In a high-speed rear-end collision, my fiancée, whom I’d instinctively shielded, pushed open the car door. She stumbled out, running hysterically towards the other vehicle. “Liam! Why are you so foolish? Why did you have to chase after me? I won’t marry anyone else, okay? I’ll never leave you again!” Amidst the wail of sirens, she cradled a blood-soaked Liam onto the ambulance, sobbing uncontrollably. “There’s no one else in the car! Please, get Liam to the hospital! Really, no one else! I beg you, save Liam, I truly can’t live without him!” My heart completely died. Fortunately, in my dying moments, the police, who had stayed behind, found me. That’s how I miraculously clung to life. But I lost a leg in the process, condemned to rely on a prosthetic for the rest of my days. Later, she saw my prosthetic, collapsing in tears, begging for my forgiveness. But I had already given up on her long ago. “It’s been so long since the accident, why hasn’t his fiancée visited him yet?” “Unlike the couple next door, the woman hasn’t left his side, staying up all night.” “*That’s* a fairy-tale romance, next door! I heard the woman almost sacrificed herself for Liam!” Outside my hospital room, the nurses’ chatter was relentless. But my heart remained undisturbed, calm as a stagnant pool. Yes, a fairy-tale romance, indeed. Even I felt moved by it. If only the woman wasn’t *my* fiancée, if only she hadn’t abandoned me, knowing I was also dying. I probably would have been teary-eyed too. But now, it was fine. One car accident had shattered my illusions. Someone who doesn’t love you won’t even spare you a glance, no matter if you give your life. Chloe, I’m letting go. I painfully reached for my phone, finding a message from Chloe. 【Asher, where are you? I know you’re fine after the accident, stop pretending! You didn’t even have blood on your head then! Contact the hospital immediately and arrange the best doctors and a private room! This accident with Liam is all your fault!】 I didn’t reply. She grew impatient. 【Asher! Are you seriously playing games at a time like this? People’s lives are at stake! Are you trying to kill Liam?! If you don’t arrange everything for Liam right away, there’s no point in us getting married!】 I stared at the screen, lost in thought for a long moment. The day Chloe accepted my proposal, we also had a car accident. It wasn’t serious; no blood, but I had a minor fracture in my lower leg. She was heartbroken, insisting I stay in the hospital until I fully recovered, no matter how much I tried to persuade her otherwise. Every day, she’d rush around buying things for me, finding different ways to cook me nutritious meals. “So what if there’s no blood? You still fractured a bone! Broken bones take ages to heal! You need to recover completely before you’re allowed to leave!” Sometimes, I worried she was working too hard. I tried hiring nurses, arranging for a butler, but she refused them all. “I don’t trust anyone else. I’m only at peace if I do everything for you myself!” Back then, I believed love could conquer all obstacles. I gave her my whole heart, my entire love, without reservation. It wasn’t until the crash, when she instinctively rushed towards her ex, Liam, that I finally understood. Love truly can conquer all. But between Chloe and me? It wasn’t love at all. It was just my one-sided delusion. And that, to me, was just too cruel. Snapping back to reality, I wiped away the faint, dry tear tracks on my face. Pale-faced, suppressing the last sliver of reluctance and pain in my heart. I typed out a few blunt words. *Fine, the wedding is off.* 2. I didn’t check my phone again. Sitting on the hospital bed, I felt the emptiness where my left leg should be, and my heart felt just as hollow. As dusk approached, I was listlessly spooning tasteless plain porridge. The hospital room door burst open without warning. Before I could even react, Chloe rushed in and slapped me across the face. It stunned me completely. “Asher! How pathetic are you?! I couldn’t find you anywhere, turns out you’re here, faking illness next door to Liam’s room? You intentionally didn’t help Liam, didn’t you? Is this really amusing? Do you honestly think I’m stupid? You’re perfectly fine!” “Liam barely even hit you! You deliberately ‘protected’ me just to make me feel guilty, didn’t you? How can you be so manipulative? And now you’re talking about canceling the wedding? Ha, your schemes are truly pathetic!” I stared blankly as she raged. My heart plummeted to rock bottom. I once thought her yelling was cute, because she was doing it to defend me. But now, I was the one being screamed at. An indescribable bitterness swelled inside me. All that venom, it was finally aimed at *me*. Exhausted from her tirade, she picked up the still-warm porridge and splashed it directly onto me. “You, looking like this, truly disgust me!” I opened my mouth, about to explain. But Liam suddenly rolled into the doorway in a wheelchair. His face was ghostly white and slick with cold sweat from the effort. “I’m so sorry, Asher. I just love Chloe too much. I never meant to hurt you. I even braked hard during the crash. I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault.” “Asher, you called the police, didn’t you? Yes, I deserve to go to jail for what I did to you. But I beg you, please be good to Chloe, okay?” With that, he struggled to support himself and, with a thud, knelt before me. His unhealed wounds began to seep blood, making the sight even more gruesome. Chloe’s eyes instantly reddened. She rushed to embrace Liam. Then she spun around, practically screaming at me. “Asher! Are you only satisfied if Liam dies? How can you be so vicious? You have no heart! You weren’t even hurt, you didn’t lose anything! Why did you call the police?!” “If you’re going to call the police, then arrest me too! If anything happens to Liam, I will never forgive you! And I definitely won’t marry you!” I felt a sudden blur. The pain in my left leg seemed to spread to my chest, making my face deathly pale. The murmurs outside the door grew louder, most of them condemning me. But I heard none of it. Through Chloe’s stubborn face, I saw the past. Once, because of my family’s wealth, I was kidnapped. It was Chloe who, despite the danger, came looking for me. When the standoff reached an impasse, she bravely offered to take my place as a hostage. I refused, but she wept hysterically. “Asher! I can’t live without you! I have to save you! Listen to me, if anything happens to you, I won’t live either!” She ended up with a scar on her shoulder from that incident. Whenever she thought back to it, she’d sigh. “Asher, this is a testament and symbol of our love! I love you, so I’m willing to die with you.” So sincere, so genuine. But now, all that love was given to Liam. How utterly laughable. I hadn’t even called the police, hadn’t said a word, yet she immediately blamed me. That wasn’t fair to me… My consciousness returned. I trembled, speaking calmly. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault.” “I… won’t call the police.” “But between us, it’s completely over.” Chloe, I’m done with you. 3. Once my condition stabilized, I returned home, no longer paying attention to Chloe and Liam. I changed the lock on my front door, replaced everything she had arranged. Everything related to her, I packed up and had someone send to her place. For half a month, I didn’t contact her. Until our five-year anniversary, when Chloe called me. “It’s been so long, you should have realized your mistake by now. I’ll come back to you for our five-year anniversary, Asher. Don’t be too dramatic, men should be more magnanimous. I’ve been taking care of Liam these past few days to atone for *your* mistakes!” I found it amusing, but there wasn’t a ripple in my heart. I simply murmured, “Okay.” She didn’t get angry at my coldness; instead, her voice became even softer. “Asher, once Liam fully recovers, we’ll get married. I won’t lie to you, you can understand, right?” “After all, we have five years of history together. Otherwise, why would I still remember our anniversary today? I know my tone was a bit harsh before, please don’t be mad at me, okay?” Five years. So she still remembered we had five years. But why did our five years count for so little compared to Liam? But… What if? What if Chloe was telling the truth? What if she still loved me? Thinking this, a sudden glimmer of hope flickered in my heart. Yet, I waited in the restaurant until night fell, but there was no sound from outside. My phone kept ringing. I picked it up, dazed. No one spoke on the other end. Just as I was about to hang up, a string of intimate sounds drifted through. They were the same sounds I’d heard on Chloe’s birthday when she claimed she was bathing a stray dog. I had suspected, I had gotten angry. But Chloe couldn’t stand my suspicion and blew up at me. “Are you sick? I told you I was bathing a dog! Am I supposed to be bathing myself? Can you stop overthinking everything?!” Worried she’d really be angry, I stopped pressing the issue. But those familiar intimate sounds, today, clearly echoed through the phone. Chloe’s delicate moans also streamed through, entering my ears. “Liam, I love you so much, I really, truly love you. Marrying Asher was just out of pity for him, don’t be mad, okay? You’re the only one I truly love.” My heart completely shattered. The last shred of hope was crushed. It was almost laughable. Even at this point, I still thought she might change. So ridiculous. The person on the other end seemed to revel in it, the sounds growing louder and louder. Until, finally, it was almost as if they were pressed against the phone. “Chloe, I love you too…” I stumbled home in a daze, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. But one thing was clear. This was the last time I would ever go soft on her. Just as the clock was about to strike midnight, Chloe called me. Her breathing was a little unsteady; she tried to sound calm. “Asher, I didn’t mean to be late today, but where are you? Why wouldn’t you wait for me? Are you still sulking? You’re being really childish!” “Now, I want you here, immediately, within ten minutes. I’ll pretend nothing happened, and the wedding is back on.” “Liam wasn’t feeling well, so I had to take him to the hospital. Can’t you be less petty? He’s only like this because of you!” I said nothing, staring blankly at the ceiling. Only when she grew impatient did I speak, my voice hoarse. “Yeah, it’s my fault. I’m not coming.” 4. I followed the doctor’s advice and got a prosthetic leg. Every day, besides physical therapy, I focused on getting used to it. After that day, Chloe sent me many messages. I didn’t reply to any of them. When everything seemed to be going smoothly, I arrived home one day and saw Chloe squatting by the door again. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and she instinctively reached to link her arm through mine. But I moved away. “Asher! What are you doing? First, you changed the lock code without a word, and now you’re deliberately avoiding me and not replying to my messages? Haven’t you played enough games? I’ve already decided not to be angry! Why are you still acting like this?” “Oh, I know. You’re still mad because I took care of Liam instead of you? But what’s the big deal? I was atoning for *your* mistake! How could one person take care of two people?” Yes. How could one person take care of two people? Then how could one person love two people at the same time? Even now. You still think I’m playing hard to get. My expression remained unchanged, my eyes devoid of emotion. I was as indifferent to her as a stranger. A flicker of panic crossed Chloe’s face, and her voice softened. “Asher, please stop this. We agreed to go wedding dress shopping today, didn’t we? And I came back to be with you today, didn’t I? What exactly do you want? Do you need me to kneel and apologize?” The more she spoke, the more self-righteous she became. By the end, she looked me up and down, a hint of impatience in her eyes. “Besides, nothing even happened to you! It was only right for me to take care of Liam, wasn’t it? His wounds still haven’t fully healed! Look at you, you’re perfectly fine…” “Why are you being so demanding? I didn’t even do anything wrong! And you’ve been blowing me off lately, not replying to messages, not calling! What do you want? If you don’t want to get married, just say so!” Before this incident, we had indeed set today for wedding dress shopping. I had arranged for stylists, makeup artists, and a photography team. Because I wanted the best for Chloe, every gown was custom-designed for her. She had been so touched when she found out. “One is enough, why so many? Asher, you’re so good to me, I don’t even know how to love you enough.” It wasn’t until yesterday, when they contacted me to ask what time the shoot was, that I remembered. I simply canceled it. After all, I couldn’t pretend everything was okay and go through with this wedding. My thoughts returned to the present. Seeing my silence, Chloe’s anger flared. “Asher! You’re just taking advantage of the fact that I love you! Do you think I can’t live without you?! I came to you myself, what more do you want?!” “Liam is waiting for me at home! He can’t manage without me! I only took time out for *your* sake! If his wounds worsen because of this, you’ll be the murderer!” I couldn’t help but laugh. The broken bone in my left leg throbbed slightly with the movement, a dull ache. But, I could bear it. I stared at her for two seconds, my heart strangely calm. “Chloe, didn’t we already cancel the wedding?” “I had someone send all your things back to your place. We’re over.” “I changed the lock code because I don’t want you anymore, and I don’t love you anymore.” 5. Panic flickered in Chloe’s eyes. Her lips moved, but no words came out. It wasn’t until I turned away with a cold expression, heading home, that she snapped back. She violently grabbed my arm. “Asher! How can that be?! How can you not love me? Stop joking! You’ve thrown enough tantrums, now calm down, this is really pathetic!” “Alright, stop playing this ‘make me feel bad’ trick. It was my fault for not getting there on time, okay? You didn’t lose anything, so let’s call it even. Stop fighting, I’m really tired.” Tired? Probably tired from being with Liam, right? Besides, I wasn’t joking. From the moment she abandoned me time and again, I stopped loving her. I ignored her, found security to escort her away, and went home alone. Behind me, Chloe’s disbelieving curses still echoed. But, none of it mattered. It was late evening, and I had just managed two hours of sleep after my physical therapy. Chloe called me again. Her tone was hostile. “Asher! You don’t want to be with me anymore, do you? Why did you dump all my things at my house?! You know they’ll get dirty! You can argue, but there’s a limit, okay?! Who has endless time to play these games with you?! You should learn to be as well-behaved as Liam right now!” I was too tired to keep my eyes open. Through the phone, not far from her, I heard a soft, gentle male voice. “Chloe, don’t be angry… Why don’t you move in with me so I can take care of you?” It was Liam. But my heart remained untouched, even annoyed. I spoke in a cold voice. “My house isn’t a storage unit! Of course your things were sent back to *your* place! It’s not my problem if you weren’t home to receive them immediately! Chloe, we broke up, this isn’t an argument! A good ex should act like they’re dead!” The other end fell silent for a long time. Just as I was impatiently about to hang up, Chloe’s weary voice finally came through. “Asher, I don’t want to argue, but don’t keep bringing up breaking up. We can argue, but don’t escalate it to breaking up, okay? You’re just jealous Liam can be by my side, aren’t you? Why don’t *you* stick to me every day? Don’t *you* have any issues?” I was almost laughing from pure exasperation. *I* was bringing up breaking up? After Liam appeared, wasn’t *she* the one constantly threatening to break up? I didn’t pick her up from work because I had a fever, and she threatened to break up. I cooked something that wasn’t to her taste, and she threatened to break up. Even when I wanted her to lessen her intimate contact with Liam, she would accuse me of not considering her feelings, of being selfish. “Is all of this *my* fault?” “Chloe!” “Why don’t you look at yourself?” “Aren’t *you* the one who’s been going too far?” “Asher, can you stop talking in that tone? Chloe’s crying because of you! Aren’t you two a couple? Why don’t you know how to cherish her at all? What kind of man are you?!” I scoffed. Listening to Liam’s wailing on the other end, I found it utterly ridiculous. A homewrecker, lecturing me on how to act? “Chloe, can you not understand plain English?” “What?” She sounded confused. “I’m telling you to get lost. And Liam, you get lost too! I hope you two scumbag and snake stay together forever!” With that, I hung up and blocked and deleted all contact information related to both of them.

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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.

Finally, in front of Ryder, I coughed up a mouthful of blood! I wiped the blood away with the back of my hand, my eyes as fierce and hateful as a ghost’s, my blood-stained fingertip pointing at Ryder’s face. “You knew, didn’t you? You deliberately encouraged me to eat the meat, didn’t you?” “Ryder, you’re not human! You knew I treated Little Sun like my child; it *was* my child!” My voice was raw with anguish. “If you ever have your own child, would you kill it and eat its flesh?!” The words were barely out when I vomited another mouthful of blood! Ryder clearly hadn’t expected me to be so traumatized that I’d vomit blood! The calm in his eyes finally shattered, giving way to a storm of horror! Valerie, from behind, added a chilling blow. “Ryder didn’t just know? If Ryder hadn’t helped, the chef wouldn’t have even caught that animal. It’s too smart. After I kicked it yesterday, it knew to avoid me today. It was Ryder who showed up and lured your Little Sun out…” I felt pain all over my body. It spread from my stomach. My hateful gaze fixed on Ryder. The next moment, I grabbed a plate and smashed it directly onto Valerie’s head! Ryder would have been my next target. But the Deer Park Estate maids reacted quickly. After I had smashed a plate on Valerie’s head, drawing blood, they immediately rushed forward, shouting to protect “Madam,” and a group of them pinned me down. I was dragged away. The last thing I saw was Ryder holding Valerie in his arms, his eyes filled with a lingering fear for Valerie, turned cold and complex as they landed on me. Ryder gritted his teeth, pointed at me, and ordered everyone. “Lock this madwoman in the basement! No one is to let her out without my permission!” As I was being thrown into the basement, I saw Ryder embracing Valerie, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones. My lips were still stained with blood, and I let out a laugh, biting back my tears. The love and affection between Young Master Sterling and Valerie that I’d seen in photos and heard about from others paled in comparison to witnessing it firsthand. Through the crack in the door, I watched Ryder embrace Valerie and get into the car. He protected her so carefully. I thought I would truly be locked in the basement. But not long after Ryder left with Valerie, an ambulance from the Sterling family’s top private hospital arrived and took me away. Next came a full body check-up. I was certain Ryder had instructed these people beforehand; not a single person spoke in front of me during the examination. I asked a nurse to borrow her phone to contact Liam. But the nurse just shook her head frantically, clutching the phone in her pocket, saying, “Madam, please don’t make it hard for me,” as if I was asking for her life. Hearing the word “Madam,” I remembered how Ryder used to arrange two medical check-ups for me every year. And when filling out the registration forms, he always put “Ryder Sterling” in the spouse column. Thinking of this, my eyes ached so much they could barely stay open. What was once sweet, little tricks couples played to amuse each other, had all become knives flaying my heart. I never got the check-up results. After two full days of examinations, I was seamlessly transferred to a five-star hotel under the Sterling family. An executive suite. It was my favorite room, overlooking half of Veridian City’s magnificent cityscape. But what I loved most was the floor-to-ceiling window. Over the past seven years, Ryder and I had spent countless passionate nights there, night after night. I looked at the glass, imagining my palm prints still lingered there, along with the marks we’d left behind. Ryder’s butler, who had been with him since he was a toddler, was the one who personally brought me to the hotel. As expected, the phone line had been cut. But on the bedside table, I saw a calendar. The one from Sterling Deer Park Estate. Only twenty pages left.

The butler locked the door behind him and instructed, “Miss Stella, Young Master said he will personally come to pick you up… to take you home when this calendar is finished.” I numbly thanked him and lay on the bed. I was so tired, I quickly fell into a deep sleep. And had a long, drawn-out nightmare. In the dream, I was back in the orphanage. Back then, Valerie and I were the two prettiest girls in the orphanage. The only difference was, my beauty was too bright and bold, while Valerie’s was subtle and gentle. But even being pretty, girls still weren’t easily adopted, especially at our age, old enough to remember things. Adopting families were always afraid that we wouldn’t bond with them. I always thought Valerie was my good friend. One time, the director casually mentioned that a wealthy businessman would be coming in a few days, looking to adopt a girl. That night, Valerie tricked me into looking for something in the equipment room, and then locked me inside. For three whole days. If I hadn’t found a pair of old reading glasses in the equipment room and lit some old newspapers on fire, I would have died. My fear of the dark also started then. But Valerie cried and said she didn’t mean to. The wealthy businessman who was supposedly coming to adopt a girl never showed up. But after that, I gradually began to notice things. I realized Valerie often instigated other children to ostracize me, only for her to then step in as my savior. I realized Valerie loved making me look foolish, then adding fuel to the fire by spreading those embarrassing stories. I understood then. Valerie hated me. When I was eighteen, something happened overnight. I, Stella Reed, the adopted daughter of the Reed family, was branded a slut. The rumors didn’t even have specific photos, it was all “according to informed sources.” But it was enough to brand me “promiscuous.” The Reed family already barely tolerated their adopted daughter, who brought them no honor or benefit, only criticizing my looks. After that incident, my situation in the Reed family became even more precarious. At the end of the nightmare, on a New Year’s Eve, after a small argument with one of my cousins, I was kicked out of the house. And developed a high fever in the snow. I woke up with a start! My blank eyes stared ahead for a long, long time before I remembered where I was. A crisp, pleasant electronic doorbell chime rang. I looked at the executive suite’s door. It had just been silently unlocked from the outside. But no one entered.

