My sister-in-law gave birth to twins, kept the boy, and abandoned the girl. I couldn’t bear it and helped raise my niece. As an adult, my niece coveted my property, staged an accident, and killed me. Reborn, I’m only living for myself. Their kids, their problem. 0 The moment I opened my eyes, I was back on the day my sister-in-law gave birth. When she heard it was twins, my mother, Eleanor, was desperate for two grandsons and prayed non-stop in the hospital corridor. My brother, Mark, sat in a chair with his legs crossed, engrossed in a game on his phone, completely unconcerned. The doctor emerged, offering congratulations. A perfect family, he said, a boy and a girl, just like us – an older sister and a younger brother. Eleanor’s face fell instantly. She turned to glance at me, snapping sarcastically, “What good is an older sister if she doesn’t help the family or her brother? Utterly selfish.” I sneered inwardly. Here we go again with the guilt-tripping. Not this time. I had no morals to bind. She could say whatever she wanted. Mark’s joy at becoming a father didn’t even last five minutes before the constantly crying baby gave him a headache. His face was a mask of impatience. Bethany, my sister-in-law, lay in the hospital bed, neglected and disappointed, groaning in pain. At the end, she cast a resentful look my way. I turned my back, ignoring her. Your own parents ignore you, your husband doesn’t care for you, and you don’t resent *them*? But you resent *me*? “Mom, Bethany’s safe, but I have to go. I need to get back to the office for overtime.” I picked up my bag to leave, but Eleanor grabbed me. “Your brother had a baby, the family name is secure! As an older sister, don’t you think you should show some support?” I snorted a laugh, counting on my fingers for them. “Since Bethany got pregnant, what single expense haven’t I covered? I even paid for her prenatal checkups and the delivery! What more do you want me to ‘show’? I might as well be the husband!” Eleanor hadn’t expected me to act so out of character, no longer obedient. She was speechless. Seeing his plan for money foiled, Mark angrily shouted, “How dare you talk to Mom like that? What’s with your attitude!” “Oh, I’m sorry, Mom. My attitude is bad. I’ve always spoken to you humbly. Unlike Mark, who curses and yells all the time.” Clearing my throat, I clapped my hands, as if making a firm decision. “From now on, I’ll learn from Mark. I’ll only look out for myself in life and at work, and I won’t spend a dime.” Mark’s face flushed crimson at my sarcasm. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to hit me. I quickly backed away, dodging his fist. Doctors and nurses heard the commotion and intervened, making Mark back down. I checked the time, eager to return to work. In this world, only the money you earn yourself brings true peace of mind. Eleanor blocked my way again, clearly not giving up until she got what she wanted. I didn’t have time for her long-winded lectures. I pulled out a pre-prepared envelope from my bag, handed it to her, and finally managed to escape. Behind me, Mark was still rambling, calling me heartless and ungrateful. I couldn’t be bothered. If I were truly heartless, I wouldn’t have ended up so tragically in my previous life. 0

In my previous life, my mother had insisted repeatedly that I attend Noah and Mia’s 100-day celebration. Besides wanting more gift money, she planned to dump Mia on me to raise. Eleanor had always favored boys. Bethany found two kids too much to handle, and Mark’s income was meager. The whole family was causing constant chaos because of those two children. Ultimately, they decided I should shoulder the burden. In my past life, I looked at little Mia, abandoned, and couldn’t bear it. After all, the child was innocent and so young. I spent a huge amount of time, energy, and money raising Mia, but I received no gratitude from Mark’s family. If anything displeased them, they’d snap sarcastic remarks and criticize me. When Mia grew up, Bethany spread rumors everywhere, claiming I had no husband or children and had forcibly taken Mia from her. Over time, Mia developed a grudge against me. When she found out I had substantial savings, she even colluded with Mark and Bethany to harm me. This time, I would nip that terrible outcome in the bud. Mia was Mark and Bethany’s child. Why should I overstep my boundaries and raise her? I arrived at Noah and Mia’s 100-day celebration as requested. Bethany took the gift envelope, felt its thinness, and her face fell instantly. I pretended not to notice and walked directly into the hall, like the other relatives. From a distance, I saw Bethany pull Mark aside, pointing at the envelope I’d given and muttering furiously. After hearing Bethany, Mark, furious, went to find Eleanor again. A moment later, Eleanor stormed over, livid. “It’s your niece and nephew’s 100-day celebration, such an important day! How could you be so stingy with your gift?” Mark and Bethany rushed to agree, chastising me for being cheap. Other guests gathered around, eager for a show, and began pointing fingers at me. I snatched the envelope back, tore it open, and counted the bills one by one in front of everyone. The amount wasn’t huge, but it was more than any other guest had given. I loudly asked how much everyone else had contributed. The guests all looked down, fell silent, and sheepishly dispersed. I wouldn’t be weak and submissive like in my last life. I immediately began to wail loudly, recounting all my years of sacrifice. How I started working early to support the family, how I lived frugally, tightened my belt, and sent most of my savings home every month. How I’d paid for Mark’s schooling, his job, his wedding, his children – all without him ever mentioning repayment. I hadn’t even finished crying when Eleanor, Mark, and Bethany, all losing face, harshly interrupted me. They dragged me to a corner, a torrent of complaints pouring out. They accused me of spouting nonsense in front of outsiders and making them a laughingstock. I straightened up, looking utterly innocent. “Honest to God, every word I said was true, not a single lie!” The party was full of friends and family, and Eleanor feared a bigger scene would be humiliating, so she had to give up. Mark and Bethany’s eyes burned with venomous hatred, as if they wanted to devour me. I didn’t care. I focused on eating, determined to get my money’s worth and make up for my loss. When it was our table’s turn for toasts, Bethany casually mentioned, “Auntie, at your age, if you don’t find a partner, what will you do when you’re older?” I raised my glass. “My life is none of your concern, Bethany. I’m healthy, I earn well, I enjoy life, and my future retirement is secure.” I paused, and before Bethany could speak again, I cut her off. “Noah and Mia are still young. Bethany, you should focus your energy on your children, and don’t meddle so much in other people’s lives.” Bethany was utterly floored by my words. Her hand, holding the glass, froze in mid-air, and she couldn’t utter a word for a long time. 0 Mark saw her reaction and quickly interjected, “Ava, at your age, if you’re not getting married, you should at least have a child to care for you. How about…”

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My wife, Seraphina, has been paralyzed for six long, agonizing years since our son, Leo, was born. To take care of her, I walked away from a high-flying career at a top tech company – a future many would kill for – to take on odd jobs, mostly unclogging drains. People would visibly recoil, holding their noses, treating us like we were some kind of… social pariahs. Dirty, smelly, an embarrassment. But my son, Leo? He’d just see another dollar earned, another small victory. “Dad,” he’d say, his voice so small, “even my dirty clothes look good if it means Mom gets better. All I want is for Mom to be healthy.” Seraphina always insisted that because we were poor, we shouldn’t be vain or try to keep up with others. She made Leo, a child of only six, always shrink away, feeling less than everyone else. But that day, when we went to unclog the drains at an opulent mansion, I saw her sitting in the living room, decked out in designer clothes, dripping luxury from head to toe. A man was practically glued to her side. Seraphina held a small boy on her lap, spoon-feeding him a slice of gourmet cake – the kind of cake Leo wouldn’t even dare to glance at, let alone dream of tasting. “Children need the best from an early age, so they don’t grow up insecure,” she cooed. “Leo’s just like his useless dad, dull and clumsy, always dirty and stinking. No one could ever like a kid like that.” “It’s a pity I can’t shake off that useless man. If only I could marry *you*, our company’s technical problems wouldn’t still be unsolved.” Leo silently hung his head, a single tear splashing onto the marble floor. All our efforts, all our sacrifices, were just a pathetic joke in her eyes. I pulled out my phone and accepted the job offer from the rival company to Seraphina’s family business.

“I only went abroad to study further so I could help you overcome those technical challenges, but who knew that good-for-nothing parasite would prey on your vulnerability?” “You were just using him for a bit of fun. Who would have thought he’d drug you and take advantage, even making you have his child? He’s absolutely shameless. You should punish him severely, teach him a lesson.” I finally saw the man’s face. It was Blake, Seraphina’s first love. He had actually cheated on her, ran off to another country with some other woman, and had a kid with her. He barely passed his classes in college; what did he know about tech? Yet Seraphina believed every word he said. Seraphina had been the campus queen back in our college days; countless guys secretly adored her. But after Blake left, she only ever smiled at me. Once we were together, I became the envy of every male student. I loved her, and I never pushed her, never crossed a single boundary. The turning point was our graduation night. When she came back from the party, she was… different. Unusually forward with me. We spent a wonderful night together. She even defied her wealthy family, choosing to be with a simple guy like me. And after giving birth to Leo, she became paralyzed and bedridden. The campus queen, once so vibrant, had fallen so far. She was tormented by pain day and night, constantly needing someone by her side. To better care for her, I quit my grueling tech job with its insane hours and started taking on all sorts of odd jobs. Besides unclogging drains, I’d make cardboard crafts, move heavy boxes, fix appliances… To pay for her treatments, I even sold the house my parents had painstakingly saved for their entire lives, the one meant for *my* wedding. Our family of three was crammed into a tiny 20-square-meter rental apartment. My hands, once accustomed only to tapping a keyboard, were now grimy and calloused every single day. Everyone lamented the tragic downfall of a coding prodigy, but I just thought that as long as she was by my side, that was enough. I never imagined that all my sacrifices would only earn me the label of “useless.” And even my son was looked down upon. I pulled out my phone, opened my long-forgotten email, and accepted the job offer from Jocelyn Tech, the rival company to Seraphina’s family business. The phone rang almost immediately. “Your early retirement was a great loss to the entire industry, Mr. Dean. We are deeply honored by your decision to join us.” “Our company headquarters are located overseas. In two days, Ms. Jocelyn herself will fly back to pick you and your son up.”

When I pushed open the mansion door, Seraphina was in the midst of declaring her feelings for Blake, cheered on by a chorus of cheers and playful taunts. “Seraphina, is this watch a multi-million dollar collectible? You’re really giving it to Blake?” Seraphina giggled. “Blake is a tech guru; a luxury watch like this belongs on a wrist like his. Should I give it to my deadbeat husband, the one who just unclogs drains?” There was a decorative screen between the living room and the entrance, so they assumed I wouldn’t notice, freely indulging in their mockery. Seraphina had even considerately ordered a custom-made, diamond-accented matching watch for Blake’s son, Caleb. “Our Caleb should never, ever feel second best to anyone, even as a child.” Leo quietly hid the pretend smartwatch he’d drawn on his wrist with a ballpoint pen. He must have been so confused. Why was *he* scolded for being vain just for wanting a ten-dollar toy smartwatch, while she could cradle another child and say that kids deserved the best? The laughter inside continued. “Seraphina, your wedding to Blake is in two days! How did you tell that good-for-nothing husband about the divorce?” “Let me guess… They mimicked her voice, all dramatic and tearful: ‘Darling, I’m nothing but a burden now, a cripple. I don’t want to hold you back, you’re the most precious person in my life. Let’s get a divorce.’” “Then he’d be on his knees, tearfully swearing eternal devotion, right up until his dying breath. Ha!” They found it all so amusing that even the nanny beside me couldn’t help but snicker. But I couldn’t crack a smile. Because Seraphina had *really* said those exact words. I had believed her, moved beyond words, and swore I’d never leave her, for this life or any other. I didn’t overturn Seraphina’s table right then. The owner of the plumbing service had been good to me; I couldn’t cause trouble for innocent people while on the job. After finishing the agreed-upon drain work, I took Leo and left. But the nanny haughtily stepped in my way. “My lady is so generous,” the nanny sneered, “She told me to *offer* this piece of cake to your son.” “A child from *his* background wouldn’t get to taste something like this in a lifetime. Go on, thank my lady and her little master!” The cake was a mess, cream smeared, with obvious bite marks from someone else. Seraphina actually wanted my son to eat someone else’s leftovers and then expected us to be grateful. I ignored the nanny and walked straight out of the mansion with Leo. “Dad, am I really so annoying? Even Mom doesn’t like me.” Leo’s voice was barely a whisper. It felt like a blunt knife had just plunged into my chest. I pulled him into my arms. “Nonsense, Leo! You are the most wonderful boy in the world. One person’s opinion doesn’t define who you are. It doesn’t make it true.” His voice was thick with tears. “But I love Mom so much. I want Mom to love me too.” I held Leo tightly, the last vestiges of love for Seraphina vanishing from my heart. Seraphina arrived home a step later than us. She sat panting in her wheelchair, clutching two cheap, artificially colored juice boxes. “Leo, Dad, you must be exhausted from work. I specifically went out to buy these for you. Leo, you’ve always wanted something sweet, haven’t you?” Seeing my sullen face, she put on a pouty, girlish charm. “Darling, I know you worry about me going out alone, but I just wanted to do something for our family too.” She gave gourmet cake to *another* woman’s son, but my son had to rely on her charity just to get a sugary juice box. “Ms. Seraphina,” I cut her off directly, “Don’t you think these words are incredibly fake?”

“You know?” Her face instantly darkened, and there was even a hint of accusation in her tone. I didn’t know what I had done to deserve this. I had sacrificed my future, my dignity, and my parents’ life savings for her. Leo was six years old and still wearing worn-out clothes others had discarded, only to be called sloppy and dirty by his own mother. I couldn’t live this life anymore. I pulled out the divorce papers she had given me earlier and signed my name. “Ms. Seraphina, let’s get a divorce.” I quickly packed our meager belongings and strode out with Leo in my arms. Seraphina stood frozen for a moment, then scurried after us in her wheelchair. There was panic in her eyes. “Dean, get back here! You’re just a plumber. Where else are you going to find a woman like me, with my connections, my status, if you leave?” “Leo has always wanted to go to First Academy, hasn’t he? You’ve spoiled him rotten. His grades are awful, and he’s so vain, so undisciplined, always sloppy and dirty. A child like that, without a mother with my reputation and influence, would never get into First Academy.” I covered Leo’s ears and got into the taxi waiting by the curb. The taxi’s exhaust fumes seemed to choke Seraphina, making her even more agitated. “Dean, there’s a limit to how childish you can be. I’m giving you a way out. Don’t push it, or that chance will be gone.” She thought I could never leave her, that I was just playing games out of anger. But she didn’t know that I simply didn’t love her anymore. Leo stretched out a small hand and wiped away a tear from my eye. “Leo will be good, Dad. I’ll study hard, and I’ll wash myself clean. Please, Mom and Dad, don’t argue.” My son thought if he just tried a little harder, his mother would love him again. He didn’t know that some hearts just can’t be warmed. Leo and I checked into a small, unassuming motel. Seraphina’s wedding was just days away, so I assumed she wouldn’t have time to bother us. But to my surprise, she showed up the very next day. I thought she had come to humiliate me again, but she said she wanted to take me to donate blood for Blake’s son, Caleb. I tried to kick her out, but a line of burly bodyguards appeared before me. “You’ve sold blood for me before, haven’t you? To pay for my treatments? So you know the drill. Your and Leo’s blood types match Caleb’s. He’s just a kid, it won’t be much. You won’t even feel it.” “If Caleb makes it, I’ll let you stay by my side. Even after I marry Blake, I’ll make time to visit you at your dingy apartment.” She ignored Leo’s cries and forcibly dragged us into her car. For Leo’s safety, I had no choice but to go with them. There are strict limits on how much blood a person can donate. But Seraphina, wanting to reassure Blake, had them hold me down and forcibly drew three massive tubes of blood. I passed out from blood loss. When I opened my eyes, Leo wasn’t there. I asked the nurses and learned that Leo was rushed to the ICU. He had been bouncing around, full of life, just a short while ago. How could he suddenly be in such a critical state? I confronted Seraphina, but she was annoyed. “It’s all your fault for spoiling him! A six-year-old child can’t possibly be anemic. He barely had any blood drawn and started faking it? Such a young kid, and already so manipulative.” “He’s bad at studying and vain, isn’t he? He just can’t stand me being good to Caleb. He probably thinks if Caleb dies, he’ll get my money? Dream on.” She was convinced Leo was faking, and no matter how the doctors explained, she refused to believe them. All she cared about, all she could see, was Blake’s son. My Leo was smart and sensible. How could he possibly be faking?

