On my way to a prenatal checkup, I got caught in a massive snowstorm. Eight months pregnant, I was trapped on the highway when my water suddenly broke. I immediately called my husband, a traffic police captain. But he barked into the phone: “Everyone’s waiting for the roads to clear. Just wait your turn.” While my baby died from oxygen deprivation in my womb and I nearly bled to death, his female friend Sienna was posting a video on social media: “Almost missed my idol’s concert and cried my eyes out! Lucky I had a cop friend to help. One siren blast and all the cars parted—so cool!” In the video, he rode his official motorcycle, driving the wrong way and running red lights, all to get Sienna to her idol. I spent three days in the emergency room before he finally showed up with a bag of discounted diapers: “Rain, stop being so dramatic. I looked it up online—water can’t break at eight months. You probably just peed yourself from being too nervous.” “If Sienna had missed that concert, it would’ve been a lifelong regret. On your due date, I’ll definitely break protocol and clear the road for you.” I looked down at my stomach that still hadn’t gone down, and laughed bitterly. That day would never come. We were done.

I didn’t say a word. Marcus just tossed the bag of diapers onto the nightstand. “Is this really worth giving me the silent treatment for three days? You wouldn’t answer my calls or texts—I had to come all the way to the hospital myself.” “Come on, stop being so dramatic. Sienna almost didn’t make it that day. She cried so hard her eyes swelled up.” “Can’t you be a little more understanding? You’re always making a big deal out of nothing.” Understanding? My abdomen cramped sharply. “She almost missed it and cried her eyes out, but I actually missed the hospital and my baby died—what should I be crying about?” Marcus’s face instantly darkened. “Rain! Are you ever going to let this go?” “Death this, death that—it’s almost New Year’s. Can you watch your mouth? What kind of lies are you willing to tell just to play the victim?” “Your stomach’s still swollen and you’re telling me the baby’s dead? You think I’m stupid enough to fall for that?” My stomach was indeed still swollen right after the induced labor. But he couldn’t be bothered to lift the blanket and look. Couldn’t be bothered to ask the doctor. Couldn’t even be bothered to glance at the medical chart by the bed. Just then, the hospital room door swung open. “Oh Marcus! I told you your wife would be fine, but you just had to rush over here. I didn’t even finish my boba tea.” Sienna barged in with her usual careless swagger. She held two cups of boba tea in one hand and a half-eaten candied hawthorn stick in the other. As soon as she saw Marcus, she shoved the sticky, sugar-covered stick right up to his mouth. “This one’s gross. Help me finish it.” Marcus opened his mouth without hesitation, didn’t even frown, and shot her an indulgent look. “Such a waste of food.” The scene made my eyes sting. Sienna wiped her hands on his shirt and sauntered over to my bedside. “I heard you peed your pants? Well, you’re pregnant, so things get loose down there. It’s normal.” “That’s exactly why I never want to have kids. Being a pampered wife sounds nice, but it’s really not. Having friends is enough for me.” She said she wasn’t making fun of me, but her eyes were full of mocking delight. “But you really are too inconsiderate.” “If it weren’t for Marcus’s driving skills, taking me on that wild ride, I would’ve missed my idol that day.” “Do you know how important that day was to me? That’s an idol I’ve loved for ten years!” The more she talked, the more worked up she got—as if my emergency call on the highway that day was some unforgivable crime. I gripped the bedsheet so hard my nails dug into my palms. “I asked him to clear the emergency lane for me. It was a life-or-death situation—not the same as you chasing after some celebrity.” Sienna froze for a second, then dramatically rolled her eyes. “Marcus, see! I told you she’s petty. Now she’s making this into some moral issue.” “Aren’t all lanes there to serve the people? I’m people too! I was in a rush to see my idol—how is that not an emergency?” Marcus looked at her with pure adoration, then turned to me with cold eyes. “Sienna’s blunt. She doesn’t think before she speaks. Why are you taking it so seriously?” “Besides, you were in the wrong that day. Everyone was waiting in line—why should you get special treatment?” “Emergency lanes are for people with real emergencies, not for people who panic over every little thing.” I looked at them both and felt nothing but bitter irony. My poor baby, on that frozen highway, slowly stopped breathing. Never moved again. And his father had escorted his female friend to a concert, clearing the way and protecting her the whole time. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t bear to look at them anymore. “Get out.”

“You’re telling me to get out?” Marcus couldn’t believe his ears. “Rain, did the hospital make you lose your mind? I’m your husband! I came here out of the goodness of my heart, even bought you stuff, and this is how you treat me?” Sienna fanned the flames. “Exactly! You’re so ungrateful.” “Marcus was worried you’d keep leaking, so he made a special trip to the supermarket to get discounted diapers. Do you know how long the line was?” “Women like you are just spoiled. You have no idea how to appreciate a man.” I spoke slowly: “Sienna, if you care about him so much, if you’re so understanding, why don’t you marry him?” The room went silent. Sienna’s expression froze, then she put on a wounded look. “Marcus… do you hear what she’s saying?” “We have a pure friendship! If I liked him, we would’ve been together ages ago. What would you have to do with it?” “How can you be so dirty-minded? Can’t men and women just have a platonic friendship?” Marcus panicked immediately. He fumbled in his pocket for tissues, trying to wipe Sienna’s tears. “Don’t cry, Sienna. She’s just not thinking straight because of the pregnancy.” Then he whipped around: “Rain! Apologize to Sienna right now!” “We’re completely innocent! Above board!” “You don’t understand—Sienna’s personality is like a guy’s. She’s always casual. She’s never even thought of me as a man.” Right. I don’t understand. I laughed coldly: “I won’t apologize.” “I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?” Sienna sniffled. “Stop fighting, okay? It’s my fault. To make it up to you, dinner’s on me tonight—let’s get Mexican food! Super spicy!” Super spicy?! I couldn’t eat spicy food right now. She was doing this on purpose! But Marcus clearly ate it up. Most of his anger melted away. “See Sienna’s big heart! Now look at yourself!” Marcus pointed at me in frustration. “She’s not even holding a grudge and she’s treating you to dinner. Aren’t you going to thank her?” I closed my eyes, exhausted. “I need to rest. You two leave.” Marcus’s face darkened again. “Rain, you really think you’re something, huh? Sienna’s being nice enough to invite you and you’re acting like this?” He grabbed Sienna’s hand. “Let’s go. If she won’t eat, I will!” Sienna smiled smugly. Before leaving, she turned back and made a face at me. “Take care, Rain. Remember to use those diapers so you don’t wet the hospital bed.” The door slammed shut. Their voices faded down the hall. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I coughed up blood, spattering the white sheets red. A nurse heard the commotion and rushed in, screaming. “Doctor! Doctor! The patient’s coughing up blood!” Before I passed out, I heard the nurse cursing angrily: “What kind of family is this?! The baby just died and they come here to upset her—do they want her dead too?!” Those words—the baby just died—slammed into my heart like a hammer. But Marcus couldn’t hear them.

I stayed in the hospital for another three days. During those three days, Marcus didn’t call or text even once. Sienna, on the other hand, kept posting on social media. Marcus carrying her on his back in the park, with the caption: “My legs are sore. It’s so nice having a big brother to carry me.” And at our house, wearing my couple pajamas while gaming: “Marcus’s wife isn’t home, so he dragged me over to keep him company. I just can’t say no to him.” I saved every screenshot as evidence. On the day I was discharged, I went home only to find the smart lock wouldn’t open. I rang the doorbell. After a long time, I heard the shuffle of slippers inside. The door opened. Sienna stood there in my silk camisole nightgown, hair messy, with a glaring red mark on her neck. When she saw it was me, she paused, then leaned against the doorframe without moving aside. “Oh, you’re back? Why didn’t you give us a heads-up? I could’ve had Marcus pick you up.” She yawned, her eyes full of provocation. I stepped around her and looked inside. The once-clean living room now looked like a garbage dump. Takeout boxes covered the coffee table. Beer cans rolled across the floor. And… the crib I’d prepared for the baby. That crib was now piled with Sienna’s bags, coats, and makeup. There were even unwashed socks just thrown on top. The comforting teddy bear I’d carefully chosen was on the floor, covered in dust and grease stains. I was furious. “Who told you to touch that crib?!” I shoved Sienna aside and rushed into the living room. Sienna stumbled from the push and shrieked: “What’s your problem, Rain?! Why are you pushing me?” “It’s just a crib! I saw it sitting empty, so I used it for storage.” “Besides, you haven’t even had the baby yet. Why put it out so early? It’s just taking up space.” Just then, Marcus came out rubbing his eyes, wearing only shorts. When he saw me, he frowned. “What are you yelling about so early in the morning? Rain, are you having another meltdown?” I pointed at the ruined crib, my voice shaking: “Marcus, this was for our baby! You let her throw dirty socks in it? Are you even human?” Marcus scratched his head impatiently and walked over to shield Sienna. “Alright, alright. It’s not that big a deal. Sienna didn’t have anywhere to put her stuff, so she borrowed it. What’s the problem?” “Besides, we’re all family. Why are you being so petty about what’s yours and what’s mine?” “And…” He paused, then said matter-of-factly: “Sienna’s been staying here to take care of me these past few days. With you gone, I couldn’t even get a hot meal or clean clothes.” “She took time off to help me out. Instead of being grateful, you’re throwing a fit.” Take care of him? Looking at the garbage everywhere, I was impressed by his ability to lie with a straight face. “She’s staying here? Where’s she sleeping?” Marcus’s eyes darted away. He wouldn’t look at me. “The guest room, of course! What are you thinking?” “The guest room?” I laughed coldly and pointed at the red mark on Sienna’s neck. “Then what’s that? A mosquito bite?” Sienna instinctively covered her neck, her face flushing, but she kept up the act: “It is a mosquito bite! Can you stop being so dirty-minded, Rain? It’s an allergic reaction! You know what that is?” Marcus was equally defensive, feeling like I’d embarrassed him. “Rain! You’ve gone too far! Sienna and I are completely innocent. I won’t let you insult our friendship!” “You’ve been gone these past few days. Sienna’s the one who’s been here for me. If it weren’t for her, I would’ve starved.” “As my wife, not only did you fail in your duties, but the second you come back, you start kicking guests out.” Sienna tugged on Marcus’s sleeve, tears appearing on cue: “Marcus, stop fighting. It’s all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have worried about you having no one to take care of you. If she can’t stand me being here, I’ll just leave.” She pretended to slowly pack her things, waiting for Marcus to stop her. Sure enough, Marcus grabbed her arm. “Leave? No way! This is my house and I decide who stays! If anyone’s leaving, it’s her!” “Fine.” I nodded without hesitation. “I’ll leave.” Marcus probably didn’t expect me to agree so quickly. He froze. It wasn’t until I opened the door that he snapped out of it and shouted at my back: “Rain! If you walk out that door, don’t you ever think about coming back!” I didn’t turn around. I shut the door behind me with a heavy thud.

After leaving that house, I found a small motel near the hospital. Over the next few days, I focused on two things. First, arranging cremation for the baby. Second, finding a lawyer to draft divorce papers and handle the division of assets. Marcus didn’t contact me at all during this time. He probably thought I was just throwing a tantrum and would come crawling back in tears soon enough. After all, in the past, I was always the first to back down after every fight. But not this time. I stood alone at the crematorium entrance, holding the tiny urn, looking up at the gray sky. I finally felt some sense of peace. I left the urn at the crematorium for safekeeping. According to our hometown customs, a child who dies young can’t be buried in the family plot or brought home. After handling everything, I sent Marcus a text: “Tomorrow at 9 a.m., meet me at the Civil Affairs Bureau. I’ve already signed the divorce papers.” After sending it, I turned off my phone, took two sleeping pills, and forced myself to sleep. The next day, I arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau on time. Marcus didn’t show. I waited an hour and called him more than ten times. No answer. Just as I was about to go find him, he finally called back. Marcus’s voice was slurred with alcohol and annoyance: “Rain, aren’t you done with this tantrum yet?” “What divorce? Fine, I’ll give you an out.” “Sienna’s birthday is tonight. Come pay the bill and apologize to her, and we’ll call it even.” Pay the bill? Apologize? My hand holding the phone trembled slightly. “Marcus, I’m serious. I’m waiting for you at the Civil Affairs Bureau.” “Are you insane?!” Marcus cursed. “I already gave you an out and you’re still putting on this act? Just get over here! Everyone’s waiting. Don’t embarrass me!” He hung up. I listened to the dial tone, took a deep breath. If he wouldn’t come to me, I’d go to him. I’d throw the divorce papers in his face in front of everyone. I pushed open the private room door. The laughter and chatter stopped abruptly. When they saw me, Sienna let out an exaggerated gasp: “Oh wow, Rain’s here! Marcus, I told you she couldn’t stay away from you. She came running to pay the bill.” The people around us burst into laughter. “Marcus really knows how to handle his wife!” “Rain, come sit down. It’s Sienna’s birthday today—you better be on your best behavior.” Marcus looked smug. He patted the empty seat beside him like he was calling a dog. “Sit down now that you’re here. And remember to settle the bill at the front desk later.” I didn’t sit. I didn’t say anything. I walked straight up to Marcus, pulled out the divorce papers from my bag, and slammed them on the table. “Sign them.” The smile on Marcus’s face froze. “Rain, are you here to make a scene?” “What divorce? You’re pregnant—what are you divorcing me for? You think you can threaten me with the baby? Dream on!” “The baby?” I laughed coldly. “Marcus, what baby?” Marcus froze, instinctively looking at my stomach. Between the stress of the past few days and barely eating, my stomach had gone down significantly. “What… what do you mean?” Marcus’s voice trembled. A sense of dread finally began to creep in. I pulled out another document from my bag. A death certificate and a cremation certificate. I slapped them against his chest. “Marcus, your child died seven days ago. While you were riding your motorcycle to take Sienna to her concert, he stopped breathing inside me!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353171”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

3 AM. The pouring rain had soaked through my delivery bag. The order note had only three words: “Bring it upstairs.” This was New York’s most exclusive private club. The door to the penthouse stood wide open, reeking of the cloying mix of luxury and alcohol that saturated these elite playgrounds. Head down, I just wanted to leave the food and run. I needed to get to my next order, to scrape together enough for my mother’s dialysis next week. A polished leather shoe came down on my delivery box. “Miss Johnson. Five years, and you’ve learned to serve people?” My entire body stiffened. The blood in my veins ran cold. I knew that voice. It was Xavier Cole. Now one of New York’s new rich. Also the man I had forced to kneel in the snow five years ago during a blizzard, the man I had slapped before walking away. I trembled. Before I could even think how to beg, the system that had lain dormant in my head for five years screamed to life. “Opportunity detected. Host, throw this box of takeout in his face. Mission failure results in immediate electric shock.”

Rachel’s POV I gripped the edge of the delivery bag with white knuckles. The man in front of me had changed too much. He wore a custom-tailored black shirt, revealing a watch worth a small fortune. The boy who used to wear shirts washed until they were nearly transparent had been completely replaced by this dark, powerful figure with an oppressive presence. He looked down at me from his superior height, unconcealed mockery in his eyes, along with a trace of hatred. The air around us seemed to freeze. The people who’d been laughing and chatting in the private room had all fallen silent. There were plenty of familiar faces among them-those rich heirs who used to orbit around me. Now they all shrank back, watching the show. Everyone recognized me. Rachel Johnson, once untouchable in New York, then fallen from grace when her family went bankrupt. “What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me anymore?” Xavier pressed down harder with his shoe, grinding it against the not-particularly-sturdy delivery box. The cardboard made a sharp cracking sound. The soup and sauces inside probably spilled, seeping out from the corner of the box. I didn’t care about the box. I cared about the money they’d deduct. If this order got charged against me, tonight’s work would be for nothing. Even worse, the system alarm in my head was shrieking so loud it felt like it would pierce my eardrums, making my skull go numb. “Warning! Core plot character Xavier Cole detected!” “Mission issued. Host must immediately humiliate the male lead with the following line: ‘Someone like you doesn’t deserve to eat the food I deliver!’” “Countdown: ten seconds. Failure penalty: Level 3 electric shock. Host’s current physical state cannot withstand it. Fatality rate: ninety-nine percent.” My heart seized violently. That familiar, near-death sensation was back. It felt like a hand of thorns was squeezing my heart’s chambers. The pain was excruciating. My broken body couldn’t take another round of this torture. The pain made my eyes instantly red. Tears filled them uncontrollably, falling in large drops. To avoid dying from pain right here, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and force myself to look up. I tried to make myself look vicious and cruel, tried to summon the attitude Miss Johnson used to have. But my body was too honest. Trembling from pain, my voice came out in an unstoppable, tearful quaver. “Xavier… let go.” Xavier stared at my reddened eyes. His movements clearly paused. He probably hadn’t expected that the first time we met, I’d be this pathetic, crying mess. “Begging me?” He leaned down, his ice-cold fingers gripping my chin hard enough it felt like he’d crush my bones, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Where did that Rachel go? The one who threw money in my face and told me to get lost?” His breath hit my face, completely cold. The countdown in my head reached zero. “0!” Searing pain struck instantly, like ten thousand needles stabbing into my heart simultaneously. My mind went blank. Not wanting to die, survival instinct took over. I could only cry while shouting out that vicious line. “You… someone like you doesn’t deserve to eat the food I deliver!” Dead silence filled the room. Even the background music in the private room seemed to stop. Everyone stared at me with wide eyes, like they were looking at a lunatic. I thought I was a lunatic too. I was calling him beneath me while tears and snot ran down my face uncontrollably, falling in large drops onto his spotless leather shoes. I thought Xavier would explode with rage, would have someone throw me out, or just smash a bottle over my head. But he didn’t. He stared at my tears. His Adam’s apple bobbed. His eyes became unfathomably dark. Those pitch-black eyes churned with emotions I couldn’t read. “Beneath you?” He repeated those three words in a low voice, his fingertips roughly brushing across the corner of my eye. The calluses scraped my skin raw. “Fine. Then tonight I’ll show Miss Johnson exactly how beneath-you people do things.” The next second, he grabbed my wrist with shocking strength and dragged me into the private room. He kicked the door shut with his foot, cutting off all those spectating gazes. “Everyone out.” He barked the order without looking back. Those normally arrogant rich people didn’t dare make a sound, slinking out along the wall. Only he and I remained in the room. In the dim lighting, he threw me onto the leather sofa and pressed down over me.

Rachel’s POV The impact left me dizzy. The rainwater from my delivery uniform soaked a large patch of the expensive sofa. Before I could climb up, Xavier had already tossed a black card and a thick stack of cash onto the coffee table in front of me. The money was thick. Blindingly so. “Need money, don’t you? How much can you make delivering food?” Xavier sat on the coffee table across from me, his long legs stretched out casually, blocking my escape route. He poured himself a glass of expensive liquor, swirling the glass, his eyes fixed on me with amusement. “Dance for me. This money is yours.” I stared at that pile of money, my throat tight. Fifty thousand dollars. Exactly enough for my mom’s medical and nursing care next month. I really needed this money. For this money, forget dancing-I’d bark like a dog on my knees if he wanted. I sniffled and reached for the stack of bills. My hand hadn’t even touched the corner when that damned system in my head exploded again. “Warning! Villainous character collapse detected!” “Mission issued. Tear up the check and throw your drink in his face. Shout: ‘Keep the money for your coffin!’” “Failure penalty: Removal of pain block. Pain level ten.” My hand trembled, freezing mid-air. Level ten pain. The pain of giving birth. I would die here. I would truly die from the pain I closed my eyes in despair. Tears flowed down again without permission. Why force me like this? I just wanted to survive, wanted to save my mom. Why wouldn’t they give me even this small chance to live? Xavier watched my frozen hand and laughed coldly. “Not enough? Miss Johnson’s current value probably isn’t worth this much anymore, is it?” Every word carried barbs, each one precisely piercing my self-respect. But what self-respect did I have left? I bit my lip and shakily picked up the glass of liquor on the table. My hand trembled like a sieve. I really couldn’t bear to lose this money. And I really was afraid of pain. Xavier raised an eyebrow, watching me, seemingly waiting for my next move, his eyes full of mockery. I steeled myself and closed my eyes, about to throw it. But in that instant, my heart contracted violently. The sharp pain made my wrist go weak. The glass aimed at his face veered off course. Splash- The dark red liquid didn’t hit his face. Instead, it spilled all over the awkward area between his legs. And because my hand was shaking so badly, I couldn’t hold the glass steady. It dropped right onto his thigh, rolled around, then fell to the floor. Time seemed to freeze. Xavier looked down at his soaked crotch, at the red wine dripping down his suit pants. The vein at his temple throbbed violently twice. I was scared stupid. This was worse than throwing it in his face, wasn’t it? I’d just pulled the tiger’s whiskers and slapped it for good measure. “I… I didn’t mean to…” My face went deathly pale with fear. Instinctively I reached out to help him wipe it, but then realized that area was inappropriate and frantically pulled my hand back. The system in my head seemed to glitch for a moment, apparently never having encountered this situation either. Xavier slowly raised his head. His eyes were terrifyingly dark. He didn’t explode. Really. If this were five years ago, or if it were anyone else, he probably would have struck already. But now his ears were turning an eerie shade of red. He clamped down on my flailing wrist, the pressure so hard it felt like it would brand into my flesh. “Where exactly were you aiming?” His voice was hoarse, glaring at me through gritted teeth. “In such a hurry?” I froze. He thought I was seducing him? I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that I meant to throw it in your face to humiliate you, not throw it at your crotch to seduce you. But looking at his expression like he wanted to devour me, I didn’t dare speak. “Think the money’s dirty?” Xavier released my hand, methodically pulled out a few tissues, and wiped casually, the motion rough yet carrying an indescribable wildness. “Rachel.” He stood up. His shadow instantly engulfed me. “Since you don’t want to dance, let’s change the method of repayment.” Without allowing me to resist, he pulled me up from the sofa, completely ignoring my struggles, and dragged me toward the exit. “Come home with me.” I refused to go, desperately clutching the doorframe. “I won’t go! I have deliveries to make! They’ll dock my pay!” Xavier glanced back at me, his eyes cold as ice. “How much is that box of garbage worth? I’ll buy it.” He hoisted me up directly. Actually hoisted me. Like a sack of potatoes. My stomach pressed against his hard shoulder, nearly making me vomit up dinner. “Xavier Cole! Put me down! You lunatic!” I pounded on his back while crying. Xavier completely ignored my feeble efforts, striding through the corridor with long steps. Under everyone’s horrified gazes, he stuffed me into that limited-edition black Maybach. “Move again and I’ll take you right here in the car.” The words he dropped before closing the door successfully turned me to stone.

Rachel’s POV The car sped all the way into the top-tier luxury villa district. This was New York’s most expensive real estate, also where the Johnson family had lived before bankruptcy. Ironically, Xavier’s villa now was right next door to my family’s old address. He dragged me out of the car and pulled me all the way into the villa’s main hall. Inside was cold and lifeless. The decor was all cool tones-black, white, gray. Just like the man himself, radiating an aura of “stay away.” “Go shower.” He pointed upstairs. “Guest room has a bathroom. Wash yourself clean. You reek.” My delivery uniform was already soaked through. Now mixed with alcohol and sweat, it really did stink. But I didn’t dare move. Alone together, just a man and woman in one house-who knew how he’d take revenge on me? “Not going?” Xavier loosened his tie while watching me, his eyes dangerous. “Want me to help you wash?” I startled and bolted upstairs. The bathroom was huge. When the hot water poured down, I finally felt somewhat alive again. But I quickly discovered a desperate problem. No change of clothes. I couldn’t go out naked, and I couldn’t wear that soaked, dirty uniform again. While I was agonizing, someone knocked on the bathroom door. “Clothes are outside the door.” Xavier’s voice came through the door. After his footsteps faded, I carefully cracked the door open. A white shirt lay on the floor. Judging by the size, it was his. I reluctantly put it on. The hem was very long, covering to the top of my thighs, but this somehow made it seem even more ambiguous. I dawdled for ages before finally having to come out. When I came downstairs, Xavier was nowhere to be seen. I only heard movement from the study. I walked over as if possessed. The study door was half-open. Xavier seemed to have gone to shower. No one was inside. I was about to retreat when my gaze was suddenly drawn to something in the most prominent position on the bookshelf. It was an old, yellowed book. The cover was curled at the edges, completely out of place among all these expensive hardcovers. *Advanced Calculus*. My breath caught. That was the book I’d used to hit his spine in the snow five years ago when I drove him away. The spine had cracked from the impact. I’d watched him bend down to pick it up, brush off the snow, and limp away. He’d kept it? And put it in such a prominent place? My heart began to race, not just from shock but from fear. Inside that book’s cover lining, I’d hidden the suicide note I’d written him when I thought I’d surely die. It was a real confession letter, filled with my helplessness, my love, and all those truths I couldn’t speak aloud. If he saw it… If he knew all my cruelty back then was an act… The system would definitely judge me in violation and erase me directly. No. That book absolutely couldn’t stay here! I couldn’t care about anything else. Barefoot, I rushed into the study, standing on tiptoe to reach for that book. The shelf was too high. I struggled, my fingers just barely touching the spine when a chilling voice came from behind. “Developed a taste for thievery?” I nearly jumped out of my skin. My hand jerked and the book fell. Fortunately it didn’t fall open. I frantically crouched down to grab it, but a large hand pressed down on the book faster than me. Xavier had somehow finished showering. He wore only a bath towel, his hair still dripping. Water droplets slid down his solid chest muscles, disappearing into the loose edge of that towel. That body… was too illegal. But I wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it now. He pressed down on the book, half-crouching in front of me. That intense pheromone scent instantly surrounded me. “Why are you keeping this book?” I forced myself to stay calm, trying to seize the initiative. “The footprints on it are from me stepping on it. Doesn’t that disgust you?” Xavier stared at me. His gaze slid from my damp hair to the collar of my ill-fitting shirt, finally stopping on my panicked eyes. “Disgusting.” He said I was disgusting, but his eyes didn’t look disgusted at all. Instead, they carried a predatory aggression. “Reminding myself constantly how I was driven out like a dog.” He picked up the book, casually dusting it off without opening it. I breathed a sigh of relief. My heart had just settled when I heard him say again: “Want to take it back? Afraid I’ll remember your cruelty?” He pressed closer step by step, backing me into the corner by the bookshelf. Hard spines pressed against my back. In front was his scalding chest. “I… I just wanted to review my coursework.” I came up with the lamest excuse possible. Xavier laughed in exasperation. He braced one hand beside my ear, lowering his head until our noses nearly touched. “Review?” His voice went husky, his eyes darkening. “Why don’t we review something else instead? Like… how we used to kiss five years ago?” My brain exploded with a bang. This plot development was all wrong! I’m the villainous supporting character! You’re supposed to be getting revenge on me! Before I could react, he suddenly straightened up, casually tossed the book upward, throwing it to the very top shelf where I could never reach. “Want the book? Dream on.” He turned to leave, his back cold. “Go cook. I’m hungry.” I leaned against the bookshelf, my legs a bit weak, looking at that book with a bitter heart. This was bad. Trying to steal it back would be even harder now.

Rachel’s POV Xavier was definitely sick. He clearly had ten chefs on call at any time, but insisted on forcing me-someone who couldn’t cook-to make him food. “Can’t make it? Then forget about that fifty thousand.” For money, I endured. I struggled in the kitchen spacious enough to run laps in. I could only make oatmeal. When the oatmeal started bubbling, that annoying system voice came again. “Daily mission issued. Put something in this meal to make it inedible! And mock him with: ‘You think you deserve to eat my cooking?’” “Put something in it?” I was shocked. “Where am I supposed to get anything?” System: “The salt shaker is right beside you. Salting him to death is also a kind of poison.” I looked at the salt shaker by my hand, then at Xavier sitting at the dining table reading the newspaper outside. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a refined scoundrel, seemingly in a decent mood. My hand trembled. Pouring half a jar of salt into porridge-eating that would require kidney dialysis, wouldn’t it? But I had no choice. If I didn’t do it, before the porridge even left the kitchen, I’d collapse from heart pain first. I took a deep breath. When no one was looking, I grabbed the salt shaker and started pouring it into the bowl. Pouring while feeling guilty, my hand shook too badly. Accidentally, the lid came loose. An entire jar of salt dumped into that poor bowl of plain porridge. It piled up like a snow mountain. I was dumbfounded. This wasn’t even a question of salty or not anymore. This was a lethal dose, wasn’t it? I wanted to scoop it out, but the salt dissolved too quickly. “Done yet? Need me to come get you?” Xavier’s urging voice came through. I steeled myself and carried out that bowl of oatmeal that could poison an elephant. “Eat.” I set the bowl heavily in front of him, putting on an expression that needed a beating as the system required. “Eat until you drop dead.” Xavier raised an eyebrow, looked at the oatmeal, then at me. “What new trick is this?” He picked up the spoon. Without even stirring, he scooped a large spoonful directly into his mouth. I held my breath, watching his Adam’s apple move. In that moment, I’d even prepared to call an ambulance. “Don’t drink it! It’ll kill you!” I shouted uncontrollably, reaching out to grab his bowl. That was pure salt! But Xavier avoided my hand and swallowed that mouthful without changing expression. Didn’t even furrow his brow. I was stunned. Had he lost his sense of taste? Xavier set down the spoon, picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and looking at my horrified expression, actually smiled slightly. That smile was faint but made my heart ache. “I remember you always loved pulling these kinds of pranks.” He said lightly, his eyes actually holding a trace of nostalgia. “Still the same taste. Hasn’t changed at all.” “As long as you made it with your own hands, I’d drink poison too.” The last half-sentence was so quiet it was almost like talking to himself. I froze in place, my fingers curling up. My heart felt like someone had stuffed it with cotton soaked in salt water-astringent and blocked. He knew. He’d always known I did it on purpose. But he accepted it all. Just like five years ago when I tore up all his homework and threw it in the trash so he couldn’t turn it in. The next day, he’d silently pieced the scraps back together, stayed up all night rewriting it, and still brought me my favorite toast. “Why?” I asked hoarsely, my eyes reddening again. Xavier didn’t answer. He stood up and straightened his cuffs. “Done eating. Let’s go.” “Where?” “The hospital.” He glanced at me. “To see your mother.” I jerked my head up. “Don’t misunderstand,” he said with a cold laugh, reverting to that cutting manner. “I’m just going to see if I can transfer your mother to my private hospital. After all… if you’re going to serve me in this half-dead state, I find it inauspicious.”

Rachel’s POV On the way to the hospital, my heart started protesting. Probably because my emotions had fluctuated too much just now, plus I hadn’t slept well from last night’s ordeal, the aftereffects of the system’s punishment began their backlash. It was a dull-knife kind of pain, spreading from my chest to all four limbs. I bit my lip, trying not to make a sound, but cold sweat had already soaked my back. No good. I had to take medicine. I always kept strong painkillers in my bag-black market stuff specifically for nerve pain. Taking advantage of Xavier going to pay fees, I hid in the first-floor restroom. My hands shook so badly I couldn’t even unscrew the bottle cap. Finally managing to pour out two white pills, before I could put them in my mouth, the restroom door suddenly pushed open. Xavier stood in the doorway, his face terrifyingly dark. “What are you doing?” He strode over and grabbed my wrist. The pills that hadn’t reached my mouth fell to the floor. He bent down to pick up those two pills, then snatched the medicine bottle from my hand. I’d deliberately put this medicine in an ordinary vitamin bottle to avoid suspicion. “What are you taking?” He stared at the bottle, his eyes sharp as an X-ray. My heartbeat skipped. Forcing down the severe pain, I squeezed out a smile. “Vitamins. For skin care.” “Vitamins?” Xavier laughed coldly, pouring out a pill and crushing it between his fingers. “Poor as you are now, still particular about skincare? You really are-broke but still refined.” His mouth mocked, but his hand didn’t release my wrist. He probably felt my pulse racing chaotically. “Why are your hands so cold?” He frowned, reaching to touch my forehead. All cold sweat. “Does it hurt?” That one word nearly collapsed my defenses. How I wanted to throw myself into his arms and cry, tell him how much it hurt, tell him these five years I’d been living in hell every single day. But I couldn’t. The system flashed a warning red light in my mind. “Doesn’t hurt. Just hungry.” I pulled my hand back, snatched the medicine bottle back and shoved it in my pocket, pretending nonchalance. “Done paying? Then let’s go. Don’t waste time.” Xavier stared at me for a while with that gaze that made me feel stripped naked. Finally he said nothing and turned to leave. I breathed a sigh of relief, secretly picking up those two dirty pills and swallowing them. The bitter taste spread through my mouth.

Rachel’s POV My mother’s condition had stabilized. Though Xavier had a poisonous tongue, he never did things halfway. He directly transferred my mom to a VIP room and hired the best team of specialists. I owed him more and more. “There’s a class reunion tonight. You’re coming with me.” Leaving the hospital, Xavier suddenly threw that sentence at me. I instinctively refused. “I’m not going. I don’t want to see those people.” Those people-they used to orbit around me. Now they probably all couldn’t wait to watch me make a fool of myself. “You don’t get a choice.” Xavier looked at me coldly. “You can be my date or my servant. You pick.” In the end, I still went wearing the dress he’d prepared for me. It was a black velvet gown that made my skin look snow-white but also made me appear even more gaunt and haggard. The private room was already full of people. As soon as Xavier entered, everyone stood up, faces full of flattery as they crowded around calling him “Mr. Cole.” Seeing me following behind, those smiling faces instantly stiffened, then transformed into meaningful contempt. “Rachel Johnson?” The speaker was a guy who used to like me. He’d written me love letters that I rejected. Now he’d gotten fat with a beer belly. “I heard after the Johnson family went bankrupt, you started delivering food? How come today you can still follow Mr. Cole around?” “Could it be… you know?” The surrounding area erupted in knowing laughter. I kept my head down, my nails digging into my palms. Xavier said nothing, just sat down on his own, not having anyone give me a seat. I stood beside him like an unnecessary decoration, awkward. Just then, a woman in a red miniskirt walked over. Jessica Chen. Once my follower. But as soon as my family had problems, she immediately claimed not to know me. “You came too.” She held a glass of red wine, pretending to warmly take my hand while viciously tripping me with her foot. Wearing high heels, already unstable, I stumbled forward. To avoid face-planting, I instinctively grabbed the only support nearby-Xavier’s thigh. But I still ended up kneeling on the ground. My knees hit the carpet with a dull thud. Before I could get up, Jessica laughed exaggeratedly. No one helped me up. The whole room burst into laughter. Flushed with shame and anger, just about to stand, the system in my head came again. “Random mission triggered! Seize the opportunity to humiliate the male lead!” “Mission content: Point at your shoes and order Xavier to polish them! Line: ‘My shoes are dirty, Xavier. Clean them for me.’” “Penalty: Public urinary incontinence!” I’d lost my mind. System, are you a pervert? Urinary incontinence? I might as well just bash my head in and die. I looked up at Xavier. He was looking down at me kneeling by his leg, his expression indifferent, impossible to read. Tears were already pooling in my eyes. On one side was dignity. On the other was social death. I chose shamelessness. I extended my foot. Those delicate high heels had a bit of dust on the toe from when I’d fallen just now. Voice trembling, tearful, I pointed at that bit of dust. “Dirty… it’s dirty.” “Xavier, you clean it for me.” The entire room instantly fell silent. Jessica especially looked at me like I was a dead person. “Rachel, have you lost your mind? How dare you order Mr. Cole…” It was over. I closed my eyes, waiting for Xavier’s explosion, or for him to kick me away directly. However, the expected pain didn’t come. I felt a warm, large hand grip my ankle. I opened my eyes in shock. That high and mighty Xavier, the one everyone fawned over, had actually slid down from the sofa and knelt on one knee in front of me. He took out the expensive silk handkerchief from his pocket, wrapped it around his finger, and gently, carefully wiped the toe of my shoe. The motion was tender, like he was cleaning some priceless treasure. Dead silence throughout the room. You could hear a pin drop. Jessica’s wine glass crashed to the floor with a “smash.” After wiping, Xavier looked up at me, the corner of his mouth curving into a wicked smile. His voice wasn’t loud but enough for everyone to hear. “Satisfied?” He stood and patted my head, as if soothing a startled kitten. “Don’t cry. You’ll ruin your makeup.” I stared at him blankly. In that moment, I couldn’t tell if he was playing along or if this was his most thorough humiliation yet. But he had protected me. That much was real. The faces of those who’d been mocking me moments before now looked like they’d swallowed something sour. So did Xavier still love me?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353170”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

On my third wedding anniversary to Garrett Windsor, I showed up at the hotel in the sheer bikini he’d requested. But it wasn’t Garrett waiting in the room. It was Melissa Lane, his childhood sweetheart. The room erupted in cruel, mocking laughter. Melissa poured her glass of red wine over my head. “How pathetic. You really will do anything he says, won’t you?” “A shame you’re blind. You can’t even see what a joke you look like right now.” I crouched on the floor, covering myself, enduring their humiliation. This wasn’t the first time, but Garrett always said Melissa was just joking and told me not to take it seriously. After Melissa and her friends finally got bored and left, I dragged my exhausted body home. When I arrived, Garrett draped a towel over my shoulders, his voice full of guilt. “Claire, Melissa used my phone to send you that prank message. I had no idea. I’ll make her apologize tomorrow, okay?” I nodded instinctively, then suddenly saw a flash of light before my eyes. The next second, I could vaguely make out a message from Melissa on his screen. “You promised me in bed last night I could do whatever I wanted to her today.”

This was the first time in five years I’d seen light, and it stabbed viciously into my eyes. My chest tightened, as if crushed under a heavy boot. I couldn’t breathe. My fingers trembled where they clutched the towel. II blinked hard, only for another photo from Melissa to fill my vision, captioned: “Who looks better in this sheer bikini-her or me?” The photo showed me, terrified, arms wrapped around myself. So that’s how pathetic I looked. Seeing another message from Melissa, Garrett immediately stopped drying my hair. Right in front of me, he replied to her. I even saw a slight smile curve at the corner of his mouth. “Alright, that was a bit much this time. Don’t do it again.” “But wait, didn’t I give you that sheer bikini?” Melissa quickly responded. “Because I wanted you to compare and see who has the better figure…” The rest became blurry. I reached up and felt tears overflowing from my eyes without my realizing it. I walked stiffly toward the bathroom. Only then did Garrett react, putting down his phone. He grabbed my wrist and affectionately picked up the towel that had fallen to the floor. “Wait, don’t forget the towel.” As he moved to drape it over my shoulders again, I stopped him for the first time, speaking softly. “It’s dirty. I don’t want it.” His expression shifted. He tossed the towel on the floor and pulled me into his arms with slightly forced tenderness. “Claire, don’t be angry.” “That’s just how Melissa is-headstrong. I already scolded her on the phone. She’ll come apologize tomorrow.” “She’s young and immature. You’re older than her, so don’t take this childish stuff to heart.” His warm breath hit my ear, tempting and familiar. If I hadn’t regained my sight, I might have believed him again. I might have believed Melissa was just being playful… I gently pulled away from his embrace and shook my head. “Since you say it’s just childish stuff, she doesn’t need to apologize.” I saw satisfaction flash in his cool eyes. He walked over, speaking with relief. “Claire, I knew it. You’re the kindest woman.” He leaned in as usual, ready to give me one of his perfunctory kisses.

I turned my head, dodging his kiss, forcing out a bitter smile. “I’m going to shower.” He didn’t notice anything unusual and picked up his phone again. Probably telling Melissa she didn’t need to come put on a show tomorrow. I entered the bathroom and slowly sank into the bathtub. Five years ago, there was a lab explosion. To save him, I recklessly rushed into the inferno and burned my eyes. My father, not wanting me to risk myself again, resolutely decided to rescue Garrett in my place. But he never came out of that sea of flames. My mother fell ill from grief over my father’s death and still lies in the hospital. I still remember Garrett kneeling before my mother, vowing to take care of both of us for the rest of his life. He said he would be my eyes, my mother’s son. And Garrett did fulfill his promises. He installed all kinds of safety equipment for the blind throughout the house and arranged the best hospital and doctors for my mother. Every meal, he would pick out fish bones and foods I didn’t like. He was so attentive that even my mother didn’t resent him. And whenever I used the bathroom or showered, no matter how busy he was, he’d wait outside the door. Five years, day after day. But today, when I turned around and looked through the frosted glass, the doorway was empty. At this moment, I even began to doubt whether the warmth of these five years had all been my blind imagination. When I came out of the bathroom, Garrett was still on the sofa typing on his phone. Normally, I would have thought he was just working too hard, always busy. But now, seeing the smile lingering on his face, I knew-he was chatting with Melissa. Suddenly, my phone rang. Just as I reached for it, Garrett thoughtfully handed it to me, as careful as always. “It’s your best friend Rachel. I’ve already opened it and put it on speaker for you.” I took the phone and heard Rachel’s urgent voice. “Claire! Those photos of you were posted online by Melissa!” “She even exposed your identity and address. Now people online are saying they want to buy you for a night…” Rachel’s voice echoed throughout the living room. I watched Garrett’s face turn dark instantly as he frantically began messaging Melissa. Rachel asked. “Claire, what are you going to do? If this continues, those lunatics online will track down your mother’s hospital.” Hearing that my mother might be harassed by internet trolls, my heart clenched. I immediately said: “Call the police! Rachel, please help me…” Beep beep beep. The call was disconnected. I looked at Garrett in disbelief. He had reached over and hung up my call. He held the phone, his face extremely dark. “Claire, you can’t call the police!” “Melissa is still young. A police record would ruin her reputation. How could she face society in the future?” “She’s just playing around. Calling the police will only make things worse, and that won’t be good for you either.” “I’ll make her delete the photos right now.” I bit my lip, watching him desperately protect Melissa. My nose stung with sourness. Melissa’s reputation mattered, but what happened to me was just “playing around”? Soon after, Garrett put down his phone and held my hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve already told Melissa to delete all the photos.” “And don’t listen to Rachel. Melissa didn’t post those photos-it was someone else.” Listening to his perfunctory lies, I looked down at his phone screen that hadn’t turned off yet.

Melissa: “I’m not deleting them unless you come keep me company.” Garrett: “I’ll be there in an hour. If those photos of Claire are still online when I arrive, you’ll regret it.” Melissa: “Regret? Regret not draining you dry in bed?” Garrett: “That mouth of yours-I’ll come shut it up properly…” Seeing these obscene exchanges, I laughed. Now I finally believed that he married me out of guilt. In three years of marriage, he’d always been perfunctory with me physically. I’d always thought he was being gentle, that he couldn’t bear to hurt me. Turns out I just never appealed to him at all. Garrett carefully led me to the bedroom and laid me down. “Claire, there’s a problem at the lab. I need to go. I won’t be back tonight.” I suddenly gripped his sleeve tightly. “Don’t go. Stay with me tonight.” At that moment, I could see his phone vibrating nonstop. Garrett, who will you choose-me or Melissa? My palms were sweating as I held onto his sleeve. Perhaps because I rarely made such requests, Garrett froze. Just as I was about to let go of his sleeve… He turned off his phone and slipped under the covers, holding me tight. My heart pounded violently. I couldn’t believe he would abandon Melissa for me. I heard him whisper in my ear. “Alright, I won’t go then. I’ll stay and keep you company.” In the middle of the night, I was awakened by rustling sounds. Soon after, I heard Garrett by the door, making a quiet phone call. “Didn’t I come? Claire’s in a bad mood. I need to spend more time with her.” “Yes, I don’t love her.” “But she’s still my wife. I have to care for her.” “If I could choose, I wish her father hadn’t saved me. Then I wouldn’t have had to repay this debt by throwing away my entire life.” The door closed carefully. I lay in bed with my eyes open. Recalling how many times over the years he’d been “called away” in the middle of the night. In three years, he’d never even spent one birthday with me. More and more details surfaced. I realized I truly was blind. I couldn’t even see whether the man beside me loved me or not. If that’s the case, then let’s stop torturing each other, Garrett. At dawn, I sat at the desk, eyes red, finishing the divorce papers. Just as I set down the pen, the door opened carefully. Garrett looked startled seeing me sitting at the desk. He walked over worriedly, checking my body for injuries. “Why did you get up by yourself? Did you bump into anything?” Seeing no wounds on me, he sighed with relief and held up a blueberry cake. “Are you hungry? You were sleeping so peacefully, so I went to South Street to get this for you.” He clearly remembered. Blueberry cake was my favorite. But he forgot that South Street stopped selling blueberry cake long ago… I didn’t take the cake that had already gone cold. I handed him the divorce papers instead. “Garrett, sign this…” The next second, his phone rang. His expression changed dramatically. “What? I’ll be right there!” He threw the blueberry cake on the floor and turned to leave. I grabbed him and shoved the divorce papers into his arms. “Sign this first!” Garrett rarely got angry with me, but now he snapped. “Melissa suddenly had a rare disease flare-up. I need to save her! Can you stop being so petty!” “What is it this time-another guarantee letter or apology? I don’t have time to play your games!” I remained unmoved, just clutching his sleeve tightly. Left with no choice, Garrett snatched the divorce papers and signed without even reading them. He signed while gritting his teeth. “Claire Morgan, I really misjudged you.” He threw down those harsh words and left in a hurry, stepping on the blueberry cake and crushing it. Then my phone rang. It was Rachel. “Claire, your mother’s condition is critical!”

I had no time to feel hurt by Garrett’s attitude. I hastily shoved the divorce papers into my pocket and took a cab to the hospital. Rachel was a nurse at the hospital and had been taking care of my mother all along. When she saw me, she grabbed my hand and told me: “Claire, don’t be scared. Your mother’s condition is serious, but it’s treatable.” “I heard Garrett just developed a new drug that could treat your mother’s symptoms.” “Go find Garrett quickly and get him to bring the medicine! I’ll watch over your mother in the emergency room!” I nodded frantically and was about to pull out my phone when I saw Garrett walking into a hospital room. I quickly put away my phone and ran to the room, pushing the door open. There was Melissa nestled in Garrett’s arms, their intimate posture painfully obvious. Seeing me enter, Garrett instinctively wanted to push Melissa away. But he paused, probably remembering I was blind, and pulled Melissa closer instead. His tone was impatient. “Claire? What are you doing here?” I turned my face away from that jarring scene and got straight to the point. “Garrett, give me your new drug. My mother is dying. She desperately needs it.” Garrett’s expression darkened instantly. “Claire Morgan, are you doing this on purpose?” “There’s only one dose of this drug. I specially saved it for Melissa.” “You saw she needs it, so you’re lying about your mother? You just can’t stand seeing Melissa happy, can you?” Melissa nuzzled against him. “Garrett, if I don’t use this drug, I’ll really be paralyzed. You can’t bear to see me suffer, right?” Garrett immediately softened his tone. “Don’t worry. This drug is yours.” Watching his gentle demeanor, then thinking of my mother’s life hanging by a thread, I finally broke down. “Please, I’m begging you both! Give me the medicine. My mother is really dying!” Melissa laughed lightly. “You want the drug? Fine. Get on your knees and slap yourself ten times. Then I’ll give it to you.” Garrett frowned, about to tell me not to do it. But I had already raised my hand and slapped myself hard across the face. I mechanically kowtowed, my forehead hitting the cold floor again and again. Blood soon seeped out. “Enough! Claire!” Garrett stood up to pull me away, but Melissa yanked him back by his sleeve. “Garrett, it’s not enough yet. She’s begging me-who begs this halfheartedly?” I kept slapping myself without stopping, until a familiar shout echoed in the hallway. “Claire!” I scrambled to my feet and saw Rachel stumbling in, tears streaming down her face. “Claire, your mother… she didn’t make it. She’s gone!” My whole body froze. My blood turned to ice. I gripped Rachel’s hand tightly. “Take me… take me to see my mother!” Garrett’s face went deathly pale. He shoved Melissa aside and came toward me. “Claire, you can see?” My eyes looked at him with utter despair. “Let go of me!” His face turned ashen as he pulled out the drug and pressed it into my hand. “I… I didn’t know… The drug is here. Let’s go try it on your mother…” I shoved him away. The vial fell to the ground, pills scattering everywhere. “Don’t. And you’ve lost the right to act like her son-in-law.” Panic flashed across Garrett’s face. He seized my hand, his apologies tumbling out in a rush. “I’m sorry, Claire. This is all my fault. But we’re still married…” I pulled the crumpled divorce papers from my pocket. My voice was flat, final. “Not anymore. We’re nothing.” Garrett took them, his hands trembling.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353169”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

The day Alpha Thorne announced his engagement, the city blazed with fireworks. That same night, a fatal dose of Wolfsbane coursed through my veins as I knelt on a club floor, scrubbing. He held Vespera in his arms and stepped onto the back of my hand, the bones crunching under his polished shoe. “Look carefully, Elara. This is the woman I will marry.” “And you? You belong in the gutter, atoning.” I bit down, swallowing the coppery sweetness in my throat. I said nothing. He didn’t know these hands had already been ruined, digging through rubble for three days and nights to pull him out. He knew even less that the “me” he despised had just three months to live. Since atonement is what you want, I’ll repay you with this life. Will that suffice? To celebrate that woman’s return, , Thorne had booked out the entire penthouse lounge. The manager found me in the changing room, dry-swallowing a handful of painkillers. My stomach was on fire, pain wringing cold sweat from my skin. “Elara, hurry up! Thorne personally requested you to serve drinks tonight. Don’t you dare embarrass me.” The manager urged, yanking away the janitor’s uniform I’d just put on. She threw me an extremely revealing bunny girl outfit instead. “Wear this. Make Thorne unhappy tonight, and that vegetable brother of yours, Orion, will be out of his hospital bed by morning.” At the mention of Orion, the refusal I’d been about to voice died in my throat. I looked at myself in the mirror-pale, skeletal, barely human. I forced out a smile that looked worse than crying. Elara, what are you being so precious about? Your dignity was torn to shreds by Thorne’s own hands three years ago on that rainy night. The moment I pushed open the private room door, a wave of noise hit me. But I still spotted Thorne immediately, sitting in the seat of honor. He wore a black shirt with the collar slightly open. He swirled half a glass of red wine in his hand, his gaze cold and lazy. Nestled in his arms was Vespera in a white dress. When I walked in, the air in the room seemed to freeze for an instant. Then came the unrestrained laughter of those rich heirs. “Well, well, isn’t this the Alpha’s daughter from Frostwind Pack? How did she fall so low?” “You didn’t hear? Frostwind Pack collapsed ages ago. They even sold their crest for scrap metal.” “That’s karma for you! Back then, she nearly got Vespera killed just to climb the social ladder. A woman with such a venomous heart deserves this!” Thorne looked up lazily at the sound. His gaze landed on me, utterly devoid of warmth. “What are you standing there for? Come over here and pour Vespera a drink.” I moved stiffly forward. When I reached the coffee table, I knelt down and picked up the decanter with trembling hands. My stomach cramped violently. My hand shook, and a few drops of red wine splattered onto Vespera’s snow-white dress. “Ah!” Vespera cried out and shrank into Thorne’s embrace. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” I frantically tried to wipe it away, but Thorne kicked me hard in the chest. “Get away! Don’t touch her with your filthy hands!” The kick was brutal, showing no mercy whatsoever. I flew backward, my back slamming into the hard edge of the table. The pain made my vision go dark. The metallic taste surged up my throat. I bit down hard on my lip, terrified that if I coughed up blood, it would dirty his sight. Thorne looked down at me from above, his eyes full of disgust. “Elara, you’re revolting. You can’t even do something this simple right. You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” “Trying to get my attention with these pathetic tricks? As if you’re worthy.” I lay on the floor, taking a long time to barely prop myself up. Get his attention? Yeah. In his mind, I, Elara, was just a shameless woman who’d do anything for money. Even if I were dying right now, he’d only think I was faking illness. Vespera’s eyes reddened as she tugged at Thorne’s sleeve. “Thorne, don’t blame Elara. I’m sure she didn’t mean it… But what a shame about this dress. It was the birthday present you gave me.” Thorne patted her hand tenderly. When he turned to look at me, his expression instantly turned ice-cold. “Since you ruined Vespera’s dress, you’ll pay for it yourself.” “There are ten bottles of wine on that table. Drink them all, and I’ll forget today ever happened.” “Otherwise, crawl out of here.”

Ten bottles of wine, all filled with moongrass extract… For powerful Alphas and Betas, it was a tonic. But for someone like me in the late stages of Wolfsbane poisoning, it was lethal. The doctor had warned me long ago-drinking alcohol was equivalent to suicide. I looked up at Thorne. His expression was cold and resolute. He wasn’t joking. “Thorne, I… I can’t drink.” I begged humbly. “I’m not feeling well. Could you… give me a different punishment?” “Not feeling well?” Thorne sneered. “Elara, drop the act. When you pushed Vespera down those stairs, did you think about whether she was feeling well?” “When you took that five hundred thousand to dump me, did you think about how I felt?” Old grievances resurfaced. Every word stabbed at my heart. I opened my mouth, wanting to explain. I wanted to say that I wasn’t the one who pushed Vespera back then-she’d thrown herself down the stairs to frame me. I wanted to say that five hundred thousand was to save his life when he was in the ICU. But what was the point of explaining? For three years, I’d explained countless times. All I got in return was deeper disgust and more vicious beatings. “Won’t drink, huh?” Thorne lost patience and gestured to the security guards nearby. “Force it down her throat!” Two guards immediately stepped forward and grabbed my shoulders. Cold liquid was forced down my throat, choking me until tears streamed down my face. The burning liquid flowed down my esophagus into my stomach, instantly causing violent spasms. The pain was excruciating. I struggled desperately, but I was no match for their strength. One bottle, two bottles… By the time they’d forced down the fifth bottle, I finally couldn’t hold it in anymore. I vomited. Mixed with the vomit was a shocking amount of bright red blood. In the private room, some people looked at the blood on the floor with uncertain expressions. “Oh my God, she’s coughing up blood…” “Is it real or fake? Could she be faking it?” Thorne looked at the pool of blood, his brow furrowing slightly. A barely perceptible ripple passed through his eyes. But the next second, Vespera’s panicked voice rang out. “Oh my! Elara, did you prepare props ahead of time to trick Thorne into feeling sorry for you?” “When I was working on set before, I saw you use this trick…” With one sentence, she dispelled all of Thorne’s doubts. The wavering in his eyes vanished, replaced by even thicker mockery. “Elara, you’ve really outdone yourself. To escape punishment, you’d even resort to such filthy tricks.” “Looks like these years in prison, you didn’t learn anything useful-just got better at acting.” He stood up and walked toward me step by step. He crouched down and grabbed my chin viciously. “Since you love acting so much, I’ll give you a chance to perform to your heart’s content.” “Lick the floor clean.” I stared at him wide-eyed, unable to believe what I was hearing. The twisting pain in my stomach made my whole body tremble. Cold sweat had long since soaked through my clothes. But the pain in my heart was a hundred times worse than the physical agony. This was the man I’d loved for ten years. This was the man I’d ruined my hands to save, falling from the most promising Alpha Female to the lowest Omega. “Thorne… just kill me.” I closed my eyes in despair, tears sliding down my face. “Kill you? That would be too easy.” Thorne laughed coldly and released my face. He pulled out a wet wipe and wiped his hands with disgust. “How dare you bully Vespera? Tonight you’ll kneel here until tomorrow morning.” “Miss even one minute, and I’ll have someone turn off Orion’s respirator.” With that, he scooped Vespera into his arms and walked out of the room without looking back. That group of fair-weather friends followed him out. Before leaving, they didn’t forget to spit on me and stomp on me a few times. The private room finally fell silent. I curled up on the cold floor, coughing up blood in great mouthfuls. Bright red blood stained the white fur of the bunny girl outfit. With shaking hands, I pulled out the crumpled lab report from inside my clothes. Looking at the words “late stage,” I laughed bitterly. Thorne, you won. In this lifetime, I probably really can’t repay what I owe you. But clearly… you’re the one who owes me a life.

That night, I really did kneel in that private room all night. I lost consciousness several times and was jolted awake by the pain. Early the next morning, a cleaning lady came in to tidy up. When she saw me covered in blood, she screamed in terror. I forced myself to use my last bit of strength to crawl back to that dark, damp rental apartment. There, I kept my only spiritual anchor. It was the last album my mother had left me. I studied oil painting and was once hailed as a prodigy. Those hands were once praised by my mentor as “hands kissed by God.” But during that earthquake rescue, to dig Thorne out from under the rubble, my ten fingers suffered severe fractures and nerve damage. I could never hold a paintbrush again. And Vespera became his lifesaver simply because she handed him a bottle of water when he woke up. I fumbled to open the locked tin box. Empty. My heart sank. An ominous premonition instantly enveloped me. That was my lifeline! I frantically tore through the entire apartment. Nothing. It was nowhere to be found! Just then, my phone rang. It was a picture message. The sender was Vespera. In the photo was a burning fire pit. In the pit, that familiar album was being consumed by flames, only half of the tattered cover remaining. Then a voice message came through. Vespera’s voice was filled with undisguised malice. “Elara, I heard this was the keepsake your mom left you? I thought it was too old and moldy, so I helped you get rid of it.” “Don’t blame me. Thorne said seeing your stuff annoyed him and told me to dispose of it however I wanted.” “Oh, right. Thorne also said that a useless person like you keeping an album is an insult to art.” That was the only memento my mother left me, the source of my will to survive in desperation. Now, they’d burned it to ash. My hand trembled violently as I gripped my phone. “Vespera! I’ll kill you!” I stumbled out the door and ran toward Thorne’s family villa. In that moment, I forgot about the pain in my body, forgot about the Wolfsbane inside me. My mind held only one thought-I would take them down with me! When I burst into Thorne’s garden, Thorne was helping Vespera prune flowers. I rushed over, shoved Vespera aside, and grabbed her throat with both hands. “Why did you burn my album! Why! Give my mother back to me!” Vespera screamed and struggled desperately. “Psycho! Help! Thorne, save me!” Before I could apply pressure, a massive force struck me from behind. Thorne kicked me hard in the waist. I flew through the air and slammed heavily into the stone wall of the fountain. My waist felt like it had broken. The pain was unbearable. I lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time. Thorne rushed forward and pulled the frightened Vespera into his arms. Then he turned his head and glared at me viciously. “Elara, you’re asking for death!” “It’s just a stupid album. So what if it’s burned? How dare you come here and assault someone!” Just a stupid album? I raised my head, face covered in tears, and looked at him. My heart turned to ash. “That was… my mom’s keepsake… the only thing I had left in this world…” Thorne looked down at me from above. “Someone like you deserves to talk about feelings?” “If your mom knew you sold your body for money and schemed to harm people to climb the ladder, she’d probably crawl out of her coffin just to die again!” “Elara, I’m warning you for the last time. If you lay another finger on Vespera, I’ll take your life!” I lay on the ground, looking at this man I’d loved for ten years. Every word he spoke was like a dull knife, cutting into my flesh. I saved him. I loved him. I gave him everything. And this was the result. “Thorne…” I called his name weakly. “If one day… you learn the truth… will you regret it?” Thorne paused, then laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world. “Regret? The biggest regret of my life was meeting a hypocrite like you!” “Guards! Throw her out! Don’t let her dirty Vespera’s eyes!” Several guards came over and dragged me like a dog. I didn’t struggle. I let my body scrape across the rough ground. But my gaze remained fixed on Vespera in the distance. She hid in Thorne’s arms, showing a victor’s smile. Just as I was being dragged out the gate, I vomited another mouthful of blood. This time, the blood stained Thorne’s family’s expensive Persian carpet. Thorne looked at the pool of blood, his brow furrowed tightly, a trace of inexplicable panic flashing in his eyes. But he quickly turned away and stopped looking at me. I was thrown on the roadside outside the villa. Rain began to fall from the sky. It was bitterly cold. I lay in the muddy water, looking up at the gray sky, and suddenly laughed. I laughed until tears mixed with the rain. Thorne, I don’t owe you anymore. In this lifetime, I’ll never owe you again.

After that incident, I lay unconscious in my rental apartment for three days. If the landlord hadn’t come to collect rent, I probably would have died on that moldy bed. When I woke up, I received a call from the hospital. Orion was failing. He needed surgery immediately. The surgery cost five hundred thousand dollars. Five hundred thousand. I couldn’t even come up with five hundred dollars right now. With no choice left, I dialed the number I’d sworn never to call again. “Speak.” It was Thorne’s voice, cold and clipped. “Thorne…I need five hundred thousand. Orion is dying…Please.” I begged, the words shaking. “Money?” A low, mocking laugh came through the line. “You can earn it. Tonight’s our engagement party. Be there to serve the drinks.” “As long as you serve every guest well, I’ll reward you with a million dollars.” “I might even consider getting the best doctors for that waste of space, Orion.” Even knowing this was humiliation, I had no choice. “Okay… I’ll be there.” The Thorne family estate. Today was Thorne and Vespera’s engagement party. All the city’s elite had come. I wore an ill-fitting maid’s uniform, carrying a tray and weaving through the crowd. Everyone who looked at me had mockery in their eyes. The once high-and-mighty daughter of Frostwind Pack had now become a servant at her ex-fiancé’s engagement party. This was undoubtedly the biggest joke of the evening. But I didn’t care. I just wanted to get the money and save Orion’s life. As long as I could endure tonight, I would take Orion and leave this place, find somewhere no one knew us, and quietly wait to die. The party reached its climax. Thorne took Vespera’s hand and walked onto the platform covered in rose petals. Under the spotlight, they looked like the perfect match. Just then, Vespera suddenly waved at me. “Elara, could you please come help me hold this bouquet? I need to exchange rings with Thorne.” All eyes turned to me. Thorne also looked over, his gaze warning me not to cause trouble. I set down my tray, lowered my head, and walked up. As I reached out to take the bouquet, Vespera suddenly leaned close to my ear. In a voice only the two of us could hear, she whispered softly: “Elara, actually, I know it was you who saved Thorne from under the rubble that year.” “And Orion’s car accident-I had someone arrange that too.” “But so what? I’m the one standing beside him now, and I’ll be the one with the Luna title in the future.” “And you? You can only watch like a dog, seething with jealousy.” “Oh, right, I forgot to tell you-I just had someone stop Orion’s medication.” “Since you’re going to die anyway, might as well let him go down to keep you company.” In that instant, all the blood in my body froze. The sounds around me became muffled. Everything before my eyes turned blood red. Orion… was dead? The only family I had left in this world, the person I’d fought desperately to protect… She’d killed him? I screamed with everything I had. Like a madwoman, I lunged at Vespera, forcing a Shift. My scarred wolf claws snatched the bouquet of roses and smashed it into her face. The thorns on the roses tore through her delicate makeup. “Vespera! I’ll kill you!” The scene erupted into chaos. Thorne reacted quickly, kicking me to the ground with one blow. Then he immediately shielded Vespera. “Elara! You’re asking for death!” He roared furiously. That kick landed squarely on my fragile chest. I shifted back to human form, a mouthful of blood spurting out. Forcing a Shift had triggered the Wolfsbane in my body. This time, the blood wouldn’t stop no matter what. I collapsed in a pool of blood, my vision beginning to blur. I watched Thorne frantically check Vespera for injuries. I watched him look at me with eyes that wished me dead. With difficulty, I pulled out the special painkiller medication from my pocket. My hand loosened, and the pill bottle rolled to Thorne’s feet. White pills scattered across the floor. I used the last shred of my strength to look at Thorne, pulling my lips into a smile of relief. “Thorne… congratulations… you’re finally… going to get me killed…” “If there’s a next life… I’d rather… have never saved you…” In the final second before darkness took me, I saw Thorne pick up the pill bottle. His pupils contracted. His whole body went rigid. He saw the label on the bottle. Treatment for Late-Stage Wolfsbane. At that exact moment, the banquet hall doors crashed open. My physician Cyrus stormed in, waving an autopsy report and a voice recorder, fury etched on his face. “Everyone stop!” “Thorne! You bastard! Look at what you’ve done!” “That fool who ruined her hands digging you out…she’s dying.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353168”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy

The day before my wedding, my fiancé got drunk. On the drive home, he mistook me for my best friend. “Claire, don’t bring the kid to the wedding tomorrow. We can’t let Rowena find out about our child yet.” I slammed on the brakes. Damian crashed against the seat, sobering up considerably. When he realized it was me, he froze for a moment before slowly speaking: “Since you heard that, the wedding’s temporarily canceled. But don’t worry—Claire doesn’t want to get married, but the child is mine and I have to take responsibility. Once the kid grows up, I’ll come back and marry you.” I stared at him, dumbfounded by his shameless demand. When I didn’t respond, he grabbed his suitcase and left as soon as we got home. I sat on the bed in a daze. My phone rang at that moment. My childhood friend’s hoarse voice came through: “Rowena, please don’t marry him.” I fell silent for a moment. “Alright.” Looking at the carefully decorated bridal suite, I found it glaring. In college, I pursued him for two years. We dated for three years. Tomorrow we were finally supposed to enter the halls of matrimony. Only to discover he’d been sleeping with my best friend Claire three years ago. Their son was already two years old. The double betrayal of my friend and boyfriend shattered my heart like a sledgehammer. I forced back the tears threatening to fall, wanting to escape this suffocating place. My phone suddenly rang. “Rowena, Claire’s been busy with the kid and hasn’t eaten yet. I haven’t eaten either. Make some food and bring it over.” The man issued his command like an order, then hung up without giving me a chance to respond. I forced a bitter smile, my heart aching. For three years, Claire’s unexpected pregnancy hadn’t been easy. I’d cared for her from early pregnancy until her son turned two. As her best friend and the child’s godmother, I’d done right by everyone. Every time she refused to mention the father, my heart broke for her. I never imagined the man who abandoned my friend was the one sharing my bed. The irony was that I always thought Claire was foolish. Turns out I was the fool all along! Only now did I realize the signs were always there. Whenever we went out, Claire dressed provocatively, “accidentally” making physical contact with Damian, flirting and playing around. It was all premeditated, right under my nose. Sometimes I’d get jealous and hint that Damian should maintain better boundaries. He thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill. “Claire’s your best friend, and I’m your man. If you can’t trust us, who can you trust?” A few dismissive words and I’d back down, even thinking he had a point. Looking back now, I was too stupid. I laughed bitterly at myself. I opened a food delivery app and deliberately chose the lowest-rated restaurant, ordering some dishes. When they arrived, I carelessly transferred them to bowls and plates, then headed out. I wanted to see how this man who never did housework would manage caring for a child. Standing outside Claire’s door, I pressed the doorbell and suddenly felt disoriented. Claire answered. She wore a tight skirt, her face flushed. In an instant I understood what she’d been doing, and my expression turned cold. Claire acted as if nothing was wrong, smiling sweetly as she pulled me inside. Seeing my silence, she spoke first: “Have a seat. Damian’s helping our son wash his face. You should’ve seen how happy father and son were playing together!” Our son. Damian. How intimate. How did I never notice before? Father and son! Not even pretending anymore! I sat down stiffly. Soon Damian emerged carrying their son. I instinctively smiled at my godson. But today the little boy didn’t rush into my arms as usual. Instead, he pointed at me and said:”Mistress.”

My smile froze on my face. A two-year-old who could barely speak clearly could now clearly point at me and say “mistress.” Claire glanced at me and pretended to scold the boy. “Lucas! How dare you talk like that! She’s your godmother! She loves you the most.” Damian quickly covered the child’s ears. “Claire, don’t yell at him. Kids say the darndest things.” “Rowena’s my wife. She won’t hold it against a child.” I smiled bitterly, sitting there like a criminal disrupting a happy family of three. How could I possibly claim to be Damian’s wife? I’d never seen a two-year-old with “innocent” words call someone a mistress. Lucas. Yearning. Only now did I understand the meaning behind the child’s name. Damian didn’t find anything wrong with the situation. He even tried to hand the child to me. I dodged smoothly. “I should go.” The man grabbed my wrist with his free hand. “Rowena, you’re free right now. Perfect time to practice caring for a kid.” I laughed coldly. “Damian, I’m naive but I’m not insane. Why would I care for you and your mistress’s child? If you three don’t find me an eyesore, I certainly find you disgusting.” Seeing the tension, Claire smiled and tried to smooth things over. “Rowena, you know I never want to get married. The baby was just an accident. If you mind, I can legally transfer him to you. It won’t affect your marriage to Damian.” As she spoke, she deliberately pushed against Damian, her chest “accidentally” brushing his shoulder. “Go home with your wife. I’ve been raising the child alone for two years anyway—I’m used to it. When Rowena wants to raise him, she can come handle the transfer paperwork anytime.” The boy in Damian’s arms seemed to sense something and suddenly burst into tears. The man instantly panicked, anxiously patting the child, coaxing him and wiping his tears with tissues. When the child finally stopped crying, he handed him to Claire before finally turning to glare at me. “Rowena, that’s enough! Because of you, our son never had a father. Now you want to separate mother and child?” “Besides, you often babysit anyway and he’s used to your care. You’d better take good care of him, or forget about marrying me.” My breath caught. I turned and quickly left. What did he mean “because of me” the child had no father? I rushed downstairs, not wanting to stay another second. I opened my car door, preparing to drive away. As I closed the door, Damian blocked it. The man frowned, preventing me from shutting the door. “Rowena, I wanted to tell you when Claire first got pregnant. I never meant to hide it.” “But she’s your best friend. I figured since she didn’t want to get married anyway, when she had the baby and didn’t want to raise it, we’d just transfer custody to you.” I stared at him in disbelief, my eyes red. “Too bad you let it slip. I might raise her child, but I’d never raise a mistress and your child.” Seeing my reddened eyes, Damian responded with mockery: “You’re the heir to Anderson Enterprises, from such a prominent family, yet you can’t accept this small thing. You’re not as strong as Claire—a girl from the slums has more backbone than you.” My nose stung. I fought to hold back tears. “I can’t argue with you, and I don’t want to anymore.” Damian pulled me from the driver’s seat and held me forcefully. “Stop crying. I promised I’d make it up to you, just not now.” I laughed miserably and struggled out of his embrace. I looked away for a long moment before speaking flatly. “Forget it. Let’s break up.”

Tears finally rolled down my cheeks. I sobbed uncontrollably. Damian froze, then cupped my face and forced me to look at him. He spoke as if granting me a favor: “I’ll come back every few days to be with you, then go take care of the child. How’s that?” Seeing my continued lack of response, the man sighed deeply. “Rowena, this is the best solution I can think of. Can you stop being unreasonable?” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stop sobbing and calm down. “That’s too troublesome. Just thinking about it exhausts me. Anyway, we’ve already broken up. You just need to stay with her and the child. How I’m doing is none of your business anymore.” He roughly grabbed my shoulder, thinking I was just throwing a tantrum. “Rowena, are you serious?” I stopped arguing and turned to get in the car. He suddenly shoved me hard. “So you’ve finally dropped the act! Now you’re throwing rich girl tantrums at me!” My head struck the car roof directly. Losing my balance, I fell heavily to the ground. Damian’s eyes filled with malice as he turned and walked away. Claire appeared from somewhere. She reproached Damian. “Rowena’s always been a pampered princess from a wealthy family. Having a little temper is normal, isn’t it? Can’t you, as a grown man, be more accommodating?” Damian laughed coldly, casually draping his arm around Claire’s waist. “I’m human too. Why should I accommodate her? She was the one who pursued me in the first place. Now she dares throw tantrums.” He glanced coldly at my disheveled state, then looked tenderly at Claire. “You’re so much better—understanding and considerate. If it had been Rowena having a baby, with that temper she’d have made a huge scene! Just thinking about it annoys me.” Their lovey-dovey display disgusted me. I didn’t want to deal with them anymore and simply drove away. The scenes from moments ago replayed in my mind. A sharp pain in my chest made breathing difficult. My phone rang at the worst moment. The caller ID showed Damian’s mother. “Rowena dear, I’ve heard everything. Damian canceled your wedding. He was wrong to keep this from all of us—having a two-year-old grandson before telling anyone.” “Here’s what I’m thinking—the child was an accident and can be legally transferred to you. As long as Damian’s heart is with you, it won’t affect your marriage.” “Besides, Claire agreed. She won’t compete with you. You’re still Damian’s choice for a wife. Worst case, I’ll raise the grandson myself. He won’t be in your way.” My throat tightened. After a moment, I spoke hoarsely: “Ma’am, Damian and I have completely broken up.” Her tone suddenly turned vicious. “Rowena, I knew you rich people would be difficult. I was already reluctant when you two got together, afraid my son would have no dignity around you. Now he only made a mistake any man might make. He’s been honest about it, and you still can’t forgive him?” My grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles turned white. “Ma’am, it’s fine. Your son has his dignity now. He and Claire are perfect together. I’ve already stepped aside voluntarily. I won’t disturb them anymore.” I hung up and slammed on the brakes at the roadside. I gasped for air. For the sake of his so-called dignity, I’d gone from luxury to frugality. When Damian finally agreed to date me, he’d make snide remarks from time to time. Each time, I just smiled and nodded. I thought if I willingly became an ordinary, caring girlfriend by his side, he’d truly accept me. But at family gatherings, he was embarrassed by how plain I looked. “Didn’t you say Damian was dating a rich girl? Where is she? It can’t be that girl next to him, can it?” “That girl looks poorer than us. How could she be a rich girl? Damian probably made it up to save face.” His relatives laughed uproariously. Damian looked at me with even more disgust… I sat in the car in a daze for a while before driving home.

Not long after, Damian called. “Want to hang out? Claire’s already putting the kid to bed.” All these years he never took me shopping or spent time with me. What a generous offer today—did he finally feel guilty and want to compensate me? I had no patience for his nonsense. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard Claire’s coquettish voice. “Still coaxing your princess at this hour? Aren’t you tired? But I’m exhausted. Come give me a massage. It’s all your fault—I have to care for the child and serve you too.” Damian hastily said, “Fine, I’ll take you out another time.” The call ended abruptly. A deep bitterness welled up inside me. If only I’d firmly prevented those two from spending time together, I wouldn’t have ended up so miserable. The next day, the wedding was canceled. Damian organized a class reunion. I went, thinking of it as a final goodbye to this failed relationship. Classmates exchanged pleasantries. Seeing Claire holding her son, someone deliberately said: “Claire already has a son? When did you get married? How come we classmates didn’t know?” “Claire, who’s your son’s father? Why didn’t you bring him today for us to meet?” The crowd was malicious. Claire looked uncomfortable. Damian simply glanced coldly at me, then took their son from Claire’s arms. “I’m the child’s father.” In an instant, everyone’s eyes turned to me. People around me began whispering. “I heard Claire and Damian were together back then, but something happened and he ended up with Rowena instead. Counting the time, Claire’s son really is two years old.” “So Rowena’s the mistress?” I trembled with rage, suppressing my fury. I stood to get some water, but Claire deliberately stepped on my dress hem. Caught off guard, I fell to my knees. The room filled with malicious laughter. My knees instantly bruised. The pain prevented me from standing. “Is Rowena kneeling to confess her sins as a mistress?” Damian just glanced at me with disgust, letting everyone gossip about me. I glared at Claire through clenched teeth. Anyone paying attention would have noticed Claire stepping on my dress. My long-suppressed anger erupted. I raised my hand to slap Claire’s face, but Damian stood up and backhanded me instead. SLAP. The room fell silent. In an instant, blood seeped from my mouth corner. My ears rang. I stared coldly at Damian, then reached up and slapped him hard across the face. “Damian, we’re completely finished.”

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On New Year’s Eve, my in-laws returned from abroad to have dinner at our house. But the housekeeper only prepared two plates of cold shrimp,and this was after I’d specifically reminded her that Sophie was allergic to shellfish. The housekeeper, Victoria Young, said to me matter-of-factly: “Mrs. Pierce, you bumpkin love to take advantage. I understand that your parents are coming over to mooch a free meal during the holidays.” “But as Mr. Pierce’s most trusted housekeeper, I have the right to protect the Pierce family assets from being tainted by filthy people—not even for one dinner.” “However, I’m kind-hearted. I won’t let the two old folks go hungry. I’ve prepared shrimp. Your parents can eat and leave quickly.” “Mr. Pierce is very busy at work. I can’t have him dealing with your parents—those poor relatives—when he gets home later.” I was stunned, then realized she had mistaken Mr. Pierce’s parents for mine and was deliberately trying to humiliate me as usual. I was about to explain when Mr. Pierce’s parents turned to leave in anger, but Victoria called the security guards to stop them: “You two, I understand that you country people have questionable character, but wasting food is bad conduct.” “Since the shrimp has already been prepared, please eat before you leave.”

Mr. Pierce’s father, Marcus Pierce, had held high positions for years. No one had ever dared treat him this way. He immediately cursed in fury: “Pierce, that beast! Has he forgotten who gave him every penny he has? How dare he hire this disgusting housekeeper to insult his own father—this is outrageous!” Mr. Pierce’s mother was equally furious: “When we get back, we need to have a serious talk with Pierce. What kind of housekeeper can overstep the lady of the house like this?!” The lady of the house? I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Ever since Mr. Pierce hired Victoria Young, my life had been worse than a servant’s. After marriage, Mr. Pierce forbade me to work. I even had to submit an application to this housekeeper just to get money for sanitary pads. Based on my understanding of Victoria, she wouldn’t let this go. So I positioned myself in front of the two elders and tried to reason with her: “Ms. Young, these are Pierce’s parents. His mother is allergic to shellfish. If he finds out you fed his parents shrimp, he won’t let you off.” But Victoria just smiled contemptuously: “Mrs. Pierce, don’t think that just because you married Mr. Pierce, all your poor relatives suddenly become his relatives too.” “These two country bumpkins of yours—how dare they claim to be Mr. Pierce’s parents? Where’s your shame!” With that, Victoria’s expression darkened as she said to the guards: “What are you waiting for? Invite Mr. Pierce’s ‘parents’ to eat the shrimp I specially prepared for them!” The guards only followed Victoria’s orders. Immediately, they dragged the two elders from behind me and pressed their heads toward the shrimp. Both were in their fifties—no match for the young, strong guards. In moments, their faces were smeared with shrimp. I cried out in alarm: “Victoria Young, have you lost your mind?!” “I’ve put up with how you treat me all this time! But these are Pierce’s parents! Tell them to stop right now!” I rushed forward trying to pull the guards away, but Victoria had someone restrain me. Victoria leaned close to my ear and whispered in a voice only I could hear: “So what if you country trash married into a wealthy family? You’re still nothing but clay in my hands!” “Today I’ll let you watch how your lowly parents cry and beg for mercy!” Then she shouted at the guards again: “Are you deaf?! I said invite them to eat shrimp—have they eaten? No?!” “Force-feed them! Especially Mrs. Pierce’s dear mother. She’s allergic to shrimp? Well, I have a PhD in nutrition, and I want to see what kind of allergy can’t be cured by force-feeding!” The guards obeyed, shoving shrimp into my in-laws’ mouths like they were feeding dogs. Before they could swallow one mouthful of shrimp, another was stuffed in. Saliva and shrimp filling covered their faces! Marcus’s face turned bright red with rage, while Sophie’s breathing was clearly becoming labored.

Seeing Sophie about to lose consciousness, Marcus somehow found the strength to break free from the guard restraining him. He lunged toward Sophie, but the next moment, another guard kicked him to the ground. Victoria looked at Marcus like he was trash: “I graciously invited you to eat shrimp, and not only are you ungrateful, you dare resist? Then don’t blame me for being rude!” “Beat this old fool senseless! I want to see if his bones are harder than my rules!” The guards obeyed and immediately began punching and kicking Marcus. Soon he fell silent. Sophie’s breathing grew weaker and weaker, but she looked at Marcus, whose fate was uncertain, and tears fell from her clouded eyes. I struggled desperately to break free from the guard holding me, screaming: “Victoria Young! Stop this! Are you trying to kill someone?!” Victoria looked at me calmly, from her position of superiority: “Mrs. Pierce, so what if someone dies? Would Mr. Pierce really send me to prison over these two country bumpkin parents of yours?” My heart raced with anxiety, but I knew Victoria was speaking the truth. She was the housekeeper who enjoyed Mr. Pierce’s complete trust, while my marriage to Mr. Pierce was nothing more than an arrangement made by our grandparents. After marriage, he treated me with extreme coldness, and for ten years had allowed Victoria to humiliate me in every way. Seeing they were being beaten to death, I suddenly spotted a fruit knife in the fruit bowl on the dining table. I violently broke free from the guard restraining me and rushed to grab the knife. Before anyone could react, I pressed the knife against Victoria’s throat and shouted to the guards: “Pull the car up to the door and put the two elderly people in it. Don’t follow us!” Victoria’s face went deathly pale. She quickly said to the guards: “Do as she says!” At the same time, she didn’t forget to threaten me through gritted teeth: “Emma Hart, when Mr. Pierce finds out what you did to me, you’re dead!” With lives at stake, I ignored her. After the guards had settled the two elders as I instructed, I took Victoria hostage to the car door, shoved her away, and immediately drove toward Mr. Pierce’s hospital. The Pierce family was a wealthy family in River City. Sophie and Marcus doted on their son Pierce. They hadn’t forced Pierce to inherit the company but instead let him become a doctor as he wished. They’d even invested heavily to establish a large private hospital for him. I drove as fast as I could, racing against time to reach the hospital. As long as I got to the hospital, everything would be fine. Pierce wouldn’t refuse to save his own parents! Meanwhile, I called Pierce countless times while driving, but unsurprisingly, all the calls were declined. I hadn’t held much hope anyway. For all these years, I’d contacted Pierce through Victoria. He never answered my calls or replied to my messages. Finally, I pulled up to the emergency center entrance of the hospital, grabbed a passing nurse, and said: “I’m the wife of your Dr. Pierce! His parents—one was severely beaten and is unconscious, the other is in danger from an allergic reaction. Get someone to take them to the emergency room now!” The young nurse just rolled her eyes at me: “Ma’am, you must be joking.” “Everyone at our hospital knows Dr. Pierce’s girlfriend is Miss Victoria Young. Even if you want to cut the line for treatment, you should come up with a better story!” I was stunned, but the situation was too urgent. I didn’t bother explaining and instead grabbed the nurse: “Go find Pierce immediately. Tell him my name is Emma Hart, and tell him everything else I just said. He’ll handle it!” Seeing my anxious expression, the nurse didn’t dare delay and immediately went upstairs to find Pierce. Before long, Pierce came down with her. As soon as he saw me, he accused me coldly: “What is wrong with you?!” “Victoria just called me. She kindly invited your parents to eat shrimp, and not only were you ungrateful, you lied about your mother being allergic and even cut Victoria with a knife. You’re getting bolder and bolder!” I was dumbfounded by this slander, but I didn’t have time to explain. I pointed anxiously at the car I’d driven: “They’re not my parents—they’re YOUR parents! They’re both unconscious in the car right now. Hurry and get someone to take them to the emergency room!” But Pierce didn’t even glance at the car. He shook off my hand and turned to leave: “My parents? My parents have been living abroad permanently. They never come back. You’re lying through your teeth just to cut the line for treatment!” “Victoria has a PhD in nutrition. She said your mother just overate and has indigestion. I’m the hospital director, you’re my family member—I especially can’t help you. I can’t let you cut the line for treatment.” “Go wait in line like everyone else. Stop trying to use the Pierce family’s influence to take shortcuts all the time.”

Seeing I couldn’t count on Pierce, and having no idea how long the wait would be if I joined the queue, I decided to drive the two elders to the nearest public hospital. Just then, hospital security suddenly set up barriers around my car. I was stunned: “What are you doing?!” The guard looked at me with contempt: “Miss Young just called and said the car you drove here is hers. You drove it out without her permission—it’s stolen property.” “Until Miss Young arrives at the hospital, I can’t let you drive this car away!” My face flushed red with anger: “This is my family’s car! What right does Victoria Young have to call it stolen property!” The guard remained unmoved: “I’m sorry, but Dr. Pierce has told us that Miss Young’s orders are equivalent to his orders. Please stop making a scene.” Thinking of the two unconscious elders in the car, darkness swam before my eyes. Victoria was committing murder! I called Pierce, but this time the call showed I’d been blocked. With no other option, I called the police and briefly explained that my in-laws had been rendered unconscious by Victoria’s actions, and that hospital security was forcibly detaining my car. Soon, a police car arrived at the hospital. Just as I thought things might finally turn around, Pierce, as the hospital director, spoke with the police before I could: “My wife had a little conflict with our housekeeper. The two elderly people just have indigestion—she’s lying about an allergy to frame the housekeeper.” “And that car at the emergency entrance isn’t our family’s car. Although it used to be registered under my name, it was transferred to Miss Young long ago. My wife really did steal someone else’s car.” “I apologize on my wife’s behalf for wasting police resources. I’m truly sorry.” I was about to object when Pierce grabbed me and threatened in a voice only I could hear: “I’ll deal with you later for falsely reporting to frame Victoria!” “But if you dare say another word of nonsense, your parents won’t get any treatment at my hospital!” I didn’t care about his threats. As long as he saw who was in the car, I didn’t believe he wouldn’t provide treatment! Just then, another car suddenly pulled into the hospital. Pierce answered a phone call, his expression changed, and he hurried to the car. The next moment, he actually carried Victoria out of the car, telling the medical staff with a worried expression: “Quick, take Victoria to the emergency room!” “She was cut on the neck earlier. What if she gets tetanus!” Victoria nestled in his arms, looking at me triumphantly, then said sweetly: “Mr. Pierce, I know you’re worried about me, but I can’t break the hospital’s rules.” “I should just wait in line for treatment like everyone else.” Pierce paused, then seemed to think of something and looked at me: “How can Emma compare to you!” “She’s my family member—I can’t show favoritism. But you were injured by her just now, and as her husband, I naturally need to apologize to you on her behalf. This isn’t cutting in line—it’s completely legitimate!” Everything happened so fast. Before I could react, a stretcher had already taken Victoria to the emergency room. In the meantime, the police had left. I grabbed Pierce’s arm in fury: “Pierce! Do you have any conscience?! Those people in the car are YOUR parents!” “You won’t save your own parents, but you’ll save the person who harmed them. Are you even human?!” But Pierce shoved me to the ground and said coldly: “Emma Hart, those are YOUR parents, not mine. Besides, they just have indigestion—what’s there to save!” “I told you when we got married not to think that marrying into the Pierce family means you can abuse Pierce family resources.” “Thank goodness Victoria has been keeping an eye on you all these years. Otherwise, you’d even try to use Pierce family connections to skip the line at a hospital. Country people really are ignorant!”

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I supported my husband’s startup for 10 years, but when his company went public and threw a celebration banquet, he refused to bring me. Before leaving, he reassured me: “You stay home and take care of the kids. Once I’m done with all this, I’ll take you and the kids on a trip to Greece.” I sat there surrounded by LEGO pieces and picture books scattered across the floor, feeling hollow inside. My three-year-old daughter suddenly came running over, holding up a black phone: “Mommy! Daddy forgot his phone!” I froze. This wasn’t his usual phone. The moment I opened it, a text message popped up: “Honey, I picked out the perfect gown for the banquet. $30,000. Waiting for you to swipe the card~” The sender was saved as: “Baby Vivian.” My breath stopped. Blood rushed to my eardrums, buzzing loudly. My fingers moved across the screen without conscious thought. Either Matthew was too confident, or he trusted me too much. The phone had no password. I opened the chat with “Baby Vivian.” The earliest message was from three years ago, August: “Matthew, I revised the proposal and sent it to your email.” On his birthday, she sent him a photo of herself in lingerie. On Christmas, he arranged to meet her at a hot spring resort. Kelly was hugging her Barbie doll and humming, sunlight falling on her soft blonde hair in a gentle golden glow. My daughter. Three years old. And my husband’s mistress had been by his side for three years. I kept scrolling up. The last message from yesterday— “Honey, I think I’m pregnant.” “Really?! I’ll take you to get checked tomorrow. If it’s true, I’ll come clean with my wife.” My world completely collapsed in that moment. So he’d been planning the divorce all along? The door lock turned. Matthew pushed the door open, his eyes scanning the living room: “I left a black work phone at home. Have you seen it?” “Kelly found it.” I walked over and pulled out the phone. “How could you forget something so important?” He snatched it away, quickly pressed the screen dark, and stuffed it into his suit pocket. The whole process took less than three seconds. “Work’s been crazy. I was careless.” He cleared his throat. He paused, then ruffled my hair: “I might be home very late tonight. Get some rest early.” The door closed. I leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor. The spires of the LEGO castle blurred and twisted in my vision.

A week later, I sat down next to him with the household budget book. “Kelly’s enrichment classes raised their fees.” I opened the book. “The joint account balance is running low. Is the company doing okay financially?” “The company’s fine.” He barely glanced at it. “The banquet budget was approved ages ago. If there’s not enough money, just use the credit card. I’ll deposit more next month.” “The banquet… it’s at the Imperial Hotel?” “Yeah, the Starlight Hall.” His eyes flickered. “How did you know?” “I saw the promotion when I passed by last time.” I lowered my eyes. “I heard it’s expensive.” “It’s the company’s tenth anniversary. We need to do it right.” He put his arm around my shoulders. “When I’m done with all this, I’ll take you and Kelly to Greece.” Another promise. “By the way,” I looked up, “Can I see the banquet schedule? I don’t even know what my own company’s event looks like.” After a few seconds of silence, he said: “Sure, I’ll send it to your phone.” A minute later, the digital schedule and seating chart arrived. “Just take a look. Don’t forward it to anyone.” “Got it.” He got up to shower. I opened my phone and found the woman’s name in the administrative department. I took screenshots, uploaded them to the cloud, and backed them up to an encrypted hard drive. Passing the study, the door was slightly ajar. His old laptop sat on the desk, the indicator light glowing. I pushed the door open. The computer had no password. The files were disorganized. I clicked on “Work Backup – 2021.” As I was exiting, my peripheral vision caught a strangely named folder: “V.” Double-clicked. It required a password. I tried his birthday, my birthday, the company founding date. All wrong. I entered “Vivian” in pinyin. The folder opened. Inside were photos of him and Vivian in intimate poses. I inserted a USB drive and copied all the photos. Just then, he appeared in the doorway, hair dripping, eyes scanning the computer: “What are you doing in the study?” I lied: “Looking for Kelly’s vaccination record. The kindergarten needs it tomorrow.” I waved the little blue booklet. “Your old computer was still on. Such a waste of electricity.” “I forgot to turn it off.” He walked over and pressed the power button. “Don’t touch my computer from now on. There’s confidential business information.” “Yes, sir, Mr. Hughes.” I smiled and playfully punched him, then walked out of the study. A few days later, I met with lawyer Quinn Reed to handle my divorce case. Afterwards, I went to a digital store on the west side. The owner, Derek Mason, was my college classmate. “Here’s what you wanted.” He handed me a black velvet box. Inside was a rose brooch and a lipstick. Both were hidden cameras. Derek’s expression was complicated. “Be careful.” I smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not the one who needs to be careful.” That night, Matthew came home at 2 AM, reeking of alcohol. I helped him to bed, wiped his face, took off his shoes. In his daze, he grabbed my hand: “Vivian… stop teasing…” In the darkness, I opened my phone. Vivian’s social media had been updated. In the photo, she wore a Cartier bracelet, holding up a wine glass. I took Matthew’s phone and liked the post. A minute later, Vivian sent a private message: “Matthew? Why did you like it? Didn’t you say we shouldn’t go public yet?” I replied in Matthew’s tone: “Couldn’t help it. Missing you.” She sent a shy emoji: “I miss you too. I tried on the gown. It’s gorgeous. Will you announce our relationship at the banquet?” I continued: “Of course. Giving you the best.”

Three days before the banquet, I went to the Imperial Hotel under the pretense of checking out a wedding venue for a friend. The hall was being set up. “This setup is really impressive,” my friend marveled. “Which company is willing to spend this much?” “Right?” I said softly. A woman walked in through the side door. Champagne-colored high heels, beige suit dress, long hair loosely pinned up. She held a tablet, confirming details with the staff. It was Vivian. She was younger than in her photos, with flawless skin and upright posture. Meanwhile, I had loose skin and stretch marks on my belly after having Kelly, fine lines around my eyes, and dark circles I covered with concealer. So this was what he meant by “how could she compare to you.” “Brighten the lights by another 30%. Mr. Hughes said he wants every shot to be crystal clear that day.” Vivian’s voice was crisp. The staff nodded. “Don’t worry, Ms. Cross.” My friend whispered: “Who’s that? She’s got quite the presence.” I didn’t answer. Vivian turned around, her gaze sweeping over us. It paused for half a second, then her lips curved into a professional smile: “May I help you?” “We’re here to look at wedding venues.” My friend said. “You’re having… a banquet?” “Yes, our company’s tenth anniversary celebration.” Vivian walked over, her gaze lingering on my face for an extra moment. “And you are?” “Just call me Ms. Morgan.” “Ms. Morgan.” She nodded. “This venue is perfect for weddings, but we’ve booked it exclusively. If you need it, I can recommend other halls.” “No need, but thank you.” I smiled. “This venue is beautiful. Your husband really put thought into it.” Vivian’s smile stiffened slightly. Very subtly, but I caught it. “It’s Mr. Hughes who put thought into it.” She corrected, her tone gentle. “I’m just helping with execution.” “Mr. Hughes? Is he single? He booked such a large venue and set up double main seats. I thought it was prepared for his wife.” The air went quiet for a few seconds. Vivian looked at me, her eyes churning with curiosity, wariness, and perhaps a trace of barely detectable triumph. “I don’t know much about Mr. Hughes’s personal matters.” She looked away, speaking to the staff, “I’m going to confirm the menu. You all continue.” She turned and left, her heels clicking crisply. My friend tugged my sleeve: “Morgan, why were you asking those questions? That was weird.” “Just curious.” I withdrew my gaze. “Let’s go. Let’s check out the other halls.” We headed toward the elevator. Before the doors closed, I looked back. Vivian stood in the center of the stage, looking down at her tablet. Dome lights fell on her, enveloping her in an ethereal glow. She looked up, glancing toward the elevator. Our gazes met one last time through the closing gap. She smiled. It was a victor’s smile, full of pity. The elevator descended. “Do you know her?” my friend asked. “No.” I watched the numbers changing. “But I will soon.” That evening, Matthew came home early for once, looking irritated. “What’s wrong?” I served him soup. “Nothing.” He rubbed his temples. “Just a small issue at the company. It’ll be resolved soon.” “That’s good.” I pushed the soup bowl toward him. “By the way, I went to the Imperial Hotel today.” His movements paused. “What were you doing there?” “Helping Jade look at wedding venues.” My tone was natural. “I saw the Starlight Hall being set up. That’s your banquet, right?” “…Yeah.” “The double main seat design is really thoughtful.” I looked at him. “Was that your idea?” Matthew put down his spoon: “It was the event planning company’s proposal. Don’t overthink it.” “I’m not overthinking anything.” I smiled. “I just thought, if we ever renew our vows, we could reference this kind of design.” His expression softened a bit, and he held my hand: “Once the company goes public, I’ll definitely give you the grandest vow renewal ceremony.” Another promise. I held his hand back, palm warm, fingertips ice cold. “Oh, I was organizing the study yesterday and saw some photos on your old computer.” I said casually, “It looked like a team-building event? There was a girl who looked familiar. Is she the one who came to the house to deliver documents last time?” Matthew’s hand tightened: “Which girl?” “The one with long hair, big eyes, looks pretty capable.” I blinked. “I think her last name is Cross?” Silence. Long silence. He released my hand, his tone returning to gentle: “She’s from the administrative department. She is quite capable. Why the sudden interest in her?” “I just thought she was pretty.” I stood up to clear the dishes, turning my back to him. “I’m glad you have such capable employees. Puts my mind at ease.” He said nothing more. I carried the dishes into the kitchen and turned on the faucet. Water rushed, drowning out my rapid heartbeat. That night, Matthew slept deeply. I got up and retrieved the brooch camera from its hidden compartment, pinning it to the inside of the black coat I planned to wear tomorrow.

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My mom, Brenda, has kleptomania. She just can’t resist stealing. But she’s terrified of getting caught, so she’s always used me as her scapegoat. When I was little, she’d stuff candies from the grocery store into my pockets. When the clerk caught us, she’d immediately turn on me: “Are you that greedy? I’ll stitch your mouth shut when we get home!” When I was older, Mom took me to a friend’s house. She quietly pocketed my friend’s iPhone. Once it was discovered, she burst into tears, screaming, “How could you steal again?! How did I end up with a daughter like you!” At my wedding, Mom stole my mother-in-law’s gold necklace. When it was found, she declared she was disowning me on the spot: “Your husband gave you a million dollars for a wedding gift, and you still stole a gold necklace?! You’ve disappointed me so much!” The video of that scene went viral, and everyone online called me a thief. In utter despair, I jumped into a river. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment Mom first accused me of stealing candy. I blinked my innocent, big eyes and said in a tiny voice, “Mommy, you were the one who put the candy in my pocket. Why do you insist I put it there myself?”

At my words, Mom’s face instantly flushed crimson. Without thinking, she clapped her hand over my mouth. “You naughty child! Can’t even admit when you’ve done something wrong!” she muttered angrily. I stared at her face, twisted with guilt, and a bitter mix of hatred and fury surged within me. That face, in my past life, had utterly destroyed everything I had. I knew why she had kleptomania. She always felt Grandpa and Grandma were unfair when she was a kid, giving everything that should have been hers to her younger sister, Sarah. But I remembered clearly: from childhood, Sarah always wore Brenda’s hand-me-downs and played with her discarded toys. Even so, this baseless sense of being deprived clung to Mom like a poisonous vine her entire life. After she got married, she started shopping uncontrollably, piling up mountains of credit card debt she couldn’t repay. After my dad left, things got even worse. She could only find a twisted, pathetic thrill in stealing. I used to feel sorry for her. I naively believed that if I grew up, earned money, and gave her the best things in the world, I could cure her. But I was wrong. Every time she was caught, she never hesitated to throw me under the bus. From a simple green onion at the farmer’s market to my mother-in-law’s gold necklace at my wedding, she built her clean escape on the ruins of my reputation and life. I was universally condemned, called a gold-digger, rejected by everyone, and finally, I leaped into the icy river in despair. Not this life. I wouldn’t be her scapegoat again. I couldn’t save her, but I absolutely had to save myself. My memories flooded back, and the stares from everyone around the checkout felt like needles pricking my skin. I forcibly pried Mom’s hand away, using all my strength to shout in my little voice, “My kindergarten teacher said that in the store, little hands can’t touch things randomly! You have to wait for the cashier to ‘beep’ it, and for Mommy and Daddy to pay, only then can you touch it, or else it’s stealing!” “Mommy, you’re so grown-up, why aren’t you listening to the teacher? And why are you still stealing? Look, Lily is much more well-behaved than you!” “Mommy, the teacher said if you steal, the police officer will catch you! Please put the candy back quickly, what if the police officer comes?” I deliberately spoke quickly and with fear, letting tears well up in my eyes at just the right moment, perfectly portraying a good child terrified by an ill-behaved adult.

I gave her one last chance. If she admitted her mistake now, even a hint of remorse, maybe there’d be a tiny sliver of hope left for our relationship. But Mom reacted like a cornered cat, her voice skyrocketing. “How did you learn to lie like this, child? Everyone, judge for yourselves! I’m a grown woman, I’ve seen it all. Would I really steal a lollipop?” As she spoke, she poked my forehead with that look of intense disappointment, as if frustrated with my failure. “Have I starved you or deprived you of anything? To make you embarrass me like this in public!” I didn’t give her another chance to perform, nor did I soften. I spoke clearly, my voice not loud, but enough for everyone around, craning their necks to watch the drama, to hear every word. “Mommy, that little green onion in your pocket? You secretly added a more expensive garlic to the bag after it was weighed.” Mom’s face stiffened. I then pointed to the hair clip on her head: “And that hair clip you’re wearing? You took it from the shelf, ripped off the price tag when no one was looking, and just put it on.” A suppressed gasp rippled through the onlookers. Mom’s lips trembled, unable to utter a single word. In a fit of rage, she raised her hand and slapped me. Smack! The crisp sound echoed, and my cheek stung with a fiery pain. That entire corner of the grocery store fell silent. “Oh, my goodness! How can you, a mother, hit a child?!” An older neighbor, with permed hair, couldn’t stand it. She immediately pulled me behind her. “If a child says something wrong, you can teach them, but hitting them? What kind of behavior is that?” “Exactly! We all saw it. This child is speaking facts, with solid reasons. You’re hitting her because you’re guilty, aren’t you?” The cashier’s face darkened, and she directly pressed the call button. “Manager, security, we have someone here stealing and hitting a child. Please come handle this!” Mom completely panicked. Seeing the disdainful looks from everyone and the security guards approaching, she could only grit her teeth, pay for all the items, and was slapped with a hefty fine. After that incident, Mom’s facade of an honest, hardworking woman completely crumbled among the neighbors. She had to behave for a while, even specially buying imported baby formula through a proxy shopper for me, putting on a show of a loving mother, terrified I’d blurt out more truths. But late at night, when all was quiet, Mom would pierce me with eyes burning with venom, as if I were her mortal enemy. Her suppressed rage finally found an outlet at Aunt Sarah’s wedding. This time, she went big. At the wedding, I wore a beautiful princess dress, carrying the ring box as a flower girl. But just before we were to walk down the aisle, I opened the velvet box, and it was empty. The rings were gone. Before I could even panic, Mom’s shrill wail echoed through the entire backstage area. “Oh my God! Lily! You… how could you steal your Aunt Sarah’s rings!” She snatched the empty box from my hands, rushed to the front of everyone, tears flowing instantly, beating her chest dramatically. “You’ve completely disgraced your mother! How dare you lay hands on something so valuable?!”

Sarah instinctively pulled me behind her, frowning at Mom. “Brenda, don’t scare the child.” Sarah and Mom’s relationship was complicated. Grandpa and Grandma did play favorites, but they favored Mom. Sarah grew up wearing Mom’s hand-me-downs and playing with Mom’s old toys. Yet, Mom mistakenly believed she was the one who was deprived, which showed just how subtle Grandpa and Grandma’s favoritism was. As adults, Sarah let bygones be bygones and tried to mend their sisterly bond. But Mom not only refused to appreciate it, she constantly targeted Sarah with snide, passive-aggressive remarks. Especially after Sarah married well and Mark gave her a lavish wedding after their son Leo was born, it pricked Mom’s sensitive, fragile nerves. She was consumed with jealousy, almost driven mad. So, how could she behave herself at Sarah’s wedding? In my past life, because of that grocery store incident, Sarah developed a bad impression of me, thinking I had poor character. Ultimately, she exchanged a coveted spot at a top-tier elementary school for me, for a favor that got Mom a comfortable job as a dorm manager at the school. Mom, with that easy job, lived quite comfortably. This life, the grocery store storm had passed. I absolutely couldn’t let Sarah misunderstand me again. I lowered my head, looking aggrieved, and mumbled, “I didn’t steal the rings… I might have accidentally lost them. But… but why did Mommy’s first thought assume I stole them?” I said this specifically for Sarah to hear. Mom realized she had been too hasty and started to panic. But in front of so many relatives, especially at the wedding of the sister she most envied, if the theft of the wedding rings were exposed, how would she ever hold her head up in the family again? She had to vehemently insist I did it. It would get her off the hook and punish me for my ‘disrespect’ at the grocery store. Mom immediately put on a heartbroken and indignant expression, crying to Sarah, “Sarah, I’m not wrongly accusing her! Lily has been light-fingered since she was little. She stole erasers from classmates at school, and candy from the grocery store. When I said something, she even talked back! It’s all my fault, I didn’t raise her well!” She performed a tearful act, looking like a single mother who had toiled hard but was heartbroken by her ungrateful daughter. She instantly stole the bride’s thunder. The relatives immediately began to whisper. “Oh, it’s really hard raising a child alone, there’s not much time to teach them.” “This child is really something, daring to cause trouble at such a big event. She must be rotten to the core.” “So young and already greedy for wealth, stealing such valuable rings. What will she be like when she grows up? Who would ever marry her?” The tide of opinion turned instantly. Sarah looked at Mom’s pitiful act, and the scales in her heart began to tip. A trace of guilt appeared on her face as she softly comforted Mom, “Brenda, the child is still young. We can teach her slowly.” Seeing Sarah about to be convinced, I grew anxious. I tugged at her wedding dress and said loudly, “Aunt Sarah, you can’t misunderstand Lily, Lily is so sad!” “Last time at the grocery store, Mommy was the one who stole something, but she insisted I did! Teacher said that’s called slander!” I straightened my tiny frame. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask the neighbor ladies in our apartment complex!” My certainty made Sarah’s wavering eyes grow more pronounced; she seemed to feel a fresh wave of sympathy for me. Mom saw the situation turning bad and immediately pulled out her ultimate tantrum move. She flopped onto the ground, slapped her knees, and wailed loudly, “My life is so miserable! When I was little, I was bullied by Mom, Dad, and my sister, and now that I’m grown, I’m still bullied by my own daughter!” She pointed at Sarah, tears and snot streaming down her face. “Sarah! You deliberately invited me here today to make a fool of me, didn’t you?!” “I told you not to let Lily be the flower girl, I was afraid she’d cause trouble for you, but you wouldn’t listen! It’s always been like this since we were kids, everything had to go your way, and Mom and Dad always told me to give in to you! I’m the older sister!” “And now, my child stole something, and she’s full of lies, pinning the blame on me, and you’re even taking her side!” “You spoil her rotten every day, and now she doesn’t even respect me, her own mother! I have to swallow my anger, even if my teeth are broken! Today is your big day, and I don’t want to make things difficult for you! Fine! You say it was me? Then it was me! I stole the rings, I’ll pay you back! Won’t that suffice?!”

Sarah’s face was filled with guilt. She seemed to think Mom hadn’t really done anything unforgivable in her life, and her current wailing words were dripping with anguish. Her wavering heart instantly tilted towards Mom. I knew Sarah was soft-hearted, and Mom was a master manipulator. Coupled with the unbreakable bond of sisterhood they’d shared for so many years, Sarah being convinced was only a matter of time. But I still couldn’t help the ache in my heart; in this whole drama, I was completely alone and helpless. As I thought about it, real tears began to fall. I pursed my lips and whimpered, “Aunt Sarah, Mommy said she wanted to check the ring box, so I gave it to her. When I got it back, the rings were gone.” I thought that a six-year-old’s tears would at least elicit some pity. But I didn’t receive Sarah’s comfort. Instead, her gaze turned suddenly cold. “Lily, who taught you to say such a long speech?” Sarah’s voice was devoid of warmth. “Your mother wouldn’t harm you. You, on the other hand, for such a young child, are slick-tongued and quite skilled at twisting the truth!” “If it weren’t for my many years of sisterhood with your mom, I really would have been fooled by you today!” Mark, holding my cousin Leo who was still sucking his thumb, chimed in with a sarcastic undertone, “We really need to raise our kids well in the future. Brenda, you’re raising a child alone, it must be so hard. We haven’t been as supportive as we should.” His words, seemingly comforting Mom, were like another stab to my heart. Even Grandpa and Grandma, who were usually kind, were now shaking their heads and sighing at me. “This child, so young and already learning to steal, and full of lies. What will she be like when she grows up?” “What a disgrace to the family!” The relatives also began to point and whisper about me. Seeing this, Mom stopped crying, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. She had successfully pushed me out to be universally condemned, and also deepened Sarah’s family’s guilt towards her. My heart sank. I decided to go all in. “No, Aunt Sarah! Why would I take your rings? It was Mommy! She’s jealous of you and Mark’s loving marriage, so she wanted to steal the rings to ruin your wedding!” Before the words fully left my mouth, Sarah’s face completely darkened. She looked at me with deep disappointment, stating each word deliberately, “That spot at the top-tier elementary school next year? Forget about it. If I introduced you, and you stole things at school, where would I put my face?” Grandpa and Grandma immediately pulled Leo’s little hand, speaking softly to him, “See, your Mommy is so good to you, and you know to be grateful, such a good boy. Your sister is six years old, how can she still be so naughty.” Mom leaned on Sarah’s shoulder, still sniffling softly, but a barely perceptible smirk curled at her lips. I looked at their cold, accusing faces, feeling my blood practically freeze. In that suffocating silence, Leo, who had been quiet in Mark’s arms, suddenly stretched out his chubby little hand, pointing to the round security camera on the ceiling in the corner of the reception hall, and stammered, “Lily didn’t steal… Look at the camera! Camera knows!”

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This year, Liam and I planned to get engaged, so on New Year’s Eve, I went home with him. Many relatives and friends came for dinner. At the table, one of Liam’s good friends suddenly greeted me. “Hey, aren’t you the number 18 masseuse from Intoxicated Dreams? Do you remember me? You even gave me a private massage.” My brain froze on the spot. I’d never seen this friend of his before, and Intoxicated Dreams didn’t sound like any legitimate establishment. Everyone’s eyes fell on me. Liam’s friend kept staring at me. “You’re not doing it anymore? What a shame. I still can’t forget your figure.” My whole body trembled as I finally grasped what he meant. The Hayes family relatives started whispering among themselves. “Intoxicated Dreams? I heard that place isn’t a legitimate massage parlor—they do all sorts of dirty business there.” “A distant relative of mine used to work the front desk there. She told me the masseuses there are actually prostitutes.” “My God, Liam’s fiancée used to do that kind of work? Doesn’t that mean Liam’s been deceived? That boy is just too honest.” Liam also frowned at me, his eyes full of questions. “Harper, is what Ethan said true?” He actually suspected me? We’d been together for so long. Didn’t he know what kind of person I was? After graduating from college, I went straight into the company. I clocked in and out on time every day. On weekends, I either went on dates with him or went home to keep my parents company. I’d never been to any improper establishments. How could he doubt me because of someone else’s single remark? The overwhelming sense of injustice nearly made me lose control. I raised my head to look at Liam. “Of course what he said is false! Liam, don’t you know everything about me? How could I possibly work as a masseuse? He’s making this up!” Seeing I wouldn’t admit it, Ethan was about to say more when the friend sitting next to him quietly tugged his arm and gave him a subtle look. Ethan paused, then changed his tune with a wave of his hand. “Oh, maybe I got the wrong person. I’ve had a bit too much to drink today, my head’s not too clear. Just pretend I didn’t say any of that.” He spoke lightly, as if it were merely a drunken slip of the tongue. But that ambiguous attitude—where was even half an apology? He was clearly stopping deliberately, wanting to deepen everyone’s suspicions of me! I couldn’t swallow this! And this was at the Hayes family’s New Year’s Eve dinner, with all the relatives present. If I didn’t clear this up completely today, how could I establish myself in the Hayes family in the future? No, I had to make this clear, make Ethan admit publicly that he was slandering me, and clear my name! With that thought, I took a deep breath, stood up, and walked straight to Ethan. “You said you saw me at Intoxicated Dreams? Then tell me, when exactly was this? What month, what date?” Ethan hadn’t expected me to be so direct, to actually dare confront him publicly. He froze for a moment, a flash of panic in his eyes, then quickly recovered his nonchalant expression. “It was in May of last year. I can’t remember the exact date, but it was definitely May.” Last May? I sneered inwardly. He sure could spin a story! Last May, I’d been sent on a business trip out of town for an entire month, with daily work records. I wasn’t even in the city. How could I have been at Intoxicated Dreams?

“Ethan, are you sure it was last May? Last May I was on a business trip, away for an entire month. Your lie is way too unprofessional!” I thought revealing this would make Ethan panic. But unexpectedly, he just laughed dismissively. “Oh, then maybe I got the time wrong. Anyway, I just got the wrong person, okay? I admitted my mistake, isn’t that enough? Stop being so uptight. It’s pointless.” He still wouldn’t admit he was slandering me. This perfunctory attitude made my serious self-defense seem utterly ridiculous. I was about to continue arguing with him when a hand suddenly grabbed my arm. It was Liam. I turned to look at him. His expression was terrible. “That’s enough, Harper. You want to make this into an even bigger scene?” “Ethan already said he got the wrong person. We can talk about this tonight when we get back. The relatives are all here now. Stop making a fuss and let’s continue eating.” “Making a fuss?” I looked at him in disbelief, the hurt welling up inside me. “Liam, he’s slandering me in front of your family. He’s also disrespecting you. How can you say I’m making a fuss? It’s bad enough you won’t help me, but you’re actually stopping me?” My words left Liam speechless, but Ethan behind him wasn’t having it. He suddenly stood up and slammed the table. “How am I making things up? I’m only holding back out of respect for Liam. You know exactly what kind of work you’ve done! Stop putting on this act. What’s the point?” I was completely enraged. I shook off Liam’s hand and pointed at Ethan. “Ethan, if you dare slander my personal life again, I’m calling the police!” Ethan suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard he doubled over. “You’re calling the police? That’s hilarious! I should be the one calling the police to report you for marriage fraud against my brother!” At this point, Mr. Hayes, who had been silent all along, finally spoke. “Ethan, you keep saying Harper used to be a masseuse. Do you have any evidence? You need evidence to make such claims.” Ethan seemed to have been waiting for this question. He immediately revealed a confident smile. “Since you’re asking, Uncle, I won’t beat around the bush! I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t have proof!” With that, he pulled out his phone, found a photo, walked up to Mr. Hayes, and handed him the phone. “Uncle, look. This is the photo I took when I ran into her before.” Mr. Hayes frowned and carefully examined the phone. After just one glance, his expression darkened completely. Mrs. Hayes saw this and quickly moved closer to look. After just one glance, her face turned deathly pale, her body swayed, and she nearly fainted. The surrounding relatives also crowded over curiously, passing the phone around. Each person’s expression changed from curious to shocked, making clicking sounds of disapproval. The phone finally reached my hands. Liam stood beside me as we looked together. The content left me frozen in place. There were several photos of me. In the photos, I wore revealing clothing with a number 18 badge on my chest. The first two showed me massaging feet and pounding legs. The later ones were even more explicit—my clothes had been removed, and Ethan lay beside me. Ethan took his phone back from me and spoke disdainfully. “Is this evidence enough? I didn’t want to make things this ugly, but you’re the one who forced me to tell the truth! Are you satisfied now?”

The relatives started discussing loudly. “My God, the person in these photos really is Harper.” “Young women these days have no self-respect. Her family situation isn’t even bad—how could she do this kind of work? What a waste.” “Maybe it’s a personal hobby. Poor Liam, kept in the dark for so long.” I didn’t hear a word they said. My mind kept replaying those photos, my body trembling uncontrollably. What were those photos about? Why were there photos of things I never did? Were they composites? As soon as the thought occurred to me, I blurted it out. “These photos must be composites! They’re fake!” Ethan sneered and handed the phone to Liam. “Whether they’re composites or not, let Liam check and we’ll know.” Liam was a photographer—he had the most authority on whether photos were real or fake. If he said they weren’t composites, then they definitely weren’t. Everyone’s eyes focused on Liam, including mine. Liam took the phone with a dark expression, examining each photo carefully. His frown deepened, his expression growing worse and worse. Finally, Liam finished looking at all the photos. He violently threw the phone on the floor and roared at me in fury. “These photos aren’t composites at all! They’re all real!” I stared at him wide-eyed, my mind going blank. How was that possible? The photos were real? But I had no memory of this whatsoever. Had I lost my memory? Or had something happened that I didn’t know about? When Mrs. Hayes heard Liam say the photos were real, she couldn’t hold back anymore. She pushed aside the relatives next to her and rushed up to me. Before I could react, a slap landed across my face. “Smack!” The blow turned my head to the side, immediately leaving a handprint on my face. “A slut like you dared to ask our family for $180,000 in bride price? You probably don’t even know how many men you’ve slept with! You’ve truly defiled our family’s doorstep!” The surrounding relatives also looked at me with disgust. At this moment, not a single person believed me. But I couldn’t just accept this. I couldn’t let my reputation be destroyed like this. I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone to call the police. Just as I was about to press the dial button, Liam suddenly rushed over and snatched my phone away. “Enough! Harper, haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?” “I really misjudged you. Now take your things and get out of my house! Our engagement is canceled!” I stared at Liam in a daze, unable to believe my ears. He was breaking up with me? Just because of a few inexplicable photos, he was negating our entire relationship and canceling our engagement? Ethan walked over and patted Liam’s shoulder. “Brother, don’t waste words on this kind of woman. I really didn’t expect you to find a masseuse for a wife. We’ve been brothers since childhood—I can’t just watch you get deceived.” He was still fanning the flames! Distorting the truth! I trembled with anger, pointing at Ethan to curse him. Ethan suddenly looked at me, his lips curling into a sleazy smile. “That little mole on your waist—I still remember it vividly.” This sentence froze me in place, my whole body turning cold. The mole on my waist? That was an extremely private mark on my body. Only my parents and Liam knew about it. How did Ethan know? When Mrs. Hayes heard Ethan’s words, the fire in her eyes burned even brighter. She lunged at me, reaching to lift my shirt. “You shameless woman! Today I’m going to see for myself whether you have that mole on your waist or not!”

I instinctively clutched my clothes, not letting her succeed. The relatives kept fanning the flames from the side. “Just let her lift your shirt and we’ll know. Truth or lie, we’ll see at a glance.” “Exactly. If you don’t have that mole, won’t that prove you’ve been wrongly accused? The fact that you’re resisting so much means you have a guilty conscience.” “I think what Ethan said must be true.” Mrs. Hayes tugged at my clothes for a long time without success. Frustrated, she turned and shouted at the relatives: “Come help me!” As soon as she finished speaking, everyone immediately responded. Seven or eight hands reached toward me simultaneously. I was pinned in place, unable to move, could only struggle desperately. In desperation, I looked up at Liam, hoping he would help me. “Liam! Make them stop! I’ve been falsely accused!” But he just frowned slightly, with no intention of helping at all. “Stop shouting. At this point, is there any point in you still arguing?” This sentence completely shattered my last hope. The relatives’ strength grew greater and greater. I could feel my shirt being lifted bit by bit. Finally, my shirt was completely lifted, my waist fully exposed to everyone’s view. That mole appeared before their eyes. “Ah! There really is a mole!” “What Ethan said is all true! And she still wanted to call the police—talk about a thief crying thief!” “I told you, there’s no smoke without fire. How could Ethan slander her for no reason?” Mrs. Hayes released my clothes with disgust, as if she’d touched something filthy, vigorously wiping her hands. I pulled down my clothes as fast as possible and curled up on the floor, trembling. My face had turned red from shame and anger. Ethan walked up to me triumphantly, looking down at me from above. “See, you kept denying it. Now you can’t argue anymore, can you! I told you I wouldn’t mistake you for someone else.” I collapsed on the floor, my brain racing. Recalling everything that had happened today. Vaguely, I seemed to grasp something that didn’t add up. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind, instantly connecting all the events. I think I knew why Ethan was slandering me like this. Seeing that I hadn’t gotten up, Liam walked up to me with a frown. “Get lost. You disgust me.” I used my hands to support myself on the floor, slowly standing up. Though my body still trembled slightly, my eyes were exceptionally firm. I stared into his eyes and said word by word: “Liam, who’s the disgusting one between us? Today’s events—you orchestrated all of this, didn’t you?” The moment the words fell, Liam’s expression changed dramatically. “Harper, what are you saying? You did those shameful things yourself and won’t admit it. Now you’re trying to throw dirt on me? Have you no shame?” Mrs. Hayes immediately defended her son. “Exactly! You shameless woman, you dare slander my son! I think you’ve lost your mind!” I ignored Mrs. Hayes’ shouting, my eyes moving back and forth between Liam and Ethan. “Things I’ve actually done, I’ll definitely admit. But things I haven’t done—no one can force me to confess!” I took a step forward, closing in on Liam. “Everything Ethan said—you taught him to say it, didn’t you! And those so-called evidence photos, you personally composited them, didn’t you?” As soon as these words came out, the Hayes family relatives were stunned, all focusing their eyes on me, Liam, and Ethan.

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At my engagement party, my best friend and my fiancé Preston were playing strip poker. When I walked into the cabin, my best friend had stripped down to just a thin camisole, sitting brazenly on Preston’s lap. I frowned and confronted them, but Preston seemed completely unfazed. “Regular card games are boring. Just wanted to try something new.” Claire smiled sweetly, her eyes flirty. “We’re just playing regular Texas Hold’em. Besides the usual bets, whoever loses has to take off an article of clothing. It’s just the rules—you don’t mind, do you?” I was about to speak when Preston’s expression turned cold. “We aren’t even married yet, and you’re already trying to control me?” So I nodded and sat down at the card table under everyone’s gaze. “Oh, it’s just a card game. I might as well join—I’ve got nothing better to do anyway.” Preston frowned and glanced over at me. I looked away. “Since I’m already here, I might as well play.” The cabin fell silent as everyone’s eyes turned to me. Preston gave me a soft smile. “This kind of game isn’t for you. Go back to bed early. Tomorrow when the yacht docks, I’ll buy you that handbag you wanted.” In the past, when Preston spoke to me so gently, I would have been completely charmed, forgetting everything, foolishly doing whatever he asked. But today I just smiled faintly and stayed put. The atmosphere grew awkward for a moment. Claire batted her eyes. “If you don’t like this game, we can play something else instead.” But even as she said it, she made no move to get off Preston’s lap. Preston let out a cold laugh, looking at me with a rather unpleasant expression. “Mara, the engagement party isn’t even over, and you’re already giving me attitude and trying to control me? Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” Everyone said Preston was a playboy, but I was the only one he’d publicly acknowledged. I thought once he got tired of playing around, he’d settle down. I’d followed him faithfully, finally waiting for this proper engagement party, yet he was still openly humiliating me on an occasion like this. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, but still met his gaze calmly, pretending nothing was wrong. “Since you said it’s just a game, I’m not someone who can’t join in.” Claire spoke to me in a chummy tone. “Exactly! It’s all just for fun anyway. You’re usually too much of a goody-two-shoes. Preston always says I’ll be a bad influence on you.” I scoffed inwardly. Claire’s family, the Hayes, was just a minor family to begin with, but she had no shame, was sweet-tongued, and knew how to work a room. Little by little, she’d managed to weasel her way into the upper-class socialite circle. Even a dog needs to be fed bones now and then, and over the years she’d been my sidekick, I hadn’t treated her badly. But I never expected her appetite to be so big that she’d dare set her sights on Preston. I gave her a soft smile, still using our usual fake-friends tone as I laughed. “Of course not, you’re overthinking it.” The onlookers finally snapped out of it and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Exactly! The night is young—it’d be a shame not to play a few rounds.” The speaker was Preston’s good friend Kyle. He quickly glanced at me. “Mara, we never knew you even knew how to play Texas Hold’em. Lucky for you, Preston’s a pro at the card table.” As he spoke, he shot Preston a meaningful look. “Tonight you two can team up—just don’t destroy us too badly.” But Preston didn’t give him any face at all. He kept his arm around Claire’s waist, giving me a cold laugh. “At the card table, it’s every man for himself. Either go back to bed now, or don’t cry when you lose later.” My heart ached, but I forced a smile. Claire seemed emboldened. She exchanged a suggestive glance with Preston. “How about we raise the stakes? Besides betting and stripping, the biggest winner of each round can make anyone at the table do one thing.” “But fair warning—Mara’s new at this, so go easy on her. Don’t pick on her.” The cabin immediately got lively as everyone started talking at once. “That sounds awesome! If I win, I’ll make Preston give me that westside property.” “Come on, no one who can beat Preston has been born yet.” “Then if I win, can I have a night with Mara? Hahaha.” Amidst the chatter, I slowly sat up straight, pulled out a stack of chips from beside me, and tossed them onto the table. “Deal the cards.”

The atmosphere in the cabin turned awkward and tense. Kyle glanced nervously between us and forced a smile. “I’ll be the dealer for now, guys.” With that, he pushed all the chips into the center of the table. “Betting starts now.” Preston’s cards lay on the table. He didn’t even lift a finger, slouched lazily in his chair as he casually tossed out another chip. “Raise.” Claire giggled flirtatiously as she called, practically melting into Preston’s arms. I pinched the corner of my cards and peeked. It was a mediocre hand. When my turn came, I didn’t hesitate and pushed out matching chips. “Whoa, Mara’s playing for keeps today?” Someone nearby egged us on. I tugged at the corner of my mouth and smiled faintly. “Just playing the game.” The first three community cards were dealt. The board looked unimpressive. After a few betting rounds, chips started piling up on the table. Preston seemed bored, and his raises got bigger, with an arrogant, bullying edge. Claire followed his lead closely, looking at me provocatively. “You gonna call or not? If you can’t handle it, just fold early and save yourself.” I gripped those two cards in my hand, my knuckles whitening slightly. I knew my hand was already behind. Preston most likely had a solid made hand. He was waiting for me to back down, waiting for me to show weakness in front of him, then forgive my overreaction with his usual fake magnanimity. My heart turned ice cold. I looked at the cozy couple across from me. Preston’s hand was even resting casually on Claire’s bare thigh. “Call.” I heard my own calm voice as I pushed another stack of chips forward. Preston raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised. The fourth community card was dealt. Nothing changed. My heart sank. “All in.” Preston said casually, pushing all his remaining chips to the center of the table. The huge pile of chips drew gasps from everyone. The pressure immediately fell on me. I had very few chips left. Calling meant betting everything I had. Claire covered her mouth and giggled softly. “Just fold. Preston’s being nice—he doesn’t want to see you lose too badly.” Everyone’s eyes were on me. Whispers filled my ears. “What’s Mara even thinking? Why is she trying to embarrass Preston?” “Oh please, everyone knows Mara’s head over heels for Preston. She’s usually too scared to even speak up. Now that they’re engaged, she thinks she can play the wife.” “Yeah right, like Preston would ever settle down.” My right hand balled into a fist without thinking. Ever since I was fourteen, when Preston saved me from those street thugs, I’d been following in his footsteps. I didn’t care about the teasing or the jokes. I only wanted Preston. But tonight of all nights, our engagement party, why did I suddenly not want to play this game anymore? “I call.” I pushed all my remaining chips forward. Showdown. Preston revealed two pair. And I had nothing but garbage cards. “Heh.” He let out a faint scoff, hard to read. Claire laughed sweetly. “My luck’s not bad—I’ve got a baby straight.” “A bet’s a bet.” Claire whistled at me. “Take something off.” The cabin went quiet, leaving only the sound of waves and the engine’s hum. Preston gave me a cool look but didn’t say a word. My face went a little pale. Without a word, I slipped off my jacket. Kyle let out a relieved breath and quickly said, “C’mon, let’s keep going.” “Wait.” Claire spoke up suddenly. “If I remember right, I won this hand.” She dragged out her words, like a cat playing with a mouse. “According to the rules, I can make anyone do anything, right?” No one said a word. The vibe got weird. “Then I’ll pick Mara…”

Claire’s voice wasn’t loud, but everyone in the cabin heard it clearly. “Earlier Vincent said he wanted to get to know Mara, so I pick Mara to kiss Vincent.” She extended her finger and pointed lightly at an unfamiliar man sitting in the corner. He was a known player in our circle who’d hit on me plenty of times before, but out of respect for Preston, never dared to be too obvious about it. I snapped my head up, instinctively looking at Preston. His face was red with anger, but he didn’t say a word. The cabin went dead silent. Even Vincent looked totally confused. Kyle frantically tried to signal Claire with his eyes. “Haha, the drinks are hitting hard tonight.” But Claire ignored him, just smiling mockingly. “What’s wrong? This is how we always play. You’re usually such a goody-goody. You’re engaged now—what can’t you handle?” The atmosphere froze again, until Preston spoke up. “Rules are rules. Mara, a bet’s a bet.” That casual comment was like a poisoned dagger, piercing straight through my heart. So he could let Claire sit on his lap. So he could watch coldly as I took off my clothes one by one. So he could now, with his own words, push me into another man’s arms to endure this humiliation. A wave of absurdity and icy cold washed over me. I looked at his handsome but cold face and suddenly found it completely unfamiliar. I walked numbly toward Vincent, like a puppet on strings. Under everyone’s eyes, I bent down and gave his oily cheek a quick peck. The cabin was so quiet you could hear the waves hitting the hull. I stood up, my eyes stinging with tears I couldn’t hold back. “Is that enough?” Claire paused, then smiled sweetly. “Of course.” Kyle quickly said, “Alright, Mara, you must be tired. Why don’t you head to bed early?” I took a deep breath, but under everyone’s gaze, I sat back down at the card table. “No. I want to keep playing.” I stood there, my gaze moving past Preston and finally settling on Claire. I never thought the lapdog I’d kept would have such ambition. Always so eager to please, so well-behaved and sensible. Turns out the quiet ones are the ones you have to watch. “That last round—Claire won as dealer and had the right to make someone do something, right?” I spoke slowly. “So next, do you dare play a few big rounds with me? Just the two of us?” Claire froze, then laughed like she’d heard something funny. “Mara, you want to play against me? Play what?” “Texas Hold’em. But we can make the stakes even higher.” “You’ve always wanted that beauty spa I own, right? If you win, I’ll sign it over to you.” I paused, looking at her, enunciating each word. “If you lose, you take off all your clothes. And… you leave this table. Get off Preston’s lap. Now.” The cabin exploded. Claire’s face instantly soured. She looked to Preston for help. Preston’s brow furrowed deeply. He finally looked at me properly, his tone warning. “Mara, cut it out!” Provoked by me, Claire immediately took the bait. “Fine! I’ll bet with you! But just leaving the table is boring. If I lose, I won’t go near Preston for the rest of the night—not within three feet. But if you lose, you transfer the spa immediately, and…” “You personally pour my drinks and apologize.” “Deal.” I agreed without hesitation. Kyle tried to talk us down, but seeing how heated we were, he reluctantly dealt the cards. Only Claire and I remained in this round. Preston sat off to the side, scowling, not playing. Three community cards were dealt. The board looked uneventful. Claire looked at me with growing disdain. Her usual careful act was gone. She acted like she already won, not taking me seriously at all. After the fourth community card, she went all in. “Mara, you gonna call or not? If not, admit defeat and start pouring!” Preston spoke up too, with the last of his patience. “Mara—” “I call.” I cut him off calmly, pushing all my chips forward. Showdown. Claire showed her cards—a pair of Kings, making three of a kind with the community cards. A triumphant smile already spread across her face. Kyle flipped my cards over, looking sorry for me. “Mara, your Ace and Queen…” “Just random cards…”

The mocking laughter around me got louder. “Mara’s totally lost it. If I embarrassed myself this bad, I’d die of shame.” “First time I’ve seen someone try to act like the girlfriend only to crash and burn.” Claire covered her red lips with her hand, looking victorious. “Gambling should be fun. Getting this worked up is bad luck at the tables.” With that, she kicked a wine bottle on the table with her high heel. The insult in that gesture was crystal clear. “We’ve known each other so long, but this is the first time I’ll drink wine poured by Mara herself.” I took a deep breath. “I get it. A bet’s a bet.” I stood up under everyone’s watchful eyes and poured her glass after glass of wine. Preston, quiet for so long, finally spoke up, sounding annoyed. “Mara, haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough?” For the rest of the night, just about everyone on the yacht knew that Mara had been totally humiliated on her engagement night. Someone who’d never played Texas Hold’em before acted like a stubborn gambler, losing until she was completely beaten. Almost everyone at the table had taken off several pieces of clothing. I was down to my last piece of clothing—a tight red dress. Tonight was my engagement party. This red dress represented my most shy, girlish hopes. I’d wanted Preston to take it off me personally on this happiest of nights. But that day would probably never come now. My hand holding the wine glass shook a little. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I forced them not to fall. From age fourteen until now, a whole ten years. Thanks for using the cruelest, most humiliating way to end our story once and for all. “Preston.” “I don’t think the earlier games were exciting enough. Since we’re in international waters, why not play for something bigger?” Preston frowned. “What are you up to now?” I met his eyes. “I only have this one piece of clothing left, so I want to bet one final round with all of you.” “I’m betting all the assets in my name.” When I said that, everyone was shocked. Preston’s eyes sharpened immediately. He sat up straight. “Mara, do you even know what you’re saying?” I gave him a faint smile. “Don’t worry. I know exactly what I’m doing.” “If I win, I want you to agree to one thing. And you and her—” I pointed at Claire, then looked toward the deck, at the calm ocean. “Jump off my yacht and swim back yourselves.” Total silence. The yacht had been sailing all night. No one knew what would happen to someone jumping into the ocean now. Claire’s face changed. “Are you out of your mind?” But I stayed calm. “You too scared? That’s more money than you’ll ever see in your life.” Claire swallowed hard. The huge temptation was right in front of her. Preston laughed coldly. “I’ll match whatever you put up. If you lose, you swim back alone. Mara, I’ve given you too many chances. You’re the one pushing this.” The dealer started dealing cards. This time, neither Preston nor I moved. Neither of us looked at our cards, just kept raising the bets. After three rounds, Claire couldn’t take the pressure and folded, bowing out. Only Preston and I were left at the table. Kyle’s voice sounded dry as he announced the final river card. The board was complete. Preston’s eyes locked on mine. “Mara, admit defeat now, and I can pretend you were just drunk tonight, acting out.” “Forget the ocean jump. I can manage those assets for you.” I said nothing, just slowly lifted my two hole cards that had been face down on the table. Ten of Diamonds. Jack of Diamonds. And the community cards on the table were: Ace of Diamonds, King of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts, Eight of Spades, and that final, deciding Queen of Diamonds. When that last card was revealed, Kyle gasped, his eyes widening. The smile on Preston’s face froze instantly. He jumped to his feet. “This can’t be!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “353162”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #狼人Werewolf #重生Reborn #擦边Steamy