My sworn enemy lost her memories, so I tricked her into coming home with me and pretending to be my wife. I cooked for her, fed her, and even warmed her bed. She thought I loved her deeply. In reality, I was stealing all her business behind her back. I was secretly gloating, until I accidentally overheard her on the phone in the bedroom, her tone a mix of coquettishness and anger: “Let him have a few more contracts. He didn’t even sleep with me last night!” 1 My assistant found me in the remote mountain village exactly five minutes after my memory returned. She knelt and hugged my leg, sobbing, “Mr. Sterling! You’re alive!” Suddenly, a scantily clad woman burst out of the room and kicked my assistant over. “Who said you could touch my husband’s leg?!” “Bad woman! Stay away from my husband!” Scarlett Vance had a face like an angel and a body like a devil. Her collarbone was covered in suspicious hickeys and scratches. My assistant’s jaw dropped. “Ms… Ms. Vance?!” Scarlett glared at her ferociously, then turned to me, her eyes instantly softening into pure adoration. “Hubby, don’t be scared. I won’t let this bad woman bully you.” “Also, Hubby, why did she call me Ms. Vance? Is there something wrong with her brain?” Me: “…” Seeing my silence, Scarlett got nervous. She walked up to me like a kicked puppy. Wrapping her arms around my waist, she nuzzled her soft lips against my chest and whispered: “Hubby? What’s wrong?” Her lips were cool. But to me, they felt hotter than lava. I instinctively pushed her away. Scarlett stumbled back two steps. Her beautiful face froze, eyes widening in shock… Then, her eyes turned red, and she choked out: “Hubby… you… you pushed me?” “You pushed me for this bad woman?!” My assistant had already fainted from shock. I understood her reaction. Five minutes ago, I woke up in bed. Scarlett was lying beneath me, flushed, her slender arms around my neck, puckering her red lips for a kiss. This was more horrifying than waking up to see my mother. So I fainted too. I would die before admitting that Scarlett’s lips were so soft and sweet that I kissed myself unconscious. 2 Scarlett stormed back into the room after yelling at me. My assistant slowly woke up, looking at me with pure terror. “Mr. Sterling, have you and Ms. Vance… been possessed?!” It wasn’t a strange question. The rivalry between me and Scarlett was legendary in the city. The Sterling and Vance families had been at war for generations. As the heirs, we were epic enemies. We were born on the same day and grew up in the same neighborhood. We fought in school, and now we fought in business. Wherever we met, chaos ensued. If we drank together, we’d sue each other if one person drank a drop less. This time, we were both inspecting new projects in the mountains. A torrential rain caused a landslide. Our cars crashed. We were both injured and lost our memories. The villagers mistook us for a couple and put us in the same room. The key point is… we slept together! Damn it! My twenty-six years of chastity! I was saving it for my future wife, not this evil witch Scarlett! Thank god I got my memory back before her. She was still calling me “Hubby” like an idiot. Heh. Since it’s come to this, don’t blame me for being ruthless! 3 I didn’t go in to comfort the angry Scarlett. After thanking the villagers, my assistant and I prepared to leave. As we reached the car, I saw Scarlett standing there with a cold face, holding a… brick. I frowned. “What are you doing?” “Hubby, are you running away with that wild woman?” Scarlett’s eyes reddened the moment she saw me. Her gaze shifted to my assistant, narrowing dangerously. “Since you’re stealing my husband, I have to kill you.” My assistant’s legs gave out. She almost wet herself. Tsk. She lost her memory, but her vicious nature hadn’t changed a bit! An idea sparked. I walked over, wrapped my arm around Scarlett’s waist, and kissed the corner of her mouth. “Be good, wifey. Who said I was running away? You misunderstood…” Scarlett stiffened and looked up at me. “Then where are you going with her?” “She’s just a driver here to take us home. Back to our home.” Meeting Scarlett’s now clear and innocent eyes, I softened my tone to coax her. “Wifey, I remember everything now. We have a home in the city.” “I handle business outside, and you handle the cooking and chores at home.” “Let’s go home now. We can sleep in our big bed every night.” “This hard bed hurts my back. It’s uncomfortable doing that…” My ability to lie without blinking was honed back in high school when Scarlett kept reporting me for dating. Now the boomerang was coming back to her. Would she believe it? Sure enough, as soon as I finished, the brick fell from Scarlett’s hand. She hugged my waist, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed me. “Boohoo, Hubby, you’re so good… I misunderstood you…” We kissed passionately. The sound of our lips meeting was embarrassingly loud. Why did this damn woman love kissing so much after losing her memory… I should film her looking so obsessed with me so I can mock her forever! I signaled my assistant to take a picture. But she was staring blankly, shocked out of her mind. It was like seeing Voldemort kiss Harry Potter. 4 “Mr. Sterling, is this really okay?” In the hospital hallway, my assistant whispered nervously, “What if Ms. Vance suddenly remembers…” Scarlett was known for her devilish body and devilish heart. Ruthless and vengeful. Everyone in the city feared her except me. If she recovered and realized I tricked her, she’d probably kill me even if it drove her mad… But I wouldn’t give her the chance. Am I, Julian Sterling, a man she can just sleep with and discard? I sneered. “Before she remembers, I’ll make sure she loses everything.” We just ran a series of brain scans on Scarlett. The doctor said if she hadn’t remembered by now, the recovery period could be long. Good, good. Long is good. Long enough for the Vance family to go bankrupt! Leaving the hospital, I got a call from HQ. A major foreign client was arriving tonight. I knew they were here to discuss a cross-border project with Scarlett. And this client happened to be my college crush, the campus goddess! Last time, I almost closed the deal, but Scarlett sabotaged it. Tonight was my chance for a comeback. I changed into a white shirt that accentuated my muscles, hiding my bellyful of bad intentions. Walking out of the fitting room, I bumped into a soft body. “Wearing such tight clothes… who are you going to see?” A seductive voice rang out. Soft, slender hands climbed up my back. A numbness shot up my spine. I shivered and glared, only to meet Scarlett’s beautiful eyes staring at me. For a second, it felt like the old, evil Scarlett was back. Just as I panicked, her hand moved from my back to my belt buckle. She tightened her grip. The mix of pain and pleasure made me flustered and angry. I slapped her hand away. “What are you doing! Hands off!” Scarlett’s hand froze. Her seductive eyes drooped, looking incredibly wronged. “Hubby, you hit me?” “I knew it. You’re tired of the amnesiac me. You make money, you have a pretty assistant who hugs your leg…” “And I just cause trouble at home.” “I don’t even have the right to touch my own husband anymore. Maybe it’s time for me to leave…” She started sobbing, acting like she was about to walk away. Her beautiful face was filled with despair, looking like she was about to shatter. For a moment, I felt like a monster. And she couldn’t leave now—my plan hadn’t even started! I gritted my teeth and grabbed her hand, putting it back on myself. “Wifey, what are you talking about? Touch! Touch all you want!” Scarlett instantly switched from sorrow to joy. She didn’t hold back. Her palm tightened, her other arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me onto the sofa. Her lips replaced her hands. I ran my fingers through her long hair, panting: “Wifey… you’re coming with me to the banquet tonight, but you have to wear earplugs the whole time.” “Why earplugs?” “Um… the doctor said you need to avoid auditory stimulation. So no TV or phone either.” Scarlett had too many shady friends in the city. Cutting off her contact with the outside world was crucial. I wanted to add more instructions, but then—rip. Scarlett tore open my custom-made shirt! Just as I was about to explode, her soft, pitiful voice came from my chest: “Hubby, I tore it by accident. I know I’m useless. You won’t blame me, right?” “…” Fine, I’ll endure it!!!

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My childhood sweetheart, Adrian, sees the world in grayscale. To him, everything is devoid of color, including me. But that never affected our relationship. After high school graduation, he confessed his love, promising we’d be together forever. After college graduation, he proposed, and we vowed never to betray each other. But before we could even pick out a wedding dress… That day, outside the bridal shop, a girl stumbled and fell into his arms in a panic. Adrian didn’t move. He let her hold him tight. The next moment, two lines of text floated before my eyes like a livestream comment. [As the only splash of color in the male lead’s world, he is destined to fall in love with the heroine.] [Therefore, the supporting female character should gracefully exit.] I looked at Adrian in disbelief. But he just kept his head down, staring at the girl in his arms with an excitement and joy I had never seen before. In that moment, my heart plummeted into an icy abyss. 1 On the day we were supposed to try on wedding dresses, Adrian had an urgent meeting. He said he’d be thirty minutes late. I timed it perfectly, waiting outside the shop exactly when he was due to arrive. He was punctual. If he said thirty minutes, he wouldn’t make me wait a minute longer. As I stepped out of the bridal shop, his familiar car pulled up. Adrian got out, holding a massive bouquet of red roses. “Sorry to keep you waiting.” He hugged me, kissing the corner of my lips, his eyes gentle. He was usually calm and rational. But on a special day like today, he couldn’t hide his smile. I smiled back, taking the roses. “I know you’re busy. Company business comes first. I wouldn’t dare get mad.” It was just banter. We both graduated this year and joined our respective family businesses. There was a lot to learn, and important meetings couldn’t be missed. Otherwise, hungry siblings would be waiting to snatch the inheritance. After our brief exchange, we walked into the bridal shop side by side. Even though we had started custom-ordering dresses two years ago, we wanted the perfect wedding, so we decided to order a few more and pick the best one. We didn’t want to regret our once-in-a-lifetime wedding. Before we even entered the shop, a noise erupted nearby. A girl, looking terrified, tripped and fell straight toward Adrian. Adrian wasn’t a germaphobe, but he disliked being touched by strangers. I expected him to push her away instinctively, like he always did. I even worried he might use too much force, so I reached out to help steady her. But to my shock, Adrian stood still. The girl fell into his arms, gripping his lapels tightly, trembling in fear. His pristine suit instantly gained several visible wrinkles. Usually, Adrian wouldn’t tolerate this for a second. A strange feeling crept into my heart, but I didn’t say anything. It was just an accident, after all. Just as I was about to speak, two lines of text floated before my eyes. [As the only