I stood in Alpha James’s study. The weight of ten years pressed against my chest as I prepared to say goodbye. “Tara,” Alpha James said, his brow furrowed with concern. “I know this has been unfair to you. Can you give Dean one last chance?” His voice carried the weariness of a father who knew his son had strayed too far. The anger flickered in his eyes as he added, “When that bastard comes back, I’ll break his legs myself.” I opened my mouth to decline when the door burst open. Dean stormed in, his tall frame filling the doorway. His handsome face twisted with irritation. “Tara, are you that desperate to get married? Can’t you even wait three years?” His voice dripped with contempt. “I promised Megan I’d stay with her for three years. Do you really want to turn me into a man who breaks his word?” The anger in his tone made me study him carefully. I searched for traces of the kind boy I’d met a decade ago, but that boy was gone. The man before me was a stranger. Ten years ago, Alpha James had saved my entire family from a pack of vicious Rogues. In gratitude, my grandfather arranged a marriage between me and the Alpha’s son. My rare witch bloodline could heal Dean’s crippled legs, though the magic would cost me ten years of my life. Back then, Dean was just a shy, disabled teenager. At our first meeting, he’d offered me a piece of candy with trembling hands. Something warm had stirred in my chest. Every year after that, he sent me gifts on holidays. Living deep in the mountain forests, I knew little of the outside world. Each present he chose filled me with joy and curiosity. But now everything had changed. Seeing my silence, Dean’s voice softened slightly. “Tara, we’re still young. Three years is nothing. Go see the world or whatever you want—just stay out of my way. But if you keep causing trouble, I won’t marry someone who can’t control her jealousy.” Alpha James’s face flushed with rage. He moved toward his son, fist raised. I stepped between them, my hand gentle on the Alpha’s arm. Then I turned to Dean. “I won’t force you,” I said simply. As a rare witch, I had no shortage of suitors. Dean thought his status as the Alpha heir and his wealth gave him power over me. He was wrong. Ever since he found Megan, his supposed fated mate, he’d wasted no time making her his Beta. He paraded her through parties and important pack gatherings without shame. I’d asked to dissolve our engagement multiple times, but Alpha James kept begging me to give Dean another chance. Now, after Dean had publicly humiliated me, I was finally ready to let go. Relief crossed Dean’s face as he nodded. He clapped my shoulder with false warmth. “That’s the spirit, Tara. Don’t worry. In three years, I’ll give you the grandest wedding this city has ever seen. I’ll make sure you have all the respect you deserve.” He left with Megan on his arm, looking pleased with himself. I pulled out my phone and scrolled to a contact I hadn’t used in years. My fingers moved across the screen with steady purpose. “The wedding with Dean is cancelled. Do you remember our agreement? Get ready to marry me.” The response came instantly. My phone buzzed with an incoming call. “Are you serious?” The voice on the other end was breathless, almost frantic. “You really don’t like that cripple anymore? You’re willing to marry me? You’re not just using me as a substitute, are you?” A soft laugh escaped my lips. “I swear on my witch’s honor. Is that enough?” Sharp, urgent breathing filled the line. “I’m coming to get you right now.”

I turned to pack my things, trying to push away the hollow feeling in my chest. My eyes fell on two tickets lying on the desk. Hawaii. The tickets Dean had finally agreed to after months of my pleading. It was supposed to be our honeymoon trip. A chance to start fresh. The door slammed open behind me. Dean stormed in and snatched the tickets from my hands. He tore them into pieces with sharp, violent movements. The scraps fluttered down onto my face like bitter snow. “Tara, I knew you hadn’t given up.” His voice was harsh with accusation. “Still fantasizing about dragging me on a honeymoon trip around the world?” Before I could respond, his hand shot out and wrapped around my throat. His fingers dug into my skin as he pulled me close. “Tell me. What did you do to Megan?” My throat burned. I coughed, struggling to breathe. “Dean, you took her and left the wedding. I haven’t seen her since. What could I possibly have done?” His grip tightened. “You said you wouldn’t force me to marry you. Right after that, Megan collapsed with terrible stomach pain. She’s unconscious now. The pack doctors have run every test they can think of. Nothing. You’re a witch, Tara. You must have cursed her with some kind of dark magic.” I clawed at his hand, gasping for air. My words came out broken and desperate. “Dean, my magic can only heal people. It requires my own blood. My own life force. Do you really think I’m insane enough to waste my life hurting Megan?” Something flickered in his eyes. Disgust. He looked at me like I was something rotten. “You gave up ten years of your life to heal me. That was all about greed, wasn’t it? You wanted my status. My wealth. What wouldn’t someone like you do for power?” I stared at him, shock freezing me in place. This was how he saw my sacrifice. This was what my healing meant to him. Dean took my silence as confirmation. His face twisted with righteous anger. He dragged me toward the door, his fingers still bruising my arm. “You’re going to heal Megan right now. If you don’t, I’ll make you regret it.” He shoved me into his car. The drive to the hospital was a blur of speed and silence. The hospital room was crowded when we arrived. Megan lay on the bed, her face pale and twisted with pain. She clutched her stomach, soft moans escaping her lips. Doctors and nurses clustered around her, their voices low and worried. Dean kicked me forward. I fell to my knees in front of Megan’s bed. A knife clattered onto the floor beside me. “Use your blood to save her. Now. Or you’re not leaving this hospital alive.” I looked up at him. “Dean, I’m telling you. This wasn’t my magic. I can’t heal what I didn’t cause.” Every eye in the room turned toward me. This was Dean’s family hospital. No one would speak up for a witch. No one would defend me against the Alpha’s son. Before I could think of what to do next, Dean grabbed my arm. He picked up the blade. The metal bit deep into my skin, a long cut that made blood pour out in a hot rush. “If you won’t confess, I don’t mind draining you dry.” His voice was cold. Clinical. “Let’s see if your magic still works without any blood left in your body.” Pain shot up my arm. I forced the words out through gritted teeth. “Dean. I’m telling you one more time. I cannot save her.” A bitter laugh escaped me. Anger burned through the pain. “But here’s something to think about. If I die, how long do you think you’ll last?” His pupils contracted. His chest heaved with fury. Then his hand was around my throat again, squeezing. “So it was you.” His voice shook. “I need to teach you a lesson. Otherwise you’ll never leave Megan alone.” He waved his hand. Several werewolf warriors entered the room. Dean’s orders were simple. “Teach this witch what happens when she hurts innocent people.” The warriors closed in. Fists and boots connected with my body. Someone produced an iron rod studded with small spikes. The first strike across my back made me cry out. “Dean, I’ll report you to the police!” My voice came out raw. Desperate. “I’ll have all of you thrown in prison!” He laughed. It was a cold, empty sound. “The police won’t believe a witch. Everyone here will testify that you tried to murder Megan first. I’m only protecting my mate.” He took the spiked rod from one of the warriors. He raised it high. The rod came down across my back with brutal force. Agony exploded through my body. My vision went white.

I barely had time to catch my breath when Megan began moaning again from her hospital bed. Dean’s fury doubled. The spiked rod came down across my back again. “Are you going to save Megan or not?” Another strike. The pain was blinding. I collapsed completely, my body giving out. I forced the words through my teeth. “You’re a bastard, Dean.” Then something impossible happened. Megan sat up in bed. She climbed down, perfectly steady on her feet. She walked over to where I lay crumpled on the floor and placed her foot on my hand. Then she pressed down, grinding her heel into my fingers. “Tara,” she said sweetly. “So it really was you. The moment you started suffering, my pain disappeared completely.” She twisted her foot, crushing my fingers beneath it. There was no trace of weakness in her movements. No sign of the agony she’d displayed moments before. The medical staff gasped. “It must be true,” one doctor whispered. “The witch cursed Miss Megan. How else could she recover so suddenly?” “Exactly,” another agreed. “Dozens of us examined her. We found nothing. But the moment this witch got hurt, Miss Megan was cured.” Their words fed Dean’s rage. He struck me again and again with the rod. “Tell me what spell you put on Megan.” I managed a bitter smile. “I’ll tell you when you’re dead, Dean.” The truth was obvious. Megan had faked everything. The illness, the pain, all of it. She’d orchestrated this entire scene to force Dean’s hand against me. To make him choose her completely. To destroy any chance of reconciliation between us. She would only stop if Dean was dead. But Dean was blind to it. Love had made him stupid. My refusal to confess only made him angrier. “Tara, let’s see what’s harder. Your stubborn mouth or my iron rod.” He tossed the weapon to one of the werewolf warriors. “Lock her in the basement. Fifty strikes every day. No food or water.” The warriors moved immediately. They stuffed cloth in my mouth to silence me and dragged me toward the door. The warriors threw me into the basement and exchanged meaningful glances before leaving. I lay there, confused by their hesitation. Why hadn’t they started the beatings immediately? Then the door burst open again. Several rogues descended the stairs, their laughter echoing off the concrete walls. The look in their eyes made my blood run cold. I tried to scream, but one of them lunged forward and clamped his hand over my mouth. “Hurry up, boys.” “Make it quick. We’ve got money waiting.” Grimy hands pawed at my chest. A stinking mouth pressed against my face. Someone ripped my pants with a sharp tearing sound. Cold air hit my exposed skin. Shame and fury burned through me. I opened my mouth and bit down hard on the rogue’s face. His scream pierced the air. The others froze, then started slapping me viciously, trying to pry my jaw open. “Bitch! Let go!” I held on with everything I had. The injured rogue’s voice rose to a roar. “Beat her! Knock her out so she can’t fight back!” The rogues hesitated for only a second. Then fists and boots rained down on me from all directions. One grabbed my hair and swung a club. It connected with my skull twice with sickening thuds. Blood poured down my forehead. My vision blurred and darkened at the edges. A shocked voice cut through the chaos. “Stop! What are you doing?” Through the haze, I made out two figures approaching. Dean and Megan. I tried to speak, to tell Dean these rogues had tried to rape me. But my mouth wouldn’t form the words. The lead rogue’s eyes darted around quickly. Then he dropped to his knees in front of Dean. “We came to rescue the witch, Alpha. She contacted us with her magic. Promised to sleep with us if we freed her.” Dean’s expression turned thunderous. His eyes went cold and hard. The old rogue’s voice took on a whining quality. “She’s the one who told us where to find this basement. We came like she asked, but then she changed her mind. Said we were too dirty to touch her. That’s when the fight started.” Dean’s gaze swept over the scene. Then landed on me, clothes torn, lying broken on the floor. “Get out,” he snarled. “All of you. Now.” The rogues scrambled up the stairs and disappeared. Dean stared down at me with contempt and fury. “Tara, you brought this on yourself. Using your witch powers so carelessly. One day your magic will be the death of you.” He turned and left, Megan on his arm. But Megan came back. She crouched beside me, her face close to mine. “Did you enjoy the rogues I sent you, Tara?” I managed a cold laugh despite the pain. Stared at her with all the hatred I could muster. Her acting had been pathetic from start to finish. But Dean was too blinded by love to see it. Megan grabbed a fistful of my hair and spat in my face. “Can’t you see it yet? Dean loves me now. If you had any sense, you’d agree to break off the engagement yourself. Save yourself some suffering.” She stood and looked down at me with satisfaction. “What good is being a witch? You’re still lying here like a dying dog.” I wanted to tell her the truth. That if the engagement ended, Dean would die too. But darkness swallowed me before I could speak.

When I opened my eyes again, it was already the next day. Werewolf warriors dragged me into the great hall. My body still ached from yesterday’s beating. What I saw made my blood run cold. Dean had brought in a male wizard. The man stood in the center of the hall, performing some kind of twisted ritual. His movements were all wrong. Dark candles flickered around him in a strange pattern. Dean spotted me. Satisfaction flickered across his face. “Tara, did you really think your little witch tricks could threaten me?” His voice carried through the hall. “This is the master wizard I hired. You’ll pray with him now. Help him drive the demon out of Megan. Then I’ll believe you didn’t curse her.” I studied the wizard’s movements more carefully. The hand gestures. The positioning of the candles. The words he muttered under his breath. Horror crashed through me. This wasn’t an exorcism. This was a prayer to Satan himself. The warriors hauled me toward the male wizard. Their grip was iron on my arms. I gathered every scrap of strength left in my broken body. Then I shoved them away with everything I had. I lunged at Dean. My palm connected with his face in a sharp crack that echoed through the hall. “Dean, you can cancel our engagement if you want. But you cannot force me to pray to Satan!” “Dean!” Megan’s shriek cut through the stunned silence. She rushed forward, tears already streaming down her face. Her hands fluttered over his reddening cheek. Then she whirled on me. Her palm struck my face hard enough to snap my head to the side. “Tara, if you don’t want to bless me, just say so. Why did you hit Dean?” Her voice shook with false hurt. “You’re just guilty. Afraid everyone will find out you cursed me.” She collapsed against Dean’s chest, sobbing dramatically. The male wizard stopped his ritual. His eyes narrowed to slits as he studied me. Something cold and ancient lurked in that gaze. “Your heart is not sincere,” he said, his voice like oil sliding over stone. “The blessing would be useless. It might even make Miss Megan’s condition worse.” Silence fell over the hall. Then the wizard’s lips curved into a smile that made my skin crawl. “I have a medicine,” he told Dean. “One pill, and the person who takes it can only speak truth. Perhaps Miss Tara should swallow my medicine.” The wizard produced a pill from his robes. It was black as tar, and something about it made the air around it shimmer darkly. Dean stared at the pill. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes. Hesitation. Maybe even concern. “This medicine won’t threaten her life, will it?” “Not at all,” the wizard assured him smoothly. “As long as she hasn’t lied, it won’t harm her life in the slightest.” Dean’s gaze moved between the pill and the wizard. His brow furrowed. Megan chose that moment to speak up. “Dean, I’m so scared Tara wants to hurt me.” Her voice broke on a sob. “Even though I’m carrying your child, I don’t know if I’ll survive long enough to give birth.” She buried her face in Dean’s chest. Her shoulders shook with exaggerated crying. Dean’s expression hardened. The concern vanished from his eyes, replaced by cold determination. My heart clenched with sudden fear. “Dean, they’re lying to you—” Before I could finish, Dean moved. His hand shot out and grabbed me. His fingers clamped around my jaw, forcing my mouth open. He shoved the black pill down my throat. “Tara, don’t worry. I have the best medical experts here. I won’t let you come to any real harm.” The pill hit my tongue. A wave of rancid sweetness flooded my mouth, so foul I gagged. The pill slid down my throat before I could spit it out. Pain exploded in my chest. I doubled over, coughing violently. Blood sprayed from my lips, spattering the marble floor. The hall began to spin. My vision blurred at the edges. Darkness crept in from all sides. Then I heard it. A voice cutting through the fog in my mind. “Tara!” I managed to lift my head. A familiar face swam into view through my failing vision. “Travis!” My legs gave out. I fell forward into strong arms that caught me easily. “Tara,” Travis’s voice rumbled through his chest. “I’m sorry I’m late. I’m sorry you had to suffer.” The darkness pulled me under.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299275”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf #玄幻Fantasy

The night Autumn and I got engaged. She was dragged into the restroom and raped. I heard everything from the men’s room. Autumn’s cries were utterly desperate. Her pleas for help were ear-splitting. After I left the restroom. I even saw the man who raped her, a satisfied smirk on his face, pull up his pants and walk away. After that night. Autumn had a mental breakdown, always talking nonsense. Half a month later. The doctors said there was no effective treatment. And I asked Autumn’s family to call off the engagement. In the hospital room. Liam, Autumn’s brother, clenched his fist and punched me in the face. His eyes burned with pure fury, a murderous glint flashing as he grabbed my collar. “You animal, are you even human?” “My sister is like this because she was raped.” “Instead of finding the man who did this to get justice for her.” “You’re backing out, wanting to call off the engagement and abandon her.” “Are you even a man?” … Liam’s shouts were loud. His spit landed on my face. But I didn’t argue back. It was as if I was silently agreeing. “My daughter has always been sweet and sensible since she was a child.” “She chose you out of thousands.” “How could you let her suffer such a wrong?” Eleanor, Autumn’s mother, cried uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face as she glared at me. Especially when she turned around and saw her daughter lying on the bed, staring blankly. Her inner rage had nowhere to go. She walked up and slapped me hard, twice. “Alex, if you’re a man.” “Then find the bastard who raped my Autumn!” Watching Eleanor’s tear-streaked face. I gently shook my head. “I want to call off the engagement.” Liam, standing nearby, suddenly lunged, grabbing my throat. “You piece of trash!” “You want to abandon my sister?” Eleanor pointed a trembling finger at me. “Autumn used to say she was so lucky.” “She found the man who loved her most, besides her family.” “Is this how you love her?” I glanced at Autumn on the hospital bed. Then, my voice flat, I said, “Eleanor, I’m heartbroken about what happened to Autumn, but since it’s already happened, we have to accept reality.” “What reality are you talking about?” “You think my sister is ‘dirty’?” “So you’re calling off the engagement?” “Is that it?” Liam roared at me, his voice like thunder. The look in his eyes right then. He wanted to tear me apart and swallow me whole! Eleanor glared at me intensely. When I nodded. She couldn’t hold back anymore and lunged at me, clawing and screaming. I instinctively tried to dodge. But Liam had my throat. I couldn’t move. Immediately after. Eleanor scratched at my face like a madwoman. I felt a stinging, burning pain all over my face. But compared to the pain on my face. My heart hurt more! Eleanor finally stopped when she saw my face covered in blood. A nurse came in and saw me. She nervously asked if I wanted to call the police. Liam snorted, asking, “You animal, are you going to call the police?” I looked at the nurse and gently shook my head. “You’re bleeding a lot…” “None of your damn business!” Liam scared the nurse away. Just then. The hospital room door opened again. Richard, Autumn’s father, walked in, his face grim. “Dad, this bastard wants to call off the engagement with Autumn!” “He thinks she’s dirty; he wants to abandon her!” Liam immediately tattled to his father. Richard grabbed a chair and, without a word, slammed it into my back. I fell to the ground, trembling uncontrollably. “Ah!” Autumn on the bed suddenly let out a terrified scream. “Sweetie, don’t be scared.” Eleanor immediately rushed over and hugged her daughter tightly. “Mom, he… how is he here?”

Autumn pointed at me. Her eyes filled with panic and fear. Eleanor thought her daughter was angry that I wanted to call off the engagement. “Sweetie, your father is teaching this scum a lesson!” Richard grabbed the chair again, ready to hit me. I was in too much pain to straighten up. Completely unable to resist. “No…” Autumn cried out loudly to stop him. But the chair was already coming down. *Bang!* The thick chair shattered with a thud. And I coughed up blood from the impact. “Dad, don’t hit my husband!” Autumn cried out, her eyes red. “This scumbag isn’t your husband!” Richard said coldly. Then. He walked up to me, knelt down, grabbed my collar, and stared at me with a gaze like a bottomless pit. “Do you know why I’m hitting you?” I didn’t speak. The intense pain made me tremble constantly. “It’s not because you want to break off the engagement with my daughter.” “And it’s certainly not because you want to abandon her.” “It’s because… you’re not human!” He paused. Richard then shared his findings. Apparently, on the night of the engagement. When Autumn was raped. I was actually in the men’s room. A hotel cleaner saw me. In other words. I most likely saw the man who raped Autumn. “Is… is that true?” “He saw him?” Eleanor couldn’t help but rush to her husband. “That’s right.” “He definitely saw him.” Richard said with certainty. “Why did you tell the police you didn’t see the culprit?” Eleanor yanked my hair. Her expression was unusually fierce. “It must have been someone he knew.” “But that person is someone he can’t afford to cross.” “So he didn’t dare tell the police.” “Afraid of retaliation!” Richard said chillingly. “Is that it?!” Eleanor demanded, her voice full of rage. I was in too much pain to speak. But facing their questions. I still forced myself to answer, despite the intense pain. “I… I didn’t see the culprit!” “You’re lying!” Richard stared at me with icy eyes. “The hotel cleaner said so.” “She saw you coming out of the restroom then.” “And another man leaving in a different direction.” “You one hundred percent saw the culprit!” “Why are you afraid to say it?” As Richard finished speaking. Liam suddenly walked over, grabbed my collar, and forcibly pulled me to my feet. Then, without asking a single question. He repeatedly punched me in the face. I was almost unconscious. Only then did he roar at me. “You bastard, just tell us!” “Who was that man?!” Seeing my silence. Liam grew even angrier. “You won’t say, huh?” “I’ll kill you!” The next second. Liam’s face twisted into a snarl as he clamped his hands tightly around my neck. This time, it wasn’t a threat. He genuinely wanted to kill me! I could feel his hands squeezing with all his might!

In mere seconds. The lack of air almost made me pass out. “I want to fly!” At that critical moment. Autumn’s words caught the family’s attention. When they looked over. It nearly scared the life out of them. Autumn had somehow gotten out of bed. She was leaning out the window. Her upper body already dangling outside. “Sweetie!” “Autumn!” They cried out, their faces pale with terror, rushing over to pull Autumn back in. And I got a brief moment to breathe. Seizing the opportunity while their attention was elsewhere. I immediately endured the pain and left the hospital room. That afternoon, my parents came to the hospital to see me. When they learned I supposedly saw the culprit. They all looked at me in disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell the police who the culprit was?” “Why did you let Autumn suffer like this?” “Are you even a man?” Seeing the disappointment in my parents’ eyes. I turned my head and remained silent. “Having a son like you.” “It’s a disgrace to our family name, Michael!” My dad angrily got up and left. My mom stayed. But her attitude towards me was noticeably different afterward. I didn’t explain anything about it. The next day. Liam came to see me first thing in the morning. He didn’t hit or curse at me like yesterday. He had clearly changed his strategy. “Alex, you didn’t call the police, did you?” When I shook my head. He let out a long sigh of relief. “Yesterday, our family was a little emotional.” “But you have to understand, the person hurt is our beloved family member.” “We can’t bear for her to suffer any harm, do you understand?” I nodded: “I understand.” “Good then.” Liam sat by my hospital bed. He lit a cigarette. “You don’t mind, do you?” “It’s fine.” Liam took a few deep drags. “Last night, my sister’s mind cleared up a little.” “She said she called you then.” “You picked up, but you didn’t say anything.” “Is that true?” I hummed in affirmation. “Yes, that’s true.” “Then why didn’t you tell the police?” “I forgot.” Liam frowned. “Did you hear her calling for help on the phone?” “I did.” “Then why didn’t you go save her?” “I was drunk at the time and thought she was joking with me.” “You bastard!” Liam’s veins pulsed on his face. He glared at me fiercely: “If you had only believed my sister then, maybe she wouldn’t have been raped. You’re the one who ruined her!” “I’m sorry for what I did to her.” “Since even you know you wronged her, I advise you not to mention calling off the engagement again.” “Also, once you’ve recovered from your injuries, personally go apologize to my parents.” “I’ll think about it.” “Do you even need to think about this?!” Liam was already itching to lay his hands on me again. But then my phone rang. I answered and asked, “Can you recover call recordings?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299274”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #玄幻Fantasy

I was the extra kid in my family, the one who didn’t quite fit. My sister, Victoria, was a beauty queen, and my brother, Daniel, was the valedictorian of his high school, the smartest kid in the whole state. Me? I was just… ordinary. The only award I ever won was a participation ribbon in kindergarten. On my eighteenth birthday, I wished to my parents that this New Year’s, I could see the ocean, down south where it’s warm. When winter break came, Mom and Dad proudly showed off the plane tickets they’d already booked. Upon arrival, Daniel and Victoria cheered at the sight of the snow in the North. We stayed at a guesthouse for several days. On New Year’s Day, I woke up early and knocked on my parents’ door, only to find it empty. I checked my phone and saw a picture of them having their New Year’s Eve dinner, a happy family feast. That’s when I realized they had gone home last night. I stood in front of the empty room, a little lost. My first thought was, *What did I do wrong?* Before I could find an answer, footsteps echoed on the stairs behind me. It was Mr. Peterson, the guesthouse owner, coming up. I instinctively apologized, “I’m so sorry, I overslept. I didn’t realize my parents left last night.” Mr. Peterson’s face instantly hardened. I immediately lowered my head, bracing myself for a harsh dressing-down. But the scolding I expected never came. Instead, a large hand gently patted my head, stroking twice, not too hard, not too soft. “How could parents be so careless? Leaving their child behind when they go on vacation? Come on, tell me your parents’ number. I’ll call them and tell them to come back and pick you up!” Feeling the warmth on my head, for some reason, a lie just slipped out: “Don’t call them! This is a challenge my parents left me, to see if I can survive on my own now that I’m an adult.” But I rarely lied, and I nervously looked up, meeting his concerned gaze. “Can you let me stay? I can cook, and I’ll help with chores!” Mr. Peterson frowned, still insistent. “No, we have to contact your parents.” I pulled my ID card from behind my phone case and knelt directly in front of him. “If my parents were worried about me, they’d send me money to get back home. I’m an adult, I can take responsibility for my actions. Please, just don’t send me away!” This wasn’t the first time my parents had left me behind. And I knew that if I contacted them, they would either come back for me or book me a return ticket. But every time I reappeared, safe and sound, their brief flicker of guilt would vanish. Even once, when I told them I almost got lost and taken by strangers, they just told me to stick closer next time I went out. Many times, I wondered if they hated me. Later, I learned it wasn’t hate, just a lack of love. It was barely a fraction of what Victoria and Daniel received. After all, I was just an extra kid, with no special qualities, no reason to keep around. What right did I have to be compared to them? Maria, the guesthouse owner’s wife, was a young woman from the South. When she heard my story, and then that I was the third child in my family, she looked at me with a complex expression and sighed softly. “Working here doesn’t pay much. It’s just sixty bucks a day, but it includes room and board. Are you okay with that?” I stared at her, astonished, then nodded with all my strength. Just being taken in was a luxury, and to get paid? I never expected that. I already had it all planned out. Once I saved up enough money, maybe next holiday, I could go see the ocean down south for real!

“Alright, come on, let’s get to work! First, let’s put up the New Year’s banners!” Mr. Peterson’s voice pulled me back to reality. I looked up at him, incredulous. “I’m allowed to put up the banners?” He frowned, as if he wanted to roll his eyes, but held back. “What’s ‘allowed’ got to do with it? Just get it done quickly so we can eat.” I took the new banners. The red paper smelled of fresh ink, but holding them, it felt unreal. At home, setting up for the holidays – putting up decorations, hanging lanterns – it all had rules. My brother, being the boy, was always the one allowed to do it. My sister, with her good grades and pretty face, was deemed worthy of that honor. I carefully put up the banners. As soon as I finished, a hand pulled me inside. The dining table was laden with steaming dumplings, and a group of people were huddled together, yet they’d left a space for me. I froze. During holidays growing up, I was always stuck in the kitchen helping out with a group of relatives, waiting for everyone else to finish eating before it was our turn. Most times, I wasn’t even allowed to sit at the main table. “Eat, what are you staring at?” Maria put a dumpling in my bowl. Their warmth enveloped me, and as I ate the dumplings, I slowly joined in their conversation. Outside, the kids were setting off sparklers, crackling brightly. Maria pulled out two boxes of small sparklers from a cabinet and handed them to me. “Go play.” I was a little surprised. “I don’t need to work?” “It’s New Year’s, we don’t clean today. We’ll do it tomorrow morning. Go have fun today,” Maria said, smiling as she nudged me. Seeing their insistence, I stepped outside. Watching the kids, much younger than me, freely running around in the night, I couldn’t help but smile. Truth be told, I didn’t like New Year’s. I was never the “golden child” everyone talked about, and in those bustling gatherings, even quietly breathing in a corner felt wrong. But I found that celebrating the holidays away from home for the first time actually felt… freer. Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I quickly checked it. It was a message from the family SnapChat group. My family had posted a group photo. I held my phone for a long time, waiting for Mom and Dad to ask where I was. I let out a long breath, unsure if it was disappointment or a strange sense of relief. I tapped on the photo. Everyone was gathered around Grandma and Grandpa, with Daniel and Victoria standing on either side, smiling brightly. Without me, the picture seemed even more harmonious. Suddenly, I felt a warmth on my back. A thick coat was draped over my shoulders. I turned around. It was Maria. She looked from my phone screen to my face. “Sweetie, are you thinking about home?”

Before I could answer, Maria began to ramble. “My family is from the South too, and I was also the third child.” “Unlike you, I had two older sisters and a younger brother. At home, the holidays were the worst.” “We didn’t have much money, so new clothes always went to my sisters and my brother first. My sisters’ hand-me-downs would eventually come to me. My brother? Well, he was a boy, so he always got new things.” She paused, as if remembering something, then laughed. “Good thing I married far away. I didn’t have to go back home and endure that kind of treatment anymore.” … Listening to Maria’s story, my eyes welled up without me realizing it. But I knew that you shouldn’t cry on New Year’s, or you’d cry all year. I could only look up at the sky, where there was nothing, but my eyes still felt dry and strained. “I guess it’s not that I don’t want to go home.” “It’s just that… I feel a bit like an extra at home. Maybe it’s better not to go back and just cause more trouble.” The following days at the guesthouse were simple and fulfilling, filled with busy work. It wasn’t until the sixth day of the New Year that I received my first message on my phone. I nervously pulled it out, and when I saw it wasn’t from Mom or Dad, but from Jessica, a cousin I wasn’t particularly close to, I couldn’t describe the feeling. Still, I tapped on the chat. “You didn’t have a fight with your parents, did you? I didn’t see you when we went to visit today. I didn’t dare say anything, afraid of causing an argument.” Even through the screen, I could imagine her eager expression, waiting for some drama. “Honestly, you too, there’s no need to constantly compare yourself to your brother and sister. They’re good-looking, smart, and obedient. What do you have to compete with them?” I stared at the words, about to type out the truth. *I was left behind by Mom and Dad in the North.* *I never wanted to compete with Daniel or Victoria.* But before I hit send, I deleted every single word. What would it prove? They might even get upset that my absence ruined their holiday mood if they found out. Better to pretend I didn’t know, and just finish my winter job. Earn some money. Next time they forgot my allowance, I wouldn’t have to go hungry. But I never expected that on the eighth day of the New Year, I would see Aunt Carol and Jessica visiting the guesthouse. They were surprised to see me, wearing an apron and wiping tables, but they still greeted me warmly. “What are you doing here?” “Working here for the winter break,” I said honestly. Aunt Carol looked incredulous. “Your family comes from a pretty well-off background, why do you need to work a winter job?” She added, “I’ll call your parents later and ask them about it.” I didn’t know how to respond, so I didn’t. Aunt Carol and Jessica stayed for three days, and I was on edge for all three. Even as I cleaned their vacated room, I still hadn’t received any messages from Mom or Dad. I gave a self-mocking laugh. Of course. I was old enough now; I should know the difference between empty promises and genuine care. Back then, if Aunt Carol ran into Victoria on the street, she’d immediately call my parents. “Your daughter is so pretty, why let her go out alone? You should spend more time with her, what if she gets taken?” For my matters, it was always “later” or “next time.” When I was little, I used to hope. Later, I thought I had gotten used to it. But at this moment, I realized I still hoped.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299273”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #玄幻Fantasy

That autumn when I was eight, Dad brought me to live with him in the city for school. If I didn’t finish my homework, no dinner. If I scored below 95 on a test, I was made to stand until midnight. Ten minutes of extra sleep on a weekend? There went my entire allowance. “I’m breaking my back on construction sites to pay for your education. You have to be number one!” Dad’s coworkers all praised his strict parenting. Even though I often felt dizzy and lightheaded from hunger. Then came the parent-teacher conference. Other kids’ parents wore smart clothes. I hid in the bathroom stall, listening to the clomp of Dad’s worn-out work boots in the hallway. “Teacher, she only got second place this time. I haven’t let her eat lunch for three days!” A few soft chuckles drifted in from outside the window, from other parents. “Pushing a kid that hard? No wonder his wife left him for someone else.” I bit my lip until it was white, wondering numbly. If Mom had taken me with her back then, would my life have been easier?

Standing in the bathroom stall, I heard Dad’s voice echoing in the hallway. There was a chilling pride in it, as if he was showcasing his unique parenting philosophy. The sneering comment from the other parents outside the window felt like a sharp knife, slicing open the scars I desperately tried to hide. I bit my lip until it was white, tasting a hint of blood. After the conference, Dad led me home in silence. In that small rented room, the walls were yellowed, and the light bulb was dim. He took off his cement-stained jacket, his gaze fixed on my report card. He spoke, his voice low. “Why weren’t you first?” I whispered my reply, my hands trembling slightly beneath the table. “There was one math problem… I made a careless mistake.” At that, he slammed the table, and I jumped to my feet instantly, not daring to lift my head. “Careless? I’m on construction sites, working my fingers to the bone, layers of calluses on my hands. What’s it all for?!” “It’s so you can study hard and make something of yourself!” “And this is how you repay me? With carelessness?” My fingers dug hard into my palm, reopening old scabs until fresh blood welled. My stomach ached with hunger, but I was numb, used to this torture. I really wanted to tell Dad that I was only one point away from first place. Even the teacher praised me for being a motivated student. But why did I seem so worthless in Dad’s eyes? He couldn’t tolerate even the smallest mistake. As I thought this, bitter tears streamed down uncontrollably. I didn’t even dare to cry out loud, only managing muffled sobs. Seeing my tear-streaked face, Dad wasn’t sympathetic; he just got angrier. “Cry, cry, cry! Is crying going to solve anything?!” “Instead of crying here, why don’t you go review your lessons?!” “If you don’t review everything you’ve learned tonight, you won’t get any dinner!” I was going to go hungry again tonight. Even though I’d won a math competition award the day before, and Dad had promised to buy me meat. Now, that promise was off. Alone in the dim little room, I flipped through my books. The enticing aroma of meat seeped through the door crack, flooding my nostrils. My stomach growled painfully, a testament to my suffering. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead and dripped onto my textbook. I finally couldn’t bear it and started to sob silently again. I secretly took out the piggy bank Mom had given me before she left, hugging it and crying over and over. But as I hugged it, a small slip of paper fell out from the coin slot. It was a string of numbers. I stared at the paper, stunned for a long moment. Could this be Mom’s phone number?

“Lily, are you done with your review?” Dad pushed the door open abruptly. I swiftly hid my piggy bank. Luckily, the piggy bank wasn’t big, so I could tuck it into my oversized sleeve. Since Dad never bought me extra clothes, I usually just wore my school uniform or hand-me-downs from relatives. Most didn’t fit properly, hanging loose and baggy on my frame. At least the roomy sleeves were good for hiding things. When Dad opened the door, he was too engrossed in eating his meat to notice me hiding anything. The smell of meat filled my nostrils again, and my stomach groaned in protest. “Your teacher just called me. She said your essay got published in the school newspaper.” “Since we both have tomorrow off, as a reward, I’ll take you to the amusement park.” At the mention of “amusement park,” my eyes widened. I must be dreaming. I quickly pinched myself. It hurt, so much that tears welled in my eyes. I heard my own voice tremble. “Is… is that true?” Dad nodded, picking a piece of meat from between his teeth with his finger. “It’s true. But you still have to finish reviewing all your lessons today!” “A reward is a reward, and punishment is punishment. They don’t mix. Don’t think you can get away with anything!” Even if it meant no dinner tonight, I was ecstatic. Because Dad was finally going to take me out. The next day, standing at the amusement park, gazing at the carousel, I realized I wasn’t dreaming. I clutched the hem of my shirt, my eyes fixed on the carousel’s colorful, blinking lights. When the music started, to my surprise, Dad said, “Go on, ride it.” The horses began to spin, and the wind brushed against my face. The moment I sat on a horse, I couldn’t help but look back for Dad. He stood outside the railing, his worn-out work clothes starkly out of place among the brightly dressed parents. But his gaze was on me, and in his eyes, there was a softness I’d never seen before. When I got off the carousel, I saw cotton candy at a nearby stall. I looked at Dad with pleading eyes, but he refused. “What’s so good about cotton candy? And you’ve already ridden the carousel today.” “That’s enough. Let’s go home.” My head had been spinning a little after the carousel, and Dad had only given me a bowl of porridge. I was feeling a bit low on blood sugar, which was why I wanted cotton candy to steady myself. But Dad’s refusal made me feel even worse. “Dad, no, I’m just having a low blood sugar episode.” Dad suddenly yelled, “Stop using low blood sugar as an excuse! It’s not a real sickness, you’re just being dramatic!” “Let’s go home, now!” Dad’s shout attracted many glances. Someone saw my blood-drained face and kindly suggested, “Your child really looks like she has low blood sugar. You should get her something to eat.” Dad got even angrier. “As if I wouldn’t know if my own child was sick or not? Don’t you dare butt in!” Dad’s voice suddenly turned cold. “Stop your fake sympathy. Go home and do your practice sheets!” My heart plummeted. Turns out, that fleeting happiness was just a carefully orchestrated deception, designed to make me more compliant with my studies. That night, Dad lost his temper again while checking my homework. He slammed my notebook on the floor and roared, “You made a mistake on such a simple problem! The amusement park was a complete waste!” I kept my head down, my gaze falling on the piggy bank under my bed. The slip of paper with the phone number was clutched tightly in my hand. Later that night, Dad’s snoring drifted from the next room. I tiptoed out of bed, grabbing the piggy bank, and sneaked out of the house. At the payphone booth on the corner, I stood on my toes, dropping coins in one by one. The moment the call connected, I choked back tears, unable to speak. A strange yet familiar female voice came through the receiver. “Hello? Who is this?” As soon as I opened my mouth, tears streamed down my face. “Mom, it’s me, Lily.”

I heard a gasp on the other end, and Mom’s voice trembled. “Lily, my Lily, you finally reached out to me.” Hearing her voice again, I was already sobbing uncontrollably. But afraid of being discovered, I couldn’t make a sound, just cried silently. “Mom, can… can you come get me?” “I’ve had enough of living here.” “I miss you so much, Mom.” After suppressing it for so long, I finally spoke my heart. Dad’s suffocating love was truly choking me. Mom listened to my trembling, tearful voice, and her own tone became urgent. “Okay, where are you now? Mom will be right there…” Before Mom could finish, the call was deliberately hung up. I looked at the rough hand pressing the disconnect button, and my whole body started to tremble. The person stood in the shadows, looking down at me. “Lily, what are you doing out here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?” Dad’s figure blocked the warm light of the phone booth, his face obscured by shadows, making him look terrifying. I couldn’t make out his expression, only feeling my blood run cold through my veins. “Who were you calling?” Tears welled in my eyes again, my throat felt squeezed, and I couldn’t make a sound. Dad’s voice suddenly rose. “Tell me! Who were you calling? Was it that ungrateful mother of yours?” Afraid of being discovered, I quickly shook my head, denying it. “No, no, it wasn’t, I didn’t…” Standing under the dim light of the phone booth, I looked at Dad’s dark, menacing face, and felt frozen to the core. He snatched the piggy bank I was clutching from my arms—the little piggy bank Mom had secretly given me before she left. “Wasn’t it?” Dad’s voice was cold as ice. “Then tell me, what are you doing out here in the middle of the night with this broken jar?” My mouth opened, but no sound came out. Tears blurred my vision. I could only see Dad’s rough hand gripping the piggy bank, his knuckles white from the grip. He grabbed my arm, so hard I stumbled. “Come back with me.” Back in that rented room, Dad placed the piggy bank heavily on the table, making a dull thud. I stood in the center of the room, head bowed, not daring to look at him. “Kneel.” I obediently knelt on the cold concrete floor, a sharp pain shot through my knees immediately. Dad paced the room, his worn-out work boots clomping on the floor, each step crushing my spirit. “I know you’ve always thought about your mother.” He stopped, his voice filled with suppressed rage. “But she abandoned us long ago. Abandoned you. Understand?” I bit my lower lip, fighting back the tears. My fingers tightened around the hem of my shirt, until they were white and aching. He suddenly raised his voice. “Who am I working so hard for? Huh?” “I worked myself to the bone on that construction site, all so you could make something of yourself, not end up like me!” “But what about you? Sneaking calls in the middle of the night? Are you trying to run off with her?” I abruptly looked up, hastily explaining, “No, Dad! I just, I just…” He took a step closer, his shadow engulfing me. “Just what?” I finally broke down, tears bursting forth. “I just missed her so much…” “I’m hungry every day, and so tired. I try my best, but you’re never satisfied.” “I just wanted to hear Mom’s voice…” His expression softened for a fleeting moment, but quickly hardened again. He picked up the piggy bank, staring at it for a long time. His voice suddenly became very soft. “She left when you were only six. She didn’t even look back.” This was the first time I’d heard Dad voluntarily mention the day Mom left. I held my breath, afraid to interrupt him. “She said she was sick of the hard life.” Dad gave a bitter laugh. “She said I was worthless, and that my child would suffer because of me.” He turned to me, his gaze complex. “I can’t let you end up like she said, worthless your whole life. Do you understand, Lily?” I stared at him, and suddenly noticed deep wrinkles around his eyes and his hair was far grayer than I remembered. He said softly, “I know you hate me, but one day you’ll understand!” “You were still wrong today. Tonight, your punishment is to kneel and do problems. No sleep until you finish!” I thought that by honestly telling Dad my feelings, I would receive his understanding. But my sincerity didn’t awaken the tender fatherly love I hoped for; instead, it led to even harsher punishment. I knelt on the cold, hard concrete, my knees slowly going numb. To save electricity, Dad didn’t even allow me to turn on the light. One tear after another fell onto my exercise book, while from the next room, Dad’s snoring already filled the air. Under the moonlight, my vision blurred with tears, and before I passed out, I thought I saw Mom coming to take me away.

When I woke up again, I found myself slumped over my desk, the sound of the teacher’s lecture in my ears. In my hand was a note. It read: “I saw you overslept so I brought you directly to school. Study hard at school!” “The punishment you didn’t finish last night continues today!” Such a suffocating message could only be from Dad. My stomach twisted in a sharp cramp, and I couldn’t hear a single word the teacher was saying. My deskmate, Chloe, saw my sallow face and colorless lips, and secretly slipped me a small pastry. “Did your dad not let you eat again? Quick, eat this.” I wanted to refuse, but I didn’t even have the strength. Chloe carefully unwrapped the bread for me and placed it in my hand. A wave of warmth welled up in my eyes; even a stranger cared about me so much. But Dad only wanted me to study without eating or sleeping. Just as I was about to put the pastry in my mouth, the teacher at the front of the class suddenly shouted, “Lily Miller, how dare you brazenly eat in class!” “Come with me to the office right now! The rest of you, self-study!” “And the one who gave her the pastry, you come too!” That life-saving pastry still didn’t make it to my mouth. In the teacher’s office, I nearly collapsed. Chloe had to steady me. I was frail as a dried blade of grass, but the teacher seemed not to notice, scolding us relentlessly. “I can’t deal with you two anymore. It’s time to call your parents!” With that, the teacher immediately pulled out her phone to dial. I quickly stepped forward to stop her. “Ms. Davies, I know I was wrong, please don’t call my dad!” “I haven’t eaten properly for days. Chloe just gave it to me because she saw I was so hungry.” “It has nothing to do with her!” Ms. Davies swatted my hand away, and I lost my footing, sprawling onto the floor. “Still trying to argue? Your parents really need to straighten you out!” Soon after, Dad rushed in, covered in dirt from the construction site. Chloe’s mom came with him. The moment Chloe saw her mom, she burst into tears, looking utterly wronged. Chloe’s mom first smiled and apologized to the teacher, then gently comforted Chloe. But my dad? Not only did he not ask for any explanation, he joined the teacher in scolding me even more harshly. “I work my fingers to the bone at the construction site, and all you do is cause trouble!” “When I was a kid, I survived on one bowl of porridge a day, so why can’t you?” “Stop pretending! Get up and apologize to the teacher!” But I didn’t even have the strength to push myself up, and the figures before me began to blur. “I… I just wanted a pastry…” I just wanted a pastry to fill my stomach, why couldn’t I have it? It was just one pastry, what harm could it do if I ate it? Why were these people hounding me so relentlessly? I just wanted a pastry, I just wanted to live. Chloe’s mom saw my distress and, finally unable to bear it, helped me to a chair. She put the pastry back in my hand. But Dad scolded Chloe’s mom. “Why are you, a stranger, interfering with her? She’s just spoiled and needs to be punished severely!” “Eat a pastry? What pastry?!” Dad stepped forward, swatted the pastry away with a slap, and grabbed my collar, pulling me in front of the teacher. “Apologize to the teacher, now!” I finally couldn’t bear it any longer, and tears welled up again. But this time, I didn’t even have the strength to cry. The moment before I collapsed, I heard a gentle voice. “Lily, Mom’s here to take you home!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299272”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #玄幻Fantasy

The moment my father’s company went bankrupt, my husband served me with divorce papers. My father’s company went bankrupt, and my husband immediately served me with divorce papers. On the day of our divorce, I discovered my car’s brakes had failed. I was calling for a tow when my husband yanked me out of the driver’s seat. Then, in one cruel move, he gently helped his pregnant childhood sweetheart, Cassidy, into the very same car. Cassidy sat there, inside my car, shooting me a triumphant smirk. Her eyebrows raised in a look that practically screamed, “Aria, see? Your husband loves me. He was only with you for your family’s money.” My dad had warned me about Blake ages ago, but I dismissed it as prejudice. I never imagined he’d reveal his true colors the moment my family fell from grace, and bring pregnant Cassidy straight to our home. He called me a barren bitch, claimed no one would want me after the divorce. He even had the audacity to propose a deal: he’d “reluctantly” stay married if I was willing to serve him and Cassidy and hand over my entire salary. Pfft! Seriously? Did this cheating scum really think he could keep his wife and mistress under one roof, then have me bankroll their life together? No way! Even though these two idiots were trash, I still tried to warn Blake. “Get her out of the car. The brakes are broken, she can’t ride in this car.” Blake just thought I was being dramatic. He snatched the keys from my hand without a second thought and shoved me aside. “The car is in my name. After the divorce, I have every right to take it back. From now on, I’ll let whoever I want ride in it. You barren bitch, you have no say!” Then, the engine roared, and the car screeched away from me.

I clapped a hand over my mouth, watching them disappear, a grin I couldn’t quite stifle threatening to split my face. Some people just rush headfirst toward their doom, and there’s nothing I can do to stop them. Just as my eyes were burning red from holding back laughter, Blake’s car slammed directly into the back of a semi-truck ahead. The front of the car was crumpled like a tin can under the truck. Cassidy passed out on the spot. Blake’s leg was trapped, and he couldn’t pull it free. Blood dripped steadily from his dress pants. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you out.” I ran over, feigning deep concern, all while roughly yanking his leg. Blake immediately broke out in a cold sweat, screaming in agony. “Aria, you damn bitch! Are you trying to kill me?!” I pretended not to hear, though inwardly I longed to spit in his face. Damn right, I hope you die! I pulled and kicked at his trapped leg. Pull, kick, and shake. Blake was successfully tortured into unconsciousness by yours truly. Blake was sent to the hospital, and I hummed a tune all the way home.

What I didn’t expect, though, was to get a SnapChat call from Blake the moment I walked through the door. “Where are you? Get over here and pay the medical bills! The hospital’s hounding me!” Did he think I was stupid? Why would I pay? I flat-out refused. To my shock, Blake then pulled out a trump card, a recording of my call to the car repair shop about the faulty brakes. “Aria, if you don’t come and pay, I swear I’ll call the cops and have you thrown in jail. I’ll tell them you sabotaged the brakes, that this was attempted murder.” Blake forcefully spat out his threat, then slammed the phone down. Holding my phone, my heart dropped like a stone. The man I’d loved my entire youth, who had never loved me back, now wanted to send me to jail after cheating on me? Huh! Heartache aside, Blake’s threat didn’t faze me one bit. My phone was set to automatically record all calls. Every word he’d just said was on tape. Thank you, anonymous person, for handing me the evidence to prove my innocence. But still, I had to go to the hospital. Not to pay his medical bills, but to deliver a special “gift.” I dug through a stack of books in my study and found a pre-marital medical report I’d hidden for years. The report clearly stated, Blake is infertile.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299271”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #玄幻Fantasy

I, Jenna Reed, was once again seriously injured by Alexander Hayes. This time, a reporter, Zack Hoffman, approached me. “Is your husband Alexander Hayes, who became famous ten years ago for saving you during an earthquake but ended up paralyzed?” I stayed silent and gently nodded. He said, “We’re from the TV station, and we’re doing a follow-up program on the earthquake.” I quietly rubbed the bruises on my arm and looked him straight in the eye. “Alright, but could you film discreetly? My husband isn’t very comfortable in front of the camera.” But unexpectedly, on the first day of the live broadcast, I was slammed into trending searches. When I got home, Alexander was still in the room. I carefully set up the hidden camera. “You’re back?” His voice came from the room. My heart tightened, and cold sweat instantly soaked my back. He asked, “Why are you back so early? No work today?” He smiled and waved at me. I stiffly moved over and sat down beside him. The camera quietly started, and the live stream began across the internet. The comments started rolling in one by one. [Is this the hero who willingly sacrificed his legs to save his girlfriend back then?] [He’s really so handsome, both passionate and charming. This is what we should be watching!] [But his wife seems strange, her eyes keep avoiding him, like she’s reluctant to touch him?] Alexander reached out and brushed through my hair. I tried to stay calm, but I trembled with every touch of his. Especially when I saw his legs under the blanket, I instinctively looked away. Just a few days ago, he used that leg to crack my rib. [I get it! She actually despises her husband for being disabled. Look, she doesn’t even dare to look at his legs!] [Unbelievable. If it weren’t for her, Alexander wouldn’t be paralyzed, and now she’s disgusted by him.] The day of the earthquake, I was going to break up with Alexander. When we were together, his possessiveness suffocated me. Until I discovered that the stray cat I had been feeding for four years in college was poisoned to death by him. At that moment, fear, anger, and heartbreak overwhelmed me. He’s terrifying! “Jenna, I was wrong. Let’s not break up, okay?” He gripped my wrist tightly. “I just love you too much. You always put so much attention on that cat, and I was already jealous. Then you said you wanted to take the cat with you after graduation, and I couldn’t accept it.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. Just as I was about to leave the classroom, I suddenly felt a tremor. It’s an earthquake! The classroom is on the first floor. Running outside leads to the open playground! When I was about to run out, he grabbed me forcefully. “Jenna, if you want to break up with me, I don’t want to live either.” “Let’s die together.” I watched helplessly as the beam above came crashing down. I don’t know how long I was unconscious under the rubble. When the rescuers carried me out, countless cameras were pointed at me.

Alexander held me, overjoyed. “Thank goodness, Jenna, you’re finally awake.” “If you couldn’t survive, I wouldn’t either.” “I don’t care if my legs are crippled, as long as I can save you, nothing else matters.” In the face of natural disasters and human tragedies, human nature is often selfish. But Alexander broke his legs for me, and countless media praised his selfless true love. Later, to inspire people and showcase love and compassion in the world, Alexander was even chosen as one of that year’s “Citizen Honor Award” recipients. Everyone is waiting for news of our wedding. The media reports daily, hoping for our wedding. The public longs to witness our wedding and even more to see how I devote myself and spend my life repaying Alexander’s great love. Even my parents said that if I betray Alexander, they will cut ties with me. I married Alexander under everyone’s expectations. But three months after the wedding, he tore off his mask. The downstairs neighbor brought fresh fish he caught, and Alexander poured the scalding fish soup directly over my head. I just said “thank you” to the delivery guy, and he grabbed an ashtray and smashed it at my temple. The first time, he said he felt insecure, that seeing others give me things made him uncomfortable. The second time, he said he saw me talking to another man and was just too afraid of losing me. But I know well that domestic violence happens either zero times or countless times. So I filed for divorce. Many people advised me not to divorce. The doctor examining my injuries just glanced perfunctorily and said this didn’t even count as minor injuries. I went to the court to file for divorce, but the staff kept saying various machines were broken. My parents stood in front of the media, crying their hearts out. “It’s our fault for not raising our daughter well. We will never let her divorce. Alex is our pride!” Because of Alexander’s heroic deeds, my father Helen Reed is highly respected at the company. My younger brother Lucas Reed also found a girlfriend from a good family background. In three years, I brought up divorce countless times, but it never succeeded. He finally believed that I would never leave him again. When he beat me so badly I couldn’t stand again, I crawled outside for help. But a tall dark shadow fell behind me. I turned my head and saw Alexander holding a wheelchair, letting out a sinister laugh. “Honey, where are you going?” That time, I spent half a month recovering. I also learned the whole truth. Alexander had been pretending all along. He said he did it because he loved me and was afraid I would break up with him. His act of saving his wife back then had deeply touched people’s hearts. Nowadays, even if I go out and tell everyone that Alexander is not paralyzed at all, no one would believe me. Today, I originally bought a pack of poison. Since I can’t get a divorce, I’ll die with him. But now, the opportunity has come. I unintentionally glanced at the hidden camera in the corner of the wall. I heard it’s being live-streamed across the internet right now. As long as Alexander stands up in front of so many people online, I can get a divorce.

It’s very easy to provoke Alexander. If the temperature of a glass of water is wrong, he’ll throw the cup at my face. I deliberately got a cup of boiling water, steam rising from it. I said, “Honey, have some water.” I know there are cameras filming, but every time I face him, I can’t help trembling. Alexander said, “Thank you.” Faced with such an obviously scalding cup of boiling water, he showed no anger but smiled and took it. I didn’t hand it to him. Instead, I bit my lip, pretended it was an accident, and poured the entire cup of boiling water onto his legs. This way, he would surely lose control and angrily stand up, right? I closed my eyes. Just thinking about the scene ahead, my body still reflexively trembles. But my heart was already filled with immense joy. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. After a long time, I didn’t feel the fists I remembered landing on me. I opened my eyes. Alexander didn’t move. He still sat upright in the wheelchair. He not only didn’t get angry but showed a guilty expression. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch it well and accidentally spilled the water.” “Did your hand get burned?” “That glass of water just now looked pretty hot to me.” He affectionately grabbed my hand and carefully checked it. His gentle demeanor overlapped with the ruthlessness in my memory. Last time, I just poured a glass of water that didn’t meet his specified temperature, and he punched me in the eye. My left eye couldn’t see clearly for a week. I froze in place. On the other side, the comments were scrolling rapidly. [Does this count as abuse? That water was hot enough to cook meat!] [Even if he can’t feel his lower body, he shouldn’t bully others on purpose, right?] [She must have been taking care of him for too long, lost her patience, and took it out on him.] [If that’s the case, they shouldn’t have gotten married back then. She wanted a good reputation, and now she’s abusing him.] I wonder, “Why is Alexander acting so strangely today?” Could it be that he already knows about the interview and is deliberately disguising himself?” I immediately dismissed that thought. Today, Zack said he wouldn’t announce our meeting online in advance. So Alexander wouldn’t know. Maybe it’s just a coincidence. I said hoarsely, “I’ll go pour another cup.” It’s okay, I still have a chance. Alexander is irritable and short-tempered. It’s too easy to provoke him. I kept comforting myself in my heart. I deliberately mopped and waxed the floor as he passed by, hoping he’d lose control and fall. While he was in the bathroom, I took away the toilet paper and pretended not to hear when he called out. I even went out of my way to visit the downstairs neighbor and gave them some of my freshly made snacks. But no matter what I did, Alexander kept smiling. I was so anxious, and this restless feeling peaked during dinner. So, I decided to take a gamble. Alexander has always been allergic to pineapple. So I specially made pineapple fried rice. After eating pineapple, he broke out in a rash and had trouble breathing. I was scared he might actually die, and the police would accuse me of murder, so I quickly gave him allergy medicine. [From the scalding hot water to the allergy-inducing meal at night, no one would believe she’s innocent. Suggest the police investigate thoroughly.] [Alexander really loves her so much. What more could she possibly want?] [She must be cheating. Who would voluntarily bring snacks to a neighbor? Alexander must not satisfy her, so she’s going out to hook up with other men!] [Luckily, this time it was covert filming, so we could see the truth.] After dinner, I washed the dishes in the kitchen, replaying today’s events in my mind countless times. Suddenly, a tall shadow appeared behind me. My body was suddenly pulled up. I struggled desperately until I dragged Alexander to a spot clearly captured by the camera. Watching his falling fist, I felt pain but also joy. He was finally exposed.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398334”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Wife #Hurt #Divorce #Violence

My name is Liana Sallow. The poor student I sponsor, Clara Silva, is what you’d call a scatterbrained girl. The day before the swimming competition, I repeatedly told her not to touch my stuff. But she still secretly put stimulants in my water bottle. I was reported for cheating, my results were voided, I was banned for life, and the school expelled me. Facing the questioning, she cried and explained, “Liana, I just wanted you to win first place. I really didn’t think it would turn out like this.” My boyfriend Luke Moore hugged her to comfort her, then yelled at me, “She meant well, why make things hard for a young girl?” I broke down and went home, shutting myself in all day. Clara claimed she felt sorry for me and came with Luke, bringing wine to apologize. After ten shots of strong liquor, my head was pounding, so I asked her to buy me some hangover medicine. She ended up giving me painkillers as hangover medicine, which caused gastrointestinal bleeding and led to my death. In the hospital, she cried her heart out. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I’m so stupid, I can’t even tell the difference between hangover medicine and painkillers.” Facing police questioning, Luke gave false testimony for her, accusing me of committing suicide by drinking and taking medicine because I couldn’t handle the psychological pressure after cheating in the competition. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day before the competition. ***** “Liana, I specially bought this cola for you. Drinking it before the competition tomorrow can boost your energy.” A familiar voice rang out, and I trembled all over. Looking at the familiar training base around me, I immediately realized—I was reborn. Before I could react, Clara had already stuffed the cola into my hand. Luke looked at Clara with a doting expression and said, “Clara is so thoughtful. Liana, you’re really lucky to have such a good friend like her.” I almost burst out laughing. Anyone with basic common sense knows that caffeinated drinks like cola and coffee are prohibited in sports competitions. In my previous life, I politely declined her kindness. To be safe, I specifically emphasized not to touch certain things. But the next day, during the competition, someone accused me of cheating, and stimulants were found in my body and water bottle. As a result, our entire team’s results were voided, I was permanently banned from competing, and the school directly expelled me. Later, I found out it was Clara who put stimulants in my water. I went to confront her. She burst into tears and threw herself into Luke’s arms, saying pitifully, “Liana, I really just wanted you to win first place. I didn’t expect this to happen.” Luke held her and comforted her, then yelled at me, “She meant well, why are you making things hard for a young girl?” I developed depression, and Luke and Clara came with strong liquor to apologize to me. They forced me to drink ten shots of strong liquor, insisting I drown my sorrows. Feeling awful with a splitting headache, I asked Clara to buy me some hangover medicine. She ended up giving me painkillers instead of hangover medicine, forcing me to take them, which led to gastrointestinal bleeding and my death. In the hospital, she cried her heart out. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I’m so stupid, I couldn’t even tell the difference between hangover medicine and painkillers.” Facing the police’s questioning, Luke gave false testimony for her, accusing me of committing suicide with alcohol and pills because I couldn’t handle the pressure after cheating in a competition. Thinking of the pain from my past life, I clenched my fists in anger. I immediately tossed the cola into the trash can. Clara froze, her eyes instantly reddening. “Liana, do you not like cola? I’m sorry, my family is really poor. This can of soda is something I saved up for half a month to afford; it’s already the best I can give you.”

Luke, seeing Clara’s tearful face, immediately felt heartbroken and angrily scolded me, “Liana, what are you doing? Even if you come from a privileged background and look down on us ordinary people, this is Clara’s heartfelt gesture! How could you throw the drink away right in front of her?” The rest of the team also spoke up, their tones filled with dissatisfaction. “Liana, you went too far. Even if you didn’t want the drink, you shouldn’t have just thrown it away, right? That’s just too insulting.” “This is a school, not your home. Clara is not your servant.” Clara looked at me with tears in her eyes. “It’s all my fault, don’t blame Liana.” I coldly glanced at the people protecting her, my tone icy. “Anyone with a bit of common sense knows that caffeinated drinks are strictly prohibited in sports competitions. Clara, do you truly not know, or are you pretending not to?” She immediately said pitifully, “I’m sorry, it’s all because I’m so stupid, I even messed up buying a drink.” Luke patted her shoulder and said gently, “Don’t cry, your makeup will smudge.” He then turned to me, frowning. “Liana, is it necessary to be so petty? Clara meant well, she’s not very sharp to begin with, do you have to be so aggressive?” I rolled my eyes and raised my hand to slap him. “Good intentions? Her good intentions could ruin my competition, and I can’t afford that.” Luke’s eyes widened sharply. “Liana! Are you crazy? How dare you hit me!” I sneered, “I’m hitting fools like you.” Clara cried as she stood in front of Luke. “Liana, it’s all my fault. Blame me for being so stupid and messing up even small things. If you want to hit someone, hit me, don’t blame Luke!” I let out a laugh and immediately slapped Clara across the face. “Good that you know you’re stupid. If you want to get hit, I’ll oblige.” Seeing me lay hands on Clara, Luke instantly got furious and shoved me hard. I was pushed to the ground. My arm hit the steps, instantly bruising. I grimaced in pain. The others glanced at my injured arm, frowned, and scolded Luke, “How could you hit Liana? What if she’s hurt and can’t compete in tomorrow’s match?” Luke just stared at me coldly. “It was clearly Liana who hit Clara and me first.” I let out a cold laugh and said, “One wants to sabotage me with cheating to ruin our match, and the other, my boyfriend, defends the one harming me. Hitting you both is only fair.” Luke immediately got anxious. “What nonsense are you talking about?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with him anymore and simply said, “From today on, we’re done. I wish you and Clara a lifetime together.” Luke widened his eyes, staring at me in disbelief. “You want to break up with me? Don’t regret it.” I let out a cold laugh, grabbed my backpack, and turned to leave. The next day, I arrived at the competition venue. Our team’s match was the tenth one. We were warming up on the side when Clara came over with a water cup for us. She said, “I filled everyone’s water cups.” The others took the water and thanked Clara one after another. Clara looked at me and asked with a smile, “Liana, I couldn’t find your water cup. Where is it? I’ll get water for you.” In my past life, Clara used the excuse of getting water for me to secretly put stimulants in my cup.

I calmly refused, saying, “No need.” Clara’s eyes turned red again. “Liana, you’re still upset about yesterday, aren’t you?” Luke strode over, pulled Clara into his arms, and comforted her, “Don’t worry, Clara, it’s not your fault. You were just trying to help, but Liana didn’t appreciate it. The water you got is really sweet, and we’ll definitely win the championship.” Clara smiled shyly. “I believe in you all, keep it up!” Right before going on stage, I took out my water bottle, ready to take a sip, but I suddenly noticed white powder on the rim. My hand trembled slightly. Despite all my precautions, I still failed to guard against it. If I had just drunk it earlier, wouldn’t I be repeating the tragedy of my past life? I looked up and saw Clara staring at me intently. She said, “Liana, hurry up and drink some water, it’s almost time to go on stage.” I immediately capped the water bottle. “I won’t drink it. I’m going to the restroom, you guys go ahead.” After arriving at the restroom, I suddenly felt an inexplicable panic, as if something was about to happen. Half an hour later, the competition began. As expected, our team won first place, and everyone on the team received 20 extra points for the graduate exam. Everyone cheered and hugged each other. “We did it! I knew we could.” Just as everyone was excited, two staff members suddenly walked over. One of them asked, “Excuse me, who is Liana?” Everyone’s eyes turned to me. I stepped forward and said, “That’s me. What’s wrong?” He glanced at me and said, “Someone reported you for using banned substances before the competition. Please cooperate with us for a drug test and investigation.” I frowned and followed the staff out. At this moment, the others nervously looked at me. “Liana, you didn’t use that stuff, right? This concerns the entire team’s performance.” I nodded. “I haven’t touched any banned substances.” The others all breathed a sigh of relief. I followed the staff for the test. An hour later, the test results came out. The staff silently handed the report to the organizers. The organizer angrily said, “Liana Sallow, a member of the first-place team, tested positive for banned substances, which is considered a serious act of cheating. Effective immediately, all results of the team are nullified, and Liana is permanently banned from competition.” I was shocked. I clearly didn’t drink water, so how could there be stimulants? Hearing the organizer’s words, everyone turned to look at me. Luke, furious, slapped me across the face. “Liana, you actually took stimulants. Do you know that because of you, all our efforts are ruined?” The others surrounded me, questioning, “How could you take stimulants? We trained hard for a year for this competition, and now everything is ruined because of you.” The audience in the stands was furious, with curses echoing nonstop. “If you can’t compete, don’t. Taking stimulants is disgusting.” “People like this really disgrace the school!” “You don’t deserve to be in our school. I’m going to complain to the school leaders to expel someone like you, so you don’t ruin the school’s reputation.” People in the stands, furious, started throwing things at me. I clenched my fists and looked at the organizers. “I don’t accept this punishment.” Clara stepped forward and urged, “Liana, stop being stubborn. If you admit your mistake now, I and everyone else will plead for you.” I let out a cold laugh. “I didn’t break any rules, so why should I admit fault?” Luke pointed at me and cursed, “The medical report is right here, and you’re still denying it. You cheated and won’t admit it. You’ve completely disgraced our team!” The organizer looked at me. “Why won’t you admit it?” I smiled slightly and said, “Because I didn’t even compete.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398333”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #CollegeStudent #Student #Contemporary #Rebirth #Revenge

The night I, Joyce Sterling, returned from a business trip, my regular pharmacy called, saying my membership card failed to deduct payment during an afternoon purchase and needed a top-up. I looked at my husband, Ian Blackwood, who was focused on making dinner in the kitchen, and asked him what he bought. He smiled, took a box of supplements out of the bag, and said, “I’ve been staying up late working overtime these days. My heart’s been feeling a bit off, so I got something for it.” Seeing my expressionless face, he helplessly pulled out another card. He said, “I know you’re a money lover. I accidentally used your membership card. How about I compensate you tenfold?” I didn’t take the card like I used to. Instead, I quietly looked at him and said, “Let’s get a divorce.” ***** A trace of astonishment flashed across Ian’s face. Then he took my hand, smiled helplessly, and said, “What’s wrong? Is this a punishment for losing a game with friends?” “I’m not stopping you from hanging out with them, but such an inappropriate joke really hurts me.” Meeting his pitiful and aggrieved gaze, I pulled my hand away. “I’m not playing games, I’m serious.” His gentle expression cracked slightly, and he frowned. “Serious? Why exactly? Is it because I didn’t pick you up at the airport, so that good friend of yours told you I had a change of heart again?” “Or is it because I’ve been too busy these days and didn’t video call you to say goodnight? Didn’t I explain already? Stop it, I’ll make it up to you tonight, okay?” As he spoke, he rested his head on my neck, rubbing back and forth. The warm breath brushed against my skin, stirring a ripple of ambiguity. I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “I said divorce, don’t you understand?” The romantic atmosphere was shattered, and a hint of anger appeared in his eyes. But he quickly suppressed his emotions, his tone turning conciliatory. “What’s wrong with you? You can’t possibly want a divorce just because I used your membership card, right?” I remained expressionless. “Yes, it’s because of this membership card that I want a divorce. Is there a problem? Every cent you spend of mine disgusts me.” He stared at me in disbelief. “Do you even know what you’re saying? Over money? You didn’t even care to ask why I bought supplements when you got back, and I didn’t blame you.” “Besides, I already offered ten times the compensation, but you refused! And now you…” I didn’t want to hear his excuses anymore, so I turned around and went back to the room to pack my things. I said, “Stop talking. Tomorrow, see you in court.” He caught up, but his hand got caught by the force of me slamming the door. “Joyce!” he growled in pain, “Explain clearly, why? Why do you want a divorce?” Facing his swollen, tear-filled eyes from the pain, I slammed the door shut without hesitation. I said, “There’s nothing to talk about. Just show up on time.” After a long while, a dull banging on the door came from outside. He shouted, “I don’t agree to the divorce! Don’t even think about it!” Footsteps faded away, accompanied by the heavy sound of a door slamming. After he left, I suppressed the turmoil in my heart and called my lawyer friend. “Help me draft a divorce agreement. The car and house go to me, and the assets are split equally.” Ian didn’t come home all night, but I had a good sleep. The next day at work, I received a message from Ian’s parents, Alistair and Victoria Blackwood, asking me to join them for dinner after work. Every time we argued before, when Ian couldn’t win, he’d sulkily go back to stay at his parents’ house. Then his parents would cook a table full of delicious dishes, invite me over for dinner, and mediate our conflicts. This method worked well; every time after eating, we’d make up. But this time is different; I’ve made up my mind to divorce. So when they asked when we were planning to have a child, I didn’t lower my head shyly as usual but pushed away the dish Ian handed me. I calmly said, “Having a child might not go as you wish; we’re planning to divorce.”

Victoria looked at me in shock. “Divorce is no joke. What did Ian do wrong? Tell me, and we’ll teach him a lesson for you.” I frowned and put down my fork. “Nothing, we just don’t like each other anymore and don’t want to waste time. Don’t try to persuade me, I’m determined to divorce. I can’t take it for another minute.” Ian’s throat tightened, and his eyes instantly turned red. “What did I do wrong? Tell me. I don’t believe you have no feelings for me anymore. Whatever you say, I’ll change! If you don’t want me to spend your money, I won’t touch a single cent from now on, okay?” Alistair and Victoria’s faces instantly darkened at the mention of money. Ian’s elder brother’s wife, Celia Blackwood, immediately stood up, grabbed my wrist, and led me to the room. As she walked, she said, “Everyone, don’t get upset. Some things are hard to say in front of everyone. I’ll take Joyce to have a chat and talk some sense into her.” After entering her bedroom, she locked the door behind her, turned around, and looked at me with a face full of concern. She said, “What’s going on? Is there something you can’t tell me? I know you’re not someone who acts recklessly; you must be facing some difficulties.” Celia and I usually have a fairly good relationship. Ian’s eldest brother, Aaron Blackwood, passed away years ago. Celia has remained unmarried since and has been living with Alistair and Victoria over the years. Thinking she might feel lonely, I often invited her to travel, shop, and do beauty treatments together, just to cheer her up. At this moment, I was hesitating whether to tell her the truth, but my eyes accidentally caught a lifelike toy standing on a chair by the balcony. It still had an unused condom on it, with traces of bodily fluids remaining. Noticing my gaze, her face flushed red, and she hurriedly stuffed the toy into the bedside cabinet. Perhaps she was too flustered, causing the clutter in the cabinet to topple over. An opened box of condoms rolled out and quietly stopped at my feet. She hurriedly picked it up. “Please don’t misunderstand me. You know, Aaron passed away too soon, and all these years, I haven’t been able to let him go. Though I’m a widow, I still have physical needs.” “I just bought some better-quality condoms to avoid infections. Please don’t tell them, I don’t want them to think I’m improper.” I looked at her shy yet honest face, unable to say a word. After a while, I finally squeezed out a sentence. “Got it, let’s go out.” She grabbed my hand and hurriedly asked, “Wait, you haven’t explained it to me yet. Why do you have to get a divorce? Is there something that can’t be resolved?” I glanced at her and said, “It’s nothing, I just don’t love him anymore.” Outside the door came the cries of Alistair and Victoria. “How did Ian marry such a greedy woman like you? You’re divorcing just for some medicine money?” “All these years, we haven’t treated you badly. You said career comes first, and for five years of marriage, you didn’t have kids. We never said anything about it!” “You go on business trips for half a month at a time, and Ian takes care of everything at home and both sets of parents. When has he ever complained? When has he ever frowned?” “His salary and bonuses are handed over to you every month. It’s one thing not to care about his health, but now you want a divorce over medical expenses? How can there be such a heartless woman like you in this world!” Ian couldn’t hold back his tears either. He pressed his lips together and knelt in front of me. “I’m sorry, my love. Is it because the heart supplements I bought are expensive, and you’re worried about my health dragging you down in the future, that you’re divorcing me?” “Please don’t do this. I promise to take good care of my health and work hard to earn money. I won’t be a burden to you. I’m begging you, please don’t divorce me, okay?” He tightly grasped my hand, his forehead pressed against the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Celia was shocked upon hearing this. “Joyce, you’re divorcing him because of this? He’s your husband! Not caring about his health is one thing, but now you even see him as a burden.”

She looked at me disappointedly. “How expensive can a heart supplement be? You’re a married couple, with most of your lives still ahead together. How did you become so petty?” Looking at their grief-stricken and shocked expressions, I sneered and said, “Family? You’re the family. What does it have to do with me? I’m just an outsider!” “Don’t go, Joyce, please don’t go!” Ian suddenly seemed to wake up, lunging forward and grabbing my leg tightly. “Is it because I haven’t cared enough about you that you want a divorce? I’ll change! From now on, I’ll put you first. Please don’t leave me. I really can’t live without you.” Alistair and Victoria, seeing this, clutched their chests in anguish. I kicked Ian away without hesitation. “Instead of begging me, you’d better take your parents to the hospital quickly before you anger them to death.” I no longer looked at their pale faces and turned to leave. Before stepping out, I grabbed the supplements I originally brought for them and, along with the trash bag by the door, tossed them into the garbage bin. Just as I walked out of the community gate, I received a call from my friend. She said, “The agreement is ready. When can you come to pick it up?” “I really don’t understand. You two have been fine all these years, so why suddenly get a divorce?” I tiredly rubbed my temples and spoke softly, “No particular reason, it’s just too exhausting living with their family. I want to be free.” My friend stayed silent for a moment and eventually said nothing more. I immediately went to her place to retrieve the divorce agreement and signed my name without hesitation. In the evening, I went home and quickly packed up my belongings. I just waited for him to come back, sign the papers, and then I would leave for good. But I waited until past nine at night, and he still hadn’t replied to my messages. Helpless, I dialed his number, wanting to have a proper talk about this matter. But just as I took out my phone, I received a call from Ian’s colleague. The voice on the other end was chaotic and hurried. “Joyce, come quickly to see Ian. He’s been out of it all afternoon, looking pale, and he just fainted after work.” “The doctor said he was shocked, his heart’s in trouble, and he’s being resuscitated right now. Come quickly!” I immediately drove to the hospital. As soon as I entered the ward, a crowd of people was gathered around the bedside. Apart from Alistair, Victoria, and Celia, there were also a group of Ian’s colleagues I had seen before but wasn’t familiar with gathered around the bed. Finally, I saw my parents, Barrett and Lucia Sterling, glaring at me with anger. Before I could speak, Barrett slapped me so hard that I hit the door, my ears ringing. Ian on the bed struggled to sit up, his voice trembling. “Talk it out, don’t hit her.” Barrett’s eyes reddened. “Look at him, you’ve upset him this much, and he’s still defending you!” “He treats you so well, why are you filing for divorce for no reason? Just for that bit of money? Are you going to cling to petty gains endlessly?” “I think you’ve had it too easy all these years, that’s why you’re so arrogant!” Even Lucia, who has always loved me the most, looked at me with disappointment. “This time, you’ve really gone too far.” Barrett snorted coldly, pointed at me, and ordered, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and apologize to Alistair and Victoria! You upset them so much yesterday, and today you still dare to cause trouble at the hospital?” I swallowed my grievances and met their angry gazes. “This is my own business, it has nothing to do with you. Please stay out of it.” After speaking, I walked straight to the doctor, borrowed a pen, and handed the already signed divorce agreement to Ian. I said, “I came here today for one purpose only, and that is to get a divorce.” Those who thought I would change my mind after being scolded by my parents all looked at me in astonishment.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398332”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #RomanticSuspense #Lies #Divorce #Hurt

My parents Micah Wright and Aurora Wright, as they got older, needed my sister Cora Wright and me, their two daughters, to take care of them in their old age. Cora is moving to France with her French husband Chris Davis, while I live with my taxi-driving husband Bennett Gray in a two-bedroom apartment in a small town in the U.S. Aurora had no money and ultimately chose me to take care of her, while Micah took all the family assets and had Cora look after him. My family’s financial situation is average. As for the two-bedroom apartment, I gave the master bedroom to Aurora. However, Aurora was still unhappy and always said she wasn’t happy living with me. Every night, she video calls Cora, envies Cora’s exciting life abroad, and complains that I haven’t taken good care of her. But I’m already middle-aged. I not only have to take care of Aurora but also my daughter Anna Gray, who is about to take the SAT, and Bennett, who suffers from cervical spondylosis, not to mention Bennett’s elderly parents who also need care. One thing after another is overwhelming me, yet Aurora is still insisting on going abroad to celebrate Cora’s birthday. I couldn’t take it anymore and had a big fight with her. As a result, Aurora was so upset that she had a cerebral hemorrhage. She lay in the hospital bed, calling out Cora’s name. Staring at me with wide eyes, she regretfully said, “In this life, I shouldn’t have chosen an incompetent daughter like you to take care of me in my old age.” I was so heartbroken that I fainted. When I opened my eyes again, I had gone back ten years. It was the very day Micah and Aurora were assigning caregiving responsibilities. This time, Aurora quickly said, “I want Cora to take care of me in my old age. It’s my turn to enjoy life now.” Hearing her words, I immediately realized that Aurora had also been reborn. She resented me for not giving her a good life in the past, so she was eager to choose the better-off Cora. But she forgot one thing. In the past life, it wasn’t that she didn’t choose Cora; it was Cora who didn’t want to choose her. Aurora spent her whole life as a housewife, but no one helped her pay for her pension. Previously, I suggested that Cora and I contribute together to her pension, but Cora firmly refused. Cora said, “We’re both her daughters. With us taking care of her in old age, do you think we’d treat her poorly?” Besides, Cora married Chris, a wealthy foreign businessman, and doesn’t lack money at all. But compared to the noisy Aurora, Cora preferred taking care of Micah, who had been a middle school teacher all her life. At least taking Micah out wouldn’t embarrass her. Sure enough, Cora showed a hint of embarrassment. She said coyly, “Mom, I want to take care of you too. But your health doesn’t allow you to fly. You’d better stay in the U.S. with Stella.” Stella Wright is my name. After a pause, she added, “When we have time, we’ll definitely come back to see you.” Cora looked at me and said, “Right, Stella? Mom can still help you take care of Anna here.” I sneered inwardly and didn’t respond to her words. In my past life, Aurora claimed she would help me take care of Anna, but in reality, she spent every night video chatting and watching TV with Cora, and slept all day long. All the tasks of picking up and dropping off Anna were handled by Bennett’s mother. One rainy day, Bennett’s mother broke her leg, and both Bennett and I were working out of town. I begged Aurora to pick up Anna just once, but she complained about the distance and being tired, leaving Anna to wait at school until dark. In the end, it was the school security guard who couldn’t stand it and took Anna home. Seeing me stay silent, Aurora gave me a cold glance. “I’m already in my fifties or sixties; I should be enjoying life. She should take good care of Anna and not trouble others.” “We’ve decided then. Next month, I’ll go abroad with you, and your dad will stay at Stella’s house.”

Micah had no objections to this arrangement. He didn’t want to go abroad anyway. Since he knew no one there, he felt there wouldn’t even be anyone to talk to. In his previous life, Micah wanted to return to the U.S. after going abroad. However, Cora wouldn’t let him. Cora and Chris had three kids. They dumped all the kids on Micah to take care of while they lived carefree lives. Luckily, Micah was a teacher by profession. He disciplined the kids just like his students. But he aged faster day by day. However, Aurora always envied Micah, saying he was clearly happy but didn’t realize it. She also praised Cora and Chris, saying if she were abroad, she would live comfortably. Aurora would call Cora every time on purpose in front of me and say those mocking words. She just thinks I married an ordinary man, not as well or as comfortably as Cora. Seeing no room for negotiation, Cora simply made a request. “Mom, you can come abroad with us, but the cost of living is high there, and you don’t have a pension. Why don’t you just sell the house and then come with us?” Our family has two old houses. In the past life, they sold these two houses for just over a million dollars. At that time, Aurora gave all the money from selling the house to Micah, letting him take it, because she felt sorry for Cora’s high expenses abroad. This time, I spoke up first, “You can sell the house, but only one. My dad still needs to live in this one.” After what happened in the past life, I will never live in the same house with them again. Before Cora could speak, Aurora immediately objected, “Why? Your dad should live in your house. Otherwise, how is this considered taking care of your dad in his old age?” I suppressed my anger and explained, “You know. Our house is so small, Micah would feel uncomfortable coming over.” Aurora sneered and said, “Who told you to marry someone without money? If you had married a rich man like Cora, you’d be living in a big villa by now.” Her disdainful gaze pierced me once again. I thought, “Sure enough, when you’re broke, the first people to look down on you are your parents.” Aurora only started treating us differently after Cora and I married different people. Cora can do no wrong. If she wants to eat expensive cherries, she can eat them whenever she wants. But if I occasionally buy some for Anna, I’m told it’s too extravagant. Immediately, Cora said, “Stella, don’t go too far! Dad has his pension, so you don’t need to worry. These two houses should be considered my compensation, right?” Aurora immediately chimed in, “Exactly. These houses are our property. We can give them to whoever we want. Stella, we’re not dead yet, and you’re already thinking of letting Bennett take over our family’s assets?” I thought, “Take over our family’s assets? What is there in our family for him to take over?” On the contrary, whenever Bennett has some money, he buys them gifts. I sneered and said, “If you’re unwilling, you can take Mom and Dad with you, and I’ll give you all the houses. I have no objections.” After saying that, I stood up to leave. Aurora shouted angrily behind me, “What kind of attitude is that? Whether we give you the house or not, we are still your parents. You should take care of us in our old age.” Hearing the argument, Bennett quickly came out of the room carrying a fruit platter. He wiped his hands with his apron and smiled ingratiatingly, “Micah, Aurora, don’t be angry. I know Chris is capable. But as for taking care of you in old age, our family will definitely handle it.” Seeing Bennett bending over with a smile, I felt very uncomfortable. In my past life, Bennett even gave up our master bedroom. The three of us squeezed into a small room, yet he never complained. Anna didn’t even have space for a desk and had to bend over the coffee table every day to do her homework. In this life, I won’t let them suffer such grievances again. But Aurora didn’t even glance at Bennett, just snorted coldly and said, “If you had the ability to go abroad, would we have been separated?” Bennett stood helplessly on the side, while Chris sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking particularly relaxed. He kept asking Cora in French when they could leave. He was still waiting to go back to the hotel for a massage. Chris’s impatience was almost impossible to hide. But Aurora kept handing Chris fruit. “Chris, eat more cherries. You’re busy with work and need to relax.” Chris tossed the fruit aside and stood up. Cora quickly said, “Mom, if you want to go abroad with me, you must bring at least one million dollars. Otherwise, I can’t even help you with the paperwork.” I also stood up and said to Micah, “Dad, if you want to live with me, you can’t give me nothing. Those two houses, Cora and I should each get one.” Aurora glared at me fiercely, seemingly unable to understand why I suddenly became so stubborn. She was determined to go abroad with Cora, so she stood up straight away and rushed into the kitchen to grab a knife. Aurora held the knife to her neck and shouted, “Stella, if you don’t agree to let me sell the two houses, I’ll die. I want everyone to know you’re an unfilial daughter.”

Everyone was startled by Aurora’s actions. Cora covered her mouth and screamed, while Chris widened his eyes and cursed in French. Micah clutched his chest and sighed, “What’s going on? How did our family end up like this?” “Stella, you know your mom’s temper. Just listen to her.” Cora said fearfully, “Stella, it’s just a house, isn’t it? They were originally Mom and Dad’s. Why are you forcing Mom?” I was shaking with anger, while Aurora looked at me smugly, as if showing off. She flaunted her “rights” as a mother. No matter what, she is still my mom. Suddenly, I felt warmth on the back of my hand. It turned out Bennett was holding my hand. He looked at me sincerely and said, “Honey, let’s not take that house. Don’t argue with Aurora. I agree to take care of Micah and let Micah live with us.” Tears were about to fall from my eyes. I sniffled, then nodded and said, “I can give up the house, but I want to sign a guarantee with Cora.” “From today on, you’ll only be responsible for taking care of Mom, and I’ll only be responsible for taking care of Dad. No matter what happens, we can’t go back on this.” Before Cora could speak, Aurora immediately agreed. She said, “Fine. If you stop upsetting me, I’m sure I can live to a hundred.” For the sake of that one million dollars, Cora said nothing more. I hid the coldness in my eyes, recalling the call Cora made when Aurora was hospitalized in her previous life. It was a call to borrow money. Actually, Cora’s life abroad wasn’t as luxurious as we imagined; she had to fight with a third party every day. Later, Cora realized she was also one of the mistresses. Chris already had a wife and had frozen Cora’s bank card. Cora completely broke down and wanted to borrow money from me to return home. I hadn’t had the chance to lend her the money before I was reborn. I want to see how long they can last this time with Aurora going abroad with her. After selling the house, Aurora told everyone she was going abroad with Cora to enjoy life. Neighbors and relatives all envied her, praising her for having a capable daughter. As for me, they all sighed and said, “Stella was sensible since childhood. But when she grew up, she didn’t marry as well as the mischievous Cora.” Hearing these words, I ignored them. I rented the house next door and let Micah move in. After learning about this, Aurora was furious and kept telling others that I was unfilial for not letting Micah live with me. But in fact, Micah felt quite relaxed. He had a room to himself and didn’t have to feel restricted. On the day Aurora and Cora went abroad, Micah and I went to the airport to see them off. At the airport, Aurora dressed like a wealthy lady, not even glancing at me, her eyes filled with longing for a luxurious life abroad. Micah wiped his tears and said, “When you’re abroad, call me often. If we have time, we’ll come visit you there.” Aurora mockingly said, “Then you’d better have Stella earn more money. Otherwise, she won’t even afford the plane ticket.” She still resents me for not letting her go abroad to find Cora in our past life. I lowered my head and said nothing. In this life, she can be with Cora forever. Micah felt very awkward and whispered, “Stella is great. Whether rich or not, she’s still our daughter.” My nose stung sharply. After Micah went abroad in our past life, I never saw him again. I don’t know if he lived well in our past life or if he regretted his decision like Aurora did. Micah is honest and gentle, but in truth, he’s just timid. Aurora makes all the decisions at home. Even if Micah wanted to help me, he wouldn’t dare go against Aurora. Cora urged by the security checkpoint, “Mom, let’s go. If we want to come back later, we can.” Aurora nodded happily, then said to me, “Look at Cora. Having money is great; you can go wherever you want.” I let out a cold laugh and thought, “Really? Then why didn’t she come back to see you often in her past life?” I forced a smile, then waved and said, “Mom, I hope you truly have a good life abroad.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398331”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #Sister #Contemporary #Rebirth #FamilyDrama #Family

The day I, Abigail Morris, got pregnant with my second child, the baby in my belly unexpectedly revealed its thoughts. He said, “My silly sister, Mom said once you graduate, she’ll sell you for an engagement gift and save it for my future wedding.” After hearing this, my daughter Isabella Cook quietly applied to study abroad and was never heard from again. My husband Alexander Cook was about to comfort me but also heard the thoughts of the baby in my belly. He said, “Alexander, you’re actually comforting my mom? You’re the dumbest person in this family. After I’m born, I won’t call you Dad because my dad is a man from the bar. He’s super handsome.” Alexander was so furious that he immediately took me to the hospital for a paternity test. However, the expedited paternity test done by my good friend Iris Brooks clearly stated that the baby in my belly has no biological relation to Alexander. Alexander directly asked me for a divorce. At this moment, the baby in my belly anxiously said, “Why is he suddenly asking for a divorce? Did he find out that Mom lied to him and that the person who saved him back then wasn’t Mom, but Iris?” After hearing these words, Alexander and Iris got married. But because of the baby in my belly, I suddenly had massive bleeding and eventually died in pain on the hospital bed. I never knew why I ended up with such a fate, even until my death. It wasn’t until I was reborn that I heard the voice of the baby in my belly again. At this moment, a woman’s voice rang out. “Abigail, congratulations. This time, you’re truly pregnant with your second child. Now, you have a son and a daughter. There’s no mother happier than you.” Hearing this familiar voice, I suddenly opened my eyes. Seeing the ultrasound report in Iris’s hand, I finally confirmed that I had truly been reborn. Upon learning that the baby in my belly was a boy, Alexander immediately sent Iris a bouquet of flowers as a token of gratitude. Isabella, about to graduate from college, and Alexander were competing to name the baby. But the next second, I heard the inner voice of the baby in my belly. He said, “My silly sister, I don’t want you naming me. Mom said once you graduate, she’ll sell you for engagement gifts and save the rest for my future wedding.” Hearing these words, Isabella’s face instantly turned pale. It was the same in the previous life; after hearing the inner voice of the baby in my belly, Isabella’s smile disappeared. The once lively and cheerful Isabella became silent and distant from us. At first, I thought she was worried about her graduation thesis. But as soon as Isabella graduated from college, she applied to study abroad. After that, we never heard from her again. It wasn’t until two months later that she made a call. She said, “Mom, this is the last time I’ll call you Mom because I will never come back. I will get married and have children abroad. Just pretend you never had a daughter like me.” I never expected Isabella to say such things, and I cried my heart out at the time. Now, seeing the disappointed look in Isabella’s eyes when she looks at me, I immediately grab her hand. I said, “Isabella, I’m not planning to have this child anymore. Don’t worry. You will always be my dearest daughter.” Isabella was stunned instantly, but Iris beside her became anxious. She said, “Abigail, are you crazy? Why would you abort the child?” Alexander also showed a puzzled expression. He said, “Yes. Abigail, what’s wrong with you? Haven’t you always wanted a son and a daughter? We can afford two kids. Why do you insist on aborting this child?” Looking at Alexander’s confused expression, I became even more certain that he hadn’t heard the voice of the child in my belly just now. It seems this child can selectively choose who can hear his inner voice. To avoid the tragedy of the previous life, I must abort him. I said to Alexander, “Alexander, this time you must listen to me. We have to abort this child.” As soon as I finished speaking, the child in my belly anxiously kicked me. He said, “Mom, you’re so cruel. Just because you’re afraid Alexander will find out I’m not his biological son, you want to abort me to cover up your affair?”

His voice was like a curse, reminding me of the experiences from my previous life. At that time, Isabella had just cut ties with me, and I cried sadly every day. Alexander, worried about my health, urged me to take care of myself for the sake of the baby in my belly. It was during this time that the baby in my belly let Alexander hear his voice. Alexander was incredibly gentle with me one moment, but the next moment, he dragged me to the hospital. I thought he was worried about the baby in my belly, so I obediently cooperated with all the tests. But on the day we got the paternity test results, I realized Alexander suspected the baby in my belly wasn’t his. But how is that possible? I have never done anything to betray him. What shocked me even more was that the paternity test clearly stated that the baby in my belly had no biological relation to Alexander. So, Alexander completely believed the voice of the baby in my belly. Just like now, Alexander quietly listens to the voice of the baby in my belly. He said, “I’m really so pitiful. I haven’t even met my dad. He’s young and handsome, the most attractive man in the bar, much better than Alexander.” “Mom, didn’t you say you’d divorce Alexander after giving birth to me, then reunite me with my real dad?” To be honest, I have no idea who the “most attractive man in the bar” my baby is talking about is. Because I’ve never been to a bar. But Alexander’s face kept getting worse, and his gaze at me was filled with doubt and suspicion. He asked, “Are you in such a hurry to abort this child because it’s not mine?” “I can guarantee this child is yours. If you don’t believe me, we can do a paternity test.” I was the first to suggest doing a paternity test. Seeing how certain I was, he gradually felt relieved. He said, “Abigail, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but…” Sensing the awkward atmosphere between us as a couple, Iris quickly eased the tension. She said, “You two are really troublesome. Don’t you just want a paternity test? I’ll help you do it. I guarantee the results will be out within four hours.” I sneered at her and said, “Iris, thanks for your kindness. However, I’d like to choose another hospital.” “No way!” Iris’s eyes revealed a hint of panic. “I’m the doctor. Why do you need to go to another hospital? That’s too troublesome. Don’t you trust me?” I really couldn’t trust her. After all, in my previous life, it was she who did that paternity test, completely nailing me to the shame of “cheating in marriage.” In the end, I was forced to divorce without taking any property. She even used the child in my womb to replace me and successfully married Alexander. As the ultimate beneficiary of the whole incident, I definitely couldn’t believe she had nothing to do with the child in my womb. So, I put on a solemn look and said to Alexander, “Paternity testing is a big deal. Iris is my best friend. To ensure the accuracy of the test, Alexander, can you really trust Iris to do it for us?” Just as Alexander was about to agree to my proposal, the child in my womb suddenly exclaimed, “My mom’s method is really clever.” “Alexander would never guess that my mom had already bribed the doctor. No matter which hospital we go to, the paternity test will state that I am his biological son.”

Is this child trying to drive me to death again? I tried hard to suppress my anger and finally threw the problem to Alexander. “You decide how to do the paternity test. There are thousands of hospitals across the U.S. You can choose any place you like.” Alexander seemed a bit tired too. He rubbed his temples and said, “Forget it. Let’s have Iris do it. We’ll watch her do it. That way, there shouldn’t be any issues.” I thought about it and felt that with four pairs of eyes watching, Iris probably wouldn’t make any mistakes. Iris showed a hint of awkwardness but still drew our blood. Four hours later, the paternity test results came out. Seeing the results, I felt relieved. Although I don’t know why my child wants to harm me, biologically speaking, he is indeed the son of Alexander and me. This is absolutely certain. Iris pretended to speak kindly, “See? You’re just overthinking. I watched you get married and have a child. How could the paternity test be wrong?” But as soon as she finished speaking, the voice of the child in my belly echoed. He said, “My mom is so charming that Iris would rather give up her professional ethics to help her fake the paternity test.” Alexander instantly became furious and grabbed Iris’s arm. He asked, “Iris, do you dare swear on your career that this paternity test is real?” Iris felt extremely wronged but didn’t say a word. Her expression made it seem like I really asked her to fake the report. I was about to explain, but the baby in my belly seemed even more anxious than me. He said, “Mom, quickly tell Alexander to let go of Iris’s hand.” “If he sees the burn on Iris’s arm, he’ll know it was Iris who saved his life back then. If that happens, you won’t be able to hide the fact that you pretended to be his savior to marry him.” I never pretended. Back then, Alexander had a car accident. When he was sent to the hospital, he went into shock due to excessive blood loss. But the problem was, the hospital happened to be out of stock of Alexander’s blood type. It was me who broke hospital rules and gave Alexander 800 milliliters of my blood. After donating blood, I was weak and accidentally knocked over the kettle on the table, leaving a permanent scar on my arm. At the time, my colleague joked, “With such a big scar, what if you can’t get married in the future?” The still semi-conscious Alexander mumbled, “I’ll marry you.” I just took it as a joke and didn’t think much of it. But later, Alexander recognized me as the nurse who saved his life because of that scar. Because of this fate, we got together, then married and had children. To this day, we have been married for 16 years. I thought Alexander wouldn’t doubt me just because of a thought from the child in my belly. But he anxiously rolled up Iris’s sleeve. When he saw that Iris indeed had a scar identical to mine on her arm, he gripped Iris’s hand even tighter. He asked, “What’s the story behind this scar?” Iris nervously pulled back her hand and gave me a resentful glance. Then she said, “This happened over ten years ago. What’s the point of talking about it now?” “I need to know the answer,” Alexander said stubbornly. Iris squeezed out a couple of tears and said, “Back then, I saved a car accident victim. “After giving him 800 milliliters of blood, I accidentally touched a hot water bottle and got scalded by boiling water. “He said he would marry me. But I waited all these years and never saw him.” I shouted, “Alexander, don’t listen to her. She’s lying to you.” I grabbed Alexander’s hand, trying to make him believe me. But he impatiently pushed me away. “Abigail, I never thought you’d pretend to be someone else.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398330”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #BabyChildren #Paranormal #Pregnancy #Suspense #Revenge #Rebirth