I tiptoed out of the room. The hotel corridor was empty. But I faintly heard voices. I instinctively followed the sound. If I could just find someone, borrow a phone, and contact Liam, he would surely take me home. Outside one of the suites, through a crack in the door, I heard the commotion inside. “I hear tonight’s grand finale item is a room key card! How rare is that?” “A room key card? What’s so exciting about that? But if it’s the finale, does that mean… there’s something interesting in the room?” “You guessed it, supposedly there’s a beauty in there.” “A woman? Guys like us, we’re not short on women. Even if it’s an executive suite, what’s so rare about giving us a woman?” “Young Master Sterling just got married a few days ago, could it be Valerie—” “Shh! You want to die? You dare to mention the Valerie family heiress’s name? You don’t know how much Young Master Sterling dotes on Valerie!” “Since Valerie was eighteen, and Mr. Sterling arranged Ryder’s engagement to Valerie, Ryder’s annual birthday ritual has been cruises, parties, fireworks, sports cars. He sends her properties and estates without a second thought.” “Just spending money isn’t that exciting, but the key is Ryder is willing to put effort into Valerie. Several islands in Southeast Asia are for Valerie’s vacations; the French wine chateau is also Valerie’s favorite; the lavender estate only supplies Valerie; Valerie’s skincare products, perfumes, all custom-made by Young Master Sterling himself…” “Valerie wasn’t studying abroad? My niece was at the same school and said that during every exam week, Ryder would personally fly to Valerie’s school and tutor her hand-in-hand… Tsk tsk tsk, that’s how a man should love a woman: not just willing to spend money, but, more importantly, willing to spend his heart and time!” I bit my lip, listening. Before Valerie and Ryder got married, I had no idea they even knew each other! Now it seemed, I was just Ryder’s way of passing the time, relieving boredom. To put it bluntly, I was just a bed warmer! I was about to leave and look for someone else to borrow a phone from when I heard more chatter. “I found out what Young Master Sterling’s room key card means tonight!” “It’s a woman!” “But not just any woman!” “It’s Stella Reed, the Reed family’s notoriously wild adopted daughter, who supposedly has a very unique ‘flavor’!” “Apparently, Stella offended Valerie, and this is Young Master Sterling’s punishment for her!” “What’s even more exciting is, tonight this room key card isn’t just being sold to one person; the top ten bidders will each get a turn to ‘enjoy’ Stella!” “Young Master Sterling also said he just took Stella for a full body check-up yesterday, and the results are perfectly clean. If anyone’s worried, he can provide Stella’s health records for the past seven years.” “Young Master Sterling said Stella was his personal property, and he wouldn’t have ‘auctioned’ her off if she hadn’t offended Valerie so badly. This ‘little firecracker’ needed a lesson he was apparently reluctant to give her personally.” Boom! These words exploded in my mind! Ryder… how could he be so utterly heartless towards me?! He was utterly inhuman! My two-day check-up… no wonder I hadn’t received the report. It wasn’t for me at all! I had actually thought he was worried about me vomiting blood, that there was still some ridiculous spark of our old love! I couldn’t even imagine what I would face tonight. I bit my lip, running like a headless chicken down the hotel corridor. I had to escape! Someone grabbed my neck from behind. This person was tall, their arm powerful, and the scent… it was familiar. It was Ryder’s usual cologne. The man, choking my neck, roughly dragged me back towards the executive suite I had just fled. I screamed. “Ryder, you can’t do this to me! Let me go! I told you I can’t marry you, let me leave, let’s cut all ties, cleanly and completely!” However, the man holding me showed no emotion. He pushed me into the executive suite. Before closing the door, he left me with a muffled blessing. “Enjoy your night, Stella.”

That voice was Ryder’s. Though muffled, as if he’d been drinking, I was certain. The door clicked shut. At the same time, the large screen in the room lit up. I saw it was live-streaming tonight’s hotel auction. And currently on screen was the bidding for the very last item! I saw the room key card displayed on the auction block, and the men below were practically wild, raising their paddles one after another! “Ten thousand!” “I bid fifty thousand!” “One hundred thousand!” “One hundred fifty thousand! Can’t go any higher, right? I want to be the first to taste the Reed family’s adopted daughter!” “One hundred fifty thousand? I bid three hundred thousand! I want to be the first!” I bit my lip so hard it almost bled, watching those almost madmen, trembling uncontrollably! I rushed to the phone line, desperately trying to repair it, to call for help. But it was futile. The large screen flickered a few times, pausing the live stream of the auction. It was replaced by a security camera feed. I saw Ryder. He was enjoying a candlelit dinner with Valerie. Valerie clumsily cut her steak, and Ryder smiled indulgently. He reached out, holding Valerie’s hand, showing her how to apply pressure. But Valerie still seemed unable to learn, so Ryder simply swapped his plate with hers. Valerie clearly knew what was happening tonight, and even what I was going through. Because she suddenly looked up, straight into the camera’s lens. And gave me an undisguised, malicious smile. She mouthed—`Enjoy your wild night, Stella.` I frantically searched for something in the executive suite. This room, which I knew so intimately, where Ryder and I had spent countless wonderful nights. I remembered putting a hair removal razor in a certain drawer once, casually. Since it was a personal item, and this room was considered Ryder’s and my private space, not open to others, the cleaning staff had never touched my things. The live stream was off. I didn’t know how far the auction outside had progressed. The hotel clock ticked, a death knell. Finally, I found what I needed – the delicate hair removal razor. Tears began to fall, sobs catching in my throat, my hands trembling as I clumsily dismantled the blade. I was only twenty-five years old. I was still young. Even though my lover betrayed me and my family had always disapproved of me, I always felt my future was long, and I deserved a very good life. Now, it seemed my life would end tonight. I would rather die than be humiliated. The auction must have ended. Footsteps echoed in the corridor. Then a card swipe. The electronic doorbell chimed. I still couldn’t bring myself to end my life. Clutching the blade, I fled to the bathroom. My heart was pounding so hard that all I could hear was my own ragged breathing. I didn’t hear the man who entered call my name. Finally, I made up my mind. I slammed the bathroom door shut and locked it. Then, I grabbed the blade, aimed it at the faint blue vein on my wrist, and, without hesitation, sliced down hard!

Liam was going crazy. That day, when he received my cryptic phone call, he knew something was wrong. A vague unease churned in his gut. He asked for a selfie, which confirmed I was fine. But half-way through a meeting, he suddenly realized the background in that selfie was wrong. It was spring in the picture, but it was deep summer now. Liam arranged his remaining tasks at lightning speed and drove back to Veridian City like a madman, all through the night. He didn’t find me at his private villa. Calls to my phone went unanswered. But there was surveillance in front of the villa. Following the footage, he tracked the trail to the Sterling family, and then he remembered the humiliation I had suffered in front of Ryder that day. Liam spent a fortune to uncover every trace of Ryder and me across Veridian City. The answer he finally found made his blood run cold, making him wish he could kill Ryder on the spot. To get revenge for Valerie, Ryder had imprisoned his sister and was auctioning off that hotel room key at a high price. He threw in a staggering ten million dollars to win that room key. Becoming the first one to enter. But he was still too late. He saw bright red blood seeping from under the bathroom door. He slammed on the door, screaming his sister’s name, but received no answer. Liam called the hotel staff, only to be told that the room was Ryder’s private suite, and the hotel had no key. Liam called Ryder. Ryder, seeing the unfamiliar number, was discussing business with Valerie. The steak plates in front of them were empty. The tenderness in Ryder’s eyes had completely transformed into a businesslike coldness. He spoke. “Miss Valerie, I’ve fulfilled your desire for a romantic relationship experience. Shouldn’t you also fulfill your part of the agreement?” Ryder pulled out the divorce papers. “We agreed before that the marriage was just a formality to appease Old Man Sterling. Once we had the marriage certificate and announced it to all of Veridian City, giving your child a name, we would divorce.” Just then, Ryder’s phone rang. He glanced at the unfamiliar number and hung up immediately. He refocused on his negotiation with Valerie. “But Miss Valerie seems to keep breaking her promise.” “Valerie, my patience has run out. What you did at Sterling Deer Park Estate crossed my line.” “That day at the Deer Park, if Old Man Sterling’s bodyguards hadn’t been watching, I wouldn’t have let you walk out of there unharmed.” “Out of respect for Old Man Sterling, I won’t pursue this matter, but you need to be sensible.” “Sign the papers. It’s time for the divorce.” Valerie looked at the empty plate in front of her, then at the divorce papers. Her eyes slowly reddened, and she began to sob softly. She choked out, “Ryder, seven whole years, even a stone would have warmed up. How can you be so heartless?” It was a pitiful, heart-wrenching sight, enough to make any man hesitate. But Ryder’s eyes held only cold indifference. “From the age of eighteen, every ‘couple activity’ I did with you was under Old Man Sterling’s instruction,” Ryder said, taking a tasteless sip of water, his voice flat. “Every gift ostensibly from me was personally arranged by Old Man Sterling.” Ryder looked at Valerie with a hint of pity in his cold gaze. “Valerie, you were never truly marrying me from the start. I was just a tool, pushed out by Old Man Sterling to give your child a good name. We can play the part of a loving couple in public, but if you’ve genuinely fallen for me… Grandfather wouldn’t be pleased.” His voice was utterly calm, announcing the true nature of Valerie’s relationship with the Sterling family all these years! Valerie completely lost control! She grabbed a fork, pointing it at Ryder. “Ryder, if we divorce, you know what awaits me! Even if the past seven years were an act, do you really have no feelings for me at all?” Ryder’s phone rang a second time. It was still the same unfamiliar number. He hung up without a thought. “None.” His voice was decisive, then he threatened, “Valerie, I don’t have time for this. Sign the divorce papers quickly. Otherwise, I might overlook the rumors that reached Stella, but if you don’t sign… I will definitely make those who spoke carelessly in front of her pay the price!” That last sentence was laced with killing intent, making Valerie shiver uncontrollably. She grabbed the pen, about to sign the divorce papers. But moments earlier, Ryder’s protective tone towards me clearly echoed in her mind! Valerie’s suppressed emotions suddenly erupted! “Ryder, you pity Stella, why can’t you think about me?!” “We both came from the same orphanage, so why did Stella get to do whatever she wanted after being adopted by the Reed family? She didn’t want to get married, so she didn’t. Even with such a bad reputation, the Reed family just paid lip service, at most locking her out of the house for a few days to reflect!” “And me?” Valerie shrieked, all traces of a Valerie family heiress gone. “From childhood, no matter my grades, competitions, or manners, if I wasn’t the best, I was met with beatings and scoldings at home! Ryder, you’ve seen the scars on my body from the Valerie family’s whips!” “When I was sixteen, just because I won a silver medal in a dance competition, my father drove me back to the orphanage, ready to terminate my adoption! I begged him like a dog on the street, practically kowtowing, asking him not to abandon me!” “The moment I turned eighteen, your grandfather said my birth chart was good, and he wanted me to marry into the Sterling family to ‘brighten his luck’! Your grandfather was already sixty then! My parents knew exactly what ‘brighten his luck’ meant, but for the sake of their partnership with the Sterling family, they personally tied me up and sent me to your grandfather’s… bed!” “Ryder, no matter how bad Stella’s life was, no matter how much the Reed family disliked her, at least she had a cake and a birthday wish on her eighteenth birthday!” “And me? I spent my eighteenth birthday in a dirty old man’s bed! For three whole days! Your grandfather didn’t let me off that bed!” “Your grandfather was worried that if our affair got out, it would damage the Sterling family’s reputation, so he pushed you forward, saying you were my fiancé. Ryder, do you know how desperately I wished, these past seven years, that you truly were my fiancé?!”

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I’m a professional devoted admirer, paid to do a job – catering to clients’ every whim. A billionaire offered me $1.3 million to fawn over his son for three years. I endured humiliation and hardship, finally reaching the end of my contract. I was ready to stop the adoration. Little did I know, my “idol” would be the one to break down. “Valerie Lewis, you have ten minutes to come pick me up. Be late, and I’ll block you everywhere!” It was half past midnight, and I had just fallen asleep when I received Alexander Sinclair’s urgent call. He always called me in the middle of the night, demanding that I drive him to nightclubs. I wasn’t his personal chauffeur, but I had to be available at his beck and call. Because I was a professional devoted admirer, specifically tasked with fawning over him. Alexander’s father was a billionaire and an overindulgent parent. Three years ago, he approached me with a contract to be Alexander’s loyal admirer. I was to stick to Alexander like glue, taking care of his every need. I had to be at his disposal, attentive to every detail, and never let him feel neglected. The contract was for three years, with a payment of $1.3 million. For me, this was undoubtedly a big deal. Of course, I had to take it seriously and fulfill my obligations as stipulated in the contract. Alexander was tall, handsome, and wealthy – the epitome of a dream guy in others’ eyes. But only I knew how rotten this man truly was, how dirty his soul was. Arrogant, unreasonable, with a terrible temper. Unlike other rich young masters who excelled in arts and culture, He indulged in all vices – drinking, gambling, drugs – spending his days in nightclubs surrounded by a revolving door of women. He changed girlfriends every few days and juggled multiple relationships at once – a true player! Since I came into the picture, Alexander had developed a new hobby – tormenting his admirer. He always found new ways to torment me, his attitude towards me hot and cold. He loved to manipulate me, often slapping me then offering a small kindness. As a professional admirer, I had to play my part. Whenever I saw him with other women, I would show extreme distress. Pain, jealousy, resentment… At those times, his twisted psyche would be greatly satisfied. Then he’d say a few sweet nothings to comfort me. I would eagerly return to his side, continuing to care for his every need, complying with his every wish. His demands on me were extremely strict. I had to be available at any time he called, not a minute late. Even if he called me to drive in the middle of the night, I had to get up immediately. This led to me not having a single good night’s sleep for three whole years. As a result, I developed severe insomnia and neurasthenia. Yet I couldn’t take sleeping pills, in case he called and I couldn’t wake up. Of course, for that $1.3 million, I could endure all of this. What I found most intolerable was Alexander’s love for public humiliation, which was also his most twisted trait. For example, he’d make me kneel in front of him and his male friends, licking their shoes and barking like a dog. He and his friends would burst into harsh laughter, saying I was the most obedient admirer. Any normal person wouldn’t be able to stand such humiliation. But because I was bound by the contract, I could only swallow my anger and bear it. This life of enduring humiliation lasted for three years, but I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel! I glanced at the time – less than six hours until the contract expired. At daybreak, I would be completely free, no longer having to fawn over him. However, for now, I still had to diligently fulfill the contract, immediately heading to the location Alexander had sent. I drove a Maserati, speeding down the road. Of course, the car belonged to Alexander, but I was always the one driving him around. Looking at the logo on the steering wheel, I couldn’t help but smirk. After daybreak, when the $1.3 million was in my account, I could immediately go and buy my own luxury car. No more incessant chatter from the backseat, ordering me here and there. Just thinking about it was exciting!

Despite pushing the speed to 75 mph, I was still two minutes late. Alexander waited by the roadside with a dark face. Seeing me, he didn’t say a word, just slapped me across the face. Slap! The crisp sound broke the silence of the night. “Valerie Lewis, didn’t I warn you? Why are you still late?” “You couldn’t make it in ten minutes, you’re as slow as a turtle!” “You really need a good beating!” Alexander yelled, pointing at my nose. I lowered my head without a word. If it were before, I would definitely have bowed and apologized profusely. But now, with the contract about to expire, I didn’t need to be so subservient anymore. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Cat got your tongue?” Alexander frowned. I returned to the driver’s seat and said flatly, “Get in the car, young master. Any later and you’ll miss the party.” Alexander put his hands on his hips, displeased, “Don’t you know to open the door for me? Do I need to teach you?” I smirked, “You’re not handless, are you?” “You!!!” Alexander was about to slap me again. I quickly closed the driver’s door and locked it. After a minute of struggle, he gave up and angrily sat in the back. “Hey, how do I look today? Handsome, right?” Alexander showed off his latest outfit. To be fair, with his tall, strong build and good looks, he looked good in anything. To other women, he was undoubtedly an incredibly attractive man. But to me, he was like a dirty dishrag, filthy and disgusting. I glanced in the rearview mirror and said expressionlessly, “It’s okay.” “Just okay? That’s it?” Alexander’s face darkened immediately. If it were the old me, I would have showered him with praise, practically writing a poem about his looks. But now, I couldn’t be bothered to flatter him. Every extra word felt like a waste of breath. “Valerie Lewis, are you trying to rebel today? You dare to ignore me when I’m talking to you!” Seeing my indifference, Alexander slapped the back of my head. My head buzzed, a wave of numbness spreading. A surge of anger rose in my chest, and I had a sudden urge to hit back. But I managed to control myself. The contract would expire in five hours. I’d let him have his last bit of fun… “No, I just couldn’t think of better words to describe how handsome you are. You look good, that’s all.” I said perfunctorily. Alexander’s sour face finally softened a bit. He twisted my ear and said, “Being able to stay by my side as my admirer is your greatest fortune. Cherish this opportunity and don’t always make me unhappy, understand?” I grunted in response and suddenly slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to an abrupt stop. Due to the sudden inertia, Alexander’s face smashed into the back of the front seat, leaving a face imprint. His nose was bent out of shape, and he let out a sharp cry of pain. “Valerie Lewis, do you have a death wish? Who allowed you to brake so suddenly?” After recovering, Alexander grabbed my hair and started pummeling me. Although the beating hurt, I was secretly delighted. I finally got to see Alexander make a fool of himself. He looked so ugly! I explained with a smile, “I’m sorry, I was distracted and almost missed the club entrance.” “We’ve arrived now, hurry and get out.” Alexander cursed at me again. “Useless trash, I spent so much time on my hair, and you ruined it with one brake!”

Ten minutes later, after Alexander fixed his hair, he brought me into the club. I knew without guessing it was another gathering of his fair-weather friends. The private room was filled with seven or eight people, both men and women. As we entered, the noisy chatter in the room suddenly stopped. “Oh, look who’s here – the young master Sinclair with his pet.” “Seems like you’re late today. Your admirer isn’t up to the task, huh? How should we punish them?” “Let’s have the admirer perform for us!” “Sounds good! We need a clown to liven up our drinking…” The group started making fun of me again. I was used to it by now, nothing new. Alexander naturally put his arm around a model, then beckoned to me. “Valerie, didn’t you hear? Everyone wants you to perform. What are you standing there for?” I said expressionlessly, “I have no talents. I can’t perform.” The model giggled, “Who says you have no talents? Aren’t admirers best at groveling? Just kneel down and lick our high heels clean…” Another woman glanced at her flip-flops and teased, “Oops, I almost forgot I’m not wearing heels today. You don’t mind, do you?” With that, the whole group burst into laughter. The laughter echoed in the room, sounding particularly grating. I stood still, suppressing the anger in my heart. Alexander frowned and scolded, “What’s wrong with you today? You’re not listening at all!” “Do you want to ruin everyone’s mood and embarrass me?” “Kneel down and start your performance now!” I said coldly, “I’m sorry, but I don’t have that hobby. If you want to lick, do it yourself. I won’t.” As soon as I finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room became tense. The model looked shocked, “Oh my, Mr. Sinclair, I think your pet is about to bite. It’s even talking back now.” Tonight, I had made Alexander lose face in front of his friends. He stood up and slapped me twice, trying to force me to kneel and lick the model’s shoes. But I didn’t move, and he couldn’t budge me. Enraged, he jumped up and down, spraying my face with spit as he yelled. “Alright, alright, Mr. Sinclair, calm down. Why get angry at a pet?” “How about this – for every bottle of alcohol the pet chugs, I’ll give them $1,000.” “Don’t say I’m taking advantage. I don’t mind spending on pet food.” The model took out a wad of cash from her purse and threw it at my feet. The lackeys also opened several bottles of alcohol and placed them in front of me. Alexander whispered in my ear, gnashing his teeth, “If you don’t drink tonight, you can get out of my world forever. I’ll even revoke your privilege of being my admirer!” I looked at the time – four hours left until the contract expired. Fine, I’ll help Alexander liven up the atmosphere one last time. Consider it my final service. Besides, who would turn down money? $1,000 is still money! I picked up the cash and grabbed a bottle of alcohol, downing it in one go. This foreign liquor was different from beer, with a much higher alcohol content. As the strong alcohol entered my throat, a burning sensation shot from my throat to the top of my head. I almost choked, coughing violently after finishing the bottle. “Wow, I didn’t expect the pet to have such good alcohol tolerance!” “This show is much better than shoe licking. Chug another one!” “I’ll put up the next $1,000!” The group laughed uproariously, clapping and cheering. The model took out another $1,000 in cash and threw it at my face. “Keep drinking! $1,000 per bottle, isn’t this easier than working a job?”

She had a point. $1,000 for chugging a bottle – even if I threw up, it would be worth it. I couldn’t let a little health concern stop me from making money, right? Plus, Alexander kept urging me on. I picked up another bottle of alcohol and downed it in one go. After two bottles of liquor, I was starting to struggle. This stuff didn’t hit immediately, but it had a strong aftereffect. In a short while, my head began to feel heavy and my vision started to blur. “Chug another one!” “$1,000! Keep going!” The crowd’s cheers were incessant. I thought, since I’ve come this far, why not earn a few more thousand before I go? So I didn’t hesitate and drank two more bottles in quick succession. I had earned $4,000, and I was thoroughly drunk. Leaning over the trash can, I was throwing up violently. Seeing my miserable state, the crowd’s laughter grew even louder. Alexander looked at me with disdain and kicked my butt twice. “Disgraceful thing, get out and wait for me outside.” Although these words were meant to scold me, they sounded particularly pleasant to my ears. I could finally escape. I quickly got up and headed for the door. “Stop right there! Did I say you could leave?” The model’s sharp voice stopped me. I paused, turned to look at her and asked, “Do you need something else?” The model said arrogantly, “My money isn’t that easy to earn!” “Until I say I’m satisfied, you’ll have to keep kneeling here and drinking, until I tell you to stop.” I said coldly, “What if I don’t?” The model’s eyes flashed dangerously, “You dare to say no? Who gave you the courage?” “If you don’t drink, leave the money and get out of here.” “I don’t reward disobedient dogs.” I picked up a bottle and said flatly, “Are you sure?” The model grinned, “Of course. You’re not leaving this room unless you finish drinking. Come on, don’t make your idol angry.” Alexander kissed her and shouted at me, “Don’t dawdle! If she tells you to drink, just drink!” “I didn’t bring you here to embarrass me!” Oh, so he wants me to save his face, huh? I’ll arrange that! I nodded silently, suddenly swung the bottle, and smashed it directly on the model’s head. Alcohol splashed, glass shards flew, blood flowed. Accompanied by the model’s screams and everyone’s shrieks, I sauntered out of the private room. “Valerie Lewis! Stop right there!” Alexander chased after me, grabbing my collar and glaring at me, “Have you gone crazy today? How dare you hit my girlfriend?” I swatted his hand away, straightening my collar as I said, “It was your girlfriend who offended me first. I already gave her a chance.” Alexander looked at me in disbelief, as if looking at a stranger. “Valerie Lewis, do you know what you’re saying? Who gave you the courage to talk to me like this?” I glanced at the time – only three hours left. “Alexander, I’m sorry I hit your girlfriend.” With that, I turned to leave. “Come back!” Alexander blocked my way again, “Is that it?” I raised an eyebrow and asked, “What else? I’ve already apologized. What more do you want?” Alexander pointed at the private room door and said, “Go back in there right now and kneel down to apologize to my girlfriend! And make it sincere!” “If she hits you, you can’t hit back. If she scolds you, you can’t talk back. Just take it, understand?” I laughed coldly, “You love making people kneel so much, do you think you’re a king and queen?” “Valerie Lewis!!! You… come back here!” No matter how Alexander roared behind me, I walked away without looking back.

I drove the Maserati, speeding straight to Mr. Sinclair’s company. At daybreak, I would settle the final payment with him. With just three hours left in my three-year career as a devoted admirer, I was a bit excited! I waited for three hours outside the billionaire’s company, finally making it to daybreak. During this time, Alexander called me no less than 100 times and sent countless messages, all of which I ignored. Five minutes before the contract expired, I finally answered Alexander’s call. Immediately, his hysterical roar came through the speaker. “Valerie Lewis, you dog! How dare you not answer my calls? Do you want to die?” I didn’t say a word and hung up. Two seconds later, he called again, starting with another barrage of curses. I hung up again. He called for the third time, finally improving his manners and softening his tone. “Valerie Lewis, what exactly do you want?” “If you dare hang up on me one more time, I swear I’ll never speak to you again.” “Even if you try to make up, it won’t work!” I laughed coldly and promptly hung up the phone. This time he might have really been pushed to the edge. Alexander called me for the fourth time, and I still answered. With only one minute left on the contract, I still had to abide by the agreement and fulfill my duties as an admirer. I spoke calmly and coldly, “Young Master Sinclair, you have one minute left to talk to me. Please be brief and mind your language.” Alexander started with his old routine, slapping me then offering a candy. “Valerie Lewis, I know you’re upset because you saw me with other women, right?” “I’ve smoothed over the incident where you hit someone. See how good I am to you?” “They’ve gone to the hospital for treatment now. Come pick me up and take me home immediately. I’m waiting for you at the club entrance.” I still laughed coldly, “So all those women are done playing with you, and no one’s willing to take you home? How pitiful!” Hearing this, Alexander immediately exploded. “Valerie Lewis, you bastard…” Before he could finish cursing, I hung up the phone. I decisively blocked him on all contact methods. Out of sight, out of mind. At eight in the morning, a Rolls-Royce Phantom appeared in my line of sight. The license plate had one zero and four eights – it was the billionaire’s car. I honked twice, and the Rolls-Royce stopped in front of me. The window lowered, revealing Mr. Sinclair’s plump face. “Valerie, you’re here so early? Get in, let’s talk.” I didn’t hesitate and sat next to him, getting straight to the point, “Mr. Sinclair, our contract has expired. Please settle the final payment now.” Hearing this, the smile on Mr. Sinclair’s face instantly disappeared. He sighed and said, “Ah, I didn’t expect time to pass so quickly. It’s been three years already.” Yes, three years. He didn’t know how much I had suffered at the hands of his precious son. Even $1.3 million didn’t feel like enough compensation for what I’d been through. “I’ll have the finance department transfer the final $400,000 to you immediately.” “My son has a quick temper, is stubborn, and cares about his face. Don’t cut him off abruptly, ease into it gradually, understand?” Mr. Sinclair’s commanding tone made me extremely uncomfortable. We had an equal business relationship, not an employer-servant dynamic. Moreover, the contract had expired. What right did he have to demand I ease into anything?

“I’m sorry, Mr. Sinclair, but you know your son’s temperament and character. Most people can’t bear it.” “Last night, he beat me up. I’m still bruised and swollen!” “If you want me to ease into it gradually, that’s fine, but it’ll cost extra…” I was a businessperson without sentiment. I wasn’t here to play customer care with him. My service principle was simple: money first, service later. Otherwise, get lost. Mr. Sinclair pondered for a long while, then finally nodded. “Then I’ll give you an extra $50,000 to continue for a month…” Before he could finish, I immediately interrupted, “Mr. Sinclair, a month won’t work. Three days at most.” Mr. Sinclair was stunned, “How can three days be enough? He probably won’t be able to handle it…” I smiled slightly, “Don’t worry, he will.” In the end, I reached an agreement with Mr. Sinclair. A three-day extension for $10,000. But it had to be kept secret. Alexander couldn’t know about the existence of the admirer contract. Sigh, this money was as hard to earn as if I were eating shit. I earned this $1.3 million with such bitterness! After the final payment was transferred, I immediately went to a dealership to order a Porsche. After the three-day extension period, I would throw the Maserati keys in Alexander’s face. Let whoever wants to drive that broken-down car drive it. I’ll be driving my own Panamera. However, for these three days, I still had to endure Alexander. I returned to the entrance of Alexander’s villa and honked the horn. Seeing me, Alexander rushed out as if he’d seen his mortal enemy, his eyes red with anger. Unsurprisingly, he slapped me again in public. Of course, this would be the last time I’d take a beating. There would be no more of this service in the future. “Valerie Lewis, have you realized your mistake?” Alexander grabbed my hair, questioning me fiercely. I nodded and calmly said, “Yes, I have.” “Come on, tell me clearly, what exactly did you do wrong?” Alexander pulled my hair harder, almost gritting his teeth. To earn his father’s $10,000, I endured it! “I was wrong to leave you alone.” “But didn’t you make it back by yourself? What’s the point of having me as a driver?” “Why don’t you just dump me? Let’s cut ties completely, and I promise I’ll never bother you again…” As soon as I finished speaking, Alexander was stunned, his hand loosening its grip on my hair. He couldn’t believe that after fawning over him for three years, I was now actively asking to leave. After a moment of silence, he suddenly changed the subject. “Valerie Lewis, you’ve really grown wings. You even dare to block my calls and SnapChat. What exactly do you want?” I had three days to transition from a devoted admirer to a stranger. So from now on, I couldn’t possibly indulge him anymore. I said pitifully, “To you, I’ll always be just a lowly admirer, never able to rise above that status.” “At best, I’m the least noticeable among your many lovers, insignificant and dispensable.” “If that’s the case, you might as well let me go.” “You can freely enjoy yourself with other women, and no one will cling to you anymore…” With that, I stuffed the car keys into his hand and turned to leave. “Valerie Lewis, wait…” Alexander grabbed my hand, absolutely refusing to let me go. “I admit I have a bit of a temper and I’ve been somewhat rough with you in the past. I’ll try to be better to you in the future.” “But you must stay by my side and take care of me. It’s your responsibility and mission.” “For three whole years, you’ve been inseparable from me. Now you suddenly want to quit. It’s too irresponsible. You can’t do this to me.” Oh? He’s actually comforting me for once? The once most loyal admirer says they won’t admire anymore, and the idol breaks down first. Interesting!

To be honest, I wanted to play along with him, to get back all the frustration of these three years. But on second thought, I couldn’t leave him with any hope. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t be able to make a clean break in three days. I knew this man’s temperament too well. Once he set his mind on something, ten oxen couldn’t pull him back. If he latched onto me, I’d be in big trouble. I might even risk him discovering the admirer contract. At that point, the penalty wouldn’t just be $1.3 million – it wouldn’t be worth it. But Alexander had a strong contrarian personality. The more I wanted to escape, the tighter he would hold on. I had to advance in order to retreat, finding a way to make him drive me away. So, I pretended to have a change of heart as an admirer, tightly grasping his hand and looking at him with deep affection. “Alexander, will you be my boyfriend?” “I’ll take care of you day and night, making you the happiest man in the world…” Before I could finish, Alexander predictably changed his tune. He pushed me away, his face full of disgust, “Valerie Lewis, I give you an inch and you take a mile. Can’t you understand your place?” “What makes you think you’re qualified to be my boyfriend?” “Do you have a car? A house? A job?” “Look at your situation. You think you can hook me like those models?” “You’re just a nobody. Being my admirer is already the best outcome for you. Others would kill for the chance!” It seems I was too soft-hearted earlier. You can’t give an inch to this kind of man. Advancing to retreat was a bit uncomfortable, so I had to change tactics. The next second, I slapped him across the face. “You… you hit me?” Alexander was stunned by my slap. He held his face, his mouth agape, his eyes full of shock. “I may not have a house, car, or money, but you have all of that!” “You don’t lack anything, and I’m not a prostitute. Why should I care about those things?” “I’m much stronger than those models. If they can sleep with you, why can’t I?” “If they can play with you in bed, why can’t I?” My words were like sharp knives, stabbing right into Alexander’s heart. He was so angry that his whole body started to tremble slightly. He raised his hand to slap me. Slap! A crisp slapping sound rang out. Alexander’s face now had five more finger marks, visibly swelling up. The moment he tried to hit me, I had caught his wrist tightly. I turned around and slapped him again. Alexander was completely stunned by my hit, tears instantly welling up in his eyes. “Valerie Lewis, you bastard, do you know what you’re doing?” “You actually hit me… wah wah wah…” Seeing his pitiful state, I burst out laughing, muttering to myself. “A man left unchecked for three days will climb on the roof and pull off the tiles.” “For someone like you, you need to be beaten eight times a day to behave.” “Go home and reflect on yourself. Goodbye!” I left him crying alone in the wind and took a cab straight to a luxury resort. I was about to be free, so I needed to treat myself better. I did a set of yoga, had a spa treatment, and then fell asleep. What I lacked most in these three years wasn’t money, but sleep. However. Just when I needed rest the most, I was always woken up by phone calls. “Valerie Lewis, where are you?” Alexander’s voice came through the speaker again. I was very irritated and wanted to jump up and beat him up. But then I thought, hadn’t I blocked him? How could he still call me? Looking closely, well well, he had called me from a new phone number. Indeed, this man had started to cling to me. It was a bit troublesome!

I asked very impatiently, “What else do you want? Haven’t you had enough of beating me?” “Well…” Alexander hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. I became even more impatient, “If you have something to say, say it. If not, I’m hanging up and blocking you.” “Wait!” Alexander quickly stopped me, “Well… I’ve thought it through.” “I indeed don’t lack anything, except someone who truly loves me.” “Among all those women, you’re the one who’s been good to me, so…” “So, I’m only fit to be your devoted admirer, is that it?” I laughed coldly, “Alexander Sinclair, whoever wants to be that admirer can be it. I’m done with it from today onwards. Do whatever you want!” “No, no, don’t be angry…” Alexander tried to persuade me, “Valerie Lewis, come back to me, okay? I can consider being your boyfriend.” “Thanks, but I don’t need that anymore. Go find someone else.” With that, I was about to hang up again. “Don’t… don’t hang up!” Alexander panicked and said through gritted teeth, “I… I agree to be your boyfriend!” “Also, whatever my ex-girlfriends did to me, you can do too!” “Will you come back?” This time it was my turn to be surprised and caught off guard. Was this still the arrogant, spoiled rich boy I knew? He was acting just like a devoted admirer now! How the tables have turned… “Alexander Sinclair, are you serious?” “If I go over now and ask you to sleep with me, you’d agree?” I deliberately tested him, but Alexander, that little fox, started changing the subject again. “Valerie Lewis, I know you’re just playing hard to get, right?” “Stop messing around and come back to drive me. I’ll take you out to play tonight.” I couldn’t hold back my anger anymore, “Damn it! Stop pretending! You want to take me out to watch you get intimate with those women?” “I’m sorry, but I don’t have such perverted hobbies. Go play by yourself. Bye!” With that, I hung up the phone and blocked his new number too. Alexander, being both outgoing and handsome, was a catch in many women’s eyes. But I didn’t appreciate him one bit. He only made me feel disgusted. Leaving the luxury resort, I directly booked a three-day suite at a five-star hotel and slept soundly. The first day of the extension passed smoothly. When I woke up, it was already the afternoon of the second day. I was a bit hungry and wanted to go out for a meal. But as soon as I opened the door, I ran right into Alexander who was standing outside. “Why are you here?” I was very surprised. Was this man a ghost that wouldn’t go away? How did he even find out where I was staying? “I should be asking you, Valerie Lewis, why are you staying here?” “You usually spend all your money buying me gifts. Where did you get so much money to stay in a hotel?” “Did some rich guy give it to you? Are you fawning over someone else now?” Alexander became more and more agitated, gripping my arm tightly and not letting go, twisting it painfully. “Let go!” I pushed him away, impatiently saying, “Whether I have money or not, who gave me money, where I spend it – what business is it of yours?” “We have no relationship anymore. Who are you? What right do you have to question me?” Alexander suppressed his anger, blocking my way and lowering his stance to ask, “Valerie Lewis, don’t be angry anymore. Come back, okay?” “Where the hell am I supposed to go back to? Your home? Who am I? What relationship do we have? Get out of my way, don’t keep me from eating.” I pushed him aside again and walked away with a swagger. Here’s my translation of the continuation:

“Valerie, I’m sorry, please don’t be like this.” “I agree to sleep with you. Let’s go back right now, okay?” “Say something, please!” Alexander kept following me like a lost puppy, constantly chattering. I stopped and turned to face him with a grim expression. “Seriously, aren’t you tired of this?” “I’m just a worthless admirer, and you’re the golden boy that everyone adores. Can’t you at least consider your image in public?” “Stop clinging to me. People will start gossiping.” To my surprise, the more I put myself down, the more Alexander, who used to love belittling me, started to elevate me. “No, you’re not worthless at all. You’re my real girlfriend.” “If you come back to me, I’ll announce it on social media right away!” “Please? Come back…” Was he actually whining at me? Ugh~ How disgusting! “Alexander, we’re done.” “I’ve fawned over you for three years, and I’m honestly exhausted. Please, let me go.” “You have so many beautiful models waiting for you. There’s no need to waste your feelings on me.” I pushed him away forcefully and got into the elevator alone. I quickly pressed the close button, finally shaking off this man. Sigh, he ruined my dinner plans. What bad luck! But it’s only been two days since my attitude changed, and Alexander can’t handle it? This man is much more fragile than I imagined. He’s absolutely pathetic! This time, Alexander finding me at the hotel was a wake-up call. In the future, when I book hotels or buy tickets, I can’t use my real name. I’ll have to find someone to do it for me. I went out and got a new phone number right away. I deliberately let my old number run out of credit and get suspended. This way, I wouldn’t have to endure Alexander’s harassing calls and text bombardments. On the last day of the contract extension, I found a resort in the suburbs. I planned to hide there until the contract ended, easily pocketing the $10,000. Since I wasn’t short on cash at the moment, I naturally indulged in some special services at the resort. So I called for a few male models to accompany me and have some fun. I put on an eye mask, freely enjoying the massage techniques of the handsome guys, my mind dreaming of the wonderful life ahead. I have to say, once you have money, things like depression and neurasthenia heal themselves immediately, no treatment needed. “Sister, is my massage comfortable?” a sweet voice whispered in my ear. I nodded reflexively and smiled, “Of course it’s comfortable…” Wait! Why did that voice sound familiar? I hurriedly lifted my eye mask and came face to face with Alexander, startling me so much I jerked.

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My Ex-Fiancée, The Psycho, and The Woman Who Saved Me At what should have been Serena and my ninth wedding, her mentally ill ex-boyfriend, Victor Reed, showed up to cause trouble again. He held a knife to my mother Evelyn’s throat, a manic, deranged laugh echoing through the venue. “Serena, you’re not allowed to marry him!” “And you, you’d better agree to let me take over your wedding. I’m the groom. If you don’t, I’ll kill her.” Serena looked at him with an expression of deep concern, pulling off her veil and dropping it to the floor. Her eyes showed a mix of helplessness and pleading. “Alex, you see, it’s not that I don’t want to marry you; it’s that we can’t provoke Victor.” “I promised his mother I would never send him to a psychiatric facility.” Guests at the wedding started openly drinking, watching the chaotic scene unfold, gossiping about our endless drama, and shooting me looks of scorn. I clenched my fists, then unclenched them, only to clench them again. The internal battle was tearing me apart. Finally, I pulled off my wedding ring and tossed it to Serena: “Enjoy your happily ever after!” Serena, I’m truly letting you go.

What was supposed to be our wedding, I was now just a mere guest. The butt of everyone’s jokes. Serena wanted me to take off my suit for Victor to wear. It was a blatant act of humiliation. But I had no choice but to agree, because my mother’s life was still in Victor’s hands. So, under the gaze of thousands of mocking eyes, enduring the humiliation and the insults of being a fool, I took off my suit, piece by painful piece. “Ugh, he’s so useless. He’s a disgrace to all men.” “What a pathetic loser, can’t he live without a woman, for crying out loud?” These words pierced my ears. My heart felt a bitter ache and a profound helplessness. Serena had once saved my mother’s life, and I had promised her then that I would marry no one but her. For the sake of that single promise, I had waited for her every time she ran away from our wedding, only to stand by. But this time, I wouldn’t wait for her anymore. Serena walked over, picked up the discarded groom’s suit from the floor, her face tinged with guilt. “Alex, don’t worry. Once I’ve calmed Victor down and his emotions stabilize, we’ll hold our wedding.” “Just bear with it this time! You know, he acts like a child when he has an episode. Let’s just treat our wedding as a joke.” My mother looked at me, her eyes filled with sorrow. The knife at her throat had pierced her skin, drawing a thin line of blood. “Alex, stop taking it off…” I pulled off my pants and threw them at Serena. “Enough?” I looked at Victor as I said it. He was staring at me with a perfectly normal gaze, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “As long as I’m here, you’ll never marry her. She’s mine.” Before I could reply, Serena was already smiling, soothing him with a doting tone. “Yes, I’m yours. Always. Come on, put on the groom’s suit.” Only then did Victor seem satisfied. When he looked at me again, his eyes were full of blatant provocation. My clenched fists audibly cracked. I had tried to convince Serena before: if he’s truly ill, why not send him to a proper psychiatric facility for treatment? She claimed she couldn’t bear to leave him alone there; he had no family left, and he was already so pitiful. She even accused me of being heartless and calculating. Every argument we had was because of Victor. I was genuinely exhausted. I didn’t want to be entangled with them anymore. If she wanted to care for him, she could care for him all she wanted. But the people in the room had started openly laughing, pointing and gossiping about us, enjoying the spectacle. My mother, overwhelmed with guilt, began to weep, but Victor still hadn’t released her. Just then, a group of doctors in white coats rushed in through the door. “Heard there’s a mentally ill person causing trouble and threatening lives here?”