splash of color in the male lead’s world, he is destined to fall in love with the heroine.] [Therefore, the supporting female character should gracefully exit.] I went through a rebellious phase as a teenager and read my fair share of novels. I understood the concepts of male leads, female leads, supporting characters, and even this random “bullet screen” commentary. That’s why my heart raced with panic. I stared at the text, then turned to look at Adrian in disbelief. As my childhood sweetheart, no one knew him better than I did. He had been mature since he was a child, rarely smiling, and never showing emotion for irrelevant people. But right now… He seemed to have forgotten I was standing right there. He held the girl tightly, his eyes filled with joy and excitement. This time, I truly felt like I had fallen into an ice cave. 2 The text wasn’t lying. Adrian’s world was gray. He had been more mature than his peers since childhood because of it. But sometimes, in moments of melancholy, he would lean on my shoulder and ask sadly, “Chloe, what does color look like?” I couldn’t answer him. It was like telling a blind person the world is brilliant, or a deaf person that music is beautiful. They couldn’t experience it. Words were useless. In fact, it felt cruel. Adrian and I had known each other since we were babies. Besides his family, only I knew he couldn’t see color. When we were little, I would tirelessly tell him: The tulips in the garden are yellow. The sky is blue. The goldfish we accidentally overfed was red. My dress is green. He would always look thoughtful, staring hard, trying to see something, but eventually resorting to logic. Back then, he couldn’t control his emotions well. He often hid and cried. He thought no one saw, pretending to be a grown-up afterwards, saying he didn’t care. But I knew. His eyes were red. He was sad. So I loved him even more. Among all our playmates, I only wanted to play with him. To be his best friend. As we grew up and went to school together, he became cold and distant to others to hide his secret. Of course, the coldness was for outsiders. I wasn’t an outsider. Adrian said I was the most important person in his heart. Teenage promises are always so sweet. Knowing each other since childhood, being together day and night, and him being so wonderful—how could I not fall for him? Luckily, the feeling was mutual. After high school graduation, he held a bouquet of my favorite roses and confessed his love in front of both our parents, saying he wanted to be with me forever. My dad turned red, rolling up his sleeves and grabbing a stick, threatening to beat Adrian. My mom blocked him, laughing because she adored Adrian and had always hoped we’d end up together. Adrian’s parents kept promising they would treat me well. His dad even called me “daughter-in-law” on the spot, making my dad fume. Through the chaos, Adrian held my hand and hugged me tight. And so, we became a couple. We went to the same university and spent four happy, stable years together. On graduation day, he enlisted our mutual friends to create a romantic proposal. He put the ring on my finger, and we promised never to fail each other. Everything went smoothly. Fate seemed to favor me. I never suffered. I always thought I was lucky. But now… My thoughts receded like the tide. I looked at the two people still embracing, a bitter taste in my mouth. I thought I should trust Adrian. He had never seen color. He was just overwhelmed with excitement. The text might not be true. I convinced myself. After so many years, he wouldn’t change his heart just like that. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, ready to speak. But a commotion erupted nearby. A group of men and women rushed over. The girl in Adrian’s arms turned pale, shrinking behind him, her voice trembling with plea. “Please, don’t let them take me away.” Adrian wasn’t one to meddle, but in this moment, he didn’t hesitate. He shielded her, glaring coldly at the group. “Stay out of this! She’s my daughter, and I’m taking her home!” The leader, a fierce-looking man, roared at the girl behind Adrian. “Lily, get your ass over here! You quit college and ran away with stolen money? I’ll beat you to death!” A blonde boy next to him chimed in. “Yeah, Sis. Why does a girl need so much education anyway? Just get married and bring in some dowry money. I need to find a wife.” They echoed each other. A middle-aged woman, likely the mother, wiped her tears. “Lily, listen to your dad. Let’s go home.” Lily, face wet with tears, stubbornly refused to move. She shook her head, gripping Adrian’s jacket. “I won’t go back! I worked hard to get into college! I want my own life! I won’t let you control me!” Lily’s rebuttal enraged the father. Adrian had probably never met such unreasonable people. Just as he was about to speak, the man threw a punch. Adrian’s eyes widened, and he instinctively turned to shield Lily. The blonde boy rushed forward to grab her. Lily cried. The mother cried. In the chaos, someone shoved Lily, and she slammed into me. My arm throbbed with pain. I barely kept my balance. The blonde boy, swinging a metal rod recklessly, aimed it right at us. I could have dodged, but Lily was clinging to my arm, anchoring me in place. I watched helplessly as the rod came down. “Watch out!” Adrian saw it. He lunged toward us. I thought he was coming to save me. Until he reached out and pulled Lily away from my side. That was the moment I truly fell into the ice cave. The next second— The metal rod struck my forehead. Intense pain. Darkness. 3 When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. The smell of disinfectant was overwhelming. I struggled to sit up just as Adrian rushed in. He hurried to my side, reaching out to help me. “Chloe, the doctor said you have a mild concussion. You need to rest…” He froze mid-sentence when I slapped his hand away. I was a girl who had just graduated. When danger came, my boyfriend protected another woman. Of course I was angry. My head still throbbed. I would make that blonde kid pay. If my parents weren’t vacationing abroad, they would have turned the city upside down by now. Adrian probably hadn’t dared to tell them. As expected, he sat slowly on the edge of the bed. He began to apologize. “Chloe, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have failed to protect you immediately. But the situation was unique. That girl… she was in color. Chloe, do you understand? It was the first time I saw color. I was overwhelmed. I didn’t react properly. I actually wanted to grab you, but I don’t know why… I grabbed the color instead.” Adrian’s voice grew quieter, filled with immense guilt as he looked at me anxiously. “Chloe, I promise, this will absolutely never happen again.” He sounded sincere. Tears welled in his eyes. Men don’t cry easily. Especially Adrian, who had been mature since childhood. Except for when he was little and cried about not seeing color, he had always been strong. He reached out tentatively, touching my face. “Chloe, we’re going to be husband and wife for a lifetime. I love you, and only you.” I looked at Adrian. This man who had occupied my entire life. I loved him to my core. I wanted to be with him forever. If… I hadn’t seen that text. Just as I thought this, new lines floated before my eyes: [The male lead is so devoted. Truly my favorite cold, abstinent hero.] [I don’t know why the supporting female is mad. They’re the official couple. Of course he protects the heroine in a crisis.] [Don’t be fooled by his crying. According to the plot, the heroine is about to call him.] [Destined lovers vs. childhood friends. Even if the book isn’t finished, I know who he’ll choose.] I scanned the text without expression, then moved my gaze back to Adrian. We were childhood sweethearts, together for four years. I found it hard to believe he would abandon me in the hospital for a girl he just met. At least, until it happened, I wouldn’t believe it. “Adrian.” I called his name softly. He looked up quickly, eyes full of nervousness. “What is it, Chloe? Does it hurt? I’ll get the doctor…” “I’m fine. Just hungry.” I grabbed his hand and pointed to my stomach. “I want food. Will you go buy me something?” I’ve had a weak stomach since I was a kid. I was thin and picky. I couldn’t go hungry, or it would hurt. Hearing this, Adrian looked serious. “Okay, I’ll go buy it right now…” Before he could finish, his phone rang. I knew him too well. I knew every habit, every look in his eyes. He looked down at the screen, his eyes flickering with unnatural hesitation. The phone kept ringing. He stood there frozen, seemingly conflicted. I stayed silent. Thanks to the text, I knew who was calling. I just wanted to see what Adrian would choose. He frowned, as if making a decision, then pointed at his phone. Calmly, he said, “It’s my assistant. Probably work. I’ll take this, then go get your food.” I nodded. I watched him take the phone into the bathroom. Less than thirty seconds later, he rushed out. Anxiety was written all over his face. He grabbed his jacket from the sofa, putting it on as he walked out. “Chloe, something came up at the company. I have to go back immediately. I’ll have someone send food. Stay in bed and be good. Once I’m done, I’ll come back to keep you company.” With that, he was at the door, his voice fading away. Silence returned. I sat on the hospital bed, watching the boy who once belonged to me walk away. In the air, a few sparse lines of text appeared. [Actually, I think the supporting female is great too. The male lead seems too cruel doing this.] [But we all know how much he wanted to see color. The supporting female knows too, right?] Yes, because I knew, the cold pierced my bones. The Adrian who said he would be with me forever, who promised never to fail me. Indeed abandoned me without a second thought for the color he craved so desperately. I looked down, tears falling onto the quilt. No one likes to be abandoned. If he truly betrayed his vow, then I would choose to discard him first. 4 I sat in the hospital bed for a long time. The text flickered in and out, narrating the interaction between Adrian and Lily. [The male lead couldn’t let the heroine go. Knowing her trash dad was bullying her again, he rushed to support her.] [The heroine is so pitiful, stuck with a family of vampires.] [Luckily she met the male lead. Only happiness from now on. No one can bully her anymore.] Reading about Lily’s family, I hadn’t forgotten why I was in the hospital. So I made two calls. First, to our housekeeper, Auntie Zhang, asking for food. Second, to my father’s assistant, Mr. Liu. I suffered a calamity. The person who hit me should pay the price. The moment I hung up, the text exploded. [What is the supporting female doing? Using her family’s power to go after the heroine’s brother?] [Comment above, be reasonable. She was put in the hospital. Calling the police is standard procedure. Why the fuss?] [Heh, is it standard procedure or female jealousy trying to cause trouble for the heroine?] [So what if she calls the police? Now that the leads have met, this move will only push the male lead further away.] [Wanna bet?] […] The lines flashed by quickly. I looked away. If Adrian tried to stop me from pressing charges because of Lily, then I would not only be disappointed, I would think he had brain damage. I liked him, yes. But if he was truly as the text described, even the strongest love would be exhausted.

