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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Harlan Sterling, the heir to the Sterling empire, was suddenly exposed as having a secret marriage and a daughter. He immediately issued a public clarification. “No secret marriage, and certainly no daughter.” “As everyone knows, I have been single all these years.” I watched his cold face on the TV. Then I looked at our daughter, who was crying secretly, feeling wronged and confused. My years of obsession suddenly dissolved completely. When he came home, I didn’t greet him at the door with our daughter like before. Nor did I look forward with excitement to our reunion after a short separation. Instead, I opened the messages I had received again. A vasectomy report from six days ago, and a sentence: “As long as you are willing, Lily will be my only child from now on.” With tears streaming down my face, I replied: “Come pick me up. I don’t want to stay in the Sterling house anymore.” 1 I stared at Harlan Sterling’s handsome, indifferent face through the camera lens. For a moment, I was in a daze. He was known for his cold personality, deep scheming, and poker face. But contrary to the rumors of him being an ascetic workaholic, Harlan had a high libido. Before his business trip, ignoring my tears and pleas, he tied my wrists with his tie and pinned me down, taking me four times. I couldn’t help but bite his neck; the mark should still be there. The navy blue tie with the subtle pattern he wore was an anniversary gift I hand-picked. This is the fourth year of our marriage. We have a lovely daughter who just turned three. But now, my nominal husband, Harlan Sterling, just clarified to the media in the coldest, most serious tone. “No secret marriage, and certainly no daughter.” “As everyone knows, I have been single all these years.” He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses on his high nose bridge. The cold light in his deep eyes was palpitating. It felt like he was looking through the lens, straight at me with a chilling gaze. “I advise those with ulterior motives to stop their wishful thinking and embarrassing themselves.” 2 After saying this, Harlan stood up abruptly. His bodyguards and personal assistant immediately dispersed the crowd, escorting him to his car. I stiffly turned off the TV. The living room plunged into darkness. Only the floor lamp in the corner emitted a faint, cold light. Suddenly, I heard a low sob. I turned around sharply and saw my little daughter. Her face was tear-stained, full of grievance and confusion, standing there frozen. “Lily?” I quickly got up and hugged her. “Why aren’t you sleeping? Why did you sneak downstairs?” Lily buried her wet face in my chest. Her small mouth pouted as she asked chokingly. “Mommy, why did Daddy say he doesn’t have a daughter?” “If he doesn’t have a daughter, what is Lily?” My heart twisted in pain instantly. Harlan was usually stern and taciturn. Although he loved Lily, he spent little time at home and rarely smiled. Lily adored him but was also a bit afraid of him. Because of this, she was more sensitive than other children. As tears poured down again, it seemed the obsession that had supported me for so many years suddenly dissipated into dust. I wiped the tears from my daughter’s face. “Lily, do you want to leave here with Mommy?” “Where are we going?” “Will we come back home?” I looked down and smiled: “No.” “This isn’t our home.” I looked at Lily and answered with utmost seriousness: “This is your Uncle Harlan’s home.” “We’ve stayed for a long time and disturbed him enough.” “So, it’s time to leave here and go to our own home.” Lily nodded, seemingly understanding, and replied in her milky voice. “Lily listens to Mommy. Where Mommy goes, Lily goes.” “Good girl.” I carried her back to her room and kissed her cheek lovingly. “Sleep. Mommy will stay here with you.” Lily fell asleep. My gaze fell on the photo frame on her bedside table. It was a photo of our family of three. The only photo of the three of us. In the photo, Harlan sat upright with his usual distant expression. I held one-year-old Lily, smiling shyly and happily, leaning slightly towards Harlan. But he didn’t lean towards me. Lily was fast asleep. I took the frame and quietly left the room. When I cut the photo, I suddenly realized. The gap left between our bodies back then was meant for today, so I could easily cut along it. 3 A week later, Harlan returned from his business trip. It was already 10 PM. In the past, my daughter and I would wait for him no matter how late. But tonight, Lily had bathed and fallen asleep long ago. I wasn’t in the master bedroom but in the guest room on the second floor. When the familiar engine sound rang out, I was on the balcony, staring blankly at the message received six days ago. The vasectomy report still stung my eyes and brought tears. “Marianne, just nod your head if you’re willing.” “I will treat Lily as my own.” “From now on, she will be my only daughter, no, my only child.” I stared at those lines for a long time. Until the screen went dark. Until Harlan’s footsteps came upstairs. Until he came down from the third-floor master bedroom and stood outside the guest room. Then, a knock. “Marianne, open the door.” I wiped my tears hastily and hid the phone under the pillow. “I’m sleeping. Let’s talk tomorrow…” But before I could finish, he opened the door from the outside. I was stunned at first, then quickly sobered up. This is Harlan’s home, Harlan’s house. He naturally has 100% sovereignty. “Why did you move to the guest room?” He seemed displeased, his voice colder than usual. I slowly sat up and looked at him. He looked tired from the long flight, rubbing his brow as he spoke. His voice was hoarse. Ignoring the last trace of heartache, I looked away. “I haven’t been feeling well these days. Didn’t want to infect you.” “I don’t mind. Move back.” Seeing me still sitting on the bed without moving, he frowned slightly. “Marianne?” “I want to sleep. You should rest early too…” Harlan didn’t respond but walked straight to the bed. He bent down and picked me up. “It’s been a week. Don’t you want it?” He lowered his head to kiss me. But I turned my face away. He was surprised, and soon his expression turned displeased. “Marianne.” “What tantrum are you throwing?” 4 In four years of marriage, I had never rejected him. He had high needs. Except for my period or business trips, we did it almost every night. If it were before, after a week-long trip, I wouldn’t have slept all night. Back then, I was happy, even blissful. Because only in bed did I feel like he liked me. Normally, I was afraid of him getting angry. But privately, during our intimacy, I secretly wanted him to get angry. Because when he was angry in bed, he was so different from his usual self. Once, we had a disagreement, and I ran off to stay with my best friend for a week. Harlan personally came to pick me up in Hong Kong. That day, in the most luxurious penthouse suite, he coldly unbuckled his belt with one hand and pinned me against the massive floor-to-ceiling window. I cried until my voice was hoarse, but he wouldn’t stop. At the end, he gritted his teeth and whispered in my ear. “Marianne, if you dare play the runaway game again, I’ll kill you in bed.” “Crying won’t help.” Maybe I had a bit of a weird fetish. His cold, slightly angry look easily got to me. I liked that he lost control of his emotions because of me. But now, my body felt closed off. It was calm, like a pool of dead water. Just like my heart. I struggled out of his arms. “Harlan, let’s separate.” I looked at him calmly, then suddenly laughed at myself. We have a child, yet I can only say “separate.” Harlan and I, apart from a piece of paper agreement, don’t even have a marriage certificate. He was stunned at first, then asked in a deep voice. “Because I clarified the marriage to the media?” I wanted to say, not just because of the clarification. If it were just that, I might have found hundreds of reasons to comfort myself. But he denied our daughter’s existence. These past few days, whenever I close my eyes, I see my daughter’s aggrieved and confused look. I can’t accept it. “Yes.” “You know that was just to deal with the media.” Harlan looked at me with a distant and serious expression. “I’m very busy. I don’t have time to soothe your emotions over such a small matter.” I tried to look at him calmly, but my hands hanging by my sides couldn’t help trembling. My eyes felt like they were being pricked by needles, but I held back the tears. “I don’t need your soothing.” “I’m serious.” “We can tear up the previous agreement. I just want Lily.” A hint of sarcasm seemed to flash in Harlan’s eyes. “Are you using Lily to force me to reveal your identities?” “No…” “I told you, that’s impossible.” “At least for the next few years, absolutely impossible.” He interrupted harshly: “Marianne, I can indulge you in many things.” “But there’s no room for negotiation on this.” He looked down at me like I was a stranger. The room was constantly temperature-controlled, but I felt incredibly cold. The chill seeped into my bones, making me shiver. Before marriage, my best friend had subtly advised me against it. But I was brave and unafraid. “Even if Harlan is a stone, so what?” “Water dripping day by day wears the stone away.” But now, I’m giving up. I want to be free water, not a droplet confined under the eaves for a lifetime. “Think about it tonight. Move back when you’ve thought it through.” Harlan turned and left the guest room. The door closed with a heavy sound, unlike his usual controlled demeanor. I pulled up the quilt and closed my eyes. In a few days, Grandpa Sterling would return from his recuperation in the south. He was the one who decided on Harlan and me back then. As long as he nodded, I could leave with Lily. The Sterling family valued sons over daughters. Mrs. Sterling rarely looked at Lily directly. She had her own preferred daughter-in-law, so naturally, she disliked me. Now that I wanted to take my daughter and leave the Sterling family, it would probably suit them perfectly.

