We’d been giving each other the silent treatment for three months when we were invited onto a variety show. The challenge: Call the person you love most. Out of spite, my boyfriend, the A-list movie star, called his assistant, Sherry. The internet went wild, shipping them instantly. I dialed an unknown number, calling my mom in a different universe. The internet mocked me. Sean sneered. “You’re an orphan, Jenny. Where did you dig up a mother? Hiring an actor to save face? That’s a new low, even for you.” I didn’t say a word. As he smirked at me, I sprinted to the window and jumped. The System had just told me: If I die in this world, I can finally go home and reunite with my mom. “Hiring an actor to save face? That’s a new low!” [Host, as soon as your physical body dies in this world, you can go home.] Two voices rang out simultaneously. I stared blankly ahead, lost in thought for a moment. Sean thought I was looking at him and let out a contemptuous laugh. “What? Don’t tell me you don’t have anyone you love? That’s pathetic.” The studio audience roared with laughter at his jab. I was the only one not laughing. He wasn’t wrong. Since coming to this world and accepting the mission to make him fall in love with me, my entire life had revolved around him. I needed to complete the mission quickly to go home and save my sick mother. I didn’t make friends. I relied only on him. I was like a parasitic vine. The internet called me “The World’s Stickiest Chewing Gum.” In the years when Sean loved me most, he used to hold me and promise, “Jenny, I’ll be with you forever. We’ll never be apart.” I believed him. Until I walked in on him kissing Sherry. He explained it away impatiently, his eyes glued to Sherry’s blushing face. “It was just a game, a penalty. Stop being so paranoid. We’re innocent, stop having such a dirty mind.” We had a huge fight. Then, three months ago, I caught them walking out of a bathroom together in bathrobes. I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. He didn’t even bother explaining. Instead, he put his arm around Sherry, seemingly on purpose. “Nag, nag, nag. All you do is fight. Can’t you be more obedient like Sherry?” In that moment, I finally realized. It was over. I couldn’t do this mission anymore. Luckily, the System didn’t force me. It agreed to cancel the mission and even promised to honor the reward—curing my mom. With that, I had no more reservations. Recovering from my daze, the System’s voice echoed in my mind again. [Host, your mother asked me to tell you that she misses you very much.] My nose stung, and tears welled up instantly. Yes, I have people I love. I have a mom. And I miss her so much. “I want… to go home.” I muttered unconsciously, my voice choking up. Sean paused, a flash of hesitation in his eyes, but his mouth remained hard. “Jenny, your acting skills are really improving…” I pretended not to hear him. I stood up and walked quickly to the window. Amidst the screams of the crew and the crash of livestream equipment, I jumped straight off the ledge. Sean, I don’t want you anymore. I don’t want these five years of feelings anymore. I just want to go home. Chapter 1 When I woke up, the sharp smell of antiseptic filled my nose. I thought I was back. But before I could rejoice, a familiar voice made my heart sink. Regrettably, I didn’t die. “Jenny, you jumped off a building to threaten me just because I called Sherry? I only said a few words to you! You started the fight!” “If you really wanted to die, go find a skyscraper! The third floor won’t kill you. Stop acting.” Sean’s eyes were bloodshot. I stared at him blankly. Before I could speak, Sherry burst through the door. Her face was wet with tears, looking fragile and pitiful. “Jenny, I’m so sorry. Sean was just trying to make you jealous. I won’t show up anymore. I won’t disturb you guys again.” She looked at Sean with teary, reluctant eyes, then turned to leave. She didn’t get far before Sean grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. His face was dark. “You didn’t do anything wrong, why leave? Don’t cry. I’ll make Jenny clarify everything for you.” He turned to look at me, his gaze turning icy. “Jenny, because your jump was livestreamed, Sherry is getting cyberbullied. You need to put out a statement explaining she’s innocent. She shouldn’t be dragged into this.” “Because of your stunt, people are calling Sherry a homewrecker. You need to apologize to her. You were wrong, and I won’t indulge your tantrums anymore.” I almost wanted to laugh. But then I realized none of this mattered anymore. I tossed my phone to Sean, my face calm. “Sure. Post whatever clarification you want.” “I just want to go home.” The System responded instantly: [Host, it will be soon.] I closed my eyes again. “Get out. Both of you.” Sean froze, surprised I didn’t fight back, but he didn’t leave. He unlocked my phone and quickly posted the statement. When he handed the phone back, his expression was complicated. “Jenny, after all these years, your wallpaper is still that photo.” I didn’t speak. I glanced at the screen. It was a photo of Sean and me holding a cake, smiling brightly, full of love. I felt a bit dazed. Back then, he wasn’t a movie star. He was a background actor, a stunt double. But when my birthday came, he spent every dime he had to buy me an expensive, beautiful cake. “Jenny, thank you for staying with me. From now on, I’ll buy you the prettiest, most expensive cake every year. We’ll be together forever.” Later, he got famous and kept his promise. But at some point, the cakes and gifts became cold and sharp. Eating them wasn’t sweet anymore. It just left a bitter aftertaste. I lay in the hospital for a week, spending every day thinking about how to die. The day I was discharged, Sean came to pick me up. Fans were swarming the hospital entrance. Seeing me, they started screaming abuse. “Jenny, go die! Why didn’t the fall kill you?!” “Manipulative bitch! Why are you so toxic?” “You framed Sherry as the mistress? You look more like the mistress! Who knows how many beds you climbed to get here!” I let it go in one ear and out the other. After so many years, I was used to the abuse. Sean thought I was tough, good-tempered, resilient. He often praised my “broad-mindedness.” In reality, I was just numb from the pain. I hurt so much I couldn’t change my expression. We finally shook off the fans, and Sean stopped the car in front of me. The passenger window rolled down, revealing Sherry’s flushed face. “Jenny, get in quick. Your haters are coming back. Let’s not get scolded together, haha.” She stuck out her tongue, smiling like a cat that got the cream. Sean wasn’t angry at all. He looked at Sherry with a smile, his eyes involuntarily soft. The passenger seat, once exclusively mine, had changed. There were small cosmetics, a mirror, and Sherry’s favorite plush bunny and snacks. These were things Sean had forbidden me from keeping in the car. He claimed it would damage the interior or get photographed by paparazzi. Thinking about it now… it just depended on whether he loved you or not. But. It didn’t matter. I took two steps back. I flagged down a taxi and went back to my small rental apartment. I sold off most of my assets and donated the money to charity. I was preparing a shard of porcelain to slit my wrists when the doorbell rang. Outside stood a grim-faced Sean, followed by a red-eyed Sherry. “Jenny, do you have to throw a tantrum? I honestly don’t know what you’re upset about now!” He sighed, looking at me heavily. As if resigning himself. “Fine. It’s your birthday today. I won’t fight with you. I bought a cake. We’re here to celebrate.” Sherry blushed slightly and stammered a “Happy Birthday.” My gaze fell on the necklace she was wearing. Sherry touched it, smiling sweetly. “Sean gave this to me. I liked it the moment I saw it. He said it was just a trinket and gave it to me.” Sean nodded, walking into the room and sitting down. “It was old anyway. Keeping it was pointless. If Sherry likes it, let her have it. I didn’t like it anymore.” I stiffened, stunned for a moment. That necklace was a matching couple’s set we bought when we first got together. It cost a few hundred bucks—not much—but he treasured it back then. “I’m going to keep this forever! It’s the proof of our love. If I lose it, punish me by never letting me see you again, okay?” Every year on his birthday, he loved wearing it with me. Starting last year, he stopped wearing it. I didn’t ask. I just didn’t expect to see it on Sherry’s neck. When the cake box was opened, Sean froze, panic flashing in his eyes. I stopped his hand from closing the box. I saw the words clearly: [Happy Wedding.] Sean and Sherry, Happy Wedding. “Th-they must have made a mistake. Jenny, you won’t be mad, right? It’s just a cake. We can scrape the words off.” Sherry looked pale, but behind Sean’s back, her eyes were full of provocation. “Jenny, I’m sorry. I messed up. I didn’t check with the baker carefully. I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to.” She cried hard. The guilt on Sean’s face vanished. He wiped her tears, cooing at her gently. Seeing me silent, his face darkened. “Jenny! Sherry is crying. How can you be so cold? It’s just a cake. I’ll buy you another one.” “Can you stop being so petty? Besides, you jumping off the building got Sherry cyberbullied. She’s already emotional, but she still came to celebrate your birthday. Why do you have to be against her?” I rubbed my temples, exhausted. My heart was flat. Sean was right. It’s just a cake. It has flaws. But was it only the cake that was flawed? “Sean, let’s break up.” Chapter 2 Sean froze, looking at me in disbelief. I didn’t wait for him to speak. My face was pale, my voice weak. “I’m going home. We won’t see each other again. I wish you a happy life together.” Crash. Sean knocked over a glass of water, standing there dazed. As if searching for proof that I was lying, he spoke hoarsely after a long silence. “Home? Where can you go besides my place? You don’t have a home! Jenny, stop making a scene. You have no parents, where would you go?” “If you don’t want to apologize to Sherry, just say so. I won’t force you. But you can’t just say break up like that!” I shook my head with difficulty. My body was getting weaker, my vision blurring. Sean panicked completely. As I fell, he rushed over and caught me. But he accidentally kicked over the black trash can. The blood inside spilled out instantly. My wrist, already cut, hit the floor hard. It hurt. “Ah! Blood! So much blood!” “Jenny! You’re crazy! Who gave you permission to kill yourself?! What kind of drama are you staging now! Jenny!” I couldn’t hear him clearly anymore. Sean. In this life and the next, let’s never meet again.

