**Chapter 1** After a month apart, Liam Vance pounced on me like a hungry wolf, as if he wanted to devour me whole. “Stella, do you know how much I’ve missed you? I was going crazy.” “Liam, I… I missed you too…” Our long, passionate tangle finally ended, leaving us utterly spent. I was practically a puddle, and Liam, as always, gently wiped me down with a soft cloth. His fingertips grazed my sensitive skin, making me shiver involuntarily. “Stella, something came up at the office tonight. I’ll have to work late. Get some rest early.” “Okay, I’ll wait for you to come back.” I nodded softly, as considerate and obedient as ever. After Liam left, I put on my robe and walked to the living room to get some water. His laptop was still on the dining table, its screen glowing, emitting constant pings and chimes. He’d left in such a hurry that he’d forgotten his computer. I originally just meant to close it, but a pop-up SnapChat group message caught my eye. The group name was “Wedding Prep Squad.” Our wedding was so close. Was he secretly planning a surprise for me? I couldn’t resist clicking it open. “Liam, the Maldives wedding for the end of the month is all set. It’s the latest trend – an ocean-front ceremony. Jessica is going to love it.” Maldives? An ocean-front wedding? But our wedding had been booked a month ago at the most luxurious hotel in town, The Lido. Had something happened? Liam sent a new message: “As long as Jessica likes it. I’ve waited three years for this wedding; it has to be perfect.” Others quickly chimed in. “Liam, you’re brutal! Pulling off such an elaborate scheme just to marry Jessica. Stella still has no idea that on *their* wedding day, you’ll actually be marrying Jessica in the Maldives.” “I can’t wait to see her face when she gets stood up! She’ll be so mortified she’d want the ground to swallow her whole. LOL, so messed up!” “But isn’t that a bit cruel? It’s basically social suicide.” A few seconds later, Liam sent another message. “Don’t blame me, she deserved it. Jessica was so hurt back then, all because of her. Jessica said if I could ruin Stella’s reputation and career, she’d marry me. Finally, fate is on my side; I’ve waited so long for this day.” “Congrats, Liam! Make sure to invite us to the wedding.” “Congrats, Liam, on getting what you wanted.” “Congrats, Liam, on winning your beauty!” The incoming SnapChat messages were like a thousand knives, each one twisting deeper into my heart, tearing me to shreds. I felt like I’d been thrown into the icy depths of the ocean, my entire body stiff and numb. So, he only got close to me for revenge. So, the so-called wedding was just a trap for me. So, all the tenderness and deep affection over the years were nothing but lies. Memories rushed back, flooding over me like a tidal wave. Three years ago, I was just a budding dancer. That year, at the National Dance Competition, I won first prize with my self-choreographed and directed solo dance, *Moonlight*. I outshone Jessica Hayes, becoming the true sensation of the year. That same year, I replaced her as the dance troupe’s principal dancer, showered with applause and flowers. It was then that Liam Vance walked into my life. He pursued me openly and extravagantly; the entire scene knew that Liam Vance, the CEO of Vance Holdings, was willing to spend a fortune just to see me smile. But I’d always had zero interest in the ‘billionaire CEO’ type. I wasn’t about to become some man’s gilded cage bird. He didn’t give up. Instead, he became quiet yet persistent. When I had commercial performances, he’d clear his schedule to be there; after the show, he even donated a massive sum to the dance troupe. I was passionate about charity, so he donated to build several rural schools in my name and established a charitable foundation. That year, I accidentally fractured my foot. Doctors said I might never return to the stage. I hit rock bottom, nearly doing something drastic. He stayed by my side day and night, contacted top orthopedic specialists worldwide, and slowly helped me recover. After six months, I finally stood on stage again. That day, my performance was a huge success. Backstage, he confessed his love to me again. This time, I couldn’t say no. With tears in my eyes, I nodded yes. In the days that followed, he gave me a kind of love I’d never experienced, spoiling me like a princess. Three years together, I thought we were finally heading for marriage. Instead, it was all just part of his revenge plan. Tears streamed uncontrollably, I was in so much pain I could barely breathe, my heart felt ground into dust. It was almost dawn. I wiped away my last tear and sent a message: “I agree to join the Starlight Dance Company. I’m never setting foot back in this country.” The reply came quickly: “Ms. Reed, it is our honor to have you. From today, you will be the company’s principal dancer and director.” I simply replied: “Pick me up at the end of the month.” The end of the month—the very day I was supposed to marry Liam Vance. **Chapter 2** After hanging up, I got up and walked to the master bedroom, which was prepped for the wedding. The room was filled with wedding-related items, a sea of vibrant red. But now, that red, typically a symbol of joy, felt like a searing brand against my eyes. I walked over to the huge display window, where Liam had personally arranged twelve tokens of his devotion for me. A diamond vow comb, a platinum intertwined necklace, sapphire earrings, eternal love couple’s rings… With each gift I received, my love for him deepened a little more. It wasn’t until the last item, a solid gold engagement contract, was placed before me that I finally agreed to marry him. Looking at these expensive, exquisitely crafted gifts, I heard his voice in my mind, speaking the vow that had once touched my soul: “Stella, I only wish to hold your hand for this life, to grow old with you.” But now, that vow was a blade, slicing my heart open again and again. My hands trembling, I picked up a hammer and smashed each of the so-called “tokens of love” into tiny pieces. Fragments scattered across the floor, just like my shattered heart. When Liam returned, I was sitting on the sofa, staring blankly, my tear stains not yet dry. He seemed to sense something was off, walking over to hug me. “Stella, why are you crying?” I didn’t lean into his embrace as usual; instead, I shifted slightly, my voice calm: “It’s nothing. Couldn’t sleep. Watched a movie and got a little emotional.” He ruffled my hair, his voice tender, “What kind of movie could make my little princess cry?” “The plot was pretty cliché. The female lead was betrayed by the man she loved. The male lead manipulated her, using her to get to another woman, only to abandon her once she was hooked. Don’t you think such a female lead is incredibly pitiful?” I said this expressionlessly. He paused, his face changing slightly, his voice a bit stiff: “You should watch fewer meaningless movies like that. Don’t let them mess with your head. Come on, let’s have breakfast. I specifically bought your favorite fresh-baked croissants.” He said, carrying me to the dining table. Catching sight of his laptop, his eyes clearly darted away. He asked tentatively, “Did you… touch my computer yesterday?” “My computer?” I paused, then gave a soft laugh. “I didn’t pay attention. Didn’t you always say no one’s allowed to touch your computer?” He visibly relaxed, kissing my forehead. “You truly are my most sensible Mrs. Vance.” I lowered my gaze, a flicker of mockery playing on my lips. After breakfast, I called out to him, “I have a performance tonight. Will you come?” His eyes flickered. “Of course, my Stella’s performance, how could I miss it?” Tonight was my last performance in this country. The dance’s theme was “Farewell to a Lover.” I thought, this was the best way for Liam and me to say goodbye. Upon arriving at the dance company, I handed my resignation letter to Ms. Davies, the director. She looked at me in surprise: “Stella, your career is booming right now, why are you suddenly resigning?” I looked out the window, my voice firm: “I want a bigger stage.” She was still puzzled: “But aren’t you getting married?” I smiled: “I never build my life around any man.” That evening, the performance began, and the hall was packed. I stood on stage, looking out, but I never saw Liam. The music started, and he still didn’t appear. My heart sank. I understood. He wouldn’t come. The performance ended to thunderous applause. But my heart felt empty, completely unmoved. Backstage, I received a text from him: “I’m sorry, Stella. Something came up suddenly tonight, and I couldn’t make it.” The next second, an Ins notification popped up. Jessica Hayes had just posted an update: “Thanks to my Mr. Right for spending my birthday with me despite his busy schedule. Peaceful days, may we always be together.” The post included a photo of a huge cake, with a man’s hand slicing it. My pupils suddenly constricted. On the cuff of that shirt, I saw a familiar cufflink. I zoomed in on the photo. At the bottom of the cufflink, “VANCE” was clearly engraved. It was a token of love I’d given Liam, custom-made for him in Italy, one of a kind in the world. **Chapter 3** How could I *not* understand? His “something came up” was just him going to celebrate Jessica’s birthday. I clicked on Jessica’s Ins profile and realized she’d been posting about her relationship for the past three years. And every time Liam had claimed “overtime,” “business trip,” or “client dinner,” Jessica had been flaunting their love. Beaches, deserts, canyons, polar regions, forests – every place we’d ever been, she’d already posted about it. In an instant, I felt like my chest was being brutally squeezed, the pain making it impossible to breathe. I was so incredibly stupid. For three years, she’d been openly showing them off, and I’d never once suspected anything. I trusted him with my whole heart, laid my soul bare for him, and he was just making a fool of me. He returned early the next morning, looking exhausted. “Stella, I’m truly sorry about last night. My business partners insisted I drink with them. If I didn’t, they wouldn’t sign the contract. I had no choice.” I looked at him calmly. “It was just a performance. It doesn’t matter if you saw it or not.” He froze for a moment, perhaps surprised I wasn’t furious. Then, a relieved smile spread across his face. “Stella, you work so hard dancing every day, you must be so tired. How about after we get married, you quit and just be a full-time housewife? I’ll support you.” This wasn’t the first time he’d said something like that. I’d always refused. This time, I nodded. “Yes, I’ve already resigned.” He looked at me in disbelief. “You actually resigned?” I took the resignation letter from my bag and handed it to him, my voice calm: “Yes, I want a different way of life.” He looked at the words on the resignation letter, then excitedly pulled me into his arms. “Stella, don’t worry, after we’re married, I’ll make sure you’re happier than anyone.” His eyes were hazy, and he held me tightly, his warm breath on my neck. I knew, for him, it was some kind of insinuation. I glanced down at the cufflink on his sleeve, and my stomach churned instantly. I quickly stood up, turning my back to him. He had tried to persuade me to resign countless times, and I never understood why. Now, I finally did – he just wanted to trap me in a cage, to strip me of all my independence. That evening, he wanted me to join a party. I wasn’t really in the mood, but he insisted, so I went. When we arrived at the karaoke room, I saw Jessica Hayes was there too. She was wearing the latest Dior collection dress, her hair impeccably styled, every gesture oozing charm. Someone joked: “Jessica, I heard you’re getting married soon too? When is it? You have to invite us to the wedding!” “Your boyfriend never makes an appearance. Is he too mysterious?” “You look like your boyfriend spoils you.” … Jessica glanced at Liam, then slowly smiled and said, “What a coincidence, my wedding is on the same day as Liam’s. As for who the groom is, you’ll find out that day.” Liam pretended not to hear, his face focused on taking care of me, pouring me water one moment, offering me fruit the next. She was still showing off the pink diamond ring on her hand. “Look, everyone, the pink diamond my boyfriend gave me. It’s huge, right?” A chorus of exclamations followed: “Isn’t that ‘The Beloved Heart’? There’s only one in the world!” “Yes, yes, that’s a timeless heirloom of European royalty, reportedly 13.33 carats, symbolizing a lifetime of devotion to one person.” “Jessica, your boyfriend truly loves you.” … The pink diamond glittered on her finger, making her hand look even more slender and fair. My gaze darkened, my heart felt drenched in cold water. A month ago, I had seen this diamond ring in an auction catalog. Liam had promised to buy it for me. Now, it was on Jessica’s ring finger. Suddenly, my stomach churned violently, and I stood up, rushing towards the restroom. Liam followed me. **Chapter 4** I splashed cold water on my face, finally steadying my emotions a little. As soon as I stepped out of the restroom, Liam, who was waiting outside, pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry, Stella. Someone else already bought that ring when I went to bid for it. I’ll get you an even better one for the wedding, okay?” I listened to his weak excuse, a faint, bitter smile playing on my lips. “Is there really a better diamond ring in the world than ‘The Beloved Heart’?” His expression instantly faltered. I spoke softly again: “I’m just kidding. As long as it’s from your heart, that’s all that matters.” He finally breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as if forgiven. “I knew you understood me best.” I looked at him, my voice calm: “You know, all I’ve ever wanted from you is your genuine heart. If one day, that sincerity is gone, then I’ll leave you for good.” He became uncomfortable under my gaze, even a little flustered. In that moment, a hint of indescribable fear flickered in his eyes, as if I might vanish from his world at any moment. He held me even tighter, his voice trembling: “Stella, you can doubt anything, but never doubt my feelings for you.” I lowered my eyelids, hiding the flash of pain in my eyes. When we returned to the private room, it was a raucous scene. Jessica pulled me over. “Stella, it’s been a while since you joined us. Tonight, with so many people, let’s play dice. Whoever loses drinks.” A few rounds in, I seemed to lose every single time, chugging whiskey glass after glass. Liam couldn’t stand it and tried to step in for me, but Jessica blocked him with her hand. “This is a ladies’ game. You’re a big man, don’t get involved.” Liam’s face instantly darkened, black as ink. After a few more drinks, my head was spinning, and I felt completely disoriented. Just as I was about to drink again, Liam abruptly snatched the glass from my hand and smashed it on the floor, the sound piercingly loud in the room. “Enough, Jessica! What exactly is your problem tonight? If you have something against Stella, just say it directly. Why resort to this?” Jessica, hearing this, casually tossed the dice onto the table and picked up a bottle of liquor beside her. “Oh, so Mr. Vance feels protective now. Fine, I’ll apologize to you then.” With that, she tilted her head back and chugged the alcohol, bottle after bottle. With every swallow she took, Liam’s face grew darker. By the time she reached the second bottle, Liam couldn’t take it anymore and snatched the bottle from her hand. Jessica laughed, almost hysterically: “What’s wrong, Mr. Vance? Satisfied now?” Then, she stormed out. Liam, without a second thought, chased after her. My mind was so muddled I could barely tell what was what. Seeing him run out, I thought the party was over, and followed him. But I never expected that at the end of the hallway, I would see Liam holding Jessica in his arms. She was crying, her face streaked with tears. “Liam, I’m really hurting. You’re so good to Stella, have you actually fallen for her?” He kissed her lips, his eyes bloodshot. “Jessica, how could I possibly love her? Everything I do is just to make her believe I genuinely love her. Otherwise, how would our plan work? You flaunted that ring so boldly tonight, I was afraid she’d get suspicious, so I had to protect her. You’re the only one in my heart, that’s never changed.” “But I’m still scared, I’m afraid you’ll fall for her, afraid you won’t want me…” “No, I won’t. You’re the only one I’ll ever love. I’ll love you forever and ever.” … His words pierced my eardrums like tiny needles, and my body began to tremble uncontrollably. It turned out that, from beginning to end, he had never truly cared for me; everything was just a carefully orchestrated lie. And under the influence of alcohol, I finally couldn’t hold on, and completely lost consciousness. **Chapter 5** I was awakened the next morning by a phone call. “Stella, quickly check the trending topics online. Someone’s claiming your dance is plagiarized, and it’s blown up.” I rubbed my throbbing head and opened my phone. A stream of headlines questioning my originality dominated the trending list. #StellaReedPlagiarismApology #StellaReedDancerPlagiarizesAmateurChoreographyDisgusting #BoycottStellaReedGetOutOfDance I stared at the headlines, completely stunned. All my dances were my original creations. How could they be plagiarized? I clicked on the video Ms. Davies sent me. It showed a young girl performing a dance. It was indeed about 70-80% similar to *Floral Armor*, a piece I released six months ago. But that didn’t mean I copied her. By the timeline, she should be copying me. However, the video’s upload date was nearly two months earlier than mine, and it was even released in stages on social platforms, meticulously documenting the design process of each movement. This was highly unusual. How could someone dance exactly like me? *Floral Armor* was a work I’d spent six months in seclusion choreographing. At the time, to maintain secrecy, I practiced only in my home dance studio and never showed it publicly. I only unveiled it to the public once the dance was fully formed. Ms. Davies’s call came in again. “Stella, this has gotten out of hand. You need to provide evidence quickly, or all your years of built-up reputation will be ruined.” Right now, only a video from an earlier date than that girl’s could clear my name. I frantically searched for the surveillance footage from my home dance studio, only to find that the equipment had been damaged long ago, and records from six months back couldn’t be recovered. The only person who had seen the dance before its performance was Liam Vance. I called him, clutching at my last hope, but every call went straight to voicemail. Desperate, I called his secretary. “I’m sorry, Ms. Reed, Mr. Vance is attending a confidential meeting these days and cannot be reached. I will notify him as soon as the meeting concludes.” How could it be such a coincidence? Something happens to me, and he just happens to be unreachable? A terrifying thought crept into my mind. I forced myself to stay calm and continued to plead with the secretary: “Can you please get me his phone? I really need him right now, please.” The secretary refused without hesitation. “Ms. Reed, please don’t put me in a difficult position.” Then, a dial tone. My last hope was completely severed. I stared at my phone, feeling completely enveloped by an invisible dark fog. The online storm continued to spread. Someone dug up my past works, forcefully finding similar moves to other dancers’, painting me as a serial “plagiarizer” who constantly “referenced” others. The girl who posted the video was even crying hysterically during a live stream. “Stella, I really admire you and have always looked up to you, but why would you plagiarize my dance? I need an explanation from you.” Left with no choice, I released a statement: “My conscience is clear. While I don’t understand why there are similar choreographies, this dance is indeed my original creation. I will not offer any further explanation on this matter.” I had hoped to calm things down, but the other party only escalated. “If I don’t get an apology tonight, I’m jumping from this rooftop. I’m fighting for originality.” She was live-streaming from the rooftop of a high-rise in the downtown CBD, and millions of viewers instantly flooded her stream. Public opinion furiously turned against me. Even my former dance company was doxxed and attacked. “Stella Reed, get out!” “Stella Reed, disgusting!” “Stella Reed, thief!” … My entire world spun out of control. My heart sank to its lowest point. I had no idea this situation would spiral so wildly. **Chapter 6** Ms. Davies called again. “Stella, I suggest you just admit it for now. You’re not planning to stay and develop your career here anyway. If you find real evidence later, it won won’t be too late to clear your name. But if this girl actually hurts herself, not only will you be ruined, the entire company will go down with you.” I hesitated. I didn’t want to carry this baseless accusation. But the dance company’s actions were swifter than mine. Minutes later, they issued a statement via their official account: “Our former principal dancer is suspected of plagiarizing an original work by a netizen and has now apologized. The dance company will henceforth strictly prevent such incidents.” That single sentence was tantamount to directly condemning me. What followed was my expulsion from the association and the retraction of all my past awards. Even the fans who had always supported me turned into “anti-fans,” cursing me furiously in the comments section. By the time Liam returned, I was gaunt and wasted. He pulled me into his arms, his face filled with heartache. “I’m sorry, Stella, I came back too late. Don’t worry, I will definitely help clear your name.” I looked at him, grasping at my last hope. “Do you remember the video you took of me dancing that piece? Is it still on your phone? Send it to me quickly.” He scrolled through his phone, his expression turning troubled. “I remember now. About a month ago, my phone system crashed. I accidentally formatted it, and all the videos were gone.” I instantly felt all strength drain from my body, as if I’d fallen into an ice pit. There was no way for me to prove my innocence now. Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at me, hesitated for a moment, then walked out of the room to answer it. I tiptoed to the door and listened. “How is she? Is she completely broken yet?” On the other end, it was Jessica Hayes’s voice. Liam’s tone was dismissive: “You should be satisfied, shouldn’t you? Stella Reed’s reputation is ruined. She called me hundreds of times these past few days, and I didn’t answer a single one.” “Hahaha.” Jessica’s laughter was filled with malicious glee. “Of course, I’m happy. She stole my championship and my principal position. I’ve waited too long for this moment.” … I stood behind the door, my jaw aching, my nails digging into my palms. So, my intuition was right. This was all a trap they had set. I crouched in the corner, letting tears stream down my face. It was okay. In a few more days, everything would be over. The embassy called to inform me my visa was ready. I went to pick up my visa. On the way back, I stopped by my favorite coffee shop and ordered a latte. I probably wouldn’t get to drink it again. As soon as I sat down, I saw Jessica Hayes. She walked straight over, sat down opposite me, her eyes full of mockery. “Stella Reed, how does it feel to have everything taken away from you?” I looked up at her. “What do you mean? You weren’t good enough back then. Don’t forget, I beat you fair and square.” She chuckled dismissively, pulling a dance company application form from her bag. “See this? This position, it’ll be mine sooner or later.” My eyes sharpened into daggers, I pressed her: “So, the plagiarism incident was all orchestrated by you?” She just laughed, relaxed. “Do you have proof? Don’t forget, you’re a person with a tainted past now. Just got exposed for plagiarism, and now you’re slandering me?” I gripped the coffee cup handle tightly, my knuckles white. Finally, I couldn’t hold back and splashed the entire cup of coffee over her. “Ah!” she shrieked, her face instantly turning red from the hot coffee. Liam Vance burst in at that moment. The instant he saw the scene, he didn’t hesitate, slapping me across the face. “Are you out of your mind?” Then he picked Jessica up and rushed out without looking back. **Chapter 7** I covered my swollen, red cheek, staring blankly at Liam’s retreating back, and let out a bitter laugh. Sure enough, in his heart, Jessica Hayes was the most important one. I returned home and began packing my things. I had lived in this villa for three years, long considering it my real home, and had acquired many things that weren’t originally here. Floor lamps, various green plants, hand-painted decorations on the walls, and the most striking — the giant poster in the center of the living room. It was a stage photo of me. Liam said I was like a star illuminating his life, so he stubbornly hung that poster in the most prominent spot. But now, it seemed it was nothing but an illusion. No matter how beautiful, it was just a facade to hide the truth. I instructed the maid to dismantle everything that belonged to me. It wasn’t until evening that Liam returned. He walked straight up to me, his eyes full of tenderness as he rubbed my reddened face, the one he had slapped. “I’m sorry, Stella, I was impulsive today. I was genuinely afraid that if anything happened to Jessica, it would be worse for you. No matter what she said, you striking her was wrong. Everything requires evidence; without it, it’s defamation. I persuaded Jessica for a long time before she agreed not to call the police.” He acted so rational and helpless, as if I were the one who had committed a grave offense. I looked at him, tears welling in my eyes. “Evidence can also be fabricated, can’t it?” He was clearly startled, seeming to think I had discovered something, and was about to explain. But I didn’t give him the chance. My body gave out, and I collapsed into his arms. When I next woke, I was lying in a hospital bed. I was thirsty and called out a few times, trying to get someone’s attention, but no one responded. I had no choice but to get out of bed to pour myself water. As I passed the room next door, I heard familiar voices. Through the glass, I saw Jessica Hayes nestled in Liam’s arms, tears still on her face. “Liam, I’m so scared Stella Reed will retaliate against me… She dared to lay hands on my face; who knows what she’ll do next…” He lightly kissed her cheek, his voice sickeningly gentle: “Don’t be afraid. If she dares to hurt you again, I’ll make her pay tenfold, a hundredfold.” Jessica’s voice was a little agitated: “But I’m hurting right now, and she’s completely fine.” Liam chuckled softly. “That’s easy. Tonight, I’ll make her wish she were dead.” My fingers clutched my clothes tightly, knuckles white, my heart feeling like it was being brutally squeezed. I stumbled back to my room, quickly changed, and prepared to escape this place. But before I could even leave the room, Liam came in. “Stella, you haven’t recovered yet, you can’t just run around.” I forced myself to be calm: “I’m fine now. I want to be discharged.” But he called in the doctor. “Stella, be good. The doctor says your mental state has been very unstable recently, and you need to undergo the latest electroshock therapy.” The doctor nodded along: “Mr. Vance is right. This therapy is very effective for stress-related mental illnesses.” I shook my head frantically, resisting loudly: “No, I’m not sick! I won’t have electroshock therapy!” He pressed me down: “You need to listen to the doctors; it’ll be good for your recovery.” I practically knelt before him, tears in my eyes, pleading: “Liam, I beg you, I really am not sick… I won’t ever act out again. Please don’t make me have electroshock therapy.” For a fleeting moment, his eyes wavered, but then his tone hardened. “No matter what, she must be cured. There’s only a month left until the wedding; she must recover before then.” Mental illness? Electroshock? The wedding? The last flicker of hope in my heart was extinguished. This was the Vance family hospital; no one would help me. I was strapped into an electroshock chair by several nurses. As the current passed through my body, my screams tore through the entire building, until I could no longer make a sound, and was dragged back to my room like a rag doll. I was tossed onto the bed, unable to even open my eyes, completely unconscious. In a hazy state, I heard voices. “Liam, your idea is brilliant. Seeing Stella Reed like this, I feel so vindicated. She’s getting what she deserves.” “Jessica, I’ve done everything I promised you. When are you going to give yourself to me? I’ve waited years for you.” “Didn’t I say? On our wedding night. I’m not like her; you spent plenty of time with her those years. Couldn’t she satisfy you?” Her voice carried a hint of sourness. “Her? She was just a tool for me to vent my desires. Every time I touched her, it was your face in my mind.” Jessica Hayes let out a soft laugh: “You’re bad. On our wedding night, I’ll give myself to you completely.” This conversation exploded in my mind like a bomb. Every moment Liam and I had shared, all the love and trust, now transformed into disgusting illusions. I struggled to open my eyes, but my throat was too dry to make a sound, and my eyes felt glued shut. I could only sink slowly into this boundless darkness, until I completely lost consciousness. **Chapter 8** I don’t know when I woke up. It felt like I’d been through a long nightmare, in which Liam Vance was like a beast, devouring me piece by piece. “Stella, you’re finally awake. I was so worried.” He hugged me, his face beaming with joy. I instinctively pushed him away, trembling all over. “Stella, what’s wrong? It’s Liam.” His voice was filled with confusion. I still refused his touch, as if he were the devil who had cast me into the abyss. In the days that followed, he barely left my side, personally taking care of my every need. Even the nurses at the hospital commented: “Stella Reed is so lucky. Mr. Vance loves her so much, he even washes her face and feeds her himself.” “I’m truly envious. When will a CEO take care of me like that?” “Dream on! There’s only one man like Mr. Vance in the whole world. I heard their wedding is at the end of the month, and it’s even being broadcast globally.” … I listened to their chatter, a mocking smile playing on my lips. This globally broadcasted wedding was clearly meant to be a public humiliation. Yet, Liam Vance remained incredibly gentle: “Stella, you need to get well quickly. When you wear your wedding dress, you’ll be the most beautiful bride there.” “Stella, are you happy with this wedding dress? I had the designer make several changes; every detail has to be perfect.” “Stella, I’ve ordered a new diamond ring for you. This blue diamond is even bigger than ‘The Beloved Heart.’” “Stella, take a look at these wedding favors. Are you satisfied? I specifically chose high-end skincare products; your friends will definitely love them.” … I was like a puppet on strings, manipulated by him. If I hadn’t known the truth behind him, I might really have been touched by his “sincerity.” He understood me too well; every detail matched my preferences. But all of this was just to make my breakdown even more complete, to make me willingly accept this destined humiliation, and fulfill his promise to Jessica Hayes. Three days before the wedding, he suddenly told me he had to go on a last-minute business trip. “I’ll be back in time for the wedding.” I rarely looked directly at him. “The wedding is so soon, do you really have to go?” A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: “This partnership affects the company’s development for decades to come; I have to go. You wait for me at home, and I’ll see you on our wedding day.” Yes, decades of planning. But it wasn’t for me and him; it was for him and Jessica Hayes. I lowered my head, silent, my heart calm and undisturbed. After Liam left, I called my friends and family one by one, telling them the wedding was canceled. Then I compiled all the SnapChat records I had collected about Liam and Jessica Hayes’s revenge plan into a video and put it on a USB drive. I handed the USB drive to Mr. Evans, the emcee for the wedding that day. “I’d like to replace the previously prepared wedding VCR with this one.” Mr. Evans was a little puzzled: “Was there something you didn’t like about the old VCR?” I smiled: “Not at all. I just want to give Liam Vance a surprise on our wedding day.” Though Mr. Evans was still a little suspicious, he agreed. The day before the wedding, I packed all my belongings and shipped them off. Anything I couldn’t take, I simply threw away. As for the wedding dress Liam had the designer alter countless times, I burned it to ashes. On the morning of the wedding, I received a text message from Liam Vance. “Stella, I’ve already sent the guys to pick you up. Make sure you’re beautifully dressed for me to marry you. I can’t wait to see you in your pristine white wedding dress.” I let out a bitter laugh. I could already imagine Liam and Jessica’s smug, gloating faces right now. But I wouldn’t give anyone another chance to hurt me. I stepped into the car that was waiting to take me to the airport and drove away. As I closed the car door, I tossed the diamond ring Liam had given him out the window. Liam Vance, from this day forward, we’ll never meet again. **Chapter 9** After bidding Stella Reed farewell, Liam Vance rushed to the airport to meet Jessica Hayes. On the plane, Jessica leaned on Liam’s shoulder, her face flushed with coy delight. “Liam, in three days, I’ll officially be your bride. Are you happy?” Liam glanced out the window. Hearing Jessica’s words, he felt no trace of the expected excitement. Instead, a faint, ineffable melancholy settled in his heart. Stella Reed’s image flashed through his mind. Seeing his silence, Jessica shook his arm. He snapped back to reality, then smiled dotingly at Jessica. “Of course, I’m happy.” Upon arrival in the Maldives, his friends were already waiting at the wedding resort. “The bride and groom are finally here! So handsome, so beautiful, we can’t wait for the wedding!” “I wonder how miserable Stella Reed will be when she realizes she’s been played on her wedding day?” “Serves her right for offending Liam’s beloved. She deserves it.” … Listening to their snide remarks and laughter, Liam’s eyes darkened for a moment. “Enough. It’s almost Jessica and my wedding. Why bring up anyone else?” Everyone immediately fell silent. After dinner, Jessica and Liam went to the hotel’s infinity pool. Jessica, in her seductive swimsuit, made it impossible for Liam to look away. Liam lay on a lounge chair, eyes closed, his brow slightly furrowed, as if contemplating something. “Liam, what’s wrong? Is something bothering you?” Jessica wrapped her arms around Liam, her slender fingers tracing patterns on his chest. Liam’s body softened under her touch, and he pulled her into his embrace. “You little temptress, aren’t you afraid I’ll devour you?” Jessica, however, didn’t pull away as she used to. Instead, she took Liam’s hand and smiled alluringly: “Master, please enjoy your meal.” Liam was momentarily stunned: “Didn’t you say we’d wait until our wedding day to be intimate?” “It doesn’t matter if it’s a day or two sooner. I’m yours anyway.” Liam embraced Jessica, and she let out a soft gasp. Listening to Jessica’s voice, for some reason, Stella Reed’s image once again materialized in his mind. He felt an unbearable irritation, trying desperately to dispel Stella’s image, but it was no use. His passionate thoughts came to an abrupt halt. “What’s wrong, Liam?” Jessica asked, puzzled, seeing him stop. “Nothing, Jessica. I think we should still wait for our wedding night. After all, you’re sacred to me.” Liam made an excuse to brush her off. Jessica, however, was even more touched: “Liam, you’re so good to me.” She smiled playfully: “Do you think if Stella Reed knew that you truly love me, and only approached her for revenge, she’d be furious to death? I really want to see her on our wedding day, abandoned by everyone and utterly ruined.” Liam, recalling how Stella Reed had ruined his mood just now, retorted fiercely, “She’s lost her job, her reputation, and soon, the husband she relied on will disappear too. Jessica, I’ve done everything I promised you.” On the wedding day, as per the original plan, Liam Vance sent a text message to Stella Reed. Seeing Stella Reed’s “Okay” reply on his phone, he felt a strange pang in his heart.

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Lucien, the Alpha Lord of the Lycan territories, was an undeniable tyrant. All shifters feared and avoided him. Yet, I, the Alpha of the Rabbit Clan, seemed to constantly seek him out. Simply because we had grown up together. More importantly, I knew his secret. “Lucien, still nibbling on your tail, are we?” I grinned mischievously, but he lunged, pinning me beneath him. “Dare to speak another word, and I’ll devour you right here, right now!” Lucien, the Alpha Lord of the Lycan territories, was an undeniable tyrant. His sudden move made me laugh. My fingertip pressed against his forehead. “Still love to tussle like we did as pups?” “I am *not* playing with you!” He bared his fangs, aiming for my neck. It was then I realized he was serious. “You can’t eat me! Our two clans signed a peace treaty, remember?” Lucien’s hand stroked my ear, and he closed his eyes, inhaling my scent. When I saw the predatory gleam in his eyes, I raised my hand, ready to use my power to knock him out. But he just smirked, that wicked, charming smile twisting his lips, and a moment later, darkness swallowed me whole. “Threatening me, Hazelwood? You’re getting bolder by the day.” His hand traced my shoulder, sending shivers down my spine, before he effortlessly scooped me up and carried me to his private chambers. He tossed me onto the lavish bed, then summoned a few attendants. “Go, prepare everything needed for a wedding!” he commanded. “A wedding?! Lord Alpha, for whom are you preparing?” A flicker of displeasure crossed Lucien’s face. The other two attendants, terrified, scrambled to obey, rushing out. He, meanwhile, gazed at my unconscious form, then sharpened his fangs. Lucien rose, taking a wedding gown from an attendant. The curious attendant was about to speak again. The other two quickly clapped a hand over his mouth. Candlelight flickered, the chambers now fully adorned. Lucien had changed into his ceremonial wedding robes. But I remained in my simple blue-green dress. Each time Lucien reached for me, I somehow managed to shield myself. The talkative attendant wiped sweat from his brow, the others already cowering in the background. Lucien pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. Seeing them still there, he snapped, “All of you, out! No one is to gossip about this, and no one enters without my express permission!” Terrified, the attendants bowed low and quickly retreated. Just then, I rolled over, and the comforter fell, wrapping itself around me. He let out a frustrated chuckle, then pulled me from the covers, tearing my dress in the process. He swallowed, captivated by a figure that could rival any goddess’s, then dressed me in the wedding gown. “Hiss… my clothes! And this… this is a wedding dress!” Lucien leaned closer, but I pushed against him, struggling desperately, yet unable to move an inch. He gripped my chin, his breath ghosting against my ear. My eyes burned crimson, tears streaming down my face as I fought with all my might. But the more I struggled, the more excited Lucien seemed to become. He rested his head on my shoulder, closing his eyes, seemingly savoring my scent. 2 My fury was so intense I tasted blood. Lucien knocked me unconscious with a single blow, kissed me once, then carried me to his study. He brought me before a massive stone. Taking my hand, he cast a spell, and as he waved it, our names etched themselves onto the Stone of Fates, binding us together. “My Hazelwood, I’ve finally etched our names onto this Stone of Fates.” I immediately awoke, then slapped him. “You’re insane!” The more I protested, the more Lucien seemed to want to claim me by force. I pulled a sharp pin from my hair and lunged, but it stopped a mere inch from his chest. Lucien gripped my hand tightly, then scooped me into his arms and carried me back to the main chamber. He dropped me onto the bed, and I felt utterly drained. “Lucien, you’re despicable!” A wave of dizziness washed over me. The sweet, cloying scent of the incense burner filled the hall, and even Lucien swayed. “An extra ingredient had been added.” I quickly bit my lip, forcing myself to stay conscious. Just as I was about to run, Lucien grabbed my exposed rabbit tail. With a pull, I tumbled back into his embrace. “You’ll face divine retribution for this, Lucien!” A single tear slipped down my cheek as Lucien pinned me, savoring my taste. Dawn broke, and Lucien lay on his side, propped on his elbow, admiring the ‘results’ of the previous night. The moment I woke, I sensed a surge in my spiritual energy, and I lashed out at him with lethal intent. He wasn’t angry; in fact, he looked delighted. He entwined his fingers with mine, pinning me down. He leaned in to kiss my lips, but I turned my head away. Lucien, however, was persistent, his mouth claiming mine as his hand covered my eyes, tracing a path down to my neck. … Lucien rose, throwing on a robe, and warned me, “Stay here obediently, Hazelwood. If you dare to run, I’ll wipe out your entire clan!” At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to lunge at him and kill him, but my body felt utterly powerless. After Lucien left, I spat out a mouthful of blood, clutching the bed frame. In the royal court, the ministers buzzed with whispers. Lucien, seeing anyone who displeased him, dealt with them swiftly and brutally. The terrified officials stood silent, heads bowed low. In my private chambers, the attendants brought food. I sat cross-legged on the bed. No matter how much they pleaded, I refused to eat. Unable to complete their task, the attendants stood anxiously by. Lucien, seeing this, stomped over. He grabbed a plate of food and shoved it into his mouth. “Satisfied now? Get out!” The attendants exchanged glances, sighed softly, and left together. Once my body had recovered slightly, I began to plot my escape, remembering Lucien’s desire for my obedience. That’s when an idea sparked. The moment he opened the door, Lucien’s arm snaked around my waist. “Where is my Wolf Queen off to? Shall I accompany you, my dear?” I nodded, and he took my hand, leading me out of the chambers. All the way, Lucien’s eyes were fixed on me. Unknowingly, we arrived at the Forbidden Lands. Lucien moved to block me as I stepped towards it, but I simply smiled, speaking softly, “It’s alright. With you here, nothing bad will happen.” Lucien seemed captivated. He produced a flask of wine and offered it. I smiled, taking it, my fingertips brushing his, sending his heart racing. Then, I began to untie my robes, raising the flask to his lips. Lucien embraced me, clearly enjoying the moment. Just as things were about to escalate, Lucien suddenly collapsed. “Lucien, from this day forward, you and I shall never meet again.” I drained my power from him, condensing it in my palm. With it, I placed a binding spell on him, then erased all magical traces of my presence. I then vented my fury on him, striking him repeatedly until my hands ached. I tore the wedding gown into a thousand pieces and scattered them to the wind. Moving through the light rain, I used my magic to delve deeper into the Forbidden Lands until I vanished. Lucien, sensing my departure, jolted awake. “Hazelwood! So you still tried to escape!” He roared and immediately gave chase. 3 By the time I arrived, I had already retrieved the magical artifact from the Forbidden Lands. Lucien lunged to snatch it, but instead, he accidentally wounded me. My pale face, streaming blood, twisted Lucien’s heart with anguish. “Don’t touch that thing!” The more I tried to stop him, the more stubborn he became. Even with my last shred of strength, I reached for it. “You’ve opened a portal to another dimension!” I looked at the swirling vortex that had appeared in the sky, blasted him with a surge of energy, and then plunged into it. “Hazelwood! Fine. This is *your* doing!” He commanded his subordinates to capture the Rabbit Clan members and enslave them. Those who resisted, he ordered to be transformed into potent elixirs and artifacts. “Hiss… the power here is immense, and my body aches!” I felt as though I was being torn apart by the overwhelming force, but then a beam of light appeared, shielding me. The pain slowly receded, replaced by a profound warmth. Just when I thought I was about to die, a voice called out to me. The white light intensified, and my surroundings began to shift. … Just when I thought I was dead, a voice called out to me. “Hazelwood! Hazelwood!” “Who’s calling me?” When my vision cleared, I found myself in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by the strong, cloying scent of medicine that made me uncomfortable. “Cough, cough.” “Thank goodness, you’re finally awake, Hazelwood.” I stared at the worried man before me, confused, but then a sharp pain pierced my head, and countless images flashed through my mind. “You’re not allowed to play around with your health like this again.” “You can be discharged tonight!” I looked at the sky, then down at my own body. “To be so ethereally beautiful, she starved herself this thin? This body is so much weaker than mine.” Jasper, my assistant, heard my words and rubbed his head, wondering, “Did Hazelwood fry her brain? What on earth is she talking about? So weird!” By the time I fully reacted, I was already in the driver’s seat. In the days that followed, I cultivated my power while also filming, during which I met many friends and interacted with my fans, completely eclipsing my previous self. Night. “No! Lucien, you can’t hurt my clan!” I jolted awake from a nightmare, the painful, vivid scenes feeling terrifyingly real. I rose and walked to the window, reflecting on the dream and worrying about my clan. In the other world, Lucien had found a way to the other dimension. Just as he was about to depart, the Rabbit Clan Elder blocked him. “Lucien, what will it take for you to release our Alpha, to release our Rabbit Clan?” “Get out of my way!” Lucien’s eyes were bloodshot, consumed by animalistic rage, looking like a madman. Despite this, the Elder held his ground. Lucien blasted him with a powerful surge of energy, then tore open the portal to the other dimension. 4 On the way to the set, my heart was pounding, and my face was pale. “Hazel, are you really alright like this today? Maybe I should cancel?” I waved a hand, and Jasper had no choice but to comply. I glanced out the window. The streets were filled with things related to me. Jasper told me they were all gifts from my fans. Suddenly, I pulled over and looked back, saying, “Jasper, can you do me a favor?” Jasper nodded, waiting for my instructions. I leaned back, listening intently to what he said. Though he looked puzzled, he followed my orders. Once I’d left, he continued driving. Just as we were nearing our destination, a figure appeared, blocking the road. I slammed on the brakes. Before I could fully recover, my hands and feet were bound. Lucien slowly crawled forward, smiling as he scrutinized me. “Lucien, how are you here?! Wait, why do you have the energy of my rabbit clan?!” Lucien pinned my struggling body, then raised a hand to signal for silence. I pressed my lips together. As I tried to move, I kicked out with my leg, but he grabbed my ankle. The grip was so strong it almost brought tears to my eyes. “Does it hurt, Hazelwood? It would be so much easier if you just obeyed me, but you always have to fight me.” I snatched a stick and swung it, blinding him for a moment. I slammed the car door open and scrambled out, hiding. Lucien, not seeing me, searched frantically. When he spotted me, he ran towards me, only to fall into a trap I had set. “Well, well, my Wolf Queen’s skills have certainly improved.” I ignored Lucien, performing intricate hand seals to bind him. The more Lucien struggled to break free, the more blood I coughed up. “Heh, go ahead and try to break it. At worst, I’ll just die.” “Hazelwood, you’re insane! You’d throw your life away just to bind me?” I dropped to one knee, retching as I coughed up more blood. When I felt my power weaken, I collapsed onto the ground. Seeing this, Lucien recalled his magic. He looked down at his hands, remorse filling his voice. “Did I go too far with Hazelwood?” I regained my senses, stood up, and chanted an incantation, teleporting Lucien away. I gently touched my belly, walking forward as if lost, muttering to myself, “You shouldn’t have come, my babies… you shouldn’t have come…” Hearing Jasper call me, I quickly hid my injuries. “Everything’s done according to your instructions.” “Good. Let’s go. No time to waste.” I got into the car and leaned back, closing my eyes. Jasper looked like he wanted to say something but held it back. Lucien fell from mid-air, hitting his head on a rock. “Ugh, Hazelwood truly has a heavy hand.” Rubbing his head, the sight of blood made Lucien remember something. A cunning smile bloomed on his face. Lucien skipped off happily to find me, whining coyly, “I’m going to find my Hazelwood.” It was late by the time I returned home. I sent Jasper away. I went inside, took out a medical tome, and began to concoct a remedy. Half an hour later, I sat at the table, about to take the pill from the plate, when a kick stirred within my belly. I touched it, and it stilled. I stared at the medicine, lost in thought. Just then, my phone rang. ———-此处为截断点———- 5 It was the building’s security guard, who told me someone had been searching everywhere for me, calling my name incessantly. I knew exactly who it was. Without a word, I hung up.

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I was the Chief Architect of the Ark’s daughter, the sole Key Holder. The scorching apocalypse descended. Surface temperatures soared past 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Full of hope, I went to activate the Ark, only to be betrayed by my fiancé, Xander, and my stepsister, Scarlett. They stole my iris data, destroyed my fingerprints, and shoved me into the surface inferno, leaving me to be roasted alive. Inside the Ark, they celebrated their new beginning, believing I was nothing but ash. But they didn’t know I survived. When I returned, blazing with vengeance, the Ark’s energy was close to depletion. They knelt before me. My ex-fiancé, eyes red-rimmed, howled, “Aurora, I know I messed up! Please, save us just one more time!” I just smiled. “My kindness burned away the day you threw me out.” “Warning! Iris verification failed!” “Warning! Permissions mismatched, identification error!” I stood before the Ark’s alloy door, my hands and feet icy cold. Impossible. I was Aurora. My dad was Dr. Sterling, the Chief Architect. I was the only Key. Behind me, over a hundred people began whispering. Someone impatiently stomped their foot. “What’s going on? Aurora, can you even do it?” “Hurry up! It’s already 142 degrees Fahrenheit out here! We’ll all die if you keep dragging your feet!” The crowd’s clamor grew louder. I stared at the authenticator and pressed my eye closer again. The red beam scanned my pupil a third time. The result was still the piercing warning sound. “Warning! Three consecutive errors, security system locked!” My heart skipped a beat. A hand landed on my shoulder, firm, pushing me aside. It was my stepsister, Scarlett. She wore a pristine white dress, mockingly spotless in this apocalyptic landscape, like a cruel joke. “Sister, don’t rush.” Her voice was soft, but her eyes glittered with triumph. “Let me try.” Try? What right did she have to try? Before I could react, Xander yanked me away from behind. His strength was frightening. “Aurora, stop making a scene. Let Scarlett handle it.” I looked at him. Three days ago, he’d sworn to protect me for life. Now, he looked at me like I was trash. Scarlett didn’t even glance my way, walking directly to the authenticator. “Beep—” A soft chime. “Iris verification successful. Welcome, highest authority holder, Ms. Scarlett.” A green light flared. That alloy door, which had been locked to me, opened for *her*. Cheers erupted behind me. “It opened! The door opened!” “Scarlett is the savior!” “Aurora is a liar! She almost got us all killed!” My mind went blank. I couldn’t move. Everyone stared at Scarlett, as if she were a god. And I, I became the liar who almost killed everyone. “Grab her! Don’t let her cause trouble inside!” Someone yelled, and the crowd surged toward me. Xander stood in front of the crowd, but not to protect me. He just watched me coldly, his brows furrowed. Scarlett ran over, gripping Xander’s arm, tears instantly streaming down her face: “Xander, don’t blame Aurora. She might… just want to prove herself too much. Dad always favored me since we were kids, Aurora probably feels hurt…” At her words, the crowd’s glare at me intensified. “It was jealousy all along!” “This vicious woman deserves to die out there!” Xander’s face was ashen. He stared intensely at me, speaking each word with cold precision: “Aurora, for the Ark’s safety, your access must be revoked.” He grabbed my hand, slamming my fingers onto the access revocation device by the door. “Sizzle—” Excruciating pain and the smell of burning flesh hit me simultaneously. I screamed. My fingerprints were utterly incinerated. “Throw her out!” Xander tossed me towards the door like I was garbage. A blast of 144-degree heat slammed into me. My skin instantly stung, like it had been doused with boiling water. The alloy gate slowly closed before me. Through the gap, I saw Scarlett inside, giving me a triumphant, malicious smile. I saw Xander, coldly turning his back, embracing her as they walked toward the Ark’s internal light. I saw my father, Dr. Sterling, standing at the very back of the crowd. He looked at me, his gaze complex, but in the end, he chose silence. In that moment, I understood. This wasn’t an accident. This was a premeditated betrayal, meticulously orchestrated against me. In agony and despair, I slowly lost consciousness. Before I fully succumbed, I used my last ounce of strength to shriek at that cold door: “You’ll regret this… When you do, the heatwave will consume everything here!” I thought I would die. Die on the 144-degree surface, roasted into a shriveled, curled-up corpse. But when I opened my eyes again, I saw a dim, cracked rock ceiling. The air was thick with the smell of earth mixed with bitter herbs. “Awake? You’re a tough kid.” A raspy voice drifted to me. I struggled to turn my head and saw a white-haired old woman, her face lined like a dried riverbed. Seeing me look, she grinned, revealing a few yellowed teeth: “Drink some water. It’s salted, precious stuff.” Warm, salty water flowed down my parched throat like nectar. Excruciating pain radiated from all over my body. I wiggled my fingers, only to find myself wrapped in ragged strips of cloth, oozing dark, greasy paste. “Don’t move around too much; you don’t have a single good patch of skin left.” The old woman gently pressed me down. “No idea what rich lady you are, with your delicate skin, to be burnt like this.” From a corner, a man’s rough voice grumbled: “Rich lady? Looks like another unlucky soul thrown out of the Ark.” A thin old man, a blade of grass hanging from his mouth, was sharpening a rusted knife. “Old man, shut your trap!” The old woman glared at him. “Doesn’t matter where she’s from, she’s a life. We couldn’t just leave her.” The old man snorted and said nothing more. The Ark… The word pierced my heart like a knife. My nails dug into my palms, the searing pain from my burnt skin flaring anew. The old woman looked at me, sighing: “Kid, where’s your family? Are you all alone?” Family? My father, my fiancé, the people I once held dearest, had personally pushed me into hell. Tears welled up, and I choked out a lie: “My… my family, they were all eaten by mutated beasts… I’m the only one left…” The old woman’s eyes instantly filled with pity. She patted my back: “Poor child. In this world, human life is cheaper than dirt. It’s okay. From now on, this is your home.” “One more mouth to feed, one less for us,” the old man muttered from the corner again. “Old Man Reed! You shut your mouth!” The old woman grabbed a broom and threw it at him. “One more word, and you won’t get any dinner tonight!” The old man dodged nimbly and left the crude underground shelter. The old woman turned back to me, her expression soft again: “Don’t mind that old fool, he’s all bark and no bite. Kid, what’s your name?” “I’m… Aurora.” I omitted my surname. From the moment I was thrown out of the Ark, Aurora Sterling was dead. Only Aurora, the survivor, remained.

I lay in this scavenger camp, “The Burrows,” for half a month. My burns healed agonizingly slowly, gnawing at me like a thousand ants every single day. Old Man Reed and Grandma May, as everyone called them, were the ones who saved me. One day, Dr. Hayes, the only one in the camp with medical knowledge, came to change my dressings. He examined my wounds, shaking his head as he spoke to Grandma May: “Not healing well. The scorching poison outside is too potent; it’s damaged her core. We need ‘Fire Rat Oil,’ but that stuff… you have to hunt for it deep in Mount Desolation. Too dangerous.” Mount Desolation was a ruin-strewn mountain formed from collapsed skyscrapers in the city center, a lair for mutated creatures. Grandma May sighed, saying nothing further. In those two weeks, the most frequent topic of conversation was Scarlett, the Ark’s “savior.” “They say that Angel Scarlett stabilized the Ark’s energy again! What a living saint she is!” “If only we could get into the Ark! I hear it’s like paradise inside, with clean water, endless food, and even air conditioning!” Their clouded eyes were filled with yearning. My heart twisted with a sharp pain. That was supposed to be hope for *all* survivors, but it had become a paradise for a select few. Before Dr. Hayes left, he looked at me, then at a young man standing awkwardly, rubbing his hands nearby. He suddenly smiled. “May, I think Aurora’s a good girl. My Ben is getting old enough to marry, what do you think…” I followed his gaze. The young man named Ben instantly flushed, lowering his head, unable to meet my eyes. He was Dr. Hayes’ grandson. During my recovery, he’d quietly helped me with many things – bringing water, delivering medicine – never saying much. Grandma May’s eyes lit up, and she slapped her thigh: “Oh, perfect! I always thought those two kids were meant to be!” A few nights later, I was startled awake by a sound. I saw Ben, with a hunting bow on his back, trying to slip quietly out of the burrow. “Where are you going?” I asked. He jumped, turning around, flustered: “I… I’m just going for a walk.” I stared at the bow on his back and the half-empty waterskin at his waist. I understood instantly. “You’re going to Mount Desolation?” Ben’s face reddened further. He lowered his head, whispering: “Grandpa Hayes said Fire Rat Oil could heal your wounds…” My heart felt like it had been violently struck. “It’s too dangerous, don’t go!” “It’s fine,” he said, looking up and giving me a simple, honest smile. “I’ve been scavenging in the ruins my whole life, those beasts can’t catch me. Just wait, I’ll be back soon.” With that, he turned and disappeared into the dark tunnel. That night, I stayed awake until dawn. Old Man Reed, Grandma May, and Dr. Hayes also realized he was gone and began pacing frantically. Two days passed. Ben didn’t return. Just when everyone feared the worst, on the evening of the third day, a blood-soaked figure stumbled into the burrow’s entrance. It was Ben. One of his arms hung limp, clearly broken, and wounds large and small on his body were deep enough to show bone. But in his other hand, he clutched a greasy little leather pouch. “Aurora…” He saw me, grinned, and then collapsed to the ground. He had bought the medicine that could heal me at the cost of his arm. My tears streamed uncontrollably. In this ‘every man for himself’ apocalypse, there was actually someone willing to risk his life for me, a person he’d known for less than a month.

A month later, thanks to the Fire Rat Oil, my injuries miraculously healed. Apart from some faint brown scars that wouldn’t fade, I was back to normal. Ben’s arm, however, was permanently crippled due to delayed treatment. I found him trying to awkwardly string his hunting bow with one hand. “Your arm…” My voice was hoarse. “It’s nothing. What’s done is done, I still have one hand,” he said dismissively, though a flicker of sadness passed through his eyes. I looked at him and said earnestly, “Ben, will you marry me?” Ben froze, dropping the bow to the ground. “Aurora… I… I’m not good enough for you. I’m a cripple now…” “You’re not a cripple,” I cut him off. “You’re my man, Ben. From now on, I’ll protect you.” Our wedding was simple. Grandma May sewed me a new gown from salvaged red cloth, and everyone brought out their treasured food, creating a “feast” for us. No guests, no elaborate ceremony, just the sincere, smiling faces of The Burrows. I looked at my unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, my heart oddly calm. Forget the Ark, forget the betrayal, forget the hatred. Aurora Sterling was dead. Now, there was only Ben’s wife, Aurora. Ben held a cup of murky liquor, blushing, and smiled at me: “Aurora, from now on… I’ll be good to you.” I nodded, reaching for the cup. Suddenly, a deafening tear-through sound ripped from above. The massive iron sheet that served as our camouflage was instantly shredded. A dozen dark figures descended from the sky. They wore sleek black insulated suits, their weapons gleaming with an ominous blue light. “It’s the Ark people!” Someone shrieked in terror. Without a word, the black-clad figures raised their weapons and fired. Blue energy beams tore through the crowd. One by one, vibrant lives instantly turned to ash. A joyous occasion had become a funeral. The stench of blood and burnt flesh instantly permeated the air. My mind buzzed, my body’s instincts moving faster than thought. I shoved Ben aside, grabbing his hunting bow from the wall. Drew the bow, nocked an arrow. *Swish! Swish! Swish!* Three iron arrows flew in a deadly spread, precisely impaling the necks of three black-clad figures. The powerful momentum sent their bodies flying, crashing heavily against the wall. Everyone was stunned, including myself. I didn’t know why I had such archery skills; it felt like an instinct carved into my bones. I rushed forward, pulling a terrified Grandma May behind me, but watched in horror as Old Man Reed, protecting a child, was pierced through the chest by an energy beam. “Old Man Reed!” I roared, my eyes burning. From the group of black-clad figures, a man stepped out and removed his helmet. He stared at me, a smirk playing on his lips. “Ms. Aurora, we finally found you. Ms. Scarlett’s been just *dying* to see you.” It was her! Scarlett! She still wouldn’t let me go! “Bastards!” I trembled with rage, drawing my bow again. The captain merely twitched his lips and waved a hand. Suddenly, my neck was clamped tight by something, and I was lifted off my feet, my legs dangling in the air. “A useless Key dares to fight back?” He looked at me like I was an insect. “Ms. Scarlett said I should personally finish you off.” He raised his hand, and a ball of blue light glowed at his fingertip. The energy was about to shoot out when a figure suddenly rushed forward, slamming directly into me. It was Ben. He held me tight with his good arm. “Aurora… run…” Those were the last words he left me. The next second, his body was ripped into a mist of blood by that sharp energy blade. “Ah—!” Pure fury and grief shattered the binding force. I fell to the ground, soaked by the rain of blood. The hunting bow in my hand hummed to life, as if it were alive. I shot an arrow. That arrow, carrying all my hatred, tore through the air and viciously impaled the captain’s shoulder. He let out a choked grunt, staring at me in disbelief. He prepared to strike again. But a white shadow was faster. It was an incredibly swift flash of a blade. The captain’s head flew skyward. A man in a white trench coat, his expression grim, slowly sheathed his blade and stood before me. He looked at me, his eyes complex. “They deserved it,” he said. I couldn’t hold on any longer. My mind completely broke. I collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably until I passed out. Another sun appeared in the sky. This was an energy phantom, projected onto the atmosphere due to the Ark’s unstable core energy. The two “suns” pushed the surface temperature up to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. I stood on the rooftop of a derelict building, watching the distorted air in the distance.

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I was broke. Like, couldn’t afford tuition broke. So broke, I’d do almost anything. One day, a mysterious person approached me. They wanted me to become the ultimate simp for Liam, the most popular guy at our school. He said he was Liam’s enemy. The more I annoyed Liam by simping for him, the happier he’d be. I might have been broke, but I still had some morals left. So I seriously refused him: “Isn’t that wrong? Deceiving people’s feelings, I can’t do that.” The very next second, $150,000 landed in my account. “$150,000. What do you say, in or out?” I blinked. “In! I’m definitely in!” Everyone at school knew me as Liam’s on-call, professional simp. His friends would mock me right in front of him, not just once: “Liam, she’s been annoying you for four years, and you haven’t even chased her off. You haven’t actually fallen for her, have you?” “She’s just the daughter of your family’s staff! She’s totally beneath you!” Brianna, his childhood friend, cried, “Liam, is it true? Everyone’s saying you two are together…” I pretended not to hear, playing my part as the dedicated simp: “Boss, here! Your breakfast for today!” He tossed my breakfast into the trash, then pulled Brianna into a hug. “Don’t worry, guys. My taste isn’t *that* bad. I’d never fall for the staff’s daughter!” I subtly dabbed at a stray tear from the corner of my eye and walked away. I edited the video clips and sent them to my mysterious contact. A few minutes later, $1,500 landed in my account. I grinned so wide my cheeks hurt. “This money is ridiculously easy!” At 6 PM sharp, I posted in a SnapChat group called [Liam’s Fan Club]. Anonymous: [Love letter delivery service back! $7.50 per letter.] Anonymous: [Image preview] Anonymous: [Today’s hot Liam pics! $1.50 each, 5 for $6.] Anonymous: [Now available on eBay! Welcome to order.] In less than a minute, my inbox was flooded. Dozens of people were lining up for me to deliver their love letters, and hundreds ordered my photo packs. I stared at my bank balance on my phone, my teeth aching from smiling so much. Thanks to my professional simping gig for Liam, I’d raked in nearly nine hundred thousand dollars in just four years. My daily joy was being humiliated by Liam and then collecting money from my mysterious contact. Because I was broke, I’d long ago abandoned any shred of my dignity. Anything for Mom. Everything, I was willing to do. At 6:30 PM, Liam predictably sent me a list of what he wanted for breakfast tomorrow. I barely glanced at it, just replied simply: [Got it, Boss.] I mean, it was his daily routine. At first, I used to make it myself. Then I started buying it from the diner behind campus. Now? I just order a bunch of food models from Wish to fool him. He never ate the breakfast I brought him anyway. He always threw it out right in front of my face. At first, I’d feel hurt, but by now, I was numb to it. Liam: [Oh, and tomorrow’s my birthday. Don’t even *think* about bothering me.] Me: [Okay, I know.] He seemed to think I was being too casual because he didn’t reply for several minutes. I thought for a few seconds, then added a cute, pleading emoji. Only then was he satisfied. Liam: [Smart move.] Seriously, what a drama queen. Too tired to deal with him. Before bed, I called the hospital nurse again. She said my mom was doing great, and I didn’t need to worry. A wave of relief washed over me, and I finally drifted off to sleep. The next day, I woke up late, hastily shoved some food models into a lunchbox. I handed the insulated bag to Liam, just like always, waiting for him to toss it. The next second, he opened it. His brows furrowed, and he glared at me furiously: “Chloe Miller, is this how you fool me?” “I asked you to make me breakfast, and you give me a pile of models?” My heart skipped a beat. Why did my personal nightmare suddenly decide he wanted breakfast today?

I stayed silent, and his face got darker and darker, like he was about to explode. After a long pause, I finally managed to blurt out: “I’m so sorry! I grabbed the wrong lunchbox!” “These are toys I prepared for the kids at the children’s home. I was in such a rush this morning, I must have mixed them up!” He looked suspicious. “Really? I don’t remember you having a habit of visiting the children’s home.” I blinked innocently at him. “Boss, did you forget? I even asked you to come with me to the children’s home before…” “You said you looked down on the kids there and didn’t want to go.” For some reason, after I said that, his expression became a little flustered. He even went out of his way to explain to me: “I didn’t look down on them! I just, I just…” But he thought for a long time and couldn’t come up with a single good reason. As a professional simp, I’d long since mastered the art of saving his ego: “I totally get it.” He immediately calmed down. “Hmph, good that you get it! Don’t mess up again tomorrow. Tomorrow, I want *your* homemade breakfast, got it?” I nodded repeatedly. “Yes, Boss.” *My* homemade breakfast? You wish! Tomorrow, I’ll just pre-order the full deluxe combo from the diner behind school. Then he extended his long arm towards me. “Give it to me.” I froze. “What?” Seeing my blank look, he instantly got impatient. “My birthday present, obviously! Didn’t I tell you yesterday that today’s my birthday?” I slapped my forehead, feigning a sudden realization. From a pile of pink envelopes in my backpack, I fished out one and handed it to him with both hands. His expression softened slightly when he saw the envelope, and his ears even turned red. “Didn’t I tell you not to write me these useless things anymore?” He kept grumbling, but his hands weren’t idle, quickly pulling out the letter covered in hearts. He didn’t even care about the setting, reading it aloud right there, his voice even carrying a hint of excitement. “Liam, hello! I’m Cindy, from the Math department…” With every word he read, his face darkened a shade more. Liam tore the letter to shreds and flung the scraps into my face. “Chloe Miller! You better explain this! What is this *now*?” I stammered for a long time before saying: “Well, you don’t like me writing you love letters, right?” “But a lot of other people want to give them to you, so I just did them a favor and handed them to you. Look through them more often, who knows, maybe you’ll find one you like?” His finger pointed straight at me, but he was too choked with anger to say anything else, just sputtering: “You… you!” “You’ve really outdone yourself!” He stormed off without looking back, fuming. Today’s work was also a success – another $1,500 in the bank!