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I received a text from Caleb, the boy who grew up with me. [If you’re willing, you and Lily will be my only family. Forever.] I looked up at the TV. On the screen, Dominic Vance—tech mogul and head of the Vance dynasty—was holding an emergency press conference to address the rumors about his secret life. [Let me be clear. I am single. I am not married, and I certainly do not have a daughter.] I looked down at the text on my phone. Then, I looked at my daughter, sitting beside me, tears welling in her confused eyes. Finally, I made up my mind. With blurry vision, I typed my reply: [Come get me. I miss you.] 1 I stared at Dominic’s handsome, indifferent face on the screen. For a moment, I felt a strange sense of dissociation. To the public, he was a cold, calculating machine. A man of deep reserve who never let his emotions show. They called him a stoic workaholic. They were wrong. Dominic had an insatiable hunger. Before his last business trip, he ignored my tears and my pleas for rest. He used his silk tie to bind my wrists, pinning me beneath him, taking me four times in one night. In a moment of exhaustion, I had bitten his neck. The mark was probably still there, hidden beneath his collar. That navy blue tie with the subtle pattern? I picked that out for our anniversary. It has been four years since we started this life together. We have a lovely daughter. She just turned three. But now. My “husband” in everything but legal paper, Dominic Vance, was standing in front of flashing cameras, using his coldest voice to erase us. “No marriage. No child.” “It is public knowledge that I have been single for years.” He pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his high nose. His dark eyes held a chilling light that seemed to pierce through the camera lens and freeze the blood in my veins. “I advise those harboring delusional fantasies to stop embarrassing themselves.” 2 After dropping that bombshell, Dominic stood up abruptly. His security team and personal assistants immediately swarmed him, clearing a path through the reporters to his waiting car. I turned off the TV with stiff fingers. The living room plunged into darkness, save for the dim, lonely light of a floor lamp in the corner. That’s when I heard a low, stifled sob. I turned around and saw my little girl. Her face was streaked with tears, her expression a heartbreaking mix of grievance and confusion. She stood there, frozen. “Lily?” I got up quickly and rushed over to hug her. “Why aren’t you asleep, baby? Why did you sneak downstairs?” Lily buried her wet face in my chest. Her lip trembled as she choked out a question. “Mommy, why did Daddy say he doesn’t have a daughter?” “If he doesn’t have a daughter… what am I?” My heart shattered into a million pieces. Dominic was strict and quiet. Though he provided for Lily, he was rarely home and rarely smiled. Lily admired him, but she was also afraid of him. She was sensitive. She understood rejection. As my own tears began to fall, the obsession I had held onto for so many years suddenly dissolved. It turned to dust. I wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Lily, do you want to leave this place with Mommy?” “Where are we going?” “Are we coming back?” I looked down and smiled, though it was sad. “No. We aren’t.” “This isn’t our home.” I looked at her, deadly serious. “This is your Uncle Dominic’s house.” “We’ve stayed here a long time, and we’ve bothered him enough.” “So, it’s time to go to our real home.” Lily nodded, half-understanding. “I listen to Mommy. Where Mommy goes, Lily goes.” “Good girl.” I carried her back to her room and kissed her soft forehead. “Sleep now. Mommy is right here.” Once Lily was asleep, my gaze fell on the picture frame on her nightstand. It was a photo of the three of us. The only one we had. In the photo, Dominic sat upright, looking regal and detached. I was holding a one-year-old Lily, smiling shyly, my body leaning slightly toward him. He was not leaning toward me. I picked up the frame and left the room. I took the scissors from the drawer. As I cut the photo, I realized something. The gap between our bodies in the picture—the space where we didn’t touch—was there for a reason. It was there so that today, I could easily cut him out of our lives. 