched you in a long time, has he?” She whispered in my ear, “Every time we fight, he runs off to spend money on you.” That’s right. Buying me gifts, sending me money. All of it was just to piss off Vanessa. She was Sebastian’s “the one that got away.” Years ago, she dumped Sebastian for her career and went abroad to study, leaving without a backward glance. Until Sebastian became successful. Then she came back. People said she didn’t do well overseas, so now she was running back with her tail between her legs. Everyone knew what she was after. But clearly, Sebastian didn’t care about her motives. “Do you know?” “Every time he spends money on you.” Vanessa smiled, her tone suggestive. “The angrier I get, the harder we go at it when we make up.” 2 I knew she came specifically to tell me this today. To embarrass me. To make me realize my place and leave on my own. After all, the original was back. What business did the replacement have staying in the nest? But I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction. Her relationship with Sebastian was ancient history. And Sebastian hadn’t broken up with me yet. Lately, they had a small fight every two days and a big fight every three. A few more fights, and the balance in my account could buy a penthouse in Manhattan outright. Besides. I recently set my sights on a little puppy dog. He’s poor but dreams of going from D-list to A-list. I plan to sponsor him. I need the money. 3 Everyone thought I was desperately in love with Sebastian. But actually, I couldn’t even remember his face. I was born face blind. Most of the time, I had to rely on voices to distinguish people. “What are you thinking about so deeply?” Sebastian leaned against the doorframe, looking down at me. Eyes were eyes, a nose was a nose. He wasn’t ugly. But as soon as I looked away. I forgot what he looked like completely. Meeting his gaze, I smiled, my tone relaxed. “Thinking about what my life would be like if I hadn’t met you.” Thinking back now, without Sebastian. My life would have been hard. Since I can remember, my dad drank, and my mom gambled. When I was seventeen, after racking up huge debts, they came up with a plan. A fifty-year-old widower in the next town was offering a high price for a wife. That money would cover their debts perfectly. Since I was face blind anyway. Even if the widower had a face full of acne, a pig nose, and yellow buckteeth. I’d forget what he looked like as soon as I turned around. Heartless and lungless, I’d fit right in. But unexpectedly. The Sterling Group planned to acquire our town and turn it into a resort. Sebastian came to negotiate the acquisition. He just happened to glance at me. Buying land turned into buying me. Even now, when bringing this up. Sebastian still couldn’t hide the anger in his eyes. “Your parents were too much.” He pressed his thin lips together, hugging me tight, and sighed. “Jane, if only I had met you sooner.” 4 Sebastian always said this— Meeting me sooner would have saved me a lot of suffering. At first, I was dizzy from such sweet words. I really thought Sebastian liked me that much. But then one time. I saw a photo in the wallet he never let out of his sight. To be precise, it was an ID photo. Two inches, white background. The girl in the photo looked young, smiling brightly. Because of my face blindness, I shouldn’t have been able to recognize her. But the girl’s eyes and brows. Looked seventy percent like mine. That day, I finally understood that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I could be a toy, I could be a boredom-relieving substitute. But I could never be the one in Sebastian’s heart. My dignity screamed at me to break up. But my brain told me that compared to the assets and lifestyle Sebastian provided. My dignity was worthless. Was I sad? Actually, a little bit. But soon, I realized. If it had been someone else being sold that day, would Sebastian have saved them? Yes. Actually, he didn’t care if he saved Jane, Mary, or Sue. He just couldn’t bear to see a girl who looked somewhat like his first love fall into such a situation. If Sebastian didn’t find me, he would have found someone else— So I might as well earn this money. I needed money. I liked money. And obedient, docile, sweet-talking. I could act out all the things he liked.

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