My boyfriend’s obsession was to have a kid, but he was infertile—so he tricked his identical twin into getting me pregnant. I gave myself completely to Owen that night, fully aware he wasn’t Brian. The next morning, I complimented my real boyfriend. “Babe, you were amazing last night. I’ve never felt that satisfied before!” His face went completely drained of color like I’d slapped him. Behind that frozen expression, I saw it—that flicker of something. Guilt? Fear? Jealousy? “Who do you like better? Your boyfriend in bed last night, or the one making you breakfast right now?” I wrapped my arms around his and smiled like a lovestruck newlywed. “I love how gentle you are in the daylight. But… last night?” I giggled. “I really liked that wild version of you!” —— At the breakfast table, Brian looked oddly brightened up as he turned to the man sitting beside him. “Bro, Jessica made this coffee herself. You should really try it.” As he spoke, he pushed a steaming cup of coffee toward his older brother, who had just returned from Norway. Across the table, I looked up at Owen. He was dressed in a black business suit, hair still slightly damp from a morning shower. The crystal chandelier above the dining room cast a soft glow over him, making his features more defined. Handsome didn’t even begin to cover it. He didn’t say a word. His lips were pressed into a line, his blue eyes unreadable. And just like that, everything came rushing back—I had been reborn. In my previous life, Brian had drugged his brother and tricked him into sleeping with me. He was desperate for me to get pregnant. All because he couldn’t have kids himself. He needed the baby to win his grandfather’s favor and secure his share of the inheritance. And it worked. After I got pregnant, he used the child to get sixty percent of the PWL Corp. shares. But once he had what he wanted, he locked me up in a basement and tormented me day after day like I was useless. I never understood why—until the day his mistress threw acid in my face and spat out the truth. The baby wasn’t his. It was his brother’s. To him, I was ruined. A walking stain on his perfect image. Just like me, our child was a disgrace. Brian couldn’t stand the sight of us. In the end, I set that basement on fire, trapping him and his mistress in the flames. Brian, his mistress, and I—none of us made it out alive. Back at the table, Brian’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Come on, bro. Take a sip. Don’t let Jessica’s effort go to waste.” I looked at his overly eager face and suddenly felt sick to my stomach. That coffee… I obviously made it for him. But here he was, acting like it was some kind of offering for another guy. In my past life, I thought the brothers were just close. Now, I could see it for what it really was. A setup. One piece in a bigger plan. “Really? If she made it herself,” Owen said after a beat, his eyes locked on mine, “how could I say no?” He picked up the cup and took a sip. That was when another memory came flooding back. I was back in the fire. The smoke, the heat, the pain—and him, tearing through the flames to get to me. He’d held me tightly, his voice trembling as he whispered, “Jessica! Jessica! Hang on. I’m here. I’ll get you out!” But the fire was too strong. None of us made it. At the very end, when the smoke and heat had nearly taken everything, he was still holding me—his arms wrapped around me as he leaned in close and murmured against my cheek. “Jessica… I love you.” Back in the present, I didn’t cling to Brian like I had in my last life. Instead, I turned to Owen with a warm smile and said softly, “If you like it, I can make one more cup for you.” As soon as I offered that, both guys turned their heads to look at me. Owen didn’t react much, but Brian’s expression twitched for a second, like something about my words caught him off guard. Still, he didn’t say anything. Just pressed his lips together and kept quiet. That night, as I passed by the study after my shower, I noticed a soft, soft light leaking through the cracked door. Inside, Alice Susan—Brian’s childhood sweetheart—was perched on his desk, tugging playfully at his tie. “Brian,” she said with a teasing smirk, “are you seriously gonna let your brother sleep with Jessica?” She let go of the tie and tilted her head. “I mean, I remember how hard you chased after her back then. It hasn’t been that long. You really don’t mind just handing her over?” Brian grabbed her waist and leaned in to kiss her. His lips landed right on her bright red mouth. “You gotta give something up to catch the big prize,” he said with against her mouth. “I’ve always been second to my brother. If I don’t beat him to it—get a kid first and let Grandpa hold a great-grandchild—then I’ll never matter in his eyes.”

“And anyway,” Brian said with a smug grin, “I’ve already had a taste of Jessica. Honestly? Nothing special. Just average.” “You, though—” His finger slid down Alice’s collarbone. “You’re spicy. You give me the thrill.” Laughter erupted between them, low and dirty. The two practically melted into each other, tangled up in kisses. I stood frozen just outside the room, my fists clenched tight at my sides. But I held it down. Going off on him now would be like throwing myself at a brick wall—it would only hurt me. The Rosalind family were one of the most powerful in Manchester. And me… I was just a broke college student in my third year. Just a nobody. If Brian wanted to get rid of me, he could do it as easily as stepping on a bug. I knew that because he’d already done it once. In my last life, I tried everything—ran away, begged for help, even called the cops. But nothing worked. I was always dragged right back to him. So this time, I kept my head down, pressed my back to the wall, and crept down the hallway, back to the bedroom. My feet barely made a sound against the floor. When I slipped into the room, I could still hear the faint sound of their moaning behind me. My chest tightened. Brian had known I was in the shower. And still, he brought Alice into the study and did that with her. That alone showed he didn’t see me as his girlfriend. Not even close. Lying on the bed, I could almost feel the heat of that fire from my past life crawling up my skin again. The agony, the helplessness, the hatred—it came rushing back. I swallowed hard, shoved the memories down, and grabbed the blow dryer. After drying my hair, I climbed into bed and turned on my side. My fingers curled into the blanket, my eyes wide open in the dark. My jaw tightened. I wasn’t going to let this life go the same way. I’d find a way out—whatever it took. Minutes passed. Then I heard footsteps stumbling in the hallway, slow and heavy. “Hey, hey. Hey—wrong room, bro. It’s this one,” Brian’s voice said with a laugh. Soon, the door creaked open. I kept my back to the door, pretending to sleep, even as I heard Brian guide a clearly drunk Owen into the room. The door creaked open. Footsteps stopped just inside. There was a pause—long enough to make my skin crawl—then the sound of Brian’s low, satisfied exhale. I didn’t need to see his face to know he was pleased. Maybe it was the empty glass on the nightstand, or the sight of me curled tightly under the blanket, playing my part. Then came his voice, smug and casual. “This is your room, bro. Now, get some sleep.” I felt the mattress shift as Owen dropped down beside me. A clean, bitter-orange scent filled the air—his cologne, faint and unfamiliar. The door clicked shut behind Brian as he left, careful not to make a sound. But the next second, something was off. The man beside me suddenly sat upright. His back was straight, his eyes fixed on the ceiling like he was wide awake. My eyes narrowed. ‘Didn’t he drink the whole cup of coffee? Shouldn’t he be knocked out by now?’ That thought startled me, so I sat up like he’d woken me. “Brian?” I mumbled sleepily, rubbing my eyes. “Why’d you come in so late?” Owen turned his head slowly to look at me. Moonlight filtered through the window, lighting up his face. His eyes were cold, sharp—and something else I couldn’t quite place. I scooted closer and wrapped my arms around him. “You weren’t here, and I got scared… I had this horrible nightmare,” I said softly, pressing my cheek to his shoulder. He stiffened in my embrace but didn’t move away. I watched his face carefully. ‘He doesn’t look dazed or drugged at all. So he’s faking it? He knows what’s going on. Then why go along with it?’ I contemplated, ‘Does he… Does he actually like me? Besides, back in my last life, he died with me. Voluntarily.’ I couldn’t be sure what he felt now, but I knew one thing—I had to hold onto whatever this was. It might be the only shot I had at surviving. Leaning in, I brushed my lips against the corner of his mouth. “Brian… I want you,” I whispered. I caught his eyes flickering. Then he grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “What did you just call me?” I blinked my round almond-shaped eyes, pretending not to understand. “What? I called you… Brian?” His brows drew together. “Call me babe,” he said. I froze. “What?” I could feel my face flush instantly. He leaned in closer, his teeth grazing my lower lip. “Be good,” he murmured, “Call me babe, and I’ll give you what you want.” I bit my lip, then lowered my head. Like a good girl, I whispered, “B-Babe.” In that instant, it was like a match had been struck. He crushed his mouth against mine, kissing me hard, almost like he was angry. His hand slipped around my waist and yanked me down onto the mattress. His lips moved fast and rough, trailing heat down my neck as his fingers fumbled with the buttons of my pajamas, popping them open one by one. His hand slid up along my side, warm and demanding. He’d just gotten back from Norway, barely around during the day. We’d only seen each other maybe three times.

I still had no idea why he’d fallen for me in our past life. But the fact that he took the coffee without any reaction this time? That alone told me—things were already playing out differently. ‘Unless… he’s been reborn too?’ The thought popped into my head out of nowhere, and before I could fully process it, Owen had already hit his limit. His jaw was clenched so tight that I could imagine the veins on his forehead bulging. His eyes were bloodshot, blazing red with desire. But even then, there was still a trace of clarity in his gaze. He was fighting it. He ground his teeth and looked at me. “Jessica, actually… I’m—” And right then, I knew. He really had been reborn. ‘Perfect. That’ll make my revenge so much easier.’ So I didn’t let him finish. Instead, I slipped my arms around his neck and kissed him first. Whatever self-control he had left vanished instantly. He kissed me back, hard—wild, fevered, and utterly dominant. Again and again and again… The last round ended in the bathroom, with my back against the wall. He had one hand under my thighs, holding me up, and I had both arms wrapped tightly around his waist. But the bastard was teasing me—on purpose—not going in. I let out a frustrated breath, leaned in, and gave his Adam’s apple a playful but urgent bite. “Come on already…” He let out a quiet chuckle, his voice husky as he slid a hand up the back of my head. “Say it again.” “R-Brian…” “Wrong name!” Just like that, he thrust into me—hard. Like punishment. “Ah…” My whole body curled into his as a tremble shot through me. “Call me babe,” he growled low in my ear, his voice rough and magnetic, like it was pulling me under. I bit down on the back of my hand and whimpered, “Babe. Babe… Babe…” The third time I said it, something in him snapped. He lost control completely. He moved like a man possessed. My body went soft in his arms, like a fish out of water—lips parted, gasping, barely able to breathe. By the time I woke up, it was still dark out. But Owen… He was already gone. I slipped on my pajama robe and padded out of the bedroom quietly. Sure enough, there was light coming from the study. I leaned against the wall and peeked through the crack of the door. Owen was lounging lazily on the couch in the sitting area while Brian stood across from him, fuming. “Bro, how the hell could you go into the wrong room?” He was livid—face flushed, voice shaking. “Do you have any idea? Jessica is the woman I love most in this world!” Owen just crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, and gave him a slow sideways glance. “Really? I had no idea.” He blew out a lazy puff of smoke before adding, “Didn’t you just sneak out of the guest bedroom downstairs? Out of Alice’s bed?” Brian flared up instantly. “That was… That was her! Alice tempted me!” Owen gave a cold laugh. “Too late for excuses. So what do you want now?” Brian’s tone shifted immediately. He stole a glance at his brother’s face and changed tactics. “I mean, it’s just a woman, right? No big deal. If you like her, I don’t mind stepping back for a bit. You can play around with her.” “But,” he added casually, like he hadn’t just called me a toy, “you know that Project Shoreline—Grandpa gave it to you the moment you came back. I’ve been managing it all this time. I’d really like to keep it.” Owen smirked, like he’d been waiting for him to say that. “Sure,” he said easily. “I’ll talk to Grandpa tomorrow. Tell him you’ll stay in charge of that project.” He paused, his tone light but sharp. “Just remember—you take full responsibility. Profit or loss, it’s all on you.” Brian agreed immediately. He looked like he’d just won the lottery. As soon as Owen stood up, I turned around and dashed back to the bedroom. I dove under the covers, shut my eyes, and pretended to be fast asleep. The next time I woke up, it was already noon. Still in my camisole, I made my way downstairs. The moment I reached the corner, I spotted Brian sitting at the dining table. My footsteps froze. I stared hard at the back of his head, unable to look away. Almost like he could feel it, he turned and looked straight at me.   He frowned, looking a little irritated. “You just woke up? It’s lunchtime already.” I took a breath, settled my expression, and walked down the stairs slowly, my steps graceful and unhurried. Once I reached him, I sat down beside him and shot him a playful look, my tone half-teasing, half-accusing. “Well, whose fault do you think it is? You were so wild last night my body couldn’t handle it!” His hand froze mid-slice. The knife scraped across the plate with a loud screech, metal against porcelain. It was sharp, grating just like the tension that suddenly filled the room. I tilted my head, feigning confusion. “Brian? What’s wrong?” His gaze dropped immediately to the red marks scattered along my collarbone and chest—obvious signs left behind from last night. I let my cheeks flush like I was shy about it, but I couldn’t resist smiling just a little. Still, I kept up the act and praised him sweetly. “You were amazing last night, babe. Seriously, I’ve never felt that satisfied before.” Right then, I caught his breath hitch—just for a second—and saw his hand curl into a tight fist under the table. His voice came out low and cold, laced with something sharp. “Never… before?” Crap. I blinked and quickly clapped my hand over my mouth, as if realizing I’d slipped. But then I leaned toward him with a teasing smile and gave him a playful wink. “Oops, did I say that out loud? I mean—you’ve always been amazing, of course!” Brian stiffened. His face darkened instantly, turning the color of burned toast. I pretended not to notice and looked at him with wide-eyed admiration. “But last night? Wow. You were especially incredible.” He stared at me blankly like his brain had suddenly shut down. He didn’t even blink. So I stood up and stepped behind him, wrapping my arms gently around his shoulders. Leaning in close, I whispered against his ear, my voice soft and full of fake shyness. “You really don’t know how to hold back, do you?” I let out a little laugh before adding, “The bathroom was one thing, but the windowsill? What if someone saw us? I would’ve died of embarrassment!” He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched so hard the muscles were twitching. A long, tense silence followed before he finally grabbed my wrists and shoved me gently back into my seat. “Just eat your damn breakfast.” I smiled sweetly and picked up my knife and fork like a well-behaved little wife. But I could hear the way his breathing grew more and more uneven, like he was fighting to stay calm. Then, out of nowhere, he slammed his utensils down, the sharp clatter breaking the silence. He pushed back his chair with a screech and stood up abruptly. “I’ve got stuff to do. I’m heading out.” I gave him a bright, understanding smile and nodded. “Okay! Oh—and if you pass by that bakery, bring me back one of those strawberry cupcakes I love!” His fists clenched at his sides again, and his voice came out low and tight. “Yeah. I know.” Since it was summer break, I didn’t have to worry about school. After finishing my meal, I brought my laptop into the garden room, nestled among the flowers and warm sunlight. I spent the afternoon online, looking up a few things and ordering a couple items. By the time I closed my laptop, the sky outside had turned golden-pink with sunset, and the air inside was thick with the scent of blooming flowers. I stretched lazily and let out a deep sigh. ‘Honestly? Rich people really do know how to enjoy life.’ Right then, a tall shadow fell over me. Someone leaned in, plucked the frameless glasses off my nose, and held them casually in his fingers. Startled, I looked up. For a moment, I couldn’t tell if it was Brian or Owen. The two of them looked ridiculously alike. But after last night’s madness, I’d figured out their differences—tiny details but enough. Owen had a birth mark at the outer corner of his eye, like a teardrop, no bigger than a pinhead. It was barely visible unless you were up close. And he had a faded and pale scar across his chest, the kind that looked like it had been there for years. “Want some?” he asked casually, holding up a small box with strawberry cupcakes inside. That snapped me out of it immediately. Grinning, I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Brian!” Without missing a beat, I opened the box, scooped up some of the strawberry jam with my finger, and held it up to his lips. “Here, try it. It’s really good!” His eyes flickered, and I saw his throat move as he swallowed. Then, without a word, he opened his mouth and took my whole fingertip in, his lips warm and soft around it. And just then… “What the hell are you two doing?!” a furious voice exploded from the door. Brian was back. And my finger—still in Owen’s mouth.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398283”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Rebirth #Cheating #Brothers #Revenge

My name is George Moore. My wife Taylor Larson suffers from intimacy phobia. For ten years of marriage, she has pushed me away time and again. Until our wedding anniversary, when she left me behind and passionately kissed another man, walking hand in hand into a luxury hotel. Afterward, Taylor said to me matter-of-factly: “Men should be more generous and not so petty.” Generous? I said: “Then I wish you two all the best together.” A few days later, I handed her the divorce papers with an expressionless face, determined to leave her for good. But she went crazy because of my disappearance. ***** “I have intimacy phobia, don’t force me.” Taylor gently pushed away my hand reaching toward her, turned around, and said nothing more. Yes, we’ve been married for exactly ten years, yet we’ve never had a real married life. I’ve always longed to have children, and both sets of parents have urged us many times. But whenever I wanted to take things further with Taylor, she would always coldly refuse, claiming she was “afraid of physical contact.” Helplessly, I could only tell others that I was too busy with work and had no energy for family matters, shielding her from relatives’ gossip. I love Taylor. I believe she has some unspeakable difficulty, so I never force her, only retreating to the bathroom alone to take care of myself. Perhaps she also sensed that her coldness had hurt me. After I returned, she would turn around and hug my waist, nuzzling affectionately in my arms. “Honey, let’s go to sleep.” Feeling her shallow breathing, a strong unease slowly welled up in my heart. To dispel this feeling, the next day I deliberately finished work at the hospital early, booked a high-end restaurant, wanting to surprise her and strengthen our relationship. But after waiting two hours, she never showed up. I called her colleague and learned that their company was having a dinner party today. The colleague said: “This gathering was scheduled by Ms. Larson a week ago.” But Taylor never told me. In the early days of our marriage, she used to share everything in her life with me. Looking at the messages on WhatsApp that hadn’t been replied to for a long time, I drove to the KTV where they were having their dinner party. The moment I saw what was happening inside, my hand froze on the door handle, and my body instantly felt like it had fallen into an ice cave. Taylor was being held in the arms of a young man, not struggling, not dodging. Amid the crowd’s cheering, she closed her eyes and calmly accepted the man’s deep kiss. After the party ended, I overheard her conversation with her best friend Andrea Evans in the hallway corner. She said: “Actually, before marriage, I really loved George. Being apart for just a morning would make me miss him so much I’d panic. But after marriage, whenever he gets close to me or wants to touch me, I can always smell blood, making me so nauseous I want to throw up. I lied to him about having intimacy phobia, and I didn’t expect him to actually believe it. Ten years of marriage, appearing loving on the surface, but behind closed doors, I haven’t done a single thing that married couples should do with him.” “Bottom line, you just don’t love him anymore,” Andrea said flatly, seeing right through her. Taylor chuckled softly, neither confirming nor denying. Andrea asked: “What about today’s intern? Jayden Howell, right? Don’t tell me you’re actually falling for him?” Taylor casually ran her fingers through her hair. “No, not quite there yet.” Andrea said: “I’m warning you, playing around is fine, but don’t go too far. You and George were the most famous couple on campus back then. He treasures you like his life. If you ever go too far and something really happens, no one will be able to save you.” Taylor scoffed. “Thirteen years of feelings – would he really be willing to let go?”