I don’t know who called the police and notified the mental health professionals. Startled, Victor tightened his grip on my mother. The sharp tip of the knife dug deeper into her skin, and my mother winced in pain. “Victor, calm down! Don’t hurt my mother!” *Smack!* Serena slapped me across the face, her eyes blazing with fury. “Alex, why did you call the police and bring them here? Didn’t I tell you? We can’t send Victor to a place like that!” I tried to explain it wasn’t me, but she wouldn’t listen. And Victor had already lost control. The scissors wildly slashed, piercing my mother’s throat. A gush of blood erupted. I froze, stunned as if struck by lightning. Then, in a flash, I lunged forward, seized the opportunity, and punched Victor to the ground. He tumbled, crashing into a nearby wine rack, bottles shattering and wine spilling all over him. Serena, who had always shown affection for my mother, completely ignored my mother’s bleeding throat. Instead, her concern was solely for Victor, who wasn’t seriously injured. I helped my mother up, pressing my hand to her neck, screaming in horror, my face ghostly pale. “Help my mother, quickly!” But Victor, enraged by me knocking him down, got back up, grabbed a piece of broken glass, and lunged. He savagely stabbed me, but I couldn’t free my hands to defend myself. The police reacted quickly, drawing their weapons and subduing Victor. What was supposed to be a beautiful wedding had descended into utter chaos, a scene of complete devastation. My mother clutched my hand, her voice weak with tears. “Don’t cry, Alex. Don’t worry about me anymore. Just live the life you want… that’s all!” As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes slowly closed. Ignoring Serena and the others, I scooped up my mother and followed the ambulance. But because her artery had been severed, they couldn’t save her. She died on the operating table. I collapsed by the door, tears of guilt and despair streaming down my face. Was this love wrong? If not, how could our wedding be stained with my mother’s blood? Serena called, but I didn’t answer. Finally, she sent me a message. “Alex, how’s your mom holding up?” “I’m sorry, I apologize on Victor’s behalf! I’ve already gotten him out of the psychiatric facility. The director tested him, and all his indicators were perfectly normal.” “As for why he stabbed your mother, it might have just been normal anger.” “I’ve also taken care of the police. This is our family matter, we can resolve it privately. Pay them off, and it’ll be fine.” I clenched my phone tightly, on the verge of exploding with rage. Why was he still free after committing murder? ‘Normal indicators’? Ha, Serena must have pulled some strings. In that instant, I sobered up completely. I picked up my phone and called her. “Why did you let him out? He’s a killer now!” “But he only kills people who provoke him, and you and your mother were provoking him. Victor doesn’t just kill anyone.” “So, if you want things to be okay, just give in to him, don’t provoke him.” “You know, mentally ill people don’t get convicted for murder…” The conversation had reached this point. Nine out of ten sentences were defending Victor. There was no point in talking anymore. I hung up, numbly dragging my heavy feet into the operating room. Taking one last look at my mother’s face, I couldn’t help but break down into tears. It was all my fault! If I had lived my life on my own terms, if I had cut ties with Serena sooner, perhaps my mother wouldn’t have died. But alas, there’s no second chance in reality, only brutal consequences. Without notifying anyone, I quietly took my mother back to our hometown for burial.

After arranging the funeral, I called my boss, Victoria. “Your proposal from last time? I accept.” “I’m leaving in three days!” As soon as I hung up, Serena called. I rejected her call without a second thought and went to a bar to drink alone. I didn’t return home until very late. The moment I walked in, I saw a man and a woman intertwined, rolling on the sofa. “Serena, tell me you love me most, quickly.” “Okay, mm! I only love you. I’ll never marry Alex.” “You have to take me everywhere, don’t you dare reject me.” If Serena didn’t agree, Victor would “punish” her forcefully in bed, coercing her into submission. They were completely lost in the moment, utterly oblivious to me standing there watching. Did it hurt? To witness my fiancée bringing a murderer back home to sleep with him? No. It didn’t hurt anymore. Only profound disgust and rage. Victor seemed to notice me. He turned, his eyes full of provocation, but his actions didn’t stop. His eyes openly mocked me: *See? As long as I’m here, you’ll never be together. I’ll make you suffer and despair, slowly.* Serena had been calling his name for a while with no response, so she involuntarily followed his gaze. When she saw me, her eyes snapped open. She quickly pushed Victor away. Her face, drained of any flushed passion, turned ghostly pale with shock. She hastily put on her clothes, her breathing ragged. Ignoring Victor, she rushed towards me. “Al-Alex, why are you suddenly back?!” Serena’s hands trembled. Before she could touch me, I violently shoved her away. I’d been gone for ten days, and she hadn’t even asked where I was, her entire focus solely on Victor. “Don’t touch me. You’re filthy. You’re covered in another man’s slobber.” My words left Serena stunned. She hadn’t expected me to curse her so openly, and she panicked. “Alex, don’t say that about me.” “You know he has a mental illness; if you don’t appease him, it’ll trigger him, and he’ll go mad and hurt someone.” I looked at her face, listening, and felt my anger flare even more. “Why do you have to appease him? Why do you refuse to send him to a psychiatric facility, even if it kills you? If he’s truly ill, then you’re no better. You’re just pathetic.” “Take him and get out of my house. I never want to see you again.” When Serena heard me tell her to get out, she quickly reached out to grab me. “Alex, please don’t be like this. You have compassion for a stray cat, so why are you so cold-hearted towards a lonely patient?” I pushed her away, devoid of any feeling. “Because when I help a cat, it shows gratitude. But him? Helping him just makes him more arrogant.” “On our dates, you brought him. When we went to bed, he’d throw a fit, and you’d go calm him, even comforting him in *his* bed. Our wedding was interrupted repeatedly. Tell me, after being in such an exhausting relationship, why should I continue with you?” “We’re breaking off the engagement immediately. I never want to see you again.” “Now take him and get out.” My yelling left Serena’s face ghostly white. And having been caught red-handed doing disgusting things with Victor, she had no ground to argue. Victor, however, panicked. He threw a punch at me. “Don’t you dare bully Serena! I’m a mental patient. If you provoke me, I can kill you and not go to jail.” That same old line again. Enraged, I lifted my leg and kicked him hard, sending him sprawling. Serena, who had initially been frozen, knowing she was in the wrong, moved the moment I struck Victor.

Not only did I not stop, I stomped on the back of his hand. “I’m acting in self-defense. I’ve studied law, I know how to deal with you.” As I pressed harder, Victor screamed in agony. Serena quickly shoved me away with force. “Enough! I know you’re angry at me, and you’re taking it out on him.” “If you have any anger, direct it at me, don’t trouble him.” Seeing that I wouldn’t release his foot, Serena grabbed a baseball bat and hit me on the head. The pain made me release my foot. When Serena saw the blood on my forehead, she froze, realizing she had hit me too hard. As she was about to come check my injury, Victor started crying, clutching his hand. “Is my hand broken?” “I knew it. Poor orphans have no one to love them, much less lonely patients with mental illness.” Those few words instantly stole all of Serena’s attention. Her tension turned into frustrated anger, and she shoved me away. “Serves you right! You started it!” “Alright, so what if you bled a little? You won’t die.” “But Victor is different! The doctor told me to watch him constantly, not to let him get agitated, or he might self-harm with a knife or even kill someone, then what?” “And tell Mother Evelyn not to be angry. Once I’ve calmed Victor, I’ll buy her favorite pastries and visit her.” “We are not breaking off the engagement. I won’t say it a second time.” After delivering that ultimatum, Serena left, taking Victor with her. As they passed me, Victor gave me the middle finger in contempt. Feeling dizzy, I had no energy to deal with him. After they left, I started clearing out everything related to Serena. Once I finished, I contacted the landlord to terminate the lease. But the next day, to my surprise, I was knocked out and taken away. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Victor, a cigarette dangling from his lips, standing with several men behind him, all glaring at me menacingly. It looked like a very dangerous situation. Dragging my bruised body, I stood up and met Victor’s gaze. I stared at him for a long time until he sneered. “Looks like you’ve figured out I was faking my mental illness. But what can you do?” “As long as Serena is involved, I’ll never admit I was faking it. You’ll never win against me.” He blew a puff of smoke into my face, and I frowned, taking a step back. “What exactly do you want?” “I want you to disappear forever. Serena is mine, but she loves you, and she just won’t let you go.” “You pathetic loser, you’re in my way. I can’t rest until you’re gone.” As soon as he finished speaking, he signaled the men behind him to act. “Throw him off the sixth floor. Kill him.” I clenched my fists and began to fight them. Victor seized an opportunity, lunged at me with a knife, and stabbed me in the chest. Just then, Serena rushed in. “Stop them!” Victor quickly pulled out the knife and stabbed himself, faking that I was trying to kill him. Seeing this, the other men quickly fled. Victor suddenly clutched his self-inflicted wound and stumbled toward Serena, blocking her path, then collapsed into her arms. His blood stained her clothes, terrifying Serena and sending her into a panic. I painfully knelt on the ground, my vision blurring. All I heard was Serena screaming at me. “Alex, you deserve to die! How could you kill Victor?!” Victor began to fake a faint, and before “passing out,” he urged Serena to rush him to the hospital. Serena glared at me ferociously, then hurried away with Victor. Finally, I lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor. Serena never once looked back at me. At the hospital, Serena sat anxiously, her mind restless. She didn’t know what was wrong with her, but my pale, bloodless face kept flashing through her mind. *Had Alex been hurt too?* Just then, the doctor came out and told Serena that Victor was fine. But her heart remained uneasy. After a hasty glance at Victor, she wanted to go find me. However, Victor kept finding ways to delay her, preventing her from leaving or answering her phone. It wasn’t until the fourth day, when Serena could no longer suppress her inner dread and was about to head out, that several police officers approached. “Are you Mr. Victor Reed?” “You are charged with two major crimes: deception and murder. You falsely claimed to be mentally ill and used a knife to kill two people, resulting in their deaths.” “There were two deceased individuals: Ms. Evelyn Stone and her son, Alex Chen.”

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The new intern, Chloe, was obsessed with splitting everything down the middle. I’d paid six thousand for a double room on a business trip. She volunteered to handle the reimbursement, and after her “AA” calculation, I didn’t get a single penny back. “Ashley, you went back to the hotel earlier than me, so you stayed there four more hours a day.” “You’re taller than me, so you eat more food and take up more space in the taxi.” “Plus, there’s my service fee for booking the taxi.” Later, when I brought her onto a project, all she did was print documents and order takeout. Yet, she shamelessly demanded an equal split of the bonus. “Ashley, we did this project together. It’s only fair if we AA the bonus, fifty thousand each.” My colleagues all told me she had it tough, coming from a small town, and urged me to be more understanding. Until she unilaterally altered a proposal, causing a glitch in another project, which required a thirty-thousand dollar compensation. Her eyes red, she told me: “Ashley, let’s AA the responsibility. Your salary is higher, so you take the thirty thousand, and I’ll go apologize to the client, okay?” I rejected her absurd proposal. During our argument, she pushed me off the eighteenth-floor balcony. Meanwhile, those same colleagues who’d preached generosity were on a beach in Bali, popping champagne with *my* bonus, laughing and mocking me. “Ashley doesn’t have any backbone. She jumps off a building the moment things go wrong. Good riddance, though. Her jumping to her death is probably for the best.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day she asked me for the expense receipts. This time, I was going to let everyone experience the joy of going Chloe’s way of “AA.” … “Ashley, I’ll handle the reimbursement for this business trip.” Chloe’s sweet voice chirped in my ear. My body stiffened. I looked up at Chloe. Seeing that familiar, hypocritical face, I realized I had been reborn. In my last life, I handed her the receipts for the six thousand dollars I’d fronted for the hotel. Every last cent went straight into her pocket. I’d pressed her multiple times, but she’d whipped out a calculator and, with her twisted logic of “AA,” managed to justify keeping every single dollar. Later, Mr. Davison put her on my new project. She was just an intern, with zero experience. Her daily tasks involved printing documents and picking up packages. While I pulled all-nighters working on proposals, she’d clock out on time and head back to her dorm to binge-watch shows. Because the first phase of the project went exceptionally well, the client unexpectedly expanded the scope, and the project bonus increased to a hundred thousand dollars. When Chloe heard the news, her eyes lit up. She practically ran to my desk. “Ashley, we did this project together, so the bonus should be AA, too. Fifty thousand each, that’s only fair.” She said it with such righteous conviction. “I put in effort too. Hard work isn’t ranked by status or skill.” “Printing documents is a technical skill. How could your project have succeeded without the documents I printed?” I was about to refuse, but those so-called “good” colleagues in the office immediately stepped in to smooth things over. I thought about her tough background; fifty thousand seemed like a donation to a good cause. So, I nodded and agreed. Then, in another project, she unilaterally altered a proposal, causing millions in losses. She was on the hook for thirty thousand in damages. The project had nothing to do with me, but she came to me, her eyes red with tears. “Ashley, it’s only because you didn’t mentor me that I made a mistake.” “Let’s AA the responsibility. Your salary is high, so you take the thirty thousand.” “I’ll just swallow my pride and bow deeply to apologize to the client, okay?” I had never met anyone so utterly shameless. Besides, this was about my career and reputation. I flat-out refused. She immediately started a fight with me. A few colleagues in the office sided with her, saying I wasn’t being generous enough, unwilling to help a newcomer. In the midst of the argument, Chloe pushed me off the eighteenth floor. And she’d dangled the project bonus in front of them, so they outright lied, claiming I’d committed suicide due to a project error. After collecting their bonuses, they popped champagne on a beach in Bali, celebrating. They sang and danced, partying for an entire week. They’d even occasionally mock me, calling me stupid and clumsy, saying my death was for the best. Thinking of this, my jaw clenched, and my face darkened. Chloe’s “AA” system wasn’t just about splitting money or credit; it was about splitting blame, and even taking a life. “Ashley, what’s wrong?” Jessica, sitting beside me, nudged me with her elbow, pulling me back to reality. “Chloe is kindly offering to help with your reimbursement, why are you frowning? Don’t always act like such a superior senior.” Megan chimed in from the side. “Exactly! She’s trying to be nice, your expression is terrible.” It was those two again. In my last life, it was Jessica and Megan, constantly whispering in my ear about Chloe being a poor small-town girl who needed extra care. They talked me into softening my stance. Not only did I overlook those small travel expenses, but I even bought Chloe several designer gifts. Now I saw clearly: these two were just sacrificing me to curry favor with Chloe, playing the good cop. They just had to open their mouths to earn a reputation for kindness and generosity, while the idiot who paid and did all the work was me. A cold laugh echoed in my mind. Too bad. This life, I would never “AA” with Chloe again. I couldn’t wait to see if they’d still be smiling when they were forced to participate in Chloe’s “AA” game. 2. I smiled and shook my head at Chloe. “No need. You’re new, and this is your time to learn and observe. I wouldn’t want such a small task to hinder your progress.” Chloe’s sweet smile flickered, then quickly returned. “It’s no trouble at all, Ashley. Just a little favor!” “Oh, no, that won’t do.” I feigned seriousness. “Your future is paramount. I’ll handle it myself.” She started to say more, but I’d already turned away, cutting off her opportunity to speak. Last life, I’d agreed to her “help” and ended up losing all six thousand dollars I’d paid upfront. This life, I flat-out refused and decided to handle my own reimbursement. I wanted to see how she’d “AA” this money without the receipts. At lunchtime, I happily ate my meal and leisurely returned to my cubicle. Chloe, on the other hand, was noticeably anxious and distracted during lunch. Back at my desk, I focused on writing my proposal, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Chloe fidgeting beside me. She kept stealing glances my way, clearly wanting to say something but holding back. I pretended not to notice. It wasn’t until three in the afternoon that I calmly printed out the reimbursement form, pulled out the receipts, and carefully glued them on. Chloe’s eyes followed my every move, her agitation growing visibly. When I finally stood up, ready to head to accounting, she couldn’t hold it in anymore and practically lunged in front of me. “Ashley, um… could you give me the receipts?” I raised an eyebrow. “Why would I do that?” “I just calculated it carefully. We agreed to go Dutch, so this entire reimbursement should go to me.” I let out a cold laugh. All six thousand dollars? Her audacity knew no bounds. I wondered what new trick she’d pull this time. I feigned surprise. “All six thousand to you? Didn’t we stay in the hotel together? It should at least be half each. I’ll take three thousand.” “But we agreed to go AA!” Chloe immediately perked up. I nodded. “Right, AA.” She cleared her throat and began her elaborate calculation. “On the business trip, Ashley, you went back to the hotel to rest by 7 PM every day, while I didn’t get back until 11 PM. You stayed an extra four hours a day.” “Based on usage time, you should cover two-thirds of the room fee, which is four thousand dollars.” The classic calculation, word for word from my last life. I played along. “Alright, deducting four thousand, that leaves two thousand. That should be mine, right?” “No, not even that two thousand,” Chloe immediately shook her head. “I paid upfront for all the food and taxis.” “Ashley, you know, you’re ten centimeters taller than me. You take up more space in the car.” “And you eat more than I do. You should pay more for that portion of the expenses.” She meticulously counted on her fingers, clearly enjoying herself. “Food and taxis totaled two thousand. Proportionally, you owe me one thousand three hundred.” “Also, I used my ride-sharing app account, so you need to pay me a usage fee per day.” It was the same old spiel, no new material whatsoever. I watched her coldly, saying nothing. Seeing my lack of reaction, Chloe quickly added. “Originally, I even charge a service fee for booking rides. We called twenty rides over ten days, fifty dollars each, that’s a thousand in total.” “But seeing as you brought me on the business trip, I’ll give you a 30% discount, so you only owe seven hundred.” She finished, giving me a look that implied I’d just gotten an amazing deal. “So you don’t need to transfer any money to me. The reimbursement money will be just enough for me.” The air was silent for a few seconds. I raised my hand and gently clapped a few times. Chloe was stunned by my action, frozen in place. *** [Paywall] *** 3. I chuckled softly, looking at Chloe. “You’re quite good at math.” I picked up the reimbursement form, tapping it with my finger. “However, I think you might have some misunderstandings about company policy and basic common sense.” “Hotel accommodation, taxi fares, and meal expenses are all reimbursed per person according to standard rates.” “The hotel we stayed at charges per room night.” “Whether you want to sleep in it for twenty-four hours, or go out sightseeing and not be in it for a minute, that’s entirely up to you.” “Those extra four hours I spent there weren’t me occupying *your* time; it was *you* choosing to go out and forgo your right to use the room.” She opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but I waved my hand, cutting her off directly. “When we took taxis, we rode in a business class vehicle, which is very spacious.” “The back seat was roomy enough to fit three more of you. If you wanted more space, you could have totally laid down, I wouldn’t have minded.” I paused, watching her face gradually turn pale. “You’re short and eat little, and you always left a huge amount of food unfinished every time we ordered.” “I didn’t touch your portion. It all went to waste because of you.” “Feel like you lost money? Go ask the restaurant owner if they’ll refund you for leftovers.” Chloe’s face flushed then paled, clearly not expecting me to calculate things so meticulously. Her eyes darted around, and she immediately adopted a wronged tone. “Then… then there should be a service fee for me helping to book the rides, right?” “Ashley, you know I’m from a small town. My family is poor, and I have two younger brothers still in school.” “Your salary is so high, a small service fee isn’t too much to ask, is it?” Here we go again, using emotional blackmail to appeal to my pity. “First time I’ve heard of a forced service fee.” I retorted directly. “You didn’t tell me you’d be charging beforehand, otherwise, I could have used my own account.” “Besides, the hotel front desk can book cars, so your service wasn’t even necessary.” Her voice grew frantic. “But you *did* enjoy my service!” I put on a thoughtful expression. “Indeed. How about this: in the future, I’ll book taxis for you to deduct the cost.” “Do you need a taxi to go home today? Or… should I call one for you right now?” I made to pick up my phone, and Chloe’s face completely darkened. She was so angry her lips trembled, her eyes welled up, and tears began to gather. Sure enough, the office “saints,” Jessica and Megan, immediately gathered around. “Ashley, isn’t that a bit much?” Jessica frowned. “Chloe’s family isn’t well off, and you’re being so calculative.” “Exactly! Your salary is so high, and you’re so cheap.” “It’s just a little money? Is it really worth it?” “Just a little money”? Six thousand dollars! Chloe was an intern; her monthly salary wasn’t even six thousand. Jessica glared at me, patting Chloe’s back to comfort her. “It’s okay, Chloe. Next time, I’ll go AA with you. I won’t let you take this kind of unfair hit!” I looked at these two moving statues of “saints” in front of me and almost burst out laughing. Memories from my previous life told me Chloe was not easy to deal with. She would never be content with just a verbal advantage. I waited to see their spectacular “AA” drama unfold. Hopefully, their wallets would be as tough as their mouths then. Before long, Mr. Davison specifically assigned me to the Summit Corp. project. I had ten years of experience and was recognized as the company’s ace employee. As soon as the news spread, Chloe immediately scurried over to find me. “Ashley, you’re incredible! Summit Corp. is such a huge project, and the company gave it all to you!” “Ashley, can I work with you on it? I really want to learn from you.” In my past life, I thought she genuinely wanted to learn. Not only did I teach her a lot of professional knowledge, but I also shared my experience without reservation when we did planning. But she was utterly useless, her work always sloppy. The project was urgent, so I could only assign her tasks like printing and mailing documents. Who would have thought she’d end up trying to take half my bonus just for those mundane chores? I replied coldly. “I’m too busy lately. No time to mentor you.” She immediately put on a pitiful expression. “Ashley, I truly want to learn from you.” “I admit I’m a small-town girl, inexperienced, but I really want to achieve something with my own abilities.” I didn’t even look up, my eyes fixed on the computer screen. “I really don’t have the time.” “You can find someone else.” This time, I would never give her another opportunity to take advantage. She wouldn’t even get to touch a single sheet of printer paper. With that, I completely ignored her and immersed myself in my work. Chloe turned and walked away. I secretly glanced at her. I saw her expression of injustice morph into a flicker of resentment. My heart sank. As expected, she wouldn’t give up easily. 4. I hadn’t had a moment of peace when Mr. Davison walked over, a scowl on his face. “Ashley, what’s going on with you? Are you living too comfortably?” His tone was harsh, and the office instantly fell silent, several curious gazes fixed on my back. “An intern wants to learn from you, why did you refuse? You started as a junior too, how can you lack such empathy?” “It’s not easy for a young girl from a small town to have ambition. Being so cold, aren’t you being a bit too malicious?” “Are you perhaps afraid she’ll surpass you? So petty.” He barraged me with sarcasm, and I silently rolled my eyes. Plenty of people came from humble beginnings, but I’d never seen anyone as opportunistic as her. In my last life, they were able to successfully split my bonus not just because Jessica and Megan lied, but also with Mr. Davison’s help. After I was reborn, I investigated and found out that Chloe was his son’s college girlfriend. She got the internship through him. Company policy clearly stated that relatives needed to avoid conflicts of interest, so his son couldn’t get in. That slot naturally fell to his “future daughter-in-law.” No wonder he was so quick to accuse me. I couldn’t be bothered with him, but maintained basic politeness. “Mr. Davison, I’m truly too busy and don’t have time to mentor Chloe. I’m afraid I’d waste her talent.” “It’s fine. Her talent is high, she doesn’t need you to teach her; she can learn just by observing.” Mr. Davison waved his hand, cutting me off directly. “This project is quite challenging and difficult to get a handle on. Learning also requires a gradual approach. Let Chloe start with entry-level—” “No need to say more.” He waved a dismissive hand, making a snap decision. “Alright, it’s settled. Chloe will follow you and assist you. With an extra person, work can be completed faster. This is an order.” What more could I say? He was the boss, after all. I nodded. “Understood, Mr. Davison.” Chloe thus became an inescapable fixture in my project team. She would half-ass her work daily, always cutting corners on assigned tasks, not even bothering with basic formatting. Sometimes, when I asked her to organize documents, she’d misspell client names. Still, out of professionalism, I diligently worked on the Summit Corp. project. Revenge was one thing, but Summit Corp. hadn’t wronged me; I couldn’t let personal grudges interfere with work. Soon, Phase One of the project concluded successfully, exceeding all expectations. Just like in my last life, Mr. Davison announced cheerfully in the meeting. “Great news! Summit Corp. is extremely satisfied with our proposal. Not only did they approve Phase One, but they’ve also decided to increase the budget. The boss has personally authorized a hundred thousand dollar bonus for the project team!” Applause filled the conference room; everyone was excited. My internal alarm bells, however, were ringing. The familiar script was about to play out again. Sure enough, Chloe suddenly stood up to speak. “Mr. Davison, I think the ‘AA’ system is popular now, and the bonus distribution plan should be fairer.” She cleared her throat, looking utterly righteous. “Many interns also put in work and should be included in the bonus distribution. Hard work isn’t ranked by status or skill, after all.” Mr. Davison immediately loudly agreed. “Chloe has excellent ideas! We truly should consider the contributions of all participants.” Jessica and Megan instantly chimed in to support her. “Exactly! Chloe stays late every day; we all see it.” “It’s a hundred thousand dollars! What’s wrong with giving some to the interns? Ashley, you’re not that stingy, are you?” I watched these few people playing off each other and almost applauded. Same script, same lines. Here we go again. In my last life, she used this trick to successfully snatch half of my bonus. A full fifty thousand dollars had landed in Chloe’s pocket. Reborn this time, I was prepared. Under the varied gazes of everyone, I didn’t get angry. Instead, I smiled. “Well said. Chloe’s suggestion? I wholeheartedly approve.” “I also have a suggestion, which happens to be a perfect complement to Chloe’s.” I stood up and activated the computer projector.