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In the city of Southwood, during a prestigious violin competition, my father’s illegitimate daughter snapped my bow in half. I snatched hers, took the stage, and played a melody so breathtaking it stunned the entire audience. Sarah, the illegitimate daughter, fled the country in tears, humiliated by the crowd’s mockery. That night, my childhood friends—twin brothers from the wealthy Sterling family—both proposed to me. After some thought, I chose the older brother, Liam. But eight months later, as I lay hemorrhaging during childbirth, he looked at me with cold hatred. “If you hadn’t stolen Sarah’s bow, she wouldn’t have stayed away for so long. You ruined our future together. Now, you have to pay.” I begged the other twin, Lucas, to take me to the hospital. Instead, I heard him say to someone else: “She’s finally bleeding out? My year of personally overseeing her diet wasn’t in vain. When she bullied Sarah, did she ever think karma would come for her?” Only then did I realize their proposals were just revenge for Sarah. I died, taking my unborn child with me. A year later, Sarah returned from her “vacation” abroad to accept the marriage alliance with the Sterling family. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the violin competition. Everyone thought I would forfeit. Instead, I waved my hand. “Bring me my best violin! I’m going to make her cry so hard she won’t have tears left!” When my final note resonated through the hall, the applause was thunderous—far louder than what Sarah had received. Sarah stood frozen, hand over her mouth in shock. I glanced at her. “Now, someone can run away crying and buy a plane ticket to flee the country.” Just like she did in my past life. But Sarah didn’t move. She just stood there, slumped in disbelief. In that instant, a chill ran down my spine— Was she reborn too? In my past life, even after she left, she kept tabs on everything back home. That’s why she returned to marry into the Sterling family the moment I died. Only someone who knew my fate in the previous life would be this shocked to see me fight back with my best violin instead of quitting. But she was wrong. Her schemes from the past life wouldn’t break me this time. I came back for one thing: to slap them all in the face. Having delivered my perfect opening act, I bowed deeply to the audience and prepared to leave. But just as I was about to exit, two pairs of hands grabbed me. “Frost, your performance was exquisite. We are both captivated. Which of us has the honor of winning your favor?” My heart skipped a beat— Liam Sterling. Lucas Sterling. In my past life, they only came to propose after I left the venue. Why were they doing this publicly now? Looking into their eyes, my breath hitched— I wasn’t wrong. These were the same cold eyes that watched me bleed out in agony in my past life. So… They were all reborn. “Neither.” I shook them off and walked away. “Frost.” Liam, the older brother, called out to me. “This competition was organized for the purpose of a marriage alliance. Since you participated, you should follow the rules.” I paused— This was a marriage alliance competition? No wonder Sarah targeted me so viciously. I turned to look at the brothers. Though they were smiling at me, their eyes kept darting toward Sarah, who was crying in the corner. They couldn’t hide the heartache in their gaze. I felt a wave of irony wash over me— In my past life, just because Sarah said she didn’t want to see me, they conspired to kill me and my unborn child. In this life, were they trying to avenge Sarah in a different way? I smiled. “Do you really want to marry me?” “Of course, Frost.” Both men stepped forward, dropping to one knee, looking up at me with devotion. “We grew up together. I promise I love you more than my brother does.” “No, Frost. I may not be as mature as my brother, but I swear I will love you with everything I have!” I pointed at Liam, just like in my past life. “I choose you.” Liam’s lips curled into a smile, as if he expected this. But then I added: “The dowry is 100 billion dollars. Do you accept?” “What?” The brothers looked up in shock. Even Sarah couldn’t help but step forward. “Sister, marriage isn’t a business transaction. How can you bully the brothers like this!” “Since when does an illegitimate daughter have the right to speak here?” I shot her a cold glance. Just that one look made both brothers stand up instantly, shielding Sarah behind them. As if I were about to hurt her. I laughed. It was a bitter, mocking laugh— Once, they protected me like this too. They swore to guard me for life. We were born when our families were on the brink of collapse. To help Liam escape assassins, I dressed as him to lure them away and broke my leg in the process. To help Lucas, who had rare blood, recover from injuries, I donated blood until I passed out, multiple times. They once held me, swearing to repay me with their lives, working tirelessly to restore their family’s glory just to protect me. But the moment my father brought Sarah home, their world narrowed to just her. If Sarah said she liked something, they would take the gifts I painstakingly prepared and give them to her. If Sarah shed a single tear, the two who never dared speak a harsh word to me would demand I take responsibility for her sadness. Looking at the two men guarding Sarah like a treasure, I sneered. “See? You don’t genuinely want to marry me. 100 billion is a lot, but it’s not something you can’t afford. “If you aren’t even willing to show this much sincerity, how can I trust you?” I turned to leave. “Wait!” They called out in panic. Liam gritted his teeth. “Okay…” “Really?” I turned back immediately, handing over a hastily drafted asset agreement. “Then sign it.” Liam frowned, but he signed. That day, the brothers left with the teary-eyed Sarah, leaving me alone at the venue. But I didn’t care. The moment the 100 billion hit my account, I made a call. “Yes, I’m coming to Europe to find you. When will I return?” I laughed. “I won’t be returning.” There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low chuckle. “Pleasure doing business with you, Miss Song.” Hanging up, I looked at the endless zeros in my account and smirked— Did they really think I’d marry either of them? But considering what they did to me in my past life, this compensation was well-deserved. I didn’t care where Sarah or the brothers went. I packed my bags and had a farewell dinner with my friends. But in the middle of the party, a group of bodyguards stormed in and dragged me away. When I opened my eyes, a slap landed hard on my face. Lucas looked down at me with contempt. “Bitch! The Sterling family already gave you 100 billion. Why won’t you let Sarah go?!” I was stunned. Only then did I see Sarah, dressed in tattered clothes, sobbing in Liam’s arms. “I know Sister is marrying into the Sterling family and plans to leave the country, but why couldn’t she let me go? She sent a dozen men to… to ruin me? “If the brothers hadn’t arrived in time, I would have…” Even the usually calm Liam had veins popping on his hands. “Song Frost.” His voice was colder than in my past life. “Apologize.” “Heh.” I spat out blood. “You believe the words of an illegitimate daughter?” Sarah cried even harder. The brothers looked at her with undisguised heartache, then shouted at me: “Song Frost! Kneel and apologize!” I lifted my chin high. “No. If anyone should apologize, it’s this bitch and her shameless mother who drove my mom to her death!” “You!” Another slap hit my face. Liam struck me for the first time. “I’m asking you one more time. Will you kneel?” My vision went black, ears ringing. I could barely stand. But I gritted my teeth and squeezed out a sentence: “Only if you kill me!” “Heh…” Liam laughed in anger and nodded. Immediately, someone dragged me to the swimming pool. A kick to the back of my knees forced me down with a splash. “Death is too easy for a vicious woman like you. You should taste what you did to Sarah.” My head was pushed down, inches from the water. Terror made my breathing erratic. “No! Liam! Lucas! You know I’m terrified of water!” “Push her down!” My face submerged. The suffocating feeling brought back the memories— Back when the brothers were thrown into the sea by enemies, I desperately pulled them to shore, only to be swept away by a riptide. Rescue teams searched for three days and nights before finding me clinging to a piece of drift wood, unconscious. Since then, I’ve been terrified of water, even pools. In the past, if anyone even pointed a shower head at me as a joke, the brothers would cut all business ties with them, ignoring their begging. Now, they were drowning me themselves over a fabricated crime. The bodyguards dunked me repeatedly. My lungs burned, heavy and unable to breathe. Finally, Sarah whimpered that she forgave me, and they threw me onto the ground. I couldn’t breathe. I reached out weakly toward them. “Help me… I… can’t breathe…” “Stop acting.” They quickly shielded Sarah behind them. “What you suffered isn’t one-thousandth of what you did to Sarah. Trying to play the victim now?” I couldn’t speak. My face was turning blue. But they only saw Sarah’s red eyes. They left with her immediately, abandoning me. Darkness took me. When I woke up, the doctor sighed. “Lucky the cleaner found you. How did you manage to drown in such a shallow pool?” I couldn’t speak. “Speaking of which, you almost died. Why isn’t your family here?” Family? Thinking of my late mother, I held back tears. “They’re busy…” “Busier than the family next door? “The girl in the next room, I heard her two brothers are CEOs. They stopped doing business just to be with her, even though she wasn’t even hurt. You’re much worse off. “Think her name is Sarah Song. Sounds like yours.” I closed my eyes and said nothing. I discharged myself that day, unwilling to hear the laughter from the next room. Liam didn’t contact me for a while. When he heard nothing from me, assuming I had learned my lesson, he messaged: [Engagement ceremony tonight.] I didn’t refuse. I even arrived half an hour early. Everyone said I was eager for this engagement. The brothers thought so too. But once everyone arrived, the big screen suddenly played the footage of me being drowned in the pool. My desperate screams echoed through the hall. Liam frowned deeply. “What are you doing!” I stood up and took the microphone. “Everyone saw what the Sterling brothers did. From today on, I, Song Frost, sever all ties with Liam and Lucas Sterling!” “Oh my god! Didn’t the Sterling brothers propose? Are they bullying their fiancée and future sister-in-law for an illegitimate daughter?” “Even if she wasn’t their fiancée, that’s too cruel!” “Miss Song is right! Cut them off!” … “I’m sorry! It’s all because of me that the brothers are being blackmailed by my sister. I’ll leave now. I hope sister can calm down!” Sarah suddenly cried and turned to run. The brothers quickly pulled her into their arms, frowning at me. “If you want to throw a tantrum, don’t drag Sarah into it! Explain yourself and apologize to her!” “Apologize to an illegitimate daughter? Seriously?” “You!” “Liam. Lucas.” I looked at them steadily. “We will never see each other again.” I brushed past their shoulders and walked away. They froze. Just as they were about to stop me, my father’s voice boomed: “Scoundrel! Who are you calling illegitimate!” I turned to see my stepmother, Linda Liu, crying in his arms as they walked out. Father took the microphone. “I’m sorry, everyone. Actually, Song Frost is my illegitimate daughter. For years, I pitied her for losing her mother, so I claimed Sarah was the illegitimate one. “But I didn’t expect Song Frost to be so ungrateful. Bullying Sarah was bad enough, but now she insults her at her own engagement! “I won’t indulge her anymore. Today I’m telling you all— “Song Frost is the child of my first love. Her mother died before we could marry. Sarah and my wife pitied her, which is why she acts so entitled.” “What?!” The crowd was shocked. “So Song Frost is the bastard!” “Her mom got pregnant out of wedlock? Tsk tsk! Like mother like daughter.” Only Liam and Lucas weren’t surprised. They narrowed their eyes at me. “We knew you bullied Sarah long ago.” “Heh…”

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My dad was a high school dropout with a rap sheet. My mom was a wild child with a temper. They had me when they were barely legal. They didn’t care much about my upbringing, until one day, they realized something was wrong. Very wrong. Dad: “She’s in sixth grade and hasn’t cut class once. Do you think she’s sick?” Mom: “Look what I found under her bed! A Principal’s Honor Roll certificate! It’s disgusting. What are we going to do?” That day, they dragged me out of the house for a “corruption tour”—hair dye, tattoos, and internet cafes. They were determined to set me on the “right” path: the path of delinquency. 1. Jax saw me putting on my backpack and stopped me. “Where are you going this early?” “School,” I said. “It’s Saturday, kid.” “Finals are coming up. My study group is meeting at the library.” Jax, who was nursing a hangover on the couch, rubbed his eyes. “Wait. Just… wait.” He sat up, looking at me like I was a stranger. Then he craned his neck and yelled, “Roxy! Roxy, get your ass out here!” Roxy stumbled out of the bedroom. She’d been out all night; her smoky eyeliner was smeared halfway down her cheek. “Stop screaming, my head is splitting,” she groaned, kicking a beer can out of the way. “Your daughter,” Jax pointed a shaking finger at me. “She’s going to school. On a Saturday. Voluntarily.” Roxy pulled off a false eyelash. “You handle it.” “I’m serious!” I sighed. “Can I go now?” Roxy waved a hand. “Whatever. Go be a nerd.” When I got home that afternoon, they were both sitting in the living room. Awake. This was rare. Usually, our schedules were like ships passing in the night. I went to school while they slept; they went out to party when I did my homework. Seeing them both sober and staring at me was unsettling. I walked past them, head down, and went straight to my room. My stuff had been tossed. Books on the floor, drawers open. Outside, I heard Jax’s voice, surprisingly serious. “I called the school. She was actually there. It’s freaky.” “I thought she was sneaking out to see a boy,” Roxy sounded disappointed. “I tore her room apart looking for love letters. When I was her age, my diary was full of names…” “Which names?” Jax asked. “Focus, idiot. The point is, I found this instead.” Paper rustled. “Is that… what I think it is?” Jax’s voice trembled. “Yeah,” Roxy sighed. “A certificate. Not for ‘Most Improved’ or ‘Perfect Attendance.’ It’s for ‘Academic Excellence.’ Straight A’s. She’s hiding this filth in our house.” Silence. “We failed her,” Roxy sniffled. “I expected her to be rebellious, but… rebelling by being a model citizen? I didn’t see that coming.” 2. I wasn’t listening anymore. I was looking around my trashed room with a weird sense of satisfaction. My friend Sarah always complained that her parents took her door off the hinges so they could watch her. I used to be jealous. My parents never came in here. I could have built a bomb in here and they wouldn’t have noticed. But today? They raided my room. They cared. I walked out, trying to hide a smile. “You guys went through my stuff?” They exchanged a guilty look. Jax pointed at Roxy. “Her idea.” Smack. Roxy hit his arm. “You liar!” “It’s okay,” I said. “Just… try not to mess up my filing system next time.” “There won’t be a next time,” Roxy said quickly. “No, please,” I said. “Feel free to invade my privacy.” They looked at me like I had grown a second head. “Go change,” Roxy commanded, recovering her composure. “We’re going out. You need fixing.” 3. And so began the strangest family outing in history. First stop: The Hair Salon. The owner knew Roxy. “Back again, Rox? Want to go purple this time?” “Not me,” she pushed me forward. “Her. Fix this.” The guy looked at my natural, un-styled hair. “She’s just a kid.” “Exactly. Give her some color.” I sat in the chair. “I want to choose.” Roxy hesitated. “Fine. But pick something edgy. Orange? Neon green?” I looked at the color chart. Then I looked at myself in the mirror. “I want… Midnight Black.” “That’s just black,” Jax said. “No,” I said solemnly. “It represents the darkness of my soul. It’s the color of the void. It’s misunderstood. It’s… deep.” Jax’s eyes widened. He nudged Roxy. “Whoa. She’s got the emo poetry down. That’s my girl.” Half an hour later, I walked out with a trim and slightly shinier black hair. “Is it rebellious?” they asked the stylist while paying. “Uh, sure,” the stylist shrugged. “Very goth.” 4. Next stop: The Tattoo Parlor. The walls were covered in flash art—skulls, snakes, daggers. “Old Mike, new client,” Roxy announced. Mike looked up from his sketchpad. “She’s twelve.” “She’s mature for her age,” Jax said. He rolled up his sleeve to show a faded dragon. “Show her the good stuff.” Roxy showed off her wrist—a string of numbers. “My parents’ death dates. Don’t copy that.” Then she showed her bicep. The characters for ‘New Beginning.’ “My ex’s name was Newman. When we broke up, I added ‘Beginning’ to cover it.” I tried not to laugh. “I know what I want,” I said. “Yeah? Something fierce?” Jax grinned. “I want a quote.” “Nice,” Old Mike prepped his gun. ” What is it? ‘Born to Die’? ‘Only God Can Judge Me’?” “No,” I said. “‘I Love Mom and Dad’.” Jax and Roxy froze. Old Mike put the gun down. “I’m not tattooing a kid, and I’m definitely not tattooing that.” Roxy grabbed my arm. “Let’s go. You’re embarrassing me. You’re too soft.” “Wait,” I said. “If I can’t get a tattoo, take me to the arcade.” 5. We ended up at a gaming center. Jax and Roxy were in their element. They flanked me, booting up League of Legends and Overwatch. “Okay, kid, pick your poison. Which one is cooler?” I sat at the middle computer. I opened Microsoft Word. “Look at this,” I said, typing rapidly. “See how fast I can type the essay I memorized? And look at the formatting options! The gradient text effects! It’s thrilling!” They stared at my screen. “Is this… a simulator?” Jax asked. “It’s a productivity tool,” I beamed. They watched me format a document for twenty minutes in silence. “I think she’s broken,” Roxy whispered to Jax.

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Good news: I’m living with the biggest pop star in the country. Bad news: I’m his dog. Worse news: I’m a Beagle. The reigning pop princess tried to pet my floppy ears. So I lifted my leg and peed orange juice all over her designer dress. The Male Lead, Julian, was having a depressive episode late at night. So I shredded his pants into confetti. Netizens commented: “Who said Julian had a bad temper? He’s practically a saint.” “I declare Julian the most patient man on Earth.” The System told me to “capture his heart.” Capture? Not happening. I am the Beagle King, and I’m here to wreck the world. 1 I was doom-scrolling late at night, thirsting over hot guys. My fingers flew across the keyboard in the comments section: “Daddy, let me be your dog!” When I opened my eyes, my wish had come true. I had transmigrated into a book. As the top pop star’s dog. Biologically speaking. “Host, soul transfer complete… wait.” The System suddenly popped up, its electronic voice tinged with confusion: “Why is the camera angle so low? Why are you crawling on the floor?” Me: “…” Open your eyes and look. “Oh my god! Host, why are you a dog?!” The System let out a scream like a dying pig: “Boohoo! Sorry Host, there was a glitch in the vessel matching process.” “It’s over! You’re a loud, floppy-eared donkey-dog! How are you supposed to romance the Male Lead now? He’s doomed! This world is going to collapse!” It kept rambling until my brain hurt. I took a deep breath and let out a long, resounding “AROOOOOOO!” That shut the noisy System up. It told me the Male Lead of this world is named Julian, a top-tier idol. But he was set up by the industry bigwigs. Because he refused to sleep his way to the top, the internet is now flooded with fake scandals about him. He’s on the verge of turning into a villain, which threatens the stability of this world. “Host, if you save him and raise his affection level to 100%, you can return to your original world and receive a reward of 15 million dollars!” The System rubbed its virtual hands together greedily: “Please work hard to capture the Male Lead’s heart so you can become human again soon!” I ignored it. I was busy admiring myself in the mirror. Pink paw pads pressing against the glass. A wet black nose, big brown ears, and puppy-dog eyes. I was still a puppy in my prime. My tail wagged involuntarily. Being human is exhausting! Work, stress, bills. As the Beagle King, I am chaos incarnate. I’m going to wreck this world! 2 It was early morning when I arrived. The living room was pitch black. Just as I was about to dig into the sofa to check for snacks, the System screamed: “Host! Spare the sofa! The Male Lead is sitting right there!” I looked up. A tall figure sat alone in the darkness. Wine bottles littered the coffee table. His long, bony fingers gripped a glass, mechanically bringing it to his lips. I trotted over immediately. The System was hopeful: “Yes, Host! Use your cuteness to heal him!” I kicked off with my back legs, jumped onto the coffee table, and swiped with my snout. Crash. All the wine glasses fell like bowling pins. The Beagle is hungry! The human only cares about drinking! Beagle good, human bad. Julian snapped out of his trance. He reached out and patted my head: “Sorry, Goody. I’ll get you some food.” So my name is Goody. (Note: ‘Guai Guai’ implies obedient/good/well-behaved) Nice. I am a good boy. He fumbled to turn on the lights. He stumbled over to pour me some kibble. He had dark circles under his eyes, messy hair, but was still undeniably handsome. Faint red scars were visible on his arms. Julian brought over a special doggy dining set and squatted down in front of me. He took out a little carrot hair tie and gently tied my long ears back so they wouldn’t get messy. Julian looked like he hadn’t eaten in days, he was so thin. But my food was gourmet. Kibble mixed with fresh chicken breast and topped with delicious freeze-dried treats. I chowed down happily. Julian silently cleaned up the broken glass. When the living room was clean, he looked exhausted. He didn’t drink anymore. He kissed my head and stumbled into the bedroom. 3 Morning sunlight poured over me like melted honey, turning my fur gold. After a good night’s sleep, I had fully embraced my Beagle identity. I shook my body and let out the first song of the morning: “Arooooooo~” Then I did laps around the apartment. Tap tap tap tap went my paws on the floor. Julian wasn’t awake yet. I jumped on the dining table, searched, found nothing. Beagle hungry. I trotted to Julian’s bedroom. The door was open, so I slipped inside. The System sounded the alarm like a rubber chicken being squeezed: “Host! Save the Male Lead!” Julian was preparing to cosplay a hanging ornament. Seriously, this guy. I launched myself into the air—”AROOO!”—and bit precisely onto the cuff of his loose pajama pants. Riiip. The fabric tore. He swayed, trying to shake me off in a panic but afraid of hurting me. He had to let go of the rope and jump off the chair. His pants were weak. In seconds, I shredded them into strips of cloth. He didn’t get mad. He slumped into the chair, staring at me blankly. I shook my head, spitting out the fabric. I walked up and gently nudged his leg with my furry head. Wagging my tail, I let out a soft, whiny “aroo”. The System freaked out: “Host, are you still in there?! Did the dog take over? Why are you so gentle!” I magnanimously offered my pink paw: “He is my loyal servant, after all. I’m a smart Beagle; sometimes servants need rewards.” Julian stared at my wet puppy eyes in surprise. Ripples appeared in his dead eyes. His eyes reddened, and huge tears rolled down. He picked me up and buried his face in my soft belly. Hot tears soaked my clean fur: “I’m sorry… I made you worry.” I wagged my tail and patted his shoulder. I didn’t struggle. 4 After a while, Julian calmed down. I kicked him in the face and landed smoothly on the floor. Julian smiled: “Goody, Daddy’s sorry. I can’t take you out to play right now.” I held my head high. It’s fine, we can play inside. I zoomed out of the bedroom, leaped onto the sofa, and happily started chewing a throw pillow. Papers were scattered all over the sofa. “Abuser,” “Die,” “Quit the industry”… and even nastier words were written on them. Hate mail. Whatever. Paper is for shredding. I, the Beagle King, will serve as the shredder. After dealing with the sofa, I eyed the funeral wreaths by the door with Julian’s name on them. Idiot, why bring this bad luck inside? Leave it to the Beagle. I pounced, biting and clawing. The bamboo frames were tough, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I diligently dismantled the wreaths, muttering “aroo aroo” curses at the haters. When Julian came into the living room, it was a disaster zone. Satisfying. I barked majestically at him. Seeing this, Julian’s eyes reddened again. He cried out my name and tried to hug me. I disgusted-ly blocked his mouth with my paw. Julian: “Goody, you need a bath. Your paws stink.”

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I was on a business trip in New York City, unable to sleep. Scrolling through Reddit in my hotel bed, I stumbled upon a bizarre post: [True Crime Deep Dive: On the night of July 30, 2025, at 10:30 PM, the heiress to the W Group fortune was brutally beheaded while on a business trip in NYC. Her head was found in the hotel mini-fridge. The killer was her late father’s illegitimate son, who posed as a delivery driver to gain entry.] I paused. I am the heiress of the W Group. I am currently on a business trip in NYC. But my dad didn’t have an illegitimate son. And today is July 30th. But it’s only 10:00 PM right now. How could I be reading a news report about a murder that happens thirty minutes in the future? I figured it was just a sick prank by some bored internet troll. But when I got up to grab a water, I froze. The interior of the hotel mini-fridge was identical to the crime scene photo in the post. And the spot where the severed head was placed in the photo… was currently empty in my fridge. Just then, the doorbell rang. “Delivery!” 1 My heart skipped a beat. I immediately dialed my security team. First off, I haven’t eaten takeout in years. When I travel, I book the Presidential Suite. All my meals are prepared by the hotel. Even if I ordered delivery, hotel staff would bring it up. No delivery driver is allowed on this floor. I suddenly remembered the Reddit post. It was absurd, impossible to believe. But the people, the time, the location… everything matched. Was this really a death notice? When I didn’t answer, the pounding on the door got louder. Bang! Bang! Bang! “Hello? Delivery! Come get your food!” The voice was raspy, sounding like a middle-aged man. Remembering the post said the killer was my father’s illegitimate son, I relaxed slightly. This guy sounded old enough to be my dad’s contemporary, not his son. Luckily, my security team was staying on a lower floor. They’d be here in minutes. I calmed myself down. The knocking continued, sparking my curiosity. I walked softly to the heavy door. But the moment I got close, the knocking stopped. Dead silence outside. I held my breath and peered through the peephole. The hallway was empty. But the next second— Bang! Bang! Two massive thuds against the door. Then! A face shot up from below, filling the entire peephole! The skin was wrinkled and greasy, a thick double chin spilling over the collar of a delivery uniform. Cloudy eyes stared dead at me through the glass. His mouth slowly, stiffly stretched into a grotesque grin. Bang! Bang! He hit the door again, harder this time. It was like he knew I was right there. I stumbled back, nearly falling. Just as I thought he would break the door down, his voice changed. It became soft, almost a whisper. “Delivery for you… I’ll just leave it here.” Footsteps retreated. Tap tap tap tap… Fading down the hallway. Did he leave? My security team arrived shortly after. Seeing the line of burly men in black suits guarding my door, I finally exhaled. But I was furious. How could a 5-star hotel have such lax security? I called the front desk immediately. After checking the surveillance, the receptionist sounded confused. “Ms. Chen… we apologize for the disturbance. But we’ve checked all camera feeds for the elevators, hallways, and stairwells leading to the Presidential floor for the last thirty minutes… There is no record of anyone in a delivery uniform entering the area. The only people on the footage are your security team.” She paused, her voice trembling slightly. “And… there is no footage of the ‘delivery driver’ leaving, either…” Buzz— A chill shot from my feet to my skull. Not on camera? Didn’t go up, didn’t come down? That meant the “delivery driver” had been hiding on this floor the entire time! Unease settled in my gut. I called the police immediately. With my elite security team—all national martial arts champions—outside, I felt safe enough to wait for the cops. Sweating from the stress, I went to the bathroom to wash my face. Back on the sofa, I opened my phone. The Reddit post was at the top of my feed again. This time, I looked closer. Posted: July 30, 2035, 22:45 Ten years in the future?! How is that possible? I refreshed the page. The date remained 2035. Every other post on my feed had normal dates. I read the entire post. The murder case went cold for ten years. The illegitimate son inherited the family empire, liquidated everything within a few years, and fled the country with billions. The police never found him. My mother, the legitimate wife, was committed to a mental asylum by the son, claiming she lost her mind from grief. She committed suicide six months later. A sense of dread washed over me. I scrolled to the comments. The top comments made my heart stop: “OP got it wrong. The son didn’t disguise himself as the driver. The driver was just a distraction he hired.” “Exactly. She’s a billionaire heiress in a Presidential Suite with bodyguards. A delivery guy couldn’t get close.” “The real killer was hiding inside the hotel room.” Inside the hotel room… Inside the hotel room! Those words sucked the warmth from my body. I froze. My eyes darted to the time on my phone screen. 22:29 The post said the murder happened at 22:30. Before I could even process the thought— Thud! A dull, heavy blow struck the back of my head! Warm, sticky liquid, smelling of rust, poured down my face and neck. Then I felt the cold slice of a blade against my throat. With the last of my strength, I tried to turn my head, to see the face behind me. But a hand like an iron clamp held my head down, covering my mouth and nose. The post was real. The victim was me. I collapsed in a pool of blood, eyes closing in helpless rage. 2 I opened my eyes. I was back in the hotel bed. The phantom pain in my head and neck lingered, but there was no blood. I looked at my phone. The Reddit post was on the screen. Time: 10:00 PM. I was reborn! Back to thirty minutes before the murder! I scanned the room nervously. The killer was hiding in here, right now. I forced myself to stay calm. Knowing the killer was inside, I texted my security team and 911 instead of calling. Almost immediately after I sent the texts, the doorbell rang. “Delivery!” The raspy voice called out. Knowing he was just a distraction, I wanted to ignore him. But to put on a show for the killer inside, I yelled, “Wrong room! I didn’t order anything!” Then I put on headphones, pretending to ignore the knocking, while my eyes frantically scanned the room—curtains, closet, bathroom… Where was he hiding? The knocking stopped. The footsteps faded. My bodyguards arrived on time. The timeline matched my previous life. I lunged for the door, throwing myself into the center of the protective circle of bodyguards. As we rushed out, I thought I heard a faint rustling sound from inside the room. I glanced back. In a dark corner of the living room, I felt an intense gaze burning into me. “Go! Move!” I ordered, terrified to look closer. We crowded into the elevator, then into my stretch limo. The door slammed shut. We drove away from the hotel. Safe? I checked my phone. I opened Reddit. The post was at the top again. I scrolled to the comments. My heart stopped. New comments had appeared: “The heiress was smart, but she still died.” “She thought she escaped once she got in the car…” “Too bad she still died…” A bone-deep chill seized me. I forced myself to turn around and look at the people in the car. One, two, three… six, seven. Seven people. My security team only has six members. Everyone was wearing black suits and sunglasses. I tried to find an unfamiliar face. But strangely, all seven faces looked familiar. How is this possible? I forced myself to think. “Stop the car,” I said, voice steady. “Everyone except Leo gets out. Go back to the hotel and help the police catch the fake delivery guy.” Leo was my personal bodyguard, assigned by my parents ten years ago. He was the only one I trusted completely. The car door opened. Six bodyguards got out and ran back toward the hotel. They looked normal, except one. As he ran, he glanced back at the car with a weird expression. Not looking at me. Looking at the car. I didn’t have time to analyze it. I told Leo to drive. “Head to the nearest police station. Fast.” I slumped in the seat, soaked in cold sweat. Just me and Leo now. The car moved smoothly. Safe… for now? I checked the time: 22:28 Two minutes left! I leaned back, trying to slow my heart rate. Leo was focused on driving. My reflection in the window was pale. Just as I started to relax— A puff of cold air blew against my right ear! My pupils dilated. There’s someone else in the car! Before I could move, a hand shot out from behind the seat, gripping my throat! Another hand, wielding a knife, stabbed into the left side of my neck! Squelch! Pain exploded! Blood sprayed! He was too fast. Even Leo couldn’t react in time. My vision turned red. I saw Leo turn around, his face twisted in horror. My phone slipped from my hand. Screen on: 22:30 10:30 PM. again. There was only one other person in the car besides me. Leo didn’t do it. Who was the second person? How did they get in? Darkness swallowed me. 3 I woke up in the hotel room again. Time: 10:00 PM. I checked the Reddit post. The title had changed: [True Crime Update: On July 30, 2025, at 10:30 PM, the W Group heiress was beheaded in NYC. Her head was found under the East River Bridge. The killer was her father’s illegitimate son.] It changed. The East River Bridge was on the route I took in my second life. So the future can be changed! I texted the police and called only Leo up to the room. In the last life, I saw Leo didn’t attack me. He was safe. I ignored the delivery guy again. When Leo arrived, I bolted out the door, dragging him to the private elevator. In the garage, I chose the smallest sedan instead of the limo. I made Leo check the entire car with a flashlight—undercarriage, tires, trunk, back seat. “Ms. Chen, exterior is clear. Interior is clear. Safe!” I relaxed a little. This car was tiny. Nowhere to hide. “Drive! Police station!” I jumped into the passenger seat. Leo drove. The car merged into traffic. Silence inside. I stared at the back seat, paranoia eating at me. Leo drove carefully, checking the mirrors. I checked my phone. The Reddit post was gone. I smiled. Did I finally escape? Time: 22:28 22:29 The police station was just ahead! Red light! The car stopped. As the countdown hit 3, and Leo prepared to accelerate— A hot breath blew against the back of my neck. A low, male chuckle sounded right behind my ear. My hair stood on end! My heart stopped! Impossible! Only me and Leo! And Leo is driving! The next second, a pair of cold hands shot out from the gap between the headrest and the seat back! They locked around my throat! “Urgh!” Suffocation hit me instantly. I saw Leo react, unbuckling his seatbelt and lunging toward the back seat. Too late. The knife went in. As my consciousness faded, my phone screen lit up. The Reddit post was back. Comments refreshing rapidly: “She was smart this time, but still died.” “So sad. The killer only wanted to behead her, but she ran, so he got mad and chopped her into a thousand pieces.” … 4 Hotel room. 10:00 PM. I looked at the phone. Title changed again: [Heiress dismembered and scattered.] The comments were right. Running angered him. My body ached. My eyelids were heavy. Each rebirth drained me more. Despair washed over me. I tried everything. I still died. Was the killer a ghost? But the post said “illegitimate son.” A human. How does he do it? Screw it! If I can loop, I’m going big! I texted the police. When the team arrived, I marched everyone to the hotel lobby. I asked the front desk to call every guest. “Anyone who comes to the lobby and livestreams me right now gets $10,000 cash. If you stream all night, another $10,000.” People flooded the lobby. A cleaning lady scoffed. “Yeah right, little girl.” I Venmo’d her $5,000 on the spot. “Whoa!” The crowd went wild. Phones went up. Flashlights on. I started giving an impromptu business lecture, my eyes scanning the crowd like radar. 22:15… 22:28… 22:30! Heart pounding! I survived 10:30! The killer couldn’t act with so many cameras. The police arrived. This was the first time I lived long enough to see them. I told them about the fake delivery guy upstairs. Soon, they brought down the greasy middle-aged man in handcuffs. The crowd parted. As he passed me, he looked up. His cloudy eyes locked onto mine, lips curling into a mocking smile. Like he was looking at a dead woman. I felt sick. So I didn’t relax. I stayed in the lobby, under the cameras, until dawn. I paid everyone. Exhausted, I couldn’t stay. “Police station,” I told Leo. But I was traumatized by cars. So we took the bus. First bus of the morning. Empty. We sat in the back. Watching the city wake up, I finally relaxed. The bus stopped at the station near the precinct. I got up, walking to the rear door with Leo. It was quiet. The moment my foot touched the sidewalk— Slash! Familiar pain! A blade sliced my throat open! The world tilted red. Screams erupted. With my last ounce of strength, I turned my head. I saw a hand with a crescent-shaped scar. Leo stood next to me, looking behind me in horror. As he lunged, I blacked out.

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Lucian is a merman. A cold, breathtakingly beautiful merman. He also flat-out rejected me. His main issue? We aren’t the same species. I had a meltdown. “What do you mean we’re not the same? We both have big tails, don’t we?” He let out a cold laugh. “Is that really your logic? I’m a merman, Sienna. You? You’re a snake.” He looked down at my tail. It’s pink. Soft, long, and currently swaying back and forth, trying to wrap around his torso. Lucian swatted it away like it was a pest. “Stop clinging to me. Go find your own kind if you’re that lonely.” It was a lightbulb moment. So, I did. I found myself a snake-shifter boyfriend. Later, I ran into Lucian by chance. He stared at me and my new guy, his expression complicated. I ducked my head shyly. “You were right. Sticking with my own kind is actually pretty great.” 1 I didn’t actually know I was a snake-shifter until I was older. When I was tiny, I got hurt bad. Like, bleeding-out-on-the-side-of-the-highway bad. Julian, the head of the Vance family, found me and took me in. The Vances are Shifters—beastkin hiding in plain sight within human society. Because I grew up surrounded by merfolk, for a very long time, I was absolutely convinced— I was a fish, too. I mean, we all had long tails. It wasn’t until Julian told me he had to go out of town for business that things changed. He said Lucian would be watching me while he was gone. “Yes! Oh my god, yes,” I nodded furiously, eyes lighting up at the name. Julian chuckled. “Are you really that excited? You know his temper is terrible.” Is it? I never noticed. Usually, I was too busy staring at his face or getting hypnotized by that gorgeous tail of his. After Julian dropped me off at the estate, I finally saw him again. In the open-air infinity pool. The water surface rippled with an electric blue glow. Lucian was leaning back against the pool’s edge, his tail fully transformed and looking arrogantly perfect. He splashed water onto my foot with a flick of his fin. It was freezing. “Why are you just standing there?” Lucian opened his eyes. “Oops!” Splash. I slid into the pool. Okay, it was obviously on purpose. My pink snake tail, acting “panicked,” immediately wrapped around his waist. “Lucian, I’m scared.” He didn’t even lift an eyelid. He just scooted two feet away. “You’re slimy. Back off.” I am not. Aren’t our tails basically the same— Wait. No. I hadn’t really compared them side-by-side before. Now, under the direct sunlight, the difference was brutal. His scales looked like translucent blue crystals, refracting starlight with every movement of the water. My pink tail, while flexible and soft, had a matte, foggy finish. Like a cheap plastic bead thrown into a pile of diamonds. The realization was depressing. But I was in denial. I told myself mine was just pruney from the water. I touched it. Still smooth. “Lucian, let me touch yours.” “Touch what?” “The tail.” He glanced at me and didn’t say yes. I pouted. Okay, maybe Julian was right about the temper. But then I remembered—Lucian’s tail had been injured once. Of course he wouldn’t like being touched. It happened three years after the Vance family adopted me. I was playing by the coast when a storm hit. I hate the cold, so I curled up in a sea cave, shivering. When the tide started rising like crazy, it was Lucian who shielded my head with his scales, dragging me back to shore against the waves. Because of that, the most beautiful blue scales on his fin were scraped off by the rocks. It bled a lot. I was terrified, crying my eyes out. Julian comforted me, “It’s okay, they’ll grow back. They’ll be even harder than before.” I was skeptical. I used to sneak peeks and try to touch the scar. Whenever he caught me, he’d swat my hand away. I guess he still hates it. But that’s fine. I can compromise. After getting out of the pool, Lucian shifted back to human legs. I didn’t. I kept my tail out, drying it on the lounge chair. “Lucian—” I dragged out his name, looking at him with puppy-dog eyes. “Touch mine instead. It’s super smooth right now.” In my head, this was an act of intimacy. He frowned. “Stop it.” “What does it matter?” I didn’t hide my crush. “We’re going to be together eventually anyway. We might as well get used to it.” “Who says we’re going to be together? We aren’t even the same species.” I froze, my tail halting mid-air. “What do you mean? Don’t we both have big tails?” “Is that your only criteria?” He scoffed. “I am a merman. You are a snake.” My world collapsed. No wonder our tails looked nothing alike. I really was the impostor. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could process it, the staff announced that Julian was back. 2 Julian brought a girl back with him. Another mermaid. But she was covered in bruises and cuts. Rumor had it a new trafficking ring was hunting Shifters. The prettier you were, the more likely you’d get snatched. Exotic Shifters fetch a high price in the Underground auctions. This mermaid, Stella, had gotten hurt trying to save one of her companions. Apparently, she and the Vance family went way back. When Lucian saw her, he looked genuinely shocked. And nervous. “Stella.” I barely caught her name before Julian ushered me away. He said the smell of blood was too strong. I hate the metallic scent of blood, but I couldn’t help looking back. Lucian—always so cold, so detached—was carefully cleaning Stella’s wounds. His voice was low, raspy. “This is going to sting. Bear with it.” I was so distracted watching them that I walked smack into a wall. I looked up. It was Julian. “They’re the same age,” he explained softly. “They grew up together.” I paused, my gaze drifting back to Stella. Even battered and bruised, her tail was mesmerizing. I unconsciously shuffled a step closer. “Don’t come over here,” Lucian suddenly snapped. I froze. “Your venom… your scent,” he corrected sharply. “It agitates her wounds.” Julian sighed, patting my shoulder. “He’s not targeting you, Sienna. Merfolk have a natural defense mechanism against reptilian Shifters. It’s biological.” That’s when Stella finally noticed me. She looked over, confused. “Who is…?” “The little snake the family adopted,” Lucian said dismissively. Stella looked at me with curiosity. By then, I had already shifted my tail back into legs out of shame. Stella quickly lost interest and turned back to whisper something to Lucian. Once Julian and I were outside, I asked immediately, “Can I stop being a snake? I want a fish tail too.” Julian burst out laughing. “Since when do you hate yourself?” “Fish tails are prettier.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Lucian doesn’t like snake tails.” Julian’s smile faded. He looked at me with serious eyes. “Sienna, listen to me. You are who you are. Changing it means losing yourself, and besides, you can’t change your genetics.” I thought about it. “But I heard there are doctors in the Underground who do cosmetic mods.” “Who told you that?” Julian’s face darkened. “That’s black market nonsense. It’s dangerous scams.” I shrank back. “I just… Googled it.” Julian sighed. He gave me a lecture about not believing rumors. But he was still worried, so he ordered his bodyguards to keep a close eye on me. The guards liked to tease me. “Hey little snake, show us the tail.” “No.” “Lucian shows his off. Why are you so stingy?” one of them laughed. “Even if he came here, I wouldn’t show it.” He thinks it’s ugly anyway. “Dream on. Lucian doesn’t have time for you. He’s glued to Miss Stella’s side.” I pretended not to hear. But that night, I went to find Lucian. Some things just need to be said out loud. Just like how I told him I loved him a thousand times. I needed to pour out the confusion rotting in my chest. If he truly hated me, if he loved Stella, then I would stop chasing him. But to find Lucian, I had to go through Stella. I followed my memory to the guest wing where she was recovering. I pushed the door open, but Lucian wasn’t there. There was just a massive glass tank in the center of the room. Moonlight filtered through the glass, casting a ghostly blue glow on the water. I held my breath and crept closer. When I saw what was inside, my blood turned to ice. Stella was floating in the water, hair splayed out, tail limp. And at the bottom of the tank… a cloud of blood was blooming. I screamed. Bang! The door was thrown open. In seconds, the room was swarming with people. Someone roughly grabbed my wrist and dragged me out. I heard the whispers. “Typical snake… cold-blooded.” “She was probably jealous of Miss Stella.” … Lucian rushed back just in time to hear the gossip. He looked at me. And he left me with one sentence. “Even if she died, her tail wouldn’t transfer to you.” My mouth fell open. I forgot what I was going to say. It took a long time to remember I had come with a question. But I guess I just got my answer. 3 While chaos consumed the manor, I left. Not just because I knew I was unwanted, but because they had guessed my darkest thought. I was jealous of Stella. I wanted a beautiful tail like hers. I wanted to be looked at by Lucian with that kind of reverence. I wanted to be accepted. I didn’t plan on going back. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of a clinic in the Underground—the “Downlow.” I heard there was a doctor named Silas here. He could modify Shifters. The door opened. A young man stood there, looking down at me. His pupils were vertical slits, rimmed with a faint gold. Cold, yet hypnotic. “What do you need?” My throat was dry. “Can you modify a tail here?” He stared at me for a few seconds, then let out a light chuckle, stepping aside. “Come in.” “You’re a snake-shifter, right?” he asked. I nodded. “Have you made up your mind? Once you accept the modification, your legs will be permanent. You’ll never shift back to your beast form.” I blinked. He misunderstood. “That’s not what I meant. I want to change my snake tail into a fish tail.” He paused, looking surprised. “You misunderstood me, too. The modifications I do… I turn Shifters into humans. Completely. They ask for it so they won’t be auctioned off or treated like freaks anymore.” Oh. So my request was too weird even for the black market. Depressed, I turned to leave. But Silas called out to me. “Why do you want a fish tail?” “It’s prettier,” I answered without hesitation. As I said it, my snake tail popped out, sliding anxiously against the floorboards. “Don’t you think?” He didn’t seem to hear me. His gaze dropped to my tail, and those cold eyes suddenly lit up. “It’s so cute.” His voice was much softer now. I froze, then whipped my tail in annoyance. “Don’t patronize me just to make me feel better.” “Patronize?” He raised a brow. “I’m not taking your money. Why would I need to comfort you?” “Then why…” “Have you ever seen those sugar-frosted gummy candies? The pink ones? Your tail looks exactly like that. How is that not cute?” My face burned. My tail instinctively curled back. But he was faster. His long fingers hovered over my scales, just an inch away. “Can I touch it?” It was a question, but his hand was already so close I could feel the cool aura from his fingertips. I hesitated. Finally, like I was surrendering, the tip of my tail wrapped tentatively around his finger. “Fine. Just once.” He gently squeezed the tip of my tail. A shiver ran down my spine, like a small electric shock. Suddenly, footsteps pounded outside. Voices shouting—searching. Silas froze. He let go of my tail and walked to the door. Knock, knock, knock. A voice came from the other side. Cool, crisp, but with an undeniable urgency. “Did you treat a snake-shifter with a pink tail?” I knew that voice. But I didn’t make a sound. I was afraid of bad news. I was afraid he was here to punish me. “No,” Silas said flatly. “But I smell snake on you.” Silas: “That would be me.” Silence stretched for a few seconds outside. Then, the footsteps faded away. Once it was quiet, Silas closed the door and turned back, looking thoughtful. “That guy… was a merman, wasn’t he?” “High quality, too.” “For a merman of that class to be in a dump like the Downlow… that’s dangerous.” I looked up, staring at him. “Why did you say you smelled like a snake?” He didn’t answer immediately. His vertical pupils locked onto mine. “You tell me.” It clicked. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. A feeling I couldn’t describe surged in my chest. I think… I think I just found one of my own. 4 It was late when Lucian returned to the manor. He stood in the empty hallway, rubbing his thumb against his palm. There was a lingering, faint scent of snake there. He had guessed she was in that clinic. But when the door opened, he was met with the hostile glare of a male snake-shifter. So the scent might not have been hers. He lost her. And the smells of the Underground were too chaotic to track her further. A dull ache throbbed in his chest, like something was squeezing his heart. But when he pressed his hand there, he felt no wound. “Where did you go?” Julian’s voice came from behind. Lucian didn’t answer. He deflected, asking about Stella instead. “Same as before,” Julian paused. “You know she’s injured and anything could happen. Why did you speak so harshly to Sienna?” Lucian’s expression shifted. Why? Probably because he already found her annoying. He hated how she stared at him with those big, sparkling eyes. Hated how she kept coming back no matter how cold he was. He hated how she tried to shove her tail into his hands like it was some precious treasure. He hated her saying, Lucian, I like you so much, you like me too, right? when she knew she’d get no response. “I dislike her,” Lucian said. “You saved her life once.” “She was just a kid then. Too weak to swim back. I pitied her.” Was it just pity? He wouldn’t fall in love with a dull, matte snake. Merfolk and snakes don’t mix. It’s biology. It’s common sense written in their blood. His future partner would be someone like Stella. Same species, same shimmering scales. But when he tried to picture a future with Stella, his mind was a blur. All he could see was a pink snake tail, swaying gently in the back of his memories. Find her first. Lucian spent days leaving early and returning late. He came back smelling of the city’s grime. Finally, Stella stopped him. “Are you… looking for that snake?” she asked softly. Lucian nodded. Stella grabbed his wrist. “Are you really that obsessed with her?” “She was never meant to live with us. She’s not our kind. Snakes are treacherous. What if she hurts people?” Stella’s voice rose to a shrill pitch she rarely used. “I almost died saving our kind from humans, and you want to bring a dangerous predator into our home?” How bad can a little snake be? At worst, she just refuses to show people her tail. Lucian kept looking. Meanwhile, Stella vanished. Julian sent people to find her, but she was gone. But Lucian finally found the little snake. She was standing next to the snake man from the clinic, looking at items on a store shelf. Like a normal couple. So natural. So intimate.

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I was the “Golden Girl” of the Sterling family—the perfect first love, the cherished daughter. Four years after my death, I was resurrected. But I wasn’t the only one there. A substitute had successfully climbed the ranks, wearing a face that was 90% identical to mine. She looked at me, smirking with triumph. “Everything you had is mine now. You’re too late.” What she didn’t understand was the sheer stopping power of being the original. The moment I appear, everyone abandons their principles and comes running to me. 1 “I’m home, Mom.” I pushed open the heavy oak doors of the Sterling estate without hesitation, smiling radiantly at the woman sitting on the sofa. Just like I used to, as if I’d just popped out for coffee. Crash. The porcelain teacup in her hand shattered against the hardwood floor. Her response was a sound like a wounded animal. “Serena! My Serena is back!” I am Serena Sterling, the eldest daughter. I died of heart failure four years ago. On the brink of death, I was bound by a ‘System’ and learned the truth: I was just a “White Moonlight” character in a romance novel—a plot device destined to die early to make room for the protagonist. The real heroine was a body double, a girl who looked just like me. Because of her resemblance, she would ascend the social ladder, becoming the darling of the elite. My parents would adopt her; my childhood sweetheart would fall for her; my brother would obey her every command. She would get all the love, but only because I was dead. When the System asked if I wanted to complete missions in other worlds to earn a resurrection back in my original world, I didn’t hesitate. Why should my life be the fertilizer for someone else’s garden? Why should my tragedy be the prologue to her happy ending? So, I came back. “It’s me, Mom. I’m home.” My mother’s embrace was warm, familiar, and tight to the point of suffocation, as if she feared I would evaporate if she let go. I sighed softly, patting her trembling back. The System had altered everyone’s memories. Instead of dying in a hospital, the story was now that I had vanished in a shipwreck four years ago. She thought she had been searching for me day after day, year after year. But our tearful reunion didn’t last long before the front door opened again. 2 “Mom! Look what we got you!” A sweet, unfamiliar voice rang out before the person even appeared. A young girl jogged in, carrying a box of pastries. A second later, a voice I knew better than my own followed, dripping with affection. “Slow down, don’t run.” Just one sentence, and I knew who it was. Xavier. My childhood sweetheart. “Mom? Do we have guests? Why are you crying?” That was Julian, my younger brother. He had walked in, but since my back was to him, he didn’t recognize me yet. He only saw our mother weeping in the arms of a stranger. I felt Mom’s grip on me tighten. Her eyes were red, lips trembling, trying to form words but failing through the tears. “Mom, stop crying. What happened? Who is this lady?” the girl asked. Then, suddenly: “Ouch! Xavier, why did you pinch me? That hurt!” Her voice turned into a sugary whine. Xavier didn’t react to her complaint. His burning gaze was bored into my back. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he tried to force out a name he hadn’t spoken in years. “You guys are acting so weird. The security guard at the gate said I already came home once today. So strange,” the girl muttered. She looked from my crying mother to my silent brother, then to the clearly shaken Xavier. Finally, her eyes landed on me. I could feel a bad premonition rising in the air. I pulled away from my mother’s embrace, turned around, and faced them. “Julian. Xavier. Long time no see.” 3 “Serena…” Xavier’s voice trembled almost inaudibly. Julian, however, had zero filter. “Serena Sterling! You have the nerve to come back? Where the hell have you been? Do you know I really thought you were dead? How dare you! How dare you…” He was eighteen now, not yet fully mature. He gritted his teeth, trying to sound angry, but his eyes were terrifyingly red, and tears started rolling down his face one by one. I patted his shoulder, feeling a wave of guilt. “You’ve grown up, Jules.” Four years ago, he was a bratty fourteen-year-old. Now, he was a man. His composure snapped. He buried his head in my shoulder, choking out a whisper. “Sis… I missed you so much.” While we were having our emotional reunion, the pastry box hit the floor with a thud. The room went quiet. Everyone finally looked at the girl standing by the door. I looked at her. That face—90% identical to mine—had drained of all color. She looked pathetic. We sat down for dinner. It was a meal filled with unspoken tension. The table was packed with my favorite dishes. Mom kept piling food onto my plate. Julian was busy peeling shrimp for me. But when Xavier instinctively placed a piece of honey-glazed pork—my favorite—into the girl’s bowl, everyone froze. The girl, Tiana, clenched her fist under the table. “Thank you,” she said softly. It was the first thing she’d said since realizing who I was. “Mmh,” Xavier hummed a faint, awkward acknowledgment. I ignored the undercurrents and ate calmly. “Your room hasn’t changed,” Mom said, her voice fluttering with anxiety. “I cleaned it myself every day. Go rest after dinner. The doctor is coming to check on you. Your dad is flying back tomorrow.” I nodded along to her ramblings. They didn’t mention Tiana. I didn’t panic. That’s the confidence of being the beloved one. But I didn’t expect the mountain to come to Mohammad. Late that night, there was a knock on my door. 4 I opened it to see Tiana’s familiar face. She was holding a glass of milk. I raised an eyebrow, expecting a peace offering. Instead, the timid mask she wore at dinner vanished, replaced by a sneer. “Dead or missing, why didn’t you just stay gone? You think you can beat me?” “I’ve spent four years strategy-gaming them. Except for this room, everything you own is mine. You’re too late. Do you understand?” Strategy-gaming? That was a weird choice of words. Before I could respond, she splashed the milk all over her own face, screamed, and threw herself onto the floor. Crash. The glass shattered. She burst into tears, looking like a rain-drenched pear blossom. “Sister, I’m sorry! I just wanted to welcome you! I didn’t mean anything by it!” God, it had been years since I dealt with such low-level framing. It was almost funny. I looked down at the girl sprawled on the floor. Wet hair, red eyes, trembling in fear. A masterpiece of victimization. Truthfully, I didn’t care much about fighting Tiana. She had comforted my family while I was gone. I had no malice toward her, provided she knew her place. But clearly, she wanted war. The noise drew attention. In a house this tense, no one was sleeping soundly. Doors flew open. 5 “What happened? Is it Serena? Is Serena hurt?” Mom rushed out, face pale, coat thrown on haphazardly, wearing two different slippers. When she saw me standing there unharmed, she let out a breath she’d been holding. “Mom…” Only after confirming I was safe did Mom hear Tiana’s whimpering. “What’s going on here? Why are you on the floor?” Mom frowned at the shattered glass near Tiana. “Why are you so careless? What if the shards hurt someone? Get up.” “It was Sister, she…” Tiana’s lip quivered, tears ready to fall. But her performance was interrupted. “Your hand!” Julian ignored the girl on the floor and grabbed my wrist. There was a tiny scratch on the back of my hand, barely oozing a drop of blood—probably a flying shard. I didn’t even feel it. But Julian looked like I’d been shot. “Can you not take care of yourself? Didn’t you feel that?” He scolded me, instinctively blowing on the wound like he did when we were kids. “I’ll get the first aid kit.” He turned to run. Mom crowded in, heartbroken. “Go, Julian, hurry! Oh, Serena, does it hurt? It’s my fault, I didn’t even notice.” Tiana was completely ignored. Her face twisted in ugly jealousy. Since she’d successfully climbed into the elite circle with that face, she had never tasted defeat like this. She thought she was the happiest girl in the world. Why did the dead have to come back to life? 6 “Mom, it’s fine. It doesn’t hurt,” I said. I saw the envy in Tiana’s eyes. I knew she wouldn’t let this go. When you hold onto something for too long, you start to believe it actually belongs to you. “Mom… it hurts. I’m hurt too.” While Mom wasn’t looking, Tiana grabbed a shard of glass and sliced her own palm. Blood welled up instantly. She held out her bleeding hand, eyes filled with tears, looking like a child begging for love. “Got the kit!” Julian returned, freezing when he saw Tiana’s bloody hand. “Jules… it hurts.” She knew exactly what worked on Julian. Usually, one look of dependency from her, and he’d be rushing to fix everything. She called his name again, hopeful. “Jules?” Julian pressed his lips together. Mom took the kit from him and pulled me into my room. “I need to clean this for Serena.” “Julian, help her up,” Mom threw over her shoulder. I knew why they were ignoring her. They were terrified I would be uncomfortable because of Tiana’s face. I wasn’t stupid. I knew what role she had played while I was gone. My voice stopped Mom. “Julian, help her.” Mom paused, surprised. Julian, who always listened to me, carefully stepped over the glass and helped Tiana up. “Jules… do you and Mom not love me anymore?” Tiana used his grip to stand, eyes red. “I really just wanted to give Sister some milk. I don’t know why she pushed me. Mom won’t talk to me, Sister hates me… are you guys going to kick me out?” “Jules, if I apologize, will she forgive me? I don’t want to leave…” “Tiana.” Julian cut her off. His voice was flat. Tiana froze, looking up at him. Julian met her gaze with the eyes of a stranger. “Serena is my sister.”

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To escape my parents’ arranged marriage from hell, I forced myself to accept the genetic material of a war hero—a beastkin general who had already sacrificed his life for the country. Ten months from now, I’ll be his “widow,” giving birth to his posthumous child. And more importantly, I’ll inherit his glory and his massive fortune. No one can threaten me ever again! But six months into the pregnancy, the nightmares started. A massive black snake tail wrapping around my legs, slowly sliding up, tightening… I’d wake up drenched in cold sweat, the memory of unblinking black eyes staring at me from the darkness seared into my mind. Thank God he’s dead. I am terrified of snakes. But just as my baby bump started to show… The general—the one who was supposed to be dead—came back. 1 When I found out my family was shipping me off for a business alliance, I finally made up my mind. My parents had seven daughters before finally popping out a son. They had absolutely zero business sense. To build an empire for their precious golden boy, they decided to cash in on their daughters. My six older sisters were either married off to seventy-year-old geezers or sent to be mistresses for rich tycoons with wandering eyes and crooked smiles. Every single one of them was beautiful. And every single one of them was chewed up and spit out, barely escaping with their lives. And now, it was my turn. I didn’t cry, scream, or threaten to hang myself. My sisters had already tried all that. Jumping off buildings, eloping, suicide attempts… none of it worked. When the deadline hit, even if they were half-dead, they were gift-wrapped and delivered. Their tragic endings were a flashing neon sign telling me: This way is a dead end. Then I saw the government announcement. General Liam Vance had sacrificed himself on the front lines fighting the Arachnids. He was the first man in a century whose physical strength could go toe-to-toe with those alien bugs. After he fell, the Alliance was losing ground fast, beaten back like stray dogs. To avoid becoming Arachnid chow, the Alliance authorized the use of his frozen genetic material. But no matter how many volunteers tried, no one could conceive. Scientists later discovered that General Vance’s genes were unique. He was a Viper-kin beastman—specifically, a King Cobra class. A species notorious for difficult reproduction. They only accept a mate of their own choosing. Desperate, the Alliance put out a public call: Anyone who can conceive General Vance’s child will inherit his entire estate and honor as his widow and heir. Applicants flooded in. After all, General Vance was filthy rich. His family was powerful and backed this initiative fully. So here I am, lying on a cold exam table in a research facility, swallowing my shame as I spread my legs for the procedure… This is my only shot. If this doesn’t work… I’m getting married to a seventy-year-old pervert with a droopy eye. … The day the results came in was the same day I was scheduled to be married off. I snuck out early to the research center. Seeing the crowd of hopefuls waiting for their results, despair started to sink in. If all these people failed, what chance did I have? Suddenly, chaos erupted at the entrance. My parents stormed in. They didn’t hesitate. A slap landed hard across my face, sending me crashing to the floor. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. I ran my tongue over my teeth—one felt loose. “Thought you could run?!” “The groom’s convoy is at the door! Get your ass back home!” I struggled, kicking and screaming, but I was no match for their bodyguards. I was being dragged out, hope fading with every inch. Just then, a researcher sprinted down the hallway, voice cracking with hysteria, waving a piece of paper. “Faye! Is Faye Summers here?!” “It’s a match!” I snapped my head back, screaming with everything I had left. “I’m here!” “Help me!” The researcher’s smile vanished when he saw my situation. The old man’s face turned purple with rage. “Security! Arrest them!” Armed military police swarmed out from nowhere, weapons drawn. They tackled my parents and the bodyguards instantly. “Do not touch the Madam!” My parents were stunned. “Madam?” Even as they were handcuffed, they were yelling. “That’s my daughter! She’s no Madam!” The researcher looked down at them with pure disdain. “Miss Summers is carrying General Vance’s child. From this moment on, she has Level 1 Security Clearance. If you attempt to harm her again, you will be charged with treason!” My parents’ faces turned green. Their arrogance evaporated. They turned to me, desperate. “Faye, honey, say something! Mom and Dad didn’t mean to hurt you…” “You just meant to sell me.” I stood behind the wall of soldiers, watching their pathetic, tear-streaked faces with nothing but relief. The old pervert they sold me to had already buried three wives. The price he offered was astronomical. They couldn’t afford to refund him. Watching them get dragged away, the boulder crushing my chest finally lifted. I was free. 2 Liam Vance’s estate could only be described as palatial. It took a solid ten-minute drive just to get through the front gardens to the main house. The moment I stepped in, two rows of servants bowed in unison. “Welcome home, Madam.” The elderly butler was so emotional he looked like he might cry. He looked me up and down, hands trembling. “The General… the General has an heir.” “Thank you. Truly, thank you!” “I thought I’d never see another Vance in this house.” Liam’s parents had passed away early, leaving him as the sole heir. They welcomed me like I was a national holiday. The butler insisted I take the master bedroom. I tried to refuse. But he looked pained. “It’s the Academy’s orders. King Cobra hatchlings need parental presence during gestation. But since the General is…” He choked up. “Only the master bedroom still holds his scent.” “Please rest assured, Madam. The General lived a disciplined life. No other woman has ever been in this room besides you.” ? That wasn’t really my point! But I couldn’t handle old people crying, so I caved and moved into the master suite. General Vance’s room was stark, decorated in cold, masculine tones of black and grey. Even lying in his bed, it didn’t feel real. I was… his widow? Pregnant with his kid? Maybe it was the new environment, but I couldn’t sleep. My lower abdomen throbbed with a dull ache. I opened the door to get some water and nearly jumped out of my skin. The butler was standing right there. “Are you hungry, Madam?” “N-no!” “Is the little one restless?” The butler’s expression softened into nostalgia. “The doctors warned us. Viper hatchlings are demanding on the mother. It was the same when the late Madam carried the General.” He brought over a stack of photo albums, medals, and sashes. “Would you like to see?” He looked like he was about to cry again. “I never thought I’d see the General’s child born. If possible… could you tell him stories about his father?” “He was a hero.” Looking at his expectant face, I took the heavy pile of honors. …When I saw Liam Vance’s handsome, icy face in the photos, my heart skipped a beat. Who in the Alliance didn’t worship Liam Vance? His face alone could have been the recruitment poster for the entire military. For a long time, he was the face of the Alliance. But completely at odds with his looks was his reputation for cold indifference toward women. Yet his achievements were so blinding that his political rivals resorted to rumors. “Every masochist in the Alliance wants to kneel at his feet.” Unofficial stats said his public office email received tens of thousands of love letters daily. If he hadn’t died, a woman like me would never have crossed paths with a man of his caliber. Rubbing my belly, I felt a strange sense of melancholy. Even the strongest man leaves behind nothing more than this. And just like that… I spent the night accompanying my dead husband through his childhood and teenage years via photos. Pregnancy made me drowsy. I fell asleep without realizing it. When I woke up, I found myself clutching one of Liam’s military jackets. The visiting researcher didn’t even blink. “This is a form of nesting behavior. It’s a biological instinct for King Cobra mates.” ? Let’s be honest here. I am terrified of snakes. Thank God the husband is dead! As the pregnancy progressed, the dreams started. Massive black python coils wrapping around my legs, slowly sliding up, tightening… I’d wake up drenched in sweat, paralyzed by the memory of unblinking black eyes staring at me. I knew General Vance had King Cobra blood, but I didn’t think he could actually turn into a snake! Were the rumors about him transforming into a giant serpent on the battlefield true?! I couldn’t hold it in anymore. During the next checkup, I whispered to the researcher. “…So, is the thing inside me human or snake?” The researcher gave me a look. “You’ll see when the time comes.” Alrighty then. I heard my parents tried to cause a scene at the gate, but they couldn’t even get past the outer security perimeter before being hauled away by the military. I finally had peace to nurture the baby at the Vance estate. But as the weeks went by, I woke up in terror more frequently. My sheets were always damp, and those eyes in my dreams got closer every night. Sometimes, I felt like he was standing right by the bed, just watching me. …Dear Lord, is this place haunted?! The researchers kept assuring me the baby was normal. But… considering the father is missing from the equation, “normal” feels like the biggest red flag here! I started sleeping excessively, nesting like crazy. Every time I woke up, I was buried in a pile of Liam’s clothes. And along with it came the black snake in my dreams, getting more intimate. It coiled around me tight, kissing… tangling… probing. It even tried to do that with me! …I seriously started to wonder if I needed an exorcist. As my belly started to show, the nesting effect stopped working. King Cobras are notoriously hard to breed. The clump of cells in my stomach had a dependency on its father that exceeded my wildest imagination. I slept all day, couldn’t eat, and withered away until I was skin and bones with a huge belly. In my rare moments of lucidity, I heard the researchers panicking. “Madam can’t hold on much longer. What do we do?” “Can we use blood from a close relative?” “We tried. The maternal rejection was severe, nearly caused a miscarriage… what do we do?” … I passed out before I heard the rest. Just as my consciousness started to fade and I thought I was dying, the old butler rushed to my bedside, ecstatic. “Madam! News from the front lines! They found the General!” “He’ll be home tomorrow!” 3 When I woke up again, I felt like I was being held down by something heavy. My brain was clearer, though. The room was dim. I could make out a tall silhouette standing there. “Who is it?!” I scrambled to turn on the bedside lamp. The man from the photos was suddenly standing right in front of me. My heart nearly stopped. He turned at the sound. That’s when I realized his presence in person was a thousand times more intense than in pictures. He walked slowly to the bedside, looking down at me. His tall frame radiated an oppressive aura forged in absolute power and bloodshed. I instinctively scooted back, hitting the headboard with a painful thud. “Faye.” My name sounded like a verdict coming from his lips. My heart was in my throat. My mouth tasted bitter. No matter how noble my excuses were— To him, I was a stranger who used his sperm to get his fortune. A gold digger with bad intentions… Would he make me abort the baby? Kick me out? “General… General Vance.” He returned as a hero, his future boundless. He could have any woman he wanted to bear his children. Was I about to be sent back to my hellish family? I gripped the blanket tightly, forcing my spine straight. He watched me in silence for a long time, assessing me. Finally, he spoke: “I will honor the public announcement. You will receive the compensation you were promised.” “…Carrying a King Cobra heir isn’t easy. Thank you for your hard work.” His tone wasn’t exactly warm, but it was civil. Like discussing a business deal. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. The verdict was in. “Once the baby is born, I will file for divorce myself. Please don’t worry.” “Just…” I bit my lip. “I have one request.” “After the divorce, could you help me find a safe place to live? My family… isn’t very kind to me.” I was terrified asking him this. But he answered with a simple, concise syllable. “Mm.” The sound of his military boots clicking against the floor faded as he left. The door clicked shut. Only when he was gone did the suffocating pressure lift. I finally exhaled. I realized I was covered in his uniform jacket. I instinctively sniffed it. A wave of masculine pheromones hit me—clean sandalwood with a faint, underlying scent of iron and blood. That’s when I remembered what was off. He was only wearing his dress shirt just now. Clutching his jacket, I realized the corners of my mouth were tilting up. Who doesn’t admire General Vance? I still have the Alliance Generals Yearbook hidden on my bookshelf. The last page is him. The only frontline general in a century, his chest heavy with medals. In that photo, he looks like he’s staring right through the page, straight into my eyes. My heart squeezed. Who doesn’t fall for a hero? Especially when he… saved my life once. 4 I hadn’t felt this refreshed in ages. When I left the room, I thought about it and decided to keep carrying the jacket. The little ancestor in my belly was high-maintenance… and I’d basically ruined every other item in the house that had Liam’s scent. Better safe than sorry. The moment I stepped out, the butler appeared out of nowhere, beaming. “Madam, you’re awake! The General has gone to HQ to report in!” “Ancestors be praised,” he sniffled. “No one thought he’d come back. Who knows how much he suffered out there.” You could tell they were genuinely happy. The Vance estate had transformed from a mausoleum to a celebration. Flowers filled every corner. The heavy drapes were replaced with bright, airy fabrics. All because Liam was back. I heard noise outside and asked the butler. “Guests?” “Don’t worry, Madam,” he smiled. “Since the General returned, many people have come to reconnect. But the General ordered that you are not to be disturbed by social calls.” I nodded. Got it. When they thought he was dead, they scattered like rats. Now that he’s back, they’re scrambling to suck up. I’m just the incubator. The Vance family’s social calendar isn’t my business. But to my surprise, busy-as-hell General Vance came back for lunch. Sitting at the same table with him, I was a nervous wreck. I whispered to the butler. “Maybe I should eat in my room?” The butler smiled. “The General is a very kind man. You don’t need to be stressed.” “Plus, the Academy said the parents need contact for the baby’s growth… according to the scan, the fetus is a bit behind.” I immediately zipped my lips. He politely escorted me to the table. Liam was already seated. Dining with a living legend meant I forgot how to use chopsticks. I kept my head down, staring at a plate of greens, praying to finish fast and escape. I heard his secretary confirming his schedule. Three meetings, two audiences, interviews, reports, endless signatures… Just listening to it gave me a headache. I was focused on my food when his voice cut through the air. “Do you not like meat?” I jumped, nearly choking. “N-no! I do!” “King Cobra hatchlings need high protein. Being vegetarian won’t meet the developmental needs,” he paused. “If the food isn’t to your taste, tell the butler.” “No, no,” I waved my hands frantically, terrified of getting the nice butler in trouble. I shoved a huge piece of steak into my mouth to prove a point. See? Carnivore. He ate fast but elegantly. No slurping, no mess. I thought he’d leave once he finished, so I deliberately ate slow. But he sat there, waiting until I put down my cutlery before standing up. ? He waited for me? As the butler walked me back to my room, he mentioned casually: “When the old Master and Madam were alive, the family always ate together. The General likes a relaxed dining atmosphere. You don’t need to be so formal.” “He has no ill will toward you. Spend more time with him, and you’ll see he’s a good man.” Wow, that was… subtle. I wanted to laugh and cry. I couldn’t tell him I planned to run away as soon as the baby popped out. Even my own trashy parents wanted to sell me for profit. I didn’t expect to gain anything from this. Liam Vance sits at the top of the food chain. His marriage will be a strategic alliance of equals. Expect nothing, and you won’t be disappointed. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way too many times. … Strangely, even with Liam back and pheromones plentiful, the dreams didn’t stop. They got worse. Tonight, I woke up wrapped in black coils again. This time, I was tied to the headboard. I could feel the cold scales sliding against my skin. The tail wrapped tight around my waist, sliding up my thigh… My pupils constricted. “No…” Cold scales, hot skin. I was suffocating in its power. I trembled, flushed, but the snake was in total control. Before, I could never see the eyes watching me clearly. Tonight, I recognized them. They were Liam Vance’s eyes! I snapped my eyes open! … I sat up, drenched in sweat. My belly was showing now, making it hard to get out of bed. I braced myself on the mattress, trying to shake off the phantom sensation of being constricted. I checked my body. No marks. I checked the windows. Locked. …I had no one to complain to. General Vance kept a respectful distance, even at dinner. So what the hell were these wet dreams?! I couldn’t sleep. Thirsty and not wanting to wake the staff, I waddled downstairs for water. In the living room, I saw a red dot glowing in the dark. I jumped. “Who’s there?!” “It’s me.” I was surprised. “You’re back?” Liam was home. He usually slept at the base these days. He snubbed out his cigarette and stood up. A glass of gin and tonic sat on the table. “Need something?” He was so tall. As he walked toward me, I instinctively stepped back, hitting a cabinet and stumbling. “Careful!” His hand caught the back of my head. My nose slammed into his chest. Suddenly, we were very close. I knew his scent by now. Tobacco and spice. I panicked. “You seem afraid of me?” He let go. When I said I wanted water, he poured me a glass. Seeing me acting like a frightened rabbit, he looked resigned and stepped back. “I don’t eat people.” I gripped the cup. It was warm water. My heart softened. I thought for a moment and said: “I’m glad you came back.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to slap myself. I turned and fled. “Goodnight!” Behind me, I heard a low chuckle. “Goodnight.” … The next morning, something felt wrong. I reached down. Dead fish eyes. Great. A flood. Damn kid. Your dad just hugged me. Do you have to react like this?! … During the routine checkup, the researcher was ecstatic about my improved vitals. “The records said Viper hatchlings crave parental pheromones, but seeing is believing.” “Since the General returned, your stats have skyrocketed!” About the snake thing… I really couldn’t say it. I asked awkwardly. “Um… why do I wake up feeling… wet every morning?” I couldn’t look him in the eye. “Especially when… I’m near the General.” The researcher was emotionally stable and professional. “That’s normal.” “King Cobra development requires high intimacy with the parents. Early on, scent is enough. But in the late stages, you might need…” He coughed, ears turning red. “More intimate behavior.” Meaning, hugging his clothes won’t cut it. I need to hug, kiss… and maybe swap fluids with him? Or this kid won’t make it? I was dumbfounded. The researcher, fearing I wasn’t traumatized enough, added one last knife. “As for the wetness… the hatchling will be born as an egg. It’s quite large, so the body prepares extra lubrication.” ? What? Excuse me? I’m not just giving birth to a snake… I’m laying an egg??? Jesus Christ. Can I die now? Is it too late?

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My stepbrother and I had been in a cold war for a week. As fate would have it, I bumped into him just as he realized he’d locked himself out. He stood there, face like an ice sculpture, and held out his hand. “Keys.” Kiss?? I froze. I hesitated. I triple-checked the vibe. “Are you sure? Right now? Isn’t that a little inappropriate?” Hayes looked at me with an unreadable expression, his tone firm. “Hurry up.” The next second—SMOOCH. I planted a loud, wet one right on his lips. Then I whispered weakly, “You asked for it…” 01 Shock. Despair. Disbelief. All three emotions cycled through Hayes’s face in 4K resolution. He froze for a solid five seconds before stumbling back like he’d been tased. “I said keys! The metal things that open doors! KEYS!” A vein popped on his temple. His usually pale, cool-toned skin flushed a delicate shade of pink. I was stunned, too. Who the hell suddenly speaks English in the middle of a sentence? You can’t blame me for taking advantage of the situation. I mean, your girl got a perfect score on her AP English listening exam. I didn’t need a mirror to know my face was exploding with color. But I couldn’t lose the momentum. I choked back, “You fake foreigner! You spend a few years abroad and suddenly you forget how to speak human?” Hayes’s chest was heaving. The wind messed up his long hair, revealing the hidden strands of ocean-blue dye underneath. It matched his current turbulent mood perfectly. We stood there, engaging in a staring contest, neither of us saying a word. It was my dad who broke the silence. “Well, look at this. The house must be blessed this year. We’ve got two gargoyles guarding the door.” I looked away first, spotting Dad and Aunt Holly. I immediately latched onto Aunt Holly’s arm, turning on the charm. “Aunt Holly! Look at Hayes, looking like a total thug with that hair!” Hayes seemed to be rebuilding his entire worldview from scratch. He didn’t even react to my roast. Aunt Holly teased him a bit, which finally dragged his soul back into his body. He opened the door. I deliberately lagged behind, leaning into Hayes’s shoulder to whisper: “I heard guys with long hair usually have, you know… Erectile Dysfunction. Is that true?” Hayes gritted his teeth, his voice low. “Winnie!” I stuck my tongue out at him. Before stepping inside, I winked. “Ooh. The beauty is angry.” 02 I’ve been obsessing over my brother for a long time. The root of this goes back to when I was five. I still remember the scene. The elegant Aunt Holly holding Hayes’s hand. That poker face of his breaking into a brilliant smile when he saw me. Hayes inherited all of Aunt Holly’s best genes. At eight years old, he looked like a runway child model. The neighbor’s daughter teased me back then: “Winnie, your dad bought you a live-in boyfriend.” I dumbly asked, “What’s a live-in boyfriend?” “It means he belongs to you.” From that day on, I treated Hayes like my personal property. Unlike other girls who liked Barbies, I was only interested in dressing up Hayes. Dad bought Aunt Holly jewelry and clothes. Naturally, I used my allowance to buy Hayes trinkets. They weren’t expensive, but I hand-picked every single one. Later, I understood what the neighbor actually meant, but the possessiveness and habit were already ingrained in my DNA. When I got older, I realized I was actually in love with him. One wrong step, and the whole path went crooked. He found out when he graduated high school. Dad sent him to London to support his artistic dreams. That was when I realized I had severe separation anxiety. I wanted to FaceTime him 24/7. I was a ball of anxiety every single day. Dad thought I was just adjusting to high school, so he let me take a month off. Every night, I slept in Hayes’s bedroom. Hugging his duvet. Smelling his scent. Thinking of him until I passed out. Extreme longing drives people crazy. At 16, fueled by god-knows-what courage, I got on a plane to London alone. Being unreachable for over ten hours sent the whole family into a panic. When I landed, I called Hayes, sobbing. “Hayes, please don’t throw me away…” That was the first time Hayes skipped class—just to find me in a foreign country. That night, he patted my back to lull me to sleep, just like when we were kids. I gripped his collar, tears soaking the fabric, and whispered the question that had been eating me alive. “Hayes, can you please love me?” Hayes’s expression froze for a split second. But he quickly smiled. “I’m your brother. Of course I love you most.” 03 After a tense dinner, we both went upstairs. Not long after, Hayes knocked on my door with a dark expression. “Where are my clothes?” I played dumb. “How should I know?” Hayes clenched his jaw. “I need to shower. Give me my pajamas.” I yanked him into my room, crossed my arms, and acted unimpressed. “Apologize first.” Hayes let out a scoff of disbelief. “Apologize? Me?” Yes. If Dad hadn’t called us home for dinner, our cold war would still be freezing over hell. The reason was simple. I went clubbing. He caught me. He lectured me. I clapped back about his time abroad. Why could he party in London while I had to rot in the library? It ended with my tears, naturally. And then the silence began. I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah. Apologize.” Hayes took a deep breath. “I’ll say it one more time. I went to a club once in London to drop off a birthday gift. I was inside for less than ten minutes.” I knew that. But I was being a brat on purpose. He needed to learn his lesson about male virtue. Seeing I wasn’t going to be reasonable, Hayes did what he always did. He folded. “Fine. My bad. I apologize.” I didn’t smile. I just gave a cold “Oh.” Hayes had his long hair tied up in a messy bun, revealing black obsidian studs in his ears. “So, the pajamas. Now?” I blinked innocently. “I never said the pajamas were here.” Hayes’s face stiffened. “Then where are they?” I grinned. “In my dorm room!” Since starting college, Hayes had been busy with his start-up. We rarely saw each other. So, I stole his clothes to sleep with at school. Hayes: “…” Before he could explode, I quickly added, “But I have a new set here. Men’s style.” Hayes’s face relaxed slightly. He reined in his temper. “Give me a set. I’ll Venmo you.” I bounced over to the closet and handed him brand-new silk pajamas. Hayes looked at his set. Then he looked at the matching set I was wearing, just in a different color. Silence again. “Winnie, you…” “Hayes,” I interrupted, “your face looks really soft. Let me kiss it again.” Three seconds later. Hayes walked out the door. Correction: He walked out with the pajamas, face black as thunder. I shrugged. I replayed his expression in my mind. Chef’s kiss. I should have peeled that expression off his face and framed it. But then again, I couldn’t bear to hurt him. 04 I pulled out my phone and used my burner account to add Hayes’s work profile. He recently opened a studio making custom BJD (Ball Jointed Dolls). High-end stuff for the collector crowd. Technically, I shouldn’t know about this. Hayes never tells the family about his struggles. But I have spies everywhere. I got his work contact. [Hello. Custom order.] Hayes must have been showering. He didn’t reply for an hour. I scratched my head. Hayes usually showers in ten minutes. Why was he in the bathroom so long tonight? [Hello. Here is the price list. Please review.] I typed back like a sugar mama: [Give me the highest tier specs. Only one requirement: Realism!] Hayes replied like a bot: [Understood. Rest assured, likeness can reach 98%. We offer unlimited revisions.] I paid the deposit immediately. Then I cheekily asked: [Will you be making it personally?] Hayes: [Different team members handle different body parts.] Me: [I want you to sculpt the face. I’ll pay extra.] He hesitated, then replied: [Okay.] I thought for a moment, then typed: [Um… is it possible?] Hayes: [? What.] I sent a sketchy, winking emoji. [You know. Can you install… the hardware?] Hayes realized what I meant. He must have had customers like this before. [Yes. Please send the dimensions. Also photos of the face from different angles. Hands and legs would be helpful too.] I spammed him with photos of Hayes. To avoid detection, I chose public photos from his college days. As expected, Hayes went silent again. I could practically see him having a mental breakdown. [Hello? Still there, hun?] Five minutes later, having rebuilt his psyche, he replied: [What is your relationship to the person in the photos?] I answered truthfully: [His girlfriend.] Future girlfriend counts, right? Hayes stopped replying again. Half an hour later. [This requires an in-person handover. Is that acceptable? ^_^] The smile at the end was terrifying. I gritted my teeth: [Of course.] Hayes: [Great. Looking forward to meeting you ^_^] Why did I feel a chill down my spine? I let the lust take the wheel: [By the way, make the size XL.] Hayes: […Okay ^_^]

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I am the real daughter. On the day I returned home, my so-called “brother” sneered at me with disdain. “I don’t care about bloodlines. Do you really think someone as tacky as you deserves to be my sister?” He then protectively pulled another girl, dressed immaculately, behind him. “In my heart, Stella is my only sister. Don’t even think about competing with her for anything!” I was instantly speechless. “Dude, seriously? Why are you so arrogant?” “Has it ever occurred to you that you might be the one switched at birth?” 1 My name is Elara. After living in an orphanage for 18 years, I suddenly discovered I was the heiress to the Sterling Group. When the Sterlings came to do charity work, they saw me by chance. I looked too much like Mrs. Sterling. Suspicious, they took me for a DNA test. It turned out I was indeed their biological daughter. In the hospital, my biological parents hugged me, weeping uncontrollably. Suddenly, a line of text floated in the air: [Is the ‘Real vs. Fake Heiress’ plot starting? Watch the heroine return to high society, defeat the imposter, and reclaim everything that belongs to her!] [It’s not certain who the heroine is yet. If the real heiress turns out to be evil, then the fake one becomes the protagonist.] [Stop arguing. Whoever survives to the end is the heroine.] These words popped up like live comments on a video stream, scrolling by one after another. And I was the only one who could see them. It was as if there were an audience outside this world, watching our every move. A huge question mark slowly formed above my head. Based on the comments, I was the real heiress, and the Sterlings had a fake daughter who had taken my place. There could only be one heroine between us, so we were destined to fight for the title of the Sterling heiress? If my biological parents were unreasonable and favored the fake daughter, I certainly wouldn’t stay there to suffer. But then again, their bias might be worthless, but the Sterling family seemed pretty wealthy. If necessary, it was worth fighting for. “My poor child, you’ve suffered so much. Mom and Dad will make it up to you,” my mother cried. Honestly, I didn’t feel much emotion towards these relatives I was meeting for the first time. “Since I was switched at birth, who did you take home back then?” Hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling’s faces darkened slightly. Mr. Sterling said to me, “There’s another girl at home now named Stella. It must have been a hospital error that led to the switch.” “But Stella is innocent too. She’s young, and we have no news of her biological parents. We can’t just kick her out.” Mrs. Sterling nodded in agreement. “We’ve raised her for over a decade, after all. But don’t worry, Elara, you are our flesh and blood. We won’t let you be mistreated.” “And we won’t force you to like her. Once she grows up, she can move out.” I nodded. Their proposal seemed reasonable enough. On the way to the Sterling mansion in their car, more comments appeared above my head. [I feel like both girls are innocent. Can’t they just be sisters? Why do they have to fight to the death?] [To the person above, Stella literally stole Elara’s identity and caused her to suffer for years. How is she innocent?] The comments argued endlessly about my relationship with the fake heiress. Some people hoped I wouldn’t engage in petty rivalry and would forgive Stella. Others felt I was the victim and deserved revenge. Stella had indeed occupied my identity for so many years, enjoying everything I should have had. I’m human too. I have jealousy, and I can hold a grudge. As long as she doesn’t offend me, I won’t provoke her. At worst, we just ignore each other. But there is absolutely no way I’m going to be “best sisters” with her. During the ride, Mrs. Sterling took my hand. “Elara, tomorrow we’ll take you to get your documents sorted. Your old name is too casual. Do you want to change it?” She probably remembered that the name “Stella” was originally meant for her biological daughter. “How about ‘Starla’? You are the star we lost and found again.” Goosebumps erupted all over my arms. I waved my hands frantically. “No, no, no.” Stella, Starla… they sounded nice, but they felt like names for someone who needed to be pampered and protected. I didn’t like it. “How about ‘Sol’?” I suggested. “I want to be the sun.” Mrs. Sterling’s face stiffened instantly. Mr. Sterling also laughed awkwardly. “What’s wrong?” I asked, confused. “Your brother’s name is Solar.” Me: … “Never mind. Just keep it Elara.” A name is just a label, anyway. 2 The living room of the Sterling mansion. A boy and a girl came forward to greet us. They looked about my age. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling had already called ahead to explain the situation. “Elara, this is Stella.” “Stella, Elara just came home. You’re the sister now, take care of her.” Stella was dressed exquisitely, looking every bit the pampered heiress. Her eyes were red; she had clearly been crying. Wait… why did she look so young? She forced a smile and tentatively took my hand. “Hello, Elara.” I nodded awkwardly. The boy beside her looked displeased. “Stella greeted you. Why are you so cold?” Mr. Sterling glared at him and scolded, “Shut up, brat. That’s your sister.” Mrs. Sterling introduced him to me. “Elara, this is your brother.” I nodded. So his name is Solar? Before I could speak, the boy maintained his arrogant attitude. “She deserves to be my sister? I don’t have such a tacky sister.” “Even if we’re related by blood, I feel nothing for her.” He pulled Stella behind him protectively. “Let me tell you, I only recognize Stella as my sister. You are not allowed to bully her, and don’t even think about taking anything from her!” Mr. Sterling immediately slapped him. “Say one more word, I dare you!” “Whether you admit it or not, Elara is our biological daughter.” Mrs. Sterling also stated her stance. “If you don’t want this sister, fine. But my daughter has suffered, and I will make it up to her.” I quickly pulled Mrs. Sterling back. “Mom, Dad, I’m fine.” Hearing this, Mrs. Sterling emotionally pulled me into her arms. From the hospital until now, this was the first time I called them “Mom” and “Dad.” “Enough!” Stella suddenly interrupted the chaotic argument. She first apologized to me. “I’m sorry. I only found out today that I’m not Mom and Dad’s biological daughter. I’m sorry for taking your life.” As she spoke, her eyes reddened again. She wiped away her tears and said, “Brother, what I have now doesn’t belong to me. You can’t treat Elara like this. She’s already pitiful enough.” As Stella spoke, she took off her expensive necklace and watch. Then she put them on me. I saw a flash of heartache in her eyes. A look of “I hate to part with it, but I don’t deserve it.” “I won’t fight for things that don’t belong to me.” “Mom, Dad, Elara, I’ve decided. Once school starts, I’ll live in the dorms. I’ll leave here for good when I turn 18. Please just let me stay a little longer.” My cheap brother said reluctantly, “Stella, you don’t have to do this. We have so many years of memories. Let’s see who dares to kick you out?” He glared at me pointedly. “Brother, it’s not about being kicked out. I’m the one occupying the nest.” From the beginning until now, Stella had acted mature and proper, without a single misstep. Even though it was hard to accept, she had accepted her identity. Looking at the daughter they had loved for over a decade, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling were heartbroken and reluctant, but this was the best solution. They would ensure Stella lived well outside, but they couldn’t force her to stay and wrong their biological daughter. Seeing everyone getting emotional and helpless, I slowly raised my hand. “Um… wait a minute.” Everyone looked at me. “Stella, right? How old are you this year?” Stella sniffled. “16.” “Only 16?” I was shocked. I pointed at Solar next to her. “And him?” Mrs. Sterling said, “Your brother is almost 18.” Whoa. Maybe because I was malnourished, I looked younger. Or maybe because I was a girl, my parents subconsciously assumed the switched baby was also a girl. I frowned deeply. “Um… well… sigh… I’m also 18.” Mr. Sterling: ? Mrs. Sterling: ? Stella: ! I said weakly, “So… did we get something wrong?” I had done a DNA test. But Stella and Solar hadn’t. “What nonsense are you talking about? Did you get your age wrong?” Solar started to panic. The living room fell into a dead silence. After a long while, Mr. Sterling spoke first. “Stella, Solar, you two…” “Dad!” Solar interrupted. “That’s impossible. Elara came out of nowhere. Who knows if she used some trick?” “Let’s not be fooled by her.” I was instantly speechless. “Dude, seriously? Why are you so arrogant?” “Just now you said you wouldn’t recognize me. Has it ever occurred to you that you might be the one switched at birth?” “You have the nerve to disdain me? Turns out you were insulting yourself all along?” Solar’s face turned red from my scolding. Stella’s mood was like a roller coaster, up and down. She had just accepted that she wasn’t the biological child, and now it seemed her brother wasn’t either. “Oh, alright, let’s just do a DNA test for everyone then.” Stella calmly plucked a few hairs. There was nothing she couldn’t accept now. As for Solar… he had to do it whether he wanted to or not. 3 Mystery solved. Stella is the Sterlings’ biological daughter. Solar and I were switched at birth. Solar’s lips were pale, he couldn’t say a word, and he collapsed upstairs back to his room. I rolled my eyes. Tch, so rude. His mental fortitude is weaker than Stella’s. Mrs. Sterling sighed. “Solar can’t accept it right now. Give him some time.” Years ago, when Mrs. Sterling was pregnant with her first child, she was staying at her parents’ house. Unexpectedly, an earthquake struck, and she went into premature labor. She and several other pregnant women were placed in the same shelter by rescue workers. In the chaos, accidents happen, so Solar and I were swapped. But as for the truth, Mr. Sterling had already sent people to investigate. Currently, it’s suspected that Solar’s biological parents might have passed away; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been sent to an orphanage. … Stella chuckled “hehe” at the air. She slowly sat down next to me. She reached out and took the necklace off my neck. Then she took the watch back too. “Still mine, hehe.” She grinned foolishly, showing her teeth. Suddenly, she looked up and met my gaze. She looked a bit embarrassed. “Sister… uh… Sister, I’ve used these. If you like them, ask Mom and Dad to buy you new ones.” As she spoke, she bumped me with her hip. “Our family isn’t short of money. Buy more. Ah~” I raised an eyebrow, finding it ridiculous. So this was her true face all along. The maturity and stability earlier were all an act. Mrs. Sterling rolled her eyes beside us, looking like she wanted to die. “Shouldn’t have given birth.” 4 At this moment, the long-lost comments reappeared. [Holy crap! What is this plot twist? Real Daughter vs. Fake Son?] [This is great! No need to worry about the sisters fighting to the death. Plus a handsome brother to spoil them. So happy!] [Not necessarily a brother, right? Since they aren’t related by blood, the pseudo-incest trope is also delicious!] Another huge question mark slowly formed above my head. When Stella was the fake heiress, the comments argued fiercely about our relationship. Either we were enemies, or we got along only if I let go of my resentment. After all, as the beneficiary, it was hard for Stella to earn everyone’s forgiveness. But now that the beneficiary turned out to be Solar, the comments accepted it easily. Why? “Dad, Mom, what do you plan to do now?” I asked. Mr. Sterling glanced upstairs and sighed helplessly. That was the son he had painstakingly cultivated and placed high hopes on. Mrs. Sterling, on the other hand, was very happy. “I thought Stella wasn’t my daughter, but now it’s great. I have two precious daughters. I don’t have to give up either of them.” “Stella, your sister suffered a lot outside. We need to treat her better, understand?” Stella nodded, smiling sweetly. “I didn’t expect to have a sister either. Tomorrow I’ll take Sister shopping and buy her lots of dresses and pretty jewelry.” I smiled, not knowing what to say. Stella looked delicate, but her nature was simple. It was obvious she grew up pampered by the Sterlings. The Sterlings’ attitude towards Solar seemed much stricter. Mr. Sterling even slapped him. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling loved their daughter very much. However, when they learned they might have to send their daughter away, they showed heartache and reluctance. But they didn’t force her to stay. Now, the same thing happened to Solar, yet no one mentioned his departure. It was as if… they easily glossed over him. But I didn’t want to let it go just like that. “Dad, Mom, I’m asking about Solar. What about him?” Mrs. Sterling glanced upstairs helplessly. “Although Solar isn’t our biological son, we’ve raised him for so many years. With a brother to take care of you two sisters, we’d feel more at ease.” “After all, you and Stella will marry someday. When Mom and Dad are gone, if you get bullied, you’ll have family to back you up.” I frowned. “But Solar seems to dislike me very much. He even scolded me. I don’t like him either.” Mr. Sterling explained, “That’s because he couldn’t bear to part with Stella as a sister, so he was hostile towards you. Now that Solar knows his background, he will only feel guilty towards you.” “Don’t be afraid, Elara. If that brat dares to bully you, Mom will definitely beat him.” Mrs. Sterling raised her hand as she spoke, as if she would slap Solar’s face the next second. I believed she really would. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling’s attitude towards Solar had always been “strict,” completely unlike the “doting” they showed Stella. Is this the different way the Sterling family “loves daughters” and “loves sons”? Pampering for the daughter, responsibility and expectations for the son. The air fell silent, only the comments above my head flew wildly. [What is Elara doing? It’s precisely because she suffered that Solar will feel guilty and compensate her doubly in the future.] [Solar is definitely going to be a CEO in the future. A CEO brother spoiling you, I’m so envious.] [Get out of the comments, simps! Real vs. Fake Heiress—defeat the imposter! Real Heiress vs. Fake Son—Brother spoil me~] I didn’t forcefully demand Solar to leave. After all, the Sterlings were still in charge. Solar was the family member who had lived with them for nearly two decades. Their bond was deep. If I forced him out, I might upset Mr. and Mrs. Sterling. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling went to talk to Solar and brought him out. His attitude towards me had changed drastically. “Elara, I was wrong today. I shouldn’t have scolded you like that.” I blinked, squeezing out a few tears. “But you were so fierce today, I was really hurt.” “Your clothes are so beautiful, they look expensive. In the orphanage, I could only wear other people’s old clothes. If only Mom and Dad were by my side.” My remarks provoked a wave of heartache from Mrs. Sterling. “Elara, tomorrow Mom will take you to buy clothes. The best and most beautiful ones.” “Thank you, Mom.” Solar gritted his teeth and grabbed my hand, speaking earnestly. “I’m sorry. If I had a choice at birth, I would never have taken your identity.” “But it happened. I will definitely be a good brother in the future and make up for the hardships you suffered.” He seemed truly guilty, showing no trace of the yelling from earlier in the day. But I still saw the hostility in his eyes. “Why can’t I be the older sister?” I asked suddenly. “…” A flash of gloom passed over Solar’s face, but he didn’t say anything. Mrs. Sterling smoothed things over. “It’s all the same. Solar being the brother means he can take care of his sister.” I didn’t dwell on this question too much and smiled. “Okay, Brother.” Although Solar stayed in the Sterling family, Mr. Sterling still publicly announced our backgrounds and adopted Solar as his foster son.

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