Taylor’s words pierced my heart like silver needles. All these Christmas memories came flooding back, and I realized she never had any phobia at all—she simply didn’t love me. Those two words “want to throw up” wrapped around my throat like iron chains, making it impossible to breathe. She knew me better than anyone, which is exactly why she could strike at my soft spots with such precision, using them as leverage for her betrayal. I remembered the name Jayden all too clearly. He was the new intern who joined Taylor’s company at the beginning of this Christmas season. The first time she mentioned him, her voice was filled with barely concealed admiration. She told me how Jayden had messed up an important partnership project. But he refused to give up, blocking the departing business partner and tearfully begging for another chance, nearly fainting from emotional distress. This kind of unwavering determination was something many college students today lacked. In the end, Taylor couldn’t stand watching anymore. She angrily confronted the aggressive business partner and pulled Jayden out of the conference room. At the time, I didn’t understand: “Isn’t this just making a scene? He screwed up the company’s partnership—the responsibility is entirely his. The business partner has every right to terminate the deal. You can’t force them to accept the partnership just because you feel sorry for Jayden.” Taylor rarely got angry with me, but this time her eyes flashed with disappointment: “And you call yourself a doctor? You don’t have an ounce of empathy. I’m really disappointed in you.” I didn’t doubt my perspective because of her anger and continued trying to correct her thinking. But she stubbornly sided with Jayden, even suggesting that I’d been too sheltered. Because of this incident, we didn’t speak for several days. In the end, I was the one who apologized, swallowing my pride to win her back. From that day on, I remembered Jayden’s name. I just never imagined that Jayden would transform into Taylor’s assistant. It was also from that moment that an invisible barrier formed between Taylor and me. When you love someone, you can’t help but want to share every little detail of your life with them. When you stop sharing, that’s when the love is gone. All the signs had already surfaced. After work, I went to bed early. I felt subtle movement beside me. Familiar warmth pressed against me as Taylor’s soft body wrapped around mine. I fought back the urge to vomit, quickly rolling away and saying coldly, “It’s too hot.” Her hand froze in mid-air, as if she hadn’t expected me to pull away. I could sense she was in a good mood tonight—initiating physical contact was already the most intimate gesture between us. She didn’t pursue it further, tucking the covers around me before turning away to look at her phone. I don’t know when it started, but Taylor, who never used to stay up late, began scrolling through her phone until the early hours, even clutching it when she went to the bathroom. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I suddenly received a text message. My instincts told me it was from Jayden. I took a deep breath, my fingertips trembling as I opened it. Jayden had sent me a screenshot of his chat with Taylor from five minutes earlier. He’d sent Taylor a photo of himself in a bathrobe, along with a room number. 【I don’t dare ask you to divorce for me. I just want to stay by your side, to hold you when you’re sad.】 【If you don’t come tonight, I’ll keep waiting.】 And Taylor had softened, replying: 【Wait for me.】 I’d never seen such a shameless man before. For a moment, I was stunned.

Right after reading that chat log, Taylor got up and started getting dressed. She said, “There’s a sudden issue with the project. I need to handle it personally.” Over the past ten years, she’d used this exact line countless times to leave home in the middle of the night. And I, because I loved her deeply, never questioned it, never tried to stop her. Looking back now, she was probably going to see Jayden all those times. I said, “I’ll come with you.” Taylor’s movements paused almost imperceptibly, then she reached up to gently caress my cheek. “It’s already so late. Don’t trouble yourself—just get some sleep. If you wear yourself out staying up, it’ll break my heart. Don’t worry, I’ll be back early.” With that, she showed no hesitation and turned to leave. I quietly called a cab and followed her. Taylor drove extremely fast, nearly losing my driver several times. It was pouring rain outside, and Jayden was standing there waiting for her. The two of them embraced like lovers who’d been separated for ages, unable to control themselves the moment they saw each other. I fought back the sting in my eyes and pulled out my phone, which I’d prepared beforehand, aiming it at them and pressing the shutter. To completely kill any lingering hope, I even recorded a twenty-second video. They kissed passionately, reluctant to part, then walked hand in hand through the hotel entrance. Back in the car, I composed myself and dialed the number I knew by heart. My former doctoral advisor, Callum Fisher, answered the phone. He was abroad now, where it was currently morning. I said, “Prof. Fisher, do you still need people for that medical project?” He paused for a moment, his voice actually trembling slightly. “George, have you made up your mind? As long as you’re willing to come, there’s always a place for you on the project team.” When I graduated with my doctorate ten years ago, Callum had tried hard to convince me to stay, inviting me to go abroad with him for further research and continue my academic career. It would have been a tremendous opportunity for me to advance to the next level. But Taylor didn’t want a long-distance relationship. So I chose to stay. Deep down, though, I regretted it more than anyone. Now, I finally had a chance to start over. I don’t regret my choice back then—that young George was willing to give up his dreams for love. And the current George has the courage to set out again for himself. Every choice has been a decision I made by following my heart. ***** A day later, Callum and I arranged to meet in a month. Dragging my exhausted body home, I pulled out a bottle of wine I’d been saving for years and poured glass after glass down my throat. Just over a month left, and everything would truly be over. My phone suddenly buzzed with a message from my good friend Tate Foster. 【How’d it go? That restaurant I recommended was great, right?】 【What woman could resist that kind of romantic gesture? Taylor must be head over heels for you now, right?】 All our friends thought Taylor was madly in love with me. I used to think so too. Only now do I realize that love really can be faked. Looking down at my watch, I let out a self-mocking laugh. This watch—she and I bought it during our most difficult years. She had just started her business then, and I’d given her all my savings to support her. During the worst period, we often went hungry. To buy me this watch, she secretly took on part-time jobs, sleeping less than four hours a night. It wasn’t until she collapsed on the street one day and was rushed to the hospital that I learned the truth. I rushed into the hospital room, and her first reaction upon seeing me was to hide her scraped palm under the bed. I blamed myself for not taking better care of her and asked through tears why she’d taken those jobs. But she just smiled and wiped away my tears. “Silly, it was for your birthday present, of course. But there’s a condition—you have to promise to marry me.” Later, her business grew bigger and bigger. We moved into a larger house, and life gradually became comfortable. But I kept wearing this inexpensive watch. She once suggested I get a more expensive one, but I refused without hesitation. Because in my heart, it had earned an irreplaceable place. Remembering how she looked at me with such love in her eyes during my birthday celebration, I took off the watch and placed it on the nightstand. Her words from the past seemed to still echo in my ears. But everything had changed. This watch—I didn’t want to keep it anymore either.   In the early morning hours, Taylor called: “There are still issues with the project that haven’t been resolved. I won’t be coming home tonight. Don’t wait up for me—get some rest.” Before I could respond, she hung up. With alcohol still coursing through my veins, I simply collapsed onto the living room carpet and fell into a deep sleep. In my dreams, time rewound to that summer when Taylor and I first met. Under the blazing sun, her roommate pushed her toward me, and she stammered, “You look like my boyfriend.” That straightforward yet clumsy pickup line became the beginning of our story. Because of that line, her roommates crowned me the “love guru.” After that, she kept finding excuses to ask me out for spaghetti. Even though we weren’t in the same college, I somehow kept running into her everywhere. Not long after the semester started, many people confessed their feelings to me, but initially I had no interest in Taylor. But she was like a little sun, slowly winning me over. We went through undergrad and graduate school together. The day I graduated with my PhD, she pulled out a pair of rings and asked if I would marry her. I didn’t answer—I just dropped to one knee and pulled out the ring I’d been carrying in my pocket. She said yes without hesitation. She threw herself into my arms, tears in her eyes, saying, “George, I want to love you forever. We’ll never be apart, okay?” Now, she’s the one pushing me away. Lies have become the sword that’s splitting us apart. ***** The next morning, a colleague’s call woke me up. The throw pillow was soaked with tears. Taylor never came home. I told myself: this is the last time I’ll cry over her. After a quick wash in the bathroom, I drove to the hospital. Even though I’d decided to leave, I couldn’t abandon the work that needed to be handed over, and I had several patients with appointments to see. That’s how brutal life is after entering the workforce—no matter how you’re feeling today, work still has to get done. While waiting at a red light, I opened my phone and texted my lawyer friend, asking about divorce procedures. There was no hysteria between us, no fighting. I didn’t need another woman to suddenly appear and rescue me from my pain. I had loved Taylor deeply, but I could still live a fulfilling life without her. In my world, there’s always been only one protagonist—myself. This marriage had reached its end. After submitting my resignation letter to the director, I threw myself into work. Patient after patient kept me dizzy with busyness, temporarily pushing thoughts of Taylor to the back of my mind. But I never expected that before I could confront Taylor, she would show up on her own. I was holding post-operative reports, about to find the family to discuss post-care instructions, when I spotted that familiar figure around a corner in the hallway. Taylor was clutching Jayden’s arm as they rushed into the emergency department. The room they entered was exactly the one I was heading to.

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The day my husband’s parents Jason Gibson and Leila Gibson were in a car accident, I, Gabriela Reeds, called Everett Gibson with trembling hands, my voice choked with tears as I begged him to transfer money for the surgery fees. But all I heard from the other end was his cold mockery: “If you want money, just say so. Why do you always come up with these pathetic excuses?” Staring at the disconnected call, I swallowed my hurt and dialed again, only to hear a familiar female voice: “Everett, I squeezed out too much sunscreen. Can I rub it on your abs?” He laughed indulgently, “You’re being silly.” That night, Jason and Leila died abroad despite all efforts to save them. ***** It’s been over half a month since Jason and Leila’s accident. I couldn’t let their bodies go unattended. But Everett still wouldn’t answer his phone or come home. I had to handle all the arrangements alone and organize the cremation. Just the day before the accident, they were still hoping for a grandchild. Now they lay in cold coffins. I don’t understand how life and death could be separated in a single night. Even less do I understand what could make Everett completely cut off contact for half a month, ignoring his parents’ life and death. I heard rustling sounds—he was home. I looked up, only to see Grace walking in, along with that Grace Lewis who had been sickly since childhood and whom Everett treasured like a precious gem. She was wearing my silk nightgown, the neckline slightly open, revealing several intimate red marks on her neck. The sight stung my eyes and made my stomach churn. “Everett and I have been waiting for you, Gabriela. Were you out having fun? I ordered takeout—want to eat together?” she asked sweetly. Everett stood by the dining table, not even glancing in my direction. Thinking about how Jason and Leila were still unburied while Everett brought Grace back to our marital home, letting her wear my clothes and sleep in my bed— I felt sick and turned to rush to the bathroom. But Grace blocked my path. She said, “Gabriela, don’t fight with Everett. He’s been so busy with work and has no time to spend with anyone. I saw how exhausted he was, so I took him away to relax. After all, unlike you, not everyone can skip work and go shopping for luxury goods every day, right?” She stood too close, her heavy perfume overwhelming me. I suddenly bent over and dry-heaved, even bringing up some acid. Grace screamed and stepped back, but still got splashed a little. “Do you have to be so disgusting?” These were the first words he’d spoken to me in half a month. He didn’t explain why Grace was wearing my nightgown, didn’t ask where I’d been all this time, and didn’t care whether I was sick or holding up. Once, if I so much as frowned slightly, he would anxiously ask if I was feeling unwell. I’d forgotten when exactly he started changing, but it seemed like it had been a long time. I straightened up and met his indifferent gaze coldly. Even though I was prepared, my heart still ached sharply. I said, “I’m the one being disgusting? Everett, you’re the one who’s truly revolting.” “Can you stop being so unreasonable? I came home, didn’t I?” he interrupted irritably. Grace immediately chimed in, “Gabriela, Everett only went on that trip with me because I was heartbroken. Don’t blame him.” Everett said coldly, “You have nothing to apologize for. She’s the one looking for trouble.” Watching him protect her without hesitation, I suddenly found everything utterly absurd. I silently walked to the corner, picked up those two heavy urns, and walked up to him: “These are your parents’ ashes. You take care of them. Also, let’s get divorced.” He laughed coldly, “You just grab two random boxes and claim they’re my parents’ ashes? Gabriela, have you lost your mind? And you want to divorce me?” He casually tossed the urns aside and mocked, “You won’t sleep with me, so now you’re putting on this act with my parents? You just want a child, don’t you? Your plan failed so now you’re threatening divorce? If you really want one, just say so. It’s not like I can’t give you one.” I really wanted to ask who exactly was being dishonest in this marriage. Who took his first love on a million-dollar spending spree on our wedding anniversary? Who claimed to be working overtime while actually holding her hand at amusement parks? And who lied to me over and over again for her sake, leaving me alone in an empty house time after time? I don’t know when this marriage became meaningless, but I know it’s time to end it now. So I said calmly, “Divorce. I’ll move out as soon as possible to make room for you two.” Grace opened her mouth but was silenced by Everett’s icy glare. He stared at me, his voice menacing: “You’re threatening me with divorce again? If you walk out that door today, we’re done for good. Don’t expect me to come after you.” I nodded gently, then turned around without hesitation, opened the door, and walked out. Everett felt an inexplicable sense of defeat rise in his chest, but quickly suppressed it. After all, her parents died long ago—she had nowhere to go. She’d come back eventually.

After renting the apartment, I returned to the villa to collect my belongings. I placed the divorce papers I’d printed earlier in front of Everett. He signed without even looking, but when I reached for the documents, his hand pressed down on the paper. “Gabriela,” he said, “haven’t you thought about what Jason and Leila would think if they found out we’re getting divorced? Aren’t you afraid of breaking their hearts?” I finally understood—Everett didn’t believe a word I’d said. Perhaps Jason and Leila’s ashes had already been carelessly discarded in some forgotten corner. “Everett,” my voice trembled, “I’ve told you countless times—Jason and Leila are dead! What I gave you last time were their ashes. Where did you put them?” “Gabriela, stop talking nonsense.” He frowned, his tone cold. “You’re being completely unreasonable,” I said. “You’re the one being unreasonable, Ms. Reeds.” Grace suddenly appeared, slamming her phone on the table. The screen showed a social media activity log. “Leila was still liking posts online last night! I understand you want Everett’s attention, but making up such ridiculous lies is pretty low, don’t you think?” I was close enough to clearly see that at eleven PM last night, Leila’s account had liked a post. But I had watched Jason and Leila’s bodies being pushed into the crematorium with my own eyes. How was this possible? “I’m being polite to you out of respect for Everett,” Grace sneered. “But I’ve never acknowledged your status, much less this marriage. To get your hands on Gibson Group’s assets, you actually made up lies about Jason and Leila dying in a car accident abroad. What exactly are you trying to pull?” Since when did our marriage need her approval to be valid? “My purpose?” I looked coldly at both of them. “I just hope you two stay together forever, so you won’t harm anyone else.” I turned to Everett. “You believe whatever Grace says? You’re the CEO of a public company—don’t you have a phone? Whether what I’m saying is true or false, your secretary could verify it in five minutes. Why won’t you check?” Grace said, “Then how do you explain this like record? Are you going to say someone found their phones?” Jason and Leila had indeed been in a car accident abroad, and their phones were never found among their belongings. Everett suddenly spoke, his voice ice-cold: “You married me for money, didn’t you? Don’t think you can take a single cent through divorce. You’ll leave with nothing.” “Don’t worry,” I laughed bitterly. “I won’t take a penny of yours. If you look down on me so much, why did you pursue me so relentlessly in the first place? When someone’s heart changes, their face sure follows suit.” He always interpreted my every word and action in the most malicious way possible. I didn’t want to argue anymore and turned to go upstairs to pack. Behind me came Everett’s furious voice: “You came here with just one bag, and now you want to take things when you leave? Letting you walk out in those clothes is charity enough.” I clenched my fists, suppressing my anger, wanting only to retrieve my parents’ belongings—the things that truly belonged to me. “Ugh, what’s that smoky smell? Is Leila burning the trash we cleared out yesterday?” Grace pinched her nose, feigning disgust. She always liked stirring up trouble, and at her words, my heart sank. In a roaring fire, all of my birth parents’ belongings were being consumed—yellowed photographs, old letters, and the necklace Mom had given me on my tenth birthday, her last gift to me. I rushed forward to save them, but Grace deliberately blocked my way: “Such a big fire—be careful you don’t hurt yourself.” She wore a malicious smile, mocking my desperation. Everett said, “Just a pile of junk. If someone wants to treat it like treasure, who cares?” Once, Everett had called these items “your parents’ final mementos.” Now, in his eyes, they were nothing but disposable waste. Just as my hand was about to reach the necklace in the flames, Grace suddenly swayed and fell toward the edge of the fire! Everett shoved me aside and threw himself forward to shield Grace in his arms. My head struck the stone beside me hard. Sharp pain shot through me, my ears rang, my vision blurred, and the world seemed to spin. Grace raised her arm, revealing slightly burned skin, and began to sob: “It hurts so much. I was just trying to get her away from the fire, but she pushed me!” “Don’t cry, I’ll take you to the hospital right away.” Everett lifted her up, and before leaving, he turned back coldly: “I thought you were just a liar, but I never imagined you could be so vicious—actually pushing her into the fire.”

I couldn’t make out what Everett was saying at all. The servant standing nearby hesitated, wanting to step forward but not daring to move. As for me, I simply reached toward the pile of flames still burning. Warm, thick blood trickled down my forehead, blurring my vision. I fumbled several times before finally picking up that necklace from the ashes. Unfortunately, it had already been burned beyond recognition, twisted and deformed. It was just a plastic necklace—cheap and fragile. Yet I still clutched it tightly in my palm, letting the scalding embers burn blisters into my skin, refusing to let go. To ten-year-old me, wearing it meant I could become a princess from a fairy tale. To me now, it was the only keepsake my parents had left behind. And now, this precious memory had been destroyed right before my eyes by his own hands. I didn’t understand why Everett had suddenly become a different person. If he no longer loved me, why not just say he wanted to leave? How could I possibly cling to him then? I understood even less why Grace, who clearly liked him, wouldn’t simply be with him. Instead, she chose to torment me on one side while flirting with him on the other, playing these ambiguous games. Looking down at the divorce papers he had signed in my hand, I suddenly felt it was time to leave this land where I had lived for over twenty years. I walked aimlessly, my vision growing increasingly blurred. I wiped the blood from my face with my hand, but my sight remained cloudy and unclear. When I opened my eyes again, a familiar figure stood before me. The hospital corridor was cold, white, and silent. Noah Howard handed me a test report. He said, “How could you not know you were pregnant? Look at the state you’re in. If I hadn’t run into you on my way to a house call, you might have been hit by a car the next second.” Noah was a classmate from the class next door in high school who had pursued me for a while. After I got together with Everett, we lost touch. I never expected to run into him here after all these years, and he had become a doctor at this hospital. Being seen in such a disheveled state by an old acquaintance made me feel inexplicably embarrassed, though I didn’t know what to say. In the end, I just kept thanking him and transferred the exact amount for the medical fees to him. Just as I turned to leave, a questioning voice came from behind: “What are you two doing?” Everett stormed over in a rage, grabbing my arm with such force that I nearly lost my balance. When he saw the gauze wrapped around my head, he paused for a moment. But he immediately demanded, “So that’s why you suddenly wanted a divorce? You already had someone else, didn’t you? You two have been in contact all along!” “Noah, how can you be so shameless, always going after other men’s wives? Have you no dignity!” His words grew increasingly vicious, not only slandering me but also insulting Noah. I forcefully shook off his grip and straightened up. “Everett, we’re already divorced. The divorce papers have been signed.” “I take it back!” he practically roared, his eyes filled with disbelief and fury. “You want to be with this man, don’t you? Answer me! Gabriela!” Grace, her arm wrapped in gauze, tried to hold him back, but he shoved her aside. I suddenly found it almost laughable. “The way you’re acting, I’d think you still had feelings for me.” “Don’t flatter yourself!” he sneered. “We haven’t even gotten the divorce certificate yet, and you’re already out there fooling around while still carrying my wife’s title?” At that moment, Grace spoke up casually, “I remember Dr. Howard pursued Ms. Reeds back in college, didn’t he? You two seemed pretty close back then.” Everett’s expression instantly darkened. Grace realized she’d said the wrong thing and stuck out her tongue awkwardly. “Sorry, Dr. Howard, maybe I remembered wrong.” Before Noah could respond, I said, “It’s fine, I can handle this myself. Dr. Howard, you should get back to work.” I quietly hid the report behind my back and met Everett’s gaze. “You could carry on with other women throughout our marriage without a care in the world, but I couldn’t do the same. Don’t worry, I would never cheat.” “Ms. Reeds,” Grace suddenly narrowed her eyes, and quick as lightning, snatched the report from behind my back. She glanced down at it, her expression changing dramatically before quickly returning to calm. “Don’t tell me that because Everett wants to divorce you, you got your classmate to fake a report? If this gets exposed, it could ruin Dr. Howard’s entire career.” Everett let out a scornful laugh, his face full of disdain. “We’ve been married for three or four years, and you never got pregnant. Now suddenly overnight you’re expecting? How long has it been since I even touched you? If you’re going to fake something, at least make it logical.” I reached out to grab the report back, but Grace nimbly dodged away. Everett actually stepped in front of her protectively, like some kind of instinctive reaction. I laughed coldly. “What, are you planning to push me again for her sake?” Everett’s gaze fell on the gauze around my head again, but in the end, he said nothing. He snatched the report and threw it hard into my arms, coldly dropping the words “enough is enough” before turning to leave with Grace, their retreating figures resolute. Over a month ago, Everett came home from a business dinner, completely wasted. He stumbled into the bedroom, held me close, and kept calling my name over and over, saying he loved me so much. At the time, I thought Everett must love me, that there had to be some misunderstanding between us. But the next morning when he woke up, he remembered nothing. When he saw me, his eyes were as cold as if he were looking at a stranger, even filled with disgust. I was driven back by that look. The child was probably conceived that very night. Now, it’s probably for the best that he doesn’t acknowledge this child. He doesn’t even care about his own parents’ deaths, so he certainly wouldn’t care about this child. Since the marriage has reached its end anyway, an unwanted child shouldn’t come into this world. I just wondered if someday, when he learns that I terminated his child and discovers I wasn’t lying, that his parents are both dead, and that he bears some responsibility for their deaths, would he break down completely? At this thought, I felt an almost cruel sense of anticipation. So I quietly scheduled an abortion.

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I, Camila Fuller, had been a housewife for ten years. That day, I was washing dishes when suddenly a stream of comments appeared before my eyes. 【The female lead is so pitiful, this family has been draining her luck all along!】 【Her husband stole her graduate degree and job opportunities!】 【Her husband’s parents even took away much of her health.】 【And her husband’s sister borrowed all her romantic prospects.】 【Her husband is about to give her something again. How much luck will she lose this time?】 My hands froze mid-air. Just then, my husband Paxton Freeman walked over and slipped a plastic bracelet onto my wrist. He said, “Honey, I bought this specially after work today. It’s both romantic and budget-friendly. Do you like it?” I looked up and through the reflection in the kitchen window, I caught a glimpse of calculation flashing in his eyes. He continued, “The company is selecting for management positions tomorrow. Do you think I’ll get promoted?” I was still reeling from the shock of those comments, my mind completely blank. “What are you spacing out for?” he urged. “Come on, say something.” The comments appeared again. 【As long as the female lead answers “yes,” this luck-borrowing ritual will be complete.】 【She’ll definitely say yes. She’s always been obedient to this family.】 Seeing my continued silence, Paxton suddenly grabbed my wrist with such force that he nearly crushed it. “Honey, say something.” I stared at the plastic bracelet on my right wrist, which suddenly felt burning hot. I yanked my hand back. “I think my period just started.” Without waiting for his reaction, I rushed into the bathroom. He kept pounding on the door, his voice growing more urgent: “Just tell me, will I get selected or not?” I shouted through the bathroom door: “Yes, you’ll definitely get selected!” Hearing the satisfactory answer, Paxton’s voice carried a note of excitement. “Since you’re not feeling well tonight, I won’t stay with you. I’ll sleep over at my friend’s place.” I looked at the plastic bracelet I had thrown into the toilet. Comments flashed frantically before my eyes. 【The female lead actually threw away the bracelet? Doesn’t she usually treasure everything he gives her?】 【Could she know this man has been harming her all along?】 【Does she know Paxton has been cheating?】 From what just happened, I was certain that these suddenly appearing comments were all true. Reading the words floating in the comments, my heart ached unbearably. Those people in the living room outside were all people I considered family. 【This whole family has been scheming against the female lead from the beginning.】 【The female lead should have gotten into graduate school, then met her husband during her PhD studies. They would have been kindred spirits and founded their company together.】 【If only the female lead knew the truth, she wouldn’t keep letting them borrow her luck.】 Through the comments’ narration, I learned the whole truth and my inevitable fate. I was an orphan who met the seemingly honest and simple Paxton in college. His parents, James Freeman and Sophia Freeman, treated me like their own daughter. But in reality, I had been their target from the very beginning. James had inherited an ancient technique from his ancestors that could borrow others’ luck. However, by now, his ability was limited to borrowing luck only from his own family members. He had calculated that I was born with an exceptionally lucky fate, so he had Paxton marry me quickly, making me part of their family. That’s why, despite my diligent preparation for graduate school entrance exams, Paxton, who never studied, got into my dream school and program. No matter how serious James and Sophia’s illnesses were, they would recover the next day. Meanwhile, I was constantly plagued by various ailments, all the kinds of diseases that typically afflicted elderly people. I maintained a regular exercise routine and balanced nutrition, yet my weight kept increasing daily. Now I weighed nearly 200 pounds, while Jasmin Freeman, who never watched her diet, remained slender and was even dating a rich second-generation heir. At the story’s end, I would develop cancer from having all my luck drained by them, then die crushed by a truck while crossing the street. I splashed cold water on my face repeatedly, trying to calm down. Thank goodness I had seen these comments. I couldn’t let them borrow my luck anymore. Since they didn’t truly care for me, I would make them pay the price. I pressed the flush button. Let that plastic bracelet disappear along with Paxton’s promotion dreams.

The next evening, Paxton stormed through the door in a rage. He yanked his tie loose, and when his eyes landed on my bare wrist, his fury exploded. “Where’s the bracelet!” He grabbed my wrist and roared, “Where’s the bracelet I gave you?” I answered casually, “I accidentally dropped it in the toilet last night.” Paxton’s face flushed red with anger. “You dropped it and didn’t think to fish it out?” I shot back, “It wasn’t anything valuable. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?” “Do you have any idea that because of you, my promotion opportunity is completely ruined!” he said through gritted teeth. I tilted my head, playing dumb. “Oh? So because I lost the bracelet you gave me, you can’t get promoted?” Paxton was about to speak. “It’s because you—” James interrupted with a cough. “Enough. If something’s lost, just buy another one. Don’t make this into a bigger issue.” Only then did Paxton stop, breathing heavily. As I went to the kitchen to serve the dishes, I caught a glimpse of his dark expression from the corner of my eye. Not getting promoted is just the beginning. What you owe me, I’ll make sure you pay back every last bit. At the dinner table, Paxton’s face remained stormy. Sophia smiled sweetly, trying to ease the tension. “Camila, you should be understanding with Paxton. He’s been fighting for this position for several years now. Not getting promoted this time, he’s genuinely anxious. Don’t hold it against him. Look how much he loves you—he’s always buying you things. I’m actually jealous. Since you don’t have parents to rely on, I think of you as my own daughter.” She placed a piece of vegetable on my plate. “Eat more. Vegetables are good for your health.” She helped herself to a piece of meat, took a bite, and continued, “Oh, yesterday I went to the pharmacy downstairs to check my blood pressure, and they said my systolic pressure was 170. I need to go to the hospital tomorrow for a checkup. Do you think there’s something wrong with me?” My heart sank. I had already swallowed that piece of vegetable. The comments started scrolling frantically: 【Holy crap, this old lady is ruthless. Who would be on guard like this all the time?】 【What should the female lead do? Should she run to the bathroom and throw up?】 【Do you think the female lead already knows the truth?】 At the dinner table, Sophia looked at me kindly. “Camila, don’t you think so? I’ll be fine, right?” Under the table, I pressed hard against my stomach with my hand. “Ugh!” I vomited all the food onto the table. As I threw up, I smiled at Sophia, whose face had suddenly changed. “Of course, you’ll definitely be fine.” “Ugh!” I threw up again, and the entire dinner table was in chaos. My stomach was churning violently. I clutched my stomach weakly and said, “I don’t feel well. I’m going back to my room.” Before long, Paxton came in carrying a glass of milk. “My mom had me make this milk for you. She said you barely ate anything and was worried you’d feel sick on an empty stomach. Who else would be as thoughtful as my mom?” I kept my head down and gave a muffled “mm.” He urged impatiently, “Hurry up and drink it. Don’t be ungrateful.” I replied weakly, “Just leave it there. I’ll drink it in a bit.” He set the glass down heavily on the nightstand and left. Once his footsteps faded away, I immediately got up and poured the entire glass of milk into the flower pot by the window. The comments appeared again: 【How does the female lead know the milk was drugged?】 【I suddenly want to know what the female lead will do next.】 I had just lain back down when the conversation from the next room came through the thin wall. The old house had poor soundproofing, and every word was crystal clear. I quietly cracked open my door, leaving just a small gap. “Is Camila asleep?” It was Sophia’s voice. Paxton sneered coldly, “She’s asleep. I put seven or eight sleeping pills in her food. She’s sleeping like a dead pig.” Sophia said, “Be a little gentler with her. You were so harsh today—what if she wants to divorce you? Jasmin is dating that rich kid. Don’t complicate things.” Paxton sneered, “Mom, with that fat pig appearance of hers, who else would want her? I feel disgusted just touching her. As for Jasmin, tell her to eat less. Just looking at Camila makes me want to throw up.” This comment puzzled me. I’d been married into this family for ten years, and Jasmin had never given me anything. How had she borrowed my luck? And why had she been able to keep me overweight all this time? The comments grew alert too. [Come to think of it, they never mentioned Jasmin giving the female lead anything.] [Maybe it was sent through Paxton’s hands?] The comments’ speculation matched my thoughts. Sophia suddenly grew nervous: “She threw up today. Could she be pregnant?” Paxton immediately cut her off: “That dead fat pig? I don’t even want to touch her. How could I possibly get her pregnant?” Hearing this, I instinctively touched my stomach. I’d once had a child, but my poor health meant I couldn’t keep the baby. Paxton laughed, “Dad, your method really worked. When we worked together to get rid of that dead pig’s child, Phoebe gave me a son right away. When can we bring Phoebe and Kevin home? Just seeing Camila makes me sick.” So my son’s life had been borrowed too! James, who had been silent all along, finally spoke: “Just over a month left, and Camila’s luck will be completely drained. Only when she dies will this luck-borrowing ritual end. Otherwise, we’ll all face backlash.” Paxton was so excited he nearly laughed out loud: “Excellent! My son and wife can finally come back to me.” James coldly reminded him: “Phoebe still can’t come back. You need to marry another woman with good fortune so we can keep living well.” Paxton said, “Fine, Phoebe’s obedient anyway. But Kevin must come back—he’s my only son.” Sophia groaned again: “Oh, my leg hurts again. Tomorrow I need to give Camila more things. And you, use your brain—stop fobbing her off with cheap stuff.” Paxton smirked dismissively: “What’s to worry about? She’s accepted everything for ten years, hasn’t she?” Their conversation seemed to end. I quickly closed the door tight and lay back down on the bed. Moments later, Paxton pushed the door open, glanced at me, muttered “dead fat pig” under his breath, then left. In the darkness, I slowly opened my eyes. My face was wet with tears, and the hatred in my heart made me want to make them pay in blood. My child, Mommy will avenge you. For you, and for my stolen ten years of youth and dignity.

Paxton didn’t come home all night. He used to make excuses before, but now that he knows I only have a month left to live, he can’t even be bothered to put on a show. Sophia gently placed a freshly baked cake in front of me. “Camila, you should eat something first. Your stomach was bothering you yesterday.” I didn’t take it, but pulled her hand and sat down on the couch with her. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you. You know I grew up in an orphanage. Yesterday, the director Freya Lopez called me. She’s getting older and accidentally injured her leg. All these years, she’s been taking care of the children at the orphanage, but she has no children of her own. I want to go stay with her for a while and take good care of her.” Sophia frowned slightly, her tone showing displeasure. “Camila, you’re part of our family. Paxton works hard outside, and you should be the one holding this home together.” I held her hand and spoke honestly: “Sophia, let me be straight with you. Freya told me that she has no children, and I’m the closest person to her after all these years. She’s decided to transfer both of her properties to my name. You and James have always been loving toward me, and Paxton has treated me well too. So I’ve made up my mind—I’ll transfer both properties to Paxton’s name.” Upon hearing this, Sophia’s eyes immediately lit up. She gripped my hand tightly, her voice trembling with excitement. “I knew you were such a thoughtful and filial child! Go ahead, leave today! I’ll handle things with Paxton, so you don’t need to worry about anything!” I nodded with a smile. That evening, Sophia called Paxton home. I hired a fake lawyer and signed many fraudulent documents. Paxton was so immersed in his great joy that he had no idea the divorce agreement was hidden among them. The moment he signed his name, I felt the strings binding me inside snap one by one. A long-lost strength surged from deep within my bones throughout my entire body. The comments were all celebrating for me. 【Great! The female lead finally broke free from the Freeman family and will never have her luck stolen again.】 【The female lead is no longer part of the Freeman family. Since the Freemans failed to complete this luck transfer, what awaits them next is karmic backlash. I can’t wait to see it.】 The lawyer said he needed to take the documents to process the transfer, and Paxton happily saw the fake lawyer out. He had already started planning with James and Sophia how to use those two properties. “We’ll sell one and let Phoebe and Kevin live in the other.” He was so excited that he forgot himself and blurted out about his mistress and illegitimate child right in front of me. Sophia quickly tried to interrupt him, but Paxton glanced at me coldly and said, “Just go take good care of Freya. Don’t bother coming back.” With that, he turned around and violently threw all my luggage downstairs. Standing outside the door, I looked down at the real divorce agreement in my hands as tears fell heavily onto the pages. After ten years, I had finally reclaimed my life. I looked forward to their family’s destruction as payment for the ten years they owed me and my child’s life! Freya had indeed injured her leg. I briefly explained Paxton’s affair to her, and she was very understanding, telling me to settle in comfortably. It was perfect timing for me to take good care of her too. That evening, as I was preparing to rest, Paxton suddenly called. I answered the phone, and before I could speak, I heard his anxious voice: “Honey, you need to come to the Ocean Hotel right now!” Before I could figure out what was happening, the comments filled me in. 【Paxton was supposed to meet a woman, but he went to the wrong room and messed with Nash Ramirez’s woman—the son of New York’s richest man!】

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After completing my mission, I, Ariana Gilbert, returned to my original world. The moment I opened my eyes, my parents Wyatt Gilbert and Sienna Gilbert were there with red-rimmed eyes, trembling as they called my name. My usually calm and composed husband Austin Foster was also in tears. I was moved and hugged my son Luca Foster. Just as I was about to tell the system I wanted to stay, Raegan Gilbert, who had been living my life in my absence, suddenly burst through the door. “Don’t touch me! My mommy will be angry!” Luca pushed me away forcefully and threw himself into Raegan’s arms. Raegan smiled smugly, looking like a victor. My family members, who had been heartbroken for me just a second ago, now all gathered around her. After a long silence, I said to the system: “Send me back.” ***** When I woke up, Raegan was crying and saying she wanted to leave: “Since Ariana is back, I, the imposter, should go too.” Wyatt and Sienna immediately rushed forward to stop her, their voices urgent: “What nonsense are you talking about? You’re our daughter, always will be!” Austin also comforted her gently: “That’s right, Raegan. Without you these past three Christmases, Luca and I wouldn’t have made it through.” Luca pushed me away hard and grabbed onto Raegan’s clothes: “Mommy, I can’t live without you.” I fell to the ground, staring at everything in front of me in shock. My heart felt like it was being cut open with a knife, and my eyes burned with unshed tears. I don’t know how long it was before they noticed I had fallen. Austin quickly picked me up and placed me on the bed: “Sorry, Ariana, Luca didn’t mean it.” Wyatt and Sienna also rushed to make amends: “While you were unconscious, Raegan stayed by our side. She’s our adopted daughter now, and your sister too.” Three Christmases ago, they had personally promised that when I returned, they would send Raegan back to her original family. But now, she was wearing the family heirloom bracelet that Sienna had given me. “Ariana, if you don’t like me, I’ll just leave.” Raegan wiped away her tears and made as if to go. But I was blinded by the diamond ring on her ring finger. It was the engagement ring Austin had personally designed for me. Now, it was on Raegan’s hand. I closed my eyes, my heart aching so much I could barely breathe. I said to myself: “System, give me a little more time to think about this.” After the system used my points to exchange for three days of consideration time, it fell into slumber. Seeing my silence, Raegan’s tears, which had just stopped, began falling again: “I knew Ariana wouldn’t accept me. I’ll leave right now.” She turned to go, her posture resolute. Wyatt and Sienna anxiously chased after her, but seemed to suddenly remember me and explained: “We’re afraid she might do something foolish, so we’re going to bring her back.” Luca glared at me fiercely and ran out anxiously: “Mommy, I’m coming with you.” Austin got up to follow, but stopped the moment he met my gaze. He awkwardly picked up the water glass from the table and handed it to me: “Ariana, don’t overthink it. You’re still the person we love most.” His tone was as gentle as always, but his eyes looked toward the door seven times. The hot water created a white mist that blurred my vision. During these three Christmases, the system’s missions had been incredibly difficult, and I had wanted to give up countless times. But whenever I thought of my loving parents, my husband who always protected me, and my child, I found endless courage. Now I wondered if everything I had persisted for was right. Soon, Austin received a message from Wyatt and seemed relieved. He brought me home, and the moment he opened the door, I froze. Austin noticed my reaction and pressed his lips together: “Maybe we should go to the dining room first, and later we can…” Before he could finish, I had already walked into the room. In Austin’s and my home, there were traces of Raegan everywhere. Even our wedding photos had been replaced with her face. Austin’s face went pale as he said frantically: “Ariana, let me explain.”

I stared silently at everything in the room, unable to utter a single word as tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Austin held me tightly: “After your car accident, Wyatt and Sienna were overcome with grief and took their anger out on Raegan, driving her out of the house. I knew she was your sister, and I should have protected her for your sake, so I brought her back home.” His explanation felt hollow and weak, and I no longer had the strength to dig deeper. Just then, his phone rang. Seeing the name on the screen, his face instantly lit up with unmistakable joy. The display showing “Raegan Baby” pierced through my chest like a sharp blade, each breath pulling at the excruciating pain. “Have you guys gotten to the restaurant? Ariana and I will be right there.” His tone was more cheerful than I’d ever heard. He used to sound just like this when we were madly in love. After hanging up, he gently wiped the tears from my face and led me to the restaurant. Raegan sat in the head seat while Wyatt and Sienna took turns serving her food. Sienna said lovingly, “Eat more, Raegan. You’re too thin.” Luca also held a strawberry to her lips: “Mommy, you should eat more. With me here, no one will dare bully you.” Those innocent words drew laughter from everyone at the table, and even Austin watched them with a smile, his eyes full of contentment. What about me? My feet felt like they were filled with lead, every movement tugging at my heartstrings. “Oh my, Ariana, you’re here!” Seeing me, Raegan immediately stood up: “Today’s dinner is to celebrate your recovery. It’s not appropriate for me to sit in the head seat.” But Sienna pulled her back down: “What are you talking about? A seat is just a seat, right?” The next moment, she seemed to remember that I was supposed to be today’s guest of honor and looked up abruptly, a flash of embarrassment crossing her eyes: “Right, Ariana? It’s no big deal to let Raegan have it. It’s just a seat after all.” But I remembered that on the day they brought me home, Wyatt and Sienna had thrown the most lavish homecoming banquet for me. The guests were all elite socialites and dignitaries, with some quietly trying to squeeze toward the center seats. That’s when the usually gentle Wyatt roared in front of everyone: “Today is my biological daughter Ariana Gilbert’s homecoming celebration! She is the only star of the show! “No matter when, she must always sit in the head seat!” The contrast cut through me like slow torture, each memory reopening the wound. I held back my tears and sat down in the farthest seat. Austin served me some food and held my hand, comforting me softly: “Eat more, Ariana.” My throat tightened, my voice hoarse: “I’m allergic to seafood.” Everyone froze, and the cheerful atmosphere instantly turned awkward. Every dish on the table was seafood, yet no one remembered my allergy. Because Raegan loved seafood the most. Tears immediately rolled down Raegan’s face: “I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault. I’ll have them bring out a whole new spread right away!” She rushed out in a panic, and as she turned, tears splattered on the floor. Then Luca smashed a plate against my head. Scalding soup splashed across my face, glass shards embedded in my skin, and blood trickled down my cheeks. But this physical burning pain was nothing compared to even a fraction of the agony in my heart. Luca looked like an enraged little beast: “You evil woman! Why are you bullying my mommy again? You made her cry twice in one day! I hate you!”

