When the rockstar Liam Shaw was asked about his love life on a talk show, his first thought was of me. “Did Ava Reed pay you guys?” he scoffed. “Are you that desperate to ship me with her?” He leaned into the mic, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’ll give her this, she’s persistent. Chased me for two years straight. She’s obviously head over heels for me, but she plays these weird games, telling me I should treat her with respect, like… like she’s my sister-in-law or something.” The internet immediately erupted in a chorus of mockery aimed at me. [Ava Reed, the industry’s prettiest face, is just another one of Liam Shaw’s simps. How pathetic.] [Sister-in-law? What kind of weird kink is that? Ava’s really trying everything.] The live comments were a torrent of insults until one of Liam’s die-hard fans dropped a bomb. [Hold on, doesn’t Liam actually have a brother?] At that exact moment, I was at home, watching the livestream. And my phone rang. It was a call I hadn’t received in a very long time. “Ava,” a deep, familiar voice said. “I’ll be back in the States in three days. Thank you for looking after my little brother for me.” 1 Liam saw that comment on the monitor and immediately shook his head. “Get your minds out of the gutter. My brother’s been overseas for years. How would Ava even know him?” he said, dismissing it with a wave. “Besides, my brother told me a long time ago he has a girlfriend.” The die-hard fan replied: [Maybe… Ava is that girlfriend?] The internet, never one to pass up good drama, seized on this. A secret romance with the mysterious older brother was infinitely more exciting than a one-sided crush. The trolls and shippers immediately started fanning the flames. User #1: [To be fair, Ava might not be the best actress, but that face is a 10/10. And that body? Damn.] User #2: [I’m calling it. She’s the real sister-in-law.] Liam let out a cold, humorless laugh. “My brother said his girlfriend is the definition of perfection. Is Ava Reed perfect?” He started counting on his fingers, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sure, Ava’s got a pretty face, flawless skin, a killer body, and a smile that could stop traffic, but besides all that, what else does she have going for her!” He was getting worked up, his voice rising until he slammed his hand on the table, making the host jump. The live chat went into overdrive. User #3: [Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, my friend.] User #1: [Bro, you just listed, like, a dozen good qualities.] Die-hard Fan: [I hear the sound of my idol’s world crashing down.] Seeing the tide turn, Liam’s smirk faltered slightly, but his gaze remained defiant. “Let me be clear. I could never fall for Ava Reed. You can all relax. I’m not interested in girls who play these kinds of manipulative games.” He then added, as a final, definitive statement, “And neither is my brother!” 2 After hanging up, I went back to the livestream, marveling at the internet’s detective skills. They’d somehow sniffed out the truth from two throwaway lines. When Liam declared with absolute certainty that he could never like me, a wave of relief washed over me. Good. That would save us a lot of awkward family dinners down the road. As for his narcissism, I was well acquainted with it. Ever since we were kids, if a girl so much as glanced at him twice, he’d run home and tell his brother he had another secret admirer. He’d complain about the “curse of his own charisma.” So I didn’t take his ridiculous statements personally. The kid was born self-obsessed. But that last thing he said… I had to disagree. His brother wasn’t just interested. He was completely, utterly, head-over-heels in love. I glanced down at my phone, which was buzzing incessantly. As expected, my social media was under siege. The consensus was that I was a frog trying to eat swan meat. I was the frog, Liam was the swan. Honestly, I think they had it backward. Sure, I was known as the industry’s most famous “pretty face,” with zero acting talent to my name. But that face alone had made me an overnight sensation. Liam, on the other hand, had to grind for two years to make a name for himself as a musician. If anyone was the swan here, it was me. But I’ve never cared much for fame. I only got into showbiz to keep an eye on Liam, to make sure he didn’t get into trouble. It was a promise I’d made. He, however, seemed to have completely missed the point of my “doting care.” Just then, my phone rang again. It was Liam, calling me live on the air. I looked at the TV screen. His face was a mask of annoyance. “Ava Reed,” he said, not bothering with pleasantries. “The show is making us invite the last person we called to be a guest at ‘The Hideaway.’ Are you coming or not?” “The Hideaway” was the reality show he was currently filming, broadcast 24/7 via livestream. The producers were notorious for stirring up drama, which was why it had millions of viewers just after its premiere, with numbers still climbing. I was worried Liam’s ego would get him bullied on the show, or worse, that he’d be tricked into leaking corporate secrets. The Shaw Corporation was in a precarious state; it couldn’t afford any more scandals. So, I didn’t hesitate. “Okay. When do I need to be there?” On the TV, Liam theatrically covered the phone’s mouthpiece, as if I couldn’t hear him, and gave the camera a long-suffering smile. “See? I told you. She’s obsessed.” I just… I had no words. 3 I remember the first time we met. I showed up at his front door with a suitcase, and he answered, bleary-eyed from sleep. I gave him a friendly smile. “I’ll be looking after you from now on,” I said. “Don’t feel pressured. You can just think of me as… family.” The hint was obvious enough, I thought, though I cringed internally. But I remembered the instructions I’d been given before a certain someone left the country, and I was determined to put his mind at ease. I plastered on my most benevolent smile, ready to explain further. But Liam just laughed. He recognized me as an employee who’d been with his family’s company for three years. He summed up the situation in his own unique way: “You want me to think of you as family? What, you want me to call you ‘sis’ like you’re my brother’s wife or something?” My eyes lit up. I nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, that’s perfect!” It was exactly what I wanted. But then his smile vanished. His face darkened, and he ground out the words through his teeth. “In your dreams!” A long, tense silence followed. “I’m not a pervert!” he finally spat out. “I’m not into that weird stuff!” Worried he’d gotten the complete wrong idea, I decided to show him the picture in my wallet. I thought once he saw the photo of the two of us, he’d understand everything. Instead… The moment he saw the picture, his eyes widened in shock. He pointed a trembling finger at it. “You’re even more obsessed than I thought! You actually photoshopped yourself into a picture with me!” Honestly, a profound sense of helplessness washed over me. How could two people, born from the same mother, identical twins, be so vastly different in the brains department? This was going to be a long, hard road. No matter how many times I tried to explain, he always circled back to his conclusion: I was a desperate stalker using any means necessary to get his attention. Eventually, I gave up. I chose to endure in silence, focusing on taking care of him and selectively ignoring his daily narcissistic pronouncements. Then, he decided he wanted to be a rockstar. The entertainment industry is a shark tank, and I was worried he’d get eaten alive, so I jumped in too. Unfortunately, I had no talent for acting and ended up as a decorative “pretty face.” Fine. As long as I could be near him, that was enough. But for two whole years, Liam rarely gave me the time of day. He was either convinced I was trying to seduce him or that I was after his money. As if! It came to a head when he tried to force me to make a vow. “Ava, swear on that pretty face of yours that you have no ulterior motives. Swear that you want nothing from me. If you’re lying, may your face rot and fester until you’re a hideous monster!” What a vicious oath. I chickened out. Because, technically, I did want something from him. I wanted his brother. His twin brother. I told him this, sincerely. Liam’s face turned a fascinating shade of purple. “Ava Reed,” he seethed, “have you no shame?” And then he just stormed off, leaving me to deal with the verbal assault. So frustrating. Trying to communicate with a brainless narcissist was exhausting. Later, in a desperate attempt to get me to “give up” on him, he found some girl from the industry and started showering her with affection, trying to make me jealous. When I first heard the news, I was ecstatic for a solid half-day. It felt like my difficult, overgrown son was finally getting married off. A true milestone. Then I did a background check on the girl, Sophie. And discovered she had multiple shady connections to the Shaw Corporation’s biggest rival. This was not a simple romance. My joy evaporated. This was a classic honey trap, set up specifically for Liam. And I’d gotten my hopes up for nothing. Why was it so hard for this kid to find a nice girl? It was stressing me out. All I could do was warn him to be careful. Don’t sell out the family company for a pretty face. The Shaw Corporation had been in crisis for the past two years, which was why his brother had to go abroad to stabilize things in the first place. I wasn’t asking Liam to be a business genius. Just… cautious. If only for the sake of his own future trust fund. But after my heartfelt warning, he just sneered. “Ava, is this another one of your pathetic schemes? Trying to scare me away from Sophie so you can swoop in?” I… what? Is he incapable of understanding human language? Unfortunately, he was a grown man. I couldn’t just beat some sense into him. Otherwise, I would have been tempted. Maybe it was his rebellious phase. The more I warned him to stay away from Sophie Clarke, the closer he got. Case in point: for the two guest spots on the show, he invited me. And Sophie.

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I bought a designated parking spot at my company’s garage for convenience, only to have a shameless colleague occupy it every single day. After multiple failed attempts at communication, I gave up, sold my car, and started taking the subway. My world became peaceful. Until a week later, when I received a call from property management. “Hello, the car that’s been parking in your spot has been keyed something awful. The owner is raising hell with us. We were hoping you could…” I hung up the phone, feeling nothing but a profound sense of satisfaction. 1 The sharp, insistent dial tone was cut short. The world was suddenly quiet, save for the faint hum of the air conditioner. I tossed my phone onto my desk, the cold plastic of the end-call button still a phantom touch on my fingertip. Inside my chest, however, a long-suppressed current of warmth was finally surging through me, a pleasant heat spreading to every limb. It felt good. I leaned back in my chair and let out a long, slow breath. The tension that had been coiling in my gut for over a month finally released its grip. Through the blinds, slivers of sunlight cast bright patches on my desk; even the dust motes dancing in the air seemed to be celebrating. The nightmare of the past month, a relentless, frustrating ordeal, was finally showing signs of ending. It all started with that damned parking spot. When my company moved to a new office building, parking became a daily battle. To avoid the morning rush-hour scramble and to ensure I could leave immediately after work, I gritted my teeth and spent a significant chunk of my savings on a permanent, designated spot in the company’s private garage. The day I got the deed, I felt a sense of profound stability. That small rectangle of concrete was my personal haven in the chaotic city. I never imagined that this bastion of convenience would become the source of all my problems. Leo White, a new colleague, became the living embodiment of my nightmare. The very first day he started, I found his brand-new white SUV parked in my spot. It was parked aggressively, nose-out, practically kissing the back wall, perfectly consuming the entire space. My own car was left stranded in the aisle, waiting for a temporary spot to open up. At the time, I assumed it was an honest mistake. He was new, unfamiliar with the layout. Being a reasonably civilized professional, I didn’t make a scene. I just took out a sticky note and wrote a polite message. Hi, this is a private spot. Please refrain from parking here. Thank you. I stuck it carefully on his driver-side window, a place he couldn’t miss but that wouldn’t damage the paint. I even felt a little proud of myself for handling it with such grace and consideration. Looking back now, I was laughably naive. The next morning, when I drove into the garage, the white SUV was still there, unmoved. The sun couldn’t penetrate the gloom of the underground garage, but my temper was already starting to heat up. My carefully worded note was gone, vanished as if it had never existed. My polite reminder had been treated like a silent, odorless fart—released and forgotten. I found Leo in the company breakroom, holding a cup of coffee and laughing with other colleagues. When he saw me approach, he plastered on an overly familiar smile. “Hey, Jenna! What’s up?” I fought to keep my voice even. “Leo, are you parked in my spot? B-07?” His smile didn’t waver. It was infuriatingly casual. “Oh, yeah, I saw it was empty so I grabbed it. What’s the problem?” His breezy attitude was like a needle, expertly puncturing my forced calm. “It’s my private spot. I left a note for you yesterday.” “Huh? You did? I didn’t see it,” he said with an exaggerated blink, then waved his hand dismissively. “Whoops, my bad. I’ll pay attention next time. Anyway, you found a spot today, right? No big deal.” I stared at his grinning face, my fists clenching at my sides. What did he mean, “You found a spot”? I had spent an extra twenty minutes circling the garage like a shark, finally wedging my car into a remote corner, nearly making myself late. And he’d reduced my frustration to a flippant “no big deal.” A fire was building in my throat. I wanted to scream, but we were surrounded by colleagues. The last shred of my professional decorum held me back. “I need you to stop parking there. It’s a huge inconvenience for me,” I said, my voice turning icy. “Yeah, yeah, got it. Next time, for sure,” he said, waving me off before turning back to his conversation. But “next time” never came. The third day, the fourth day, for an entire week, that white SUV stood like a monument in my parking spot every single morning. My feelings evolved from confusion to annoyance, and finally, to a humiliating rage that grew like a weed in my heart. Every evening, I’d drag my exhausted body back to the garage and begin the scavenger hunt for an overnight spot. And every time I passed B-07 and saw that space—my space—so casually occupied, I felt my grip on the steering wheel tighten until my knuckles turned white. In the dim garage lighting, his white SUV was a glaring symbol of my powerlessness. I finally understood. For a shameless, overgrown man-child like Leo, kindness and communication were utterly useless. 2 Conventional methods had failed. I’m not one to escalate conflict, but I had been backed into a corner. That Friday, instead of going straight home, I drove to an auto parts store. The cold, heavy metal of a parking lock felt like a weapon in my hand. “This one,” I told the clerk. “The strongest you have. Can you install it tomorrow?” “Sure, Saturday’s fine. But you have to make sure the spot is empty. We can’t drill if there’s a car there,” the installer warned. “It will be,” I said through gritted teeth. To make absolutely sure, at 11 PM on Friday night, I sent a message to our department’s group chat, which had over three hundred people in it. Friendly Reminder: Spot B-07 is a private spot. I have scheduled a technician to install a parking lock tomorrow morning. To the colleague currently using the spot, please move your vehicle as soon as possible to avoid disrupting the installation. Thank you. I even tagged Leo specifically. I felt I had done everything I possibly could, covering all my bases. That night, for the first time in weeks, I slept soundly, dreaming of the satisfying clank of the lock rising, barring all trespassers. On Saturday morning, I arrived at the garage half an hour early, buzzing with the thrill of reclaiming my territory. But as I rounded the concrete pillar and my spot came into view, my excitement was doused with a bucket of ice water. The white SUV was still there. Parked as smugly as ever. It was so perfectly centered that you couldn’t have fit a piece of paper under the tires, let alone drill into the concrete. Blood rushed to my head. I pulled out my phone and dialed Leo’s number. It rang for a long time before he finally answered, his voice thick with sleep. “Hello? Who is this?” “It’s me. Jenna.” My voice was tight with anger. “I notified the group last night that I’m having a lock installed today. Why haven’t you moved your car?” A chuckle came from the other end, laced with annoyance and mockery. “Jenna, are you serious? You’re calling me on a weekend for this stupid crap? I was out drinking with friends last night, got home late. I’m still in bed. How am I supposed to move it?” His words were a physical blow. “You could have gotten a designated driver. Or you could come down and move it now. The installer is on his way,” I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “Why should I?” his voice suddenly rose. “You expect me to crawl out of bed for your little project? My head is killing me. You figure it out. Get a few guys to help you lift it or something. Stop bothering me!” Click. He hung up. I stood there, clutching my phone, listening to the dead air. I felt the blood drain from my face. Make my own arrangements to move it? It was an SUV that weighed over a ton and a half. What did he think I was, the Hulk? I was trembling, not from cold, but from a pure, unadulterated rage. I looked around the empty garage. It was just me and this metal beast squatting on my property, a stark picture of my own helplessness. When the installer called, I had to tell him, my voice trembling, to cancel the job. I didn’t leave. I just stood by my parking spot, staring at the car. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I just couldn’t accept defeat. I felt like a soldier defending a castle, utterly vanquished, making one last, pathetic stand. An hour passed. Then two. Then three. The air in the garage was cold and damp. My body was stiffening. Just as I was about to give up, the elevator doors opened, and Leo emerged, yawning and stretching. He saw me and his face soured, not with guilt, but with the annoyance of having his weekend disturbed. “You’re actually still here? Is it that serious?” he grumbled, fumbling for his keys. “It’s just a damn parking spot. Do you have to make such a big deal out of it? It’s not like you’re the only person in the world with a parking spot.” “A big deal?” I felt like I was on the verge of screaming. “It’s my spot! I paid for it! What gives you the right to use it every day and act like you’re entitled to it?” “Jeez, you’re so uptight,” he said, getting into his car and rolling down the window. He looked at me like I was insane. “We’re colleagues. We’re supposed to help each other out. With an attitude like that, how do you expect to get anywhere in this company?” The engine roared to life. He left me with those words, speeding off and leaving me standing in front of my now-empty spot, his “uptight” echoing in my ears. The smell of the exhaust made me cough, and as I coughed, tears I didn’t know I was holding back began to stream down my face. It wasn’t sadness. It was humiliation. It was the suffocating feeling of a rage with no outlet. I felt like a clown who had thrown a punch with all her might, only to hit a pillow. Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw an older woman with gray hair carrying grocery bags walk past the stairwell entrance. She must have heard our argument, because she paused and looked over at me, her brow furrowed. It was Mrs. Gable, who lived on the floor above me. Our eyes met for a second. Her gaze was a mixture of curiosity and pity. She gave a small shake of her head and continued up the stairs. In that moment, I felt like my complete and utter humiliation had been put on public display.