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My Wife Cheated. Now She Begs. My wife, Chloe, had fallen for Liam Carter, the charming new colleague at her company. At our wedding anniversary gala, many of Chloe’s business partners were present. As the banquet began, the carefully crafted memory VCR I’d prepared was replaced by intimate footage of Chloe and Liam. Chloe seized the opportunity: “Everyone at the company says we’re a perfect match. Anyway, the partners don’t know you. If Liam were my husband, they’d be more willing to collaborate.” Those who knew me waited for me to throw a fit, to make a scene. But I didn’t cry or rant. I clapped, cheering them on. This marriage was a sham anyway. I was done with this wife. … I watched Liam Carter, dressed in a high-end custom suit, looking more like the man of the hour than me, the actual host. It seemed everything had been meticulously planned. I handed him the cue cards I’d prepared for my speech. Ignoring the gloating expressions of those around me, I walked straight out of the banquet hall. I left the hall and walked all the way to the parking lot. Chloe didn’t follow. It seemed my departure had truly pleased her. If that was the case, I had even less reason to object. The banquet had kept me busy since morning, and I hadn’t eaten a proper meal. As soon as I left, I headed straight for ‘The Golden Spoon,’ the most renowned restaurant in the city. It used to be my favorite. Right after we got married, Chloe would come with me every week. But I don’t know when it happened, when I disappeared from Chloe’s eyes, and with me, all the affection we’d shared for so many years. Chloe never liked managing things; she found organizing banquets to be the biggest hassle. So, I’d started planning two months ago, ensuring every detail was perfect. From the smallest things like flowers and food, to the guest list, venue, and flow of the entire event. When we first got married, we just eloped, following Chloe’s preferences. But I had always longed for a ceremony that everyone could witness. This anniversary gala was supposed to be Chloe’s way of making it up to me, a second wedding. My dedication to this event made it clear, without even thinking, that the VCR swap was no accident. I had spent ages editing that VCR, crafting it with my own hands. It contained every memory, from when Chloe and I first started dating, all the way to our fifth wedding anniversary. We had grown from innocent youngsters to who we were now, side-by-side. And now, she no longer loved me. To say I wasn’t heartbroken would be a lie. But after so much accumulated disappointment, I had grown numb. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to walk away from that banquet so nonchalantly today. I ate my last bite, digesting the last shred of my grievances. A decision had solidified in my mind. Back home, I took a shower and was about to go to sleep when Chloe’s call came through: “Noah Vance, where are you? I didn’t know the rest of the banquet’s schedule, almost made a fool of myself!” Chloe’s tone was full of disdain and impatience, as if I were just a hired hand for the event. I deliberately asked her back: “I’ve been home for a while. What’s wrong? Do you need me to come back?” Chloe was silent for a moment on the other end: “Forget it, forget it. The banquet ended perfectly anyway, you don’t need to come.” She hung up after that. Of course, I knew she wouldn’t want me there. The banquet was over. She definitely wanted to spend some quality time alone with her little fling. Why would she want me to intrude? I slept soundly at home, having missed a lot of sleep these past few days preparing for the banquet. By the time I woke up, it was already past midnight. Chloe had also returned home. Chloe had changed out of her formal gown into a casual sundress. Her cheeks were flushed, and she seemed to be in good spirits. As soon as she saw me, her pleasant expression tightened a bit: “Why didn’t you answer my calls or messages?” I stretched leisurely, replying airily: “I was asleep.” Chloe narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing me for a long time before asking impatiently: “You’re not throwing a tantrum because of what happened earlier, are you? I told you to be sensible, wasn’t I just doing my job?” “Everyone at the company knows Liam and I work well together; we’re the company’s model pair. If those partners think we’re a couple, they’ll definitely be more supportive of us.” Right, you two are the model couple. So, my wedding anniversary gala effectively turned into your engagement party, huh? 2. I sneered internally, wondering if she was so happy today that she’d lost her mind. I didn’t bother to respond, just shrugged. Chloe seemed very displeased with my attitude, and her eyes held a hint of suspicion. Just as she was about to say something more, the front door opened. Liam, as if he lived there, appeared at our bedroom door, a bag in his hand, a sly, almost bashful smirk on his face: “Chloe, you forgot your outfit. I brought it over for you.” “Noah, you’re here too? I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Chloe had even given Liam his own access code to the house; he entered as if it were his own. Chloe didn’t seem to find anything wrong with it. She gently took the paper bag: “You shouldn’t have gone to all that trouble coming over so late. You could have just waited for me to pick it up next time.” Their eyes locked, a silent, sickeningly sweet exchange passing between them, thick with unspoken affection. I felt a wave of disgust, a shiver running down my spine. Chloe seemed to find a new reason to mock me, looking even more self-righteous. “Honestly, Noah, why can’t you be more like Liam? He’s younger than you, yet so much more mature!” “Today at the banquet, he handled so many guests all by himself and did it perfectly. And you? You just run away whenever there’s a problem.” “The end of the banquet was a mess. If it wasn’t for Liam, I wouldn’t have known what to do! You just abandoned everything and went home, who knows what people would think…” Chloe paused mid-sentence, and I finished it for her: “I was wrong.” The next second, both Chloe and Liam froze. My anticipated meltdown didn’t happen. Instead, I was unexpectedly calm. I didn’t cry, didn’t yell, didn’t even argue. I just stared at Chloe, completely devoid of emotion. Everyone knew I loved Chloe to my very core. For her, I had given up everything. Before I met her, I was that gifted artist, pouring my soul onto the canvas, expressing myself freely. My work touched people’s hearts; it was my way of communicating with the world, an outlet for my deepest emotions. However, all of that quietly changed the moment I met Chloe. Back then, Chloe was just an ordinary employee at a company. But her smile, her eyes, made me feel a warmth and stability I had never known. For her, I was willing to abandon everything, including the art scene where I once shone so brightly. My family’s objections were like a tempest. They couldn’t understand why I would give up the family’s artistic legacy for an ordinary woman. But in my heart, Chloe was the one worth sacrificing everything for. So, I decisively broke ties with my family, just to be with her. Those days, we relied on each other, struggling but happy. I devoted myself to caring for her, accompanying her. I tried to build a solid fortress for her with my love, to make her feel a security she had never experienced. And with my support, Chloe bravely embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. Her company grew from nothing, steadily expanding, reaching the pinnacle of its success. I was proud of her and relieved to have been able to walk alongside her through that arduous journey. However, as Chloe’s career flourished, our relationship quietly began to change. She became busy, often working late into the night, even neglecting me on weekends. I tried to understand her hardship, giving her enough space and support. But gradually, I realized that someone else seemed to occupy her thoughts. 3. At first, Chloe would casually praise Liam’s talent and promising future in front of me: “Liam, the new guy at the company, is really capable. We get along so well, we’re going to be a great team.” I didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just her acknowledging a good colleague. But as time went on, she started frequently comparing me to Liam. Her words hinted at admiration and infatuation for him. My heart began to sink, an ominous feeling creeping in. Finally, one day, I discovered that Chloe often stayed late with Liam, sometimes even going out together on weekends. Her smile, once exclusively mine, was now more often directed at Liam. I protested, I argued, but all I got was Chloe’s annoyance: “Can’t you be more understanding? I’m just doing my job. I only see Liam as a little brother.” “Don’t be unreasonable, I’m exhausted. Noah Vance, your love is suffocating!” I knew then, her heart was no longer entirely mine. Facing all of this, I felt an unprecedented pain and confusion. I even started to question myself, wondering if I hadn’t been good enough, if I truly couldn’t compare to Liam. I tried everything to win Chloe back. But the outrageous stunt at the banquet today suddenly brought me to my senses. I had been so foolish. This relationship, it wasn’t worth fighting for anymore. Chloe clearly hadn’t expected such a calm reaction from me. She asked again, disbelievingly: “What did you say?” I adjusted my posture, sat up straight, and said, seriously and distantly: “I said I was wrong.” “I was wrong to abandon everything to love you. I was wrong to try and win back a heart that didn’t love me anymore.” “Loving you was my mistake, being with you against my family’s wishes was also a mistake. But, I’m ending all of it now.” Under Chloe’s incredulous gaze, I uttered the words: “Chloe Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” Chloe’s handbag dropped to the floor. Liam’s face betrayed a barely concealed triumph; he looked almost thrilled. I was genuinely afraid he might burst out laughing, he’d clearly been itching for this. Chloe frowned, her reaction unexpectedly subdued: “Noah Vance, are you drunk? Or did you just wake up confused? Say that again.” I worried she might be too excited to have heard me clearly, so I repeated, every word precise and firm: “I said, Chloe Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” I finished speaking and quietly waited for Chloe to agree. But Chloe just kept staring at me, her brow furrowed, as if trying to decipher whether I was serious or just throwing a tantrum. After several minutes, she uncomfortably averted her gaze, her tone softening unexpectedly: “I’ll pretend you’re just talking nonsense and being petty. I won’t hold it against you.” “Divorce isn’t something you just casually say when you’re upset; it’s hurtful.” “We’ve had so many years together, we understand each other. We won’t just get divorced like that.” “I’m going to stay at the company tonight. You go home and reflect on things. Don’t say such silly things again.” Chloe didn’t give me a chance to argue, heading straight out the door. Liam, looking utterly bewildered, followed after her. 4. Now, this baffled me. These past few days, they’d been sickeningly sweet right under my nose. Today, they even played intimate photos at the banquet. I’d thought she was eager to divorce me and be with Liam. But then I thought, maybe it’s for the best. There were still a few things I needed to handle. Tomorrow, once I drafted the divorce papers, I’d go straight to her, and she would agree then, right? I pulled the covers over my head and went back to sleep, not waking until late morning the next day. My phone was silent, no calls, no messages. Without hesitation, I called my lawyer and had the divorce papers drafted. With the papers in hand, I got up, got ready, and contacted some old friends from the art world for a meal. These friends were the confidantes I’d made back when I was pouring my soul onto the canvas. Each of them had witnessed my fervor and dedication to painting. They knew my complete immersion when I stood before a canvas. Back then, my heart was solely devoted to art. When I decided to leave the art scene for Chloe, to fully dedicate myself to her, they called me crazy. They believed I was impulsive and foolish to give up my talent and dreams for a woman. At the time, though I felt a flicker of hesitation and reluctance, The power of love propelled me irrevocably down that path of no return. So, when I decided to pick up my paintbrush again and return to the art world, these old friends gathered around me once more. “Noah, I don’t know why you finally came to your senses, but we all support you! As long as you’re back, we’re with you!” “Exactly! I’ve even planned it out. We’ll hold exhibitions together, open a studio, fulfill all our old dreams.” It was a great meal. As I stood up to pay at the front counter, I unexpectedly heard a familiar voice. I turned around to see Chloe and Liam sitting at a couple’s booth. Their behavior was intimate, feeding each other bites. They shared a small cake, even smeared frosting on each other’s mouths with theirs. That sickening sweetness and affection stung my eyes. I slowly walked over. Chloe clearly hadn’t expected me to be there; she jumped, a flicker of panic in her eyes. “Noah Vance? What are you doing here?!” Liam immediately chimed in, pretending to be startled by me: “Noah, you’re not actually stalking us, are you? Do you really not trust Chloe? First demanding a divorce yesterday, now stalking her today.” But I had no desire to argue with him. I knew this was all a coincidence. But I also knew, with even more certainty, that the thread of fate between Chloe and me had truly reached its end. I took out the divorce papers I had already prepared and quietly placed them in front of her. She looked guilty, trying to explain: “Fine, fine, you can stalk me, just don’t do it again…” “And just now, I wasn’t feeling well, so we were… feeding each other. Don’t overthink it.” I ignored her explanations, simply watching her silently. She quickly glanced at the papers. Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps eager to escape the awkward situation, she signed her name hastily without reading carefully. Only after she had signed did I tell her it was a divorce agreement. “Were you so out of it? You signed without even looking.”

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My Mom Hated Me, Until I Saved Her My mom had just turned nineteen when a high school bully assaulted her, and she was forced to carry me to term. That same year, my grandpa accepted a hefty settlement of nearly thirty thousand dollars from the bully, dropped the lawsuit, and effectively sealed off Mom’s only path to justice. My first cry, ironically, was drowned out by the final bells of senior year, becoming the last straw that broke her spirit. That night, she sat alone, wide awake, until dawn. The next day, she left a letter severing all ties, walked out, and was never heard from again. I thought I’d never see her in my life. But eighteen years later, as I entered my senior year, a new transfer student, Chloe, stepped in to help me, then smiled and invited me to her house. The moment the door opened, I saw that face—a face I’d missed countless times in photographs—and instinctively said, “Mom…” —- Mom’s smile froze. Her face drained of color when she saw the birthmark on my hand. She pressed down on her trembling voice, suddenly pushing me away with force. “You’ve got the wrong person,” she said coldly. I fell to the ground, and my only decent school uniform, the one without any patches or wear, was ripped by the sharp asphalt. She then pulled Chloe inside, slamming the door shut with a loud *bang*. From inside, I heard the sound of a vase shattering, followed by Mom’s sobs: “Did she approach you? Drag you here? I told you to stay away from the wrong crowd! Why won’t you ever listen?” “Baby, please, stay away from her. Your mom is begging you.” Each word struck my ears, weighing more than a thousand pounds, crushing the last remnants of my surprise and hope at seeing her. Blood seeped from the asphalt cut on my hand, but the pain was less than a millionth of what I felt in my heart. Lost and unsure what to do, a gentle male voice spoke from above me: “Little girl, why are you sitting on the ground? You’re bleeding so much. Does it hurt?” It wasn’t until he took me to his house to bandage my hand that I realized he was Mom’s husband. Daniel. He immediately noticed Mom’s swollen eyes. “Ellie, why are you crying? Are you still sad about leaving our old home? Thank you both for supporting my work and moving here with me.” Mom didn’t seem to hear him. Instead, she stared at me, her expression a mix of despair and deep disgust. She collapsed to the floor, clutching her head, sobbing uncontrollably. “I knew it! You’d haunt me like a ghost, cling to me, and destroy all my happiness!” I forgot how I dazedly left. I only remembered Mom’s frantic cries: “I am not your mother!” As dusk settled, Grandpa Arthur waited for me at the door as usual. I quickly wiped away my tears with my sleeve and brushed the dust from my clothes. I forced a smile. But when he saw the bloodstains on my school uniform, his grip on his cane tightened. “Did those classmates of yours bully you again? Don’t listen to their nonsense. Your mom went out to make money for your schooling. When she comes back, she’ll go settle the score with them! She’ll let them know our Harper is loved!” The tears I’d been holding back finally broke free. I pulled away from Grandpa’s hand and sobbed uncontrollably. “You’re lying! It’s because of you Mom left! And now she’s back, but she doesn’t love me at all. She hates me!” I locked myself in my bedroom, hugging Mom’s photo, and didn’t sleep all night. When I woke up in the morning, Grandpa had already left for his stall. On the table were seventy-nine dollars, cobbled together from quarters and dimes, and a can of peaches. Next to it was a note from Grandpa: “Harper has grown up, her uniform is too small. It’s time to buy a new one. And Harper, Happy Birthday.” On my way to school, I deliberately took a detour past Grandpa’s sock stall. His deeply lined face hid his emotions, but I felt his already hunched back sag even lower. 2. Chloe didn’t come to school all day. I was terrified, afraid Mom would take her and move away today, disappearing without a trace, just like eighteen years ago. I couldn’t resist going to the office to ask the teacher why Chloe wasn’t there, but then I heard Mom’s voice. “Teacher, could our daughter be moved to a different class? That girl, Harper. I’ve heard about her family. I don’t want Chloe associating with someone raised by that kind of grandpa.” I stood frozen at the office door, my limbs felt like lead, heavy and immobile. It seemed the teacher heard a sound from outside and opened the door. Mom and I locked eyes. The instinctive disgust in hers made me tremble, and a wave of hurt and resentment washed over me. I almost ran, turning and fleeing. I ran back to Grandpa Arthur’s small stall, only to find Chloe there, skipping school. She had overturned Grandpa’s stand and cut up all the socks. Her eyes red, she shrieked, “How can there be a father like you in this world?! You don’t deserve to be my grandpa, you don’t deserve it!” Grandpa knelt on the ground, heartbroken over the shredded socks, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Child, you can hate me, hit me, curse me, just please don’t cut them! The money from these sales is for Harper’s tuition next semester!” Chloe scoffed. “Does a scumbag’s child deserve an education? Mom told me and Dad everything yesterday. I won’t let you two, who ruined Mom, have a moment’s peace.” I rushed forward, trying to snatch the scissors from Chloe’s hand. “Don’t cut them, please…” As we struggled, Mom, who had followed me, pushed through the crowd of onlookers. She saw Grandpa kneeling on the ground, picking up the socks, and her eyes instantly welled up. She reached out, as if to touch Grandpa’s white hair, but then pulled her hand back, scoffing coldly, “Hmph. Did you blow through that settlement money already? Still living in squalor, I see. Why don’t you sell that little monster too?” Grandpa froze for a long moment at the familiar voice, but he never looked up. I saw Grandpa’s tears flow into the deep lines on his cheeks, streaking across his weathered face. However, the gasps from the crowd shattered the scene: “Blood! Oh my, those two girls are bleeding! Quick, take them to the hospital!” The moment Mom heard this, she immediately rushed to Chloe’s side. Her tension was palpable. “Baby, where are you hurt? Let Mom see!” Chloe seemed stunned,pointing at the small severed finger on the ground. “Mom, she…” Mom let out a long breath. “It’s good that you’re not hurt.” Soon, she realized something. She looked sharply at my profusely bleeding finger. A flicker of reluctance crossed her eyes, and she immediately pulled out her phone and dialed 91