I watched Luca’s retreating figure as he rushed out, my heart aching as if cut by a knife. My eyes burned, but no tears would come. When he was born, I hemorrhaged severely and nearly died on the operating table. But the moment I woke up and saw him, I felt all the pain had been worth it. From when he first started learning to speak, to holding my hand as he learned to walk, to when he would throw himself into my arms with his sweet little voice saying “Mommy, I love you.” These memories are deeply etched in my heart. But now, he’s given all his love to Raegan. When he looks at me, there’s only coldness and resentment in his eyes. This realization chills me to the bone. Wyatt and Sienna snapped back to reality and quickly helped me tend to my wound. Wyatt frowned and said, “Austin, you should go check on them. I’m worried something might happen. We’ll take care of Ariana.” Austin hesitated for a few seconds before nodding and leaving. While wiping away the blood, Sienna said softly, “Don’t hold it against Raegan. She grew up without parents and lacks a sense of security. And Luca—after all, Raegan raised him. Don’t blame him.” I hadn’t said a word, yet they all assumed I would hurt her. I abruptly pushed Sienna’s hand away, my voice hoarse: “I’m going to the restroom.” Just as I walked out the door, I heard Sienna complaining to Wyatt behind me: “Ariana isn’t sweet and understanding like Raegan at all. She doesn’t even know how to act cute with us.” I thought bitterly: “But Mom, have you ever considered that during the years when I should have been able to act cute, I was suffering in the mountains? The slightest mistake would earn me beatings and scolding from my foster parents. And Raegan? She grew up surrounded by your love, like a little princess, traveling the world by plane. How was I supposed to learn to act cute?” I walked to the restroom door, only to see Raegan pinned against the wall by Austin, kissing her. His eyes burned with an almost manic intensity, his movements rough yet possessive. In our four years of dating and six years of marriage, Austin had always been gentle and restrained with me. I had never seen him look so passionate. My feet seemed glued to the spot—I couldn’t move. Like a masochist, I watched their intimate embrace, my stomach churning violently. It wasn’t until they left hand in hand that I rushed into the restroom and collapsed by the toilet, retching violently. Tears mixed with blood from the corner of my mouth, falling into the water without a sound. At eighteen, Austin promised to love me forever and never cheat. At twenty-eight, Austin brought that adopted daughter who had taken my place into his bed under the guise of “taking care of his sister.” I don’t know how I made it back to the private room. When I pushed open the door, it was already empty. The server said, “The guests at this table already paid and left.” My fingers clenched suddenly, then I smiled. They had completely forgotten about me. Without my phone and penniless, I could only walk home step by step. By the time I reached my front door, my feet were covered in blisters. As the door opened, I heard laughter and cheerful voices from the living room. Wyatt was pouring water for Raegan, Sienna was peeling oranges for her. Luca was lying on her lap, making funny faces to make her laugh. She was nestled against Austin’s side, looking like a loving couple. They were a complete family, and I was the extra one. Only when they heard the commotion did they notice me standing disheveled at the doorway. Raegan immediately stood up, her face full of apology: “Ariana, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you and thought you had gone home first, so I came back with Mom and Dad. It’s all my fault—you can hit me or scold me, whatever you want!”     Sienna quickly pulled Raegan over and had her sit down on the couch. “It’s okay, you didn’t do it on purpose.” Wyatt chimed in as well: “Yeah, Ariana, why didn’t you call to let us know you were coming?” Before I could explain, Raegan let out a soft sigh. All eyes turned to her once again. The butler couldn’t stand watching any longer and called for a doctor to examine me. Only then did they remember I was there. Perhaps out of guilt, Wyatt and Sienna hurried to prepare some gifts for me. But Raegan received double portions of everything. Love versus indifference—it was crystal clear. The next day, I told Wyatt and Sienna that I wanted to return to work at the company. Wyatt looked somewhat embarrassed and cleared his throat: “You just recovered. Don’t rush back to work yet. You’ll still get your dividend payments—we won’t shortchange you.” I paused for a moment and instinctively looked up, only to see Raegan in a crisp business suit slowly descending the stairs. She said, “Ariana, I’m heading to the office now. Please take care of Mom and Dad for me.” Her smile was radiant, but her eyes held nothing but provocation as she looked at me. Wyatt and Sienna had once told me that everything they had would be mine. But now, everything they’d promised had likely changed hands long ago. Seeing my continued silence, Austin gently took my hand: “I made dinner reservations. Let me take you out to eat, okay?” The warmth of his palm made me involuntarily recall the image of him holding and kissing Raegan. I pulled my hand away almost instinctively. He froze for a moment but said nothing, simply leading me to the car in silence. At the upscale restaurant, Raegan happened to be entertaining clients. Several clients were taking turns toasting her when Austin immediately stepped forward: “Everyone’s here! What a coincidence—why don’t we all have a drink together?” With that, he began drinking glass after glass in Raegan’s place. Austin had always had stomach problems. During countless business dinners in the past, I was the one who drank those harsh liquors for him. But now, Austin, who never touched alcohol, was drinking until his face turned pale—all for Raegan. I couldn’t take it anymore and grabbed his arm: “Stop drinking! Your stomach can’t handle this!” He was already somewhat drunk and pulled me close by the waist, whispering in my ear: “Don’t worry, Raegan. I’m here—no one can hurt you.” Raegan? My entire body went rigid, as if I’d fallen into an icy abyss. Raegan raised an eyebrow at me provocatively and mouthed: “You lose. This family is happier without you.” My hands trembled as rage surged through me like a tsunami. But I knew that everything that had happened these past few days was telling me the same thing—I no longer mattered. I bit down hard on my teeth and stubbornly lifted my head: “You’re nothing but a fake. What’s there to be proud of?” With that, I helped the swaying Austin toward the exit. Raegan slowly stood up and followed us. She glanced outside and smiled slightly: “Is that so? Then let me show you who’s really the unloved fake.” The next moment, she grabbed my hand and yanked it forward, making it look as if I had pushed her as she tumbled down the restaurant stairs. She let out a pained whimper: “It’s all my fault. Dad, Mom, please don’t blame Ariana.” Before I could react, a sharp slap struck my cheek. Wyatt and Sienna had appeared at the restaurant entrance at some point. Sienna’s eyes were red with fury as she pointed at me and screamed: “Raegan is pregnant! How dare you still bully her? If anything happens to her, you get out of this house immediately!” Wyatt’s hand was still trembling, his face filled with anger and disappointment: “How did I raise such a vicious daughter? I wish Raegan were my real daughter instead.” Austin instantly sobered up from his drunken state. He rushed forward in a few quick steps and carefully lifted Raegan into his arms. Before getting in the car, he turned back and shot me a vicious look. The hatred in his eyes nearly consumed me entirely. Watching their car disappear into the distance, my heart ached unbearably. My last shred of hope was crushed to dust beneath their wheels. I collapsed onto the cold stairs, letting the wind and rain soak my hair, unable to tell whether what streamed down my face was rain or tears. After a long while, I said wearily: “System, send me back to the mission world. I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

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My family is clearly the wealthiest in New York, but even for an $8 takeout order, I still click “refund only.” That’s because in my past life, my family’s housekeeper Evie Hudson’s daughter Ivy Robertson had bound herself to some kind of transaction system. Every dollar I spent would end up in her pocket. So Ivy started using moral blackmail to pressure me into donating to all the underprivileged students at school. I thought it was a good deed, so I didn’t think twice about it and wrote a check for $2 million straight away. But somehow, that money magically became Ivy’s deposit, while my check showed an amount of zero. Everyone called me a fraud, and even the man I was keeping broke up with me. But Ivy used the money I had spent to do good deeds and make donations everywhere, becoming the “beautiful, kind-hearted rich person” in everyone’s eyes. She even turned around and slandered me, claiming I was the housekeeper’s daughter. I was so furious that I pulled out my black card and went on a shopping spree, trying to prove I had money, only to discover the card’s limit had been instantly drained. Meanwhile, Ivy generously transferred $8 million and mocked me: “You’re broke but still trying to act rich. Does your mom’s housekeeper salary give you enough to keep up this charade?” I faced online harassment like never before. Unable to handle the pressure, I had a complete mental breakdown. And for some reason, my body quickly deteriorated too. I died before my father Archie Robertson could come save me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day Ivy pressured me to donate to all the underprivileged students at school. ***** A girl said, “Amelia, you’re so vain. You’re just a housekeeper’s daughter, yet you insist on pretending to be rich and donating to underprivileged students.” Amelia Robertson is my name. Another girl chimed in, “Exactly! If Miss Robertson hadn’t kindly covered that $2 million for you today, you’d be a complete fraud. “You better apologize to Miss Robertson right now. Otherwise, I’m taking you straight to the police station!” The chorus of accusations rang in my ears. It wasn’t until everyone started pushing and shoving me that I snapped back to reality. Looking at the angry faces of my classmates, I finally realized I had truly been reborn. And I was right back on the day Ivy used that transaction system to manipulate me into donating to all the underprivileged students at school. Just moments ago, the $2 million check I had personally donated suddenly turned into a blank check. But Ivy immediately transferred the exact same amount as a donation, then turned around and slandered me, claiming I was the housekeeper’s daughter. Seeing my silence, Ivy immediately rushed forward. She put on a caring act and urged me, “Amelia, I’ve overlooked you stealing my haute couture dresses and limited edition bags. But now you dare to commit donation fraud in public? “Since you can’t actually donate any money to everyone anyway, just admit your mistake and apologize. Otherwise, I won’t be able to protect you anymore.” Looking at the calculation in Ivy’s eyes, I knew she was deliberately trying to provoke me with her words. In my past life, I had indeed acted impulsively. I was so angry that I pulled out my black card, told the underprivileged students to spend freely, and promised to donate however much they spent. But just as the underprivileged students swore to max out the black card and happily went to pay, the POS machine suddenly issued a warning. Then a mechanical female voice announced: “Insufficient funds on this card. Please try again.” Meanwhile, Ivy generously transferred over ten million dollars and promised to cover all the underprivileged students’ expenses. In an instant, I became everyone’s most hated person, while Ivy became the beautiful, kind-hearted rich person. Just as I was thinking about how to break out of this predicament, my boyfriend James Simpson suddenly burst out. He was dressed head to toe in designer brands, wearing a $1 million watch on his wrist. James arrogantly pointed at me and cursed, “Amelia, I thought you were actually rich. Turns out you’re just a fake pretending to be wealthy! If you hadn’t shamelessly pleased me this whole Christmas, I wouldn’t have given you a second glance. We’re breaking up right now!” But originally, it was James who envied my luxurious lifestyle and shamelessly begged me to keep him. If he hadn’t been decent-looking, I wouldn’t have kept him either. But now James looked at me like I was trash, even kicking me hard in the chest, as if afraid I’d cling to him. People around us applauded and loudly congratulated James for “escaping his miserable situation.” Miserable situation? I gave him $1 million in spending money every month. Apparently, in their eyes, this was a “miserable situation.” Just as I was about to reveal the truth, Ivy’s eyes immediately reddened, and she slapped me across the face. She cried, “Amelia, even now, you still won’t admit your mistake? Even though you’re just my family’s housekeeper’s daughter, I’ve always been good to you. All you had to do was say sorry to me, and I would have forgiven you for old times’ sake. But why won’t you just admit it?” I covered my swollen cheek and gritted my teeth as I stood up. I said coldly, “Admit it? Fine. I’ll admit it right now. “That’s right. I am the housekeeper’s daughter. I impersonated Ivy’s identity. I was wrong. “Miss Robertson, I hope you won’t hold it against a mere housekeeper’s daughter like me.”

Everyone froze in place, clearly not expecting me to admit it so readily. Ivy was about to say something else, but I turned and walked away, not giving her another chance to frame me. Once I was far enough away, I opened various shopping apps and food delivery platforms, going on a crazy ordering spree. Ivy thought my lack of tears and tantrums meant I was plotting something, but when she saw the bank account balance keep increasing, she was absolutely delighted. She immediately sent me a message: [Amelia, everyone says you need to treat us and apologize. Buy another 100 cups of coffee and have them delivered.] I replied with a cold smile: [Sure.] Then I actually ordered 100 cups of coffee for delivery. As soon as the coffee arrived, I immediately applied for a “refund only” claiming “food safety issues.” Not just that order—I applied for refunds on every single purchase I’d just made on the shopping platforms. With my actions, the hundreds of thousands of dollars I’d spent quickly returned to my pocket. But when I reopened the shopping interface, I discovered that the account applying for refunds had somehow become Ivy’s. Sure enough, this trading system could only transfer my spending amounts to Ivy’s account. Once my purchases were canceled, to maintain balance, the system would register the refund records under Ivy’s name, forcibly legitimizing those mysterious income sources of hers. I was so excited I nearly jumped up. This time, Ivy was going to suffer. I instantly spent nearly 3 million dollars on a shopping frenzy. After receiving the goods, I deliberately found various reasons to apply for “refund only” on every single order, even an 8-dollar takeout meal. From underwear and panties, snacks, and sanitary pads, to limited edition handbags, haute couture clothing, and even a suburban house from a court auction—I returned everything. Even so, I still felt inexplicably anxious. Remembering how quickly my body had deteriorated in my past life, I decided to return to the family villa during the weekend break. As soon as I walked in, I saw Ivy and James throwing a party in the living room, surrounded by many classmates. When they saw me, everyone’s faces showed disgust. “Amelia, you’re back,” Ivy said. She was wearing a haute couture gown, setting down her wine glass filled with 1992 Château Lafite, and walked toward me elegantly. Ivy continued: “Today is James’s birthday. He said he really wanted to throw a party at the villa, so I brought him and our classmates over. We’ve finished all the wine in the cellar, so hurry up and order a few hundred more bottles.” I looked up at her beautiful face, momentarily stunned. Good clothes really do make a person look more spirited and refined. The current Ivy, with the tens of millions of dollars she’d “stolen” from me, was completely transformed. At this moment, I couldn’t see any trace of the girl who’d come to our house as a nanny with Evie years ago, wearing a patched coat. I was genuinely curious about what method she’d used to bind me to that trading system with her. Seeing my silence, Ivy grew impatient. She arrogantly pointed at my nose and said: “What are you standing there for? Hurry up! Today is the birthday banquet I’m specially throwing for James. Can you handle the responsibility if you delay things? Oh, and remember to buy more 1992 Château Lafite—James loves that wine. “While you’re at it, help me buy the most expensive cake, an 18-layer one. Then call a five-star restaurant and book a private venue with reserved seating.” I was so amused by her shamelessness that I laughed. She was enjoying life with money stolen from me, yet still wanted me to handle everything without spending a dime herself. Where in this world could such a good deal exist?

I stood frozen in place. Looking at the hundreds of empty wine bottles piled around her, I silently prayed for them in my heart. If my father found out that his precious wine collection, accumulated over many Christmases, had been completely drained by this bunch, I honestly had no idea what kind of beating he’d give them. Just then, James stumbled over drunkenly, followed by a group of disgruntled classmates. One male classmate said, “Amelia, are you deaf? You’re just the daughter of a lowly maid, and Ivy is your master. Whatever she tells you to do, you have to do it! Go buy us more alcohol right now! “If you keep being this lazy and ruin Mr. Simpson’s birthday party, Ivy only needs to say one word and your mom won’t even be able to work as a maid anymore—she’ll probably end up begging on the streets!” The watch I’d given James was gone from his wrist, replaced by a thick pure gold watch. He also had a limited edition Rolls-Royce key fob clipped to his belt—clearly someone who’d recently come into serious money. No wonder they were calling him “Mr. Simpson.” From the looks of it, Ivy must have spent over 8 million dollars on him. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. No wonder Ivy was so desperate to force me to help her. I said coldly, “Sorry. My monthly allowance is only $1,500. I don’t have the money to cover your expenses. If you want to fire my mom, go ahead. I’ll have her move out of the villa right now and quit being a maid.” I turned to leave, but suddenly someone grabbed my hair. James roared, “Amelia, how dare a servant’s daughter speak to your master like that!” His eyes were like poison-tipped daggers, boring into my face. Then he continued, “Back then, if you hadn’t impersonated Ivy’s identity, Ivy and I wouldn’t have been delayed so long in getting together. “Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson!” With that, he shouted, and over a dozen of his lackeys rushed forward to pin down my shoulders. I watched in terror as they closed in on me, struggling desperately: “Let me go! Are you all insane?” But James just smiled maliciously. Then he slapped me across the face: “Today I’m going to discipline this servant properly for Ivy!” A barrage of slaps rained down on my face, and my lip started bleeding. Ivy stood nearby watching me leisurely, showing no intention of helping whatsoever. She said, “Amelia, I’ve been too lenient with you usually, which is why you’ve become so spoiled. I’ll let James teach you a lesson. After this, you’ll know who the real master of this villa is.” Dizzy from the beating, I shouted for the butler to come throw these people out. But I realized all the servants in the villa had been dismissed, so I had no way to call for help. It seemed that during my time at boarding school, massive changes had taken place in the villa. After about half an hour, James seemed to tire from the beating and stopped. But soon, his greedy gaze locked onto the diamond necklace around my neck. James said, “How do you have something so valuable? Don’t tell me you stole this too?” He excitedly grabbed my necklace, trying to yank it off directly. The chain cut painfully into my neck, and I shouted angrily, “Let go! This is a keepsake my mother left me!” But James didn’t believe me at all, and kicked me hard in the chest. He spat at me viciously: “How could your maid mother’s salary possibly afford something this nice? I bet you sneaked it away when Ivy wasn’t looking.” With that, he ran to the kitchen to get a fruit knife, planning to cut the necklace off directly. But this necklace was the only thing my mother had left me after she died. I absolutely could not hand it over. I struggled desperately, stubborn enough to want to go down fighting with them. But just then, a shocked voice came from the doorway: “What are you doing? Stop!” I looked up and saw that it was Ivy’s biological mother, Evie, our family’s housekeeper, who had returned. Just a casual glance was enough for me to notice she was decked out in gold and silver jewelry from head to toe. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was some wealthy socialite. Ivy lifted her skirt and ran toward Evie, acting coquettishly as she called out, “Mom, why did you come back early?” James and his classmates also stood obediently to the side, respectfully greeting Evie. They said, “Hello, Mrs. Robertson.” I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, spat out some bloody saliva, then questioned, “How come I didn’t know there was a Mrs. Robertson in my house?” Archie had only been abroad for half a Christmas, yet Evie and Ivy were already trying to take over my family’s house. Seeing me lying on the ground covered in injuries, a flash of guilt crossed Evie’s eyes. However, she still said sternly, “How dare a housekeeper’s daughter act so arrogant in front of me?” After saying this, she turned around and looked at Ivy with a loving expression. She said, “Ivy, how many times have I told you? Why are you bothering with such a lowly woman? It’s bad for your image. Anyway, you’ve already beaten and scolded her. Hurry up and throw this wretch out. Don’t let her dirty our home.” Ivy said cheerfully, “Okay.” Then she waved her hand, calling over a few lackeys to deal with me. But soon after, she held up the necklace that James had snatched from me, presenting it to Evie like she was seeking praise. She said, “Mom, look! Fortunately, I got this diamond necklace back. Otherwise, I would have given it to Amelia for nothing.” However, what no one expected was that the moment Evie saw this diamond necklace, her face instantly turned pale. She immediately grabbed the necklace and rushed over to me, quickly putting it around my neck. Evie said, “What are you all doing?” Then Evie looked at me, her body visibly trembling. She frantically explained for me, “This necklace was just bought by the housekeeper for Amelia to pretend she’s wealthy. The diamonds on it are actually made of plastic. You all got it wrong. From now on, I forbid anyone from touching Amelia’s necklace. Do you hear me?” Seeing Evie like this, a bold idea popped into my head. Could it be that the system on Ivy was related to this necklace? But I felt like Ivy seemed completely unaware of this. People around started talking. One girl said, “What? So the diamonds on it are plastic? I thought this necklace was something valuable.” One boy said, “Amelia is so vain. She can’t afford a real diamond necklace, so she got a fake one to wear.” Another boy said, “She really is a housekeeper’s daughter, so embarrassing.” Everyone looked me up and down with disdainful eyes, and finally just kicked me out of the villa in disgust. I struggled to get up from the ground, then immediately took off that diamond necklace. Right away, I sent a message telling Archie to hurry back from abroad. After that, I took the necklace to a jewelry counter and spent $3 million to buy an identical one to wear. Sure enough, after switching necklaces, I immediately felt strength return to my whole body, and that uncomfortable feeling stuck in my chest completely disappeared. To avoid alerting Evie and Ivy, besides going crazy buying things on shopping platforms and applying for “refund only,” I posted pictures of my diamond necklace on Instagram every day. Even though countless mockeries and insults tried to break me down, I persisted in posting photos of me and the necklace every day without fail. Soon, James couldn’t help but comment under my post: [I’m dying of laughter. How do you have the nerve to post pictures of a fake necklace every day? Let me show you what real wealth looks like!] With that, he immediately posted a nearly 5-minute video on Instagram. In the video, he was wearing a custom-tailored suit, holding a pigeon egg-sized diamond ring in his hand, kneeling in front of Ivy. He shouted loudly, “Ivy, will you marry me?” Ivy nodded shyly in agreement. The flower petals scattered during the proposal ceremony were actually replaced with hundred-dollar bills. This extravagant video quickly attracted many comments. [Oh my God. A wealthy handsome guy and the richest family’s daughter – a perfect power couple. This is so enviable!] [I looked into that diamond ring. Its market value is nearly $6 million, not to mention all that money they just scattered.] [Amelia has completely become a clown. She posts pictures of her fake necklace every day. No wonder James didn’t choose her but chose Ivy instead.] I smiled as I scrolled through these comments, feeling completely unmoved. After all, applying for “refund only” on online purchases totaling $3,000 already met the threshold for fraud charges. I was really curious about what expression Ivy would have when she saw that $30 million refund record.