That was the first time I’d made him *that* mad. I honestly thought he wouldn’t talk to me for days. But to my surprise, he contacted me that afternoon. Liam: [5 PM, wait for me by the school gate.] Me: [Why?] Liam: [To attend my birthday party.] What?! Rich people really know how to humiliate someone. Just because I played a trick on him this morning, he was going to drag me into his circle and let his high-society friends judge me. Seeing my delayed response, he added. Liam: [My mom really wants to see you. She’s curious about the girl who’s always clinging to me.] Liam: [She doesn’t know yet that you’re Mrs. Miller’s daughter.] I’d met Liam’s mom before. Before I even saw her, my mom used to tell me she was a really good boss. To surprise my mom, I secretly went to the Harrison family mansion once. The moment she saw me, her elegant eyebrows furrowed tightly, as if in utter disgust. “Where did this dirty brat come from? You’re in the wrong place, get out of my sight.” I was chased out by the security guard. I desperately wanted to burst into tears, but thinking of my hard-working mom, I swallowed them back. I stayed there from noon until nightfall. The moment my mom, with her face etched with exhaustion, saw me, it was like she instantly recharged, all her energy flooding back: “Chloe, what are you doing here? Have you been waiting for Mom for a long time?” I flashed her a sweet smile: “No, Mom! I just got here! Chloe’s a big girl now, I can walk Mom home!” My phone buzzed with new messages, pulling my thoughts back to Liam. Liam: [Why aren’t you saying anything? You don’t want to go?!] Liam: [My mom is super gentle, don’t be scared!] Liam: […Are you mad about this morning? But *you* were the one who treated *me* like that!] Liam: [Answer me!] Liam: [Alright, I’m sorry, okay….] Though it was an order I felt I couldn’t refuse, the thought of his mom’s gaze gave me goosebumps. Me: [I can’t go. I have plans tonight.] Liam: [Aren’t you curious about what Mrs. Harrison looked like when she worked at my house?] Liam: [When I was little, Mrs. Harrison used to hold me, and we took so many photos.] Liam: [If you come, I can give you all the pictures.] Wanting to see my old vibrant mom again, I agreed instantly. Half an hour later, I received an instruction from my mysterious contact. “Liam invited you to his birthday party? You can’t go.” “If you don’t go, I’ll add an extra million dollars to your payment.”

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I was about to marry the man I grew up with, the one I called Uncle, even though we weren’t related by blood. That night, I was too excited to sleep, so I booked a flight home for the wedding. But the moment I stepped through the door, I saw him, Julian Harrison, kneeling with his girlfriend, Cassie Monroe, begging Grandpa Harrison for his blessing. The scars on Julian’s back were horrifying. “Grandpa, this is my fault. I have to take responsibility. I’ll talk to Sera.” Grandpa Harrison looked at me, seeking my opinion. My face was a mask. “Fine. The wedding is off.” Everyone froze, surprised by how quickly I agreed. After all, everyone knew how possessive I was of my uncle figure. The truth was, I had been reborn. In my past life, because I’d said no. Cassie had run out, distraught, and was tragically hit by a truck, dying instantly, along with the baby she was carrying. After that, Julian became a shell of a man. He married me, kissed me, slept with me. Once, when I was hemorrhaging badly during childbirth, Julian refused to sign my critical condition notice. Yet, he sat by Cassie’s grave all night. Lying on that cold operating table, feeling my life slip away, I finally understood everything. Julian truly didn’t love me. So this life, I was determined to let go. “Sera, don’t feel sorry for him because he got beaten, don’t talk nonsense. The Harrison family has never had a shotgun wedding. Even if it wasn’t for you, I’d still beat him half to death!” Seeing Grandpa Harrison raise his whip to strike again, I quickly intervened. “Grandpa, I’m serious. I’ve realized my feelings for Julian were just gratitude and a child’s dependence, not love.” I said the words, my face blank, though they were a lie. I knew, deep down, that my feelings for Julian were indeed love. From the moment I’d seen him, kneeling in his sharp suit, his back still straight despite the whip marks, my heart had fluttered. His tie was loose, two buttons of his shirt undone. This mature charm was something I never saw in men my age. Grandpa Harrison lowered his hand, sighing. “Sera, if you’ve truly made up your mind, then so be it.” I nodded obediently and helped Grandpa Harrison to his study. Before entering, I glanced back at the two of them. Julian was carefully checking Cassie for injuries, his gaze never once falling on me. He had knelt like that before, been beaten by Grandpa before. Only last time, it was for me. This time, it was for his pregnant girlfriend, begging Grandpa for his blessing. Inside the study, Grandpa Harrison prepared his calligraphy supplies, using the brush to express his troubled mood. I sat quietly beside him. After a long while, Grandpa Harrison finally spoke to me. “Do you really not like Julian anymore? You used to make him feed you every meal, even water. You’d throw a fit if he wasn’t the first person you saw when you woke up. If you change your mind, I’ll tie him up and bring him to you for the wedding next week, even if I have to do it myself.” My family had been kind to the Harrisons, and our engagement had been set since childhood. But a sudden car accident had left me an orphan, my family vanished. Though Grandpa Harrison had treated me like his own granddaughter since I was little, it was really out of respect for my parents. Losing my loved ones, could I still find someone truly devoted to me? Even Julian, the man I once thought would be with me forever, now had a girlfriend. I pulled at my lips, then forced a smile. “Grandpa, you’re talking about things from three years ago. I’m not a child anymore. I know what I’m doing, and I hope you’ll trust me.” Grandpa Harrison’s hand paused in his writing, then he chuckled a few seconds later. “I’m getting old and confused. I forgot you’d been studying abroad for three years. It’s good to have you back.” Back then, I had refused to leave Julian and go abroad alone, to a place without him. Julian had finally promised that if I came back after my studies, he would marry me. Only then did I agree. But as soon as I arrived abroad, Julian blocked all my contact information, disappearing completely from my life. I just assumed he’d done it so I would focus on my studies, and for three years, I hadn’t cried or made a fuss, keeping my distance. Now, though, I understood. Julian had been trying to get rid of me. I stayed with Grandpa Harrison for several hours, practicing calligraphy and chatting about interesting things from abroad. When I finally emerged, Julian was waiting at the door. I ignored him, walking straight to my room. Julian followed silently. The moment I opened my door, he blocked it, pushing his way in and pinning me against it. “Three years, and you don’t recognize me?” Only then did I call out, “Uncle.” Julian looked displeased, his handsome brows furrowing. Though calling him Uncle wasn’t wrong, ever since I’d confessed my feelings, I’d always called him by his first name. That ‘Uncle’ made him feel like I was deliberately keeping my distance. Julian felt a surge of irritation. Just as he was about to speak, a woman’s voice suddenly came from outside the door. “Julian, did you tell Sera about the wedding? I’m feeling some morning sickness, but I don’t know where the restroom is.” Julian snapped back to reality, opened the door, and pulled Cassie into his arms, his eyes filled with doting affection. “Not yet. I was just talking to Sera.” He turned, his gaze instantly becoming distant. “Our wedding next week, yours and mine, is being changed to me and Cassie. Cassie doesn’t have many friends here, so you can be her bridesmaid.” Cassie smiled triumphantly, nestled in Julian’s arms. “Sera, please. I’ll treat you to wedding candy next week.” I agreed, my face still blank. I was determined to have no further relationship with Julian. What did it matter if I helped him a little? Consider it repaying his kindness for raising me. Once I fulfilled the three requests I’d promised him, I would leave, no matter what. To live my own life. After Julian left with Cassie, I opened my suitcase. The first thing I saw was the photo frame I’d carefully protected in a box. It held the only picture of Julian and me together. In the photo, I was smiling brightly, and Julian had made bunny ears above my head with his hand. Julian, usually so serious and stern, had given in to my persistent begging and worn a bunny headband. Back then, I always thought Julian and I would live like that forever. I never imagined he would get married. When I was fifteen, I first heard Julian was going to have an arranged marriage.

I cried all night, locked myself in my room, and refused to eat for three days, all to make Julian feel guilty and concerned. I knew Julian, who usually worried if I even lost a single strand of hair, wouldn’t be able to bear it. This method of hurting myself only worked on him. And just as I expected. I starved myself for three days, and Julian coaxed me gently outside my door for three days. He talked until his voice was hoarse and his eyes were red, yet he still wouldn’t give up. Finally, after he promised he would never marry and would only stay with me forever, I opened the door. That day, the man who had just been rejected from an engagement was happier than if he’d won the world. The moment I opened the door, Julian rushed in and hugged me tightly. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and he kept repeating, terrified, “As long as you’re okay, as long as you’re okay.” I looked at the two people in the photo, tears welling up in my eyes, uncontrollably falling onto the picture. At that moment, an urgent knocking suddenly sounded outside my door. Julian’s anxious voice filled the air. “Sera, what are you doing in there? Open the door!” “Sera, don’t scare me, okay? Sera!” Lost in my memories, I hadn’t heard the knocking. By the time I stood up to open the door, it was suddenly pushed open from the outside. Caught off guard, my forehead was struck, and I cried out in pain. Julian stood there, holding the broken lock, his face dark. But when he saw me clutching my forehead, my face streaked with tears. His heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, unable to breathe. Julian rushed forward to examine my wound. Before he could even speak, his mouth was already blowing on the spot. “You’ve been in there so long, I was really worried about you.” Hearing his familiar words, tears welled up in my eyes again. Just then, Cassie gasped downstairs. Julian immediately stopped, turning to rush downstairs. When I went out, I saw Julian holding Cassie’s hand, gently placing it on his face. “Let the maid do things like serving dishes. You’re pregnant, you need to be careful with everything.” He pulled out a chair for Cassie, then blew on the hot soup in his hand, cooling it, before personally feeding it to her. I stood upstairs for a long time, watching this tenderness that once belonged only to me, my heart a tangle of emotions. I’d only been abroad for three years, and Julian already had a child. His promise to never marry and stay with me forever, it was all a lie. Perhaps I was always meant to live in this world alone. Unconsciously, large tears rolled down onto my hands clutching the banister. I’d lost count of how many times I’d cried today, but it didn’t matter. From now on, I wouldn’t shed another tear for Julian. After composing myself, I calmly went downstairs for dinner. At that moment, all I wanted was to finish this meal, then go upstairs and adjust to the time difference. But Julian didn’t want to let me go, displaying his adoration for Cassie at the dining table. Cassie had a poor appetite and wanted Julian’s sweet and sour fish, so he rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen. If Cassie had a grain of rice on her lip, he pulled out sanitizing wipes designed for pregnant women and gently cleaned her mouth. When Cassie complained of a sore back midway through the meal, he pulled her chair closer and massaged her waist with one hand. I watched silently, simply eating my dinner. Cassie blushed, her gaze intentionally or unintentionally falling on me. “Julian, you spoil me too much. I’m only a little over a month pregnant, and you’re making such a fuss. You’ll make me even more dependent on you.” Julian stared at me for a few seconds. Seeing no sign of impatience in me, his eyes held a complex expression. He didn’t respond to Cassie, just fed her the last spoonful of soup in her bowl. “You must have been scared today. Get a good night’s sleep tonight, you still have to go wedding dress shopping tomorrow.” Julian put down the bowl, his face expressionless as he looked at me. “We won’t need you as a bridesmaid anymore. This is my first wedding, everything needs to be auspicious. Tomorrow, you’ll accompany Cassie to pick out her wedding dress.” I, who had kept my head down, finally looked up. Was Julian saying I was unlucky? Just because I was the one who got called off? I gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Okay.” Hearing my reply, Julian’s back, as he was leaving with Cassie, suddenly froze. “Sera, you’ve grown up in three years. I’m relieved you can think this way.” He said, then continued to walk away. The food in my mouth tasted like ash. I looked at the bowl of soup Julian had specially cooled for me. This small bowl, decorated with my favorite cartoon character from my childhood, had been handmade by Julian when I was ten. Julian was good at everything, except drawing. The crooked, wobbly lines were from the best of the dozens he’d made. Only then did I realize. Julian had been by my side for fifteen years. He had almost completely taken over my past. I looked up and drank the soup from the small bowl. It was cold, but not as cold as my heart felt now. After finishing it, I tossed the small bowl into the trash. That night, I lay in bed, my mind replaying all my memories with Julian. Usually, at this hour, I would be lying obediently in bed, waiting for Julian to come tell me a bedtime story. But now, I listened to the sounds of heavy breathing coming from Julian’s room, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The sounds of passion, one after another, were like sharp swords piercing my heart, making me wish I were dead. Because I was so exhausted, I finally fell into a deep sleep sometime after midnight. The next day, I was woken by the sound of things being smashed in Julian’s room. When I woke, dawn was just breaking.

Julian and Cassie were having a furious argument. Julian stormed out, and Cassie collapsed weakly on the balcony, crying. The next second, Cassie spotted me, peeking from outside the door. Cassie wiped away her tears and waved me over with a bright smile. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t refuse Cassie; after all, she was the beautiful senior I admired most. I eventually walked over and sat with Cassie on the balcony. Cassie was crying so beautifully, her face streaked with tears, it took my breath away. But even someone like her worried about love. Cassie raised her hand and touched my face, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips. “They all say you look a lot like me, seven or eight parts, actually. At first, I didn’t believe it. Now it seems, you really do look a bit like my non-biological sister.” “When you went to study abroad, I threw his phone away so he couldn’t contact you. I’d fallen in love with him long before. For someone like me to become his friend, it was fate’s blessing.” I wasn’t sure what I was saying. Cassie had already pulled my hand to her stomach. “Sera, do you know? I got this child by drugging Julian; he doesn’t love me at all. I know what I did was wrong to you, but if I didn’t do it, I would never have been able to marry Julian. You know what happened to me, you’ll understand me, right?” Cassie bared her arm, holding it up to me. I looked at the shocking scars, my expression complex. Cassie’s ex-boyfriend, resentful that she broke up with him, had called a few thugs to assault her after they split. I knew, because I was the one who called Julian afterward, and we went to the police station together to report it. But because of that, Cassie and Julian had crossed paths. Cassie leaned weakly against the cold wall, her eyes vacant. “Last night, after he walked me to my room, he went out drinking. He came back late at night, climbed into my bed, and, hazy with alcohol, started kissing me and taking off my clothes. I was even a little happy, thinking he had feelings for me, but the name he kept mumbling was always someone else’s, even on our first night.” At this, Cassie’s eyes turned hateful as she looked at me. Seeing me still silent, showing no reaction, Cassie’s breathing grew rapid, a hint of desperation in her eyes. She suddenly sat up, gripping my hand. “Sera, you won’t steal him from me, will you? I’m already carrying his child. The baby is innocent and can’t be without a father.” Feeling Cassie’s hopeful gaze, I said blandly, “I don’t like Julian anymore. You don’t need to worry.” I didn’t know what Julian’s feelings for me were. I only knew that in my past life, when I had cried and screamed, refusing Julian’s marriage to Cassie, Cassie had broken down and died. From that moment, Julian had lost his soul, becoming like a puppet on strings. Later, when I was hemorrhaging during childbirth, clinging to life, he had unhesitatingly abandoned both my life and our child’s. This life, no matter what, I didn’t want to repeat that tragedy. When the two of them came out, Julian was leaning against the car, smoking thoughtfully. Today he wore a black shirt and dress pants, his sleeves rolled up, revealing toned muscles and the sexy lines of his veins. My breath hitched involuntarily. As if remembering I disliked the smell of smoke, or perhaps seeing Cassie was pregnant, Julian put out his cigarette. He pulled a diamond necklace worth millions from his pocket and fastened it around Cassie’s neck. He glanced at me, then leaned down to whisper in Cassie’s ear. “Baby, I’m sorry. I promise I won’t raise my voice at you again. Can you forgive me?” Cassie nodded, seemingly surprised that Julian would apologize proactively. Julian smiled, satisfied, and kissed Cassie’s brow. “Pick any wedding dress today, darling. Husband’s paying.” He leaned in to kiss Cassie’s lips, but she pushed him away. “Mmm, didn’t you get enough last night? Sera’s still here.” Julian seemed to notice me then, his brows furrowed, annoyed at being interrupted. “It’s fine. I just have to learn to accept the fact that I’m an outsider.” Yes, I was an outsider. The person closest to me in this world was gone. Julian coldly ordered me into the car. I obediently sat in the backseat. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the two outside the car, kissing passionately, as if deliberately demonstrating their affection. This time, Julian kissed her much longer than usual. Ten minutes later, the car door opened. Julian, while helping Cassie buckle her seatbelt, stole another kiss. Cassie’s face instantly flushed, and she playfully accused Julian of being insatiable. Julian, however, was unfazed. He looked up at me in the rearview mirror. “Cassie will be marrying into the family next week. You need to get used to our dynamic. Remember, *I* am the lady of this house.” I seriously watched the scenery passing by outside the window, my face expressionless. “I understand, Uncle.” Julian heard the answer he wanted, but he wasn’t as happy as he’d expected. Instead, the words sounded incredibly grating, stirring an inexplicable irritation within him. Cassie softly chastised Julian. “Don’t be so serious with Sera. If she hadn’t talked to me so much just now, I wouldn’t have forgiven you so quickly.” Julian dotingly stroked Cassie’s head. “Whatever you say.” Throughout the ride, I maintained my role as an “outsider,” not disturbing their romantic discussion of wedding plans. The car soon arrived at the bridal shop, and I, relieved, was the first to get out. Cassie, however, tugged at me, insisting on getting ice cream from across the street.

Julian smiled indulgently at this, returning to the car to get his phone. I didn’t want to play the role of “close sisters” with Cassie, and I tried to wriggle my hand free from her grasp. But Cassie, using the momentum, stumbled backward. Just then, a car passed by, crashing directly into Cassie. By the time I reached out to pull her, it was too late. I watched in horror as Cassie was thrown to the ground, blood pooling around her. The next second, I heard Julian’s furious roar. “Sera, you want to die!” I didn’t know how I ended up at the hospital. When I regained consciousness, Julian was having his bodyguards escort me to donate blood for Cassie. I instinctively tried to pull away, but Julian fiercely yanked my hand, pinning it before the nurse. “Sera, you’ll pay for what you did! Cassie is lying in the operating room, fighting for her life. If anything happens to her, I swear I’ll never let you, her killer, off the hook!” I stood there, stunned. The adoration Julian once held for me was gone, replaced by a raging hatred in his eyes. I refused to yield, struggling constantly. “It wasn’t me, I didn’t push her. Julian, please believe me.” I shook my head repeatedly, my eyes filled with desperate pleas. But Julian acted as if he hadn’t heard, coldly commanding the nurse. “Take as much blood as Cassie needs! Do whatever it takes to save her life!” I knew there was nothing I could do, and I gave a self-deprecating laugh. In my past life, Julian hadn’t been willing to save me. This life, to save Cassie’s life, he was again disregarding my well-being. I was wrong. Neither in my past life nor this one had Julian ever loved me. Why should I humiliate myself further? As the blood was slowly drawn from my body, I felt incredibly thirsty and couldn’t stop shivering. When the nurse finished drawing the last bag of blood, I was already drifting into a daze, my body utterly drained, devoid of life. Just before I lost consciousness. I weakly uttered three words. “That’s number two.” This was the second request I’d promised Julian. Just one more, and I could escape this place forever, to somewhere Julian wasn’t. I woke up again in the middle of the night. I’d been on an IV drip all day. The moment I opened my eyes, the nurse who had been guarding me rushed out. “Mr. Harrison, Ms. Sterling is awake.” A few minutes later, Julian brought in over a dozen top specialists to examine me. They filled the entire room. I scanned the room but didn’t see Julian. After the examination, the nurse accompanied me to the restroom. Passing by a luxurious VIP room, I saw Julian kneeling by Cassie’s bedside. “Cassie, even though we lost the baby, you still have me! We’ll get married next week and have another child, I’ll be with you forever, okay? While you were unconscious, I was terrified. I knelt outside your room, begging heaven for you to wake up. I’d do anything if you just woke up.” Julian frantically slapped himself. Cassie, lying in bed, turned her head away, unmoved. “Cassie, you can hit me or yell at me, but please don’t ignore me.” Cassie still showed no reaction. Julian knelt for half an hour, and I stood outside watching for half an hour. During the time I was unconscious, I thought Julian would regret it, that he would worry about my safety and wait for me to wake up. After all, when I had a high fever at twelve, Julian, to bring my fever down, had driven alone in the middle of the night to the most renowned mountain temple, miles away. Julian, who never believed in deities, had walked step by step, bowing, climbing a full 999 stairs, and knelt there for a day and a night, begging heaven for his beloved girl to recover. He would run countless red lights to rush back to the hospital before dawn, just so I would see him first when I woke up. At that time, the nurses all said. I was Julian’s life. The person he would protect with his entire life. I too once thought I was special to him. But now, Julian, who was once so proud, was humbly kneeling by Cassie’s bedside, begging for forgiveness, promising to be with Cassie forever. It wasn’t until the nurse beside me reminded me not to stand too long that I snapped back to reality. The moment I turned, Julian saw me outside the door. He didn’t understand how things had come to this. He thought, after his wedding with Cassie next week, he would explain everything to me. I would understand his difficulties. I returned to my room, only to see someone carrying away my bedding. Seeing me, the person grumbled. “Ms. Sterling, Mr. Harrison wants me to tell you that this room has been vacated. If you need to recover, please go home.” Before leaving, I heard the person mumble under their breath. “Thought she was so favored, but she’s just a jinx clinging to the Harrison family. And now she’s killed the Harrison family’s flesh and blood in Ms. Monroe’s womb. Just had a few bags of blood drawn and she wants to pretend to be pitiful and stay in the hospital.” I just listened to what they said in silence. Without Julian’s tacit approval, no one would dare speak to me like that. Living under someone else’s roof, I naturally understood that principle. But it was the middle of the night, and there were no cars on the road, so I could only walk home. By the time I arrived, dawn was just breaking.

My feet were covered in blisters, and my head felt dizzy. I looked at myself in the mirror, lips cracked, face pale, and suddenly smiled. I remembered the day I was brought to the Harrison family. Everyone had called me a jinx then, and no one wanted to adopt me. It was Julian, just starting his career, who stepped forward and said he would protect me for life. He didn’t just drive me everywhere; he had dozens of chefs just for my meals. I could barely remember the last time I had walked such a long distance. Just as I was about to go back to my room, Julian suddenly returned. The moment he saw me, Julian blurted out. “Hungry? I’ll make breakfast.” Only then did he realize I was no longer the clingy girl from three years ago. His smile froze, and he sank tiredly onto the sofa. I chose to ignore him, turning and heading upstairs. Whether from extreme exhaustion or fainting again, I slept for a day and a night. When I woke, no one was beside me. But there were signs someone had been sitting on the bed. I paid it no mind, opened my phone, and booked a flight ticket. Only one request left, then I could leave this place forever. But the moment I opened my phone, I received countless abusive DMs on social media. “Vampire, jinx, get out of the Harrison family!” “Being adopted by the Harrison family wasn’t enough, you even dared to dream of marrying into it! Ms. Monroe is so pitiful, and you even killed her baby!” “Why weren’t you the one who died in the car accident! A malicious person like you doesn’t deserve to live!” Message after message flooded in, overwhelming me. For the entire next day, I received packages from different places and different people every hour. There were black and white photos of me and my parents; blood-stained knives; all sorts of strange spiders and centipedes; and creepy prank toys. Eventually, the packages piled up into a mountain, and I didn’t even dare to approach the front door. I didn’t know what I had done wrong. On the day of the car accident, I clearly hadn’t meant to harm Cassie, only to save her. Even if she had taken the thing I cherished most. If only there was a video to prove my innocence. Right! The bridal shop had surveillance cameras. With that thought, I immediately got up and rushed to the bridal shop. But when I arrived, the owner just said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Ms. Sterling, the surveillance camera was indeed broken that day.” I didn’t give up, turning to run to other stores. It didn’t matter, even a tiny bit of footage would help. But after asking everyone on the street, every owner gave me the same excuse. The entire street, over a dozen stores, and not a single one had surveillance footage! At that moment, someone on the street recognized me. “Isn’t that the adopted daughter who killed the Harrison family’s flesh and blood? How dare you show your face!” The person said, then threw a freshly bought egg at me. It hit me squarely on the head. The egg cracked, shell mixed with yolk, staining my carefully styled hair, sticky and running down my neck into my dress. The crowd gathered quickly, like sharks smelling blood. “She looks pretty and sweet, but her heart is so malicious!” “The Harrison family showed her kindness, but she didn’t even feel grateful, instead harming a Harrison family member! She’s truly the modern version of ‘The Farmer and the Snake’!” “Let’s all unite and drive her out of Northwood!” With that, the crowd surged towards me. I turned and ran, all the way home. Once home, I piled all the packages outside and set them on fire. As the flames ignited, growing higher, I could no longer hold back my tears and sobbed loudly. I had never meant to hurt anyone, so why did everyone treat me like an enemy? Suddenly, I received a message from Cassie. “Sera, you promised to give Julian to me. Why are you still checking the surveillance footage? Do you want him to hate me! If you have any conscience, I hope you’ll stop. Only then will Julian believe, and completely stop loving you.” So, this was all her doing. But now, it wasn’t a question of whether I wanted to give up, but that I couldn’t find any evidence to prove my innocence. The flames continued to rise, burning higher and higher. The next second, someone embraced me. Julian held me tenderly, stroking my head gently, reaching up to wipe away the tears from my eyes. “Sera, don’t cry.” When I cried, Julian felt his heart breaking. Smelling his familiar scent, I instinctively wanted to burrow into his arms, to find the long-lost sense of security. But when I caught the faint smell of hospital disinfectant clinging to Julian, I unhesitatingly pulled away from his embrace. No amount of cologne could cover that pungent antiseptic smell. From yesterday until now, I had been under continuous cyberbullying. Julian, who dealt with the internet daily, couldn’t possibly be unaware. Yet, he had never once shown concern for me, always staying at the hospital with his fiancée, Cassie. Julian looked utterly surprised when I pushed him away. Since returning home, I had pushed him away more than once. But this time, he felt more frantic than ever before. As if something was slipping away from him, something he could no longer grasp. He hugged me tighter, filled with a deep fear. This time, no matter how much I struggled, Julian wouldn’t let go. “Sera, don’t leave me, I’m begging you. Just give me a little more time, wait for me, okay?” Julian’s panic was clear in his eyes. I couldn’t understand how he, who was getting married next week, could shamelessly say such a thing. But strangely, a flicker of hope ignited within me. If Julian didn’t make a third request, could I perhaps stay by his side forever? I knew it was impossible, and sure enough. The next second, Julian whispered his final request in my ear. “Sera, will you apologize to Cassie, please?” At his words, it felt like a bolt from the blue, leaving me stunned.

He wanted me, the victim, to apologize to the perpetrator? Was this his third request? I looked up, incredulous, seeking confirmation. “Are you sure you want me to apologize to Cassie? Julian, I didn’t push her.” But Julian just nodded, again and again, looking somewhat helpless. “Sera. Cassie lost her child, a pain I can’t bear for her. One last time, I promise, one last time.” Seeing Julian’s humbled expression, I closed my eyes and nodded. He was no longer the man I once loved. “Okay. That’s three.” One last time. Julian didn’t understand what I meant by “second time” or “third time.” He only knew that once I apologized, he could tell me everything and we could go back to how we were. Little did he know, things wouldn’t go as planned. I had thought I would simply be taken to the hospital to say a quick apology to Cassie. But to my surprise, Julian had called a press conference, intending to publicly support Cassie in front of the whole world. When the bodyguards brought me to the stage like a criminal, Julian was elegantly ascending with Cassie in his arms. After two days, Cassie looked much better. She was vibrant, her eyes full of trust and anticipation for love. In a place unseen by others, Cassie mouthed a sentence to me. “I’m sorry, I won again this time. Julian truly cares for me.” After Julian gave a distorted account of events, I was brought before the flashing cameras. In the hall filled with a hundred people, I, the innocent, bowed in apology to the culprit. Just when I thought it was all over, Julian had someone bring a cup of “forgiveness tea.” If Cassie accepted it and took a sip, it meant she was willing to forgive me. I resignedly took the steaming tea, holding it out to Cassie. But as I waited, minute after minute, Cassie remained nestled in Julian’s arms. “Julian, I’m still so dizzy.” Finally, just as my hands were thoroughly scalded red, Cassie took the cup. “Julian, the tea’s too hot, I won’t drink it. I don’t feel well, I want to go home.” Julian nodded, ending the press conference. Afterward, I declined Julian’s offer to drive me home. I walked back to the Harrison estate alone. Julian stood by the open car door, watching my retreating back. He couldn’t wait another second. No one knew how much he wanted to run over, embrace this stubborn, heartbreaking girl tightly, and soothe all her past grievances. He remembered the first time he saw me. A little girl barely reaching his waist, her face full of fear, standing behind him, tugging at his shirt, whispering, “Thank you for adopting me, I’ll be very obedient.” It wasn’t until Cassie called out to him that he snapped back to reality. Julian thought, soon, very soon. After he took Cassie to the hospital for a check-up, he would immediately turn the car around and go home. But he didn’t know that the moment he arrived at the hospital, I had already packed my bags and left for the airport. I sat in the taxi, watching the familiar car beside me run several red lights. In my heart, I quietly said, “Julian, goodbye. And good riddance.” The two cars sped past each other. Julian anxiously pressed the accelerator, only one thought in his mind. To explain everything to Sera, to give her a long-overdue hug.

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Night had fallen, and I stood forlornly on the balcony, gazing down at the street below. My phone was pressed to my ear, and through the receiver, I heard my Aunt Eleanor’s voice, full of concern. “Liam, are you truly sure about this?” I nodded slightly, my voice firm as I replied, “Yes!” A soft sigh came from the other end of the line. Aunt Eleanor then continued, “You’re the sole heir of the Northwood Group, yet you’ve stayed away for seven years, all for one woman. Now that you’ve finally come to your senses, it’s not too late. So, when do you plan on coming home?” After a few seconds of silence, I steeled myself and said, “In three days.” Aunt Eleanor half-joked, “Fine. I’ll be attending a gala in a neighboring city in three days; I can pick you up on my way back. But are you absolutely sure you’ve completely given up on Seraphina? Don’t tell me you’ll be back to throwing yourself at her feet again the moment you step foot back home…” “Aunt, don’t worry. I’ve completely given up on Seraphina. In three days, we’ll officially go our separate ways!”