Leo barely ate any meat, always trying to save the best for her, for his mom. Of course he was anemic, but Seraphina was utterly blind to it. I anxiously waited outside his room. Thankfully, after the doctors’ best efforts, Leo was finally resuscitated. Just as I sighed in relief, Seraphina had people snatch Leo from my arms and forcibly draw another tube of blood. “Caleb has a congenital heart condition; we need to ensure a sufficient blood supply.” “Blake is a highly talented individual; his energy needs to be focused on important matters. I can’t let this triviality distract him.” Her obsession with Caleb was so complete, she was utterly blind to Leo’s lips growing even paler, practically translucent. A doctor couldn’t help but step forward to object. “Ms. Seraphina, Caleb doesn’t need this much blood. If you draw any more, Leo truly won’t make it.” Seraphina didn’t care about Leo’s life or death. Only when she heard that Caleb’s reserve blood supply was sufficient did she let Leo go. But I held Leo’s small, limp body, and no matter how I called out, he didn’t respond. He was still breathing, but he no longer had the strength to answer me. All the doctors in the hospital had been reassigned by Seraphina to stand guard outside Caleb’s room. I held Leo and tried to plead with Seraphina. But she just thought I was being petty, jealous. She had us thrown out. “I told you, even after I marry Blake, I’ll still come back to see you two. Don’t be so unreasonable.” Watching Leo’s breathing grow weaker and weaker, I was utterly despairing. I wanted to grab a scalpel and drag Seraphina and that cheater down with me. Thankfully, at the last moment, Jocelyn arrived. She was the CEO of the new company I was about to join. Jocelyn brought the best medical team, and they immediately began to resuscitate Leo. Leo was brought back, but his heart had completely turned cold towards Seraphina. “Dad, I never want to see Mom again.” “Okay.” Jocelyn helped me with the aftermath, and Leo and I took a late-night flight out of the country. Just before boarding, I received a message from Seraphina. “Caleb’s recovery was a success. Tell Leo to stop pretending to be sick. After my wedding today, I’ll come back to see you and Leo. I’ve prepared the big cake Leo always wanted, to appease his vanity.” … Seraphina kept staring at her phone screen before the wedding, but no reply came. Dean was just a useless plumber. Marrying her was the peak of his pathetic life. He loved her so much, there was no way he’d truly divorce her. Besides, for Leo to get into First Academy, he’d need a mother with influence. They were probably clinging to her like desperate parasites. Otherwise, why would Dean have drugged her back then, practically forcing her hand? Seraphina kept trying to convince herself, but deep down, a strange panic began to stir. “Ms. Seraphina, we found that the one who drugged you back then wasn’t Mr. Dean at all. It was Blake.” Her assistant hurried over, handing Seraphina a stack of documents. Seraphina shot to her feet, but her head spun. Before she could even react, a notification came from the hospital. “Patient Leo Dean, resuscitation failed. He has passed away.” She didn’t believe it. She frantically flipped open the kindergarten’s communication app/portal she had never bothered to check, only to find no trace of Leo.

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My wife claimed she wanted the purest, most spiritual love, making a pact that we wouldn’t be intimate after marriage. On our wedding night, she accidentally drank some strong liquor. I tried to help her, but she shoved me away. “Jasper Night, you actually drugged me!” “I didn’t!” I stammered, panicked. “I’ll take you to the hospital!” Just then, her “good friend” Drew showed up. She threw herself into his arms and kissed him. My face flushed with fury. “You said you wanted a spiritual love! How can you do this with someone else…?” She didn’t listen. She kicked me away. “I’ll break your heart tonight! If you ever try to drug me again, I’ll do it with Drew every single time!” Everyone was waiting to watch my humiliation. I felt dizzy with rage, but then I just sneered, “Fine.” Because three years ago, when she rescued me after I lost my memory, she said, “Repayment? Then help me fulfill 99 wishes!” Now, only four wishes remained, and I would owe her nothing. After regaining my memory, I should have gone back to inherit my family fortune a long time ago.

Serena Thorne and Drew Miller, locked in an embrace, stumbled into the wedding suite bedroom. Drew’s feigned protests were quickly drowned out by Serena’s moans. The door banged, rattling like gunshots piercing my heart. Most of the guests were Serena’s friends, whispering and casting scornful, disdainful glances my way, making me feel like a clown. I slammed my fist against the wall. Blood dripped down the tiles. Ten minutes stretched like an eternity. The sounds from the bedroom gradually died down. The door opened. Serena was draped over Drew, so close you’d think they were the married couple. Drew feigned innocence. “Jasper, I promised Serena. I couldn’t refuse her.” Serena brushed him off, “Why bother explaining anything to him!” “Ouch, Jasper Night, go buy me some medicine! I’m hurt…” Her drinking buddies whistled and teased, “Serena, you’re a beast!” “Drew, you’re not bad yourself!” Serena’s face was flushed as she playfully cursed, “Get lost, don’t stir things up.” I stared at her, my voice hoarse. “Is this one of your wishes?” Serena snapped impatiently, “Yes, yes, yes! Now go!” “Serena, focus,” Drew bit her playfully, as if punishing her. I nodded and left, my heart twisting in agony, yet I forced a smile. Soon, I wouldn’t have to endure these humiliations anymore. Three years ago, I fell into the sea and lost my memory. Serena found me. She had just been rejected by Drew and was completely distraught. When she heard I wanted to repay her, she casually said, “Then help me fulfill 99 wishes.” I agreed. Her very first wish was for me to be her boyfriend. We grew close quickly, and we did have some sweet, enviable times. At first, I didn’t have a job, and she spent money to treat my illness and help me recover. When my amnesia headaches flared up, she stayed awake all night, holding and comforting me. For three years, she only used one of the 99 wishes. Until six months ago, when Drew returned. She suddenly changed completely, going so far as to use up most of her wishes just to protect Drew, who repeatedly humiliated me. Buying lubricant was the 96th wish. Only three left, and I’d be free. I took a deep breath and knocked on the bedroom door. She opened it, clutching her lower back, and immediately dragged me inside. “Drew’s tired, and my back hurts too. You apply it for me!” The chaotic stench made me hold my breath. I gritted my teeth, turned, and walked away. Drew said innocently, “Jasper, don’t blame Serena. I’m the one who exhausted her.” I gazed at him coldly, but he mistook my silence for fear and pushed his luck. “Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m just helping Serena. I don’t want to ruin your relationship. If you’re worried, you can stay and supervise me.” Drew knelt before me, playing the subservient role, but I couldn’t be bothered to watch his act. I turned to leave. But Serena exploded. “Jasper Night, didn’t you say you’d do anything for me? I order you to apply this ointment! Otherwise, we’re getting a divorce tomorrow!” I burst out laughing. “Then divorce it is!” “Or maybe let him do it, I really don’t want to affect your relationship. He only drugged you because he loves you too much…” Serena angrily interrupted, “No! I said no sex after marriage, and that’s final. He shouldn’t have any impure thoughts. Let’s continue!” My eyes burned with fury. I clenched my jaw tight to keep from throwing up. Just as I was about to leave, Serena grabbed me. “Ow!”

I had gripped my fist so hard earlier that the wound on my hand had reopened, and I hadn’t even noticed. Serena ignored my bleeding hand. In a swift motion, she chained me to the security window with a dog collar and shackles. “I’m just using Drew as an antidote. Bear with it. Once the medicine wears off, I’ll make him leave immediately.” I struggled violently, blood staining the iron chains, but it was useless. I could only close my eyes, trying to ignore it all. I’d been forced to drink heavily at the wedding banquet. The drunkenness washed over me, and I gradually lost consciousness. It wasn’t until the sunlight hit my face that I woke up. The sickening stench made me retch, “Ugh!” Serena woke up, annoyed. “Jasper Night, are you disgusted with me?” I didn’t argue, but she went on, “No, that’s not it. Are you jealous?” She smiled enchantingly, waving a few checks. “Fill in the numbers yourself. Don’t be jealous. You’ll always be my husband.” Every time Drew humiliated me, Serena would compensate me with a check and use up one of her wishes. Two more wishes, and everything would be over. I carefully put away the checks, but Serena scoffed, “Always throwing checks around. Where else would you find a wife as good as me!” She rubbed her back as she unlocked me, yawning widely. “I’m so tired. You tell my parents the honeymoon is postponed.” I nodded and left. Postponing the honeymoon also counted as a wish. The idea of bringing relatives on our honeymoon was Mr. and Mrs. Thorne’s bizarre idea. I had objected, but they had scolded me for being inconsiderate. Now, their whole family of relatives was waiting at the airport early in the morning. As soon as I arrived, Mrs. Thorne started scolding me. “So late! Did you, you freeloading pretty boy, wear Serena out so she couldn’t get up?” Mr. Thorne frowned. “Why are you alone? Where’s Serena?” Before I could even speak, Mrs. Thorne pounced. “Wait! You haven’t even changed your clothes, and you smell foul! Don’t tell me you betrayed Serena on your wedding night and went out to fool around?!” “A pretty boy like you just can’t be trusted. Cheating right after marriage! I’m going to make Serena divorce you, and the honeymoon is off!” Ha, I had also fantasized about a beautiful honeymoon, but Serena had stabbed my sweet dreams to pieces, one by one. The Thorne relatives shoved and accused me, but security guards quickly intervened. I spoke numbly, “The honeymoon is indeed off, but it’s Serena who cheated.” The Thorne relatives started chattering. “Serena grew up right before our eyes, she’s not that kind of person!” “But you, looking so proper, you just don’t want to take us on a honeymoon, do you? A kept man really is useless!” I sneered, “She was going at it with Drew on our wedding night, too exhausted to get up. It has nothing to do with me.” Mr. and Mrs. Thorne didn’t believe me and video-called Serena. As soon as Mrs. Thorne connected, she saw Serena and the man beside her. She quickly switched to voice call, terrified. “Serena, the honeymoon is off?” Serena’s voice was hoarse. “Mmm…” The Thorne relatives looked displeased. “Are you messing with us?” Mrs. Thorne hurriedly asked, “What about the relatives…” “Just give them money. I’m tired. Don’t bother me, I need to rest!” I scoffed and left, leaving them stranded at the airport. Only one wish remained. Then I could be completely free of Serena Thorne. I no longer hesitated and sent a message: **[Come pick me up immediately]**. I went back to get my luggage, and once again, I walked in on Serena and Drew going at it, full throttle.

“Oh, hubby’s back? My urges are acting up again, so I had no choice but to let Drew help me.” I coldly pulled out my phone and started recording. “Jasper Night, what are you doing?” “Collecting evidence of your infidelity. We’re getting a divorce.” “Nonsense! How dare you mention divorce?” She scoffed. “Drew, snatch his phone!” Drew lunged at me, trying to grab it, secretly aiming a heavy blow. But I had been trained since childhood. I kicked him flying, and he landed on the floor, groaning in pain. “I’m sorry, Serena. I’m useless, I couldn’t beat him. I shouldn’t have been your antidote, and I definitely shouldn’t have taken your virginity, making Jasper jealous.” Serena rushed at me and slapped me twice. “You’ve really lost it, Jasper Night! How dare you lay a hand on Drew? Bodyguards, grab him!” The bodyguards stormed in and pinned me to the floor. “Apologize to Drew now, or I’ll break your legs!” There was no way I would ever kneel and bow to a scumbag like Drew! But Serena had the bodyguards hold me down, forcing my head down, slamming it against the floor, again and again, a hundred times over. My forehead was a bloody mess. I used the searing pain to stay clear-headed and questioned her. “Serena Thorne, is *this* also one of your wishes?” She looked like she’d heard something hilarious. “A wish? Haha, yes, it is! My wish is for you to be Drew’s dog, why don’t you bark for him?” Looking at her expression, it was clear she didn’t give a damn about the 99 wishes. But I had taken them seriously. Her last wish had been fulfilled. I would show no more mercy. Drew watched me with venomous eyes. “Serena, don’t think I’m overthinking, but Jasper seems so defiant. Does he have someone new behind your back?” “Didn’t you say the company’s cash flow was having problems? Could it be Jasper…” Serena looked as if a light bulb had gone off in her head. “That’s right! Tell me, did you take my money to please some wild woman?!” “I didn’t!” “We’ve found the evidence! He wanted to run away with some wild woman and steal the company’s money!” Drew pulled out my outgoing message on his phone and showed it to Serena. Serena’s eyes were filled with malice. She ground her heel on my face and snarled, “You dare betray me and try to steal my money?” “I didn’t! It was him!” Though I was completely disillusioned with Serena, I couldn’t tolerate Drew slandering me. Besides, I had found out the cash flow problems were Drew’s doing. “You won’t admit to your wrongdoings, and you dare to frame Drew? Break his legs! Keep hitting him until he submits and admits his mistake!” The bodyguards punched and kicked me. I tried to resist, but I was outnumbered. Soon, there wasn’t a single unbruised spot on my body. Both my legs ached excruciatingly, so much so that I couldn’t scream. I wanted to ask Serena why she was so heartless, but I just spat out a mouthful of blood. She, however, pulled my hair to question me. “Tell me, why are you asking for a divorce? Why did you betray me? Haven’t I been good enough to you?” Why divorce? Ha, didn’t she know? Was she still trying to deceive herself? Only now did I see her true colors. I didn’t want to deal with her anymore. I just gave a miserable smile. “You won’t tell me? All I asked for was a sexless marriage, and you’re so impatient you had to find another woman? I’ll let you find as many as you want!” She threw me down like trash. “Drag Jasper Night to the baboon enclosure! Let the male baboons in heat take good care of him!” I struggled desperately, dragging long red streaks across the floor, but I was still locked into the baboon enclosure. These particular baboons loved to vent their desires on weaker animals. They splashed me with female baboon hormones. The male baboons, drawn by the scent, surrounded me. My clothes were torn to shreds… Just as the baboons were about to assault me, a gunshot rang out. Helicopters roared overhead, and footsteps echoed in perfect unison. A team of people descended like divine soldiers. Bang, bang, bang – a few shots, and several male baboons fell on top of me, splattering me with their foul-smelling blood. Another team of heavily armed mercenaries surrounded the baboon enclosure. The man in the lead, wearing a military-green trench coat, ran towards me. “Young Master!” He was the one I had messaged, a subordinate with whom I shared a life-or-death bond, my sparring partner since childhood, Liam Stone. While I was gone, he had managed the mercenary group on my behalf. Liam Stone’s eyes were bloodshot. He roared, “What are you staring at? Get these animals off him!” The others obeyed, lifting the dead baboons from my body. He immediately took off his trench coat and wrapped it around my horrific wounds.