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For forty-six years, my parents split everything down the middle. They had separate accounts, separate savings. Every single grocery bill was meticulously divided. The day before my father died, he signed over all twenty-five of his properties to his illegitimate son. I expected my mother to scream, to cry, to fight. She did nothing. She just signed the papers, her face a placid mask. When his son and mistress moved into the largest waterfront mansion, my mother even sent them a fruit basket. Three years later, my mom had a massive stroke and was rushed to the hospital. I was frantic, but she just calmly told me to go to the bank. I took her debit card, punched in the PIN, and the moment I saw the balance, my world simply stopped. My mother, propped up against her hospital pillows, just smiled, as serene as a summer cloud. 01 The air in the living room was thick and cold, heavy as iron. Each tick of the old grandfather clock was a hammer blow against my nerves, a dull, grating echo in the silence. My father, Arthur Collins, the man who had gone Dutch with my mother for forty-six years, had taken his last breath yesterday. Today, his lawyer sat on our sofa, a frigid last will and testament resting on his knees. That sofa was twenty years old, its leather surface cracked and peeling, revealing the yellowed foam underneath like a dozen mocking lips. My mother, Helen Collins, sat perched on that worn-out piece of furniture, her spine ramrod straight, her silver hair pinned back immaculately. She wore a plain, faded blouse, her expression as still as a frozen lake. You would think the lawyer was about to announce grocery prices, not deliver the final verdict on her forty-six-year marriage. The lawyer adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. The lenses caught the gloomy light from the window, hiding his eyes. He cleared his throat and began to read the document in a flat, emotionless monotone. “In accordance with the final wishes of Mr. Arthur Collins, all personal assets, including a total of twenty-five properties located in the city and surrounding suburbs, are to be inherited in their entirety by his son, Mr. Ethan Reed.” Ethan. The illegitimate son, only a few years younger than me. The one my father always called his “true heir.” Blood rushed to my head, a roar filling my ears as the room began to spin. Twenty-five properties! Every penny my father saved by nickel-and-diming my mother, the entire fortune built on her quiet sacrifice and endless tolerance—it was all going to that bastard who had no right to any of it. “What about us?” My voice was a raw, scraping sound, each word forced through gritted teeth. “What about my mother and me?” The lawyer’s gaze finally lifted from the papers, landing on me with a look of professional pity. “Mr. Collins, taking into account his forty-plus years of marriage to Mrs. Helen Collins, has granted residency rights for this current property to Mrs. Collins and Ms. Claire Collins.” Residency rights. What a generous gift. We were like a pair of aging pets, permitted to keep living in our dingy cage until we died. The ownership, of course, would also belong to that young man, Ethan. Something inside me snapped. Rage, hot as lava, churned in my gut. I felt like I was about to explode. I shot to my feet, ready to flip the coffee table and its stack of deceitful papers. I wanted to shred that damned will. I wanted to throw this so-called lawyer, this accomplice to a lifetime of theft, out of my house. But a cool, thin hand clamped down on my wrist. It was wrinkled, ancient, but the grip was surprisingly strong, a steel trap that snuffed out all my fury. It was my mother. She was still sitting calmly, not even looking at me. Her eyes were fixed on the lawyer as she spoke softly. “Give me the papers.” The lawyer passed them over, along with a pen. I watched, stunned, as my mother—the woman I thought would be more devastated than anyone—took the pen. At the bottom of the document, on the page that reduced her forty-six-year marriage to a footnote, she signed her name with a steady hand. Helen Collins. The letters were neat and elegant, befitting a retired schoolteacher. Not a single tremor. Not a moment’s hesitation. After signing, she pushed the document back toward the lawyer. Her tone was as casual as if she were commenting on the weather. “There you are.” The lawyer picked up the document. As he looked at my mother, his professional pity seemed to morph into genuine awe, mixed with a sliver of disbelief. He stood, gave my mother a slight bow, and left in a hurry, as if afraid the crushing silence of the room might swallow him whole. The moment the door clicked shut, I lost it. “Why?” I screamed at her back, my voice sharp and ragged. “Why did you sign it? Are you happy with this? Forty-six years! You split the cost of a single onion with him! And all you get is the right to keep living here? Are you insane?” I felt like the absurdity of it all was driving me mad. How could she be so calm? What right did she have to be so calm? After being betrayed, abandoned, and humiliated like this, shouldn’t she be weeping, wailing, cursing his name? My mother finally turned around. She looked at me, her usually gentle eyes now as deep and unreadable as a forgotten well. There wasn’t a ripple of emotion in them. All she said was, “What’s the point in fighting?” “He’s gone now.” With that, she turned and walked into the kitchen, leaving me with nothing but the sight of her frail, indifferent back. I froze, a chill spreading through my veins. He’s gone now. Right. He was gone, so everything was set in stone. Nothing could be changed. But I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t accept her weakness, her passivity, her meek submission. It wasn’t just weakness, it was numbness. It was stupidity! BAM! I kicked the leg of the coffee table, the loud crack echoing through the empty living room. Then I grabbed my jacket and slammed the door behind me. This house, this place that was suffocating me with despair, I couldn’t stand to be in it for one more second. 02 I wandered aimlessly all day, only dragging myself back to that place I was supposed to call “home” after the sky had bled to black. As I approached my building, the roar of a powerful engine shattered the quiet of the old neighborhood. A brand-new black SUV was parked aggressively in front of our shabby apartment entrance, its headlights cutting blindingly through the dark. The driver’s door opened and a young man stepped out, decked out in designer streetwear, his hair slicked back with too much product. It was Ethan. Behind him, a garishly dressed, middle-aged woman dripping in cheap jewelry and a faux fur coat emerged. His mother. They had actually come here. The anger I’d been suppressing all day erupted. I stormed over and blocked their path. “What are you doing here?” I spat, my voice dripping with hostility. Ethan saw me and a smug, condescending smirk spread across his face. “Well, if it isn’t my big sister. Don’t be so hostile. We just came to check on Aunt Helen. We’re all family now, after all.” His mother, the mistress, pulled a thick envelope from her designer knock-off purse and held it out to me with an air of superiority. “Here’s fifty thousand dollars. Arthur left specific instructions before he passed. He said it was compensation for you and your mother. Take it. It should last you a while.” Compensation? Fifty thousand dollars? Were they tipping the help? The insult was so profound it felt like a physical blow. My blood boiled. I stared at the envelope, wishing I could set it on fire with my gaze. Ethan walked past me and started sizing up our rundown building, his tone dripping with disdain. “Jeez, this place is a dump. How could Dad let you live in a place like this? Wait a few days until I move into the waterfront mansion. You should come see it. Now that’s living.” He turned back to me, seeming to savor my humiliation. “Oh, by the way, sis, I just ordered a new sports car. Two million dollars. It’s blue, totally sick. I’ll take you for a spin when it gets here, show you what life is like for Dad’s real son.” Every word was a poisoned dagger straight to my heart. I was shaking with rage. I pointed a trembling finger at them and screamed, “Get out! Take your filthy money and get the hell out of here!” I lunged forward to shove them, to physically expel their disgusting presence from my sight. “Claire, stop.” A calm voice came from behind me. My mother had appeared in the shadows of the building’s entrance, a silent silhouette. She walked forward and, to my utter horror, took the envelope of cash from the mistress’s hand. My heart sank into a black abyss. Not only did she take it, but she offered the pair a smile that could almost be described as pleasant. “Thank you for coming to see me. Please, feel free to visit again sometime.” My mind went blank. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, what I was hearing. Was this my mother? Was this the woman whose husband and life’s fortune had been stolen from her? Had her spine been surgically removed? Had a dog eaten her dignity? Ethan and his mother were clearly surprised by how easy it was. They exchanged a look, their eyes shining with triumph and contempt. They offered a few more hollow condolences, then climbed back into their car, satisfied. The engine roared to life, and they sped away, leaving a cloud of exhaust in their wake. I stood frozen until the car was completely out of sight. Then, I found my voice. I spun around to face my mother, feeling like a cornered animal. “Why did you take their money? Why did you smile at them? Did you know about all this? Do you just not care? Do you have any pride left at all?” My voice, echoing in the empty stairwell, was laced with tears and utter despair. My mother didn’t look at me. She just clutched the envelope and silently started walking up the stairs. I followed her, watching as she unlocked the door and stepped into the dark apartment. She didn’t turn on the lights. She walked straight to the dining table and began clearing away the dishes from the night before. It was from the last meal we’d eaten on the day my father died. The leftovers had congealed in the plates. She just cleared them in silence, plate by plate, bowl by bowl, her movements slow and mechanical, as if my furious questions, my screams, my pain, were nothing but empty air. In that moment, all my energy, all my fight, just evaporated. I stared at her stubborn, silent back, and a wave of disappointment so profound it felt like drowning washed over me. There was a chasm between us, a gap too wide to cross. I couldn’t understand her. I couldn’t reach her. We were living under the same roof, but we were worlds apart. 03 In the days that followed, my mother and I descended into a cold war. The humiliation, however, was far from over. A few days later, a gold-embossed invitation was shoved through our mail slot. Ethan was hosting a housewarming party at the grand waterfront mansion my father had left him. Our names, mine and my mother’s, were printed in gleaming script. It was a blatant provocation, a deliberate act of rubbing our faces in the dirt. I snatched the invitation and, right in front of my mother, ripped it into tiny pieces. The confetti-like scraps fluttered down, settling in the icy air between us. “I would rather die than go,” I bit out, each word sharp with hate. My mother merely glanced at the paper littering the floor, said nothing, and went back to polishing her precious porcelain tea set. I thought that was the end of it. I thought, this time, she would finally be on my side. I was wrong. The day of the party was a Saturday. I locked myself in my room, trying to drown out the world with loud music and old books. In the afternoon, I heard rustling sounds from the living room. I cracked my door open just a sliver, and the sight that greeted me felt like a bolt of lightning to the chest. My mother had changed into a clean, dark coat. In her hand, she held a fruit basket, exquisitely wrapped in cellophane. The fruit inside was plump and glossy, clearly expensive. It was obvious where she was going. I burst out of my room and stood in front of her, my eyes wide with disbelief. “Where are you going?” She looked at me calmly, as if she were stating the most normal thing in the world. “To congratulate your brother.” Brother? The word was like two red-hot needles driven into my ears, piercing my heart. My world, in that instant, completely fell apart. All my anger, my pain, my confusion—it all came crashing down, shattering the last of my composure. I screamed at her, my voice raw and hysterical. “Have you no dignity? Have you no shame? He is not my brother! He’s a bastard, a thief who stole everything from us! And you’re going to congratulate him with a fruit basket? Are you trying to tell the whole world that you deserved this?” My voice trembled as tears streamed down my face. I wasn’t crying for the lost money. I was crying for my mother’s numb, self-deprecating spirit. It was heartbreaking. It was hopeless. My mother stared at me. This time, her eyes weren’t a placid, bottomless well. Something was churning in their depths, an emotion I couldn’t decipher—complex, dark, like a storm over a sunless sea. There was pain, conflict, and a flicker of… finality. She didn’t explain. She just gave me one last, deep look, then moved past me and opened the door. Click. The door shut. And with it, the last shred of hope I had for her. I collapsed onto the floor, every ounce of strength gone from my body. It was over. My mother, my only family, had completely lost her mind. I sat on the cold floor for a long time, until my limbs went numb. My phone buzzed. It was a friend of mine who worked in media. Her voice was cautious, laced with pity. “Claire, are you okay? I… I’m at Ethan’s housewarming party. I just saw your mom.” My heart seized. “How… how is she?” My friend sighed, her voice full of frustration. “Listen, don’t get mad, but Ethan and his mother are absolute trash. They sat your mom at a table in the farthest corner with a bunch of distant relatives nobody knows. During dinner, Ethan’s mom walked around with a wine glass, telling everyone how ‘understanding’ and ‘magnanimous’ your mother is. The way she said it, she might as well have called her an idiot to her face.” “Someone even asked your mom how she felt about Arthur leaving everything to his son, and why she didn’t fight it. Your mom just smiled and said, ‘It’s for the best.’” “Claire, people are whispering. They’re saying your mom is…” My friend trailed off, but I knew what she was going to say. That my mom was a spineless doormat. That she was a weakling. That she was the biggest fool in the world. My head swam, and my vision blurred. I hung up the phone, unable to listen to another word. My heart was dead. I couldn’t stay in this house, this place filled with nothing but shame and painful memories. I scrambled to my feet, ran into my room, and started throwing clothes into a suitcase. I had to get out of here. I had to get as far away as possible. I never wanted to see my mother’s numb face again. I never wanted to be a part of this pathetic story. Out of sight, out of mind. 04 I moved out and didn’t look back for three years. For three years, I was an ostrich with its head buried in the sand. I worked relentlessly, pouring all my energy into my career, trying to use the crushing workload to numb the pain and forget the past. My mother and I barely spoke. She would call occasionally, asking if I was doing okay, if I had enough money. Our conversations were always short and polite, like two distant relatives making a perfunctory check-in. I tried not to think about her life, but I’d still hear things through the grapevine. I heard that Ethan, after getting his hands on those twenty-five properties, went completely off the rails. He sold off a few of the best-located, easiest-to-liquidate apartments and blew the money on gambling, women, and lavish parties. He and his mother became a running joke in high society circles—the classic overnight millionaires with no class, a pair of adult children with too much money. Hearing this brought me no satisfaction, only a dull, lingering sadness. Sometimes, late at night, I would think of my mother. I’d picture her alone in that old house, her face a mask of unsettling calm. But then the image of her carrying that fruit basket to the party would flash in my mind, and the old anger would flare up again. I couldn’t forgive her for not fighting back. I hated her weakness, which had made both of us the butt of everyone’s jokes. Time drifted by in this haze of resentment and distance. I figured this was how it would always be between us, a cold silence that would last until one of us died. But tragedy, as it turns out, doesn’t wait for an invitation. One afternoon, I was in the middle of a critical project meeting at work. My phone, set to silent, was vibrating nonstop on the table. Annoyed, I declined the call, but the person immediately called back. And again. It was an unknown number. A strange sense of dread washed over me. I excused myself from the meeting and stepped into the hallway to answer. “Hello, am I speaking with Ms. Claire Collins, daughter of Mrs. Helen Collins?”