3 A week later, Dominic returned from his trip. It was ten o’clock at night. In the past, no matter how late it was, Lily and I would wait for him. But tonight, Lily was asleep. And I wasn’t in the master bedroom. I was in the guest room on the second floor. When I heard the familiar roar of his engine, I was sitting on the balcony, staring at a document on my phone I had received six days ago. A vasectomy report. “Elena, if you say yes,” the text from Caleb read. “I will treat Lily as my own.” “She will be my only daughter. My only child.” I stared at those words until the screen went black. Until I heard Dominic’s footsteps on the stairs. Until he came down from the third floor, stood outside the guest room, and knocked. “Elena. Open the door.” I wiped my face and shoved the phone under my pillow. “I’m sleeping. We can talk tomorrow…” The door opened before I finished. It was Dominic’s house. He had the master key to everything. “Why are you in the guest room?” He sounded displeased, his voice colder than usual. I sat up and looked at him. He looked tired from the long flight, rubbing his temples. His voice was raspy. I ignored the last shred of heartache I felt for him. I looked away. “I haven’t been feeling well. I didn’t want to get you sick.” “I don’t care about that. Move back upstairs.” When I didn’t move, he frowned slightly. “Elena?” “I want to sleep, Dominic. You should rest too.” He didn’t answer. He walked to the bed, bent down, and scooped me up into his arms. “It’s been a week. Don’t tell me you don’t want this.” He lowered his head to kiss me. I turned my face away. He paused, surprised, and then his expression darkened. “Elena.” “What kind of tantrum is this?” 4 In four years, I had never rejected him. His drive was high. Unless he was traveling or I was sick, he wanted me every night. Before, if he had been gone a week, I wouldn’t have slept at all that night. And I would have been happy. Because only in bed did I feel like he might actually love me. I used to be afraid of his anger, but secretly, I craved it during intimacy. Once, we argued, and I ran off to a friend’s house for a week. He came to pick me up personally. In the penthouse suite, he loosened his belt with one hand, his face like thunder. He pressed me against the floor-to-ceiling window. I cried until my voice was gone, but he wouldn’t stop. “Elena,” he had gritted out, “if you ever try to run away again, I will break you in this bed. Crying won’t help.” Maybe I was broken. I used to like seeing him lose control because of me. But now? My body was closed off. Dead water. Just like my heart. I struggled out of his arms. “Dominic, let’s separate.” I looked at him calmly, then laughed at myself. We had a child, yet I could only say “separate.” Because we didn’t even have a marriage license. Just a contract. He looked stunned, then his voice dropped. “Is this because of the press conference?” I wanted to scream. It wasn’t just the denial of our relationship. It was the denial of his daughter. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lily’s confused face. I couldn’t forgive that. “Yes.” “You know that was just PR. A necessary statement for the stock market.” He looked at me with that stern, CEO expression. “I am very busy, Elena. I don’t have time to soothe your emotions over something so trivial.” I tried to keep my hands from shaking. “I don’t need you to soothe me.” “I’m serious.” “We can tear up the agreement. I just want Lily.” Dominic’s eyes flashed with mockery. “You’re using Lily to threaten me? You want me to go public?” “No…” “I told you, that is impossible right now.” He interrupted me sharply. “Elena, I indulge you in many things.” “But on this, there is no negotiation.” He looked down at me like I was a stranger. The room was climate-controlled, but I was freezing. The cold seeped into my bones. “Think about it tonight. When you come to your senses, move back upstairs.” He turned and left the guest room. The door slammed shut. I pulled the covers up. In a few days, Dominic’s grandfather, Arthur Vance, would return from his health retreat. Arthur was the one who had set us up. If he nodded, I could take Lily and leave. The Vance family was old-fashioned. Dominic’s mother hated me and ignored Lily because she wanted a high-society daughter-in-law. Me leaving would make everyone happy.

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I was born a chatterbox, and I pride myself on having a rock-solid moral compass. I’m willing to debate anyone, anytime, about anything. If you need advice or a hot take, I’m your girl. And by “anyone,” I don’t just mean the living. I mean the dead, too. I’ve been haunted by this brooding, clingy male ghost. Every night, he insists on being the big spoon. “Babe, why aren’t you reading those affirmations today?” he whispered. Affirmations? I wasn’t manifesting! My throat was just scratchy, okay? 1 I talk too much. It’s a condition. I love lecturing people. Even when I’m in an Uber, I can’t help but coach the road-raging driver. “Swearing is bad for your cortisol levels,” I told him. “And passing on the shoulder? That’s a traffic violation and morally ambiguous.” The driver, fueled by caffeine and fury, kicked me out halfway to my destination. Before he sped off, I leaned into the window. “You need to be rational. Acting on impulse is a trauma response. You’ll feel better when you accept that.” He flipped me off. Then, to prove a point, he floored it. It was an electric car, so the acceleration was instant. Too bad he ran a red light. He didn’t see the speed camera. I sighed. I forgot to warn him about that trap. I called my dad. No answer. I texted my mom. Ding. A notification from my bank app. $10,000 deposited. Mom’s text followed: [Sweetie, your father and I are finally having a peaceful spa day. Please, go buy something shiny and leave us alone.] Another $10,000 hit my account. Seriously? Why does everyone find me annoying? What did I do wrong? I’m just trying to make the world a more civilized place. I couldn’t call my friends. They’ve all muted my notifications. I was stranded on a desolate road. I had to rent one of those electric scooters and wobble my way to the new property my dad bought for me. By the time I arrived, the sun had set. I looked up at the house. No wonder it was cheap. It was a mid-century modern nightmare in the middle of nowhere. Who builds a mansion in a dead zone? 2 I walked inside. It was spotless. My dad had already sent a cleaning crew and movers to unpack my stuff. He really wanted me out of the main house so he could enjoy his empty nest. Rude. The porch light flickered. Probably faulty wiring. It flickered again. Definitely faulty wiring. Just as I stepped into the foyer, a gust of wind slammed the front door wide open. Leaves swirled in like a tornado. Creeeeeak. It was the classic horror movie entrance. I relaxed. At least it wasn’t a zombie. Ghosts I can handle. Ghosts are rational; they used to be people. I cleared my throat and used my “customer service” voice. “Hello, original inhabitant. I’m the new owner. I know you hate gentrification, but my dad dropped five million on this place. I have rights.” “You can haunt the guest house if you want.” The wind stopped. The lights stabilized. But I smelled a distinct scent of annoyance in the air. I doubled down. “Moving is stressful, even for the spectral. We can be roommates. But let’s set boundaries. You don’t pay property tax, so you don’t get master bedroom privileges.” “Also, scaring people is rude. Didn’t your mother teach you manners? Be a polite ghost.” The lights in the living room flared to life. I saw a silhouette. Even in the dim light, I could tell. This was a god-tier handsome man. I guess my luck was finally turning. I skipped into the living room. The ghost drifted to the corner where a grand piano sat. He sat down and began to play. My family is “new money,” so I don’t know Mozart from Beethoven, but it sounded expensive. Melancholy. Beautiful. I sat on the couch and entered “Hype Girl” mode. “Damn! That’s fire!” Compliments need to feel raw to be genuine. “Seriously, that was spiritual. My ears have been blessed. I feel purified. The emotion? The angst? Unmatched. No Grammy winner could touch you.” I rambled for three solid minutes. I got distracted by his profile. He was stunning. Pale skin, sharp jawline, messy hair, and a tear mole under his eye that made him look tragic and sexy. “This song is so handsome… I mean, this ghost is so catchy…” The music stopped abruptly. He turned. His eyes were dark and moody. High nose bridge. Thin lips. Prominent Adam’s apple. Holy… He was gorgeous. It’s a tragedy that we’re on different planes of existence. Wait. Ghost movie starring Demi Moore? It can work. He faded away before I could ask for his Instagram handle. 3 Delivery fees out here are criminal. Good thing I have my parents’ credit card. I ordered everything. Spicy wings, crawfish boil, truffle fries, a whole cake, and three boba teas. I was ripping into a bag of wings when the hot ghost reappeared. I offered him a wing. He looked at me with infinite sadness. “I’m not alive.” Right. My bad. I opened all the containers and set them out like a shrine. “Inhale the vibes,” I suggested. He actually tried. Then he started coughing. Or, the ghost equivalent of coughing. His face turned red. He choked out one word: “Spicy.” I hurriedly poked a straw into a milk tea and offered it to him. He looked like he’d been through a war. His lips were swollen and red. I stared. A six-foot-two ghost looking this disheveled? If I had a physical form that could touch him… well, let’s just say I’d be cancelled for my thoughts. He felt my gaze. “What are you thinking?” “Just admiring the aesthetic,” I lied effortlessly. “You’re giving Victorian Prince mixed with Calvin Klein model.” He blushed. Cute. After eating, I showered and flopped onto the king-sized bed in the master suite. In the middle of the night, I felt a dip in the mattress. I opened my eyes. The hot ghost was lying next to me. He was asleep. This was it. The universe was rewarding me for all my good deeds. I was living in a paranormal romance novel. Weirdly, on the bed, he looked solid. I poked his cheek. Soft. I got bolder. I touched his collarbone. Then his chest. Abs. I went lower. His hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. I froze. I quickly scanned my brain for “laws against molesting the undead.” “Sorry,” I squeaked. “The flesh is weak.” He stared at my left wrist for a long time. “You’re still wearing the bracelet.” “So, you admit you’re still my fiancée?” Huh? I looked at the vintage emerald bracelet on my wrist. I swiped this from my mom’s jewelry box before I left because it looked expensive. “This is an heirloom my family gives to the daughter-in-law,” he whispered, tracing the green stone. What? No. My mom has a shopping addiction; she probably bought this at an estate sale. This ghost is delusional. “You’ve got the wrong girl, Casper,” I said. He was silent for a moment, then vanished. I lay there, mourning the loss of the abs under my fingertips. Later that night, half-asleep, I felt strong arms wrap around me. I was too tired to fight it. It felt safe. I snuggled backward into the cold embrace and slept like a baby. 4 I woke up screaming. I was tangled in the ghost’s limbs. “Ahhh!” He woke up, sat up, and rubbed his eyes. Sunlight streamed through the window, hitting his face. He looked like a painting. Wait. Sunlight? Ghost? “Why aren’t you burning up?” I asked. “It’s noon.” He looked confused, his hair messy. “Why would I burn?” He stood up and walked directly into a sunbeam. Okay, so movies lied to me again. Not a vampire, not a traditional ghost. Maybe a day-walker?

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On a live variety show, I was forced to call my ex-boyfriend. “Can I borrow five hundred bucks?” He scoffed. “You’ve got some nerve asking.” A second later, a notification popped up on the big screen. [Your account has received $50,000,000.00 from account ending in 2222…] 1 It was a live broadcast. The challenge: call the person pinned at the top of your contacts and ask to borrow money for the day’s activity fund. I unlocked my phone and stared at the pinned contact. My soul left my body. Damn. It was my ex. The one I dumped. The one I swore I’d never see again in this lifetime. My phone screen was mirrored on the giant studio monitor. The contact name was crystal clear: AAA Adrian Sterling. The other guests froze. The live comments exploded. [Wait… is that THE Adrian Sterling? The Sterling heir?] [Who? Is he famous?] [Famous? He’s old money royalty! His family owns half the city.] [He showed his face once at a tech summit and broke the internet. He’s been topping the ‘Most Eligible Bachelor’ list ever since.] [Wait, isn’t he way out of Chloe’s league? She’s just a B-list actress.] [Exactly. Look at her face. She’s embarrassed because she probably tried to climb the social ladder and fell off. She’s scared he won’t even pick up.] The host, sensing drama, leaned in. “The audience is dying to know, Chloe. Is this the Mr. Sterling?” I was about to deny it when Bella, the show’s resident “it girl,” bounced over. “The profile picture looks like him, but who knows?” she said, covering her mouth in mock surprise. “Oops, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m actually calling him too! Chloe, you go first.” She flashed her phone screen to the camera with a sugary smile. Her pinned contact: AAA Adrian <3. The host gasped. "That nickname..." Bella acted like she'd just realized her mistake, covering her phone and blushing. "Oh, stop! It's just a silly name. I shouldn't have shown everyone!" I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. Wow. Could you be any more obvious? Just call him already and spare me the theatrics. 2 I didn't have the energy to deal with her. I forced a smile. Then, under the gaze of millions of viewers online and offline, I dialed the number. Beep... Beep... The ringing echoed through the silent studio. It felt like an eternity. Finally, the call connected. Silence on the other end. As the audio amplified, I could hear steady breathing and faint background chatter. My throat went dry. I tried to sound casual. "Are you in a meeting?" Adrian: "Mm." The man was a vault. No emotion. No words. "Is it a bad time?" Adrian: "Mm." Excuse me? We broke up years ago, and now you've devolved into a grunt-machine? The other guests looked at me with pity. Bella blinked her big innocent eyes, feigning sympathy. Just kill me now. "So, um, I wanted to borrow five hundred dollars." "If you don't want to, that's fine." Even without seeing him, I knew he paused. Then, a low, husky laugh escaped his lips. "You've got some nerve asking." His voice dropped at the end. Like a cold stream in early spring—chilling, yet mesmerizing. Then... Click. The line went dead. Are you serious, bro? You own half the skyscrapers in downtown. And you won't lend your ex-girlfriend five hundred bucks? Stingy jerk! I let out an awkward laugh. "Sorry guys, we're really not that close." Bella patted my shoulder, oozing fake kindness. "Adrian is usually super busy at this hour. He probably doesn't have time for small things. Don't worry, I'll try. As long as we get the money for the team, right?" 3 You really deserve an Oscar for "Best Villain disguised as a Saint." My request is a "small thing," but yours is important? If I didn't want to keep my history with Adrian a secret, you wouldn't be standing here acting so smug. I shrugged. "Go ahead." [What is wrong with Chloe? She got rejected by the big shot and now she's taking it out on Bella?] [Bella is just trying to help!] [Am I the only one who thinks Bella is being passive-aggressive?] [Yeah, Chloe held back. I would have snapped.] [You guys are reading too much into it. Bella is known for being sweet but blunt.] [Chloe is just jealous. The man she couldn't land is wrapped around Bella's finger.] [Get ready for the slap in the face, Jealous Chloe.] I ignored the comments and watched Bella perform. Her call was answered in seconds. A stark contrast to mine. Ahhh! That dead man! He's humiliating me! "What is it?" Adrian's voice was even flatter than before. "Adrian, I'm out having high tea," Bella cooed, dragging out the vowels. "But my card got frozen for some reason. Can you transfer me some cash for an emergency?" Adrian paused. "Got it." What?! You have a new girl already? Fine. Good. Great!!! I clenched my jaw to keep a neutral face. The producers, hungry for drama, kept my phone screen up next to Bella's. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the transfer notification. Ding! [You have received $10,000.00 from account ending in 7144.] The sound came from Bella's phone. She turned around, beaming. "Chloe! We have money!" Before she could finish, another notification chime rang out. Loud and clear. On the big screen, a message popped up on my phone. [You have received $50,000,000.00 from account ending in 2222.] WHAT?! 4 Account ending in 2222?! That was Adrian's personal black card! My brain short-circuited. I tapped the message open. Everyone saw it. The guests and the host gasped in unison. They stared at the string of zeros, unable to look away. Five... fifty... five hundred... five million... Fifty million?! Adrian, are you insane? You hung up on me, then sent me fifty million dollars? I've only seen this kind of money on a Monopoly board! Are you trying to send me to an early grave via heart attack? If the internet sleuths dig this up, they're definitely going to think we're running an illegal laundering scheme or having a sordid affair! [LMAO. The slap in the face came, but not for Chloe.] [Bella asked, and he sent 10k like a chore. Chloe asked for 500, and he dropped 50 mill.] [This CEO x Actress trope is spicy!] [Wait, who sent the money to Chloe? Was it Adrian too?] [Look at the account numbers! They're different!] [Maybe Chloe has a sugar daddy.] [Yeah, she's probably two-timing. Trying to climb Adrian while milking her sugar daddy for 50 mill.] [Adrian would never look at her.] [Are these comments bots? Why so much hate?] [Not everyone is a gold digger, okay?] [Those are definitely Bella's fans.] Before I could drown in the spit of internet trolls, my survival instincts kicked in. "Oh! I forgot. Today is settlement day for my studio. Sorry for the confusion, everyone." Bella looked at me suspiciously. I gave her a cold stare back. Believe it or not, sister. Go ask Adrian if you have a problem!

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