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My stepbrother is the icy, ruthless villain in a novel. To keep him too busy to commit crimes, I decided to harass him daily with unhinged text messages from an anonymous number: “Baby, you look so good when you don’t wear your shirt properly at the gym. I want a taste.” “Baby, you look so sexy when you sweat. I want every drop to land on me.” “Baby, the way you stare at your phone trying to figure out who I am is so cute. I like you even more now.” My brother was deeply disturbed. Every day, he would come home and lecture me about safety and morality, looking exhausted. Finally, the male and female leads got their happy ending. My mission was complete. I packed my bags overnight, ready to flee the country. But before I could even board the plane, I was snatched. When I opened my eyes, he was slowly, methodically tying my wrists with his silk tie. “If you like Big Brother so much,” he whispered, his voice dark, “why are you trying to leave?” Chapter 1 “Baby, you’re being naughty. Why did you drink the wine someone else handed you?” This was the third time I’d channeled my inner stalker to text my brother. The first few times, he’d read them and ignored them. He didn’t take me seriously at all. Just as I thought this attempt would fail too, he replied. His tone was as stern as ever: “Stop sending me these kinds of messages. I don’t like it.” Good. He didn’t like it. If he liked it, my plan would be ruined. So, facing his displeasure, I typed back: “I don’t care if you like me, Baby. I like you, and that’s enough. ^_^” Julian saw that I was incorrigible and stopped replying. I tapped my screen, wanting to add fuel to the fire, but I heard the front door open. I frantically deleted the chat history and ran to the door, taking his suit jacket like a dutiful sister. “Julian, you’re home early.” Julian rubbed his temples wearily. “Mn.” I looked at the dark circles under his eyes and secretly rejoiced. It was working. He wasn’t sleeping well. I almost laughed out loud. Julian glanced at me, frowning slightly. “What are you smiling at?” I wiped the grin off my face and moved behind him to massage his shoulders. “I’m just happy you’re home early.” He looked at me suspiciously. Before he could ask what trouble I’d caused, I tested the waters. “Julian, you look terrible lately. Are you tired?” Julian, who had been enjoying the massage, stiffened. His expression darkened. The more he avoided it, the more I pressed. “Brother, did something happen?” I asked, feigning concern. Julian stood up abruptly. “Nothing,” he muttered, then hurried upstairs. Watching his retreating back, I smirked. I really was disgusting him. Mission on track. (^_^)V Chapter 2 Julian and I are step-siblings. After my mom married his dad, he never really liked me. He thought I was too loud, too rebellious. I didn’t like him either. He was too disciplined, acting like an old man in a young man’s body. We stayed out of each other’s way, maintaining a polite facade for our parents. Then, his father died in a riot while on a business trip abroad. My mother couldn’t handle the blow; she fell ill and followed him days later. Since then, Julian stopped finding me annoying. No matter what trouble I caused, he would just pat my head and tell me not to be afraid. And I stopped causing trouble just to see his composure crack. Our relationship improved by leaps and bounds. Then, last year, I got really sick. I had a fever so high I saw my life flash before my eyes. I had a series of vivid dreams. In the dreams, Julian was the villain in a novel—cold-blooded and ruthless. He cut the brake lines on the Hero’s car. He hired paparazzi to ruin the Heroine’s reputation. On the day the leads were supposed to get married, he wasn’t idle either. He crashed the wedding and kidnapped the Heroine. In the end, like all villains who talk too much, he died miserably. They didn’t even find his whole body. And as the villain’s sister, I was cannon fodder. My death was merely a plot device to push him into darkness. I woke up and swore I would change our fate. The first thing I did was force Julian to swear he’d be a good person. Chapter 3 But soon, I realized that wouldn’t work. I couldn’t bet my life on a villain’s promise. I ate pounds of walnuts for brain power and finally came up with a new plan. I had to stop Julian from meeting the main characters. I had to nip his villainy in the bud. So, I started reading the Hero’s scandals to Julian every day. I read them while he peeled apples, while he cooked, and even while he was in the shower—I’d squat by the door and shout the gossip through the wood. Julian had high moral standards. If I convinced him the Hero was trash, he’d avoid doing business with him. No business, no meeting, no villain arc. But soon, I realized this wasn’t working either. One day, while Julian was cracking walnuts for me, I read him another scandal. Usually, he ignored me. But this time, he paused. “Are you interested in him?” he asked, turning to look at me. I was in the zone, so I just hummed in agreement. When the sound of cracking walnuts got aggressively loud, I realized my mistake and shook my head frantically. Julian didn’t buy it. “You’ve read over a hundred articles about him to me.” “Yesterday you said he was handsome.” I paused. True. After reading so much gossip, I was the one getting annoyed with the Hero, Ethan. I had started reading with attitude. Yesterday, I slipped and said, “Shame he’s trash, because his face is nice.” Julian only heard the first half. Terrified that he might get interested in Ethan, I clarified immediately. “He’s okay looking, but I have absolutely no—” Interest. Before I could finish, Julian cut me off. “You have an interest? You like him?” A question mark slowly materialized over my head. I’m reading you his blackmailer files, and you think I like him? Seeing I didn’t deny it instantly, Julian pressed his lips into a thin line. After a long silence, he spoke, his voice tight. “It’s normal to have crushes at your age. But based on recent news, his character is questionable. Until I investigate him fully, you are not allowed to contact him.” He spoke fast, like he was afraid I’d interrupt. Then he grabbed his coat and stormed out. By evening, a dossier as thick as a phone book landed in my hands. Chapter 4 I had already investigated Ethan, the Hero, when I first had the dreams. I knew his resume by heart. But the file Julian gave me was… different. The version I knew painted him as a saint. This file glossed over his achievements and detailed every bad thing he’d ever done. From pulling legs off ants at six to writing love letters at fifteen. It even included the content of the letters. I couldn’t guess Julian’s game, but I smelled danger. The file included a list of Ethan’s ex-girlfriends. And on that list was Her. Bella. The Heroine. In the story, Bella is like catnip to Julian. Realizing this, I stayed up all night brainstorming new ways to keep them apart. I tried telling him “horror stories” about couples like them. I signed him up for dating apps so he’d be too busy with blind dates. Nothing worked. The day Julian was destined to meet Bella was approaching. I was so anxious I was losing hair. Just as I was considering slipping sleeping pills into Julian’s coffee to make him sleep through the plot, I saw a video on TikTok. It was about a stalker character in a novel who harassed the protagonist so much they couldn’t focus on work. I condemned the behavior, obviously. But… could I use it on Julian? If he’s distracted by a stalker, he won’t have time to fall for the Heroine. I had no experience, so I spent three days studying “creepy text” methodology. Once I felt ready, I bought a burner SIM card and sent my first anonymous text: “Baby, my sweet Baby, I like you so much.” I thought Julian would be confused, or angry. I thought he’d try to track the number. But two hours passed. Nothing. Not even a reply. I bit my lip in disappointment. Did he not get it? Or was I not creepy enough? To find out, I went downstairs and asked to borrow his phone. He was reading files on the sofa. He handed it over without looking up. Afraid he’d check the background apps later, I opened Instagram first and voted for some random celebrity in a poll. While glancing at Julian to make sure he wasn’t watching, I opened his messages. My text was right at the top. Read. That wasn’t right… He saw it, so why was he so calm? Before I could figure it out, Julian reached out. “Give it back.” Startled, I tried to close the apps, but he snatched the phone away. He swiped the screen, a flicker of nervousness in his eyes. “What did you do on my phone?” Why was he acting guilty? Did he have secrets? “Nothing,” I said. “I just voted on a poll.” Julian opened Instagram, saw the voting pop-up, and relaxed visibly. “You like him now?” I hadn’t even looked at the name of the celebrity. But I nodded anyway. “Yeah, he’s handsome.” Julian zoomed in on the photo, scrutinizing every pixel. While he was distracted critiquing the guy, I secretly pulled out my phone and sent another anonymous text. “Why won’t you reply to me, Baby? That’s a bad habit.” The message alert dinged. Julian didn’t even frown. He just swiped it away. Still not creepy enough? I didn’t give up. I typed again: “Baby, I’m going crazy over you. I want to kiss you so bad.” Julian stiffened. A flush crept up his neck, turning his ears bright red. It worked! Overjoyed, I leaned in. “Julian, what’s wrong?” He closed his eyes, taking a long moment to compose himself. “Nothing.” Liar. I hid behind him, preparing to send another one. But before I could unlock my screen, Julian stood up abruptly. I jumped, nearly dropping my phone. “Brother?” He gripped his file so hard the paper crinkled. “I have work to handle. Don’t wait up for dinner.” He practically ran upstairs. Like he was fleeing a monster. I stared at his back, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face. He’s kind of cute when he’s scared.

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I beat up the fake heiress, and my brothers threw me into a mental asylum. When I came out, I was unusually obedient. If my brothers told me to go east, I wouldn’t dare step west. But why was the fake heiress suddenly acting even more obedient than me? Dr. Crane said: “Unless someone else strikes first, you cannot strike back. That is the basic code of conduct for a mental patient.” Oh? What a joke. Forcing someone to strike first is the easiest thing in the world. I have plenty of ways. 1 The day my second brother, Liam, came to pick me up from the asylum, I was wearing a doll-collar blouse and overalls. My hands were obediently folded in front of me, eyes lowered, the picture of submission—gone was the arrogance of my past. Liam looked me up and down, finally speaking with satisfaction. “Do you know what you did wrong?” I nodded obediently and recited the lines Dr. Crane taught me. “I’m sorry, Liam. I was jealous of Chloe, so I hired thugs to bully her. I was wrong, and I’ll never do it again.” The perfect amount of grievance, the perfect amount of remorse. Tears welled in my eyes but didn’t fall, held back by shame—I had practiced this pose, copying Chloe, for a long time. Sure enough, Liam bought it. He raised his noble hand and rubbed the top of my head, like he was bestowing a great favor. “Good girl. If you hadn’t gone too far this time, Big Brother wouldn’t have locked you up in here.” “From now on, get along with Chloe.” I nuzzled his palm, mimicking Chloe. Liam smiled happily. No one noticed Director Lewis, who was seeing me out, shudder violently beside us. I glanced sideways at him. Cold sweat immediately rolled down his forehead. “Mr. Vance, if there’s nothing else… I won’t disturb your family reunion.” Liam nodded. “You did well. The Vance family’s investment will arrive soon.” “Th-thank you!” After thanking him, Director Lewis hurried away as fast as he could. “The Director sure is spry for his age…” I said. Thud. Director Lewis tripped and fell. Then, under Liam’s surprised gaze, he scrambled up and ran as if a ghost were chasing him. “Liam, can I go home now?” Seeing my docile appearance, Liam nodded. But he didn’t forget to warn me, “If you bully Chloe again, I’ll lock you back in here myself, even if Big Brother doesn’t!” “Mmh.” I nodded obediently. 2 Back at the familiar house, I stood at the door, not daring to enter. Chloe said this was her home. Mom and Dad were hers. The brothers were hers. I was the outsider. How could I just walk into someone else’s home? It wasn’t until Liam said, “Come in,” that I put on a look of overwhelming gratitude. “Really? Can I?” Sure enough, Liam’s heart softened, his eyes reddening slightly. But remembering my past arrogance, he quickly suppressed the emotion. Not long after, Big Brother—Julian—and Chloe returned. “Julian, I brought Ariel back,” Liam said. “Has it been six months already?” Julian asked. Was it fast? I lived in a hell where every day felt like a year, but to them, it passed in a blink. “Yeah, Director Lewis called this morning to remind me. I think we’re actually three days late,” Liam said. Julian was noncommittal, as if forgetting me in that man-eating place was no big deal. He looked at me with scrutiny. I immediately bowed slightly, looking docile. When Chloe saw me, she looked terrified and hid behind Julian. Julian patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here. If she dares to bully you again, I promise she’ll never set foot outside that asylum until she dies!” Julian stared at me as if I were his enemy. I silently touched my chest. So, mental patients’ hearts can ache too. “I’ll be good. I’ll listen,” I said, my eyes sincere, my posture pitiable. Julian looked at me with disgust and took Chloe to wash up for dinner. 3 Dinner was, unsurprisingly, all of Chloe’s favorites. Suppressing her fear, Chloe put a piece of popcorn chicken in my bowl. “Sister, eat.” Pepper wrapped in Sichuan peppercorn, wrapped in mango sauce… This piece of chicken hit every single one of my allergies and dislikes perfectly. Julian gently touched her back. “Chloe, I raised you. You’re not lower than anyone. You don’t need to suck up to her!” Chloe lowered her head and ate, tears in her eyes. I didn’t understand. They gave her the best of everything, cooked her favorite meals every day. Why did they think she was the one being wronged? Dr. Crane said: The child who acts gets the candy. I sat there obediently, staring at the chicken and swallowing my saliva. Then I asked the question that made their faces drop. “Can I… eat this?” Julian: … Liam: … Chloe: Grinding her teeth. Seeing no objection, I obediently picked up my chopsticks and started eating. I was truly starving. It had been so long since I had normal food. In that moment, I wanted to devour the table. Seeing my ungraceful eating habits, my brothers’ faces darkened. “Ariel, didn’t you have food inside?” Liam asked. I shook my head. “I did, but there was no meat in the slop…” Bang! Julian threw his chopsticks down. “Ariel Vance, who are you trying to disgust?” “The Vance family funds that asylum. Lewis wouldn’t dare abuse you!” “There’s a limit to lying!” Wouldn’t dare? Julian, have you ever seen a bed of nails? Electric shock therapy? The “fight the dog for food” contest? Julian certainly hadn’t. But Chloe, protected under his wing, smiled. If she hadn’t lowered her head so fast, her grin would have reached her ears. I stood there helplessly, not daring to speak, looking at the furious Julian with terror in my eyes. Liam frowned and tried to calm Julian. “Ariel just came back today. Can’t we just have a nice meal?” Julian swallowed his anger, his disgust for me deepening. Liam shook his head helplessly and handed me chopsticks. “If you’re hungry, eat more.” I smiled sweetly. “Thank you, Liam.” Liam’s pupils contracted. Could his sister smile? And so beautifully? Why hadn’t he seen it in all these years? It turned out that if he was just a little nice to her, she would smile so sweetly and call him brother… For a second, Liam’s heart felt squeezed. Julian’s eyes flickered too, but his attitude towards me didn’t change. 4 I finished washing up and was about to go to bed when Chloe came in. “Sister, I brought you some milk.” She entered without knocking. I took it obediently. “Thank you.” Those two words had never left my mouth before. Because every kindness she offered was a trap. Chloe paused, then laughed. “Sister, you’ve become so tame.” The next second, her hand “slipped,” and milk spilled all over me. “Oops, Sister, why didn’t you hold it properly?” Her eyes were sly, but I didn’t move. She picked up the only gift my brothers had given me the year I returned—a music box—and threw it in the trash. I still didn’t move. She looked around the room, her gaze finally landing on the framed photo on my desk. It was the only photo of Mom, Dad, and me. This time, I moved. I grabbed her hand. Chloe finally smiled triumphantly. With her other hand, she grabbed the frame and smashed it on the floor. Fire burned in my eyes. “Oh, angry? Hit me if you dare!” A blatant provocation! As a mental patient, the first thing I learned was obedience. I raised my arm and slapped her hard across the face. Chloe was stunned by the slap. It took her a few seconds to start her performance. “Julian! Liam! Help!” My two brothers rushed in immediately, shielding Chloe behind them and glaring at me. “Ariel, are you crazy?” I folded my hands obediently in front of me. “She told me to hit her.” Chloe covered her face, crying hysterically. “I just came to bring milk. I saw Sister throw the gift you gave her in the trash. Not only that, she tried to tear up Mom and Dad’s photo! I tried to stop her, and she hit me! Boohoo…” The gift was in the trash. The photo was on the floor. The frame was shattered. The evidence was undeniable. “Ariel, do you still hate us? Hate the family? Being switched at birth wasn’t Mom and Dad’s fault, wasn’t the family’s fault…” Liam was utterly disappointed. Hate? Probably. I was lost for ten years. Trained by my “adoptive” parents to beg from a young age. As I got older, I stole with other street kids. Getting caught meant a beating at the very least. I survived like a cockroach at the bottom of society. But the Vance family pampered my replacement like a princess. How could I not hate? Hate that they didn’t find me sooner. Hate that they lost me. Hate that after losing me, they adopted a replacement… I also hated that every time Chloe played dirty, they never believed me. They always stood by her. “If I knew this would happen, we should have let you die on the streets!” Julian finally spoke his true feelings. I looked up at him, my expression becoming exceptionally docile again. “Chloe threw the gift in the trash. Chloe smashed the photo…” “You…” If my brothers had beards, they would be blowing upwards in anger. I took out my discharge papers and showed them. “I swear on my personality as a mental patient, I really am not lying!” Mental patient? My brothers’ pupils contracted. Liam snatched the papers, his hands trembling. “This… seems real…” I nodded. “Dr. Crane said mental patients need to be docile and obedient to survive in the outside world.” Julian glanced at the papers and sneered suddenly. Obviously, he didn’t believe me. “Docile? Obedient? Good. Then move out of this room right now. Let Chloe have it!” This room was the princess suite Mom and Dad built for me. Mom designed it, Dad decorated it. It was their welcome gift. Chloe tried to take it countless times, and I always refused. But today… “Okay.” I nodded obediently and immediately started packing my meager belongings. Julian, Liam, and even Chloe were stunned. They knew this was my bottom line. I really moved out. Chloe was excited; she could finally live here legitimately. But outwardly, she tugged Julian’s sleeve hesitantly. “Julian, can I really stay here?” Julian looked grim. “If she can stay, why can’t you?” Turning back, he wasn’t done with me. He pointed to the utility room downstairs. “From now on, you sleep there.” I nodded obediently again, picked up my duvet, and trotted in. Julian’s raised hand froze in mid-air. He watched with a dark face as I made my bed in the cramped space. I felt like his chest was about to explode. I was confused. Isn’t this what you wanted? What are you angry about? Seeing me lie down to sleep, he spoke again. “Wait!” I froze obediently. The next second, the nanny brought a basin of cold water and splashed it on my bedding. “Now you can sleep.” Julian stared at me, expressionless. He was betting I couldn’t endure it, waiting for me to reveal my true nature. Unfortunately, he was going to be disappointed. I lay down in the wet bedding fully clothed, and soon, sweet little snores filled the room. Julian: !!!

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In this life, I didn’t accept my best friend’s invitation to check out the collection. Instead, I downed two Red Bulls and drove onto the highway in the middle of the night. When I saw the police checkpoint, I practically blew into the breathalyzer with a smile. And I walked into the back of that patrol car grinning from ear to ear. In my past life, my “best friend” invited me to visit a famous antique collector. While we were there, she slipped a priceless jade piece into my bag. When the police found it, I knelt and begged the collector to verify my innocence. But he just grabbed my sleeve, joining forces with my friend to identify me as the thief. My parents bankrupted themselves trying to save me. My fiancé’s reputation was destroyed by association. In the end, I was hacked to death by a crazed antique fanatic, my body left to rot in the wilderness. … 1 “Don’t drink and drive. Seriously, where did you learn the traffic laws?” The highway was a mess of flashing lights and sirens. Four or five patrol cars had set up a checkpoint. The officer stared at the flashing breathalyzer in his hand, shouting for me to get out of the car. I unbuckled my seatbelt and checked my phone. Sure enough, a new message popped up. [Bestie: Hey, I remember you love antiques. I met this old collector recently. Wanna come check out his stuff?] The exact same text message as my last life. My heart skipped a beat, my body trembling involuntarily. “Hey, you drunk or something? Can’t move?” Just as the officer was about to call for backup to help me out, I snapped back to reality and practically skipped into the patrol car. “Another crazy one.” “Must be out of her mind. Who looks happy about getting arrested?” Inside the car, a few other drunk detainees looked at me like I was insane. I ignored them, grinning so wide it hurt. At the hospital, the nurse prepared to draw blood for the alcohol test. She kept glancing up at me, sensing something was off. “Chloe! Are you okay?” “Baby, the police said you were drunk driving. Is it true?” The door burst open. My fiancé and my parents rushed in, faces etched with panic. “Who are you people? You can’t just barge in here!” “We’re here for Chloe Li! If there’s a problem, talk to us, don’t scare her!” My dad stood in front like a shield, while my mom and fiancé rushed to my side. Seeing their familiar faces, tears stung my eyes. It was okay. I was in time. In this life, I wouldn’t let my parents age overnight from worry. I wouldn’t let them lose everything for me. And I wouldn’t let my fiancé be dragged through the mud, abandoned by everyone because of me. During the questioning, the nurse kept eyeing me, and the officer grew suspicious. “You haven’t actually been drinking, have you?” A chill ran down my spine. The warmth of seeing my family vanished, replaced by panic. I didn’t know how he figured it out, so I forced a difficult smile. Like every drunk driver in denial, I lied through my teeth: “Haha, of course not. I don’t know why the breathalyzer malfunctioned.” Thankfully, he didn’t press further, just nodded and moved on to the others. I let out a shaky breath. My phone buzzed again. It was a voice message from my best friend, Sarah: “Are you asleep? Why aren’t you replying? I already booked the visit for tomorrow morning at nine. Don’t be late!” 2 In my past life, the morning after Sarah sent that invite, we walked into the collector’s estate. Not long after, she disappeared. When I left around noon and walked back to my own house, I found it surrounded by police. “It’s her! She stole Mr. Zou’s jade bracelet!” Before I could even process what was happening, Sarah jumped out of a police car and pinned me down. “She stole a national treasure? She doesn’t look like a good person!” “I heard it was a Tang Dynasty Empress’s bracelet, worth a fortune. Greedy girl!” “Scum. People like her should just die!” The accusations swirled around me, and I finally realized something was terribly wrong. In my panic, I saw the collector, Mr. Zou, in the crowd. I knelt, sobbing, begging him to clear my name. But the kindly old man frowned, grabbed my sleeve, and cursed: “Shameless! Stealing a national treasure I was about to donate to a museum! I let you into my home out of kindness, and this is how you repay me?” With Sarah and the collector testifying against me, and the bracelet inexplicably in my bag, my defense crumbled. My family and fiancé were ruined, treated like pariahs. And I died a gruesome death before I could even stand trial. The pain and blood of my past life were scars on my soul, feeding a burning hatred. In this life, I stood directly under the surveillance cameras. Between the video footage and my blood test, I had a double layer of protection. Let’s see who can frame me now! After the blood draw, I slept on the hospital bench. It was hard and cold, but I slept peacefully. When I woke up, the nurse announced my blood alcohol level was zero. The officer let me go. It was already noon. I had perfectly missed the window for Sarah to frame me. Just to be safe, I shamelessly asked the officer for a ride home, claiming my car was still impounded. As I got off the police motorcycle, a swarm of officers waiting at my apartment surrounded me. Sarah led the charge, grabbing my hands with tear-filled eyes. “Chloe! We agreed to just look at the collection this morning! Why did you have to steal?” My eyes widened in shock. Even the officer next to me was stunned. I had been at the hospital since last night. How could she still try to pin this on me? I frowned. “I was detained for suspected drunk driving last night, I’ve been…” Hearing this, Sarah got even more agitated, cutting me off: “Drunk driving? Oh my god, Chloe, what have you done? Alcohol isn’t an excuse for stealing national treasures!” A crowd of onlookers gathered, incited by Sarah’s words. My explanations were drowned out by the noise. Within a minute, I was being pinched and shoved by unseen hands in the crowd. My arms were already bruising. The police noticed something was wrong and moved to disperse the mob. I finally caught my breath and glared at Sarah. “I didn’t drink, and I didn’t steal any national treasure! Can we talk about evidence?” Sarah’s face darkened for a split second before she put on a worried mask again, pleading to the officers nearby: “Officer, you heard her. My friend did this because she was drunk. She’s still not thinking clearly.” “She didn’t steal it on purpose. Please, go easy on her!” Just as Sarah tried to drag me toward a police car, the traffic cop who drove me home stepped in. He blocked her path, shielding me. 3 “This lady has been in the hospital since last night. I just brought her back.” “You say she stole something? Where’s the proof?” Faced with the officer’s question, Sarah snapped without thinking: “Who are you? I’m assisting an investigation. unrelated personnel should stay out of this.” “He’s a police officer,” I said slowly. Sarah’s face changed instantly. “From the moment I was suspected of drunk driving last night until now, I have been under his supervision!” The crowd gasped. The detectives immediately verified the traffic cop’s ID. Then, they turned to Sarah with stern expressions. Why would she accuse someone with an ironclad alibi? Sarah hadn’t expected this twist. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Just then, the collector, Mr. Zou, marched over. He pointed a shaking finger at my nose. “I can prove she’s the thief!” Seeing the man who indirectly caused my death again, anger flared in my chest. In my last life, I had at least entered his house. I could excuse his accusation as an old man’s mistake. But in this life, we hadn’t even met. How dare he accuse me? I gritted my teeth. “Old man, you can eat the wrong food, but you can’t say the wrong words! We’ve never met. Why are you framing me?” I stared at him, looking for a crack in his conviction. Mr. Zou grabbed my left arm. “I have a habit. Whenever a guest enters my collection room, I apply a strip of special ink to the cabinet doors.” “I mixed the color myself. I’d recognize it anywhere!” With that, he yanked up my sleeve. A dark brown stain was clearly visible on my forearm! 4 The crowd froze. Even I was stunned speechless. I hadn’t gone to his house in this life. I checked my clothes before coming home. How could this be here? “You steal petty things all the time, fine. But today you stole a treasure and bribed someone to lie for you? Too far!” Sarah seized the moment to blacken my name, malice dripping from her eyes. Then, she pulled a laptop from her bag, claiming she had surveillance footage to submit as evidence. In the video, at 9:30 AM that morning, a short-haired girl walked into the estate with Sarah. Her build, her outfit, even her hair clip—identical to mine. The crowd erupted: “That’s her!” “You can’t see the face clearly, but it’s obvious. She’s got some nerve, ignoring the cameras like that!” “Kids these days are fearless. She needs ten years in prison to learn a lesson!” Insults rained down on me. Someone kicked me from behind, the pain nearly making me black out. I fought through the pain, gasping for air as I shouted: “I have video evidence too!” I looked at the traffic cop. He pulled the body cam footage from his motorcycle. “My ID is verified. It can’t be faked.” “Ms. Li has been recorded by police body cams and hospital surveillance since she left the hospital. She has a perfect alibi.” Two videos pointing to two completely different truths. The crowd was confused. The police and Mr. Zou were confused. One officer started calling the traffic division and the hospital to verify my movements. Mr. Zou muttered to himself, insisting he couldn’t mistake his own ink. Under the scrutiny of the crowd, Sarah couldn’t maintain her fake concern anymore. She glared at me with pure hatred. I smiled coldly back at her. “Disappointed that the police verification will clear my name?” Unexpectedly, Sarah smirked. “What are you saying? We’re best friends. If you didn’t steal it, of course I’m happy.” Then, catching me off guard, she lunged at me, reaching for the fanny pack at my waist. She ripped open the zipper and screamed: “Officer! The treasure is in her bag! Grab her—” Her voice cut off abruptly. She stared at me in disbelief. “You… you…” I looked down at her shocked face and smiled. “Oh? What’s wrong?”