It was only then that I registered the pain. The scissors had been too sharp. In our struggle, I’d been distracted, and the scissors had sliced off a third of my pinky finger. Hearing Mom’s trembling voice, I felt a perverse sense of relief. She was worried about me, right? If I got sick more often, would Mom love me again? When we got into the ambulance, I didn’t choose Grandpa Arthur, who was sobbing uncontrollably, but Mom to accompany me. And she, for the first time, didn’t refuse me. Her hand brushed mine, a touch so gentle it felt unfamiliar. “Har…per, does it hurt?” I suppressed my excitement and surprise, pushing the pain to the back of my mind. “No, it doesn’t! As long as Mom is with me…” But my words were cut off. “How much money do you want? I’ll give it all to you. Can we settle this privately? Chloe is fragile and timid, she can’t handle police questioning, nor can she handle classmates attacking her with rumors.” “She didn’t mean it. She was just so worried about me, her mom, that she acted impulsively. Can you forgive her? She’s just a child.” I froze, a bitter ache spreading through my chest. But I was suffering ridicule too. I was also her child. And I was the one who was hurt. I looked up at her, finally yielding to the plea in her eyes, and whispered, “Okay.” Then, trying to appease her, I added, “Chloe is a good person. I don’t blame her. But Mom, can you stay with me today?” Her eyes welled up, and she slowly nodded. 3. While bandaging my finger, the doctor gave Mom a reproachful look. “This severed pinky will never grow back. It will limit her opportunities in life, both personally and professionally. How can a parent be so careless?” Afraid Mom would be upset, I quickly explained, “No, doctor, my mom is really good to me. This time, it was my own fault.” But by the end of my explanation, my voice had grown smaller and smaller, laced with guilt. Mom looked at me for a long moment, then pursed her lips. “You wait here quietly while I go pay the bill.” When the bandaging was done and Mom still hadn’t returned, I didn’t want to miss a single second with her, so I went downstairs to find her myself. But to my surprise, Mom was cornered in the stairwell by a man and a woman. The man, Mason, smiled, putting his arm around the girl’s waist next to him. “Didn’t expect to run into an old acquaintance while you’re here for an abortion. “You should learn from a pro. She carried my child to term, you know.” Mom stiffened, her face pale as she retorted, “Get lost! I never want to see you, you animal, again!” Mason licked his lips, then ran his fingers through a strand of Mom’s hair, sniffing it suggestively. “You still smell so good, still so fiery. But what does it matter? I could humiliate you in front of everyone ten, a hundred times today, and it would still all be smoothed over with just a paltry settlement.” Mom couldn’t hold herself together anymore. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably. She bit her lower lip fiercely, her face deathly pale, and crouched in the corner, muttering, “No, please no, don’t come near me.” I screamed like a madwoman, running over and fiercely pushing Mason away, shielding Mom. “I won’t let you hurt Mom again!” Mason looked me up and down, then curled his lips into a smile. “Eleanor, is this our daughter? She does look a bit like you back then.” “Keeping her around, it seems you really miss our night together, don’t you? No worries, if you’re too shy to say it, I’ll just contact you myself. You know, what I want, I always get.” Mason put his arm around his companion and left, but not before whispering a few words in my ear. I tried to help Mom up from the corner, but she pushed me away with all her strength. She gasped for air, her silent tears streaming down her face. Her pale face was etched with despair. “Why? Why can’t I ever escape!” “Why do you always bring bad luck wherever you go? Please, just stay as far away from me as possible! When I see you, I remember that animal, remember the hell I went through that night! It makes me feel like I’m dying, don’t you understand?!” She shrieked, stumbling to her feet and running wildly toward the exit. Even her backpack fell to the ground. When I picked it up, I saw a small, four-inch cake hidden behind it. Even though it had been dropped, “Happy Birthday” was still clearly visible on the cake. I sniffled, holding back my tears, and smiled as I ate every bit of the damaged cake. Then I called the number written on the slip of paper Mason had slipped into my uniform pocket. 4. As Mason left, he said something that made me tremble all over. “If you don’t want another little brother or sister, come find me. If you don’t, your mom will suffer the consequences.” So that night, I didn’t go home. I went to Mason alone. I wanted to protect Mom in my own way. When I arrived at the private room, Mason was laughing with a few girls. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and smoke. He looked me up and down, a smirk on his face. “Wearing your school uniform? How tacky, just like your mom, playing innocent.” One of the girls immediately understood, tossing me a bandeau top and a mini skirt. I hesitated, reluctant to put them on, but then Mason’s words to Mom echoed in my mind. Afraid he’d go bother Mom again, I immediately obeyed and changed. He casually pointed, gesturing for me to sit next to a bald man. “Mr. Davis, don’t let her age fool you. My daughter here has a fantastic figure.” Mr. Davis’s greasy face drew closer. I sprang to my feet as if electrocuted, covering myself with my school uniform. Humiliation consumed me. I trembled, unable to speak. Mason clicked his tongue. “If you’re too scared, then get out. I’ll just get your mom to come.” I clenched my jaw. “Give me one more day to think.” Mason eventually agreed. I wrapped myself in my school uniform and walked towards school, but halfway there, Chloe and a few other students blocked my path. Her hatred was unconcealed. “What did you do to Mom? Why was she a wreck when she came back from the hospital?!” I lowered my head, guilt-ridden, and apologized. “I’m sorry, Chloe.” “Don’t call me Chloe! The biggest regret of my life was helping you out that day and bringing you back to my house!” “Because of you, our family isn’t happy anymore. Mom and Dad haven’t smiled since!” She pulled out all her pocket money and threw it at my head. “Mom said your grandpa abandoned her for money. Now I’m giving you money too. I’ll give you whatever you want if you just leave, please, I’m begging you!” Seeing me stand there with my head down, she choked back tears, pressing a small knife into my hand. “You must be angry about your finger. If it makes you feel better and you leave, it’s okay if you cut off my finger too! Do it! Do it!” “Do you even know Mom tried to cut her wrists, hiding from me and Dad?! She’s still in the hospital!” Chloe finally broke down, screaming, “Just give me back my happy family, and I’ll give you anything you want!” The moment I heard Mom had cut her wrists, I finally understood the extent of my sin. I finally made up my mind. I returned Mom’s backpack, which she’d dropped yesterday, to Chloe. “Don’t worry. I won’t let Mom get hurt again.” Almost without hesitation, I turned and ran back to the club. Suppressing immense nausea and despair, I took off my school uniform and deliberately sat next to Mr. Davis. But Mason merely quirked an eyebrow. “Now, I don’t like this game anymore.” “We need a new game.” Three hours later, Mason finally found a pretty girl. He handed me a spiked drink. “You’re a student. Getting her to drink this should be easy. Once she drinks it, just bring her over.” “It’s that simple. Do this, and I promise I’ll never bother your mom again.” I bit my lip, taking the drink. “You promise?” It was less than a hundred feet, but it felt like I was walking for an entire century. There were seven or eight men in the private room. I knew exactly what would happen to the girl if she drank this. But if I didn’t, my mom would suffer a second trauma. I had no choice. The girl unsuspectingly drank the wine. I deliberately turned my back to block Mason’s view. I quietly whispered to the girl’s friend to pretend to go to the bathroom and then sneak out the back. Three minutes later, I turned around, my mind racing with how to explain this to Mason. I couldn’t betray my conscience. If it came to this, I would just take them all down with me. The image of the cake Mom had bought me flashed through my mind. To protect Mom’s hard-won happiness, I was willing to do anything. But a slap across the face brought me instantly back to reality. The music and lights in the dance floor stopped. All eyes were on me. I looked at Mom, still in her hospital gown, bandages wrapped around her wrist. I was mortified. I pulled my uniform tighter, not wanting her to see my humiliation. But this time, Mom didn’t break down, didn’t scream, didn’t yell. She stared at the hand that had slapped me, then at me. She clutched her head, crouching down, crying as helplessly as a child. “Do you know that girl would have ended up worse than me? Do you know that girl’s family would have been ruined because of this? You knew, and you still did it.” “You truly have the genes of an animal in your bones, cold-blooded and selfish. You’ll hurt people just like him.” “What am I going to do? My womb birthed a monster who hurts others, just like I was hurt!” “Why did you have to live?! Why don’t you just die?!” 5. Her voice was calm, yet filled with deep despair. I had never been so afraid. I’d rather Mom hated me, resented me, than for her to be utterly disappointed in me, to give up on me like this. I frantically reached for her hand to explain, “Mom, I’m not… I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I’m not like them.” But Mom forcefully peeled away my fingers, one by one, from her sleeve. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tears streamed down her cheeks. “I thought my prejudice against you was too deep. I thought you were at least kind-hearted, but I never expected…” She shook her head, opened her eyes, and stared at me, her words deliberate and serious. “Harper, listen carefully. I don’t have a disgusting daughter like you. If you dare call me ‘Mom’ again and insult me, I will die immediately.” “Forever, stay out of my sight, forever!” Mom was led away by Daniel and Chloe, who had rushed after her. Chloe gave me a cold look before she left. “I deliberately let it slip. I wanted Mom to know exactly what kind of person you are.” “Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be her daughter, and Mom shouldn’t waste her emotions on you.” How I wished I could tell Mom that I hadn’t hurt anyone, that I had saved a girl from harm. But Mom wouldn’t listen to me anymore. I sat there, numb on the ground, until Mason, having enjoyed the show, walked over. He looked down at me, flicking his cigarette ash onto my head. “Harper, Harper, Daddy’s little errand wasn’t completed, was it? Now, how should I punish you and your mother for that?” Hatred surged in my eyes. Looking at his disgusting face, I only wanted to end him with my own hands. I stood up and walked out of the club without a word. With the little money I had, I bought a fruit knife from the nearest supermarket. After paying, I turned around and met Grandpa Arthur’s eyes. His gaze swept from my mini skirt to the blood seeping through the bandage on my finger, then to the fruit knife in my hand. His cloudy eyes didn’t blink, and tears pooled in his deep wrinkles. Though he leaned on his cane, his entire body was swaying precariously. In that instant, all my suppressed grievances exploded. I lunged into his arms, weeping uncontrollably. “Grandpa…” Grandpa patted my back, his lips slightly parted. He wanted to comfort me but couldn’t find any other words, just kept murmuring my name. Grandpa led me home by the hand, gently taking the fruit knife from me. I knew he knew everything. That night, Grandpa Arthur, who was usually a man of few words, talked to me at length, which was unprecedented. He told me to study hard, that there would always be someone in this world to love me. He said Harper was not wrong; the wrong ones were those who bullied others. He said he was sorry for Mom and me. I lay on his lap, sobbing, and slowly drifted into a deep sleep. But the next day, what woke me was a call from the hospital: “Hello, is this Arthur Sterling’s family? The elder is in critical condition and undergoing emergency treatment. Please come immediately.” The phone slipped from my hand, the busy signal buzzing. I wiped the tears from my face and ran to the hospital like a madwoman. The moment I saw Grandpa, my heart felt like it was being ripped open, so much pain. My Grandpa, with twenty-seven fractured bones, head burns, and a ruptured liver. The nurse sighed. “The elder was found by a cleaner, discarded in an alley. He was barely clinging to life when they found him. He said he didn’t want to call the police, only asked us to contact you and another lady. But that lady only listened for a sentence before hanging up, and we couldn’t reach her again.” My tears had long since overflowed. I slapped myself fiercely more than ten times. I hated myself. I should have noticed Grandpa’s strangeness yesterday. He must have gone to find Mason with that fruit knife to seek revenge, then was discovered and tortured all night. He didn’t want to call the police because he didn’t want me to get involved in these matters again. He knew we couldn’t win against them. He also knew that after this incident, Mason wouldn’t bother us anymore. He exchanged his own life for a safe future for us. Grandpa saw me, forced a smile, and laboriously grasped my hand with his calloused fingers, his eyes burning. Like a prisoner awaiting a final verdict: “My child, you be their judge. For your mother, condemn me as a neglectful father; for your grandmother, declare me a guilty husband.” “You say it. Saying it might… make me feel better. When I go to hell, I can live with a clear sentence, rather than forever in endless self-reproach.” I choked, unable to speak, only nodding frantically and fiercely. Grandpa closed his eyes in release, his hand falling heavily. “Grandpa!” I cried hysterically, begging him not to leave, but I would never again receive his doting comfort. 6. Grandpa Arthur’s funeral was simple. I sold everything we owned and all the money Grandpa had saved for my education to buy him the best urn and a gravesite. On the last day of the vigil, Mom came. She stood outside the hall with Daniel and Chloe. Mom held her head high, refusing to let her tears fall. The neighbors around us whispered. “Poor old Arthur, he had such a tragic life.” “His daughter was ruined by that animal, and then his wife got a sudden illness.” “That animal threatened Arthur: if he didn’t take the money to hush it up, they’d find ways to prevent his wife from getting treatment.” “In the end, he took the money, but his wife didn’t get better. He was saddled with tens of thousands in debt for medical bills, and his daughter disowned him.” “He worked tirelessly, day and night, to pay off the debt. Once it was paid, he went to get revenge for his daughter and granddaughter.” “If it were me, I couldn’t make such a difficult decision, even if it killed me!” “Ah, that night, Arthur’s hair turned white. No one suffered more than him. Why does misfortune always pick on the miserable?” Every word reached Mom’s ears. She rushed over and grabbed the old lady’s sleeve. Her expression distorted with agitation. “What did you say?!” The neighbor was shocked. “Old Arthur never said anything. It’s no wonder, he wanted you to get away from this painful place.” Mom could no longer control her tears. She rushed into the funeral hall, clinging to the coffin, calling out repeatedly, “Dad, you were always so stubborn! You never told me anything, leaving me to realize things too late and live with the crushing regret!” Daniel pulled Chloe to stand before Grandpa Arthur’s memorial tablet and bowed deeply three times. “Dad, ultimately, you still hurt Eleanor. I can’t fully understand your difficulties, but I respect you.” “Rest assured, Eleanor, and…” He glanced at me, dressed in mourning clothes, my eyes swollen from crying. “Harper, I will take good care of them both.” Grandpa Arthur’s gravesite was moved next to Grandma Rose’s. Mom went to send him off, kneeling before the grave, reluctant to leave. I stepped forward to help her, but she violently shook me off. “I’d rather have hated him my whole life, but have him alive and well.” “It’s you again. You went near Mason, provoked Mason, and this is the outcome.” She let out a long sigh. “Your grandpa would have wanted me to raise you. I can let you live in my house and support your schooling, but only until you turn eighteen. After that, can you please leave?” I released my hand from hers, replying flatly, “No need, Mom… Eleanor. I’ve already found my own path for the future.” She flinched when I called her Eleanor, but quickly composed herself. A luxury car pulled up behind us. Mom’s eyes instantly reddened when she saw the person who got out. If Daniel hadn’t held her back, she might have rushed forward to kill Mason. Mason spread his hands innocently. “Why so emotional, Eleanor? I’m not here for you. After all, I made a promise to the old man.” “Speaking of which, that old man was really stubborn. I used a metal poker to stab through each of his fingers, and he endured the pain, refusing to beg. But the moment I mentioned you, his attitude softened immediately. He prostrated himself before me, begging, bowing ninety-nine times, and that’s when I finally agreed to leave you alone.” Mom was so angry she looked like she might vomit blood, and so was I. I clenched my fists, suppressing my hatred, and walked towards Mason. “Dad, no matter what, I’m your daughter. Raise me. I won’t disappoint you.” I looked back at Mom. “After all, I’m just like you, cold-blooded and selfish.” Mom looked at me in disbelief. “Harper, what are you saying?! He’s the murderer who killed your grandpa!” “How could you?!” I turned back to her and smiled faintly. “But Grandpa is dead, isn’t he? Eleanor, you might raise me, but only to survive. Dad, however, will give me a brilliant future.” Daniel tried to reason with me too. “Harper, have you thought through the consequences of living with this demon?” I ignored him. Mason, however, seemed pleased with my attitude, gesturing for me to get into the passenger seat. Mom watched me get into his car, then collapsed to the ground, a cold laugh escaping her lips. “Dad, do you see now? You raised an animal’s daughter, an ungrateful wretch, for over a decade!” I held back the tears in my eyes, recalling Mom and Daniel’s conversation I’d overheard yesterday. “Taking down the Masons won’t be easy. His family is powerful and influential. Not to mention how many lawyers would even take this case. Even if they did, we don’t have one hundred percent concrete evidence to put him away. It might just make him more vigilant. This needs a long-term strategy.” Daniel gently embraced Mom. “But right now, there’s another tricky matter. Harper, what do you want to do about her?” Mom hesitated before speaking. “I hate her. It’s a hate that, even knowing she had no choice, I just can’t bring myself to raise her without resentment. Am I a bad person? An irresponsible mother?” Daniel softly reassured her. “Eleanor, you are you, first and foremost. Only then are you a mother. No one has the right to demand that you love someone, or to judge you for hating them.” Mom’s eyes moistened, not with tears of despair, breakdown, or pain. But with tears of happiness, from being understood and comforted. Daniel is so good. Mom is so good. Chloe is good too. They are the perfect family of three. This happy family was never meant to include me. As for me, I’ll be the final chess piece to bring down the Masons.