Hanging up the phone, my gaze drifted towards the mansion’s entrance. At the gate, Seraphina was intimately leaning against her one true love, Julian. They were laughing and chatting, like a couple deeply in love. This was the seventh year of my secret marriage to Seraphina, and the sixth year she forbade our daughter from calling her ‘Mom.’ Seven years of pouring my heart into her, trying to melt her cold heart, and still, she remained frozen solid. My fists clenched, a storm of conflicting emotions raged within me. Suddenly, a tiny hand gently tugged at mine. I turned sharply to see our daughter, Lily, in a thin nightgown, one hand clutching a worn-out Barbie doll, the other holding onto me. She looked up, her innocent, wide eyes fixed on mine. Shocked and heartbroken, I quickly knelt down and said, “Lily, what are you doing out here? It’s cold; go back to your room.” As I spoke, I scooped Lily into my arms, ready to carry her inside. But Lily looked up at me and asked anxiously in a whisper, “Daddy, are we really leaving Mommy?” My steps faltered. I instinctively glanced back at the intimate figures downstairs. Then I turned back to Lily, smiling gently, “Lily, the man Seraphina loves is back. We… have no reason to stay.” “Daddy will take you back to our own home, okay?” Lily looked at the Barbie doll in her arms, her eyes filled with reluctance. She looked at me again, tears glistening in her eyes, “Daddy, can we please not go? I’ve… never been allowed to openly call her ‘Mom’…” My heart shattered into a million pieces. After a long moment, I whispered, “Lily, Seraphina… she doesn’t want us around.” Lily said pitifully, “Daddy, I want to give Mommy three more chances. If… if she still doesn’t change, then we’ll leave, okay?” I paused, then nodded slightly, softly saying, “Alright! We’ll do what Lily wants. We’ll give Seraphina three chances!” Lily’s face immediately lit up with a joyful smile. I carried Lily back into the mansion, turning to head upstairs. Just then, Seraphina walked in, a smile on her face. Lily excitedly wiggled free from my embrace and ran gleefully towards Seraphina, shouting, “Mommy, you’re back!” Seraphina’s face instantly turned sour. She immediately scowled and snapped at Lily, “Who told you to call me ‘Mom’?” Lily’s running abruptly froze, and her bright smile vanished instantly. She stood still like a child who had done something wrong, utterly bewildered. Seraphina looked up at me, her voice filled with fury, “Liam, how many times have I told you?!” “Don’t let her call me ‘Mom’! Are you both deaf to what I say?” Lily recoiled a step in fear, lowering her head, cautiously apologizing, “I’m sorry, Mom… Seraphina!” I immediately stepped forward, shielding Lily behind me, and glared coldly at Seraphina. “Seraphina, if you don’t like me, fine. But Lily is just a child; why are you yelling at her?” Seraphina’s eyes widened in fury. “Liam, what right do you have to bring up children with me?” Her face twisted into a cruel sneer, “Don’t you remember how that child came to be?!” Seraphina advanced, poking her index finger viciously at my chest. “Seven years ago, you took advantage of my vulnerability and raped me! You’re nothing but a rapist who hurt me!” Her gaze then turned piercingly to Lily, and she said with disgust, “And she’s just the rapist’s daughter. Why should I be nice to her?” I quickly covered Lily’s ears, desperate to spare her from her mother’s cruel words. But even for me, those words sent an arctic chill through my soul. I gritted my teeth, glaring at Seraphina, “Seraphina, I’m telling you one last time, seven years ago, *you*…” “Enough! Liam, how long are you going to keep making excuses? Do you actually think I can’t see through your pathetic little scheme?” “Scheme? Seraphina, if you think this was a scheme, why did you still marry me and have Lily?” Seraphina’s face was utterly devoid of warmth, and she snarled, “Because… I wanted to constantly remind you of the monstrous things you did to me! I want you to pay for what you did!” My eyes welled up, my voice trembling slightly, “So, from the very beginning, you never loved me, did you?” Seraphina glanced at my pained expression, and her own eyes reddened. She hissed, “You? You dare to talk about love with me? From the moment you took advantage of my drunken state and raped me seven years ago, you turned into something utterly repulsive in my eyes!” As she spoke, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. My heart ached. I instinctively reached out to wipe her tears. Seraphina reacted first, quickly wiping away her tears, taking a deep breath, and looking at me with disdain. “Seven years ago, you did those disgusting things just to climb the social ladder and live a good life. I didn’t hold it against you. I gave you luxury cars, a mansion, status, and a position. Liam, what more could you possibly want?” “Seraphina, have you really thought that way all these years?” My eyes were red, filled with disbelief. I couldn’t fathom that the woman I deeply loved saw me in such a light. Seraphina’s face twisted with contempt. “Otherwise, what else am I supposed to think? I… I’m warning you, don’t push your luck. Otherwise, everything I gave you, I can take away just as easily!” With that, she swept past Lily and me, striding upstairs. I watched Seraphina’s retreating back, silently trying to explain in my heart: But… Seraphina, I married you, and we had a child, because – I genuinely loved you… I thought that after marriage, I could slowly melt your cold heart, but I forgot that a heart as cold and unyielding as stone is impossible to warm… It felt as if an invisible hand had pulled me into the past, and memories flooded back like a tide. Seven years ago, in a hotel hallway, a clearly intoxicated Seraphina crashed into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I was instantly flustered and panicked, yet my heart pounded uncontrollably. In that moment, my world narrowed to this fragile woman in my arms, and then, by a strange twist of fate, we spent one passionate night together. The next day, Seraphina vanished. I thought I’d never see her again, but two weeks later, a distraught Seraphina sought me out, telling me she was pregnant. I was stunned, but I took responsibility and made my commitment. I concealed my true identity and married Seraphina, secretly using my family’s resources to help her. But her attitude remained utterly indifferent. After investigating, I understood: Julian had gone abroad that night, which was why Seraphina had gotten so drunk and ended up with me. Although it was an accident, and Seraphina didn’t love me, I believed I could melt her heart. But for seven whole years, I couldn’t melt her heart, and our daughter suffered, deprived of a mother’s love. Now that Julian was back, Lily and I were likely completely irrelevant. It was time to go home.

I took a deep breath, blinking hard to pull myself out of the memory. I watched Seraphina’s back as she went upstairs, silently making a decision: Seven years of devotion, and not a single response from you. Seraphina, I’m tired… Lily looked up, confused, and asked, “Daddy, why did Seraphina say you’re a rapist?” My eyes welled up. I forced back tears, knelt down, and managed a strained smile. “Because Seraphina… she misunderstood Daddy!” Lily reached out her small hand and gently wiped away a tear from the corner of my eye. “Daddy, don’t cry! Seraphina might misunderstand Daddy, but Lily won’t.” I was deeply moved and hugged Lily. “Lily, you’re so sweet.” Lily thought for a moment, then sadly said, “Daddy, Seraphina… she still has two chances.” I froze, then released Lily and looked into her eyes, my own eyes welling up again. Then I nodded heavily. “Alright!” In Lily’s room, on her nightstand, sat a carefully pieced-together photo frame with a picture of three people. In it, I held Lily, a joyful smile on my face. Seraphina’s photo, however, was clearly cut out and pasted onto the right side, sharing the same frame. What appeared to be a complete family portrait was, in fact, a fabrication. Lily was already tucked into bed. I leaned over, carefully pulling up the covers. She gripped the blanket with both hands, hiding her mouth and nose beneath it, only her bright eyes visible, wide awake. I playfully pinched Lily’s nose and softly said, “Go to sleep, sweetie. Winter break is over; school starts tomorrow!” Lily’s innocent face peeked out from under the covers, her eyes sparkling with anticipation: “Daddy, can Seraphina come with me to the school orientation tomorrow? All the other kids have their moms, and Lily wants a mommy too…” I froze, a little lost in thought. “Lily, Seraphina might… not have time tomorrow…” My voice held a hint of hesitation, afraid to shatter my child’s fantasy. “Daddy, can it be her second chance, please?” Her eyes pleaded, and her small body sat up in bed, hands clasped together. I pondered for a moment, then finally nodded. “Alright, Daddy will talk to Seraphina.” After tucking Lily in, I quietly got up and left the room. … In Seraphina’s master bedroom, she had just emerged from the bathroom, steam clinging to her skin. Just then, her phone chimed with a crisp SnapChat notification. She walked to the bed, picked up her phone, unlocked the screen, and played the voice message. Julian’s magnetic voice emanated from the phone: “Seraphina, I just left you, and I already miss you. I wish I could see you all the time.” Hearing this, Seraphina’s lips curved into an unconscious, sweet smile. She quickly tapped the voice input button, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she replied, “Alright, alright, I promise! The first face you see when you wake up tomorrow morning will be mine!” Immediately after, her phone chimed again with another voice message from Julian: “Really? Oh, and by the way, Seraphina, I heard that Mayor Thompson, Metropolis City’s most influential figure, is hosting a gala at the Grand Regency Hotel in three days, and even the Northwood Group has been alerted. I just got back from overseas and need to expand my network. Could you introduce me?” Seraphina was about to reply. Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the room’s tranquility. Her brows furrowed in annoyance as she looked up at the door. I gently pushed the door open and walked in. Seraphina merely glanced at me dismissively, then lowered her head, her fingers busily tapping on her phone screen. She asked with annoyance, “What do you want?” I paused slightly, choosing my words carefully. “School starts tomorrow, and Lily hopes you can attend her orientation ceremony…” At that moment, Seraphina’s entire focus was on her phone screen; she paid no attention to what I was saying. She was typing a reply, and a “Sure” appeared on the screen. “Sure!” Seraphina instinctively blurted out. Her affirmation and the message sending happened simultaneously. I was utterly taken aback, a flicker of surprise and joy flashing in my eyes. I asked incredulously, “You agreed?” Seraphina looked up, frowning in confusion, her voice cold. “I’m going to sleep. Don’t disturb me unless it’s important!” I was about to confirm again, but Seraphina pushed me out of the master bedroom. I stood at the master bedroom door, watching Seraphina firmly shut it. I stood there, stunned, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. Just then, Lily peeked out from her room. Her eyes held a hint of apprehension and disappointment, and she whispered, “Daddy, did Mommy… not agree?” I turned, a wide smile instantly plastered on my face. “Lily, I told you to go to sleep! Why are you out of bed again?” Lily looked at me anxiously. “Daddy, did Seraphina agree?” I reached out and patted Lily’s head. “Of course she did! Seraphina agreed to attend your school orientation tomorrow.” Lily’s eyes immediately lit up. She jumped excitedly, asking in disbelief, “Really, Daddy?” Infected by Lily’s enthusiasm, I nodded heavily. “That’s great! Daddy, when Mommy comes to the orientation tomorrow, I’m going to tell her that the teacher likes me the most!” Lily exclaimed, dancing with joy, her small face radiating happiness. “Alright, alright! Our Lily is the best!” I said, picking Lily up and carrying her back to her room. At the bedside, I carefully tucked Lily into bed, diligently pulling up the covers. Lily looked on with anticipation, her eyes sparkling. “Daddy, will we go to school with Mommy as soon as I wake up?” I playfully ruffled Lily’s hair. “Yes, now go to sleep!” Lily obediently closed her eyes, a sweet smile still on her lips. I got up and quietly turned off the light and closed the door. I turned around, my gaze involuntarily drawn to Seraphina’s master bedroom, thinking to myself: Seraphina, I hope tomorrow, you won’t disappoint Lily… The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, bathing the mansion’s living room. I stood in the center of the hall, skillfully braiding Lily’s hair. She was already dressed and wore her small backpack. Lily looked upstairs, asking with anticipation, “Daddy, why isn’t Mommy down yet?” Her eyes held a mix of eagerness and longing. My hands continued their work. “After Daddy finishes your braid, we’ll go up and find Seraphina together, okay?” “Okay!” Lily obediently agreed. Soon, I finished braiding Lily’s hair. I looked at the neat, beautiful braid and smiled with satisfaction. “The braid’s done. Let’s go call Seraphina!” Lily nodded happily, her eyes sparkling with joy. I took Lily’s hand, and together, we walked upstairs. We stood at the master bedroom door and knocked, once, twice. But the room remained silent; no one answered. A look of increasing anxiety appeared on my face. Lily looked up, her eyes filled with worry: “Daddy, do you think Seraphina is sick? Maybe she didn’t hear us knocking?” I knocked more urgently, asking anxiously, “Seraphina? Seraphina? Are you in there? Say something!” My voice held a hint of unease as I pounded on the door, but still, there was no movement from inside. My brows furrowed. I said in a deep voice, “If you don’t say anything, I’m coming in…” As I spoke, I looked down at the doorknob. My mind drifted, as if transported back to the day we got our marriage certificate. Inside Seraphina’s mansion, Seraphina and I walked in, one after the other. Seraphina casually tossed the marriage certificate onto the table, then haughtily turned back to me, who was beaming with joy. “Liam, even though we’ve already gotten our certificate, I have three rules for you.” I looked at Seraphina with a wide smile and quickly replied, “Okay, tell me!” Seraphina spoke with a cold expression. “First, we must keep our marriage a secret from everyone.” “Second, you are not to enter my room or touch my things without my permission.” “Third, you are not allowed to have any intimate contact with me!” My smile froze, but I eventually nodded and softly said, “Okay!” Steeling myself, I returned to the present. I gritted my teeth, made up my mind, and pressed down on the doorknob. The unlocked door swung gently open. Lily, her heart filled with joy, ran inside, shouting, “Mommy…” However, the room was neatly tidied but empty. Lily looked back at me, puzzled. “Daddy, where’s Mommy?” I looked at the empty room, my expression blank for a moment, then I smiled and reassured Lily, “Daddy will call Seraphina right now!” I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed her number. From the other end came a cold automated message: “Hello, the number you have dialed is not answering.” Undeterred, I kept dialing. Lily’s eyes gradually dimmed, and she whispered, “Daddy, Mommy isn’t coming to my orientation, is she?” Her eyes were slightly red, filled with confusion and hurt, unable to understand why her mother had disappointed her yet again. I put away my phone, still smiling, and looked at Lily. “Seraphina probably… went to work. It’s okay, Lily. Daddy will always be with you, no matter what.” With that, I took Lily’s hand, and we left for school.

The school entrance was bustling with people, a vibrant scene. I held Lily’s hand as we slowly walked into the school. Lily kept looking back, constantly turning her head and gazing behind her, muttering, “Daddy, do you think Mommy will suddenly appear behind us and surprise us?” Her voice held a hint of anticipation, mixed with a touch of self-reassurance. “Lily, Seraphina…” I looked down, my heart aching, and gently patted Lily’s head, about to offer comfort. Suddenly, Lily’s eyes lit up. She pointed excitedly at the road, jumping with joy and shouting, “Daddy, look! It’s Mommy’s car! Mommy really came!” Her voice was full of joyous surprise. Her previously dim eyes instantly sparkled with renewed light, and all gloom vanished. She couldn’t wait to run to her mother, eager to tell her so many things. I was surprised and turned to look at the road. A familiar car slowly pulled up to the curb. Then, Seraphina elegantly stepped out of the driver’s seat. “Mom…” Lily called out one word in excitement, but her voice abruptly cut off, and the smile on her face instantly froze. Following Lily’s gaze, I saw Seraphina open the back door and gently lift Leo, Julian’s son, out of the car. Leo held a lollipop, happily licking it. Julian walked beside them, holding Seraphina’s bag. The three of them laughed and chatted, looking like a happy family. Seraphina turned her head to talk to Julian, her face radiating happiness. Lily watched Seraphina holding Leo, her eyes filled with longing, and whispered, “Mommy…” Her eyes revealed boundless envy and disappointment. Seeing this, I immediately stepped forward and took Lily’s hand. I glared at Seraphina, calling out each word distinctly, “Se-ra-phi-na!” Seraphina heard my voice and instinctively looked forward. When she saw Lily and me, She froze, her smile instantly vanished, and she asked in surprise, “Liam? What are you two doing here?” “What am I doing here? That’s a great question!” My eyes burned with fury, and I spoke, barely suppressing my anger, “Because this is Lily’s school, and I’m here for her orientation ceremony!” Seraphina froze at my words. A look of embarrassment crossed her face, and she muttered, “Lily’s… orientation ceremony?” Julian looked at me, asking Seraphina with a bewildered expression, “Who is he?” Leo, lollipop still in his mouth, mumbled along, “Mommy Seraphina, who is he?” Seraphina’s heart fluttered. She instinctively put Leo down and said somewhat unnaturally, “He’s… someone insignificant!” Julian smiled, saying meaningfully, “Oh! An insignificant person, then.” He glanced at me, then teased, “Looking at your furious expression, one might think you’re her husband!” Seraphina immediately denied it, loudly saying, “Someone like him? How could he possibly be my husband?” She gritted her teeth, glaring at me. “Someone like him, every time I see him, it makes me sick to my stomach, utterly disgusted!” I laughed, exasperated. “I make you sick to your stomach? I disgust you? Fine, fine! Since Mr. Seraphina finds me so repulsive, then from now on, I’ll make sure to appear less often before Mr. Seraphina!” Seraphina’s breath hitched. She guiltily avoided my gaze, then took Leo’s hand and turned to Julian, softly saying, “Julian, let’s go! Leo can’t be late on his first day at his new school!” Julian replied, “Alright!” Seraphina, holding Leo’s hand, walked side-by-side with Julian, and the three of them passed directly by Lily and me. Just then, Leo suddenly turned back and stuck out his tongue at me, making a face. He even shouted, “Ugh! You’re so disgusting! You two are just disgusting for disgusting my dad, it’s disgusting to the core!” Seraphina paused at his words, about to say something. But Leo suddenly hurled his lollipop at Lily and me. I quickly shielded Lily. The lollipop hit me and bounced off. Lily angrily shouted at Leo, “You can’t insult my daddy! You can’t hit my daddy!” Leo made a smug face at Lily and arrogantly said, “Mommy Seraphina, I’ll protect you from now on!” He looked at me with disdain. “If you make me unhappy, I’ll hit you every time I see you!” Julian immediately pretended to scold Leo: “Leo, what are you doing? How can you be so rude? Apologize to the man right now!” Seraphina quickly interrupted, “Apologize for what?!” She bent down, smiling at Leo. “Leo did great! That’s what a man should do to protect a woman!” Then she gave me a contemptuous look. “Unlike some scum, who only takes advantage of others!” With that, Seraphina snorted at me, then took Leo’s hand and, with Julian, strode into the school. The anger in my heart was like a raging fire, with nowhere to vent. Lily, watching their retreating backs, emerged from behind me, tightly holding my hand. Her voice was filled with disappointment. “Daddy, I thought Mommy didn’t like children, that’s why she wouldn’t hug me. But it seems… she just doesn’t like me…” Her voice was choked with tears, and her eyes were constantly welling up. I wanted to comfort Lily, but my throat felt as if it were constricted. Lily suddenly looked up. “Daddy, is that the person Mommy loves?” Her eyes held a hint of bewilderment and sadness. I froze for a moment, then slowly nodded. Lily smiled understandingly. “Daddy, Mommy only has one chance left. If she…” She paused, her eyes growing resolute. “Then we’ll leave her forever!” Yet, even after Seraphina’s egregious behavior, A trace of love for her mother still lingered in her heart, hoping for a miracle in that last chance. I caressed my daughter’s head, saying with a pang of heartache, “Alright!” But someone who constantly disappoints doesn’t suddenly change. My heart had already turned cold, and I continuously planned the preparations for our departure. Lily smiled again, took my hand, and said, “Then, Daddy, let’s hurry! We’ll be late!” She tried to appear strong, not wanting to worry her father. But the unconcealable disappointment still betrayed her inner sadness. I held Lily’s hand, and we slowly walked into the school, facing the sunlight. Our figures stretched long, long in the sunlight. Sunlight poured over the school entrance, illuminating the ground brightly. I walked slowly out of the school, holding a transfer certificate. Just out of the school gate, I immediately spotted Julian waiting there. Julian stood tall, a hint of smugness on his face. I merely gave him a fleeting glance, then carefully put away the transfer certificate, ready to leave. But Julian seemed intent on causing trouble. Seeing me about to go, he quickly stepped forward. “Liam, is it?” His tone held a touch of arrogance. I glanced back at him, my heart undisturbed, having no intention of engaging with this boring man. I lifted my foot to continue walking. Julian said smugly, “I know you’re Seraphina’s rightful husband!” But his tone clearly held a hint of mockery. I heard his words and, surprised, looked back again. But soon, my expression returned to indifference, and I calmly said, “Not for long.” My voice was quiet, yet it carried a sense of finality. Julian sneered, his face full of derision: “Liam, who are you trying to fool with that ‘I don’t care’ act? Everyone knows you’ve been fawning over Seraphina for years!” He scoffed triumphantly, “But no matter how much you devoted yourself to Seraphina, in her heart, you’ll always just be a rapist! Seeing you only makes her sick!”

I gave Julian a cold look, a wave of disgust rising in my heart. But I forced myself to endure it, not wanting to get further entangled with such a person, and once again lifted my foot to leave. “What? Can’t handle the truth?” Julian quickly stepped forward, directly blocking my path. “Liam, I advise you not to waste your time on Seraphina. She’s always loved and cared only for me. Our bond is unbreakable; no one can come between us.” “If I hadn’t left back then, a despicable lowlife like you wouldn’t have even had a chance to get near her!” Julian held his head high, his nose in the air, looking utterly superior. Hearing this, I merely asked coldly, “Really? If your bond was so unbreakable, why did you abandon her seven years ago and run off with that socialite in Northwood?” These words were like a sharp blade, stabbing directly at Julian’s sore spot, tearing away his facade. Julian’s face instantly turned extremely ugly. He glared at me furiously and shouted, “Shut up!” The corners of my mouth curled into a faint smile. “What? Did I hit a nerve, Mr. Julian?” Julian trembled with rage. He glowered at me, saying, “Liam, don’t think that just because you married Seraphina, you can actually have her. I’m telling you, my place in her heart is unmatched!” At this, his face again broke into that sinister smirk, “Do you believe me if I say, all I have to do is wave at her, and she’ll come running to me like a dog, wagging her tail?” Hearing Julian compare Seraphina to a dog, my previously controlled emotions instantly erupted. My face immediately darkened. I gritted my teeth and said coldly, “Normally, I don’t hit people!” The words were barely out of my mouth when I fiercely swung my fist, landing it squarely on Julian’s face. “But I hit animals! Julian, I’m warning you, clean up your mouth!” Julian staggered from the punch, nearly falling to the ground. He clutched his face, looking at me with disbelief, his eyes filled with shock and fury. Just then, a cry came, “Liam!” Julian and I both turned. Seraphina came rushing out of the school. Her steps were hurried, her expression anxious. She came straight over, forcefully pushed me, then quickly shielded Julian behind her. Seraphina glared at me furiously, shouting, “Liam, am I giving you too much leeway?!” Her eyes blazed with anger, as if she wanted to devour me. I clutched my face, instantly stunned. I looked at Seraphina, unable to believe my wife would so unjustly accuse me for the sake of another man. Seraphina nervously turned back, her eyes fixed on Julian. Julian’s face was now bruised and purple from my punch, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. He looked rather disheveled. Seraphina’s heart ached. She reached out to touch the wound on Julian’s face, asking with deep concern, “Julian, are you okay? Does it hurt?” Julian gently shook his head, feigning bravery, “I’m fine, Seraphina, it doesn’t hurt.” As he spoke, he deliberately cast a fearful glance at me, adding fuel to the fire, “I don’t know what happened, he just suddenly attacked me…” Seraphina listened, then immediately turned back to me, demanding furiously, “Liam, did you take the wrong medicine today?” I was so angry I put my hands on my hips, pressing my tongue against the inside of my cheek where I’d been hit. Trying to suppress my rage, I began, “Seraphina, do you know what he just said about you…” But Seraphina wouldn’t let me finish. She angrily cut me off: “Who he is, what he says, what does it have to do with you? Liam, do you realize that what you’re doing only makes me more disgusted, more repulsed?!” “I disgust you?” Hearing this, a self-deprecating, defeated smile spread across my face. “Since I disgust you so much, I won’t offend your eyes any longer!” I looked up at the two of them. “Ms. Seraphina, I wish you both… a long and happy life together!” With that, I turned to leave. Seeing this, Seraphina immediately stepped forward and grabbed my sleeve. Her expression was imperious as she loudly demanded, “Liam, you hit someone and think you can just leave? Apologize to Julian!” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but let out a cynical laugh. “You want me to apologize to an idiot?” My eyes were full of disdain. I forcefully shook off Seraphina’s hand, stating resolutely, “Impossible!” Seraphina staggered from my force, almost falling. She looked at her empty hand for a moment, seemingly unable to believe I would do that to her. “Liam, you…” She was about to speak, but Julian interrupted. “Seraphina, it’s fine, I’m okay. Perhaps this gentleman… misunderstood something!” He reached up to touch his injured face, forcing a false smile, “Maybe he’s just jealous because he likes you so much and saw us together. After all, my Seraphina is so amazing!” As he spoke, he meaningfully glanced at me, his eyes filled with triumph and mockery. Then he deliberately, in front of me, intimately tucked a strand of hair behind Seraphina’s ear. Julian’s lips curled into a mocking smile as he continued, “I wonder what kind of man my Seraphina will marry in the future, but I bet it won’t be a kept man like this gentleman, who clearly only knows how to live off women.” His voice was soft, yet it cut through me like a sharp knife, piercing my heart. Seraphina’s body stiffened slightly at his words. She instinctively glanced at me. A flicker of complex emotion crossed her eyes. Quickly, she composed herself and awkwardly changed the subject. “Julian, let’s… let’s go first…” But Julian wasn’t ready to let me off easily. He took Seraphina’s hand, a seemingly innocent smile on his face, though cunningly hidden. “Seraphina! It seems this gentleman really likes you. Don’t you want to make things clear… so those pesky flies stop buzzing around the flower?” Seraphina was instantly enraged by his words. She glared at me furiously and shouted, “What right does he have to like me? What right does he have to hover around me?” She warned me, “Liam, if you don’t know your place, I will make sure you lose everything!” I scoffed. “Go ahead. I don’t care about anything you have anyway!” My eyes showed utter resolve. I had completely given up on Seraphina.

Seraphina grew even angrier at my words, her chest heaving violently as she yelled, “Fine, Liam, you said it! You just wait and see!” With that, Seraphina turned to Julian. “Come on, Julian, I’ll take you to the doctor.” Julian smiled and replied, “Alright!” Seraphina pulled Julian along, and he suddenly glanced back at me. When our eyes met, Julian mouthed the word, “Loser!” He then smiled triumphantly, turned his head, and provocatively placed his hand on Seraphina’s waist. I stood rooted to the spot, watching their intimate backs, my hands clenched into tight fists. Seraphina, I hope you don’t regret this. Under the setting sun, the sky was painted crimson. At the school gates, the dismissal bell rang, and students poured out like a tide, laughter echoing in the air. Lily, with her small backpack, spotted me standing not far away. Her eyes instantly lit up. She happily ran towards me, shouting, “Daddy!” I patted Lily’s head and softly asked, “How was your first day of school? Did you have fun with your classmates?” Lily nodded vigorously, excitedly raising her hand to show me a gold star she held, saying, “Of course I did! The teacher even gave me a gold star!” Her small face radiated pride. The gold star shimmered brightly in the golden light of the setting sun. I immediately praised her, “Our Lily is so smart!” Just as Lily was happily smiling, her peripheral vision caught Seraphina walking out of the school, holding Leo. Lily turned her head to look, and I followed her gaze. Leo was listlessly slumped on Seraphina’s shoulder, his small face pale. Seraphina looked full of apologies, her tone sincere as she said, “Ms. Davis, I’m so sorry. Leo’s father had an emergency, so he couldn’t answer your call. My Leo is sick, and I’m so grateful for your care!” Ms. Davis smiled gently. “It’s quite alright, Leo’s mother. Leo just arrived from overseas and isn’t used to the environment here yet, plus it’s cold, which is why he got sick. Please take good care of him when you get home!” Seraphina’s expression softened, and she nodded. “I will! Thank you for your concern, teacher. I’ll take Leo home now!” Ms. Davis smiled and nodded. The moment Seraphina turned with Leo in her arms, her gaze swept over Lily and me, and she froze. Lily looked at Seraphina, her eyes filled with envy, and she unconsciously whispered, “Mommy…” Seraphina looked at Lily, a hint of awkwardness in her expression. She opened her mouth, intending to explain, but the words that came out were once again those of haughty arrogance: “What are you looking at? Leo’s sick, and Julian couldn’t make it, so I came to pick him up!” No sooner had Seraphina spoken than Leo spotted a vendor selling candied fruit skewers at the school gate, and his eyes suddenly lit up. He immediately struggled in Seraphina’s arms. “Mommy Seraphina, Mommy Seraphina, I want candied fruit skewers!” Seraphina staggered slightly from Leo’s sudden movement. She quickly held him tighter, soothing him gently, “Alright, alright, Leo, Mommy Seraphina will buy you whatever you want!” “Really, Mommy Seraphina? I also want to go to the amusement park!” “Okay, once our Leo gets better, we’ll go to the amusement park!” Leo immediately cheered happily. Seraphina, holding Leo, strode past Lily and me, heading out of the school. When Leo saw Lily from Seraphina’s arms, his eyes darted slyly, and he pulled a face at Lily. Lily was utterly disappointed. She looked up at me, confused, “Daddy, I thought Mommy didn’t hug me because she didn’t like little kids, but it seems… she just doesn’t like *me*…” Her voice was choked with tears, and her eyes were constantly welling up. My heart ached. I sadly patted Lily’s head, unable to bear shattering the beautiful hope in Lily’s heart. My voice was hoarse and hesitant. “Maybe… maybe she would…” My gaze followed Seraphina’s retreating back. I sighed helplessly in my heart: Seraphina, how can I explain to our daughter that once prejudice takes root, it blinds you, making you stubborn and unwilling to see the truth… Lily thoughtfully glanced at Seraphina again, then smiled and reached out to take my hand. “Daddy, let’s go home!” I looked down at Lily, smiling softly. “Alright, let’s go home!” Bathed in the setting sun, I held Lily’s hand, and our figures slowly walked into the distance. … Night shrouded Seraphina’s mansion, the indoor lights soft. In the bathroom, Lily, dressed in her pajamas, strained to stand on a stool, reaching up to finally grasp the showerhead. Then, she closed her eyes and gently twisted it. Cold water instantly sprayed out, hitting her delicate face and body. “Mommy, if I got sick, would you… would you hug me too?” Meanwhile, in the kitchen, I wore comfortable loungewear with an apron tied around my waist. I placed the last dish on the dining table, untied my apron, and called towards Lily’s room, “Lily, Daddy made your favorite cola chicken wings! Come eat!” However, the room was silent. I frowned slightly, draped the apron over a dining chair, and walked towards Lily’s room. “Lily, dinner’s ready!” Pushing open Lily’s door, the room was empty. A surge of unease rose in my heart. I began to search everywhere. Suddenly, I heard a “clank” as something fell in the bathroom. My face instantly drained of color, and my heart clenched. I immediately ran towards the bathroom. Bursting through the bathroom door, the sight before me was unbearable. Lily lay on the floor, eyes closed, her face ashen, soaking wet. My heart felt as if an invisible hand had gripped it tightly. I rushed over in a panic. My voice trembled, filled with endless dread, “Lily…” I immediately ran over, quickly turned off the shower, and in a frantic motion, took off my jacket, wrapping Lily in it with immense tension. I called softly, “Lily, Lily…” My voice was filled with worry and heartache. Lily struggled to open her eyes and weakly called out, “Daddy…” “Lily, what were you doing?” My voice was strained with panic. “Daddy, if Lily gets sick, will Mommy… come back to be with Lily?” Lily tried to force a smile. Hearing this, I froze completely, my eyes quickly welling up. “Lily, why are you so silly!” Forcing back my grief, I nervously picked Lily up. I held Lily, stumbling as I ran out. That night, returning from the hospital. Lily lay in bed, her small face flushed crimson from fever, looking incredibly weak, with a children’s cooling patch on her forehead. I sat by her bed, holding a thermometer, carefully checking the reading. After reading it, I sighed softly with relief. “100.2 degrees Fahrenheit.” I gently stroked Lily’s little face, saying with a pang of heartache, “Finally, the fever’s broken!” Lily, asleep in bed, instinctively snuggled into my hand, murmuring in her sleep, “Mommy… Mommy…” Her voice was faint, yet filled with longing. My movements stilled. A sharp pain pierced my heart. I softly called out, “Lily?” Lily remained deep in sleep. She whimpered in her sleep, even with a hint of crying, “Mommy, hug me, Mommy…” Watching my daughter like this, my heart ached beyond measure. I gently patted Lily, comforting her, “Lily, Daddy’s here, Daddy’s here!”