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My husband wanted to run off with his mistress, so he faked a “divorce,” staged his own death, and disappeared abroad. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I just quietly filed for his death certificate and erased him from the registry. Years later, his parents gave me all their money and property. That’s when he came back, desperate to claim his inheritance. He knelt before his parents, begging: “Mom, Dad, I’m your son! I’m your only heir!” Chapter 1 It started with a Reddit post I saw late one night. u/Throwaway123: “I’ve got a girl on the side and want to leave my boring wife. How do I get her to agree to a divorce without her making a fuss?” The top comment read: “Easy. Fake a job transfer abroad that requires you to be ‘single’ for visa reasons. Convince her it’s just a paper divorce. You leave, live it up with your girl, and your wife stays home taking care of your aging parents. Win-win.” I felt sick reading it. I never expected that the very next day, my husband, Mark, would come home and say: “Honey, the company is offering me a huge opportunity abroad. But there’s a catch—the visa requires proof of single status.” “We need to get a fake divorce.” The moment Mark said those words, my mind flashed back to that Reddit thread. I swallowed the disgust rising in my throat and decided to test him. “Do you have to go? The kids are small, and your parents haven’t been well…” “I have to!” He cut me off sharply. Realizing he sounded too aggressive, he softened his tone. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Two years abroad, and I come back as a manager. My salary will double. Honey, I’m doing this for us, for our family. You support me, right?” When I didn’t answer immediately, he grabbed my hand, looking deeply into my eyes. “It’s just a piece of paper. The company insists single employees are more ‘stable’ for overseas assignments. We’ll be divorced legally, but nothing changes between us. I’ll send my paycheck home every month.” “The moment I’m back, we’ll remarry. You have to trust me.” Trust him? I’d sooner trust a snake. There is no such thing as a “fake” divorce. Once that judge signs the decree, it’s done. Looking at his earnest face, whatever trust I had left for him evaporated. I didn’t need to hear anymore. I nodded. “Okay, Mark. Whatever you say.” Mark’s face lit up. “Great. No time to lose. Let’s file tomorrow.” Chapter 2 That night, after Mark fell asleep, I tried to check his phone to see who the mistress was. But he was guarding it like a dragon, sleeping with it tucked under his pillow. So, I opened Reddit instead. u/Throwaway123 had updated. “Convinced the old ball and chain to sign the papers. The plan is perfect: once I’m abroad, I’ll fake my death and go no-contact. No need to send money home. In a few years, when my parents kick the bucket and the kid is grown, I’ll come back and collect the inheritance.” The comments were full of praise, calling him a genius. I couldn’t help myself. I created a burner account and commented: “Aren’t you afraid of karma?” The replies came fast and furious. “Karma? Being stuck with a boring wife is the real karma.” “Bro, you clearly aren’t married. Domestic flowers never smell as sweet as the wild ones.” Reading the toxic filth, I deleted my comment in disgust. Mark slept soundly beside me, blowing little bubbles as he snored. The more I looked at him, the more I hated him. I reached out and slapped him across the face. He jolted awake. Before he could react, I hugged him tight. “Honey! Did you have a nightmare? It’s okay, I’m here.” He touched his cheek, confused, muttered something, and was back to snoring in seconds. Go ahead, I thought, grinding my teeth. Leave. Just don’t expect to ever come back. Chapter 3 The next day, Mark practically dragged me to the courthouse. There was a mandatory waiting period, and during that month, Mark was the model husband. He cooked, cleaned, and doted on me, terrifyingly afraid I’d change my mind. Even his parents were impressed. Our four-year-old daughter, Lily, said, “Mommy, Daddy is so nice to you. I want a husband like Daddy when I grow up.” She was too young to see the filth behind the mask. It’s okay. I’ll teach her. Words are cheap. Only tangible assets are real. When the divorce decree finally arrived, Mark snapped a photo of it immediately. u/Throwaway123: “Free at last!” He came home and started packing. He told his parents and Lily that the company was sending him on a long assignment. No one else knew we were divorced. When he left, he hugged me at the door, unable to hide his grin. “Honey, take care of Mom and Dad for me. When I get back, we’re going to live the good life.” I waved goodbye, looking every bit the reluctant wife. When I got back to our room, I checked our joint account. Empty. He had taken the $30,000 we had saved. I reached for the phone to scream at him, then stopped. That account was just a decoy. Before he started cheating, Mark handed over his paycheck, but I had always been careful. If groceries cost $200, I told him they were $500. If utilities were $150, I said $300. I skimmed off the top for years. The joint account was for show. My real savings were in a separate account only I knew about. Plus the dowry from my parents and gifts from his parents over the years… I had over $100,000 stashed away. A woman has to look out for herself. After Mark left, life went on. His last Reddit update came at the end of the month. u/Throwaway123: “Bros, starting my new life of freedom. Living the dream for you all!” Attached was a photo of two hands intertwined against a sunset. The IP address showed he was overseas. Chapter 4 I pretended to know nothing and continued caring for Lily and his parents. Two days later, my father-in-law fell. A brain hemorrhage landed him in the ICU. My mother-in-law cried as she called Mark. Thirty calls, no answer. She went to his company, only to be told there was no overseas assignment. Mark had resigned a month ago. Mark was gone. His mother panicked, threatening to call the police. That’s when I started to cry. “Mom, what do I do? I think Mark lied to me.” I “confessed” about the fake divorce. “Mom,” I sobbed, “He took all the money in the joint account. Do you think he has someone else? Did he trick me into a divorce just to run away with her?” “He took everything! Dad needs surgery money, what are we going to do?” “That animal!” My mother-in-law screamed, stomping her foot before fainting from the shock. I suppressed a smirk and paid the hospital bills from my secret stash. The surgery was successful. When my mother-in-law woke up, I was sitting by her bed, eyes red from onion fumes. “Mom, don’t worry. I’m here.” She looked at my wrist. The heavy gold bangle she gave me for my wedding was gone. “Sarah, where’s your bracelet?” I pulled my hand back, lowering my head to hide my “sadness,” revealing my bare neck where my necklace used to be. “Dad needed the surgery. Mark took all the cash, so I… I sold my jewelry. It should cover us for a while.” “Mom, don’t worry. Mark might be heartless, but you and Dad have always been good to me. I won’t abandon you.” She burst into tears, gripping my hand. “Sarah, Mark wronged you. It’s our fault for raising such a bastard.” “From now on, you are our own daughter. As far as we’re concerned, Mark is dead.” Inside, I was doing a victory dance. Outwardly, I wiped a tear. “Mom, don’t say that. You’ve always been like real parents to me.”