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1 The specialized drug I developed was exposed by my own husband, General Dylan Croft, for its addictive side effects. After that, I quietly left the military and took a humanitarian mission on a volatile border, telling no one. Ten years later, I saw him again during a documentary interview. The host pushed a microphone toward me. “Dr. Vance, General Croft hasn’t remarried in ten years. The world is waiting for you two to reunite!” As soon as he finished, Dylan walked in. In his perfect dress uniform, he still looked strikingly handsome—the youthful fire replaced by a calm, commanding presence. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, a thousand unsaid words passed between us. But all that came out was a quiet, hollow greeting. “Aria. It’s been a long time.” “Yes. A long time.” My reply was flat, my face still. Ten years ago, the hemostatic agent I created was found to cause severe addiction. Soldiers became dependent for life. My career and reputation were ruined. My own father disowned me. Soldiers’ families stormed my lab and threw acid in my face. But no one knew the truth: that ten years ago, Dylan let his mistress tamper with the formula for profit, and when it blew up, he let me take the blame. … Dr. Matthews, the head of the medical station, rushed forward to greet him, his excitement making him clumsy. “General Croft! It’s a true honor to have you visit our border station!” Seeing me tending to a wounded soldier, Dr. Matthews called out, “Dr. Vance, come and say hello to the General! He’s the youngest general in the armed forces. We’re lucky to have him here!” My hands paused over the gauze, but I didn’t look up. The reporters, however, sensed a story and swarmed me. “Dr. Vance, so this is where you’ve been! You were once the DoD’s most brilliant pharmaceutical expert. How does it feel to be a field nurse, giving shots and hanging IVs? Is it a big step down?” “We hear your ex-husband has been waiting for you all this time, even postponing his wedding. What are your thoughts on that?” I ignored the microphones practically touching my face and continued my work, but I couldn’t stop my hand from trembling as I reached for a vial of medicine. I knew Dylan’s methods too well. I didn’t believe a word of his supposed “devotion.” My guard was up. The tense standoff was broken when Dylan strode over, using his body to shield me from the cameras. “This is a private matter between my ex-wife and me. There will be no interviews today. Please leave.” He turned to me, his gaze a complex storm of emotions. “Aria.” He hesitated, finally just repeating himself. “It’s been a long time.” Hearing his voice again after so many years, my hand jerked. CRASH! The vial slipped from my grasp, shattering on the concrete floor. Glass and medicine sprayed everywhere. A shard sliced my hand, and a bead of blood welled up, dripping from my fingertip. Dylan immediately grabbed my hand. “How could you be so careless?” I snatched my hand back and turned to Dr. Matthews. “Sir, I’m so sorry. I’ll clean this up immediately. Please deduct the cost of the vial from my salary.” Just then, a soft, feminine voice drifted from the doorway. “Dylan, darling, what are you doing here?” “You left the base so suddenly. Your parents and I were worried sick!” I looked up. Isabelle Thorne smiled as she walked in, possessively linking her arm through Dylan’s and giving him a light kiss on the lips. She was the one. The person who had secretly altered the formula for ‘Hemostop’ ten years ago, causing the addiction scandal. And now, she was Dylan’s fiancée. Behind her stood Robert and Eleanor Vance—my parents, who had cut ties with me a decade ago. Isabelle’s eyes landed on me, and she smirked. “Dr. Vance. Long time no see.” “Oh, by the way, your parents have adopted me as their goddaughter now. I suppose that makes me your sister, doesn’t it?” I looked at my parents. They had aged so much. Their hair was completely white, their postures stooped. A sharp, needle-like pain pricked at my heart. What would they think if they knew this precious ‘goddaughter’ was the very person who sent their real daughter to prison? My father’s gaze was like ice. “We only have one daughter, and it’s Isabelle. The sight of a criminal who would poison our own soldiers for profit makes me sick.” My mother added, her voice tight with anger, “Dylan, what are you doing talking to this piece of trash? It would be best for everyone if she just died out here on the border.” Their words hung in the air, and suddenly every eye in the medical station was on me, filled with suspicion and contempt. I turned away, swallowing the pain, unable to meet their gazes. Dylan sighed. “Don’t blame your parents. What happened back then was a huge blow to them.” He handed me a gold-embossed business card. “I owe you so much. Call me if you ever need anything.” I took the card, not out of acceptance, but with the same polite detachment I would show a patient. I placed it on a nearby table without a second glance. I didn’t believe for a second that Dylan had found me by chance, and I wanted nothing more to do with him. Three days later, my phone rang. It was Dr. Matthews. “Dr. Vance, I am so, so sorry…” he stammered. “I had no idea you were a specialist from the DoD. It was wrong of us to have you working here.” “I’ve marked you down for full attendance this month, and your salary is being wired to you now. Please… don’t come in tomorrow.” Before I could reply, he hung up. I tried calling back, but he had already blocked my number. A moment later, a text came through from my bank: a deposit of $4,500. It was $1,000 more than my usual salary. A note followed: [The extra thousand is for your trouble. We’re a small station. Please, don’t come back.] I knew immediately it was Dylan’s doing. Sure enough, he called moments later. “Aria, I can’t overturn the conviction, but I will compensate you in other ways.” “Being a field medic is too hard on you. I’ve already arranged for you to quit. I bought you a villa in Seaport City. You can move in right away. Isabelle is working at the Military Medical Research Command now, but she’s not as skilled as you. I want you to assist her. The salary is two hundred thousand a month.” My fists clenched so tightly my knuckles cracked. How dare he? How dare he shove me into the abyss, force me to bear the world’s scorn, and then, after I’d lost everyone, reappear like a savior to shatter the peace I had found? How dare he think he had the right to orchestrate my life? Helping Isabelle was just a prettier way of saying he wanted me to be her ghostwriter, her shadow. His words made my stomach turn. I forced my voice to remain steady. “Thank you for the offer, General, but I have my own life. Please don’t contact me again.” There was a long silence on the other end. “Aria, don’t be stubborn. A genius like you only belongs in a lab. I’m offering you a life of comfort where you can do what you love. What more could you want?” “If you continue to refuse, I’ll have to do this my way.” He hung up, leaving a cold knot of dread in my stomach. That afternoon, I found out what his “way” was. With my job gone, I started looking for work to make ends meet. But everywhere I went, it was the same story. No matter how desperate they were for staff, the moment I applied, they would politely but firmly turn me down. Defeated, I returned to my small rented room, only to find my landlady, Mrs. Gable, waiting for me outside. She was a kind old woman. When I first arrived with no money, she had let me stay for a month rent-free and often brought me food. Now, her eyes were red and swollen. “Aria, you’re back…” “I’m so sorry, dear. I can’t rent this room to you anymore. Please don’t be angry with me, I have no choice.” “Some important people from the city came by. They said if I keep letting you stay here, my daughter… my daughter will lose her job in Seaport City…” She broke down, sobbing. I couldn’t bear to cause her more trouble. I packed my bags and left that night. So this was Dylan’s “compensation.” Destroy everything I had, then arrogantly offer me his charity. How pathetic. 2 The day I was forced out of the medical station, Dylan Croft appeared in the small town where I was staying. He looked thinner than he had a few days ago, with dark circles under his eyes, but the stars on his shoulders were as sharp as ever. He arrived with an entire squad of soldiers. He calmly directed them to pack up my few belongings, acting as if we had never divorced, as if he were simply a husband picking up his wife after her tour of duty. At the house he’d arranged for me on the military base, he handed me a glass of warm milk. “You always did have a tendency to get stressed. This will help you sleep.” I took the glass in silence and took a small sip. It was rich, so rich it made me tremble. Just like his so-called compensation—thoughtful on the surface, but a poison that set my teeth on edge. I put the glass down and met his eyes. “General Croft, let the past stay in the past. If you truly want to make amends, you’ll leave me alone.” He flinched, a flicker of darkness in his eyes. “Aria, don’t be difficult. I know you’re not satisfied. This is just the first step. I’ll have my people at the Pentagon work on your case. We’ll get your military status reinstated eventually.” “I know you don’t like Isabelle. I’ll make sure she stays away. For now, just rest.” His tone was gentle, but every word was an order. He wanted me under his thumb, completely under his control. But Isabelle was never one to follow orders. The day after I moved in, she barged in with a crowd of military journalists. “Dylan, darling! I heard Dr. Vance was here. Why didn’t you tell me?” She turned to the cameras. “Dr. Vance was the one primarily responsible for the ‘Hemostop’ incident, but she has served her time. I hope she has learned her lesson and will continue to contribute to military medicine!” The true culprit, spouting shameless lies for the cameras. She then handed me a credit card. “This is just a little something from me. You’re a senior scientist, and my fiancé’s ex-wife. Please, you must take it. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask!” Her performance was flawless. That night, the news spread like wildfire across internal military networks: [‘HEMOSTOP’ MASTERMIND RETURNS, EX-HUSBAND GENERAL CROFT PROVIDES CHARITABLE SUPPORT!] [VICTIMS’ FAMILIES PROTEST RELEASE OF JAILED SCIENTIST!] Overnight, Dylan became the righteous, devoted general, and Isabelle his magnanimous fiancée. And I was once again thrown to the wolves, the target of everyone’s hatred. Whether it was intentional or not, Isabelle leaked my address. From then on, protesters gathered outside the military compound every day, holding signs and shouting curses. Families of the victims, angry citizens. Just three days later, my parents arrived. It was the first time they had sought me out in ten years. When I saw Robert and Eleanor Vance standing at my door, a foolish sliver of hope rose in my chest. “Dad? Mom? You’re here. Please, come in.” But my father just stared at me coldly. “Hmph. We wouldn’t dare step inside a murderer’s house.” My mother leaned against the doorframe, her face weary. “Aria, we can never forgive what you did. You can’t keep making mistakes. Isabelle truly loves Dylan. Since you’re divorced, you need to stop bothering him.” “Isabelle is too kind to say this herself, so we have to be the bad guys. You need to leave this place. If you refuse, your father and I will have to find a way to make you leave.” Her voice was as gentle as I remembered, the same voice that had sung me to sleep as a child. But now, every word was a poisoned dagger, tearing me apart. I stared at them in disbelief. “Dad, Mom… did you ever, even for a second, believe me? What if I told you everything that happened was Isabelle’s fault?” SLAP! Before I could finish, my father’s hand struck my face. “You insolent girl! How dare you slander Isabelle, even now!” Dylan, who had just arrived with groceries, saw what happened and rushed forward to intervene. Just then, his phone rang. It was his aide. “General, sir, it’s bad! Ms. Thorne drank too much at the celebration banquet. They’re pumping her stomach at the military hospital!” At the news, Dylan and my parents panicked. Without another word, they jumped into their car and sped off. I watched the car disappear, a bitter laugh escaping my lips as tears streamed down my face. It turned out that my pain, my humiliation, meant nothing compared to Isabelle having one too many drinks. I thought that was the end of it. Ten years had taught me not to expect anything from my parents or from Dylan. But I never imagined what their “way” of making me leave would be. I was out shopping for supplies when several of the victims’ family members recognized me. The butt of a rifle slammed into the back of my head, and everything went black. When I woke up, I was inside a burlap sack. Through the rough weave, I could see we were by the river on the outskirts of the city. The leader, a man named Ryan, kicked me hard in the stomach. “You damn monster. How dare you show your face in Seaport City again!” His words ignited the others. “Give me back my son! He was only twenty-two! He’d just been promoted to Captain!” “It’s all your fault! Your poison ruined my husband’s life! I want you dead!” Fists and feet rained down on me. I tried to explain, but my mouth was gagged, and all that came out were muffled cries. When they grew tired, Ryan spoke again. “You owe us so many lives. Death is too good for you. Today, you’re going to pay your debt in blood.” I heard the whistle of a steel pipe cutting through the air, followed by an explosion of agony. Ninety-nine blows. I passed out again and again, only to be woken by splashes of cold water. I felt each bone crack, heard each sickening snap. Finally, as my consciousness faded, they tied me to a large stone and threw me into the river. The icy water rushed in from all sides, the crushing pressure in my lungs threatening to tear me apart. I closed my eyes in despair, ready for the end. Maybe it was for the best. This life had been too hard, too painful. It was time to rest. Just as my world was about to go dark, a strong arm wrapped around me, pulling me up. Fresh air rushed back into my lungs…

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When the city code enforcement officers were chasing me and my daughter away from our street stall, my ex-husband stepped in to help. He sighed, “Let’s get remarried. Lily is still young; she shouldn’t have to suffer like this.” I agreed without hesitation. After returning, I stopped being jealous or throwing tantrums. Lily stopped fighting for her father’s attention against the daughter of his childhood sweetheart. When he stayed out all night with his childhood sweetheart and her daughter, neither my daughter nor I called to check on him. When we ran into them outside, my daughter and I tactfully avoided them. We became exactly the sensible, understanding family he wanted. But instead of being happy, his eyes turned red. “Wifey, why aren’t you angry?” “Lily, why don’t you act spoiled with Daddy anymore?” 1 After completing the remarriage paperwork, we went home. Jason trailed a step behind us. Lily and I were standing at the door. “Why don’t you go in?” I said calmly, “The passcode was changed.” Just then, the door opened from the inside. Hannah, wearing an apron, scolded playfully, “What took you so long? Bella asked several times—Miss Xu?” I nodded politely. “Miss Xu, please don’t misunderstand. Jason has been busy with work lately, so I came over to make him some soup.” “I always forget the passcode, so Jason changed it to my birthday. I’ll change it back right away.” But she made no move to do so, her eyes unable to hide the smugness. “Daddy!” A small figure threw herself onto Jason’s legs. Hannah hurriedly covered the girl’s mouth, acting as if she were afraid of me. “Bella, didn’t Mommy tell you to call him Uncle Jason?” Jason looked over awkwardly. Seeing that Lily and I didn’t make a scene like before, a look of surprise crossed his face. There were many new things in Lily’s room. Hannah bit her lip lightly. “Bella sometimes sleeps here…” The small hand in mine tightened. Lily said softly, “Mommy, I can change rooms.” My heart, which had been calm, suddenly ached. In the past, whenever she saw Jason caring for Bella, she would pout and cry, shouting, “Daddy is mine alone!” Every time, Jason would scold me for not disciplining her properly. Now, she just quietly looked at her changed room. Children are sensitive; she had learned that only those who are favored can afford to be spoiled. Jason frowned. Hannah quickly said, “I’ll take the things away. Miss Xu, you and Lily, please don’t be angry with us—” The mother and daughter huddled together, trembling slightly, looking pitiful. In the past, I would always be provoked by her suggestive words and end up arguing with Jason. But now, I just watched indifferently without speaking. Jason suddenly spoke up, “Don’t come in and out of my house freely in the future. As a single mother, people will gossip.” After packing up, Bella said with a sob, “Daddy, Bella wants you to drive us.” Jason hesitated and looked at me. I smiled. “You and Miss Hannah have been friends for so many years; you should drive them.” He opened his mouth to say something, but I turned to boil water. Before leaving, Jason hurriedly said, “Wait for me to come back. We need to talk properly.” Only after they left did Lily and I completely relax. Soon, a message popped up on my phone. Hannah: [So sorry, Miss Xu. Bella is used to Jason watching cartoons with her. He’ll be back a bit late.] 2 That familiar “so sorry” again. I smiled and replied briefly: [Okay.] Jason didn’t return until the next day. I was reading a bedtime story to Lily before her nap. I didn’t question him. Making a scene or getting jealous like before would only cause him to be dissatisfied with me and would implicate Lily. After Lily fell asleep, Jason handed me a box. It was the black diamond necklace I had wanted but lost to another bidder. If it were before, I probably would have been ecstatic and hugged Jason. But now, my heart was very calm. I used to love jewelry. But after moving into the low-income housing, a thief grabbed my necklace and pulled me down the stairs, leaving me bleeding from the head. From then on, I realized these things were flashy but useless, and could even cost me my life. Not getting the enthusiastic reaction he expected, Jason’s expression shifted slightly. “Let me put it on for you.” I smiled and dodged. “Thank you, but I don’t like wearing jewelry anymore.” He stiffened. I went to the kitchen to cut fruit. When I came out, Jason was gone. In the afternoon, I took Lily out. Money had been tight for the past two years, and Lily often wore hand-me-downs from the landlord’s daughter. Now I could finally buy her clothes that fit. When we entered a children’s clothing store, we ran into Hannah and her daughter. And Jason. The sales clerk was attentively introducing items to them. “Mr. Jason, Mrs. Jason, this is the new arrival from yesterday. It suits little Princess Bella perfectly.” Bella screamed, “I want this one!” Jason smiled and swiped his card. “Ma’am, do you need anything?” A sales clerk approached me. I said softly, “I want to buy a couple of outfits for my child to wear now.” Jason and the others looked over. I pretended not to see them and pulled Lily inside. When we came out after trying on clothes, Hannah and her daughter were gone. Jason looked at me with a complicated expression. “Today is Bella’s birthday. I bought her clothes as a gift…” “Mm, wish her a happy birthday for me.” After speaking, I turned to the puzzled sales clerk. “Pack both of these sets.” Just as I was about to go pay, Jason grabbed me. I quickly pulled my hand away. The sales clerk’s gaze shifted back and forth. “Ma’am, you and Mr. Jason…” I smiled. “We’re acquaintances.” A clatter sounded behind me. “Mr. Jason, you dropped your phone!” I turned back. Jason was staring at me intently. “What nonsense are you talking about?” I was confused. “Aren’t you going to celebrate their birthday?” He continued to glare at me, his chest heaving violently, but he didn’t say a word. I didn’t understand, but I didn’t dare provoke him, so I pulled Lily and walked out. Just as we stepped out of the store, Jason grabbed me. He asked in a low voice, “You’re just going to let them misunderstand our relationship?” I laughed. “Aren’t you the one who cares most about Hannah’s reputation?” Jason choked on my words. It took him a while to speak. “Why are you different from before?” I used to make a fuss over things like this. Jason was always impatient. “Stop being unreasonable. It’s not easy for Hannah as a single mother. With the title of Mrs. Jason, no one will bully her.” But now, what was the point of fighting with Hannah over these things? I just wanted to raise Lily well and give her the comfortable life she deserved. I said calmly, “Isn’t this what you always wanted?” Jason’s face turned livid, and he stormed off. I didn’t care. I took Lily to eat and drink, and bought quite a few things. This life without worrying about livelihood felt like returning to before the divorce. 