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My Mom’s Secret Identity From the moment I could remember, Mom and I played the death game many times. The first time I found her lying motionless, without even breathing, I was so scared I broke down and cried. Gradually, I learned Mom was just teasing me, and I stopped being afraid. The cemetery was somber and silent. Beside a newly dug grave, a coffin lay still. Everyone was crying, except for me. I looked at the national flag draped over her coffin and thought: “She’s really going all out this time, even Dad’s putting on quite a show.” The coffin slowly descended into the grave, and uncontrollable sobs erupted from the crowd. I tugged on Dad’s hand and asked: “Is the game over? I want to go back and wait for Mom now.” Dad held me, tears streaming down his face. “Skylar, Mom isn’t coming back.” I touched the military dog tag around my neck and shook my head. “Mom said she’d be back.” But no one believed me, everyone said I was sick. Soon after, Dad brought a woman home, saying she was my new mother. But Mom was still alive, I saw her. If Dad didn’t believe me, I’d find Mom myself.

Rain tapped against the black umbrellas, a dull, continuous sound. The cemetery was a sea of solemn black. Suppressed sobs came from all directions, everyone’s eyes red-rimmed. Dad’s back had hunched significantly, his shoulders trembling, tears falling. This time, the game was a big production; even Uncle Mark, who we rarely saw, was there. Uncle Mark knelt down and put Mom’s dog tag around my neck. “Skylar, this is the only thing your mom left behind. Keep it safe.” Shovel after shovel of dirt fell, covering the flag. Everyone was immersed in grief. Except for me. I was waiting for Mom to suddenly jump out from a corner, laugh, pick me up, and spin me around, saying: “Gotcha! My Skylar is so brave!” I’d played this game too many times. Under the bed, inside the closet, and once, Mom even hid in an old trunk in the attic. Every time, I found her, and we’d roll around laughing. Mom would always say: “Skylar wins hide-and-seek again!” So, this time was no different. Even if it was all very formal, with a lot of people involved. But this had to be just part of the game, a new rule Mom set to make it more realistic. After everyone had left, I asked Dad: “Is the game over? I want to go back and wait for Mom now.” Dad pulled me into his arms, holding me a little too tightly. His voice was hoarse: “Skylar, Mom isn’t coming back.” I looked at the tombstone, stubbornly arguing: “Mom will come back when the game is over.” “There’s no game anymore…” Dad’s hands tightened abruptly, “Mom sacrificed herself! She’s gone! She’s never coming back!” I was held so tightly I couldn’t breathe. I thought Dad must have forgotten the rules of the game, so I pushed his shoulder to remind him. “But, Dad, what they buried was Mom’s uniform, not Mom herself.” Dad’s sobbing stopped abruptly, as if something had choked him. He opened his mouth, his lips trembling violently, but not a single word came out. Just then, Uncle Mark, who had given me the dog tag, called Dad aside. The rain was heavy, but I strained my ears and still heard Uncle Mark’s words. “The blast radius was too close, too fragmented. There was nothing left to put back together.” “Only her combat uniform was found, barely pieced together.” “Robert, that’s all there is. Please accept our condolences.”

I listened, stunned. I knew what death was. Mom used to say: “Death is becoming a bright star in the sky, but Mom can’t touch my Skylar, or hug my Skylar anymore.” So, death meant no longer being able to touch or hug. Dad believed Mom was dead, and from then on, he could never hug her again. That’s why, when he could barely stand, he pulled a woman into a tight embrace. Dad was sad for a month, the sorrow gradually fading from his face. One day, Michelle moved into our house with her son, Leo, who was two years younger than me. “Skylar, say Mom.” Dad took my hand, trying to get me to go closer to Michelle. I kept my mouth tightly shut, stubbornly staring at the floor, shaking my head. “I only have one mom, and she’s playing a very long game of hide-and-seek.” Michelle looked a little awkward and quickly stepped in to defuse the awkwardness: “It’s alright, it’s alright. Just call me Michelle.” Dad took me to a psychologist, who said I had PTSD. I put the pills in my mouth in front of Dad, but as soon as he left, I spit them into the toilet. “It’s the grown-ups who need medicine, not me.” I watched the swirling water, thinking, “I’m not sick. You’re all just too stupid; Mom fooled all of you. You have no idea how clever she is.” After a while, Dad found out I wasn’t taking my medicine. “Skylar Stone! Why aren’t you taking your pills!” His voice trembled with anger, “Do you want to keep living in this delusional world?” I just looked at him silently, completely unwavering. The standoff ended with Dad slamming the door and leaving. Dad’s patience, worn thin by repeated failures, increasingly turned towards Leo. Listening to Leo share stories about school, taking Leo to the company, giving Leo tasks. The plan to groom me as his successor, once showered upon me, had quietly shifted its target. I didn’t like Leo because he always ran into my room and messed with my things. When I told Dad, he just said: “He’s just a kid, Skylar. You’re the older sister; you need to be more patient with him.” Leo broke the last model Mom and I had built together, and I flew into a rage, screaming at him to get out of our house. Dad’s scolding was harsher than I’d ever heard. “Skylar Stone! How can you treat your brother like that! Go to your room! No dinner for you tonight!” It was the first time Dad had punished me for someone else. I became increasingly withdrawn. Often, I’d stay in my room alone, caressing the dog tag around my neck, staring out the window for long periods. Dad looked at my mediocre grades on my report card, and the disappointment in his eyes grew stronger. He stopped inviting me to the dinners I used to attend; only Leo’s outfits were prepared. That day, Dad came home very late. As soon as he opened the door, I heard his laughter with Michelle, and Leo’s triumphant voice. “Dad, everyone says I have your style.” Dad ruffled Leo’s hair: “Of course, you’re my son. The company will be yours someday; you’re much stronger than your sister.” After saying that, he saw me sitting silently in the living room. A flicker of awkwardness crossed Dad’s face. “Skylar, you’re still up this late?” I nodded: “Came out for water.” “Dad, I was so good today, can I have a reward?” Leo’s voice was bright and clear. Dad’s gaze immediately turned to Leo, his eyes filled with doting affection: “What do you want? Dad will get you anything.” Leo pointed at me: “That! That tag around my sister’s neck!”

Dad’s smile froze instantly. I clutched the dog tag tightly, taking a step back, watching them with wary eyes. “Leo, that’s something very important to your sister.” Dad’s tone was hesitant, “Dad will buy you the newest remote control plane, or Legos, alright?” “No! I want that! That tag is pretty!” Leo stomped his feet impatiently, running over and reaching out to snatch my dog tag. “Get away!” I shoved Leo away. Caught off guard, Leo stumbled backward, hitting his elbow on the corner of the coffee table, and burst into tears. Michelle immediately rushed forward to comfort Leo, heartbroken: “Skylar, Leo is just a child, how could you hit him?” Dad lunged forward, pointing at my nose and yelling: “Skylar Stone! What do you think you’re doing! Apologize to your brother immediately!” I glared at Dad, refusing to back down: “He’s not touching Mom’s things!” “Give it to me!” Dad was completely enraged, he commanded sternly, “Take that dog tag off and give it to Leo!” I looked at Dad in disbelief, screaming: “Why? This is what Mom left for me! Have you forgotten Mom?” “You were already holding another woman before she was even officially gone!” “Now you’re even going to give the only thing she left me to that son of yours?” “Shut up!” Dad roared. A loud slap landed heavily on my face. My cheek instantly turned red and swollen, burning with pain. A flicker of regret crossed Dad’s eyes. He stepped forward, trying to grab me. I dodged, looking at him with an utterly unfamiliar gaze. Dad’s fingers curled inward, his voice stiff: “You always live in a fantasy world. One day, you’ll regret it.” I ran back to my room, slamming the door shut. The stinging sensation of the slap still lingered on Dad’s palm; he couldn’t sit still. Michelle patted Dad’s shoulder: “If you’re worried, go check on her.” Dad shook his head: “It’s good for her to face reality; she can’t keep living in the past and in her imagination. Leave her be. A few days of cold shoulder will do her good. She’ll come back and apologize.” The next morning, I didn’t come out for breakfast. Michelle said: “Should I bring Skylar some food in her room?” “No.” Dad said sternly, “Skylar is too willful. Don’t spoil her; she needs to learn that talking back to elders has consequences.” On the third morning, I still didn’t appear. Dad thought I was still sulking and didn’t pay much attention. During a meeting, he saw my name on the caller ID. To teach me a lesson, he hung up directly. It wasn’t until the fourth day that Michelle hesitated and said: “Skylar’s room has been quiet, and her food hasn’t been touched.” Only then did Dad unlock the door. The room was empty. “She must have run off to a friend’s house! Didn’t even say when she was leaving! She’s getting more and more out of line!” Dad furiously called several of my friends, but got no information. The next moment, the school called: “Is this Skylar Stone’s father? Skylar hasn’t been to class for three days. Is something wrong at home?” Dad’s face went white, instantly panicking. After hanging up, he immediately dialed my number. The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. On the other end, a flippant male voice spoke: “Oh? Finally remembered you have a daughter, huh? Mr. Stone, you must be so busy, can’t even get through to you.” A wave of ice washed over Dad. His voice trembled: “Who are you? Where’s my daughter?”

“Your daughter, you ask?” The man drew out his words, as if savoring Dad’s fear, “Hard to say. We wanted to discuss a price, but couldn’t reach you. My buddies got annoyed, nowhere to vent their frustration, so we had to… tsk tsk.” Dad suddenly remembered that because he was angry at me these past few days, he had even hung up on my calls. Later, he was busy taking Leo to a father-son event and completely forgot about it. Dad’s vision went black, and he almost collapsed into the chair, swallowed by a massive wave of fear. “Let me talk to my daughter! I want to see her! Video call now!” Dad practically screamed, his words incoherent, “I’ll give you any amount of money! Don’t hurt my daughter! Please!” “Video call, huh? Might not be too convenient right now.” The man’s voice was like a cat toying with its prey. “Mr. Stone, just get the money ready first. We’ll be in touch…” Just then, the keypad on the front door beeped, then clicked open. Dad abruptly looked up, and there, in the hallway, I stood, disheveled. I was filthy, my clothes torn in several places. My hair was a mess, and my face was smudged with dirt and tiny scratches. The kidnapper on the phone was still saying something, but Dad couldn’t hear a word. He hung up immediately and practically lunged to embrace me. “Skylar! You scared your father to death! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did those bastards do anything to you?” He urgently wanted to check me over. The thought of the kidnapper calling Dad in front of me, only to be repeatedly hung up on, flashed through my mind. I sharply took a step back, evading his touch, my gaze cold. Dad’s hands froze in mid-air. After the initial surge of emotion, questions flooded his mind: “How did you get back?” I said calmly: “Mom saved me.” As those five words left my mouth, the excitement on Dad’s face instantly drained away. It turned cold, his eyes filled with revulsion. “Skylar Stone! How long are you going to keep this charade up?” “You staged a kidnapping! Had your accomplices make those calls to me!” “Do you think this is fun? To get back at me this way? To get my attention?” Dad looked down at me, like he was looking at trash. “I never imagined you could be so manipulative! How dare you even use your mother as an excuse for your lies!” “Aren’t you afraid she’d be heartbroken watching you from above?” “You’ve truly disappointed me.” Dad’s accusations crashed down on me, but I didn’t feel the sting or anger I once did. Even as he roared, I slightly tilted my head, distinguishing a faint sound in the distance. “Dad, I saw Mom. I even hugged her.” My voice was soft, my heart filled with surging joy, leaving no room for other emotions. Dad froze for a moment, then grew even angrier. “Get back to your room! I don’t want to see you anymore! You’re truly insane! You scare me!” Whether Dad believed me or not, it no longer mattered at all. My lips curled into a faint smile. I found Mom.

From that day on, I completely changed. I no longer showed any emotion regarding my father’s neglect or Leo’s favoritism. I became silent and focused, with a clear goal. I put away all my leisure books. My desk piled high with thick workbooks and military academy recruitment brochures. My desk lamp often burned late into the night. My grades soared at an astonishing speed, jumping from mid-class to the top ranks of my grade, eventually settling at the very top. Dad noticed the change. Amidst his surprise, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, even feeling a sense of “I knew it.” He believed that his previous neglect, and the act of funneling all resources and attention to Leo, had finally spurred my competitive spirit. Making me turn from my misguided path and realize I needed to strive for success. He was very pleased. At the dinner table, Dad began to casually bring up company matters. He even proactively asked for my opinion on certain business cases. Though he didn’t explicitly say it, his intention was clear. He had reconsidered me as a potential successor. I hadn’t expected this subtle shift to trigger Michelle’s most sensitive nerves. She had painstakingly worked to establish herself in this family, finally succeeding in getting Dad to pour all his efforts into her son. With victory seemingly in sight, she wouldn’t allow me to re-enter the race. My important study materials would mysteriously disappear, only for me to find them later in the trash can. The night before my college entrance exams, the air conditioner in my room conveniently broke. Its incessant buzzing made sleep impossible, and the repairman was unreachable. Once, the milk she brought me tasted off. I didn’t pretend not to notice; I quietly got up and poured it down the drain. I calmly avoided all these petty tricks. I didn’t tell Dad, not out of forbearance, but purely because I felt it was a waste of time. My goal was higher and further, and I had no interest in participating in such domestic squabbles. Until one day, I intercepted a recommendation letter Michelle had altered, mimicking Dad’s handwriting. The person recommended to study at a top business school abroad had been changed from me to Leo. I didn’t go to Dad to cry about it. Instead, I directly confronted Michelle with the recommendation letter. Michelle’s face instantly went ashen, but she tried to appear calm: “Skylar, what are you doing with that?” “Michelle,” I said calmly, “You don’t need to do these useless things anymore.” “I have no interest in Dad’s company; I won’t compete with Leo for anything.”

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At a holiday family gathering, my cousin, Mark, suddenly pulled out a deck of cards. “Let’s play for serious stakes,” he announced. A collective gasp rippled through the room as he placed his newly acquired stock dividends on the table. “Who’s in?” The relatives, knowing he was just trying to flaunt his wealth, immediately showered him with praise. Just as Mark, basking in his triumph, was about to pocket the cards, I reached out and stopped him. “I’ll play.” His eyes widened in disbelief. He probably expected me to cower in silence, just like before. But he had no idea that playing for keeps, betting everything, was exactly my kind of game. This time, he was going to lose it all. … The moment “I’ll play” left my lips, my mom, Brenda, tugged at my sleeve. “Your cousin is just joking around, Alex! What are you doing?” The other relatives chimed in, trying to talk me out of it. Everyone knew full well Mark was merely showing off his new stock shares. A bet this huge? It was clearly beyond what any of us financially struggling relatives could afford to participate in. Mark was the wealthiest person in our family, and this was his usual game. This yearly charade at our holiday gatherings was nothing more than an elaborate display of his riches. Everyone was expected to play along, offering a few compliments, and that would be the end of it. Why was I taking it so seriously? It was a holiday, and no one wanted a scene, so they all tried to smooth things over. But I stood my ground, my hand firm on the deck of cards Mark had brought out. “Still playing?” The triumphant smirk had vanished from Mark’s face. He stared at me, expressionless, and scoffed. “Alex, you’re getting bold now that it’s vacation. You were so submissive and quiet at the company, but now that you’re back home, you’re throwing your weight around! If I hadn’t covered for you, you’d be out on your ass this year!” Just like always, he loved to humiliate people, no matter the situation. We worked at the same company. He was two years older than me and had joined earlier. He’d climbed the ranks to a junior management position by sucking up to the bosses. When I first joined, he had me transferred to his department. He claimed it was because we were family, and he could look out for me. I didn’t want to go, but he called my dad and convinced him to pressure me into it. My family had no idea then that it was the beginning of my misery. In all the years I worked under Mark, he constantly undermined me. He’d dump the heaviest, most difficult projects on my plate, only to swoop in and steal them just as I was about to finish. Any mistake at work, and I was the first one to face the music. At the end of this year, he earned senior leadership’s praise thanks to a project I’d worked my fingers to the bone on. Not only did he get company stock dividends, but he was also due for a promotion. But he’d been careless after snatching my project and made a mistake on the proposal. Seeing that he was about to be held responsible, he immediately pushed me forward, then played the hero by pretending to defend me. That’s what he called “covering for me.” A cold laugh echoed in my mind as I recalled what he’d told me then. “Cousin, I know you’ve been wronged. I’ll give you a big bonus this year.” When I went home for the holidays, he did give me a bonus. Two one-hundred dollar bills and a fifty. Was he seriously trying to insult me with such a paltry sum, practically calling me a total idiot? My dad, a gentle and honest man, had always told me to keep my head down and avoid conflict. But this time, I couldn’t hold back anymore. Meeting Mark’s condescending gaze, I calmly said, “If you don’t want to play, Mark, that’s fine too.” It was the simplest form of provocation, yet the most effective. He always thought he was hot stuff and expected everyone to worship the ground he walked on. His face instantly flushed crimson. “Fine! My cousin’s getting brave, aren’t we? I’ll play with you today!” He snorted, pulling the stock dividend contract he’d just put back in his bag and slamming it onto the table. “If we’re playing, the stakes need to be equal, right? Can you even afford it?” I glanced at the contract by his hand. Those stock dividends were probably worth around three hundred thousand dollars. My year-end bonus was only eighty thousand. After a moment’s thought, I looked at Sarah. Catching my eye, she didn’t say a word. She simply turned and walked out the door. Half a minute later, she came back in, carrying her purse that had been left outside. She pulled out her Audi A3 car keys from it. She then placed her purse on the table as well. “The LV Alex bought me, new season. We’re putting that up too.”

The hand on my back gave a light pat. Feeling her quiet comfort, my heart ached. All these years, Sarah had silently supported me from behind, the only one who truly understood my grievances and my rage. I pulled out my debit card and placed it on the table. “And another two hundred thousand dollars from here.” This was my hard-earned savings from all these years. Seeing my move, Mark’s face suddenly darkened. “Don’t you dare regret this.” I wouldn’t regret it. Because this game, I was going to win. Ever since I joined Mark’s department, he’d done nothing, dumping every troublesome task on me. When I was out securing projects, trying to charm those clients, I don’t know how many times I’d ended up in the emergency room with severe stomach issues from drinking. Clients loved to play poker after a good meal and a few drinks, and I had to play along with a smile. Playing cards with clients was a skill; you couldn’t win outright, but you also couldn’t make it obvious you were throwing the game. One of the company’s long-term clients particularly loved Five-card stud, so to cater to his preferences, I had dedicated a lot of effort to studying it. Seeing Mark pull out a deck of cards and declare he was going all in, a sudden realization hit me. This might be fate’s intervention, a chance for me to turn the tables. I thought of the recording I’d kept hidden away and took a deep breath. “I won’t regret it.” But you, Mark, are you ready to lose everything? Seeing my firm resolve, Mark gritted his teeth and tossed the deck of cards to Chloe. “Fine, let’s play then!” At this point, his tone was far from his earlier composed demeanor. The pretense of nonchalance had vanished the moment real hundreds of thousands of dollars were on the line. Chloe moved her lips, knowing it was useless to argue, and lowered her head to deal the cards. Both sides were dealt a face-down card, followed by a face-up card. I had a Queen, and Mark had a King. Looking at his card, his earlier tension gradually eased. Chloe quietly asked, “Raise?” Mark hesitated. Five-card stud involved five cards – one face-down, four face-up. We couldn’t see our own face-down cards yet, and his face-up card was currently higher than mine, but it was only the second round. After a moment’s thought, Mark called out to his mother, Patricia. “Mom, take off your bracelet. It’s solid gold, worth over $40,000.” At first, he was relatively cautious, as the remaining cards hadn’t been dealt. I didn’t speak, but followed suit and raised. Sarah opened her phone and transferred forty thousand dollars via PayPal to Chloe as my stake for this round. All eyes were fixed on the next round. Four rounds later. I had a pair of Queens and a Two. He had a pair of Kings and a Ten. Mark smirked triumphantly. “Looks like my luck is much better than yours.” With three consecutive higher cards, his confidence soared, and he raised the stakes even more generously this time. “My Audi A6 parked outside, which I paid over $80,000 for, is on the table!” He looked at me with a challenging glint in his eye. “Cousin, can you still match that? If not, just fold now. You won’t lose too badly if you back out!” I looked at the cards in front of me, my face darkening. I was confident I could beat Mark, but I’d forgotten one thing. In Five-card stud, if one party couldn’t match the bet, they would be considered to have folded, losing all their chips. No wonder Mark had suddenly found his nerve. It wasn’t just because of his strong hand, but because he knew I didn’t have the money to call. Jessica, who had been a bit nervous, also smiled and looked at Sarah, tutting. “Your husband has such a temper. It’s just a holiday game, why did he have to get all bent out of shape? And you, you should have tried to stop him!”

Hearing her words, Sarah hadn’t said anything yet, but I was already seething. Jessica always lorded her family’s better financial situation over us, and with her husband as my junior manager, she hadn’t held back on showing off in front of Sarah. Sarah, for my sake, had endured years of this slight. This year, when we visited Mark’s house, Sarah had barely stepped through the door before Jessica dragged her into the kitchen to help. She’d been so busy she barely had a chance to breathe, let alone drink water, while Jessica lounged leisurely on the couch, chatting with relatives. When another relative suggested Jessica was being too demanding, her face hardened. “I treat Alex’s wife like my own sister, so I don’t stand on ceremony. What are you implying?” The relative, thus rebuffed, said no more. Thinking of Sarah’s past humiliations, I suddenly stood up and looked at my dad, David. “Dad, don’t we still have an old house in a nearby rural town? I’ll write you an IOU. Consider it a loan from me.” At these words, my dad couldn’t stay seated. “It’s just a card game, Alex, why are you playing for such high stakes?” He quickly put on a placating smile, trying to butter up Mark. “Don’t mind him. He’s had a few drinks at the dinner table and doesn’t know what he’s saying. Let’s stop the game, you two go watch TV.” Mark looked at his subservient demeanor and suddenly sneered, speaking smugly. “Uncle David, I’m about to win. What do you mean, stop playing?” “It’s not impossible for me to stop. Make Alex get on his knees and beg for forgiveness in front of everyone. If I’m in a good mood, he can take back these stakes. I don’t even care about this money.” My dad stood rooted to the spot, his body suddenly rigid. He stared directly at Mark, a flush slowly spreading across his face. “Son, I’m lending you the house. Go for it!” The room fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Even I couldn’t help but look at my dad. All my life, he had been a content man, always telling me to bow down to Mark. Even this time, I thought he’d side with Mark. I never expected him to actually agree. Holding the property deed my dad handed me, I was momentarily stunned. Sarah was about to say something, but my dad quietly waved her off, pulled up a stool, and sat beside the card table. Seeing the situation, the relatives knew there was no stopping it. They held their breath and gathered around. Chloe’s hands trembled as she dealt the fourth card. I still got a Queen, and he still got a King. Now we each had four cards in our hands. Excluding the one face-down card yet to be revealed, our three face-up cards were: Mine were three Queens and a Two. Mark’s were three Kings and a Ten. He still had a better hand than me. Seeing the cards, my dad’s face turned ashen. Jessica, however, couldn’t help but let out a snicker. “Looks like my husband’s luck is holding up! Not only is he getting promoted and a raise this year, but he’s also on a winning streak at the card table!” “When money comes, you can’t stop it! Nobody leaves tonight; I’m treating everyone to a fancy dinner at a hotel!” Mark was also beaming, his lips practically stretching to his ears as he looked at his cards. “You guys probably haven’t eaten anything good, have you? Honey, book the best hotel in town later. It’ll be an eye-opener for the relatives.” He was always big-mouthed, believing himself to be the most successful among the relatives. Now, on the verge of winning, he was even more unrestrained. Chloe’s face showed a flicker of shame, but she bit her lip and swallowed her words. Before the reveal, there was one final round of betting. As the one with the stronger hand, Mark had to bet first. He glanced around, saw my dad’s ashen face, and sneered. “Since you’re putting up your property deed, I’ll put mine up too.” “My place in the city, worth over two million dollars. I’m putting it all in!”

A collective gasp echoed through the room. Two million dollars. That was no small sum. I quickly calculated my assets. Even with Sarah’s and my house on the line, it would only be a little over a million. It wasn’t enough to cover the shortfall. Mark looked at me, challenging. “Do you still have money to match? Who do you think you are, trying to take my money?” Sarah stood beside me, reaching out and gripping my hand. She spoke softly, “We’ll put up our house, and I’ll borrow some from friends and family.” Mark raised an eyebrow, a look of contempt on his face. “Who are you going to borrow from? Beggars only know beggars. How much could you possibly scrounge up?” The moment I accepted his bet, it signaled a complete break between us. Mark dropped his pretense, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a way out. Like I said before, if you admit defeat now, and get on your knees and beg for forgiveness in front of everyone, I can stop.” He claimed to be giving me a way out, but in reality, he was trying to push me to the brink. How could I ever face anyone again if I did something like that in front of all our friends and family? Just as I was racking my brain, trying to figure out where else I could get money, Chloe suddenly spoke up. “I’ll lend it. I’ve saved up a hundred and twenty thousand dollars from working all these years. I’ll lend it all to you.” Mark suddenly froze, and Jessica’s teacup clattered to the floor. Uncle Mike quickly pulled Chloe back, rushing, “What nonsense are you talking? This has nothing to do with you!” Chloe pulled away, her voice tinged with long-suppressed anger. “I just can’t stand his arrogant attitude, looking down on everyone!” “Back then, his family couldn’t afford to send him to high school. Everyone pooled their money, emptying their pockets to make sure he could go. And what happened? Does he show any gratitude towards us?” Aunt Sharon, who had been quietly listening, also spoke up. “He had to walk three hours to school, and I felt sorry for the boy, so I let him stay at my house during the week. But then, two years ago, when my son was buying his wedding house, I asked Mark to lend me fifty thousand dollars, and he kept making excuses!” “I want to ask you today, Mark, you’re throwing hundreds of thousands, even millions, around at the poker table, but to me, your Aunt Sharon, you couldn’t even spare fifty thousand dollars?” “I… you, you guys are…” Mark hadn’t expected to suddenly become the enemy of everyone. His face went pale, and he couldn’t string together a complete sentence for a long time. “My family has another two hundred thousand dollars from a settlement!” “You can borrow my car outside!” In that moment, the relatives united, handing over what little assets they had left to me. I tapped away on my calculator, then looked up at Mark. “I have enough money now. Want to show your hand?” Mark’s expression was complex. Facing the room full of cold, hostile stares, he roared, “You’re the ones who decided to go against me first! Don’t come begging me to give your stuff back when you lose!” I smiled faintly. “Are you so confident, Mark, that you’re sure you’ll win?” He glanced at me, a cold smirk. “My face-down card is a Ten. Three Kings and two Tens, a full house! What are you going to beat me with?” At his words, the room suddenly fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Several relatives already had looks of regret on their faces. My heart, however, was calm. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, I slowly flipped over my face-down card. This game, he was going to lose! When he saw my face-down card, Mark looked like he’d been frozen in place. I had four Queens and a Two – a Four of a Kind. He had three Kings and a pair of Tens – a Full House. A Four of a Kind beats a Full House. He lost. “Mark, when you made your final bet, did you ever consider that my face-down card might be a Queen?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298913”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

After eight years of marriage, my husband, Robert, ignored my objections and brought his “cancer-stricken” first love, Chloe, home. “You wicked woman, you have no sympathy! You’re not even worth a single strand of Chloe’s hair!” My son, Caleb, echoed his words, threatening that if I didn’t let Chloe into the house, he wouldn’t acknowledge me as his mother. My heart completely broken, I initiated the divorce and accepted the design world’s invitation, making a triumphant return to the top. But they only started crying when they saw the fake cancer diagnosis. “Stella, my love, I was manipulated by her! You’re the only one I’ve ever loved!” “Mommy, are you abandoning Caleb? I’m your only child!” I didn’t even spare them a glance. What are these stray dogs doing? They’re blocking my path to the awards! … “Chloe’s health is very poor right now. I’ve decided to bring her home to care for her.” I lowered my gaze. Contrasting sharply with the steaming hot meal, lay a cancer diagnosis. This was Robert’s eight-year wedding anniversary gift to me. Seeing my expression, Chloe, leaning weakly in his arms, spoke delicately, “Robert, let’s not. I don’t think Stella wants me here.” “Besides, I’m practically dying. You shouldn’t worry about me.” “Don’t talk nonsense, Chloe. You’ll get better.” Then, Robert turned to me, yelling furiously, “Stella, are you even human?! You can’t even tolerate a sick person! How can you be such a cold-blooded example for Caleb?” As soon as Caleb heard his dad, he started hitting my leg with his tiny hands. “You’re mean! If you don’t let Pretty Auntie move in, I won’t want you as my mommy!” The hot soup on the table had long gone cold, just like my heart. Two similar faces, one big, one small, were righteously accusing me. One was the man I’d loved for eight years, the other the child I’d raised for seven. During Robert’s countless nights away, if I had one last glimmer of hope, it was Caleb. There was a time when he would hold my hand and sweetly call me “Mommy.” But now, for another woman, he declared he didn’t want me as his mom anymore. In an instant, disappointment outweighed anger. I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh and turned to go back to my room. But Robert called out to me: “Stella, Chloe is sick. Let her sleep in your room.” “You pack your things now; from now on, you’ll be living in the attic.” I took a deep breath, walked straight into my room, and with trembling hands, dialed that familiar number. “Linda, I’m willing to come back to work.” The voice on the other end of the line was ecstatic. “Really? Stella, you’ve finally come to your senses! Giving up your career for your family back then was a loss for the entire design world! I’ll arrange everything for you right now!” I agreed with a bitter smile, immediately booking a flight for the next month. Linda happily posted it on SnapChat, and right below her post, I saw Robert’s. His username was “Clouds Part, Revealing the Bright Moon.” He used to tell me that it symbolized meeting me. But it wasn’t until Chloe stood before me that I realized “Bright Moon” referred to Chloe. The SnapChat story photos were of him and Caleb with Chloe at a dessert shop that afternoon. The caption read: 【Sweet treats are best shared with sweet people.】 Yet, he and Caleb usually hated sweets. Chloe’s overly radiant smile pierced my eyes. It wasn’t that they didn’t eat sweets; it was just that I was never the “sweet person” they wanted to share them with. Someone commented below: 【Mr. Robert, aren’t you worried your wife will leave you?】 Robert replied with just three words. 【She wouldn’t dare.】 He was right. I wouldn’t dare. Back then, I fell for Robert’s “I’ll love you forever” nonsense, quitting my job without a second thought. I became a homemaker, and that’s what I was for eight long years. Now, apart from him and Caleb, I had nothing. Feeling lightheaded and dizzy, Robert walked over, offering me a box of cake. “Here, I remember you used to love strawberry.” The cake had been left out for too long; the strawberries on top had already sunk into the collapsed cream. What was this, Chloe’s leftovers? I raised my hand and threw the cake directly into the trash can. Robert was furious, gritting his teeth as he yelled at me, “Stella, what the hell is wrong with you!” “Trash.” Hearing my words, his anger intensified. “And here I was, thinking it was our anniversary, going out of my way to buy you a gift! You’re so ungrateful!” “Yes! I am ungrateful. From today on, you buy one, I’ll throw one!” Robert raised his hand, but his fist ultimately didn’t land on me. Instead, it slammed down fiercely on our wedding photo. As he stormed off, the frame crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. I knelt, silently picking up the mess. Amidst the shattered pieces, I realized something. When I cried, my tear-streaked face bore a disturbing 70% resemblance to Chloe’s. I didn’t try to pick up the photo. Instead, I simply tore it to shreds. 2. The next day, Robert woke up early. After eight years of never cooking, he uncharacteristically made a table full of breakfast. Chloe sat nearby, happily eating: “Robert, you’re so good to me.” “Silly girl, if I don’t treat you well, who will? I made your favorite shrimp omelet; you’re not feeling well, so you need to take care of yourself.” “Yes, Pretty Auntie, eat this, it’s delicious.” The three of them sat at the table, so perfectly harmonious, it was as if I were the outsider. Seeing me, Robert cleared his throat. “I made some shrimp dumplings. Have some.” “Yes, Robert’s dumplings are really good, you should try one!” Chloe said, then picked up a dumpling and placed it in my bowl. Expressionless, I dumped the dumpling into the trash. Chloe’s eyes instantly welled up. “Stella, even if you have a problem with me, you shouldn’t waste Robert’s kindness.” The moment she started crying, Robert’s heart broke into a million pieces, and he snapped at me coldly. “Stella, I tolerated it last night, but who are you pulling that miserable face for this morning? Can you stop acting out!” “I have stomach ulcers and can’t eat seafood, don’t you know that?” Robert froze. When Caleb was little, he was so fussy. To take care of him, my eating habits were always irregular. Over time, I developed stomach issues. Perhaps he didn’t even remember. There was a time when he would meticulously pick out every single piece of shrimp from my pizza for me. Chloe blinked. “Stomach ulcers are fine. I’d eat Robert’s homemade breakfast completely, even if I had to take stomach medicine.” Caleb chimed in with a sneer, “Exactly! Pretty Auntie isn’t high-maintenance like *some* people!” Robert was no longer lost in thought; he smiled, his expression full of doting affection. “Alright, my precious, your good intentions are enough. Your body can’t handle such stress right now.” I didn’t want to watch their melodramatic scene any longer, so I dropped my forks directly. “Then you’d better eat all of it. Don’t leave any of that garbage.” Back in my room, I began to focus on my old profession. After all, I’d been out of the design world for eight years, so I was bound to be a little rusty. But the laughter and noise from outside my door were so loud, I found it hard to concentrate. Chloe was outside, asking Caleb with a laugh: “What do you think of your mom?” “She’s so annoying! She’s always nagging, dresses like a beggar, and always restricts my snacks!” Chloe giggled from the side. “What about me?” “You take me out to play and buy me delicious things. You’re super nice.” “Then would you like to call me your godmother?” Caleb immediately called her “Godmother” sweetly. Inside my room, I felt a chill penetrate to my very core again. Caleb was born with a delicate constitution, requiring more meticulous care than a normal child. Robert never bothered with him due to company matters. For all these years, I had to quit my job and raise him little by little. But I never imagined that in his heart, I was worth far less than a stranger who took him out for fun and treats. The pitter-patter of rain outside the window brought me back to reality. It was raining. I suddenly remembered the flowers I’d placed on the balcony. I hurried out to bring them in, but the flowers on the balcony had already been maliciously destroyed, beyond recognition. Before I could even feel bad for them, I heard a click. The balcony door was locked from the outside. “Caleb, open the door!” I desperately pounded on the door. But I could only see Caleb outside, calling to Chloe, “Godmother, come look at the drowned rat!” Chloe laughed, tapping his head lightly. “You little rascal. Come on, Godmother will take you to buy snacks.” “Yay!” Caleb ignored me, bouncing happily as he took Chloe’s hand and left. Thunder flashed and roared in the sky, and I huddled in the corner, thoroughly chilled, from body to soul. It wasn’t until the last petal fell that Robert finally let me out of the balcony. Under the bright lights, my face was deathly pale, my hair soaked and disheveled from the rain, making me look like a ghost. Chloe covered her mouth, feigning innocence. “Oh, Stella, what happened to you?” Caleb, meanwhile, hid behind her, making mocking faces at me. And Robert, after learning what happened, merely frowned at me. “Stella, you’re a grown woman. How could you get locked on the balcony? Be more careful next time.” I didn’t speak; I just wanted to grab Caleb. Robert panicked and shoved me away. “What are you doing? Are you seriously going to argue with a child? He might not know better, but you’re an adult!” He pushed me, and I lost my balance, falling directly to the ground, utterly disgraced. Caleb instantly burst out laughing. In this twisted trial, I, the complete and utter victim, became the sole accused. 3. I looked at them, father and son, and let out a bitter laugh, then another. Then I stood up and walked towards them, expressionless. They must have thought I was coming to reconcile, because both of them, big and small, had an undeniable look of smug triumph on their faces. “Slap—slap—” I slapped each of them. Caleb’s eyes widened. He covered his face, crying and demanding to be held by Chloe. “I don’t want you! You mean mommy! You vicious woman! You deserve to be all alone!” Robert was even more furious now. He gasped for breath, glaring at me. Chloe, ever the master of playing the victim, grabbed Robert and immediately started criticizing me: “Stella, Caleb is just a child. How could you, his mother—” “Slap—” “Annoying.” I’d wanted to hit her for ages. Seeing Chloe conveniently faint, Caleb stopped his wailing in shock. Robert frantically picked her up, about to rush out, but not before giving me a warning. “If Chloe’s condition worsens, you’ll regret it!” Perhaps fearing I’d abuse Caleb at home, he dragged his son away with him. Good, they’re all gone. The house was finally quiet. After being drenched on the balcony all afternoon yesterday, I developed a fever in the middle of the night. I forced myself up, trying to find fever medicine. In a hazy, feverish state, I felt someone approaching me. I struggled to open my eyes and saw Chloe’s scornful, disdainful gaze. “Stella, you look pathetic, like a stray dog right now. If I hadn’t gone abroad, do you think Robert would have even looked at you?” As if remembering something, she giggled coquettishly. “But it doesn’t matter. Robert only loves me now, and your son only sees me as his mom.” “Honestly, a woman like you? You might as well just bash your head in and end it.” The sheer rage surged through me, and I shook my head, clearing my mind almost instantly. Seeing she was about to speak again, I raised my hand and slapped her once more. Chloe curled her lips into a smirk, then deliberately toppled backward, landing perfectly, *conveniently*, in Robert’s arms as he opened the door and walked in. In his arms, Chloe cried, tears streaming down her face like a tragic beauty. “Robert, I was just worried Stella was still angry, so I wanted to check on her, but she hit me again.” She clutched her chest. “Robert, I’m in so much pain. I’ve been hit twice in a row, I can’t bear it anymore. Am I going to die?” Robert’s face darkened, and he grabbed my throat. “Stella, do you have any idea Chloe is sick right now! You’ve hurt her again and again today, you’re trying to kill her!” Suddenly losing the ability to breathe, my head filled with a deafening buzz. Robert didn’t release me until I was on the verge of suffocation. He shot me a venomous glare. “I try to be kind, and this is what I get! Chloe just got back from the hospital, and you’re deliberately trying to make her miserable!” He finished speaking and was about to carry Chloe to the hospital again. This time, she stopped him, and after much coaxing and sweet-talking, she led him into the master bedroom. Before long, suggestive sounds began to emanate from the master bedroom. I wasn’t in the mood to care if they were having an affair. My body temperature soared, and both my heart and stomach burned with agonizing pain. I crouched down, recovering for a long time, before finally getting up to find and take the fever medicine. Fortunately, because of Chloe’s incident, Robert and Caleb didn’t come home for days, and I finally had some peace. But soon, a headache-inducing problem arose. Caleb’s school teacher called, saying he had gotten into a fight. I immediately called Robert, but he hung up on me instantly. I pursed my lips and sent a text message. 【Caleb got into trouble at school, they need you to go check it out.】 【I’m busy.】 After that, there was complete silence. Just like every time before, whenever Caleb got into trouble, his father was always expertly invisible. This time, if he wasn’t going, then neither would I. 4. But I miscalculated one thing: it was *my* phone number that the elementary school teacher had. The constant calls bombarded me to the point where I couldn’t even work on my designs, so I finally had to leave. But as soon as I arrived, I saw Chloe beside Caleb. Suddenly, two “moms” appeared, leaving the teacher looking utterly bewildered. Caleb pointed at me, loudly proclaiming in front of everyone: “She’s not my mom, she’s just our housekeeper!” Then he affectionately clung to Chloe. “This is my mom!” Chloe smiled, stroking his head, her eyes flashing with unconcealed triumph as she looked at me. “Stella, why don’t you go home? I’ll handle things here.” I stood rooted to the spot, almost numb, watching these two, so intimately close. Fine. Since he’s made his choice. From now on, Chloe would be his mother. “Caleb, you’re right. From now on, Chloe is your mom. As far as I’m concerned, I never gave birth to you.” After that, I lived like a ghost in the house, indifferent to everything. I locked myself in my room, immersing myself in design day and night. And from Linda, I received a piece of shocking news: Chloe’s medical records were fake. I closed my eyes and thought back to her behavior during this period. Her lies were actually quite clumsy, but Robert’s love had covered for her, choosing to turn a blind eye to every loophole. I quietly collected the evidence, intending to give it to Robert as a parting gift. Perhaps accustomed to my previous anger and coldness, Robert seemed unsettled by my current indifference. He uncharacteristically spared some time away from Chloe for me. He started sending me flowers and gifts, just like when we were dating. Back then, he’d sworn he’d love Stella forever. But “forever” was too short; it hadn’t even lasted eight years. And now, I no longer anticipated that ridiculous love. On my birthday, Robert said he had a surprise for me. And his gift truly was a surprise. It was a divorce agreement. Robert’s face was ashen. “Chloe’s condition has worsened. For her treatment, we need someone to make decisions. Stella, let’s get a divorce first.” “I promise you, as soon as Chloe gets through this, we’ll remarry immediately!” Afraid I wouldn’t agree, he pleaded, explained, and swore solemn oaths. But he didn’t need to do any of that. I would definitely sign those divorce papers. Of course, before I did, I demanded that all assets be transferred to my name. Robert, uncharacteristically, frowned, but fearing I might change my mind, he said nothing more and signed the papers with a flourish. I glanced at Caleb. “Who do you want to live with?” Caleb snorted, looking at me with undisguised contempt. “My last name is Robert’s, so of course I’ll stay with Dad. We’re the real family.” After saying that, he made a few mocking faces at me, then ran to Robert’s side and took his hand. I nodded. “You said at school last time that Chloe was your mom. Indeed, you finally got what you wished for. Congratulations.” I didn’t care about their reactions behind me. I put the divorce agreement in my bag and went back to pack my things. Since our marriage, I had poured all my energy into them, father and son, leaving me with very few personal belongings. In less than ten minutes, I had finished packing and left the place I had lived for eight years. Meanwhile, Robert looked at the divorce certificate in his hand, a dull ache in his chest. He felt as if he had lost something important. But as he looked at Chloe’s smiling, crescent-shaped eyes on his phone screen, he forcibly reassured himself. “She loves me so much, she’ll tolerate whatever idiotic things I do.” “This time, it’ll surely be like before. It’s just a few arguments; there’s no way she’d actually leave me.” But when he arrived home and saw the obviously cleared-out house, Robert’s face went deathly pale, his blood turning to ice in his veins. He frantically rushed into my room, only to find the divorce gift I’d left for him on the desk. The fake cancer evidence.

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The king-sized bed in the hotel room. I was still basking in the afterglow of Ryder’s touch when his voice, husky with post-intimacy breathlessness, whispered a promise in my ear. “Stella, just give me one more month. Next month, I’ll propose.” “Stella, I, Ryder Sterling, swear I’ll give you the most magnificent wedding, make you the most envied bride in the world.” This was the seventh year of our secret relationship. No one in all of Veridian City would ever believe that the notoriously aloof heir of the Sterling family and the infamous adopted daughter of the Reed family had been secretly dating for seven years. I had waited for that promise from the age of eighteen until twenty-five. My heart suddenly hammered. Before I could answer, my phone chimed with a special notification. Ryder reached for my phone, his voice still thick with desire. “Which wild man is that? Baby, are you really keeping some D-list actor on the side, just like the tabloids say?” I chuckled, pushing his hand away. “Just my best friend.” I tapped on the SnapChat picture Valerie had sent. It was a marriage certificate. The marriage certificate was dated today. And the groom? None other than Ryder Sterling, the man I’d been secretly dating for seven years, the man who’d just spent our passionate thirteen rounds with me tonight, and who’d promised to marry me in a month. I replied “Congrats” to my best friend, Valerie, then turned back to kiss Ryder. Ryder was an incredible kisser. His soft, lingering kisses left me breathless, tears welling in my eyes from the pleasant suffocation. Ryder was still pressing, “Just one more month for me, the very last one, okay?” “Okay,” I said. “I’ll wait one more month for you.” I bit down on Ryder’s lip, hard, not releasing until I tasted blood. “Ryder, after seven years, this is the very last month I’ll wait for you.” I casually dodged the lurking paparazzi outside the hotel and slipped into the car sent by the Reed family to pick me up. My brother, Liam Reed, was driving. His eyes were shadowed, dark, as he watched me stumble out of the side entrance, barely able to walk straight. “Which struggling actor was it tonight? Stella, aren’t you satisfied with your already ruined reputation? Are you determined to drag the Reed family name through the mud completely?” “Look at Valerie! She’s brilliant, plays the piano beautifully, and has an impeccable reputation. When she was eighteen, Mr. Sterling himself had personally visited the Valerie family to arrange a marriage proposal for Valerie – to become the Sterling family’s daughter-in-law, to marry the Sterling heir!” “I heard the Sterling heir waited for Valerie for seven years, visiting her abroad every year. He kept it up until Valerie finally got her PhD overseas this year.” “The tabloids caught photos of Ryder proposing to Valerie today, and them leaving City Hall together. They must have gotten married.” “Ryder must have been impatient, couldn’t even wait for a wedding, just went straight to getting the marriage certificate to make their marriage official…” “Stella, you and Valerie came from the same orphanage, but look at her…” The words barely left his lips when Liam slammed on the brakes! The black Lincoln screeched to a halt. Liam slapped himself across the face. He didn’t dare look at his sister in the passenger seat, his voice low. “Stella, I said the wrong thing. I’m sorry.” I sat rigidly, my face pale, my eyes hollow. Liam reached for my hand. My fingertips were icy cold. “Hit me, Stella. I messed up… I shouldn’t have brought it up.” After a long moment, I finally whispered, “The photos.” Liam blinked. “What photos?” “The ones the tabloids took,” I said, my gaze blank, fixed on the darkness ahead. “She was, after all, my friend from the orphanage and my supposed best friend. I want to see if Valerie and that legendary Sterling heir really make a good match.” Liam tossed his phone onto my lap. “See for yourself.” I unlocked it with my fingerprint and scrolled through the pictures. Ryder on one knee in a lavender field, kissing Valerie’s finger, adorned with a wedding ring. Ryder, grinning widely, with his arm around Valerie’s shoulder, standing in front of a wedding dress shop window. Ryder sweeping Valerie into his arms, walking out of a castle… Every single picture was taken abroad. I remembered the past seven years of our secret relationship, every time Ryder mentioned “going abroad for business.” Twelve trips a year, half a month each time. Turns out, his “business trips” were all spent romancing Valerie! I lifted my hand, clutching my chest. An indescribable ache spread from my heart, agonizing through my entire body. The pain made me double over. Liam was startled by my reaction. He snatched the phone from my hand. “Stella, I’ll never mention Valerie’s name in front of you again! Don’t scare me!” He was one of the few people in the world who knew that Valerie, my so-called best friend, and I were deeply at odds. Liam didn’t know the details, but he knew how much his sister loathed Valerie’s name. I forced a smile. “Didn’t you tell me to learn from Valerie? I will. Help me arrange it, Liam. Send me abroad to study.” Liam looked at me, incredulous. “Are you serious?” He couldn’t believe his non-biological sister could be so clear-headed. I smiled. “If I’m not married off by next month, then yes, I’m serious.”

Liam took me back to his private estate. “Mom and Dad aren’t happy about the news of Valerie and Ryder getting married today,” Liam said, peeling me some fruit. “You should stay here for a while.” I looked at the sliced fruit platter, skewered with toothpicks, and let out a cold laugh. “Are they still regretting not picking Valerie when they had to choose between us for adoption? Didn’t they practically fall over themselves to be Valerie’s godparents years ago? They might as well change their last name from Reed to Valerie!” Liam, seeing me looking like I was about to lose it, said nothing and retreated to his study. He knew me well. Engaging with me now would just make him my personal punching bag. I checked the time. It was one in the morning. I called Ryder. It rang three times before someone finally picked up. Ryder’s voice was cold, a stark contrast to the intimacy we’d shared hours earlier in the hotel. “Didn’t I tell you not to call me when I’m home? My family… wouldn’t want to see me associated with a woman like you.” “A woman like me?” My voice rose sharply. “We’ve been secretly together for seven years, Ryder! Do you really believe those tabloid rumors? Believe I’m a promiscuous woman?” Ryder’s reply was icy. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Perhaps realizing he’d gone too far, he quickly added, “Don’t cause trouble, Stella. You’ve always been so understanding these past seven years.” I looked at my empty ring finger, picturing Valerie’s wedding ring. “Ryder,” I whispered. “Did you really mean it? That you’d marry me in a month?” His tone softened slightly. “Have I ever broken a promise to you?” “Okay.” I put down my phone, my gaze drawn to the calendar. Just thirty days to wait. Thirty days later, either Ryder would keep his promise, or I would vanish from his world forever. A moment later, rustling sounds came from the receiver. I realized I hadn’t hung up. Ryder must have forgotten too. I heard his voice, chatting with his best friend. “Ryder, you chased Valerie for seven years, and you finally made it official. Old Man Sterling must be thrilled to see your marriage certificate, right?” Ryder’s voice was reserved, yet tinged with a faint pride. “Grandfather has already signed over his shares to me; the paperwork is being processed. Oh, and Valerie’s pregnant. What do you think would be a good gift for her? Do you think she’d like the estate on the west side of town?” Ryder’s friend lowered his voice. “Ryder, that Stella girl you’ve been stringing along… when are you going to get rid of her for good?” Ryder was silent for a moment. Amidst my violently beating heart, I heard Ryder’s indifferent voice. “Stella? Oh, next month.” His friend pressed him. “You’ve been playing her for seven years straight? Young Master Sterling, can you really bear to let her go?” Ryder’s voice was tinged with annoyance. “She’s just an adopted daughter of the Reed family, not particularly favored. What’s there to miss? Valerie and she came from the same orphanage, both adopted, but why is Valerie so much more accomplished, so perfect in every way?” Ryder’s friend lowered his voice. “Young Master Sterling, everyone in the circle knows Stella had your ‘tag’ on her for the past seven years. You even had someone smear Stella’s name, ensuring she wouldn’t have any other men around. Now you’re bored with her, how about… you let us have a taste? See how ‘open’ the Reed family’s adopted daughter really is? She’s only ever been with you, so she must be pure.” Ryder’s chuckling, cursing voice drifted over. “Fine, she’s been with me for so many years, I won’t let you guys lose out. I’ll find a chance to let you all taste what a ‘little firecracker’ is like…” The voices faded. It was then I realized that, at some point, tears were streaming down my face. I wiped away my tears expressionlessly, then wiped away the blood from my lip where I’d bitten myself. Looking at my pale reflection in the mirror, I cursed myself for being so weak. My heart was utterly cold. The question that had plagued me for seven years finally had an answer today. How did I, a woman always so proper, suddenly become entangled in countless salacious rumors seven years ago, all fabricated so convincingly, making me an object of scorn in Veridian City? Making my already precarious position in the Reed family even worse. It was Ryder, pulling the strings all along. At that moment, another invitation popped up on my phone. It was for an afternoon tea. The host was Valerie. The time was the following afternoon.

I never received invitations to these kinds of afternoon tea parties for socialites and rich wives in the circle. My reputation was terrible, I wasn’t favored by my family, and in our social circles, I was implicitly considered to have no social value. The next day, I went to Valerie’s afternoon tea party. By the time I arrived, quite a few people were already there. Valerie, surrounded by admiring glances, was clearly the center of attention. I found a corner and helped myself to food and drinks. The sound of Ryder’s voice made me crush the delicate mini-cake in my hand. A chorus of envious voices rose around us. “Valerie, Young Master Sterling is such a busy man. He often misses board meetings, but he’s actually spending an entire afternoon having tea with us, just for you?” “Valerie, when you first said you could get Young Master Sterling to come, we thought you were joking.” “Valerie, you and Young Master Sterling have already gotten your marriage certificate. When’s the wedding?” “Young Master Sterling, I hear you’ve been looking into wedding venues. Any chance of working together?” I sat outside the group, my gaze distant, meeting Ryder’s eyes. Ryder’s lips were still at Valerie’s ear, clearly whispering sweet nothings between husband and wife. Valerie followed Ryder’s gaze and noticed me too. A flicker of malicious triumph crossed her eyes. Valerie walked towards me, outside the crowd, and intimately linked her arm through mine. I dug my nails into my palm, repeating one phrase to myself— Just one more month. Just one more month of Ryder’s promise. Perhaps… this man who had never broken his word to me, my lover of seven years, would actually keep his promise. Perhaps he would marry me and take me home. Just as I was about to reach my limit, Valerie whispered in my ear. “Stella, do you know how Ryder described you to me?” “Ryder said you were just a slut. Someone he didn’t even have to spend money on, someone who’d spread her legs for just a few sweet words.” “Did he promise to marry you in a month?” “Our wedding is in a month, Stella. Ryder said he’s going to make you look absolutely pathetic that day, to let all of Veridian City see that Stella Reed, the adopted daughter of the Reed family, is a public plaything!” “Last night, Ryder told me to send you the marriage certificate.” “He said he was in bed with you at the time, and he just wanted to know if, after seeing him marry me, you’d still willingly let him…” Valerie didn’t finish the last word, ‘screwed.’ The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the room, and a deafening silence fell over the entire room! I had just slapped Valerie hard, knocking her to the ground, in front of everyone! For the first time, Ryder lost his composure publicly. He quickly rushed forward to help Valerie up. Then he turned, raising his hand high, ready to strike me. I stared him down, offering him half my face. Ryder clenched his fist, then let it drop. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” He grabbed my collar, lowering his voice. “This is not where you belong! Now, apologize to Valerie! Tell her you were jealous and lost control! Then go home!” I laughed. My smile was seductively charming. “Jealous of her? Of what?” I kept my voice low, only audible to the two of us. My words tumbled out at a breathtaking pace. “Jealous that you were dating me while secretly chasing her for seven years? Jealous that we both came from the orphanage, but you ruined my reputation until I was universally despised, while she was praised as a pristine, untouchable flower? Jealous that you promised to marry me in a month, yet got married to her on the very same day?” I couldn’t help but raise my voice on that last sentence! The slap Ryder had held back moments before now landed heavily in front of everyone. It utterly silenced my last words. The moment the slap landed, Ryder regretted it. He had only wanted me to shut up. But the blow made his palm tingle. He saw me standing rigidly, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. Ryder’s voice held an almost imperceptible plea. “Stella, I’m begging you, don’t make a scene in public! I promised to marry you in a month, and I will! Please, believe me, okay?” I closed my eyes. Only twenty-nine days left. Believe him or not, the pain Ryder could inflict on me only had twenty-nine days left. “I believe you. Twenty-nine days from now, I’ll be waiting for you to propose at the Reed family home.” Uttering those words with every ounce of strength I had, I turned to leave. But Ryder gripped my arm tightly. “Stella, you haven’t apologized to Valerie. You can’t leave… Today is her day, you need to show her that respect.” My eyes were cold. “Apologize to Valerie? Never.” Ryder stared at my stubborn refusal, then suddenly raised his voice. “Guards!”

Ryder had his people tie me up. Right there, in front of all the guests. “She offended you, Valerie. You can do whatever you want to her,” Ryder told Valerie. “Do as you please, don’t hold back. I’ll handle the Reed family.” Valerie looked into Ryder’s eyes, which seemed to hold a smile, yet conveyed no emotion at all. She pressed him. “Any way I want?” Ryder nodded, agreeing. Valerie broke into a radiant smile, turning to me. “Stella, I’m entering an international photography competition soon, and I think you’d make a perfect model for me. How about you cooperate and let me take a set of photos of you today?” A bad feeling bloomed in my gut. Valerie continued, “But for this photo series… I need a boudoir model. Stella, if you change your mind, just apologize to me, say you shouldn’t have slapped me, and I’ll ask Ryder to let you go.” She sounded incredibly generous. I hated Valerie’s pretense most of all. She was like this even in the orphanage. Under five years old, Valerie with her sweet, innocent face would lie shamelessly to everyone, claiming she’d seen me steal cookies from the dining hall. Later, we were both adopted, she by the Valerie family and I by the Reed family. Valerie would smile innocently, telling everyone stories about me kissing boys for an egg in the orphanage. I couldn’t even count how many times Valerie had done things like that. At first, I tried to explain, but everyone seemed to believe Valerie, the girl with good grades and a sweet face. As if I, with my overly bright, aggressive looks, was born a villain. I lifted my chin, staring at everyone. “Apologize? Valerie, I only regret that slap didn’t kill you. You want to strip me naked? Why don’t you check your new husband’s phone gallery? There are plenty of my…” Before I could finish, Ryder kicked me! A searing pain stole my breath, and I choked back the rest of the sentence: “my boudoir photos.” Ryder didn’t wait for Valerie to speak. He just waved his hand. “Valerie needs a model, doesn’t she? Strip Stella and keep her that way until Valerie’s finished shooting!” His voice was cruel. “After all, Miss Stella Reed’s reputation… from eighteen to twenty-five, has never been good in Veridian City.” “Taking her clothes off in public today will just let everyone see how much ‘capital’ Miss Stella has for her wild ways!” My mouth filled with the taste of blood. I didn’t know if it was from Ryder’s slap or his kick. I swallowed the bloody saliva, my eyes colder and more hateful than Ryder’s. “Young Master Sterling, you go ahead and strip me! Let everyone see the woman you’ve slept with for seven years…” The words were cut short again by Ryder’s fierce palm, turning my head violently, the rest of the sentence trapped in my throat. My ears rang with the impact of the blow. I let out a bitter laugh. Just yesterday, I had still harbored fantasies. Fantasies that Ryder and Valerie were just a family arrangement, that I was Ryder’s true love, that Ryder would divorce Valerie and fulfill his promise to marry me in a month! But today’s events clearly showed me the truth: I was nothing but Ryder’s plaything! He had played me for seven whole years. And now that he was done, on the eve of discarding me, he wanted to deliver a final, fatal blow! A gasp rippled through the room as a massive shadow loomed over me. I looked up. A bookshelf against the wall had lost its balance and was toppling towards me. If it hit me full force, I’d either die or be crippled for life! Ryder instinctively reached out to me, lying helpless on the floor. If he just grabbed me, he could pull me out of the shadow of death. But the instant his fingers brushed my collar, he abruptly changed direction, decisively sweeping Valerie, who was still some distance from the bookshelf, into his arms! The last sliver of hope in my eyes completely vanished. I closed my eyes, waiting for death.

The expected pain never came. Someone blocked me. My trembling eyelashes fluttered open. The moment I saw that face, the tears I’d held back all afternoon finally streamed down. “Liam…” My voice was trembling. I wasn’t sure if it was from indignity or the terror of a near-death experience. My gaze drifted over Liam’s shoulder, towards the man and woman nearby. Valerie looked shaken, Ryder kneeling before her, gently stroking her abdomen, softly reassuring her. Liam asked nothing. He simply pulled out a handkerchief, wiped my face clean, and led me away. As we brushed past Ryder, he rose, gently gripping my wrist, attempting to pull me away from Liam. “Stella, I didn’t save you just now because Valerie is pregnant… You understand, don’t you?” I offered a numb smile. Ryder bent lower, his voice even more humble. “I just need one month, Stella. I know you might have heard rumors lately, but trust me, none of it’s true.” “I’m already arranging our wedding. Only twenty-nine days left. I’ll fulfill everything I promised you! Just be good during this time, don’t listen to or believe anything anyone says outside, okay?” I nodded, exhausted. No matter how much it hurt, how heartbroken I was, it would only last a few more days. I would wait and see how Ryder intended to wrap up their seven years of illicit affair. Liam took me home. Once my emotions had settled, Liam spoke. “Want to talk about anything, Stella? Like… you and Ryder?” I shook my head, silent. Liam stroked my hair. “If you don’t want to talk, don’t. I’ve already started arranging your study abroad, just like you said yesterday. But… when I send you off, do you want me to erase all your identity information? The Sterling family might control Veridian City, but hiding a person is a small task I can manage.” I nodded. “I’ll be gone for a week on a business trip,” Liam said, pulling his suitcase. “You need to be good this week, stay home, don’t go anywhere.” “The Sterling family isn’t something you can handle. Valerie’s cunning is beyond you, and the old folks in the Reed family have always despised you.” Liam warned, “Whatever injustice you face, hold it in until I get home.” I was obedient. Before, I’d been bold and reckless in Veridian City, knowing Ryder would back me up. Back then, Ryder was my secret lover. Not anymore. After Liam left, I stayed obediently indoors. Until Ryder’s call came. “Stella, you should be calm now. Can we meet? I want to explain everything that’s happened to you face-to-face.” Ryder’s voice on the phone was tender and loving. My hand pressed against my chest, feeling my heart pound uncontrollably for a moment. “Okay.” Ryder’s voice was delighted. “I’ll pick you up!” “Okay.” Ryder arrived quickly. As if nothing had happened, he took my hand and helped me into the car. He leaned over meticulously to fasten my seatbelt, then straightened up and dropped a kiss on my temple. I felt drowsy the moment I got into the car. After a few sips of the drink Ryder offered me, I quickly drifted into a hazy sleep. When I opened my eyes, I saw only darkness. Suffering from nyctophobia, I screamed hysterically! “Ryder, what are you doing?! Let me out! Turn on the lights!” I was tied up, thrown on the floor. Immobilized. I stared at the profound darkness around me, terrified to the point of nausea. “Ryder, turn on the lights! I’m begging you, turn on the lights!” Ryder’s voice came from nearby. Cold, inhuman. “Stella, I know you’re afraid of the dark. This is the ‘gentlest’ punishment I could think of for your disobedience.” “Why did you hide Valerie?” “Didn’t I say I would definitely marry you next month? Why can’t you just listen, why do you have to take matters into your own hands?” “Valerie is carrying our Sterling child. This isn’t a joke, don’t make trouble.” “Tell me where Valerie is, otherwise, Stella, you’ll regret it.” My face was streaked with tears. I looked into the boundless darkness. “Ryder, I already regret it.” “Please, just let me go, okay? I don’t want you to marry me anymore, I don’t want to wait. The past seven years, that’s on me. Just let me leave. From now on, we’ll be strangers!”

Hearing those three words, “we’ll be strangers,” Ryder’s heart suddenly lurched! For seven whole years, he hadn’t imagined I would ever suggest leaving him! He listened to my sobs in the darkness, and a montage of their years together flashed through his mind like a film. The image finally settled on the wedding dress he’d personally designed for me, set to be completed next month. Ryder clenched his fists tightly, the pain in his palms making him speak. “Stella Reed, I will marry you. But before that, I need to know where Valerie is! She’s carrying our Sterling family’s child!” I couldn’t hear a word Ryder was saying. I screamed, struggling and squirming on the floor, desperately curling myself into a tiny ball, my face drenched in tears. Over and over, I repeated the same garbled words. “Please, Ryder, let me go.” “I won’t marry you.” Ryder roared, unable to hold back. “Stella, I just need to know where Valerie is! I promised I’d marry you, and I will! I know there are misunderstandings between us now, but on our wedding day, I’ll explain everything to you, piece by piece!” Ryder’s voice ended in an uncontrolled sob, a desperate plea. “Stella, I’ve never begged anyone for anything in my life… This time, I’m begging you! I just need Valerie’s address!” I hit my forehead on the floor, crying out. “I don’t know where Valerie is… I didn’t… Ryder, turn on the lights, please…” Ryder stood just outside the door. His hand was on the switch. Just a light flick would end my torment. Ryder could feel his palm raw from clenching, warm, sticky blood spreading between his fingers. He knew why I was afraid of the dark. When we were kids in the orphanage, to compete for adoption spots, Valerie had locked me in the equipment room for three whole days. I was only four years old then. On the third day, I set a small fire in the equipment room to alert the adults, saving myself from dying of thirst and hunger. “The surveillance footage is clear, Valerie got into your Reed family car, then she disappeared,” Ryder said. “I know it was wrong of me to hide things about Valerie from you, but I had my reasons, Stella. For the past seven years, you’ve always been so understanding. Just hold on for one more month, please.” Through my choked sobs, Ryder forced himself to harden his heart. “I know Valerie has done a lot of things to hurt you in the past, and it’s understandable that you’d want to get revenge when you found an opportunity. But she’s pregnant with a Sterling child. Tell me Valerie’s whereabouts, and there’s still room for negotiation in this matter.” “Stella Reed, if this blows up to Mr. Sterling, your whole Reed family will be implicated.” “I know you don’t care about your parents, but what about Liam? Are you willing to see your brother’s future ruined because of your foolish act of jealousy?” My crying stopped for a moment. “Liam.” This seven-year-long, absurd love of mine had not only ruined me but would also drag down the only brother who ever treated me well. “I really don’t know where Valerie is!” I suddenly went wild, banging my head against the floor. “From childhood, hasn’t she framed me enough times? Why won’t any of you believe me, just this once?” “Ryder, if you don’t believe me, then fine. Getting involved with Young Master Sterling was my mistake, and I’ll pay for it with my life, alright?!” The impact of my head hitting the ground was truly forceful! A dull thud, like a shot fired straight into Ryder’s heart. Ryder flicked on the lights with a ‘snap’! It was too late. I lay silently on the ground. Blood slowly spread from my temple.

Ryder rushed into the hospital, cradling me. Half of him was covered in my blood. As he stepped through the hospital doors, I regained consciousness. My eyes immediately locked onto Ryder’s face. Before he could even utter a word of concern, my hand, weak but determined, slapped him across the face. “Hypocrite… Get lost!” I struggled to escape Ryder’s embrace. Ryder said nothing, only holding me tighter. His rush towards the emergency room suddenly halted. I heard Ryder’s already frantic heartbeat quicken even more, so fast I feared it would burst from his chest. Following Ryder’s gaze, I saw Valerie. She was standing there perfectly fine, surrounded not only by Sterling family maids and the butler but also by Mr. and Mrs. Reed, my adoptive parents. There was also an old man I recognized but couldn’t place for a moment. The old man was about sixty or seventy. Ryder’s grip suddenly loosened. In front of everyone, I, whom he had just moments ago held so desperately, was now carelessly dropped onto the ground like trash. He didn’t even spare me a glance. The bruises from Ryder’s kick to my back hadn’t faded, and now with this fall, I almost passed out from the pain. But Ryder merely bypassed me, as if I were a pile of rubbish. Mr. and Mrs. Reed didn’t even look at their adopted daughter. Their eyes were solely on their beloved god-daughter, Valerie. Valerie smiled sweetly, stepping forward to link her arm with Ryder’s. “Ryder, what’s this all about? Stella is my model for my photo shoot. You’ve gotten her into such a state, where am I going to find another Stella?” “I couldn’t reach you. Surveillance showed you got into the Reed family car, and I thought Stella had taken you,” Ryder said, wrapping his arm around Valerie’s waist, kissing her earlobe right in front of me. “So I was just forcing her to tell me your whereabouts?” Ryder looked at me with disgust. “She wasn’t being cooperative, so I was a bit rough. But it’s fine, it won’t affect your photo shoot.” Valerie gave me, struggling to pick myself up from the floor, a knowing, half-smile. “Ryder, the family cars were all sent for maintenance, so I called Mom and Dad to help drive me to the hospital,” Valerie said, her smile clean and gentle. “You worried yourself so much? Look at what you’ve put Stella through. It wasn’t necessary.” Valerie affectionately took my arm, as I was about to go to the treatment room alone, then turned to the others. “Grandfather, Mom and Dad, Ryder, I’ll go with Stella to get her wounds treated. Stella’s always been sensitive since she was little, she’ll cry and fuss over the smallest injury.” I forced a numb smile. Valerie was doing her usual thing, putting me down to highlight her own virtuous character. I was used to it. In the treatment room. A nurse was bandaging the cut on my forehead. Valerie tilted her head, admiring my pallid face. “Ryder put you through quite a lot just now, didn’t he? Actually, the family cars weren’t sent for maintenance at all. I deliberately called your parents to pick me up because I wanted you to see how cruel Ryder could be to a ‘used and discarded’ woman like you.” My brow furrowed. It hurt. The nurse’s touch hurt, and Valerie’s words, “used and discarded,” hurt even more. But I only furrowed my brow. “Be smart and leave on your own.” Valerie played with her beautiful, silky long curls, looking like a princess from a painting. “If you don’t have money, I’ll buy you a plane ticket, wherever you want to go. Just don’t be so shameless as to stay by Ryder’s side, he’s a married man.”

After my wounds were dressed, I went to the restroom. I just wanted a place to cry silently for a while. From the next stall, I heard the sounds of a man and woman kissing. After the wet, sticky sounds subsided, Ryder’s voice, husky with passion, spoke. “How was the prenatal check-up? Is our baby doing okay?” Valerie’s voice was sweet and cloying. “The doctor said very healthy. Said it must be because Daddy’s sperm quality is excellent.” Ryder let out a muffled chuckle. “Baby, I’m not just excellent in sperm quality, am I? What about everywhere else?” “Since the baby came, how am I supposed to know if you’ve gotten worse in other places?” Valerie giggled. “Maybe little Ryder is all pent up?” A zipper sound. Followed by Ryder’s even deeper, hoarser voice. “Whether little Ryder is pent up or not, little Valerie, why don’t you try it out for yourself…” I clapped a hand over my mouth and gagged. It was sickening. I couldn’t stand another second in there. I bolted out of the restroom like my life depended on it, left the hospital, and took a taxi back to Liam’s private estate. I called Liam. I wouldn’t wait for Ryder’s promise anymore. Even if Ryder had lost his mind and actually kept his word, I wouldn’t let him marry me. He was too dirty. Liam’s phone rang three times before he picked up. “What is it, Stella?” Hearing Liam’s voice, my tears immediately started to fall. I opened my mouth, a sob catching in my throat. The moment the words escaped, I heard a hurried voice from Liam’s end. It was a cool, clear female voice. “Mr. Reed, the meeting was scheduled five minutes ago. Do you need to cancel?” Liam quickly pressed me. “Stella, what’s wrong? Speak to me.” I silently hung up the phone. I sent Liam a message. `[Nothing, accidentally pressed my phone while sleeping.]` Liam: `[Send me a selfie, let me see.]` I looked at my red, swollen eyes in the mirror, then found an old picture in my album and sent it. Liam didn’t reply again. He must have bought it. I quickly packed my bags, booked the fastest international flight, and called a private car to the airport. The driver arrived quickly. I was alone, dragging two suitcases, a travel bag, and a large backpack. The driver made no move to help me with my luggage. I huffed and puffed, loading my own bags into the car, then got in. The car door locked. Ryder’s voice came from the driver’s seat. Gentle, yet laced with bone-chilling coldness. “Stella, you were so obedient by my side for seven years. Why are you suddenly disobedient now?” “So much luggage, and heading to the international airport. Where exactly are you planning to escape to?” “You promised to wait for me for a month. Did you go back on your word?” “That vow of ‘forever and always’ seven years ago, did you feed it to the dogs?” Ryder locked me up. In the Sterling Deer Park Estate, just outside Veridian City. Before Ryder left, he placed a calendar in my bedroom. He said, “Start tearing off the pages from today. When twenty-four pages are gone, it’ll be our wedding day.”

Ryder took my phone and instructed the butler and maids that I couldn’t leave the Deer Park Estate or contact anyone. Other than that, I was free. I stood on the mountain top of Sterling Deer Park Estate, overlooking the entire manor. Ryder had built this especially for me. In my junior year of college, I’d suddenly become obsessed with deer. I loved their graceful legs, their clean eyes, the soft touch of their fur when they gently nudged their heads against me. I frequently dragged Ryder to the zoo to feed the fawns. Until one time, Ryder’s uncle caught us. Ryder shielded me the whole time, not letting his uncle see my face. He handled the situation flawlessly, seeing his uncle off. After that, Ryder didn’t come to school for about a week. I was understanding back then. If Ryder didn’t come, I remembered what he’d told me: never contact him first, especially when he was back at the Sterling family home. The next time I saw Ryder was during final exams week at Veridian City University. It snowed heavily that day. Ryder’s face was paler than the snow, but he embraced me and said he had a gift for me. That gift was Sterling Deer Park Estate. That day, Ryder said that whenever I wanted to see deer again, I could come to *their* Deer Park Estate, for peace and quiet. I quietly sat down on the hillside, instinctively wrapping my arms around a fawn named Little Sun, holding it affectionately in my lap. This fawn was only four months old. The night it was born, Ryder and I were staying at Sterling Deer Park Estate. That night, the estate manager said a doe was having a difficult birth. Worried, I rushed to see, and later, Ryder and I even helped the doe deliver. The fawn, Little Sun, had been tainted with human scent at birth, and its mother refused to nurse it. Ryder and I held it and bottle-fed it ourselves. That fawn was Little Sun. Afterward, this fawn always liked to follow me. Footsteps sounded behind me. I thought it was Ryder. Only when someone sat beside me did I realize it was Valerie. This was the first time I’d seen an outsider at Sterling Deer Park Estate. The thought surfaced, and I paused, then realized that *I* was now the outsider. I didn’t want to talk to Valerie, nor did I care why she was here. I simply stood up and walked towards a more distant spot. Little Sun, only a few months old, was very clingy and followed me. Valerie seemed somewhat jealous. She followed behind me, asking, “This fawn listens to you so well. How did you train it?” I ignored her, pulling carrot sticks from my pocket to feed Little Sun. Valerie mimicked me, pulling a handful of grass to feed it. The fawn only wanted the carrots in my hand and only allowed me to pet it. After I finished feeding it, Little Sun nudged my pocket, clearly wanting more. I smiled, gently pushing the fawn away. “None left for today.” Valerie impatiently shoved the wild grass in her hand towards the fawn’s mouth. I couldn’t be bothered to watch Valerie anymore and headed towards the small bamboo house behind the Deer Park Estate. I needed to rest. I hadn’t walked far when Valerie’s scream pierced the air! Followed by the mournful cry of the fawn! I spun around abruptly! I saw Little Sun nipping at Valerie’s sleeve, a familiar way it interacted with humans. But Valerie was clearly terrified. She kicked the fawn, again and again! Ryder had rushed back from out of town where he was handling matters. He gave me a cold glance, then went straight to Valerie’s room. The door wasn’t closed. Just a wall separating us, I heard everything from next door, clearly. After they had enough time together, Ryder returned to my bedroom, standing before me. “Valerie twisted her ankle, she needs to recuperate.” I looked up, pointing meaningfully at Ryder. “Didn’t you just help her ‘recuperate’?” Ryder let out an exasperated chuckle. “Stella, I’m not kidding. Which deer hurt Valerie this afternoon? Tell me. Valerie needs to recuperate.” I froze for a few seconds before grasping the full meaning of Ryder’s words! “Ryder, you’re inhuman! You said this was *my* Deer Park! Which one of these deer didn’t we watch grow up? How could you bring yourself to do it?” Something flickered in Ryder’s eyes. His throat worked, a hint of endurance and appeasement in his voice. “Stella, it’s just a fawn. Valerie wants to try something fresh.” “Try something fresh?” I was shaking with rage. “Ryder, are you even human?!” As the words burst out, I slapped Ryder across the face!

The sound of the slap faded, and Ryder stared deeply at me. I met his gaze, head held high, completely unafraid. “If you touch my fawn, you will regret it.” I ground out the words through clenched teeth. Ryder closed his eyes, said nothing more, and walked to the desk, tearing off a page from the calendar. “It’s already past midnight, Stella. Twenty-three days left until our wedding.” He walked out of the bedroom. I had a maid bring me a bottle of wine, drank most of it, and only managed to fall asleep as dawn was breaking. I woke up when the sun was high in the sky. A maid knocked on the door. “Miss Stella, the Master is asking you to join him for a meal.” I was indeed hungry. I washed up, changed clothes, and went to the dining room. Valerie was there too. I wanted to leave, but then decided it wasn’t worth starving myself. I sat down with a cold face and served myself a bowl of soup. Ryder, in front of Valerie, served me some rice. “You should eat some carbs, even if you’re watching your weight.” I didn’t take it, but Ryder didn’t seem awkward. He simply picked up a few mouthfuls of greens for me. “These are grown right here at the Deer Park Estate, better than what you get at the market,” Ryder said. “I know you’re picky, but you should try these.” Valerie ate slowly, delicately, as if she didn’t see her husband, married for less than a week, exchanging glances with his secret lover. Finally, Ryder picked up my soup bowl and put a few pieces of meat into it. He said softly, “Eating meat doesn’t make you fat, don’t be so picky.” It was as if Valerie wasn’t even there. As if Sterling Deer Park Estate was still *our* Sterling Deer Park Estate. He was a completely different person from the Ryder who had publicly slapped me just days ago. I glanced at Valerie, thinking she indeed had some nerve to marry into the Sterling family, at least she could tolerate this. As I thought this, my stomach rumbled a few more times. I picked up my forks, first ate some greens, then some rice. Finally, under Ryder’s gentle gaze and Valerie’s knowing half-smile, I ate a piece of meat. I was truly starving. The Deer Park chef’s cooking was excellent, perfectly suited to my taste. I didn’t eat gracefully; traces of my past, fighting for food in the orphanage, were visible in my eating habits, unlike Valerie, who was every inch the refined socialite. After finishing my meal, soup and meat all gone, I stood up to get a second helping. Ryder immediately rose to serve me soup. Valerie elegantly wiped her mouth, then slowly, deliberately, spoke. “I heard this fawn was delivered by you personally, Stella, and you raised it yourself, even bottle-feeding it,” Valerie’s voice was soft and gentle. “You were even feeding it carrots yesterday. No wonder the meat is so good, so tender.” My lips and teeth went numb with shock! I stared blankly at Valerie, as if I hadn’t understood what she was saying. Valerie continued, “It was called Little Sun, right? It was more delicious than any deer meat I’ve ever had before, without any of the usual gaminess. Thank you, Stella.” Valerie added, “Apparently, deer blood is nourishing, so you can’t kill a deer like a chicken by slitting its throat and letting it bleed out. So, they put Little Sun in a sack in middle school and drowned it alive.” Valerie said, “The chef wasn’t experienced, so it took him over ten minutes. He had to hold your fawn underwater in the stream multiple times before it finally died.” Realizing what I had just eaten, my stomach churned violently with disgust! I didn’t even have time to turn around. I doubled over in agony, vomiting everything I had just eaten, along with my stomach acid, in one go! I vomited so violently. Even after everything in my stomach was gone, the nauseating churning wouldn’t subside. What came up next was yellow-green bile.

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