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On a variety show, I drew a question left by my ex-husband, a famous actor, from two years ago. “Did you end up with your first love?” I smiled and answered, “Yes, we’re getting married next month.” On stage, my ex-husband jerked his head up, staring at me in shock. He only just realized. He wasn’t my first love. 1 It’s been two years since the divorce, and this is the first time I’ve shared a stage with Lucas. We had a secret marriage. Even our divorce was quiet. On the livestream, comments were flooding in, shipping Lucas and his “first love,” Bella, hoping for a rekindled romance. The host, holding a microphone, teased them, “Can you tell us how your first love made you feel?” The camera deliberately focused on Bella. Lucas glanced at her tenderly, his voice slightly husky, “First love is… the moment she appears, everyone else fades away.” As soon as he finished speaking. The camera accidentally swept over my face. Lucas froze, his eyes darkening. I looked away, digging my nails into my palm until it hurt. In the next interactive segment, the host asked us to draw notes left by past guests from a box and answer the questions. I unfolded the note. The handwriting was very familiar. While I was dazed, the host read the question for me, “Did you end up with your first love?” Seeing the signature, she exclaimed excitedly, “Wow, what a coincidence! It’s a note left by Lucas two years ago.” Two years ago. When we hadn’t divorced yet. Knowing Bella was returning to the country, Lucas was lost in thought. Even on the show, he instinctively asked a question related to her. First love, again. Those two words pierced my heart like a knife. Hiding the emotions in my eyes, I answered calmly, “Yes, we’re getting married next month.” The cup near Lucas’s hand suddenly crashed to the floor. He looked up sharply, staring at me, his face slightly pale. I smiled and added, “He was my first love when I was seventeen. We love each other very much.” Blessings and congratulations erupted on set. The next second, the camera turned away. My gaze froze. My blood stopped flowing. Only my heart pounded wildly in my chest. The first love I mentioned was sitting not far away. He listened quietly to this lie. Suddenly, he stood up and walked over slowly. Under the spotlight, the cold beauty mark on the side of his nose was vivid and clear. The host introduced him cooperatively, “Let’s welcome our next guest—” All sounds gradually faded from my ears. He extended his hand to me, strange yet familiar. “Hello, I’m Ethan.” I shook his warm hand. A brief touch, then separation. 2 In the lounge, I sat on the sofa, dazed for a long time. My manager, Vivian, poked my forehead angrily, “Fabricating marriage news all of a sudden, are you crazy?!” She anxiously checked the trending topics, “I’ll handle the PR. You’re competing for Best Actress next month, consider this pre-hype.” I coughed violently, swallowing the pills in my palm. Bitter enough to make me frown. Vivian handed me water with a pained expression, “This injury is all Bella’s fault. What bad luck. If I knew, we wouldn’t have taken this job.” I calmed my breathing and lowered my eyes, “It’s okay. This show has great traffic, we can’t miss it.” When I first entered the industry, I wasn’t famous. Later, there was a scene where Bella couldn’t ride a horse. The director saw that I looked somewhat like her, so he made me her stunt double. I filmed under the scorching sun for days. My inner thighs were rubbed raw and bloody, so painful I trembled when walking. On the day we finished shooting, Bella stared at me with malice, “Don’t covet things that don’t belong to you, understand?” She whipped the horse when no one was looking. I fell off instantly, sustaining a permanent back injury. I was in a coma for three days. Back then, I thought she meant the role. Until I found the letters Lucas wrote to her in the study. A thick stack. Each one filled with passionate love. [If the person I marry isn’t you, then it doesn’t matter who it is. I might as well pick someone who looks like you.] The more I read, the paler I became. The scripts I was offered, the roles I auditioned for and won, the endorsements I negotiated… The reason they were conveniently snatched by Bella time and time again was because Lucas was pulling strings for her. During the three days I was in a coma from the fall. He was begging the director to change the script so Bella could continue acting. I didn’t even get paid. The worst part was, all my scenes were cut. In showbiz, if you’re a nobody, you get bullied. But I wasn’t resigned. So that day, holding back tears, I fought with him. Lucas was furious, “Who allowed you to touch those letters? Bella is my first love. If I don’t give those resources to her, should I give them to you? Do you deserve them?” He flipped the table. Dishes shattered all over the floor. A mess, nothing spared. Just like our marriage that had come to an end. 3 Vivian went out to take a call and didn’t return for a long time. There was a knock on the lounge door. I stood up, the smile freezing on my lips. Lucas stood outside, his face dark, “Let’s talk.” Without waiting for my answer, he walked straight in, sat on the sofa, and stared at me coldly. “I advise you to behave yourself.” I turned my head in surprise. He continued on his own, “Fabricating a nonexistent first love just to anger me? Jane, you’re quite the actress.” Lucas always thought he was my first love. After we got married, one night sitting by the sea. He suddenly leaned in to kiss me. Amidst the sound of waves, I gripped the hem of his shirt, my body stiff. Lucas looked down at my inexperienced reaction, “Jane, have you never dated? Never kissed anyone?” I closed my eyes, “No.” He chuckled softly, “Then I’m your first love.” Lucas didn’t know. That day when I closed my eyes, my heart was filled with scenes of kissing Ethan. On the day of my first kiss, snow was falling on the Christmas streets of London. Ethan lifted me onto the windowsill with one arm and kissed me almost frantically. Deep, yet gentle. My eyelashes fluttered, and when I looked up, I saw it. A bunch of mistletoe hung above our heads. Every day after that. Whenever I saw mistletoe, like Pavlov’s dog, I would fall into the memory of that confusing, passionate kiss. 4 Thinking of Ethan, I zoned out again. Lucas was still rambling, “Still not over me after so long since the divorce? Can you not be so pathetic?” He was getting more and more out of line. I wasn’t angry, just said calmly, “Isn’t it more pathetic to fantasize that your ex-wife is still pining for you after so long?” These years, he’s been praised too much, his ego inflated. He stood up angrily and grabbed my wrist, “Jane, if you want to win me back, this isn’t a smart way.” I raised my hand to break free, but he held on tighter. The next second. Two crisp knocks interrupted the standoff. I hadn’t closed the door just now. Ethan was leaning there, unknown how long he’d been listening. The black hoodie highlighted his shoulders, making him look fresh and cool. He looked over. His eyes brewed with dark, intense emotions. “Excuse me, the crew is looking for Ms. Jane.” Lucas reluctantly let go of my hand. He put on a gentle facade and left. Ethan and I walked through the corridor, side by side toward the exit. The empty corridor was coincidentally quiet. A button that had come loose during the struggle suddenly rolled off my cuff. Bouncing, spinning on the floor. The crisp sound broke the silence. Like a drop of water falling into a calm lake. Rippling slightly. I bent down to pick it up, my fingertips touching Ethan’s. He instinctively grabbed my hand and returned the button. Our eyes met, I wanted to hide but lacked the strength. Ethan’s eyelashes trembled, “Jane.” Word by word, he chewed my name between his teeth. “This is the seventh year since you left.” 5 This is a lifestyle reality show. All guests have to stay in a house arranged by the program. Room allocation on the first night depends on a game. Lucas had been on the show two years ago. He knew the rules well and got the best room. But he immediately gave it to Bella, “She’s in poor health and can’t handle the cold. I’ll switch with her.” Bella turned to look at me triumphantly, “Ms. Jane, you won’t mind if I take the good room, right? Or maybe I should let you have it…” Without thinking, I knew the comments would praise her for being kind and beautiful. I refused crisply, “No need.” She grew even more smug, smiling provocatively at me, “Mr. Lucas is such a gentleman, but he didn’t consider that you’re injured too.” Ethan suddenly reached out and took my key. “Ms. Jane has a bad back, I’ll switch with you.” My mind went blank for several seconds. I mumbled a thank you. Ethan’s room had a very comfortable mattress. I lay down and stretched. Bella followed unceremoniously, pushing the door open. There were no cameras in the room, and I had already taken off my mic. She stopped pretending, her expression disdainful, “You really haunt us like a ghost, coming here just to disgust us.” “What was that look you gave Ethan just now? You don’t really think he’d be interested in you, do you?” “He’s a big investor, he wouldn’t pick up a divorced woman like you.” I listened quietly. Then mocked her indifferently, “Certainly not like you, picking up a divorced man.” Bella turned pale with anger and left the room sobbing. When others asked with concern, she wiped her tears aggrievedly, “Don’t blame Ms. Jane, she’s just in a bad mood.” Everyone in the industry is shrewd. Following the principle of not offending anyone, they offered vague comforts. Only Lucas came to interrogate me shortly after, “What did you say to her? Bella is crying now, come out and apologize!” I tried to control my expression, not letting the facial mask wrinkle. I replied indifferently, “No time to listen to dogs barking.” Then slammed the door shut.

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After pretending to be poor for three years, Julian finally decided I was worthy. He felt I was good enough to marry him. To get me to agree, he bought every billboard in South City just to apologize. Then, fireworks lit up the city for a month straight while he proposed. But in the fourth year of our marriage, he got his first young, delicate mistress. When I found out, he didn’t panic. He just arrogantly put out his cigarette, looking at me with cold indifference. “Are you sure you want to make a scene? Are the bank notifications not convincing enough?” I froze for a moment, opened my mouth, but couldn’t say a word. 1 It wasn’t until our wedding anniversary, when that young girl walked in wearing the exact same pearl necklace as me, that I understood a simple truth: you can’t live on promises. But back then, I was still naive. I tore the heavy South Sea pearl necklace from my neck. The pearls were large and lustrous. Julian’s butler once told me he bid for them personally at auctions. Maybe he bid on too many. Same size, same quality, same craftsmanship. It was impossible to ignore. I threw the broken necklace into Julian’s face. Pearls scattered everywhere, rolling onto the carpet. Julian’s face darkened slightly, but he didn’t lose his composure. He leaned back in his Italian leather chair, blowing a smoke ring casually. “Amy, are you sure you want to make a scene?” I clenched my fists, staring at his calm demeanor. Suddenly, all my strength drained away, and my heart turned to ice. The young girl was terrified by our standoff, hiding behind him like a frightened deer, tears welling up in her round eyes. He laughed at her reaction, pinching her cheek. “Look at you, so scared.” I stood there, mouth opening and closing, but no sound came out. Just bitterness. His question was so certain. I had no capital to make a scene. Three years ago, when my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer, my dependence on Julian grew, and our relationship became unbalanced. After all, I relied on him for everything. He arranged the hospital, the doctors, the surgery fees, the recovery costs. Everything. Including my current comfortable life. So he didn’t even bother hiding his little mistress from me. Even if I found out, what could I do? 2 I don’t remember how I left the party. I only remember my legs feeling like lead, every step a struggle. The delicate student girlfriend ran after me, looking anxious. She told me not to be angry, that Julian was just joking, that I shouldn’t take it seriously. Joking? She was on his arm, wearing the same necklace as his wife, at my anniversary party, and she called it a joke. I felt suffocated, hating myself for compromising. Just four years of marriage, and I was groveling under Julian’s wealth and power. I didn’t want to engage with her. I threw off her hand. I didn’t use much force. But she fell. Her pale knees scraped against the ground, bleeding instantly. Before I could react, I was shoved hard. “Amy, are you done?” Julian helped her up tenderly. I stumbled back, stepping on the loose pearls on the carpet, and crashed into the champagne tower. The tower, as tall as a man, collapsed on top of me. My dress was soaked in golden liquid. I tried to get up, slipping on pearls and glass shards. Shards pierced my heels and knees. But Julian didn’t even look back. He called for a first aid kit and gently cleaned the girl’s wounds. As he led her away, he finally glanced at me. “Can you stop embarrassing yourself?” I watched them leave, him supporting her with his body, protecting her as if she were made of glass. One of his friends pulled me up, lecturing me. “Sister-in-law, men need face. You were too undignified today.” I scoffed at his self-righteousness. “Get lost.” “Pah! Ungrateful woman! Look at your age! Still acting like a princess? See who cares about you now.” Acting like a princess? They thought I was just acting like a princess back then. 3 Four years ago, when I found out Julian had been pretending to be poor, I felt humiliated. I insisted on breaking up. His friends came to persuade me then, too. “Amy, have some pity! He hasn’t eaten in days. If you ignore him, he’ll die.” “Amy, we’ve never seen Julian this serious about a woman. Everyone has defenses. Just pretend your boyfriend won the lottery!” Julian had money and power, and his friends were his lobbyists. He permeated every part of my life, turning it upside down. I ignored him, but everywhere I went, LED billboards played his apologies. “Amy, it’s all my mistake…” “Amy, please see me again!” “How much to buy back my girlfriend’s forgiveness?” … One billboard cost more than my monthly salary. It seemed sincere, but I kept remembering the three years he watched me struggle. He said he was poor, with only a mother, and wanted to study. To make ends meet, I often worked two jobs. At my worst, I was laid off and delivered food after hours. For his birthday, I delivered food for a month to buy him a new laptop. There were nights of torrential rain. I was thrown off my scooter, nearly washed into a storm drain. I limped home, only to hear him discussing with his friends how to reveal the “surprise” to me. I stood at the door, frozen, and dropped the laptop. 