The year of my purest crush, I deliberately manipulated my test scores to ensure the guy I loved stayed second in our grade for three whole years so he would remember me. He finally snapped, asked me out to distract me, and ruin my focus. I smiled and said yes, then broke up with him first. Good news: He never forgot me. Bad news: Years later, he was my interviewer for a job. He immediately threw my résumé aside. “Absolutely not. Next candidate.” 1 Liam was still holding a grudge. I smiled, giving a polite little bow. Seeing him here was a surprise. Since he rejected me, I wasn’t discouraged; I simply turned to leave. “Wait.” His voice, laced with suppressed fury, came from behind me. “Is that all the determination you have to join our company, Ms. Song?” The cold severity on Liam’s face was tinged with anger, which immediately chipped away at his mature, CEO aura. He was still the hothead he was in high school. “Of course not. I’m extremely determined to join your company. This is a dream opportunity for me.” My gaze was earnest. Liam scoffed, saying nothing more. The rest of the interview was conducted by the other interviewer. I was well-prepared and answered every question perfectly. Just as my acceptance seemed certain, Liam jumped back in. “Ms. Song, do you know the position you’re interviewing for?” I nodded. “Yes, Executive Assistant to the CEO.” Liam’s sneer deepened. “Did you bother to check who the CEO was before coming?” Seeing how much it bothered him, I couldn’t resist teasing him. “I did check. I thought it was just a namesake, but it really is my ex—” I watched his lips tighten, the vein on his arm bulge, and then I slowly finished my sentence. “—desk partner.” Liam’s eyes were practically shooting fire. The other interviewer noticed the tension and dabbed his forehead. “Ms. Song, your résumé is excellent. We’ll be in touch.” “She’s hired,” Liam interjected, deciding immediately. He said slowly, emphasizing each word: “We must give my former desk partner some special treatment.” I wasn’t flustered. I winked. “Thank you.” The moment I left the office and turned the corner, Liam was right behind me. “Aren’t you curious why I hired you?” I didn’t blush. “Because I’m exceptionally talented, of course.” Liam was furious. “Jane Song, you’re still as arrogant as ever.” I stopped, giving him a meaningful look. “What else? I can’t imagine someone would want to rekindle things, ex-boyfriend.” Liam instantly darkened. “You think too much of yourself.” “I hired you to get revenge. To torment you.” “Jane Song, I’m giving you one last chance. You can choose not to accept the offer.” He raised his chin, his pride as prominent as ever. But my mind flashed back to him begging me to stay. Even the proud Liam had once pleaded: “Please don’t break up with me.” Liam mistook my hesitation for fear. His fingers curled subtly, but he couldn’t let go of his pride. “If you’re scared, don’t mess with me again.” I sighed, smiling. “Liam, you’re still the same.” I didn’t elaborate until I reached the company entrance. Liam looked annoyed. “The same as what?” I waved goodbye, giving him a mysterious smile. “Unblock me on everything, and I’ll tell you.” 2 Liam had blocked me everywhere. He even blocked me on Spotify. The day we broke up, he even attacked the digital chicken in my Farmville game. Before that, he called the chicken “Son.” He’d sneak his phone into school to feed and clean its digital coop when I was too busy. The straight-A, second-in-class student never broke the rules. The only time he ever used his family’s influence was to arrange for me to be his desk partner. In our advanced class, where co-ed seating wasn’t the norm, we were noticeably conspicuous. But no one objected because I was the top-ranked student. No one suspected a romance, including myself. I knew Liam was trying to steal my secrets. He was determined to find out how a girl from a small town had snatched his precious rank, and he planned to reclaim it. I couldn’t stand him for two reasons: One: He was rich. I had an anti-rich bias. Two: He looked down his nose at everyone. He was arrogant and showed off too much. The first impression was so bad that my attitude toward him was cold. Liam, being proud, wouldn’t tolerate that. The only conversations we had were about test scores, and Liam was always the one to break the silence. “What did you get?” I’d give him my score, short and sweet, not expecting his reply. If his score was higher, he’d proudly hum. If it was the same, he’d give a cold chuckle. If it was lower, he’d tighten his lips, his usually bright eyes dimming, his flying eyebrows furrowed. Wait, why am I staring at him again? I subtly looked away, gripping my pen tightly. The sneaky second-ranked student was trying to use his good looks to ruin my focus, but I wouldn’t fall for it. 3 Our frosty desk partnership continued until the competition season. Walking back from handing in our registration forms, Liam said smugly, “Jane Song, you’re smart. But in competitions, talent isn’t enough. Experience is key.” “I’m definitely going to beat you this time!” The resources in my small hometown weren’t extensive, and I hadn’t had much competition experience. Liam was arrogant but not blind; he had a point. But I was just as proud about my grades and wouldn’t concede easily. I smiled calmly. “Since you’re so confident, how about a bet? The loser has to fulfill one request from the winner—nothing too outrageous, of course.” Liam’s proud face showed doubt. He sensed a trap. I slowly drew out my words. “I didn’t think Liam Chen was scared… to lose…” If a weaker student had challenged him, Liam would have dismissed it as a cheap trick. But coming from me, Liam exploded. “You’re on!” he bit out. “Jane Song, you’re finished.” Perfect. He didn’t like me either. The competition results came out. Both Liam and I won gold. As expected, we compared our answers. Mine was slightly higher. He was right, experience mattered. If I had his resources, I would have scored even higher. Liam’s face was dark despite the gold medal. He couldn’t stand the shame for another day. “Tell me what you want me to do. Hurry up.” I pretended I didn’t remember. “What request?” “Oh, right, the bet.” “So, why are you the one fulfilling my request?” We were alone under the trees during lunch break. Liam suddenly gave up, shouting, “Because I lost! I lost! Are you happy now?” I almost burst out laughing. Seeing his misery, I held it in. “Easy there, little man,” I said softly. “Who are you calling ‘little man’? I’m three months older than you!” Liam was absolutely enraged. “Okay, okay. Then I’ll call you ‘Big Man’?” Oops, too far. Liam’s face was flushed crimson. I quickly explained, “I didn’t mean anything by it…” I made it worse. Liam lowered his proud head. “What do you want?” The whole situation made me feel less like mocking him. “It’s nothing. Just show me an air throw.” Some of the boys in class did that motion. Liam always looked at them like they were idiots. I agreed with him. I only asked for that to humiliate him. Predictably, Liam turned bright red. Afraid I’d push him too far, I let him off. “If you really don’t want to, you don’t have to.” He glared at me. “I keep my promises.” Liam stretched, jumped, and performed a perfect throw. It was smooth and athletic. He fixed his collar, pretending it never happened. Then he said fiercely, “Don’t tell anyone.” What a little peacock. The seed of my crush silently took root right there. 4 On my first day of work, I walked into the office with my left foot first. A cold sneer met me. That night, after I left the office, my vengeful ex finally unblocked me and sent a single period mark. I immediately opened the chat, screenshotted his entire profile, and scoured it for information. Then, I unblocked him and replied to his single period. “Childish.” I knew I was being childish, but I couldn’t stop provoking him. Unsurprisingly, he blocked me again. Big temper. To appease my ex-boyfriend-turned-boss, I brought him a warm cup of sweet milk. He took one sip and frowned. “You can’t even make coffee?” I smiled sweetly. “Shall I dump it and make you a new cup?” He took another huge gulp. “Don’t let it happen again.” Then Liam immersed himself in work. I was disappointed. He said he’d torment me. Is this it? After working for hours, I went to the break room. My work friend came in. “Jane, did the CEO yell at you?” Everyone was secretly watching the boss. They all saw his dark face. My friend looked guilty. “It’s my fault. I shared his photo with you because he’s so hot. I didn’t expect you to quit your job and jump ship so fast! Even someone as dedicated as you is obsessed with him, huh?” I caught the keyword: “obsessed.” Liam was rich and handsome. Of course, he had admirers, but “obsessed” sounded serious. My friend, who always had the best gossip, continued. “The day after the CEO started, a Ms. Lin showed up. I hear she was his longtime companion when he studied overseas.” “She picked a few good-looking employees and launched into stories about her and the CEO abroad.” “No one asked her! She was marking her territory like a dog.” My hand clenched. When I saw Liam’s photo, I felt like fate was giving me a second chance. I didn’t want to regret it this time, so I came back. I foresaw many outcomes, but not one where Liam was involved with someone else. My heart sank. I felt a crushing disappointment.

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My eight-year-old brother, Max, said he was reborn. He led five-year-old me, the girl with zero sense of direction, to a lost, simple-minded boy picking through garbage in a suburban field. The boy was looking for a rag doll. Max pointed to the doll hairpin in my hair and said, “She is the doll. She’s yours now.” With that, Max walked away without looking back. I waited and waited. From noon until sunset. My brother never returned. Then, a strange, echoing voice cut through the air: “The villainess doesn’t know that the male lead has been reborn. In this life, he will only cherish the tragically deceased female lead of the previous life as his own sister.” … I didn’t understand the words. My eyes filled with tears, and I stood trembling in confusion. The lost boy slowly finished flipping the last bit of trash. He wiped his grimy hands on his clothes. Then he tugged the doll hairpin in my hair. “Rag doll, do you want to come home with me?” 1 The end of the road. The silhouette that had walked away never reappeared. I bit down hard on my lip, my eyes red, and pushed the boy’s hand away. My voice trembled despite my best effort. “I can talk! I am not your rag doll!” My mother died in childbirth. My father was long gone. My brother had carried me, still a baby, into the orphanage. Since then, he was the only one who had ever been kind to me. He told me children shouldn’t follow strangers. I stood rigidly by the stinking pile of garbage, waiting for him to return. Five years. Since the day I was born, he had never once left me behind. I didn’t understand why he suddenly left me here. I didn’t understand the strange voice in the air, or what “reborn” meant. I only believed that my brother would come back soon. The sky grew dark. The sun slowly sank behind the woods. A wetness blurred my vision. I wiped my eyes furiously and kept staring down the road. The boy stood before me, studying me intently. I stared back, my eyes wide and cautious. “My brother is coming to pick me up! I won’t go with you!” The boy looked startled, watching my lips move. He seemed to realize that I wasn’t just a doll. He looked disappointed. “Then you stay here. I have to go home now that it’s dark.” The last edge of the sun disappeared behind the trees. The surroundings grew darker. The boy walked away, leaving me alone. 2 The last light faded. I looked down, barely seeing my own feet. Strange bugs and birds chirped. The grass rustled—I didn’t know what it was. I suppressed my tears, afraid to cry out loud. I crouched, curled into a ball, hands clenched, sticky with sweat. It felt like forever. I was sleepy, my eyelids heavy. But I didn’t dare to close them. I kept my eyes wide and my ears straining against the dark. Then, a shadow appeared before me. A familiar height, taller than me. The tears I’d been fighting finally burst out. I stood up, finally letting out the breath I’d been holding. My lips trembled violently. I wailed, rushing into his embrace. But the scent was unfamiliar. Not my brother. I immediately stopped crying and stepped back. In the dim light, I recognized his dirty clothes. The boy who was picking through the trash. He looked at me in the dark. After a long pause, he said foolishly, “Your brother definitely doesn’t want you.” I was furious and ashamed. I clenched my fists. “You’re lying!” The boy was serious. “He said he was leaving you for me, like a rag doll. No one picks up something they threw away.” I bit down hard. I wanted to argue, but no words came out. I could only make small whimpering sounds. The boy looked around. “No one wants you. If you stay here, the monsters will eat you.” He turned to leave. I couldn’t hold back the tears, shaking uncontrollably. “You’re lying! Brother will come for me!” But my feet moved on their own, chasing after him. I was truly terrified of the monsters behind me. I cried louder. Unconsciously, I reached out and grabbed his sleeve. I held on tightly, sobbing. “Brother is coming! He promised to buy me a cake today! It’s my birthday! He saved up for months!” Last night, he had gently held my hand and said, “Little Jane, tomorrow I’m going to give you the biggest surprise!” We walked for a long time. When I hiccuped from crying, I suddenly noticed the light ahead. The strange voice in the air returned: “Isn’t this the Military Base? The place where the female lead will soon be adopted and live. How did the stray idiot bring the villainess here?” “I told you he’s an idiot. Why are you surprised?” “Trespassing on a military base is a crime. Now the villainess, who caused so much trouble in the past life, might be eliminated at five.” I finally saw the light. The wide, imposing gate, topped with a red star. Guards in crisp uniforms stood outside, holding rifles, their faces stern. My crying stopped in my throat. This time, I understood a little of what the voice was saying. I gripped the boy’s sleeve. Just as I was about to say we couldn’t go in there, a young couple rushed out of the Military Base, looking straight at us. The man wore a military uniform, his face stern and angry. The woman, in a smart dress, rushed towards us, her eyes red with tears. She embraced the boy next to me. “You ran off again! We’ve been looking all over the base for you! You’re trying to worry us to death!” I clutched my skirt, afraid to speak. The woman noticed me and paused. “Who… who is this child?” 3 The boy lifted his head proudly. “Someone gave her to me. She can talk and cry.” The woman’s face froze. The stern man behind her stepped forward, his face dark with anger. “Nonsense! You’ve caused trouble!” He controlled his anger and knelt down, speaking gently to me. “Little girl, do you remember your family and where you live? Uncle will take you home immediately.” I was too scared. I stammered, “I’m from the orphanage. I have a brother. He lost me by accident.” The couple handed the boy to the guard and offered to drive me back to the orphanage. Outside the orphanage, I immediately recognized my brother. He was talking to the director under the streetlamp. My eyes welled up. I urgently pushed open the military jeep door and ran toward him. The couple saw I found my family and stopped following. I ran to the gate and met my brother’s eyes. I saw shock, quickly followed by disgust and warning. I thought I was mistaken. Then I heard his urgent voice talking to the director: “You always said she was stupid, that she couldn’t remember the way even after walking it a hundred times. She’s sickly and causes the orphanage so much trouble.” “I accidentally lost her this time. It has nothing to do with you.” “The Colonel’s wife was considering Jane but also Sarah. Let them adopt Sarah. Sarah is smart and will remember to come back and thank you…” I stood rigid, unable to believe what I was hearing. The Colonel and his wife had visited the orphanage recently. They said Sarah and I were the best behaved and they wanted to adopt one of us. My brother tried to make me look good, and the Colonel’s wife decided on me. Sarah was the daughter of an acquaintance of my mother. Her father got into trouble, and she came to the orphanage. She often tried to get close to my brother, but he ignored her. Yesterday, when she came to wish me a happy birthday, my brother angrily sent her away: “Jane’s birthday has nothing to do with you!” Now, just one day later, he was changing his tune. I didn’t know why. Just like I didn’t know why those strange voices kept appearing in the air. The director listened to my brother, then smiled with satisfaction. “Boy, remember what you said. You lost your sister.” “Sarah is clever. If she gets adopted by the Colonel, she will definitely come back to thank me…” I stood there, gripping my hands, unable to process the words. When the director left, my brother walked toward me, his face dark. He asked coldly, “How did you find your way back? Did that idiot teach you the route?” My eyes ached. I fought back tears, but my voice cracked with misery. “Why did you abandon me?” “Why?” My brother sneered. His eyes were filled with a strange, intense hatred toward me. “If I hadn’t been softhearted and remembered our sibling bond, I would have killed you the moment I saw you!” 4 I stared at him, bewildered and terrified. He moved closer, his hateful gaze stabbing me. “In the past life, Sarah just joked about selling my Harvard acceptance letter. You created a huge scene at the college and the military base, humiliating her and sending her to jail, where she killed herself…” I barely understood his words. He stopped talking, sneering with rage. “Why am I wasting my breath? Jane, I spared your life. That’s more than enough. You live or die on your own terms!” “Never appear in front of Sarah and me again, or you’ll regret it!” My whole body trembled. Instinctively, I reached for his arm. He violently pushed my hand away. He turned and shoved me hard. I didn’t know he could push so hard. My body flew backward. My vision blurred. My forehead hit something. Blood flowed, dripping into my eyes. Through the bloody haze, I saw my brother’s cold, resolute back as he walked away. I finally understood. He truly didn’t want me anymore. Because of some confused, incomprehensible reason, he was gone. The young couple who had brought me back led me back to the Military Base. I saw the idiot boy sitting on the sofa in the foyer. He was staring at the door, looking anxious. When he saw me, his eyes brightened. He rushed over and grabbed my wrist. He looked furious, staring at the couple. “She is mine! Don’t you dare take her away again!” He turned to me, carefully checking me over. “Are you hungry? Are you tired? I’ll take you to eat and sleep.” He spoke to me like I was a genuine rag doll. The woman sighed. “That’s my son, Alex. He had an accident six months ago and… lost his mind when his sister died.” So, he wasn’t a stray. He was looking for a doll because he missed his sister. The woman took my other hand, speaking softly. “He won’t hurt you. If you’re afraid, I’ll move him to another room…” I remembered how he came back for me at sunset, even though I drove him away. I looked at her, shaking my head firmly. “I’m not afraid.” The woman’s eyes reddened. She stroked my hair. “Good. Since he brought you back, this is your home now, as long as you want to stay.”

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To ensure a painless childbirth, my roommate secretly activated a pain-transfer system tied to me. She gave birth silently, refusing an epidural, pretending not to hear my screams of agony. I bore all the pain, collapsing in the dorm, ignored. When I woke up, I was back on the day my roommate activated the system. “Jenna, be careful. Don’t get hurt. It would break my heart.” I agreed sweetly, then sneaked into the bathroom to draw a razor design on my wrist. My roommate shrieked, demanding to know what I was doing. I looked at her excitedly: “I don’t feel pain anymore! Tomorrow, I’m getting a full-back tattoo—no anesthesia!” 1 “Jenna, Jenna, I’m talking to you. Can’t you hear me?” The dorm curtain was yanked open. I shot up, instinctively touching my lower abdomen. No crippling pain. No tearing sensation. No gushing blood. Did I just travel back in time? Or was the last life just a nightmare? As I pondered this, I was shoved again. I looked up and saw my roommate, Bella, glaring at me. “What is wrong with you? I’ve called your name a dozen times.” Seeing her, my fists clenched. The culprit, standing right there, pretending to be innocent. “What do you want?” I asked coldly. She gave an awkward smile. “Can’t I call you just because? Jenna, we’re roommates. I should care about you.” I stared at her, maintaining my cold silence. She lost interest. “Fine. I want to tell you to watch yourself. Stop being so clumsy and hurting yourself, okay?” I immediately pulled the curtain shut. Once she left, I grabbed my phone. Seeing the date, tears instantly streamed down my face. I was a year back—before Bella got pregnant! I recalled what Bella had just said and felt a spike of suspicion. Was it already active? I made a sudden decision. I picked up my phone and slammed it hard onto my elbow. The expected pain didn’t come. Instead, a muffled cry came from outside the curtain. “Ouch! I dropped my phone!” Bella complained loudly. I pretended to grumble to myself, but I knew: Bella had already activated the pain-transfer system. Bella gritted out, her voice raised, “Can you please be more careful!” I yanked the curtain open. “Why do you care if I get hurt? Besides, even when I get hurt, I don’t feel pain. What do I have to worry about?” She was staring at me, a flicker of panic in her eyes. Her hand was pressed against her own arm. She clearly took the full hit of my minor injury. “What are you talking about? My pain? What does my lack of pain have to do with you?” Her attempt at denial was transparent. I found the whole system thing unbelievable, even if she confessed. I narrowed my eyes. She quickly changed the subject. “Let’s not make things awkward. I was just worried about you.” “You care about me?” I scoffed. I believed her once, and she dragged me into a living hell. 2 In the past life, Bella didn’t just say she cared. She often bought me knee pads and wrist guards, urging me to be careful. I thought she was a true friend. I constantly bought her cupcakes and lattes. If I ever felt slightly unwell, she was the first to notice. Sometimes, when I got a minor scrape, I didn’t even notice, but she’d be frantic. She was far more ruthless than she seemed now. When I got injured, she would quickly inflict the same injury on herself. Pain was transferred instantly, but the actual wound took an hour or two to transfer. If she didn’t match the injury, I might notice the difference. To keep me in the dark, she shadowed me constantly. I soon noticed her growing belly. “Bella, you’re pregnant? What happened?” I asked nervously. She acted nonchalant. “It’s the 21st century. So what if a college student is pregnant? The government encourages it! You guys can help me raise the baby after it’s born. It’ll be easy!” The other roommates avoided her, disgusted. But I stayed, thinking of our friendship, helping her with deliveries and meals. She acted grateful, but if I got hurt, she would lecture me on being careful. I started noticing strange stretch marks on my stomach. I posted a picture online, and people said they looked like pregnancy stretch marks. I didn’t even have a boyfriend! I complained to Bella, but she dismissed it: “You’re just fat. Those are growth marks.” As her belly grew, my body developed more strange symptoms—headaches, stomach pains. At the worst times, I’d hide in bed and cry, not knowing why. The other roommates thought I was crazy. Because of the drama and Bella’s pregnancy, they all transferred dorms. Only we were left. When Bella was ready to give birth, I begged her to go to the hospital. She refused: “I’m giving birth right here in the dorm! You stay and help me. When the baby is born, you’ll be the godmother.” Thinking of our friendship, I stayed. But when labor began, I realized the horrible truth. The tearing pain was so severe I passed out. The room felt like it was crushing me. I tried to scream for help, but my mouth was covered. My phone was smashed and thrown away. I finally looked at Bella, who was holding a newborn, smiling contentedly. “Call an ambulance! Help me!” I screamed, realizing the truth. She looked at me coldly. “Call the police? So they can arrest me? So they can find out we’re linked by pain transfer? Dream on, Jenna! I’ve had enough of you!” “Pain transfer?” I whispered, linking the pieces: the phantom injuries, the unexplained relief, the stretch marks, the pain… “Yes. You bear all my injuries. I can’t risk scarring myself; I need to look perfect.” I glared at her. “Then you let me suffer? Can’t you just not have the baby?” Her eyes flashed with greed. “I can’t not have the baby. If you knew who the father was, you’d want to keep it, too.” “The doctor said I can’t have an epidural; I have to endure it. I thought I would miss this chance, but then I got this System.” “Surprised?” she sneered, kicking me hard. She instantly paled. “Crap, I forgot. I take triple the pain for your injuries.” “You have to die, or you’ll get pregnant one day and hurt me again!” Triple the pain… My eyes lit up. I knew how to fight back. I tried to hurt myself, but I was too weak. “Why me? If you’re afraid of my pregnancy, just unlink us!” “Unlink? Do you know the cost? The next person’s pain is five times the rebound. Why would I do that?” I tried to speak, but only blood poured from my mouth. Bella smiled. “Perfect timing. You’re dying. You’re useless now.” “You poor girl. You took out loans for tuition. How did you get into the same university as me?” “I made you clean the dorm, and you had the nerve to frown! People from the countryside should have that work ethic ingrained!” “Now you’re going to die. It’s a holiday weekend. No one will find you. Die in peace.” She took her baby and walked away, leaving me to bleed out. I closed my eyes in hatred. And then I woke up. 3 Triple the pain. The thought of my small act causing Bella such agony sparked an idea. I recalled disturbing online posts and a bold plan formed in my mind. I jumped out of bed. Seeing my sudden movement, Bella screamed. “Jenna, be careful! Don’t get hurt! I’ll be worried about you!” She rushed over, giving me a cookie to look concerned. I took it, eating it instantly. I pretended to agree, then grabbed a box cutter and slipped into the bathroom. I mimicked the gestures of performance artists, making superficial cuts on my wrist. Just superficial cuts. The blood flowed, but it wasn’t deep. As expected, I felt no pain. According to my last life, the wounds would vanish soon. As I made the third cut, she couldn’t take it anymore. A sharp scream came from outside the bathroom door. Bella pounded frantically. “Jenna, what are you doing! Come out!” 4 I kept working on the design. Bella shrieked outside. She couldn’t take it. I heard her collapse outside the door. I made a few more cuts, just to be sure. Then I unlocked the door. I knelt by Bella. “Bella, why are you lying on the floor? You can’t sleep here.” She slowly opened her eyes, unable to move. Her lips were white. “What were you doing inside…” I played innocent. “I was just doing a little art. I hate the color red, but I’ve fallen in love with blood.” I reached for the box cutter. Bella scrambled up, grabbing my hand. “Don’t!” “Don’t worry about me. I’m calling 911 for you.” I pulled out my phone. “Don’t call! I’m fine!” she whispered. I looked at her skeptically. Bella slowly stood up. Her left arm was limp; she didn’t dare move it. Her right hand’s nails were digging into her palm. I felt a sharp pain in my own palm. Compared to the pain of childbirth, this was nothing. I helped Bella onto her bed. She regained some color and snapped: “You’re crazy! What are you doing?” I shook my head, feigning innocence, and returned to the bathroom. Bella shrieked: “Jenna! Get out here!” But I was just cleaning up the blood. I wasn’t going to scare the other two roommates. Seeing my silence, Bella finally calmed down. She had no idea that this was only the beginning. 5 The next day, Bella wore a long-sleeved top, even though it was the peak of summer. Her strange attire drew attention. “Bella, why the long sleeves?” our roommate Amy asked. Bella quickly covered her arm. “It’s for sun protection.” I put on my own cooling sleeves. As I walked out, Bella glared at me. She followed me. When I entered the elective class, she finally confronted me. “We’re not in the same class. Why are you following me?” She immediately reached for my pockets. “I need to check you don’t have anything weird. You might hurt yourself!” The classroom was full. I raised my voice. “Are you my mother? Why are you so controlling?” Everyone stared at Bella. “Isn’t that Bella? I heard she treats her roommates like servants.” “She’s so controlling! Her roommate is so unlucky!” Bella, who cares about her image, recoiled. “Jenna, you better behave! I don’t want you doing anything weird!” She rushed out. I sat down, ignoring the pitying looks. This elective class was a joke; you just signed in and could sleep or play games. I immediately contacted a professional piercer. “I want eight piercings on my ear, some on the cartilage, and a bridge piercing. I also want a septum piercing, like Indian women.” “I want them all. No anesthesia. Make it hurt.” The piercer was skeptical. “Are you messing with me?” I explained. “I’m joining the alternative culture. Piercings are cool. Everywhere.” The piercer sighed. “Fine. You’ll sign a waiver.” I screenshotted the appointment and posted it on my school-only social media. “The world kisses me with pain.” Less than a minute later, the classroom door burst open. Bella was screaming. “Jenna! What are you trying to do!” The professor glared. “What is all this noise? Are you in this class?” Bella ignored him, rushing toward me. She grabbed my phone. “Are you sick? You can’t get piercings without permission!” The other students quickly pulled out their phones to record. I played dumb. “Why do you care if I get piercings? Bella, are you okay? You try to search me, and now you try to control my body!” Bella noticed the cameras and lowered her voice. “I’m worried about scarring! You have keloid tendencies!” “I don’t know anything about that! Give me my phone back, or I’ll call the police!” Bella returned the phone and was kicked out by the professor. Five minutes later, an anonymous post about Bella’s bizarre behavior appeared on the campus wall.

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The whole world knew I was Nathan Bell’s most hated ex-girlfriend, the top celebrity singer. On a reality show, a young idol casually turned on the car stereo and played the default playlist. It was my song. Two seconds into the intro, Nathan, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke coldly: “Terrible. Skip it.” He skipped. It was my song again. He skipped again. Still my song. Nathan’s face looked terrible. He glanced at the driver and sighed. “Kid, you have awful taste for someone so young.” The young idol hesitated, then weakly spoke: “Bro, this is your car. And that’s your playlist…” Nathan: “?!” 1 Nathan and I are the entertainment industry’s most famous feuding exes. Our track record is legendary. Since we debuted, roughly a third of our songs have been direct disses at each other. I don’t remember who started it. It was just: he releases one, I release one; he releases one, I release one… Hatred is the number one productivity fuel. Stimulated by Nathan, I managed to pump out ten albums in two years. Back when we were dating, only our close friends knew. But nothing escapes the all-seeing eye of the internet. Our lyrics, when pieced together, read like a public argument. #NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Hollywood’s Pure Hatred Couple #NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Did They Dig Up Each Other’s Graves? #NathanBellAndAlyssaLane: Why Did They Break Up? How Can They Be This Bitter? These ridiculous, trending topics popped up one after another. Our motto: No peace, only beef. Nathan and I topped the charts for months. Then, at the end of the year, the platform forced us to attend the awards ceremony. The host asked: “To both of you, who do you want to thank most for your success today?” I listed everyone: “My family, my friends, my manager, my fans…” Nathan looked straight at me. “I want to thank my ex-girlfriend for dumping me. She gave me endless inspiration for my breakup songs. She is…” He smirked, a thin, fake smile. “…My muse.” He calls me a “paint-by-number zombie” and “Picasso’s failed abstract project” online, but in person, I’m his muse? The guy is a piece of work. Always passive-aggressive. On the way home, I wrote a new song: Muse is your cheap tears, Packaging lies to cover fears. Voice cracked, career is down, Go home, wash up, and forget this town. My exit killed your drive, New album tanks? No surprise. You deserved the cruel break, I’m gone, no double take. That night, I posted the demo and announced a new album. Fans went wild, tagging Nathan. He finally logged on late that night. He liked my post, then left a friendly, neighborly comment: [6.] [Alyssa Lane, you just wait. ‘Smiley face’ emoji.] 2 Making Nathan miserable makes me happy. I slept great. My manager, Dawn, warned me the next morning that I had a gala to attend. “I hear Nathan will be there. If you don’t want to break the internet, be civil. Put on a friendly face for the cameras.” I thought she was exaggerating. With so many stars, we probably wouldn’t even cross paths. I was wrong. The damn event organizer seated Nathan and me together! I sat down, and a figure quickly dropped into the seat beside me. Nathan was in a midnight-blue custom suit, looking tall and handsome. At first glance, he was picture-perfect. Remembering Dawn’s desperate plea, I forced a smile for the cameras. Fine. I can play nice. “Good evening, Mr. Muse.” “Well, if it isn’t Ms. Rhyme,” Nathan retorted. “Did you suddenly learn human decency? Talking to me now?” See? You can’t give him an inch! The event was live-streamed. The camera zoomed past us, and the comments went crazy: [Muse Bro and Rhyme Sis are together again! Keep the camera locked on them!] [Midnight Blue Suit and Deep Blue Dress! What a gorgeous couple.] [Bro, Sis, please date again! Just for our entertainment.] The industry pros are the worst gossips. Since I walked in, several people had already tried to subtly ask about Nathan. Now, I could feel dozens of eyes on us. Nathan was uncomfortable, too. His ear tips were red. I quietly stared at the table. Wow, this is a very… wooden table. The chat was a riot: [Don’t you guys think Nathan and Alyssa look like they’d have cold, hate-fueled sex?] [What’s hatred? Hatred is just love that hasn’t found an outlet!] [Healthy relationships are nice, but a twisted romance has a unique flavor. You wouldn’t understand!] 3 I couldn’t stand it. I looked around for someone to switch seats with. “Does sitting next to me offend you that much, Ms. Lane?” I glared at him. “Yes. I can’t stand it.” I scanned the room. I didn’t know many people well enough to ask for a favor. Fine. Just endure it. Nathan saw I was defeated and looked smug. “I told you. Stop fighting. You’re destined to be stuck with me.” Psycho. “Lyss, want to swap?” A familiar voice. I turned. Hollywood’s A-list actor, Ethan Cole, was standing behind me. “Yes! Thank you! You’re a lifesaver!” I stood up immediately. “Hey, you—” Nathan instinctively grabbed my wrist. “What? You’ll miss me?” “Ha.” He scoffed, his lips twitching, slowly letting go. “Get away from me. Good riddance.” [She stood up, and he reached out to grab her wrist! Did you see that? He’s panicking.] [I’m dying! Who would dare sit next to Nathan and Ethan? The air pressure is low enough to form icebergs.] [I hear Alyssa dated Ethan, too. Nathan’s face is green. The rumors must be true.] [Rival meets rival. The tension is real.] [I’m so jealous of Alyssa. She only dates hot guys.] Total fabrication. Ethan is my cousin. My parents are overseas, so I grew up with my Aunt’s family. He’s practically my big brother. He starred in my MV years ago, and we got linked by the press. Nathan still doesn’t know the truth. I wasn’t about to tell him. Ethan needed to leave early. “I need to go. Don’t forget my Mom’s birthday party next week.” “Bro, what should I get her?” “Get her a boyfriend. That’s what she wants most.” I pouted. “She keeps pushing me. I haven’t found anyone decent.” “Oh, really?” Ethan paused, stifling a laugh. “I thought maybe you were still hung up on your ex.” “No way! I got over him ages ago!” Ethan cleared his throat and gestured behind me. I turned. Nathan was staring at me with a wounded gaze. If looks could kill, my cousin would be smoking. [I won’t say who is desperately jealous, but you can smell the bitterness through the screen.] [Nathan: I’ll watch you forever! Forever!] [Alyssa, please comfort him. He looks like he’s shattering.] I smiled, narrowing my eyes. I flipped him off where the cameras couldn’t see. Ha! Nathan glowered at me. He turned away, his face pale, his lips a thin line. He didn’t look at me again. Poor little man. Can’t handle a little heat. 4 You can’t get cocky. I was too excited after baiting Nathan and forgot I was wearing four-inch heels. I twisted my ankle. Then, my ride broke down halfway. I was hobbling alone through the dark underground parking garage. What a tragic life. “Well, well. If it isn’t Ms. Lane, enjoying a midnight barefoot stroll?” A Lexus van pulled up next to me. The rear window rolled down. “A stroll? Are you blind? I twisted my ankle.” Nathan saw my swollen ankle and frowned. “No one picking you up? Get in.” I was stubborn. “I don’t need your help. I can call a cab.” “Alyssa, are you getting in or not?” “No.” “Fine. Be tough. Tougher than when you dumped me.” The next moment, Nathan got out and hauled me over his shoulder. “You bastard! Put me down!” I was shocked to be airborne. He threw me into the back seat, roughly. He pulled a first-aid kit from the car. “Take your shoe off.” “Why?” “Stop talking! What do you think? I’m going to steal your heels and sell them on eBay?” I thought, You would. Nathan massaged the swelling gently while applying pain relief cream. It felt good. But it tickled. I instinctively pulled away. “Stop moving. I’ve touched you everywhere else. Why be shy now?” “Shut up.” “Cough, cough, cough…” A loud cough came from the front seat. “Bro, be careful what you say. I’m still here.” I looked forward. “Little Zach, is that you? Long time no see!” Zach is Nathan’s assistant and has been with him for years. When Nathan and I broke up, he got blackout drunk and threw up all over Zach. Zach’s salary tripled immediately. I was, in a way, the reason for Zach’s career advancement. “Long time no see, Sister Alyssa.” Zach is usually quiet, but today he was very talkative, asking about me. Nathan kept glaring at Zach and making strange faces. I was confused. “Are you having a face spasm?” “Oh!” Zach suddenly understood. “Sister Alyssa, do you have a boyfriend right now?” If I said yes, it was a lie. If I said no, I’d lose face in front of my ex. I was trying to figure out an answer. Nathan chimed in, passive-aggressively. “She probably broke up with him. What kind of useless boyfriend leaves her to limp out alone? He ran off, the coward.” I realized they were talking about Ethan. Nathan still didn’t know the truth. “We were never dating, so stop spreading rumors. I hate seeing my face all over the news.” “Oh, so you broke up.” Fine. Let him think that. I looked at my phone and heard a suppressed chuckle next to me. I turned and saw a fleeting smile on Nathan’s face. “What are you laughing at?” “Nothing.” “Yes, you were! I saw it!” “You have eye problems. Go get checked.” “Want to bet? Bet your miserable life!” “Kneel and beg me, and I’ll take that bet.” Zach quietly raised the partition. He couldn’t watch this mess.

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It was New Year’s Eve. I cooked a feast, waiting for Olivia to come home. Olivia didn’t even glance at the food. She just packed her bags. She spoke coldly: “I can’t spend the holiday with you this year.” I didn’t say a word, just quietly ate the meal alone. At midnight, Olivia’s ex-boyfriend, Luke, posted a photo on social media right on time. Olivia was leaning intimately against his shoulder, with grand, sparkling fireworks outside the window. The caption: “She said she’d drop everything and be here for me, as long as I asked.” I didn’t lose control. I just calmly tapped the “Like” button. Olivia called immediately, her voice urgent and panicked: “Don’t be mad. I promise I’ll spend next New Year’s with you…” I laughed bitterly: “Too bad there won’t be a next year for us.” … Olivia came home after the holiday. I usually met her at the bottom of our apartment complex, but not this time. She texted: “Where are you?” I was eating lunch. I casually replied: “Come on up yourself. I’m eating.” A moment later, I was in the kitchen washing dishes when Olivia came in, dragging her suitcase and catching her breath. “I haven’t eaten either. Make me a bowl of noodles.” Normally, I would rush to cook for her, but I just said flatly: “I’m busy. Go eat downstairs.” Olivia glared at me, annoyed, but she suppressed her anger. “I know you’re still mad about New Year’s. But please, stop giving me the cold shoulder. I’m genuinely hungry.” I dried my hands after finishing the dishes. “I’m not mad.” Olivia didn’t believe me. “Luke is alone in the city. Regardless of our past, I should be there for him.” I replied calmly: “Yeah, I know.” Olivia stared into my eyes, trying to read me. Finally, she looked exhausted. “This is exhausting. Can you just stop being dramatic?” I stared back: “I’m not being dramatic. You don’t need to explain.” Olivia fell silent. She pulled an airplane model from her suitcase and handed it to me. She looked down her nose at me and said flatly: “New Year’s gift.” The plane model was poorly packaged, wrinkled and crushed, a stark contrast to the perfectly wrapped gifts Luke showed off online. I didn’t show any pleasure. I just replied politely: “Thanks.” I didn’t react further. Olivia’s face tightened. She asked angrily: “That’s it?” I replied blandly: “That’s it.” Olivia’s face turned white with rage. She held out her hand to me: “Where’s mine?” I finally remembered. I apologized: “Sorry, I forgot. I’ll transfer you money. Buy something for yourself.” I grabbed my phone and quickly sent her the money. Olivia’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe I had forgotten. Exchanging New Year’s gifts was our tradition. I had always maintained it, even when she forgot mine. An awkward silence filled the room. I grabbed my jacket from the sofa and headed for the door. Olivia called out urgently: “Where are you going?” I answered simply: “Out to grab a drink with friends.” With that, I closed the door, ignoring her calls. After I started dating Olivia, she said she didn’t like me drinking, so I quit. As a result, my friends thought I was boring and controlled. My phone stopped ringing for parties. Now, I was finally going to drink to my heart’s content. Chapter 2 Three rounds in, my friends complained: “I thought you got a girlfriend and forgot about us! Don’t ever do that again.” I nodded, assuring them: “Invite me to any party. I’ll be there, anytime.” After I started dating Olivia, I put all my focus on her. My job and my life revolved around her. I lost my own social circle. Now, I saw how foolish that was. I checked my phone. Olivia had declined the money transfer. I got home around 1 AM. I flipped the light on and saw Olivia sitting on the sofa. I felt a moment of confusion, wondering if I was seeing things. Olivia saw me drunk and looked disappointed, not offering to help. She said disdainfully: “Frank, can you try to have some self-respect? If you’re jealous, just say so. Drinking like this just makes me look down on you.” My head was spinning. I clung to a chair and sat down. Olivia smelled the alcohol on me and subtly wrinkled her nose. “I told you I don’t like you drinking.” “Luke and I aren’t what you think. We’re just friends right now. You don’t need to get drunk over him.” I clutched my head, slurring: “You’re overthinking it… I’m drinking because… I’m happy.” Seeing me like that, her voice became sharp: “Enough! I gave you a chance. What more do you want? Don’t push me. My patience is limited. I can’t tolerate your endless demands.” My head was pounding. Her voice made it worse. “Stop yelling. I’m going to sleep.” Olivia sighed, calming down, and stood up to help me. But I avoided her. I clung to my last thread of sanity, stumbled into the guest room, and locked the door. I ignored her knocking. I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. When I woke up, Olivia was silently watching TV, her face dark. I knew she was angry. But I didn’t try to soothe her. I washed up and walked out. Chapter 3 I went to the office and handed in my resignation. I took this job just to be close to Olivia. Now, it wasn’t necessary. The CEO tried to keep me, but I firmly refused. A few days ago, the international company I applied to finally sent an acceptance letter. It was my dream job, but I’d turned it down for Olivia. Thankfully, it wasn’t too late to chase my dream. After resigning, I started wrapping up my work. I called a friend with the good news. He was happy for me, but paused. “What about Olivia? Is she going with you?” I gave a bitter laugh: “No. Just me. We’re almost over.” My parents were gone. The only people I knew were a few friends and Olivia. I used to think my home was wherever Olivia was. Now, I felt rootless. I was a leaf drifting to wherever the wind took me. I got home, and Olivia was heading out. She was dressed perfectly in shorts, her legs long and beautiful. She was carrying a birthday cake. I knew where she was going. It was Luke’s birthday. She was on the phone, speaking joyfully: “Stop guessing! If I tell you the gift, it won’t be a surprise! Just wait for me.” She laughed giddily, revealing her dimples. Her genuine smile was rare to me. She smiled, but seeing me, her face instantly dropped. She gave a look of pure disdain. She put on her shoes, and the door slammed shut. I knew she was giving me the silent treatment, which was usually over Luke. Every time, I would scramble to please her. Even if she ignored my texts, I would try harder. But this time, I just searched for foreign recipes online, practicing them at home. I needed to adapt. Chapter 4 Lying in bed, I saw Luke’s social media post: “I’m so grateful that after everything, you’re still by my side.” The comments were from Olivia’s friends: “So touching. I’m happy Olivia is happy.” Olivia’s friends always saw me as the intruder between Luke and Olivia. They believed Olivia would be happier without me. Looking at Olivia’s own comment, I saw they weren’t wrong. Olivia commented: “Everything happens for a reason.” I watched their sickening interactions. One of her friends commented: “Stop posting! Frank will see this and cause drama!” In the past, I politely asked Olivia to keep her distance from Luke. Her friends called me controlling and small-minded. Olivia just let them, then criticized me for not being “man enough” to be generous. But I ignored them this time. I closed the app and watched videos. I fell asleep. Olivia woke me up when she returned. She shouted: “Frank, your girlfriend was out late, and you didn’t check on me? My friend’s boyfriends call constantly! What is wrong with you?” Chapter 5 I looked at her, confused. Why was she so upset? I used to check on her constantly, and she snapped: “I’m not a trophy! Give me some freedom! I’m suffocating!” Now that I didn’t call, she was upset. I had no idea what she wanted. But I didn’t bring up the past. I just said calmly: “You were out with friends. Why would I call? You and Luke are just friends. I have nothing to worry about.” Olivia’s eyes widened in disbelief. She was shocked I spoke so calmly about Luke. She quickly explained: “That post was just a memorial. It means nothing. Don’t worry.” I shook my head, about to speak, but she continued: “Why? Do you think I shouldn’t have gone to Luke’s birthday? We’ve known each other for ten years! We dated briefly, but now we’re just friends! I had to go!” I replied understandingly: “I know. It’s late. Go to bed.” Olivia was silent. She stared at me, trying to confirm I wasn’t angry. She reached out to hug me, but I subtly moved away. I said flatly: “Are you sleeping in the master or the guest room?” Chapter 6 Olivia looked surprised. I had never rejected her intimacy before; I usually craved it. Angry and embarrassed, Olivia slammed the guest room door and went to the master bedroom. I went straight to sleep. Since I stopped obsessing over her, falling asleep was easy. The next morning, my college professor called. He found out I was going abroad and wanted to say goodbye. I couldn’t refuse his offer to gather the class together. I was surprised to see Olivia there. Of course. She was his favorite student. Next to her was Luke. Even for a casual reunion, she brought him. Olivia saw me and gestured for me to sit down. I ignored her. I wouldn’t disturb them. Luke saw me and smirked. He quickly composed himself and apologized to me. “Sorry to intrude on your reunion. I got bored, so Olivia brought me.” Chapter 7 Olivia tried to explain to me several times, but failed. I politely raised my glass: “The professor doesn’t mind. I certainly don’t.” I drank and checked my phone. Olivia had sent several texts: “I only brought him because it was convenient. Don’t worry.” “If you mind, I won’t bring him next time.” The last text read: “Let’s go home together after dinner.” I cleared my throat and texted back: “No need. You and Luke can go. I drove.” I focused on my dinner, ignoring her messages. The conversation flowed, and everyone reminisced. My professor got sentimental. He stood up, raising his glass to me. “You were my best student. Your dream was always to study abroad. I don’t know why you stayed here.” “But now, I’m so happy you’re finally going! Here’s to your journey and a successful career!” I smiled gratefully and downed the drink. Olivia looked stunned, as if hearing unbelievable news. Chapter 8 “Professor, what are you talking about? What’s this about going abroad?” Olivia’s voice was sharp. The professor didn’t know we were dating. He replied casually: “You don’t know? Frank is going abroad. This is our last dinner with him. It’ll be hard to see him again.” Olivia’s eyes were bloodshot. She rushed up and pulled me out of the room. We stood against the wall. I remained calm. She spoke first. “Abroad? What do you mean? Why didn’t you discuss this with me? Why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice trembled with disbelief and fear. I realized my mistake. “Oh, that. You were spending New Year’s with Luke, so I didn’t want to bother you.” My voice was distant and formal, drawing a clear boundary. Olivia looked embarrassed but grabbed my arm. “No matter what, I’m your girlfriend. You should share things with me.” I nodded surprisingly. I used to tell her everything, and she complained I was annoying. She sighed and asked: “How long will you be gone?” I lied: “About a year.” I planned to stay permanently. Olivia looked shocked. “That long?” I kept my head down, letting her believe the lie. She finally said: “Let’s go home together later.” She looked hopeful. Chapter 9 Before I could answer, Luke walked out of the room. His eyes were glazed over from the alcohol. He leaned into Olivia. Olivia looked frantic, checking my reaction. “He’s drunk. We never touch when he’s sober.” She couldn’t push him away. Olivia always said she hated the smell of alcohol, but she didn’t flinch from Luke. She ignored Luke, looking at me: “Wait for me. I’ll get him a ride, and then we’ll go home.” Before I could answer, Luke whined: “I’m dizzy. Take me home, okay?” He rubbed against her, a gesture that looked practiced. I spoke calmly: “No need. He obviously needs you. I’ll go home by myself.” Olivia looked desperate. “What about you? I’ll take you first.” I gave her a knowing look: “I’ll take a cab. Just drop me at the next corner.” She hesitated but pulled over. I got out. She looked worried. “Are you sure you’re okay? I can skip him.” I urged her: “Go. You’ll be late.” She drove off. I went to complete my paperwork. I looked at the date. Ten days until I left the country. Back home, I saw Olivia’s text: “I dropped Luke off.” “He kept throwing up. I might stay here tonight.”

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My roommate showed up with a trash bag full of belongings, but then claimed to be a rich kid. She bragged about having a dozen maids, her mom changing into two new designer dresses daily, and her dad being a CEO who handled multi-million dollar deals. She looked at us proudly, saying once her parents visited, she’d have them buy a mansion in the university district and let us all move in. No one in the dorm replied. She only owned two T-shirts. During basic training, she couldn’t wash them fast enough and smelled awful. She couldn’t even afford body wash. Not just the dorm, the whole class hated her. On the last day of training, she was bragging again about being a pampered heiress with delicate skin. Mid-brag, she collapsed. I nudged her with my foot. “Hey, are you seriously still acting?” I rolled my eyes all the way to the ambulance. “Can you even afford the EMT bill?” But she looked like she was actually dying. 1 She genuinely couldn’t pay the ambulance bill. She looked at me, eyes wide, forcing a nervous smile. “Cheryl, loan me a thousand bucks? I’ll contact my parents and make sure they pay you back ten times over!” I rolled my eyes and slammed the door. You don’t pull a scam like that. She started breathing hard, trying to defend herself. “My dad is super rich and busy! He’s hard to reach! My mom’s probably at the spa, she doesn’t check her phone!” The doctor stopped me, saying she had some congenital heart defect—a “rich person’s disease.” I scoffed. “If she’s rich, I’m the Queen of England.” When I got back to the dorm, two roommates were packing. They said they couldn’t stand her and were moving out. They invited me, but I glanced at her dirty bed. My mom only gave me $\$300$ for the month. I couldn’t afford the rent split. On the first day of classes, she returned. She wore a new T-shirt, but it was still a $\$10$ bargain bin tee—white, wrinkled, with a tiny flower print. She looked at me, waving enthusiastically. Then, remembering something, she shoved her hands in her pockets and looked away. “Your money… I forgot to ask my parents. But don’t worry, I’ll pay you back this month.” I sneered, ignoring her. I figured her parents had come and just refused to help. I wrote off the thousand bucks as money down the drain. She painfully climbed her bunk, looking weak. I sat on my bed, reading, ignoring her. She suddenly peeked down. “You’re a good person, Cheryl. You’re my friend.” Who wants to be her friend? I popped my gum. “Pay me back first, then we’ll talk.” 2 The class was applying for financial aid. I kindly reminded her. “You can barely eat. Applying won’t hurt.” She pouted. “I’m just watching my figure. Mind your business.” She grabbed her book and left. I didn’t know where she went. She didn’t have a phone; no one could reach her. She did have an old, beat-up phone when we started, but she sold it for a thousand bucks. She gave me the cash, but I insisted on a transfer. She marched off to the bank, cursing me all the way. “Cash is safer! Virtual money is fake!” I suspected her family lived somewhere without internet. She came back late that night, burning up with fever. I didn’t ask what happened. She smiled. “Don’t worry, just a seasonal flu. I’ll sleep it off.” I’m only worried she’ll die here and I’ll have to deal with the cops. I accidentally left my closet unlocked. I heard her sneak down and rummage through my things. She found a bottle of fever reducer and happily took it. The next day, she was fine. I hated that she stole from me, so I went to the Dean and got her the financial aid application. That was the first time she lost it. She tore the paper to shreds, tears streaming down her face. “Cheryl, who do you think you are? I don’t need this! My parents are rich, and I’ll have money when they visit! I don’t want your fake pity!” The other roommates pulled me away. “Why bother with her? She’s nuts.” She looked down from her bunk. “I’m not nuts. I have emotional issues.” No one listened. We went out for a big meal, leaving her behind. I swore I’d never pity her again. 3 She was angry, too, sitting alone in the corner during class. We couldn’t understand why she studied so hard. The professor loved her, constantly praising her test scores, saying she was too good for our school. I saw her scores: 661. Only 50 points higher than mine. She only came here because the school paid her tuition. Why pretend? She’d smile shyly, push her greasy hair behind her ear, and say brightly, “Professor, you’re nice. I’ll tell my parents to get you a promotion when they visit.” She was so annoying. Even more annoying: the Dean told me she didn’t qualify for financial aid. Why is she living like a pauper then? I swore I’d never lend her another dime. Then, she started getting packages. She said she was spending her side job money on herself. I looked at the cheap makeup and skincare. I recognized them from those shady live streams: Everything is one cent! Guaranteed satisfaction! I wondered if people actually bought face cream from those places. She claimed she was going to have a makeover before the sports day. No one responded. Our group chat was buzzing. [She’s so sick. Why is she messing with her health?] [She probably wants the prize money.] [She probably likes some guy and wants to impress him.] [Whatever. Not our problem. Ignore her.] I stared at the messages, unable to contribute. I should say something mean, right? I typed, “Yeah, who cares…” Just as I was about to hit send, she peeked through my curtain. I turned, holding my phone awkwardly. She glanced at the screen, then handed me a sample packet of cheap foundation. “Can you teach me how to put this on? I’ll give you this.” I threw the foundation into the trash. I was furious. I was talking trash about her, and she gave me a gift? I slammed my curtain shut. “Get out!” That night, she practiced makeup all night, getting powder everywhere. 4 On Sports Day, my roommates and I went shopping. My roommate was happy, sipping her latte. “It’s college! Who cares about sports day?” “Yeah. That Vivian is nuts. She’s running the 1500 meters. Some guy probably convinced her to do it.” “No one’s going to watch her. She’s so frail. She’ll probably pass out, and no one will help her.” A sudden chill went down my spine. I remembered her working all night. She was already weak. I paused, then kept walking. Who cares if she dies? My roommate looked at me. “Cheryl, are you losing it?” I shook my head. “Maybe.” Then, an ambulance sped past. I suddenly remembered Vivian’s words: “Cheryl, you’re the only friend I have.” I felt a sharp stab in my chest. I dropped my latte. The brown liquid splashed everywhere, including my new shoes. It looked like the dark, clear eyes Vivian always stared at me with. I impatiently found an excuse. “You guys go on. I need to change.” I rushed back to school. I ran to the track. Vivian saw me and smiled, her eyes wide with surprise. “Cheryl, you actually came to watch.” Then, the paramedics rushed forward, knocking me over. “Hurry! She has no pulse!” 5 I called Vivian’s parents’ numbers repeatedly. One of her mom’s numbers was disconnected. I found her dad’s assistant. “Your boss’s daughter is dying! Get him to sign the papers!” The assistant was calm. “Which daughter?” “Vivian!” Silence. Then, the assistant said formally, “Okay, message delivered. Please hold.” Duh. I must be crazy. I ran out of the hospital to call her mom. I found a woman in a designer suit running towards the hospital. I stopped her. “Your daughter is dying! You need to go there!” The woman rushed in, only to argue with a man already there. The man kept complaining about the wasted time. “I have a meeting! Why should I wait here?” The woman slapped him. They started fighting. The woman then stormed out, changing her dress as she left. Vivian’s mom really did wear two new dresses daily. I walked to the stairwell, smelling smoke. I learned about Vivian’s past from the woman. Vivian’s parents divorced. Her mom remarried a richer man. Her dad, ashamed, abandoned her. She found her mother, but her mother already had a new family. Vivian was an unwanted child. Her parents refused to pay for her education. No one taught her how to be a woman. I walked back in. Vivian’s dad finally noticed me. He looked me over. “Vivian’s classmate? If something happens, call her mom.” I looked at him, then at his $\$10,000$ suit. I reached out. “Money.” “Vivian sent you?” “No. I called the ambulance. It was a thousand bucks. She hasn’t paid me back.” The man frowned. “Such a bother.” He pulled out a thousand dollars, then an extra two hundred. “Tip. Don’t call me again. I’m busy.” I looked at his expensive suit, utterly confused. Why would they have a child if they didn’t want one? They were like characters in a bad soap opera—make babies without thinking, then abandon them. What about the kid?

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It was my coming-of-age party when I finally confessed my love to my non-biological uncle. The next day, my reward was a one-way ticket out of the country. Years later, when I was ravaged by bone cancer, my body slowly decaying, I was forced to beg him for help. But his girlfriend, his supposed ‘white moonlight,’ spread rumors that I was promiscuous abroad and had contracted a venereal disease. My uncle immediately brought me back, locking me away in a dilapidated seaside mansion, claiming it was to prevent me from infecting innocent people. Without timely treatment, my condition worsened drastically. On a night of torrential rain, unable to bear the agony any longer, I climbed out the window and threw myself into the unforgiving ocean. It took a full year after my death for Liam Hayes to finally remember me. 1 Liam Hayes arrived at the Star-Moon Cove Estate, only to find the entire building eerily empty. He violently knocked over the antique screen in the living room, shattering glass everywhere. “Lily Carter, stop playing these childish hide-and-seek games! Get out here now!” The broken shards reflected the harsh sunlight, and only dust danced in the blinding glare. Liam retreated to the doorway, covering his nose and mouth to avoid the stirred-up grime. After a long silence, he spoke again, his voice cold: “You’re a well-bred woman, how could you become so reckless and indecent!” “Look at the state you were in when you came back! Even I, your uncle, feel disgusted. You’ve completely disgraced the Hayes name!” “If it weren’t for Alexa Reynolds constantly vouching for you, I would have truly disowned you and washed my hands of you forever!” My spirit stood right in front of him, silently letting out a bitter laugh. “Lily Carter, I’m warning you, if you continue to be stubborn.” “I won’t hesitate to keep you locked up here for the rest of your life until you completely understand how wrong you are!” Liam finished, and seeing no response, he impatiently waved his hand, signaling the security team to search upstairs. A moment later, several guards stumbled down, their faces pale, as if they had seen something terrifying. His private assistant, Sarah Chen, approached him, trembling as she whispered: “Mr. Hayes, the tip-off call might have been real. Ms. Carter… she’s passed away.” Liam’s brows furrowed as he spat out a cold response: “Suicide? Nonsense. She’s just staging another drama for sympathy. She’s been pulling these stunts since she was a kid!” He strode up to the second floor, finally noticing the dark brown bloodstains covering the hallway walls. Liam’s face darkened as he threw open door after door. “Lily Carter, what kind of trick are you pulling now!” “Do you think I’ve been too lenient with you all these years, giving you the license to act so brazenly!” My soul followed him until he stopped in front of a locked room. Blackened blood had seeped out from under the door crack. He had locked me in here, calling it ‘isolation,’ and only left me a few thin pieces of clothing. For the first few days, I was allowed to move around the estate. When the pain hit, I paced the hallways, and when it was unbearable, I banged my head against the wall. I desperately tried to use new pain to drown out the burning rot in my bones. But soon, the guards complained that my screams were disrupting their peace. Seeing that Liam never visited or even called, as if he had utterly forgotten me, they locked me in a second-floor room with a specialized heavy-duty lock on the outside. From then on, I was like a caged animal, confined to that small space. Every time the sickness flared up, I writhed in agony on the bed. When the pain was truly unbearable, I crawled to the door, slamming my body against it until blood streamed down my forehead. I didn’t dare make a sound, because any noise brought a beating. In my worst moments, I ripped strips from the bedsheet, stuffing them in my mouth to bite down on. I begged the guards, pleaded with them to call Liam. But they just laughed coldly, kicking me away and saying Mr. Hayes was too busy planning his engagement with Ms. Reynolds. He had no time for a contaminated piece of trash like me. I refused to believe Liam could be so heartless, so I kept begging. Finally, one of them, fed up, dialed that familiar number right in front of me. The moment the call connected, I choked out that I had bone cancer. My whole body was rotting, and I begged him to save me. I told him the reports were in my luggage; he just needed to look to know I wasn’t lying. But he cut me off immediately: “Lily Carter, Alexa was right. You’re nothing but lies, always spinning some yarn!” “You’re unrepentant, now trying to fake an illness to manipulate me?” “If you’re really so desperate to die, go ahead! I’d like to see if you have the guts!” After he hung up, I was beaten, then thrown back into the room. Now, Liam’s eyes were fixed on the rusty padlock. He ordered someone to break it open, his face grim as he stood outside the entrance. “Lily Carter, how long are you going to keep this up?” “Ever since Alexa and I got together, you’ve done nothing but oppose her.” “You’ve said so many terrible things about her to me, yet she has always been the bigger person, never holding a grudge.” “If Alexa hadn’t noticed you had contracted a disease, you would have died alone overseas!” “Lily Carter, you know I’m impatient. Get out here now!” Liam waited a few moments, then furiously shoved the door open. 2 “Lily Carter, you have truly disappointed me! I shouldn’t have listened to Alexa and come to get you!” The instant the door flew open, Liam froze. My spirit stood beside him, observing the scene. The room was exactly as I had left it. The sea wind rushed in through the broken picture window, fluttering the ripped, tattered curtains. The window frame was rusted from years of sun and rain, screeching with every gust—a sound Liam usually despised. But now, his face showed no impatience, only stunned disbelief. From his perspective, the sight was indeed shocking. The floor was covered in dried, black blood, and dark red streaks marred the walls and doorframe. The bedding was shredded, and the pillow was stained with splotches of blood. Even the last piece of curtain was gone—the guards had torn it down, terrified I might hang myself and implicate them. I passed away on the morning after my final, desperate phone call to Liam. Perhaps it was the exhaustion from an entire night of suffering, but the sea breeze that morning felt surprisingly gentle. In a haze, I remembered being seven years old, after my parents died. It was Liam who brought me to the Hayes household, becoming my sole anchor. I endured unimaginable pain, forcing myself to dislocate my own arm. I had to crawl out through that window that hadn’t been properly secured. The guards quickly noticed the commotion. As they watched in horror, I plunged myself into the raging waves without hesitation. Panicked and clueless, they frantically called Liam. But that day was the morning of his engagement party with Alexa Reynolds, and the call was immediately rejected. Liam was too busy greeting guests and didn’t have the patience to listen to their full report. Maybe he caught a few fragments, but he dismissed it as another one of my attempts to grab his attention. He coldly instructed: “Don’t bother reporting anything about her to me again.” Liam walked to the window, staring down at the turbulent sea. He gave a scornful, icy laugh. “Lily Carter is always a scaredy-cat. Jump in the ocean? Impossible.” “Alexa is right, she’s too manipulative. She needs to face the consequences.” “Call the guards who were assigned here. I want to question them.” Sarah Chen rushed in again shortly after. “Mr. Hayes, all those guards quit right after Ms. Carter… passed away.” “Should we send a team to search the coastline?” He scoffed. “What’s there to search? If she truly jumped, her body would have washed up by now, and the police would have notified us.” “She’s putting on a show, thinking she can fool everyone!” “But she’s too naive. I know her too well; she can’t fool me.” Liam ordered his assistant to continue searching the estate. “I want every single corner checked. She has to be brought to me today.” “She and Alexa both have that rare blood type, and Lily has donated to Alexa before.” “Alexa is seriously injured and needs Lily to be on standby!” My spirit stood behind him, overwhelmed by sorrow. He locked me up here for so long, never asking about me. Now he appears, only to use me as a mobile blood bank for Alexa Reynolds. I thought I was special to him. He was never like this before. From age seven to seventeen, I was his favorite little girl. And I fell hopelessly in love with the non-biological uncle who was five years my senior. Then Alexa Reynolds showed up, and everything changed. Alexa was the one lying, but Liam only believed her, refusing to hear my side. At my eighteenth birthday party, I mustered the courage to confess, but he merely chastised me coldly. He told me he was my guardian, and I shouldn’t harbor such inappropriate feelings. The next day, he shipped me overseas. Clearly, Alexa’s manipulation was at work, causing Liam to lose all faith in me. She even defamed me, saying I had a dirty disease, which led Liam to lock me away in this seaside prison. Now that Alexa was wounded and needed a donor with a rare blood type, they remembered their human blood bank. Too bad they didn’t know my remains had long been scattered by the waves. “Mr. Hayes, those guards witnessed Ms. Carter jump into the sea. I honestly think she was faking her illness…” “I’m afraid… there’s no chance of survival.” “I know you don’t want to believe it, but their account was very detailed, and they didn’t seem to be lying.” “If we call the police and initiate a search, we’ll know the truth soon enough.” Liam said coldly: “She’s a great actress; she even managed to fool all of you!” “She must not want to donate blood to Alexa, so she’s hiding. She’s probably off having a good time somewhere!” “Freeze all her accounts. She’ll come crawling back when she runs out of money!” With that, Liam hurried away from the estate, rushing to the hospital to be with Alexa. My spirit followed him, unable to stop myself. 3 Liam arrived at the hospital in a rush. Seeing Alexa in the hospital bed, his expression instantly softened. “Feeling better? Is your wound still hurting?” Alexa spoke weakly: “It’s fine now. See how well I look? I don’t even need to stay hospitalized.” Liam picked up the paring knife on the bedside table, carefully peeling an apple for her, whispering: “If you hadn’t taken that blow for me, you wouldn’t be so badly hurt.” “I won’t feel at ease until you’ve fully recovered.” “Alexa, you are the most important person in my life. Don’t ever risk yourself like that again.” He used to speak to me with that same tender tone, saying those exact words. But since Alexa’s arrival, I was no longer the most important person in his heart. Alexa suggested that since I was his non-biological niece and an adult now, we should maintain a professional distance. From then on, all matters concerning me were handled by Alexa. She even hid the diagnosis of my bone cancer while I was overseas. Instead, she spread rumors that I had a venereal disease. Under the guise of caring for me, she locked me in the seaside estate, but she never visited me once. Now that Alexa was attacked and needed a rare blood type, they remembered their living blood bank. Too bad they didn’t know my body had been torn apart by the sea. “Liam, is Lily still refusing to come back? Is she still angry with me?” Alexa said, trying to get out of bed, fumbling for her slippers: “Let me go find her. I’ll apologize to her personally.” Liam quickly stopped her: “Alexa, you were doing what was best for her. She’s being ungrateful, it’s not your fault.” “I’ve already frozen all her funds. I’ll find her soon, I promise.” “Don’t worry, I will make sure she comes here to donate blood for you.” He carefully held the peeled apple slice to Alexa’s mouth. “By the way, Alexa, did Lily mention feeling unwell while she was abroad?” Alexa’s face shifted slightly as she stammered: “No, she didn’t. She’s always been so healthy, barely even gets a cold.” “Liam, why are you asking?” Liam looked thoughtful: “Nothing much. When I went to the estate today, I noticed a lot of blood in her room.” “But you’re right. She’s always been robust. How could she have any serious illness?” Alexa secretly breathed a sigh of relief. My soul was agonizing beside him, desperate to tell Liam that Alexa was deceiving him again. But I was helpless. Even if he could hear me, he would only choose to believe Alexa. In his eyes, I was just a petty girl twisted by jealousy. Alexa tentatively asked: “Liam, since Lily doesn’t want to come back, why don’t we just let her go?” “As long as she’s happy.” Liam’s face instantly turned cold. “Absolutely not! Your safety is paramount, and she has the same blood type as you.” “The doctor said you might need a second transfusion, and the hospital blood bank is running low.” “I raised her for years. Now it’s time for her to repay me!” “It’s just a little blood. Even if it costs her life, she should be willing to do it!” In that moment, my spirit trembled violently. How could Liam say something so cruel? He had promised to always be my family. He promised I would never feel abandoned again. Had he forgotten all that? Alexa lowered her head, a smug smile playing on her lips, as if she had just heard the sweetest words. So, this is how happy she was after I left. Alexa always pretended to be understanding, yet she constantly slandered me to Liam. Even now, she was hiding the truth, making Liam despise me even more. “Liam, don’t talk about Lily like that. She’d be so upset if she heard.” Even in this moment, Alexa was playing the benevolent saint. Liam let out a dismissive, cold laugh. He was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. I saw the screen display “Ethan Hayes”—his uncle who worked for the police. Liam answered the phone, his entire body freezing instantly. A heavy voice came from the other end: “Liam, Lily is dead!” 4 Liam stood still for a few seconds, then spoke coldly: “Uncle Ethan, has she fooled you too?” “I can’t believe she managed to trick even a detective like you!” Ethan Hayes on the other end was clearly angered by his attitude. “Liam, what is wrong with you? Weren’t you the one who adored Lily the most?” He paused, then continued: “We received a civilian report today about skeletal remains found on the rocks near Star-Moon Cove.” “DNA comparison confirms the deceased is Lily Carter.” “She’s been dead for a full year.” “The autopsy report shows she suffered from advanced bone cancer.” “She endured unimaginable pain and ultimately chose to jump into the sea.” Liam suddenly interrupted: “Impossible! It can’t be her! You must have made a mistake!” “Liam Hayes, forensic evidence doesn’t lie.” “As her legal guardian, you need to come and claim the remains.” Ethan finished, adding a few more harsh words of reprimand before hanging up. Liam looked as if all the strength had been drained from him, his face pale as a ghost. Alexa, seeing his state, quickly asked with concern: “Liam, what happened? I’ve never seen you look like this.” Liam slowly recovered. He stared intently at Alexa on the bed, his gaze chilling and unnerving. Alexa couldn’t meet his eyes, nervously grasping his hand: “Liam, what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?” Liam violently shook off her hand and strode toward the door. “Ah! My wound hurts! Liam, my stitches are tearing open again!” Liam stopped, turning back to look at her coldly: “Alexa Reynolds, you are the master manipulator. I will never believe another word you say!” “Liam…” Alexa struggled to get out of bed, chasing him to the doorway: “I love you so much. How could I lie to you?” “We’ve been together for so long. Don’t you know me at all?” Liam stared at her, enunciating every word: “Not lying to me? Alexa, you are a phenomenal actress!” “You told me it was inappropriate for a man like me to raise Lily.” “So I handed over everything about her to you!” “And what did you do?” “You deliberately concealed her bone cancer diagnosis, causing her to miss her only chance for treatment.” “Then you framed her with a dirty disease, making me lock her in that seaside estate to die!” “Her only cry for help was destroyed by you!” “Lily is gone forever!” With that, he slammed the door shut and left. My soul followed him again. Liam drove recklessly into the night, his car a blur. He clenched his jaw until a trickle of blood seeped from his lip. He seemed to be suppressing something immense until he stopped at a red light. Finally, he rested his head on the steering wheel and burst into agonizing sobs. “No way. Uncle Ethan has to be wrong!” He suddenly looked up, violently slamming the steering wheel, screaming inside the car: “Impossible! This isn’t real! I don’t believe it!” The light turned green, but his car remained motionless. Amidst the chorus of horns behind him, someone opened his car door. It was Ethan Hayes. Without a word, he slapped Liam hard across the face and dragged him into the back seat. “Liam Hayes, what in God’s name are you doing!” “When Lily begged you for help, you ignored her.” “Now that she’s dead, who is this performance for!” “She was such a good kid, and you talked about her like she was worthless. Did you even know the real her?” “Wake up! She’s dead! She’s never coming back!” Liam slumped in the back seat, sobbing uncontrollably, his grief tearing through him. He barely managed to compose himself by the time they reached the police station. “Uncle Ethan, I can’t let Lily’s death be in vain. I need to find out what really happened!” Ethan looked at him deeply, only sighing without speaking. He took Liam to process the identification paperwork. When Liam saw the skeletal remains, he broke down again. He trembled, pointing at the bruised and fractured bones, his voice choked: “Is this… is this the damage from her bone cancer? How much pain was she in!” “And I knew nothing! I, her uncle, killed her! I don’t deserve to be her family!” Ethan retrieved an object from the evidence bag—her only surviving possession. “You certainly didn’t deserve to be her guardian, yet she saw you as her only support in the world.” “Do you remember this bracelet? You gave it to her the year she came to the Hayes house.” “She took nothing with her when she died, except this.” “But there were people who couldn’t even stand to let her keep a simple bracelet.” “Look at the bloodstains. They tried to forcibly rip it off more than once.” “Even when it dug into her skin, she never took it off.” “And you? You knew nothing! You believed everything Alexa Reynolds told you!” “Liam Hayes, you’re a genius in business, so how could you be so utterly blinded by one woman in this matter?” Liam took the bracelet, clutching it tightly, weeping uncontrollably. “I let you down, Lily. I’m taking you home right now!” Ethan sighed again, handing him a blood-stained strip of fabric. “Lily’s final wish was for her ashes to be scattered into the sea so she could be free forever.” Liam’s trembling fingers unfolded the cloth. There was a single, darkened line of blood writing. It was what I had written just before I died, using my bitten finger. I didn’t want to return to that house. I only wanted complete freedom. But Liam ignored my wish, stubbornly insisting on taking my ashes home. My spirit could not find rest, so I had to continue following him.

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My boyfriend and I both thought the other was a secret rich kid slumming it. On the surface, we were partners in crime, hustling for every penny, but secretly, we were both eyeing the other’s imagined trust fund. It wasn’t until two actual high-society campus alumni announced their engagement that the penny dropped. We’d been wrong. Turns out, we were both just flat-out broke. So, we immediately decided to break up and split our side gigs. He got the gig handling errands and shopping runs. I took the job of covering classes and writing papers for students. And we agreed to use up the remaining eight condoms we had in one go. From then on, it was back to our own corners, hustling hard, and no hard feelings. 1 The day Ethan Hayes, heir to the Hayes fortune, and Chloe Fitzgerald, heiress to the Fitzgerald empire, announced their engagement, they flooded every campus group chat with cash links. Thanks to my lightning-fast concert ticket buying fingers, I snagged an easy eight hundred bucks. “Score! Just grabbed a whole month’s rent money.” I bragged to my boyfriend, Ryan Black, when it suddenly hit me. “Ryan, wait, you’re not that Hayes guy, are you?” He was mid-forkful of BBQ chicken when his hand froze, his expression changing. “Fiona, so… you’re not the Fitzgerald heiress?” I shook my head. He slowly pulled his fork back. “So, is your scooter really called ‘Maserati’?” I nodded. “Yeah! Don’t you think it’s adorable and classy? It totally has that Maserati vibe.” Then, a sudden realization dawned on me. “And that Porsche key fob you carry—is that… not a key?” He hesitated. “That’s just a lighter.” Wrong. All of it. Wrong. We just stared at each other. It turned out we’d both been operating under the assumption that the other was a secret billionaire playing poor. Those “abstract” moments weren’t clever attempts to mask wealth; they were just genuinely broke moments. To break the crushing awkwardness, I took a huge bite of ramen. And accidentally lodged a piece of chili flake in my throat. “Cough… cough…” It felt like fireworks were going off behind my eyes. The quick-witted waitress rushed over with a soda. “The special doesn’t include a drink, that’ll be five bucks extra.” I frantically waved her off. “No, thanks!” Ryan frowned. “Just drink it, my treat.” “No way. Your five bucks is just as important as mine.” I chugged an entire jug of free water until the chili flake finally dislodged. The waitress who watched the whole thing looked like she was in pain. Suddenly, I felt a little self-pitying. 2 “Ryan, it’s my birthday today.” “And you brought me to eat this half-price special we had to share.” I could forgive that it didn’t include the famous cheesy fries advertised on the poster. But even the food that did arrive had to be split down the middle with the other couple we’d bundled the deal with. Four meatballs on the plate? We got two. One bowl of pasta? We split it. I was forced to use one of those embarrassing tiny “kids’ cups.” Ryan reached out his long fingers and delicately wiped my chin with a handkerchief he always kept in his pocket. “Fiona, for my birthday, you bought me a latte. It was one of those BOGO deals.” He completely dropped his usual subservient, ‘yes, darling’ attitude. He was keeping score. Well, damn. He didn’t love me; he loved the imaginary Fitzgerald heiress. In that case, I wasn’t holding back either. I held up both hands, wiggling all ten fingers. “You have, like, twelve ‘babes’ in your contact list. I don’t have enough fingers to count them.” Ryan looked horrified. “You know perfectly well those are the actual babies I babysit at the after-school center!” I covered my ears, refusing to listen. He got defensive and started listing my ‘Ten Sins.’ “Fiona, you made me eat cilantro-flavored instant noodles for ten days straight, just so you could get a free ramen bowl.” “I hate cilantro.” I felt a little guilty, but not much. “So what? You didn’t have to use the seasoning packet!” Ryan’s eyes were bloodshot. “Last year, you bought me a parka.” “You insisted I wear it when it was cold, then take it off for you when you got cold.” “The problem is, you wore just a sweater in the dead of winter and started complaining the second we left the classroom. I had to stand there freezing my butt off!” That was only because I could only afford one parka. And I bought it for you without hesitation! I got fired up, too. “Every time we got those cheap lemonade drinks from ‘Icy Brew,’ you’d take huge gulps and swallow all the lemon seeds.” “You licked the yogurt lids clean, and you used the empty hot sauce packets to dip your bread!” … After going through all our old complaints, I had a sudden epiphany. It was all poverty’s fault. When we thought the other was a secret rich kid, these moments were cute quirks. But if we were both genuinely poor, it was terrifying. His unconditional devotion came with an invisible no financial conditions clause. Even if he gave me the world, we’d have no place to live after graduation! I blurted out, “We’re done! Break up!” Ryan was stunned. “You’re dumping me just because I’m broke?” No, it’s because we’re both broke. But I didn’t explain. I just repeated: “We’re breaking up.” We immediately divided our hustles right there. The errand running and shopping gigs went to him. The class covering and homework writing jobs went to me. Since the campus market was huge, we even signed a “Post-Breakup Professional Cooperation Treaty.” We promised not to sabotage each other’s business out of spite and to share good money-making opportunities. As for streaming subscriptions, we agreed to alternate days until the end of the month. Same for our shared dining hall card. 3 This led to us still eating together in the dining hall for two weeks after breaking up. My roommate was puzzled. “Is your breakup really this amicable?” I replied: “You just don’t understand the struggle of the truly broke.” On the very last day of the month, after draining the last penny from the dining hall card, I suddenly remembered the box of condoms we’d bought. Ryan’s nose was red, and his ears were flushed. “Should we… use them all up?” I checked. There were eight left. My face felt hot. “I don’t think we should…” Ryan, for the first time since the breakup, stood his ground, grabbing my hand. “I can handle it.” But he was young and naive. Three hours in the cheap motel room wasn’t nearly enough. We had to book the room for the entire night, an extra two hundred dollars. I got angrier the more I thought about the wasted money. I adamantly refused to let Ryan sleep, insisting we had to “work” until we got that two hundred dollars’ worth back. That is, until… I collapsed with shaky legs during gym class. I instantly regretted my frugality. I shouldn’t have been so cheap as to use up all eight in one insane night. My back and legs were sore for three days; I could barely jog. Catching sight of Ryan’s dark eyes across the field, a memory flashed through my mind: that night, the fierce possessiveness in his eyes as he leaned over and gripped my ankle. His sharp abs, his defined collarbone, and his burning breath. The day was too hot; it made my mouth dry. I shook my head frantically, trying to dispel those lingering, sensual thoughts. An ex-boyfriend? I didn’t have time for nostalgia. The hustle was the priority. My “paralyzed” dad, my “frail” mom, and my grandmother with “osteoporosis” were all counting on me. I couldn’t afford to add to my burden. It would crush me. 4 After ending the relationship, I poured all my non-academic energy into making money. Covering classes and writing papers was just my baseline. I also started bulk-buying fruit, doing gaming companionship, and offering laundry services… College students were simply too lazy. I couldn’t not make money. The profits were endless. My only problem was the lack of time; I wished the day had 25 hours for hustling. My club president, Jessie, noticed my relentless work ethic and took pity on me. “Sweetie, you’re only making peanuts.” She scanned me up and down and nodded. “You’ve got decent looks.” “I’m going to show you how to earn the big bucks.” I clutched my chest. “Jessie, I only do artistic stuff.” Jessie laughed. “You wish! You wrote ‘None’ in the special skills section of your club application.” Me: “…” That’s how I discovered Jessie was a minorly famous Cosplayer. She booked a commercial gig for me, taught me how to do my makeup, and styled my hair. Luckily, the character, D.Va, was one I knew well, so I didn’t need to cram. On the day of the event, my limbs were stiff as I awkwardly posed for photos. Then I turned and saw Ryan. He was wearing the matching couples’ cosplay outfit, dressed as my CP (romantic pairing) character, Genji. The CP fans went wild, constantly urging us to take photos together. Ryan and I had to grit our teeth and pose, our eyes devoid of affection, filled only with the determination to outshine the other. A fan held up a sign: “GenVa 99, Never Break Up.” As a cosplay newbie, I hadn’t seen this level of fanaticism. Ryan blushed and quietly leaned closer. I shoved him away. “Don’t you dare try to steal my spotlight!” Jessie had told me the event organizers gave separate bonuses for excellent solo shots. Taking joint photos would only ruin my chances. Seeing the fans absolutely losing it over our pairing, I decided to pull out the big guns. I touched the headband I was wearing. “Do you know why my angelic headset is attached with metal wire?” “Because he’s actually dead, and mine is just a prop.” Fans: “Stop cutting us! We beg you!” I kept twisting the knife: “Do you know why he’s always young in every game? Because he died young.” Fans: “Nooooo!” “Boohoohoo! How can such a beautiful mouth say such cold words, sensei?” The CP shippers were shattered and quickly dispersed. Ryan whispered in my ear: “Who was the one who loved taking selfies in my arms? Now you can’t even stand a joint photo.” Perfect. He still didn’t know about the bonus. I remained silent, focusing only on my solo shots. Thanks to my effort, I finally got the one thousand dollar bonus. Ryan had left early. After the event, I learned he’d been scouted by an agency for his good looks. I was indignant. “Why him and not me? I’m good-looking, too!” Jessie rolled her eyes. “Hollywood isn’t short on beautiful women. It’s short on beautiful men.”

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My mother announced in the family group chat that she was bringing home a foster daughter. The foster daughter lied, claiming she was a bright, underprivileged student recommended by a charity foundation. But what she didn’t know was that my family could hear my thoughts. As the foster daughter bent over backward to butter up my dad, I mentally scoffed: [If Dad knew she was Mom’s illegitimate daughter with her lover, he’d probably have a heart attack and end up in the ICU, right?] In my past life, when Ava White moved in, everyone in the family showered her with attention. I, however, was assaulted by thugs she hired and brutally murdered in the company parking lot. Only in my last moments did I realize the truth: she was my mom’s daughter by her long-time affair. If my dad hadn’t built the Carrington Group from scratch, my mom would never have married him. After they married, my mom’s sole obsession was to seize the family fortune and leave my dad penniless. Everything was going according to her plan, until I inexplicably got a second chance. 1 I was reborn on the day my mom brought Ava home. “From now on, Ava is your little sister. You have to take good care of her, okay?” My mom said, beaming. Ava hid slightly behind my mom, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, the picture of vulnerability. In the previous life, this pathetic act fooled every single person in the Carrington household. My dad, seeing her, offered a kind smile and reached out to pull her closer. I internally sneered. [Ha! This is Mom’s daughter with her boyfriend. If Dad knew, wouldn’t he be having a massive heart attack?] My dad’s hand suddenly froze mid-air. He looked around, searching for the source of the voice. The housekeeper was in the kitchen prepping dinner, so it was just the four of us in the living room. Finally, his gaze settled on me. “Chloe, did you say something just now?” Seeing my utterly blank expression, he started to reach for Ava again. I silently thought: [If Dad finds out the truth, it’s going to be a total blowout.] My dad immediately snatched his hand back. In the last life, my dad doted on Ava after she moved in. I never imagined that doting would ultimately destroy our whole family. Ava noticed my dad’s abrupt withdrawal and instantly put on a wounded expression. Tears welled in her eyes as she clutched my mom’s sleeve and whispered: “Aunt Lisa, does Uncle Richard not like me?” My mom stroked her head affectionately. “Don’t be silly. You’re my daughter now that you’re here, part of the Carrington family. Don’t worry.” She then told the housekeeper to prepare a guest room. “Aunt Lisa, that room is so beautiful.” Ava pointed toward the second floor. That entire section belonged to me. My room had a private balcony filled with my favorite roses. The roses were blooming in May, their fragrance filling the air—absolutely gorgeous. My mom nodded and turned to me. “Ava grew up in an orphanage. You’re the big sister, so why don’t you let her have your room?” I didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t help but complain internally. [Mom’s been ignoring me lately. I guess she was busy preparing to bring this ‘sister’ home?] My mom couldn’t hear my thoughts, but my dad heard every word. His face darkened, and he called out to the housekeeper, who was about to go upstairs. “That’s Chloe’s room. Who gave you permission to decide that?” “I’m so sorry, Mr. Carrington. I just thought the room was pretty, I didn’t mean anything else. I’m truly sorry, it’s all my fault.” Ava was quick to apologize. Even before I could open my mouth, she was already staging her little drama. In the last life, this exact behavior made my dad pity her. And because I didn’t want to give up my room, my dad ended up calling me selfish. 2 Ava sniffled. “Please don’t be mad, Uncle Richard. It’s my fault. I grew up in an orphanage and I’ve never seen a room so lovely…” Seeing her act like this, I felt my own resentment bubble up. [Dad is going to get mad again. Fine, she can have it. But Dad specially designed that room for me!] My dad looked at me, a flicker of pain in his eyes. He’d had that room remodeled for my thirteenth birthday. The company was just starting out then, and things were tough; he was constantly stressed. I’d tried to cheer him up by secretly baking him a cake. It looked like he remembered that moment. “You’re an outsider. Why should you get my daughter’s suite? That room is Chloe’s.” My dad said coldly. He then instructed the estate manager to clear out the storage room in the basement. Ava froze. She clearly hadn’t expected this outcome. She bit her lip, and tears instantly flooded her eyes. Orphanage? Please. I sneered internally. The moment my mom got the first major investment return from my dad’s company, she bought Ava a closet full of luxury goods. My mom’s old flame was facing legal trouble, which is why she rushed Ava here. Her goal was to systematically push all of us out. She claimed she wanted to find me a ‘sister’ to keep me company because I was ‘too introverted.’ In reality, it was a meticulous plot to get rid of my family and take over the Carrington Group. My dad was a workaholic, constantly focused on expanding the company. Thankfully, my mom’s plans were being foiled. My mom looked anxious and immediately grabbed my dad’s arm. “Honey, Ava’s never had anything nice. It’s natural she wants a nice room. Why are you so angry?” Then he heard my thoughts again. [Mom’s old lover has a lot of connections in the city. Confronting her now wouldn’t be smart. What if they get desperate? If Dad could just find concrete evidence of that guy’s illegal activities, we’d be safe.] My dad suppressed his rage, turned, and pulled me out of the room. My mom tried to say more but held her tongue. After all, my dad was rarely home due to work. She needed Ava to win him over, and this was their chance. But my dad was already too suspicious. My mom and Ava exchanged confused glances, probably wondering why my usually easygoing dad was suddenly so observant. Once we were in the study, my dad pulled me close and asked seriously, “Chloe, what’s wrong?” “Huh?” I feigned confusion, but internally I thought: [Dad couldn’t possibly believe them, could he? Well, he was fooled by them in the last life, which ultimately led to the Carrington family’s ruin.] His face got even darker. This time, there was a definite look of aggression in his eyes. He stood up as if to go confront my mom, but I quickly grabbed his hand. I opened my mouth, saying nothing, but my mind was racing. [No! We can’t let Dad and Mom openly fight yet. If they corner themselves, who knows what they’ll do? If Dad could just find concrete proof of that guy’s illegal activities, we’d be completely safe.] My dad paused. He looked at me intently, patted my shoulder, and left. Just like in the past life, Ava acted exceptionally sweet and sensible once she arrived. She volunteered for everything. She quickly won over the household staff. She stood politely next to my mom and told my dad with feigned envy: “Sister Chloe is so lucky. Unlike me, all I know how to do is fetch tea and pour water.” My hand, holding my coffee cup, twitched. I pulled it back as if burned, lowering my head. [Oh, it’s my fault. But if I start doing the housekeeper’s job, why are we paying them?] I bit my lip and said aloud: “I’m sorry, sister. It’s my fault. I won’t drink this coffee.” 3 Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dad glaring at Ava, his face expressionless. Ava, thinking he was impressed by her humility, lowered her head bashfully. I chuckled internally. Ava moved closer to my dad. “Uncle Richard, please don’t be mad at my sister. She grew up having everyone wait on her…” “Enough!” My dad finally snapped. He slammed the coffee cup onto the table, making Ava jump. “Unc… Uncle… please don’t be angry. Sister is just…” She still didn’t realize why my dad was truly furious. She probably thought he was defending her, while secretly gloating. My dad glared at her and snapped: “I don’t care what games you’re playing. Since you’re here, stay put and stop pulling stunts.” He gave my mom a fierce look and walked away. Ava’s eyes widened in confusion. Once my dad was gone, my mom nervously pulled Ava aside and whispered: “What happened? Didn’t you say he’d be too focused on work to notice anything?” My mom was genuinely confused. My dad was always so gentle and agreeable with her, at least before Ava arrived. She pondered for a while, concluding he must be having company troubles. “It’s okay. As long as you’re in the Carrington house, you’ll have your chance. The most important thing now is to deal with Chloe. The Carringtons are arranging a marriage alliance for her with the Sterling Group, the wealthiest family in the city. Once Chloe is ruined…” “…you can take her place, and the Carrington Group will be ours.” The Sterling Group was a top-tier dynasty in the city. Becoming Mrs. Sterling would mean limitless wealth and status. My mom’s eyes gleamed with greed as she looked at Ava. Ava’s jaw dropped, her eyes unfocused, clearly picturing herself as the Sterling matriarch. She nodded hard. In the past life, because I’d been sheltered for so long, I had no defenses against this sudden “sister.” I indulged her every whim and even covered up her mistakes. After relentless convincing from my mom, I genuinely thought of her as family. Yet, they were snakes, destroying my family, killing the man I loved, and finally seizing the entire Carrington Group. Watching her lost in her fantasy, I unknowingly dug my nails into my palms. Did she think she would get away with it this time? In a few days, it was my 24th birthday. My dad had booked the penthouse suite at the city’s most exclusive five-star hotel for a lavish party, inviting countless business elites. 4 Ava had been much quieter these last few days, no longer seeking attention from my dad. She clearly sensed his indifference and decided not to bother him. Liam Sterling was my childhood sweetheart. We grew up together. We were truly in love. He founded his own company right after college, promising me the best life could offer. But in the past life, Ava drugged my drink, leading to my public humiliation, which ultimately devastated Liam. Seeing him again, I couldn’t stop the tears welling up. Before I could regain my composure, Ava rushed over to him. Her gaze was overtly predatory as she addressed him. “Are you Mr. Sterling? I’ve heard so much about your ambition and success. Seeing you today, you truly are impressive.” In the past life, she used the same tactics to get close to Liam. Liam, like me, was young and naive, easily caught off guard. Although he hadn’t been receptive to Ava in the last life, he hadn’t truly guarded himself against her either. Ava’s relentless pursuit, born from her twisted desire, eventually led to Liam’s misery. I remained silent, thinking: [What do I do? Ava is starting again. Liam is so pure; what if she fools him?] I could feel Liam’s eyes locked on me. His brow was slightly furrowed, seemingly confused. [Ava is always targeting me. Mom only cares about her biological daughter and completely ignores me. What should I do?] [If Liam knew she was the one who killed us both in the past, he’d go ballistic.] Liam’s expression grew progressively colder. Ava, oblivious, continued to chatter beside him. “Mr. Sterling, I read your company’s project plan; it’s brilliant. I love studying finance, but I hear Sister Chloe isn’t very interested in things like that…” Before she could finish, Liam harshly pushed her away. “Get lost!” This was a side of Liam I’d never seen. He was usually gentle and polite; this was the first time he’d lost his temper so dramatically. He shoved her so hard that Ava tumbled to the ground. Ava’s face was bright red, but she didn’t dare speak up. She climbed back up reluctantly, tears in her eyes, adopting her usual helpless expression. “I don’t know if Sister Chloe said something, but Mr. Sterling, you seem to really dislike me.” The surrounding guests noticed the commotion. “Isn’t that the foster daughter Mrs. Carrington brought home from the orphanage?” “Yes, I heard she was adopted from a really poor one. Poor girl.” “Right? The Carrington heiress seems so petty and small-minded.” Ava listened contentedly to the gossip, hoping Liam would sympathize with her and be drawn to her. [No wonder everyone hates me. Maybe I should just leave.] I lowered my head, about to turn away. Liam quickly stepped forward and grabbed my hand. Then, he turned and spoke sternly to Ava. “Stay away from me. Also, I don’t recall Chloe having a sister. Stop trying to claim family connections.” Seeing her opportunity slipping away, Ava grew desperate.

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I died unexpectedly in childbirth, only to wake up fifteen years later. On my first day back, I discovered that the daughter I died giving birth to was being tormented by my husband’s supposed “White Moonlight” and her daughter. My husband himself had transformed into a ‘Zen Master’ of the New York elite, perpetually shrouded in incense smoke and detached from the world. So, I grabbed him by the hair, slapped him three times, and coldly stated, “Is this how you mourn me, Ethan?” 1 I struggled to open my eyes and found myself standing right next to my old high school. There were a few pedestrians on the sidewalk, some glancing curiously at my dazed state. Ten minutes later, staring up at the sky, I had to face the facts. I hadn’t just been reborn; I’d jumped fifteen years into the future. Gathering myself, I borrowed a phone from a stranger and called my late husband, Ethan Shaw. After a few rings, the call connected. “Hello, who is this?” The familiar male voice came through the speaker—still smooth, but with a deeper, more magnetic maturity than before. My nose stung. Tears welled up as I said, choked with emotion, “Ethan Shaw, it’s Sophia Hayes. I know this is hard to believe, but I think I… time-traveled? I’m near our old high school now. Just come pick me up.” A long silence followed on the other end. Just as I was about to say something to lighten the mood, the man on the phone suddenly sneered, his voice laced with scorn: “I don’t know where you people got my number, but tell whoever is behind you to come up with a better trick next time. Thinking you can fool me just by imitating her voice? How pathetic. Have some dignity.” Ethan’s unexpected verbal assault stunned me. My fingers went cold, and then uncontrollable fury boiled up. Ignoring where I was, I lashed out: “Ethan, are you serious right now? You can’t tell the difference between your own wife’s voice and a fake? You’ve wasted the last fifteen years, haven’t you?” The line went silent. I continued my rant: “I don’t care where you’re messing around. I’m telling you, if you’re not here in half an hour, you better clean up your own mess and die!” With that, I hung up. The stranger stared at me in shock. I offered her an apologetic smile and handed back the phone. She took it, hesitated, then asked: “Excuse me… are you looking for Ethan Shaw from Shaw Industries? I’m sorry, but you had it on speaker, and his voice sounded familiar…” I paused, then nodded, asking tentatively: “You know him?” She let out a breath and waved her hand, saying: “Everyone in this city knows the Shaw Prince.” 2 Seeing my curiosity and assuming I was a friend of Ethan’s, her gossip antenna went up. She eagerly spilled the tea: “After Mrs. Shaw died giving birth, she left behind one daughter. Everyone thought Mr. Shaw would remarry soon, especially since his ‘White Moonlight’ made a huge deal about moving back to the country. But after growing Shaw Industries into a giant, Mr. Shaw just… announced he was giving up worldly life. No one knows where he is, though he occasionally shows up at the annual corporate gala. But I heard…” “Heard what?” I prompted. The stranger paused, then continued: “Well, this is just a rumor, but they say Mr. Shaw and his ‘White Moonlight’ are getting back together soon. Everyone’s betting he’ll come out of his spiritual retreat for her. After all, she’s the big-time actress, Holly Green. What man could resist that?” I raised an eyebrow and let out a cold laugh. “Looks like I showed up just in time for Ethan’s wedding cake.” The stranger saw the dark look on my face, realized she’d overshared, quickly took her phone, and scurried off. Two shocks in a row right after I time-traveled. I felt the sadness hit me hard. If Ethan and his ‘White Moonlight’ were truly soulmates, I wouldn’t interfere. I didn’t have the right to expect him to mourn me for fifteen years. But I hadn’t even seen my daughter yet. I had no idea how she was doing. Based on what I knew about Ethan, he’d probably send her to our alma mater. Getting out of the taxi, the familiar school gates came into view. Suddenly, I heard a commotion. I looked up and saw a group of bleached-blond delinquents roughhousing and cornering a small, meek, short-haired girl near the school entrance. It was clearly bullying. I frowned. This was supposed to be the city’s top private academy. How could this be happening? For some reason, the short-haired girl looked vaguely familiar. I couldn’t help but follow them. The group led the girl into a secluded alley. The leader, a girl with a pretty, innocent face, did something shocking. She kicked the short-haired girl right in the stomach. The girl crumpled to the ground, crying out in pain. The leader sneered: “I hear Uncle Ethan got you some super expensive birthday present. Hand it over so we can all see it.” The short-haired girl hugged her backpack tightly, trembling. “I can’t do that!” The leader kicked her again, her face twisting with a malice that didn’t suit her age. She spat at the girl and hissed: “Anna Shaw, don’t be an idiot!” The moment I heard the name, my heart seized up. Anna Shaw… Ethan and I had agreed on that name for our child, whether it was a boy or a girl. I looked sharply at the girl on the ground. Even with her heavy, short hair obscuring her face, I could see the bright, familiar eyes. That spitting image of me! Who else could it be but my daughter? Just then, the tall girl looked down and ordered the others: “Grab her backpack! Then strip her clothes off. This time, we’ll teach her a lesson for disrespecting me!” 3 My eyes narrowed. The last shred of my sanity burned away in a flash of pure rage. I wanted to tear these bullies limb from limb. Oh, Ethan Shaw. This is how my daughter spends her days, huh? I snatched a wooden stick from beside a dumpster, rushed forward, shoved through the crowd, and shielded Anna. The tall girl jumped when she saw my face. Then, as if triggered, she yelled: “This doesn’t concern you, old lady! Buzz off before we beat you too!” “Save your breath,” I said coldly. “None of you are getting away.” A bunch of overgrown kids. When I rescued Ethan from kidnappers single-handedly, these punks hadn’t even been born. I casually stretched my muscles. Thank goodness my body was still in its twenties; otherwise, this might actually be a challenge. A few minutes later, the blond delinquents were sprawled on the ground, whimpering. I planted my heel firmly on the leader’s face and twisted, but it still didn’t satisfy me. I delivered two hard kicks to her stomach. That squared the score for the kicks she gave my daughter. The leader was spitting blood and twitching, her high-and-mighty attitude gone. She slurred: “My mom… my mom won’t let you get away with this! Uncle Ethan won’t either!” “Ooh, who’s your mom?” I enjoyed watching her humiliation. “Tell me all about her. I want to see which major tramp raised this little tramp.” “Her mom… her mom is Holly Green,” Anna, who had been shaking behind me, finally managed to say a complete sentence. She carefully tugged my jacket and said anxiously: “Please, ma’am, you have to leave! If her mom finds out, you’ll be in danger…” Hearing that name again, my heart sank. I knew exactly why my daughter was the way she was now. I pulled Anna into a fierce hug, gently stroked her soft hair, and whispered: “Don’t worry, sweetie. Mommy’s here to protect you.” Anna’s eyes widened slightly. She whispered back: “Mommy… are you… Mommy?” Mother and daughter, connected by an unspoken bond. It often doesn’t need words, just a look. Anna instantly believed that the powerful, beautiful woman standing before her was her mother. I helped Anna slowly walk out of the dark alley, only to run straight into an unwelcome guest. “Dad… why are you here?” Anna asked timidly. 4 Speak of the devil. I looked up. The man in front of me looked almost the same, only broader and with a more mature, composed demeanor. It was as if fifteen years had only left a speck of dust on him. “Ethan Shaw, long time no see,” I said coolly. Ethan’s eyes went red the moment he saw me. He reached out a trembling hand, trying to touch my face. The moment he made contact, he jerked his hand back as if burned, staring at me in confusion: “Sophia… it’s really you. You’re back.” Feeling my daughter’s grip tighten on my arm, my expression hardened. Ethan clearly felt uncomfortable under my gaze, finally realizing the situation. The tall girl, beaten senseless behind him, crawled toward Ethan like he was her savior, weakly begging him to save her and kill the evil woman who attacked her. Ethan frowned, looking at the girl on the ground, his voice tinged with irritation: “Not you again?” I cut him off: “So? Are you going to kill me to avenge your ‘White Moonlight’?” Ethan frowned deeper: “What ‘White Moonlight’? Don’t you know who I am?” “I don’t care who you are. Ethan Shaw, you have utterly disappointed me.” With that, I walked past him, pulling Anna along. Ethan violently grabbed my arm, his eyes so red they looked like they might bleed. He practically screamed: “Don’t you dare leave! You are not taking another step away from me!” “Smack!” A loud crack echoed in the silence. The surrounding area went quiet. Even the groaning delinquents shut up, and Anna’s mouth dropped open. Ethan’s face was turned to one side from the blow. He stared at me blankly. I ground out: “Our daughter is bullied like this, and you clearly knew nothing—or worse, didn’t care. Which is it?” “Smack!” Another sharp crack. Ethan’s face snapped to the other side, and tears finally began to fall. I continued: “No time for your daughter, but plenty of time to chase your ‘White Moonlight’ and make it front-page news? Aren’t you ashamed?” “Smack!” A final loud crack. I pointed directly at Ethan’s nose and said, every word like a punch: “Ethan Shaw, this is how you honor my memory?”

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