3 After getting married, I became a full-time housewife. Everyone around me envied me. I had a wealthy father and married a self-made young talent. I once thought I would be this happy forever. Until Hannah got divorced. The first time Jason missed Valentine’s Day, he told me he was working overtime at the company. But as soon as he got home, Hannah delivered his tie. I was confused. He just pinched the bridge of his nose. “Hannah works at the company. She dropped it off on her way.” I wanted to ask more, but seeing how tired he was, I couldn’t bear to. I lived a life of leisure at home, while he worked so hard outside. It seemed I really shouldn’t suspect him. I told myself there should be basic trust between husband and wife, and I shouldn’t be blindly jealous. But later, more and more such incidents happened. On our wedding anniversary, Jason left me alone in the restaurant to rescue Hannah, who was being given a hard time by her landlord. During a sudden rainstorm, Lily and I were trapped at the early learning center, while Jason drove Hannah and Bella home. Lily caught the flu and had febrile convulsions. I couldn’t reach Jason and took her to the hospital alone, only to see him there with a team of experts looking at Bella’s scratched hand. Every time, Hannah would proactively message me to report. [So sorry, Miss Xu. Jason said he wouldn’t let me live here anymore and arranged for me to stay at his property.] [So sorry, Miss Xu. It’s all because I felt dizzy. Jason will pick you up right after dropping me off.] [So sorry, Miss Xu. Jason is just too nervous about Bella. I’ll scold him later.] I couldn’t stand it anymore. I questioned Jason time and again: who exactly were his wife and daughter? At first, he explained patiently. “We’ve known each other for so many years. I help where I can.” Later, he became increasingly impatient. “Your family is rich; you don’t understand the hardships of people at the bottom. Can’t you be more understanding of her?” “It’s not easy for Hannah as a single mother. Why do you have to target her?” “Don’t you have the ability to take care of yourself? I have so much work to do, and I still have to revolve around you two?” “If you can’t teach the child well, get someone else to do it! Learning to bully others at such a young age, she’ll become a menace!” Lily and I no longer waited for him to come home with anticipation. Because as soon as he returned, arguments greeted this small family. Lily became more and more silent. Even the kindergarten teacher asked me if something had happened at home. What made me finally decide to divorce was the day of Jason’s company annual party. He told me he was working overtime. I was always tired and sleepy during that time, so I forgot about the annual party. Until I scrolled past a local post on social media. [The boss and lady boss of Hengda Tech are such a perfect match. Like a couple from a romantic drama.] The attached photo showed Jason and Hannah standing side by side at the annual party. I called Jason five or six times, but no one answered. The seventh call finally connected, but Hannah’s voice came from the other end. “Miss Xu, Jason is very busy right now. You can tell me whatever it is.” I asked her to put Jason on the phone. She laughed coquettishly. “Miss Xu, I’m Jason’s secretary. He has no secrets from me.” “Did you know, many people today said I’m more suitable to be Mrs. Jason.” Trembling all over, I hung up the phone and rushed to the annual party venue in my slippers. 4 Hannah had her arm around Jason’s waist, leaning her whole body into his embrace. Furious, I pulled them apart and glared at Jason. “This is what you call overtime? Is hugging her also overtime?” Hannah came over to pull me. “Miss Xu, I drank too much, don’t misunderstand—” I shook off her hand and glared at her. “Don’t touch me! Homewrecker!” I didn’t use much force, but she cried out and fell to the floor. “Sarah Xu! Are you crazy?” Jason shoved me hard, then solicitously helped Hannah up, carefully checking her condition. My lower back hit the corner of a table, painful enough to bring tears to my eyes. Hannah’s eyes were red, holding back tears. “It’s all my fault. Don’t fight because of me…” Jason quickly comforted her. “It has nothing to do with you. She’s crazy.” Then he turned to me and said coldly, “Sarah Xu, I’ve told you many times. Hannah’s mother entrusted me to take care of her on her deathbed.” “Do you know how hard it is for her to raise a child alone? As a woman yourself, how can you be so vicious as to insult her with terms like ‘homewrecker’?” His gaze toward me was cold, even tinged with disgust. “My patience with you has limits. Stop while you’re ahead.” “Don’t make me regret marrying you.” As soon as he finished speaking, a buzzing sound filled my ears. I looked at Jason in disbelief. I wanted to say, You are my husband, Sarah Xu’s husband. How can you side with an outsider? I wanted to say, Don’t you know Hannah provokes and shows off to me every time? I wanted to tell him her true colors revealed on the phone just now. But something blocked my throat. After a long while, I only managed to say, “Then let’s divorce.” The moment the words left my mouth, I felt a sudden release. I didn’t even want to care about Hannah’s gloating expression. Jason froze, then sneered. “Sarah Xu, what can you do besides threaten divorce? Is there nothing else in your life besides jealousy?” With that, he supported Hannah and left. That day, I went home and sat in the living room until dawn. It wasn’t until Lily cried loudly that I realized there was blood between my legs. The second child who had quietly arrived, quietly left. A week later, Jason and I went through the divorce procedures. I got custody of Lily. Later, my dad’s company ran into trouble. Several cooperative projects were maliciously stolen, and within half a year, he had to file for bankruptcy. My dad had a heart attack and was hospitalized. Despite several resuscitation attempts, he passed away. I used the remaining assets to pay the employees’ wages, transforming from a rich heiress to a single mother in low-income housing. Lily suffered a lot with me. Countless times I woke up crying from dreams, regretting that I had harmed her. This time, I wouldn’t revolve around Jason and get jealous. As long as I could provide a good life for myself and Lily, I would turn a blind eye even if Jason found ten “Hannahs.”

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Julian Thorne noticed I hadn’t submitted an expense request in three days. Assuming I had finally learned how to be a proper trophy wife, he sent me a text like he was bestowing a favor: “I’ve reinstated your foster mother’s treatment. Behave yourself from now on, and stop lying just to get more money.” “I know it’s hard for people from your background, but my money isn’t that easy to swindle.” Little did he know, when I received that text, I had already finished drafting the divorce papers. The only thing I was taking with me was the white T-shirt and jeans I wore when I first walked into this life. No one would believe that Mrs. Thorne, always so glamorous in public, couldn’t scrape together four decent outfits from her own closet after three years of marriage. Every penny I spent privately had to be approved through the company’s OA system. All the clothes and jewelry were locked in a safe. If I needed anything, I had to apply to Julian’s secretary, Sarah Xu. Just because he looked down on my background, convinced that a sudden rise from poverty would lead to bad spending habits. But three days ago, my foster mother was critically ill. I applied for $30,000 for her surgery. Sarah Xu deliberately delayed the approval process, and my foster mother died in her hospital bed. Julian didn’t know that the only reason I tolerated him for so many years was for the medical resources he controlled, the only thing that could save her. Now that she’s gone, there’s no reason for me to stay. 1 I asked Julian for a divorce. He refused. He replied with two cold words: “Stop acting.” When talking to me, Julian’s eyes never left his laptop screen. As if those dry electronic figures were more interesting than a conversation with his wife. I lowered my eyes, my tone firm: “I am talking to you seriously. I want a divorce.” Julian took a deep breath and stood up, his expression cold: “Regarding your foster mother, I agreed to pause the treatment. It had nothing to do with Sarah; she was just following orders.” “If you hadn’t come to the office making a scene, I wouldn’t have taught you a lesson.” “I already had someone reinstate the treatment yesterday. My time is precious; I don’t have time to watch you throw a tantrum.” Without waiting for my answer, he turned and left. Confident that it wouldn’t be long before I came crawling back. Continuing to fawn over him shamelessly like before. Even if he told me to my face, “Don’t be so servile, it’s disgusting.” I would just smile silently and continue being his hardworking nanny. But now, whether the treatment is reinstated or not doesn’t matter. If three days ago, Julian had answered my call, maybe I would still be bowing and scraping, doing everything to please him. But he never had the patience to answer my calls. Back then, I begged him not to hang up, to listen to me. But it was no match for Sarah’s single sentence: “Is Mrs. Thorne unhappy because I reminded her that things need to follow procedure?” She acted aggrieved: “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just don’t want her to carry over those bad habits from her lower-class past, doing things without any plan.” “That’s why I was stricter with the process, so she can learn a lesson and develop good habits.” Hearing this, Julian became even more impatient with me. Ignoring my pleas, he coldly ordered: “Do as Sarah says.” Whenever I had anything to discuss with him in the past, it was the same. “I’m busy. If you need something, find Secretary Xu.” “Listen to Secretary Xu.” “Do whatever Secretary Xu tells you.” I was his wife, but I had no dignity. Forget about normal outings; even for the social engagements required of Mrs. Thorne, events I had to attend with him, I had to submit an application to his secretary. Every time, Sarah would reject these ridiculous approvals with a smile on her face. “Mrs. Thorne, the description is not detailed enough. Please rewrite it.” “The banquet only lasts until 10 PM. Why did you write 12 AM?” “Mrs. Thorne, why are you always like this? Look at your application yourself. Didn’t I say submit it only when there are no issues?” She always waited until the very last minute to approve, then watched with a smile as I rushed frantically to the venue for a piece of jewelry or a dress. Sometimes I would be late because of this. Julian would look at me with displeasure: “Lynn, do you have no concept of time?” “You can’t even handle such a small thing. Look at yourself, in what way can you compare to Sarah?” But I couldn’t handle such small things. I could never arrive on time. All because of the good secretary, the capable assistant by Julian’s side. But he couldn’t see it, and he didn’t care. Just like how he knew my foster mother’s illness couldn’t wait, couldn’t stop medication. Yet he still impatiently accused me over the phone as a matter of course: “Didn’t I tell you many times? If you need money urgently, find Sarah. Would she deny you?” Getting money from Sarah was as difficult as ever. “What kind of emergency requires $30,000 all at once? Mrs. Thorne, you aren’t making up excuses to ask for money, are you?” “$30,000 isn’t a small amount. Please attach a detailed list before I approve it. I’m rejecting it for now.” I explained to her that this was a prepayment, and the detailed list would only be available upon discharge. Sarah smiled, the corners of her mouth curling up. Feigning realization: “Oh, so that’s how it is. My family is very healthy, so I know nothing about this.” “But expense applications are very strict. Breaking the rules like this won’t do. How about you get a formal regulation from the hospital and attach it, then I’ll approve it? I’ll reject this one first.” Later she said: “Hospitals seem capable of forging contacts. I’m not saying you would, Mrs. Thorne, just that it’s possible.” “How about you attach the industry regulations?” Just like that, the optimal rescue time was delayed again and again by Sarah. By the time I finally got the money, even the most outstanding medical team couldn’t save her. Endless hatred and pain pierced my heart densely. Indescribable suffocation filled my chest. This marriage is a cage binding me; I must escape. After figuring out what I was going to do next, I suddenly felt light all over, as if the invisible shackles attached to me for so many years disappeared at this moment. So when I received Sarah’s provocative social media post, my heart didn’t waver. I could even calmly save a screenshot and give her a like. Whenever it involved Sarah, Julian’s messages always came quickly. “Sarah has done a good job recently. As her boss, I’m just treating her to a meal. Don’t make things up and cause misunderstandings.” I don’t know what Sarah told him again. He added as a matter of course. “You already liked it. If you unlike it now, people will misunderstand Sarah.” “Leave a comment praising Sarah’s work. Consider it encouragement from us as a couple.” I originally didn’t plan to respond. But after thinking about it, I couldn’t swallow the anger in my heart. So I complied with Julian’s request. I commented to Sarah: “Secretary Xu is conscientious and dedicated, treating the boss’s wife and employees equally, using a tiny OA system to exert full bureaucratic authority. I hope you can keep it up and commit more sins.” “Every penny you save for the group now is joint property for your future ascent to the throne. Thumbs up for you.” After replying, I tossed the phone aside. I began to pack calmly. During this time, the phone kept ringing, but I ignored it. Packing didn’t take much time. After all, every valuable item belonging to me in this house was strictly locked in the password-protected walk-in closet and the triple-security safe. For so many years, I was like a guest staying temporarily. Even my traces were just a shallow layer. Now that I’ve seen through it, I suddenly realized the truth. 2 Julian arrived home quickly. I marveled once again. Whenever it involved news about Sarah, he was always prompt, never delaying. As if he didn’t see the small suitcase at my feet, his brows were still knit with anger. “Didn’t you hear me calling you?” I was indifferent: “Heard it. Didn’t want to answer.” Julian looked at me as if he had heard an incredibly ridiculous joke, speaking as if he couldn’t comprehend. “Didn’t I tell you? Sarah has been performing well at work recently, so I treated her to dinner.” “Do you know that many people in the company already misunderstand her? After you posted that comment, how is she supposed to conduct herself in the future?” Hearing this, I couldn’t control a sneer: “Looks like not everyone is blind. So people do know what ‘good deeds’ she’s done.” Saying this, I looked at Julian: “Besides, I’m not her mother. Why should I care if her days at the company are easy or not?” In an instant, Julian’s face sank. “Lynn, when did you become such a vulgar person who believes every rumor?” “You clearly know how difficult it is for a young woman to reach a high position in the workplace. Why spread rumors and insult another excellent woman like this? If you hadn’t made a scene at the company last time, would Sarah be in this position now?” His gaze toward me was full of fatigue and accusation: “If you want to be a parasite who produces nothing, I don’t blame you. I’m willing to keep you in luxury. But not all women are as shortsighted and incompetent as you.” “If you continue to be so malicious and slanderous towards Sarah, don’t blame me for being impolite. Think about your foster mother.” I finally couldn’t help but laugh out loud. My voice filled with sadness and pain. In front of Julian, I opened the suitcase. “Luxury? Look at the ‘luxurious’ life I live in your house.” “I’m leaving, and I can’t even pack four decent outfits from the closet. Money for a haircut has to go through the OA system to be approved by your good secretary. The nanny takes home more money in a month than Mrs. Thorne!” Saying this, I forcibly dragged Julian to the walk-in closet, pointing at the password lock on the door: “Do you know how to open this lock? First enter the password, then scan the fingerprint. Even your company’s files aren’t locked this tight!” “Which ‘luxurious’ wife needs to live like me, like a mistress begging for a living under her husband’s secretary!” Julian’s face was written with incomprehension. He asked me incredulously: “Just because of this?” “So you’re jealous of Sarah and went to the company specifically to ruin her reputation?” Hearing his question, my heart sank instantly. Everything I just said was playing the lute to a cow. If Julian thought for a moment that this was wrong, it was an insult and trampling to me. Over the years, he wouldn’t have complied with Sarah’s ridiculous suggestions one after another. Putting my food, clothing, housing, and transportation all into the OA system. I half-lowered my eyes: “Forget it. Think whatever you want.” “We are getting a divorce.” Julian finally realized I wasn’t making a scene. Not only did I refuse to accept his olive branch, but I was also hell-bent on divorce. The impatience in his heart instantly turned into anger. “Lynn, don’t forget the agreement between us. If you divorce me, you won’t get a penny!” “And your family’s business, your foster mother’s illness. Do you think without me, your foster father, who has a new lover, will care about her?” Of course not. I knew very well that if that ungrateful man hadn’t ignored my foster mother, forcing me into a corner, I would never have agreed to this ridiculous arranged marriage. Julian and I were originally two parallel lines. Now it’s just letting everything return to its proper track. I zipped up the suitcase again and said coldly: “Whatever.” Julian froze, not understanding why the methods that worked every time in the past were useless now. But his dignity didn’t allow him to bow his head again. So he watched wordlessly as I walked toward the door. Until I opened the door, Julian almost couldn’t control the panic in his heart to call me back. But he remembered what Sarah had told him. “Mrs. Thorne is too bored at home and wants to make a scene like in a soap opera.” “I’ve seen plenty of these little women who are used to the good life. Ignore her, leave her out to dry, and it won’t be long before she comes running back with her tail between her legs, apologizing to you.” Julian thought, feeling a bit irritable. He reached into his pocket but only found a handmade pear drop candy. Maybe because the weather was too dry, he coughed a bit every time he smoked. So I thought of many ways to make him feel better. She wasn’t completely useless, Julian thought. When the time comes, I must make her apologize properly, sincerely repent, and never dare to threaten divorce again. He quickly convinced himself. 3 After leaving Julian, I hesitated for a long time before going to my mentor. The gray-haired woman saw me dragging my meager luggage and said nothing, just stepping aside to let me in, welcoming me into her home like every visit before. My eyes soured, and tears fell. When I gave up my studies to go back and get married, she was the one who opposed it the most fiercely. Even on my wedding day, she didn’t give up messaging me. “Lynn, difficulties are temporary. There is no hurdle in the world that cannot be crossed.” “You can find other ways to solve your problems. Don’t be confused for a moment and sacrifice your whole life.” “The life of a wealthy wife only looks glamorous. All your sacrifices are invisible. Your degree will only be a temporary halo, but fundamentally, you are still reaching out for money. As long as you reach out to others, you can only ever bow your head.” Time proved Professor Song right. At first, Julian was satisfied with my degree. Later, he had Sarah by his side. She said that before I was adopted by my foster mother, I was just a person from the bottom of society. Now, even with a degree, I couldn’t change the bad habits formed since childhood. I needed to learn the rules of their class, needed to develop good consumption habits. I was the one reaching out to Julian for money. He could decide to give it, decide not to give it, or give it in a ridiculous way. After I cried enough. Professor Song said slowly: “I hope you haven’t lost your professional knowledge.” “I have a job here that requires going into the mountains and water to collect data. Do you want to go?” I was stunned for a moment. I didn’t expect my teacher not to blame me, but instead offer me the job I needed most right now. She frowned imperceptibly: “What? Have you gotten used to the good life of a wife and can’t handle the hardship of us workers?” Tears still on my face, a sincere smile appeared. “I can handle it, Teacher. For myself, I am willing to endure any hardship.” Professor Song smiled sincerely and arranged things swiftly: “Since you agreed, contact the team quickly. Work isn’t a TV drama; there’s no time for you to mourn the spring and lament the autumn.” Under her arrangement, I soon embarked on the work journey. At first, I wasn’t used to it, but as time passed, The knowledge and operational procedures carved into my soul surfaced from my mind, and I became more and more proficient. The stern team leader gave me a thumbs up: “At first, I was worried you were too delicate. Now I see, a brilliant teacher indeed produces a brilliant student.” I smiled and said: “It’s because everyone takes care of me, otherwise I wouldn’t have adapted so quickly…” Just as everyone was talking and laughing. An untimely call sounded: “Lynn?” Turning around, it was Sarah, dressed fashionably, clutching the latest handbag. She glanced lightly at the others around me. “I wondered why you suddenly clamored for a divorce from Julian. Turns out your bad nature hasn’t changed, mixing with these lowlifes again.” As she spoke, she frowned, as if speaking to us was a favor. My face went cold. We looked somewhat disheveled measuring various data like savages, but that was no reason for her to insult us. “Sarah Xu, are you a cockroach? You’re everywhere!” Sarah’s face flushed, and behind her walked a very familiar man. 4 “What’s wrong?” Hearing his inquiry, Sarah’s eyes reddened, and she whispered aggrievedly: “Nothing, it’s just that Mrs. Thorne ran away from home recklessly for so long. Today, seeing her mixing with this motley crew and following us here, I couldn’t help but advise her…” “Who knew she would misunderstand…” Only then did Julian notice me standing opposite, frowning imperceptibly. His eyes held a look of knowing: “Lynn, are you bullying Sarah again? If you’re here to apologize to me, you must apologize to Sarah first!” I rolled my eyes at him and turned to leave with the group. The girl beside me whispered: “Lynn, who is that?” I sneered: “My blind, brainless ex-husband.” Julian’s face darkened, and he questioned: “Lynn! You followed us all the way here, how long do you plan to keep this up?” “Running away from home for so many days without a care, ignoring your foster mother completely. Where is your conscience? Are you really trying to force me to stop your foster mother’s medical expenses?” I looked at him wearily, my tone cold: “Stop them then. Aren’t you best at doing that sort of thing?” Stung by the look full of disgust and indifference, Julian couldn’t tell if he felt more anger or panic at the impending loss. He decisively took out his phone, missing the panic on Sarah’s face. “Julian, maybe don’t…” Julian pressed down Sarah’s hand on his arm and said coldly: “She must be taught a lesson, or she’ll never learn how to be Mrs. Thorne!” The assistant on the other end of the phone hesitated after receiving the order. “Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne’s foster mother passed away last month. The medical expenses were stopped before she died…” Julian froze on the spot, murmuring incredulously: “How is that possible?” “Why didn’t I receive any news?” The assistant was full of difficulty, as if it was hard to speak. “I reported it to you at the time. You said…” “‘When I’m happy, don’t tell me a single thing related to that woman Lynn.’” In an instant, Julian recalled what he was doing at that time. He had arranged for 52,000 drones to perform above the TV station. Just to comfort Sarah, who was frightened by Lynn blocking her at the company and cursing her. He felt a bit dizzy and had a headache. Why did the always well-behaved Lynn suddenly make a scene at the company back then? She seemed to say that Sarah deliberately stuck the process and wouldn’t give her money… Thinking of this, Julian looked sharply at the woman beside him, whose face was full of concern. Sarah was startled and explained pitifully: “Julian, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I just didn’t want you to feel too guilty. With so many years of medical support, you’ve done right by Mrs. Thorne…” Julian didn’t want to hear a word from her at this moment. For the first time, he spoke to her coldly: “Give me your phone. I want to see your work calendar.” Panic instantly filled Sarah’s face. She explained incoherently: “Julian, this is my privacy. Is my usual work not good enough?” Seeing this, what was there to explain? So everything I said back then was true. I wasn’t slandering Sarah, nor was I being jealous. Julian profoundly realized that my leaving the villa with nothing but the clothes on my back and demanding a divorce wasn’t a ploy to manipulate him. I genuinely wanted to divorce him. It was laughable that he always thought if he gave me the cold shoulder, I would go back and apologize to him. The one in the wrong was clearly him.

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“If I had to choose, I’d pick Annie as my sister-in-law.” My boyfriend’s sister, Layla, said this publicly while rolling her eyes at me provocatively. Everyone thought I would explode, waiting to see a bloodbath between the future sisters-in-law. But I smiled and said, “I second that,” and announced my breakup with my boyfriend on the spot. My boyfriend said I was making a scene. But when I left the campsite overnight, he saw me but didn’t stop me. Instead, he turned to comfort the girl named Annie, “Sorry for embarrassing you. I apologize on Vivi’s behalf.” I wasn’t sad at all; in fact, I was full of anticipation. This way, during the return trip, I wouldn’t lose the use of my right arm saving Layla in a car accident, only to be despised by their entire family later. Would Layla survive without my desperate rescue? I was eagerly waiting for the result. 1 In my past life, Layla humiliated me publicly just like this. I splashed a whole glass of beer in her face. The future sisters-in-law got into a huge fight, creating quite a spectacle. My boyfriend, Bryan, took sides, only protecting his sister and her best friend, Annie. Although I pulled out a handful of Layla’s hair and kicked Annie, who had been making snide remarks, I seemingly won the fight but lost all my dignity. Even so, I didn’t leave overnight. Because Bryan was not only my boyfriend but also my boss. I was afraid that if I burned bridges, I would lose both my boyfriend and my job. After all, I was just a migrant worker in the big city of Seaview, drifting from a second-tier city. And I held a secretary position with no technical content, easily replaceable at any moment. With my average degree from a decent university, finding another job in Seaview’s current employment market would be incredibly difficult. And my parents, who had high hopes for me, would never agree to me returning to my hometown, Lin City. In their words, Lin City was a place where one lived comfortably only through social connections. They, guarding a small tailor shop that barely made ends meet, couldn’t arrange a decent job for me. They said if I couldn’t stay in Seaview after getting into college there, it would only make them a laughingstock. In my past life, I hid in a dark corner of the campsite alone, feeling miserable all night. Bryan didn’t come out to find me all night. The next day, after watching the sunrise, I appeared thick-skinned and successfully fought off Annie to sit in the passenger seat. My thought process was simple and crude: before I found my next job, I had to firmly hold onto the identity of Bryan’s girlfriend. On the way back, our car overturned while avoiding a large truck. Both Layla and I were sitting on the right side of the car and were thrown out simultaneously, hanging off a cliff. Layla grabbed only a small branch, while I grabbed the main trunk. When the small branch Layla was holding was about to break, I ignored past grievances and resolutely grabbed her with my right arm. Although Bryan and Annie weren’t thrown out, Bryan only cared about saving Annie, who had a small scratch on her scalp, and had no time to care about the lives of Layla and me. I held on until passing drivers joined forces to pull us up. In the end, Layla was unharmed, but my right arm was disabled due to prolonged blood loss. The media reported my heroic act of saving someone. Bryan’s company was at a critical stage of going public, so for the sake of appearances, the White family let Bryan marry me. Layla not only didn’t appreciate me saving her life but blamed me for using the favor to demand repayment, delaying her brother’s great life. Even worse, Layla brought Annie to live in the small home Bryan and I shared, saying it was closer to their university. It seemed she wouldn’t give up until she got Annie into Bryan’s bed. I got into another fight with Layla. I only had one usable arm. Bryan not only didn’t help me but accused me of being petty, unable to tolerate even his own sister. Turning around, he comforted Annie gently, “Sorry for scaring you. I have the final say in this house. You and my sister can stay as long as you want, don’t mind what others think.” My in-laws, upon hearing this, also came to support their biological daughter. My father-in-law slammed the table and shouted, “This house belongs to our White family! A daughter of the White family can stay whenever she wants. Who are you, an outsider named Zhuang, to gossip?” My mother-in-law rolled her eyes to the sky, “We already agreed to Bryan marrying you, what more do you want? Don’t think just because you saved my daughter’s life, you can order us around forever. You don’t call the shots in this house!” Layla even turned the tables, “Mom, Dad, you are too kind! Her arm probably was useless before she saved me. She just seized the opportunity to blame it on our family.” I laughed in anger, “So, you’re blaming me for pulling you up back then?” Layla puffed out her chest confidently, “Of course! If you hadn’t reached out to grab me, I would have swung over and grabbed the main trunk myself.” Thinking for a moment, she pushed Annie forward again, “Besides, if you had let Annie, who gets carsick, sit in the passenger seat, Annie would definitely have grabbed me in the emergency, and neither she nor I would have fallen off the cliff.” Finally, she concluded decisively, “Annie is much smarter than you. She is the one suitable to be my sister-in-law!” I turned to Bryan, who had been silent, “Do you think so too?” Bryan didn’t answer me directly, just rubbing his brow irritably, “Vivi, enough! It’s just my sister bringing a classmate to stay over. Do you have to be so calculative? How long are you going to make a scene? If you don’t want to live here, divorce and get out!” I, who had hoped for a trace of comfort from him, was completely disheartened. But Layla clapped her hands cluelessly, “Divorce, divorce, hurry up and divorce! Brother, it’s great that you finally figured it out!” She pushed Annie into her brother’s arms, “You two lock it down quickly. It would be best to make a little nephew tonight!” Bryan didn’t dodge. Annie shrank into his arms, apologizing to me “shyly,” “Sister Vivi, sorry, Layla is joking with you.” I thought that although she was fake, she at least knew some shame. But she suddenly changed the subject, “However, Sister Vivi, to be honest, you should stop using favors to demand repayment. You already got Brother Bryan, you should coax him and make him happy. Instead of turning the house upside down, making Brother Bryan look half-dead, it’s too heartbreaking. Repaying a favor once is enough; you can’t threaten Brother Bryan with it for a lifetime, right?” Bryan’s parents agreed in unison, believing I was an ungrateful troublemaker who couldn’t even find a job with a disabled hand and wouldn’t serve her man properly. Their son marrying me was simply bad luck. I couldn’t argue against five mouths with just one. Finally, losing control of my emotions, I rushed to the kitchen and came out with a cleaver… My mind was in chaos at the time, so after being reborn, I only remembered that I was the only one left standing in the living room. 2 After being reborn, the first sentence I heard was Layla saying she hoped Annie would be her sister-in-law. I no longer had the indignation of my past life. Instead, I wanted to facilitate this beauty too much. So I smiled and clapped, “I second that!” To show my sincerity, I stood up and announced, “From now on, Bryan and I are no longer in a relationship. For the rest of our lives, weddings and funerals have nothing to do with each other.” Layla’s eyes lit up, “If you have the guts, do what you say!” I nodded solemnly and raised three fingers, “If I don’t, may I be struck by lightning, hit by a car when I go out, and choke on water at home.” Bryan frowned and scolded me gently, “Vivi, don’t mess around with Layla.” The words were spoken to me, but the corner of his eye was clearly watching Annie’s reaction. Annie pursed her lips and smiled, pinching Layla’s arm, “Alright Layla, look, you’ve put Sister Vivi in a difficult spot.” “What difficult spot?” Layla curled her lip dismissively, “Just a country bumpkin, no need to give too much face.” Although I wanted to escape these rotten people quickly, I didn’t plan to flee with my tail between my legs. So, I still splashed that glass of beer from my past life onto Layla’s face. However, unlike in my past life, I didn’t foolishly wait for Layla to counterattack after splashing. I struck first, grabbing Layla’s hair from behind. I pulled tight, immobilizing her body. Annie thought I was still the impulsive but enduring Vivi. She rushed up trying to save Layla, but I kicked her down mercilessly. In my past life, I could take down a group of people with a knife in one hand. Now with sound limbs, dealing with a green tea bitch who didn’t plan to use her full strength was a piece of cake. Bryan tried to rush over to pull me, but I shouted a threat, “You better not move, or I can’t guarantee what my mouth might say.” Bryan had been drugged by a male investor for financing. Although the final step didn’t happen, a video was taken. I was the one who rescued him, which was how we met. He pursued me, saying he was grateful for my beauty and kindness, but I knew in my heart he was mostly trying to silence me. Of course, my beauty was the primary factor. I can say shamelessly that if I weren’t so stubborn, with his current financial resources, he wouldn’t be qualified to be my boyfriend. Being filmed by a male investor was Bryan’s Achilles’ heel; he would rather die than let people know. He guessed I had a copy of that video, so as soon as I spoke, he froze. His other fair-weather friends, who preferred to avoid trouble, had already tactfully stepped aside. Including Annie, who mocked me sarcastically in my past life. As long as I wasn’t afraid of death, others would be. My aura was much fiercer than in my past life. Annie was a bit afraid to provoke me, shrinking behind Bryan like a quail. Layla wailed as I pulled her hair painfully. I kicked the back of her knee, forcing her to kneel and listen to me. “I’m very curious, does Miss White, whose total score in the three main subjects of the college entrance exam was less than 150, know how to write the word ‘country’?” “Your parents swindled money from neighbors to move to the city a few years ago, and you started using ‘country bumpkin’ to curse people. Is this a family misfortune or poor upbringing?” “Do you know why true aristocratic families never use the term ‘country bumpkin’ to insult people?” “Because the more heritage people have, the more they know that country people are the foundation of this society and deserve the most respect. And you nouveau riche, who only had the chance to settle in Seaview by eating the blood buns of fellow villagers,” I couldn’t help kicking Layla in the butt, “are just rootless duckweeds, idiots pretending to be superior by belittling their origins!” I pressed Layla’s head, forcing her to scan everyone one by one, finally facing Annie. “I can responsibly tell you that in the hearts of your good best friend and these Seaview friends, you are just a stupid country bumpkin with money!” The people present, having their thoughts exposed, unconsciously took a step back. I couldn’t help laughing, “Remember, a frog in a well croaking loudly won’t change the fact that it can only see a patch of sky when it looks up. You should be glad I’m just an ordinary citizen, not the ‘country bumpkin’ you talk about…” I pulled Layla’s hair hard, forcing her to look up at me, “Otherwise, you wouldn’t even be qualified to kneel and listen to me speak!” 3 I left Layla and returned to the tent to pack my personal belongings. When I walked out of the tent with my backpack, Bryan was standing in front of the next tent. He saw me and the bag on my shoulder, knowing clearly I was leaving overnight. But he didn’t ask me to stay. Instead, he bowed his head to comfort Annie, who was shrinking beside him, “Sorry for embarrassing you. I apologize on Vivi’s behalf.” I sneered, “Is Mr. White’s habit of liking to ‘represent’ others hereditary?” Layla liked to represent the people of Seaview, while the White parents liked to represent rich people in Seaview. “Since you like to ‘represent’ so much, why don’t you represent me and decide whether I should slap your left cheek or your right?” Bryan didn’t dare to get tough with me, so he sighed, “Vivi, why have you become so unreasonable?” Wasn’t it because your whole family forced me in my past life? I pursed my lips and smiled, “Mr. White, you aren’t my boyfriend anymore, please don’t call me so intimately. Instead of condemning me, you might as well think about how much severance pay would give you peace of mind.” I turned around, waving my hand without looking back, “Don’t expect me to resign voluntarily! Before midnight tonight, I hope to see a satisfactory severance pay in my account.” Otherwise, I really couldn’t control my mouth. I took the campsite shuttle bus and left overnight. When passing the downhill curve where the accident happened in my past life, my heart clenched. Fortunately, there were few cars at night, and the driver was an old hand who drove this route many times a day, so we passed the curve smoothly. Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, I received a message from Bryan. [Vivi, stop messing around. Go back and calm down. We’re not breaking up.] Heh, this means he’s not even willing to pay severance. I replied: [The breakup is a notification, not a request for your opinion. When you place other women’s feelings above my dignity, a breakup is the inevitable result. Don’t try to manipulate me; I won’t give you the chance. Severance pay, given reasonably and legally based on my value to the company. I won’t reply again, don’t waste your energy.] What Bryan wanted was for me to leave written threats in a moment of anger, so we could hold leverage over each other, saving him a large hush money fee. How could I fall for that after living a second life? Thinking about it, I decided to give him a reassurance pill: [You should be glad I’m a woman of my word and prefer to solve problems once and for all. Also, please clearly remark ‘company severance pay’ when transferring.] With the money in place, I definitely wouldn’t release that video, nor would I endlessly ask him for money. Bryan understood what I meant. Before I returned to my apartment in Seaview, I received a transfer of two million marked “company severance pay.” I didn’t bargain with him anymore. Knowing when to stop is a virtue of mine. Early the next morning, I dragged my suitcase to the Seaside New City in Seaview. It was far from the city center, with few people, but the scenery was incredibly healing. Especially the sunrise and sunset, beautiful enough to make one forget all worries. Decent apartments in the city center started at ten million, but here, I spent only one million to buy a one-bedroom apartment with a decent location and elevator. Since the seller had no mortgage and I paid in full, the transfer was completed the same day. The landlord was straightforward, giving me the keys on the spot without waiting for the escrow funds to arrive. In the evening, while I was busy tidying up my new home, my phone alarm rang. I suddenly remembered that the car accident in my past life happened at this time. To eat the first melon (gossip) in time, I set an alarm immediately after leaving the campsite last night. Busy all day, if not for the alarm, I would have forgotten about the gossip. 4 I was very curious about the outcome of the car accident without me grabbing the passenger seat. So I eagerly opened social media. The omnipresent internet soon satisfied my desire for gossip. From the video uploaded by netizens, I could see Layla and Annie hanging from a tree off the cliff. The situation was exactly the same as in my past life, except Annie replaced me. So, needless to guess, Annie successfully sat in the passenger seat this time. Without needing to save an ambiguous partner with a scratched scalp, Bryan had time to rush to the cliff edge to save people this time. He first grabbed Annie, who was closest to him. But only her fingers. Annie’s other hand had to hug the tree trunk, or she would fall. Moreover, like me back then, Annie’s leg was stuck in a tree fork, obviously broken. Bryan grabbing only her fingers couldn’t pull her up. I remembered in my past life, a kind driver lowered a safety rope and helped pull my leg out of the tree fork to save me successfully. The person filming was probably one of their fair-weather friends. It was already merciful of them not to kick them when they were down; expecting them to go down the cliff to save people was impossible. In the video, the small branch Layla was holding began to break, and she let out terrified screams. Annie didn’t extend a helping hand as Layla expected but hugged the tree trunk tightly, urging Bryan to pull her up quickly. Bryan was her brother after all. Seeing this, he decisively let go of Annie and carefully climbed down the curb. He hugged the tree trunk next to him and reached out to grab Layla with one hand. As soon as their hands touched, the small branch broke completely and fell off the cliff. Like me in my past life, Bryan supported Layla’s entire body with just one arm. Like in my past life, many passing kind drivers stopped to help. But unlike in my past life, both trees capable of supporting people had people hanging on them. The rescuers couldn’t use another tree as a pivot like before. So, even if the kind big brother who saved me in my past life appeared, he couldn’t go down quickly to fish people out like before. Therefore, the time Bryan supported Layla with one arm was longer than I did in my past life. The kind big brother lowered the safety rope and pulled up the relatively easier-to-save Annie first. When he descended to Layla’s height, preparing to help pull her up together, Bryan couldn’t hold on anymore. Before the kind big brother could grab Layla’s hand, he let go. Layla let out a heart-wrenching scream and fell off the cliff… I thought this was the end, so I started negotiating with my conscience to allow me to pop the champagne. An hour later, before I could reach a settlement with my conscience, I saw the latest update. Layla was found by the rescue team and was actually still alive! I quickly ran to take the subway, transferring for two and a half hours to rush to the downtown hospital for the finale.

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On the plane, my boyfriend’s “white moonlight”—the one who got away—smashed a hole in the window with her high heel just to get some fresh air. Instantly, all the passengers were sucked into a deadly vortex of decompression and hypoxia. As a flight attendant, I risked my life to save everyone. After the plane landed, she grabbed my hand and cried: “I just wanted some fresh air! Who knew this window was so flimsy!” At that moment, my boyfriend walked over and defended her: “Lexi didn’t mean it! She’s just a young girl! She didn’t know the consequences would be so severe!” I interrupted him directly, warning him coldly: “This is an aviation accident. If you want to cover for her, your selection for Flight Attendant of the Year is gone!” In the end, I called the police, and Lexi was sentenced to ten years. My boyfriend was sad for a few days, but then he seemed to get over it. Later, he was promoted from captain to chief pilot, and we got married. During our honeymoon, he flew the plane himself. Mid-flight, he manually depressurized the cabin and said to me over the intercom: “Lexi just wanted to open a window for some air, and you got her locked up for ten years.” “Now I’ll let you know what it feels like not to be able to breathe!” I clutched the broken oxygen mask, opening my mouth in vain, and died in extreme pain and suffocation! When I opened my eyes again, everything had restarted. I decided to stay out of it. I want to see how they will end this high-altitude farce! 1 As soon as I opened my eyes, the familiar chaos and screams filled my ears! In my past life, after Lexi caused the disaster, she ran to me crying for help. It was the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, and I wasn’t working, just a passenger on this flight for a trip. But I still rushed forward regardless of everything. I risked my life to save everyone. Because I turned the tide, I won leniency for her. As long as she behaved well afterward, she still had a chance for probation. But she had been spoiled since childhood and couldn’t stand being wronged. She dared to throw tantrums even in the detention center. In the end, she ruined her chance for probation and was sentenced to ten years in prison. Now I sat securely, fastened my seatbelt, and continued to rest with my eyes closed. Soon, Lexi stumbled over. Her makeup was ruined by tears, and she grabbed my arm incoherently: “Wendy! Something happened! Please go and take a look!” I slowly opened my eyes and looked at her coldly: “I’m on vacation.” “But… but…” “This is your flight, your responsibility.” I interrupted her and closed my eyes again. But she grabbed my arm tightly and forcibly dragged me to the first-class cabin. The scene before me was a mess; the emergency window was broken. Biting cold wind swirled debris around the cabin, and many passengers were injured and unconscious. The high-pressure air tore the hole into a large gap. Several colleagues blocked it with a meal cart, but it obviously wouldn’t hold for long. Seeing Lexi, the chief purser’s anger flared up: “Lexi! Are you crazy? How could you do such a thing?” “Relying on the captain to protect you, you only know how to cause trouble every day!” “This hole won’t hold for long! If there’s no other way, everyone on this plane is doomed!” Oxygen masks fell one after another, and the emergency alert sound echoed continuously in the cabin. Several young colleagues began to break down, saying with a sobbing tone: “We’re not going to die, are we…” In the confusion, someone looked at me: “It’s okay! Wendy is here! She is the company’s technical ace!” “Last time there was an engine failure on an international flight, she successfully directed the emergency landing! She must have a way!” Everyone’s eyes instantly focused on me. At this time, Lexi pointed at me and screamed: “I went to find you a long time ago, but you kept dragging your feet and wouldn’t come!” “Just because I got a little closer to Mark, you bear a grudge!” “Even if you don’t like me, you can’t take it out on everyone on the plane and let everyone die in vain!” For a moment, the way everyone looked at me changed. “Wendy, at a time like this, how can you still be emotional?” “Yeah, human lives are at stake!” Seeing this, Lexi took out her phone to show everyone. It was a video she just secretly took of me. In the picture, I was sitting in my seat with my eyes closed, indifferent to her crying pleas. Lexi burst into tears again, walked up, and grabbed my hand: “Wendy, you are also a flight attendant. Our duty is to be on standby at all times!” “At a life-and-death moment, how can you not save us?” “Are you looking down on others just because you are professionally capable?” I couldn’t bear it anymore and shook her off! Caught off guard, she took a step back, and her forehead hit the luggage rack next to her heavily. I looked at her coldly and said word by word: “Are you out of your mind!” 2 “Today is your shift, your post! If something happens, you are responsible!” “You put everyone on the plane in danger just to get some fresh air!” “You still have the nerve to blame me. Even if I wanted revenge, I wouldn’t have the guts to destroy the emergency window!” Lexi covered her red forehead, her face as pale as paper. “At a life-and-death moment, why are you still fussing about details!” “Before, when other colleagues asked you for help, you would help, but when I ask you, you don’t!” “You are just jealous that Mark treats me well, so you are using public office to avenge private wrongs!” Her weak and helpless appearance made several passengers around start to be dissatisfied with me. “I think you did it on purpose, putting on airs here relying on your seniority!” “With such a vicious heart, refusing to save people, you don’t deserve this uniform!” But immediately, colleagues spoke up for me: “Lexi, you are simply turning black into white!” “Wendy worked for three months without rest to cover shifts. What’s wrong with wanting to rest on her hard-earned vacation?” “Usually, when you were asked to learn more emergency knowledge, you slacked off. Now what right do you have to blame Wendy here?” Immediately, other colleagues echoed: “Exactly! It’s not her working hours now; she has no obligation!” Hearing this, the passengers complained about Lexi again, and some suspected whether she was really a professional flight attendant. Her face turned green, and she shivered in the corner. At this time, my boyfriend Mark’s sharp shout suddenly came from the broadcast: “Shut up, all of you!” Then his tone softened and became intimate: “Lexi, don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Immediately afterwards, he reprimanded us severely: “Lexi is just a young girl who made a mistake in a moment of confusion. You are seniors; you should give her a little more tolerance!” “Wendy Zhang! I order you to find a solution immediately!” I picked up the phone next to me directly and sneered: “I am a passenger now; you have no right to order me!” After speaking, I glanced at the window, my heart tightening. The meal cart blocking there was about to be sucked flat, and there were cracks all around the edge. Although the plane was also descending at maximum speed, it was still far from the ground. In this situation, at most ten more minutes, the airflow would tear the plane apart completely! Reborn, I wanted to see this pair of adulterers suffer the consequences. But I and this cabin full of passengers couldn’t be buried with them. I turned the call mode to public broadcast so everyone could hear. “I have a way to solve this accident, but I have two conditions!” The originally noisy cabin instantly quieted down, and everyone looked at me with burning eyes. I said in a cold tone: “First, you immediately report Lexi’s mistake to the tower, admit that you shielded her because of personal feelings, are unworthy of being a captain, voluntarily request indefinite suspension, and have it recorded in your file.” “Second, make Lexi kneel and apologize to everyone!” As soon as the voice fell, Mark’s roar came: “Wendy Zhang, don’t talk nonsense! We are just colleagues!” “Besides, you are just a flight attendant. What right do you have to give orders to the captain?” Everyone clamored upon hearing this: “Still saying there’s no relationship? Calling her ‘Lexi’ so affectionately!” “So it’s the captain covering up! For a woman, does he want us all to be buried with her?” “Kneel! Make your little mistress kneel and apologize to us!” 3 Hearing this, Lexi’s face changed again and again. Then she suddenly rushed to the cockpit and slapped the door hard with both hands. “Mark! Save me! They want to drive me to death!” Several colleagues rushed up to stop her. It is strictly forbidden for anyone to break into the cockpit during the flight. This is an iron rule, especially in emergencies. The chief purser scolded angrily: “You lunatic! Interfering with the cockpit will cause the plane to crash!” Mark’s voice came from the broadcast: “Let her in! Don’t stop her!” “I am the captain! I have the final say here!” Lexi immediately burst into laughter through tears and shouted to the broadcast in public: “Mark, I knew you were the best! You will definitely protect me!” This made the passengers on the verge of collapse laugh in anger. “Crazy, truly crazy!” “One dares to poke the window, one dares to open the cabin door, two lunatics!” “The captain takes the lead in breaking the rules. Can we still land alive?” Standing aside, I also felt it was absurd to the extreme. Dealing with high-altitude accidents, the primary task is emergency descent, and then ensuring the cockpit is not disturbed. But this captain forgot even the most basic professional ethics for personal feelings. At this time, a piercing friction sound came from the meal cart; it had begun to deform and tear! Everyone’s heart was in their throats! The chief purser’s face was pale, and she shouted hoarsely: “Captain! There’s no time! I request mandatory evacuation of all personnel in the front cabin!” This is the most extreme plan. Once proposed, it declares that the crisis has reached the final moment. But Mark said unhurriedly: “Let Lexi in first! I can’t let her be in danger!” Hearing this, Lexi acted coquettishly to the broadcast again: “Mark, just open the door…” Several male passengers couldn’t bear it anymore. They rushed up violently, grabbed her hair, and dragged her to the ground! “Bitch! Still being slutty here!” “We’re all going to be killed by you, and you’re still flirting here?” “Want to enter the cockpit? I’ll throw you out of that hole directly! Let you go down for some fresh air!” Curses and pulling sounds mixed together, and the scene instantly went out of control. Soon her clothes were torn, her hair disheveled, looking wretched. With a “thud,” she knelt heavily on the ground, kowtowing and crying to everyone: “I’m sorry! It’s all my fault! I harmed everyone!” Mark’s voice full of pity came instantly: “Lexi! Are you okay? What are you doing?” “I warn you! This is a crime!” This undoubtedly added fuel to the fire. The passengers cursed: “Still protecting her now! How are you a captain?” “If you don’t do what Wendy says, we’ll throw her out now!” “Anyway, we are going to die, what crime are we afraid of! Send her on her way before we die!” The broadcast fell silent, only his heavy breathing could be heard. I could imagine his iron-blue face and clenched fists. A few seconds later, his frustrated and unwilling voice came: “Okay! Wendy Zhang, I’ll do as you say! Think of a way quickly!” 4 Saying that, he immediately reported to the tower. After hearing the confirmation tone of reception, I breathed a long sigh of relief. At least in this life, he has no chance to harm me again. I quickly started to deal with the crisis. “Everyone, listen to my command!” “Bring me all usable blankets, pillows, and cushions!” “Tie them together with luggage straps and belts to make a temporary filling!” “Quick! We have less than ten minutes!” I clicked the timer on my watch as I spoke. Colleagues also acted immediately. At this moment where every second counted, Lexi was still crying to the broadcast: “Mark, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, I dragged you down.” Mark immediately comforted her with heartache: “Silly, how can this be blamed on you. You’ve done well, don’t blame yourself.” Lexi cried even harder, sobbing: “I quit, I don’t want to be a flight attendant anymore! This job is too scary!” Mark’s voice sounded again: “Lexi, stop crying, I’ll give you a chance to make up for your mistakes!” “Go help Wendy Zhang, I believe in you!” The chief purser immediately objected: “Now is not the time for her to make up for mistakes; she will only cause trouble!” “Shut up!” Mark scolded: “Before the approval process is completed, I am still the captain! I have the final say here!” “Lexi needs to rebuild her self-confidence. This crisis is her best training opportunity!” I was almost amused by his anger. At a time like this, he was still thinking about organizing some “practical combat drill” for his little lover? Using hundreds of lives on the whole plane as her sparring partners? Lexi wiped her tears and stumbled to my side: “Wendy, I’ll help you!” “Teach me, what should I do!” I didn’t look up, reaching under the seat to find belts. “Stand back, don’t get in the way.” But she acted like she didn’t hear, circling around me, stepping on my foot occasionally, and even trying to trip me. I didn’t want to pay attention to her, but she was relentless. “Wendy, do you think I’m stupid? Let me help you… ah…” Saying that, she suddenly fell towards me, her elbow hitting my back hard. A piercing pain made me gasp. “Sorry, Wendy, I slipped accidentally!” I endured the severe pain and threw her off, cold sweat seeping from my forehead. The lives of everyone on the plane hung by a thread; I had no time to argue with her. Seeing this, a trace of unwillingness flashed in Lexi’s eyes. At this time, colleagues handed over a bundle of tied blankets, and she immediately took it. Then pretending her hand slipped again, she let the bundle of blankets fly directly towards the gap in the hole, about to be sucked out of the cabin! “Get lost!” I shouted sternly, pushed her away, and grabbed the blanket. This back and forth wasted a lot of time. I glanced at my watch; less than five minutes left! Seeing this, colleagues scolded one after another: “Lexi, stop causing trouble here!” “Please go sit in the back!” Accused by everyone, Lexi cried aggrievedly and shouted to the broadcast again: “Mark, they are all bullying me…” Mark’s accusation came immediately: “Wendy Zhang! Asking you to guide Lexi is giving you a chance to make amends!” “Just because you lost a child yourself, you can’t stand an innocent and lively girl like Lexi?” These words were like a poisoned dagger, accurately stabbing into my old wound. I once miscarried for him. At that time, he accompanied me through many desperate days and nights, saying “having you is enough” over and over again. Now, for another woman, in front of so many people, he uncovered my most private scar. I suppressed the severe pain in my heart; now was not the time to collapse. I turned around and directed everyone to push the filling just tied up towards the glass. This was the most critical step; a slight carelessness would suck everyone out together. Three minutes left! We withstood the huge suction force and pushed it forward carefully. Just as we were about to successfully block it, Lexi suddenly shouted: “You are doing it wrong! I read in a book that we should depressurize first and then block the door!” Saying that, she actually rushed to the depressurization valve on the side! “Stop!” My eyes nearly split open. The pressure difference between inside and outside the plane was so huge now; her depressurization would tear us all to pieces!