4 My poor boyfriend was one of the richest men in the city. The laptop I risked my life for wasn’t even worth one of his meals. It was absurd. Rich people have so many ways to have fun. Why play with ordinary people’s feelings? The details I had ignored came flooding back. No wonder he was poor but picky about food. No wonder he didn’t know how to use my cheap water heater. No wonder he couldn’t relate to my complaints about rent and prices. I was blind. 5 He apologized a thousand times. But I heard something else. “You did well. You passed my test. Now I reward you by letting you be with me. Aren’t you happy?” I hit him, bit him, kicked him, threw the laptop at him. He protected the laptop and fell down the stairs. He held the computer like a treasure, looking at me pitifully. “Amy, I’m sorry…” I didn’t want to forgive him. My bruises still hurt. He said he loved me, couldn’t leave me. Then how could he watch me suffer? How could he use my struggle as a metric for his test? Three years! We slept in the same bed for three years. How can you play with a person like that? I ignored him for months. He bought my apartment building. I was ready to leave the city. But then, an accident happened. Before I could resign, Julian’s friends found me. They said Julian, heartbroken by my refusal, agreed to go abroad for his mother. He was on a flight last night. And that flight crashed. I watched the news, mind blank. I never thought he would die. We were together for three years. Even at his “poorest,” I never thought of leaving him. How could I not love him? I just couldn’t accept the deception. I rushed to the airport, watching families waiting anxiously. My legs gave out. I squatted in the hall, crying. That’s when Julian appeared. He wiped my tears, voice trembling. “Amy… do you still want me?” I looked up. His eyes were burning. He pulled me into a tight hug. “I didn’t get on the plane, Amy. I couldn’t leave you.” “Amy, give me another chance?” “Amy, do I have to die for you to look at me again?” 6 Like the suspension bridge effect, people forgive easily in the face of death. He proposed, lighting up the city with fireworks for a month. The first year or two of marriage were happy. He was a model husband, home by ten every night. “Sorry, gotta go home. The wife is strict.” “No more drinks, the wife will get mad.” When did it change? The economic gap, especially after my dad got sick, made me dependent on him like a vine. When one person knows the other can’t leave, humanity is tested. Dad’s cancer was advanced. The imported drugs were astronomical for me. I relied on Julian. Before marriage, I had a good job. Julian didn’t stop me at first. But after Dad got sick: “Mrs. Sterling working for peanuts? It’s embarrassing.” I felt uncomfortable but submitted, handing in my resignation. Leaving the Sterling villa, I went to the hospital. Dad was suffering from side effects. Rash, pneumonia. I heard him coughing from the hallway. When I entered, he held it in, looking at me. I felt a pang of sorrow seeing him so frail. I had changed clothes, but the cuts on my knees and arms still hurt. Dad noticed immediately. “Amy, what happened?” “Nothing, just fell.” He pulled up my sleeve, revealing the cuts. “How did you fall like this?” “Tripped on gravel.” Dad sighed, pulling out ointment. “Still so clumsy.” I was afraid to speak, afraid he’d sense something wrong. But he knew. “Amy, are you hiding something? Is Julian treating you well?” “Yes! You know how much effort he put into marrying me.” “Amy, people change. Relying too much on someone leads to disrespect.” “If possible, I hope you can find a job. Have your own ground to stand on.” “I’m looking. Once Dad gets better, I’ll work.” “Amy, everyone dies. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t let Julian look down on you because of me.” “No, Julian is good.” Just then, the hospital TV flashed news about Julian. Fireworks again. But this time, not for me. A young girl, smiling shyly next to him. “Sterling CEO’s New Love.” Dad coughed violently, blood on the sheets. I panicked. He grabbed me. “Amy, what is this?”

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I am a hitman. During a mission, my partner—my ride-or-die—shot me in the head. Over my corpse, he whispered, “I’m sorry. The target is my wife. To protect her, I had to kill you.” My soul was utterly speechless. Bro, do you not have a mouth? If it’s your wife, couldn’t you just say so? We could have just skipped the job! Was it necessary to blow my brains out?! When I opened my eyes again, I was back three minutes before the shot. 1 It was a sunny morning. My partner and I were prone on a secluded rooftop, butts in the air, staring intently at a black sedan parked in front of the hospital across the street. Inside sat our target. Moments later, the car door opened. A slender, pale leg extended out, stepping onto the pavement with delicate grace. The moment her foot touched the ground, I sprang up and shouted, “Hey! Isn’t that your wife?” Startled, my partner flinched, nearly misfiring. He turned his head, his eyes screaming interrogation: She only showed half a leg! Which eye told you that’s my wife? I smiled but said nothing. Damn it, if I didn’t yell fast enough, what if you popped me again? I turned back. The woman had exited the car. Soft, curly hair framing gentle, beautiful features. A breathtaking beauty. My partner stared at his wife, his face melting into happiness. But before we could say hello, a refined-looking man got out of the car. The man hugged the wife, tenderly stroking her belly. They looked like the perfect couple, radiating the glow of expectant parents. My greeting stuck in my throat. I didn’t dare make a sound. But my partner was different. Not only did he dare to speak, he dared to shoot. Bang! He fired. The bullet hit the man right between the eyes. Bodyguards spotted us instantly and swarmed. My partner gazed at his screaming wife from afar, gave a tragic smile, and turned the gun on himself. Bang! He ate the bullet. He killed a guy, exposed our position, and then left me behind to commit suicide!!! The bodyguards arrived fast. Their batons hurt like hell. Before I was beaten to death, my only thought was: Never team up with an idiot. Fuck! 2 Yes, I respawned again. Same sunny morning, same rooftop corner, same black car. Practice makes perfect. This time, I got smart. The moment the wife stepped out, I leaped up. “Whoa! Isn’t that your wife?” “Whoa! Is your wife pregnant?” “Whoa! Does your wife have a… brother?” I worded it carefully. “Brother” could be a real brother, a cousin, a neighbor, or a sugar daddy. We’re adults; no need to be too specific. Before my partner could react, I dragged him downstairs and sprinted to the wife. The wife panicked. The refined man panicked too. The man forced himself to be calm, extending a hand. “Hello, I’m… Mr. King. I’m Lily’s… cousin.” I sighed internally. An honest man. These days, few people admit to being the ‘neighbor Mr. King’. My partner shook his hand, then turned to his wife. “Why are you at the hospital?” The wife instinctively covered her lower abdomen. “I… I’m pregnant…” She glanced at Cousin King. Cousin King reached out, shielding her. “Lily didn’t want to disturb your work, so she asked me to accompany her for the checkup.” My idiot partner bought it completely, his face lighting up with ecstasy. “Really? Lily, we’re having a baby!” I stood there counting on my fingers. “Mrs. Partner, how far along?” Her face paled. “Two… two months.” Great. Three months ago, my partner and I took a job overseas. We just got back today. He hasn’t even stepped through his front door, and he’s celebrating a two-month pregnancy. Could I say anything? No! Say it, and I eat a bullet! I patted my partner. “Old Xie, being a dad is great news. Smile!” He grinned like a blooming flower. After laughing enough, he remembered business. He asked his wife, “Did you offend anyone recently?” After all, we’re pros. Our jobs involve blood. Even if my partner is an idiot, anyone hiring us has a serious grudge. The wife looked confused. My partner understood. He turned to Mr. King. “Then they’re after you. Don’t worry, Cousin. With me here, no one will touch a hair on your head!” Me: Emmmmm… Great. I wanted to applaud. I wanted to sing. But before I could clap, a gunshot rang out. Pain exploded in my back. Strength drained from my body instantly. Before I hit the ground, I saw our Boss in the corner. He was wiping his gun, face twisted in rage. “I hate it when employees slack off!” 3 Do the job, get killed by partner. Don’t do the job, get killed by Boss. What to do? Respawning again, I threw my gear on the ground and went berserk. “Fuck this stupid mission! I quit!” Under my partner’s confused gaze, I leaped down the building, found the Boss’s hiding spot, dragged him out, and started kicking him. “No health insurance! Peeping on us! Shooting me! Everyone pointing guns at me! I died three times today, you know? I need a raise, you hear me?!” The Boss dodged clumsily. “Raise my ass! Health insurance? If I paid it, would you dare take it? You want to go to jail faster…” My partner came to break it up. I slapped both of them. “Break it up? Break your mom! We’re life-and-death partners, remember? You call the guy cucking you ‘brother’ and sacrifice your sworn brother?” Just then, the black car stopped. The wife got out and saw the three of us brawling. She screamed, panic all over her face. Seeing her, my anger, which had just subsided, flared up three stories high! I snapped! Why do I have to meet this woman while I’m working? Can’t you just be a normal wife? Why do you need a side piece? Fine, have a side piece, but why let my idiot partner see it?! I died three times today, and two and a half were thanks to you!!! I’d had enough! I dragged Mr. King out of the car and pointed at his nose. “Cousin? You’re probably the baby daddy!” “Is the wife’s belly your work?” “Is the green hat on my partner’s head your gift?” Mr. King’s eyes dodged. He awkwardly admitted, “How… how did you know?” He shielded the wife. “Blame me if you must. I couldn’t control my feelings…” My partner looked like he’d been struck by lightning. The wife broke down. She covered her face, crying softly. “I’m sorry. I just made a mistake that all women make.” “I love you so much, but I love him too. I didn’t know how to choose…” Oh, so you just hit “Select All”? Her eyes were swollen from crying. Mr. King looked heartbroken. He supported her and said resolutely to my partner, “If you have anger, take it out on me. Lily is innocent!” My partner ignored him. He just stared at his wife and whispered, “Lily, do you really love him?” The wife looked up with teary eyes, tragic and beautiful. “Yes, I love him. But I love you too.” She asked, “Are you willing to forgive me?” My partner froze for a moment, pushed Mr. King aside, and pulled his wife into his arms. “How could I blame you? As long as you come back…” I was dumbfounded. My god, my idiot partner is a legendary simp. Sorry I yelled earlier. You are now the person I respect most! I looked at the sky. I should be able to survive this shift now. But before I could leave, familiar pain hit my back. 4 I thought I died again. As everyone knows, dying a lot makes you desensitized. So I habitually fell to the ground. After a while, a college kid leaned over fearfully. “I just threw a pebble at you. Are you dying?” I lay there, not wanting to get up. “Who are you?” The kid whispered, “I’m the client for this mission. I want to cancel. Can I?” Before I could nod, I heard my cheapskate Boss roaring: “Brian! The mission was to kill your ex-boyfriend! You’re dating men behind my back???” I was confused. What does the client’s dating life have to do with you? Boss, you manage too much. Surprisingly, the kid gasped, “Dad?” He looked at me, looked at his dad, thought about the hit he ordered, and was shocked. “Dad, didn’t you say you were in waste recycling?” “Do you know I’m applying for a government job?” “I passed the written and interview stages, but failed the background check. I thought it was rigged.” “With your background, passing would be a miracle!!” The Boss was furious. “You have the nerve to lecture me? You always said you were straight! Since when do straight guys date men?” “I knew it!! I found stockings in your room and you said they were your partner’s! I thought you had a cute girlfriend! Turns out it’s a six-foot cute girlfriend with a mustache!” “Tell me the truth, who’s the top?” Brian stammered, “I am…” “Bullshit!” The Boss spat. “You think I don’t know anything? In manga, tops have square jaws! Your chin is sharp enough to plow a field!!” I listened with a headache. What is happening? Brian covered his face, his slim frame trembling in the wind like a little white flower. He sobbed, “Dad, sorry for lying, but I really love him!” The Boss raged, “Damn it, he cheated on you and you’re still obsessed! How did I raise such a love-brain!” He looked at the refined Mr. King nearby, murderous aura exploding. “It’s all this scumbag! Cheated my son, and cheated my employee’s wife! Today I’ll do charity work and pop this promiscuous man!” The Boss pulled his gun and fired wildly at Mr. King. The wife screamed. My partner hugged her and dodged. I stood aside, admiring the chaos, even wanting a cigarette. Great, just great. You all killed me at least once. Now taste some lead yourselves!