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My best friend’s aunt and I had been secretly in love for three years. I planned to finally go public with our relationship on our third anniversary. But the day before, I went with my best friend to her company to congratulate her on a successful project wrap-up. Instead, I found my beloved embracing her male secretary. My best friend exclaimed, “Looks like my Aunt Vivian is finally getting married!” My nails dug into my palms, and I pretended to be casual. “Yeah, they really… look great together!” When Sam Sterling and I arrived at Vivian Sterling’s CEO office, she was just standing up. She swapped her heels for flats, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and glanced down, tapping something on her phone. My phone screen instantly lit up. I quickly checked it, hiding it from Sam’s view. It was a SnapChat message from her: “Just finished up.” Seeing the dark circles under her eyes, my heart ached. New CEO, facing a company financial crisis – the burden on her shoulders was immense. I was glad she finally had a moment to herself. I hadn’t wanted to disturb her when she was busy. I was about to step forward when Sam Sterling yanked me behind a large decorative plant, motioning for me to keep quiet. Executive Assistant Adam Cole knocked and entered, walking smoothly towards Vivian Sterling. Dressed in a sharp suit, leather shoes, he was clearly educated and capable. He adjusted his tie, revealing long, slender fingers. Sam raised an eyebrow. “Holy cow, Leo, am I seeing this right?” “That gorgeous guy, is he really having a secret office romance with my aunt?” They definitely weren’t. Because the one dating your aunt was me. Tomorrow would mark three years since Vivian Sterling and I started dating. Even though it was a secret affair that no one knew about, I deeply believed she loved me. Our feelings were indestructible. I had no doubt about it. Yet, the next second, Adam Cole leaned in and whispered something into Vivian Sterling’s ear. Vivian Sterling playfully punched him, feigning annoyance, but he laughed heartily and wrapped an arm around her slender waist. Pulling her fully into his embrace. A sudden chill snaked through my heart. But Sam, oblivious, excitedly pulled me along, rushing into the office. “Aunt Vivian! I caught you two red-handed with your office romance! Time for some hush money!” Vivian Sterling’s gaze swept over our faces, and her expression instantly turned cold. “Who gave you permission to just barge in and talk out of turn?” Adam Cole quickly released her, his cheeks flushing. But Vivian Sterling’s hand, which had been resting on his arm, tightened its grip. “Why are you being so fierce? Leo said his mom made some comforting broth, and he brought some especially for you.” Vivian Sterling’s eyes landed on my face, and I gave a slight nod. But that broth wasn’t made by my mother. I’d researched old recipes, staying up all night to cook it myself with love. I’d even asked someone to find premium ingredients, worried Vivian Sterling might overwork herself. Of course, she knew all this. Using secret codes to express our love in front of others was our unspoken little flirtation. Adam Cole raised an eyebrow. “Since Ms. Sterling has someone bringing her dinner, I guess I’ll enjoy those delicious spicy chicken wings all by myself.” I loved spicy food, couldn’t live without it. But Vivian Sterling had an irregular diet in her early years and a sensitive stomach. After I found out, I never stepped foot in a spicy restaurant again. Vivian Sterling spoke coolly, “No need. Take them back.” Sam pouted. “Hmph, I was hoping to snag some.” “But seriously, you two really kept it under wraps.” Adam Cole glanced timidly at Vivian Sterling, then spoke. “Not really, it’s only been… two months.” Two months. I’d been completely in the dark… Sam listened, clicking his tongue in amazement. “My aunt has finally blossomed. And she moved fast.” Adam Cole shook his head, biting his lip with a handsome smile. “Ms. Sterling is very loyal. After I left three years ago, she didn’t date anyone. She even sent me good morning and good night messages every day.” Three years ago, it was her, flushed from too much wine, who shyly asked me, “Can we be together?” For three years, I stayed up late with her, working overtime. On her sleepless nights, I sang lullabies until dawn. For three years, she took me all over the country. Under the dazzling fireworks at amusement parks, she called me her only prince. I gave her all my love, but her heart held another person. Not long ago, on my birthday, I closed my eyes, making a heartfelt wish. When I opened them, she was looking down, replying to messages. My wish was for a future with Vivian Sterling. Was she, perhaps, wishing for an early reunion with her beloved? Lost in thought, Sam suddenly grabbed my arm excitedly. “Leo, real couples are the best! It’s my favorite kind of second-chance romance!” My ears roared. The world faded, leaving only my own voice, trying to sound calm but trembling uncontrollably. “Yeah, they do look well-matched.” A talented woman and a capable man, a perfectly matched couple – far more suitable than Vivian and I ever appeared. They chatted animatedly, with Vivian Sterling occasionally interjecting. “Don’t ask so many questions, he’s shy, don’t tease him.” “He knows all these things, Adam and I have no secrets.” “Did my nephew bother you? Do you want to go rest for a bit?” I ignored these words until Sam finally pulled me away. Adam Cole’s voice drifted from behind us. “I told you not to make our relationship public out there!” “If I hadn’t pushed a little, who knows how long you would’ve made me wait.” So, she wasn’t just capable of a secret relationship. She just… didn’t love me.

The next day was the annual family gathering. Vivian Sterling and I were supposed to reveal our relationship to everyone today. After we started dating, it was her idea to keep it from family. “Our situation is a bit unique. If my sister found out I tricked a boy nearly her son’s age into being my boyfriend, she’d never approve.” I believed her, so I willingly waited for myself to get older before going public with those we both knew. Half a month ago, I hugged her, playfully asking, “My career is stable now, and you’re a CEO. Can we go public on our three-year anniversary?” She agreed without a second thought. Then… the company projects suddenly piled up. Forget meeting for dinner; I’d message her two days ago, and she’d only remember to reply today. I spent a sleepless night. The next day, with dark circles under my eyes, I stared at the surprise gifts I’d prepared for her in my closet. All sorts of little things she loved. I wanted to offer myself as a gift to her. But now, it seemed, there was no need. I slammed the closet door shut. My phone rang loudly. It was Vivian Sterling. The moment I answered, she directly asked, “The Sterling family dinner is tonight. Are you coming?” I clutched my phone, letting out a soft laugh as I countered, “Do you want me to?” Vivian Sterling was silent for a moment on the other end, then sighed. “Leo, it’s just a family gathering, after all.” “Since you’re Sam’s friend, you’re practically a junior in the family. Why don’t you just come and join us?” Three years of devotion, only to be called a “junior.” I wasn’t an idiot. She just wanted to use the gathering as an excuse to lay it all out for me. That Vivian Sterling and I could only be elder and junior. Or, perhaps, we had never truly crossed that boundary. I suddenly understood the depth of her intention in never making our relationship public. An unknown relationship could be ended so easily. Just like now, without even a formal breakup. How pathetic, truly pathetic. I curled my lips. “Sure, I’ll be there.” Vivian Sterling unhappily said, “I’ll be bringing Adam Cole with me…” “Don’t worry, I won’t disturb you two.” Vivian Sterling hung up quickly, as if shedding a huge burden. I didn’t understand why she was so loving yesterday, but today she was avoiding me like the plague. I changed into my sharpest suit and left the house. The Sterling family dinner was held at the city’s most exclusive hotel, with many business elites invited. I didn’t know any of them. Vivian Sterling had once told me I didn’t need to meet these people. But towards Adam Cole, they were utterly respectful, calling him “the CEO’s right-hand man” and fearing even the slightest disrespect. The Sterling elders all sighed, saying that Vivian Sterling had searched far and wide, only to return to Adam Cole’s side after all. Apparently, they had been the ‘it couple’ in high school. It was just that Vivian Sterling had no standing in the family back then, and Adam Cole believed they had no future, so he left the city. It wasn’t until Adam Cole returned and became Vivian Sterling’s right-hand man that their old flame rekindled at work. Amidst everyone’s flattery, Adam Cole raised his glass to acknowledge them. Vivian Sterling walked directly to him, clinked glasses, and drank it all down. The cheers in the room nearly blew off the roof. I just watched silently. In this setting, no one would notice me. I suddenly felt I had come to humiliate myself. Vivian Sterling knew my personality: gentle, obedient, always thinking of others, never one to cause a scene or embarrass her in public. Of course, I wouldn’t. Even if I rushed onto the stage and told everyone I’d had a three-year secret affair with Vivian Sterling, only I would be the one to look foolish. But since I was here, it would be a shame not to drink my fill of the fine wine at the banquet. Eventually, Sam helped me, stumbling and drunk, to the entrance, telling me to stay put while he went to get the car. As soon as he left, I staggered off in the opposite direction. On this holiday night, couples on the streets embraced, whispering sweet nothings. I just wanted to find a corner, cry my heart out, and then sleep for days. Suddenly, the aroma of grilled meat wafted over. Under the dim yellow lights, the BBQ joint was bustling. This place was famous for its spice, and I hadn’t been here in three whole years. As if possessed, I walked inside.

I slowly walked to the front desk, hoping to find a seat. “Sorry, sir, it’s a holiday today. There are no tables left for a single person. Perhaps you could come back another day?” I looked back. Everyone in the restaurant was seated in pairs. I, alone, felt completely out of place. My stomach growled at an inconvenient moment. I’d barely eaten anything since yesterday and was starving. My girlfriend, who was supposed to be my future wife, had suddenly become someone else’s, and now I couldn’t even find a place to eat. Just adding insult to injury. Just then, a server led a tall, beautiful woman in a long dress into the restaurant. She was also alone but had made a reservation beforehand and was now about to start eating. Normally, I probably would have given up and left to find somewhere else. But today, driven by alcohol, I found a strange boldness rising within me. I walked up to her. “Hello!” She didn’t stop her motion of picking up meat. “No QR scans, no likes, and no SnapChat adds.” I realized she’d misunderstood and quickly lowered my head, speaking earnestly. “Hello, excuse me, could I share your table? All the nearby places are full, and this is my last chance.” “I know this is presumptuous, so I’ll pay for this meal. Would that be okay?” The woman eyed me suspiciously. It was then that I truly saw her face. Exquisitely beautiful. It was hard to imagine such radiant openness and reserved composure coexisting on one face. Both her appearance and temperament were top-tier. She gave a slight nod. I was overjoyed and prepared to sit down, but I clumsily knocked over a plate of thinly sliced beef, which landed squarely on her high-heeled shoe. I frantically bent down to pick it up, and she happened to look up. Our foreheads collided with a harsh thud. “Ouch!” Tears welled up in my eyes, but I still instinctively reached out to rub her forehead. She silently pushed my hand away. “You’re paying for this meal, and the shoe cleaning fee will be separate.” I nodded furiously. “No problem, no problem!” When I finally sat down, wrapping a few slices of grilled beef in lettuce and stuffing a large bite into my mouth, I was so happy I almost cried. Damn Vivian Sterling, that manipulative fraud. She stole three years of my youth and sincerity. I used to read about those instant-gratification romance stories in novels. I never thought one day it would happen to me. I picked up another piece of meat, dipped it in sauce, and after swallowing it, found it tasted bitter and salty. I realized, without knowing it, my face was streaked with tears. The beautiful woman silently pushed a tissue box toward me. I pulled out tissues, thanked her, cried, and couldn’t stop stuffing meat into my mouth. After eating and drinking my fill, the alcohol completely took over. I held a piece of meat, trying several times, but couldn’t successfully drop it into my dipping sauce bowl. I looked up at the beautiful woman, but she had multiplied into several, swaying before my eyes. My phone rang. I stared at the dozen blinking red and green buttons on the screen, unsure which to press. A slender hand reached out, swiped across the screen, and answered the call directly. “Leo! Where the hell did you run off to, you rascal!” I weakly mumbled, “Sam, hey—” “Give me your location!” I was confused. “Sam, hehe.” Sam was frantic. “Hehe what, where are you, seriously!” The beautiful woman sighed and gave the address. “At Star BBQ.” Sam Sterling burst in and immediately grabbed my ear, looking utterly disappointed. Vivian Sterling was also there, but she merely stood to the side, arms crossed, her expression cold. Adam Cole’s gaze, however, kept drifting towards the beautiful woman.

The next day, Sam asked me, “Why were you having dinner with Scarlett Hayes yesterday?” Scarlett Hayes? I asked him, “You know that beautiful woman from yesterday?” “Are you kidding? In the entire city, who doesn’t know the Hayes Corporation heiress? Even the bottled water you’re drinking is her family’s business.” Then he added mysteriously, “I heard Adam Cole’s high school crush was actually Ms. Hayes.” I remembered now. I’d seen that name in the company’s financial reports before. Scarlett Hayes’s project report took up an entire page, leaving Vivian Sterling an inconspicuous little corner. How had Vivian Sterling described her back then? Just a rich kid relying on her family, wouldn’t amount to much. At the time, I believed her, trusted every word she said. But now, I had a huge question mark hanging over everything Vivian Sterling had ever told me. The innate grace and upbringing Scarlett Hayes possessed were undeniable. Speaking of which, I suddenly remembered I was supposed to treat her to dinner. And I’d accidentally skipped out on the bill. I made myself a cup of honey water to sober up, and my phone rang. It was Vivian Sterling. “You were so drunk yesterday, are you okay? I’ve already called in sick for you at work today.” Her tone was familiar and natural, just as caring as before. I couldn’t help but remember the past, how strictly Vivian Sterling managed my drinking. “You can only get drunk when I’m by your side.” Unfortunately, all those promises were long null and void for me. Now, that sentiment belonged only to Vivian Sterling’s official boyfriend. I scoffed. “Ms. Sterling is so busy, yet she spares time to care for an ex-boyfriend. I’m truly flattered.” Vivian Sterling choked on her words, then after a moment of silence, said, “It’s just concern from an elder. I don’t want to see you fall into bad habits.” The Vivian Sterling of my memories remembered all my hobbies, bought me the latest action figures without ever finding me childish, dropped everything to be with me when I was sick, and every six months, took me to explore a new city, taking countless photos. Three years. I thought we loved each other deeply enough. She played the role of a girlfriend too perfectly, which made it impossible for me to accept her broken character now. But she had repeatedly stressed that we were merely elder and junior. If I continued to cling to her, I would lose all respect for myself. I laughed and replied, “No need. You no longer have the right to care about me!” Hung up, deleted, blocked—all in one swift motion. My cloud drive held nearly ten gigabytes of photos, documenting the sweet moments Vivian Sterling and I shared over three years. Even the most precious memories, once love became a thing of the past, would turn into torture.

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Rushing to get my mom’s asthma medication, my husband’s secretary, Chloe, insisted I take her to the salon first. I explained the emergency and refused. Before I could even start the car, Damian yanked me out. “You know Chloe just started, she’s clueless about the local roads. What if she misses her appointment at the salon?” I stared at him, utterly dumbfounded. “A salon appointment can be rescheduled, but if someone’s life is on the line, you can’t bring them back. Are you trying to kill my mom?” Damian quickly tried to placate me. “Of course not! I’ll take you there myself, right now.” But the car drove further and further into desolate territory until it stopped on a gravel road. Damian kicked me out of the car. He made Chloe ride on my back, then grabbed a whip and urged me forward. “Didn’t you say if someone’s life is on the line, you can’t bring them back?” “Hurry up and crawl, or your mom is going to die!” My knees sank into the sharp gravel, a searing pain making me almost cry out. Chloe’s hands pressed into my shoulders, her grip tightening with every second. She even chuckled, saying, “Slow down a bit, I’m still riding here, you know.” I bit down hard, trying to inch forward, but as soon as my knees lifted off the ground, the stones beneath them scraped painfully again. All the strength drained from my body, leaving me sprawled on the spot. Suddenly, Damian raised the whip and lashed it across my leg. A burning, fiery pain shot up my thigh. The black skirt instantly ripped, revealing a swollen red welp. I trembled uncontrollably. “What are you dragging your feet for? Isn’t your mom about to die?” He stood over me, whip in hand, looking down with contempt. “You cried and begged me to marry you, swearing to repay my kindness. Now you won’t even take Chloe to the salon. What good are you to me?” The humiliation and terror finally broke through, tears streaming down my cheeks. I looked up, my vision blurred by tears. “I really need to take my mom’s medication… Damian, please, just let me go, okay?” “I promise, as soon as I deliver the medicine to my mom, I’ll take Chloe to the salon. Please?” Chloe leaned down, wiping away my tears with her fingertips. “Oh, don’t tell me you’re crying again! Damian, how are we supposed to have fun with all this sniffling? What a buzzkill!” Her fingertips were icy cold, and a shiver ran through me as they brushed my cheek. Then, she suddenly leaned in and kissed me on the lips. I froze, wanting to recoil as if bitten by a viper, but she just giggled. “Why are you so upset? Damian sacrificed so much for you, even his own self-respect. What’s wrong with playing a little game with us? ” “This is just normal fun, relax, you’ll find the pleasure in it soon enough.” Damian’s lips curved into a cold sneer when he heard that, and he raised the whip again. “Hear that? Chloe’s more reasonable than you.” “If you don’t start moving, I can’t guarantee your mom will get her medicine.” At his words, my tears flowed even harder. I knew Damian was a man of his word. But the searing pain in my knees and the crushing weight on my back left me without the strength to crawl even an inch forward. I could only lie there, letting my tears fall onto the gravel road, silently screaming inside: Mom, just wait for me, please just wait a little longer…

Chloe’s fingers idly played with the stray hairs around my ear, her nail grazing my sweat-soaked skin. “Skylar, I almost forgot to ask, dressed so nicely today, are you *really* just going to deliver medicine?” Before I could protest, she pressed harder on my shoulder, her voice hissing in my ear like a snake’s tongue. “Damian thinks it’s strange too. You’re not using the medicine as an excuse to meet someone else, are you?” “I’m not!” I tried to lift my head to deny it, but she held me down tightly. My mouth hit the gravel, and I tasted blood. Damian’s whip cracked again, but this time it landed on the empty ground beside me. Small stones flew up, leaving tiny cuts on my arm, making me flinch in terror. “Chloe’s right,” his voice was as cold as ice. “If you have nothing to hide, why are you so dressed up?” “Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson. You need to remember whose wife you are.” With that, he moved closer. Seeing this, Chloe released me and stood up, smiling. “Don’t be scared, Skylar. This is just a game Damian and I play all the time. It’s just a small punishment.” “Since you can’t carry me, I won’t make it hard for you.” “See that small dirt mound up ahead? Just crawl up there.” “If we’re satisfied, we’ll let you go deliver the medicine to your mom, okay?” A faint spark of hope ignited in my heart, but before I could move, Chloe walked over to the car and pulled out a black cloth bag. She squatted beside me and opened it. What was inside made my pupils shrink: several strange, unsettling-looking toys with a cold glint that made my skin crawl. “What are these…?” My voice trembled. I tried to pull back, but Damian stepped forward and pressed his foot down on my ankle. His shoe heel dug into my flesh, and tears instantly welled up in my eyes from the pain. “For your entertainment.” Damian squatted down, pinching my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Since it’s a game, we might as well make it fun.” Chloe leaned in too, her fingertip tracing the whip marks on my thigh. I flinched from the pain. “Be a good girl, Skylar, just relax. It’ll be over soon.” She said, then, ignoring my desperate headshakes and struggles, she forced the device into my body. A sharp, alien sensation coursed through me. I trembled as if struck by electricity, shame and agony overwhelming me like a tidal wave. I wanted to scream, but Damian covered my mouth with a handkerchief. I struggled fiercely, so he bound my wrists with a rope. Chloe held her phone, the camera focused squarely on me, the screen’s light reflecting on her face as she smiled, dazzling and cruel. “Alright, now you can crawl.” Damian removed the handkerchief from my mouth, his voice laced with mockery. The device vibrated inside me. A strange thrill mixed with bone-deep humiliation, making me feel like I was losing my mind. “Skylar, if you don’t move, we might be stuck here all day.” I bit my lip, my knees bleeding on the gravel path as I slowly, painfully inched forward. With every movement, the vibrations inside me intensified, tears mixing with sweat as they hit the ground. Chloe kept snapping photos, the shutter clicks echoing like each one was tearing away a piece of my dignity. I don’t know how long I crawled before I collapsed onto the ground, utterly spent. I was completely drenched in sweat, the device still vibrating inside me. My bruised and cut skin stuck to the scorching earth, a mix of throbbing pain and numbness. Chloe turned off her phone and laughed. “See? Even the ‘good girl’ can be tamed.” Damian finally looked satisfied. He reached down and pulled the device out of my body. I felt all my strength drain away, collapsing to the ground, gasping for breath. He stood above me, his voice devoid of warmth. “Don’t worry, Chloe already sent someone to deliver the medicine to your mom.” Chloe squatted down and patted my face. “Thank you, Skylar. You put on such a good show, we were thoroughly entertained.” “Next time, make sure to perform well too, okay?” After they finished, they turned and got into the car. The car sped off, leaving me alone on the gravelly dirt mound.

By the time the car wheels finally hit the last stretch of familiar asphalt, dawn was breaking. No GPS, my phone confiscated. I relied on blurry memories, taking countless wrong turns. Just as the gas tank neared empty, I finally spotted the familiar streetlamp outside my house. Pushing open the car door, the scabs on my knees tore open, a sharp pain shooting through me. Every step felt like walking on knives. I crept into my mother’s room. Seeing her lying peacefully in bed, the worry that had gnawed at me all day finally eased. After tucking her blankets in, I dragged my exhausted body towards our bedroom. The moment I reached the doorway, the sounds from inside froze me. It was Chloe’s soft humming, laced with laughter, and Damian’s low gasps. My heart pounded, and my fingers trembled as I pushed the door open just a crack. The sight before me made my stomach churn. Chloe sat on Damian, her fingers twisting a black leather chain. The other end was fastened around Damian’s neck. She leaned in, whispering something into his ear. Damian’s head rested against the headboard, his eyes half-closed, a look of submission I’d never seen on his face. Chloe seemed to sense my gaze. She turned, and seeing me, she didn’t even try to hide. Instead, she smiled and raised the chain in her hand. “Skylar, you’ve come at just the right time.” Damian opened his eyes, his gaze on me as cold as ice. “Why are you standing in the doorway? Come in.” My feet felt like lead, utterly unable to move. That was our bedroom, our bed, now a place for their sordid affair. Nausea rose in my throat. I covered my mouth, wanting to turn and run, but Damian’s sharp voice stopped me. “Stop! Who told you to leave?” Chloe slid off Damian, straightened her wrinkled skirt, and walked over to me. She reached out and patted my face. “Skylar, Damian wants you to stay and serve us. You can’t be disobedient, can you?” As she spoke, she handed me a silver tray holding a glass of iced water. The chill of the ice seeped through the silver to my fingertips, making me shiver. “If Damian gets thirsty later, you’ll feed him water.” I clutched the silver tray, my fingertips turning numb. Damian leaned against the headboard, looking at me with a sneer. “What? Not willing? I saved your life, and you won’t even do this much for me?” His words pierced my heart like needles. I remembered the car accident three years ago. He’d thrown himself over me, pulling me from the mangled car, only to have a falling steel plate crush his lower body. I remembered crying as I called off my engagement with Liam, saying, “I owe him my life; I have to repay it.” I remembered my father, before he died, grasping my hand and saying, “Damian is a reliable man. I trust him with the family business.” For three years, he had indeed done well, managing the family company my father left behind, tripling its size. I thought that by giving him my marriage, my submission, and our family’s resources, I had repaid him enough. But when did he become like this? Was it when he took over the family business and Chloe appeared by his side? Or was it when he started mocking me more and more often, always bringing up the ‘debt of gratitude’ to torment me with my own guilt? I looked at him now, his eyes filled with nothing but harsh judgment for me, and my heart ached as if being torn apart. I could only stand by the bed, holding the silver tray. Chloe returned to Damian’s side, picked up a feather, and gently ran it across his chest. “Damian, want to go again?” Damian’s breathing grew heavier. Chloe occasionally glanced at me, her eyes full of provocation. I don’t know how long passed, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Leaning against the wall, my head kept drooping. In a daze, a splash of icy liquid suddenly hit my face. “How could you fall asleep?” Chloe laughed. “Damian’s waiting for his water.” Damian sat up, looking at my soaked appearance, and sneered. “I saved your life, and you can’t even stay awake for a bit? Or are you thinking about someone else?” He paused. “Liam’s back, aren’t you happy?” I snapped my head up, looking at him in disbelief. “What, nothing to say?” Damian watched me, the sharpness in his eyes deepening. “Did I hit a nerve? The moment Liam came back, you just couldn’t wait to see him?” “No, that’s not it.” I finally found my voice. “I haven’t even seen him.” Damian scoffed, then abruptly swept the water glass off the nightstand, sending it crashing to the floor. “Still lying! Look at this!” Damian didn’t listen to my explanations at all. He stood up, walking towards me step by step, his tall frame casting a shadow over me. “Believe me, after marrying you, I haven’t had any contact with him.”

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I married the man I had secretly adored for seven years. For three years of our marriage, he brought different women home every night. It made me a laughingstock among our peers. Finally, I decided to let myself loose and started dating a younger man. Turns out, I stumbled upon a young scion from a prominent family, absolutely obsessed with me. He wasn’t after my money or status; he wanted *me*. He cried, begging me for a real commitment, a proper place in his life, again and again in bed. Seductive whispers and low groans echoed through the dimly lit living room, grating on my ears. The moment I pushed open the front door, I saw a torn dress in the foyer, fragments scattered. Down the hallway, women’s lingerie and a man’s dress shirt lay strewn on the floor. That light blue shirt was crumpled into a messy ball. I couldn’t be mistaken. I had personally picked it out for Julian Blackwood when we first got married. Looks like he couldn’t even wait a second, I thought, a bitter laugh in my throat. The two in the living room were still at it. There was no need for me to stand there and eavesdrop. After flipping on the living room light, I walked straight towards my own room. I’d only taken two steps when I heard a woman’s startled cry. Following the sound, my gaze met Julian’s. There wasn’t a hint of embarrassment in his eyes at being caught. I wasn’t particularly close to them, only close enough to see Julian’s bare torso, his muscles well-defined, his physique impressive. A few red scratch marks marred his chest, likely a result of their intense passion. I tore my gaze away and headed for the stairs. Just as I was about to go upstairs, Julian’s nonchalant voice drifted after me: “Why are you back so early today?” If it were before, I might have retorted, “Otherwise, how would I have caught you in the act?” But I was used to it by now. After all, I couldn’t even remember how many times I’d “caught him cheating” in our own home. After a long, busy day, I was utterly exhausted and had no desire to speak further with Julian. I simply mumbled, “Work wasn’t too heavy at the office today.” I assumed Julian wouldn’t press the issue, but to my surprise, he was completely out of character today. “Let’s go to dinner this weekend. There’s a new, upscale French bistro that just opened; I hear it’s quite good.” If my mind had been hazy with sleepiness just moments before, his words instantly snapped me awake. I couldn’t quite make out Julian’s intentions. Inviting his wife to dinner this weekend, right in front of the woman he’d just been with—the audacity of that man! A surge of dark amusement possessed me. I turned to look at Julian, meeting his slightly smiling eyes. “Alright.” Almost immediately after I spoke, I could feel the woman’s intense stare from the sofa, impossible to ignore. She had an incredibly innocent face, though the seductive glint in her eyes hadn’t quite faded. She wore an oversized, baggy top, and her exposed neck and collarbone were covered in hickeys. She looked like she’d just been thoroughly ‘taken care of.’ When our eyes met, hers held a mix of pride and triumph, along with a hint of jealousy. My acceptance of Julian’s invitation had probably ruffled her feathers. I found it rather amusing. She was clearly young; her little schemes were transparent, written all over her face. I decided to add fuel to the fire, dropping, “You know, out of all the women he’s brought home, you’re my favorite type.” I could literally see Julian’s face darken. The girl’s face went stark white as she heard my words, her eyes welling up, on the verge of tears. I frankly had no interest in witnessing the classic melodrama that would follow. It would simply be Julian embracing her, offering comfort, and then the two of them tumbling back into bed. Every time Julian brought a woman home, he would restore everything in the house to its original state before I woke up the next morning. I truly didn’t need to worry about it. After all, no matter what my attitude was, Julian would never change because of me.

Early that Saturday, Julian sent me the restaurant location. After finishing my tasks at hand, I headed straight there, still dressed in simple work attire. Even light makeup couldn’t hide the fatigue under my eyes; I was the kind of person who’d blend into any crowd. The moment I stepped into the restaurant, I saw Julian. He sat alone by the window, idly stirring his coffee, an inherent aura about him that seemed to set him apart from his surroundings. For a fleeting second, the image of the spirited, dashing young man from my high school memories overlapped with the figure before me. Seraphina’s arrival abruptly pulled me back to reality. She wore a soft, feminine long dress, her face immaculately made up. She walked directly to Julian’s side, looped her arm through his, and snuggled intimately into his embrace. They leaned into each other, looking perfectly matched, like the leads of a romantic drama. A dense, throbbing pain bloomed in my heart. Even though this wasn’t the first time I’d seen Julian intimate with another woman, and I was used to his infidelity, my heart still tasted bitter. Perhaps it was because their entwined figures so closely resembled how Julian and I used to be together, only the heroine of the story had changed. My arrival, of course, didn’t escape Seraphina’s notice. She shot me a triumphant, slightly provocative gaze, like a child showing off a beloved new toy. Noticing Seraphina’s constant stares in my direction, Julian naturally realized I was there. A rare flicker of awkwardness crossed his face as he gently removed Seraphina’s hand from his arm, then called out, “Eleanor, over here.” I walked over and sat directly opposite them. An awkward silence fell between the three of us. Julian was the first to break the awkward silence, introducing Seraphina. “Eleanor, this is Seraphina, my secretary.” Upon hearing the word “secretary,” Seraphina visibly stiffened, her face darkening. I was about to speak, but Seraphina cut me off. “Hello, Ms. Vance. Julian talks about you often.” Her tone was an overt declaration of ownership. “My apologies, this is the first I’ve heard him mention you,” I said, my voice flat, my face devoid of expression. Seraphina’s face instantly went stark white. She looked pitifully at Julian, as if begging him to intervene. To my surprise, Julian completely ignored Seraphina’s silent plea, saying instead, “Seraphina, go home. This isn’t where you belong.” At his words, Seraphina’s body trembled uncontrollably, her voice shaking. “Julian, I’m not leaving.” Julian beside her remained silent, his expression icy, the pressure around him palpable. Seraphina burst into tears and ran off, leaving me with a resentful glare as she left. Julian said nothing more, simply waved over the waiter and ordered many of my favorite dishes. During dinner, he even meticulously picked out all the mushrooms, which I despise, putting them on his own plate. This instantly reminded me of when we first graduated college. We didn’t have much money, so we lived very frugally. We’d only order one dish at a small cafe. The owner misheard our order and added mushrooms to my plate as usual. I, who hated mushrooms, was at a loss, and too introverted to ask the owner for a new plate. Julian, however, painstakingly picked out every single mushroom and quietly ate them all himself. Noticing I seemed lost in thought, Julian called out to me, “Ellie, what’s wrong?” The way he said my name, combined with the memory of him picking out the mushrooms, made me feel as if I had traveled back to our past. Possessed by a sudden impulse, I asked, “Julian, why did you invite me out to dinner today?” He hadn’t expected such a question. His movements stiffened, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the tabletop. This was a habit of Julian’s; whenever he did this, it meant he was about to lie. I smiled, though my heart ached. I pretended to say nonchalantly, “Just be honest. It wouldn’t happen to be because of your little secretary who just left, would it?” He looked as if a great weight had been lifted. “You always see through me, Eleanor. She’s been too clingy lately, forgetting her place. I actually brought you out to let her know that I’m putting her in her place for a while.” Receiving the answer I expected, it was a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed. But I forced back the tears, at least, I wouldn’t cry in front of him.

I had secretly adored Julian since high school. He was a big shot at our school. Handsome, a star basketball player, and even got a full scholarship to an Ivy League university. Yet, he was a natural playboy, with girlfriends changing constantly. Still, countless girls secretly admired him, myself included. I once thought I was his ‘the one,’ and even my friends believed he had turned over a new leaf for me, that he’d only love me forever. To my dismay, the pretense didn’t last past the third month of our marriage. Taking advantage of my business trip, he directly brought a woman home to stay overnight. I had returned early, filled with joy, hoping to surprise him, as it was the anniversary of when we first became official. All that greeted me was a chaotic scene of infidelity. I was hysterical then, crying and screaming, utterly heartbroken, smashing everything in the house I could lay my hands on. Julian showed no remorse for being caught. Instead, he told me, “Eleanor, it’s impossible for a person to stick with just one person their whole life; trying new things is always good.” Memories flooded back, and my gaze fell upon the wine glass in front of me. I actually didn’t drink, but Julian and I owned a company, and someone always needed to negotiate partnerships, drinking with clients until they were happy, which often sealed the deals. I forced myself to learn how to drink. A cool, clear voice broke through my thoughts: “Sister, drinking this much alone isn’t good for your health.” The person spoke to me, dressed in a hotel waiter’s uniform. He was young, no older than twenty, with exquisite, handsome features. His clean, pristine aura clashed with the noisy bar environment. With the alcohol getting to my head, my thoughts were sluggish. I slurred slightly, “It’s fine. I can handle my liquor.” As I reached for the glass to take another sip, Ly Thorne, with quick, agile hands, snatched it from my grasp. He sat beside me, his bright eyes fixed on mine. “Sister, you’re not allowed to drink anymore.” I was somewhat annoyed that my drink had been taken. I stood up to retrieve it, but my balance was off, and I tumbled right into Ly Thorne’s embrace. He smelled wonderfully clean, unlike Julian, whose scent was often tinged with women’s perfume. Ly smelled faintly of cedarwood. Feeling drowsy, Ly Thorne gently helped me sit up, leaning closer to my face. His voice, a tempting whisper, asked, “Sister, are you tired? Will you come with me?” A handsome face, magnified, filled my vision. His tone was full of genuine concern. As if possessed, I nodded. I don’t know how much time passed. I managed to pry open my eyes, only to see Ly Thorne’s gaze brimming with affection, as if I were the only person in his world. He whispered into my ear, “Sister, are you alright?” His warm breath tickled my skin. I still clung to a sliver of lucidity, but Julian’s words from before echoed in my mind: *trying new things is always good.* I decided to indulge, to live for myself, just this once.

I woke the next day with only a throbbing headache, a hangover from too much wine. Beside me, Ly Thorne was watching me with those innocent eyes, and then I remembered what happened last night. Looking at his youthful, innocent face, I asked, a little nervously, “How old are you?” “I just turned nineteen last month,” he answered obediently. I was simultaneously relieved he was at least eighteen and a little regretful about last night. As if sensing my dilemma, Ly Thorne said considerately, “Sister, you don’t need to be responsible for me.” But as he spoke, he lowered his head, as if he’d been wronged. I, however, felt truly embarrassed. I had initially thought, since he was a waiter, his family probably wasn’t well-off, and I could just compensate him with some money. But with Ly Thorne explicitly saying he didn’t need me to be responsible, offering money now would truly be disrespectful. I gave him my business card. “I owe you an apology. This is my card. I’m Eleanor Vance. If you ever need help with anything, please come find me. I’ll do everything I can to assist you.” Ly Thorne took my card, obediently saying, “Alright, Sister. My name is Lysander Thorne.” I was busy getting dressed and didn’t really pay attention to what he said next, then left in a hurry. Naturally, I didn’t notice the playful yet insistent gaze Ly Thorne fixed on my retreating back. Today was our team meeting at the company. Despite rushing as fast as I could, I was still late. The only difference today was that Julian was there. Seeing me arrive late, his face darkened considerably; anyone could tell he was furious today. After the meeting, I went to the restroom to touch up my makeup. The moment I stepped out, someone yanked me into an adjacent stall. I was about to resist when Julian’s voice came: “Eleanor, you really outdid yourself. Where were you last night?” Though the stall was dim and cramped, I could still make out the fury on Julian’s face. “It’s none of your business. You’re the one who said we should act like strangers at the office.” “Hmph. Where did those hickeys on your neck come from? Out messing around with some random man?” Julian practically gritted his teeth. I looked at Julian with a touch of amusement. “Julian, didn’t you tell me before to try dating younger men? Well, I did. A nineteen-year-old boy-toy, handsomer than you, and better in bed.” Julian’s face went even darker, veins bulging on his right hand. He pinned me against the wall, clearly intending to kiss me. I pushed him with all my might, but he didn’t budge, trapping me in the crook of his arm. My struggles lessened, and he even smirked. I just felt a chill of disgust. Suddenly, the stall door was pushed open by Seraphina. She stared in disbelief at the scene before her. Julian halted his actions then, and I seized the opportunity, slapping Julian hard across his right cheek. I put all my strength into that slap, and his cheek quickly swelled and reddened. I spat, “You’re sick.” An indescribable sense of catharsis washed over me as I walked out without looking back. Julian still tried to hold me back, but Seraphina beside him was crying incessantly, forcing Julian to embrace his little secretary and offer explanations.

After that day, I never again came home to find Julian bringing women over, and Seraphina had been fired. In fact, twice, he had dinner prepared for me, a table laden with all my favorite dishes. Julian’s cooking had always been good; in the first three months of our marriage, he often cooked, even promising to cook for me for a lifetime. But after I discovered his infidelity and made a huge scene, we rarely had the chance to sit down and eat together peacefully. I was somewhat unaccustomed to Julian’s sudden change. I didn’t believe he had fallen back in love with me, but I couldn’t grasp his true motive. On my birthday, he took the day off work early, dressing in the simple white shirt he knew I had loved in high school and college, looking full of youthful charm. Seeing him walk towards me, holding a bouquet, my memory flashed back to three years ago, to his proposal. His eyes had been brimming with deep affection for me, and our friends were cheering, livening the atmosphere. He walked slowly towards me, holding a modest ring, and knelt on one knee. “Ellie, marry me. I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” And now, he held a bouquet of my favorite white roses, kneeling on the ground, begging for my forgiveness. “Ellie, I was wrong before. I let you down, did so many things that hurt you. It’s understandable that you’d ignore me. But I’ve realized I can’t live without you. I promise you, I will only love you.” By the end, tears streamed down Julian’s face, yet I remained unmoved. Seeing I made no move, Julian began to slap himself, again and again. Soon, his handsome face became red and swollen, looking quite pathetic, a stark contrast to his usual aloof and self-possessed demeanor. My heart wavered slightly. This was only the second time Julian had cried in front of me. The last time was when we first started our business and lost all our money. Our world felt like it was crashing down, and he cried in my arms like a child. I looked at Julian, and ultimately, my heart softened. I helped him up from the cold floor and told him I forgave him.

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I watched the whole thing unfold, not in a panic, not screaming for help. Instead, I stood there, utterly calm, a silent observer. I watched Mr. Peterson, my father-in-law, gasp his last breath, his struggles fading into silence. In my previous life, I would have rushed forward to save him, but I was always a step too late. He’d died, and my mother-in-law, Brenda, had immediately pointed the finger at me, accusing me of murder. I’d pleaded with my husband, Mark, who’d supposedly just come home from the movies with me. He’d just pushed me away. “I was working overtime! How could I have been at the movies with you? You killed my dad and you won’t even admit it!” My son, Leo, had emerged from his bedroom, clutching a phone playing surveillance footage. “Bad mommy, why did you kill Grandpa!” Arthur, Mark’s older brother, had been in a rage. Without a word, he’d grabbed a fruit knife and stabbed my already severely burned body twenty-eight times, turning me into a bloody mess before I died. Even as I lay dying, I’d been bewildered. Why would my closest family – my husband and son – falsely accuse me of murder? Then I opened my eyes. I was back. Reborn on the very day Mr. Peterson was blown to smithereens.

“Alice, why don’t you head back and help Mom with dinner? I’ll grab some groceries and be right there.” Mark’s words, spoken with such casual ease, sent a shiver down my spine. It hit me then. I had been reborn. In my past life, Mark and I had just left the movies. He’d sent me home first, saying he’d pick up some cold dishes. But as soon as I walked in, I saw the kitchen explode. Mr. Peterson was flung across the room, lying motionless on the floor. Terrified, I’d rushed to save him, only to be caught in a second explosion, getting severely burned. Shaking with fear, I’d fumbled for my phone to call an ambulance. Brenda, my mother-in-law, had been hiding just outside the kitchen door, paralyzed with fear. When she saw me, her eyes lit up. “Alice, please, I didn’t mean to kill your father! The gas stove wouldn’t light, and the old man insisted on helping me…” Dragging my excruciatingly painful body, I’d crawled towards Mr. Peterson. He was already gone. All these years, Mr. Peterson had poured everything into Arthur’s family and ours. To die like this… it wasn’t just Brenda who couldn’t accept it. If Arthur Peterson found out, given his violent past and the fact he’d once served time for murder, he’d surely kill the culprit! Our neighbors rushed over, taking in the chaotic scene and joining the chorus of condemnation against me. I endured the searing pain and tried to explain that I had just returned from the movies with Mark, and that Brenda had caused the kitchen explosion, not me. But Mark had thrown the bag of groceries at me. “I went to buy cold dishes! When did I ever go to the movies with you, you murderer!?” Before I could retort, my own son, Leo, ran out of his bedroom, phone in hand, playing a surveillance video. “Bad mommy, why did you kill Grandpa and Grandma!” A child’s words are often seen as pure, but his accusation sealed my fate as a murderer. Arthur, who had just stormed in, heard him. He grabbed a fruit knife from the counter and, roaring, stabbed me twenty-eight times, punching through my heart. I stared at him in horror, unable to comprehend why my husband and son, my beloved family, would do this to me! The agonizing pain of being stabbed in my previous life was vividly present, and I couldn’t stop trembling. My fingers, entwined with Mark’s, unconsciously tightened. This time, I had to uncover the truth and prevent that tragedy from repeating itself! I glanced at the time. I had half an hour until the explosion. Everything was still possible. Mark released my hand. As he turned away, I saw him quickly send an “OK” emoji to Brenda. Suddenly, my hair stood on end. It felt like Death itself was looking at me. Mark, who had just celebrated our six-year anniversary yesterday, was now conspiring with Brenda to harm me. Why? I took a deep breath, pushing down the terror. “Honey, the beauty store next door just got a new line of lipsticks. Care to come with me to check them out?” He quickly hid his phone, a sweet, attentive smile instantly replacing his alert expression. “Mom’s waiting for you to help with dinner, remember? Just tell me the shades, and I’ll pick them up for you.” I shook my head, subtly avoiding his attempt to kiss me. “Oh, please. You always get the wrong shade. If you don’t want to go, I’ll just go by myself.” I really was a coward. Brenda and Leo were still at home. It would be two against one, and I knew I had no chance. Last time, Brenda and Leo had physically held me down while Arthur stabbed me to death. Chapter

Mark tried to say something else, but I just walked away, leaving him with my back. All the way, he kept trying to persuade me to go home, but I ignored him. Our six years together had already been shattered the moment he accused me of murder in my past life. Only after receiving a message from Caleb Hayes, my hacker friend from college, did I casually pay and leave. Mark hadn’t followed me, as expected. He’d stood there, making sure I’d called a cab for home, before calling Brenda. I saw it all clearly through the rearview mirror. In my previous life, he’d deliberately sent me home to coordinate with Brenda and frame me. This time, I was going to watch them play their game. When I arrived home, just like last time, the kitchen was already exploding. It was perfectly timed to my arrival. Brenda was hiding behind the door, safe from the blast. But poor Mr. Peterson, once again, lay amidst shattered glass. Seeing me, Brenda rushed forward, wailing as if I were her savior. “Alice, please! I didn’t mean to kill your father! The gas stove wouldn’t light, and the old man insisted on helping me… Please, save me…” I calmly pushed her away. “Mom, call the police and an ambulance. Don’t cling to me.” This time, I had no intention of saving Mr. Peterson. Brenda’s face was a mask of feigned panic, fearfully insisting it wasn’t intentional. In my previous life, she’d worn that same wronged expression, adamantly claiming I had deliberately caused the kitchen explosion, wailing hysterically for me to pay for her husband’s life. If I hadn’t seen her smug, triumphant smile, I might have actually believed she was grieving for Mr. Peterson. Neighbors, drawn by the commotion, arrived and started yelling at me, calling me an evil daughter-in-law. No one would ever believe a mother-in-law would kill her own husband. The bad one, in their eyes, was always me, the wicked daughter-in-law. While we waited for the ambulance, Arthur Peterson burst through the crowd, his eyes blazing with fury, as if he wanted to devour me whole. Arthur had been rebellious since he was young, serving decades in prison for murder. After his release, he never worked, living off Mr. and Mrs. Peterson. Now that Mr. Peterson was dead, it indirectly cut off his source of income. He was clearly frantic, roaring at me. “What happened to my dad? If anything happened to him, I’ll make you pay!” The terror of being stabbed to death in my previous life washed over me, making my legs weak. “He’s right there. If you block the way any longer, he might actually die.” Finally, medical personnel pushed through the crowd, quickly lifting Mr. Peterson onto a stretcher and rushing him into the ambulance. Brenda cried as if her heart had been ripped to shreds, clinging to Arthur, calling him her son. “My son, your sister-in-law is so cruel. All I asked was for her to cook, and she tried to kill both me and your dad! When I ran to save your dad, she grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the door.” Brenda lifted her bangs, revealing an instant lump on her forehead. My face was drained of color. Everyone looked at me as if I were a murderer. Chapter

Brenda’s acting, I had to admit, was flawless. As she shrieked, threatening to fight me, I quickly dodged her. I brutally kicked her in the chest, still shaken. “Mom, you blew up Dad. Why are you blaming it on me?” She immediately clutched her chest, wailing dramatically. All the neighbors angrily surrounded me. “You’re truly a wicked daughter-in-law! Playing the victim first. You must have killed him and are framing your mother-in-law!” My sudden attack caught Arthur off guard; he hadn’t reacted yet. Brenda, emboldened by the crowd, cried even louder: “You all saw it! She even accused me of blowing up the old man! Such a vicious heart!” I sneered. “Dare you say it wasn’t for the millions in my bank accounts, to pin a murder on me, and then scheme to take everything I owned?” The phrase “plotting to take everything I owned” hit everyone like a lightning bolt. Brenda’s eyes darted nervously before her gaze hardened. “Alice, you’re insane! Why would I blow up the old man for your petty cash!” “For my money, for my shares, for mountains of wealth and a life of luxury! Mark and I only went to the movies today. Isn’t framing me all about the money?” My unprecedented aggression made Brenda Peterson’s face fall. She wanted to say more, but someone grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back. “Enough!” It was Mark, who had rushed over. He shot a look at Brenda, then slapped me, hard. “Are you having another one of your episodes? When did I ever go to the movies with you?” I’d expected Mark wouldn’t side with me, but I hadn’t expected him to hit me in public. That slap shattered the last fragments of our six-year relationship. In my previous life, he’d also denied going to the movies with me in front of everyone, convinced I was the murderer. Back then, I’d been lost, unable to understand why. Today, seeing their family’s coordinated attack, I finally understood. “Mark, if you keep giving false testimony for Brenda Peterson, I won’t spare you either.” My voice was firm. “I’m telling you again, today, Mark Peterson, we went to the movies together. I am not a killer.” To my disappointment, Mark instinctively denied it. “No, I didn’t! What’s the point of lying? My son and I saw you walk into the kitchen ourselves.” He was set in his ways, determined to pin the blame on me. I wanted to speak, but the bedroom door opened. My son, Leo, ran out, his phone playing audio on speaker. “Bad mommy, you killed Grandpa! Bad people have to pay!” His young face held an overwhelming hatred. “Grandma, don’t be scared! Leo will protect you! The police will arrest bad mommy!” My own son spat at me. “Ptooey, ptooey! I don’t have a mom like you! Just go die!” My heart turned ice cold. This was the flesh and blood I had carried for ten months, almost bleeding out to bring into the world. I never imagined that the very child I bore would turn into a knife, aimed right at my heart. This home held no warmth for me. “Leo, I’m your mother. Why are you helping them?” My heart ached with bitterness as I stared at my son. But he just picked up a piece of broken glass from the floor and threw it at me. “Get lost! I don’t have a murderer for a mom!” I tilted my head, dodging the glass, but a cut appeared on my face. Leo then cranked up the volume on his phone, playing the surveillance footage louder. “Bad woman! This is the video of you deliberately detonating the kitchen! You’ve been lying all along!” Arthur heard it and instinctively rushed to snatch the phone. Leo, along with Mark and his mother, Brenda, adamantly pointed at me as the murderer. The neighbors cursed me even louder. I surveyed the scene with a desolate gaze, feeling utterly abandoned and hopeless. “Why? Why are you doing this to me?” Mark and Leo exchanged a knowing look and then rolled their eyes at me in unison. “Just hurry up and die! Don’t harm Grandma anymore! You’re an evil daughter-in-law and a bad mommy!” My heart was torn to shreds by my own son. Just then, Arthur, who had finished watching the video, picked up a scattered fruit knife and rushed over, grabbing me by the throat. The crushing despair of my dying moments from my previous life enveloped me. I knew too well the agony of being stabbed. In my blurring vision, I saw Brenda Peterson’s triumphant smile and the hidden satisfaction in Mark and Leo’s faces. Utter despair consumed me. Was I doomed to the same fate, even with a second chance? Just then, a squad of well-trained footsteps sounded, parting the crowd, and a furious voice bellowed. “Stop! Who gave you the right to kill him?!” Chapter

Suddenly, air rushed into my constricted throat, and I erupted into a fit of coughing. “Cough, cough, cough…” The police who arrived swiftly secured the scene. Caleb, my friend from college, stood by my side, assuring me not to be afraid, that he had all the evidence. Finally, I felt a sense of relief. In my previous life, I had died consumed by hatred, never receiving justice in my final moments. I had been stabbed into a bloody mess by Arthur, and no one had bothered to uncover the truth for me. My own closest relatives had banded together, united in their desire to see me dead. No mother could ever accept her own child falsely accusing her. And no wife could ever accept being betrayed by her husband. Fortunately, this time, I hadn’t been stabbed to death. Everything was still salvageable. The female officer had barely switched on her body camera when Mark eagerly pointed at me, his face a mask of grief. “Officer, I’m Alice’s husband, Mark Peterson. I’m officially reporting her for deliberate murder, for killing my dad!” Hearing this, all the police officers looked solemn. Before they could speak, Brenda, clutching Leo, chimed in. “That’s right, she’s an evil daughter-in-law! She killed the old man, and I’m definitely next! Officers, please arrest her and execute her!” I regained my composure, watching their synchronized performance with cold eyes. My closest husband and my own son were willing to falsely accuse me, desperate for me to die. Even Caleb, just a friend from college, couldn’t stand it. He spoke up for me. “You people are truly heartless animals! Alice marrying into your family was a charity case, and you’re still not grateful. I think *you’re* the murderers, trying to kill Alice and seize everything she owns!” To my surprise, my son, whom I’d loved for five years, blurted out, “Good, good if she died! I don’t want a bad mommy!” “Alright, regardless, justice will be served by the law. This is the first time I’ve seen a child disown their mother.” The police officers’ eyes showed suspicion, wondering what terrible things I must have done to be so utterly abandoned by my family. “She is, after all, the child’s mother and your wife. How did it come to this?” “Ptooey! Don’t even say she’s my grandson’s mother! She’s not worthy!” Brenda held Leo, her eyes fixed on me, filled with venomous hatred. “Officer, it’s true that you can’t judge a book by its cover. We’ve been repaying evil with good, tolerating her until now. Otherwise, letting her continue to harm innocent people would be a true menace!” Mark’s words were self-righteous; in his narrative, I was a heinous criminal. Arthur, standing beside him, was itching to tear me apart on the spot. The neighbors cursed me as an evil daughter-in-law, wholeheartedly supporting Mark, demanding that I pay with my life. “‘Repaying evil with good,’ huh? You’re so heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” My heart was utterly frozen. “You ruthless? I think you should just surrender quietly; you might get a lighter sentence.” Brenda was triumphant, utterly confident that she could send me to prison. Ordinarily, Brenda had always verbally abused Mr. Peterson, treating him like useless baggage, constantly tormenting him mentally. Now that he was dead, with me taking the blame, the biggest beneficiaries were clearly her and Mark. I wouldn’t let her succeed. “You wouldn’t expect me to forgive you, would you? Absolutely not!” Mark immediately declared, afraid I’d try to drag him down with me. I scoffed. “In that case, I won’t hold back.” In front of everyone, I pulled something out of my bag, something that surprised Mark’s entire family. “Officer, I have evidence to prove who the real murderer is.” Chapter Seeing what I held in my hand, Mark instinctively lunged to snatch it. I sidestepped, mocking him, “What, suddenly scared now?” Brenda’s face also changed. Though she didn’t know what I was holding, she blindly trusted her son. “You bitch! What fake thing are you trying to trick people with?!”

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My daughter hired someone to kill me after her college entrance exams. Before I died, I asked her why. I’d dedicated myself to getting her into a top university, helped her smoothly inherit the family business, and cared for her more than her own mother ever did. Her gaze was venomous: “You’re just a home-wrecker who replaced my mom! I hated you constantly meddling in my life!” “I’ll only be happy when you’re dead.” Then I opened my eyes again. I was back on the first day of her senior year of high school. Gorging herself and getting fat? Fine by me! Refusing to study? Absolutely! Even skipping classes to hang out with a punk and getting pregnant early? Whatever she wanted! This life, all I wanted was to be an “indulgent” stepmom. “I’m still growing, and you give me *these* leafy greens to eat!” “Mrs. Jenkins, you really are the perfect nanny for that dead mistress—you just want to abuse me!” I woke up in a haze to Chloe Miller slamming the table and throwing a tantrum. To vent her anger, she grabbed a glass nearby and hurled it at me. The glass whizzed past me, shattering into pieces at my feet. I was fully awake now. Seeing my silence, Chloe thought I was an easy target. She stormed right up to me and snarled: “I’ll never accept you as my stepmom, so stop telling me what to do!” “I’m my dad’s only child! Once I inherit Miller Corp, I’m kicking your worthless ass out immediately!” It was then I realized I’d been reborn to the first day of Chloe’s senior year. It was also our very first meeting. And this arrogant, spoiled stepdaughter, Chloe Miller, was the very ungrateful viper who would later hire someone to murder me. I quickly forced a smile and gently soothed Chloe: “Chloe, don’t be angry, sweetie. Aunt Eleanor wasn’t thinking. Eating such light food late at night will definitely leave you hungry. You’re young, your metabolism is fast. It was silly of me to talk about weight control!” “Mrs. Jenkins, please order some fried chicken, cake, and milk tea right away.” She’d just thrown a fit, and I suddenly became submissive. Chloe thought I was scared of her, and looked at me with a mix of triumph and disdain: “Now you know not to be a busybody, huh?” “My mom said it’s all your fault, you home-wrecker, for seducing my dad and causing my parents’ divorce!” I didn’t argue. I continued to play the part of the bullied, meek wife. Because I knew perfectly well that if I explained even one more sentence—even if I revealed that Chloe’s biological mother divorced her dad because she cheated with a foreign millionaire—Chloe would twist the facts. She’d run to her dad, Robert Miller, and tell him I was bullying her, which would only sour my relationship with him. So, I simply said nothing. I let Chloe stuff her face with fried chicken and milk tea, grease dripping from her mouth. She wasn’t exactly obese, just a little chubby. But teenage girls, if they’re not careful, can blow up like a balloon overnight. In my previous life, I meticulously managed her diet. Controlling her weight while ensuring she ate enough and well. I spent a lot of time just researching recipes. This life? Let her do whatever she wanted. I glanced at the clock behind me. Chloe’s tantrum had dragged on until almost nine in the evening. Eating this kind of food now would be impossible to digest and would just turn into fat on her body. But I just smiled, pushing a small cake slathered in cream toward Chloe. “Chloe, try this. It’s so sweet!” Seeing my fawning attitude, Chloe snorted, clearly looking down on me: “I’m telling you, don’t think a few bites of food will buy me off.” “You’re incompetent, trying to make yourself look good to my dad by ‘educating’ me. And that high school success plan you gave me? I’m never going to follow it. Constantly meddling in everything I do, who do you think you are?!” I gave her an ingratiating smile and explained: “Chloe, please don’t be upset. Aunt Eleanor was wrong before.” “Now that I think about it, you’re the only child of the Miller family. You’ll inherit Miller Corp someday, you’ll have everything you could ever want. There really isn’t any need to study so hard and make yourself miserable!” Afraid Chloe wouldn’t believe me, I called and canceled all the arranged tutoring sessions right in front of her. Chloe looked even more triumphant, convinced she had this spineless stepmom wrapped around her finger. “That’s more like it.”

International high school let out early. Chloe was home by three in the afternoon. According to my plans in my previous life, she should have continued studying, preparing to apply to top universities abroad upon graduation. But now that I wasn’t controlling her, Chloe was going wild. She stayed up all night on her phone, watching TV, and playing video games. Far from being annoyed, I seized the chance to bring her snacks. Without exception, they were all high-fat, high-sugar—anything that would make her gain weight, I brought it. Chloe was happy. And I was content. At the dinner table, I no longer pursued balanced nutrition or maintaining her figure like before. Grilled meat, barbecue, burgers—junk food was on rotation. After just one month, Chloe had gained fifteen pounds. But that was secondary. On Friday evening, Chloe’s teacher called me directly: “Mrs. Miller, the results of our introductory test are in. Chloe received an F.” “You see… perhaps you should encourage her studies a bit more. At this rate, let alone going to university abroad, she might even struggle to pass her graduation exams.” I glanced at Chloe’s room. It was ten-thirty, and the sound of the TV was still blasting. I chuckled softly and replied: “Teacher, I’m Chloe’s stepmom. If I interfere too much with her studies, it might not be good. For Chloe’s sake, perhaps you could give her father a call. Some things are better coming from him than from me.” Of course, I wasn’t sincere. Chloe had been enjoying herself for so many days; it was time for Robert, her biological father, to deal with it. Sure enough, the day after receiving the teacher’s call, Robert, who was on a business trip, still rushed back. After all, Chloe was his only child, and he certainly had high hopes for her. At the dinner table, Robert’s face turned grim as he addressed Chloe: “What’s wrong with you?!” “I heard from your teacher that your entrance exam results were a disaster. When I came back, you were still watching TV. How old are you? This is the age to be focusing on your studies!” “And your figure—I’ve told you before to watch your weight. How could you be so careless!” Chloe was scolded until she burst into tears. Wiping her eyes, she blurted out everything in her emotional state: “Anyway, when you get old, Miller Corp will be mine sooner or later. What does it matter if I study or not? Even if I don’t study, I can still live a life of luxury.” “I knew you wouldn’t even let me eat, I should have just left with my mom!” Robert was so angry he slammed his fist on the table: “Chloe Miller, I’m doing this for your own good!” But a teenage Chloe couldn’t hear him: “Who needs you to be good to me!” She then turned and lashed out at me, standing by the stairs, shoving me to the ground and cursing: “Get out of my way, you bitch!” “It’s all your fault, you home-wrecker, seducing my dad! Why don’t you just die!” With that, Chloe stomped up to the second floor and retreated to her room. Robert looked at Chloe’s retreating back with disappointment. He quickly helped me up from the floor, saying apologetically: “Eleanor, I’m so sorry. Chloe’s temper is getting out of hand, you’ve been wronged.” “I heard from Mrs. Jenkins that while I was away, Chloe was really awful to you. She wouldn’t eat the meals you prepared, insisting on junk food. And she spoke to you so disrespectfully.” After hearing Robert’s words, I immediately put on a loving façade: “What are you saying? Chloe is young, it’s inevitable she’d have her moments. How could I hold it against her?” “It’s just… with her temper, I’m truly a little worried about entrusting Miller Corp to her later. You’ve worked your entire life; you shouldn’t have to worry about the company when you’re old.” My words seemed to strike a nerve with Robert. His heart stirred, and he slowly placed a hand on my stomach: “Eleanor, how about we don’t use protection tonight?” “Let’s have another child!”

Actually, it was my idea to use protection in the first place. Back then, I genuinely loved Chloe as my own child. I was afraid she’d feel resentful if I got pregnant, and I truly believed that with all my careful nurturing, Chloe would treat me well once she grew up and succeeded. I just never imagined that all my meddling and managing in my last life wouldn’t result in a grateful daughter. Instead, I raised an ungrateful viper. The moment she gained power, she hired someone to stab me to death. The agonizing pain of the blade piercing my flesh is still vividly etched in my memory. So this life, I absolutely wouldn’t give Chloe any chance to rise again. But if I had abruptly brought up the topic, I feared Robert might suspect me of having ulterior motives. So, I shrewdly used the teacher’s call to make Robert, in his disappointment, suggest it himself. It was a win-win. Miller Corp was busy with its IPO, so Robert, after just one night back, flew to Hong Kong for a business trip the next morning. Once again, it was just Chloe and me at home. But Chloe was still a Miller, after all. Before he left, Robert had taken action. He re-enrolled her in tutoring and enrichment classes, confiscated all her phones and computers, and even hired a yoga instructor to monitor Chloe’s diet and weight. Having grown accustomed to luxury, Chloe, who had enjoyed so much freedom, couldn’t endure such hardship. After her class, when she saw the salad the yoga instructor had prepared for dinner, She was so furious she almost threw the plate at the instructor’s face. Thankfully, I intervened, quickly ushering the yoga instructor out. Seeing a fuming Chloe, I gently persuaded her: “Chloe, don’t be angry. If you don’t like these classes, we won’t take them.” “I know you didn’t eat enough. I secretly ordered your favorite fried chicken and milk tea for you in your room. You’re still growing, how can you not eat enough?” Chloe looked at me suspiciously: “You’d be that kind?” It made me inwardly sneer. Last life, I painstakingly nurtured her to success and was called a busybody. This life, I intentionally harmed her, and she called me kind. What a fool, she couldn’t tell good from bad. Chloe went back to her room and saw that I had indeed kept my word. She sat down and ate non-stop. While she was in a better mood, I flatteringly handed her a card from my pocket: “This internet cafe card was a gift from a friend, I don’t need it. But I saw the address, it seems to be near your school. High school can be really stressful, so if you have time, you can go and relax.” Chloe’s eyes lit up, and she snatched it immediately. If she couldn’t play on the computer at home, couldn’t she go out and play? After a quick meal, Chloe pocketed the internet card and said she was going for a walk. Did I not understand her intentions? If she wanted to ruin herself, I was more than willing to push her along. “Here’s some money. Your dad cut off your allowance recently. But a girl needs some cash on her, right? Be careful, and call me if anything happens.” Chloe excitedly left the house. I instructed the staff to keep an eye on her. Don’t worry about where she goes or what she does, just make sure she’s alive. Otherwise, I, the stepmom, would be deemed negligent. As soon as Chloe stepped out, she used the money I gave her to buy another phone. Then she immediately went to the internet cafe. The place was full of all sorts of people, often including spoiled rich kids from the international high school who skipped class and pulled all-nighters. Seeing Chloe, some of them, who recognized her, approached her to chat. A group of them teamed up to play games. It wasn’t until past eleven that I, feigning motherly concern, called to urge her home. “Chloe, it’s very late. You should be back by now after your walk.” “Do you want me to drive and pick you up?” She was in the middle of her game, naturally in no mood for me, her meddling stepmom: “Why do you care so much! You’re just a stepmom, just focus on pleasing your man. Don’t bring your desperate act to me. Stay out of my business from now on. Just keep giving me money.” “Otherwise, I’ll tell Dad bad things about you!” “Let’s see if he’ll protect you, an outsider, or me, his own daughter!” Beep-beep-beep. Chloe hung up quickly. I conveniently saved the phone recording. After all, faced with the threats of a difficult stepdaughter, a weak and kind stepmom like me could only obey. Most importantly, I was pregnant. The Miller family now had a second heir.

To prevent Chloe from causing trouble, I kept my pregnancy a secret from everyone. And for the rest, I didn’t need to be involved anymore. Birds of a feather flock together. Chloe quickly learned to skip class without a trace after meeting those trust fund babies at the internet cafe. The international high school used a university-style lecture system, meaning students moved to different classrooms for each subject, and attendance was taken via roll call. The foreign professors teaching there barely recognized anyone. If you were studious, you were an elite. If you slacked off, you were trash. The spoiled rich kids taught her, and Chloe quickly learned to pay others to answer for her during roll call. She, meanwhile, spent her days indulging in lavish meals, drinks, and games, frequenting internet cafes, bars, and even nightclubs. The teachers, seeing nothing amiss in her attendance records, assumed Chloe had buckled down after her father’s reprimand. A few days later, Chloe started coming home later and later. As a spineless stepmom, I could only feign concern and offer a few words of advice: “Chloe, don’t stay out too late. You should come home early and study. Even if the pressure for overseas university applications is low, you still need a good English foundation.” Chloe saw that I was completely subservient to her. Her attitude grew even more brazen. She pointed at me and started cursing: “What the hell do you care?! Who do you think you are, a stepmom?!” “I’m out of money, give me some allowance.” Seeing me hesitantly holding my wallet, Chloe snatched it directly, stuffing the cash into her pocket. “This is all Dad’s money, Miller family money.” “It’s rightfully mine, what are you, an outsider, trying to protect it for?!” In short, she cursed at me, and I endured it. She wanted something, and I gave it to her. I maintained the facade of a good stepmom, so much so that even the villa staff felt sorry for me. I had initially thought I’d have to endure this for a year to completely ruin Chloe. Until this morning, when Mrs. Jenkins quietly told me. While cleaning Chloe’s room, she accidentally knocked over her trash can, and inside was a used pregnancy test. Two lines. Chloe was pregnant too. Perhaps due to the pregnancy, Chloe was unusually quiet today, returning home by 5:30 PM. I smiled and greeted her, but she ignored me, hurrying upstairs with her head down. I had planned to cut some fruit and bring it up to her. But then I heard Chloe in her room, speaking in a hushed voice on the phone: “It’s definitely positive. I saw a doctor this afternoon.” “Give birth? No way! If Dad finds out, he’ll kill me! This baby has to go!” “I’m already eighteen, I don’t need a guardian for an abortion. You’re the father, you’ll come with me!” “This Saturday morning, 9:30 AM, at St. Jude’s Hospital.” I tiptoed away. Back in my bedroom, I eagerly called Robert: “Honey, I think I’m pregnant. Can you come back and accompany me for a prenatal check-up?” “I’ve already booked the appointment.” “This Saturday morning, 9:00 AM, at St. Jude’s Hospital.” Hearing this, Robert on the other end of the phone was ecstatic. He readily agreed. Even with his busy work schedule, he promised to go straight from the airport to the hospital to be with me. I was very happy too. After all, a joyous event like becoming a grandfather should be personally discovered by Robert. On Saturday morning at nine, a travel-worn Robert arrived precisely on time. After a series of checks, he was beaming, holding my ultrasound results. Suddenly, I nervously tugged on his sleeve, pointing forward: “Honey, look!” “Isn’t that Chloe? Why is she at the hospital at this hour?” Robert looked in the direction I was pointing. Indeed, he saw Chloe sitting in the hospital corridor, looking around, as if waiting for someone. He instinctively wanted to go up and ask. But I held him back. “Wait, if you just go up to her suddenly like that, she’s a teenage girl, what if it’s something private, a gynecological issue? Wouldn’t it be embarrassing for her to tell you face-to-face?” “Let’s observe for a bit and see what’s happening.” I pulled Robert to sit a short distance away. After a few minutes, a boy with dyed blonde hair entered our view, walking straight towards Chloe. Without a word, he grabbed Chloe’s hand. At that moment, Robert’s face beside me turned as dark as storm clouds, looking like it could drip ink. He couldn’t even bother to speak to me. He stood up and walked quickly towards them. Chloe, completely oblivious, was still complaining to the blonde-haired punk: “Why are you so late!” “Mrs. Jenkins said Dad might be back today.” “If he finds out I secretly came to the hospital for an abortion, everything will be ruined!” Before the boy could respond, Robert’s furious roar suddenly erupted behind her, echoing through the entire corridor. “Chloe Miller!” “You’re… carrying some bastard child?!” The moment Chloe heard that voice, her entire body stiffened. The blood in her veins seemed to instantly freeze. She didn’t dare to turn around, instinctively wanting to run. But Robert, in his fury, grabbed her shoulder tightly and spun her around:

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My sister called, battered and bruised, begging for help. Protecting her, I accidentally killed her husband. But in court, she refused to testify for me. She blamed me for taking Leo’s father away. Mom and Dad joined in, accusing me of ruining Brooke’s life. I was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to ten years in prison. They tormented me day and night, until I died of depression behind bars. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment Brooke called for help… “Cassidy, save me!” Brooke’s heartbroken scream tore through the phone, a wild, beast-like roar echoing behind her. “I’ll kill you! I’ll absolutely kill you!” Julian’s enraged voice mixed with Brooke’s pleas, followed by a series of brutal thuds against a door. One, two… I froze. This scene, I’d lived through it before! And it was just six months before I died. I took a deep breath, my mind reeling back to that night. Six months ago, Julian had come home dead drunk. Brooke had simply asked where he’d been, and he’d grabbed her, slapping her a dozen times. She’d cried, begging for mercy, but he wouldn’t let up. He’d sworn she dared to meddle in his business and that he was going to kill her that night. She’d shrieked, fleeing into the bathroom, locking herself inside, and risking everything to call me, her voice trembling. When I’d arrived, I was greeted by a scene from hell, unlike anything I’d ever witnessed: Julian stood amidst shattered glass and broken things, a cleaver raised in his hand, furiously hacking at the bathroom door. One, two… His eyes were bloodshot, like a wild animal’s, roaring that he’d smash the door down and hack Brooke to death. Brooke’s cries, Julian’s roars, the brutal thuds of the cleaver against the door, the hissing, spitting sound of something boiling over on the stove… All sounds mashed together, instantly igniting something primal in me. No! He couldn’t kill my sister! My first instinct was to charge, to wrench the knife from his grasp. I didn’t even stop to consider if I’d become another casualty in his rampage. I’d never felt death so close. I stared into those bloodshot eyes, the eyes of a grim reaper. He held the knife in an iron grip, and I desperately clung to his wrist, fighting to stop him from bringing it down. Blood began to drip, drop by agonizing drop. My strength was draining away, little by little. And my *dear* sister? She stayed locked behind that bathroom door, utterly still. I don’t remember what happened next. When I regained consciousness, Julian was lying in a pool of blood, and Brooke was crying, shaking him. Then, the piercing wail of ambulances and the blare of police sirens filled the air. One phrase echoed relentlessly in my mind: “It was her! *She* did it! She killed my husband! Arrest this murderer!” Just then, Brooke wailed again: “Cassidy, hurry, save me! He’s gone crazy!” Cassidy? She still knew my name. But when she’d been ‘grieving’ her precious husband, she hadn’t called me that. She’d not only screamed “murderer” at the police, demanding I pay for murder with my life. She’d also adamantly refused to testify for me in court. Her reasoning? She argued that the charge wasn’t severe enough. Manslaughter? No, she insisted it should be premeditated murder. Because if it was only manslaughter, the chance of me getting the death penalty would be far too low. Even after I was sentenced to ten years, she’d visited me in prison, staring at me coldly, asking how I dared to still be alive. “You monster! Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You made me a widow! You took Leo’s father away! How dare you only get ten years? Is this what our tax dollars are for? To keep *you* alive? You’re depressed? Will your depression bring my husband back? What will you give to atone for this? You murderer! Murderer!” I’d heard those words countless times in prison. “Cassidy, why aren’t you saying anything? Cassidy?” I took a deep breath. From start to finish, she was only desperate for me to rescue *her*. But she’d never once considered if *I* might be killed by him. Nor had she ever suggested I call the police to arrest her husband. She just wanted me to ‘make peace,’ so she could reconcile with Julian, *after* he’d had his fill of hitting her, and go back to her ‘happy’ life. How could I have been so blind to such selfish thoughts in my previous life? But this time, I wouldn’t interfere with her “happiness” ever again.

I held my phone, my voice flat, almost devoid of emotion. “I’m busy right now, I can’t make it back. You’ve always had a choice. If you don’t want a divorce but you want to *live*, then figure it out on your own. And by the way, if you encounter a murderer, call the police. Calling me won’t do anything.” With that, I hung up. I knew she must be utterly stunned. From childhood, I had always indulged her, never letting her suffer even the slightest slight. In school, she was the enviable goody-two-shoes, while I was the tough-as-nails girl everyone feared. Whenever she was bullied by the queen bees, I would step out and challenge them to square off against me. “Cassidy, you saved me! You’re the best sister ever!” Each time, she’d look at me with tear-filled eyes. But who knew? Turns out, a ‘good sister’ was easily disposable when a ‘good husband’ was on the line. The most ironic part was, when I was in prison, one of my cellmates was one of those very queen bees from back then. When she heard the full story, she was furious on my behalf: “Seriously, is Brooke out of her mind? Giving up her own sister for *that* kind of man? You did so much for her back then, and this is what you get? It’s not worth it, Cassidy.” No, of course it wasn’t worth it. Lost in thought, I walked back home. The moment I opened the door, I was hit by a full-blown verbal assault from Mom and Dad. “You ungrateful girl! Where the hell have you been? Do you have any idea your sister almost *died* just now?” I thought they were mad at me for being indifferent, but their next words nearly made my jaw drop: “And you had the nerve to tell your sister to call the police? Are you insane?” “If the police take Julian away, how do you expect to make it up to Brooke and her family?” “Doesn’t Leo need his father? Doesn’t Brooke need her husband? Are you just jealous that your sister has a family?” They went on and on, their faces red with fury, all condemning me for speaking without thinking, for trying to break up the family. It was laughable. They’re retired educators, for crying out loud, yet their minds are still so stubbornly stuck in the past. Why hadn’t I noticed their bizarre behavior in my previous life? Back then, after I was jailed, the old couple would visit me every visiting day, just to scream at me. They accused me of ruining Brooke’s home, of destroying their precious Leo. Eventually, I refused to see them anymore. But their emotional abuse, it was relentless. It seeped into every corner of my mind. I couldn’t understand why, after I had protected them and accidentally killed that piece of trash, they still considered *him* the source of their happiness. And me? The killer who destroyed it all? I didn’t get it. I tossed and turned every night, consumed by sorrow. Even Raven kept telling me it was my family who had problems, not me, but I couldn’t accept that the family I’d protected and loved with all my might for a lifetime would collectively turn on me so cruelly. In the end, I had a mental breakdown and bit off my tongue, dying by suicide. No one came to see me, even at the very end. Since you care so much about that man, and so highly value the ‘integrity’ of the family, Then this life, I’ll grant your wish. I sneered. “I didn’t tell her to call the police. I just said if she’s in danger, she should know to call them. What’s wrong with that? Besides, she still had enough strength to complain to you, so she’s clearly fine, isn’t she? Why are you two so worked up about it now?” “Fine?” My dad’s temper flared again. “She’s only ‘fine’ because *we* went and knelt before him! You child, how can you be so cold-blooded and selfish!” “Alright, alright, Leo’s asleep, everyone quiet down.” Just then, Brooke’s bedroom door opened, and she walked out, dark circles under her swollen eyes. Her face was still bruised and puffy; she’d clearly taken a beating. The moment Leo’s name was mentioned, my parents instantly fell silent, as if their grandchild was royalty in this house. Ridiculous. I rolled my eyes. I’m not trying to be dark, but that kid of Brooke’s? Mark my words, he’s going to end up in serious trouble, probably get himself killed.

Leo was the most annoying kid I’d ever met. If Mom and Dad hadn’t brought Brooke and him to my place without my permission this time, I would never have allowed that little brat to set foot in my house. He inherited all of Julian’s worst habits, and with my parents’ endless spoiling, he was utterly lawless. The most malicious incident happened at a wedding, where he deliberately ran into a pregnant woman’s stomach, just because he thought it would be ‘fun’ to see if her belly would flatten. He was already in second grade; he knew exactly what a flattened belly meant. Yet this little monster was treated like gold by the whole family. Brooke refused to divorce, partly because she was hopelessly in love, but also because she couldn’t bear to lose her son. She was the quintessential doting wife and ‘boy-mom,’ it had to be said. But people like her never feel like *they* are suffering; only those around her, like me, suffer. In my last life, I’d urged her to let go, to abandon both father and son. Instead, I got a three-on-one tongue-lashing from her and my parents. Sure enough, his arrival this time meant more trouble for me. That night, everyone was asleep, but I faintly heard some rustling in the living room. I opened my door to find that little monster using a utility knife to scratch something on the windowsill. Sleepy-eyed, I flipped on the light, and the sight before me instantly made my scalp crawl. On the windowsill, my four pet guinea pigs were splayed open, gutted, lying in a row, blood pooled all over the floor. “Ah!!!” I shut my eyes and let out the most piercing scream of my life. The sound seemed to hit some twisted pleasure center in his brain; Leo immediately burst into maniacal laughter. “What are you doing?! Why did you kill the guinea pigs?!” I erupted, fear, rage, and grief clenching my heart. I didn’t even know if I was speaking to a person or a demon. “It was fun.” He said, then picked one up and started walking towards me, as if trying to provoke me further. “Get away!” I shrieked, backing away. I was terrified of him, and I dared not scold him, because I truly didn’t know what he was capable of.

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My wife had been on a business trip for two days. I was cleaning up, and I casually told our smart speaker, “Aura, play some music.” Instead, a male voice, completely unfamiliar, replied. “Alright, my little Moonbeam. And a reminder for Camilla, don’t forget Leo’s birthday surprise tonight~” My entire body froze, the music instantly jarring. My wife’s name is Camilla. Who the hell is Leo? I immediately called my wife. “Did you do something with our smart speaker?” On the other end, her voice paused for a beat, then she laughed, nonchalantly. “Oh, a friend came over a few days ago, maybe they linked their account? Why?” I smiled and said it was nothing. After hanging up, I pulled up the speaker’s login history, then hailed a cab directly to the company listed under that unfamiliar account. The taxi pulled up in front of “Starry Design.” I looked up. Its glass facade shimmered, almost blinding in the sunlight, reflecting its aggressive rise in the industry over the past two years. Our main rival, Dream Weaver Design. The receptionist was highly professional. She didn’t bat an eye despite me being the owner of a rival company, simply making an internal call as a matter of routine. A few minutes later, a young man in a crisp white t-shirt hurried out, looking utterly clean and innocent. Leo Hayes. The moment he saw me, his eyes visibly flickered with panic, but he quickly composed himself, forcing a shy smile. “Hello, may I help you?” “The smart speaker,” I said, getting straight to the point, my gaze calm as I looked at him. “The login history shows your account.” “Oh, *that* speaker!” He feigned realization, then scratched his head awkwardly. “That’s my roommate’s. She used my phone to log in a few days ago, said her premium membership expired and wanted to use mine. Did it cause you any trouble? I’m so sorry!” He delivered his lines perfectly, deflecting any suspicion while appearing completely innocent and naive. If I didn’t know Camilla’s personality, I might have actually believed him. She was arrogant and fiercely private; there was no way she’d let some random intern use a personal account on our home devices. My gaze slowly shifted from his seemingly innocent face to his wrist. On it was a silver bracelet. Two irregular circles intertwined, and on one of them, a tiny letter ‘C’ was engraved. It was a gift I’d designed myself and had a craftsman friend make for Camilla last year for our wedding anniversary. ‘C’ for Camilla. There was only one in the world. Leo noticed my gaze and instinctively tried to hide his hand behind his back. But I smiled, stepping closer, my voice almost gentle. “That bracelet is quite unique. A gift from your girlfriend? She has excellent taste.” His face went ghost-white in an instant, his lips trembling, utterly speechless. That was enough. I didn’t look at him again, turning to leave. As soon as I was in the cab, I called my friend Marcus Bell, the best divorce lawyer in the business. The moment he picked up, his loud voice boomed through. “Well, well, Julian, to what do I owe the pleasure? Did hell freeze over?” “I need your help,” I said, watching the streetlights blur outside the window, my voice unnaturally calm. “I need you to dig into someone: Leo Hayes, an intern at Starry Design. And I want every single financial transaction and hotel booking record for Camilla from the last six months. Don’t miss a thing.” Marcus was silent for two seconds, then dropped his joking tone. “…Are you planning to burn her to the ground?” “Worse than that.” I hung up, the car falling into a dead silence. Not long after, Camilla’s call came through. I stared at the name “Wife” on the screen, feeling an immense irony, and took a deep breath before answering. “Julian, what’s wrong?” Her usual gentle, refined voice came through the phone, laced with just the right amount of concern. “Marcus mentioned you asked him to dig into something. Are you having trouble at work?” See? She’d already planted her little spy. I pushed down the swirling emotions and said in my most normal voice, “Nothing. I just suddenly missed you.” On the other end, she seemed to relax, then chuckled softly. “Silly goose, I miss you too. As soon as I finish this project, I’ll fly right back to be with you, my little Moonbeam.” Those three words, “little Moonbeam,” drilled into my ear, crystal clear. My grip on the phone tightened abruptly. So, I wasn’t her only Moonbeam. Or maybe, I’d never been.

Marcus was alarmingly efficient. Barely half an hour later, my phone vibrated. A link, accompanied by a message: “Your award-winning master manipulator, brought to you by yours truly. The evidence is so airtight, I almost feel bad charging you full price. Enjoy the show.” I clicked it open. It was Leo’s social media account, set to public. The latest post was a close-up of a wrist, adorned with that all-too-familiar ‘C’ bracelet. The caption read: “My Moonbeam comes for you, Ms. C.” My pet name, “little Moonbeam,” my ‘C’ bracelet—now both trophies for another man. I scrolled down expressionlessly. One photo showed our home library in the background. Leo was holding his face, smiling with a faux innocence, behind him the rare architecture books I’d brought back from Italy. The caption: “Soaking up wisdom in Ms. C’s study. Feeling myself getting smarter already!” Another photo, he was holding a fountain pen, sketching on a drawing. It was a limited-edition collaboration piece I’d given Camilla for her thirtieth birthday. Caption: “Ms. C’s pen is amazing to write with. She said my hands deserve the best.” And one more, at that private restaurant we always frequented, featuring my go-to dishes. Caption: “My secret hideaway with Ms. C. She says I’m the only one who truly makes her relax.” Every photo, every word, was like a precise scalpel, carving into my most vulnerable memories, one incision at a time. Until I scrolled to a post from three days ago. In the photo, Leo was holding a printed design draft, a look of triumph on his face. The caption: “Ms. C stayed up all night helping me refine this design. She said I’m the most inspired designer she’s ever met, and I’ll definitely win the ‘Skyline Center’ project. Go me!” “Skyline Center.” That was the project Dream Weaver had poured our hearts and souls into, preparing for a full six months. It was the most crucial milestone of my career. I shot up from the couch, grabbed my car keys, and stormed out of the house. The office was empty late at night. I unlocked the door with my fingerprint and headed straight to Camilla’s office. Her computer screen saver was still on: our wedding photo. She was smiling, so tender and fond. I felt a wave of nausea. I tapped the keyboard, the screen lit up, showing a password prompt. I tried my birthday—incorrect. Our wedding anniversary—still incorrect. I gave a bitter laugh and typed in Leo’s birthday. “Welcome.” The desktop was clean and tidy, and my eyes immediately landed on an encrypted folder. I clicked it open. Inside was the final proposal for “Skyline Center,” every detail a culmination of months of my team’s and my own hard work. And right beside it, glaringly obvious, lay another folder, named with a single letter – ‘L’. I opened it. The proposal inside was almost identical to ours, only with subtle adjustments to a few critical load-bearing structures and design highlights, cleverly sidestepping our core patents while retaining the essence of the design. The signature at the bottom was in two neat characters: Leo. Not only was she cheating, but she was stealing my hard work, my company’s future, to pave a golden path for her little toyboy. My stomach violently churned. I gripped the cold desk, barely keeping myself from collapsing. So, jealousy and betrayal could truly warp a woman into something unrecognizable.

The bidding conference for the “Skyline Center” project was packed and buzzing. I found an inconspicuous corner and sat down, watching the representative from Starry Design walk onto the stage. It was Leo. Today, he wore a tailored professional suit, looking more like a seasoned executive. He took a deep breath and began to explain his design concept. “My design inspiration comes from ‘The Eye of the City.’ We hope it won’t just be a cold structure, but a living entity that breathes with the city, witnessing its growth…” Every single word of that speech, I had spoken to Camilla countless nights, fueled by coffee, my eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. I once thought that was the most perfect soul connection between us. Now I knew it was just my own solo performance, and she, the most patient thief. Even more ironic, Camilla was sitting in the special guest section of the judging panel. She listened intently, nodding occasionally, her gaze on Leo filled with a brilliance I’d never seen before, a possessive pride that regarded him as a treasure she couldn’t wait to flaunt to the world. She completely ignored me in the corner, as if I were nothing more than an irrelevant backdrop. My phone vibrated in my palm. It was a message from Marcus. “Need me to show up with a baseball bat and crash the party?” I looked at the screen, a slight curve forming on my tightly drawn lips. I texted back two words: “Stand by.” On stage, Leo’s presentation reached its climax, the final rendering—the very one stolen from my computer—displayed on the projector. A low gasp rippled through the audience. The presentation ended, and applause thundered. The host stepped onto the stage. “Thank you, Mr. Hayes, for your brilliant presentation. Next, we invite our special guest judge, a highly respected veteran in our industry, Ms. Camilla Thorne from Dream Weaver Design, to offer her comments on this proposal.” The microphone was handed to Camilla. She cleared her throat, her gaze gently resting on Leo as she began. “Frankly, I’m genuinely surprised.” “Mr. Hayes’s design perfectly balances artistic aesthetics with practical function, especially the subtle adjustments to several critical load-bearing structures. It’s incredibly bold, incredibly inspired.” She used the word “inspired.” The same word she used to describe Leo, to wound me. She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room. “I believe this work is, without a doubt, the best of today.” Applause erupted again, louder than before. In that moment, my world went silent, save for the dull thudding of my heart in my chest. The host smiled, taking the microphone. “Thank you, Ms. Thorne, for your high praise! It seems Starry Design is poised for victory this time! Now, are there any other guests or judges who would like to ask Mr. Hayes a question?” The room fell silent. With Camilla’s “expert” seal of approval, there seemed to be nothing left to ask. Leo bowed on stage, his face alight with barely concealed triumph and joy. I put my phone away and, in the brief lull before everyone prepared to applaud again, stood up. My movement was slight, but it instantly drew everyone’s attention. The host blinked, a little flustered. “Sir, may I ask who you are?” Camilla’s smile froze.

Leo’s gaze, too, became wary and scrutinizing. I ignored the host, walking directly to the podium. The host on stage looked flustered, instinctively trying to block me, but one look from me made her retract her hand. I took the microphone from her hand. The cold metal against my palm only sharpened my focus. “Good afternoon, everyone.” My voice, amplified by the sound system, filled the hall, clear and steady. “I am Julian Thorne, founder of Dream Weaver Design.” A small murmur rippled through the audience; my colleagues all recognized me. I paused, my gaze sweeping over everyone, then landed precisely on the woman in the judging panel whose face had already begun to pale. I added the latter half of my sentence. “And also, Ms. Camilla Thorne’s husband.” *Boom!* The entire hall erupted in chaos. Countless eyes darted between Camilla and me, scrutinizing, shocked, gossiping. It was like thousands of tiny needles, puncturing the carefully maintained facade of her composure. I ignored the whispers, turning to plug the USB drive I’d brought into the computer. On the large screen behind me, Leo’s exquisite final rendering instantly vanished, replaced by the raw files from my own computer. Folder after folder, neatly organized by date. “Mr. Hayes’s proposal is indeed very ‘inspired’,” I said, a faint smile in my voice, as I clicked open the earliest folder. Inside were my first sketches, drawn on a digital tablet three months ago—rough, but brimming with my original concepts. “And it’s almost identical to my drafts from three months ago.” On the screen, I opened the file properties: creation date, modification date, timestamps accurate to the second, all displayed clearly on the large screen for everyone to see. Leo’s face went white. I continued clicking, opening one detailed drawing after another, structural analysis diagrams, 3D renderings… With each one I opened, Leo’s face grew whiter. Finally, I revealed a hidden layer. It was an anti-counterfeiting watermark I’d deliberately embedded to prevent commercial leaks—my initials, “JT,” cleverly integrated into the building’s shadows. “As for the core load-bearing structure in Mr. Hayes’s proposal, so highly praised by Director Thorne,” I brought up a mechanical model filled with dense data and formulas. “Here is the complete data calculation process. I wonder if Mr. Hayes could explain the application principle of the fifth parameter to everyone?” All eyes in the room instantly shot to Leo. He stood there, his lips trembling, utterly speechless. He understood none of it. Then, with a sudden wail, he burst into tears, rushing towards the judging panel and grabbing Camilla’s sleeve, sobbing. “Camilla, I didn’t… I don’t know what this is about! He’s bullying me, I didn’t plagiarize…” Camilla finally couldn’t sit still. She quickly stormed onto the stage, glaring fiercely at me, her voice low, a furious whisper only we could hear. “Julian Thorne! Haven’t you made enough of a scene?! Must you humiliate us both here?!” I found myself chuckling. “Humiliate?” I scoffed softly, removing her hand that was pointing at me. I took a step closer, leaning into her ear, speaking in a voice only she could hear. “Camilla, don’t rush. This is just an appetizer.” I stepped back, gripping the microphone again, my gaze sweeping over all the judges and guests. My voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for the entire hall to hear. “The real humiliation isn’t mine. It belongs to certain people who, while stealing their husband’s hard work, also try to elevate their lover, praising a plagiarized work as a stroke of genius, right in front of the entire industry.” “Director Thorne,” I looked at her, smiling sweetly. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

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