Ethan once told me the faint aroma of food clinging to my skin was the scent he’d treasure for the rest of his life. He sat on a cold bench outside my kitchen for an entire night, waiting for me to perfect a single sauce. I thought that was love. Then he gave away the winery I’d dreamed of my entire life to another woman during a global livestream, casually saying, “As long as you like it.” I made scenes. I went crazy. I threw away my dignity trying to win back his heart. But when he didn’t hesitate to carry his mistress out of a fire without even glancing back at me, I finally understood. Once sincerity rots, it can never be mended. That night, I made him one final dish. I called it “Oblivion.” Anna’s POV The glow from the kitchen fire illuminated my calm face. The aroma of French slow-roasted squab filled the air. Black truffle juices sizzled softly under the high heat. Today marked the day L’Éternité officially earned its third Michelin star. And my third wedding anniversary with Ethan. For this celebration dinner, I’d turned down all media interviews and stood in the kitchen for six straight hours. Ethan once said the thing he treasured most in this life was the faint scent of food on my skin. He’d sat on a freezing bench outside my kitchen for an entire night, waiting for me to perfect a single sauce. He’d spent a fortune building me the finest private kitchen in all of America. “Miss Anna…” My assistant Lynn pushed open the kitchen door, her steps frantic. She clutched her tablet tightly, her eyes evasive. “How long until he arrives?” I placed the final gold leaf garnish on the plate, my voice gentle. Lynn bit her lip. Her eyes suddenly reddened as she handed over the tablet. “Mr. Sinclair… he probably won’t make it.” On the screen was a livestream of a top-tier winery auction in Bordeaux, France. At the center of the frame stood Ethan in a bespoke tailored suit, his posture impeccable, his handsome face wearing a casual smile. He’d just bid one point five billion dollars for the legendary “Moonlight Winery.” That was my lifelong dream. I’d curled up in his arms countless times, describing how I’d buy that winery and use its grapes to create a signature sauce just for him. He’d kissed my forehead then, murmuring a promise. “I’ll definitely buy it for you.” And now, before the eyes of the world, Ethan casually handed the ownership documents to a young woman beside him. Her name was Chloe, a recently viral food blogger known for her innocent eyes and clumsy yet heartfelt cooking videos. Chloe covered her mouth in excitement, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed a kiss to Ethan’s cheek. “Thank you, Ethan! I’ll definitely use these grapes to make you the best wine ever!” Ethan didn’t pull away. Instead, he indulgently touched her hair and spoke casually into the camera. “As long as you like it.” The kitchen fell deathly silent. Lynn watched me nervously. A year ago, when Ethan was linked to an actress, I drove my car straight into hers. Six months ago, when he was photographed on a yacht with a strange woman, I had people destroy that yacht the same night. Everyone knew I loved Ethan intensely. Obsessively. Even madly. I wouldn’t allow anyone to touch him. “Anna, PR is asking if we should handle that girl the usual way?” Lynn asked carefully, afraid I’d overturn this meticulously prepared dinner any second. I stared quietly at Ethan’s doting smile on the screen. That smile once belonged only to me. Now he’d given away my dream, my treasured promise, so casually to another woman. There was no hysterical screaming, no angry destruction. I just felt my heart squeezed by an invisible hand. The pain so extreme it turned into a strange numbness. “No.” My voice was eerily calm, calm enough to frighten Lynn. I pulled out a chair and sat down, picking up my knife and fork to cut into the squab that had grown slightly cold. I placed it in my mouth. The premium ingredients filled my mouth, but I tasted nothing. Each swallow felt like shredded glass scraping down my throat. “Miss Anna…” “Tell everyone to leave early. The restaurant will be closed tomorrow.” I swallowed the last bite and picked up my napkin, dabbing my lips with perfect grace. For two years, I’d made scenes, gone crazy, trampled all my dignity trying to keep this man’s heart. But once sincerity rots, it can never be stitched back together. I removed my Michelin chef’s whites that symbolized my honor and tossed them casually over the chair. I was tired. I didn’t want to fight anymore.

Anna’s POV Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the kitchen island. I held a cup of black coffee, head down as I revised next season’s menu in my notebook. My expression was focused and cold, as if last night’s betrayal that had exploded across the internet didn’t exist at all. The sound of the security code unlocking came from the front door. Ethan walked in carrying the cool air of Bordeaux and a barely noticeable sweet perfume scent. He stood at the entrance, his gaze sweeping over the quiet living room, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. He removed his suit jacket and walked to the island, looking down at me from his height. “I’m back.” He spoke with a testing tone that also carried his usual arrogance. I didn’t even lift my head, just crossed out a line in the recipe. “Mm.” He laughed coldly and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “You saw the news? You finally understand that making scenes doesn’t work?” I looked at this familiar yet strange face, my eyes showing no ripple of emotion. “The winery is just an investment for Sinclair Group. Chloe’s image is perfect for brand ambassador. Don’t overthink it.” He released my chin, explaining naturally. “I’m not overthinking.” I lowered my eyes and continued reading the menu. “Good.” Ethan drummed his fingers on the counter, his tone brooking no argument. “Tomorrow is Chloe’s twenty-fourth birthday. She’s always admired you and wants to try your cooking. Clear out L’Éternité’s VIP room, create a special menu personally, and throw her a birthday party.” He wanted his wife to personally cook for his mistress in the restaurant that had just earned three Michelin stars. This was grinding my dignity into the ground. Ethan stared at me intently, as if waiting for me to explode. However, my hand holding the pen only paused for one second before I continued writing the menu as if nothing had happened. “Alright.” My voice was as calm as stagnant water. “I’ll arrange the menu.” Ethan froze. “As long as you behave, the position of Mrs. Sinclair will always be yours.” He smiled with satisfaction. I pulled out a thick stack of documents from beside me and pushed them toward him. “This is the authorization for next quarter’s imported premium ingredients. As the controlling shareholder, you need to sign.” Ethan didn’t even look. He simply pulled out his fountain pen and signed his name at the bottom of each page. “Just decide these small matters yourself from now on. Don’t bother me with them.” After signing, he pushed the documents back and turned toward the bathroom. I quietly watched his retreating figure, then flipped to the third page from the back. It was a drafted divorce agreement. In the property division section, I’d chosen to leave with nothing except the restaurant brand I’d created before marriage. And in the lower right corner, Ethan’s signature was clear and glaring. The ink wasn’t yet dry. Just like our marriage, finally reaching its end. That evening, L’Éternité’s VIP room was brilliantly lit. Ethan sat at the head of the table with Chloe nestled beside him, surrounded by several of Ethan’s friends. Everyone wore mocking expressions, waiting for me to appear. Everyone knew my terrible temper. They were certain I’d cause a scene at tonight’s banquet.

Anna’s POV The door to the private room opened. I wore crisp white chef’s whites and white gloves, followed by a line of servers. I directed the service expressionlessly with elegant movements, as if truly serving a group of ordinary diners. The final signature dessert was brought to the table. It was my signature creation, “Snowfall.” White truffle ice cream processed with liquid nitrogen, paired with an extremely complex vanilla extract that melted instantly on the tongue like dissolving snowflakes. This wasn’t just the restaurant’s signature dish. It was the dessert I’d personally made for Ethan when he proposed five years ago. “Chloe, try it. This is Mrs. Sinclair’s signature creation. People wait six months outside just to taste it,” one wealthy patron said. Chloe glanced at me timidly, then picked up a spoon and placed a small bite in her mouth. After just one second, she frowned slightly and set down her spoon. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” Ethan immediately turned his head, his tone showing undisguised concern. Chloe bit her lip, looking somewhat aggrieved. “Miss Anna’s technique is truly excellent, it’s just… this dessert tastes too cold. It feels like eating something made by a precision machine. Ethan, I don’t understand all those sophisticated techniques. I just feel that food should be warm, should have soul…” The room fell instantly silent. These words were tantamount to publicly slapping a three-Michelin-star chef in the face. Everyone looked at Ethan, waiting for him to defend his wife. However, Ethan only glanced at “Snowfall” before pushing the plate away without hesitation. “Chloe’s right.” Ethan lifted his head, his gaze piercing coldly toward me. “Anna, your cooking has become too commercialized. Your head is full of techniques. You’ve completely lost the soul of food. Yesterday, Chloe fried me an egg at home that had more flavor than this dessert you worked so hard on.” The others let out low chuckles. I stood there, staring at the pushed-away plate. Once upon a time, Ethan had waited three hours for me in subzero snow just to taste “Snowfall.” When he took the first bite, his eyes reddened as he said, “Anna, this is the most soulful flavor I’ve ever tasted in my life.” Now he said it wasn’t as good as his mistress’s fried egg. The pain in my chest had gone numb. I even found it somewhat laughable. I didn’t explode as they expected, nor did I shed a single tear. I simply raised my hand calmly and snapped my fingers. “Clear them away.” The servers stepped forward to remove the desserts. But I picked up the two plates of “Snowfall” in front of Ethan and Chloe. I turned and walked to the trash can in the corner. Then I flicked my wrist. The exquisite porcelain plates, along with the expensive desserts, crashed into the garbage. “Anna! What are you doing!” Ethan shot to his feet, his face livid. I removed my white gloves and tossed them on the table, my gaze cold as ice. “Since Mr. Sinclair’s palate has degraded to only appreciating fried eggs, stop wasting my premium ingredients here. Garbage belongs in the garbage can.” With that, I didn’t spare Ethan another glance and strode out of the room.

Anna’s POV Early morning, the moment I stepped into the restaurant, the purchasing manager rushed up to me drenched in sweat. “Miss Anna, we have a problem! Our exclusive white truffle supplier in Alba, Italy suddenly terminated our contract unilaterally! That’s the core ingredient for next month’s new menu. Without it, our Michelin star review will be seriously affected!” My brow furrowed. “They’re willing to pay the penalty?” “They said… Sinclair Group acquired their estate. All white truffle production has been absorbed internally.” My movements froze abruptly. Sinclair Group. Ethan. Without hesitation, I drove straight to Sinclair Group headquarters. Top floor, CEO’s office. The secretary tried to stop me but couldn’t block me as I radiated cold fury. I pushed open the heavy double doors. Behind the massive desk, Ethan leaned back in his chair. Chloe wore an obviously oversized men’s dress shirt, sitting on his lap with a delicate silver spoon in hand, feeding him an extremely precious slice of white truffle. Hearing the door open, Chloe yelped and curled into Ethan’s arms like a frightened rabbit. Ethan patted Chloe’s back reassuringly, then looked at me coldly. “Don’t you know to knock? Where are your manners?” I slammed the rejected procurement contract onto his desk, papers scattering everywhere. “You cut off my white truffle supply?” I stared at him, my voice icy. Ethan casually adjusted his cuffs. “Chloe’s preparing to launch her own high-end food brand recently. She’s focusing on truffle sauce. She needs the best raw materials. Your restaurant already has three stars. One less dish won’t affect anything.” Chloe peeked out from his embrace, her eyes reddening. “Miss Anna, I’m sorry. I didn’t know Ethan would take your allocation. If you really need it, I can give you some…” “Shut up.” I didn’t even glance at her, my gaze locked on Ethan. “Ethan, that’s L’Éternité’s lifeline. I spent three years securing that exclusive contract. You destroyed my achievement to make her cheap canned sauce?” Ethan frowned, impatience flashing in his eyes. “Anna, don’t be so petty. Chloe’s just starting out. She needs publicity. As a senior, you should support her. They’re just a few mushrooms. I’ll compensate you ten times the money afterward.” A few mushrooms. I looked at this man before me. He’d not only betrayed our marriage but was now brazenly trampling on the professional faith I held as dear as life. He knew exactly what it meant to me, yet for a beauty’s smile, he tore my kingdom apart so easily. “No need for compensation.” I suddenly smiled, though the smile never reached my eyes, radiating bone-deep coldness. I looked deeply at Ethan one last time. That gaze held no more love, no more hatred. Only barren, desolate emptiness. “I hope her canned sauce is worth your one and a half billion.” I turned and left, my spine straight. That evening was a charity gala that had all of New York buzzing. As a special guest, I donated a sugar sculpture called “Ember’s Grace.” I’d spent an entire month painstakingly creating the phoenix from extremely fragile sugar threads. It was breathtakingly beautiful, with a starting bid of five million dollars. This wasn’t just an artwork. It was an important chip for demonstrating my capabilities to the international culinary world. Ethan attended with Chloe. She wore a pure white haute couture gown, like a delicate white flower, clinging tightly to Ethan’s arm. Five years ago, my family faced disaster. Ethan descended like a god and cleared all our debts. Later, in a kitchen fire accident, Ethan inhaled massive amounts of smoke trying to save me, causing severe damage to his taste nerves. For an entire year, everything tasted like nothing to him. He became volatile and irritable. Only the special soup I continually prepared for him allowed him to taste even a hint of flavor. He’d held me once, his eyes red, saying, “Anna, you’re my life, my only sense of taste in this world.” But now his taste had recovered, and his life had become someone else. The gala reached its climax when “Ember’s Grace” was wheeled onto the display platform. Under the lights, the sugar threads refracted dazzling brilliance. Chloe pulled Ethan forward, apparently wanting a closer look. “Wow, so beautiful…” Chloe exclaimed, then suddenly stumbled, her entire body pitching straight toward the display. CRASH. A tremendous sound. Ember’s Grace, which took a month to create, instantly shattered into fine sugar fragments.

Anna’s POV The entire room erupted in chaos. Chloe sat collapsed among the scattered sugar pieces, covering her face with both hands, crying pitifully. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… my ankle twisted…” I stood a few steps away, staring at the crystalline fragments covering the floor, my mind briefly blank. That represented countless sleepless nights, every ounce of effort I’d poured into my work. Ethan rushed forward and swept Chloe up from the ground, anxiously checking her hands and feet. “Are you hurt anywhere? Does it hurt?” After confirming Chloe was fine, he whipped around and glared at me furiously. “Why did you place such a fragile item by the walkway?! Are you trying to kill someone?!” I watched his enraged appearance and found it utterly absurd. “Ethan, are you blind?” My voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to everyone’s ears. “The display is six feet from the walkway. Did she fly over there?” “Anna! Enough!” Ethan cut me off sharply. “Chloe already apologized. What more do you want? It’s just a broken sugar sculpture. Is it worth getting this angry over?” I closed my eyes and swallowed the bloody taste rising in my throat. During the subsequent auction, to comfort the shaken Chloe, Ethan announced on the spot that he’d bid ten million dollars for a box of burnt cookies Chloe had supposedly “personally baked” for charity. All the cameras focused on them, praising Ethan’s devotion. Meanwhile, the Michelin chef whose work was destroyed stood alone in the shadows like a forgotten joke. I didn’t look at them again. I turned and walked out of the banquet hall. The night wind cut through me, chilling me to the bone. My love, along with that phoenix, had shattered completely into dust. Several days later, a video went viral across the internet. Chloe posted an episode on her personal channel titled “Original Spring Secret.” In the video, she wore an apron, using clumsy yet “creative” techniques to prepare an extremely complex molecular gastronomy dish. I watched the video on screen, my blood instantly freezing. That wasn’t any original creation! It was the brand new spring signature dish I was preparing to unveil at next month’s global launch! The recipe was extremely complex. Aside from myself, no one else knew it. The only possibility was that my private notebook draft had been leaked. Online sentiment shifted instantly. Chloe’s fans began viciously attacking L’Éternité, accusing me, the supposed three-star chef, of being a thief who’d plagiarized an influencer’s creativity. The restaurant’s reservation line was flooded with cancellations and abuse. I immediately pulled up the home security footage. The video clearly showed that two days ago when Ethan brought Chloe to the villa to get something, Chloe had snuck into my private study and photographed the notebook contents with her phone. I had evidence. I grabbed the USB drive and called Ethan. “Have your PR department issue a clarification statement immediately. I’ll simultaneously release the surveillance video of Chloe stealing the recipe.” Thirty minutes later, Ethan didn’t issue any statement. Instead, he rushed straight back to the villa. He walked quickly to the main console and, under my icy gaze, pressed the format button without hesitation. All the surveillance records vanished instantly. “Have you lost your mind?” I stared at the blackened screen, my voice trembling. Ethan turned around, his brow furrowed, his tone carrying unquestionable firmness. “Anna, Chloe’s about to sign with a major international brand. If a theft scandal breaks now, her entire career is destroyed!” “What about MY career?!” I raised my voice sharply, my eyes reddening. “I’m being cyberbullied across the internet for plagiarism! My restaurant’s reputation is destroyed! Ethan, that’s my life’s work!” “You already have three Michelin stars! You can spare one dish!” Ethan gripped my shoulders, trying to convince me with his twisted logic. “You have so many recipes. Just write a new one! Consider this dish a gift to Chloe. I’ll compensate you. I’ll buy you the best downtown location and open ten new restaurants!” Looking at this man before me, I suddenly found him as alien as a monster. He not only wanted to strip away my love but also destroy my pride, forcing me to bear the infamy for a thief. “You want me to bow my head and confess to a thief?” I asked softly, my voice drifting like a ghost. Ethan’s eyes flickered, but he continued. “As long as you stay silent, this will blow over quickly. Anna, I’m begging you to let Chloe go.” For another woman, he begged me for the first time. I looked at him and suddenly laughed. The laughter echoed through the empty villa, desolate and desperate. “Fine.” I stopped laughing and looked at Ethan, my eyes hollow and terrifying. “I’ll stay silent.” Ethan breathed a sigh of relief and reached out to hug me, but I dodged him. I turned and walked upstairs. With each step, another shovelful of dirt was added to the grave in my heart.

Anna’s POV Three days later, at the law office, I received the legally binding divorce certificate. Because I’d walked away with nothing and waived all property disputes, the process went unusually smoothly. Ethan’s grandfather sighed for a long time on the phone but could do nothing. Leaving the law office, I returned once to the Sinclair family villa. My private research kitchen was there, containing a recipe book my late grandfather had left me. It was the only thing I wanted to take. Pushing open the research kitchen door, I froze. Chloe stood at the stove wearing my backup chef’s coat, holding a blowtorch, attempting to recreate a high-difficulty flambé dish. “What are you doing here?” I said coldly. Chloe startled, and the blowtorch in her hand jerked sideways. Blue flames instantly ignited the oil-resistant paper stacked nearby. The fire fed on the kitchen oils and spread like a beast. Chloe screamed and dropped the torch. Flames shot up the curtains. Thick smoke rolled as alarms shrieked. Ignoring Chloe’s screams, I immediately covered my nose and mouth and rushed toward the innermost safe, quickly entering the code and retrieving the yellowed recipe book. Just then, the kitchen door was kicked open violently. Ethan charged in like a madman. Through the firelight, he immediately spotted Chloe collapsed on the floor coughing from smoke, and me standing by the safe, separated by a wall of flames. He didn’t hesitate for even a second. Ethan stripped off his expensive coat and wrapped it around Chloe. He scooped her into his arms and turned without hesitation, rushing out of the inferno. I stood in place, watching through the dancing flames and acrid smoke as that man’s broad back disappeared through the door. He didn’t even look back at me. Didn’t ask once if I could get out. The temperature rose around me, yet I felt plunged into freezing water. I didn’t call for help or shed tears. I simply calmly placed Grandpa’s recipe book into a fireproof bag, then dampened a towel to cover my nose and mouth, avoided the worst of the fire, and walked out through the back emergency exit. Outside the villa, fire trucks had arrived. Ethan knelt on the lawn, clutching Chloe tightly, shouting frantically at the paramedics. “Check her quickly! She inhaled smoke!” I held the fireproof bag, standing quietly in the shadows, watching this tender scene. Only after Chloe was loaded into the ambulance did Ethan suddenly seem to remember something. His face turned deathly pale as he turned and tried to rush back into the still-burning villa. “Anna! Anna’s still inside!” His voice was hoarse with unprecedented panic. An icy hand landed on his shoulder. Ethan whipped around and, seeing me, pulled me into a death grip, his entire body trembling. “You’re okay… thank God, you scared me to death…” I didn’t struggle, letting him hold me. I felt his violent heartbeat, smelled Chloe’s perfume clinging to him. “Ethan.” I spoke softly, my voice completely flat. “Let go. You’re dirtying my clothes.” I pushed him away coldly and walked into the night without looking back.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “402163”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

Five years ago, Ethan knelt for three days and nights to marry me. That wedding of the century is still talked about today. For five years, even if I asked for the moon, he would give it to me. I thought I was the happiest woman in the world. Until I came home early and caught him holding his mistress, saying the same sweet words he’d once said to me on our bed. “Ivy, I love you more than I ever loved Charlotte.” In that moment, I finally understood. A tycoon’s love has a shelf life of only five years. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I quietly signed the divorce agreement, sold the old house my parents left me, and wiped my identity clean. In twelve days, Charlotte Thompson would cease to exist in this world. And Ethan, only after I disappeared, went crazy searching for me everywhere. Too bad. It was too late. Charlotte POV Ethan was ruthless in business, but he gave all his tenderness and affection to one person. I was an ordinary person with no power or influence. Five years ago, to marry me, Ethan knelt at home for three days and nights before his family agreed to let me marry him. That wedding that shocked New York is still remembered today. For five years, Ethan doted on me constantly. If I casually mentioned wanting cherries, he’d have his private jet fly overnight to bring me the freshest cherries from Chile. When I caught a cold and had a fever, he canceled a billion-dollar acquisition and stayed by my side at the hospital for three days and nights. But this man who loved me like his life brought his mistress back to our home and had sex with her on our bed. Three days ago was supposed to be our fifth wedding anniversary trip. I’d planned it for so long, arranging everything I could think of. Excitedly, I dragged my suitcase to the airport with Ethan. Then his phone rang. He answered, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter. Finally, he looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. There’s a major problem with a company project. I have to go back and handle it.” I didn’t want to make things difficult for him, so I smiled and pushed him toward the exit. “It’s okay. I’ll go ahead by myself. Next time you can come with me.” Ethan kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done.” A solo trip is inevitably lonely. The more I walked those streets I’d been looking forward to, the more I missed Ethan. Every time I saw some novel little trinket, I couldn’t help thinking how wonderful it would be if Ethan were here. On the third morning, I changed my flight on impulse, wanting to come home early and surprise him. But what awaited me was this scene. The bedroom door was ajar, and muffled panting and the sound of the bed shaking came from inside. I froze outside the door. Through the crack, I could see everything clearly. On the nightstand, our wedding photo sat right there. The photo of us smiling sweetly seemed to have become a prop to enhance their pleasure. Ethan’s hand gripped the slender waist of the woman beneath him, his other hand tangled in her long hair as he flipped her over and pressed her down beside the wedding photo. The woman was thoroughly ravaged by him, panting and moaning while tears streamed down her face. Ethan leaned down to kiss away the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Let me hear your voice.” “Can’t bear to let me go?” “Don’t cry. Tell me if it hurts, and I’ll be gentler.” I stood frozen in place, my entire body ice cold. These tender words. Ethan had said them to me on countless nights. So his tenderness wasn’t reserved for me alone. In a daze, many images flashed through my mind. On our wedding day, Ethan held my hand and looked seriously into my eyes. “Charlotte, in this life, I’ll only love you. That will never change, even until death.” One year on my birthday, he went to a snowy mountain to bring me a bouquet of fresh avalanche lilies. His lips turned purple from the cold, but he still smiled and said, “As long as it’s something you want, I’ll get it for you.” Last year on our fourth anniversary, he held me on the balcony watching fireworks and swore in my ear, “Charlotte, we’ll always be together. When we’re eighty, I’ll still hold you like this.” I believed it all. I never imagined he was lying to me. Ethan’s promises had a shelf life of only five short years. Back then, my parents didn’t agree to me marrying Ethan. My mother held my hand and said a tycoon’s love is harder to sustain than an ordinary person’s. I didn’t believe it then. Now, watching those two entwined bodies on the bed, I had no choice but to believe. I wanted to rush in and confront that man, confront that woman. But I didn’t want to cry in front of them both, to become a clown. In the end, I bit my lip and silently backed out of the house. I walked down the street feeling lost, my mind completely blank, unable to make sense of anything. I dialed Ethan’s number. The call was answered, but it wasn’t Ethan who spoke. “Charlotte Thompson, you came home just now. I saw you.” It was that woman’s voice! I stopped in my tracks, unable to say a word. But Ivy didn’t give me a chance to catch my breath. “A man like Mr. Sterling. Who wouldn’t want him?” “You’ve occupied the position of Mrs. Sterling for too long. It’s time for a change.” The call was disconnected. I wandered the streets and randomly found a hotel to check into. In the past two years, both my parents had passed away. Before he died, my father gripped my hand tightly and said, “If you’re wronged at the Sterling house, just leave. Keep that old house of ours. It’s your last safety net. If worse comes to worst, sell it. It’ll be enough for you to start a new life.” I didn’t sleep all night. The next morning, I did three things. First, I contacted a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. Second, I listed my parents’ old house for sale. Third, I processed the paperwork to close my accounts. Closing the account would take twelve days. After twelve days, there would no longer be a Charlotte Thompson in this world.

Charlotte POV “Charlotte, when are you coming back? I’ll pick you up.” I stared at the message Ethan sent on my phone, dazed for a long while. If I hadn’t witnessed that scene last night, I’d probably still be immersed in the sweet anticipation of coming home. Excitedly sending him my flight information, planning to throw myself into his arms the moment I saw him. Now, all I could do was stare at that message and feel the dull ache in my chest. “Six-thirty tonight.” I knew Ethan too well. He wouldn’t let me go easily. I had to leave without a sound. “Okay, I’ll come early to pick you up.” At six-thirty that evening, I stood at the airport exit with my suitcase again. I kept waiting, but never saw the man’s figure. Dark clouds gathered overhead, the air thick and heavy, just like my mood at that moment. My phone buzzed. An email from a stranger’s address. The email contained only one photo. In the photo, a woman’s delicate finger had a small cut, and a hand with distinct knuckles was carefully putting a bandage on it. I knew that hand all too well. It was Ethan’s hand. With one line attached: “He won’t be picking you up.” I clutched my phone, staring at that glaring photo, my chest aching more and more. I didn’t want to believe it. I could accept that Ethan had physically cheated, but I didn’t believe he would abandon me for that woman. The next second, Ethan’s message popped up. “Charlotte, something came up at the company last minute. I can’t make it for now. Take a taxi home yourself.” This message landed on my face like a resounding slap, making my heart bleed with pain. Thunder crashed in the sky with a boom. Dark clouds churned and gathered, and raindrops began to fall. In an instant, a torrential downpour enveloped the entire airport. The day my mother passed away, there was also a rainstorm like this. I cried until I nearly fainted. Ethan held an umbrella, holding me tightly in his arms. The rain soaked half his shoulder, but he didn’t care at all. Back then, his eyes were red as he told me, “Charlotte, from now on, I’ll be with you every rainy day. I’ll never let you get caught in the rain alone again.” That promise was made just a few hundred days ago. And now I had to stand alone in the pouring rain. Except this time, Ethan had personally orchestrated this rain. I took a taxi home. The house had been cleaned spotless. Not even a single strand of hair remained. My period happened to start today. After getting caught in the rain and catching a chill, the pain made me break out in cold sweat. I couldn’t be bothered to eat. I hastily peeled off my wet clothes and collapsed onto the bed. In the middle of the night, I groggily felt a warm hand pressing on my lower abdomen. I opened my eyes to see Ethan’s anxious face. “Charlotte, you’re awake?” The man leaned down to kiss me. Instinctively, I turned my head slightly and dodged. Ethan froze, thinking I was still angry. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. There really was an emergency at the company today. I couldn’t get away.” His voice was full of apology and exhaustion. “I made you get caught in the rain. It’s my fault.” I stared at him blankly. The anxiety and self-reproach in his eyes seemed so genuine, his tone so sincere it didn’t seem fake. That’s when I realized lies could be told with such apparent sincerity. “Charlotte? Don’t be angry. Did you not eat? I made you warm milk.” Ethan got up and left, quickly returning with a cup of milk. “Charlotte, drink it.” He handed me the cup, his large hand naturally covering my lower abdomen again. Every time my period pain was severe, Ethan always took care of me like this. When the pain was at its worst, he would even warm my belly with his hand all night long. But now, all this attentiveness had turned into blade after blade, cutting at my heart. I wished he would be cold to me now. That way I could leave without any lingering attachment. I drank the milk irritably, catching a glimpse of his phone lighting up from the corner of my eye. He didn’t move, still steadily warming my belly. But the phone rang again. Ethan frowned and rejected the call. Less than a minute later, the ringtone sounded once more. Ethan finally picked up the phone impatiently, walked to the window and spoke in a low voice for a few moments, then looked at me with difficulty: “Charlotte, the company matter isn’t resolved yet. Something else came up…” The warmth left my lower abdomen, and the pain instantly intensified. I instinctively curled up. A flash of heartache and guilt crossed Ethan’s face. He struggled for a moment but ultimately didn’t change his mind. “Charlotte, I’ll be right back.” With that, he turned and left as if escaping. As the door closed, I finally let my tears fall. On the nightstand, the two people in the wedding photo smiled brightly. Now it all seemed like mockery. On this bed beneath me, the scenes from last night tore apart the love I’d held unwaveringly all these years. So-called lifelong companionship. In the end, someone broke their promise early after all. The milk had gone completely cold. Ethan, if you knew our time together had entered its final countdown, would you regret leaving tonight?

Charlotte POV The “live updates” in the emails were too timely. I knew exactly what they did last night. The woman slipped and fell in the shower, scraped herself a little, and Ethan took her to the hospital in the middle of the night in the rain. Not only that, he used his connections to summon the best specialist overnight to examine her injury, staying busy until almost dawn before returning. I don’t know how long I cried before falling asleep. When I opened my eyes again, it was already bright outside. The bedroom door opened, and Ethan walked in looking apologetic. “Charlotte, you’re awake?” Seeing my swollen red eyes, Ethan’s own eyes reddened with heartache. “It’s my fault. I didn’t stay with you last night. I didn’t take care of you. Are you upset?” He leaned down and kissed my hair. “I’m not going anywhere today. I’ll spend the whole day with you and make it up to you, okay?” That day, Ethan truly didn’t leave my side. He didn’t answer any calls from the company. Even when his assistant came to deliver documents, he turned them away at the door. He cooked for me himself, watched my favorite movies with me, massaged my abdomen. Impeccably gentle. Yet I only felt increasingly bitter. For me, he could throw aside the entire company without hesitation. For that woman, he could abandon me without hesitation. The ranking in his heart was already very clear. I never wanted him to put me before his career. But no one could accept that there was such a woman in his ranking. And this woman had now risen to first place. In the evening, Ethan had a business association gala he absolutely had to attend. I said I wasn’t feeling well. The first time I didn’t accompany him to an event. Late at night, the door lock clicked. But it wasn’t Ethan who pushed open the door. It was that woman. The woman supported the drunk Ethan, the man’s tall frame leaning crookedly against her. She walked right in supporting Ethan, smiling smugly. “Mr. Sterling had a few too many drinks tonight. I brought him home.” Then she skillfully helped Ethan into the master bedroom, took off his shoes and socks, changed his clothes, tucked in the covers. Completely ignoring my presence. I sat in the living room watching all this, neither moving nor speaking. In the days I didn’t know about, this woman must have come to my house more than once. The woman came out of the bedroom and expertly turned into the kitchen, took out honey and began brewing tea. Before long, she came out carrying a cup of tea and set it on the living room table. “I’ll leave the rest to you. Remember to give Mr. Sterling this tea. The alcohol was strong tonight. His stomach will hurt.” She seemed to be ordering me around. In five years of marriage, no one had ever dared speak to me like that. Without a doubt, this courage was fed to her by Ethan himself. I looked at her expressionlessly. “Your name?” The woman laughed. “I thought Miss Thompson was magnanimous enough to accept even this. Ivy.” With that, she turned and left. I walked into the bedroom, looked at the sleeping Ethan for a while, then turned and went to the study. I took the divorce agreement from the drawer, returned to the master bedroom, and shook Ethan. “Mr. Sterling, there’s a document that needs your signature.” Ethan thought it was Ivy. He didn’t even open his eyes. “Ivy, don’t drink. Let me drink it.” He thought he was still shielding Ivy from alcohol. I bit my teeth, suppressed my anger, and urged him, “Sign it first. The document is urgent.” Ethan was heavily drunk and couldn’t see clearly who was in front of him. Perhaps he trusted Ivy too much. He took the pen and signed his name on the divorce agreement. Looking at the signed agreement, the anger that had been stuck in my chest for two days finally dissipated a bit. I took the blanket and went to the guest room alone. I didn’t want to sleep with him. The next morning, as soon as I woke up, Ethan called. “Charlotte, I left a contract in the second drawer of the study. I need it urgently. Can you bring it to me?” I brought the documents to Sterling Group, but it wasn’t the former assistant who greeted me. It was Ivy. “I said I’d go get it myself, but Mr. Sterling was afraid I’d work too hard, so he had to trouble you to make the trip.” Ivy smiled and reached out to take the documents. I dodged to the side, my tone turning cold. “Move.” Ivy pouted, seemingly prepared for my coldness. “Mr. Sterling is in a meeting. Let me take you to the reception room to wait.” I laughed coldly. “What’s your position?” Ivy raised her chin defiantly. “I’m Mr. Sterling’s personal assistant.” “Since you’re a personal assistant, don’t you know that when I come to the company, I always go straight to Ethan’s office?” As I spoke, I unceremoniously strode past Ivy and went straight to Ethan’s CEO office. The office was empty. My gaze fell on Ethan’s desk. On the desk sat a small pot of succulents blooming beautifully, pink and tender, very cute. Obviously this thing was placed by Ivy. Ethan never allowed anyone to place anything unrelated to work on his desk. On his desk, there wasn’t even a photo of us together. Before long, Ethan finished his meeting and pushed open the door. “Charlotte, thank you for your trouble.” He smiled and walked over to pull me into his arms. I dodged to the side, but my gaze remained on that pot of succulents. Ethan followed my gaze. He coughed unnaturally. “A plant from an employee downstairs. I haven’t had time to throw it out yet.” I raised my hand and threw the pot of succulents directly into the trash can. “Since you didn’t have time to throw it out, I’ll do it for you.” Ethan chuckled softly, his large hand circling my waist. “Okay.”

Charlotte POV Ethan applied a bit of pressure, pulling me into his embrace. “Don’t be angry. What do you want to drink? I’ll pour it for you.” I laughed lightly. “Since when does Mr. Sterling have to pour water for me himself? Is your assistant that useless?” Ethan just assumed I was angry. He called toward the door, “Ivy, come in.” Ivy pushed open the door and entered. The moment she saw us embracing, her expression darkened instantly, then quickly recovered to an obedient, gentle appearance. “Mr. Sterling, what do you need?” “Go pour her a coffee. One sugar.” Ivy reluctantly agreed and turned to leave. I spoke unhurriedly. “So she’s your assistant. I made this trip today specifically to deliver documents to her?” Ethan froze. “Why would you say that, Charlotte?” “She just said you were afraid she’d work too hard, so you made me make this trip. She even told me to wait in the reception room.” I looked up at him. “I almost thought I’d walked into the wrong company and that Sterling Group had changed CEOs.” Ethan’s expression darkened abruptly. Just then, Ivy came in carrying coffee. “Mrs. Sterling, your coffee.” “If you don’t know the rules, get out of the secretarial department.” Ethan’s voice was cold and cruel. “At Sterling, anyone who makes my wife unhappy will be fired immediately.” Ivy’s eyes immediately reddened. She stood there with her head lowered, not saying a word, looking quite pitiful. Ethan was about to tell her to leave, but I spoke first. “You can’t say that. She cares about you very much. Last night when she brought you home, she even went to the kitchen to brew tea for you.” Ethan’s face had turned ashen. It seemed he hadn’t planned to deal with Ivy initially. But I kept bringing these things up. “Ivy, go to HR immediately and process your resignation. You’re fired.” Ivy’s head shot up. She looked at Ethan in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. “Mr. Sterling…” I didn’t miss the flash of heartache on Ethan’s face. I looked straight at him without speaking. Ethan had no choice but to continue. “Don’t you understand? You’ve been terminated.” Ivy slammed the door and ran out. Ethan immediately held me tightly in his arms. “Charlotte, as long as I’m here, I won’t let you be wronged.” “She’s just a new assistant. She’s inexperienced and offended you.” “I’ll never let her bother you again. Don’t be angry anymore, okay?” He said it very casually, as if he’d really just fired a rude assistant. But I clearly saw that when he mentioned Ivy, even though he said she was “inexperienced,” his expression involuntarily softened. He had her in his heart. I pushed against him but couldn’t break free, so I stopped struggling. His parents still didn’t like me. On one hand, they looked down on my humble origins. Mainly, after all these years I hadn’t gotten pregnant, and they wanted Ethan to have an heir as soon as possible. Ethan naturally knew this, so he never let me go to his parents’ house alone. Once we entered their home, he’d protect me closely, afraid I’d be wronged. But tonight, just as we reached his house, Ethan’s phone rang right on time. Ethan walked a few steps away to answer. I stood there watching his back. Ethan returned with a furrowed brow, looking conflicted. “Charlotte, something urgent came up at the company. Can I…” Even he couldn’t say it himself. I nodded. “Go ahead.” Ethan froze. I used to be most afraid of coming here. Without him accompanying me, I didn’t want to take a single step inside. But he walked toward the exit while instructing me, “My parents won’t make things difficult for you. I’ll come back as soon as I’m done.” I didn’t respond further. I turned and walked into the villa. When his parents saw I’d come alone, they kept mocking me. “You should know your status and position.” “Take good care of Ethan, and only then can you secure this position.” “All these years you two don’t even have a child. Ethan married you, and your status already doesn’t match him. Are you going to leave him without an heir too?” “Don’t think that just because Ethan dotes on you now, you’ll always be his wife. If Ethan finds another woman and you don’t even have a child, just wait to be thrown out!” I listened silently to it all. “You’re right. If Ethan finds someone else, I’ll divorce him immediately.” They fell silent for a moment. “That’s not what we meant.” His mother continued, “I’m saying you should have a child quickly. Only with a child can you truly secure your position as Mrs. Sterling.” But I no longer wanted the position of Mrs. Sterling. I didn’t care what else they said. I got up and left the villa. When I returned home, Ethan wasn’t back yet. My inbox happened to have a new email. It was a photo of Ivy’s new company onboarding notice. It was a store under Sterling Group. The position was senior sales representative. So Ethan couldn’t keep her by his side, so he arranged for her to go to a company under Sterling and kept her there.

Charlotte POV When Ethan came home that night, he was still full of apologies, apologizing one sentence after another. Listening to those practiced apologies, I only felt like each sentence was a knife gouging at my heart. Since when had our time together consisted of nothing but apologies and forgiveness? Ethan’s shirt was still wrinkled, and the faint scent of perfume on his collar reminded me of who he’d abandoned me to see tonight. I looked at him steadily. “Mom and Dad said when you have another woman, my good life will be over. I said I’d divorce you then.” Ethan’s expression changed immediately. He pulled me into his arms. “Charlotte, what are you talking about? What other woman? There’s no other woman. Only you. In this life, there’s only you.” My heart ached so much it felt like it would explode. The urge to tell him I knew everything had never torn at my reason as crazily as it did now. But in the end, I swallowed all those words. I couldn’t say it. In just over a week, I’d be gone. If I said it, I wouldn’t be able to leave. Ethan once said that unless he died, he would never let me leave. That night, I lay on the bed with my back to him, hiding far away on the edge. The gap between us could fit a grown man. Ethan looked at that empty space in the middle of the bed, seeming to sense something was wrong. He moved closer, holding me tightly in his arms, his chin resting on top of my head. I didn’t respond, but I didn’t refuse either. Who knows, this might be the last time we’d fall asleep embracing like this. The next day, the real estate agent called saying a buyer was interested in my old house and wanted to meet with me. The price I’d set was quite a bit lower than market value, so our negotiation went very smoothly. On the drive back after signing the contract, the sky was overcast and thick fog had risen on the road. Visibility was less than sixty feet. As my car reached an intersection, a car that came speeding around the corner crashed into me. The violent impact made my forehead hit the steering wheel, and everything went dark. My arm was also trapped in the car. Blood trickled down from my temple. I didn’t have the strength to get out and deal with the hit-and-run driver. I could only use what little energy I had left to call the police. After calling the police, I instinctively wanted to call Ethan. I dialed several times, but the line was always busy. My vision grew increasingly blurry, the light gradually fading. In a daze, I seemed to see Ethan’s anxious figure running over from not far away. I wanted to call out to him but couldn’t make a sound. And Ethan wasn’t running toward my car. He was running toward the other car, the one that had hit me. He reached in and carefully lifted the person inside out, looking heartbroken, anxiously negotiating something with the police. I saw clearly. The person in his arms was Ivy. My world plunged into darkness. When I woke up again, I was already lying in a hospital bed. My forehead and arm were both wrapped in bandages. My whole body ached. I picked up my phone. The screen was empty. No missed calls, no unread messages. Of course. His mistress had been in a car accident. How could he have time to care about me? I laughed at myself mockingly. I shouldn’t have had any expectations of him. I kept reminding myself. When the time comes, just leave. Absolutely no wavering, no lingering attachment. He wasn’t worth it. Ethan’s call didn’t come until the afternoon of the next day. “Charlotte, why aren’t you home?” More than a full day had passed since the accident, and Mr. Sterling only just noticed I wasn’t home. “I was in a car accident. I’m at the hospital.” My tone was calm. “What? Which hospital? When did this happen?” I pulled at the corner of my mouth. His first concern was the time and place, not how badly I was hurt. “Yesterday morning. Central Hospital.” The sound of a phone dropping came through the receiver. Soon the phone was picked back up, and Ethan’s voice trembled slightly. “Charlotte, how badly are you hurt? I… I’ll be right there!” I didn’t answer. I simply hung up. I opened my email. Sure enough, there was another new message. This time it was a video, from the next room over. Ethan had stayed with Ivy all night, very attentive to her. The man leaned down by Ivy’s ear, his voice hoarse and frightening. “You’re pregnant. Why were you driving? Wherever you want to go, I’ll have the driver take you!” I closed my eyes tightly. So they had a child. No wonder that night he’d rather leave me alone at his parents’ house than stay with his mistress. No wonder when he heard I’d been in an accident, he was so anxious he didn’t even check whose car had been hit. I thought I’d have tears. But strangely, this time not a single tear fell. Good thing I’d processed the divorce with him. Otherwise this child would have to be a bastard. I laughed coldly to myself. Before long, Ethan burst into the hospital room. The man’s hair hung messily over his forehead, his suit and tie were askew, his eyes bloodshot. His expression looked worried, guilty, and panicked all at once. “Charlotte, how are you? Where are you hurt? I’m sorry, I…” The excuse “there was an emergency at the company” had been used too many times. Clearly, even Ethan himself couldn’t keep up the pretense this time. I lifted my eyes and looked at him quietly. “The one who hit me was Ivy, wasn’t it?”

Charlotte POV Ethan’s face instantly turned deathly pale. “You didn’t answer my calls because you were on the phone with Ivy the whole time, right?” I continued. Ethan shook his head desperately, his eyes full of panic, his lips trembling but unable to form a complete sentence. “Do you know how to handle this?”Ethan was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. “Don’t worry, Charlotte! I absolutely won’t cover for her!” “I just felt sorry for her struggling alone in the big city. She reminded me of you from before. She doesn’t know anyone here. She called me, so I went. I really didn’t expect the person she hit would be you!” “Don’t worry! There’s absolutely nothing else between us, I promise!” Ethan kept explaining. I could no longer hear him, nor did I care. Before Ethan arrived, I’d already called the lawyer and had them contact a private investigator to look into this accident. I didn’t believe this was just a coincidence. Even less did I believe Ethan truly wouldn’t cover for Ivy. For the next two days, Ethan put off all his work and stayed at the hospital taking care of me full-time. He didn’t go to the next room even once. That day, I was eating the grapes Ethan had peeled for me when my phone suddenly rang. It was the real estate agent. The house had been successfully sold. All procedures were complete, and the full payment had been transferred to my account. Ethan overheard part of the phone conversation. He immediately became tense, his brow furrowing. “Charlotte, what house? What agent? You’re selling a house? Which one?” My expression didn’t change. “An agent asking if I had any houses to sell. They said the market’s good right now, could get a good price.” Ethan let out a long breath, then immediately objected. “They’re talking nonsense. The market’s bad right now. Lots of people are lowering prices to sell.” “Just keep the house your parents left you. That’s your home.” My heart ached. I no longer had a home. To leave him, I could only leave my home behind. On the other end, Ivy finally lost all patience. She sent me several emails a day. One moment saying Ethan thought I was old. The next saying I couldn’t get pregnant. Then showing off the luxury apartment Ethan bought her near the company. Ivy seemed very anxious but never dared appear in front of me. It seemed Ethan didn’t allow her to appear before me. Ethan’s phone kept ringing those days too, but he never answered once. He was determined to maintain his image as a devoted husband to the end. On the day I was discharged, Ethan specially threw a small celebration party for me. I didn’t have many friends in New York. Those who came were all Ethan’s friends. Because of Ethan, everyone had always respected me. At the party, they competed to congratulate me on my safe discharge. I smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries. Midway through, I got up to use the restroom. When I returned, the door to the private room was ajar. I walked to the door, about to push it open, when I heard clear conversation coming from inside. “What were you thinking? You obviously love her so much, can’t bear to leave her. Why did you have to cheat?” Ethan was silent for a moment before speaking. “Ivy reminds me of Charlotte from before. Back when Charlotte first came to New York to make it on her own, no one helped her. She had it rough. I wanted to compensate her.” He wanted to compensate me, but the one who got the compensation was Ivy. I laughed bitterly. Someone else asked, “Aren’t you afraid Charlotte will find out and divorce you? That car accident was so dangerous. She almost discovered the truth!” “She trusts you, that’s all!” Ethan’s face looked somewhat dazed. He must have been thinking of my trust in him. “Yeah, Charlotte trusts me. I won’t hurt her. But Ivy is also wonderful. I can’t give her up.” “Charlotte won’t divorce me. Not unless I die.” That person lowered his voice and continued probing. “Tell me, is Ivy… more tempting in bed than Charlotte? Otherwise I can’t believe even a devoted man like you would cheat.” Ethan glanced at him with displeasure. “Why are you asking so many questions?” But then he added, “Ivy is indeed more tempting. Charlotte can’t compare to her in that regard.” I stood outside the door, trembling with rage. This whole group of his friends actually knew about Ivy’s existence! And he was discussing bedroom matters in front of so many people! Just then, someone got up to leave. The door was pulled open, and the person came face to face with me standing in the doorway. “Charlotte…?” That person’s face instantly turned deathly pale. The private room immediately fell silent. Ethan shot to his feet, his face ashen. “Charlotte, when did you get here?” I looked at him and suddenly smiled. “I just arrived.” “What, were you all talking about some secret? Afraid I’d hear?” Everyone immediately covered for Ethan. “We were all praising Ethan for having such a wonderful wife!” I laughed bitterly to myself. Even at this point, they thought I didn’t know anything.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “402162”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

During the onboarding training for new interns, my boyfriend Ethan was assigned as the training group leader. He utterly despised that rebellious girl who refused to follow the rules. He said she showed up late and left early every day, wearing heavy smoky makeup, with none of the professionalism expected of an intern. I comforted him with a smile: “The training only lasts a month anyway. Just bear with it and it’ll be over.” Until a month later, at the farewell dinner marking the end of training, I had planned to go with Ethan. But he refused. “They’re all just new hires. If you come, they’ll definitely make a fuss. You should just rest at home.” I nodded in agreement, but coincidentally that evening a friend invited me to dinner at a location very close to Ethan’s farewell party. After the meal ended, I suddenly wanted to see him. Through the glass window, I saw that amid the jeering and cheering, that intern girl he supposedly disliked the most was straddling his lap. “Ethan, everyone’s shipping us as an enemies-to-lovers couple. Have you considered dumping your girlfriend and being with me?” Ethan fell silent for a moment, then raised his hand as if to push her away. “She and I have been together for five years. I could never hurt her for anyone.” But unexpectedly, the girl flashed a bold smile and pulled him by the collar, offering her red lips. And Ethan didn’t refuse. I stared at this scene in a daze. Beyond the heartache, I suddenly felt like laughing. So Ethan’s germophobia could be easily cured by a girl he’d only known for a month. Five years together, and we’d done everything intimate couples do—except kiss. All because he found it disgusting. I’d always been accommodating, thinking that someday he might accept me. But now, I suddenly didn’t want to accommodate him anymore.

Amid wave after wave of cheers, the kiss lasted a full three minutes. When it ended, Ethan’s pale lips were already smeared with Harper’s lipstick. “How was that, Ethan? You enjoyed it too, didn’t you?” “I’m a good judge of character. Even though you say you hate me, you really can’t resist me. You’re physically attracted to me.” Watching her smug expression, Ethan pressed his lips together, feeling a subtle embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed. “Think whatever you want, but I already have Nina. We’re getting married soon.” Harper let out a scornful laugh, completely unconcerned. “That’s fine. As long as there’s love, I don’t care about titles like ‘girlfriend.’” “When we were kissing just now, your heart was racing and your movements were clumsy. Ethan, was that your first kiss?” Ethan froze for a moment, tacitly confirming it. The people around immediately started jeering. “Ethan, you’re not lying to our Harper, are you? You’ve been with your girlfriend for five years and you’re saying you’ve never kissed? Who’s going to believe that?” “Exactly! Harper, watch out—you might be getting played!” Harper glared at them angrily, also thinking she’d been deceived, and got up indignantly. But Ethan pulled her back into his arms. “I’m not lying to you. It really was my first kiss.” “I have germophobia. At home, I won’t even touch her plates and forks… Kissing her, I find it disgusting.” My heart trembled uncontrollably. Ethan was taciturn by nature, not someone who liked to explain. Every time we fought or had a misunderstanding, he was a man of few words, leaving me to process my emotions alone. But now, with Harper, whom he’d only known for a month, he was willing to lower himself. Harper’s expression visibly brightened, her eyes full of mockery. “You can’t even stand kissing her, yet you’ve been with her for five years? You really can endure!” Ethan didn’t refute it. He just lowered his eyes and said with a sigh, “If I’d met you earlier, I definitely wouldn’t have gotten together with her.” Harper was delighted by his words, grinning as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. Watching them lost in each other, I clenched my fists, my stomach churning. Forcing myself to calm down, I took out my phone and called Ethan. My special ringtone played. Ethan instinctively tried to push Harper away. But Harper wrapped herself around him again, dissatisfied. By the time Harper finally ended the kiss, I’d already called four times. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. Once his breathing steadied, he answered. His voice was the same as always—cold, but tinged with the unique gentleness he reserved for me. “What’s wrong, Nina? The music was too loud just now. I didn’t notice you calling.” A mocking smile tugged at my lips. I didn’t expose his lie, instead saying softly: “Ethan, I came to surprise you.” “Turn around.”

Through the glass door, Ethan and I locked eyes. The smile on his face froze abruptly, and his complexion visibly paled. Before Harper could react, he strode away, walking toward me. “Nina, when did you get here?” I smiled, lying casually: “Just now.” Ethan visibly relaxed. Behind him, Harper walked over step by step. “Ethan, so this is your girlfriend?” “She’s not bad looking, but she seems pretty old.” Ethan frowned, reprimanding her: “Don’t talk nonsense!” Harper’s expression immediately darkened, and she turned and left. Watching her retreating figure, regret flashed in Ethan’s eyes. The next moment, he handed me off to two male colleagues who were watching the drama unfold. “Nina, let them keep you company for a bit. I need to use the restroom.” With that, he took off in the direction Harper had gone. Half an hour later, Ethan finally returned. Harper followed behind him. Her dress was wrinkled and her makeup smudged. My heart sank, the nausea intensifying. “Sorry about that, Nina. I was in a bad mood earlier and neglected you.” “Since you’re here, let’s play some games together.” Harper looked at me with a smile, her eyes full of provocation. Before I could refuse, Ethan had already spoken for me: “She can’t hold her liquor. Don’t go too hard on her.” More than just “can’t hold her liquor”—I’m allergic to alcohol. Ethan knew this full well, but he’d just finished placating Harper and didn’t want to upset her over something so trivial. My heart felt like it was being crushed by a rock. I could barely breathe. I knew nothing about drinking games to begin with, and with Harper leading the charge against me, I quickly lost. She poured a full glass and handed it to me. “Nina, everyone else who loses has to drink three glasses, but since it’s your first time playing, one glass is fine.” Watching her act so magnanimous, an indescribable anger rose in my chest. “I’m allergic to alcohol. I can’t drink.” Harper acted surprised: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?” “How about we let Ethan drink it for you? You two are a couple—he shouldn’t mind, right?” She flashed a malicious smile and handed the glass to Ethan. Ethan pressed his lips together and didn’t take it. He looked at me, his tone apologetic but also slightly reproachful. “Nina, I have germophobia. I can’t use the same glass as someone else. You know that.” “It’s just one drink. Have it yourself. Don’t make things difficult for me.” The string that had been stretched taut in my heart suddenly snapped. I looked at Ethan, my nose stinging uncontrollably. Then, gritting my teeth, I took the glass and drained it in one gulp. The alcohol made my eyes water, and my stomach burned painfully. Ethan instinctively moved to support me, but I shook him off. “You all keep playing. I’m heading home.”

I went to the hospital first to get an allergy shot before returning home, where I tossed and turned all night. Ethan didn’t come back until the next morning. Seeing my haggard face, he was obviously panicked. “What happened? Are you still feeling bad from drinking last night?” “I’m sorry. I should have stayed with you, but I called you over a dozen times and you didn’t answer. I thought you were still angry…” Right. He thought I was angry, so instead of comforting me, he just left me alone. But when Harper got angry, he immediately chased after her to placate her, even with me right there. A bitter smile crossed my lips, but what concerned me more was something else. “Did you really call me? Then why didn’t I receive any calls?” Ethan looked confused at first, then thought of something and stiffened. “I drank too much last night and accidentally blocked your number.” His face was full of apology as he reached out to hug me. “I’m sorry, Nina. I promise it won’t happen again.” Smelling the sickly sweet perfume on him, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. Accidentally? What a coincidence. Harper must have taken his phone and blocked me on purpose. Ethan was someone who valued his personal space immensely. Just like he wouldn’t kiss me, he also never let me touch his phone. He considered it privacy, a boundary that even the closest person couldn’t cross. But I couldn’t touch it—Harper could. A mocking smile tugged at my lips. I suddenly felt utterly exhausted. Pushing Ethan away, I turned and walked into the kitchen. Half an hour later, Ethan sat at the dining table, staring at the plate in front of him, his expression growing darker. “Nina Smith, what’s gotten into you today? Just because I didn’t take that drink for you last night, you’re deliberately retaliating?” “Why did you use your plate to serve me food? Don’t you know I…” “I don’t know!” I looked up and cut him off. “Ethan, if you’re sick, go get treatment. Don’t expect me to accommodate you forever.” “Or if you really can’t handle it, we should just break up.” This was the first time I’d mentioned breaking up with him. Ethan was obviously panicked. “Nina, that’s not what I meant… I was wrong. I shouldn’t have snapped at you over something so small.” “But you should understand me too. Germophobia is a psychological condition. It’s not that I don’t want to overcome it—I genuinely can’t…” Can’t overcome it? I don’t think so. When he was kissing Harper so passionately, where was his germophobia then? I lowered my eyes to hide the sarcasm in them. I didn’t want to say another word to him. “Whatever. If you can’t eat it, just order takeout.” Seeing that I had no intention of giving him an out, Ethan lost his temper too. He stood up abruptly. The plates and forks on the table scattered across the floor with his movement. “Nina Smith, what’s your problem? Are you giving me the silent treatment now?” “I used to think Harper had a bad temper, but now I think a bad temper is actually good. At least she voices her needs.” “Unlike you—you never say anything, making people guess all day long!”

My eyes immediately reddened. More than anger, what I felt was heartbreak. I used to cry and make a fuss too. Like Harper, I’d deliberately show my displeasure and act out, hoping he’d comfort me. But how did he treat me? He found me annoying and dramatic. He said I was too emotional to solve problems properly. So to avoid escalating conflicts, I could only choose to shut up. He was the one who turned me into this, yet now he was using another woman to reminisce about how I used to be. How could such a shameless person exist in this world? “Get out! Ethan, get out!” “Since you think Harper is so great, go find her! I feel sick just looking at you now!” Ethan’s expression instantly turned ugly. He clenched his fists, turned around, and left without looking back. The room fell silent. Looking at the mess all over the floor, I suddenly felt drained of all strength. The tears I’d been holding back finally broke through, dropping onto the floor one by one. I don’t know how long passed before my phone suddenly dinged. Ethan had sent me a video. In the video, the same man who’d just been furious at me for using the wrong plate was now looking adoringly at Harper as they shared an ice cream cone. My hands trembled. I realized this video couldn’t possibly have been sent by Ethan—Harper must have taken his phone again. A bitter smile crossed my lips. Perhaps because I was too disappointed to have any expectations left, my heart felt as still as dead water. I closed my phone, took out my suitcase, and started packing my things. I couldn’t continue with Ethan anymore. Halfway through packing, Ethan suddenly called, his voice full of urgency. “Nina, I remember your parents are both massage therapists. You must know a bit too, right?” “Harper accidentally hurt her back. She can’t stand the smell of disinfectant at the hospital. Can you come help her?” I almost laughed in anger. These two really had thick skin. “I don’t know massage, and even if I did, why should I help her?” “Figure it out yourselves!” I hung up directly. Before long, the phone rang again. This time it was my mom calling. “Nina, your dad and I are already in the car heading over. We’ll get there as soon as we can.” I was confused for a moment, not immediately understanding what my mom meant. “Ethan told us that a friend of yours accidentally injured her back and needs massage therapy, so he asked us to come over as soon as possible.” “What’s wrong? Didn’t you know?” Ethan’s shamelessness exceeded my imagination. For Harper’s sake, he actually used my name to summon my parents! But my parents weren’t even in the same city as us. It would take them at least three hours to drive over! What’s more, my dad had a heart condition. He’d just had bypass surgery recently, and the doctor had told him to rest well. He’d even taken a month off work! Ethan knew all of this. He just didn’t care! I wanted to tell my parents not to come, even wanted to tell them the whole truth. But Ethan and I were already at the stage of discussing marriage. I was afraid that revealing everything without warning would be too much for my dad’s heart. In the end, I said nothing, only told them to drive safely. When my parents arrived, I immediately went with them to the address Ethan had given. As soon as we entered, Harper was lying on the bed, her face full of irritation as she complained. “Finally! It’s been over three hours. Anyone would think you died on the road!” My parents’ expressions stiffened. Ethan quickly tried to smooth things over: “She’s young and doesn’t know better. Please don’t take it to heart.” Watching his obvious favoritism, my parents’ faces flashed with suspicion. “Nina, is she your friend or Ethan’s friend?” I clenched my fists and took a deep breath. “Ethan’s friend, but I know her too.” With that explanation, my parents finally relaxed. After an hour of massage therapy, both my parents looked exhausted. I’d planned to take them out for a meal and some rest, but they insisted on bringing along Ethan, their “future son-in-law.” Ethan agreed, but Harper immediately said sarcastically: “Go ahead. Good riddance. Turns out what the guys in our class said was right—some people just aren’t worth committing to!” “He got his fun and now he’s abandoning me! And he made me hurt my back!” Ethan’s face went pale with shock. He hadn’t expected her to pull this stunt. Looking somewhat panicked, he scolded: “Harper, what are you talking about?” Harper pouted, not caring whether he could save face. “Ethan, you don’t really think I’m willing to be your mistress, do you?” “I already sent your girlfriend that video of us sharing ice cream! I didn’t expect her to be so tolerant—she’s still pretending not to know!” My parents finally understood. Their faces immediately turned ashen. “Ethan, you cheated and you still had the nerve to make us give this homewrecker massage therapy? Do you have no shame?” My mom’s voice rose sharply. My dad was so angry his chest heaved. Looking at Harper’s smug face, I finally snapped. I walked over and slapped her hard across the face. “Harper!” Ethan’s expression changed drastically. He rushed over to shield Harper, shoving me hard. Seeing his daughter being mistreated, my dad immediately tried to help, but before he’d taken two steps, he clutched his chest and collapsed. “Dad! Dad!”

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The first twenty-four years of my life were destroyed by two men with their own hands. The first was Ethan, my childhood friend. To vent his anger for Vivian Knox, he personally broke my legs. Making it impossible for me to ever step onto the figure skating rink again. The second was Adrian Hunt, who saved me from despair. He appeared when I was most helpless and took me away from that painful place. He encouraged me to go to college, cherished me, and helped me emerge from the shadows. But when I was preparing to return home to continue my studies, he testified against me, falsely accusing me of academic fraud. Later, he even went so far as to sever the tendons in my hand, leaving me completely disabled. I died miserably on the streets. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn the night before my legs were broken. “Aria, tomorrow is my birthday. You must come.” Before me, Ethan Shaw spoke the exact same words as in my previous life. I smiled. This time, I won’t attend that appointment that would break my legs. I’ll watch how they walk into the trap I’ve set for them.

My heart sank like a block of ice, my fingertips slightly numb. Sure enough, he said the same thing as in my previous life. But I wasn’t ready to give up. I tried to find an excuse not to go. “But I have something…” Before I could finish, Ethan frowned, his tone filled with dissatisfaction, immediately bringing up our friendship of over ten years. “Aria Walker, what do you mean? Have I ever missed any of your birthdays?” “Are we friends or not?” My face remained calm, but my heart was in turmoil. In my previous life, I was deceived by his sweet words into going to a VIP room, where my legs were broken. Suppressing the surging pain, I pretended not to notice the harshness in his tone and continued probing. “I must be there?” Ethan’s tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. “Whether you want me as a friend of over ten years is up to you!” I would never forget that in my previous life, after learning my legs were broken, he cut off contact unilaterally. He even walked away decisively when I was mocked and pushed down by Vivian’s group of friends, just like today. I didn’t understand why over ten years of growing up together resulted in such calculated betrayal. Fortunately, I was reborn. In my previous life, I swallowed my losses. In this life, I will never repeat the same mistakes. But plans can’t keep up with changes. I had just reached the intersection when a car came speeding toward me like crazy, too fast to dodge. I instinctively closed my eyes, thinking I couldn’t escape this disaster, that rebirth was just a cruel joke from fate. The next moment, a force pulled me backward. Stumbling to steady myself, still shaken, I looked up and met a pair of dark, deep eyes. It was Adrian. The physiological disgust made me feel sick enough to vomit. In my previous life, after my legs were broken and I became an outcast, he was the one who protected me. But he was also the one who, when I was accused of academic fraud, didn’t hesitate to give false testimony and personally destroyed my future. “Are you okay?” His gentle voice made Adrian seem kind. But this time, no longer deceived, I could clearly see the coldness in his eyes. I didn’t understand why Adrian was willing to set up this trap in my previous life, but I remembered that when I was accused of academic fraud and tried to clear my name with evidence. He claimed responsibility for the accusation as my boyfriend and even publicly apologized. Online, there were many stories about how good Adrian was to me. Netizens firmly believed the academic fraud was real. Otherwise, why would Adrian, who loved me so much, take the blame for me? The betrayal from someone close left me with a reputation I could never clear. After that, I became disheartened and resigned to my fate, but then someone cut my tendons and Adrian imprisoned me in a villa. I had completely become a useless person who could only depend on him. In this new life, I would not only get rid of these two scumbags but also get revenge.

“Aria, what’s wrong with you?” Seeing me remain silent for so long, Adrian instinctively frowned and called out. The flash of impatience in his eyes was clearly visible. This time, I didn’t hesitate to shake off his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Hunt.” Dropping those words, I turned to leave, but Adrian chased after me. “I saved you, and all I get is a thank you?” “What, does Mr. Hunt want me to pay with my body?” I looked at Adrian sarcastically. He was shocked by my attitude. That’s right. At this point in my previous life, we weren’t familiar with each other. Logically, I should have been extremely grateful to him. But the hatred from my previous life made me unable to tolerate him at all. While Adrian was distracted, I had already gotten in my car and left. Back home, looking at everything familiar, tears streamed down my face. Seeing me cry, Mom and Dad thought Ethan had bullied me and quickly asked questions. To avoid worrying them, I casually made up an excuse. But being able to see Mom and Dad again made me quite content. In my previous life, after I was imprisoned, when Mom and Dad couldn’t find me multiple times, they suspected Adrian might be harming me. Unfortunately, they were eventually plotted against, losing not only the company but also their lives. Fortunately, everything was still in time now. After comforting Mom and Dad, I quickly hired someone to investigate Adrian, as well as Ethan and Vivian. Three hours later, I received all their information. Looking at the densely packed text, my heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cave. So that’s how it was. It turned out the first person to fall for Vivian wasn’t Ethan, but Adrian. Unfortunately, as childhood friends who grew up together, the confession that should have been spoken was delayed because of Ethan’s appearance. From then on, Adrian became Vivian’s guardian. And I became a pawn in their game. I flipped through their information while reading the messages Ethan sent me. [I’m waiting for you, Aria. If you don’t come, my birthday won’t be complete.] [Aria, didn’t you say you’d stay with me forever? You won’t even come to my birthday?] [I miss you so much.] The 99+ messages indicated that Ethan wanted me dead. Finally, I replied with one message: [I’ll be there.] Immediately, Ethan replied: [I’ll wait for you.] In the past, we used to exchange messages back and forth like this. Ethan even swore to me, “I’ll always reply to your messages instantly.” And Ethan really did do that, but everything changed after Vivian appeared. I didn’t understand how a scholarship student could change Ethan in just half a year. In my previous life, I really disliked Vivian. She always used her scholarship student status to play the victim. When I asked her to submit group assignments, she would cry and say, “Aria, do you look down on me because I’m poor? Is that why you’re targeting me?” At first, Ethan would still take my side and scold Vivian. “Are you crazy? How is that what she meant?” But later, Ethan would just frown. “Come on, Aria, Vivian didn’t mean it.” At that time, I didn’t notice anything wrong. Sometimes I would even complain to Ethan about Vivian. But all of this became the catalyst for him breaking my legs. He looked at me viciously and said, “Do you really look down on people that much? What has Vivian ever done to you? Why do you always target her? Is it just because she likes me?” “Aria, when did you become so vicious? You think you can insult people just because you know how to skate? Let’s see how you skate in the future.”

That day was the darkest moment of my life. I even thought about dying. Later, my parents went to the Shaw family for me, but no one would testify for me. My parents were even targeted by the Shaw family. Later, I learned that was just the beginning of my life’s descent into darkness. After collecting myself, I made several phone calls before falling into a deep sleep. Early the next morning, Ethan’s call came. “Don’t forget to come.” “Okay.” After hanging up, I sent a message to Adrian using an unknown number. Then I contacted my parents and the Shaw family. After preparing everything, I headed to Ethan’s birthday party. Today’s show would depend on whether Vivian could handle it. Ethan’s birthday party was quite grand. Everyone from our social circle and classmates came. Vivian stood by Ethan’s side like a hostess. My arrival caused quite a stir. Everyone knew about my relationship with Ethan. Now seeing Vivian standing beside him, they naturally couldn’t help but look over with eyes eager to watch the drama unfold. Seeing me, Vivian looked as if she had seen something terrifying and instinctively hid behind Ethan. “I’m sorry, Aria. I just… I just wanted to…” I interrupted Vivian’s deliberately timid words. “Congratulations, happy birthday.” I presented my gift and turned to leave, but Ethan grabbed me. “You just got here and you’re leaving? Are you really not giving me any face?” When Ethan grabbed me, the anger in Vivian’s eyes was about to burst out. I raised my eyebrows at her. “Someone’s about to cry. Why don’t you go comfort her?” Ethan followed my gaze and immediately saw Vivian’s reddening eyes. “Vivian, are you okay?” Vivian shook her head pitifully. Ethan glared at me angrily. “Aria, are you bullying Vivian again? Are you crazy? You can’t go a day without bullying Vivian, can you?” God, I hadn’t even touched a hair on Vivian’s head. How was I bullying her? It turned out that when someone favored another person, they really could be unreasonable. I rolled my eyes at Ethan. “Am I bullying her from a distance? Ethan, you were the one who shamelessly insisted I come to your birthday, and now you’re treating me like this. What does this mean? Was it intentional?” My voice was loud, and people around us heard. Some even took my side. “What’s Vivian’s deal? Aria didn’t do anything, so why is she crying?” “Don’t you know? She’s just a delicate flower.” These nearly mocking words made Vivian unable to keep face. But Ethan didn’t think there was anything wrong with Vivian. Instead, he looked at me through gritted teeth. “Are you satisfied now?” Then Ethan chased after Vivian, who had run off. And I watched their retreating figures, lost in thought. Ethan, this is just the beginning. Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night. Then I looked toward the stage. My people were already prepared there. Tonight, no one will escape. Thinking of this, a smile unconsciously appeared on my face. But when I turned around, I met a pair of sinister eyes. How could I forget about him? As Vivian’s greatest guardian, how could he not appear? The moment our eyes met, Adrian couldn’t hide his expression in time and could only give me an awkward smile. Just then, my phone rang. Seeing the message content, I couldn’t hide the smile in my eyes. Then I walked straight to Adrian. “Mr. Hunt, what a coincidence. You know Ethan?”

Faced with my questioning, Adrian frowned slightly. “I don’t know him.” “Oh, then who are you here for? Today is Ethan’s birthday.” “I…” The words Adrian blurted out, he couldn’t take back now. Under my aggressive gaze, Adrian smiled awkwardly. “Just checking out the excitement.” “Is that so?” I cleared my throat. “Everyone, this person before me is the youngest vice president of Innovate Tech. Don’t you want to come meet him?” My single sentence made the classmates present come forward. After they surrounded Adrian, I took the opportunity to go backstage. Sure enough, I witnessed an explosive scene. I quickly started recording a video. Then I returned to the hall. At this time, Ethan was looking for me. When he saw me, his eyes revealed an ambiguous smile. The birthday party would officially start in five minutes. During this time, Ethan kept staring at me, afraid I would run away. He didn’t even notice that Vivian had left his side for quite a while. Five minutes later, Ethan went on stage. “Everyone, today is my birthday, and I’m very grateful for one person’s presence.” Everyone looked at me. However, Ethan beckoned to Vivian. She excitedly ran onto the stage, coquettishly saying, “Ethan, what are you doing?” “Today I might as well tell everyone the truth. Actually, the one I’ve always liked is Vivian. Aria and I are just childhood playmates who grew up together.” At this moment, I no longer felt that heartbroken. Then Ethan generously expressed his love, and Vivian was moved to tears. Only at this moment did Ethan deign to spare me a glance. “I want to say one more thing. Actually, everyone has been misunderstanding my relationship with Aria. I know that Aria spread those rumors herself. I’ve been fed up with her for a long time. Today I’m going to get justice for Vivian.” As soon as Ethan finished speaking, several men rushed toward me. But before they could get close, the banquet hall doors were pushed open. My parents and Ethan’s parents entered together. This time, Ethan was dumbfounded. “Mom, Dad, why are you here?” “It’s your birthday. Is there something wrong with us coming?” The Shaw couple looked at Ethan in confusion. At this moment, I screamed out, “Ah, who are you? What do you want?” Hearing the commotion, my parents rushed over. The Shaw couple also came to my side. At this moment, Ethan’s face was written all over with embarrassment. He frowned at everything happening. But I secretly smiled at Vivian behind Ethan, then mouthed, ‘You’re finished.’ The next instant, a series of moaning sounds came from the big screen. Everyone looked toward the sound, and what they saw was the most scandalous scene.

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When I was seven months pregnant, my husband and my sister faked their deaths together. They leaped from a high mountain, leaving no trace behind. Just as I stood there in shock, lines of text suddenly floated before my eyes. “Poor Maria! Reid and Georgia only faked their deaths, but she has to raise the baby and take care of both sets of parents alone. She’ll work herself to death before she’s even thirty-five.” “The child she gives birth to is a bastard too. He acknowledges Georgia as his mother, and doesn’t even visit Maria’s grave on Memorial Day. Her grave is completely overgrown!” “And she doesn’t know—the child she finally conceived after eight IVF attempts is actually Reid and Georgia’s!” “Reid was so rich, but Maria didn’t inherit a single penny. His parents took everything!” “They even pretended to be paralyzed to make Maria serve them. They never treated Maria like a human being!” Seeing this, my tears stopped flowing as if a floodgate had been closed. The floating text kept appearing before my eyes. “Next comes the tragic part where Maria works alone to support the child while serving two disabled elderly people.” “God, I can’t bear to watch. After Maria dies, Reid and Georgia will come back.” “Reid’s parents won’t be paralyzed anymore, and Maria’s parents won’t resent her anymore. The whole family will start a beautiful life raising the child and making money.” My mother suddenly shoved me hard. “This is all your fault! If you’d divorced Reid earlier and let Georgia have him, they wouldn’t have died!” My father slapped me directly. “All you do is bring disaster to your family!” I stood there stunned, wondering if I was hallucinating from excessive grief. Then more text appeared. “It’s bad enough that her in-laws blame her, but even her own parents don’t understand.” “Georgia and Reid were the ones having an affair and afraid of social judgment, so they staged this whole thing. Now Maria gets blamed for everything.” I was shocked for three seconds, but it only took me three minutes to accept this reality. Then I numbly handled Reid and Georgia’s funeral arrangements and canceled both their registrations. The moment I finished these tasks, my mother-in-law Ramos called. “Maria, get over here right now! Victor and I are in serious trouble!” I quickly hid the cancellation certificates and rushed to my in-laws’ house. When I entered, I found both of them lying in bed. Ramos immediately burst into tears when she saw me. She handed me two diagnosis reports with trembling hands. The word “paralyzed” was particularly glaring. “Maria, Victor and I can’t accept the fact that Reid is gone. Our excessive grief has caused us to lose mobility.” “From now on, we can only rely on you to take care of us!” At that moment, text started floating crazily before my eyes again. “These two old people are perfectly healthy, but they’re pretending to be paralyzed to make Maria serve them.” “Maria has to feed them, bathe them, and handle their waste every day, and they curse at her constantly.” “Maria faints from exhaustion several times, nearly losing the baby.” “It would be better if that bastard child was never born. Otherwise, Maria will have to work three jobs to support him and serve the two old people, and she’ll die suddenly while delivering food!” My father-in-law Victor shouted impatiently, “Did you hear what your mother said? Reid died because of you, and now we’re like this—you have to take responsibility!” The text kept floating. “Maria, don’t feel guilty! It’s not your fault! Get an abortion and run!” “Reid still has a company and two villas under his name. After he faked his death, his parents secretly inherited everything and didn’t give Maria a single penny!”

Seeing all this, I took a deep breath. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take good care of you!” Victor barked, “Go cook now, and clean the whole house after! Don’t even think about ordering takeout—I don’t eat takeout!” Ramos chimed in, “After dinner, wipe us down first, then clean the house. Oh, and wash our dirty clothes too.” I looked at them coldly. “My stomach doesn’t feel well. I need to go to the hospital for a checkup first.” Victor panicked. “What could possibly be wrong with you? I think you just don’t want to take care of us!” Ramos added, “Maria, if you don’t take care of us, I’ll livestream this and let the internet drown you in criticism!” “I won’t abandon you. I’ll come back right after the checkup. You don’t want anything to happen to Reid’s unborn child, do you?” Without waiting for their response, I left quickly and headed straight to the electronics market to buy two hidden cameras. Text floated wildly. “Oh my God! Has Maria awakened? She’s starting to suspect the two old people!” “Maria, hurry home! The property deeds to Reid’s two villas are hidden inside the big teddy bear at home! If you don’t get them now, the old people will take them!” I rushed home immediately and spotted the human-sized teddy bear in the living room. Reid had given it to me when I first found out I was pregnant. I quickly unzipped the back of the bear, reached inside, and felt around until I finally found two property deeds. My heart was racing after retrieving them. These two villas were in prime locations with excellent square footage—worth over twenty million! “Maria couldn’t even pay her son’s two-hundred-dollar tuition and cried every day. She couldn’t even afford to eat bread and fainted from hunger.” “But this scumbag had so much money and didn’t leave any for his wife and child. He deserves to die!” “Reid and Georgia are currently in a hot spring hotel abroad taking bubble baths together. They’re living it up.” I pulled out my phone and called a real estate agent. “Hello, real estate sales? I want to sell property!” Right after listing the two villas with the agency, Ramos called again. “Maria, it’s almost dark! Why aren’t you back yet!” “Victor and I can’t take care of ourselves. Get back here and serve us now.” “Okay, I’m coming back now.” I returned home with the two hidden cameras. When my in-laws heard me opening the door, they immediately went back to lie in bed. This gave me the opportunity to place a camera in the living room. Victor shouted, “Hurry up and cook! Are you trying to starve us?” I responded quickly and went to the kitchen to prepare food. After cooking, I brought the dishes into their room and struggled greatly to help both of them sit up. Ramos demanded I feed her. I had just brought the spoon to her mouth when she screamed. “Are you trying to burn me?” She swung her hand and knocked the bowl over, spilling food all over my head and face. The floor was covered in soup. I took the opportunity while cleaning up to place the hidden camera in the bedroom as well. Victor put down his fork. “This fried chicken is too greasy!” “And we need six dishes for meals! You’re just giving us one roasted chicken to get by. You have no conscience!” Ramos snorted. “Don’t feel wronged. Reid died because of you. Everything you’re doing now is atonement!” “Hurry up and clean up the dishes, then wash the sheets and clothes, and mop the floor too. There’s still so much work to do!”

I obediently replied, “I’ll try my best to satisfy you.” After they finished eating, I was cleaning in the living room. Suddenly I heard Ramos shout, “Maria, get in here! I need to use the bathroom!” I dropped the mop and ran over immediately, but it was too late. A foul stench filled the bedroom. “Can’t you move faster? I already soiled my pants! Clean it up now!” I suppressed my anger and maintained my patience. “I’m sorry. I’m already seven months pregnant, so I can’t move as fast as a normal person. I rushed over as quickly as I could.” “So now you’re blaming me for not being able to hold it in!” She grabbed the water glass from the nightstand and threw it at me hard. The glass hit my forehead directly. Blood instantly covered my face. “What are you standing there for? Clean it up! A little cut on your head won’t kill you!” I swallowed my anger and cleaned up despite the extreme nausea. Victor shouted from the room, “Hand-wash Ramos’s pants and sheets. Don’t use the washing machine—it’s not sanitary!” By the time I finally finished cleaning up and my butt barely touched the sofa, Ramos said: “What time is it? You should go home now. Victor and I need to rest. Come back early tomorrow!” My in-laws’ house had two bedrooms, but they clearly had no intention of letting me stay overnight. I opened the door and left. The floating text appeared before my eyes again. “These two old people deliberately soiled themselves to disgust Maria. It’s so late and they still won’t let her stay. They’re pure torment!” “There are no buses outside now. Maria has to take a taxi to get home.” “But Maria chooses to walk home to save money. It takes her two hours to get there.” “Later, Maria bought a car to deliver food, but these two deliberately punctured her tires.” “Maria was cursed with eight lifetimes of bad luck marrying into their family.” “These two old bastards clearly know Reid isn’t dead but still deliberately torture Maria. They’re not even human! Why don’t they just die!” I laughed coldly. You two old bastards, be as arrogant as you want. Everything you’re doing now will become a boomerang that stabs you hard! The next morning at four o’clock, Ramos called again. “Are you here yet? Victor and I are waiting for you to handle our bathroom needs. Hurry up. If we can’t hold it and soil the bed, don’t blame us!” I connected to the surveillance in the old people’s house with my phone. Both of them were walking around the living room—not looking paralyzed at all. No choice. For now, I had to keep acting with them. I served my in-laws diligently for a week until finally, that afternoon, I received news that buyers had been found for the villas. Taking advantage of the two old bastards’ afternoon nap, I sneaked out to meet the buyers. My asking price was already below market value, so the deal went through smoothly. The moment I received the twenty million in payment, my anxious heart finally settled. In the afternoon, my in-laws called my phone dozens of times. I turned it off directly. When I returned in the evening, I brought someone with me. As soon as I entered, I heard the sound of things being smashed. “Where did you run off to? Why was your phone off? Do you know what kind of afternoon Victor and I had?” Of course I knew. These two had it great—they ate takeout and watched TV. The surveillance recorded everything. “This is Rosa, the live-in caregiver I found for you. From now on, she’ll take care of you full-time.” Victor immediately objected. “No way! How can an outsider serve us properly? We don’t want anyone else—we want you!”

Ramos cried, “Maria, Reid died because of you. Are you trying to abandon us now?” “You have no conscience! How did the Charles family end up with a bitch like you!” “These past few days caring for you have made my heart feel uncomfortable. If you insist I take care of you, I’ll have to abort the baby.” Victor was relentless. “Nonsense! Back in our day, every pregnant woman worked in the fields with a belly, and nothing happened to their babies!” “I think you just don’t want to serve us and you’re making excuses!” “Right! You’re seven months along—the fetus must be stable by now!” “No matter what you say, this child is Reid’s unborn baby and my life. I have to protect him.” I turned and left without looking back, no matter how much they shouted. That evening, the full-time caregiver I hired called me. “Miss Maria, your in-laws are forcing me to leave. They say if I don’t go, they’ll bite their tongues off.” “Don’t worry, they won’t actually die. Do your job well. If they give you trouble, just bear with it. I’ll pay you triple.” These two old bastards were desperate to drive away the caregiver because with her there, they’d have to keep pretending to be paralyzed. If I was taking care of them, after I left at night, they could still get up and move around. Now, let them just lie there. Next, I had very important things to do. First, I went to the hospital and aborted the baby in my belly. After recovering for a week, I rushed to the company under Reid’s name and, as Reid’s wife, convened a board meeting. “Distinguished shareholders, I am Maria, Reid’s legal wife. I will inherit all of his shares.” “I majored in finance at Harvard. I’m confident I can work pleasantly with all of you in the future.” Reid’s confidant immediately objected. “As far as I know, Mr. Reid still has parents. How can you inherit all of his equity?” I produced my in-laws’ paralysis certificates. “My in-laws have lost full capacity for conduct. If the company is handed to them, how can it continue operating?” “Moreover, I’m a Harvard graduate with honors, while my in-laws only have middle school education. It’s quite clear who should inherit the company.” The confidant still objected. “What do you mean they’ve lost capacity? That’s just your side of the story!” I directly projected the surveillance footage from home onto the screen. In the video, I was serving the two disabled elderly people attentively and conscientiously. The confidant’s face turned green. In the end, I gained support from more than half the shareholders and obtained all of Reid’s shares. Then I ran to every bank to check if there were any other bank cards under his name. Whenever I found one, I presented the death certificate and marriage certificate, transferred all the money in his cards to my account, then canceled his cards. After completing this entire process, my account had gained another thirty million. Thinking about Reid abroad trying to make a purchase only to discover his cards had been canceled—the look of shock on his face—I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Reid was living it up abroad with Georgia, spending money lavishly. Now they had no money at all. They definitely couldn’t stay there. These two people would be coming back soon. After doing all this, I went home to see my parents. Since Reid and Georgia faked their deaths, I hadn’t been home. Mom and Dad hated me for causing Georgia’s death, not knowing I was the one who suffered most. Dad opened the door, saw me, and immediately snorted. “What are you doing here? Your mother and I don’t want to see you!”

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My ex-husband, the pilot, died saving me. For five years, I’ve spent every night in my dreams dying to be with him. Until the ninth time I was rescued from slitting my wrists, my mom reluctantly showed me my sister Ava’s wedding photo. “Christina, your husband is actually still alive. He’s just marrying Ava the day after tomorrow.” I looked up in disbelief. My mom avoided my gaze and continued. “That car accident five years ago was actually something we planned with Guillermo. And the child you had prematurely after your severe depression that year is still alive too. Ava’s been taking care of him. You should let go now.” I couldn’t believe it. Trembling, I demanded: “Mom, you’re lying to me, right? Ava has a long-distance boyfriend…” My mom impatiently interrupted. “Her boyfriend has always been Guillermo! One’s a pilot, one’s a flight attendant—they’re together all the time. It’s normal they developed feelings.” “They were kind-hearted and couldn’t bear to hurt you, so they chose to fake his death.” “They should have had bright futures ahead, but because of you, they’ve had to hide all this time.” “I really can’t stand it anymore. Stop making a scene and just give her a break!”

I clenched my fists, my whole body trembling uncontrollably, my nails digging into my palms. “Mom, why? I’m your daughter too! Why did you wait until now to tell me?” “Could you really bear to watch me hurt myself over and over for five years because of guilt and self-blame?” She slammed the wedding photo onto the bedside table with a “crack,” glaring at me with disappointment all over her face. “If I really didn’t see you as my daughter, you wouldn’t even be alive today!” “How many times have I dealt with your mess? You act out once, I save you once. Every time you slit your wrists, I have to send you to the hospital.” “I’m over sixty years old, taking care of you every day. Do I owe you something?” She took a deep breath and stabbed those knife-like words deep into my heart again. “Let me make this clear—the day after tomorrow when Ava has her wedding, you stay put and don’t cause trouble.” “If you have any conscience left at all, you should let go and let Ava live a good life. Do you understand?” “Don’t forget, these past years it’s been Ava raising your son for you! She doesn’t owe you anything!” “It’s one thing for you to torment me, but don’t you dare make things difficult for her. She’s already so understanding and has had it hard enough!” I laughed through my tears, completely breaking down. “Mom, do you know how many injections I endured for IVF, how much I suffered to get pregnant with that child?” My mom didn’t even lift her eyelids, her brows full of impatience. I didn’t wait for her to speak, continuing my hysterical sobbing. “During that time, I was drowning in the news that Guillermo died saving me. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him covered in blood. I wanted to stab myself to death.” “It was that child who held me back. I didn’t dare die—I was afraid of killing two people, taking his flesh and blood with me.” Tears fell like broken beads, one after another. “I went to prenatal checkups alone, signed consent forms alone, lay on the ultrasound table alone, listening to the child’s heartbeat and crying until I couldn’t breathe. But I was willing, because that was my only light to keep living!” “And what happened? You told me the child died prematurely!” My mom’s face paled for a moment, but she still didn’t say anything. Looking at her cold face, I suddenly found it laughably absurd. “Now you tell me the child didn’t actually die, that Ava’s been raising him.” “During these five years when life was worse than death for me—when I was slitting my wrists, they were celebrating the child’s birthday; “When I was jumping off buildings, they were at the amusement park as a family of three; “When I was self-harming to vent my longing for the child and Guillermo during my severe depression, he was holding Ava and living sweetly!” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “Mom, are you now saying I should be grateful to Ava for raising my child? Grateful that she slept with my husband?” My mom’s face turned white, then she suddenly clutched her chest. “Do you even see me as your mother? You can’t keep your man’s heart, and you run here to question me? Are you trying to kill me?” “Richards still calls Ava his aunt. We all just told him his mother went somewhere far away. He’s been raised so well by Ava! Much better than being with you!” Before she finished speaking, she collapsed to the floor, pounding it and wailing. “Why is my life so bitter! Ava is obedient and considerate, afraid I’ll suffer and be exhausted. “Christina is constantly trying to kill herself, giving me no peace even in my old age!” The door suddenly burst open and my dad rushed in. Seeing my mom sitting on the floor crying, he raised his hand and slapped me across the face.

“Bitch! What did you do now?” His eyes were bloodshot, his finger pointing at my nose. “If you want to die, find some place where no one is and die there! Don’t let us know even if you’re dead! Stop tormenting us!” I covered my face, staring at him blankly! This father who used to let me sit on his shoulders, who cried harder than me at my wedding. Right now, the way he looked at me was like looking at a pile of garbage in the way. I clutched my chest hard, gasping for air several times before finally squeezing out a sound. “Mom, Dad, just go. From now on… just pretend you only ever had Ava as a daughter.” Both of them froze at the same time. My mom stopped crying, kneeling on the floor looking at me, seeming to want to say something but ultimately saying nothing. My dad slowly lowered his raised hand, his lips moving, his expression complex. Watching this scene, I suddenly remembered the first time I was rescued from slitting my wrists—my mom had held me and cried her heart out! “Christina! If you die, how am I supposed to live? You can’t be this selfish, you can’t break my heart!” But now, as she climbed up from the floor, she said coldly: “I haven’t wronged you in the slightest! If it weren’t for worrying you’d actually die and Ava would feel guilty and unable to move on for the rest of her life, I’d be too lazy to deal with you again and again!” “Since you’re saying these things today to threaten your father and me! Then we’re leaving right now! From now on, you figure things out yourself! We’ll pretend we never had you!” The two left one after another, and the world seemed to be left with only me again. I curled up under the covers, burying my face in the pillow, crying my heart out. I don’t know how long passed before my phone vibrated. It was a message from my dad. “Christina, no matter what, we’re your parents. Even if we really did something wrong, you shouldn’t have treated your mom that way. You’re thirty years old—you should be mature now. “Go back and reflect on your behavior, then go apologize to your mom.” “You’re the older sister. It’s normal for you to give way to Ava. Not to mention you’re the one who couldn’t keep your man’s heart—who can you blame for that?” “As for Richards, everyone had good intentions. Ava will treat him as her own. Richards growing up with Guillermo is better than being with you, right? Look at yourself these past years, constantly trying to kill yourself. Richards would really suffer if he were with you.” “Stop making your mom sad. We’re old and can’t take this kind of stress.” Looking at this message, I found I couldn’t cry anymore. My eyes were painfully dry. It’s always been like this since I was little. In elementary school, Ava wanted the hair clip I’d saved half a year of allowance to buy. Mom said “give way to Ava,” and I did. In middle school, Ava wanted to join the school choir. Mom said “Ava has a good voice, let her have it,” and I withdrew. In high school, Ava wanted to go overseas for summer camp. There was only one spot. Dad said “your grades are better than Ava’s, let Ava go this time, you’ll have other chances,” and I nodded. I gave way for eighteen years. I thought I’d given up enough, until I met Guillermo. It was my twentieth birthday. I sat alone on the school rooftop, letting the wind blow. He had just finished a flight, ran up in his pilot’s uniform, out of breath, handed me a half-melted cake and said: “I heard it’s someone’s birthday today. I went to three stores to find your favorite ice cream cake.” I asked why he was so good to me. He said: “Because you’re worth it.” No one had ever said that to me before. Guillermo let me know that I didn’t have to give way. The first time he held my hand, his palm was covered in sweat, his ears red as cooked shrimp. He told me: “Christina, you don’t need to fight for anything. I’ll bring the best of everything to you.” I thought I finally had someone I didn’t need to give way for. But in the end, even he wanted me to give way. I flipped my phone face down on the bed, curled up under the covers, and cried without making a sound. I lay in the darkness with my eyes open, nails digging into my arm. It hurt, but not as much as the hole in my heart. Finally, I still couldn’t accept it and sent Guillermo a message. “I know everything now. Let’s meet.”

Five years—over eighteen hundred days and nights. I had filled this chat box with longing, breakdowns, pleas, and despair. “Guillermo, today is the 37th day since you left. I miss you so much.” “Guillermo, I dreamed of you again today. Please don’t go, okay?” “Guillermo, the child is gone. I have nothing left…” “Guillermo, why didn’t you take me with you?” Every single message was like throwing a stone into an abyss—not even an echo. Only this one got a quick reply: “Okay.” The response I’d waited five years for appeared at this moment, but it wasn’t the answer I wanted. No explanation, no small talk, just an “okay” that pushed me to the breaking point. I couldn’t control my rationality anymore. I grabbed the glass from the bedside table and smashed it on the floor, then stepped on it barefoot. Glass pierced into my sole, the pain drilling deep, but it wasn’t even one ten-thousandth of the pain in my heart. When Guillermo came in and saw me crouching in the broken glass, blood all over my feet, his pupils contracted sharply. “Christina!” He practically lunged over, his knee slamming onto the floor with a “thud,” broken glass piercing through his pants, but he paid no attention. His hands trembled as they held my ankles, trying to pull me out of the glass shards, but his hands were shaking too much to grip steadily. “What… what are you doing?” He looked up at me, his eyes already red. Those eyes, those eyes I’d dreamed about for five years, were now filled with heartache, panic, and something complex I couldn’t read. He carefully cradled my foot. Blood gushed from where the glass had pierced in. His voice changed with panic. “Call a doctor! You’re bleeding so much… how could you…” He couldn’t continue. My tears splashed onto the back of his hand. His whole body froze. He slowly reached out, wanting to wipe the tears from my face, but his fingers stopped an inch from my cheek and withdrew. “Christina, don’t do this anymore. I’m begging you!” I looked at him, at those eyes I’d traced in my dreams countless times. They were right in front of me now but felt as foreign as a stranger’s. “You and Ava—when did it start?” My voice was calmer than I expected. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why torture me by faking your death?” “If you’d just told me honestly, I would have accepted it.” Guillermo’s lips trembled violently, his Adam’s apple rolling up and down, finally squeezing out only: “I’m sorry.” He tried to help me up. I shoved him away, my arm hitting the bed frame. I grunted from the pain. His hand froze in midair, his whole body kneeling in the broken glass as if nailed to the spot. Then he raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face. “It’s all my fault!” His voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible, his eyes so red they seemed ready to bleed. “I deserve to die! But Christina… we can’t go back anymore.” “Ava is pregnant. I have to be responsible for her, fulfill my duties as a husband. I owe her that.” All the blood in my body turned cold at once. “Tell me,” I trembled as I repeated, “when did you two start? Let me give up, please?” Guillermo closed his eyes, as if recalling some unbearable past. “It was… during those days when you were taken away by those thugs to save me.”

“After you came back, you had nightmares every night. Every time I touched you, you’d scream, you’d go crazy. “I knew it wasn’t your fault, but I’m a man, I have… desires. The more you acted that way, the more I…” He didn’t finish, but I understood. “Later, Ava came to the house to keep you company. That night I came home drunk from a business dinner. She was lying on the couch wearing your pajamas… I couldn’t help myself.” “After that, it happened more and more. I felt more and more ashamed to face you. I started lying that I was working overtime, lying to you that… that I’d lost my ability to have children. When you went for IVF, I felt guilty, but I couldn’t stop you.” “After you got pregnant, I wanted to live a good life with you. But Ava started going on blind dates, started getting close to other colleagues. She said if I didn’t make a statement, didn’t make a choice, she’d just marry someone random.” “I had no choice.” He lowered his head like a criminal confessing, “I really had no choice… so I arranged that car accident.” After listening, I didn’t cry or make a scene. My heart felt like a piece had been carved out, cold wind howling through it. “What compensation do you want?” He looked up at me, guilt and pleading in his eyes, “The house, money, whatever—name it.” “Okay.” I heard my own voice, so calm it didn’t sound like mine. “I want my child. You already have your own child. Give me back my child, okay?” After a few seconds of stunned silence, he nodded. “Christina, actually Ava mentioned giving Richards back to you too. Don’t worry, she raised him really well—obedient and well-behaved. Once Ava and I finish our wedding, I’ll bring him to see you.” I said okay and watched him leave. For the first time, I felt life had something to look forward to again. But just as I finished treating my wound and got anti-depressants before returning to my hospital room, I saw the last person I wanted to see. Ava sat on the couch, as if waiting for me. Seeing me, she didn’t even bother to stand up, getting straight to the point: “Christina, I heard you want Richards back?” I nodded. She smiled, “Fine. Then come be my bridesmaid tomorrow. As long as you come, I’ll let Richards call you mom. You probably don’t know yet, do you? This child only listens to me now.” As she spoke, as if afraid I wouldn’t believe her, she opened her phone and held it in front of me. “Look, I only said it once and he remembered.” On the screen, a tender little face appeared. It was my child—eyebrows like mine, lips like his father’s. But that little mouth opened and closed, crisply calling out, “Christina, bitch!” I felt like someone had slapped me across the face. My whole body trembled uncontrollably as I pointed at her. “You… how could you teach a child to say such things?” But the cold smile on her lips instantly transformed into grievance. Her whole body staggered backward, supporting herself on the armrest with one hand while the other covered her belly, pleading in panic. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault… please don’t hurt my child…” Before I could react, the door burst open. Guillermo rushed in, shoving me aside and lunging to protect her. “Ava, are you okay?” I was pushed backward, my forehead slamming hard into the corner of the bedside table. Ava nestled in his arms, tears streaming down her face, shaking her head grievously. Then he carried Ava away in a panic, leaving only one sentence. “I’m warning you, stay away from Ava from now on. I won’t let you hurt her.” I lay on the floor, blood from my forehead dripping onto the white tiles one drop at a time. Everything started going black as I slowly lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I hastily changed into the bridesmaid dress Ava had left behind and rushed to their wedding venue! But when I arrived, my parents and Guillermo, who were greeting guests, all looked as if facing a great enemy! My dad instinctively blocked Ava. My mom snorted coldly, her face stern as she demanded: “Christina, didn’t you say you were going to die? What are you doing here!” Guillermo frowned tightly, and the little boy behind him suddenly rushed over, smashing a bottle of red wine on me! “You’re that bitch Christina, aren’t you?” “What are you doing here? Are you trying to steal my dad back from Ava? “Get lost! Today is their big day. I won’t let you ruin it!”

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When my fiancé and my best friend drugged me and forcibly dragged me into that notorious New York mob boss’s penthouse suite, I finally let out a sigh of relief: “Finally home.” My fiancé thought I was delirious from fear and grabbed my chin viciously: “Bitch, our company’s survival depends on this deal!” “I heard Mr. Holt had a first love who died, and your face happens to look somewhat like hers.” “Be a good girl and serve him well. Once we land this contract, I might be generous enough to throw you some cash!” My best friend covered her mouth with a coy laugh: “Exactly! You should be grateful for the chance to serve Mr. Holt. Don’t be ungrateful.” As the drug took effect, I was roughly shoved through that gold-trimmed door. No one noticed the mockery flooding my eyes as I leaned against the leather sofa. The Mr. Holt they spoke of—that ruthless, cold-blooded man—was actually my father. Today, they personally delivered me back to my dad. Tomorrow, they’ll learn what it means to wish for death.

The drug crawled through my veins. Even moving a finger made my bones ache. I forced my eyes open, my vision settling on the hand-carved golden iris pattern on the ceiling. That was the Holt family crest. Before I turned eighteen, this flower was embroidered on the collar of every custom nightgown I owned. Beyond the door, Ethan’s voice dripped with greed. “Summer, is the intel reliable? Will Theodore Holt really come to this suite tonight?” My best friend Summer couldn’t hide her excitement: “Paid two hundred grand for information from his driver. He’ll be here at eleven sharp.” “When he opens that door and sees a woman who looks exactly like his first love lying in bed…” She sneered. “No man refuses meat served on a platter.” “Maybe Mr. Holt will be so pleased he’ll hand us that billion-dollar development project in the south district!” Listening to their gleeful whispers outside, I bit down hard on my tongue. The metallic sweetness instantly flooded my throat. I’d worked myself sick with exhaustion and stress for Ethan’s pathetic company. I’d treated Summer like my closest friend. In return, they rolled around in bed in the apartment I rented with my own hard-earned money. And now they didn’t hesitate to pimp me out like a prostitute, putting a price tag on me and sending me to someone else’s bed. My stomach cramped violently. My nails broke off in the leather sofa, but the pain didn’t compare to one ten-thousandth of what churned in my heart. But they didn’t know—my father was Theodore Holt. His first love was my mother. But years ago, my dad had an affair with some starlet. My mother slit her wrists, and in my rage, I ran away from home. These years, my father and I maintained an unspoken agreement not to disturb each other’s lives. He just kept depositing money into my bank account, afraid I might suffer. Ethan and Summer thought I was some helpless orphan squandering her parents’ inheritance. That’s why they dared to use me as a bargaining chip so brazenly. But while my dad was a bastard who betrayed my mom, he doted on me obsessively. Years ago, when some rich kid merely made a lewd comment to me, my father bankrupted him directly. If he saw me stripped naked and offered up as a plaything on his own bed by these scumbags… By then, even begging for death would become a luxury for them. “Oh, right!” Summer deliberately raised her voice: “Once we land the Holt contract, we should finally have our wedding. Let’s get that diamond ring Olivia was eyeing but couldn’t afford.” Ethan laughed indulgently: “Sure. We’ll use the money from selling her to buy you a diamond ring.” I stared at the ceiling, the coldness in my eyes nearly freezing over. The intel was correct. My dad would definitely come here, because today was his and my mother’s wedding anniversary. My mother committed suicide in this room years ago. Every year he came here to remember her. Every year on this day, countless people sent him women. This year’s surprise just happened to be me. The next second, the door suddenly burst open. Ethan strode over and grabbed my hair roughly. My scalp burned with tearing pain. “Olivia, don’t blame me. Blame yourself for being powerless and deserving to be sold cheap.” “Tonight, even if you get screwed to death, you better make Mr. Holt happy!” Powerless? I looked at his smug face and my lips curved into an arc. “Ethan, you’d better pray that after tonight, you can die with some dignity.” “Still talking back!” Summer stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. My ears rang instantly. “Get her changed! Mr. Holt will be here any minute!” Summer smiled viciously as she tore off my jacket and forced me into a sheer, barely-there lingerie nightgown. “Just like a cheap whore.” Summer patted my face with satisfaction. I lay on the waterbed, experiencing ultimate humiliation, slowly clenching my fists. Stripping a daughter naked and sending her to her father’s bed. Truly unprecedented.

Next, Ethan and Summer grabbed me from both sides and dragged me out of the suite like a dead dog. At the end of the hallway, a dozen bodyguards stood with hands behind their backs, their oppressive presence hitting like a wave. The man in front strode forward. I half-closed my eyes and recognized him. Hugo Smith. Seven years ago, he was just a low-level bodyguard not even qualified to open doors for me. While I’d been wandering outside these years, he’d apparently become my father’s capable right-hand man. Ethan and Summer’s earlier arrogance vanished instantly. Replaced by obsequious, fawning smiles. “Mr. Smith, we’ve brought the girl for you.” Hugo glanced down at them condescendingly. His gaze was like an ice-cold blade, finally settling coldly on me. “You know Mr. Holt’s rules?” “The women sent to him must be completely clean.” Ethan nodded frantically, bowing so low he nearly touched the ground. “Yes, yes! Absolutely clean, absolutely obedient!” Hugo snorted coldly, looking me up and down: “Perfect. Mr. Holt’s in a bad mood tonight. He needs something to vent on.” “If this woman doesn’t serve him well, you two will be buried with her.” Ethan shuddered and shoved me forward roughly. “Cat got your tongue? Answer Mr. Smith yourself!” I steadied myself, a cold laugh escaping my throat: “You’re really asking for death.” Ethan flew into a rage and backhanded me viciously across the face. “Bitch! I told you to answer properly, what the hell are you playing at!” I stumbled from the blow, my knees hitting the cold marble floor hard. The skimpy lingerie was torn, leaving me in complete disarray. Ethan hissed through gritted teeth: “Useless trash! You dare put on airs in front of Mr. Smith?” Hugo watched this spectacle coldly and finally spoke again. “Mr. Holt despises disobedient things most.” “The last one who dared throw a tantrum in front of him—her ashes were scattered in the moat to feed the alligators long ago.” Ethan and Summer’s faces turned deathly pale, their breathing stopping for a second. I kept my head lowered, but from an angle they couldn’t see, I slowly curved my lips upward. After my mother died, my dad chopped up that woman who’d challenged her and fed her to the fish. Since then, he both loved and hated women, torturing them mercilessly. My father’s methods remained as brutal as ever. Thinking this, a bloodthirsty excitement flickered in my eyes. My abnormal reaction didn’t escape Hugo’s notice. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of amusement flashing through them. “You’ve got guts.” “Other women would’ve pissed themselves hearing about feeding alligators.” He looked me up and down, his tone carrying some satisfaction. “Mr. Holt’s in a foul mood tonight. He needs someone with a hard spine to take it out on.” “Your fearless attitude might just suit Mr. Holt’s taste.” “If you can let the old man vent properly, maybe those of us below can catch some benefits.” Hearing this, Ethan’s eyes lit up instantly. He thought my half-dead appearance had actually caught Hugo’s eye, and his courage swelled again. He grabbed my hair and forced my head up. My scalp tore with pain, but I bit my lip hard and didn’t make a sound. “Look, Mr. Smith! This face, this body—guaranteed to satisfy Mr. Holt!” Ethan’s eyes darted, then he lowered his voice, trying to build connections and fish for information. “Mr. Smith, may I ask… why is Mr. Holt in such a bad mood tonight?” “Also, I heard Mr. Holt’s been looking for some white moonlight. What kind of goddess is she?” “Give us a hint so we can find women matching that standard for Mr. Holt in the future…” The next second, Hugo’s gaze turned sharp, looking at Ethan like a cold corpse. “Mr. Holt’s private affairs—you think trash like you has the right to ask?” Ethan’s face instantly turned liver-colored. “Yes, yes, yes, I deserve to die for asking!” To cover his guilt and fear, he vented all his rage on me again. He kicked me viciously in the abdomen. My stomach churned violently. I curled into a ball from the pain. “Bitch! Get in there and serve him properly!” “Once you’re inside, even if you have to wag your tail like a bitch, you better make Mr. Holt comfortable!” He shoved me hard and I pitched forward. I gripped the cold doorframe, enduring the stabbing pain in my abdomen, and slowly straightened up. Ethan had just asked why Theodore Holt was in a bad mood? I sneered silently. Probably because misfortunes never come alone. Seven years ago, on the day my mother died, I’d pointed at his nose and cursed him to die without descendants. None of his women outside managed to give him children. On one side, a rebellious daughter who was his only flesh and blood. On the other, his dead wife. Whose mood would be good? And just to please him, even his own daughter had to be pimped out like a prostitute and sent to his bed. Theodore Holt, I really want to see this. When that door opens, how will you explain this to me?

I pushed open the rosewood door. Crystal chandeliers overhead, handmade Persian carpets worth a fortune beneath my feet. The air was filled with top-grade agarwood incense, luxurious enough to suffocate. Seeing this scene, Ethan’s eyes nearly popped out. “Fuck… how many hundreds of millions is that painting on the wall worth?” Summer’s eyes filled with greed. “Any random vase here could buy our entire office building!” Ethan laughed obscenely: “Once this bitch serves Mr. Holt well tonight, maybe he’ll reward us with a few things to play with!” I leaned against the door, expressionless. My gaze swept over the massive oil painting on the wall. The woman in it had gentle eyes. That was my mother. On the sandalwood table beside it, a family photo was partially visible. Seeing me stare fixedly at the oil painting, Hugo narrowed his eyes and warned coldly: “Put away that disgusting look.” “A piece of trash who sells herself—you just happen to look somewhat similar and caught some luck.” Seeing I had no reaction to his mockery, he lost patience and grabbed my wrist. His eyes swept lewdly over my torn nightgown: “If Mr. Holt hadn’t specifically requested clean women, I’d screw you right here!” I curved my lips into a mocking smile. “This is how Theodore Holt manages his men? Looks like you really should be sent to the moat for a good lesson.” Hugo flew into a rage and raised his hand to slap me. Just then, Ethan let out a shocked gasp. “Wait… why does the girl in this photo look so much like you when you were little?” He reached out to grab the photograph. “Touch Mr. Holt’s things and you’re asking for death?!” With a sharp, furious shout. A woman walked in wearing twelve-centimeter Louboutin heels. Vivian Jo. A partner under the Holt Group. She once volunteered to seduce my dad, and I watched him throw her out. But I never expected her persistence to pay off—my dad actually kept her around. When her gaze fell on my face, that pride instantly transformed into poisonous jealousy. “This face…” She grabbed my chin condescendingly, her eyes revealing extreme madness: “A lowly plaything putting on airs like this—those who don’t know might think you’re the mistress here!” “Kneel down and answer me properly!” I shook off her hand forcefully, my eyes flooding with unconcealed coldness: “Get your filthy hands off me! What makes you think you can make me kneel! Before you touch me, you’d better think carefully whether Theodore Holt will chop you up and feed you to the fish.” Vivian laughed in extreme anger, her face contorting. “Seeking death!” She swung her hand to slap me hard. I jerked my head aside. Her slap missed and she stumbled awkwardly. “Who do you think you are?!” Vivian shrieked hysterically: I smiled faintly: “What if I said I’m the one woman Theodore Holt can never have in this lifetime? Would you believe me? After all, these years he’s humbly begged to see me countless times, and I’ve always refused. That counts as another kind of ‘never having,’ doesn’t it?” As my words fell, the entire room became silent as death. Vivian froze for a moment, then the malice in her eyes erupted completely. “Let’s see how you’ll be unattainable after I ruin you today! Someone hold her down for me!” Ethan rushed forward and pinned me down hard on the cold marble floor. “Ms. Jo, please calm down! This bitch is shameless trash who doesn’t know her place!” “She’s got cheap bones. Do whatever you want with her—cripple her if you like, I’ll take responsibility!” Summer quickly followed, stomping hard on my hand braced against the floor. Ten fingers connected to the heart. Cold sweat instantly soaked my spine. Vivian sneered and picked up a paper knife. She slowly crouched down, using the cold blade to lift my chin. “‘Never having’? It’s just because you happened to be born with a face you shouldn’t have.” The blade slid along my skin, bringing the tremor of death. A drop of crimson blood slowly slid down the silver blade and splattered on the floor. “How beautiful it would be to carve the word ‘whore’ on this face!” Vivian raised the paper knife high, about to stab down viciously. Extreme danger closed in. I jerked my head up and screamed that name: “Theodore Holt, get the hell out here! If something happens to me, you’re going to hell too!”

As my words fell, an eerie silence followed. Then came Vivian’s uncontrollable laughter and mockery: “What a shameless bitch, already acting like a whore before even seeing Mr. Holt!” “But Mr. Holt’s name isn’t something a bitch like you can call! You’re asking for death!” The next second, her eyes grew even more vicious as she drove the knife point into my face. Searing pain exploded like an electric current. “Hold her down! Hold her down tight!” Without hesitation, Ethan pressed down on my hands, smashing my entire face toward the cold floor. The sound of finger bones completely shattering. Excruciating pain made my vision go black. Cold sweat instantly soaked my back. The man I’d once loved with everything I had was now personally sending me to the slaughterhouse, acting as the executioner’s most loyal accomplice. A burning line spread from the corner of my eye to my temple. Blood instantly blurred my vision. Vivian let out a deranged laugh: “Let’s see how you act superior after I ruin this face!” Ethan fawned obsequiously: “Exactly, Ms. Jo! If you’re still not satisfied after carving her up, just take some nude photos. Let’s see how she seduces men after that!” Summer sneered: “Just cutting her face is too easy on her.” “Why not strip her naked and throw her in the fountain at the entrance? Let her know the consequences of offending Ms. Jo!” I listened to their celebration, a metallic sweetness surging in my throat. Every wound they inflicted on me would become an epitaph carved on their tombstones. My father’s methods would teach them what it meant to be unable to live, unable to die. The next second, Ethan reached out toward the neckline of my nightgown. I struggled violently, the last of my strength exploding in this moment. But Ethan’s knee ground even more viciously into my spine. My bones made an unbearable grinding sound. “Stop struggling. You’re just a piece of rotten meat ready for slaughter.” Ultimate humiliation engulfed me. Vivian’s smile grew increasingly cruel. She grabbed the last shred covering me and yanked hard. Her other hand pulled out her phone and quickly opened a live streaming app. “Just throwing you out isn’t enough. I’m going live so all of New York can see just how cheap this bitch really is!” At this critical moment! With a deafening crash. That million-dollar rosewood door was pushed open from outside. A towering figure wrapped in thunderous fury walked in. “Who gave you permission to make trouble here!” The madness on Vivian’s face instantly transformed to delight. Holding her phone, she spoke in a cloying voice: “Mr. Holt! Perfect timing! I was just disciplining a presumptuous new toy for you!” Ethan quickly looked up, wagging his tail like a lapdog: “Mr. Holt! We specifically found you a woman who looks exactly like your first love, absolutely clean!” “We only ask that you consider our sincerity and give us a chance with that western suburbs project!” My dad’s footsteps stopped. His gaze passed through the crowd and landed on me lying in a pool of blood. He saw my face covered in blood and tears. That commanding presence instantly crumbled.

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After the SAT exam ended, my boyfriend Ethan’s mother gave his old books to my brother Mason. Mason found Ethan’s secret crush diary among the pile of books. The notebook was thick, documenting three years—a full one thousand and ninety-six pages. Mason cleared his throat and read teasingly in my ear: “March 1st, gave the strawberry milk to Sophia, but she refused it again. Had to give it to that Vivian girl instead.” “March 2nd, bought two movie tickets, but Sophia didn’t show up. Didn’t want to waste them, so I had to go watch it with Vivian.” The last page read: “Failed to confess to Sophia. In a fit of anger, I accepted Vivian’s confession.” Mason laughed breathlessly. “Vivian, how embarrassing! You chased Ethan for 10 years, and he only agreed to date you to spite the girl he actually liked!” I silently clenched the hem of my school uniform, my face flushing red with embarrassment. I turned and went back to my room, opened my wish journal, and crossed out the wish about attending the same university as Ethan.

This was the scene Mason saw when he chased after me. He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, continuing to mock me: “Vivian, you’re so petty. So what if Ethan deceived you once? Someone as outstanding as him—you were never good enough for him anyway.” “If it wasn’t for Sophia rejecting him, would you have ever had a chance to take her place? This is what they call a blessing in disguise, understand?” “Not really.” Mason rolled his eyes at me and sneered: “Stop pretending. There’s no point explaining to someone as stupid as you. Anyway, if I were Ethan, I definitely wouldn’t like someone as dumb and plain-looking as you either.” “After all, when you stand next to Sophia, you don’t even qualify to be background decoration.” I raised my hand to hit him, but he made a face at me and quickly ran away. This diary was Ethan’s heart and soul. After thinking it over, I felt I should return it to him. So I sent him a message on SnapChat. Ethan was always slow to reply to messages. Sometimes a single message would take over ten hours, or even a full day, before he’d send back a brief response. Even after we started dating, this situation didn’t change at all. I’d always consoled myself that it was just his personality, and I shouldn’t take it to heart. Until I saw the diary, where Ethan would stay up all night waiting for Sophia’s messages, and could drop anything he was doing to reply to her instantly. That’s when I realized. It wasn’t that he was aloof—it was just that I wasn’t important to him. As expected, this message sank like a stone. A day passed with no activity in the chat window. I decided to deliver it in person. The next morning, I stood at his front door. Through the clean glass window, Ethan sat at the table eating breakfast, exchanging conversation with his mother. My hand hovered above the doorbell. Before I could press it, Ethan’s voice passed through the window and clearly reached my ears. “I don’t want to apply to NYU anymore. I’m probably going to apply to Harvard instead.” My hand gripping the diary suddenly tightened. Then I heard his mother ask: “Didn’t you and Vivian agree to go to NYU together? Why the sudden change to Harvard? Is this Vivian’s idea?” “No, it’s my own decision. I haven’t told her.” His mother’s expression immediately darkened. “You’re dating Vivian, and not only are you not applying to the same university, you’re not even discussing it with her? Is this how you treat your girlfriend?” Her tone was sharp, and Ethan also lost his temper for the first time. He slammed his teacup on the table. “What era are we living in? Who says dating means you have to apply to the same university? That’s so backward.” “Besides, with Vivian’s grades, it’s questionable whether she can even get into NYU. Why do you have to bind us together?!” I stood there helplessly, my fingertips digging deep into my palm. I remembered the encouraging words Ethan had said at school about how I could definitely get into NYU. My nose stung uncontrollably. So those words were all lies. He looked down on me just like everyone else. I suppressed the urge to cry. Before he pushed the door open, I left the diary on the windowsill and fled in a hurry.

After that day, I didn’t say another word to Ethan. Instead, he changed his usual behavior. The messages he sent in those two days nearly matched two months’ worth. Yet he never mentioned the diary. On the night scores were released, Ethan’s house suddenly lost internet connection, so he had to come to my house temporarily to use ours. Mom washed a plate of fruit and placed it in front of him—some tropical fruits she normally wouldn’t buy. She smiled and told Ethan not to be nervous. Mason also busied himself massaging Ethan’s shoulders, serving him water, extremely attentive. Then he looked at me sitting alone in the corner with nothing and laughed: “Don’t secretly cry later if you didn’t do as well as Ethan. I get so annoyed every time I hear you cry.” “You brat, is that any way to talk to your sister?” Ethan laughed and pinched his arm. He scratched his head: “Oh, she’s used to it. She’s thick-skinned. These little comments don’t hurt her at all.” “She always says she’s better looking than Sophia. I tell her she’s being narcissistic but she won’t believe it. Ethan, you tell her—doesn’t she fall far short compared to Sophia?” Mason had also seen that diary, so naturally he knew he was deliberately trying to embarrass me. Ethan froze for a moment, then glanced at me sideways. I lowered my head, so embarrassed I wanted to escape immediately. In the end, he took the initiative to break the awkward tension, half-joking: “Stop making fun of your sister. I’m sure she wouldn’t ask such a question.” “Alright, everyone stop dwelling on this. It’s almost time to check scores.” At eight o’clock sharp, both Ethan’s and my score pages appeared simultaneously. In an instant, the atmosphere became extremely tense. Ethan and I had received the same score. My parents’ first reaction wasn’t excitement, but to scrutinize the screen repeatedly, then ask me where I’d copied from. Mason first praised Ethan effusively, then said to me with a grin: “You didn’t even get caught? Vivian, your cheating skills are off the charts. You should teach me sometime.” The emotions I’d been suppressing finally erupted. Tears streamed down uncontrollably. I violently pulled back my chair and yelled at them for the first time: “I didn’t cheat! I earned this score with my own ability!” Everyone was clearly stunned. After playing the role of the good girl for eighteen years, they’d already carved my compliant image into their bones. They obviously didn’t believe I would suddenly lose my temper. Under their shocked gazes, I got up and ran outside. Before opening the door, I heard Ethan’s voice. He was defending me: “Uncle, Aunt, you’ve misunderstood Vivian. She works very hard at school. This SAT score is what she deserves. We should be happy for her.” … I’d barely taken two steps outside when Ethan followed me out. He walked alongside me, and after a few words of comfort, suddenly asked: “We’ll be filling out college applications in a few days. Where are you thinking of applying?” If this had been before, when Ethan asked this question, I would have said NYU without hesitation. But that day, his conversation with his mother had left a thorn in my heart. I didn’t answer immediately, but threw the question back to him. “Where do you want to go?” Even though I already knew the answer. He paused, then replied: “…I’ll probably go with NYU.” After meeting my gaze, Ethan immediately looked away, afraid I might see through him. My chest ached as if pierced by countless needles. Two seconds later, I looked away, my voice hoarse: “Same as you.” “That’s great then. We can go together.” After he spoke, his eyes looked forward again. I stared at him. The words about breaking up that I’d been contemplating swirled on my tongue several times, but I couldn’t bear to say them. On the way back, Ethan and I parted ways. I knew he was lying to me. And I was lying to him too. Ethan didn’t want to apply to the same university as me. I would fulfill his wish—I wouldn’t apply to either Harvard or NYU. Cowardice and unwillingness made me unable to speak the word “ending,” so I would use this method to say goodbye to him properly. This relationship that was impure from the start—I didn’t want it anymore.

We had to return to school to fill out college applications. Afraid others would discover our relationship, Ethan specifically told me beforehand to avoid suspicion and not to approach him at school. I nodded in agreement. His absence would actually make it more convenient for me to act. By the time I finished filling out the application, it was already noon. Ethan was waiting for me far from the school. As soon as we met, he asked: “Did you put NYU as your first choice?” I lied without changing my expression: “Yes.” “I also applied to NYU.” My throat tightened. I stared at his smile, momentarily dazed, unable to process it. Wasn’t Ethan doing everything possible to avoid me, to not apply to the same university as me? What did this mean now? It wasn’t until the evening when the school organized an alumni dinner that I suddenly understood. It wasn’t for me—it was for Sophia. Sophia had also applied to NYU. Naturally, Ethan wouldn’t pass up this golden opportunity to get close to her. Most of the dishes on the table were very spicy. Unable to handle spicy food, I had few options, so halfway through the meal, my stomach was still empty. There was one last slice of pizza left on the plate. The second I reached for it, Sophia also extended her hand. Our eyes met in mid-air. I was starving. The frustration bottled up inside me made me unwilling to yield. Sophia seemed to sense this and was too proud to withdraw her fork. In the standoff, a hand with distinct knuckles reached across in front of me. And placed that slice of pizza in Sophia’s bowl. Ethan set down his fork and looked at me sideways, his tone gentle: “Sophia hasn’t eaten much all evening. Let her have this slice. If you want some, I’ll buy you more on the way home.” Glances from all directions landed on me. I understood the mockery in them, as if saying competing with Sophia for food was overestimating myself. I immediately lowered my head in embarrassment and pretended to be busy eating several bites of spicy stir-fried meat. The spiciness spread from my tongue, sliding into my stomach, all of it burning with pain. I somehow felt like laughing. I wanted to say that actually, I hadn’t eaten much either. But when I caught his gentle gaze as he glanced at Sophia, in the end I said nothing. I couldn’t compete with her anyway, could I? Why invite humiliation? After the dinner ended, they suggested going to karaoke. When Ethan saw Sophia was going, he eagerly signed up too. I didn’t want to participate and be a third wheel, so I called a rideshare home. The spasms in my stomach made it impossible to straighten up, and fine beads of sweat covered my forehead. I leaned against the seat back, enduring the pain while typing out a message. When the driver reached the destination, the words in the chat box were just being sent out. I had officially broken up with him. At midnight, Ethan sent me a SnapChat message telling me to come downstairs. I threw on a thin jacket and went out. He was sitting on a bench in the park, a pile of cigarette butts at his feet. This was the first time I knew he smoked. It was different from the person I knew. Ethan’s expression was gloomy. He didn’t look to be in a good mood. Thinking about last night’s dinner, he’d probably been rejected by Sophia again. Seeing me standing in front of him, he got straight to the point: “Vivian, why are you breaking up with me?”

I didn’t quite understand. Wasn’t this the result Ethan had always wanted? He liked Sophia, not me. What was wrong with me proposing a breakup? I thought about it and finally answered: “Because of that slice of pizza tonight. I was a bit sad I didn’t get to eat it.” “Just because of one slice of pizza?” “Yes, just because of that.” Ethan laughed bitterly at my response. “Didn’t I say Sophia hadn’t eaten much, so I let her have that slice, and that I’d buy you more on the way back?” “Why do you have to fixate on that one slice? Vivian, why are you so petty? What was so special about that pizza?” His words placed all the blame on me. But he didn’t know that some food only has appeal in specific settings. Once removed from that context, there’s no desire to touch it. It’s true for food, and for people too. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm. “That slice of pizza wasn’t special. What was special was your attitude.” “She wasn’t the only one at the table who hadn’t eaten much. I hadn’t either. But your gaze only stayed on Sophia, so you could only see her.” “You like her. I can’t force you to like me. I just don’t want to force myself anymore.” Ethan was smart—he understood immediately what I meant. He remained silent for a long time, then frowned and said: “You saw my diary?” “Yes.” He rubbed his brow, his voice unable to hide his exhaustion: “That was all written a long time ago. When filling out applications, I chose NYU for you. Isn’t that enough to show my attitude?” Seeing that I remained silent, Ethan’s patience ran out. He asked me one last time: “I’ll ask you one last time, Vivian. Are you sure you want to break up with me?” I nodded firmly: “Yes.” “Fine. You said it yourself.” “When you get to NYU, I won’t wait for you. And you’d better not regret it when I’m with Sophia.” I agreed to everything. Ethan stared at me intently, his eyes turning red from frustration. After accumulating enough disappointment, he left. After that day, we never contacted each other again. Our relationship instantly hit rock bottom. Mason would sometimes deliberately bring up Ethan at the dinner table, saying he and Sophia had finally achieved their happy ending. “Ethan and Sophia are the perfect match! Both talented and beautiful—just standing there, you can’t look away. So much more pleasing to the eye than standing with you! Tsk tsk tsk, too bad you didn’t see it in person.” I kept my head down eating, showing no reaction. He couldn’t help but poke me. “Hey, don’t you have anything to say about this?” “Oh, congratulations.” My tone was flat. The day the acceptance letters arrived, I received a call from the delivery person and went downstairs. I ran right into Ethan, who had also come to pick up his letter. His gaze flashed over me, deliberately pretending not to see me. I kept my distance from him, walking one behind the other to the delivery person. When the acceptance letter was handed to him, the delivery guy smiled: “After delivering all day, you’re the only one from NYU in this area. Not bad, young man.” Ethan’s body suddenly trembled. He immediately turned to look at me. I knew what he was thinking at that moment. So under his bewildered gaze, I stepped forward with a smile: “Vivian Walker, Cornell University.”

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Before the holiday break, my colleagues swarmed around me, pleading persistently: “I heard you got a new car. Can you take us to the West Coast for vacation?” “You’re the steadiest driver! We trust you! We definitely won’t let you lose out on gas money!” Soft-hearted as I was, I gave in and drove all nine people in our team on a thousand-mile road trip—for free. The entire journey was over a thousand miles. I drove nonstop, alone, until my hands were trembling from exhaustion. Everyone in the car just ate, drank, and had fun. No one ever offered to take over. On the day of the carnival, a few drunk men rushed over from the roadside, wrenched open my car door, and dumped two huge buckets of water directly into the driver’s seat. Water flooded into the control panel. The car started billowing white smoke. Trapped inside, I screamed for help: “Don’t leave! Pull me out!” But my colleagues—who’d been thanking me profusely just moments before—all fled without a shred of mercy. I spent over forty days in the ICU. My parents sold our house to save me and destroyed their health in the process. Yet this group of people never came to visit. Instead, they viciously slandered me in the company group chat. Savannah even sent a voice message: “I warned him not to drive long distances, but he just had to play the hero and show off!” My colleagues chimed in one after another: “He almost got us all killed. So selfish!” “Who’d dare go anywhere with him again!” No matter how I tried to explain, no one would listen. The company fired me outright, citing unauthorized organization of activities. I died filled with resentment. When I opened my eyes again, I’d returned to one week before the holiday. Looking at these people surrounding me with fake smiles and flattery, my eyes turned ice-cold. In this life, I will never be soft-hearted again. For every betrayal and injury, I will repay them double!

The pothos plant on my desk was still alive. There was no scar on my left hand. Savannah walked over from the break room in her high heels, holding a latte. She bent down and leaned close to my ear: “Adrian, didn’t you request annual leave to go on vacation to the West Coast? It’s right during the carnival festival too. Why don’t you take us along? We can split the gas!” I saved the email I was typing as a draft and closed the screen. “I’m not going anymore.” Savannah blinked. “What? But your leave was already approved. Didn’t you book a hotel too?” I picked up the water glass on my desk and took a sip. “I canceled it.” “I canceled everything.” I stared at the blinking cursor on my computer screen. I couldn’t type a single word. All I could see were scenes from my previous life. I remembered every second of those three minutes when the fire burned up from beneath my feet. After the seatbelt buckle got soaked with water, it wouldn’t release no matter how hard I pressed. I yanked at it until my nails flipped back, until the flesh on my fingers was rubbed raw, but I still couldn’t get it undone. The smoke came first, choking me so badly I couldn’t even open my eyes. Then the heat rose layer by layer. I screamed until my voice went hoarse, until I couldn’t make any sound at all. The car door was open. Savannah had left it open when she ran. I could see the road outside. People were running on the road, filming videos, screaming. But no one came to pull me out. In the end, it was a DoorDash delivery guy who happened to ride by on his motorcycle. Without a word, he rushed in, used a blade he carried with him to cut the seatbelt, and dragged me out of the driver’s seat by force. That guy’s arm got burned too. Later, when I was in the ICU, I asked my dad what his name was. My dad shook his head. He said the guy left right after putting me down. Didn’t even leave a phone number. Eight colleagues. Two thousand miles. Free rides, food, and lodging. In the end, the one who saved me was a stranger. I pulled my thoughts back and glanced around the office. Twelve desks, nine people seated. Savannah sat diagonally across from me. She was looking down at her phone. After I rejected her just now, she went back to her seat without another word, but I knew what she was thinking. It was the same in my previous life. After being rejected the first time, she stayed quiet for about half an hour, then started round two. Sure enough. She put down her phone, turned to look at me, and changed her expression. “Adrian, are you under too much work pressure lately? I think you really need to get out and relax. Look at those dark circles under your eyes.” “Yeah, I’m a bit tired,” I said. “Then you should definitely go out and have fun.” Savannah stood up and walked to my cubicle, resting one hand on the back of my chair. “The West Coast is great. The carnival is so lively. You’d be so bored going alone. If we all go together, we can take turns driving so you can rest too.” Take turns driving. In my previous life, she’d said the same thing. Two thousand miles, eight people, and I was the only one who ever touched the steering wheel throughout the entire trip. Eight people, eight excuses, each more ridiculous than the last. “I’m really not going,” I said. “I withdrew my leave request too. I’ll just stay home this weekend.” Savannah’s hand slid off my chair back. Her mouth fell open. “You… you withdrew your leave too?” “Yeah.” “But that was your annual leave. If you don’t use it, isn’t that a waste?” “I’ll save it for later.” Savannah looked at me for a few seconds, then smiled. “Alright then, rest well.” She turned and went back to her seat. I knew this was just the beginning.

At lunchtime, the break room started getting lively. I sat alone at a small table in the corner with my lunch box. I used to eat with Savannah. She said she didn’t like eating alone, so I waited for her every day. Now that I think about it, in three years, when did she ever wait for me? Voices drifted over from the microwave area, intermittent but clear enough for me to hear every word. “What are you guys doing this weekend?” It was Maya, the youngest in our team, who’d just graduated and joined last year. “I want to go to the West Coast for vacation. It’s right during the carnival, but plane tickets are so expensive—over three thousand dollars round trip.” “Didn’t you say Adrian was driving there? Just ride with him,” Marcus chimed in. Maya lowered her voice, though not by much: “He said he’s not going anymore. He even withdrew his leave.” “Huh? Why’d he suddenly cancel?” “No idea. Savannah asked him but he didn’t say why.” “Then what do we do? Plane tickets are too expensive, and the train takes forever.” “Driving would be the most economical, but he’s the only one in our team with a car.” “And it’s a brand new car too. If we split the gas money, we could save a lot over two thousand miles.” At this point, several people glanced in my direction simultaneously. I pretended not to notice and kept eating. The lunch box contained fried chicken pieces and baked mac and cheese my mom made last night. The chicken was crispy, but I couldn’t taste anything as I chewed. In my previous life at this time, I was excitedly sending everyone the trip itinerary, wishing I could plan every day’s route and every meal’s restaurant. I’d even bought sunscreen and waterproof bags for everyone in advance. Eight sets. Cost me nearly a thousand dollars. Savannah had said: “Adrian, you’re so thoughtful. Whoever marries you will be so lucky.” Followed by a string of laughing and heart emojis. Thoughtful. Thoughtful enough to nearly burn to death in a fire. After finishing lunch, I washed my lunch box and put it back in my bag. As I passed Savannah’s cubicle, she was talking to Maya. When they saw me coming, both fell silent at the same time. The air went quiet for about two seconds. Savannah spoke first: “Adrian, finished eating? What was in your lunch today?” “Fried chicken.” “Smells so good. Next time have your mom make me some too.” In my previous life, she’d said the same thing. My mom really did make it for her. For three years. Every time Savannah came to my house, my mom treated her like half a daughter, making a whole table of food, and insisting she take home two containers when she left. Savannah said she’d had no mother growing up. My mom felt sorry for her. Later, when I was lying in the ICU, Savannah posted in the employee group chat saying I’d insisted on driving my new car to take her to the carnival and nearly got her killed. When my mom saw that message, she was at the ICU entrance signing a critical condition notice. “Maybe some other time,” I replied flatly and walked back to my cubicle. Behind me, Maya said something quietly. I didn’t turn around.

At 2:30 PM, our manager held a brief meeting. It was supposedly to discuss wrapping up the second quarter projects, but it was really just a formality since most of the work was done. Only some finishing touches remained. Halfway through the meeting, Manager Mr. Smith casually asked: “What are everyone’s plans for the weekend? Is the on-call schedule set?” Savannah raised her hand: ” Mr. Smith, I’ve arranged the on-call schedule. I’m on duty this weekend. Maya and Marcus will rotate the other days.” The manager nodded. Then Savannah’s tone shifted, becoming very natural: “By the way, Mr. Smith, a few of us in the team wanted to go to the West Coast for vacation and catch the carnival, but plane tickets are too expensive, and so is renting a car. Adrian was originally going to drive there, but suddenly he’s not going anymore, so we’re stuck.” As she said this, her eyes swept over me—quick, but I caught it. Everyone else’s gazes drifted toward me at the same time. Mr. Smith glanced at me: “Didn’t Adrian request annual leave? Why aren’t you going now?” “I changed my mind. I want to rest at home.” “Young people shouldn’t just rest at home. Take advantage of your time off and go out.” Mr. Smith smiled and didn’t say more. But Savannah didn’t stop. “Exactly, Adrian. If you don’t go, none of us can go. Your car is so spacious—it can easily fit eight people. Splitting the cost over two thousand miles would be way cheaper than plane tickets.” The way she said it, she wasn’t asking me—she was deciding for me. Kiera immediately chimed in: “Right, right! Adrian, your car is so big. Take us with you. Plus, it’s not safe for you to drive that far alone. With more people, we can look out for each other.” Look out for each other. In my previous life, when the car caught fire, all eight of them ran faster than rabbits. Look out for what? Watch me burn? “I said I’m not going.” My voice came out louder than I’d intended. The conference room went quiet for a moment. Savannah’s smile stiffened briefly, then quickly recovered. “Alright, alright. If he doesn’t want to go, don’t force him.” She waved at everyone, her tone light as if discussing something trivial. But I saw Kiera’s mouth twitch downward. Marcus leaned back in his chair, tapping his pen on the table. He didn’t say anything, but his expression clearly read: Fine, so you won’t help us, huh. Less than an hour after the meeting ended, Savannah posted a message in the employee group chat. “Everyone! Regarding the weekend trip, I’ve organized the details. Colleagues who want to go to the carnival, please reply below. I’ll figure out transportation, don’t worry.” A string of names immediately followed. Maya, Marcus, Kiera, Helen, Leo, Peter, Nathan. Seven people. Plus Savannah herself made eight. Exactly the same as my previous life. The only one who didn’t reply was me. Savannah posted another message in the group: “Adrian, do you want to reconsider? It’s more fun with more people. You’d be so bored at home alone.” I didn’t respond. About half an hour later, Savannah stood up from her seat and walked to the conference room doorway, tapping on the door frame. “Everyone, come in for a minute. Quick meeting, won’t take long.” She called it a “quick meeting,” but she stood in front of the projection screen with a marker in hand. The whiteboard already had a title written on it: “Weekend Carnival Trip Plan.” The handwriting was neat. Clearly prepared in advance.

I sat in the back row, watching her. “I checked, and plane tickets are sixteen hundred to two thousand one way. Round trip would be three to four thousand. Too expensive.” Savannah wrote a number on the whiteboard and crossed it out. “I also checked buses, but there’s no direct route. You’d have to transfer twice, and just the journey alone takes over thirty hours. Total waste of time.” Another cross. “For renting a car, an eight-seater van costs twenty-eight hundred one way, fifty-six hundred round trip. Split among us, that’s seven hundred per person. Cheaper than flights, but still not cheap.” She paused, tapping her marker on the board twice. “The most economical option, actually, is a self-drive. Gas plus tolls for two thousand miles would be about a thousand dollars. Split eight ways, that’s only a bit over a hundred per person.” At this point, her gaze moved from the whiteboard and naturally settled on me. Not just her—everyone was looking at me. I was the only one in the team with a car. Everyone knew that. I sat in my chair, twirling my pen, my face expressionless. “But the problem is,” Savannah put down her marker, “Adrian is the only one in our team with a car, and his is electric. Charging is even cheaper than gas. If he could take us, splitting the charging fees among everyone, it might not even cost a hundred dollars.” Kiera was the first to speak: “Less than a hundred dollars! That’s such a steal!” “Exactly,” Maya followed up. “Buying plane tickets myself would cost thousands. Adrian, please take us.” Marcus said, “Your car fits eight people comfortably anyway. I saw it once—the back row can fold down into a bed.” “Adrian, you’re the best. Please help us out.” “We’re all colleagues. This little favor is nothing.” “You’re not even paying for gas. You’re just giving a few people a ride.” One after another, talking over each other. I waited until they finished, placed my pen on the table, and slowly straightened up. The conference room fell silent. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m not going to the West Coast anymore. And I’m not lending my car either.” Savannah’s hand holding the marker froze. Kiera’s mouth gaped open. Marcus leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting from expectation to shock. “Why?” Savannah asked. Her voice was taut. “No particular reason. I just don’t want to go.” “What about the car? Can’t we drive it ourselves? We don’t need you to drive.” “No.” Savannah bit her lip. After a long moment, she spoke: “Adrian, you weren’t like this before.” I looked at her. I wasn’t like this before. Right. Before, I would have smiled and agreed, then driven two thousand miles alone, booked hotels alone, made all the plans alone, and taken all the blame alone. “People change.” After saying that, I picked up my phone and walked out of the conference room. I’d barely sat down at my desk when my phone vibrated. It was the department group chat. Savannah had posted a message, @-ing my name. “Adrian, I don’t know what you’re upset about, but everyone has been preparing for this trip plan for a long time. You’re the only one with a car but you’re unwilling to help everyone. I respect your decision. But I want everyone to know—it’s not that I didn’t try.” Silence for about ten seconds. Then Marcus posted an emoji: a thumbs-down. Kiera followed with a sighing emoji. Maya didn’t post an emoji, but she liked Savannah’s message. I stared at that message for five seconds. In front of the whole team, Savannah had pinned me in the position of being “unreasonable.” In my previous life, she’d done this after I got burned. In this life, she’d done it early. But in my previous life, I hadn’t taken screenshots. This time I did. I was about to lock my screen when Savannah sent another message. Not in the group this time—a private message. “Adrian, I don’t want our relationship to sour. But think carefully. I’m the one who arranges the on-call schedule. Next month’s project assignments go through me too. Do you really want to oppose the entire team?” I looked at that line of text, my finger hovering above the screen. This wasn’t a request anymore. This was a threat!

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To earn medical expenses for my six-year-old autistic son, my wife Anna took on the high-risk job of river dredging through my brother Brandon’s introduction. During a flood season, she and my brother accidentally fell into the water and drowned. Three months after they left, my son also died from prolonged refusal to eat and stress-induced exhaustion. To prevent others from repeating my son’s tragedy, I took care of my wife’s parents while burying myself in study. I developed a specialized treatment plan for severe autism, and later opened a charity clinic to help autistic children free of charge. Until that day when I suddenly received a call for help. “Is this Dr. Smith speaking?” “My daughter also has severe autism. Can you save her?” I froze, because on the other end of the line was the voice of my wife who had been dead for ten years. On the phone, the woman pleaded almost humbly: “Dr. Smith, please, you’re our last hope.” A man’s voice came from beside her, tearful: “Dr. Smith, my daughter’s name is Lucy. She’s four years old with severe autism, and she’s contracted uremia. She refuses medical treatment—she’s terrified of doctors. Now she has multiple organ failure, and the hospital has issued a critical condition notice.” “We’ve asked everywhere. In the whole country, only you can save her!” I’d received no less than a hundred such calls in ten years. My charity clinic was the last lifeline for countless families with autistic children. Every time, my answer had been yes, and I never charged a penny. But this time, suppressing the chill rising from my very bones, I interrupted her directly: “The child’s name, age, and parents’ names.” The phone went quiet for a moment before the woman spoke: “The child’s name is Lucy. She’s four years old. My name is Anna, and her father’s name is…” “Brandon.” I finished for her. The line went dead silent, as if surprised I would know. Anna, Brandon. These two names, after ten years, stabbed viciously into my heart once again. I felt instantly transported back to that funeral ten years ago. The venue was packed with people. The coffin sat beside an open grave as people stood in silence, holding black umbrellas. Anna’s mother collapsed on the coffin, crying until she could barely breathe: “Anna! My daughter! How could you die—” Anna’s father stood beside her, eyes red, supporting her, his voice trembling: “Don’t cry, don’t cry… let Anna leave this world in peace…” Several relatives reached out to pull Anna’s mother back, some offering tissues, some patting her back, murmuring: “I’m so sorry for your loss.” I stood to the side holding three-year-old Lorne, feeling completely hollowed out. Lorne, uncomfortable from my tight grip, patted my face with his small hand: “Daddy, hurts…” Anna’s voice took on a tentative tone. “Dr. Smith, you… you know us?” I didn’t answer, only heard Anna urgently whispering to Brandon on the other end, then promising me again: “Dr. Smith, money is no object. We’ll give you whatever we have!” “As long as you’re willing to help, we’re willing to donate… no, to pay you one million! Please!” One million. Back then, when Anna abandoned our son who also had autism, she took the two hundred thousand dollars in death benefits—my son’s lifeline—and faked her death to escape. How resolute she had been then. Now, to save her daughter with Brandon, Anna was truly generous. My fingers gripping the pen turned white from the pressure as I spoke, word by word. “I’m sorry, this child—I won’t save her.” “Why?!” Anna’s voice suddenly shot up, full of disbelief. “We can pay more! Two million! Dr. Smith, you’ve always been…” Anna couldn’t finish her sentence. I hung up directly. The phone slipped from my trembling palm and hit the desk with a dull thud. Finally, the whole world was quiet.

When I pushed open the front door, the aroma of food hit me, but my stomach only churned. In the dining room, Anna’s parents were already seated at the long table. Across from them, as always, was an empty seat with a clean place setting. Anna’s mother carried a casserole, carefully spooning creamy mashed potatoes onto the plate in front of that empty seat. She cut up a piece of gravy-covered steak and placed it there, murmuring: “Anna, time to eat. I made your favorite roast beef today.” Ten years, rain or shine. They believed Anna had died heroically in flood relief efforts ten years ago, her body never recovered. A hero. So for these ten years, at every meal, they left a place for Anna, with food set out. As if she were still alive, just away on a trip. I stared at that plate of steaming food, hatred churning inside me. The daughter they worshipped day and night was actually living well in another city at this very moment. And Anna and Brandon were humbly begging me to save their daughter. I changed my shoes and walked over step by step. “Smith, you’re home? Hurry and wash your hands for dinner, today…” Anna’s mother looked up at me with a kind smile. But her words cut off abruptly. Because I walked straight to that empty seat, and under their shocked gazes, I picked up the food left for Anna, turned around, and threw it—plate and all—into the kitchen trash. The crash of breaking dishes exploded in the silent air. “Smith, have you lost your mind?!” Anna’s father shot to his feet, trembling with rage. Tears instantly streamed down Anna’s mother’s face as she looked at me in disbelief: “Smith… what are you doing? That’s… that’s food left for Anna…” I turned around and looked coldly at them, at these pitiful old people who’d been kept in the dark for ten years. I couldn’t tell them that their proud daughter wasn’t dead at all. Anna just found my autistic son and me to be burdens, so she and my best friend planned a fake death and ran away together. I couldn’t say a single word of it. I could only vent my ten years of accumulated resentment in the cruelest way. “Dead people don’t deserve to eat.” That night, I didn’t return to my room. I sat in my son’s room. Everything in the room remained exactly as it was when he left. His crooked drawing of our family still sat on the desk. I picked up the worn, matted stuffed toy from the bedside. This was a birthday gift Brandon had given my son. My son loved it. In his final moments, he clutched it tightly in his arms, calling over and over: “Mommy… Mommy…” I held that toy and sat there all night, until dawn squeezed through the curtain cracks and shone coldly on my face.

The next day at the clinic, Eve made me a cup of hot tea. As she handed it over, her slender fingers paused on the white ceramic cup. Her expression was gentle as always, but her tone carried a trace of concern: “Dr. Smith, yesterday’s call… you really refused?” “I’ve never seen you like this.” Eve was my deputy and my most capable partner. She knew how much I’d sacrificed for this charity clinic, and she knew I treated every patient like my own child, never giving up before. I picked up the teacup without answering. The warm liquid slid down my throat, but couldn’t warm that frozen heart. “Take it slow. There’s always hope.” Seeing my pale face, Eve habitually tried to comfort me. I forced a slight smile in response. Hope? My hope died ten years ago. Before I could speak, the office door burst open. A young rehabilitation therapist rushed in frantically: “Dr. Smith, Miss Eve, something’s wrong—someone’s kneeling outside!” Eve and I exchanged glances and immediately headed out. The afternoon sun was vicious as fire, baking the ground until white heat rose from it. Outside the clinic entrance, a large crowd had gathered, mostly parents picking up their children. In the center of the crowd, a woman knelt upright on the scorching cement. Behind her stood a man, helplessly holding a child, his face full of anxiety. It was them. Anna and Brandon. I put on a mask and slowly walked through the crowd to stand before them. “Dr. Smith! You’re finally willing to see us!” The moment Anna saw me, she crawled forward on her knees two steps, crying, her voice pitiful: “Please, save my daughter! As long as you’re willing to help, we’ll give you any amount of money!” Brandon also chimed in with red-rimmed eyes and a hoarse voice: “Dr. Smith, we’ve asked around. Only you can save her. Please have mercy!” My gaze fell on the child in their arms. Lucy. She wore soft, comfortable cotton clothes. Her face was pale, but she still showed signs of careful nurturing. Her features resembled Anna’s. But my son Lorne… When he died, he wore faded old clothes, washed until they were white. He was so thin he was just bones. His tiny body curled in my arms, his last weak breath still stubbornly calling for the woman who’d abandoned him. “Mommy…” My heart felt like someone had torn it open with a dull blade, blood pouring out, the pain almost making me unable to stand. The surrounding parents began whispering. “Dr. Smith has always been so soft-hearted, why this time…” “Right, what a pitiful child. They’ve been kneeling here so long.” I took a deep breath, suppressing the metallic taste rising in my throat. Under everyone’s puzzled gazes, I looked down at Anna kneeling on the ground and said coldly: “Stop dreaming.” “I’ll save anyone else, but not this child.”

The moment those words fell, the entire scene went dead silent. Anna, kneeling on the ground, jerked her head up, her eyes full of disbelief. Brandon behind her also froze, his lips trembling, unable to speak. “Why?” Anna’s voice shook. “Dr. Smith, how have we offended you? As long as you save the child, money is no problem!” “One million! No, five million! We’ll transfer it to you right now!” She thought I was demanding a higher treatment fee. The surrounding parents exploded in discussion, voices surging like a tide. “Five million! Why won’t Dr. Smith agree?” “Exactly. Dr. Smith never charges us anything to treat our children. What’s wrong today?” “Still, you can’t gamble with a child’s life…” These people who had once received my kindness now looked at me with reproach. I ignored them, my gaze still coldly fixed on Anna’s face. Seeing me unmoved, Anna seemed to have all her strength drained. She collapsed to the ground crying, her voice shrill: “You have no heart! How can you be so cruel!” “She’s just a child! You’re refusing to save her! This is murder!” Brandon also stepped forward with red eyes, pointing at my nose and roaring: “Do you have any medical ethics at all! We came seeking medical help, not charity! If you won’t save her, we’ll call the police!” He actually pulled out his phone and dialed emergency services. Soon, a police car came roaring up. Two officers listened to Brandon’s embellished accusations, looked at Anna crying her heart out on the ground, and finally approached me with difficulty: “Um… Dr. Smith, is it? Given this situation…” Eve immediately stepped forward, blocking me, calmly presenting the clinic’s charity certification documents: “Officers, we’re a charity organization. All assistance is voluntary and doesn’t fall under medical dispute jurisdiction.” The police looked at the documents and immediately understood. They sighed and shrugged at Anna and Brandon: “We can’t get involved in this. Providing help is a favor, not an obligation. We can’t force it.” With their last hope shattered, Anna’s face instantly turned deathly pale. In the deathly silence, I suddenly let out a low laugh. I walked back in front of Anna and looked at that face—both familiar and strange—asking word by word: “Anna, do you really not know why I won’t save your daughter?” Under her incredulous gaze, I slowly pulled down my mask.

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