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On our fifth anniversary together, I found myself sitting alone at a table full of cold food, just like the years before. Julian had promised to celebrate my birthday with me, just like he always did. And just like always, he broke that promise. This year, his excuse was his childhood friend, Bella. She wanted to do a photoshoot and needed him and his “boys” to be in it. Without a second thought, he ditched me and ran to her side. At 11 PM, Bella posted a photo on her social media, visible only to me. In the picture, four men in black briefs and bowties were kneeling around a woman draped in sheer fabric. The caption read: “Some people beg for a slice of cake, but I own the whole bakery.” I took a screenshot, then sent it to the girlfriends of Julian’s three best friends. If you guys think I’m beneath you, I hope you never have to kneel and beg me for anything. 1 Staring at that photo, something inside me quietly shattered. The lighting was warm and golden, making the four half-naked men look like Greek gods worshiping their queen. They gazed at her with adoration and submission. Bella, the queen in question, wore nothing but a translucent black veil, showing off every curve, radiating an arrogant, raw sexuality. The caption was a direct provocation. “Some people beg for a slice of cake, but I own the whole bakery.” I looked at the cold dinner I’d prepared, then back at the picture of Julian and his friends acting like trained pets. Suddenly, the anger evaporated. It wasn’t worth it. None of it was. I liked Bella’s post and commented: “A match made in heaven. Trash belongs with trash.” Then, I took a screenshot before the post magically disappeared. I sent it individually to the girlfriends of Julian’s three friends: Leo, Chris, and Sam. Ten minutes later, my phone exploded. Leo: “Linda, are you crazy? I was just helping Bella with a photoshoot! Why did you have to tell my girlfriend? You got a big mouth! She’s mad at me now, are you happy?” Chris: “You psycho! What did I ever do to you? Why involve my girl? If you’re bored, go jump off a bridge!” Sam: “Bitch! Stay out of my business! I hope your whole family gets hit by a car!” I was about to reply when Julian called. “Linda, what the hell is wrong with you?” he shouted. “Because of your little tattling, Leo and the guys are all fighting with their girlfriends. Do you know what you’ve done? Are you that twisted that you can’t stand seeing other people happy?” “Bella is crying because she feels guilty! This is all your fault!” “Get over here right now, explain yourself, and apologize to Bella. Or don’t expect me to be nice to you ever again.” “Bella is crying?” I asked calmly. “Of course! Why else would I be yelling at you? I’ve spoiled you too much.” “Is she still wearing that mosquito net that doesn’t cover anything while she’s crying? Are you guys still in your matching underwear comforting her?” Julian’s voice faltered. “Linda, stop being unreasonable. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Really?” I sent him the screenshot. “Julian, Bella is practically naked. Did you guys get hard during the shoot?” He hung up. 2 He probably didn’t expect Bella to post that just to spite me, or for me to go nuclear and send it to everyone. Since he hung up, I texted him: “Why hang up? Aren’t you going to yell at me anymore?” He started typing, then stopped. No reply. So, I posted the screenshot and the abusive texts from his friends on my own feed. Caption: “Happy birthday to me, even if I’m celebrating alone.” It was past midnight, technically the day after my birthday, but my feed blew up. Friends commented instantly: “WTF! Julian ditched you on your birthday for this? Trash.” “Don’t be mad, Linda. We’ll celebrate with you.” “Julian looks like a decent guy, but damn, he plays dirty. Four kings and a queen?” “Is she really wearing that? Is she advertising services?” Ten minutes later, Leo’s girlfriend joined the chat. She reposted the screenshot and announced her breakup. “If Leo can wear underwear for her today, he can take it off for her tomorrow. Trash belongs with trash. Go lick your queen’s feet, dog.” The chaos intensified. But Julian remained silent. I wasn’t going to let him hide. I sent the screenshot to his parents. That finally got his head out of his shell. Early the next morning, Julian’s mom called. “Linda, dear, can you come over? We saw the photo. There must be a misunderstanding. You two have been together for so long, the wedding is soon… why make it so ugly?” “Mrs. Miller, you saw the picture. I don’t think there’s a misunderstanding. I’ve been nothing but good to Julian. I love him, but that doesn’t give him the right to hurt me.” Out of respect for his parents, I agreed to go. “I’ll be there soon.” I drove to the Miller estate. Julian’s parents were waiting outside, with Julian standing behind them, head hung low. I got out of my car. Just as I shut the door, a black sports car roared out of nowhere, speeding straight for me. “Linda, look out!” Julian sprinted toward me and shoved me out of the way. Thud! I hit the ground hard. I watched as Julian flew into the air. 3 The sports car sped off. Julian was rushed to the hospital. He had saved me but paid the price with two broken legs. Staring at Julian in his hospital bed, casts on both legs, I felt… nothing. Yesterday, seeing him like this because of me would have destroyed me. I would have been crying my eyes out, wishing it was me instead. But today, I was just glad I only had a few scrapes. Julian woke up post-surgery, weak and pale. “Linda… you’re okay,” he whispered. I ignored the sentiment. “Julian, do you know what yesterday was?” He frowned. “Linda, I’m hurt. I got hurt saving you. If not for me, you’d be the one in this bed. How can you be so cold? Still thinking about your birthday?” His mom chimed in, “Linda, how can you talk to him like that? He saved your life! He’s your fiancé!” “Oh, now I’m the fiancé? I thought you guys preferred someone else.” I looked back at Julian. “Answer me. What was yesterday?” “It was your birthday! Happy now?” He snapped. “I missed it, big deal. I’ll make it up next year.” I laughed. “What about last year? And the year before? And the year before that?” “I…” “Last year, Bella wanted to watch the sunset, so you hiked with her all day while I waited at the restaurant until closing.” “Two years ago, you promised to come. I rented a yacht. You ditched me to help Bella move and took my car, leaving me stranded at the dock.” “Three years ago, Bella came back from abroad. You and your boys booked my hotel for a week-long party, forgot my birthday entirely, and stuck me with the $150k bill.” “And this year… you dressed like a stripper to take photos with her. If I did that with a guy, what would you think?” Anger flashed in his eyes. “Linda, stop being so disgusting. Bella’s photoshoot was art! It was about capturing her beauty and confidence. You’re just jealous because you don’t have an artistic bone in your body. Your mind is filthy.” “So, my boyfriend ditches my birthday for ‘art,’ and I should just be okay with it?” “Yes! Your birthday comes every year. Bella’s youth doesn’t. I was helping a friend achieve her dream. What’s wrong with that?” I nodded slowly. “You’re right. Absolutely nothing wrong.” “Since you love art so much, go chase it. We’re done.” 4 “Done? You’re breaking up over this?” Julian panicked. “Linda, are you insane? Bella is all alone. I was just being a friend. Stop being unreasonable! I’m lying here with broken legs, how long are you going to keep this up?” “I’m not being unreasonable. You say Bella is alone, but my parents are abroad. You promised them you’d take care of me. Did you?” He looked away. “You’re just wrong about this.” “Fine. If you think I’m wrong, I have nothing else to say.” “Recover well. I’ll cover your medical bills.” I turned to leave. Suddenly, Slap! Julian’s dad slapped him across the face. “Dad! Why?” His mom tried to protect him. “Are you crazy? Why hit him?” “He deserves it! He’s getting married, yet he’s fooling around with another woman! If he hadn’t gone to see her, would he be in this hospital bed? It’s his own fault!” Mr. Miller turned to me apologetically. “Linda, don’t be mad. I’ll teach him a lesson. I promise this won’t happen again.” “No need,” I raised a hand. “I can forgive him, on one condition.” Julian’s eyes lit up. “Anything! Name it!” “Call the police.” I stared at him. “Report the driver for attempted murder. Press charges.” “No!” He almost jumped out of bed. “Leo didn’t mean to hit me! It was an accident! He’s my brother. If I sue him, we’re done. No way!” “Suit yourself.” I walked out. “From today on, tell your ‘brothers’ not to expect any more handouts from the Lin Group.” “Julian, since you value the friend who tried to kill your fiancé more than me, I’ll handle it myself.” Outside the hospital, I ran into Bella. She smirked. “Heard Julian got hurt. Mind if I visit?” “Go ahead. We broke up. Sleep with him for all I care.” I tried to walk past, but she blocked me. “Linda, don’t think you’re special just because you have money. Julian stays with me because he wants to. He only dates you for your family’s business. He told me you’re just a glorified ATM to him.” “He never talks about you when he’s with me. Even when he’s drunk or dreaming, he calls my name.” Her eyes were venomous. “And Leo and the guys? They do whatever I say. I snap my fingers, and they jump.” “So Leo trying to run me over was your idea?” “Hmph, I never said that.” She tossed her hair. “You rich girls are so boring. You don’t know what men really want. I love watching you high-and-mighty princesses cry. It makes me happy.” I nodded. Then I looked behind her. “Did you guys hear that?” Bella turned around. Three women stood there, looking murderous. Leading them was Leo’s ex-girlfriend. “So you’re Bella? The bakery owner? You think sharing your boyfriend is fun?” Bella gasped. “You set me up!” I smiled. “I was waiting for them. Who were you waiting for?”

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