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After the esports tournament, a new female member joined my husband’s team. At the celebration party, this “pick-me girl” dragged him to drink and wouldn’t let him go home. “What are women worth? Tonight, us brothers drink until we drop! Agreed? No one goes home.” “Listening to a woman is so weak. Listen to Daddy here, women can’t be spoiled…” Hearing this, I pushed open the door of the private room, looking aggrieved. “Honey, why aren’t you home yet? I was worried about you…” I transformed into a master manipulator to play against this pick-me girl, ruining her reputation completely. Trying to outplay me at my own game? Her skills are a little too shallow. 1 It was nearly midnight, and Jason still hadn’t returned from the celebration party. Seeing the message on my phone, I drove to the hotel with a cold face. Laughter and drinking sounds filled the private room. I pushed the door open. The lively atmosphere inside quieted for a moment, and several esports players turned to look at me blankly. The woman in the main seat raised her glass as if she hadn’t noticed the commotion behind her. “Drink! Why aren’t you drinking? Tonight we don’t go home until we’re drunk. Let’s see who dares not give Daddy face!” At a gathering after the celebration party, she was still wearing a strapless gown. Her skin was fair, her chest full, standing out conspicuously among a group of burly men. This must be the new member, Zoey, the only female player exceptionally recruited by the team “Headwind” in all its years. After drinking, she put down her glass with a grin and fell towards Jason as if exhausted. I noticed Jason abruptly turned away. So, Zoey fell into the arms of the captain, Feng. Holding the beauty, Feng smiled contentedly. Seeing me approach, Zoey’s expression changed for a second, jealousy flashing in her eyes. I raised an eyebrow, knowing my intuition was right. This person was indeed a “pick-me girl”—acting like one of the guys to get close to them. No wonder Jason texted me for help, saying Zoey kept pouring him drinks and throwing herself at him. Did no one tell her that I’m the one with perfect scores in manipulation? So, in front of everyone, I pouted and threw myself into Jason’s arms delicately. “It’s so late, I was really worried about you…” Jason played basketball in high school and was 6’3″. Later recruited by the esports team, he didn’t forget to work out. He was known as the “cool guy with a cold face” and attracted many fangirls. I was a big pervert. Back then, I fell for Jason’s pecs and decided to pursue him. We got married successfully a year later. Now suddenly hugged by me, Jason’s tall body stiffened, then he unnaturally hugged me back, even his ears turning a light pink. I squeezed out two tears, and Jason comforted me helplessly. “I’m fine, don’t be scared… I’ll go back with you right away.” The cold and silent man turned into putty in my hands, causing the crowd to tease. “No wonder they say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Look how much sister-in-law missed you.” “Heard long ago that sister-in-law is a beauty. Seeing her today, she really is. Jason is lucky.” “You two have such a good relationship. Wishing you a long life together. Cheers to you.” They laughed and joked, congratulating us on our harmonious life. Only Zoey, leaning on Feng, looked at me with a gloomy face. Jason was a bit embarrassed but didn’t let go of my hand. Feeling my cold palm, Jason looked at me worriedly, said goodbye, and was about to leave with me. Zoey, however, lunged forward crazily, trying to rub her full chest against Jason’s arm. “Us brothers play together every day. During training camp, we even eat and live together. Now your wife comes and you want to leave? Are you not taking Daddy seriously?” She was drunk and acting out of line. Everyone thought she was just being a drunkard, so no one stopped her immediately. Jason knew better. He turned to avoid her, not forgetting to glance at me worriedly. Zoey held her wine glass with a mocking face: “Oh, the son has grown up and won’t listen to his dad. Your brother treats you with all his heart, and you won’t even have a drink.” Turning her head, she looked at me with a grin, insinuating: “It’s rare to be happy today. Sister-in-law, be generous. We haven’t had enough to drink. Us brothers are born to love freedom; you can’t control us too tightly, or it will backfire.” Implied meaning: I’m petty and bossy. The esports players watched grinningly, treating it as a show. Feng actually nodded. Seeing this, Zoey gained confidence. Swaying, she raised her glass, thrusting her chest towards Jason. “My good son, come drink! We are all brothers, don’t be petty like women.” Seeing those breasts about to hit him, I pulled Jason aside to dodge. Letting Zoey fall flat on her face unable to stop her momentum. I looked at Jason coquettishly: “Why didn’t you know to dodge? You’re so big and clumsy; what if you hurt Zoey? She is a girl after all.” 2 Blushing from my teasing, Jason frowned and blurted out: “None of my business. She threw herself at me on purpose.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zoey’s gaze shooting daggers. I smiled innocently: “What are you saying? If Zoey threw herself at you on purpose, what would that make her?” “I don’t care what she becomes. Anyway, I’m married, and I only have you in my heart. It’s useless for anyone to throw themselves at me,” Jason blurted out. Hearing Jason’s blunt words, Zoey’s face turned completely dark. The esports players looked at Jason and Zoey thoughtfully. As if just noticing Zoey still on the floor, I reminded them: “Quick, fix Zoey’s clothes and help her up. What if someone takes a picture and puts it online? Cyberbullying is scary.” After speaking, I hid behind Jason as if scared. Only then did everyone realize how inappropriate Zoey’s attire was, exposing half her chest while leaning on a married man. If it were really photographed… Everyone gasped. Their team had just entered the top eight in the Asian region, and their opponents were the always troublesome Korean team. Now was the time when everyone was watching. If photos of Headwind members in messy relationships or disheveled clothes leaked online, they would inevitably be trending and scolded again. Realizing the seriousness of the matter, the members criticized Zoey for the first time. Even Feng scolded her with a dark face. “I know you are usually careless, but our team is just starting out. Public image is still needed. Get up quickly.” “And your clothes. Calling yourself brother all day, you’re not a real man after all. How can you expose so much?” “Good thing sister-in-law is meticulous, otherwise we’d get scolded again. Those Koreans are looking for our faults recently.” After saying a few things, they smiled awkwardly, feeling more and more that Zoey’s behavior just now was inappropriate. They came over to apologize to me one after another, asking me not to argue with a drunkard. Hearing this, Zoey first glared at me darkly, then rolled her eyes and actually took the initiative to toast me. “Sister-in-law, don’t be angry. I’ve been mixing with men for too long and my personality is too casual. I apologize if I offended you; please don’t hold it against me. “Jason and I are just pure good brothers. We are used to playing together every day and lost our sense of propriety for a moment. This time it’s my fault. To apologize, if Jason bullies you in the future, just tell me, and I will definitely settle the score with him for you!” After speaking, she drank it all in one gulp. Seeing her being so sensible, the surrounding esports players looked at her with admiration. I sneered in my heart. Calling it an apology, she was actually implying I was petty and sensitive, and deliberately showing she was closer to Jason. If I didn’t know Jason wasn’t close to her at all, I might have been fooled. Seeing me looking down without reaction, people around tried to smooth things over, speaking for Zoey. “Sister-in-law, don’t mind her. Zoey is used to joking around with us every day; she actually has no bad intentions.” “Exactly, she treats us as good brothers. She drank too much today.” I looked up with tears in my eyes, exposing my reddened eyes to everyone, showing weakness appropriately: “Sister says this to imply I am petty and bossy, but I didn’t do anything. “Do you guys dislike me? Then I’ll leave. “Here’s the stomach medicine. You asked me to bring it, I didn’t expect so many things to happen.” Saying this, I threw the stomach medicine to Jason and ran out. Under the light, tears streaked across my fair cheeks, paired with red eyes, looking particularly pitiable. Jason panicked and chased me out. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to drop a harsh word: “Next time anyone speaks ill of my wife, don’t blame me for falling out!” This was the first time Jason got angry. The room fell silent unconsciously. Then finally someone couldn’t help looking at Zoey with blame. “Why did you talk about them?” “Exactly, the couple was fine, and you meddled.” “You wore clothes like that to rub against Jason. Sister-in-law didn’t get angry with you, but you pissed her off instead. Zoey, you went a bit too far this time.” They criticized her one by one. Because of her high skills and gender advantage, Zoey had always been pampered by the members, but tonight she hit a wall repeatedly. At the corner of the corridor, I turned back and saw Zoey’s face had turned completely black, then I smiled satisfactorily. This is just the beginning. Next time this pick-me girl causes trouble, I’ll play her until she doesn’t know north from south. 3 When we got home, before I could say anything, Jason lay on me aggrievedly. Rubbing his head against my shoulder, like a large dog bullied by outsiders coming home to find his owner for justice. “I really have no interest in Zoey at all. Wifey, you are the number one in my heart. Otherwise, how could I text you to save me?” I knew what he meant. Tonight in the private room, I was deliberately acting for them too. But thinking of Zoey exposing her chest and clinging to Jason, I still felt angry. “Who knows what you guys do during training? You go for two months, eating and living with Zoey every day…” As I spoke, I really felt aggrieved, my eyes turning slightly red. Being together for so long, who knows if feelings developed between Jason and Zoey over time? Seeing I took it seriously, Jason explained anxiously: “That’s all Zoey’s nonsense. She lives in Feng’s suite. Us guys live in the dorms; we don’t live together at all. Wifey, I swear my male virtue hasn’t diminished a bit. I avoid Zoey when I’m outside.” Jason knelt on the bed, raising three fingers to swear. Because of this posture, his body leaned forward, his pecs almost bursting out. I looked up at him, my face turning slightly red at this scene: “Really?” Jason looked down at me. After our gazes intertwined, his look gradually became ambiguous. Breathing became heavy in the small space. He pulled my hand towards himself, his deep male voice sounding: “Wifey, my male virtue hasn’t diminished at all; I kept it all for you. If you don’t believe me, feel it. I know you like this. “We were separated for so long… didn’t you miss me?” Jason spoke aggrievedly. Strangely bewitched, I actually started to cooperate with Jason’s movements. A chaotic night… When I woke up the next day, I was unusually embarrassed. Tossing and turning so many times a night, Jason was an obedient dog off the bed, but a wild wolf on it. Especially since this wolf had been hungry for two months. In the end, I was too tired, crying that I absolutely believed him before Jason let me go. “Ding,” Jason’s WeChat received a message. “Wifey, check it for me.” Jason turned over sleepily in bed, not planning to get up. I went over to look. It was actually Zoey. She sent a picture of her sweaty face from morning exercise. The point was, she was wearing a white T-shirt. Wet with sweat, the clothes stuck to her body, revealing her good curves. Especially the two mounds on her chest, their presence was amazing. The caption was: [Up yet? Daddy is already doing morning exercises. Did sister-in-law wear you out last night? I told you, women are trouble. It’s happier being with Daddy. Time to come out and play? Waiting at the arcade.] This pick-me girl, never ending, is she? So angry I scratched Jason awake directly, letting him see what this “good Daddy” sent again. Jason scratched his head in annoyance, didn’t dare get angry at me, so he aimed the cannon at Zoey. He directly screenshotted and forwarded it to the team’s group chat, not leaving out that photo, then specifically tagged Zoey and Feng. [First, my wife is gentle and didn’t wear me out at all. Second, thinking of team harmony, I didn’t want to argue with you, but what do you mean by doing this again and again? Third, Captain, are you going to manage this? How many times has this been?] No messages in the group for a while. After a long time, Zoey came out to save face: “Hahaha, I acted inappropriately. Running in the morning, I suddenly thought of last night and said it casually. Don’t mind my bad way of speaking.” Jason: “I mind very much. Zoey, do you know this behavior is called being a homewrecker outside? If not for considering Headwind, I would definitely beat you up.” As soon as the words came out, Zoey played dead directly in the group chat. A while later, Feng came out to state his position: “Zoey is young, just turned twenty this year, and has been hanging out with men all the time. It’s understandable if her behavior is a bit out of line. I will definitely educate her well, won’t happen again!” Said to be blame, but the words were full of defense. Looking at Zoey’s avatar in the group chat, I was really curious what magic this pick-me girl had that Feng defended her like this. 4 The next day, I accompanied Jason to the preliminary group match. This match was against South Korea and would be live-streamed throughout. Many people went to the scene to cheer. When I got there, the audience seats were already full. The Koreans opposite were screaming to cheer for themselves, and our side was not outdone; the cheers from the audience resounded through the sky. Influenced by such an atmosphere, I even felt a surge of excitement and wanted to go up and play a round. Jason had joined the esports team for six years, and his skills were already outstanding. Now with the addition of Zoey, it was even more powerful, almost suppressing the opponent. This pick-me girl indeed had some skills, always hiding in the blind spots of vision, intercepting the enemy unexpectedly. Within thirty minutes of the start, Zoey harvested two lives. It seemed that yesterday’s unhappiness did not affect the strength of these two. “Zoey is awesome! Kill them.” “Can Zoey predict directly? Worthy of being the national server sharpshooter.” Zoey’s marksmanship and prediction were indeed awesome. I looked at Zoey’s smug face on the big screen, but always felt something was wrong, as if it went too smoothly. Anyway, Jason and Zoey performed stably in this game. Headwind won without suspense. The scene exploded with excitement: “Jason is awesome, never made a mistake in so many years of competition!” “Zoey is my only god, marksmanship is simply divine!” “Headwind cannot do without you two!” “Jason is the most handsome one in Headwind, right? So handsome I’m going crazy, skills so stable.” Applause thundered, the venue full of cheers for Jason and Zoey. Few mentioned the names of other members. Zoey was smiling and high-fiving the audience in the first row, setting off another frenzy. Her heroic appearance during the game attracted many fangirls; no wonder she became so popular in such a short time. Jason saw me, ignored the fans, and walked straight towards me. Some people on the scene knew our relationship, and teasing “Oh” sounds rang out. I noticed Feng walking at the end of the team. Hearing the fans’ congratulations, his face looked somewhat gloomy. Jason walked to my side with his long legs in a few steps: “Why did you come?” I smiled and replied: “Rare for you guys to play at home, I also wanted to see the handsomest Brother Jason of Headwind.” “People are watching, don’t tease. Wait for me a bit, we’ll finish after confirming the score.” Jason waved his hand embarrassedly, his face slightly red. This guy, his skin gets thin as soon as he’s outside, pure悶騷 (outwardly cold, inwardly passionate). Jason went to the waiting area first, Zoey following behind. She came over smiling. To outsiders, our relationship should look good. “Sister-in-law came? This is a man’s game, do you understand it? “Isn’t my coordination with Jason tacit? On the game field, we are a match made in heaven.” I blinked, looking at her innocently: “How can a man and a man be a match made in heaven? My husband isn’t gay.”

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After getting amnesia, I forgot I was once the vicious villainess in everyone’s story. I sent a mass text to my friends apologizing: [So sorry, I’ve lost my memory. Could you tell me who you are…?] My phone instantly received four replies. The cold childhood friend I bullied: [Is this another new torture method? I left food downstairs for you. Remember to eat.] The loyal stepbrother I tormented: [Are you still mad at your big brother? I transferred some allowance to your card. I’ll be back tonight to keep you company.] The cool girl heroine I pranked: [Acting again? If you have amnesia, go back to sleep. I signed in for you in class.] Me: “?” Did I actually have the “everyone loves me” script all along? 1 Doctors and nurses bustled back and forth in the hospital room, the air thick with the smell of disinfectant. I propped myself up, my head spinning. Not far away, a doctor was chatting with a middle-aged man. “How is her condition now?” “Miss Sterling’s amnesia isn’t too severe at the moment; she’ll just forget certain specific people…” Listening to their conversation, I froze slightly. Amnesia? How could I have amnesia? “I don’t think I have amnesia!” I couldn’t help but interject: “I remember my name is Chloe Sterling, my dad is William Sterling, and my mom is Katherine.” The middle-aged man turned around and asked me kindly: “Then does Miss remember my name?” I nodded quickly: “Of course, you’re the family butler, Uncle Lee.” The man was silent for a long time, his expression complex: “Miss… I’m your family’s driver, and my surname isn’t Lee, it’s Liu.” Me: “?” He sighed and said to the doctor: “Then please take care of her. I’ll go contact her parents first.” From their brief chat, I learned that I had accidentally fallen down the stairs at the library, fell into a coma, and was brought to the hospital by a classmate. After they left the ward. I started looking through my phone as if waking from a dream. Among the pinned contacts, if not for my parents whom I recognized, I would have suspected this wasn’t my phone. A person nicknamed “Cold Monster” sent two messages at just the right time. [Come downstairs in thirty minutes to get your takeout.] [I’m too lazy to find someone to bring it up to you.] I racked my brains but couldn’t remember who this person was. I could only ask him: [Are you buying me lunch?] The reply came quickly, but every word seemed prickly. [Buying lunch for the young miss is my duty.] [But next time, if you want something outside the cafeteria, can you say so in advance?] [Otherwise, waiting in line for half an hour delays your meal time.] This guy is quite polite. But now is not the time to eat. I hurriedly replied: [No need, not eating today.] The other side was silent for a while. Although I couldn’t see the face on the other end, I felt a faint anger. [Just because the breakfast this morning wasn’t to your taste?] [So you’re angry again?] I quickly explained: [No, it’s because I have amnesia qwq.] The other side scoffed: [Is this another new way Miss Sterling came up with to torture me?] Me: “?” Am I that bad? Afraid he wouldn’t believe me, I took a photo and sent it to him. [Really not lying to you, I’m lying in a hospital bed right now.] For a long time, there was no reply. Probably fainted from anger, or too lazy to deal with me. I scrolled through the chat history with him. This “Cold Monster” routinely helped me get food, pick up packages, and buy boba tea. Sometimes he even took orders to tutor me or let me copy answers for exams. But my attitude towards him was really unfriendly. Even my tone was bossy. A wave of guilt washed over me. How could I talk to a classmate like that? “Chloe Sterling—” The ward door was suddenly pushed open, and a boy rushed in. He wore a simple white short-sleeved shirt, handsome features, excellent bone structure. Even the fingers holding the takeout box were fair and slender. I was momentarily dazed. Some people may have lost their memory. But their lustful nature hasn’t changed. The standard for their ideal type hasn’t changed either. I looked up at him and asked carefully: “You are?” The boy stiffened. He pursed his lips, lowered his eyes and asked: “You don’t remember who I am?” I frowned in thought: “Are you Cold Monster?” His expression was complicated: “…My name is Julian.” Julian reached out to check the injury on my forehead: “Fell down the stairs? Is it serious?” Seeing me dazed, he stiffly lowered his hand, his tone cold. “I’m not worried about you; I’m afraid if you hit your head, you’ll blame it on me again.” In just a few sentences, he sketched out my former selfish and willful appearance. My guilt deepened. Seeing I didn’t speak, he asked in a low voice: “Really don’t remember who I am?” I answered honestly: “Don’t remember, but looking at the chat history, you seem to be someone who runs errands for me often.” Julian: “…Not exactly.” I looked up suspiciously, and he took a deep breath and spoke slowly. “We are childhood sweethearts.” Seeing I didn’t make a sound, Julian added indifferently. “Of course, we were also engaged before.” I was shocked: “Huh? But looking at the chat history, it doesn’t seem like it…” Thought we were just unfamiliar classmates. Julian laughed out of anger: “If not for this relationship, who would be willing to run errands for you every day?!” “Who would specifically buy you food and save seats for you?” I argued in confusion: “But you just said, getting food for me is your duty.” Julian raised his eyelids lightly: “Yes, isn’t that the duty of a fiancé?” Just then, Driver Liu entered the ward and was a bit surprised to see Julian. “Julian is here?” Julian politely got up to say hello and smiled: “I came to see her.” Uncle Liu was about to find a chair to sit down when he was startled by Julian’s words. “By the way, Uncle Liu, Chloe doesn’t believe we grew up together.” “Tell her, are we engaged?” Uncle Liu’s eyes widened: “Huh?” He looked at Julian, whose expression was normal, then at me, full of questions. After pondering for a moment, he nodded with a complicated expression. “Um… yes, indeed.” 2 The first person I saw when I woke up was Uncle Liu. Plus he ran around helping me with procedures and contacting my parents, invisibly I already had some trust in him. Seeing Julian’s expression didn’t look like a joke. I felt a secret joy in my heart. Ideal type turned into a fiancé. Feeling like I hit the jackpot! Sure enough, even with amnesia, you fall in love with the person you liked at first sight. When Uncle Liu went out to take a call. Julian put the lunch box on the rolling table and handed me utensils. “Eat first.” I glanced at it and smiled: “What a coincidence, all my favorites.” Julian lowered his eyes to ladle soup for me, his tone calm. “Not a coincidence, this is the menu you specifically ordered this morning.” I felt guilty: “…Isn’t that too much trouble for you.” Julian wiped his hands with a tissue, his voice indifferent. “Not just troublesome for this one day.” “Used to it.” Feeling more pity, I tugged at his sleeve: “Then let’s eat together?” Julian stiffened. He touched his nose and coughed twice: “I only bought one portion.” I was puzzled again: “Don’t we usually eat together?” Julian turned his head away, pretending to look at the scenery outside the window: “…We do eat together, just that I’ve eaten today.” I didn’t suspect anything and relaxed. While he drank water, I ate and chatted with him. “Julian, actually the moment I saw you, I felt like I remembered.” He choked on the water unexpectedly and coughed violently. Almost lost his composure. “Remembered?” Julian’s voice sounded a bit strange, no longer the calm self-control he had when we first met. I nodded: “Yes, seeing you at first sight, I felt we were a good match.” “Sure enough, we are engaged; you really are my destined husband.” I laughed: “And although I have amnesia, my standard for an ideal type hasn’t changed.” “My imagined husband is just like you.” Julian: “…” A blush gradually appeared on his jade-like face, and his ears were dripping red. Julian got up in a panic, almost knocking over the rolling table. Me: “?” Julian tried hard to stabilize his mind, but his flushed cheeks betrayed his current mood. He shook the phone in his hand. “Um… just got a notification from the group, need to go back.” “Have to submit materials to the professor this afternoon.” I advised understandingly: “Then go back quickly! I’m much better; I’ll probably be fine after resting by myself this afternoon.” Julian nodded and softened his tone: “I’ll come see you later.” He almost fled out of the ward. I couldn’t help sighing that grad school is tough these days. The professor’s message is like a death warrant. Uncle Liu just returned from outside the ward, surprised to see me alone: “Julian left?” I nodded and said with a smile: “Yes, he said he’ll come see me later.” Uncle Liu breathed a sigh of relief and discussed with me again. “The doctor means it’s best for a relative to come to the hospital.” “Your parents are abroad and can’t come back immediately. How about I contact your brother?” Brother? I have a brother? Seeing my blank face, Uncle Liu looked like he expected it. He took my phone, tapped on the screen, and handed it back to me. “This is your brother.” I looked down. An avatar of a Beagle wearing sunglasses came into view. The contact name: “Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine” The daily conversations in the chat box were pitifully few, almost entirely transfer records. And if someone made me angry, he helped solve it immediately. The speed was like I bought insurance for overtime. “Chloe, you might not remember, Chase is your brother, but not biological. He’s the child your parents adopted.” “He’s three years older than you and takes care of you usually.” Uncle Liu explained to me. Understanding, I sent a message to him. [Brother.] He replied almost instantly. Sent fifty question marks in a row. Although I didn’t understand what he was surprised about, I honestly continued typing. [Are you free now?] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Free! What’s wrong? Who bullied you again?] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Send me his personal info, I’ll deal with him.] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Need allowance? I’ll transfer immediately.] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [And what did you just call me? Can you call me that again TvT…] What a weird brother. What a weird request. But I satisfied him: [Brother, can you come to the hospital?] He sent another row of question marks. Immediately, a voice call slammed in. I always hated answering calls. Even after amnesia. So I mercilessly clicked reject. Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [? Why not answer the phone? What happened?] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Scammer, right?!] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Telecommunication fraud die whole family ha, return the account to her, or I’ll kill you.] Me: […Don’t want to answer, too lazy to answer.] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Oh, that’s her.] Me: [I have amnesia.] He sent another row of question marks. Really fits his avatar’s daily state. Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Then do you remember who I am?] I got a bit annoyed: [Yes, aren’t you Brother?] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Yes yes!! Just your favorite brother!!] Don’t add strange adjectives to yourself, okay. I pretended not to see: [If you are free, can you come to the hospital? The doctor wants to see family.] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Send address.] After sending the location, afraid he would worry, I added: [Don’t worry, my condition isn’t very serious.] Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Mm-hmm, Brother will be there right away ^^.] I comforted him: [No rush, Uncle Liu is with me in the ward. My fiancé just came to see me too.] The other side was silent for a moment. Soon, another row of shocked question marks. Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine: [Fiancé?? Who the hell is that!!?] 3 Before long, Chase arrived in a hurry. He was still wearing a suit shirt, but his sharp short hair and left ear piercing were out of place with this outfit. “Chloe…” Chase sat by my bed, his face full of emotion and expectation: “So after amnesia, you only remember me?” Me: “Uh, actually I didn’t remember you either…” Chase: “?” I held out the phone to him and said kindly: “Uncle Liu told me the person with this avatar is my brother.” Chase took the phone, glanced at it, and his mouth twitched: “Why am I called ‘Coin-Exploding Wishing Machine’?” I feel like everyone I met today should be hospitalized instead of me. “If I knew, would it still be called amnesia?” Chase: “Makes sense…” Although my stepbrother looks unreliable, he is my only relative right now. I tugged at his sleeve and whispered: “Brother, can I be discharged? I want to go home.” Chase’s heart softened into a mess: “No problem! I’ll handle the procedures right away!” He walked quickly to the door, then turned back and cleared his throat. “By the way Chloe, forgot to tell you one thing.” I looked up suspiciously. Chase took a deep breath and whispered seriously: “At home, you always call me Big Brother.” … Half an hour later, I was in the car going home. Chase kept asking beside me: “Want a drink? Want snacks?” I shook my head and smiled: “No need, Big Brother.” Chase: “Ah… then want to listen to music? Play games?” I continued to shake my head: “Thank you Big Brother, no need to trouble yourself.” Chase savored the address carefully, then withdrew his gaze with satisfaction. I looked through the chat history and raised a question: “Big Brother, why do I feel like our relationship wasn’t good before?” Chase bristled like a wild dog: “Who said that! Who said that!” I handed the phone to him and said honestly: “I saw it myself, and my tone talking to you wasn’t very good…” Chase was moved almost to tears. “Where is it not good? I think it’s especially good.” Me: “?” Bro, are you okay? In the chat history, I usually ordered Chase around like a dog. Any dissatisfaction would result in scolding him bloody. Yet Chase didn’t resist or defend himself, just endured silently. Finally, he would say: [Don’t be angry, it’s all Brother’s fault. Transferred money to you, go buy a bag and be happy.] Why am I so bad! Chase listed my virtues: “Look, usually when someone bullies you, you ask me to beat them up. Isn’t this caring about Brother’s health, afraid Brother will become a greasy man with a beer belly, letting Brother exercise and move his muscles anytime?” “Also, every week you ask me to send you money. Why? That’s because you know Brother spends money recklessly. You directly stopped Brother’s waste from the source. Besides, you didn’t buy scrap metal; you bought gold and luxury bags. What is this? This is maintaining value! You are managing finances for Brother!” “Like usually you speak a bit directly, but it doesn’t matter. We are family. As the saying goes, the people who love you most say the most hurtful things. You love me the most, so I completely understand.” Me: “?” The car drove into a villa area. When I got off, Chase held an umbrella for me. He suddenly asked: “By the way, you said your fiancé came to see you before. Who is it?” I smiled and said: “He said his name is Julian. Do you know him?” Chase fell silent. After a long time, he gritted his teeth and said. “Damn, home got stolen.” “If he says any sweet words, don’t believe him.” “This kind of person looks harmless and kind on the outside, but is actually rotten to the core, best at deceiving people.” Just as the voice fell, a sneer came from ahead. “Are you introducing yourself?” 4 I looked at the girl standing on the stairs. She crossed her arms and looked at us with a half-smile. I looked at Chase beside me in confusion. Didn’t you say I only have one brother? Do I have a sister? Chase: “Uh… she is… Layla.” When saying this, Chase carefully gauged my reaction. “She’s the daughter of Auntie Wang, the housekeeper.” “Her house is being renovated recently, so Mom and Dad asked her to stay at our house on weekends for a few days.” Earlier in the car, driver Uncle Liu mentioned there was a nanny who had taken care of us for over twenty years. Should be Auntie Wang. Seeing no reaction from me, Chase whispered in my ear: “Ignore her, let’s go rest in the room first.” “Don’t forget to take your medicine later.” Hearing this, Layla raised an eyebrow slightly. But she still nonchalantly stepped aside to let me pass. Until I walked up the stairs, I still saw Layla standing by the gate downstairs. Sensing my gaze, she lifted her eyelids and glanced at me. Layla is very beautiful. To the extent that you’d look back if you met her on the street. Peach blossom eyes slightly upturned, adding a bit of coldness. I tilted my head, smiled, and waved at her. Layla was stunned for a moment. Early the next morning, I received several video calls from my parents. My mom was crying on the other end of the screen. I comforted and coaxed her, saying the doctor would come to check my recovery anytime. Only then did they relax. Just hung up the phone, noise came from downstairs. I shuffled in my slippers and looked down. Chase and Julian both looked unhappy. Layla on the side sat calmly on the sofa watching TV. Chase gritted his teeth and glared: “You actually took advantage of her amnesia to say you’re her fiancé?! Have you no shame!” Julian poured himself a glass of water as if no one was around. “I didn’t say anything wrong; we were engaged.” Chase was so angry he wanted to punch him. “You call that an engagement? Neither of you came to the engagement party. You were like enemies before, fighting whenever you met!” “You also hated that she always used her fiancée status to order you around. Why don’t you mention these?” Julian thoughtfully corrected the error in his words: “Not really, our relationship was pretty good before high school. You remembered wrong.” “Is that the point?” Chase was about to faint from anger: “Never seen someone so shameless.” Layla, who had been watching for a long time, spoke lazily. “Don’t be so surprised. I think you’re pretty shameless too.” Chase: “?” Layla yawned: “Insisting on making her call you Big Brother. Clearly at home you don’t even deserve a name; hasn’t your code name always been ‘Hey’?” “Also saying she clings to you the most at home. I think you were the clingy plaster before.” Chase finally reacted, laughing in anger: “Busy teaching Julian a lesson, forgot about you.” “Layla, this is my house! What’s with your tone!” Layla looked up indifferently: “I know. If your parents didn’t ask me to stay, you think I’d want to be here?” The atmosphere between the three downstairs was tense, arguing so much they forgot everything else. I hesitated for a moment and spoke up. “What are you talking about?” The three looked up sharply at me on the second floor. Chase reacted first, quickly putting on a smile: “Chloe, we’re chatting.” Me: “?” Is your chatting tone a bit too ferocious? I tilted my head, looking past him to Julian behind: “Julian, why are you here too?” Julian rightfully pushed Chase aside and walked towards me. His tone was much softer: “I came to pick you up back to school.” Chase grabbed his collar: “Need you to pick her up? Think I’m dead?” Both looked at me: “Chloe?” Me: “…” My gaze fell on Layla, who was drinking tea with lowered eyes, unconcerned. “Layla, do you also study at S University?” Seeming not to expect the topic to return to her. Layla was drinking tea and choked unexpectedly. She wiped her mouth calmly with a tissue, looked up at me with a complicated expression: “Yes, why?” I smiled, eyes bright. “Then I’ll go back with you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387967”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel