It was my birthday. I’d spent the entire day bustling around, decorating our apartment and preparing a table full of his favorite dishes. I was waiting for the food to cool when a text from Jerry came in: [Something came up at work. It’s an overnight trip. Don’t wait up for me, go to bed.] A moment later, I saw a new post on my feed from his old flame, Phoebe. It was a photo of Jerry in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, an apron tied around his waist, looking busy and happy. The caption read: {May this moment last forever.} Suddenly, everything felt tasteless. I tapped the ‘like’ button, reheated a plate for one, and started to eat. My phone buzzed incessantly, but I ignored it. When I finally picked it up after dinner, I saw dozens of missed calls from Jerry. He’d left one last voice message. “Cathy, I’ll explain when I get back. Don’t overthink it. We have so many more birthdays to celebrate together.” I didn’t reply. I just wondered, do we really have a future at all? 1 Jerry didn’t come home for three days. When he finally walked through the door, I was curled up on the sofa, binge-watching a new series. He looked surprised. “Didn’t you see my message?” “I saw it,” I said without looking up from the screen. “I was busy with something. It slipped my mind.” He stared at me, completely baffled. And why wouldn’t he be? In the past, a message like that would have had me bouncing with excitement, waiting for him downstairs a half-hour early. He was silent for a moment, then said, “I haven’t eaten all day. Can you just whip something up?” He was a picky eater and couldn’t stand the food on the train. Whenever he came back from a business trip, I’d always have a home-cooked meal ready to satisfy his cravings. The episode ended. I finally looked up at him and pointed to the stack of takeout menus on the coffee table. “These came in the mail. Looks like that new place has a special on.” A dark look crossed Jerry’s face. “I’m starving right now. Even if you’re mad, can you at least make some food first?” I looked at him, genuinely confused. “You can order delivery, can’t you? And I’m not mad.” He didn’t believe me, of course. “Phoebe’s all alone in the next city over. She has no one,” he said, launching into his defense. “I was just looking after her, as a friend.” “Mm-hmm.” He rubbed his forehead, looking exhausted. “Come on, that’s enough. I really don’t have the energy to coddle you right now.” I sighed. “If you’re tired, you should rest. I’m really not asking you to coddle me.” He choked on his words, his breathing growing ragged. I knew he was getting angry. After a long pause, he pulled a gift box from his suitcase and tossed it onto the sofa next to me. “Your birthday present,” he sneered. “There. Are you happy now?” I placed it on the coffee table without opening it. “Thanks.” He just stood there, his face darkening. “And?” It took me a second to remember our old agreement: for any birthday, both of us would prepare a gift for the other. “Oh, right. Sorry, sorry. I got too caught up in my show and forgot,” I said, a little sheepishly. “I’ll make it up to you later? Or I can just transfer you the money?” He was staring at me so intensely it was starting to feel awkward. I quickly sent him the money through my banking app, then glanced at my watch and went to the bedroom to change into my coat. When I came back out, he looked startled. “You’re going out? You put on makeup to go out? You didn’t get ready for me?” I gave him a strange look. “Didn’t you used to say it was a waste for me to wear makeup at home? Why would I get all dolled up just to greet you here?” Before he could stammer out a reply, I pulled open the front door. “Where are you going?” he demanded, rushing forward to grab my arm. “I have plans with Sasha and the girls.” I ignored the look on his face and walked out. 2 Jerry never liked my more boisterous friends. He thought the bars and clubs we frequented were “improper” and told me I should see them less. I was never going to abandon my friends for him, but to avoid fights, I used to schedule our get-togethers when he was out and always made sure to be home early. I could never really let loose and have fun. Now, finally, I didn’t have to care what he thought. When Sasha and the others heard my plan, they exchanged surprised glances, clearly skeptical. They knew better than anyone how head-over-heels in love with Jerry I used to be. But now that my eyes were open, it all seemed so incredibly stupid. To lose yourself completely for a man… Why didn’t I wake up sooner? We stayed out late, having a blast, and I even posted a few pictures to my story. By the time I got home, it was 3 a.m. I opened the door to find Jerry sitting on the sofa in the dark, his face a thundercloud. “Cathy,” he said, his voice cold as ice. “How old are you? Are you a teenager, throwing a tantrum out of jealousy? Running off and staying out this late just because you’re upset? Is that how a grown woman acts?” My eyelids felt like they were glued together. I was too tired to deal with him. I tried to walk past him toward the bedroom. He stood up, blocking my path. “That’s enough. Phoebe and I are in the past. There’s nothing between us now, and there never will be again. You don’t need to throw these little fits because of her.” He added, “And I don’t like you coming home this late. Don’t let it happen again.” I yawned. “You’re overthinking things. I’m not jealous, and this isn’t a tantrum. Also, from now on, I won’t be following your curfew.” His face contorted. “Haven’t you had enough? There’s a limit to these games. I’m not your father. I’m not going to indulge you forever.” I was too exhausted to even speak. All I wanted was to crawl into bed. He must have mistaken my silence for submission. He sighed and reached out to hug me. I took a step back, dodging his embrace. With the last ounce of my energy, I hurried into the spare bedroom, shutting the door and locking it from the inside. As I drifted off, I vaguely thought that if we were sleeping separately, I probably should have taken the guest room and left him the master. But before I could even finish the thought who cares, I was fast asleep. 3 For the first time in ages, I slept soundly through the night, without a single dream. When I got up to wash my face, Jerry was just coming out of the master bedroom. He walked past me with a stony expression, acting as if I didn’t exist. This time, however, I didn’t feel a surge of panic. I didn’t grab his hand and beg him to tell me what was wrong. I just went about my morning. As I headed to the kitchen, I heard the front door slam shut with a loud bang. That door, I thought, is solid, but it can’t take that kind of abuse forever. I made myself a simple breakfast and left for the office. I went straight to my boss’s office. I was about to knock when I heard a voice behind me. “Cathy, you’re in early!” It was my boss. I’d arrived before she did. Inside her office, I told her I was ready to accept the company’s overseas assignment. The opportunity had come up a while ago. My boss, seeing it as a great career move for me, had urged me to take it, but I’d refused every time because I couldn’t bear the thought of being away from Jerry for so long. She was thrilled. “That’s wonderful news! Is everything alright with your boyfriend?” I shook my head. “We’ll be breaking up.” Thank God for Phoebe. She’d snapped me out of it just in time. Starting today, my life would be about work handovers and preparing to move abroad. It was a long, busy day. By the time I left the office, the sky was already dark. I decided to grab dinner out before heading home. When I walked in, Jerry was on the phone, a bouquet of flowers in one hand. “Yeah, of course. It’s not every day the princess herself graces our city with her presence. I’ll pull out all the stops, I promise. Go ahead and order, I’m on my way out now.” Oh, right. Today was Phoebe’s birthday. His face was alight with a doting smile, an expression he had never once shown me. With me, he was always reserved. Even his smiles were faint, fleeting things. When I’d complained about it once, he’d just said calmly that he wasn’t comfortable with big displays of emotion. Apparently, it wasn’t that he was uncomfortable. It was just that I wasn’t the person he was willing to show them to. When he hung up, the smile was still on his face. But the moment he saw me, it vanished. He walked past me with the flowers, his expression flat and indifferent, and closed the door just as quietly behind him. He was still angry about my coldness the night before and was trying to punish me with the silent treatment. But he didn’t know that, just like that morning, his indifference no longer sent me into a panic. I simply ordered some takeout, and after eating, I picked up the German textbook I hadn’t touched in years. I was fluent, but it had been a while. I needed to brush up. 4 During a study break, I scrolled through my social media feed. Unsurprisingly, Phoebe had posted a new update. {Thankful to the heavens for bringing you into my life.} The comments were filled with messages from Jerry’s friends, all wishing the two of them well. His friends all adored Phoebe and couldn’t stand me. They never said it outright, but they took every opportunity to needle and undermine me. I’d complained to Jerry about it before, but his response was always the same: “Then you’ll just have to try harder to win their approval.” I refreshed the page and saw that Jerry had commented too—just a simple smiley face emoji. Suddenly, I got a notification. One of Jerry’s friends had tagged me. [Just giving you a heads-up so you don’t start a fight with Jerry again. The rest of us are here too, it’s just a normal get-together.] I found it laughable. I replied with a single “k,” then tossed my phone aside, washed up, and went to bed. I was jolted awake in the middle of the night by the bedroom light flipping on. Squinting, I saw Jerry standing over me, staring. “You really trust me, don’t you?” he demanded. “I’m out all night and not a single text from you! My friends’ phones were blowing up with their girlfriends and wives calling them home. I was the only one sitting there like an idiot, waiting for a message that never came!” I was not happy about being woken from a deep sleep. “You’re a grown man,” I said irritably. “Why wouldn’t I trust you at a party with your friends? I believe you. It’s late, you should get some rest.” In the past, whenever he was out with Phoebe, I would throw a fit. Even if I reluctantly agreed to let him go, I would bombard him with calls and texts all night. He’d once yelled at me, “This is a party for our circle of friends! What does it have to do with you? I’m begging you, Cathy, just give me some personal space!” He stood there, stunned. After a few seconds, he grabbed my arm as I was about to lie back down. “We need to talk.” I looked at him, exasperated. He took a deep breath. “That social media post was just a memento from our friends’ gathering. It didn’t mean anything else. You shouldn’t overthink it.” I was so tired. I just nodded again and again. “Okay, I get it.” A flicker of anxiety crossed his face. “What’s with this refusal to communicate? Are you still mad that I saw Phoebe? I told you, she’s just a friend from our circle. We had a past, but that’s over. If it really bothers you that much, I’ll take you with me to the next gathering.” I nodded vigorously. “I know. But I’m really tired. Can I please just go to sleep?” Jerry fell silent. He sighed and moved to get into the bed. I shot up. “What are you doing?!” He froze, then gave me a glacial look before storming out and slamming the door to the master bedroom behind him. After the interruption, I worried I’d have trouble falling back asleep. But thankfully, my head had barely hit the pillow for a few minutes before I was out again.

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My husband’s best friend, Lila, had a habit of borrowing things. This time, as my husband and I were going through IVF, Lila, a staunch bachelorette, decided she wanted to borrow his sperm. My husband, Adam, who could never say no to her, agreed on the spot. This time, I put my foot down. I told him if he dared to give it to her, we were getting a divorce. In the end, he didn’t “lend” it. And my IVF cycle failed. I blamed myself, thinking my body had failed me. That is, until I happened to see Adam’s text messages. “Adam, thank you so much for being a true friend. You secretly gave me the sample meant for your wife, and now I’m pregnant with your baby. I can finally be a mother!” “She’ll never know she was inseminated with my saliva. Of course the IVF was going to fail.” Reading those words, the blood in my veins turned to ice. This man was no longer my husband. … I threw the phone down in front of him. “Adam, I want a divorce.” His face went pale. “No! Chloe, I’m sorry, I was a fool. She started crying, and I just… I got soft.” “She cries, so you give her your sperm? If she asked for your life, would you give her that too?” I shoved him away and stormed into the bedroom to pack my bags. He didn’t dare follow. I could hear him making frantic calls outside. Half an hour later, a crowd was gathered at my front door. Lila was at the very front, wearing a loose-fitting dress, her hand resting protectively over her stomach. Behind her, a few of Adam’s cronies stood like a thuggish entourage. Lila spoke first. “Chloe, please don’t blame Adam. This is all my fault.” I ignored her, trying to push past with my suitcase. One of his friends, Ryan, blocked my way. “Chloe, calm down. It’s not a big deal. Lila’s all alone, she just wanted a kid to have for herself.” “You two can just do another round of IVF,” he added with a grin. “It’s not like Adam’s going to run out of ammo!” Adam stood next to Lila, avoiding my gaze. “Honey, let’s go back inside. Let’s talk about this in private, we don’t need the neighbors to see a show.” Just then, Lila let out a soft “Oh!” and clutched her back. Adam’s head whipped around. “What’s wrong? I told you not to come. Nothing is more important than your health right now.” Seeing his panicked concern for her, my heart shattered completely. “Move,” I said. Lila stepped forward again. “Chloe, it’s all my fault. Please don’t fight with Adam over this. You two have been together for so many years. If you break up because of me, I’ll be a sinner. I’ll raise the child on my own, I swear I won’t disturb your lives.” “You won’t have to disturb us,” I said, my eyes fixed on her stomach. “Because he’ll go running to you all on his own. Just like when you ‘borrowed’ a hundred thousand dollars from him to buy a house, and he secretly gave you two hundred thousand of our money.” “And when your father was in the hospital, he stayed there every night, while I was at home with a fever and no one to even get me a glass of water.” Adam jumped to his own defense. “That was just bad timing! Lila’s situation was special!” “She’s special?” I cut him off. “Oh, yes. She’s so special. She always comes before me. This time, you even prioritized giving your sperm to her, while I went through months of preparation for IVF only to have you stick her saliva inside me!” His friends exchanged uneasy glances. Lila’s eyes instantly welled with tears. “Chloe, you can yell at me all you want, but don’t talk about Adam like that. It’s not easy for him, being caught in the middle…” I laughed, a sharp, bitter sound. “He has it so hard? Playing the doting husband to me while playing the savior to his best friend? Please.” Seeing that I had no intention of saving his pride, Adam’s face hardened with anger. He and his friends turned to leave, but not before he threw one last threat over his shoulder. “Fine! Then I hope you never have a child of mine!” It was after midnight when Adam stumbled home, reeking of alcohol. He tossed a few takeout boxes on the table as if they were a peace offering. They were clearly leftovers from his party. “Alright, I was wrong,” he slurred. “But you were completely out of line. Humiliating me in front of everyone like that.” I turned to look at him. His face was a mask of exhaustion and annoyance, but there was no trace of guilt. “Lila would never put me in such a difficult position,” he muttered. It felt like a knife twisting in my chest. “You’re right. I’m not her. She’s so understanding, so generous. So righteous she can even borrow another woman’s husband’s sperm.” “Are you ever going to let this go?!” he roared, his voice suddenly sharp. “I was just helping a friend! It’s not easy for a single woman who doesn’t want to get married to have a child! You’re my wife, can’t you have a little compassion? Why do you have to be so relentless?” I stared at him. “Adam, has your brain been eaten by dogs?” He shot to his feet, pointing a finger at me. “Look at you! You’ve become so bitter and cruel! What happened to the sweet, understanding woman I fell in love with?” “Lila is carrying my child, and you upset her so much today that she went home feeling sick. And you know what she said? Not a single bad word about you! She told me to come home and apologize properly!” Watching him, so agitated and worried over another woman, felt utterly surreal. “Then go back and take care of her,” I said. “Go on. Go guard her and your precious ‘seed’.” He glared at me, his chest heaving. Finally, he grabbed his jacket and slammed the door behind him for the second time. This time, there wasn’t even the pretense of an apology. He didn’t come back. A few days later, my mother-in-law called and invited me over for dinner. I didn’t want to go, but her tone was so meek and careful that I relented. When I walked into their house, the first thing I saw was Lila, sitting on the sofa, laughing and chatting with my mother-in-law. I couldn’t just turn around and leave. The entire meal was torture. My mother-in-law kept piling food onto Lila’s plate. “Adam, hurry, get Lila a bowl of fish soup.” Adam obliged, naturally taking Lila’s bowl and carefully picking out all the bones for her. No one offered me food. No one asked how I was recovering after the failed IVF cycle. “Oh, Adam,” my father-in-law said, putting down his chopsticks. “I’ll give you the money. Go get everything Lila needs for the baby.” My mother-in-law chimed in. “Yes, and we need to start buying baby clothes. Oh, if only Lila and our Adam had…” She trailed off, but the meaning was clear. The table fell silent. Lila lowered her head, blushing. Adam cleared his throat uncomfortably. My in-laws had always been kind to me, which is the only reason I’d come. But for years, whenever Lila was around, their attention would inevitably shift to her. Now that she was pregnant with Adam’s child, that preference was on full display. I put down my chopsticks. I’d barely touched my food. My mother-in-law finally seemed to notice me. “Oh? Chloe, is that all you’re eating? Is the food not to your liking?” “I’m full.” I cut her off and walked to the door. Behind me, I heard her sigh. “That girl. She’s getting more and more temperamental.” Adam’s voice drifted faintly. “Mom, don’t worry about her. That’s just how she is.” I closed the door, shutting out the cozy family scene. Back home, I contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. Adam completely ignored it. He had the audacity to tell me to stop being a drama queen, that he would give me the silent treatment for a few days as punishment, and that he’d expect me home when I’d learned my lesson. No matter how many times I told him I was serious about the divorce, he refused to listen. A few days later, it was time for our regular get-together with our circle of friends. I had no desire to go, but my friends called me relentlessly until I gave in. Maybe some pathetic part of me still held out a sliver of hope. But mostly, I just wanted to serve Adam the divorce papers in person. When I arrived, I was surprised to see Adam waiting for me outside the restaurant, a sycophantic smile plastered on his face. “Honey,” he said, handing me a box. “A gift for you. The latest design from their new collection.” I opened it. It was a diamond necklace. “I know I was wrong,” he whispered. “Just give me some face tonight. We’ll talk properly later.” I scoffed and pushed the box back into his hands. When the door to the private room opened, I saw that the large round table was full. Even my in-laws and Lila were there. I had no idea why my in-laws would be at our friends’ gathering. “Chloe, you’re here!” my mother-in-law exclaimed, pulling me warmly to a seat. “Come, sit next to me.” She pushed me into a chair directly across from Lila. Lila gave me a soft, gentle smile, her hand resting on her pregnant belly. My father-in-law tapped his glass and stood up. “Now that everyone’s here, I have an announcement,” he boomed. “Our family values one thing above all: responsibility!” I picked up my teacup, my hand trembling slightly. “Lila is carrying Adam’s child. We acknowledge this child! He must be born, and he will have our family name!” The table erupted. Ryan was the first to applaud. “That’s right, sir! Adam, you’re a real man!” I looked at Adam. He was smiling. He reached out and patted Lila’s shoulder. Lila blushed. “Thank you, uncle,” she murmured. “Wait a minute,” I said, putting down my cup. “Adam, what is the meaning of this?” He ignored me, pulling a folder from his briefcase. He turned to Lila, his voice sickeningly sweet. “Lila, it won’t be easy for you to raise a child alone. This is twenty percent of my company’s shares. The annual dividends will be more than enough for you and the baby.” Lila’s eyes lit up. “Adam… this is too much…” “You deserve it,” he said, pushing the folder toward her. “It’s for the baby’s security. And it’s a token of my feelings.” The cheers grew louder. “Adam, you’re the man!” I shot to my feet. Only then did Adam glance at me, his tone condescending. “Chloe, you are my legal wife, and I won’t mistreat you. As long as you accept this child and continue to be Mrs. Archer, you will still be the lady of this house.” “Oh, and after the baby is born, I’m thinking of having a proper ceremony for Lila, a make-up wedding. But I won’t favor one over the other. You can wear a wedding dress too, and we’ll all get married together.” I laughed until I cried. “Are you out of your mind? A double wedding? Using our marital assets to gift shares to your mistress? Adam, do you have any shame?” My mother-in-law grabbed my arm. “Chloe, what are you saying!” “What should I say?” I shook her off. “Congratulations on my husband’s infidelity? Or thank you to your entire family for conspiring to deceive me?” Adam’s face darkened. “Chloe, don’t push your luck.” I grabbed the necklace box and hurled it at him. “Take your stupid necklace and get out!” It fell to the floor, the large diamond glittering under the lights. Lila’s eyes were fixed on it with a venomous glare when she suddenly cried out, “Oh!” and clutched her stomach. Adam immediately dropped to her side. “Lila, are you okay? Did she scare you?” He looked up at me, his eyes spitting fire. “Chloe! If anything happens to Lila, I will never forgive you!” My mother-in-law shot me a reproachful look. “Chloe, Lila is pregnant! Why do you have to make such a scene?” I looked at their faces, one by one, and suddenly, it all felt so pointless. I pulled the divorce agreement from my bag and slammed it on the table. “Adam. Sign it.” The chatter in the room died instantly. Adam’s face turned ashen. He snatched the papers and, without even looking at them, ripped them to shreds. “Are you done yet?!” he roared, jabbing a finger at my face. “Look at you! What can you do besides throw tantrums?” Lila pretended to hold him back. “Adam, don’t be like this…” His voice rose another octave. “You useless woman who can’t even have a child! The baby Lila is carrying is the true heir of our family!” I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. “And you? Not satisfied with being inseminated with Lila’s saliva? You’re worse than a dog!” My friends awkwardly looked away. My mother-in-law sipped her tea. My father-in-law’s face was a stone mask. A triumphant smirk played on Lila’s lips as she watched me. “I’m giving you the dignity of being Mrs. Archer. Don’t throw it back in my face!” Adam took a step closer. “If you don’t agree to this today, you’ll leave with nothing! You won’t get a single penny!” He sneered. “Let’s see how a worthless piece of trash like you survives without me!” I looked at his twisted, ugly face and suddenly had nothing more to say. I turned and walked out. “Chloe! If you walk out that door today, don’t come crying back to me tomorrow!” I pulled open the door and left without a backward glance, his furious shouts echoing behind me. I had wanted an amicable split. But now… Their good days were about to end.

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The day of my wedding, I made a last-minute decision: I was choosing a new bride. It was all because my fiancée, Rina Aniston’s, childhood sweetheart had been diagnosed with cancer. His one dying wish was to marry her. Five years later, I returned to the country for Old Man Aniston’s eightieth birthday. During the banquet, I twisted my ankle. Rina immediately knelt to inspect the injury. The sight sent whispers rippling through the crowd, dredging up the old scandal. “What is she doing? Wasn’t she the one who ruined their wedding by flashing a marriage certificate with another man, demanding they postpone for a year?” “That’s right. I remember Matt Cross set their wedding portrait on fire right there, tore off his tuxedo, and left the country. It was an absolute mess.” But now, back in this city, Old Man Aniston grasped my hand. “You’re the only son-in-law I’ve ever wanted,” he said. “Rina has never forgotten you all these years.” He leaned in closer. “She said if you’re willing, she’ll divorce him and marry you right now. She’ll give you a wedding grander than anything you could have imagined back then.” Too bad for them. My kid’s already old enough to talk back to me. 1. “So, Matt, what do you think?” Old Man Aniston sat at the head of the table, dressed in a custom-tailored suit. His expression was benevolent, but it couldn’t hide the calculating glint in his eyes. A sudden hush fell over the room. All eyes turned to our table, hungry for the drama about to unfold. I took a slow sip of wine, my gaze lowered to hide the cold indifference in my eyes. For Rina to do what she did on our wedding day, and now to talk about marrying me again… the audacity was breathtaking. But her grandfather was an elder, and it was his birthday. I had no desire to make a scene. When I looked up, my smile was a mask of polite distance. “I appreciate the thought, Mr. Aniston, but I’m afraid I’m not so fortunate. I could never be worthy of someone like Miss Aniston.” The ballroom erupted in a cacophony of murmurs. “Did Matt Cross just refuse her? I thought he would marry no one but Rina Aniston!” “Twenty years of their lives tied together by an engagement, and he’s just letting her go?” It was true. Rina and I had been engaged since we were children, a twenty-year story of two kids growing up side-by-side. I’d started calling her my “wife” when I was three. I spent more time with her than with my own parents. I’d give her my only piece of candy. I’d save up my allowance to buy her pretty dresses. I was the one who, blushing furiously, bought her first box of tampons when she got her period. The year my love for her burned brightest, I drove across half of Seacrest City at two in the morning, all because she’d whispered that she was craving a cupcake. She used to say I was her husband, and spoiling her was my sacred duty. And I treated it like my mission in life. Back then, I believed love was a lifetime promise. No matter how ruthless I was in the boardroom, with her, I was always the gentle, attentive husband who put her first. Until one week before the wedding, when Liam Vance came back. He was the son of Rina’s beloved mentor. He’d been abroad for years and only rushed home when he heard she was getting married. At first, out of respect for his late father, both Rina and I were nothing but courteous to him. But then, slowly, she started caring more and more about Liam’s affairs. She even started canceling our dates to spend time with him. The day we were supposed to shoot our engagement photos, I waited an hour for her. I called her a dozen times, only to get a curt, one-word text: “Busy.” Minutes later, I saw it on her Instagram: a photo of her and Liam, smiling together. When I opened the comments, my blood ran cold. Her friends were calling him “brother-in-law.” They were joking and laughing as if they were the ones about to be married. I couldn’t take it anymore. I video-called her. But it wasn’t Rina who answered. It was Liam. Through the blurry screen, I saw with dawning horror that they were in a bridal shop. And Rina was wearing a magnificent wedding gown. My voice turned to ice. “What the hell are you two doing?” Rina finally looked up from the dress, startled. There wasn’t a trace of guilt on her face, only a flicker of annoyance. “Didn’t I tell you I was busy?” “Your ‘busy’ is trying on wedding dresses with Liam?” The question came out laced with a pain I couldn’t hide. For all my strength and resolve, the sight of them shattered something inside me. Her expression stiffened for a second, and she avoided my gaze. “You’re so controlling, Matt,” she muttered. “You never even let me explain.” “Liam was bored all alone at home, so I brought him with me to help pick out my dress. I just wanted it to be a surprise for you.” For a moment, I was lost. Her excuse was flimsy, pathetic even, but a seed of doubt took root in my mind. Was I really that overbearing? Others had said it before, but as the heir to the Cross family and CEO of our corporation, I’d never felt the need to apologize for who I was. But this was Rina. Her words cut deep. Maybe she saw the uncertainty on my face, because a flicker of sympathy crossed her features. She softened her tone, trying to soothe me. “Matt, I’m sorry. That was my fault. I shouldn’t have said that.” “I’m just… not feeling well.” My hand clenched into a fist. “Rina, does being with me make you… uncomfortable?” She offered a reassuring smile and apologized again. “I misspoke. Please don’t be angry with me, Matt. Please?” Seeing her gentle, patient demeanor, just like always, my heart began to settle. The old confidence returned to my voice. “If you ever dare to do anything to betray me,” I warned, my tone sharp, “I swear I will not let you off easy.” “Hmph. Trying to do something nice and I get threatened for it. Someone’s a real tyrant, isn’t he?” Her playful jab made my face flush with irritation. I shot her a look that could have cut glass. Before she could say more, the phone suddenly jolted, followed by a loud bang from the other end. A panicked voice stammered, “I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry, I didn’t mean it! Mr. Cross, please don’t be angry. It was my fault, I insisted on coming with her. Please don’t blame Rina…” 2. The screen went black. I stared at it, momentarily stunned. Was I really that terrifying? I’d scared Liam so badly he’d dropped the phone. The phone must have landed some distance away, because I could faintly hear Rina’s voice, soft and low as she comforted him. It was a tone gentler than any she’d ever used with me. The next time I visited the Aniston family, Rina’s mother greeted me with a look of disapproval. “Liam is young,” she said coolly. “If he does something wrong, you should be more accommodating. Don’t hold it against him.” Rina quickly chimed in. “Matt, Liam is my mentor’s son. Now that she’s gone, he’s all alone in the world. It’s our duty to take care of him.” That strange, unsettling feeling washed over me again. But Rina’s tone was so earnest, and Liam’s position was… delicate. I nodded. A smile lit up her face. She reached out and smoothed a wrinkle on my suit jacket. “I was wrong about you. The great Matt Cross isn’t so unreasonable after all!” Her playful intimacy quieted the unease in my gut. I handed her a thick folder containing stock certificates and property deeds. I didn’t know what other fiancés gave as pre-wedding gifts, but for me, my company, my shares, my assets—they were the most important things I had. And I wanted to share them with the person I loved most. Her eyes gleamed with excitement. She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek. “Matt Cross, I love you!” Her sudden affection made me blush. “I love you, too,” I mumbled back. But I didn’t know then that her love was a firework—dazzling, brief, and never meant for just one person. While I was drowning in wedding preparations, her affection began to drift, to tilt in another direction. Her social media became a gallery of her and Liam. April 16th, morning: they were feeding pigeons in Central Square. April 17th, evening: they were releasing flower lanterns under the old Phoenix Bridge. … Soon, the rumors started. Whispers that Rina had fallen for Liam, that she was going to call off our engagement. Uneasy, I went to confront her about it. Before I even stepped through the door, I heard Liam’s apologetic voice. “I’m so sorry, Rina. I was just in a bad mood and wanted you to keep me company. I never thought it would start rumors like this.” His voice was choked with guilt and self-reproach. When he saw my grim expression, his eyes reddened with fear. I had no choice but to let it go. We were getting married in a few days. The rumors would die on their own. But the day before the wedding, I received a text from Liam. “Mr. Cross, I bet you don’t know. Rina has already decided to marry me. I’m her lawful husband now.” “A domineering, unreasonable man like you? No woman could ever truly love you.” At the same time, he posted a photo of himself and Rina in a hotel room. The caption read: Looks like the childhood sweetheart couldn’t compete. We found our way back to each other in the end. 3. In the photo, her skin was pale against the rumpled sheets, her hair a mess, her body sinking into the soft bed like a perfectly carved Greek statue, igniting the darkest corners of the imagination. I fought down the rising tide of nausea and dialed her number. She answered quickly, her voice slightly hoarse. “Matt, what’s wrong?” I sent her screenshots of the post and the text messages. Then I waited, the silence on the line stretching into an eternity. The phone’s microphone was sensitive. I heard her breath catch. A long, heavy silence followed. Finally, she spoke. “Matt, those pictures are fake. Don’t you trust me?” Her voice dropped. “…Besides, Liam is so kind. He would never say things like that. Matt, are you sure you’re not mistaken?” My heart plummeted. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Twenty years of history, the ironclad proof in the screenshots, and her first instinct was to defend him. Was it that she didn’t believe me, or was she desperately trying to hide something? The anxiety I’d been feeling crested into a tidal wave. Something was terribly wrong. Before I could process it, a warm body pressed against my back. It was Rina. She’d rushed over. She wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight, and leaned in to kiss me. “Matt, please believe me. I love you so much. I would never let you get hurt.” Her voice was a desperate whisper. “We’re getting married tomorrow. Please, don’t overthink this.” “As for Liam… he’s my mentor’s son, and now that he’s… I just feel obligated to look after him. You can understand that, can’t you?” She buried her face in my neck, showing a rare vulnerability, like a cat seeking a safe harbor. I stroked her back, my mind a warzone of conflicting emotions. Finally, I gave in. “As long as you haven’t betrayed me,” I promised softly, “I will always trust you. And I will always love you.” Her body went rigid. She didn’t reply as she always had. She just stayed silent, hidden against my neck. I never got her answer that day. I went home alone, my heart filled with a gnawing dread. The next morning, I arrived early to pick up my bride. I waited in the limousine at the foot of her building for what felt like an eternity, but Rina never appeared. My calls went straight to voicemail. My messages went unanswered. Every unanswered ring, every unread text, screamed that my worst fears were coming true. But how could they? This was Rina, my childhood best friend, the love of my life for twenty years. Clinging to a final, desperate sliver of hope, I went up to her apartment. The scene that greeted me was a nightmare. Rina, in her wedding dress, standing next to Liam. She couldn’t meet my eyes. “Matt,” she mumbled, her voice cracking, “can we… postpone the wedding? Just for a year?” Before the words had even settled, Liam began to sob dramatically. “Mr. Cross, I don’t have much time left. Marrying Rina is my only dream. Please, just grant me this one wish!” I stared at the grotesque tableau before me, tears streaming silently down my face. “Rina,” I asked, my voice barely a whisper, “are you really going to marry him?” Her head bowed lower, her voice trembling uncontrollably. “Matt, just give me one year. After a year, I swear I’ll give you a wedding even grander than this one.” It was the height of summer, but a chill colder than any winter seized me. “Growing up together, inseparable… does none of that mean anything to you anymore? The promises, the vows of love… was it all just a lie?” My questions weren’t an attack. They were a eulogy, delivered with a dead, hollow finality. Her silence was its own answer. I closed my eyes, ready to turn and walk away. But as I did, Liam grabbed my sleeve. “Mr. Cross, this is all my fault. Please don’t blame Rina.” I shot him a venomous glare. Before I could speak, Rina jumped to his defense. “Matt, don’t you dare touch him.” In a blind rage, I ripped my arm away from Liam. He cried out, and something fluttered from his sleeve, landing on the floor. I instinctively glanced down. The sight of the bright red marriage certificate burned my eyes. On it was a smiling photo of Rina and Liam. The room fell silent for a heartbeat before erupting into a roar of shock and gossip that nearly tore the roof off. “She’s already married to him? She’s dragging the Cross family’s name through the mud!” “I heard Matt gave her a huge portion of his company shares. He’s lost everything—the woman and the money.” My mind went blank. My hand moved faster than my thoughts. The sharp crack of my palm against her cheek echoed in the stunned silence. “You bitch, Rina.” The crowd’s chatter grew louder. All eyes were on Rina, waiting for her reaction. But she remained silent. She simply pulled Liam into her arms, shielding him, and walked away without a single backward glance. As they turned, I saw it clearly: a triumphant smirk on Liam’s face. I had never been so humiliated in my entire life. Fury consumed me, a wildfire burning away all reason. On the spot, I ordered my men to tear down the wedding decorations. I ripped off my tuxedo. And in front of everyone, I declared that from that day forward, the Cross and Aniston families were severing all business ties. For the next five years, I stayed abroad. I never once returned to the city that had broken my heart. My mind snapped back to the present. I realized with a strange sense of detachment that the all-consuming love and hate of the past had faded into a distant, muted ache. “Matt, what happened back then was Rina’s fault,” Old Man Aniston was saying, his voice earnest. “But you were childhood sweethearts, after all. A bond like that doesn’t just disappear. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.”

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1 I’m the idealized ghost of a boyfriend, the one who died taking a knife for her. Ten years after my death, a System forcibly resurrected me and told me I had to be a stepfather. 「Host, your objective is to save the child on that rooftop.」 「He’s your wife’s son. If you don’t intervene, he will die today.」 I didn’t want to see a kid die, but I’ve always had a domineering streak. So I walked up and kicked him. Lightly, but still a kick. “You’re just as pathetic as your mother. What’s with all the melodrama?” “Where is your mom, anyway? Call her. Tell her to come get me.” … The kid just stared at me, then looked around wildly, as if I were a ghost that had materialized in broad daylight. In the end, he didn’t ask a single question. He just lowered his head again. I couldn’t stand that spineless act. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration and snatched the phone from his pocket. “Do you know your mom’s number?” The call log and notifications were completely empty. Not even a single spam text. He fumbled for a moment before slowly punching in a number. The phone barely managed one ring before the call was disconnected, leaving only a dial tone humming in the silence. I scowled. “Zara Hayes has really grown a backbone, hasn’t she? Daring to ignore my calls.” The little brat next to me didn’t react. He just stood there, a silent, miniature statue. After eight consecutive calls, someone finally picked up. A man’s voice answered. “Harry? Ms. Hayes is busy.” Then he hung up, not even giving me a chance to curse him out. I was so furious I nearly smashed the phone, but the kid tugged on my shirt, stopping me. I forced my anger down. “It’s fine, kid. We’ll go find Zara and settle this score together.” He clutched my sleeve, his expression blank. It took him a long moment to force out a few words. “I won’t be a burden.” The phrase instantly deflated my anger. I let out a helpless sigh. “Fine. Let’s go back, then.” Once we were in the car, I stared at him for a long time. “Your name is Harry?” “Yeah.” I asked the System again. “Is he really Zara’s son?” 「According to the rules of your human world, yes.」 I resigned myself to my fate and started trying to be a proper stepfather. I asked him what he liked to eat. He said anything was fine. I asked him what he liked to play. He didn’t answer. I asked him why he was on the roof. He turned away from me. That was the last straw. I pulled him into my lap. “Does Zara have any idea you were about to go play flying squirrel off a skyscraper?” Only then did he slowly lift his head, like a robot rebooting, and spoke with stiff precision. “Mom is busy. I won’t be a burden.” The words lodged in my throat. It felt like I was choking. Was that the only phrase he knew? “I won’t be a burden.” How in the world did Zara raise a son like this? The System offered a quiet word of comfort. 「Don’t be too hard on him, Host. The child is just too considerate. He bottles everything up.」 I knew that. He was just a little kid. This was clearly the fault of the adults in his life. The car pulled up to a familiar house. Suddenly, a crucial question popped into my head. “System, where’s his dad?” 「He doesn’t have one.」 No dad? The moment I opened the front door, I felt a wave of dizziness. It was as if I’d just stepped out for a walk, not like I’d been gone for ten years. The coat I’d carelessly hung in the entryway was still there, perfectly preserved, without a single wrinkle. There was no trace of another man having ever lived in this house, save for a single pair of cufflinks sitting by the door. I went upstairs, my feet finding their way automatically, and opened the door to my old room. It was exactly as I had left it. When I came back downstairs, I realized Harry had vanished. I searched everywhere, finally finding him tucked away in a corner of the living room. He’d unearthed an advanced calculus workbook thicker than a brick and was sitting there, methodically solving problems. He was being so good it was terrifying. “System, is he like this every day?” I asked. 「Yes. For Zara’s son, not being exceptional would also be a way of causing trouble.」 I immediately strode over, snatched the workbook, and tossed it into the trash. Harry stared at me, dumbfounded, then his brow furrowed. His head tilted back and forth, like a little robot with a short circuit. I stared back, a silent challenge. Ten minutes later, my eyes burning, I finally caved. “I’m hungry.” The robot successfully processed the command. His head bobbed, and he scurried into the kitchen, expertly turning the knob on the gas stove. “Danger! Don’t touch that!” My heart leaped into my throat. I lunged forward and slammed the valve shut. He flinched back like a startled cat, cowering in the corner, his face a mask of confusion. I was about to lose my mind. I looked around the pristine kitchen and asked the System, “How old is he?” 「Six.」 Fantastic. Letting a six-year-old cook with a gas stove. Zara must have had rocks for brains. I paced back and forth, hands on my hips, trying to wrestle my temper under control. Finally, I turned to Harry. “That’s too dangerous. I’ll take you out to eat.” As we left, I growled under my breath. “System, you get out here right now. What the hell happened these last ten years?” The System glitched for a moment before beginning its report. After I died, Zara threw herself into her work, becoming a machine that did nothing but grind from dawn till dusk. She paid no attention to her own health or emotions, so naturally, she had none to spare for Harry. For years, a nanny had cared for him. But with no other adults in the house, the nanny began to secretly abuse him. It was only discovered when the bruises on his body became too numerous to hide. Zara fired the nanny. And for the first time, Harry made a request. “I can take care of myself. I don’t want a nanny.” “I won’t be a burden.” From that day on, Harry lived alone. Zara’s assistant, Sean, would check on him every couple of days. “Who is Sean?” 「A new assistant Zara hired after you died.」 So, in the ten years I was gone, Zara’s world had filled with things I knew nothing about. The System ignored my internal monologue and continued. 「Sean is known for being well-liked at the company, which is why Zara trusted him. But Harry has never liked him. In fact, he’s shown a clear aversion to the man.」 “Why?” For a robot like Harry, showing any emotion at all, let alone outright dislike, was a huge deal. 「Because Sean tried to convince him to tell Zara, ‘I want Sean to be my daddy.’」 「Harry refused. After that, Sean started targeting him.」 “How?” The cruelty of adults might be less direct than that of children, but for a vulnerable kid like Harry, it was devastating. 「As you’ve seen, Harry is very reserved.」 「So, Sean told Zara that Harry was slow-witted and a pathological liar. Then he turned around and told Harry that Zara considered him a dead weight, a burden she wished she could be rid of.」 「He told him that a bastard from nowhere like him was unworthy of love. That once he married Zara, Harry, the little parasite, would be finished.」 My fists clenched without me realizing. A cold sneer twisted my lips. “A dead weight, huh?” 「What are you planning to do?」 the System asked meekly. “Help Zara get her eyes checked. If she’s not going to use them, she might as well donate them.” “And that Sean… preying on a little kid. I’m going to make him wish he’d never been born.” As if on cue, Sean arrived. An arrogant voice boomed from the doorway. “You little brat, this water is scalding! Are you trying to kill me?” “And who gave you permission to bring a strange man into this house?” “What do you think this is, a dumpster? Isn’t it enough that I have to deal with you, you little piece of trash? Now you’re bringing in a big one?” “Tell him to get the hell out.” Harry, who never fought back, moved. He stood in front of Sean, blocking his path. “No.” Sean’s jaw clenched in fury. “Harry, do you have any idea what you’re doing?” “I swear, I’ll call Ms. Hayes right now and have her throw you out on the street.” “Move it, you bastard from nowhere.” Harry just stood there, his head bowed, not moving, not saying a word. A sharp pain, like a needle, pierced my heart. I stepped in front of Sean. “You love talking trash so much. How come you haven’t been recycled yet?” Before he could retort, my palm connected with his cheek. “You dare hit me?” “I’ll do more than hit you if you don’t stop spewing garbage.” I pulled Harry behind me, shielding him. Sean clutched his face, his eyes raking over me, a contemptuous sneer on his lips. “Do you have any idea who I am? I’m Ms. Hayes’s most trusted assistant. The man who’s been by her side longer than anyone.” “So you’ve charmed this little bastard. So what? I’m the one who’s going to be with Ms. Hayes. And when I am, I’ll have you both thrown out.” He turned back to Harry, his voice a low threat. “Ms. Hayes specifically ordered that dead man’s room to be sealed. No one has been allowed in for years. And you let this stranger in there. Think about the consequences.” “If I tell her about this, you’re finished. So…” Smack. Another slap. “Still barking?” Sean stared at me, his face now a matching set of bright red handprints, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You hit me again?” “Do I need to make an appointment?” He lunged at me, but Harry threw himself in front of me, a small, unmovable shield. Sean hissed out three sharp “Fine’s” and pulled out his phone, dialing Zara. “Ms. Hayes, I just got here and Harry brought a strange man into the house. He even let the man into… his room.” “And they hit me…” I scoffed. “Playing the victim, are we?” “Wait!” Zara’s voice suddenly crackled through the phone, laced with a tremor of shock and something else… hope. “Turn on the video. Let me see his face.” Sean looked confused but obeyed, pointing the camera at me. But then, Harry lunged forward and knocked the phone out of his hand. “Get out.”

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Julian Vance hated the idea of marrying a country bumpkin like me. So, to force me into breaking off the engagement, he hired a broke scholarship student to impersonate him. “A nouveau riche hillbilly and a guy who can’t afford lunch? A match made in heaven.” “I bet the bumpkin won’t last three days before calling off the wedding.” The scholarship student was tall, aloof, and visibly broken. A silent type. I fell for it. I genuinely believed the Vance family had gone bankrupt and that he was starving. My dad’s words echoed in my ears: “Sweetie, if they’re broke, they’re broke. We don’t discriminate. We have enough money to support him.” So, when he was hungry, I fed him. When he worked late, I was his bodyguard. When his mom was hospitalized, I swiped my card. I took excellent care of my destitute fiancé. Until the day a stunningly handsome boy snatched the breakfast I had lovingly prepared. Just as I was about to explode, he looked at me with frustration. “Lily, open your eyes. I am your fiancé—” 1 My dad told me I had a fiancé in the city. To let me decide whether I wanted him or not—and to help me get into a good college—he transferred me to Julian Vance’s high school for my junior year. Rumor had it the Vance family was the richest in River City, with deep roots. My dad made me pack a ton of expensive gifts. But when I got off the train, not a single soul from the Vance family was there to pick me up. I was annoyed at first. But when I arrived at the school and saw “Julian”—thin, pale, wearing a t-shirt that had been washed until it was see-through—my anger vanished. A helpful student had guided me, looking at the photo in my hand. “Junior Class 3? You’re looking for Julian Vance? I know him. I’ll take you.” He pointed him out. I followed his finger. The boy sitting by the window had a straight back, but he looked fragile. Afternoon sun filtered through the window, highlighting his profile. A stray breeze lifted his hair, revealing a smooth forehead and a sharp brow bone. I looked at the photo, then at him. The helpful student’s voice rang in my ear, dripping with pity: “You didn’t know? The Vance family went bankrupt two years ago. Julian is on financial aid now. He works part-time after school. Sometimes he can’t even afford lunch.” My family rarely contacted the Vances, and bankruptcy isn’t exactly something you advertise to your country relatives. I gasped softly, nodding like a bobblehead, promising not to spread the news. “This is our new student, Lily Lin. Everyone welcome her,” the teacher announced, pointing to an empty desk. “You can sit there.” I looked up. It was right next to “Julian.” From the moment I walked in, he hadn’t looked up once. He was furiously writing something. To get to my seat, I had to squeeze behind him. My backpack snagged on something. Clatter. A tin cup fell out of his desk, rolling on the floor. A piece of dry, hard bread tumbled out, picking up dust. I saw his shoulders tremble slightly. He gripped his pen tighter but didn’t turn around. Stifled laughter erupted around us. I saw boys whispering and sneering at his back. So, Julian really was having a hard time. The spirited boy in the photo was now picking up scraps. I bit my lip, sat down, and whispered, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” He still didn’t look at me. He just picked up the cup and bread and shoved them back into his desk. “I’m Lily. Do you remember me?” I tilted my head, trying to catch his eye. We had met once when he was six. Like my mom, I’m a sucker for a pretty face, and little Julian was adorable. I couldn’t leave him alone. But then I took him to play with chickens, and a rooster pecked his butt. He never spoke to me again. At least he grew up handsome. My sudden closeness startled him. He leaned back, looking at me with lowered eyes. His eyes were beautiful, like obsidian. Long lashes shadowed his gaze, making him look less unapproachable. He stayed silent. I scratched my head. “I’m your fiancée. Ring a bell?” He was drinking water and choked. He coughed, trying to suppress the sound. I patted his back. When he recovered, he looked at me with a strange expression, his pale face flushed. Maybe he didn’t remember. Or maybe bankruptcy changed him. Fine. We’d just start over as friends. I extended my hand. “Well, we’re deskmates now. I’m Lily. Nice to meet you. By the way, can you do me a favor?” I expected silence, but he actually spoke. His voice was cold. “I don’t have time.” 2 Meanwhile, the helpful student who guided me sprinted to the stairwell where a group of rich kids were waiting. “Julian, it’s done. That girl is dense,” Tyler crowed to the handsome boy in the center. “She believed every word. I pointed out Caleb and told her the Vance family was broke and he couldn’t afford food. Her jaw hit the floor.” “She even saw Caleb’s dry bread. Who wants a charity case like that?” “I bet you within three days, she’ll run crying to her dad to call off the wedding.” Julian Vance looked impatient. “Are you sure? Three days? She really bought it?” “I saw the photo she had. It was just a side profile. Looks enough like Caleb. I told her you changed your name to dodge debt collectors. She ate it up.” “If you run into her, just say you have the same name. She won’t suspect a thing.” Julian relaxed, leaning back. “A nouveau riche hillbilly. Who does arranged marriages anymore?” “Exactly. The Vances are old money. Your brother married an heiress. Why are you stuck with a village girl?” “My mom’s been on a hunger strike over this for days. But my dad listens to Grandpa, and Grandpa is obsessed with honoring some promise to his old war buddy.” “But hey,” Tyler added, “that fiancée of yours…” Julian shot him a glare. “She’s actually pretty cute,” Tyler muttered. “I took a pic. Wanna see? Maybe she’s your type.” Julian scoffed. “Are you sick? My standards aren’t that low.” Tyler scratched his head. “Seriously, she’s prettier than the school beauty queen.” 3 I knew none of this. My eyes were fixed on Caleb. Or, as I knew him, “Julian.” He said his name was Caleb, and everyone called him that. The Vance family really did change his name to hide from debt. I spent the whole day trying to talk to him. He rarely responded. But I’m a chatterbox. I take after my dad, who can talk to a brick wall for hours. Plus, I make friends easily. “Hey, what’s good to eat in River City? I’m new here.” “Do you live on campus or at home?” “Why is this topic taught differently here than in my town?” “Where’s the water fountain? I’m dying of thirst.” Finally, Caleb couldn’t take it anymore. “Focus on the lesson.” After a pause, he added, “Water fountain is by Class 4. Go after class.” By the time class ended, I forgot about the water. I called my dad immediately to tell him about the Vance bankruptcy. “What? Really?” Dad sounded shocked. “It’s okay, sweetie. If they’re broke, they’re broke. We don’t discriminate. Humanity shows itself in tough times. If you like the kid, we’ll just support him.” I nodded. Not that I liked him like that yet. But Caleb was pitiful. I had nothing but money. And he needed money. My family got rich the year I was born. My dad jumped on real estate reform in ’98, bought old grain depots, developed new districts in 2005, and invested in tech without understanding a lick of it. He just knew how to spend. Compared to the generational wealth of the Vances, we were definitely “nouveau riche.” But being nouveau riche meant my dad handed me credit cards like they were tissues. I could have bought the KTV where Caleb worked, but I didn’t. I stalked Caleb for days to find out where he worked. Night-shift Caleb was different. Messier hair, casual clothes. When he saw me, his brows knitted together tight. “Who let you in here?” He dragged me to the stairwell. “Why are you at a KTV?” I pulled a sandwich from my bag and shoved it into his hand. Caleb froze. “Eat,” I urged. “I bought too much. It expires tonight. I can’t eat it, and wasting food is bad. Help me out.” I found out Caleb worked three jobs. Flyer distribution, a fried noodle stall, then the KTV. He sold noodles for $7 but never ate them himself. He survived on dry buns or leftover snacks from KTV guests. My classmates warned me to stay away from him. They said he was weird, gloomy, and antisocial. They said his mom had uremia and his sister was disabled. So Mrs. Vance was sick? I couldn’t ask him. I didn’t want to hurt his pride. “Why?” Caleb looked down at the sandwich. “Why what? We’re deskmates. And you helped me with math today.” I nodded firmly. “My dad said if I don’t get into a good college, he’ll break my legs. Caleb, this is bribery. The sandwich isn’t free. You have to keep tutoring me.” I saw his math score today. 149 out of 150. Genius. He pursed his lips. “You don’t think I’m dirty?” “What? No!” I leaned in and sniffed him dramatically. “Your clothes smell like soap. It’s nice. Look at my sleeve…” I held up my arm. “Way dirtier than yours. Do you think I’m dirty?” In the dim light, Caleb looked up. His eyes shone like stars. He shook his head. “Exactly. I’m your fian—” I stopped myself just in time. 4 Caleb clocked out ten minutes early to walk me home. He slipped a notebook into my bag. My dad bought a villa in the posh Clear Creek district before I arrived. Since Mom died, he’s been overprotective. He hired a housekeeper to look after me. As we approached the villa district, I swerved toward the cheaper apartments nearby. If he saw the villas, he might feel bad about his bankruptcy. “Here!” I pointed at a random building. “You go home too.” Caleb looked up at the building, then patted my head. “See you tomorrow, deskmate.” If anyone knew Caleb, they’d say he looked like a paper doll coming to life. Less dead, more hopeful. Once he was gone, I sprinted back to the villas. I rounded the corner to my house and almost crashed into someone. A hand steadied me. I looked up. A handsome, refined face. Weirdly familiar. He looked a bit like Caleb. But why did he look so dumbstruck? I waved my hand in front of his face. “Hey, I’m fine. You can let go.” He blinked and released me. “Sorry.” I nodded and kept walking. “You go to First High too…” he called out. But my puppy, Bean, ran out to greet me. I forgot the stranger instantly. Julian stood there, watching the girl run off with her dog. He checked the group chat. “Does anyone know a girl at our school? Long hair, big eyes, tall, mole on her nose?” “What’s this? Love at first sight?” “No way. Julian’s standards are too high.” Julian stared at the screen. “Shut up. Just tell me if you’ve seen her.” “Hair, eyes, height… sure. But that specific combo? No idea.” “I’ll scout for you tomorrow. If she’s at First High, I’ll find her.” Julian typed lazily: “Find her, and you’ll be rewarded.” He was confident. He always got what he wanted.

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The scorching heat of the apocalypse had arrived, and with it came the Beastman System. Your survival depended on your National Aptitude Test score. High scores meant priority access to S-Tier Beastmen. In my past life, my younger sister, backed by our parents, forced me to give up the Ice Python. I had to use every last one of my points to exchange for a Fire Fox instead. The heatwave was short-lived. The Eternal Freeze followed immediately after. My parents and sister didn’t survive the cold; they turned into ice sculptures. As for the Fire Fox? He had always lusted after my sister. After she died, he set me up and got me killed. Now, I’ve been reborn. And my sister, carrying the memories of her past life, is desperate to snatch the Fire Fox from me. Perfect. That’s exactly what I want. Chapter 1 When I opened my eyes, I was sitting at my desk, staring at the computer screen, waiting for my test results. In my last life, two days before the scores were released, the Heat Apocalypse began. Global temperatures skyrocketed. People were dropping like flies. Simultaneously, the “System” descended, offering the survivors a glimmer of hope. The Beastman System. Everyone could bind with a creature. Your options depended on your test score. High score? You get first pick of the elite bloodlines. Low score? You get the scraps. I didn’t even bother checking my score this time. I already knew it. I had always been the smart one. My sister, Bella, was the opposite. Her grades were trash. We were the only two kids, but Mom and Dad played favorites like it was an Olympic sport. Bella was the golden child. I never wasted energy arguing. I poured everything into my studies, consistently ranking at the top. Bella, spoiled rotten, barely scraped by but always knew how to sweet-talk our parents. In my previous life, she threw a tantrum and, with our parents’ help, stole the Ice Python I had selected. I knew exactly what was coming. Right on cue, the door burst open. Bella marched in, flanked by Mom and Dad. “Chloe, did you check your score?” No knocking, no manners. Bella cut straight to the chase. “I did. State Rank One.” Hatred and jealousy flashed in Bella’s eyes. Seeing her like this gave me a twisted sense of satisfaction. She looked down on me for being a nerd, yet here she was, about to beg for the very privilege my hard work had earned. Mom and Dad lit up. “Really? I knew our Chloe was a genius! Top of the state!” “This is huge! The Jiang family name is finally going to mean something!” Their praise annoyed Bella. She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “It’s the apocalypse, Mom. Grades don’t mean anything anymore. Survival is the only thing that matters.” I watched her try to rain on my parade and sighed internally. “Actually, since my score is high, I get priority selection on a Guardian Beast. That pretty much guarantees my survival,” I said, yawning and leaning back in my chair. Bella’s face twisted. She remembered why she was here. Her expression shifted through three different emotions before settling on a fake smile. “Sis, you haven’t picked your beast yet, right?” “Not yet. Just saw the score.” “What are you gonna pick?” “None of your business. Any S-Tier beast is enough to keep me alive.” Bella’s expression darkened with malice. “Open the interface. Let me see what the top-tier beasts look like.” With her garbage score, she wouldn’t even have access to view the S-Class catalog. My parents, suddenly remembering their precious baby’s predicament, chimed in. “Yes, Chloe, show us.” “You know Bella didn’t do well. Just let her take a peek.” I could practically hear the abacus clicking in their heads. I opened the selection interface. Two holographic projections materialized in the center of the room. One was a massive, snow-white Python, coiled peacefully on a glacier. The other was a Fire Fox, sitting proudly on a burning rock, flames dancing around its tails. The moment she saw the Fire Fox, Bella’s eyes lit up with greed. My eyes, however, filled with hate. Chapter 2 In the previous timeline, during the scorching heat, Bella had set her sights on the Python. The logic was simple: it was hot, and the snake was cold. They coerced, guilt-tripped, and threatened me until I handed the Python over. I was left with the Fire Fox, which cost me every single point I had, leaving me with zero currency to buy survival items. Bella got the top-tier Python for free and refused to lend me a single point to stay alive. “Chloe, can you let me have the Fire Fox?” Hearing her make the opposite choice confirmed it: Bella was reborn, too. Unless she knew the heat was temporary and the Eternal Freeze was coming, she would never pick a fire-attribute beast in this weather. I smirked. “Why should I? I earned the priority pick. Why should I give it to you?” “Chloe! Bella is your little sister! Be the bigger person!” Mom snapped. “Exactly,” Dad added. “You only have one sister. She’s younger than you. It won’t kill you to protect her.” Here we go again. “Since we were kids, I’ve had to yield everything to her. She’s younger, sure, but I’m getting older too! Why doesn’t she ever yield to me? My beast is the reward for my hard work. Why should I give it up?” I used to think that if I showed them success, they might love me. I see now that was a waste of time. Bella bit her lip, looking aggrieved. “Are you trying to kill me, Chloe? You know my score is bad. It’s a million degrees outside. I’m not asking for the snake, I’m leaving the cooling one for you! Can’t you just help me?” If I hadn’t seen her vicious face in our past life, I might have believed her logic. Last time, she neglected the Python. She refused to spend points on him, so he never evolved. When the Freeze came, she froze to death along with the snake she’d starved. I, meanwhile, had to play deadly System Games to earn points to feed that ungrateful Fire Fox. And while I was fighting for my life, Bella had been secretly seducing the Fox. When she died, the Fox—now evolved and humanoid thanks to my blood and sweat—blamed me. He left me in the snow to be torn apart by feral beasts. Seeing Bella so desperate for the Fox, I decided to be a benevolent sister. I wanted to see how she’d handle that high-maintenance, gold-digging fox without my ability to earn points. I immediately tapped the [Bind] button under the Snow Python. The projection vanished. In the room, a slender white snake materialized, coiling around my arm. The temperature in the room instantly dropped twenty degrees. It was blissfully cool. Seeing I didn’t take the Fox, Bella let out a breath she’d been holding. “Sis… I don’t have enough points for the Fox. Can you… can you use your points to redeem him for me?” “No way. If I buy him, I’ll have zero points. How will I survive?” I poked the little snake’s head. He looked at me with beady eyes and flicked a fork tongue against my cheek. “I can share my points with you, Sis!” Bella lied through her teeth. “It’s a win-win. Our family will have two S-Tier beasts. We’ll be invincible.” Yeah, right. I choked on that lie in my last life. “Tell you what, Bella. You transfer all your points to me first. Whatever you’re short, ask Mom and Dad to cover it. My points will be the family reserve fund. Deal?” “No!” Bella rejected it instantly. My parents blindly backed her up. “How can you be so selfish? Using her points is fine, but using yours is a problem? Do you want your sister to have nothing?” I was done with their hypocrisy. I feigned impatience, moving my finger toward the ‘Cancel’ button on the trade interface. “Cut the crap. Use your own points or I’m closing the window. Let someone else grab the Fox.” Bella panicked. She hated parting with her currency, but she wanted the Fox more. Just as I was about to close it, she gritted her teeth and agreed. She transferred her points—and Mom and Dad’s points—to my account. I completed the transaction for the Fox. Then, ignoring their hateful glares, I kicked all three of them out of my room. Bella hugged the Fire Fox, ecstatic. She had no idea what it cost to feed that thing. Chapter 3 I opened the System Shop and spent points like water. Nutrient serums, Evolution Pills, Elemental Cores—anything that was good for the Snow Python, I bought it. In just a few days, the little snake grew from a garden hose into a proper python. He used to wrap around my neck. Now, he was heavy enough to give me scoliosis. “You’re getting heavy,” I muttered, poking his head. It was the size of my fist now. He tilted his head, looking confused, then licked my face again. Kind of cute. I kissed the top of his smooth, white head. The scales on his head turned a faint pink. Cute and shy. I stopped teasing him. I needed to prepare for the Eternal Freeze. I had points from the trade, but I couldn’t just sit on them. Luckily, I retained my combat experience from the previous life’s games. When I went to the living room for dinner, Bella was hugging her precious Fox. “Aren’t you hot?” I asked. I rolled a can of soda down the Python’s body. It frosted over instantly. In this heat, he was better than an AC unit. “Tch. You don’t know anything,” Bella sneered. “Just wait. You’ll see.” “Is that so?” She stared at my snake. “How did he get so big in just a few days?” My python was now waist-high when he reared up. In her past life, she starved him until he died the size of a worm. “I fed him,” I said, pointing at the red fox. “Don’t tell me… you haven’t fed yours anything? He’s gonna stay a runt if you don’t.” The Fire Fox’s eyes glinted with malice when he heard that. “What?!” Bella shrieked, making sure our parents heard. “You spent all your points feeding that stupid snake?” My parents rushed out. “You ungrateful wretch! Those points were for the family! How dare you spend them all!” “How are we supposed to live now?” Bella smirked. She loved using them as a weapon. “Let’s get one thing straight,” I said calmly. “Your points went into buying that fox. My points are mine. I’ll spend them how I like.” “This is our house!” Bella yelled. “Aren’t you afraid we’ll kick you out to die?” I patted the massive snake head beside me. “With him, I’ll survive anywhere. But you guys? The AC is barely holding up. And your fox is a literal heater. Are you sure you want to kick out the only source of cold air in the house?” “Just you wait,” Bella hissed. “This heat won’t last. You’re going to freeze to death soon enough.” She just laid her cards on the table. “If you don’t start feeding that fox properly,” I replied, “do you really think he’ll have the strength to protect you when the frost hits?” I went back to my room, leaving her looking anxious. Chapter 4 Bella took the bait. The fox was getting restless, so she started entering the System Games. But Bella was incompetent. She barely scraped by, coming back with injuries and meager points. It wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy the fox’s gluttony. One day, while Bella was in a game, the fox came knocking on my door. I let him in. He hopped onto my keyboard and skillfully typed out a message. “Chloe. Why did you pick that useless snake? You know the Freeze is coming. I am the only one who can keep you alive.” My python, Frost, narrowed his beady eyes. His tail slammed against the floorboards—thud, thud—in irritation. I stroked his scales to calm him down. “Stupid fox. You’re reborn too, aren’t you? Then you know there’s bad blood between us. I’m not dumb enough to raise a beast that stabs me in the back again.” The keyboard clattered rapidly. “I was tricked by Bella last time. I regretted it. That’s why I self-destructed after you died.” He looked at me with puppy-dog eyes, feigning remorse. I felt nothing. “It’s fine. I found a beast that suits me. I gave you and Bella your happy ending. Now go be with her.” Before he could type another word, a white tail swept him out of the room and slammed the door shut. I turned to comfort Frost, but a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind. Cold breath tickled my ear. “Did you choose him in your past life? So I wasn’t your first choice? You only picked me because you had no other option?” The voice was deep, aggrieved, and silky smooth. I froze. He transformed! He died before he could take human form last time. “Of course not! Bella stole you first! I had no choice but to pick the stinky fox!” I tried to turn around to look at him. Holy… The fox was handsome, sure. But Frost? He was ethereal. Silver-white hair, piercing silver eyes looking at me with deep devotion. His upper body was sculpted muscle, tight abs leading down to… A snake tail. He noticed me staring lower and blushed. Still shy! “What are you looking at?! Don’t look!” He covered my eyes with his hand. I laughed. “I heard snakes have two…” “Mmph!” He clamped his hand over my mouth. His whole body turned pink. “Okay, okay. Do you have a name?” “Frost.” While Frost thrived under my care, the fox continued to pressure Bella, complaining about his slow growth.

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I was in the middle of buying cherries when my friend called, saying her company was urgently hiring and I needed to come in for an interview immediately. Pressed for time, I rushed over with the cherries still in hand. Before going into the interview, I specifically asked the receptionist to keep an eye on them for me. But when I came out, I found a group of people standing at the front desk, sharing my cherries. When I confronted them, all I got was dismissive ridicule: “New hires should bring gifts, isn’t that just standard etiquette?” “So stingy. If you actually get the job, you’re going to have a hard time here.” Just then, my friend came over. I asked her to back me up, but instead, she said: “It’s just treating future colleagues to some cherries. If you can’t even figure that out, how are you going to survive in the corporate world? You really don’t understand how things work.” 01 I picked up Sarah’s call right as I was paying for a bag of premium cherries. “Stella, where are you? It’s an emergency!” Before I could even say hello, she launched into a rapid-fire explanation: “Our Creative Department has an urgent opening. The pay is amazing. I recommended you directly, and the director loved your resume. He wants to know if you can come in for an interview right now.” Sarah landed a job as an HR specialist at a major tech firm right after graduation. Everyone in our dorm was envious. I was surprised and excited. “Right now?” “Yes, right now! This position is a golden ticket. If you miss this window, it’s gone. Get over here ASAP. Grab this opportunity, and we can hang out every day again.” Her tone was urgent, but she added a playful note at the end: “Plus, this counts towards my KPI, so don’t embarrass me, okay?” I laughed. “I won’t let you down.” Hanging up, I looked at the cherries in my hand. No time to go home and drop them off. Whatever. The interview was more important. Thirty minutes later, I stood panting in the lobby of NovaTech. Walking into an interview with a grocery bag felt unprofessional, so I approached the front desk. “Hi, I’m here for a last-minute interview. Could I possibly leave this here for a bit?” The receptionist was friendly and took the bag with a smile. “Of course.” She quickly wrote my last name and the time on a sticky note, slapped it on the bag, and set it aside. Relieved, I snapped a quick photo of the bag and texted Sarah. [I’m here! I left a box of cherries at the front desk. Keep an eye on them for me~] Sarah replied instantly: [Don’t worry. Good luck!] 02 The interviewer was a middle-aged man. His nameplate read: HR Director – Brian Lee. He took my resume, flipped through it carelessly, and tossed it aside. “I see you graduated from a top university. Why haven’t you found a job yet? Are your standards too high?” I frowned slightly but kept a polite smile plastered on my face. “I believe job hunting requires careful consideration. It’s not about being picky; it’s about being responsible to myself and my future employer.” He let out a dismissive scoff, leaning forward to scan me up and down like a searchlight. “Do you have a boyfriend?” I paused. Ignoring my reaction, he continued: “When do you plan on getting married? Do you have plans for children?” “I don’t want to train an employee only for her to run off on maternity leave. It impacts projects significantly.” The implications in his words made my skin crawl. I suddenly remembered how much Sarah hated hearing people talk like this back in college. Did she know her boss was like this? She was so good to me; I couldn’t let her be kept in the dark. Thinking this, I quietly started recording on my phone, planning to let Sarah listen later. Then I looked straight at Director Lee. “I don’t believe my personal relationship status has any direct correlation to my professional abilities. If you’re concerned about stability, I can walk you through my five-year career plan.” Unfortunately, he wasn’t interested in listening. He leaned back in his chair and dropped an even bigger bomb. “Five-year plan? Easier said than done.” “I’m not looking down on you, but the fact is, women have limited energy. Plus, if you get married, you have to balance the family.” He paused, his tone turning preachy. “Or do you think a woman’s ultimate place isn’t in the home?” I was so angry I almost laughed. What century was this? I took a deep breath, sat up straight, and stared him down. “First, I don’t believe energy levels are tied to gender. That depends on individual capability and drive.” “Second, where my ‘ultimate place’ is, is for me to decide, not my gender.” Brian Lee’s face darkened instantly. He probably hadn’t expected an interviewee to push back so directly. “In that case, go back and wait for a notification.” He clearly didn’t want to talk to me anymore. He stood up, dropped that line, and walked out of the room. My impression of this company had hit rock bottom. I just wanted to tell Sarah what happened. [Interview’s over. Are you free?] [That was fast. What’s up?] I told her I needed to talk and asked to meet in the lobby. I left the interview room. 03 To my surprise, when I got to the front desk, the company had another surprise waiting for me. Seven or eight employees were gathered there, laughing and eating something. I thought it was an office snack break until I got closer. They were eating my cherries. The clean countertop was littered with pits, and the fancy packaging was tossed to the side. The friendly receptionist from earlier was shrinking into the corner, head down, avoiding my gaze. My blood pressure spiked. “Excuse me, who said you could touch my things?” I walked up quickly and asked them directly. A man with slicked-back hair popped another cherry into his mouth without pausing. “Yo, is this you? The new interview candidate?” He glanced at me dismissively, his tone flippant. “Newbies should bring a greeting gift. It’s standard. Why are you being so petty?” As soon as he finished, someone else chimed in with a laugh. “Exactly. So stingy. You’re going to have a rough time if you get hired.” These unapologetic remarks only fueled my anger. Just then, Sarah walked over. She saw me, and for a split second, I saw a look of amusement in her eyes—like she was watching a show. But it vanished so fast I thought I imagined it. Seeing her felt like grabbing a lifeline. She was a full-time employee; surely she had more authority than me. “Sarah, perfect timing. You be the judge.” I grabbed her arm and pointed at the cherry carnage on the desk. “I left my stuff at the front desk. Why did they eat it without asking? And now they’re saying I don’t understand ‘human interaction.’ That’s unreasonable, right?” But Sarah frowned. Instead of backing me up, she pulled me aside forcefully, signaling me to stop talking. In a tone dripping with “disappointed parent,” she lectured me: “Stella, what are you doing? It’s just treating colleagues to some fruit. You’re about to work at a big tech company; don’t be so small-minded.” She paused, then added: “Besides, you left it on the front desk. It’s normal for people to think it was for everyone.” I stared at her in disbelief. The humiliation from the interviewer and the theft of my cherries paled in comparison to these two sentences. My best friend from college didn’t defend me. Instead, she blamed me. While I was speechless, a female colleague smirked and raised her phone, pointing the camera right at me. “Everyone look, the top-tier grad is throwing a tantrum over a box of cherries. I have to record this; it’s going to be my entertainment for the week.” Everyone around us laughed. 04 I glanced at Sarah, who hadn’t managed to hide her smile in time, and I started laughing too. Confused by my reaction, the laughter around me died down. “I think you’re right.” I stared at her, enunciating every word. “I am small-minded. Too small-minded to accept theft being rebranded as ‘office politics.’” I shifted my gaze from her paling face to the group of stunned “tech elites.” “Newbies should bring gifts? Who made that rule?” “Labor laws? Or company policy?” “If I had left a stack of cash here today, would you have felt entitled to divide that up too?” Slick-back Hair opened his mouth but couldn’t find words. I turned back to Sarah. She instinctively took a step back. “In college, if someone made a joke that crossed the line, you’d argue with them for three days.” “How is it that now, when my property is stolen and eaten, you say I’m the one who doesn’t get it? You need to educate me?” I stepped closer to her, trying to suppress my rage. “Your idea of ‘big picture’ is stepping on your best friend’s face to fit into your corporate family?” Sarah panicked. Her eyes darted around, avoiding mine. She stayed silent. The woman recording probably thought the drama was getting good, so she raised her phone higher. I ignored her and looked around. On the other side of the front desk was a spread of bubble tea and fancy cakes—clearly their afternoon tea order. Without a word, I walked over. Under everyone’s confused gaze, I picked the most expensive-looking bubble tea and the biggest cake. “You ate my cherries. I’m taking your afternoon tea as compensation. That’s fair, don’t you think?” Without waiting for a reaction from the stunned group, I hugged my “spoils” and walked out the front door without looking back. As soon as I got home, I blocked Sarah on everything. I thought that would be the end of it. But that night, I got another surprise. I was gaming when my other college roommate called, interrupting me. “Stella! Check Weibo! You’re trending!” Confused, I opened the link she sent. It was a video from a gossip account, with a clickbait title: [Entitled Gen Z Destroys Workplace? Grad Throws Tantrum Over Fruit, Steals Colleagues’ Tea!] The video showed me holding the cake and tea, saying, “That’s fair.” But not a single word about the context. Worse, even though my face was blurred, the top comment doxxed me completely. [I recognize her. That’s my college classmate. She’s always been self-centered with zero EQ. She thinks she’s better than everyone because she went to a good school. Guess she hasn’t changed.] They even posted a photo of me from college. Soon, my phone started vibrating uncontrollably as messages from strangers flooded in.

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1 Since I was little, I’ve been like a shadow, trailing behind my older brother, Tyler. To the outside world, we were the enviable siblings of the wealthy Shen family, raised in the lap of luxury. Our birthdays were lavish garden parties at our estate, the kind people posted about on Instagram for weeks. Tyler was the undisputed king of our social circle. Handsome, athletic, a piano prodigy, and effortlessly cool. He was every girl’s crush and every parent’s benchmark for “the perfect son.” And me? I was his personal assistant disguised as a sister. He chased the school queen bee; I delivered the love notes. He skipped class to hit the arcade; I covered for him during roll call. He didn’t feel like doing homework; I pulled all-nighters finishing his essays. Don’t ask why. The answer is simple: I’m the adopted daughter, Chloe. When we were kids, Tyler used to terrify me. He’d say he was the boss of the house, and if I didn’t listen to him, he’d have Mom and Dad ship me back to the foster system in a cardboard box. That one sentence traumatized me into a people-pleaser. I spent my life nodding and “yes, brother”-ing my way through existence. Until today. Tyler sent me on another errand to buy a specific artisanal sandwich for his crush, Jessica. Halfway there, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Tyler: [Yo, short stack, did you get the breakfast yet?] I was out of breath. [Quit rushing me. The bakery is halfway across town. I’m not doing this next time.] He replied with a smug emoji: [You always say that, but you always do it. By the way, I’m broke. Spent my allowance on a gift for Jessica. Put the errand fee on my tab.] [Also, your new ‘brother’ is coming home today. You better stand with me. When he gets here, we need to put him in his place.] Sure enough, when I walked through the front door, I saw a stranger standing in the darkest corner of the foyer. His messy bangs covered his eyes, his head hung low. He wore a faded, thrifted hoodie and looked too thin, like a gust of wind could knock him over. His hands were rough, calloused from hard labor. But when he looked up, I froze. Tyler was considered the gold standard of looks, but this guy? He was on another level. He looked exactly like Mom—deep-set eyes, sharp features. He had that rare “tragic beauty” vibe, a mix of destitution and inherent nobility that clashed perfectly. His name was Sebastian. He was Mom’s biological son, switched at birth. In other words, Tyler had stolen his life and enjoyed seventeen years of wealth that belonged to him. But even with Sebastian standing right there, Mom instinctively patted Tyler’s hand, soothing him. “Don’t worry, Ty. You will always be the most important child in this house.” Mom’s attitude was my compass. I knew the drill: keep sucking up to Tyler. Sebastian, who had suffered in poverty for nearly two decades, radiated alienation. But his eyes… they were like a wolf’s. Wild. He said nothing, just staring at Mom until she squirmed. Finally, Mom walked over and gave him a stiff hug. “I’m sorry, my child. You’ve suffered so much.” Tyler chose that moment to let out a mocking laugh. “Mom, you guys are the real family. Now that you’re reunited, should I pack my bags?” Mom panicked instantly. She pushed Sebastian away and rushed to grab Tyler’s hand. “What are you saying? You are my baby. My precious son.” From an angle Mom couldn’t see, Tyler smirked at Sebastian. A look of pure victory. Sebastian’s expression didn’t change. It was as if Mom’s love—or lack thereof—didn’t matter to him. But I saw it. A flicker of loneliness in his eyes. Mom turned to him. “Sebastian, don’t mind him. Tyler is a victim in this, too.” Suddenly, floating translucent text appeared in the air before my eyes, like a livestream chat. [Are you kidding me? Tyler benefited the most! How is he a victim?] [Exactly. Tyler lived like a prince for 17 years while Sebastian got beaten by an abusive foster dad.] [I wish I could be a ‘victim’ like that.] I blinked, but the text remained. Sebastian stayed silent. Mom pulled me forward. “Chloe, be a good girl. Say hello to your new brother.” Behind me, Tyler pinched my arm—a signal. He wanted me to bully the new kid. Usually, I’d stick my chin up and say something bratty like, “He doesn’t look like my brother.” The floating text scrolled faster: [Here it comes. The classic scene. The villainess sister tells Sebastian to get lost, destroying his last shred of hope for this family.] [Ugh, poor Sebastian. Coming home just to be bullied by these demon siblings.] [Don’t worry. Sebastian becomes the ruthless CEO later. He bankrupts these two idiots. They end up fighting stray dogs for food under a bridge.] 2 Bankrupt? Fighting dogs for food?! Absolutely not. I spent years catering to Tyler’s every whim just to secure a comfortable future. I did not put in all that emotional labor to end up homeless! I needed to save my future. Immediately. My survival instincts kicked into overdrive. I plastered on the sweetest, most sugary smile I could muster and launched myself at Sebastian, wrapping him in a bear hug. “This brother is so handsome! I like him!” I held on tight, my voice dripping with syrup. “I’m Chloe. Welcome home, big brother!” He went rigid. The icy mask on his face finally cracked. I could feel his confusion, his hesitation as his hand hovered awkwardly over my back. I snickered internally and grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the dining room. “Brother, you’re too skinny! This won’t do. Dinner is ready, you need to eat a lot and get strong!” The floating comments went wild: [??? What is happening? Did the villainess get possessed?] [She’s definitely plotting something. She’s Tyler’s number one lackey. In the book, she tortures the MC.] At the dinner table, Mom’s favoritism was blatant. She piled all the expensive dishes in front of Tyler and me. In front of Sebastian? A plate of stir-fried spinach. Even Mom felt a little awkward. She picked up a piece of glazed salmon. “Sebastian, try this. It’s delicious.” Sebastian glanced at it. “I don’t eat fish. I’m allergic to seafood.” Mom froze, embarrassed. She silently moved the salmon to Tyler’s bowl. “Ty, you’ve been studying hard. You eat it.” Tyler grinned. “Thanks, Mom. I love salmon. Can we have it tomorrow too?” Then, he pivoted, smiling maliciously at me. “By the way, Mom, Chloe was just telling me how much she wanted a massive seafood feast tomorrow. Right, Chloe?” The comments exploded: [This guy is such a snake. He knows Sebastian is allergic and he’s doing this on purpose.] [I can’t wait until they’re broke on the streets.] [Especially the sister. Pretty, homeless, and alone… her ending in the book is brutal. She gets targeted by…] I stopped reading. The food in my mouth turned to ash. My survival instinct roared. I put down my chopsticks, wiped my mouth, and grabbed Mom’s arm, shaking it like a toddler. “But Mom! I don’t want seafood anymore! I really want sweet and sour pork ribs, spicy tofu, and truffle chicken soup!” I batted my eyelashes. “Mommy, please? Can we have those instead?” Mom ate it up. She tapped my nose affectionately. “Okay, okay. Whatever our little glutton wants.” Tyler’s face went dark. He hadn’t expected me to go off-script and save Sebastian. I pretended not to notice and shoveled rice into my mouth. Honestly? I felt guilty. My muscle memory wanted to agree with Tyler. I was wired to please him. But I was more afraid of sleeping under a bridge. After dinner, Mom showed Sebastian to his room. It was right next to mine. I thought I could finally sleep, but the damn text floated up again: [Unbelievable. Tyler poured water on Sebastian’s bed. What a jerk.] [It’s freezing at night right now. He’s trying to make him sick.] [It’s fine. Just imagine them shivering in a cardboard box later. Karma is coming.] 3 The comments felt vindicated. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I jumped out of bed without putting on slippers, grabbed a brand-new duvet from the linen closet, and sprinted to Sebastian’s room. I knocked lightly. Sebastian opened the door. Moonlight spilled across his face, highlighting his sharp jawline. He was shockingly handsome. I paused for a second, dazzled. Then I shoved the duvet at him. “Brother! I heard your bedding got… uh, wet. This is brand new. Use this.” He stared at me. His dark eyes searched my face for a long time before he spoke, his voice raspy. “Why are you being so nice to me?” Because I don’t want to be homeless, bro! But I smiled like an angel. “Because you’re my brother. We’re family.” He flinched like the word “family” physically burned him. “Family?” I nodded vigorously. “Yup! I’m very useful. I’ll take care of you and protect you!” Suddenly, he smiled. It looked like snow melting in spring. “I’m the older brother. I should be the one taking care of you. Protecting you.” My heart did a weird little flip. With Tyler, I was always the one cleaning up messes and taking the blame. I rubbed my nose. “So, what do you like to eat? I’ll tell the chef for tomorrow.” His lips curved up. “No need. The dishes you asked for today… those are my favorites.” I grinned. “I knew it! Who doesn’t love sweet and sour ribs?” Sebastian chuckled. It was the first time I’d heard him laugh. I stared again. When he smiled… he was lethal. 4 The next morning, Tyler didn’t wait for me to walk to school. I knew he was mad. I felt a little wronged. I’d been his servant for years, and one moment of disobedience was enough to cut me off? My phone buzzed. It was Jessica, the school’s queen bee. [Chloe, get me the spicy noodles from the cafeteria for breakfast. But like, from the good stall on the other side of campus. Thanks!] Ever since Tyler started making me run errands for her, she had gotten comfortable treating me like her personal DoorDash. I wanted to text back: Get it yourself. I deleted it. [Okay.] I didn’t like Jessica. On the first day of high school, during introductions, I spoke one sentence. She burst out laughing. “Oh my god, is that your real voice? It’s so high-pitched and fake. We’re in high school, you don’t need to act like an anime character.” The whole class laughed. My face burned. I’m naturally soft-spoken; I wasn’t faking anything. Tyler had kicked her chair. “Knock it off.” Jessica rolled her eyes. “Protective much? It’s just a joke. She’s too sensitive.” Tyler had patted my head. “Don’t worry about it, Chloe.” I felt safe then. But… But, Tyler, why did you fall in love with her? 5 Despite his threats to send me back to the orphanage, Tyler used to be good to me. I have hypoglycemia—low blood sugar. I get dizzy if I don’t eat. Tyler used to keep tangerine candies in his pocket. Whenever I forgot mine, he’d peel one and pop it in my mouth. “Idiot,” he’d say, smiling. “So much trouble.” Recently, I hadn’t forgotten my candy. I just pretended to, because I liked being cared for. But then Jessica started chirping in his ear. “Tyler, are you obsessed with your sister? It’s weird. You’re going to turn her into a brat.” Tyler called her annoying, but his ears turned red. He stopped bringing me candy. Now, his pockets were full of hair ties because Jessica always lost hers. His patience transferred to her. He tutored her, bought her gifts for every holiday, and made me deliver his love letters. He made me bring her breakfast. He seemed to forget that I hated her. To keep Tyler happy, I had to suck up to Jessica. I had to pretend I didn’t mind. But the tangerine candy sweetness was gone. Now, all I tasted was bitter.

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During my loneliest year, I adopted three unwanted shapeshifters—or “Beastmen,” as they called themselves. The Black Python was cold and aloof. Even when his body was burning up with fever, he refused to initiate any closeness. The Snow Fox was clingy and obedient. He needed to be coaxed to eat, kissed before bed, and begged for cuddles every single day. The Grey Wolf was dominant and possessive. Every night before sleep, he checked to make sure his mark was still visible on my leg. If I refused, he’d posture as if ready to attack. To feed them, I went back to my old trade: hunting demons. Early mornings, late nights. My energy was draining day by day. Until one day, I walked in on three beautiful men plotting in my room. “I smelled a mermaid on her yesterday.” “Mermaids are lustful creatures. No wonder she’s been so listless lately and cold to us.” “Let’s not wait then. Let’s just eat her.” My face went completely pale. 1 I am a demon hunter in training. Because my skills were still raw, my family stationed me at a remote estate in the suburbs to cultivate my powers. By day three, I was bored out of my mind. I posted online asking how to kill time. The netizens were helpful, in their own way. “Like dogs? I have a beagle. Free delivery, but absolutely no returns.” “Get a parrot. When they go crazy, it’s like living with a drama queen.” “Are you guys trying to kill the OP? Listen to me, raise cockroaches. Easy maintenance. When you’re happy, let them nibble. When you’re mad, chase them around.” While scrolling through the dizzying options, I got a DM from someone claiming to be a zoo director. “My zoo went bust. I urgently need kind souls to adopt these animals. Interested?” It sounded perfect. I’d help the director and solve my boredom. I asked what animals were left. “Elephants, whales, tigers, black bears…” I fell silent. Was he serious? I asked if there were any smaller ones. The director replied eagerly, “Yes, yes! A Black Python, a Snow Fox, and a Grey Wolf. They’re the leftovers nobody wanted.” I said I couldn’t handle that many. After some thought, I chose the Snow Fox. The delivery arrived that night. I opened the crate and froze. Three pairs of eyes stared back at me. The Snow Fox nuzzled up affectionately, the red markings at the corners of its eyes giving it a bewitching look. The Black Python, nearly two meters long with golden pupils, was coiled around the cage bars, flicking its tongue coldly. Its scales were jet black and glossy. The Grey Wolf, the largest of the three, sized me up with a lazy, arrogant gaze, as if I were already his prey. I snapped a picture and sent it to the director, asking if there was a mistake. “Oh, right! Forgot to mention. We’re doing a ‘Buy One, Get Two Free’ promotion.” What? 2 Returning them was impossible. The director claimed his grandma was giving birth—yes, you read that right—and deleted his account. I felt scammed, but I had no proof. Bang! Bang! The cage rattled violently. The Wolf’s patience had run out. Staying in a cramped cage was an insult to him. The Python had already slithered out, thanks to its flexible body. It was coiled around the banister, ignoring the Wolf’s noise, eyes closed in a fake nap. In contrast, the Fox was much more normal, paws resting on the cage bars, looking at me with puppy-dog eyes. I opened the cage. The Wolf lunged out and pinned me to the carpet. I couldn’t fight back at all. Thankfully, he didn’t smell like blood or rotting meat. The Wolf sniffed me intensely. From head to toe. Like he was inspecting his prey. The thought terrified me. The next second, a sharp pain shot through my thigh. He bit me. I was annoyed. Just as I was about to smack him, he started licking the wound tenderly. While I was confused, I felt a dark gaze on me. I looked up. It was the Fox, perched on top of the cage. Seeing me look, he tilted his head and wagged his tail, looking innocent and cute. I didn’t think much of it. After the Wolf finished his tantrum, I texted my brother describing the Wolf’s behavior. My brother’s cultivation wasn’t much better than mine, but he had seen more of the world. He told me not to make a fuss. “That’s just the Wolf marking you. Nothing unusual.” I looked down at the bite mark on my thigh. Did he have to mark me there? I kept that detail to myself. And I believed my brother. 3 After settling the three of them, I went to take a shower. Just as I took off my clothes, something scratched at the door. Accompanied by anxious whimpering. I was alone in the huge estate, so I didn’t bother putting clothes back on. I opened the door. A white, fluffy ball shot into my arms. Trembling. It was storming outside. The Fox buried himself into me, seeking safety. Instead of pushing him away, I gently stroked his tail. I understood. He looked like the youngest of the three. Being in a strange place during a thunderstorm must be scary. Once he calmed down, the little Fox licked my face affectionately. Seeing I didn’t resist, he moved from my lips to my neck, collarbone, and slowed down at my chest. It felt weird. I put him down outside the door. “I’m going to shower now. You stay here and be good,” I said patiently. He whined unhappily, circling my ankles and rolling on the floor to please me. I hesitated. Did he want to watch me shower? A hissing sound came from nearby. The hall lights were off. The first thing I saw were two golden pupils. The snake slithered leisurely from the shadows into the light. He reared up his upper body, exuding a cold, regal aura. If a normal person saw this, they’d faint. For some reason, I felt like he was warning the Fox. The Fox hid behind my legs, covering himself with his tail. So pitiful, so helpless. I picked him up and couldn’t help but scold the Python, “Don’t bully him.” The Python paused. He looked at me silently for a few seconds, then turned and left indifferently. His tail knocked a lamp off the table on his way out. He definitely did that on purpose. Left alone, the Fox happily kissed my lips. I turned on the shower and asked if he wanted a bath too. He hesitated, wriggled out of my arms, jumped into the tub, and spun in a circle. I understood. I filled the tub. I even threw in a few toys for him. “Go play.” As I stood up, the Fox lightly bit my wrist and tugged me toward him. I paused. “Together?” “That’s not appropriate.” The Fox let go, disappointed. He buried his head underwater, blowing bubbles. …How could he be so cute? My heart softened. Fine. I stepped into the tub. The Fox’s eyes lit up with excitement. 4 After drying the Fox, I put him on the bed. He was so tired he couldn’t keep his eyes open. I changed clothes and went to pick up the takeout I ordered earlier. At the gate, I ran into a creep who had been stalking the property. He came prepared. “You got lucky last time, but no one’s coming to save you now, no matter how loud you scream.” Honestly, I wasn’t that scared. As a member of a demon-hunting family, I’d seen scarier things. Last time, I was actually preparing to release a demon to scare him off, but he ran away first. I stood my ground, looking at him with mockery. “Right back at you.” But then, the man stopped moving. His eyes widened in terror, staring at something behind me. The shadow beneath my feet was swallowed by a larger shadow. A hissing sound came from above. I turned around. Froze. The Python had followed me without me noticing. He was bigger now. Lightning flashed, illuminating his scales with a dark, eerie glow. The pressure he released was terrifying. The creep screamed and ran. The Python was faster. He shot past me. Before I could react, I heard the man’s agonized screams. The scene was gruesome. The Python effortlessly wrapped around the sturdy man, squeezing the breath out of him. He was playing with his food. He could have crushed him instantly, but he was dragging it out, tightening his grip inch by inch. Having seen enough, I walked over. “That’s enough. I already called the police.” The Python ignored me. From the turn of his head, I sensed grievance and anger. I figured it was because I scolded him earlier about the Fox. Snakes hold grudges? Who knew. Saving the guy was priority. I gently patted the snake’s head. “Sorry for what I said earlier. I was wrong.” My hand felt empty. The man dropped to the ground, unconscious. All I saw was the tip of the Python’s tail disappearing into the distance. Why was he running so fast? Did he have a flight to catch?

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I had just gotten the keys to my new house when my mom, without telling me, lent it to a relative to “store a few things.” When I found out, there was an urn sitting in the middle of my living room. I confronted my uncle. “How am I supposed to live here?” I demanded. “My neighbors are already filing complaints!” My uncle marched over and banged on the neighbor’s door. “What are you complaining about? The old man can’t even talk! How is he bothering you?” I was losing my mind. “This is my new house!” My uncle retorted with conviction, “We know it’s a new house, that’s why we put him here! We have kids at home, you know.” “Besides, the old man had a blessed life. He’s bringing you good luck!” My mom chimed in from the sidelines. “They didn’t have a choice. You’re not married; the house is sitting empty anyway.” I changed the locks that same day. But the next day, when I opened the door, the urn was still there. They had made a copy of the key. 1 At 3:00 AM, I pressed “send” and finally exhaled. After pulling three consecutive all-nighters, I had secured the five-million-dollar contract. I was exhausted, sure. But thinking about the commission coming my way, and the new house I had meticulously chosen… even the air tasted sweet. I rubbed my stiff neck, clocked out, and carefully packed the contract and the flash drive. The down payment on that house, in a prime location, had drained every cent of my savings. Countless nights working until I wanted to vomit—it was all so I wouldn’t have to live in a cluttered storage room anymore. No more of my brother’s deafening video games. No more of my mom’s constant scolding and complaining. I finally had a walk-in closet of my own. Finally, I had a sense of belonging. A home. My phone screen lit up. “Claire, are you asleep?” Then, a barrage of voice messages dropped like bombs, the longest one a full 60 seconds. “Mom is dying of this heat! Is this weather trying to steam us alive?” “Oh, look at you now, living comfortably.” “Working in the big city, sitting alone in an air-conditioned room, living like a princess! You can’t even check on your parents? Do you even have a heart?” I swallowed the irritation rising in my chest and replied patiently. “Mom, didn’t I install an AC unit for you and Dad?” “So what? Electricity isn’t free! I raised you, put you through school, just so you could enjoy life? Every time I turn on that AC, my heart bleeds! Unlike you, spending money like water! Ungrateful wretch!” “Listen to my voice, my throat is smoking dry!” Another 60-second rant. I tapped “transcribe to text.” Your dad and I are old bones, what do we need AC for? Save that money for your brother; he needs to get married one day. You have no conscience. I shoved the phone into my bag, too tired to argue. In her eyes, the $500 I sent home every month was mandatory tribute. Buying a house for myself was unfilial. turning on my AC was a sin. The night wind was cool, but it couldn’t blow away the suffocation in my chest. My eyelids were heavy. Three all-nighters had pushed me to my limit. But the thought of returning to my own little nest, taking a hot shower, and sleeping in a clean bed made it all worth it. I quickened my pace, keys ready in hand. When I pushed open the door to my new house, I thought I had walked into the wrong apartment. In the center of the living room, electric red candles flickered eerily. Between them sat a black urn. Plates of offerings were arranged in front of it. And from a speaker somewhere, the “Great Compassion Mantra” was looping on repeat. When did my living room become a funeral parlor? Besides me, only my mom had a spare key. My blood ran cold. I felt dizzy, barely able to stand. Mom must have lent the key to someone without telling me! I dialed her number with trembling hands, practically roaring into the phone: “Mom? What the hell is in my house? Who put that there?” Her voice came through, calm and justified. “What’s the fuss? Your Uncle Dave’s father-in-law just passed away. They borrowed your place to keep him for a few days. What’s the big deal? Your house is empty anyway.” “Why are you yelling in the middle of the night? Are you trying to kill me?” My limbs went numb. My heart pounded so hard I had to lean against the wall. “A few days? I just got the keys! How can you let them put an urn in here without asking me? How am I supposed to live here?” “This is my house!” “Tsk, why are you so immature?” Her tone turned sharp. “What’s yours is mine! I gave birth to you!” “Besides, we’re all family. What’s wrong with helping out? You’re a girl, thirty years old, no boyfriend. Who’s this house going to eventually? Your nephew, obviously.” “So what if your uncle stores some things there now? Leaving it empty is a waste. You have no sense of family.” My vision went black with rage. My blood pressure spiked. “Storing a dead man’s urn in a living person’s new home? Mom, I risked my life working for this house! It’s not a morgue!” But the next second, she hung up on me. I tried calling back, shaking, but only got the busy signal. Just then, the neighbor across the hall, Mrs. Johnson, peeked out. “Hey, young lady, what are you screaming about in the hallway at this hour? It’s noisy!” She complained, then peered through my open door. Her face went pale. “Holy mother of… Why does your house look like a haunted house? It’s the middle of the night! Are you trying to scare people to death? What is this?” 2 I turned on the lights. The living room was a disaster. My wool rug, which cost three grand, was covered in black footprints. It looked like someone had walked through a latrine—mud mixed with something yellowish and vile. The floor around the coffee table was littered with sunflower seed shells, peanut shells, shredded tissues, and cigarette butts. The trash can was overflowing, garbage scattered everywhere, the stench overwhelming. Even the plants I bought to purify the air were destroyed—leaves torn off, soil spilled all over the floor. Did they think my house was a dump? I was losing my mind. I should never have given my mom a key. I only told her about the house to make her proud. Instead, she demanded a key and lent it out to random people! My hands shook as I tried calling my mom, Susan, again. But no matter how many times I dialed, the robotic voice repeated: “The subscriber you have dialed is not available…” She had blocked me. Furious, I scrolled to find my Uncle Dave’s number. Once, twice, ten times. My fingers turned white pressing the screen. I stood amidst the trash, waiting for him to pick up. An hour later, a lazy voice answered. “Hello?” It was the middle of the night; I didn’t want to make a scene. I tried to suppress my anger. “Uncle Dave, what is going on with my house?” He coughed, phlegm rattling in his throat. “Oh, that house. I just borrowed it for a bit.” “Borrowed?” My voice rose uncontrollably. “I didn’t agree to anything! Who did you borrow it from?” Dave sounded impatient. “You’re calling me in the middle of the night for this?” “Claire, as your uncle, I have to say something. You’re a thirty-year-old woman, unmarried, no kids. The house is just sitting there. The old man had a blessed life; he’s adding good luck to your place. It’s a great thing.” “Adding luck? Would you want this luck?!” “Psycho,” he muttered and hung up. When I tried calling back, I got the same busy signal. Dave had blocked me too! Standing in the garbage-filled room at 4:00 AM, I felt like my heart was going to explode from the grievance and pain. But I still had a life. I had a job. I couldn’t just give up. I took a breath. I shoved everything on the table into a box and put it outside the door. I turned off the spooky music. I hid in the study. It was the only clean room left. Fighting through eye strain and exhaustion, the weight of the mortgage pressing down on me like a mountain, I worked. After three days of non-stop grinding, my temples were throbbing. As dawn broke, I sent a leave request to my boss. Mr. Shen replied with a simple “Received.” I finally relaxed. I slumped onto the desk, my consciousness fading. Just as I was drifting off… BANG! BANG! BANG! A violent pounding on the door nearly gave me a heart attack. “Who is it?” My heart hammered against my ribs. I felt like I was going to die of cardiac arrest. The pounding paused for a second. Then, Dave’s rude bellowing assaulted my eardrums. “Claire Lin! Open the door! What’s taking so long? Open up!” Dragging my exhausted body, I opened the door. The family of three stood there. 3 “So slow. You’re in the way.” Dave shoved past me roughly, nearly knocking me over. His wife, Aunt Barb, followed close behind. Their brat of a son, Little Treasure, ignored his muddy sneakers and jumped straight onto my $5,000 leather sofa. “Grandpa’s house has a trampoline!” There was a pebble stuck in the tread of his shoe. As he bounced, rip. A six-inch gash appeared on the leather. I saw stars. My heart bled for the five grand. Before I could stop him, Dave went on the offensive. “Claire, look what you did! Where are the offerings I set up? And the memorial tablet? You dared to throw the old man’s tablet in the trash?” His stubby finger practically poked my eye out. “Bad luck! So much bad luck! The old man’s bones aren’t even cold, and you disrespect him like this? Don’t you respect the dead? You ungrateful wolf, did a dog eat your conscience?” Barb twisted her waist, chiming in sarcastically. “Exactly, Claire. Not to lecture you, but the old man staying here doesn’t hurt you. You have to have reverence for the dead.” Even my temper had limits. “Why don’t you keep him at your own house? This is my home, not a funeral parlor or a cemetery!” Dave straightened his neck, self-righteous. “Our Little Treasure is only eight. If he sees an urn, he’ll have nightmares. Can you take responsibility if he gets scared?” I pointed at the pile of junk on the floor. “What about my nightmares? I’m human too!” “You?” Barb rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with mockery. “You’re thirty without a boyfriend. Your horoscope must be too ‘hard.’ The old man being here might suppress the bad luck. Maybe you’ll finally get lucky in love.” My lips trembled. The lack of sleep had left me weak; I didn’t even have the strength to stand. Seeing my silence, Dave thought he had won. He pulled some old newspapers from his pocket and spread them on the floor. I watched him warily. “What are you doing?” I had a bad feeling. He lit the newspaper. “Your uncle is cleaning up your mess. You offended the old man; you have to apologize.” “You went to college, don’t you understand basic manners?” The smell of burning ink and paper filled the room. The air, already stale, became suffocating. The smoke triggered the alarm. BEEP—BEEP—BEEP— The smoke detector screamed, red light flashing. Within three minutes, the property manager and two security guards were pounding on the door. “Miss Lin, what’s going on?” “Are you trying to summon the fire department?” The manager scanned the room, his impatient gaze landing on me. “Even if you need to do… things… watch the time. Is this a place to burn paper money?” I was at my breaking point. I hadn’t done anything, yet I was getting scolded. Before I could answer, Barb sat on the floor and started wailing. “Manager! You have to help us! My poor father died of cancer, and we children just wanted to show some filial piety, burn some paper money… but this niece has a heart of stone! She doesn’t even respect the dead!” “The old man loved her so much when he was alive! Can’t we talk about feelings instead of rules?” She cried snot and tears, acting like the victim, painting me as the villain. I snapped. “Manager, I didn’t light the fire.” “This is a serious fire hazard. Shouldn’t these people be arrested?” Dave’s voice shot up. “Arrested? Claire Lin, do you have any respect for your uncle?” “Your mother was right, you really are unfilial!” The manager realized Dave’s family was trouble. “Miss Lin, your situation is… complicated.” “But regulations strictly forbid open fires in high-rise buildings.” “If you really need to pay respects, go to the empty lot in the suburbs.” “Why should we go downstairs?” Barb sat heavily on my sofa, tearing the gash even wider. She grabbed the manager’s sleeve, her voice turning pathetic. “Manager, you have parents too. Have a heart. The old man just left us, we’re grieving… we just wanted to do something for him…” Little Treasure joined in, hugging the manager’s leg. “Uncle, my grandpa died, waaah…” The fake crying was obvious. The next second, he wiped his snot on the manager’s pants. Cornered by the family of three, the manager’s face darkened. He started backing away, signaling me with his eyes. Seeing this, Dave slowly stomped out the embers on the floor. He deliberately ground his heel into my floorboards, leaving black marks. “See? No fire. What’s the panic?” “Exactly. Calling property management for nothing. Acting like we’re arsonists.” Barb rolled her eyes. “Claire, you’re an adult. Can you handle things more maturely?” The manager seized the out. “Right, right, fire’s out. No problem, no problem.” He turned to me, whispering. “Miss Lin, they’re family. Bear with it. The old man just died, emotions are high. Just… make sure they don’t light any more fires and don’t disturb the neighbors.” 4 The smell of smoke, sandalwood, and burnt paper hung in the air. Even hiding in the study with the soundproof door closed, I could hear Little Treasure’s shrieks and Barb’s grating laughter. I was too tired. Days of overtime meant I had zero energy to fight this family. I grabbed my phone and booked a nearby hotel. If I stayed, I would go insane. At 3:00 AM, the hotel bed was unfamiliar, but quiet. I slept my first peaceful night since getting the house. The next day, I took leave and waited until noon. Knowing Dave, they would be out dropping Little Treasure at school. I called a locksmith and a cleaning crew. We cleaned and sanitized the entire house. “Miss, should we throw all this away?” The cleaner pointed to the pile: urn, incense burner, offerings. “Throw it all! Everything!” Locks changed. Floors polished. The scratch on the sofa remained, but the ash and trash were gone. Looking at my renewed home, I exhaled. Changed the locks. They can’t get in now. All afternoon, my nerves were tight. By evening, my phone was strangely quiet. No abuse from Dave, no sarcasm from Mom. I thought I was safe. I changed the locks and didn’t give Mom a key. The next day, I dragged my tired body home from work. I tried to put my key in the lock. It wouldn’t go in. I looked up, checked the number. It was my house. But the lock had been changed. Ding— The elevator opened. Dave and his family walked out carrying shopping bags. Little Treasure held a new toy. Seeing me at the door, Dave smirked triumphantly, dangling a set of keys. “What are you doing standing there? You’re in the way.” Blood rushed to my head. If I could, I would strangle him right there. “Why did you change my lock? Who gave you the right?” He looked impatient. “I talked to your mom. She agreed.” I dialed my mother, shaking. This time, she answered. Her tone was nonchalant. “Claire, what now?” Hearing her voice, thirty years of grievance, anger, and exhaustion exploded. I couldn’t hold it back. I screamed into the phone. “Mom! For years, I’ve been your ATM! Three thousand a month! Saving for my brother’s wedding, for your retirement! I work myself to death, never taking sick days, just to buy a house!” My voice choked. “Back home, two bedrooms. You and Dad have one, brother has one! Me? I sleep in the storage room! For thirty years, I haven’t had a proper bedroom! Now I finally have my own house, and you let Uncle put an urn in it? This is my home! I bought it with my blood and sweat! It’s not yours!” Tears flooded down my face. I squatted in the hallway, sobbing. Silence on the other end. Mom ignored my breakdown completely. “We’re family. Taking care of each other is what we do. You forgot? When you were little, your uncle bought you candy. You can’t forget your roots.” Candy? That fifty-cent piece of hard candy? Because of one piece of candy, I owe him a million-dollar house? I didn’t want to talk to her anymore. I had only one thought. Call the police! I couldn’t out-argue my elders. But Dave changing my locks and trespassing? That’s illegal! The police arrived quickly. In front of the officers, I pointed at Dave. “Officer, they are trespassing, squatting, and changed my locks! Here is my property deed!” “And the neighbors have complained multiple times about the noise!” Dave immediately put on his “honest peasant” face, rubbing his hands together. “Officer, look at this mess, it’s a misunderstanding.” “Claire and I… I’m her uncle. This is a family matter.” “My father-in-law just passed. We just wanted a place to keep him for a couple of days while the tomb is being built. You know how it is with customs, moving graves is a big deal. Just a few days.” “We’re family. Can’t we talk this out?” Barb played the victim too. “Yes, Officer, it’s not easy for us. The old man is gone; he needs a resting place, right?” “Once the tomb is ready, we’ll move him immediately.” The officer looked at me, then at Dave, and shook his head helplessly. “Miss, this is a domestic dispute. We suggest you resolve it within the family.” “But they changed my locks—” “This… since you are relatives, it’s hard to define. Maybe try mediation?” After thirty minutes of mediation, the police left.

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