“Mr. Hayes, once you sign this adoption agreement, you’ll officially become Madam Kingston’s son. She has no direct heirs and is placing all her faith in you. Don’t disappoint her.” Mr. Peterson finished his instruction and handed me what I needed: proof of my faked death. It was a terminal illness diagnosis for stage three leukemia, stating the patient had only one month left to live. I nodded. “Please tell Madam Kingston that in one month, Asher Hayes will no longer exist. Only her son, Asher Kingston.” My car drove home, bathed in the lingering glow of the sunset. In the back seat, I watched out the window, a faint sadness hidden behind my handsome features. No one knew I had been reborn three days ago. ### In my past life, when I was seven, I was kidnapped and taken to a remote rural town. Devastated, my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, adopted Caleb, who was the same age as me. Ten years later, I was found, but my parents had already grown attached to their adopted son. They barely showed affection for their biological child. Fortunately, I was exceptionally capable. In five years, I successfully took Hayes Industries public, rocketing our family’s status in Montrose. However, shortly after, Caleb committed arson, injuring someone and facing a ten-year prison sentence. To protect him, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes actually knelt and begged me to take the fall. “Asher, you grew up in that remote town, you’re tough, you can handle hardship. Your brother isn’t like you; he’s been pampered his whole life. A place like prison… it would kill him.” My wife, Seraphina, swore to me again and again: “Asher, no matter what happens, Daisy and I will always love you. We’ll be here waiting for you to come home and reunite with us.” I endured ten years in prison. On the day of my release, my fellow inmates were picked up by their families one by one, but I waited from dawn till dusk. Not a single car from the Hayes or Davis families appeared. During my decade of imprisonment, Caleb stepped into my old position, becoming the acclaimed CEO. The woman who had solemnly promised to wait for my release married Caleb in my second year of prison, and my daughter started calling Caleb ‘Dad’. The truth turned my hair white overnight. At the end of my life, as I lay dying in a grimy alley, my daughter, Daisy Hayes, stepped out of a luxury car, clad in opulent clothes. She covered her nose and mouth, her face a mask of utter disgust. “Dad, why did you bring me here? I don’t want to see this homeless man.” Under a black umbrella, Mrs. and Mr. Hayes stood, arms linked with Caleb, their eyes cold: “How could we have raised a son like this? He’s completely shamed the Hayes family.” Seraphina stood the furthest away. When I shakily reached out to her, she turned her face away. I was reborn back to the year Caleb got into trouble. This time, I decided to abandon everyone first. The moment I opened the front door, I heard my daughter, Daisy, crying in the living room. “I don’t want Dad! I want Uncle Caleb! Uncle Caleb buys me toys and takes me for ice cream. Dad always forces me to do things I don’t like. I hate him!” Listening quietly, I bit my lower lip. A sharp pang pierced my chest. Daisy had a sensitive stomach, and even managing thousands of people at the company, I never forgot to make sure she ate properly. Unlike Caleb, who indulged her every whim, making them closer than a biological father and daughter. Years of care had only earned me my daughter’s hatred. Reborn, I decided I would no longer bother with her. I walked into the living room, not even glancing at Daisy, and calmly instructed the housekeeper: “Open the freezer. Bring all the ice cream. From now on, Miss Daisy can eat whatever she wants, do whatever she wants. No one is to stop her.” Daisy looked utterly disbelieving. “…Really?” “Really.” I looked at her, my eyes devoid of any warmth. “Don’t you want to see your Uncle Caleb? I’ll take you there later. You can stay at the old mansion for as long as you want this time.” Even if it was forever. Daisy cheered and immediately ran off to pack her little backpack. I glanced at the elegant and graceful Seraphina. This was the face that had once persuaded me to take the fall for Caleb. Now, knowing how truly cold-hearted she was, I only felt a dull emptiness. Seraphina shifted uncomfortably under my gaze, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. “You’re not yourself today. What happened?” I shrugged nonchalantly. “Nothing. I just realized I’m tired of living so exhaustingly.” I was about to fake my death and disappear from all records. The future of Hayes Industries would have nothing to do with me. As for Seraphina and Daisy, they would no longer be my wife and daughter. Why should I exert myself, only to do all the work for someone else’s gain? A slender hand rested on my shoulder. Seraphina squeezed my shoulder, her voice as melodious as a flowing stream. “Then when can you spend more time with Daisy and me? Asher, even if you stopped working, my assets are enough for you and Daisy to live comfortably for the rest of your lives. Why push yourself so hard?” My body stiffened. Remembering how she had tricked me into taking the blame in my past life, I pulled away from her embrace and stared at her intently for a long moment. Just as Seraphina grew uncomfortable, I suddenly smiled, as if the distant look in my eyes had been an illusion. “Come back to the old mansion with me. I have something to announce.” ###

The Hayes family’s old mansion. Daisy ran through the door and immediately threw herself into Caleb’s arms, dotingly clinging to him. “Uncle Caleb, I missed you so much!” “Uncle Caleb, you look so handsome today!” “Uncle Caleb’s smile is the best!” Daisy, usually a little terror who loved to throw tantrums at home, spoke as sweet as honey around Caleb. I stood by calmly, my peripheral vision catching Seraphina also watching Caleb, her eyes full of doting affection. As if sensing my gaze, Seraphina subtly averted her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, Caleb, holding Daisy’s hand, walked over. They were wearing matching outfits, one for an adult, one for a child. “Seraphina, look at the matching outfits I bought for Daisy. Aren’t they cute?” With that, he pulled Daisy’s hand and made a silly face in front of Seraphina. Seraphina paused, then, mindful of my presence, managed a restrained smile and a slight nod. “Daisy never wears pink. Only you could convince her.” A flicker of triumph crossed Caleb’s face as he looked at me. “Brother, Daisy loves me so much. You’re not jealous, are you?” Looking at that innocent face, memories of my past life flashed like a rapid-fire movie in my mind. My nails dug into my palms, the pain a sharp reminder to stay calm. … “Asher.” My father, David Hayes’ voice, reached my ears. “Today I made all your favorite dishes. Come on, try some.” I came back to myself and turned to see the home-cooked meals on the dining table. All of them were light and prepared according to my preferences. In my previous life, I had a sensitive stomach and couldn’t eat spicy food, but Caleb loved it, so the family dinner table was always a fiery red. There was only one exception. Today. For the first time ever, David Hayes had personally cooked a table full of my favorite dishes. Just as I thought I was finally receiving a little affection from my family, I heard the most cruel words. “Asher, your mother and I have discussed it. From now on, you don’t need to worry about the company. Just take care of the family at home. We’ll leave everything to Caleb.” The scrutinizing gazes from everyone at the table made me feel like a thief, stealing something that belonged to Caleb. No one remembered that before the company went public, I had ended up in the ICU multiple times from exhaustion, while Caleb was leisurely vacationing abroad. No one remembered that when Mrs. Hayes was diagnosed with liver cancer and needed a transplant, I was the one who, still recovering from a serious illness myself, bravely went under the knife to save her. At the dinner table, Daisy’s little face turned red with urgency. “Uncle Caleb wants it, so just give it to him! Why are you being so stingy?!” Seraphina’s voice was gentle and melodious. “Asher, even if you don’t work, I can support you and Daisy.” Mrs. Hayes waved her hand. “I’m still the matriarch of this family. This decision is final!” David Hayes’ eyes were teary, his gaze earnest. “Asher, as the older brother, you should make concessions for your younger brother…” On this very day in my past life, I had exploded on the spot, severing ties with everyone. I had declared that unless I died, I would never hand over the company to Caleb. Now, my gaze swept over everyone at the table—Mother, Father, wife, daughter… and my so-called brother. I smiled faintly and made my announcement first: “Mom, Dad, I actually have something to announce. “Starting tomorrow, I’d like to hand over the company to Caleb. I’m officially returning to family life.” This decision instantly transformed the somewhat tense atmosphere into one of warm excitement. Mrs. and David Hayes beamed at me with smiles I’d never seen before. They eagerly piled food onto my plate, urging me to eat more. “Asher, we’re so relieved you’re being so filial and sensible. However, Caleb is still too naive…” Amidst Daisy’s boisterous cheers of “Long live Uncle Caleb!”, I looked at the mountain of food on my plate, devoid of any appetite. I glanced up at Seraphina. Sure enough, her eyes were full of doting affection as she looked at Caleb. No one knew when I left. After the family dinner, I never went to the company again. Ten days later, I was running on the treadmill in the gym when my phone buzzed. I clicked it open to see Caleb had tagged me in a post on Ins. He’d posted a selfie of himself sitting in the CEO’s office. In the photo, he was dressed sharply, mimicking my professional elite pose. The caption read: “Leading Hayes Industries into a new era.” In less than a minute, my entire family chimed in to support him. Mrs. Hayes: [Good son, work hard! The future of Hayes Industries rests on you!] David Hayes: [Our Caleb has grown into such a man…] Daisy Hayes: [Uncle Caleb is the best!] Seraphina had only two short words: [You got this.] Looking at these warm, encouraging words that no one had ever said to me, my eyes stung with a burning ache. The fatigue from my workout suddenly enveloped me. I turned off the treadmill. Just as I was about to shower, Caleb sent another message. “Brother, the whole family is celebrating my success at Cloud Nine tonight. You absolutely have to come!” “I have a surprise for you!” Caleb’s last message was a photo. In the picture, Seraphina’s clothes were half-undone, a bare shoulder peeking out. The meaning of the photo was undeniable. ###

Half an hour after seeing Caleb’s last message, I walked straight to Cloud Nine and pushed open the private room door. Familiar voices drifted out. “Seraphina, when are you planning to divorce him? You haven’t actually fallen for him over time, have you?” After a brief silence, Seraphina’s clear voice responded. “How could I? Asher Hayes can’t even compare to you. If it weren’t for the pre-arranged marriage, why would I have married him? Caleb, you’ve just taken over the company, and things are still unstable. I need to stay by Asher Hayes’ side to help you keep him steady.” Just beyond the door, I heard every word clearly. My blood ran cold, and a wave of dizziness washed over me. I stumbled, and a passing waiter quickly steadied me. “Mr. Hayes, are you alright?” I forced myself to stand steady. “I’m fine.” I raised my reddened eyes. Just then, there was a commotion at the entrance. Mrs. and David Hayes, beaming with joy, were handing out tips to the staff. I watched the scene intently, my eyes growing even more sore. It wasn’t until David Hayes noticed me, and forced an awkward smile. “Asher, what are you doing here?” They had deliberately kept it from me, fearing I’d cause trouble at the celebration. Yet, here I was in the banquet hall. Seeing David Hayes’ discomfort and Mrs. Hayes’ displeasure, I felt incredibly superfluous. “I came to support my brother. Am I not even allowed to attend family gatherings now that I’m worthless?” My voice was hoarse, my eyes dark and moist, and my pale face made me look pathetic. Mrs. Hayes frowned. Just as the tension was about to erupt, Daisy’s joyful shout came from behind. “Grandma! Grandpa! I made a little red flower for Uncle Caleb in art class today. I’m giving it to my favorite Uncle Caleb!” Daisy scampered over, mistook me for Caleb, and with a beaming smile, she threw herself into my arms. I’d only seen her this enthusiastic and well-behaved once before, when she was less than a year old. Back then, the chubby little infant would cling to me all day. But now, the moment Daisy looked up and saw it was me, she sprang back as if she’d seen a ghost. She put her hands behind her back, hiding the handmade flower, her eyes filled with disgust and caution. An indescribable pain pierced through me. I watched her intently. Just then, the private room door opened, and Caleb and Seraphina walked out side-by-side. Both their faces changed the moment they saw me. A flicker of panic crossed Seraphina’s eyes. She immediately separated from Caleb and walked over to me, asking gently, “When did you get here? Why didn’t you go inside?” I stared at the woman I’d shared my life with for seven years. I had once believed she was merely cold-hearted by nature, but now I knew her coldness was simply because she never loved me. This marriage had been nothing more than a reluctant compromise she made to protect another man. A sarcastic smile played on my lips, my eyes filled with disappointment. “This is your family gathering. How could I intrude?” At my words, Seraphina’s expression froze, and an inexplicable tightness swelled in her chest. “Asher, don’t say that…” No amount of comforting words could heal the wound in my heart. I looked at Mrs. and David Hayes beside me, my voice calm. “I have other things to do. I won’t disturb your family reunion.” As I finished speaking, I suddenly began to cough violently, quickly covering my mouth. Suddenly, a mouthful of fresh blood splattered into my palm. Mrs. and David Hayes’ expressions subtly changed. Seraphina’s fingers twitched. Just as everyone started to approach me with concern, Caleb suddenly clutched his chest and cried out in pain. “Mom, Dad, my heart feels a little… uncomfortable.” The moment he cried out, everyone’s attention immediately shifted to him. Mrs. Hayes frantically called for an ambulance, David Hayes tenderly helped him catch his breath, Seraphina rushed out to buy emergency medicine, and Daisy cried with tear-filled eyes, muttering, “Uncle Caleb, don’t hurt, I’ll tell my dad to take your place…” I hadn’t walked far yet, but hearing Daisy’s words, my feet felt as heavy as lead. I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth, and forced myself out of the hotel. I hailed a cab alone and went to the hospital. ###

The doctor said I was overcome with anger and couldn’t afford to get angry again. I recuperated at home for several days. Aside from the housekeeper, Seraphina and the Hayes family were all at the hospital, tending to Caleb. No one remembered that I was also sick. On New Year’s Eve, I was at home alone, boiling instant dumplings. All the staff had gone home to their families for the holidays. Luckily, Mrs. Davies, seeing how thin I had become, had made and frozen some dumplings for me. I quietly watched the steaming pot, the only source of warmth in the entire house. Days earlier, the building management had suddenly announced a halt to heating. I had contacted them several times, but they said there was nothing they could do. I knew, deep down, this was probably Caleb’s doing. It was below zero outside, and the indoor temperature was nearly the same. I was wearing a thick down jacket, dishing out the dumplings, when Caleb’s FaceTime call suddenly came through. “Brother, we’re celebrating New Year’s on the island. How are you doing at home by yourself?” On the screen, he looked rosy-cheeked, in a well-fitting, warm cashmere sweater. Behind him, Mrs. and David Hayes were chatting over tea, and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Seraphina was setting off fireworks with Daisy. The cozy, joyful atmosphere made my eyes burn with envy. But none of that warmth had anything to do with me. My entire family had abandoned me again, leaving me alone at home while they rang in the New Year on a warm island. However, I no longer felt sad. I calmly looked at the camera. “I’m doing great. Disappointed?” Caleb smirked. “Brother, I heard you coughed up blood that day. Too bad Mom and Dad were only concerned about me and completely forgot about you. I was worried you might get scammed by some unethical doctor, so I froze your bank cards. If you’re really feeling unwell, just drink some hot water, hehe.” Ever since he took over the company, he didn’t even bother to pretend anymore. A figure flashed across the screen, and Seraphina’s voice came through. “Caleb, who are you talking to?” “No one, just wishing a friend happy New Year.” With that, Caleb immediately hung up the FaceTime call. But I still heard Seraphina’s last caring words: “You have a sensitive stomach, don’t drink too much. Be careful not to get a stomach ache.” They looked like a truly devoted couple, and it twisted something inside me. I no longer cared who Seraphina loved, but what I couldn’t accept was that they were so openly affectionate in front of Mrs. and David Hayes, and the two elders acted as if they didn’t see it, or perhaps had grown accustomed to it? A sharp pain pierced through my limbs, and my eyes stung with a burning ache. Just then, the doorbell rang. Madam Kingston’s Mr. Peterson and his staff delivered a pile of New Year’s gifts, all chosen specifically by Madam Kingston to make up for all the New Year’s gifts I’d missed from birth to thirty. “Mr. Hayes, Happy New Year. Madam Kingston wishes you all the best and peace and joy.” My family’s indifference and betrayal, I had endured it again and again. But seeing these thoughtfully prepared gifts, tears suddenly welled up. In my thirty years of life, my biological parents had used me as a tool, while Madam Kingston, who was not blood-related, cared for me like a mother. Deeply moved, I wiped away my tears and said with solemn sincerity, “In ten days, I will arrive at the Kingston family residence.” By then, I would truly be reborn. I only managed to unwrap half of Madam Kingston’s gifts before falling into a deep sleep on the sofa. In the middle of the night, there was a noise upstairs in the bedroom. I’m a light sleeper, and my eyes shot open. I saw a strange figure lingering in the darkness. I suddenly remembered a past life incident when a thief broke into our house. The strange woman entered my bedroom, and when Seraphina saw her, she thought I was cheating on her, and a deep rift formed between us. Soon after, scandalous rumors about me spread like wildfire through our social circle. The entire Hayes family, disgusted by me bringing shame to them, coupled with Caleb’s arson incident, tacitly agreed for me to take the fall. This time, I reacted quickly. I immediately hid in the downstairs bathroom, first calling Madam Kingston’s household and asking Mr. Peterson and his people to return to rescue me. Just as the strange woman from my past life found me and was about to smash the window to break in, Mr. Peterson and his men apprehended her. After giving my statement at the police station, I returned home at dawn. The moment I walked in, I saw Caleb and the others sitting neatly in the living room, waiting for me. Madam Kingston’s New Year’s gifts were also neatly stacked in the corner. Caleb picked up a limited-edition luxury watch, his eyes full of surprise. “Brother, we weren’t home for New Year’s, who sent you such an expensive gift?” “This watch, if I’m not mistaken, is a limited edition that collectors dream of, right?” “Brother, you didn’t happen to be behind Seraphina’s back…” Caleb trailed off, glancing meaningfully at Seraphina. Seraphina’s elegant face held a hint of anger. She looked up at me. “I… I really underestimated you.” ###

Watching her earnest expression, I found it strangely amusing. Even though she didn’t genuinely care for me, she would still be angry if she suspected me of cheating. If I hadn’t overheard her confession that day, I might have actually believed she held some genuine affection for me. “These gifts belong to a friend of mine. I’m just holding onto them for now.” My tone was casual; I didn’t care if they believed me or not. The cut on my arm was stinging, and I wanted to get the first aid kit to treat it. Just then, Seraphina suddenly grabbed my wrist. Her grip was unlike her usual gentleness, her eyes dark in a way that felt alien to me. She swallowed, then, after a moment, pointed at the lady’s shawl on the floor, her voice hoarse: “What kind of woman leaves her shawl at a male friend’s house?” Her grip tightened. When I struggled, I accidentally pulled on my wound, wincing sharply in pain. Seraphina immediately released my hand, looking at me bewildered. “…I barely used any force.” Then, seeing the blood seeping from my arm, her heart skipped a beat. She frowned and asked, “You’re hurt? How could you get hurt at home on New Year’s Eve?” Seraphina was simultaneously annoyed at my clumsiness and yet her fingers twitched, wanting to inspect my wound. Before she could touch me, I raised my cold eyes to meet her gaze. Seraphina’s raised hand froze mid-air. “Why are you looking at me like that?” After a long moment of silence, I walked to the downstairs bathroom and yanked the door open with a bang. The chaotic mess inside immediately came into Seraphina’s view. Mrs. and David Hayes also looked utterly shocked. Seeing their reactions, I scoffed in disappointment. “Our house was broken into. I almost didn’t live to see another day, and all you’ve been doing is trying to catch me cheating, haven’t you?” Mrs. and David Hayes exchanged glances, then fell silent. Seraphina sighed softly and walked towards me, her voice filled with guilt. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have left you alone at home.” These words were better left unsaid until I was dead. My heart was completely unmoved. I coldly looked at Caleb. “I’m actually quite curious. Security in this upscale neighborhood is famously strict. Why would that woman risk breaking in on New Year’s Eve to steal something? Did she know in advance that I’d be the only one home tonight?” At my words, Caleb’s eyes flickered for a moment. He feigned composure. “Maybe she’d noticed you before, scouting out the area. Or maybe you already knew her, who knows…” I snorted, then nodded. “Alright. Since this woman is so dangerous, let’s file a police report then.” “Don’t file a report!” Caleb suddenly raised his voice. My unusual behavior made everyone look at me. Mrs. and David Hayes seemed to realize something, their faces turning pale. As Caleb was on the verge of tears, Mrs. Hayes lovingly wiped his tears, then turned to me, half-coaxing, half-scolding: “The person’s already caught, what’s the point of filing a report? Do you think it’s glorious to blow things out of proportion? Asher, just let it go. Don’t be so petty.” I had always thought my parents simply hadn’t seen Caleb’s true colors, which was why they always favored him. So, I had tried to tear off Caleb’s mask for them to see. Who would have thought that even with their biological son almost having his reputation ruined, they would still choose to side with the instigator? Why? My head felt a tearing pain. I stared at them, my gaze filled with countless invisible blades, severing the last vestiges of my attachment to the Hayes family. A slender hand wrapped around my shoulder, and Seraphina’s voice whispered in my ear: “Asher, it’s good that you’re alright. I’ll handle everything with the police station. You won’t be in danger again, okay?” She was also afraid that if I filed a report, it would eventually implicate Caleb! My heart ached even more. I turned to push Seraphina away, but then someone bumped hard into my lower back. I fell heavily to the ground, a piercing pain shooting through my spine, though it was nothing compared to Daisy’s crying words. “Bad Dad! You’re bullying Uncle Caleb, you made him cry!” “Die, you bad Dad!” Daisy was held back by Seraphina, but she still struggled, kicking at me with her legs. In that moment, the world around me slowed. My eyes saw only Daisy and Seraphina, and in my ears, that one phrase echoed repeatedly. “Die, you bad Dad!” Suddenly, tears streamed down my face. Something inside me swelled rapidly. My heart could barely pump oxygen, and the suffocating feeling grew stronger. After a few seconds, I couldn’t hold on any longer, and my vision went black as I passed out. ###

I woke up again in a hospital room. The warm air I exhaled condensed into a layer of white mist on my oxygen mask. My body felt heavy as lead, and even moving a fingertip was incredibly difficult. The nurse beside me saw I was awake and immediately walked over. “Mr. Hayes, you’re finally awake! Madam Kingston has been here several times these past three days while you were unconscious. If you hadn’t woken up, all of us in the hospital would have been jumping off the roof!” Her words made me smile. My bloodless lips moved, and I asked weakly, “Aside from Madam Kingston, has anyone else been here?” The nurse shook her head. “No, I’ve been here the whole time, and I haven’t seen anyone else. It was your housekeeper who called the ambulance. Thank goodness the blood clot was removed in time, or you’d be a vegetable for the rest of your life!” I frowned. I remembered passing out at home, and my entire family had been there. I’d been unconscious for so long, and not a single one of them had come to the hospital? A chill ran through my heart. I remembered the doctor’s advice not to get angry, so I silently took deep breaths, trying to calm my emotions. I lay in the hospital room until evening. During that time, Madam Kingston, having heard I was awake, called to check on me. The conversation soon turned to Seraphina, and her tone became utterly indignant. “That Davis girl, she’s utterly shameless! You almost lost your life, and she’s still fawning over that Caleb Hayes. I need to teach the Davis family a lesson and get some revenge for you!” I hadn’t understood what was happening, feeling puzzled, when Caleb suddenly sent me a video. In the video, I was in the hospital, wearing a hospital gown, my damp fringe clinging to my pale face—a frail, pitiable, sickly sight. Beside my bed, Mrs. and David Hayes’ eyes were swollen from crying. A slender, woman’s hand held a spoon, patiently feeding Caleb soup. The wedding ring on her left ring finger was identical to mine. Who else could it be but Seraphina? After Caleb finished a spoonful of soup, another small hand reached over, feeding him a perfectly peeled orange. A child’s voice whispered, “Uncle Caleb, get well soon. I hate seeing you sick…” So, the reason my family hadn’t shown up was that Caleb was also hospitalized, and they were all with him. I closed my eyes and turned off the video. Affection from my family was a luxury I no longer sought. All I wanted now was some peace and quiet. However, even such a simple wish seemed impossible to achieve. Not long after Caleb sent the video, the family wheeled him to my room. “Asher…” Seraphina’s voice was hoarse. She looked at me, hesitant to speak. Faint dark circles underscored her eyes. In just three days apart, she seemed to have lost weight and her face looked undeniably exhausted. The sight of the entire family rallying together gave me a bad feeling. Before I could speak, Caleb knelt beside my bed, crying. “Brother, I have a terminal illness. I don’t have much time left.” As soon as he finished, David Hayes covered his face and wept. Mrs. Hayes sighed softly, patted David Hayes’ shoulder, and looked at me with red eyes. “We’re here today to ask you to lend us Seraphina so she can take some memorial photos with Caleb before he passes.” Memorial photos? The request was so absurd that I remained silent for a long time, making sure I hadn’t misheard. Looking at my family’s expressions—so self-assured, so certain I would agree—I let out a scoff, my voice laced with sarcasm. “What if I don’t agree?” “Asher, how can you be so cold-blooded! Your brother is practically dying!” David Hayes rushed over, shouting at me with bloodshot eyes, his shock and disgust almost overflowing. I saw my own bloodless face reflected in his eyes and calmly said, “You want to pamper and spoil him, I can’t stop you. But as long as Seraphina and I are still married, I will never agree to such an absurd request. Unless—” I looked up at Seraphina, my gaze cold. “Unless we get a divorce.” Seraphina froze for a few seconds. Perhaps it was my imagination, but her pupils seemed to tremble slightly, and a flicker of anger crossed her eyes. A moment later, her red lips parted, her voice clear and cold. “Alright, then let’s get a divorce.” ###

“I, I don’t just want to take wedding photos with Caleb. This time, I want a grand wedding.” That day in the hospital room, Seraphina left those words and walked out, supporting Caleb. In the desolate hospital room, only I remained. I sat in quiet contemplation for a long time, until my tears had dried, and then I made a firm decision. At dawn, a taxi pulled up to a luxurious villa. Wearing only a thin hospital gown, I stepped out of the car. I looked up at the house that had been Seraphina’s and my marital home, gripped the lighter in my palm, and walked inside. The house was filled with traces of our family of three. Daisy’s favorite doll still lay on the carpet, the crayon drawings on the walls hadn’t been cleaned yet, and Seraphina’s shawl was draped casually over the back of the sofa. The mother and daughter had been playing pretend in the living room just a few days ago. My throat tightened. I averted my gaze and went upstairs. I headed straight for the master bedroom’s walk-in closet. Among a sea of designer suits, I pinpointed a plain, inexpensive white suit jacket. This was the one Seraphina and I had bought on our honeymoon in Las Vegas, the year we got married. That night was a mass wedding event in Las Vegas. The streets were brilliantly lit, and I bought a random white suit jacket from a small roadside shop, then pulled Seraphina along to join the fun. We were both drunk that night, dancing wildly in the crowd. After one dance, Seraphina’s hand, resting on my waist, was slow to let go. Her bright, intoxicated eyes looked at me with a tenderness that felt like it could drown me. She said she thought she was truly falling in love with me. I didn’t understand it then. Now, I finally understood what those words meant. It was also that night that Seraphina became pregnant with Daisy. People often say children born from parents deeply in love are especially beautiful. Daisy, as a child, had a round face, fair skin, and big, expressive eyes like grapes—cute and lively. She was indeed a beautiful child. But just like her mother, her heart and eyes were always fixed on Caleb. I took the suit jacket and our wedding photo album to the garden. These two items, once infinitely precious to me, were instantly devoured by flames the moment I flicked my lighter. When the fire died down, a gust of wind scattered the ashes. My connection with Seraphina and her daughter was also over. Just as I was about to leave, there was a sound at the door, followed by joyful laughter. “Daisy, your mom and dad are getting divorced. How about Uncle Caleb becomes your dad now?” His gentle voice, to my ears, felt like a knife hanging over my heart. The next second, Daisy happily shouted, “Okay!” “Daisy hates Dad, Daisy likes Uncle Caleb!” “Daisy wants Uncle Caleb to be her dad!” Caleb, triumphant, his voice grew even softer. “Good girl. Go take a bath, sweetie. After your bath, you’ll get a chocolate treat.” His tone was like someone training a dog. Daisy, oblivious to anything amiss, her small figure no taller than the doorknob, walked into the bathroom alone to run her bath. I hid in the guest room, feeling a strange pang in my heart. Seraphina, having parked the car, walked in and was immediately embraced. Caleb wrapped his arms around her slender waist, his voice coaxing, “Seraphina, I’ve finally waited for this day.” With that, he eagerly moved to undo Seraphina’s buttons, whispering seductively. “I have a surprise for you tonight.” Seraphina’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she pressed down on my hand, gently reminding me, “Daisy isn’t asleep yet. Let’s not let her see.” “Daisy’s been very good. She just volunteered to take a bath herself,” Caleb said, his eyes burning. “How about we go to our room and continue?” Caleb wrapped his arms around Seraphina’s neck, and the two, entwined, kissed their way to the master bedroom. After the master bedroom door clicked shut, I waited a while longer before emerging from the guest room. My pale face looked even more haggard than it had in the hospital. I looked up at the master bedroom on the second floor, my eyes filled with disgust. Just as I was about to leave, Daisy’s scream suddenly pierced through the bathroom door. “Ah—!” ###

“Daisy?!” I rushed into the bathroom. Through the swirling steam, I saw Daisy collapsed on the floor. I quickly helped her up. But the moment Daisy clearly saw my face, she pushed me away with all her might. “Who told you to come back? I have a new dad now. I don’t need you to take care of me!” Her distant gaze deeply wounded my heart, and it brought me back to reality. Releasing my grip on Daisy, I stood up, my expression remarkably calm. “You’re right. Since you have a new dad, you naturally don’t need my protection.” Before leaving, for the last flicker of father-daughter affection, I reminded her, “Eating candy before bed will make your teeth black. Be careful of cavities.” Those were the last words I ever spoke to Daisy. Daisy, soaking wet, watched my retreating back, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease. But then, thinking of her handsome and gentle Uncle Caleb, she quickly forgot about it. Seraphina Davis and Caleb Hayes’ wedding was a modest affair. After all, this marriage was not seen as honorable in the eyes of society. But Caleb still wore his suit, posing handsomely for photos, then sent them all to me. “Brother, my wedding is about to begin. It’s such a shame you can’t be here.” “I look pretty good in this suit, don’t I? Seraphina said I look even better than you did back then!” Receiving these messages, I was at a private airfield, preparing to board a plane. I carried only a small briefcase, but the documents inside held the fate of the Hayes family’s business empire. I looked at the constant stream of messages on my phone and chuckled sardonically. I turned, pulled out my SIM card, broke it, and tossed it into the trash. Then I instructed Madam Kingston’s professional security team: “Please announce my death in half an hour. Make sure the ‘gift’ I’m sending Caleb is delivered.” The lead team member nodded slightly. “Understood, Young Master.” The helicopter landed in front of me. I stepped onto the red carpet leading to the boarding ladder, taking one last look at the Montrose sky. The sky was azure, just as it had been the day I was reunited with my biological parents. But this time, I was leaving forever. Two hours later, the plane landed, and Asher Hayes vanished completely, replaced by Asher Kingston, the newly found heir of the Kingston family. Seraphina Davis and Caleb Hayes would soon taste the bitterness of being abandoned by all. The Hayes family’s business empire would soon be swallowed by the harsh realities of the market. I would make sure everyone who had hurt me knew how cold and miserable the heavy rain was without me to shield them! … Caleb, arm linked with Mrs. Hayes, slowly walked down the flower-strewn aisle. Daisy, dressed as a flower girl, followed behind, scattering handfuls of petals into the air. Seraphina watched Caleb slowly approach. He was the man she had loved for ten years, yet for some reason, her heart felt no joy. My image in a suit from years ago kept flashing in her mind. Just then, the wedding screen lit up. My face appeared on the screen. “Hello everyone, I’m Caleb Hayes’ ‘brother’. I regret not being able to attend because—” “I’m dead.” The hall erupted in an uproar. Seraphina froze, her ring slipping from her finger and clattering to the floor. ### I held up my medical records. The words “stage three leukemia” and “only one month left to live” were stark. With a pale, bloodless face, I slowly began to speak.

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The day I went to pick up my diagnosis, I learned I had cancer. The doctor said I had less than six months to live. I returned home, eerily calm, and prepared the divorce papers. In two weeks, I would finally leave this house that never truly felt like mine. I quietly counted the days, waiting for the moment of my departure. This time, I wouldn’t forgive them. Daniel and the Campbell family – I was done with all of them. “You have leukemia. Here’s your diagnosis.” Looking at the stark, glaring words on the paper, I felt a strange sense of peace. A sigh of relief, even. I calmly took the diagnosis. “How much time do I have?” I asked. The doctor sighed. “Six months at most.” I froze for a moment, then stood up, ready to leave. The doctor quickly called out to me. “Ms. Campbell, if you find a matching bone marrow donor, there’s still a chance.” Leukemia. Everyone knows it’s cancer. I wasn’t ignorant; I knew a bone marrow transplant could save me. But my family might not even bother to get tested for me. A bitter, self-deprecating laugh escaped me at the thought. “No need, thank you.” “Oh, but you’re so young, only 29,” the doctor pleaded, a touch of sympathy in her voice. Seeing my silent resolve, she didn’t push it further. I tucked the diagnosis away and called a taxi. Outside the window, snow fell, blurring the world, and my vision, just a little. Back home, the house was as cold and empty as ever. Daniel was probably “working late” again. He used to at least send a text, letting me know. But ever since Victoria, his idealized first love, the one who got away, came back to town. He couldn’t even be bothered to send a single message. I didn’t turn on the lights. I just sat quietly on the sofa, gazing out at the countless lights twinkling in other homes. For two thousand days, I’d waited for Daniel to come home. Today was supposed to be our wedding anniversary. And today was also the day I received my terminal cancer diagnosis. I didn’t know whether to laugh at myself or at this hollow mockery of a marriage. I’d waited for Daniel for five years. I couldn’t wait anymore. I pulled out the divorce papers I’d drafted two months ago and sent a SnapChat message to my lawyer. “Attorney Miller, I’ve decided to go through with the divorce. Could you draft another agreement for me?” A reply came quickly. “Of course. Same terms as before?” “Yes, but I want to finalize it as soon as possible.” “The fastest we can do it now is a month. I’ll draw up the agreement and we can schedule a meeting.” “Okay.” “Just to be sure, Ms. Campbell, are you absolutely certain?” My finger hovered over the screen for a long moment before I typed a single word. “Yes.” In that instant, all my strength seemed to drain away. I put down my phone and stared blankly out the window. If Daniel agreed, I could be free from this marriage in a month. One month… That would be enough time to take care of everything before I left. My marriage to Daniel was an accident. He was the one who proposed to me. Back then, Victoria, the woman he loved, had left him to pursue her career abroad. I knew his heart belonged to someone else, but I still said yes. After all, he was the only person who’d ever shown me kindness since my grandmother passed away. Even if, after we married, he was as distant and unapproachable as ice. But I kept telling myself, over and over again. Daniel was different. If I was good enough to him, even the hardest ice would eventually melt. For so long, our life together wasn’t passionate, but it was… normal. Yet, less than a year after Victoria returned, his ice had melted into sharp blades. Cutting me, over and over, until I was bruised and broken. I was truly exhausted. I didn’t want to fight anymore. As I sat there lost in thought, the sound of the front door opening broke the silence. The lights flickered on. I shielded my eyes from the sudden glare and heard the familiar sound of his shoes being removed. “Why are you sitting in the dark?” His voice held no hint of concern. I simply gave him two words in return. “Didn’t want to.” Daniel paused in the act of taking off his jacket. Did he sense I was acting a little strange today? He thought about it for a split second, then continued changing. I watched him, then spoke his name seriously. “Daniel.” He responded without looking up, “Hmm?” It wasn’t the exchange of a married couple, but rather of unfamiliar strangers. “Let’s get a divorce.”

Daniel finally looked at me. “Stop messing around.” Two simple words, dismissing my statement as a joke. “I’m serious.” “I had four surgeries today, I’m exhausted.” In the past, whenever he brought up work, it was his way of telling me to shut up. Daniel unbuttoned his cuffs and walked into the living room, acting as if nothing had happened. I caught the scent of plum blossom perfume, Victoria’s favorite. A wave of nausea washed over me. I closed my eyes and continued. “I’ll draft the divorce papers. I’ll show them to you when they’re ready, if you don’t…” My words were cut off by a ringtone. “Little Sunshine, pick up the phone! Little Sunshine, pick up the phone!” Victoria’s voice, chirpy and sweet, came from Daniel’s jacket. “Little Sunshine” was a nickname Victoria had given Daniel. A nickname from middle school. A term of endearment reserved only for her. Daniel glanced at me. “I didn’t know the ringtone changed.” Even his explanation sounded utterly flimsy. When he answered, his voice was exceptionally gentle, a complete contrast to how he’d spoken to me just moments before. “Victoria, what’s wrong?” It was always like this. Sometimes, I couldn’t tell who Daniel’s wife really was. After he hung up, Daniel looked down at me. “Victoria has a low fever today. She said she’s craving your pumpkin porridge.” I clenched my fists, staring at him in disbelief. “Daniel, do you know what time it is?” The clock on the wall had long since passed midnight. Daniel’s voice was flat. “You’re a freelance artist. It’s different for you; it’s okay if you sleep in tomorrow.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I was an illustrator, and my time was indeed flexible. But that didn’t give Daniel the right to command me. Apparently, my health was insignificant in his eyes. I took a deep breath, staring at him intently. “Daniel, leaving everything else aside, can you at least respect me? I’m talking about divorce right now.” Daniel’s indifferent expression finally changed. He frowned. “Victoria is sick. Sarah, be reasonable.” Daniel’s gaze was like he was looking at an irrational child. I struggled to breathe. His eyes—they were what I used to love most about him. I could still recall the first time I saw Daniel, sitting on my backyard wall, holding a cat, turning to look at me. Those clear, yet cool, eyes. One glance had lodged itself in my heart. One glance had made me foolishly love him for thirteen years. Now I realized, I loved the Daniel I had idealized countless times in my mind. “You haven’t been home for five days, and the moment you walk in, you want me to cook for Victoria. Daniel, am *I* the unreasonable one?” Faced with my accusation, Daniel replied as if it were nothing. “It’s just one meal. You’re being too petty. Victoria is like your sister.” How ridiculous. Every single argument we’d ever had. It always ended with that same phrase. *She’s like your sister.* The words were a curse. Shrouding my five years of marriage. I scoffed, my gaze on Daniel growing increasingly unfamiliar. The “different” I thought he was, was ultimately no different at all. Daniel was just like the rest of the Campbell family. “Daniel, remember this: her name is Victoria, and my name is Sarah Campbell.” I spoke each word distinctly. “I don’t have any strange ‘sisters,’ and I don’t need anyone to arrange one for me!” A flicker of disbelief crossed Daniel’s eyes. “Sarah, why are you acting like a shrew?”

Five years. I’d thought five years of marriage, if it didn’t earn his love, would at least earn his respect. But I had overestimated myself. I wanted to ask him. To ask him how he could utter such cruel words. To ask him what I had ever done wrong to be tormented by him like this. I opened my mouth, but my throat felt glued shut. I lowered my eyes, my voice hoarse. “I’ll have the divorce papers drafted.” Daniel walked past me towards the kitchen. “I’m very tired today, I don’t want to argue with you.” Watching Daniel roll up his sleeves in the kitchen, I turned and went back to the bedroom. Listening to the sounds from the kitchen outside. A bitterness swelled in my heart. Daniel was meticulously clean, almost to a fault, and never cooked. Only now did I realize that even his meticulous habits could be selective. I wiped away the tears from my eyes. I didn’t have time for sadness now. This month, besides the divorce, there were many things to do. I picked up a pen and paper, pondering what tasks I needed to complete. After these were done… I wanted to see the ocean. A Caribbean island in winter must be so warm. Leaving while basking in the sunshine there, it wouldn’t be painful. Thinking this, I managed a rare smile. As I closed my notebook, Daniel’s voice came from outside. “I won’t be back tonight.” It was then I remembered my medical report was still out there. I rushed out, colliding directly with Daniel. He stared at my face, scrutinizing me. “What’s the rush?” I feigned composure, grabbing my bag. “Nothing, just getting my bag.” Daniel pressed on. “Are you sure it’s nothing?” He clearly felt I was acting unusually strange today. I met his gaze. “Aren’t you going to take porridge to your girlfriend?” Stunned into silence, Daniel turned, grabbed his coat, and headed for the door. “I told you, there’s nothing between Victoria and me.” After he left, I finally exhaled. Daniel was a man who cared deeply about appearances. If he knew I was sick, he would definitely refuse to divorce for the sake of his reputation. Our apartment was near St. Jude’s Medical Center. But I hadn’t gone there for my check-up. Because Daniel was a surgical doctor at St. Jude’s. And Victoria, whom he’d introduced, had been working in pediatrics there this year. Daniel didn’t like me coming to the Medical Center to see him. To avoid bothering Daniel, I chose to go to County General Hospital, ten miles away. But thinking about it now. Even if I’d had my check-up at St. Jude’s. Daniel probably wouldn’t have noticed anyway. Very few people at the hospital knew about our relationship. I carefully hid the report. I couldn’t let anything become an obstacle to the divorce. It was very late, and I curled up in bed, exhausted. Tomorrow, I still had to go back to the Campbell family home. The Campbell estate wasn’t far. Only an hour’s drive from where Daniel and I lived. After marriage, except for holidays, I rarely went home. I gazed at the neatly trimmed yard in front of me and pressed the doorbell. I was here today to retrieve my grandmother’s jade pendant.

A few minutes later, someone emerged from inside. It was my brother, Jake Campbell. Seeing me, his expression was surprised, almost wary. “What are you doing here?” It wasn’t how you’d greet a sister you hadn’t seen in a long time. More like seeing someone you disliked. I was used to it. “I have something to discuss with Mom.” Jake hesitated before opening the gate. “Come in, Mom’s in the living room.” Stepping into the yard, I immediately noticed the newly planted flowers. Winter jasmine, filling half the yard. Victoria’s favorite flower. That spot used to be where I’d planted red camellias, trying to please Dad. Now, there wasn’t a trace left. Catching my gaze, Jake said, “Victoria likes winter jasmine. Dad had them planted.” It sounded like an explanation, but it was just information. After all, nothing of mine ever mattered in the Campbell house. I looked away. “Oh.” Jake gave me a strange look. In the past, I would have been hurt by something like that. Why was I so calm today? Jake tried to find a hint of sadness on my face, but found none. Before I even stepped into the living room, laughter reached my ears. My mother, Eleanor Campbell, was holding a finished dress, draping it against Victoria. “Robert, look, how’s the dress I embroidered for Victoria?” My father, Robert Campbell, nodded in admiration. “Beautiful. The yellow winter jasmine looks truly elegant.” Victoria smiled, linking her arm through Eleanor’s. “Mom, your dresses are always the prettiest! I love them all!” Eleanor looked at Victoria with loving affection. “You’re such a sweet talker.” Victoria loved handmade dresses. Eleanor thought store-bought ones weren’t good enough, so she’d personally made them for her for years. Victoria was in her thirties, yet still acted like a child, playfully clinging to my mother. She held up the dress and twirled around. “Daniel, does this dress look good on me for the New Year?” It was then I noticed Daniel, partially hidden by the wall. He was sitting on the sofa, looking up at Victoria with a soft smile. His misty blue sweater made him look incredibly gentle. Nothing like the distant man he was with me. “It looks great.” Hearing Daniel’s warm, almost loving voice. My heart ached subtly. He had never told me I looked good. Not once. The scene before me was warm and touching. Like a truly happy family. Jake cleared his throat. “Dad, Mom, Sarah’s back.” Everyone’s smiles froze. Eleanor turned and met my gaze. Her eyes darted away, then she spoke awkwardly. “Sarah’s back.” Her tone was distant, polite, utterly devoid of the warmth she showed Victoria. Robert sat up straighter, not sparing me a glance. “What are you doing here?” His tone made it sound like I was the outsider. And it was true; apart from the Campbell name, I was nothing like a Campbell. Victoria fluttered the dress, smiling at me. “Sarah, this is what my godmother made for me. Don’t think too much of it.” Robert scoffed at her words. “Your mother can make dresses for whoever she wants. It’s not up to you to approve.” A flicker of triumph crossed Victoria’s eyes. It was always like this. Victoria’s few words were enough to turn my family against me. I used to argue, but now I had no energy left. Daniel watched my silence, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. I wouldn’t have been so cold before. What was wrong with me today? Suppressing the pain in my heart, I stepped forward. “Dad, Mom, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” “Nonsense, how could your mother ever think you’re interrupting?” Eleanor reached for my hand, but I pulled away. Eleanor’s smile stiffened, and she awkwardly withdrew her hand. I didn’t want pleasantries; I went straight to the point. “I’m here today to retrieve the white jade pendant my grandmother left me.”

Victoria was like my stepsister. She was the orphan of my father, Robert Campbell’s, deceased army comrade. When Victoria was three, her parents died saving Robert Campbell from a landmine. Robert felt deeply responsible, so he took on the duty of raising Victoria. He brought Victoria to live with the Campbell family. The Campbells weren’t exceptionally wealthy, but they had more than enough to support another child. However, Victoria found it difficult to get along with me. So, they sent me to live with my grandmother in the countryside. My grandmother’s white jade pendant was specifically willed to me. At the time, my mother was heartbroken over her mother’s passing, clutching the pendant and weeping. I felt sorry for her, so I gave the pendant to her. But Eleanor had said I could always take it back whenever I wanted. Eleanor nervously smoothed her hair. “Sarah, why are you asking about the pendant the moment you arrive? Why don’t you spend some time with everyone?” When had I ever returned without asking about them? But did they ever appreciate it? The moment Victoria came back, their gaze never even strayed to me. They were the ones who squandered my concern, not me who withheld it. Eleanor’s expression made me curious. “Mom, where’s the pendant?” Eleanor avoided my eyes. Victoria’s clear voice chimed in. “Sarah, are you talking about this pendant?” Victoria pulled out the jade pendant she was wearing around her neck. “I didn’t know it was your grandmother’s. I thought my godmother bought it for me.” My body trembled as I looked at Eleanor. “Mom, that’s the pendant my grandmother left me!” Eleanor tried to explain. But her words were cut off by Robert. “What’s yours or mine? Sarah, are you being unreasonable? It’s just a pendant. Victoria wants it, and you’re going to fight me for it too?” I felt a constriction in my chest, finding it hard to breathe. I could give up everything else. But this was my grandmother’s pendant! My grandmother and I had depended on each other for over ten years; this pendant was the only thing she had left me! Robert continued to press. “Just a pendant makes you shout at your parents like this? Where’s your respect for your elders?” “Exactly,” Jake Campbell chimed in from the side, “It’s just a pendant, what’s the big deal? Sarah, you’re being too petty.” “Jake, that’s enough,” Eleanor tugged at Jake, then turned to me. “Your sister likes it, why don’t you just let her have it?” I looked at Daniel, who hadn’t spoken yet. Daniel seemed a little uncomfortable under my gaze. His eyes shifted to the pendant in Victoria’s hand. He had some memory of that pendant. The first time he met me, I was holding that very pendant. But he owed Victoria too much. Daniel spoke blandly, “It’s just a pendant. If Victoria likes it, let her have it.” I looked at these people, feeling a profound sense of alienation. “Just a pendant?” I suddenly laughed. My grandmother and I had depended on each other until I was sixteen; she was the only family I had in this life. “That was given to me by *my grandmother*! What right does Victoria have to take it?!” “I’m your sister!” Victoria retorted. I shouted with all my might, “I am *not*!” Hearing me say that, Robert’s eyes widened in anger. I didn’t give him a chance to speak. “Dad, for Victoria’s sake, you sent me away, you ruined my future. Now you’re going to give her my pendant too? You’re the one who owed your comrade! I don’t owe anyone!” Back then, Victoria wanted to go abroad to study medicine, and I also wanted to go to college. There was enough money for both of us to study. But Robert, wanting Victoria to have a better life, gave her double the living expenses. At that time, I had just passed my art school entrance exam. But Robert told me to stop studying art. I pleaded many times to continue my painting, but Robert remained unmoved. Robert, stung by my words, stood up from the sofa and slapped me hard across the face. “What are you doing!” Eleanor pulled Robert back, then walked over to me. “Sarah, your father didn’t mean it. Be generous, apologize to your father, and this will all blow over.” Eleanor always tried to play peacemaker like this. Her constant attempts made me feel utterly helpless. “You knew that was my grandmother’s, why did you give it to Victoria!” I grabbed Eleanor’s hand, forcing her to look at me. “Mom, that was the only thing my grandmother left me! I’ve already given up everything else, why do you have to take the last little piece from me?” Eleanor was at a loss for words. Victoria spoke up from the side. “Sarah, don’t blame Mom. It’s all my fault. I’ll give it back to you.”

“You brat!” Robert glared at me. “If you dare to take that pendant back today, I’ll disown you!” “Sarah, you’re making things very difficult for your mother.” Eleanor said. “Don’t be angry, godmother.” Victoria comforted Eleanor. “Sarah, don’t let Dad and Mom argue anymore. It’s rare for family to gather. Harmony brings prosperity.” Victoria came over to me, blocking the view of the others in the room. She dangled the pendant in front of me, her voice so low only I could hear. “If I had known it was your grandmother’s relic, I wouldn’t have wanted it.” “Such bad luck.” Victoria’s finger twitched, and the pendant slipped from her grasp, falling to the ground. The sound of the jade shattering echoed in my ears. I was speechless for a moment. Victoria feigned surprise, covering her mouth. “Oh dear, Sarah, I didn’t mean to. Why did you push me?” I knelt down, my hands trembling, to pick up the fragments. As I stood up, I saw my family staring intently at me. As if they feared what I might do. Daniel had even stood up, positioning himself in front of Victoria. I had wanted to make a scene. But now, I was just so tired. Silently collecting the shattered pieces of jade, I stared at Daniel, enunciating each word. “Meet me at the courthouse on Monday. We’re getting a divorce. I’m giving you your freedom. And I wish you both a happy reunion.” Daniel felt his heart skip a beat. Had I… discovered something? Before anyone could speak, I turned and rushed out into the rain. “Sarah, take an umbrella.” Eleanor stood in the living room with an umbrella, but Robert snatched it away. “Why give her one? Will a little rain kill her?” “For a worthless jade pendant, she dared to lay hands on her sister. Look, this is your well-raised daughter.” Eleanor stood by the door, sighing repeatedly. Daniel stared blankly for a moment, then finally noticed a small amount of blood where the pendant had shattered. Just as he was about to go after me, Victoria suddenly grabbed his sleeve. “Daniel, did I do something wrong? Sarah hates me so much.” Daniel comforted her. “Victoria, it’s not your fault.” When Daniel looked back, I was gone. It’s just a small injury; she’ll be fine. Thinking this, Daniel helped Victoria back into the living room. It took me over ten minutes to hail a taxi after leaving the house. Once inside, the driver handed me a dry towel. “Miss, wipe yourself off. Don’t catch a cold.” I took the towel. “Thank you.” The driver, while driving, tried to offer some advice. “These days, nothing is impossible to overcome. Just bear with it, and it’ll get better.” His words brought a few tears to my eyes. I used to believe that too. But now, I couldn’t bear it anymore. Just then, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Attorney Miller. “Ms. Campbell, your agreement is ready. Are you free to meet tomorrow?” “Thank you, Attorney Miller. See you tomorrow.” A location popped up on my phone. It was a coffee shop near my home. Attorney Miller’s office wasn’t in this area. And tomorrow was Sunday. It seemed he’d worked extra hours for me. I first contacted Attorney Miller about drafting divorce papers six months after Victoria returned. During that time, I went back and forth, hesitating many times. Attorney Miller understood best that I couldn’t let go. But he was also the one who often advised me to let go when I needed to. Daniel’s indifference to me was so stark that even strangers couldn’t ignore it. I had been too foolish, too naive, before. Always believing that the young man who had helped me countless times when I was in a mess, would eventually fall for me.

The next day, I received the divorce agreement. Looking at the bold letters across the top. I felt a little dazed. “Ms. Campbell, as you know, divorces now require a thirty-day waiting period. After that, as long as both parties agree, the divorce can be finalized.” I nodded, placing the agreement on the table. “Thank you for taking time out of your weekend to help me.” Attorney Miller sighed, smiling wryly. “It’s nothing. If I can help you escape this misery, I consider it a good deed.” Just then, a sharp, accusatory voice rang out behind me. “Sarah, what are you doing here?” I turned and saw Daniel and Victoria. Victoria’s gaze swept from me to Attorney Miller. “Sarah, are you on a date?” Her words seemed to strike a nerve with Daniel. He walked over and grabbed my wrist. “You’re not home on a weekend just to meet him?” No wonder I wanted to divorce him. I pulled my wrist free from Daniel’s grasp and turned to Attorney Miller, apologizing. “I’m sorry, Attorney Miller. Please leave first; I need to handle some family matters.” “Sarah, listen,” Attorney Miller looked at Daniel, “Mr. Davies, I am simply Ms. Campbell’s lawyer.” With that, Attorney Miller stood up and left the coffee shop. People around us were staring. I whispered to Daniel, “Let’s go. Let’s talk about this at home. Don’t make a scene here.” Daniel looked like he wanted to say more, but I cut him off. “I might not care about my reputation, but does Dr. Davies no longer care about his?” Their family lived not far from St. Jude’s Medical Center. This coffee shop was also frequently visited by hospital staff. Daniel valued his reputation above all else. Hearing my words, he said nothing more. Back home, I took out the divorce agreement. “Tomorrow, we’ll go to the courthouse, take a number, and file for divorce. In a month, you’ll be free.” My words didn’t make Daniel happy, but they certainly pleased Victoria. However, Daniel spoke first, dismissing her. “Victoria, you should go home for now. This is between my wife and me.” Victoria’s face stiffened, then she quickly returned to her gentle demeanor. “Okay, Daniel. Talk things through properly with her. Don’t let me misunderstand. Divorce isn’t a small matter; please don’t be impulsive, Sarah.” I scoffed silently. Even as she left, she had to make a jab at me. After Victoria left, Daniel sat on the sofa, picking up the divorce agreement and reading it. For a very long time, he said nothing. His gaze lifted from the agreement to me. “Are you really going to divorce me?” Daniel’s eyes caught sight of the jade pendant on the table, mended again and again with glue. “Is it just for a jade pendant? Victoria didn’t do it on purpose. I can buy you another one.” I looked at him calmly and asked, “Under what name would you return it to me? As my husband, or as Victoria’s ex-boyfriend?” “Victoria is right, you’re still too stubborn.” Daniel tossed the divorce agreement onto the table. “Sarah, you were the one who secretly forced Victoria away all those years ago.” I froze. When had I ever forced Victoria away? “You made Victoria leave, telling her to let me go to you. She told me everything the day she came back.” “Do you know how much Victoria suffered living abroad all these years? You owe Victoria.” Daniel’s words were like a knife, twisting once more in my already wounded heart. I looked at Daniel with difficulty. In his mind, I was such a despicable person. “I don’t blame you for Victoria leaving the country. I won’t blame you anymore.” He said it as if he were bestowing great mercy upon me. “I didn’t…” The explanation died on my lips. What was the point of explaining now? He firmly believed this “old story.” In his eyes, I was a sinner. And no one believes a sinner. I paused, then suddenly looked up and asked him. “Daniel, do you know what happened the day Victoria returned?” Daniel frowned in confusion. “What happened?” That day, it was their fourth wedding anniversary. Daniel had promised to come home from work to be with me. I had planned to tell him that they were going to have a baby. But Daniel broke his promise. I waited in the heavy snow for four hours. I fell on my way to find him, clutching that pregnancy test result. The baby was gone. The baby I had waited four years for. Gone.

I suppressed my grief, trying to calm myself. “Nothing. I just wanted to say, since you believe I stole Victoria’s boyfriend, why won’t you agree to the divorce?” Hearing me say that, Daniel’s frown deepened. “I told you, I’ve forgiven you. So—” “I only want a divorce.” I looked at him, repeating, “I *only* want a divorce.” The only thing in my eyes now was disappointment in this marriage. “Fine, divorce,” Daniel said, almost spitting the words. “Sarah, don’t you dare regret this.” With that, Daniel slammed the door and left. I curled up on the sofa, my fingers tracing my abdomen. That baby had only been there for three months. I had already picked out a nickname for the baby: “Peace.” I wanted my baby to be peaceful and safe, always. The baby was so well-behaved, never causing any trouble, and I never had morning sickness. Even the doctors said it was a good baby who cared for its mother. And that good baby. Left me on the coldest winter night. “It’s okay,” I murmured. “Baby, wait a little longer. Mom will be with you soon.” The next morning, Daniel and I went to the courthouse. It was the first time he hadn’t stood me up. Coming out, I felt much lighter. Thirty-one more days. It would pass quickly. Seeing my happiness, Daniel was displeased. He was about to speak when his phone rang. I glanced at him. “Don’t forget to come pick up the divorce papers in thirty-one days.” Then I walked away. During the waiting period for the divorce, Daniel hardly came home. Meanwhile, I completed all the remaining tasks on my list. With twenty-seven days left, I stopped updating my comic. It was a comic that documented my life with Daniel. Reality was never as beautiful as the comic. Now that I was leaving, there was no need to draw these empty things anymore. I closed my laptop, looked at the sunshine outside, and smiled. With seventeen days left, I went shopping for summer clothes. I bought many colors I never used to wear, planning to change into a different one every day on the Caribbean island. And with only seven days left, I did one last thing. I packed away every trace of myself in this house. Afterward, I realized how few traces I had left in this home. I found our carefully preserved wedding photos. In the pictures, I smiled brightly, but in the mirror, I was bone-thin. Daniel never liked me hanging our wedding photos, so I never did. I threw them all into the trash. Then I burned my most cherished possessions. I burned them for my future self, after I was gone. I knew no one would burn these for me. I also worried that my grandmother wouldn’t have any pocket money after I passed. So I bought a pile of paper money and burned it for her first. Watching the flickering flames, I softly said, “Grandma, try to be frugal with this. We’ll have to share it down below.” After burning everything, I looked at the large pile of ashes, my mood significantly lighter. Now, there was nothing holding me back. Just then, the front door unlocked. Daniel was back. He walked into the house, frowning, and waved away the floating ashes. “Sarah, what are you burning?” I calmly replied, while tidying the fire basin. “Burning some paper money for Grandma.” “Don’t burn these things in the house again,” Daniel said, opening the window. “Okay, I won’t.” It was the last time anyway. Hearing my voice, Daniel noticed I seemed to be in a relatively good mood. After a moment of hesitation, Daniel spoke. “I want Victoria to move in.” I paused, then scoffed. “There are only seven days left until we divorce, Dr. Davies. Can’t you even wait that long?” “There are so many empty rooms in the house; it won’t be a problem for her to stay,” Daniel continued. “It’s close to the hospital, and it’ll be convenient for me to go to work.” I didn’t look up. “You’ve already decided, so why ask me?” Daniel pressed his lips together, his voice becoming very soft. “Victoria… she’s pregnant.” The basin in my hands clattered to the floor, spilling black ashes everywhere. I patted my soiled white dress, only to leave several handprints on it. “Daniel,” my voice trembled uncontrollably, “Is it yours?” He avoided my eyes, his explanations growing weaker with each word. “That night was a misunderstanding. I never intended for there to be a child.” “The baby is only twenty-six days along, the pregnancy is unstable.” Twenty-six days. I knew. It had been exactly twenty-six days since I found out I had cancer.

I remembered the scent of that perfume from that day. I was so foolish, so naive, I’d completely forgotten. What kind of intimacy would leave such a strong, lingering perfume scent? I think I understood now why Daniel didn’t want to divorce me. Did he think that not divorcing me was his way of compensating me? Seeing my silence, Daniel continued, “I want Victoria to move in. You can help take care of her. After all, you’re just sitting around.” I walked over, unable to control myself, and slapped him across the face. The sharp sound echoed in the living room. Daniel’s glasses flew off, landing far away. Unable to stop the surging tears, I cried and grabbed Daniel’s collar. “Daniel, are you even human?” “Are you even human!!!” “You don’t have to love me, but how can you humiliate me like this?” Daniel let me hold him, silently turning his head away. He knew he was in the wrong. But his silence at that moment was like a suffocating tide. Daniel and Victoria were childhood sweethearts. Their bond spanned from middle school to college. I never expected Daniel to love me deeply, and I had considered how close he and Victoria might be. I thought I would be indifferent to it. But when the truth was laid bare before me, I realized. Watching the person I once loved so much admit to cheating, my heart still ached. I released Daniel, leaning against the glass, struggling to breathe. “It’s my fault.” Daniel admitted his mistake for the first time. “But Victoria isn’t well. If she gets rid of this baby, she might never be able to have children again.” “Don’t worry, I won’t divorce you. Victoria doesn’t want to destroy our marriage either.” “We’ve discussed it. This child will be registered under my name. You’ll raise it.” Daniel’s words came one after another. More than he’d spoken to me in an entire month. And my heart gradually grew calm. “I agree to Victoria moving in.” Daniel’s eyes brightened. “But, in seven days, I must have the divorce papers.” His earlier words made me realize Daniel was trying to back out. Since things had come to this. I had to make Daniel agree to the divorce. I didn’t have another month to wait. Daniel froze, a hint of desperation in his voice. “I won’t divorce you, don’t worry—” “I’m not discussing this with you.” My voice grew colder. “I’m *informing* you. Otherwise, I will make sure everyone knows about Dr. Davies’s questionable lifestyle.” I wasn’t very good at threatening people; my words weren’t very forceful. But it was enough to make Daniel feel my resolve. Daniel was speechless. He looked down at me. “Sarah, are you really going to be this ruthless?” I smiled. “Daniel, did I get Victoria pregnant?” Daniel clenched his hand. “I told you, it was a misunderstanding—” “What kind of misunderstanding leads to sleeping together?!” I suppressed the nausea in my stomach, glancing at Daniel. “Daniel, you truly disgust me.” Daniel fell silent. After a long pause, he bent down and picked up his glasses. “Fine.” Daniel agreed. After he left, I ran to the bathroom and threw up. However much I had loved him before, that’s how much I detested him now. I had always thought they wouldn’t reach a point of such mutual disgust. But now Victoria was pregnant. All pretense of civility had turned into filth. And Daniel’s actions were swift. Fearing I might change my mind, he brought Victoria into the house the very next day. I felt sick, but I didn’t argue. I endured it silently. Five more days. Five more days until I could leave this bastard. After Victoria moved in, she became even more brazen. She stroked her still-flat stomach and ordered me, “Sarah, honey, I’m craving pumpkin porridge.” I didn’t like to argue. I said nothing, simply ordered her a takeout version. But Victoria cried to Daniel. “Daniel, I’m pregnant. How can I eat takeout?” Daniel looked at me, silent and unmoving, and for the first time, he didn’t side with Victoria. “Victoria, it’s fine. One time won’t hurt.” I paid them no mind. I had no desire to argue anymore. And I certainly wouldn’t cook. But I never imagined that the day before the divorce. Victoria would fall in the bathroom. I stood there, my clothes soaked, clutching my stomach, and cried to Daniel when he rushed back. “Daniel, why did Sarah spill shower gel on the floor? My stomach hurts so much.” “Sarah, I never wanted to ruin things between you and Daniel. Please don’t hurt our baby, okay?” Victoria was skilled at falsely accusing me like this. I just felt a deep sense of exasperation. Daniel believed her without a second thought. “Sarah, apologize to Victoria!” My brow furrowed. “Daniel, tomorrow we’re going to finalize our divorce. Why would I bother to harm myself like this?” Whenever Victoria was involved, Daniel turned into an idiot. Daniel also remembered that tomorrow was the last day of the divorce cooling-off period. Without thinking clearly, the words just tumbled out of his mouth. “If you want this divorce to go smoothly, apologize to Victoria.” I froze. I never expected such a threatening demand to come from Daniel’s mouth. How sickening, how ugly.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298847”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

To finally win over my crush Julian Vance, I followed my yoga instructor’s advice. I got my braces off, had corrective eye surgery, and pushed myself to be better. My yoga instructor, Veronica, might have looked cool and aloof, but her love life was anything but. More than once, I’d had to make an emergency condom delivery for her. It wasn’t until I was ready to confess my feelings that I got a call from her. “Hey, sis, can you do me a favor and bring some morning-after pills?” Veronica’s voice was sultry and mesmerizing. “Oh my god, I hit the jackpot! He was a *virgin*? And so much raw *power*!” The call ended. I stared at the address she’d sent, a heavy dread settling in my chest. Because the location was none other than the house of my childhood best friend, Julian Vance, the one everyone swore was totally uninterested in girls. I stood outside Julian’s house. But I couldn’t bring myself to knock. For years, I’d waited here every morning for him to leave for school. I’d stood here every evening, bringing him dinner. But this time, clutching the newly bought morning-after pill, I just couldn’t make myself do it… As I hesitated, Veronica sent another message: 【Hang the morning-after pill on the door! Don’t you dare knock!】 Just as I was totally confused, she sent several voice messages in a row: 【I was so wrong about him before. Turns out this college guy, once he got a taste, is absolutely insatiable～】 Veronica was breathing heavily, a hint of excitement in her voice: 【While his technique isn’t as polished as those experienced guys, his raw, untamed power was almost more than I could handle…】 Her words were cut short. After a rustle of sounds, the chat screen went silent. At the same time, Veronica’s alluring pleas came from inside the house. I swallowed the bitterness. My finger hovered over the keypad. But in the end, I didn’t press a single number. I hung the morning-after pill on the doorknob. I sent Veronica a simple, 【Okay】. Then, like a deserter, I fled in disgrace.

I had imagined hundreds of ways Julian might react to my confession. The worst-case scenario was always a simple rejection. I never, ever, thought it would be this suffocating. I clutched the eight-hundred-word love letter I’d so carefully written. And, pathetically, I cried in a corner for what felt like forever. It wasn’t until night fell that I dragged myself home, my eyes puffy and red.

When I got home, Dad poked his head out of the kitchen. “Ashley, you’re back? Tired today?” I mumbled a noncommittal reply. Just as I was about to go to my room, Mom eagerly grabbed my arm. “Where are you going?” Before I could answer, Mom playfully smacked my arm. “Ashley, you’re so scatterbrained! How could you forget such an important day?” I stared at Mom blankly for a moment. Before I could remember, Julian familiar walked through the front door, carrying a fruit basket. Mom immediately let go of me and rushed to greet Julian with a smile. It hit me then. It was Julian’s birthday. That’s why I’d chosen today to confess. But now, I couldn’t face him with any composure… Julian acted as if nothing had happened, heading into the kitchen to help Dad. I used the time to splash some water on my face, trying to look less like a mess. When I came out, dinner and the cake were already on the table. In the flickering candlelight, I looked at Julian’s cool, noble profile and couldn’t help but remember the intimate scene with Veronica. Veronica was a total wild child. She often bragged to us about all the crazy things she’d done with the guys she’d slept with. … “Julian,” Dad suddenly said, his eyes a little red after a few drinks, “You and our Ashley are practically childhood sweethearts.” “Your parents have been gone for years now, and your mom and I, we really consider you like our own son…” “You know that, right?” I snapped out of my memories. I looked up sharply at Dad. Just as I was about to say something to interrupt him, Mom gently tapped my hand under the table and shook her head at me. I heard Dad, usually so steady, speak to Julian with a trembling, uncertain voice: “We’ve seen Ashley’s admiration and affection for you with our own eyes.” “You’re both adults now, and you’ll be going to college together. Your uncle here hopes…” Dad trailed off, then took another drink, as if to bolster his courage. “I watched you grow up. Others… we just wouldn’t trust them.” “You’ll take good care of Ashley, won’t you?” The atmosphere suddenly froze. Mom and Dad both looked at Julian with expectant eyes. I could feel Mom’s body trembling slightly. Julian’s expression, however, remained as calm and indifferent as ever. His long fingers tapped lightly on his glass, a rhythmic, almost absentminded motion. Just as I abruptly stood up, ready to diffuse the tension, I heard Julian murmur, “Mmm.” He lifted his eyes to meet Dad’s, his voice quiet. “I will.”

I looked up, utterly disbelieving. Julian looked back at me, a faint smile on his lips. “I’ll take good care of Ashley.” “With me around, Mr. and Mrs. Miller don’t need to worry.” I was about to say something when Veronica sent a video of herself dancing with male models at a club. Along with it came a voice message. Feeling a little flustered, I quickly hit the “transcribe” button. 【Ashley Miller! Why are you still trying to confess to your stupid childhood friend?! Learn from me, use your body, not your heart!】 【Tonight, some rich dude asked me out, but that college guy totally wore me out, so I just came out to have some fun and feel some abs～】 【But thanks anyway for today, I’ll give you a free extra class tomorrow, good girl!】 I stared down at my phone. Like a student secretly playing with their phone in class. I typed: 【Are you and that college guy… a couple?】 Perhaps my question was too abrupt, too out of context. Veronica’s “typing…” bubble showed for a long time before she replied with a “?”. I glanced at Julian across the table. Suddenly, I felt a pang of guilt. I was about to retract my message when Veronica’s reply came through: 【Are you kidding? Me, fall for him?】 【Letting him be my hookup buddy is already a huge favor. If he wants a title, he’ll have to ask the forty rich, handsome guys ahead of him in line if they’re okay with it!】 For some reason, I let out a long sigh of relief. After turning off my phone, I called out to a slightly tipsy Julian, smiling as I met his gaze. “Happy birthday.”

Maybe it was the alcohol, but Dad’s eyes were red, and he kept repeating “Good” several times. He stood up and clapped Julian on the shoulder. “Good kid, your uncle didn’t misjudge you.” Dad’s voice was thick with emotion. Realizing his lapse, he stood up and haphazardly wiped his face. “I’ll go make you some longevity noodles.” I felt a little tipsy too. Leaning against Mom, I started counting on my fingers. “This is our… seventh birthday together…” Time really flies. The shy, vulnerable boy he once was had grown into such a tall, handsome young man. That year, he lost both his parents overnight. Leaving Julian all alone. To raise him, buy him a house and car, get him married, and have children—just the thought of these enormous expenses made relatives steer clear of Julian. Afraid of getting entangled. Only my parents, seeing how pitiful he was, took on the responsibility. To spare him any feelings of inferiority, our whole family poured our efforts into every aspect of his life, from food and clothing to housing and daily care. Luckily, everything seemed to be turning out for the best. “Julian’s had too much to drink, why don’t you walk him home?” Mom nudged my elbow, whispering softly. “Go on now~” I gasped. And just as I looked up, my eyes met Julian’s dark, profound gaze. He smiled faintly, his voice husky. Like a mesmerizing siren: “Ashley.” “Then, thank you for your trouble.”

Julian’s place was just one building over. For years, except at night, he’d always been at our house. I never thought this path could feel so long – “Ashley Miller.” I was lost in thought when Julian casually called my name. “Ashley Miller.” I could feel the tenderness in his tone. Just as I was about to ask, he pulled me into his arms. I was pressed against the cold elevator door. I struggled twice. But then Julian suddenly leaned down, startling me. He raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his lips. Fueled by alcohol, he leaned in for a kiss— Nervously, I clenched my fists and closed my eyes. After what felt like an eternity, Julian chuckled. “You really do like me, don’t you?” His beautiful, almond-shaped eyes stared directly at me. “How could I have not realized? How could I have not seen it?” A wave of unease washed over me. Blushing, I asked, “What?” “Why did you close your eyes?” Julian asked. “Did you think I was going to kiss you?” Then, his voice reverted to its usual cold indifference. “What’s the point of this? What is this, trying to use your kindness to force me?” “Didn’t I say that when I made money, I’d repay your family twofold? Why are you trying to force me into a relationship?! “I don’t understand! Am I supposed to be your *reward*? Am I obligated to marry you, to be tied to your family forever, just because you helped me?” Julian’s voice grew louder with each word. I had never seen him so out of control. Startled, I forgot to say: “Actually, you could have just said no.”

Julian pulled a cigarette from his pocket. In my astonished gaze, he smirked. “What? Going to tell on me?” He blew a smoke ring directly towards my face, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Go ahead.” “Go tell them I secretly smoke, tell them I’m not the right guy to spend your life with, and then, set me free…” I stared at Julian. He was a complete stranger to me now. After a long silence, I spoke softly. “I’ll talk to Mom and Dad.” I kept my head down, fighting back tears. My voice choked. “You don’t have to do this.”

Julian was always distant with everyone. And he really hated people getting too close. Except me. Not only did he not push me away, but he’d also secretly laugh at me when I did something silly. He’d even carry me to the hospital when I had a cold or a fever. I always thought he liked me. But he was naturally aloof, not good at expressing himself. So, I thought, if I just became a little prettier, I would confess. To improve my figure, I signed up for a yoga class as soon as school let out. After I met Veronica, she taught me how to become beautiful. How to… capture a man’s heart. Looking back now, I was utterly foolish.

The next morning, I went to yoga class as usual. I planned to pretend nothing had happened, finish my classes, and then go on a trip with Mom and Dad. But I never expected, the moment I walked in, Veronica would slap me. She tilted her long neck, speaking with contempt. “You look so innocent, but turns out you’re a shameless slut behind everyone’s back!” I was stunned by the slap. When I looked up, I realized that Julian was there too, not just the other students. “Writing love letters to my boyfriend! You’re utterly disgusting!” Veronica’s face was flushed with anger, her slender, manicured nail poking my chest. “What? Using your youth to seduce someone else’s boyfriend, trying to be a homewrecker?” Then, she stomped her foot prettily, hooked her arm through Julian’s, and, with a catch in her voice: “Julian, say something~” “It’s this little bitch, isn’t it, interfering with our relationship, that made you break up with me?!”

I didn’t even register what Veronica meant by “break up.” Instinctively, I raised my hand to strike back. But Julian grabbed my wrist. He sounded annoyed as he reprimanded me. “Haven’t you made enough of a scene?” “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted to see?” Julian pulled me, ready to leave. He turned to Veronica, his voice low and deep. “This is my fault, I owe you an apology.” “Just forget about me.” Julian’s grip on my wrist was extremely tight. His expression as he looked at Veronica was one of suppressed resentment and unwillingness. “Once school starts, Ashley and I will go to Northwood University. Then… when you don’t see me, you’ll be fine.” Veronica’s mouth hung open. Her face was a mask of disbelief. I knew. She was very proud and arrogant. She’d played the dating game for years and had never failed. Julian was probably the first man to ever make her feel defeated. But I didn’t expect her to turn crimson with rage and immediately post my love letter, along with intimate photos of her and Julian, in the yoga SnapChat group: 【This is my ‘good student’! It’s bad enough she takes my classes, but she shamelessly tries to steal my boyfriend!】 After posting, Veronica even tagged my parents: 【How did you raise your daughter?!】 I frantically rushed forward to grab her phone. But Julian blocked me, softly coaxing Veronica. “It’s okay to vent your anger. Now that it’s come to this, I didn’t…” I laughed, a bitter, sarcastic sound. I might as well pull out all the records of me delivering condoms for Veronica. “Julian Vance.” “You don’t actually think your so-called girlfriend is some innocent angel, do you?”

I’d known Veronica for a month. And I’d already delivered condoms for her fifteen times. She always said, “There are a million fish in the sea, and the newest catch is always the most exciting.” I asked, confused, if she wasn’t afraid of things going wrong. Veronica just smiled at me. “That’s why you’re still such a naive little thing!” “My dear, I’m always looking for a good time, not a ‘forever’ thing. And trust me, my ‘ex’ list is always *zero* online, you get me?” At the time, I just blinked at her, bewildered. I admitted Veronica was indeed beautiful. A truly striking beauty with a captivating, dramatic look. And she always favored form-fitting dresses that accentuated her figure, adding to her allure. Noticing my gaze, Veronica playfully tapped my forehead. “Listen to me. In one month, I can transform you into the kind of woman men fall for, guaranteed to snag your crush!” “The condition is, you have to run errands for me. Because you… you’re faster.” Dad’s call interrupted my thoughts. I snapped back to reality. I hung up. And immediately sent the chat and purchase records into the group. The students behind me stared at their phone screens, letting out sharp gasps. “Oh my god, that’s wild!” “I knew she played the field, but this is like… extreme sports! Seriously, how can someone like that be a teacher?” “So promiscuous, and then she has the nerve to blame someone else… Wait, so is Ashley Miller actually a homewrecker or not?” Everyone’s burning gazes felt like they were drilling holes through me. I forced myself to remain calm. I was about to send the screenshot from last night, where I asked Veronica if they were a couple. “Veronica is my girlfriend.” Julian’s face was incredibly dark. He stepped forward to comfort a bewildered Veronica, his voice low but firm. “No matter what she was like before.” “But now she’s my girlfriend, and I don’t want you all prying into someone else’s private life and making a big deal out of it.” Veronica suddenly looked up. Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson. I stood frozen. As if I had been utterly nailed to a pillar of shame. After such a scandal, the school administration rushed in. Right in front of everyone, they immediately fired Veronica. After the unpleasant dispersal, Julian grabbed me, his face devoid of expression, his voice cold.

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At my husband Damien Shaw’s birthday party, he kissed his assistant right in front of me. I didn’t cry. I didn’t make a scene. I even thoughtfully turned on the air conditioning for him. He was beaming, showing off to a dozen of his buddies. “You gotta find a wife who’s both chill and devoted,” he boasted. “I just mentioned an open marriage, and she was totally on board. But she loves me so much, she’s never brought another guy home.” Everyone nodded, but a knowing smirk played on their lips. Damien had no idea that I’d actually been on dates with every single one of those guys. Just last night, the professor sitting in the corner kept pressing me: “Sister, when are you finally going to make this official?” Damien’s words cast a subtle hush over the private dining room. Everyone exchanged mocking glances, a silent understanding passing between them. My phone, however, wouldn’t stop vibrating. Every single message was an invitation from one of Damien’s friends to meet up again. I silenced my phone and ignored them all. The first time I found lipstick on Damien’s shirt collar, I cried, screamed, broke things, and threw tantrums. I even pathetically begged him to cut ties with those other women. But he just gave me a cold look. “Everyone believes in open marriages now. It’s totally normal for couples to do their own thing.” “If you’re unhappy, you can go find someone else too.” He said it, but he was dead certain I’d never betray him. And to be fair, I couldn’t bring myself to casually hook up with others. Not until he got serious with Chloe Green. Chloe was my most trusted assistant. When her parents were in a car accident, I paid their medical bills. When she couldn’t afford rent, I let her stay in my empty apartment for free. I treated her like a friend, but Damien was sleeping in the same bed with her. After that, I snapped. Every time Damien spent time with Chloe, I’d flirt with one of his friends. Especially the one in the corner, Julian Hayes, the youngest professor at a prestigious university. He was young, handsome, amazing in bed, and, crucially, richer than me. He wanted nothing from me, just constantly whispered in my ear, trying to convince me to leave Damien, that “old man,” and make him my official partner. Last night, he clung to me, wanting me again and again. But then, at the most crucial moment, he’d stop, purposely trying to force me to agree to his proposal. My phone vibrated again, a message from Julian. *Sister, Damien treats you like this, and you’re still not planning to leave him?* *Divorce that old man, and I’ll take you to the biggest manor in Germany for our wedding. Everything the Hayes family owns will be your dowry.*

The Hayes family was one of the most powerful and respected families in the nation, so that offer was incredibly tempting. But I still didn’t reply. Seeing no one was engaging, Damien assumed everyone was bored and ordered a few more pretty girls to liven things up. “Plenty of beauties and good wine tonight, everyone, let loose and have fun!” Chloe, who had been wrapped around him moments ago, instantly looked displeased. She pouted, her sweet voice carrying a hint of possessiveness. “They can do whatever they want, but you can’t.” “If you dare to hold any other woman’s hand, you won’t be sleeping in my bed tonight!” Damien wasn’t annoyed. He ignored everyone else, cooing at her. “Come on, sweetie. After my birthday, I’ll spend all my time with you, promise I won’t touch anyone else.” “Tell me anything you want, consider it your compensation.” Chloe gave a mock-coy huff, then suddenly pointed at me. “Then I want the ring on Anya’s finger. Will you give it to me?” I froze, my gaze dropping to the plain band on my left middle finger. After being completely disillusioned with Damien, I’d taken off my expensive wedding ring, but I hadn’t been able to part with this unassuming platinum band. Only because it was the engagement gift Damien had given me years ago. When he first put this ring on my finger, he wasn’t the powerful CEO Damien Shaw. He was just a green, naive kid. To buy this ring, he worked part-time nights while attending classes during the day, nearly working himself into the hospital. Later, we found success in our business, and he gave me countless valuable pieces of jewelry, but none of them made me as happy as this ring. I stubbornly wore this ring, as if guarding the purest love of my youth. Damien frowned, refusing Chloe. My hand, clutching the wine glass, slowly relaxed. A flicker of relief sparked within me. But the next second, he said, “An old, worthless ring, what do you want it for?” “That old-fashioned style doesn’t suit you at all.” Chloe wouldn’t listen to him. She chirped sweetly, “But I like that one! I want it!” I knew Chloe didn’t actually want the ring; she wanted to provoke me. Because she understood what that ring meant to me. I looked at Damien, my voice flat. “Do you want me to give it to her?” Damien didn’t even glance at me. “If the little girl likes it, give it to her. I’ll buy you a new one tomorrow.” Turns out, when you’re hurt to the extreme, you can’t cry. I expressionlessly took off the ring, severing the last thread of affection I had for Damien. Chloe forced the ill-fitting ring onto her ring finger. Someone joked, “That ring clearly doesn’t fit you. It looked much better on Anya.” Chloe sneered, “Whether it fits or not isn’t important. What matters is that it’s on my hand.” “Right, Anya?” I didn’t answer. She flashed a smug, mocking smile and turned, burying herself in Damien’s arms. I sat in the corner, downing half a glass of whiskey, the burning sensation bitter on my tongue. Then I pulled out my phone and replied to Julian’s message. *I agree.*

Damien didn’t come home the next day either. After getting ready, I left to meet my lawyer. As soon as I walked into the firm, I saw the divorce papers laid out on the table. “Ms. Thompson, this agreement needs to be confirmed by both you and Mr. Shaw.” “If there are no issues, after signing and getting through the one-month waiting period, you’ll be completely free.” I nodded and asked the lawyer to contact Damien. But he cruelly hung up ten calls in a row. Just as I was about to go find him myself, the call finally connected. But what I heard was a man’s heavy breathing and a woman’s moans. The lawyer looked incredibly awkward. My heart was utterly calm, and I spoke flatly, “Damien, you need to sign the divorce papers, you…” Before I could finish, Damien cut me off. He sounded extremely impatient. “I’m busy. You just sign for me, don’t notify me about every little thing.” After he spoke, I heard Chloe’s voice again. She deliberately called out loudly, urging, “Damien, don’t stop!” As the call disconnected, I faintly heard Damien’s low reprimand, laced with a tenderness he hadn’t shown me in ages. “Why are you getting out of bed without shoes? You’ll catch a cold.” I forced a smile, unable to decipher the feeling in my heart. “He’s authorized me to sign, so I will.” The lawyer also sensed Damien’s attitude and reluctantly handed me a pen. My fingers moved lightly, signing both Damien’s and my own name. The divorce papers were signed. Next, to tackle the company issues.

Damien owned three companies. The largest, “YiZhi Designs,” was the high-end jewelry company he and I built together. Though he provided most of the capital, the company’s design team was my brainchild, nurtured with my own efforts. Some were my old classmates, others were up-and-coming designer influencers. Back then, they came to YiZhi, which had nothing, out of loyalty to me, willing to start from scratch. Gradually, we made a name for ourselves in the industry and attracted investors. At the annual International Jewelry Design Competition, my team’s designs went viral, officially ushering in the era of YiZhi Designs, practically monopolizing the domestic jewelry design business. Damien’s success today owed much to me and my team. But now he was not only favoring new hires with connections but also letting Chloe abuse her power. If I hadn’t been there, those long-time employees would have left ages ago. I planned to take them with me to start our own jewelry design company. With that thought, I began recruiting. The process was surprisingly smooth, with many shareholders even willing to follow me. My mood improved slightly, but Chloe had to ruin it again. *Anya, honestly, in terms of looks and ability, I’m not better than you. But do you know why Damien likes me more and more, and hates you more and more?* I’d grown accustomed to Chloe’s malice, feeling nothing inside. Ever since Damien started openly flaunting their affection in front of me, she’d tried every trick in the book to make my life miserable. Anything I liked, she’d find a way to coax Damien into giving it to her. On my birthday, she took Damien to the vet for her pet dog. Every time they were intimate, she’d immediately send me pictures from their bed. I initially wanted to ignore her, but then she sent a pregnancy test result. *Because you can’t give Damien children, but I can.* *Damien isn’t someone who just seeks pleasure. He keeps looking for one woman after another because all he really wants is a child of his own. You live off him, but you can’t even fulfill this tiny request, so of course he’d grow to resent you.* *A woman who can’t even have children is so pathetic. If you have any self-respect, you should hurry up and leave him so I can take your place. We’ll be the happiest family of three.* Even though I had already decided to leave, Chloe’s words still stung. I stared intently at that pregnancy test result, my breathing starting to falter.

Actually, Damien and I once had a child. Back then, he was just starting his business, with no connections or resources, like a small-time guy being forced to drink excessively at business dinners. My heart ached for him, so I snatched his glass and drank for him. The people at the table, seeing I was pretty, had bad intentions and pushed all sorts of drinks—white spirits, red wine—in front of me. To avoid offending anyone, I accepted them all and passed out drunk. When I woke up groggily, I found myself in a hotel bed, a pool of red beneath me. A man, looking utterly annoyed, grabbed Damien’s collar. “Why didn’t you tell me she was pregnant sooner? I was halfway through and now I’m in a mess!” Damien glared at him fiercely but was beaten bloody by the man’s bodyguards. The sun was scorching that day. He carried me for three miles, but it still wasn’t enough to save our baby. And I permanently lost the ability to have children. In the hospital, Damien’s eyes were bloodshot. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I didn’t protect you or our baby.” He knelt before me, vowing, “If we can’t have kids, we won’t. My feelings for you will never change.” I fell into a deep depression during that time. Damien pleaded with countless doctors until I finally rekindled my hope for life. To protect me, he paid a fortune to silence everyone who knew. After establishing himself in the city, he personally made sure that man who hurt me paid a painful price. For all these years, no one dared to bring up that incident in front of me. Other than Damien, no one would have told Chloe these things. I tore up all my photos with Damien, smashed every piece of jewelry he had given me. Only when my palm was cut by broken glass did a sliver of rationality return. Indeed, all promises are only true the moment they are spoken. I packed a small bag and left without looking back.

Damien came home the next day with a new ring, only to be shocked by the wreckage of the house. His first thought was that Anya had been in danger. But no matter how many times he called, no one answered. Suppressing his panic, he checked the security footage and saw Anya leaving with a suitcase last night. He wanted to chase after her but was stopped by Chloe. “Damien, Anya has such a temper! I just said she couldn’t have kids, and she actually ran away.” Damien froze. “What do you mean?” Chloe didn’t notice Damien’s darkening mood and continued her snide remarks. “I was so happy about being pregnant with your baby that I wanted to share the joy with Anya, but I didn’t expect her to be so petty.” “A worthless hen who can’t even lay an egg, what’s she putting on airs for…” Chloe’s words were cut short as Damien grabbed her by the throat. His expression was sinister. “Who gave you the guts to flaunt yourself in front of her? I told you to keep quiet, are you deaf?!” Chloe had never seen Damien so fierce; it was as if the gentle man she’d intimately spent the night with was someone else entirely. Her face turned beet red, and she was on the verge of suffocating when he finally let go. “Damien, I didn’t do anything! Don’t be so mean to me…” Damien didn’t soothe her as he usually would. Instead, he warned her in a low voice, “I’m telling you one more time. You’re just a plaything. The child in your belly will call Anya ‘Mom’ someday. Don’t desire what doesn’t belong to you!” Chloe trembled with fright, crying and apologizing to Damien. Just as Damien was growing incredibly irritated, he received a call from Anya. He took a deep breath, trying to soften his tone, but what he heard was an unmistakably intimate sound. Damien instantly exploded, his voice deep and cold. “Anya Thompson, what are you doing? Who are you with?!” My heart skipped a beat. I pushed Julian’s head, which was buried in my chest, away, my gaze falling on the phone I’d accidentally brushed.

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I loved my boyfriend for three years. . He never liked using protection. Afterward, he’d always be shirtless, his back covered in my nail marks, smoking a cigarette, and he’d say to me, like he was doing me a favor: “What are you scared of? If you get pregnant, we’ll get married.” A month later, I saw two lines on the pregnancy test. I didn’t tell him. Instead, I broke up with him, a clean, sudden cut. Later, he saw me at the abortion clinic. I was holding my baby bump, chatting with another pregnant woman. “Don’t let my dramatic breakup fool you,” I said, “I cried like the world was ending, but if I actually had *his* baby? No way. I know the difference between crying into a pillow and crying over a baby. Dating is fine, but I have other plans for marriage.” The day I found out I was pregnant, I went to the club Jax frequented. I was about to push the door open. Then I heard them inside, discussing which brand of condom felt best. Someone joked, “Ask Jax, he’s got a girlfriend, he’d know best.” A moment later, I heard Jax’s casual reply: “Condoms? Never used ‘em.” Everyone around him paused. “Never? Not even once? Aren’t you worried about Riley getting pregnant?” Jax lit a cigarette, his voice muffled by the smoke. “Nah, it’s fine. She always remembers to take her pill afterward.” The room erupted in laughter. “Damn, you got yourself a real good girl.” Jax chuckled, his voice lazy. “Good? Played her top to bottom, I know every inch of her body, every secret.” Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Jax, what if Riley actually got pregnant?” Jax paused, then slowly said: “If she got pregnant, then we’d get married. “Riley’s pretty sensible, and we click well enough. Getting married to her wouldn’t be so bad.” Someone teased him, “If I remember right, you used to switch girlfriends every week. You’re such a player, are you really willing to settle down?” Jax shrugged, a corner of his lip twitching indifferently. “She’s not pregnant yet, is she? “I don’t like thinking that far ahead. “If I get bored, I’ll just find a decent reason to break up. She’ll listen. “Besides, she’s a people-pleaser. Every time we almost break up, she never blames me. She always questions herself first, then hugs me and apologizes. “Last time, I had a wild idea to try it in the car, and she hesitated. I just threatened to break up with her, and she immediately said yes.” Everyone around him gasped. “Dude, she’s that easy?” Jax lowered his eyes, his voice softening slightly. “She’s *too* easy. That’s why I don’t want anyone else to trick her. “Good thing she met me. If she met some bad guy, with how much of a crybaby she is, her throat would be raw from all the crying. “At least with me, I can keep an eye on her. I’d be worried otherwise.” Someone laughed. “So, Jax is doing charity work now. “But you really do need to keep a close watch. With Riley’s face, who wouldn’t want to mess with her?” “She looks so innocent, but her body is incredible, curves in all the right places, sweet as a ripe peach.” “If she were my girlfriend, I’d be ecstatic.” Jax shot him a cold glance. “You? Don’t even think about it.” A moment later, he seemed to think of something, and his gaze softened slightly. “But she really is innocent. No matter how many times we’re together, she still cries like it’s her first time. “Honestly, if I had to break up with her, I’d actually miss her.” The people in the private room teased him, asking when this player had become so smitten. Just then, someone threw out a question: “Seriously, Jax, if Riley really got pregnant, would you really change your ways for her?” “Speaking of which, wasn’t the only reason you got with her to spite your first love, Skylar?” “Skylar just broke up with her boyfriend, didn’t she? And she works at your company. Isn’t this your chance?” This time, Jax stared at the floor, lost in thought. The glowing tip of his cigarette pulsed in the dimness. He didn’t speak for a long time.

I looked at the two lines on the pregnancy test. Actually, I wasn’t there to tell him about the pregnancy. His friend had just called me, saying he was drunk and asked me to pick him up. But seeing Jax lost in thought over Skylar, I felt a sense of relief instead. In fact, ever since I found out I was pregnant, I’d been planning how to break up with him. Jax had only gotten with me because of Skylar. There are some people in this world. They’ve never known hardship, never faced a setback. Their words are wrapped in a naive, privileged beauty. Skylar was one of those people. She was my roommate. Every morning, she’d look in the mirror, clench her fists, and sweetly cheer herself on: “Good morning, Skylar, you’re the warmest little sunshine! You can do it today!” When Jax pursued Skylar, the whole school knew about it. Roses, luxury goods, he’d shower her with them as if money was no object. She’d casually mention liking a certain brand of bag, and the next day, that bag would be waiting at our dorm door, its price equivalent to three years of my part-time earnings. Jax himself was eye-catching, a head above the rest, always the center of attention wherever he appeared on campus. Every time he showed up outside the academic building, people would secretly snap photos of him. He didn’t care, just leaned against the doorframe, playing on his phone, waiting for Skylar to come out. Six feet two, he could make even a simple jacket look stylish and refined. Even the wind seemed to favor him. It’s no exaggeration to say, every strand of his hair was perfect. The first time I saw him, he was standing with his hands in his pockets, confessing his feelings to Skylar. He had a face that looked mixed-race, a strong nose, a sharp jawline, and a casual, roguish smile. Most importantly, he was rich. On Freshman Orientation Week, the president of the university himself sat with Jax’s father in the VIP section. The inherent nobility about him wasn’t something piled on by luxury brands. Sometimes I thought. Jax and Skylar were like the main characters of this world. They both had an innate sense of superiority. All good things naturally gravitated towards them. And me? I was just the pretty girl with a broken home – a mom who died too soon, a dad who gambled away everything, and a sick grandma – forced to work three jobs just to survive. I was an insignificant side character in their story. Skylar asked me why I worked three jobs every day. I patiently explained, “Because I’m broke.” Her eyes almost rolled to the ceiling. “Broke? Why don’t you just ask your dad for money? Stop pretending, always looking so stressed. Is it really that big a deal?” I didn’t know how to make her understand my situation, so I just said softly, “My dad *is* my biggest stress.” Maybe because she’d never experienced hardship, she didn’t appreciate Jax. Instead, she fell for a penniless, chauvinistic jock who only offered sweet talk, constantly claiming he’d give her his heart. He only gave her worthless things. Every time Valentine’s Day approached, that jock would pick a fight and break up with her. But after Valentine’s Day, he’d grovel and beg Skylar to take him back. Skylar didn’t notice anything was off. But I was sensitive to money. I knew that guy just didn’t want to waste money on a Valentine’s Day gift. Sometimes, I’d suggest she distance herself from that jock. But she’d ask me, hurt, “Riley, you’re so weird. Why do you always think the worst of people? Is it because… you’ve never been loved like I have? Are you jealous of me?” So I stopped talking. Once, on the way to the library, I ran into Jax arguing with Skylar in his luxury car. Jax threw the flowers he’d intended for Skylar onto the ground, raising an eyebrow. “You’re dating someone, why didn’t you tell me? “Is it fun to string me along like this? “What does he have that I don’t, huh?” Skylar tilted her chin up. “Jax, people like you, all you know is throwing money at me. You don’t understand what love is.” I expected Jax to look sad, or hurt. But I was wrong. Jax let out a low laugh. It was a laugh mixed with self-mockery and indifference. “I don’t need to understand. “I have money, so people will line up to love me.” He beckoned to me from not too far away. “Hey, I’ll give you money, you love me.” I froze. A long moment later, I heard my own voice. “Okay.” I thought I was helping Skylar solve a problem. But Skylar’s face immediately darkened. “Riley, are you that pathetic?” “You’ll pick up my scraps?” I didn’t argue. I only knew that Grandma Helen was still in the hospital, waiting for her medical bills to be paid, and my father was pressuring me for gambling debts. I needed money. A lot of money. Enough money to drag me out of this hole.

After we got together, Jax was actually very good to me. My father, after losing money gambling, would come to school to demand money from me. Jax used some method, and he never came again. Grandma Helen’s medical bills were settled in one go, and she was moved to a VIP room at the city hospital. Her caregiver sent me daily photos of her smiling in the sun. He could effortlessly take care of everything for me. He made me quit all my part-time jobs. He constantly showered me with gifts, finding new ways to surprise me. From designer bags to custom jewelry, even a finance class I casually mentioned wanting to take—the next day, he’d hired a private tutor to come to the school. With him, I learned how to read financial reports, invest, and gradually mastered many money-making skills. Beyond that, we acted like a normal couple – hugging, kissing, even getting hotel rooms. During my first time, he was shirtless, his cool, pale shoulders tensing into smooth lines. When he leaned down to kiss me, the silver chain around his neck rested against his beautiful collarbone, swaying gently with his movements. My heart raced; I almost blacked out. He chuckled softly: “You idiot. “Next time we kiss, remember to breathe.” Jax’s desire was really intense, and I had to learn to accommodate his every whim. He didn’t like using protection, so I took the pill. He chased thrills, so I’d join him, trying new locations to keep things exciting. But he was also a total player. Even after we were together, he never cut down on the women around him. He never said no. His Ins feed was full of intimate photos with various influencers. At parties, if someone casually hooked their arm through his, he never pushed them away. Some girls even called me directly, their voices dripping with provocation. I cried over it once. He was completely indifferent: “I’m dating you, I’m not joining a monastery. “If you can’t handle it, fine. I won’t force you. “Then let’s break up, I’ll find someone who can.” After that, I became “sensible” and never said anything. In reality, I wasn’t as obedient as he thought. I was a woman, and I also needed an outlet. Jax was handsome and rich, making him the perfect candidate. He was undeniably charming. And I can’t deny, he truly pulled me out of the gutter during the lowest point of my life. I was very grateful to him. And I genuinely liked him once. But he was just that kind of person. He was born at the top of the pyramid. He didn’t understand love, and he’d never learn how to love you. Yet, sometimes he’d play the role of a loving boyfriend. When he was inside you and you cried out in pain, he’d cup your face, kissing you again and again, telling you he loved you. He was a spoiled, wild dog, but if you always stroked him the right way, he’d show you a tiny bit of care. Someone like that? Fine for dating. But I never planned to spend the rest of my life with him. I was twenty-seven; I was too old for games. I was also looking for the right opportunity. To break up with him. After returning from the club. Jax came home very late, after drinking with his friends. The next day, Jax called me, his voice still lazy with sleep. “Riley, can you bring a document to the office? I need it for a meeting.”

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My dad died in a car crash, leaving me utterly alone, a heartbroken orphan. Julian Harrison, an old family friend, significantly older than my dad, and the city’s wealthiest man, took me in. He was ten years my senior, and he insisted I call him Julian. From that day on, he spoiled me rotten, like I was the city’s reigning princess. If I wanted the stars, he’d find a way to get them for me. If I craved the moon, he’d try to pluck it down. That all changed on my eighteenth birthday. I snuck into his study, snatching his ring, and traced it over my skin. The cold metal mimicked his touch, a phantom caress that sent shivers down my spine. The next second, the door flew open. He walked in, catching me red-handed. His face was a mask of disbelief, swiftly morphing into raw, furious rage. He screamed that I was deranged, how *dare* I harbor such perverse thoughts about *him*, my guardian. The very next day, he tore up my university acceptance letter. Then he shipped me off to a high-society finishing school, the most infamous place in the city for instilling ‘moral values’ and ‘proper decorum.’ He told me to learn what true morality and virtue meant from the teachers there, to purge those scandalous thoughts from my mind, and only then could I come back. But on my very first day, my eyes were doused with mustard. The second day, I was dragged down the staircase for two agonizing hours. The third day, a stranger somehow got into my room.

Three years later, Julian Blackwood came to pick me up. I stood at the main gates of The Sterling Institute for Young Ladies, watching the familiar black Maybach slowly pull to a stop. The car door opened, and Julian Blackwood stepped out of the driver’s seat, still exuding that same aloof and distinguished aura. What was different from three years ago was the woman in his passenger seat. She wore an elegant white dress, her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and a gentle smile graced her face. “This must be Aurora, right? Hello, I’m Vivian Sinclair, Julian’s fiancée. You can just call me Vivian.” I numbly nodded, my voice barely a whisper, “Hello, Vivian.” After speaking, I turned and got into the backseat of the car. Julian sat in the driver’s seat, his face stern as he started the engine. “How have you been studying these past few years? Do you still harbor those childish infatuations?” My fingers trembled slightly, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. I remembered the days of electric shocks, being dragged mercilessly, and degrading acts of humiliation. A stone seemed lodged in my throat, making it almost impossible to speak. I trembled, closing my eyes for a brief moment, my voice barely audible, “No, never again.” Julian’s brows furrowed slightly, a peculiar emotion suddenly swelling within him. This was the answer he most wanted to hear, yet why did he still feel so uneasy? “Good, you understand.” I smiled bitterly, lowered my head, and said nothing more. The car sped along, finally stopping at the gates of the Blackwood family villa. I got out of the car, habitually heading towards my room. However, when I pushed open the door, I found it had already been converted into a cat sanctuary. Vivian stood behind me, a hint of apology on her face. “Oh, Aurora, I’m so sorry. Julian and I are getting married soon, so I moved in a while ago.I love rescuing stray cats and dogs, and your room gets the best sunlight, so I put the cats here.I’ll have the staff clear it out now.” I shook my head. “No need, Vivian. You’re the mistress of this house now. It doesn’t matter where I stay.” After saying that, I turned and went to the guest room, unnaturally docile. At dinner, Julian was exceptionally attentive to Vivian. He served her food, spoke to her in soft, gentle tones, his eyes filled with tenderness. I kept my gaze fixed on my plate, eating my meal as if none of it concerned me. Vivian spared a glance for me, saying softly, “Aurora, don’t just eat rice, have some vegetables too.” My body reacted instinctively, a programmed response. I mechanically shoved food into my mouth with my fork, a frantic, desperate act, even as my throat burned, I swallowed without a flicker of emotion. Vivian smiled at Julian. “You said Aurora was difficult to get along with, but I think she’s very compliant now, so well-behaved.” Julian looked up at me. He hadn’t expected such a complete transformation. Since my return, I hadn’t thrown a single tantrum. He nodded in satisfaction. “It seems you learned well there. From now on, just like today, get along with Vivian.” I had finished the large serving of food in front of me. I stood up and said, “I’m full. I’ll go back to my room now.” I returned to my room, closed the door, and finally let out a sigh of relief. From my pocket, I took out a small box containing the money I’d saved during my years at The Sterling Institute for Young Ladies. I recalled Julian’s words about getting along with Vivian, but my mind was already made up. I would buy a plane ticket and leave this place, leave Julian. I counted the money and found it was only enough for a low-cost flight nine days from now. I took out my phone, my fingers trembling as I clicked to purchase. The moment the ticket was issued, I closed my eyes, tears slowly streaming down my face, a mix of relief and despair. After washing up, I lay in bed, just as I had at The Sterling Institute, forcing myself to close my eyes. But perhaps it was being back in a familiar place; the moment I closed my eyes, Julian’s face kept flashing in my mind. That day, his eyes were cold, his voice low, as if coming from a great distance: “You are utterly beyond reason, completely indecent. How dare you even fantasize about your own guardian?” Past memories intertwined in my mind. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, the door suddenly opened. Someone walked in, frowning, and said, “Why are you sleeping so early? You forgot to drink your milk.” Hearing the man’s voice, I instantly jolted awake, sitting upright reflexively. I had forgotten I was home, still thinking I was at The Sterling Institute. There, whenever a man entered my room, I had to immediately unbuckle his belt, even during my period. Any delay in each step meant enduring agony worse than death. So, I frantically rushed forward, knelt on the floor, and while fumbling with the man’s belt, I cried out, “Don’t hit me, don’t hit me, I’ll serve you right away.” Just as the belt was about to come undone, all the lights flickered on. Through my tear-filled eyes, I saw Julian standing before me, holding a glass of milk, his expression a mixture of disbelief and shock. “What are you doing?!” *** [PAYWALL] ***

My lips quivered, but before I could utter a word, Julian erupted in fury. He slammed the glass of milk violently onto the floor; shards of glass scattered, and the milky-white liquid splashed chillingly cold against my feet. “I thought you had reformed, but it seems you had a new trick up your sleeve.” His voice was like ice, his eyes filled with disgust and rage. “Let me tell you, I will never have feelings for a young girl, especially not one I raised since childhood. I am not an animal. Even if you stood naked before me, I wouldn’t spare you a glance.” With that, he turned and strode away, his back as rigid as an iceberg. I stood rooted to the spot, my fingers tightly gripping the hem of my clothes, knuckles white. My throat felt constricted, unable to utter a sound. Soon, muffled, intimate sounds drifted from the room next door. “Julian, gentle… Aurora is in the next room.” Julian didn’t respond, but the sticky sound of kissing grew louder. Then came Vivian’s moans, each one more fervent than the last. The creaking of the bed also intensified with each movement. I knew Julian was deliberately warning me, making me understand my place. I was indeed in pain, but this suffering wasn’t because I still loved him. My affection for him had been completely consumed during those three years of hell. When he sent me to The Sterling Institute, Julian had told me, “Aurora, remember, I will never love you.” Three years later, I had learned my place, and I no longer dared to love him. My pain stemmed from hearing those sounds every night during those three years. Some were others’, some were my own. Those sounds clung to me like a nightmare, from which I couldn’t escape. I began to kneel on the floor in my room, facing the direction of The Sterling Institute, bowing my head repeatedly. Thump, thump, thump. The dull, grating sound of my forehead hitting the floor was sickening. “I don’t love Julian anymore, I don’t love Julian anymore, I will never love Julian again…” I chanted like a madwoman, my voice hoarse and numb, as if only this could free me from those painful memories. The next morning, I sat at the dining table, head bowed, mechanically eating breakfast. Julian and Vivian came downstairs. Vivian’s neck was covered in hickeys, and her smile was bright, almost painfully so. I kept my gaze fixed, as if none of it concerned me. After breakfast, I stood up to leave, but Julian called out, “Stop right there. What happened to your forehead?” I paused, my voice numb, “I accidentally bumped it.” With that, I turned to leave. I had already made up my mind: I would endure these remaining eight days in my room, then truly fly away. Julian’s voice suddenly sharpened. “What kind of bump could do that to your head? Are you trying to find another way to…” Before he could finish, Vivian interrupted him, “Julian, don’t be so harsh on the girl.” She smiled at me. “Aurora, Julian and I are going to look at wedding venues today. Would you like to come with us?” I was about to refuse when Julian snapped, “I just told you yesterday to get along with Vivian. Have you forgotten everything already?” I lowered my head, my voice faint, “Okay.” After visiting several venues, Vivian finally decided to hold the wedding on a cruise ship. Julian took a business call midway and went inside the cabin. Vivian and I stood on the deck, the sea breeze carrying a salty scent. We walked in silence. I wasn’t comfortable being with people like this, and just as I was about to quietly slip away, Vivian suddenly called out to me. “Aurora, I’ve always been curious, what kind of shameless person would fall for her own guardian?” My body stiffened abruptly, my fingers gripping the railing tightly. Vivian noticed my shock and chuckled softly. “Curious how I knew? I’d heard Julian had a pampered little girl by his side, but then he suddenly sent you away to learn proper conduct. I was curious, so I looked into it. That’s how I found out how utterly outrageous you were, to actually fall for the man who raised you since childhood.” My face was pale, my lips trembling slightly. “I…” Before I could finish, Vivian turned, her eyes cold and sharp. “I’ve loved Julian for many years. Now he’s finally agreed to marry me, and I won’t allow anything to go wrong, not a single hitch. Nor do I want a ‘third party’ constantly interfering in our lives after we’re married, do you understand?” I closed my eyes, my voice trembling, “I understand, Vivian. Don’t worry, I’ll leave.”

“Don’t worry?” Vivian sneered. “I don’t trust you at all. So, before the wedding begins, I’ll personally force you to leave.” With that, before I could even react, she suddenly turned and leaped into the sea. A loud splash instantly drew everyone’s attention. “Vivian!” Julian’s voice came from the cabin, and then he rushed out, jumping into the sea without hesitation. I stood rooted to the spot, my hands and feet freezing, as if I had been nailed to the deck. Julian finally managed to rescue Vivian, giving her CPR. Vivian coughed several times, weakly opening her eyes, which were misty and pitiful. “Julian, I thought Aurora had accepted me these past two days. I never imagined she would push me into the sea when I wasn’t looking. Don’t blame her, she…” Before she could finish, I completely fainted. Julian sharply lifted his head, his eyes blazing with suppressed fury. “Stubborn! What will it take for you to abandon your filthy desires?” I frantically shook my head. “It’s not like that, Uncle Julian, I truly don’t love you anymore, and I didn’t push her.” “Is there *any* truth in what you say? You just wait!” Julian refused to listen further. He scooped up Vivian and swiftly left the deck, rushing her to the hospital. I stood there, feeling as if my heart had been gouged out. Watching his retreating back, I murmured, speaking the words I had said tens of thousands of times. “Julian, I truly don’t love you anymore.” In the middle of the night, I sat alone on the sofa, waiting quietly. I knew Julian’s “you just wait” was a promise of punishment. During my years at The Sterling Institute, I had learned that running or begging for mercy only multiplied the pain. So I waited obediently, waited for his retribution. I don’t know how long I waited, but the front door was suddenly thrown open. Julian swept in, bringing with him a storm. “Kneel!” I obediently knelt on the floor, head bowed, not uttering a word. Julian paused, seemingly surprised by my compliance. He pulled a whip from the wall and approached me step by step. “Now you know how to obey? Too late! Have I pampered you too much, made you so lawless that you think the house rules are just for show?” With a crack, the whip suddenly lashed across my body! My body violently flinched, as if jolted by electricity, but I remained silent, as though the whip struck someone else. “Speak!” Julian’s voice suddenly rose, laced with suppressed rage. “Do you know you’re wrong?” “I know.” “You know you’re wrong?” Julian sneered, his whip rising again. “Then why did you do those things?” Crack! Crack! Crack! Julian’s voice was filled with suppressed fury, and the whip lashed against my back, again and again. The first lash. “Why did you push Vivian into the sea? Do you know I almost died?” The second lash. “Why did you have feelings for me? Do you know I’m ten years older than you?” The third lash. “Why are you so shameless? Do you know I raised you from childhood?” … The fifty-second lash. “Aurora, why are you so utterly outrageous, so outrageous that you make me…” Julian’s mind was consumed by rage. He had lost count of the lashes, and some words almost slipped out. Just as his voice trailed off, Martha, our housekeeper, rushed over, crying. “Sir, stop, please stop! Miss Aurora has been pampered since she was little, she can’t take it!” “Please look, there’s blood everywhere.” Julian finally stopped the whip and looked down at me. My back was covered in fresh blood, and a pool of blood had gathered on the floor, even flowing under his dress shoes. But what shocked him was that I had kept my head bowed the entire time, not shedding a single tear, nor begging for mercy. He violently pulled me up, only to find my eyes empty and numb. “Don’t you feel pain? You used to be so good at whining and begging for comfort!” I looked up, my voice calm, “Because it doesn’t hurt.” The suffering and beatings at The Sterling Institute were far worse than this. After saying that, my voice was hoarse, my face pale. “Are you done hitting me? Can I leave now, Uncle Julian?” Julian finally noticed something was wrong. “How can it not hurt? So many lashes, how could it not hurt?” He pulled open my clothing, and Martha gasped behind me. His pupils suddenly constricted, his breath catching in his throat! My back was covered in horrifying scars. Besides the fresh whip marks, there were various old scars, crisscrossing and interwoven, as if countless tortures had been etched onto my skin. My entire body seemed to have no unblemished spots, as if every inch of my skin was recounting the pain I had suffered. Julian stood before me, the whip in his hand falling to the floor with a clatter. His face instantly turned ashen, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. His fingers trembled, wanting to touch my back, yet he dared not truly touch the scars, as if afraid of hurting me. “You… How did you get these?” His voice was hoarse, tinged with suppressed rage and heartache. I lowered my head, a bitter smile playing on my lips. Did he finally realize? Realize that the so-called “Sterling Institute” was actually a living hell? But what did it matter if he knew now? Could the old Aurora, the bright, smiling little princess, ever come back? No, she couldn’t. Just as I was about to speak, Vivian’s voice came from behind me, gentle with a hint of helplessness. “Aurora, I’m not even holding it against you for pushing me into the sea, why do you still use such tricks to deceive Julian?” Julian’s face instantly changed, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “These… are all fake?” Vivian chuckled softly, her tone dismissive. “Of course. Didn’t you say Aurora was at The Sterling Institute these three years? That’s the most reputable school in the capital. She was secluded there, how could she have gotten any injuries? Julian, don’t let her trick you.” Julian’s heart instantly relaxed, but it was replaced by boundless fury. He violently threw the whip to the ground, his voice cold as ice. “You truly are beyond redemption! You won’t eat a single meal today!” I simply nodded, no expression on my face. Anyway, at The Sterling Institute, not eating was commonplace. Sometimes, when I was starving, I even had to fight with dogs for food. I whispered, “Okay.” Then I turned and walked into the room, my back thin and stubborn. Inside the room, Martha, the housekeeper who had cared for me for many years, walked in, holding an ointment. When she saw the scars on my back, tears instantly welled up in her eyes. “Miss Aurora, why didn’t you explain? How can these scars be fake? Weren’t you studying at that school? How did you get so hurt? Why didn’t you tell Mr. Julian? He cares for you so much, he’d be absolutely heartbroken if he knew!” I lowered my gaze, my eyes empty. Martha’s words were like a knife, sharply piercing my heart. Would he care? Perhaps he used to. Julian really did care for me once. When boys would give me love letters, promising joyrides in sports cars if I dated them. Julian found out and immediately sent a garage full of multimillion-dollar luxury cars for me to smash for fun, his voice filled with indulgence, “My little princess, no ordinary man can fool her away.” When I had a fever, he’d cancel important meetings abroad, flying for over ten hours to rush back and stay by my bedside all night until my fever broke. When I had period cramps, he’d personally boil brown sugar water, feeding it to me and gently coaxing, “Good girl, Aurora, drink this and the pain will go away.” Tears slowly gathered at the corners of my eyes. I gently closed them and whispered, “Martha, I’m tired, I want to sleep.” Martha wiped her tears and gently pulled the covers over me, her voice choked. “Miss Aurora, then rest well.” I nodded, slowly lay down, and tears streamed down my temples, soaking the pillow. Thinking of this, I gradually drifted off to sleep. In my dream, I returned to the past. Julian held my hand, taking me to the amusement park, buying me ice cream, and riding the carousel with me. His smile was gentle and doting, as if I were his entire world. But those memories were too distant now. They were all… from the past.

I spent a day recovering in my room, my back still stinging from the whip marks. But I had long grown accustomed to this kind of pain. Just then, the door was gently pushed open, and Vivian walked in, holding an exquisite dress. “Aurora, it’s Julian’s birthday today. I’m hosting a birthday banquet for him. Would you like to come with me?” I shook my head. “I won’t go. You two can go.” Vivian’s smile froze slightly, her tone carrying a hint of threat. “Aurora, you’d better be obedient, you know.” Hearing those words, my body suddenly tensed, and my eyes instantly became vacant. It was as if I was controlled by some invisible force. I mechanically nodded, reached out and took the dress, then turned to change. Vivian watched my retreating figure, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. She had long discovered that whenever she told me, “You’d better be obedient,” I would obey without resistance, as if under a spell. She couldn’t help but wonder, was this a habit formed at The Sterling Institute? But that school was supposed to teach virtue, so how could it employ such methods? Before she could fully ponder it, I had already changed into the dress and walked out. Vivian scrutinized me from head to toe, then nodded in satisfaction. “Let’s go. The banquet is about to begin.” In the banquet hall, the lights sparkled, and guests gathered. I followed behind Vivian, head bowed, like a lifeless puppet. My appearance immediately sparked whispers among the crowd. “Is that the little girl Mr. Blackwood spoiled so much? She looks so emaciated, completely devoid of spirit.” “Right? My son used to have a crush on her, saying she was the brightest, and all the boys in school liked her. But now she looks like a doll.” “In contrast, she’s completely overshadowed standing next to Mr. Blackwood’s fiancée.” “Miss Sinclair and Mr. Blackwood are a picture-perfect couple, truly a match made in heaven.” I paid no heed to these whispers, simply following silently behind Vivian. Vivian, meanwhile, smiled and walked to Julian’s side, linking her arm through his. Her voice was sweet. “Julian, so many people are saying we’re a match made in heaven.” Julian smiled faintly, his tone gentle. “Just the truth.” When it came time for gifts, Vivian presented an exquisite gift box, her voice tinged with bashfulness. “You lack nothing, so this time I’m giving you a family planning chart. We’ll be married soon, and I plan to have a son and a daughter after we wed. What do you think?” Julian paused, instinctively glancing at me standing nearby, then quickly averted his gaze and said indulgently, “Whatever you say, I’ll listen to you.” Vivian nestled sweetly into his embrace, then turned to me. “Aurora, what gift did you bring?” I lowered my eyes, took a gift box from my bag, and handed it to Julian. Julian opened it to reveal a crystal-clear jade bracelet. Vivian glanced at it, dismissively saying, “Oh, a jade bracelet. Why would Julian wear a bracelet? You didn’t put much thought into your gift, did you?” I didn’t speak, just looked up at Julian. As expected, I saw shock in his eyes. Only the two of them knew that this jade bracelet was a Blackwood family heirloom, meant for the future mistress of the family. Back then, I had wheedled and charmed him into giving me this jade bracelet. Julian had simply thought it was a young girl’s caprice, and because he doted on me so much, he gave it to me. Now, I was actively returning it. I softly said, “Uncle Julian, I wish you happiness.” Julian’s heart suddenly clenched. Just as he was about to speak, a scream rang out. He looked up and saw the chandelier in the center of the banquet hall swaying dangerously. And the direction it was falling was precisely where I stood!

“Aurora, watch out!” Julian’s pupils constricted. Just as it fell, he rushed forward without hesitation, shielding me in his embrace. The chandelier crashed heavily onto his shoulder with a muffled thud. Fragments shattered, and the scene instantly erupted in chaos. Guests screamed and scattered. Vivian ran over, crying, her voice trembling, “Julian, are you hurt? Does it hurt? We need to go to the hospital!” Julian looked at me, trembling in his arms, and tried to control his tone. “No, it’s just a minor injury.” Vivian insisted, “No, we must go to the hospital!” Julian, helpless, had his assistant drive him to the hospital. At the same time, he instructed Vivian, “Vivian, take Aurora home. I’ll be scared alone.” Vivian’s face instantly fell. “At a time like this, you’re still thinking about her?” “Just do it.” Julian’s face was slightly pale from the pain. “After all, I raised her since she was a child.” Vivian bit her lip, then reluctantly grabbed my wrist, pulling me into the car. My mind was a blur; I could only mechanically follow Vivian. Who would have thought that halfway through the drive, Vivian suddenly told the driver to stop, glaring at me through gritted teeth. “I have something else to do, I’m not going home. You can walk back yourself.” The driver couldn’t help but advise, “Miss Sinclair, it’s very cold outside…” Vivian interrupted him sharply, “Who is going to be the mistress of the Blackwood family? Don’t you know whose orders to follow anymore?” The driver dared not say anything more, only watching helplessly as I got out of the car and walked alone into the boundless darkness. I walked for a full five hours before finally reaching the Blackwood family villa. Midway, because it was too dark to see, I accidentally fell into a puddle. By the time I returned, my clothes were soaked, my hair plastered to my face, and I was utterly disheveled. However, before I could even catch my breath, I saw that the entire villa had caught fire at some point, flames reaching into the sky. I froze, and before I could react, several bodyguards rushed over, grabbing my wrist. “Miss, you set the fire that caused Miss Sinclair to suffer third-degree burns. She’s currently in the hospital, fighting for her life. Mr. Blackwood wants us to take you to the hospital.” I was stunned, shaking my head blankly. “I didn’t…” The bodyguards dragged me into the car without explanation and drove me straight to the hospital. At the hospital, Julian’s left shoulder was still bandaged. He held a black suit jacket in his left hand, leaning against the hallway, his waist lean and legs long. His face was terrifyingly grim. Seeing me being brought in by the bodyguards, he coldly looked up, his voice laced with suppressed fury. “Are you restless if you don’t cause trouble for a day? What did Vivian do wrong for you to set her on fire like this?!” I frantically shook my head. “It wasn’t me, I didn’t…” Julian cut me off abruptly, his voice icy cold. “Enough! The evidence is conclusive. If it wasn’t you, then did Vivian purposely set herself on fire just to frame you?!” I was about to explain, but just then, the operating room doors burst open. A doctor hurried out, his tone grave. “Mr. Blackwood, Miss Sinclair’s injuries are severe. She’ll need skin grafts. Before she lost consciousness, she left a message for you, saying that you spoiled Miss Aurora too much, and that it’s unacceptable. This time, the injuries she sustained, Miss Aurora must personally pay for them.” At these words, everyone understood— Vivian meant she wanted *my* skin for the grafts!

Julian’s body stiffened, his gaze falling on me, filled with hesitation and internal conflict. His fingers trembled slightly, his heart felt like it was being squeezed by something, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but the words caught in his throat, forced back down. Seeing his reaction, the doctor quickly urged, “Mr. Blackwood, Miss Sinclair has already passed out from the pain. Every second of delay in the surgery will increase the chance of scarring. You must decide quickly.” Julian’s face instantly turned pale, as if he had been pushed to the brink. He took a deep breath, seemingly steeling himself, and finally said in a low voice, “I’ve always taught you that mistakes must have consequences.” Hearing those words, my heart violently clenched, as if something inside my chest had shattered. I moved my lips, as if to say something, but in the end, nothing came out. Because I suddenly realized that I desperately wanted to cry, but not a single tear would fall. Perhaps all my tears had been shed at The Sterling Institute. I was pushed into the operating room with a numb expression, like a soulless shell. As soon as the operating room door closed, Vivian, who had supposedly “passed out from the pain,” suddenly sat up in her hospital bed, a triumphant smile on her face, showing no signs of being burned. She smiled at the doctors, her voice tinged with a chilling coldness. “Begin. Remember, no anesthetic. Cut her skin off bit by bit.” The doctors and nurses exchanged glances but dared not defy her orders. Several nurses stepped forward, restraining my hands and feet, pinning me tightly to the operating table. I didn’t struggle, just lay there quietly, my eyes empty as I stared at the ceiling. The moment the knife sliced into my skin, excruciating pain instantly swept through my entire body. My body instinctively trembled, but I gritted my teeth, not uttering a sound. The blade cut into my skin inch by inch, and blood flowed from the wounds, staining the operating table. My fingers gripped the edge of the bed tightly, knuckles white, my nails almost digging into my flesh, yet I remained utterly silent. Vivian stood to one side, watching with keen interest, her eyes full of mockery and triumph. She chuckled softly. “You truly are a monster. To endure all this without making a sound.” I didn’t respond, just gritted my teeth, enduring the searing pain of each cut. The knife continued to move across my skin, and pieces of skin were peeled away, one by one. My consciousness gradually blurred, and the scene before my eyes began to grow dim. The operating room was left with only the cold beeping of instruments and Vivian’s triumphant laughter. “Later, throw her out for the dogs.” My consciousness finally gave out, and my vision went black. I passed out completely. When I woke again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed, my arm wrapped in a large bandage. A slight touch sent a gasp-inducing jolt of pain through me. The ward was eerily silent, broken only by the beeping of machines and the occasional hushed whispers of nurses. “Mr. Blackwood is so good to Miss Sinclair. He visits her every day and even personally feeds her.” “Yes, I heard they’re getting married tomorrow. What a perfect couple.” “And Aurora? I heard she was the little girl Mr. Blackwood raised before, spoiled rotten. How could he just abandon her now? It’s truly pitiful.” I remained silent throughout, listening quietly, then counting the days until I could leave.

The day I was discharged, Julian came to pick up Vivian and me. Vivian linked her arm through mine, falsely sweet, “Aurora, tomorrow is Julian’s and my wedding. Although your act of setting the fire was reckless, I don’t want to dwell on it anymore. Let’s just put the past behind us, shall we?” I didn’t speak, just lowered my head, my eyes empty. Julian frowned, his voice tinged with displeasure. “Didn’t you hear her talking to you?” I remained silent, as if I had lost all strength to respond. Julian was simmering with anger, and the atmosphere in the car was suffocating. It wasn’t until the car was halfway to its destination that the hotel staff called, their tone respectful. “Mr. Blackwood, there’s a slight issue with the wedding venue decorations. Could you come and take a look?” Fearing I might tamper with the wedding, or repeat the incident of pushing Vivian into the sea, he and Vivian had chosen a hotel for their wedding this time. Julian frowned and turned the car towards the hotel. Upon arriving, Julian got out and asked the staff, “What’s the problem?” The staff member respectfully said, “Mr. Blackwood, please follow me, I’ll show you.” Julian nodded, then turned to Vivian and me. “You two go rest in the room. I’ll be over after I’ve handled this.” Vivian smiled and nodded, pulling me into the hotel room. Inside the room, Vivian sat on the sofa, her voice laced with mockery. “Aurora, I truly admire you. We’re getting married tomorrow, and you’re still not leaving?” I replied, “I will leave.” Vivian scoffed, her voice filled with disdain. “You’ll leave? Do you really think I’ll believe that? It’s been so long, if you wanted to leave, you would have already. The only reason you haven’t is because you’re still clinging to the delusion that Julian might like you. I’m telling you, it’s impossible!” “Julian is my fiancé now, and I’m the one he loves! To him, you’re nothing but a redundant burden!” “Since you refuse a toast, don’t blame me for being unkind.” With that, she clapped her hands, and the door opened. A large group of homeless men rushed in. Vivian then suddenly tore her own clothes, disheveled her hair, pulled open the door, and screamed loudly, crying, “Help! Julian, help!” Julian, who had just finished up and was coming to find us, heard the screams and immediately rushed in. Vivian, her face streaked with tears, flung herself into his arms, looking utterly traumatized. “Julian, Aurora found a group of homeless men to attack me! She hates me, she wants to destroy me!” Julian looked at me in disbelief, fury like a raging inferno threatening to consume the entire room. “You truly are beyond redemption!” I opened my mouth, wanting to explain, but Julian wouldn’t listen. He said coldly, “Since you enjoy being humiliated so much, then you can stay here for the night!” With that, he scooped up Vivian and turned to leave, not even sparing me a glance. My pupils suddenly constricted, and all the blood in my body seemed to freeze instantly. The painful memories of those years at The Sterling Institute flashed through my mind— The dark confinement room, the cold whip, the sinister smiles of those men. My body trembled uncontrollably, and tears streamed from my eyes. “Uncle Julian! Save me! Please, don’t leave me here!” I rushed forward, trying to grab Julian’s jacket, but my fingers had barely touched his clothes when he coldly shook them off. I knelt on the floor, frantically kowtowing, my forehead hitting the floor with dull thuds. “I was wrong! I was truly wrong! Please, don’t leave me here! Uncle Julian, save me…” “I can’t be alone with these men, I’ll go mad, I really will go mad!” I screamed in agony and despair, tears mixing with blood as they flowed from my forehead, staining the floor. Since picking me up from The Sterling Institute, this was the first time he had seen me in such a state of collapse. Julian’s steps faltered slightly, but in the end, he didn’t turn back.

Vivian nestled in his arms, softly asking, “Nothing will happen, right?” Julian scoffed, “What could happen? I arranged for those men myself.” He paused again, cocking his ear. Hearing no shouts from the room, he confidently left. But he didn’t know that I had stopped screaming because the homeless men had already swarmed me. I had been thoroughly trained. During my years at The Sterling Institute, no matter how many men were on top of me, I wasn’t allowed to scream, or I would face even harsher beatings. The men’s hands coiled around my body like venomous snakes, tearing at my clothes, trampling my dignity. My body was like a broken doll, wantonly abused by them. My fingers gripped the bedsheet tightly, knuckles white, but I did not utter a single sound. Julian’s words echoed repeatedly in my mind: “I arranged for those men myself, what could happen?” My heart felt as if it had been brutally squeezed by something, the pain almost making it impossible to breathe. That night, I was violated the entire night. My body felt torn apart, blood staining the sheets. My eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, letting countless filthy men have their way with me. The next morning, the homeless men finally pulled up their pants and, satisfied, left the room. I was curled up on the floor, covered in wounds, like a discarded rag doll. I don’t know how much time passed before I numbly stood up, staggering out of the room. As soon as I stepped out, I heard sounds of surprise and shock all around me. “What happened to her? Why isn’t she wearing clothes?” “Oh my God! What happened? She… how could her intestines be out…” I walked forward numbly, as if everything around me had nothing to do with me. Until a boarding reminder suddenly popped up on my phone, urging me to board soon. Today was the day I had planned to escape. Just a little more, it was so close. I wanted to live so badly, even during those years at The Sterling Institute, I never gave up hope. But now, my body and soul were completely destroyed. I looked at the message, and finally, tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t leave. I couldn’t anymore. Julian, my beloved Julian, personally pushed me into hell, again and again. Just then, Julian’s call came through. As soon as I answered, a torrent of reprimands. “Are you out of your mind? You didn’t come back all night, and now you’re playing the victim? Those people were your doing, what could they possibly do to you?” I looked down at the wounds on my body, my heart a desolate wasteland. What could they do to me? Just when I wanted to start a new life, I was violated by a group of men all night again. Those painful images, intertwined with those from The Sterling Institute, would forever be etched in my memory. They… had completely ruined me. Julian continued, “You’ve caused enough trouble. Today is my wedding with Vivian. Be there on time, don’t pull any stunts. I told you, we’re impossible. You’ll see the wedding with your own eyes, and then you’ll give up!” I finally spoke, my voice hoarse and calm. “Okay, Uncle Julian, I’ll make sure you see me.” With that, I hung up the phone, pressed the elevator button, and went up to the hotel rooftop. After Julian hung up, he felt an inexplicable unease. Just as he was about to call me again, the wedding car pulled up to the hotel entrance. With a loud crash— A figure plummeted from above, landing directly in front of his car. Screams of horror erupted all around, and he slowly looked up, his pupils suddenly constricting— Through the shattered car windshield, he saw my face. Covered in blood, eyes wide open, unseeing.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298843”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

The moment I submitted my resignation, Mom’s call came through. “Chloe, how are your resignation procedures going?” “I’ve submitted the application. I should be officially free in about a month.” “That’s good, that’s good,” Mom’s voice lightened. “Mom and some of our friends in town have been busy looking for potential dates for you. Come back soon and meet them, let’s try to get you settled down this year.” She sighed as she spoke. “Just stop thinking about Damian Blackwood. He’s too high-class, Chloe, from a completely different world than ours.” My throat felt choked, and my eyes welled up. “Mom, don’t worry, I know. I’ll come back and be with you once I’ve handed everything over.” Hanging up, I started cleaning out my desk. After all these years at Blackwood Corp, I had accumulated so much stuff. I was only halfway through when my phone vibrated again. Veronica sent me a location, with a single word: “Come.” The address was clearly Damian Blackwood’s villa. Twenty minutes later, I stood in front of the villa door. The main gate was slightly ajar. I pushed it open and saw Veronica standing in the living room, holding a bracelet. My heart instantly clenched. I remembered clearing out everything when I moved out of this villa. How could I have missed anything? Before I could react, Veronica raised her hand and **SLAP!** “I’ve been trying to find out who was with Damian after I went abroad, and I never in a million years thought it would be *you*, my best friend!” “With that plain face, that scrawny figure? How could you possibly seduce Damian?” I trembled all over, the humiliation washing over me like a tidal wave. “Veronica, it was just an accident between us. And our… friends-with-benefits situation, that was only during your breakup with him. Before that, I never crossed a single line.” “SLAP!”

Scarlett Hayes slapped me again. “Whether we break up or not, Damon Thorne will always be mine. What are you even doing here?” This slap was brutal, splitting my lip and making it bleed. Just as Scarlett was about to land a third blow, Damon finally grabbed her wrist. “What are you doing?!” A cold voice came from behind me. Before I could turn around, I was yanked away with such force that I stumbled and fell to the ground. My knees slammed against the marble, and I gasped in pain. Damon Thorne shielded Scarlett fiercely behind him, his black suit making him look even more imposing, but the icy coldness in his eyes sent shivers down my spine. Scarlett’s tears instantly welled up. “Damon, I found out about you and Luna. My best friend and my ex-boyfriend… I was just so angry and asked her a few questions, and she was going to hit me.” “I didn’t! It was…” “Enough.” Damon cut me off sharply. His gaze softened instantly as he turned to Scarlett, a hint of panic in his voice. “Scarlett, she and I were just an accident. It was just an outlet because I missed you so much. The moment you came back, I chose you. Doesn’t that prove who I truly love?” My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. So, in his eyes, I wasn’t even a substitute. Just an outlet. Scarlett looked up through her tears. “Are you sure you don’t love her?” “No.” Damon’s answer was quick and decisive, without a trace of hesitation. “Okay, then prove it to me.” Scarlett pointed at me. “Have the bodyguards strip her clothes.” My blood ran cold. I immediately looked at Damon, but he was frowning, silent. “I knew you couldn’t bear to!” Scarlett’s voice rose. “If that’s the case, I’m leaving. I’ll make way for you two!” The words had barely left her lips when Damon grabbed me, then issued an order to the bodyguards by the door. “Do it!” Two men in black stepped forward. I struggled desperately, but I was no match for their strength. “No… please, no…” The sound of fabric tearing was painfully loud in the villa. Soon, my shirt buttons popped open, my skirt was ripped, and my bra strap snapped.

When the last shred of my dignity was torn away, Damon finally spoke. “That’s enough.” “Get out. Don’t ever step foot in here again.” I covered myself, stumbling out the door. Behind me, I heard Damon’s gentle reassurance, “Scarlett, don’t be angry anymore…” Outside, the rain poured down. The icy water lashed against my exposed skin, but it was nothing compared to the cold in my heart. I clutched the remaining fabric to my chest, struggling through the downpour. The freezing rain mixed with my tears, running into my mouth, salty and bitter. All those past memories came flooding back. Damon Thorne in college was the crush of every girl on campus—tall and handsome, his striking features and charming smile would draw screams from countless girls at every basketball game. And Scarlett Hayes was the undisputed campus queen—fair-skinned, beautiful, and from a wealthy family. As for me, I was just the most inconspicuous person in school, ordinary-looking, with a humble background. Until one afternoon, Scarlett suddenly sat across from me with her lunch tray, smiling sweetly. “Eating alone is so boring. Let’s eat together from now on.” From then on, I became Scarlett’s “best friend.” Everyone praised Scarlett’s kindness, for being willing to hang out with an ugly duckling like me. Only I knew that Scarlett just needed a mere prop to highlight her brilliance. Until Damon Thorne appeared in our small circle. At first, I thought he was interested in me. One evening, I was cornered by some thugs in an alley, and it was Damon, passing by, who stepped forward. His figure, backlit by the fading sun, became the brightest memory of my youth. But I soon realized that Damon was only approaching me to pursue Scarlett. The easiest way was to first become friends with her best friend. Still, I helped him. I remembered how I praised Damon to Scarlett, how I found excuses to leave when they went on dates, and how I filled countless pages of my diary with unspoken “Damon Thornes.” After that, I was like an extra in my own life, watching Damon win Scarlett over and then shower her with adoration. I thought I would always witness their journey from dating to marriage and then to having children. Until just before graduation, Scarlett suddenly broke up with him, leaving decisively for overseas. Damon chased her to the airport, standing in the pouring rain for a day and a night, only to watch Scarlett walk away without a backward glance. During that time, I stayed by his side. When he drank heavily, I cleaned up the empty bottles; When he was despondent, I quietly took care of his life. Later, I even became his secretary, organizing his work and life perfectly. It wasn’t until a business dinner, when Damon was drugged, that I was about to call a doctor, but he, losing control, pushed me onto the sofa in the lounge. Afterward, he didn’t even give me a glance, but I still remembered his burning body heat and ragged breaths. It happened a few more times after that, always when Damon was drunk. He never kissed my lips, never looked at my face, just took what he wanted with a cold detachment. Our intimate relationship lasted for three whole years. Until a month ago, Scarlett returned to the country, and Damon unhesitatingly went back to her side. At that moment, I knew it was time for me to leave. So, I secretly handed in my resignation and agreed to my mom’s request for blind dates back home. But I never imagined that even then, Scarlett wouldn’t let me go. Soaked to the bone, I arrived home when my phone suddenly rang. I opened it and found a considerable sum of money transferred from Damon, with only two cold words in the: “Compensation.” Immediately, another message popped up: [I know you like me] I stared at the words, my breath catching. He knew everything. Those stolen glances, those deliberately created coincidences, those feigned casual acts of care—I thought I had hidden them so well. [But we’re impossible] [Scarlett was just too angry today] [Don’t hold it against her] [And don’t you dare hurt her out of jealousy] Every message felt like a knife twisting in my heart. I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. I thought of those years— When he’d held me while drunk, calling Scarlett’s name, I’d held back my tears; On his birthday, I’d secretly slipped my gift among a pile of packages, not even daring to sign my name; When he kissed her in the office, he always covered her eyes; It turned out he knew all of it. My finger hovered over the screen for a long time before I finally replied. [Mr. Thorne, don’t worry. From now on, I will never like you again.]

The moment I hit send, I sank into a bathtub full of water. Bubbles gurgled up, just like my unrequited love all these years, finally sinking completely. The next day, I went to work as usual. But to my shock, photos of me soaking wet and heading home had been uploaded online, sparking a heated discussion. “That flat-chested body dares to run around naked? I wouldn’t even glance at her if she walked past me! This woman will do anything for negative attention, she’s desperate for traffic!” “Look at her miserable state, it doesn’t look like she’s seeking attention, more like a mistress who got beaten up! Serves her right, a shameless hussy who deliberately interfered in someone else’s relationship. Why doesn’t she get hit by a car and die!” Reading these malicious curses in the comments, my heart ached, but there was nothing I could do. I was terrified my mom would see these photos, so I nervously scrolled through the news, reporting posts all morning. The online discussion grew more intense until someone tried to doxx the person in the photos. Within minutes, the entire trending topic was removed, and all photos and videos disappeared from the internet. I didn’t know why, but my mood slowly calmed down. I pretended to be oblivious and continued working. I took a document to Damon for his signature, only to see Scarlett angrily confronting him. “You took down that trending topic, didn’t you? No one else has that power but you! Why would you do that? Do you like her?!” I froze, surprised it was Damon who had done it. He frowned slightly, looking at Scarlett with a hint of helplessness. “I took it down, but it’s not what you think. She’s my secretary, and if her identity were exposed, it would affect the company’s stock price. I swear, I have no feelings for her, Scarlett. I only love you. Please believe me, okay?” Scarlett was about to say more, but Damon pulled her into his arms, lowered his head, and kissed her, silencing all her words. Scarlett struggled at first, but eventually succumbed to his expert and tender kisses, her breathing growing ragged. Watching this scene from outside the door, I felt utterly cold. So this is how he kisses the woman he loves… His long fingers threaded through her hair, gently pulling her closer, his eyes filled with undisguised possessiveness and love. For three years, we had done everything intimate, yet he had never once kissed me. I should have known then, it was because he didn’t love me. My heart twisted in pain. Just as I was about to leave, a coffee cup suddenly flew past me. I stumbled and fell, hitting the ground. My forehead was gashed and bleeding. I barely managed to raise a hand to cover the wound when I heard Scarlett’s angry shout. “How long have you been eavesdropping at the door? Do you enjoy watching people kiss that much?” I lowered my head, my voice hoarse as I explained I was only there to deliver documents. But Scarlett walked over with a cold expression, raised her high heel, and stomped on the hand holding the documents, grinding it mercilessly. “Ah—!” The papers were crushed, and my hand was scraped raw, revealing crimson flesh. I trembled uncontrollably from the pain, but Scarlett pulled Damon’s hand and began to complain. “Damon, look, she not only lies, but she can’t even do her job properly. She ruined the documents! Can you please fire her?” Damon’s gaze sharpened. He was silent for a moment before speaking softly. “She’s currently handling several crucial contracts that need follow-up. I can’t fire her just yet.” Scarlett looked at him suspiciously, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction. “Can’t, or won’t?”

Damon softened his voice, coaxing her. “It’s truly about the work. We can’t delay the progress. Otherwise, a secretary is just a secretary, why would I lie to you?” But Scarlett wouldn’t let it go. “If you can’t fire her, then make her kneel at the company entrance for a day. That’s fair, isn’t it?” This time, Damon agreed and looked at me. “These contracts involve major partnerships. You failed to safeguard them. Either pay fifty million, or kneel at the entrance for a day.” I knew he was doing this to appease Scarlett, to force me to choose. And there was no way I could come up with fifty million. So, I stumbled to my feet, swallowed my humiliation, and walked to the main entrance to kneel. I kept my head bowed, hiding the bitter emotions in my eyes, listening to the murmurs of passing colleagues. “Isn’t she Mr. Thorne’s most trusted secretary? Why is she kneeling here? With so many people watching, it’s so embarrassing!” “I just saw it. She didn’t do anything wrong; she just offended Ms. Hayes.” “Ms. Hayes is Mr. Thorne’s ideal woman. Even after all these years apart, he’s still obsessed with her. She dared to offend Ms. Hayes, she deserves this punishment!” Every word pierced my heart like a needle, making it hard to breathe. I suddenly remembered back in college, on Scarlett’s birthday, I was mocked by some boys who said I was just the cow dung to highlight the campus queen. Laughter erupted in the private room. I fled in a panic to the stairwell. It was Damon who found me and handed me a pack of tissues. “Don’t mind others. Focus on yourself, and you’ll be fine.” To this day, I still remember those words. I always believed that Damon saw something special in me, which was why he kept me around. I had always worked diligently and without complaint for him. But the moment Scarlett returned, he negated all my years of effort and dedication, all for her. Yes, I was nothing more than a secretary he could fire at will. Since I had lost all my utility, it was time to leave. I knelt for a day, my knees scraped raw and bleeding. I couldn’t even walk from the pain. When work ended, I limped back to the office to get my bag, only to run into Damon. He looked at my injuries and frowned slightly. “Take a few days off, get some rest. Come back to the company once your injuries have healed.” I quietly said yes, avoided his gaze, and silently turned to leave. Back home, after treating my wounds, I started packing. The day Scarlett’s return was announced, Damon immediately told me to move out of the villa. I had left in a hurry then, my belongings crammed haphazardly into boxes. Now that I was returning home, it was time to properly sort through everything. I threw away all the necklaces and jewelry Damon had given me over the years, the candid photos I’d secretly taken of him while he slept, the diary filled with my secret crush from my school days, and all other miscellaneous items. During this time, I occasionally saw gossip shared by colleagues in the company’s SnapChat groups. When Scarlett came back from shopping with sore legs, Damon would kneel and massage them for her; when she complained that the company lights were too harsh, he would have all the lights in the building replaced overnight; when she was in a bad mood, he would cancel all work and meetings to be with her… I watched silently, telling myself over and over. Soon, it would all be over. After my injuries healed, it was the company’s annual gala. Damon attended with Scarlett. The entire hall erupted in enthusiastic applause. Everyone said they were a perfect match, a power couple, a match made in heaven. He helped Scarlett down from the stage, adjusted her skirt, took off his jacket and draped it over her, shielded her from toasts… I sat in a corner, watching the smiles that curved Damon’s lips and eyes, and quietly lowered my gaze. Soon, the gala moved to the awards ceremony. As in previous years, I received the Best Employee award. I walked onto the stage under the spotlight, and a presentation documenting my year’s achievements played on the screen. I adjusted the microphone, about to deliver my speech, when a sudden commotion broke out below the stage. Everyone was whispering, looking at me with strange expressions.

My eyelid twitched. Realizing something was wrong, I spun around sharply and found that my presentation had been swapped. Now playing on the screen were various unflattering photos of me maliciously taken during my college days. In addition, there were many blurred bed photos, but my face was clearly visible. I recognized them immediately; these were screenshots from Damon Thorne’s villa surveillance cameras. My blood ran cold. My mind went blank. I instinctively looked towards Damon’s seat. He was frowning slightly, but Scarlett, beside him, wore a contemptuous and provocative smirk. I immediately knew she was behind it. Blood rushed to my head, and I walked up to her, wanting to ask what it would take for her to leave me alone. But Damon’s expression changed. He stepped in front of her, his voice chilling. “What are you doing? Haven’t you caused enough embarrassment? Don’t forget, you’re just a secretary!” I looked at him through tears. “Mr. Thorne, I may just be a secretary, but I’m a human being. Don’t I deserve respect? She deliberately put these photos…” “Haven’t you made enough of a scene? Stop acting crazy!” Damon’s face was livid as he cut me off, then immediately called security and had me escorted out. In front of everyone, I was dragged by my hair, humiliated, out of the venue, and pushed down the long flight of stairs. I tumbled down the steps, my body covered in bruises. Blood seeped out, staining the floor crimson. Excruciating pain spread through my limbs, tearing at my nerves. Tears, held back for so long, finally broke free, blurring my vision. I hugged myself, curling into a ball, and gradually lost consciousness… I don’t know how much time passed, but when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a hospital. I stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time, then picked up my phone. All the company SnapChat groups were discussing the gala. Someone had even posted live videos and photos, shamelessly mocking me. “She doesn’t look like much, but she’s quite wild in private, isn’t she? I thought she was frigid with that cold face, but she’s actually just a slut trying to seduce men. Who knows which guy she’s messing around with, taking so many photos, she must be so desperate!” “Where did you get frigid from? Didn’t she always try to hook up with Mr. Thorne at the company? Always hovering around him. Good thing Mr. Thorne only has eyes for Ms. Hayes and wouldn’t stoop to trash like her!” “A wild hen who can only climb by using her body, does she even compare to Ms. Hayes? It’s an insult to Ms. Hayes. I hope she’ll have some dignity and just leave. If she still clings to the company, it’ll be a joke!” Each sentence felt like a blunt knife slowly cutting into my heart, the pain unbearable. My palms were raw and bloody from clenching them. My teeth ached from biting down so hard before I could finally swallow those painful emotions. After some time, the hospital room door opened. I looked up and saw Alex Miller, a male colleague from the planning department, walk in, holding a cup of hot water. “Luna, you’re awake? How are you feeling? Should I call a doctor to check on you?” I paused for a moment, then shook my head. “I’m fine. Did you bring me to the hospital?” Alex scratched his head awkwardly, giving a shy smile. “I saw you passed out by the entrance, worried something might have happened, so I brought you to the hospital. Thankfully, you’re just too stressed lately.” Hearing the words “passed out,” I remembered what happened at the gala, and my expression froze. Alex realized his mistake and didn’t dare to speak again. The room was silent for a long time before he cautiously spoke. “Luna, don’t mind those rumors too much. They’re malicious towards you not because you did anything wrong, but because they’re biased against you. I know someone must have wanted to harm you, which is why they deliberately photoshopped those pictures. You can report it to the police, and if you don’t want to bear this pressure, I can help you. You can just say you were in a normal relationship…” Seeing his ears quickly turn red, I remembered how he always inexplicably started conversations with me and occasionally sent coffee and snacks. It was only then that I belatedly realized Alex Miller probably liked me. But I had always only thought of him as a regular colleague, and I had already decided to leave. So, faced with his veiled confession, I forced a smile and politely refused. “Thank you for your kindness, but I can handle this myself.” A hint of disappointment flickered in Alex’s eyes, but he wasn’t ready to give up. He pulled a bouquet of roses from under the bed and offered it to me, stuttering as he spoke. “Actually, I’ve… I’ve liked you for a long time, but I never dared to confess. I know now isn’t a good time, but I still want to try. Please give me a chance, let’s try being together…” His words were cut short as the hospital room door was violently kicked open. Both of us jumped, turning in unison to see a furious Damon Thorne. He glared darkly at Alex, squeezing out three enraged words from his throat. “Get out!”

Under his powerful aura of intimidation, Alex scrambled to his feet, bowed, and retreated from the hospital room. Damon slammed the door shut and turned to look at the flowers beside my hand. “He likes you, he confessed to you?” I met his gaze, offering no reply. Faced with my silence, Damon walked over, picked up the bouquet of roses, and threw it out the window. Though I had refused Alex, I didn’t want to see his heartfelt gesture treated so carelessly. So, I pulled out the IV needle from my hand and went to retrieve it, but Damon grabbed my wrist, pinning me back onto the hospital bed. He stared at me, his eyes as cold as snow. “What are you doing? What’s so great about a pile of trash flowers to pick up? Do you like him too?” I pushed him away directly, my voice cold. “Mr. Thorne, you are just my superior. You have no right to question who I’m with.” Damon’s face grew even uglier. He couldn’t control his strength, his grip leaving red marks on my wrist. “Yes, but don’t forget, the company prohibits office romances. If you dare to say yes to him, tomorrow I’ll make sure he’s out of Thorne Industries!” I knew he always followed through on his threats. I didn’t want to drag anyone else down, so I had to state the facts. “I don’t like him, and I have no intention of being with him.” Damon’s expression finally softened a little. He suddenly released my hand and stated the real reason for his visit today. “The photos from the gala, Scarlett did indeed swap them. But it’s understandable that she’s angry after finding out the truth. Once this situation calms down, I’ll promote you to Head of the Secretary Department. Your salary will be doubled, and you can work with peace of mind. Scarlett has promised me this is the last time, and she won’t deliberately target you again, so don’t hold it against her either.” His offer was tempting, but I was unmoved. I took a deep breath, preparing to tell him about my resignation. But just as I opened my mouth, Scarlett’s call came in. “Damon, I want to go to the beach for a few days. Will you come with me?” Damon spoke to her softly, no longer paying attention to me. He turned and left. He left in a hurry, without hearing what I had to say. “I don’t need a promotion, because I’ve already resigned.” Watching the door close, I lowered my eyes. Forget it. He’ll find out eventually. For a while after, Damon didn’t return, accompanying Scarlett. I went back to work as usual. Alex Miller was transferred back to his hometown branch company the next day. I didn’t even get to see him one last time. Although people in the company still looked at me strangely, no one mentioned the gala anymore. Everything calmed down. I approached HR, asking if I could resign early. The HR manager looked troubled. “Luna, if you want to leave early, it requires Mr. Thorne’s special approval.” I nodded and prepared a premature resignation letter. Just as I was about to find Damon for his signature, he called, sending an address and telling me to go there immediately. When I reached the private room at the club, I found Damon’s friends and Scarlett all there, playing games boisterously. Seeing me, Damon’s gaze swept across the wine glasses on the table. “Scarlett lost a few rounds. She’s on her period today and can’t drink. You drink for her, ten thousand for each glass.” I knew Damon had damaged his stomach from excessive drinking before and couldn’t touch a drop of alcohol now. Otherwise, he would definitely drink for Scarlett himself. I looked at the dozen or so glasses of whiskey on the table and spoke softly. “Mr. Thorne, it’s after work hours. I have the right to refuse this task you’ve assigned me. If you insist on me drinking for her, I don’t need the money, I just need your signature.” Damon frowned slightly. “Signature? What signature?” I pulled out the application letter and handed it to him. As he was about to open it, Scarlett tugged his arm and pouted playfully. “Damon, I lost again. Hurry up and make her drink.” Damon responded to her gently, not bothering to look closely at the document. He signed his name quickly and tossed the pen back. “It’s signed. Now drink.”

After putting the signed agreement into my bag, I picked up a glass and drained it. Glass after glass, I drank until my stomach churned, and I couldn’t stop wanting to vomit. Forcing down the last glass, I stumbled to my feet, wanting to go to the restroom, but Damon’s friends blocked my way. “Damon, Scarlett lost again! This time she chose truth or dare, and the card she drew was to pick a single person from the room and kiss them for three minutes!” Hearing this, Damon didn’t hesitate. He pulled Scarlett into his arms and kissed her. Both were lost in the kiss, and everyone in the room cheered and whistled. I watched their passionate embrace, feeling a dull ache and numbness in my chest. When the kiss ended, Damon looked unsatisfied, and Scarlett’s face was flushed. But his friends started teasing again. “That kiss doesn’t count! Scarlett’s card said to kiss a single person, and you’re her boyfriend. That’s cheating, it doesn’t count.” Damon’s smile vanished. “Scarlett is mine. Do you dare to make her kiss someone else?” Everyone noticed he was angry and quickly tried to smooth things over, pulling me forward. “Of course, we wouldn’t dare touch Scarlett! But we have a backup option! It’s just a kiss, let Luna do it.” Hearing that, the color drained from my face. I instinctively looked at Damon, and saw his expression stiffen as he refused. “She only agreed to drink. Kissing isn’t part of the deal.” His friends exchanged glances and chuckled. “That’s just a word from you! Give her more money, and Luna will definitely agree. Isn’t she the most obedient to you? I remember when you raced with us, and the one whose companion wouldn’t get in the car would lose a yacht. You just gave Luna a look, and she obediently sat beside you. She’d risk her life, what’s a kiss?” At this, Scarlett’s eyes reddened. She angrily yanked her hand away from Damon. “Didn’t you tell me you had no feelings for her? Why did you take her racing with you? If you like her so much, then just make her your girlfriend! I’ll find someone else to kiss to complete this dare!” With that, she stormed out. Damon panicked. He pulled out a credit card, threw it at me, and chased after her, leaving one sentence behind. “There’s a million in the card. Kiss for Scarlett for three minutes.” Watching him leave, I felt as if my heart was being torn apart. I didn’t want to agree to such a transaction. I turned to leave, but Damon’s friends pinned me down. They brought over a stray dog, forced open its jaw, pulled out its tongue, and made me kiss it, their words dripping with humiliation. “We heard from Scarlett, you’re quite the wild one, with your bed photos spread all over the company? A tramp like you trying to seduce Damon? That’s disgusting!” “Who would dare kiss you? Just touching your saliva would probably make them sick. You only deserve to kiss a dog. After all, they say, ‘a bitch and a dog, made for each other!’” Tears streamed down my face from the humiliation. A strong wave of nausea washed over me. I vomited until I was seeing stars, bile mixed with blood splattering everywhere. By the end, I was completely drained, my eyes numb and hollow. Watching the group of people laugh and walk away, only one thought remained in my mind. I had to completely sever all ties with Damon Thorne. I was never coming back.

I handed my early resignation letter to HR, watching her stamp it with the company seal. “Since Mr. Thorne approved, Luna, please hand over your current tasks. You can leave in three days.” My gloomy mood, which had lingered for days, finally began to clear. I returned to my desk to finish my final tasks. After two days of organizing documents and handing them over to my colleagues, I took a box and packed all my belongings. I had just finished tidying up when Damon pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing my empty desk, a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes. “What are you packing for?” I was about to answer when he seemed to remember something and nodded. “Right, you’ve been promoted, so you’ll have a private office. You can pack later. Come with me now.” With that, he didn’t wait for my answer, turned, and left. I wanted to say something but held back, silently following him all the way to an auction house. Scarlett was there too. Seeing me, a hint of disdain crossed her face. She walked over and linked her arm with Damon’s. “Damon, I’ve already picked out the jewelry I like. You have to buy all of them for me this time, no matter what.” Damon gave her a doting smile and helped her to her seat. “Don’t worry, I’ll bid for anything you want.” I stood alone in a corner, watching their intimate, laughing figures, feeling nothing in my heart anymore. Once the auction began, Damon bid relentlessly on everything Scarlett showed interest in. The entire hall was shocked by his lavish spending, everyone turning to look. “He’s bidding on so many items! How much does Mr. Thorne dote on his girlfriend? She gets whatever she wants, it’s better than a wishing well. Ms. Hayes must have saved the galaxy in her past life.” “I heard that ever since they started dating, Ms. Hayes has gotten everything she wished for. I can’t believe it’s still like this after all these years. Mr. Thorne is truly devoted.” Hearing these envious praises, Scarlett was beaming with pride. She casually tossed the auction catalog to me, then playfully pouted at Damon. “I want to go to the restroom, Damon. Will you come with me?” Damon immediately stood up and helped her leave, leaving me with only one instruction before they went. “Bid on everything circled in the catalog.” I quietly noted it down and, as he requested, bid on and won all the items. Just as I was about to leave, the auctioneer on stage suddenly unveiled a new item. “Ladies and gentlemen, we now move to the hidden item of this auction: a pink-purple necklace carved from a 40.52-carat alexandrite. Starting bid, ten million.” All the guests were unprepared for a hidden item, and their gazes were drawn to the dazzling and luxurious necklace. Immediately, bidding calls rose and fell, quickly driving the price of the necklace to an astronomical sum. I picked up my phone, took a picture of the necklace, and sent it to Damon, asking if I should bid. But he didn’t reply. I called a few more times, but no one answered. While I was trying to contact him, the necklace was sold for five hundred million. The moment the gavel came down, Scarlett happened to return. She immediately fell in love with the necklace. Upon learning it had been sold, she picked up a glass of red wine from the table and deliberately splashed it onto my face. “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you to bid on everything I liked?” The wine soaked my hair and clothes. I clutched my hands tightly, trying to keep my voice steady. “This necklace wasn’t in the auction catalog. It was a last-minute hidden item. I called Mr. Thorne, but he didn’t answer…” Scarlett ignored my explanation, looking tearfully at Damon. “Damon, she not only has competence issues but she’s also shifting blame! I don’t care, I want that necklace. If you don’t get it for me, I’ll never talk to you again.” Damon had seen my message, so it wasn’t my fault. But in front of Scarlett, he couldn’t explain that for me. He could only go along with her words to soothe her. “When have I ever failed to give you what you wanted? Be good. I’ll send someone to buy the necklace back right now.” Damon called over a staff member, his voice stern: “Go negotiate with the buyer. Whatever he asks for, as long as he’s willing to give up the necklace.” I stood by, my soaked shirt clinging to me, red wine dripping from my hair. Watching Scarlett’s triumphant eyes, I suddenly had a bad feeling. The staff member soon returned, looking troubled. “Mr. Thorne, the buyer said he’s willing to part with the necklace, but…” “Speak.” Damon frowned. “He has one condition…” The staff member stammered. “He wants your secretary to spend a night with him. He said…” The staff member gritted his teeth and repeated, “He said that even though your secretary is of ordinary looks, he’s used to gourmet meals, but a simple snack can be refreshing sometimes.”

I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I sharply looked up at Scarlett. The barely concealed triumphant smile on her lips confirmed my suspicion. Hidden item? Mysterious buyer? It was all a trap. “Mr. Thorne,” my voice trembled, “you can’t agree to this. I’m leaving after today…” “Damon~” Scarlett suddenly threw herself into Damon’s arms, cutting me off. “I just want that necklace~ You promised me~” She looked up, tears welling in her eyes. “In your heart, am I less important than a secretary?” Damon looked down at Scarlett in his arms, then glanced at my pale face. He reached up and wiped Scarlett’s tears. “Don’t cry,” he said softly. Then he turned to the staff member. “Tell the buyer, it’s a deal.” My blood ran cold. “Damon Thorne! You can’t—” Before I could finish, someone grabbed my arms. I struggled desperately, my nails digging bloodstains into the bodyguard’s arm. “Let go of me! Damon Thorne! I’m resigning tomorrow! You have no right—” My voice was cut off as the car door slammed shut. The black car sped away. In the rearview mirror, Damon was gently draping his jacket over Scarlett. In the luxurious suite, I was roughly shoved inside. The lock clicked shut. I turned to see a filthy beggar staring at me greedily. The beggar grinned, revealing crooked yellow teeth. I trembled, stumbling backward. “Don’t come closer… I can give you money…” “Money?” The beggar laughed, grabbing my wrist, his foul breath hot on my face. “That lady gave me enough money to last a lifetime! I don’t need money now, I need a woman!” Desperate, I grabbed a desk lamp to defend myself. When the beggar lunged, I smashed it hard against his head. Blood streamed down his forehead, only enraging him further. “Bitch!” He yanked my hair and threw me onto the bed. The sound of tearing fabric was particularly harsh in the room. My nails clawed deep gashes into the beggar’s face, but I was no match for his strength. Just as I completely despaired— “Bang!” The door was kicked open. Damon Thorne’s bodyguards rushed in, subduing the beggar in a few moves. “Ms. Hayes,” the lead bodyguard offered me a jacket. “Mr. Thorne sent us to rescue you.” I trembled as I wrapped myself in the jacket, reaching for my phone to call the police. The bodyguard quickly snatched my phone. “Mr. Thorne said you’re not allowed to call the police.” “What does that mean?” My voice was hoarse. “Ms. Hayes didn’t mean it, she just wanted to vent. Mr. Thorne already arranged for your rescue, and you’re unharmed, so let’s just drop it.” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. “He… knew?” The bodyguard’s silence was his answer. I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. It turned out Damon Thorne knew everything, yet still allowed Scarlett to push me into the abyss. My eyes reddened. “What if I insist on calling the police?” “No one in this city would dare take your case,” the bodyguard said expressionlessly. “Mr. Thorne says he’s giving you a week off. Rest well during these days; consider it compensation.” With that, the bodyguard’s figure disappeared down the corridor, and the door clicked softly shut. I slowly slid to the floor, my fingernails digging deep into my palms. The suit jacket slipped from my shoulders, revealing my torn collar. I reached to pick it up, but found my hand shaking violently. My phone rang abruptly. The word “Mom” on the screen stung my eyes. “Luna, have you finished the handover? The blind dates are all arranged.” I bit down hard on my lower lip, the taste of iron spreading in my mouth, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. “Yes, Mom,” I heard my own frighteningly calm voice say. “I’m coming home today.” The moment the call ended, tears finally burst forth. Ten years flashed before my eyes like a kaleidoscope— The figure of a boy backlit in the university campus; His feverish breath when he was drunk in the CEO’s office; And tonight, his indifferent words: “It’s a deal.” Every frame of memory transformed into a sharp knife, slowly dissecting my heart. Ten years of devoted love, exchanged for repeated humiliation. I slowly stood up, picked up the jacket from the floor, smoothed my disheveled clothes, and returned to my apartment alone. My emotions were completely calm. Within a mere thirty minutes, I calmly cancelled my apartment lease, packed all my luggage, left the keys, and hailed a taxi to the airport. The taxi splashed through puddles, speeding towards the airport. There, a one-way ticket awaited, leading to a life without Damon Thorne.

The bar’s lights were dim and hazy, jazz music lazily flowing through the air. Damon Thorne leaned back in the leather booth, long fingers clutching a whiskey glass. The ice had long melted, leaving the liquor diluted and tasteless. Scarlett Hayes leaned against his shoulder, her red lips close to his ear, her warm breath caressing him. “Damon, my place tonight?” He absently hummed in response, his eyes fixed on his phone screen. No new messages. Normally, by now, my messages would be exploding. I would send photos of stray cats I met on the street, snap pictures of the new flower shop below the company building, complain that the cafeteria food was too salty, ask him what he wanted for dinner… Trivial, boring, yet they filled his life completely. When did my messages start to decrease? Damon frowned, his fingers unconsciously tapping open our chat window. The last message was from three days ago, a file I’d sent, with a formal note: [Mr. Thorne, please review.] Scrolling further up, I found my last private message before I resigned: [Mr. Thorne, rest assured, I will never like you again.] His chest suddenly tightened. “Damon?” Scarlett pinched his arm, annoyed. “Are you even listening to me?” Damon snapped back to attention, giving a perfunctory smile. “What did you say?” Scarlett playfully glared at him. “I said, it’s been a while since we…” Before she could finish, Damon’s phone suddenly vibrated. It was his assistant calling. He answered almost immediately. “Speak.” “Mr. Thorne!” The assistant’s voice was urgent. “Ms. Hayes cancelled her apartment lease, left the keys with the property manager, and moved out all her luggage!” Damon abruptly stood up, knocking over his glass. The amber liquid splashed onto Scarlett’s dress. She shrieked, but he seemed not to hear, clutching his phone as he coldly ordered, “Find out where she went.” “We’ve already checked,” the assistant said cautiously. “Ms. Hayes bought a train ticket back to her hometown, but… she got off midway. Her whereabouts are unknown now.” Damon’s temples throbbed. She was actually avoiding him. This realization made his heart feel like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. A tidal wave of bitter emotions surged through him. The feelings he had suppressed deep in his heart, now erupted like a seed breaking through the soil. She had never been out of touch. Even if he called her at three in the morning to deliver documents, she would instantly reply, “Okay, Mr. Thorne.” But now, she had evaporated into thin air, leaving no trace. “Keep looking.” His voice was low. “Turn the country upside down if you have to, but find her.” Hanging up the phone, Scarlett could no longer maintain her gentle, delicate demeanor. Her face turned green with anger as she asked in disbelief: “Damon! You’re abandoning me for an insignificant secretary?!” Only then did Damon notice the wine stain on her dress. He rubbed his temples, pulled out a few banknotes, and tossed them on the table. “Call a car for yourself and go home.” “What do you mean?” Scarlett grabbed his wrist, her nails almost digging into his skin. “Didn’t you say you’d spend the night with me? I’m just a substitute. She left, so she left. You still have to go…” “Enough.” Damon cut her off coldly. Scarlett froze. He impatiently pulled his hand away. Damon, who had always doted on her unconditionally, now had an expression of annoyance and coldness she had never seen before. “I’m a bit tired. I don’t have the energy to argue. Let’s cool off for a while.” Stepping out of the bar, the cool autumn night wind hit him. Damon stood under the neon lights and suddenly remembered the last time I came to the villa to pick up my things. She was quietly tidying the documents on her desk, her back as fragile as a piece of paper. He was in his study on the second floor, watching her through the glass, thinking she would always come back. After all these years, no matter how much he neglected or humiliated her, she would always adjust her mood and silently return to his side. But now, she had truly left. Damon pulled out a pack of cigarettes, his fingers trembling slightly. Such a simple action, lighting a cigarette, yet it took him three tries. The choking nicotine churned within him, but it couldn’t suppress the inexplicable anxiety. He opened his phone gallery and unconsciously scrolled to a hidden album. There was a photo of me sleeping. He had taken it one night when he was drunk. I was curled up in his arms, tears still clinging to my eyelashes, but my lips were slightly upturned, as if I was dreaming of something good. He had never told me that he wasn’t fully drunk that night. When Scarlett chased him out, she saw Damon staring blankly at his phone. She stumbled over, snatched the phone, and then froze, struck by lightning, when she saw the screen. “…You have her photos?” Damon’s eyes darkened, and his impatience grew stronger. “Give it back.” “Damon Thorne!” Scarlett’s voice was sharp. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?!” Passersby on the street turned to stare. Damon snatched his phone back, his voice icy. “Stop being crazy.” “I’m crazy?” Scarlett laughed hysterically. “What about you? You stare at her photos, track her movements, and now you’re abandoning me for her. Who’s really crazy?!” Damon silently opened the car door. Scarlett clung to his suit, refusing to let go. “Answer me!” “Nothing to answer,” he said, prying her fingers off one by one. “She followed me for so many years. Even a dog I’ve kept this long would get some affection.” Scarlett stumbled backward, her makeup smudged by tears. “You’ll regret this…” The black Maybach sped away. In the rearview mirror, Scarlett’s figure grew smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing into the night. Damon rolled down the window, letting the cold wind rush in, but his thoughts grew increasingly chaotic. His assistant sent a few more messages: [Mr. Thorne, we found that Ms. Hayes contacted a cultural company in a neighboring city, but they refused to disclose whether they hired her.] He replied: [Acquire that company.] The moment the screen went dark, Damon suddenly remembered the day I knelt at the company entrance. My knees were bleeding, yet my back was straight. I hadn’t shed a single tear. At the time, he felt it didn’t matter. Just a secretary, a punishment was a punishment. But now, thinking of my pale, fragile appearance, he felt an unbearable tightness in his chest, as if he had lost something very important. Damon floored the accelerator. The Maybach sped through the night, wanting to rush back to the villa as quickly as possible. A last shred of hope lingered in his heart, that this was all just me throwing a tantrum.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298842”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

“Aunt Carol, I’ve made up my mind. I’m ready to leave the Hayes family and come live with you overseas.” On the other end of the line, Aunt Carol’s voice bubbled with pure joy, her words a rapid-fire string of eager advice. “Perfect, Aria! I’ll get your visa sorted right away, it should take about a month. Use this time to hang out with your friends and classmates. Once you’re settled in New Zealand, it’ll be tough to see them again, so make sure you catch up properly and say your goodbyes.” “And especially your Uncle Jasper. He practically raised you. You owe him so much for everything, don’t forget to thank him properly.” I mumbled a quiet ‘okay’ a few times. As soon as the call disconnected, I got up from the balcony, drifting back into the living room. My eyes automatically fell on the framed photo sitting on the coffee table. In the picture, the sunset sky was blazing orange and pink, painting both our faces with a soft, warm glow. Seventeen-year-old Jasper stood under the swing set, a wide smile on his face as he gently pushed seven-year-old me. My little dress billowed around me in the breeze, brushing against the bright tulips in the garden. Even after all these years, I could still feel the sheer joy I’d felt the day that picture was taken. But time changes everything, doesn’t it? Jasper and I? We could never go back to that. Not anymore.

A pang of sadness flashed in my eyes at the thought, and I averted my gaze, looking far into the distance, back to a time even more distant. The Sterling and Beaumont families had been close for generations. Adrian Beaumont was ten years my senior. By family custom, I’d called him Uncle Adrian since I was a child. When I was seven, my parents died in a tragic plane crash. Adrian took me in, raising me in the Beaumont family estate. Perhaps it was out of pity for my early loss, but he kept me by his side constantly, personally tending to my every need . He’d tell me stories to coax me to sleep every night, personally driving me to and from school, rain or shine. He bought me every new and interesting toy he saw. Day by day, bit by bit, he nurtured the tiny sprout he brought home into a graceful young woman. Because of his gentle care, I clung to him from a young age. By the innocent age of a teenage girl, it felt only natural, an undeniable pull, that I fell in love with the man who had watched me grow up. When I turned seventeen, Adrian, as was tradition, threw me a grand birthday party. During the banquet, he drank too much, and I helped him to his room to rest. Seeing the man I loved right there, I couldn’t resist leaning down and kissing him. The next second, Adrian’s eyes snapped open, and he immediately pushed me to the other side of the sofa. Confused, I mistook this for a golden opportunity and seized the moment to confess my feelings. But to Adrian, these were nothing short of insane words. He found it absurd and flew into a rage. “Me! Do you even realize I’m your *uncle*?!” “I call you Uncle, but my last name is Sterling, and yours is Beaumont. We’re not blood relatives.” Seeing me so lost in my infatuation, Adrian’s face darkened. “I’m a full ten years older than you! You’re only seventeen; you can’t tell the difference between familial affection and love, and you certainly don’t understand what ‘liking’ someone means!” I always listened to him, but on this matter, I was exceptionally stubborn. “So you’re rejecting me because I’m too young? That’s fine, I’ll grow up. I’ll prove to you that I know the difference between love and affection, and I understand what liking someone truly means!” I no longer remember how that argument ended. But from then on, every year on my birthday, I would confess my feelings to him again. Adrian would reject me every year, but I never once considered giving up. My twenty-first birthday was just a month away. But this year, I wasn’t planning on confessing again. Because a month ago, Adrian brought his girlfriend home and introduced her to me. A profound sadness settled in my heart, yet I forced back my tears and asked if he was trying to provoke me with a girlfriend, to make me give up hope. Adrian glanced at me indifferently, his voice icy. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m of age; having a girlfriend is perfectly normal.” The calm composure in his eyes pierced me deeply. I cried all night, my mind a chaotic mess, replaying everything that had happened over the years. At dawn, my aunt, who lived abroad, sent me a Snapchat message. “Clara, do you want to move here and live with me?” “Honestly, when your parents first passed, I wanted to take you in, but my career wasn’t stable then, and I was struggling with postpartum depression. I was a bit overwhelmed and had to put it off. You’re grown up now, and it’s not convenient for you to stay with the Beaumonts. My life here has also settled down, so would you be willing to come and reunite with my family?” I didn’t reply to the message. I didn’t want to leave Adrian; I wanted to try just a little longer. But for the past two weeks, as if to rub it in, he kept bringing his girlfriend, Penelope Thorne, into my orbit. Holding hands, hugging, kissing—they did all the intimate things only couples do. Last night, he even had Penelope stay the night. He led me back to my room, then went to his. I sat numbly downstairs until three in the morning before the light in his room finally went out, and I heard muffled, intimate sounds from within. I clamped my hand over my mouth, silent tears streaming down, soaking the sofa. In that moment, I finally decided to give up. To give up on Adrian. Footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the door, breaking my reverie. I looked up, meeting Adrian’s gaze. Seeing me sitting alone at the dining table, he instinctively checked the clock on the wall—almost eleven. He frowned almost imperceptibly but said nothing, simply heading upstairs. Not a single greeting, cold as a stranger. A bitter ache tightened around my heart, but I couldn’t stop myself from calling out to him. “Adrian, dinner…” Adrian didn’t pause. His voice was distant. “Penelope and I already ate. I’ve told you many times, you don’t have to wait for me.” The heavy thud of his closing door swallowed the last syllable. My heart jolted with it, my eyes stinging. Adrian never used to speak to me in that tone. He knew I was scared of being alone after losing my family and hated eating by myself. No matter how busy he was with studies or work, he’d rush back to eat with me. Even when he traveled abroad, he’d always return quickly, just so I wouldn’t lose my appetite or get sick. For over a decade, there was never an exception—until now. But after my first confession, everything changed. He started actively keeping his distance, constantly working late or traveling to avoid seeing me. He stopped getting me surprise gifts, withdrawing all the special affection he used to shower on me. And after Penelope appeared, his gaze toward me grew even colder, like that of a stranger. I understood why, but I was powerless. I could only pick up my forks and stab at the cooling food, swallowing it, tasteless as cardboard. A table laden with various dishes, yet all I could taste was bitterness. When I’d had enough, I cleaned everything up before walking to his door and knocking softly. Adrian opened the door with a frown, his tone far from pleasant. “Didn’t I tell you not to bother me unless it’s important?” I pressed my lips together, intertwining my fingers. “Uncle Adrian, I’d like to change rooms.” A flicker of surprise crossed Adrian’s eyes, but he didn’t dwell on it. “Change if you want to.” I nodded, silently turning back to my bedroom. Looking at the large French doors, the exquisite furniture, and the walk-in closet overflowing with clothes, shoes, and bags, a sense of unreality washed over me. This bedroom was the largest and brightest in the entire villa; it used to be Adrian’s. The day I moved into the Beaumont house, he’d offered it to me, ruffling my hair and saying, “Our Clara is a princess; she deserves the best room.” Now I was leaving, and Penelope might move in any day. What right did I, a mere adopted ward, have to occupy the master bedroom, which belonged to the true owner? That’s why I suggested changing rooms—first, to make space, and second, to clear out my belongings. The next afternoon, I moved all my things to the small room at the end of the hallway, which used to be Adrian’s study. After tidying up the room, I took my documents downstairs to apply for a visa. Passing through the living room, I gave a slight nod, not greeting him with the same warmth as before. Adrian was clearly unused to my quiet demeanor. Seeing me walk out with my head down, silent and compliant, he felt I’d changed so much. He couldn’t help but call out. “It’s snowing heavily outside. Where are you going? Shall I take you?” It had been so long since he’d offered to drive me that I was momentarily stunned. “It’s Christmas Day. Aren’t you going on a date?” I mumbled softly. Adrian didn’t quite catch it and asked again. “What?” My hand balled into a fist, and I lowered my gaze. “Yesterday, I saw on the news that you bought a diamond necklace worth millions at an auction. You must be planning to give it to Penelope today, right?” Adrian froze, blurting out instinctively, “That was for…” The doorbell chimed, interrupting him. A moment later, Penelope walked in, elegant in a knitted dress, her long, curled hair falling to her waist, her makeup flawless. She linked her arm through Adrian’s, her voice sweet and playful. “Adrian, I’ve got your Christmas present! Guess what it is?” Everything was just as I’d imagined. I lowered my head, a bitter smile touching my lips. Perhaps because I’d already decided to leave, hearing about their date didn’t sting as much as it used to. I simply stepped back a few paces, making way. Adrian offered no further explanation. He led Penelope out, and then, as an afterthought, called me along. “Don’t wander off. Tell me where you’re going, and I’ll take you.” I paused, then quietly agreed. “Thank you, Uncle Adrian.” This time, my thanks were genuine. And so was my address to him: Uncle Adrian. 3. I usually didn’t go out much, spending most of my time cooped up in my art studio. This blizzard, however, had me out and about, piquing Penelope’s curiosity. “Clara, you don’t have a boyfriend. What are you doing out in this weather?” Unsure how to tell them I was leaving, I simply said, “I… have some errands to run.” Anyway, they’d probably figure it out once the car reached the visa office. Penelope didn’t press further, turning to chat with Adrian about their day’s plans. They chatted animatedly, seemingly forgetting I was sitting in the back. At a red light, Penelope took out a tube of lipstick and asked Adrian to touch up her makeup. He didn’t refuse, cupping her face, his movements gentle and meticulous. As they leaned in, almost touching, I turned my head to look at the swirling snow outside the window. Just as we were nearing our destination, Penelope suddenly said she wanted to go home and grab a jacket. Seeing that the navigation showed only two miles left, Adrian, without a second thought, declared it was out of the way and told me to hail another cab. I offered a bitter smile but said nothing, getting out of the car alone. The black Porsche Cayenne sped away, kicking up a trail of snow. There wasn’t a soul or a car in sight. I trudged through the snow, walking two miles to the visa office, and submitted all my documents. When I finished and stepped out, I ran into my high school teacher, Mr. Harrison, at the entrance. We exchanged a few pleasantries. Hearing I was moving abroad, Mr. Harrison’s face showed surprise. “You’re leaving the country and not planning to come back? Will Adrian agree to that?” I don’t know why I suddenly brought up Adrian, so I just spun a lie. “He agreed. Adrian and I aren’t blood relatives, and I’m grown up now. I can’t always bother him. It’ll be good to see more of the world.” Mr. Harrison nodded wistfully, filled with emotion. “Even without blood ties, Mr. Beaumont has truly been exceptional to you. Remember when you competed, and some kids from another school falsely accused you of plagiarism? Adrian had just come off the operating table for appendicitis, but he rushed to the competition to support you. When you fell at school, he dropped a multi-million dollar deal to take you to the hospital. When you were being harassed by those troublemakers, Adrian had them taken care of…” Listening to Mr. Harrison recount past events, my thoughts drifted back. Finally, Mr. Harrison clasped my hand, earnestly advising me to never forget Adrian’s kindness and to repay him well. I nodded silently. I had indeed made up my mind: before I left, I would repay all his kindness from these years. And for him, perhaps the greatest repayment I could give him was the news of my departure. That way, he would never have to worry about me clinging to him again. Back home, I changed out of my snow-soaked clothes and sat at my desk, beginning to calculate my expenses. Having lived in the Beaumont household for so many years, I’d paid attention to my monthly spending, quickly estimating a rough total. Besides specific expenditures, there were many intangible costs that were hard to quantify, so I decided to return three times that amount. That morning, I had already gathered all the gifts Adrian had ever given me and listed them on eBay. Afterward, I contacted a real estate company and put the old Sterling family mansion on the market. Once all that was done, I lay on my bed with a sense of relief. My phone suddenly vibrated a few times. I opened it to see over a dozen photos from Penelope, along with a message. “Clara, Adrian and I are going to Hawaii for a few days. Be a good girl at home, okay?” I didn’t even need to open them; I knew they were photos of Adrian and Penelope showing off their affection. Ever since they went public with their relationship, Penelope sent a stack of such photos after every date. In the past, seeing these photos would make me lose sleep, crying until my eyes were red and swollen. But now, having decided to only view Adrian as family, Penelope’s provocations no longer affected me. As for whether she was doing it intentionally or not, I couldn’t be bothered to guess. I replied calmly, “Okay, have fun.” 4. Five days later, Adrian returned with Penelope. The moment they stepped through the door, my eyes were drawn to the dazzling necklace around her neck. I only glanced at it before lowering my gaze. I hadn’t been wrong; that necklace was indeed for her. So what had Adrian been trying to say with his hesitation that day? In front of Adrian, Penelope always acted warmly towards me. She came forward and took my hand. “Clara, you must have been so bored alone at home these past few days. I bought so many things; come see if there’s anything you like!” She spoke, shedding her jacket, and pulled me towards a pile of boxes. I shook my head, refusing repeatedly. Penelope gave me a chiding look, her tone subtly meaningful. “Why are you being so polite? Just think of it as a gift from your future Aunt Penelope, okay?” Hearing the words “Aunt Penelope,” I instinctively looked up, and my eyes landed on a large patch of hickeys on her neck and shoulder. My heart gave a tiny jolt. One of the photos Penelope had sent showed the camera directly aimed at a hotel bed; I hadn’t understood why at the time. Now, seeing these intimate marks, I instantly understood and lowered my gaze, saying nothing more. Penelope unwrapped a box for me, then began talking about an evening event. “Adrian, it’s Miss Albright’s coming-of-age party tonight. Let’s bring Clara along. Our ages aren’t that far apart; she should have someone to chat with.” I was startled by the mention of a party. Adrian hadn’t taken me to any formal events since my parents passed and I moved into the Beaumont house. It was simply because some people liked to gossip behind my back, calling me a parasite. This time, Adrian still shook his head, not agreeing. Penelope wrapped her arms around his, pouting and saying she’d be bored alone, insisting I come with her. Adrian didn’t resist further, agreeing with a helpless but indulgent expression. Seeing their intimacy, I lowered my head, a faint smile on my lips. In Adrian’s world, Penelope truly was special. He would abandon all his previous boundaries for her. It seemed Adrian genuinely loved Penelope. As long as he was happy, even if I wasn’t the one by his side, I could leave with a clear conscience. At the party, glasses clinked and pleasantries were exchanged. I stood alone in a corner, quietly sipping my juice as I watched Adrian drink countless glasses of wine on Penelope’s behalf. A few girls walked by, laughing, and accidentally spilled red wine on me, apologizing profusely. I didn’t take it to heart and headed to the restroom to clean up. Before leaving, I handed my phone and bag to Adrian. Ten minutes later, when I returned, I saw him frowning at me, his voice strangely strained. “Your aunt just called, asking if you were free. I said you were busy, and I told her I’d call back later.” Hearing the word “aunt,” my entire body tensed. Fortunately, she hadn’t mentioned anything about moving abroad, and my posture relaxed considerably. Adrian, of course, noticed my unusual reaction and couldn’t help but ask, “When did you get back in touch with your aunt?” “Two weeks ago. I needed her to send me some photos of my grandparents.” I casually made an excuse. Adrian seemed to let out a breath, no longer suspicious, and turned to adjust Penelope’s disheveled hair. I took back my phone and bag, turning to go back to my corner. The next second, a towering champagne pyramid was accidentally knocked over, crashing directly towards Penelope and me. “Watch out!” Adrian, being closest, instinctively pulled Penelope to safety first, shielding her in his arms. *BANG!!!* With a deafening crash, the champagne pyramid collapsed, violently striking me where I stood, unable to react in time. Shattered glass flew everywhere. I lay on the ground, blood gushing, quickly staining my white dress, a truly horrifying sight. The sudden accident startled everyone present. Penelope, though unharmed, was crying from shock. Looking at me, bloody on the floor, and Penelope, crying in his arms, Adrian hesitated only for a moment before making his decision again. “Take her to the hospital.” He instructed a nearby bodyguard, then swept Penelope into his arms and carried her out. It wasn’t until they vanished from sight that I, amidst a chorus of pitying gazes, stumbled to my feet. By the time I’d dealt with my injuries and arrived home, it was already one in the morning. The doctor had given me a dozen stitches and recommended hospitalization, but I refused, took some medicine, and came home. Adrian still hadn’t returned. I turned off the lights and lay on the bed, staring blankly at the dark ceiling. The stinging pain from various parts of my body made sleep impossible. I tossed and turned until three AM before finally drifting into a light slumber. Suddenly, the living room lights flickered on. Adrian, reeking of alcohol, stumbled upstairs. He didn’t go to his own bedroom but walked to the furthest room—his old study—and gently pushed open the door. I wasn’t a very still sleeper. I turned over, pulling at my stitches, and let out a soft groan in my sleep. This faint sound was caught by Adrian. He followed the sound to the side of the bed, leaning over to encircle the person on it in his arms. One hand pushed aside my nightgown, pressing onto my slender, soft waist. The other lifted my chin, and he kissed me directly. 5. I wasn’t sleeping deeply, and the commotion quickly jolted me awake. The familiar scent of cologne from the man’s collar quickly confirmed his identity. Uncle Adrian? Why would he suddenly rush in and kiss me? My entire body stiffened. Before I could react, I heard Adrian’s husky voice, laced with hot breath, “Penelope…” In that moment, I froze. And the overwhelming scent of alcohol instantly clarified my situation. Uncle Adrian was drunk and had mistaken me for Penelope. In that brief moment of distraction, Adrian’s hands began to move lower. Panic flooded through me. I pressed down on the hand that was exploring my waist, desperate to push him away, my voice urgent. “Uncle Adrian, you’ve got the wrong person! It’s Clara!” Adrian was either too drunk to understand or my struggles merely fueled his possessive instincts. His kisses grew more aggressive, encompassing my soft lips, gently gnawing. I could barely breathe. Tears welled up, wetting the gauze on my injury, and stung the wound, causing a sharp, throbbing pain. “Uncle Adrian, you’re hurting me! My wound is really painful…” Whether it was the alcohol wearing off or my pleas having an effect, Adrian’s body stiffened slightly, and he released his grip on me. I quickly scrambled out of bed, not even bothering to put on my shoes. I rushed to the living room, wrapping myself in a blanket, and only managed to fall asleep around dawn. The next afternoon, the moment I opened my eyes, I saw Adrian standing before me, his expression unreadable. The events of last night flooded my mind, making me instinctively shrink into the corner of the sofa. Seeing my reaction, a flicker of coldness crossed Adrian’s eyes. “Last night, did *you* bring me to your room?” His question stunned me. I was about to explain when I saw his brow furrow again. “Don’t ever have such thoughts again. Otherwise, you’ll have to move out.” Seeing his certainty, I swallowed the words “You were drunk” that were on the tip of my tongue. Given the previous incident of my secret kiss, no matter what I explained now, he likely wouldn’t believe me. So I gave up trying to clarify and simply kept my mouth shut. Two shadows were cast on the floor. I saw the shadow opposite me seem to lift a hand, and I couldn’t help but look up. Adrian’s hand hovered just above my head, as if he intended to pat me. My entire body stiffened, my eyes wide with disbelief. When I was little, whenever I missed my family and cried until I couldn’t breathe, or felt sad and lonely, Adrian would always pat my head, gently comforting me. It had become our unspoken signal. But ever since I turned seventeen, we’d had almost no physical contact. My breathing hitched with tension. The next second, Adrian raised his hand a few inches higher, retrieving a bottle of red wine from the cabinet behind me. It turned out I had just been overthinking things. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Because I was desperate to sell, the items I had previously listed and the old family mansion were priced below market value, so they sold quickly. My account had accumulated over ninety million, still tens of thousands short of the amount I intended to repay. With little time left before moving abroad, it was difficult to raise the remaining funds. As an art student, though new, I had won many awards and was somewhat known in the industry, so I decided to hold an exhibition to sell my paintings. It was hard for me to organize it alone in such a short time, so I went to ask Adrian for help. Penelope, who happened to be nearby, showed a flicker of surprise on her face and stepped forward with a smile. “Perfect, I’m also preparing an exhibition. Why don’t we do it together?” I looked at Adrian, and seeing no objection from him, I agreed. Five days later, both our exhibitions were held simultaneously at the art gallery. Penelope had studied painting for over a decade, and this was her first major exhibition, so Adrian was exceptionally invested. He directly gave me the several-hundred-square-foot main hall, meticulously redecorating it and using various means to promote it. As a result, on opening day, the socialites and literary figures attending set a new record for the art gallery’s visitor traffic. The other exhibition, located in a side hall, wasn’t so fortunate. The ten-square-foot room was crammed with nearly a hundred paintings, so cramped that people couldn’t even move, and no one came to visit, let alone bid. I stood at the entrance, gazing at the bustling scene in the distance, my eyes filled with loss and dejection. A few friends who came to help were about to comfort me when a scream suddenly erupted from the room. “Clara, something’s happened!” 6. Someone exposed a plagiarism case online. And the individuals involved were Penelope and me, who were both holding art exhibitions today. Looking at the comparison chart made by internet sleuths on my phone, the two paintings were virtually identical, from content to composition and color. Soon, the hashtag #RisingArtistClaraAllegedlyPlagiarizes trended on Instagram, sparking widespread discussion. My friends gathered around me, frantically pacing like ants on a hot skillet. “How could Clara possibly plagiarize? The school uniform in that painting is from our high school! Are they blind?” “Exactly! That girl is Clara herself, we can all vouch for it!” “It’s clearly Penelope who plagiarized! How dare she still show her face after copying someone else’s work?” I maintained some semblance of rationality, rushing home, desperate to find my original drafts to prove my innocence. All the way home, my mind was a chaotic mess, recalling the moment I created that painting. That year, I was eighteen, and Adrian no longer picked me up from school. I went home with my top-scoring test paper, rushing straight to his study, eager to show him and make him happy. The room was quiet. Adrian was asleep, slumped over his desk. I tiptoed to his side. The setting sun’s rays caught his brow and eyes; under the golden light, he looked like an inviolable deity. I was determined to be the one to pull him down from that pedestal. So I picked up the test paper, placed it over his face, and lightly kissed him. Adrian woke with a start and scolded me again. But I didn’t take his rebukes to heart. Instead, I turned that scene into a painting, carefully keeping it for years. Now, I had moved on from him and was desperate for money, so I included that painting in the exhibition. I never imagined it would become a stain on my reputation. After arriving home, I searched everywhere I could think of, but I couldn’t find any trace of the original drafts. That’s when panic truly set in. I racked my brain, trying to recall anywhere I hadn’t looked. My phone chimed. A friend had sent me a link, urging me to check it out. I tapped it, and Penelope’s face appeared on the screen. Seeing the words “News Conference” behind her, my heart sank. On the live stream, Penelope spoke with a serious expression, giving a detailed account of the plagiarism issue and describing the entire painting process vividly. Then, she produced an original draft, displaying it to the many reporters and cameras. “I’m acquainted with the rising artist involved in this plagiarism case. She’s still young, and I believe she didn’t do it intentionally; she just took a wrong path for a moment. I don’t blame her.” As soon as this press conference was held, online opinion immediately became one-sided. A deluge of netizens flooded my social media accounts with insults, and comments quickly surpassed a hundred thousand. Simultaneously, another trending topic slowly climbed to the top. #ThorneFamilyHeiressAndBeaumontGroupCEOSweetlyKiss,WeddingImminent Beneath the topic, a video autoplayed. Adrian, driving his sports car, arrived at the press conference. Penelope ran to him, laughing, and threw herself into his arms. The couple embraced before getting into the back seat. Before the partition between the front and back seats rose, the camera caught them in a passionate kiss. News of their relationship had broken long ago, attracting a large number of ‘shippers’ who frantically flooded the video with comments. “So sweet! I’m dying from the cuteness! Boo-hoo-hoo!” “Why did the partition go up? Is there something my fan-head can’t see?!” “I heard Adrian is her guardian, and now she and Penelope are both caught in a plagiarism scandal. Adrian rushing to Penelope’s side only confirms that Clara is the plagiarist!” Numbly, I exited the video, looking at the rapidly increasing comment notifications. I tapped on them, only to find everyone was cursing me. Some condemned me for being rotten since childhood, others for lacking integrity, and still others for my inferior skill. Some even cursed my deceased parents, saying I had no upbringing and that my family tree was empty. My finger hovered over that comment, and my entire body trembled. Tears streamed down, blurring the text on the screen, but not the pain in my heart. I dialed Adrian’s number. 7. The first call went unanswered. The second call, he still didn’t pick up. I kept calling, over and over, until the ninth attempt finally connected. Hearing his steady breathing on the other end, I suddenly remembered high school, when I was falsely accused of plagiarism and completely isolated. Back then, I’d called him repeatedly, just like this. He had only said one thing: “Don’t be scared, Uncle Adrian’s here.” But now, my voice trembling, I asked, “Did you give her the original draft of my painting?” Adrian didn’t hesitate, frankly admitting it. “Yes, I did.” A long, shaky breath came from my end of the phone, my voice clearly trembling. “Why would you do that?” After a few seconds of silence, Adrian finally spoke. “That painting was never meant to be seen by the world, nor should it bear your name. Didn’t you know that?” So, he was still afraid of others finding out. He was still worried I harbored inappropriate feelings for him. A bitter, twisted smile played on my lips as I closed my bloodshot eyes. “But *I* wasn’t the one who plagiarized, Penelope was! By giving her the draft, I can never clear my name of plagiarism! My entire career is ruined!” “Penelope was just momentarily confused, it wasn’t intentional. What does it matter if you take the fall for her this once? When I first had you learn painting, it was just to find a hobby to distract you. You don’t need to be so serious about it. I’ll support you for life anyway; you’ll never have to worry about making a living.” With that, he hung up. I remained frozen, still holding my phone, my gaze fixed on the mirror in front of me. Looking at the swollen, tired face reflected there, I suddenly didn’t quite recognize myself. Was this still me? I didn’t quite recognize Adrian either. Was that still the Uncle Adrian who would abandon the world for me, even if the world abandoned me? I couldn’t tell anymore. After the exhibition collapsed, I became even more determined to repay Adrian every penny. My friends introduced me to several part-time jobs: working as a caddy at a golf course, serving at high-end clubs, and so on. To raise the money as quickly as possible, I took every job I could find, leaving early and returning late every day, barely seen. A week before I was due to leave the country, I finally scraped together the last few tens of thousands. I changed into my server uniform and pushed open the private room door, preparing for my last shift. Coincidentally, on my last day, I ran into some familiar faces. A group of men and women were gathered, seemingly playing some game. In the first round, Adrian lost. The game host publicly announced his punishment. “Kiss the person you like for three minutes!” The entire room erupted, and all eyes turned to a blushing Penelope. But Adrian stood up, walked past the crowd and out of the circle, stepping by step, until he was standing in front of me. Everyone in the room froze, then a murmur spread. Just as no one could figure out what was happening, Adrian took out his phone from his pocket and held it out. “Hold this. Record the whole thing.” I suddenly had a premonition, and my heart trembled slightly. But at that moment, I realized I wasn’t hurting as much as I used to. Perhaps because I had truly decided to let go, there was nothing left that could harm me. I calmly took the phone, opened the camera, and pressed the record button. His phone had excellent resolution. Even in the dim lighting, I could clearly see the scene on the screen. Adrian returned to his seat, pulled Penelope into his arms, leaned down, and kissed her. The timer on the screen above showed the duration. Three minutes, 180 seconds, not a second more, not a second less. But the video didn’t end there. After the kiss, Adrian knelt on one knee, took a diamond ring from his pocket, and his voice was full of tenderness. “Penelope, will you marry me?” He proposed to Penelope! I didn’t quite hear Penelope’s answer. The two main characters on the screen were completely obscured by the crowd, and deafening screams and frenzied cheers erupted from all directions, flooding my ears. I lowered my hand, pressing the stop recording button. Just then, the manager walked over, saying a new guest had arrived next door and needed my help. I handed the phone to a colleague nearby, turned, and left the private room. Without a moment’s hesitation. 8. After finishing all my work, I dragged my tired body home. Adrian had arrived before me, sitting on the living room sofa. Seeing me return, he called out. “Stop right there!” “Why are you working in places like that? Didn’t I give you enough money?” I leaned against the entryway, changing my shoes, my voice flat. “I was bored at home, nothing to do, just experiencing different aspects of life.” The anger on Adrian’s face subsided a little, but his voice was still cold. “Don’t go to places like that again.” I certainly wouldn’t need to. I mumbled an acknowledgment and went upstairs with my head down. For the next few days, Adrian barely came home. Penelope, however, sent me many photos every day. Rings, wedding photos, wedding venues, bouquets—each picture exuded the happiness and joy of getting married. I didn’t reply to her; I was busy packing my luggage. On the morning of the third day before my departure, I met Adrian at the top of the stairs, just as he was leaving. I called out to him. “Uncle Adrian, in three days, could you spare an hour to celebrate my birthday with me?” He had raised me for so many years; I wanted to say a proper goodbye. But to Adrian, my request sounded like a challenge. In previous years, on my birthday, I would always pull him aside and say those blatantly inappropriate declarations of love. So he refused without a second thought. “I’ve told you many times, don’t make such requests!” Seeing he was angry again, I quickly explained. “This time, I won’t do anything to upset you, and I won’t confess like in previous years. I just want to…” …say a proper goodbye . A distance lay between us, and my last few words were almost inaudible . Adrian didn’t hear a single one. Hearing me speak a few normal sentences, he finally relaxed and nodded. On my birthday, I waited from morning till night, but Adrian never came. Seeing it was almost time for my flight, I finally picked up my phone and dialed his number. After ten seconds of ringing, Penelope’s voice came through. “Hello? Adrian’s in the shower; he can’t take calls right now.” Her tone was laced with ambiguous implications, making my heart plummet. I glanced at my watch, my eyes filled with stubbornness. “Then how long will he be? I can wait for him to finish.” A sneering laugh came from the phone. “Why bother? He’s already in the shower. I’ll be honest with you; we’re at a hotel right now. You’re an adult, aren’t you? You know what comes after a shower. Are you planning to stick around and watch? He’s your *guardian*, for crying out loud! You like him, fine, but he’s getting married, and you’re still here, clinging to him every day? How utterly shameless can you be…” The utterly humiliating words pierced my heart like needles. I bit my lip hard, refusing to let the tears fall. After venting all her emotions with relish, Penelope abruptly hung up. Looking at the “Call ended” message on my screen, I slowly lowered my hand. I don’t know how much time passed before I finally took out candles from a box. The cream on the cake had softened slightly from the warmth, and the ‘21’ candles were crookedly inserted. After lighting them, I leaned over and blew them out, silently making a wish. My 21st birthday wish was no longer to be with Uncle Adrian forever. Instead, it was for him to live a long, peaceful life, and that my absence would bring him joy. With that, I blew out the candles. Finally, I cleared away all traces of my presence, leaving only three things in the place I had lived for over a decade. A bank card containing one hundred million dollars, repaying all his kindness and years of raising me. A wedding gift, wishing him and his beloved to share a lifetime together. And a final farewell. [Uncle Adrian, I’ve given up. I wish you happiness.] After writing it, I picked up my suitcase and took one last look at the house. I turned and walked away, without looking back. 9. The Auckland airport announced arriving flights. From a distance, I saw my aunt’s family waving enthusiastically. I rushed forward, greeted by three radiant smiles, and all the gloom in my heart melted away. “Aunt Lena! Uncle Mark! Chloe!” Ten-year-old Chloe, though seeing her cousin for the first time, had already heard from her mother how wonderful I was. The moment we met, she threw herself into my arms. “Sister, was the flight tiring? Chloe will give you a foot rub!” Uncle Mark stepped forward and took my luggage, and the little girl’s chubby hands began to press my legs. Seeing my innocent, adorable cousin, my heart melted. I swept her into my arms. “Sister isn’t tired, but Chloe must be tired after waiting here for two hours, right?” “Waiting for you isn’t tiring! I love you the most, Sister!” Chloe said, giving me a big kiss on the cheek. My eyes crinkled into happy crescent moons from smiling. Aunt Lena took Chloe in one arm and pulled me with the other, her voice full of joy. “Twelve hours of flying must have been exhausting, Clara. Do you want to go home and rest first, or grab something to eat?” Having slept seven or eight hours on the plane, I felt quite energetic. I playfully tapped Chloe’s nose, a smile still on my face. “Let’s go eat first. Chloe, tell me about all the good food here!” “Oh, I know tons! Mom, can we order all my favorites for Sister?” Chatting and laughing, the family of three and I left the airport. As we passed a trash can, I casually tossed my phone in. Aunt Lena saw my action, a flicker of surprise on her face. “Why did you throw your phone away? Is it broken? You should get it fixed, or it’ll be hard to contact your friends back home, and Adrian too.” The smile on my lips faded slightly, and I gently shook my head. “I won’t be going back home, so I probably won’t see my friends or classmates again. I sold the family mansion and left the money for Adrian, as repayment for all his years of raising me. Adrian is getting married and starting his own family soon, and since I’m just an adopted ward with no blood ties, it wouldn’t be right to bother him anymore. So, no need to contact him.” Aunt Lena paused, then considered that what I said made sense. She gently patted my shoulder. “Perhaps it’s for the best. After all, when the Beaumonts ran into trouble back then, your father was the one who helped them out. Adrian raising you for over a decade just evens the score. You’re home now with your aunt, and your brother and his wife would be happy to see this from above.” At the mention of our deceased family, both aunt and niece grew a little sad. Chloe, ever the quick-witted imp, though not entirely understanding what was happening, deftly changed the subject. “Sister, I have a present for you! Everything in your room was chosen by me, and I even put lots and lots of cute stuffed animals in there. Do you like them?” “What kind of stuffed animals did Chloe put in? Tell your sister all about them.” Seeing the sisters’ close bond, Aunt Lena and Uncle Mark exchanged glances, both seeing relief in each other’s eyes. Tears welled up in Aunt Lena’s eyes. When her brother and his wife first passed away, she hadn’t been able to help me, and a knot of guilt had always remained in her heart. Although the Beaumonts hadn’t mistreated me, she knew that living under someone else’s roof meant you’re never truly free, and she had always been looking for a way to bring her niece home. Now that the family was reunited, she could finally let go of the burden in her heart. For the rest of her life, she would do everything in her power to give me a warm home. After all, we were the only family left in the world who shared blood. 10. From the bathroom, Adrian heard the commotion outside. When he emerged, he casually asked, wiping his hair, “Did anyone call?” A hint of nervousness flickered across Penelope’s face, but she quickly denied it. “Spam call. I cursed them out and hung up.” Adrian nodded, picked up his clothes from the sofa, and went to change. Seeing his movement, Penelope’s heart seized. She stepped forward and grabbed his arm. “The wedding is in two days. Aren’t you staying tonight?” A flicker of displeasure crossed Adrian’s eyes, and his voice was cold. “I told you from the beginning, it’s all just an act. Don’t you understand what a contract wedding means? Let go!” Seeing his sudden change in expression, Penelope was startled and quickly withdrew her hand. “I understand. I’m sorry, Adr… Mr. Beaumont.” Dressed, Adrian picked up his phone and walked straight out. He stepped into his car and told the driver to go home. His watch showed eight o’clock, he had already missed our agreed-upon time. Afraid I might be hiding and feeling sad again, Adrian hesitated, then called me. After a long wait, the message came: the number was off. He dialed again; still no connection. Adrian’s brow immediately furrowed. He sent a text message, but there was no reply. He then called Mr. Finch, the butler. “Where is Miss Clara? Tell her to call me.” “Miss Clara left an hour ago, carrying a suitcase. She might have gone out to paint.” Paint? At this hour of the night, when you can barely see the road, and the weather is so cold, where could she possibly go to paint? Was he late, had I gotten angry again, and was I pulling the run-away stunt? Thinking of all the reckless things I had done over the years, running away didn’t seem out of the question. A sudden, nameless fury flared in Adrian’s chest. He immediately called his assistant, Sarah, to locate my phone. Sarah quickly sent him the location. The moment he opened it and saw “Airport,” Adrian’s face instantly darkened. He clenched his fist, forcefully suppressing his anger, and instructed the driver to turn towards the airport. She truly had grown up, grown wings. Now she even dared to threaten him by running away! Upon arriving at the airport, Sarah, who had received the message earlier, was already waiting at the entrance with a team, having searched every nook and cranny of the airport. Glancing around and not seeing the person he wanted to see, Adrian’s eyes were shadowed with displeasure. “Where is she?” “We haven’t seen Miss Clara, Mr. Beaumont. I’ve already applied to the airline to check the passenger lists for the past three hours, but it might take some time. Please be patient.” *Patient?* The person had slipped away right under his nose; he was already on the verge of exploding. Just as he was about to lose his temper, the villa phone rang. “Sir, it’s bad! Miss Clara! She! You should come back and see!” Mr. Finch’s wailing voice sent a chill down Adrian’s spine, and he froze. Sarah, seeing his pale face, immediately opened the car door and helped him in, urging the driver to speed home. All the way, Adrian said nothing, his lips pressed into a grim line. Sarah, beside him, didn’t dare to breathe, her heart pounding. No one understood better than them how important Miss Clara was to Mr. Beaumont. If I ran away, Mr. Beaumont would turn the world upside down. If something happened to me, Mr. Beaumont would make someone pay dearly! As the car pulled into the villa, Adrian’s phone rang again. He answered impatiently, only to hear Penelope’s sobbing voice. “Adrian, I twisted my ankle. Can you come see me?” “Twisted ankle? Why not just say you’re dead?!” The last three words made Sarah, who had just opened the car door, shudder and instinctively take a few steps back. She watched him smash his phone to the ground and storm into the villa like a man possessed.

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For five years, our marriage had been purely a business arrangement. Julian and I were still practically strangers. Even our intimate moments were strangely polite. Julian would always start the same way. He’d kiss my collarbone, a routine gesture, then tell me, “I’m starting now.” Then, slowly, inch by excruciating inch, he’d peel off my clothes, his voice a low whisper as he asked, “Is this okay?” His voice would be rough, almost a whisper, as he added, “If you’re uncomfortable, just say stop.” Minutes stretched into an eternity. The bed shook violently. My breath came in ragged gasps, my slender fingers clenching the sheets until my knuckles went white. I bit my lip, enduring for what felt like forever, before finally whispering. “I’m sorry, but this is getting out of hand. It’s been three hours, Julian. I can’t take anymore. Can we please stop?” Julian froze mid-motion, his body suddenly rigid. He immediately mumbled, “I’m sorry.” Then, unable to stop himself, he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. He apologized again, then vanished into the bathroom for a cold shower. The sound of the running water from the shower echoed for a long time. Only then did I finally start to breathe normally again. Slowly, I sat up. My fingers trembled as I pulled on my clothes, covering the kiss marks branding my skin. I clicked on the bedside lamp. Then, I leaned over and pulled a document from the nightstand drawer. It was a—A divorce agreement.

　　I let out a soft breath. Five years. It was time for everything to end. 　　Everyone in our social circles knew about the strategic alliance through marriage between the Wynter and Hayes families. Julian Hayes and I, they said, had a wonderful relationship since our wedding, a model couple envied by all. 　　But what no one knew was that we each harbored a secret love. 　　Julian’s true love was Willow, his adoptive sister, but their societal roles kept them apart. 　　My true love, Leo Blackwood, had died five years ago, making it impossible for us to ever be together again in this life. 　　One parted by life, the other by death. On the very first day of our marriage, we confessed our true loves to each other and agreed to a marriage of convenience. It was a five-year contract to secure our families’ business interests and to avoid the pressure to marry. We would fulfill our obligations but nothing more. 　　After five years, we would go our separate ways. 　　Now, five years had passed, and it was time to end things. 　　I was waiting for Julian to come out so I could talk to him, but then the bathroom door suddenly burst open. 　　Julian hurried out, his hair still dripping water, grabbing his car keys and heading for the door. I froze, instinctively asking, “It’s so late. Where are you going?” Julian paused, his usually cool tone laced with urgency. “Willow had a nightmare. I need to go be with her. You should rest.” 　　Willow Hayes. His adoptive sister, and his true love. I understood. Normally, no matter when he went to see Willow, I would never question him. 　　Even when I had a car accident, a fever, or terrible period cramps… I strictly adhered to our agreement, alone in this empty house, never disturbing him and his true love. But today was different. Thinking about what I needed to discuss, I had to politely stop him. “Can you give me five minutes? I have something important to talk to you about.” 　　Julian was clearly taken aback. “Is it that important?” 　　I paused for a moment, then softly said, “It’s… moderately important.” 　　Julian was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. 　　He glanced down. It was Willow. The moment he answered, her tearful voice came through the phone. “Brother, I’m so scared. Are you here yet? I want you to hold me while I sleep…” Julian’s eyes softened instantly, his voice gentle. “I’ll be there in a minute.” He hung up, then turned to me, speaking politely. “You can decide everything. No need for discussion.” I was stunned for a moment, then nodded. I flipped to the last page of the divorce agreement in my hand and offered it to him. “Then please sign.” 　　Julian nodded, signing it without even looking, then turned and rushed out. 　　Listening to the sound of his car engine fading into the distance, I picked up my phone and called my lawyer. “The divorce agreement has been signed. How soon can our relationship be legally dissolved?” The lawyer’s voice came through the phone. “Ms. Wynter, you just need to wait out the one-month cooling-off period.” I felt a significant weight lift off my chest. After hanging up, I opened my phone and booked a flight to Solara City. 　　There was a reason I needed to go to Solara City. 　　A while ago, my best friend, Chloe, saw a college student in a Solara City bar who looked exactly like Leo Blackwood. 　　The boy seemed very poor, working part-time at the bar. 　　I couldn’t stand the thought of someone in this world suffering such hardship while wearing a face so uncannily similar to Leo’s. 　　Since he needed money, and I had plenty, I entertained the thought of making him my kept man. 　　I asked Chloe to negotiate, and after two or three days of silence, he agreed. 　　However, his grandmother lived in Solara City, so he couldn’t come to Averna City. 　　I figured, my parents were gone, and I had no real family left here anyway. 　　In that case, I might as well move to Solara City. 　　As long as I could see that face, so much like Leo’s, every day, I imagined the rest of my life would be filled with joy.

　　That night, I had a wonderful dream. When I woke up, a faint smile still lingered on my lips. 　　The thought of no longer having to play the polite farce of a respectful marriage, and instead seeing a face so similar to Leo’s every day, made my mood lighten considerably. 　　I was even a little impatient, wishing time would speed up, just a little faster, for this “divorce cooling-off period” to pass quickly. 　　When I went downstairs, the staff had already prepared breakfast. After eating, I was about to go back to my room to pack when I heard a commotion in the entryway. I looked up to see Julian pushing the door open, followed by Willow and several bodyguards carrying large bags. 　　Julian wore a perfectly tailored black suit, making his broad shoulders and long legs even more striking, exuding an aura of cool elegance and nobility. 　　Willow, on the other hand, wore a white dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, a sweet smile on her face. She held Julian’s arm, and they looked like a perfect match, a couple made in heaven. Julian stepped aside to let the bodyguards bring in the luggage, then turned to me to explain. “Willow has been having nightmares lately. She only feels safe when I’m around, so I’ve brought her to stay with us for a while.” 　　He finished speaking and pulled a delicate gift box from his pocket, offering it to me. “This is a necklace I had someone bid on at an auction. Consider it… compensation.” I glanced down at the box, but didn’t reach for it. Instead, I gently pushed it back, my tone soft. “No, thank you. I don’t need compensation. There are plenty of rooms in the house; we have space.” Julian was clearly surprised. “You’re not angry?” I was more surprised than him. “Angry about what? After a month, I’ll be moving out anyway.” 　　Julian froze, clearly not understanding my meaning. 　　*What did she mean, she’d be moving out anyway after a month?* 　　He was about to ask when Willow beside him spoke first. 　　My lips curled into a triumphant smile, my voice tinged with a hint of provocation. “Well, thank you, Ms. Wynter.” 　　She never called me “sister-in-law,” simply because she never acknowledged my status. 　　Five years ago, when I first married into the Hayes family, Willow had stormed into our bridal suite with a group of bodyguards and smashed everything to pieces. 　　Her eyes were red then, like a cornered animal, screaming hysterically, “How dare you steal my brother!” 　　Later, Julian must have found some way to appease her, because after that, Willow never caused such a scene again. 　　Perhaps it was because, whether Julian was married or not, his doting affection for Willow never lessened. 　　He still went shopping with her, sang her to sleep, and even stayed by her bedside all night when she was sick. He treated her as he always had, loving her, while treating me, his wife, as if I were invisible. 　　“Brother, didn’t you say you’d take me to the amusement park after we finished moving in?” Willow swayed Julian’s arm, her voice sweet as honey. Julian looked down at her, his gaze so tender it could melt. “Yes, we’ll go in a little while.” 　　He finished, then looked up at me, as if he wanted to say something. But I still smiled gently. “You two go ahead. Just let me know if you’ll be back for dinner, and I’ll have the staff prepare it.” Willow’s lips curved when she heard this. “Well, thank you, Ms. Wynter.” 　　I caught the hint of provocation and triumph in her voice, but I didn’t react. I just nodded politely and returned to my room. 　　I spent the entire day packing. 　　By the time everything was sorted, night had fallen. 　　Julian and Willow hadn’t returned. I showered, changed into my nightclothes, and lay in bed, ready to sleep. 　　Just as I was about to drift off, I heard voices outside the door. “Brother, please sleep with me. I’m scared alone.” It was Willow’s voice, a hint of childish pleading in it. 　　“Willow, my wife is here. This isn’t appropriate.” Julian’s voice was still gentle, but tinged with a touch of helplessness. 　　“What isn’t appropriate? You like me, and I like you. She’s just a prop anyway.” 　　My fingers curled slightly, but I didn’t move, keeping my eyes closed as if I hadn’t heard a thing. Outside, Julian was silent for a moment, then spoke softly. “Willow, I can treat you just as well as before, and my heart belongs entirely to you, but nothing more. I’m still legally married. If anything were to happen between us, it wouldn’t be good for your reputation. Just know that I will always love you.” 　　“Then you’re not allowed to touch her tonight.” Willow’s tone was demanding. 　　Julian seemed to say something, but his voice was too low for me to catch. 　　A moment later, the bedroom door was gently pushed open. Julian walked in, his gaze falling on the suitcase by the bed. He seemed a little surprised. “What’s with these bags?” 　　I was about to tell him the truth, but then I remembered him saying earlier that I could decide everything. He didn’t even know about the divorce yet, so maybe there was no need to tell him I was leaving for Solara City either? So I lied. “Just decluttering for the new season.” 　　Julian nodded, not asking further, and turned to enter the bathroom. 　　When he came out after his shower, he was only wrapped in a towel, water droplets tracing a path down his chest to his V-line. 　　He walked to the bed and leaned down, kissing my lips. 　　I was stunned by the kiss, instinctively pushing him away. “Didn’t your sister say she didn’t want you to touch me?” 　　Julian froze. “You heard that?” 　　I nodded honestly. 　　Julian was silent for a moment, not answering my question. Instead, he changed the subject. “I want you. Is that okay?”

　　I wanted to refuse, but then I remembered our agreement before the wedding to fulfill our marital duties. Since we weren’t officially divorced yet, I reluctantly nodded, forcing myself to agree. 　　“Go ahead.” 　　Julian leaned in and kissed my lips. 　　I couldn’t help but let out a soft moan, my fingers gripping the bedsheets tightly. Julian rarely smiled, but he did then, his voice low and husky. “Can’t hold back? I’ll go easy on you then.” 　　I closed my eyes and softly said, “Thank you.” 　　“You’re welcome.” Julian’s voice held a hint of amusement, and he deepened the kiss. 　　When I woke up, the room was empty. I got up to wash, changed my clothes, and went downstairs. Julian had left at some point. In the dining room, only Willow was sitting, head bowed, eating breakfast. I walked to the dining table and politely asked, “Did you sleep well yesterday? Is breakfast to your liking?” 　　Willow didn’t answer, didn’t even lift her head, as if I didn’t exist. 　　I sighed softly, thinking how rude Willow was compared to Julian. 　　I said nothing more, silently sat down, and began to eat. 　　But as I picked up a slice of toast and took a bite, a wave of nausea suddenly washed over my stomach. 　　I abruptly stood up, rushing to the bathroom and dry heaving over the sink. 　　When I came out of the bathroom, I found Willow standing at the doorway, her face frighteningly dark. Her gaze pierced me like a knife, her voice icy. “Are you pregnant?” 　　I froze, about to explain, but Willow had already completely lost it. Her voice was sharp and furious. “I tolerated you getting married, even tolerated you sleeping together, but I will *never* tolerate you having my brother’s child!” With that, she spun around and shouted at the bodyguards by the door, “Hold her down!” 　　Then she told the staff, “Get the abortion pills!” 　　The staff and bodyguards froze, exchanging glances, none daring to move. Willow’s eyes were already red as she shrieked, “Didn’t my brother tell you to take good care of me before he left? Now you’re not even listening to a word I say. Is this how you ‘take good care’ of me?!” The bodyguards and staff looked at each other, but ultimately didn’t dare defy her orders. They stepped forward and restrained me. I finally snapped out of my daze and struggled. “You’ve misunderstood, I’m not pregnant, I just have an upset stomach…” But Willow had completely lost her mind. Seeing that the staff hadn’t returned yet, she rushed into a room, rummaging through a medicine cabinet, pulled out a bottle of pills, and strode quickly towards me. 　　“How dare you deny it? I won’t let you have this child, absolutely not!” Her voice was filled with madness. She gripped my jaw tightly, forced my mouth open, and brutally shoved the pills down my throat. 　　I shook my head frantically, but the pills still slid down my throat. 　　My stomach churned violently, and the excruciating pain made me almost unable to stand. Cold sweat trickled down my forehead, my vision blurred, and I tried to scream but found I couldn’t make a sound. Finally, I collapsed weakly to the floor, my consciousness fading. 　　When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. 　　Dimly, I heard the doctor’s helpless voice. 　　“Mr. Hayes, your wife wasn’t pregnant. How could she be given abortion pills? Fortunately, she was brought in quickly and had her stomach pumped, otherwise almost half her stomach would have to be removed.”

　　I slowly opened my eyes. The doctor was gone, and Julian was sitting by the bed, his brows furrowed, a hint of guilt in his eyes. Seeing me awake, he quickly helped me sit up. “I know what happened. I’m so sorry. I didn’t think Willow would do something like that.” 　　My stomach still ached terribly, and I barely had the strength to speak. I sighed faintly. “Let the police handle it. She’s not a child anymore; her impulsiveness could lead to serious trouble. A few days behind bars might do her some good, give her time to reflect.” 　　I reached for my phone, ready to call the police, but Julian snatched it away. 　　“No, Willow didn’t mean it, Iris. Let’s just drop this.” I froze, then processed his words. “ Are you saying… I went through that stomach pump for nothing?” Julian was silent for a moment, then said, after a long pause, “I’m sorry. I’ll compensate you, but please, don’t make trouble for Willow.” 　　I looked at him and sighed again. “Aren’t you spoiling her too much?” Julian shook his head. “If your true love were still alive, you wouldn’t want him to suffer even a scratch, would you?” 　　I froze. 　　After a long while, I softly said, “I understand. Don’t let it happen again.” 　　Even though I had decided to let Willow off the hook, the words somehow made Julian feel inexplicably uncomfortable. He stared at my face, and some words slipped out. “After all this time, you’re still thinking about him? Hasn’t he been gone for ages?” 　　I didn’t understand why he suddenly said that. 　　I liked Leo Blackwood; hadn’t he always known that? 　　I had never interfered with his feelings for Willow, but now it seemed he was angry that I liked Leo. 　　I was about to speak when Julian’s phone suddenly rang. 　　It was Willow calling. 　　After answering, he composed himself, the nameless anger he’d felt moments ago now suppressed. 　　He stood up, returning to his polite demeanor, his voice tinged with helplessness. “Willow is acting up again. I have to go. I’ll come see you when I have time.” 　　As I watched his hurried departure, I couldn’t help but call out to him. 　　“Please tell your sister that she doesn’t need to worry about me getting pregnant. I won’t get pregnant. I had my tubes tied on the very first day we were together.” 　　Julian’s steps halted abruptly. He turned back, disbelief in his eyes. “What did you say?!” 　　I looked at him with growing surprise. 　　In our five years of marriage, we had always treated each other with polite distance, and Julian’s face had always been expressionless. 　　But today, I had rarely seen him so uncharacteristically reactive. 　　I said, “I won’t have any children except Leo’s. You can understand that, can’t you?” 　　Julian’s face instantly darkened, as if he was suppressing something. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Go get the surgery reversed immediately.” 　　He finished, then, as if fearing my refusal, added, “This is a marital obligation.” 　　I shook my head. “But we’re already in the process of getting divorced. I don’t need to fulfill marital obligations anymore.”

　　I finally told Julian the truth, but he didn’t hear it. 　　Because just as I spoke, Willow called again, urging him. He whispered soothing words into the phone and quickly left. 　　I let out a soft sigh, but there wasn’t much ripple in my heart. I had grown accustomed to such scenes. In Julian’s world, Willow was always the first priority. 　　Over the next few days, Julian sent staff to deliver my meals daily and hired a nurse to care for me. 　　Although he didn’t appear in person, the arrangements were quite thoughtful. 　　The only downside was that my phone vibrated constantly with provocative pictures from Willow. 　　Julian taking her shopping, buying her jewelry, taking her to upscale restaurants… 　　Each photo came with text, flaunting Julian’s doting affection for her. 　　I looked at these photos without a trace of jealousy. I simply forwarded each one to Julian with a caption: “Your sister sent this.” Julian was silent for a long time before replying politely, “I’m sorry, I’ll handle it.” 　　I replied, “Okay, thank you.” I thought our conversation was over, but then Julian sent another message: “Did you go get the tubal ligation reversed? Please do it as soon as possible.” 　　I stared at the message, not understanding why Julian was suddenly so insistent about this. 　　We were getting divorced soon, and there was no way I would have his child, so his urging me to get surgery was pointless. 　　Moreover, why was he so determined for me to reverse it? 　　I put down my phone, simply choosing not to reply. 　　On the day I was discharged, Julian came to pick me up himself. 　　I opened the car door to find Willow sitting in the passenger seat. 　　Willow turned around and said in a snide tone, “Brother and I are going to an auction later. I get car sick, so Ms. Wynter, if you don’t mind sitting in the back.” 　　I said nothing, silently getting into the back seat. As soon as I was in the car, I heard Julian softly say to Willow, “Did you forget what I told you before?” Willow pouted, then reluctantly turned to me and said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Wynter, I was too impulsive before and caused you to be hospitalized. I apologize.” 　　I was a little surprised, not expecting Willow to apologize. 　　It wasn’t until I saw Willow’s swollen lips and Julian’s helpless expression that I instantly understood. 　　Julian had always refused to touch Willow before, but now, to appease her and make her apologize to me, he had actually kissed her? 　　I saw through it but didn’t say anything, merely nodding calmly. 　　Julian glanced at me through the rearview mirror and asked again, “Did you get that surgery reversed?” I didn’t know why he asked so many times, but I calmly replied, “Yes, I did.” 　　I really hadn’t wanted to have children before, but things were different now. I thought of the college student who looked so much like Leo Blackwood. Life was long, and perhaps having a child who resembled Leo wouldn’t be so bad. 　　Julian, however, misunderstood. He nodded, a hint of a smile in his eyes, seemingly pleased. He continued, “We’re taking Willow to an auction later. Iris, you should come along too.” 　　I was about to refuse, but then I realized I hadn’t been out in a long time, so I nodded. 　　At the auction, Julian bid on almost everything Willow showed interest in—jewelry, famous paintings, antiques… each item was incredibly valuable. People around us whispered, envious. “Mr. Hayes is so good to his adoptive sister, even better than to his wife.” 　　Julian heard these words, turned to me, and asked in a gentle tone, “Is there anything you want? I’ll buy it for you.” 　　I was about to shake my head when I suddenly saw a watch displayed on the auction stage. 　　It was a classic men’s wristwatch, with a simple yet elegant design. 　　*Leo would have looked so handsome wearing it,* I thought. 　　But he couldn’t wear it anymore. 　　However, I could buy it for the college student who looked like him. 　　So, I raised my paddle and called out, “Three million.” 　　At that moment, Julian’s eyes subtly changed. 　　He had been buying things for Willow, but never for me. Yet I was thinking of buying a watch for myself? 　　A complex emotion suddenly surged within him, and his gaze towards me softened a little.

　　Willow saw the way Julian looked at me, and her face instantly changed. 　　“Five million!” 　　I wasn’t to be outdone and raised my paddle, calling out a higher bid. 　　“Six million!” 　　“Seven million!” 　　We went back and forth, the price soaring higher and higher. 　　Finally, I pushed the bid sky-high, stunning everyone in the room. Everyone assumed I was buying the watch for Julian and exclaimed, “Ms. Wynter must truly love Mr. Hayes deeply!” When I received the watch, Julian draped his jacket over my shoulders and softly said, “Thank you. Please put it on me.” 　　I froze, about to explain that the watch wasn’t for him, when Julian’s phone rang. 　　He took a call; there was an urgent company matter that required his immediate attention. 　　He could only leave in a hurry, asking the driver to take Willow and me back first. 　　I had already bought what I wanted, so there was no need for me to stay. I turned and left the auction. 　　As I was about to get into the car, I turned to tell Willow to hurry up, but then I saw her exchanging glances with one of the bodyguards. 　　I had a bad feeling. Sure enough, the next second, the bodyguard delivered a chop to the back of my neck. 　　My vision went black, and I passed out. 　　When I woke up again, I found myself locked in a cold storage unit. 　　The biting cold permeated everything, and my hands and feet were numb with frost. 　　Willow stood outside the cold room, watching me with icy eyes through the glass. 　　“Don’t think you can win my brother’s affection with a mere watch. He’ll always love only me.” I really didn’t know how to explain it to her. I shivered with cold, my voice filled with helplessness. “You’ve misunderstood. That watch wasn’t for your brother.” Willow froze, then sneered. “If not for him, then for whom? You can stay in this cold room. This is your punishment for coveting my brother.” 　　With that, she violently smashed the watch I had bought on the ground and turned to leave. 　　“Willow! Willow!” Even with my usually good temper, this time I was genuinely angry. I didn’t understand why Willow had to target me again and again like this. 　　Julian should have told me that our marriage was just a business alliance. 　　I had also heard Julian declare his true feelings to Willow countless times, saying his heart belonged only to her. 　　If I had known Willow was so irrational, I probably wouldn’t have agreed to this business marriage in the first place. 　　The cold room door was tightly shut, the outside world seemed cut off from me. 　　My phone had long lost signal, and a thin layer of ice had formed on the screen. 　　The cold felt like countless fine needles, pricking my skin, penetrating my very bones. 　　Just as I felt I was about to freeze to death, my body on the verge of losing consciousness, a loud crash suddenly echoed. 　　I vaguely looked over and saw the cold room door had been violently kicked open. Julian was running towards me. 　　When I woke up again, I was lying in my bed at home. 　　Julian sat by the bed, his eyes showing a hint of guilt and exhaustion. 　　“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize Willow would do something like this again.” I leaned against the headboard, my face pale. I softly asked, “So, I can’t hold her accountable this time either, can I?” Julian was silent for a moment, then softly said, “I’ve already punished her.” 　　I looked up at him. “Punished her how?” Julian hesitated, his voice tinged with unease. “I… I made her eat one less bowl of rice.” 　　I froze. 　　After a long while, I softly said, “I see.” 　　Julian looked at me, a hint of probing in his eyes. “Aren’t you angry?” I looked up, my gaze calm but tired. “I am angry. But then I thought, if Leo made a mistake, I wouldn’t have the heart to punish him either. Perhaps that’s just what it’s like to love someone. You love your sister so much, just like I love Leo.” 　　Julian’s face suddenly changed. 　　He abruptly stood up, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—a mix of anger and some indescribable sense of loss. 　　I looked at him, feeling a little confused, wondering why he reacted so strongly. I waited for him to speak, but he just stood there, his lips moving, eventually only managing to squeeze out, “Can we… not mention him anymore?”

　　I froze, a hint of confusion in my eyes. “Why?” Julian’s voice was low and suppressed. “Because I don’t like it.” 　　I looked at him, not understanding why. 　　But I didn’t ask further. I lowered my head, let out a soft sigh, then looked up, my tone calm. “Alright. For the next seven days, I won’t mention him again.” Julian frowned, a hint of confusion in his voice. “Why seven days?” 　　“Because in seven days, our marriage will be over.” 　　However, my words were once again drowned out by Willow’s voice. Willow suddenly pushed the door open, her voice tinged with petulance and complaint. “Brother, you’ve doted on her enough. Can’t you dote on me too? You actually punished me for another woman! I didn’t even eat enough today.” Julian, uncharacteristically, seemed annoyed. “Stop it, Willow.” Willow pouted, her eyes instantly reddening. “You don’t love me anymore, do you? Fine, I’m leaving!” 　　With that, she ran out, her eyes red. 　　Julian watched her defiant retreating back, his brow etched with helplessness. He turned to me and said, “I’ll go check on her.” 　　I hummed in acknowledgement. 　　As their figures gradually disappeared, I got up to pour myself a glass of water, when I suddenly heard a loud crash from outside! 　　My heart sank. I quickly got out of bed and went outside. 　　I saw Willow lying on the roadside in the villa complex, covered in blood, with a car stopped nearby. 　　The driver frantically got out to check, while Julian knelt beside Willow, his face terrifyingly pale. 　　“Willow, don’t scare your brother…” 　　His voice trembled as he clumsily picked Willow up and put her in the car, speeding towards the hospital. 　　I stood rooted to the spot, stunned. This was the first time I had ever seen Julian so distraught. 　　Fearing something serious had happened, I quickly hailed a taxi and followed them. Willow was rushed into the operating room. But after only a short while, the doctor hurried out, his voice grave. “The patient has lost too much blood and needs a transfusion, but the hospital’s blood bank is insufficient. What are we going to do?” Julian immediately rolled up his sleeve. “Take mine. We’re the same blood type!” 　　The nurse quickly led him into the operating room, drawing the maximum tolerable amount, 400cc, but it still wasn’t enough. Just as she was about to stop drawing blood and find another solution, Julian grabbed her hand, his voice hoarse. “Keep drawing.” 　　“We can’t…” 　　“I said, keep drawing!” The nurse hesitated, then turned to me. “Ms. Wynter, please try to persuade Mr. Hayes. If we continue drawing, his body won’t be able to handle it.” I didn’t know how to persuade him, so I could only ask, “Julian, do you love her more than your own life?” Julian’s face was cold, and he answered almost without hesitation, “Yes.” I was silent for a moment, then turned to the nurse and said, “I can’t persuade him. Just do as he says.” 　　The nurse was distraught, but seeing both of us with the same attitude, she reluctantly continued to draw blood. 　　Not until 1000cc had been drawn was Julian’s face as white as paper, barely able to stand. 　　But he stubbornly remained outside the operating room, refusing to leave. Fearing he might die there, I quickly walked over. “I’ll stay here and watch over her. You should rest.” Julian shook his head, his reddened eyes fixed on the operating room. “No, I’m worried.” 　　I said nothing more, only stood silently by his side, watching the operating room door. 　　Not until the doctor came out to announce that Willow was out of danger did Julian finally let out a sigh of relief. 　　His body swayed, then he could no longer hold himself up and fainted.

　　I had originally thought that as long as I peacefully got through the remaining few days, I could completely leave this marriage and start a new life. 　　But I didn’t expect something like this to happen, with Julian and Willow both hospitalized. I had to take care of both of them simultaneously, and for several days, I was utterly exhausted. And Willow, to top it off, was being incredibly difficult. 　　Either she’d complain my porridge wasn’t tasty and splash the scalding hot粥 onto my hand. 　　Or she’d say she wanted dessert in the middle of the night, making me drive out to buy it. 　　I knew Willow was deliberately tormenting me. 　　But I thought, since there were only a few days left of our marriage, I’d just endure it, and it would pass. 　　I didn’t want any more conflict with Willow in these final days. Julian noticed my forbearance and said sympathetically, “You’ve worked hard these past few days. I’ll compensate you. What do you want?” 　　I shook my head. “No, thank you.” 　　Julian, however, seemed to take it to heart. 　　When he had recovered a little, he had the nurse take care of Willow and took me out himself. That day, Julian took me to an amusement park—a place we had never been to in all our years of marriage. He bought me ice cream, rode the Ferris wheel with me, and even took a few photos of me in front of the carousel. 　　We watched a movie, had a candlelight dinner, and did all the things a couple should do, without missing a single one. 　　I wanted to say I didn’t like these things and that he didn’t need to do them, but seeing Julian so absorbed in the moment, I ultimately kept quiet. 　　When I returned to the hospital, Willow was waiting at the door, her face dark with anger. She looked at me, her eyes tinged with madness. “Did my brother take you out on a date?” I was about to explain, but Willow suddenly raised her voice, agitated. “Don’t think for a second that this means he’s fallen for you! I’ll make you realize that in his heart, I will always absolutely crush you. No one can compare to me, not even you!” 　　I wanted to say I already knew that, but before the words could leave my mouth, Willow had already covered my mouth and nose with a towel. 　　The next second, my consciousness slowly blurred, and I passed out. 　　When I woke up again, I found myself suspended by ropes over a cliff. 　　The sea wind howled, and the waves crashed against the rocks with a deafening roar. 　　The rough ropes chafed painfully against my wrists, and below me was the bottomless ocean. 　　And right beside me, Willow was also suspended by ropes. A triumphant smile played on her face. “I hired a kidnapper to stage this, pretending we’ve both been abducted. My brother will be here soon. Who do you think he’ll save?” 　　I looked at Willow, feeling utterly helpless. “You.” Willow snorted coldly. “At least you have some self-awareness.” 　　I didn’t know what to say anymore. 　　How could Julian have ever loved Willow? 　　Not long after, Julian indeed arrived. 　　He stood at the edge of the cliff, his face pale, his eyes filled with anxiety. A large case of money was thrown at his feet, but the kidnapper’s purpose wasn’t just about the money. He sneered, “Mr. Hayes, you can only save one of these two. Choose.” 　　Julian roared, “I’ll save both of them!” The kidnapper impatiently brandished his knife. “Choose now, or both will die.” 　　Julian’s gaze darted back and forth between Willow and me, his eyes filled with an unprecedented panic and struggle. As the kidnapper was about to cut the rope, he finally made his choice: 　　“Save Willow!” He then looked at me, speaking with difficulty. “Willow just had a car accident, her body isn’t well, I…” I smiled, my voice calm. “It’s alright. Even if she hadn’t had an accident, you would still save her.” 　　Julian’s heart violently clenched, as if pierced by my words. 　　He was about to speak when, the next second, the kidnapper cut my rope. 　　My body instantly plummeted into the sea, and the icy water completely swallowed me. 　　“Iris!” 　　When I woke up again, I was once more in a hospital bed. 　　My wrists were wrapped in thick bandages, and my face was so pale it was almost translucent. 　　Julian sat by the bed, his eyes showing a mix of exhaustion and guilt. 　　“I’ve investigated. This kidnapping was Willow’s doing again. Three strikes and you’re out. It won’t happen again.” 　　“I will definitely compensate you, Iris. Tell me what you want, and don’t say ‘nothing’.” I looked at him, my eyes as calm as still water. “Then go be with Willow. She must be terrified too.” Julian’s pupils widened slightly, a hint of shock in his gaze. “That’s the compensation you want?” I nodded, my voice calm. “Yes. Go be with her. That way, I won’t have to waste any more thought on you.” Julian’s throat seemed to be choked by something. After a long pause, he softly said, “Okay, I’ll come back after I’ve spent time with her.” 　　With that, he tucked the blanket around me and hurried away. 　　But I just quietly watched his retreating back, gently shaking my head. 　　No need, because today, I was leaving. 　　After Julian left, I disregarded the nurse’s protests, pulled out my IV drip, and checked myself out of the hospital. 　　My flight was at eleven o’clock. Now, I only had two hours to settle everything. 　　I quickly hailed a taxi to the courthouse and got my divorce certificate as fast as possible. 　　Then I returned home, placing the divorce certificate, the divorce agreement, and my wedding ring together on the coffee table where he would surely see them. 　　Finally, I picked up my packed luggage, left the keys, and walked out of the villa. 　　Standing at the villa gate, I took one last look at the house I had lived in for five years. 　　“Goodbye, Julian Hayes.” 　　These five years were truly over.

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The fourth year of my marriage to Julian Hayes, I got pregnant. When I went for my first prenatal appointment, the nurse checked my details and told me there was no record of my marriage. I froze: “No? How is that possible?” The nurse pointed to the computer: “See? It shows no marriage registration for you.” Not convinced, I rushed to City Hall to verify, but the answer was identical. “Mr. Hayes is indeed married. His spouse’s name is Iris Thompson…” Iris Thompson? I was struck by lightning, my mind a blank! Iris Thompson, my half-sister, and Julian Hayes’s first love. Years ago, to pursue her dreams, my sister ran away on her wedding day, cruelly abandoning Julian. But now, she was Julian’s legal wife! … I walked out of City Hall like a zombie, my gaze unfocused, my steps unsteady. It wasn’t until I got into the waiting cab that the tears I’d held back finally fell silently. Four years ago, to save our families from public humiliation, I stepped in and married Julian, replacing my runaway sister. Initially, Julian was distant and cold towards me. But I never complained. I meticulously took care of every aspect of his life. Gradually, Julian lowered his guard, worn down by my daily presence. He started to tacitly allow me to mess with his schedule. He’d patiently listen to my boring dad jokes. He even trusted me with confidential work documents to organize. Later, Julian became increasingly kind to me. He gave me a black card with an unlimited spending limit, and took me to every Michelin-starred restaurant. I thought I had finally won Julian’s heart. Until two months ago, when Iris, diagnosed with terminal cancer, suddenly returned from abroad. That night, my father called a family meeting. He looked grim as he informed me: “Your sister has late-stage cancer, with only six months left at most. Her biggest regret is not marrying Julian. So, you need to step aside for now. Once the wedding is over, and your sister is gone, Julian will still be yours.” My stepmother pleaded desperately: “Iris is your sister, just make this one sacrifice!” Iris sobbed heartbrokenly: “This is my only wish before I die, please, make it happen.” I couldn’t believe my ears. My eyes instantly welled up. I challenged them: “You pushed me out like a puppet to be a substitute bride, and now you want Julian to marry my sister? What do you take me for? I absolutely refuse!” My father ignored my accusations, grounding me until I agreed. On the third day, I heard Julian had smashed a teacup in front of my father, furious. On the thirteenth day, my phone buzzed with news reports of Julian publicly declaring, “My wife can only be Mia.” On the twenty-eighth day, Julian froze all business collaborations with the Thompson family, demanding they hand over his wife! Finally, a month later, the locked door to my room opened. Thinking of everything Julian had done for me during that time, my eyes instantly moistened. I didn’t even bother to put on shoes, stumbling into his arms. But the next second, I heard his voice, hoarse: “Mia, I’m sorry.” “Your parents were adamant, even kneeling to beg me. For the sake of our families’ long-standing relationship, I have to go along with this charade for your sister.” “But don’t worry, it’s just a fake marriage. My only wife will always be you.” At that moment, I felt my heart plummet to rock bottom, every breath a sharp pain. After two seconds of shock, I tenderly stroked Julian’s gaunt cheek, holding back my tears: “You’ve already done so much.” Later, I watched Julian place a diamond ring on Iris’s finger under everyone’s gaze, giving her a magnificent wedding. After that, he continued to treat me as well as before. But he spent more and more time with Iris, from occasional visits to staying out for several nights in a row. When I threw a tantrum, he’d patiently explain: “I don’t love her; I just want to be her friend and accompany her through her last days.” I believed Julian. I never imagined the truth would be a brutal slap across my face. … By the time the car stopped in front of Hayes Enterprises, I had composed myself. I was still thinking about our non-existent marriage registration. As soon as I reached the top floor, I bumped into Julian’s secretary, Sarah. Sarah saw me, her expression a little unnatural. “Mrs. Hayes, what brings you here?” “I’m here to see Julian.” “Mr. Hayes is in a meeting right now, he doesn’t have time…” Ignoring Sarah’s attempts to stop me, I quickly walked to the office door. Just as I was about to push it open, I heard Iris’s voice from inside. “Julian, look into my eyes and answer me.” Iris pulled at Julian’s tie with her left hand, her right hand pressing against his chest. “Here, have you ever truly let me go?” Julian’s throat bobbed. He caught his breath, scalded by the warmth of Iris’s fingertips, yet his voice was cold: “You’re overthinking it.” “Overthinking?” Iris chuckled. “Didn’t you pretend to marry Mia just to wait for me to come back? Now that I’ve just returned, you immediately married me legally.” “And those things you wrote in your diary.” “You said you agreed to Mia taking my place to force me to come back… Mmph!” Iris didn’t finish her sentence. Julian suddenly cupped the back of her neck. All unsaid words were sealed in a nearly violent kiss. His gaze was burning, every word ground out from between his teeth: “Yes, I’ve never let you go. So, Iris, how do you plan to repay what you owe me?” I stood outside the door, my entire body as if immersed in ice water, numb to the point of losing all feeling. I remembered Julian holding me in his arms just days ago, kissing my hair, saying, “Mia, your sister is a thing of the past. Now, only you are worth my true feelings.” How ridiculous. It turned out that his so-called ‘true feelings’ were nothing but insincere lies. Our marriage, from the very beginning, was a sham. I slowly closed my eyes, fighting back the tears. If this was Julian’s choice. Then I would grant him his wish, let him and the woman he truly loves live happily ever after!

I rode the elevator in a daze. When I came to my senses, the elevator had already stopped on the basement level. An intern, Liam, enthusiastically walked up to me, “Are you here to see Ms. Iris Thompson’s art exhibition? Please follow me.” That’s when I realized I’d forgotten to press a floor. Compelled by an unknown force, I walked into the exhibition hall. Liam followed behind me, enthusiastically introducing: “This exhibition was funded by Mr. Hayes, and a national tour is planned next.” My gaze fell on one of the oil paintings. It was a man’s nude back, his back muscles clearly defined, with a unique, striking scar on his lower back. I had traced the outline of that scar countless times in the dark, so I knew exactly who the man in the painting was. Iris had painted many portraits of Julian, the dates marked in the bottom right corner clear and glaring. June 20th: Julian standing busy in the kitchen, his back bathed in a warm glow. — That was the third day I was confined to my room. I was on a hunger strike, my stomach aching until I fainted, but he was cooking porridge for Iris. July 1st: A pair of distinctly jointed hands folding a silk nightgown embroidered with irises, a wedding ring on his ring finger gleaming coldly. — That was the thirteenth day I was confined. I’d cut my finger with a blade in protest, soaking half the bedsheet in blood, while he was meticulously organizing Iris’s clothes. July 15th: He walked under a tree-lined avenue holding an umbrella, and at the edge of the frame, I could vaguely see his fingers intertwined with someone else’s. — That was the twenty-eighth day I was confined, my father had chained me to the bed, forcing me to end the relationship. I was curled up in a ball on a sweat-soaked bed, suffering from a high fever, while he walked leisurely hand-in-hand with Iris in the morning light. Each painting before me was like a needle, fiercely piercing my heart. So, during that month of utter darkness, he wasn’t fighting for me, but rather accompanying Iris the whole time! His smashing a teacup in front of my father, his public declaration of love, his cancellation of collaboration with the Thompson Corporation—it was all just a smokescreen. I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging deep into my palms, but I felt no pain. I couldn’t bear to look anymore and turned to leave the exhibition. … I booked an abortion procedure for a week later, then headed to the old family estate to collect my mother’s keepsakes. When I got home, my father unexpectedly threw an airplane ticket at me. “Your stepmother and I discussed it. We want Iris to live with Julian until she leaves.” “This is a ticket for ten days from now. Go travel for a while, consider it a little getaway.” I clutched the ticket, my lips pressed tightly together. I knew. My father was telling me to make space for Julian and Iris. After all, only if I left could they be alone without any qualms. “Mia, please don’t misunderstand. We just want Iris to have a good final journey…” My stepmother said, her eyes red, the same old platitudes that had made my ears numb. I calmly interrupted: “I get it. I’ll leave.” Julian, I no longer want him. This home, I no longer care for it. My father looked a bit surprised, not expecting me to agree so quickly, thinking my spirit had finally been broken. His tone softened slightly: “We’re holding a farewell ceremony for Iris. Remember to attend in three days.” “Okay.” … I returned home, grabbed a cardboard box, and started packing things related to Julian. There were the matching couple’s cups he gave me for his birthday. The ticket stubs from their first movie together. And the photo booth pictures I’d forced him to take. Just as I was nearly finished packing, I heard a sound from the foyer. Julian was back. Seeing the box full of items, his heart tightened. He rushed over. “Mia, what are you doing?”

I kept my head down, not even lifting my eyelids. “Iris is moving in, isn’t she? I’m just tidying my things so she doesn’t get upset seeing them.” Julian grabbed my wrist, pulling me into his arms with the momentum. “Are you still mad at me?” “No.” “Mia, you’re really bad at lying.” Julian cupped my chin and lifted it, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I’ve told you many times, I’m just playing along with her act. If I truly wanted to marry her, I would have dragged her back four years ago.” I looked into his eyes and suddenly laughed. “Julian,” my voice was soft, but every word was clear, “You know best who you truly want to marry.” Before I finished speaking, my phone suddenly rang, drowning out my voice. Julian glanced at the caller ID and quickly answered. After a few brief words, he simply said, “Something came up at the office,” and quickly left. Watching the man’s retreating back, I suddenly felt whether or not to confront him no longer mattered. After all, some feelings are like expired candy. They might look fine on the surface, but they’ve already gone bad. Even if you force yourself to swallow them, you’ll only be left with a mouthful of bitterness. Not long after Julian left, I received a SnapChat message from Iris. In the photo, Julian was on one knee, his distinctly jointed hands cradling Iris’s ankle, intently tying a red string around it. I suddenly remembered the time I dragged Julian to a local fair. I spent ages picking out a lucky red string from a stall, only to turn around and see Julian standing three feet away, impatiently checking his watch: “You actually believe in these superstitious things?” As I pondered, Iris’s message came through. 【I just casually mentioned I wasn’t feeling well, and Julian immediately went to the temple to get the most potent lucky red string for me.】 【Has he ever done that for you?】 【Mia, wake up. Julian has never loved you.】 I gripped my phone tightly, the cold screen light reflecting on my face, freezing the last bit of warmth in my eyes. Yes. Julian had never loved me. And from now on, I wouldn’t crave his love anymore. … Julian didn’t come home for the next two days. It wasn’t until the third day that I saw him at Iris’s farewell ceremony. He wore a tailored black suit, pushing a wheelchair through the crowd. Iris sat in the wheelchair, a blanket covering her legs, like a fragile flower. I just tilted my head slightly, and Julian immediately bent down, asking if I was uncomfortable. A mocking smile played on my lips. He kept saying he was just playing along with Iris’s act. But the way he looked at me was just as tender as it had been four years ago. Soon, the farewell ceremony officially began. My father announced Iris’s condition to everyone, his eyes welling up with tears: “My daughter is both unfortunate and fortunate. Although her life is short, she has a loving family and a devoted partner who never leaves her side…” The large screen lit up, showing photos of Iris from childhood to adulthood, one by one. Her first birthday, surrounded by her parents, doing the ‘Zhua Zhou’ (a traditional Chinese ritual, but could be adapted to just “first birthday celebration”). Her father teaching her to play piano, hand-in-hand, when she was ten. Her whole family embracing happily at her high school graduation at eighteen. In every frame, I was like a blurred backdrop, silently witnessing the happiness that didn’t belong to me. The scene shifted, and the person beside Iris was Julian. He celebrated her competition wins with bouquets of flowers. He quietly posed as her model when she painted. They embraced deeply at her wedding… From his youthful school uniform to his sharp business suit, years passed, yet the deep affection in his eyes remained constant. Just as everyone was immersed in emotion, the photos on the screen suddenly vanished, replaced by blood-red letters on a black background! 【Iris Thompson, a b*tch like you deserves to go to hell!】 【You stole my husband, just like your mother, both of you are whore*s who steal men!】 【I curse you to be ground to dust after death, never to be reincarnated!】 The air in the room froze for a few seconds. Then, a commotion erupted!

Everyone implicitly looked at me. I stood frozen, not yet understanding what had happened, when a startled cry came from my stepmother in the distance. “Iris!” Iris had fainted, terrified by the curse. Julian’s face changed drastically. He bent down, scooped Iris into his arms, and strode towards the first aid room. My mind was blank until a resounding slap landed on my face, jolting me back to reality. “How could I have given birth to such a monster!” My father’s eyes were red with fury, veins throbbing on his forehead. “Your sister is already so sick, and you dare to curse her?!” I staggered back half a step, accidentally knocking over a champagne tower, scattering wine everywhere. I collapsed amidst the shattered glass, explaining through the sharp pain: “It wasn’t me!” “Shut up!” My father roared, cutting me off. “I saw through you long ago; you just can’t stand us treating your sister well. But she’s already a dying woman, do you have no sympathy at all?” “Someone, lock this ungrateful wretch up!” … I was thrown into a small, dark storage room. I’ve been afraid of the dark since I was a child and also suffer from claustrophobia. The moment the door closed, my breath hitched. Darkness surged from all directions like a tide. I desperately pounded on the door, my bloodied hands leaving glaring marks on the wooden panel: “Open the door! Please, let me out!” However, outside was dead silent. I gradually lost strength, sliding to the floor, my breathing becoming more and more rapid, my vision starting to blacken. I don’t know how long passed. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, the door finally opened. I quickly scrambled out. **截断点** But the next second— “Splash!” A basin of thick, foul-smelling liquid was poured over my head! Then came the second basin, the third… I choked, almost suffocating. Through my blurry vision, I vaguely saw a familiar figure standing at the doorway. It was Julian. The man stood at the boundary of light and shadow, coldly watching his subordinates pour basin after basin of the liquid over me, never telling them to stop. Until the last basin of liquid was emptied. Julian slowly walked towards me, leaned down, and wiped my cheek with a silk handkerchief, his tone as cold as ice. “Iris is awake. She didn’t blame you for cursing her; instead, she even pleaded for you, saying you were just under a dark influence, not truly malicious.” “These foul-smelling liquids, I had my people prepare them to drive away evil,” he paused. “But for them to work, you need to soak in here for three days and three nights.” A trace of terror flashed in my eyes. I struggled to grab Julian’s hand. “Those curses really weren’t from me, please believe me…” “Mia,” Julian pried my fingers open one by one, his actions slow and cruel. “It’s a lesson even a three-year-old knows: you must accept punishment for your mistakes.” Feeling the warmth disappear from my fingertips, I opened my mouth, my last struggle turning into a humble plea. “Please, don’t leave me here, I’m afraid of the dark…” “What about Iris?” Julian’s gaze was cold and clear. “When you cursed her, did you ever consider that she might be afraid too?” I felt a pang of disorientation. I remembered a stormy night once, when the power went out at home, and I huddled in a corner, trembling. It was Julian who lit the room with candles, holding me tightly in his arms, his warm palm stroking my back: “Don’t be afraid, Mia, I’m here.” And now, the same man was pushing me into the abyss of darkness with his own hands. Suddenly, a tearing, agonizing pain erupted from my abdomen. I instinctively clutched my stomach, feeling warm liquid gush out from below. Realizing I might be having a miscarriage, I trembled as I grabbed Julian’s pant leg, my voice distorted. “Julian, my stomach hurts so badly, it feels like a miscarriage. Please, take me to the hospital…” Julian froze, frowning slightly: “You’re not even pregnant. How could you have a miscarriage?” The pain made my vision blacken. “It’s true, I’m pregnant with your…” “Enough.” Julian clearly didn’t believe my words, dropping a “I’ll pick you up in three days,” before turning to leave. A small, animalistic whimper escaped my throat. My fingers desperately dug into the ground, but I still couldn’t hold onto the man’s receding back. My spasming fingers futilely grasped at the air, eventually falling limp. I lay collapsed in a pool of blood. Before consciousness faded, a desolate laugh played on my lips. Julian… This time, I truly see you for who you are.

When I next awoke, I was lying in a hospital bed. “You’re finally awake.” The doctor sighed, her gaze full of pity. “You suffered a severe hemorrhage from the miscarriage. If you had been a few minutes later, no one could have saved you.” I learned from the doctor that I had been found unconscious by one of the house staff bringing food the next day, barely clinging to life. “Your family is absolutely out of line. How could they treat you like that? Especially your husband – he refused to answer his phone. When he gets here, I’m going to have a serious talk with him.” “Doctor,” I interrupted her, my fingers clutching the bedsheet. “Don’t tell him about the pregnancy.” He wouldn’t believe me anyway. Besides, Julian’s heart wasn’t with me anymore, and I didn’t want any more ties to him. The doctor hesitated, then finally shook her head and left. Throughout my hospital stay, Julian never showed his face. However, on Iris Thompson’s Ins stories, he was everywhere. The first day, a close-up of a bowl of chicken soup, with the caption: 【It’s been ten years, and it’s still my favorite taste.】 The second day, a photo of a man sleeping beside her bed, with the caption: 【Had nightmares again last night. Thankfully, I open my eyes and see you.】 I suddenly remembered that when *I* was sick, Julian always made chicken soup for me too. When I had a fever and was feeling unwell, he would also stay by my bedside, clutching my hand tightly, never letting go. Only now did I understand. That tenderness was never truly for me. He was merely loving someone else through me. On the day I was discharged, Julian finally called. “Something came up at the office. I’ve sent the driver to pick you up.” I asked no questions, made no hysterics, just a quiet, “Okay.” The moment the call ended, I gently stroked my flat stomach. Julian Hayes was now just a name in my contacts, about to be deleted. I no longer held any expectations for him. … I arrived home. The moment I stepped inside, I saw Iris with a drawing board, freely painting all over the living room wall. My wedding photos with Julian, our photo booth strips, were all thrown on the floor, smeared with colorful paints. Seeing me, Iris smiled, “Mia’s back?” “I thought this wall was too messy, so I decided to redecorate. You don’t mind, do you?” I scanned the chaotic mess, then simply said, “Whatever.” This home was already dead to me. From now on, I wouldn’t be the mistress of this house. Just then, Julian walked out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of sliced fruit. Seeing me about to go upstairs, he blocked my way. “Iris is trying to mend things, and this is your attitude?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298839”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic