The whole family was on vacation, but my husband, Adrian, was out with his old flame, Lily, zipping across the restricted waters on a jet ski. Fueled by half a bottle of rosé, Lily was demanding to ride to the opposite island, promising to carve a heart in the sand for him. Next thing I knew, she was gunning the engine, twisting the throttle all the way, and slamming straight into my brother’s yacht. Adrian didn’t even glance at the yacht as it started to go under. Instead, he clutched Lily’s hand, his voice a soothing balm. “As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. They were in restricted waters anyway. If something happened, it was their own damn fault.” It wasn’t until the yacht had vanished completely beneath the waves, its passengers missing, that Adrian finally called me. “Cara,” he said, his voice flat. “Your brother and your mom… they went down with the boat.” In that instant, a tidal wave of terror swallowed me whole. But then, the world dissolved into a blur of memory. My mother, just like when I was a kid, was popping a piece of freshly cooked steak into my mouth. My brother, Leo, laughing as he tried to steal it. “Mom, you always play favorites.” They were right here, beside me. So who was on that sinking yacht? … The beach was a circus. Police officers were yelling, trying to keep a swarm of onlookers from filming the chaos. In the distance, I could see the splintered remains of the yacht I’d bought for Leo. I shoved my way through the crowd, my ears catching the hushed, angry whispers of a few people who had been on a nearby boat. “Those two are disgusting. Not even human.” “They were the closest! They could’ve saved them, two lives!” “Get this—the woman was pissed her ‘heart’ didn’t get drawn. Like this is her private art studio or something!” A cold sweat drenched my back. How could Adrian have become this person? Were two human lives worth nothing in his eyes? He was murmuring comforts to Lily when he turned and saw me. The gentle expression on his face vanished. He dragged me away from the crowd. “What are you doing here, making a scene?” I tried to explain, my voice trembling. “My mom and Leo, how could they have…” Adrian’s eyes narrowed, and he cut me off. “Those rubberneckers are just spouting nonsense. You think I’d just stand by and watch people die?” “I’m your husband, Cara. Don’t you trust me? Besides—” His tone softened into a pained whisper. “Lily was terrified, practically in shock. Of course, I had to take care of the living.” I’d never heard anything so absurd. “Was her shock more important than two human lives?” Adrian’s face hardened. “Your brother ignored the warning signs and tore through a restricted zone going twice the speed limit. He had it coming!” The words hit me like a physical blow. I shook with rage. “That’s a lie! That wasn’t my brother! He was trained by the best captain on the coast; he would never be that reckless!” I pointed a trembling finger at Lily. “She was driving drunk! That alone is a felony!” Lily shrank back, clutching Adrian’s arm like a frightened child. “Adrian, it’s all my fault,” she whimpered. “I was just so excited that my design made it to the finals. Cara, please don’t let this ruin your marriage. I… I couldn’t bear it if I came between you two.” Adrian’s voice dropped to a low, dangerous warning. “They’re already dead, Cara. There’s no point in dragging this out. Let it go.” “This is about Lily now. This isn’t the time for your little tantrums.” My body swayed. This man, who had once sworn he loved me more than life itself, was now twisting the truth, discarding my family’s lives, all for his old flame. An inferno of rage consumed me. SMACK! I slapped him, hard. Adrian’s face contorted in shock. “Cara, have you lost your mind—” SMACK! I hit him again with the back of my hand. In all our years of marriage, I had never even raised my voice at him. This was the first, and last, time I would show him this side of me. Disbelief washed over his features. He just stared at me, speechless. Lily threw her arms around him, her eyes brimming with tears. “Cara, if you’re angry, hit me. Don’t hit Adrian. He didn’t do anything wrong.” “You can hit me as much as you want, as long as you forgive him.” She even grabbed my hand and tried to make me slap her own face. I snatched my hand back, refusing to participate in her pathetic theater. “Those two slaps, Adrian, were for the dead!” I turned to the nearest police officer. “That yacht was a birthday gift for my brother. I’m the owner. I want to see the black box footage from before the…” Before I could finish, a hand yanked me backward, and I crashed onto the sand. Adrian stood over me, his voice laced with cold fury. “I’ve already signed the waiver of legal action.” “Are you trying to make us the laughingstock of this entire beach by carrying on like this?” I stared up at him, a sense of profound absurdity and despair washing over me. “Adrian, you have no right to sign that for me!” His face was a mask of ugly resentment. “I’m your husband. Why the hell wouldn’t I have the right?” I couldn’t stand the sight of his repulsive face for another second. I scrambled to my feet and turned back to the officer. “I am the victim’s sister. I do not consent to any waiver. I want this investigated.” “Please, retrieve the black box as soon as possible. We need to know who was on that yacht!” The officer, having witnessed the whole drama, nodded agreeably. “As soon as the yacht is salvaged, we’ll analyze the data from the recorder. I’ll make sure you’re present for the viewing.” “Thank you!” A thought struck me. I moved away from Adrian and quickly texted my brother. [Lily crashed your yacht and sank it. The people on board are gone. I need you to pull the cloud surveillance footage from the yacht now. Tell me everything you find, immediately.] Just as I put my phone away, the recovery team brought the bodies ashore. They laid two figures side-by-side on the sand, their flesh ravaged by shark bites. To call them bodies was a stretch. They were little more than mangled torsos. Their limbs were gone, devoured. Most of the flesh had been stripped from their bones. My stomach churned, but I forced myself to walk closer. “I promise you,” I whispered to them, “I will make the people who did this pay.” Just then, a text from Leo came through. [HOLY SH*T! My yacht was stolen? And it SANK?! Are people dead? I bet it was that bastard again!] [Does Adrian know? How’s he taking it? Hope he doesn’t strangle Lily in a fit of rage!] I was confused, but before I could reply, Lily’s delicate voice drifted from behind me. “Adrian, I’m scared. I can’t look.” Adrian wrapped an arm around her, his voice tender. “I know, they’re… it’s gruesome. Listen to me, go wait in the car, okay?” But Lily refused. She stepped out of his embrace and walked to within a few feet of the bodies, offering a careless little bow. “I’m so sorry…” As she straightened up, a smirk twisted her lips, and she whispered just loud enough for me to hear, “But then, what can you expect when you raise such a pathetic daughter? Couldn’t even keep her man’s heart. Your husband just watched you die, and now you’re shark food.” Her words lit a fuse, and my rage exploded. I lunged at her, my hand clamping down on the back of her neck, forcing her down. “If you have a shred of humanity left, you will get on your knees and apologize!” “Murderers don’t get to stand over their victims.” Lily’s face crumpled, and she sobbed, trying to pull away. “Cara, I was just paying my respects! Why are you attacking me?” “Adrian, help me! She’s trying to kill me!” SMACK! My head snapped to the side. The coppery taste of blood filled my mouth. I turned slowly, my eyes locking on Adrian, his hand still raised. His chest heaved with fury. “How dare you lay a hand on Lily?” “They’re dead, Cara! We’re the ones who have to keep living! Don’t push your luck!” “Lily came here to apologize. That’s more respect than they deserve. Your mom and brother are dead and gone, so stop asking for so much!” “THEY’RE NOT MY MOTHER AND BROTHER!” I screamed. I glared at Lily. “You killed those people, and you dare stand there and say these things? Are you even human?!” Terrified I might actually hurt his precious Lily, Adrian started spouting nonsense. “Lily did nothing wrong! Your mother and brother died in an accident, and I’m signing a waiver to close the case!” I wiped the blood from my lip. In that moment, the last shred of affection I had for Adrian evaporated. Just looking at him made me sick. “Adrian, let’s get a divorce.” He blinked, a flicker of guilt and regret crossing his face before being replaced by defiance. “No! I won’t sign.” “You’re vindictive, Cara. If we divorce, God knows what you’ll do to Lily.” “I’m not giving you that chance!” With that, he scooped Lily into his arms and walked away, leaving me alone on the beach. My knees gave out, and I sank to the sand, the tears finally coming in a hot, silent flood. I waited for hours outside the coroner’s office. I never got the autopsy results. Instead, a weary examiner informed me that the remains had already been claimed by the family. They were to be taken, along with the salvaged yacht, to a scrap yard to be crushed and disposed of. No further investigation into the cause of death would be pursued. I saw the signature on the release form: Adrian Pierce. A bitter cold seeped into my bones. Wasting no time, I floored it all the way to the industrial steel plant. The two body bags had been placed inside the wrecked yacht, which was now suspended from a massive crane, ready to be dropped into the maw of a hydraulic press. Adrian stood watching, his face a blank mask. Lily was nestled against him, a triumphant, excited glint in her eyes. I sprinted forward, planting myself in front of the machine. “STOP!” “Adrian, the cause of death hasn’t even been determined! You’re destroying their bodies! Do you want them to never rest in peace?” My repeated interference had worn his patience thin. He motioned for his bodyguards to grab me. “Stop making a scene!” “This is what your mother and brother wanted. It was in their will.” “You’re lying! Since when do my mother and brother have a will I don’t know about?” A cold smile touched his lips. “Because you’re so overbearing, Cara. They were always too scared to tell you things like this. But they told me. Leo said that once you’re dead, you’re just bones, nothing worth keeping. He wanted to be compressed and incinerated. To leave this world cleanly.” At his command, the giant press whirred to life. I tried to rush forward, but he held me in an iron grip. My eyes darted around frantically. “You’re obstructing a police investigation by destroying evidence! That’s a crime, Adrian!” Lily stepped forward, acting as if she’d been mortally offended. “Cara, I didn’t want to say this, but you’re forcing my hand.” “Your brother was running with a bad crowd, junkies, Cara. He was a mess.” “This time, he was high as a kite and insisted on going into the restricted zone. What does that have to do with us?” Before I could even deny it, Adrian cut me off. He produced a lab report. “This is from the coroner. They found illegal substances in both bodies. You can’t deny the facts.” “I know you’re grieving, but you can’t take it out on innocent people. Lily had nothing to do with this.” In a few short sentences, they had shifted the blame for Lily’s reckless driving entirely onto the dead. The workers standing around erupted. “Drugs? Hell, getting crushed is too good for him!” “Serves him right!” “Junkies deserve whatever they get! No sympathy here!” The ugly words drilled into my ears. My heart clenched for the victims, who couldn’t even find peace in death. The operator took the opportunity to restart the press. The massive hammer began its slow descent. I lunged forward, screaming, “Adrian, the people who died aren’t my family! Stop it, now!” He just sneered. “Have you completely lost it? Making up ridiculous stories just to get your way.” I remembered Leo’s text, my heart pounding with desperation. “Just stop the machine! You don’t know who’s in there! What if it’s someone you care about?” His contempt was a physical blow. “Your mother and your brother? There’s nothing for me to care about.” Lily clung to his arm, whispering poison. “She’s just trying to threaten you with two corpses, Adrian. She can’t stand to see us happy.” That was all it took. Adrian’s face hardened, and he shoved me aside. “I don’t care what you say today. Nothing is stopping this!” He gave a sharp nod to the operator. The machine whirred, the hammer beginning its slow, final descent.

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1 I was doing a stunt for a fight scene when the film’s “It Girl” stabbed me for real, landing me in the hospital. My A-list actor boyfriend, Zane, rushed to my side, fussing over me with worried questions. Before I could even feel a flicker of warmth, a line of text materialized above his head: [When is Sienna going to realize the A-lister bound her to that wannabe Roxy with a Beauty System?] [Whatever part of her body Sienna obsesses over, that same part on Roxy becomes even more perfect!] A second later, my agent of five years, Cole, hurried in. Another line of text appeared: [The agent’s just as bad. He’s bound her with an Achievement System. The harder Sienna works, the more successful Roxy becomes!] I looked at the two men in front of me and fell into a deep, unsettling thought. So… all I have to do is stop giving a damn. … As the text continued to scroll, a chill crept into my heart. How could this be possible? The two most important men in my life were using me, sacrificing me for someone else? Just then, a celebrity news alert popped up on my phone: [Rising Star Roxy Spotted by Fans, Warmly Posing for Photos and Hugs.] In the video, her legs were impossibly long and slender, so pale they practically glowed. But just yesterday, when we were filming our fight scene, I’d seen her thighs, and they hadn’t looked like that. The comments section was flooded. [Roxy is the queen of self-discipline! Just a few days ago people were talking about her ‘thick thighs’ and now look at this comeback. Incredible!] [I heard she runs ten kilometers every morning to maintain her figure! How can a star like this not be famous?] [This is some serious shade on a certain senior actress, isn’t it? She’s been in the business for years and still hasn’t learned to manage her own body!] [Exactly. She’s so dark and chubby. If she’s not a flop, who is?] I didn’t need three guesses to know who the “certain senior actress” was. I glanced instinctively at my boyfriend, Zane, and my agent, Cole. They were both staring at their phones, grinning like idiots, their eyes filled with undisguised admiration and pride. I used to think they were just happy to see an artist from our agency succeed. Now I knew the truth. They were laughing at how stupid I was. The text floated by again: [See? The more Sienna worries about her thigh scarring, the more beautiful Roxy’s legs become.] I took a deep breath. I was starting to believe it. There was no other explanation for how Roxy’s legs could transform into flawlessness in a single day, right after mine had been sliced open. Rage boiled in my chest as I looked at them. One was my boyfriend. When he was a nobody, I was the one who spent a fortune—tens of millions, at least—on ads and investments to make him the star he was today. The other was my agent. When he was a newbie getting bullied in a corner, I was the one, a popular actress at the time, who took him under my wing. Because of me, he became a top-tier agent. And now, these two were working together to destroy me for Roxy. I was about to explode when a nurse came in to change my dressing. Zane immediately took the antiseptic and bandages from her. “I’ll do it,” he said gently. “You go on.” The nurse gave me a knowing, envious smile. “Your boyfriend is so handsome and thoughtful!” I forced a smile, my eyes secretly tracking Zane’s movements. With his back to me, he discreetly tossed the healing powder into the trash. The text floated up: [So cruel. This way, Sienna’s wound will scar, making her even more insecure about it.] I shot up and pushed him away. “Forget it. Just leave it.” Zane stared at me, bewildered. “Sienna, don’t you know that keeping your body scar-free is the ultimate respect you can show your audience?” “Besides,” he added, his voice hardening, “you’re my girlfriend. How can you be worthy of me if you have a scar?” He talked about not wanting me to scar, but all he wanted was for me to be insecure and obsessed. Years ago, when he, a famous actor, chose me, a washed-up star, over a bevy of beautiful actresses, his fans had ripped me to shreds for years. He never once defended me. Instead, he’d gaslight me. “Sienna, maybe they just think you’re not pretty enough.” “It’s okay. With modern medicine, if you want to get some cosmetic work done, I’ll support you.” Blinded by love, I’d foolishly agreed. To be “worthy” of him, I went through hell and back with cosmetic procedures, but my face only got worse. Now people called me a plastic surgery monster, full of toxins. I remember curling up under the covers, my body wracked with sobs, completely depressed over it. And on that very day, Roxy won the “Most Beautiful Lead Actress” award for her stunning looks. Snapping back to the present, I pushed him away with a humorless smile. “If you really cared about me, why haven’t you gone to settle the score with Roxy? Why haven’t you asked her why she used a real knife instead of a prop?” At the mention of Roxy, his expression soured. Cole stepped in, his tone deliberately calm. “Sienna, I know you don’t want to be just a pretty face. You care more about your skills, right?” “So I completely understand you focusing on your acting.” He paused, holding out a call sheet. “Here. I just booked you another stunt gig. Shoots at 1 a.m. The pay is good.” I glanced down at the throbbing wound on my thigh. I’d just been injured yesterday, and he wanted me to pull an all-nighter for a fight scene? I threw the call sheet on the floor. “I don’t feel well. I’m not doing it.” This time, even he couldn’t stay calm. His brows furrowed, his voice laced with impatience. “Sienna, accidents happen in acting. You used to be so tough. What’s wrong with you today?” “Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked for you these past five years, never giving up, constantly hustling for roles?” I stared at him, a bitter taste in my mouth. “Oh, thank you so much,” I sneered. He’d been with me for five years. I took him on when I was at my peak. He seemed so grateful, always at my beck and call. When my career tanked, he stayed, working tirelessly to find me gigs. I always thought he was loyal. It was why I refused to go home and inherit the family business, despite my parents’ pleas. I pushed myself so hard, often staying on set until three or four in the morning, because I didn’t want to let him down. And what was the result? No matter how hard I worked, I was just a stepping stone for Roxy. The thought made me shake my head. “Since I’m already a flop, what’s the point of trying? I’ll still be a flop.” I looked up and smiled at him again. “You never said you were working so hard. Since it’s such a burden, why don’t you just stop?” Zane and Cole stared at me, their expressions a mixture of confusion and alarm. My words were strange, but my meaning was clear. I didn’t give them a chance to reply. I stood up and walked out. “I’m checking out of the hospital.” Zane snapped out of it and chased me down the hall. “What are you talking about? Your leg looks terrible! Get back in there!” Cole followed, frowning as he tried to grab my arm. “You need to heal up. You have a lot more fight scenes coming up.” “You’re throwing a tantrum over a little thing like this? You’ll never make a comeback at this rate!” “A comeback?” I stopped dead and spun around to face him. “The truth is, you’re terrified I will make a comeback!” My outburst drew curious glances from a few passersby. Zane panicked, fumbling to put on his mask and hissing, “Calm down! We’ll talk about this when we get back!” I shoved his hand away and shouted, “I am perfectly calm!” More people were stopping to watch now. Zane lost it. “Sienna, are you insane? If you don’t care about your own image, at least think about the agency’s reputation!” “You look like a crazy shrew right now! Are you trying to embarrass me?” His face was red beneath his mask. I reached out and ripped it off. “So, the great A-list actor only likes beautiful women?” The mask was off. The hallway erupted. “Isn’t that the movie star, Zane? And that woman… that’s his girlfriend, Sienna, right?” “Why are they fighting in a hospital? Is she pregnant?” “No way. Isn’t he famous for doting on that ugly girlfriend of his? I thought they were true love!” Zane treasured his hard-won fame above all else. He hastily pulled his mask back on, muttering, “You’ve got the wrong person,” and fled. The onlookers froze, their phones still half-raised. I smiled sweetly at them. “Yes, that was Zane.” Cole grabbed my arm, dragging me aside. “If you keep this up, no one will ever hire you again!” “Once this scandal hits the news, your career in this industry is over!” I tilted my head, a laugh bubbling up. “Wouldn’t that be perfect? I was just thinking of retiring.” I had a family empire waiting for me to inherit. I didn’t need to grovel in this toxic industry. While he was still stunned, I turned and walked away. I sent a quick text to my mom, then systematically left every group chat for stunt work. Next stop: the agency, to terminate my contract. I had no endorsement deals, no TV appearances, and no active film roles. Plus, my parents were the biggest investors in the agency. Leaving wouldn’t be hard. That was the real reason the agency never fired me, even after my career had been in a slump for so long. I had asked them to keep my family background a secret, afraid people would use it against me, and even told them not to give me special treatment or resources. The moment I stepped into the office, I ran into Roxy. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes instantly welling up. “Sienna… I didn’t know the knife would… I really didn’t know…” I watched her performance, my face a blank mask. She cried beautifully, inching closer. “Sienna, please don’t be mad at me. It’s all my fault, all my fault…” Her eyes darted to my thigh. “That wound… it’s going to scar! I’ll find you a doctor, I know a really good one…” I sidestepped her. “You stab me, then you find me a doctor. You’re a real saint.” My words ignited the office. A colleague snapped, “Roxy, how is this your fault? It’s her own damn fault for not dodging a real knife. She’s probably just desperate for attention.” “Yeah! Roxy, you’re always getting her roles. She shouldn’t complain about one little stab, or even ten!” “If you ask me, she’s just ugly and high-maintenance! And now she has the nerve to be sarcastic with you!” I scanned the room, a cold smirk on my face. “So, stabbing me was justified, is that it?” Roxy’s tears fell faster. “Sienna, I didn’t mean it like that…” she whimpered. The more helpless she acted, the louder the murmurs grew. “Sienna, that’s going too far. Roxy apologized, what more do you want?” “You think you’re so great because your boyfriend’s a movie star? Get over yourself!” “Look at you. How can you even compare yourself to Roxy? One of her fingers is worth more than your entire career!” “The only reason someone who looks like you is still in this business is because Roxy helps you out. Otherwise, you would’ve been kicked to the curb ages ago!” I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the inferno inside me. They were right. Roxy was better than me now. But everything she had—Zane and Cole had stolen it from me and given it to her. She’d started as a nobody, an extra everyone looked down on. I felt sorry for her and asked Cole to give her a hand. And with that one hand, she shot to stardom. After she got famous, she even got her hooks into my boyfriend. I don’t know when the three of them started plotting against me. I was done wasting my breath on her. I reached out to push past her. The instant my hand touched her, she stumbled backward dramatically, collapsing to the floor. She clutched her knee, her face a mask of agony. “Roxy!” Zane and Cole burst out of the elevator and slammed into me, sending me sprawling. My wound tore open again. Blood gushed out, the pain so intense it brought a cold sweat to my brow. Before I could process what happened, Zane was pointing at me, roaring, “Sienna! How can you be so petty?!” Roxy clutched her back, whimpering as she leaned against him. “I have a promotional event tonight… but after Sienna pushed me, I’m so dizzy… I don’t think I can go… What if this affects the company?” A colleague immediately rounded on me. “That event has several major directors attending! If Roxy can’t go, what will they think of us? You bitch, you’re trying to sabotage everyone!” I suddenly noticed that Roxy was wearing shorts, and her thighs looked thicker than they had in the video this morning, the fabric cutting into her flesh. A text floated by: [Sienna stopped caring about her scar, so Roxy’s legs are back to their original state!] I looked down at my own leg. It was a bloody mess, but the skin around the wound was smooth and pale. Seeing me stare silently at my leg, someone stepped forward and stomped right on my injury. The pain was so blinding I nearly blacked out. The others backed away in disgust. “Now there’s blood all over the floor. So unlucky.” Zane looked down at me, his eyes filled with loathing. “Sienna, if you keep this up, don’t blame me for forgetting our history and telling the boss to blacklist you!” Cole’s voice was like ice. “Without me, a top-tier agent, you’ll never work in this town again!” Suddenly, a furious voice boomed from the entrance. “Insolence! Who dares cause trouble in my company!” Behind the CEO stood my mother, her face a mask of cold fury. The CEO pushed through the crowd of gossiping employees and strode towards me, his brow furrowed. He glanced at my bleeding leg, then at Roxy, and his voice was heavy. “What happened here?” Roxy immediately clutched her back, her voice frail. “Sir, I was just trying to advise Sienna to take better care of her image, but she suddenly lost her temper and pushed me…” The colleagues chimed in. “That’s right, sir! Sienna started it! Roxy was just trying to help!” “Yeah, Roxy is so kind, she didn’t deserve that!” My mother gasped and rushed over. The sight of my leg, drenched in blood, made her scream. “Someone, call an ambulance! Now!” But Zane just scoffed, stopping someone who was reaching for their phone. He crossed his arms, sneering at me. “Stop the act. If you had an ounce of this acting talent on screen, you wouldn’t be a flop.” “Look at Roxy. She debuted after you and already has several leading roles. And you? You’re still just a stunt double. Isn’t that pathetic?” The pain was making my head spin, but I gritted my teeth and glared at him. “This is acting? Are you blind, or am I?” “Zane, have you forgotten how you became an A-list actor in the first place? How dare you lecture me!” “You!” Zane pointed a trembling finger at me. “Sienna! If you hadn’t blackmailed me with the past, do you think I would have ever looked twice at a dark, ugly woman like you?” “I know what you did! You slept with Director Evans to get me that role, to make me an actor! I only stayed with you out of pity, because I didn’t want to expose you!” “But you’re the one who did it! I never forced you!” A wave of gasps and whispers filled the room. “I knew it! That’s how she got famous so fast back in the day! She slept her way to the top!” …It wasn’t enough to destroy me. He had to slander me, too?

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1 On the anniversary of my mother’s death, I ran into Uriah Vance. We hadn’t spoken in six years. I acted like he wasn’t there, my eyes fixed on my mother’s headstone as I walked past him. He clutched a bouquet of white lilies, following a few steps behind me like a nervous shadow. After a long, heavy silence, he finally found his voice, the words carefully chosen. “Can I… can I go pay my respects to my father?” he asked, his voice strained. “He wanted to see you, before the end. But your address, your number… you’d changed everything.” I nodded once. Surprise flickered in his eyes. He’d expected a fight—a storm of furious accusations, the biting, sarcastic remarks I used to be so good at. The rest of his plea, whatever it was, died on his lips. His eyes, red-rimmed and glistening, lit up with a fragile hope. “Rina,” he whispered, “you don’t hate me anymore.” A small, empty smile touched my lips, but I said nothing. Six years, and he still didn’t get it. Hate is just the ghost of love. With no love left, there was nothing to haunt me. … Uriah’s father had been kind to me. Whatever happened between his son and me, the man was gone now. Debts die with the dead. It was only right to pay my respects. After placing the lilies on the grave, I turned to leave. A weight settled on my shoulder. I looked up into Uriah’s gentle gaze as he draped his coat over me. “It’s almost winter,” he said softly. “You’re not dressed warmly enough.” Without a word, I shrugged the coat off. I’d learned long ago how to keep myself warm; I didn’t need charity from anyone else. He stiffened, the rejection hanging in the air between us. He quickly changed the subject. “Where are you living now? It’s hard to get a cab from out here. Let me give you a ride.” “No need. I work here.” He let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “I actually thought you were over it,” he scoffed. “We talk for two minutes and you’re already back to your old games. You, of all people. You’ve always been terrified of places like this.” He was right. I used to be terrified of ghosts. But ever since they buried Mom here, that fear was gone. Now, some nights, I’d give anything to hear her ghost yell at me just one more time. To hear her scream at the fool I was, throwing my life away for a man, rotting in a cell while she died alone, without me there to hold her hand. Uriah took a few quick steps to catch up, his hand reaching for mine. Just then, his phone rang. His hand dropped, diving into his coat pocket. “Lily…” he answered, his voice softening. “Honey, I told you to wait for me! We were supposed to come here together.” The voice on the other end was crisp and professional, laced with a playful frustration. “I had to move mountains to get out of that international conference, and I booked the earliest flight back just for you.” If Uriah hadn’t used her name, I wouldn’t have recognized her. It was Lily. The same Lily who used to speak in a thick country accent, so self-conscious she’d barely say a word. The girl who clung to my arm on her first-ever flight, too afraid to ask for a bottle of water because she thought people would laugh at how she talked. Now, she sounded like a powerhouse, a woman who commanded boardrooms. It seemed Uriah had taken very good care of her. He shot a panicked glance at me, clearly terrified she’d find out I was here. He mumbled a few excuses and quickly hung up. “I’ll come find you again,” he said before he left, his words a promise or a threat. My coworker, who had been watching from a distance, came over, her eyes wide with envy. “Rina, you’re a quiet one! How do you know a famous lawyer like Uriah Vance?” “He’s the one who bought that quarter-million-dollar plot for his dad,” she gossiped. “If you know him, you won’t have to worry about sales quotas. Just wait for one of his rich relatives to kick the bucket and…” I couldn’t help a tired, hollow laugh. Only people who sell graves for a living wish for death. The late autumn wind cut through my thin sweater, chilling me to the bone. The smile froze on my face. There was a time, I remembered, when I had wished for his entire family to die. I met him when my mother’s illness was at its worst. The medical bills piled up, one after another, an insurmountable mountain of debt. I spent my nights by her bedside, holding her hand through the pain, and my days enduring her screaming fits as the agony frayed her nerves and she lashed out at the only person left. Still, she got worse. I’d hide in the dark, silent stairwells of the hospital, shoving bread into my mouth to choke back the sobs. One night, I finally broke. I screamed at the heavens, cursed my luck, my life, everything, for a solid half hour. Wiping the tears from my face with the back of my hand, I walked out, forgetting I’d left my phone behind. On my way back, I nearly collided with a man walking down the stairs, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He paused, clearing his throat. “Uh… I didn’t hear a thing.” After that, we kept running into each other. It turned out his father was in the same hospital, on the same floor. He’d watch over my mom so I could get a moment of sunshine, then spend three hours waiting for my turn in a crowded, noisy CT scan queue. When my mom, in a fit of rage, would tangle her hands in my hair and scream that the food was inedible, he’d quietly appear with a container of takeout from a high-end restaurant. They were small gestures to him. Insignificant. But to me, in those moments of suffocating despair, they were a lifeline. A gasp of air when I was drowning. When he found out my mom’s condition was from a workplace accident, he took it upon himself to fight for her compensation. The police dragged their feet, so he went to the construction site alone. By the time I got the call and rushed over, I barely recognized him. He was a silhouette of blood and bruises, surrounded by a dozen workers wielding steel pipes. “Get the hell out of here, you son of a bitch, or I swear to God I’ll run you over!” the foreman screamed. Uriah was trembling with fear, but he gritted his teeth and stood his ground. “Fifty thousand dollars,” he said, his voice shaking but firm. “You’re not moving a single pile of dirt until you pay.” “Fuck you!” The roar of an engine split the air. The workers scattered as a massive excavator lurched forward. A terrible, piercing scream tore from my throat as I ran, throwing myself in front of the machine. The foreman’s lips trembled. “Crazy. You’re all fucking crazy.” But it was too late. The machine’s tracks had crushed Uriah’s legs. Blood seeped into the dirt, blooming around the horrifying white of shattered bone. The veins in his neck bulged as he fought against the agony, but when he saw me, he managed a weak, broken smile. “Besides my law degree,” he gasped, “I guess I need to learn how to throw a punch. Can’t exactly get justice for my clients otherwise.” That money got my mom the imported medication she needed. Her condition started to stabilize. Uriah won a few major cases, and his career took off. We made a plan: on my birthday, we’d get our marriage license, and then we’d go to the hospital and bring my mom home. A surprise for her. Everything was finally getting better. The night before our appointment at the courthouse, Uriah was out of town, meeting with a client. Determined not to break his promise, he drove through the night to get back to me. He was drunk. He hit someone. I found him huddled in a corner of the hospital waiting room, his eyes locked on the glowing light above the operating room door. A strangled sob escaped his clenched jaw. In that moment, he looked just as hopeless as I had felt when we first met. “Uriah, it’s okay,” I whispered, my own heart hammering against my ribs. “I’m here. Just tell them… tell them I was driving.” His head snapped up, his eyes wide with disbelief. My mind was terrifyingly clear. I weighed the options. He was a rising star in the legal world, his future blindingly bright. My own salary didn’t even cover the taxes he paid each month. And both our parents would need expensive, long-term care. It was selfish, in a way. But it was also love. “We’ll beg the family for forgiveness,” I reasoned. “Worst-case scenario, I do six months.” He stared at me, his eyes bloodshot, his throat working for a long time before he could speak. “Rina,” he choked out, his voice thick with emotion, “if I ever betray you, may God strike me down where I stand.” Neither of us could have known. The victim died. The family refused to forgive. And six months turned into seven years. My coworker, Chloe, slammed her fist on the table, letting out a string of curses. “You did seven years for him? And in the end, he just left you?” I stood up and poured a glass of water, my voice muffled. “You said it yourself. I did the time for him. Not the other way around.” “So who was she?” Chloe pressed, her voice dripping with venom. “Some rich client? A politician’s daughter? Who did that bastard run off with?” I shook my head. It was none of those. It was a girl from a forgotten town upstate who never even finished high school. After I was incarcerated, Uriah looked more haggard with every visit. He’d say the same thing over and over again. “Just hold on, Rina. I’m doing everything I can to get your sentence reduced.” My heart ached for him. He was running himself ragged, fighting for me while also caring for my mother and his own father. So, I asked my cousin, Lily, the girl I grew up with, to come help. The three of us sat together, separated by the thick visitation glass. Lily clutched a bag of my favorite homemade cookies, her eyes swollen from crying. “Don’t you worry, Rina,” she promised. “I’ll take good care of Auntie.” Uriah was polite, but I could see the flicker of annoyance in his eyes. Later, he complained, “I can’t understand a word she says with that accent, and she doesn’t know how to use any of the appliances. Wouldn’t it be better to just hire a professional nurse?” “Just be patient with her,” I urged him. “No stranger will ever care for family the way family does.” And just like that, two people whose paths never would have crossed were bound together. By me. Lily couldn’t speak without a thick drawl. So I recorded myself, saying a phrase in our hometown accent, then repeating it in clear, unaccented English. Uriah suggested hiring a tutor, worried I was tiring myself out. He didn’t understand. I used to read stories to Lily to help her sleep. My voice was the one she’d learn from the fastest. After my mother recovered enough to care for herself, Uriah wanted to send Lily back home. But I knew what that meant. Her parents had always favored her brothers; they’d marry her off to the first man who could offer a decent bride price. I insisted we enroll her in night school and begged Uriah to find her a stable job, something that would give her a foothold in the city. Slowly, Uriah’s resistance to her softened. He started bringing me good news about her. She’d passed her GED. She’d gotten an internship at his law firm. She’d won her first small case. At first, I was thrilled for this shy, insecure girl I considered a sister. But then, a subtle wrongness began to creep in. During our one-hour visits, Uriah would spend fifty minutes talking about Lily. Then his visits became less frequent. Did something happen? No, he’s just busy. He has to be busy. I tried to soothe the anxiety clawing at my throat, but the fluorescent lights of the cell hummed twenty-four hours a day, forbidding sleep, forbidding peace. The mocking whispers of the other inmates echoed in the darkness, giving voice to the fears I didn’t dare confront. “That fool still thinks her hotshot lawyer is waiting for her.” “Seven years ain’t seven days. He’s found someone else by now. Probably has kids.” Impossible. I would pull out the pile of gifts and photos he’d brought me over the years, my voice cracking as I defended him to their sneering faces. “This is our house! See? We designed it together. Two kids’ rooms. The one with the pirate ship is for a boy, and the one with the swing is for a girl. He even picked out a retirement community for us, for when the kids are grown. He promised he’d make up for these seven years.” Any man in the world could cheat. Not my Uriah. Never him. But on the day I was released, he wasn’t there to meet me. Only my grandmother was, her hair white as snow, her back bent as she sat on the edge of a concrete planter. The grief was so heavy in her frail body that when she opened her mouth to speak, only tears came out. “Oh, Rina,” she finally sobbed. “If only you’d gotten out two days sooner. Just two days. You could have seen your mother.” “She kept calling your name,” my grandmother wept, “just wouldn’t let go. She kept saying you were leaving for college on the train tomorrow, that she needed to pack you an extra bag of roasted pecans for the trip.” My throat closed up. A strange, sharp laugh escaped my lips. Grandma was getting old. Saying crazy things in the middle of the day. Mom was at home. Uriah and Lily were taking perfect care of her. The last time we’d video-chatted, the three of them were laughing, gathered around a steaming pot of soup, talking about wedding plans. They had brochures for venues and photographers spread all over the table. They were just waiting for me to come home so we could pick a date. I ran home, my heart pounding. I smoothed my hair in the elevator’s reflection, trying to straighten the wrinkles in my cheap, prison-issue clothes. The door was slightly ajar. Through the crack, I saw them. Two naked bodies, tangled together on the sofa. “What’s the rush?” the woman purred. “You didn’t even lock the door.” The man hastily pulled on his clothes. He turned, and his eyes met mine. He gasped. In that instant, every drop of blood in my body turned to ice. I burst through the door, a feral scream ripping from my lungs, and launched myself at him. I spun and slapped Lily across the face, the sound echoing in the silent room. Uriah shoved me back, shielding her with his body. He stared at me, his expression cold. “Seven years in prison taught you nothing?” he snarled. “You get out and the first thing you do is start acting like a lunatic?” Seven years. I had survived on a single promise. When you get out, Rina, we’ll get married. To get my sentence reduced, I let the other inmates beat me without fighting back. I worked until my hands were raw, the rope of the heavy loads I carried tearing through calluses, mixing blood with the grime as I forced down moldy food. I walked out of that place and into a world that looked at me with disgust and suspicion. And this was my reward. He was defending another woman. Accusing me. Seven years taught you nothing. But then, just as I thought the pain couldn’t get any worse, as despair threatened to swallow me whole, Lily leaned in, a triumphant, cruel smile on her face, and whispered in my ear.

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I was sent to live at the rich kid’s mansion. Turns out, my mom’s hard of hearing. She heard “School Bully” as “Star Student.” So, I spent all my time tutoring the jerk. I accidentally forced the failing King of Campus straight into a Top-Tier State University. At his college acceptance gala, the golden boy looked at me, eyes glistening: “I have to thank my girlfriend. She made me truly believe: Believe in the Power of Belief!” Me: ??? 01 My sophomore year, I moved into the mansion of the campus bully. The gorgeous, arrogant trust-fund kid, Ethan Knight, looked down his nose at me: “Don’t think just because you have a decent face, you’re the heroine in some cheesy K-drama.” Me: ?? He elegantly strode down the grand staircase: “Don’t catch feelings for me, okay? I know I’m naturally stunning and totally down-to-earth, but a sparrow can’t date an eagle, right?” He then tripped, hands jammed deep in his pockets, nearly face-planting like a dumb puppy. Good thing I was quick. I caught him in a steady princess carry. The stunned young master, cradled in my arms, blinked his huge, double-lidded eyes. A weird pink flush rose on his pale face. “The Suspension Bridge Effect? That’s some smooth game.” He suddenly scoffed: “Still, pretty cheap tricks.” Me: ??? 02 My mom is mute. She’s the live-in housekeeper for the Knights. The school had recruited me on a full scholarship, which is how I ended up in the city and in Ethan’s class. Mr. and Mrs. Knight were generous enough to let me stay in the staff quarters. They sent the chauffeur to drive us to school together. Ethan protested: “If the students see us in the same car, my seventeen years of pure, untouchable status will be ruined!” He told me not to tell anyone I lived here. He then wheeled out a pricey racing bike from the garage. I thought it was for me. “Thanks.” He hopped on: “I’m not trying to be a gentleman. My six-pack has just been slacking lately. Gotta get some cardio in.” And he sped off. I was three pages into my vocabulary review by the time he showed up. His slicked-back hair was damp with sweat. A dark strand clung to his forehead, like a damp little dog curl. It was honestly gross. I instinctively reached up and smoothed it back. Ethan bit his lip, pretending to be angry: “Ugh! I told you, watch the PDA in school!” But his mouth was twitching like he was struggling to hold back a smile. 03 The students were way friendlier than I expected. I got eighteen love notes by lunch. After class, I was heading back from the restroom when a guy blocked the hallway, demanding I scan his Snapchat code. I told him I couldn’t—my cheap flip-phone didn’t do that. He called me stuck-up and snarled: “Do you know who my dad is?” I asked: “Doesn’t your mom know?” His face went white. The next second, Ethan Knight appeared, holding a Starbucks, and bowed like a butler: “Princess, your coffee.” The whole hallway exploded: “Clear the halls! The Queen has arrived!” I asked him why he made such a scene. He just said he loved watching pathetic losers look terrified. He also added the coffee was from one of his stalkers and he didn’t want it, so I shouldn’t “read too much into it.” I found out later: Ethan Knight was the School Bully. He was so icy and menacing that not a single girl dared to actually pursue him. 04 The manor was massive, with a staff dining area, but the parents insisted Ethan and I eat together to prepare for our college exams. That evening, studying in the staff room, Ethan knocked and handed me a phone. It was the latest Pura80Pro+1TB. He said it was standard for Knight staff and came with mandatory monitoring software to prevent privacy leaks. Since I lived there, I had to use it. I was ecstatic! My first smartphone! I could finally look up study guides! The next day, I saw the chauffeur using an old iPhone. I asked Ethan about it. He said slyly: “You think those guys know how to use all this tech? I had to secretly hack their old phones to install the listening apps. Gotta keep them off the scent, wouldn’t want to tip them off.” I remember thinking, living in a rich family is deep water. I later found out the whole monitoring thing was a lie. He just wanted to buy me a phone. 05 Mr. and Mrs. Knight warned me: “Ethan has a terrible temper. If he’s rude, you tell us.” I smiled: “He won’t be. He’s actually very sweet and kind-hearted.” Ethan said nothing, only constantly peeled shrimp for my plate. Me: “Thanks, you really are thoughtful.” The Knights looked genuinely shocked: “Is this our son?” After that, Ethan became incredibly gentle and considerate. When it got cold and I forgot a jacket, he took off his and gave it to me. I casually mentioned wanting coconut water, and he produced one at the next break. When my mom threw out her back, he snatched the mop from me and scrubbed the entire mansion floor until it was clean enough to ice skate on. I thanked him: “Seriously, you’re the best.” Ethan: “It’s nothing, honestly!” Mr. and Mrs. Knight stared at him, bewildered: “What is wrong with you, kid? Look in my eyes!” 06 My mom, with her hearing issues, signed to me that Ethan was an Academic Whiz. I argued: “No, Mom, he failed his last math test!” She signed back that he was probably just hiding his true power as a form of rebellion against his parents. My view of Ethan changed instantly. I thought I was being too shallow, judging based on scores. A true High-Level Player wouldn’t care about meaningless vanity. 07 When I hit a wall with math, I finally gathered the courage to knock on the “Master’s” door. “Could I ask you about a few problems?” Ethan’s handsome face cracked: “Ask me?” “Yes! My mom says you’re a genius,” I said earnestly, “I want to look up to you and study hard!” Ethan slammed the door. He opened it moments later, took my worksheets, and sat at his desk, snapping multiple photos of the questions. I asked: “Why the pictures?” Ethan didn’t miss a beat: “My apprentice, you don’t know the secrets of the Master. I am recording your path to mastery.” I was touched. “Thank you, Master!” He had wireless headphones in. I asked: “Master, who are you talking to?” He looked offended: “Silence! I’m listening to music! Have you not read the martial arts novels? This is the Art of Simultaneous Learning, the Left and Right Hand Technique! You’ve never seen it?” I was impressed beyond measure: “You are truly amazing!” When he explained the problems, he paused after every single sentence. I got impatient: “I get this part, can you skip ahead?” He tapped my head with his pen: “Such a rough personality! Temper your impatience, or you’ll never achieve greatness.” I humbly accepted: “The Master is right.” 08 After the term finals, everyone was checking answers. I only had Ethan. He scolded me: “Checking answers is the stupidest habit after a test. It ruins your focus.” I mumbled: “…Oh.” To avoid stressing out, I skipped checking answers. When the results were posted, I was dreading it. Ethan tried to reassure me: “There’s a gap between our schools. It takes time to adjust. Don’t worry, your Master won’t fault you.” The scores came out: I was Number One in the class. Top Ten in the whole school. Wait?? Is this a joke? Wasn’t the Master a genius? Why… why did he score dead last in the class?! Ethan was calmly reading a superhero manga: “I’m suppressing my power, lest I shine too brightly. Don’t want the Ivies fighting over me and stressing out the students.” He took a sip of his coffee: “I’m handsome and rich. I have to have one flaw to keep everyone else feeling balanced.” I was full of respect: “Such nobility, sir!” 09 One summer day, the parents and my mom were out. The chef had the flu. Ethan, full of bravado, insisted on showing off his cooking skills. He only managed to chop some chilies before running to the bathroom. He came back, red-faced, doubled over in pain, claiming a stomach ache, and collapsed on the sofa. I insisted on taking him to the ER, but he refused. He kept running to the bathroom, but never seemed to get better. When the Knights returned, they asked why their son looked half-dead. I told them about the chili and the bathroom trip. I rushed to hand Ethan the hottest water bottle I could find: “You have a stomach ache! Maybe your stomach is cold. Hold this!” Ethan: “!!” The Knights stared at him with tragic concern. As Ethan stoically hugged the boiling hot water bottle to his groin, the three of them—Ethan, Mr. Knight, and Mrs. Knight—all screamed in unison: “S-S-S-S-S!” 10 Mrs. Knight later mocked him: “With your cooking skills, you could barely boil water in a microwave, let alone ‘show off’!” I shook my head. He was just being humble, Mrs. Knight! I enlightened her: “Smart people excel at everything; it’s all connected.” Mr. Knight looked confused: “Smart? Who?” I guaranteed them: “Ethan is a fantastic cook. I fully expect him to show off his talent again.” Ethan, sitting next to me, puffed out his chest, completely confident. His nonexistent tail was practically wagging: “You bet I will!” From then on, he spent all his time in the kitchen (I figured he was supervising). Once, I caught him secretly chopping potatoes late at night. He claimed it was “art therapy” for his “highly sensitive” nature. Before school started, I finally tasted his cooking. It was incredible: spicy pork, sweet and sour pineapple… The steamed custard was like freshly unpacked pudding, smooth and jiggly, without a single air bubble. I told them: “See? Ethan is brilliant. Everything he tries, he succeeds at.” Mr. and Mrs. Knight just kept eating his amazing food, their eyes silently filling with tears. Me: ?? Are you from the South? Can’t handle this little spice?

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It was an elective, and my boyfriend had, yet again, only saved a seat for his childhood best friend. This time, I didn’t fight her. I didn’t make a scene. I clutched my textbook and walked over to sit next to the campus brainiac, Ethan Knight. While my boyfriend and his “bestie” were getting all handsy, I tugged on Ethan’s sleeve. “Your girlfriend is flirting with my boyfriend. Aren’t you jealous?” Ethan’s gaze was cool: “I don’t have a girlfriend.” I bit my lip and leaned closer: “Well, do you want one?” “What’s the upside?” He stopped writing and looked at me. My cheeks flushed: “You de-stress, I fix my hormones. Win-win.” 01 The moment I walked into the lecture hall, I spotted my boyfriend, Liam Ford. And right next to him, laughing and draped over his shoulder, was his childhood friend, Jenna Wells. They saw me, too. Liam instinctively moved to push Jenna away. But Jenna, smug as ever, just arched an eyebrow at me: “Oops, sorry! Liam only saved the one extra seat. First come, first served.” The classroom went silent. Everyone was watching. This wasn’t the first time Liam had only saved a seat for Jenna. The first time, I was devastated. I cried and ran out. The second time, Jenna provoked me again. I fought her, had a screaming match, and snatched my seat back. Because of Jenna, Liam and I had nothing but fights. All that stress had totally messed up my hormones. This time, seeing them pull the same tired stunt, I just felt utterly bored. I didn’t fight Jenna. I didn’t yell at Liam. I didn’t even look at either of them. I just hugged my textbook and walked straight to the only empty seat in the back row. “Excuse me, is this spot taken?” 02 Ethan Knight, who was writing notes with his headphones on, looked up. His gaze seemed to pause on my face for a second before shifting. Then, he stood up and gestured for me to slide in. I quietly thanked him and settled into the inner seat. Up front. There was a loud thud as a textbook was slammed onto a desk. I looked up. I met Jenna’s glare. Her eyes held a clear, burning resentment. I suddenly remembered a rumor I’d heard when I first arrived at school. Jenna supposedly had a childhood engagement—a “betrothal”—to Ethan Knight. I couldn’t help but look at the guy next to me. He had put his headphones back on and was bent over, focused on a problem set. I could only see his cool, remote profile, radiating an air of untouchable distance. My phone buzzed. It was Liam. [Lost a bet last night, that’s why I saved the seat for Jenna today.] [Don’t be mad, babe. Taking you out for a steak dinner tonight.] Reading his words, I just felt ridiculous. There was always an excuse. It was never that he stood me up, it was because Jenna was sick and he had to take her to the clinic. It was never that they were flirting, it was because they grew up naked together and were “pure bros.” If there was really anything going on, would he even be dating me? Liam was my first boyfriend. I had taken the relationship seriously. That’s why I was always so easily swayed by his mood swings. But now, I just felt empty. I didn’t reply. I just closed the chat. During the break. Jenna and Liam started wrestling. “Oh, you’re gonna use the strong arm against your dad, huh, Liam?” Jenna lunged, chasing Liam around. They looked more like they were heavily flirting. Jenna went for his neck, playfully choking him. Liam looked completely into it. “Okay, enough, act like a lady for once,” he chuckled. “My dad here isn’t one of those dramatic girls,” Jenna said meaningfully, glancing over at me. “I won’t cry a few ‘cat tears’ for attention.” “And I don’t use a squeaky voice, it’s sickening.” I looked down and curled the corners of my mouth. Under the desk, my hand lightly tugged the sleeve of Ethan Knight’s shirt. “Ethan.” He turned his head to look at me. I pressed my lips together and pointed to his headphones. Ethan didn’t speak, but he lifted his hand and removed the headphone from my side. I lowered my voice and, just as Jenna had described, gave it a slight squeak. “Your girlfriend is flirting with my boyfriend. Aren’t you jealous?” 03 Ethan’s eyes were utterly clear: “I don’t have a girlfriend.” “But I heard she has a betrothal—a childhood engagement—with you.” “Utter nonsense.” Ethan’s voice suddenly grew cold. I couldn’t help but look at him again, my gaze tracing his sharp, defined jawline. Then slowly moving down to the hand holding the pen. The sunlight streamed through the window, bathing him in light. His long fingers were like polished jade. I bit my lip, leaned in close, and whispered. “Well, do you want one?” “Want what?” Ethan suddenly turned his head to face me. I didn’t have time to pull away. I was hit with a faint but clean, cooling scent of peppermint. My breath hitched: “A girlfriend.” Ethan put his pen down decisively: “What’s the upside?” My cheeks flushed, and I lowered my long eyelashes. There was a red, angry pimple on my chin. It was throbbing and itching. My roommate said it was stress and a hormonal imbalance. Up front, Liam and Jenna were still being handsy. Jenna was sitting on the desk, teasingly kicking Liam. Every now and then, she would look over at me and laugh—loudly. Her laughter sounded carefree, but it was grating on my nerves. When Jenna first met me, she was instantly hostile. Liam introduced us. She stood next to him, arm hooked over his shoulder like any of his “bros.” She looked me up and down. Then she punched Liam’s arm: “You’re dating one of those delicate ‘little white flowers,’ huh, Dad?” “If you ever ditch your friends for her, I’ll be the first to call you out.” Liam had laughed happily. He probably enjoyed that dynamic all along. I took a deep breath. As Jenna looked over again, laughing on purpose, I tugged Ethan’s sleeve under the desk. “You de-stress, I fix my hormones. Win-win.” I’d heard whispers that Ethan’s current research project was incredibly difficult. He’d been pulling all-nighters in the lab. Ethan didn’t speak. His beautiful hand picked up the pen and twirled it. After a long moment, he looked back at me and curved his lips. “Sounds promising, but…” I unconsciously held my breath. The sunlight vanished behind a cloud. Ethan’s voice was suddenly cold: “I’m not interested in other people’s girlfriends.” 04 Class resumed. Jenna was seated properly now. The professor walked in. The noisy classroom quieted down. I leaned in and whispered so only Ethan could hear: “I’ve already decided to break up with him.” Ethan kept his eyes straight ahead at the whiteboard. “Then break up first.” I didn’t dare speak to him again. He was famously the top scholar on campus. When he got serious, he had an air of cold, untouchable seriousness. For the rest of the half-hour lecture. I kept my eyes obediently on the board and the professor. But only I knew my mind was already a million miles away. Just before class ended. Liam suddenly sent another text: [Something came up. Let’s meet tomorrow.] I quickly replied: [No need to meet again. We’re done. Break up.] [Stop being dramatic, Riley. I promise I’ll make it up to you this weekend.] [How many times do I have to say it? Jenna and I are just friends.] [Fine, I guarantee I won’t let her crash our date this weekend.] I didn’t reply again. As soon as class ended, Jenna grabbed Liam and rushed out. As she left, she glanced back at the back row. This time, she wasn’t looking at me—she was looking at Ethan. But Ethan was organizing his books with his headphones on, not looking up. Jenna looked slightly disappointed and quickly pulled Liam away. “Ethan, let’s exchange numbers.” I called out to him as he stood up, summoning my courage. Ethan didn’t scan my QR code. “Break up first.” He was so tall. Looking down at me, I always felt like there was no hiding from him. As if nothing could escape his notice. I didn’t dare look him in the eye. I pulled up the chat with Liam and showed him. I whispered: “See, it’s done.” Ethan looked at it. Then, right in front of him, I deleted and blocked Liam. “Do you believe me now?” Ethan’s impossibly handsome face still showed no emotion. But he pulled out his phone, brought up his QR code: “Add me.”

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My son, Leo, was clinging to life in the hospital bed. He grasped his father’s hand and cried: “Daddy, save me! I don’t want to die!” My husband, David King, averted his gaze, claiming he just hadn’t raised the twenty thousand dollars for the emergency surgery yet. But the bank statement proved he had wired a full one hundred thousand dollars this past week to an account saved as “My Baby.” Confronted by his family, he tearfully confessed: “She told me her daughter was kidnapped while studying abroad. I was just being charitable…” I wrapped my arms around my husband, offering a soothing whisper: “It’s okay. I’ve already notified the doctor… to sign the DNR for our son.” 1 “What did you just say?! That’s our own flesh and blood!” My husband, David, was stunned. He yelled at me, disbelief twisting his features: “How could you be so heartless! He’s only seven! He’s just a child! You’re just going to let him die?” I looked at his crimson face, my own expression unnervingly calm: “Do we have the money for the surgery? Twenty grand.” “You just told me yourself that your bank account is practically empty.” David shoved me away, falling to his knees and wailing: “But I can’t let Leo die!” “It’s just money! I’ll borrow it, I’ll beg, I’ll even kneel and plead with the doctors to save my son! Leo is my only boy!” I let out an internal, cold laugh and reminded him: “Borrow? You’ve already burned every bridge. We have outstanding debt to this hospital. We’re on a two-hour clock. If the surgery isn’t paid for now, Leo is gone.” “We’ll both have to watch our son die!” Just then, a nurse from the room shouted: “Patient is crashing! Quick, to the OR!” David stumbled up, following the frantic pace of the gurney. He pleaded desperately: “Why the sudden crash? Please, I’m begging you! Save my son!” The nurse shook her head regretfully: “We will do our best to stabilize Leo.” “But… without the surgery, his condition could get worse anytime. If we delay beyond two hours, even if we operate, the child may not survive.” On the bed, Leo weakly pulled David’s sleeve, crying out: “Daddy, save me! I don’t want to die!” Hearing my son’s desperate cry tore me up inside. But I forced a cold response: “If it comes down to it, sign the DNR.” “Our family simply can’t afford it.” I watched the nurse push Leo into the emergency room. In the hallway, David went ballistic at my ruthless words. He grabbed my arm, shaking me violently, and demanded: “Sarah! Are you even human?” “Saying you’ll pull the plug right in front of him! That’s our Leo!” “You’re trying to murder him!” Seeing David’s tortured, desperate look, I had to admit he was putting on a decent show of fatherly anguish. But I knew it was all a lie. I coldly snatched my arm away from him, looked at his repulsive face, and delivered a wide, stinging slap. I pointed right at him and cursed: “You are the reason Leo is in this state, David!” “No money? Your parents liquidated their assets and gave you a hundred grand. To save Leo.” “So, where is that money? I’m asking you, where is it? You couldn’t spare twenty grand to save Leo?” David clearly hadn’t expected me to know the amount. He was dumbfounded. He covered his cheek, his eyes darting away: “The money… I…” Seeing him trying to cover up, I slapped him again. I scoffed: “Because you wired it all to your mistress, didn’t you?” 2 “So, when Leo needed it most, you, his father, couldn’t spare twenty thousand. And you have the nerve to say I’m killing him? If anything happens to Leo, you, David King, will be the executioner!” David broke down completely, clutching my legs and wailing: “No! I’m Leo’s father! I would never want to hurt him!” “Sarah, you’re an only child. Your parents must have money to save Leo. Our family’s only male heir cannot be lost!” I felt sick to my stomach hearing that. He gave his son’s rescue fund to his side chick, and now he was plotting to drain my parents. Just as I was about to kick him away, my in-laws arrived. My mother-in-law rushed over, grabbing my hand: “What is this? You texted me that the surgery can’t happen?” “Leo’s health suddenly crashed, but we already sold the house and got the money! A full hundred thousand! Why can’t the surgery happen?” I gently pulled my hand away and showed them the documents: “If there was still a hundred thousand, Leo wouldn’t be fighting for his life.” “The moment the money hit his account, David wired it all out. Now he only has ninety-three cents left. Enough for what surgery?” “Here’s the bank statement. See for yourselves!” David stared at me, eyes wide with shock. He never expected me to be this prepared. My in-laws snatched the statement. After two seconds, my mother-in-law was livid. She grabbed David’s collar: “Who did you wire it to? Who is more important than my grandson!” David’s eyes darted away, stammering: “A college friend.” “She said her family ran into trouble with an overseas business deal and needed a loan. I just lent her the hundred thousand.” I sneered and jammed my phone into David’s chest: “Lent? Then call it back.” “That’s your son’s life savings. The doctor said if he doesn’t have the surgery in two hours, Leo dies.” David took the phone, his hand trembling, but he wouldn’t unlock it. He just stared at me, pleading silently. My father-in-law kicked David in the shoulder and roared: “Call her! What are you paralyzed for? Leo is coding in there! Why are you hesitating! Screw that ‘friend,’ I want my grandson!” Just as the chaos peaked, the nurse pushed open the ER door. “Patient’s family! Patient’s family!” We rushed her. The nurse’s face was grim: “The prognosis is not good.” “His vitals are very poor. The family needs to prepare. If he doesn’t have the surgery in the next hour, we won’t be able to sustain Leo.” My in-laws collapsed. David was paper white. Only I remained lucid. I signed the consent form for the prognosis: “When the time is up, you can remove the mask.” “We can’t afford the surgery. We have to let Leo go.” My mother-in-law lunged at me: “That’s my grandson! How could you be so cruel!” “Are you even his mother? How can you talk about pulling the plug? The King family relies on a single male line! You’re destroying our heritage!” I didn’t waste time on her. I tilted my chin toward David on the floor: “Me?” “Your son wired the medical fund to some pathetic friend, and now he refuses to call it back. He’s the father who is personally killing his son!” My in-laws turned their fury back on David. Just then, a woman jogged down the corridor: Vivian May. The woman David had saved in his phone as ‘Baby.’ She looked frantic, exquisitely dressed, clutching a high-end designer bag. She rushed up to David, crying: “David, the kidnappers raised the price!” “The hundred thousand wasn’t enough, send me another twenty thousand! Quick!” 3 David instinctively tried to hide, frantically pushing Vivian away: “What hundred thousand? I don’t know you!” “Don’t shout that! Get lost, or I’m calling security!” Vivian refused to leave. She grabbed David and hugged him publicly, declaring her love: “David, I’m not leaving!” “Nicole and I are waiting for your money. We can’t live without you!” My in-laws finally understood everything. They grabbed Vivian’s arm, demanding the money back: “David, who is this woman?” “This is the slut who stole my grandson’s life money, right? Give it back! You stole my grandson’s money! Pay it back now, or I swear I’ll kill you!” Vivian staggered back but didn’t look angry. She drew herself up, pulled a photo from her bag, and played the victim: “Ma’am, I’m Vivian May. David only loves me. I’m no slut.” “My daughter, Nicole, and David’s child, was kidnapped while studying abroad. The local gang wants a ransom. I had no choice but to ask David for money. We thought a hundred grand was enough, but they suddenly raised the price by twenty thousand.” “You don’t just have Leo. You have Nicole, too! Look at the picture. Isn’t Nicole adorable?” Vivian shot a triumphant look at me. I barely blinked. Vivian was a fool. She didn’t understand what truly mattered to my mother-in-law! Vivian held her chin high, intending to use Nicole to force the Kings to accept her. Suddenly, my mother-in-law slapped the photo across Vivian’s face. She spat, then slapped her again, cursing mercilessly: “You piece of trash! Claiming that picture is my son’s baby!” “Even if she is, a girl! Can she compare to my grandson? Shameless! Seducing a married man and having a cheap daughter! And now you hijack my grandson’s medical funds! Pay it back, or I’ll end you!” Vivian covered her face, horrified that David’s mother was such a rigid traditionalist. She knelt down, begging David to take her side: “David, say something!” “You promised me! Nicole is the most important! We only need twenty thousand more! Give me the money!” My father-in-law kicked David in the back again: “You bastard! If you dare save that illegitimate child, I’ll disown you!” “Get the money back! Leo is your only son!” While David was paralyzed by indecision, Vivian’s phone rang. She looked at the number, panicked, and tried to stand up to take the call. I snatched her phone and put it on speaker. On the other end, a frantic man’s voice spoke: “Vivian, it’s a disaster.” “Nicole really has been taken. The kidnappers are demanding twenty thousand now, or they’re going to send her home in a box!” The color drained from Vivian’s face. She collapsed against the corridor wall. Coincidentally, the nurse opened the ER door again. “It’s worse! Leo’s condition has worsened again!” “He needs surgery immediately! Do you have the money or not? It’s just twenty thousand! It’s the child’s life!” The family dissolved into complete chaos. David was at his breaking point, torn between his son and his mistress’s daughter. I let out a cold laugh, looking at the weeping David: “My parents just texted me. They wired twenty thousand into your account.” “They sold off the family land for that. Go pay for Leo’s surgery! Your son is waiting!” As David reached for the card, Vivian grabbed his hand, clutching the photo, and wailed: “David, save Nicole!” “We were living abroad with no status for you! You promised to protect us! This money has to save Nicole!” I pulled out my phone and played a recording of Leo. The tiny, painful voice: “Daddy, save me! Daddy, save me!” David looked devastated. My in-laws screamed: “Save Leo! He’s a boy! Our only heir!” The nurse urged him to pay. David looked at Vivian’s red eyes and Nicole’s sweet smile in the photo. He made his choice: “Save… Nicole first.” Even though I knew what was coming, hearing my husband choose his illegitimate daughter over his own son’s life choked me. The vows, the promises—they were all worthless! But before anyone could react, the ER door opened. A miraculously stable Leo stood safely in the doorway: “Daddy, you don’t want me anymore.” 4 Leo’s face was cold, his eyes fixed on David, utterly calm: “Daddy, you don’t want me anymore.” “I don’t want you either.” David froze. He couldn’t believe Leo was standing there, having heard everything. He stumbled forward, trying to hug Leo. Leo dodged him instantly, hiding behind me: “Go away! I don’t want you as my dad!” “Don’t you have Nicole now? Leo isn’t your only baby anymore. Daddy, you abandoned me!” Leo was still small. He started crying sadly. David was helpless, stammering an explanation: “I… Daddy was desperate.” “Daddy didn’t know you were okay. I…” Leo buried himself deeper into my arms. I shielded him and snapped: “Stop it!” “Whether Leo was okay or not, you weren’t going to save him! You chose to save your mistress’s daughter instead of your son. David King, do you still think you qualify as a father?” “David, I gave you two chances! There won’t be a third!” My in-laws breathed a huge sigh of relief. My mother-in-law reached out to touch Leo’s head. Leo quickly avoided her and shouted: “No Grandma and Grandpa! I only want Mom!” “Mommy…” My father-in-law pleaded: “Leo, I’m Grandpa! Give Grandpa a hug!” Leo ignored them. When my father-in-law tried to force a hug, I blocked him: “Do you really think Leo is so naive he doesn’t understand? You talk about loving him. Do you love Leo the person, or do you love the male heir? You know the answer.” “And you two were right here when I put the card in David’s hand. Did you stop him? Did you try to prevent his decision? You had the strength to slap him, but when it mattered, you just stood there?” Leo, who had been silent, acted again. He struggled out of my arms, grabbed the transforming toy David had given him, and hurled it at David. He sobbed: “Go away, you bad guy!” “I don’t want your presents anymore. You said Mom and I were your most important. Only bad guys lie! I never want to see you again! Why didn’t you save me, Dad?” “Leo called for you so many times, why didn’t you save me?” David stood there, taking the hit to his forehead without flinching. He managed a pathetic, resentful smile and looked at me: “Sarah, you orchestrated this whole elaborate trap to fool our family.” “Are you satisfied now? You got what you wanted?” I scoffed. David had the nerve to ask that? “Fooled? You started it, David King!” “When I was pregnant, you claimed ‘business trips.’ Weren’t you secretly seeing Vivian overseas every day? When our son had a fever, you claimed ‘working late.’ Weren’t you celebrating your illegitimate daughter’s birthday?” “David, how dare you speak to me in that tone?” David looked disgraced but tried to defend himself: “But still, you shouldn’t have used Leo’s safety in such an elaborate scheme!” I almost burst out laughing at David’s delusional attempt to shift blame. I tilted my head and waved at the group of people walking toward us: “You’re right. It was a great idea. I should thank Vivian for the inspiration.” “After all, you gave me the inspiration, didn’t you?”

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My dad was the driver for the Worthington family, and my mom was their housekeeper. But I was the restless one. I spent every day glued to Ethan Worthington’s side, a fixture he couldn’t shake. He walked, I cleared the path. He ate fish, I picked out the bones. He was annoyed, I fought his battles. It took ten years, but after high school graduation, Ethan finally agreed to let me attend the same elite college as him. His buddies joked that I was Ethan’s most loyal dog. I ignored the whispers and veiled insults. They didn’t matter. Then, the family started arranging Ethan’s engagement. My best friend, Chloe, came rushing over to talk some sense into me, only to find my parents and me frantically packing suitcases late at night. “I know you like Ethan, but the gap is too huge. It’s never going to happen for you,” Chloe whispered. “Wait, what are you guys doing?” I clapped a hand over her mouth, looking around nervously. “Keep your voice down. You think this is something to be proud of?” “I finally saved up enough money from the Worthingtons to study abroad! Don’t ruin my great escape!” 1 Chloe’s face was a portrait of total bewilderment. “Wait, so you don’t like Ethan? It was all an act?” I handed my mom a towel, signaling Chloe to speak softly. “Why call it an ‘act’? My love for my Sugar Daddy was absolute and genuine!” “So all those years…” I understood her meaning and smiled slyly. “They all thought I wanted to be a sparrow flying onto a penthouse balcony, but I’m not stupid enough to dream that big.” “I provided Emotional Labor. Ethan provided money as compensation. It’s a fair trade, isn’t it?” I held up my bank book, showing a balance of half a million dollars. Savings give me security. Love doesn’t. Growing up, my family was poor. When we first arrived at the Worthington estate, I was shy and terrified of messing up and costing my parents their jobs. One day, I found Ethan, the pristine young master, sitting by the fountain in the garden. He seemed unhappy. Excited to see someone my age, I sat down and chattered endlessly. When I went back to the staff quarters that evening, I learned from my parents that he was Mr. Ethan Worthington. I was horrified and spiked a fever that night, delirious with self-reproach, terrified I’d gotten my parents fired. When the fever broke, I was relieved to find out the Worthingtons hadn’t fired my parents. They’d actually given them both a thousand-dollar raise because I had cheered Ethan up. From that day on, I started sucking up to Ethan. He walked, I cleared the path. He ate fish, I picked out the bones. He was annoyed, I fought his battles. Everyone called me Ethan’s most loyal dog. Even Ethan wrinkled his nose and told me to get lost. “Riley Chen, can you stop being so pathetic?” But I didn’t care. Thanks to my efforts, my mom was moved from the brutal kitchen staff to the front of the house, my dad became Mr. Worthington’s exclusive driver, and I got into the best private prep school in the city. But that wasn’t enough! Through college, I endured the shade and the dirty looks, pretending I enjoyed every minute. Finally, I had saved enough to move my whole family far away. My mom squeezed my hand. My dad shrugged nonchalantly. “Whatever you decide, we support you. Worst case, we do our old jobs somewhere else. I hear the pay is better overseas!” Chloe beamed: “So when are you leaving? I want to see you off.” I considered this seriously. “Three days. I’m finishing a research project with Ethan. Once that’s done, the resume entry will make my overseas applications smoother.” I was too excited to sleep that night. 2 The next morning, the cook, Mrs. W., came to my room. “Riley, the Young Master wants you. Hurry.” I was uneasy and headed to the living room, dark circles under my eyes. Inside, I heard laughter, and someone mentioned my name. “Yo, why isn’t little Riley glued to him today? Did the dog get jealous and throw a tantrum?” Ethan’s voice was cold. “Why bring her up?” “Come on, you won’t let a female mosquito near you in school, but you tolerate Riley. Don’t play dumb.” “Seriously, are you actually doing the engagement? Aren’t you worried Riley will be heartbroken and hang herself?” Ethan paused, then scoffed disdainfully. “My parents let her hang around, so what was I supposed to do? Tell her no?” “She’s fine for killing time, but the Worthington engagement is serious. Who does she think she is to influence my decisions?” The guys roared with laughter, pitying my misplaced devotion. I arched an eyebrow. Great, here we go again. I’d heard this garbage for ten years. I was about to leave. “Hey, you must be Riley Chen. Why don’t you come in?” A female voice called out. Everyone inside turned to look at me. The rich kids who had just been making fun of me looked embarrassed. When my eyes met Ethan’s, I saw a flicker of panic in his gaze. He snapped at me coldly. “Riley, what are you doing here? Don’t you know how to knock?” I was annoyed. You called me here! Now you’re yelling at me? The next second, his eyes lit up. “Phoebe, you’re here?” It was the first time I saw a genuinely soft expression on Ethan’s ice-cold face—something he had never shown me. The woman behind me was slender and elegant, clearly a rich heiress. Ah, so that’s the type he likes. From middle school through college, Ethan had an endless stream of admirers. His locker was stuffed with love letters I dutifully handled. He never stopped me. Now I knew: he wasn’t immune to love; he just hadn’t met the right person yet. “I wanted to meet Riley, so I took the liberty of calling her over. Don’t be mad at her.” The woman, Phoebe Cho, was gentle and thoughtful, yet I felt an instant hostility from her. She chose this deliberately awkward moment to call me in and humiliate me, even though a discreet call would have been easier. “Miss, do we know each other?” “You don’t know me, but I know you.” “Everyone in the circle knows how close you are to Ethan. Can I ask you for advice if I have questions in the future?” Phoebe tilted her head, looking innocent. I was instantly on high alert. When I heard her request, however, I felt a rush of excitement. A potential Sugar Mama! “Me? Sure, I’d be happy to help. I’ll share everything I know. But consultations are by the hour. You look like a lady of means, Miss. How about five hundred dollars an hour?” Silence fell. Everyone was stunned. Phoebe’s polite smile froze. I regretted it immediately, fearing I’d scared her off with the high price. Ethan’s face darkened instantly. He must have thought of something, because he scoffed mockingly. “Riley Chen, you are the daughter of our staff. Stop pretending we’re friends.” One of his buddies chimed in. “Hey, Riley, why are your dark circles so bad? Did you hear about the engagement and haven’t slept in days? We know you care about Ethan, but stop playing games.” “Sadly, no one buys it. Go back to your room.” Ethan gave a look of confirmation. “Why are you still standing there? Get lost.” My face fell into an expression of abject misery, mourning the loss of a great payday. “Mhm, okay.” Ethan looked satisfied with my suffering. 3 Back in my room, I quickly put the incident out of my mind and focused on packing. The crystal lamp Ethan had casually gifted me? Worth a few thousand. Packing it. The designer pen Ethan discarded? Definitely high-end. Packing it. I was so focused, I didn’t notice someone enter my room. “Riley Chen, what are you doing?” Ethan’s voice. I whipped around, my heart hammering. If he knew I was packing to flee, would he demand I return all this expensive loot? “I… I was just getting ready to rent an apartment, you know, to avoid any misunderstandings with outsiders.” I lied quickly. Ethan stared at the meticulously packed valuables in my suitcase, looking utterly mortified. “Riley, I’m warning you, stop dreaming. It’s never going to happen between us!” I realized he thought I was packing because I was desperate for him. But these things were worth money! I wouldn’t return them. I zipped the suitcase shut while placating him. “I know. I promise I won’t bother you again.” I meant: I won’t even have to see your face again. Ethan looked annoyed and closed his eyes. “Forget it. I just came to tell you that the Cho family is interested in my new project. Phoebe will join the team tomorrow. Stop causing trouble around her. If you don’t want to be kicked off the project, keep a low profile.” So, that woman was the engagement candidate. Ethan waited for my reaction. I frowned deeply, my eyes showing pain and reluctance, but only managed to speak after much deliberation. “If another person joins the project, will our payout be smaller?” Ethan’s face was stunned. “That’s what you thought about for that long?” I looked confused. “Well, yeah. I’m part of the team. I’m about to make money, and suddenly someone new comes in to cut the profit. Why would I be happy?” Ethan scowled and finally said coldly. “Don’t worry, Phoebe isn’t superficial like you. She’s just helping out. She doesn’t need the money.” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.” Ethan tested me again. “Aren’t you upset?” Upset? About a new team member who won’t take a cut? I’m thrilled! Ethan was completely fed up with my reaction, sneered, and left. I was left wondering why he was so mad. I reveled in the thought of studying abroad and crossing social boundaries. I just didn’t expect trouble to arrive so soon. And the trouble wasn’t caused by me; it was by Phoebe. 4 The moment I walked into the project office, the atmosphere was dead silent. Everyone looked devastated. Phoebe, it turned out, was in charge of liaising with the equipment investor. Yesterday, due to her poor handling, a crucial piece of equipment fell from the crane. Not only were several workers injured, but all the research data was lost. The company that paid a fortune for our findings filed a lawsuit that day, demanding compensation. Phoebe, teary-eyed, came out of Ethan’s office to find me. “Riley, Ethan wants you.” I assumed this had nothing to do with me. Surely, they wouldn’t blame me? When I walked in, Ethan’s hesitation was obvious. Phoebe followed me in, and Ethan finally spoke. “Riley, we need you to take the fall for this.” “What!” My eyes widened in disbelief. You can insult my character, but I will not be your scapegoat! Ethan impatiently tapped his fingers. “Phoebe is new. I had you overseeing the details. Did you do your job? After such a disaster, don’t you feel responsible?” My eyes welled up with genuine despair over losing the project credit. No credit, no acceptance into the foreign university! Tears streamed down my face. I cried hysterically while subtly watching their faces. “No one in this office respects me! No one treats me like a real partner! They only give me grunt work and errands.” “Even Phoebe rejected all my input.” “I have no authority! Why should I take the blame?!” I fell dramatically to the floor, adopting the pose of a soap opera heroine. “Ethan, you can despise me, but don’t you dare insult me like this!” Seeing my heartbroken display, Ethan finally spoke with patience. “The Worthington and Cho families rely heavily on this project. If Phoebe takes the blame, it damages the reputation of both families. She needs this project to establish her career. We can’t let her get a black mark.” “Look at everyone else on the team. They need this entry on their resume. You’re the exception. You only want the money. This won’t affect you.” “I will remove your name from the project logs as a public explanation.” I sat on the floor, crying silently, stubborn. Bro, why are you giving me excuses? Ask me nicely and give me the money! Phoebe looked uncomfortable. “Forget it, if Riley doesn’t want to, I’ll just beg my father for help. I’ll just have to deal with his disappointment.” Ethan looked pained, frowning at me. “Riley Chen, this isn’t a game! How long are you going to let your petty jealousy ruin things? I’ll compensate you. Name your price!” My downward gaze snapped up. There it is! That’s what I was waiting for! This tactic always worked. When I displayed mock hurt, the rich jerks always doubled down with scornful, dismissive cash attacks. They thought it was humiliation. To me, it was raining money! My fake tears were finally worth it. “Who said I don’t agree? Since you asked, I won’t be shy. Half a million dollars. Wired to my account tomorrow. No less.” Phoebe gasped. “That’s extortion!” I shrugged nonchalantly. “You know how much this project is worth. Besides, I’m taking the fall for a massive screw-up. I deserve the money. Do you really think you’re worth less than that, Miss Cho?” The resume entry was only insurance for my school application. With half a million dollars, I could pay my way into the best schools! My body was shaking with genuine excitement.

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My best friend is a total bombshell, a man-eater who’d already poached eight of my boyfriends. This time, she set her sights on the CEO, Ethan Vance, and successfully bagged him. I finally thought I could catch a break and have a normal relationship while she was busy conquering Ethan. But just as my boyfriend and I were about to get married, she poached him again. And Ethan found out. To be precise, Ethan and I caught them cheating together. We were standing outside the door, listening to our respective partners going at it inside. Ethan looked mortified. The CEO was facing a fresh, green lawn on his head for the first time. I leaned in and offered: “So, you want revenge? How about you try me?” 01 My best friend, Sasha Bell, is a stunning beauty. She turns heads just walking down the street. She’s long been used to it, and honestly, she finds most men she meets boring. One day, we were walking home after shopping. We ran into my college crush, Ethan Vance. Ethan, six-foot-three, with chiseled features, was waiting for someone outside a luxury store in his expensive sedan, looking like he belonged on a magazine cover. On impulse, I waved, and he actually nodded back. Sasha’s attention immediately snapped to him. She wouldn’t shut up when we got home. “You knew a high-value man like that and never introduced me!” “Ugh, I haven’t seen a guy like that in forever—a total ‘suit killer!’ Hot as hell! Exactly my type!” I was curled up on the sofa, scrolling through my phone, not looking up: “I didn’t even know he remembered me.” “He was the big campus star, now he’s a tech magnate. He’s the complete package. If you caught him, half the women on the street would stare at you.” “And what makes you think he’d want to be friends with me?” Sasha nudged me with her butt, complaining: “You went to school with him. Didn’t you even have a crush?” I thought about it: “Well…” I gave her an obvious look-over, sizing up her curvy figure: “A hunk like that needs a bombshell like you. Even if I tried my hardest back then, he wouldn’t have looked twice.” “I’m just an average person. I can only admire the high-level dating game from a distance.” I’m conventionally pretty, but next to Sasha, I fade into the wallpaper. Ethan is always surrounded by women who look just like Sasha. My flattery clearly worked. Sasha looked quite pleased. She hummed, picked up her lipstick, and reapplied it while strutting in front of the mirror. “You’re right. He’s standing there just waiting to be claimed by me. This is definitely going to be a tough conquest.” I knew she’d win. In the ten years I’ve known her, Sasha has never failed to land a man. In Sasha’s world, there are only men she likes and men she doesn’t. If she likes him, he’s hers. That includes my ex-boyfriends. Sasha never truly wanted my boyfriends. But she’d lift a finger, and they’d be obsessed with her. Then, within a week, she’d dump them and block them. She called it: “They fell for me too easily. These guys weren’t serious about you anyway. I’m just helping you vet them!” “And I only do it because you’re my best friend~!” 02 Sasha has the strongest execution I’ve ever seen. The next day, she insisted I go with her to find Ethan Vance. Ethan is a single tech CEO, currently fending off interest from old-money socialites and high-profile beauties. I knew he was waiting for some heiress outside the store because I was currently interviewing people at his company. Whenever I showed my press badge, his female employees were always eager to gossip about their rich, young boss. I wanted to see how Sasha would take down this ice prince. The opportunity finally came. Ethan’s company was hosting a celebration party. His PR team had invited me, and I managed to snag an extra invite for Sasha. Sasha showed up in a floor-length black mermaid gown. Every head in the room turned. She was stunning—a bold, vibrant beauty. Every curve looked sculpted, and her movements were pure Venus. She instantly eclipsed the blonde, pure-as-snow heiress standing next to Ethan. Sasha walked up to Ethan naturally: “Hello.” Ethan paused, then extended his hand. Even a CEO who’s seen it all couldn’t resist a beautiful woman radiating that much confidence. My female colleagues next to me were whispering: “Who is that? The CEO actually talked to her? Every other girl who tried to approach him got shut down.” “I thought he was a total ice cube. She shattered my illusion.” “Maybe that’s the difference between average and drop-dead gorgeous. She’s prettier than the models we hire, just a unique vibe…” “What’s beauty matter? She’s here for him. Don’t be naive.” “But isn’t the CEO about to get engaged to that heiress? Now? Ugh…” I looked back. Sasha and Ethan were already deep in conversation. The blonde heiress was completely ignored, stomping her foot in frustration: “Where did that cheap tart come from? Look at her wiggling!” 03 Half a month later, Sasha came home one morning radiating the joy of victory. I handed her two fried eggs: “Congrats.” Beauties have strict diets, and Sasha usually criticized my eggs for having too much oil. But she was in a good mood, so she devoured them happily. Only the red marks on her neck were a little distracting. “I succeeded again.” I nodded: “Congrats. I also have something to tell you.” I paused for a moment before saying: “I’m dating someone.” Sasha frowned: “Since when? We live together; we’re best friends. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” “What? Were you worried I’d steal him, too?” I quickly waved my hands: “No, no.” Sasha rolled her eyes, casually eating her eggs. “Don’t worry. I have Ethan Vance. I won’t be interested in anyone else for a while. He’s the highest-value man I’ve landed in years.” Sasha is so beautiful that every other woman pales in comparison. I’m her only friend. Besides poaching my boyfriends, she’s always been good to me. She always brings me designer goods from her dates and never brings men back to our apartment. And because she kept poaching my exes, I became a total workaholic, focusing entirely on my studies and career, which is why I’m so successful now. But because she was always around, I never dared to date seriously. Until I met Andrew Ford. He graduated from medical school, works at a top hospital, isn’t overtly handsome, but comes from a stable background. He ticked all my boxes for a potential husband. Most importantly, he seemed very grounded, exactly what I wanted for marriage. I managed the relationship carefully, and we were happy. But I was always terrified of letting him meet Sasha. No boyfriend of mine had ever escaped her pull. But now, I finally dared. With Ethan Vance on the scene, how could she possibly be interested in a doctor? When Andrew came over, Sasha was painting her nails on the sofa. She only glanced at him, barely acknowledging his presence. After Andrew left, she said casually: “Your taste is improving. He’s much better than the last ones. If I didn’t have Ethan, I’d definitely want a taste of that.” I was instantly panicked: “You’re not serious, are you?” Sasha didn’t even lift an eyelid: “Please. He’s just a small-time doctor. Why would I give up a CEO for a doctor?” 04 But I had underestimated Sasha again. I was at Ethan’s company, reviewing an article with the PR manager. As I was about to leave, Ethan blocked my path. This was the first time he’d ever spoken to me directly. My heart pounded. It couldn’t be work; the CEO wouldn’t bother with me over small stuff. It had to be about… Sasha. I was right. Ethan pulled me aside: “Do you know what Sasha is doing today?” I shook my head, feigning sincerity: “I’m not sure. She said she had a date with you today and left early.” Ethan frowned: “She did not have a date with me today.” “Huh?” Ethan’s face darkened: “Where did she go? You’re her best friend; you must know. Take me to her.” I looked bewildered: “Why?” Ethan, the businessman, saw my press badge and added: “I promise I’ll give you interviews with me and several other rising tech CEOs in the city.” Seeing my hesitation, Ethan upped the ante. “A guaranteed exclusive. Just for you.” It was a crucial time for my career advancement. His offer was irresistible. I looked up at Ethan, making a decision. If he was going to expose his own heartbreak, who was I to stop him? “I heard her mention that the M Hotel has really good desserts. She’s brought them back a few times. At this hour, she might be…” Ethan’s face grew colder. I was right. He had never invited Sasha to the M Hotel. Someone else was having fun with Sasha there. And I already knew who it was. 05 I rode in Ethan’s luxury car to the hotel. I gave the front desk Sasha’s ID. Thanks to Ethan’s massive influence, we quickly found the suite registered under Sasha’s name. Standing outside the door, we could hear the sounds of passion inside. Sasha’s voice was full of cooing and excitement; the thrill made her voice sharp. “Be gentle… I can’t take this, oh my God.” “Mm, did you ever feel this way with her?” “Of course not. She’s like a dead fish in bed. You have so many tricks, baby.” “But you still have to marry her… Men always say one thing and do another, ah…” Ethan and I listened for a few minutes. My face went pale. Ethan was enraged, his face flushed. He looked ready to kick the door in and confront Sasha. Just before he lost it. I tugged his sleeve and whispered awkwardly: “The man inside… I think that’s my boyfriend.” Ethan instantly froze. He looked down at me, his eyes filled with sympathy.

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It was Summer Boot Camp, and my period arrived. When I reached for my custom-ordered silk pads, I found them replaced with sandpaper. I was about to report the theft when my childhood friend, Ethan Jones, stopped me: “I’m sorry, Audrey. I gave your pads to Carly. Just use hers for now.” I picked up the package of “sandpaper” pads, asking him incredulously: “You want me to use this cheap trash?” His expression darkened: “Audrey, that’s humiliating. Carly doesn’t come from money, but you shouldn’t call her pads trash.” “Boot camp is supposed to build character, not be a vacation.” “My mom says you need to drop this spoiled attitude. If we ever get married, I won’t be able to afford your ten-dollar-a-piece silk pads.” I didn’t argue. I just called my estate manager and told him to clear Ethan and his mother’s belongings out of the staff apartment immediately. I was almost laughing at the sheer audacity. I hurled the package of “pads” at him. He slapped the sandpaper box away, frowning disapproval. “Don’t be so dramatic! My mother won’t accept a daughter-in-law who acts like this.” I was stunned by his self-righteousness. Who the hell said I was marrying him?! I was about to let him have it, but the constant flow between my legs forced me to stop. I grabbed the half-empty box of tissues on the table and rushed into the bathroom. Once my pants were down, I realized the flow was heavier than usual. The camouflage pants were already soaked through. The few tissues I brought were useless. I grabbed my phone to call my personal assistant, but there was no signal. I suddenly remembered the camp had installed signal jammers for “character building.” Looking at my completely saturated underwear, I begged Ethan through the door: “Please, can you go buy me some pads?” “Audrey, I’m not enabling you anymore. You can either use Carly’s pads or stay in the bathroom.” He shoved something under the door. I picked it up. It was the same box of sandpaper pads. Ethan’s voice rang out again: “Formation is soon. I’m leaving. Listen to me, stop being stubborn. You’ll get penalized if you’re late.” His voice faded. He was really gone. I wanted to punch the wall, but I couldn’t stay here. I had to fold the entire tissue box into thick layers, cinch my belt tight, and hobble out, clutching the wall. When I reached the field, students were mingling. Their eyes turned strange as they saw me. “Is she insane? A poor scholarship kid wanting silk pads? She must be crazy jealous of Carly!” “Talk about delusional. ‘Princess Syndrome’ with no ‘Princess Bank Account.’ She even tried to steal pads!” As I tried to process the whispers, Carly walked right up to me. “Audrey, I know you’re jealous that Ethan bought me ten-dollar silk pads, but you can’t steal!” 2 “If you really want one, beg me, and I’ll toss you a piece.” She slipped a pad into my pocket. “I stole?” I whipped around to face Ethan, who instantly looked guilty and stared at the ground. “Okay, Carly, ignore her,” my roommate Kayla snaked an arm around Carly, sneering at me. “The fortunate ones should be generous. You have a boyfriend as rich and hot as the squad leader. Don’t waste your breath on a pathetic beggar who can’t afford hygiene.” I stood there, feeling utterly ridiculous. Fortunate ones? Was she talking about Carly, who was only here because my father sponsored her tuition, or Ethan, the son of our housekeeper? Rest period ended. The drill sergeant told us to stand at attention. Moments later, I heard Kayla whisper behind me: “Look at Audrey’s crotch. It’s bulging. She looks like a sheep with a big diaper. So gross.” “Don’t say that,” Carly’s voice was deliberately loud. “Maybe Audrey has a medical condition and needs to wear diapers…” Naturally, the boys behind me snuck glances. Ethan suddenly spoke up: “Stop staring. Anyone who looks gets penalized.” His voice held clear annoyance. Carly’s face fell. Then, she faked dizziness and lunged toward me, grabbing my pant leg and yanking down hard. My belt was cinched tight. She didn’t manage to pull them off. I stumbled forward, ripping my leg away from her: “Carly, are you sick?!” “Who said that? Fall out!” The sergeant roared. I pulled up my pants and stepped out. “Sir, Carly grabbed my pants first.” The sergeant looked at Ethan: “Squad Leader, tell me what happened.” Ethan quickly glanced at me, then paused on the sight of Carly’s trembling shoulder. He finally spoke after a hesitation: “Carly might have lost her balance and accidentally bumped Audrey…” “Ethan!” My voice shook with rage. “You watched her grab my pants! And you’re saying she lost her balance?” “Enough!” He suddenly yelled at me. “Can’t you just let it go? Do you always have to make a scene?” The sergeant’s face was dark: “Standing at attention is not enough punishment! Go, run twenty laps around the field! Don’t stop until you finish!” I bit my tongue, not arguing further. I turned and headed to the track. The noon sun was scorching. Less than one lap in, a drilling pain erupted in my lower abdomen. I was sweating. The tissue padding started shifting. I had to clamp my legs together, praying it wouldn’t slip out. I don’t know how long I ran before the sergeant dismissed everyone. The students gathered at the edge of the track, pointing and staring at me. Sweat poured into my eyes, making it impossible to see. I reached into my pocket for a tissue, accidentally pulling something out that clattered onto the ground. Silence fell, followed by a burst of horrible laughter. “Holy crap, what is that?” “Looks like a pad, but… why is it so dirty?” “Oh my god, did she steal a used one? That’s disgusting!” 3 I froze, looking down. A soiled pad lay on the ground, dark red stains showing. Carly faked shock, opening her mouth wide: “That… wasn’t that the one I threw away this morning? Audrey, how could you…” “Carly slipped it into my pocket…” I rushed to defend myself, but Ethan cut me off, his voice sharp: “Audrey, that’s disgusting! You’d stoop so low as to frame Carly! No wonder you wouldn’t leave the bathroom—you were stealing it then!” I looked up sharply, my voice raw: “Ethan, are you accusing me of stealing a used pad?” A flash of panic crossed his eyes, but he kept his composure: “Isn’t that obvious? It fell out of your pocket. You can’t deny it.” “Deny it?” I laughed. “Does the daughter of the biggest tech billionaire in the city need to steal that?” I stared hard into his eyes: “Ethan, you know exactly how much my family is worth.” The jeers instantly died. Dozens of eyes turned to Ethan. “Stop acting! The daughter of a billionaire? You’re crazy!” Kayla immediately sneered. “Is she delusional? Is the stress making her invent stories?” “Ethan, you grew up with her. What’s her deal? Is her family poor?” The whispering started again. Ethan’s face cycled through red and white. He stammered for a long time before finally forcing out: “She… her mother is our nanny.” The crowd erupted. “Holy crap, the nanny’s daughter! And she was pretending to be rich?” “Look at her! The master’s charity probably put her through school, and she grew up to be a thief. What a waste!” “The nanny’s daughter can’t hide her class. The squad leader was kind enough to keep her close, and she repays him by doing this trashy stuff.” Carly smirked, but she didn’t notice Ethan’s face turning deep crimson. I spoke slowly: “What’s wrong with being the nanny’s daughter? A nanny works hard for her money.” “It’s better than living in the owner’s house, spending the owner’s allowance, and forgetting who you are.” I glanced at Ethan’s burning ears: “Is being the nanny’s daughter something to be ashamed of?” “I think it’s better than someone who has less than ten cents to their name, but has to steal others’ things to pretend to be generous.” My implication hit home. The murmuring grew uncertain. The judgmental eyes started shifting between Ethan and me. “Wait a minute…” someone muttered. “I remember the city’s top billionaire’s name is Xu, right?” “Audrey Xu? Yes, Audrey Xu!” someone else confirmed. “The financial channels always talk about her. She’s the only heir…” Ethan’s face turned ash gray. 4 Carly shrieked, cutting through the silence: “No way! She looks too poor! She’s lying!” Before she finished, she charged at me like a maniac, reaching for my pocket: “I want to see if a ‘billionaire’ has any cash!” I struggled, and my nail raked across her arm. Ethan instantly shoved me to the ground. “Audrey, that’s too much! You hit her!” “Ethan!” Carly immediately cried, covering her arm. “She didn’t just try to steal, she scratched me!” “You…” I pushed up on the ground, my knees trembling. I looked up at Ethan. Tears suddenly burned my eyes. The memory of a ten-year-old Ethan flashed in my mind: My father patting his shoulder: “Ethan, I’m sponsoring your education. I only ask one thing: take care of Audrey, be her companion, protect her.” He had nodded firmly, his eyes shining: “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll protect Audrey forever!” “Ethan…” My voice trembled, carrying my last shred of hope. He deliberately avoided my gaze, his voice harsh: “You attacked first. Apologize to Carly.” He then grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to bow to Carly. “No!” I struggled fiercely. In the chaos, the tissues I had wedged tightly between my legs slipped down my pants. Plop. A stack of blood-stained paper landed on the track. “Oh my God, she was using that cheap paper!” “She can’t afford pads but claims to be a billionaire’s daughter? Hilarious!” “That’s gross, using that kind of thing…” Ethan stared at the soiled tissues, a flicker of pain in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but Carly beat him to it. “Audrey, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were in such trouble…” She apologized falsely, then deliberately stumbled toward me, ramming her shoulder hard into my lower abdomen. “Ah!” A blinding pain shot through me. I doubled over, clutching my stomach. Carly also cried out, collapsing dramatically. Ethan took two steps toward me, but before he could kneel down, Carly screamed: “My arm hurts! I think it’s broken!” Ethan froze. His eyes showed a flicker of internal struggle, but he immediately turned to Carly. “Don’t worry, Carly. I’ll take you to the infirmary.” He scooped her up, never looking at me again. The pain in my stomach was a dull, twisting ache. I huddled on the ground. The jeers felt like needles: “Stop faking it,” Kayla sneered, crossing her arms. “Does she think she’s a princess who needs coddling? The nanny’s daughter isn’t worth anyone’s time.” Just then, a black Maybach suddenly sliced through the crowd and stopped in front of me. The jeering stopped instantly. The door opened. A tall man in a black coat stepped out. He gently lifted me into his arms: “Don’t worry, Audrey. I’m here.” As he carried me toward the car, Ethan suddenly rushed over, blocking the way: “Julian! Why are you here? Audrey is…” “Get lost.” Julian sidestepped him, not even looking. Julian carefully placed me in the back seat. As the car started, Ethan rushed to the window, desperately gripping the car door. “Audrey! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Tell Julian to stop! I need to talk to you…” I turned my face away, closing my eyes. I didn’t want to look at him. After the car left the base, I endured the pain and called my estate manager. Meanwhile, on the field, Ethan stood paralyzed. Carly tugged his arm, demanding: “Why were you chasing that tramp’s car! I…” The phone in Ethan’s pocket vibrated violently. “Ethan! Come home! The Xu family threw all our things out! The manager said… he said I’m fired, and you won’t be going to college now! What the hell is going on?” Ethan froze, and his phone clattered to the ground. 5 At the hospital, Julian rushed me into the emergency room. The doctor confirmed it was just severe cramps, prescribing rest. Julian finally relaxed, fetching a basin of hot water and kneeling by the bed to wash my feet. “Too hot?” He checked the temperature before letting me dip my feet in. I shook my head. Julian is five years older than me, a close family friend. Even when he was abroad, he never missed sending me a birthday gift. He always warned me on the phone: “Ethan seems reliable, but he’s got ulterior motives. Don’t let him fool you.” I used to think he was just being an overprotective old man. Now I know he was right. He dried my feet and asked: “How did you get into this state?” I asked: “When did you get back?” “Last week,” he said. “Your birthday is coming up. I came back for it. What happened?” The door opened. My father walked in, his eyes red: “Audrey!” The day’s suppressed pain burst out. I flew into his arms, sobbing: “Dad, I don’t want to go to school with Ethan anymore.” “That Ethan again? What did he do to you, sweetheart?” My father tenderly stroked my forehead. The door burst open. Ethan rushed in, gasping, and lunged for my hand: “Audrey, are you okay? Where does it hurt…” I violently pulled my hand away, looking at him coldly: “When you and Carly were tormenting me, did you ever consider if I was comfortable? Why the sudden act now?” The color drained from his face: “I’m sorry, Audrey. Carly was hurt, and I was panicking…” His evasion made my stomach turn. I leaned over and vomited all over his uniform. The mess splattered his camouflage. He looked horrified, but still tried to steady me: “Are you okay?” My father shoved him away: “Ethan, tell me the truth! What did you do?” He slammed his hand on the bedside table. Ethan flinched, falling to his knees. He stammered before finally squeezing out: “I… I’m sorry, Mr. Xu. I… I lent Audrey’s pads to someone else…” “I really didn’t know she would get so upset. I promise I’ll never do it again…” He pleaded sincerely. I looked at his fake remorse and felt only scorn. “Is that all?” I sat up slowly, looking down at him. “Who forced me to use sandpaper pads? Who accused me of stealing? Who watched Carly try to strip me and then sided with her?” Every question made my voice shake. Tears streamed down my face. My father’s face was terrifyingly grim. He gave Ethan a thunderous slap: “Listen to the mess you made!” The sound echoed in the quiet room. Ethan turned his head, speechless.

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I died while he was flirting with the florist. I haunted him for three years over it. The moment I materialized, scaring off his date, the girl trembled: “Your place is haunted!” He looked unbothered, smirked, and said: “Yeah. A really hot one.” 1 The beauty screamed “You’re sick!” and bolted. Ethan Vance walked her to the door politely: “Won’t you stay? She’s actually very understanding!” The girl was too terrified to hear him. She just shrieked in humiliation: “I came here to see your cat do flips! Go to hell!” Ethan chuckled, closed the door. He turned to see me, arms crossed and furious, completely unfazed by my spectral presence. “Which one is this, this month?” He sounded bored, not mad at all. “The third,” I said proudly. Ethan flopped onto the sofa, and I bounced right off him—my ghost self lifted a foot in the air. “Molly, are you trying to make me a monk?” Ethan pointed to himself: “Three years of celibacy, thanks to you.” I scoffed: “Look how healthy you are now.” When we were dating, he was a wreck. He gave a dry laugh: “My body’s fine, but living just feels meaningless.” I couldn’t argue with that. Ethan used to be a total playboy. He was handsome, rich, successful, and a guaranteed catch. I fell for his vibe: that lazy, seductive quality. He was a Black Baccara rose in full bloom, intoxicating and dark. When I was falling hardest, he gave me the cold truth: “I will never get married, and I won’t be devoted to just one person. I live for the moment. I won’t be responsible for anyone.” He was cool, collected, and totally reckless. Yet, we were stuck in a messy, two-year, on-again, off-again cycle. Our story ended when the blood soaked the concrete. The last sound I heard was the dull thud of a bat hitting my head. Before the attack, I had quickly wiped my phone. The last message I received wasn’t from Ethan; it was a photo from a friend. Ethan was holding flowers, and the florist was smiling up at him. A perfect pair. I knew it. The playboy wasn’t going to turn his life around for me. My last thought before I faded was: “I wonder if Ethan Vance will still have the nerve to date the florist when he finds out I’m dead?” 2 Ethan picked up the white roses on the coffee table, carefully arranged them in a vase, and spritzed them with water. The droplets clung to the velvety petals. He bought flowers constantly after I died. Not for me, of course. It was because the florist was gorgeous. He used the excuse of buying flowers to flirt with her. It must have felt cursed because his first date with the florist was the day I died. So, no matter how hard the florist tried, Ethan never touched her. Ethan admired the roses and casually instructed me: “Your spectral presence is cold. Stay close to the vase. The low temperature will help keep them fresh.” You know how to be practical, I’ll give you that. I got mad, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply. Ethan looked smug. He wore that “I’m the king” expression. “Want a new dress? I can burn one for you.” He was obscenely rich. That’s why I’m the best-dressed ghost in the afterlife. My dead friends are constantly jealous of my designer gowns. Ethan buys the clothes based on my spectral instructions. He comes home late. He sets the charcoal pit under the old oak tree and meticulously burns the clothes and some cash for me. The black smoke billows out, stinging Ethan’s eyes. A passerby shouts angrily: “Who the hell is burning trash here?” Ethan coughs: “Sorry, sir! I’m just sending some things to my ex. I’ll be quick!” An old lady walks up and pulls the man away: “Leave him alone. The poor guy’s girlfriend was murdered a couple of years ago. It was brutal. He’s gone a little crazy. I often see him talking to thin air.” “Wow, how sad.” “I know. No one wants to date him anymore.” My hands clenched. Ethan remained calm, ignoring everything. I felt a pang of guilt. Ethan was usually a magnet for attention. “Ethan, let’s go.” He lifted an eyelid: “Almost done. Did you receive it?” “Yup. The underworld post office signed for it.” He smiled: “Good.” 3 Ethan woke up, tears tracing his temples. He wiped his eyes and whispered hoarsely: “Molly.” “Hmm?” I was trying on the new dress. Seeing me, Ethan sighed, closed his eyes, and covered his face with his arm. His breathing hitched, then calmed. I put on the new Chanel jacket and twirled in front of him. “Do I look good?” He looked up. In the sunlight, his eyes were a clear, light brown. His voice was teasing: “You look better without it.” I blushed: “Stop that!” He laughed, just looking at me. I sighed: “It’s my birthday in two days.” “I know.” “Go visit my grave, would you?” He didn’t answer. I sighed again. “Ethan.” I held my hand up to my chest, indicating a height. “My grave grass is already three feet tall. You haven’t visited once.” Ethan really was stubborn. I was an orphan and not close to many people. The police could only find Ethan to claim my body. I managed a dark laugh. Figures Ethan would be the one to send me off. He claimed my body from the morgue. My body was brutal—my head bashed, covered in bruises. He couldn’t see me then. I watched his hand tremble as he pulled back the sheet. A normal person would have been hysterical. But Ethan was cold. He just stood there, staring at me. He should have at least cried, just for show. We were together for three years! After a long time, he gently brushed my nose with his index finger. He said: “I hope you died for a good cause.” The empty room offered no reply. He calmly told the police about my life. “She likes pink.” “Her job was a reporter.” “She has a small mole on her thumb web.” “I was her boyfriend, not her husband. We had no legal cohabitation.” It’s funny. Ethan told me upfront: “Don’t look for security in me. I don’t have it. Don’t try to change me with love. I will never get married, so if that’s your goal, leave now.” Everyone thought we’d crash and burn. But he knew me best. His eyes were hollow, his thin lips reciting my habits. I wondered if he knew my favorite position. I couldn’t help but criticize him— Ethan, couldn’t you pretend? You’re too calm. Won’t the police suspect you’re involved in the murder? But my ghost worries were unnecessary for the living. Finally, Ethan leaned forward, clasping his hands. “I want to see the security footage of the incident.” Ethan watched the footage and then left. He never went back to the precinct. He never came to see me. The mountain didn’t come to me, so I went to the mountain. I watched him quit his job. Not for me, of course. He wanted to start his own company. Being an investment banker was lucrative, but Ethan wanted to be the boss. The startup phase was hard. So, I understood why he missed my funeral. The funeral home occasionally called him for payment confirmation. He always said: “Use the most expensive option.” He was most attractive when he was being financially ruthless. 4 “But no one has visited my grave in three years.” I felt genuinely upset. Ethan was unmovable. “I hired someone to clean it.” And paid them well. I scoffed: “You could burn that money to me, and I could sweep it clean with a single gust of cold air.” He smirked: “I’ll burn you more later.” “Are you really not going?” I held up three fingers aggressively. “Three years! Don’t you even wonder if my looks have changed?” He laughed: “How would you change?” “Get old?” He denied it: “No. Your life is permanently twenty-five.” That hit both of us. I died three years ago. The day after I died was my twenty-sixth birthday. I would never be twenty-six. The air grew heavy. Ethan asked: “What’s the afterlife like?” “It sucks.” “How so?” I shook my head mournfully: “A male ghost hit on me the other day. I was lonely and almost said yes, but he drank the River Styx water and didn’t remember me five seconds later.” I gave him the finger: “Are all you men so forgetful?” He changed the subject: “So you’re dating other guys behind my back?” I was equally sharp: “Aren’t you dating other girls behind my back?” We were even. Ethan smiled and shook his head: “At least I brought them home for you to inspect.” I dismissed that. But I was curious: “You’ve been celibate for three years. Seriously, no urge?” He shrugged: “I even lost interest in porn.” I leaned in, unbuttoning my second button, raising an eyebrow suggestively: “How about this?” He glanced at my chest. “What is that? A ghost movie?” He really knows how to kill the mood. I got angry and turned to leave. Ethan instinctively reached out, but his hand passed right through me. He looked lost for a moment. He quickly recovered. “Fine, I’ll go.” “Huh?” “I’ll visit your grave. Should I bring fried chicken?” My eyes turned into stars: “And beer~” He smiled: “Deal.” Ding-dong. Ethan’s phone displayed a news notification. Headline: “Three Years Ago: Vicious Assault and Death of Young Woman, One Participant Released from Prison.” It featured a photo of a man with a buzz cut in an orange jumpsuit. He looked clean-cut, but the image of him smoking, the red glow of the cigarette at his lips, sent shivers down my spine. I clenched my hands, trying not to lose my composure in front of Ethan. I gave a casual wave: “Gotta run.” “Where to?” “Stop being so clingy, dude. I’m a busy ghost.” I have a ghost life to live. I need to sleep and work. 5 Ethan doesn’t know this. Standing next to him all day drains my energy. I have to go back to my grave to recharge. That’s where my ashes are. And every day, the old man who cleans the cemetery comes by and tells me about his slow-burn romance with the cafeteria lady. It’s a special kind of torture. I never told Ethan any of this. He doesn’t want to visit me anyway. The old man is the only living person who talks to me. I shouldn’t let Ethan take that away. I’d be bored to death. Under the moonlight, I shared my offerings with my dead friend. Her name is Chloe. She died of cancer. She’s my neighbor and senior ghost. “Molly, why haven’t you moved on yet?” I took a bite of cake and shook my head: “Not yet.” “Why?” “You haven’t moved on either.” She laughed: “I’m staying to watch my jerk ex and his ‘true love’ suffer.” Hilarious. After Chloe died, her ex realized she was his soulmate and went completely insane. Chloe stayed just for the drama. He also had one redeeming quality: he kept burning designer clothes for Chloe. “What about you? Why are you staying? Is it to watch what happens to the people who killed you?” What happens? They are powerful. They hired people to take the fall. They didn’t spend a single day in jail. Bad people always win. Life is unfair. “I don’t care how they die…” The wind howled, making the quiet cemetery even more desolate. “I’m just worried about someone.” I said quietly. There’s no one in the graveyard at night. The living only visit in the daytime, when the sun is warm. And I, a ghost. I only live in the dark. I accepted this fact, and Ethan should too. “Are you talking about your ex? Didn’t you say he’s still clubbing and working? Take it from a seasoned ghost: the living move on quickly. You might not be as important as you think, babe.” Chloe wasn’t being cruel. We ghosts can’t linger too long. We start to fade and forget the way to the Underworld. My memory has been getting foggy lately. The price of lingering for the wrong person is too high. But Ethan is worth it. He is worth it.

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