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  On a luxurious cruise ship, a notorious ex-crime lord, who’d gone straight, was marrying his beloved. 99 other women, stand-ins for his bride, were treated like mere playthings and distributed to his men. Only I remained, unwanted and alone, chilling on the deck, my heart set on dying. I had been thrust into this world, and I’d poured everything I had into saving four male leads, who’d been driven to madness by the story’s true heroine. But I failed. The System said I could return to my real world for three precious days to say goodbye to Grandma if I died here. Without a second thought, I plunged into the icy water. Release. It was finally here. But as consciousness faded, I saw someone swimming desperately towards me… ***** Guests swarmed around the crime lord’s bride, their celebratory chatter meaningless to me. I easily found a secluded spot. My broken leg screamed in protest, each movement a tearing agony as I hoisted myself over the railing. What was a little pain, if it meant seeing Grandma? With a relieved smile, I resolutely jumped. In the frigid embrace of the ocean, I looked back on fifteen years of absurd existence. I had been thrust into this world with a mission: to save the male leads driven to madness by the heroine. If I could successfully save just one of them, I could escape a fatal car accident in my real world. But in the end, I failed all four. Every time Maggie, the world’s chosen heroine, reappeared, all my efforts at redemption were instantly erased. Seawater flooded my nose and mouth. I thought I could finally find release. But then, a strong arm clamped around me, holding me tight. Through the haze, I saw his frantically worried face. Then, I completely blacked out. When I woke up, my throat burned. Staring at the unfamiliar white ceiling, I knew I hadn’t died. Why was even dying so difficult?! I turned my head and saw an exceptionally handsome face. His gaze was downcast, his expression utterly blank. He looked like a marble statue, or an ancient deity stepped out of a forgotten legend. Wait, wasn’t this Sean? One of my targets. The Sean who once told me, “Without you, I would have already fallen into hell.” As if possessed, I reached out and touched the blessed wooden bracelet I’d gotten for him years ago, still on his wrist. His eyes snapped open, a sharp gaze piercing me. “Venus, what game are you playing now?” I pulled my hand back as if burned, my heart seizing in my chest. He thought I was trying to manipulate him again, to win his pity. But he’d forgotten. Fifteen years ago, it was Maggie, the woman he deeply loved, who framed him, destroying his family. He’d plunged into utter despair, retreating from the world. It was *I* who stayed by his side, day and night, tirelessly caring for him, shielding him from all the ruthless debt collectors, helping him rebuild his life bit by bit. He’d once held me tight and said he wouldn’t exist without me. But now, his eyes held nothing but disgust and contempt for me. All my sacrifices, in his eyes, were utterly worthless. Sean spoke with chilling indifference: “Maggie has always been frail.” “And she’s been busy all day. She’s not feeling well now and needs your blood.” The doctor nearby tried to interject, “Miss Venus just fell into the water, she’s very weak…” “She’s perfectly fine. She’s got a thick skin, a little blood is nothing,” He brutally cut off the doctor. “This is the only way she can help Maggie. She should be grateful.” I stared at Sean, a bitter taste spreading through my heart. “If you love her so much, why aren’t you by her side?” “Watching her marry Tom, becoming his hidden shadow… are you truly content with that?” The System said he was going to turn dark, that I needed to save him. But this pathetic, self-sacrificing devotion for love… how was this “turning dark”? “Maggie is different,” His features softened instantly. “Back in the orphanage, she was the only one who gave me warmth.” “That kindness, I’ll never forget it.”

  The orphanage again. I looked at him, my mind a blank. Right, the System had said it. Maggie was the destined heroine of this world. She and the four male leads shared a supposedly beautiful childhood in that orphanage. Even if she later left them bruised and battered, all it took was her return, a few tears, and a few soft words, and everything anyone else had done for them seemed to reset to zero. After they were done draining my blood, my vision swam, threatening to black out completely. I was on the verge of losing consciousness, my mind drifting: If I just sleep now… Will I finally return to my world and see Grandma? Grandma, Venus misses you so much… Late that night, I woke up again, feeling a little stronger. Damn it, I still couldn’t die. Even death was this difficult. I looked around, recognizing this as Sean’s secluded retreat. Then I remembered the rumors: the remote trails behind the retreat were rumored to be infested with venomous snakes… Without hesitation, I stumbled towards the back trails. My broken leg made my steps agonizingly slow, but I pushed on, utterly resolute. Just as a venomous snake was about to strike, I was violently pulled back. “Venus! Are you insane?!” It was Sean! How was he here *again*?! He gripped my arm, his strength so immense I thought my bones would shatter. His face was contorted with a mixture of panic and fury I’d never seen before. “Are you trying to die, huh?!” He growled, complex emotions swirling in his eyes. “First jumping off the cruise, now provoking venomous snakes! Are you *that* desperate for my attention?!” “Attention?” I yanked my arm from his grasp, a cold laugh escaping my lips. “If I die, I won’t be in your way anymore, and I won’t threaten Maggie, the woman you hold so dear, will I?” “You should be happy!” I shoved him away, turning back towards the snake. Death. I *had* to die here today! He grabbed me again, and my arm scraped against a rock, a sharp sting. “Stop trying to play the victim!” He roughly seized my hand, his voice thick with impatience. “Go put some ointment on that wound!” As he forcibly dragged me back, I saw the bracelet on his wrist again. It reminded me of the lucky charm Grandma gave me. Good thing I hadn’t given *that* to this ungrateful bastard back then. I was going home to Grandma now, and I needed to take it with me. While they weren’t paying attention, I quietly slipped away. That lucky charm, Grandma had embroidered it herself. The stitches were meticulously neat, depicting beautifully embroidered lovebirds, a symbol of enduring happiness, imbued with her deepest blessings for me. Grandma had always hoped I’d find a good husband and live a life of peace and happiness. I used to naively think that if I could successfully save any of them, I’d give that lucky charm, imbued with Grandma’s heartfelt wishes, to him, letting her witness my happiness. But alas, none of them deserved it. I returned to my uncle Richard’s house to get the charm. But I found him staring blankly at a portrait of Maggie. Richard, a decorated veteran, who’d been confined to a wheelchair. He willingly served as Maggie’s personal security, only to be brutally humiliated by her. She even manipulated him, causing him to become permanently disabled. It was I who stayed by his side, day after day, helping him with his physical therapy, encouraging him to stand again. I cooked for him every day. He initially resented my presence, but later, he grew protective, doting on me, forbidding me from cooking. He lovingly prepared every single meal for me. But then Maggie came back, and with a sudden, casual mention of a dog fur allergy, He didn’t hesitate to throw the little dog we’d raised together for so long, who we treated like family, from a tall building. That little dog was a gift from him, bought after he finally accepted me. We had promised to rely on each other. It had accompanied us through so many happy times. But because of Maggie’s dismissive comment, he ended its life without a single blink. I used to fear such abandonment. Now, I craved it. I ignored my uncle and walked straight into my room. Only to find it completely empty. “Where are my things?”

  I fought down my fury, asking Richard in a cold voice. “Maggie didn’t want any of your things here, so I cleared them out,” Richard said, his voice distant. “I’ll find you somewhere else to live.” Cleared out? He made it sound so simple. “Just like you got rid of that innocent little dog, are you trying to get rid of me?” I let out a cold, hollow laugh. From start to finish, I was always the extra one. “You…” I cut him off, my voice trembling with emotion. “You can do whatever you want with everything else, I don’t care. I just want that box!” Inside was Grandma’s lucky charm, my only connection to her! “What do you want it for?” Richard’s face instantly darkened, his eyes turning wary and harsh. He thought I was going to use the contents of the box to stir up trouble with Tom again. “You’ll never be as kind and wonderful as Maggie!” “Tom would never like a manipulative, vile woman like you!” “I’m warning you, I will *never* let you ruin Maggie’s wedding!” Kind? In his eyes, only the heroine of this world was truly kind. I had once told Richard about that box. Under the moonlight, he’d said, with a hint of jealousy, that he’d keep it safe for me until I found my true love. I’d also said that if I could ever be with him, I’d give him the box. Back then, his expression was serious and loving, filling me with hope. Now, he was warning me with the most vicious words: “You stay put! Don’t you dare try to cause any more trouble for Maggie!” “If you don’t tell me where the box is, I’ll go tell Maggie right now exactly what kind of filthy, hidden thoughts you have about her!” I intentionally provoked him. Richard was indeed completely enraged. He retrieved the box from a corner and violently threw it to the ground. The box shattered, and the lucky charm fell out. He snatched up the charm and brutally tore it to shreds, the pieces scattering across the floor. “Venus, you’re so ungrateful! I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget today!” I looked at the shredded lucky charm, my heart twisting in agony. This was the man I had poured everything into caring for. His inherent ruthlessness had never disappeared! Good. His cruelty was exactly what I needed to end my life, to see Grandma sooner. I clutched the torn pieces of the charm tightly in my hand, looking at Richard’s enraged face, and smiled. “We’re completely even now.” With that, before he could react, I lunged, smashing into his previously injured leg. The pain from my broken leg made me stumble, but I put all my remaining strength into the impact. Excruciating pain instantly flared, and I coughed up blood, my vision blurring. I knew it was his sore spot, the scar left by Maggie. I deliberately provoked him, wanting only to finish this quickly and leave this world. Richard froze, stunned that I would do such a thing. His face flashed with shock, self-reproach, and pain, as he looked at me helplessly. But soon, these emotions were replaced by fury. “Venus! You couldn’t seduce Tom, so now you’re trying to seduce *me*?! You have no shame!” I was fading fast, my consciousness blurring, but I saw Sean had arrived too. When I woke again, I found myself in a dark, damp basement. “Didn’t Sean take me away? How did I end up here?” As I wondered, Maggie stood before me, a triumphant look on her face. “Venus, you’re in such a wretched state, and you still can’t leave them alone?” Maggie looked down at me from above, mocking, “Do you really think a pathetic wretch like you can compete with me?” Before I could even process what she was saying, she suddenly leaned close to my ear and whispered, “I’ll show you today.” “All your struggles and efforts are nothing but a futile joke.” “But, seeing how pitiful you are, I’ll give you a fair chance to compete.” I grew even more confused. Just as I was about to demand an explanation, I heard sounds of a struggle outside. Then, the door burst open, and Tom rushed in, yelling frantically: “Maggie, are you okay?!”   He immediately saw Maggie and me tied together, connected to a complex device, and his face instantly turned grave. I understood at once: this was Maggie’s self-orchestrated kidnapping! The device connected to two ropes, each tied to Maggie and me. The other end of the ropes connected to two syringes filled with venom. Once the device activated, both ropes would tighten simultaneously. One would snap, pulling its syringe into the person it was tied to. Meaning, Tom could only choose one of us to save. Maggie looked at Tom, feigning vulnerability. “Tom, save me…” I looked at Tom, my heart a desolate void. Tom, the formidable crime lord… he was once such a proud man. But Maggie had left him utterly broken. When he was at his lowest, before being acknowledged by his family in the underworld, Maggie brought people to humiliate him, forcing him to eat dog food and live in a dog kennel. He endured endless torment. When he finally returned to his family, his personality had warped, becoming ruthless, cruel, and unapproachable. I had placed my last hope in him, wanting to save him. As his exclusive sparring partner, I silently endured his relentless torment, staying by his side, never leaving. One day, he beat me black and blue. I turned to leave, utterly desperate. But he suddenly pulled me back from behind, holding me tightly in his arms. His deep voice rumbled in my ear: “Where are you going?” “Stay here.” My ear rested against his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat, thinking my redemption efforts had finally paid off. I thought he, having been hurt the most, would be the most resistant to Maggie’s allure. But I was wrong, so terribly wrong. In the end, he was the one who remained devoted to Maggie, refusing to marry anyone else, even holding such a grand wedding for her. And all the suffering I’d endured by his side, helping him transition his empire into legitimate ventures, had become a colossal joke. To prevent Maggie from discovering our past, he found 99 other women, stand-ins for her. As if to prove I wasn’t special, wasn’t unique. He was just so desperate for Maggie that he found so many women who resembled her. To prove his loyalty to her, he even sacrificed me to his sworn enemy. I was tortured for a day and a night, and the tiny life growing inside me was lost. Tom looked at the intricate device, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Seeing this, Maggie immediately feigned weakness again. “Tom, save her. She was with you for a long time when you weren’t around…” “I’m content marrying you now, I couldn’t ask for more.” She then brought up old memories from the orphanage, each word hitting Tom where it hurt the most. Tom’s heart ached. He turned to me, furious. “Venus, aren’t you satisfied? Must you cause such a scene! You saw Maggie and I were getting married, so you deliberately set up this scheme, only to be kidnapped yourself. Are you happy now?!” Just then, Sean and Richard also rushed in. Seeing Maggie in danger, they both grew anxious, vehemently accusing me of being manipulative and bringing this on myself. I looked at them, their past gentleness and promises now turned into icy accusations and condemnations. I’d given everything, only to be met with their disgust and scorn. Why did it come to this? My heart felt as if it was being torn apart; I couldn’t breathe from the pain. I didn’t want to waste any more time. I scoffed directly: “You were all manipulated like puppets by Maggie, and now you’re fawning over her like desperate dogs! How pathetic! I must have been blind!” “You idiots! You were all played by that bitch Maggie, wrapped around her little finger!” “And now you’re still fawning over her like a bunch of tail-wagging dogs, completely devoted!” “It’s the most pathetic joke in the world!” “I, Venus, must have been blind to ever think of saving you ungrateful bastards!” Tom was indeed enraged. His eyes turned bloodshot, veins throbbing on his forehead. With the three men’s unspoken coordination, Richard quickly subdued the kidnappers, and Sean immediately shielded Maggie. Tom, meanwhile, lunged at me, savagely plunging his dagger into my shoulder!   Agony ripped through me, blood instantly staining my clothes. I looked at his bloodshot eyes, filled with madness and hatred. “I never wronged you. Why do you hate me so much?”

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My name is Harley Foster. Titus Gibson, heir to the Gibson family fortune, dotes on Malia Foster and assigned his best bodyguard to protect her—that bodyguard is my husband, Spencer Griffin. That day, Malia deliberately pushed me down the stairs. My son Liam Griffin merely glared at her, and Titus used that as an excuse to force Spencer to tie Liam and me up in an abandoned warehouse. Spencer clenched his fists, tears in his eyes as he said, “Mr. Gibson said only if I do this myself will you understand how serious this is.” He beat my pregnant body until I was covered in blood, causing me to miscarry on the spot. Liam, who already suffered from leukemia, developed a high fever from an infected wound and fell into a coma. After the punishment ended, Spencer carried us to the hospital with red-rimmed eyes. In my hazy consciousness, I heard a conversation outside the hospital room. “Mr. Gibson, you’ve been hiding your identity, caring for Mrs. Gibson’s sister under the guise of being a bodyguard, and pretending to be forced into harming her, causing her miscarriage and Liam’s coma. If she knew the truth, she’d be devastated.” After a moment of silence, Spencer spoke: “She’ll never know. Even if she did, a woman with no one to love or care for her could never leave me. Malia is my benefactor. Anyone who hurts her, even my wife and son, must pay the price.” A tear slid down my cheek. So it had all been a lie from the very beginning. The conversation outside continued as waves of pain crashed over me. This wasn’t the first time Spencer had used Titus as an excuse to harm Liam and me in order to protect Malia. In my delirium, memories flooded back. ***** I was the real daughter the Foster family had found. But this family never truly accepted me. Their hearts always favored my sister Malia, who had stolen everything from me. Throughout college, she repeatedly had others humiliate me. Someone would sneer as they shoved my head into a toilet, men’s hands tearing at my clothes. Just when I despaired, Spencer appeared. Just like years ago at the orphanage, he shielded me and drove everyone away. I saw him as my salvation, believing there was still one person in this world who truly loved me. So I built a family with him despite his poverty. When Liam was born and diagnosed with leukemia, Spencer never complained, just silently took on more work, running around day and night. Life was hard but happy, until the day Titus made him Malia’s bodyguard. The day he was to start protecting Malia, I grabbed his arm, my face pale: “Don’t go, Spencer. I can dance to earn money. Please don’t become Malia’s bodyguard. You know what she’s like…” He clenched his fists, his eyes conflicted, finally interrupting me softly: “Harley, stop dwelling on the past. Malia has changed. Besides, this job pays well—with the money, we can treat Liam’s illness.” Looking at frail Liam in his hospital bed, I let go of his arm. I watched helplessly as the one person who had ever loved me turned to protect Malia, who had stolen my family and hurt me. Even worse, to protect Malia, he actually hurt me. The first time, because I didn’t smile when I saw Malia, she cried pitifully and asked if I still resented her for taking my parents away. Titus immediately ordered Spencer to tear my mouth. The second time, at a dance performance when someone publicly praised my dancing, Titus commanded Spencer to sever my Achilles tendons. The ninety-sixth time, Malia accidentally shattered my mother’s urn, and the fragments cut her hand. Titus made Spencer take a knife and personally carve one hundred wounds into my body. Now, this was the ninety-seventh time. My mother was the only person in this world who was ever kind to me. The day her urn shattered, I wanted to take her away from this house, but I happened to run into Malia. She caressed her swollen belly and whispered in my ear: “The child in my womb isn’t Mr. Gibson’s at all—it’s Spencer’s. Everything you want will belong to me.” I stared at her belly, eyes widening, then looked at Spencer standing nearby with reddened eyes. Before I could speak, Malia suddenly screamed. Spencer instantly rushed forward, forcefully shoving me aside to hold her tightly in his arms. I stumbled toward the staircase, and Malia seized the moment to push me. As I fell, I saw her lips silently mouth: “Who do you think he’ll believe—me or you?”

As I fell through the air, watching Spencer anxiously lean down to check if Malia was hurt, I suddenly found it almost laughable. I lay on the ground, covered in blood, in so much pain I could barely move. Liam pressed his hands tightly against my bleeding wounds, crying out to Spencer: “Dad! Save Mom! Save the baby in Mom’s belly!” But Spencer only covered the tiny cut on Malia’s hand, looking at me with disappointment: “Harley, was it worth it? To frame Malia, you didn’t even care about the child in your womb?” He turned his head and said coldly: “I’m Malia’s bodyguard. I have to ensure her safety first. Once the doctor confirms she’s fine, then I’ll deal with you.” In that moment, my eyes welled up with tears. Today wasn’t even his work day. Liam clenched his teeth, watching helplessly as his father carried Malia away, hatred burning in his eyes. Malia trembled slightly, shrinking into Spencer’s arms, saying timidly: “Spencer, I’m so scared. Liam is glaring at me.” Because of those words, Liam and I were punished again. When I woke up, Liam, who suffered from leukemia, and I had been tied up in an abandoned warehouse. Spencer stood before me, his fists trembling slightly: “Harley, why do you always have it out for Malia? You falsely accused her of bullying you, but she’s already forgiven you. She never meant to compete with you for your parents’ attention, so why do you keep targeting her? You even made Liam look at her that way! Malia is timid—that look scared her so much she couldn’t sleep all night!” The pain from falling down the stairs hadn’t subsided. I turned my head to see Liam beside me breathing rapidly, red blotches spreading across his body, and my heart sank. Fighting through the excruciating pain, I struggled to kneel up, my voice hoarse as I pleaded: “Spencer, please tell Mr. Gibson to spare Liam! He has leukemia—if his wounds get infected, it could be fatal. Please, it’s all my fault. Don’t drag him into this!” Blood seeped from my wounds again. Spencer looked down at me, covered in blood, then at Liam, who was nearly suffocating. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. But moments later, he clenched his fists, his eyes reddening as he steeled himself: “Mr. Gibson said only if I do this myself and hit hard enough will you understand how serious this is. To pay for Liam’s medical bills, I have no choice.” Every time he hurt me to protect Malia, he used the same excuse. But this time, watching Liam hanging by a thread, I no longer believed him. Warm liquid trickled down my legs—I knew the baby was gone. He had beaten me until I miscarried. Spencer walked step by step toward Liam, who was now burning with fever and convulsing. I lay in a pool of blood, consciousness fading, my lips trembling as I squeezed out one last plea: “Liam really will die. Please, Spencer.” He turned back, his eyes bloodshot: “Harley, stop targeting Malia. Otherwise, next time, Mr. Gibson will want your and Liam’s lives.” In the last moment before losing consciousness, I saw Liam with a bacterial infection, bleeding uncontrollably. ***** I don’t know how much time passed before voices outside the hospital room reached me again. “Mr. Gibson, Liam’s injuries are too severe, and with his leukemia, the bleeding won’t stop. Are you really going to make him donate bone marrow to Malia’s unborn child tomorrow? He won’t survive it.” Spencer’s voice carried a hint of tenderness: “I’ll have them use medication to keep him alive. The Gibson family fortune will eventually go to Malia’s child. That child has been diagnosed with leukemia, and I won’t allow anything to go wrong. As for Liam, being a half-dead living corpse is enough. That way, he’ll never be able to compete with Malia’s child for the inheritance.” My mind was reeling. So Malia’s child really was his. He had not only hidden his identity and pretended to be forced into hurting us, but from the very beginning, he never intended to save our son. Just then, the heart monitor beside me began beeping shrilly. The hospital room door burst open as Spencer rushed in, frantically grabbing my hand and shouting for a doctor.

I struggled to open my eyes, finally awakening slowly that afternoon. Spencer sat by the bedside, unshaven with bloodshot eyes. The young nurse couldn’t help but sigh as she changed my dressing: “Your husband is so good to you. He hasn’t eaten or slept for three whole days and nights watching over you. If you hadn’t woken up, I was afraid he’d starve to death right here.” I forced the corners of my mouth into a bitter smile. He’s good to me? My injuries were caused by his own hands! Spencer held my hand, gently stroking it. “I’m sorry, honey. We lost the baby. I really had no choice at the time—Mr. Gibson forced me to do it. If I hadn’t acted, someone else would have. Besides, you and Liam did target Malia first, so you were in the wrong. Please don’t hurt her anymore.” He paused, and a hint of joy actually appeared on his face. “Oh! Mr. Gibson found someone willing to donate bone marrow to Liam! He’s already agreed, and they’ll perform the bone marrow transplant surgery on Liam first thing tomorrow morning.” My heart plummeted, my face instantly turning pale as I asked with reddened eyes: “Is someone else donating bone marrow to Liam? Or are you saying Liam has to donate his bone marrow to someone else?” Panic flashed in Spencer’s eyes as he reached out to stroke my hair. “What are you talking about? Of course someone else is donating to Liam. Liam has leukemia—how could he possibly donate bone marrow? That would be a death sentence.” But those words pierced my heart like needles. So you do know that making Liam donate bone marrow to someone else would be killing him. That night, I quietly pulled out my IV needle and, supporting my weak body, slowly made my way to Liam’s room. I wanted to take him away, but standing outside the sterile room’s glass window, watching his small body filled with tubes and his weak breathing, I suddenly didn’t know where I could take him. As if sensing my presence, Liam slowly opened his eyes. He used all his strength to try to smile at me, but just as the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, they fell back down helplessly. I quickly covered my mouth and turned away, not wanting him to see the tears streaming down my face. With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and dialed Spencer’s number. It took three attempts before someone finally answered. His slightly impatient voice came through: “Harley, I’m Malia’s bodyguard right now, and I’m working. Didn’t I tell you not to call during work hours? What if someone tries to hurt Malia while I’m distracted?” I looked toward Spencer in the distance, gently feeding Malia, and bitterness welled up in my heart. So feeding her is also part of a bodyguard’s duties? Looking at Liam’s tiny body, my voice choked: “Please don’t make Liam donate bone marrow to someone else, okay? He’ll die. He’s your son.” There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, then came a light chuckle: “Stop overthinking. Liam’s surgery tomorrow will go smoothly.” Before I could respond, the call was disconnected. The next second, Malia called, and I instinctively answered. Her voice was soft and sweet, tinged with concern: “Spencer, are you really going to have Liam donate bone marrow to the baby in my belly? But Liam has leukemia—can he handle it?” In the room, Spencer’s hand gently covered her abdomen: “Yes, the child in your belly will be healthy. As for Liam, with Mr. Gibson’s medical team there, he’ll be fine.” The call ended. I stood there as my tears finally broke free, silently streaming down my face.   My knuckles turned white as I gripped my phone, fingers trembling slightly from the force. After taking a deep breath, I dialed that long-buried number. That night, a Maybach silently pulled up outside the hospital. I was pushing Liam’s hospital bed, preparing to leave, when Spencer blocked my path at the end of the corridor with his men. This was the ninety-eighth time. I shielded Liam protectively, but Spencer’s face was cold as he yanked me aside. “Harley, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Mr. Gibson wants to treat Liam. Taking him away now—are you trying to kill him?” My eyes blazing red, I jerked my hand free. “Who’s really trying to kill him? Extracting Liam’s bone marrow to donate to the baby in Malia’s belly will kill him! You know he’ll die!” A flicker of reluctance crossed Spencer’s eyes, and his tone softened as he tried to coax me: “What are you talking about? Mr. Gibson said himself that he’s going to treat Liam. Harley, don’t overthink this, okay?” Just then, Malia walked over clutching her belly, her face pale. “Spencer, I’m in so much pain. Is the baby’s leukemia acting up? Am I going to miscarry?” Spencer immediately panicked, rushing to support her and carefully settling her onto a hospital bed. He pulled out his phone, pretending to receive a message, then coldly ordered: “Notify the medical team. Mr. Gibson just gave word—proceed with the bone marrow transplant surgery immediately.” I stood frozen, staring at him in disbelief. Before he’d even finished speaking, his men swarmed forward, reaching for Liam’s bed. I clutched Liam tightly, refusing to let go. “Spencer, please! Malia, I’m begging you both to spare Liam!” A flash of struggle and heartache crossed Spencer’s eyes, but ultimately he leaned down, trying to pry my fingers loose. “Harley, stop making a scene. Liam will be fine. Be good.” I’d rather die than let go. Finally, he sighed: “Harley, don’t blame me for this.” His face turned cold as he broke my fingers. My agonized screams didn’t stop him—he forcibly tore Liam from my arms. With my broken fingers, I crawled after him, grabbing at Spencer’s pant leg, pleading desperately, only to be kicked away. Liam and Malia were wheeled into the operating room. I pounded on the operating room doors, trying to claw them open with my fingers, but even with my hands covered in blood, it was useless. When the surgery ended, Spencer gently wheeled Malia away, his eyes full of tender concern. I stumbled into the empty operating room and found Liam on the cold metal table. With his leukemia causing clotting disorders, the surgical table beneath him was soaked in blood. The doctors silently shook their heads and left. I knelt beside the table, holding Liam’s still-warm body, but no sound would come from my throat. For the ninety-ninth time, Spencer had killed our son for Malia’s sake. I held Liam’s cold body, sitting motionless in the operating room. When dawn broke, I stood up like a puppet and walked out step by step. That’s when Malia blocked my path with a smile: “Actually, the baby in my belly doesn’t have leukemia at all. I just said it casually—I never expected Mr. Gibson would really give me your son’s bone marrow.” With Liam dead, I had nothing left to hold back. I used every ounce of strength to slap her hard across the face. I was about to hit her again when Spencer shoved me away violently. Liam’s body fell to the floor, and I frantically crawled to his side to pick him up. Spencer’s face was ice-cold: “Harley, haven’t you caused enough trouble? You hurt Malia last time and got punished for it—didn’t you learn your lesson? I already told you Liam would be fine. Look at yourself now—what kind of behavior is this?” I didn’t look at him, just numbly checked Liam’s body for injuries from the fall. Spencer seemed to sense something, a flash of heartache crossing his eyes, but his words remained brutally cold: “Harley, apologize to Malia. Otherwise, when Mr. Gibson finds out, he won’t spare you or Liam. When that happens, I won’t be able to protect you either.” I slowly raised my head and burst into laughter: “Mr. Gibson? You are Mr. Gibson, aren’t you? Stop pretending—Liam is already dead. What more do you want?”

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Nanny Lily Bell held a bottle of PQQ collagen drink, her face showing a mix of surprise and gratitude. She said, “Mrs. Gibson, PQQ collagen drinks are great for beauty and skincare—they make your skin look better. At my age, drinking it wouldn’t do much good. You should have it instead.” With that, she handed me the PQQ collagen drink. Looking at her expectant expression, a wave of fear washed over me. In my previous life, after drinking that bottle of PQQ collagen drink, I began feeling weak and exhausted. And from that point on, no matter what skincare products I used, all the benefits would transfer to Lily. I suspected she had added some unknown substance to that drink. In this life, I wouldn’t dare touch PQQ collagen drinks again. I pushed it right back to Lily: “You drink it.” After watching Lily finish the drink, I returned to my bedroom to test my suspicions and applied some skincare products to my face. Before long, spots immediately appeared on my face. These spots were in exactly the same positions as the original spots on Lily’s face. Sure enough, even after being reborn, what was meant to happen still hadn’t changed. I remembered how in my previous life, the more skincare products I used, the more spots appeared on my face, and the deeper my wrinkles became, making me look twenty years older. Filled with terror, I quickly threw away all my skincare products. Seeing this, Lily looked heartbroken and said, “Mrs. Gibson, such good stuff—why are you throwing it away? This brand is really expensive. If you don’t want it, could you give it to me? I can’t afford to buy these things. I usually can’t bear to use any skincare products.” After saying this, she retrieved the skincare products from the trash and held them in her arms like treasures. Seeing this scene, a suspicion formed in my mind. I immediately took out a bottle of lotion and applied it to her face. I wanted to see if the spots that had just appeared on my face would disappear. Unfortunately, the spots on my face became even more pronounced. Lily happily patted her cheeks and said, “Expensive things really are different. Look, my skin has become tighter and softer.” Through the mirror, I saw a flash of malicious light in her eyes. At that moment, my husband Harrison Gibson emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He glanced coldly at Lily and said to me with an unfriendly tone, “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you not to let the nanny into the bedroom when I’m home?” Looking at his impatient face, I suddenly remembered that in my previous life, he was the one who brought Lily back. He had said at the time that Lily was a gold-standard nanny who had worked for the Patterson family for many years. Later, when the Patterson family was moving abroad, they recommended Lily to him. Lily was efficient in her work, and the meals she prepared suited both Harrison’s and my tastes perfectly. As soon as she arrived, she organized the entire villa from top to bottom, so I had been quite satisfied with her initially. But three days later, I gradually began noticing something strange. Whenever I started my skincare routine, inexplicable spots would appear on my face, and fine lines would develop around my eyes and cheeks. In contrast, Lily’s face, which had originally been covered with age spots, became increasingly smooth, and the wrinkles on her face disappeared. I had a daily habit of morning runs. But after a week, my figure became increasingly bloated, with excess fat accumulating around my waist. Meanwhile, Lily’s figure became more and more slender, radiating vitality. I suppressed my panic and went to a beauty salon for spot removal. After the beautician removed the device from my face, she suddenly screamed. Not only had large patches of spots appeared on my face, but my entire face had become loose and wrinkled. I then went to a massage parlor for body treatments. Instead of improvement, stretch marks and C-section scars appeared on my waist. Lily’s face became smooth and delicate, and you could even see the hint of abs on her stomach. That evening, after seeing my appearance and body, Harrison kicked me out of bed. I told him that Lily was strange, but he just sneered. He said, “Everyone says women suddenly age when they reach a certain age. You’re not even thirty and you’re aging this fast—how dare you blame a nanny for it?” The next morning, Harrison kept staring at Lily’s body, never looking away. I was furious and fired Lily. But from that point on, I stopped menstruating. After going to the hospital for tests, the doctor found that I not only had menopausal symptoms but had also developed diabetes and high blood pressure. Harrison not only mocked my appearance but also openly brought women back to the villa to spend the night. I was so angry that I had a sudden stroke and collapsed on the floor, begging him to take me to the hospital. But he didn’t even glance at me, embracing the woman he’d brought home as they entered our bedroom. By the time someone found me the next day, it was too late. I died on the way to the hospital. Now that I’m living again, I must uncover the truth and absolutely will not repeat the same mistakes.

I avoided Harrison and went to the study. I opened my phone and, sure enough, saw Lily livestreaming. In my previous life, she did the same thing—broadcasting her daily life as a nanny in a wealthy household to her online followers. Moreover, she claimed she wanted to learn skincare from the wealthy and challenged herself to “reverse aging in 30 days,” transforming from 40 back to 20. At the time, viewers were cracking up, flooding the comments with: [You’d have to be reborn for that to work.] [If you can turn back to 20 in 30 days, then I can turn back into a kindergartener.] When I saw her livestream back then, I didn’t think much of it, assuming she just wanted to start an account to earn some extra income. But I never expected that later, Lily would actually become visibly younger at an alarming rate. Lily gradually gained fame online, accumulating hundreds of thousands of followers. Everyone kept asking how she managed to do it. Some people even investigated and discovered that Harrison and I were her employers. By that time, my transformation was already dramatic. However, as the head of Mclean Group, many business events were scheduled in advance, so I had no choice but to attend. Netizens found photos of me at these events and compared them with Lily. [Lily, is this what you call learning skincare from the wealthy? You’ve clearly transferred the rich woman’s youth to yourself!] [I remember the Mclean Group heiress used to be gorgeous. It was because of her face that Mclean Group’s stock kept rising. How did she end up looking like this?] Mclean Group was in the skincare and cosmetics business. When the company’s head suddenly aged, Mclean Group’s stock price plummeted overnight. Now, I watched as Lily displayed the skincare products she’d taken from me in front of the camera, claiming they were gifts from me. Then, she announced her “30-day reverse aging challenge” once again. I felt a deep sense of dread because from the day she entered the villa to the day I died in my previous life was exactly 30 days. I created a burner account and left a comment among all the mocking ones: [Becoming young in just 30 days seems impossible, right? Do you have some other method? Tell me about it. I can pay whatever you want.] Lily smiled slightly, then slowly applied those skincare products to her face. She said, “I don’t have any other methods. I just watch what Mrs. Gibson does and copy her. As long as you put your heart into it, you’ll see results.” In just that short time, more spots appeared on my face. Moreover, my carefully maintained eye area began showing fine lines. I immediately looked at Lily in the livestream and noticed her face had become noticeably more delicate. Viewers started discussing: [I think I’m seeing things. Look at her skin—is it getting better?] [It really is getting better! Her spots are fading and her wrinkles are getting shallower.] [She must have beauty filters on.] Lily immediately moved her face closer to the camera. She said, “I don’t. And I’m completely makeup-free right now.” Looking at her increasingly youthful face, I was terrified. This was clearly an exchange! She was trading her aging for my youth. A thought suddenly popped into my head. What if I stopped taking care of myself and deliberately made myself ugly? Would that prevent her from exchanging with me? So I started using harsh skincare products. My skin quickly became red, swollen, and terrible-looking. I also stopped exercising and ate high-calorie foods every day, rapidly becoming bloated. I carefully observed Lily’s changes. As it turned out, there was no difference from my previous life—she continued becoming younger. My terrible skin and bloated figure had no effect on her whatsoever. When Harrison returned from his business trip and saw my appearance, he was shocked. He said with disgust, “Isabella, the Gibson Group anniversary celebration is in a few days. If you keep looking like this, don’t bother coming. The Gibson family finds you embarrassing.” Isabella Mclean is my name. Hearing his words, Lily secretly smiled but pretended to be concerned, saying, “Mrs. Gibson, maybe you should go to a beauty salon? “Also, you’ve been eating so much junk food—Mr. Gibson must be unhappy about it. “Without a beautiful face and sexy figure, how can a woman keep a man’s heart?” I let out a cold laugh, then turned and went back to the study. I called my assistant Mia Brown and said, “Cancel all my upcoming business activities, then help me investigate someone.”

I canceled all my business activities and did nothing but stay home, refusing to leave the house. Even so, the spots on my face kept getting darker, my hair loss accelerated, and wrinkles had spread across my entire face. What was even more terrifying was that due to my physical weakness and blurred vision, I had no choice but to go to the hospital for tests. After reviewing my test results, the doctor said in shock that I had developed progeria, was showing early symptoms of diabetes, and had developed presbyopia. The doctor said, “Ms. Mclean, your condition is very rare. You may need further testing.” But I knew perfectly well that no amount of testing would help unless I solved the root problem. Since I hadn’t made any public appearances, rumors were already circulating in high society that the CEO of Mclean Group had contracted some strange disease. Meanwhile, Lily’s increasingly youthful face had gained her account tens of thousands more followers. During her livestreams, she wore yoga clothes and appeared makeup-free, her skin glowing and her figure perfect. She looked decades younger than before. 【This is incredible. Lily, how did you manage this?】 【At this rate, in less than 30 days, you’ll look like you’re in your twenties.】 【If she gets any younger, she’ll turn into a teenager.】 Lily smugly read the comments, swaying her hips as she thanked everyone. I was horrified to discover stretch marks appearing on my stomach and thighs. At the same time, clumps of hair were falling onto my shoulders. Right then, Lily was receiving tons of gifts during her livestream. She laughed and said, “Thank you. Thank you all.” When someone asked how she’d gotten younger, she replied, “How did I do it? Maybe I’m just lucky.” Looking at the handful of brittle hair in my palm, I froze. I couldn’t take it anymore! Like a madwoman, I burst into Lily’s room and grabbed her arm. I shrieked, “Tell me! What method did you use to transfer all your ailments to me?” Lily’s screams brought Harrison running. Seeing my appearance, he looked disgusted as he pulled me away from Lily. He said, “What’s gotten into you? Look at yourself right now.” I roared, “Harrison, look at me, then look at her! She’s only been here for ten days. Do you really think there’s nothing wrong with this?” Harrison glanced at Lily and noticed her smooth skin. She wore a sports bra, revealing her toned, smooth abs. Her legs looked long and straight in her yoga pants. A flash of admiration crossed Harrison’s eyes. Seeing this, I could only sneer inwardly. Sure enough, his true nature was showing. Lily suddenly burst into tears and said, “Mr. Gibson, I clean the house and cook every day without making any mistakes. I really don’t know why Mrs. Gibson is treating me this way. It’s not my fault that Mrs. Gibson has gotten ugly and fat.” She looked up at me through her tears and said, “Mrs. Gibson, have you been under too much stress lately? Is that why you’re taking it out on me? It’s okay. We’re just your punching bags anyway.” After hearing Lily’s words, Harrison pushed me to the ground with even more disgust. “Where’s your dignity as the lady of the Gibson house? You’re worse than a maid!” My face went pale. Though Harrison and I had an arranged marriage, we’d known each other since childhood and had some feelings for each other. On our wedding day, he had sworn in front of everyone. He said that no matter what happened in the future, he would stand by my side without hesitation. Now, looking at his face—identical to my previous life and filled with the same disgust—I said coldly, “Harrison, think carefully. Do you really want to stand against me for someone like her?” Given the business interests between our families, Harrison fell silent. He clearly understood what was at stake. But suddenly, Lily stood up and said through her tears, “Since Mrs. Gibson doesn’t like me, I’ll quit. I’ll leave right now and never appear before you again. Is that okay?” She ran off crying, and my heart began to panic inexplicably.   In my previous life, it was after I fired Lily that my aging began to accelerate. There was something I could never understand. Lily was only in her forties, yet I ended up looking like someone in their sixties or seventies. Why was that? I had just managed to suppress the panic in my heart when something terrifying happened. I suddenly felt something in my mouth. When I spat it out, I saw two teeth. At that moment, I couldn’t care about anything else and hurriedly sent Lily a message, asking her to come back. I didn’t know where Lily was living now, but she was still livestreaming. The scene of me bursting into her room earlier had already been broadcast. Nearly ten thousand people were watching her stream. [Those who came later didn’t see that explosive scene. The CEO of McLean Group went crazy just because the housekeeper became beautiful.] [Are you sure that was Isabella? I don’t think so. That was clearly an overweight middle-aged woman.] After receiving my message, Lily smugly displayed it in front of the camera. She said, “Do you see? My employer is begging me to come back now.” Lily’s words triggered a flood of comments. [Don’t go back, Lily. I’ll send you more gifts. You don’t need that salary.] [I feel like Lily’s employer isn’t mentally stable. For safety’s sake, you shouldn’t go back.] Lily said smugly to the camera, “Mrs. Gibson, did you hear that? Everyone’s worried about me and telling me not to go back. “If you want to know why I became beautiful and young, then beg me. Maybe I’ll tell you. Didn’t you say before that you’d pay any amount?” So she knew I’d been watching her livestream all along. I was stunned, remembering the information Mia had investigated, and sent Lily a message. The message read: [You’re from Rusike Village, aren’t you? You never worked as a housekeeper for the Patterson family. I heard your husband died under very strange circumstances. Do you want me to continue investigating?] Lily calmly read my message, then sighed in front of the camera. She said, “My employer sent another message begging me to come back. It seems she really can’t live without me. I’ll take pity on her and go back tomorrow.” Hearing this, I clenched my fists, but felt an inexplicable sense of relief. But the next day, I heard intimate sounds between a man and woman coming from the master bedroom next door. Fighting my nausea, I walked to the bedroom door. When I saw who was inside, I froze. The woman beneath Harrison, her face flushed with pleasure, was Lily, now even younger. Torn pieces of a dress were scattered on the floor, along with used condoms. That dress was one I had custom-made for Gibson Group’s anniversary celebration. No wonder my good friend Renata Gomes had messaged asking where I was and why Harrison had brought a strange woman to the anniversary gala. Seeing me, Lily showed no embarrassment at all. She smiled and said, “Mrs. Gibson, I’m Lily’s daughter, Bruna Bell. My mother went back to her hometown, so she asked me to help with housekeeping for a few days.” Harrison angrily grabbed the water glass from the nightstand and threw it at me, shouting, “Who gave you permission to come in? Get out! “I’ve already contacted a nursing home. You’re moving in tomorrow.” He slammed the door shut in my face. Through the crack, I could see Lily’s vicious and triumphant expression. My chest suddenly felt a dull pain, and I slowly collapsed to the floor. In my despair, I saw Renata running toward me in panic. The necklace around her neck swayed before my eyes. I suddenly widened my eyes, thinking of something. I said to Renata, “Renata, take me out of here quickly.” Renata said, “Okay. Let’s go to the hospital!” I said urgently, “No. We’re not going to the hospital. Take me to that place we went to last month.” A day later, I calmly opened Lily’s livestream and saw her wearing my diamond necklace around her neck. She smiled and said, “Do I look beautiful? This is a birthday gift from Mr. Gibson.” Suddenly, she screamed and immediately turned off the livestream. But I saw it clearly—a dark spot had suddenly appeared on her delicate face. I let out a heavy sigh of relief. At the same time, Harrison called angrily, asking, “Isabella, what did you do to Bruna?”

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