Lily seemed to hear my voice and suddenly opened her tear-filled eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks. She sobbed, “Daddy… I want Mommy, I want Mommy to hug me…” My breathing abruptly grew heavier. I forced back the inner pain and said, “Okay, Daddy will call Mommy and ask her to come back, okay?” Lily weakly replied, “Okay…” I immediately pulled out my phone and found Seraphina’s number. I looked at the familiar yet strange number, thinking to myself: Seraphina, this is Lily’s last chance for you. I hope you don’t disappoint her again! I took a deep breath, composed myself, and then pressed the dial button. From the other end came a cold, robotic female voice: “Hello, the number you have dialed is not answering. Please try again later…” I frowned, but didn’t give up, continuing to dial. On the third attempt, the call finally connected. However, the other end was filled with noisy commotion, like being in a lively party. Ignoring where Seraphina might be, I quickly said, “Seraphina, Lily has a fever; she…” Before I could finish, Seraphina’s impatient, angry voice cut me off: “Liam, are you a stubborn disease? Why do you always bother me? I’m warning you, I have important things to handle out here. If you dare bother me again, just get lost!” With that, the call was abruptly hung up. My face was livid with rage. I didn’t want to disappoint Lily again, so I had no choice but to keep calling Seraphina’s number. The phone tone sounded again: “Hello, the number you have dialed is switched off!” I was about to continue calling when my phone received a multimedia message from an unknown number. I paused, then clicked it open. It was a video, accompanied by a text message: “Liam, look how much Seraphina loves Leo, how much she loves children!” My hands trembling, I tapped to play the video. In the video, many people were gathered, celebrating a birthday. Leo sat in the middle, with Seraphina and Julian standing on either side of him, the three of them looking like a family. They were singing “Happy Birthday.” After the song, Seraphina leaned down, patiently coaxing Leo: “Leo, make a wish!” Leo clasped his hands together, his eyes tightly closed, earnestly making a wish to the cake, even speaking it aloud: “My wish is for Mommy Seraphina to become my real mom!” Seraphina stroked Leo’s head, saying gently, “Leo’s wish is so small; of course, Mommy Seraphina will make it come true! So – from now on, I’ll be Leo’s mom!” “Really?” Leo turned back in surprise, looking at Seraphina. Seraphina smiled and nodded. Instantly, the surrounding crowd cheered, pulling party poppers in celebration. “Congratulations to Julian and Seraphina! After seven years, you’ve rekindled your love and reunited!” Leo cheered excitedly, “I have a mommy! I have a mommy again!” He turned to Julian. “Daddy, let’s cut the cake with Mommy!” Julian’s face held a doting smile, and he nodded. “Alright!” Leo held the cake knife first, Seraphina gently held Leo’s hand, and Julian then held Seraphina’s hand. The three of them slowly cut the cake together. The video ended there. I gripped my phone tightly, my knuckles turning white from the force. I gritted my teeth in anger, the fury in my heart threatening to consume me. Seraphina, your own child is burning up with fever at home, and you’re rushing off to be someone else’s stepmother! Just then, I turned my head and saw Lily had opened her eyes, silently watching me. I instantly panicked. I quickly put away my phone, my voice soft and gentle, “Lily…” Lily placed her hand on mine, weakly saying, “Daddy, I heard everything!” My heart ached. I looked at my daughter, my eyes filled with guilt. “Daddy, Seraphina has no more chances. We… let’s leave!” Her voice, though weak, was incredibly firm. I sadly reached up and stroked Lily’s face, saying, “Alright!” In the dimly lit room, I sat by the bed, softly coaxing Lily to sleep. On the nightstand, the pieced-together family photo was turned face down. … The next morning, sunlight filtered through the hotel curtains, spilling into the room. The sharp ring of my phone alarm shattered the room’s quiet. Seraphina lay in bed, woken by the alarm. She reached for her phone to check the time. On the phone screen, there was a SnapChat message from me: *How ironic that innocent young Lily, desperate for a shred of motherly love, even showered in cold water to get sick. Yet, you cruelly crushed her last bit of hope. Seraphina, Lily and I couldn’t melt your heart, so we grant you your freedom.* Seraphina sat up, annoyance etched on her face. She mumbled, “What’s Liam’s problem so early in the morning?!” She was about to call and scold me, but then she saw her call log and froze. Memories of yesterday’s events flickered in her mind. Inside a hotel private room, the lights were dazzling, and a group of people were celebrating Leo’s birthday. Everyone was singing “Happy Birthday,” their voices cheerful. Just then, my phone call came in, its ringtone conspicuously loud in the private room. She ignored it, but the phone kept ringing relentlessly, drawing everyone’s gaze. She answered, annoyed. My voice came through the phone: “Seraphina, Lily has a fever; she…” She immediately snapped, cutting me off impatiently, “If she has a fever, give her medicine! Liam, you’re a grown man; do you really need to tell me about a small thing like a fever?” She angrily hung up the phone then, tossing it aside. She then put on a smile again, telling Leo, “Come on, let’s continue celebrating your birthday!” She pulled herself out of the memory. Seraphina muttered to herself, “Did I mishear last night? Was it Lily who was sick, not Liam?” Another scene flashed through Seraphina’s mind. She and Lily stood in front of a cake shop. The shop lights streamed through the glass door, illuminating them. She was on the phone, dealing with work, her expression focused. Lily, meanwhile, stood at the glass window, eyes wide, gazing longingly at a Barbie doll cake, her small face filled with desire. After hanging up, Seraphina saw Lily staring at the cake and paused for a moment. Then she walked over and led Lily away. Lily kept looking back at the cake, her eyes filled with reluctance. Seraphina murmured softly, “Six years… I guess I’ve never actually bought Lily a cake…” She thought for a moment, then pulled out her phone and called her assistant: “Go buy me a Barbie doll cake and have it delivered to my doorstep to wait for me…” Seraphina hung up, got out of bed, grabbed her coat, and hurried out of the room.

At noon, a convoy of luxury cars drove majestically, slowly pulling up to Seraphina’s mansion. In Lily’s room, Lily reluctantly looked at the photo on her nightstand. Beneath the photo lay divorce papers and a letter. She reached out and carefully touched Seraphina’s picture. I stood at Lily’s door, taking a call: “The car to pick you up has arrived. Get ready and bring Lily into the car. I’ll be waiting for you at the Grand Regency Hotel.” “Got it!” Hanging up, I turned to Lily and said, “Lily, let’s go!” “Okay!” Lily picked up the photo frame and slowly placed it face down on top of the divorce papers and letter. Then, she turned and ran towards me. I smiled faintly, then took Lily’s hand and my suitcase, striding towards the door. At the same time, around the corner of the mansion, the assistant waited quietly, holding an exquisite Barbie cake. Seraphina elegantly stepped out of her car, took the cake, then hurried towards the mansion. As Lily and I exited the mansion, two bodyguards emerged from one of the luxury cars and immediately took our suitcases. We stood in front of the mansion, glancing back at the house. Seraphina, carrying the cake, walked out from around the corner, smiling as she headed forward. Her gaze was fixed ahead, not noticing the people passing by. I turned, hugging Lily as we got into the car. The convoy started, slowly driving away. I sat with Lily in my arms. Lily turned her head to look out the window, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. The car window slowly went up, and Lily turned her head to face forward. Just then, the moving car perfectly passed by Seraphina, who was carrying the cake. Seraphina was completely unaware of our near miss, and continued walking towards the mansion. The car window fully closed. Seraphina, carrying the cake, smiled as she entered the mansion. Her figure vanished behind the door, and the convoy slowly drove away, leaving behind a silence… Seraphina, carrying the exquisite Barbie cake, walked into the mansion, only to find it empty. She instinctively looked towards the kitchen. Images from the past couldn’t help but flash through her mind:

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“Ma’am, if we terminate the technology license, Hayes Enterprises might… go bankrupt.” I paused, applying lipstick, and scoffed. “It’s getting cold. Use Hayes Enterprises’ money to buy winter clothes for all the orphans in the country.” Assistant Liam was taken aback. He hadn’t expected the usually sweet little philanthropist, the ‘innocent do-gooder’ he knew, to suddenly go dark, aiming straight for their total ruin. “Hayes Enterprises lacks morality. Helping them do good deeds and balance the scales, that’s incredibly generous of you, Ma’am!” I touched the necklace at my throat, my eyes icy. “I want to see him go from Brighton’s wealthiest man to a beggar within a month.” Just yesterday, I was happily decorating our wedding home. But a message from my father hit me like a bucket of cold water, dousing my sweet dreams. “That playboy hasn’t changed for you, sweetheart. Brandon Hayes has fooled you! He bought the Wildwood Estate as a wedding home for another woman. Go see for yourself.” At the time, I thought Dad was lying. My emotion-detecting necklace around my neck had been glowing steadily. The data showed Brandon Hayes liked me. To prove Dad wrong, I went anyway. But what I saw shattered my innocence. I saw Brandon Hayes, the man who was supposed to become my husband in a month, with his arm around a beautiful woman’s waist, intimately discussing their love nest. “Serena, all the furniture is in your favorite style. I personally oversaw the selection. Are you happy?” Serena King snuggled into his arms. “You came to check in daily, of course it’s exactly to my liking.” Tears instantly welled up in my eyes. Brandon had never once visited the wedding home he was supposed to share with me. He’d only sent a designer, telling me to decorate it however I liked. It turned out he felt his plan was nearing completion, and he couldn’t even bothered to pretend anymore. Serena suddenly sighed. “Brandon, do you think we can get past your mom?” Brandon’s voice was doting. “My mom dislikes you because you’re a celebrity. She thinks you’re marrying me for money.” “Now I’m marrying an orphan who lives off odd jobs. In comparison, you instantly become the ideal candidate in my mom’s eyes.” Serena rolled her eyes playfully in annoyance. “Only a month left. Why don’t you tell your mom now?” Brandon lowered his head and kissed her. “No rush. It’ll be safer to wait until the wedding day, when my mom has no other choice.” Serena sounded a little uneasy. “But what if that woman causes a scene at the wedding?” Brandon chuckled dismissively. “Aubrey is just an orphan girl. I can just pay her off with a bit of money.” “What if… she doesn’t want the money?” Serena pressed. “Then I have leverage on her. She won’t be able to cause any trouble.” Leverage? I remembered a few days ago, in the bathroom. Brandon had held me by the waist from behind. I’d glimpsed him holding his phone in the mirror… It felt like a lightning strike. My heart was repeatedly pierced by countless fine needles, a pain that left me breathless. I thought I had tamed Brighton’s notorious playboy, making countless people envious. It turned out this love miracle was nothing but a meticulously staged act by Brandon to pave the way for his beloved. I peered closer. Brandon was still wearing the “True Love Ring” on his hand. That smart ring, capable of detecting true emotional fluctuations, was a pair with the True Heart Necklace around my neck. I had spent two years developing it, designed to determine if someone was truly falling for another. Tens of thousands of couples had passed its True Heart Test, and the data showed Brandon liked me. Or rather, he liked my fake identity: Aubrey, the orphan girl. But what was all this in front of me? I never imagined that in Brandon’s heart, I wasn’t even a stand-in. At most, I was just cannon fodder. … “And Liam, put the True Heart project on hold.” Assistant Liam grew anxious. “Ma’am, this is two years of your hard work! The marketing department estimates it could reach hundreds of millions in scale once launched.” “Even if we don’t give it to Hayes Enterprises, we can sell it ourselves!” I unclasped the still-glowing necklace, scoffed, and pressed the power button. “It can’t even accurately measure the feelings of its own developer. Should we sell it and let people laugh at us?” The physiological detection of technology, how could it truly measure the human heart? I had been foolishly optimistic. From the 70th-floor window, the bright sunlight couldn’t penetrate my gloomy heart. I vaguely recalled my first encounter with Brandon three years ago. It was also a day of perfect sunshine. Fresh out of college, I came to Brighton to meet up with my pen pals from the orphanage. A little girl ran into the middle of the road. I rushed to scoop her up. Suddenly, a large truck sped toward us. I, holding the child, was completely frozen with fear. By the time I came to my senses, I was already back at the orphanage, carried by someone. It was Brandon Hayes who saved me. He was kneeling, carefully applying ointment to the little girl’s scrapes. He teased the little girl for being clumsy, his sharp, chiseled features breaking into a wild, uninhibited smile, exuding a playful swagger, yet inadvertently revealing a hint of tenderness. After treating the little girl’s wound, Brandon pulled a lollipop from his pocket and offered it to her, ruffling her hair. “Don’t run off like that again.” He noticed my gaze, walked up to me, and conjured another lollipop, handing it over. “What, big girl, do you want me to put ointment on your scrapes too? That’ll cost you, you know~” My gaze followed the lollipop upwards. The man’s rugged, sharp features looked especially tender and lingering in the twilight glow. In that moment, my heart was struck by Cupid’s arrow. I wanted to stay in Brighton. When my father found out, he strongly objected. He investigated Brandon Hayes, saying he was Brighton’s notorious playboy, constantly partying and surrounded by countless women. But I deeply believed that the Brandon Hayes who would selflessly save someone at the orphanage was his true self.

It took three days of begging on my knees for my father to relent, setting a three-year pact. If, within three years, I could make Brandon Hayes “a changed man,” he wouldn’t interfere anymore. But Mr. Harrington required me to hide my true identity while dating Brandon Hayes. I gave up the opportunity to study with a global top-tier research team, betting everything on this life-altering game. When Brandon Hayes proposed to ‘Aubrey,’ the orphan, I thought I had won. Little did I know, my experience was more bizarre than a fairytale. I was just Cinderella’s cannon fodder stand-in. My phone vibrated. It was Dad calling. I hesitated, then answered. “Dad, I lost.” His steady voice came through. “Aubrey, why don’t you consider Julian Thorne?” I froze. I was a tech geek, not skilled in business operations, and an only child. Dad had always wanted a capable and reputable son-in-law to take over the Harrington family empire. Julian Thorne, whose leg was injured in a car accident at twenty, and whose family went bankrupt, had, over ten years, single-handedly led the Thorne family back from the brink to its former glory, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Harringtons. He was the ideal son-in-law in Dad’s eyes. “I agree to the arranged marriage with Julian Thorne, but after the wedding, I want to join a top-secret research institute.” I never wanted to experience any more of this bullshit love. I just wanted to have a baby to inherit Harrington Corp. With a capable team managing the Harrington Group, I could focus entirely on my research. That afternoon, at the Harrington subsidiary, I signed the documents to terminate the technology license with Hayes Enterprises. These were all Harrington Corp projects Brandon’s company had won because I, unbeknownst to him, ghostwrote their proposals as a favor to his business department. In two years, these projects had boosted Hayes Enterprises’ wealth from the third tier in Brighton to the very top. I had meticulously planned a future where Brandon would stand beside me, yet he trampled my true feelings into the mud. Just then, Brandon called, asking why I hadn’t gone to the bridal shop. He didn’t give me time to react, ordering me to be there in twenty minutes. I wanted to get back the smart ring I had made with my own hands and end things definitively. I rushed to the bridal shop. I immediately saw Serena King with her arm around Brandon’s shoulder, chatting intimately. I thought of leaving and coming back another day, but a sales assistant spotted me and called out, “Welcome!” Brandon heard it and turned to look at me, his voice tinged with impatience. “How could you forget something as important as trying on wedding dresses?” He knew how important a wedding dress was to a woman, yet he brought Serena along at the same time? Was he trying to flaunt his multiple relationships? Never mind. A wave of heat rushed to my eyes. I turned to leave, but Brandon grabbed my wrist, pulling me towards a display. He gestured for me to look at the dresses, unaware that his subtle wave to Serena, signaling her to go to another section, did not escape my notice. “Aubrey, I was too harsh just now. I’m sorry.” Brandon lowered his head, whispering in my ear and kissing my earlobe ambiguously. “Which one do you like? Don’t worry, money’s no object.” “But don’t pick anything too revealing. I don’t want my darling seen by others.” I looked at Brandon, whose eyes held an unsettling depth of affection, and just thought, his acting really is good. Before we dated, he was a wild playboy, racing cars, chasing women, drinking, and getting into trouble. After we started dating, he transformed into the perfect doting husband, even helping me care for my intellectually disabled sister. He taught her games, patiently repeating instructions even if she didn’t understand the first time. The three of us explored every scenic spot around Brighton, creating countless warm memories and photos. Any friend who wanted to invite him out first had to donate to the Brighton Kindergarten, the place where we first met. Behind his back, I don’t know how many people ridiculed Brandon, calling him ‘Charity Casanova.’ Later, to marry me, he pleaded on his knees for a day and a night for his mother’s consent, his knees raw from the cold… That’s why I had never doubted his sincerity before. My initial motivation for developing the True Love Ring was to understand Brandon better, to know the true joys and sorrows beneath his wild, uninhibited exterior. I had originally planned to license the “True Heart” project’s technology to Brandon after the wedding, to help him start anew and break free from his mother’s control… “Brandon, is this your… fiancée?” As Serena walked over, Brandon’s body stiffened for a second, and he pulled his hand away from mine. That unconscious action pierced my heart. “Hello, I’m Serena King. Brandon’s friend.” Serena’s eyes filled with tenderness as she looked at Brandon. “I’m also getting married soon. What a coincidence to run into you two today.” “Beyond coincidence, it’s premeditated.” I blinked innocently. “Just kidding! You’re Brandon’s friend? So you’re also over thirty, like him?” Serena’s smile froze. “I’m younger than him. Just turned thirty.” I smiled innocently. “Oh, so you’re still three years older than me. Nice to meet you, Ms. Serena. I’m Aubrey.” Playing games? I can too.

I asked, as if casually, “What’s your husband’s name, Ms. Serena? Do I know him?” “He…” Serena stammered. She’d just made up a reason to be there and hadn’t prepared a coherent story. Brandon, displeased, said, “Enough, Aubrey. When did you get so gossipy? He’s not someone you need to know.” Right. As an orphan girl, how could I possibly be acquainted with anyone in his social circle? I reined in my smile, my shattered heart bleeding anew. Serena’s expression was odd. She hesitated. “My boyfriend had an urgent matter and couldn’t make it. I have a rather brazen request, Brandon. Could you try on a groom’s suit and help me pick out a wedding dress?” I was about to ask for the ring and leave, but Brandon had already turned and headed to the changing rooms. For the next hour, Serena would change into a dress, link arms with Brandon, and pose in front of the mirror, treating me like I was invisible. The sales assistant kept giving me strange looks. Even outsiders could tell something fishy was going on between them. I felt like a fool, standing there watching their public display of affection. I turned to leave, but a familiar-looking wedding dress caught my attention. I had just pulled up the hem of the wedding dress when Serena appeared out of nowhere and grabbed the other end. “You like this one too? I was just about to try it…” I was about to let go when I heard Brandon say, “Let Serena try it first.” Serena smugly raised an eyebrow at me, then feigned politeness. “Oh, that won’t do. Why don’t we get another one, and we can both try them on at the same time?” I found it ridiculous. “No need. It’s not a beauty pageant or some royal audition. Let’s not make it complicated.” Brandon’s face turned cold. “We’re here to try on wedding dresses. I don’t have time to come a second time.” Even though I was mentally prepared, his sudden cold attitude still stung. He had always spoken to me gently, coaxing me. Was he unable to keep up the pretense now that Serena, his darling, was here? The sales assistant, sensing the tense atmosphere, quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “This pure lace style is the only one we have in the store, but we also have a limited edition, fully diamond-encrusted luxury version.” I pulled open a nearby cabinet. A vast array of diamonds sparkled dazzlingly under the lights. “The design is the same. This one is covered in 3S-grade diamonds, costing two million, while the plain one is two hundred thousand.” “This…” Serena looked hesitant, but her feet moved to stand beside the luxury version. Brandon gave the sales assistant a meaningful look. The assistant, recalling the previous scene, immediately understood. “Ms. King has a more striking, sophisticated look, and an elegant demeanor. She suits this diamond wedding dress.” “Ms. Aubrey’s demeanor… would be better suited for this pure lace style.” I didn’t want to make things difficult for the employee, and remembering the video on Brandon’s phone, I decided to try on the dress. When the two of us reappeared before Brandon, he froze. The same cut of wedding dress, on me, looked custom-made, highlighting my clean, innocent aura to the extreme. In contrast, Serena, with her heavy makeup, looked rather gaudy against the backdrop of all those diamonds. “Brandon, who do you think wears it better?” Brandon looked at me, innocent yet seductive, his throat working. “Both are beautiful.” “Don’t just humor us,” Serena continued to act coyly in front of the mirror, completely oblivious to his gaze being fixed on me. I turned my body, avoiding Brandon’s burning gaze. I would never again be moved by his attention. Serena continued to whine. “Tell us honestly, we won’t get mad.” “Naturally, the expensive one is better.” Brandon finished, then turned to me, as if to add something. “It’s okay.” I cut him off. “But we won’t be taking either of these dresses.” The sales assistant grew anxious. “Ms. King, this limited edition luxury version is the best and most expensive wedding dress in all of Brighton.” “I’m so sorry, Aubrey, but I’m a celebrity. Wearing something cheap would be ridiculed.” Serena pulled out her card from her bag. “I love this one. Sales assistant, how much is the deposit? I’ll swipe my card.” “Ms. King, you have excellent taste. The deposit is two hundred thousand.” The sales assistant swiftly brought the card machine. Serena had just finished entering her PIN when Brandon’s phone chimed. Only a few of us were in the store, and the timing of the sound was too perfectly coincidental. Brandon seemed to realize something. “My assistant needs me for something. Aubrey, keep looking.” As soon as he left, Serena’s demeanor completely changed. “Aubrey, I heard you’re an orphan. No wonder you picked the one without diamonds earlier. Honestly, being so petty and unsophisticated will make Brandon lose face.” “Hayes Enterprises is one of the top families in Brighton, you know.” Someone seemed to forget that it was she who had just been fighting for the pure lace dress. I was completely unfazed. “Alright, since Ms. Serena has already paid, I won’t say anything more.” Despite her cruelty, I had initially intended to point out that both dresses were knock-offs. The authentic one was a custom design my mother had commissioned for twenty million. Since I had been in Brighton, that dress was still with the designer abroad. It seemed poor handling had led to it being copied. If an ordinary person wore a pirated version, no one would care. But Serena was a celebrity. Wearing a copied design to her wedding would make her a laughingstock across the internet. And then, it would be *her* who made Brandon lose face. We changed back into our clothes, and Brandon returned. “Aubrey, have you made your choice? I promised Dad I’d buy a new gaming console. Afterwards, we…” Serena stepped forward. “Brandon, weren’t you hoping to meet the Harrington heir?” “Tonight, I arranged to meet Mr. Thompson, the manager of the Harrington subsidiary. He’s a relative of mine.”

Brandon immediately changed his tune. “Aubrey, the technology license Harrington Corp granted Hayes Enterprises is almost expiring. I need to go negotiate the renewal first.” I reached out, expressionless. “Brandon Hayes, give me that ring first.” Brandon frowned. “Don’t make a scene, I…” “Aubrey, you’re being so unreasonable. Hayes Enterprises signed a high-stakes performance agreement this year, and Harrington Corp’s technology is crucial.” “Mr. Thompson is only meeting us because of my friendship with his relative.” Serena directly linked her arm through Brandon’s. “Brandon, let’s go pick out a gift for Mr. Thompson first.” She raised a hand and beckoned the sales assistant. “But we shouldn’t let Aubrey’s trip be in vain. Just confirm the plain wedding dress for her.” “This…” The sales assistant looked confused. Who was Mr. Hayes’s fiancée, exactly? Even my gentle nature was provoked. “Ms. Serena, you sound so much like my mother-in-law, so concerned about Brandon and me.” “You!” Serena choked, her eyes red with feigned hurt. “Brandon…” Brandon, caught in the middle, looked increasingly impatient. “Alright, Aubrey, just take that one. You can go home now.” With that, he pulled Serena and turned to leave, without a single explanation. The sharp thorns I had put up collapsed. I had been sheltered under my parents’ wings since childhood, always kind, believing in love and light in the world. But when I shed the aura of the heiress and walked alone as an orphan, I witnessed more facets of this world. Greed, indifference, and even cruel harm for personal gain. Less than half an hour after I left the bridal shop, Mrs. Hayes called. “Aubrey! What kind of trash did you pick out?! Get your ass over here right now!” Mrs. Hayes’s shrill voice pierced through the phone, almost shattering my eardrums. I remembered I still had a significant program saved on the Hayes family computer. It was a smart drone program I had designed for Brandon’s and my wedding. One hundred thousand drones would patrol the city skies all day long. Letting everyone know they were married, and letting them know that ‘Aubrey’ and Brandon Hayes were a match made in heaven. Now, none of that was needed. Brandon Hayes simply wasn’t worthy of me! I needed to delete that program, just as I was deleting Brandon Hayes from my life. I arrived at the Hayes mansion. As soon as I stepped inside, a strong, cloying perfume hit me, making me cough repeatedly. Mrs. Hayes liked to use expensive perfumes as air fresheners, to flaunt the Hayes’ wealth. “Mrs. Hayes.” “Look at you, cowering. You have no air of a wealthy socialite whatsoever!” My covering my nose only fueled Mrs. Hayes’s anger. I picked up a teacup, raised my hand, and the slightly warm tea splashed onto me. “Ah!” I only managed to turn sideways. A red mark instantly appeared on my neck, burning painfully. “You have the nerve to complain.” Mrs. Hayes snapped, without an ounce of apology. “Aubrey, you chose a wedding dress without a single diamond. Are you trying to make everyone in Brighton laugh at how poor Hayes Enterprises is?” I thought to myself, I had specifically asked for that. My original plan was to reveal my identity to Brandon on the day we picked the wedding dress. Then I would tell him that my mother had already prepared my wedding dress. Even the diamond-free authentic version cost twenty million. If it were fully diamond-encrusted, I was afraid Brandon would feel the gap between us was too vast. “I’ve had someone buy a wedding dress from abroad. This one is a million.” Mrs. Hayes pointed to a magazine showing a dress adorned with diamonds and crystals, then added, “Time is tight. Don’t eat lunch or dinner for the next few days, so you’ll fit into it.” I glanced at it. Another knock-off. A relative had worn something similar five years ago. The authentic one cost ten million. Mrs. Hayes and I were always on different wavelengths, and I didn’t want to waste my breath. “I’ll go change first.” I changed my clothes, deleted the program, and as I opened the door, I heard voices in the hallway. “Aubrey is an orphan. Why didn’t Mrs. Hayes choose Ms. King? She’s a celebrity, after all.” “My own husband ran off with a celebrity. How could Mrs. Hayes accept a celebrity as a daughter-in-law?” “But she clearly doesn’t like Aubrey. Why didn’t she keep objecting?” “If Ms. King hadn’t been pestering Mr. Hayes, Mrs. Hayes probably wouldn’t have agreed so quickly.” “Good thing the water wasn’t too hot just now, or the poor girl would have been disfigured. What a sin.” “I think Mr. Hayes prefers… otherwise…” The two women chatted as they walked away. My hand on the doorknob trembled. I felt like all my past patience with Mrs. Hayes had been a joke. Ever since Mrs. Hayes learned that Brandon and I were dating, she tormented me in every conceivable way, every single day. Daily ‘routine’ scolding, from my background to my taste, even small things, a single gesture, could become a point of attack. If I didn’t come to the Hayes mansion, Mrs. Hayes would bombard me with messages on SnapChat, her words even more scathing. I had never heard so much vitriol. In just one week, Mrs. Hayes almost drove me to depression. When Brandon found out, he had a huge fight with his mother, and her attacks on me finally subsided a bit. After that, she switched to physically exhausting me. “I want the mung bean cake from King’s in Southside. Go get it for me.” “I heard a new French dessert shop opened in Eastside. Go queue up and buy their signature item.” “I suddenly want the Osmanthus cake from South City. You…” I was like a delivery person, sent running around by Mrs. Hayes. Some of the shops were even in other cities. I ran back and forth, utterly exhausted, yet I couldn’t refuse to buy food for my boyfriend’s mother.

I used to believe that if I was patient enough, compromised enough, I could earn Mrs. Hayes’s approval. But now I understood that it was all just my fantasy. Later, when Brandon and I were about to get married, Mrs. Hayes, fearing I would embarrass myself at the wedding, hired an etiquette teacher for me. To keep my orphan persona intact, I had to pretend I had never learned such things. And how could Mrs. Hayes pass up such a perfect opportunity to pick fault? “Aubrey, look at her posture, her demeanor! Then look at you, no proper way of standing, no proper way of sitting!” “Aubrey, why are you so slow to learn? You can’t even master such simple movements. How will you ever be Mrs. Hayes?” … During that time, I looked at myself in the mirror, haggard and tired, the sparkle in my eyes gone. I also questioned whether my decision had been correct. For Brandon, I had hidden my identity, endured humiliation. Was it really worth it? It was also then that Brandon was hit by a car while saving my sister. I rushed to the hospital, terrified to see Brandon’s clothes covered in blood. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Just a scratch on my leg. The blood gushed a bit, but it’s actually not serious.” Pale from blood loss, the man, to comfort me, even got out of bed and danced. I was pulled along, frantic. “Brandon Hayes, do you want to lose your leg?! Get back in bed!” “Don’t worry, Aubrey. How could I bear to be crippled and make you lose your happiness for the rest of your life?” His strong arm wrapped around me, and with his incredibly alluring eyes, he coaxed me into his playful antics. I couldn’t help but ask, “You rushed out to save my sister. Weren’t you afraid of being crippled, or… dying?” Brandon lazily lowered his gaze, casually playing with my hand as he replied, “I didn’t think that much at the time. I just had one thought: I can’t let my Aubrey lose her only family.” He took my wrist, pressing a slow, light kiss there. My pulse could feel the tenderness and deep affection within it. “I want to take little Aubrey home and take care of her for life. How about it?” It was also then that Brandon got a long scar on his leg, which dispelled all my hesitation. I looked back at the room, filled with memories. A silent tear fell. Brandon Hayes, if you were going to deceive me, why didn’t you deceive me forever? As soon as I went downstairs, I heard Mrs. Hayes’s furious shout: “Bitch!” I didn’t know who had angered Mrs. Hayes this time. As I walked towards the sofa to grab my bag, Mrs. Hayes suddenly grabbed a stack of photos from the coffee table and hurled them at me. The sharp photos flew like blades. I raised my hands to block them, but my cheek was still scratched. Mrs. Hayes’s words came like a machine gun: “I told you a long time ago, you need to keep a close eye on your man! But you, all you do is go out and work odd jobs!” “What’s your measly pride worth? Look, Brandon’s heart has been completely stolen by that vixen!” I covered my wound, looking down at the photos scattered on the floor. They were all of Brandon and Serena. In various dating spots: the movie theater, the golf course, holding hands, kissing in restaurants… Those intimate gestures were like sharp knives, stabbing at me. I tilted my head back, forcing the tears back, suppressing the roiling emotions in my mind. Among Mrs. Hayes’s stack of photos, there were even pictures of Brandon and Serena, arm-in-arm in their wedding attire at the bridal shop, from just an hour ago. I used to naively believe that Mrs. Hayes, as chairman of Hayes Enterprises, and Brandon, often had differing opinions on company management, so he had to listen to her. I never thought Mrs. Hayes hired people to constantly watch Brandon. It was a good thing I wouldn’t be her daughter-in-law anymore. Otherwise, having a mother-in-law like that, being controlled all the time, would be suffocating. Mrs. Hayes saw my silence and her rage escalated. “I’m talking to you! Are you deaf or mute?!” “Aubrey, you have no family background, no abilities, and now you can’t even hold onto a man! What good are you?!” Mrs. Hayes grew more and more agitated. “And that Serena King! The shameless vixen! The bitch! I should have ruined her reputation back then!” I didn’t want to get involved in Brandon’s affairs anymore and planned to make things clear to Mrs. Hayes. “Mrs. Hayes, I…” “You shut up! I don’t want to hear your excuses!” Mrs. Hayes grew even more agitated, picked up the vase from the table, and smashed it forcefully onto the floor. “Ah!” I couldn’t dodge in time. A shard of the vase hit my foot, tearing my stockings and leaving a bloody scratch on my skin. It stung painfully. I hastily retreated, looking in horror at the frenzied Mrs. Hayes, her face contorted, terrifying like a demon. “Mrs. Hayes, calm down!” Mrs. Hayes was not yet appeased, and swept other items off the table. Soon, the floor was a mess. I had a bad feeling and wanted to leave. “Stop her for me!” Mrs. Hayes shrieked. Two bodyguards rushed forward, grabbing my arms, one on each side, holding me firmly. I struggled fiercely. “Let me go! What are you doing?” Mrs. Hayes didn’t listen at all. “Drag her into the bathroom! Douse her with cold water! Wash out that idiotic brain of hers!” The bodyguards, without a word, dragged me into the bathroom and roughly pushed me into the bathtub. “Splash—” The icy water rushed over me. A bone-chilling cold seeped into every pore. I shivered uncontrollably, my teeth chattering. “No… please…” I curled my body, covering my head with my hands, trying to avoid it. “So cold… stop spraying…” “Cold? This is nothing! Keep spraying her!” Mrs. Hayes stood at the bathroom door, looking at me, drenched, a twisted delight on her face, but her eyes were empty. “Ah…” I don’t know how long they sprayed me. My body grew colder and colder, my consciousness blurring.

Finally, the cold water stopped, but Mrs. Hayes wasn’t finished with me. She ordered the bodyguards again: “Tie her up and lock her in the room!” The bodyguards mercilessly dragged me from the bathtub, like a dead dog, into a room, and roughly tied me to a chair. “Let me go… I won’t marry him…” I murmured weakly. Mrs. Hayes grabbed my hair, forcing my head up. “I’m doing this to help you keep your husband!” “Look…” Mrs. Hayes then pulled at my collar, her eyes softening, tinged with ‘motherly love’. “This Chanel dress you’re wearing must be at least thirty thousand. It’s so beautiful. Brandon bought it for you, didn’t he?” “No…” That was my own purchase, a fifty-thousand limited edition. My consciousness was drifting. I couldn’t even speak properly. Mrs. Hayes took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped my face. “Think about it, if Brandon abandoned you, how could you wear such beautiful clothes?” “Those orphanage kids, and your cognitively impaired sister, they all need a lot of money to support.” Mrs. Hayes finished wiping, tidied my hair, then used her hard acrylic nails to rub my lips, making them crack. “That actress must have used a lot of tricks too.” She surveyed her handiwork on my face, a satisfied expression appearing. “Brandon, like you, is a very loving, good boy. Listen to me, necessary self-harm will make him pity you.” The mentally unstable Mrs. Hayes made me suddenly feel very pathetic. She wasn’t helping me; she was projecting her own past pain and resentment onto me. Like how she couldn’t win back her own husband back then, Mrs. Hayes hoped I could ‘win back’ Brandon, making up for her own regrets. Mrs. Hayes had someone set up a phone in front of me, then she and her people left. On the other end of the phone, someone was secretly filming Brandon. “In my heart, you’ll always be beautiful. If I’ve loved you, I have no regrets. No matter how much pain, I’m willing to bear it…” The song drifted from the phone’s earpiece, carrying the distinct echo of a KTV private room. I didn’t need to see the screen to know it was Brandon’s voice. When he sang, his voice habitually rose slightly at the end, with a touch of unruliness, and a hint of coaxing. This song, which once made my heart flutter, now sounded like a blunt knife, slowly grinding away at my heart. I remembered it. After Brandon injured his leg saving my sister, Mrs. Hayes came to the hospital and slapped me. I endured it then. Brandon, after angrily driving his mother away, apologized to me. I poured out all the grievances I’d bottled up for days. “Brandon, your mom doesn’t like me. We…” “Wait!” Brandon frantically pulled out his phone, found this song, and sang it to me, word for word. He wasn’t a good singer then, his pitch fluctuating wildly, going off-key absurdly several times. The man who usually sported a cool expression and walked with a swagger was now like a clumsy high schooler, fumbling to keep the girl he loved. The nurses and patients in the ward couldn’t help but laugh. His naturally handsome face flushed crimson, but he stubbornly kept going, looking at me with such focus, as if the world only contained the two of them. But now? My gaze slowly shifted to the phone screen. Brandon was embracing Serena, their heads together, intimately singing into the microphone, radiating sweet affection. Meanwhile, I was trapped in a chair by his mother, wearing cold, drenched clothes, like an abandoned doll. Outside, thunder rumbled, and torrential rain poured down, drowning out those joyous sounds. Loneliness, helplessness, and despair also drowned me in darkness. Three hours later, Brandon stood on the balcony, dialing my phone for the tenth time. It was still the busy tone, unanswered. He frustratingly prepared to dial for the eleventh time when Serena’s voice came from behind him. “If you keep calling, your phone will start smoking.” Brandon put away his phone, fatigue evident in his brows. “Serena, why are you out here?” “You hadn’t come back, and Mr. Thompson was asking where you’d gone.” Serena stared intently at Brandon’s expression. “Were you calling Aubrey?” Brandon avoided my gaze. “Yeah, she had something to ask me.” “What’s so urgent?” Serena’s tone held a barely detectable hint of probing. “Could it be… you missed me?” “How could that be?” Brandon instinctively denied it. “Don’t overthink things.” Serena’s eyes darkened. “I leaned against the railing and said, feigning casualness, ‘Just now Chloe asked if you were falling for Aubrey.’” “What are you talking about?” Brandon frowned, his tone a little stiff. “That’s what I said too,” Serena smiled. “I said there’s no way Brandon could like some unsophisticated orphan. It’s just an act.” Brandon’s fingers tightened slightly, but he didn’t refute. “But…” Serena turned sideways, looking directly into Brandon’s eyes. “You were quite devoted to her before. I was even a little jealous.” Brandon took Serena’s hand. “Don’t overthink it. I just didn’t want her to suspect anything and ruin our plan.” “Really?” A flicker of uncertainty crossed Serena’s eyes. “Of course.” Brandon immediately confirmed. “I only love you, and that hasn’t changed since high school.” Serena’s expression softened. I stepped forward, leaning into Brandon’s embrace. “I knew it. You only have me in your heart.” Brandon wrapped his arms around me, but his gaze drifted towards the rain-blurred darkness outside the window, his eyes lost. The next morning, Brandon woke up with a hangover, finding himself in a hotel room with Serena. He immediately panicked, jumping out of bed and hurriedly getting dressed. No, Brandon paused. Soon Serena would be his wife. Having a physical relationship was perfectly normal. Why was he feeling so guilty, so afraid? Brandon changed and went into the hallway to call Aubrey, but she never answered.

Aubrey had always been sensible and well-behaved, never failing to answer his calls without reason. A nameless unease swelled in his heart. He drove to the Harrington family’s old residence. In the old residential building, the Harrington door was tightly shut. After knocking for a long time, there was no response. A neighboring elderly woman poked her head out and told Brandon, “Little Aubrey didn’t come home very late last night. I think I saw Daisy run out looking for her.” “We couldn’t stop her. Daisy doesn’t know her way around. She hasn’t come back yet. She might be lost.” “Thank you, I’ll go find them right away.” Brandon’s heart sank. He was about to go search when his mother’s call came in. “Brandon, get back here now! Aubrey’s sick, she has a high fever.” Brandon immediately rushed back to the Hayes mansion. He saw me lying on the bed, my face pale, my body burning hot, mumbling incoherently. Mrs. Hayes said coldly, “Where were you last night? Your wife has a high fever. The housekeeper called me for dinner and that’s when I found her. She took medicine, but the fever hasn’t gone down.” “Aubrey!” Brandon gently scooped me up, his heart aching. “I’m taking you to the hospital right now.” The doctor’s preliminary diagnosis was pneumonia caused by a high fever, requiring hospitalization for observation. Serena, waking up early and not finding Brandon, had a vague bad feeling. Upon learning his whereabouts, she also rushed to the hospital. I pushed open the hospital room door and saw Brandon leaning in to kiss me. Serena’s heart tightened. Just as she was about to go in, I woke up. I tried to sit up abruptly, but Brandon gently pushed me back onto the bed. “Don’t move, you’re still running a fever.” I said urgently, “I’m in the hospital? I need to go back, my dad…” Brandon softly soothed. “Aubrey, Daisy is missing, but don’t worry, I’ll go find her right away.” “Brandon!” Serena pretended to have just arrived. “Mr. Thompson woke up and said he wants to continue discussing the renewal.” “No, find my dad first. He doesn’t know his way home…” Calling the police would only deploy a few officers. In Brighton, only Hayes Enterprises could mobilize so many people during the critical window for searching. I weakly clutched Brandon’s sleeve. “I can renew the contract for you. Brandon, please go find my dad….” “You can renew it?” Serena scoffed dismissively. “Aubrey, you don’t even have a steady job. How can you claim to be in charge of Harrington Corp, the richest family in the country?” I sighed. “Brandon, I’m feverish and delirious. I thought I was the Harrington family’s eldest daughter. Little did I know, the Harringtons only have a son.” Serena’s eyes looked at me as if I were a ridiculous clown. “Even if you’re going to impersonate, at least do your research first.” I anxiously explained, “No, it’s not that. My dad did it to protect me…” Serena interrupted me. “Alright, we didn’t say we wouldn’t help you look.” “Brandon, you can just have your assistant handle this. Mr. Thompson is waiting for you.” Serena continued to persuade. “This contract is very important to you. Think about that high-stakes performance agreement.” Brandon hesitated for a moment. “Aubrey, I’ll send more people to look for Daisy. You rest first. I’ll let you know as soon as there’s news.” He said, releasing me. I hastily clutched him. “Truly, I am Aubrey Harrington…” “Enough, Aubrey, stop making a scene. Brandon has very important matters to attend to right now. It’s the same if his assistant goes.” Serena forcefully pulled my hand away, dragging Brandon out. “Brandon, let’s go. That cognitively impaired girl probably just got lost. There are surveillance cameras everywhere, she’ll be found eventually.” “Brandon Hayes!” I watched Brandon’s resolute departing back, tears streaming down my face. Aubrey, you need to wake up! To him, you’re nothing but a tool. I borrowed a phone from the nurse and was about to call Liam to hire people when an unexpected person entered the room. “Aubrey.” The man stood against the light, his silhouette perfect, his face exuding an aura of control, slowly emerging from the halo. Even though he was in a wheelchair, he lost none of his dignity and composure. A man of transcendent grace, as if descended from the heavens. Julian Thorne, my intended fiancé in the arranged marriage. “Julian…” I uttered the name I hadn’t used in a long time. “Aubrey, I’ve come to take you back to King’s Landing.” Julian’s deep voice seemed to carry a magic that instantly brought tears to my eyes. “I can’t go back yet!” I skipped the pleasantries, speaking urgently. “Julian, my sister is missing. Can you—” I briefly explained what had happened. Julian listened, then, without a moment’s hesitation, made a call. “Immediately contact all private investigators and security companies in Brighton. Hire ten thousand people to conduct a carpet search of every corner of the city.” After hanging up, he turned his gaze back to me. “Don’t worry. I’m here for you.” My nose stung. Brandon’s indifference and deception had left me physically and emotionally drained. Julian’s appearance now was like a lighthouse in a vast sea, bringing me hope and guidance. “Thank you, Julian.” I looked at him gratefully. Julian’s eyes, as calm as the sea, were filled with starlight. “Silly girl, what’s with the thanks? We’re…” He paused, his long fingers gently caressing my burning forehead. “How did you get yourself into such a state?” Our skin touched. Though the warmth was faint, I felt an inexplicable heat scorching me. I awkwardly leaned back against the pillow, stammering, “I… I accidentally caught a cold.” Julian saw the little girl’s earlobes flushed red, looking shy and timid. The corners of his lips curved slightly. He withdrew his hand and picked up the medical chart from the bedside table, flipping through it. I secretly observed Julian. Three years had passed, but time seemed to have left no trace on his face. Instead, it had only added to his composed and reserved demeanor.

Julian and I were ten years apart. I had always revered him as an elder brother, even a senior. The thought of marrying this man, whom I once respected like a god, made me feel a bit flustered. “What’s wrong?” Julian’s voice was very low, as if he feared startling me. I bit my lower lip, feeling I should tell him about Brandon first. It wouldn’t be fair to him if we went through with the arranged marriage without him knowing. Because of the video Brandon took, I already had a mental block about such things. Julian watched me quietly, his gaze filled with calm and understanding. “I… would you mind if I…” I felt like an elementary school student confessing to her parents, making it difficult for me to speak. “Aubrey, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.” “Julian, that…” Should I say I didn’t want to fulfill a wife’s duties? I couldn’t bring myself to say it. So I tactfully said, “Do you… are you open to having children… through other means?” The air in the hospital room seemed to solidify for a moment. The chirping of cicadas outside the window was clearly audible. Julian paused slightly, then understood my meaning. “Yes.” He reached out and gently patted my hand. “Aubrey, as long as you live happily every day, nothing else will be a constraint for you.” I blinked, a wave of warmth flowing through my heart. “Thank you, Julian.” Julian smiled reassuringly, holding a thousand words in his eyes. He had worked so hard on his rehabilitation for so long, timing his proposal for my graduation. He hadn’t protected his little princess well enough. He knew I needed time to heal, and he would always be by my side, letting me slowly accept him. Two hours later, Julian’s assistant rushed back, his face grave. “Mr. Thorne, Daisy has been found. She was hit by a car and is currently in critical condition at City Hospital.” My vision blurred, and I almost fainted. Julian quickly caught me, his voice deep as he instructed his assistant, “Get the car ready. To the hospital.” When they arrived at the hospital, Daisy’s surgery had just ended. The doctor emerged and said, “The patient has severe intracranial hemorrhage. Although the surgery was successful, her family should prepare themselves. She might not wake up and could remain in a vegetative state.” “Vegetative state…” My legs buckled. I leaned against the wall to keep from collapsing. I choked out, “Why… why do disasters always strike the poor and unfortunate…” When I first arrived in Brighton, I fabricated an orphan identity and rented a place near the orphanage. One time, when I encountered thugs, it was Daisy, naturally cognitively impaired, who rushed to protect me. Seeing that Daisy had no one to care for her, I took her in as my sister. Daisy, with the mental age of a three-year-old, always tried her best to be good to me. Every day when I came home, Daisy would clumsily make me a bowl of mixed rice, overflowing with side dishes, while she herself just ate plain white rice. Daisy didn’t understand I wasn’t short on clothes. In winter, she would wrap layers of salvaged padded jackets around me, unwilling to wear them herself. When I was sad from being bullied by Mrs. Hayes, Daisy would gently pat my back, soothing me repeatedly: “Sister, don’t cry. Daisy will be with you.” Those warm memories were unforgettable. If Mrs. Hayes hadn’t gone crazy and confined me, how would Daisy have gotten into a car accident trying to find me?! My heart ached, and my vision blurred. I fainted. “Aubrey!” Julian swiftly caught me, half-rising from his chair. He gritted his teeth and gently lifted me into his arms. The assistant nervously stepped forward. “Mr. Thorne, let me. Your leg…” Julian’s leg, after more than ten years of rehabilitation, could stand, but it caused him intense pain. In just that short time, Julian’s forehead was already beaded with fine sweat. “No need.” He held me tighter. “If I can’t even hold my own wife, how can I be a husband?” “I already missed one chance because of my leg. I will not let anyone else take advantage this time.” When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed, Julian sitting by my side, holding my hand. “My sister, she…” “She’s still in a coma. Her vital signs are stable for now.” Julian gently soothed, “I’ve arranged everything. Your sister will be transferred to the best hospital in King’s Landing, where the best doctors will treat her.” “Thank you, Julian.” Julian murmured, “We are family. Your sister is my family too.” I shyly avoided his deep gaze, softly humming in response. Just then, my phone vibrated. I looked down. It was Brandon. I immediately hung up. He called again. After I hung up on him five times in a row, Brandon finally gave up. A few minutes later, an unknown number sent a text message. [Aubrey, Brandon will marry me in the end. If you are sensible enough to gracefully withdraw, I will give you a hundred thousand.] [Image], [Image]. I looked at the intimate photos of Brandon and me that Serena had sent, a cold laugh escaping my lips. Julian heard it and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?” I sneered, “Nothing. Someone wants to buy me off for a hundred thousand.” A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. “A hundred thousand isn’t even enough to buy you a handbag.” Julian didn’t ask any more questions. He just quietly picked up his phone, his long fingers tapping a few times on the screen. Almost instantly, my phone screen lit up, displaying a bank transfer notification. I tapped it open. It was a transfer from Julian. [Transferring 50,000,000 to Aubrey for parts] *Ding!* Brandon’s message came through at the same time. [Transferring 50,000. Text: Don’t be angry, sweetheart.] I first looked at Julian, perplexed. “Julian, I have money.” “I saw a machine you were working on in one of your SnapChat photos.” He continued, “I heard Mr. Harrington was mad you came to Brighton and only gave you five hundred thousand a month. Has that machine been delayed for a long time?” My hand, poised to decline the transfer, froze. Looking at the two vastly different messages, I suddenly remembered what my father said when we made the bet: “Gold and copper, easily distinguished; true heart and false intent, revealed by time.”

t wasn’t like I hadn’t written code or built small machines in front of Brandon. He had never once asked about it. But Julian, from a background detail in a photo, saw something I cared about. Perhaps in Brandon’s heart, I was just an accessory, a tool, so he never cared about my abilities or what I loved to do… Just then, the TV was broadcasting entertainment news. The volume was low, but clear enough for both of us to hear. “Celebrity Serena King is rumored to be getting married soon to a wealthy scion.” The screen flashed with photos of Serena at a bridal shop. The host, her face full of knowing ambiguity, said, “According to insiders, Serena King has been dating the wealthy scion for quite some time, and their relationship is stable. Last night, the two were even photographed checking into a luxury hotel together, spending the night, and leaving together the next morning…” The man with his arm around Serena’s waist in the picture was only shown from the back, but I still recognized him as Brandon Hayes. My heart lurched, and I felt a wave of nausea. While I was bound to a chair in wet clothes, enduring bone-chilling cold and terrifying darkness, Brandon was having a grand old time with someone else in a hotel. Julian saw my pale face and glistening eyes. He struggled to sit on the edge of the bed and gently pulled me into his embrace. “Crying will make you feel better.” He awkwardly stroked my hair, like he was comforting a child. I cried harder in his arms, as if to release all the grievances and fears I had bottled up. Julian silently held me, letting me cry until I slowly calmed down. “Julian…” I choked out. “Am I really that foolish? Fooled so easily…” “How could you be?” Julian cupped my face, gently wiping away my tears. “At ten, you designed a smart robot program and won an international award.” “Harrington Corp’s success in the tech world is all thanks to you. Who wouldn’t envy Mr. Harrington?” Julian then reached out and began peeling a pomegranate. The red juice stained his fingers, a sight utterly at odds with his suited, ready-for-a-meeting appearance. Just then, Brandon continued to send messages: [Aubrey, are you feeling better? I don’t have time to come over today. I ordered food for you, eat well.] [I have to go on a business trip. I’ve already sent people to look for Daisy, don’t worry.] [Also, about the wedding dress, I re-ordered you a three-million-dollar diamond wedding dress.] I looked at Brandon’s message, unable to fathom why he would spend an extra three million on a wedding dress for a tool. Had he gotten addicted to playing the ‘Charity Casanova’ role? Never mind. Whatever he did, I wouldn’t believe him again. [No need. My dad has already found her.] Julian handed me the plate full of pomegranate seeds. “What’s wrong? Is that person trying to extort you again? Or should I take care of it?” I shook my head, taking the plate. I loved pomegranates, but I hated the hassle of peeling them. Brandon knew that, but he only ever bought them unpeeled. I called my assistant. “Liam, I’m returning to King’s Landing soon. You stay here a bit longer.” “Don’t tell Mr. Thompson about terminating Hayes Enterprises’ license.” Since Brandon wanted to drag this out and use me until the very end, I would also wait until the last moment to reveal everything. Let them fall from the heights when they were most triumphant. It would be a fitting revenge for my sister. The next day, Daisy’s condition stabilized. Julian arranged a private jet to take them back to King’s Landing. As I walked through the airport terminal, I saw Brandon waiting for his assistant to check in their boarding passes. Serena had her arms wrapped around his waist, kissing his face. Julian saw the scene too. He put his arm around my shoulder. “Aubrey, let’s go. Mr. Harrington and the others are waiting for you.” I nodded, calmly withdrew my gaze, and stepped into the VIP channel. Brandon Hayes, everything I gave you, I will take back. Back in King’s Landing, after settling Daisy, my father asked me to quickly prepare for the wedding with Julian. I also wanted to get it over with so I could focus on my research.

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When I was two months pregnant, I stumbled upon a secret Liam had buried deep in his journal. “Rain, I can’t love you anymore, but you’ll always be in my heart, my brother’s heart.” “Rain, I met a girl who looks a little like you, and I decided to pursue her…” An entire journal filled with hidden, passionate love – it stabbed my heart. I vaguely recalled that rainy night when Liam held his umbrella over my head. “Hey, mind if we share?” It turned out that what I thought was love at first sight was nothing more than a cruel joke. But Liam, those who deceive a sincere heart will get their karma. I terminated the pregnancy, set our wedding home ablaze, and vanished from his world. Three years later, he traveled across the ocean and showed up at my doorstep. His eyes burned red when he saw the man beside me. “Who is he? Did you fall for someone else?” “Harper, I’m scared.” Rain cried, her voice trembling as she looked at me. Scared of what? Was a simple procedure more terrifying than sleeping with your own brother? I tapped Rain’s pale, delicate leg with the surgical forceps. “Relax. Spread your legs wider.” The moment the cold metal touched Rain, she shrieked. “Ah…!” “Rain! Rain!” The operating room door rattled violently as Liam’s anxious voice boomed from outside. I frowned, the forceps still in my hand. I walked over and stood by the door. “Stop yelling. If anyone hears, I won’t be able to help you two.” The Lennox family was one of the most prominent names in Veridia City. In public, Liam and I were still the picture of a loving couple. Rain, though adopted into the Lennox family, was still publicly known as Liam’s sister. A sister pregnant with her brother’s child – that kind of scandal could never be exposed. I never wanted to cover up their dirty secret, but they threatened me with the Lennox Group’s collaboration project with the hospital. I had no choice but to agree. “Harper, be gentle. Rain is so sensitive to pain.” Liam’s desperate pleas came through the door. Right. Rain was sensitive to pain. But me, his official wife? I wasn’t. I was made of steel and iron. No matter how he sliced and diced my heart, I wouldn’t feel a thing. Leaning against the door, my hand, clutching the forceps, instinctively grazed my still-flat belly. Two months pregnant. I’d been about to share this monumental news with Liam when my sister-in-law announced hers first. My nose stung. I bit hard on my lip to stop the uncooperative tears from falling. Without a word, I returned to the operating table. The procedure took only about fifteen minutes and involved painless general anesthesia. It wasn’t supposed to hurt. But Rain cried the entire time, loud and theatrical. Liam was heartbroken. The moment the surgery ended, he burst in and swept her into his arms. I tossed the forceps into the sterile tray, not looking at them. “You two should head home. I have a night shift.” “Alright. I’ll take Rain home now.” Liam walked off with Rain in his arms, but paused at the door, looking back at me. “Harper, come home early after your shift. I’ll be waiting.” Waiting for what? I took a deep breath. Before I could speak, I heard Rain’s fragile voice. “Brother, I’m in so much pain.” “Just hold on a little longer. We’ll be home soon.” Liam turned and hurried away. He didn’t seem to care much for my answer, either. I stared at the empty doorway, then pulled two small pills from my lab coat pocket. Today was the third day. After these last two pills, the two-month-old life inside me would be no more. Swallowing the pills, I went to the restroom, waiting for them to take effect. The agonizing, twisting pain arrived precisely on schedule. I shoved a towel into my mouth, biting down hard as large beads of cold sweat rolled down my forehead. My body trembled uncontrollably. I bit into my lip, and my clothes were quickly soaked through with sweat. The pain blurred my consciousness. I saw myself again, the woman who had planned to share her joy with her husband. That day, I’d left work early, booked a restaurant, and ordered all of Liam’s favorite dishes. I’d even secretly tucked the ultrasound scan into the hand of a cute, custom-made plushie. I planned to give the plushie to Liam as a small gift, imagining his overjoyed reaction when he found the scan. But who knew, the moment I handed him the plushie, he got a call from home. Rain was pregnant. It was in that moment that I first learned their secret. He left in a panic, and the plushie was casually tossed into a nearby trash can in his haste. My teeth tasted blood. A fierce, heavy ache seized my lower abdomen, and the tiny life within me finally departed. I didn’t want to go home. I lay on the examination bed in my office for half the night, only returning in the morning. The moment I walked in, I heard my mother-in-law, Eleanor, scolding the housekeeper in the kitchen for forgetting to add the special herbs to the chicken broth. Chicken broth for qi, red dates for blood. Eleanor certainly doted on Rain. I ignored them and went straight upstairs. Just as I reached the bedroom door, Eleanor came up. “Coming home without a sound? Do you even see me as your mother?” Did she even see me as her daughter-in-law? I found it laughable. My lower abdomen throbbed intensely. I couldn’t stand straight and instinctively leaned against the doorframe. “I just got off my shift, I’m tired. If there’s nothing, Mom, I’m going to catch up on sleep.” “How tired can a night shift make you? Here, Mrs. Jenkins is busy, so you wash these. By hand.” Eleanor commanded. I turned around and saw she was holding a laundry basket. It was filled with Rain’s clothes, with a blood-stained pair of underwear on top. “Mom, I’m really tired.” I said, gritting my teeth through the abdominal pain. At that, Eleanor’s face immediately hardened. “These few clothes will kill you? Rain is a young lady; her intimate clothes must be hand-washed. And this is all your fault. Your surgical skills are so poor, you made Rain bleed! If you don’t wash them, who will?” Was there such a thing as a procedure that didn’t involve bleeding? I couldn’t listen anymore. I walked into the room and closed the door. Soon, a thunderous pounding rattled the door. “What kind of attitude is that? You’re family, is it really so hard to wash a few clothes for your sister-in-law?” “You’re angry, aren’t you? What right do you have to be angry? You’ve been married into our family for four years now, and still no baby! Do you even have the right to be angry?” “Open this door! You’re out of control…” The excruciating pain in my abdomen made my legs weak. I couldn’t stand, slowly sliding down the door to the floor. Through the closed door, Eleanor’s curses were still piercing. With cold, trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and sent a message: “Proceed with your plan. I’m in!” Liam, don’t worry. Soon, I’ll be out of your life for good!

The moment I sent the message, Liam’s voice sounded from outside the door. “Mom, what’s wrong?” “Your wonderful wife! I asked her to wash Rain’s clothes, and she slammed the door in my face.” Eleanor kicked the door in a fit of rage. “I’ll have Harper wash them later, just leave her alone for now. Rain says she’s in a lot of pain, Mom, you should go check on her.” Without waiting for her to finish, Liam pulled Eleanor away. Just last night, he’d told me to come home early. And what did it matter if I did? It would still be the same: “Just leave her alone!” I leaned on the door, stood up, and forced myself to take a shower. After resting for a while, I started packing my things. Opening the closet, my clothes were pitifully few. A few were bought by Liam before we got married; the rest I’d bought myself. After we married, he never bought me a single outfit. Because the year we married, Rain came back from overseas. In truth, everything had been evident for a long time. I was just too slow, too oblivious to notice. With my things packed, I lay down for a nap. Waking up thirsty, I slowly got up, my body still aching and weak, and walked out. The moment I stepped out, Rain’s saccharine voice floated into my ears. “Brother, I’m so sorry. I’ve caused you so much trouble.” “What nonsense are you talking about? This is all my fault. I didn’t take proper precautions.” Liam said, his voice laced with tenderness. Drawn by their voices, I inexplicably walked towards the room at the end of the hallway. The door was ajar. Liam sat on the edge of the bed, holding a cup of water, while Rain leaned against his chest. “Careful, it’s hot.” Liam put one arm around Rain’s shoulder, the other carefully raising the cup to her lips. “It’s brown sugar water. Drink it, and the pain will go away.” Brown sugar water. It must be so sweet. My grip tightened unconsciously on the empty cup in my hand. “Harper?” Rain noticed me. I turned to leave, but Liam came over and pulled me in. “You’re just in time. I need to make a call back. Can you feed Rain? She’s very weak right now.” Liam took the empty cup from my hand without explanation and pressed the cup of brown sugar water into my grasp. So weak she couldn’t even drink water herself. I glanced at Rain, my gaze suddenly snagged by the pillow beside her. The pillow still had a faint indentation, clearly having been slept on. And beneath the pillow, a watch strap was peeking out. It was Liam’s watch. They had slept together again last night, after I lost our baby. An invisible hand gripped my heart, squeezing it, tearing at it. I couldn’t breathe. “Harper, give it to me. I can drink it myself. Brother is just being overly cautious.” Rain reached out and took the cup from my hand. That watch was a burning ember in my eyes. I wanted to leave, but before I could move, Rain suddenly let out a gasp. “Ah…!” I quickly looked at her. The cup of brown sugar water, which she’d just been holding, had tipped over onto the bed. Rain was soaked from head to chest, and a large patch of the duvet was wet. “Harper, why did you throw water on me?” Rain, her long hair dripping, wailed accusations. Liam rushed to the bedside with incredible speed. “What—what are you doing?!” He shoved me aside, sat on the bed, and pulled Rain into his embrace, then glared at me. His eyes looked like they wanted to kill me. I stumbled back two steps, catching myself on the bedside table. “I…” Just as I tried to explain, he cut me off. “You don’t need to say anything. I know. You’re just taking your anger out on Rain. Go get a clean duvet for her right now, and then wash this one. If she catches a cold, I won’t let you off the hook.” Liam’s face was furious. He yanked off the wet duvet and threw it at my feet. “It’s okay, Brother, don’t blame Harper. It’s all my fault. *cough, cough*…” Rain clutched Liam’s shirt. Before she could even finish a sentence, she started coughing. In a single second, she’d ‘caught a cold.’ I bit my lip and slowly straightened up. How ridiculous. I’d actually been foolish enough to fantasize about explaining myself just now. What explanation could ever stand against a few of Rain’s tears? “If you’re afraid of her catching a cold, you can sleep with her. You don’t need the duvet.” I was about to leave when I saw Eleanor walk in. “Liam, call the hospital. Cancel the project.” The unwashed laundry basket still fuming in her mind, Eleanor’s face was filled with anger the moment she saw me. “The first day you married into this family, I told you, the Lennox family doesn’t need your meager earnings. I told you to quit your job and focus on being a good wife and mother. But you refused. Now you haven’t produced a child, and your temper has grown. Today, I’ll show you that without the Lennox family, you are nothing.” If the collaboration project was canceled, I wouldn’t be able to stay at the hospital. But that wasn’t what mattered. What mattered was that this project would benefit millions of patients. I couldn’t drag those patients down with me. My hands, hanging at my sides, clenched into fists. My nails dug deep into my palms. After a long silence, I finally swallowed my resentment and anger. “I’m sorry, Mom. I was wrong. I’ll wash this, and all the previous clothes too.” I resigned myself, grabbing the duvet from the floor and beginning to strip its cover. “Always needing to be knocked down a peg to know your place in this family. You truly are spineless, aren’t you?” Eleanor’s low curses reached me from nearby. I didn’t look up. I hugged the duvet cover and walked out. I had no family background, and my mother-in-law had always disliked me. I used to think that as long as Liam loved me, none of it mattered. Now, thinking back, I realized how naive I’d been. My mother-in-law treated me poorly because she knew her son didn’t care about me at all. In the laundry room, the moment my hands plunged into the icy water, the cold transformed into sharp blades, scraping at my entire body. I gritted my teeth and persisted. After the duvet cover, I washed the clothes. Just as I was washing the blood-stained underwear, Liam walked in. “Didn’t I explain what happened that day clearly enough? Why are you still upset?” His first words were an accusation. I didn’t say anything or look at him, just mechanically scrubbed the clothes with my frozen hands. “I’d had too much to drink, my head wasn’t clear, and she happened to be there taking care of me…” The suds in the basin were tinged with a faint red, just like the delicate rose in the bottom right corner of his journal.

Rain was the one who showed me that journal. It was the very day she announced her pregnancy. One hand caressing her belly, the other holding that locked journal, Rain showed no sorrow for the impending abortion. Instead, her face was smug. “It’s just a baby, who cares? Getting rid of it will just make Brother dote on me even more.” Rain unlocked the journal and tossed it in front of me. I opened it, and Liam’s familiar handwriting instantly filled my vision. “January 6th, Overcast. I’m sorry, Rain, I can’t love you anymore, my brother’s heart. Mom says the company is about to go public. We are siblings, after all; if our relationship is exposed, it will definitely bring negative publicity.” “May 10th, Overcast. Rain, today I told Mom that I would bury my love for you deep inside, but it’s so hard. When I see you, all I want to do is hold you, kiss you…” “October 23rd, Heavy Rain. Rain, today I met a girl who looks a little like you. I decided to pursue her. Mom sent you to study overseas, and I can’t see you. I’m in so much pain. Forgive me.” Seven years ago, on that rainy night, I left the library very late, and it was pouring. I was wearing a thin dress, about to brave the rain when I heard someone call out. “Hey, classmate.” I turned to see a boy in a white shirt running over from the library entrance, holding an umbrella. The arrow-like raindrops were blocked by the umbrella. He raised a hand to brush away the wet strands of hair from his forehead and asked, “Which dorm are you in? I can walk you. The rain’s so heavy, you’ll definitely catch a cold if you walk back.” The girls’ dorm wasn’t far, and with exams approaching, getting sick would mess up my studying. After a moment’s thought, I didn’t refuse. Who knew, after only about ten meters, a few late-returning boys on bicycles came flying past us. They pedaled furiously, shouting at us, “Liam, got a girlfriend? Nice! She’s pretty!” Liam. So, he was Liam, the campus heartthrob the girls in my dorm often talked about. I gazed at his youthful, handsome face, my mind drifting. Their story, a love at first sight, was once a hot topic on campus. Back then, I didn’t know I was just a substitute. No, not just a substitute. I was a clown. The moment Rain returned from overseas, Liam handed her that journal, as if to prove his twisted, undying devotion. For four years, Rain had watched me from under this very roof. Watched how I tried to please my husband, how I tried to win over my mother-in-law. Watched me give everything, only to end up with nothing. Cold tears fell into the suds, quickly mixing with them. “Hospital duties are hectic. I’ll be staying in the dorm for a while.” I sped up my scrubbing, still not looking up. Liam looked at the basin of dirty clothes, a frown creasing his brows. “Fine, maybe you need some time to cool off. You’re always so emotional, it’s not good for Rain. She needs to rest right now.” With that, he turned and left. I glanced back slightly, only catching sight of his hurried departure. When I left the Lennox house, dragging a large suitcase, not a single person came to see me off. Liam and Eleanor were in Rain’s room. I clutched my lower abdomen with one hand and dragged my suitcase with the other, inching my way to the roadside, where I squatted down to wait for a cab. Arriving at the hospital dorms, I passed a room with the door ajar and heard voices inside. “I never would’ve thought she was like that. So gentle and kind on the surface, but actually so shameless.” Women often gossiped. I didn’t pay it much mind, but as I prepared to continue, I heard more. “Ms. Rain is the legitimate Lennox family daughter. She just married in a few days ago and already wants to kick out her illegitimate sister-in-law to monopolize the family fortune. I’ve seen shameless, but never this shameless.” “Her greed is insane. And she even attacked Ms. Rain! Mr. Lennox truly has a good temper to put up with a wife like that.” “If you ask me, Mrs. Lennox is just too kind. She actually laid hands on her, and before that it couldn’t have been good. Mrs. Lennox actually tolerated her, what a woman of composure.” The fragmented voices made my head spin. What attack? What monopolizing the family fortune?

“Harper.” My friend, Chloe, came up. I didn’t want to disturb the two people in the dorm room, so I just glanced at Chloe and continued towards my own room. Once inside, I closed the door. Chloe, seeing my distraught expression, said, “Don’t take any of that internet stuff to heart. Those tabloid reporters just love writing about high-society drama. What do they know?” “You know about it too? What exactly happened?” I put down my suitcase, grabbed Chloe’s hand, and stared intently at her. Chloe paused. “You haven’t seen it?” Then she pulled out her phone. “What happened with Rain last night? The internet is claiming you, as her sister-in-law, were fighting with her over the family fortune, trying to kick out your ‘illegitimate’ sister-in-law. They’re saying you two had a huge fight at home, and you injured her, sending her to the hospital.” The accompanying photo showed Liam carrying a post-surgery Rain out of the hospital. The comment section was filled with hateful remarks, all condemning me and sympathizing with Rain’s ‘tragic’ ordeal. They had done something despicable, and I was taking the blame. I had become the malicious daughter-in-law, coveting their family fortune and assaulting their daughter. They, on the other hand, had gained sympathy, and he, a reputation as a husband who loved his wife unconditionally. Even my mother-in-law, Eleanor, was praised as a tolerant and generous woman. Chloe scrolled through the comments, growing angrier with each word, and tapped on the comment box. As my best friend, she wanted to defend me. I pressed her hand, shaking my head helplessly. “What’s the use of clarifying on the internet? They won’t listen, and it’ll only blow this story up even more. I’ll just get dragged through the mud worse.” I didn’t care anymore. Chloe thought it made sense, so she put her phone in her pocket and helped me unpack my suitcase. “Honestly, it’s nothing. Let them talk. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. They don’t know. We were roommates in college, and I know better than anyone how much Liam loved you.” “In sophomore year, when he was pursuing you, he’d buy breakfast in a thermos early in the morning, stand beneath the girls’ dorm building from five to seven, but he never dared to wake you up.” “In junior year, we were harassed by some thugs at a snack shop outside the school, and he fought four or five of them by himself, almost losing his life. He would’ve died for you back then. And in senior year…” Chloe recounted Liam’s past ‘heroic deeds.’ But how could she know that the man waiting downstairs with breakfast that year was actually longing for the shadow of his sister? I sank onto the bed, feeling helpless, my heart aching. Just then, my phone rang. Liam! My cold, numb fingers tapped open SnapChat. “Harper, are you at the hospital? Get some good rest when you get there, don’t overthink things. It’s all my fault, honey. When work isn’t so busy, I’ll take you away for a break. Darling, no matter what happens, my heart for you will never change. Love you!” Love me? The online posts were already blowing up. Hadn’t he seen them? Maybe he really hadn’t seen them. His eyes were only for Rain; he saw no one else. “Oh, what did I tell you? Look, ‘darling,’ ‘love you’—if you ask me, you should cherish it. A man as rich as Liam, who’s willing to stoop to such lengths to sweet-talk you, isn’t easy to find.” Was he sweet-talking me? Rain was back by his side. He no longer needed me, his shadow. But he had to maintain his image as a model husband in public, to protect the Lennox family’s reputation. Liam, how much longer will you deceive me? I closed SnapChat, not replying. Not wanting Chloe to see the despair in my eyes, I simply lay down, turned over, and closed them.

After resting for over a week, I recovered my strength. The day of the official signing for the hospital’s collaboration project with the Lennox Group finally arrived. The hospital placed great importance on this partnership, and the ceremony was grand. As a key party involved, I rushed there immediately after my surgery shift, and the moment I walked in, I started looking for Chloe. Before I could spot her, a familiar voice reached my ears. “Harper.” Rain walked over from the side. She looked well after the past ten days—her complexion was rosy and glowing, her peach-blossom eyes were watery and bright, and she seemed to have gained a little weight. Her off-the-shoulder red dress hugged her curves perfectly, and with a twist of her slender waist, she exuded charm and allure. No wonder Liam loved her so much. Growing up together, childhood sweethearts, and possessing both a beautiful face and an impressive figure—who wouldn’t love her? I felt a surge of impatience and ignored her. I tried to walk away, but Rain blocked my path. “Harper, are you happy with the gift I sent you?” Rain smiled. I froze, suddenly recalling the malicious posts online from a few days ago. Because of those posts, people from the Lennox Group were still pointing fingers at me today. “You sent those posts?” I asked coldly. Rain brushed a strand of long hair from her shoulder, raising an eyebrow smugly. “If I were you, I’d divorce my brother voluntarily. The sooner you leave, the more gracefully it will be.” She kept provoking me, simply to force me out of this marriage. Liam, mindful of their sibling relationship, hadn’t brought up divorce. But I couldn’t wait any longer. It was time for me to withdraw. Withdrawal would mean freedom. “Are you done talking? If so, move aside.” I looked at Rain with annoyance. As I prepared to walk past her, I saw Liam approaching. “What are you two talking about?” He had just come down from giving a speech, his face beaming with triumph. He seemed to have completely forgotten what had transpired between the three of us. “Brother, those posts online really weren’t from me. Harper insists they were, and no matter how I explain, it’s no use.” Rain bit her lip in distress, her eyes welling up. Liam paused, then his face subtly darkened. “Rain has been resting at home these past few days; she barely leaves the house. How could those posts be from her? Besides, don’t people online just love gossip? What does it matter if they talk a bit? Harper, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.” Did you need to leave the house to post online? He wasn’t the one being slandered, nor was his precious darling. Of course, he didn’t care. I no longer wanted to argue. Just as I prepared to leave, I heard Liam tell Rain, “Go over there for a moment. I need to speak with Harper.” Rain froze, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes. Liam gave her a reassuring look, and she reluctantly left. Watching Rain walk away, Liam finally turned his gaze back to me. “It’s been so many days, shouldn’t you have cooled off by now? Dad even asked about you the other day. Everyone at the hospital knows you’re my wife, and you keep staying in the dorm. It makes me look bad. Come home with me after the banquet today.” He hadn’t taken my pain to heart at all. He only wanted me back for his own image. “Liam…” I bit my lip. “Let’s talk about divorce after the banquet.” “Divorce?” Liam glanced into the distance, a dismissive and slightly mocking smile on his face. “Harper, there’s a limit to how childish you can be.” My breakdown was, in his eyes, nothing more than a woman’s petty theatrics. A bitter taste filled my mouth. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. Liam glanced away again, impatiently tugging at his tie. “The company has several major projects launching soon. Don’t always dwell on these minor issues. Don’t forget, you’re Mrs. Lennox. Alright, we’ll talk about it when we get home. I’ll find you after the event.” He didn’t give me a chance to speak before turning and walking away. Mrs. Lennox. What a laughable Mrs. Lennox. I wouldn’t go back with him. Not until I was free, truly free, would I ever step foot in that house again. I hadn’t found Chloe, and decided not to bother anymore, so I turned and headed towards the back exit of the banquet hall. Just two steps in, I saw Rain suddenly rush back in through the back door, clutching her chest. She precisely located Liam and threw herself into his arms. From a distance, I couldn’t tell what had happened.

A moment later, another person burst in. It was a young doctor named Dr. Owen. He was a highly accomplished professional, usually very meticulous about his appearance, but now he looked disheveled, as if possessed. He was chasing Rain, but was quickly grabbed and pulled out by others. Then, the hospital director walked up to Liam and Rain. I wasn’t interested in what they were saying. I continued towards the back exit. But as I reached the door, Liam suddenly came up from behind and grabbed my hand. “Come with me.” Liam’s face was ashen. He dragged me directly out of the banquet hall. “You’re going too far.” Once outside, he immediately let go of my hand, as if holding it for another second would taint him. I happened to be standing by the steps, and my body swayed, causing me to tumble down. The steps weren’t high, but I fell sideways, my head hitting the concrete ground below. A dull ache and dizziness washed over me in waves. I lay on the ground, unable to get up. Chloe rushed over and quickly helped me to my feet. “Liam, you haven’t even figured out what happened, how can you treat Harper like this?” She tried to reason with Liam, but he wouldn’t listen. “She misunderstood that Rain posted those things, got angry at her, and I can understand if she yelled a bit. But I never imagined she would be so malicious as to set Rain up with such a sleazy man!” Liam’s accusation exploded like thunderclaps above my head. It took me a while to process his words. “Is this another one of Rain’s stories?” I struggled to my feet, my voice strangely calm. It had happened too many times; I was used to it. “Harper, what do you mean? Are you saying I deliberately ruined my own reputation to frame you? I just went to the restroom, and that man suddenly appeared and grabbed me, claiming you’d married me off to him. You told him that as my sister-in-law, you had the right to make decisions for me, and that I’d accept any marriage you arranged. Do you swear those weren’t your words?” Rain clutched Liam’s arm, her voice choked with sobs as she questioned me. Her tearful accusation provoked Liam, and his face turned ashen as he glared at me. “You truly can’t tolerate Rain, can you? You’re so desperate to drive her out of this family?” Earlier in the banquet hall, over the online posts, he hadn’t been this furious. But now, with a man attempting to assault his precious darling, he couldn’t hold back. He even abandoned his most cherished pride. The deader the heart, the calmer it becomes. That was how I felt at that moment. “I didn’t. Believe me or not. And no, I won’t be going back with you today.” I turned, leaning on Chloe’s arm, and limped towards the dorm area, my legs aching from the fall. “Stop right there!” Liam chased after me, grabbing my arm. Just then, an old, anxious voice reached us. “Harper!” It was Liam’s grandma. Wasn’t she vacationing overseas? How was she back? All three of us were startled. Liam quickly let go of me. The old lady pulled me close, tenderly stroking my face. “Harper, my poor child.” Before I could speak, Liam said, “Grandma, why are you back?” “Why am I back? You should be asking yourself that!” The old lady glared at her grandson in annoyance, then turned to me. “Good child, come home with Grandma first.” She had returned specifically from overseas, and I couldn’t bear to refuse her. So, I briefly explained to Chloe and then complied with the old lady’s wishes. The old lady rubbed my hands, her face full of tenderness as she looked at me. “Harper, Grandma knows all about your troubles.” In the Lennox family, Grandma was the kindest to me. Eleanor and her mother-in-law had an average relationship. Liam and his father were usually busy and rarely spent time with the elderly. Although Grandma lived in the main house with dedicated caregivers, she was still often lonely. I was the only one who would visit her and chat when I had time, which was why she was very fond of me. “It’s okay, Grandma. It’s all in the past.” I didn’t want to bother the old lady, so I quickly brushed it aside. Our affectionate display made Rain grit her teeth in resentment, but in front of Grandma, she didn’t dare say anything, just bowed her head, hugging herself tightly. Liam, seeing her so distressed, couldn’t help but say, “Grandma, don’t spoil her. She just…” “You shut your mouth!” The old lady glared at her grandson. “Just what? All I know is someone was bullying my granddaughter-in-law again.” She meaningfully glanced at Rain, then purposely raised her voice as she spoke to me, “Girl, don’t worry. Grandma has made arrangements. In a few days, it’s Grandma’s birthday. On that day, Grandma will announce something in front of everyone. Since you married into our family, I will never let you suffer any injustice.” Announce what? I was puzzled, but Grandma said no more, simply pulling me along. Rain, hearing this, was both surprised and angered. She gripped Liam’s hand, whispering, “Brother, did you hear? Grandma is going to do something, I’m so scared.” “What can an old lady do? I’m here. Don’t worry.” Liam reassured Rain, not taking Grandma’s words seriously.

For the next few days, I stayed at the old manor. Grandma’s birthday fell on a weekend, and the invited guests arrived early. Grandma purposely kept me and Liam by her side. Rain tried to approach Liam several times but was scolded by Grandma, making her angry enough to run upstairs to sulk alone. Passing Grandma’s bedroom on the second floor, Rain saw the door was open and walked in. Grandma had many valuable pieces of jewelry; some were just kept in her cabinets, as Rain had seen when she played there as a child. With so many people here today, if one or two pieces went missing, Grandma wouldn’t know who took them. And why should Grandma have been so rude to her earlier? Rain grew angrier the more she thought about it and started rummaging frantically. But instead of jewelry, she found a document first. It was in the nightstand drawer. *Share Transfer Agreement?* Rain opened it, and her eyes instantly widened. **Transferee: Harper Lennox.** Grandma was transferring ten percent of her Lennox Group shares to *me*? No wonder the old woman had said she had something to announce that day, promising she’d never let me suffer injustice. Oh, she wanted to bind Harper and Liam tightly together with shares. Rain gripped the agreement tightly, her teeth grinding with hatred. Just then, a sharp reprimand suddenly came from behind her. “What are you doing here?” Rain gasped in fright. She turned to see Grandma rushing towards her, her face furious. “Who gave you permission to rummage through my things?” Grandma reached out and grabbed the agreement from Rain’s hand. Rain, coveting those shares, subconsciously tightened her grip on the document. Grandma pulled hard, but couldn’t wrench it free. Enraged, she let go and raised her hand to slap her. “You beast! What do you think you’re doing?” As the slap came, Rain reacted quickly, raising her hand to grab Grandma’s wrist. Calling her a beast. This old hag had never liked her. It had been okay when she was little, but as she grew up, Grandma always kept an eye on her, telling her not to get too close to Liam. With this old woman around, Rain never had an easy day. Rain’s anger flared, and she violently flung Grandma’s hand away. Grandma, being elderly, couldn’t withstand the force and fell heavily to the ground. *Thump.* Her head hit the floor with a dull thud. Grandma’s eyes immediately closed, and she fell silent. Seeing this, Rain was also terrified. She stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move. After waiting a long time and seeing no reaction from the person on the ground, she cautiously moved closer and knelt down, reaching a hand under Grandma’s nose. No breath. Dead? Rain fell back onto the floor in fright. Just then, the sound of high heels echoed in the hallway. Her heart tightened. She glanced at the agreement in her hand, quickly folded it, tucked it into her pocket, and then got up. “Grandma…!” The moment I walked in, I saw Grandma lying on the ground. Terrified, I rushed over, but before I could reach her, Rain grabbed my arm. “You actually pushed Grandma down! Are you even human?!” Rain shrieked. I had been so focused on Grandma on the ground that I hadn’t even noticed who was next to me. Now, I saw it was Rain. “What are you talking about?!” I shook off Rain, knelt down, and gently shook Grandma. After calling her name a few times and realizing something was wrong, I quickly reached for Grandma’s nose. At the same time, Rain ran out. “Dad, Mom, Brother! It’s terrible! Something happened to Grandma!” My fingertips rested beneath Grandma’s nose. After a few seconds, my heart sank to rock bottom. But I refused to give up, frantically trying to open Grandma’s eyelids. “Grandma, Grandma, don’t scare me…” I collapsed onto the floor, clutching Grandma’s arm in disbelief. Liam was the first to rush up, followed by everyone else. Soon, guests crowded the second-floor hallway. “What happened to Grandma?!” Lost in shock and grief, I didn’t answer. Rain cried, “I don’t know either. I was resting in the next room and heard an argument here. I ran over and saw Harper and Grandma struggling.” “I heard Grandma tell Harper to prioritize the big picture, saying so many people were here today, and asking her not to make a scene. But Harper didn’t listen, yelling that Brother had wronged her, and she was going to ruin his reputation or something.” “I wanted to go over and mediate, but before I could even reach them, Harper pushed Grandma to the ground.” Rain’s tearful accusation made my head spin. I couldn’t understand how someone could be so shameless. Before I could even speak, Liam rushed over and roughly pulled me to my feet. “Harper Lennox, are you going to cause trouble endlessly? What kind of day is today? Causing a scene with me is one thing, but pushing Grandma?! Are you even human?!” He hadn’t even asked; he just believed Rain. Grandma’s death had already shattered my heart. Now, I felt utterly frozen to the core. Tears streamed down my face instantly, and I could no longer suppress the pain in my heart. “You believe everything she says! You don’t care about me, fine, but you don’t care about Grandma either?!” “One is your own grandmother, and the other is a sister with not a drop of your blood! Instead of investigating the truth and getting justice for Grandma, you blindly believe her lies?! I’m not human?! What about you?! You’re worse than an animal!” The more I spoke, the more it hurt. My body trembled as I screamed. I was a tearful mess, staring at Liam, and then I saw Rain, still looking smug, hiding behind him. “Grandma was as foolish as me. She even begged me not to leave you, saying if I left, your precious sister would ruin you. She cared for you wholeheartedly, and what about you? All you cared about was sneaking off to hotels with your precious sister!” The words “sneaking off” silenced the noisy crowd and flushed Liam’s face scarlet. “You—what nonsense are you talking about?!” “Nonsense? Did I make it up? You two begged me to perform the procedure to remove the baby she was carrying! What nonsense am I talking about?!” “You…” Liam was enraged. He just wanted this woman, who was humiliating him, to shut up, so he slapped me. *Slap!* The sound cut off my accusations. My cheek burned. A dampness seeped from the corner of my mouth. I touched it with my finger—blood.

Clutching my face, I stared at Liam, my eyes filled with despair. Growing up together, childhood sweethearts—that love had long been etched into his very bones. And I, I was nothing more than an unlucky stranger who had stumbled into his life. Grandma was the same—unlucky. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been worrying about her grandson until the day before she died. “Alright, alright, stop arguing! Let’s get the old lady to the hospital immediately!” Someone came over to mediate. They didn’t yet know that Grandma was beyond help. Everyone was in a frenzy. I looked at Grandma, being carried away, overcome with boundless grief. Knowing the outcome, I didn’t go to the hospital but stayed at the old manor. News of Grandma’s death soon arrived. The joyous occasion turned into a funeral, leaving everyone heartbroken. The sky was gray on the day of the funeral. After a final farewell at the cemetery, I left without exchanging another word with anyone from the Lennox family. As I neared the cemetery gate, Liam caught up with me. “Why are you leaving in such a hurry? Come home with us in a bit.” Home? Did I even have a home anymore? “No need.” I ignored him and walked straight ahead. Liam frowned and grabbed my arm. “Harper, how long are you going to keep this up? Grandma is gone. I’ve said all the good things I could to Mom, Dad, and the relatives, and they finally decided not to pursue your responsibility. I’ve done this much for you; isn’t that enough?” “My responsibility? What responsibility do I have?” I shook off his hand. “Liam, I’ll say it one last time: Grandma’s death had nothing to do with me. You should go ask Rain what really happened.” Unwilling to say more, I turned and swiftly walked down the steps. “Harper!” Liam chased after me for a few steps, then stood on the staircase, staring angrily at my rapidly retreating back. “It’s easy to leave, but hard to come back. My patience has its limits. Don’t regret this.” Come back? Never. Liam, I won’t be back. I didn’t look back. Liam’s face hardened in anger. Fine, go. Let’s see how long you can be stubborn. He stopped watching my retreating figure and turned back. A week later, when Liam returned home, a wave of irritation washed over him as he looked at the empty bedroom. Seven days, and that woman still hadn’t caved. She hadn’t come home, hadn’t called, not even a single text. She’d never been like this before, not even when Rain first got pregnant. What was different this time? Just as he was pondering, Rain came over. “Brother, look at my new dress. Doesn’t it look pretty?” She stretched out her arms and twirled. In this time, she had not only fully recovered but also looked healthier, her complexion glowing. The lake-blue off-the-shoulder long dress made her look like a beautiful fairy. Liam glanced at it, uninterested in the dress. He was about to give a perfunctory reply when his phone rang. “Mr. Lennox, this is the property management for Crystal Manor. Your house is on fire…” Crystal Manor was the small villa he’d bought when they got married. They had lived there for a while after getting married, but then Eleanor had called them back to live here, leaving the villa vacant. No one was living there, so how could it be on fire? Liam was puzzled. He hung up the phone and rushed over. By the time he arrived, the fire department was already wrapping up. The fire had raged fiercely. The elegant two-story villa was now just a charred skeleton. There were still scattered embers on the roof frame, and fire trucks were spraying water inside. Outside, besides the fire trucks, there were also one or two medical vehicles. No one was hurt, so what were the medical vehicles doing there? Liam was puzzled. As he prepared to question the property management, he saw several people rushing out from inside. They were carrying a stretcher, draped with a white sheet. Beneath the sheet was a charred, black mass. Beside the stretcher was a doctor he recognized, and that person was crying. “Chloe? What are you doing here? Why are you crying?” Liam rushed over and grabbed Chloe’s arm, a surge of unease flooding his heart. Chloe raised her face, her red-rimmed eyes staring at Liam. She pushed him away like a madwoman. “You have the nerve to ask?! Harper is dead, and you’re still asking?!” “Harper?!” Liam froze for a moment, then turned and lunged at the stretcher, tearing off the white sheet.

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Flying home for the holidays on a red-eye flight, I found myself stuck at the airport, blocked by a suffocating swarm of a female celebrity’s fans. A bodyguard pushed me back, pointing a finger at my face. “Fans, stay back!” My plane was about to take off, and I was desperate. I pulled out my megaphone and roared: “Who the hell is her fan? Get real! If you block the way again, I’m calling the cops!” I went viral overnight, and the celebrity was ripped apart on trending topics. A year later, burned by acid thrown by an extreme fan, my throat damaged, I vaguely remember falling to my death from a building. But when I opened my eyes again, I was back at that airport. “Our daughter is so beautiful! Our daughter worked so hard! Go home and rest!” “Happy New Year, sweetheart!” “Don’t forget to post selfies, baby!” In the dense crowd, I was pushed forward, stumbling right into a bodyguard’s back. Immediately, I was shoved away so hard I almost landed on my butt. But the bodyguard wasn’t satisfied. He glared at me, then stretched out his arms, creating a comfortable space for the A-lister. “Fans, stand back! Don’t get too close!” The sound of my fall still echoed in my ears. My mind was hazy, but I could clearly see the glamorous figure ahead. Everyone around was crammed and pushed, yet she stood alone, relaxed within the protection of a dozen bodyguards. She wore sunglasses, hands tucked into her pockets, walking with an air of cold arrogance. She was so imposing, it felt like this wasn’t a crowded airport, but an international red carpet. The fans’ screams pierced my eardrums, and my head buzzed. Still, I instinctively pulled out my megaphone, just like in my previous life, cranking the volume to max. Then, everyone nearby heard my furious shout— “Try pushing me again, I dare you!” “I’m just a regular passenger rushing to catch my flight, what gives you the right to stop me? And not only that, you yell at me and shove me? Who gave you the authority to be so rude to a stranger? And another thing!” “Who the hell is your fan?! Get real! Blocking the airport right before the holidays? Seriously, how messed up is that? Treating innocent passengers like your personal fan club? Do you think you’re some kind of god, that everyone’s obsessed with you? Get out of the way, or I’m calling the cops!!” The entire hall fell silent. All cameras were still on us. My outburst was live-streamed to countless people. Within five minutes, the news headlines exploded. #StellaThorneYelledAtByPassengerAtAirport #WhoTheHellIsYourFan #StellaThorneFansDisruptAirportOrder #BlockingAirportBeforeHolidaysHowMessedUp #ThinkYoureSomeKindofGodSoPopular My words were dissected, every phrase hitting the trending topics. The hashtags dominated, and the media frantically spun stories to defend her. Of course, the self-righteous keyboard warriors started popping up, claiming: “While the fans were wrong, that passenger’s language was way too harsh, wasn’t it?” They were instantly roasted. [You’d be polite if you missed your flight before the holidays? If you’re so saintly, buy her a private jet!] [Blocking the airport is wrong, but did you really have to be so aggressive?] [I was one of the passengers stuck there. No joke, when I heard the megaphone lady start yelling, my colleagues and I clapped louder than fireworks. My only regret is not bringing my own bullhorn.] While the internet was blowing up, I had already returned to my rental apartment, having missed my flight. Okay, actually, I almost didn’t make it back. If the police hadn’t arrived so quickly, the fans there might have torn me apart. Thank God for the police officers. Finally home, when I checked online again, Stella Thorne’s studio had already issued an apology. The statement said they were willing to compensate me and all affected passengers twofold for our losses. It seemed sincere, but then at the end, it tagged my social media handle. By then, my Ins page was already swarmed with curious onlookers and fans. The fans also followed suit with performative apologies. [We’re so sorry, sis! Our fans were out of line! We’re practically on our knees wishing you a Happy New Year!] [Please forgive our baby, she’s just scared from being chased by bad fans, it wasn’t intentional o(╥﹏╥)o] [Happy New Year, missy! All the Thorne fans apologize, hope we haven’t ruined your mood!] But when I checked my DMs, it was a seemingly endless stream of red notification dots, almost all filled with insults and curses. [Were you rushing home to attend your parents’ funeral? Trying to piggyback off my daughter’s fame during the holidays, huh?] [You went viral, your mom died, what a filial daughter you are.] [Was it fun yelling at a celebrity’s face? Why didn’t you get trampled to death in a stampede?] [Jocelyn Melody, elementary school music teacher, phone number XXXXXXXXXXX, ID XXXXXXXXXXX, that’s you, right? LOL, you pathetic little teacher, daring to insult my queen for clout. Want me to share your parents’ info next? Bitch!] [Already sent a complaint letter to your principal’s email, you’re welcome, hun~] 2. Looking back, I had a lot of DMs in my past life too, but I never bothered to read them. To avoid trouble, I simply deactivated my social media, thinking the heat would die down. It wasn’t until later, when I received calls from my parents and a meeting with my principal, that I realized those fans had never let me go. This time… I compiled a collage of a hundred screenshots, a full photo grid of DMs, and posted it, directly tagging Stella Thorne’s studio. [Jocelyn Melody: My flight has been missed. If you want to compensate me, you can get me a private jet. Also, who gave you the right to tag my account? Did you ask me first? Or was it intentional? Maliciously leaking private information to let your dogs attack me?] The news headlines completely blew up, turning that New Year’s Eve into an actual firework show. People were eating their holiday dinners, thoroughly enjoying the drama. My Ins page quickly gathered tens of thousands of comments. After midnight, reposts soared past a hundred thousand, becoming the first viral sensation of the year. Stella Thorne’s studio hastily untagged me and reissued an apology. But it was too late. Stella Thorne and her fans had completely become the internet’s new playthings for the holidays. [New Year’s Double Whammy: refers to Stella Thorne and her team getting publicly roasted and humiliated right at the start of the year, getting slapped on both cheeks. A double dose of holiday joy, hence the name.] [Toxic Fans: refers to Stella’s disgusting and shameless fans who relentlessly attack anyone critical of their idol, and are generally just awful.] Amidst the explosion of public opinion, Stella Thorne’s studio issued a third apology, this time addressed to all netizens, stating they shouldn’t have occupied public resources. As soon as this statement came out, netizens had new material. [Empty Apologies: refers to people questioning if Stella’s studio’s apology was sincere or just a load of hot air. ‘Stella’s Studio’ (Stella’s Stu) sounds like ‘Empty’ (Stu-pid), hence the pun.] I just relied on the witty netizens for entertainment during the holidays. Because this time, I hadn’t deactivated my Ins, so the insults in my DMs never stopped. But I had no intention of posting them again. Some counterattacks only work once; use them too often, and the onlookers lose interest. I was waiting for the next opportunity. Soon, even before the New Year holidays were over, a reality show sent me an invitation. In my previous life, I had rejected it without a second thought. This time, I agreed without hesitation. Because I knew Stella Thorne would be there too. This show was specifically designed to help Stella, which is why they invited me. In other words, I was a tool to be humiliated by Stella, to help her restore her reputation. Whatever she lost because of me, she intended to take back from me. Well, good. I was thinking the same thing. After the holidays, the reality show quickly began filming. No one sent a car to pick me up. By the time I huffed and puffed, dragging my suitcase to the destination, I was drenched in sweat. I was exhausted. When the villa’s iron gate wouldn’t open, no matter how hard I knocked, I just sat down on the ground to catch my breath. No sooner had I sat down than a gleaming black luxury SUV pulled up in front of me. The car door opened, sparkling stiletto heels touched the ground, and Stella Thorne glided down like an ethereal being. Only then did the iron gate hastily open, and staff rushed out to greet the top-tier celebrity. The live-streaming cameras turned to us. First, they filmed Stella Thorne from head to toe, then slowly panned down, including me, sitting on the ground, looking disheveled. [What a cruel contrast.] [Is that the mysterious passenger? I thought she got such a grand entrance because she was gorgeous, but that’s it?] [Although I’m here to laugh at Stella Thorne, her face really is flawless.] [Told you, with Stella, face is everything, she’ll always be a heartthrob!] 3. As the comments flew by, the director’s team finally “noticed” me: “Hey, why is our guest sitting on the ground? Someone help her up!” But before any staff could move, a pair of perfectly manicured hands helped me up. “Hi, I heard you’re the only lady among the passengers. Let’s get to know each other, shall we?” It was Stella Thorne. In my past life, I was cyberbullied to death because of her, yet I had never truly met her. It wasn’t that I hadn’t tried. In my most desperate moments, I sent her DMs, I sent DMs to her studio, I tried every possible way to find her company’s phone number, hoping to be connected, or at least to have my plea relayed. I just wanted her to say something, anything, to rein in her fans, even just a single sentence, to tell them to stop bothering my family. But there was never a response. All my pleas fell on deaf ears. My accounts and numbers were blocked. Finally, I even disguised myself and waited for her outside her company. The closest I ever got, I almost managed to grab her clothes, but her bodyguards were quick, harshly shoving me away. They thought I was a stalker. Even though I was screaming: “I’m the victim of your fans’ cyberbullying! Please help me! I can’t live like this anymore!” But all I got was a cold, disdainful glance back. I still remember that look. Her face was hidden by a mask, but her eyes were high and mighty, like someone standing on clouds, looking down at a pathetic insect struggling in the mud. Then she shook her head and walked away faster, quickly disappearing. Her assistant stayed behind, pointing at my nose, a look of contempt on his face: “Oh, who’s this? Isn’t this the airport megaphone lady who went viral overnight? Weren’t you screaming pretty loudly at the airport? Why aren’t you screaming now?” “Oh! You’re on the verge of dying, so you know how to beg for help now? If you ask me, ordinary people like you deserve a lesson. Otherwise, you’ll keep thinking you’re equal to a superstar, shouting whatever you want. You’ve really been given too much leeway!” His smile was arrogant and condescending, perfectly mirroring Stella Thorne’s head shake. “Don’t act so impulsively in the future. Stella is very busy right now. Maybe she’ll post something on her Ins to help you when she has time.” Then he left. But I never saw Stella Thorne post anything on Ins, not until the day I died. How busy was Miss Thorne? In my previous life, I really wanted to know. But in this life, I wanted to know more: why exactly were ordinary people like us considered inferior? Stella Thorne’s familiar assistant stood behind her. I glanced at his fake smile, then, smiling myself, gripped Stella Thorne’s hand with my dusty one. Watching her face instantly stiffen, and the undisguised revulsion in her eyes, I said: “Then I look forward to working with you, Miss Thorne.” “My name is Jocelyn Melody, and I’m an elementary school music teacher.” Stella Thorne deliberately froze. I saw her yank her hand away as if startled, her face turning pale. But then, in the next moment, she forced out a somewhat weak, timid smile. “Jo-Jocelyn Melody, I didn’t expect the show to invite you.” She bit her lip, her eyes already glistening with tears. “Perfect! I want to apologize to you in person while we have this chance. I hope you can forgive me.” Five or six cameras were aimed directly at us. I remained silent for a long moment. Only when Stella Thorne’s forced smile was about to crack did I offer a small smile, tilting my head. “Don’t you usually bow when you apologize? And you haven’t even said ‘I’m sorry’ yet.” This time, Stella Thorne truly froze, her weak expression almost shattering. 4. I laughed, clapped my hands, and picked up my suitcase. “Just kidding! You’ve apologized three times already, that’s more than enough~” [What?! Is that the airport megaphone lady? This show is going to be explosive!] [Ugh, doesn’t anyone think this passenger is super rude? Stella apologized, and she’s still so harsh, a bit malicious.] [My impression is changing, suddenly I feel bad for Stella. I guess I’m a total lookist!] [This elementary school teacher doesn’t actually think she’s a huge celebrity now, does she?] As the comments flew past, I walked into the villa. Before I could even see anyone clearly, my suitcase was taken from my hand. “I’ll carry it for you.” Her voice was a little low, but very pleasant. I looked up and saw a short-haired woman with overly sharp features. She looked barely twenty but had a very composed demeanor. I quickly followed her. Before I’d walked two steps, Stella Thorne’s loud voice rang out behind me: “Alexia Vance! You’re here too! Quick, help me with my suitcase too! It’s so heavy!” Alexia Vance. I remembered now. She was an actress, and a future Oscar winner. Before I died in my previous life, she had just won her first Oscar for playing a boxer. I had a very deep impression of her acceptance speech. “I won this award mostly because of passion and dedication, and partly because I wanted to show everyone that I am an independent person. Even without the ‘daughter of a superstar’ title, I can still shine brightly in my chosen field. So, this award goes to everyone who has a sense of self, a dream, and who relentlessly pursues and loves what they do.” When I heard that speech, I was in the second stage of my treatment. Honestly, I didn’t care about my face being ruined by acid; I just wanted to heal my throat. I wanted to sing again. More than anything. But the doctors’ results were always sighs and headshakes. I had just come out of the hospital, standing on a busy street. Looking at Alexia Vance on the department store screen, delivering that speech, I suddenly covered my face and sobbed uncontrollably, bending over, kneeling on the ground, until my hoarse throat bled, and I still couldn’t stop. A kind passerby came up and asked if I was an Alexia Vance fan. But I didn’t know how to use my ruined voice to tell them. No, I wasn’t a fan. I didn’t even know this person, but we should have been fellow travelers, strangers on the same path. Yet now, the torch I used to light my dreams had been extinguished. She, however, would continue to stride forward. I wasn’t jealous; I was just in deep pain. When I snapped back to reality, Alexia Vance had already taken Stella Thorne’s suitcase. She seemed to be a woman of few words, but Stella Thorne was chattering non-stop. “Oh my god, Alexia Vance, you haven’t seen you in a while, and you’ve become even less concerned with your appearance? You look like a guy!” She said, linking her arm through Alexia Vance’s, and then exclaimed again: “Why do you feel like you’ve been working out so much? It’s terrifying, will you even be able to wear dresses anymore?!” Just then, a cameraman carrying the live stream monitor walked past me. I glanced at the screen, which was flooded with comments like: “So sweet! It makes me so happy!” Me: ? Sweet where? What’s sweet? This much sweetness is going to give me diabetes! 5. By evening, all the guests finally gathered. After a seemingly joyful dinner, we moved into the casual chat segment. This type of live reality show, featuring celebrities interacting with ordinary people, thrives on the collision of two different lives… or even two different social classes. Several ordinary guests began talking about their lives. Like working until midnight for only two hundred bucks in overtime pay, or not daring to order takeout over twenty dollars. And the celebrities kept showing expressions of shock or empathy. “I totally get it! You’re so tired you could fall asleep standing up, but the director yells ‘action,’ and you have to instantly get into character. You literally feel like you’re floating!” “One time I was on wires all day, and when I came down, I felt like my back was broken. I kept thinking I was going to die young.” After this outpouring of stories, Stella Thorne sighed and summed it up. “Ugh, sometimes I really feel like celebrities and actors aren’t that special. It’s even a really dangerous profession.” Listening to Stella Thorne’s lament, I almost laughed out loud. But then, the topic quickly shifted to me. “Speaking of which, there’s a question I’ve really wanted to ask Jocelyn Melody.” Brandon Clark, one of the ordinary guests, suddenly looked at me. He was a hardcore fan of Stella Thorne. Apparently a lawyer, he’d only come on the show for Stella Thorne. When he first saw Stella Thorne that afternoon, he almost teared up. You’d think he was a ten-year veteran fan. But Stella Thorne had only been famous for three years. He asked me: “Are you really not a fan of Stella?” “Of course not.” “If not, why were you in the fan zone? It’s quite strange. The airport is so big, there are other passages. And since Stella’s fans were so numerous, you could definitely see them. If you were rushing to board, why didn’t you avoid them and take another route?” What an abrupt attack. A moment of silence, and the atmosphere grew awkward. Stella Thorne forced a smile. “Why are we talking about this? Ultimately, it was all my fault…” “No, I’m just analyzing the issue from an objective standpoint, no other meaning.” Despite his words, his gaze at me was clearly aggressive. “Can you answer me, Miss Melody? Logically, celebrity send-offs aren’t new. So why haven’t we seen a passenger go viral overnight like you before? Is it because other passengers weren’t as brave? Or did other passengers know to avoid the fans, instead of actively mingling with them and then complaining about being obstructed?” [He has a point, now that you mention it?] [I’m gonna cry! Thorne fan defending his idol against a malicious woman! What kind of idol drama is this?!] [All the grievances Stella suffered, her fans are getting back for her!] Several cameras were pushing close to my face. I guess the director’s team really wanted to capture my flustered or stiff expression. But I just felt awkward. “Uh, I don’t really want to keep discussing this topic…” “Just curious, you know?” Brandon Clark smiled, and several other male guests chimed in, egging him on. “Come on, tell us, we’re curious too.” “Did your impression of Stella change when you actually met her?” “I heard Stella apologized to your face? Did you forgive her?” The comments immediately went wild again. [Seriously?! Everyone’s a Thorne fan here, huh?!] [Finally caught them! This show is basically a Stella Thorne fan meet, isn’t it?] [Hahaha, so satisfying! This passenger dares to step on our beloved Stella to get famous? Doesn’t she know Stella is a heartthrob who charms everyone she meets?] 6. Only Alexia Vance slightly frowned, muttering: “If she doesn’t want to talk about it, then she doesn’t have to.” “I’m just curious.” Brandon Clark repeated, but then magnanimously added: “But it’s fine, you don’t have to satisfy my curiosity. I believe everyone has their own answer in their hearts.” Why did that sound so weird? I believed I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Because Alexia Vance looked at Brandon Clark and said coolly: “I think fans disrupting airport order for a send-off is inherently wrong – that’s the answer everyone has in their hearts. Do you have a different answer?” Brandon Clark’s face stiffened. He quickly glanced at Stella Thorne. Stella Thorne, who had been quietly fiddling with her fingers, finally looked up as if snapping out of it, glancing at everyone. “Why are we talking about this? Aren’t we discussing everyone’s professions? Whose turn is it now?” She looked like she was trying to defuse the situation for me, winking at me. “Jocelyn Melody, aren’t you an elementary school music teacher? How about you sing us a song?” “With Julian Hayes, the King of Pop, here, I’m not going to make a fool of myself.” I looked at Julian Hayes. He was the other heavyweight guest on the show, currently the most brilliant singer in the music industry. He debuted at eighteen through a music talent show. He’d only released five albums to date but had already won four Grammy Awards. As for other popularity and sales awards, they were countless. Most importantly, his singing was incredibly beautiful. It was the perfect blend of tone, technique, and emotion. Many said that Julian Hayes’s voice was a gift from heaven to the public, and I deeply agreed. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have given him my precious compositions to sing. “How can that be the same? Julian is a pop king, and you’re an elementary school music teacher. Your fields are completely different; it’s not like you’re making a fool of yourself.” “Besides, you could sing a children’s song! I can even accompany you~” Stella Thorne propped her chin on her hand, looking at me with an innocently expectant face. Everyone else immediately started egging me on. “Come on, sing one! Just a children’s song.” “It’s been ages since I heard a children’s song. Let’s find our lost innocence through this.” “Miss Melody, don’t be shy, show us your stuff! I mean, I haven’t seen a living elementary school music teacher since I graduated elementary school. Is your job super easy and fun? Can you show us how you usually kids?” That last line was from Brandon Clark. I glanced at him. His innocent demeanor was exactly like his idol’s. I couldn’t help but say: “If you want me to you, it’s not impossible. Call me ‘Mom’ first.” Brandon Clark’s smile froze, and he let out an awkward laugh. “Miss Melody sure knows how to joke.” Again, only Alexia Vance spoke up for me: “If she doesn’t want to sing, then she doesn’t have to. She’s an elementary school teacher, not an elementary school student, and you’re not her parents. You’re acting like adults at a dinner table making a kid perform. It’s pretty off-putting.” “Oh my gosh, Alexia! You’re so unromantic! Your EQ test results must be super, super low!” Stella Thorne laughed, linking her arm through Alexia Vance’s, and even winked at her. “From the way you are and your speaking style, people would believe you’re a straight guy. Girls should be softer, you know? How about we share a bed tonight, and I’ll give you some tips?” [I’m shipping them so hard, Stella, the ultimate heartbreaker, is charming another badass woman!] [Give up, Stella, Alexia Vance is beyond saving. To be your husband, she’s decided to go all the way down the ‘masculine’ path!] [This passenger has such an attitude! Stella is trying to help her out, and she’s being difficult. Who does she think she is?] [Seems like only Alexia Vance at the scene hasn’t seen through Miss Popular’s true colors.] [Ugh, Alexia, that dumbass! She’ll regret it when her ‘wife’ gets hurt again because of this passenger!] Reading the comments, I: “…” I almost threw up, but then I suddenly received off-screen instructions from the director’s team. A large “SING” was written on a whiteboard. They wanted me to sing? Then another board was shown, with “CHILDREN’S SONG” written on it. Finally, they held up a third board, with “CONTRACT” written on it. …They were warning me that we had a contract, and if I didn’t cooperate as agreed, I’d have to pay a penalty. Everyone saw this. But Stella Thorne was humming a song to the side, and Brandon Clark and another male passenger exchanged meaningful smiles, looking at me like I was an ant. Only Julian Hayes frowned, and Alexia Vance pursed her lips, about to speak. But I reached out and stopped her.

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After getting engaged, I went back to work, handing out celebratory treats and accepting congratulations from my colleagues. Suddenly, a chilling voice cut through the cheerful atmosphere, its words sharp and grating: “A wife who’ll do your laundry, cook your meals, pop out babies, and take care of your parents – all for free.” “Plus, she’ll help you earn money, pay off your car and mortgage, and ease all your financial stress.” “The best part? She’s *happy* to do it. Honestly, she’s such a dream wife, even *I’d* consider marrying her.” “Seriously, where can I find a free live-in maid like that?” The joyous mood instantly froze. Everyone turned to stare at the speaker: Bethany. Noticing all eyes on her, Bethany just smiled, unwrapped a treat, and popped it into her mouth. “What’s wrong? Did I hit a nerve?” “Must have.” Bethany chuckled, her gaze fixed on me. “Chloe, why don don’t you just call off your engagement and get engaged to *me*, marry *me*?” “You’re going to be a free maid anyway, so why not be mine?” “We’re both women, I can empathize with you way more than any man could.” “And besides, I really could use a free maid who’s willing to contribute financially and physically.” All eyes shifted to me. I shot Bethany a glance and tried to change the subject. “Don’t joke around, everyone! Don’t just stand there, grab some candy…” I didn’t finish. Bethany cut me off, winking playfully. “I’m not joking, I’m serious.” “You look like such a fool, happily counting the money for the person who just sold you out. It honestly makes me want to take advantage of you.” “I truly, genuinely want a free maid like you. I want to experience a man’s joy. Think about it.” A wave of irritation surged inside me. I took a deep breath, stopped handing out candy, and looked directly at Bethany. “You? No thanks. You don’t impress me.” Bethany, who had been smiling, didn’t seem to expect that answer. Her expression instantly stiffened. “What do you mean I don’t impress you?” “My qualifications are more than enough for someone of your caliber…” I cut her off, letting all my pent-up frustration spill out. “My fiancé is six-foot-one, handsome and clean-cut. You’re barely five feet tall. Is there really any comparison? My fiancé has abs and great stamina. You’re built like a bowling ball and get winded just walking downstairs for takeout. Is there any comparison? My fiancé owns his home and car outright, with a healthy savings account. You have no house, no car, no savings, and you barely clear three thousand a month, which is less than me! My fiancé is twenty-seven, cheerful, charming, and knows how to make a woman feel special. You’re thirty-three, a blabbermouth, and utterly venomous.” “Honestly, if you were a guy, you’d be the type who’s permanently single because no one could stand you.” “Me with you? Doing your laundry, cooking your food, having your kids? Haha, you’ve got to be kidding.” Everyone’s eyes had been on me, buzzing with excitement, ready for the drama. By the time I finished, they gasped, holding their breath, their faces even more expressive. And Bethany’s face was the most exaggerated of all. Her features twisted and contorted. With a loud bang, she slapped the table, stood up, and glared at me. “You’re lying! Don’t you dare slander me! I’m nothing like what you said…” Since I had already decided to argue, I wasn’t going to back down. I cut her off again. “I’m lying? Slandering you? Nothing like what I said? Which part? Your height? Did you lie about being five feet tall? Are you actually less than that, not even five feet? Your salary? Oh, this month you missed a few days, so you’ve been docked, making it closer to three thousand? Your age? Did you lie about that too? Are you actually… forty this year?” “Wow, you’ve aged well, can’t even tell. You look, at most… thirty-nine.” Some of the watching colleagues couldn’t hold it in and burst into laughter. Bethany, already furious, lost all control. Her eyes wide, she roared. “Shut up! Don’t you dare laugh! Get out! All of you, get out!” I was unfazed. I snatched back the celebratory treat I had just given Bethany. “At your age, you should watch your sugar intake. It’ll make you look even older. Don’t eat it! And talk less. Your breath stinks, like you haven’t brushed your teeth in forty years!” With that, I ignored Bethany’s venomous glare, turned, and walked away. A colleague hurried towards me, passing by with a snicker. “Chloe, that was amazing! She’s such a jerk, you should have stood up to her sooner!”

This wasn’t the first time Bethany had been passive-aggressive with me. When I joined the company, Bethany had already been there for two years. Initially, she was very friendly. She helped me learn the ropes at work and answered my questions. During breaks, she’d share snacks and tell me which takeout places nearby were good. I was grateful, and we quickly became close. The change happened three months after I started. My project proposal was excellent, and Mr. Davies was very pleased. He praised me and gave me a bonus. Half an hour later, Bethany was reprimanded for a work error. Her salary was docked, and Mr. Davies disparaged her, saying she wasn’t as good as the new hire—me. It was just a casual comparison from Mr. Davies, and it had nothing to do with me. But Bethany couldn’t accept it. She took it to heart. She started being passive-aggressive and belittling me. When I needed to talk to her for work, she’d give a twisted, sneering smile. “Oh, look, the company’s star new employee is here to guide this old timer. What an honor.” “Hey, even if you’re guiding me, don’t get too close. You’re dirty, so dirty!” When I shared snacks or drinks with her, she’d feign shock. “Wow, that brand is expensive! You can afford that now? Got a raise, become a rich girl, huh?” “No need to share with me, though. I don’t eat that stuff. Only my dog eats that brand.” I tried to talk to her, hoping to resolve the conflict. But it was useless. She didn’t want to. She only wanted to belittle and disgust me. It escalated over time. I’d wear a new outfit, and she’d quip, “Well, expensive clothes sure are different, you look like you raided your great-grandmother’s attic!” I’d get a new haircut, and she’d snicker, “A hundred sixty bucks for *that*? You somehow managed to look like a complete idiot – a perfect match for you!” I’d put on full makeup, and she’d joke I was ready to audition as a scare actor for a haunted house. She seized every possible opportunity to humiliate me. From initial hurt, I grew angry and wanted to argue back. But an older colleague, before leaving the company, clued me in: “You know how some people act like they’re experts on everything, from rocket science to politics? The type who, if you just nod along and agree, they’ll be thrilled, ready to treat you like their best friend. But if you dare to point out even one tiny inaccuracy, they’ll flip out, ready to kick you out of their metaphorical car. What does that tell you about that person? What do they really see you as?” Bethany was arrogant and conceited. She never saw me as a friend. What she always needed was a naive new hire, less capable than her, who would praise her and provide her with emotional validation. Now that I was familiar with the company and my skills had improved, I naturally didn’t need to flatter her. I no longer fit her criteria, so I was “to be kicked out of the car.” Besides, I came to work to earn money, making friends was just a bonus— My core purpose needed to be crystal clear. Instantly, my internal struggle vanished. I stopped dwelling on Bethany, no longer bothered by her words. I just ignored her. I ignored her so thoroughly that the entire department was shocked by my apparent lack of temper. Everyone knew I wouldn’t argue with her. I had originally planned to keep ignoring her today. After all, in my mind, she was just a buzzing fly. But she kept making me unhappy, even on such a joyous occasion. Not to curse her out, not to make her lose face, wouldn’t that be a disservice to her?

The day after I unleashed on Bethany, I went back to work on the project proposal I’d been developing for three months. I sent the latest revised document, as requested, and waited for client feedback. But after I clicked send, I froze. In the chat window, the message hadn’t gone through. All I saw was a bright red exclamation mark and the message below it: “You are no longer friends with this contact.” What? The project was progressing so well, why would they suddenly delete me? A mistake? Just as I was thinking of re-adding them, Mr. Davies suddenly called me into his office. As soon as I walked in, he slammed a file onto the desk in front of me. “I told you to speed things up, communicate more with the client, and finalize the proposal quickly!” “Look at this, look! Right at the finish line, the client bailed, saying they’re canceling the contract!” “All that time wasted, all those company resources used, for nothing!” “You… I don’t even know what to say to you!” “If you can do the job, do it! If not, get out!” I was utterly confused. I opened the file Mr. Davies had slammed down. It was the client’s information – the client I’d been communicating with for three months! They had canceled the partnership, they had deleted me. So… it wasn’t a mistake? But that couldn’t be right! I’d been on this for three months, revising the proposal countless times to meet the client’s demands. I’d pulled who knows how many all-nighters, lost who knows how much hair. Even on the morning of my engagement party, I was still working on client requests. There were many challenges, but the client’s satisfaction was high! This project had been progressing steadily, it was practically in the bag! How could it suddenly be canceled? I still couldn’t believe it. “Mr. Davies, this must be a mistake, it’s impossible…” Mr. Davies’s anger flared. “Impossible? What’s impossible?! It’s in black and white, signed and sealed! Am I forging this to trick you, or is the client tricking you?” “Your bonus for this month is gone!” “If this happens again, you can go home and be a full-time housewife!” “Get out!” Holding the file, my steps felt unsteady. A sense of unreality enveloped me. How could this be? I followed all the requirements, and the client never showed dissatisfaction before… Should I call them again to confirm, in case there was some misunderstanding? Just then, I bumped into Bethany. I was too preoccupied to deal with her, but she blocked my way. “Well, well, company superstar. Client bailed, got chewed out by Mr. Davies, huh?” I ignored her, trying to walk around her. But Bethany’s next words stopped me cold. “When there’s a free, ready-made option, who’d be dumb enough to pay big money for an identical proposal?” My steps faltered. I turned back, incredulous. “What did you say?” Bethany smirked triumphantly. She glanced left and right to make sure no one was around, then leaned close to my ear, lowering her voice. “I said, I secretly copied your data and anonymously sent it all to your client.” My eyes widened instantly. I stared hard at Bethany’s face. Mischief, mockery, triumph, glee… Bethany stared back at me. “Still don’t believe me? Then let me tell you a few data points only you would know…” Bethany casually reeled off a string of numbers. They were exact, the core data from my proposal! It really was her! A fire ignited in my heart. “You’re crazy! Why would you do this? You…” Bethany’s eyes narrowed, and she cut me off. “Why would I do this? How dare you even ask!” “Every single venomous word you used to humiliate me yesterday? I remember them all!” “You bitch, didn’t expect karma to come knocking so soon, did you?” Every single venomous word I used to humiliate her yesterday? I gritted my teeth and grabbed Bethany’s collar. “My humiliation of you wasn’t even one-thousandth of what you’ve done to me!” Bethany ripped herself free, her voice suddenly louder, her fury intensifying. “What right do you have to compare yourself to me? You’re not worthy!” “You and I are not equals! I have more seniority, I’m more capable, I’ll always be better than you!” “You should be trailing behind me, letting me promote you!” “But you didn’t!” “Not only did you not, but you dared to humiliate me, those words…” Bethany paused, took a deep breath, and spread her hands. “The client got your proposal, canceled the partnership, you got chewed out by Mr. Davies, and lost your bonus.” “After three months of working your ass off, the forty thousand dollar bonus you were about to get is gone.” “So many benefits!” “But it’s still not enough!” Bethany savored my anger, then laughed, raising her hand to lightly tap my face in disdain. “There’s more fun to come.” “Mess with me, and you’ll regret it!” Bethany finished, shoved me aside, and walked away.

Watching her leave, feeling the lingering warmth on my face, I was livid. I turned, ready to march back and explain everything to Mr. Davies. But a sliver of rationality held me back. Bethany dared to openly admit this to me, so someone must have helped her. Everything must have been prepared. I wouldn’t be able to expose her with just words. But what she did wouldn’t be flawless! There were cameras in the office, and only I knew my computer password. So she couldn’t have copied it physically. It had to be online. And if it was online, my computer, the one that was copied, must have left traces. Those traces were evidence! I swallowed my rage and returned to my desk, meticulously checking my computer. As I was sifting through files, my phone rang. Messages from my mom and Liam popped up almost simultaneously: [Daughter, I got a text from a short number saying you’re selling your body for work!] [Your dad and I both got it. It also said you have an STD. What’s going on?] [Honey, did you upset someone?] [Someone Photoshopped nude pictures of you and sent them to me and my parents from a virtual number.] [It also said ninety percent of your job opportunities came from selling your body.] [The words… were really, really disgusting…] I froze, then quickly clicked to have Liam send me screenshots of the messages. Liam initially refused. But finally, he couldn’t resist my insistence and sent them over. I opened them: [The woman you’re about to marry for hundreds of thousands in dowry? She’s been passed around countless times!] [She throws herself at any man, any job opportunity, like a slutty dog.] [Image], [Image], [Image], [Image], [Image], [Image] [You haven’t seen her acting like this, have you? You haven’t enjoyed her being so eager?] [Marry a rotten whore, you stupid man, you betrayed animal, wait till you get an STD.] [Then she, you, and your kids will all have STDs!] [Oh, I’m being optimistic. The child she gives birth to might not even be yours!] My knuckles turned white gripping the phone. My breathing hitched. Rumors! Now? Rumors about me? I didn’t even need to think who was behind it! I shot up, glaring at Bethany across the office. She was looking at me. Our eyes met, and she immediately smiled. Her lips mouthed: The, real, show, is, yet, to, come! More to come! She wasn’t stopping! My job! My reputation! My family! My single act of defiance had earned me her disgusting revenge! Now, it seemed, in her eyes, I was not only never a friend, never an equal. I was more like a dog! A dog that, upon even the slightest resistance, Bethany, its owner, would utterly destroy! I looked down at my computer, which still showed no traces, and then at my phone, displaying those vile messages. She attacks me, I passively accept, then search for her weaknesses. No, no, that’s too passive. Offense is the best defense! If she wants to play, I’ll play with her! Who’s the human and who’s the dog remains to be seen! No! There’s something… It won’t just defeat her, it could ruin her entire life!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298861”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic